South Africa: De Lille calls for faster implementation of housing project

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Patricia de Lille, has appealed to the implementing spheres of government and departments to work more closely to unblock any impediments standing in the way of moving the Lufhereng project forward.

The Lufhereng Human Settlements project was one of 62 projects gazetted by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) as a Strategic Integrated Project (SIP) on 24 July 2020. [This] in terms of the Infrastructure Development Act which means that it will now follow an expedited path to delivery and is being monitored by a SIP steering committee to ensure that any delays and blockages are addressed speedily.

De Lille explained said the Lufhereng project commenced a few years ago with many beneficiaries already living in the development, which caters for various housing typologies and income brackets.

With this project gazetted under SIP 24, it will see all three spheres of government working together much closer to see this project being expedited and implemented at a faster pace. Being gazetted as a SIP means this project has been prioritised by all three spheres of government with closer working relations to ensure that this project is implemented successfully, de Lille said.

Speaking during her oversight visit at the Lufhereng construction site in Gauteng on Thursday, the Minister said the project has been planned as a fully integrated and mixed-use suburb, which will be the jewel in the west of greater Soweto.

Mega project

The Lufhereng project is located within the City of Johannesburg to the West of Soweto and was classified as a mega housing project on 2 000 hectares of land secured by the City of Johannesburg for the western expansion of Soweto.

The project has the capacity to accommodate over 30 000 households in a wide variety of housing typologies and land tenure options.

De Lille said the main objective of the Lufhereng Project is to address the housing waiting list of people living in informal settlements or backyard dwellings in Soweto.

She said Lufhereng will be a destination of choice where families of various income levels and new homeowners will settle and obtain security of title to provide a safe and secure environment for their families.

To date, 1 319 housing units of various typologies have been completed and are occupied and around 2 093 housing units of varying typologies are currently under construction.

The City of Johannesburg and its appointed contractors are implementing the development. This as the project is being implemented in 10 phases over a number of years up to 2029.

The oversight visit forms part of Minister de Lilles duties to monitor progress of the 62 projects, which were gazetted as SIPs as part of the Infrastructure Investment Plan approved by Cabinet on 27 May 2020.

One of the beneficiaries, Nokuthulu Nkabinde, a mother of two children, told SAnews that she is happy that she finally has a home.

Before getting my own place, I was struggling, renting a shack which was very small and could not accommodate all of us. One of my kids was staying with relatives," she said.

I thank our government for making it possible for me to have my own house, she said.

Many of the gazetted projects like the Lufhereng project are currently under construction, which is being expedited to assist in reviving the struggling construction sector and provide much-needed jobs to people.

The Lufhereng development entails the following:

Fully subsidized units (RDP and high density)  12 200 units

Housing under the Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Program (FLISP)  4 200 units

Social housing  7 750 units

Fully bonded units  6 750 units

Eighteen educational facilities

Commercial development retail, offices, filling stations etc.) 420 000 m

Parks, recreational sites, sport centres etc.  216 000 m, and

Urban agriculture  940 000 m

To date the following has been completed:

RDP houses completed and transferred: 339

RDP units in construction: 1 496

FLISP units completed and transferred: 863

FLISP units under construction: 190

Social housing under construction: 407

Bonded units construction and transferred: 117

- SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-08-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: Election of NA Speaker provisionally set for next week

The National Assembly Programme Committee (NAPC) has provisionally scheduled 19 August 2021 for the election of a new National Assembly (NA) Speaker during its regular weekly meeting.

This follows the appointment of former NA Speaker Thandi Modise as Minister of Defence and Military Veterans last week.

Parliamentary spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo, said the election is scheduled for the NA plenary sitting at 2pm on Thursday, subject to confirmation with the Office of the Chief Justice.

The Chief Justice or judge designated by him must preside over the election of the new Speaker.

The NA Speaker is drawn from the 14 political parties of a 400 member NA. If there is more than one nomination for the position of Speaker, NA members will vote by secret ballot and this will require physical presence of Members at Parliament. Appropriate measures have been put in place to ensure compliance with the COVID-19 protocols, Mothapo said.

Rules Committee to consider Section 194 Enquiry Committee work

Meanwhile, the NAPC meeting also confirmed its decision, taken last week, that the NA Rules Committee will meet on Friday to consider and provide direction for the work of the Section 194 Enquiry Committee.

Section 194 in Chapter 9 of the Constitution deals with removal from office of heads of State Institutions Supporting Constitutional Democracy. The institutions include the Public Protector and the Auditor General, Mothapo said.

The Section 194 Enquiry Committee met for the first time on 20 July 2021 and elected Qubudile Dyantyi as Chairperson. This followed the NA sitting on 16 March 2021, establishing the committee to conduct an enquiry into the fitness to hold office of Public Protector Advocate Mkhwebane.

On 28 July 2021, the Western Cape High Court handed down judgment on Advocate Mkhwebanes application challenging the constitutionality of NA rules governing implementation of Section 194 of the Constitution.

The Court made two adverse findings, including one which was on the optional inclusion of a judge on a three-person independent panel to establish whether, indeed, there was prima facie merit to a motion calling for removal in terms of Section 194.

The other adverse finding was about the right of Chapter 9 office holder to legal representation at the enquiry of the Section 194 Committee process.

The NA Rules Committee meeting scheduled for tomorrow will also consider existing rules for electing the Speaker, given the emergence of COVID-19, Mothapo said.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: Applause for witnesses at State Capture Inquiry

President Cyril Ramaphosa has applauded the commitment and courage of the many witnesses who appeared before the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture and Corruption.

While there have certainly been systemic failures, governance lapses and errors, the fundamental reality is that state capture happened because certain individuals each made a deliberate decision to engage in acts of corruption and criminality, President Ramaphosa said on Thursday.

In his closing remarks at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture and Corruption, President Ramaphosa said despite the evidence presented before the Commission, and despite the excellent work by many investigators, academics and the truly outstanding journalists, the country may never know the true cost of state capture.

We may be able to establish how much of public funds has been stolen, by how much costs for public goods and services may have been inflated, and what it has cost to investigate these cases and prosecute those responsible, President Ramaphosa said at his second and last day of him giving testimony at Commission.

President Ramaphosa said it might be possible to quantify the infrastructure and services that could have been provided to the people of South Africa with the funds that were stolen and wasted as a result of state capture.

We could quantify this in terms of hospital beds, commuter trains, houses, social grants, water reticulation, maintenance of roads and any number of other public goods and services that state capture robbed our people of.

But what is more difficult to measure is the broader cost to our economy and our society. It is difficult to measure the effect of state capture on business and consumer confidence on the loss of investment. We similarly cannot quantify the impact of state capture on our standing and image internationally, said the President.

State capture said the President, led to the departure from the public service of highly qualified and experienced people, either because they refused to be part of it or because they presented a threat to those who were part of such activities.

It is likely that state capture also discouraged many talented young people from joining government, which has significant implications for the public service of tomorrow. By weakening our security forces and law enforcement agencies, the actions associated with state capture placed the security and integrity of our country at risk.

Perhaps the most devastating and lasting cost of state capture and corruption is its effect on the confidence of the people of South Africa in the leaders and officials in whom they placed great trust and confidence and responsibility, President Ramaphosa said.

Erosion of confidence in the rule of law

The President said state capture has damaged peoples confidence in the rule of law, in public institutions, in law enforcement agencies and, even to some extent, in the democratic process.

The people of South Africa look to this Commission to uncover the truth, to identify those responsible and to recommend measures that should be taken against those who are responsible and to prevent it from happening again, President Ramaphosa said.

The work of the Commission he said will help to make a clear and decisive break with the corrupt practices that have cost the country so much.

It is important to acknowledge that we would not have reached this point and this Commission would not be sitting now had it not been for the determined actions of South Africans, many of whom marched in the streets of our country protesting against corruption and demanding a clean government.

It was the people of this country who, in their various formations, stood up to what they saw as acts of gross wrongdoing and abuse of power, the President said.

He applauded the commitment and courage of the many witnesses who appeared before the Commission to give an account of what went wrong.

Having born witness to the crimes of state capture, the worst thing we can do is to allow it to ever happen again. We have a shared responsibility to leave the era of state capture firmly behind us, and to act together to prevent corruption in all its forms, said President Ramaphosa. SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-08-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: Minister de Lille to inspect new anti-GBV billboards

This story has been published on: 2021-08-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.

Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister, Thoko Didiza, says access to financial services and knowing where to go to apply is a challenge that persists for women in the agricultural sector. The majority of [women in the industry] will tell you how they struggle for production credit at our development financial instituti... See more
Hong Kong: 937k BioNTech jabs arrive

The latest shipment of about 937,000 doses of the BioNTech vaccine, filled and finished at a plant in Baxter, Germany, arrived in Hong Kong today as arranged by Fosun Pharma.

Staff carried out stringent checks and inspections to ensure the vaccine is compliant with the product specifications and that the transportation process satisfied the relevant cold-chain requirements.

The Government will put the vaccine in validated ultra-low temperature freezers to assure its proper storage in accordance with the temperature specified by the drug manufacturer.

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South Africa: Government saddened by the passing of 1976 struggle hero

Government says it is saddened by the passing of 1976 struggle hero, Dan Sechaba Montsitsi, who is reported to have passed away from COVID-19 complications.

Government sends its deepest condolence to his family and friends, the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said in a statement.

Montsitsi was one of the leaders in the Soweto Students Representative Council (SSRC) that led the student marches against the encroachment of the Afrikaans language as a medium of instruction in schools.

His activism led to him being arrested in June 1977. He was one of the Presidents of the SSRC, served in the South African Student Movement in 1974, and was an executive committee member of the National Youth Organisation, according to the GCIS.

After 1994, he became a member of the democratic Parliament of South Africa and served as a member of the joint standing committee of defence as well as other select committees.

Montsitsi was part of the youth of 1976 that contributed towards the realisation of [a] free and just society. He was known for being vocal in the fight for equal education for the youth.

As a country, we are grateful for the resilience and determination by the youth of 1976 that was led by leaders like Montsisi who stayed the cause for a fight for a free and just democratic South Africa, Director- General of GCIS, Phumla Williams, said.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: Nation called upon to vaccinate

The Department of Health Deputy Director-General, Dr Nicholas Crisp, has expressed concern that the demand for the COVID-19 vaccine has decreased.

We are disappointed that COVID-19 vaccination registrations is decreasing. The daily registration yesterday was only 53 379. The total registration so far is 9 237 340, Crisp said on Friday said.

Addressing a media briefing on government efforts in the fight against COVID-19 and the national vaccination rollout programme, Crisp encouraged people to get vaccinated, as vaccines are effective and are safe.

There will be a fourth wave but we dont know when or which variant or how severe it will be, but we have to protect ourselves by vaccinating. The age group of 35 to 49 year had a good start but have not sustained their interest, Crisp said.

According to the statistics for COVID-19 registrations, 3 035 017 people in the age group 35 - 39 years old have registered; 1 929 586 have registered in the age group 50 - 59 years, while in the above 60 age group, 3 459 374 have registered for the vaccine and 813 363 health workers have also registered.

South Africa has to date administered 9 185 756 vaccines, with 2 021 520 people receiving the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, while 7 164 236 have received the Pfizer vaccine.

By the end of December, the country needs to have vaccinated 28 million people.

A total of 5 227 525 people have received their first Pfizer dose for the vaccine and of those, 1 936 711 have received their second dose of the vaccine.

Individuals who have been vaccinated amount to 7 249 045 and of those individuals, 3 958 231 have been fully vaccinated, Crisp said.

Female individuals continue to vaccinate in their numbers, accounting for 59.74% of the vaccines that have been administered, while males account for 40.26%.

In all age groups, men are not being vaccinated at the same numbers as women. This is not good because it means the men are going to get sick and be in hospital, Crisp said.

He assured South Africans that government does not have a vaccine constraint for August and September.

Our vaccination capacity across the public and private sectors is good, he said.

Monitoring safety

National Immunisation Safety Expert Committee chair, Prof Hannelie Meyer, said the vaccines that are being used in the country are safe, as all vaccines are tested during three phases of clinical trials before they are approved.

In phase three, there were 43 548 volunteers for the Pfizer vaccine and 43 783 for the Johnson vaccine.

Any health problem that follows after vaccination is considered an adverse event following immunisation but it does not necessarily have a cause or relationship with the use of the vaccination.

It could be any symptom, sign, laboratory finding or a disease. An adverse event can be either a true adverse reaction, which is referred to as a side effect or it could be a coincidental event that happened following vaccination, Meyer said.

She said very common adverse events are usually the minor reactions such as fever or headaches, while uncommon adverse events are rare and usually more with more severe reactions, although not always.

The minor vaccine reactions are the ones that are being commonly experienced on COVID-19 potential risk. It is the way the body is reacting as part of the immune response. They start within a few hours and they clear within two to three days.

We have seen that they are more intense in the younger population, those who have had COVID-19 before and those who get the second dose of the vaccine, Meyer said.

She emphasised the importance of seeking medical assistance if the reactions become more severe or if they are long lasting.

All vaccine adverse events must be reported because its important to monitor the safety of the vaccines. They are new vaccines and we need to profile them properly. As soon as people experience something of concern to them, they should seek help at a health facility. The adverse events must be reported at the health facility, Meyer said.

People can also use the Med Safety App and the COVID-19 hotline (0800 029 999) to report adverse events.

Serious events are those that result in death, hospitalisation, are life threatening and they have persistent outcomes such as disability or incapacity. They could also result in a birth defect.

People should seek treatment when they experience symptoms of concern and they should not assume that these symptoms are reactions to the vaccine. They could be coincidental to the vaccine, and there could be something else wrong with them, Meyer said.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: Relief for looted businesses

The Department of Employment and Labour has approved the Unemployment Insurance Funds temporary relief scheme to assist workers of looted businesses in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

In a statement on Friday, the department said the UIFs Destroyed, Affected or Looted Workplaces: Temporary Financial Relief Scheme has finally been approved through the Government Gazette published on Tuesday, 10 August 2021.

This financial relief scheme has been established to assist workers whose workplaces have been closed due to recent unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, resulting in either reduced pay or no pay at all, the department said.

According to the departments estimates, more than 75 000 workers have been impacted by the unrest in both provinces.

The scheme seeks to assist workers in affected businesses. However, every employer who is not yet registered with UIF will have to register first with the UIF to access the benefit.

Qualifying employers will be required to apply on behalf of their employees through a process that the UIF will specify.

The process will enable employers to make bulk applications and they will be required to meet the following conditions:

The employer must be registered with the UIF;

The employers closure must be directly linked to the destruction, damage or looting of its workplace;

The employer must provide details of the destruction, closure, or damage to, or looting of, its workplace and submit documentary proof of a report to the South African Police Services, with proof that a case has been opened by providing a case number, and, if insured, proof of submission and acknowledgement of receipt of the insurance claim;

The employer must confirm in writing or electronically that  he/she accepts the terms of the Scheme herein and any procedure document issued by UIF, and

Submit any other information that the Minister or delegated authority may require to assess eligibility of claim.

The department said payment of the temporary financial relief may only be done directly into the workers bank account, unless the UIF Commissioner specifies the conditions under which payments can be made into the employers account.

The relief will be paid based on the income replacement rate calculated on the sliding scale of 38% -60% based on the employees remuneration. The maximum payment will not exceed R6 700 and the minimum will be not less than R3 500.00 per month or a flat rate, as the Minister or Accounting Authority may decide depending on financial considerations of the UIF, the department explained.

The temporary financial relief is de-linked from the UIFs normal benefits, therefore the normal rule that for every four days worked, the employee accumulates a one-day credit, and the maximum credit days payable is 365 for every four years, does not apply.

This will enable workers who have no credits to receive financial support whilst their workplaces are in the process of rebuilding or reopening. The UIF is earnestly reconfiguring its systems for processing of temporary financial relief claims, and an announcement on the claims process and platforms and the date from which claims can be submitted will be made as soon as possible, the department said.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: Government assures citizens of vaccine safety

As government ramps up the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, has assured South Africans that vaccines are safe, effective and protect lives.

Addressing a media briefing on governments efforts in the fight against COVID-19 and the national vaccination rollout programme, the Minister said South Africa has a system to monitor side effects and investigate where there is serious illness or death soon after vaccination.

So far, the deaths that have been investigated have been found to be because of prior COVID-19, which happened before vaccination and had not been detected or other pre-existing illnesses, Phaahla said on Friday.

He said there is evidence that only 1% of people who are admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are those who have been vaccinated, compared to 99% being those who are not vaccinated.

The country has to date administered 9 185 756 vaccines, with 2 021 520 people receiving the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, while 7 164 236 have received the Pfizer vaccine.

There is ample evidence that even the one dose of the Pfizer vaccine gives protection of up to 80% against severe disease, hospital admission and possible death. At the national level, Gauteng, as the most populated province, is leading in doses administered, with about 1.8 million people having been vaccinated.

In terms of the highest percentage of the population, the Eastern Cape is leading with just 23.23% of its population having received a vaccine, followed by Limpopo that has vaccinated 20.8% of its population. It is very gratifying that the rural provinces are leading in the vaccination programme, the Minister said.

Females are leading in getting vaccinated, accounting for 59.74% of the vaccines that have been administered, while males account for 40.26%.

Downward trend

Over the last seven days, the country has been on a downward trend of the pandemic but the Minister has warned South Africans against letting their guard down, as the country is still experiencing the third wave.

The Gauteng province has reached the peak of its third wave and is on a continuous downward slope, while the Western Cape has continuously had the highest daily cases, active cases and hospital admissions.

Overall, the countrys active cases have reduced by 7%, hospital admissions have been reduced by 4.4% and therefore, there is a little bit relief on the pressure on our hospitals. Overall, there has been a reduction of hospital admissions, the Minister said.

New cases have reduced by under one percent. The numbers for the deaths from COVID-19 have been reducing but are still unacceptably high, Phaahla said.

The national positivity rate has also been decreasing, from a high of 35% positive rate in the middle of July to an average over the last seven days of between 19% and 20%. To show that this is not stable, yesterday the positivity rate was 23%.

Our situation remains precarious. This is no time to lower our guard, no time to relax the restrictions, and we will not recommend to the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) and Cabinet for a relaxation of the restrictions. We will recommend we remain on level three, the Minister said.

The latest statistics show that South Africa recorded 14 271 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 2 568 511.

Our hospitals in all nine provinces still have enough capacity to handle those who need care in the ordinary and high care wards in our intensive care units (ICUs), the Minister said.  SAnews.gov.za

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RTHK: Three injured as Thai police fire rubber bullets

Three protesters were injured when Thai police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at a Bangkok rally on Friday - the third time this week - as coronavirus cases soar and anger builds over the government's handling of the pandemic.

The kingdom is grappling with its worst virus outbreak so far and registered a new daily high of 23,418 infections on Friday.

The sluggish rollout of Thailand's vaccination programme and financial pain from restrictions is heaping political pressure on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha's government.

Protesters gathered in Bangkok at a major intersection by Victory Monument, defying a ban on public gatherings, and set fire to sacks of rotting fruit to symbolise the economic hardship of farmers.

"These fruits can't be sold because of government failure (to manage the virus and the economy)," a female protester told a crowd of several hundred people.

Demonstrators attempted to march on Prayut's residence inside a military barracks holding a large banner that read: "Prayut must get out immediately."

Police used barbed wire and rows of shipping containers to block their path while officers fired tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon.

Deputy National Police spokesman Kissana Phathanacharoen said protesters targetted officers with ping pong bombs, slingshots, bricks, and firecrackers.

Fourteen motorbikes were impounded, he said.

At least three protesters were injured including youth activist Thanat "Nat" Thanakitamnuay, an emergency medical centre said.

At protests on Tuesday and on Wednesday in the same area, police used water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets and some demonstrators threw firecrackers at officers.

Bangkok police, facing accusations of heavy-handedness, have insisted their approach is in line with the law and urged people not to jeopardise public health and safety.

"There is clear evidence that some people among the protest group have contracted Covid-19," Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Phukphong Phongpetra told reporters on Friday.

A young protester who blew his own hand off while throwing a firework during Wednesday's rally has tested positive for coronavirus, local media reported.

Last year a youth-led pro-democracy protest movement began in Thailand that at its peak drew tens of thousands of people to rallies demanding the resignation of Prayut, the former army chief who came to power in a 2014 coup.

But the movement lost momentum earlier this year as Covid-19 cases surged and its leaders were detained. (AFP)

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RTHK: Russia ramps up Siberia blazes battle

Russia on Friday launched a national response centre and deployed additional firefighters to battle record-setting wildfires tearing through its coldest region of Yakutia in Siberia.

While Siberia sees an annual wildfire season each summer, the fires have burned with an increasing intensity in recent years, which Russian weather officials and environmentalists have linked to climate change.

In Yakutia, one of the hardest-hit regions this year, fires have already burned through more than 9.4 million hectares - an area larger than Portugal - according to Russia's forestry agency.

The emergencies ministry said it had launched a national response centre to fight the blazes in Yakutia - a sparsely populated region nearly five times the size of France - saying that it would handle day-to-day management.

It added that it had sent another 200 specialists to support the more than 5,000 people currently battling the blazes in the region.

On Thursday, emergencies ministry officials arrived in Yakutia to oversee operations there on the orders of President Vladimir Putin, who also ordered reinforcements to fight the fires.

Heavy smog hung over the regional capital of Yakutsk on Friday, which was declared a non-working day in much of the region over health concerns due to wildfire smoke.

"It's very bad, there's a lot of smoke, it's difficult to breathe," said resident Yevgeniya Bubyakina, 87.

"It is a serious catastrophe," 16-year-old Yelizaveta said.

Some 3,800 kilometres to the southwest in the Urals region of Chelyabinsk, the ecology ministry said that it was seeing a higher than normal level of toxic hydrogen sulfide as a result of smog that had travelled from Yakutia.

It recommended that residents keep their windows closed at night, the TASS news agency reported.

Nationwide, wildfires have scorched around 16.6 million acres, quickly approaching Russia's record fire season this century when 18.1 million acres burned in 2012. (AFP)

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Hong Kong: Testing requirement to be tightened

The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department today called on catering business operators to get well prepared for the fifth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic.

The department explained that Staff of Type B catering premises must obtain SMS notifications containing their negative test results before August 26 and before the end of every subsequent seven-day period before they are allowed to work in the premises.

The tightened testing requirement will come into effect on August 19 and staff who have completed a vaccination course will be deemed to have complied with such requirements and will not have to undergo regular testing.

The Government stated earlier that in the face of the challenges posed by mutant strains, the fifth wave of the epidemic may break out in Hong Kong anytime.

Taking into account the risks of the virus spreading in catering premises, and especially the fact that customers do not put on masks most of the time, testing requirements for Type B catering premises must be tightened.

Under the vaccine bubble principle, only staff and customers of Type D premises have to be vaccinated in accordance with the requirements.

If the fifth wave of the epidemic breaks out and there is a need to tighten the restrictions on dine-in services to stop the virus from spreading in the community, it is probable that only Type D premises will be allowed to provide dine-in services in the evening.

The Government therefore appeals to the operators of catering businesses under Type A, B and C modes of operation to encourage all their staff to receive vaccinations so that their premises can switch to Type D operation mode in a timely manner.

This story has been published on: 2021-08-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Hong Kong: Market thoroughly cleansed

The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department today announced that it conducted deep cleansing and disinfection at a market stall which had processed a batch of fish that tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

The cleansing and disinfection also covered the entire To Kwa Wan Market where the stall is located to safeguard the health and safety of its tenants and the public.

On August 10, the Centre for Food Safety collected 10 pomfret fish surface samples and packaging samples from a batch of 10 boxes of chilled pomfret fish imported from Indonesia via a flight.

Two of the fish samples and one packaging sample were found to be positive for the COVID-19 virus and the viral load was low. The fish concerned was imported from an Indonesian exporter PT. Perishable Logistics Indonesia.

Apart from stepping up the sampling of the frozen foods and their packaging imported from the exporter for testing, the centre also conducted an investigation.

The probe confirmed that the batch of chilled pomfret fish had been sold to Aberdeen Wholesale Fish Market and Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Fish Market and further distributed to five retailers.

Deep cleansing and disinfection had been carried out at the two fish markets as a result.

The Government has conducted further investigations on the vendors and locations concerned to identify the people who had had contact with the affected product for undergoing epidemiological assessment and arrange quarantine or compulsory testing for the individuals concerned.

While an investigation is ongoing, the Centre for Health Protection, as at last night, arranged quarantine for nine staff who had come in contact with the contaminated product.

To prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus through imported frozen foods, the Government has stepped up precautionary testing measures since mid-2020, including enhanced testing of various types of frozen foods and their packaging imported from different countries and regions.

So far, over 14,000 samples of foods and their packaging were collected for testing and only the above pomfret fish and packaging samples were found to be positive.

The Government stressed that the sampling of imported frozen foods and their packaging for testing will continue.

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RTHK: Taliban move on Kabul, embassies prepare to evacuate

The Taliban seized more major cities on Friday as they raced towards full control of Afghanistan and inched closer to Kabul, with the United States and Britain deploying thousands of troops to evacuate their citizens from the capital.

The evacuation orders came as the Taliban took control of Kandahar - their spiritual heartland and the nation's second-biggest city - leaving only Kabul and small pockets of holdouts in government hands.

The scale and speed of the onslaught has shocked Afghans and the US-led alliance that poured billions into the country after toppling the Taliban in the wake of the September 11 attacks nearly 20 years ago.

Security forces have capitulated on all fronts, with individual soldiers, units and even whole divisions surrendering - handing the insurgents even more vehicles and military hardware to fuel their lightning advance.

Pul-e-Alam, capital of Loghar province, was the latest city to fall on Friday, putting the Taliban just 50 kilometres from Kabul.

Khairddin Logari, a resident of the capital, summed up the confusion.

"We don't know what is going on," he said.

The Taliban offensive was launched in early May after US President Joe Biden ordered the start of a final withdrawal due to be complete by the end of the month, leaving the battlefield to the insurgents.

British Defence Minister Ben Wallace said on Friday the hasty pullout had been "a mistake".

Earlier on Friday, officials and residents in Kandahar said government forces had withdrawn en masse to a military facility outside the southern city.

"Kandahar is completely conquered. The Mujahideen reached Martyrs' Square," a Taliban spokesman tweeted, referring to a city landmark.

Hours later, the Taliban said they had also taken control of Lashkar Gah, the capital of neighbouring Helmand province.

A security source confirmed the fall of the city, saying the Afghan military and government officials had evacuated Lashkar Gah after striking a local ceasefire deal with the militants.

While there have been widespread reports of atrocities by the Taliban, fears that they would exact a punishing revenge on their opponents are so far unfounded.

In Herat on Friday, the Taliban captured the city's long-time strongman Ismail Khan, who helped lead the defence of the provincial capital along with his militia fighters.

The warlord's spokesman later confirmed Khan had been allowed to return to his residence following negotiations with the insurgents.

Washington and London announced plans late on Thursday to pull out their embassy staff and citizens from the capital.

"This is not abandonment," US State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters, while noting the embassy would remain open.

"This is not an evacuation. This is not the wholesale withdrawal."

The Pentagon said 3,000 US troops would be deployed to Kabul within the next 24 to 48 hours, underscoring they would not be used to launch attacks against the Taliban.

Britain was deploying around 600 troops to help evacuate its roughly 3,000 nationals from the country, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying the "vast bulk" of remaining embassy staff in Kabul would return to the UK.

Other nations, including Denmark, Norway, and Germany, announced their Kabul embassies would be temporarily shuttered or operations reduced due to security concerns.

Helicopters flitted back and forth between the airport and the sprawling US diplomatic compound in Kabul's heavily fortified green zone - 46 years after choppers evacuated Americans from Saigon, signalling the end of the Vietnam War.

The insurgents have taken over more than half the nation's provincial capitals in the past week and encircled the biggest city in the north, the traditional anti-Taliban bastion of Mazar-i-Sharif, which is now one of the few holdouts remaining.

In Kandahar, resident Abdul Nafi said the city was calm after the government forces pulled out early on Friday.

"I came out this morning, I saw Taliban white flags in most squares of the city... I thought it might be the first day of Eid."

Pro-Taliban social media accounts have boasted of the vast spoils of war captured by the insurgents, posting photos of armoured vehicles, heavy weapons, and even a drone seized by their fighters at abandoned military bases.

As the rout unspooled, three days of meetings between key international players on Afghanistan ended in Qatar without significant progress.

In a joint statement, the international community, including the United States, Pakistan, the European Union, and China, said they would not recognise any government in Afghanistan "imposed through the use of military force." (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-08-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
CDC is to the Left of the Media

NEWS PROVIDED BY

The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights

Aug. 13, 2021

NEW YORK, Aug. 13, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- Catholic League president Bill Donohue (photo) comments on just how far left the CDC has become:

As recently as a few years ago, no one would believe that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) was to the left of the mainstream media. But a lot has recently changed.

From draconian strictures on Covid to the latest pronouncements on climate change, it is clear that the CDC has become a very political institution. Perhaps nothing shows how much it has changed more than its comments on the necessity of pregnant women to become vaccinated.

Whether pregnant women should be vaccinated is not, per se, an ideological issue. What makes it so is the linguistic politics employed by the CDC: It refers to pregnant women as "pregnant people." This is done, of course, not to offend the sexually challenged, namely women who consider themselves to be a man and are, or may become, pregnant.

Of course, in the real world, everyone who has not yet lost his mindthe pool is shrinking at an alarming rateknows that it is a fiction to believe that men can become pregnant. Unfortunately, the CDC is one of the foremost promoters of this fiction: it used the term "pregnant people" 29 out of 30 times in its statement recommending that pregnant women be vaccinated.

The media did not uniformly follow the CDC's lead. Here is how prominent media outlets addressed this issue. (The numbers refer to how many times various terms were employed in their initial story on this subject.)

CDC:

 "Covid-19 Vaccines while Pregnant or Breast Feeding"

 Pregnant Women: 1

 Pregnant "People": 29

Associated Press:

 "CDC urges COVID vaccines during pregnancy as delta surges"

 Pregnant Women: 7

 Pregnant "People": 0

 Pregnant Patients: 5

[Appeared in LA Times, Sun Sentinel, New Orleans Times-Picayune, and NBC News Website]

Reuters:

 "CDC Recommends Pregnant Women get Covid-19 Vaccine"

 Pregnant Women: 1

 Pregnant "People": 2

Washington Post:

 "CDC guidance now official: Pregnant people should get coronavirus vaccine"

 Pregnant Women: 10

 Pregnant "People": 3

New York Times:

 "The C.D.C. endorses Covid vaccinations during pregnancy"

 Pregnant Women: 5

 Pregnant "People": 2

Boston Globe:

 "FDA set to OK booster shots for limited group"

 Pregnant Women: 5

 Pregnant "People": 1

San Francisco Chronicle:

 "CDC endorses COVID vaccine during pregnancy"

 Pregnant Women: 4

 Pregnant "People": 0

NPR Website:

 "Vaccinating During Pregnancy Has Become Even More Urgent As ICU Beds Fill Up"

 Pregnant Women: 1

 Pregnant "People": 4

 Pregnant "Individuals": 1

 Those who are pregnant/someone who is pregnant: 7

CBS:

 CBS News Website:

 "CDC now recommends pregnant people get vaccinated"

 Pregnant Women: 1

 Pregnant "People": 4

 Pregnant or Lactating Individuals: 1

ABC:

 ABC News Website:

 "CDC strengthens recommendation that pregnant women get" vaccinated

 Pregnant Women: 8

 Pregnant "People": 1

CNN:

 CNN Wire:

 "CDC strengthens recommendation for pregnant women to get vaccinated against Covid-19"

 Pregnant Women: 6

 Pregnant "People": 1

 Those who are pregnant/anyone who is pregnant: 3

Fox News:

 Fox News Website:

 "CDC advices COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women"

 Pregnant Women: 5

 Pregnant "People": 0

The inconsistent usage that is evident in most of these listings suggests that the media are themselves in transition. A lag effect is evident: they have not caught up to the linguistic politics of the CDC.

But give them some time--by the end of the year they will retire the term pregnant women from their lexicon, referring only to "pregnant people." Look for these geniuses to call women who menstruate "people who menstruate," and men with prostate issues "people with prostate issues."

It's time we asked Bruce how Caitlyn feels about this subject. Maybe he/she/they/them (Who dat?) can figure this out.

SOURCE The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights

CONTACT: 212-371-3191, pr@catholicleague.org
Many localities announce to start new school year

Nineteen provinces have announced later starting dates for the new academic year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.



The localities are An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Gia Lai, Ha Nam, Ha Tinh, Hoa Binh, Lao Cai, Ninh Binh, Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa, Tuyen Quang and Yen Bai, Binh Duong, Hung Yen, Dien Bien and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.


Daily Covid-19 patient counts fall by over 500

Vietnam confirmed 9,180 more Covid-19 infections on Friday, which represents a fall of nearly 500 cases compared to Thursday's figure, according to the Ministry of Health.













Covid-19 patients are being treated at the Field Hospital 6 in Ho Chi Minh City

According to the ministry's report, 9,150 of the newly-confirmed patients are locally-transmitted cases most of whom were detected in quarantine sites or areas under lockdown in some localities such as Ho Chi Minh City (3,531 cases), Binh Duong (2,816), Dong Nai (808), Long An (623), Khanh Hoa (243), Dong Thap (152), Can Tho (142), Tra Vinh (140), Hanoi (97), Vinh Long (71), Ba Ria - Vung Tau (69), Phu Yen (64), and An Giang (61). Among these new infections, 1,999 cases were found in the community. There were 30 imported patients recorded.



Ho Chi Minh City continued to report the highest number of new infections in the country. On Thursday, the city also recorded 3,841 new patients, the majority of which are individuals who came into contact with confirmed Covid-19 patients or who were detected in either isolation and locked down areas. Social distancing rules are being further tightened in the city to contain the spread of the virus. The government has set a target for HCM City to contain its Covid-19 outbreak by September 15.



As of Friday evening, 251,753 locally-transmitted cases have been reported since the new outbreak occurred in the country on April 27, including 140,539 in the virus hotspot of Ho Chi Minh City. The outbreak has so far spread to 62 cities and provinces nationwide.



With these new infection cases, the number of Covid-19 patients in Vietnam has increased to 255,748. The country stands 80th among 222 countries and territories worldwide in the number of infections.



On August 13, a total of 3,593 more patients were released from hospital following their full recovery, raising the number of recoveries in the country to 92,738 .



Also on Thursday evening, a further 275 deaths related to Covid-19 were announced, bringing the total number of fatalities in Vietnam to 5,088. The deaths were reported in Ho Chi Minh City (223 cases), Binh Duong (25), Tien Giang (8), Dong Thap (4), Ben Tre (3), Binh Thuan (3), Dong Nai (3), Long An (3), Khanh Hoa (2 ), and Can Tho (1).



The country has so far conducted over 13.25 million Covid-19 vaccine shots, with over 1.20 million people having received two doses.



Ho Chi Minh City on August 13 started to use one million doses of Sinopharm's Covid-19 vaccine Vero Cell for its current vaccination campaign. The city aims to vaccinate 70 percent of its residents aged 18 and above within this month.


China's Xinjiang now has over 10,000 5G base stations

Xinhua) 14:34, August 13, 2021

URUMQI, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has built 10,490 5G base stations to date, amid efforts to accelerate the upgrade of its digital infrastructure, local authorities said on Friday.

In the first half of 2021, the region has invested more than 1 billion yuan (about 154 million U.S. dollars) to accelerate the construction and development of its 5G infrastructure and facilities.

By the end of this year, all the main urban areas of Xinjiang's prefecture-level cities, all its counties and major scenic spots are expected to be covered by the network, said the regional communications administration.

China has taken a global lead in 5G development and completed the construction of the world's largest 5G standalone network, with some 961,000 5G base stations built as of July 18.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Rescued Tibetan antelopes give birth

Xinhua) 16:59, August 13, 2021

Screenshot/ Xinhua

XINING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Two Tibetan antelopes rescued in 2018 in northwest China's Hoh Xil nature reserve have given birth to two calves, marking the local wildlife rescue center's success in semi-free-range breeding of the species over the past 11 years.

The babies were born with the help of the Hoh Xil wildlife rescue center on June 26 and 30.

Patrol staff were tasked with observing the activities of the young ones and their mothers every morning and afternoon using binoculars so as to protect them from attacks by other wild animals and shield them from human activities.

The antelopes and their babies will be released into the wild once they meet specific health conditions, said the center.

The species, mostly found in Tibet Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is under first-class state protection in China and plays a key role in maintaining ecological balance on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Of late, the status of Tibetan antelopes in China has been downgraded from "endangered" to "near threatened" amid the country's anti-poaching and biodiversity protection efforts, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
YINCHUAN, Aug. 13 -- The live-fire drill of joint exercise ZAPAD/INTERACTION-2021 kicked off at the combined-arms tactical training base of the PLA Army in Qingtongxia City of West China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on August 13.

Since the beginning of the exercise on August 9, the joint command of the Chinese and Russian armed forces has held four meetings, in which both sides have had thorough communications and analyses about the mission, and drafted multiple operational plans.

According to Huang Hongyuan, deputy director of the Operations Bureau of the Joint Staff Department of the PLA Western Theater Command, the Chinese and Russian armed forces conducted multiple drills on August 12, focusing on operations grouping, combat deployment, joint reconnaissance and early warning, and revising the operational plans revision, in a bid to lay a solid foundation for the live-fire drill.

In the past few days, the Chinese and Russian armed forces have got well prepared for the following realistic operations by strengthening targeted training in each combat group. With the help of the Chinese teaching group, the Russian participating members who used armored assault vehicles, wheeled infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and other main battle equipment provided by China for the first time have mastered the essentials, with their shooting performance greatly improved. In addition, the air forces involved from both sides have also conducted multiple table-top drill and on-site coordinated training, striving to perform perfectly in the live-fire drill.
After the active phase of Sibu/Interaction 2021 exercise at a meeting of the heads of the military departments of Russia and China, the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, said that building up cooperation between the Russian and Chinese armed forces on land, in the air and at sea is an important area of military activity. departments of the two countries.

The practice of holding joint operational and combat training activities between Russia and China has become regular. We have achieved high level of interaction between our armed forces on land, in the air and at sea. Its build-up is an important area of further activity, said General of the Army Sergei Shoigu.

Sergei Shoigu also said: We are holding this kind of event on the territory of China with the participation of the Russian military contingent for the first time, which was a logical continuation of our joint work, which began during Vostok 2018 maneuvers of troops and forces, Center 2019 and Kavkaz 2020 strategic exercises.

Then the Russian Defence Minister noted that the armed forces of the Russian Federation and the PRC have been participating in the Peace Mission anti-terrorist exercise for many years, annually carrying out joint air patrols by long-range aircraft, and conducting the Russian-Chinese naval exercises Sea Interaction.

In conclusion, the Russian Defence Minister noted that the practical interaction of the Russian Armed Forces and the People's Liberation Army of China is reaching a qualitatively new level, which contributes to ensuring global and regional stability.

Over the past few days, the Head of the Russian Defence Department has held a number of important talks on strategic and regional security with his US counterparts Lloyd Austin, China's Wei Fenghe, as well as defence ministers of other countries of the near and far abroad.
By Xiao Yongli, Yao Guanchen and Zhang Bin

VLADIVOSTOK, Aug. 13 -- At around 11 a.m. on August 12, local time, 50 Chinese PLA Navy marines arrived at Knevichi Airport in Vladivostok, Russia, via military transport aircraft to participate in the "Seaborne Assault" competition of the International Army Games (IAG) 2021.

The Chinese participants will compete with their counterparts from Russia, Iran and Venezuela in the tasks of relay, obstacle course and survival path. The event is a comprehensive test of the participants' armored vehicle driving skills, weapon-using skills, and coordinated obstacle-overcoming ability.

At the same time, the PLA Navy's guided-missile frigate Guangyuan (Hull 552) participating in the "Sea Cup" event is en route to Vladivostok. It will compete with military vessels from Russia, Myanmar and Vietnam in tasks of artillery firing against sea/air targets & floating mines, barrel anchoring, damage control and sea rescues. Frigate Guangyuan, commissioned in 2017, is a new generation of light frigate independently designed and built by China.

It is learnt that the IAG 2021 will be held from August 22 to September 4. The PLA Navy has sent four teams to respectively compete in the "Seaborne Assault" and "Sea Cup" in Vladivostok, the "Depth" in Konarak, Iran, as well as the "Clear Sky" competition in Korla, northwest China's Xinjiang.

The Chinese PLA Navy has hosted or participated in the IAG abroad for many times since 2018. It has played an active role in enhancing friendship with the armed forces of relevant countries, deepening military exchanges and cooperation, and improving the actual combat training level through mutual learning.
By Qing Song

As of August 4, there have been over 200 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide in accumulation. Among others, the US ranked first with the largest cumulative number of confirmed cases and deaths. In particular, the COVID-19 delta variant featuring extremely fast spread has caused another wave of outbreaks in various countries.

In the face of a rare pandemic in history, all the countries across the world should have strengthened their will to jointly build a line of defense against the viral transmission.

However, a few days ago, some members of the US House of Representatives announced an updated version of a so-called COVID-19 Traceability Report in an attempt to politicize the pandemic, stigmatize the virus, instrumentalize the traceability, and make a subjective presumption of guilt against China.

Origin tracing is an extremely serious scientific matter related to the health and safety of all mankind. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the Chinese scientific community has gone all out in carrying out scientific researches in the face of the major proposition -- where the virus comes from while focusing on key directions of the traceability of animals, populations, molecules, and environment.

China upheld the principles of openness, transparency, science and cooperation, and gave full support to the WHO expert team in investigating the origins of the novel coronavirus. In February of this year, the joint China-WHO expert team on the origin-tracing and scientific research of the novel coronavirus arrived at the Wuhan Institute of Virology to conduct in-depth and candid exchanges with local scientists, and the expert team members spoke highly of the openness and transparency of the institute.

The origin-tracing study report of the China-WHO joint mission released has drawn a clear conclusion that a laboratory leak is extremely unlikely, a pertinent conclusion that has also been recognized and respected by most countries across the world.

However, the US has once again pretended to be blind and dumb at this particular period, allowing some unscrupulous American politicians to devote themselves to concocting political virus as a means to smear China while ignoring the severe pandemic situation in the US and the peoples calls for help.

These politicians have also vigorously suppressed and persecuted some domestic scientists of conscience and attempted to kidnap and coerce the WHO. On July 28, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, in Kuwait, reiterating the US support for further WHO studies into the origins of COVID-19, notably in China.

At present, it is urgent to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Facing the constantly mutating novel coronavirus, all countries around the world need to carry out scientific tracing to find effective prevention and response measures.

Meanwhile, the origins of the devastating US political virus is also in sore need of examining to prevent it from causing further harm to the overall international anti-pandemic situation and the generally acknowledged truth of human civilization.

Why are the US and western politicians so addictive to blaming China for the origin of COVID-19?

It is a way to divert the worlds attention. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been more and more doubts on the US, including the unexplained respiratory disease in Virginia in July 2019, a large-scale lung disease linked to vaping in Wisconsin, an respiratory disease that could cause pneumonia for unknown reasons in two nursing homes near Fort Detrick, and the public acknowledgment by the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year that some Americans who were mistaken for death from influenza were tested positive for the novel coronavirus by post-mortem examination, etc., to which the US has made no explanation so far. Instead of checking their own, these unscrupulous American politicians have been desperately shifting the blame to China in an attempt to divert the attention of the world.

It is a way to divert the antagonistic problems at home. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic has kept spreading in the US which is hard to control now, and domestic racial conflicts, human rights violations, and unfair distribution have also been inflated, with many ordinary people yelling I cant breathe. Under such circumstances, playing the China card has become the best shield for unscrupulous American politicians to divert domestic problems of various kinds.

Just as an article entitled China, A Good Scapegoat for the United States written by American economist Stephen Roach has pointed out, the US policy is but to continue to blame it all on China and act like a victim. The Trump administration has repeatedly found fault with China to divert domestic attention and shirk responsibilities for its failure to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, from which obviously, the current US government has also found inspiration.
Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe (R) and Russian Defense Minister General Sergei Shoigu pose for a group photo during the live-fire drill of the China-Russia joint exercise ZAPAD/INTERACTION-2021 (Xibu Unity-2021) on August 13, 2021.

By Lyu Desheng and Zhang Xiaoyu

YINCHUAN, Aug. 13 -- The China-Russia joint exercise ZAPAD/INTERACTION-2021 (Xibu Unity-2021) wrapped up at the combined-arms tactical training base of the PLA Army in Qingtongxia City of West China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Friday. General Wei Fenghe, Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister, observed the live-fire drill, held a bilateral talk and witnessed the signing of cooperation paper with Russian Defense Minister General Sergei Shoigu .

The live-fire drill kicked off at about 10:20 in the morning of August 13 with more than 10 thousand troops from both Chinese and Russian sides, together with multiple types of aircraft, artilleries and armored vehicles involved. It was conducted in four stages including joint confrontation against mock enemy, comprehensive destruction of mock enemy's defense system, high-speed three-dimensional attack, and thorough suppression, pursuit and elimination of mock enemy.

After the drill, General Wei Fenghe held a talk with General Sergei Shoigu. Wei Fenghe called the joint exercise conducted against the background of the COVID-19 pandemic a symbol of the mutual support and high-level relations between the two militaries. General Sergei Shoigu stated that the Russian side is willing to strengthen strategic communication with China, deepen cooperation in areas such as counter-terrorism, and jointly make active efforts to maintain regional peace and stability.

The closing ceremony of the joint exercise ZAPAD/INTERACTION-2021 (Xibu Unity-2021) was held in the afternoon of August 13. The China-Russia joint exercise command awarded medals and certificates to outstanding participating members from both sides.
By Andrew Korybko

Nobuo Kishi during an interview in Tokyo, Japan, March 20, 2014. /Getty

Editor's note: Andrew Korybko is a Moscow-based American political analyst. The article reflects the author's views and not necessarily those of CGTN.

Defense Minister of Japan Nobuo Kishi on Thursday gave an inflammatory interview to two Australian newspapers, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. During the course of the conversation, he accused China of "unilaterally changing the regional status quo by force and coercion," flirted with changing Japan's pacifist Constitution in the coming future, hinted at defending the so-called authorities in China's Taiwan region, and called upon Australia to contain China in the region.

All of these remarks are unacceptable, showing that he is dangerously playing with a fire that he might not be able to put out.

The international community is supposed to support the outcome of World War II by virtue of every UN member state agreeing to that global body's charter. Japan is never again supposed to have anything other than the pacifist Constitution. The tens of millions of innocent lives lost at the hands of Japanese Imperialism will never be forgotten. It is manipulative for Japan to play innocent, claiming that China is the regional aggressor, and exploiting this manufactured narrative for the purpose of returning to its militaristic ways. The remilitarization of Japan under any pretext unquestionably poses the greatest danger to regional stability as proven by the precedent.

Taiwan is an internationally recognized sovereign territory of the People's Republic of China, and Beijing is the only legitimate government of the united China. The country, therefore, reserves the right to resort to whatever means it regards as necessary for completing its national reunification. At present, the Communist Party of China (CPC) is pursuing peaceful means in full accordance with its principles, but won't hesitate to flexibly adapt its approach in the face of changing circumstances, one of which could be Japan taking tangible actions to make good on its threat to defend the island's so-called authorities through military means.

Japanese General Yoshijiro Umezu signs the Instrument of Surrender Agreement on behalf of the Japanese government, September 2, 1945. /Getty

Kishi is under the delusion of long-discredited ultra-nationalist propaganda if he thinks that Japan has any right to meddle in China's internal affairs. At the end of World War II, Imperial Japan was utterly defeated by the Allies, and as a result, from 1945, Japan forever lost control of the Taiwan region, which was ceded to Japan after signing the Treaty of Shimonoseki (1895). Treating Taiwan as a colonial appendage of Japanese home islands not only condescends to locals on the island and the Chinese mainland, but is a slap in the face for the rules-based international order that emerged after that global war. It also puts Japan on the trajectory toward a possible clash with China over the Taiwan region.

The pretext upon which Japan and other countries rely for justifying their militaristic meddling in Taiwan is that a kinetic conflict between the Chinese mainland and its renegade island might disrupt regional trade. However, a simple glance at the map can disprove that notion since there's a large area of ocean to the east of Taiwan that commercial vessels can traverse for trading between Northeast Asia and the rest of the Eastern Hemisphere. Therefore, Kishi isn't telling the truth when he told the Australian reporters that "the defense stability of Taiwan is very important, not just for Japan's security, but for the stability of the world as well."

Kishi's encouragement of Australia's anti-Chinese containment attempts in the Taiwan region is also highly irresponsible. Canberra has terrible ties with Beijing at the moment due to the Australian leader's hostile policies promulgated under Washington's pressure. Australia might also dream of playing the role of a so-called "white savior" in the Asia-Pacific region, similar to how its Western allies imagine themselves in the developing world. Nationalist sentiment in Australia has been growing as a result of the government's policies, particularly those directed against China, so it wouldn't be surprising if Canberra is under similar delusions as Tokyo.

Defense Minister Kishi needs to check himself before he accidentally lights a regional fire that Japan won't be able to put out. There is no sensible reason for him to have said what he did during his latest interview. All that it does is to destabilize the region even more and therefore advance his American ally's grand strategic interests. No matter what he is convinced himself of, Japan's national interests objectively lie in following the peaceful path guided by the geo-economic policy that it has practiced since the end of World War Two, not in remilitarizing and returning to the dark chapter of history.
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Thursday the nation will not open its borders to non-residents until next year to preserve the success they have had against the coronavirus pandemic.

The nation of five million people has been among the best in the world at containing the virus that causes COVID-19. The country has seen just 2,914 cases and 26 deaths, according to the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking the global outbreak. A large part of that success is due to New Zealand closing its borders for the past 18 months to non-residents.

At a news conference in Wellington, Ardern told reporters the recent wave of infections around the world convinced her the country is doing the right thing.

"While the pandemic continues to rage overseas, and the virus continues to change and mutate, the best thing we can do is lock in the gains achieved to date, while keeping our options open and giving ourselves choices," she said.


The European Union on Thursday warned the Taliban that it would face being cut off by the international community if it seized power through violence, as the insurgents sweep across Afghanistan.

"If power is taken by force and an Islamic Emirate re-established, the Taliban would face non-recognition, isolation, lack of international support and the prospect of continued conflict and protracted instability in Afghanistan," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.

"The EU aims to continue its partnership and support to the Afghan people. However, support will be conditioned on a peaceful and inclusive settlement and respect for the fundamental rights of all Afghans, including women, youth and minorities," Borrell said. He insisted that "it is critical that the significant gains made by women and girls over the past two decades are preserved, including as regards access to education."


If each of some 14,000 vaccination centers nationwide has one dose a day left over, as many doses are thrown away daily.

A doctor in Gyeonggi Province said, "I'm trying to reduce the amount of vaccines we discard as much as possible. but I had to throw one dose away on Wednesday because there was nobody on the waiting list."

Each AstraZeneca vaccine vial contains 11 doses that must be used within six hours of opening, and if there are no further takers on any given day they have to be thrown away. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 1,613 vials or about 15,000 doses have been thrown away so far.

An estimated 15,000 doses of perfectly usable AstraZeneca vaccines have been thrown away by clinics and hospitals despite a shortage of coronavirus vaccines here.

In the beginning of the vaccination drive, many Koreans who did not fall into the age bracket that was being inoculated at the time rushed to book leftover vaccines using an app, but now there does not seem to be much interest. On Wednesday, many clinics advertised on leftover vaccines on Naver's or Kakao's booking apps, but there were few takers.

Since Aug. 5, when vaccination for 1.27 million people aged 60-74 who had not been inoculated earlier kicked off, their leftover AstraZeneca vaccines could only be given to people over 50. But people in their 50s are already being given Pfizer or Moderna vaccines since July 26, and those over 75 are also being given Pfizer vaccines.

The government's failure to grasp the situation is increasing waste. People in their 50s who already got their first AstraZeneca shots are currently prevented from receiving leftover vaccines for their second jab even if they want them.

One 55-year-old man who got his first AstraZeneca shot on June 16 wanted to get a second from leftover AstraZeneca doses ahead of his scheduled booking on Sept. 1 for personal reasons but was refused. A clinic staffer told him that authorities are barring those who already had their first shot from receiving leftover vaccines.

This was originally intended to make sure that more people could get their first jab, but since there has been no great demand for the leftovers, the restriction is now pointless.

Doctors urge the government to shorten the interval between doses of mRNA vaccines, where possible to prevent waste. Earlier, when there was a setback in Moderna supplies, authorities decided to extend the interval between two shots of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines to six weeks.

But doctors are calling for a rethink as the Delta variant spreads by allowing vaccination centers to give second shots to people three to four weeks after their first dose if leftovers are available.

Meanwhile, the daily tally of coronavirus infections stood at 1,990 as of Friday morning.
The HMS Artful submarine, which is part of the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft-carrier fleet is docked in preparation for the mother ship's port call later this month.

The carrier fleet embarked on a world tour in May, as part of Britain's efforts to boost its involvement in the Asia Pacific region.

After visiting Busan, it is scheduled to travel to Japan in September.


Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong was released under a special amnesty on Friday, some 200 days after he was jailed for bribing ex-President Park Geun-hye.

The Justice Ministry earlier said his special parole to mark Liberation Day this Sunday was approved in consideration of Korea's "economic situation."

Looking thin, Lee bowed and apologized to the public as he left a jail in Uiwang, Gyeonging Province, where supporters and protesters gathered to watch.

"I apologize for causing great concern," Lee told them. He pledged to do his best, adding that he is "well aware of all the concerns, criticisms and expectations."

Under the conditions of his parole, Lee will have to report to police if he moves house and get approval from the ministry to travel overseas until his two-and-a-half-year sentence ends next year. He faces two further trials that could yet send him back to prison.


Lujiazui to leap towards world-class financial city

By:Wu Qiong | From:english.eastday.com | 2021-08-13 17:22

As the curtain was unveiled on Pudong New Areas development into a pioneer area for socialist modernization, Lujiazui, Shanghais financial center, released its five-year plan on August 12.

There will be more than 10,000 financial entities in Lujiazui by the end of 2025, among which at least 1,000 will be licensed institutions, according to the plan.

Lujiazui also aspires to become a hub for the worlds top asset management companies, a highland of regional headquarters of multinational companies from various industries and a demonstration zone of a world-class business climate.

A national financial leasing center accommodating companies headquarters and talent supply will be another highlight of Lujiazui. Apart from that, more application scenarios and more innovation will be developed to boost fintech development.

In the following years, a leadership plan for global professional service providers and measures to boost the professional service industry will be launched, said Liang Qing, deputy director of the Lujiazui Administration Bureau of the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone, with an aim to promote a higher level of institutional opening-up and create a highland of professional service institutions. By 2025, there will be more than 3,500 professional service institutions, the plan stated.

On top of that, Lujiazui has also planned a new layout for its livable and workable environment. Apart from expanded office buildings and working spaces, it will be built into the citys No.1 business district and a top notch international consumption center. Top priority will be given to construction in small Lujiazui, the central business area, to develop its first store economy and create more quality and up-to-date consumption experiences. By 2025, it will become a concentration area featuring international fashion elements with Shanghai characteristics.

(Photo/CFP.cn)
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A roadside bomb hit Thursday a convoy of trucks carrying logistics equipment belonging to the US-led coalition forces in southern Iraq, reports say.

A police officer told Turkish news agency Anadolu that the attack took place on the highway linking the provinces of Babil and Diwaniyah and caused material damage to one of the vehicles, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) notes.

There was no report of casualties. No one claimed responsibility either. The Thursday attack adds to numerous others on the American troops, facilities and equipment.

The US interests in Iraq have come repeatedly the target of rocket or booby-traps and explosive devices attacks since early last year following the assassination of Iran top military commander Kassem Soulemani killed in a US drone attack at Baghdad airport alongside a top militia Iraq Shia chief.

Both Iraq and the U.S agreed late last month the pullout of American troops by end of this year. The Iraqi parliament following the assassination demanded the withdrawal of international forces stationed in the country in the framework of the fight against the Islamic state group.
According to information published by Korea on August 13, 2021, the ceremony for the handover, acquisition and commissioning of the Republic of Korea Navy's submarine Dosan Ahn Chang-ho (SS-083) held at the Okpo shipyard of Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering in Geoje, Gyeongsangnam-do Province. The vessel is the nation's first in the 3,000-ton class designed and built with domestic technology.

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KSS III (Dosan Ahn Changho) class submarine Dosan Ahn Changho (Picture source: Facebook account of the Republic of Korea Navy)

The Dosan Ahn Changho-class submarines are the final phase of the Korean Attack Submarine program, a three-phased program to build 27 attack submarines for the Republic of Korea Navy between 1994 and 2029. The lead vessel, Dosan Anh Changho, was launched in 2018. It began sea trials in 2019 and planned to be ready for service by 2020.

The 83.5-meter-long and 9.6-meter-wide submarine can carry 50 crewmembers and can operate underwater for 20 days without surfacing.

The new class has a submarine version of the Korean Vertical Launching System which will be able to carry up to ten indigenous "Chonryong" land-attack cruise missiles and "Hyunmoo" submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM), becoming the first submarine in the South Korean navy to have this kind of capability. It also has many other improvements compared to its predecessors built with a greater degree of South Korean technology, especially in the later batches, which will include Samsung SDI lithium-ion batteries.

A lithium-ion battery (abbreviated as LIB) is a type of rechargeable battery. Lithium-ion batteries are commonly used for portable electronics and electric vehicles and are growing in popularity for military and aerospace applications. Research areas for lithium-ion batteries include extending lifetime, increasing energy density, improving safety, reducing cost, and increasing charging speed, among others. Research has been underway in the area of non-flammable electrolytes as a pathway to increased safety based on the flammability and volatility of the organic solvents used in the typical electrolyte.
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Auburn University students have a new dining facility, The Edge at Central Dining, with literally homegrown food from the College of Agriculture, from salads with fresh tomatoes and lettuce to fish and burgers, and more.

We recently completed the construction and have already started serving, said Director of Dining and Concessions Glenn Loughridge. The Edge has nine different food stations, including one with allergen-sensitive recipes, and it features products grown on campus.

The $26 million, 48,000-square-foot facility has 800 seats, as well as dining/study rooms that can be reserved by faculty, staff or students. The two-level building is located between Jordan-Hare Stadium and the Academic Classroom and Laboratory Complex scheduled to open in the spring.

The Edge is remarkable, said Auburn junior Brady Natoli, who toured the facility this summer. Im looking forward to eating there, and I believe students will appreciate the Auburn-produced selections.

Loughridge and Daniel Wells, associate professor of horticulture, first initiated a partnership between the College of Agriculture and Campus Dining five years ago through an aquaponics project, which uses hydroponics and aquaculture technologies to provide a system in which nutrient-laden wastewater from fish production is used as a food source for plant growth, such as tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce. The Tilapia from the system are harvested and served fresh in dining facilities on the Auburn campus as well.

This summer the collaboration expanded as the College of Agriculture opened two new self-contained vertical farms that build on the aquaponics effort. These are shipping containers that have been converted into technologically advanced hydroponic growing stations in which plants grow vertically indoors without soil, getting their nutrition from water and light energy from powerful LEDs.

These partnerships are great for our Ag students and for students in general at Auburn, said Desmond Layne, head of the Department of Horticulture. We are using state-of-the-art processes that provide food in a sustainable manner.

Loughridge says the vertical farms will allow new approaches to providing food on campus.

We've had the aquaponics partnership for a few years now, in which weve been specializing in romaine lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers. Now, the vertical farms will concentrate on growing different types of leafy greens, while aquaponics will specialize in cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes. We have a great partnership with the meats lab, too, providing much of our hamburger meat.

Sustainability and working to eliminate food insecurity are also major goals of Dinings partnerships. Food products that are prepared but not served in campus dining halls are donated to Campus Kitchens, which provides food to the less fortunate in the community.

Campus Kitchens received over 50,000 pounds of food in 2019 and served 53,000 meals, so that's a huge win for the city of Auburn and the university, Loughridge added. We are proud to be able to contribute to these amazing student efforts to fight food insecurity in our community.

Plans are in the works for a state-of-the-art composting system that will divert both pre- and post-consumer food waste away from landfills and turn it into rich soil that can be used to grow more food.

The Edge is open to students, faculty, staff and the public seven days a week from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. each day, including gamedays. More information is available on the website.
With a career spanning six decades, Alan Whicker was Britains most famous television reporter. At a time when interviews were notoriously obsequious Whicker and his team wrote the grammar of the television we watch today. With a journalists nose for a story, his mission was to inform and to entertain, never to preach. His deceptively conversational style encouraged intimate revelations from the great, the good and the not so good, with penetrating questions masked in old-school manners. Often ahead of his time, Whickers reports on divorce, gay marriage and racial inequality changed attitudes, and, in some cases, changed the law. From the Sultan of Brunei to Butch Cassidys sister, the descendants of the Bounty mutineers to Papa Docs Haiti, Whickers World was innovative and adventurous.

Our celebration of his centenary features screenings of some of his memorable programmes, followed by a panel discussion with those who worked with, admired and learned from Alan Whicker.

For more information on the event and tickets, please see the BFI Southbank website
You'd think that supernovae - the death throes of massive stars and among the brightest, most powerful explosions in the universe - would be hard to miss.

Yet the number of these blasts observed in the distant parts of the universe falls way short of astrophysicists' predictions.



A new study using data from NASA's recently retired Spitzer Space Telescope reports the detection of five supernovae that, going undetected in optical light, had never been seen before. Spitzer saw the universe in infrared light, which pierces through dust clouds that block optical light - the kind of light our eyes see and that unobscured supernovae radiate most brightly.



To search for hidden supernovae, the researchers looked at Spitzer observations of 40 dusty galaxies. (In space, dust refers to grain-like particles with a consistency similar to smoke.) Based on the number they found in these galaxies, the study confirms that supernovae do indeed occur as frequently as scientists expect them to. This expectation is based on scientists' current understanding of how stars evolve. Studies like this are necessary to improve that understanding, by either reinforcing or challenging certain aspects of it.



"These results with Spitzer show that the optical surveys we've long relied on for detecting supernovae miss up to half of the stellar explosions happening out there in the universe," said Ori Fox, a scientist at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, and lead author of the new study, published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. "It's very good news that the number of supernovae we're seeing with Spitzer is statistically consistent with theoretical predictions."



The "supernova discrepancy" - that is, the inconsistency between the number of predicted supernovae and the number observed by optical telescopes - is not an issue in the nearby universe. There, galaxies have slowed their pace of star formation and are generally less dusty. In the more distant reaches of the universe, though, galaxies appear younger, produce stars at higher rates, and tend to have higher amounts of dust. This dust absorbs and scatters optical and ultraviolet light, preventing it from reaching telescopes. So researchers have long reasoned that the missing supernovae must exist and are just unseen.



"Because the local universe has calmed down a bit since its early years of star-making, we see the expected numbers of supernovae with typical optical searches," said Fox. "The observed supernova-detection percentage goes down, however, as you get farther away and back to cosmic epochs where dustier galaxies dominated."



Detecting supernovae at these far distances can be challenging. To perform a search for supernovae shrouded within murkier galactic realms but at less extreme distances, Fox's team selected a local set of 40 dust-choked galaxies, known as luminous and ultra-luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs and ULIRGs, respectively). The dust in LIRGs and ULIRGs absorbs optical light from objects like supernovae but allows infrared light from these same objects to pass through unobstructed for telescopes like Spitzer to detect.



The researchers' hunch proved correct when the five never-before-seen supernovae came to (infrared) light. "It's a testament to Spitzer's discovery potential that the telescope was able to pick up the signal of hidden supernovae from these dusty galaxies," said Fox.



"It was especially fun for several of our undergraduate students to meaningfully contribute to this exciting research," added study co-author Alex Filippenko, a professor of astronomy at the University of California, Berkeley. "They helped answer the question, 'Where have all the supernovae gone?'"



The types of supernovae detected by Spitzer are known as "core-collapse supernovae," involving giant stars with at least eight times the mass of the Sun. As they grow old and their cores fill with iron, the big stars can no longer produce enough energy to withstand their own gravity, and their cores collapse, suddenly and catastrophically.



The intense pressures and temperatures produced during the rapid cave-in forms new chemical elements via nuclear fusion. The collapsing stars ultimately rebound off their ultra-dense cores, blowing themselves to smithereens and scattering those elements throughout space. Supernovae produce "heavy" elements, such as most metals. Those elements are necessary for building up rocky planets, like Earth, as well as biological beings. Overall, supernova rates serve as an important check on models of star formation and the creation of heavy elements in the universe.



"If you have a handle on how many stars are forming, then you can predict how many stars will explode," said Fox. "Or, vice versa, if you have a handle on how many stars are exploding, you can predict how many stars are forming. Understanding that relationship is critical for many areas of study in astrophysics."



Next-generation telescopes, including NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope, will detect infrared light, like Spitzer.



"Our study has shown that star formation models are more consistent with supernova rates than previously thought," said Fox. "And by revealing these hidden supernovae, Spitzer has set the stage for new kinds of discoveries with the Webb and Roman space telescopes."



More About the Mission



NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California conducted mission operations and managed the Spitzer Space Telescope mission for the agency's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. Science operations were conducted at the Spitzer Science Center at Caltech in Pasadena. Spacecraft operations were based at Lockheed Martin Space in Littleton, Colorado. Data are archived at the Infrared Science Archive housed at IPAC at Caltech. Caltech manages JPL for NASA.



More information about Spitzer is available at: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/spitzer/main



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On Aug. 9, 2021, ESA/NASA's Solar Orbiter spacecraft passed within 4,967 miles (7,995 kilometers) of the surface of planet Venus.

In the days leading up to the approach, the Solar Orbiter Heliospheric Imager, or SoloHI, telescope captured this gleaming view of the planet.

The images show Venus approaching from the left while the Sun is off camera to the upper right. The planet's nightside, the part hidden from the Sun, appears as a dark semicircle surrounded by a bright crescent of light - glare from Venus' incredibly bright sunlit side.

"Ideally, we would have been able to resolve some features on the nightside of the planet, but there was just too much signal from the dayside." said Phillip Hess, astrophysicist at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. "Only a sliver of the dayside appears in the images, but it reflects enough sunlight to cause the bright crescent and the diffracted rays that seem to come from the surface."

Two bright stars are also visible in the background early in the sequence, before being eclipsed by the planet. The rightmost is Omicron Tauri, and above and to the left of it is Xi Tauri, which is actually a quadruple star system. Both are part of the Taurus constellation.

This was Solar Orbiter's second Venus flyby, with an Earth flyby in November 2021 and six more Venus flybys planned from 2022 to 2030. The spacecraft uses Venus' gravity to draw it closer to the Sun and tilt its orbit, swinging it up and out so as to "look down" on the Sun. From this vantage point, Solar Orbiter will eventually capture the first images of the Sun's north and south poles.

On Aug. 10, just one day later, ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's BepiColombo mission also flew by Venus. Learn more about the double flyby and see BepiColombo's images in ESA's coverage of the event.

Banner image: Footage of Venus captured by the Solar Orbiter Heliospheric Imager aboard ESA/NASA's Solar Orbiter. Credits: ESA/NASA/NRL/SoloHI/Phillip Hess

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Dili (Timor-Leste), August 13th, 2021 - The President of National Parliament of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, H.E. Mr. Aniceto Guterres Lopez received Thursday the Ambassador of Saharawi Republic (S.A.D.R) in Dili, Mr. Malainin Abba.



Mr. Malainin was received Friday also by the former President of Timor-Leste and the laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize of 1996, H.E. Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta, which was awarded to him for his work towards a just and peaceful solution to the conflict in East Timor.





Both the actual President of the National Parliament and the former President of Timor-Leste expressed their Solidarity with the just struggle of the Saharawi people for exercising its right to Self-determination and Independence.





The Saharawi Ambassador during both meetings updated his interlocutors about different aspects of the latest developments in Western Sahara; including the situation after Morocco had violated the cease-fire agreement in the territory and the new wave of systematic human rights violations committed by the occupying state against the Saharawi people in the occupied parts of Western Sahara.



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Speaker Pelosi and the U.S. Capitol Sergeant at Arms Crush and Trample the First Amendment by Arresting Peaceful Pro-Life Advocates on the Steps of the U.S. Capitol

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Stanton Public Policy Center/Purple Sash Revolution

Aug. 13, 2021

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 2021 /Standard Newswire/ -- Speaker Pelosi and the U.S. Capitol Sergeant at Arms Crush and Trample the First Amendment by Arresting Peaceful Pro-Life Advocates on the Steps of the U.S. Capitol.

This after Congresswoman Bush was allowed to camp out and protest on the steps for days calling for a moratorium on evictions.

Speaker Pelosi is making it clear she will only allow speech she approves of and supports at the United States Capitol Building. This is clearly unconstitutional and discriminatory.

Members of Stanton Public Policy/Purple Sash Revolution were leading a peaceful demonstration in support of the Hyde Amendment. Following yesterday's arrests, Stanton Public Policy Center is discussing all options with their legal team.

Photographs at end of this release show the activities of both Stanton's group and Congresswoman Bush.

Danielle Versluys (shown being arrested in photo), Chief Operating Officer for Stanton Public Policy Center, states:

"Last week, Cori Bush was allowed to protest and camp out for several nights on the Capitol steps. The U.S. Capitol Police stood by and watched, providing the congresswoman a public, prominent platform for her message about the eviction moratorium. "Yesterday, Stanton Public Policy members took our message to the very same public platform as Congresswoman Bush, asking Congress to protect our most vulnerable citizens -- babies in the womb. "Within 10 minutes, we were arrested by the Capitol Police. We were peaceful, respectful, and asking simply for the same rights afforded Ms. Bush. Instead, our message was swiftly silenced."

Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Chief Strategy Officer for Stanton Public Policy Center, adds:

"For the First Amendment and free speech to be functional all viewpoints need to be embraced and allowed. Sadly, Speaker Pelosi has nullified the First Amendment by allowing Congresswoman Bush's speech to move forward while we were arrested for ours. "America and freedom are endangered when political elites can arrest citizens in the public square just because they disagree with their message."

For more information or interviews call Rev. Patrick Mahoney at (540) 538-4741.

SOURCE Stanton Public Policy Center/Purple Sash Revolution

CONTACT: Rev. Patrick Mahoney, 540-538-4741

Related Links: PurpleSashRevolution.com

Images: Activities of both Stanton's group and Congresswoman Bush
Help India!



The National Solidarity Forum (NSF) on August 25 will remember the victims of targeted violence against Christian Adivasis and Dalits that occurred in Odisha in August & September 2008. The day is remembered to express solidarity with all victims of hate and violence in India. The NSF has also announced Kandhamal Human Rights awards for activists and groups working for human rights in the region.

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The National Solidarity Forum (NSF) has instituted two annual awards in honour of the victims and survivors of the mass violence against Adivasi and Dalit Christians of Kandhamal and several other districts in Odisha, and some states including Karnataka, who were killed in August-September 2008. The award, given to an individual, carries a cash component and a plaque. The award for non-governmental organisations and groups recognises long and sustained work on issues of human rights and civil liberties, development, harmony and peacebuilding, NSF convenor Dr Ram Puniyani said.

The awardees will be announced soon, he said.

The National Solidarity Forum was constituted by over 70 organisations and groups which came together in the wake of the violence of 2008 and worked on various issues relating to trauma, counselling, rehabilitation and advocacy for justice.

NSF commemorates Kandhamal Day on August 25 every year with mass meetings in Kandhamal, Bhubaneswar, New Delhi and other places.

In 2020, the meeting was held in virtual mode due to the Covid-19 pandemic, featuring human rights activists and noted civil society personalities discussing the challenges faced by marginalized communities with particular emphasis on the right to life, livelihood and freedom of religion and belief.

The commemoration of Kandhamal Day and the Awards function will be held in virtual mode this year.

Former Chairman of the National Law Commission and Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, Justice AP Shah, former Chief Election Commissioner SY Qureshi, and the noted film and literature personality, Javed Akhtar, will be the chief guests and lead speakers. Bhasha Singh, Dr Ruth Manorama, Dr Aruna Gnanadason, Dayamani Barla, Henri Tiphagne, and Dr John Dayal will be part of the National Webinar. The theme for the year 2021 is In Defence of Human Rights and Democratic Freedoms.

In a statement, NSF said, The malevolent violence in the Kandhamal and adjoining districts of Odisha in 2007 and 2008 stands out for its organised attack on an entire population of Dalits, Adivasis Christians, women and children among them, whose life, liberty and human dignity were violated with impunity.

In the violence, over 100 Christians were killed, several of them from the Clergy, and over 75,000 displaced. More than 5,600 homes were destroyed, apart from 360 Churches and other places of worship, and public institutions including schools, social services and health institutions which were looted and destroyed. More than 40 women were raped, molested and humiliated. Several cases of forced conversion to Hinduism were reported. The education of 12000 children was disrupted. Many continue to suffer psychologically from the trauma of the violence they suffered, NSF said.

A study conducted by Supreme Court Advocate Vrinda Grover and Law Professor Dr Saumya Uma, found the conviction rate to be as low as 5.13 % of the cases brought to court. It was a mere 1% of the reports made to the police by the victims and survivors.

The struggle for relief, rehabilitation and justice continues in courts and government forums, NSF said, adding, Kandhamal violence is a unique case of multiple violations of basic human rights and dignity of the most vulnerable groups. Justice is yet to be done and rights to be restored.
Kaufman Joins Mercy Health's General Surgery Team

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - Dr. Clinton Kaufman has joined the Mercy Health - Paducah General Surgery team caring for patients at Mercy Health  Lourdes Hospital and Mercy Health - Paducah Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine."I grew up in Henry County and moved to Louisville at the age of 15. Most of my free time was spent at our family farm in Caldwell County, either working or hunting," says Dr. Kaufman. "After watching my mother's life saved by transplant surgeons as a young child, I knew I wanted to be a surgeon and pay it forward."Dr. Kaufman attended medical school at The University of Pikeville in Kentucky and completed his surgical residency at Grandview Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio. He gained board certification in general surgery in 2018 through the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons. After training, he worked for three years at Twin Lakes Hospital in Leitchfield, Kentucky practicing advanced laparoscopy, endoscopy, and wound care."I now live here, in Paducah, with my wife and two children who are six and eight. We're excited about the opportunities that Paducah offers as well as its proximity to our family farm in Caldwell County, KY," said Dr. Kaufman.Dr. Kaufman practices from Mercy Health - Paducah General Surgery, located at 1532 Lone Oak Road, Suite 235, Paducah KY 42002. To learn more about his practice or make an appointment, please call 270-442-9463.To find a Mercy Health physician in your neighborhood or learn about the services provided at Mercy Health, please visit mercy.com.
Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe (R) and Russian Defense Minister General Sergei Shoigu pose for a group photo during the live-fire drill of the China-Russia joint exercise ZAPAD/INTERACTION-2021 (Xibu Unity-2021) on August 13, 2021.

YINCHUAN, Aug. 13 -- The China-Russia joint exercise ZAPAD/INTERACTION-2021 (Xibu Unity-2021) wrapped up at the combined-arms tactical training base of the PLA Army in Qingtongxia City of West China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Friday. General Wei Fenghe, Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister, observed the live-fire drill, held a bilateral talk and witnessed the signing of cooperation paper with Russian Defense Minister General Sergei Shoigu .

The live-fire drill kicked off at about 10:20 in the morning of August 13 with more than 10 thousand troops from both Chinese and Russian sides, together with multiple types of aircraft, artilleries and armored vehicles involved. It was conducted in four stages including joint confrontation against mock enemy, comprehensive destruction of mock enemy's defense system, high-speed three-dimensional attack, and thorough suppression, pursuit and elimination of mock enemy.

After the drill, General Wei Fenghe held a talk with General Sergei Shoigu. Wei Fenghe called the joint exercise conducted against the background of the COVID-19 pandemic a symbol of the mutual support and high-level relations between the two militaries. General Sergei Shoigu stated that the Russian side is willing to strengthen strategic communication with China, deepen cooperation in areas such as counter-terrorism, and jointly make active efforts to maintain regional peace and stability.

The closing ceremony of the joint exercise ZAPAD/INTERACTION-2021 (Xibu Unity-2021) was held in the afternoon of August 13. The China-Russia joint exercise command awarded medals and certificates to outstanding participating members from both sides.
BEIJING, Aug. 13 -- "China strongly opposes the Japanese Defense Minister's visit to Yasukuni Shrine, and urges the Japanese side to reflect on its history of aggression, correct its mistakes, and gain the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community through concrete actions," said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, in a written statement on Friday.

Senior Colonel Wu's remarks came after Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishis visit to the Yasukuni Shrine on the afternoon of August 13, which was the second visit by Japan's current defense minister to the Yasukuni Shrine.

"The Yasukuni Shrine is a spiritual tool and symbol of Japanese militarism and its invasion of foreign countries , and it honors 14 convicted Class-A Japanese war criminals from World War II who were directly responsible for its past aggression ," Senior Colonel Wu said in the written statement. "The visit by the Japanese defense minister to the Yasukuni Shrine once again reflects Japan's wrong attitude towards its history of aggression and its sinister intention to challenge the post-war international order."

"Those who can't face the history do not deserve the future," Wu stressed. China urges the Japanese side to seriously reflect on its history of aggression, keep in mind the historical lessons, correct its mistakes and gain the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community through concrete actions .

Wu pointed out that, in the recent period, the Japanese defense department has continuously taken negative actions on China-related issues. It smeared Chinas defense policy and military development with countries outside the region, conducted targeted military exercises, brutally intervened in the Taiwan question, which is purely Chinas domestic affairs, and carried out provocative actions in the South China Sea. All these moves have seriously disrupted the development of China-Japan defense relations.

"China urges Japan to abandon the Cold War mentality, follow the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan , work with China on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in each others internal affairs, and meet each other halfway , so as to promote the development of China-Japan defense relations on the right track," Wu added.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

President Berdymukhamedov wants the harvest in by 27 September rather than late October. Production is run Soviet-style. Ordinary Turkmen are exploited during harvest, children included. Any opposition, including abroad, has been silenced. Turkey backs the Turkmen regime.

Moscow (AsiaNews)  In order to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistans independence with great labour victories, the countrys President, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, has ordered that cotton ripen early so that the precious fibre can be harvested one month ahead of schedule and be available for offering on the altar of the celebration of 27 September.

The presidents decision was announced in early August at an extraordinary meeting with the heads of the regions and the various local administrations. The authorities were called to give an account to the president of the work done so far in growing cotton, potatoes and other farm products, but also of the effectiveness of the technologies used.

To make independence, i.e., national autarchy effective, Berdymukhamedov instructed his officials to provide the population with the necessary supply of vegetables and all kinds of local produce all year round. Above all, the president stressed cottons strategic importance.

Khronika Turmenistana reports that the cotton harvest usually starts at the beginning of September and the assessment of the government cotton plan is presented to the Arkadag (Protector), a title reserved for Berdymukhamedov, in late October or early November.

But this is a special year in which farmers have had to face, among other things, drought, as well as poor equipment, a throwback to Soviet times, when Central Asian republics were exploited as "cotton granaries to meet the production levels set by the Gosplan, the Soviet Unions almighty State Planning Committee.

Generally, the Gosplan developed unrealistic plans designed to show the world the superiority of its system. This led to phoney financial statements, double-entry bookkeeping, corruption, bribery and related criminal shenanigans.

In the Arkadags Turkmenistan, cotton is king, despite accusations by many observers and human rights groups that the authorities practice cotton slavery. To boost production, public employees, their spouses and children, are forced to pick cotton.

As a result, many Western companies have stopped buying Turkmen cotton to protect the reputation of their bran, while ordinary Turkmen are too afraid to protest, concerned about angering the president and his cohorts, made up largely of his relatives and faithful servants.

According to international agencies, freedom of expression in Turkmenistan is barely higher than that in Syria or North Korea. What is more, the government used the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic to further restrict information about the real state of the country.

Currently, the virus is spreading across the country with a frightfully high cost for the economy. Yet, President Berdymukhamedov describes Turkmenistan as homeland of prosperity with no traces of COVID-19.

Some protests have been reported outside the country, but the Arkadag is not losing any sleep over them. In Istanbul, Turkish authorities have detained young people of Turkmen origin for protesting. More generally, anyone opposed to the regime living abroad can expect to see their family pay a price for their activism.
by Shafique Khokhar

Rwadari Tehreek held a rally on National Minorities Day to demand an end to discrimination against Christians and Hindus. The group sent recommendations to the government. Religious minorities are not represented due to the shortcomings of Pakistans democratic system.

Lahore (AsiaNews)  Rwadari Tehreek, a human rights group, held a rally on Wednesday, 11 August, to mark National Minorities Day, as well as express solidarity with Pakistans Christians and Hindus

People of different religious backgrounds took part in the event, which was meant to highlight the difficulties minorities face and ask the government to stop discrimination against them.

Rwadari Tehreek president Samson Salamat expressed his concern about "deep-rooted religious discrimination and forms of inequality, hate speech, instigation and provocations against minorities on the pretext of false blasphemy allegations, and continuous pressure to force Hindu and Christian women and girls to convert.

Under the circumstances, it is natural that members of religious minorities feel insecure and threatened. What is more, Their voices remain unheard despite the deteriorating situation of their rights. Minorities demand nothing less than the implementation of the promises made by Quaid-e-Azam (Great Leader) Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.

In his address to the Constituent Assembly on 11 August 1947, Jinnah promised the same treatment for all citizens regardless of caste, colour or creed. However, in todays Pakistan, "Discrimination against minorities is institutionalised, said Salamat, noting that humbler jobs are reserved for Christians and Hindus.

Solving the issues that matter to minorities can only come through the political process. In view of this, Rwadari Tehreek presented a series of recommendations to the government.

The group wants National Minorities Day, celebrated on 11 August, to become Equal Citizenship Day. The blasphemy legislation, which is abused to settle personal scores, should be revised. An independent commission of inquiry should assess cases of forced conversion; and the government should come up with a de-radicalisation plan to limit hate speech.

"It is a real shame that religious minorities are not represented in the corridors of power due to the shortcomings of Pakistans democratic system," Salamat lamented. There is no direct election; parties choose their representatives, so Christians and Hindus have no voice in politics.
by Purushottam Nayak

On the Day of Protest, six Dalit leaders sent a request to the government for changes to the 1950 Order. Despite a 2004 petition, Dalits continue to be discriminated against. Several studies indicate that they would still be marginalised even if they converted to Hinduism.

Bhubaneswar (AsiaNews)  Six Dalit leaders have presented a request to Odisha authorities calling for changes to the provision that prevents Christians from enjoying Scheduled Caste status.

We humbly appeal to the Prime Minister of India to take early steps to extend the Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians as per the recommendation of the Ranganath Misra Commission by deleting Paragraph 3 of the Constitutional Order (Scheduled Caste) 1950, said Prafulla Kumar Lima, president National Council of Dalit Christians (NCDC), Odisha Chapter.

For Christian Dalits, 10 August, is a "Day of Protest". In 1950, on this day, the government denied them the right to be included among the five disadvantaged castes recognised by the government.

Christian Dalits want changes to Paragraph 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950, which excludes Christians (and Muslims) from the list of groups that enjoy certain advantages offered to believers of other religions, i.e., Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and others.

After examining the socio-economic conditions in which the Dalits live, the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities chaired by former Chief Justice Ranganath Misra, presented a report in 2007 recommending the government extend scheduled caste privileges and protections to Christians.

According to various studies, even if Christian Dalits were to change their religion, they would still suffer from marginalisation in their new religious community and their conditions would essentially not change.

In 2004, a petition was filed with the Supreme Court asking for equal rights for Christian Dalits. It is still pending. Despite all the recommendations, the government has not yet taken steps to amend the 1950 Order.

On this years Day of Protest, We wish to humbly draw the attention of the Prime Minister that, Dalit Christians continue to suffer the same stigma of untouchability and the same discriminations like other Dalits, said NCDC Secretary Bikash Kumar Bardhan.
Protesters blocked the streets of the capital after the Central Bank's decision to stop subsidising fuel imports. Now fuel could cost five times more. Hassan Diabs caretaker government did not approve the decision, causing yet another stalemate.

Beirut (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Protesters have blocked several streets in the capital in protest against the Central Bank's decision to suspend fuel subsidies.

In the southern village of Zahrani, a motorist who was trying to drive through protesters hit and injured a person.

Last Monday, at least three people were killed as a result of clashes at service stations.

Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab described the decision by Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh as "irresponsible" and illegal.

The government announced that it would not implement Salameh's decision, creating a stalemate.

Diab added that service stations will continue to sell gasoline and diesel at agreed prices in the coming days.

In a meeting on Wednesday, the Central Bank informed the government that it could no longer subsidise fuel imports because of decreasing reserves.

Many gas stations were closed yesterday, and some experts expect that without subsidies, fuel could cost five times as much.

The Central Bank yesterday reiterated its decision noting that subsidies have helped businessmen, not people in need.

Despite US$ 800 million in subsidies in July, fuel products remain in short supply. Shortages are blamed on smuggling and the government's inability to secure supplies.

Lebanon's economic and financial meltdown began in 2019 pushing more than half of the population below the poverty line.

The situation has worsened due to the inability of Lebanese political leaders to agree on a new government that could negotiate an aid package with the International Monetary Fund.
The United States, Japan, Australia and India met to discuss shared interests. Joe Biden is reviving the strategic dialogue aimed at China. For Beijing, Taiwan is the "most important and delicate" issue in its relationship with Washington. Quad countries plan joint naval exercises off the coast of Guam.

Washington (AsiaNews)  The United States, Japan, India and Australia are preparing the second Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) summit focusing on peace and security in the Taiwan Strait and naval cooperation in the South China and East China Seas.

Without being explicitly named, China is the clear target of what might become a possible Asian NATO.

In their virtual meeting, officials from the four countries also talked about cybersecurity, disaster relief, the fight against the pandemic, the crisis in Myanmar and North Korea. Quad leaders plan to hold their first in-person by the end of the year.

Boosting the Quad is a cornerstone of Joe Biden's strategy to contain the growth of Chinese power in the Indo-Pacific region.

To varying degrees, all four parties to the dialogue have disagreements with Beijing: Washington is engaged in an all-out geopolitical confrontation with the Asian giant; Tokyo has territorial disputes in the East China Sea; Canberra is involved in a trade war; and Delhi has constant skirmishes with the Chinese along the Himalayan border.

Taiwan is the thorniest dossier. On 4 August, the US State Department decided to okay the sale of 40 howitzer artillery systems to Taiwan in a 0 million deal, further shaking a frd bilateral relationship.

For China, the Biden administration's decision is an interference in its "internal" affairs; therefore, it will take appropriate countermeasures. Yesterday, seven Chinese military aircraft flew near Taiwanese airspace.

Chinas new ambassador to the United States, Qin Gang, told US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman that Taiwan is the "most important and delicate" issue in US-Sino relations.

For their part, the Quad group are planning joint naval exercises off Guam in the western Pacific later this month. The simulations are part of the annual Malabar drill.

French and British warships now deployed in East Asia will also take part in bilateral and multilateral exercises with their US, Japanese, Australian and Indian counterparts.
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Campus News

Longtime UB faculty member, diversity advocate Teresa Miller dies at 59

By SUE WUETCHER

Teresa A. Miller, a longtime UB faculty member and SUNYs senior vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and chief diversity officer for the past three years, died Aug. 6 after battling cancer. She was 59.

Before joining the SUNY leadership team, Miller served as UBs inaugural vice provost for inclusive excellence, leading the universitys efforts to build a culture of equity, diversity and inclusiveness, and continuing a commitment to equity and social justice that was evident during a 26-year career as a professor in the School of Law.

Compassionate and extraordinarily dedicated to her work, Teri upheld and promoted UBs most cherished values by helping cultivate a culture of mutual respect and equitable treatment of our diverse community of faculty, students and staff, said President Satish K. Tripathi.

As we continue to advance ideals of inclusiveness and social justice at UB, we recognize that much of what we do builds on Teris efforts to create transformative change. In elevating diverse viewpoints and backgrounds, Teri has left an impactful legacy  not only at UB, but across the SUNY system  and she will be fondly remembered by all of us who were fortunate to know her.

Professor Teri Miller was deeply committed to and a nationally recognized leader on issues of equity and inclusion, said A. Scott Weber, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.

On a personal level, Teri was warm and welcoming, always willing to share her significant expertise with others, Weber said. The UB community feels a profound sadness on her passing and we send our deepest sympathies to her family and friends.

Rebecca French, Millers colleague at the law school, called her friend just an exceptional human being.

She was warm, generous and kind, with an incisive  and at times ironic  wit paired with an infectious laugh. She was not your average academic, and many people considered her a best friend, French said.

On top of that, she had this brilliant mind  Duke and Harvard Law! And Teri loved to create and innovate. Whether it was designing diversity initiatives for the university that included programs like DIFCON (Difficult Conversations) and PRODiG, and implementing international Thanksgiving for foreign students, or declaring medium blue and chocolate brown to be the colors for the year, and preparing elaborate breakfast feasts of chicken and waffles, Teri, judiciously  but persistently  brought people together and moved projects through the system.

French noted that above all, Miller nurtured and loved her children, Seychelle, Miles and Croix, constantly encouraging them to be good human beings, aware of social justice issues and proud of themselves.

It is hard to imagine a better, more wonderful person, she said. I know that I, and everyone who knew her, feels a great loss. She made an enormous difference in the world.

In her role as UBs vice provost for inclusive excellence, Miller built the Office of Inclusive Excellence and created UBs first strategic diversity and inclusion plan.

She also developed the Difficult Conversations (DIFCON) series designed to bring faculty, staff and students together for constructive conversations about provocative issues in order to gain better understanding of the issues and different points of view, and championed the diversity learning requirement in the UB Curriculum.

Miller was promoted into a similar role at SUNY, tasked with setting the goals and expectations for diversity and inclusion across the system and its campuses. She also led the PRODiG (Promoting Recruitment, Opportunity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Growth) initiative, which is designed to increase diversity in the faculty ranks and guide campus hiring.

Miller received the State University of New York Council for University Advancement Educational Achievement Award in 2018.

Teri has been a steadfast leader at SUNY for over a two decades, building more awareness to the needs of our underrepresented students and creating a robust environment across the system that encompasses goals of excellence, equity and inclusion, SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras and Board of Trustees Chair Merryl Tisch wrote in a note to campus presidents informing them of Millers death. Her dedication has notably expanded diversity among faculty ranks and driven new opportunities that have improved recruitment for a more inclusive and diverse workforce.

Her legacy at SUNY is lasting.

Miller joined the faculty of the UB School of Law in 1995, specializing in immigration law, criminal procedure and prisoner law. She made several documentary films about the Attica Correctional Facility, including Encountering Attica, a documentary film that chronicled a year of meetings between a group of first-year UB law students and Attica inmates, and Attica: The Bars That Bind Us, which depicted the human costs of life in a large mens maximum security prison through the voices of prisoners and their family members, the warden, correctional officers and others.

She organized the conference 40 years after the Attica Uprising: Looking back, Moving Forward, and traveled throughout New York State evaluating conditions at state prisons on behalf of the Correctional Association of New York.

She also was a member of the American Bar Association task force that re-wrote the Standards on the Legal Status of Prisoners in 2010.

Throughout her career and her life, Teris unyielding commitment to promoting equity and justice has been inspirational, said UB law school Dean Aviva Abramovsky. We are fortunate that she shared that passion with us. We will carry her legacy forward as we continue to fight for a more just society.

A native of Fort Benning, Ga., Miller grew up in the Tidewater region of Virginia and in Chapel Hill, N.C. She earned a BA from Duke University as an Angier B. Duke Scholar, and received a JD from Harvard Law School and a LLM from the University of Wisconsin at Madison as a William H. Hastie Fellow.

Before joining the UB law faculty, she taught at the University of Miami School of Law and worked as a judicial law clerk at the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Florida.
Reacting against Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi's statement on Islamabad being made a "scapegoat" for the mistakes of those in Afghanistan, it's Foreign Ministry said that Islamabad should act against the secure hideouts of terrorists on its soil and cut land access to the Taliban and other terror groups.

Afghan foreign ministry in its statement said that the terrorists are benefiting from safe havens which are being used to insecure Afghanistan, reported The Khaama Press News Agency.

As per the statement, the Taliban with their recent escalation in violence defied their international commitments and are yet to break relations with global terror groups.

"The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is committed to a negotiated settlement to the crisis in Afghanistan and pleads political solution to the misery," read the statement.

Pakistani FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi has named some unnamed forces to be working against peace in Afghanistan and urged the group to be monitored.

Qureshi said that efforts are going on to hold Pakistan responsible for the situation in Afghanistan which he believes is a faction outside Afghanistan spoiling the peace process, reported The Khaama Press News Agency.

The call on Pakistan to target terrorists' safe haven on its soil comes a day after the US Defense Secretary asked the head of Pakistan's military to eliminate safe hideouts in its border along with Afghanistan.

According to Afghanistan top officials, Pakistan and its Army continue to provide a safe haven to the insurgent groups and their affiliates.

As the Taliban intensified attacks, Afghanistan started urging global organisations and to address the deteriorating situation in the country.

(ANI)

Also Read: Afghanistan Taliban War: 'Islamabad should act against safe havens'
Jobs span across sales, sales engineering, services, collaboration and operations roles, according to a Cisco spokesman. The Tribune reported in 2019 that Cisco was negotiating rent on 130,000 square feet of office space in the long-vacant old post office. The new Cisco space can accommodate 1,200 employees. The company sees the Chicago office, a micro-headquarters of sorts, as a space where teams can come together under a hybrid work model, while showcasing how our technology can power a more hybrid way of working for our teams, customers, and partners, the Cisco spokesman said.
Or that Chicago isnt even close to being the most dangerous city in America based on FBI crime data showing the number of violent crimes committed per 100,000 residents. I suppose youre going to tell me more statistically violent cities are places such as Memphis or Springfield, Missouri, or Little Rock, Arkansas. Theres no way Im buying that just because you show me publicly available law enforcement data that supports your claim. THATS MARXISM!!!
Vaccines are the best tool we have to provide safety during the pandemic, to end the pandemic, Goodchild said. They protect not only vaccinated individuals, but all the people that vaccinated individuals come into contact with, including students under 12 years old who are not yet eligible for vaccines. So weve been fighting to get CPS and the city to do more in using the school system to expand vaccination program efforts.
Boggs, who is Black, took pride in his ability to help underrepresented markets, he said. He started stealing from his clients because as both his civic and business responsibilities grew, he found himself strapped for cash. He likened his inability to stop taking money to an alcoholic who always says their next drink will be their last.
The jump in pediatric hospitalizations shows that the virus doesnt spare the young. In the 23 states (and New York City) that report hospitalizations, the American Academy of Pediatrics reports, more than 17,000 kids have been hospitalized. Nationally, at least 371 kids have died  all this despite last years shift to remote instruction. Combine delta, RSV and unmasked in-person learning, and those numbers are likely to mushroom.
There are a number of reasons why real estate transactions are targets of wire fraud. Marketing a house involves promoting the contact information of the listing agent, and its easy to use public records to find the identity of the seller. Thieves use that information to hack into the emails that go back and forth between the agent, seller, buyer and other parties. When the sale is about to close, the thieves send the real estate lawyer or title company an email correcting an error in the instructions to wire funds. But the correction tricks that party into sending the funds to the thieves bank account instead. An unsuspecting seller might not realize for hours or days that the money is not en route.
You are here: Business

China's auto consumption has continued its stable recovery, with sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) hitting a historic high in the first seven months of the year, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Friday.

In the January-July period, sales of NEVs in the country tripled from a year ago to near 1.48 million units, surpassing total NEV sales in 2020, said the MOC.

In July alone, NEV sales jumped 160 percent year on year to 271,000 units, hitting a monthly historic high, the MOC added.

Auto manufacturers sold approximately 14.76 million vehicles in the first seven months of the year, up 19.3 percent year on year.

However, sales in July dropped 11.9 percent year on year to over 1.86 million units, marking a third monthly contraction, said the MOC.

The MOC has attributed the slowdown in total auto sales since May to the high base from the same period last year as well as a shortage of auto chips.

MOC data has also revealed that China's second-hand vehicle trading market experienced a boom in the first seven months.

Over 9.89 million second-hand vehicles were traded during the period, up 46 percent year on year.
Editor's note: Since the COVID-19 outbreak over one and a half years ago, the global infections have topped 200 million while the death toll is nearing 4.3 million. In most places outside China, repeated lockdowns and massive vaccine rollout have failed to stop the spread of the pandemic. Under such circumstances, ozone, as an effective weapon with no side effects to inactivate the novel coronavirus, deserves more attention worldwide. On Feb. 18, 2020, during the initial stage of the epidemic, Zhou Muzhi, professor of Tokyo Keizai University and head of the Cloud River Urban Research Institute, published a paper titled "Ozone: A Powerful Weapon to Combat COVID-19 Outbreak" (hereafter referred to as the "February Zhou Paper"), calling for the use of the ozone to curb the spread of the disease. The paper has been reposted by many media outlets and platforms, thus promoting the ozone trials in combating the novel coronavirus.





The February Zhou Paper, as well as its English and Japanese versions, was three weeks earlier than the WHO's declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic. The paper has provided a new solution to the global combat of COVID-19 and gave a boost to the application of ozone on the world stage. The hypothesis of using low concentration of ozone to inactivate the novel coronavirus has been proved through experiments and the research and applications of ozone generators have made rapid progress. In order to promote its applications, Professor Zhou wrote three papers in a series to discuss in detail the complicated relationship between ozone and the ecological equilibrium on earth as well as the mechanism of ozone inactivating the novel coronavirus.







Ozone is now widely used in disinfection, sterilization, deodorization, detoxification, preservation and bleaching. But most people still see it unfamiliar and even remain vigilant. To promote its wide applications, we should first recognize its contribution to ecological equilibrium, clear away people's misconceptions, and help them understand the mechanism of low concentration of ozone in disinfection and sterilization.





1. The earth's protective shield





Ozone is a gas made up of three oxygen atoms (O3). It is created primarily by ultraviolet radiation. When high-energy ultraviolet rays strike ordinary oxygen molecules (O2), they split the molecule into two single oxygen atoms, known as atomic oxygen. A freed oxygen atom then combines with another oxygen molecule to form a molecule of ozone. As an allotrope of oxygen, the pale blue gas has a distinctively pungent smell. The word ozone comes from the Greek word OZEIN, meaning "to smell." So ozone is mainly created in nature when ultraviolet rays strike oxygen molecules and split the molecule into two single oxygen atoms which then combine with another oxygen molecule.





The troposphere is the lowest layer of our atmosphere, which starts from ground level all the way extending upward to about 10 kilometers. The temperature generally decreases with the altitude. Therefore, the higher we climb up on the mountain, the colder we may feel. The next layer up is called the stratosphere, which extends from the top of the troposphere to about 50 kilometers above the ground, with the temperature increasing all the way up.





The ozone layer is found within both the troposphere and the stratosphere. Because oxygen molecules are more at lower altitudes and less at higher altitudes, and oxygen atoms are less at lower altitudes and more at higher altitudes, a high concentration of ozone layer is formed in the stratosphere, but not on the ground or higher up altitudes. That is to say, the ozone concentration in the atmosphere increases gradually from about 10 km above the ground, reaches its maximum in the stratosphere, and then decreases sharply higher upward.





Therefore, a concentration of 10 to 20 ppm (parts per million) ozone layer is found in the stratosphere. Ultraviolet radiation can be subdivided into UV-A (315-400), UV-B (280-315nm) and UV-C (<280nm) according to wavelengths. By absorbing the high-energy UV-B and and UV-C from the sun, the ozone layer acts as a shield for some UV damage to the cellular DNA, thus protecting the life on the earth.





Ozone, which is created when ultraviolet rays strike oxygen molecules, can absorb harmful ultraviolet radiation from its damage to the life on the earth, acting as a shield to protect their reproduction. Therefore, ultraviolet rays, the ozone layer and the life on the earth form an interdependent ecosystem.





The time when the ozone layer reaches the current concentration almost coincides with the time when life on the earth evolves from the ocean to the land. In other words, the higher level in ozone concentration may play an important role in the colonization of life on land, as a thin ozone layer could only allow for life to exist in the ocean. To put it simply, life or organisms, which formerly only existed in the ocean to shield from the harmful UV radiation, were able to migrate on shore thanks to a higher level of ozone concentration.





It is fair to say that the massive diversification of life is only made possible with the protection of the ozone layer.





However, the use of man-made chemicals in industrial development such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other volatile organic compounds (VOC) is damaging the ozone layer and even causing ozone depletion.





This would weaken the human's immune system and increase the risk of skin cancer and cataract. In 1974, Professor Frank Sherwood Rowland and Dr. Mario J. Molina at the University of California, Irvine published a paper in the journal Nature, explaining how CFCs silently kill the ozone layer. In 1995, the two were awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry for their findings.





With increasing public awareness of the protection of ozone layer, a series of global conventions and protocols have been introduced, and ozone layer protection has become an environmental issue of global concern.





2. Angel in the sky, devil on the ground?





Although dubbed the earth's protective shield, ozone did not enjoy a good reputation and even has long been misunderstood.





Ozone smells. Although most people could not feel it under natural conditions, its smell may grow more pungent and even cause discomfort as its concentration increases.





In the troposphere near the earth's surface, the natural concentration of ozone is about 0.02 to 0.1 ppm, which is harmless to the human being and other big living creatures. As the concentration level grows, it can cause discomforts to human body and may even be harmful to eyes and the respiratory system. The FDA's maximum allowed ozone concentration in the air for residential areas is 0.05 ppm ozone by volume; the Japan Society for Occupational Health (JSOH) recommends the Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) for ozone concentration is 0.1 ppm; while the China National Health Commission has set the safe ozone threshold as 0.1 ppm.





What really made ozone "notoriously famous" is the photochemical smog, which refers to a mixture of pollutants, including primary pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC), together with secondary pollutants ozone produced in the chemical reaction of UV ray. Although NOx and VOC are the primary source of photochemical smog, the share of ozone in the smog could reach as high as 80% to 90%. So people usually equate photochemical smog pollution with ozone pollution.





Photochemical smog not only stimulates mucosal tissues like eyes and respiratory system, it could also cause sore eyes, headaches, coughing and asthma. It could also inhibit plant growth which leads to crop failure, and even cause more hazards like acid rain and visibility reduction.





Since the industrial revolution, mass emission of NOx has led to an increase of ozone in the troposphere by 300% in the past 100 years.





Although the concentration in the troposphere is merely a tenth of that in stratosphere, ozone is still the third largest contributor to global warming among all greenhouse gases, following carbon dioxide and methane, and making its reputation even worse.





All the factors above have led to a common belief that ozone is a harmful pollutant in the troposphere, and some even compare it to "an angel in the sky, a devil on the ground." Several countries including Japan have made the observation and prevention of ozone cross-border pollution in the troposphere an important research topic.





Therefore, we should clear up its reputation before promoting its use in the battle against COVID-19. It should be justified that the ozone in photochemical smog is at an unnaturally high level of concentration due to man-made pollution, much higher than the normal concentration of ozone in the troposphere. Moreover, unlike pure ozone in nature, photochemical smog consists of a large amount of hazardous pollutants like NOx and VOC.





Concentrations of ozone in nature vary by season and geography, but generally do not reach levels that can harm human health. For example, one way ozone is naturally produced is through electrical excitation of oxygen molecules in lightening. Due to ozone's purification effect, the air is usually more refreshing after thunder and lightning. Another example would be the refreshing air in the coastlines and forests because of high ozone concentration.





Therefore, naturally produced ozone is anything but hazardous to the human being as well as other big living creatures. We must recognize the difference between the naturally produced ozone and ozone in photochemical smog, and should not blame it as a cause for environmental pollution.





3. A balancing power to ecological equilibrium





For the human being, naturally produced ozone is anything but hazardous.





According to the Hypothesisof the February Zhou Paper, "though harmless to big living creatures, ozone could pose serious threats to microorganisms. As a strong oxidizing agent, ozone has always been inhibiting microbe reproductions, while also acting as a balancing power to ecological equilibrium."





Unfortunately, little attention has been given to its role in inhibiting the growth of microorganisms. One reason is that low concentration of ozone was not believed to have sanitation values.





The author made thorough research and studies as well as logic reasoning on the role of ozone in the complicated ecosystem and found out that a low concentration of ozone as little as 0.025 ppm is still able to kill bacteria, viruses and molds, if given enough exposure, according to a Japanese study.





It is fair to say that a higher concentration of ozone in the nature has balanced and inhibited the overgrowth and reproduction of microorganisms on the earth. Furthermore, it can be inferred that ozone, whose concentration varies with seasons and regions, plays a dominant role in the cycle of microbial reproduction and that it reflects to seasonal changes and controls the cycles of living creatures on the earth.





To sum up, ozone is beneficial for human and nature in both stratosphere and troposphere, as it acts as a shield in stratosphere to protect living creatures, while its presence in the troposphere also works as a balancing power to ecological equilibrium.





Only by further understanding the relationship between ozone and life on the earth can we find out the greater benefits that ozone may bring.




 Flash

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday that the country came across the biggest ecological disaster of the last few decades, as multiple blazes erupted across the country powered by the extended heatwave recently.

"We managed to save thousands of people, but we lost forest land and properties," Mitsotakis said during a press conference in the aftermath of the devastating wildfires that broke out in Greece within the last few days.

Nearly 100,000 hectares of forestry and farmland have burned in less than two weeks in Greece, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).

Among them, the catastrophic wildfires which started on Aug. 3 on the island of Evia have burnt approximately 46,582 hectares, the National Observatory of Athens said on Thursday.

"The climate crisis is here, and everything needs to change, from the orientation of the economy and the national energy policy to the State's operation and the behavior of each citizen in relation to the environment," he said.

For Mitsotakis, the climate crisis requires a drastically different approach. "The new conditions justify my choice to make the environment a national priority," said Mitsotakis, adding that a new climate law will be passed in the coming months.

Asked about the cause of the fires, and whether there was an organized arson plan, Mitsotakis said it was "certain that all the fires did not break out by accident."

Several people have been arrested over the past few days on suspicion of attempting to start fires, including some who are accused of doing so deliberately.

However, Mitsotakis said it was unclear whether this was a result of an organized plan, and noted that the hot, dry conditions aided the spread of wildfires.

He also indicated that the government would complete its four-year term, ruling out the possibility of early elections.

"The fact that we have managed many crises is a reality, but it cannot be an excuse for the government not to move forward. In these two years we have promoted important reforms in dealing with crises I believe effectively. Early recourse to the polls would be a sign of weakness and not a sign of strength and confidence," Mitsotakis said.

For the past ten days, Greece has been experiencing a wave of violent fires across the country. According to the Greek government, there have been nearly 600 fires since the beginning of August.

The fires broke out as Greece is roasted by the most intense and protracted heat wave in around 30 years, with temperature in many parts of the country reaching 42-45 Celsius degrees.

Greece is hit by wildfires nearly every summer. In 2018, 102 people died in a massive fire in the coastal resort of Mati near Athens.
 Flash

China on Thursday said that it is ready to make positive contribution to lasting peace in Somalia.

"We stand ready to work with the international community to make positive contribution to lasting peace and sustainable development in Somalia," Dai Bing, charge d'affaires of China's permanent mission to the United Nations, told a Security Council meeting on situation in the Horn of Africa country.

"Lately, the political situation has largely moved in a positive direction in Somalia. China welcomes the agreement reached by Somali parties on electoral arrangements and the official launch of the upper house elections," said Dai.

"We hope that all parties will commit themselves to maintaining national stability and rebuilding peace, strengthen dialogue and consultation on advancing the electoral process, and hold elections as agreed and scheduled," he added.

"The UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) has played an important role in supporting peace and reconstruction of Somalia. China supports the renewal of its mandate and the continuation of its technical advice and support to Somalia for the smooth conduct of elections," he added.

The ambassador stressed that China commends the efforts by Somalia and Kenya to improve bilateral relations and hopes that they will continue their contribution to the regional peace and stability.

Noting that Somalia's security situation remains fraught with challenges, the envoy said that it is of concern that Al-Shabab continues to launch frequent attacks against innocent civilians, African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) and Somali security forces.

"China supports AMISOM in its continued coordination and collaboration with Somali security forces on joint counter-terrorism operations. We hope that the international community will lend strong support to the Somali government in security capacity building in line with the Somalia Transition Plan," he said.

"China has always stood for the peace and reconstruction of Somalia. We have helped the country in building infrastructure and economic development capacity, and provided multiple batches of anti-pandemic supplies and vaccines," said the envoy.

"Last week, China held the first meeting of the International Forum on COVID-19 Vaccine Cooperation, and announced that China would provide 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the world this year, and donate 100 million U.S. dollars to COVAX," said the ambassador.
 Flash

A South Korean civic group has sued the Fort Detrick biological laboratory and the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) over the smuggled toxic substances to U.S. military bases here in violation of domestic law.

According to the Busan District Court website, Kim Hyun-joong, chairman of the Korea Fire Safety Education Culture Association (KFSECA), filed a complaint with the court in the country's southeast port city of Busan on Monday against the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases in Fort Detrick, Maryland, and the USFK commander Paul LaCamera.

The civic association reportedly held a plenary meeting last Monday to denounce the barbaric behavior of the USFK, which continued to illegally bring in toxic materials that can be fatal to the lives and security of people in the nation.

It claimed that the USFK and the Fort Detrick biolab violated the South Korean law and imported toxic substances into the country three times between 2017 and 2019.

The Fort Detrick biolab is a biochemical laboratory under the U.S. Army that had been closed in August 2019 over safety concerns.

The worldwide call to look into the relations between the origin of the coronavirus and the U.S. army lab has gained momentum. Recently in the Philippines, an online petition to investigate the Fort Detrick biolab has obtained nearly 500 signatures.

According to the data submitted in October 2020 by South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to the office of Rep. Lee Jae-jung of the ruling Democratic Party, the USFK smuggled deadly toxic substances into the U.S. military bases in Pyeongtaek, Gunsan, Osan and the Pier 8 of Busan Port in November 2017, October 2018 and January 2019.

Chairman Kim of the KFSECA was quoted by local media as saying the USFK ignored the South Korean law, which strongly prohibits the chemical and biological weapons.

Kim condemned the USFK as it imported lethal toxic substances and conducted experiments with them in secret.

The USFK has been criticized here for the secret importation and experiments of the toxic materials.

A probe by the U.S. Department of Defense, released in July 2015, found that a U.S. military lab in Utah had failed to neutralize live anthrax spores and shipped the toxic samples to researchers in 86 laboratories in the United States and seven other countries, including South Korea.

In May 2015, the USFK said in a statement that the anthrax sample experimentation program was conducted at the Osan Air Base, some 55 km south of the capital Seoul, the first time in the year, according to Yonhap news agency.

Citing the result of a joint investigation carried out by the South Korean and U.S. militaries, Yonhap said in December 2015 that the USFK's statement proved to be false as it had staged 15 experiments using dead anthrax samples at the Yongsan Garrison in Seoul from 2009 to 2014.

It was belatedly known that the USFK also brought in the specimens of plague bacillus when it imported the dead anthrax samples into South Korea.
You are here: World

 Flash

A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Friday expressed resolute opposition to any kind of agreement signed between the United States and Taiwan that carries sovereign implications or any type of related activities.

Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks in response to a media inquiry regarding a recent meeting convened by the United States and Taiwan following a so-called memorandum on maritime patrol cooperation signed in March.

The Chinese mainland urges the United States to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and stop sending wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" forces, Ma noted.

Ma also warned Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authority that colluding with external forces to seek independence will achieve nothing but to plunge the island into disaster.
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According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Well Casing & Cementing Market is accounted for $7.86 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $13.86 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 6.5%. Factors such as demand from the onshore & offshore fields in the Gulf of Mexico and continuous shale developments are some of the key driving factors for the market growth. However, decreasing oil demand from Europe is hampering market growth.

A good casing is a lining that is installed in an oil well once it is drilled and surrounds the well entirely. The casing is typically hollow steel pipe that lines the inside of the wellbore Well cementing is the process of introducing cement to the annular space between the well-bore and casing or to the annular space between two successive casing strings.

Based on the application, the offshore segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. The growth of this segment is mainly driven by the cost decrease and digitalization of the oil & gas offshore projects. By geography, North America is estimated to be the largest market during forecast period. The market is driven by the growth in alternative resources in the US and Canada and demand from the onshore & offshore fields in the Gulf of Mexico.

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Some of the key players in the Well Casing & Cementing market include Halliburton, Tenaris, TMK Group, National Oilwell Varco, Franks International (Blackhawk Specialty Tools), Schlumberger Limited, Centek Group, Baker Hughes, A GE Company, Innovex Downhole Solutions, Weatherford, Vallourec, Nabors Industries Ltd., and Trican Well Service Ltd.

Equipment & Service Types Covered:

 Cementing Equipment & Services

 Casing Equipment & Services

Types Covered:

 Cementing

 Casing

Well Types Covered:

 Vertical Well

 Horizontal Well

Operation Types Covered:

 Remedial Cementing

 Primary Cementing

 Other Operation Types

Applications Covered:

 Offshore

 Onshore

Regions Covered:

 North America

o US

o Canada

o Mexico

 Europe

o Germany

o UK

o Italy

o France

o Spain

o Rest of Europe

 Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o South Korea

o Rest of Asia Pacific

 South America

o Argentina

o Brazil

o Chile

o Rest of South America

 Middle East & Africa

o Saudi Arabia

o UAE

o Qatar

o South Africa

o Rest of Middle East & Africa

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- Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments

- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants

- Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets

- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)

- Strategic analysis: Drivers and Constraints, Product/Technology Analysis, Porters five forces analysis, SWOT analysis etc.

- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations

- Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends

- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments

- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

Free Customization Offerings:

All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options:

 Company Profiling

o Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3)

o SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3)

 Regional Segmentation

o Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the clients interest (Note: Depends of feasibility check)

 Competitive Benchmarking

Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances.

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According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Inspection Machine Market is accounted for $531.80 million in 2017 and is expected to reach $994.27 million by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period. The growing number of regulatory mandates in the healthcare industry to continue compliance with superior manufacturing practices, an increasing number of inspection checkpoints throughout the production line and high growth in the medical device industry are some of the factors fuelling the market growth. However, the high cost of machine inspection is restraining market growth. Moreover, the growing number of manufacturing facilities in developing countries is providing opportunities for market growth.

Inspection machines are combination or sequence of machines that are used to inspect the quality of the product in terms of packaging, packaging component, weight, leakage, and dimension so as to maintain consistency throughout the production line. Inspection machines are used for quality check and control, data acquisition, and data analysis.

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Based on the End User, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies segment is acquired to have considerable growth during the forecast period owing to the stringent government regulations about packaging quality and the expanding need to combat counterfeit pharmaceutical products. By Geography, Asia Pacific is constantly enhancing the growth due to the huge development in the pharmaceutical, food processing & packaging, medical device industries, and ideal government activities to advance the review of items in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical businesses in a few asian countries.

Some of the key players profiled in the Inspection Machine market include Thermo Fisher Scientific, Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, Robert Bosch GmbH, OPTEL Group, Omron Corporation, Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation, METTLER-TOLEDO, Korber AG, Jekson Vision Private Limited, Cognex Corporation, Brevetti C.E.A. SPA, Antares Vision and ACG Worldwide.

Packaging Types Covered:

 Tertiary Packaging

 Secondary Packaging

 Primary Packaging

 Other Packaging Types

Types Covered:

 Semi-Automated Inspection Machines

 Manual Inspection Machines

 Fully Automated Inspection Machines

Products Covered:

 X-Ray Inspection Systems

 Vision Inspection Systems

 Software

 Metal Detectors

 Leak Detection Systems

 Combination Systems

 Checkweighers

 Other Inspection Systems

End Users Covered:

 Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies

 Medical Device Manufacturers

 Food Processing & Packaging Companies

 Other End Users

Regions Covered:

 North America

o US

o Canada

o Mexico

 Europe

o Germany

o UK

o Italy

o France

o Spain

o Rest of Europe

 Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o South Korea

o Rest of Asia Pacific

 South America

o Argentina

o Brazil

o Chile

o Rest of South America

 Middle East & Africa

o Saudi Arabia

o UAE

o Qatar

o South Africa

o Rest of Middle East & Africa

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What our report offers:

 Market share assessments for the regional and country-level segments

 Strategic recommendations for the new entrants

 Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years of all the mentioned segments, sub-segments, and the regional markets

 Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)

 Strategic analysis: Drivers and Constraints, Product/Technology Analysis, Porters five forces analysis, SWOT analysis, etc.

 Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations

 Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends

 Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments

 Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

Free Customization Offerings:

All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options:

 Company Profiling

o Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3)

o SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3)

 Regional Segmentation

o Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the clients interest (Note: Depends on feasibility check)

 Competitive Benchmarking

o Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances

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hard seltzer industry garnered $3.83 billion in 2019, and is expected to garner $10.92 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 12.7% from 2021 to 2027. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of key market trends, driving factors & opportunities, major segments, value chain, product portfolio, and competitive landscape.

Surge in prevalence of AIDs/HIV and STIs, increase in the millennial population, and rise in influence of social media augment the growth of the global hard seltzer market. On the other hand, availability of substitute products impede the market growth. Contrarily, untapped potential in developing countries is anticipated to usher lucrative opportunities for the industry.

In-depth analysis of the COVID-19 impact on the hard seltzer Market@ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/7150?reqfor=covid

COVID-19 scenario:

The covid-19 outbreak massively impacted the market. Various manufacturers have terminated their manufacturing processes and delayed product launches and other investment activities in developing countries.

Various countries are still practicing complete lockdown to impede the spread of coronavirus. This has created a challenge for hard seltzer manufacturers.

The global market is segmented into ABV content, packaging, distribution channel, and region. Based on packaging, the market is further divided into metal can, plastic bottles, and glass bottles. The metal cans segment contributed to the largest share in 2019, accounting for more than half of the global market.At the same time, the glass bottles segment is anticipated to manifest the highest CAGR of 13.6% during the forecast period.

Based on distribution channel, the market is bifurcated into off-trade and on-trade. The on-trade segment is projected to portray the highest CAGR of 13.6% during the study period. Nevertheless, the off-trade segment accounted for the largest share in 2019, contributing to more than two-thirds of the global hard seltzer market.

Based on region, the North America region held the lions share in 2019, contributing to more than four-fifths of the market. On the other hand, the market across Asia-Pacific is expected to showcase the highest CAGR of 16.9% during the forecast period. The report also analyzes the market across regions including LAMEA and Europe.

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The key players profiled in this report include Future Proof Brands LLC, Bon & Viv, Truly, White claw, Barefoot Cellars, Ficks& Co, Nude, Kona Brewing Co., Lift Bridge Brewing Co., and Bud Light Seltzer.
A detailed analysis report of the Global Indoor Luminaires Market has been covered in the report coupled with a thorough description of each company profile with information on the H.Q, future capabilities, key mergers & acquisitions, financial outline, partnerships and new product launches and developments.

The comprehensive value chain analysis of the market will assist in attaining better product differentiation, along with detailed understanding of the core competency of each activity involved. The market attractiveness analysis provided in the report aptly measures the potential value of the market providing business strategists with the latest growth opportunities.

The report classifies the market into different segments. These segments are studied in detail incorporating the market estimates and forecasts at regional and country level. The segment analysis is useful in understanding the growth areas and probable opportunities of the market.

Final Report will cover the COVID-19 Impact and Recovery on this industry.

Browse the complete Global Indoor Luminaires Market Research Report  Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast Till 2027 @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ip/37382-indoor-luminaires-market-report

The report also covers the complete competitive landscape of the global Indoor Luminaires market with company profiles of key players such as:

GE Lighting

Philips Lighting

Osram

EatonCooper

Toshiba

Panasonic

Acuity Brands

Thorn Lighting

The detailed description of each has been included, with information in terms of H.Q, future capacities, key mergers & acquisitions, financial overview, partnerships, collaborations, new product launches, new product developments and other latest industrial developments.

SEGMENTATIONS IN THE REPORT:

By Type

Incandescent Lamp

LED Lamp

Halogen Lamp

Fluorescent Lamp

Xenon Lamp

Others

By Application

Household

Commercial

Industrial

By Geography:

North America (NA)  US, Canada, and Mexico

Europe (EU)  UK, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Spain & Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific (APAC)  China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia & Rest of APAC

Latin America (LA)  Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Chile & Rest of Latin America

Middle East and Africa (MEA)  Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, South Africa

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The Global Indoor Luminaires Market has been exhibited in detail in the following chapters 

Chapter 1 Indoor Luminaires Market Preface

Chapter 2 Executive Summary

Chapter 3 Indoor Luminaires Industry Analysis

Chapter 4 Indoor Luminaires Market Value Chain Analysis

Chapter 5 Indoor Luminaires Market Analysis By Type

Chapter 6 Indoor Luminaires Market Analysis By Application

Chapter 7 Indoor Luminaires Market Analysis By Geography

Chapter 8 Competitive Landscape Of Indoor Luminaires Companies

Chapter 9 Company Profiles Of Indoor Luminaires Industry

Purchase the complete Global Indoor Luminaires Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-37382

Other Reports by DecisionDatabases.com:

Global Luminaires Market Research Report  Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast Till 2027

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Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed.

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News Source  https://www.industrynewsengine.com/2021/02/03/indoor-luminaires-market-2021-covid-19-impact-analysis-report-2027/
Only 13 auspicious muhurats are available in August and hence majority of families are performing marriages of their children following Corona protocol fearing a third wave in the coming days. (Representational Image/AFP)

VIJAYAWADA: Apprehensions over a probable third wave of Covid-19 pandemic, limited muhurats in Sravan month and unavailability of auspicious days till October are forcing prospective brides and grooms to tie nuptial knots in a hurry.

Only 13 auspicious muhurats are available in August and hence majority of families are performing marriages of their children following Corona protocol fearing a third wave in the coming days. The lockdown restrictions during the second wave of Covid-19 prevented families from performing wedding of their children in April and May despite availability of auspicious muhurats.

The Andhra Pradesh government issued orders putting a cap on the number of people attending wedding ceremonies and other functions to only 150. Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy instructed officials to implement the orders strictly and impose fines and stern actions against violators.

The Coronavirus cases started decreasing largely for the past few weeks from earlier 20,000 infections per day to 2,000 infections per day. According to pundits, auspicious muhurats are available on August 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27 and on September 1. Pundit M Gopal Sastry said there were no auspicious muhurats till October end, hence majority of families are performing marriages of their children in a simple manner. Gopal Sastry said 50,000 marriages would be performed in Andhra Pradesh in 13 days.

A trader, R. Ajay Naidu said his relatives were performing marriages to their children on August 19, 25 and 27. He said the Corona third wave warning turned a big worry to families as they were feeling that the third wave would not allow any activity in the coming days.

An organiser S Venkat said weddings became a simple affair as the government put huge restrictions on all functions. He deplored that wedding-related trade and businesses reduced due to the Corona lockdown impact which affected thousands of people who were dependent on wedding ceremonies and related functions.

The medical and health department officials appealed to people to follow Covid-19 protocols without fail in all functions including marriages. Dr J Yasmin and other medical experts warned that there is a big threat of huge spread of Covid-19 infection due to shunning of Corona protocols and appealed to the people to wear masks, do sanitisation, keep physical distance and to shun big functions considering them as social responsibility.
Taliban fighters patrol inside the city of Ghazni, southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021. The Taliban captured the provincial capital near Kabul on Thursday, the 10th the insurgents have taken over a weeklong blitz across Afghanistan as the U.S. and NATO prepare to withdraw entirely from the country after decades of war. (AP/Gulabuddin Amiri)

Kabul: The United States and Britain ordered Friday the deployment of thousands of troops to Afghanistan to evacuate their nationals, as the Taliban overran more key regional cities in an offensive that has left the capital dangerously exposed.

The orders came as the Taliban took control of Kandahar, the nation's second biggest city in the insurgency's heartland, leaving only Kabul and pockets of other territory in government hands.

"Kandahar is completely conquered. The Mujahideen reached Martyrs' Square," a Taliban spokesman tweeted on an officially recognised account, referring to a city landmark.

The claim was backed up by officials and a residents, who told AFP government forces had withdrawn en masse to a military facility outside the southern city.

Hours later, the Taliban said they had also taken control of the Lashkar Gah, the capital of neighbouring Helmand province.

A security source confirmed the fall of the city, telling AFP that the Afghan military and government officials had evacuated the city after striking a local ceasefire deal with the militants.

The government has now effectively lost control of most of the country, following an eight-day blitz into urban centres by the Taliban that has also stunned Kabul's American backers.

The offensive was launched in early May after the United States and its allies all but withdrew its forces from Afghanistan, with President Joe Biden determined to end two decades of war by September 11.

Not abandonment

Biden has insisted he has no regrets with his decision, but the speed and ease of the Taliban's urban victories in recent days has been a surprise and forced new calculations.

Washington and London announced plans late on Thursday to quickly pull out their embassy staff and other citizens from the capital.

"We are further reducing our civilian footprint in Kabul in light of the evolving security situation," US State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters, while noting the embassy would remain open.

"This is not abandonment. This is not an evacuation. This is not the wholesale withdrawal."

The Pentagon said 3,000 US troops would be deployed to Kabul within the next 24 to 48 hours, underscoring that they would not be used to launch attacks against the Taliban.

Britain's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said London would send 600 of its troops to evacuate nationals and former Afghan staff.

Price said the United States would also start sending in daily flights to evacuate Afghan interpreters and others who assisted the Americans.

Laid down their arms

The conflict has escalated dramatically since May, when US-led forces began the final stage of their troop withdrawal.

After months of taking what were considered less strategically important rural areas, the Taliban zeroed in on the cities.

In the past week, the insurgents have taken over a dozen provincial capitals and encircled the biggest city in the north, the traditional anti-Taliban bastion of Mazar-i-Sharif, which is now one of the few holdouts remaining.

Pro-Taliban social media accounts have boasted of the vast spoils of war, posting photos of armoured vehicles, heavy weapons and even a drone seized by the insurgents at abandoned military bases.

After being under siege for weeks, government forces on Thursday pulled out of Herat -- an ancient silk road city near the Iranian border -- and retreated to a district army barracks.

Herat resident Masoom Jan told AFP the city's fall had been abrupt, saying the Taliban "entered the city in rush. They raised their flags in every corner."

On Thursday, the interior ministry also confirmed the fall of Ghazni, about 150 kilometres (95 miles) from Kabul and along the major highway to Kandahar and the Taliban heartlands in the south.

A predictable disaster

As the rout unravelled, three days of meetings between key international players on Afghanistan wrapped in Qatar without significant progress Thursday.

In a joint statement, the international community, including the United States, Pakistan, the European Union and China, said they would not recognise any government in Afghanistan "imposed through the use of military force."

Price called for a negotiated solution and reiterated Biden's frustration at the deteriorating situation, saying Afghan government forces outnumbered the Taliban by more than three to one after billions of dollars of US support over two decades.

Facing pressure at home, Biden was blasted by the top Republican in Congress on Thursday for his "reckless policy."

"Afghanistan is careening toward a massive, predictable, and preventable disaster," Senator Mitch McConnell said.
Putin plays hardball by holding Russian war games in the Arctic and close to Alaskan territory. After a US recon plane assisted British Destroyer HMS Defender, Moscow gives a tit for tat to the US they can do the same thing.

The Kremlin is not to be trifled with, is the message sent by getting close to US territory in Alaskan waters. At the same time, the US states that the Russian Federation has the upper hand in the Arctic.

Arctic waters focus on these superpowers as the contest who would be top dog in the frozen frontier, which has been ignored by the US military but not Russia.

Russia, US Tensions Escalates Amid Arctic Wargames

According to Pavel Devyatkin, an expert on the Arctic and part of the Arctic Institute (AI), the frozen region is getting warm from tensions between the two superpowers in 2020, reported the Express UK.

He described the situation as very unprecedented, with the clash over who will dominate. It comes after a hiatus of tension only recently experienced, after the re-emergence of a brewing clash that was only recently dormant.

More than 50 years ago, the Arctic was part of an interstate war so long in the Second World War.

Devyatkin said that having the Allied Navies practically in Russia's backyard, touching the Barents Sea so close to the eastern coasts of Russia, is a flashpoint that comes after the Cold War and distrust of the US intentions driving the Kremlin to action.

The Russian navy has conducted major war games near Alaska involving dozens of ships and aircraft, the biggest such drills in the area since the Soviet times. https://t.co/8L1zWbLHU3  ABC News (@ABC) August 28, 2020

Putin does not take it lightly that the Allies coolly did what they wanted in the waters off Crimea. In his mind, Russia is at unease after the intrusion. These Russian war games in the Arctic is like a cat-taking a swipe, meant for the US.

Read Also: Russian Destroyers and Fighter Jets Engaged in Drills Near Hawaii, Carrier Strike Group Deployed as a Response

Recently the US Air Force sent a flight of older B-1 Bones as a warning to Moscow. These bombers are temporarily in Norway after having finished their show of force, noted the Sun UK.

The analyst stated that the Russian Navy surprised America by having exercises so close to Alaskan waters. But, unfortunately, the current administration did not respond to the action.

It is the closest that any foreign navy has breached US territory in a long time. Putin is pushing the buttons of the Americans.

Conflict Between the Two Superpowers Unlikely to Break Out

It is the Last American Frontier, when the US bought it in 1867 when President Andrew Johnson got territory for the US, between Russia and Canada.

Much attention is on this cold frontier from Moscow and Washington with oil and gas reservoirs to help the US economy.

The Resource Development Council of Alaska said the state contribution to oil and gas is $2.7billion in 2019.

This is why Putin is keen on keeping its dominance in the Arctic as a global leader, which means reinforcing its military might.

The Navy Times has reported that Vice Admiral Andrew Lewis, America's Second Fleet Commander, reminded that laxness in keeping US presence in the Arctic would lead to an uncertain future there.

He added if the US failed, it would be controlled by Russia or maybe another player. But, Devyatkin said the concern was not a dire threat, and least likely, any fight would happen there.

Russian war games in the Arctic are like Putin nudging the US and reminding that things can get rougher if not too careful.

Related Article: Russia Launches Secret Missile, Military Jets in Test Flight as NATO Allies Practice Drills in Black Sea

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Doubt over the Coronavirus source prompted Chinese media actions to quote a fake Swiss biologist to discredit claims as not credible. Beijing has mentioned the US reports that were designed to push the lab leak agenda of Washington to prominence.

Since the start of the pandemic, doubts over the origin of the virus have hounded China as the US accused them of causing it or manufacturing it.

Foremost is that the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) is keen to deny the claims of the US and called it a fantasy.

Is the scientist not real?

Sources say that Wilson Edwards is the Swiss scientist who accused the US of putting pressure on the World Health Organization (WHO) to probe the Wuhan leak theory further, reported the Sun UK.

Several Chinese media and the state television network used the scientist to prove that the story of the leak is to push Washington's influence.

The unknown scientist alleged that Washington's re-interest in the probe has only politicized it, even the WHO, which must be impartial to all parties, noted the Express UK.

It seems that Dr. Edwards said that the international scientific community was not pleased with the US reaction.

Even the Swiss embassy affirmed that he did not exist, with no such citizen identified with no articles written and published in institutions.

A representative spoke to the Times and had this to say about the fake person, asking him to introduce himself to prove he exists. Called him a fake and asked Chinese press and netizen to ignore and delete the posts.

Most consider Chinese media quotes a fake Swiss biologist a ruse to get pressure off them if it can.

Read Also: Chinese Spymaster Dong Jingwei Allegedly Escapes China Bringing Evidence of Covid-19 Lab Leak from Wuhan Institute

More developments

To give Dr. Edwards more credibility, a Facebook page made on July 24 said he was from Bern, in the Swiss Capital, and even a profile snapshot of the Radcliffe Camera building at Oxford University.

Further investigation of the post showed it was published the same day it was made. But noticeably, it was comments directed at Chinese media.

One claim in the post is that Joe Biden wants to build US influences in the organization.

But backlash about whether the Swiss scientist is the real deal led to the suspicious removal, with a mention in Chinese media if Edwards was removed from their alleged reports.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the WHO said that the virus leak could not be discounted and said China must verify the origin of the coronavirus.

When he spoke at the G7 Summit briefs, he mentioned that the theory, despite the lack of evidence, is still in play for calling the lack of desire for transparency and help from Beijing as necessary to the probe.

Noting that working with the Chinese will help get to finally know where and how it was made or other relevant info about the virus. If there is another probe in the future, the WHO boss said it must be cooperative and transparent to conclude.

One expert intimated that China might start a manhunt for those responsible for the alleged leak and silence them.

According to Ross Terrill,83, a Chinese expert from Harvard's Fairbank Center, remarked that Xi Jinping might accept a possible freak lab mishap to avoid getting shamed. He added that China would find a fall guy and let them be the scapegoat, making those blaming China look bad.

The Chinese media quotes a fake Swiss biologist to have a way to discredit the west, but somehow, it's not working on throwing off the virus-hunters.

Related Article: Lone Foreign Bat Disease Scientist in Wuhan Lab Says COVID-19 Leak is Not Impossible

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
As the pressure in the straits is getting serious from Beijing, Taiwan is holding its biggest war games to signal it can defend itself in an invasion. Developments between the two China's are getting worse, Beijing continually looms as a constant threat.

The island enclave will have its largest drills to practice its defense should China decide to attack.

Recent activities in the South China Sea with foreign navies sailing to show solidarity with Taipei have drawn the ire of Xi Jinping. Recently, threatening the battlegroup of the HMS Queen Elizabeth as it breached into the Indo-Pacific.

Wargames asserts Taiwan is capable of defense

Taiwan's possible fall in an all-out invasion is causing tension in western countries against China, even reassuring there will be support for the besieged island. There will be live-firing drills involving all military branches scheduled on September 13, reported the Express UK.

According to Ministry spokesman Major General Shih Shun-wen , adding it will be done for five days. It states that all the preparation will make the military better through exchanges and working together.

Its end goal is to increase the defensive capability, keep stability in the Taiwan Strait, and keep the peace against a belligerent China, noted the Daily Star.

Activities during the drill will be practicing fighters in accomplishing emergency take-offs and landings. The goal is to prep military and civilian ports that Chinese missiles and artillery will target.

The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) will work to soften up the targets before their ground units enter the fray. But, keep some facilities for planes and ships still intact if they can. Taiwan holding its biggest wargames, will practice how to stop them.

Read Also: Chinese Submarines Using Underground Base in Hainan Island Captured in Satellite Photos

China's Communist Party (CCP) held a 100th-anniversary blowout a month earlier, with Xi Jinping saying that interference to retake Taiwan will bloody heads, citing the Daily Advent.

Mainland China covets the island

The CCP says that Taipei has been an independent state since World War 2, but China says that Taiwan cannot be separated from the mainland.

In 2021, Xi Jinping has cautioned the Republic of Taiwan not to declare independence for it means war, as the United States says it will stop the PLA's aggression.

Even before that, the People's Liberation Army Airforce (PLAAF) has been flying planes close to Taiwanese airspace. After the US pledge assistance, Russian sided with the Chinese military.

According to a PLA spokesperson warned Japan was not to send forces to fight back and assist, not to even think about it. Any instance will mean military reprisals against Japan, an unprecedented threat as an invitation to war.

It became worse when the used of thermonuclear devices to stop Japan in its tracks. Not only on, but more nuke bombs will be fire to make Tokyo wave the white flag.

After the Royal Naval leaves, two British patrol boats will be station in Asia in the fall. No details are available where they will be staying in Asia.

Britain wants to improve security ties with Japan, as China is prepping for a big invasion of Taiwan.

The UK is stepping up, and NATO allies are filling the gaps to help in keeping the region in the hands of Allies, not China. With Taiwan holding its biggest war games and the allies stepping up, China will not have an easy time seizing it.

Related Article: HMS Queen Elizabeth Battle Group Detects Noisy Chinese Submarines Trying to Stalk the Battlegroup on Orders of Beijing

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported that a man killed his two children using a spearfishing gun after believing they had "serpent DNA" which they got from their mother, a federal criminal complaint wrote.

Authorities said the man, identified as 40-year-old Matthew Taylor Coleman from Santa Barbara, was "enlightened by conspiracy theories, including QAnon and the Illuminati. He said that despite knowing it was wrong for him to kill his children, he was convinced they would "grow into monsters," as he tried to justify his actions.

Serpent DNA

The complaint stated that Coleman drove his 10-month old daughter and two-year-old son to Rosarito, Mexico, on August 7. The FBI said that the man killed the victims in the area by shooting them in the chest with a spearfishing gun. Authorities said the suspect confessed to the killings during an interview after he was arrested by police, Komo News reported.

Coleman's wife called the police on the day of the incident, saying the family planned a camping trip. She said that instead of going, the father of the two kids took them in their Mercedes Sprinter van, which did not have a car set and did not tell his wife where he would be going. He also allegedly did not respond to any of her text messages.

After Coleman's wife, only identified as A.C., grew more concerned when her husband was not picking up, she called the police to report the situation. On Sunday, a missing person's report was filed and police asked A.C. to use Apple's Find My iPhone feature to see whether or not she could track down her husband. The last known location that Coleman went to based on the program was the area where he killed his two children, Yahoo News reported.

Read Also: Toddler Mauled to Death by Family Dog; Father Charged with Manslaughter

When the incident became a case of suspected parental kidnapping, police alerted the FBI and sought assistance for the investigation. On Monday, police arrested Coleman after border protection agents inspected his van when he came back to the United States. The vehicle was found to have blood, but the missing the children he went out with were not in the car.

Conspiracy Theories

On Monday, a farm worker found the victims' bodies at a ranch near Rosarito in Baja California, authorities in the area said. The father was believed to have checked into a hotel in the area on Saturday. However, video footage showed the three leaving before dawn on Monday, officials revealed, KTLA reported.

On Wednesday, a U.S. judge ordered the suspect to be held without bond and set his arraignment schedule on August 31. The serpent DNA that Coleman used to justify his actions most likely referred to "lizard people" conspiracy theories that claim reptilian aliens are hidden among people worldwide.

In the last several years, QAnon and Illuminati conspiracy theorists have banded together because of how social media factors them together. QAnon mainly deals with conspiracies that top U.S. government officials are secretly killing and eating children. It also said that former Donald Trump was working quietly and tirelessly to defeat these perpetrators.

Related Article: Did a Canadian Court Case Prove That Coronavirus Is Hoax? Viral Video Claims That Lift of Restrictions Show Virus Is Non-Existent

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New information says that a bat infected COVID-19 patient zero is probable, said World Health Organization (WHO) doctor. Speculations over how SARS-CoV-2 came to infect and start a worldwide contagion have been going on since the beginning of the pandemic.

The so-called first infectee could have gotten sick because of events associated with the Wuhan Lab leak theory, which was pushed as its most probable cause.

This twist was suggested by a WHO investigator working on the Wuhan investigations.

Bats in Wuhan laboratory infected COVID-19 patient zero

According to Dr. Peter Ben Embarek, who led the not so notable initial probe in China, it alleged that its transmission via bat could have started the patient zeros ordeal. Even as the WHO did not entertain the notion at all, reported the SUN UK.

He remarked in an interview that it was either a scientist or laboratory technologist, who got too close to the bats, got infected in the Wuhan lab, noted TW News.

Explaining the virus can jump from the bat to a human as expected in earlier researches. Embarek further refined his hypothesis that someone from the lab was the first infected and not random villager who could not access the laboratory.

Wow! Patient Zero in the pandemic may have been infected in a laboratory says @WHO inquiry chief Peter Ben Embarek https://t.co/yWkwG381Ad  Ian Birrell (@ianbirrell) August 12, 2021

Embarek stressed that it might be the probable scenario to explain the chain of events in the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV).

The WHO doctor, despite his assumptions, also admitted it is all guesswork, no solid proof. China was not reliable in getting the truth when the pandemic began in 2020, and the COVID-19 patient zero infected by a bat might have happened.

Read Also: Chinese Spymaster Dong Jingwei Allegedly Escapes China Bringing Evidence of Covid-19 Lab Leak from Wuhan Institute

While investigating in Wuhan, the WHO team revealed that the team had a tough time dealing with the Chinese virologists. They made it clear that part of the Lab Leak theory is omitted from the probe.

The Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) is located close enough to the first reported patients in a seafood market at Wuhan City, stating certain factors related to possible transmission.

Since the early days, the WIV is one of the leading centers in studying coronaviruses related to bats. Evidence points to the bat virus as the nearest DNA match so far was present in the laboratory.

But, the lab is supposed to be impregnable to releasing lethal viruses in China, which is how the virus propagated and spread fast remains a mystery.

Wuhan conceals laboratory documentations on bats study

Chinese officials deny any involvement despite the laboratory activities, with leading authorities saying the viral laboratory leakage is a 'plot theory' with no merit in the probe.

But for so long, evidence is cropping up more. The idea of the WIV as a central figure in the virus is getting noticed by governments and scientists.

Embarek, a scientist specializing in zoonoses and food safety, spoke to the media when the WHO team was still in China. The lab theory was not mentioned for 48-hours, not until before leaving China, cited in the New York Post.

Lack of data was evident when the probe went to the WIV and Wuhan CDC, so no basis justified a lab leak conclusion.

While the doctor declared none of the laboratory books or documents were given for them to look over, transparency was lacking. Only a presentation was given to the WHO team, and there was no documentation on the studies conducted in the laboratory presented to the probe team.

He added that the Wuhan CDC could have been testing the bat viruses and not told anyone at all. The probability that COVID-19 patient zero got infected by a bat is possible since the laboratory is just 500 meters from the seafood market, where the cases were first found last December 2019, and the release could have been by human error, is something China is not so happy about, Embarek remarks.

Related Article: Wuhan Lab Leak Controversy Continues As Chinese Media Quotes Fake Swiss Biologist to Allegedly Cover Up Claims

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A man has pleaded guilty to a disorderly conduct charge arising from an explosive gender reveal party in New Hampshire and Massachusetts that was heard by nearby residents. Anthony Spinelli was convicted and fined $620 as part of a plea agreement made Tuesday.

In April, police in Kingston, a town on the Massachusetts border, received reports of a loud explosion. They were called to a quarry where folks admitted to throwing a gender reveal party complete with explosives. It was unclear whether Spinelli hired a lawyer to represent him.

Man charged with disorderly conduct after gender reveal party

At the time of the party in April, residents in two northeastern US states informed local media that they heard an explosion. The abrupt and loud boom shocked residents in Kingston, New Hampshire, near the quarry where the party was held, according to Manchester-based WMUR-TV. Others in neighboring Plaistow told the station that the boom was powerful enough to knock down portraits on their walls.

Several residents in Massachusetts also heard the blast. According to Newsweek, no one was wounded as a result of the explosion. A man named Anthony Spinelli of Kingston pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct on Tuesday.

When Newsweek called the Kingston Police Department, they confirmed Spinelli's identification. Spinelli was fined $620 in addition to the disorderly conduct conviction with the majority of that amount suspended for a year depending on Spinelli's behavior.

The charge brought against Spinelli was deemed "reasonable" by Kingston police, according to a statement shared with Newsweek. Video recorded by a home's doorbell camera near the gender reveal party at the moment of the spring explosion shows the building slightly trembling from the blast's impact. In the recorded clip, the sound of the explosion could also be heard in the background.

When Anthony Spinelli planned to blow up over 85 pounds of Tannerite and blue chalk to disclose the gender of his unborn child, he had no idea it would shock people 30 miles away and get international attention.

Spinelli obtained permission to conduct the now-infamous gender reveal party in a huge quarry at Torromeo Industries at Kingston because he believed it would be a safe location. The explosion site was encircled by 100-foot-high granite walls in a 1,300-foot-wide "bowl," according to Spinelli.

Read Also: Man in South Carolina Beats Odds After Winning Lottery Twice, Taking Home $3 Million Two Weeks After Hitting $40,000 Prize

Several gender reveals gone horribly wrong

Spinelli claimed he was startled to discover that the sound went that far because the boom didn't appear large enough to make such a commotion in his first interview since the explosion on April 20. When the news of the explosion made national and international headlines, Spinelli was taken aback.

According to New Hampshire Union Leader, Tannerite is a kind of binary explosive that is frequently used in target practice. It is possible to acquire it without a permit. Spinelli has used Tannerite before and believes the 85 pounds will be "about adequate" for the event.

Some neighbors were enraged, while others were terrified, believing they had felt an earthquake and that their homes had been damaged. According to Spinelli, the quarry's bowl form created a "speaker box effect," causing the sound to echo.

Per The Independent, similar gender reveal stunts have reportedly gone wrong in the past, resulting in fatalities and even wildfires. An expecting father in New York sadly died in February after attempting to make an explosive prop for a gender reveal party that unintentionally exploded. A "smoke-generating pyrotechnic device" meant for a similar revelation sparked a wildfire in Southern California in September 2020, destroying acres of land.

Related Article: Pennsylvania Grandfather Burns Himself, His Son, and Grandchildren to Death in Their Apartment While Victims Sleep





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A woman went missing after leaving a wedding, and the victim was not located by search efforts. The search party concluded that she might have been devoured alive by wild bears when they could not find a trace of her. The woman was said to have abruptly left a wedding party before making desperate calls for help.

The missing woman was identified as Yana Balobanova, 24, who called for help via her mobile after getting lost in the remote reaches of Sverdlovsk, Russia. To date, the woman has not been located by authorities.

Traces of a possible wild bear attack

Reports reveal disturbing evidence of a possible bear attack, but not just only one. The search team said the canines came across multiple brown bear scents using sniffer hounds, reported the Sun UK.

Worse was that traces of more than one of the large and powerful predators were found, which led to Balobanova being attacked and ripped apart by the beasts.

She attended her friend's modest wedding at a forest near Severouralsk, where she allegedly had a severe disagreement with a guest. The argument prompted her to leave, that she abruptly went towards the woods, which was the last seenof her.

Others thought she would be able to find a way out of the forest after the episodic performance.

A month went by, and not a trace of her was seen after she made the call for help. Authorities say that the woman must have been devoured alive by wild bears, which would indicate that the bear killed and ate the victim.

Read Also: Indian Sloth Bear Kills, Harms More People Than Their Larger Cousins

Even the Wildlife inspector Andrei Sakulin admitted that not finding her body in the forest could confirm the victim's demise. He added that it would now be impossible to find her alive.

Traces of a family of bears, a mother, and her cub, were seen during the search for Yana. These footprints led to the conclusion that her chances of getting killed or eaten alive are a distinct possibility.

Sakulin added that if any human comes across a bear with cubs in the woods, the mother could attack without warning, not even a growl.

The beast could take down the human by biting and ripping the victim apart; even running is useless for anyone. These large mammals can run up to 60 kph, grab the victim and slay with one swipe of its clawed paws.

Male bears roaming the forest could become especially deadly towards the fall month.

Sakulin said the bears could have buried the mangled remains in the soil after eviscerating the woman.

Wild bears detected during rescue operation

Yakov Balobanov, the victim's father, recalls how the sniffers got to a spot in the forest where they went close to their handlers. This reaction means the dogs have detected the scent of bears.

Later, the men handling the sweep search said that Yana could be dead and devoured when dogs sensed the bear scent. He added that his daughter has a slight chance of surviving in the Severouralsk forest, reports Pattaya One.

The missing woman made two calls to emergency services, one at night, the next in the early morning, and the calls ended. Next, others heard nothing of her since, and she was not found during the search sweep.

Natalia Volkova, head of Proryv volunteer search squad, said an older man saw her in the forest alone, cited 7News.

It might be the woman was devoured alive by wild bears and can never be found, but the hopes of her family are high despite the long shot.

Related Article: Large Bear Mauls Russian Camper to Death As Terrified Companions Watch, Survivors Walk Barefoot to Reach Rescue

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Millions of American parents are expected to receive the second round of child tax credit payments, which are set to be deposited by the U.S. government on Friday.

The second round of payments from the enhanced federal Child Tax Credit are slated to arrive on Aug. 13. While parents typically do not need to do anything to receive the payments, some may be required to take action to ensure that they are eligible to receive the money.

There are several ways to check whether a household is eligible to receive up to $300 per child.

Have you received a letter from the IRS?

An estimate by the Biden administration suggested that 97% of working families in the United States are eligible to receive the payments, according to the government's July fact sheet. Generally, qualified recipients should receive at least one letter from the IRS stating their eligibility and the total amount of payments they are set to receive.

The IRS has sent out two letters. The first told recipients that they are eligible for the payments. The second included a rough estimate of the recipient's monthly advance payments. Eligible families do not need to do anything to receive the letters.

Have you checked the IRS portals?

The IRS has launched several online tools to help Americans get their child tax credit payments. The Advance Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant is an interactive tool that allows families to check whether they qualify for the payments by answering a few brief questions.

Read Also: Stimulus Checks: New Payments Could Hit Bank Tomorrow

Users can also go to the Child Tax Credit Update Portal, which allows them to verify whether the family qualifies for the payments. This online tool also allows users to opt out of receiving the payments in 2021.

Opting out of this year's monthly payments means that instead of receiving $300 per child, families can wait until filing a 2021 tax return in 2022 to receive a lump sum of $3,600. For the September payments, users can still opt out until Aug. 30.

The nonfiler portal lets users provide the IRS with basic information about themselves and their dependents. This tool was designed for use by people who aren't normally required to file a tax return, such as low-income households.

The child tax credit was expanded by the Biden administration's American Rescue Plan as part of an effort to help support struggling families amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The amount was increased from $2,000 per child to $3,600 per child under 6 and $3,000 per child between 6 and 17.

The first round of payments, which was sent out beginning July 15, helped decrease the percentage of American families with children who reported not having enough to eat, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau, as reported by POLITICO.

Before the first round, 11% of American households with children said they often did not have enough to eat. After the first round was sent out, the figures dropped to just over 8%.



Related Article: Man in South Carolina Beats Odds After Winning Lottery Twice, Taking Home $3 Million Two Weeks After Hitting $40,000 Prize

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On Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the next stages in its inquiry into the coronavirus's origins, urging nations to collaborate and depoliticize the issue.

Official Statement from the World Health Organization

In a recently published article in MSN News, following the release in March 2021 of the WHO-China joint report on phase one research on the origins of the COVID-19, WHO has defined the next series of studies that must be conducted and is continuing to consult with the Member States and experts on future actions.

COVID-19's origins have become a hot subject after many rejected a hypothesis last year that the virus might have been created in a Chinese laboratory as a hoax. After the World Health Organization determined that there was "insufficient scientific evidence to rule out any of the theories," including the possibility that the virus was created in a lab, attitudes shifted.

All nations must "depoliticize the situation and cooperate" with the organization and each other in order to complete the study. Meanwhile, the "lab theory" and the notion that the virus was transferred from an animal are the two main hypotheses regarding the virus's origins, according to the official statement of the World Health Organization.

Read Also: China Opposes Wuhan Lab Leak Theory As COVID-19 Origin, But WHO Still Uncertain

Suggestions from the First Report of the Investigation

According to the statement, the WHO intends to put into action the recommendations from a March study, to begin first-phase research, and to create a strategy for future pandemics. During the inquiry, the organization emphasized the significance of sharing data, singling out China as a country that has been hesitant to provide the WHO access to information.

The WHO said that sharing raw data and allowing samples to be retested in laboratories outside Italy exemplifies scientific unity at its finest. It is exactly what they urge other nations, including China, to do in hopes that they can go forward with origins research swiftly and efficiently, according to a report published in FOX News.

China and other member nations have accused the WHO of being "politicized" in its inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus, saying the international body is giving in to political pressure. Furthermore, critics have expressed questions about China's security and safety procedures, speculating that patient zero, the first coronavirus casualty, may have been an unwitting lab worker who contracted the virus.

Sick Staff at Wuhan Lab Before the Pandemic

In a recently published article in The Wall Street Journal, according to a previously unreported U.S. intelligence assessment, three researchers from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology got ill enough to seek medical treatment in November 2019, bolstering demands for a more thorough investigation into whether the COVID-19 virus escaped from the facility.

Several researchers at the lab, a hub for the study of coronaviruses and other diseases, fell sick in autumn 2019 with symptoms consistent with both COVID-19 and typical seasonal illness, according to a State Department information sheet which was released during the last days of the former Trump administration.

Current and former authorities with knowledge of the lab researchers' intelligence have voiced different opinions on the quality of the supporting evidence for the judgment. It was supplied by an international partner, according to one source, and was potentially important that it needed more study and confirmation.

Related Article: COVID-19 Lab Leak: Suspicions About the Origin of the Virus Continue to Grow



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For individuals with weakened immune systems, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a booster dosage of COVID-19 vaccinations from Pfizer and Moderna on Thursday.

FDA Ammended the Emergency Use Authorization

In a recently published article in Reuters, on Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration modified the vaccines' emergency use authorizations to enable an extra dosage in select people, including solid organ transplant recipients and those diagnosed with diseases that are deemed to have an equal degree of immunocompromise.

COVID-19 cases in the United States have risen to their highest level in more than six months, due to the Delta variant. According to U.S. health authorities, those with weakened immune systems may not be adequately protected by their current COVID-19 vaccines.

Pfizer has said that the vaccine it developed with BioNTech loses efficiency with time, citing a trial that showed 84 percent effectiveness four months after a second dosage, down from a high of 96 percent. Moderna, on the other hand, has said that booster doses will be required in the future, particularly because the Delta variant has caused "breakthrough" infections in fully vaccinated individuals, according to a published article in MSN News.

Read Article: COVID-19 Booster Shots: Is This Necessary? When Will It Be Available?

Recent Studies for Immunocompromised and Organ Transplant Recipients

Only around 15 percent of patients with solid organ transplants had an immune response to the first dosage, and only approximately half had one to the second dose, according to research. A percent of individuals who had no reaction to the first two dosages reacted to the third, according to later studies. Even individuals with normal immune systems showed a lower antibody response than those with abnormal immune systems.

Research released on Wednesday backed up the benefits of a third dosage in transplant patients. It is unclear how many of those sick after immunization are transplant patients or otherwise immunocompromised, but physicians have said anecdotally that they make up a significant portion of those admitted to hospitals with so-called breakthrough infections, according to a published article in USA Today.

In a study published in the Transplantation, COVID-19 is more likely to cause severe illness in those who have compromised immune systems. A transplant patient's chance of developing a breakthrough infection is 82 times higher than the general population's, and their chances of hospitalization or death are 485 times higher.

Fauci Supports Third Shot for Immunocompromised

Last week, Dr. Anthony Fauci told the Editorial Board of a news outlet that he believes the regulations for the immunocompromised should be modified to enable patients to get an extra vaccination dosage amid the spike of new cases in the country.

Booster dosages are not required by the general population, according to him and other authorities. Although protection is anticipated to wane between 6 and 12 months, vaccinations seem to be effective in avoiding severe illness; yet the overwhelming majority of hospitalized patients are unvaccinated.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization's director-general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has urged nations to delay booster injections for healthy individuals until after the more susceptible people across the world have had their first shots. Several immunocompromised people have already taken matters into their own hands, discreetly receiving an additional dosage of vaccination, but the exact number is unknown.

Related Article: FDA Plans to Allow Third Dose of Some COVID-19 Vaccines for Immunocompromised Persons



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Aug 15,1953 First issue of The Korean Republic

Aug 15,1958 A cameraman of The Korea Republic develops news photos in the darkroom of the newspaper.

Aug 15,1965 Officials place a new signboard after The Korea Republic changed its name to The Korea Herald

Aug 15,1965 The Korean Republic changes its name to The Korea Herald

Aug 15, 1980 Company name changed to The Korea Herald

Aug 15, 2005 Koreans battle racism in Japan 60 years after end of WWII

60th Liberation Day Aug 15, 2005 Koreans battle racism in Japan 60 years after end of WWII Chang Chom-dol,a South Korean woman who was forced into sexual slavery by Japanese troops,speaks at a ceremony in Tokyo on Friday to hand over some 550,000 signatures to the government demanding more help to former comfort womenon the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. AFP-Yonhap

60th Liberation Day Aug 15, 2005 N.K. DELEGATES  North Korean delegates wave the unification flag as they arrive at Incheon International Airport yesterday for joint celebrations of the 60th anniversary of independence from Japanese colonial rule. -Yonhap

ANTI-N.K. PROTEST  Anti-North Korea protesters clash with policemen at a rally at the main gate of the National Cemetery yesterday as they protest against a North Korean delegations visit to the cemetery that honors war dead from the Korean War. -Yonhap

60th Liberation Day Aug 15, 2008 60 years of unceasing progress.A large Korean flag made of handprints from 6,000 Koreans is displayed on the ground of the Independence Hall of Korea in Mokcheon, THE NATIONS NO. 1 ENGLISH NEWSPAPER 60 years of unceasing progress South Chungcheong Province, to mark the 60th anniversary of the Republic of Korea. Kim Myung-sub/The Korea Herald

Aug 15, 2008 Korea celebrates 60th anniversary of foundation

Aug 15, 2010 Ancient gate restored to former glory.people gather in front of the newly restored gwanghwamun after the liberation Day celebrations at the gwanghwamun Square on Sunday. War.

Aug 15, 2012 Peace Statue, symbol of Japans wartime atrocities More Article

Aug 15, 2013 A tale of Korean independence fighters familythe Korean War. More Article

Aug 15, 2013 Liberation Day flash mob More Article

Aug 15, 2013

Aug 15, 2013 KH turns 60 on Aug. 15 More Article

Aug 15, 2017 Korea 2030, a new society with new challenges More Article

Aug 15, 2019 Waiting for apology they deserve More Article

Aug 15, 2020 DOKDO EVENT FOR LIBERATION DAYVisitors hold a calligraphic work that says, Morning in South Korea begins on Dokdo, on South Koreas easternmost islets of Dokdo on Thursday, two days ahead of the 75th anniversary of Koreas liberation from Japans colonial rule. Yonhap

Aug 15, 2020 Pandemic sets off changes with lasting consequences for Korea More Article

Aug 15, 2021 We Herald!

Honesty, Humanity, Harmony, Health ABOUT KOREA HERALD
The ballet "Ahn Jung Geun, a Dance in the Heaven" is performed at the Seoul Arts Center during a press event, Wednesday. Yonhap



By Park Ji-won





Poster for the ballet "Ahn Jung Geun, a Dance in the Heaven" / Courtesy of the Seoul Arts Center

"I will dance and shout hurrah when I hear the news of Korea's independence in heaven," independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun said right before he was executed at Lushun Prison in March 1910 for assassinating Hirobumi Ito  a former four-term prime minister of Japan and the first resident-general of Korea while it was a protectorate of the Empire of Japan  at China's Harbin Railway Station in October 1909.



Ahn's life and his last moments have been adapted into films, musicals and plays, but there have not been many dance performances about the national hero.



The ballet performance "Ahn Jung Geun, a Dance in the Heaven," which was choreographed in 2015 by Moon Byung-nam, head of M Ballet Company, was inspired by Ahn's last words. The dance, centering on human agony and the hero's growth, will be performed to audiences at the Seoul Arts Center from Aug. 13 to 15, while Korea is marking the 76th anniversary of its liberation from Japanese occupation, on Aug. 15. This year is the 111th anniversary of Ahn's death.



With an upgraded stage, music and costumes, ballet dancers in the performance include Korean National Ballet (KNB) principal dancer Park Ye-eun and Universal Ballet principal dancers Lee Dong-tak and Kang Min-woo, as well as freelance dancers including Yoon Jeon-il and dance professors such as Kim Ji-young and Kim Soon-jung.





Lee Dong-tak (as Ahn Jung-geun) and Kim Ji-young (as Kim A-ryeo) perform during a press event for the ballet "Ahn Jung Geun, a Dance in the Heaven," at the Seoul Arts Center on Wednesday. Courtesy of the Seoul Arts Center
By Anna J. Park







In a move to alleviate difficulties faced by local business owners due to COVID-19, the National Tax Service (NTS) announced Friday that it will ease tax verification and streamline year-end tax adjustment procedures.







"Amid the current resurgence of COVID-19, the NTS needs to assume a strengthened role," NTS Commissioner Kim Dai-ji said in an online meeting of district tax office heads Friday. "The NTS plans to ease tax verification for small business owners, who are facing difficulties from the pandemic and unbalanced economic recovery." Kim added that the tax office will take bold action in offering direct help to job creators to boost the national economy.







The NTS chief also said annual year-end tax adjustment procedures will be largely streamlined. Currently, the taxation system puts business owners through a complicated annual process.







"From the second half of the year, the NTS will implement a full-on transformation into digital taxation," Kim added.







"The core of the change is digitization of all spheres of national taxation. By incorporating technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data and cloud services, the NTS plans to create a new, upgraded normal for the taxation service."







Meanwhile, he warned of severe punishment for any tax evasion, explaining that the NTS is trying to earn the publics' trust by imposing fair taxation.


Guy Standing, author of "The Precariat: The New Dangerous Class" / Courtesy of Guy Standing



Guy Standing, author of 'The Precariat,' touts benefits of basic income, a populist idea that is unpopular in Korea



By Kang Hyun-kyung



The COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a serious blow to the already-staggering global labor market which was reeling from the fallout of the 2008 global financial crisis.



Across the globe, job insecurity has worsened with a sharp increase in employment.



In Korea, the self-employed people and temporary workers in the services sector have been hit hardest by the pandemic as heightened social distancing pushed many of them out of business or to lose their jobs.



Guy Standing, a professorial research associate at SOAS University of London and author of "The Precariat: the New Dangerous Class," observed that rising job insecurity across the world is the result of neo-liberals' ceaseless pursuit of a flexible labor market and their allegedly wrong remedies have paved the way for unbridled capitalism that only benefits the haves at the expense of the have-nots.



If a sharp increase of "the precariat," continues, he argues, what he calls "a politics of inferno" could deliver a devastating impact to society as a whole. The word "precariat" is a portmanteau of precarious and proletariat, referring to people suffering from job insecurity.



Standing says these people are experiencing four A's  anger, anomie, anxiety and alienation, adding the emergence of the precariat as a new class-in-the-making creates a whole new policy problem, whose nature is much more complicated than that of temporary or seasonal workers.



"The precariat consists of people defined not just by having insecure, unstable forms of labor relations, but by having insecure and fluctuating incomes, being constantly threatened by unsustainable debt, having no occupational narrative to give to their lives and above all by feelings of losing social, cultural, political and economic rights," he said in a recent email interview with The Korea Times.



"They have to do a lot of work that does not get counted as work and they feel like supplicants even in their own country, having to rely on charity or discretionary actions by others."





Guy Standing's Special COVID-19 edition of "The Precariat: The New Dangerous Class"
North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon / Yonhap



North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon on Friday accused the United States of meddling in Cuba's internal affairs and instigating anti-government demonstrations to bring down the Caribbean country.



Ri made the remarks in a rare statement released on the ministry's website in celebration of the 95th birth anniversary of the late former Cuban leader Fidel Castro.



"We resolutely condemn and reject the latest anti-government protest that occurred in Cuba, as it is an anti-revolutionary move taken by reactionaries at the urging and backing of the United States in an attempt to obliterate the cause of Comrade Fidel Castro Ruz and to bring down socialist Cuba," Ri said.



Ri also expressed support and solidarity to the Cuban people in their fight against the current challenges, as well as "high respect" for making "vigorous efforts for socialist construction."



This marks the first time Ri has released a statement on the Cuban situation, though the ministry has published several articles blaming the U.S. for causing the recent instability.



Earlier in the day, the Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the ruling Workers' Party, carried an editorial stressing that the North and Cuba have maintained "special comrade relations" in the struggle for socialism.



"Our people will always stand in line with our Cuban brothers in the struggle to advance socialism with our banners for the revolution held high and use our best efforts to advance the friendly partnership between the two countries," the paper said.



The paper also claimed that the recent anti-government demonstrations in Cuba are a challenge by "hostile forces" to wipe out Castro's achievements and destroy socialism in the country.



North Korea and Cuba have maintained close relations since establishing diplomatic ties in 1960.



Fidel Castro visited the North in March 1986 at the invitation of late former North Korean leader and state founder Kim Il-sung.



Pyongyang has been seeking to maintain closer ties with its traditional allies amid an impasse in nuclear negotiations with Washington.



In April, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent multiple congratulatory messages to Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, expressing hope that relations between the two countries will "grow stronger." (Yonhap)


South Korea's new coronavirus infections stayed at around 2,000 for the third day in a row Friday amid worries that the daily caseload may stay above the threshold due to the spread of the highly contagious delta variant and a potential increase in activities over the weekend. Yonhap



South Korea's new coronavirus infections stayed at around 2,000 for the third day in a row Friday amid worries that the daily caseload may stay above the threshold due to the spread of the highly contagious delta variant and a potential increase in activities over the weekend.



The country added 1,990 COVID-19 cases, including 1,913 local infections, raising the total caseload to 220,182, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).



The daily cases on Friday were up three from 1,987 on Thursday. The country added six more deaths from COVID-19, raising the death toll to 2,144.



The daily caseload surpassed the 2,000 mark for the first time Wednesday since the outbreak of COVID-19 infections in the country in January last year. It reached a new high of 2,223 on Wednesday and has stayed above 1,000 for 38 days.



Health authorities urged citizens to stay home during the Liberation holiday from Saturday to Monday to contain the fast spread of the virus. Liberation Day falls on Sunday, which marks Korea's liberation from Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule.



The authorities have begun to review more enhanced measures to control the spread of the virus ahead of the start of the second semester at schools later this month.










Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum on Friday urged people in South Korea to refrain from traveling or meeting in groups during the upcoming Liberation Day holiday season, as the nation struggles to contain the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.







"New patient numbers have reached new record highs following the summer vacation season. Please refrain from holding private gatherings and making trips during the three-day holiday period that begins tomorrow," Kim said in a nationally televised address requesting the public's cooperation in the nation's battle against the pandemic.







Kim also warned that the government will take stern measures against illegal street rallies, saying, "No freedom or rights can precede the protection of people's safety and lives." (Yonhap)


People wait in long lines for COVID-19 testing at a public health center in Seoul's Gangnam District, Friday. Yonhap



Authorities only relies on appealing to citizens' cooperation



By Jun Ji-hye



An increasing number of people are expressing distrust in, and complaints about, government policies to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, as they have failed to contain a surge of infections despite having been raised to the highest level in the Seoul metropolitan area for more than a month.



The ongoing fourth wave of infections has spread from the capital region to other parts of the country, with the daily new caseload having reached a new record of 2,223, Tuesday, while hovering around 2,000 for the rest of the week, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA)



But the administration, which failed to predict the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus, has yet to present more effective antivirus measures to curb the spread led by the variant. Rather, it has relied only on appealing for the people's cooperation in complying with its current measures.



Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum once again asked people to cooperate with the government's quarantine efforts, calling for everyone to stay home during the National Liberation Day long weekend from Saturday to Monday.



"The government asks the people to minimize their meetings and activities, and stay home with family members during the three-day holiday," Kim said in a statement to the nation Friday.



"The United States, Japan and Israel have seen increasing infections due to the spread of the Delta variant that has become the dominant strain in Korea as well. The current crisis could also affect the government's decision to expand in-person classes for students in the fall semester."



Kim called for companies to encourage employees to work from home and check those who come back from their summer vacation to see if they have any symptoms associated with COVID-19 such as fever.





Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum calls for the nation's cooperation in antivirus measures at the Government Complex Seoul, Friday. Yonhap
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, left, walks out of the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, Friday, after being released on parole. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



Moon stresses 'national interest,' asks for 'public understanding'



By Nam Hyun-woo



President Moon Jae-in asked for "public understanding" Friday on Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong's release from prison, in response to growing criticisms from liberal civic groups that the President has abandoned the "value of fairness and justice" which had been a major part of his election campaign platform.



"I am fully aware of the pros and cons regarding Vice Chairman Lee's release on parole," Moon was quoted as saying by senior presidential secretary for public communication Park Soo-hyun in a press briefing. "I accept the release as a choice for the national interest and hope for the public to understand it."



Moon said that those opposing Lee's parole are also saying the right things, but the people who called for Lee's parole are expecting him to play a role in developing the semiconductor industry and helping the nation secure more COVID-19 vaccines.





Park Soo-hyun, senior presidential secretary for public communication, speaks during a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae, Friday. Yonhap



The comment came hours after Lee was released on parole from the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, four days after the Ministry of Justice granted parole to Lee and 809 other inmates marking National Liberation Day on Aug. 15.



Lee, the head of Korea's largest conglomerate, has been in prison since January after a guilty verdict was confirmed on charges of bribery and embezzlement involving impeached and jailed former President Park Geun-hye. The bribery scandal resulted in nationwide candlelit rallies from 2016 to 2017, playing a pivotal role in ousting Park and Moon being elected.



After the ministry announced Lee's release plan, calls have been growing from liberal civic groups and progressive politicians for Moon to explain the rationale behind the decision, but the presidential office kept silent on the issue, saying it was a decision by the justice ministry's parole commission.





Members of civic groups supporting and opposing Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong's parole stage protests in front of the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, Friday, when Lee was released from te prison. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



Hours before Cheong Wa Dae announced its stance on the parole, representatives of 1,056 labor, human rights and civic organizations here held a press conference criticizing Moon for releasing Lee while refusing to explain the rationale behind the decision.



"Lee Jae-yong, who is an accomplice in former President Park's scandal, was released," they said during the press conference near Cheong Wa Dae. "It took only 207 days for the criminal to be freed. The 'spirit of candlelight,' which had filled the plazas near Cheong Wa Dae, is now gone, along with fairness and justice. The remainders are only the shadows of the 'Republic of Chaebol.' We will clearly remember that Moon defiled the Constitution."



National interest



As Moon asks for public understanding for the sake of national interest, debates are now focused on what will be the actual national interest that Lee will improve after his release.



"Those who demand Lee's parole have been citing his expected contribution to Korea's role in the global semiconductor supply chain, which was agreed in the Korea-U.S. summit in May, and his role in securing COVID-19 vaccines for Korea," a Cheong Wa Dae official said. "From the perspective of the President and Cheong Wa Dae, the public has such demands, and we also expect Lee to meet their expectations."





A vehicle transporting Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong enters the company's office in Seocho District, Seoul, Friday, when Lee was released from prison on parole. Yonhap




The foreign ministry called in a senior Japanese diplomat on Friday to protest Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi's visit to a war shrine in Tokyo seen as a symbol of Japan's past militarism.







Lee Sang-ryeol, director general for Asia Pacific affairs, lodged a stern protest when he met with Naoki Kumagai, deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, the ministry said in a release.







Kishi, along with Yasutoshi Nishimura, economic and fiscal policy minister, visited the controversial Yasukuni Shrine earlier in the day to pay respects to the war dead, according to Japanese news outlets.







Lee told Kumagai that it is "deplorable" that Kishi has visited the shrine that "honors the war criminals and beautifies the colonial past and wars of aggression."







Lee said that the visit amounts to damaging the trust between South Korea and Japan, urging the Japanese leadership to squarely face history and show by action their genuine atonement for past wrongdoings.







South Korea's defense ministry also expressed deep concern and regret over Kishi's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, saying that it came despite Seoul's repeated calls for the two countries to work together in generating a "future-oriented" way forward for their bilateral ties while looking squarely at the dark history.







"It is really deplorable that Defense Minister Kishi went ahead with the visit to the Yasukuni Shrine that beatifies Japan's past colonial invasion and war of aggression and enshrines war criminals," the ministry said in a message sent to reporters.







Yasukuni Shrine honors Japan's war dead, including 14 Class A war criminals. Visits to the shrine by Japanese leaders have drawn strong condemnation from Asian neighbors, including South Korea, as they suffered from Japanese aggression in the early to mid-20th century and view such visits as an attempt to beautify the country's militaristic past. (Yonhap)






Samsung group's de facto leader Lee Jae-yong was released on parole Friday, seven months after he was imprisoned over bribery. Yonhap



Samsung group's de facto leader Lee Jae-yong was released on parole Friday, seven months after he was imprisoned over bribery.



The vice chairman of Samsung Electronics Co. offered a public apology, leaving the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, 25 kilometers south of Seoul, where his supporters, as well as protestors, had been waiting for the tycoon to come out.





The vice chairman of Samsung Electronics Co. offered a public apology, leaving the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, 25 kilometers south of Seoul, where his supporters, as well as protestors, had been waiting for the tycoon to come out. Yonhap



"I apologize for causing people great concern," Lee said, briefly speaking to reporters. "I am well aware of those concerns, criticisms and expectations of me."



He was among 810 inmates who were granted parole by the Ministry of Justice in celebration of the Aug. 15 Liberation Day.









Some activists strongly complained about Lee's early release, which they said showed excessive leniency toward him for his corruption.



Lee had been serving time since he was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison by the Seoul High Court on Jan. 18 in a retrial of a bribery case involving former President Park Geun-hye.



He was convicted of bribing Park and her longtime friend to win government support for a smooth father-to-son transfer of managerial power at the conglomerate.





Lee had been serving time since he was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison by the Seoul High Court on Jan. 18 in a retrial of a bribery case involving former President Park Geun-hye. Yonhap
Ottogi Chairman Ham Young-joon / Courtesy of Ottogi





By Kim Jae-heun







Nine food firms here including Ottogi have been found to be selling horseradish mislabeled as Japanese wasabi. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has decided to take administrative measures against them.







The ministry last week that the nine companies were in violation of the Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods.







"We will continue to inspect food companies that deceive customers by falsely labeling their products," the food ministry official said.







The five wasabi manufacturers either used only or mainly horseradish,  which costs five to 10 times less than wasabi  to produce their spicy food paste. The food ministry classifies horseradish and wasabi as different vegetable ingredients under its food standards.







Horseradish root is included in cheap, fake wasabi products, while real wasabi paste is made of Japanese wasabi stem.







Ottogi, specifically, sold five "wasabi" pastes made of 20 percent to 75 percent horseradish and horseradish powder between November 2020 and July 2021. The food giant failed to mention the amount of horseradish powder on the product labels. The ministry sees Ottogi has produced some 321 tons of horseradish paste valued at 3.14 billion won ($2.7 million).







Ottogi maintains its innocence, though.







"It is not true that we have changed our food materials. We should've marked that we used horseradish we imported from the West, but the government ordered us to label the specific origin of the food material used only starting at the end of last year. We will ensure clear labeling from Aug. 16," an Ottogi official said.







Another food firm Woomtree also sold 11 products it labeled as "100 percent wasabi," which were produced in the same period using 15 percent to 90 percent horseradish. Woomtree manufactured some 457 tons of horseradish products worth 3.21 billion won and sold them to 50 retailers here including E-mart, Lotte Mart and Homeplus.







Daeryuk Food made two wasabi pastes with 90.99 percent and 95.93 percent horseradish powder each and sold them online this year between March and June.







Other food manufacturers involved in the wasabi mislabeling are Nokmiwon and Ajujon.







The food ministry said it will request local governments to take administrative measures against four entities that sold food companies' fake wasabi products.


Nongshim's Seafood Ramyun / Courtesy of Nongshim





By Kim Jae-heun







The carcinogen ethylene oxide has been found in Nongshim's Seafood Ramyun packets that are exported to Europe, leading the country's top instant noodle-maker to recall the product from the region as it investigates the source of the "contamination."







According to the European Commission's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), Thursday, ethylene oxide was found in Nongshim's instant noodles sold in Germany. Ethylene oxide, which is often used as a surface disinfectant and sterilizer for heat-sensitive equipment, is classified as a class-one carcinogen by the International Cancer Research Institute.







The affected Seafood Ramyun instant noodles were produced only on Jan. 27 and March 3 of this year, and ethylene oxide concentrations in the products were measured at 7.4 parts per million (ppm) and 5.0 ppm on those respective dates. The EU standard is no more than 0.05 ppm, so Nongshim's contaminated products were more than 148 times over that.







The RASFF immediately ordered a Europe-wide ban on the sale of these specific packages of Nongshim's Seafood Ramyun  those produced on other days can still be sold.







"Seafood Ramyun packages other than the ones produced on Jan. 27 and March 3 are being sold in Europe. Ethylene oxide was only found in the instant noodles produced on those two dates," a company official said, adding there was no problem with products sold on the domestic market.







"The noodle products for export are produced in Busan while those sold locally are produced in Anseong, Anyang and Gumi," the official said.







Instant noodles for export require a longer expiration date of up to 1 year, while those produced for domestic sales typically need only six months. The food firm said Seafood Ramyun products produced in January and March for local markets have already expired.







"In addition, we don't produce much Seafood Ramyun for the local market," the official added.







Meanwhile, Nongshim recently appointed its Vice Chairman Shin Dong-won as chairman, following the death of his father Shin Choon-ho, Nongshim's founder.







In an address to mark his appointment, Shin said the company would boost exports of instant noodles and become the world's top manufacturer. Nongshim is currently the fifth largest.







Shin also vowed to beef up environmental, social and corporate governance principles by establishing an internal body to handle such activities.










The duty free shopping area is virtually empty at Incheon International Airport, Wednesday. Yonhap



By Yi Whan-woo



The country's major duty free operators are facing a bleak outlook for their recovery from the pandemic, although their earnings in the second quarter improved from a year earlier.



Three of the four largest market players reported a surge in their respective year-on-year sales for the April-June period: 165 percent for Hyundai Department Store Duty Free, 92.7 percent for The Shilla Duty Free and 80.4 percent for Shinsegae Duty Free.



While the No. 1 market player, Lotte Duty Free, has not announced its quarterly results yet, its year-on-year sales are estimated to have expanded by 40 percent.



Regarding operating profits during the same time period, those of The Shilla Duty Free and Shinsegae Duty Free went into the black.



Hyundai Department Store Duty Free reported an operating loss, but it still improved from an 18.1 billion won ($15.4 million) loss to a 7.7 billion won loss.



"Nevertheless, these improved performances lag behind the earnings in the pre-pandemic era in 2019 and therefore can send a misleading signal as if the industry is on the recovery track," a source said.



Another source attributed the improvement in the quarterly earnings to the firms slimming down their businesses to better counter the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.



The notable measures included Lotte and Shilla closing their duty free shops at Incheon International Airport, possibly the most lucrative location for both companies.



"Taking these facts into account, it would be nonsense to predict the duty free shopping sector will be revitalized soon," the third source said.



The source speculated it will take more than two years for the industry to normalize, noting the outbreak of the Delta variant in early summer put the brakes on economic recovery.



Before the outbreak, duty free operators nationwide saw their combined monthly sales reaching more than 1.5 trillion won for April and May. In particular, foreign shoppers accounted for 95.5 percent of the total number of buyers.



The second quarter was also when optimism was growing for a "travel bubble," as the vaccination program here was picking up pace and the government was facilitating discussions to open borders with highly vaccinated countries.



"You can see how the Delta variant turned the hope for recovery upside-down suddenly," the source said.



Against this backdrop, the companies are coming up with different strategies for survival.



Lotte updated its website and app to attract domestic online consumers.



Shinsegae is eyeing Southeast Asia by bolstering its marketing campaign on Shoppee, the largest online shopping platform in the region.



Shilla made an agreement with Hainan Tourism Investment Duty Free for a joint venture in China's resort island of Hainan.



The island has emerged as a key global duty free market in the pandemic era, with an increased number of Chinese tourists spending time there as an alternative spot amid overseas travel restrictions.


Pentagon spokesman John Kirby speaks during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Aug. 12. AP-Yonhap



Just weeks before the U.S. is scheduled to end its war in Afghanistan, the Biden administration is rushing 3,000 fresh troops to the Kabul airport to help with a partial evacuation of the U.S. Embassy. The move highlights the stunning speed of a Taliban takeover of much of the country, including their capture on Thursday of Kandahar, the second-largest city and the birthplace of the Taliban movement.



The State Department said the embassy will continue functioning, but Thursday's dramatic decision to bring in thousands of additional U.S. troops is a sign of waning confidence in the Afghan government's ability to hold off the Taliban surge. The announcement came just hours after the Taliban captured the western city of Herat as well as Ghazni, a strategic provincial capital south of Kabul. The advance, and the partial U.S. Embassy evacuation, increasingly isolate the nation's capital, home to millions of Afghans.



''This is not abandonment. This is not an evacuation. This is not a wholesale withdrawal,'' State Department spokesman Ned Price said. ''What this is is a reduction in the size of our civilian footprint.''



Price rejected the idea that Thursday's moves sent encouraging signals to an already emboldened Taliban, or demoralizing ones to frightened Afghan civilians. ''The message we are sending to the people of Afghanistan is one of enduring partnership,'' Price insisted.



President Joe Biden, who has remained adamant about ending the 19-year U.S. mission in Afghanistan at the end of this month despite the Taliban sweep, conferred with senior national security officials overnight, then gave the order for the additional temporary troops Thursday morning.



Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday. The U.S. also warned Taliban officials directly that the U.S. would respond if the Taliban attacked Americans during the temporary U.S. military deployments.



The Pentagon's chief spokesman, John Kirby, said that in addition to sending three infantry battalions  two from the Marine Corps and one from the Army  to the airport, the Pentagon will dispatch 3,500 to 4,000 troops from a combat brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division to Kuwait to act as a reserve force. He said they will be on standby ''in case we need even more'' than the 3,000 going to Kabul.





A Taliban flag flies at a square in the city of Ghazni, Afghanistan, after fighting between Taliban and Afghan security forces, Aug. 12. AP-Yonhap



Also, about 1,000 Army and Air Force troops, including military police and medical personnel, will be sent to Qatar in coming days to support a State Department effort to accelerate its processing of Special Immigrant Visa applications from Afghans who once worked for the U.S. government and feel threated by the Taliban, Kirby said.



The 3,000 troops who are to arrive at the Kabul airport in the next day or two, Kirby said, are to assist with security at the airport and to help process the departure of embassy personnel  not to get involved in the Afghan government's war with the Taliban. Biden decided in April to end U.S. military involvement in the war, and the withdrawal is scheduled to be complete by Aug. 31.



The U.S. had already withdrawn most of its troops, but had kept about 650 troops in Afghanistan to support U.S. diplomatic security, including at the airport.



Kirby said the influx of fresh troops does not mean the U.S. is reentering combat with the Taliban.



''This is a temporary mission with a narrow focus,'' he told reporters at the Pentagon.



The viability of the U.S.-trained Afghan army, however, is looking increasingly dim. A new military assessment says Kabul could come under Taliban pressure as soon as September and, if current trends hold, the country could fall to the Taliban within a few months.



Price, the State Department spokesman, said diplomatic work will continue at the Kabul embassy.



''Our first responsibility has always been protecting the safety and the security of our citizens serving in Afghanistan, and around the world,'' Price said at a briefing, calling the the speed of the Taliban advance and resulting instability ''of grave concern.''



Shortly before Price's announcement, the embassy in Kabul urged U.S. citizens to leave immediately  reiterating a warning it first issued on Saturday.





In this July 4 file photo, Afghan Police stand guard at a checkpoint in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP-Yonhap
Goats are seen at a burn area near Krioneritis village on Evia island, about 181 kilometers (113 miles) north of Athens, Greece, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis says the devastating wildfires that burned across the country for more than a week amount to the greatest ecological catastrophe Greece has seen in decades. AP-Yonhap



Hundreds of firefighters battled Thursday to contain new flare-ups in wildfire-ravaged areas of Greece, where summer infernos have caused what the prime minister described as the country's "greatest ecological disaster in decades".



Rain overnight in some areas and falling temperatures appeared to have eased the situation after two weeks of devastating blazes, and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said "we can be more optimistic today."



But weeks of scorching summer weather lie ahead.



Greece's most severe heatwave in decades has fanned blazes that have destroyed more than 100,000 hectares of forests and farmland, the country's worst wildfire damage since 2007, the European Forest Fire Information System said Thursday.



The fires have left three dead, hundreds homeless, forced thousands to flee, and caused economic and environmental devastation.



Greece is just one of a number of countries in the Mediterranean region that have been hit by a savage fire season which authorities have blamed on climate change.



Mitsotakis on Thursday described the "mega fires" as Greece's "greatest ecological disaster in decades".



"The climate crisis is here... and it tells us that everything must change," he told reporters, pointing to other devastating fires in Turkey, Italy and Algeria.



"We managed to protect thousands of people. But we lost forests and properties," he said, vowing to overhaul the country's civil protection authority.



Mitsotakis said that 150 homes have been destroyed in greater Athens over the last week, while the count is ongoing on the island of Evia, which accounts for more than half of the area burned nationwide.



The PM has been placed on the defensive after his government as recently as June was assuring Greeks that the country was fully prepared to face the coming fire season.



But on Thursday he was forced to admit: "It seemed that this particular phenomenon exceeded our capabilities and the preparations put in place."



Main opposition leader Alexis Tsipras argued that Mitsotakis had "failed to grasp the magnitude of the disaster...and the scope of his responsibilities."



'Can't take it anymore'



A fire service official told AFP on Thursday that "the fire fronts are still active" on Evia and in the Arcadia region of the Peloponnese peninsula and "fires are constantly flaring up" in both areas.



In the north of Evia, where hundreds have been evacuated by boat, 858 firefighters including reinforcements from several European countries were battling the flames.



At the height of the fires in early August, the flames had reached the gates of Athens, filling the sky of the city of four million inhabitants with grey smoke.



But after weeks of punishing temperatures often well over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), temperatures dropped on Thursday.



The falling temperatures and overnight rain in Evia, the Peloponnese and central Greece had helped improve the situation, said Stathis Koulis, the mayor of Gortynia.



The village in a mountainous area of Arcadia 200 kilometres (120 miles) west of Athens has become the primary focus in the Peloponnese, with deep ravines posing a challenge to firefighters.



Twenty villages have been evacuated in the area over the past few days and 680 firefighters, including more than a hundred sent to help from France, and five water-dropping aircraft have been relentlessly battling the flames.



On Evia island, meanwhile, locals have lost their livelihoods.



"I can't take it anymore," said farmer Kostis Angelou as he wandered between the corpses of his goats, all 372 of them burnt by a fire that devoured forests.



The 44-year-old managed to survive by spending hours under an irrigation water pipe, surrounded by flames.



"A saint saved me," he said.



Climate 'code red'



The latest extreme weather events come after a "code red" report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was published on Monday warning that the world is warming far faster than previously feared.



The Mediterranean has been singled out as a "climate change hotspot", with increasing temperatures and aridity lengthening fire seasons, according to a draft IPCC assessment seen exclusively by AFP.



Algeria announced three days of national mourning starting Thursday for the 69 killed in blazes there.



In Italy, 48.8 degrees Celsius (119.8 Fahrenheit) was registered in Sicily on Wednesday  beating the previous high registered in Greece in 1977 in what is believed to be a new European record.



Eight people were killed in fires in Turkey's south earlier in the month, while in the north the death toll rose to 11 on Thursday from flash floods that have swept across several Black Sea regions. (AFP)


People protest outside the Polish parliament after lawmakers passed a bill seen as harmful to media freedom in Warsaw, Aug. 11. AP-Yonhap



Poland is looking at a more difficult relationship with two allies, the United States and Israel, after lawmakers approved separate bills  on foreign ownership of media and affecting the property rights of Holocaust survivors' families  which the Polish government had been warned to drop.



The European Union also slammed the media bill on Thursday as undermining media freedom, adding to pre-existing strains between Warsaw and Brussels from the EU's perception of democratic backsliding in member nation Poland.



The bills passed the lower house of the Polish parliament on Wednesday, and still require approval of the president, who supports the right-wing party that has governed the country since 2015.



The two proposals threaten to further isolate Poland, whose geographic position in Central Europe has often left it at the mercy of stronger neighbors. Poland's membership of the EU and NATO and its relationship with the U.S. are considered key guarantees of the country's security.



One of the bills that passed would push Discovery Inc., the U.S. owner of Poland's largest private television network, to sell its large and popular Polish network, TVN. It follows the state broadcasting authority's ongoing refusal to renew the license for TVN's all-news station TVN24, which expires in September.



Discovery accused Poland of violating a U.S.-Polish investment treaty, and said it notified the Polish government on Thursday that it was initiating legal action at an international arbitration court over the ''discriminatory campaign.''



''We are deeply committed to safeguarding our investment in Poland and its people, defending the public's interest in independent media and the rights of freedom of expression,'' said Jean-Briac Perrette, the president of Discovery International, adding that ''we will aggressively defend our rights.''



The other bill in an administrative amendment which would result in former owners, including Holocaust survivors and their descendants, from regaining property expropriated by the country's communist regime.





Activists attend a rally in defense of media freedom and against a bill, that would strengthen a ban on firms from outside the European Economic Area controlling country's broadcasters, in Wroclaw, Poland, Aug. 12, 2021. Reuters-Yonhap



U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement late Wednesday about what he called the ''troubling legislation.''



''These pieces of legislation run counter to the principles and values for which modern, democratic nations stand,'' Blinken said.



Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki responded Thursday by suggesting the U.S. officials do not understand the Polish bills and should analyze them more closely.



On the media bill, Morawiecki said: ''We do not have any intentions regarding a specific television channel. It is just about tightening the regulations so that there is no situation in which companies from outside the European Union would freely buy media in Poland.''



The media bill triggered nationwide protests Tuesday. Among the participants expressing fear that their right to independent information was under attack were older Poles who remember the censorship of the communist era.



By contrast, the law which would affect the former property owners  both Jewish and non-Jewish  got almost no media coverage in Poland. But it sparked a fast and angry response from Israel, with Foreign Minister Yair Lapid saying it ''damages both the memory of the Holocaust and the rights of its victims.''



The EU Commission said it will follow the media issue very closely while the head of the EU's top watchdog for democratic values, Vera Jourova, tweeted that the foreign ownership bill sends a negative signal.



''Media pluralism and diversity of opinions are what strong democracies welcome, not fight against,'' Jourova wrote. ''We need a #MediaFreedomAct in the whole EU to uphold media freedom and support the rule of law.''





Activists attend a rally in defense of media freedom and against a bill, that would strengthen a ban on firms from outside the European Economic Area controlling the country's broadcasters, in Warsaw, Aug. 12. AP-Yonhap
Stranded people cross the border between Pakistan Afghanistan, in Chaman, Pakistan, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Pakistan opened its Chaman border crossing for people who had been stranded in recent weeks. AP



KABUL, Afghanistan _ The Taliban captured another three provincial capitals in Afghanistan on Friday, completing their sweep of the country's south in a lightning offensive that is gradually encircling Kabul, just weeks before the U.S. is set to officially end its two-decade war.



The latest significant blow was the loss of the capital of Helmand province, where American, British and allied NATO forces fought some of the bloodiest battles in the past 20 years. Hundreds of foreign troops were killed in the province, which is also a major opium hub.



The insurgents have taken 18 of the country's 34 provincial capitals in recent days, including its second- and third-largest cities, Herat and Kandahar. The Taliban now control more than two-thirds of the country just weeks before the U.S. plans to withdraw its last troops.



While the capital of Kabul isn't directly under threat yet, the losses and advances elsewhere further tighten the grip of a resurgent Taliban. The latest U.S. military intelligence assessment suggests Kabul could come under insurgent pressure within 30 days and that, if current trends hold, the Taliban could gain full control of the country within a few months.



Attaullah Afghan, the head of the provincial council in Helmand, said that the Taliban captured the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah following weeks of heavy fighting and raised their white flag over governmental buildings. He said that three national army bases outside of Lashkar Gah remain under control of the government.



Atta Jan Haqbayan, the provincial council chief in Zabul province, said the local capital of Qalat fell to the Taliban and that officials were in a nearby army camp preparing to leave.



Two lawmakers from Afghanistan's southern Uruzgan province said local officials surrendered the provincial capital, Tirin Kot, to the Taliban. Bismillah Jan Mohammad and Qudratullah Rahimi confirmed the surrender Friday. Mohammad said the governor was en route to the airport to depart for Kabul.



With security rapidly deteriorating, the United States planned to send in 3,000 troops to help evacuate some personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. Separately, Britain said about 600 troops would be deployed on a short-term basis to support British nationals leaving the country, and Canada is sending special forces to help evacuate its embassy.



Thousands of Afghans have fled their homes amid fears the Taliban would again impose a brutal, repressive government, all but eliminating women's rights and conducting public executions.



Peace talks in Qatar remain stalled, though diplomats are still meeting, as the U.S., European and Asian nations warned that any government established by force would be rejected.



''We demand an immediate end to attacks against cities, urge a political settlement, and warn that a government imposed by force will be a pariah state,'' said Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. envoy to the talks.



But the Taliban advance continued.





Taliban fighters drive an Afghan National Army (ANA) vehicle through a street in Kandahar on August 13, 2021. AFP


Pro Walden Galleria Buffalo , New York , United States Apple Retail Summary Posted: Jun 9, 2021 Weekly Hours: 40 Role Number: 200255356 Do you want to help grow Apple's community? We seek perfection. We are idealists and problem-solvers. Forever tinkering with products and processes, always on the lookout for better. A job at Apple will be demanding. But it also rewards forward-thinking, original thinking, and tenacity. And none of us here would have it any other way. Are you highly skilled at presenting elegant solutions that simplify the complex? Are you an extremely knowledgeable salesperson? As a Pro, you understand how Apple can help customers discover their passions, and how our products differ from our competitors. You have an eye for opportunity and demonstrate your breadth of expertise in technology to craft unique value propositions and insights that differentiate Apple solutions in the market. You provide authoritative recommendations of Apple's products that build loyalty and improve the customer experience, and help drive skills and knowledge of technology across your team. Key Qualifications Extensive track record of top performing sales and customer experience results maintained over extended periods of time.

Mastery of Apple services and products as well as third-party solutions across different industries and fields, for personal, business, educational, and creative professional use.

Knowledge of business solutions and industry trends. Description You drive sales by designing complete solutions with Apple and complementary product-service offerings. You demonstrate and advise how customers can integrate technology into their homes and scale solutions across small to medium size businesses and educational institutions. You demonstrate a real passion for technology to become the go-to resource across the store for our Hardware, Software, and Services. You use knowledge about Apple technology, technical expertise, and creativity to meet customer needs and stay up to date on new information, product and service offerings, and company initiatives, by using internal tools and resources, on-the-job experiences, and peers. You partner closely with store leadership, Global Retail Support, and peers within your Region. You contribute to success across all store areas and flex appropriately to meet business needs. You will identify emerging technology and consumer trends and share how the team can use those insights to develop new sales opportunities and maintain technology industry knowledge and macro-movements within verticals to anticipate how technology can be utilized. You will lead and assist with briefings, provide recommendations for deployment and set up, and identify when to pull in additional support. The Pro mentors others in the Product Zone on specialized product knowledge and purchasing options, including financing and carrier contracts and shares practices on ownership and customer loyalty within the Product Zone and with the larger store team. You maintain expertise in all Apple products and services (in store and online), our ecosystem, and many third-party products to offer complete solutions while actively approaching and engaging with our customers to understand their needs and present customized solutions. You set up the customer's newest Apple products. The Pro brings Apple solutions to life through demos, personalization, and answers to customer questions. Build memorable experiences that showcase the benefits of Apple products. You will provide troubleshooting advice and introduce the advantages of shopping with Apple - often to multiple customers at the same time. You will support peers at the Genius Bar as needed to share knowledge and assist in providing ownership options all while providing world-class customer service to customers, and maintaining accuracy in all operational duties and transactions. Note: Apple benefits programs vary by country and are subject to eligibility requirements. Education & Experience Additional Requirements Able to effectively communicate and work with business owners and C-level executives.

Self-starter and able to achieve individual goals while also influencing the success of the overall team.

Able to collaborate cross-functionally within the store and among key partners.

Familiar with a CRM.

Superior teamwork, interpersonal, and customer service skills.

Drive for results, and make things happen.

Can tackle customer concerns using composure, listening, and presentation skills.

Strong time management and multitasking skills.

Curious to seek out information and share with the broader team.

Flexible about work, often performing multiple activities simultaneously.

Able to prioritize tasks effectively.

Provide and receive feedback from others.



If you live in Colorado, please click here .






Description



System ID 706547

Category Food Service

Relocation Type No

Employment Status Full-Time

Unit Description

Get behind the magic! This account will fall under the SodexoMAGIC portfolio of business. Use your passion for service to create a positive impact and make a difference in the communities we serve! SodexoMAGIC is a joint Sodexo/Magic Johnson venture and we are thrilled to be celebrating our 10-year anniversary together this year! SodexoMAGIC promises to empower the communities we serve by offering best-in-class food & facilities management solutions, which create a positive impact and make a difference in the lives of our clients and customers. SodexoMAGIC offers our dedicated service via the following Sodexo segments: Corporate Services, Hospitals, K-12 Schools, Universities. Sodexo's University Dining is seeking an experienced Catering Manager 3 for the University at Albany located in Albany, NY. The University at Albany enrolls more than 17,300 students in nine schools and colleges, which offer 50 undergraduate majors and 125 graduate degree programs. The account has over 20 retail units located in a state-of the-art Campus Center facility, two full service resident dining locations, and extensive catered events. The retail business segment is made up of Sodexo Brands, National Brands, in-house brands and sub-contractors. The successful candidate will: identify customer needs and expectations;

ensure that Sodexo and customer goals are aligned and met;

educate and develop rapport with clients and promote partnerships;

promote a customer/client centered culture that strives to exceed customer and client needs;

coordinate all unit catering initiatives to drive sales growth and track results.

maintain and improve service level resulting in increased customer satisfaction;

ensure all HAACP standards are followed; and/or

demonstrate resourcefulness and quick responsiveness to client and customer requests. Is this opportunity right for you? We are looking for candidates who have: solid organizational skills;

excellent leadership/team building skills;

the ability to handle catering at all levels from students to executives; and/or

professional demeanor is required. 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.*

Position Summary

Oversight of catering activities for a medium to large size location/unit with less than $1.5M in managed catering volume. Complex events with a high degree of hands on involvement in catering solutions. Large amount of high profile events. Strong client interaction.

Key Duties

- Oversight of Sodexo resources, recipes, systems and use of catering programs to direct daily catering events including; food production, inventory, product deliveries, invoices, and procurement operations.

- Oversight of the sales process for catering and/or conference services. Works with client and customers to design events.

- Ensures employees have appropriate equipment, supplies and resources to perform their job, and meet goals, cost controls and deadlines as assigned.

- Establishes and maintains a safe work environment including both food and physical safety in order to comply with all regulatory and Sodexo standards in various environments. Drives the Zero Harm mindset.

- Complies with budget requirements by controlling costs (i.e. labor, inventory, equipment, materials) and making adjustments when necessary

- Supervises employees by delegating, assigning and prioritizing activities, and monitoring operating standards

Qualifications & Requirements

Basic Education Requirement - Associate's Degree or equivalent experience

Basic Management Experience - 2 years

Basic Functional Experience - 1 year work experience in food or culinary services including restaurants, fast food, vending, catering services, institutional services, mall food courts, etc. Sodexo is an EEO/AA/Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran employer.



Requirements

See Job Description






The Brockton Area Transit Authority is seeking a F/T Transit Analyst to work as a member of a team in a rewarding, fast-paced professional office. Please refer to BATs website at ridebat.com for further information. BAT is an equal opportunity employer. CORI and credit check required. The Brockton Area Transit Authority (BAT) was established in 1974. BATs Intermodal Transportation Centre (BAT Centre), adjacent to MBTA Old Colony Rail Station, serves as the transit hub for the South Shore and Greater Brockton areas. BAT has a distinctive coalition with the local business community; BATs innovative transportation solutions have contributed positively to their service areas economy. A study conducted by Bridgewater State University in the mid 1990s demonstrated that BATs economic impact on its service area was estimated at 73 million dollars. The Metro South Chamber of Commerce as well as the Community Bank have officially recognized BAT for its positive economic impact on the region. Our mission continutes to be to proudly serve and be recognized as an innovative regional transit authority by providing safe, reliable, and efficient service to our customers, clients and communities while achieving maximum effectiveness in complementing other forms of transportation in order to promote the general, economic, and social well-being of the area and the Commonwealth (MGL ch. 161b).

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Software Engineer - Java Austin , Texas , United States Software and Services Summary

Posted: Aug 12, 2021 Role Number: 200275057 Apple is a place where extraordinary people gather to do their best work! Together we craft products and experiences people once couldn't have imagined - and now can't imagine living without. If you're motivated by the idea of making a real impact, and joining a team where we pride ourselves in being one of the most diverse and inclusive companies in the world, a career with Apple might be your dream job. The Enterprise Technology Services team is looking for an experienced Java Software Engineer. In this role you will be partnering with cross functional teams across Apple. You will work closely with our business leaders and other partners to implement these new solutions. The candidate must be able to work independently, understand the needs and build the solutions for sophisticated architecture and comfortable working under pressure at times. Key Qualifications Proven track record of delivering high quality software (5 to 10 years of experience)

Extensive experience in enterprise systems, software design and development; Solid understanding of the full SW development lifecycle

Hands-on with architecture, design, development and deployment of enterprise systems

Experience with Java and J2EE, Java11 related technologies: Spring Framework, spring-boot, JUnit / TestNG. Strong knowledge and understanding of data structures, algorithms, design patterns, concurrency, multi-threading, scalability, fault tolerant designs, enterprise architecture and software engineering principles

Experience, and an interest, in front-end web technologies including ES6+ and React

Solid understanding of data modeling and database systems including Oracle, Cassandra, other NOSQL technologies

In-depth knowledge of technologies such as Web Services, XML, JSON, HTTP, SSL, TCP/IP, Caching solutions, application performance tuning

Experience in architecting and defining Application layer in SOA/Micro Services landscape

Significant experience developing, orchestrating and maintaining high volume web applications, developing secure web applications, and building and handling RESTful services. Proficient with the use of XML and JSON

Familiarity with OS X, Linux, Shell Scripts

Experience in designing and handling systems with high performance, scalability and availability.

Experience with Apache Kafka and Apache Solr is a plus

Experience with big data pipelines using Hadoop and Apache Spark is a plus

Experience with Reactive Java applications is a plus

Ability to work in a collaborative team environment on fast paced projects

Ability to successfully multi-task and support multiple, concurrent projects

Experience with leading and mentoring Engineers

Strong curiosity and a willingness to learn and talk about new technologies along with a positive and enthusiastic engagement style Description Review and analyze project requirements Architect, design and implement highly available and scalable enterprise solutions that can match Apple volumes. Ability to choose the right technology stack and combine relevant SQL and NoSQL technologies to architect the optimal solution Utilize the expertise in Java frameworks including Spring, REST etc Work with designers to implement Web UI Implement the best practices in software development methodologies Review technical designs and perform code review Interface with cross functional teams like Business, application owners, developers, project managers and other stakeholders Be responsible for committed delivery timelines. Help mentor junior members of the team Education & Experience BS degree in computer science or information management plus 4-10 years of experience preferred, or MS degree plus 3-5 years, or equivalent. Apple is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We also take affirmative action to offer employment and advancement opportunities to all applicants, including minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities. Apple will not discriminate or retaliate against applicants who inquire about, disclose, or discuss their compensation or that of other applicants. Apple will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law. If you are applying for a position in San Francisco, please click here. Apple participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations as required by law. Apple's committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with physical and mental disabilities. Learn more. Additional Requirements - Excellent analytical and quantitative skills

- Experience in working in a large enterprise, with a global environment, across multiple timezones and geographies

- Excellent communication and collaboration skills and ability to multi-task

- To be successful you are self-motivated; driven to achieve and go above and beyond

- Attention to detail

- Comfortable working in a loosely structured organization








Front-End Software Engineer (Early Career) Santa Clara Valley (Cupertino) , California , United States Software and Services Summary

Posted: Aug 11, 2021 Role Number: 200257568 Apple's Identity Management engineering team is building number of web applications and platform solutions that works across multiple platforms (iOS, OS X, Web). We work on many high-impact projects that serve various Apple lines of business. In this Front-End Software Engineer position, you will be working with a team of software engineers that are building cutting edge, fast and interactive web applications that incorporate the best user experience patterns and technologies available. You will work with some of the coolest people and technologies on the planet, including: OS X, iOS, JSON restful web services, and web platform technologies including Spring, Apache, and more. Key Qualifications Web applications development experience

Strong knowledge of JavaScript, JQuery, AJAX, OOJS, JS MVC frameworks

Experience with data-driven web development, including strong knowledge of HTML5, DHTML and CSS3

Front-end development experience in Java/J2EE application environments, preferably using MVC architectures

Significant experience developing and implementing UI/Front-end for high volume web applications.

Experience in developing secure web applications and knowledge of application vulnerabilities such as Cross Site Scripting (XSS), Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF) etc.

Experience with templating libraries like Mustache and Handlebars

Experience in Cross-browser development and troubleshooting

Extensive use of APIs and a strong understanding of HTTP and REST architecture

Knowledge of design patterns, enterprise architecture and software engineering principles.

Good communication and personal skills: ability to interact and work well with members of other functional groups in a project team and a strong sense of project ownership

Very good experience in Scrum and Agile methodologies Description Join Apple's Identity Management engineering team as a Front-End Software Engineer where you will help build innovative enterprise software applications. You will have development and implementation experience of large scale high-demand applications. Your responsibilities will include all aspects of software development, from design and analysis to development, implementation and maintenance. You are a dedicated and hardworking individual. As a front-end software engineer, you will be a contributing member of a team that implements new product features, improves existing product features, while adding performance and software quality metrics to our codebase. You will work closely with business partners, other engineering teams, quality assurance, management, as well as human interface and user experience designers. Responsibilities Architect creative products, and innovate new technologies & solutions, play a hands-on development and design role, and deliver product in a rapid and dynamic environment. You will work closely with design team and technical team to define new user interface behaviors, widgets and containers helping create a truly distinctive and extraordinary user experience. Collaborate with peers on technical design, work estimation and implementation of new UI features including visualization aspects and server interfaces/contracts. Work with project managers and technical teams, in a multi-functional environment, to implement quality products that meet the business goals. Quickly build new ideas to get user feedback Continually improving software development processes and practices This challenging position will require a self-starter who can effectively manage numerous projects simultaneously, meet daring deadlines, and who thrives in a dynamic environment. You can expect a high-profile position on a phenomenal team with many challenges and rewards Flexible and works well as part of a fast-paced product development team Education & Experience B.S. or M.S in Computer Science related field.


Teaching Assistant

For Pretoddler Classroom (18 month-2 years/old) - full-time, hourly - Seeking passionate, nurturing, and motivated Teaching Assistants to work alongside the teacher to provide supervision, instruction, assistance, and facilitation. Previous experience working with children desired.

Our Mission Oakhill Day School is a community where students are challenged, known, valued, and inspired to be their best self. Our Background

 Founded in 1947 by Wanda Lee Kalsu

 Coed, Non-parochial Independent Day School

 Accreditations & Affiliations: ISACS (Independent Schools Association of the Central States), NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools), AMLE (Association of Middle Level Education), NCA (North Central Accreditation), NBOA (National Business Officers Association), Gladstone Chamber of Commerce, Northland Chamber of Commerce, Best of the Northland 2020 Our Vision Our vision is to inspire through scholarship, achieved by empowering compassionate learners to contribute through adaptability, resilience, and service. Our Core Values

 We encourage students to embrace their social responsibility through the development of strong moral values and self-discipline

 We encourage critical thinking skills in all students so they will love the process and end result of learning

 We support students in reaching their personal best in physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development

 We encourage flexibility in curriculum development and teaching approaches in order to fit the makeup of each classroom and each child

 We value respect for all people - students, staff, families, our community, and our larger world

 We value learning and we know that making mistakes is part of the learning process of preparing for the real world Our Student Body

 316 students from 18-Months - 12th Grade

 Student-faculty ratio: 8:1 18-Month and Toddler (age 2-3); 9:1 Preschool and Prekindergarten; 15:1 Kindergarten; 16:1 First-Eighth Grade; 15:1 High School Our Faculty, Leadership, and Support Staff

 17 Member Board of Trustees comprised of parents and members of the community-at-large

 52 Full-time teaching faculty

 2 Full-time Nurses, 1 Wellness (mental health) Counselor, and 1 Learning Specialist on Staff for additional student support

 Full time kitchen staff on both campuses

 Full time Campus Safety personnel Our Alumni

 100% college acceptance

 56% are employed at local companies including Cerner, North Kansas City Hospital, and the Federal Reserve Bank

 38% attend graduate school

 Alumni attend universities including Duke, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, University of Kansas, University of Missouri, Michigan State, Pepperdine, and Vanderbilt

 Alumni pursue career-based and military education at institutions such as DCT Hotel & Business Management in Switzerland

The International Institute of Culinary Arts, St. Luke's College of Health Sciences, and West Point Oakhill Day School is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

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Precious Metals Mini Flash Crash Surprises Markets

Overnight, on Sunday and early Monday, Precious Metals and Oil started a fairly big collapse which quickly bottomed and recovered  at least in the Precious Metals markets. Crude Oil is still moving lower in early trading on Monday, August 9, 2021. Can we learn anything from the pre-COVID market trends and extrapolate any real-world analysis from this?

Precious Metals Mini Flash Crash Surprises Markets This Week

One thing that struck me related to this move is this is a similar type of move that took place at the start of COVID in February 2021. Crude Oil started to move lower in early January 2020 while the US stock market continued to move higher before the COVID virus event hit. Gold also moved higher from January 2020 to a peak in February 2020  just before COVID. Yet, all of them, Precious Metals, Oil, and the US major markets, moved dramatically lower as soon as the reality of a COVID type economic event setup and traders realized the scope of the issues before all of us.

Today, we are seeing the Precious Metals, Oil and the US major markets move dramatically lower with what appears to be a moderate flash crash type of event in Precious Metals and Oil. If we see a continued decline in the markets over the next few days/weeks, we might start to consider a new volatility event may be setting up related to the future expectations of the global economy, US economic and Federal Reserve policies/activity, and how the unknown aspects of the future of the global economy continue to play out.

Be sure to sign up for our free market trend analysis and signals now so you dont miss our next special report!

This Daily Gold Futures chart highlights the deep flash-crash type of price action that took place early Monday, August 9, morning. My research team and I believe this move reflects a very deep concern by US and foreign investors related to the future global economic reflation abilities. Even though many still believe the global markets will continue to recover and grow, we believe the post-COVID recovery may already be near a peak level and starting to flatten out/contract.

The world economy will continue to transition through an extended recovery phase which is very likely to continue to experience wild swings in volatility. Weaker Crude Oil, Transportation Index, and other major indexes would suggest the past 12+ month global market rally is nearing a peak  or has already peaked.

We need to be cautious of a sudden change in market dynamics related to key underlying commodities and market sectors as this transition continues to play out.

Crude Oil Started To Trend Lower Nearly Three Months Before The 2020 COVID Collapse

Crude Oil is struggling to hold above support near $65.30 and has recently rolled into a defined downtrend. One thing is very clear, the current Double Bottom near $65.30 is clearly the last line of defense for Crude Oil related to the previous bullish price trend. Once Crude Oil falls below this support level, it will likely fall back to the $50 support level and may attempt to fall further.

Watch how the US and global markets continue to contract and move lower over the next few days/weeks as a new shift in the global markets appears to have already setup and started to transition. In early 2020, Crude Oil shifted into a bearish price trend nearly three months before the big COVID market collapse. Currently, Crude Oil has been moving lower for almost two months already and we have seen other key market indexes move sideways/downward as well. Have we already transitioned into a new phase of downside market trending after the June/July peak in Oil?

In Part II of this article, well continue to explore how other key market indexes may be highlighting global market weakness and clearly pointing to a US market that is attempting to trend higher while the floor appears to be falling away from recent support levels. The mini flash crash in precious metals this morning may have been the shot over the bow of the global markets suggesting here is your warning  what is your next move.

More than ever, right now, traders need to move away from risk functions and start using common sense. There will still be endless opportunities for profits from these extended price rotations, but the volatility and leverage factors will increase risk levels for traders that are not prepared or dont have solid strategies. Dont let yourself get caught in these next cycle phases unprepared.

Please take a minute to learn about my BAN Trader Pro newsletter service and how it can help you identify and trade better sector setups. My team and I have built this strategy to help us identify the strongest and best trade setups in any market sector. Every day, we deliver these setups to our subscribers along with the BAN Trader Pro system trades. You owe it to yourself to see how simple it is to trade 30% to 40% of the time to generate incredible results.

As something entirely new, check out my initiative URLYstart to learn more about the youth entrepreneurship program I am developing. This is an online program of gamified entrepreneurship designed to introduce and inspire kids to start their own businesses. Click-by-click, each student will be guided from their initial idea, through the startup process all the way to their first sale and beyond. Along the way, our students will learn life lessons such as communication, perseverance, goal setting, teamwork, and more. My team and I are passionate about this project and want to reach as many kids as possible!

Have a great day!

Chris Vermeulen

www.TheTechnicalTraders.com

Chris Vermeulen has been involved in the markets since 1997 and is the founder of Technical Traders Ltd. He is an internationally recognized technical analyst, trader, and is the author of the book: 7 Steps to Win With Logic



Through years of research, trading and helping individual traders around the world. He learned that many traders have great trading ideas, but they lack one thing, they struggle to execute trades in a systematic way for consistent results. Chris helps educate traders with a three-hour video course that can change your trading results for the better.



His mission is to help his clients boost their trading performance while reducing market exposure and portfolio volatility.



He is a regular speaker on HoweStreet.com, and the FinancialSurvivorNetwork radio shows. Chris was also featured on the cover of AmalgaTrader Magazine, and contributes articles to several leading financial hubs like MarketOracle.co.uk

Disclaimer: Nothing in this report should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Technical Traders Ltd., its owners and the author of this report are not registered broker-dealers or financial advisors. Before investing in any securities, you should consult with your financial advisor and a registered broker-dealer. Never make an investment based solely on what you read in an online or printed report, including this report, especially if the investment involves a small, thinly-traded company that isnt well known. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report has been paid by Cardiff Energy Corp. In addition, the author owns shares of Cardiff Energy Corp. and would also benefit from volume and price appreciation of its stock. The information provided here within should not be construed as a financial analysis but rather as an advertisement. The authors views and opinions regarding the companies featured in reports are his own views and are based on information that he has researched independently and has received, which the author assumes to be reliable. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content of this report, nor its fitness for any particular purpose. Lastly, the author does not guarantee that any of the companies mentioned in the reports will perform as expected, and any comparisons made to other companies may not be valid or come into effect.

Chris Vermeulen Archive

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




Taliban forces are seizing swathes of territory in a countrywide offensive, as US troops withdraw from Afghanistan. It has been predicted that the puppet regime in Kabul, installed by US imperialism and its allies, could fall within a month.

Meanwhile, the people of Afghanistan face the imminent prospect of renewed Taliban rule, plunging them back into the nightmare of obscurantist black reaction.

The operation spearheaded by US imperialism and its NATO allies 20 years ago is going down to utter defeat, just as we predicted from the outset. Shortly after the fall of Kabul in 2001, Alan Woods wrote the following:

[T]he Taliban, although wounded, has not been destroyed, and can make a comeback later on, as disillusionment with the new government in Kabul sets in  as it inevitably will.

That assessment, 20 years on, has been proved 100 percent accurate.

Taliban offensive

The speed of the Talibans advance has defied the expectations of the Kabul government and is a testament to its lack of any genuine base of support.

Nowhere have the masses rallied to its defence. Indeed, they have been largely absent from the equation  despite their hatred and fear of the Taliban, nobody is going to fight and die for the reactionary lapdogs of imperialism.

The same applies to the Afghan army, whose rank-and-file have no confidence in the regime or in the rotten and corrupt top brass of its army.

Despite allegedly outnumbering the Taliban three-to-one, and benefitting from decades of material support from US imperialism, Afghan troops are retreating and surrendering without a fight in many areas, leaving weapons and vehicles behind to be captured by the insurgents.

In some places, the Taliban has been able to negotiate bloodless withdrawals by underequipped Afghan troops and police, in addition to buying off local warlords and village elders to avoid clashes with civilian militias.

Having already made big gains in the countryside (where they have historically had more support), the Taliban went on to storm Afghanistans cities, starting in the south and west, then attacking in the north.

They have secured a grip over the northern region, which is traditionally hostile to the Taliban. For instance, Faizabad in the Hindu Kush mountains of north-east never fell to the Islamists when they ruled the country in the 1990s, but is now in their hands.

15 provincial capitals have fallen in a matter of days, including Sar-e-Pol, Sheberghan, Aybak, Kunduz, Taluqan, Pul-e-Khumri, Farah, Zaranj, Ghazni, Herat, Feruz Koh, and Qala-e Naw.

Kandahar, Afghanistans second-largest city, with a population of 600,000, was claimed to have been seized yesterday after weeks of siege.

In a statement, the Taliban claimed to have taken control of the governor's office, police headquarters, and key operational centers throughout the city, in addition to "hundreds of weapons, vehicles, and ammunition.

The rapid advance of the Taliban, which has surpassed all predictions, has utterly exposed the demoralisation of the Afghan army, and the corruption and rottenness of the US puppet regime / Image: public domain

Herat, the third-largest city, has reportedly also been taken. The local warlord and former minister in Hamid Karzais government, Ismail Khan, known as the Lion of Herat, came to a deal with the Taliban, allowing the latter to take the third city without a shot being fired.

Many other local warlords, upon which the weak, US-backed regime rests, will be considering switching their allegiances as the Taliban continues its advance. And today, the Afghan army lost the city of Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand Province, following weeks of bitter fighting  despite enjoying US air support.

The government is now focusing its efforts on reinforcing the defence of Kabul, with the Taliban now just 50 kilometers from the edge of the city, as well as Mazar-i-Sharif and Kunduz in the North-West, the fourth and sixth-largest cities, respectively. Other areas are being left largely to their own devices.

This has allowed the Taliban to make further gains at little cost. Chaghcharan, the capital city of Ghor Province, fell today without any resistance. Puli Alam, Qalat, and Tarinkot, the respective provincial capitals of Logar Province, Zabul Province, and Uruzgan Province were taken shortly after.

The apparent ease with which the Taliban have swept the country has exposed the US and NATOs lie about installing a so-called democracy in Afghanistan. It has been revealed as an utterly despised puppet regime, resting on reactionary and corrupt warlords and US bayonets.

Kabul surrounded

The recent spate of victories for the Taliban are being heralded as the beginning of the end for the Kabul regime.

Thousands of refugees fleeing the Taliban advance have flooded into Kabul, which is now under a state of siege.

The Taliban has captured Puli Khumri and Ghazni, giving them control of the highways leading into the city from the north and south-west, and US officials predict that it could fall in a matter of 30-90 days. One Taliban commander explained their strategy of surrounding Kabul and choking the city off from the rest of the country: We will get around Kabul like an anaconda. Control of Kabul and the Afghan regime is inevitable, perhaps a few weeks away.

Despite vowing to protect its people by force if needed, the desperation of the imperialists is belied by their promise of aid to any future Afghan regime  including one led by the Taliban  in exchange for sparing the US embassy.

At this point the US government simply wants to be spared the final humiliation of scenes akin to the fall of Saigon, where it was forced to airlift its staff out before the North Vietnamese fighters overran its embassy. Faced with the deteriorating situation, the US has announced it would send 3,000 additional troops into Afghanistan in order to hasten the retreat of American nationals.

US begging the Taliban not to take over its Kabul embassy.... pic.twitter.com/RVSdzB8UMp  Jorge Martin (@marxistJorge) August 13, 2021

While Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby claimed that nobodys abandoning Afghanistan, it is abundantly clear that the Americans are beating a complete and hasty retreat  leaving their erstwhile allies in Kabul to the tender mercies of the Taliban.

Indeed, US President Joe Biden swiftly contradicted Kirby, stating that Afghanistan would soon have to fight for itself.

It is evident the Taliban has no interest in reaching a negotiated settlement. It has captured over half of Afghanistans territory in short order, and is preparing for a showdown with the Kabul government in the capital.

Afghanistans neighbours have seemingly accepted the inevitability of the Talibans victory. Pakistan, which has sheltered and supported the Taliban for years, allowing them to preserve their strength for precisely this moment, is reported to be privately preparing for friendly relations with any new Islamist regime.

The Taliban has seized one provincial capital after another and are now preparing to choke off Kabul / Image: Al Jazeera

Iran has remained quiet following the capture of important border crossings by the Taliban, but it has thrown its weight behind the Taliban in a bid to secure good relations with it after the US retreat.

And China hosted a senior delegation of Taliban leaders in July, aware that it will need to maintain the flow of trade through the country as part of its Belt and Road project, necessitating the establishment of relations.

Victory is very much within the grasp of the Taliban, but this will not mean the opening of a period of stability. The barbarism that awaits is solely down to the actions of imperialism.

Despite denying claims of civilian casualties, there are increasing reports of the Taliban meting out torture and executions in recaptured territory: starting with captive troops and prominent figures from the Kabul regime.

For instance, Dawa Khan Menapal, head of the Government Media and Information Centre, was recently assassinated, in addition to scores of journalists, government bureaucrats, judges and other public figures, in order to eliminate opponents shore up their power.

There have also been reports of the Taliban preparing to reimpose their hardline religious policies. In Balkh in the north, civilians have been issued leaflets encouraging women to remain at home and not to go to school. Elsewhere, women have allegedly been forcibly removed from jobs in banking and the civil service.

Hundreds of thousands of ordinary Afghans are terrified at the prospect of Taliban rule, hence the exodus of refugees to Kabul. The streets of the recently captured provincial capitals are reportedly abandoned, the populations either have fled or hiding in their homes, waiting anxiously for what comes next.

A disaster of imperialism

This war was always unwinnable for the imperialists and has both exposed and hastened the relative decline of American imperialism on the world stage.

In 2010, Alan Woods explained:

The truth is that years of occupation have solved nothing. The Taliban have almost limitless reserves of manpower and money (through the lucrative drug trade). They have safe havens in Pakistan and the support of an important section of the Pakistan army and state. A defeat in Afghanistan would be a disaster. It would mark a humiliation for the West, and for NATO. Even the most limited aim of the war  to deny [the Islamists] a safe base for its operations, will fail As always the real victims will be the Afghan people, threatened with a descent into barbarism. The Afghans hate the foreign invader but that does not mean they support the Taliban. Many Afghans would like to be rid of the Taliban, but they do not see any alternative.

These words, penned over a decade ago, perfectly encapsulate the current situation.

The US hoped it could maintain its interests in Afghanistan by forcing out the Taliban (which was the imperialists monstrous creation to begin with), and installing a stable regime that it could hold on a leash.

Two decades of US occupation are drawing to a humiliating close. Imperialist intervention has only left a trail of destruction. Only the Afghan masses, not the imperialists, can sweep away the Taliban and the barbarism which makes life agony for millions of Afghans / Image: public domain

After another two decades of war, they have accomplished absolutely nothing except further misery and destruction.

It is likely that the final stand in Kabul, will be bloodier and more protracted than clashes elsewhere. But the evidence points to a Taliban victory.

This disaster, and the misery to come, are the products of capitalist imperialism. Moreover, the experience of the last 20 years warned that the removal of the Taliban by foreign imperialism could only ever have reactionary consequences.

In the end, only the masses of Afghanistan, and their class brothers and sisters in the region, can put an end to their domination by imperialism, the Taliban and the warlords.

An end to the barbarism ravaging Afghanistan can never come at the end of imperialist bayonets. Only through the united class struggle of the peasants and workers of Afghanistan and the wider region, to overthrow capitalism through a socialist revolution, can the suffering that the Afghan people are forced to endure be brought to an end.
On 2 August, the Liberia National Police (LNP) stormed the Capitol Hill campus of the University of Liberia (UL). They allegedly fired live ammunition and teargas to disperse hundreds of protesting students, leaving many severely injured. Many more were arrested.

Students at UL, organised under the Vanguard Student Unification Party (SUP), had been protesting against the imposition of fully online teaching by the university authorities.

This is presented as an anti-COVID measure. However, it results in a serious disadvantage to the many poverty-stricken and unemployed students at UL.

Most come from poor communities in rural Liberia, urban slums and ghettos. Many cannot spare a dollar a day; and have zero access to electricity, smartphones or the internet.

In effect, this measure will cut impoverished students off from their education altogether.

Cuts and chaos

While many students cannot access online learning, the university has proved incapable of providing a functional e-learning facility even for those who can.

From the beginning of the current semester in July up to now, the system has been under maintenance and perpetually inaccessible.

SUP has released a press statement, arguing that the university has not met a single provision of the guidelines set up by the National Commission on Higher Education of Liberia (Liberias regulatory body for higher education and online learning).

The party argued that the imposition of 100 percent e-learning is a violation of national policy, and in any case, the university is not sufficiently well equipped to run an online education platform.

Even before this latest scandal, learning conditions at the university were deplorable. Electricity, water, sanitation, laboratories and computer labs are virtually non-existent.

The University of Liberia was established in the 1860s by an act of legislation that also contained the provision that the state provide 80 percent of the institutions funding.

Students protesting exclusionary and mismanaged e-learning were met by bullets and teargas / Image: LSF

However, after the civil war in the 1990-2000s, the universitys infrastructure was destroyed, and since then state funding has been savagely cut year on year.

In 2019, UL and all other state owned tertiary and vocational institutions were declared tuition free by President George M Weah, meaning that students would not have to pay for courses, only a small registration fee.

We support free education for all, but in the absence of any additional state funding, the quality of teaching at UL has been allowed to go to the wall. This has now come to a head in the disastrous attempted transition to e-learning.

On top of that, the underfunding of UL reflects the principles of segregation and marginalisation upon which Liberia was founded.

The university was originally built for the ex-slave settlers from the Americas and their children, who became the elite of Liberian society. This meant the indigenous population were excluded, and prevented from approaching ULs premises.

Following the Liberian Revolution in the 1970s, the university was finally opened to native children. However, another university was built for the children of the elites, who couldnt tolerate the idea of their offspring attending school alongside natives.

Cuttington University was built in Suakoko, Bong County exclusively for the elites. From that point in time, UL was de-prioritised for state support.

For the right to education!

Under pressure from these protests, the university authorities capitulated, and stated that face-to-face classes would return, with the option for online learning.

This shows the power of militant struggle by students, whose efforts should be applauded.

However, the battle is not over. COVID-19 remains a threat, particularly due to Liberias very low vaccination rate. Only a privileged minority have the option of protecting themselves with remote, online learning.

If e-learning becomes necessary to control the spread of the virus, then steps must be taken to ensure poor students are not put at risk, and do not lose out in their studies.

For example, universities and schools must be given adequate funding to provide a robust e-learning platform, and infrastructure must be developed in poor and rural areas to guarantee internet access.

Meanwhile, the education sector in general remains in a parlous state. We demand that all cuts be reversed at once, and proper funding provided to ensure high-quality, free education to all Liberians.

Moreover, the brutal clampdown by state forces against students demanding their fundamental rights is an indictment of the rotten establishment, which has failed the people time and again.

We utterly condemn state violence on campuses. We offer our solidarity to students struggling for their basic rights. Down with the wretched capitalist system! Down with state oppression! For justice and a decent existence for all!
International

New Iranian Prez submits proposed Ministers list

TEHRAN, AUG 12 (IANS) | Publish Date: 8/12/2021 1:22:07 PM IST

New Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has submitted the list of proposed Ministers to the countrys Parliament.

Among the introduced cabinet members, Hossein Amir Abdollahian has been picked for of Irans Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reports Xinhua news agency.

Amir Abdollahian was former Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former special aide to the Speaker of Parliament on international affairs, reports Xinhua news agency.

Raisi has also picked Javad Owji as the potential minister of petroleum.

Owji was former head of Irans National Gas Company.

After introducing the cabinet members, the parliament will have one week for evaluation and vote of confidence.

Raisi was sworn in on August 5 as the new President.
New York, US (PANA) - Political strides are breathing new hope into Somalia's fragile state-building process, driven by an electoral agreement signed by Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, and the heads of the federal member states, a senior UN official told the Security Council on Thursday
News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism.
Who says Americans don't do irony? US tobacco giant Philip Morris has won the recommendation of the board of healthcare company Vectura for its bid

The board of ( ) found the lure of Philip Morriss cash too much and is recommending shareholders accept the cigarettes makers 165p per share offer.

The offer is higher than the rival bid of 155p backed by private equity group Carlyle but if shareholders fall in line with the recommendation of the board it will result in a healthcare company that makes inhalers to treat lung disease being owned by a tobacco company.

Who says Americans dont do irony?

Only in capitalism. Tobacco giant Philip Morris profited for decades from cigarettes that caused illness/death from inhaled smoke. Now it wants to buy drugmaker Vectura to profit from treating diseases including those its cigarettes worsened. https://t.co/XiiTQVpcY6  Richard D. Wolff (@profwolff) August 12, 2021

The Vectura directors said they appreciate Carlyle's interest in Vectura over the lengthy bidding process  at various times the board recommended acceptance of offers from ( ) ( ) and Carlyle (both offers were subsequently raised)  and the private equity groups support for Vectura's strategy to become one of the market-leading contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) in the inhalation sector.

Cash conquers all in this case, however, and Carlyle has been asked to butt out and stand aside from Philip Morris International.

This is despite protests from health groups that speculated being owned by a tobacco company would deter scientists from working for Vectura, with a letter from groups including the Royal College of Physicians, Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation warning the takeover would seriously jeopardise Vecturas future commercial viability as a company dedicated to improving respiratory health.

The board and its advisors have plumped for the offer from Philip Morris, achieving in the process the hitherto unthinkable development of turning a private equity group into the guys wearing the white hats.

The proposed PMI takeover of @VecturaGroup is unacceptable in every possible way. Along with representatives from more than 20 organisations, I wrote to the #Vectura Board today to urge them to reject the bid. They've decided to recommend, so now it's over to the shareholders.  Sarah Woolnough (@swoolnough) August 12, 2021

Respiratory drug group Vectura has backed a takeover by Philip Morris. Having previously acknowledged warnings that its ownership by a tobacco firm could harm Vecturas prospects, the board of the drug maker has changed its tune and said it could benefit from Philip Morris! pic.twitter.com/KpH37ARvyT  Ben Martin (@Benjaminwmartin) August 12, 2021

Shares in Vectura were unchanged this morning at 163.2p.
The company is also planning a listing in Singapore but London will be the primary listing.

Olam International Ltd, the Asian agricultural commodities trader, is to list its food ingredients unit in London later this year.

The company is also planning a listing in Singapore, but London will be the primary listing.

Although it has yet to set a price for the initial public offering (IPO) or indicate how much fresh capital it wants to raise, Olams chief executive officer (CEO) Sunny Verghese said it would be one of the biggest London listings in many years and could see the company gatecrash the FTSE 100 index.

A report on the Reuters news agency suggested the company would look to raise around 2bn through the IPO.
The ecommerce giant said production will be moved out of New Zealand when filming concludes for the first season of the blockbuster series in June next year

Amazon.com Inc ( ) has decided to move the production of its Lord of the Rings TV series to the UK for its second season, dealing a blow to Middle Earths traditional homeland of New Zealand.

The first season of the series, which is due to be released on Amazons Prime streaming service in September next year, was filmed in New Zealand and reportedly cost around US$465mln to film, however, reports said the countrys government had been informed on Thursday that production would move to the UK after filming wraps up next June.

It was reported that the estate of Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien has been encouraging the series to be shot in the UK, which has many of the landscapes that inspired the original texts. Another possible reason for the move may be the UKs relatively lax pandemic restrictions compared to New Zealands stricter regime.

However, Amazon may also have been lured in by tax rebates provided by the UK for large budget TV series, an issue that also provoked controversy in New Zealand when the series was first announced.

The New Zealand government provided Amazon with a 20% tax credit as part of a deal to film the first season of the series, as well as an additional 5% for future series. To date, the amount of rebates and incentives offered to Amazon are estimated to have amounted to over US$100mln.

Amazon's decision also threatens the jobs of the 1,200 New Zealanders who were employed to work on the first season of the show, as well as a potential public backlash against politicians seen as having enabled Amazons sweetheart tax deal.
( , )'s ( ) chairman Professor Richard Conroy joins Proactive London to discuss news of significant gold intersections from drilling in the Cargalisgorran section of its Clay Lake gold target.

Conroy explains how they have discovered a new 65km long gold zone in the Longford-Down Massif in Ireland.

He says these drilling results, combined with the previous results from the Clay Lake gold target, further indicate the significant potential of this extensive gold target.
A survey of over 700 company directors also showed that three quarter were experiencing rising salary costs as a result of the lack of staff, with half of those affected seeing a rise in wage costs of over 5%

Around 44% of UK businesses are experiencing staff shortages in a trend that could put the countrys economic recovery at risk, according to the Institute of Directors (IoD).

In a survey of over 700 directors, the IoD also flagged that of those affected, 65% attributed the shortage of workers to a long-term skills gap in the UK, while 4 in 10 said they were struggling with a lack of potential labour from the European Union. Around 21% also said shortages were being caused by staff having to self-isolate after exposure to someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

The IoD survey also highlighted that roles for professionals and associate professionals were proving to be the most challenging to recruit for, with skilled tradespeople also being in high demand. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the hospitality sector was the segment most affected by the lack of workers.

Around three quarters surveyed also said the current situation was impacting salary costs. Of those affected, half said they were witnessing wage costs increasing by over 5%.

To combat the shortages, 81% supported loosening immigration requirements to ease the pressure on labour markets, while other proposals included increasing investments in training workers, cutting non-wage costs for employers such as national insurance contributions and widening tax relief on research and development.

Employers are keen to re-build following an incredibly turbulent 18 months for business. But the issue of labour shortages is proving disruptive across a huge range of sectors and at all levels. Ensuring that workers are available with the right skillset to perform effectively is a crucial pre-requisite for recovery, said IoD senior policy advisor Joe Fitzsimons.

The long-term skills gap combined with both a reduced talent pool since leaving the EU, and the immediate impact of the pingdemic, are the primary pressure points. The resultant rising wage bill is the next bitter pill to swallow. It is understandable that directors are very concerned. Although there is light at the end of the tunnel, with covid restrictions continuing to ease, businesses are still relying on the government to address the ongoing challenges within the labour market. There are actions the government should take in the immediate term, although they must not neglect the longer-term skills gaps employers are facing, they added.
The start of production at the factory, located near Berlin, looks set to take place this autumn

The Tesla Inc gigafactory in Berlin should help ease a logistical nightmare when it finally opens, broker Wedbush said.

The companys founder and chief executive officer Elon Musk visited the factory today and said the company is hopeful that the first electric vehicle could roll off the production line by October or even sooner.

"We're looking forward to hopefully getting the approval to make the first cars maybe in October if we are fortunate," Musk told reporters.

Elon Musk visiting his Tesla site in Berlin today - still under construction. After criticizing the slow German bureaucracy he tells reporters: Were very happy to be here in Deutschland (big laugh) #TSLA  Maria Tadeo (@mariatad) August 13, 2021

What the broker described as bureaucratic hurdles and environmental issues have delayed the commencement of operations at the factory and the opening cannot come soon enough, although the broker conceded red tape could yet cause further delays.

Right now many Model 3s/Ys produced in China are being exported to Europe in a logistical nightmare that is not sustainable and thus pushing back delivery times for customers throughout the region, the broker said.

The environmental agency in Brandenburg has yet to give the final approval for the factory to commence production.

The factory has not been without controversy with UOKG, an association representing victims of communism in East Germany, saying that while it welcomed the building of the factory it wondered why the state government of Brandenburg is helping the third-richest man in the world.

To add piquancy to the complaint, today marks the 60th anniversary of work beginning on the Berlin Wall.

Aktive der Wassertafel BB protestierten heute am Brandenburger Tor gegen die im Bau befindliche Grofabrik des Automobilherstellers #Tesla in Brandenburg gegen die Gefahrdung des Wassers und der okologischen Ressourcen durch die Tesla-Gigafactory. Fotos: https://t.co/X97j9FW2Bk pic.twitter.com/jS0ZqNkT9u  Umbruch Bildarchiv (@UmbruchB) August 13, 2021

Wedbush, however, sees the Berlin plant and the Austin (Texas) manufacturing facility as key manufacturing hubs that will be key in the long-term Tesla electric vehicle (EV) story, as we see down the road the company producing millions of EV vehicles per year vs. roughly 870k-900k this year.

With the green tidal wave upon us, capacity and supply remain the biggest hurdles for Tesla vs. demand and now with Berlin and Austin slated to cut the red ribbon soon and ramping capacity this will be another notch on the belt for Musk & Co. to drive the broader EV vision globally, the broker said, as it maintained its outperform rating.

It has a US$1,000 price target for the stock.
GEV recently signed an MoU to evaluate HyEnergys technical feasibility, as well as how much it would cost to export green hydrogen to the Asia-Pacific using its compressed hydrogen marine supply chain.

Feasibility studies will centre on green hydrogen exports using Global Energy's own infrastructure.

( ) has welcomed Province Resources Ltds progress across the HyEnergy Project, an exploration asset that could one day form a renewable green hydrogen play in Western Australia.

Earlier this week, Global Energy inked an MoU with Province and Total Eren to undertake a feasibility study on the export of green hydrogen from the proposed plant.

In todays ASX announcement, Province maintained work at the zero-carbon hydrogen project was forging ahead on multiple fronts, with scoping study data collection and conversations with the state government proceeding as planned.

Looking ahead, heritage, ecological, environmental and geotechnical studies will kick off shortly, while recruitment, onboarding and offtake negotiations are poised to continue.

Transition to green energy

Speaking to the progress made to date, Province Resources CEO David Frances said the HyEnergy partners were at the forefront of the emerging green hydrogen industry.

The opportunity that presents itself is huge, and we have been overwhelmed with the support we have received from the State Government, the Shire of Carnarvon, Traditional Owners and other key regional stakeholders.

Globally we have seen more and more hydrogen projects being announced.

Key market pricing predictions and technology developments at all stages of the value chain indicate this transition to green energy is happening even more rapidly than we anticipated.

Over the past four months, the partners have been constantly working with government at all levels and other stakeholders to set the framework within which this industry will develop into a key part of the Western Australian economy.

The HyEnergy partners, as first movers on the ASX in this space, are uniquely positioned to lead this industry as it moves from its current nascent position into a key part of the states economy.

Working with government bodies

Since March, Province has collected data to inform a scoping study on the proposed green hydrogen play.

In concert with the data collection, the HyEnergy partners have worked to model the projects Phase 1 development stage, considering the expected green hydrogen market price and cost of production involved with various sized projects.

HyEnergys partners are also working closely with State Government departments as the legislature starts to firm up surrounding green hydrogens role as a key future industry in WA.

This includes working closely with the state government to secure Lead Agency Status, which will help facilitate progress across the projects environmental and other permitting requirements.

At the local government level, the HyEnergy partners have secured the support of the Shire of Carnarvon, entering an MoU to investigate the use of a 12,311-hectare site north of the Carnarvon township as a suitable site for developing infrastructure as part of the HyEnergy Project.

Future-focused activity

In the meantime, Province continues to recruit and onboard key management personnel and subject matter experts in preparation for the feasibility studies.

Recently, it appointed government and public affairs professional Roger Martin, who previously served at Woodside and as Ben Wyatts former chief of staff, as a non-executive director.

As part of the scoping study and future feasibility studies, the partners are exploring various export options.

Under the MoU with Global Energy, the upcoming feasibility studies will consider the export of green hydrogen from the HyEnergy Project using GEVs compressed hydrogen marine supply chain.

In addition, discussions have commenced with a number of potential domestic offtakers, including the transport and utility sectors, although this will soon be expanded to include international parties.

Commenting on the technical studies, Frances continued: The HyEnergy partners MoU runs for a 12-month period from April of this year, however, it is the partners intention to have a scoping study completed, definitive agreements executed and the feasibility studies advanced well within this time period.

The scoping study, which forms one of many activity streams currently being undertaken by the HyEnergy partners, is proceeding extremely well because of the active collaboration between the HyEnergy partners and their external consultants.

The company looks forward to updating shareholders regularly with respect to the developments with government and other stakeholders, the scoping study, feasibility studies and offtake discussions.
Envirosuites solutions help customers meet their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) requirements and advancement towards sustainability development goals.

EVS solutions are in more than 120 sites in North America across 23 US states and seven Canadian provinces.

( ) is accelerating growth in the Americas following widespread adoption of the companys environmental intelligence solutions in North America.

The company has grown annual recurring revenue (ARR) from its EVS Omnis product in the Americas region to A$13.9 million, representing a rate of 34% in a year that the market for new projects was generally heavily depressed by the pandemic.

Envirosuite is confident that the tailwinds of this growth place it in a strong position to deliver on growth for FY2022.

Strong focus on ESG

The company's CEO Jason Cooper said: The growth we have achieved during an incredibly challenging environment in FY21 confirms our belief that the Americas region and the North American market, in particular, will be a significant contributor to revenue growth for FY22 and beyond.

As the infrastructure investment shows, there is intensifying focus and pressure on industries to operate in a socially responsible and sustainable way to reduce the environmental impact on neighbouring communities.

Envirosuites environmental intelligence solutions are assisting industry every day with understanding the emissions impact they have and to manage that impact through real-time monitoring and predictive modelling.

Importantly, we help our customers meet and exceed these expectations with best-practice technology solutions, while also optimising their productive outcomes with a net positive ROI. Positive action through environmental intelligence benefits everyone.

New Tennessee contract

Envirosuite has recently signed a new contract with a county in the state of Tennessee.

The county will utilise Envirosuites SaaS solutions to monitor airborne pollutants and the potential emissions impact on the local community.

Notably, this means Envirosuite solutions are now in more than 120 sites in North America across 23 states in the United States and seven provinces in Canada.

US bipartisan infrastructure plan

Promisingly for Envirosuite, the US Senate recently passed the US$1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan that includes US$97 billion of additional funding into the companys key sectors.

The company believes the passing of this Act by the US Senate further validates the strong tailwinds and opportunities for material growth of its environmental intelligence software solutions in the North American market and overall Americas region.

Envirosuites solutions help customers meet their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) requirements and advancement towards Sustainability Development Goals including sustainable cities and communities; industry, innovation and infrastructure; and good health and well-being.

- Ephrems Joseph
The proposed acquisition further cements its business diversification strategy to become a global bulk commodities producer.

The initial focus is to restart production from the project as expediently as possible, targeting domestic users of iron ore

( ) Ltds wholly-owned subsidiary has executed an exclusive non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to acquire the Kalia Mine Project, Faranah Prefecture in the Republic of Guinea.

The proposed acquisition further cements its business diversification strategy to become a global bulk commodities producer.

According to the company, the MOU is subject to customary conditions precedents, including but not limited to due diligence to the satisfaction of the company and regulatory approvals.

The initial focus of the company is to restart production from the project as expediently as possible, targeting domestic users of iron ore (local rebar producers).

Cements business diversification strategy

TerraCom executive chairman Craig Ransley said: Whilst we are in the early days of the due diligence process, the company is excited to be working towards an acquisition within one of the world's leading countries, in terms of iron ore and bauxite resources available for exploitation.

The company looks forward to working with all stakeholders on accelerating the satisfaction of the conditions precedent under the MOU and then working to recommence operations as soon as possible.

This opportunity further cements the companys business diversification strategy to become a global bulk commodities producer.

Kalia project

The Kalia Mine Project is located in one of the worlds leading countries in terms of undeveloped iron ore and bauxite resources.

It comprises an orebody targeting :

 4.7 billion tonnes of magnetite banded iron formation;

 900 million tonnes oxide and supergene banded iron formation targeting ferronickel; and

 A 20-kilometre long magnetite strike, demonstrating the development resource potential of up to 8 billion tonnes of magnetite banded iron formation.

The project is just 300 kilometres from the Konta Port, which provides the flexibility to consider both road and rail options as part of its supply chain route to the export market.

The timely restart of production activities will provide all stakeholders, particularly the local employees and communities, with an immediate economic contribution.

Growth strategy

TerraCom is an emerging company, starting off as a resource explorer with a large portfolio of operating assets in Australia and South Africa.

The company is currently embarking on a growth strategy to deliver a mid-tier diversified operating and trading business, with a global focus on the development of a high-yielding diversified asset portfolio.
Sipa Resources Ltd (ASX:SRI) is an exploration company focused on the discovery of gold and base metal deposits.

Sipa Resources continues to advance suite of WA projects with Warralong drilling upcoming

Sipa Resources Ltd (ASX:SRI) is continuing a busy work program across its portfolio of Western Australian gold and base metal projects this quarter including an initial drilling campaign at the Warralong Gold Project.

At Warralong, the company has completed two heritage surveys and has also received two programs of work intending to start an initial drilling program in the current quarter.

Sipa also has work programs at the Wolfe Basin base metals and Paterson North copper-gold farm-in project.



Warralong (Sipa 100%)

After completing heritage surveys and receiving a program of works approval over initial drill targets on the two recently granted tenements E45/5740 and E45/5687, the company is now planning for drill testing, which is anticipated to start in the current quarter.

The first-round drilling at the project will test a range of target types along the Lalla Rookh shear and its associated splays, generated from Sipa's detailed aeromagnetic survey.

Sipa's 100%-owned tenements contain drill targets prospective for Hemi-style gold and pegmatite-hosted lithium, and the company is planning to target untested intrusions interpreted from its 2020 aeromagnetic survey along the major Lalla Rookh Shear Zone and associated splay faults.

The targets, which have never previously been drill tested, include interpreted discrete intrusions, favourable structural positions and alteration zones.

Sipa's program will also provide important lithostratigraphic information to build a robust geological model of the basement which is obscured by shallow sheet wash in this area.
Andromeda Metals Ltd (ASX:ADN) is an emerging industrial minerals company based in Adelaide, South Australia, with a vision of becoming the world's leading supplier of high-grade halloysite-kaolin.

Andromeda Metals looks to enhance Eyre Peninsula kaolin position through new JV

Andromeda Metals Ltd (ASX:ADN) has executed a binding heads of agreement (HOA) with private entity Peninsula Exploration Pty Ltd to form the Eyre Kaolin Project Joint Venture (EKJV) comprising four tenements near the Great White Kaolin Project on the western Eyre Peninsula of South Australia.

Peninsulas owns the four exploration licence applications covering 2,799 square kilometres, which has halloysite-kaolin targets similar to those found at the Great White and Mount Hope Projects with recorded occurrences of kaolin clay.

Following the joint venture, the company will have the opportunity to earn up to 80% interest in the joint venture tenements through the sole funding expenditure of $2.75 million over six years.
Results from the drill holes include 15m at 2.42 g/t gold, including 10m at 3.21 g/t gold, and 8m at 1.69 g/t gold

The Makosa gold system is on the Douta gold property, which covers 58 square kilometres within the Kenieba inlier, eastern Senegal

( , , , ) released a new round of drill results from its Makosa North prospect in Senegal that revealed more about the Douta gold projects potential.

In a statement, Thor told investors that wide-spaced exploratory drill sections around 1,300 metres (m) north of the last line of drilling indicate that the gold mineralization continues to the north.

Thor added that the mineralization remains open-ended.

Results from the drill holes include 15m at 2.42 grams per ton (g/t) gold, including 10m at 3.21 g/t gold, and 8m at 1.69 g/t gold.

Other highlights were 9m at 2.93 g/t gold, including 7m at 3.56 g/t gold, and 10m at 1.42 g/t gold.

Thor CEO Segun Lawson called the results particularly exciting as they suggest that the Makosa gold system continues further to the north than originally expected.

(Several) higher-grade intersections were received that may suggest an increase in grade to the north, Lawson said. In addition, the last section drilled on hole DTRC311 intersected 10 metres at 1.42g/t gold suggesting that the mineralisation is open-ended to the north."

The Makosa gold system is on the Douta gold property, which covers 58 square kilometres within the Kenieba inlier, eastern Senegal and very near to the Sabadola-Massawa project owned by Teranga Gold Corporation.

Thor, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, African Star Resources Incorporated, has a 70% economic interest in partnership with the permit holder, International Mining Company SARL. has a 30% free carried interest in its development until the announcement by Thor of a probable reserve.

Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas
The investment case has improved significantly, according to JP Morgan Cazenove

JP Morgan Cazenove reckons the investment case for Deliveroo ( ) has improved significantly over recent weeks.

However, that improvement doesnt seem to have been enough to shift the heavyweight London broker away from its neutral recommendation.

It cited the resolution of issues around rider regulation, the stake building by rival ( , ) (which now has 5% of ROO) and better than expected trading momentum for its more upbeat assessment of prospects.

JPMC values the stock at 393p, up from 337p previously, which is a modest premium to the current price of 376p.

Tweaking its spreadsheet after the food delivery groups maiden set of results, the broker raised its full-year 2021 and 22 gross transaction value (GTV) estimates by 3% and 6% respectively.

This implies total growth for the current year will be 59%, which JPMC noted was at the top end of guidance, while the following year it will slow to 30%.
Products include two new vape cartridges and the first cannabis-infused beverage brand from Verse

Rapid Tropical Rush, the cannabis-infused beverage, is a lemon, lime, and mango-flavoured water infused using SoRSE by Valens technology

The Valens Company said it has launched three new products in partnership with Verse Cannabis that will be available in participating Canadian markets.

The products include two new vape cartridges and the first cannabis-infused beverage brand from Verse.

Rapid Tropical Rush, the cannabis-infused beverage, is a lemon, lime, and mango-flavoured water infused using SoRSE by Valens technology with 10 milligrams (mg) of THC and 10 mg of CBD. The beverage is free of cannabis taste and smell and offers a quick onset.

Rapid Tropical Rush is currently available in Alberta and British Columbia with Ontario to follow in the coming weeks, and a variety of additional beverages are expected to launch from Verse in the coming quarters.

The two companies have also introduced a one-gram mango nectar vape cartridge, which offers a unique terpene-rich blend of fruity and distinctively sweet mango flavours inspired by the popular Mango Haze strain.

The cartridge, formulated using Valens' proprietary, ultra-refined extraction processes, is also offered in several other flavours, including Tropic Lemon, Sunset Peach, Mandarin Mint, and Summer Berry, all available in participating Canadian markets, with Mango Nectar currently available in Alberta and arriving in Ontario in the coming weeks.

As well, Verse has launched a new addition to the Live Terp series under the Verse Concentrates line, the one-gram Live Terp Guava x BC Blueberry 510 Vape Cartridge, which is now available in Alberta and soon-to-be available in British Columbia and Ontario.

The Indica dominant cartridge, which is produced using CO2 extraction, has a citrus and sour blueberry flavour.

The Live Terp Guava x BC Blueberry Vape Cartridge follows the introduction of the Killer Kush Live Terp Vape Cartridge released earlier this summer and is available in participating Canadian markets.

The Valens Company is a profitable British Columbia-based producer of cannabis products, medical and recreational, and it is scaling up operations.

The company can process over 425,000 kilograms of biomass per year and its services include numerous types of proprietary extraction, analytical testing, formulation, cultivation, and research, as well as white label product development.

Contact Sean at sean@proactiveinvestors.com
A total of 72,878 meters from 704 underground diamond drill holes were completed

( , ) said it had received high-grade intercepts from its exploration programs at the GC silver-lead-zinc mine, Guangdong Province, China.

The results released by the diversified miner are devised from a drill program that commenced on the property October 1, 2019 and ran through to June 30, 2021. A total of 72,878 meters (m) from 704 underground diamond drill holes were completed.

Of the 704 drill holes, 577 intercepted mineralization.

The almost two-year-long drill program was initiated to target blocks of known silver-lead-zinc veins in and above the production area with additional exploration drilling at higher elevations in the north and south sides of the resource areas.

According to the company: Detailed drilling of blocks of known silver-lead-zinc veins in and above the GC mine production areas intersected high-grade veins. These mineralized occurrences were previously missed due to limited drilling and tunneling, changes in the strikes and dips, and/or pinch-swelling of the pay-zones in the veins.

The high-grade intercepts from this period were discovered at more than two dozen veins associated with parallel silver-lead-zinc. There were also 24 new vein structures discovered in and above the production areas.

The company is currently working on a technical report on the GC mine to update the resources and reserves as of December 31, 2020. It is expected that mineralization in these structures can be converted quickly into reserves and mined with existing underground workings, notes the statement.

Highlights from the high-grade intercepts at the GC mine production area include Hole 20CK24A02, which intersected a 6.13m interval (6.01m true width) of vein V2E1 grading 258 grams per tonne (g/t) silver, 7.05% lead and 7.05% zinc at the -211m elevation, which includes a 1.10m interval (1.08m true width) grading 462 g/t silver, 25.57% lead, and 5.21% zinc at the -211m elevation.

Silvercorp also reported the discovery of high-grade veins at higher elevations to the north and south of the existing resource zone.

These discoveries confirm the potential to expand the resource area outwards and extend the mine life at the GC mine, said the company.

In addition to the drilling program, 16,070m of exploration drift tunneling were developed at the GC mine during this period. Extensive drilling and tunneling are ongoing at the polymetallic deposit with seven rigs currently drilling.

Contact the writer at georgia@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @MissInformd
For the period ended June 30, 2021, the company had cash, equivalents and marketable securities totaling $567.2 million, compared to $525.3 at the end of the first quarter this year

Gevo CEO Dr Patrick R Gruber said the 'engineering and design work for our Net-Zero 1 Project is going well'

( ) posted second-quarter results that demonstrated it is in a strong financial position with over $567.2 million in cash and marketable securities to press ahead with the next phase of engineering work at its Net-Zero 1 green energy project.

For the period ended June 30, 2021, the Englewood, Colorado-based company had cash, equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities totaling $567.2 million, compared to $525.3 million at the end of the first quarter of 2021.

Gevos advanced Net-Zero 1 production facility is expected to begin production in 2024 in Lake Preston, South Dakota. It will produce energy-dense liquid hydrocarbons that should have a net-zero greenhouse gas footprint across the whole of the life-cycle when burned as transportation fuels.

In an earnings statement, Gevo CEO Dr Patrick R Gruber said: The engineering and design work for our Net-Zero 1 Project is going well. We are figuring out the optimizations and integrations for Net-Zero 1, and how to generate more cash sooner.

We are looking forward to completing the next phase of the engineering work in December of this year and moving forward towards getting the financing closed in the first half of next year.

Revenue for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021, was $0.4 million, compared with $1 million in the same period in 2020.

Hydrocarbon revenue dipped to $0.3 million in the quarter from $0.9 million in the same period a year earlier. The company explained that hydrocarbon sales decreased because of lower production volumes at its demonstration plant at the South Hampton Resources Inc facility in Silsbee, Texas. Gevos hydrocarbon revenue is comprised of sales of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable premium gasoline.

As a result of the pandemic and in response to an unfavorable commodity environment, Gevo said it terminated its production of ethanol and distiller grains in March 2020. As previously announced, Gevos production facility in Luverne, Minnesota is currently producing isobutanol. During the second half of 2021, Gevo expects to send finished isobutanol from the Luverne Facility to the South Hampton Facility so that renewable premium gasoline or jet fuel can be produced.

Gevo highlighted that its wholly-owned renewable natural gas (RNG) project company, Gevo NW Iowa RNG LLC has signed definitive agreements with BP Canada Energy Marketing Corp. and BP Products North America Inc. for the sale of RNG. Beginning in late 2022, Gevo RNG expects to generate cash distributions to Gevo of approximately $9 to $16 million per year, said the company.

CEO Dr Gruber, CFO L. Lynn Smull, Chief Accounting Officer Carolyn Romero, and Geoffrey T Williams, who is VP, General Counsel and Secretary will host a conference call later today at 4:30 pm ET (2:30 pm MT) to review Gevos financial results and provide an update on corporate highlights.

To participate in the conference call, investors need to dial 1833-729-4776 in the US or 1830-213-7701 outside the US and reference the access code 2267135#

Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Napa Valley and Sonoma are to wine as Honduras is to coffee. Honduras is the largest coffee producer in Central America and ranks fifth globally. Honduras takes its coffee and coffee culture very seriously with 15 of its 18 states producing beans. Many Hondurans have such a developed coffee palate that theyre recognized worldwide for their ability to identify the attributes of specific brews in just one sip.

The majority of the countrys coffee is produced in the western region including the area near Copan Ruins where many Arabica varieties such as bourbon, caturra, typica, catuai and pacas are grown. The countrys coffee prowess has also caught the attention of A-listers. In 2019, actor Daniel Radcliffe invested in Finca Jerusalen coffee farm located in Santa Barbara, Honduras.

Most cafes and/or baristas have their own farms where they produce coffee for their shops. Producing high quality beans is a major priority for Honduran coffee farmers, which allows visitors to sample coffee they may never find in North America. As such, there are several coffee tourism experiences with Honduran companies that specialize in this niche.

FARMERS FIRST COFFEE TOUR  Farmers First Coffee works directly with coffee farmers from Honduras and Peru to source coffee, offering a 50% bonus on top of the market price farmers receive which is as much as four times higher than fair trade. The company also offers one-day and three-day coffee tours that offer a close look at coffee from bean-to-cup from the perspective of a small-scale Honduran farmer. Visitors will be able to meet with a coffee farmer, enjoy coffee in his or her home, tour the property, participate in a quality test (reminiscent of a wine tasting), and learn about the full coffee process and how to brew the perfect cup of coffee. Email tours (at) farmersfirstcoffee (dot) com to learn more.

THE CAFE WELCHEZ TOUR  Located 30 minutes outside of Copan Ruins at Finca Santa Isabel, visitors can learn about the harvesting and production of the popular Cafe Welchez brand, some of the finest high elevation coffee in the country. Tours can be booked here.

CAFE RURAL SEIS VALLES  Located just outside of Santa Rosa, Seis Valles offers a look inside a family-owned finca where the focus is on creating a better cup of coffee through cultivation and harvesting. Orlando Valles, the family patriarch, is passionate about sharing his sustainable coffee production process with visitors from around the world. Tours must be reserved in advance via social media or +504 8753-2048.

CAFE SAN RAFAEL  Cafe San Rafael is a sustainable coffee farm and cafe in Copan Ruins. At this fully organic operation, beans are handpicked by trained professionals at optimal ripeness. San Rafael also use a variety of shade trees, which promote biodiversity, provide a bird habitat, and help conserve rainforests.

ABOUT HONDURAS

Located in the heart of Central America, Honduras is a destination rich in biodiversity as home to a diverse array of ecosystems including dense rainforests, towering cloud forests, rushing rivers, and the largest coral reef in the Americas. This landscape provides the setting for boundless outdoor and adventure activities including whitewater rafting, waterfall repelling, birdwatching, SCUBA diving, snorkeling and more. Honduras was an important center of the ancient Mayan world, and archaeologists and history buffs are drawn to the Copan Ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage site located near the countrys western border with Guatemala.

Four major airports serve Honduras in San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, Roatan, and the capital city of Tegucigalpa, where a new modern airport is slated to open by the end of 2021. Direct air service from the United States is available on major carriers from New York City, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas, New Orleans and Minneapolis.
Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
Navalnys appeal against prone to escape status set for August 17

 RAPSI, Eugeny Varlamov

17:36 13/08/2021

MOSCOW, August 13 (RAPSI)  The Moscow City Court has scheduled an appeal filed by Alexey Navalny against dismissal of his lawsuit over assignment of the status of a convict prone to escape to him by a penal colony for August 17, the courts press service has told RAPSI.

The Preobrazhensky District Court rejected Navalnys suit against the penal colonys decision on June 25. The blogger sought to declare the decision illegal.

Earlier, the convict filed a similar lawsuit with a court in the Vladimir Region; but the move was also dismissed.

Navalny is serving sentence in a penal colony in Pokrov, a town in the Vladimir Region.

In February, a Moscow court ordered Navalny to be jailed for 3.5 years in the Ives Rocher embezzlement case. In early March, the ruling was upheld. The blogger is to serve about 2.5 years behind bars. He is serving sentence in the Vladimir Region.
Russian Cabinet proposes expanding list of persons eligible to challenge paternity

 Flickr.com/ Ivan Radic

15:11 13/08/2021

MOSCOW, August 13 (RAPSI)  The Government Law-Making Commission has backed an initiative aimed at expanding the list of persons who have the right to apply to courts seeking to challenge paternity, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Lawyers of Russia Vladimir Gruzdev informs RAPSI.

Now, this list does not include heirs of the person registered as the father of a child. In practice, there have been situations when paternity records were made in absentia and using forged documents. In this case, such a child obtained the right to claim the inheritance. Meanwhile, the legislation does not allow heirs of the man registered as the father of this child in violation of the law to go to court to protect their interests, Gruzdev said.

The Association Chair noted that at present, either the persons registered as fathers or the children themselves have the right to apply to courts to challenge paternity. Guardians also have the right to file a claim.

The proposed amendments to the Family Code create a mechanism to protect the rights of legal heirs. At the same time, claims for challenging paternity will be satisfied only if the record about the father was made on the basis of forged documents, Gruzdev emphasized.
Posted by Liam on at 06:55 AM CST

Welcome back,readers! This week our topic on the site is, the firstDark Horse Comics storyline that began in 1991, continued as. and came to a conclusion with 1995s. We broke down the history and impact of the series in our  Expand Your Mind  article, and were covering connections to other Expanded Universe material in our  Timeline Breakdown  and fan casting a potential adaptation in Force Casting. Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel in order to watch supplemental video content, including Bobbys videos breaking down the best merch from theera.The most notable story point of, and part of the reason it's among the most well-known stories within the Expanded Universe, is that it featured a huge revelation. Emperor Palpatine did not perish infollowing the destruction of Death Star II, as he utilized cloning technology to transition his soul to a new body. Palpatines cloned body attempted to seduce Luke to the dark side and thus complete his plot to rule the entire galaxy.Palptaines clone posed a different threat to the heroes; having created multiple cloned bodies, Palpatine could transition between them, making him impossible to kill. After Luke returned to his senses and reaffirmed his loyalty to the light side, Palpatine attempted to take over the next generation of Skywalkers by invading the body of the infant Anakin Solo, the newborn son of Han and Leia.After Han shot and killed the last clone body, Palpatines spirit threatened the child, but an overwhelmed Luke and Leia were able to rely on a new ally to help them defeat the fearsome Sith Lord once and for all. Jedi Knight Empatojayos Brand, a survivor of Order 66 who had joined Lukes newfound Jedi cause, used groundbreaking light side shielding techniques to eradicate Palpatines spirit for good. Brands sacrifice protected Anakins sanctity, and with the rest of his clones defeated, Palpatine was finally no longer a threat to the Jedi.Palpatine was unique among the Sith Lord that came before, as he had no loyalty to their traditions and attempted to subvert the Rule of Two that had been established by Darth Bane. Palpatine didnt seek to rule the galaxy in the name of the Sith, but for himself, and he had no intention of being slain by an apprentice who could subvert his mantle. He didnt see his apprentices as potential successors, but rather pawns he could use in his schemes.Palpatine had already been training the young Maul as a lethal assassin and courting the Jedi Master Dooku in the time before he killed his own master, Darth Plagueis. Palpatine didnt see either as worthy of taking over the Sith mantle, but he had taken a particular interest in Anakin Skywalker given his unusual conception. As hinted at in bothand James Lucenos novel, Palpatine used his masters teachings about influencing midi-chlorians to aid in conceiving a being of ultimate power.There is some debate amongExpanded Universe material regarding the cloning of force-sensitive beings, an unstable practice that often yields disastrous results. In, the clone of Galen Marek subsequently grows insane, and Vaders experiments creating a hybrid clone of Starkiller and Darth Maul creates a powerful, but uncontrollable being. Maul himself was cloned in thestory arc Resurrection when the Prophets of the Dark Side uncover his DNA; Mauls clone is ultimately defeated in a memorable duel with Darth Vader.Cloning has been synonymous withsince Obi-Wan Kenobis first vague reference in 1977, butshowed the potential for cloning-related storylines long before the Clone Wars was ever depicted on screen. Its something thats still referenced in new material, as much of the storyline of Palpatines cloned resurrection was incorporated within the most recent theatrical film,New Expanded Universe fans looking to broaden theirexperience can seeas a great starting point, particularly in establishing the tone of the Dark Horse comWhat are your thoughts? Do you like the idea of Palpatine returning through cloned bodies? Are you satisfied with his final defeat in? What other cloned beings could be lurking within the universe? We want to hear from you, and as always, may the Force be with you!
Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/18/2021 -- The Latest research study released by HTF MI "Global Barbecue Charcoal Market" with 100+ pages of analysis on business Strategy taken up by key and emerging industry players and delivers know how of the current market development, landscape, technologies, drivers, opportunities, market viewpoint and status. Understanding the segments helps in identifying the importance of different factors that aid the market growth. Some of the Major Companies covered in this Research are The Saint Louis Charcoal Company LLC, Parker Charcoal Company, Mesjaya Abadi Sdn Bhd, BRICAPAR SAE Charcoal Briquettes, Duraflame, Namchar, PT Dharma Hutani Makmur, Kingsford, Gryfskand, Royal Oak Enterprises LLC, Timber Charcoal Co & Maurobera SA etc.



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At last, all parts of the Global Barbecue Charcoal Market are quantitatively also subjectively valued to think about the Global just as regional market equally. This market study presents basic data and true figures about the market giving a deep analysis of this market based on market trends, market drivers, constraints and its future prospects. The report supplies the worldwide monetary challenge with the help of Porter's Five Forces Analysis and SWOT Analysis.



If you have any Enquiry please click here @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/3357471-2020-2025-global-barbecue-charcoal-market-report-production-and-consumption-professional-analysis



Customization of the Report: The report can be customized as per your needs for added data up to 3 businesses or countries or 2 analyst hours.

On the basis of report- titled segments and sub-segment of the market are highlighted below:

Global Barbecue Charcoal Market By Application/End-User (Value and Volume from 2021 to 2026) : Home Use & Commercial



Market By Type (Value and Volume from 2021 to 2026) : , In box & In bag



Global Barbecue Charcoal Market by Key Players: The Saint Louis Charcoal Company LLC, Parker Charcoal Company, Mesjaya Abadi Sdn Bhd, BRICAPAR SAE Charcoal Briquettes, Duraflame, Namchar, PT Dharma Hutani Makmur, Kingsford, Gryfskand, Royal Oak Enterprises LLC, Timber Charcoal Co & Maurobera SA

Geographically, this report is segmented into some key Regions, with manufacture, depletion, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of Barbecue Charcoal in these regions, from 2015 to 2026 (forecast), covering China, USA, Europe, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia & South America and its Share (%) and CAGR for the forecasted period 2021 to 2026.



Informational Takeaways from the Market Study: The report Barbecue Charcoal matches the completely examined and evaluated data of the noticeable companies and their situation in the market considering impact of Coronavirus. The measured tools including SWOT analysis, Porter's five powers analysis, and assumption return debt were utilized while separating the improvement of the key players performing in the market.



Key Development's in the Market: This segment of the Barbecue Charcoal report fuses the major developments of the market that contains confirmations, composed endeavors, R&D, new thing dispatch, joint endeavours, and relationship of driving members working in the market.



To get this report buy full copy @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=3357471



Some of the important question for stakeholders and business professional for expanding their position in the Global Barbecue Charcoal Market :

Q 1. Which Region offers the most rewarding open doors for the market Ahead of 2021?

Q 2. What are the business threats and Impact of latest scenario Over the market Growth and Estimation?

Q 3. What are probably the most encouraging, high-development scenarios for Barbecue Charcoal movement showcase by applications, types and regions?

Q 4.What segments grab most noteworthy attention in Barbecue Charcoal Market in 2020 and beyond?

Q 5. Who are the significant players confronting and developing in Barbecue Charcoal Market?



For More Information Read Table of Content @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/3357471-2020-2025-global-barbecue-charcoal-market-report-production-and-consumption-professional-analysis



Key poles of the TOC:

Chapter 1 Global Barbecue Charcoal Market Business Overview

Chapter 2 Major Breakdown by Type [, In box & In bag]

Chapter 3 Major Application Wise Breakdown (Revenue & Volume)

Chapter 4 Manufacture Market Breakdown

Chapter 5 Sales & Estimates Market Study

Chapter 6 Key Manufacturers Production and Sales Market Comparison Breakdown

..

Chapter 8 Manufacturers, Deals and Closings Market Evaluation & Aggressiveness

Chapter 9 Key Companies Breakdown by Overall Market Size & Revenue by Type

..

Chapter 11 Business / Industry Chain (Value & Supply Chain Analysis)

Chapter 12 Conclusions & Appendix



Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, LATAM, Europe or Southeast Asia.
Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/18/2021 -- The Latest research study released by HTF MI "COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Biogas Plant Market" with 100+ pages of analysis on business Strategy taken up by key and emerging industry players and delivers know how of the current market development, landscape, technologies, drivers, opportunities, market viewpoint and status. Understanding the segments helps in identifying the importance of different factors that aid the market growth. Some of the Major Companies covered in this Research are PlanET Biogas Global GmbH, Scandinavian Biogas, Lusakert Biogas Plant, Agrinz Technologies GmbH, Air Liquide, EnviTec Biogas AG, Beijing Sanyi Green Energy Development, Biofuel USA Corporation, SP Renewable Energy Sources Pvt. Ltd, CH4 Biogas, Quadrogen, Wartsila, IES BIOGAS, Biofrigas Sweden AB, Swedish Biogas International & Ameresco, Inc etc.



Click here for free sample + related graphs of the report @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/2733767-covid-19-outbreak-global-biogas-plant-industry-market



Browse market information, tables and figures extent in-depth TOC on "COVID-19 Outbreak- Biogas Plant Market by Application (Power Generation, Heating & Other), by Product Type (, Agricultural Waste, Energy Crops, Sewage Sludge, Industrial Waste, Food & Beverages Waste & Other), Business scope, Manufacturing and Outlook  Estimate to 2025".



for more information or any query mail at sales@htfmarketreport.com



At last, all parts of the COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Biogas Plant Market are quantitatively also subjectively valued to think about the Global just as regional market equally. This market study presents basic data and true figures about the market giving a deep analysis of this market based on market trends, market drivers, constraints and its future prospects. The report supplies the worldwide monetary challenge with the help of Porter's Five Forces Analysis and SWOT Analysis.



If you have any Enquiry please click here @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/2733767-covid-19-outbreak-global-biogas-plant-industry-market



Customization of the Report: The report can be customized as per your needs for added data up to 3 businesses or countries or 2 analyst hours.

On the basis of report- titled segments and sub-segment of the market are highlighted below:

COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Biogas Plant Market By Application/End-User (Value and Volume from 2021 to 2026) : Power Generation, Heating & Other



Market By Type (Value and Volume from 2021 to 2026) : , Agricultural Waste, Energy Crops, Sewage Sludge, Industrial Waste, Food & Beverages Waste & Other



COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Biogas Plant Market by Key Players: PlanET Biogas Global GmbH, Scandinavian Biogas, Lusakert Biogas Plant, Agrinz Technologies GmbH, Air Liquide, EnviTec Biogas AG, Beijing Sanyi Green Energy Development, Biofuel USA Corporation, SP Renewable Energy Sources Pvt. Ltd, CH4 Biogas, Quadrogen, Wartsila, IES BIOGAS, Biofrigas Sweden AB, Swedish Biogas International & Ameresco, Inc

Geographically, this report is segmented into some key Regions, with manufacture, depletion, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of COVID-19 Outbreak- Biogas Plant in these regions, from 2015 to 2026 (forecast), covering China, USA, Europe, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia & South America and its Share (%) and CAGR for the forecasted period 2021 to 2026.



Informational Takeaways from the Market Study: The report COVID-19 Outbreak- Biogas Plant matches the completely examined and evaluated data of the noticeable companies and their situation in the market considering impact of Coronavirus. The measured tools including SWOT analysis, Porter's five powers analysis, and assumption return debt were utilized while separating the improvement of the key players performing in the market.



Key Development's in the Market: This segment of the COVID-19 Outbreak- Biogas Plant report fuses the major developments of the market that contains confirmations, composed endeavors, R&D, new thing dispatch, joint endeavours, and relationship of driving members working in the market.



To get this report buy full copy @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=2733767



Some of the important question for stakeholders and business professional for expanding their position in the COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Biogas Plant Market :

Q 1. Which Region offers the most rewarding open doors for the market Ahead of 2021?

Q 2. What are the business threats and Impact of latest scenario Over the market Growth and Estimation?

Q 3. What are probably the most encouraging, high-development scenarios for COVID-19 Outbreak- Biogas Plant movement showcase by applications, types and regions?

Q 4.What segments grab most noteworthy attention in COVID-19 Outbreak- Biogas Plant Market in 2020 and beyond?

Q 5. Who are the significant players confronting and developing in COVID-19 Outbreak- Biogas Plant Market?



For More Information Read Table of Content @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/2733767-covid-19-outbreak-global-biogas-plant-industry-market



Key poles of the TOC:

Chapter 1 COVID-19 Outbreak-Global Biogas Plant Market Business Overview

Chapter 2 Major Breakdown by Type [, Agricultural Waste, Energy Crops, Sewage Sludge, Industrial Waste, Food & Beverages Waste & Other]

Chapter 3 Major Application Wise Breakdown (Revenue & Volume)

Chapter 4 Manufacture Market Breakdown

Chapter 5 Sales & Estimates Market Study

Chapter 6 Key Manufacturers Production and Sales Market Comparison Breakdown

..

Chapter 8 Manufacturers, Deals and Closings Market Evaluation & Aggressiveness

Chapter 9 Key Companies Breakdown by Overall Market Size & Revenue by Type

..

Chapter 11 Business / Industry Chain (Value & Supply Chain Analysis)

Chapter 12 Conclusions & Appendix



Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, LATAM, Europe or Southeast Asia.
Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/18/2021 -- The Latest research study released by HTF MI "Global Self-balancing Motorcycle Market" with 100+ pages of analysis on business Strategy taken up by key and emerging industry players and delivers know how of the current market development, landscape, technologies, drivers, opportunities, market viewpoint and status. Understanding the segments helps in identifying the importance of different factors that aid the market growth. Some of the Major Companies covered in this Research are BMW Motorrad, Ducati, Honda Motor Company, Bimota., Kawasaki Motor & Thrustcycle etc.



Click here for free sample + related graphs of the report @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/3357801-2020-2025-global-self-balancing-motorcycle-market-report-production-and-consumption-professional-analysis



Browse market information, tables and figures extent in-depth TOC on "Self-balancing Motorcycle Market by Application (Residential, Commercial & Others), by Product Type (, With gyroscope & Without gyroscope), Business scope, Manufacturing and Outlook  Estimate to 2025".



for more information or any query mail at sales@htfmarketreport.com



At last, all parts of the Global Self-balancing Motorcycle Market are quantitatively also subjectively valued to think about the Global just as regional market equally. This market study presents basic data and true figures about the market giving a deep analysis of this market based on market trends, market drivers, constraints and its future prospects. The report supplies the worldwide monetary challenge with the help of Porter's Five Forces Analysis and SWOT Analysis.



If you have any Enquiry please click here @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/3357801-2020-2025-global-self-balancing-motorcycle-market-report-production-and-consumption-professional-analysis



Customization of the Report: The report can be customized as per your needs for added data up to 3 businesses or countries or 2 analyst hours.

On the basis of report- titled segments and sub-segment of the market are highlighted below:

Global Self-balancing Motorcycle Market By Application/End-User (Value and Volume from 2021 to 2026) : Residential, Commercial & Others



Market By Type (Value and Volume from 2021 to 2026) : , With gyroscope & Without gyroscope



Global Self-balancing Motorcycle Market by Key Players: BMW Motorrad, Ducati, Honda Motor Company, Bimota., Kawasaki Motor & Thrustcycle

Geographically, this report is segmented into some key Regions, with manufacture, depletion, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of Self-balancing Motorcycle in these regions, from 2015 to 2026 (forecast), covering China, USA, Europe, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia & South America and its Share (%) and CAGR for the forecasted period 2021 to 2026.



Informational Takeaways from the Market Study: The report Self-balancing Motorcycle matches the completely examined and evaluated data of the noticeable companies and their situation in the market considering impact of Coronavirus. The measured tools including SWOT analysis, Porter's five powers analysis, and assumption return debt were utilized while separating the improvement of the key players performing in the market.



Key Development's in the Market: This segment of the Self-balancing Motorcycle report fuses the major developments of the market that contains confirmations, composed endeavors, R&D, new thing dispatch, joint endeavours, and relationship of driving members working in the market.



To get this report buy full copy @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=3357801



Some of the important question for stakeholders and business professional for expanding their position in the Global Self-balancing Motorcycle Market :

Q 1. Which Region offers the most rewarding open doors for the market Ahead of 2021?

Q 2. What are the business threats and Impact of latest scenario Over the market Growth and Estimation?

Q 3. What are probably the most encouraging, high-development scenarios for Self-balancing Motorcycle movement showcase by applications, types and regions?

Q 4.What segments grab most noteworthy attention in Self-balancing Motorcycle Market in 2020 and beyond?

Q 5. Who are the significant players confronting and developing in Self-balancing Motorcycle Market?



For More Information Read Table of Content @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/3357801-2020-2025-global-self-balancing-motorcycle-market-report-production-and-consumption-professional-analysis



Key poles of the TOC:

Chapter 1 Global Self-balancing Motorcycle Market Business Overview

Chapter 2 Major Breakdown by Type [, With gyroscope & Without gyroscope]

Chapter 3 Major Application Wise Breakdown (Revenue & Volume)

Chapter 4 Manufacture Market Breakdown

Chapter 5 Sales & Estimates Market Study

Chapter 6 Key Manufacturers Production and Sales Market Comparison Breakdown

..

Chapter 8 Manufacturers, Deals and Closings Market Evaluation & Aggressiveness

Chapter 9 Key Companies Breakdown by Overall Market Size & Revenue by Type

..

Chapter 11 Business / Industry Chain (Value & Supply Chain Analysis)

Chapter 12 Conclusions & Appendix



Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, LATAM, Europe or Southeast Asia.
Until now, the first fossil evidence of land plants was from the Devonian period (420 million years ago). However, molecular evidence suggests an earlier origin in the Cambrian period. In a new paper in the journal Science, paleontologists described an assemblage of spore-like microfossils from Early Ordivician (480 million years ago) deposits in Australia; these spores are of intermediate morphology between confirmed land plant spores and earlier forms of uncertain relationship.

These spore-like microfossils fill in a gap of approximately 25 million years in the fossil spore record, linking well-accepted younger plant spores to older more problematic forms, said Dr. Paul Strother, a paleobotanist in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Boston College.

Dr. Strother and his colleague, Dr. Clinton Foster from the Research School of Earth Sciences at the Australian National University, examined populations of fossil spores extracted from a rock core drilled in 1958 in northern Western Australia.

We found a mix of fossils linking older, more problematic spore-like microfossils with younger spores that are clearly derived from land plants, Dr. Strother said.

This helps to bring the fossil spore record into alignment with molecular clock dates if we consider the origin of land plants as a long-term process involving the evolution of embryonic development.

The fossil record preserves direct evidence of the evolutionary assembly of the plant regulatory and developmental genome.

This process starts with the evolution of the plant spore and leads to the origin of plant tissues, organs, and eventually macroscopic, complete plants  perhaps somewhat akin to mosses living today.

When we consider spores as an important component of the evolution of land plants, there is no longer a gap in the fossil record between molecular dating and fossil recovery.

Absent that gap, we have a much clearer picture of a whole new evolutionary step: from simple cellularity to complex multicellularity.

As a result, researchers and the public may need to re-think how they view the origin of terrestrial plants  that pivotal advance of life from water to land.

We need to move away from thinking of the origin of land plants as a singularity in time, and instead integrate the fossil record into an evo-devo model of genome assembly across millions of years during the Paleozoic Era, specifically between the Cambrian and Devonian divisions within that era, he said.

This requires serious re-interpretation of problematic fossils that have previously been interpreted as fungi, not plants.

_____

Paul K. Strother & Clinton Foster. 2021. A fossil record of land plant origins from charophyte algae. Science 373 (6556): 792-796; doi: 10.1126/science.abj2927
It seems as though many people nowadays want to open small businesses in large cities. One of those main large cities is the Big Apple itself, New York City. Now, there are plenty of ways to make a successful small business in smaller cities, but what about the bigger cities? What about in the Big Apple?

How to Get Started

This is probably the hardest part about starting a small business in a big city - getting started. The reason being that there's so much to figure out. If you're like many business owners/beginners, you're not really sure where to start. Should you start with the business name? What is the goal of the business? What products are to be carried by your business? These are all important things to decide, as are several more. The best part? Start anywhere. Suggested? Start with a business plan. Business plans are what you need to pitch your business to potential investors. This will help you gather all the information you need for pitching your business including the goal of the business, then moving on to the products you'd like to carry, etc. After that, pick a direction and go there. Gather your resources, do research on what you need to know, and go from there.

Now What?

You've finished putting everything together for your business plan, you've got financial backing, so now what? If you haven't yet, be sure you get your business license as well (this typically should be done right after you pitch your business and get financial backing). After that? Advertise, advertise, advertise! Put your business out into the world in as many ways as you can afford to (without putting the company into debt right from the get-go). Look into the outdoor advertising in new york. Check into billboards, paper advertising (flyers, brochures, etc), print business cards to hand out to potential customers, and especially encourage your potential customers to talk to their friends and family and spread the word about your amazing business and how great it is and will continue to be. The more buzz you get from others talking about your business, the better your business will be.

Is a Degree Required?

Some people wonder if they need a degree to open a business. The answer to that is absolutely not! It might help, but it's not a required thing. However, what you should do is research and read about running a business so you're not flying blind on it. Especially if you want to be successful. Flying blind on something such as this can lead to a speedy failure as well as disaster, and that's not what anyone wants. So, definitely read and research running a business. There are some free business courses on the internet if you so choose as well.

Grand Opening

If you've gotten this far, it's because you're ready for the grand opening of your business. This is one of those things that excites business owners because it will be the first appearance for them. It can be a little nerve-racking, but usually turns out quite well! Make sure you put together a checklist of everything you need beforehand so that you know what you need to get together in order to have a successful opening!

Believe in Yourself

Believing you'll do well is only part of the battle. If you believe you'll do well in your business, you will. Believe you'll succeed in your business. You'll do great things! You've got this!

Keep Advertising

Do not stop advertising your business after the grand opening. Stopping any advertising you're doing will be bad for business because fewer people will hear about your business and be intrigued by it. You don't want that. So, maybe change it up a little bit. Keep advertising, but change up the way you're doing it or maybe even what you're doing specifically as far as advertising. You never know what will come from changing it up, and sometimes change can be a good thing. But don't change things too much too fast or you'll confuse your customers.

Enjoy Your Efforts

Be proud of all of your hard work! You've certainly earned it with as hard as you've been working to get to the successful business you've always hoped for. Be proud of yourself. A successful business achievement is a great achievement after all. And remember, believing you will do well is only half the battle.
Page Content

The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley hereby extends his heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Sint Maartens 39th COVID-19 victim, who has passed away. Minister Ottley wishes the family peace and comfort during their time of grief.





As of August 12th, there were forty (40) persons who tested positive for COVID-19; however thirteen (13) persons have recovered; bringing the total active cases to three hundred eight (308). The total number of confirmed cases is now three thousand one hundred twenty eight (3128).





The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) are monitoring two hundred ninety (290) people are in home isolation. Eighteen (18) patients remain hospitalized at the St. Maarten Medical Center. The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 has increased to thirty nine (39).





The number of people recovered since the first case surfaced on St. Maarten has increased to two thousand seven hundred eighty one (2781). Two hundred thirty six (236) people are in quarantine based on contact tracing investigations carried out by CPS.





The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (VSA) Airport Health Team in collaboration with Health Care Laboratory Sint Maarten (HCLS) have tested 3, 515 travelers arriving at the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA), while CPS tested 37, 841 people throughout the community. As the numbers continue to fluctuate, CPS will continue to actively execute its contact tracing measures.





Minister Ottley would like to remind the public to wear your mask, reduce social contacts, and sanitize or wash your hands frequently. Let us work together to reduce further spread of the virus in our community.
Experts are of the opinion that the Taliban could be successful but not in blinking of an eye; things could take time.

by Ali Sukhanver

Some are happy and some are grieved at US decision of pulling out its forces from the Afghan land but at the same time some are yet not clear whether to be happy or to be sad on this epoch-making decision. Definitely the decision is going to change the whole future scenario of the war-torn Afghanistan, might be in a positive way and might be negatively. But one thing is very much clear that things would take a long time in permanent settlement. At present a tug of war between the Afghan government and the Taliban is simply making the situation over there more horrible and more atrocious. The Taliban have to fight not only the Afghan government but also the veiled supporters of US in Afghanistan. Agents of the R&AW are also there to counter Taliban with all their zeal and zest, even the Ashraf Ghani government is doing all the best possible for its survival. In short, situation there is not very favourable for the Taliban but not in control at the Ashraf Ghani government at the same time. And no doubt this was the situation desired by the US policy makers.

Experts are of the opinion that the Taliban could be successful but not in blinking of an eye; things could take time. There is expected a long tug of war in which it would be very difficult to defeat the Taliban as they are enjoying a very strong support of the local people. Moreover after US withdrawal, they would be having no strong military opposition as the Afghan Army has no professional skill to compete the Taliban. There are reports that many soldiers of the Afghan Army are joining Taliban troops as they think it is in better interest of their country. The Ashraf Ghani government is also aware of the fact that the Afghan Army lacks professional skills and it wont be a wise step to instigate the Taliban by showing closeness to India at this crucial time. That is the reason that recently on 26 July Afghan Army Chief Gen. Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai cancelled his planned visit to India just because of the possibility of offending the Taliban leadership. The purpose of his the three-day visit to India was to explore ways to deepen bilateral military ties in the backdrop of the Taliban carrying out offensive operations across Afghanistan following the withdrawal of foreign forces but according to an official of the Afghan Embassy, The visit by our Army Chief has been postponed due to intensity of war and Talibans increased assault and offensive. Reports say that Gen Ahmadzai had plans to hold wide-ranging talks with top Indian military brass including his counterpart Gen. MM. Naravane and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

However there is another question too; would the Taliban-control be fruitful for the people of Afghanistan? It is a bitter fact that for the last three decades, Afghanistan has been misused rather exploited as a battlefield of interests for so many western countries. In the name of war on terror, a very fertile and minerals-enriched country has been changed into debris. No doubt India had always been a facilitator to all those who joined hands together with one another in excavating the Afghan lands. It has been in media-analysis that the Taliban being sons of the soil could never forget the atrocities and cruelties of the NATO forces and the US troops, done against the real land-owners. Apprehending the danger of Talibans coming into power after US withdrawal from Afghanistan, India has already started planning to bring a shift in its policy towards the Taliban. According to Aljazeera, in early June, the Indian media reported that New Delhi has started talking to certain factions and leaders of the armed group against the backdrop of the withdrawal of the United States forces from Afghanistan. A few days later, Indias Ministry of External Affairs also confirmed these reports, stating that they were in touch with various stakeholders.

India is well aware of the fact that the Taliban regime could never be very pleasant and encouraging for India as the Taliban claim to struggle for supremacy of the Muslim community. In case, the Taliban come into full power with all authority, the ball would not remain in Indias court. The Taliban would never honour the deals already done between the Ashraf Ghani government and India. It is also a fact that India has invested a lot in Afghanistan specifically in the last ten years. This investment is mainly in construction of roads, dams and infrastructure projects. Other than an economic activity, this investment provides India an opportunity of sending terrorists to Afghanistan in guise of laborers and other technical staff. Control of Taliban on Afghan affairs would simply deprive India of this golden opportunity. The fact of the matter is that Afghanistan could never move to a better direction unless foreign interference in Afghan affairs is not eliminated. Peace and prosperity in Afghanistan could be a desire of countries like Pakistan, Iran, Russia and China but for US and India the desire might be otherwise. Let us wish our Afghan brothers an insurgency-free tomorrow.
We have reports to prove that hundreds of persons said to have gone missing are in fact living abroad. Their names are on the lists of persons who allegedly disappeared.

Leader of the House and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday said that there were reports that a large number of persons believed to have gone missing during the war were living abroad under different names.

They had left the country through unconventional channels during the last phase of the conflict and immediately after that, the Minister told The Island, a Colombo based daily.

We have reports to prove that hundreds of persons said to have gone missing are in fact living abroad. Their names are on the lists of persons who allegedly disappeared. We have asked for information from the countries that harbour them as refugees and asylum seekers but not all the countries are liable to furnish us with their details. Only the countries that have entered into mutual agreements covering the particular subject with Sri Lanka could legally provide us with those details.

We cannot demand such information. In the meantime the names of those who fled the country are on the lists of missing persons. Making use of those lists some anti-Sri Lankan forces including so-called non-profits working on human rights and related matters continue to raise that issue in international forums. But the truth is those said to have disappeared are now living in the very same countries.

The Foreign Minister said that the government was strengthening relations with other nations as per the mandate given by the people. We hope that we can convince the international bodies that these allegations against us are not true, Minister Gunawardena said.

Gunawardena said that the government had already offered to give the families of the disappeared Certificates of Absence so that they could get some compensation. But this has been rejected by the families who insist that the government must investigate and tell them where their relations are and whether they are dead or alive.

Minister Gunawardena said that it was not possible to trace the missing and the government could not consider them dead and give the next of kin their death certificates. He said that there had been instances of persons reportedly missing from 1988, returning home in recent years. What would have happened if we had issued their death certificates, the minister queried.
Amateur Radio Club competes in global Field Days

The Madison County Amateur Radio Club conducted Field Day exercises at the Deercreek Township Hall in Lafayette. The exercise involves setting up temporary radio stations and, over a 24-hour period, contacting other amateur stations across the country.

The Madison County group began its operation at 2 p.m. June 26 and, using three low-power transmitters, wire antennas and some emergency power, made a total of 581 contacts with amateurs in 47 states and seven countries. Notable contacts outside the United States included stations in Australia and Indonesia, as well as three Canadian provinces.

The contacts were made using a variety of communications modes, including voice, Morse Code, and digital modes. One contact with a Michigan station was made via amateur satellite as its orbit passed overhead. Club members used their own equipment and some owned by the club. Each contact was logged into a networked computer system, and each operators contacts were identified by the logging program. Scores have been reported but no competition results are available at this time.

Read the full Columbus Messenger article, with pictures, at

https://www.columbusmessenger.com/amateur-radio-club-competes-in-global-field-days.html
VK6WIA NewsWest

NewsWest for Sunday 15th August 2021 is the History Edition, and because this weekend is the Remembrance Day Contest weekend, were taking a look at the resumption of Amateur Radio in Australia after World War Two ended. Theres also a story out of Tasmania about the RD contest in 1954.

In other history of Amateur Radio stories, Will VK6UU brings us the second part of the history of the building of the Cataby repeater site.

We bring you news and comment on recent positive developments in the Wireless Institute, and a comment on how things developed in Amateur Radio in Australia after the war. And we finish off with Roys Amateur Radio Helpline.

NewsWest invites contributions to the news programme. You can send contributions by email to newswest@vk6.net

You'll find links to resources on the vk6.net website where you'll also find information on where to hear the news, where to download it, how to rebroadcast this news and how to register your callbacks.

If you want to join in, you can. Send an email to newswest@vk6.net and we'll be happy to respond. Send your stories, tall or true, audio production, scripts, events, updates, membership information, meeting announcements, AGM alerts, contests, swap-meets and more to us and we'll happily present your contribution on-air.

Please register your callback, either on-air, or on-line. Visit vk6.net and click on the callback button.

Originating in Perth Western Australia NewsWest is produced by WA Amateur Radio News for listeners on-air, on-line and on-demand.

NewsWest audio (mp3) is available for download from our website, vk6.net. Click on the LISTEN tab.

For Podcast simply search for "Newswest" on any of the major Podcatcher sites. Thanks to Ed DD5LP

Whichever way you're listening, whether you're a licensed radio amateur or not, experienced or just a beginner, old or young, thanks for being here and thanks for joining us.

Get your copy: http://vk6.net/news/

NewsWest is broadcast and relayed across VK6 and far beyond by many transmitters and operators. Details can be found on vk6.net.

The main VK6 NewsWest broadcast occurs at 09:30 WST (01:30 UTC).

If you'd like to broadcast this news in your local area, you can. There are no restrictions on broadcasting NewsWest, other than that you must broadcast it as supplied without any modification.

We ask that broadcasters advise us that they're transmitting the news.

Our address is newswest@vk6.net

Producer: Bob VK6POP
NASA, Boeing to provide update on Starliners Orbital Flight Test-2

NASA and Boeing are continuing discussions on the status of the Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) mission, and will host a joint media teleconference at 1 p.m. EDT, Friday, Aug. 13, to discuss the second uncrewed flight of Boeings CST-100 Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station, as part of the agencys Commercial Crew Program.

Participants in the briefing will be:

Kathryn Lueders, NASA associate administrator for human exploration and operationsSteve Stich, manager of NASAs Commercial Crew Program

John Vollmer, vice president and program manager of Boeings Commercial Crew Program

Audio of the teleconference will livestream online at:

https://www.nasa.gov/live

To participate in the teleconference, media must contact the newsroom at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida at: ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov by 12 p.m. for the dial-in information.

The OFT-2 mission will launch Starliner on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. After launch, Starliner will dock to the space station before returning to Earth in the western United States as part of an end-to-end test flight to prove the system is ready to fly with crew aboard.

Learn more about NASAs Commercial Crew Program at:

http://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew
Airport police in Malaga have arrested a 52-year-old passenger after he was found to be carrying 10 kilogrammes of cocaine hidden in the secret compartments of two suitcases.

National Police officers detained the Bolivian passenger at Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport, after he arrived on a flight from Brazil, via Lisbon.

The drugs find was the result of random searches of passengers ariving on so-called 'hot list' routes. The police spotted an apparently nervous man, who 'acted in an elusive manner' when taking his suitcases from the luggage conveyor belt, so they proceeded to interview him.

The passenger, according to National Police, is a Bolivian citizen living in Granada province. When they inspected his luggage, they found hidden compartments in the suitcases he was carrying. Inside were packages, covered with aluminium foil, which contained a white substance, which turned out to be cocaine with a total weight of 10 kilogrammes.

The arrested man is now being held in custody, awaiting a court appearance.
The Superior Court of Justice of Andalucia (TSJA) has ratified the Junta's request for night curfews, to help control coronavirus outbreaks, in eight large towns.

The court has agreed to limit movement on roads and in public spaces between 2am and 7am in the towns of Bailen (Jaen), Benalup-Casas Viejas (Cadiz), Bonares y Trigueros (Huelva), Villaverde del Rio (Seville) and also extend the measures that were already in place in the Seville municipalities of El Cuervo and Tocina and the town of Mengibar in Jaen province.

These measures will come into effect for a period of seven calendar days from dawn on the day following the publication of the order in the Junta de Andalucias Official Gazette (BOJA).

The court agreed the lockdown measures were proportional and essential to guarantee the public health of the residents of the municipalities, eradicating the high risk of imminent contagion especially in the young population that would otherwise exist.
Srinagar, Aug 13 (UNI) A top foreign militant of Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) was killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district on Friday.

The operation has ended as another militant escaped, Inspector General of Police (IGP) K Vijay Kumar told reporters.

The IGP said militants on Thursday afternoon attacked Border Security Force (BSF) convoy on the Srinagar-Jammu highway at Malpora in Kulgam district. There was no injury in the attack, he said, adding that security forces deployed on the highway immediately retaliated and the militants entered a nearby building.

He said additional security forces were rushed and building was sealed from all sides. Firing continued between the trapped militants and security forces.

Police rescued 22 civilians, including shopkeepers, women and non locals, from the encounter site, he said, adding that intermittent firing continued during the night.

With the first light this morning, security forces entered the building despite firing from militants, Mr Kumar said, adding that earlier it was reported that two LeT militants were trapped in the building.

One militant was killed in the encounter this morning. The slain militant was identified a Usman, a foreigner affiliated with LeT. Later, the entire building was searched and no other militant was found. For the first time militant used RPG during the encounter, he said.

The IGP said the recovery from militant included one RPF, one AK-47 rifle, four magazines , few grenades and other incriminating material. Security forces averted a major tragedy by eliminating the militant.

He said two security force personnel and as many civilians were injured during the encounter.

'I congratulate security forces for eliminating the LeT militant who was planning a major strike ahead of Independence Day (ID) on the highway', he said.

In reply to a question, he said there was a general input that militants could attack security forces on Srinagar-Baramulla and Pantha Chowk Qazigund highway.

Mr Kumar said security forces have already been put on high alert to foil any militant attempt to cause any disturbance on or before ID celebrations in the Kashmir valley. I assure people that militants will not be able disturb the ID celebrations in the valley, he said adding people are requested to participate in the functions in large numbers without any fear.

UNI ABS SB 1252
NATO suspends all support to Afghan authorities 20 Aug 2021 | 8:02 PM Moscow, Aug 20 (UNI/Sputnik) NATO suspends all support to the Afghan authorities and insists that the future government must fulfill international obligations and safeguard human rights, NATO member states' foreign ministers said in a joint statement on Friday. see more..

US moved out 9,000 troops from Afghanistan since takeover By Taliban - White House 20 Aug 2021 | 8:00 PM Washington, Aug 20 (UNI/Sputnik) The United States has moved out from Afghanistan some 9,000 troops since the fall of Kabul, while the total number of those moved out from the country since July has reached 14,000, White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield said on Friday. see more..

Some 20 Italian aid workers remain in Afghanistan  Consul 20 Aug 2021 | 7:56 PM Rome, Aug 20 (UNI/Sputnik) Italian consul in Kabul Tommaso Claudi said on Friday that some 20 Italian humanitarian workers remained in Afghanistan. see more..

US Embassy in Afghanistan says cannot ensure safe transportation to Kabul airport 20 Aug 2021 | 7:06 PM Moscow, Aug 20 (UNI/Sputnik) The US diplomatic mission in Afghanistan warned on Friday that it could not guarantee its citizens in Kabul safe passage to the airport for evacuation. see more..
Remarks:

Notification of the removal of ICO-F2 (international designator 2001-026A) from the UK Registry and transfer to the UK Supplementary Register.
UN/Austria Symposium 2021 Post-Symposium Capacity Building Event UNOOSA-ESA-ISRO-NASA Earth Observation Trainings for Agriculture

Credit: NASA

Introduction

From the monitoring of natural resources to precision agriculture, Earth Observation (EO) and remote sensing play a fundamental role as enabling space-based technologies to achieve sustainable solutions in the global agri-food systems. EO technologies can be a powerful tool for decision makers in agriculture, government, and humanitarian fields to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Following the UN/Austria Symposium 2021 on the theme of "Space Applications for Food Systems", UNOOSA is partnering with the European Space Agency (ESA), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to provide a variety of training courses on the application of EO technologies for agriculture. These online courses aim to raise awareness of the use of EO technologies and remote sensing for agriculture and enhance participants' capabilities to use them.

The trainings are conducted exclusively online and include demonstrations using open source data and software. The trainings consist of both theory and practical applications to consolidate the concepts learnt. The trainings are delivered by subject-matter experts from ESA, ISRO, and NASA. By providing collaborative and interactive learning platforms, the trainings aim to connect participants from across the globe with experts and encourage exchange and flow of knowledge and ideas.

Participation in the training is free of charge.

Target Audience

The level of difficulty of the courses ranges from beginner to expert. For more information regarding the eligibility criteria and prerequisites for each course, please refer to the respective websites.

Format

The trainings are offered by ESA/NASA jointly and by ISRO in the form of LIVE webinars. The link to the webinar will be provided upon successful registration at their respective websites. Some courses and courses material will be available for viewing after the event has closed.

Course Information

1. Geospatial Application for Disaster Risk Management

Training provider: UNOOSA and the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education for Asia and the Pacific (affiliated to the UN)

Course description: The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education for Asia and the Pacific have launched a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on "Geospatial Applications for Disaster Risk Management". This MOOC is a free and flexible online training programme available to everyone who wants to enhance their capabilities related to the use of geospatial and Earth observation technologies in disaster risk management.

The MOOC is structured into two tracks consisting of several modules. Track-1 (Basic) targets professionals interested in enhancing awareness of the latest trends in disaster risk management and how geospatial and Earth observation technologies contribute to it. Track-2 (Advanced) targets professionals interested in sharpening skills in use of geospatial and Earth observation technologies in all phases of disaster management.

Dates: The course must be completed within three months from the time of registration. The course ends on 30 November 2021.

Target audience: This course is suitable for government officials and professionals, educators, university students and other stakeholders working in the field of disaster management.

Prerequisites: Track-2 can only be undertaken once Track-1 is completed. There is no prerequisite for Track-1.

Language: English.

Registration: Please click here to register. Registration is open until 15 November 2021.

For more information, please visit the UN-SPIDER website.

2. Agricultural Crop Classification with Synthetic Aperture Radar and Optical Remote Sensing

Training provider: ESA and NASA

Course description: This five-part, intermediate webinar series will focus on the use of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) from Sentinel-1 and/or optical imagery from Sentinel-2 to map crop types and assess their biophysical characteristics. The webinar will cover a SAR and optical refresher along with pre-processing and analysis of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data using the Sentinel Application Platform (SNAP) and Python code written in JupyterLab, a web-based interactive development environment for scientific computing and machine learning. The webinar will also cover an operational roadmap for mapping crop type, including best practices for collecting field data to train and validate models for classifying crop types on a national level. The final session of this series will cover crop biophysical variable retrievals using optical data.

Languages: The course is available in English and Spanish.

Dates:

Course in English: October 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, at 14:00hr - 16:30hr (UTC) [or 10:00hr - 12:30hr Eastern Time]

Course in Spanish: October 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, at 17:00hr - 19:30hr (UTC) [or 13:00hr - 15:30hr Eastern Time]

Target audience: This webinar series is intended for local, regional, federal, and non-governmental organizations from agriculture and food security related agencies to use radar and optical remote sensing applications in the domain of agriculture for crop type mapping.

Prerequisites: Participants with no experience in remote sensing or synthetic aperture radar are encouraged to view these webinars prior to the trainings.

Registration: Please click here to register for course in English. Please click here to register for the course in Spanish. Registration is open until the day of training or until the maximum capacity of the course has been reached.

For more information about the course, please visit the NASA website and ESA website.

3. Remote Sensing Applications for Crop Mapping and Monitoring

Training provider: ISRO

Course description: This two-day short training programme will provide an overview of remote sensing and EO systems and its applications to agriculture, and focus on remote sensing for rice crop mapping and monitoring using SAR and optical data, global crop mapping concepts (for major crops such as rice, wheat, rapeseed/mustard etc.), techniques, tools and their relevance for various stakeholders. The training includes hands-on demonstrations on image interpretation, digital image processing, rice crop mapping and deriving inputs for yield modelling using optical and SAR data, on Google Earth engine.

Dates: October 5 and 7, 04:30hr to 11:00hr (UTC) [or 10:00hr to 16:30hr Indian Standard Time]

Prerequisites: Fundamental knowledge of remote sensing is desirable.

Language: English.

Registration: Please click here to register for the ISRO training. Registration is open until the day of training or until the maximum capacity of the course has been reached.

Further Information

A joint webinar will take place on 9 September 2021 to inform candidate trainees about the content of the training opportunities. More information about the webinar will be available soon.


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Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Charges for Couple

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MCCRACKEN COUNTY - An Illinois couple was arrested Thursday night on drug charges following a traffic stop in McCracken County.The McCracken County Sheriff's Office says deputies stopped a vehicle driven by 48-year-old Anthony Pender of Karnak, Illinois for traffic violations.Deputies say Pender initially refused to stop and then attempted to get into the back seat once he had stopped. After detaining Pender, deputies allegedly found a glass pipe on him they say field tested positive for methamphetamine. Pender also allegedly had additional methamphetamine on him and deputies say he admitted to smoking marijuana and methamphetamine before driving his vehicle.Along with the being arrested on drug and traffic charges Pender had an outstanding warrant for his arrest out of Illinois.Deputies say the passenger in the vehicle, 36-year-old Heather Kruger of Metropolis, Illinois was also taken into custody after they allegedly found a glass pipe in the front passenger area that field tested positive for methamphetamine.Pender was charged with having a rear license not illuminated, resisting arrest, fleeing or evading police 2nd degree, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance 1st degree, careless driving, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a substance (DUI).Kruger was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance 1st degree.
Mayfield Man Wanted by Graves County Sheriff

By West Kentucky Star Staff

GRAVES COUNTY - The Graves County Sheriffs Office is seeking a wanted Mayfield man and is asking for the public's help finding him.The Sheriff's Office says 33-year-old Turhan Sims is wanted on a complaint warrant out of Graves County. They believe Sims is still in the Mayfield area. Sims is facing charges for strangulation 1st degree, abandonment of a minor, and domestic assault 4th degree.Anyone who sees Sims or has information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Graves County Sheriffs Office immediately at 270-247-4501.
Multiple Crews Fight Fire in Murray

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MURRAY - A fire in a residential neighborhood in Murray required multiple agencies to respond on Thursday afternoon.Calloway County Fire Department and Murray Fire Department were on the scene of a reported house fire on Bridlewood Drive, in the Saratoga Farms subdivision just west of downtown Murray.Scanner traffic indicated that all available off-duty firefighters were called to help fight the blaze at a large two-story house.Firefighters were still on the scene Thursday evening.
Fletcher Group Receives $3.3M to Combat Opioid Use

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MARSHALL/CALLOWAY COUNTY - Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced $3.3 million in funding for the Fletcher Group from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program.The funding will support the Fletcher Group Rural Center of Excellence, which works to develop housing and treat substance use disorders in rural communities across the Commonwealth.In May, former Governor Ernie Fletcher and Marshall/Calloway Circuit Court Judge Jamie Jameson announced the Re-Life Project, a plan to bring two 100-bed inpatient facilities to Marshall and Calloway County.Jameson said he was contacted by the Fletcher Group last fall to assist in establishing the facilities. With the help of Fletcher's nonprofit organization, Jameson said they are finally at a place where this project is no longer just a dream.For more information about the Re-Life Project or to donate, click here. On the Net:
Kentucky's $611M School Spending Plan Approved

By The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - Kentuckys plan to use its final $611 million batch of funds from the American Rescue Plan to support full-time, in-person learning during the pandemic has won federal approval.The state also plans to use the money to support social-emotional learning and mental health programs, professional development in literacy instruction for educators and staff, technical assistance to implement accelerated-learning summer programs, and a new summer enrichment program with AmeriCorps focused on outdoor environmental education.In total, the Kentucky Department of Education will have received $2 billion total in federal relief from the American Rescue Plan.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 09:14:00|Editor: huaxia

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Rescuers clear a road in Liulin Township of Suixian County, central China's Hubei Province, Aug. 13, 2021. Twenty-one people were killed and four others missing as heavy rain lashed Liulin Township from Wednesday to Thursday, local authorities said Friday. The Liulin Township saw total precipitation reaching 503 mm from 9 p.m. Wednesday to 9 a.m. Thursday, causing an average waterlogging depth of 3.5 meters, the county said in an announcement. Over 8,000 people have been affected in the township, according to the announcement. Disaster relief and rescue efforts are underway. (Photo by Wu Zhizun/Xinhua)

WUHAN, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-one people were killed and four others missing as heavy rain lashed a township in central China's Hubei Province from Wednesday to Thursday, local authorities said Friday.

The Liulin Township in Suixian County saw total precipitation reaching 503 mm from 9 p.m. Wednesday to 9 a.m. Thursday, causing an average waterlogging depth of 3.5 meters, the county said in an announcement.

Over 8,000 people have been affected in the township, according to the announcement.

Disaster relief and rescue efforts are underway. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 12:57:32|Editor: huaxia

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DOHA, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Representatives of countries taking part in the Doha international meeting on Afghanistan on Thursday called on the Afghan warring parties to expedite the peace process, reach a political settlement and comprehensive ceasefire as quickly as possible, stressing their rejection of any government imposed by force.

Issued this evening at the final session of the meeting, a joint statement made it clear that participants have agreed on the need to accelerate the peace process as a very urgent and key issue for negotiating concrete proposals between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

The participants said that they would not recognize any government in Afghanistan that is forcibly imposed and are much concerned about the ongoing violence, large numbers of civilian casualties, allegations of human rights violations, and destruction of infrastructure, which prolongs conflict and makes reconciliation efforts more difficult.

They pledged to provide assistance to reconstruction process once a viable political settlement is reached between the two sides.

The statement stressed the guidelines of the political settlement, which include all-out governance, respect for human rights including the rights of women and minorities, mechanism for forming a representative government, the commitment not to make Afghan territory a threat to other countries, and respect for the international law, including international humanitarian one.

The participants called upon all Afghan parties to act in accordance with these guidelines and build upon them in the future political settlement, according to the statement.

At the invitation of Qatar, special envoys and representatives from China, Russia, Pakistan, the United States and the United Nations, as well as other regional countries and international organizations, have gathered in Doha since Aug. 10 to hold talks over the situation in Afghanistan.

Through exchanging views with the representatives of the Afghan government and Taliban, the participants have been discussing contributions that the international community can make to helping the peace process. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 13:06:23|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia's National Emergency Management Agency on Friday warned citizens to beware of venomous snakes after several shield-nose snakes were found in residential areas of the country's capital Ulan Bator.

At least 24 cases of snake bites have been reported across Mongolia so far this year, and two of victims have died, according to the country's National Trauma and Orthopedic Research Center.

Most recently, a man died in Ulan Bator on Aug. 6 after being bitten by a snake, the center said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 15:40:17|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- China's National Health Commission has renewed its instructions on wearing medical face masks to help the public defend themselves from the COVID-19 epidemic.

Based on the latest characteristics of the epidemic, the new instructions inform the public to not only wear masks in indoor public spaces but also when in crowded outdoor locations such as parks and squares.

The instructions also listed three lines of professions that ought to wear masks properly at work, including those that deal with imported items and personnel, workers at medical institutions and service personnel at public venues.

For those who go to hospitals for symptoms including sore throat, cough and fever, the instructions advise wearing medical masks of higher protection levels. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 15:43:42|Editor: huaxia

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An Indian paramilitary trooper stands guard near a building damaged during a gunfight at village Malpora of Kulgam district, about 57 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, Aug. 13, 2021. A militant was killed and four people including two government force personnel were wounded in an overnight gunfight in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said Friday. (Xinhua/Javed Dar)

SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- A militant was killed while as four people including two government force personnel were wounded in an overnight gunfight in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said Friday.

The gunfight triggered on Thursday afternoon after militants attacked Indian border guards convey at village Malpora of Kulgam district, about 57 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Police claimed the militants were planning to carry out a major attack around India's Independence Day celebrations.

The militants often target government force personnel either with grenade attacks or resort to firing. The gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently across the region.

A guerilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in the region since 1989.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 15:45:46|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- China's public security organs are stepping up the investigation and punishment of actions that undermine the country's COVID-19 control and prevention efforts, the Ministry of Public Security said on Friday.

Enforcing the country's COVID-19 prevention measures, police departments across the country have recently handled more than 60 cases of COVID-19 prevention breaches and similar actions, said the ministry.

On August 11, police in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, handled 11 cases of local residents leaving the city with other people's negative nucleic acid test results, in breach of the city's COVID-19 control protocols.

The ministry urged the public to abide by COVID-19 prevention and control requirements. It vowed to handle breaches, the spread of pandemic-related rumors, and other similar behavior in strict accordance with the law. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 15:47:48|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported five new imported cases of COVID-19 on Friday, taking the tally of total confirmed cases to 12,030.

The new imported cases involved patients arriving in Hong Kong from Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Switzerland, the United States and Bangladesh. In the past 14 days, the CHP reported a total of 43 confirmed cases, including one untraceable local infection and the rest were imported.

More than 6.44 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered since the launch of the government vaccination program on Feb. 26. More than 3.63 million people, or 53.4 percent of the eligible population, have received their first shot, and more than 2.81 million are fully vaccinated. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 16:07:37|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Foreign-invested financial institutions are now racing to enter China's securities sectors as the country continues pushing ahead with the opening of the domestic capital market.

J.P. Morgan recently announced on its website that the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) has approved the registration of J.P. Morgan International Finance Limited taking 100 percent ownership of J.P. Morgan Securities (China) Company Limited, making it the first foreign firm to fully own a securities venture in China.

Last year, the investment bank giant had already received approval from the CSRC to increase its current stake in J.P. Morgan Futures Company Limited to 100 percent from 49 percent, making the bank the first foreign firm to fully own a futures venture in China.

"China represents one of the largest opportunities in the world for many of our clients and for JPMorgan," said Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase. "Our scale and global capabilities give us a unique ability to help Chinese companies grow internationally and also support global investors as they expand into China's maturing capital markets."

According to a statement from the CSRC, the regulator has also accepted the application of Standard Chartered Hong Kong for a license to set up a brokerage in the Chinese mainland.

The company said that thanks to the rapid recovery of the Chinese economy, its operating income in China rose by 20 percent year on year in the first half of 2021, while its pre-tax profit increased significantly.

Last Friday, the CSRC gave the nod to FIL Asia Holdings Pte. Limited to set up a fund management firm wholly owned by overseas investors, while Citibank (China) Co., Ltd. has also obtained a business license to provide securities investment fund custody services for publicly-offered funds and private equity funds in China.

These developments not only highlight the enthusiasm of foreign financial institutions for operating in China's financial market, but also reflect Chinese regulators' resolve to advance financial opening-up.

In recent years, more than 100 foreign-invested banks and insurance, securities, payment and clearing institutions have been approved and set up. They have been actively expanding the scope of financial businesses particularly after the Chinese government scrapped foreign ownership limits on securities firms and mutual funds in 2020.

The global financial market has gradually entered the stage of recovery and expansion, which will drive international capital to emerging economies, and China is the preferred investment destination for the investors, said Xie Yaxuan, an analyst with China Merchants Securities.

HuaAn Funds attributed the attractiveness of Chinese financial assets to the country's comparative advantages in areas including economic growth momentum, reserve policy space and appealing A-share market.

In the first half of this year, net inflows of funds through "northbound trading," or money invested from Hong Kong into the Chinese mainland through the stock connect programs, surged 89 percent year on year to 223.6 billion yuan (about 34.51 billion U.S. dollars).

During the same period, overseas investors have increased their holdings of yuan-denominated bonds by over 450 billion yuan, up 40 percent year on year.

Yet there are also many challenges, according to a State Council executive meeting in July. The meeting said China will continue advancing opening-up in an orderly way, and fully leverage both the domestic and international markets and resources so that the country remains a popular destination for foreign investment.

The meeting stressed that the market access threshold of foreign-invested financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies will be refined, rules concerning cross-border transactions between parent and subsidiary firms of financial institutions will be improved, and channels and methods for foreign capital to participate in the domestic financial market will be optimized. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 16:21:49|Editor: huaxia

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MOMBASA, Kenya, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Police in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa have detained three suspects on terrorism grounds.

The three were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of being members of a terrorist group with networks in Uganda, Kenya, Somalia and Egypt, the police said in court documents filed on Thursday.

The trio were arraigned in a Mombasa court on Thursday with anti-terror police seeking 15 days to complete their investigations.

The suspects were captured after hotel staff reported their suspicious activities to police.

Kenya's coast has been the target of the terror group al-Shabab in the past. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 16:30:21|Editor: huaxia

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FUZHOU, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- China's largest automotive lithium-ion battery maker, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL), plans to raise through private placement no more than 58.2 billion yuan (about 8.99 billion U.S. dollars), mostly for production expansion and research.

In a filing to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange on Friday, CATL said it will issue no more than 232,900,780 new shares, or 10 percent of the total equity before the stock issue, to no more than 35 investors.

CATL said the majority of the proceeds from the offering will be invested in five lithium-ion battery production facilities. The remaining will be invested in research and development and to supplement its working capital.

The stock issue is still subject to regulatory approvals. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 16:41:18|Editor: huaxia

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XINING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Two Tibetan antelopes rescued in 2018 in northwest China's Hoh Xil nature reserve have given birth to two calves, marking the local wildlife rescue center's success in semi-free-range breeding of the species over the past 11 years.

The babies were born with the help of the Hoh Xil wildlife rescue center on June 26 and 30.

Patrol staff were tasked with observing the activities of the young ones and their mothers every morning and afternoon using binoculars so as to protect them from attacks by other wild animals and shield them from human activities.

The antelopes and their babies will be released into the wild once they meet specific health conditions, said the center.

The species, mostly found in Tibet Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is under first-class state protection in China and plays a key role in maintaining ecological balance on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Of late, the status of Tibetan antelopes in China has been downgraded from "endangered" to "near threatened" amid the country's anti-poaching and biodiversity protection efforts, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 17:15:31|Editor: huaxia

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The development and advancement of Chinese technology can benefit Brazilian agriculture with improvements in the quality of its products and sustainability that helps the environment, industry insiders have said in Rio De Janeiro.

In a news conference entitled "Technology, Agricultural Development and Relations with China" and held by the Brazilian Center of International Relations on Wednesday, industry insiders highlighted the importance of Chinese technology for the agricultural industry in Brazil.

According to Malu Nachreiner, the general director of agriculture division at Bayer in Brazil, the South American country can take advantage of these advances in Chinese technology, especially when it comes to sustainability.

Tiago Fontes, ecosystem and marketing director of the Brazil arm of Chinese Huawei, reiterated the importance of "uniting the primary actors in order to achieve the most innovative solutions for the industry".

He said that Huawei is one of the leading companies on the global market that can provide services such as 5G, cloud storage and artificial intelligence, which all have enormous potential to transform the industry. In terms of agriculture, intelligent development depends mostly on these technologies.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 18:04:20|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- China's auto consumption has continued its stable recovery, with sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) hitting a historic high in the first seven months of the year, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Friday.

In the January-July period, sales of NEVs in the country tripled from a year ago to near 1.48 million units, surpassing total NEV sales in 2020, said the MOC.

In July alone, NEV sales jumped 160 percent year on year to 271,000 units, hitting a monthly historic high, the MOC added.

Auto manufacturers sold approximately 14.76 million vehicles in the first seven months of the year, up 19.3 percent year on year.

However, sales in July dropped 11.9 percent year on year to over 1.86 million units, marking a third monthly contraction, said the MOC.

The MOC has attributed the slowdown in total auto sales since May to the high base from the same period last year as well as a shortage of auto chips.

MOC data has also revealed that China's second-hand vehicle trading market experienced a boom in the first seven months.

Over 9.89 million second-hand vehicles were traded during the period, up 46 percent year on year. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 18:12:32|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Friday expressed resolute opposition to any kind of agreement signed between the United States and Taiwan that carries sovereign implications or any type of related activities.

Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks in response to a media inquiry regarding a recent meeting convened by the United States and Taiwan following a so-called memorandum on maritime patrol cooperation signed in March.

The Chinese mainland urges the United States to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and stop sending wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" forces, Ma noted.

Ma also warned Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authority that colluding with external forces to seek independence will achieve nothing but to plunge the island into disaster. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 18:30:38|Editor: huaxia

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Taliban militants are seen inside the Kandahar city, southern Afghanistan, Aug. 13, 2021. Taliban militants on Friday claimed to have taken control over key southern Afghan cities of Lashkar Gah and Kandahar, after weeks of heavy clashes between the Taliban and government forces. (Str/Xinhua)

KABUL, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan Taliban said their members overran three more provincial capitals on Friday, after they have taken control over a dozen cities within a week.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, wrote on his social media account that they captured Tirin Kot, capital of southern Uruzgan province, and Firoz Koah, capital of western Ghor province.

He also said most parts of Pul-e-Alam, capital of eastern Logar province, has fallen to Taliban, adding that clashes continued at an intelligence agency office and two army bases at midday on Friday.

Pul-e-Alam, about 60 km south of Afghanistan's capital Kabul, has been the scene of heavy clashes since early Friday when Taliban stormed the city from different locations.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan's defense ministry said in a statement earlier Friday that at least 21 Taliban members were killed following an airstrike on the outskirts of provincial capital Pul-e-Alam.

A militants' vehicle, weapons and ammunition were destroyed by the raid, which was carried out by the Afghan Air Force, according to the defense ministry statement.

No fighting was reported in two other seized provincial centers, according to media reports.

The Afghan government has not confirmed the claim by the Taliban so far.

In western Herat province, Taliban said that Ismahil Khan, a former anti-Soviet jihadi leader, together with provincial officials, military commanders and hundreds of soldiers surrendered to the Taliban members.

The Taliban members captured Herat city late on Thursday.

Earlier in August, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) expressed deep concerns about the safety of civilians in several provincial capitals for fear that tens of thousands were trapped by fighting. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 18:43:57|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Forced to leave his home in Afghanistan's northern Kunduz a couple of days ago after Taliban fighters captured it, an aged man lives in a dusty open park in the northern edge of Kabul city.

The homeless man, who declined to be identified, attributed his miseries to the irresponsible troop withdrawal by the United States that has added to the suffering of ordinary Afghans. Furious and feeling lost, he cannot help but ask: Why did the United States leave the country without bringing about peace and stability here? Why did it invade Afghanistan in the first place?

MISERIES OF THE DISPLACED

The displaced man is head of an eight-member family. His life has been turned upside down overnight as fighting and violence have further intensified in Afghanistan.

"I had everything in Kunduz. I had a prosperous and happy life in Kunduz. But today, here, I have nothing. I don't even have a tent to live in and spend my day and night," he said.

The man harshly denounced the United States for leaving behind a mess in his country. "Under the pretext of diminishing terrorists, bringing about peace, developing Afghanistan, empowering women in society and ensuring human rights, the United States invaded Afghanistan," he said. "But all in vain."

"Terrorists are active, fighting continues, human rights are trampled on, people are killed brutally every day, and women's rights was a joke," he said.

What he has experienced is a microcosm of the numerous displaced people in the war-torn country. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs announced on Wednesday that conflict in different parts of Afghanistan in the last week has driven tens of thousands of people from their homes.

The office said they are part of the nearly 390,000 people displaced by hostilities this year, with a massive spike since May. Many of the displaced fled to Kabul and other large cities.

More than 5,800 internally displaced persons arriving in Kabul between July 1 and Aug. 5 need food, household items, water and sanitation support and other assistance, the UN said.

Samihullah, another displaced man, told Xinhua he left his hometown in Yangi Qala of Takhar province three days ago to escape the war, but he and his family have not received any humanitarian assistance so far. Hundreds of families fled their homes in his neighborhood, he said.

DANGEROUS TURNING POINT

A more complex and challenging humanitarian catastrophe is shaping up in Afghanistan after the United States started hastily withdrawing its troops from the country, leading to an immediate conflict escalation and a rapid deterioration of security.

Relief workers in Afghanistan on Thursday were determining the needs of 18.4 million people out of a population of close to 40 million as fighting spreads across the country.

According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, 4,042 weapon-wounded patients have been treated at its 15 supported health facilities across Afghanistan since the beginning of August.

The situation is worsening. Homes, hospitals, shops, bridges and other infrastructure are being destroyed amid heavy clashes between the Taliban and government forces. As a result of the conflict in the past month, more than 1,000 civilians have been killed. The UN also confirmed Monday that over 27 children were killed in three days.

Afghanistan is at a dangerous turning point as the war has entered a new phase, Deborah Lyons, UN secretary-general's special representative for Afghanistan, commented earlier this month.

"Ahead lies either a genuine peace negotiation or a tragically intertwined set of crises: an increasingly brutal conflict combined with an acute humanitarian situation and multiplying human rights abuses," she told the UN Security Council.

MESS LEFT BEHIND

Currently, many Afghan cities and about half the country's 34 provinces in recent weeks have seen heavy battles and street fighting between Afghan forces and Taliban militants. The Taliban claims to have taken control of at least nine provincial capitals so far.

Earlier this month, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani blamed the speedy withdrawal of U.S.-led troops for the worsening violence in his country. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday also warned that the irresponsible withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan may benefit the militants and lead to unrest in the country.

As multiple cities have fallen to the Taliban, U.S. President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that Afghan troops must defend the country themselves.

Biden had ordered the U.S. military to end its mission in Afghanistan by Aug. 31, days ahead of his original Sept. 11 deadline. The U.S. Central Command said over 95 percent of the drawdown had been completed.

Washington's recent move is further reducing its civilian footprint in Kabul. It said on Thursday that it will deploy thousands of troops to Kabul airport to support its embassy staff drawdown. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul also urged Americans to leave Afghanistan immediately.

At the invitation of Qatar, special envoys and representatives from China, Russia, Pakistan, the United States and the United Nations, as well as other regional countries and international organizations, have gathered in Doha since Aug. 10 to hold talks over the situation in Afghanistan.

On Thursday night, representatives issued a joint statement, calling on the Afghan warring parties to expedite the peace process, and reach a political settlement and comprehensive ceasefire as quickly as possible.

The participants said they would not recognize any government in Afghanistan that is forcibly imposed and are much concerned about the ongoing violence, large numbers of civilian casualties, allegations of human rights violations, and destruction of infrastructure.

They pledged to provide assistance to the reconstruction process once a viable political settlement is reached between the two sides.

"What we are doing around the clock is seeking to find a way out of this," U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 18:49:56|Editor: huaxia

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HEFEI, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Instead of fishing with her husband on the Yangtze River, Chen Lanxiang, a 48-year-old ex-fisherwoman, found new businesses on dryland after moving ashore.

Chen, who lives in the city of Ma'anshan in east China's Anhui Province, bid farewell to her old fishing life after a fishing ban was implemented in 2019 on the local section of Yangtze to protect the river from over-fishing.

At a loss away from the water at the beginning, Chen has adapted to her new life with the subsidies and job support from the local government and feels motivated by her new venture.

Running a clean-up company with eight former fisherfolk in Ma'anshan, she developed a new routine negotiating businesses, employing workers and contacting customers.

"Previously, I had just worked with my husband fishing. It never occurred to me that I could define my own future or live in an urban community," said Chen, who had her life centered on a drifting boat for over 20 years.

Chen and her husband used to live in Xuejiawa, a harbor on the Yangtze River where people have been fishing for generations.

Just like many others who fish for a living, the couple would steer the boat to catch the fish before dawn and hurry to sell the fish ashore in the early morning.

"Life was hard then. The 20-meter-long boat was our home, and it was chilly in winter and muggy in summer. We also felt alienated from society as we spent almost all the time on the boat," she said.

After the fishing ban, more than 10,000 local fishers in Ma'anshan bid farewell to the trade and settled on land while 5,651 fishing boats were dismantled. Chen also docked her fishing boat for the very last time and started her new journey on dry land.

The new venture was never easy sailing. Just like many other uneducated fishers, there are few job options for Chen after coming ashore. Though attending several job fairs organized by the local government, she failed to find a satisfactory one.

Things started to change when the local government paid a visit to her home and proposed that the fishers could work together to run a clean-up company and they would provide free office space and practical guidance.

"On second thought, I decided to give it a try even though it's a big challenge," said Chen.

After full preparations backed by the local government, the company started to operate at the end of last year.

To be a qualified boss, Chen participated in relevant skill training and participates in continued learning. "I learned to use the computer, handle the budget and reach out to businesses. These were all brand-new experiences for me," said Chen, adding that she always keeps notes of what she does not understand and consults others later.

Thanks to her continuous efforts, the company now provides cleaning services for city roads as well as a vegetable market. The net profit of the company reaches about 10,000 yuan (about 1,543.6 U.S. dollars) a month.

"I have high standards on the cleaning work, which earns us a good reputation among customers," said Chen, adding that it further boosts her confidence.

Members of the former fishing community also benefited from programs to help them adapt to their new lives ashore.

With subsidies of 240,000 yuan from the local government, Chen and her husband spend much less than the market price to buy a 100-square-meter house. Chen's husband also joined a patrol team to stop illegal fishing and clear wastes on the Yangtze River, earning over 3,000 yuan a month.

Keen to make the most of her newfound business acumen, Chen has plans for another business venture in the pipeline.

"I am getting ready to open a local specialty shop in the local scenic spot. The store is being designed now. I'm happy to see that my future has so many possibilities now that we live ashore," said Chen. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 18:57:38|Editor: huaxia

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Workers transport COVID-19 vaccines at Baghdad International Airport in Iraq on Aug. 12, 2021. Iraq on Thursday received a third batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government amid a surge in coronavirus infections due to the spread of the Delta variant. (Xinhua)

BAGHDAD, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Iraq on Thursday received a third batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government amid a surge in coronavirus infections due to the spread of the Delta variant.

Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Iraq Jian Fangning and Iraqi health officials attended a handover ceremony held at Baghdad International Airport.

"Iraq and China are close friends and good partners," Jian said during the ceremony. "We are sure it will build a strong defense for the Iraqi people and government to curb the pandemic."

Ali al-Baldawi, director-general of the Iraqi State Company for Marketing Drugs and Medical Appliances, said that the entry of larger quantities of vaccines into Iraq means that more Iraqis will receive the jab, which will have a significant impact in curbing the disease's spread.

The latest Chinese donation came as the Iraqi Ministry of Health reported on Thursday 10,234 new COVID-19 cases, raising the nationwide caseload to 1,751,176.

Iraq received the first two batches of COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government in March and April respectively. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 19:20:33|Editor: huaxia

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MOGADISHU, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- China is committed to an impartial, science and consensus-based probe into the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic, an envoy said during a press conference on Thursday.

Feng Qinghu, Charge d'Affaires and councilor of the Chinese Embassy in Somalia, told journalists in Mogadishu that Beijing will rally behind the origin tracing of the virus that is objective and driven by a desire to avert future public health crises.

He noted that China has taken the lead in collaborating with the World Health Organization (WHO) on global origin tracing and has twice invited WHO experts to China for origin-tracing research, and the international expert team has had numerous online and email exchanges with their Chinese counterparts.

According to Feng, WHO-China joint origin tracing report confirmed the pathway of laboratory incident as "extremely unlikely," adding that it was a scientific and objective conclusion reached by international and Chinese experts.

"China firmly opposes a new round of study on the hypothesis of laboratory incident as the main content, and rejects any new round of politicized and pressured origin-tracing study in China," said Feng.

He refuted accusations from a certain western country on the origins of the virus, terming them as groundless and aimed at diverting attention from its lackluster performance in the pandemic control.

"The purpose of the foregoing actions is self-evident, that is, aiming at obstructing cooperation on global origin tracing, deflecting responsibility for its poor COVID-19 response at home, and using this as an opportunity to defame and blame China," said Feng.

He regretted that the atmosphere for global cooperation has been poisoned severely by a barrage of misinformation and myths on the origin of the virus, adding that China is committed to its containment globally.

Feng said that China will not waver in its support for scientists-led probe into the virus origin as opposed to politicians and intelligence officials from countries with a partisan agenda.

He said that recommendations by a joint team of experts from WHO and China on the need for the future probe on the origin of the virus to focus on multiple countries and regions should be upheld since it was based on sound science.

Feng reiterated that the overarching objective of the virus origin tracing was to understand the mode of its transmission and avert future risks hence the need for mutual trust and sincerity among all parties concerned.

"Origin tracing should be based on equal-footed exchange, mutual trust and candid and sincere cooperation among relevant parties," said Feng.

It should not be a one-way investigation imposed by one side on another, still less should it be based on the presumption of guilt or any predetermined conclusions," he added.

Feng said that besides rallying behind an impartial and scientific investigation into the virus origin, China will also scale up support for its containment globally through vaccine donation.

He noted that China has agreed to provide 2 billion vaccine doses to the world, besides donating 100 million U.S. dollars to the COVAX facility for distributing the life-saving commodity to developing countries.

China is committed to advancing international vaccine cooperation in order to hasten its containment, said Feng. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 19:42:38|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Japan's daily COVID-19 cases topped 20,000 on Friday, the first time since the pandemic began, with a record high of 5,773 new infections confirmed in Tokyo, according to the Japanese government data.

It is the second time the figure of infections for Tokyo has topped 5,000. The new cases in Tokyo surpassed the previous high of 5,042 logged a week earlier.

The number of severe cases in Tokyo rose to a new record to 227 from the previous high of 218 logged earlier in the week. The seven-day rolling average of infections for Tokyo also increased to 4,155.7 per day, rising 8.8 percent from the previous week.

Japan's number of COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms also rose to the highest-ever 1,478 nationwide as of Thursday, exceeding the previous record of 1,413 recorded in late May, the health ministry said.

The recent surge meets with the height of the summer holiday season. Tokyo's governor is calling on residents not to travel to other prefectures.

"We are now facing the biggest crisis since the pandemic began, which amounts to a disaster. We want to ask everyone to act to protect their own lives," said Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike.

Since mid-July, severe cases of COVID-19 patients have increased rapidly across Japan.

Due to the slow progress of the country's vaccination campaign, such severe cases have risen among those in their 40s and 50s mainly in Tokyo, and among patients, young generations have also been found with serious symptoms, which are defined as those with the demand of assistance by ventilators, artificial heart-lung bypass devices or treatment at intensive care units.

Tokyo's health-care system is under increasing strain, with an occupied rate of the capital's hospital beds allocated for seriously ill COVID-19 patients over 50 percent.

Haruo Ozaki, the president of the Tokyo Medical Association, said, "Japan is now in a disaster-level situation. We are no longer in a phase where it's thought that the disease only affects those who go out and about at night." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 20:04:01|Editor: huaxia

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SHANGHAI, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- 2020 Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition (SISIVC), a world-class violin competition hosted by the Chinese metropolis, on Friday held its quarterfinal round online after one-year postponement.

A total of 25 musicians from 13 countries and regions including China, the United States, Japan and Russia participated in this round.

The quarterfinal round has been scheduled from Aug. 13 to 16, while the semifinal will be held from Aug. 18 to 21, both online. The events will be broadcast globally through multiple channels. Six finalists will be announced on Aug. 22, and they will participate in person in the final round scheduled in Shanghai next year, performing with a quartet and symphony orchestra.

Named after the renowned violinist Isaac Stern, the competition was first held in 2016 and has been held biennially since then. Japanese violinist Mayu Kishima won the first prize in 2016 and the 2018 event's top prize went to Nancy Zhou from the United States.

Though the competition was postponed due to COVID-19, it is still titled "2020 SISIVC" as the year 2020 marked the 100th birth anniversary of Isaac Stern.

Despite moving online, the competition will maintain its overall difficulty level and standard, with an authoritative line-up of jury members from the classical music industry, including well-known conductor David Stern, son of Isaac Stern.

"Although affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the competition will still provide opportunities for potential contestants with scientific selection mechanism," said Yu Long, head of the event's organizing committee. "We hope this competition will not only bring fresh blood to the global music industry but also help spread the voice and music of China."

The competition offers one of the biggest prizes among international music competitions, with the top award of 100,000 U.S. dollars. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 20:12:36|Editor: huaxia

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KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Friday appealed to members of parliament (MPs) across party lines to support his government in an upcoming confidence vote on his premiership in the parliament.

In a televised speech, Muhyiddin admitted that several MPs had withdrawn support for his government, triggering doubts on the legitimacy of his premiership and his government.

The prime minister said he had two options under the constitution, either to advise the King to dissolve the parliament or to resign to make way for a new prime minister. But Muhyiddin insisted that currently no MP commands the majority support in the lower house of parliament, hence no new prime minister could be appointed, which means the country would be without a government in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Muhyiddin said he would propose a framework for bipartisan political cooperation, financial allocation for all MPs and senators regardless of political parties, among other measures.

He also proposed that the opposition leader be given the status of a senior minister in recognition of the role played by the opposition.

However, these would only be implemented if the vote of confidence for him was approved in parliament.

"If the proposal for bi-partisan cooperation is agreed to, I will call for a special session to table a motion of confidence for the prime minister soon," he said.

Muhyiddin had said earlier that he will seek a confidence vote in September to decide if he commands majority support among the members of the country's lower house of parliament.

Muhyiddin's announcement comes after Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, president of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), a component of the ruling Muhyiddin coalition, announced withdrawing of UMNO's support for the prime minister together with a number of UMNO MPs.

Muhyiddin has been holding on to power with a slim majority since becoming prime minister last year and the withdrawal of UMNO could see him having an insufficient number of MPs to continue governing. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 20:26:16|Editor: huaxia

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LIVERPOOL, Britain, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- A giant-sized sculpture depicting a scene from a Chinese mythological story is set to dominate Liverpool's famous Chinatown Saturday to encourage people to rediscover the northwestern England's city this summer.

The oldest Chinatown in Europe will become home to "Cowherd & Weaver Girl", a giant pop-up story book which will encourage people to step into the pages in a celebration of love, family and friends.

"The outdoor artwork will depict a scene from a Chinese mythological story based around the Qixi festival, the Chinese Valentine's Day, which is celebrated on Aug. 14," said a spokesperson for Liverpool City Council. The piece will be remaining in Chinatown until Aug. 28.

The installation forms part of the Very Public Art festival, which is seeing a series of brand-new art commissions showcasing the local creative community, giving creators the chance to tell stories through their work.

All the works have been commissioned by Liverpool City Council's Culture Liverpool team, supported by the Arts Council England.

Laura Brownhill, the artist responsible for Cowherd & Weaver Girl, said: "Liverpool's Chinatown is world renowned and I'm so pleased to be able to create a piece of work which not only resonates with the community, but also engages visitors. It's a stunning location and the perfect place to pay tribute to Qixi and reinforce the power of love, family and friendship."

"To have new pieces of art pop-up across our city each week is fantastic to see. We're seeing a steady return of culture to this city and it's so refreshing to have thought-provoking and fun installations temporarily change our landscape. Each piece is so diverse. They are perfect selfie backdrops," said Liverpool's Cabinet Member for Culture and Visitor Economy, councillor Harry Doyle.

The Qixi Festival, sometimes referred to as the Chinese Valentine's Day, falls on every 7th day of the 7th month according to the Chinese lunar calendar. It celebrates the legend of the annual meeting between the mythological figures of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 20:53:27|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- China has earmarked 30 million yuan (about 4.63 million U.S. dollars) to support emergency rescue and disaster relief efforts in its central province of Hubei, the Ministry of Finance said on Friday.

The ministry has ordered the provincial government to prioritize people's lives and property safety, and allocate the funds in a timely manner.

Hubei's government should also strengthen supervision over the use of the funds, efficiently direct the funds toward disaster relief, and minimize casualties and property losses, said the finance ministry.

Heavy rainfall hit Liulin Township in Suixian County, Hubei Province, from Wednesday to Thursday, claiming 21 lives and leaving four people missing, local authorities said on Friday.

Over 8,000 people have been affected in the township, according to local authorities. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 20:56:53|Editor: huaxia

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SANAA, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Yemeni army killed 21 Houthi rebels when repelling attacks in central province of Marib in the last 24 hours, a military source said on Friday.

In Al-Kasarah frontline northeast of western Sirwah district, "the army repelled Houthi rebel attacks from two directions on Malbodah heights that were recaptured by the army two days ago, killing 14 rebels and recapturing the highway linking Al-Kasarah with the northwestern district of Raghwan," the source in Marib told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

"The army also advanced onto the west of Al-Kasarah area, attempting to recapture Al-Makhdarah heights, west of Hilan mountain that overlooks the nearby southern frontline of Al-Mashjah," said the source.

In the southwestern district of Rahabah, "the army repelled rebel attacks on the strategic mountain of Al-Abzakh that the army recaptured earlier this month, killing at least seven," the source said.

Meanwhile, the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV made no report on the ground fighting, but said the Saudi-led coalition warplanes launched 12 airstrikes on the Houthi positions in Sirwah and Rahabah.

The Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV reported that the coalition intercepted and destroyed a bomb-laden drone launched by the Iran-backed Houthi militia towards the Saudi city of Khamis Mushait.

Yemen's civil war flared up in late 2014 when the Houthi group seized control of much of the country's north and forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

The Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in March 2015 to support Hadi's government.

The Houthi group has stepped up cross-border drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia since February when they launched a major offensive on Marib in attempts to seize control of the oil-rich province.

The United Nations has warned that the offensive on Marib, which hosts nearly 1 million internally displaced people, could lead to a major humanitarian catastrophe. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 21:03:24|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The total number of China-Europe freight train trips hit 1,352 in July, up 8 percent year on year, data from the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. showed.

This was the fifteenth straight month that trips made by China-Europe freight trains had exceeded 1,000, according to the company.

In July alone, the freight trains transported 131,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit containers of goods, up 15 percent from the same period of last year.

The cargo trains have played a positive role in helping the world fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the company said, adding that some 215,000 pieces of anti-pandemic supplies, weighing 1,257 tonnes, were shipped by the trains to European countries last month. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 21:25:40|Editor: huaxia

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BRUSSELS -- Raoul Hedebouw, Member of Belgium's Chamber of Representatives, has warned against Europe's involvement in the U.S.-China tension in a recent live debate.

"I think it is a bad idea to conclude this strategic partnership with the political and economic power that during the last century has behaved most aggressively toward the nations of this world," said Hedebouw, denouncing Belgium's failure to oppose Europe's involvement.

- - - -

BERLIN -- German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Thursday that Germany would stop providing aid to Afghanistan if Taliban took over power in the country and applied Sharia law.

"We will not give a penny more to Afghanistan when the Taliban have completely taken over, introduced Sharia law and turned this country into a caliphate," the minister said in a morning show broadcasted by German public networks ARD and ZDF.

- - - -

MEXICO CITY -- Cuba has called on the international community to reject attempts to politicize COVID-19 origin tracing.

Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez tweeted Tuesday that countries need to work together to defeat the pandemic, instead of interfering in the scientific research on the disease to promote a political agenda.

The nation "calls on the international community to strengthen cooperation and solidarity. We reject attempts to politicize, single out and stigmatize the studies on the origin of COVID-19," he said.

- - - -

LONDON -- Six people, including the suspect, were killed in a shooting on Thursday evening in Plymouth, a port city in Devon in southwest England, local police confirmed.

Devon and Cornwall Police tweeted that police were called to "a serious firearms incident" in the Keyham area of Plymouth at around 6:10 p.m. (1710 GMT).

"Following attendance at the scene, two females and two males were deceased at the scene. A further male, believed to be the offender, was also deceased at the scene. All are believed to have died from gunshot wounds," it said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 22:02:36|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, said Friday that all Iran's border lines are secure, including the eastern borders with Afghanistan.

Salami said that the IRGC forces, Iranian Army and the Police have full control over the border areas and are controlling the situation, according to Tasnim news agency.

The comments by the Iranian senior commander came after the reports that Taliban took control of Herat, Afghanistan's third-largest city and a strategic provincial capital in the country's west near Iran's borders.

On Friday, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh expressed concerns over the escalation of conflicts in Afghanistan which have led to the displacement of large number of Afghan people.

He also urged full security of Iran's diplomatic mission in Herat after Taliban's claim to gain control of the city. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 22:12:32|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan Parliament has made it mandatory for the country's legislators to get vaccinated against COVID-19 before being allowed to attend parliament sessions.

"Some Members of Parliament have been vaccinated while others have not," said Chris Obore, director of communications at Parliament, told Xinhua on Friday.

According to Obore, those who have not been vaccinated should get the jabs by Tuesday.

Obore said that the same restrictions would apply to parliamentary staff and journalists.

"No visitors will be allowed in the chambers because the public gallery will be used by legislators since the house can only accommodate 100 people," he added.

He said the country has 429 legislators but they would attend plenary in shifts.

"We have asked party chief whips to draw a plan which will allow the legislators to attend proceedings on a rotational basis," he said.

Ministry of health figures show that by Aug. 11, over 1.16 million people had been vaccinated since the exercise started in March this year. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 23:56:37|Editor: huaxia

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A batch of China-donated COVID-19 vaccines arrives at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Aug. 13, 2021. The Bangladeshi government has received another batch of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government. (Xinhua)

DHAKA, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Bangladeshi government has received another batch of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government.

The vaccines which arrived at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in capital Dhaka at around 6:00 p.m. local time Friday were received by senior officials from Bangladesh's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The shipment comes two days after Bangladesh received the first batch of Chinese COVID-19 vaccine doses shipped via the COVAX Facility.

M Mushtuq Husain, adviser to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) under Bangladesh's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said China's vaccine contributions would immensely help Bangladesh continue the country's nationwide ongoing mass inoculation drive.

With vaccines from China and other countries, Bangladesh on Aug. 7 launched its countrywide mass vaccination campaign.

The mass vaccination drive came amid the surging COVID-19 cases in parts of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh reported 8,465 new COVID-19 cases and 197 new deaths on Friday, taking the tally to 1,405,333 and death toll to 23,810, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 23:57:29|Editor: huaxia

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-- Conflict in different parts of Afghanistan in the last week has driven tens of thousands of people from their homes, according to the United Nations.

-- More than 5,800 internally displaced persons arriving in Kabul between July 1 and Aug. 5 need food, household items, water and sanitation support and other assistance, the UN said.

-- A more complex and challenging humanitarian catastrophe is shaping up in Afghanistan after the United States started hastily withdrawing its troops from the country, leading to an immediate conflict escalation and a rapid deterioration of security.

BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Forced to leave his home in Afghanistan's northern Kunduz a couple of days ago after Taliban fighters captured it, an aged man lives in a dusty open park in the northern edge of Kabul city.

The homeless man, who declined to be identified, attributed his miseries to the irresponsible troop withdrawal by the United States that has added to the suffering of ordinary Afghans. Furious and feeling lost, he cannot help but ask: Why did the United States leave the country without bringing about peace and stability here? Why did it invade Afghanistan in the first place?

Displaced Afghan people take shelter in a public park in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 11, 2021. (Photo by Sayed Mominzadah/Xinhua)





MISERIES OF THE DISPLACED

The displaced man is head of an eight-member family. His life has been turned upside down overnight as fighting and violence have further intensified in Afghanistan.

"I had everything in Kunduz. I had a prosperous and happy life in Kunduz. But today, here, I have nothing. I don't even have a tent to live in and spend my day and night," he said.

The man harshly denounced the United States for leaving behind a mess in his country. "Under the pretext of diminishing terrorists, bringing about peace, developing Afghanistan, empowering women in society and ensuring human rights, the United States invaded Afghanistan," he said. "But all in vain."

"Terrorists are active, fighting continues, human rights are trampled on, people are killed brutally every day, and women's rights was a joke," he said.

Photo taken on Aug. 4, 2021 shows the site of a car bomb in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Photo by Sayed Mominzadah/Xinhua)

What he has experienced is a microcosm of the numerous displaced people in the war-torn country. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs announced on Wednesday that conflict in different parts of Afghanistan in the last week has driven tens of thousands of people from their homes.

The office said they are part of the nearly 390,000 people displaced by hostilities this year, with a massive spike since May. Many of the displaced fled to Kabul and other large cities.

More than 5,800 internally displaced persons arriving in Kabul between July 1 and Aug. 5 need food, household items, water and sanitation support and other assistance, the UN said.

Samihullah, another displaced man, told Xinhua he left his hometown in Yangi Qala of Takhar province three days ago to escape the war, but he and his family have not received any humanitarian assistance so far. Hundreds of families fled their homes in his neighborhood, he said.

Taliban militants are seen inside the Ghazni city, eastern Afghanistan, Aug. 12, 2021. (Str/Xinhua)





DANGEROUS TURNING POINT

A more complex and challenging humanitarian catastrophe is shaping up in Afghanistan after the United States started hastily withdrawing its troops from the country, leading to an immediate conflict escalation and a rapid deterioration of security.

Relief workers in Afghanistan on Thursday were determining the needs of 18.4 million people out of a population of close to 40 million as fighting spreads across the country.

According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, 4,042 weapon-wounded patients have been treated at its 15 supported health facilities across Afghanistan since the beginning of August.

The situation is worsening. Homes, hospitals, shops, bridges and other infrastructure are being destroyed amid heavy clashes between the Taliban and government forces. As a result of the conflict in the past month, more than 1,000 civilians have been killed. The UN also confirmed Monday that over 27 children were killed in three days.

Afghanistan is at a dangerous turning point as the war has entered a new phase, Deborah Lyons, UN secretary-general's special representative for Afghanistan, commented earlier this month.

"Ahead lies either a genuine peace negotiation or a tragically intertwined set of crises: an increasingly brutal conflict combined with an acute humanitarian situation and multiplying human rights abuses," she told the UN Security Council.

Deborah Lyons (on screen), UN secretary-general's special representative for Afghanistan, briefs the UN Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan via a video link from Kabul, Aug. 6, 2021. (Loey Felipe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)





MESS LEFT BEHIND

Currently, many Afghan cities and about half the country's 34 provinces in recent weeks have seen heavy battles and street fighting between Afghan forces and Taliban militants. The Taliban claims to have taken control of at least nine provincial capitals so far.

Earlier this month, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani blamed the speedy withdrawal of U.S.-led troops for the worsening violence in his country. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday also warned that the irresponsible withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan may benefit the militants and lead to unrest in the country.

As multiple cities have fallen to the Taliban, U.S. President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that Afghan troops must defend the country themselves.

Biden had ordered the U.S. military to end its mission in Afghanistan by Aug. 31, days ahead of his original Sept. 11 deadline. The U.S. Central Command said over 95 percent of the drawdown had been completed.

Washington's recent move is further reducing its civilian footprint in Kabul. It said on Thursday that it will deploy thousands of troops to Kabul airport to support its embassy staff drawdown. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul also urged Americans to leave Afghanistan immediately.

An Afghan special force member attends a military operation against Taliban fighters in Kandak Anayat village of Kunduz city, Afghanistan, July 23, 2021. (Photo by Ajmal Kakar/Xinhua)

At the invitation of Qatar, special envoys and representatives from China, Russia, Pakistan, the United States and the United Nations, as well as other regional countries and international organizations, have gathered in Doha since Aug. 10 to hold talks over the situation in Afghanistan.

On Thursday night, representatives issued a joint statement, calling on the Afghan warring parties to expedite the peace process, and reach a political settlement and comprehensive ceasefire as quickly as possible.

The participants said they would not recognize any government in Afghanistan that is forcibly imposed and are much concerned about the ongoing violence, large numbers of civilian casualties, allegations of human rights violations, and destruction of infrastructure.

They pledged to provide assistance to the reconstruction process once a viable political settlement is reached between the two sides.

"What we are doing around the clock is seeking to find a way out of this," U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said. (Video reporters: Abdul Haleem, Jiang Chao; Video editor: Zhang Xinyi)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-14 00:01:03|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Foreign young people in China, motivated by Chinese President Xi Jinping's reply letter to representatives of foreign participants at Global Young Leaders Dialogue, have pledged to further contribute to promoting exchanges and dialogues between China and the rest of the world.

In the letter, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, hailed the active efforts made by foreign young people to deepen their understanding of China through visiting various parts of the country. He encouraged them to further promote exchanges and mutual learning and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

Joshua Dominick, founder and organizer of Krankin' thru of China, said after reading the letter, he gained a better understanding of the path taken by China.

China pursues development in accordance with its national conditions and adheres to its own path, said Dominick, a professional translator who has lived in China for over twenty years.

"The happy lives that the Chinese people enjoy today have been created through their diligence and wisdom," said Abdilahi Ismail Abdilahi, a teacher at Beijing Foreign Studies University, who visited Shaanxi Province to learn about China's ancient history and the history of the CPC.

The president's reply exudes honor for overseas youths, and it will guide us to make more meaningful contributions, said Erik Nilsson, an American working in China.

In the eyes of many foreign young people, China has offered enormous possibilities for them to pursue their dreams.

Ruslan Tulenov, a global media officer at Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development, said that it was China that made his dream come true, offering him a bigger stage to fulfill his aspirations.

The 29-year-old Kazakh said his career benefited from China's thriving economy and its inclusive society.

Jonathan Lopez, a dual citizen of Colombia and Canada, holds the same view. "I want to tell young people across the world that there are plenty of opportunities for you in China," he said.

The exchange and dialogue between China and the rest of the world are the key means to build mutual understanding, said Alistair Michie, secretary general of the British East Asia Council.

Elsbeth van Paridon, a young Dutch sinologist, called on the young people from different countries and fields to inspire one another and make joint progress through more dialogues.

A seminar, attended by youth delegates, scholars and officials from international organizations, was held in China Thursday to explore how to pool the strength of young people for the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

Speaking at the seminar, Siddharth Chatterjee, United Nations Resident Coordinator in China, spoke of Xi's call for more youth participation in building the community.

It will be a community that is prosperous, peaceful, more benevolent and more compassionate, he said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-14 00:01:34|Editor: huaxia

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A man plays guitar by the River Thames with the Tower Bridge in the background in London, Britain, on Aug. 13, 2021. Another 32,700 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 6,211,868, according to official figures released Friday. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

LONDON, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Another 32,700 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 6,211,868, according to official figures released Friday.

The country also reported another 100 coronavirus-related deaths. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now stands at 130,801. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test.

The latest R value of COVID-19 for England is between 0.8 and 1.0, which means, on average, every 10 people infected with the virus will infect between 8 and 10 other people, according to the figures updated on Friday by the UK Health Security Agency.

The R value, or the reproduction number, is the average number of secondary COVID-19 infections produced by a single infected person.

Meanwhile, England's growth rate is between minus 4 percent and 0 percent per day, meaning the number of new infections could be broadly flat, shrinking by up to 4 percent every day, according to the data.

Professor James Naismith, director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute, told Sky News that he expects to see a fourth wave in the wake of eased restrictions and with the return of schools and people moving indoors after the summer.

He also called for a "more effective (vaccine) campaign to encourage the take-up amongst the hesitant", saying jabs are safe and effective and had already saved tens of thousands of lives, according to the Sky News report.

England lifted almost all its remaining COVID-19 restrictions on July 19. Nearly 90 percent of the adults in Britain have had their first dose of vaccine and more than three quarters of adults have received both doses, the latest figures showed.

To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the United States have been racing against time to roll out coronavirus vaccines. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-14 00:19:52|Editor: huaxia

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YAOUNDE, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Cameroon arrested two suspected poachers on Friday over the killing of four gorillas in South region of the country, according to a statement by Cameroon Customs.

The two suspects were arrested in Bitjel, a village in the region by a joint operation involving customs, police and gendarmerie forces, the statement said.

In 2011, poachers murdered a forest ranger in southeastern Cameroon after he caught them with bodies of two Western lowland gorillas. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-14 00:25:48|Editor: huaxia

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RABAT, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Morocco reported on Friday 10,752 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total infections in the country to 741,836.

The death toll rose to 10,823 with 112 new fatalities during the last 24 hours, while 1,967 people are in intensive care units, according to a statement by the Ministry of Health.

The total number of recoveries from COVID-19 in Morocco increased by 9,895 to 649,429, the statement said.

The COVID-19 fatality rate in Morocco stands at 1.5 percent while the recovery rate is 87.5 percent.

Meanwhile, 16,192,313 people have received so far the first vaccine shots against COVID-19 in the country, and 11,368,958 people have received two doses.

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| 2021-08-14 00:37:08|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- China pledged on Friday to continue its participation in science-based COVID-19 origin-tracing, urging the WHO Secretariat to fully consult with member states on the global work plan for the issue and carry out effective cooperation.

Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu made the remarks at a briefing held for foreign envoys stationed in China on the topic of tracing the origins of the virus that causes COVID-19.

"China's stance on global origin tracing has been consistent and clear," Ma said. He pointed out that the issue is a matter of science. It should be and can only be left to scientists to identify, through scientific research, the virus's zoonotic source and animal-human transmission routes.

"No country has the right to put its own political interests above people's lives, nor should a matter of science be politicized for the purpose of slandering and attacking other countries," he said.

He said the findings and recommendations of the WHO-China joint study report are widely recognized by the international community and scientists, and must be respected and implemented by all parties, including WHO.

The future work of global origin-tracing should and must proceed from that basis, instead of reinventing the wheel, he said.

"China always supports and will continue participation in science-based origin tracing," said Ma, adding what China opposes is politicizing origin-tracing, origin-tracing that goes against the WHA resolution and disregards the joint study report.

He said the WHO Secretariat should act on the WHA resolution, conduct thorough consultation with member states on the global origin-tracing work plan, including the follow-up mechanism, and fully respect the views of member states. The plan for origin-tracing involving a particular country must be decided through consultation with the country concerned.

Noting that China attaches great importance to the global origin-tracing study, Ma said the country has been actively cooperating with the WHO on origin tracing from the earliest days of the outbreak, adding that China published the genome sequencing of the novel coronavirus at the first available opportunity, and has twice invited WHO experts for origin-tracing activities.

China is actively implementing the recommendations of the joint research report and is willing to share its results on origin-tracing research with other parties, said Ma.

"Any attempt to overturn or distort the conclusions of the joint study report is political manipulation and disrespect for global scientists and science," said Ma.

He pointed out that the United States ignored the facts and accused China of refusing to cooperate on origin tracing. This amounts to calling white black and confusing right and wrong.

"The label of 'refusing origin tracing' can never be pinned on China. Instead, it is very appropriate for the United States itself," he said.

He said The U.S. side not only secretly uses various means to coerce and pressure the WHO Secretariat and international experts, but also openly uses intelligence agencies to conduct origin tracing.

It is a complete miscalculation to try to use the "presumption of guilt" in dealing with China, he added.

Ma said it is neither scientific nor moral for the United States to hype up the so-called leak of the virus from the Wuhan Institute of Virology with no factual basis at all.

If the U.S. does not harbor a guilty conscience, it should invite the WHO to conduct origin tracing investigations at its Fort Detrick and the University of North Carolina, added Ma.

Andrey Denisov, the Russian ambassador to China, voiced his nation's opposition to politicizing origin tracing and its support for a collaborative, transparent and multilateral approach to such studies.

Awale Ali Kullane, Somalia's ambassador to China, said origin tracing research should be carried out in accordance with the relevant requirements of WHA resolutions. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-14 00:37:28|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Ministry of Environment and Forestry said on Friday that plans are at an advanced stage to launch a tree growing fund and hasten the attainment of 10 percent forest cover in the country.

Alfred Gichu, conservation secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Forestry said that the initiative will avail special funding for tree growing as part of Kenya's global initiative toward combating climate change.

The initiative is expected to play a key role in improving Kenya's tree cover.

Kenya is already in discussion with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) toward entering into a financial agreement for funding the initiative.

Chris Kiptoo, principal secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Forestry said that there are plans to plant and grow two billion trees in the country by the end of 2022. And the government is reaching out to the private sector to help mobilize support for the tree planting campaign.

Kiptoo said that Kenya Forestry Research Institute has improved its seed production capacity to produce 300 tons of seeds, equivalent to some 2.5 billion - 3 billion seedlings per year. So far 4,800 schools and 66 prisons have been identified as additional tree growing areas in the country.

Kenya has developed a national strategy for achieving and maintaining 10 percent tree cover by 2022 while enhancing the protection and conservation of the existing 4.18 million hectares of forest cover.

According to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the country requires 48.7 billion shillings (about 445.6 million U.S. dollars) to achieve the envisaged forest cover by the end of 2022. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-14 00:45:56|Editor: huaxia

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JUBA, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on Friday urged rival opposition factions in South Sudan to cease hostilities and abide by the 2018 revitalized peace deal.

During a meeting with First Vice President and leader of Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) Riek Machar, Workneh Gebeyehu, executive secretary of IGAD, urged rival factions to embrace dialogue.

"We encourage this thing (conflict) be resolved internally, that will be the best way to solve this issue, if not it could have spillover effect on the peace process," Gebeyehu said at a briefing in Juba, capital of South Sudan.

The regional bloc, which groups Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya and Uganda, mediated the 2018 revitalized peace deal signed in Ethiopia by South Sudanese warring parties to end more than six years of civil strife.

Gebeyehu said he will hold a discussion with the breakaway SPLM/A-IO faction led by Machar's former chief of staff Simon Gatwech Dual who is holed up in the Magenis area near the Sudan border.

The two factions clashed last week at Magenis leaving 34 soldiers dead.

The fighting followed the recent declaration by senior officers of SPLA-IO led by Dual deposing Machar from the leadership of SPLM/A-IO while accusing him of nepotism and lacking strong leadership.

The breakaway faction also blamed the First Vice President in the transitional unity government formed in February last year for weakening the hand of the former rebel movement in the coalition government.

Gebeyehu said the region is wary of further violence weakening the ongoing peace process whose slow implementation especially on security arrangement is one of the main grievances among members of the breakaway faction.

South Sudan is supposed to graduate 83,000 unified forces comprising of police, army, intelligence and wildlife but this continues to delay despite assurances by President Salva Kiir.

These forces upon graduation are supposed to take charge of security during the ongoing transitional period.

"The progress is very slow in the implementation of security arrangement, we express our concern for the leadership, for the President, for the First Vice President that security arrangement implementation phase is not going as planned that is really a challenge that South Sudanese are facing now," said Gebeyehu. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-14 00:55:14|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- British Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace on Friday said the U.S. decision to pull its troops out of Afghanistan was a "mistake," which has handed the Taliban "momentum" in the country.

Speaking to Sky News, Wallace said the withdrawal agreement negotiated in Doha, Qatar, by the Trump administration was a "rotten deal".

"At the time of the Trump deal with, obviously the Taliban, I felt that was a mistake to have done it that way. We will all, in the international community probably pay the consequences of that," Wallace said.

"I've been pretty blunt about it publicly and that's quite a rare thing when it comes to United States decisions, but strategically it causes a lot of problems and as an international community, it's very difficult for what we're seeing today," he said.

"Of course I am worried, it is why I said I felt this was not the right time or decision to make because, of course, al-Qaida will probably come back, certainly would like that type of breeding ground," he added.

Talking about the withdrawal of British troops from the country, Wallace said Britain had no choice but to pull its forces out, because the international community had to act together.

"When the United States as the framework nation took that decision, the way we were all configured meant that we had to leave," he said.

The defense secretary also confirmed that Britain will deploy 600 troops to Afghanistan to help British nationals and interpreters leave the country. The United States said on Thursday that it will deploy thousands of troops to Kabul airport to support embassy staff drawdown.

The situation in the war-torn country has been worsening since the withdrawal of U.S.-led troops starting on May 1.

Many Afghan cities and about half of the country's 34 provinces in recent weeks have seen heavy battles and street fighting between Afghan forces and Taliban militants. The Taliban claims to have taken control of at least nine provincial capitals so far.

U.S. President Joe Biden ordered the U.S. military to end its mission in Afghanistan by the end of this month.

Earlier this month, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani blamed the speedy withdrawal of U.S.-led troops for the worsening violence in his country. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday also warned that the irresponsible withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan may benefit the militants and lead to unrest in the country. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-14 00:55:25|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- China urges the United States to respect China's core interests and major concerns, exercise caution in words and deeds, and do more things that are conducive to the development of the relations between the two countries and the two militaries, a Chinese military spokesperson said Friday.

Tan Kefei, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the statement in response to the negative remarks that John Aquilino, the commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, made recently in relation to China.

Tan pointed out that Taiwan question, and Hong Kong- and Xinjiang-related issues are China's internal affairs, and they brook no foreign interference.

Some U.S. military officials have repeatedly made false remarks on China-related issues, interfering in China's domestic affairs and hyping up confrontation between China and the United States, Tan said. "We firmly oppose this."

A healthy and stable relationship between the Chinese and U.S. militaries is in line with the common interests of both sides, he said, adding that China has made clear the principles to be observed when developing the relationship.

"We urge the U.S. side to earnestly respect China's core interests and major concerns, abide by the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, be cautious in words and deeds, and do more things that are conducive to the development of relations between the two countries and the two militaries," Tan said.

The spokesperson also lambasted the United States, a country outside the region, for flaunting its military power in the South China Sea under the guise of "freedom of navigation."

Facts have long proven that the United States is the "trouble-maker" in the South China Sea and the greatest threat to regional peace and stability, Tan said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-14 02:11:16|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of National Defense on Friday expressed strong opposition to the Japanese defense minister's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, and lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side.

Wu Qian, the ministry's spokesperson, made the remarks when commenting on Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi's visit to the shrine on Aug. 13.

Wu said that the visit by the Japanese defense minister to the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 14 convicted Class-A Japanese war criminals from WWII, once again reflects Japan's wrong attitude towards its history of aggression and its sinister intention of challenging the post-war international order.

China urges Japan to seriously reflect on its history of aggression, keep in mind the historical lessons, correct its mistakes and gain the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community through concrete actions, he said.

The Japanese defense department has recently taken negative actions on China-related issues, Wu said, adding that it colluded with countries outside the region to smear China's defense policy and military development, conducted targeted military exercises, intervened in the Taiwan question which is purely China's domestic affairs and carried out provocative actions in the South China Sea.

China urges Japan to abandon the Cold War mentality, and work with China, by following the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan and on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs, to promote the development of China-Japan defense relations on the right track, Wu said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-14 05:13:36|Editor: huaxia

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PARIS, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The ritual of morning coffee, outdoor dining or even access to culture venues has become complicated in France where a coronavirus health pass was introduced early this week, forcing many to flock to border cities to enjoy the communal life without restriction, and putting on edge local catering activity.

In the Belgian city of Tournai, some 30 km from northern France's Lille, Vincent Surmont, a brasserie's manager, told LCI television that an increase in French clients has been noteworthy since the new rules to curb virus spread came into force in the neighboring country.

"I can easily say that the number of French clients is increasing between 20 and 30 percent," he said.

On the French side, the situation is not so rosy.

"We are going to lose a good part of our clients. All those who are reluctant to get vaccined will go to Belgium ... They have already told us about that," Laurent Dumet, a bar manager in Halluin, north of France, told France Bleu Nord regional radio.

The same concern is echoed by Roland Heguy, president of the union for hospitality businesses, UMIH. He estimated that "the health pass will lead to between 15-20 percent drop in visitor numbers."

"A recent opinion poll showed that more than 40 percent of French people do not plan to go to restaurants during their holidays once the health pass becomes compulsory. This would only increase the economic pressure on our sector ..." he said in a recent interview with the La Croix newspaper.

In France, people must now present a certificate which proves they have been vaccinated against COVID-19, test negative or recently recovered from the respiratory illness, if they want to enter restaurants and bars, or to have access to long-distance train and plane journeys or non-emergency treatment in hospital.

The health pass is also required to visit museums or to go to cinemas, amusement parks, swimming pools and gyms.

The new rules were approved by the National Assembly in July. While the executive argues that the new rules are needed to contain the highly contagious Delta variant and prevent fresh national lockdowns, critics say the measures are an attack on people's personal freedoms. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-12 04:57:46|Editor: huaxia

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RABAT, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Morocco on Wednesday offered assistance to Algeria in its battle to extinguish wildfires ravaging mountain forests and villages in the northern province of Tizi Ouzou.

According to the state official news agency MAP, Moroccan King Mohammed VI instructed his interior and foreign ministers to "express to their Algerian counterparts the readiness of Morocco to help Algeria combat the wildfires."

King Mohammed VI has also "ordered to mobilize two Canadairs planes to take part in this operation, upon agreement with the Algerian authorities."

The fire that broke out on Monday in Tizi Ouzou has so far killed 69, including 20 soldiers, Algerian official news agency APS said Wednesday. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 09:15:01|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Police on Thursday cautioned funeral homes against using sirens on their vans, saying they are not part of the emergency service providers.

Such vehicles will be impounded if found on roads, Luke Owoyesigyire, Kampala Metropolitan deputy police spokesperson told Xinhua in a recent telephone interview.

"Sirens are only used by emergency vehicles. The funeral service cars are not part of these," Owoyesigyire said.

"If they are doing so, they are doing it illegally," he added.

Earlier this year, the police mounted an operation in which they uninstalled sirens and rooftop lights from private vehicles. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 09:22:31|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Libya received the third batch of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

"The third batch of 117,600 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines via COVAX Facility arrived at Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli," UNICEF said in a statement, adding that it is facilitating the procurement, arrival and delivery, which will "help speed up the national vaccination program."

"Libya is a self-financing participant in the COVAX Facility and already received the first shipment of 57,600 doses in April and second shipment of in May 117,600 doses," the statement said.

The country recently received a batch of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines.

Libya registered 276,739 infections as of Thursday, with 3,835 deaths, according to the country's National Center for Disease Control. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 16:18:24|Editor: huaxia

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MOGADISHU, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Somali National Army (SNA) forces have apprehended a senior operative of al-Shabab in Marka, a town in the southern Lower Shabelle region, an official confirmed on Friday.

Abdullahi Ahmed Gafow, governor of Marka, told state-run Radio Mogadishu that the army conducted an operation Thursday evening in the town against Shabab militants.

"Our forces have managed to arrest Hussein Osman Mohamed who was in charge of operations in Marka town for the militants," he said.

"During the operation, Mohamed got injured after his bodyguards attempted to resist the army, but we overpowered them," Gafow said.

The capture comes amid sustained operations by the Somali army against al-Shabab in southern regions where the militants are still controlling the rural areas, conducting ambushes and planting landmines. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 21:01:21|Editor: huaxia

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MOGADISHU, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Somali National Army (SNA) backed by Jubbaland's regional forces killed 10 al-Shabab terrorists in a security operation carried out in Kismayo district, southern part of the country on Friday.

The SNA Radio reported that four of the extremists' hideouts were also destroyed as the joint security forces launched a massive operation against the al-Qaida allied terrorist group in Berhani, Dharkay, Yaq-anole and Sariraha villages.

The military officials leading the joint operation said the security forces also detonated six landmines, which were planted along the road by al-Shabab.

The officials said the government forces have pushed al-Shabab out of many of their areas which are all on the outskirts of Kismayo.

The military officials said that they will continue with the joint operations in Kismayo region until al-Shabab militants are flushed out of the southern region.

The government forces have intensified security operations against the terrorist groups as the country kicked off national elections across the country. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 21:08:53|Editor: huaxia

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Anna Mokgethi, Botswanan Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, launches the online visa application platform in Gaborone, Botswana, on Aug. 12, 2021. Botswana launched the online visa application platform (E-Visa) on Thursday, allowing citizens and tourists to obtain a visa online from their own homes. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)

GABORONE, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Botswana launched the online visa application platform (E-Visa) on Thursday, allowing citizens and tourists to obtain a visa online from their own homes.

During the launch of E-Visa in Botswana's capital city, Gaborone, Anna Mokgethi, Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, said that the new platform will improve efficiency, customer satisfaction, and Botswana's digital footprint.

She said that the old system was very time consuming because applicants had to fill out forms, attach other required documents, submit them, and pay the required fee to the nearest immigration office. Additionally, applicants from outside Botswana were required to have aides who would submit application forms and process payments on their behalf.

The new digital system will replace the manual system and is expected to reduce the government's investment in money, time, paperwork, and manpower allocated to visa applications while also better serving its visitors.

It is believed that E-Visa moves the entire visa application process to the digital realm. The traveller goes to the country's E-Visa portal, fills out the application and supporting documents, pays online, and communicates with the authorities via the Internet. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 09:28:50|Editor: huaxia

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by Misbah Saba Malik, Jiang Chao

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan received the first batch of COVID-19 vaccine that China provided for the COVAX facility this week.

Early on Wednesday morning, a batch of Chinese Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine arrived at Islamabad International Airport.

Pakistani officials and experts say that the vaccine donations are not only indicators of the deep-rooted ties between the two countries, but also show that at the raging time of vaccine nationalism, China is sticking to its spirit of building a global community of health for all.

At a ceremony held here, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Faisal Sultan said China's vaccine donation through COVAX highlights the manifestation of the commitment of the Chinese leadership that vaccine is a global public good and should be made available to the people across the globe to help them fight against the disease.

"China leads the way in supplying these vaccines...through the COVAX facility, it aims to reach the populations that perhaps have the biggest difficulty in purchasing a vaccine," he said.

Pakistan is currently facing a serious fourth wave of COVID-19 as the rapid spread of the Delta variant, and it successfully overcame the previous three waves by ensuring implementation of guidelines identified by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) and speeding up its vaccination drive.

Experts believe that China came to Pakistan's rescue in the crucial first wave when the healthcare teams were the most prone to catching the disease and tens of doctors and paramedics died whereas hundreds of others got infected.

Talking to Xinhua, Bilal Ahmad, a public health officer associated with non-government Panacea Healthcare System & Research Center, said that Pakistan's victory against the disease started when the first batch of Chinese vaccine donation was started administering to the frontline medical staff because it gave a hope that beginning of the end of the pandemic had already started.

"Initially 0.5 million vaccine shots were inoculated to the healthcare workers which were the most vulnerable people to contract the disease, but in the long run it proved that by inoculating millions of others including the patients visiting the hospital and their families were also indirectly protected from the virus."

Timely vaccination drive and later speeding up the campaign after procurement of the vaccine from China also helped the country to repair its economy during FY2021 after seeing negative growth in FY2020 due to pandemic outbreak.

In a conversation with Xinhua, Noor Ahmed, former secretary of the country's Economic Affairs Division, Ministry of Economic Affairs, said that the "timely vaccination drive with the help of China contributed to the normalization of business and economic activities particularly in urban areas where COVID-19 economic impact is the hardest."

Experts say that the timely arrival of the vaccine in the form of the donation from China helped the country open almost all sectors of the economy as the ratio to catch disease gradually decreased and people and businessmen returned to their normal life.

"The Chinese donation also helped the Pakistani government save money it had allocated for COVID-19 emergency fund to financially help the people who lost their jobs during the pandemic, and buying medical equipment for the disease-infected patients besides buying protective equipment for the frontline staff," Ahmed said.

In an earlier conversation with Xinhua, Asad Umar, head of the NCOC, said that China's role in Pakistan's vaccination drive has been crucial because currently, all countries are vaccinating their populations and the vaccine supply is always shorter than demand.

"Pakistan so far has received a bulk of vaccine from China in the form of donation or procurement by the Pakistani government. If China did not come through for Pakistan to kick off the vaccination drive and make more jabs available to it in the following months, we would have been in a desperate situation."

Sultan said that the government had to extend days between the two doses as they were in the process of procuring vaccines and there was not enough availability in the stock, but after the donation of Sinopharm through COVAX, the duration between the two doses has been reduced from 42 days to 28 days.

He said that his country has recently reached the mark of administering 40 million vaccine doses to its public and the biggest share in this number is of Chinese vaccines including Sinopharm, Sinovac and CanSino which are being processed in Pakistan with support from China.

"Through our experience of inoculating the Chinese vaccines to the public, we have seen that they are safe, and have great acceptability within Pakistan. And all the preliminary analysis that we have been able to do, shows that it provides good protection against the disease."

Pakistan is not the only country that has received vaccine donation under COVAX from China. Bangladesh also received Sinopharm vaccines under the same facility this week.

Talking about China's commitment, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong said at a ceremony, "In the face of the COVID-19, China has announced a series of major initiatives to support the global fight against the pandemic, promoting the building a global community of health for all with practical actions. China has consistently supported the work of the United Nations and its specialized agencies."

Underlining the need for international cooperation and solidarity to fight the pandemic, he said that the virus can be defeated in the earliest possible way if the international community work together.

"Do away with vaccine nationalism and jointly oppose the politicization of the origin-tracing of the coronavirus, support the waiver of intellectual property rights on vaccines, promote fair and equitable distribution of vaccines worldwide," said the ambassador. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 12:03:20|Editor: huaxia

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KATHMANDU, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- As many as 20 electric vehicle assembly plants have been registered with Nepal's Department of Industry since 2015, as the South Asian country seeks to promote electric vehicles to cut the import of petroleum products.

According to the department, most of the planned assembly plants have proposed to assemble less than 1,000 electric vehicles each year in each category -- two, three and four wheelers, and there are proposals of producing more two-wheelers while limiting four-wheelers. At least one firm has proposed to produce spare parts in Nepal.

Despite the registration of these assembly plants over the years, hardly any has started to assemble electric vehicles in Nepal.

"I don't have knowledge about anyone starting to assemble vehicles in Nepal," Jiblal Bhusal, director general at the department, told Xinhua. "But I hope that a few of them will start to assemble sooner or later."

He said that Chinese investors, as the leading investors in Nepal, are also eager to invest in electric vehicle manufacturing in the country as the penetration of electric vehicles in Nepal is very low and there is a scope for their growth.

By tapping its hydropower potential over the years, Nepal has a power surplus now, particularly in the rainy season, and the government aims to promote electric vehicles so as to reduce imported petroleum products.

Addressing a press meet on Wednesday, Energy Minister Pampha Bhusal listed the promotion of electric vehicles as a priority of the ministry, saying fees would be lowered for the charge of electric vehicles.

Sundar Yatayat Private Limited is one of the Nepali companies which have partnered with a Chinese company to assemble electric vehicles in Nepal, and the company is also operating China-made electric passenger buses in the Kathmandu Valley.

Sundar Yatayat has joined hands with China's Sichuan Guohong Automobile Co. Ltd for the production of electric vehicles in Nepal and has established a joint venture, Sundar Auto Engineering.

"We started the construction of the assembly plant just a few weeks ago," Bhesh Bahadur Thapa, director of Sundar Auto Engineering, told Xinhua. "But incessant rainfalls in recent days are affecting the construction works."

For now, Nepal is fully reliant on imported vehicles to run transport services inside the country.

Sundar Auto Engineering is building an electric vehicle assembly plant in Sainamaina Municipality of the Rupandehi district in Nepal's Lumbini Province, which will mainly assemble buses and cars.

According to Thapa, the construction work of the assembly plant is expected to be completed within six months if all goes off smoothly amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Our target is to produce at least 4 to 5 electric four-wheelers by May next year if everything goes smoothly," Thapa said, noting that the company plans to assemble 100-300 buses and cars in a year initially.

"If the demand grows, we will have the capacity to produce 1,000 vehicles a year," he added.

It costs around 3.6 billion Nepali rupees (30.3 million U.S. dollars) initially to establish the assembly plant, but Sundar Auto Engineering has the option of increasing the investment up to 9 billion Nepali rupees (75.8 million U.S. dollars).

Krishna Prasad Dulal, president of NADA Automobiles Association of Nepal which groups automobile dealers, told Xinhua that electric vehicles have yet gained much market in Nepal.

"An estimated 10 percent of the annual sales of cars in Nepal are electric vehicles," he said. "In the two-wheeler segment, only around one percent of total two-wheelers sold in the market in a year are electric two-wheelers." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 14:11:50|Editor: huaxia

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KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Four personnel of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) were killed following a shooting incident at their camp in the northern Borneo state of Sarawak, officials confirmed on Friday.

Sarawak state police commissioner Aidi Ismail said the shooting happened at the guardhouse of the camp, with three of the victims being killed on the spot and another severely injured victim died at a nearby hospital where he was being treated for injuries.

He said investigations into the incident are underway and forensics teams are on site.

Separately, the RMAF also confirmed the incident and said the investigation is being handled by the police, with the cause being investigated.

The statement also cautioned the public against speculating on the incident. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 16:33:26|Editor: huaxia

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CANBERRA, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has thanked Australians for the coronavirus vaccination rates amid the country's third wave of infections.

Morrison told reporters in Canberra on Friday afternoon that Australia's vaccine rollout was hitting "world class marks" after a troubled start.

As of Friday, 25 percent of Australian adults have received two coronavirus vaccine doses after a week in which almost 1.5 million doses were administered.

"One in four eligible Australians, one in four, are fully vaccinated in this country," Morrison said after meeting with state and territory leaders at National Cabinet.

"It was 11.6 percent, just one month ago," said the prime minister.

"One million doses in just four days. That is an extraordinarily extraordinary effort... I want to thank all Australians for clearing the path for all of us to go through."

Paul Kelly, Australia's Chief Medical Officer (CMO), said in the same press conference on Friday that Australia was "clearly" in the midst of a "third wave" of coronavirus infections after the initial wave in early 2020 and a second wave in Victoria, the country's second-most populous state, in mid-2020.

"This year, we have seen 10,000 cases now for the whole country and sadly 39 deaths," he said.

"Most of those cases and most of those deaths associated with the New South Wales outbreak which is continuing to be a concern, particularly in Sydney but also in other areas of the state."

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) on Thursday imposed strict restrictions after reporting its first coronavirus case in the community in over 12 months.

Andrew Barr, chief minister of the ACT, announced that the territory would go into lockdown for seven days from 5:00 p.m. local time on Thursday after a man in his 20s tested positive for COVID-19.

It makes Canberra another major Australian city currently subject to a lockdown with strict restrictions also in place in Sydney and Melbourne.

As of Thursday afternoon, there have been 37,754 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia, and the number of locally acquired cases in the previous 24 hours was 375, according to the latest figures from the Department of Health.

On Friday morning, New South Wales (NSW), Australia's most populous state, reported a record high of 390 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19.

Of the locally acquired cases, the source of infection for 250 cases is under investigation. The health department in NSW was notified of two deaths, including a woman in her 40s and a man in his 90s. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 16:45:23|Editor: huaxia

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HANOI, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Southern Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), the country's current COVID-19 epicenter, on Friday started administering China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine among its Vietnamese citizens.

The move is part of the efforts to achieve the target of fully vaccinating 70 percent of the city's adult population by the end of August, local newspaper Tien Phong quoted Nguyen Hoai Nam, deputy head of the municipal health department, as reporting.

On July 31, HCMC received 1 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine from sponsors, which had been evaluated by Vietnam's Ministry of Health as in good condition with assured quality, Nam said, adding that his department has started distributing Sinopharm vaccines to inoculation sites.

The southern city is currently speeding up its vaccination campaign with 200,000 to 250,000 doses administered each day, according to the local health department.

HCMC has been applying the country's strictest social distancing rules since July 9.

The city registered 3,841 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, raising the total tally to 136,756, accounting for over half of Vietnam's 246,568 cases as of Thursday evening. A total of 3,807 deaths had been recorded in the city, accounting for nearly 80 percent of the country's total, according to the health ministry. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 09:07:42|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Six people, including the suspect, were killed in a shooting on Thursday evening in Plymouth, a port city in Devon in southwest England, local police confirmed.

Devon and Cornwall Police tweeted that police were called to "a serious firearms incident" in the Keyham area of Plymouth at around 6:10 p.m. (1710 GMT).

"Following attendance at the scene, two females and two males were deceased at the scene. A further male, believed to be the offender, was also deceased at the scene. All are believed to have died from gunshot wounds," it said.

Another female, treated at the scene for gunshot wounds, died a short time later in hospital, it added, noting that the shooting was not terrorism-related.

Luke Pollard, member of parliament for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, tweeted that one of the people killed in the shooting was a child under 10 years old.

"The incident in Plymouth is shocking and my thoughts are with those affected," British Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted earlier. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 12:40:29|Editor: huaxia

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BERLIN, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Thursday that Germany would stop providing aid to Afghanistan if Taliban took over power in the country and applied Sharia law.

"We will not give a penny more to Afghanistan when the Taliban have completely taken over, introduced Sharia law and turned this country into a caliphate," the minister said in a morning show broadcasted by German public networks ARD and ZDF.

He said Afghanistan cannot survive without international aid.

Germany has provided Afghanistan 430 million euros (around 505 million U.S. dollars) in aid this year, an amount that it promised to give annually until 2024, Maas said.

German troops were deployed as part of a NATO force in Afghanistan for nearly 20 years until June. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 12:42:22|Editor: huaxia

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BRUSSELS, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Raoul Hedebouw, Member of Belgium's Chamber of Representatives, has warned against Europe's involvement in the U.S.-China tension in a recent live debate.

"I think it is a bad idea to conclude this strategic partnership with the political and economic power that during the last century has behaved most aggressively toward the nations of this world," said Hedebouw, denouncing Belgium's failure to oppose Europe's involvement.

"The economic tensions in the world are at a dangerous level. Why is that so? Because for the first time since 1945, an ultra-dominant economic power like the United States is about to be overtaken economically by other powers," he said.

He condemned U.S. President Joe Biden's efforts to rally Belgium and Europe to follow the United States in a tension with China by declaring China a systemic rival. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 19:57:11|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Aug. 20 in Moscow, the Kremlin announced on Friday.

The leaders will discuss bilateral cooperation in various fields and exchange views on a number of international and regional issues, it said in a brief statement.

The talks will take place at a time when the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline, the flagship energy project between Russia and Germany, is about to be completed despite opposition from the United States.

After meeting Putin, Merkel will visit Kiev on Aug. 22 to discuss security issues and bilateral relations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 21:53:33|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Six people, including the gunman and a three-year-old girl, were killed in a mass shooting on Thursday evening in Plymouth, a port city in Devon in southwest England, local police confirmed on Friday.

The gunman was identified as Jake Davison, a 22-year-old man who lived locally, Devon and Cornwall Police said in an online statement. He killed himself after carrying out the shooting spree in the Keyham area of Plymouth.

Among the five people killed by Davison was a three-year-old girl, the police said, adding that two people injured at the scene remain in hospital and neither is seriously injured.

"Jake Davison was a licensed firearm holder, the circumstances of which will now be subject to full, independent investigation and scrutiny," read the statement.

Devon and Cornwall Police tweeted earlier that the shooting was not "terrorism-related".

"We believe we have an incident that is domestically related, that has spilled into the street and seen several people within Plymouth losing their lives in an extraordinarily tragic circumstance," Shaun Sawyer, chief constable for Devon and Cornwall Police, told reporters.

"This is a truly shocking and tragic incident," said Sawyer.

"The impact on the local community of Keyham, the city of Plymouth and many communities across the country in which relatives of the deceased live will be felt for many months and years," he added.

It was the deadliest mass shooting in Britain since a 52-year-old taxi driver shot dead 12 people and injured 11 others in Cumbria, England, in 2010.

There has been an outpouring of sympathy and shock following Thursday's shooting.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: "My thoughts are with the friends and family of those who lost their lives and with all those affected by the tragic incident in Plymouth last night. I thank the emergency services for their response."

British Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted: "The incident in Plymouth is shocking and my thoughts are with those affected."

Britain's main opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer tweeted: "My thoughts are with the families and neighbours of those caught up in this nightmare."

Luke Pollard, member of parliament for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said Keyham neighborhood has been "utterly devasted" by the shooting, calling it "the darkest day in Plymouth's history since the end of the second World War." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-08-13 10:30:23|Editor: huaxia

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MEXICO CITY, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Cuba has called on the international community to reject attempts to politicize COVID-19 origin tracing.

Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez tweeted Tuesday that countries need to work together to defeat the pandemic, instead of interfering in the scientific research on the disease to promote a political agenda.

The nation "calls on the international community to strengthen cooperation and solidarity. We reject attempts to politicize, single out and stigmatize the studies on the origin of COVID-19," he said.

"We acknowledge China's responsible and transparent contribution in relation to the pandemic," he added. Enditem
Rwanda could experience more extreme weather patterns especially flooding and landslides in the next one or two decades as global warming continues to wreak havoc.

The forecast is based on the fact that global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius or 2 degrees Celsius will be exceeded during the 21st century unless there are deep reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions in the coming decades.

This is according to a report published by the UN-Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Under the Paris Agreement, the world had set up a threshold or ambitious target of limiting global warming to1.5 degrees in 2040 and 2 degrees by 21st century.

However the report says the " threshold will be beyond reach" in the next two decades without immediate, rapid and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Experts say that an increase in the average global temperature will make Rwanda's cities hotter, exposing residents to heat stress.

Local average temperatures in Rwanda have already increased by at least 1.4 degrees since the 1970s, so a global average of 1.5 degrees will mean even higher increases in Rwanda, experts say.

According to Patrick Karera, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Environment, data by IPCC reminds every one of the imperative for climate action.

"Fortunately, Rwanda's long-term plan for growth (Vision 2050) and building resilience to climate change have set clear pathways on what to do. Moving faster is now more crucial than ever," he said.

He said that Rwanda's targets known as "Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)" are key in driving green growth.

Rwanda's 10-year climate agenda features a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 4.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2030.

The plan which Rwanda has already submitted to The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) seeks $11 billion for its implementation.

Rwanda has so far mobilized $216 million in green climate fund (FONERWA) to cope with climate change.

The first part of the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report is released ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) summit due to take place in Glasgow, from October 31-November 12, 2021.

Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, on Monday August 9, said that greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel burning and deforestation are choking the planet and putting billions of people at immediate risk

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"The internationally agreed threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius is perilously close.We are at imminent risk of hitting 1.5 degrees in the near term. We must act decisively now to prevent exceeding this threshold of 1.5 degrees.We are already at 1.2 degrees and rising," he said.

"Covid-19 recovery spending must be aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement. And the decade-old promise to mobilize $100 billion annually to support mitigation and adaptation in developing countries must be met," he added.

The UK which will host the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in November is is lobbying countries to increase ambition on climate change ahead of COP26 in Glasgow according to press notice.

The Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "It is clear that the next decade is going to be pivotal to securing the future of our planet. We know what must be done to limit global warming - consign coal to history and shift to clean energy sources, protect nature and provide climate finance for countries on the frontline."
Residents of Bubisa village in Marsabit County, Kenya show the devastating effects of drought in this picture taken on April 4, 2021.

analysis

"Nowhere is safe." As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned in a recent report that climate change and its consequences are here to stay, is there still an opportunity to mitigate some of the dangers and to get back to a place of relative safety for humanity?

The challenge of surviving the next 50 years is now seen as a planet-wide existential crisis; we need to work together urgently, just to secure a short-term future for human civilisation. Global weather patterns are violently disrupted: Greece burns; the south of England floods; Texas has had its coldest weather ever, while California and Australia suffer apocalyptic wild fires. All of these violent, record-breaking events are a direct result of rapid heating in the Arctic - occurring faster than in the rest of the world. A warm Arctic triggers new ocean and air currents that change the weather for everyone.

The only way to reverse some of these catastrophic patterns, and to regain a kind of stability in climate and weather systems, is "climate repair" - a strategy we call "reduce, remove, repair" - which demands that we make very rapid progress to net zero global emissions; that there is massive, active removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere; and, in the first instance, that we refreeze the Earth's poles and glaciers to correct the wild weather patterns, slow down ice-melt, stabilise sea level, and break the feedback loops that relentlessly accelerate global warming. There are no either/or options.

Reducing emissions

About 70% of world economies have net zero emissions commitments over varying timescales, but this has come too late to restore climate stability.

The IPCC has asked for accelerated progress on this trajectory, but whatever happens, current emission rates of atmospheric greenhouse gases imply global warming of 1.5 by 2030 and well over 2 above pre-industrial level by the end of the century - a devastating outcome. In particular, melting ice and thawing permafrost are considered inevitable even if rapid and deep CO2 emissions reductions are achieved, with sea-level rise to continue for centuries as a result. In every area of the world, climate events will become more severe and more frequent, whether flooding, heating, coastal erosion or fires.

There are definitely important steps that can still reduce the scale of this devastation, including faster and deeper emissions reductions. However, this is not enough on its own to avert the worst. Together there is real evidence that the massive removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and solutions such as repairing the Earth's poles and glaciers could help humanity find a survivable way out of this crisis.

Removing greenhouse gases

Taking CO2 and equivalent greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere, with the aim of getting back to 350ppm (parts per million) by 2100, involves creating new CO2 "sinks" - long-term stores from which CO2 cannot escape. Sinks operate at many scales, with forest planting, mangrove restoration, wetland and peat preservation all crucially important.

Very large projects, such as the restoration of the Loess Plateau in China demonstrate scalable CO2 removal, with multiple add-on benefits of food production, bio-diversity enhancement and weather stabilisation.

Habitat restoration can also make economic sense. In the Philippines, mangrove is the focus of a cost-benefit analysis. Mangrove captures four times more carbon than the same area of rainforest, provides numerous ecosystem services and protects against flooding, conferring socio-economic benefits and significantly reducing the cost of dealing with extreme weather events.

Big new carbon sinks must be created wherever safely possible, including in the oceans. Interventions that mimic natural processes, known to operate safely "in the wild", are a workable starting point. Promotion of ocean pastures to restore ocean diversity and fish and whale stocks to the levels last seen 300 years ago is one such possibility - offering new sustainable food sources for humans, as well as contributing to climate ecosystem services and carbon sinks.

In nature, sprinklings of iron-rich dust blow from deserts or volcanic eruptions, onto the surface of deep oceans, generating - in a matter of months - rich ocean pastures, teeming fish stocks and an array of marine wildlife. Studies of ocean kelp regeneration show the full range of real-life impacts, from increased protein sources for human consumption, to restoration of pre-industrial levels of ocean biodiversity and productivity, and extensive carbon sequestration.

Extending the scale and number of ocean pastures could be achieved by systematically scattering iron-rich dust onto target areas in oceans around the world. The approach is intuitively scalable, and could sequester perhaps 30 billion tons per year of CO2 if 3% or so of the world's deep oceans were to be treated annually.

Largescale carbon-sink creation of this kind is pivotal if the atmosphere is to return to pre-industrial CO2 levels. A billion tons per year of sequestration is the minimum threshold coordinated by the Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge given the intensity of the climate crisis. While the scale of intervention is sometimes called "geoengineering", the approach is closer to forest planting or mangrove restoration. The aim is to remove CO2 from the atmosphere using natural means, to return us to pre-industrial levels within a single generation.

Repairing the planet

The immediate challenge is to stabilise the planet, achieving a manageable equilibrium that gives a last chance to shift to renewable energy and towards a circular global economy, with new norms in urban, rural and ocean management. "Repairing" systematically seeks to draw the Earth back from climate tipping points (which, by definition, cannot happen without direct effort), providing a supporting framework in which "reduce" and "restore" can happen. Political and societal will is needed.

The most urgent effort is to refreeze the Arctic, interrupting a bleak spiral of accelerating ice loss, sea-level rise - and the acceleration of climate change and violent global weather changes that they cause. Arctic temperatures have risen much faster (and increasingly so) than global average temperatures, when compared with pre-industrial levels.

Melting Arctic ice embodies a powerful feedback force in climate change. White ice reflects the Sun's energy away from the Earth before it can heat the surface. This is known as the albedo effect. As ice melts, dark-blue seawater absorbs increasing amounts of the Sun's energy, warming increases, and ever-larger areas of ice disappear each summer, expanding the acceleration. Arctic temperatures govern winds, ocean currents and weather systems across the globe.

A tipping point is passing: sea-ice loss is becoming permanent and accelerating; Greenland ice will follow and will eventually raise global sea-levels by over seven metres. Total loss may take centuries but, decade by decade, there will be relentless incremental impacts. By mid-century the melting will be irreversible, and sea-level rise alone will leave low-lying countries like Vietnam in desperate circumstances, with reductions to global rice production a certainty, many millions of climate refugees and no obvious pathway forward for such nations.

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The rapid Arctic temperature increase is matched by the rapid and accelerating loss in minimum (summer) sea-ice volume (Figure 2), which further accelerates the temperature rise in a spiral of reinforcing feedback loops.

It is vital to pivot the world back from this ice-melt tipping point, and to repair the Arctic as rapidly as possible. Marine cloud brightening in which floating solar-powered pumps spray salt upwards to brighten clouds and create a reflective barrier between the Sun and the ocean, is known to cool ocean surfaces and is a promising way to promote Arctic summer cooling. It mimics nature, and can be scaled up or down in a flexible way. Studies of marine cloud brightening, its climate impacts and interactions with human systems, are underway.

As with promotion of ocean pastures, such solutions must be critically analysed, but there is no longer any doubt of their crucial importance.

What we do in the next five years determines the viability of humanity's future. Even if we narrow our aspirations to "survival", fixing on a timescale of 50 years or so, the challenges are daunting. Humanity deserves better. We know what to do to be able to imagine thousands of years of human civilisation ahead, as well as behind us.

David King, Founder and Chair, Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge, University of Cambridge and Jane Lichtenstein, Associate, Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge, University of Cambridge
On August 10, 2021, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASAs Aqua satellite acquired this natural-color image of a vast smoke plume over northern Algeria. Some of the worst fires have occurred in mountain areas near Bejaia and Tizi-Ouzou. (NASA Earth Observatory image by Lauren Dauphin, using MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview.)

analysis

A damaging heat wave is sweeping across North Africa in the wake of the release of the IPCC findings on climate change. Some experts in Africa say the panel hit the right tone and the onus to act is on the continent too.

The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report outlines the severity of the global climate crisis. According to the UN body, the crisis poses not only a policy problem but a global political challenge.

Some analysts have been quick to question the difference between the latest IPCC assessment and those over three decades. But experts in Africa see a distinct change of tone as what used to be the reality for the continent now becomes a global reality.

Europe and the US are dealing with extreme climatic conditions and this has generated a new degree of urgency, said Oladosu Adenike, a Nigerian climate activist, eco-feminist and the initiator of the Fridays for Future movement in Nigeria.

"With extreme weather everywhere, climate change is now a global reality... in Africa, climate change is no longer a threat but a reality," she told DW.

"Many are still in denial. Some people tried to criticize the whole thing but now these reports have made it clear and even clearer that it is now a reality in Africa, Europe, Asia and every part of the world."

No time

Dickens Kamugisha, the CEO of the Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO) says the latest IPCC report has a sense of urgency.

"This report is unique in the way it is presented because it clearly shows that we no longer have any time to wait before we change. It is showing that each and every one must commit if we are to save this world," Kamugisha told DW.

"So, if you compare this report with previous reports, in a way this report is very precise that we are now almost beyond the limit."

Previous IPCC reports had clearly articulated the dangers of climate change, with the commitments to act set for some time in the future.

Do more

The argument has been that developing countries contribute very little to climate change and environmental degradation and the onus should therefore be on the West to take decisive action. Experts are now increasingly challenging that perspective and arguing that Africa needs to act because the continent is feeling climate change the most.

"We have got to redouble our own efforts to build resilience, to invest in inclusive, resilient cities," said Wanjira Mathai, the vice-president and regional director for Africa at the World Resource Institute.

"And that's really important even as we put pressure on developed countries and some of the big emitters in the globe that have been responsible in many ways for this sort of doomsday scenario we are facing."

That would mean that African countries take the intiative and lead with practical solutions. Are African leaders ready to take action?

"We can take that lead if we really want to. If Africa can take the lead, I assure you that other countries will be serious. They will know that we are ready for business but not business as usual," Oladosu Adenike, the Nigerian eco-feminist explained.

The AFIEGO CEO Dickens Kamugisha has a similiar view and said he believes the time is past for African nations to be making excuses.

"It is very true that Africa contributes about 3% of the greenhouse gases that are causing climate change. I think we should not use it as an excuse that we are contributing little and end up destroying the forests, wetlands and all the nature that is supposed to help us at least reduce the gases that are going to the sky," Kamugisha told DW.

Pay up

A report by the NGO Oxfam states that many recent climate commitments from companies have not been backed by detailed plans and are likely going to rely on land-based carbon offset efforts. Some experts have warned that this would create the conditions for land grabs.

Furthermore, pledges from oil and gas companies such as BP, Eni, Shell, and Total Energies would require large-scale foresting to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

"Why do we have to wait for 2030 or 2050 before we can act or get to climate neutrality? Not listening or not taking action is a crime against humanity," Adenike said.

The argument that African nations need to do more in no way suggests that the biggest contributors to climate change should be absolved of responsibility, say experts.

Wanjira Mathai of the World Resource Institute is of the view that more needs to be done to ensure that those who have either caused or benefited from the climate crisis, pay more.

"We absolutely have to put pressure on those countries and those economies that have benefited from this emission with heavy industrialization to pay up and to support with the commitments that were made in the Paris Agreement. There was a very clear commitment to $100 billion a year and we are 10 years in, and that money has not been seen at that scale," Mathai said. "We've got to get serious about climate finance."

Act now

The overriding sentiment among experts is that African countries need to start taking concrete action on climate change and environmental degradation, according to Mathai.

"In Nairobi today, we have developments that are going on that are really concerning. We have entire walkways being ploughed of the trees that exist, trees that have been standing there for four decades. And instead of us thinking through how we are going to plan around them, plan for pedestrian walkways that are inclusive of green vegetation, we are cutting them down. That has got to change," Mathai told DW.

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This position is supported by others who say the latest IPCC assessment is a call for everyone including Africans to take action.

"The report clearly calls upon everyone in the world including developed countries to ensure that they stop the challenges of climate change," says Dickens Kamugisha.

"Here in Uganda, you have really huge projects of oil -1,400 metres of pipeline. And the project will be producing around 102 million metric tons of carbon. We've seen in Nigeria, Chad, Angola, companies just continue the projects - however risky they are - and the unfortunate thing is that these projects do not benefit those communities."

The urgency of the climate crisis for Africa and the rest of the world is not only because of the effects on weather patterns, according to IPPC and Africa's experts agree.

"They have been seeing how it's fueling refugee crises, migration, insecurity and other kinds of crises," Oladosu Adenike explained.

In 2007, the UN attributed the Darfur conflict in Sudan to climate change. Some two years later, the then US president Barack Obama highlighted that "there is little scientific dispute that if we do nothing, we will face more drought, more famine, more mass displacement - all of which will fuel more conflict for decades."
Nairobi  United Nations experts said the bill, which makes it a crime to be LGBT+, could 'create a recipe for conflict and violence'

A Ghanaian bill criminalising LGBT+ people will establish "a system of state-sponsored discrimination and violence" against sexual minorities, U.N. human rights experts warned on Thursday, urging authorities to reject the proposed law.

The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021, was introduced in parliament on Aug. 2 and is expected to go before lawmakers for debate in October.

In a letter to Ghana's mission to the U.N. in Geneva, the experts - who include the U.N.'s independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity, Victor Madrigal-Borloz - said the bill violated Ghana's international human rights agreements.

"We express our grave concern about the draft bill, which seems to establish a system of state-sponsored discrimination and violence against LGBTI persons of great magnitude," said the letter dated Aug. 9 and publicly released on Thursday.

"Given that LGBTI people are present in every family and every community, it is not very difficult to imagine how, if it were to be adopted, this legislation could create a recipe for conflict and violence."

Ghanaian government officials were not immediately available for comment.

Gay sex is already punishable with up to three years in jail in Ghana, where homophobic persecution is widespread. The bill would also impose a penalty of up to five years imprisonment for being LGBT+ and of 10 years for advocating for their rights.

Online platforms or media companies publishing information deemed to support LGBT+ people or challenge traditional binary male and female gender identities could also be prosecuted.

The draft law promotes so-called conversion therapy by allowing flexible sentencing for an LGBT+ person if they request "treatment" to change their sexual orientation or gender identity, which the U.N. experts said "may amount to torture".

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Some political analysts say there is enough cross-party support in the largely conservative Christian West African nation for the bill to become law.

However, the bill could face pressure from international donors and legal challenges, as the U.N. experts said it violated international conventions to which Ghana is party, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Danny Bediako of the human rights organisation Rightify Ghana said he hoped the U.N. statement would encourage lawmakers to vote against the bill.

"Just as some Ghanaians who have spoken against the hate bill, the international community is concerned about Ghana's democratic credentials being wiped out by this anti-LGBTQ bill," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

"Within parliament, I don't think it would make much difference amongst MPs who support the bill. However, it could encourage other MPs to speak against it."

(Reporting by Nita Bhalla @nitabhalla, Editing by Katie Nyugen and Katy Migiro. The Thomson Reuters Foundation is the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, and covers the lives of people around the world who struggle to live freely or fairly. Visit http://news.trust.org)
Nigeria High Commission in London has been shut as two officials tested positive for COVID-19.

The High Commission, according to a statement on Thursday will remain closed for ten days.

A statement from the Nigeria High Commission said the closure became imperative after two staff tested positive for COVID-19.

The statement read: "This afternoon the Head of Immigration Section and two other officials went for a meeting at the Home Office.

"At the entrance, COVID test was administered on them and one of them tested positive to COVID-19. The affected officer immediately isolated while the other officials, who tested negative will also isolate for the next 10 days."

The statement said, "In response to this challenge, the Mission embarked on testing all officials of the Mission, after which another official of the Mission tested positive."

The statement added that: "In line with COVID-19 regulation and the need to adhere to the rules and regulation of the host country, the Mission will close down for the next 10 days, in order to observe the mandatory isolation of those who were in contact with the affected officials."

The High Commission said it regrets any inconvenience that this may have caused and solicited the cooperation of the general public.
A young peace campaigner from Cameroon who turned his back on the violence prevalent in his hometown and became a youth civil society activist, has been telling the United Nations about how he is helping other young people to reject conflict, and take a greater role in building peace in the country.

Christian Achaleke spoke to the UN ahead of International Youth Day, which is marked annually on August 12th.

"My decision to become a peace activist was influenced by my personal experience. I grew up in a community plagued by violence: it was a way of life. At some point, I came to realize that violence leads us nowhere. I lost some friends and acquaintances, and others were thrown into jail.

I began volunteering in 2007, and this gave me a new perspective built around peace and helping to improve communities. It has been an inspiring, life-changing experience.

As a young person involved in peacebuilding and countering violent extremism, I find myself speaking to my peers. When I go to prisons to speak to other young people, I can show them that there are better ways to respond to the challenges they face than violence and develop solutions to the drivers of conflicts.

Underestimated youth

However, I would say that our role has been underestimated. Sometimes I feel that communities, leaders and institutions turn a blind eye to what we are doing, even though we are the ones who suffer the most in times of conflict.

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In Cameroon, we have tried to provide young people with the opportunity to engage in local community peacebuilding and peace process initiatives, giving them guidance, mentorship and support.

We are telling the government, the UN and other organizations that it is a good strategy to involve youth, to give them the skills to take part in mediation and provide a safe space in which they can be a part of the process.

Culture, diversity and heritage are very important to me as a Cameroonian. They should serve as a unifying factor but, because we did not properly harness them, we are facing a violent conflict.

That is why managing culture, heritage, diversity and our diaspora community is very important for peace, and it is something that we have been trying to practice for a long time.

Values to prevent conflict

To me, a culture of peace is a set of values, lifestyle, morals, and ethics which are developed as a way to prevent conflict or violence and also to engage people towards peaceful and ethical living.

To create a culture of peace in Africa, young people and women need to be engaged, and at the forefront of the process. It is also important to provide opportunities for people and communities to be able to share experiences and ideas.

Little is being spoken about young people changing the face of the African continent but that does not mean that we are not doing good work. I am calling on heads of States, policy makers, communities and every person of good will, to stand and support young boys and girls, and ensure that they can lead the transformations of their countries, and build the African continent".
The government of Comoros is investigating whether a boat that killed seven people in the Indian ocean as it drifted towards Kenya was duly registered.

This emerged as eight men who were rescued by fishermen and Kenya navy officers in Malindi on Monday evening continued recuperating at the Malindi Sub-County Hospital.

Comoros acting consular Mohammed Farhan told the Nation he was working with the maritime department in his country to establish whether the vessel was registered to operate in the Indian Ocean waters.

Mr Farhan said his government was finding it difficult to get more details on the boat since no distress call seemed to have been made on it to the maritime department.

"The government recommends that all vessels be fitted with a tracker and communication gadgets. But it is hard to establish how the boat was operating since the captain was among the seven who perished," said the acting consular.

Mr Farhan said the Comoran government had already communicated with the relatives of the passengers regarding the incident and status of their kin.

"I am planning to travel to Malindi to get the details of the boat but it appears the vessel was not registered and did not have communication gadgets. However, I will give more details once we are done with the ongoing investigation," he said.

"We had three cases of missing vessels and eight missing people. We found four and are still looking for four more people who remain unaccounted for, but chances of getting them are slim, since a boat was found in the deep waters without people and we ascertained it was from Comoros," he added.

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The official said out of the four whose whereabouts had been traced, two were found in Lamu, Kenya, while the other two were found in Tanzania, clarifying further that the four had nothing to do with the boat that washed up in Malindi on Monday.

Mr Farhan said he had communicated with doctors at Malindi Sub-county Hospital and had been assured the survivors were responding well, though they were still weak and yet to start consuming solid food.

"They are still consuming food through intravenous injections," he said. "We are already working on their travel documents here in Mombasa and as soon as they recover, the Comoros government will fly them to reunite with their families."

Yesterday, well-wishers including staff from Mombasa Cement Company thronged the hospital with clothes and other donations.

The eight survivors were found unconscious by fishermen in Watamu, Kilifi County, after the vessel they were sailing in from Nzuani Island to Mayotte Island in Comoros broke down before drifting towards the Kenyan coast.

The sailors had spent more than three weeks adrift in the ocean, watching helplessly as seven of their relatives, including a pregnant woman, her husband and two children, died.

The eight who were admitted to Malindi Sub-county Hospital are Nassiru Tawidu, Mohammed Ahmed, Mahmud Hassan, Mohammed Saidwahi, Samin Mohammed, Samir Mahmud and Haruna Huseni.

On Tuesday the sailors narrated their 22-day ordeal to the Nation, detailing how they survived on raw fish and salty sea and the pain of having to throw bodies into the sea to keep their wrecked vessel afloat.
When the Jubilee administration announced plans to build half a million new low-cost houses as part of its Big Four Agenda in its second and final term in office, paint manufacturers started hatching plans to cash in on the anticipated construction frenzy.

Kenya's paint market, dominated by a handful of major players, makes it easy for them to gang up to control the trade by cleverly fixing prices.

They do so by, among others, creating an artificial shortage, and fixing discount prices and transport charges, which play a key role in the eventual price of commodities.

The Affordable Housing Programme, which aims to build 500,000 low-cost houses, a rapidly growing real estate market, and the construction of mega infrastructure projects led to a rise in demand for paint, presenting a perfect opportunity for paint makers and suppliers to game the market.

The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) has detailed how leading paint manufacturers have been reducing the availability of paint in the market to create an artificial demand and reap from the resulting higher prices.

CAK, tasked with curbing shady practices perpetrated by unscrupulous firms out to cheat consumers, revealed the scheme in which firms sought to cash in on the expected steep rise in demand for paint to be used in the government's low-cost housing programme.

Colluding to fix prices

"The Authority initiated investigations into an alleged collusive conduct by certain players in the paints manufacturing and distribution sector of Kenya in July 2018 pursuant to the provisions of Section 31 of the (Competition) Act," CAK said in its financial statements covering the year 2019/20.

"This was in light of the fact that the manufacturing and housing sectors are part of the Big Four Agenda to drive economic growth in the country."

The competition watchdog consequently raided Crown Paints, Basco Products Kenya, Kansai Plascon Kenya and Galaxy Paints and Coatings in December 2018, seeking to retrieve information on allegations that the firms, which control most of the paint market in Kenya, were colluding to fix prices.

"The Authority reviewed the information to determine whether there was alleged collusive conduct between these manufacturers and distributors of paint products," CAK said.

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"The alleged concerted practices are harmful to competition since the transparency of strategies by firms is likely to increase prices or reduce product availability in the market to the detriment of the consumer welfare."

CAK established that the companies colluded to fix paint prices in a direct affront to market forces of demand and supply, while they also worked together to set discount structures and transport charges.

Other illegal practices

"Accordingly, the parties were accorded an opportunity to respond to the allegations levelled against them pursuant to section 31 of the Act through written and oral submissions which were presented on various dates between September and November 2019," CAK said.

Following the investigation, Basco subsequently accepted liability and paid Sh20,799,277 as settlement to CAK, while Crown, Plascon and Galaxy appealed the determination to the Competition Tribunal.

The law prohibits "agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings, decisions by undertakings or concerted practices by undertakings which have as their object or effect the prevention, distortion or lessening of competition in trade in any goods or services in Kenya, or a part of Kenya".

These include agreements between competing firms, suppliers and customers.

Other illegal practices include dividing markets by allocating customers, suppliers, areas or specific types of goods to certain companies, groups or associations, collusive tendering, and limits or controls on production.

Other banned practices are market access and investment, and applying dissimilar conditions to equivalent transactions with other trading parties, which places them at a competitive disadvantage.
Mary Wanjiru Kinyua, the CEO and co-owner of Platinum Distillers that produces the Momentum Ice alcohol brand, is locked in a Sh163.8 million tax claim battle with the taxman.

Platinum Distillers entered the Kenyan alcohol industry with a bang in 2014, winning thousands of clients who were happy to imbibe the company's Momentum Ice with Guarana drink at the expense of other better-known brands.

The new drink was cheaper but similar in name and appearance to the already popular Smirnoff Ice Double Black with Guarana, which helped to boost its brand recognition.

Diageo North America Inc and UDV (Kenya) would sue Platinum Distillers over the brand, and an out-of-court settlement saw the latter change the design of its packaging and drop the Guarana tag.

Diageo may have won the trademark battle, but the market stint was enough to thrust Momentum Ice into popularity within a short time.

Barely one month after settling the Guarana battle out of court, Platinum Distillers launched another drink, Ferrari Ice, and continued on its path to success.

It would also become the first of many other controversies that have now left Platinum Distillers and its chief executive fighting off tax claims.

For the next five years, Platinum Distillers would smile all the way to the bank, as cash flowed in hundreds of millions.

Despite the company's overnight success, Ms Kinyua would file nil tax returns with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), at least for the first four years of Platinum Distillers' growth in the alcohol manufacturing sector.

Filing nil returns to KRA

This implied that she was not drawing a salary from Platinum Distillers despite being its highest-ranking employee.

But Caesar was not taking the tax returns at face value.

On April 18, 2019 a letter from the KRA arrived on Ms Kinyua's desk. The taxman was planning an audit of her bank accounts for the years 2014 to 2017.

In the letter, the KRA communicated that Ms Kinyua had been filing nil returns despite receiving millions in her accounts at KCB Bank.

By the time the letter was being sent to Ms Kinyua, KRA had established that the Platinum Distillers CEO's bank accounts had received more than Sh425 million between 2014 and 2017.

The money had been deposited in three bank accounts, one of which Ms Kinyua jointly owned with an individual identified as Onesmus Muturi Mburu. The court and tribunal papers do not specify the relationship between Ms Kinyua and Mr Mburu.

The KRA initially demanded taxes, interest and penalties totaling Sh249.5 million from Ms Kinyua.

But Ms Kinyua and Platinum Distillers objected to the demand.

The two claimed that the money deemed to be income was a series of loans from various sources, including Platinum Distillers.

Exposed to double taxation

They also insisted that the KRA was being punitive in claiming corporate tax from Ms Kinyua's personal bank accounts that should have attracted individual income tax at most.

Ms Kinyua added that money she received from Platinum Distillers had already been subjected to corporate tax, hence she was being exposed to double taxation.

Ms Kinyua insisted that the CEO's personal accounts also doubled up as collection accounts for Platinum Distillers, and she provided a Board of Directors resolution to that effect.

Among the deposits Ms Kinyua had received was a Sh58 million transaction in the 2014-2015 financial year.

Ms Kinyua said it was unfair to treat the deposit as income because the money had been sent from an individual she identified as Willy Mwangi, on whose behalf she was purchasing a house in Kikuyu for the full amount.

The taxman considered the objections and struck some items off the demand list, before lowering its claim from Ms Kinyua to Sh163.8 million.

Among the considerations taken by the taxman was the fact that Ms Kinyua and Mr Mburu each had 50 per cent responsibility for their joint bank account. This saw the taxman drop Sh11.9 million from the claim on the joint account.

As the KRA claimed taxes on Ms Kinyua's half of the account with Mr Mburu, it means that the joint account had received a total of Sh23.8 million between 2014 and 2017.

It also means that Ms Kinyua's other two accounts received Sh401 million between 2014 and 2017.

Sh163.8 owed million in taxes

Ms Kinyua still believed that the KRA was being unreasonable, and she challenged the demand at the Tax Appeals Tribunal.

The CEO claimed that the KRA still irregularly treated loans as income, ignored some transactions involving money received being transferred out of her account, and failed to consider Platinum Distillers Board resolutions that designated Ms Kinyua's personal accounts as the company's collection points.

The KRA in its response said it had made all reasonable considerations when calculating Ms Kinyua's dues, and held that the CEO owes Sh163.8 million in taxes, interest and penalties.

On June 18, 2021 the Tax Appeals Tribunal dismissed Ms Kinyua's case.

The tribunal held that Ms Kinyua did not produce any evidence to show that some of the money she received in personal accounts was held on behalf of Platinum Distillers.

The tribunal added that Ms Kinyua did not file loan agreements or any paperwork to prove that some of the funds she received were loans from Platinum Distillers.

KRA applied the corporate tax rates on the Sh413 million Ms Kinyua received in the three accounts, arguing that there was no evidence to suggest that the money was not business income.

"Based on the preceding analysis, the Tribunal finds that Ms Kinyua failed to demonstrate that indeed the funds received in her accounts were payments to Platinum Distillers. Having failed to do so, the only cogent conclusion would be that the funds were Ms Kinyua's income in which case, Ms Kinyua was obligated to pay taxes," the tribunal ruled.

"... In the circumstances and there being no evidence to the contrary, the Tribunal is persuaded that the deposits in Ms Kinyua's accounts could only qualify as business income and not employment income. Thus, the graduated Pay As You Earn rate and the relief thereon cannot apply at all," the tribunal added.

Shut down over tax evasion

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After the tribunal decision, the KRA sent agency notices to Ms Kinyua's bankers, seeking to recover the Sh163.8 million.

The Platinum Distillers CEO filed a High Court application challenging the decision and agency notices.

Justice David Majanja has now issued orders stopping the taxman from attaching Ms Kinyua's accounts until he determines the case she has filed.

But Ms Kinyua must submit a bank guarantee of Sh10 million before the end of August as a condition to keep the stop orders in operation. If She fails to provide the bank guarantee within the time ordered, the taxman will be free to recover the full Sh163.8 million from Ms Kinyua.

Platinum Distillers has also since 2019 been fighting the KRA, which raided the company's Ruiru factory and shut it down over tax evasion.

The KRA and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) accused the brewer of evading Sh14 million in taxes, which arose from ethanol whose levies were allegedly not paid for.

Platinum Distillers, while suing the KRA and DCI in 2019, claimed that the ethanol was owned by another company - Multiplan Packaging Company.

Platinum Distillers insisted that the raid arose from a case of mistaken identity, as it shared a warehouse with Multiplan Packaging which owns the ethanol that was seized during the raid.

The High Court declined to issue orders to allow the brewer to reopen in the course of the case.

Platinum Distillers is also among 12 brewers the National Assembly probed last year over tax evasion.
Just when the tourism sector was beginning to recover, it suffered another blow after the United States warned its citizens against travelling to the Kenya-Somalia border and some coastal areas.

Washington issued the advisory on Kenya on Wednesday because of surging Covid-19 cases. Officials also warned Americans against travelling to the Somali border and some coastal areas due to the risk of terrorism.

But tourism industry players, led by Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers Coast executive Sam Ikwaye said the warnings will further hurt the ailing sector that is still reeling from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

"The travel industry globally was on its knees for the better part of 2020. Africa and Kenya did not play any role in fuelling the spread," Dr Ikwaye said.

"This is a global pandemic that should not be blamed on Kenya. This update is the death knell for this fragile industry when there is so much interest in direct flights to the Coast region."

But the hotelier expressed hopes that the US intelligence had been shared with Kenyan authorities.

"We can find common ground to support the Kenyan economy by taking cognizance of the investment by the sector and working to support the industry," he said.

He said foreign countries have been unfairly issuing advisories and sanctions against Africa due to negative perceptions.

"We appreciate they have a duty and responsibility to their citizens, but pointing a finger at Kenya over Covid-19 may be insensitive. We know we have done fairly well as a country and are doing better than many African countries," he said.

He cited Kenya's efforts to roll out mass vaccination, saying that a significant number of tourism and hospitality service providers had been inoculated.

Mombasa, for instance, had covered over 50 percent of its hotel staff by April 2021. The county has more than 10,000 hotel and hospitality professionals.

Travellers Beach Hotel sales manager Hilary Siele said the advisory does not reflect the true Covid-19 and terrorism situation in Kenya.

"We have curbed Covid-19 just like Western countries and turnouts for vaccinations are much better due to civic education. Banditry and terrorism are not as alarming as suggested," he said.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raised its Travel Health Notice for Kenya from Level Two, which was issued in June and indicates a moderate level of Covid-19, to Three.

The change was attributed to a high level of Covid-19 infections in Kenya.

"Your risk of contracting Covid-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorised vaccine," the statement says.

The development came less than a week after the UK retained Kenya on its Covid-19 red list amid rising coronavirus cases.

The US warned its nationals to be especially careful when travelling after dark anywhere in Kenya due to crime.

"Violent crimes, such as armed carjacking, mugging, home invasion, and kidnapping, can occur at any time. Local police are willing but often lack the capability to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents and terrorist attacks. Emergency medical and fire service is also limited," the statement says.

But tourism stakeholders condemned the US government, saying the travel advisory is unfair, extreme and insensitive as the world grapples with a pandemic that has disrupted economies.

The US action comes as Kenya is targeting international tourists from countries that have conducted mass vaccinations for their populations, including the US, the UK and China.

The US is Kenya's top source market, with 49,178 arrivals between January and June this year, according to data from the Tourism Research Institute (TRI).

Kenya received 305,635 international visitors between January and June this year. Uganda was second after the US with 31,418 followed by Tanzania (31,291), China (18,069), UK (16,264), India (13,950) and Rwanda (9,800). Others are Somalia (9,194), Nigeria (8,267) and Ethiopia (7,487).

Kenya is focusing its efforts to revive the sector on visitors from the US, the UK and China. Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala said nationals from the three countries are among those who will be travelling sooner than the rest.

Mr Balala called for mass vaccination to instill confidence in international travellers.

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He said a Covid-19 passport will soon be required for travelling, urging Kenyans to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

"Eventually in future, the Covid-19 passport will be a requirement. We have to be ready because these policies are dictated elsewhere. Even now, you cannot visit some countries without double vaccination. That is the reality of life," he said.

On June 28, President Uhuru Kenyatta said his government will vaccinate the entire adult population of 26 million Kenyans by 2022.

By Christmas this year, he said over 10 million adults will have been vaccinated.

The President said that according to experts, Kenya will have built the capacity to vaccinate 150,000 people every day from August.

"And if a vaccine for under-age populations is registered by early next year, we intend to vaccinate an extra 4 million young adults by June 2022," he said.

"With a vaccinated population of 30 million people, this will allow us to begin the journey for 'herd immunity' against this pandemic. And this is our intention for the next 12 months."
Ahora | El presidente @PedroCastilloTe, junto con el canciller Hector Bejar, recibe el saludo de los jefes de Mision del Cuerpo Diplomatico acreditados en el Peru.

?? En vivo: https://t.co/tr9AxS54dv
#PuertasAbiertas | Japon ratifica voluntad de seguir invirtiendo en el sector minero-energetico peruano.



Nota de prensa ?? https://t.co/eD0TbOJIoU pic.twitter.com/LnBiDRGEbX
This meeting was aimed to propose support measures for the commercial area.

Ministers Roberto Sanchez (Foreign Trade and Tourism) and Yvan Quispe (Production) were also present at the gathering.

The event took place at the headquarters of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers in Lima.

El titular de la PCM, @GuidoPuka, en compania de los ministros de @MINCETUR y @MINPRODUCCION, se reunio con gremios de Gamarra, para tratar la problematica del sector textil y confecciones en este importante emporio comercial. pic.twitter.com/baCXOC4SJW
STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 13, ARMENPRESS. Stepanakert City is facing an unprecedented water shortage due to the drought amid the summer heat. 30% of the capital city of Artsakh has no water supply. The countrys emergency situations ministry and the water operator have set up a joint task force responsible for transporting drinking water on vehicles to residents.

Gagik Poghosyan, the Director of Jrmugh-Koyughi, the countrys water supply operator, told ARMENPRESS that theres been no rain over the past 40 days, and temperatures are steadily above 30 C.

But there is another reason for the shortage, he said. 10-15 thousand displaced people are living in Stepanakert now. Before the war, 60-61 thousand people lived in Stepanakert, now the population is 75 thousand. Naturally, water consumption increased and the waters feeding the city declined, leading to a chaotic situation. As of this moment 30% of the city has no water. We are trying to maintain the remaining 70% so it doesnt decline as well, he said, adding that they have already started using two Soviet-era artesian wells. We continue finding and using the rest. This unprecedented situation started since August 7, he said. We are waiting for rain.

Poghosyan dismissed rumors on Azerbaijan deliberately having cut off the water supply from a nearby dam.

State Service of Emergency Situations spokesperson Hunan Tadevosyan told ARMENPRESS that their officers are distributing water to citizens in various districts all day long. Firefighting engines are dispatched to help supply the water.

Tadevosyan said the city has faced water shortage before, but never for this long.

The city of Stepanakert gets its water supply from the Meghraget, Hraget and Vararak rivers. The waters in two of the rivers have dropped almost by half, while the third river dried up entirely.

Amid the emergency, Stepanakert Mayor Davit Sargsyan ordered all car washes and leisure facilities to stop using water until the situation is resolved. The Stepanakert City Hall said they are developing a project of strategic significance to resolve the situation.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of Security Council of Artsakh Vitaly Balasanyan convened a meeting on August 8 over the matter. Officials briefed Balasanyan that situational measures are being taken to supply water to the population, and that at the same time they are working to increase the level of carrying capacity of the active artesian well network.

Reporting by Karen Khachatryan

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 13, ARMENPRESS. The authorities of Artsakh are denying as fake news the Azeri defense ministrys report which claimed that the Defense Army forces have opened fire at Azeri military positions in Yukhari, Veysali, Sghnakh and near Shushi.

It is obvious that with this kind of false statements the Azerbaijani side is preparing grounds for future provocative actions. The Defense Army units are strictly adhering to the ceasefire regime and are taking responsive actions exclusively for countering Azerbaijani provocations, the Defense Ministry of Artsakh said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, 13 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 13 August, USD exchange rate up by 0.51 drams to 492.26 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.00 drams to 578.31 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.01 drams to 6.70 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 2.39 drams to 679.32 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 88.73 drams to 27655.27 drams. Silver price up by 0.39 drams to 370.58 drams. Platinum price up by 143.14 drams to 16079.75 drams.
YERERVAN, AUGUST 13, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Republic of Armenia Giorgi Saganelidze, who completes his diplomatic mission in our country.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister praised Ambassador Saganelidze's contribution to the development of friendship between the Armenian and Georgian peoples and interstate relations, and wished him success in further activities. Nikol Pashinyan noted that there is a high level of political dialogue between Armenia and Georgia, which is evidenced by the high-level official reciprocal visits that take place more frequently in the recent period. According to the Prime Minister, the Armenian Government attaches great importance to deepening partnership with friendly Georgia in the political, economic, cultural, humanitarian and educational spheres and is ready to continue active work in that direction.

The Ambassador of Georgia to Armenia thanked Prime Minister Pashinyan for the appreciation and the productive joint work. Giorgi Saganelidze noted that he is leaving Armenia with warm impressions, he will remain a good friend of our country, the Armenian people.
The Taliban have captured Afghanistan's second largest city, Kandahar, in what is a crushing blow for the government and a major win for the militants, BBC informs.

August 13, 2021, 11:13 Taliban capture Kandahar, Afghanistan's second largest city

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 12, ARTSAKHPRESS: The city was once the Taliban's stronghold, and is strategically important as a leading trade hub.

"Following heavy clashes late last night the Taliban took control of Kandahar city," a local government official told Reuters news agency.

Kandahar is the latest city to fall, after Herat and Ghazni on Thursday.

The Taliban now control most of northern Afghanistan and about a third of the country's regional capitals.

The insurgents have moved quickly, seizing new territories as US and other foreign troops withdraw after 20 years of military operations.

Meanwhile, the United States said it planned to send nearly 3,000 troops back into Afghanistan to help evacuate staff from the American embassy.

It said it was sending troops to the airport in Kabul to help evacuate a "significant" number of embassy staff on special flights.

The UK said it was also deploying about 600 troops on a short-term basis to provide support to British nationals leaving the country. The number of staff working at the British embassy in Kabul has abeen reduced to a core team.

Within hours of each other on Thursday some of Afghanistan's most important cities were captured - Herat, Ghazni and Qala-I-Naw came under Taliban control.

Sources have told the BBC that the southern city of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province, has also been taken by the militants, although this has also not been confirmed.

There are increasing concerns that the militants will continue their lightning speed offensive toward the capital, Kabul, where tens of thousands of civilians have fled violent street fighting.
The number of people who were injured in the recent bus explosion in Russias Voronezh has climbed to 18, Voronezh Region Governor Alexander Gusev reported via his Telegram channel, Tass informs.

August 13, 2021, 11:42 Number of people injured in central Russia bus explosion rises to 18  authorities

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 13, ARTSAKHPRESS: "The number of injured people has risen to 18, including one woman who has died," he noted.

The explosion went off at 21:11 local time in downtown Voronezh. One female passenger died in the hospital from the injuries she sustained. Three more people are in severe condition. The Russian Investigative Committee qualified the incident as provision of services that do not meet safety standards (Article 238 Part 2 of the Russian Criminal Code). The explosion site continues to be investigated, witnesses are being questioned.
The Russian Interior Ministry has barred former ambassador of Azerbaijan to Belarus, Moldova and Pakistan Isfandiyar Vahabzade from entering Russia for 50 years after statements about the Russian people, the ministrys press center told TASS.

August 13, 2021, 15:33 Azerbaijans former ambassador barred from entering Russia for 50 years

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 13, ARTSAKHPRESS: "Today the decisions were taken to deny entry to the Russian Federation for the term of 50 years to national of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kuat Akhmetov and national of the Republic of Azerbaijan Isfandiyar Vahabzade, who made public statements on the Internet stoking ethnic tensions," the ministry reported.

Kuat Akhmetov, the organizer of the so-called language patrols in Kazakhstan, spoke about the alleged disrespect of the Russians for their fellow countrymen.

Also, the Interior Ministry reiterated that a similar decision was made on August 10 regarding a national of Kyrgyzstan attacking a Russian-speaking girl in a shopping mall in Bishkek.

"The Russian Interior Ministry warns that the foreign nationals calling for destructive actions against the Russian Federation, its citizens and compatriots living abroad, will not be allowed into the country since their stay in Russia may jeopardize public order and security," the ministry said.
(Jrn Allan Pedersen/visitnorway.com)

In another boost to British travellers, green-listed Norway has announced no more quarantine on arrival for those able to show their NHS Covid Vaccine Passport.

It gives fresh hope to holidaymakers hoping to escape for a break away to Norway, especially those eyeing up the slopes.

In a world beauty contest, Norway would have a very good shot at taking first place on the podium.

Part of Scandinavia, sitting above right of the UK and next to Sweden, Norway has a population of 5 million with 64,000 miles of coastline and 240,000 islands.

It is a land characterised by magical mountains, deep fjords, endless lakes, glaciers, stunning rock formation and wild polar bears  its hard to believe Norway exists, but not that it was the inspiration for the beautiful landscapes of Disney juggernaut Frozen.

It's also one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights, and polar bears and wild reindeer in the wild.

As well as natural beauty in unfair abundance, Norway boasts a seriously happy population, which is always a plus when visiting a country.

It has endless colourful, buzzing coastal towns punching well above their size in terms of culture, a creative food scene, fishermans cottages to camp out in during the summer and an outdoor lifestyle of skiing, kayaking and hiking.

Click through our gallery above for just ten reasons to visit this magnificent country.

Follow Kate on Twitter @kate_lough and Instagram @kateloughtravel
Western Australia will demand arrivals from NSW prove they have had at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine under tough new arrangements.

Travellers must also provide proof of a negative PCR test in the 72 hours prior to departure, Premier Mark McGowan announced on Friday.

The measures will come into effect from Tuesday when NSW will move to a beefed-up "high risk" category under WA's controlled border regime.

It comes as NSW on Friday reported 390 new locally-acquired cases and a further two deaths.

"Given what is happening in NSW, there's no sign of the situation improving over coming weeks," Mr McGowan told reporters.

"These are tough measures but they are necessary to protect the state.

"The situation in NSW is very serious and our hard border arrangements must reflect that and reduce the risk to Western Australians."

Scott Morrison backed the arrangements after Friday's national cabinet meeting.

"That is not unlike the sorts of things we have been talking about for some time, where people are vaccinated, and an exemption is being granted, but the vaccination aids that exemption being given on public health grounds," the prime minister said.

"I think that is very consistent with what the national plan is seeking to achieve, and as I said last week, all premiers and chief ministers strongly committed and agreed to the national plan."

But Mr Morrison warned that such measures should not be maintained once most Australians had been vaccinated.

"It's a decision for now, because borders exist now," he said.

"But in the future, the whole point of getting to 70 per cent and 80 per cent is to say, ultimately, goodbye to those arrangements as well."

Mr McGowan earlier wouldn't rule out keeping vaccine passports beyond that point if there were outbreaks in other states.

He said the tough new rules offered a template for other states to replicate.

Story continues

"The legal advice is very clear that, based upon the advice of the chief health officer, this is entirely lawful," he added.

NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia are already subject to a hard border, denying entry to the vast majority of travellers.

Mr McGowan said 61 approved travellers had arrived in Perth from NSW over the past two days and another 43 were due to arrive on Friday.

Compassionate exemptions will be adjusted to ensure West Australians in NSW are able to return home subject to getting vaccinated and tested.

The ACT will also be subject to a hard border from midnight on Friday after an outbreak forced the nation's capital into a seven-day lockdown.

But SA will enter the low-risk category, expanding eligibility to more travellers. They will still be required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.

WA will also introduce an "extreme risk" category, restricting entry to Commonwealth, state and specialist officials and forcing them to enter hotel quarantine for 14 days.

The trigger point for jurisdictions to enter that category will be an average of more than 500 community cases per day.

States and territories will enter the high-risk category when they record an average of more than 50 daily community cases.

WA recorded no new cases overnight. The state is monitoring four active cases.

Mr McGowan said the Darya Krishna cargo ship was expected to leave Fremantle on Tuesday, with most crew members having recovered from their infections.

One man remains in intensive care at Perth's Fiona Stanley Hospital.
Cayuga County Legislature Chairperson Aileen McNabb-Coleman addressed the crowd of over 50 attendees. Brenda Wiemann, director of the office for aging, recognized several people, including program volunteers, the county Legislature, the office's staff and those who help run the meal program.

The two people spotlighted as Outstanding Senior Citizens were Ed Hawkins, of Sterling and Nancy Klaben, of Auburn. Hawkins has brought food to his neighbors in the Fair Haven Senior Apartments during the COVID-19 pandemic and went to community food giveaways to gather up food for those in his building who couldn't get out, "to make sure that everyone had the food that they needed," Wiemann said. Hawkins received a plaque from county Legislator Elaine Daly.

Klaben, a resident at the Edward T. Boyle Center, a senior citizen apartment building in Auburn, was lauded for her various volunteer activities and making baked goods for the people at the center, "every week, multiple days a week, and they love it," Wiemann added.

After county Legislator Tim Lattimore handed a plaque to Klaben, she recalled a moment when she was 7 years old. Her father asked her to do some work around their house, and she replied, "'What do I get paid?"'
Also, about 1,000 Army and Air Force troops, including military police and medical personnel, will be sent to Qatar in coming days to support a State Department effort to accelerate its processing of Special Immigrant Visa applications from Afghans who once worked for the U.S. government and feel threated by the Taliban, Kirby said.

The 3,000 troops who are to arrive at the Kabul airport in the next day or two, Kirby said, are to assist with security at the airport and to help process the departure of embassy personnel  not to get involved in the Afghan government's war with the Taliban. Biden decided in April to end U.S. military involvement in the war, and the withdrawal is scheduled to be complete by Aug. 31.

The U.S. had already withdrawn most of its troops, but had kept about 650 troops in Afghanistan to support U.S. diplomatic security, including at the airport.

Kirby said the influx of fresh troops does not mean the U.S. is reentering combat with the Taliban.

This is a temporary mission with a narrow focus, he told reporters at the Pentagon.
Baidu Apollo L4 autonomous cars accumulate over 12 million-km road tests by H1 2021

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Baidu's Apollo Level 4 autonomous driving cars have driven for over 7.5 million miles (around 12 million kilometers) in road tests by June 2021, which were 152% more than the mileages achieved by the year-ago period, the Chinese Internet giant announced in its Q2 financial results.



Apollo Moon; photo credit: Apollo



Meanwhile, Baidu said Apollo has already obtained 278 licenses for autonomous driving tests, reflecting Apollo's piloting presence in dispersed geographic regions and under wide-ranging testing scenarios.

Other achievements in intelligent driving include the launch of Apollo's 5th-generation robotaxi vehicle, the Apollo Moon, in June. Developed in partnership with BAIC Group's ARCFOX brand, the model is set to be mass-produced with a per unit manufacturing price of 480,000 yuan ($74,120), which were only one third of the cost of average Level 4 autonomous cars, said the company.

At the launch ceremony, Baidu and ARCFOX reached a new strategic cooperation agreement to roll out a fleet of 1,000 Apollo Moon robotaxis in three years.

On July 17, Baidu officially opened its Apollo Go Robotaxi service to the public in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, its fourth city of robotaxi operation following Changsha, Cangzhou, and Beijing.

Baidu plans to roll out Apollo Go ride hailing across 30 cities over the next two to three years, said Robin Li, founder, chairman, and CEO of Baidu.

As for the cooperation with OEMs, Great Wall Motor announced in June that its flagship WEY Mocha SUV will employ Apollo Automated Valet Parking (AVP) in its new release later this year.
Car and City: H1 registrations of Wuling Hongguang MINIEV

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- For the first half of 2021 (H1 2021), the Wuling Honguang MINIEV, a mini-sized all-electric car of SAIC-GM-Wuling, was honored the best-selling locally-made new energy vehicle (NEV) model in China with an insurance registration volume of 157,218 units, according to the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC). It even outnumbered the total volume of the Model 3 and the Model Y, which were the runner-up and second runner-up by H1 registrations.



The popular BEV model recorded monthly registrations of over 25,000 units in five of the first six months of this year. The volume for the second quarter (Q2) amounted to 83,055 units, rising 12% compared to the first quarter.



Among the cities in Chinese Mainland, Shangqiu, a city in eastern Henan province, topped the others with 3,135 Hongguang MINIEVs registered in H1. The runner-up was also from Henan. Besides, among the top 20 cities by H1 registrations of the full-electric model, there were still three cities from the province in the central part of China, namely, Zhumadian, Zhengzhou, and Nanyang.



Wuling Hongguang MINIEV; photo credit: SGMW



Zhejiang province also had five cities among the top 20. Additionally, Guangdong and Shandong provinces, and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region all had two cities on the top 20 list. Notably, Guangxi's Liuzhou city, where the Hongguang MINIEVs are produced, ranked 7th.

There were 5 provincial capitals among the top 20, namely, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Zhengzhou, Chengdu, and Guangzhou.

Shanghai and Guangzhou were the only two of the four cities usually seen as China's largest and most developed urban metropolisesthe other two are Beijing and Shenzhenappearing on the top 20 list, ranking 9th and 19th respectively.
Chery, Haier build joint venture for building automotive IoT platform

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chery Holding said the strategic cooperation with Haier Group, a Chinese multinational home appliances and consumer electronics company, has been further firmed up following the registration of a joint venture.

Founded on August 6, the joint venture, named Anhui Haixingyun Internet of Things Technology Co.,Ltd., involves a registered capital of 50 million yuan ($7.72 million). It is 51% owned by Wuhu Chery Information Technology Co.,Ltd., whose majority shareholder is Chery Automobile Co.,Ltd., and 49% held by Haier Digital Technology (Qingdao) Co.,Ltd.



Chery Holding, Haier Group signing agreement in April; photo credit: Chery Holding



According to Chery Holding, the joint venture will utilize COSMOPlat, Haier's in-house developed industrial Internet platform, to develop the first large-scale customized industrial Internet platform for automotive industry, pivoting on AI-enabled public data platform, Internet of Things (IoT) technical services, operation and maintenance of information system, data processing and storage.

The company also noted the joint venture will leverage Chery's expertise and influence in digital transformation and auto manufacturing business, and make use of COSMOPlat's business models, technical capabilities, ecosystem resources, and brand familiarity for industrial Internet platform to work on the R&D, sale, operation, and maintenance of automotive IoT applications.

Chery Holding and Haier Group signed in April a framework agreement for the strategic cooperation on building an IoT platform for the automotive industry.
Gasgoo Daily: Hon Hai sets up EV plants in U.S.

With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

Hon Hai sets up EV plants in U.S.



Young Liu, chairman of Hon Hai Technology Group, said his group will build electric vehicle plants in several regions of the United States.

NIO, CATL talk about battery reply



William Li, founder of NIO, said that next year will see battery demand increase and treat CATL as the most important partners. Both parties are talking about battery supply.

BMW Brilliance makes 100,000th battery



The 100,000th power battery of BMW Brilliance rolled off production line recently and will be used in a BMW iX3.

AIWAYS, Hesai co-work on Lidar



Chinese new energy vehicle startup AIWAYS signed strategic agreement with Hesai Tech to promote the development and application of Lidars.

China urges ICV developers to step up management of data safety, cybersecurity

The Chinese government has required greater efforts to reinforce the management of data security, cybersecurity, software upgrade, and functional safety related to intelligent-connected vehicles (ICVs), according to a document issued by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).



Li Auto starts trading shares in Hong Kong



Li Autos shares started trading on Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Thursday with an IPO price of HK$118 per share. The share ended the day with a closing price of HK$117, down 0.85% from the IPO price.

Tesla made-in-China Model Y gets five new versions included MIITs catalogue

Five new variants of Telsa's China-made Model Y have been brought into the catalogue of new energy vehicle (NEV) models exempt from vehicle purchase tax recently launched by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).



NIO to tap mass market by launching all-new brand

NIO, a high-profile Chinese EV startup, has moved faster on its preparations to make mass-market products under an fire new brand, William Bin Lin, NIO's founder, chairman, and CEO, said at the earnings call after the company's Q2 financial results were published on Wednesday.



NIO Inc. Reports Unaudited Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

NIOs total revenues were RMB8,448.0 million (US$1,308.4 million) in the second quarter of 2021, representing an increase of 127.2% from the second quarter of 2020 and an increase of 5.8% from the first quarter of 2021.


SITECHs new strategy focuses on highly cost-effective all-electric cars

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chinese EV startup SITECH DEV (SITECH) launched on August 12 its all-new corporate strategy, aiming to be a provider of highly cost-effective all-electric mobility products and services.



SITECH AEVS; photo credit: SITECH



At the same time, the company announced the completion of its latest financing round, which attracted Shanghai Hemu Technology Co.,Ltd. into the lineup of its investors.

Under the strategy, the startup will conduct R&D business on its own and also with partners. Chongqing SITECH will be responsible for the development of such core technologies as electrical/electronic architecture, autonomous driving, and big data-enabled applications. In other fields, the automaker will endeavor to maximize the advantages of mature industrial chain resources and carry out R&D in partnership with leading technology developers. Through these methods, SITECH expects to efficiently shorten R&D time, lower R&D cost, and rapidly upgrade products.

As for car production, the company will select contract manufacturers depending on market distribution, regional market share, factories capacity, and other factors, and build a strict quality control system.

In January this year, the EV manfuacturer formed a strategic partnership with Sinotruck to make the latter offer SITECH contract manufacturing service.

At the strategy launching ceremony, SITECH also released its all-new electric mobility service brand Diandongwu (meaning Electric House). In cooperation with the famous Japanese anime IP Crayon Shin-chan, the first model under the brand hit the market at the same time with two trim levels offered. Guiding prices stand at 59,800 yuan ($9,230) and 65,800 yuan ($10,160) respectively.
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An undergraduate student from Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, posted a self-made video explaining in sign language the super contagious Delta variant to deaf people during the recent outbreak, China Central Television reported today.

The three-minute educational video was made by Chen Xin, a sophomore at Nanjing Polytechnic Institute, with the help of his schoolmates and experts from the local Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Though medics have been warning us of the danger of the Delta variant, few of the deaf are familiar with this jargon," Chen said, explaining his reasons for making the video.

But he also acknowledged the challenges he encountered in the process.

"There are many words for which there is no equivalent in sign language, such as 'Delta.' I had to consult some of my deaf friends to make up the corresponding gestures," he said.

Production of the video took Chen and his friends a full week, during which, little by little, the content was planned, recorded and edited.

Chen is a certificated sign language interpreter and has been doing voluntary work in hospitals, translating between deaf patients and doctors.

He also provided a lot of sign language services during the pandemic in 2020.

"I want to make a contribution to fighting this latest outbreak. I hope that more deaf people can see this video," Chen said.




https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogervaldez/2020/01/07/prediction-for-2030-a-government-take-over-of-rental-housing/?sh=7e418ca91f95



There is another news oversea: German law makers are talking about confiscate rental properties.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/berlin-vote-confiscating-rental-properties-corporations

It's the same idea as state run rental properties.
Four teachers have died of Covid-19 within a 24-hour period in Broward County, Florida  a state that bans mask mandates. At least three of the teachers were unvaccinated, according to CNN, and they died just days before the fall semester was about to begin.

"Within a 24-hour span, we had an assistant teacher pass away, a teacher at her school pass away, an elementary teacher pass away and another teacher at a high school," said the president of the Broward Teachers Union, Anna Fusco.

From CNN:

Broward County Public Schools has had 138 employees test positive for Covid-19 since August 1, according to the school system's Covid-19 dashboard, which was updated Thursday. Classes are scheduled to begin next week, according to the school calendar; employees began planning on Wednesday. The district already had found itself in the headlines in recent weeks for steps taken on mask mandates: Earlier this week the school board voted to maintain a mask mandate approved late last month, despite an executive order from Gov. Ron DeSantis effectively prohibiting such a requirement in school districts. The order  the subject of several lawsuits  required the state's health and education departments to make rules giving parents, not schools, the ability to choose whether their children should wear masks.

I don't think this is what "freedom" is supposed to look like.

Image by Alexandra Campo  originally posted to Flickr as The Number 69, CC BY 2.0
UPDATE: Sadly, the Post added a correction to its story clarifying that the crabs are hungry for plastic waste, not horny for it.

The Washington Post reports that a team of scientists from the University of Hull in England got voyeuristic with a buncha horny hermit crabs. In a study of 40 hermit crabs from off the coast of Yorkshire, they found that the little aquatic critters were exceptionally sexually excited by plastics found in the sea  specifically, because of the chemical additive found in plastics known as oleamide.

Oleamide elevates the respiration rate of hermit crabs, which indicates excitement, researchers said, adding that the product is already considered to be a sex pheromone for some insects. "Our study shows that oleamide attracts hermit crabs," PhD candidate Paula Schirrmacher said in a statement released Tuesday. "Respiration rate increases significantly in response to low concentrations of oleamide, and hermit crabs show a behavioral attraction comparable to their response to a feeding stimulant," she said.

When I was a kid  maybe 10 years old?  I caught a hermit crab on Cape Cod and brought it home to keep as a pet. I took care of it for a few months, but then the little plastic aquarium cage got knocked over, and it escaped down a hole in the floorboards. Two years later, we heard a rustling in the cabinet where my mom kept all the tupperware  where, it turned out, the hermit crab had nested its way into a new plastic home.

Of course, now I'm wondering if we had actually interrupted some hanky-panky.

Hermit crabs 'sexually excited' by plastic pollution in ocean, researchers say [Jennifer Hassan / The Washington Post]

Image: Public Domain via Flickr
In August 2017 Phoenix police Officer Christopher Turiano shot a smoke canister at anti-Trump protestor Josh Cobin, hitting him in the groin. Officers in the department celebrated the shooting by circulating medallions with a drawing of Corbin being shot along with the captions, "Making America Great Again One Nut at a Time" and "Good Night Left Nut," which is a play on the neo-Nazi phrase "Good Night Left Side."

When Phoenix city officials learned about the medallions they hired an investigator to look into it. The investigator found that Sgt. Jantra Palmer had dozens of coins in her possession and "had sold or given them to various officers throughout the department  including subordinates in her own squad," according to AZ Central. Sgt. Palmer told the investigator that her husband, Detective Sam Palmer, ordered the coins and gave some to her.

AZ Central also notes that several current and former Phoenix police employees refused to speak to the investigator.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 13)  With small firms gravely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Dingdong Dantes saw the need to help them get back on their feet.

"It was born in this landscape inspired by the goal of enabling MSMEs to address these challenges and optimize the opportunities," said Dantes, who launched his own online delivery service app called Dingdong, which has been up and running for almost a year now.

The startup currently handles business-to-business deliveries, catering to the likes of restaurants and other establishments that want their products delivered as if they have their own fleet, the actor and businessman told CNN Philippines' The Exchange.

And it's not just any typical delivery platform - Dantes said they not only intensively filter application forms but also make riders undergo an "intensive" two-day professionalization program.

"Isa talaga sa mga goals namin ay ma-professionalize itong delivery segment na ito ng industriya. We think that we really have to make this holistic approach especially to our so-called frontliners," he said.

[Translation: Truly one of our goals is to professionalize the delivery segment of this industry.]

With this, Dantes revealed he still makes it a point to do the deliveries himself even just once a month to ensure he knows firsthand the platform's points for improvement.

In fact, him delivering a flower arrangement for his wife and fellow actor Marian Rivera-Dantes' flower shop led to the birth of this business idea.

The Delivery Technologies, Inc. big boss recalled how he made the delivery as cautiously as possible  a term they refer to as "professional malasakit."

"If we can only inculcate these values to our delivery riders: to deliver their packages as if they were their own, sabi ko napakaganda non [I said that would be great]," Dantes said.

Having been in their shoes multiple times, the entrepreneur also took the opportunity to praise riders - describing them as having "literally and figuratively" driven the economy amid the pandemic, with most people forced to stay at home as much as possible.

What's next for Dingdong PH?

Dantes also bared they're currently working on their second product: the Dingdong Marketplace, which will serve as a community of merchants, riders, and customers.

He said they won't just be concentrating in Metro Manila, adding they're currently in talks with areas like Tarlac, Bataan, and Bulacan.

"Our goal is really to democratize the e-commerce platform and make it easy for communities and businesses to thrive using e-commerce especially in the midst of this pandemic," he said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 13)  Max's Group has successfully returned to profitability in the first semester of the year, it announced.

In a recent disclosure with the local bourse, the casual dining restaurant chain reported a net income of 392 million in the first semester of 2021, shifting from the 603 million loss in the same period last year.

This came as the listed company registered 5.75 billion in systemwide sales (SWS) from January to June -- a 3% improvement from the first half of 2020.

Max's Group's operating income stood at 332 million during the timeframe, partially recovering from the 495 million loss logged last year.

Meanwhile, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) reached 1 billion swinging from the 45 million negative figure in 2020.

"This positive turn-out in financials reflected aggressive business remodeling initiated by the Group in 2020 to retool for the 'new normal'," it noted. "Versus pre-pandemic, gross margin improved by 100 bps or 3% and operating income margin was up by 140 bps or 18% versus the first half of 2019."

Max's Group president and chief executive officer Ramon Trota welcomed the resilient performance exhibited by their portfolio of brands, which included the likes of Max's Restaurant, Pancake House, Yellow Cab and Krispy Kreme.

Trota also cited steps taken by the group such as the "strategic" management of their total supply chain, continuing alliances with lessor partners, margin management in their menus and "efficiencies" in their restaurant systems.

"We believe that we are uniquely primed to come roaring out of this pandemic once the market opens up," he said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 13)  Despite closing this week's trading in the red, local stocks are expected to recover early next week after investors rebalanced their portfolio ahead of the adjustment in the 30-member Philippine Stock Exchange index on Monday.

On Friday, the benchmark PSEi fell 3.6% to close at 6,320.19 while the broader all shares index dropped 2.04% to end at 3,976.94.

"Today's drop, it's an effect of the rebalancing, so we can expect whatever, how abrupt it was - the drop today - we could get a snapback by early next week," PNB Securities, Inc. President Manuel Lisbona told CNN Philippines' The Final Word.

In a text message, he explained that next week's recovery will be due to bargain hunters bidding up "the index stocks that were sold down today due to the rebalancing of the PSE Index."

"The selling wasn't fundamentally driven, so this actually presents opportunities for investors," he added.

On August 16, AC Energy Corp. and Communications Technology Solutions, Inc. are set to join the 30-member index, replacing DMCI Holdings, Inc. and Emperador, Inc.

The changes in the index composition forced tracker funds to rebalance their portfolio. They dumped most blue chips and snapped up the two new index entrants.

Meanwhile, all sectoral indices ended in red territory on Friday except for financials that gained 0.02% to 1,419.65.

Losers were led by holding firms (down 5.21% to 6,188.59), followed by property (down 3.88% to 2,936.50), services (down 2.54% to 1,573.22), mining and oil (down 1.86% to 9,599.99), and industrial (down 1.12% to 9,223.62).

Net foreign buying was at 259.73 million, way higher than yesterday's 50 million.

CNN Philippines senior correspondent Lois Calderon contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 13)  Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation is confident it already escaped the shadow of COVID-19 after posting 2.2 billion net income in the first half, reversing the net loss it incurred a year ago.

The company's first-semester performance was "a significant rebound" from the 6.7 billion losses it witnessed in the same period in 2020, its president and chief executive officer Cesar Romero said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Friday.

"It validates our bold decision to transform the way we do business amidst uncertain conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

In June, the group transformed its Tabangao refinery into an import terminal as it seeks to boost its capacity to meet fuel demand not just in the capital region, but also in Southern Luzon and Northern Visayas.

Earlier this year, Romero said transforming Shell's refinery allowed the group to avoid the huge losses it posted in 2020.

While the Philippines continues its COVID-19 bout following the detection of the highly transmissible Delta variant, Romero was bullish this will "not preclude [Shell's] growth."

The group said market volume delivery in the period was flat against 2020 due to coronavirus restrictions in Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

However, marketing volume in the April-June period alone increased by 18%.

"The increase stems from innovative marketing initiatives that focus on the consumers fuel and non-fuel needs and use digital means to improve customer engagement and perception," it said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 13)  The Ospital ng Lungsod ng San Jose del Monte in Bulacan has seen a new trend in its recent coronavirus-related admissions.

Mas younger ang mga pasyente, Dr. Erbe Bugay, medical director, told CNN Philippines The Source on Friday. "Before, kadalasan senior citizens ang naa-admit sa amin."

[Translation: Our patients are younger now. Before, senior citizens were usually the ones admitted to our hospital.]

Another observation, according to him, is the sudden rise in the number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

Mas sobrang dami ng pasyente kumpara last month, Bugay said.

[Translation: There are more patients now compared to last month.]

All 27 beds in the isolation wards of the medical facility are occupied, according to the hospital head.

Eighteen of the 27 patients in the isolation wards are confirmed COVID-19 cases, he said. Of the 18, only one is vaccinated, he noted.

Eleven more are in the triage area waiting for their swab test results, of whom only two received their COVID-19 vaccines, he added.
(CNN)  China's big crackdown on business appears far from over.

Top leaders from the ruling Communist Party on Wednesday laid out a blueprint for how they plan to continue tightening the regulatory screws on companies over the next five years.

The country's latest five-year plan includes promises to strengthen rules that would clamp down on monopolistic behavior and regulate technological innovation. Authorities also called on "law enforcement" to take action in areas of "vital interests of people," including financial services, education and tutoring.

The policy map  jointly released by the Party's central committee and the State Council  was vague on the specific actions that authorities want regulators to take.

But it suggests Beijing's unprecedented crackdown on private enterprise, which began late last year, could last for some time. China's five-year plans are the cornerstone of economic and social policy in the country, and the latest plan runs through 2025.

"The people's growing need for a better life has put forward new and higher requirements for the construction of a government under the rule of law," officials wrote in the policy paper, stressing the need to regulate parts of the economy necessary for "social fairness" or "public good."

The directive comes during a time of massive upheaval for Chinese industries ranging from tech and financial services to private tutoring. An onslaught of regulations on private business has rattled global investors and triggered fears about the future of innovation in China, as well as the ability for companies to tap capital markets.

The government has cited a need to safeguard national security and protect the interests of its people. Regulators have widely blamed the private sector for creating socioeconomic problems that could potentially destabilize society and affect the Party's grip on power.

Beijing's grievances with each sector vary.

Ride-hailing company Didi  which recently went public in New York  has been accused of mishandling sensitive user data. Other US-listed Chinese tech firms have been criticized for endangering national cybersecurity. High-flying Alibaba affiliate Ant Group, which was supposed to go public in the world's largest IPO last year, has been chastised for increasing financial risk. And a slew of private tutoring firms were warned against worsening inequality in access to education during a crackdown last month.

The clampdown has wiped out more than $1 trillion in market value for many powerful Chinese companies and even caused some big proponents of Chinese investment to think again.

SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son  whose company holds stakes in Alibaba, Didi and TikTok owner ByteDance  said Tuesday that he would take a cautious approach to investing in China until the impact of new regulations are clear.

"Is it six months, 12 months? I don't know yet," Son said. "[But] in one year or two years, under the new rules, and under new orders, I think things will be much clearer ... Once things get clearer, then we are open to resuming active investment."

Chinese stocks were modestly lower Thursday. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was down 0.7%, while the Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.2%.

The muted reaction hints that investors may be more accepting of the "new normal" for Chinese business, "with China's regulatory crackdown now seemingly set for years ahead," wrote Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst for Asia Pacific at Oanda, in a research note.

 Michelle Toh contributed to this report.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "China's get-tough approach to big business will continue for years."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 13)  Filipino American Dr. Audrey Sue Cruz is among six frontline workers from around the world that toy company Mattel, Inc. honored with a Barbie doll created in their image for being heroes of the pandemic.

"It was just so incredible. I feel so honored. It is an opportunity of a lifetime. I didn't think it was even possible, that this would even happen to me ever," the Las Vegas-based physician said about the recognition in an interview with CNN Philippines' New Day on Friday.

"I hope to represent Filipinas, minorities in America, moms in healthcare, as well as all frontline workers working so hard during this pandemic," she added.

Mattel earlier said Cruz joined forces with other Asian-American doctors to fight racial bias and discrimination amid the health crisis.

The Fil-Am expressed hope medical workers who experience bias in the workplace would "speak up."

"You have a voice, and your voice is so powerful," she told fellow healthcare workers.

Apart from Cruz, other women honored with a one-of-a-kind doll were:

-Amy OSullivan, an emergency room nurse who treated the first COVID-19 patient in Brooklyn, United States

-Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa, a psychiatry resident at the University of Toronto, Canada who advocated against systemic racism in healthcare

-Sarah Gilbert, a professor who led the development of the University of Oxford vaccine in the United Kingdom

-Dr. Jaqueline Goes de Jesus, a biomedical researcher who led genome sequencing efforts for coronavirus variant detection in Brazil

-Dr. Kirby White, a general practitioner who led the initiative of developing reusable personal protective equipment for frontline personnel in Victoria, Australia
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 13)  Over 30,000 individuals in Metro Manila violated minimum public health and safety protocols during the first week of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the Philippine National Police reported on Friday.

Data from Joint Task Force Covid Shield showed a total of 30,150 were apprehended, fined, and warned for violating various public health and safety protocols and quarantine guidelines at 34 quarantine control points in Metro Manila from Aug. 6-11.

PNP chief PGen. Guillermo Eleazar said police tallied a little over 5,000 violators per day during that period.

The PNP also logged 2,100 non-Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APORs) violators in Metro Manila, with a daily average of 350.

Some 3,228 non-APOR violators were sanctioned in NCR Plus, averaging 538 per day.

Police data also showed around 110,027 violators were recorded in Metro Manila and four nearby provinces in those six days.

Laguna was under ECQ while Cavite and Rizal were under modified ECQ. Bulacan was placed under general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions.

Malacanang on Friday announced a new set of quarantine classifications for several areas until August 31.

It has yet to decide on the quarantine level of Metro Manila beyond August 20.

RELATED: Laguna, Iloilo, CDO to ease to MECQ from Aug. 16-31
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 13)  One hospital in Metro Manila and two medical facilities in other areas in Luzon have found ways to help address the rise in their coronavirus-related admissions.

Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City has set up hospitainers or COVID-19 treatment stations in their parking lots being used by patients, spokesman Dr. Norbert Francisco told CNN Philippines.

We call them hospitainer. If you look at them from the outside, they look like container vans, but inside they are fully equipped for moderate, severe, and critical cases, he said in an interview with The Source.

The national government also turned over five more units of hospitainer to Lung Center early this week, but these are not operational yet, he said.

"May mga fine-tuning pang ginagawa (Fine-tuning is still being done)," he added.

Francisco said 85% or 135 of the 158 COVID-19 beds in Lung Center were occupied as of Friday. He discouraged patients from going to the Lung Center without coordinating with the hospital first.

"It has to be the doctor to call because we will be asking technical and medical information because we have to categorize the patient," he said.

"Kasi kung halimbawa severe 'yung case, pero ang available bed namin pang moderate...we will not be able to provide the necessary level of medical care needed," he added.

[Translation: Because for example, the person has a severe case, but our available beds are for those with a moderate case, we will not be able to provide the necessary level of medical care needed.]

Lobby as triage area

Meanwhile, Ospital ng Lungsod ng San Jose del Monte in Bulacan has converted its lobby into a triage area, its hospital chief Dr. Erbe Bugay said. He noted other hospitals usually use tents as triage units.

"Iyong mga patients sa lobby, sa triage namin, are waiting na ma-accomodate namin sa isolation wards," Bugay told The Source.

[Translation: Our patients in the lobby or triage area are waiting to be accommodated in the isolation wards.]

He said they only have 27 beds in the isolation wards - and all of them are occupied. He added 11 patients are currently waiting for their test results. If the results turn out negative, the patients will be transferred to the regular ward, he said.

As the Bulacan hospital reached full capacity, it needs to send COVID-19 patients elsewhere. But finding hospitals that would take them in is a struggle.

"Ang hirap magtransfer ng pasyente ngayon eh. Minsan...umaabot ng mga 50 to 75 ang pasyente bago mailipat," Bugay said.

[Translation: It is hard to transfer patients now. Sometimes, the number of patients reaches 50 to 75 before we can transfer them.]

He said the Department of Health has augmented their manpower by sending 14 nurses to the hospital to help deal with the influx of patients. He added they still have enough medical supplies.

Hotels turn into isolation rooms

For its part, Cagayan Valley Medical Center in Tuguegarao City rented two hotels with 50 rooms each, which are being used as step-down facilities for recovering patients to free up space in the hospital, the head of the hospital said.

Dr. Glenn Baggao said the Cagayan Valley hospital has 228 confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients, the highest figure since the pandemic started last year. Twenty more are waiting for available rooms in tents, Baggao said. The facility only has the capacity to accept 200 patients, he added.

"Ngayon at lumagpas na naman kami sa 200, ay nag-identify na po kami ng mga tinatawag naming step down facility. At ito ang mga hotels na hindi na ginagamit," he said.

[Translation: Now that our number of patients exceeded 200, we identified step-down facilities. These are hotels that are not being used.]

Those being transferred to the step-down facilities are "about to be discharged," and just need to complete their two-week quarantine or isolation, with nurses monitoring their condition, Baggao said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 13)  The government is optimistic Metro Manila mayors can fully inoculate half of the target population by the end of the month given the current vaccination rate in the capital.

"Ang target po natin sa katapusan ng Agosto ay maka-50% po tayo na bakunado sa NCRfully vaccinated," National Task Force Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Vince Dizon said during a virtual briefing on Friday.

[Translation: Our target by the end of August is to have 50% fully vaccinated in NCR.]

Dizon said the capital regionthe country's COVID-19 epicenteris on track to hit its target of administering 250,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines a day, especially during the enhanced community quarantine.

Before the reimposition of the strictest lockdown, Metro Manila could only reach about 100,000 doses per day, but it was able to increase the number to 231,000 on Thursday with fresh supplies of vaccines from the national government.

READ: 24/7 vaccinations eyed in Metro Manila during ECQ

In a statement on Friday, the NTF Against COVID-19 said over 12 million Filipinos are now fully vaccinated against the virus.

It added more than 26.67 million doses have been administered across the Philippines. The country has so far received 42 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since February.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 13)  Over half a million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine ordered by the private sector arrived in the Philippines on Friday morning.

The 575,000 doses were part of the tripartite agreement of the private sector with the Philippine government and the British-Swedish company.

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, who was present during the arrival of the vaccines, said the private sector expects to receive a total of 1.15 million AstraZeneca doses this August.

"Around 50% of that arrived today. Maybe end of next week, [we will receive the] additional," Concepcion said.

The country is also set to receive on Friday afternoon 15,000 doses of Russia's Sputnik V component 2 or second dose, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said.

On Thursday, Galvez said those who received Sputnik V as their first dose can be inoculated with AstraZeneca, which is a similar type of vaccine, for their second shot if the supply would be further delayed.

READ: Experts approve Sputnik V-AstraZeneca vaccine mix amid delays  official

Under the Food and Drug Administration guidelines, the two required doses of Sputnik V must be given within 42 days. Sputnik V and AstraZeneca are both adenoviral vector vaccines.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 13)  State-run Philippine Health Insurance Corporation has already released 12 billion to settle half of COVID-19 claims, an official of the agency said Friday.

"Nakapagbayad na tayo ng mga 12 billion in claims," Shirley Domingo, PhilHealth vice president for corporate affairs, said during a virtual briefing.

[Translation: We have already paid 12 billion in claims.]

COVID-19 claims include the testing package, community isolation benefits, and in-patient benefits, she noted.

The amount represents around 50% of the total claims PhilHealth received, Domingo added.

"The rest ay pino-process na natin (we're already processing)," she said.

Domingo said there were delays in settling payments as some COVID-19 testing claims have incomplete documents.

The PhilHealth official reiterated that the agency is ramping up efforts to address 25.6 billion worth of pending hospital claims for COVID-19 cases.

READ: PhilHealth: Only 12% remaining in unpaid COVID-19 claims

"Nag-usap kami (We discussed) with hospitals and the regions on strategies how to fast-track claims," she said.

Earlier, PhilHealth said it already paid 166 billion for 13.6 million claims, or 76.4% of the almost 18 million claims it received from its accredited government and private hospitals last year until the end-June 2021.
(CNN)  In most cases, a "breakthrough" means a sudden, dramatic or important discovery. With COVID-19, however, the expression has been used to describe an infection that "broke" through the protective immunity of the vaccine  and this is sometimes misinterpreted as a sign the vaccine is not working.

For the public health community and the scientists who helped create the vaccines, however, "breakthrough infection" signifies just the opposite: proof the vaccine is doing its job, just as it should.

It is confusing: How well do the vaccines really work and what does it mean if someone still becomes infected after being vaccinated?

First, let's take a look at the data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which was analyzed by CNN's health team. More than 164 million people in the United States were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of early August. Our analysis of the agency's data found fewer than 0.001% of those individuals  1,507 people  died and fewer than 0.005%  7,101 people  were reported to the CDC as having been hospitalized with COVID-19. Reporting to the CDC is not mandatory, but 49 states do contribute to these totals, which means the CDC views these numbers as a useful snapshot of how well the vaccine is working. The data suggest that more than 99.99% of fully vaccinated people have not had a breakthrough case of COVID-19 resulting in hospitalization or death.

While it's true that some of that data come from a time before the Delta variant swept over the country and rates of infection have since increased, a Kaiser Family Foundation survey released in July found that, of the more than 18 states that reported data, at least 95 out of every 100 hospitalizations and deaths were in the unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated.

At the same time, however, many of us know someone who, after being fully vaccinated, has tested positive for the coronavirus and showed symptoms. I know several, as well. Maybe it's your kid's teacher, your brother-in-law, your neighbor, your coworker or your mechanic. And while it's great news that we can leave chicken soup at their door instead of attending their memorial service, it makes the phenomenon seem very real and not at all "rare"  so we should probably stop describing them that way. In fact, because vaccinated individuals are not getting tested very often, we have no idea how common these infections really are.

The whole situation really got me to thinking about the term "breakthrough infections" and whether it is even the right phrase. To me, it doesn't seem nuanced enough to describe what's going on; it only serves to alarm those of us who are already vaccinated, and potentially discourage those who are hesitant.

In search of a better term

I soon learned that there are other scientists who don't like the phrase "breakthrough infection" either.

"I hate it because it emphasizes something that a lot of [other] vaccines, we know, do," said Dr. Carlos Del Rio, distinguished professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Emory University School of Medicine. "We don't talk about flu cases and say we have 'breakthrough' infections, we talked about the efficacy. ... I think breakthrough has become a term that is equated with lack of efficacy."

Del Rio noted that the vaccines were specifically designed to protect against severe disease and death, and that's what those big vaccine trials looked for. "Infection was never an end-point in these studies," he said.

That the vaccines were later found to prevent infection, he said "was a little bit ... like the cherry on the cake."

The phrasing also bothers immunologist and virologist Dr. Barney Graham, deputy director of the Vaccine Research Center at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, whose lab played a key role in the development of the Moderna vaccine.

Graham described it in a way that really made me visualize the vaccine's effect on your body.

"The vaccines were always designed to focus against disease in the lower airways [the lungs] -- not in the upper airways [the nose and upper throat]," he explained.

Think about that. According to Graham, a person becomes severely ill when the virus enters the lungs, and that is exactly where the vaccines offer up their most protective barrier. You see, the vaccines trigger the creation of immunoglobulins, which are proteins that function as antibodies. The main one generated by the vaccines is immunoglobulin G (IgG) which easily moves from the blood into the lower airways (the lungs) where it can block the virus. The level of IgG in blood needed to penetrate the tissues of the upper airways (the nose and throat) is much higher and that is why it is more difficult to block the virus from growing in the nose.

"That's why we see such consistency in the efficacy against severe disease. It wasn't designed to protect the upper airways as much," he explained.

It is also why Graham said scientists weren't expecting the vaccines to prevent infection as much. "We got very lucky that it did to some extent, against earlier strains," he added.

And, while the Delta variant is more transmissible, meaning more infections will certainly occur overall in both the vaccinated and unvaccinated, there will be a bigger difference between the two groups when it comes to protection against severe disease compared to protection against mild or asymptomatic illness, Graham explained. That's clear from data that show the overwhelming majority of hospitalizations and deaths happen in the unvaccinated, not the vaccinated.

President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the NIAID and Graham's boss, agrees.

"The vaccines are doing exactly what we're asking them to do when it comes to keeping you out of the hospital, out of serious disease and certainly preventing your death," Fauci said at a White House Covid-19 Response briefing last week.

"An important point to bring up is that the greater the percentage of people that are vaccinated, even with a high degree of protection, the absolute number of breakthrough infections might appear high," he said.

But that's just because there are more people vaccinated. It's simple math. Think of it like this: If 100% of people were vaccinated, then every new infection would have to be in a vaccinated person, right? But in that scenario, only a tiny number of people who died would die from Covid-19. More than 99% of the deaths we're seeing now would almost certainly be avoided.

Another way to make sense of the seemingly large numbers: If 1 million people are vaccinated against the make-believe virus "X" and 1% get infected, that's 10,000 infections in vaccinated people. But if 100 million people are vaccinated, and 1% get infected, that's 1 million infections. Obviously 1 million is orders of magnitude larger than 10,000, but it is still the same proportion: 1%.

Fauci said that the "critical number" is the proportion  not the raw number  of the vaccinated people who are getting breakthrough infections. And within that raw number, severe illness and death are the outcomes we so desperately want to avoid.

As he reiterated during the White House briefing, "Covid vaccines give strong protection against the Delta variant, and it protects you, your family and your community... For disease itself, It's an eight-fold reduction. For hospitalization, 25-fold reduction and for death, 25-fold reduction."

But exact numbers on "breakthrough infections" are hard to pin down. Again, part of that is because there is no nationwide data available on asymptomatic and mild breakthrough cases. And we also don't routinely test the vaccinated, only people who are experiencing symptoms or who require a negative Covid test for travel.

For example, I recently went to Tokyo for the Olympics, and was tested several times before and during my travel. While I felt fine, and have been very careful, I still would not have been totally shocked if one of those tests had come back positive. Luckily, they didn't.

Immunity wanes over time

Another factor that may impact the number of so-called breakthrough cases (and our perception of how effective our vaccines are) is that our level of coronavirus antibodies  whether acquired through natural infection or a vaccine  generally wanes over time.

Scientists are studying the question of immunity over time, and we still need more data in order to know for sure how long protection from the coronavirus lasts. But even if immunity among the vaccinated is found to decrease months or years after the second shot, that still doesn't mean the vaccine isn't working.

"This isn't a glitch," said Dr. Monica Gandhi, professor of medicine and associate division chief of the Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine at University of California San Francisco and San Francisco General Hospital.

"This is how the immune system is designed," she explained. "It's normal for immunoglobulins to reduce over time." She said our blood and our noses can't hold all of the antibodies they've ever produced; if antibody levels didn't drop, "our blood would be thick as paste."

And as our antibodies wane in places like our nose, where the virus might enter our body, Gandhi said we might be more susceptible to mild infection.

"So it really is not really a function of the vaccine; it has to do with this is how our immune systems work," she said.

At the same time though, our immune system is pretty smart and resourceful; it contains cells such as memory B cells that will start churning out new antibodies within days of encountering a familiar virus or bacteria.

Gandhi said when our antibody levels drop, we can wear a mask to avoid even that mild exposure. And, we may consider getting a booster shot or eventually an intranasal vaccine (which is not yet on the market). The US Food and Drug Administration is expected to make a decision about boosters soon.

The issue of transmissibility

As an added bonus of getting vaccinated (or having had a previous Covid infection), Gandhi said that when T cells, another important immune system soldier, encounter the virus in our nose, they attack the virus, leaving it weakened. So even if a COVID-19 test detects the virus' genetic material, that doesn't mean the virus is necessarily as infectious as it would be in someone who wasn't vaccinated.

Gandhi and Graham both made this important point: The viral load  how much virus is in an infected person's body  also seems to go down much more quickly in the vaccinated than in the unvaccinated, which has big implications for transmissibility.

Graham explained that, while it's true that the Delta variant creates a higher initial viral load than with previous strains, in the vaccinated, that viral load drops off faster and people don't shed it as long.

"Right now there are data that suggest that vaccinated and unvaccinated [people] have the same level at a particular time point," said Graham. "But if you follow that over time, the vaccinated people's viral load drops much faster. ... There's still a lot less virus in vaccinated people than there is (in) unvaccinated people. So there would be less transmission going on in vaccinated people, but there may be some transmission ... It's just a matter of degrees; it's a little nuanced."

Time to change?

So maybe it's time to shelve the freighted term "breakthrough infection" and look for a new name. After all, the vaccine isn't like building an impenetrable fortress around our house that gets broken through. It's more like stationing sentries  lookouts  who can give early warning of an imminent attack and get the rank-and-file immune system soldiers ready to defend.

An alternative phrase I've heard in some circles is "post-vaccine infection." I like it because it doesn't carry the connotation of vaccine failure  it's just a neutral term for what we expect to happen in some people over the course of time.

As Emory's Del Rio pointed out, words matter. "I think 'breakthrough,' while virologically and technically may be the right term, [for the general public] it may not be the right term," he said.

Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, also thinks it's misleading.

"I think the term is terrible because it's scaring people and making it sound as if the vaccines don't work. Let me say very clearly: The vaccines are incredibly effective in preventing hospitalizations, severe cases  over 90%. So, let's not let the language get in the way of that," he said on CNN last week.

I wholeheartedly agree. In fact, at this point, there is really nothing that should get in the way of getting vaccinated.

This story was first published on CNN.com "What's in a name? The term 'breakthrough infection' raises doubts about vaccines, but it shouldn't"
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Nine more city attorney candidates apply for position in Denton

Jeff Woo/DRC file photo Denton City Hall

Denton City Hall has released the application materials of another nine candidates who have applied to be Dentons next city attorney  including Catherine Clifton, who has been serving in an interim capacity since May.

The search firm GovHR, hired to find the citys next city attorney, continued to accept applications through Monday, after extending the deadline so the city could solicit more candidates. On Wednesday, the city released the latest  and final  round of candidates to the Denton Record-Chronicle. They are:

David Beyleryan

David Beyleryan of Paris, Texas. He has been a managing attorney for Lone Star Aid in Paris since June 2016. Beyleryan also has been an assistant staff judge advocate (JAG) for the United States Air Force in Tinker, Oklahoma, since September 2016, and was assistant attorney general from 2014 to 2016 in Paris, handling child support cases. From 2013 to 2014, Beyleryan was managing attorney for Legal Aid Services in Hugo. And from 2011 to 2013, he was title examiner/attorney in Moore, Oklahoma. Beyleryan received his juris doctor from Oklahoma City University School of Law in May 2011 and bachelor of science in December 2007 from Texas A&M at Commerce with a double major in history and political science.



Jennifer F. Callan of Houston. Shes assistant county attorney at the Harris County Attorneys Office. She has been a deputy section chief for the city of Houston legal department; senior assistant city attorney for Houston; director of professional accountability for the city of El Paso; assistant city attorney for El Paso; associate attorney for Ray, Valdez, McChristian & Jeans in El Paso; associate attorney for Hicks & Lucky in El Paso; and assistant district attorney for the 34th Judicial District in El Paso. Callan received her juris doctor from Valparaiso University School of Law in Indiana in May 1994. Four years earlier, she received her bachelor of arts in political science from Alfred University in New York.



Catherine Clifton of Denton. Since May 2019, she has been deputy city attorney, assistant city attorney and interim city attorney here. And since 2018, she has been a self-employed human resources consultant. Clifton also has been an assistant administrative director for Midland; senior assistant city attorney for Odessa; assistant city attorney for Ector County Attorneys Office; and self-employed attorney. She received her juris doctor from Texas Tech School of Law, master of business administration from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin and bachelor of arts from Southwestern University in Georgetown.



Andrew Hagan of Big Spring. Since February 2020, he has been city attorney, and since 2014, he has worked as an attorney in Uvalde. From 2011 to 2020, Hagan was a municipal court judge in Uvalde. He received his juris doctor from Rutgers University School of Law in New Jersey and bachelor of arts in economics from Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana.



Susan Keller of Carrollton. She has been first assistant city attorney in Carrollton since 2012. Keller also has worked for Messer, McDonald & Fort; and been assistant city attorney for Plano; and prosecutor for Carrollton. Keller received her juris doctor from Dedman School of Law from Southern Methodist University in 1997.



Cynthia Kirchoff of Austin. She has been senior attorney since December 2020 at Messer, Fort & McDonald PLLC in Austin; deputy city attorney for Denton; city attorney for St. Cloud, Minnesota; and attorney at law and attorney in Minnesota. Kirchoff received her juris doctor from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul and master of arts in urban planning from Minnesota State University and bachelor of arts from the University of Minnesota.



David W. May of Austin. Since August 2018, he has been an assistant city attorney for the city of Austin. May has also worked as a JAG for the United States Air Force Reserve Command and the 159th Fighter Wing of the Louisiana Air National Guard. He completed assignments with the U.S. Air Force in German and San Antonio; and worked as an associate at Strong, Pipkin, Bissell & Ledyard in Beaumont. Also, he has worked as an associate attorney with Spears and Gary of Lake Charles, Louisiana; and as a clerk to the chief district judge in the 14th Judicial District Court in Lake Charles. He received his juris doctor from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in May 2011, master of arts in industrial and organizational psychology in 2000 from St. Marys University in San Antonio, and bachelor of arts in psychology, with a minor in English, from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston in 1997.



Kristin A. Regel of Richardson. Regel is an attorney with Regel PLLC. In Dallas, she has worked with the Denney Law Group; the Law Offices of Kenneth G. Wincorn P.C., in Richardson; DeHay & Elliston in Dallas as senior associate; as associate with Brown McCarroll LLP in Dallas; as associate with Cooper & Scully P.C. in Dallas; and as a Texas associate in Dallas for Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons LLP. Regel received her juris doctor from St. Marys University School of Law in San Antonio in May 1997 and her bachelor of arts in multinational organizations and minor in business in 1994 from St. Marys.



Mack Reinwand of Denton. Since November 2020, he has been first city attorney. Reinwand also has worked as deputy city attorney for Denton; senior attorney for Messer Rockefeller & Fort PLLC in Frisco; as land use attorney for the city of Arlington; as assistant police legal adviser; and as a prosecutor. He received his juris doctor from the Oklahoma City University School of Law in May 2006 and his bachelor of arts in economics in Provo, Utah, at Brigham Young University in December 2001.

The first five applicants are:

 David Chatten of Ontario, Canada. A crown prosecutor for 17 years, he has specialized in civil, employment and government administrative law. He also has worked as a prosecutor and paralegal in Belleville, Ontario. He received a bachelor of laws in the United Kingdom in 2016.

 Kelli Hooper of Atlanta. She has worked as a senior supervisor attorney since January. Hooper has been a partner with KBH Law in Fayetteville, Georgia, during that same period and has represented law firm Hooper & Honore in Atlanta and worked as an associate for firm AB Bishop & Associates in Fayetteville, Georgia. As a law clerk, she has represented the Southern Poverty Law Center; Wiggins, Childs, Quinn & Pantazis of Birmingham, Alabama, and the Alabama Department of Public Health of Montgomery. Hooper received her Juris Doctor from the Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham in 2007.

 Jay Johnson of Dallas. Since May 2021, he has been an associate attorney for Carpenter & Associates. He also has been assistant attorney general and land representative for Enterprise Products in Houston. Johnson received bachelors degrees in psychology and economics in 2009 from Southern Methodist University. In 2012, he received his Juris Doctor from Texas Southern University. From 2013 to 2019, Johnson was an attorney at law under the Texas State Bar.

 Ryan Kelley of McKinney. From January 2009 to January 2021, he was an assistant state attorney in West Palm Beach, Florida. He also has worked as a public defender in Tampa and an associate attorney for Fisher & Bendeck in West Palm Beach. He received his Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law in 2004 in St. Petersburg, Florida; earned his Bachelor of Arts in history from Florida State University in 2000; and became licensed to practice law in Florida in 2004 and in Texas in 2019.

 George Mitcham of Denton. Since July 2014, he has worked as a private practice attorney. He also has been an assistant district attorney for the Denton County District Attorneys Office; a realty specialist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; law clerk at Hayes, Coffee & Berry; a police officer with the Carrollton Police Department; and detention officer for Hunt County Sheriffs Office. Mitcham was also in the U.S. Army.

Denton officials are expected to begin interviews for city attorney candidates by September  about four months after Clifton was appointed interim in that position.

On June 7, council members asked staff to engage the Illinois-based search firm GovHR to find their next city attorney  a process expected to cost at least $20,000.

Under Dentons city charter, the city attorney, city manager, city auditor and municipal judge are City Council appointees. How the council conducts searches for those positions, their appointments of interim staff members, the contracts they sign with search firms and the identities of those who apply for the same positions are public records under the Texas Open Meetings Act.

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Dozens of care workers rallied at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Thursday, demanding the state convene a wage board and investigate care workers wages.

Protestors said care workers are underpaid, overworked and lack basic benefits, training and support. Over 50% of home care workers in Colorado rely on public assistance and over 33% rely on Medicaid, according to Colorado Care Workers Unite.

Colorado Care Workers Unite led the protest, titled Care Cant Wait, in partnership with the Service Employees International Union.

The state has failed to honor our rights; they have failed to take action, said Marilyn Sorenson, a Denver care worker of 28 years. Colorados care workers are becoming homeless, losing jobs and clients, and some are burning out and leaving the industry altogether because of the low pay and unsafe working conditions.

Protestors said the state has not acted after, in January, workers in nursing, home and facility care delivered hundreds of petitions calling for an investigation into wages and working conditions, and for a wage board to be convened.

However, a spokesperson with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment said the state is working on the request and has been holding recurring meetings with the workers union since the fall of 2020.

"CDLE has kept the group informed about the Division of Labor Standards and Statistics ongoing investigations into wage practices in the home care industry, spanning multiple employers, and we are pleased to have had helpful cooperation from workers and labor organizers alike in that field, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the Department of Labor and Employment is wrapping up its investigation into the complaints and its review will be released in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, protestors said other states have already taken concrete steps towards addressing the issue. In May, Nevada passed SB 340, a measure establishing a state employment standards board for home care workers.

This comes as the U.S. is experiencing a shortage of care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic and as the population's average age is quickly increasing.

Care workers need a wage board, said Sandra Sherwood, a care worker of 42 years from Penrose. Were the experts who provide the care, we know whats best for our clients, and we know what problems need to be fixed. We should have a meaningful voice in decisions about how we transform the care industry to make sure it works for all.
Hard on the heels of yesterdays announcement that Sanlam and telecoms giant MTN Group are to distribute Sanlam Group insurance and investment products across Africa comes news that microinsurance fintech aYo has partnered with MTN to launch insurance for all Ivorians  and Sanlam will be involved.

aYo Holdings, together with MTN and Sanlam Life, has launched two innovative insurance products in Cote d'Ivoire.

aYo Recharge+ rewards MTN Cote dIvoire MoMo (Mobile Money) users by offering free accidental hospitalisation cover and life cover each time customers purchase airtime via MoMo. AutoBoost  paid-for functionality  allows customers to get more cover with every MTN airtime recharge.

aYo Kash+ offers cover for illness and accidental hospitalisation as well as life cover each time a consumer sends money or pays utility bills or school fees via MTN MoMo.

Signing up, interacting, and claiming all happen through the aYo progressive web app without the need for any physical paperwork. When claiming, the required documents can be attached and sent via WhatsApp.

aYo launched in January 2017 in Uganda and has reached more than 14 million customers across Uganda, Ghana and Zambia. The company has paid in excess of over $1 million in claims.

Very few Ivorians have insurance  the CEO of aYo intermediary Cote d'Ivoire Limited, Jean-Charles NGotta, suggests that the figure is less than two percent. If so, this could be a very promising market if addressed effectively.
Workers are seen at the factory of tools manufacturer Dai Dung in HCMC's Binh Chanh District. Photo by VnExpress/An Phuong.

HCMC factories continuing production with workers staying on site are struggling to keep it going as both costs and homesickness mount.

Textile company Thanh Cong in Tan Phu District, HCMC, started the stay-at-work model on July 17 with 2,200 workers, or half of its usual workforce. But, after 25 days, 400 people have gone home.

"Having workers stay on in the factory increases costs and cuts our productivity by half," said Nguyen Huu Tuan, the companys human resources director.

With the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak proving unpredictable, companies HCMC and some other localities have let their employees remain at work instead of traveling back and forth from their homes each day, which is more likely to increase the risk of infection.

Covid-19 tests alone have cost the company over VND2 billion ($87,900) so far. It also has to pay each worker an extra VND80,000 a day and has spent VND1 billion on setting up their sleeping area.

However, workers still ask to go home and it is not easy for managers to persuade them to stay.

Meanwhile, the company still has to rush production to fulfill orders or face big fines. Given the current labor shortage it can hold on for another month at most, Tuan said.

The situation is even worse for metal gears producer Kem Nghia in Cu Chi District.

The company had asked authorities permission to let workers go home after two weeks of having them on site. It had to do so despite investing VND600 million in applying the model.

The companys CEO, Tran Minh Tu, said that at first only 13 percent of 1,500 labors decided to stay.

After a week, another 17 percent wanted to come and work on-site, but authorities did not approve this for fear of bringing the novel coronavirus from outside into the factory.

The company decided to shut down all operations, test all employees and send them home. It also asked customers to allow delayed delivery of orders.

Workers make garment products in textile company Thanh Cong in Phu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/An Phuong.

The two companies are among 700 in HCMC that have registered to either let workers stay on site to maintain manufacturing or provide transportation to bring workers from their accommodations to the factory.

But after weeks of deploying this model, many have found that it is not very effective and that they are losing more than gaining.

Nguyen Van Be, chairman of the HCMC Business Association, said nearly 600 companies that are currently applying the model are facing financial difficulties. Their workers are uncomfortable and want to go home, he said.

Ly Kim Chi, chairwoman of the Food and Foodstuff Association of HCMC, said that the stay-at-work manufacturing plan only works for about a month. "Any longer than that and there will be issues," she said.

Experts have called for more support from the government.

Do Thien Anh Tuan, lecturer in public sector economics at Fulbright University Vietnam, said that the model should still be applied, but the government should share the rising costs with businesses.

"This support should be in cash and should be easily accessible," he said, adding that essential goods manufacturers receive top priority, followed by export and other others.

After a majority of workers have been vaccinated, factories can start letting employees go home with supervision using GPS or checkpoints to ensure they do not visit any other locations, he said.

HCMC has around 1.2 million factory workers with over 320,000 of them in industrial parks and manufacturing zones.

Factories in several neighboring localities like Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Long An and Tien Giang have also reported similar difficulties.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade last week proposed that the Ministry of Health formulates a new manufacturing model to help businesses overcome the difficulties they are facing now.

HCMC is the epicenter of the latest Covid-19 wave with more than 137,000 cases.
A vendor sits in the closed Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City in March 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.

Many people who have taken bank loans are waiting to become eligible for interest discounts after being left out of policy support for Covid-19 impacts.

Oanh Kieu and her husband in Hanoi have been struggling to repay their mortgage this year as their income has halved during the social distancing period.

Her bank has told Kieu that she does not belong to the group of people eligible for interest discount.

Nearly 242,000 bank customers, both individuals and businesses, have received interest discounts or extended repayment periods in the first six months of the year because of Covid-19 impacts.

Kieu is among many others who have found themselves bereft of such support despite being obviously and directly affected by the pandemic.

Many such borrowers have said that the banks require them to prove that they will be able to repay the money after the pandemic, but this is difficult given their current financial difficulties.

The Vietnam Banks Association (VNBA) has said that although banks have provided support for loans disbursed before June 10 last year, the new Covid-19 waves demand more urgent relief on loans taken later.

The support should also include those who use credit cards as this group is currently left out, it said.

Nguyen Quoc Hung, general secretary of VNBA, said that banks should expand its list of sectors eligible for a write-off, a declaration that a certain amount of debt is unlikely to be collected.

Currently only loans for agriculture projects and rural development are eligible for such relief, he added.
VN-Index in 1,350 points range for third session

An investor looks at stock prices on a laptop at a brokerage in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.

Vietnams benchmark VN-Index rose 0.3 percent to 1,357.05 points Friday, remaining in the 1,350-range for the third straight session.

Trading value on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), on which the index is based, rose nearly 9 percent to VND24.63 trillion ($1.08 billion). The bourse saw 166 tickers gain and 205 lose.

VHM of real estate giant Vinhomes contributed most to VN-Indexs gain this session with 2.7 points.

The company recently announced profits of nearly VND1 trillion from selling 60 million treasury shares it bought in 2019.

It plans to issue bonds worth VND4.37 trillion to the public this year.

VPB of private lender VPBank rose 2.7 percent this session. The bank has announced a plan to triple its charter capital to VND75 trillion next year, the highest among Vietnamese banks.

Other notable gainers this session included KDH of real estate firm Khang Dien House, up 3.5 percent, and SSI of leading brokerage SSI Securities Corporation, up 2.3 percent.

However, 15 blue chip tickers ended in the red, led by BVH of insurance company Bao Viet Holdings and GAS of state-owned Petrovietnam Gas, both down 1.6 percent.

Foreign investors were net sellers for the fourth straight session to the tune of VND788 billion with strongest selling pressures on SSI and VHM stocks.

The HNX-Index for stocks on the Hanoi Stock Exchange, home to mid and small caps, rose 0.79 percent, while the UPCoM-Index for the Unlisted Public Companies Market gained 0.21 percent.
An employee of the Vietnam Vaccine JSC (VNVC) transports a batch of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine into cold storage, August 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Luu Hoa

A batch of 1,113,400 AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine doses arrived in HCMC Friday morning under a contract signed with the Vietnam Vaccine JSC (VNVC).

The batch is the eighth delivered to Vietnam under the contract between AstraZeneca and VNVC for the supply of 30 million vaccine doses.

The consignment landed at the Tan Son Nhat Airport and have been placed in cold storage. They would be handed over to the Health Ministry for distribution, the VNVC said.

VNVC has so far received over 5.5 million vaccine doses, and batches have kept coming every week from July 9. The first two batches came in February and May.

Vietnam has received over 19 million Covid-19 vaccine doses so far, through contracts, global vaccine access mechanism Covax or foreign aid.

The country has administered over 12 million people with at least one shot of the Covid-19 vaccine. Over a million have been fully vaccinated.

Vietnam aims to vaccinate 70 percent of its 96 million population by next year, procuring at least 150 million Covid-19 vaccine doses for the purpose.
HCMC plans to continue it's social distancing status until at least September 15 in response to sustained coronavirus threats, the municipal Party Committee said Friday.

Phan Van Mai, deputy secretary of the municipal Standing Party Committee, said the southern city is expected to announce its upcoming plans to fight the coronavirus in the next two days.

As the numbers of cases and even Covid-19 deaths are still high, Ho Chi Minh City would still need to contain infection sources and prevent mild coronavirus cases from turning severe to avoid deaths, he said.

"This Sunday, the city will officially announce a specific plan to fight the coronavirus. The general spirit is to continue social distancing in accordance with Directive 16," Mai said, adding that the city would try to screen Covid-19 cases and perform risk assessments throughout the city until August 30.

Directive 16 requires people to stay home and only go out for basic necessities like buying food or medicines or to work at factories or businesses allowed to operate.

People must keep a distance of at least two meters. No more than two people can gather together in public apart from work, schools or hospitals. The majority of public transportation will be shut down and there will be no travel between localities.

Citing the coronavirus situations in other locations around the world like the U.S. and India, where outbreaks persist even four or rive months after the peak has been reached, Mai warned that the coronavirus situation in Ho Chi Minh City can last a long time, and social distancing measures would last until September 15 or further.

Duong Anh Duc, deputy chairman of the municipal People's Committee, said Ho Chi Minh City has recorded 3,687 new Covid-19 cases per day on average for seven days starting August 5. Around 80 percent of them were detected within quarantine zones and locked down areas, he added.

"The most pressing issue for the city is its high Covid-19 death rate with 241 deaths a day on average recently," he said.

With support from the Ministry of Health, Ho Chi Minh City has deployed new ICUs, new hospital beds and other measures to enhance its Covid-19 treatment capabilities, Duc said.

"The situation is still progressing complicatedly, and maybe for a prolonged period as the virus has embedded itself in the community. While the number of new infections have been decreasing or plateauing lately, that isn't sustainable, and death rates are still high," he said, adding that the number of new daily cases after August 15, when the current social distancing period is supposed to end, would still be over 3,000.

As the government has set a goal for Ho Chi Minh City to put the coronavirus under control by September 15, the city would also devise a new battle plan until that date.

Social distancing measures still need to be maintained, especially within locked down areas, where most current coronavirus cases are found.

"We must reduce the number of new Covid-19 cases in these areas. To do that, houses must be socially distanced from other houses," Duc said, adding that it was sad to see entire families being infected with the coronavirus.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's economic powerhouse, has become the epicenter of the fourth coronavirus wave which struck the nation in late April. It has recorded 137,008 local cases so far, the highest in the country. The southern metropolis has gone through multiple consecutive social distancing orders, with the latest one expected to be extended for a month starting August 15.
Vietnam receives $5.3 mln in medical equipment aid from Switzerland

Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Truong Son (3rd, L) receives medical equipment gifted by Switzerland from Martin Urs Maier (4th, L), Switzerland Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, August 13, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Khoi Nguyen

Vietnam's Health Ministry received medical equipment worth around 4.9 million franc ($5.3 million) gifted by Switzerland Friday.

The donated items are 30 oxygen ventilators, 500,000 rapid test kits and 300,000 surgical masks.

They are now stored at the Cho Ray Hospital in HCMC before being distributed to pandemic fighting units.

"This support is a big material and spiritual motivation for Vietnam at this difficult time," Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Truong Son said.

Swiss Vice President Ignazio Cassis announced the donation of medical equipment at a meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart Vo Thi Anh Xuan last week during a two-day visit to Vietnam.

Vietnam has recorded over 242,000 local Covid-19 cases in the fourth coronavirus wave that struck the country late April.
WHO asks China for more data on Covid origins as Russia deaths spike

A group of WHO experts arrive at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China as part of their investigation of the origin of the Covid-19 virus, February 2021. Photo by Reuters

The WHO on Thursday urged China to share raw data from the earliest Covid-19 cases to revive its probe into the origins of the disease, as Russia recorded record deaths.

The World Health Organization's plea came as Russia saw its highest daily death toll from the pandemic that has killed at least 4.3 million people worldwide.

The WHO stressed it was "vitally important" to uncover the origins of the virus first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019.

In the face of pushback from Beijing, the UN health agency called for the provision of "all data and access required so that the next series of studies can be commenced as soon as possible".

After much delay, a WHO team of international experts went to Wuhan in January 2021 to produce a first phase report, which was written in conjunction with their Chinese counterparts.

Their March report drew no firm conclusions, instead ranking four hypotheses.

It said the virus jumping from bats to humans via an intermediate animal was the most probable scenario, while a leak from the Wuhan virology labs was "extremely unlikely."

However, the investigation faced criticism for lacking transparency and access, and for not evaluating the lab-leak theory more deeply.

A WHO call last month for the investigation's second stage to include audits of the Wuhan labs infuriated Beijing, with vice health minister Zeng Yixin saying the plan showed "disrespect for common sense and arrogance towards science."

Russia, the fourth worst-hit country in the world in terms of cases, reported its highest daily coronavirus death toll since the start of the pandemic despite an intensifying vaccination drive.

A government tally reported 808 fatalities over the past 24 hours -- the first time Russia has crossed the 800-mark for daily virus deaths -- and 21,932 new infections.

Authorities have faced a vaccine-sceptic population, with a poll by the independent Levada Centre this week showing that 55 percent of Russians do not plan on getting a jab.

In the U.S., the health department is to require all its public-facing health care workers to get jabs amid a surge in hospitalizations driven by the Delta variant.

The policy will apply to around 25,000 Department of Health and Human Services employees who could come into contact with patients -- just under a third of its total workforce.

"Our number one goal is the health and safety of the American public, including our federal workforce. And vaccines are the best tool we have," U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement.

Health is the third federal department to introduce a vaccine mandate, following similar edicts from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Pentagon in recent weeks.

Average daily hospital admissions in the week to August 3 were 7,707 -- a 40 percent jump in just one week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Terminal closure

And in signs that the epidemic's economic impact is far from over, China on Thursday announced it was partially closing the world's third-busiest cargo port after a worker tested positive for coronavirus.

Almost 2,000 front-line workers at Ningbo-Zhoushan port have been placed under "closed management" -- effectively unable to leave the port -- as a result of the infection, Chinese media reported.

The virus has also hit global oil demand -- a bellwether for economic growth -- due to lockdowns in major consuming countries fuelled by the Delta variant, the International Energy Agency said on Thursday.

Demand had been recovering, but it "abruptly reversed course" in July as the Delta variant undermined deliveries in China, Indonesia and other parts of Asia, the IEA said in a monthly report.

In Britain, however, the economy rebounded 4.8 percent in the second quarter as consumer spending surged with the relaxation of anti-virus restrictions, official data showed Thursday.
A security man looks at a screen showing the body temperature of travelers at Riyadh International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 31, 2020. Photo by Reuters/Ahmed Yosri

Saudi Arabias Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that visitor visas of people from countries and territories red-listed for Covid-19, including Vietnam, will be extended until September 30.

The ministry said in a Twitter account statement that visa extensions would be automatic without any fees as part of efforts undertaken by the Saudi government in tackling the consequences of Covid-19 and mitigating its economic and financial effects.

Currently, Saudi Arabian authorities have banned arrivals from Vietnam and 12 other countries which are on the red list over the Delta variant.

Saudi Arabia had earlier announced a three-year travel ban for citizens who visit red-listed countries and slapped a 500,000-riyal ($133,300) fine on travelers coming from these countries as part of tougher measures to keep out the Delta variant.

Saudi Arabia has had over 535,000 Covid cases and 8,366 deaths so far.

Vietnam is currently facing its most challenging Covid outbreak so far, triggered by the Delta variant, which has prompted several countries to ban or impose stricter quarantine measures for travelers from the country.

In the ongoing wave that began in late April, the country has recorded over 242,000 cases.

The Saudi Arabian embassy in Hanoi last week donated around $500,000 worth of medical equipment to support Vietnam's Covid-19 fight. Since the beginning of this year, Saudi Arabia has provided Vietnam more than $800,000 worth of assistance for disaster relief and the Covid-19 fight.
The Taliban captured Kandahar, the second-largest city in Afghanistan, this morning and are fighting over cities just 90 miles from Kabul.

The NATO withdrawal

The latest wave of the Taliban advance comes as NATO troops are due to leave the country. US representatives in former President Donald Trump's administration signed the Doha agreement on February 29, 2020, with the Taliban. The US and its NATO allies agreed to withdraw all troops within 14 months if the militants upheld the deal. Despite attempts by the House to prevent the President from unilaterally pulling soldiers out, President Biden confirmed the withdrawal in April 2021. All US troops are due to leave by September 11 of this year. This withdrawal has emboldened the Taliban, who have been pushing against the Afghan army hard in the last few months. As part of the agreement, the Taliban agreed not to fight international troops, but are under no obligations to stop fighting the Afghan government forces. NATO has been fighting in Afghanistan since October 7, 2001.

March of the Taliban

Since the publication of our last article on Afghanistan a month ago, the Taliban has captured over a dozen provincial capitals and have their sights set on Kabul. Early Friday morning, the Taliban seized the country's second-largest city, Kandahar, the latest provincial capital to fall. The southern city of 600,000 people was once the Taliban's stronghold, and is strategically important because of its international airport, agricultural and industrial output.

The UK defense secretary Ben Wallace says he fears Afghanistan is "on the brink of a civil war", but at this stage it feels like a very one-sided struggle. Despite it being well-equipped, the Afghan army has struggled to put up any meaningful resistance due to its poor morale. Desertion has been rife, and there have been credible reports that the Afghan government is in the process of fleeing the country with the Americans.

The Afghan army is supposed to have more than 300,000 soldiers on paper, as well as US support with air strikes. But these published numbers are under scrutiny, and in its latest report to the US Congress, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan (SIGAR) expressed "serious concerns about the corrosive effects of corruption... and the questionable accuracy of data on the actual strength of the force".

Many soldiers do not have any local experience or links to areas they are posted. Afghanistan is an ethnically divided country, and the countryside is largely controlled by tribes and local warlords. Troops unfamiliar with territories are not likely to be supported by the populations living there.

Echoes of Vietnam

Afghanistan is facing one of its worst humanitarian crises in years, and tens of thousands of civilians are fleeing the fighting. More than 1,000 civilians killed in Afghanistan in the past month alone, according to the UN.

Despite the hurried evacuation of American and Afghan personnel, the State department spokesman Ned price said, this "wasn't an abandonment, this wasn't an evacuation... this is all about ensuring the safety and security of our personnel." To support the withdrawal, the US is sending an extra 3,000 troops and the UK will be supporting them. The US embassy in Kabul is urging all US citizens to leave the country immediately, and the UK gives the same warning. Embassies are being left with 'skeleton' crews to ensure diplomatic operations can still continue while NATO soldiers escort staff and the Afghans that worked with the US and the UK to Kabul airport.

There is certainly a whiff of the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. The US embassy in Saigon was besieged by people trying to flee the advancing North Vietnamese army, and a repeat of those events could be likely as the US and UK are set to defend Kabul international airport as people are evacuated to safety. Republican Senator Mitch McConnell described the situation in Afghanistan as "an even worse sequel to the humiliating fall of Saigon."

A troubled future for Afghanistan

A Taliban victory would be a disaster for the NATO military mission, but the effects will be felt much keener by the Afghan population. The Afghans who worked with NATO are under threat of reprisals by the Taliban, hence their evacuation.

The group that will be most affected is women and children. During the last period of Taliban rule 20 years ago, girls older than 10 were not allowed to go to school and the women were forced to conform to strict conservative Islamist rule. The Taliban have tried to present themselves in recent interviews as changed from then, but the harsh rules are likely to return. In his comments about the situation in Afghanistan, Ben Wallace said that the NATO mission was "not a failure" because it allowed the space to allow women and children access education that they previously couldn't. All these positives will mean nothing if the return of the Taliban takes these rights away from the population. If the Taliban keep up their advance, then the country could be conquered by the Autumn.

NATO is convening a meeting of its member states today to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, but it is to be focused on evacuation planning rather than a leap back into combat.

A failed nation-building project

The final evacuation spells the end for America's 20-year long project to rebuild Afghanistan in its own image. Similar to events in Iraq, a US installed puppet government could not defend itself against an ideologically opposed foe despite a technological and numerical advantage. Wracked by corruption and despised by its own people, there is little appetite to fight for the government. The US has seen thousands of its own soldiers deaths, tens of thousands of Afghan deaths, and trillions of dollars of money spent on what is likely to become the same status quo before fighting began. The failure could spell disaster for the Afghan people and governments around the world are worried for global security in the years ahead. Afghanistan truly is the 'graveyard of empires.'
BRUSSELS, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Raoul Hedebouw, Member of Belgium's Chamber of Representatives, has warned against Europe's involvement in the U.S.-China tension in a recent live debate.

"I think it is a bad idea to conclude this strategic partnership with the political and economic power that during the last century has behaved most aggressively toward the nations of this world," said Hedebouw, denouncing Belgium's failure to oppose Europe's involvement.

"The economic tensions in the world are at a dangerous level. Why is that so? Because for the first time since 1945, an ultra-dominant economic power like the United States is about to be overtaken economically by other powers," he said.

He condemned U.S. President Joe Biden's efforts to rally Belgium and Europe to follow the United States in a tension with China by declaring China a systemic rival.

Editor: Zhang Zhou
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan speaks at a press conference in Khartoum, Sudan, on Aug. 12, 2021. The Sudanese government and International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on provision of information and realization of justice for the victims of the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region. (Xinhua/Mohamed Khidir)

KHARTOUM, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese government and International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on provision of information and realization of justice for the victims of the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region.

Sudan's Justice Minister Nasredeen Abdelbari signed the deal with ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan.

"The MoU helps in providing the requested information and continuing work with the victims, the survivors and the civil society," said Khan at a press conference in Khartoum.

Khan said the visiting ICC delegation and the Sudanese government failed to agree on a specific date for handing over the ousted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and other suspects to the court, adding that the ICC would open a permanent office in Khartoum.

He also did not exclude the possibility of trying al-Bashir and other suspects in Sudan under the supervision of the ICC.

"The seat of the court is in The Hague, but if the judges see the possibility of holding the trial in any other place, it's up to them," noted Khan.

The ICC court demands Sudan hand over al-Bashir and two of his senior aides to the court for trial, accusing them of allegedly committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur region.

On Aug. 3, the Sudanese cabinet approved a draft law to join the ICC Rome Statute, but this law will not be effective until it is approved by the interim parliament.

During 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012, the ICC issued arrest warrants against al-Bashir, former Defense Minister Abdul-Rahim Mohamed Hussein, former Interior Minister Ahmed Mohamed Haroun and around 21 other government officials for allegedly committing genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur.

The transitional authorities in Sudan, which were established after the ouster of al-Bashir in April 2019, have earlier expressed readiness to cooperate with the ICC regarding the trial of the suspects accused of committing crimes in Darfur.

Khartoum is considering three options to try the suspects, including establishing a special court, creating a hybrid court of the government and the ICC, or handing them to the ICC. Enditem

Editor: Zhang Zhou
DOHA, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Representatives of countries taking part in the Doha international meeting on Afghanistan on Thursday called on the Afghan warring parties to expedite the peace process, reach a political settlement and comprehensive ceasefire as quickly as possible, stressing their rejection of any government imposed by force.

Issued this evening at the final session of the meeting, a joint statement made it clear that participants have agreed on the need to accelerate the peace process as a very urgent and key issue for negotiating concrete proposals between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

The participants said that they would not recognize any government in Afghanistan that is forcibly imposed and are much concerned about the ongoing violence, large numbers of civilian casualties, allegations of human rights violations, and destruction of infrastructure, which prolongs conflict and makes reconciliation efforts more difficult.

They pledged to provide assistance to reconstruction process once a viable political settlement is reached between the two sides.

The statement stressed the guidelines of the political settlement, which include all-out governance, respect for human rights including the rights of women and minorities, mechanism for forming a representative government, the commitment not to make Afghan territory a threat to other countries, and respect for the international law, including international humanitarian one.

The participants called upon all Afghan parties to act in accordance with these guidelines and build upon them in the future political settlement, according to the statement.

At the invitation of Qatar, special envoys and representatives from China, Russia, Pakistan, the United States and the United Nations, as well as other regional countries and international organizations, have gathered in Doha since Aug. 10 to hold talks over the situation in Afghanistan.

Through exchanging views with the representatives of the Afghan government and Taliban, the participants have been discussing contributions that the international community can make to helping the peace process.

Editor: Zhang Zhou
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The United States said on Thursday that it will deploy thousands of troops to Kabul airport to support embassy staff drawdown as the security situation in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate.

"We are further reducing our civilian footprint in Kabul, in light of the evolving security situation. We expect to draw down to a core diplomatic presence in Afghanistan in the coming weeks," State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters in a daily briefing.

"In order to facilitate this reduction, the Department of Defense will temporarily deploy additional personnel to Hamid Karzai international airport," he added.

He said that the embassy remains open, and the United States plans to continue diplomatic work in the country. Earlier in the day, the embassy urged Americans to leave the country immediately.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin earlier had phone calls with Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani to coordinate the plan.

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters that three infantry battalions, about 3,000 troops, will be deployed to Kabul airport within 24 to 48 hours.

In addition, around 1,000 personnel of a joint U.S. Army and Air Force support team will be sent to Qatar to facilitate the processing of Afghan applicants for Special Immigrant Visas (SIV). An infantry brigade combat team will arrive in Kuwait next week in case additional forces are needed.

"This is a temporary mission with a narrow focus," said Kirby, calling the move "a prudent thing to do given the rapidly deteriorating security situation in and around Kabul."

According to media reports, currently, there are about 650 U.S. troops in the country and about 1,400 U.S. staff at the embassy.

The announcement of embassy staff reduction and military reinforcements came as Taliban militants made rapid military advances across the country.

The insurgent group captured Ghazni city, the capital of eastern Ghazni province earlier on Thursday, bringing the number of provincial capitals captured by the insurgent group to 10 in less than a week.

The situation in the war-torn country has been worsening since the withdrawal of U.S.-led troops starting on May 1. Many Afghan cities and about half of the country's 34 provinces in recent weeks have seen heavy battles and street fighting between Afghan forces and Taliban militants.

President Joe Biden ordered the U.S. military to end its mission in Afghanistan by the end of this month.

He said on Tuesday that the United States would continue to provide air support and military equipment to Afghanistan while noting Afghan forces must "fight for themselves, fight for their nation."

"We're going to continue to keep our commitment. But I do not regret my decision," he said.

Editor: Zhang Zhou
The total cost of the project for the construction of a plant of the manufacturer and supplier of Kreisel building materials and systems in the village of Pisky (Pustomyty district of Lviv region) is EUR 10 million, Executive Director of DELTA Ukraine, which ensures the implementation of the project, Viktoria Berezhna, has told Interfax-Ukraine.

"We have accompanying the customer since 2017 to this point. Special attention was paid to technologies  during this time the suppliers of technological equipment have completely changed, because the plant shall meet all the requirements of modern production," Berezhna said during the groundbreaking ceremony held on August 12.

At the same time, she said that the total area of the land plot allocated for the implementation of this project is 5 hectares.

Berezhna said that due to adjustments, the project passed the examination twice. DELTA Ukraine, together with the customer, went through the procedures for the development and protection of the environmental impact assessment project.

"Thanks to confidence in the political and economic situation in Ukraine, at the end of June 2021, the investment project was approved and is entering the phase of active implementation," she said.

Currently, the facility has received a building permit, construction work is starting. The official commissioning is planned for January 2023. Some 50 new jobs will be created.

Raw materials from local suppliers will be used for construction, and all chemical components for dry mixes are components of European manufacturers. New Austrian technological equipment will be used at the plant in the village of Pisky.

Founded in 2004, Kreisel-Building Materials LLC is a subsidiary of the Austrian company Rofix AG and is part of the international holding Fixit Gruppe, which includes five brands: Fixit, Greutol, Hasit, Kreisel and Rofix. The holding is one of the leading suppliers of systems in the field of building materials, has 67 locations in 18 European countries and about 2,500 employees.

At present, Kreisel-Building Materials LLC is one of the leaders of the Ukrainian market of dry building mixtures.

DELTA Ukraine is part of Austria's Delta Holding founded in 1977 in Wels. It provides services for construction, design, construction management, general contracting and green certification of buildings. The company has subsidiaries in Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Ukraine.

DELTA Ukraine provides general design, concept development, construction management, designer and technical supervision for Kreisel.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine recommends that Ukrainians who are still in Afghanistan immediately leave the territory of this state.

The corresponding recommendations were published on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on Thursday.

"In connection with the escalation of the armed conflict in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine strongly recommends that the citizens of Ukraine refrain from any travel to Afghanistan until the security situation stabilizes, and those who are still in this country should immediately leave its territory," the Ukrainian diplomats said.

They emphasize that in the event of a threat to the life or health of Ukrainians, or other circumstances that require an immediate consular response, Ukrainian citizens should immediately contact the Ukrainian Embassy in the Republic of Tajikistan, whose zone of responsibility includes Afghanistan.

The situation in Afghanistan in connection with the withdrawal of international armed forces from the republic since mid-April has seriously worsened: the Taliban fighters have seized the capitals of eleven Afghan provinces in a short period of time and are continuing their offensive.
A place for the monument to Ivan Yakovych Franko in the capital has been determined, its construction will begin soon.

The corresponding statement was made by UDAR party leader, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, on his Facebook page, expressing regret over the death of Franko's grandson Roland Tarasovych.

"At the request of Ivan Franko International Foundation, the capital has determined the place where the stone will be installed at the end of August and a sculptural composition for Kameniar will soon be built," Klitschko wrote.

The UDAR leader also expressed regret over the death of Ivan Franko's grandson Roland Tarasovych and thanked him for his participation in the party's life.

"It is sad and painful to lose the most devoted patriots of Ukraine. Roland Tarasovych Franko did not liveliterally a few weeks to see the event he dreamed of: the installation of a stone on the site where a sculptural composition to the great Ukrainian Ivan Franko would be erected. I was acquainted to Roland Tarasovych personally, during the parliamentary campaign of 2012, he was an active member of UDAR, always supported social and cultural events of the party. He always happily communicated with young people. He was a very kind, sincere and wise man. Bright memory to you, Roland Tarasovych," Klitschko said.

It was reported that the last grandson of Ivan Franko, Roland Tarasovych Franko, died on August 11 at the age of 90.

He was chairman of the board of the Ivan Franko International Foundation, a scientist-engineer and public figure. The farewell will take place on Friday, August 13 at the Institute of Philology of the Shevchenko State University in Kyiv.
Counterintelligence officers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), during a special operation carried out in Odesa and Kharkiv regions, detained two former members of illegal armed groups who were involved in the shelling of positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Donbas, the SBU press service reports.

"According to the investigation, they were in the ranks of the fighters during 2014 - 2016. During this period, the criminals actively participated in hostilities against the Ukrainian military in the areas of Donetsk, Debaltseve, Shyrokyne and Dokuchayevsk," the SBU notes.

It is clarified that now the investigators of the security agencies have notified the detainees of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 258-3 (participation in a terrorist group or terrorist organization) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

"Investigative actions are continuing to establish all the circumstances of the illegal activities of the suspects and to bring to justice other persons involved in crimes against the state security of our country," the SBU said.

They add that the measures to expose the intruders were carried out under the procedural leadership of Odesa and Kharkiv regional prosecutor's offices.
Forty states and international organizations have confirmed their participation in the constituent summit of the Crimea Platform, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said.

"Today I am pleased to announce that we have reached a round number. We have 40 confirmations of participation in the Crimea Platform summit - these are states and international organizations," Kuleba said at an online briefing on Friday.

He recalled that the Crimea Declaration will be adopted at the summit of the Crimea Platform, which will be open for further accession of states that, for one reason or another, will not be able to take part in the constituent summit.

"In fact, support for the Crimea Platform will be even greater, and I am convinced it will constantly grow," the minister said.
Ukraine developing ways to evacuate its citizens from Afghanistan when they ask for help

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is developing possible ways to evacuate its citizens from Afghanistan in the event of their appeals for help, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.

"We have already begun to develop possible ways of evacuation [of Ukrainian citizens] from Afghanistan, if such appeals are received. At present, the citizens of Ukraine have not applied to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with requests to evacuate them from Afghanistan. But I repeat once again that we are working 24/7 and are ready to help our citizens in Afghanistan in all ways available to us," Kuleba said at an online briefing on Friday.

The diplomat said that, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at present there are from 50 to 100 Ukrainian citizens in Afghanistan.

"I take this opportunity to call on all our compatriots who are in Afghanistan now to contact the Ukrainian Embassy in Tajikistan and by any means inform ... where they are, in what condition," the minister said.

According to him, the events in Afghanistan demonstrate that "this is an absolutely unique state" and it is very difficult to predict how the security situation will develop there.

"Ukraine and Afghanistan have traditionally had friendly relations, we have partner relations with the current government. We, in particular, are united by the tragedy of the Ukrainian plane shot down by Iran, onboard of which there were citizens of Afghanistan ... We certainly wish the Afghan people, first of all, peace, stability, which is impossible without the cessation of hostilities," Kuleba said.

As reported, on August 12, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine recommended that the Ukrainians who are in Afghanistan immediately leave the territory of this state.

The situation in Afghanistan in connection with the withdrawal of international armed forces from the republic since mid-April has seriously worsened, the Taliban members have seized the capitals of twelve Afghan provinces in a short period of time and continue their offensive.
Court chooses restraint measure in form of detention with bail to dpty mayor of Mykolaiv City Council

The court chose a measure of restraint in the form of detention with bail of UAH 3.5 million to the deputy mayor of Mykolaiv city council who is suspected of embezzlement of UAH 27 million, the press service of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office reported.

"Thus, the court applied to the official a measure of restraint in form of detention with an alternative bail of UAH 3.5 million," the statement said.

Earlier it was reported that the Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova signed suspicion to deputy mayor of Mykolaiv Serhiy Korenev of seizing UAH 27 million during the reconstruction of Soborna Square in the city.

On August 10, NABU and the Specialized anti-corruption prosecutor's office (SAPO) exposed the corruption scheme as a result of which the community of Mykolaiv was damaged for more than UAH 26.8 million.

As the NABU press service reported, the issue is about the seisure of budgetary funds when performing works on reconstruction of Soborna Square in Mykolaiv.

Officials of the Mykolaiv City Council and two heads of private companies were detained according to Article 208 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine.

The investigation assumed that the deputy of the Mykolaiv mayor will try to leave the territory of Ukraine: he was detained at the Luzhanka - Beregshuran international check point on the Ukrainian-Hungarian border.

The mayor of Mykolaiv also summoned to NABU for carrying out investigative (search) actions.
Prime Minister of Ukraine, Minister for the Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov stands for an increase in U.S. assistance for humanitarian projects, especially in relation to internally displaced persons.

"Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov raised the issue of increasing aid for humanitarian projects, especially in relation to internally displaced persons and the Ukrainian population living in territorial communities located close to or separated by the contact line, as well as issues related to mine clearance," the press service of the ministry said following a meeting between Reznikov and U.S. Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Azra Zeya and Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Nancy Izzo Jackson.

The parties also emphasized their desire to further strengthen cooperation in the framework of American assistance programs for the population affected by the war.
National police officers have detained head of JSC State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine at the Sikorsky Kyiv Airport. He was was attempting to flee the country, the press service of the National Police said on Friday.

"The official was detained by field investigators of the Department of Strategic Investigations at the Kyiv airport (Zhuliany) in the morning on August 13. Thus, he tried to avoid responsibility. In addition, his accomplice was also detained with him," the press service said.

The detainees have already been notified that they will be prosecuted under Part 5 of Article 191 (misappropriation, embezzlement or seizure of property by abuse of official position) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

"Now investigative actions continue with them," the law enforcement officers said.

On August 12, the communication department of the National Police of Ukraine reported that the officials of the State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine inflicted $57 million in losses on the company.

According to the ministry, officials embezzled the corporation's property by carrying out undervalue grain export transactions with controlled nonresident companies without making advance payment. In addition, they entered into insurance contracts in which they artificially inflated the insurance rate of the total sum insured.

The National Police reported that on August 10 and August 11, law enforcement officers conducted 62 searches in Kyiv City, Volyn, Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Rivne and Odesa regions at the place of work and residence of the defendants, in vehicles and office premises. During the investigative actions a number of persons involved in the theft of state-owned funds were notified that they will be prosecuted.
Main Intelligence Directorate of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine said that a Russian-occupation fighter committed a crime in Donbas, as a result of which seven people died, three of whom were civilians.

"Recently, in the ninth separate motorized rifle regiment of the first army corps of the so-called 'DPR,' after a group of servicemen consumed alcoholic beverages, a fight broke out between them, during which corporal Danylo Tsupryk opened fire from a standard weapon and used a grenade. As a result, seven people died, four mercenaries and three local residents," the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine said on Facebook on Friday.

It notes that at the moment Tsupryk is wanted. This is also confirmed by the negotiations of Russian-occupation fighters intercepted by Ukrainian intelligence officers.
The tut.by media portal and its analogues on social media and messengers have been branded extremist, Belarusian Interior Ministry spokesperson Olg Chemodanova said on Telegram on Friday.

"The tut.by media resource and its analogues on social media and messengers have been branded extremist. This decision was made by the Tsentralny District Court in Minsk today, August 13, at the request of the Interior Ministry," Chemodanova said.

"An expert commission came to the conclusion that this information resource serves as a platform for propaganda of extremist activities aimed at inciting social hostility or discord, organizing mass unrest, and fanning political and ideological hatred," she said.

"The ban also applies to the tut. by and zerkalo.io Internet resources, their analogues on Telegram, Viber, and Twitter, their pages on Instagram, Facebook, VK, and TikTok, and their mobile applications for smart phones," Chemodanova said.

From now on, the publication (re-posting) of information from these Internet resources will entail administrative liability up to arrest, she said.

The tut.by web portal was blocked on May 18 for publishing illegal information, and the company's office was visited by officers of the Financial Investigations Department.

Tut.by officials have been indicted on criminal counts of largescale tax evasion. According to law enforcement officers, the earnings received by the company, a resident of High-Tech Park, did not come from activity allowed to the park's residents. Tut.by lost the tax benefits envisaged for High-Tech Park residents on May 18.

Currently, 15 tut.by employees are in detention facilities or under house arrest.

Tut.by is the largest news portal in Belarus. The online media outlet tut.by was registered in January 2019, after working without media status since its founding in the year 2000. The Minsk Economic Court deprived tut.by of media status in December 2020.
Investors have so far contributed funds for the privatization of 18 objects of the state enterprise Ukrspyrt, 15 of them have already signed acts of acceptance and transfer of property, 12 objects remain in the management of the state enterprise, head of Ukrspyrt Serhiy Bleskun wrote on Facebook.

"As of today, investors have paid funds for 18 objects of the state enterprise Ukrspyrt, 15 of them have signed acts of acceptance and transfer of property. This means that the objects have been completely transferred to the new owners. We look forward to the same news for the rest of the venues that were put up for auction," he wrote.

He specified that three more privatization auctions are expected to be announced this month and three in September.

"There is no alcohol monopoly anymore, there is a market! Let me explain: the privatized objects of Ukrspyrt receive licenses for production and wholesale trade and are gradually taking away our clients. In addition, from July 1 of this year, new objects began to be put into operation, which also received licenses. Their number will gradually increase," Bleskun said.

Since the beginning of the reform of the alcohol industry, the state owned 41 distilleries under the management of the state enterprise Ukrspyrt and 37 distilleries united in the concern Ukrspyrt. According to Bleskun, none of the concern's factories has yet been privatized.

"To complete the privatization of Ukrspyrt and to pay all debts, the enterprise needs legislative changes. Our work, the work of the Ministry of Economy and the State Property Fund of Ukraine in the direction of privatization of state enterprises without these changes, I'm afraid, may stop. Therefore, we are waiting for the sixth session of the Verkhovna Rada of the ninth convocation and adoption of decisions important for Ukrspyrt," the head of the state enterprise said.

Earlier, Bleskun reported that as of July 28, 2021 Ukrspyrt owns 16 distilleries, while on the same date in 2020, it had 41 distilleries on its balance sheet.

On December 11, 2019, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law abolishing the state monopoly on alcohol production from July 1, 2020, adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on December 3, 2019.
On Wednesday, August 18, at 11.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a press conference entitled "30 years of Ukraine's independence: economic outcomes." For 30 years, Ukraine has shown one of the worst dynamics of the economy among the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. According to official statistics, the population of Ukraine has decreased by 27.1% compared to 1991, while according to the happiness index, the country ranks 110th in the world. Participants include director for economic programs at the Ukrainian Institute of the Future Anatoliy Amelin; expert for economic programs of the Ukrainian Institute of the Future Yana Lavryk; moderator - executive director Vadym Denysenko (8/5a Reitarska Street). The broadcast will be available on the YouTube channel of Interfax-Ukraine. Due to quarantine restrictions, the number of seats in the press center is limited. Admission of journalists requires registration on the spot.
On Wednesday, August 18, at 12.30, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a presentation of sensational historical discovery, restored original image of Kingdom of Rus crown belonging to Danylo Halytsky and his heirs. Based on the image, an accurate 3D model of the crown has been made, which will be shown to the public for the first time. Participants include the authors of the discovery: Candidate of Historical Sciences, Research Fellow at the Institute of History of Ukraine Oleksandr Alfiorov; architect and founder of the Studio of Architecture and Historical Reconstruction RE^ARCH Valeriy Mischenko (8/5a Reitarska Street). Due to quarantine restrictions, the number of seats in the press center is limited. Admission of journalists requires registration on the spot. Contacts at: +38 (096) 301 07 10 (Oleksandr).
The Egyptian Armed Forces announced late on Thursday the killing of 13 terrorists from takfiri groups in an exchange of fire during counter-terrorism operations in central and northern Sinai.

Takfiri is a term used to refer to certain hardline Sunni Muslims who see other Muslims as infidels, often as a justification for fighting them.

Also during the incident, nine members of the Armed Forces were either killed or injured, Army Spokesman Gharib Abdel-Hafez said in a statement, without identifying the exact number of deaths or the victims ranks.

As a result of the operations, the Armed Forces seized 15 automatic rifles and quantities of ammunition of different calibres, Abdel-Hafez said.

Also, 20 automatic rifle magazines, a number of motorbikes used by the takfiri elements to carry out their terrorist operations, two mobile phones, two field glasses and sums of money in various currencies were confiscated, the spokesman added.

The Armed Forces have taken in this regards all legal measures and presented the [seized objects] to the relevant investigative authorities, Abdel-Hafez noted.

The Armed Forces affirm the continuation of their efforts to pursue terrorist elements so that the people of Egypt can enjoy security and safety, the spokesman added.

The Egyptian Army has announced the killing of hundreds of takfiri elements since the launch of Comprehensive Operation Sinai 2018 (COS 2018) launched in February of that year.

These latest operations, which the Army announced on the first of August, resulted in the killing of 89 very dangerous takfiri elements in North Sinai.

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The UKs Ambassador to Cairo Geoffrey Adams bid farewell to Egyptians after three fantastic years in Egypt, saying he and his spouse, Mary Emma, are so grateful to everyone who made our time here so memorable.

Adams posted a video on his Twitter account, confirming an end to his diplomatic career after 42 years of service.

My father retired from the diplomatic service as British ambassador to Egypt nearly 50 years ago, and Ill be doing exactly the same thing, Adams said.

Ill be retiring from the diplomatic service, from this job and from this house, which is rather wonderful, he added.

Now, as I say my family and I are Nile drinkers, so this is not a goodbye, but until we meet again, Adams said in Arabic.

The UK government announced in May that Gareth Bayley, the former prime ministers special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, will succeed Adams, who will be retiring from the diplomatic service.

Bayley is set to take up his appointment in September, according to the UK government.

Im coming to the end of my time here; my three years are up and I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped make my time here especially memorable, Adams said.

Looking back on my time in Egypt, I think we can be quite proud of all that we have achieved together, he added, including building a stronger than ever partnership between the two countries in many fields.

Adams mentioned a meeting between Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Prime Minister Boris Johnson at Downing Street in January 2020.

He said the two leaders agreed that there were no limits on the relationship between the UK and Egypt, but as they put it: the sky is the limit. And I think weve done well since then to effect to what the leaders wanted.

The fields of strong partnership between Egypt and the UK include trade and investment, security and regional challenges, Adams said, adding that the two countries also built a firm partnership on perhaps the biggest challenge facing the world, which is climate change.

Adams also mentioned the resumption of direct flights between the UK and the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh. Thus, giving a boost to the Egyptian tourist industry."

The UKs decision to resume flights in December 2019 ended a four-year ban on direct flights to Sharm El-Sheikh in the wake of the downing of a Russian passenger jet in 2015. Moscow also resumed flights to the Egyptian Red Sea resorts earlier in August.

Adams in the video said his successor, Bayley, is an old friend who served along with him twenty years ago. He said Bayley learned Arabic in Cairo and speaks Arabic very well.

On the personal level, Adams said he and his family have had a wonderful time in Egypt, travelled all over the country and met so many wonderful people.

Id like to end by thanking everyone who has helped me achieve what I have achieved here during the last three years, Adams said, particularly thanking wonderful colleagues here at the embassy with whom its been an absolute pleasure to work.

Geoffrey Adams has served as the British ambassador to Egypt since September 2018 and served as head of mission in Egypt between 1998 and 2001. He joined the diplomatic service in 1979 and is a father of three.

The new ambassador, Gareth Bayley, joined the UKs Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1995 and served as the second secretary in the British embassy in Cairo between 1998 and 2002.

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Navigation in the new Nagea Hammadi barrage returned to normal after authorities dealt with the sinking of a mud-laden tugboat that sank in the area, the water resources ministry said on Friday.

Tugboat Nasser 261 sank due to a hole in the vessel's hull, the ministry said, without reporting any casualties, the ministry said in a statement.

While under tow by another vessel, the tugboat sank 300 metres away from the entrance of the barrages navigation locks, the ministry added.

The barrages general administration and water police exerted significant effort in a bid to keep the tugboat away from the navigation track, the statement said.

The ministry said the large quantity of water in the vessel, however, caused it to sink with the entire load.

Navigation is now back to normal and vessels have been passing through the locks of Nagea Hammadi at the usual rates, the ministry added.

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Egypts Berenice Naval Base, located on the Red Sea coast near the country's southern frontier, received on Thursday the guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61), a statement by the US embassy in Cairo said.

The USS Montereys visit is considered the first of its kind for a US warship to the largest military base in the Red Sea, Berenice.

Commander of the Egyptian Naval Force Ahmed Khaled, Commander of US Naval Forces Central Command Brad Cooper, and commanding officer of Berenice Naval Base Waleed Aly Atiaa were hosted on the US warship, according to the statement.

The US Ambassador to Egypt Jonathan Cohen also accompanied the commanders who toured the ship.

Cohen said the ships visit to the Egyptian Red Sea base reflects the strong maritime cooperation between Egypt and the US.

Together we are combating smuggling, trafficking, and piracy, and ensuring safety at sea, Cohen added.

In April 2020, Egypt joined the US-led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) to become its 34th member.

The CMF is an enduring multinational coalition formed in 2002 and committed to upholding the rules-based international order by countering illicit non-state actors, safeguarding freedom of navigation, and promoting security, stability, and prosperity.

According to the embassy, during the tour the group spoke with crew members and took part in a gift exchange with the ships commanding officer Joseph Baggett.

I am honoured that Monterey was able to conduct this historic first visit to the Berenice Naval Base, the statement quoted Baggett as saying.

In January 2020, Egypts Berenice military base was inaugurated by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi with the aim of "securing the country's southern coasts, protecting economic investments and natural resources and facing security threats in the Red Sea.

The 155-acre base is home to land, air and naval forces, is also designed to secure global navigation extending from the Red Sea to the Suez Canal and associated economic areas, according to a presidential statement at the time.

It houses naval and air bases, a military hospital and a number of combat and administrative units as well as shooting and training fields for all kind of weapons. The base also includes an international airport, a seawater desalination plant and container storage yards.

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France has suspended a deal on military cooperation with Ethiopia, two sources close to the issue said on Friday, as concern intensifies over the conflict in the country's north.

The deal agreed between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and President Emmanuel Macron in March 2019 was suspended at the beginning of July, two official sources with knowledge of the issue told AFP, asking not to be named.

Macron and Abiy had made an agreement in which France would loan 85 million euros ($100 million) to support landlocked Ethiopia's ambition to build a navy.

Abiy was awarded the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in helping to end the decades-long conflict with neighbouring Eritrea.

But international partners have grown increasingly concerned with his leadership as the conflict in the northern Tigray region intensifies.

Northern Ethiopia has been wracked by conflict since November when Abiy sent troops to topple the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which dominated national politics for nearly three decades before Abiy took office.

He said the move came in response to TPLF attacks on federal army camps. But while Abiy promised a swift victory, more than nine months later the TPLF has made advances into the neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions.

Aid workers are struggling to reach cut-off populations, with 400,000 facing famine-like conditions in Tigray, according to the UN.

On Tuesday, Abiy's office issued a statement calling for "all capable Ethiopians who are of age" to join the armed forces as the conflict escalates.

The TPLF has said it is not seeking to reclaim power at the national level and is instead focused on "degrading" pro-government troops and trying to facilitate aid access to Tigray.

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A US envoy will head to Ethiopia to urge an end to fighting as a war centered on the Tigray region widened, worsening fears of a humanitarian disaster, officials said late on Thursday.

Jeffrey Feltman, a veteran diplomat serving as US special envoy for the Horn of Africa, will visit Ethiopia on an August 15-24 trip that will also take him to Djibouti and the United Arab Emirates, the State Department said.

President Joe Biden asked Feltman to return to Ethiopia at a "critical moment," national security advisor Jake Sullivan said.

"Months of war have brought immense suffering and division to a great nation that won't be healed through more fighting," Sullivan wrote on Twitter.

"We call on all parties to urgently come to the negotiating table," he said.

Feltman's mission follows a trip earlier this month to Addis Ababa by US aid chief Samantha Power, who pushed all sides to end hostilities and warned of an impending "humanitarian catastrophe" if more aid cannot enter.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in November launched an offensive against Tigray's then ruling party in response to its attacks on federal army camps.

Nine months later, the Tigray People's Liberation Front has made advances into the neighboring Afar and Amhara regions and it recently unveiled an alliance with rebels from Oromia, Ethiopia's largest region.

Aid workers have been struggling to enter Tigray with the United Nations estimating that 400,000 people there risk famine.

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The African Union said Friday it had launched an investigation after its Twitter account lashed out at US aid chief Samantha Power for urging dialogue to end Ethiopia's nine-month-old war.

Power, who visited Ethiopia this month, retweeted a post by US national security adviser Jake Sullivan that called on "all parties to urgently come to the negotiating table."

She then wrote that the "dire" humanitarian situation in Ethiopia "will get much worse unless all parties agree to dialogue & ending hostilities".

The account for the AU, which is headquartered in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, responded swiftly -- and caustically.

"Good Lord, you mean just like the time you sat and talked to ISIS and Taliban?" its post said, before using a hashtag to refer to rebels from Ethiopia's war-hit Tigray region as terrorists -- which is also the Ethiopian government's position.

The post was deleted, and the AU said it was looking into the matter.

"An (AU) staff member shared personal views on this handle, contrary to AU staff rules. The now deleted tweet does not reflect the AU position, and is viewed as a serious breach of conduct. The incident is being investigated internally," it said.

An AU official confirmed to AFP that the author of the offending post is Ethiopian.

Northern Ethiopia has been wracked by conflict since November, when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops into the northernmost region of Tigray to topple the regional ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), saying the move came in response to attacks on army camps.

Abiy declared victory several weeks later when government forces took the regional capital Mekele, but the rebels mounted a shock comeback, recapturing the city and most of Tigray by late June.

Since then they have pressed east and south into the neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions, seizing a host of towns including Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Amhara that is home to mediaeval rock-hewn churches.

The Tigray war has proved sensitive for the AU.

Abiy rejected early appeals from high-level AU envoys for talks with Tigrayan leaders, sticking to his line that the conflict is a limited "law and order" operation.

A commission of inquiry on Tigray by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights began work in June.

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The death toll from floods and mudslides in northern Turkey rose to at least 31 on Friday, officials said, as emergency crews searched collapsed buildings, swamped homes, and submerged basements for more victims and survivors. An opposition politician said more than 300 people may be unaccounted for.

Torrential rains that pounded the Black Sea coastal provinces of Bartin, Kastamonu, Sinop and Samsun on Wednesday caused the flooding that demolished homes and bridges and swept away cars.

More than 1,700 people were evacuated across the region, some lifted from rooftops by helicopters, and many were being temporarily housed in student dormitories.

Most of the people killed were in Kastamonu, where a stream burst its banks and inundated the town of Bozkurt. Raging floodwaters demolished one waterfront building and severely damaged two neighboring buildings.

A number of bodies washed up on the Black Sea shore, Halk TV reported, airing footage of people carrying a body bag on a beach in an unidentified province.

The floods struck on the heels of wildfires in southern Turkey that devastated forest lands in the seaside provinces of Mugla and Antalya that are popular with tourists. At least eight people died and thousands of residents were forced to flee.

Climate scientists say there is little doubt that climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is driving more extreme events, such as heat waves, droughts, wildfires, floods and storms. Such calamities are expected to happen more frequently as the planet warms.

Hasan Baltaci, an opposition party lawmaker who represents Kastamonu, told Halk TV television that residents had contacted Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, or AFAD, seeking information about 329 people feared missing.

He cautioned that some of the names could be duplicates and that others could be of people who were unable to contact loved ones.

The missing include 12-year-old twin sisters and their grandparents who were trapped inside the eight-story building that collapsed in the Kastamonu town of Bozkurt. Emergency crews were seen sifting through the rubble searching for survivors.

The girls' mother, Arzu Yucel, told the DHA news agency that she had left the apartment building after authorities advised residents to move their vehicles to higher ground. When she returned, water surrounded the building and prevented her from entering. From another building, she watched her daughters wave at her.

``We spoke by phone. They waved from the balcony. They said, `Don't worry, mommy, we are fine,''' Yucel said. ``They told us `Move your cars higher.' They didn't say `Save your lives, save your children.' I could have gotten them out of there.``

Speaking in Bozkurt late Thursday, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu described the scenes as ``the most severe flood disaster I have seen.'' On Wednesday, he said, flood waters reached three or four meters (10-13 feet) high in some areas.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who canceled celebrations marking his ruling party's 20th anniversary, visited the area on Friday and promised to reconstruct demolished homes, roads and bridges.

``With God's permission, we will overcome this disaster as well. We will do whatever it takes as a state...and hopefully, we will rise from our ashes,'' Erdogan said.

The Turkish leader referred to the recent wildfires and floods that happened elsewhere.

``Like many parts of the world, our country has been struggling with natural disasters for a while. It's the same in America, Canada, Germany and other part of Europe,`` Erdogan said. ``Our hope is to escape these disasters with the least damage possible.''

Bozkurt resident Yilmaz Ersevenli told NTV that he left his house to move his car to a safe area as the floodwaters began to rise but soon got swept away. He said he managed to save himself by holding on to a tree that had also washed away.

"I nearly lost my life trying to save my car,'' he said.

In Bartin province, at least 13 people were injured when a section of a bridge caved in. AFAD said 10 people are currently hospitalized.

In total, five bridges collapsed in the floods while two others were damaged, AFAD said. Dozens of villages are still without power and several roads remain blocked. Helicopters were still evacuating villagers Friday from areas where there was no access by road.

Erdogan said Thursday that at least 4,500 personnel, 19 helicopters and 24 boats were involved in the search and rescue operation.

Turkey's Black Sea region is frequently struck by severe rains and flash flooding. At least six people were killed in floods that hit the eastern Black Sea coastal province of Rize last month.

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Iran's foreign ministry called Friday for security guarantees for its diplomats in Herat, after Taliban militants seized the western city in neighbouring Afghanistan.

"The Islamic republic is concerned over the escalating violence in Afghanistan, and in light of the Taliban taking control of Herat, calls for guarantees of complete safety for its diplomatic missions and the lives of its staff," foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh tweeted.

He said the ministry was "in contact" with its staff in the city, which lies just 115 kilometres (70 miles) from the Iranian border.

The Taliban seized Herat on Thursday, the latest in a string of regional capitals it has wrested from government forces as US forces withdraw after a two-decade occupation.

On Friday, it also captured Kandahar, the nation's second-biggest city, leaving only Kabul and other pockets of territory in government hands.

The United States and Britain ordered the deployment Friday of thousands of troops to evacuate their nationals from the Afghan capital.

The Iranian foreign ministry's West Asia chief Rusoul Mosavi said staff at its Herat mission were "well", the official IRNA news agency reported Friday.

Without specifying their number, he said they were still inside the mission and that "the forces that now control the city gave guarantees of full protection for the consulate, diplomats and other staff".

IRNA reported Thursday that the consulate had been closed over security fears.

Before taking Herat, the Taliban had seized Afghanistan's biggest border crossing with Iran at Islam Qala.

The Taliban, which ruled Afghanistan from 1996 until it was toppled in 2001 in a US-led invasion, has made sweeping advances since launching an offensive in May as foreign forces started withdrawing.

The hardline Sunni Islamist movement has taken over much of the country's north, south and west.

Shiite-majority regional powerhouse Iran said Thursday it had also closed its consulate in the traditional anti-Taliban bastion of Mazar-i-Sharif over security fears.

The northern city holds bitter memories for Iranians.

In 1998, Taliban troops entered the Iranian consulate there, killing several diplomats and an official news agency journalist.

The Taliban later said they had been killed by individuals acting independently, but Tehran held the movement responsible for the deaths, which sparked outrage and nearly triggered an Iranian military intervention in Afghanistan.

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told Afghan channel Tolo News in December 2020 that "we have neither forgiven nor have we forgotten" the episode.

"You may remember that our troops were stationed across the border. A war was about to erupt. The Iranian government, however, concluded that such a war would certainly harm the Afghan people, not only the Taliban. Therefore, we withdrew from waging a war and taking revenge."

Analysts say Tehran is taking a pragmatic stance on the Taliban's resurgence in Afghanistan, with which it shares a 900-kilometre border.

Major General Hossein Salami, commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps, said there was "no concern" over security of the border, adding that Iranian forces "control and monitor" the frontier, the Guards' official website Sepah News reported Friday.

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The United States said Thursday it will send troops to evacuate embassy staff from Kabul, as a rapid Taliban advance across Afghanistan saw more than a third of the country's provincial capitals fall in a week.

The announcement came hours after Afghan troops abandoned the country's third largest city -- Herat -- to the insurgents, as the morale of Afghanistan's security forces appeared to collapse.

The government has effectively lost most of north, south and west Afghanistan in the past week, and is left holding the capital and a dwindling number of contested cities also dangerously at risk.

"We are further reducing our civilian footprint in Kabul in light of the evolving security situation," US State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters, while noting the embassy would remain open.

Price added the United States would also start sending in daily flights to evacuate Afghan interpreters and others who assisted the Americans and are fearful for their lives due to the Taliban's sweeping offensive across Afghanistan.

After being under siege for weeks, government forces on Thursday pulled out of Herat -- an ancient silk road city near the Iranian border -- and retreated to a district army barracks.

"We had to leave the city in order to prevent further destruction," a senior security source from the city told AFP.

A Taliban spokesman, however, tweeted that "soldiers laid down their arms and joined the Mujahideen".

Earlier Thursday, the interior ministry confirmed the fall of Ghazni, about 150 kilometres (95 miles) from Kabul and along the major highway to Kandahar and the Taliban heartlands in the south.

"The enemy took control," spokesman Mirwais Stanikzai said in a message to media, adding later the city's governor had been arrested by Afghan security forces.

Pro-Taliban Twitter feeds showed a video of him being escorted out of Ghazni by Taliban fighters and sent on his way in a convoy, prompting speculation in the capital that the government was angered with how easily the provincial administration capitulated.

A security source told AFP that Qala-i-Naw, capital of Badghis province in the northwest, also capitulated on Thursday.

The province had agreed a ceasefire deal with the insurgents last month, but authorities have now yielded control, the source said.

In the end, Herat also fell with barely a fight.

"Right until this afternoon the situation in the city was normal," Herat resident Masoom Jan told AFP.

"Late afternoon everything changed. They (the Taliban) entered the city in rush. They raised their flags in every corner of the city."

Piling Pressure

As the rout unravelled, Kabul handed a proposal to Taliban negotiators in Qatar offering a power-sharing deal in return for an end to the fighting, according to a member of the government's team in Doha, who asked not to be named.

The conflict has escalated dramatically since May, when US-led forces began the final stage of a troop withdrawal due to end later this month following a 20-year occupation.

The loss of Herat and Ghazni piles more pressure on the country's already overstretched airforce, needed to bolster Afghanistan's scattered security forces, who have increasingly been cut off from reinforcements by road.

Pro-Taliban social media accounts also boasted of the vast spoils of war their fighters had recovered in recent days, posting photos of armoured vehicles, heavy weapons and even a drone seized by the insurgents at abandoned military bases.

In the past week, the insurgents have taken 12 provincial capitals and encircled the biggest city in the north, the traditional anti-Taliban bastion of Mazar-i-Sharif.

Fighting was also raging in Kandahar and Lashkar Gah -- pro-Taliban heartlands in the south.

An official in Lashkar Gah said Taliban fighters were inching closer to government positions after a massive car bomb badly damaged the city's police headquarters Wednesday evening.

Late Thursday, a security source told AFP government forces in Lashkar Gah were also considering evacuating to nearby Camp Bastion, one of the largest US bases in the country.

Prison Raids

And in Kandahar, the Taliban said they had overrun the heavily fortified jail on Wednesday, adding that "hundreds of prisoners were released and taken to safety".

The Taliban frequently target prisons to release incarcerated fighters and replenish their ranks.

The loss of the prison is a further ominous sign for the country's second city, which has been besieged for weeks by the Taliban.

Kandahar was once the stronghold of the insurgents -- whose forces coalesced in the eponymously named province in the early 1990s -- and its capture would serve as both a tactical and psychological victory for the militants.

Hundreds of thousands have been displaced by the fighting that has enveloped the country.

In recent days, Kabul has been swamped by the displaced, who have begun camping out in parks and other public spaces, sparking a fresh humanitarian crisis in the already overtaxed capital.

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The Taliban completed their sweep of the country's south on Friday as they took four more provincial capitals in a lightning offensive that is gradually encircling Kabul, just weeks before the US is set to officially end its two-decade war.

The latest significant blow was the loss of the capital of Helmand province, where American, British and allied NATO forces fought some of the bloodiest battles in the past 20 years. Hundreds of foreign troops were killed in the province, which is also a major opium hub.

The insurgents have taken half of the country's 34 provincial capitals in recent days, including its second- and third-largest cities, Herat and Kandahar. The Taliban now control more than two-thirds of the country just weeks before the US plans to withdraw its last troops.

While the capital of Kabul isn't directly under threat yet, the losses and advances elsewhere further tighten the grip of a resurgent Taliban. The latest US military intelligence assessment suggests Kabul could come under insurgent pressure within 30 days and that, if current trends hold, the Taliban could gain full control of the country within a few months.

In the south, the insurgents swept through the capitals of Zabul and Uruzgan provinces, in addition to Helmand's.

Attaullah Afghan, the head of the provincial council in Helmand, said that the Taliban captured Lashkar Gah following weeks of heavy fighting and raised their white flag over governmental buildings. He said that three national army bases outside of Lashkar Gah remain under control of the government.

Atta Jan Haqbayan, the provincial council chief in Zabul province, said the local capital of Qalat fell and that officials were in a nearby army camp preparing to leave.

Bismillah Jan Mohammad and Qudratullah Rahimi, lawmakers from Afghanistan's southern Uruzgan province, said local officials surrendered Tirin Kot to the Taliban. Mohammad said the governor was heading to the airport to depart for Kabul.

In the country's west, meanwhile, Fazil Haq Ehsan, head of the provincial council in Ghor province, said its capital, Feroz Koh, also fell to the insurgents.

With security rapidly deteriorating, the United States planned to send in 3,000 troops to help evacuate some personnel from the US Embassy in Kabul. Separately, Britain said about 600 troops would be deployed on a short-term basis to support British nationals leaving the country, and Canada is sending special forces to help evacuate its embassy.

Thousands of Afghans have fled their homes amid fears the Taliban would again impose a brutal, repressive government, all but eliminating women's rights and conducting public executions.

Peace talks in Qatar remain stalled, though diplomats are still meeting, as the US, European and Asian nations warned that any government established by force would be rejected.

``We demand an immediate end to attacks against cities, urge a political settlement, and warn that a government imposed by force will be a pariah state,'' said Zalmay Khalilzad, the US envoy to the talks.

But the Taliban advance continued, as they pushed into the capital of Logar province, just 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Kabul.

Hasibullah Stanikzai, the head of the Logar provincial council, said fighting was still underway inside Puli-e Alim, with government forces holding the police headquarters and other security facilities. He spoke by phone from his office, and gunfire could be heard in the background.

The Taliban said they had captured the police headquarters and a nearby prison.

The onslaught represents a stunning collapse of Afghan forces after the United States spent nearly two decades and $830 billion trying to establish a functioning state. US forces toppled the Taliban in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, which al-Qaida planned and executed while being sheltered by the Taliban government.

The Taliban fighters now advancing across the country ride on American-made Humvees and carry M-16s pilfered from Afghan forces.

Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the Afghan army has rotted from within due to corruption and mismanagement, leaving troops in the field poorly equipped and with little motivation to fight. The Taliban, meanwhile, have spent a decade taking control of large swaths of the countryside.

That allowed them to rapidly seize key infrastructure and urban areas once President Joe Biden announced the timeline for the US withdrawal, saying he was determined to end America's longest war.

``Whatever forces are left or remaining that are in the Kabul area and the provinces around them, they're going to be used for the defense of Kabul,'' Roggio said. ``Unless something dramatically changes, and I don't see how that's possible, these provinces (that have fallen) will remain under Taliban control.``

A day earlier, in Herat, Taliban fighters rushed past the Great Mosque in the historic city _ a structure that dates to 500 BC and was once a spoil of Alexander the Great _ and seized government buildings. Afghan lawmaker Semin Barekzai acknowledged the city's fall, saying that some officials there had escaped.

Herat had been under militant attack for two weeks, with one wave blunted by the arrival of warlord Ismail Khan and his forces. But on Thursday afternoon, Taliban fighters broke through the city's defensive lines.

The insurgents circulated photos and a video showing Khan in their captivity as well as video footage that appeared to show two Afghan military Black Hawk helicopters _ provided by the US _ that were captured in Herat. Later on Friday, they released photos showing two alleged looters being paraded through the streets with black makeup on their faces.

In Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban, insurgents seized the governor's office and other buildings, witnesses said. The governor and other officials fled the onslaught, catching a flight to Kabul, the witnesses added.

They refused to be named publicly as the defeat has yet to be acknowledged by the government, which has not commented on the latest advances.

The Taliban had earlier attacked a prison in Kandahar and freed inmates inside, officials said.

Earlier Thursday, the militants raised their white flags imprinted with an Islamic proclamation of faith over the city of Ghazni, which sits on a crucial north-south highway just 130 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of Kabul.

The UN agency for humanitarian affairs warned that civilians in southern Afghanistan faced cut-off highways and mobile phone outages. It described aid groups as being unable to determine how many people had fled as intense fighting and airstrikes continued there.

On Thursday, Nasima Niazi, a lawmaker from Helmand, criticized airstrikes targeting the area, saying civilians likely had been wounded and killed. US Central Command has acknowledged carrying out several airstrikes in recent days, without providing details or commenting on the concerns over civilian casualties.

Pakistan meanwhile opened its Chaman border crossing for people who had been stranded in recent weeks. Juma Khan, the Pakistan border town's deputy commissioner, said the crossing was reopened following talks with the Taliban.

Even as diplomats met in Doha, Qatar on Thursday, the success of the Taliban offensive called into question whether they would ever rejoin long-stalled peace talks with the government in Kabul. Instead, the group could come to power by force _ or the country could splinter into factional fighting like it did after the Soviet withdrawal in 1989.

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NATO will hold an urgent meeting Friday on the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan after the US said it was sending troops to evacuate its nationals, diplomatic and official sources told AFP.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will lead discussions with envoys from the 30 allies in the meeting starting at 3:00pm (1300 GMT), with one source saying it would focus on evacuation planning from Afghanistan.

"It is about determining who does what, when, and how, and what support is given for this," the source said.

The Taliban has overrun a string of regional capitals in a lightning offensive since NATO troops largely pulled out of the country on the back of US President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw.

Leading NATO powers the US and Britain have ordered the deployment of thousands of troops to Afghanistan to evacuate their citizens.

The moves came as the insurgents took control of Kandahar, the nation's second biggest city, leaving only the capital Kabul and pockets of other territory in government hands.

The government has now effectively lost control of most of the country, following an eight-day blitz into urban centres by the Taliban that has also stunned Kabul's Western backers.

Washington and London announced plans late Thursday to quickly pull out their embassy staff and other citizens from the capital.

A NATO official told AFP that the US had briefed its NATO allies ahead of the announcement by the State Department.

"NATO is monitoring the security situation very closely," the official said.

The official said the alliance was maintaining its own diplomatic presence in Afghanistan, but refused to give any details on the number of NATO staff still in the country for security reasons.

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France will join other major Western powers and Israel in boycotting a UN anti-racism conference next month over concerns about "anti-Semitic statements" at past editions, the presidential office said on Friday.

The follow-up meeting of the Durban Conference, named after the South African city where the UN's anti-racism conference was held in 2001, is scheduled to bring together world leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September.

But the format has been controversial since its inception, with critics led by Israel charging that the first edition in Durban was tarnished by virulent and undisguised anti-Semitism.

Several countries, including France, also boycotted follow-up meetings in 2009 and 2011.

President Emmanuel Macron "has decided that France will not take part in the follow-up conference due to take place this year as he is concerned by anti-Semitic statements made within the Durban Conference", his office said in a statement.

"France will continue to fight against all forces of racism and will be watching to make sure that the Durban follow-up conference is held in accordance with the founding principles of the United Nations," it said.

The United States, the UK, Australia, Israel and numerous other European countries have already announced they are boycotting this year's meeting.

"Following historic concerns regarding anti-Semitism, the UK has decided not to attend the UN's Durban Conference anniversary event," the British foreign ministry said in a statement.

The initial Durban conference, from August 31 to September 8, 2001, just days before the terror attacks of September 11, was marked by deep divisions on the issues of anti-Semitism, colonialism and slavery.

Western countries believe that criticism of Israel and its occupation of the Palestinian territories frequently veered into open anti-Semitism.

The US and Israel walked out of the conference in protest at the tone of the meeting, including over plans to include condemnations of Zionism in the final text.

At the 2009 conference, a speech by Iran's then-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attacking Israel sparked a temporary walkout by many European delegates.

"The original Durban conference was a show of hatred and anti-Israel propaganda and the follow-up events became events of anti-Israel incitement," said a spokeswoman for the Israeli foreign ministry, confirming Israel would not attend this year's event.

The Palestinian Authority said however it would be taking part in the conference "despite the position of several European countries".

Macron has vowed to fight against anti-Semitism in all its forms and last year warned of "the unbearable resurgence of anti-Semitism in our Europe". The government has in recent days expressed concerned over anti-Semitic slogans at protests against Covid-19 restrictions.

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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday the alliance would keep its civilian diplomatic presence in Afghanistan as it tries to support the Afghan government and security forces in the face of the Taliban's offensive.

"Our aim remains to support the Afghan government and security forces as much as possible. The security of our personnel is paramount. NATO will maintain our diplomatic presence in Kabul, and continue to adjust as necessary," Stoltenberg said, in a statement following a meeting of NATO envoys.

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Last month, the Egyptian independent band Gawy made the headlines with the news that their 2015 song, Atshan Ya Zeina (Im Yearning, Zeina) had made it to the track list of the newly released American sci-fi action film Black Widow. Directed by Cate Shortland, the film stars Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh and David Harbour. With the news making a considerable commotion in the independent music scene, it is worth looking into the six years from the songs release to its acquisition by Marvel, a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios.The song was the result of a group of friends trying their hand at something new together. With lyrics in Upper Egyptian dialect based on a folk theme, Atshan Ya Zeina was written by Ahmed El-Gamal, who only recently won Abdel Rahman Al-Abnudi award in the Colloquial Poetry section (2021). It was composed by Mohamed Abd El-Latif (known as Tifa) with Mostafa Taxi, and performed by Tifa and Nehal Kamal together with John Khalil on guitar, Bebawy Rafaat on bass guitar and Kirollos Nageh Alfy on kawala, an Egyptian version of the ney. Arrangement, mixing and digital mastering was done by Mark Adel.Atshan Ya Zeina was released on SoundCloud in 2015. We were surprised to find that the track was very well received by listeners, Tifa recalls. Soon after, the Egyptian radio started broadcasting the song, shedding even more light on it. People began to ask about the band, when in fact we were not even a band yet. This unexpected positive feedback encouraged us to form Gawy , a formation that would be more than just a band.The word gawy indicates a unique scent. As the band clarifies on SoundCloud, This specific name was chosen by the band members to suit their contemporary poetic style. Together with the band members, Tifa and El-Gamal began working on further compositions, always relying on lyrics written by the latter. Capitalising on the literary component set within music, alongside a few singles, Gawy released the seven-track album Qalbk Yasa in 2017.





Gawys compositions blend Oriental and Western traditions, carrying mostly a light-spirited and meditative feel further enhanced by Tifas unperturbed vocals. In their songs, the Egyptian musicians cultural origins are expressed through the lyrics alongside kawala and qanoun enveloped in Western harmonies, some jazz influences, electronic inserts, and a mixture of rhythmic patterns from both cultures. In some compositions, the songs are intertwined with poetic recitations, highlighting Gawys mission to draw the listeners attention to the lyrics and meanings they carry, often inviting contemplations of life and people going through their daily endeavors, sadness and happiness.

As, years later, we listen to Gawys repertoire, we see that in many ways their first attempt, Atshan Ya Zeina, is their hallmark composition, a staple work they created without being fully aware of what they were doing.The song chosen by Marvel defines the bands unique color; it represents a creative vocabulary developed and refined in the songs that followed.

What makes this spontaneous musical experiment of 2015 even more astounding is the fact that not all of the band members graduated from music schools, nor had they all been practicing music for long time. Tifa himself is a computer science graduate, though he used to join different music formations, including the Palestinian Abbad Al-Shams choir. Atshan Ya Zeina was the first serious project that he took on. The same goes for El-Gamal, a commerce graduate who, though began writing in 2010, considers the song to be his first serious work.

Following the success of Atshan Ya Zeina in 2015, the band performed in multiple venues across Cairo, including El Sawy Culturewheel, participated in the independent music contest Battle of the Bands (2016) and pursued four musical projects with the Goethe Institut. As Abd El-Latif explains, starting in 2018 and until the closure imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic (2020), Gawy focused on live performances while working on their second album and struggling to obtain funds.

Marvel Studios expressed their interest in Atshan Ya Zeina in 2018. I received an email from an agent explaining that they are interested in our song. At first I thought it was some kind of a hoax and I didnt bother to reply, I closed my laptop and went to sleep, Tifa laughs.

Then I went back to it and communication took off. Throughout the following months we were asked to provide the lyrics and translation alongside some procedural issues. This communication continued until October 2020 when we finalized the contract. It is worth adding that Black Widow also includes American Pie by Don McLean, Bond Fights Snake by John Barry, Cheap Thrills by Sia featuring Sean Paul, among other songs. Gawy can definitely take pride in being among such names.

Naturally, this unexpected journey to Black Widow energized the band. Not only does Gawy aim to capitalize on the amplified attention they have received but they also finally have means to continue working on their upcoming songs. As the band members explain, the new songs will be presented in the format of music videos, released consecutively, with the first one planned to see the light this month. With El-Gamal providing the poetry, the current band members include Tifa (vocals), Fakhrany (drums), Bebawy Rafaat (bass guitar), Shodz (keyboard) and Fady Wissa (guitar and keyboard).



We have been working on music for more than four years and we are extremely excited that it will finally be released. The songs will form one thematic body, with the poetry and music set in a visual framework, Tifa explains. This is where Ahmed El-Gamal steps in. As he reveals, over past years, he was offered work with other musicians yet it is in Gawy that he finds himself.



Curiously, Tifa and I were not close friends; we just decided to try something out together. It clicked and here we are, El-Gamal comments. He adds that he started writing long before Atshan Ya Zeina. At that time a lot had been happening in the country, then the revolution came... followed by years of change, El-Gamal refers to the fertile ground providing him with ideas for his writings. I write about people, from social issues to the smallest details.



Tifa adds, Ahmed tells stories through his poetry. His writings are very real and resonate with many people. Ahmeds language is strongly influenced by the language of Egypts south. That is partly why, he explains, Marvel asked for two translations: a literal one, and one that conveys meaning and style.

Excited though they are, the two friends remain humble: We would never have thought that our song would draw the attention of international listeners, let alone land on Marvels desk. But we can wait for their new music video.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 12 August, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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KYODO NEWS - Aug 13, 2021 - 21:15 | All, Japan

Defense minister Nobuo Kishi and economic and fiscal policy minister Yasutoshi Nishimura on Friday visited Yasukuni shrine, seen by Japan's neighbors as a symbol of its past militarism, ahead of the anniversary of the end of World War II.

The visit by members of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's Cabinet to the shrine, which honors convicted war criminals along with more than 2.4 million war dead, drew rebukes from South Korea and China.

Kishi is the first sitting defense minister confirmed to have paid a visit to the Shinto shrine in central Tokyo since Tomomi Inada went in December 2016. He told reporters he "paid tribute to those who gave their lives fighting for our country" and pledged to "renounce war and protect the lives and peaceful livelihood of the Japanese people."

Sunday marks 76 years since Emperor Hirohito announced Japan's surrender to the Allied forces.

Suga has not said whether he will visit Yasukuni in person to mark the anniversary, with no sitting prime minister having gone since Shinzo Abe in December 2013. That trip was met with outrage in China and South Korea, with the United States also saying it was "disappointed" by the move.

Both Kishi, who is the younger brother of Abe, and Nishimura said they made offerings, paid for out of their own pocket, as members of the House of Representatives.

"I prayed for those who passed away in the war to rest in peace. Japan's prosperity was built on their sacrifice," Nishimura told reporters. "I vowed to continue pushing Japan forward on its postwar path as a pacifist state, and to never allow the horrors of war to come upon us again."

In Seoul, Lee Sang Ryol, director general for Asian and Pacific affairs at the South Korean Foreign Ministry, summoned Naoki Kumagai, minister at the Japanese Embassy, and lodged a stern protest, the ministry said.

Lee said the shrine "glorifies Japan's past colonial rule and war of aggression, and enshrines war criminals," adding that Kishi's visit would "damage trust" between the two countries, according to the ministry.

The official asked Japanese leaders to demonstrate through action their reflection on Japan's past history.

Also Friday, China urged Japanese political leaders to change what it calls their "wrong attitude" toward Yasukuni, saying it enshrines "Class-A war criminals who were directly responsible" for Japan's war of aggression.

Japan should "take concrete actions to win the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community," the Chinese Foreign Ministry told Kyodo News.

Abe was still prime minister at the date of last year's anniversary and four of his Cabinet ministers visited the shrine, including Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and education minister Koichi Hagiuda.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said Tuesday both he and Suga will "make an appropriate decision" on whether to visit this year.

No Cabinet members went to the shrine during its biannual festivals last October or in April after Suga took office in September last year.

The visit by Nishimura, who is charged with leading the country's response to the coronavirus, came amid a surge in COVID-19 cases across Japan. The nationwide tally of daily cases topped 20,000 on Friday, logging a record figure for the third straight day.

Tokyo, currently under its fourth state of emergency over the pandemic and having just finished hosting the Olympics with the Paralympics coming later this month, reported a record 5,773 new cases on Friday.

Established in 1869 to commemorate those who died in wars for Japan, Yasukuni in 1978 added wartime Prime Minister Gen. Hideki Tojo and other convicted war criminals to the war dead enshrined there.
KYODO NEWS - Aug 10, 2021 - 10:52 | All, Japan, World, Coronavirus

U.S. President Joe Biden commended Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on the "successful" hosting of the Tokyo Olympics during phone talks on Tuesday and expressed his support for the Paralympics, which will start later in the month, according to the White House.

The Tokyo Games ended Sunday following more than two weeks of competition held amid extraordinary restrictions under the coronavirus pandemic. Biden had supported Japan's plan to hold a "safe and secure" Olympics despite concerns over pushing ahead with the global sporting event without the pandemic fully under control.

"Biden applauded the performance of all the athletes and highlighted the success of Japanese and U.S. Olympians," the White House said in a statement.

"The president also affirmed his continuing support for Japan's hosting of the Paralympics, while noting the public health measures taken so that Olympic athletes could compete in the best traditions of the Olympic spirit," it said.

The Japanese capital is preparing to now host the Paralympics from Aug. 24 to Sept. 5.

Suga told reporters after their phone talks that he and Biden also affirmed cooperation to further advance a "free and open" Indo-Pacific amid China's growing assertiveness in the region.

In Washington on Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, meanwhile, met with Japan's national security adviser Takeo Akiba and affirmed the importance of preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, as Beijing steps up pressure on Taipei, according to the U.S. State Department.

The Taiwan issue has become one of the key topics of discussion between the two countries, with concerns growing over China's ambition to invade the self-ruled democratic island.

Taiwan and mainland China have been separately governed since they split as a result of a civil war in 1949. Beijing, which regards Taiwan as a renegade province, has since endeavored to bring the island into its fold.

Blinken and Akiba also expressed their opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea, where the Japanese-controlled, Chinese-claimed Senkaku Islands are located, as well as to activities that undermine or destabilize the rules-based international order.

The two also noted the importance of trilateral cooperation involving South Korea to address what they call the "pressing challenges of the 21st century," including the denuclearization of North Korea.

Akiba also agreed during a separate meeting with his U.S. counterpart Jake Sullivan the same day on the need for constant communication between Japan's National Security Secretariat and the U.S. National Security Council, according to the Japanese government.

Akiba, the head of the secretariat and a former vice foreign minister, assumed Japan's top security post on July 7, replacing Shigeru Kitamura, a former National Police Agency official.
KYODO NEWS - Aug 13, 2021 - 07:43 | All, World

The United States, Japan, Australia and India discussed the importance of "peace and security" in the Taiwan Strait during a virtual meeting of their senior officials on Thursday, the U.S. State Department said, with the stance an apparent veiled swipe against China's stepped-up pressure on Taiwan.

The four countries, collectively known as the "Quad," also agreed to work toward holding their first-ever in-person summit by the end of this year, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry's press release.

The talks among senior officials took place to follow up on a virtual summit meeting held among U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March.

The Biden administration has placed an emphasis on the group of major democratic countries in the Indo-Pacific region which faces China's growing assertiveness.

During Thursday's meeting, the four countries agreed on further advancing practical cooperation on maritime security, cybersecurity, disaster relief and other issues toward the achievement of a "free and open" Indo-Pacific, while affirming the need for international cooperation to end the coronavirus pandemic.

They also exchanged views on regional issues such as North Korea, Myanmar, and the East and South China seas, where China has been stepping up its territorial claims.

On Taiwan, the State Department said in its press release that the senior officials "discussed the importance of peace and security in the Taiwan Strait."

The situation regarding Taiwan has been drawing attention recently as China increases its pressure on the self-ruled democratic island, which Beijing regards as a renegade province awaiting reunification.

Taiwan and mainland China have been separately governed since they split amid a civil war in 1949. Since then, Beijing has endeavored to bring Taiwan into its fold, by force if necessary.

Japan and the United States have been underscoring the importance of "peace and stability" in the Taiwan Strait during meetings between their officials. Similar phrases have also appeared in the communique of the Group of Seven summit in June as well as a joint statement issued after Biden met South Korean President Moon Jae In in May.

Related coverage:

China's foreign minister says Indo-Pacific strategy should be dumped

Taiwan seeks to attend U.S.-led summit for democracy

China to recall envoy to Lithuania over Taiwan issue
New Delhi:

Justice Ranjan Gogoi, lined to become the Chief Justice of India, is currently serving as a judge of the Supreme Court in India. Being the senior most judge of the Court, it is not a matter of surprise that Gogoi will succeed Justice Dipak Misra as the next Chief Justice. He will take charge on October 3, as per the sources.

Also Read | Justice Ranjan Gogoi to be next Chief Justice of India, will take charge on October 3

Gogoi was born in 1954 in Guwahati to the former Chief Minister of Assam Keshab Chandra Gogoi. After becoming a member of the Bar in 1978, Gogoi practiced mainly in the Guwahati High Court. He was later promoted and made the Permanent Judge of Guwahati High Court on February 2001.

Gogoi was transferred to Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2010 and was later assigned as Chief Justice of the Court in 2011. He was made Judge of the Supreme Court on April 23, 2012.

Ranjan Gogoi has marked his name in the history of Indian courts for penalising a petitioner with Rs five hundred thousand for withdrawing his petition after it came for hearing in front of the honourable court. Gogoi is the reason that politicians are forbidden from inserting their photos in government advertisements.

Also Read | Who will be next Chief Justice of India? Law Ministry asks Dipak Misra to recommend his successors name

The man of his words and diligent when it comes to working efficiently, Gogoi has condemned the bar council for typographic mistakes. The conscientious judge also expressed his irked response when the DLF appeal was scheduled for the final listing. This sets the standard for his impartial and sincere judgement.

Justice Ranjan Gogoi will be the first judge from Indias North East to be made the Chief Justice of India.

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New Delhi:

Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubeys remark on Congress President Rahul Gandhi suffering from some mental disease like schizophrenia and is no more than a naali ka keeda(sewer worm) before the prime minister, has stirred a rage of controversy between the two political parties. It has drawn much criticism from the opposition as well as NDA ally JD-U.

Read | Bhima Koregaon violence: Left parties to stage protest at Jantar Mantar against activists' arrest

Ashwini Kumar even pointed fingers at RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, who is currently serving a jail term in fodder scam cases, blaming him that he has been cursed by the poor and is paying for his own sins. While the PM is like the sky, Rahul Gandhi is like naali ka keeda [sewer worm], Choubey said while addressing a programme in Bihars Sasaram.

Agitated by the remarks, AICC media panelist and senior Congress leader Prenchandra Mishra said, Choubey does not have control over his tongue. Was he speaking under the effect of marijuana?

Although BJP stepped aside from these critical remarks made by Ashwini, it said his comments reflected his personal view and not that of the party. A furious Congress member blamed BJP for exposing its fake respect for Hindu traditions by insulting Congress president when he is on a pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar Shrine.

Read | Bhima Koregaon Violence: Raids at homes of prominent activists across India; several held

RJD too could not hold back but criticised BJP leadership saying that it is busy making an event out of the death of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, should endeavour some skills on conducting oneself in public from the late prime minister.

Ashwini made the deplorable comments on Rahul Gandhi while addressing a press conference on Gandhis pilgrimage visit and efforts by the opposition parties such as the Congress and RJD to form a nation-wide alliance (Mahagathbandhan).

(With PTI inputs)

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New Delhi:

The Maharashtra Police on Tuesday carried out several raids at multiple locations across the country and arrested a few prominent activists, including Gautam Navlakha and Varavara Rao, for their alleged Maoist links. The arrests were made following the raids at their homes in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence that broke out a day after the Elgaar Parishad event held on December 31, 2017.

Several teams of Pune police raided the residences of activist and journalist Gautam Navlakha in Delhi, trade union activist Sudha Bhardwaj, activists Vernon Gonzalves and Arun Ferreira in Mumbai, revolutionary writer Varavara Rao in Hyderabad, Stan Swamy in Ranchi and Anand Teltumbde in Goa.

So far, the police have arrested Varvara Rao, Arun Pereira, Gautam Navlakha, Varnan Gonsalves and Sudha Bhardwaj. It has also got the transit remand of Navlakha till August 30. They all have been booked under sections 153 A, 505(1) B,117,120 B,13,16,18,20,38,39,40 and UAPA, according to news agency ANI.

Read More | Maoist ideologue Varavara Rao arrested for allegedly plotting PM Modis assassination

While investigating the case, the Pune Police had claimed that the speeches made during the Elgaar Parishad event triggered the violence that broke out on January 1 during the celebrations of the two-hundredth anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon battle in 1818.

This was the second such operations in the last three months. Earlier in June, the Pune police had carried out similar searches and arrested five urban Maoist operatives from Delhi, Mumbai and Nagpur.

From the raids, the police had claimed to have recovered a letter mentioning a plan to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the lines of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Also Read | BJP resorting to politics of killing, says Mamata Banerjee

All the five people arrested by the police in June are lodged in at Yervada central prison in Pune. The police reportedly claimed that todays raids at residences of prominent activists came as a result of the interrogation of these people.

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Mumbai:

Cash-crunched Jet Airways on Tuesday said it has received an additional equity of $ 300 million in the form of advance lease incentives and borrowings from domestic banks.

The airline, which reported a second consecutive quarterly loss of over 1,300 crore in three months to June, also reiterated that both the airline and its auditors were on the same page and there was no difference of opinion.

The company got an additional equity of $ 300 million from lease incentives and bank borrowings, Jet Airways deputy chief executive officer and chief financial officer Amit Agarwal on Tuesday said during an analysts call post June quarter earnings.

Also Read | Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal feeling guilty and embarrassed about investors losing money

Agarwal, however, did not give the breakup, but said, A large proportion of it came from lease incentives.

The airline had on Monday reported a whopping Rs 1,323 crore of net losses for June quarter due to higher fuel cost, falling rupee and low fares. Total income marginally improved to Rs 6,066 crore, from Rs 5,953 crore a year ago.

Jet Airways had reported a loss of Rs 1,036 crore in March quarter.

The two back-to-back losses forced the airline to draw up a revival plan, which includes capital infusion, a cost reduction programme of more than Rs 2,000 crore over two years, a plan to improve pricing, better inventory management, monetising its Jet Privilege programme and wet leasing some of its small aircraft.

The airline was earlier scheduled to announce the June quarter numbers on August 9. But after the AGM and the board meeting, it informed the exchanges that the board did not consider the accounts as the companys audit committee was headless.

Chief executive officer Vinay Dube said that there was no difference of opinion with the auditors and they continued to audit the companys accounts.

He also clarified that June quarter results were postponed to take a call on the cost-reduction programme.

Dube during the call also said that the companys plan to induct 11 fuel-efficient Boeing 737 Max planes in the fleet by March were on track, adding that three such planes have already been delivered to the airline and two more are expected to join the fleet soon.

Further, the induction of B737 Max will help us achieve the stated 8-10 per cent growth plan, he said.

There are three big ticket items under the comprehensive cost-reduction programme - maintenance cost, where the airline has already renegotiated contracts, sales and distribution cost and fuel optimisation, Agarwal told analysts.

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He also said that the airline could sell and lease back some of the 16 planes which are owned by the airline to mop up funds.

Of these, 10 are Boeing 777s, three Airbus A330s and rest Boeing 737s, he said, adding, the market value of these planes is pegged at around $ 750-800 million.

Clearly there is a large equity sitting and Jet Airways can sell and lease back some of these planes, he added.

Agarwal said the airlines total debt stood at Rs 8,620 crore as on June 30, adding the firm plans to phase out Rs 2,200 crore debt in this fiscal year.

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New Delhi:

At least 16 people were killed and 12 others sustained injuries in rain-related incidents in Uttar Pradesh, prompting authorities to call Indian Air Force to rescue marooned villagers on Sunday.

The IAF personnel rescued 14 people who were stranded in Lalitpur and Jhansi districts due to heavy rainfall. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath praised the IAF personnel for helping in rescue operations.

Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner Sanjay Kumar said, "All six people were successfully rescued in Lalitpur district. The IAF team did a fantastic job.

Kerala Chief Minister Distress Relief Fund gets Rs 1,027.78 crore till date

"The district magistrate of Jhansi has confirmed that all eight fishermen have been successfully rescued by an IAF team," he said.

Shahjahanpur was the worst hit where six people died after being struck by lightning and seven others were injured on Saturday.

"Six people lost their lives in Shahjahanpur, while three died in Sitapur district and two people each in Auraiyya and Amethi," the office of the UP Relief Commissioner said in a statement.

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One person each died in Lakhimpur Kheri, Rae Bareli and Unnao, it said, adding, all deaths took place on Saturday.

Meanwhile, India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted more rains in eastern and western parts of the state over the next two days.

(With inputs from agencies)

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New Delhi:

The mayors of the three BJP-led civic bodies on Monday met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, seeking release of municipal funds due to them from the government as per the recommendations of the third and fourth Delhi Finance Commissions.

North Delhi Mayor Adesh Gupta, South Delhi Mayor Narender Chawla and East Delhi Mayor Bipin Bihari Singh were accompanied by respective heads of standing committees and leaders of the three municipal houses.

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We met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at his office to apprise him of the financial crisis being faced by the three corporations, which is badly affecting smooth functioning. He listened to our woes and sought 7-10 days time to discuss the matter with officials, Gupta said.

He was speaking at a joint press conference addressed by the three mayors at the Civic Centre here.

During interaction with reporters, he also stressed on the need for immediate release of the pending plan funds and the amount due as per the recommendations of the third and fourth Delhi Finance Commissions to enable corporations to take up delayed developmental projects and concentrate on the core work related to sanitation, health, urban development and education.

Gupta, joined by Chawla and Singh, claimed that the amount as per the recommendations of two finance commissions has not been released.

He said the liability of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation with respect to monthly salary and pension comes to Rs 295 cr.

As the funds are not being released by the Delhi government, the NDMC has not been able to release salary to its employees regularly. Further, the delay in disbursement of salary to sanitation employees, is making the routine sanitation work of the city difficult, Gupta said.

He also demanded an allocation of Rs 1,202 cr, under urban development and transport sector to carry out conservancy, sanitation and other related works.

Also Read | Delhi weather: Heavy rain lashes city; brings respite from humidity

Gupta alleged that the Delhi government was yet to release Rs 1,431 cr as per the recommendations of the Delhi Finance Commission.

Chawla said the south corporation is being denied the due amount under urban development, transport, education and health sectors for the last several years.

Only an amount of Rs 137.60 cr has been released till the first quarter of 2018-19 against an annual budget proposal of Rs 1,579.19 cr. Moreover, not even a single rupee has been released or even allotted under urban development and transport sectors, he said.

The SDMC demanded an allocation of minimum Rs 505 cr for 2018-19 for sanitation work, facilities in JJ colonies, community centres and development of roads.

EDMCs Singh said that allocation under the urban development sector has not been made for the year 2018-19.

There is a dire need of Rs 124 cr for clearing the backlog of gratuity and commutation claims till March 2018, he said.

Also Read | Massive fire engulfs residential building in Mumbai's Parel

The EDMC must be released an amount of Rs 1,005 cr due to it as per the recommendations of the finance commissions, Singh said.

Gupta expressed hope that that the Delhi government will soon release the funds due to all the three corporations.
Islamabad:

Japan has agreed to extend over Rs 2.6 billion grant assistance to Pakistan for two projects, according to a media report on Saturday.

The notes to this effect were signed and exchanged on Friday during the visit of State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Kazuyuki Nakane.

The Express Tribune reported that the two schemes include the installation of a weather surveillance radar, worth around 2.1 billion Japanese Yen (Rs 2.3 billion), in Multan City and a project for human resource development scholarship, worth around 330 million Japanese Yen (Rs 360 million).

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Japan has been supporting Pakistans stable and sustainable growth since the diplomatic relationship between the two countries was established in 1952, Nakane said at the signing ceremony.

Under the strong leadership of the new Prime Minister, Imran Khan, along with the leadership for economic development, particularly, the new Finance Minister, Asad Umar, we believe that Naya Pakistan will be definitely realised, he said.

Umar was also present at the signing ceremony for the projects.

Nakane said the two projects will help further development of Pakistan and contribute to strengthening the friendly relationship and cooperation between both the nations.

Read More | Indian-origin DBS employee loses job for posting image of torn Singapore flag

The total amount of assistance for weather forecasting of Pakistan has reached about 10 billion Japanese Yen (Rs 10 billion) with the commitment to provide funds for the Installation of the weather surveillance radar in Multan City, he said.

So far, Japan has supported the installation of four weather radars in the cities of Islamabad, Karachi, Dera Ismail Khan and Rahim Yar Khan.

Japan has been providing its technical cooperation to Pakistan for human resource development since 1954 and so far, over 6,500 people have received fellowships in the island country.

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London:

An influential representative body for the UKs leading universities on Tuesday called for a new post-study visa in an attempt to address a massive fall in international student numbers from countries like India.

The UK scrapped its post-study work visa in 2012, which had allowed international students from countries like India to stay in the UK and work for up to two years after graduation.

Prof Steve Smith, Chair of Universities UKs International Policy Network, said the dominant reason quoted by Indian students for choosing other overseas education destinations was the lack of an attractive post-study work option.

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Smith, who is the Vice-Chancellor of University of Exeter, warned that the UK is in danger of losing its position as one of the worlds leading destinations for international students unless a more welcoming message was sent out.

The issue of post-study has loomed large. We think the UK is missing out on students looking to study overseas, Smith said.

We think our proposal is a win-win; a win for students, universities and businesses across all regions of the UK, he said, adding that the timing of the proposal was crucial as Britain works out its post-Brexit positioning in the world.

The new temporary Global Graduate Talent Visa, which will allow qualified international students to work in a skilled job in the UK for a period of two years after graduation, was mooted as UK university chiefs gathered for their annual conference in Sheffield this week.

They highlighted the US and Canada offers a post-study option of three years, Australia four years and New Zealand three years as part of recent changes to its immigration policy.

Read More | UGC seeks proposals from institutions for extension of vocational courses

According to recent figures, the number of Indian students coming to the UK dropped from a peak of nearly 24,000 a year in 2010-11 to a low of around 9,000 a year in 2015-16. London Mayor Sadiq Khan also recently wrote to the UK Home Office calling for better post-study options to prevent this downward spiral.

We know this has been an active policy discussion even within government. We want to be ready with positive proposals for the government to make the UK an even more attractive destination for talented students and graduates, said Vivienne Stern, Director of Universities UK International.

Universities UK, with a membership of the countrys 136 leading universities, says its new visa proposal will involve all higher education institutions registered as Tier 4 sponsors in the country being able to sponsor their graduates to search for and gain work experience in the UK for up to two years.

This visa would not be a route to settlement in the country but provide a more flexible basis for students to seek work experience than currently permitted by the current Tier 2 visa, which involves restrictions on job level and salary and requires an employer sponsorship.

Read More | UAE announces first two astronauts to go to International Space Station

It would allow a wider range of employers in all parts of the UK to benefit from access to talented graduates from around the world, including small and medium employers who do not have Tier 2 sponsorship licences, usually due to the high costs and bureaucracy involved, Universities UK said.

The group said it believes its proposal is perfectly timed as the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is set to present its findings on the costs and benefits of international students to the UK government in coming weeks.

In reference to the UK governments claims of abuse of the post-study visa route in the past, Universities UK pointed to latest Home Office exit check data showing that 98 per cent of students on such a scheme had left on time.

The noise around large numbers overstaying is factually incorrect and the governments own data has shown that the level of abuse [of the visa system] is miniscule, which gives us the confidence to moot this new idea,? said Prof Smith.

The call comes as a new ComRes poll reveals increased support for international students and graduates in the UK, with nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) of British adults surveyed saying that international students should be able to stay in the UK post-graduation for one year or more to gain work experience.

Read More | Ukraine launches joint military drills with NATO

Professor Janet Beer, President of Universities UK and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, said: ?This improved post-study visa would put us on a par with what is offered by countries such as the US, Canada and Australia.

As Brexit discussions continue, the UK needs an ambitious immigration policy that helps boost our regional and global competitiveness.

The new visa proposal, devised in consultation with business groups, follows UK Home Secretary Sajid Javids statement earlier this year to take ?a fresh look? at key parts of the UKs immigration policy.

Stephen Isherwood, Chief Executive at the Institute of Student Employers, said that allowing international students to work for a period post-study in the UK will help employers, large and small, to fill skills gaps.

As well as enabling growth, our universities will become more internationally competitive and it will mean that UK students can develop a global mindset too, he said.

Under current rules, international students from countries like India must find a job with a salary of at least GBP 20,800 with an employer holding a Tier 2 sponsor licence within four months of completing their course, or find sponsorship as an entrepreneur. PhD students are separately able to stay for up to 12 months following completion of their degree.

The new Global Graduate Talent Visa would give international graduates a longer period to search for a Tier 2 eligible role and allow UK-based employers to benefit from access to talented graduates, Universities UK said.

In 2011, under the UKs previous Tier 1 Post Study Work visa, the numbers of students transferring into work visas was 46,875. Following the 2012 changes, that dramatically fell in 2013 to just 6,238.

Alongside the new visa proposal, Universities UK said it will work with its members to support local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to hire international graduates under the existing Tier 2 visa route.
New Delhi:

As Assembly polls are approaching the state, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has started an all-out election campaign with his Jan Ashirwad Yatra. During the yatra, which was flagged off by the BJP president Amit Shah from Ujjain on July 15, Chouhan is expected to address several rallies covering all the 230 constituencies of the state.

In the middle of his over two-month long Jan Ashirwad Yatra, three-time Madhya Pradesh CM Chouhan spoke to News Nations Peenaz Tyagi. During the exclusive conversation, the MP CM got super candid and revealed why people of the state call him Mama

Its because of the schemes. We launched Ladli Laxmi Yojana, distributed cycles to the girls, Kanya Vivah Scheme and our daughters started calling me Mama, he revealed.

Elders started calling me beta (son) because we launched Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana. Women already consider me their brother. So, all these adjectives are given by the people, Chouhan said.

During the Yatra, Chouhans wife Sadhna also accompany her Chief Minister husband. While she politely declined to give a political statement, we asked her some other questions that will give you a glimpse of her role in Chouhans political success.

Also Read | Those who celebrated Mahatma Gandhi's killing are in power today, says Swara Bhasker

When our correspondent Peenaz asked her what she calls her husband, Sadhna blushed a little and called him Karthik (their son) ke papa- a typical way of Indian wives to address their husbands.

Do you call him that, Peenaz asked? Obviously, I will not take his name and call with our childrens name, she said wearing a smile full of shyness.

Giving more insights about the personal life of Chouhan, Sadhna said he likes Bhajiya (an Indian snack made of gram flour) but I dont let him eat that nowadays. She was probably doing that because the snack contains a lot of trans fat which is unhealthy especially for elderly people.

Sadhna told us another interesting thing. Whenever she visits any temple, she videos calls her husband so that he can also see the temple and virtually take part in the Aarti.

Also Read | Justice Ranjan Gogoi to be next Chief Justice of India, will take charge on October 3

Madhya Pradesh will go to polls later this year. The three-time Chief Minister Shivraj is facing a stiff challenge from Congresss Jyotiraditya Scindia and Kamalnath.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Islamabad: Pakistani forces have clashed with Afghan people protesting against the Taliban's closure of the border area. The dispute was so serious that the Pakistani army fired tear gas shells at the Afghan people. The controversy started when a 56-year-old Afghan passenger died of a heart attack as he waited in the dusty heat to enter Afghanistan through the Chaman-Spin Boldak crossing, a Pakistani newspaper reported.

The same protesters took the body of the deceased to a local Pakistani government office demanding the reopening of the border. Some started pelting stones at the security forces, in response to which Pakistani arms fired tear gas shells and also resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the protesters. As per the report received, no injuries have been reported.

On August 6, the Taliban announced the closure of the border, as Islamabad ended visa-free travel for Afghans. The Taliban captured the Chaman crossing last month through their offensive against Afghan government security forces. Chaman-Spin Boulder Crossing is Afghanistan's second busiest entry point and the main commercial route to Pakistan.

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New Delhi: Pollution has emerged as the biggest crisis facing the world in the last few years and the crisis in India is on the rise. Meanwhile, British company Housefresh has prepared a report that mentions 50 cities in the world. UP's Ghaziabad ranks second in the list of most polluted cities. According to the report received, the average air quality index PM2.5 level in Ghaziabad has been found to be 106.6 micrograms per cubic meter.

PM 2.5 tells about the particles present in the air. PM 2.5 is one of the smallest air particles and is about 2.5 micrometers in size. Hotan city in China's Xinjiang province ranks first in the list of most polluted districts. The average level of PM 2.5 in the Chinese city is filed 110.2 micrograms per cubic meter.

According to the report, most of the sandy storms caused pollution levels in Hotan city to remain high, near the Taklamakan desert. According to the report, Bangladesh's Manikganj ranks third in the list of the world's most polluted cities, with an average level of PM2.5 recorded at 80.2 micrograms per cubic meter. The report on Bangladesh said, "The country's industrial sector, which is the fastest-growing developing country around the world, is growing at 13 percent a year."

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Meanwhile, the Lakshadweep administration has banned the movement of people traveling from Iceland to the Mainland in view of the increasing corona infection cases in neighboring states, especially Kerala. An order issued by Lakshadweep District Collector S Askar Ali on Thursday suggested that local residents of Lakshadweep Islands avoid all unnecessary travel to the Mainland in view of the prevailing situation.

Lakshadweep administration has directed the concerned officers to allow only those with much-needed work to go to Mainland. There are three entry points for entry from Mainland in the islands - Kochi and Kozhikode in Kerala and Mangaluru in Karnataka. According to the administration, the situation in Corona has been controlled and there are only 40 active cases in the islands till August 12.

The same administration said that all persons coming from Mainland and other islands will have to leave the institutional warranty facilities provided by the administration or the required warranties of seven days in their homes. The order says that they should be trialed for corona by the local health department after the expiry of their quarantine period. Till mid-January this year, Lakshadweep was a corona-free Union Territory in the country. In December 2020, the administration came under fire from residents and politicians in the islands for its decision to relax stringent quarantine measures, which led to a sudden increase in corona infection cases.

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Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said, persuading the Taliban has become more difficult as the Afghanistan government was getting extremely critical about Islamabad, thinking that it had some magic powers to persuade the Taliban. "Now, our leverage on the Taliban is minuscule as they think that they have won against the Americans," Imran Khan said. He went on to say: Pakistan would influence the Taliban for holding direct talks with Turkey to secure the Kabul International Airport after US troops completely exit the conflict-hit country by August 31 

About the debate over US President Joe Biden's phone call, the Prime Minister said: "I keep hearing that President Biden has not called me. It is his business. It is not like I am waiting for any phone call." Khan's comments come days after National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf said that Pakistan had other options if Biden continued to ignore its leadership.

"We will be trying the best thing for Turkey and Taliban to have a face-to-face dialogue, so that both could talk about the reasons to secure the Kabul airport," he said while talking to foreign media persons at the Prime Minister's House. Khan mentioned his meeting with Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar on Wednesday, during which they also discussed the security situation in the region, including Afghanistan.

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New Orleans, Louisiana--(Newsfile Corp. - August 12, 2021) - Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors with losses in excess of $100,000 that they have until October 4, 2021 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI), if they purchased the Company's securities between August 4, 2016 and July 27, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

What You May Do

If you purchased securities of Activision Blizzard 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/nasdaqgs-atvi/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by October 4, 2021 .

About the Lawsuit

Activision Blizzard and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On July 20, 2021, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing filed a lawsuit against the Company alleging violations of the state's Equal Pay Act as well as the Fair Employment and Housing Act based on disturbing incidents of sexual harassment and assault. On July 27, 2021, Bloomberg reported that thousands of current and former employees of the Company had signed a petition in protest of the Company's "abhorrent and insulting" response to the lawsuit and had planned walkout and work stoppage the following day, resulting in the Company's CEO sending a letter to employees apologizing for the Company's "tone deaf" response to the DFEH lawsuit and promising "swift action to be [. . .] compassionate[,] caring [and] to ensure a safe environment."

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On this news, shares of Activision fell $5.89, or over 6%, to close at $84.05 on July 27, 2021, on unusually heavy trading volume.

The case is Cheng v. Activision Blizzard, Inc., et al., No. 1:21-cv-06240.

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.

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/93043
TORONTO, Aug. 13, 2021 /CNW/ - Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) salutes the 722 individuals who successfully passed the May sitting of the profession's Common Final Examination (CFE).

Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CNW Group/CPA Canada)

"These bright and ambitious individuals have completed a major milestone on the journey to join the ranks of Canada's CPAs," says Charles-Antoine St-Jean, CPA Canada's president and CEO. "We commend them for their impressive accomplishment, especially considering the challenges of studying for and successfully writing this complex exam during the pandemic."

The three-day evaluation is an important aspect of the profession's certification process and is designed to assess the knowledge, judgement and ethics of the candidates. The CPA profession requires individuals to demonstrate a full range of skills and competencies gained through education, examinations and work experience.

"As was the case during the previous writing of the CFE in September 2020, the challenge was to keep CFE writers, staff and volunteers safe in a pandemic environment while protecting the integrity of the exam," says St-Jean.

To ensure that regional public health and safety guidelines were followed, every candidate was able to write the exam in an individually assigned hotel room.

Following each CFE, the profession recognizes the CFE writers who achieved the highest standings on the exam. Kamille Espanol, from Ovintiv Inc. in Calgary, Alberta, is the recipient of the May 2021 Governor General's Gold Medal Award as the May 2021 CFE's top writer. In addition to the award, Espanol receives a cash prize of $5,000.

Explaining her approach to taking the exam, Espanol says: "It's so easy to put pressure on yourself. But it's OK if you don't know absolutely everything. Just remind yourself that you prepared as much as you can. And, rather than focusing on what you don't know, think about how much you already do. That, essentially, is what helped me stay calm during the three days of the CFE."

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The CPA Canada Atlantic Gold Medal Award and a cash prize of $2,500 for achieving the highest standing in that region goes to Tanisha Welcher, from the Canada Revenue Agency in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.

For a complete list of honour roll members, please visit cpacanada.ca/CFEHonourRollList .

About Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada

Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) works collaboratively with the provincial, territorial and Bermudian CPA bodies, as it represents the Canadian accounting profession, both nationally and internationally. This collaboration allows the Canadian profession to champion best practices that benefit business and society, as well as prepare its members for an ever-evolving operating environment featuring unprecedented change. Representing more than 220,000 members, CPA Canada is one of the largest national accounting bodies worldwide. cpacanada.ca

SOURCE CPA Canada

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/August2021/13/c9640.html
Disney's streaming service is seeing improved growth, after initially seeing slower numbers of subscriber additions in Q2 as COVID lockdowns and mask mandates came to an end. Today, Disney+ beat analyst expectations for subscriber growth in Disney's blowout third quarter, reaching 116 million paid subscribers -- above the 114.5 million Wall Street had expected -- and up over 100% year-over-year.

Disney also topped expectations across the board, with $17.02 billion in revenue versus the $16.76 billion expected, and earnings per share of 80 cents, above analysts' expectations of 55 cents. Even Disney Parks were back in business.

The pandemic had thrown a wrench in forecasting growth metrics across a number of industries, streaming included. Although Disney+ has well-established itself as one of the few competitors capable of challenging Netflix in an increasingly crowded market, it has seen some ups and downs due to COVID impacts. In the earlier days of the pandemic, streaming was on the rise. This March, Disney+ passed 100 million subscribers after just 16 months of operation. At the time, Disney execs said the service was on track to meet its projections of 260 million subscribers by 2024.

But in Disney's second-quarter earnings, the economy's re-opening impacted Disney+ numbers, as people finally had more to do than just sit at home, and vaccinations become more widely available. Then, Disney+ only reached 103.6 million subscribers, when analysts were expecting 109.3 million, and the stock slipped as a result.

Disney wasn't alone in feeling the impacts of COVID-induced lumpiness in subscriber additions. Netflix had also seen slower subscriber growth earlier in the year due to COVID and its far-reaching effects on things like production delays and release schedules.

But Netflix's most recent quarter, where it once again topped subscriber estimates, had hinted that Disney+ may see a similar boost. Aiding in that growth was Disney+'s recent market expansions in Asia. Disney+ Hotstar arrived in Malaysia and Thailand in June after prior launches in India and Indonesia last year.

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The Hotstar version of Disney+, however, led to lowered average monthly revenue per user (ARPU) in the quarter due to its lower price points. In Q3, ARPU declined from $4.62 to $4.16 due to a higher mix of Disney+ Hotstar subscribers compared with the prior-year quarter, Disney said.

Disney's other streaming services, Hulu and ESPN+, didn't see the same trend.

Hulu's subscription video service jumped from $11.39 to $13.15 year-over-year and its Live TV service (+SVOD) grew from $68.11 to $84.09. ESPN+ also grew from $4.18 to $4.47.

Subscriber growth also increased across the services, with ESPN+ growing 75% year-over-year to reach 14.9 million customers and total Hulu subscribers growing 21% to reach 42.8 million.

"...Our direct-to-consumer business is performing very well, with a total of nearly 174 million subscriptions across Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu at the end of the quarter, and a host of new content coming to the platform," noted Disney CEO Bob Chapek in a press release.

Across Disney's direct-to-consumer business, revenues grew 57% to $4.3 billion and its operating loss declined from $0.6 billion to $0.3 billion, thanks to improved results from Hulu, including subscription growth and higher ad revenues.

These gains were offset by a higher loss at Disney+ attributed to programming, production, marketing and technology costs that were somewhat mitigated by increases in subscription revenues and success of the Disney+ Premier Access release of "Cruella." (Disney's fiscal quarter ended July 3, so the impacts of the massive haul that "Black Widow" saw following its U.S. opening -- nor the resulting lawsuit from star Scarlett Johansson, for that matter -- have yet to be included in these figures.)
Disney has apparently found "ways to fairly compensate" talent, even if it continues its hybrid release strategy. Company CEO Bob Chapek said during an earnings call that Disney has "entered hundreds of talent arrangements with [its] talent and by and large, they've gone very very smoothly." Chapek's statement comes in the wake of the lawsuit Black Widow star Scarlett Johansson filed against the company over its streaming strategy.

Johansson's salary was tied to the movie's box office success, and her original contract didn't cover earnings from a hybrid release. According to her complaint, she could lose over $50 million due to the company's decision to simultaneously launch Black Widow in theaters and on Disney+, where it made $60 million during its opening weekend. Back then, Disney released a statement calling the lawsuit "especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic."

Now, Chapek said Disney is "trying to do the best thing for all [its] constituents and make sure that everybody who's in the value chain [...] feels like they're having their contractual commitments honored both from a distribution and a compensation standpoint." He didn't talk about specifics, however, or Johansson's lawsuit in particular. In Johansson's complaint, she said her camp tried to renegotiate her deal with the company upon learning about the simultaneous release. However, Disney and Marvel were allegedly unresponsive.

Chapek also talked about implementing an experimental release strategy for Shang-Chi. Unlike Black Widow, it will be a theater-exclusive for 45 days before making its way to Disney+. Further, subscribers may be able to watch it for free instead of having to pay extra for it like they've had to do with Mulan.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands, August 13, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:

Today, the European Commission has decided to grant the competition law clearance for the acquisition of Aegons businesses in Central and Eastern Europe by Vienna Insurance Group AG Wiener Versicherung Gruppe (VIG).

On November 29, 2020, Aegon agreed to sell its insurance, pension and asset management business in Hungary, Poland, Romania and Turkey to VIG for EUR 830 million.

VIG is in the process of obtaining all approvals from the relevant national authorities.

About Aegon

Aegons roots go back more than 175 years  to the first half of the nineteenth century. Since then, Aegon has grown into an international company, with businesses in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Today, Aegon is one of the worlds leading financial services organizations, providing life insurance, pensions and asset management. Aegons purpose is to help people achieve a lifetime of financial security. More information on aegon.com.

Forward-looking statements

The statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following are words that identify such forward-looking statements: aim, believe, estimate, target, intend, may, expect, anticipate, predict, project, counting on, plan, continue, want, forecast, goal, should, would, could, is confident, will, and similar expressions as they relate to Aegon. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Aegon undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which merely reflect company expectations at the time of writing. Actual results may differ materially from expectations conveyed in forward-looking statements due to changes caused by various risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to the following:

Story continues

Changes in general economic and/or governmental conditions, particularly in the United States, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom;

Changes in the performance of financial markets, including emerging markets, such as with regard to:

 The frequency and severity of defaults by issuers in Aegons fixed income investment portfolios;

 The effects of corporate bankruptcies and/or accounting restatements on the financial markets and the resulting decline in the value of equity and debt securities Aegon holds; and

 The effects of declining creditworthiness of certain public sector securities and the resulting decline in the value of government exposure that Aegon holds;

Changes in the performance of Aegons investment portfolio and decline in ratings of Aegons counterparties;

Lowering of one or more of Aegons debt ratings issued by recognized rating organizations and the adverse impact such action may have on Aegons ability to raise capital and on its liquidity and financial condition;

Lowering of one or more of insurer financial strength ratings of Aegons insurance subsidiaries and the adverse impact such action may have on the written premium, policy retention, profitability and liquidity of its insurance subsidiaries;

The effect of the European Unions Solvency II requirements and other regulations in other jurisdictions affecting the capital Aegon is required to maintain;

Changes affecting interest rate levels and continuing low or rapidly changing interest rate levels;

Changes affecting currency exchange rates, in particular the EUR/USD and EUR/GBP exchange rates;

Changes in the availability of, and costs associated with, liquidity sources such as bank and capital markets funding, as well as conditions in the credit markets in general such as changes in borrower and counterparty creditworthiness;

Increasing levels of competition in the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and emerging markets;

Catastrophic events, either manmade or by nature, including by way of example acts of God, acts of terrorism, acts of war and pandemics, could result in material losses and significantly interrupt Aegons business;

The frequency and severity of insured loss events;

Changes affecting longevity, mortality, morbidity, persistence and other factors that may impact the profitability of Aegons insurance products;

Aegons projected results are highly sensitive to complex mathematical models of financial markets, mortality, longevity, and other dynamic systems subject to shocks and unpredictable volatility. Should assumptions to these models later prove incorrect, or should errors in those models escape the controls in place to detect them, future performance will vary from projected results;

Reinsurers to whom Aegon has ceded significant underwriting risks may fail to meet their obligations;

Changes in customer behavior and public opinion in general related to, among other things, the type of products Aegon sells, including legal, regulatory or commercial necessity to meet changing customer expectations;

Customer responsiveness to both new products and distribution channels;

As Aegons operations support complex transactions and are highly dependent on the proper functioning of information technology, operational risks such as system disruptions or failures, security or data privacy breaches, cyberattacks, human error, failure to safeguard personally identifiable information, changes in operational practices or inadequate controls including with respect to third parties with which we do business may disrupt Aegons business, damage its reputation and adversely affect its results of operations, financial condition and cash flows;

The impact of acquisitions and divestitures, restructurings, product withdrawals and other unusual items, including Aegons ability to integrate acquisitions and to obtain the anticipated results and synergies from acquisitions;

Aegons failure to achieve anticipated levels of earnings or operational efficiencies, as well as other management initiatives related to cost savings, cash capital at Holding, gross financial leverage and free cash flow;

Changes in the policies of central banks and/or governments;

Litigation or regulatory action that could require Aegon to pay significant damages or change the way Aegon does business;

Competitive, legal, regulatory, or tax changes that affect profitability, the distribution cost of or demand for Aegons products;

Consequences of an actual or potential break-up of the European monetary union in whole or in part, or the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union and potential consequences if other European Union countries leave the European Union;

Changes in laws and regulations, particularly those affecting Aegons operations ability to hire and retain key personnel, taxation of Aegon companies, the products Aegon sells, and the attractiveness of certain products to its consumers;

Regulatory changes relating to the pensions, investment, and insurance industries in the jurisdictions in which Aegon operates;

Standard setting initiatives of supranational standard setting bodies such as the Financial Stability Board and the International Association of Insurance Supervisors or changes to such standards that may have an impact on regional (such as EU), national or US federal or state level financial regulation or the application thereof to Aegon, including the designation of Aegon by the Financial Stability Board as a Global Systemically Important Insurer (G-SII); and

Changes in accounting regulations and policies or a change by Aegon in applying such regulations and policies, voluntarily or otherwise, which may affect Aegons reported results, shareholders equity or regulatory capital adequacy levels.

This document contains information that qualifies, or may qualify, as inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation (596/2014). Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting Aegon are described in its filings with the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, Aegon expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Aegons expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210813005103/en/

Contacts

Media relations

Kathrin de Graaf

+31 6 12 37 66 16

kathrin.degraaf@aegon.com



Investor relations

Jan Willem Weidema

+31(0) 70 344 8028

janwillem.weidema@aegon.com
(Reuters) - Delivery Hero said on Friday it was not considering making an offer for its British rival Deliveroo, days after the German company acquired a 5.09% stake in the London-listed online food delivery company.

Demand for food delivery surged during lockdowns, but that could take a hit as restaurants reopen. Many companies have also been teaming up to bolster their services and get access to new markets in the face of competition.

Delivery Hero cannot bid for Deliveroo for six months, according to British takeover rules, but the Frankfurt-listed company said it could choose to make an offer with the agreement of Deliveroo's board and under some other circumstances.

Founded in 2011, Delivery Hero operates in about 50 countries, with particular strength in Asia, where it owns the Foodpanda brand. However, it does not operate in Britain, which is Deliveroo's largest market.

Despite a jump in sales, Delivery Hero and Deliveroo continue to make losses.

Separately on Friday, South Korea's GS Retail Co Ltd said it had partnered with two private-equity firms to buy Delivery Hero's food delivery app, Yogiyo, in a deal valued at 800 billion won ($686.41 million).

($1 = 1,165.4800 won)

(Reporting by Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)
Increasing knowledge, raising awareness and learning to address barriers

OTTAWA, ON, Aug. 13, 2021 /CNW/ - Many Canadians struggle with mental health issues, but certain groups of Canadians face unique challenges when it comes to mental health because of racism, discrimination, socio-economic status or social exclusion. As Canadians continue to support public health measures, an unintended consequence has been that 40% of Canadians have reported a decline in their mental health. The Government of Canada remains committed to promoting positive mental health for everyone, particularly during these challenging times because of COVID-19.

Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, announced an investment of up to $1.28 million in funding for three organizations to promote mental health and wellbeing, and to promote health equity by tackling systemic challenges and barriers faced by Black LGBTQI+ Canadians.

Ribbon Rouge Foundation, based in Edmonton, AB, will be receiving up to $480,000 to gather and mobilize information on the experiences and barriers faced by LGBTQI+ individuals as they navigate services for mental health, substance use and addictions, sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBI), and criminal justice involvement. The aim of this project is to improve support and skills and share programs and interventions that have a positive impact on the mental health and well-being of Black LGBTQI+ communities.

Across Boundaries, based in Toronto, ON, will be receiving up to $400,000 for the Our Stories, Our Voices project. The project aims to increase understanding of the mental health needs and experiences of Black LGBTQI+ communities in order to build capacity and provide leadership opportunities for its members, make mental health conversations more accessible, and find approaches to promote positive mental health. As part of the project, tools, resources and a curricula will be developed to support leadership training, practitioner training and community workshops. The project expects to reach more than 300 Black LGBTQI+ individuals, with priority given to Black Trans, non-binary, queer persons, and those who face poverty, migration, and disability.

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Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Youth Project aims to deliver programs and create resources to increase understanding of the unique mental health challenges, and specific anti-Black barriers for Black LGBTQI+ youth. The project will also offer youth aged 16 to 19 and 20 to 30 opportunities to effectively and proactively respond to these current realities. Knowledge will be generated through a series of programs and activities that build in intergenerational relationships and mentoring, as well as arts-based approaches. With funding of up to $400,000, the project will also create a safe space to foster leadership within the community and provide a centre for its voice and experiences.

Quotes

"Many Canadians struggle with mental health issues. However, some Canadians face additional challenges that mean they need more help to address their mental health. The projects announced today will create safe environments for Black LGBTQI+ Canadians to learn about positive mental health through effective, anti-racist, and culturally-focused approaches. By strengthening their skills and confidence, we can help improve their mental health and well-being."

The Honourable Patty Hajdu

Minister of Health

Quick Facts

Funding announced today has been distributed through the Public Health Agency of Canada's Promoting Health Equity: Mental Health of Black Canadians Fund.

These investments support community-based programs in mental health promotion to increase health equity and address the underlying determinants of health. They also support the development and implementation of culturally-focused mental health programs for Black LGBTQI+ Canadians in communities across the country.

Ribbon Rouge Foundation serves African, Caribbean and Black people in Alberta, by facilitating systems change, in structural and social determinants that lead to poorer health outcomes, including HIV related health outcomes in African, Caribbean, Black communities.

Across Boundaries provides equitable, inclusive and holistic mental health and addiction service for racialized people across the Greater Toronto Area, working within anti-racism, anti-Black racism and anti-oppression frameworks.

The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Youth Project (The Youth Project) provides support, education, resource expansion and community development to make Nova Scotia a safer, healthier and happier place for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth.

Associated Links

Related Links

SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada

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View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/August2021/13/c7476.html
Memorandum of Understanding signed to launch a feasibility assessment for a proposed National Marine Conservation Area Reserve in British Columbia's Central Coast.

CENTRAL COAST, BC, Aug. 13, 2021 /CNW/ - Protected areas play a vital role in conserving natural and cultural marine heritage, fighting climate change and biodiversity loss, and providing Canadians with opportunities to learn more about iconic cultural and natural settings.

This map identifies the study area for the proposed national marine conservation area reserve in the Central Coast of British Columbia. (CNW Group/Parks Canada)

Today, Marilyn Slett, Chief, Heiltsuk Nation; Doug Neasloss, Chief, Kitasoo/Xai'xais Nation; Samuel Schooner, Chief, Nuxalk Nation; Danielle Shaw, Chief, Wuikinuxv Nation, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada; the Honourable Katrine Conroy, B.C. Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development; and the Honourable George Heyman, B.C. Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a feasibility assessment for a national marine conservation area reserve (NMCAR) in the Central Coast area of British Columbia.

The study area for the national marine conservation area reserve feasibility assessment is about 14,200 square kilometres in size, and located in the coastal and offshore marine waters adjacent to the Great Bear Rainforest on the Central Coast of British Columbia. The study area includes inshore and offshore marine ecosystems, that are adjacent to an intricate shoreline that includes steep walled fjords and narrow channels, island archipelagos, open coast, estuaries, sandy beaches, shell midden beaches, and rocky shorelines. This dynamic environment is home to numerous species of marine mammals, including humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, Harbour and Dall's porpoises, more than 6000 species of invertebrates, 400 species of fish, 150 species of birds, and some of the largest kelp forests in British Columbia. It is also an important habitat for a number of endangered species including eulachon, abalone, bocaccio, marbled murrelet, and sea otters.

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For millennia, the wellbeing of the Heiltsuk, Kitasoo/Xai'Xais, Nuxalk and Wuikinuxv have been linked, inextricably, to the health of the marine environment. Management and use of abundant marine resources, particularly salmon, eulachon and herring, supported ancient civilizations and allowed rich and complex cultures and societies to develop. Archaeologists have dated the origins of village sites on the Central Coast to as far back as 14,000 years  making them some of the oldest continually occupied sites in Canada. Pre-contact, the Central Coast supported some of the highest population concentrations in North America.

Today, community members of the Heiltsuk, Kitasoo/Xai'Xais, Nuxalk and Wuikinuxv continue to honour their responsibility as caretakers of the marine environment. The life blood of the Nations' communities comes from the existence of a network of diverse and healthy species, populations, and areas. Maintaining and restoring marine ecosystems will support not just Nations' physical health but is inextricably connected to cultural health and continuity.

The feasibility assessment, led by Central Coast Nations, Parks Canada, and the Government of British Columbia, will use western science, Indigenous knowledge, and the results of consultations with stakeholders including the fishing industry, non-government organizations, and Canadians to consider the social, cultural, environmental, and ecosystem benefits and impacts of establishing a national marine conservation area reserve in the Central Coast of British Columbia. The results of the feasibility assessment will inform future decisions about whether the proposal will continue, including a proposed boundary and zoning considerations.

Grounded by science, Indigenous knowledge and local perspectives, Canada is committed to conserving 25 percent of marine and coastal areas by 2025, working toward 30 percent by 2030. Budget 2021 provided $976.8 million over five years for the establishment and management of new marine protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, working with provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments, and stakeholders.

Based on a model of collaborative governance and management, the enhanced protection of this Central Coast marine ecosystem stemming from a proposed national marine conservation area reserve would help to conserve biodiversity, manage fisheries sustainably, and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Furthermore, it would contribute to maintaining the culture, traditions, economies, and well-being of the Central Coast First Nations, who have long been stewards of these lands and waters.

A national marine conservation area reserve in the Central Coast is considered to be an important element of the marine protected area network being planned for the Pacific Region's Northern Shelf Bioregion. Parks Canada, BC, and the Heiltsuk, Kitasoo/Xai'xais, Nuxalk, and Wuikinuxv Nations are partners in the development of this planned network approach for marine conservation in the Northern Shelf Bioregion. Consultation on this broader network process is anticipated later in 2021 with the goal of completing the Network Action Plan by June 2022. Input from consultations will provide important feedback for consideration in the Central Coast National Marine Conservation Area Reserve feasibility assessment process.

Quotes

"British Columbia's Central Coast is teeming with life and history. From countless marine species to the rich cultures and histories of First Nation communities, this area is remarkable. I am proud that the Government of Canada is taking an important step today, with the Government of British Columbia, the Heiltsuk, Kitasoo/Xai'xais, Nuxalk Nation, and Wuikinuxv Nation, to protect this treasured place. On top of helping to conserve biodiversity and cultural marine heritage, protecting marine areas also plays a critical role in mitigating the impacts of climate change. Through science, Indigenous knowledge, and local perspectives, we will meet our commitment to conserving 25 percent of marine and coastal areas by 2025, and 30 percent by 2030."

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson

Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada

"Our coastal waters are home to an amazing variety of animal and plant life, and it is so important that we work with our Federal and First Nations partners to explore the protection of this area. This agreement will allow us to pursue the conservation of an important ecological area for future generations, as well as protect the habitat of the numerous wildlife that call it home."

The Honourable Katrine Conroy

B.C. Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development

"The unique marine environment of British Columbia's Central Coast is home to rich, unique, spectacular and at-risk biodiversity that has deep historic and cultural significance to Indigenous peoples. All British Columbians care about our coast  it's a part of our identity  and know we need to protect its health. It's vital that all levels of government come together to preserve this area's irreplaceable marine environment, for now and for the future."

The Honourable George Heyman

B.C. Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy

"The Heiltsuk Nation support this collaborative NMCAR feasibility assessment, we look forward to working towards co- developing an approach and process that is complimentary to our Gvi'ilas. Our Gvi'ilas, the laws of our ancestors as the paramount principle to guide all resource use and environmental management. Gvi'ilas refers to our "power" or authority over all matters that affect our lives. It is a complex and comprehensive system of laws that embodies values, beliefs, teachings, principles, practices, and consequences. Inherent in this is the understanding that all things are connected and that unity is important to maintain."

Chief Marilyn Slett

Heiltsuk Nation

"The protection and sustainability of our marine environment is a priority for the Kitasoo/Xai'xais Nation. With today's announcement and signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, we look forward to collaborating with Canada and British Columbia on the feasibility assessment for a national marine conservation area reserve, and learning how best to protect the marine environment and the ecological, social, cultural and economic values that it sustains."

Chief Doug Neasloss

Kitasoo/Xai'xais Nation

"Today's announcement is an important milestone in reconciliation, co-management, and ecosystem protection on the Central Coast. Nuxalkmc have relied on the rich marine resources in our traditional territories for thousands of years, and as a Nation we are committed to protecting this important region for our future generations. The national marine conservation area reserve feasibility assessment has the potential to help conserve our shared resources and demonstrate true collaborative governance with Indigenous peoples."

Chief Samuel Schooner

Nuxalk Nation

"True reconciliation requires strong collaboration and consistent relationship building. Guided by the principle of nanakila (to protect and/or keep an eye on) the Wuikinuxv Nation hopes to achieve a balanced approach to marine conservation in important areas and marine habitats along our coast. We believe that the tools provided within the National Marine Conservation Area Reserve framework can help to reach these objectives and allow for joint decision making. It is with these sentiments in mind that we sign this Memorandum of Understanding."

Chief Danielle Shaw

Wuikinuxv Nation

Associated document

Quick Facts

A significant number of spiritually and culturally important areas occur within the study area including petroglyphs, pictoglyphs, burial boxes, village sites, totems, and other areas important for the culture and well-being of local first nations such as harvesting, educational and spiritual sites.

The Central Coast is an important area for marine science and education, as demonstrated by the Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance, Coastal Guardian Watchman, Supporting Emerging Aboriginal Stewards Initiative, Hakai Institute and the Qqs camp.

National marine conservation areas are managed and used in a sustainable manner that meets the needs of present and future generations without compromising ecological sustainability. The establishment of a national marine conservation area reserve in Central Coast would support many sustainable community fisheries which are vital to the local economy. Commercial fishing, except for bottom trawling, is permitted within NMCAs within zones that permit ecologically sustainable use.

BC Parks and local First Nations manage dozens of coastal marine protected areas within the study area.

Parks Canada is responsible for protecting nationally significant places of Canada's natural heritage and sharing their stories, including the history, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples, with Canadians and the world. The Agency protects a vast network of cultural and natural heritage places that include five national marine conservation areas, 171 national historic sites, 47 national parks, and one national urban park.

Parks Canada administered national marine conservation areas and coastal national parks currently contribute 2.12 percent of Canada's 13.81 percent total marine and coastal protected areas.

Under Budget 2021, the Government of Canada has made a historic investment to protect the health of our oceans, including $976.8 million in funding over five years to reach ambitious marine conservation targets through the establishment of marine protected areas (including National Marine Conservation Areas) and other effective area-based conservation measures, such as marine refuges.

Budget 2021 also made a historic investment of $2.3 billion over five years in Canada's Nature Legacy to address the biodiversity crisis, protect and conserve nature, and create jobs in nature conservation and management.

Related Links

SOURCE Parks Canada

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View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/August2021/13/c4122.html
(Bloomberg) -- Israel is prepared to attack Iran, Defense Minister Benny Gantz said, as his country lobbied for a response to a fatal drone attack on an Israeli-operated oil tanker that it blamed on the Islamic Republic.

Asked in an interview broadcast on a local media website whether Israel is prepared to assault Iran, Gantz gave a one-word answer: Yes.

Pressed on whether he sought military action against Iran now, Gantz replied: We must not see Iran only as Israels problem and exempt the rest of the world. Pushed further on whether that confrontation should be military, he said, Yes, yes, and added, and Israel has to do its part.

The defense minister also replied in the affirmative when asked whether Israels military is ready for a multifront conflict that might include Iran.

The United Nations Security Council will discuss the tanker attack behind closed doors on Friday, according to diplomats who asked not to be identified in advance of the session. The U.K. sent a letter to the council this week that it was highly likely that the tanker was attacked by Iran, and the U.S. urged the council to debate the attack.

Israel has said frequently that it is ready to take military action to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, but Gantzs comments come at a time of raised tensions in the region over attacks at sea. Israel says its given allies hard evidence that the Islamic Republic was behind last weeks deadly drone attack off the coast of Oman, and early this week the U.K. Navy reported a suspected ship hijacking in waters near Iran.

The U.S., U.K. and Israel have all said theyd respond to the tanker attack. Tehran denies involvement in either of the incidents, which are the latest in a years-long shadow war being waged on Middle East waterways crucial to oil exports.

Frictions involving Iran have coincided with the installation of an ultraconservative new president, and cloud prospects for talks with world powers over reviving the frayed 2015 nuclear deal that Israel opposes.

Story continues

(Updates with UN plan to discuss attack in fifth paragraph)

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OTTAWA, ON, Aug. 13, 2021 /CNW/ - Canadians expect that their justice system will provide equal access to justice, as well as supporting and protecting people who are participants in the justice system.

Today, the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announced the Government of Canada's support to the Canadian Juries Commission for their project: British Columbia Jury Support Pilot: Jury Duty Peer Support and Mental Health First Aid and Wellness Training for Sheriffs and Court Officers. The project aims to encourage the support and participation of Canadian citizens in jury duty, by providing in-trial and post-trial support for jurors and promoting the importance of mental health within the justice system.

The Canadian Juries Commission will create two mental health training and support programs for Canadians serving jury duty and pilot them exclusively in British Columbia. The pilot will be supported and implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of the Attorney General of British Columbia. The project will develop and implement mental health first aid and wellness training for BC Sheriffs Service and court staff who manage jurors throughout trials. The training is designed to address jury needs and deliver mental health support directly to jurors in court. A Jury Duty Peer Support group will also be established, providing mental health support, workplace resiliency and social support for jurors post-trial.

The Department of Justice is providing funding for $509,400 over four fiscal years through its Justice Partnership and Innovation Program. This program supports activities that respond effectively to the changing conditions affecting Canadian justice policy.

Quotes

"Our government is committed to improving the well-being of Canadians who participate in the justice system. Groups such as the Canadian Juries Commission have done critical work to promote the importance of mental health for people who serve on juries. That is why I am so happy to support their project. The pandemic has impacted the mental health of Canadians and it is important to connect them with the supports and resources they need."

Story continues

The Honourable David Lametti, P.C., Q.C., M.P.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada





"British Columbians who serve on jury duty often hear disturbing details about tragic stories. I am grateful we can partner with the Government of Canada to deliver mental health and wellness supports to those who play an integral role in delivering justice for British Columbians. Juries provide vital public service, and we will work together to keep them safe and healthy during and after their jury duty."

Honourable Sheila Malcolmson,

Minister of Mental Health and Addictions

"Jury duty is the most important civic duty in our democracy and a responsibility owned by all Canadians. The Canadian Juries Commission is deeply grateful for the support of the Government of Canada and Department of Justice to build mental health programs assisting jurors, in partnership with the Attorney General of British Columbia. It is our duty to support jurors during their service to our justice system."

Mark Farrant

CEO, Founder

Canadian Juries Commission

Quick Facts

The Canadian Juries Commission conducted a national opinion study in June 2020, which identified that only 18% of Canadians indicated a willingness to participate in jury duty.

Former jurors have reported becoming re-traumatized from similar cases in the media, or experiencing trauma from parole-hearings of offenders in their own cases  often wishing there was a support service available to them.

Forty per cent of Canadians reported that their mental health deteriorated last

year, and for those with pre-existing mental health conditions that number rose to 61 per cent.

Since 2015, the government has provided funding to the provinces and territories to improve mental health services, made significant investments to support Indigenous mental health services, and has launched innovative virtual mental health care tools throughout the pandemic.

Associated links

Stay connected

Follow the Department of Justice Canada on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Follow Minister Lametti on Twitter: @MinJusticeEn

Subscribe to receive our news releases and more via RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/news-nouv/rss.html.

SOURCE Department of Justice Canada

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View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/August2021/13/c1867.html
FILE PHOTO: A saleswoman picks gold necklaces to show it to a customer inside a jewellery showroom on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, a major gold buying festival, in Kochi

By Rajendra Jadhav and Brijesh Patel

(Reuters) - Physical gold demand in Asia got a fillip this week as consumers snapped up bargains after prices dipped across regions, with premiums in top consumers India and China rebounding to multi-month highs.

Dealers in India were charging premiums of up to $5 an ounce, the highest in five months, over official domestic prices  inclusive of the 10.75% import and 3% sales levies  compared with last week's $1 premiums.

"Retail demand is improving because of price correction. Jewellers are also making purchases for upcoming festivals," said Harshad Ajmera, proprietor of JJ Gold House, a wholesaler in the city of Kolkata.

On Friday, local gold futures were trading around 46,500 rupees per 10 grams, after falling to a four-month low of 45,662 rupees earlier this week.

"Jewellers are operating with lower stocks than normal. Their buying could jump if new COVID-19 cases continue to fall in the coming weeks," said a Mumbai-based dealer with a gold importing bank.

In China, premiums rose to their highest since early June at $5-$10 per ounce over global benchmark spot gold prices from the $1-$4 range last week. [GOL/]

"Gold demand in China was a little better when prices dropped; people rushed to buy gold. But now, it's a little quiet," said Ronald Leung, chief dealer for Lee Cheong Gold Dealers in Hong Kong.

Premiums of $0.80-$1.80 were charged in Hong Kong with an uptick in demand led by bargain hunters, while $1.20-$1.50 premiums were quoted in Singapore.

"We saw an increase of more than 60% in demand as compared to last week for both gold and silver. Many wholesalers and jewellers are also buying during this period," said Brian Lan, managing director at dealer GoldSilver Central.

In Japan, gold was sold on par with global prices, with some demand from investment and retail customers, a Tokyo-based trader said.

(Reporting by Rajendra Jhadav in Mumbai and Brijesh Patel, Eileen Soreng in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
Pune, India, Aug. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global meat substitutes market is set to gain traction from the surging shift of people towards vegan diets, especially in North America and Western Europe. The Vegan Society, for instance, declared that if the world went vegan, it could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by two-thirds, save around 8 million human lives, and save healthcare expenditure by 2050. This information is given by Fortune Business Insights in a report, titled, Meat Substitutes Market, 2021  2028. As per the report, the market size was USD 4.98 billion in 2020. It is projected to grow from USD 5.37 billion in 2021 to USD 10.80 billion by 2028, exhibiting a CAGR of 10.48% during the forecast period.





Unavailability of Fresh Meat amid COVID-19 Pandemic to Bolster Growth of Market

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the demand for meat substitutes across the globe because of disruptions in the supply chain, the absence of employees in meat-processing plants, and the unavailability of fresh meat. At the same time, several types of research conducted amid the pandemic, such as one from the Food and Agriculture Organization, stated that multiple diseases are directly associated with animal-based food items.





Request a Sample PDF Brochure:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/meat-substitutes-market-100239





Segments:

Soy-based Ingredients Segment Held 63.65% Share in 2020: Fortune Business Insights

Based on the source, the soy-based ingredients segment generated 63.65% in terms of the meat substitutes market share in 2020. It is expected to remain dominant in the near future because of the presence of essential amino acids and high-quality protein. Also, the emergence of soy protein isolates that have a close resemblance with the organoleptic properties of meat and animal products would propel the segments growth.





Report Coverage

The research report offers a comprehensive analysis of organizations that can affect the outlook throughout the forthcoming years. Besides, it provides an authentic assessment by highlighting information on several aspects that may include growth drivers, opportunities, trends, and hindrances. It also represents the size of the meat analogs industry from a global perspective by analyzing qualitative insights and historical data.

Story continues





Drivers & Restraints

Increasing Demand for Allergen-free Alternatives to Propel Growth

Plant-based meat made from peas and soy has high protein content. Hence, people are choosing them over chicken, beef, and pork. They also have a meat-like texture. Besides, the rising vegetarian populations and surging trend of health and fitness worldwide would propel the market in the upcoming years. People are nowadays looking for allergen-free alternatives, especially chickpeas because of rising health consciousness. Therefore, various companies are striving to come up with products infused with pea protein. However, meat substitutes are very expensive and it may hamper growth.





Regional Insights

Presence of Flexitarian Consumers to Help Europe Grow in Future

Geographically, Europe procured USD 1.62 billion in terms of revenue in 2020. The surging ethical focus of consumers, high demand from millenials, and the presence of flexitarian consumers would drive growth in this region. Asia Pacific, on the other hand, is expected to be the fastest-growing region on account of the high popularity of unique diet patterns and demand for soy-based meat analogs.





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Competitive Landscape

Key Players Focus on Introducing Novel Products to Meet Consumers Demand

The global market for meat substitutes houses a large number of companies that are currently striving to keep up with the high consumer demand. To do so, they are launching innovative products or are collaborating with government agencies for setting up R&D centers.





Below are the two significant industry developments:

January 2020: Gardein launched its new Ultimate Plant-Based Burger that smells, cooks, and looks exactly like real beef, with non GMOs and soy ingredients. The company aims to cater to the needs of those following a vegan or vegetarian diet.

February 2019: The Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) Mumbai joined hands with The Good Food Institute India to create the worlds first research center backed by the government for developing clean meat. It will be located in Maharashtra.





List of renowned providers of meat substitutes operating in the global market:

Tyson Foods, Inc. (Arkansa, United States)

Greggs plc (Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom)

Marlow Foods Ltd (Middlesbrough, United Kingdom)

Conagra Brands, Inc. (Illinois, United States)

Unilever NV (London, United Kingdom)

Hilton Food Group plc (Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom)

Kerry Group Plc (Tralee, Ireland)

Savage River Inc. (California, United States)

JUST, Inc. (California, United States)

Impossible Foods Inc. (California, United States)





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Major Table of Content:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Emerging Trends

Key Insights Overview of the Parent/Related Markets Regulatory Analysis Supply Chain Analysis Recent Industry Developments - Policies, Partnerships, New Product Launches, and Mergers & Acquisitions Market Analysis and Insights (in Relation with COVID-19) Impact of COVID-19 on the Market Supply Chain Challenges due to the Pandemic Potential Opportunities Due to COVID-19

Global Meat Substitutes Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2017-2028 Key Findings / Summary Market Size Estimates and Forecast By Source (Value) Soy-Based Ingredients Wheat-based Ingredients Textured Vegetable Proteins Other grain-based Ingredients By Distribution Channel (Value) Mass Merchandisers Specialty Stores Online Retail Other Retail Channels Foodservice By Region (Value) North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa



TOC Continued!





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Middlefield Canadian Income PCC Net Asset Value

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Net Asset Value

As at the close of business on 12 August 2021 the estimated unaudited Net Asset Value per share was 128.94 pence (including accrued income).

Investments in the Companys portfolio have been valued on a closing price basis.

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FILE PHOTO: A man walks out of a WeWork space in the Manhattan borough of New York City

(Reuters) -Office-sharing startup WeWork reported on Friday a dip in its second-quarter revenue from the prior quarter, as the emergence of the Delta coronavirus variant stoked a slower-than-expected recovery for the first half of the year.

The company, which is backed by Japanese conglomerate SoftBank Group Corp, said the health crisis dampened its expectations for a rebound in average revenue per member, particularly in the United States and Canada, for 2021 and 2022.

The fast-spreading variant and the subsequent tightening of curbs in some places have compounded worries for office space providers, as businesses opt for shorter leases and many employees continue to work remotely.

WeWork said it had 517,000 members in the second quarter ended June 30, a drop from 612,000 in the year-ago period.

The hybrid-work strategy will help improve sales, the company said, adding that it still expects preliminary July revenue to come in at about $215 million, with $650 million to $700 million sales for the third quarter.

In a hybrid workplace model, employees have the ability to work in different spaces, including corporate offices, coworking spaces, public areas and from home.

WeWork in March agreed to go public through a merger with BowX Acquisition Corp, a special purpose acquisition company, in a deal that valued it at $9 billion. SoftBank said it would retain a majority stake in the company after the merger.

Net loss attributable to WeWork was $888.85 million in the second quarter, compared with $863.83 million a year earlier.

Quarterly revenue dipped nearly 1% to $593.48 million from the first quarter.

(Reporting by Sanjana Shivdas in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu and Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
File: A woman died from a gunshot wound to her head after a toddler allegedly shot her during a zoom call (AFP via Getty Images)

A 21-year-old Florida woman was accidentally killed after a toddler allegedly shot her in the head during a video call, police said on Thursday.

A member attending the same work-related zoom conference call alerted police when they saw the woman  identified as Shamaya Lynn  fall backward with a loud noise and saw a toddler in the background, Altamonte Springs police said in a statement.

Lynn died from a gunshot wound to her head.

Investigators determined that the injury was caused by a toddler who found a loaded handgun, which was left unsecured by an adult in the apartment, police said.

The womans relationship with the child was not revealed by the police. NBC-affiliated Wesh reported that she was the toddlers mother.

According to initial information, the gun belonged to the father of the womans two young children. None of the children were harmed in the incident.

If you own a firearm, please keep it locked and secured, police officer Roberto Ruiz Jr was quoted as saying by Wesh. Incidents like this could be avoided, he added.

The incident comes as the US has been witnessing increasing firearm-related crimes. There have been at least 369 unintentional shootings by children younger than 18 in 2020 and 142 people died in such incidents, according to gun control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.

In Chicago earlier this month, a four-year-old girl was accidentally shot in the chest by another toddler at her home, leading to the girls death.

In North Carolina in February, a 25-year-old mother was accidentally shot dead after one of her children found a gun in her purse.
AUSTIN, Texas, August 13, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--USA Compression Partners, LP (NYSE: USAC) ("USA Compression") today announced that its senior management will participate in the Citi One-on-One Midstream / Energy Infrastructure Conference. Senior management expects to participate in a series of virtual meetings with members of the investment community on August 19, and presentation materials used during these meetings will be posted to USA Compressions website prior to the investor meetings. Please visit the Investor Relations section of the website at usacompression.com under "Presentations."

About USA Compression Partners, LP

USA Compression Partners, LP is a growth-oriented Delaware limited partnership that is one of the nations largest independent providers of natural gas compression services in terms of total compression fleet horsepower. USA Compression partners with a broad customer base composed of producers, processors, gatherers and transporters of natural gas and crude oil. USA Compression focuses on providing natural gas compression services to infrastructure applications primarily in high-volume gathering systems, processing facilities and transportation applications. More information is available at usacompression.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210813005010/en/

Contacts

USA Compression Partners, LP

Matthew Liuzzi, CFO

(512) 369-1624

ir@usacompression.com
After years of pressure, Germany recently announced that an agreement had been reached to return hundreds of priceless artefacts and artworks that had been looted from Nigeria in colonial times and were on display in German museums.

Commonly called the Benin Bronzes, these beautiful and technically remarkable artworks have come to symbolize the broader restitution debate. Why has it taken so long, will other countries follow Germany and what happens next? We asked a leading expert on colonial German history and a prominent voice in the debate around the artefacts, Dr Jurgen Zimmerer, to tell us.

What are the Benin Bronzes and why are they so important?

The Benin Bronzesor rather Benin objects, because not all of them are made of metal; some are ivory or woodare objects originating from the Kingdom of Benin, in todays Nigeria. When the British Empire invaded the kingdom in 1897, thousands of the objects were looted, partially to pay for the costs of the military expedition.

They were later auctioned off in London and elsewhere and soon became central pieces in the collection of many museums in the Global North. Due to their artistic brilliance, they changed the way Europeans saw African art, as they could no longer pretend that there was no art in Africa but only craftsmanship, as the old racist colonial stereotype had it. Nevertheless the Europeans, and later the US, had no problem keeping the loot.

Why are they in the news now?

Almost since their looting, demands for their restitution have been made by Nigeria and other African states. So they were never entirely absent, but perhaps not in the global media. Now, with the intense interest in the question of colonial loot, the focus has also turned to them.

Central for this shift in interest was the announcement by French president Emmanuel Macron in 2017 in Ouagadougou, to return colonial loot from French colonial museums and to commission the ground-breaking report by Senegalese academic and writer Felwine Sarr and the French art historian Benedicte Savoy that ultimately supported his decision.

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So was the approaching opening of the Humboldt Forum in Berlin (which eventually opened on 20 July 2021), one of the largest museums in the world. It houses the collections of the former Berlin ethnological museums and more than 200 Benin Bronzes were meant to go on display there. However, activists and scholars, who had pointed to the problem of colonial loot, have stopped the plans for the moment, not least because of the international media interest.

In Germany, this parallels the attempt to come to terms with the first genocide of the 20th century, committed against the indigenous Herero and Nama people in what was then German South west Africa, today Namibia, which also drew attention to the question of colonialism and its legacies.

How has Germany handled the return?

Poorly, very poorly, to be honest. Those in charge of (cultural) policy and many of the museums were initially unaware of the problem of colonial loot at all. When pressure mounted, they downplayed the critique, ridiculed the critics, then attacked and defamed them. The low point, so far, has been one of the initial founding directors of the Humboldt Forum, the art historian Horst Bredekamp, accusing postcolonial critics of being anti-Semitic.

All this in order to protect both the collections and the traditions of Western scholarship connected to them against the allegationjustified in my opinionof having ignored the racist traits in their histories. Only after pressure both by German civil society and (international) media did government and museums concede that somethe official communique spoke of a substantial numberof the Benin Bronzes should be returned.

Where are the rest of the bronzes?

They are distributed all over the global North. Even if Germany were to return all of the Benin objects in Berlin, this would not amount to much more than 10% of what was looted. To be sure, other museums will follow, or even play at leading the returns, such as museums in the German cities of Stuttgart or Cologne. However, other big museums outside Germany are slow to follow. Colonialism was a European project and so was the looting of art. So all of Europe, all of the Global North are implicated and need to address this issue. Many Benin Bronzes are for example in the US.

The most important collection however, with up to 800 of the artefacts, is in the British Museum in London, which, apparently with the support of the government, has categorically denied the need for restitution. This ties in with a larger debate about taking responsibility for colonialism as a crime against humanity.

In the Global North we are now prepared to concede that there were acts of violence within colonialism, however we have to understand that colonialism in itself was (and is) violence. We have to decolonise and must advance to a position of global social justice, especially if humankind wants to stand a chance of surviving the climate crisis.

What is expected to happen after they arrive in Nigeria?

There is currently an Edo Museum of west African Art being built in Benin City in Edo State in southern Nigeria, which should be hosting Benin Bronzes. How exactly returned artwork is distributed between Nigeria as a nation state, Edo state as federal entity and the Oba Kingas heir of the former kingdom and representative of the Edo people.is still a matter of discussion. Frankly, however, this is not the Europeans concern. What the rightful owners do with their art is their decision, and this must not delay restitution.

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Originally Posted by ssdgrrw Originally Posted by

I feel that if the deal doesn't pass and softbank eventually does an arm ipo, nvidia may just try a takeover, but at least then other players will have a chance to put their money where their mouth is (like qualcomm, apple, and all the other companies who depend on arm ip).



Could result in a big cash infusion for Arm that allows them to grow and become more sustainable and would be preferable to nvidia just taking it over (no, i don't thrust nvidia to be good about it, and regulators shouldn't either! it's like they learned nothing from recent acquisition from big players like facebook for example)
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.

Afghanistans looming collapse

This weeks rapid-fire events raised the specter of Afghanistan falling to the Taliban, which took over the countrys second and third cities after securing at least 16 provincial capitals.



With an apparent balance of power in its favor, the militants are set to march on Kabul, where Washington and allies are rushing in fresh troops to help evacuate diplomats and other civilians. (See our interactive map of how Taliban control is expanding as the governments authority shrinks across Afghanistan.)



As Frud Bezhan reports, the Taliban's capture of Herat and Kandahar is a major turning point in the war.



The simultaneous fall of Ghazni, Herat, and Kandahar has definitely shifted the balance of power in favor of the Taliban, Ali Adili, a researcher in Kabul, told us. Residents of Kabul feel the inevitability of the city being the next possible target.



The Talibans seizure of large swaths of Afghan territory and provincial capitals has given them a sense of invincibility, as Bezhan wrote earlier in the week.



Their momentum has the potential to create domino effects via tribes, militias, and families deciding to bandwagon with the Taliban as the seemingly stronger side, Jonathan Schroden, a former U.S. military adviser, told us. The real strategic danger is that these actions further the Talibans narrative of inevitable conquest.



The White House weighed in by saying no particular outcome is inevitable in Afghanistan as the Pentagon challenged the countrys leadership to fend off Taliban advances. But on August 12, the U.S. secretaries of state and defense assured Afghan President Ashraf Ghani that Washington "remains invested in the security and stability of Afghanistan despite scaling down its diplomatic presence in Kabul.

The human cost of the conflict

The biggest toll of the Talibans sweeping offensive continues to be on Afghan civilians. The United Nations has issued a new warning about an impending humanitarian catastrophe, and officials in the EU and elsewhere are bracing for a potential migrant crisis on the scale of that seen in 2015. Several European countries have decided to suspend deportations of Afghan refugees.



For those Afghans who lack the means to escape the country, however -- a vast majority -- the situation on the ground is increasingly dire. Tens of thousands have been flooding into Kabul, one of the last few cities under government control. In this photo gallery, you can get an idea of the scale of the chaos in the capital as people seek shelter wherever they can find it. Unlike in the past, Afghanistans neighbors Iran and Pakistan in particular seem unwilling to let in Afghan refugees.



For those whove remained in the cities now under Taliban control, life is bleak and full of violence in the streets and skyrocketing prices. One of our videos this week takes you into the sieged cities of Ghazni, Herat, and Kandahar.

The added struggle for women

Most of the people crowded into a makeshift camp at one of Kabuls parks are children and women, one of whom told us a harrowing tale in this video of how the Taliban forced her from her house at gunpoint before killing her sons and forced her daughters-in-law to marry fighters.



They forcibly took three or four girls from each house and married them, Zar Begum said.



In many places, too, women are scrambling to buy up all-concealing burqas. The hard-line Islamist militants have made a point of targeting women for their perceived state of dress. In this photo gallery, we take a look at the renewed demand for the conservative covering.

Horrific accounts of violence

The war-weary internally displaced persons arrive in Kabul burdened with accounts of the seemingly limitless atrocities committed by the Taliban, stories of summary executions, mistreatment of detainees, and revenge killings.



In the latest of a long line of attacks targeting media workers, a radio station manager was killed in Kabul and another journalist kidnapped in Helmand. (Watch our video of a female RFE/RL Radio Azadi reporter whos continuing her work despite the risks.)



A former Afghan commando, Hasibullah Faizi, recounts for us how he was captured by the Taliban when his helicopter was shot down in 2016. In a video, he describes the brutal torture he suffered that left him praying for his own death.



While torturing me, they beat me with the butts of their guns so hard, I still have black bruises on my back, he said. The Taliban tortured me by cutting my testicles, he added, saying he broke off his engagement and his suffering continues to be harder than death.

Russia and Central Asia step in

Representatives of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Russia met with the Taliban in Doha this week after Moscow completed joint military drills with Dushanbe and Tashkent as the hard-line Islamist movement established control along Afghanistans northern border with Central Asia.



But, as Bruce Pannier noted, Central Asian leaders have too often been at odds with each other, even in the face of common threats even 30 years after independence. (Visit our photo gallery of a joint exercise among Tajik, Uzbek and Russian forces near Tajikistans border with Afghanistan.)



Even as the leaders issued a joint statement calling for stability, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan -- who collectively share a more than 2,000 kilometers of border with Afghanistan -- are pursuing vastly differing approaches toward the country. Dushanbe is resisting talking to the Taliban, Tashkent is keen on pursuing a peace agreement among Afghans, and Ashgabat wants little to do with its neighbors troubles.

Echos of Panjshirs past

The residents of Panjshir Valley, high in the Hindu Kush Mountains, are preparing to once again take on the Taliban to keep their homeland as the bastion of resistance that it has long been, first against the Soviet occupation and then against the Talibans regime.



"We are being trained so we have the skills that we need to fight the enemy, said Yusef Ahmadi, one among hundreds of Panjshirs youth being trained for the impending fight. We are currently learning how to handle Kalashnikovs.

China looks to Pakistan for Uyghur model

Reid Standish discusses a new report detailing Beijings use of economic incentives to gain Islamabads cooperation in targeting dissident Uyghurs -- a model China wants to export to other Muslim nations.



Uyghurs who live in Chinas neighboring countries are having their communications monitored, their movement limited, their businesses shut down, and they are being detained and extradited to China, Robert Evans, one of the reports authors, told us of the methods Beijing is encouraging various Muslim capitals to replicate.

I hope you enjoyed this weeks newsletter, and I encourage you to forward it to colleagues who might find it useful.

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Abubakar Siddique

Twitter: @sid_abu



P.S.: You can always reach us at gandhara@rferl.org.
Taliban fighters drag the body of a dead Afghan soldier through dusty city streets, while elsewhere a shopkeeper calmly stacks his shelves and ponders how prices have risen. Scraps of video from areas captured by the Taliban give a glimpse of life there in the first hours and days since the Islamic militants took over.
The United Nations refugee agency is calling on Afghanistan's neighbors to keep borders open as the Taliban continues its lightning offensives across the country.

"We are on the [brink] of a humanitarian disaster," UNHCR spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo told a briefing in Geneva on August 13, as thousands of men, women, and children were fleeing for safety from advancing Taliban militants.

"An inability to seek safety may risk innumerable civilian lives. UNHCR stands ready to help national authorities scale up humanitarian responses as needed," she added.

Afghanistan borders Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. It also shares a tiny 75-kilometer boundary with China.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the UN World Food Programme warned that food supplies for about a third of the Afghan population were no longer assured.

Two million children alone are in need of urgent aid, said the spokesman, Tomson Phiri, adding: "We fear the worst is yet to come."

Phiri said $200 million would be needed by the end of the year help stave off hunger.

Some 390,000 people have been displaced since the beginning of the year, according to UN estimates, but the actual number is likely to be much higher.

Earlier on August 13, a leading international aid organization said it was bracing ourselves for a major humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Photo Gallery: Fleeing Fighting, Afghans Flood Into Kabul And Gather At Pakistan Border Tens of thousands of people have been flooding into the Afghan capital, Kabul, and gathering at the Pakistan border to escape the escalating fighting between Taliban militants and government forces. As more provincial capitals fell to the Taliban, Afghanistan's Refugees and Repatriations Ministry said that more than 35,000 families had arrived in the capital over the last week and that officials are struggling to provide them food and shelter. Share on Facebook

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"Terrified families have been fleeing into Kabul in the past days. Camps are overcrowded and children are sleeping out in the open. Families are fighting over food," said Tracey Van Heerden, the Norwegian Refugee Councils acting country director in Afghanistan.

The escalating conflict also makes the work of aid organizations more difficult and dangerous, Van Heerden said.

"Eighty percent of our projects are affected by the ongoing conflict, impacting the delivery of critical aid to over 900,000 Afghans."

Earlier this week, France, Germany, and other European countries announced a suspension of deportations to Afghanistan due to the deteriorating security situation in the country.

Based on reporting by Reuters and dpa
Iran is calling on the Taliban to ensure the safety of its diplomats and staff at its consulate in the western Afghan city of Herat, as Western embassies and aid groups are evacuating staff from Afghanistan.

The Taliban has seized Kandahar; the country's second-biggest city, Herat; and a string of other Afghan provincial capitals in recent days as international forces withdraw from the country after a two-decade presence, raising fears of the collapse of the Western-backed government in Kabul.

"The Islamic republic is concerned over the escalating violence in Afghanistan, and in light of the Taliban taking control of Herat, calls for guarantees of complete safety for its diplomatic missions and the lives of its staff," Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh tweeted on August 13.

Khatibzadeh said the ministry was "in contact" with its staff in the city, which lies just 115 kilometers from the Iranian border.

Shi'ite-dominated Iran, which has long been wary of the Sunni Muslim Taliban, has closed its consulates in Herat and the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif over security fears.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry's West Asia chief, Rusoul Mosavi, said staff in Herat were inside the mission and that "the forces that now control the city gave guarantees of full protection for the consulate, diplomats, and other staff," the official IRNA news agency reported.

In 1998, when Afghanistan was ruled by the Taliban, its militants killed at least eight Iranian diplomats and an Iranian journalist at the consulate in Mazar-e Sharif in an incident that nearly triggered an Iranian military intervention.

As the Taliban's rapid advance sent shock waves through the international community, the Taliban said in a statement that "diplomats and staff of embassies, consulates, and institutions, whether foreign or domestic, will not only be safe from the Islamic emirate, but will also be provided with an atmosphere of security and trust."

The U.S. military said it would send about 3,000 extra troops within 48 hours to help evacuate U.S. Embassy staff, while Britain said it would deploy around 600 troops to help its citizens leave.

Meanwhile, Denmark's Embassy in Kabul is closing temporarily, and Danish television quoted Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod as saying that staff were being evacuated.

"We have decided to temporarily close our embassy in Kabul," Kofod told journalists, adding that the evacuation would be closely coordinated with Norway, with which it shares a compound.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Soreide said it would also shut its embassy and evacuate Norwegian diplomats, local employees, and their close relatives.

Sigrid Kaag, foreign minister of the Netherlands, said it would keep its embassy open as long as possible, but a ministry spokesman confirmed a drawdown was under way.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Berlin was reducing its embassy staff to "the operationally necessary, absolute minimum," and that a "crisis support team" was being sent immediately to the Afghan capital to increase security at the diplomatic mission.

Planned charter flights would be brought forward to fly diplomats and local staff working for the embassy out of the country, Maas told reporters.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP
The Taliban has captured three major Afghan cities and a string of provincial capitals in a sweeping offensive that threatens the capital, Kabul.

In the past 24 hours, Taliban fighters have seized Herat and Kandahar -- the country's third- and second-largest cities, respectively -- as well as Lashkar Gah, the capital of southwestern Helmand Province.

The insurgents on August 13 also took control of the capitals of Zabul and Uruzgan provinces in the south, while in the west the provincial capital of Ghor also fell.

The Taliban overran the city of Pul-e Alam, the capital of the central province of Logar, about 80 kilometers away from Kabul, just a day after taking control of nearby Ghazni. Both cities hold strategic value for their roads heading south from Kabul.

The capture of Kandahar and Herat represent the Taliban's most significant victories since the broad offensive started in May as U.S.-led foreign forces began withdrawing. In Herat, the Taliban were able to capture veteran militia leader Mohammad Ismail Khan, who had been leading fighters against the insurgents in recent weeks. He was transferred to his home.

Radio Azadi reported that locals had found the bodies of four people who had been shot dead with their hands bound in the Bala Karz area near Kandahar. It was not immediately clear who the victims were or why they were killed.

Earlier, human rights groups accused the Taliban of carrying out revenge killings after capturing Kandahar's Spin Boldak district.

The Taliban now holds half of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals and two-thirds of the countryside, leaving the Kabul government in control of the capital and a scattered archipelago of vulnerable cities as U.S. forces prepare to withdraw in the next month.

The government still holds the main city in the north -- Mazar-e-Sharif -- and Jalalabad, near the Pakistani border in the east, as well as Kabul.

In many cases, cities have fallen to the Taliban with little to no resistance in an eight-day blitz as overextended and demoralized government troops either retreat or surrender.

In Herat, Kandahar, and Lashkar Gah, the Taliban had laid siege for weeks before the cities fell.

As population centers fall to the Taliban like dominoes, the fate of Kabul is now in focus. The latest U.S. military intelligence assesses that Taliban fighters could isolate the capital in 30 days and possibly take it within 90.

With the security situation rapidly deteriorating, the United States and Britain said they would deploy thousands of troops to evacuate their citizens and most embassy staff from the capital.

In Washington, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Kabul was "not right now in an imminent-threat environment," while acknowledging that Taliban fighters were "trying to isolate Kabul."

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace warned on August 13 that Afghanistan was on the brink of becoming a failed state, which could invite the return of the Al-Qaeda terrorist network.

In a radio interview, Wallace said the international withdrawal from Afghanistan was a mistake to have done it that way, adding that well, as an international community, probably pay the consequences of that.

Wallace added that the West "could be back" in Afghanistan if the Taliban "start hosting Al-Qaeda."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reaffirmed his country's support for an inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan, adding that "regrettably, the Taliban decided to attempt to settle the situation through military force."

In response to the Taliban's swift advances, the U.S. military said it would send about 3,000 extra troops within 48 hours to help evacuate U.S. Embassy staff.



Britain said it would deploy around 600 troops to help its citizens leave, while other embassies and aid groups said they also were getting their people out.

NATO ambassadors also met to discuss the security situation and to coordinate national measures to reduce embassy staff in Kabul, as several European countries announced that they were either closing their embassy or dramatically reducing staff.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters after the talks that the "allies are deeply concerned about the high levels of violence caused by the Taliban's offensive, including attacks on civilians, targeted killings, and reports of other serious human rights abuses."

Meanwhile, Afghan officials were meeting in the presidential palace in Kabul on August 13 to discuss the security situation.

The fast-paced evolution on the battlefield comes as world powers gathered in the Qatari capital on August 12 called for an end to the fighting and accelerated peace talks between the Kabul government and the Taliban, which have been engaged in months of on-again, off-again negotiations in Doha.

In a joint statement from 13 countries issued after talks with Taliban and Afghan government negotiators, envoys from the United States, China, Russia, Europe, and Afghanistan's neighbors said they would not recognize any government "imposed through the use of military force."

They also warned that any reconstruction assistance would be contingent on a political settlement.

But the threat of international isolation didn't appear to deter the Taliban from forging facts on the ground.

In a statement, the Taliban said its swift successes on the battlefield were a "sign of the popularity and acceptance of the Islamic Emirate among the nation" because such "great and rapid progress is not possible by force."

They also assured citizens that their lives and property would be protected, urging businesses, health-care workers, and others providing services to continue work. Fighters were ordered to protect government buildings and infrastructure.

An amnesty to "all those who have worked and cooperated with the occupiers" and Kabul administration was also offered if they "embrace the Islamic Emirate," including military personnel.

The UN Security Council is discussing a draft statement that would condemn the Taliban attacks, threaten sanctions, and affirm the nonrecognition of an Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, diplomats said, according to Reuters.

This story includes reporting by Radio Azadi correspondents on the ground in Afghanistan. Their names are being withheld for their protection.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, dpa, and AP
The Talibans capture of two crucial cities in Afghanistan -- Kandahar and Herat -- marks a major turning point in the 20-year war between the internationally backed Afghan government and the Taliban insurgency, observers say.

Kandahar, the nations second-largest city, is the economic hub of southern Afghanistan. It also served as the capital of the brutal Taliban regime that ruled the country from 1996-2001.

The ancient city of Herat, the countrys third-biggest urban center, is a major cultural and commercial hub in western Afghanistan.

Analysts say the fall of the cities in the space of just hours on August 12 has decisively shifted the balance of power in Afghanistan in the Talibans favor.

After effectively seizing control of Afghanistans west, south-central, and most of the north, the insurgents are expected to advance on Kabul, directly threatening the survival of the Western-backed central government.

The fall of Kandahar feels like a game-changing event, says Jonathan Schroden, a former adviser to the U.S. military and a security expert with the U.S.-based nonprofit research and analysis organization CNA.

As a former capital of the Islamic Emirate [of Afghanistan], the Taliban's seizure of it feels like the reestablishment of the emirate inside Afghanistan, he adds, referring to the official name of Talibans regime that ruled from 1996-2001.

Balance Of Power In Favor Of The Taliban

The Taliban had captured 16 of Afghanistans 34 provincial capitals as of August 13 and seized control of over half of the countrys roughly 400 districts in a blistering offensive since the start of the final withdrawal of foreign troops on May 1.

Photo Gallery: Fleeing Fighting, Afghans Flood Into Kabul And Gather At Pakistan Border Tens of thousands of people have been flooding into the Afghan capital, Kabul, and gathering at the Pakistan border to escape the escalating fighting between Taliban militants and government forces. As more provincial capitals fell to the Taliban, Afghanistan's Refugees and Repatriations Ministry said that more than 35,000 families had arrived in the capital over the last week and that officials are struggling to provide them food and shelter. Share on Facebook

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The Taliban seized Kandahar and Herat after weeks of heavy fighting in and around those cities. Regular government troops, special forces, and civilian militias were increasingly overrun in recent days. Many government forces retreated, surrendered, or deserted, with some even joining the militants.

Ismail Khan, one of Afghanistans most powerful former warlords, was captured by Taliban fighters on August 13 shortly after the fall of Herat. The elderly Khan had been leading a pro-government civilian militia in defense of Herat.

In another blow, Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital of the southern province of Helmand, fell to the Taliban the same day, further consolidating the militant groups grip on the countrys southern Pashtun heartland.

The region is a stronghold of the Taliban, a predominately Pashtun group.

Two other southern provincial capitals, Tarin Kowt, in neighboring Uruzgan Province, and Qalat, the capital of Zabul Province, also collapsed on August 13.

Having largely sewn up the south, the Taliban is marching on Kabul, the nations capital and home to around 5 million people. Tens of thousands of people fleeing the militants' advance have taken refuge in the overcrowded city in recent weeks.

Closing In On Kabul

On August 12, the insurgents took over Ghazni, a strategic city in southeastern Afghanistan, directly threatening Kabul. The city is located on the main highway connecting Kabul and Kandahar and is located just 150 kilometers from the capital.

In a further sign that the Taliban was turning its focus on Kabul, the militants on August 13 seized Pul-e Alam, the provincial capital of Logar Province. The city is just 70 kilometers from Kabul. Logar is also the home province of President Ashraf Ghani.

The simultaneous fall of Ghazni, Herat, and Kandahar has definitely shifted the balance of power in favor of the Taliban, says Ali Adili, a researcher at the Afghanistan Analysts Network, an independent think tank in Kabul.

Residents of Kabul feel the inevitability of the city being the next possible target, he adds.

Politicking

The speed and scale of the Afghan militarys collapse has shocked observers. The Taliban has gained control of 16 provincial capitals in just a single week.

Some observers have likened the capitulation to the Islamic State (IS) extremist groups capture of large swaths of Iraq and Syria in 2014, when it declared a so-called caliphate.

As of August 13, the government controls only three major cities -- Kabul, Jalalabad, and Mazar-e Sharif. The latter is a major commercial hub and the largest city in northern Afghanistan. The city, a rare island of government control in the north, has been under siege for weeks.

Afghan forces are now focused on defending Kabul, where a major Taliban assault could cause a humanitarian disaster. It is unclear if the militants will attempt to forcibly take over the city or try to negotiate its surrender. Afghan officials have vowed to resist the insurgents.

U.S. defense officials say that Taliban fighters could isolate Afghanistan's capital in a month and possibly take it over within 90 days.

In response to the Taliban's swift advances, the U.S. military said on August 12 that it would send about 3,000 extra troops to Afghanistan within 48 hours to help evacuate U.S. Embassy staff from Kabul. Other embassies and aid groups said they also were getting their people out.

Washington has declared August 31 as the date when all of its forces will have been withdrawn from Afghanistan -- nearly 20 years after a U.S.-led invasion overthrew the Taliban government.

While there is a lot of politicking that could yet take place to save Kabul from Taliban military capture, the deck now appears to be stacked against the government, says Schroden.
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As consumer focus becomes ever more focused on sustainability, dairy is presented with the challenge of sharing all the hard work the industry has already done in this space. During the August 4 Hoards Dairyman DairyLivestream, the panelists were presented with the question, How do we get that sustainability message to the consumer?

In total, the internationally well-respected group of dairy leaders shared three tips for getting the best of the dairy message out to consumers.

1. Resources

2. Farmers telling the story

3. Building a community of supporters

We have a website  dairygood.org  where people can go to find pieces of information around the nutritional value of dairy, the sustainability efforts, and the commitments that weve made. I think thats a good website to go to and get some references about values, the National Dairy Councils Greg Miller began his comments. As the chief science officer for the organization, he commented on the importance of utilizing these resources to speak to all types of consumers.



The best storytellers

Im glad to hear farmers talking about telling the story because I think its important that farmers help tell the story, Miller continued. They are the rock stars. If theyre out there talking to consumers, consumers love hearing from the dairy farmers.

Echoing those thoughts, Dairy UKs Judith Bryans emphasized the perspective those actively involved in dairy bring to the discussion around dairy sustainability.

Any poll that we do shows that people want to hear about food from the people who produce the food because they can have an honest and open conversation with them, she said. Farmers can bring a totally different perspective to talking to the consumer than a marketing agency.

Build a community

An equally important and effective method for sharing our dairy sustainability story is building a community of supporters who are willing to help.

In Gregs opening remarks, he spoke of a recent experience in which he was at a global conference, Cornells Andy Novakovic noted. A question was asked about dairy that was probably challenging to dairy, and someone who wasnt the dairy guy told our story. Greg made a point of saying how effective that was.



Thats the question we have to challenge ourselves with. How do we get other people to tell our story? he asked the listeners.

While finding influencers that can help tell our story effectively is important, Bryans suggested that we need to be aware of the changing landscape of who these influencers might be.

Sometimes we need those advocates to talk on our behalf, but Id say to you, the world has changed. A few years ago, those advocates might have been celebrities, but theyre not now, she explained. Celebrities go wherever the money is so they will talk for dairy today and talk for someone else tomorrow. It has to be real people and it has to be influencers who are influencing the consumer.

Bryans concluded her comments on the topic with this succinct thought that might serve as the best springboard in helping to recognize what dairys community looks like and how it can help the industry communicate with consumers.

One thing we have found is that when you build a community, the community defends you. You dont have to defend yourself, and that can be quite powerful, she said.

To watch the recording of the August 4 DairyLivestream, go to the link above. The program recording is now also available as an audio-only podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and downloadable from the Hoards Dairyman website.



An ongoing series of events

The next broadcast of DairyLivestream will be on Wednesday, August 18 at 11 a.m. CDT. Each episode is designed for panelists to answer over 30 minutes of audience questions. If you havent joined a DairyLivestream broadcast yet, register here for free. Registering once registers you for all future events.





To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2021

August 09, 2021
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will deploy hundreds of military personnel to Afghanistan to help British nationals and local translators get out of the country, defence secretary Ben Wallace said on Thursday as the security situation there worsens.

The British embassy in Kabul will be moved to a more secure location and will remain manned by only a core staff.

The deployment of protection forces and logistical support has been triggered by rising violence as Taliban fighters capture cities across Afghanistan after U.S. and allied troops withdrew.

"I have authorised the deployment of additional military personnel to support the diplomatic presence in Kabul, assist British nationals to leave the country and support the relocation of former Afghan staff who risked their lives serving alongside us," Wallace said in a statement.

"It is a long planned process and it was important with the current situation on the ground in Afghanistan to make the decision to move to that phase," he told a separate briefing.

The British ambassador Laurie Bristow will be among those staying in Kabul. Last week Britain advised all its nationals in Afghanistan to leave.

The first troops are expected to arrive by the end of the week, and the number could eventually rise to 600. They will include medics and specialist planners to help manage the withdrawal.

The several thousand being helped out of the country include Afghan interpreters and other local personnel eligible for relocation to Britain as well as others who hold British passports. They will take commercial flights.

British forces were first deployed to Afghanistan in 2001 following the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States and played a major role in combat operations until 2014. A total of 457 British soldiers were killed in the country.

The speed and violence of the Taliban advance has caused recriminations among many Afghans over U.S. President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw U.S. troops and leave the Afghan government to fight alone.

Britain also withdrew its troops as part of a coordinated move between NATO and the United States.

(Reporting by William James; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Residents watch a fire near the village of Toudja, in the Kabyle region, East of Algiers (AP)

Algeria has arrested 22 people suspected of being involved in the countrys deadly wildfires that killed at least 69 people, the countrys president Abdelmadjid Tebboune has said.

Dozen of forest fires have hit mountainous areas in northern Algeria since Monday, mainly in Tizi Ouzou of the Kabylie region east of the capital, Algiers.

At least 41 civilians have been killed in the fires, as well as 28 military men who were deployed to help firefighters struggling to contain the blazes that destroyed homes and forests.

On Thursday, flags were flown at half-mast as Mr Tebboune declared three days of national mourning. In a live televised speech, he said: Some fires have been caused by high temperatures but criminal hands were behind most of them.

We have arrested 22 suspects, including 11 in Tizi Ouzou, he said, adding: Justice will perform its duty.

Its a disaster... disaster. But our strength will not collapse, Mr Tebboune said, praising aid caravans from other provinces to provide affected regions with food, medicine and donations of other material.

He added: We must preserve national unity... I insist on national unity.

Algerian authorities have been battling for days to tackle fires that have since spread to several other provinces, with help from neighbouring Morocco and the EU.

The government did send out several different helicopters to fight these fires but these helicopters are only equipped with bambi buckets which have a capacity of a thousand liters, Maher Mezahi, a journalist in Tizi Ouzou, told Al Jazeera.

Theyve called on the European Union to send over some firefighting aircrafts. France sent over two yesterday and those have a capacity of six to seven thousand liters and theyve been a lot more effective in fighting these fires that are in very difficult places.

One villager from Tizi Ouzou district told AFP: I have nothing left. My workshop, my car, my flat. Even the tiles were destroyed. But he said he had managed to save his family, adding that neighbours died or lost their relatives.
1. Yes. It already exists for Fort Hood campuses. The mask policy should be uniform.

2. Yes. Other districts are defying the ban. KISD should put kids first and follow suit.

3. No. Whether a mask mandate is a good idea doesnt matter. Dont break the law.

4. No. Students shouldnt be forced to wear a mask. The governors order is correct.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say. There could be serious consequences either way.

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The Stage 2 burn ban goes into effect immediately for King County, which was already in a Stage 1 burn ban. King Countys ban is in coordination with the King County Fire Chiefs Association and Fire Marshals, which extends the ban into cities.

During a Stage 2 burn ban, any outdoor fire such as a backyard fire pit or campfire using chopped firewood or charcoal is prohibited. Under the ban, any person with a recreational fire who fails to take immediate action to extinguish or discontinue when ordered or notified to do so can be charged with, up to and including, a misdemeanor.

Manufactured portable outdoor devices are allowed, including barbeques and patio warmers that are used in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. Approved fuel devices - including those that rely on charcoal, natural gas or propane gas  are also allowed. Ricketts asks residents to please use caution when disposing of charcoal remains.

Extended periods of abnormally high temperatures have increased the fuel load in the vegetation in our community. The large fire in Oregon and other fires in Washington have stretched wildfire fighting resources throughout the region.

Ricketts says if residents must smoke, they should exercise extreme caution with their ashes or when theyre extinguishing cigarettes. The county asks residents to be diligent and respectful of their neighbors, and to remember this is a demanding time for first responders.





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16-Year-Old Suspected in Fatal Shooting Outside Shoe Store Arrested

A 16-year-old boy was arrested today, suspected of killing an employee apparently trying to intervene in a dispute involving a raffle in front of a shoe store in the Fairfax district.

The boy was arrested on suspicion of murder at about 12:30 p.m. Thursday in the 8100 block of State Street in South Gate, according to the Los

Angeles Police Department. His name was not released because of his age.

Detectives recovered extensive video of the shooting and credited numerous tips from the public with helping make the arrest, the Los Angeles

Times reported, citing information from the LAPD.

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LAPD officers responded at about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday to Melrose and Genesee avenues and found the wounded man lying on the street. The man,

identified by fellow Shoe Palace employees as Jayren Bradford, died at a hospital.

Police later learned there was a dispute between a group of males and females at a shoe raffle in front of the store in the 7700 block of Melrose Avenue.

The boy allegedly shot Bradford in the dispute and fled northbound on Genesee Avenue in a silver Toyota Camry with a temporary license plate number

BC10D32, police said.

Fellow employees at the Shoe Palace told Fox11 that Bradford, a clerk, was killed trying to break up a fight outside the store.

At a memorial created outside the store to honor Bradford, Bennett Francois told KTLA5 about his slain friend.

He was trying to help out  to defuse the situation, Francois said. And now, hes passed away. And the sad thing is, his brother (whos)

like a twin to him, and his mother, theyre all in Colorado. This was an innocent kid; like, probably a straight-A kid while he was in school. So, now, we dont know what his whole potential could have been.

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On Wednesday, Keyshawn Williams, described Bradford as a great co-worker.

He was an outgoing peer who always wanted to make friends so once I got here, Williams told Fox 11. He made me feel welcome like this is somewhere you want to be.


As Taliban militants gained control of Afghanistans second and third largest cities on Friday, the United States and western nations are preparing to send troops to help evacuate workers from embassies in the capital, Kabul.

The capture of Kandahar in the south and Herat in the west after days of clashes is a major loss for the Afghan government. The Taliban also captured the towns of Lashkar Gah in the south and Qala-e-Naw in the northwest, security officers said.

Ghulam Habib Hashimi, a council member, told Reuters by telephone from Herat, The city looks like a front line, a ghost town. Families have either left or are hiding in their homes.

In Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban, witnesses said the militants seized the governors office and other buildings. An official said government forces still controlled Kandahar's airport, which was the U.S. military's second biggest base in Afghanistan.

Since Aug. 6, the militants have taken control of 14 of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals. Of Afghanistan's major cities, the government still holds Kabul, Mazar-i-Sharif in the north and Jalalabad near the Pakistani border in the east.

The defeats have raised concerns that the U.S.-supported government could fall to the militants, as international forces complete their withdrawal after 20 years of war. And U.S. intelligence reports said this week that the Taliban could isolate Kabul within 30 days and take it over in 90 days.

On Thursday, U.S. defense officials announced that 3,000 extra troops would be deployed to Afghanistan within 48 hours to help evacuate U.S. embassy workers.

Britain said it would send about 600 troops to help its citizens leave. The Associated Press reported Canada would also deploy special forces troops to Kabul to help in the evacuation of embassy workers. Other embassies and aid groups said they were also getting their people out.



The speed of the Taliban offensive has raised criticism of U.S. President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw American troops - 20 years after they ousted the Taliban following the Sept. 11 attacks on the U.S.

Biden said this week he did not regret his decision. He noted that the U.S. has spent more than $1 trillion in America's longest war and has lost thousands of troops.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday. They told him the United States remained "invested" in Afghanistan's security and stability and is working in support of a political solution.

The fighting has also raised fears of a refugee crisis. A U.N. official said about 400,000 civilians have been forced from their homes since the beginning of the year.

In a deal with former President Donald Trump's administration last year, the Taliban agreed not to attack U.S.-led foreign forces as they withdrew.

The Taliban also made a promise to discuss peace. But meetings with government representatives have gone nowhere.

Im Jonathan Evans.

Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English based on reports from Reuters and the Associated Press. Hai Do was the editor.

______________________________________________

Words in This Story

evacuate  v. to remove someone from a dangerous place

ghost town  n. a town that no longer has any people living in it;

an abandoned town

isolate  v. to put or keep someone or something in a place or situation that is separate from others

provincial  adj. of, relating to, or coming from a province

stability  n. the quality or state of something that is not easily changed or likely to change
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Pct. 4 Commissioner Steve Smith hopes to ease transition into unit-road system

SMITH

Zavalla resident Steve Smith, a Republican, was appointed to the Precinct 4 county commissioners position after the previous office holder was sentenced to four years in prison last week.

Bobby Cheshire held the office for more than seven years before investigations into his behavior resulted in a plea deal made on Aug. 5 to four years in prison and an understanding he could no longer hold office. Smith was sworn into his position Monday morning and is the second of two seats on the court appointed by County Judge Don Lymbery in the last few months.

Ive been involved with local politics for the last several years, Smith said. A lot of people rely on me to get a lot of information. They know I am involved. So I thought this was a way to help the community.

Smith, who is from West Virginia, has been married to his wife, Judy, for nearly 50 years, and they have a daughter who works down on the coast. Smith and Judy were high school sweethearts and moved to Texas for the first time roughly 30 years ago And aside from a stint in the state of Washington, he has tried to stay in Texas.

I feel like Im a very honest person, Im very Christian-based and I make my own decisions; Im not very easily persuaded  you need to tell me your side of the story and Ill decide if I agree, he said. No one tells me what to do.

He doesnt plan to run for office and said he will pass the position along to whoever wins the 2022 election in 17 months. But in those months he has a few priorities he hopes to help the county accomplish  first and foremost being the establishment of the unit-road system.

We voted, like, 75% for that, he said. The people are saying that that needs to move forward and Id like to help with that if thats the direction the court decides.

The first step was to get a qualified person on board, he said. He intended to meet with the countys sole engineering applicant, Chuck Walker, to make his own decision before Tuesdays meeting. Ultimately, he voted with Lymbery and Pct. 1 Commissioner Rodney Paulette  also a Lymbery appointee  to offer the job to Walker on Tuesday. Walker said he would take some time to think about his decision.

I dont take other peoples opinions to heart  Ill listen to them and make my own decisions, he said.

After the right person is hired, Smith said, he has ideas about how to help the county move forward with the unit-road system. His experience in construction and as a purchasing agent could be useful to the individual who ultimately assumes responsibility for the countys roads to navigate the arena.

He reviewed the county budget before Tuesdays meeting, as well, and came prepared for the meeting and the work done in the afternoon.

Im used to seeing the breakdowns, so this is nothing new to me, he said. I think the budget looks good.

The few questions he had were answered by Lymbery, and he felt good about what he was looking at.

Smith began his career at Union Carbide in Texas City and has worked his way up from the labor gang to managing major construction contracts with budgets up to about $21 million.

Theres not anything construction-wise that I havent been exposed to, he said. Ive built buildings bigger than this and roads from gravel, asphalt, concrete roads. There are not many people that have my background as far as what Ive been exposed to.

After Dow purchased Union Carbide, it did away with the management positions and contracted that work. So Smith was retired early, but later approached by JT Thorpe & Son Inc., another large Houston company, which requested his assistance in purchasing for their large projects.

I took that on, and just with an agreement that, Hey, if this doesnt work out for either of us, we can part ways, he said. And they liked what I did, so I worked for them for a while.

JT Thorpe is an insulation and abatement company, so as a purchasing agent, he worked with projects across the U.S. and connected the teams with much needed supplies.

So you have crews that go out, they need materials, they need rental equipment, they need backhoes, manlifts, those kinds of things, he said. So I had to ship those materials across the United States. Buy them, ship them and get the tools for that kind of stuff.

This required coordinating shipping and pickups, as well, while making sure everything arrived on time.

He intends to use this experience to help the county purchase the right equipment and negotiate those contracts in a way that prevents wasting money. This has been a discussion topic for the court, which is looking at a bunch of old or unusable equipment for one reason or another and questioning how to move forward.

Ive been exposed to that also, he said. You need to look at your equipment and make sure youre not spending more money on maintenance than you could buy a new one for.
3D print of a spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19--in front of a 3D print of a SARS-CoV-2 virus particle. The spike protein (foreground) enables the virus to enter and infect human cells. On the virus model, the virus surface (blue) is covered with spike proteins (red) that enable the virus to enter and infect human cells. Credit: NIH

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have found that people recovering from COVID-19 and those vaccinated against the causative virus, SARS-CoV-2, produce identical clones, or groups, of antibody-producing white blood cells.

Their discovery, reported this week in the journal Cell Reports, sheds light on the selection pressures driving the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants that have the potential to escape from naturally occurring antibodies and those induced by vaccination.

Current vaccines, including those that use genetic material, mRNA, encoding a viral protein to elicit an immune response, are largely protective against the delta variant now sweeping through unvaccinated populations around the world. Yet scientists worry other variants may emerge that are more virulent and transmissibleeven among those already vaccinated.

The findings reported this week could help scientists design more effective vaccines and antibody therapies against a broader range of variants, the researchers concluded.

"We were surprised to discover that there are so many shared antibodies between individuals after SARS-CoV-2 infection, but that is a good sign," said the paper's corresponding author, James Crowe Jr., MD, director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center.

"It was encouraging to find that an mRNA vaccine also induces those clones, which in part explains why these antibodies work so well in so many people," said Crowe, who holds the Ann Scott Carell Chair and is professor of Pediatrics and Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology at VUMC.

Antibodies are proteins produced by specialized white blood cells called B lymphocytes, or B cells. When a virus binds to the surface of a B cell, it stimulates the cell to divide and mature into a clone of identical cells.

The mature B cells, called plasma cells, secrete millions of antibodies into the bloodstream and lymphatic system, some of which attach to the virus and prevent it from infecting its target cell.

The researchers identified 27 public clonotypes, genetically similar clones of antibodies, which were shared by COVID-19 survivors and by uninfected people who had been vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2.

Most of the public clonotypes were formed against part of the viral surface "spike" or S protein that attaches to a specific receptor on the surface of cells in the lungs and other tissues.

This part of the S protein is variable, meaning that it can change, or mutate, in ways that can make the virus virtually invisible to circulating antibodies.

If many people independently make the same antibody against the variable part of the S protein, this may exert selective pressure on it to mutate.

Scientists believe this is what led to the delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, which is more infectious than the original strain of the virus, and much more transmissible from person to person.

In this study, researchers for the first time found two public clonotypes recognizing another, more conserved part of the S protein that fuses with the cell membrane. Once fusion occurs, SARS-CoV-2 enters its target cell, where it hijacks the cell's genetic machinery to copy itself.

Neutralizing antibodies that bind the conserved part of the S protein are of interest because this part of the protein is less likely to mutate.

Variants of SARS-CoV-2 may be less likely to evade vaccines and antibody therapies when its less mutable "Achilles heel" is targeted.

The research was conducted in collaboration with colleagues at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson, and Integral Molecular Inc. in Philadelphia.

Elaine Chen, a graduate student in the Crowe lab, was the paper's first author. Other VUMC co-authors were Pavlo Gilchuk, Ph.D., Seth Zost, Ph.D., Naveen Suryadevara, Ph.D., Elad Binshtein, Ph.D., Rachel Sutton, Jessica Rodriguez, Sam Day, Luke Myers, Andrew Trivette, MS, and Robert Carnahan, Ph.D.

Explore further New 'atlas' charts how antibodies attack spike protein variants

More information: Elaine C. Chen et al, Convergent antibody responses to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in convalescent and vaccinated individuals, Cell Reports (2021). Journal information: Cell Reports Elaine C. Chen et al, Convergent antibody responses to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in convalescent and vaccinated individuals,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109604
(HealthDay)In 2019, there were 1,173 cases of domestic arboviral disease, of which 83 percent were West Nile virus (WNV) disease cases, according to research published in the Aug. 13 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Grace M. Vahey, D.V.M., from the CDC in Atlanta, and colleagues summarized surveillance data for nationally notifiable domestic arboviruses reported to the CDC for 2019.

The researchers note that 1,173 cases of domestic arboviral disease were reported in 2019 for 47 states and the District of Columbia, including 971 (83 percent) WNV disease cases. Sixty-five percent of the WNV disease cases were classified as neuroinvasive disease, for a national incidence of 0.19 cases per 100,000, which was 53 percent lower than the median annual incidence during the period of 2009 to 2018. Compared with any previous year, there were more Powassan and eastern equine encephalitis virus disease cases reported in 2019. In patients with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis, health care providers should consider arboviral infections, perform recommended diagnostic testing, and report cases to public health authorities.

"Because human vaccines against domestic arboviruses are not available, prevention depends on community and household efforts to reduce vector populations (e.g., applying insecticides and reducing breeding sites), use of personal protective measures to decrease mosquito and tick exposures (e.g., repellents and protective clothing), and blood donation screening to minimize alternative routes of transmission," the authors write.

Copyright  2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The WHO said Friday that no further Marburg cases have been identified so far in Guinea but contacts of the fatal case were being monitored twice daily during the critical incubation period.

West Africa's first recorded case of the lethal virus, which is related to Ebola, was confirmed on Monday.

The virus, which is carried by bats and has a fatality rate of up to 88 percent, was found in samples taken from a patient who died on August 2 in Guinea's southern Gueckedou prefecture.

"So far, there are no further cases of Marburg since the index case," World Health Organization spokeswoman Fadela Chaib told reporters in Geneva.

She said that as of Friday, 150 contacts of the fatal case had been identified.

The incubation period of the virusthe interval from infection to onset of symptomsvaries from two to 21 days.

"We have entered the critical time period during which anyone exposed to the virus would be most likely to develop symptoms. This makes surveillance especially important right now and teams are monitoring contacts twice a day. Screenings for suspect cases are also ongoing," Chaib said.

"Efforts are ongoing to find people who may have been in contact with the patient."

The discovery comes just two months after the WHO declared an end to Guinea's second outbreak of Ebola, which started last year and claimed 12 lives.

Although Marburg and Ebola are members of the same family, they are different viruses and can only be differentiated through laboratory testing.

Early rehydration and symptomatic treatment improves the chances of survival.

There is no licensed treatment proven to neutralise the virus, but a range of blood products, immune therapies and drug therapies are under development, said Chaib.

Explore further WHO, Guinea find at least 4 contacts of Marburg virus victim

 2021 AFP
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Chinese health officials said Friday they were bringing the country's worst COVID outbreak in months under control after new infections hit a seven-month high earlier this week.

Multiple cluster outbreaks of the highly contagious Delta variant have spread to 48 cities in 18 provinces nationwide, infecting more than 1,282 people, officials said.

However there had been no new infections in many hotspots in recent days owing to stringent virus control measures, they added.

"Of these 48 cities, 36 have not reported any new infections in the past five consecutive days," Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention official He Qinghua told reporters.

"In these circumstances, the risk of a nationwide outbreak is generally controllable and there is relatively little risk of a large-scale outbreak occurring on the national scale."

State media has described the current outbreakwhich has sparked local lockdowns, mass testing and travel restrictionsas the most severe since the virus first emerged in the central city of Wuhan.

More than half of China's population, 777 million people, have been fully inoculated so far, with over 1.83 billion doses administered nationwide, a National Health Commission spokesman announced Friday.

China has also strengthened anti-virus controls for international flights and cargo shipments in response to the latest outbreak.

"According to the results of genetic sequencing, the sources of infection are all from overseas," said He.

One terminal of Ningbo-Zhoushan port, the world's third-biggest by cargo volume, suspended operations Wednesday after a worker tested positive.

The latest outbreak emerged in mid-July in the eastern city of Nanjing, after nine airport cleaners tested positive for the virus.

Dozens of local officials have since been punished for mishandling the outbreak, as Beijing scrambled to contain the spread of domestic transmissions.

China reported 99 new cases Friday, 47 of which were local transmissionsdown from a seven-month high of 108 local infections announced Tuesday.

Several cases in recent days have been linked to a COVID-19 testing site and mahjong parlours in eastern Yangzhou city, home to 4.6 million people.

Explore further China virus cases rise as Delta variant challenges Beijing

 2021 AFP
A scanning electron microscope micrograph depicting a mass of Yersinia pestis bacteria in the foregut of an infected flea. Credit: Wikipedia

Although the world is focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many other dangerous pathogens still out there, like Yersinia pestis, which causes plaguethe deadly disease that killed tens of millions of people during the infamous Black Death in the 14th century. Although plague has been largely eradicated in the developed world, it still affects hundreds of people globally each year.

When a human is infected with bubonic plague from a flea bite and it goes untreated, the infection can progress and spread to the lungs, resulting in pneumonic plague. The most feared clinical form of plague, pneumonic plague is typically lethal if not quickly treated, and infected patients can transmit the disease to others via respiratory droplets. A team of scientists from Northern Arizona University's Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, led by professor Dave Wagner, recently published their findings from a remarkable study involving antimicrobial resistant (AMR) plague.

Although pneumonic plague outbreaks are now extremely rare, scientists consider plague to be a reemerging and neglected disease, particularly in the East African island country of Madagascar, which reports the majority of annual global cases. With no vaccine against it, preventing mortality from plague requires rapid diagnosis followed by treatment with antibiotics. An AMR strain of Y. pestisresistant to the antibiotic streptomycin, usually the first-line treatment for plague in Madagascarwas isolated from a pneumonic plague outbreak that occurred there in 2013, involving 22 cases, including three fatalities.

Wagner's team, including PMI senior research scientists Dawn Birdsell and Nawarat Somprasong, PMI assistant director Amy Vogler, professor Herbert Schweizer, associate professor Jason Sahl and senior research coordinator Carina Hall, conducted a study of this outbreak, together with long-term research partners at the Institut Pasteur de Madagascar and scientists at the Institute Pasteur Paris and the Madagascar Ministry of Public Health. The results of the study, "Transmission of antimicrobial resistant Yersinia pestis during a pneumonic plague outbreak," were recently published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

"By characterizing the outbreak using epidemiology, clinical diagnostics and DNA-fingerprinting approaches," Wagner said, "we determinedfor the first timethat AMR strains of Y. pestis can be transmitted person-to-person. The AMR strain from this outbreak is resistant to streptomycin due to a spontaneous point mutation, but is still susceptible to many other antibiotics, including co-trimoxazole. Luckily, the 19 cases that were treated all received co-trimoxazole in addition to streptomycin, and all of them survived.

"The point mutation, which also is the source of streptomycin resistance in other bacterial species, has occurred independently in Y. pestis at least three times and appears to have no negative effect on the AMR strain, suggesting that it could potentially persist in nature via the natural rodent-flea transmission cycle. However, AMR Y. pestis strains are exceedingly rare and the mutation has not been observed again in Madagascar since this outbreak."

Explore further Why health officials are concerned about the Madagascar plague outbreak

More information: Voahangy Andrianaivoarimanana et al, Transmission of Antimicrobial Resistant Yersinia pestis During a Pneumonic Plague Outbreak, Clinical Infectious Diseases (2021). Journal information: Clinical Infectious Diseases Voahangy Andrianaivoarimanana et al, Transmission of Antimicrobial Resistant Yersinia pestis During a Pneumonic Plague Outbreak,(2021). DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab606
Credit: Adam Glanzman/Northeastern University

The COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized by the Federal Drug Administration have proved to be far more effective than the wildest dreams of public health officials early in the pandemic. But Sidi Bencherif thinks we could do even better. And the assistant professor of chemical engineering at Northeastern has the data to back it up.

Like many other scientists, Bencherif wasn't studying infectious diseases until the COVID-19 pandemic began sweeping through the world in 2020. His research largely focused on improving therapeutic vaccines for different types of cancer. But when COVID-19 hit the United States, Bencherif and his team wanted to use their vaccine know-how to contribute to the fight against the infectious disease.

Bencherif and his team came up with a vaccine within days of embarking on the project that seemed effective in their lab experiments. The next step was to test it in mice. After injecting the vaccine into the rodents, Bencherif and his team drew blood samples from the mice to determine how many antibodies had been produced and tested them against a fake virus to see how they would perform.

"The data we got was actually better than what was anticipated," Bencherif says. Three weeks after just one dose, he says, the vaccine produced the same amount of antibodies that a mRNA vaccine produced with two shots in 8 weeks.

So he reached out to Anthony Griffiths at Boston University to collaborate on testing the vaccine against live virus. Again, the vaccine that Bencherif had developed performed beyond his expectations.

Bencherif specializes in using biomaterials to improve the delivery of a vaccine. In this case, the vaccine uses a kind of sponge to recruit and train immune cells to be able to fight SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Injected along with that biomaterial in Bencherif's vaccine is oxygen. And that addition could be key in making the vaccine more effective, he says. In fact, adding oxygen more than doubled the amount of antibodies against the virus produced by the vaccine.

In his work with cancer treatment vaccines, Bencherif observed how vaccination could create an oxygen-depleted environmenta state that's known as "hypoxia" in medical terminologywhich then reduced the immune response generated by that vaccination. "So this way," he says, "We can actually prevent this hypoxic environment and then when the immune cells are recruited, they can actually function the way they're supposed to."

Bencherif's research to uncover this teamwork between biomaterials and oxygen to boost COVID-19 vaccines was published in the journal Advanced Science. The team included postdoctoral research associates Thibault Colombani and Loek Eggermont, and graduate student Zachary Rogers. Bencherif has also been awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health to study further how this partnership of biomaterials and oxygen might improve various vaccines and cancer treatments.

"I believe if we deliver oxygen with any vaccine that we have right now, the vaccine will perform much better," Bencherif says.

More information: Thibault Colombani et al, Biomaterials and Oxygen Join Forces to Shape the Immune Response and Boost COVID19 Vaccines, Advanced Science (2021). Journal information: Advanced Science Thibault Colombani et al, Biomaterials and Oxygen Join Forces to Shape the Immune Response and Boost COVID19 Vaccines,(2021). DOI: 10.1002/advs.202100316
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Thanks to the pandemic, Americans have gotten used to having appointments with their doctors and other health providers through video chats, phone calls and text-based e-visits.

But what does the future hold for telehealth, and how can providers, insurers and policymakers use the experience of the past year and a half to decide what kind of virtual care they will support once the pandemic ends?

A new report from the University of Michigan provides new data that could inform them all. The "snapshot" report spotlights a number of disparities in adoption, access and attitudes when it comes to telehealth, through previously unreleased data as well as finding from published research.

It's the product of work by dozens of U-M faculty members and research staff who collaborate with the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation's Telehealth Research Incubator.

The rapid pivot to virtual visits in March and April 2020, when limiting in-person care to the most essential interactions, was one of the most rapid and revolutionary shifts modern medicine has ever witnessed," said Chad Ellimoottil, M.D., M.S., who leads IHPI's telehealth efforts and who was working to encourage and study virtual visits through his faculty role in the U-M Department of Urology for several years before the pandemic began. "Rapid access to data such as these can help decisionmakers at all levels make choices to make the best use of this option, but only if they listen to the voice of the patient and the frontline provider."

Key findings shared for the first time in the report come from an analysis of data from Michigan Medicine, U-M's academic medical center, as well as statewide records from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. The report also summarizes telehealth polling and research already published by teams led by IHPI members.

Among the newly released findings:

1 in 5 patient visits covered by BCBSM as of March 2021 are by telehealth, showing the lasting interest in virtual visits even as the pandemic ebbed.

91% of larger primary care practices in Michigan used telehealth, compared with 63% of solo practices. Larger practices also had a higher percentage of visits via telehealth.

Striking disparities in use of video visits emerged from the analysis of Michigan Medicine data, with much lower use by patients who are older, are African-American, need an interpreter, have Medicaid as a primary insurance, or live in a zip code where less than half of households have broadband Internet access.

Telephone-based audio-only visits have been covered by most insurers during the pandemic, but there are signs this may change once the emergency status is lifted. However, more than 60% of Michigan Medicine patients over age 65 used this option in May through June of 2020, with the percentage going up with age. Patients of any age who live in rural areas are also more likely to use audio-only visits.

When all costs are taken into account, video visits and in-person visits cost approximately the same, and patients were no more likely to cancel or fail to show up for a video visit than they were for in-person visits.

Half of all Michigan Medicine clinicians surveyed say that after the pandemic they intend to offer the same volume of video visits as now. About 40% said their productivity is the same now that telehealth is an option, and 27% say it's higher. A majority said they were able to provide the same quality of care over telehealth and establish the same level of rapport with patients.

In addition to the new data, the report summarizes key findings from studies published by IHPI members in medical and telehealth journals, and from the National Poll on Healthy Aging which released its second report on telehealth used by adults age 50 to 80 last year.
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Patients receiving in-hospital dialysis treatment for kidney disease produce a larger neutralizing antibody response when given the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, compared to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, according to laboratory findings published today (Thursday) as a Correspondence in The Lancet.

It is reported that immunocompromised patients will be prioritized to receive a third dose of vaccine in the autumn, so researchers have submitted their findings to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) as evidence of how best to protect this vulnerable group.

Levels of antibodies alone do not predict vaccine effectiveness and researchers are confident that for most, a complete course of either vaccine will still protect against severe disease or death.

As part of the study, led by the Francis Crick Institute and Imperial College London, the research team examined blood samples from 178 patients receiving haemodialysis treatment.

Funded by Kidney Research UK, the National Kidney Federation, Kidney Wales, the PKD Charity and several Kidney Patient Associations, the project includes patients from across the UK and will, in time, report on over 1,000 haemodialysis patients.

The researchers used robust high throughput viral neutralization assays (laboratory tests), developed at the Crick, to test the ability of antibodies to block entry of the virus into cells, so called 'neutralizing antibodies', against different variants of SARS-CoV-2, including Delta.

In patients who had not been previously infected with SARS-CoV-2, those who had received the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine had six-times higher levels of neutralizing antibodies against the Delta variant, compared to those vaccinated with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. The levels induced by the mRNA vaccine were comparable to those seen in healthy controls after both vaccine doses.

In patients who had evidence of infection prior to vaccination, both vaccines induced detectable levels of neutralizing antibodies.

These findings suggest that patients who have not been infected with SARS-CoV-2 previously and received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, would likely benefit from an early third dose of an alternative mRNA vaccine.

Edward Carr, postdoctoral clinical fellow in the Crick's Cell Biology of Infection Laboratory, says that "unfortunately, the risk from COVID-19 has been much greater for dialysis patients as we've seen high rates of admissions and deaths in this group. The level of neutralizing antibody to Delta made by haemodialysis patients, who have not had a prior COVID infection and received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, might not be enough to prevent infection with Delta."

"Importantly, we've found that this group (without prior infection) respond well to mRNA vaccines and we can use this information to inform future vaccination strategies."

Dr. Aisling McMahon, Executive director of Research, Innovation and Policy at Kidney Research UK, which co-funded the study, said that "this is extremely timely research. We already know that many kidney patients respond less well to vaccines than the general population. The good news is that both these vaccine technologies are protecting people from serious illness. However, many dialysis patients still need to travel to hospital several times a week for life-saving treatment and so remain more at risk of catching Covid-19."

"These findings clearly indicate that dialysis patients (who have not previously had Covid-19) are unlikely to be adequately protected from the delta variant if they received the AZ vaccine. We believe that this study provides strong evidence to support a third dose of an mRNA vaccine as standard treatment as soon as possible for all immunocompromised patients who potentially remain at risk."

Rupert Beale, head of the Crick's Cell Biology of Infection Laboratory, said that "the vaccination program in the UK has been a huge success, but the pandemic isn't over. As most people enjoy increased freedom, many immunocompromised patients remain vulnerable. Our data suggest that delivering a third dose of vaccine will be necessary to protect some patient groups."

Dr. Michelle Willicombe, Clinical Senior Lecturer at Imperial College London and Honorary Consultant Nephrologist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, and Dr. Stephen McAdoo, Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at Imperial College London and Consultant Nephrologist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, co-lead the UK Kidney Association vaccine efficacy group which awarded funding for the study.

Dr. Willicombe said that "the collaborative involvement from kidney health professionals and patients in this study demonstrates the need and common goal of trying to optimize protection for people with kidney disease, who have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19."

Explore further Immune responses after COVID-19 vaccination in kidney transplant and dialysis patients

More information: Edward J Carr et al, Neutralising antibodies after COVID-19 vaccination in UK haemodialysis patients, The Lancet (2021). Journal information: The Lancet Edward J Carr et al, Neutralising antibodies after COVID-19 vaccination in UK haemodialysis patients,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01854-7
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Israelis aged 50 and over began receiving vaccine booster shots against the coronavirus Friday as the government steps up its drive to stem spiking infections caused by the Delta variant.

Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, 56, rolled up the sleeve of his black polo shirt before a nurse plunged a syringe into his arm in Kfar Saba's Meir Medical Center north of Tel Aviv.

"I really hope as many people as possible of my age, 50 and older, will get the third vaccination," he said.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett urged elderly Israelis to get vaccines because "you are in mortal danger".

He said that in the past week, 78 people had died of the virus in Israel, and 76 of those people were above the age of 60.

"None of them managed to get the three doses of vaccines," said Bennett.

"There is a deterioration of the vaccine from month to month, and the third dose recharges the body with powerful defence against the Delta variant."

Bennett also urged Israel's four health service providers to expand their hours of operation so that vaccines could be administered "around the clock, 24 hours, seven days," his office said.

"The goal is to double the rate of vaccinations next week," Bennett said, with his office noting that army medics would be deployed to help the civilian vaccination effort.

The government announced Thursday it was offering third shots to people aged over 50, two weeks after launching a campaign to give the elderly booster jabs.

Booster shots

Israel was one of the first countries to launch a vaccination drive in mid-December via an agreement with Pfizer to obtain millions of paid doses in exchange for sharing data on their effectiveness.

The campaign helped to drastically bring down infections, but that trend has since reversed, driven by the spread of the Delta variant in unvaccinated people as well as those whose immunity has waned six months after they got their initial shots.

Israelis rushed to sign up for the booster shots, with the nation's largest health provider, Clalit Health Services, reporting Friday morning it gave 5,000 shots to people aged 50-59.

"We have hope this vaccination campaign will help reduce the impact of the ensuing surge of COVID-19 infections on the severe illness among the groups that are most vulnerable," Ran Balicer, chief innovation officer at Clalit and the chairman of Israel's national expert COVID-19 panel, told AFP.

A 'great service'

The World Health Organization has called for a moratorium on booster shots until at least the end of September in order to address inequalities in global dose distribution.

But Bennett has said Israel is doing the world a "great service" by administering booster shots and sharing their results.

So far more than 775,000 Israelis have received a third shot, according to the health ministry.

Although the US Food and Drug Administration, which Israel generally follows, has only approved third shots for the immunocompromised, Bennett said experts guided the government's decision in offering it more widely.

Authorities have also encouraged younger Israelis to get vaccinated. Only about a quarter of children aged 12-15 have received both doses.

The drive for more vaccines comes as Israel reimposes some COVID restrictions that had been lifted in early June.

Late last month authorities reintroduced the "Green Pass" that requires proof of vaccination, recovery from COVID or a negative test for entry to most enclosed spaces. The guidelines will apply to children as young as three beginning next week.

Authorities also announced a mandatory seven-day quarantine from next Monday for travellers from nearly all countries, as well as restrictions on gatherings.

Horowitz said he hoped to avert a return to lockdowns the government imposed three times during the pandemic.

"A lockdown is the last resort. It's not a successful solution," he said. "We don't want to reach this point."

Israel's health ministry said Friday it had recorded 6,083 new cases the previous day.

Explore further Israel reimposes more restrictions as virus surges

 2021 AFP
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Most children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) don't outgrow the disorder, as widely thought. It manifests itself in adulthood in different ways and waxes and wanes over a lifetime, according to a study published Aug.13 in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

"It's important for people diagnosed with ADHD to understand that it's normal to have times in your life where things maybe more unmanageable and other times when things feel more under control," said lead researcher Margaret Sibley, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine and a researcher at Seattle Children's Research Institute.

Study authors from 16 institutions in the United States, Canada, and Brazil said decades of research characterize ADHD as a neurobiological disorder typically first detected in childhood that persists into adulthood in approximately 50% of cases. But this study found just 10% of children completely outgrow it.

"Although intermittent periods of remission can be expected in most cases, 90% of children with ADHD in the Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD continued to experience residual symptoms into young adulthood," they wrote.

ADHD is characterized by two main cluster of symptoms, according to researchers. The inattentive symptoms look like disorganization, forgetfulness, and having trouble staying on task. Then there are also the hyperactive, impulsive symptoms. In children, those symptoms look like having a lot of energy, such as running around and climbing on things. In adults, it manifests more as verbal impulsivity, difficulty with decision-making, and not thinking before acting. The disorder affects people differently and looks different depending on what phase of life someone's in.

Some people with ADHD also report a unique ability to hyper-focus. Olympic athletes Michael Phelps and Simone Biles have been open about their ADHD diagnosis.

While many people may experience symptoms similar to ADHD, it is estimated the disorder roughly affects 5% to 10% of the population, said Sibley.

16 years of research

This study followed a group of 558 children with ADHD for 16 yearsfrom 8-years old to 25 years-old. The cohort had eight assessments, every two years, to determine whether they had symptoms of ADHD. The researchers also asked their family members and teachers about their symptoms.

Sibley said the belief that 50% of children outgrow ADHD was first put forward in the mid-1990s. Most studies, she said, only re-connected with the kids one time in adulthood. So, researchers didn't get to see that the ADHD that they thought had gone away actually does come back.

Coping with ADHD

Researchers have yet to find what causes ADHD to flare. Sibley said it could be stress, the wrong environment, and not having a healthy lifestyle of proper sleep, healthy eating, and regular exercise. Also, if a person is not taking the time to manage symptoms and really understand what works best for them, then the symptoms are probably going to get more out of control, she said.

Medication and therapy are the two main treatment for ADHD. But, Sibley said, people can pursue their own healthy coping skills as well.

Researchers found that most people who technically no longer meet criteria for ADHD in adulthood still have some traces of ADHD, but they were managing well on their own.

"The key is finding a job or a life passion that ADHD does not interfere with," Sibley said. "You are going to see a lot of creative people have ADHD because they're able to be successful in their creative endeavors despite having ADHD, whereas people who might be required to do very detail-oriented work at a computer all daythat could be a really hard combination for a person with ADHD."

Sibley said the time to seek professional help is when the symptoms are causing a problem in your life. This includes not performing your best, problems with other people, having a hard time getting along, difficulty maintaining healthy, long-term relationships with loved ones and friends, and inability to complete basic daily taskswhether that's parenting, staying on top of your finances, or just keeping an organized household.

Explore further Study estimates ADHD symptom persistence into adulthood

More information: Margaret H. Sibley et al, Variable Patterns of Remission From ADHD in the Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD, American Journal of Psychiatry (2021). Journal information: American Journal of Psychiatry Margaret H. Sibley et al, Variable Patterns of Remission From ADHD in the Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD,(2021). DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2021.21010032
(HealthDay)Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for teachers now has the support of the United States' largest teachers' union.

"It is clear that the vaccination of those eligible is one of the most effective ways to keep schools safe," Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, said Thursday in a statement, The New York Times reported.

She suggested that teachers who are not vaccinated could undergo regular testing instead, and also said that local "employee input, including collective bargaining where applicable, is critical."

The union which represents about 3 million members nationwidesaid nearly 90% of its members report being fully vaccinated.

Randi Weingarten, the leader of the American Federation of Teachers, expressed her strongest support yet for vaccine mandates this week.

On Thursday, she told the Times that, "Things have changed with Delta raging, and with the proximity of the full approval of the vaccines. Because of those two facts, we are considering all alternatives, including looking at vaccine mandates."

Still, any decision to require teachers to get vaccinated is likely to be made at the local or state level, and teachers' unions have said that their local chapters should negotiate details, according to the Times.

Some states have already moved on mandates: Teachers and staff at public and private schools in California must show proof of vaccination or have weekly tests, and Hawaii requires all state and county workers, including public school teachers, to be vaccinated or be tested.

All city employees, including public school teachers, in Denver must be fully vaccinated by Sept. 30, the Times reported.

Explore further California requires vaccines, tests for teachers and staff

More information: Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more on Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more on COVID vaccines.

Copyright  2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
A medical worker measures the temperature of a homeless man prior to giving a shot of the one-dose Sputnik Light vaccine at a mobile vaccination station in St. Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. Russia has faced a surge in new infections blamed on the growing prevalence of the more contagious delta variant and low vaccine uptake. Credit: AP Photo/Elena Ignatyeva

Deaths in Moscow increased 60% in July compared to the same month a year earlier, health officials in Russia's capital said as the country reported a new daily record for COVID-19 fatalities.

Moscow's Health Department said Friday that 17,237 people died of all causes last month. The number included 6,583 coronavirus-related deaths, which corresponded to a COVID-19 mortality rate of 3.95%.

Health officials blamed the increase on COVID-19 deaths on the more contagious delta variant and unusually hot weather that exacerbated coronavirus-induced complications.

The Russian government's coronavirus task force on Friday reported 22,277 new confirmed cases and 815 deaths, the highest daily toll of the pandemic.

Russia has been struggling with a surge of infections since early June. New confirmed cases went from about 9,000 a day at the beginning of the summer to over 23,000 a day in early July.

Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, who leads the coronavirus task force, said last week that Russia saw a year-on-year increase in July mortality of 17.9%, which she blamed on swelling COVID-19 infections.

Overall in the pandemic, Russia has reported 168,864 deaths. However, retroactive tallies of coronavirus-linled deaths by state statistics agency Rosstat say 316,793 people who had COVID-19 died from April 2020 to June 2021.

Eduard, a homeless man gets a shot of the one-dose Sputnik Light vaccine at a mobile vaccination station in St. Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. Russia has faced a surge in new infections blamed on the growing prevalence of the more contagious delta variant and low vaccine uptake. Credit: AP Photo/Elena Ignatyeva

A homeless man reacts as he gets a shot of the one-dose Sputnik Light vaccine at a mobile vaccination station in St. Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. Russia has faced a surge in new infections blamed on the growing prevalence of the more contagious delta variant and low vaccine uptake. Credit: AP Photo/Elena Ignatyeva

Russian officials ascribe the difference to varying counting methods. They note that the government task force only includes deaths in which COVID-19 was the main cause and uses data from medical facilities, while Rosstat counts all deaths of people infected with the coronavirus and gets its information from civil registry offices where deaths are finalized.

Russia's vaccination drive against COVID-19 has lagged behind other nations. As of a week ago, some 39 million Russiansor 26.7% of the country's 146 million people, had received at least one vaccine dose, while 20% had been fully vaccinated.

Authorities in many regions have made vaccines mandatory for certain groups of workers, including those employed in health care, education, retail, public transportation and government offices.

Explore further Russia sees mortality hike in July amid surge in infections

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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More than 130,500 nursing home residents have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic arrived in the United States20% of all known American deaths.

More than a million of their fellow residents, and the staff who care for them, have gotten sick.

This high toll has focused a spotlight on the special vulnerability of such facilities to all kinds of infectious diseases that prey on older adults, people with serious health issues and recently hospitalized people.

Lona Mody, M.D., M.Sc., welcomes that spotlight, and the change it could bring.

She's glad to see policymakers, regulators, insurers and patient advocates press for better infection prevention in skilled nursing facilities, long-term acute care facilities, assisted living complexes and more.

Mody and her team at the University of Michigan and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System have worked for nearly two decades to study the previously unglamorous topic of nursing home infection prevention.

They and several other teams across the nation have published dozens of studies documenting the special risks in residential care facilities, developing training programs for nursing home staff, and testing ways to reduce infections.

But until the pandemic, progress was hard won.

"Prevention never really sells, but the devastation that COVID-19 has caused has finally brought the issue to the fore," said Mody, a geriatrician at Michigan Medicine, U-M's academic medical center and head of the Center for Research and Innovations In Special Populations focused on infection prevention for short-stay and long-term residents of nursing homes. "I'm glad that people are taking notice and looking at our prior work, and thinking about ways to extend it to their own care settings."

Many of the diseases her team studies don't have a vaccine to turn to, unlike COVID-19. But even as the vast majority of nursing home residents have now been vaccinated, public data shows that a much smaller percentage of nursing home staff have gotten the COVID vaccine. This raises the potential for breakthrough cases in residents as the highly infectious Delta variant tears through the country.

The pandemic also revealed the need for nursing homes to be included in pandemic planning by public health authorities, including supplies of personal protective equipment, Mody and colleagues recently wrote in another paper.

Focus on superbugs

The vaccine, plus masks, separation of COVID-positive patients into separate areas, better ventilation and better training of staff, have helped turn the tide in nursing homes for the moment, Mody says.

But that leaves plenty of other infection risks lurking in nursing homes, ready to be spread between patients, staff and visitors.

Take, for instance, the "superbugs."

These bacteria, which have evolved resistance to multiple antibiotics because of the improper use of the drugs for decades, pose a deadly threat to the same nursing home residents who have fallen victim to COVID-19.

They're called multidrug resistant organisms, or MDROs, and can include fungi such as Candida auris as well as bacteria like MRSA, short for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococcus) and a group called RGNB, for resistant Gram-negative bacteria.

"Even as COVID-19 gets more under control in nursing homes, these other infections are going nowhere," said Mody. "MDROs spread mostly by contact between people and the physical environment inside a nursing home. The approach to preventing their transmission is different from viral transmission."

In a new study published in JAMA Network Open, the team shows that a multi-pronged approach can reduce MDRO levels in a nursing home environment.

The randomized controlled trial, set in six nursing homes, involved 245 patients. Nearly all of them were short-stay patients who had been recently discharged from hospitals, but not yet ready to go home.

Short-stay patients make up a growing sector of nursing home residents, but pose special challenges because they can arrive at the nursing home with MDROs on their hands and bodies from the hospital, and often have an intense schedule of physical therapy and occupational therapy that means they move about within the nursing home and touch a lot of surfaces. Mody's team has documented MDRO levels on both patient hands and nursing home rehab gym equipment.

In the three nursing homes that tried a multi-pronged approach to MDRO reduction, staff were asked to:

Use special precautions and personal protective equipment when caring for a patient with an open wound, catheter or feeding tube,

Use an antimicrobial liquid called chlorhexidine on the skin of at-risk patients after helping them shower,

Clean their hands and patients' hands more often,

Follow specific cleaning protocols and

Undergo additional infection prevention training.

The three nursing homes also conducted proactive surveillance to sample for the presence of MDROs.

In all, the patients' rooms in these three homes had a 43% lower chance of having MDROs present, compared with the three homes that didn't implement the new approach.

While the study didn't specifically look at any MDRO-related illness the patients might have experienced, "Patients and their care environment are linked in terms of MDROs. If the patient is positive for an MDRO on them, then the environments around them may be, and vice versa," Mody said.

Past research has shown that patients who come to nursing homes from hospitals, whether for a short stay before going home, or returning to their nursing home room after a health event, are more likely to have MDROs on them the longer their hospital stay was.

That's because the sicker they were, and the longer they were hospitalized, the more likely they were to lose immune system and physical function, and to receive antibiotics that can kill off other bacteria that could fight off MDROs. Targeted interventions are needed for these patients when they get to nursing homes, so that their MDROs do not spread to other residentsfor instance, on the hands of staff or the physical therapy gym equipment. Mody's team has even reported on the presence of MDROs on the privacy curtains in patient rooms.

Focus on UTIs

Another key area of infection prevention in nursing homes is fending off urinary tract infectionsa common problem given that many nursing home residents have incontinence and must wear absorptive products or use a catheter inserted into their ureter.

Both are breeding grounds for bacteria and catheters can carry infections further into the body. And UTIs can lead to behavior changes, especially in residents with memory or cognitive issues, as well as raising the risk of more serious infections and even sepsis.

A recent presentation by Mody's team at the annual meeting of the Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology shared preliminary results from a three-year effort to prevent UTIs and catheter-associated UTIs in 55 nursing homes across Michigan. It builds on earlier evidence from a smaller study and a large national study showing that concerted efforts to prevent UTIs can have an impact on MDROs and patient infection rates.

The recently presented data show high rates of infection prevention policies, tracking of UTIs and reporting data to leadership, but suggest a need for more consistent training of staff, tracking of staff hand hygiene and PPE supplies, and use of methods to ensure catheters are used only when necessary.

More research needed

Mody and others in the field came together to write a white paper calling for more research on nursing home infection prevention, recently published by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

The COVID-19 death toll in nursing homes, combined with other trends toward Americans' desire to "age in place" that preceded the pandemic, and potential policies to increase Medicare coverage of home-based caregiving, may change the role of these institutions, Mody said. But even so, millions of people live in nursing homes and other residential care facilities, even if some are only there for a few weeks. So, focusing on infection prevention will still be important.

Assisted living facilities are much less likely to be regulated by state licensing agencies, and are not subject to Medicare's public reporting or grading system. That makes them an important frontier for new focus on infection prevention, even though their residents are less seriously ill or disabled.

"All care settings should invest in safety for their residents, and teach residents and staff alike about good hand hygiene and other practices," Mody said. "Families can do more as well, by asking the right questions, offering to help, and being part of the solution."

Explore further Largest operator of nursing homes in U.S. issues vaccine mandate for all workers

More information: "Effectiveness of a Multicomponent Intervention to Reduce Multidrug-Resistant Organisms in Nursing Homes," JAMA Netw Open. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.1655 Journal information: JAMA Network Open "Effectiveness of a Multicomponent Intervention to Reduce Multidrug-Resistant Organisms in Nursing Homes,"
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Russia on Friday recorded its highest daily coronavirus death toll for a second day running, even as the country's outbreak epicentre Moscow lifted some restrictions.

A government tally showed 815 COVID-19 fatalities over the past 24 hours and 22,277 new cases.

Russia, the fourth worst-hit country in the world in terms of cases, has since mid-June been hit by a new wave of infections driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant.

The new figures bring Russia's total fatalities from COVID-19 to 168,864the highest toll in Europe.

This figure, however, only takes into account deaths where the virus was established as the primary cause of death after a post-mortem.

Under a broader definition for deaths linked to the coronavirus, statistics agency Rosstat said that Russia has seen more than 300,000 fatalities as of the end of June.

And on Friday, Moscow's health department reported that the city saw 6,583 deaths from the virus in July, making it the capital's deadliest month since the start of the pandemic.

Sluggish vaccination drive

Authorities have faced a vaccine-sceptic population, with a poll by the independent Levada Centre this week showing that 55 percent of Russians do not plan to get jabbed.

Moscow as well as a host of regions have introduced mandatory vaccination measures to speed up the country's inoculation drive, and President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly called on Russians to get vaccinated.

"It's of course not good that the deaths are rising so quickly. I hope that people will get vaccinated faster," Nikita, a bank worker in Moscow, told AFP.

While Russia has three homegrown vaccines available to the population, it does not distribute any Western-made jabs.

As of Friday, just over 30 million of Russia's around 146 million people had been fully vaccinated, according to the Gogov website, which tallies COVID data from the regions.

Moscow on Friday proceeded with easing virus restrictions, mayor Sergei Sobyanin lifting a requirement for employers to keep at least 30 percent of employees working from home.

Sobyanin said on his website that the pandemic "continues to retreat" and the number of new hospitalisations in the capital has more than halved when compared to mid-June.

Neighbouring Georgia, a former Soviet republic in the Caucasus, meanwhile tightened restrictions this week as new infections surged.

The measures announced on Thursday include the suspension of public transport within Georgian cities and a ban on mass gatherings such as festivals, concerts and sporting events.

The restrictions will be in place from August 14 until September 4.

"The epidemic situation in the country is hard and we expect the new regulations to stabilise the spread of the infection in two weeks," Georgia's Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze said Friday.

Explore further Russia posts record daily virus fatalities

 2021 AFP
In this image of a mouse brain cross-section, a cluster of neurons that play a critical role in regulating breathing during an opioid overdose is highlighted in bright green. Credit: Salk Institute

It's long been known that opioid overdose deaths are caused by disrupted breathing, but the actual mechanism by which these drugs suppress respiration was not understood. Now, a new study by Salk scientists has identified a group of neurons in the brainstem that plays a key role in this process.

The findings, published June 8 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, show how triggering specific receptors in these neurons causes opioid-induced respiratory depression, or OIRD, the disrupted breathing that causes overdose deaths. It also shows how blocking these receptors can cause OIRD to be reversed.

"The underlying mechanism of why opiates slow down and depress the breathing rhythm has not been fully characterized," says senior investigator Sung Han, assistant professor in Salk's Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology. "This knowledge can provide a stepping stone to better treatment options for OIRD."

The U.S. saw more than 93,000 overdose deaths in 2020, of which an estimated 60 percent were attributed to opioids like fentanyl. Opioids work by binding to proteins on nerve cells (neurons) called opioid receptors and subsequently inhibiting their activity. Currently, naloxone is the only medication known to block the effects of opioids and reverse an overdose. But naloxone has limitations, including a short duration that requires it to be administered multiple times. It also works systemically, blocking opioid receptors throughout the entire body, including those that control pain.

To develop strategies to rescue OIRD with more specificity, Han's team set out to search for the breathing neurons in the brain that also carry opioid receptors. In the new study, the researchers identified a group of neurons that express a certain type of opioid receptor (the mu opoid receptor) and are located in the brainstem breathing modulation center; they then characterized these neurons' role in OIRD.

They found that mice that were genetically engineered to lack opioid receptors in these neurons didn't have their breathing disrupted when exposed to morphine, as mice in the control group did. The researchers also found that, without introducing opioids, stimulating these receptors in control mice caused symptoms of OIRD.

The team then looked at ways to reverse the process by treating the overdosed mice with chemical compounds targeted to other receptors on the same neurons, which play an opposite role as the opioid receptor (activating rather than inhibiting them).

"We discovered four different chemical compounds that successfully activated these neurons and brought back the breathing rate during OIRD," said first author Shijia Liu, a graduate student in the Han lab. Recovery in overdosed mice was close to 100 percent, which surprised the team.

The researchers next plan to look at whether other cell groups also play a role in OIRD. Further study would also examine the connection between breathing regulation and pain perception in the brain, potentially opening the door to developing more targeted treatments for OIRD.

"We hope to explain the pain-breathing segregation at the molecular or microcircuit level," says Han, who holds the Pioneer Fund Development Chair. "By doing that, we can try to restore breathing without touching analgesic effects of opioids."

Other authors on the study are Dong-Il Kim, Tae Gyu Oh, Gerald M. Pao, Jong-Hyun Kim, Kuo-Fen Lee and Ronald M. Evans of Salk; Richard Palmiter of the University of Washington; and Matthew R. Banghart of the University of California San Diego.

Explore further Administering opioids to pregnant mice alters behavior and gene expression in offspring

More information: Shijia Liu et al, Neural basis of opioid-induced respiratory depression and its rescue, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Shijia Liu et al, Neural basis of opioid-induced respiratory depression and its rescue,(2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2022134118
ALS-linked mutations of optineurin (OPTN) and depletion of OPTN delay clearance of SGs and increases ubiquitinated TDP-43 levels by increasing TIA1. Credit: Niigata University

Stephen Hawking, the world-famous theoretical physicist, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the age of 21. ALS is a rare motor neuron disease that usually affects individuals over the age of 60. Hawking survived for another 55 years, defying the odds. Hawking's illness, on the other hand, is an anomaly, since the majority of patients live just around 2-4 years after diagnosis. While the disease is rare, it has a major socioeconomic impact since people suffer motor degeneration and, ultimately, paralysis.

Although the cause of ALS is unclear, a team of Japanese scientists headed by Prof. Masahiro Fujii of Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences and the Brain Research Institute is making significant progress in unraveling the underlying causative mechanisms. The accumulation of ubiquitinated TDP-43 (Ub-TDP-43) protein aggregates in motor neurons is a hallmark of ALS, and Prof. Fujii and colleagues have shown that a protein called optineurin (OPTN) inhibits the formation of Ub-TDP-43 aggregates in stress-induced stress granules (SGs), whereas the OPTN mutants derived from the ALS patients induce Ub-TDP-43 aggregates in SGs.

These SGs are generated in the cytoplasm of cells in response to a number of stressors, including heat shock and oxidation, and are subsequently eliminated spontaneously when the degree of stress diminishes. In their recent work, Prof. Fujii and fellow scientists, produced OPTN knockdown (OPTN-KD) cells and found an increase in the size of SGs, a delay in SG clearance and an accumulated Ub-TDP-43 in SGs after stress removal, which is characteristic of aberrant SGs. Additionally, they established a connection between this and an increase in the expression of TIA1, another protein implicated in the development of ALS.

This team of scientists demonstrated a direct link between OPTN-KD-induced increases in TIA1 protein and the formation of Ub-TDP-43-positive SGs in OPTN-KD cells.

Optineurin inhibits TIA1 transcription through an NF-B-independent manner. Credit: Niigata University

Due to the delayed clearance of these aberrant SGs, neurons accumulate Ub-TDP-43 aggregates, which show toxicity to neurons, culminating in the characteristic neuron degeneration seen in ALS patients.

"This discovery elucidates the process by which Ub-TDP-43 aggregates develop in the brains of ALS patients with optineurin or TIA1 mutations and explains how ubiquitinated proteins aggregate in neurodegenerative disorders such as ALS," Prof. Fujii explained in an interview.

Genetic variables, particularly mutations, are also important in ALS, particularly familial ALS. Previously, mutations in the OPTN and TIA1 genes were identified as causative factors in familial ALS with TDP-43 aggregation pathology. "Our findings indicate that ALS-associated OPTN loss-of-function mutations increase the quantity of Ub-TDP-43 in neurons via raising the expression of TIA1, thus enhancing Ub-TDP-43 aggregation," added Prof. Fujii.

To further understand the mechanisms by which OPTN suppresses TIA1 expression, the scientists looked at the NF-B signaling pathway, since previous research has shown that OPTN inhibits NF-B-mediated gene transcription. On the other side, the OPTN-KD increased the levels of TIA1 mRNA, whereas an NF-B inhibitor had no effect, suggesting that this process is not NF-B dependent. While it is a breakthrough that this study establishes a significant link between OPTN and aberrant SG formation, elevated TIA1 expression, ubiquitination, and TDP-43 aggregation, future research efforts should be directed toward understanding the mechanism by which OPTN regulates TIA1.

The research was published in iScience.

Explore further Researchers identify biochemical process responsible for producing toxic tau

More information: Taichi Kakihana et al, The optineurin/TIA1 pathway inhibits aberrant stress granule formation and reduces ubiquitinated TDP-43, iScience (2021). Journal information: iScience Taichi Kakihana et al, The optineurin/TIA1 pathway inhibits aberrant stress granule formation and reduces ubiquitinated TDP-43,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102733

Provided by Niigata University
Fig 1. Mean monthly cost of care by malignancy type.(A) Haematolgy. (B) Solid tumor. The shaded area represents excess cost associated with sepsis, solid line represents mean monthly cost of care among sepsis (cases) and dotted line for no sepsis (controls). Credit: DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255107

New health economics research led by the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the University of Melbourne has found sepsis can double the costs of cancer care.

Sepsis is a life-threatening illness caused by the body's response to infection, says Peter Mac's Associate Director of Health Services Research, Professor Karin Thursky, who is a senior author on the paper.

"Our best estimates are cancer patients are 10 times more likely to develop sepsis and die than non-cancer patients, due to their existing disease and the treatments they are receiving," Professor Thursky says.

As an infectious diseases physician she has pioneered programs to better recognize and manage sepsis in cancer patients.

Today's study, which was published overnight in the journal PLOS ONE, used Canadian data to track the impact of the overall use of public health services by more than 75,000 cancer patients with sepsis over five years.

The researchers could then estimate the short- and long-term costs of their care. For example, the additional cost of caring for a patient with a solid tumor who developed sepsis was over CA$60,000 over five years, and over CA$75,000 for a patient with blood cancer.

"By quantifying the economic burden of sepsis in cancer patients we have an indication of the extent of the costs associated with sepsis, and this can be used to better align resources for more efficient care of our patients," says lead author and health economist Dr. Michelle Tew, a researcher at both Peter Mac and the University of Melbourne.

"We don't yet have such an incredible linked data source in Australia, but working with the Canadian team and the ICES has been a fantastic collaboration to prepare for our digital health future," Professor Thursky says.

"While it was using Canadian data, the similarities between our healthcare systems, occurrence of cancer and treatment strategies, means we believe these results are also valuable to the Australian context," says senior co-author Professor Andrew Morris, an infectious disease physician at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Canada.

"Studies like this show how important health economics research is to improve health service delivery for our patients," Professor Thursky says.

Explore further Recognize sepsis as a separate cause of illness and death

More information: Michelle Tew et al, Excess cost of care associated with sepsis in cancer patients: Results from a population-based case-control matched cohort, PLOS ONE (2021). Journal information: PLoS ONE Michelle Tew et al, Excess cost of care associated with sepsis in cancer patients: Results from a population-based case-control matched cohort,(2021). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255107

Provided by Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Over one in 10 COVID-19 patients in 314 UK hospitals were infected after admission. Credit: Lancaster University

More than one in ten COVID-19 patients in 314 UK hospitals caught the infection in hospital during the first pandemic wave say researchers conducting the world's largest study of severe COVID-19.

The research into hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) was led by Dr. Jonathan Read from Lancaster University with colleagues from other UK universities including the Universities of Liverpool, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Imperial College London, and is published in The Lancet today, Thursday August 12th.

The researchers examined records of COVID-19 patients in UK hospitals enrolled in the International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infections Consortium (ISARIC) Clinical Characterisation Protocol UK (CCP-UK) study, who became ill before 1st August 2020.

They found that at least 11.1% of COVID-19 patients in 314 UK hospitals were infected after admission. The proportion of COVID-19 patients infected in hospital also rose to between 16% and 20% in mid-May 2020, long after the peak of admissions in the first wave.

The researchers said: "We estimate between 5,699 and 11,862 patients admitted in the first wave were infected during their stay in hospital. This is, unfortunately, likely to be an underestimate, as we did not include patients who may have been infected but discharged before they could be diagnosed."

Dr. Jonathan Read, lead author at Lancaster University, said "Controlling viruses like SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) has been difficult in the past, so the situation could have been much worse. However, infection control should remain a priority in hospitals and care facilities."

Dr. Chris Green, University of Birmingham, said: "There are likely to be a number of reasons why many patients were infected in these care settings. These include the large numbers of patients admitted to hospitals with limited facilities for case isolation, limited access to rapid and reliable diagnostic testing in the early stages of the outbreak, the challenges around access to and best use of PPE, our understanding of when patients are most infectious in their illness, some misclassification of cases due to presentation with atypical symptoms, and an under-appreciation of the role of airborne transmission."

There were marked differences in the numbers of patients infected in hospital according to the type of care provided. Hospitals providing acute and general care had lower proportions of hospital acquired infections (9.7%) than residential community care hospitals (61.9%) and mental health hospitals (67.5%), which reflects the outbreaks seen in care-homes.

Professor Calum Semple, University of Liverpool, said: "The reasons for the variation between settings that provide the same type of care requires urgent investigation to identify and promote best infection control practice. Research has now been commission to find out what was done well and what lessons need to be learned to improve patient safety."

Dr. Anne Marie Docherty, University of Edinburgh, said: "The underlying reasons for these high rates of transmission in hospitals at the peak of the first wave must be investigated, so that we can improve safety and outcomes for our patients. Rates are considerably lower a year on, and people should not be deterred from attending hospital if they are unwell."

Explore further How COVID-19 survival improved in UK hospitals during first wave

More information: Jonathan M Read et al, Hospital-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection in the UK's first COVID-19 pandemic wave, The Lancet (2021). Journal information: The Lancet Jonathan M Read et al, Hospital-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection in the UK's first COVID-19 pandemic wave,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01786-4
Transmission electron microscope image of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, emerging from human cells. Credit: NIAID

COVID-19 breakthrough infectionswhere a fully vaccinated person becomes infected with the coronavirusare occurring across the globe, due, in large part, to the highly contagious Delta variant. Here in the United States, many Americans are concerned for their unvaccinated loved ones, including children and those who are immuno-compromisedand given this news, for themselves as well.

Many of us believed that the COVID-19 vaccines offered complete protection from infection, not just from severe disease and death. And though these breakthrough cases are relatively rare, they are a reminder that the pandemic is far from over.

Apart from getting sick, there is also worry that with the Delta variant, a fully vaccinated person who becomes infected may spread the coronavirus to others. According to recent reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this can happena finding that may be a game-changer, affecting decisions on how to safely go back to school; return to the office; attend concerts or theater and sporting events; and even whether it's safe to date.

"The CDC data comes at a critical time, when casesmostly due to the Delta variantare on the rise in the U.S. Areas with low vaccination coverage are being hit especially hard with the highest daily case rates in months," says Yale Medicine infectious diseases expert Jaimie Meyer, MD, MS. "Even though many people were ready to throw away their masks and get back to 'normal' life this summer, the latest spikes show us that the pandemic persists. We have to use the CDC data to reassess our understanding of our personal and community risk."

Breakthrough cases and Delta: Background

Until recently, scientists were unsure whether fully vaccinated people who became infected with COVID-19 could transmit it to others. But the CDC report released in late July made it clear that some vaccinated people can get Delta in a breakthrough infectionand may be contagious.

The CDC added that breakthrough infections "occur in only a small proportion of vaccinated people and of the breakthrough infections, transmission by the vaccinated appears to only be a small part of overall spread of the virus." But the CDC says it does not yet have data on the likelihood of asymptomatic spread among vaccinated people.

So, where does that leave us?

What we do know, says Dr. Meyer, is that there is less circulating virus in the community as a result of vaccination. "When we look at vaccinations compared to cases on a population level[view the CDC COVID Data Tracker]we see that as the number of people vaccinated rises, the number of cases decreases," she says. "This is likely due to the fact that people who are vaccinated are not becoming infected as often, but also that they are not 'forward-transmitting' the virus as often."

But more research is needed. The CDC says that "studies are underway to understand the level and duration of transmissibility from Delta vaccine breakthrough infections."

Trials focused on infection, not on transmission

How can it be that after conducting clinical trials that involved tens of thousands of people, there was still uncertainty about whether the three authorized COVID-19 vaccinesfrom Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnsoncould prevent or reduce transmission?

In large part, it's because the clinical trials for these vaccines were primarily focused on determining whether the vaccines protected against symptomatic COVID-19 infection. And though the trials showed that the vaccines are very effective in preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death, none were found to be 100% protective against infection, meaning that some trial participants had mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 cases, even after vaccination.

With the initial coronavirus strain, or even with the Alpha variant, the post-vaccine immune response is usually fast and potent enough that it clears out the infection quicklybefore the virus can spread far in the body or serious symptoms have a chance to develop. But because infection could technically occur, transmission was still considered a possibilityalbeit a remote one.

But those trials were conducted prior to the emergence of what the CDC refers to as "variants of concern"mutated versions of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Evidence shows that these variants may be more transmissible and may cause more severe disease than the original strain. What's more, vaccines may be less effective against some of them, including Delta, which is now the dominant variant here in the U.S.

"The Delta variant is showing every day its willingness to outsmart us," said CDC director Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH, at a recent news briefing.

What's required for a vaccine to be 100% effective at preventing infection

In order to entirely prevent infection, vaccines would need to induce what's called "sterilizing immunity," a type of immunity that prevents a pathogenin this case the coronavirusfrom infecting any cells. If the virus cannot infect cells, then the host (in this case, a person) cannot transmit it to others.

In a best-case scenario, all vaccines would provide sterilizing immunity, meaning they would protect against disease and prevent transmission. But in practice, most vaccines don't do this. The influenza, rotavirus, and pertussis vaccines, among others, can prevent serious illness from developing, but they don't reach the level of sterilizing immunity.

The same is true for the three authorized COVID-19. But studies of the real-world effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines suggest that they can substantially reduce the risk of infection. (Researchers are still gathering real-world info about how well the Johnson & Johnson vaccine protects against infection.)

And reducing infection is tied to reducing transmission. "If you're not infected, you can't transmit," says Dr. Meyer. "Vaccines prevent infection; therefore, vaccines also prevent onward transmission."

But with reports of breakthrough cases, the worry about transmissibility remains top-of-mind for many, even ifor perhaps becausethere is a lack of data on all aspects of the issue. "What we don't haveto my knowledgeis a clear epidemiologic study that maps out how many new COVID cases are directly traced back to someone who was infected after vaccination," says Dr. Meyer.

Why don't we have data on breakthrough cases?

Up until May 1, 2021, the CDC recorded all breakthrough cases, whether mild, moderate, or severe. But starting on May 1, they began recording only breakthrough cases that resulted in hospitalization or death. The CDC explains that they made this change to "help maximize the quality of data collected on cases of greatest clinical and public health importance."

But this means that in the U.S. we do not know how often breakthrough cases occur or which variants are causing breakthroughs (though given that over 83% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. are from the Delta variant, it is probable that many of the breakthrough cases, at least recently, are from Delta).

So, should you worry that a fully vaccinated person who may have an asymptomatic breakthrough case can unknowingly transmit the virus to someone who is unvaccinated?

I would say it's not likely, but we don't yet know with certainty, says Dr. Meyer. "Theoretically, it may be true that people are being infected by their asymptomatic vaccinated contacts, but we're just not seeing that clinically," she says. "And the verdict is out on this in terms of the epidemiologic data."

Viral load and transmission

There is also another considerationthe role viral load may play in transmission. A study published in February 2021 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases found that the viral loadthe amount of virus in a person's body (in this case, in the nose and throat)is a critical factor in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

Specifically, the study concluded that those with higher viral loads are more likely to transmit the virus to others. In March, another study from Israel found that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, even after just a single dose, significantly reduced viral loadwhich suggests that it may also lower the risk of transmission. But it did not evaluate whether vaccinated people could transmit the virus, even if their viral loads were reduced. Nor did it take into account the Delta variant.

A recent study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, demonstrated that people infected by the Delta variant had viral loads roughly 1000 times higher than those infected by the initial strain of the virus.

"The higher viral loads may play a role in increasing the risk of transmission, because each droplet can be packed with more virus," says Dr. Meyer.

But the extent to which it does so in unvaccinated and vaccinated people is still unclear.

Other features of the Delta variant may factor into its increased transmissibility. For instance, the same study also found that those infected with this variant may become infectiousor capable of spreading the virus to otherssooner after infection than is the case for other coronavirus variants.

More research is needed

The good news is that studies are underway that directly assess transmission. Several universities in the U.S., for instance, are participating in the PreventCOVIDU study to assess whether the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine prevents transmission of SARS-CoV-2. This study will evaluate the vaccine's ability to prevent infection, reduce viral load, and prevent transmission. Results of the study should be published later this year. Other similar studies are underway.

What can you do to stay safe?

In light of the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases, largely driven by the Delta variant, in late July, the CDC updated its COVID-19 prevention guidance. The CDC is now recommending that everyone, including the fully vaccinated, wear a mask in indoor public spaces in areas where COVID-19 transmission is substantial or high. (The CDC map provides regular updates for anyone who wants to check virus activity in their state or county. It breaks it down into four categories: low, moderate, substantial, and high.)

The new recommendations emphasize that certain populations should continue masking, for instance those who have or live with someone who has a suppressed immune system or an underlying medical condition that puts them at risk for severe disease.

The agency has also urged universal masking for teachers, staff, students, and visitors in K-12 schools, regardless of their vaccination status and the intensity of community transmission in their area.

Another substantial change to the CDC guidelines is the recommendation that fully vaccinated people who have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19 get tested. These people should also wear a mask when indoors in public areas for two weeks after exposure or until test results are negative.

"Importantly," says Dr. Meyer, "they're not recommending quarantine after exposure if you're fully vaccinatedjust to wear a mask and get tested. And that's because we think post-vaccination infections are so rare."

But if fully vaccinated people test positive for COVID-19, the CDC recommends they isolate for 10 days.

Still, because we don't yet know anything definitive, many believe that a layered mitigation strategy (that includes fully vaccinated people wearing masks and maintaining social distance wherever possible) might be the best way to minimize the chances that they will transmit the virus to others.

"More science will certainly emerge on transmission, as the Delta variant circulates and as more people become vaccinated, and hopefully public guidance will follow the science," says Dr. Meyer. "In the meantime, the best thing you can do to prevent infectionand therefore transmission to loved ones and people in your communityis to get vaccinated."

Explore further New data shows the power of COVID vaccines
Census 2020 data released on Thursday shows Napa County just had its slowest-growth decade in a century  and its not even close.

The county from 2010 to 2020 saw the number of residents rise by 1,535, to 138,019. Napa High School has more students than this increase.

By comparison, the county added 12,205 residents from 2000 to 2010, 13,514 from 1990 to 2000, 11,566 from 1980 to 1990 and 20,059 from 1970 to 1980.

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The last time county grew by less in a United States census was 1910 to 1920, when the population rose by 878 people. In 1920, Warren Harding was elected president, Prohibition was beginning and Napa County's network of regional, paved roads was in its infancy.

But the growth rate a century ago with a smaller population was 4%. The growth rate from 2010 to 2020 was less than 1%.

Napa County isn't an outlier. Census 2020 showed that California's growth rate slowed enough compared to other states to warrant having the state lose a Congressional seat. The state's own data shows California's population fell over the past year.

Napa isn't even an outlier on a nationwide basis. Fifty-two percent of counties in the United States saw their 2020 Census populations decrease from their 2010 Census populations.
The case before the California Supreme Court arose from the conviction of five men who were found with marijuana in their cells. The Sacramento-based 3rd District Court of Appeal overturned the convictions, ruling that while state law made it illegal to smoke or eat pot in prison, it didnt specifically criminalize possession.

Other California appeals courts had ruled that possessing cannabis in prison still was illegal.

In the 5-2 Supreme Court decision, Groban wrote: While perhaps not illogical to distinguish between the possession and use of cannabis, it is nonetheless difficult to understand why the electorate would want to preclude laws criminalizing cannabis possession in prison, but permit laws criminalizing cannabis consumption in prison.

Associate Justice Leondra Kruger, writing in partial dissent, agreed that the ballot measure did not legalize cannabis possession in Californias prisons and jails. But she said it left open the question of whether prosecutors could continue to file charges the same way they previously could, by choosing between what she called two overlapping felony statutes, one with tougher penalties than the other.
WAIMEA, Hawaii (AP)  A metal roof sits atop the burned remains of a homestead on the once-lush slopes of Hawaii's Mauna Kea  a dormant volcano and the state's tallest peak  charred cars and motorcycles strewn about as wind-whipped sand and ash blast the scorched landscape.

Generations of Kumu Micah Kamohoalii's family have lived on these lands reserved for Native Hawaiians, and his cousin owns this house destroyed by the state's largest-ever wildfire.

Ive never seen a fire this big, Kamohoalii said. Waimea has had fires, many of them before and some maybe a few hundred acres, but not this size.

The fire has burned more than 70 square miles (181 square kilometers) in the two weeks it has been going. But it wasn't the first time this area has burned, and won't be the last. Like many islands in the Pacific, Hawaii's dry seasons are getting more extreme with climate change.

Everyone knows Waimea to be the pasturelands and to be all the green rolling hills. And so when I was young, all of this was always green, Kamohoalii said. In the last 10 to 15 years, it has been really, really dry.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  New Mexico has retained its title as the nation's most heavily Hispanic state, with 47.7% of respondents to the 2020 census identifying ancestry linked to Latin America and other Spanish-speaking areas.

The Census Bureau on Thursday released new demographic details culled from the census.

California and Texas were close runners up, with about 39% of residents claiming Latino or Hispanic heritage. Nearly 31% of Arizona residents describe themselves as Hispanic.

In New Mexico, Latino pride runs deep within a region of the U.S. where Spanish conquerors arrived in the late 1500s and Mexico governed for decades during the 19th century. The state is currently led by its third consecutive Hispanic governor.

The new numbers on ethnicity and race have implications for the political redistricting process as states redraw congressional and legislative districts later this year with an eye toward preserving communities of common interest. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits plans that intentionally or inadvertently discriminate on the basis of race by diluting the minority vote.


ISLAMABAD  Pakistans national security adviser is urging Afghan leaders to try to quickly reach a politically negotiated settlement with the Taliban to avoid further violence in Afghanistan.

The adviser, Moeed Yusuf, made the appeal while speaking to reporters in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on Friday. He stressed that the fall of city after city in neighboring Afghanistan underscores the need to expedite the peace process.

Pakistan has held considerable influence over the Taliban and has in the past succeeded in pressuring them to the negotiating table. Kabul has criticized Islamabad for offering shelter to Taliban leaders and has claimed the neighboring country also provides a haven for Taliban fighters.

Trust me, if they sit down, they will be able to come out with some sort of settlement and we will respect whatever Afghans decide, Yusuf said.

He added: History will judge us very badly and poorly if we dont put all efforts behind (this) for a political settlement on the Afghan crisis.

Yusuf also defended Pakistan, saying it has done its best to facilitate the Afghan peace process in the past.
Details will need to be ironed out.

At times like this, I think of the classic words of author Sam Lipsyte: If you havent got anything nice to say, youre probably beginning to understand the situation.

If there is any good news in a country where paranoid political fantasies are more plentiful than food trucks  and truth itself is on life-support  it can be summed up in two points.

One, the people who embrace the weirdest and most dangerous ideas in the national conversation today are easily identifiable. No surprise that they are almost all Republicans. According to a recent Politico/Morning Consult poll, 29% of them believe that the former president will indeed be reinstated. How big a surprise can it be that the same rough percentage of party members has adopted equally bizarre positions on two of the most fundamental issues facing America today?

Take climate change: A Gallup poll taken earlier this year revealed that 23% of Republicans believe that the predicted, disastrous effects of climate change will never come to pass. The number of Democrats who hold that view is 1%.
Armenia PM returns to Yerevan after visit to Kyrgyzstan, greeted by Security Council members at airport

Health minister: Monitoring requirement to wear face masks indoors will help curb spread of COVID-19 in Armenia

Putin gives Merkel flower bouquet, her mobile phone's ringtone heard at that moment

Taliban to not announce members of future government until Aug. 31

Real Madrid end talks with Mbappe

Armenia legislature to convene session on August 24

Dollar still dropping in Armenia

Armenia parliament speaker, China ambassador discuss cooperation

Russias Lavrov to Armenias Mirzoyan: I invite you to Moscow at convenient timeframes for you

Yerevan citizen goes into company's building with grenades, demands meeting with director

Ardshinbank and Russian Fora-Bank offer instant money transfers by phone number

Remarkable item discovered during excavations in Van Province

Armenia, Karabakh FMs discuss situation due to Azerbaijan-Turkey aggression

Two people apprehended during scuffle between local residents, police in Yerevan neighborhood

16 prominent politicians join Australian Friends of Artsakh group

Lana Del Rey bans posthumous release of her songs

NATO: More than 18,000 people evacuated from Kabul since Taliban takeover

Local residents, police clash in Yerevan neighborhood

Armenia MOD announces start of 3-month training for reservists

Britney Spears is accused of striker her housekeeper

Pristina asks Azerbaijan to recognize Kosovo independence

Yerevan judge wears T-shirt with Artsakh flag during international competition

ArmLur.am: Internal investigation underway at Armenia MOD on finding of 3 soldiers dead in Syunik Province

Ligue 1: Messi, Neymar to not help PSG in match against Brest

I went to premiere: Unsuccessful sequel The Boss Baby: Family Business

Yerevan hospital provides clarification on babys death

Alex Rodriguez takes back supercar he gave to Jennifer Lopez on her birthday

Manuel Neuer receives injury

508 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Russia peacekeepers in Artsakh begin demining 20 hectares of Kolkhozashen village

Armenia premier: We support establishment of Eurasian Association

Armenia ombudsman: New income sources needed for residents of Syunik Province villages that are now border communities

The Wall Street Journal: Diplomats had warned Blinken of quick fall of Kabul

Russia PM: Eurasian Economic Union countries economy gradually recovering

PM: Armenia considers necessary creating base for natural gas, oil, oil products single markets for EEU development

White House does not have clear information on exactly how many Americans are still in Afghanistan

Newspaper: Armenia Chamber of Advocates is at authorities target

Mourinho: If anyone thought it would be easy for Roma they were wrong

Oman spends $175m to build botanical garden

Nigerias Lagos state bans street begging

Men in Pakistan sexually assault, grope woman who was shooting TikTok video

S.Korea plans to grant legal status to animals

Europa League: Armenias Alashkert lose to Glasgow Rangers (VIDEO)

Armenia Ambassador to Ukraine presents credentials to Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Armenia Investigative Committee: Fellow soldier detained on suspicion of murders of 3 servicemen

US Department of State: There are 6,000 people at Kabul airport

France, Germany, UK concerned about Iran's up to 20% uranium enrichment

France's Macron discusses settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Putin

Turkish FM: Turkey maintains ties with Taliban's representatives through different channels

Terrorist blows himself up near national intelligence headquarters in Somalia

G7: Taliban must ensure that Afghanistan does not become host to terrorist threat to international security

Few people killed during Independence Day rally in Afghanistan's Asadabad

Karabakh emergency situations service: Remains of 3 more Armenian servicemen found in Jrakan region

Son of ex-mayor of Armenia's Gyumri detained

Armenian soldier who was found dead last night was a veteran of 44-day Karabakh war (PHOTO)

Armenia Labor and Social Affairs Ministry: No data on number of Artsakh-Armenians who temporarily settled after war

Karabakh State Minister receives Union of Banks of Armenia delegation

Armenia finance minister has new deputy

Armenia Parliament Deputy Speaker receives China Ambassador

Zakharova: Russia is ready to support Armenia and Azerbaijan with demarcation of border

Russian MFA: Russia calls on Baku and Yerevan to exchange POWs via "all for all" formula and for mine maps

Armenia territorial administration and infrastructure minister introduces acting head of town hall of Talin

Zakharova comments on Aliyev's statement, says supplying weapons is Russia's sovereign right

8-month-old girl dies at medical center in Yerevan, forensic medicine expert examination designated

Lavrov: Russia supports pan-national dialogue in Afghanistan amid battles in Panjshir

Azerbaijan troops withdrew from area they occupied on border with Artsakhs Yeghtsahogh village, mayor says

Desperate Afghans are trying to invade airport and seize empty buildings of embassies

Turkey evacuates top officials of defeated government of Afghanistan

Zakharova: Russia, Hungary FMs will discuss situation in Karabakh

Opposition vice-speaker of Armenia parliament: Issue of enclaves, Meghri corridor being discussed?

Scarlett Johansson gives birth to 2nd child

Dollar continues losing value in Armenia

Kanye West to host third presentation of album entitled Donda

Armenia government transfers about $1,163,600 to National Security Service

Joaquin Caparros to announce names of Armenia national football team live

Armenia PM attends Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting in narrow format (PHOTOS)

Missing soldiers families on meeting with Armenia Security Service chief: We cant be satisfied until there are results

Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler to star in Murder Mystery 2 for Netflix

Armenia defense minister briefs ombudsman on situation related to finding 3 soldiers dead

14 million people in Afghanistan face severe hunger
YEREVAN.  As of Friday morning, 397 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in Armenia, and the total number of these cases has reached 233,797 in the country, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Also, nine more deaths from COVID-19 were registered, making the respective total 4,678 cases.

The number of people who have recovered over the past one day is 264, the total respective number so far is 222,183, and the number of people currently being treated is 5,805.

And 6,055 COVID-19 tests were conducted in Armenia over the past one day, while 1,421,593 such tests have been performed to date.
Turkish authorities have detained 76 people in relation to Wednesdays massive attack on an Ankara neighborhood which has a large Syrian population, the capitals police directorate said in a statement on Thursday, Ahval reported.

According to the Ankara police, 38 of the suspects had previous convictions for looting, bodily harm, robbery, and several drug-related offences.

Some of the detainees were taken into custody for sharing posts outside the realm of reality on social media, the directorate said.

Wednesday saw mobs target Syrian homes and businesses in a working class neighborhood of Ankaras Altndag district, where two days earlier two young Turkish men had been injured in a fight between local Turks and Syrians. One of the young men, 18-year-old Emirhan Yalcin, lost his life at the hospital on Tuesday, and two Syrian nationals were arrested by an Ankara court for first degree murder.

On Wednesday night, police units were ineffective in stopping the hundreds of men who took to the streets, and on occasion officers were caught on video advising the men how to behave.
The number of residents who applied to the Armavir city medical center due to drinking water poisoningaccording to the preliminary theoryis 26, and ten of them have been hospitalized. Ashkhen Poghosyan, an epidemiologist of this hospital, told Armenian News-NEWS.am about this on Friday.

"All the petitioners were from Khanjyan community of Armavir Province. The ten hospitalized residents are in moderate condition. The rest of the patients have been discharged after receiving appropriate medical care," the physician added.

Also, she noted that these residents had come to the aforesaid medical center on Wednesday and Thursday, but there were no petitioners today.

There was one minor child among the hospitalized.

As reported earlier, at 11:30pm on Wednesday, a call was received from the Armavir city hospital informing that nine residents of Khanjyan village of Armavir Province had sought medical helpwith a diagnosis of intestinal infection of unknown etiology, and stated that they had been poisoned by drinking water.

9 residents of Armenias Armavir Province poisoned by drinking water, criminal case opened
Lufthansa on Friday inaugurated Yerevan as its new destination in Armenia, Zvartnots International Airport of the Armenian capital informed on Facebook.

Lufthansa is flying thrice a week to its hub in Frankfurt, offering more than 150 onward connections.

Four Lufthansa Group airlines depart 16 times a week from Yerevan.

On Friday at 3:25am local time, Lufthansa touched down for the first time since many years at Zvartnots International Airport. The airline proudly inaugurated its new connection from Frankfurt to the capital city Yerevan, welcoming the aircraft with the traditional water fountain and a delegation of managers. This new scheduled nonstop service starts every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evening in the German city of Frankfurt to land in Yerevan the next morning, still at night time. The early departure from Yerevan to Frankfurt is offered for Monday, Wednesday and Fridays, ensuring as well an early arrival in Frankfurt at 6:50am. This gives all passengers from Armenia almost all options to easily connect to further destinations, especially to all destinations across the Atlantic.

The German carrier starts this new scheduled service to Armenia just one week after its subsidiary Eurowings opened also a new route from Cologne. It is operating an Airbus A319 with 138 seats to fly travelers from and to Armenia from all over the world in four hours to Yerevan. This new route to Frankfurt, spanning 2,992 km or 1,615 nautical miles, will be an important connection for Armenians to visit each other and meet their communities and families in the whole world. Many European touristic destinations attract Armenian travelers such as Italy, France, Greece, Austria and Spain. Furthermore, most Trans-Atlantic destinations especially in the US, Canada and Mexico are accessible for educational, medical or business purposes.

Yerevan is now the only destination in the whole Caucasus region where Lufthansa Group is offering 16 weekly flights with four different airlines:

 Austrian Airlines operating to Vienna daily, already since 2001,

 Brussels Airlines connecting to the European capital Brussels five times a week,

 Eurowings (one a week) and Lufthansa (three times a week) just opened their new routes this August.

Congratulating the airline, Marcelo Wende, Director of Armenia International Airport CJSC, said: Today one of the most prestigious and reliable air companies in the world started to fly to Armenia. Im sure that everybody is very happy to receive a new airline and to have access to new destinations. The presence of Lufthansa will for sure encourage new tourists to visit the country and Armenian economy will benefit from it.

We are very excited and proud that Lufthansa Airlines opens today its new connection from Yerevan to Frankfurt, says Peter Pullem, Senior Director Sales Eastern Europe Lufthansa Group Airlines at the ribbon cut ceremony. This new service to our biggest hub is excellent news for Armenian customers all over the world, bringing families, friends and the Armenia community closer together. Furthermore, we believe that this ancient city will see more visitors in the future as we recognise our important role for the development of the local tourism sector. 16 weekly flights to four different hubs offer full flexibility and always a convenient travel option.
For more than three hours, firefighting-rescuers of the Rescue Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Armenia have been trying to put out the large fire that broke out in the nearly 100 square meter area of leather and wastes of unknown origin in the premises of the leather factory in Shengavit district of Yerevan (the factory was built during the Soviet era in the Shengavit and is currently not operating), as reported shamshyan.com.

Before the firefighters arrived, the factorys employees were struggling to stop the spread of the fire.

At this moment, firefighters have succeeded in preventing the spread of the fire, but the works will continue after a while.

Since 10:30 a.m. ambulance doctors have been working on-duty on the spot and have provided assistance to several firefighters-rescuers.

The reason behind the fire will be clear after several forensic medicine expert examinations.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations told Armenian News-NEWS.am that the fire still hasnt been contained.
YEREVAN.  If communications are unblocked, we will be able to reach the Persian Gulf by rail through Tehran, which will enable Armenia to become a connecting link between European countries and the Persian Gulf, which will create security guarantees for us, as 30 to 35 European countries will be interested in regional security. The leader of Armenias Democratic Party, Aram Sargsyan, said this at a press conference on Friday.

"But if only the road leading from Turkey to Azerbaijan is opened through Nakhichevan and vice versa, Armenia will again find itself in a blockade, in a Turkish park. This will mean that Turkey will be able to pursue a policy of conquest here, without weapons, with economic methods, as Armenia is hindering it from implementing the idea of Pan-Turkism. After Armenia, Turkey will spread to the North Caucasus, the Volga region, and the consequences may be unpredictable," Sargsyan added.

According to him, in today's conditions it is impossible to imagine that Armenian cargo can cross the territory of Azerbaijan without unblocking communications.

"If people do not understand that, then analytical thinking either does not work or works in the opposite direction," added the leader of Armenias Democratic Party.
A 37-year-old man has been stabbed in Khachpar village of Ararat Province of Armenia. As reported the Police of Armenia, on the night of August 12, the police station in Malatia district of Yerevan reported that a 37-year-old man from Khachpar village of Ararat Province had been transferred to Astghik Medical Center after being stabbed in the chest area.

Police officers left for the medical center and Khachpar village. In the village, they found out that the man had been stabbed after a dispute on a street and found blood-like traces at the scene of the incident.

The police officers revealed the crime through operational intelligence measures and found out that the man had been stabbed by a 30-year-old man. The suspect was found and taken to the police station, after which he was presented to the territorial investigation body, which has launched a criminal case in regard to the incident. The 30-year-old resident of Khachpar is detained. The circumstances are being clarified.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi has picked Hossein Amirabdollahian as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs. He still has to win the Parliaments vote of confidence.

According to Mehr, Dr. Amirabdollahian is a graduate of political science at all university levels and received his doctorate in international relations.

Amirabdollahian's thesis and dissertation were both on Iraq, and given his responsibilities in the Iraqi department of the foreign ministry, he has a relatively comprehensive knowledge of the political, religious, and ethnic developments of the neighboring country.

Amirabdollahian was the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Bahrain from 2007 to 2010.

Finishing his mission as an ambassador, he took charge at the Persian Gulf Political Administration to further extend his knowledge and experience in this field.

Amirabdollahian became the Director-General of the Persian Gulf and the Middle East at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2006, and then from 2011 to 2016, he was the Deputy Minister of Arab and African Affairs, increasing his expertise in the field at a position just below the minister. During his tenure, more political efforts were made to strengthen the Axis of Resistance and he also extended connections with the West Asian region.

Since 2016, he has been working as an advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as an advisor to the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, and was the Director-General of International Affairs at the Parliament.

He was appointed by Dr. Ghalibaf as the head of the secretariat of the International Conference of the Palestinian Intifada, which, allowed him to, in addition to organize the conference, hold communications with various political, religious, and parliamentary figures as well as some officials from a number of countries.

Hossein Amir Abdullahian has a set of characteristics that distinguish him from all his former ministers at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has served for more than two decades in the most important position at the foreign ministry and he has gained deep knowledge and expertise in this field.
Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan today received outgoing Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to Armenia Giorgi Saganelidze.

As reported the Government of Armenia, the Armenian premier highly appreciated Ambassador Saganelidzes contributions to the development of the friendship of the Armenian and Georgian peoples and interstate relations and wished him success in the future.

Pashinyan stated that there is high-level political dialogue between Armenia and Georgia, evidence of which are the reciprocal visits of high-ranking officials that have become frequent recently.

The Armenian premier said the government attaches importance to the deepening of cooperation with friendly Georgia in the political, economic, cultural, humanitarian and educational sectors and is willing to continue the active efforts in this direction.

Georgias Ambassador expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for the appreciation and joint and fruitful work, adding that he is leaving Armenia with warm impressions and will remain a good friend of Armenia and the Armenian people.
YEREVAN.  Zhoghovurd newspaper of Armenia writes: According to Zhoghovurd dailys information, the NSS [(National Security Service)] will soon summon the judges of the Criminal Court of Appeal for questioning.

As it is known, the chairman of the SJC [(Supreme Judicial Council)], Gagik Jhangiryan, had petitioned to the head of the NSS Investigation Department, and tried to get clarifications on how long it takes to return that automatic system again and restart that process, and he was informed that investigative actions are being carried out and an expertise in the relevant field will be appointed.

And, within the framework of this case, there is a list of judges at the NSS who shall be questioned in the near future. Gagik Jhangiryan had said in this regard: "Because they not only have suspicions that there are cases of artificial interference, but they said that they also have such evidence in concrete cases. Therefore, that issue must become a subject of major investigation."

There will be major questionings in the near future.
A $3 million gift from The O. Wayne Rollins Foundation will establish an endowed chair in biblical studies at Candler School of Theology. The position honors The Rev. Dr. Donald Allen Harp Jr., Candler alumnus and former pastor/theologian-in-residence (shown in the pulpit at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta).

Candler School of Theology has received a $3 million gift from The O. Wayne Rollins Foundation to establish an endowed chair in biblical studies. Named in honor of the late Don Harp 66T, Candler alumnus and former pastor/theologian-in-residence at the school, The Rev. Dr. Donald Allen Harp, Jr. Distinguished Professorship in Biblical Studies Endowment will support an outstanding expert in biblical studies at Candler.

Harp served more than 40 years as an ordained elder in the North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church, with his longest tenure at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta, where he was senior pastor from 1988 to 2008 and then senior pastor emeritus. From 2008 to 2018, Harp was a supervising pastor for Candlers Teaching Parish program and served as the schools inaugural pastor/theologian-in-residence from 2008 to 2019.

He received Candlers Distinguished Alumni Award in Service to the Church in 2008 and Candlers Centennial Medal in 2014 for extraordinary service to the school, the church and society.

It would be hard to overstate Don Harps impact on Candler School of Theology, says Dean Jan Love. He was an active ambassador for the school, a generous and wise advisor to students and leadership alike, and a reassuring, clear-headed and witty presence in any arena. He represented so much of the best of Candler.

Pam Rollins, granddaughter of O. Wayne Rollins and a trustee of the O. Wayne Rollins Foundation, recalls their family  longtime members of Peachtree Road UMC  inviting Harp and his wife, Mary Ellen, to dinner when the Harps first arrived at the church. It was the start of a deep and meaningful pastoral relationship.

Don was with us through the good times as well as the bad, Rollins says. There was never an event in my family that we didnt look to him for religious support. He was always kind, caring and loving. His humor was an additional plus for our family since we love to laugh.

We loved Don like family and could think of no greater way to honor him than by gifting to Candler, where he taught and believed in educating students, Rollins adds. We love that generations to come will benefit from the impact hes had on so many.

Love, also a member of Peachtree Road UMC, agrees that an endowed chair is a fitting way to pay tribute to her friend and former colleague, who served as a trusted advisor from early in her deanship. After he retired from the pastorate, Love appointed Harp the schools first pastor/theologian-in-residence, a position created to help students gain insights from pastors with a careers worth of experience.

Don grew Peachtree Road to be one of the largest congregations in the North Georgia Conference and led it to be deeply involved in missional outreach, Love says. Students benefit enormously from taking courses from highly successful church leaders like this. Having Don as pastor/theologian-in-residence made his gifts for mentoring available to numerous students, especially those in the Teaching Parish Program.

Thomas W. Elliott, Jr. 87T 97T, associate professor in the practice of practical theology and Methodist studies directs Candlers teaching parish program. He worked with Harp for seven years through the program, which allows students to gain ministerial experience by serving as pastors-in-charge in local churches or as assistant pastors in larger churches. Harp advised a cohort of eight to ten students every year and held preaching days where they had the chance to preach from the pulpit in the 1,750-seat Peachtree Road sanctuary. Elliott recalls the student pastors excitement to learn from Harp.

Don was a truth-teller, somebody who always encouraged you to do your best, Elliott says. He would also help you with achieving that and share with you realistically. He was always an encourager, and he expected that you would be responsible for your own work.

Both Love and Elliott note that while Harp encouraged and supported every student who crossed his path, he was a particularly strong advocate for women who felt called to be pastors or serve the church in leadership.

He had a heart for women in ministry and saw their value, Elliott says. He saw the idea of women leading as being biblical and what it should be; it wasnt up for debate. He was a champion for women.

The new endowed chair named for Harp will further distinguish Candlers biblical studies area, already renowned for its high caliber of teaching and research.

We are committed to sustaining Candlers tradition of strength in biblical studies and are grateful to the O. Wayne Rollins Foundation for its ongoing partnership and support of Candler in a way that honors one who contributed so much to our community, Love says.

To Elliott, linking Harp to biblical scholarship makes perfect sense. Don was a preacher, and that meant biblical studies. One of the chief vocations of the preacher is living in Scripture. Don was very serious about his faith and his study, and he championed that in our students and their preaching.
Fast on the heels of the Senate passage of the $1 trillion infrastructure bill, Senate Democrats have now advanced a $3.5 trillion "soft infrastructure" budget plan. This sprawling bill includes a laundry list of Democratic policy initiatives designed to create jobs, improve Americans' working and living conditions, improve access to healthcare, improve educational opportunities, deal with immigration and climate change issues, subsidize child care, expand Medicare and paid family and medical leave benefits, and more. Democratic Senate leadership will attempt to pass the bill using complex legislative maneuvering that would require only a 51-vote majority and be filibuster-proof. The Democratic-led House needs to pass the legislation as well before it can become law.

There is no doubt that the scope of the new budget bill is prodigious. Sen. Bernie Sanders called it "the most consequential piece of legislation for working people, the elderly, the children, the sick and the poor since FDR and the New Deal of the 1930s," while Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, "It is big, bold change -- the kind of change America thirsts for," opining that it would bring about "a generational transformation to how our economy works for average Americans."

There is also no doubt that Republican leadership strongly opposes the bill. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called it "a historically reckless taxing and spending spree," while Sen. Lindsey Graham said in a similar vein that the bill is "the worst-thought-out idea I've ever seen" and "a dream for those who want to socialize" the U.S., claiming that the bill puts at risk "America as we know it." Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming seconded Graham's thoughts, saying, "The Democrats' tax and spending spree is a multitrillion-dollar freight train to socialism."

These countervailing opinions from partisan leaders are not unusual (although there was welcome bipartisanship in the passage of the initial infrastructure bill), but they raise the question of how average Americans feel about the legislation. There are three ways pollsters can attempt to answer that question. The first is analysis of the results of "umbrella" questions that describe the overall bill in some fashion and ask the public's opinion of it. The second is to dissect the bill and gauge public opinion about its constituent pieces. The third is to measure broad public reactions to the meta implications or consequences of the bill, including enlarged government and increased deficit spending.

Public Opinion on the Overall Bill

I've located several recent polls that ask about the bill in a broad, umbrella fashion, and all find majority support. A Quinnipiac poll conducted July 27-Aug. 2 asked, "Do you support or oppose a $3.5 trillion spending bill on social programs such as child care, education, family tax breaks and expanding Medicare for seniors?" and found 62% support, 32% opposition. A Monmouth University poll conducted July 21-26 asked about both the initial infrastructure bill and the new $3.5 trillion bill, describing the latter this way: "A plan to expand access to healthcare and child care, and provide paid leave and college tuition support." The results were similar to the Quinnipiac poll, with 63% in favor and 35% opposed.

One issue with these types of questions is that respondents who are not very familiar with the subject under discussion (and I think this would be the significant majority in the case of the newly proposed legislation) are, in essence, responding to cues in the question wording as they decide how to answer. In this instance, however, differences in wording don't seem to make a lot of difference. The Quinnipiac poll mentioned the $3.5 trillion price tag, for example, while the Monmouth poll did not -- but answers were similar in both polls. Similarly, the Quinnipiac poll listed "child care, education, family tax breaks expanding Medicare for seniors," while the Monmouth poll included "a plan to expand access to healthcare and child care, and provide paid leave and college tuition support" -- again without any major effect on the responses. Both questions were selective in what they mentioned, of course; neither poll question, for example, included climate change or immigration.

A progressive think tank, Data for Progress, conducted an online poll among likely voters July 30-Aug. 2, with a much more detailed 130-word description of the bill, including in the question wording a bulleted list of six specific proposals in the plan, the $3.5 trillion price tag and even a description of the "reconciliation" procedure necessary to pass it. All of this (and the online mode, and the sample of likely voters as opposed to national adults) also didn't seem to make much difference; 66% of likely voters in their sample supported the plan as described, while 26% opposed it -- similar to the Quinnipiac and Monmouth results.

In short, existing survey evidence shows majority support for the new bill, and this level of support appears to be fairly robust across samples and ways of asking about it.

Public Opinion on the Individual Bill Components

It's impossible to track down polling on all of the elements in the Democratic budget plan, particularly because elements may be added and subtracted as the bill moves through both houses of Congress. But many of the elements on which there is polling appear to be favored by a majority of Americans. The aforementioned Data for Progress poll, for example, asked its online likely voter respondents about 12 specific proposals within the plan and found majority support for all, ranging from 81% for "investing in long-term care for seniors and people with disabilities" to 59% support for "creating a Civilian Climate Corps to add jobs to address climate change and conservation."

Gallup polling from a few years ago touched on a number of the types of provisions that are now included in the new Senate bill (the fact that we were polling on these proposals back then shows they have long been on Democratic wish lists). We found majority support for the following: requiring companies to provide family leave for parents after the birth of a child, requiring employers to provide all workers at least seven days of paid sick leave, requiring employers to provide at least 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave, and enacting free universal child care and pre-kindergarten programs for all children. The poll also found plurality support for free tuition at community colleges throughout America.

Gallup has found generally strong support for two other proposals included in the bill. The first is immigration reform, including the idea of finding a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants now living in the country. The second is generally strong support for an emphasis on continuing the development of alternative energy and pushing for its use.

Kaiser Family Foundation polling in 2019 found that 77% of Americans supported "allowing people between the ages of 50 to 64 to buy health insurance through Medicare," akin to a proposal included in the plan. In May of this year, Kaiser asked about priorities for Congress. Majorities of Americans said that both allowing the government to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices and expanding Medicare coverage to include dental, hearing aids and vision should be "top" priorities.

Pew Research recently found that 63% of Americans favor "making tuition at public colleges and universities free for all American students," which is a proposal even more far-reaching than the free community college tuition included in the bill at this point. (The Pew question wording did not mention that it would be the government paying for the tuition.)

In short, I think it's fair to say that many of the individual provisions included in the Senate budget plan receive majority support from the public when they are measured on a one-by-one basis. Americans, at least in theory, like the idea of good healthcare, good education, good jobs, good child care alternatives, a safe and clean environment, and solutions for the immigration situation.

And, although it is not explicitly a part of the bill, Americans generally approve of the idea of increasing taxes on the rich and wealthy and on big corporations -- the idea Democrats are advancing as the way to pay for the new policies.

Reasons to Oppose the Bill

At the same time, as I indicated above, there is strong opposition to the bill from Republican leaders. Some of their reasons for opposition are procedural, based on the assumption that sweeping, trillion-dollar legislation deserves extensive vetting and discussion in the full Senate rather than passage using reconciliation procedures. I'm not familiar with polling that addresses this argument directly, although we can assume that everything else being equal, the public would favor extended debate on any such major legislation before it is passed into law. Americans have historically expressed a desire for their elected representatives to compromise and work together, and I assume Americans would prefer the bipartisanship exhibited in the passage of the first infrastructure bill more than the strict party-line approach we are seeing on this one.

Republican leaders also oppose the bill on philosophic grounds. The quotes from Sens. Graham and Barrasso above are examples of the general talking points from Republicans that the bill represents continuing movement toward socialism, in the sense that it substantially increases federal government intervention into Americans' daily lives, taking over functions that critics say are best left to citizens and the private sector. This line of argument would appear to have potential resonance with Americans. Determining the appropriate role of government in Americans' lives is, in fact, an issue of concern for many Americans, and the word "socialist" continues to have a more negative than positive connotation for Americans.

There is also the argument over money -- that the massive price tag on the bill will raise the deficit and necessitate significant tax increases (Democrats say only for households making at least $400,000 a year and for corporations). Even a Democratic senator, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, has reservations about the huge price tag, saying, "I have serious concerns about the grave consequences facing West Virginians and every American family if Congress decides to spend another $3.5 trillion. Given the current state of the economic recovery, it is simply irresponsible to continue spending at levels more suited to respond to a Great Depression or Great Recession -- not an economy that is on the verge of overheating."

Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin echoed those thoughts: "They [Democrats] shouldn't be expecting Republicans to raise the debt ceiling to accommodate their deficit spending."

Gallup polling shows mixed feelings about the deficit as a general concept, but my review from earlier this year in the context of the massive stimulus bill then under consideration indicated that worries about the deficit were not a major factor in the public's thinking and didn't deter from their strong support for passing the legislation. Few Americans mention the deficit as the nation's most important problem, and polling shows its reduction is a low priority for the public.

Additionally, as noted, polling shows that Americans appear to be OK with increased taxes on the rich and on large corporations, the way in which Democrats have positioned their source of monies for the new bill.

Bottom Line

Previous public opinion research has shown strong support for stimulus spending bills passed in the midst of the pandemic, and polling has long shown strong support for spending a trillion dollars or more on "hard infrastructure" legislation. In similar fashion, a review of initial polling on the idea of new legislation designed to inject $3.5 trillion into improving many elements of the nation's "soft infrastructure" -- including education, healthcare, child care, immigration and the environment -- also shows overall majority support.

Republican critics of the legislation may be able to affect public opinion if they hammer home the idea that the bill represents creeping socialism and the unwarranted interjection of the government into many more aspects of Americans' lives. Plus, opinions could shift if it becomes clear that the bill will require tax increases on the middle class and not just on the rich and on corporations. But the overall objectives of the legislation, at least in the abstract, are well-received -- and at this point, it would appear the Democrats have the upper hand when it comes to public support for their proposed budget plan.

To stay up to date with the latest Gallup News insights and updates, follow us on Twitter.
Rockley receives approximately $168 million in gross proceeds; combined company to begin trading under ticker RKLY on August 12

OXFORD, England & PASADENA, Calif. -- (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Rockley Photonics, Ltd. (the Company or Rockley), a leading global silicon photonics technology company, today announced the completion of its business combination with SC Health Corp. (SC Health). The combined company will retain the Rockley Photonics, Ltd. name as a subsidiary of Rockley Photonics Holdings, Ltd., which will commence trading on the NYSE under the new ticker symbol RKLY on August 12. The transaction was approved by SC Health's shareholders on August 6, following which the High Court of Justice of England and Wales approved the Scheme of Arrangement on August 9.

The approximately $167.8 million in gross proceeds available to Rockley following the combination is expected to enable the Company to accelerate the commercial launch of its unique sensing platform and execute the 2023 and 2024 revenue projections as outlined in prior investor presentations. The platform is positioned to revolutionize consumer health and wellness by enabling continuous, non-invasive monitoring of multiple biomarkers, including core body temperature, blood pressure, body hydration, alcohol, lactate, and glucose, among others. Rockley is working closely and deeply with some of the worlds largest manufacturers of consumer electronics and wearables to provide them with a clinic-on-the-wrist digital health sensor system. Rockleys end-to-end sensing platform will combine hardware and application firmware in a module for OEM manufacturers that can be augmented with cloud analytics for certain clinical/medical partnership applications, enabling these customers to provide meaningful and actionable insights to their users.

Silicon photonics has tremendous potential to transform multiple industries through a broad range of applications, particularly in the health and wellness space by bringing laboratory-grade measurement on the wrist much closer to reality, said Dr. Andrew Rickman, chief executive officer and founder of Rockley Photonics. As we continue on the next phase of our growth as a public company, we are in a much stronger position to create solutions that can provide a new class of actionable insights, transform digital healthcare, and deliver life-changing benefits to people across the globe.

A.J. Coloma, chief executive officer of SC Health, added, Rockleys technology is truly revolutionary. By giving access to personalized insights and information, Rockleys unique sensing platform lets people self-manage their well-being. Easy, everyday access to this data has the power to transform the healthcare paradigm, moving away from costly chronic care and focusing on prevention and early intervention, thereby keeping people at the peak of health. Rockley is now well poised to further solidify their leadership position in the industry, and we are excited about the abundance of growth opportunities ahead, not only in the consumer health space, but also in medtech and beyond. We look forward to continuing to work alongside Andrew and his team to fully realize the myriad applications of the companys technology.

Board of Directors

With the completion of this business combination, Rockley also announced the appointment of a diverse board of directors. The new board will comprise of seven directors, including three women and one self-identified minority director, who bring extensive public company board experience and deep expertise in each of their respective fields:

Dr. Andrew Rickman, Ph.D., OBE1, Rockley CEO and founder, will serve as chairman of the board. William Huyett is director emeritus of McKinsey and Company, where he spent 30 years serving global clients in biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, industrial, and other technology-intensive companies. Mr. Huyett will serve as senior independent director. Dr. Caroline Brown, Ph.D., has 20 years of board experience, has been an independent director on Rockleys board since January 2019, and sits on the boards of IP Group plc, Georgia Capital plc and Luceco plc. Dr. Brown has been appointed as chair of audit committee. Brian J. Blaser has over 25 years of experience in the medical devices industry and retired from Abbott Laboratories in 2019 as executive vice president of diagnostic products after holding a number of senior and corporate roles in operations and strategy. Karim Karti, a healthcare industry veteran, is the chair of MedTech Acquisition, was previously the chief operating officer of iRhythm Technologies, and served in roles of increasing seniority over 22 years at General Electric. Michele Klein has 20 years of semiconductor industry experience and serves on the boards of Aviat Networks and Intevac. Earlier she was a director of Photon Control, an investor for Applied Ventures, the VC arm of Applied Materials, and CEO of diagnostic equipment companies. Dr. Pamela Puryear, Ph.D., an expert on human capital, is the executive vice president of global human resources at Walgreen Boots and was previously a senior vice president and chief human resources at Zimmer Biomet and the senior vice president and chief talent officer at Pfizer.1 Order of the British Empire

Transaction Details

As a result of the business combination, Rockley has received approximately $167.8 million in gross proceeds. This includes $17.8 million from SC Health, as well as $150 million from the financing completed in connection with the announcement of the business combination, led by top-tier institutional investors including Senvest Management LLC and UBS OConnor and participation from Medtronic.

Advisors

Cowen and Company LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to Rockley and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP served as legal counsel. BofA Securities served as exclusive financial advisor to SC Health and Ropes & Gray LLP served as legal counsel. BofA Securities and Cowen and Company LLC served as placement agents on the PIPE.

About Rockley Photonics

A global leader in silicon photonics, Rockley is developing a comprehensive range of photonic integrated circuits and associated modules, sensors, and full-stack solutions. From next-generation sensing platforms specifically designed for mobile health monitoring and machine vision to high-speed, high-volume solutions for data communications, Rockley is laying the foundation for a new generation of applications across multiple industries. Rockley believes that photonics will eventually become as pervasive as micro-electronics, and it has developed a platform with the power and flexibility needed to address both mass markets and a wide variety of vertical applications.

Formed in 2013 by Dr. Andrew Rickman (who previously founded the first commercial silicon photonics company, Bookham Technology), Rockley is uniquely positioned to support hyper-scale manufacturing and address a multitude of high-volume markets. Rockley has partnered with numerous Tier-1 customers across a diverse range of industries to deliver the complex optical systems required to bring transformational products to market.

To learn more about Rockley, visit rockleyphotonics.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release that are not historical facts constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding Rockleys future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, and assumptions regarding future events or performance. The words anticipate, believe, continue, could, enable, estimate, eventual, expect, future, intend, may, might, opportunity, outlook, plan, possible, position, potential, predict, project, revolutionize, seem, should, trend, will, would and other terms that predict or indicate future events, trends, or expectations, and similar expressions or the negative of such expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words or terms does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the following: (a) the gross proceeds available to the Company after the business combination, the Companys anticipated use of proceeds and capital available after the business combination, and that such proceeds are expected to enable the Company to accelerate the commercial launch of its sensing platform; (b) the anticipated features and benefits of the Companys platform, products, and technology; (c) the Companys platform being positioned to revolutionize consumer health and wellness by enabling continuous, non-invasive monitoring of multiple biomarkers, including core body temperature, blood pressure, body hydration, alcohol, lactate, and glucose, among others; (d) the Companys collaboration with manufacturers of consumer electronics and wearables to provide them with a clinic-on-the-wrist digital health sensor system; (e) the Companys sensing platform, which will combine hardware and application firmware in a module that can be augmented with cloud analytics, and the anticipated benefits thereof; (f) the ability of the capital from the business combination to advance the development of commercial opportunities for the application of silicon photonics across industries; (g) the potential of silicon photonics to transform multiple industries through a range of applications; (h) the Companys ability to create solutions that can provide a new class of actionable insights, transform digital healthcare, and deliver life-changing benefits; (i) the belief as to the revolutionary nature of Rockleys technology; and (j) growth opportunities and Rockleys leadership position in the industry.

Forward-looking statements are subject to several risks and uncertainties (many of which are beyond the Companys control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) the Companys ability to achieve commercial production of its products and technology, including in a timely and cost-effective manner; (ii) the Companys ability to achieve customer design wins, convert memoranda of understanding and development contracts into production contracts, and achieve customer acceptance of its products and technology; (iii) risks related to purchase orders, including the lack of long-term purchase commitments, the cancellation, reduction, delay, or other changes in customer purchase orders, and if and to the extent customers seek to enter into licensing arrangements in lieu of purchases; (iv) the Companys history of losses and need for additional capital and its ability to access additional financing to support its operations and execute on its business plan, as well as the risks associated with any future financings; (v) legal and regulatory risks, including those related to its products and technology and any threatened or actual litigation; (vi) risks associated with its fabless manufacturing model and dependency on third-party suppliers; (vii) the Companys reliance on a few significant customers for a majority of its revenue and its ability to expand and diversify its customer base; (viii) the Companys financial performance; (ix) the impacts of COVID-19 on the Company, its customers and suppliers, its target markets, and the economy; (x) the Companys ability to successfully manage growth and its operations as a public company; (xi) fluctuations in the Companys stock price and the Companys ability to maintain the listing of its ordinary shares on the NYSE; (xii) the Companys ability to anticipate and respond to industry trends and customer requirements; (xiii) changes in the Companys current and future target markets; (xiv) intellectual property risks; (xv) the Companys ability to compete successfully; (xvi) market opportunity and market demand for, and acceptance of, the Companys products and technology, as well as the customer products into which the Companys products and technology are incorporated; (xvii) risks related to international operations; (xviii) risks related to cybersecurity, privacy, and infrastructure; (xix) risks related to financial and accounting matters; (xx) general economic, financial, legal, political, and business conditions and changes in domestic and foreign markets; (xxi) the Companys ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the business combination; and (xxii) changes adversely affecting the businesses or markets in which the Company is engaged, as well as other factors described under the heading Risk Factors in the prospectus/proxy statement filed by the Company on July 22, 2021 and in other documents the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the future. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the Companys current expectations, beliefs, and assumptions and are not predictions of actual performance. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of these assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those discussed in or implied by these forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those that have been anticipated. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210811005849/en/

CONTACT:

For Rockley

Media

John Christiansen, Camilla Scassellati Sforzolini

Sard Verbinnen & Co

Rockley-SVC@sardverb.com

Investors

Gwyn Lauber

Vice President of Investor Relations

Rockley Photonics

investors@rockleyphotonics.com
Free webinar on COVID-19s impact on rural health is Aug. 19

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  Illinois must improve access to healthy foods and fitness opportunities in rural regions to improve health in rural communities. Living in a rural area in Illinois is associated with an increased prevalence of obesity, which is linked to a higher risk of COVID-19 complications. A new report finds rural residents struggle to access fresh and affordable food, need more flexibility in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program meant to provide nutritious food options to children and families, and often live in communities lacking the infrastructure and facilities conducive to healthy lifestyles.

The Illinois Rural Health Summit organizing group, consisting of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine Department of Population Science and Policy, SIU Carbondale Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, The University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health and the SIU Medicine Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development, have developed a set of recommendations to improve health in rural Illinois. The group recommends substantive actions to improve nutrition and fitness in rural Illinois:

Invest in programs that allow for the creation of community-owned grocery stores to bring more fresh food to Illinois rural communities.

Increase participation and retention in the WIC program by streamlining enrollment and recertification processes.

Foster public-private partnerships between governments, hospital systems, community based organizations and private industry to better design and build infrastructure that promotes healthy lifestyles.

The Rural Health Summit will host a webinar at noon Thursday, Aug. 19, to discuss how COVID-19 has impacted rural nutrition and fitness in Illinois. Registration is open for that webinar and a schedule of upcoming webinars.

Many rural residents in Illinois struggle with limited exercise opportunities and rely on food with little nutritional value, said Dr. Sameer Vohra, chair of the SIU Medicine Department of Population Science and Policy. Obesity rates are higher for rural residents than their urban or suburban counterparts, which leaves rural residents at a greater risk for more severe COVID-19 infections and worse outcomes. These recommendations aim to transform opportunities for rural Illinois residents to be able to eat more nutritiously, be more active and create healthier communities.

The policy recommendations are the result of discussions from rural health stakeholders, community leaders, legislators, physicians and experts from organizations throughout Illinois and build on the Rural Health Summits initial report, Building a Healthier Rural Illinois: Understanding and Addressing the Challenges of COVID-19.

The Rural Health Summit is releasing monthly topic-specific policy briefs and hosting corresponding webinars through January 2022 on topics of an aging rural population, mental health, public health systems, nutrition and fitness, childrens growth and development, workforce development, opioids, health and housing, and economic development.
Shown is a police vehicle in Philadelphia, Thursday, June 24, 2021. Associated Press/Matt Rourke

3 ex-detectives in Philadelphia have been charged with perjury and false swearing in official matters.

The officers lied while testifying at a 2016 retrial for a man wrongfully convicted of rape and murder, prosecutors alleged.

The officers' lawyer told Insider they are "good men" who are innocent of all charges.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

A grand jury in Philadelphia has indicted three former homicide detectives on charges of lying on the witness stand while a wrongfully convicted man was retried, according to the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office.

The charges were unsealed Friday and the officers turned themselves in later that afternoon, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. The three retired officers, Martin Devlin, Frank Jastrzembski, and Manuel Santiago, were each charged with multiple counts of perjury and false swearing in official matters, prosecutors said in a statement.

The retrial was for a wrongfully convicted man named Anthony Wright, who was accused in the 1991 rape and murder of 77-year-old Louise Talley. Wright's conviction was overturned in 2014 after new DNA evidence surfaced, but prosecutors retried him in 2016. A jury exonerated Wright after deliberating for less than one hour.

An attorney representing Devlin, Jastrzembski, and Santiago told Insider in a statement that his clients are innocent of all charges.

"These three good men spent their entire careers seeking justice for crime victims," their lawyer, Brian McMonagle, said. "In this case they sought justice for an 80 year old woman who was brutally raped and murdered."

Wright, his lawyers at the Innocence Project, and Philadelphia prosecutors have all alleged that Devlin and Santiago coerced Wright to sign a false confession during their 1991 investigation, while Jastrzembski gave false testimony claiming that bloody clothing was found during a search of Wright's bedroom, when really it was found in Talley's home.

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Prosecutors also alleged that Devlin and Santiago lied and used violent threats to force Wright to sign the false confession. The ex-officers are accused of lying that Wright could go home if he signed the confession, preventing him from reading its contents, and threatening to "pull his eyes out and skull-f--- him."

"Wright, then 20 years old, repeatedly told detectives he had no involvement or knowledge of the crime, and spent hours repeatedly crying for his mother, whom he could hear outside the interrogation room screaming for him," prosecutors said in their Friday statement.

Prosecutors said the grand jury was instructed to review the former officers' conduct during Wright's 2016 retrial and 2017 lawsuit, since the statute of limitations has expired for their conduct during the 1991 investigation.

They alleged that Devlin, Jastrzembski, and Santiago lied under oath "about both the evidence used to convict Wright and their knowledge of the DNA evidence that ultimately exonerated Wright." Prosecutors added that both Devlin and Santiago lied at the retrial and in depositions, saying Wright had willingly confessed to rape and murder.

Read the original article on Insider
Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida at a press conference. Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Three teachers from Florida's Broward County died from COVID-19 on Tuesday and Wednesday.

All three taught in elementary school, and were unvaccinated, said the Broward Teachers' Union.

This week, Broward County's school board voted to defy a ban on mask mandates on school premises.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Correction: An earlier version of this article reported that four teachers died, per Broward Teachers' Union. The union issued a correction on August 13 saying it received incorrect information, and that three teachers have died.



Two teachers and a teaching assistant in Florida's Broward County died from COVID-19 within a span of 24 hours, the Broward Teachers Union said Thursday.

All three worked at elementary schools and were unvaccinated, per the union. The two teachers were 48-years-old, while the teaching assistant was 49-years-old, it added in an update late Thursday.

They were on summer break when they caught the virus and died just as the school year was about to begin, said Union President Anna Fusco to NBC Miami.

"It's extremely frightening," said Fusco. "I hear this every day. Whether in Broward or elsewhere. We're the fifth-largest union in the country."

She told NBC Miami: "It really hits because we've been in this conversation about masking up in schools, our own elected governor acting like masks are not necessary."

Broward County is located in southeastern Florida and includes Fort Lauderdale. Earlier this week, the Broward County Public Schools board defied Gov. Ron DeSantis' ban on mask mandates. They voted 8-1 to require staff members and students to wear face coverings amid a record-breaking spike in the state's coronavirus cases.

"Bring it," said one board member, Nora Rupert, after DeSantis threatened to withhold paychecks of school officials who made masks mandatory.

A representative for DeSantis previously told Insider's Connor Perret that DeSantis wanted to protect parents' rights to choose whether their kids should wear masks.

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A school district in Marion County, which is located four hours from Broward, northwest of Orlando, reported Friday that four members of its teaching staff had also died from COVID-19 over the summer.

In July, DeSantis issued an executive order banning mask mandates for Florida public schools, despite rising cases among children in the state. Earlier this week, more than 800 Florida physicians signed an open letter to DeSantis urging him to revise his policy.

"This past week, COVID-19 has infected more than 19,000 Floridians every day, the worst weekly infection rate since the pandemic began, and hospitalized an average of 1,800 Floridians daily," the letter said. "In the last week of July, at least 35 children were hospitalized every day for COVID-19 in Florida, a number that is very likely an undercount since Gov. DeSantis stopped sharing COVID-19 statistics."

Rather than issue mask mandates, DeSantis has rolled out a program to provide a monoclonal-antibody treatment from the company Regeneron through clinics - one of the treatments then-President Donald Trump was said to have received when he tested positive for COVID-19.

Read the original article on Insider
The New York Times

The reports hit the Roman Catholic Church in rapid succession: Analyses of cellphone data obtained by a conservative Catholic blog seemed to show priests at multiple levels of the Catholic hierarchy in both the United States and the Vatican using the gay hookup app Grindr. The first report, published late last month, led to the resignation of Monsignor Jeffrey Burrill, the former general secretary of the U.S. bishops conference. The second, posted online days later, made claims about the use of
Internally displaced Afghans. WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP via Getty Images

As Afghanistan continues to fall to the Taliban at a "faster-than-expected" pace, those who served in the war are reportedly "riveted in horror" watching the militant group make gains, and immensely frustrated by the withdrawal that's threatening to undo their 20 years of work, The Washington Post reports.

"It makes me angry, really angry," said Tom Amenta, a retired veteran who was originally deployed in 2002. Afghanistan "has never had a clean solution," he told the Post. "But now that it's gotten hard, we're just going to bounce? It doesn't make it right."

The United Kingdom's Foreign Affairs Select Committee Chair Tom Tugendhat, who also served in Afghanistan, called the withdrawal "wasteful and unnecessary," adding that it's as though the rug has been pulled out from under the Afghan government.

"It's just frustrating," lamented Army veteran John Whalen. "We knew that this would happen. Now, all the people who went and served, are like, 'Why did my friend die?'" Whalen told the Post he asks himself that question, too.

Scott Novak, a former Army medic, added that, as the situation progresses, there's a "lingering sense of sadness" amongst his military friends. "No one's saying, 'Hey, you know, at least we did something.' There's just nothing to really show for it," he explained. "And so, everyone's kind of angry and wondering, why? Why were we even there?"

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Ryanair has apologized after some of its staff forced an autistic boy to take a COVID-19 test, despite being medically exempt. Reuters

Ryanair made a boy take a COVID-19 test before flying despite an exemption note, his mother told the BBC.

12-year-old Callum Hollingsworth, who has autism, was "petrified" of the test, his mother said.

Ryanair said it "regrets to hear of the stress caused" by the incident.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

Airline Ryanair has apologized after it was accused of making a 12-year-old boy with autism take a COVID-19 test before boarding a flight, despite an exemption letter from his doctor, the BBC reported.

Ryanair, the Irish-owned airline carrier, made Callum Hollingsworth take the test before traveling home to the UK from Spain on August 3, Katy Hollingsworth, his mother, told the BBC.

Callum's doctor wrote a letter exempting him from taking a COVID-19 test after "a nightmare" experience trying to get him tested in January, Hollingsworth told the BBC. The family presented this letter at the airport, but staff insisted that Callum take a test, she said.

The UK government requires all arrivals into England, where the Hollingsworths live, to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken in the three days before travel. But people who can "present a note from a medical practitioner at check in" exempting them do not need to take a test, according to official guidance.

Hollingsworth told the BBC that Callum - who has autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - was "petrified" taking the test and "started hitting the chair and then started hitting himself."

Ryanair said in an emailed statement to Insider that it "apologizes for any inconvenience caused to Ms Hollingsworth and her family," and "regrets to hear of the stress caused."

Ryanair said it "fully complies with EU & Govt travel restrictions, which are constantly changing in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic."

"We continue to make improvements and implement procedures to ensure the health and safety of our passengers and our crew is prioritized while complying with each country's government guidelines at all times," the statement said.

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Read more: United, Delta, and American Airlines need pilots so badly, they're making it easier than ever for newbies to land top flying jobs

Hollingsworth told the BBC that her son "had a meltdown because he thought it was his fault," and said that her husband and two members of staff physically restrained Callum to get him to take the test before flying back home.

A video of the incident, taken by Callum's father and shared with the BBC, shows the boy crying as airport staff encourage him to get tested.

"The fact that he didn't need this one made it even worse because we'd told him the previous one was going to be his one and only test," Hollingsworth told the BBC.

Callum took a test before flying to Spain on vacation, Hollingsworth told the BBC.

Spain's government requires arrivals from "risk countries", which includes the UK, to present a recent negative COVID-19 test result or evidence of being fully vaccinated, according to its website. Children under 12 years are exempt from these requirements, per the UK government's travel advice.

Some airlines have faced criticism and legal challenges from passengers who have said they were forced to comply with certain COVID-19 measures, despite having medical conditions.

In June, a frequent flyer from Washington DC sued seven US airlines, accusing them of discriminating against passengers who can't wear masks for medical reasons.

He said that he was stranded in Florida because he couldn't fly without a mask due to his generalized anxiety disorder.

Read the original article on Business Insider
SYDNEY (Reuters) - The Australian government is seriously concerned about the detention and welfare of an Australian journalist who has been held in Beijing for one year, foreign minister Marise Payne said on Thursday.

Cheng Lei, who worked as a television anchor for Chinese state media, was formally arrested in February on suspicion of illegally supplying state secrets overseas.

She has been detained since August 2020 and was last visited by Australian consular officials on July 26.

"We are particularly concerned that one year into her detention, there remains a lack of transparency about the reasons for Ms Cheng's detention," Payne said in a statement.

Cheng was a business news anchor on Chinese state media's English-language channel CGTN, where she had worked for almost a decade.

Her children, aged nine and 11, were visiting their grandmother in Australia during school closures in Beijing caused by the COVID-19 pandemic when she was detained.

Australia expected basic standards of justice and humane treatment that met international norms, Payne said.

China's foreign ministry said in February that all of Cheng's rights were being "fully guaranteed".

Federal president of the Australian journalists union, the Media Arts and Entertainment Alliance, Marcus Strom, said Cheng's arrest and the accusations against her have never been explained.

"We urge the Chinese government to drop the charges against our colleague, and to show compassion by allowing her to return to Australia to be with her family," Strom said in a statement.

Cheng was born in China but moved with her parents to Australia as a child, and attended university in Queensland state.

Several of her former colleagues at the Chinese state television network, who have since left, told Australian media outlets this week they were shocked by her detention.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Michael Perry)
LONDON (AP)  For a large chunk of the past 20 years, British troops fought hard to ensure that the southern Afghanistan province of Helmand did not fall into the hands of the Taliban.

Confirmation Friday that the Taliban had captured Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand, had particular resonance in Britain. The vast majority of the U.K.'s 457 casualties occurred in the province as British troops fought with American and allied NATO forces. The Camp Bastion complex in Helmand was the headquarters for British military operations from 2006 until 2014.

With the Taliban advancing rapidly and now in control of around two-thirds of Afghanistan, questions are being raised about why the U.K. could not have remained even after the planned departure of U.S. troops by Sept. 11.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned there was no military solution to prevent the resurgence of the Taliban.

Following an emergency meeting over the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, Johnson said the vast bulk of the remaining U.K. embassy staff in Kabul would return in the next few days. Meanwhile, the British government was also stepping up efforts to relocate Afghans who had assisted British forces during their time in the country and who now face reprisals if they fall into hands of the militants.

I think weve got to be realistic about the abilities of the U.K. or any power to impose a military solution, a combat solution in Afghanistan, he said. What we certainly can do is work with all our partners in the region and around the world who share an interest with us in preventing Afghanistan from once again becoming a breeding ground for terror.

U.S. President Joe Biden announced the timeline for the U.S. withdrawal in April, saying he was determined to end Americas longest war. His decision led the other nations in the NATO coalition, including the U.K., to announce their own departures, two decades after they first arrived in Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks.

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Johnny Mercer, a former defense minister in Britain's Conservative government and an Afghanistan veteran, said Biden made a huge mistake but that the U.K. did not have to follow suit and could have mustered support among other NATO allies in the International Security Assistance Force.

This idea we cannot act unilaterally and support the Afghan security forces is simply not true, Mercer told the BBC. The political will to see through enduring support to Afghanistan has not been there, and a lot of people are going to die because of that, and for me that is extremely humiliating."

Britain's defense secretary, Ben Wallace, expressed his concerns about the unfolding situation in Afghanistan, not least the potential for al-Qaeda to return, but said the government had no choice but to follow the U.S. lead.

When the United States, as the framework nation, took that decision, the way we were all configured, the way we had gone in, meant that we had to leave as well," he said on Sky News.

Wallace denied the decision Thursday to send around 600 British troops to Afghanistan to help the 4,000 or so remaining U.K. nationals in the country to leave was a panic measure, saying plans had been put in place months ago. The U.S. said Thursday that it was sending an additional 3,000 troops to Afghanistan to assist in the evacuation of some personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.

U.K. troops were sent to Helmand in 2006, as part of a reorganization of coalition troops, initially with the intention of providing stability and security for reconstruction projects. However, they were soon drawn into combat operations; Camp Bastion in Helmand became the base of British Operation Herrick, with 9,500 troops stationed there.

Soldiers patrolled the province and faced the constant threat of ambush from insurgents, whose local knowledge often gave them an advantage.

More than 100,000 British troops served in Afghanistan in the past two decades, though their numbers fell dramatically after December 2014, when NATO's combat mission ended. The soldiers there since ostensibly trained Afghan army troops and supported a wide range of projects to improve education, particularly for girls, health care, economic growth and local governance in Helmand and across the country.

Yale University Senior Fellow Rory Stewart, a former international development secretary in the British government and a respected writer on Afghanistan, criticized the withdrawal as a completely unnecessary, dangerous decision." He warned that millions of Afghans would become refugees.

Weve essentially created another Syria overnight," he said.

___

Follow AP's coverage of Afghanistan at https://apnews.com/hub/afghanistan
Marching in formation, the tunic-clad actors thrust fake swords and spears into the air and unleashed their fiercest battle cries: "I will fight for my country, Ethiopia! I am a soldier of Ethiopia!"

Later, on a stage adorned with photos of elite soldiers and the Ethiopian flag, the actors belted out war anthems dating to century-old campaigns against Italian colonisers.

Friday's ceremony at the Addis Ababa mayor's office was an example of how Ethiopians are heeding a "national call" issued this week by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to "deploy all means necessary" to defeat rebels from the war-scarred Tigray region.

This weekend the actors -- representing four theatre houses in the capital -- will travel to military camps across the country to entertain new recruits bound for the front, city officials said.

The mobilisation comes as fighting intensifies in previously unscathed regions, rebels explore new alliances and world leaders ramp up demands for a halt to violence so desperately-needed aid can be distributed.

Abiy has urged "all capable Ethiopians who are of age" to join the armed forces, though officials have stressed there are multiple ways citizens can back the military campaign which has dragged on for more than nine months.

Arega Ayalkat, a 23-year-old actor who will travel to a military camp in the southern city of Hawassa, told AFP he was eager to do his part.

"It does not mean all people have to fight with weapons... Our role is to stimulate and motivate and also to embolden the frightened with music," he said.

"This call is from Ethiopia. Therefore, you cannot refuse her call."

- 'Everybody is on guard' -

Abiy, winner of the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, sent troops into Tigray last November to topple the regional ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), saying the move came in response to attacks on army camps.

He declared victory several weeks later when government forces took the regional capital Mekele, but the rebels mounted a shock comeback, recapturing the city and most of Tigray by late June.

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Since then they have pressed east and south into neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions, seizing a host of towns including Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Amhara that is home to medieval rock-hewn churches.

On Thursday Amhara's spokesman Gizachew Muluneh said fierce fighting was taking place in at least four locations including near the crucial crossroads town of Woldiya.

The TPLF also this week unveiled an alliance with rebels from Oromia, the country's largest region which surrounds Addis Ababa, further ratcheting up pressure on Abiy's government.

A recent briefing from the International Crisis Group (ICG) think tank described Ethiopia's army as "depleted", but Abiy's spokeswoman Billene Seyoum said Thursday the latest mobilisation call had "nothing to do with the military's capacity".

She told a press conference that "millions" had responded to the call in various ways, but did not provide details on the numbers who actually enlisted.

Abiy has also urged citizens to "work closely with the security forces in being the eyes and ears of the country" to track down spies, raising fears among rights groups who have already denounced arbitrary arrests of Tigrayans, activists and journalists.

"Everybody is on guard and everybody is ready to thwart off the threats and the terrorist activities that TPLF and its operatives are putting in place for the disintegration of Ethiopia," Billene said.

- 'Critical moment' -

The war has already exacted a massive humanitarian toll, with thousands dead, two million displaced and hundreds of thousands facing famine-like conditions, according to the UN.

That grim balance sheet has spurred global calls for the fighting to end, a message emphasised during recent visits by Martin Griffiths, the UN's emergency relief coordinator, and US aid chief Samantha Power.

Washington's special envoy to the Horn of Africa, Jeffrey Feltman, is due to arrive next week in a fresh bid to facilitate dialogue.

The visit comes at "a critical moment", the Biden administration's national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Twitter.

"Months of war have brought immense suffering and division to a great nation, that won't be healed through more fighting. We call on all parties to urgently come to the negotiating table," Sullivan said.

Meron Wandrafrash, one of the artists who signed up to entertain recruits, acknowledged Friday that Ethiopia was in troubled times but said she remained optimistic.

"What is happening can be worrying, but we are Ethiopians, we will pass through it," she said. "This is not new to us."

rcb/amu/txw/ri
IFC Films

For 30 years he was an obscure failure; then almost overnight a local celebrity and eventually the man around whom the whole of world policy revolved. How does that go together?Sebastian Haffner

When Sebastian Haffners The Meaning of Hitler was published in 1978, Germany had just reached the peak of what historians call the Hitler wave. Just over 30 years after his suicide, Hitlers character was enjoying a pop-culture rehabilitation. Hitler biographies filled bookstore windows, SS eroticism oozed from art films, and tabloid covers excitedly told tales of Hitlers escape. Susan Sontag, commenting on the moments newfound praise for Leni Riefenstahls Triumph of the Will, dubbed it fascinating fascism.

But Haffner, a journalist who witnessed Hitlers rise and then fled the Nazis in the 30s, was having none of that. He rejected the gawking obsession with biographical minutiae and instead wrote a slim volume that thoroughly deconstructed the Hitler cult. The book immediately rose to the top of the German bestseller list and stayed there for 44 months, a testament to Germanys need for a sober antidote to the mythologizing tendencies of the Hitler industry.

In 2017, shortly after the shock of Charlottesville, we took Haffners book as our guide and set out to make a film about the meaning of Hitler today. Why were we seeing a rise in nationalism, antisemitism, white supremacy, and truth-defying fascist thought? Had the lessons of history been lost?

Hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis, KKK and members of the alt-right attack counter demonstrators on the outskirts of Emancipation Park during the Unite the Right rally, Aug. 12, 2017, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Over the next three years, we traveled to nine countries to visit key locations from Hitlers life and crimes, and interviewed historians and writers not only about Hitlerism, but also the battle over history itself. Among the subjects were some of our greatest living historians: Yehuda Bauer, Saul Friedlander, Sir Richard Evans, and Deborah Lipstadt.

Lipstadt had been famously sued by British author David Irving in 1996 for defamation after she described Irving as a dangerous spokesperson for Holocaust denial in her 1993 book, Denying the Holocaust. Following a sensational trial, where Lipstadts defense team relied on Richard Evans as an expert witness, the court ruled against Irving.

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Reading his verdict, the judge said, Irving has for his own ideological reasons persistently and deliberately misrepresented and manipulated historical evidence; that for the same reasons he has portrayed Hitler in an unwarrantedly favorable light, principally in relation to his attitude towards and responsibility for the treatment of the Jews; that he is an active Holocaust denier; that he is antisemitic and racist and that he associates with right-wing extremists who promote neo-Nazism.

Alt-Right Ringleader Richard Spencer: We Attract the Mentally Ill

Two decades earlier, Haffner had taken exception to Irvings insistence that there wasnt any proof that Hitler had ordered the Holocaust, so we decided to seek an interview with Irving. Not only was there a link to Haffner, but Irving was also a key player in the mainstreaming of Holocaust denial under the guise of history. And that misrepresentation of history was suddenly everywhere.

When asked about combating fake news on Facebook in 2018, Mark Zuckerberg replied, Im Jewish, and theres a set of people who deny that the Holocaust happened. I find that deeply offensive. But at the end of the day, I dont believe that our platform should take that down because I think there are things that different people get wrong. (Following years of backlash, he reversed his stance.)

When we asked Lipstadt for a clarifying definition of historical denial, she explained, It is a form of antisemitism, clothed in historical-like garb. You know, Were just examining history. We only want to get to the truth in history. But if this history can be rewritten, any history can be rewritten. And were seeing that today. Were seeing that in the United States and were seeing that today in parts of Europe.

When we finally reached out to Irving, he quickly responded and suggested that we could meet him in Poland during one of his Real History tours, where hed be leading a group of international tourists through infamous Hitler sites and Nazi extermination camps.

Hed been doing these tours for a decade with very little opposition, but it was hard to believe that a man who was imprisoned in Austria and banned over the years from traveling to Canada, Germany, and Australia for promoting Holocaust denial would be given free access to any site in Poland where the Nazis murdered an estimated 5 million people, including 3 million Polish Jews. However, a few weeks after contacting him, we found ourselves standing next to Irving as he blew a brass whistle and led his clients off a bus to visit the extermination site of Treblinka, where the Nazis killed more than 900,000 people.

Twenty years after being financially hobbled by the cost of the Lipstadt trial, Irving paints himself as the victim of a conspiracy by the traditional enemies of truth to smear him out oblivion and claims that the intentions of these tours and his research is to simply reveal the truth. However, as we walked deeper into Treblinka and he began to feel at ease with his followers, the real David Irvingand the real face of denialcame out as you can see in the clip provided here:

Irvings tours arent about history. They are about transgression. The act of being there is a kind of victory. When it comes to those who find community by rejoicing in the suffering of those they hate and fear, The Atlantics Adam Serwer observed, The cruelty is the point.

IFC Films The Meaning of Hitler is now playing in select theaters and on demand.

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BEIJING (Reuters) -China's newly appointed ambassador in Washington stressed the utmost importance of Taiwan in the Sino-U.S. relationship during his first meeting with a top U.S. official since assuming the job, according to Chinese state media.

Qin Gang, 55, who has earned a reputation for pointed public defences of his country's positions, struck an optimistic tone as he arrived in Washington in late July to take up his post, saying great potential awaited bilateral relations.

Meeting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, Qin said they both had an "in depth, very frank" exchange of views, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Friday.

"The two sides agreed that Sino-U.S. bilateral relations are very important, and it is necessary to resolve issues through dialogue and communication, manage differences and contradictions, and improve bilateral relations," Xinhua said.

The only issue to be directly mentioned in the report was Chinese-claimed Taiwan, the democratically ruled island that China considers its sovereign territory.

"Qin Gang emphasised that the Taiwan issue is the most important and sensitive issue in Sino-U.S. relations. He clearly stated China's position to Sherman," Xinhua added, without elaborating.

China has been incensed by increased U.S. support for Taiwan, including arms sales and COVID-19 vaccine donations, believing Washington is colluding with forces in Taiwan which are seeking the island's formal independence, a red line for Beijing.

The United States, like most countries, does not maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but is its strongest international backer and main supplier of arms.

Meeting the newly arrived de facto U.S. ambassador to Taipei, Sandra Oudkirk, on Friday, Taiwan Vice President William Lai expressed thanks for U.S. support and its stressing, along with U.S. allies, of the importance of stability in the Taiwan Strait "in the face of threats from China".

"This is extremely helpful for Taiwan's society, cross-Taiwan Strait developments, and peace in the Indo-Pacific," the presidential office cited Lai as saying.

(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Writing and additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Stephen Coates)
Compton City Councilman Isaac Galvan appeared in the downtown Los Angeles criminal courts building, where he was arraigned for conspiring to commit election fraud. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

A Compton city councilman was arrested Friday morning and charged with conspiring to rig votes to secure his victory in an election he won earlier this year by just one ballot, officials said.

Isaac Galvan, 34, was one of six people charged Friday with conspiracy to commit election fraud, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.

Prosecutors allege Galvan conspired with Jace Dawson, one of his opponents in an April primary for Galvan's council seat, to direct voters from outside the council district to cast ballots for Galvan in a June runoff, the complaint states.

At least three improper ballots were counted in the runoff election, ultimately swinging the race, according to the complaint. Galvan raked in 855 votes while Andre Spicer, a Compton native and entrepreneur, tallied 854 ballots in a June runoff election, records show.

Prosecutors also charged Dawson, Kimberly Chaouch, Toni Sanae Morris, Barry Kirk Reed and Reginald Orlando Streeter with two counts each of conspiracy to commit election fraud. Chaouch, Morris, Reed and Streeter all voted in the primary or runoff for the Compton City Council's second district, despite not living there.

Galvan and Dawson were arrested Friday by members of the district attorney's bureau of investigations and led into a downtown courtroom in handcuffs. Both men pleaded not guilty and were released on their own recognizance.

Their attorneys declined to comment. Another hearing is scheduled for Sept. 17. The other four defendants were not arrested, and it was not immediately clear when they would appear in court.

Galvan, who was first elected in 2013 and describes himself as the city's youngest and first Latino councilman, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit election fraud and one count of bribery. According to the complaint, Galvan made "an attempt to fraudulently influence the results of the election when he tried to bribe an employee of the registrar's office with concert tickets.

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"Elections are the cornerstone of our democratic nation. We must do everything in our power to protect the integrity of the electorate process and to ensure that elections are free and fair," Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascon said in a statement.

Both the employee Galvan allegedly tried to bribe and an election observer immediately reported the incident, according to Dean Logan, the county's top elections official. In a statement issued Friday, Logan also said he had referred a case of "alleged fraudulent activity" involving Compton's municipal election to the D.A.s office on June 9.

In the wake of widespread, largely baseless, claims of fraud involving mail-in voting during the 2020 presidential election, Logan said Friday's news should serve as proof that voting officials are adept at catching manipulations at the ballot box.

"These charges and the activities alleged in this case are serious and strike at a time when public confidence in our electoral process is in decline and misinformation about the security of voting is rampant," Logan said. "At the same time, our referral and the District Attorneys subsequent investigation and charges demonstrate that attempts to perpetrate fraud on the voting process are trackable and will be prosecuted."

Friday's arrests mark at least the second time L.A. County prosecutors have uncovered an attempt to manipulate mail-in voting during the 2020 election cycle. In November, two men were charged with attempting to register nearly 8,000 fictitious, nonexistent or deceased voters to receive mail-in ballots for the Hawthorne mayoral election. Ultimately, none of those ballots were tallied in the general election.

Spicer said he suspected fraud early in the race, accusing Galvan of offering to buy people groceries or giving them gifts in exchange for votes. Aware that voter turnout is often low in Compton, Spicer said he feared Galvan could influence the outcome of the race if he swung a few dozen ballots by nefarious means.

Spicer said his concerns were validated on June 7 when Chaouch, a former volunteer for Dawson's campaign, reached out to his staff and told them she had "committed voter fraud."

"They asked her what do you mean? And she said ... she registered to vote from his house and she knows about 20 other people who did the same thing," he alleged.

According to Spicer, Chaouch said she'd been hired by Galvan's campaign during the runoff. But they failed to pay her, so she decided to speak out, Spicer said.

Spicer called for a recount, which was conducted in July. During that process, he said he did not see his own ballot or his mother's among those tallied. He also claimed he saw Chaouch's ballot during the recount, with Dawson's home address listed as her own.

"I can take a loss, but I cant take being cheated. I dont like what that does for democracy. It contradicts what I advocate for," Spicer said. "To hear this happening. I dont even have the words."

Voting records, however, dispute Spicer's claim, according to the registrar's office. Through a spokesman, Logan said both Spicer and his mother voted by mail in the primary and runoff elections for Galvan's seat. Logan also said his office based its referral for investigation to the district attorney's office "on irregular voter registration activity and information received from voters and observers during the election," and before the recount.

Chaouch wrote a letter to the district attorney's office laying out her role in the alleged fraud, according to Spicer, who did not provide a copy of the letter. A spokesman for the district attorney's office declined to comment.

Attempts to contact Chaouch, Morris, Reed and Streeter for comment were unsuccessful Friday.

Galvan's name has been linked to multiple corruption scandals in recent months.

Last November, federal investigators served a search warrant at his home as part of an investigation into marijuana licensing practices in Baldwin Park, sources told The Times. The search came months after a former Baldwin Park police officer signed a sworn statement that he'd received complaints from three cannabis dispensary operators alleging questionable business practices, which included paying as much as $250,000 cash in a brown paper bag to city officials.

Galvan was also subpoenaed to testify in grand jury proceedings that ultimately led prosecutors to bring corruption and bribery charges against former Maywood Mayor Ramon Medina and nine others earlier this year, according to an official familiar with the investigation. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss the matter candidly.

Galvan invoked his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination during those proceedings and refused to answer questions, the official said.

Dawson, who finished dead last in the April primary, also came under scrutiny during election season after well-known L.A. activist Jasmyne Cannick began to question his qualifications, alleging he'd lied about living in the city, holding a doctoral degree and having connections to the administration of former President Obama.

The people of Compton have enough problems without having their elected members and other imposters in the community trying to take advantage of their vote, Cannick said Friday. And thats what Jace did, he went around telling people he worked for President Barack Obama . and a congressman who had been dead as long as [Dawson] had been alive. And none of it was true. None of it.

During the primary election, Chaouch, Reed and Streeter all registered to vote at Dawson's Compton address and then cast ballots for him in the race, according to the complaint. Chaouch, Morris and Streeter are also accused of casting ballots for Galvan in the June runoff, despite not living in Compton, the complaint alleges.

Galvan began to talk to Dawson about working together in April, according to text messages described in the complaint.

After the election maybe I can bring you on board to help me out, Galvan wrote to Dawson.

On May 25, Dawson was approved for a job as a city liaison by a 3-1 City Council vote, according to the complaint. Galvan voted in favor, while then-Compton Mayor Aja Brown opposed, calling Dawson's appointment "laughable," according to court records.

For weeks, Dawson and Galvan repeatedly texted about getting ballots signed for the runoff election. On one occasion, Dawson told the councilman that he knew of a woman who would cast a ballot for Galvan even though she lived in Long Beach, because she was still registered to vote in Compton.

Cannick said she hopes that Los Angeles County authorities will continue to probe election irregularities in small cities where races are often determined by a few hundred votes.

Hopefully, what happened today will send a message to other people who engage in voter fraud, she said. Particularly in these southeast cities, they have enough corruption, they have enough problems already without the people that they put their trust and faith in to participate in or actively engage in taking advantage of them.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Credit Suisse said Friday it will name two risk management veterans to its board of directors after the Swiss banking giant was rocked by meltdowns at financial firms Greensill and Archegos.

The bank's new chairman, Antonio Horta-Osorio, has vowed to make risk management a priority since he took over in April in the wake of the financial fiascos.

Credit Suisse said it was proposing Axel Lehmann, a former executive at Swiss rival UBS, as chair of the risk committee. The Swiss is an adjunct professor at the University of St. Gallen.

He would take over for Richard Meddings, who has been interim chairman of the risk committee since his predecessor abruptly resigned in April.

It also nominated Juan Colombas, a non-executive director and member of the audit and risk committees at Dutch bank ING, to serve on its board. The Spaniard is also a former executive at Lloyds Banking Group.

Credit Suisse will hold an extraordinary general meeting of its board on October 1 to elect the two new members.

Horta-Osorio said in a statement that the two, with their three decades of experience in financial services, "will make an invaluable contribution as we shape the bank's strategic realignment and enhance our culture of risk management and personal responsibility and accountability."

The implosion of US hedge fund Archegos earlier this year cost Credit Suisse some $5.5 billion.

An independent external investigation into the Archegos fiasco found a failure to manage risk effectively at Switzerland's second biggest bank.

The bank has also been repaying billions of dollars to investors who placed money in funds linked to the collapse of British financial firm Greensill.

An investigation into the Greensill affair is expected to end in the third quarter.

noo/cco/lth/wdb
The Dallas Police Department is missing eight terabytes of data, much of which pertains to pending criminal cases, after hiccups in a system migration effort earlier in the year, the District Attorney's Office announced on Wednesday.

On Aug. 6, the law enforcement body informed Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot that in April the department discovered 22 terabytes were deleted over the course of a few days, according to a memo. A total of 14 terabytes has since been recovered, leaving eight terabytes still missing.

"This is an unfortunate situation, but we've been working closely with [the city's Information and Technology Services Department] to ascertain what occurred to our files, are missing files retrievable, and how to ensure this doesnt happen again," Chief Eddie Garcia said in a statement. "I have spoken to DA Creuzot, and we will be working through whatever issues arise together."

MINNEAPOLIS EFFORT TO ABOLISH POLICE DEPARTMENT RAKES IN CASH

The lost case files appear to be from incidents that occurred prior to July 28, 2020, and the missing information does not include "direct file" cases, or reports that don't require a detective, such as charges of evading arrest or unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, the memo said. Prosecutors in the area have been directed to make written disclosures if they are unable to locate information needed as the "number and identification of specific cases affected by this network drive deletion is currently unknown."

One terabyte is equivalent to approximately 16 iPhones that each have 512 gigabytes, according to WFAA.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said the hiccup could lead to "major consequences" for both department and city operations.

"This is a very serious matter," he wrote in a letter. "Public safety is the bedrock of our city government. Missing evidence could have major consequences for pending criminal cases, which could leave victims without justice and undermine our efforts to build a safer city."

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Washington Examiner Videos

Tags: News, Dallas, Texas, Data, Police, Law Enforcement

Original Author: Jake Dima

Original Location: Dallas police missing data on pending criminal cases
Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty

Just as the GOP abandoned years of conservative dogma to become the party of porn, Putin, and protectionism, so too has its respect for local authorityonce understood to be a foundational principlebecome situational.

Take Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis order banning local mask requirements and threatening to withhold the salaries of superintendents and school board members following the CDCs new Delta variant guidance.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has similarly banned local mask mandates, which may be a lot of things but is not conservative.

For a proper explanation of how this flies in the face of conservatism, you only have to go back a few years ago, when then-Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan explained that the [Catholic] principle of subsidiarity, which is really federalism says the government closest to the people governs best. Ryan went on to say that this is how we can advance the common gooda term which has since been co-opted by the illiberal right to make the exact opposite argumentby not having big government crowd out civic society, but by having enough space in our communities so that we can interact with each other, and take care of people who are down and out in our communities.

Of course Ryan (who was then being heralded by the likes of Sarah Palin and Laura Ingraham) was merely advocating preexisting conservative concepts.

First, there is the knowledge problem that economist F.A. Hayek warned about. Central planners, he argued, cant possibly know everything, and the arrogant assumption that they do is a fatal conceit. What is more, by imposing one-size-fits-all solutions, central planners deprive us of diversity and experimentation.

There is an argument that a real free market would simply let individuals decide for themselves whether to wear a mask. But that argument doesnt translate well when you add in a contagious virus that impacts other individuals, including childrenthe live and let live formulation we apply to other circumstances doesnt fit when live and let die may be the closer analogy.

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Floridas Death Toll Now Exceeds DeSantis Margin of Victory

Lets be honest, the stakes are high. While it is clear that children are less susceptible to COVID than adults, we are seeing numerous reports of kids getting sick and even dying from it. According to The Atlantic, as the hypertransmissible Delta variant hammers the United States, the greatest hardships are being taken on by the unvaccinated, a population that includes some 50 million children younger than age 12. Its too soon to know whether the Delta variant is making kids sicker than other variants, but its understandable why some communities want to err on the side of caution.

What we are left with is a prudential public policy decision: what level of government should be making that call?

Second, humans inherently trust their friends and neighbors more than distant bureaucrats. To be attached to the subdivision, to love the little platoon we belong to in society, is the first principle (the germ as it were) of public affections, wrote Edmund Burke, who many consider to be the founder of conservatism. It is the first link in the series by which we proceed towards a love to our country, and to mankind.

If members of this first link believe wearing masks is the right thing to do to keep their children safe and alive, then who is DeSantis to tell them otherwise? Can someone 500 miles away in Tallahassee realistically decide whats best for kids and parents in Miami? Why not allow diverse community leaders who live in the community to exercise autonomy and err on the side of safety?

To be sure, automatic deference to local rule runs into problems when that local government is discriminatory, reactionary, xenophobic, oppressive or corrupt. But requiring masks isnt the same as Jim Crow, no matter what Marjorie Taylor Greene might say. Although there is much hand-wringing about the physical and psychological toll of wearing masks, the potential downside of allowing local authorities to mandate wearing them is discomfort; the potential downside of DeSantis order is sickness, an overloaded medical system and needless deaths.

The anti-mask move is just the latest manifestation of DeSantis larger, unconservative, worldview. Just this week, a judge ruled that he cant stop Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings from requiring passengers to be vaccinated. The notion that a political leader would prevent a private business from adopting such a reasonable policy was always at odds with a no shoes, no shirt, no service pro-business philosophy. But it was especially ironic for an adherent of a political philosophy that said it was wrong for big government to force a local business owners to bake a cake for a gay wedding.

As Republicans abandon conservative principlesthat private businesses can make their own decisions and that a deference to local control is generally prudentthe question may be what lines are left to be crossed. In eschewing localism and conservatism, DeSantis is embracing populism.

DeSantis is a smart politician whos transparently doing this to advance his own political career. He knows which way the wind is blowing in the GOP and he recognizes that masks have become a culture-war symbolthus his attempt to double down on his anti-mask, tough-guy image. The only danger is that his bullying nature leaves conservatism, and Floridians, as collateral damage.

The Trump era was crazy, but wait til you hear what the right has planned next. Subscribe to Fever Dreams on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music or Acast to keep up with the conspiracy-mongers, MAGA acolytes and straight-up grifters. Hosted by Asawin Suebsaeng and Will Sommer.

COVID Truthers Obsession With Horse Paste and Sheep Drench Is Warping Amazons Product Recommendations

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Aug. 12Two fathers stood at opposite ends of the county courthouse on Thursday, apologizing to and forgiving each other for the loss of one another's sons.

Floyd Barton, 61, of the 200 block of Earlwood Avenue, saw his son, James Smith, 39, being shot in the back following an altercation at Ravine Park Village apartments on June 22, 2020. Barton said he thought the alleged shooter, Dennison Bowen III, 39, would also turn the gun on him  so Barton fatally shot him.

"I'm very remorseful about what happened and if I could take it back, I would," Barton told the Bowen family through tears.

Mr. Bowen's father, Dennison Bowen, Jr., also apologized for Barton's own loss and forgave him for causing theirs.

Despite that, two lives were lost for something that was senseless, Judge Eric Marks said prior to sentencing Barton to 4 to 6 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter.

"It's a microcosm of what our community's experiencing with gun violence," the judge said on Thursday. "There's shots being fired for reason that have no justification at all, seemingly every day. This is one example of a tragic loss that should have never occurred."

On June 22, 2020, Barton and Mr. Smith went to Mr. Bowen III's residence last summer to confront him about an ongoing disagreement. The two sons got into a physical altercation and were pulled apart, defense attorney John Thebes said on Thursday.

Prior to the altercation, Mr. Smith gave his father a firearm, Mr. Thebes said.

But as Mr. Smith was walking away from the fight, Mr. Bowen allegedly fired at him, striking him in the back. In return, Mr. Smith's father fired at Mr. Bowen III, killing him.

"He feels guilty for placing his son in this situation. This tragic chain of events really isn't isolated to one particular action  everybody played a part," Mr. Thebes said. "It's unfortunate and it's unnecessary and it's tragic."

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Instead of taking the case to trial and arguing self-defense for a murder charge, Mr. Thebes advised Barton to enter into the plea agreement with the state. Last month, Barton entered an Alford plea  not admitting guilt  to voluntary manslaughter, which doesn't carry the potential of a life-sentence, Mr. Thebes said.

At the time of the shooting, Barton was on post release control after serving 8 years in prison for rape. As a convicted felon, Barton should not have been anywhere near a firearm, Judge Marks said on Thursday.

For violating terms of post release control, Judge Marks added an additional 12 months in prison on Thursday, which will be served consecutively for the involuntary manslaughter offense.

First Published August 12, 2021, 4:56pm
Even as it assured the public of its safety, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency privately raised concerns for at least six years about the disproportionate number of incidents of harm and death linked to the popular Seresto flea and tick collar, newly released government documents show.

As early as 2015, the EPA said that Serestos incident count ranked #1 by a wide margin compared to other pet flea and tick products. Three years later, the agency recognized that it would receive reports of 50-100 pet deaths related to Seresto every three months with a trend of increasing numbers.

Yet the agency allowed the continued sales of the collar despite numerous deliberations about the reports and continuously meeting with Bayer, the producer of the collar, about the reports. Bayer, which has said in its 2019 annual report that it made $300 million dollars on the collar, sold its animal health division, including the collar, to Elanco Animal Health, a former subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Co., for $7.6 billion last year.

Newly released documents show the U.S. EPA knew that Soresto flea and tick collars accounted for more incidents of pet harm and death than any similar product.

Earlier this year, Investigate Midwest and USA TODAY found that the EPA has received at least 1,698 reports of pet deaths and more than 75,000 incident reports of pet harm related to the Seresto collar since it was approved in 2012. Following that story, the U.S. House Committee on Oversight launched an investigation into Seresto and asked Elanco to voluntarily recall the products. A number of class action lawsuits have since followed.

Newly released documents show the U.S. Environmental Protection agency was tallying 50 to 100 pet deaths every three months related to Soresto flea and tick collars.

In addition, the newly released documents show that the EPA was in contact with Canadian health officials for months in 2016 as Canada considered, and ultimately refused, to let Bayer sell Seresto in that country. The EPA previously told Investigate Midwest and USA TODAY that it had no knowledge of Canadas decision-making process.

More: Seresto pet collars under EPA review, but the fight over their safety could take years

The documents were obtained through a lawsuit filed against the EPA by the Center for Biological Diversity.

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Lori Ann Burd, environmental health program director for the Center for Biological Diversity, said this is an explosive set of documents.

It shows they knew. It shows they did nothing, Burd said. If anything, these documents make it worse. They were so well aware of the scope of the problem.

The EPA said it was not able to immediately provide a comment.

In a statement, Elanco spokeswoman Colleen Dekker said the company has conducted third-party reviews of Seresto and continues to stand by the collars safety.

Ivan, a five-year-old English mastiff, died in May 2019, one day after a Seresto collar was placed on him. His owner Barbara Merckle is a dog breeder in Moxahala, Ohio, had a necropsy performed on Ivan by the Ohio Department of Agriculture, which found that he was in good health.

All data and scientific evaluation used during the product registration process and through Elancos robust pharmacovigilance review supports Serestos safety profile and efficacy, Dekker said. Seresto protects millions of dogs and cats against potentially harmful fleas and ticks, which can transmit dangerous disease and impact pets quality of life.

Dekker said that an analysis by the company determined that 0.3%  or one in 300  of pets have reported an adverse reaction, and that the existence of a report does not mean that Seresto caused the incident.

Its critically important to understand that these raw reports are not an indication of cause and must be further investigated and analyzed to determine if they were actually caused by the product, Dekker said.

Dekker said an investigation by Elanco found that 12 pets have reportedly died in a manner probably or possibly casually related to the Seresto collar.

None of these were linked to the active ingredients in Seresto, but instead due to the physical nature of a collar, Dekker said in an emailed statement.

Bayer did not respond to questions about Seresto, instead issuing an emailed statement.

Bayer completed its sale of its animal health division to Elanco in August of 2020 and this sale included Seresto flea and tick products. We no longer manufacture or market this product, a spokeswoman said in an emailed statement.

The Center for Biological Diversity filed a legal petition in April to revoke Serestos registration. The EPA pledged to further investigate, and opened a public comment period on the petition in July.

Seresto works by releasing small amounts of two pesticides onto the fur of cats and dogs for months at a time. The pesticides  flumethrin and imidacloprid  are supposed to kill fleas, ticks and other pests but be safe for pets.

But the documents show the EPA has been closely monitoring Seresto for years, receiving and discussing complaints alleging that the pesticides on the collar were killing and injuring pets.

Newly released documents show the U.S. EPA was aware since at least 2015 of a high number of incidents related to the Soresto flea and tick collar, then produced by Bayer.

The documents revealed a long, troubling history with Seresto:

The EPA initially rushed the 2012 approval of Seresto so the Centers for Disease Control could use the collars to help control Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever on dogs in Indian Country in Arizona.

In addition to pet owners, veterinarians also had submitted concerns about the collar. One veterinarian in New Jersey, for example, asked if the EPA could help test the collar after a dog had a severe skin reaction. And an EPA employee wrote in 2016 that Seresto was involved in quite a few incidents reported to NPIC through the vet portal. The NPIC stands for the National Pesticide Information Center, which tracks pesticide-related incidents.

The EPA did not respond to previous questions earlier this year about whether a comparative analysis had been conducted, but documents show that such an analysis has been conducted numerous times over the years. Those analyses were not available in the documents.

For years, officials at the National Pesticide Information Center forwarded special interest reports about Seresto to EPA officials. These reports, which were treated differently than other pesticide products, included numerous cases of pet deaths.

Other reports that were forwarded to EPA staff included the case of a 9-month-old cat that had a severe skin reaction to the collar, and that of a dog with a life-threatening skin condition after wearing the collar. Two people also reported their own issues after placing the collars on their pets: One person got a skin reaction; another had a breakout of mouth sores.

In another report, a veterinarian said that a 9-year-old Australian Shepherd mix was brought to the emergency clinic for vomiting, uncontrolled shaking and uncontrolled urination two days after the collar was applied. The collar was removed at the clinic, but two weeks later, the owner put the collar back on the dog. It had a similar episode and died two days later.

2015: EPA is closely evaluating the reported incidents

Numerous times over the years, the EPA expressed interest in further investigating and regulating Seresto.

But it appears that the agency did so only after getting a press inquiry from WNBC New York in July 2015. The news outlet asked if the EPA was aware of a high number of incidents surrounding Seresto and if there are any ongoing investigations. An investigation launched the same month, according to the documents.

At this point, EPA is closely evaluating the reported incidents on Seresto to determine whether there is a causal relationship between this product and the incidents reported. If at any time, we determine that the collar presents unacceptable risks, we will take action to mitigate those risks or remove the product from the marketplace, the EPA told WNBC New York.

Two days after the inquiry, the EPA held its first call with Bayer to ask if theyre aware of a high number of reported incidents. The next day, the EPA asked Bayer to submit incident data.

Seresto, developed by Bayer and sold by Elanco, is the top-selling collar if its kind on Amazon.

On August 3, 2015, Bayer emailed incident data it shared with Canadian regulators, who were at the time considering approving the collar, as well as information regarding the Weber Effect. According to the National Institutes of Health, the Weber Effect refers to a pattern of complaints about a new drug peaking in the second year of its being on the market with complaints dropping after that.

However, incident data shows that Seresto's adverse incident reports have only increased since 2015. In fact, in November 2015, EPA asked Bayer about an increase of incidents between Quarter 2 and Quarter 3.

By December of that year, three divisions of the EPA worked together to brief upper management on Seresto. A December 16, 2015, powerpoint presentation by the EPA laid out a timeline for the investigation.

In that presentation, the EPA had found that Seresto was No. 1 by a wide margin in terms of overall incident reports compared to pet pesticide products, including spot-on treatments. The agency also conducted a comparative analysis of Seresto and other pet products, much of which was redacted in the recently released documents.

We need to try to keep ahead

By 2016, documents show that the EPA was paying close attention to Seresto, particularly as Health Canada, the agency in charge of regulating national health policy, was expressing concerns about registering Seresto.

On April 20, 2016, EPA staff was alerted in a voicemail that Health Canada decided that Seresto should not be registered, based on an analysis of incident data provided by Bayer.

On April 27, 2016, an EPA staff member wrote to a number of EPA employees about needing to stay on top of reports on adverse effects attributed to the collar: Please share if you see or hear something about Seresto/Flumethrin. We need to try to keep ahead/abreast of the issues surrounding on this case. She followed it up with a smiley face.

In the following weeks and months, EPA and Health Canada communicated a number of times, while Bayer worked to convince Health Canada to redo its evaluation of Seresto. In one July 5 email, Bayer lobbyist Doug Spilker outlined how Health Canada should change its analysis.

On June 9, 2016, EPA officials held a meeting with Bayer about Seresto incident data. In a presentation for that meeting, EPA said it is working closely with PMRA on analysis and reviewing specific analyses done by Canadian regulators to determine how likely it is that the collar caused the adverse incidents. Much of the rest of the presentation was redacted. PMRA is Canadas Pest Management Regulatory Agency.

Eventually, PMRA did share its analysis with the EPA after confirming with Bayer Canada. Please keep in mind that it should not be shared outside of the EPA, wrote an employee on July 18, 2016.

That analysis was not included in the newly released documents.

In an August 10, 2016, conference call, Health Canada told the EPA that it would not register Seresto in Canada. As a result, Bayer withdrew the submission and requested PMRA not share any further documents with EPA, according to a briefing document.

Despite never having approved Seresto, Health Canada has received more than 1,500 incident reports about the collars, said spokeswoman Anne Genier.

2018 and later

EPA officials continued receiving incident reports involving Seresto for the next five years. And they continued debating what to do about them.

In February 2018, for example, three divisions of the EPAs Office of Pesticide Programs met to discuss how to best handle the review of incidents for Seresto. A clear path forward was not decided upon.

In 2020, an agency scientist said she was tasked with looking at incident reports and taking action to find supportive actions that may reduce risk and adverse effects toward those particular incidents.

The EPA also continued to meet with Bayer about the incident reports.

The agency held a July 16, 2019, meeting with Bayer and representatives of SafetyCall International, a company whose website says it provides manufacturers with adverse event management, regulator reporting, post-market surveillance and consulting.

A presentation from the meeting shows that the EPA was aware of more than 1,000 alleged pet deaths related to Seresto, including a sharp rising trend that included about 250 pet deaths in 2016, more than 300 pet deaths in 2017 and more than 400 in 2018.

Just weeks earlier, the EPA received yet another incident concerning Seresto. The incident was then forwarded to at least 19 EPA staff members.

On May 29, 2019, Barbara Merckle put a Seresto collar on her 5-year-old English mastiff, Ivan, just before a breeding session with another mastiff. Within half an hour, the dog had trouble breathing.

Thinking he was overheating, Merckle hosed down Ivan. When he didnt improve, she called a veterinarian and was told to administer Benadryl, which Merckle did. Then, Merckle said, she remembered the collar. She removed the collar from Ivans neck and washed the area with Dawn dish soap. Eventually, Ivan recovered, but he died the next day.

Ivan, a five-year-old English mastiff, died in May 2019, one day after a Seresto collar was placed on him. His owner Barbara Merckle is a dog breeder in Moxahala, Ohio, had a necropsy performed on Ivan by the Ohio Department of Agriculture, which found that he was in good health.

Sarah Crockett, a veterinary assistant who owned the other mastiff, contacted Bayer and the EPA on behalf of Merckle. Crockett, a former police officer, documented the incident but said she was told by Bayer that the collar could not have caused the death.

Crockett contacted the EPA seeking information on how to link the death of the mastiff to the collar, including which tests to do. Amy Mysz, who works at the EPA, told Crockett she communicated with a veterinarian at the National Pesticide Information Center, who recommended looking at the liver, kidney, urine and feces, as well as potentially blood levels.

A necropsy done by the Ohio Department of Agriculture found that Ivan was otherwise healthy and moderate to severe congestion of the liver and lung caused by shock, possibly anaphylactic shock potentially contributed to the death.

But Mysz  after communicating with several EPA staff members on the response, including one veterinarian  said he felt that even if this concentration in tissue information was obtained, it would still be difficult to reliably link the use of the collar to the death of the animal.

Merckle said, for now, shes not interested in filing a lawsuit because it wont bring Ivan back. She got the closest thing she could by raising one of the puppies sired by Ivan, a near identical mastiff named Ike.

Merckle said she knows that Seresto caused the death of Ivan, a prize breeding dog that had sired a couple dozen litters. Merckle had paid $2,500 for Ivan a few years earlier and was set to make around $1,500 for each breeding session, in addition to profit from puppies she raised.

Merckle had just purchased a few thousand dollars worth of Seresto collars for her dogs, and she decided to just throw them out. She asked Bayer for a refund and they refused, she said.

I know thats what killed him, Merckle said.

This story is a collaboration between USA TODAY and the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting. The center is an independent, nonprofit newsroom covering agribusiness, Big Ag and related issues. USA TODAY is funding a fellowship at the center for expanded coverage of agribusiness and its impact on communities.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Seresto flea collar raised concerns at the EPA for years, records show
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, child safety advocates warned about many child abuse incidents going unreported due to schools going virtual, since teachers often flag signs of child abuse through their in-person contact with students.

Experts are bracing for a rise in child abuse reports as the new school year begins and stress from the pandemic continues. Fort Worth Independent School District will be fully in-person on Aug. 16 with no virtual learning option.

Katia Gonzalez, the director of training and team relations at Alliance for Children, said the child advocacy center saw a spike in reports in April and May 2021. Last school year, Fort Worth ISD gradually brought students back to in-person learning starting in October. However, many teachers still did not regularly see some of their students due to chronic absences throughout the year.

What we anticipate is once school starts full-time in-person and kids build rapport with teachers, we will get an increase in cases again, Gonzalez said.

The advocacy center saw 1,297 reports for Tarrant County to the Department of Family and Protective Services in April 2020. The amount of reports increased to 2,601 in April 2021. In May 2020, the organization saw 1,620 reports while having 2,561 reports in May 2021.

Lauren Kelly, an educational psychology professor at the University of North Texas, said the overall stress of COVID-19 has put children at risk for child abuse. The pandemic has caused health-related problems, social isolation, school changes and unemployment.

All of that added stress is just one explanation for why we are seeing parents enact anger and frustration on their children, Kelly said.

When abuse occurs, the Alliance for Children and a network of law enforcement, healthcare, social service and educational organizations are key in identifying the problems and helping children through the trauma that can have life-long effects.

Tarrant County had the third highest number of confirmed child abuse victims in 2020 in the state after Dallas and Harris counties, according to a March report by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). In 2020, there were 6,203 confirmed child victims of abuse and neglect in Tarrant County.





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Rising reports of abuse

Child abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional or neglect. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at least 1 in 7 children have experienced child abuse in the past year, however, the amount is likely underestimated.

Substance abuse is also a risk factor for child abuse. Six million children in the U.S. live with one parent who abuses alcohol or drugs, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Alliance for Children partners with hospitals, law enforcement and state agencies to serve children who are victims of abuse.

The agencies and Alliance work together to help a child and their protective guardian through the investigation process, which can lead to a criminal trial. Children and protective guardians are able to receive free services from the center such as counseling and access to support groups.

The centers multidisciplinary team reviews reports made to the DFPS for its partnered law enforcement agencies. The amount of reports doubled in 2021 from 2020.

Even though there were not a lot of reports of child abuse being made at the beginning of the pandemic, there was a rise in children with severe injuries.

At the start of the pandemic we actually saw a dramatic decrease in that amount of cases overall in people making reports but we also saw an uptick in the severity of cases, Gonzalez said.

Kelly said going through an investigation can be stressful on a child. They can be conflicted about telling the truth or not know the abuse is not normal.

Schools reporting abuse

Schools in Texas are required to participate in training every year to understand the possible signs of abuse and how to follow the law when reporting. Educators are the top reporter of child abuse, according to Gonzalez.

Michael Steinert, assistant superintendent of student support services at Fort Worth ISD, said the school districts training is done every year with Cook Childrens and every staff member receives the same information. The school district serves more than 82,000 students.

The school district also partners with Alliance for Children to provide additional training to schools. Steinert said many elementary schools in the district take part in Alliances training. If children have extensive needs, the districts student services department is able to connect them with resources, such as therapy, provided by partner organizations.

A child experiencing abuse may have problems in school. They may not be able to focus on their school work or have behavioral issues. Depending on how an educator responds to the student, it could lead to the child being punished, according to Kelly. Many children who are abused can face disciplinary actions for behavioral problems or other disruptive actions school. This can lead to suspensions and expulsions. Kelly said these children are some of the many who are at-risk of entering the criminal justice system, which is a part of a national trend called the school-to-prison pipeline.

Kelly said it is important for adults to look into what is causing children to have issues in school and provide them resources to help. Children may show signs of what is happening at home.

If they dont look deeper at what is causing that attention deficit issue or what is causing them to fight their peers, Kelly said. That label alone of being labeled a bad kid does decrease any motivation to continue to achieve.

Children involved in domestic violence

Law enforcement and advocacy centers also saw a rise in domestic violence reports in Tarrant County.

Ken Shetter, president of One Safe Place, said domestic violence and child abuse are related. The more incidents of domestic violence, the more likely a child was a witness, he said.

One Safe Place is a crime prevention agency that houses the Family Justice Center, Crime Stoppers, Camp Hope and other services that focus on preventing crime and violence, and serves victims in Tarrant County.

The organization stated in its 2020 Annual Report that 79% of the Family Justice Centers clients had at least one child under the age of 18; 428 children were connected to direct services; 61% of clients stated their children witnessed physical or verbal abuse; 34% of clients stated seeing behavior changes in children who witnessed abuse.

Abuse can impact a child long into adulthood. Children can become anxious, have trust issues and not understand the concept of healthy relationships.

When are dad and mom going to hit them next? When are they going to withhold food from them? When are they going to yell at them? Kelly said. They are constantly in a hypervigilant state of stress.

Children who experience abuse can be at risk for diabetes, heart issues, asthma and other medical problems. Victims also have an increased risk for substance abuse and suicide.

Shetter said children witnessing domestic violence experience similar long-term effects as those who are directly abused, such as trauma and health problems.

What needs to be done to help?

Experts warn that reporting child abuse and helping families is not only the responsibility of schools. Texas law requires anyone who suspects child abuse to report it to law enforcement or the Department of Family and Protective Services.

Alliance for Children provides education to children, parents and youth organizations, such as internet and personal body safety.

The child advocacy center recommends families have conversations with children about safety at a young age. Gonzalez said that includes teaching them clearly about what private parts are and boundaries. The organization suggests also talking about situations they may experience, like going to the doctor, to help them understand things, as well as what a perpetrator may do such as convincing them to keep secrets.

Kelly said it is important for people to know there are services available to help parents learn about childhood development and resources that can help them, like SNAP and diapers.

If you can educate the mothers and young fathers on proper development, it can help decrease some of that stress they may feel, Kelly said.

One Safe Place conducts an assessment process to understand what resources each child needs. Pathway to Hope provides year-long programming, mentoring and other services for children. The organization also provides counseling and parenting classes. Camp Hope is a week-long summer camp that has a specialized curriculum designed to increase hopefulness in children. Shetter said children thrive when they are outdoors at the camp.

During the pandemic, the organization has pushed to make sure domestic violence victims know help is available. Shetter said abusers may try to use the pandemic as a way to make a victim believe they cant escape.

It is the key to resiliency, Shetter said.

Possible signs of abuse can be:

Unexplained injuries.

Sleeping or eating problems.

Behavioral changes.

Developing new fears situations, places or people.

Being more distracted.

Saying sexualized things or touching themselves.

Bullying.

To make a report:
Mario Tama/Getty

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday authorized vaccine-eligible Americans with immune problems to receive a third dose of the safe and effective two-dose COVID-19 vaccines.

The move could lead to a surge in vaccinations as some of the most vulnerable Americans shore up their immune systems against increasingly dangerous new variants of the novel coronavirus. And experts broadly support it given the seemingly relentless surge of the Delta variant. But with some Americans already seeking out third doses on their own, the potential for a new surge of line-skipping by young, healthy peopleeven as much of the planet remains vaccine-deprivedloomed large.

The FDA is especially cognizant that immunocompromised people are particularly at risk for severe disease, acting commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said in a statement. After a thorough review of the available data, the FDA determined that this small, vulnerable group may benefit from a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Vaccines.

Experts hailed the booster move on its face.

Definitely a good idea, Barton Haynes, a Duke University immunologist, told The Daily Beast. Immuno-compromised people may not respond well to the COVID vaccines.

The booster-authorization also signals a new approach to vaccination in the United States, where authorities encourage different regimens for different groups. It is great to see agencies looking at data and identifying how to personalize vaccines to different peoples needs and underlying health conditions, Jennifer Reich, a University of Colorado sociologist who studies immunization, told The Daily Beast.

Sarah Silverman Goes Off on Vaccine Mandate Haters

Around three percent of Americansaround 10 million peopleare immunocompromised. The FDA hasnt yet authorized any Americans under 12 years old to get vaccinated, although that decision could come later this year as regulators finish analyzing trials and safety data.

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Recipients of organ transplants are one of the groups the FDA has approved for a third shot of whichever mRNA vaccinePfizers or Modernasthey originally received, as the Associated Press reported. A third dose of mRNA vaccine in transplant recipients had substantially higher immunogenicity than placebo, a team of Canadian researchers concluded in correspondence with The New England Journal of Medicine after giving 120 transplantees a third dose of Moderna.

Experts stressed that authorization of a third dose for immunocompromised Americans does not mean two doses dont work for everyone else. For most Americans, two doses is still highly effective at preventing serious infection, even by the extra-virulent Delta variant. It is going to be really important that the logic behind this change is well-communicated, Reich said.

Given CDC Director Rochelle Walenskys own admission just this week that her agency has struggled to communicate effectively throughout the early months of the Biden presidency, the task before her agency and her colleagues at the FDA is a daunting one. On Friday, a CDC advisory committee was set to vote whether to recommend the third authorized dose, according to the New York Times.

Epidemiologists have been weighing the benefits and risks of booster shots for months now. But it wasnt until the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 began spreading across the United States this summer that the FDA moved on the additional shot for vulnerable groups.

The benefit of an extra dose of Pfizer or Moderna is fairly obvious. The mRNA vaccines carry tiny scraps of genetic information that teach our immune systems how to recognize and defeat the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen. A booster dose is like a refresher course: It can help to strengthen and prolong an immune response.

The downside might be less obvious to residents of a vaccine-rich country.

It comes down to global supply. Already, by one CDC account reported by ABC News, a million people in the United States have successfully obtained a third dose of a two-dose vaccine. Now theres some risk that vaccinated Americans with healthy immune systems will make a new run on the countrys pharmacies and clinics.

The FDAs booster authorization should not become a slippery slope where boosters start getting administered to people who are not at inordinate risk, Irwin Redlener, the founding director of Columbia Universitys National Center for Disaster Preparedness, told The Daily Beast.

To be clear, safety is almost certainly not an issue, even if third doses have not been studied as much as two-dose regimens. The mRNA vaccines have proved extremely safe across large-scale trials and follow-on studies. Hundreds of millions of people all over the world have gotten at least one dose of mRNA vaccine since the first jabs became available to the general public late last year.

The researchers in the early Canadian study found that local and systemic eventsaching, slight fever and other minor side effectswere slightly more common after the third dose of mRNA. But there were no serious side effects. And no cases of acute rejection occurred.

Nor is supply an issue in the United States. The U.S. for months has had more doses than willing takersin part because as many as a quarter of Americans say they wont ever get vaccinated. Many cite misinformation spread by right-wing media and politicians, the same mess Walensky is battling from D.C.

Vaccine hostility reached fever pitch last month as the Biden administration rolled out a program empowering local volunteers to canvas vulnerable neighborhoods in order to encourage vaccination. Right-wingers compared the volunteers to the Gestapo. Whats next? Knocking on your door to see if you own a gun? tweeted U.S. Congressman Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican.

Thanks mostly to anti-vaxxers, America has more doses than it needs. Globally, however, supply is a big problem. With richer countries spending billions of dollars to ensure their entire populations have access to the best jabs, many poorer countries havent been able to place orders. Its not for no reason that the poorest countries rely heavily on donations of vaccines, often coordinated by COVAX, a global vaccine-distribution consortium.

Rich countries have pledged billions of dollars and hundreds of millions of doses to COVAX for onward shipment to under-vaccinated countries. By late July, the consortium had shipped more than 150 million doses to Latin America, Africa, and Central and Southeast Asia.

The United States donated 110 million of those doses. And in early August the White House announced its next pledge: a whopping half-billion doses of Pfizer that the U.S. will ship to 100 underserved countries.

But even those hundreds of millions of doses are a drop in a bucket in a world with more than seven billion people. Especially considering that population-level herd immunity might require 80 or 90 percent of a given community to either be fully vaccinated or have antibodies from prior infectionif its possible at all.

On average globally, a third of people have been fully vaccinated. But high vax rates in the richest countries77 percent in Iceland, 71 percent in the U.K., nearly 60 percent in the U.S.obscure very low rates in poorer ones. A lot of African countries are in the single digits.

The U.S. is flush with doses, but most countries arent. And thats a good reason for Americans with healthy immune systems not to get an unnecessary third shot and potentially divert a limited supply of doses. If demand for jabs spikes in the United States because millions of people are getting boosters they dont need, it could slow shipments to countries that are still trying to give people their first dose. After all, the contracts the U.S. government signed with the major vax-producers put the United States at the head of the line for supply.

In other words, some experts argue, Americans should think twice before adding to their hoard of jabs.

Wealthy nations with an abundance of vaccine should not indulge themselves in booster shots until every nation has enough vaccine to give their citizens a chance to be protected from the scourge of COVID-19, Redlener said.

Thats not just a matter of altruism. Humanitys goal should be to eradicate SARS-CoV-2 globally or, failing that, to achieve a degree of planet-wide immunity that prevents runaway outbreaks.

Confused About Booster Shots? You Should Be.

Getting there requires even distribution of good vaccines across the globe. Right now were not even close.

Herd immunity to completely eradicate the virus is proving very challenging in large part due to the high number of unvaccinated individuals around the world, Elias Sayour, a University of Florida professor of neurosurgery and pediatrics and director of the schools Pediatric Cancer Immunotherapy Initiative, told The Daily Beast.

Mutations exacerbate the problem. Big, under-vaccinated populations are veritable laboratories for the novel coronavirus as it evolves new and more dangerous lineages. Delta didnt come from nowhere; it first appeared in India in late 2020 at a time when that country had practically no vaccine.

Of course, Americas own vaccine-holdouts are also a potential source of future lineages. Anti-vaxxers might be an intractable problem and a source of enduring risk for the vaccinated majority in the United States. But getting as many doses as possible as quickly as possible to eager takers in under-vaccinated countries protects Americans, too.

Large, unvaccinated populations are breeding grounds for potentially terrible variants that will eventually find their way to every corner of the planet, including here, Redlener said.

There might come a time when some future lineage offers a more robust challenge to the two-dose mRNA regimen. At that point, vaccinated Americans with healthy immune systems might become a priority for a booster.

But were not there yet. So if youre a vaccinated, immunocompromised American over the age of 12, go get boosted. A third dose of Pfizer or Moderna is readily availableand it just might give you the extra protection you need against Delta and whatever lineages might come next.

If youre a vaccinated American over 12 with a healthy immune system, relax. Mexicans, Bangladeshis, and Afghans need their first shot before you need your third.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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The White House on Wednesday was toying with ways to cover the salaries of Florida school officials targeted by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for requiring students, teachers, and school staff to wear masks to slow the spread of COVID-19's Delta variant. But on Thursday, DeSantis acknowledged he can't actually follow through with his administration's threat to strip those officials of their paychecks. Christina Pushaw, a DeSantis spokeswoman, suggested the school officials cut their own salaries for defying DeSantis' mask mandate ban.

"The issue," Pushaw told the Tampa Bay Times, is that "superintendents and school board members are not state employees. Therefore, the only way the state could tailor the financial penalty would be to withhold an amount of funding equal to their salaries."

When Alachua County Public Schools officials made that point to the state, that "neither the Florida Department of Education nor the Board of Education control the payroll distribution of school districts," Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran said he "may recommend" the State Board of Education withhold funds from the Alachua and Broward school districts 'in an amount equal to the salaries of the superintendent and all the members of the school board." Pushaw argued that "it wouldn't be fair to the students" if those school officials did not dock their own pay.

Alachua County Public Schools is at risk of losing $300,000 of its $537 million 2021-22 budget, while Broward County Public Schools could lose $700,000 of its $2.6 billion annual budget, the Times notes.

DeSantis has argued that it is the sole responsibility of parents to decide if their kids wear masks at school, and he has banned both mask and vaccine requirements in the state. On Thursday, President Biden called the local leaders and school officials who buck such bans "heroes" and thanked them for standing up to their governors.

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Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Thursday said his climate fund would pour $1.5 billion into projects with the United States if the government enacts a program to cut carbon emissions currently working its way through Congress.

A $1.2 trillion infrastructure package passed by the US Senate this week would funnel billions of dollars to the Department of Energy for projects battling climate change.

If the infrastructure package becomes law, "this collaboration will not only send us on a more durable path to net zero, but will create both immediate and long-term jobs in communities across the country," Gates said in a statement published by CNBC.

By funding work on roads, bridges and ports, as well as clean water and high-speed internet, US President Joe Biden said the bill -- which still needs House approval -- would create thousands of high-paying jobs for people without college degrees.

"This historic investment in infrastructure is what I believe you, the American people, want," Biden said in a White House address.

Needing just a simple majority, the package passed by 69 votes to 30 with backing from a third of Republican Senators.

The measure now faces a make-or-break vote in the House of Representatives in coming weeks, where its future is less certain as divisions have sprung up in the Democratic majority.

The ambitious plan provides for $550 billion in new federal spending on transport infrastructure, and also for public transit, broadband internet and clean water, as well as electric charging stations and other measures to fight climate change.

A Gates fund run by his Breakthrough Energy company would spend the $1.5 billion over the course of three years with the goal of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change, according to US media reports.

Projects could include airplanes that don't spew pollution and technology for capturing carbon from the air.

"Critical for all these climate technologies is to get the costs down and to be able to scale them up to a pretty gigantic level," Gates was quoted as telling the Wall Street Journal.

"You'll never get that scale up unless the government's coming in with the right policies, and the right policy is exactly what's in that infrastructure bill."

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Republicans will seek to amend the National Defense Authorization Act to ban critical race theory from military institutions.

Rep. Mark Green, a Tennessee Republican, who spent time in the military prior to serving in Congress, told the Washington Examiner that this would be the "strategy" to curb critical race theory in the military.

US TROOPS 'WILL TEMPORARILY DEPLOY' TO AFGHANISTAN TO HELP EVACUATE DIPLOMATS

"Those amendments will be heard, I believe 1 September, as amendments to the NDAA, and by asking for a vote on it, folks like [Rep. Abigail] Spanberger and [Rep. Elissa] Slotkin, who are on the committee, are going to have to basically say what they believe. They're in tough swing districts," he said. "I think there's a chance they would vote for it, and [it would] get on. And then, when it's on the bill on the floor, the NDAA typically passes."

Theres a chance I could get that amendment attached, Green added, noting that we only need two or three Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee to vote in favor of the amendment to get it out of the committee and to the House floor.

Critical race theory dates back to the 1970s, and it provides an alternative perspective on the country and its history regarding race, though it has gained national prominence in recent months. The theory posits that institutions in the country are implicitly designed to keep white people ahead of minorities, and thus, the only way to get to a fully just society is to dismantle the system.

Conservatives have repeatedly denounced the teaching of the theory in both military academies and in schools nationwide, arguing that it instills division. But it will be difficult for them to legislate on the issue, as Democrats control both houses of Congress.

Opponents of critical race theory argue that it is divisive because it considers all white people oppressors and all people of color victims.

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The ranking member of the committee, Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, who has previously indicated support for plans like Green's, told the Washington Examiner on Thursday, I will absolutely support amendments to the NDAA to ban critical race theory from being forced onto students studying at our military academies. We must ensure that our military academies [are] focused on preparing our future military leaders for confrontation with China and Russia.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE IN THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the Department of Defense does not teach or embrace the theory during a House Armed Services Committee budget hearing in June. At the same hearing, Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, gave an impassioned speech defending the merit of teaching the theory, comparing it to Mao Zedong and Karl Marx.

Rep. Michael Waltz of Florida, a former Green Beret and Afghanistan War veteran, was one of the first to bring up the topic in April, when he sent a letter to the United States Military Academy's superintendent, Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams, saying, "Information has recently come to my attention from unsettled soldiers, cadets, and families that raises serious concerns about the U.S. Armys introduction of elements of critical race theory into cadet instruction."

Washington Examiner Videos

Tags: News, NDAA, Critical Race Theory, House GOP, Military, Pentagon, Military Budget, Mike Rogers

Original Author: Mike Brest

Original Location: GOP lawmakers want to amend defense authorization to ban critical race theory from military academies
BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Book distributors and publishers in Hungary have raised concerns that a decree restricting the sale of LGBTQ-themed books could lead to self-censorship and make such items harder to obtain in smaller towns.

The government has ordered shops to sell sealed and wrapped all books aimed at under-18s that are viewed as promoting homosexuality or gender change, or containing "explicit" depictions of sexuality.

It also bans the sale of all such books, whether intended for childen or adults, within 200 metres (220 yards) of a school or a church.

The decree is part of an anti-LGBTQ drive that has set nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban at loggerheads with rights groups and the European Union.

Katalin Gal, head of the Association of Hungarian Book Publishers and Distributors, said more than 100 Hungarian bookshops were within 200 meters of a church or a school, many in small towns.

"This is covertly pushing publishers towards self-censorship. If they make it very hard to sell these books, why would they print them at all?" she said on Friday.

"It is clear that from now on if I write a book with LGBTQ characters, it will reach a much smaller audience," said Tibor Racz-Stefan, an author of young adult novels, some of which feature same-sex couples.

The order is the first directive spelling out the implications of a law passed in June banning materials seen as promoting homosexuality and gender reassignment at schools.

Orban, on a pre-election crusade to safeguard what he calls traditional Christian values, says the law is meant to protect children and that their parents should educate them about sexuality.

With the scope of the decree unclear, the Book Association on Thursday requested a list of books that fall under it from the government.

"If the government really wants to implement this law, a censor will have to review the entire history of literature," said Ildiko Katona, who owns a publishing house and bookstores.

The government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Anita Komuves; editing by John Stonestreet)
Israelis aged 50 and over began receiving vaccine booster shots against the coronavirus Friday as the government steps up its drive to stem spiking infections caused by the Delta variant.

Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, 56, rolled up the sleeve of his black polo shirt before a nurse plunged a syringe into his arm in Kfar Saba's Meir Medical Center north of Tel Aviv.

"I really hope as many people as possible of my age, 50 and older, will get the third vaccination," he said.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett urged elderly Israelis to get vaccines because "you are in mortal danger".

He said that in the past week, 78 people had died of the virus in Israel, and 76 of those people were above the age of 60.

"None of them managed to get the three doses of vaccines," said Bennett.

"There is a deterioration of the vaccine from month to month, and the third dose recharges the body with powerful defence against the Delta variant."

Bennett also urged Israel's four health service providers to expand their hours of operation so that vaccines could be administered "around the clock, 24 hours, seven days," his office said.

"The goal is to double the rate of vaccinations next week," Bennett said, with his office noting that army medics would be deployed to help the civilian vaccination effort.

The government announced Thursday it was offering third shots to people aged over 50, two weeks after launching a campaign to give the elderly booster jabs.

- Booster shots -

Israel was one of the first countries to launch a vaccination drive in mid-December via an agreement with Pfizer to obtain millions of paid doses in exchange for sharing data on their effectiveness.

The campaign helped to drastically bring down infections, but that trend has since reversed, driven by the spread of the Delta variant in unvaccinated people as well as those whose immunity has waned six months after they got their initial shots.

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Israelis rushed to sign up for the booster shots, with the nation's largest health provider, Clalit Health Services, reporting Friday morning it gave 5,000 shots to people aged 50-59.

"We have hope this vaccination campaign will help reduce the impact of the ensuing surge of Covid-19 infections on the severe illness among the groups that are most vulnerable," Ran Balicer, chief innovation officer at Clalit and the chairman of Israel's national expert Covid-19 panel, told AFP.

- A 'great service' -

The World Health Organization has called for a moratorium on booster shots until at least the end of September in order to address inequalities in global dose distribution.

But Bennett has said Israel is doing the world a "great service" by administering booster shots and sharing their results.

So far more than 775,000 Israelis have received a third shot, according to the health ministry.

Although the US Food and Drug Administration, which Israel generally follows, has only approved third shots for the immunocompromised, Bennett said experts guided the government's decision in offering it more widely.

Authorities have also encouraged younger Israelis to get vaccinated. Only about a quarter of children aged 12-15 have received both doses.

The drive for more vaccines comes as Israel reimposes some Covid restrictions that had been lifted in early June.

Late last month authorities reintroduced the "Green Pass" that requires proof of vaccination, recovery from Covid or a negative test for entry to most enclosed spaces. The guidelines will apply to children as young as three beginning next week.

Authorities also announced a mandatory seven-day quarantine from next Monday for travellers from nearly all countries, as well as restrictions on gatherings.

Horowitz said he hoped to avert a return to lockdowns the government imposed three times during the pandemic.

"A lockdown is the last resort. It's not a successful solution," he said. "We don't want to reach this point."

Israel's health ministry said Friday it had recorded 6,083 new cases the previous day.

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The jailed de facto leader of the giant Samsung group walked free on parole Friday, the latest instance of South Korea's long tradition of freeing business leaders imprisoned for corruption or tax evasion on economic grounds.

Lee Jae-yong -- the 202nd richest person in the world according to Forbes, with a net worth of $11.4 billion -- was serving a two-and-a-half year prison sentence imposed in January for bribery, embezzlement and other offences in connection with the corruption scandal that brought down ex-South Korean president Park Geun-hye.

But calls for his early release from both politicians and business leaders grew in recent months over what they claimed was a possible leadership vacuum at the South's biggest conglomerate.

The justice ministry announced Monday he had been paroled -- among around 800 early releases -- citing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic's impact on the economy.

Lee, 53, bowed to reporters waiting outside a detention centre south of Seoul and told them: "I have caused too much concern to the people. I'm really sorry."

Wearing a black suit, he added: "I'm listening carefully to your worries, criticisms, concerns, and high expectations about me. I will do my best," before he was driven away in a black limousine.

Lee was first jailed for five years in 2017, after Park's ouster, then walked free the following year when an appeals court dismissed most of his bribery convictions and gave him a suspended sentence.

But the Supreme Court later ordered Lee to face a retrial, which convicted and jailed him again.

His parole is not the end of his legal travails: he remains on trial over alleged stock manipulation that effectively eased his path to take control of the family conglomerate -- the same purpose for which he was convicted of bribing Park.

Song Won-keun, an economics professor at Gyeongsang National University, told AFP: "This is undeniably preferential treatment, especially given that a separate trial is still going on."

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There is a long history of top South Korean tycoons being charged with bribery, embezzlement, tax evasion, or other offences.

But many of those convicted have subsequently had their sentences cut or suspended on appeal, with some -- including Lee's father, the late Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee, who was convicted twice -- receiving presidential pardons in recognition of their "contribution to the national economy".

The presidential Blue House insisted Lee's parole was a decision "made for the national interest".

"We hope fellow citizens can also understand," a Blue House official told reporters.

- Wealth a factor? -

According to justice ministry data, only around 0.3 percent of all convicts who were released on parole from 2011 to 2020 served less than 70 percent of their jail terms.

But a rule change recently came into effect cutting the proportion of their sentences prisoners must serve before being eligible for parole to 60 percent -- a mark Lee passed a few weeks ago.

The giant Samsung group is by far the largest of the family-controlled empires known as chaebols that dominate business in South Korea, the world's 12th largest economy.

Its flagship subsidiary Samsung Electronics -- where Lee is vice-chairman -- is the world's biggest smartphone maker.

A company spokeswoman declined to comment on his release.

Lee's imprisonment has been no barrier to the firm's performance -- it announced a surge of more than 70 percent in second-quarter profits last month, with coronavirus-driven working from home boosting demand for devices using its memory chips.

Chaebol families often have only a small ownership stake in their empires, but maintain control through complex webs of cross-shareholdings between units.

Lee promised last year to end the line of family succession at the firm, saying he would not pass down his role to his children as he bowed in apology for multiple controversies.

Regardless of the controversies, leaders of the country's top four conglomerates -- SK Group, Hyundai Motor Group, LG Group and Samsung -- in June met with President Moon Jae-in to press him to pardon Lee.

Polls also showed an increasing number of South Koreans in favour of granting him parole, with backing from more than 66 percent of respondents in a recent Realmeter survey.

But Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean Studies at the University of Oslo, took a different view.

"Releasing him does not follow routine law-enforcement practice and suggests that his wealth could have been a factor," he told AFP.

"This is a departure from the idea that everyone is equal before the law."

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A group of senators sent new Amazon CEO Andy Jassy a letter Friday pressing the company for more information about how it scans and stores customer palm prints for use in some of its retail stores.

The company rolled out the palm print scanners through a program it calls Amazon One, encouraging people to make contactless payments in its brick and mortar stores without the use of a card. Amazon introduced its Amazon One scanners late last year, and they can now be found in Amazon Go convenience and grocery stores, Amazon Books and Amazon four-star stores across the U.S. The scanners are also installed in eight Washington state-based Whole Foods locations.

In the new letter, Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) press Jassy for details about how Amazon plans to expand its biometric payment system and if the data collected will help the company target ads.

"Amazons expansion of biometric data collection through Amazon One raises serious questions about Amazons plans for this data and its respect for user privacy, including about how Amazon may use the data for advertising and tracking purposes," the senators wrote in the letter, embedded below.

The lawmakers also requested information on how many people have enrolled in Amazon One to date, how Amazon will secure the sensitive data and if the company has ever paired the palm prints with facial recognition data it collects elsewhere.

"In contrast with biometric systems like Apples Face ID and Touch ID or Samsung Pass, which store biometric information on a users device, Amazon One reportedly uploads biometric information to the cloud, raising unique security risks," the senators wrote. "... Data security is particularly important when it comes to immutable customer data, like palm prints.

View this document on Scribd

The company controversially introduced a $10 credit for new users who enroll their palm prints in the program, prompting an outcry from privacy advocates who see it as a cheap tactic to coerce people to hand over sensitive personal data.

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There's plenty of reason to be skeptical. Amazon has faced fierce criticism for its other big biometric data project, the AI facial recognition software known as Rekognition, which the company provided to U.S. law enforcement agencies before eventually backtracking with a moratorium on policing applications for the software last year.
Lawyers for the leader of Tanzania's main opposition party on Friday accused the government of judicial "interference" and called for terrorism charges against him to be dismissed.

Supporters of Freeman Mbowe and his Chadema party have denounced his arrest as a politically-motivated move to silence dissent, with the case also arousing concern among rights groups and Western nations about the state of democracy under Tanzania's new President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

On Friday, Mbowe's defence lawyer Peter Kibatala filed a petition asking the Kisutu court in Dar es Salaam to dismiss the charges and declare a mistrial, alleging the presidency had meddled in the matter following remarks by Hassan.

The case, which has been postponed to August 27, is currently in the process of being transferred to a higher court.

"We have submitted a notice requesting the Kisutu court to present to the higher court utterances by a government institution which we believe directly interfered (with) the court's independence," Kibatala told journalists outside the courtroom.

"I do not need to mention the government institution because almost everyone heard it," he said.

Mbowe was arrested along with other members of Chadema on July 21, just hours before they were to hold a public forum on constitutional reform.

But in an interview published this week by the BBC, Hassan said the charges against Mbowe were "not political" and were the result of a nearly year-long investigation.

"I suspect that, knowing the charges he was facing, he calculated that if he was arrested he could claim that it was because he was pushing for a new constitution," she told the broadcaster.

Kibatala said such comments amounted to interference and could affect the likelihood of a "fair trial".

Mbowe, who has been charged with terrorism financing and conspiracy, was due to appear in court on Friday amid tight security, but transport problems prevented him from doing so, Kibatala said.

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- Newspaper suspended -

His arrest came four months after Hassan took office following the sudden death of her predecessor John Magufuli.

There had been hopes Hassan would usher in change from the autocratic rule of Magufuli, nicknamed the "Bulldozer" for his uncompromising style.

But Chadema leaders say the arrests of Mbowe and his colleagues reflect a deepening slide into "dictatorship."

On Wednesday, the authorities suspended the newspaper owned by the ruling party for two weeks after it published a "false" story about Hassan, the first time such a ban was imposed on the publication.

Uhuru, the paper of Hassan's Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, had published a front-page story claiming she was not considering running for the presidency in 2025.

A party official said several editors, including the paper's chief editor, had also been suspended.

Prosecutors say the terrorism charges against Mbowe do not relate to the constitutional reform forum Chadema had planned to hold in the northwestern port city of Mwanza last month, but to alleged offences last year in another part of Tanzania.

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Lee has served 18 months of a revised 30 month sentence

Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong has been released from a South Korean prison and is now on parole.

He served 207 days in jail - just over half the sentence he received after being convicted of bribery and embezzlement in January.

The case involved the country's former President Park Guen-hye, who is also in jail for bribery and corruption.

Samsung Electronics was founded by Lee's grandfather and he has been the de facto head since 2014 .

Lee made a brief statement to reporters outside the prison.

"I've caused much concern for the people. I deeply apologise," Lee said. "I am listening to the concerns, criticisms, worries and high expectations for me. I will work hard."

The 53-year old was sent to prison for two-and-a-half years by a high court in January.

He was accused of paying 43bn won ($37.7m; 26.7m) to two non-profit foundations operated by Choi Soon-sil, a friend of Park's, in exchange for political support - alleged to include backing for a controversial Samsung merger which paved the way for Lee to become eventual head of the conglomerate.

The deal needed support from the government-run national pension fund.

At the time of his verdict, the court said that Lee "actively provided bribes and implicitly asked the president to use her power to help his smooth succession" at the head of Samsung.

The court found Lee guilty of bribery, embezzlement and concealment of criminal proceeds worth about 8.6 billion won ($7.8m; 5.75m).

The Justice Ministry said it made the decision to release Lee after considering the effects of the pandemic on South Korea's economy and global markets.

In a statement, President Moon Jae-in's office said his release was made in the national interest and asked for understanding.

"We are well aware that there are supporting and opposing views on Vice-Chairman Jay Y Lee's parole. The views of the people who are opposed are also right," it said.

"On the other hand, there have been many people who called for his parole in this severe crisis, hoping that he will help the country with respect to semiconductors and vaccines."

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However, Lee's parole conditions include five years of business restrictions - it is unclear if he will be able to run the company unless he gets an exemption.

He will also need approval for any trips abroad.

Lee is also under investigation for fraud and stock manipulation and if found guilty could be jailed again.

Analysis box by Laura Bicker, Seoul correspondent

This appears to be an economic decision by South Korea's Justice Ministry. Free the Samsung heir and aid the country's Covid recovery. But it comes at a political cost.

President Moon Jae-in came to power with a firm promise to break the link between big business and government.

Millions protested for months to impeach his predecessor Park Geun-hye and more than one thousand civic groups related to these protests wrote a letter asking for the so-called "Crown Prince of Samsung" not to be pardoned.

But pressure to free Jay Y Lee came from the US Chamber of Commerce alongside Samsung. American businesses argued that his release was vital to help combat a shortfall of computer chips. Samsung is currently mulling multi-billion dollar investments in semiconductor facilities in the US.

It's also worth noting that earlier this year the law was changed to allow prisoners to be considered for parole after serving 60% of their sentence. That allowed Mr Lee to be released today. He has not been granted a pardon.

But, as we head full swing into presidential election season here in South Korea, the calculation being made by the current administration is that voters will reward the ruling party for its economic decisions more than if it stuck to its previous promises.

You might also be interested in:
Charlotte, North Carolina. Dara Brewton

Table of Contents: Masthead Sticky

I've lived in Charlotte for years, and I'm sharing the best things to do, see, and eat in the city.

Tourists should visit NoDa, AvidXchange Music Factory, ImaginOn, and Carowinds amusement park.

They should eat and drink at LittleSpoon, Reigning Doughnuts, and Amelie's.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Dubbed the Queen City, Charlotte is a metropolitan destination in North Carolina full of craft breweries, colorful street art, and quality barbecue.

I've lived in the city since 2007, and after exploring every neighborhood, I've compiled a list of must-visit hotels, sites, and eateries from across the city.

Things to know before you go

Camp North End. Dara Brewton

COVID-19 PROTOCOL: As of August 5, 50% of the population in Mecklenburg County (where Charlotte is) was fully vaccinated. While there are no mask mandates or travel advisories in North Carolina, the COVID-19 positivity rate is on the rise, and the state's health department recommends that unvaccinated tourists refrain from visiting.

WEATHER: Average temperatures in Charlotte range from 32 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter to over 90 degrees in the summer. If you're visiting in July or August, it will be hot and humid.

CURRENCY: The city uses US dollars. Credit cards and digital payment options are accepted at most places - even at food trucks.

WALKABILITY: Charlotte is definitely a car city. You can explore certain neighborhoods on foot, but you'll need a rental car if you don't want to rely on ride-hailing services. The public light rail can take you to a few places, but its reach is limited.

Where to stay

Sonesta Charlotte Executive Park is a budget-friendly option

Whether you're in town for work or play, Sonesta is a dog-friendly retreat just minutes from the airport.

There are 300 rooms that range from about $125 to $200 a night.

Tip: The hotel has both an indoor and an outdoor pool.

If you're traveling with the whole family, check out the DoubleTree in SouthPark

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The DoubleTree is behind the bustling SouthPark mall and within walking distance of plenty of restaurants.

This hotel is comfortable and clean, and it has a pool. Rates range from about $175 to $275 a night.

Tip: The "Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show" is performed at the hotel a couple of times a month. Check the schedule or ask about dates when you book your room.

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Charlotte. Dara Brewton

The Ivey's hotel is a worthwhile splurge that's sure to make any trip special

Give yourself a little treat while visiting the Queen City by staying at a five-star boutique hotel in the heart of uptown.

The 47 luxuriously appointed rooms at The Ivey's range from $269 to $429 a night.

Tip: The hotel has a partnership agreement with several area attractions, including the Mint Museum, NASCAR Hall of Fame, and Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.

The Ivey's hotel. Dara Brewton

If you're looking for more private accommodations, there's a luxury condo you can rent

Charlotte has an abundance of selections when it comes to Airbnbs, including a luxury condo in an uptown high-rise building.

The one-bedroom, one-bathroom condo offers skyline views and contemporary style starting at $130 a night.

Tip: Your rental gives you access to all of the building's amenities, including the pool and fitness room.

Things to do and see

The botanical gardens are a free way to enjoy nature

The UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens, on the University of North Carolina at Charlotte campus, were created for the college's biology students as a "living classroom."

There are 16 garden collections to explore. Admission is free, but the gardens do take donations.

Tip: The two outdoor garden areas are not wheelchair-accessible. The ground slopes and the terrain is uneven.

You never know what you might find at Camp North End

Camp North End, which started as a factory for the Ford Motor Co. in 1924, has gone through several transformations over the years, but the 76-acre property is now full of restaurants, bars, shops, and art.

You can sip a cocktail at Black Moth Bars, snack on a cheese plate at Babe & Butcher, or shop for unique items at Dupp & Swat. There's also usually live music to enjoy on the weekends.

Tip: Check the calendar for events like the Van Gogh art exhibit or outdoor yoga.

Camp North End. Dara Brewton

Kids and teens alike can have a fun time exploring ImaginOn

ImaginOn in uptown, accessible via the 7th Street station on the light-rail line, is a library, children's theatre, and interactive-exhibit space.

There's a teens-only spot and a multimedia production studio as well.

Tip: ImaginOn offers various workshops and classes throughout the year.

ImaginOn. Dara Brewton

Get your science on at Discovery Place

Opening little minds to the wonders of science, technology, and nature, Discovery Place is an interactive children's museum in uptown.

Tickets start at $15, but there are up-charges for some of the traveling exhibits and events. Reservations are recommended, as time slots can sell out.

Tip: The museum offers accommodations for visitors with hearing, visual, and mobility impairments.

Discovery Place. Dara Brewton

AvidXchange Music Factory is a fun nightlife option

This nightlife and live-music complex opened in 2006 under the name NC Music Factory, but it's since become the AvidXchange Music Factory.

Here you'll find concert venues, restaurants, bars, and a comedy club. VBGB Beer Hall and Small Bar are crowd favorites.

Tip: The Holiday Inn Center City offers a free shuttle to the Music Factory for its guests.

Carolina Raptor Center has more than 20 species of birds

The Carolina Raptor Center focuses on providing environmental education, while rehabilitating injured birds.

Visitors can walk the trail to see over 20 species of birds. And it offers special exhibits and programs throughout the year.

Tip: The Raptor Center closes every day from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. for cleaning, so you have to buy either a morning or afternoon ticket.

US National Whitewater Center offers outdoor adventures

There are over 30 land- and water-based activities to choose from at the US National Whitewater Center.

These activities include whitewater rafting, zip-lining, flat-water kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, mountain biking, hiking, yoga, and rock climbing. In the winter months, there's also ice skating.

Tip: The center hosts special events as well, like concerts, races, and competitions.

US National Whitewater Center. Dara Brewton

Adrenaline junkies should plan a day at Carowinds amusement park

If roller coasters are your thing, Carowinds amusement park on the border of North and South Carolina has nearly 60 rides to keep you busy.

On hot summer days, cruising down the water slides feels mighty refreshing, and if you visit in the fall, you can enjoy the annual Scarowinds Halloween event for spooky fun.

Tip: The amusement park offers a "Fast Lane" pass for an added fee that helps you skip some of the lines.

Enjoy the sunshine and fresh air at Freedom Park

After a couple of adrenaline-filled days, you may be looking for a chill one at Freedom Park.

You can picnic, play sports, or stroll around the lake, and you'll often find outdoor yoga classes, live music, and other happenings.

Tip: Parking can be hard to find on Saturdays because of the athletic events at the park, so it might be easier to visit during the week.

Explore the art district with a NoDa art walk

North Davidson, or NoDa, is home to intimate music venues, eclectic shops, art galleries, and delicious restaurants.

Art lovers can travel the streets on the hunt for murals, tile work, and sculptures. Using the NoDa art-walk guide, you can find popular pieces like the "Bloom" mural and the Smelly Cat.

The artsy neighborhood can be reached via the 36th Street station on the light-rail line.

Tip: The art is always coming and going in this neighborhood, so some pieces you've seen before may no longer exist, and new ones may have taken their place.

NoDa art walk. Dara Brewton and Rob Schweitzer

Where to eat and drink

Rise and shine for breakfast at the Original Pancake House

One of the best breakfast options in the city is the Original Pancake House, which has SouthPark and midtown locations.

Both open early, and they close just after lunchtime, so don't dawdle if you want a chance to nibble on comfort food that's been perfected over the past 20 years.

In addition to pancakes, you can get omelets, salads, crepes, and freshly brewed coffee.

Tip: The bacon pancakes are a must-try.

LittleSpoon is a funky spot for fresh, seasonal offerings

If you want a boozy-breakfast option, swing by LittleSpoon Eatery.

It updates its menu often with seasonal and regional options, but the vibes are always amazing. I highly recommend the cinnamon-toast brulee when it's on the brunch menu.

Tip: Head to the Selwyn Avenue location if you're looking to enjoy your brunch on a patio.

LittleSpoon. Dara Brewton

There are all sorts of options to choose from at Optimist Hall

For your midday meal, head to the "happiest place on earth." Previously an industrial complex, Optimist Hall is now home to eateries, bars, and specialty shops.

It's a fun place to spend a few hours roaming the different offerings after you're done eating, too.

Tip: You won't want to miss the food at the Dumpling Lady.

Reigning Doughnuts' hot-and-fresh offerings make the perfect snack or treat

Anytime you visit the NoDa neighborhood, make sure to snag something from Reigning Doughnuts.

This walk-up window hands out heavenly treats with flavors that vary from day to day. The doughnuts are cooked to order, which means you're guaranteed a hot-and-fresh treat.

Tip: The stand is card-only and doesn't accept cash.

Reigning Doughnuts. Dara Brewton

There's a husband and wife duo serving up dinner at Mert's Heart and Soul

For dinner, head uptown for Mert's Heart and Soul.

The Charlotte establishment serves traditional Southern dishes and was featured on Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives."

Tip: You don't want to miss the corn bread.

Mert's Heart and Soul. Dara Brewton

Your late-night sweet tooth can be satisfied at Crave Dessert Bar

Crave Dessert Bar offers a cozy, cool atmosphere with tasty treats.

Here you'll find farm-to-glass cocktails, desserts to die for (I recommend the s'mores platter), and some great savory options.

Tip: Crave is a 21-plus establishment.

You can't leave Charlotte without a visit to Amelie's

With its quirky style, delectable desserts, and expansive hours, Amelie's French Bakery is a Charlotte staple.

You can sample one of the bakery's spectacular pastries, tarts, and cakes, or snag your favorite flavor from its rainbow selection of macarons.

Tip: The NoDa location is open 365 days a year, barring any terrible blizzards in the winter.

Amelie's. Dara Brewton

The Crunkleton has a full staff of knowledgeable bartenders serving up vintage cocktails

The Crunkleton has a highly curated spirit collection that's unrivaled in the city.

Don't worry if you don't know your way around vintage cocktails, the staff is all very knowledgeable and can help answer any questions you may have.

Tip: I recommend giving the elderflower sour a try.

The Park Road Shopping Center is an unexpected destination for a night out

A shopping center may not be the first place you think of when you consider your nightlife options, but Park Road has one of the best cocktail lounges in the city, Dot Dot Dot.

In addition to the Prohibition-style bar, the shopping center also boasts Sir Edmond Halley's Irish pub and Burtons Grill and Bar, which both offer great drink options.

Tip: Dot Dot Dot is a members-only establishment. Learn how to become a member here.

Park Road Shopping Center. Dara Brewton

Final tips before your trip

Charlotte. Shutterstock

Even if you visit in the winter, you might want to pack some summery clothes. The weather can be unpredictable, so it's best to be prepared for anything. There have been December days when I've needed a tank top and April days when I've worn a coat.

Parking can be expensive in uptown . It isn't uncommon to find a spot for just a few bucks, but if there's a Panthers game or another big event, the rates can shoot up.

You can purchase liquor only at an ABC store. In North Carolina, liquor can't be sold in grocery stores or other shops. It can be purchased only in state-owned liquor stores called ABC stores. Otherwise, if you want a drink, you have to order one at a restaurant or bar.

Read the original article on Insider
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Theresa Caputo's upcoming 9/11 special is receiving mixed reviews from fans (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images)

A preview for Theresa Caputo's upcoming 9/11 anniversary special has created a stir online.

On Thursday, TLC released a three minute video of "Long Isand Medium: In Memory of 9/11" which features Caputo, a renowned psychic medium, providing readings to the families of 9/11 victims. The special will premiere at 10 pm. EST on Sept. 9 on both TLC and Discovery+, ahead of the 20th anniversary of the infamous tragedy.

ALSO SEE: 'We need to look out for each other': Woman praised after exposing man allegedly filming women at the gym

While many fans thought the idea for the special was thoughtful and heartwarming, others  who are seemingly more skeptical about the possible validity of Caputo's gifts called the special a "mockery."

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"What a con," one person wrote. "Utterly shameful."

"You're actually surprised that a person that takes advantage of gullible people for a living is trying to profit off a national disaster?," one Twitter user wrote, while another added, "This is low even for TLC."

"It really is a 3-2-1 countdown to see who's the first to exploit the 20th anniversary of 9/11," someone else wrote. "Absolutely disgusting to enable and endorse this grifter."

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Others defended the special by pointing out that if it brings people closure and comfort, then it isn't exploitation.

"It's not exploitation when people are comforted... It's all about love and that's it, people," one Instagram user commented. "Nothing else! And if you listen carefully, you can hear and feel what your loved one is telling you from the next place."

ALSO SEE: Heidi Montag was heartbroken over her mom's reaction to her plastic surgery transformation: I didnt talk to her for 2 years

Another person compared spirituality to other religions, urging others to show the same respect to all kinds of faiths.

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Photo via @tlc Instagram

"Everyone calling this exploitation is being ignorant...This is for spiritual people who find peace in their beliefs," they wrote. "You don't have to agree with it, you can call it fake, or a scam, or a con, but at the end of the day it's simply another belief. Just because you aren't spiritual, doesn't mean you need to find spirituality offensive  the same way you shouldn't find anyone's faith offensive. If this is what brings people comfort after a tragedy, so be it. Live and let live."

On Thursday, TLC released a statement outlining the intent of the special, noting that Caputo conducted readings near the Pentagon and the World Trade Center .

Theresa Caputo visits the sites of the horrific attacks and meets with families of the departed to deliver messages of healing and heroism from the spirits of their loved ones, the statement reads, adding that she will use her gift to bring peace to those most personally impacted by the attacks by meeting with them in the shadow of the World Trade Center, steps from the Pentagon, and at the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

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Joe Biden agreed with Donald Trump that after 20 years, the U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan had to come to an end, as it will on Aug. 31. After being enthusiastic supporters of the war in its first decade or so, we too thought the time had come. What neither president wanted, and what should worry every American, was for the Taliban to overwhelm Afghan government forces, capture the countryside and the cities and make members of the allied coalition flee the capital on its way to its collapse. But that may be whats happening as the Aug. 31 withdrawal approaches.

Despite being outnumbered by more than three to one, the Taliban is rolling through the provinces. Cities whose names we learned 20 years ago during their liberation, like Herat, Mazar-i-Sharif and Kandahar (founded by, and named after the only person to ever successfully conquer Afghanistan, Alexander the Great) are coming under the rule of repressive Islamists once more. The Pentagons deployment yesterday of two Marine battalions and one from the Army to help evacuate our Kabul embassy brought to mind those helicopters that plucked Americans off the U.S. embassy roof during the fall of Saigon in 1975.

Without our troops there in support, the Kabul government could well fall. Should it occur, the new Biden promise on the eve of the 20th anniversary of 9/11 must be to ensure that the Taliban cannot make war on the United States, which includes respecting what should be the inviolable status of our embassy. Nor can they shelter terrorists, as they did the last time they held power and hosted Al Qaeda.

We hope they know better to attack us, either at our embassy or via terror proxies. As for girls going to school or even learning to read, it now seems like a lost cause in most of that miserable land. Its a dismal future for a country that has suffered for so long, but its not our fight. After 20 years, our fight is protecting America.
(Bloomberg) -- Representatives of Nicolas Maduros government and the opposition signed a memorandum of understanding in Mexico City to begin talks on ending a five-year political impasse and addressing the nations economic collapse.

The head of the opposition delegation, Gerardo Blyde, said each sides willingness and the common understanding that Venezuela is in the midst of its worst crisis in modern times made Fridays signing possible.

Both sides agreed to discuss a schedule for elections with international observers, lifting of sanctions on Venezuela and the restoration of the right to use Venezuelan frozen assets abroad. The U.S., Canada and the European Union welcomed the announcement in a joint statement and said theyre ready to review sanctions policies if the regime makes meaningful progress in the talks.

Our entire delegation is committed to do whatever it takes to achieve a comprehensive agreement, Blyde said after signing the MOU. The process begins, which must force us to reach agreements.

Maduros lead representative, National Assembly chief Jorge Rodriguez, said Venezuelans now have the chance to settle issues without any interference, which could yield rapid progress. We are ready for early agreements, he said.

Dag Nylander, representative of the Norwegian government thats acting as mediator, struck an upbeat tone and said the talks deserve strong support from the international community.

Lifting Sanctions

The sides are trying to reach an agreement ahead of elections on Nov. 21 for mayoral and gubernatorial posts across Venezuela. Opposition parties have boycotted several previous votes, arguing they lacked basic safeguards to make them free and fair.

We continue to call for the unconditional release of all those unjustlydetained for political reasons, for the independence of political parties, for freedom of expression including for members of the press, and for an end to human rights abuses, the U.S., Canada and the EU said in a statement provided by the State Department in Washington.

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The talks will go ahead on the principle that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed with caveats that do foresee partial agreements if their implementation is urgent, according to the text of the MOU.

Stalin Gonzalez, former vice president of the National Assembly who will represent the opposition, said that after its signing the sides will return to Mexico later this month or early September to begin negotiations.

The regime doesnt have the capacity to solve this situation by itself, he said of the countrys economic collapse. Well look for ways to resolve this and help the people. It has to be a long-term agreement.

Several previous rounds of negotiations ended in failure, including talks in Barbados in 2019, which were also overseen by Norway. This round has a better chance of succeeding as the two sides and foreign governments, including the U.S. and European Union, are more open to finding middle ground on issues like humanitarian assistance and human rights, said Maryhen Jimenez, a political scientist at the University of Oxford who studies Venezuela.

Maduro said hell send his son Nicolas Maduro Guerra to Mexico. Government lawmaker Francisco Torrealba, Miranda state Governor Hector Rodriguez, and a delegation from Russia will join the talks on the governments behalf, according to five people with knowledge of the matter

Opposition leader Juan Guaido, said on Twitter that the MOU means the possibility of reaching a solution to the national catastrophe.

In addition to Russia and the Netherlands -- attending on behalf of the opposition -- the U.S., Canada, Turkey, Germany and Bolivia will monitor the talks but play no active role in the negotiations, one of the people said, describing them as a group of friendly nations.

Mexico was chosen as the venue because it is considered neutral ground by both sides.

(Updates with U.S.-backed joint statement in third and eighth paragraphs.)

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By Mei Mei Chu

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Friday promised political reforms and urged opposition lawmakers to back him in an upcoming confidence vote, in a bid to shore up his government and prevent an election amid a COVID-19 resurgence.

Malaysia is in political turmoil after some lawmakers in the ruling alliance withdrew support for Muhyiddin. He last week defied calls to quit and said he would prove his majority in parliament through a confidence vote https://reut.rs/3yW10KE.

But on Friday, Muhyiddin admitted for the first time he did not have a majority and said the vote cannot be passed without bipartisan support.

No other lawmaker can command a majority either, he said.

"We have reached a consensus to consult with the leaders of parties outside (the ruling bloc) to approve the confidence motion," Muhyiddin said in a televised address.

"This will enable the current government to continue managing the pandemic until it is time for elections to be held."

The polls will be held by July 2022 depending on the state of the pandemic, he said.

Malaysia's government has been in a state of flux since Muhyiddin came to power in March 2020 with a slim majority. Pressure on him mounted in recent weeks after some lawmakers from the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party - the largest bloc in the ruling alliance - withdrew support.

That came as Malaysia grapples with a COVID-19 resurgence, with record daily infections and deaths in recent days, among more than 1.3 million cases.

Movement restrictions have been in place since May, impeding economic growth. The central bank slashed its 2021 growth outlook earlier on Friday and said political stability was needed for policy certainty.

REFORMS IN RETURN FOR VOTE

Muhyiddin promised political and electoral reforms, and increased funds for opposition lawmakers to spend on their constituencies if they supported him.

He said he would amend the constitution to limit a prime minister's term to two five-year terms, introduce an anti-hopping law to prevent defections and ensure the minimum voting age was lowered immediately from 21 to 18.

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The proposals, he said, were also designed to prevent "kleptocratic" rule if his government fell.

He has blamed political turmoil on "certain parties" whose demands he refused to meet, including freeing individuals facing corruption charges.

Several UMNO politicians face graft charges, including former premier Najib Razak and party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

They have denied wrongdoing and were among those who withdrew support for Muhyiddin this month.

(Reporting by Mei Mei Chu; Writing by A. Ananthalakshmi; Editing by Martin Petty)
Earlier this year, summer was painted as a possible return to normalcy, where Marylanders could finally dine out, gather with loved ones and enjoy concerts  mostly free from the fear of spreading COVID.

But then the coronavirus delta variant reared its ugly head, leading to a rise in cases and hospitalizations. That and a seemingly stagnant vaccination campaign have led some notable Baltimore area businesses to act.

Heres where you need to show proof of vaccination in the Baltimore area.

Training House Gym

The facility is requiring proof of vaccination of its members and athletes. The policy takes effect Sept. 4.

The gym also requires children who are currently ineligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine to wear masks.

Gypsys Truckrestaurant

The Hampden restaurant and food truck requires proof of vaccination for guests dining inside until Sept. 1. After that, vaccine proof will be required for both indoor and outdoor seating.

Rams Head Live

The music venue will require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for staff and those attending the concerts beginning Aug. 17. Both physical and digital copies of a COVID-19 vaccination record card will be acceptable.

The COVID-19 test must be taken within 72 hours of the event.

Ottobar

The Baltimore rock venue requires those attending their events to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result. The test must have been taken within 72 hours of the event. The policy has already taken effect.

Merriweather Post Pavilion

Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia will require proof of full COVID vaccination to attend events beginning Oct. 17. The policy also applies to 9:30 Club, the Anthem and Lincoln Theatre, which are operated by the same company.

Until then, the previous policy of requiring full vaccination or a negative test from the past 72 hours, with a matching photo ID, remains in effect.

True Chesapeake Oyster Co.

The Hampden restaurant will require proof of vaccination for all diners beginning Aug. 18. A copy or photograph of vaccination cards and certified electronic vaccination records will be acceptable.

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Front-line workers and diners who provide a proof of vaccination dated August or September will receive a free beverage.

Silver Queen Cafe

The Northeast Baltimore cafe will require proof of vaccination for guests dining inside. They will accept the vaccination card, a photo of the card or MyIR Mobile, an app that stores immunization records.

Masks are required when not seated.

Annapolis Symphony Orchestra

The ASO will require proof of vaccination and wearing masks indoors to all audience members starting Oct. 1, when its first concert will be held. A vaccination card or vaccine confirmation app will suffice.

All ASO staff and musicians are fully vaccinated, according to its website.

Mobtown Ballroom

The venue and bar requires proof of vaccination of all customers. A photo of the vaccination card will suffice.

Everyman Theatre

The downtown Baltimore theater requires either proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test within 72 hours upon entry.

This story will be updated.
By Anurag Maan and Julia Harte

(Reuters) -The crush of new COVID-19 infections in Mississippi has become so dire that the state has turned to efforts reminiscent of the earliest days of the U.S. pandemic, when a field hospital was set up in New York's Central Park and a medical ship was moored in the Hudson River.

With an overload of coronavirus patients and a shortage of healthcare workers in the state, the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) opened up a 20-bed field hospital in its parking garage on Friday morning.

It plans to open a mobile hospital tent early next week, staffed by a medical team sent by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The hospital opened a similar triage center in its parking garage in the spring of 2020.

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said that the federal government had denied his state's request for the same U.S. Navy hospital ship - the USNS Comfort - that docked in Manhattan in March 2020 to relieve hospitals of their COVID-19 patient burden. At the time, New York was the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States.

"The ask for the ship was as much about the over 500 personnel that come with it as it was about the actual physical facility," Reeves said at a news conference on Friday.

He said he welcomed any of those federal medical workers to Mississippi but like many of his fellow Republicans also vowed never to force people to wear masks, which are known to be an effective defense against the spread of the coronavirus.

"I believe every individual ought to make what they believe to be the best decision for themselves," he said. Reeves told reporters that he and his family had been vaccinated but said there were "risks" associated with both getting vaccinated and remaining unvaccinated.

Low vaccination rates and the more infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus have driven a surge of COVID-19 cases across the United States, overwhelming some state medical systems.

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It is also sending more children to hospital. On Friday, there were 1,871 pediatric patients hospitalized across the United States, according to CDC data, more than at any other time in the pandemic.

Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oregon have reported record numbers of overall COVID-19 hospitalizations this month, according to a Reuters tally, stretching intensive care units near capacity and forcing states to seek medical aid from the federal government.

Republican governors in southern states such as Florida and Texas have banned mask mandates and threatened to withhold funding from schools that impose them, however. The White House is considering reimbursing school officials who lose pay from flouting the ban.

NUMBERS WORSENING

The number of daily cases across the country has doubled in the last two weeks, according to a Reuters tally, reaching a six-month peak, while the average number of daily deaths has increased 85% in the last 14 days.

Florida, Mississippi, and Oregon logged unprecedented COVID-19 case levels in August, with Mississippi reaching its record-high daily case count of 5,023 on Friday, according to a Reuters tally and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

On Friday, Oregon Governor Kate Brown said she was sending 500 National Guard members to assist overwhelmed hospitals, with 1,500 members in total available to help.

Brown said that a statewide indoor mask mandate she issued this week, along with rising fears of this fourth COVID surge, is not the news her constituents hoped to be hearing by late summer.

"The harsh and frustrating reality is that the Delta variant has changed everything," Brown said in a taped message.

Weekly cases in the state have doubled while weekly deaths have tripled in the past two weeks.

On Thursday, 1,578 COVID-19 patients were currently admitted in Mississippis hospitals, the highest since the pandemic started last year. More than 90% of its ICU beds were occupied, according to data from HHS.

The state has struggled with a 142% jump in hospitalizations in the past two weeks, according to a Reuters analysis.

A Republican Mississippi state lawmaker announced on Thursday that he had received a vaccination after "struggling" with the decision for months and consulting two doctors.

"The infection numbers among the unvaccinated made me pull the trigger," state Senator Joel Carter Jr. said in a tweet.

(Reporting by Anurag Maan in Bengaluru, Julia Harte and Peter Szekely in New York, and Gabriella Borter in Washington, D.C.; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall and Daniel Wallis)
netflix-grace-and-frankie-surprise-season-7-release-first-half-august-2020.jpg

Surprise! Netflix just blessed us with some brand new (and long-awaited) Grace & Frankie content!

In a surprise drop, the streaming giant just released the first four episodes of the seventh and final season of the beloved, gay AF comedy, which stars screen legends Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as the titular rivals turned best friends who form an unlikely bond after their ex-husbands fell in love and married each other.

Jane and Lily took to Netflix's social media to share the good news, especially since the ongoing global pandemic halted production of Grace & Frankie's seventh season last year, and fans have been patiently waiting for any and all updates on the show.

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While the seventh season is going to be its last, there's still a lot more in store for Grace & Frankie. Netflix is only teasing us for now, releasing just the first four episodes. Season 7's final 12 episodes, the last of the show, is set to premiere sometime later in 2022, which will make it the streaming platform's longest-running original series ever, with a grand total of 94 episodes! We love history-making queens!

The first four episodes of Season 7 of Grace & Frankie are now streaming on Netflix! Catch up on the first six seasons before the rest of Season 7 drops in 2022!

RELATED | Grace & Frankie Gets Even Gayer Thanks to RuPaul
TORONTO (AP)  Canadian special forces will deploy to Afghanistan where staff in Canada's embassy in Kabul will be evacuated before it closes, a source familiar with the plan told The Associated Press.

The official, who was not authorized to talk publicly about the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity, did not say how many special forces would be sent.

Just weeks before the U.S. is scheduled to end its war in Afghanistan, the Biden administration is also rushing 3,000 fresh troops to the Kabul airport to help with a partial evacuation of the U.S. Embassy.

The moves highlight the stunning speed of a Taliban takeover of much of the country, including their capture on Thursday of Kandahar, the second-largest city and the birthplace of the Taliban movement.

Britain also said Thursday that it will send around 600 troops to Afghanistan to help U.K. nationals leave the country amid growing concerns about the security situation. And Danish lawmakers have agreed to evacuate 45 Afghan citizens who worked for Denmarks government in Afghanistan and to offer them residency in the European country for two years.

Some 40,000 Canadian troops were deployed in Afghanistan over 13 years as part of the NATO mission before pulling out in 2014.

The first planeload of Afghan refugees who supported the Canadian military mission in Afghanistan arrived in Canada earlier this month. The Canadian government last month announced a special program to urgently resettle Afghans deemed to have been integral to the Canadian Armed Forces mission, including interpreters, cooks, drivers, cleaners, construction workers, security guards and embassy staff, as well as members of their families.

The government says more than 800 Afghans who supported the mission have been resettled in Canada over the past decade but acknowledges that many more remain in Afghanistan.

The Taliban, who ruled the country from 1996 until U.S. forces invaded after the 9/11 attacks, have taken 12 of Afghanistans 34 provincial capitals as part of a weeklong sweep that has given them effective control of about two-thirds of the country.

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The seizure of Kandahar and Herat marks the biggest prizes yet for the Taliban. Canada's former military mission was based in Kandahar. More than 150 Canadian soldiers died during the Afghanistan mission.'

A spokeswoman for Canadas Global Affairs department declined to comment on specifics about the embassy.

The security of the Canadian Embassy and the safety of our personnel in Kabul is our top priority. For security reasons we do not comment on specific operational matters of our missions abroad, spokeswoman Ciara Trudeau said in an email.
A rural Pennsylvania countys Board of Commissioners railed against Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano on Tuesday over his request for 2020 election materials in order to perform an audit of last falls contest, accusing him of piling one mistake on top of another with his effort.

All three Tioga County commissioners, including its two Republicans, read from a statement during a board meeting implying that Mastriano is irresponsible and calling on him to end his pursuit of a forensic investigation.

It is time for Sen. Mastriano to withdraw his demands and to let responsible Republicans get back to work on subjects such as recovering from COVID-19, addressing the opioid crisis and the help wanted issue, the commissioners statement said.

POLICE NOTIFIED OF 'ELECTION INTEGRITY COMMITTEE' ASKING PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY RESIDENTS HOW THEY VOTED

Mastriano first requested information and materials related to the 2020 election in Tioga County, along with those used to administer the fall election in York and Philadelphia counties, on July 7 in order to perform an investigation to determine the extent of voter fraud. Former President Donald Trump and his campaigns legal team repeatedly asserted that fraudulent votes led to his loss in the state, which he won in 2016.

Mastriano wrote on his website that the case for an audit is evident to any unbiased observer and cited the widespread use of mail-in voting among the reasons justifying an inquiry.

Tioga Countys commissioners accused Mastriano of generating unnecessary chaos with his audit requests Tuesday.

The people of this county have nothing to hide, and Mr. Mastriano knows it, the statement said. In fact, the only one who has made himself scarce since he made this blunder without the authority of his committee or the Senate is Doug Mastriano.

They asserted further that if there was a problem with the election, then Mastriano, as one of the state lawmakers who voted in 2019 to expand mail-in voting, had some culpability in the matter.

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Now he is just piling one mistake on top of another, their statement said.

Tioga County officials were already on record before Tuesday pushing back on Mastrianos request, citing the steep costs the county would incur in the event that equipment used during an audit was decertified.

In a test case of sorts, Fulton County, Pennsylvania, had its election equipment decertified by acting Secretary of State Veronica Degraffenreid last month after a private firm was granted access to its machines. Degraffenreid determined the machines security had been compromised.

Across the state, York County's commissioners have also expressed their reservations about what providing their election equipment could eventually cost them, while Philadelphia's commissioners voted on July 30 to reject Mastriano's request altogether.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Mastriano, who is the chairman of the Intergovernmental Operations Committee, told One America News Network last month that all three counties would want "legal cover" and said he intended to bring the issue before his panel to vote on subpoenas. He also predicted there would be some sort of "court fight."

The election audit effort puts Pennsylvania among other states Trump lost in 2020, including Arizona and Wisconsin, where the former presidents allies have pursued partisan audits.

Although Pennsylvania's forensic audit effort is in its infant stages, Arizonas has been underway for months. Officials there anticipate findings to be released later this summer.

Washington Examiner Videos

Tags: News, Pennsylvania, 2020 Elections, ballot, Local, Donald Trump

Original Author: Jeremy Beaman

Original Location: Pennsylvania county accuses state senator of creating 'unnecessary chaos' with election audit request
The Conversation

In May, Afghan troops raised their national flag as the U.S. pulled out. Now, their flag is down too. Afghan Ministry of Defense Press Office via APThe swift collapse of the Afghan military in recent days caught many in the U.S. by surprise, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In the months after President Joe Bidens April 2021 announcement of the troop withdrawal, intelligence reports warned that the Afghan military might not fight on its own, opening the way for a Taliban tak
Aug. 13Public Service Company of New Mexico this week encouraged 44,000 customers who are behind on their payments to contact the utility company before disconnections resume Monday.

The electric utility company said customers who are behind on their PNM bills must take "immediate action to avoid a shutoff."

The Public Regulation Commission has ended the temporary coronavirus emergency moratorium for residential customers.

Despite not paying, close to 44,000 customers received electricity for up to about 18 months. But they still must pay for the electricity they used.

PNM said those customers should immediately contact PNM by calling 888-DIAL-PNM (888-342-5766) from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Or they may contact PNM online at PNM.com/help.

Struggling customers can obtain financial assistance to pay down or pay off their past-due balances. They may also contact PNM to start a payment plan over multiple months. Or they can pay in full.

PNM and the state have multiple assistance programs.

Notices of discontinuation have gone out for several months now, PNM said, to alert customers. PNM said that starting next week, it will cut off 500 to 600 customers statewide each business day. PNM said it will try to give one last two-day call to customers before shutoff.

On the day of disconnection, a no-knock policy will also be in place and no payments will be accepted at the door. After disconnection, the customer may contact PNM at the phone number above to arrange payments and reconnection.
The last tweet from Rahul Gandhi's account is from 6 August

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused Twitter of "attacking Indian democracy" after it locked accounts of top party leaders, including his own.

The accounts were locked after they tweeted a photo of the parents of a nine-year-old, who was allegedly raped and murdered in the capital, Delhi.

The Congress party accused Twitter of acting on orders from the ruling party.

But Twitter said the photo violated their privacy rules which were "enforced judiciously and impartially".

Mr Gandhi, who has nearly 20 million followers, said in a video message on Friday that by shutting his account, Twitter was interfering with India's political process.

"This is not, you know, simply shutting Rahul Gandhi down. I have 19-20 million followers. You are denying them the right to an opinion. That's what you are doing," he said.

Mr Gandhi's photograph with the parents of the nine-year-old Dalit girl, who was allegedly raped and murdered by a Hindu priest and his accomplices in the capital, Delhi, was taken on 4 August when he visited the family.

The child's family had alleged that her attackers had tried to forcibly cremate her without their permission. The incident triggered protests and outrage in the country.

Twitter deleted Mr Gandhi's post after India's child rights body asked it to remove the photograph from its platform, pointing out that it revealed the identity of the rape victim - which is forbidden under Indian law.

As Mr Gandhi refused to delete the image, the micro-blogging site locked his account on 6 August and he has been unable to tweet since then. Over the past few days, the official account of the Congress party, several of its leaders and "about 5,000 volunteers" - who had retweeted Mr Gandhi - have also been locked.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala told the BBC that "the law only says that one cannot put out the photo of the victim or give details of the family and that we've done neither".

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He also pointed out that the mother of the young woman, who was gang-raped and murdered on a bus in Delhi in 2012, was extensively interviewed by the Indian and the global press and her photographs and videos were routinely shared on social media. "So, how come the rules didn't apply there?" he asked.

In a statement sent to the BBC, Twitter said it took "proactive action on several hundred tweets that posted an image that violated our rules".

"Certain types of private information carry higher risks than others, and our aim is always to protect individuals' privacy and safety," it added.

But Mr Surjewala rejected the claim and said that Twitter's reasons were "politically coloured, mischievously motivated, and downright malafide" and accused it of being "completely subservient to the Modi government" - an allegation Twitter has denied.

About 30 prominent accounts of the Congress party have been locked in recent days

He alleged that the National Commission of Scheduled Castes, an organisation appointed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, visited the family and tweeted the parents' photo on 2 August.

"A former BJP MP, who's a member of the commission, several TV channels and newspapers also did the same but have not faced any action," he said.

Critics have long accused Mr Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of silencing criticism on social media - particularly Twitter - by asking platforms to restrict content.

At the height of the farmers' protests in February, Twitter had briefly blocked dozens of accounts after the country's home ministry complained that users were encouraging violence and spreading misinformation.

More recently, Indian police visited Twitter's offices after it tagged a tweet from the ruling party member as "manipulated media". The company had expressed concerns over freedom of expression in India after the raids. Several social media firms, including Twitter, were recently at loggerheads with the government over India's new IT rules.
Ret. Gen. Wesley Clark. AP Photo/Cliff Owen

Former NATO commander Gen. Wesley Clark weighed in on the crisis in Afghanistan on CNN Thursday.

He described the situation as the result of "20 years of American misjudgments."

The Taliban has been rapidly seizing land as Afghan security forces crumble with the US troop pullout.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

Retired Gen. Wesley Clark, the former supreme commander of NATO in Europe, has said that the current crisis in Afghanistan was the result of "20 years of American misjudgments, of poor prioritizations and failed policies."

"For the Biden administration I think they reached the end of the road. It was clear that they weren't going to be able to create or help create an Afghanistan government that supported its people," Clark told CNN host Jim Acosta on Thursday.

"And without that government support, its military did not have the support of the people. And this is the consequence of it. It's painful. It's tragic."

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Clark's assessment came as the Taliban seized multiple provincial capitals in Afghanistan as part of their sweeping offensive.

As of Friday, the militant organization was effectively controlling about two-thirds of the country, with Afghan security forces struggling to contain the advance in the wake of the US' withdrawal of most of its forces in July.

Thousands of people have fled the fighting to the Afghan capital, Kabul, which US intelligence officials told The Washington Post could fall to the Taliban in a matter of weeks.

President Joe Biden's administration is coming under pressure for its withdrawal strategy, with Biden on July 8 having described the prospect of the Taliban seizing back control of the country as "extremely unlikely."

Three thousand additional US troops were deployed to Kabul on Thursday help ensure the safe evacuation of remaining military forces there ahead of the scheduled full US withdrawal on September 11.

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Clark served as NATO military chief from 1997 until 2000, the year before US and NATO forces launched the invasion of Afghanistan in response to the 9/11 attacks. He ran as a Democratic presidential candidate in 2004.

In the CNN interview, Clark expressed bafflement as to why the US had been caught off guard by the rapid Taliban advances.

"Once you are actually committed to withdrawal, set the date, you will supercharge the Taliban. They will have a sense of momentum, a belief that their long-held faith in ultimate victory is about to be realized," he said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A gunman opened fire in the city of Plymouth, England, killing five people, including a child.

The shooter was also killed, authorities said.

At around 6 p.m. local time, Devon and Cornwall police said they descended on a serious firearms incident in Biddick Drive, in the Keyham area of Plymouth.

There have been a number of fatalities at the scene and several other casualties are receiving treatment, police said. The area has been cordoned off and police believe the situation is contained.

Johnny Mercer, a member of Parliament, tweeted that the shooting is not terror related, and neither is the suspect on the run in Plymouth.
Aug. 13ALBANY  The state Education Department has released a "health and safety guide" for reopening New York schools, a move applauded by the New York State United Teachers in the absence of guidance from the state Department of Health.

The guide uses information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which the DOH has advised school districts to consult for guidance.

"With the end of the state disaster emergency on June 25, 2021, school districts are re-established as the controlling entity for schools. Schools and school districts should develop plans to open in person in the fall as safely as possible, and I recommend following guidance from the CDC and local health departments," DOH Commissioner Dr. Howard A. Zucker said last week.

The state Education Department's guide also uses information the American Academy of Pediatrics.

SED officials said the guide is designed to be used in conjunction with numerous other local, state and national resources available to schools to help them manage risks for students and staff from COVID-19 while supporting engaged learning for all students. It's based on the best health and safety information that's currently available and will be updated as public health conditions change.

The guide addresses questions related to COVID-19 vaccinations, monitoring community transmission, wearing of masks, physical distancing, sports and extracurricular activities, COVID-19 screening, health questionnaire screenings, contact tracing, COVID-related facilities projects, remote instruction, and funding sources available to schools and districts that may help with preparing for the upcoming school year and beyond.

Administrators are also encouraged to partner with their local health departments, director of school health services and other health professionals as they develop their policies for reopening schools and responding to health and safety concerns that may arise during the school year.

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Among the concerns from school districts are the use of face masks and social distancing.

The CDC recently updated its guidance on masks due to emergency evidence that demonstrates that the Delta variant of COVID-19 is more infectious and has led to increase transmissibility when compared to other variants, even in vaccinated individuals. The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status and community transmission levels.

The CDC also recommends that schools maintain at least 3 feet of physical distance between students within classrooms, combined with indoor mask wearing to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. A distance of at least 6 feet is recommended between students and teachers/staff, and between teachers/staff who are not fully vaccinated.

Physical distancing is not required on school buses under the CDC's guidance. It also notes that permitting large groups of students to eat in the cafeteria should be based on community transmission rates.

"At a time when schools are preparing to reopen and the COVID positivity rate is increasing, we must ensure our schools and districts have the most up-to-date resources and mitigation strategies available to keep our children and school staff safe," state Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said in a prepared statement. "Reopening amidst a pandemic for the second consecutive year is truly a daunting task. Our hope is that this guide, coupled with the input of local health officials will help the state's education community as they prepare for September."

The state Education Department guide can be found at www.nysed.gov/back-to-school.

New York State United Teachers President Andrew "Andy" Pallotta applauded the state Education Department for preparing the guidance in the absence of official guidance from the state DOH.

"As educators, we know that the best place for students to learn is in the classroom," he said. "We must do everything we can to ensure every student has access to full-time, in-person instruction this year. That includes ensuring our schools are safe and healthy for students and the people who serve them.

"We support the recommendations of public health experts and SED to implement universal masking, robust surveillance testing and other measures as part of a layered, holistic approach that ensures the health and safety of everyone in our schools"We also believe district plans should be developed in partnership with educators and parents. We believe this because safe and healthy schools are critical to empowering every student in New York to thrive and succeed this year," Mr. Pallotta added.
The Supreme Court. Al Drago/Getty Images

Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett on Thursday rejected a request from eight Indiana University students trying to block the school's COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

In May, Indiana University announced it was requiring all students, faculty, and staff members get vaccinated, with religious and medical exemptions. Of the eight students who sued, six have received a religious exemption and a seventh is qualified but has not yet applied, The Washington Post reports. Barrett oversees emergency petitions submitted from the school's region, and in her decision, did not give a reason for the rejection or mention referring the matter to her fellow justices.

This was the first case related to vaccination requirements to make it to the Supreme Court, after a federal district judge and panel of the Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit rejected the request. In the 7th Circuit opinion, Judge Frank Easterbrook wrote that "each university may decide what is necessary to keep other students safe in a congregate setting. Vaccinations protect not only the vaccinated persons but also those who come in contact with them, and at a university close contact is inevitable."

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The Wrap

Larry David recently ran into former Trump attorney Alan Dershowitz at the grocery store, and he didnt hold back from criticizing the Harvard Law professor. In a heated exchange that was witnessed by a Page Six source, Dershowitz and David bumped into each other at Chilmark General Store in Marthas Vineyard. Dershowitz confirmed the exchange he had with David to Page Six and said it started when he saw David and tried to say hi, but the comedian walked away from him. Dershowitz then said, We
Makeshift camps have now sprung up in the capital Kabul

The UN has urged Afghanistan's neighbours to keep their borders open as the number of civilians fleeing the Taliban onslaught swells.

Thousands of those internally displaced have been arriving in Kabul, seeing the capital as their last safe refuge.

Food shortages are "dire", the World Food Programme (WFP) said. It warned of a humanitarian catastrophe.

On Friday, the Taliban seized the country's second-largest city Kandahar, the latest provincial capital to fall.

The southern city of 600,000 people was once the Taliban's stronghold, and is strategically important because of its international airport, agricultural and industrial output.

The insurgents also took the nearby city of Lashkar Gah, and now control about a third of Afghanistan's provincial capitals.

The advance comes as US and other foreign troops withdraw after 20 years of military operations. More than 1,000 civilians were killed in Afghanistan in the past month alone, according to the UN.

Sahraa Karimi, an Afghan filmmaker in Kabul, told the BBC it felt like the world had turned its back on Afghanistan and she feared a return to "dark times".

Life under the Taliban in the 1990s saw women forced to wear the all-covering burka, education restricted for girls over 10 and brutal punishments brought in, including public executions.

"I am in danger - [but] I don't anymore think about myself," Ms Karimi said. "I think about our country... I think about our generation: that we did a lot to bring these changes.

"I think about young girls... there are thousands of beautiful, young talented women in this country."

Asadullah was selling food and spices in Kunduz province

Many of those seeking safety in Kabul have been sleeping on the streets. About 72,000 children are among those fleeing to the capital in recent days, according to Save the Children.

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"We have no money to buy bread, or get some medicine for my child," Asadullah, a 35-year-old street vendor who fled northern Kunduz province after the Taliban set fire to his home, told the BBC.

"All of our home and belongings caught fire, so we came to Kabul and pray to God to help us," added Asadullah, who is now with his family in Kabul.

Makeshift camps have been established on scrubland on the outskirts of the capital, while many others have reportedly been sleeping in abandoned warehouses.

Speaking to the BBC shortly before Kandahar fell, Pashtana Durrani, executive director of an education NGO that works with Afghan girls, said she was scared for her life because of her vocal role in advocating for women's education.

"The girls who we work with have already fled," she said. "I don't know where the students are and I'm personally scared about their life. What if they're married to a Taliban fighter? What will their life be like?"

Afghan war - the basics

US-led forces toppled the Taliban: In 2001 US-led forces overthrew Afghanistan's Taliban rulers after the 9/11 attacks masterminded by al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who was based there.

Twenty years of occupation and military operations followed: The US and allies oversaw elections and built up Afghan security forces, but the Taliban continued to launch attacks.

Eventually the US made a deal with the Taliban: They would pull out if the militants agreed not to host terrorist groups. But talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government failed. US-led forces withdrew this year and the Taliban have now retaken most of the country.

'From here where else do we run?'

By Yogita Limaye, BBC News, Kabul

People are in disbelief about what's happened in a single day. Five provincial capitals - among them major cities - fell to the Taliban on Thursday.

In Kabul, thousands of people have been arriving - but this is a number that changes by the hours. They've left with very few belongings. These are people, who had homes and jobs, and shops and farms - and they just had to leave everything behind and try to run to safety.

Some of them have taken days, and these are dangerous journeys - past Taliban checkpoints and active frontlines - to get to Kabul. This is the last place many of them believe they can go to. They say, from here where else do we run?

They are angry at the government about being left to fend for themselves. The government says it is going to house them in mosques and provide them with the relief - but there is not enough for everyone who is coming in.

There's anger too that the US and UK are evacuating their own citizens and leaving Afghans to their fate.

Map of Afghanistan

The first US troops have begun landing at Kabul airport, part of a 3,000-strong force being sent to help evacuate the country's diplomatic staff, a US defence official told CBS.

The embassy has said it is hearing reports that the Taliban are executing Afghan troops who were surrendering, saying it "could constitute war crimes".

The UK is deploying 600 troops to support British nationals leaving the country. Staff at the British embassy have been reduced to a core team, while Norway and Denmark announced the temporary closure of their embassies.

In a blow to attempts to build a coalition against the militants, the Taliban say they have detained the veteran militia leader Ismail Khan after they seized Herat.

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KABUL (Reuters) - Taliban insurgents detained veteran militia commander Mohammad Ismail Khan on Friday after they seized the western city of Herat, a provincial council member said.

Khan, who has been leading fighters against the Taliban in recent weeks, was handed over to the insurgents along with the provincial governor and security officials under a pact, provincial council member Ghulam Habib Hashimi told Reuters.

"The Taliban agreed that they will not pose any threat or harm to the government officials who surrendered," Hashimi said.

Khan is one of Afghanistan's most prominent warlords. Known as the Lion of Herat, he battled Soviet occupiers in the 1980s and was a key member of the Northern Alliance whose U.S.-backed forces toppled the Taliban in 2001.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that Khan had been detained.

(Reporting by Kabul bureau; Editing by Robert Birsel and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan on Friday seized Kandahar and Heratthe countrys second and third largest cities, hours after Fox News confirmed that the U.S. military will help evacuate Americans from the embassy in Kabul.

The insurgents have taken more than a dozen provincial capitals in recent days and now control more than two-thirds of the country just weeks before the U.S. plans to withdraw its last troops.

The New York Times reported that just three major cities in the country are still under the governments control and Taliban fighters are "well-positioned to attack Kabul." The paper also pointed out that the capture of Kandahar is a symbolic victory for the Taliban because it is where the insurgency started back in the 1990s.

Thousands of Afghans have fled their homes amid fears the Taliban will again impose a brutal, repressive government, all but eliminating women's rights and conducting public executions.

The plans to evacuate the Americans were briefed to President Biden earlier Thursday in order to get his approval, one official added. The military will evacuate "thousands" of American citizens and Afghan interpreters from Kabul.

"Things are moving," one official said.

The Taliban's advance has attracted the attention of the United Kingdom.

Ben Wallace, the U.K. defense minister, said in an interview Friday that his forces could make a return to Afghanistan if there is a resurgence of Al Qaeda and the country becomes a hotbed for terrorism that threatens the West, a report said.

"Im going to leave every option open. If the Taliban have a message from last time, you start hosting Al Qaeda, you start attacking the West, or countries like that, we could come back."

The Taliban have captured another three provincial capitals in southern Afghanistan, including in Helmand, the scene of some of the heaviest fighting in the past two decades, as the insurgents press a lightning offensive that is gradually encircling the capital.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  The Taliban completed their sweep of the country's south on Friday as they took four more provincial capitals in a lightning offensive that is gradually encircling Kabul, just weeks before the U.S. is set to officially end its two-decade war.

In the last 24 hours, the country's second- and third-largest cities  Herat in the west and Kandahar in the south  have fallen to the insurgents as has the capital of the southern Helmand province, where American, British and NATO forces fought some of the bloodiest battles of the conflict.

The blitz through the Taliban's southern heartland means the insurgents now hold half of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals and control more than two-thirds of the country  weeks before the U.S. plans to withdraw its last troops. The Western-backed government in the capital, Kabul, still holds a smattering of provinces in the center and east, as well as the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

While Kabul isnt directly under threat yet, the resurgent Taliban were battling government forces in Logar province, some 50 miles from the capital. The U.S. military has estimated that Kabul could come under insurgent pressure within 30 days and that the Taliban could overrun the rest of the country within a few months. They have already taken over much of the north and west of the country.

Pakistani soldiers check stranded Afghan nationals at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing point in Chaman on August 13, 2021, after the Taliban took control of the Afghan border town in a rapid offensive across the country.

In the south, the insurgents swept through the three provincial capitals on Friday.

Attaullah Afghan, the head of the provincial council in Helmand, said that the Taliban captured Lashkar Gah following weeks of heavy fighting and raised their white flag over governmental buildings. He said that three national army bases outside of the city remain under control of the government.

In Tirin Kot, the capital of the southern Uruzgan province, Taliban fighters paraded through a main square, driving a Humvee and a pickup seized from Afghan forces. Local officials confirmed that the Taliban also captured the capitals of Zabul province in the south and Ghor in the west.

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With security rapidly deteriorating, the United States planned to send in 3,000 troops to help evacuate some personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. Separately, Britain said about 600 troops would be deployed on a short-term basis to support British nationals leaving the country, and Canada is sending special forces to help evacuate its embassy.

Hundreds of thousands of Afghans have fled their homes amid fears the Taliban will return the country to the sort of brutal, repressive rule it imposed when it was last in power at the turn of the millennium. At that time, the group all but eliminated womens rights and conducted public executions as it imposed an unsparing version of Islamic law. An early sign of such tactics came in Herat, where insurgents paraded two alleged looters through the streets on Friday with black makeup smeared on their faces.

There are also concerns that the fighting could plunge the country into civil war, which is what happened after the Soviets withdrew in 1989.

We are worried. There is fighting everywhere in Afghanistan. The provinces are falling day by day," said Ahmad Sakhi, a resident of Kabul. "The government should do something. The people are facing lots of problems.

The U.N. refugee agency said nearly 250,000 Afghans have been forced to flee their homes since the end of May, and 80% of those displaced are women and children. In all, the agency said, some 400,000 civilians have been displaced since the beginning of the year, joining millions who have fled previous rounds of fighting in recent decades.

Peace talks in Qatar between the Taliban and the government remain stalled, though diplomats are still meeting, as the U.S., European and Asian nations warned that battlefield gains would not lead to political recognition.

We demand an immediate end to attacks against cities, urge a political settlement, and warn that a government imposed by force will be a pariah state, said Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. envoy to the talks.

But the Taliban advance continued.

Hasibullah Stanikzai, the head of the Logar provincial council, said fighting was still underway inside Puli-e Alim, with government forces holding the police headquarters and other security facilities. He spoke by phone from his office, and gunfire could be heard in the background. The Taliban, however, said they had captured the police headquarters and a nearby prison.

The onslaught represents a stunning collapse of Afghan forces after the United States spent nearly two decades and $830 billion trying to establish a functioning state. U.S. forces toppled the Taliban in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, which al-Qaida planned and executed while being sheltered by the Taliban government.

With only weeks remaining before the U.S. plans to withdraw its last troops, the fighters now advancing across the country ride on American-made Humvees and carry M-16s pilfered from Afghan forces.

Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the Afghan army has rotted from within due to corruption and mismanagement, leaving troops in the field poorly equipped and with little motivation to fight. The Taliban, meanwhile, have spent a decade taking control of large swaths of the countryside.

That allowed them to rapidly seize key infrastructure and urban areas once President Joe Biden announced the timeline for the U.S. withdrawal, saying he was determined to end America's longest war.

Whatever forces are left or remaining that are in the Kabul area and the provinces around them, theyre going to be used for the defense of Kabul, Roggio said. Unless something dramatically changes, and I dont see how thats possible, these provinces (that have fallen) will remain under Taliban control."

Maps show areas controlled by Taliban at selected dates each month.

A day earlier, in Herat, Taliban fighters rushed past the Great Mosque in the historic city  a structure that dates to 500 BC and was once a spoil of Alexander the Great  and seized government buildings.

Herat had been under militant attack for two weeks, with one wave blunted by the arrival of warlord Ismail Khan and his forces. But on Thursday afternoon, Taliban fighters broke through the citys defensive lines.

The insurgents circulated photos and a video showing Khan in their captivity as well as video footage that appeared to show two Afghan military Black Hawk helicopters  provided by the U.S.  that were captured in Herat.

At least 18 civilians were killed and more than 250 wounded in the two-week battle for Herat, according to Mohammad Arif Jalali, head of the city's public hospital. He said more than 50 women and children were among the wounded. It's unclear how many people were killed and wounded in battles elsewhere across the country.

In Kandahar, insurgents seized the governors office and other buildings, witnesses said, adding that the governor and other officials fled the onslaught. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the defeat has yet to be acknowledged by the government, which has not commented on the latest advances.

The Taliban had earlier attacked a prison in Kandahar and freed inmates inside, officials said.

On Thursday, Nasima Niazi, a lawmaker from Helmand, said civilians likely had been wounded and killed in airstrikes. U.S. Central Command has acknowledged carrying out several strikes in recent days, without providing details or commenting on the concerns over civilian casualties.

Meanwhile in neighboring Pakistan, the country's national security adviser urged Afghan leaders to seek a politically negotiated settlement with the Taliban to avoid further violence. Moeed Yusuf made the appeal Friday while speaking to reporters in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. He said the fall of city after city in Afghanistan underscored the need to expedite the peace process.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Afghanistan: Taliban sweep country's south, take Helmand province
In another act of defiance of Texas' ban on mask mandates, Houston school leaders on Thursday night unanimously approved a plan requiring students to wear face coverings once school resumes this month.

The superintendent for Houston Independent School District said this week that he planned on imposing an order that required all students, staff, and visitors to wear masks on district property and buses. The board supported the order in an 8-0 vote.

The safety of our students and staff will continue to be my guiding compass," Superintendent Millard House II said in a statement. "I am thankful to our Board of Education for supporting our children and families by prioritizing safety above all else."

Houston is the largest district in Texas, with 276 schools. It joins other big cities in the state, including Dallas and Austin, that have already issued mask requirements for students.

The mandate in Houston goes into effect Monday, although classes do not begin until Aug. 23. The requirement is for everybody regardless of their vaccination status.

The district said in a news release that the decision to impose the order comes amid a rise in Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations in Harris County.

Also on Thursday, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced that a mask order was issued for all county schools and child care facilities.

"Pediatric COVID19 cases are at all-time highs in Texas, and most schools havent even started yet. We have no choice," Hidalgo tweeted.

According to the county's Public Health Department, there was a 332 percent increase of confirmed coronavirus cases from July 25 to Aug. 8. During that same time period, there was a 180 percent increase in hospitalizations. The department said a " vast majority" of those hospitalized are unvaccinated.

The mask requirements for students are in defiance of an executive order that Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, issued in May barring school districts, as well other government entities, from mandating masks.

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Earlier this week, his office released a statement criticizing school districts for violating not only his orders but the rights of parents.

"Governor Abbott has been clear that the time for mask mandates is over; now is the time for personal responsibility. Parents and guardians have the right to decide whether their child will wear a mask or not, just as with any other decision in their childs life," Abbott's press secretary said via email.

"Governor Abbott has spent his entire time in office fighting for the rights and freedoms of all Texans, and our office continues working with the Office of the Attorney General to do just that. The best defense against this virus is the Covid vaccines, and we continue to strongly encourage all eligible Texans to get vaccinated.
A man wounded in a chaotic shooting at a Brooklyn party last weekend has died, police said Friday.

Donald Nash, was shot in the neck and chest  one of five men struck when gunfire erupted Sunday at the Brooklyn Garden Event Space on Wortman Ave. and Sheffield Ave. in East New York.

Nash, 32, died Wednesday at Brookdale Hospital.

Another man, 37, was struck in the shoulder and took himself to a New Rochelle hospital, where he is in stable condition.

Also shot were Nicholas Palmer and his boss at an air conditioner repair business, Novada Bailey, both 36. They were killed as they sat in an Infiniti sedan parked a block away from the venue.

A 51-year-old was also shot at that scene and is in critical condition at Brookdale Hospital.

Palmers father Donovan Palmer, 57, said he was told by a cop in Jamaica that tensions from warring gangs there have spilled over to America.

The NYPD confirmed the shooting is gang-related but did not elaborate.

The bloodshed was captured on two shocking videos.

One shows Palmer lifelessly dangling from the passenger seat of the Infiniti  with Bailey shot and immobile in the drivers seat  while the 51-year-old man is sitting on the ground, his bloody legs splayed wide open as he wails in pain.

The other video, taken inside the venue, shows several women clad in white party dresses surrounding one of the victims and applying pressure to his neck.

Just put pressure! one woman yells as another repeatedly shouts: Breathe! Breathe! Breathe!

Police believe the shooting was sparked by an argument at the party, which featured a performance stage, DJ and more than 100 revelers.
Late-night munchies will be a little easier to satisfy for mobile customers at Taco Bell's new touchless drive-thru restaurant coming to Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.

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Why it matters: When you're hungry, you want your food NOW.

Flashback: Axios' crack local reporters in Minneapolis-St. Paul already flagged plans for this prototype fast-food joint back in February, pointing out its odd resemblance to a bank branch.

Details: The "Taco Bell Defy" restaurant will open in the summer of 2022.

There are four drive-thru lanes, three of which are dedicated to mobile or delivery orders.

The fourth lane is a traditional drive-thru, where you place your order at a kiosk and drive ahead for pickup.

Mobile order customers scan a QR code they received when they placed their order, then pull forward to receive their food.

Food is delivered from the elevated kitchen above via a proprietary lift system similar to the pneumatic tubes used by those bank branches.

The entire pickup process is contactless, although two-way audio and video technology lets customers interact directly with Taco Bell employees in real time.

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By Sarah Young and Guy Faulconbridge

LONDON (Reuters) -Afghanistan is spiralling into a failed state and a civil war in which militant groups such as al Qaeda will thrive and likely pose a threat again to the West, Britain's defence minister said on Friday.

After a 20-year war in Afghanistan, the United States has withdrawn most of its troops, allowing Taliban forces to sweep across the country in what diplomats have cast as a humiliation for Washington.

"I'm absolutely worried that failed states are breeding grounds for those types of people," Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told Sky when asked about Afghanistan. "Al Qaeda will probably come back."

The speed of the Taliban advance has shocked the Afghan government and its Western allies. "I think we are heading towards a civil war," Wallace told the BBC.

The Taliban controlled most of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, when it was ousted for harbouring al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

Wallace said that if the Taliban started to harbour al Qaeda, then "we could be back."

On Thursday Wallace said Britain will deploy hundreds of military personnel to Afghanistan to help British nationals and local translators get out of the country.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that over the next few days the vast bulk of UK Embassy staff and officials will return to Britain.

"And we'll step up our efforts to bring back those Afghans who have helped us, helped the UK, helped international forces throughout the last 20 years," he said.

(Reporting by Sarah Young and Guy Faulconbridge; additional reporting by James Davey; Editing by Kate Holton and Cynthia Osterman)
Cleaning supervisor Jose Mendoza disinfects the cabin of a United jet at Los Angeles International Airport in 2020. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

As travel bounces back from the pandemic, there's a rift emerging in the airline industry over employee vaccination mandates.

Hawaiian Airlines joined Frontier and United Airlines this week in announcing a policy of requiring employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Delta, American, Alaska and Southwest Airlines have made it clear through statements and internal memos that they are not requiring vaccination even though they are encouraging it, with some offering incentives for workers to get the shots.

Industry experts disagree on whether this divide  which has materialized amid a rise in coronavirus cases across the country  will be a deciding factor for Americans who are choosing to fly.

"The majority of passengers will continue to book based on price and schedule," said Madhu Unnikrishnan, editor of the publication Skift Airline Weekly. "For a majority of passengers, it won't rise to their awareness."

As an example, he noted that most passengers didn't boycott the Boeing 737 Max despite two fatal accidents that grounded the plane for nearly two years.

But UC Irvine economics professor Jan Brueckner disagrees, saying virus-leery fliers are likely to steer away from those airlines that are not willing to mandate vaccinations for workers.

"There are a lot of nervous passengers out there," he said. "If I was on the edge between American and United, I would pick the one with the vaccine mandate."

Zane Kerby, president and chief executive of the American Society of Travel Advisors, a trade group for travel professionals, said he was skeptical that vaccine mandates would make a significant difference in booking preferences.

Still, Kerby noted that surveys had shown that cruise passengers were more likely to go on a cruise if the cruise line mandated that all crew and passengers be vaccinated against COVID-19. A Harris Poll survey found that 63% of those questioned said they would prefer a cruise on which all crew and passengers were vaccinated.

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On social media, many travelers applauded the United mandate announcement, saying it will sway them to choose the Chicago-based carrier. Others criticized vaccine mandates but didn't voice support for those airlines that were not adopting such mandates.

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The vaccine mandate split probably won't have an effect on business travel, said Joe Brancatelli, a business travel expert and columnist.

Business travel, which generated most of the airline industry's revenues before the pandemic, has yet to rebound, he said, and many of the biggest corporations are locked into agreements to fly with a specific carrier at a discounted rate.

The vaccination policy split comes as air travel demand begins to climb almost to pre-pandemic levels. Domestic air bookings reached about half of pre-pandemic levels in March and has since climbed to 17% below those levels in early August, according to Airlines for America, a trade group for the nation's air carriers.

In response to the increased demand, airlines are adding new routes, reopening airport lounges and expanding service to existing destinations.

Airlines are not alone in rolling out employee vaccine mandates. Cisco, DoorDash, Facebook, Google, Tyson Foods, Walt Disney Co. and Walmart have all announced vaccine rules for employees, with guidelines varying greatly among companies.

United announced last week that all of its roughly 67,000 employees must be vaccinated by Oct. 25.

"The data and the evidence is unequivocal that getting vaccinated is safest for each individual and safest for their co-workers," United CEO Scott Kirby said in an NBC News interview.

Frontier workers have until Oct. 1 to be vaccinated. Frontier employees who choose not to or are unable to get vaccinated will be asked to provide proof of a negative coronavirus test result on a regular basis.

Hawaiian Airlines announced the mandate in a memo to staff Monday, with a deadline of Nov. 1. Employees who don't get the vaccine will be required to be tested regularly.

Meanwhile, Delta, American, Alaska and Southwest have issued statements saying they are encouraging their employees to be vaccinated but are not planning to mandate the shots.

Delta said in May that it would require new employees in the U.S. to be vaccinated effective May 17. The carrier is strongly encouraging other workers to get vaccinated but isnt mandating it. More than 73% of its roughly 75,000 employees are already vaccinated, airline representatives said.

American Airlines said the carrier was also encouraging employees to get vaccinated, and is offering an additional day off in 2022 and $50 for those workers who get the vaccine.

Alaska Airlines issued a statement saying, "While we currently dont require employees to be vaccinated, were exploring all options to keep our employees safe." But this week, the carrier released a new statement saying, "Due to the highly contagious COVID-19 Delta variant, we are looking closely at whether we will require that employees are vaccinated. If we do, the requirement would not be effective until at least one vaccine is fully approved by the FDA and would include appropriate religious and medical exemptions."

Aviation employee groups have announced support for vaccinations but have not committed to mandates.

The Air Line Pilots Assn., which represents more than 59,000 pilots from 35 U.S. and Canadian airlines, said employer mandates on vaccines were "an issue that must be bargained, and we strongly support our individual pilot groups as they engage with their companies on this issue."

In response to United Airlines' mandate announcement, the Assn. of Flight Attendants, representing about 50,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines, said it supported a voluntary vaccination program. About 80% of the group's members are already vaccinated.

"The safest thing for us to do is continue our layered approach to this pandemic: getting vaccinated and wearing a mask!" the union said in a statement.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The University of Minnesota Board of Regents voted Friday to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for students.

Why it matters: The requirement, which takes effect once the Food and Drug Administration grants full approval for the shots, impacts tens of thousands of students at the system's five schools, including the flagship Twin Cities campus.

Faculty and staff who aren't vaccinated will be asked to "commit to COVID-19 testing on a regular schedule to be determined."

Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free

How we got here: U of M president Joan Gabel reversed an earlier decision to not mandate shots amid growing pressure from students and faculty concerned about spread of the Delta variant.

The big picture: Hundreds of colleges and universities, including many here in Minnesota, are mandating the shots this fall.

What they're saying: "Looking at what is happening currently, and what appears to be on the horizon with the rise of new variants and case counts nationwide, the Board supported the vaccine mandate for our students to provide the best possible chance for safe, in-person and uninterrupted University experiences this fall," Ken Powell, who serves as the board's chair, said in a statement.

Of note: Exemptions will be available for medical and religious reasons.

University leadership is still working out the details of how students will report their vaccination status and what, if any, consequences will be handed down for noncompliance.

Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free.
A man who spent three days in ICU in Louisiana says he regrets not getting the vaccine (CNN)

An unvaccinated Louisiana man who was hospitalised after contracting Covid-19 has warned others to take heed of his predicament.

The 53-year-old patient at Baton Rouge General Hospital Mid City told CNN anchor Don Lemon he wasnt against the vaccine, but simply hadnt found the time to get the shot.

The man, referred to only by his first name Jim, spent three days in ICU before being hooked up to an oxygen machine in a regular ward.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Jim said he regretted not getting the vaccine, and had a message for skeptics: Open your eyes. Take heed to this. This is nothing to play with.

Don Lemon is shown around the hospital in Baton Rouge where he was born (CNN)

Mr Lemon visited the Louisiana hospital where he was born in 1966 for a special report which aired on Thursday as hospitals in the state are being swamped with patients infected with the Delta variant.

Ninety per cent of the beds in the hospital were occupied by Covid patients, Venkat Banda, the hospitals chief medical officer, said.

The Delta, its more contagious, its more virulent, and its catching people who were not vaccinated.

Mr Lemon said the hospital appeared to be bursting at the seams.

Louisiana has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country, with just 37 per cent of the populations fully vaccinated.

The state has seen 11,000 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.

Another Covid patient at Baton Rouge General Hospital Mid City, Maxine Sawyer, said she delayed getting the vaccine to allow others to get the shot first.

Before I got sick, I was thinking about getting vaccinated. I didnt make it in time.

Brenda Carl, 70, was admitted to hospital suffering from double pneumonia and Covid-19.

She said shed been reluctant to get the vaccine as she wasnt sure it was safe.

Just apprehensive, you know. My husband got vaccinated and wanted me too, and I was oh Ill be careful.

Ive always taken vaccines but this seemed different. I guess I didnt get the information I wanted.

After being hospitalised, she said she now planned to get the vaccine. Everybody ought to try to get it, she said.

Story continues

Read More

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UFC fighter tackles carjacker at Colorado gas station

AP: Republicans reaped biggest redistricting edge in decades

Rise of the Zoom cities: The hotspots booming under remote work and why you should move there

Canada to require Covid vaccinations on almost all public transport
The United States imposed new sanctions on senior Cuban officials and a military unit on Friday, the latest in a series of actions in response to the crackdown on anti-government protesters on the island.

The penalties from the Treasury Department hit two interior ministry officials and the "red beret" military unit for their role in suppressing the recent rare demonstrations on the communist-ruled nation, where hundreds were jailed.

"Today's action shines a spotlight on additional perpetrators responsible for suppressing the Cuban people's calls for freedom and respect for human rights," said Andrea M. Gacki, head of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.

It is the third round of US sanctions and President Joe Biden has warned additional punitive measures unless Havana made significant reforms.

Treasury previously sanctioned the Cuban police and pledged more action against those who "perpetuate human rights abuses against peaceful demonstrators."

Cuba protested the US action, as it has previous sanctions.

"Such measures reflect double standards of a government used to manipulation and lies to maintain the blockade against Cuba," Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said on Twitter, referring to Washington's embargo against Havana that has been in place since 1962.

The measures announced Friday target Romarico Vidal Sotomayor Garcia and Pedro Orlando Martinez Fernandez of the Cuban interior ministry, as well as the red beret unit of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR).

Adding them to Treasury's sanctions blacklist freezes any property they have in the United States and bars US transactions with them.

Sotomayor is the chief of the Political Directorate of the ministry, which has deployed forces against protests that started last month, and Martinez is the chief of the Political Directorate of the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) which was previously sanctioned along with the FAR, Treasury said.

Story continues

The security forces "have violently attacked and arrested protesters across Cuba," Treasury said in the statement.

Biden has said he is watching developments on the island closely, and Washington has called for the release of detained protesters, while trying to find ways to ensure internet access for the Cuban people.

hs/ec
Vote counting was under way in Zambia on Friday after a hard-fought general election that saw sporadic clashes and troop reinforcements dispatched to three provinces, and restrictions to social media access.

The ballot is expected to be the tightest yet in the third successive standoff between President Edgar Lungu, 64, and veteran opposition candidate Hakainde Hichilema, 59.

Final consolidated results are expected to be declared by end of the day on Sunday, although Lungu's party hinted it was heading for victory.

Thursday's vote presented a test of democracy in the usually peaceful southern African nation country of more than 17 million people.

Rising living costs appear to have sapped support for Lungu, who is accused of growing increasingly iron-fisted since taking office in 2015.

Hichilema is vying for the top job for the sixth time, this time with the backing of 10 opposition parties.

Violence occurred in North-Western province, a Hichilema stronghold, where two people including a chairman of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party were killed, Lungu announced late on Thursday.

He placed the blame on Hichilema's United Party for National Development (UPND), but the opposition party has distanced itself from the case, calling it a "distraction" tactic.

The PF also alleges that some of its agents were beaten and chased from polling stations in Southern province.

- Social media access restricted -

Lungu, who deployed the military following pre-election clashes, reinforced the troop presence in those two provinces and in Western province.

He has already said that the election-day violence "effectively rendered the elections in... three provinces not free and fair".

Despite this warning, PF chief Davies Mwila said that the party's own calculation of votes cast in various polling stations "show that President Edgar Lungu is in the lead".

"We are confident that we shall carry the day," he said.

Story continues

Social media access has been restricted since Hichilema cast his vote in Lusaka on Thursday afternoon.

But late on Friday the High Court in Lusaka ordered the country's communications authority to restore access to WhatsApp, Facebook Instagram and Messenger.

Most shops were shut in the capital on Friday where a burning tyre barricade was seen along a highway.

Police and soldiers patrolled the quiet streets of the capital on Friday, which was declared a public holiday .

A group of soldiers was seen forcing informal vendors to pack up their stalls and ordering passersby to sweep litter from the street, and chased away onlookers taking pictures with their smartphones.

- Key regions -

Parliamentary and local government elections took place at the same time as the presidential ballot.

Long queues outside polling stations on Thursday meant that voting continued long after the official closing time of 6 pm (1600 GMT) -- in some cases, the last ballot was cast nine hours afterwards.

More than seven million people were registered to vote, and the electoral commission said turnout was high, without giving a figure.

The outcome is expected to hinge on results in Lusaka, a bustling city of more than 3.3 million people, and in the central Copperbelt province -- key to the economy in Africa's second-largest copper producer.

Hichilema, who is running against Lungu for the third time, only lost by around 100,000 votes in 2016.

Poll watchers have warned of possible unrest when the results are announced.

"The real test will be in the counting process" and whether Lungu will accept possible eventual defeat, said independent Zambian political economist Trevor Simumba.

Although violence has flared at past elections, all of Zambia's transitions of power have been peaceful since the adoption of multi-party democracy in 1990.

sch-os/sn/pbr
Foreign investors scaled up purchases in Japanese shares in the week ended Aug. 6 as optimism about strong corporate earnings outweighed concerns about surging cases of the Delta coronavirus variant.

Foreigners bought Japanese shares worth a net 398.7 billion yen($3.61 billion), their biggest net buying since the week to May 28, data from Japanese exchanges showed.

They purchased derivatives worth a net 327.67 billion yen and 71.03 billion yen in cash equity markets.

Cross-border investors also secured Japanese bonds worth a net 1.87 trillion yen, their second straight weekly net buying, finance ministry data showed.

Last week, Japanese shares marked their first weekly gain in three, thanks to domestic firms upbeat quarterly results. Nippon Yusen, Misumi Group, auto-parts maker Denso reported strong earnings.

The Nikkei share average surged about 2%, while the Topix index added 1.5% last week, though concerns about a surge in COVID-19 cases that strained the local healthcare system lingered. - Reuters
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There are now 8.8 million stories in the naked city. Photo: Michael Nagle/Xinhua News Agency via Getty Ima

New detailed Census data from the official 2020 count showed a continued trend toward a more diverse, less white-dominated country. An even longer-term trend of urbanization is also continuing. Here are some of the big takeaways:

White, non-Hispanic population falls to 57.8%, per Census data, 2 points lower than expected.

Hispanic share at 18.7, a tenth of a point higher than expected.  Nate Cohn (@Nate_Cohn) August 12, 2021

There were some politically significant places where diversification is happening with particular strength and speed:

Some notable state data-points: Georgia just 50.1% non-Hispanic white, and probably majority minority by now  Nate Cohn (@Nate_Cohn) August 12, 2021

Rural areas in general continued to lose population, while cities gained them, as CNN notes: Almost all of the nations population growth was in its cities, according to the Census Bureau. More than half of all counties saw their population decline since 2010. Most of the growth was driven by the South and West, while the Midwest and Northeast trailed behind.

But no city grew more than New York City, as the Associated Press reports:

The Big Apple grew more than any other city in the United States over the last decade, according to census results released Thursday.

The population increased by more than 600,000 people to a whopping 8.8 million New Yorkers.

The political implications of the new data will have both benign and evil number-crunchers up for many hours manipulating maps as the decennial congressional and state legislative redistricting process (the primary purpose of todays data dump) moves ahead. (Reapportionment between the states of congressional seats is already underway based on April Census counts of total state populations.) On the one hand, Republicans retain the upper hand in a large plurality of states. On the other, the continued loss of population in the very reddest rural areas will make the job of gerrymandering a bit tougher.

Aside from redistricting, the Census data will have a big impact on various formulas used for distributing federal funds. As a result, there will be serious questions as to whether this count, positive as it is in terms of diversification, may have missed a significant number of Latino residents in particular, as the AP report noted:

The start of the 2020 census for most U.S. residents coincided with the spread of the coronavirus last year, forcing the Census Bureau to delay operations and extend the counts schedule. Because census data is tied to where people were on April 1, 2020, the numbers will not reflect the loss of nearly 620,000 people in the U.S. who died from COVID-19.

On top of the pandemic, census takers in the West contended with wildfires, and those in Louisiana faced repeated hurricanes. Then, there were court battles over the Trump administrations effort to end the count early that repeatedly changed the plan for concluding field operations.

Future adjustments in the data may reflect findings of undercounts in particular communities, though not in time to affect reapportionment and redistricting decisions.

While diversification and urbanizations are trends that will likely help Democrats in the long run, the Census news could also encourage Republicans to intensify their efforts to put a thumb on the scale when it comes to voting rules and systems of representation. Its important to remember that the population and the electorate are by no means the same thing. Schemes to skew the latter in the direction of the America of yore may come to dominate GOP strategy even more than in the recent past.
Oof, sorry mods for the spam, I didn't think it went through!

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ohh i regret listening to the audio, that was seriously terrifying ): it sounds like maro recorded it herself? which would mean this wasn't an isolated incident either... i really hope shes okay

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i regret listening to it too. it escalated so fast and was honestly so terrifying. i hope maro is okay and this destroys oomori's career.

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Oomori sounds like a narcissistic abuser. She can't handle a difference in opinion. The group would be better off if she left, but she won't.

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I didn't listen but what's the difference between this and just having a disagreement with someone? "Power-Bullying?" Really?

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The audio is pretty bad. Seiko is yelling at the top of her lungs and there's sounds of some sort of altercation (be it physical towards Maro or the surrounding furniture)

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OK, that's more than a regular argument if she's screaming at this woman and hit her. Awful.

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I think its probably because shes older, maybe more famous (?) and been in the group longer so in a position of power compared to the other member thats where the power harassment part comes in.

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Shes the producer, and from what I understand the group was formed around her bc she likes idol groups. A number of the members also joined bc they were fans of hers.

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I listened and while I didn't have headphones on and couldn't hear everything, Maro is clearly younger and Seiko's inferior, and Seiko just starts screaming at her. I have to say, I've never heard someone speak like that outside of drunk men and anime, and I've lived in Japan/work for a Japanese company.



ETA: Inferior gives a weird impression here, sorry - I meant Seiko is Maro's superior in terms of hierarchy, they're clearly speaking to one another Seiko is "more important" than Maro.



Edited at 2021-08-13 06:41 pm (UTC)

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Seriously? Yikes!



There's also that business with her being her superior as well. This is awful.

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I'm working in Japan and sadly I have (very recently too) been on the end of similar conversations. It's just...accepted. I'm glad she recorded it (like I did).

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oof, it sounds like she started hitting her and then Maro leaves either into a hallway or stairwell at the end, just by the crying and the sound of Oomori shouting in the background



jesus christ



EDIT: if she's a producer of the group she probably felt empowered to behave this way



Edited at 2021-08-13 02:48 pm (UTC)

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Shes also way older and the other girl joined the group 2 years after her, mess

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yeah I looked up the age difference, Oomori is 33 like, girl, really?

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I'm not familiar with the group but I was reading a few comments on aramajapan site and they said that Oomori is more known for menhere (Japanese slang for mental health)because another member talked about how mentally unstable she is and I'm just like why doesn't she step back and get the help that she needs

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seiko's entire image and persona is based around her being a menhera, unhinged, says and does what she wants type of woman so i don't think seeking help is in her future unfortunately

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I could be completely wrong because I dont follow these groups (zoc and the others with this company) but they always seem kind ofdark? to me. Like grim dark idols for grim dark people who want something ~not like other idols~ but unfortunately the being different part doesnt extend to being treated better. Like Ive seen some weird stuff about them and its kind of treated like yaaas queens look how different they are from regular idols or yeah the company sucks but we should continue to support them theyre doing their best and not as problematic as it is.



What am I saying? idk maybe I wouldnt be surprised to see them spin this in to promotion in an any publicity is good publicity sort of way. Or even if its something that really happened

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yeah the messiness is part of the spectacle for these kinds of alt-idol groups but i think this is the first time there's been a recorded, candid, and with proof altercation



maro is originally from hello! project group s/mileage (later rebranded as angerme) since childhood and their company's handling of idols is very orthodox and clean/formal with many OGs staying in business with them after graduating as idols so this must be a shock to her

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I can imagine its probably super different for her and her fans as well. As a fan of idols Id rather not see them going in to being alt idols after they leave the bigger companies theyre currently in



Edited at 2021-08-13 03:53 pm (UTC)

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I get what youre saying. Kind of how like BiSH has had some fucked up scandals too (I should also preface that I dont follow either groups I just see stuff in Twitter) but its treated a bit like well theyre alternative idols. However the few mutual I have who are into underground/alt idols like ZOC have been really upset about this. Even some Japanese fans. I wouldnt put them past trying to spin it but I wonder if itll work.

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Actually they put out a duet lol







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but this is just rumor i guess, but the same source broke a previously true scandal the timing is sus, but according to this it's not a publicity stunt https://twitter.com/5eCik6suzAFuIPj/status/1426202376143257602?s=20 but this is just rumor i guess, but the same source broke a previously true scandal

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I hope Maro and the other girls who left are okay. I feel like these groups are very predatory. I know idol culture is predatory, so like Im one to talk, but underground/indie/alternative ggs in Japan feel like another level and I worry for the girls who get sucked into it.

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 is very real in Japanese laboral environments, especially with the kouhai and senpai system. I hope shes not forced to apologize for helping expose this

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fyi "power harassment" basically is a term made up in japan to discredit and replace "sexual harassment"



this is verbal abuse plain and simple. to be sure there are unequal dynamics at work here enabled by the valuation of seniority but the reason why the term was actually created is troubling aka to minimize and discredit victims of sexual harassment and assault by superiors

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Starring Lin Manuel Miranda and Zoe Saldana...wait, I'm supposed to convince you to watch the movie, not ignore it.



Let me start again.



Starring Nicole Byer, Bryan Tyree Henry, and other people you may recognize, Vivo is Sony Pictures Animation's 3rd movie of 2021 and the second one to be sold to Netflix in wake of 2020 Events.



A one-of-kind kinkajou goes on a trip to deliver a love song on behalf of his owner. That's somewhat simplifying it. But let's go.



It takes place in Florida



And for once, we're not the butt of the joke.



This is in reference to...plastic birds wearing hats! Which yeah that's weird!



There's an allusion to our strangeness from the eyes of Vivo, but that's it. The location is a cool little town, The Everglades, and Miami.



It continues Sony's streak of Weird Girl Supremacy



Continuing what The Mitchells started earlier this year, the main human character is Gabi, a short little girl with purple hair and a love of bad music, just like her father. Honestly, she's not that weird, but how often have you seen weird girls of color in an animated movie? Rarely, right?







Though tbh she's not that weird, she is funny.



She's voiced by Ynairaly Simo, a newcomer who is super good. In a world where a bunch of non-voice actors are constantly cast in animated films doing poor work, I'm glad this girl actually has the talent!



The Music is Actually Good



I'm not as Against LMM's music as much as other people are - and no, I did not get swept up in Hamilton. I like a handful of songs, but find his style is too Broadway and doesn't quite fit in a movie, despite people forcing him into them.



Here's the opener





My favorite is, well, it's not a spoiler bc it's shown in the trailer, but it's not what you expect from a commercial product (at least the first 20 minutes).You can have the 3rd best song, though! It's still kind of spoilery near the end, so close your eyes.There's about 3 they could push for best original song, my bet is they're going with the last one. I mean, it is Gloria Estefan singing!It's not the greatest animated movie of all time...or even the year (I still think that's "Luca"), but the concepts are definitely different.src: Netflix. Legally.
OSHA Cites New Jersey Medical Facility and Staffing Agency for Exposing Nurses to COVID-19 Hazards

After an investigation, it was found that there was unsafe respirator use while testing hundreds of people daily.

An OSHA investigation found that a Central New Jersey medical facility and temporary staffing agency failed to ensure the safety and health of nurses giving flu shots and testing potentially infectious patients for COVID-19 earlier this year. The investigation began in January following a complaint. The administration found that Lakewood Resource and Referral Center did not provide medical evaluations to determine each employees ability to use a respirator before requiring workers to use them. The company's employers also failed to fit test employees that were required to wear respirators.

According to a press release, OSHA proposed $273,064 after citing the facility for two willful violations. In 2020, OSHA cited* the facility for similar hazards after the company did not protect its staff with dental or medical care for the coronavirus. The investigation also shows that HomeCare Therapies failed to ensure medical evaluations were done and did not provide fit tests for workers required to use respirators, as well. The staffing agency was cited for two serious citations with $13,653 in proposed penalties.

A safe and healthful workplace is every worker's right and every employer's responsibility, said OSHA Area Office Director Paula Dixon-Roderick in Marlton, New Jersey. In this case, both employers failed to protect vital frontline healthcare workers from exposure to the coronavirus.

Founded in 2009, Lakewood Resource and Referral Center Inc. provides preventative, treatment and health education services in its surrounding areas. Licensed in New York and accredited in New Jersey, HomeCare Therapies LLC has operations in Manalapan. Read more about feasible and acceptable means of abatement for this hazard here.

On March 12, OSHA launched a national emphasis program focusing enforcement efforts on companies that put the largest number of workers at serious risk of contracting the coronavirus. The program also prioritizes employers that retaliate against workers for complaints about unsafe or unhealthy conditions, or for exercising other rights protected by federal law. On June 10, OSHA also issued an emergency temporary standard to protect healthcare workers from contracting the coronavirus. The ETS became effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register.

The employers have 15 business days from receipt of their citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent OSHRC.
Brazil is on its way toward becoming the biggest supplier of offshore oil globally, contributing some 1.3 million bpd in 2025, World Oil reports, citing a new report by GlobalData.

This means Brazils share of the global offshore oil output will come in at 23 percent. The United States will be a distant second, with 655,000 bpd in offshore oil production in 2025, or 11 percent of the global total.

While Saudi Arabia dominates liquids production globally, mostly from already producing projects, Brazil leads crude and condensate production from upcoming/new projects, said GlobalData senior oil and gas analyst Effuah Alleyne.

Brazils prolific pre-salt layer in the Santos Basin has produced a strong portfolio of offshore projects [...] These projects have shown robust economics, such as development breakeven oil prices averaging US$40 per barrel and have significantly contributed to South Americas trend of surpassing North Americas offshore production by 2023, Alleyne added.

Brazil is currently one of the hottest oil exploration locations globally precisely because of the low cost of its reserves. According to analysts, some offshore projects in Brazil can break even at $35 per barrel, with this likely to fall further to less than $30 per barrel in the future.

Despite the energy transition push and the devastation that the pandemic wrought on the industry, Brazils pre-salt zone remains an attractive investment destination. This year, one large-scale project in the Santos Basin got its final investment decision, and another saw its expansion approved.

Earlier this year, Brazils National Petroleum Agency, ANP, forecast investment in oil exploration and production this year could reach $13 billion.

Exploration activity, and more importantly expenditure, is picking up, both in mature regions such as Brazils offshore and frontier areas like the Guyana-Suriname basin, Schreiner Parker, Senior Vice President and Head of Latin America at Rystad Energy, wrote in Rystads regional newsletter in June.

Last year, some 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) of reserves were discovered in the region, with Mexico and Brazil alone accounting for more than 90 percent of these volumes, Parker said.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The aggressive push to decarbonize the world economy is forcing big oil to examine how the carbon emissions of its operations can be reduced with a goal of becoming carbon neutral. That coupled with the threat of peak oil demand has seen oil supermajors reevaluate their business strategy, with many now choosing to eschew high-cost carbon-intensive petroleum projects. This poses a major threat to Venezuela and the crisis-torn petrostates economic recovery. The OPEC member possesses the worlds largest oil reserves, estimated to be around 304 billion barrels or enough crude oil to meet global consumption for roughly 8 years. Most of Venezuelas petroleum reserves, as much as 77% or possibly more, are composed of the extra-heavy and heavy crude oil found in the Orinoco Belt in the East Venezuela Basin. That heavy and extra-heavy crude oil, most of which is very sour and has an API gravity of 10 degrees or less, is highly carbon-intensive to extract and refine. For those reasons, there is a growing likelihood that a significant portion of Venezuelas vast petroleum reserves could become a costly stranded asset. While Venezuelas oil sands are less viscous than those found in Canada, making them easier to extract, they are too deep for surface mining. Heavy crude oil in the Orinoco Belt is extracted through multilateral horizontal wells using a technique called cold heavy oil production or CHOPs. This is where sand is injected into a perforated well resulting in the development of high-permeability channels that allow the crude oil to flow to the surface either on its own or through secondary recovery techniques. The crude oil extracted in the Orinoco Belt is especially heavy and sour with a typical API gravity of 5 to 15 degrees and sulfur content between 4% and 6%. It is also high in nitrogen and contaminants. Those characteristics make it especially complex and energy-intensive to process. Upon being extracted the crude oil is blended with light oil or condensate to reduce its viscosity making it easier to transport for refining or sale.

Related: Why Are Environmentalists Angry About Bidens Infrastructure Bill? National oil company PDVSAs Petrocedeno operation (Spanish) takes the extra-heavy crude oil, which has an API gravity of 8 to 9 degrees, produced in the Junin region of the Orinoco Belt and upgrades it to a light sweet crude oil. That process occurs at the Jose Antonio Anzoategui Industrial Complex which has a nameplate capacity of 180,000 barrels per day. The extra-heavy oil is diluted with light sweet petroleum varieties and/or condensate and then upgraded at the facilities improvement unit to produce Zuata Sweet, a light sweet crude oil variety with an API gravity of 32 degrees and a very low 0.07% sulfur. This is a complex and energy-intensive process that is responsible for considerable greenhouse gas emissions, explaining why TotalEnergies and Equinor chose to quit the Petrocedeno operation and hand back their share to PDVSA at a loss.

Another issue is the dilapidated state of Venezuelas petroleum infrastructure coupled with a chronic shortage of light crude oil and condensates makes it highly unlike that the Petrocedeno facility is consistently operating at full capacity. Zuata Sweet was originally introduced for the U.S. refining market but strict U.S. sanctions are preventing PDVSA from accessing global petroleum markets. Furthermore, the technology associated with the upgrader at the Jose Antonio Anzoategui Complex is complicated, prone to breaking down, and requires considerable costly maintenance. It is difficult to see how PDVSA, given Venezuelas economic collapse and near bankruptcy, can obtain the necessary parts and finance crucial maintenance and refits. For those reasons, especially after accounting for Venezuelas unstable operating environment, investing in a project which produces sour extra-heavy crude oil for upgrading into a light sweet variety appears to be highly unattractive for foreign energy companies. The determined drive from most developed nations to decarbonize the global economy and meet ambitious emission targets to ensure that global warming is limited to well below two degrees Celsius makes high carbon emission oil projects almost uninvestable.

Related: Japans Overambitious LNG Targets Could Transform The Industry

Venezuelas primary export crude oil grade is Merey a particularly sour and heavy blend with 2.45% sulfur content and API gravity of 16 degrees which is especially popular among Chinese refiners. Merey is created by blending extra-heavy 8-to-10-degree crude oil extracted in the Orinoco Belt with 42-to-52-degree condensate or extremely light crude oil. The production of Merey, which is a key Venezuelan export blend preferred by Chinese refiners, is under threat because of a chronic lack of condensate and light oil for blending. This is because of a sharp decline in domestic hydrocarbon production due to the collapse of Venezuelas petroleum infrastructure and strict U.S. sanctions which have cut the OPEC member off from condensate supplies. Data compiled by the Carnegie Endowment For International Peace ranks Merey as one of the highest emitters of greenhouse gases, while two other Venezuelan heavy oil grades Tia Juana and Hamaca produce even greater emissions.

Venezuelas dependence on extra-heavy crude oil production is responsible for its crumbling oil industry being one of the most carbon-intensive petroleum producers globally. A 2018 Stanford University paper, which analyzed the number of greenhouse gases discharged at a national level by the upstream oil industry in various countries, found that Venezuelas greenhouse emissions were the second most intensive after Algeria. Other research, based on 2015 emission data, showed that Venezuelas oil industry produced more greenhouse emissions than any other country, followed closely by Canada the worlds largest oil sands producer. Unlike Canada, a lack of access to capital as well as expertise, primarily because of strict U.S. sanctions, is preventing PDVSA from developing various methodologies and technology to dial down greenhouse emissions.

For those reasons, Venezuela is struggling to obtain the capital, technology, and expertise required to rebuild its shattered oil industry. The amount of investment required is tremendous, even an optimistic PDVSA believes it will take $58 billion to restore oil output to 1998 levels of over three billion barrels per day other industry, although other experts believe it will take substantially more, potentially up to $200 billion. The blueprint (Spanish) for the reconstruction of Venezuela drawn up by U.S.-recognized interim president Juan Guaido states it will take spending of $180 billion to $200 billion for the OPEC member to pump on average two million barrels of crude oil daily. Guaidos economic advisers believe it will take 10 years for that recovery to occur. Venezuela expert Francisco Monaldi, of the Baker Institute, stated earlier this year that investment of around $110 billion spent over a decade is required to lift Venezuelas crude oil production to 2.5 million to 3 million barrels per day.

The only source for such vast amounts of capital, as well as the technology and expertise, required to rebuild Venezuelas badly decayed oil industry is western energy majors. Regardless of Maduros overtures to the global petroleum industry and his reforms aimed at attracting foreign energy investment, no privately owned supermajor will risk investing in Venezuela until Washington eases its sanctions. Events indicate that the Biden administration will not consider relaxing or lifting sanctions, including the crippling oil industry penalties imposed by former President Trump, until regime change occurs, which is highly unlikely. The threat of peak oil demand and the global push to decarbonize the world economy which sees big oil striving to make its operations carbon-neutral means that there is only a limited window for Venezuela to benefit from its vast petroleum reserves. Already, western energy supermajors are showing a reluctance to invest in carbon-intensive oil projects. For those reasons, it is only a matter of time before Venezuelas vast petroleum reserves transform into a stranded asset, which because of derelict oil infrastructure and vast environmental damage, will become a costly liability for an already near-failed state.

By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com

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The recent transfer of IQD200 billion (US$137 million) from the Federal Government of Iraq (FGI) in Baghdad to the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistans government (KRG) in Erbil raised hopes that a new era of cooperation across the two regions enormous oil and gas resources might be dawning. However, according to a series of statements from both sides, this transfer of funds was a one-time payment only and not the beginning of a monthly series of payments from Baghdads central government budget to the KRG in exchange for oil from the north. In short, the Iraq oil and gas sector is back to where it was before November 2014  that is, in complete disarray. In November 2014, a deal had been struck between the FGI and the KRG in which the KRG agreed to export up to 550,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil from its own fields and Kirkuk via Iraqs State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) and, in return, Baghdad would send 17 per cent of the federal budget after sovereign expenses (around USD500 million at that time) per month in budget payments to the KRG. This agreement ended the perennial squabbling between Baghdad and Erbil that had characterised the dealings in Iraqs oil and gas sector since the very formation of the new system of governance in Iraq in 2003, immediately after the fall of Saddam Hussein.

The November 2014 agreement, though, never worked properly, with only sporadic compliance to their obligations on both sides. It was then superseded by an understanding reached between the KRG and the new FGI government formed in October 2018 and centred on the 2019 national budget bill. This required Baghdad to transfer sufficient funds from the budget to pay the salaries of KRG employees along with other financial compensation in exchange for the KRG handing over the export of at least 250,000 bpd of crude oil to SOMO. Since then, though, the FGI  nominally headed by various prime ministers but controlled behind the scenes by radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr  delivered the funding for the salaries of the KRG employees on a monthly basis less than reliably and the KRG has delivered the agreed upon volume of oil to SOMO on the same ad hoc basis.

Related: Japans Overambitious LNG Targets Could Transform The Industry The key sticking point for the two sides right now is the same as it has been since 2003 and this is the precise amount of budget disbursements and oil transfers that should be involved in the deal on an ongoing basis. The situation was worsened by the yes referendum vote for independence in Kurdistan in September 2017. Before this, Kurdistan had been hoping to raise oil exports above 1 million bpd, becoming one of the worlds fastest growing oil regions and allowing for the full resumption of the November 2014 deal. After the yes vote in 2017, the basis of the deal became null and void when FGI and Iranian forces took back control of the oilfields in Kurdistan, including the major oil sites around Kirkuk.

The FGI argued that the Kirkuk fields had been occupied illegally in the first place, having been under Kurdish control only since 2014 when the Iraqi army collapsed in the face of ISIS and Kurdistans Peshmerga military force moved in to prevent the militants from seizing the regions oilfields. From after the Kurdish independence referendum in September 2017 onwards, though, the starting point of any negotiations for the FGI in Baghdad over budget disbursements to the KRG was that they should accord with the percentage share of the Kurdistan population in the overall population of Iraq. This, according to the FGI, was 12.67 per cent  a long way from the 17 per cent of the federal budget after sovereign expenses that had been the cornerstone assumption of the November 2014 deal.

The legal position relating to the Iraqi oil industry and the distribution of its revenue sharing between the KRG area and the rest of the country does not clarify the situation. Both sides have claimed  with some justification  a right to the revenues from the disputed oil flows. According to the KRG, it has authority under Articles 112 and 115 of the Iraq Constitution to manage oil and gas in the Kurdistan Region extracted from fields that were not in production in 2005  the year that the Constitution was adopted by referendum. In addition, the KRG maintains that Article 115 states: All powers not stipulated in the exclusive powers of the federal government belong to the authorities of the regions and governorates that are not organised in a region. As such, the KRG maintains that as relevant powers are not otherwise stipulated in the Constitution, it has the authority to sell and receive revenue from its oil and gas exports. The KRG also highlights that the Constitution provides that, should a dispute arise, priority shall be given to the law of the regions and governorates. However, the FGI and SOMO argue that under Article 111 of the Constitution oil and gas are under the ownership of all the people of Iraq in all the regions and governorates.

Related: Biden Administration Takes Aim At Soaring Gasoline Prices

Given this impasse and the extreme likelihood that it will continue just as it has done since 2003  that is, utterly chaotically  what are the implications for the oil price? Ironically, they are good if you are an oil producer looking for higher prices, as Iraq remains  even more than neighbouring Iran  the greatest relatively underdeveloped oil frontier in the Middle East and the world. Officially, it holds a very conservatively estimated 145 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves (nearly 17 per cent of the Middle Easts total, and the fifth biggest on the planet). This oil can be lifted at an average of around US$1-2 per barrel excluding capital expenditure or USD4-6 per barrel including capital expenditure  the same world-low level as Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Unofficially, though, the amount of oil across Iraq  north and south  is likely to be much higher. In October 2010, at the same time as producing the official crude oil reserves figures, Iraqs Oil Ministry stated that Iraqs undiscovered resources amounted to around 215 billion barrels. This was also a figure that had been arrived at in a 1997 detailed study by respected oil and gas firm Petrolog. Even this, though, did not include large parts of Iraqi Kurdistan. Prior to the recent rise in exploration activity in the KRG area, more than half of the exploratory wells in Iraq had been drilled prior to 1962, a time when technical limits and a low oil price gave a much tighter definition of a commercially successful well than would be the case today, as highlighted by the International Energy Agency (IEA). Based on the previous limited exploration and development of oil fields in the KRG area, the proven oil reserves figure was first put at around four billion barrels. This has been subsequently upgraded by the KRG to around 45 billion barrels but, again, this may well be a very conservative estimate.

Even using the most conservative figures, Iraq has thus far produced only around 15% of its ultimately recoverable oil resources, compared with 23% for the Middle East as a whole, according to the IEA. Further exploration is highly likely to add substantially to the proven reserves figure over the coming decades, particularly given the high success rate of drilled prospects in Iraq. For example, less than half of the potential hydrocarbon-bearing geological prospects identified by geophysical means in Iraq have been drilled but, of these, oil has been found in 65% of them. In sum, the IEA puts the level of ultimately recoverable resources at around 246 billion barrels.

Following on from these discoveries, Iraqs Oil Ministry drafted the Integrated National Energy Strategy (INES) in 2013 that contained new crude oil production targets under three different operational scenarios. The INES best-case scenario was for crude oil production capacity to increase to 13 million bpd, peaking at around that level until 2023 and finally gradually declining to around 10 million bpd for a long-sustained period thereafter. The mid-range production scenario was for Iraq to reach 9 million bpd. The worst-case INES scenario was for production to reach 6 mbpd, which would still mean Iraq overtaking Canada as the worlds fourth largest crude oil producer.

With the right international oil companies investing the right sums of money in the right areas  and none of that disappearing into Iraqs black hole of endemic corruption  there is little doubt that Iraq would be able to go through the gears of higher crude oil production very quickly. The prospect of these various production benchmarks being met and then their realisation would weigh on oil prices that are already weighed on by the prospect of oversupply against an uneven demand profile.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

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Australia saw just three new projects reaching the stage of financial commitment in the second quarter of 2021, the second-lowest tally for quarterly project commitments since early 2017, The Sydney Morning Herald reports, citing data from Australias industry group Clean Energy Council.

The constant changes in Australias energy policies over the past year, as well as its resistance to commit to a net-zero by 2050 target like many industrialized nations, are part of the obstacles that solar and wind power projects in the country face, the Clean Energy Council and opposition politicians tell The Sydney Morning Heralds Peter Hannam.

Investment in clean energy has fallen to levels not seen for several years as a result of the increased risks facing investors, including from grid connection and network constraints as well as the ongoing unpredictable and unhelpful government policy interventions and market reforms, Kane Thornton, Chief Executive of the Clean Energy Council, told The Sydney Morning Herald.

Commenting on the governments policies, opposition Labor representative and Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen said:

Their energy chaos of 22 energy policies in eight years and a refusal to join 70 per cent of our trading partners in decarbonising by 2050, has sent shockwaves through the investment community.

Earlier this week, Australias Prime Minister Scott Morrison declined, once again, to commit the country to a target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, like many Australian allies and large trade partners such as the U.S. and the UK have already done.

I wont be signing a blank cheque on behalf of Australians to targets without plans, Morrison said, adding, Blank cheque commitments you always end up paying for, and you always end up paying in higher taxes.

Australias approach is technology, not taxes in its efforts to fight climate change, the prime minister said.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Irans crude oil production fell to the lowest in 40 years, according to an updated analysis by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

At less than 2 million bpd, the EIA said, the countrys oil output was affected by both the pandemic, which decimated demand for oil, and U.S. sanctions targeting specifically the Iranian oil industry.

Before the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the snap-back of sanctions, Iran was pumping around 2.6 million barrels daily and exporting some 2.5 million bpd, the EIA also said.

Still, at less than a million bpd, the decline in production is a far cry from the Trump administrations target of bringing Irans oil output and exports to zero to force Tehran to return to the nuclear negotiating table.

Speaking of the nuclear negotiations, a report by the Financial Times from earlier today suggested that not all hope was lost for a deal. Citing Iranian sources, the daily reported that Tehrans new top diplomat, despite being a hardliner and openly distrustful of the West, could end up clinching the deal his predecessor couldnt.

Under Amirabdollahian, we will not see more radicalism, rather more co-ordination between the diplomatic and military fields, once source told the FT.

You no longer have the kind of friction between the government and the deep states that proved to be a serious impediment for his predecessors initiatives, explained another.

Tehran also named the new oil minister this week: Javad Owji, a former deputy to outgoing Bijan Zanganeh and a senior executive in state-owned energy firms. As Zanganeh said last month, his successors main job would be to boost oil exports.

The outgoing minister said recently that Iran had lost some $120 billion in oil revenues from U.S. sanctions, taking an export hit of 2 billion barrels since the United States withdrew from the nuclear deal.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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NIGERIA: A Nigerian man alleged to have hacked into the server of a Nigerian bank to steal N1.87 billion has been arrested. Salau Abdulmalik Femi, 38, was arrested by detectives from the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).



Salau, accused of being the kingpin of a syndicate that specialises in hacking into the servers of banks and corporate agencies, was arrested after he allegedly hacked the Flex-Cube Universal Banking System (FCUBS) of a first generation bank.



The spokesman of SFU, Ikoyi, Lagos, DSP Eyitayo Johnson, in a statement, said the suspect, using application software, created fictitious credits totalling N1.87bn on the accounts of three of the banks customers.



According to DSP Johnson, the suspect successfully consummated debits (outflows) amounting to N417.5m through internet banking transfers to other banks. He said the unit, while acting swiftly on a petition from the bank, contacted the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the deposit money banks which customers were beneficiaries of the fraudulent funds and that in the process was able to salvage a substantial amount.



"Items recovered from the suspect include an Apple laptop and an iPhone. He and operators of some Bureau De Change (BDC) who used to launder the monies will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded," DSP Johnson said.

Source: LIB









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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has earned a chieftaincy title for his dynamism and efficiency in managing the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, at the end of a two-day working visit to the Bono Region.

The chiefs and people of Chiraa in the Sunyani West Municipality honoured the President with a stool name Okogyeaman Odomankoma Nana Akufo-Addo, when he called on Barima Minta Afari, the chief of Chiraa, at his palace on Wednesday.



President Akufo-Addo who earlier addressed the chiefs and people with a call on Ghanaians to rally solidly behind his government to achieve his vision for the nation, expressed appreciation to the Chiraa people for that honour.



The President said though there were other political parties, it was only the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that could positively turn the fortunes of the country around, and entreated Ghanaians to retain the party in the 2024 elections.



Projects



As part of his visit, President Akufo-Addo inspected and inaugurated some projects in the region.



He assured the chiefs and people of Chiraa that his government would ensure that some basic educational needs of the Chiraa Senior High School (SHS) would be provided to improve on teaching and learning.



Barima Afari, also the Benkumhene of the Dormaa Traditional Area, stressed that the President deserved the honour for measures he put in place in fighting the COVID-19 and making life better for citizens amidst the spread of disease.



He also lauded the government's implementation of the Free Senior High School programme, which he added had increased enrolment at the SHS, saying student population had jumped from 192 to 2,155.



Established in 1982, the Chief said the school was in dire need of an administration block and school bus, and appealed to the President to support them with those two facilities.



Barima Afari again appealed to the President to assist to expand the Chiraa Health Centre which was constructed in 1971 to cater for only 33,000 people at that time.



Interventions



He explained the government's social intervention programmes such as the Planting for Food and Jobs and the One-district-One-factory were beneficial to citizens and therefore pleaded with President Akufo-Addo for the establishment of a factory in the area.



Barima Afari condemned unscrupulous activities of illegal miners, illegal loggers and tax defaulters, saying national reconstruction remained a shared and collective responsibility of all and not the government alone.









Source: graphiconline.com









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Guinness has a long and rich history in Africa and following organic sales growth of Guinness trademark of 32% across the continent, Guinness is launching a new campaign in Ghana and across key markets in Africa  Black Shines Brightest.



Black Shines Brightest is a new Pan African campaign celebrating the iconic black liquid enjoyed all over the continent for over a century. This exciting new campaign is inspired by the bold and unique black beer of Guinness stout and brings together passionate and creative individuals to celebrate the spirit of Guinness and its home across African markets.



Energetic and empowering, the campaign celebrates individuals coming together, fizzing with optimism, creativity and potential. Across the Continent, a generation of individuals, inspired by each other and the people around them, are coming together as they unite to take on the opportunities in front of them.



To launch the campaign, Guinness worked with real culture makers from across the continent who demonstrate how Black Shines Brightest in a range of different ways. These individuals will create moments, events and content to be enjoyed by everyone. Ghanaian choreographer, Incredible Zigi, who is creating dance challenges that have gone viral around the world is part of the notable real culture makers on this campaign. Nigerian artist, Fireboy who is also leading the way with his unique Afro-life music, which is inspiring a new generation of music fans will also be creating moments and content as part of this campaign.







It will launch with an energetic and colourful commercial, featuring these charismatic individuals. Filmed on location in Africa, it is directed by Meji Alabi. Meji is famous for his work with a whole range of incredible artists from Beyonce and Davido through to Tiwa Savage and Wizkid. The video features amazing Ghanaian dance sensation Incredible Zigi.



Roland Ofori, Head of Beers, Heineken Portfolio and Guinness TradeMark at Guinness Ghana said: The ambition of this exciting new campaign is to make Guinness the most magnetic brand in culture, by championing new talent and all those people making waves in culture.



Guinness is a brand that shines brightest, and bar culture is part of its DNA. These are the places where individuals come together not only to share an ice cold Guinness but also their ideas and energy. Bars are at the beating heart of African culture, they are where people can express themselves freely and be part of a community. As the campaign launches, we will work with bars to help them shine brightest as we roll out a series of Brighthouse Bars which will appear in key cities all around Ghana. Fusing creativity and socializing, these cultural spaces will be a hub for people to connect and energize each other with creativity, inspiration, and, of course, Guinness.



Look out for more details about how you can be a part of the new Black Shines Brightest campaign and find out about Brighthouse Bars that are popping up in Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale. Also look out for activities on our social media channels @GuinnessGhana.



Just like those we are working with, Guinness is bursting with life. It is a flavourful and bold and dynamic beer, sparkling and brimming with energy and exuberance A beer that has brought a dash of magic to millions in Africa and across the world for over 250 years with boldness and vision to live life to the full.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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South Africa is calling for more men to come out in greater numbers and take Covid jabs as their numbers trail that of women.



About 60% of vaccines have been administered to women, health officials noted on Friday during a media briefing on governments efforts in the fight against the disease.



It comes as the country aims to vaccinate at least 70% of its total adult population by December



As the number of fully vaccinated people currently stands at about four million, 28 million people will have been vaccinated to meet the target, Nicholas Crisp, a director in the ministry, says.



Health Minister Joe Phaahla ruled out the easing of Covid restrictions despite a downward trend in infections.



He said the positivity rate was still high and that hospitals were still under tremendous pressure.



South Africa has so far registered 2,568,511 cases of Covid and 76,243 deaths. It has the most cases in Africa.

Source: BBC









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Algerian journalist Rabah Kareche has been sentenced to eight months in prison for his reporting on a Tuareg protest, his newspaper Liberte says.



Kareche was handed a one-year-term, with four months suspension. He has already been in prison since his arrest in April.



He was detained after an article he wrote about a minority Tuareg group in the southern Tamanrasset region.



They had held a demonstration about their economic and social marginalization, linked to a land dispute.



Kareche was charged with "spreading false information liable to damage public order".



His arrest and detention triggered protests by journalists that further escalated after President Abdelmadjid Tebboune described him as an "arsonist".



Amnesty International has described Kareche's jailing as a blow to press freedom in the North African country.

Source: BBC









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Samsung Electronics' Vice Chairman, Lee Jae-yong, was paroled on Friday, August 13, after serving 18 months of a 30-month prison term for corruption.



The 53-year-old executive, who is Samsung's de facto leader, walked out of the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, a city just south of Seoul, on Friday morning.



Lee Jae-yong  the 202nd richest person in the world according to Forbes, with a net worth of $11.4 billion  was serving a two-and-a-half year prison sentence for bribery, embezzlement and other offences in connection with the corruption scandal that brought down ex-South Korean president Park Geun-hye.



But calls for his early release from both politicians and business leaders grew in recent months over what they claimed was a possible leadership vacuum at the Souths biggest conglomerate.



The justice ministry announced Monday, August 9, he had been paroled with over 800 others, citing concerns over the coronavirus pandemics impact on the economy.



As he walked out of the Detention Centre, Lee, wearing a mask, told reporters: "I am very sorry for making people worried. I know there are concerns, criticism, worries and big expectations for me. I will do my best." He then got into a vehicle and departed.



Numerous people gathered outside the prison, some in support of his release and others opposing it. Those who opposed questioned why convicted business titans often receive leniency in South Korea.



Lee was put on a list of 810 prisoners to be released on the occasion of Liberation Day, which falls on Sunday and marks the end of Japanese colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula in 1945. The nine-member Parole Review Committee, chaired by Vice Justice Minister Kang Sung-kook, decided to release Lee in a meeting on Monday, hoping that his presence in the executive suite will provide a boost to South Korea's economy.



"In particular, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong was included on the list as we considered the national economy and global economic circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic," a justice ministry statement says. "We also considered various factors, including public sentiment and his attitude in prison."



The presidential Blue House asked people to understand Lee's release as a choice made in the country's interest.



"Many people wanted parole as they have expectations for [his] role in the fields of semiconductors and vaccines amid the serious crisis," said Park Su-hyun, spokesperson for President Moon Jae-in, in a briefing on Friday after Lee left detention.

















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The Scottish government has announced that children as young as four will be able to change their gender at school without their parents consent under guidance introduced in the country.

It was disclosed that any pupil who decides they want to switch gender must be supported and listened to in school following the Scottish Government's advice.



The guidance applies in primary schools, where the youngest children are only four or five, because recognition and development of gender identity can occur at a young age.



It also tells teachers not to question a child who says they want to transition to live as a boy or a girl - and instead ask for their new name and pronouns.



Primary and secondary schools have also been told to put books featuring transgender people on the curriculum, allow pupils to choose which changing room or toilets to use, and consider introducing a gender neutral uniform.

The guidance was branded shocking and led to concerns that children are being allowed to make life-changing decisions at too young an age.



The advice says: Some young people are exploring their gender identity in primary school settings. Primary schools need to be able to meet the needs of these young people to ensure they have a safe, inclusive and respectful environment in which to learn.



A section on changing name and recorded sex says children simply need to tell others informally that they want to use a different name, and that they dont need to record this formally on their official school record. Advice to school staff on what to do if a child wants to discuss their gender includes asking what name and pronoun you should use to address them.



It also says that they should ask if their family are aware they are considering their gender identity  but does not suggest the teacher should contact them.



The guidance document also states that no Scottish law compels people to use the toilets that correspond to the gender they were assigned at birth.

Marion Calder, director of the For Women Scotland campaign group, said: To be transgender you have to have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. What are they thinking? Parents will be very concerned to be reading this document.



Scottish education secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: This guidance outlines how schools can support transgender young people while ensuring that the rights of all pupils are fully respected.



It provides schools with practical suggestions. The guidance is not prescriptive and does not promote transitioning.









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Six persons have died of the coronavirus within a month at the Suntreso Government Hospital in the Kumasi Metropolis of the Ashanti region.

The Medical Superintendent at the hospital, Dr Agyarko Poku who spoke to class news Elisha Adarkwah said several critical cases are being recorded.



He expressed happiness that the vaccines are ready for vaccination commencing today.

Commenting on the vaccination exercise taking place at the hospital, today, Friday, 13 August 2021, Dr. Poku noted that the aged are fully participating in the exercise than the youth.



He said: The covid-19 situation is under control, we are not saying it is all over, we are still getting cases.

Although the number of cases we are getting is coming down, some of them come in critical conditions. Over the past month weve lost six people so the battle is still on



He advised the residents of the Kumasi metropolis to wear their facemask, wash their hands and observe all the protocols.



Touching on the vaccines, Dr Poku said: The vaccines are here, staff and workers are ready and we are hoping people will come. This morning we vaccinated about 100 and we hope that by the time we end around 5 pm, well get a lot of people





Source: classfmonline.com









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Kwesi Pratt Jnr, the Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper has called for a conversation on the prosecution of government officials who are found to have in some ways mismanaged public funds.



Speaking on Metro TV on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, Kwesi Pratt said he is not against the idea of public officials facing the law but that, in his estimation should not be the priority.



Pratt says the focus should be on strengthening public institutions to ensure that they can ensure accountability and prudent expenditure'.



Kwesi Pratt wondered why the state will spend time and resources to incarcerating people when it could have prevented them for engaging in the things that landed them in trouble.



The veteran journalist revealed that former Board Chairman of the National Communications Authority who was jailed in May 2020 is facing health issues at the Nsawam Prison.



"How can we sit here and be comfortable with the idea that William Tevie, Eugene Baffoe Bonnie and the others in the Nsawam prisons? Baffoe Bonnie is not well and I know that for a fact. They are in jail. There are serious moral questions that confront us and look at us in the face.



Kwesi Pratt was speaking on calls for the prosecution of Kwaku Agyeman-Manu over the Sputnik V vaccine controversy.



Pratt says, as a matter of principle he is against the prosecution of public officials and will not advocate same for Agyeman-Manu.



I take no pleasure in advocating people being sent to jail. Of course as a citizen, Im interested in prudent expenditure of public funds but the emphasis should not be on jailing people.



The emphasis should be on prudent public expenditure, how do we ensure that the little resources we have will be applied to make sure that the citizens of Ghana can get portable water to drink.



Pratt disclosed further that he has reasons to believe that Kwaku Agyeman-Manu did not act alone in breaching the law in his quest to get the vaccines.



Im look at what is unfolding and Im getting other impressions. If the Minister of Health, on his own without authority as we are being told went on a frolic and violated the laws of Ghana and treated the laws of procurement with impunity, why has it become so very difficult to deal with the issues of principle?



Its becoming evident that this is not about the Minister of Health because if it was about him, it would have been so easier to deal with. Its becoming a little bit more complicated. And it gets more complicated when you ask some relevant questions.



What is it about this agreement that made all public officials who dealt with it so blind to the rules? I dont want to believe that the Minister of Health alone has that clout to be able to blind everybody. There is some other truth we probably dont know and may never know, he said.





FLASHBACK: NCA $4m Scandal: Baffoe-Bonnie, Tevie and Osman Jailed For Causing Financial Loss

The Accra High Court has sentenced three former government officials to various terms in prison after convicting them of willfully causing financial loss of $4m to the state.



Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie, a former board chairman of the National Communication Authority (NCA) will serve six years imprisonment for his part in the $4m NCA scandal.



William Matthew Tetteh Tevie, a former Director-General of the NCA and Alhaji Salifu Mimina Osman, a former Deputy National Security Coordinator were each sentenced to five years imprisonment for also causing financial loss to the state in the scandal, reports Graphic Onlines Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson who was in the High Court Tuesday afternoon. [May 12, 2020].



Baffoe-Bonnie received more years because the court held that he personally benefited from the deal to a tune of $200,000, Ebo Hawkson reported.



The court, presided over by Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, also ordered the State to seize assets of the convicts to the tune of $3 million since the state has only recovered $1 million of the amount.



The three were found guilty of indulging in acts that led the State to lose the amount in a deal purchase of a cyber security surveillance equipment, known as the Pegasus machine, for the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), which was sponsored by the NCA.



A businessman - George Derek Oppong, whose company acted as local agent for the company said to have supplied the equipment was however, acquitted and discharged by the court.



The court held that the prosecution could not prove its case against the businessman and also that whatever infractions that occurred during the deal were occasioned by the acts of Baffoe-Bonnie, Tevie and Osman.



According to the court presided over by Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, the prosecution proved the guilt of the three persons beyond reasonable doubt.



The said alleged scandal is said to have happened in 2016.



Per the facts of the case, Baffoe-Bonnie, Tevie and Osman were allegedly aided by a private citizen, Oppong, to engage in the act.



According to the State, the previous administration had contracted an Israeli company, NSO Group Technology Limited, to supply listening equipment at a cost of $6 million to enable the authorities to monitor conversations of persons suspected to be engaged in terror activities.



A local agent, Infraloks Development Limited, also charged $2 million to facilitate the transaction, bringing the total sum to $8 million.



The facts stated that the National Security did not have the money to fund the transaction, and for that reason the NCA, which has supervisory jurisdiction over the use of such equipment, was asked to fund the project.



It said $4 million was withdrawn from the accounts of the NCA and $1 million out of the withdrawn amount deposited into the account of the Israeli company.



According to the State, the remaining $3 million was lodged in the account of Oppong, who acted as a representative of the local agents, Infraloks Development Ltd.



Osman is alleged to have fronted for the entire deal.

Source: ghanaweb.con









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"I'm sure he's working behind the scenes," social commentator Bernard Allotey Jacobs said in response to calls asking President Akufo-Addo to fire Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu.



The Health Minister has come under intense pressure from the public to resign after it emerged that he bypassed Parliamentary approval to purchase Sputnik V vaccine from a middleman, Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum.



Kwaku Agyeman-Manu has also been accused of lying under oath when he appeared before a Parliamentary ad hoc Committee investigating the botched Sputnik V deal.



The Committee therefore recommended the Ministry of Finance to contact Sheikh Al Maktoum for a refund of US$2,470,000.00 being cost of the non-supplied Sputnik-V vaccines.



However, the UAE businessman and his SL Global company, wrote a letter dated March 9, 2021, to the Ministry of Health to terminate the contract with the excuse that they are unable to supply the quantities of doses as agreed in the deal.



But Mr. Agyeman-Manu, in a letter dated August 2, 2021, responding to the contract termination by the Emerati Shiekh, also requested for a refund of the money paid for the purchase of the Sputnik-V vaccines, excluding the already supplied 20,000 doses.



Ghana had made an advance payment of 50% (US$2,850,000.00) of the total contract sum of US$5,700,000.00 for the purchase of the COVID-19 vaccines.



Groups demanding his resignation have also insisted that the President sack him if he fails to resign.



Commenting on this during a panel discussion on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme, Allotey Jacobs claims the President has not responded to calls for him to fire the Health Minister because he wants to handle it "carefully as a matured man".



"I'm beginning to believe that the President is handling this thing very carefully as a matured man . . . I'm sure he's working behind the scenes . . . some of these things are collateral damage," he said.



On August 11, 2021, Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and his SL Global company wrote to the Ministry of Health, announcing a refund into Ghanas treasury, an amount of US$2,470,000.00, representing 280,000 non-supplied doses of the Sputnik-V vaccines.



The requested amount of Two Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand United States Dollars (US$2,470,000) has already been refunded to the designated bank account, as communicated by you, the letter from the Emerati in part read.



Listen to him in the video below





Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has waded into calls for the Health Minister to resignThere are a lot of people from the Bono Region in my government; including the Minister of Health, who is currently receiving slaps. . . .he is an indigene of Dormaa. He has really suffered in that Health Ministry and is still suffering, he said jocularly.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Former US President, Donald Trump has criticized President Joe Bidens handling of the US troops withdrawal from Afghanistan, claiming the process would be much more successful if he was still in charge.



On Thursday, August 12, the Taliban gained control of 11 provincial capital cities and military experts believe Kabul, the country's capital which houses the government and also embassies and airports will fall to Taliban in the next one month.



The Taliban has now gained control of roughly two-thirds of the country.



The rise and onslaught of the Taliban comes after Biden went ahead with his promise to remove all American troops from Afghanistan after 20 years of war with the Taliban following the 9/11 attacks on the US Homeland.



Former U.S president, Trump slammed Biden saying the troop pull out of Afghanistan under his watch would have been a conditions-based withdrawal, according to the Washington Examiner.



Trump struck a deal with the Taliban for full withdrawal by May 1.

According to the billionaire businessman he personally had discussions with top Taliban leaders whereby they understood what they were doing now would not be acceptable.



It would have been a much different and much more successful withdrawal, and the Taliban understood that better than anyone, Trump said.



It would have been a much different and much more successful withdrawal,' former President Donald Trump said.



The Afghan government and military are unsure they can withstand the onslaught from the Taliban, with some saying defeat is imminent, according to the Washington Post. The government has even offered the Taliban a 50/50 stake in the government if they stop the attacks but the Taliban seem to be intent on militarily taking over the whole country.



Trump is not the only former president to criticize Bidens moves. Former President George W Bush said he would not have made the decision to pull the troops, saying last month that the consequences are going to be unbelievably bad.



Im afraid Afghan women and girls are going to suffer unspeakable harm after the troops complete their departure from Afghanistan on August 31, Bush said.



Its unbelievable how that society changed from the brutality of the Taliban.

















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The middle-man, Sheikh Ahmed Bin Dalmook Al Maktoum and his SL Global, that were contracted by Ghana through the Ministry of Health to procure Sputnik-V vaccines for the country to help it fight the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, has paid an amount of US$2,470,000.00 into the state treasury.



The money is a refund for 280,000 non-supplied doses of the Sputnik-V vaccines.



Deputy Majority Leader of the Parliament, Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, commenting on the development on Accra-based Oman FM, confirmed receipt of the refund payment of the non-supplied doses of the Sputnik-V vaccines.



He said Mr. Agyeman-Manu, all along, was candid in his responses, when he appeared before Committee, having entered into an agreement with a genuine businessman.



According to Hon. Afenyo-Markin, who is also the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Effutu, the refund of US$2,470,000 brings closure to the matter since there was no financial loss, believing that those calling for the head of the Minister of Health will now have a change of mind.



"As we speak today, H. H. Sheikh Al Maktoum has refunded the money in full. So, no financial loss was incurred," he noted.



Background



Ghana, had through the Ministry of Health, contracted the Emerati to supply her 300,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik-V vaccine at a contract sum of US$5,700,000. A dose of the Sputnik-V vaccine was cost the West African nation US$19.00.



The move was spurred by the difficulties in obtaining more COVID-19 vaccines having taking delivery of its first consignment of 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines developed by the Serum Institute of India through the COVIX Facility Initiative with logistical support from UNICEF.



However, the UAE businessman and his SL Global company, wrote a letter dated March 9, 2021, to Ministry of Health to terminate the contract with the excuse that they are unable to supply the quantities of doses as agreed in the deal.



Ad Hoc Committee



The attention of some Members of Parliament, especially, those on the Minority side, was drawn to the fact that the Ministry of Health had entered into a procurement contract for COVID-19 vaccines with the belief that some breaches were made.



Accordingly, the Minority Leader, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, moved a Private Members Motion for the House to set up a Committee to probe the matter and same was seconded by the Ranking Member of the Health Committee and MP for Juaboaso, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, on Thursday, July 8, 2021.



The motion was adopted by the House leading to the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee to investigate the Procurement contract between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and Sheikh Dalmook Al Maktoum and S. L. Global, for the supply of Sputnik-V COVID-19 Vaccines.



The Committee which was chaired by the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, had held the view in its report that although the Minister of Health, Hon. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, breached the procurement processes and Article 181(5) of the constitution, he acted in good fate with clear intentions of saving lives in an emergency situation.



The Committee therefore recommended that Ministry of Finance to contact Sheikh Al Maktoum for a refund of US$2,470,000.00 being cost of the non-supplied Sputnik-V vaccines.



Hon. Agyeman-Manu, appearing before the Committee admitted that even though he did not seek Parliamentary approval as well as that of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) for the said deal, he was in the process of going to Parliament to ratify the Agreement.



He had also written to the PPA to also regularize the deal.



The findings of the Committee report has led a cross section of the public to demand for the head of Mr. Agyeman-Manu.



But Mr. Agyeman-Manu, in a letter dated August 2, 2021, responding to the contract termination by the Emerati Shiekh, also requested for a refund of the money paid for the purchase of the Sputnik-V vaccines, excluding the already supplied 20,000 doses.



Ghana had made an advance payment of 50% (US$2,850,000.00) of the total contract sum of US$5,700,000.00 for the purchase of the COVID-19 vaccines.



The Emerati in a letter dated August 5, 2021, acknowledged receipt of the Ministry of Healths letter and requested that the Ghanaian officials share with them bank details where the refund needs to be processed.



The request was duly complied with by the Ministry of Health.



On August 11, 2021, the Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and his SL Global company again wrote to the Ministry of Health, announcing a refund into Ghanas treasury, an amount of US$2,470,000.00, representing 280,000 non-supplied doses of the Sputnik-V vaccines.



The requested amount of Two Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand United States Dollars (US$2,470,000) has already been refunded to the designated bank account, as communicated by you, the letter from the Emerati in part read.







Source: Peacefmonline.com









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A Former National Organiser of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Yaw Boateng Gyan, has cautioned the leadership of the party about the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of the 2024 general election.

Speaking on a Sunyani based radio station, Power FM, Mr Gyan, one of the leading members of the NDC, cautioned the party to be on the alert and face the NPP with compelling ideas that would resonate with Ghanaians so that they could vote the party back to power.



The NDC lost the 2020 presidential election to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who is serving a second term after beating former president John Mahama by a little over 500,000 votes in December last year.



After three months of litigation, the Supreme Court upheld the victory of Akufo-Addo and the NPP.



The NDC holds the view that the election was rigged to favour the NPP but the governing party insists it won fairly, and thus is calling for an all hands on deck approach to retain power beyond 2024.



Breaking the 8



NPP has coined the phrase Breaking the 8 or Break the 8 to rally support from all party members to help them retain victory in 2024.



But Mr Gyan argues that Break the 8 can break the NDC in the sense that the NPP is planning to use every means necessary to retain power despite the hardships that the government has inflicted on the masses, leading to a series of agitations in the country.



I have heard these people [the NPP] talk about break the 8 campaign aimed at us, he said. These people are dangerous and whatever they say they will do, they are able to do it.





He said if the NDC did not review their election strategy, the NPP could triumph over them.



They are not saying they will break the 8 for saying sake, Boateng Gyan insisted.



Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia recently told members of the NPP that they could break the eight-year cycle when all party supporters worked hard.



Speaking at a TESCON meeting in Cape Coast on Saturday, August 7, 2021, Dr Bawumia said: I am very sure all of us gathered here are not dreaming that the Break the 8 mantra will end as one of the platitudes in politics.



Close ranks



It rather calls for a united party that rises above pettiness, rancour, selfishness and any other associated intra-party vices, he said, while anticipating a massive win for the party, eight months after winning the polls.



Breaking the 8 is a political pursuit that requires us to gird our loins together, build a strong party and deliver competently on our mandate.



The President and I are committed to breaking the eight and I implore you, cherished patriots to commit to same, he added.









Source: graphiconline.com









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Former Deputy Health Minister, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye has called on Ghanaians to spare the Health Minister following his controversial Sputnik V vaccine deal.



The Minister, Dr. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, entered into the deal with a middleman without Parliamentary and Cabinet approval in the procurement of the vaccine.



During a probe by a Parliamentary ad hoc Committee, the Minister admitted his mistake and although he initially denied knowledge of making any payments for the purchase of the vaccine, he has written for a refund of part of the money paid the middleman for the vaccine.



The middleman named Sheikh Al Maktoum has since refunded $2.47 million to the appropriate authority for a closure on the matter.



However, there are incessant calls on the Health Minister to resign or be fired by President Nana Akufo-Addo.



Dr. Okoe Boye has pleaded for mercy for the Health Minister.



"When a friend falls, I don't laugh but I learn...'', he dished out a moral sermon while discussing the issue on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo''.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Asiedu Nketia, has intimated that the party did not submit its proposals for electoral reforms to the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) because the Committee is problematic.



He said the party outlined 34 electoral reforms after it boycotted the Electoral Commissions (EC) efforts towards reforms which included the appointment of Chairpersons ofEC to have prior approval of Parliament.



Mr Nketia noted that the voting period of 7am to 5pm on Election Day must be maintained because the political parties had been discussing the proposals at IPAC, but now one of the problems and challenges was IPAC.



Related Articles

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The IPAC itself needs to be fixed and you do not go discussing problems in a problematic and challenging forum and that is why we have to reach out to other stakeholders which is necessary because the Electoral Commission, apart from touting its independence has demonstrated that it needs input from outside stakeholders before it will be able to conduct its mandate, he intimated.



According to him, the party commenced consultations with various stakeholders on its proposals for electoral reforms and explained that the proposals for electoral reforms and the resultant consultations were borne out of the serious flaws and failings the NDC observed during a comprehensive review and audit of the 2020 elections that affected the fairness, free credibility, transparency and accountability of the elections.



Mr Nketia stated that after broad consultations, the party came up with 34 recommendations for consideration by both the government and the EC and when the recommendations are implemented, it would help restore the credibility of countrys elections.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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Its not just a piece of cloth that we salute, especially on every August 15 or January 26: the Tricolor has a breathing, living, rich legacy. The saffron, white and green colours signify our sacrifice and strength, purity, and prosperity. The Ashoka Chakra in the centre depicts the dharma chakra.

The Indian flag in drenched not only in history but also the struggle that went into creating a glorious history.

India's Neeraj Chopra celebrates with the national flag after winning the men's javelin throw final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on August 7, 2021. (Photo by Javier SORIANO / AFP) (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)

Here are few facts that you might not have known about the Tiranga that flutters high above us and under whose gentle shade we breathe the rejuvenating air of freedom:

1. The first flag representing the Indian union came into being in 1906. Between the years 1906 and 1947, the flag was designed and redesigned five times before arriving at the final pattern. Finally, it was the Tricolour that we adopted on July 22, 1947 as our national flag. The flag was designed by a freedom fighter Pingali Venkayya.

2. While citizens of many countries put on their flags as bikinis or undergarments, the original flag code forbid Indians from using the Tricolour as embroidery on pillowcases, handkerchiefs or any other garment. Then a 2005 amendment, however, eased things up a bit: it allowed limited use of the flag in garments, but never below the waist. Maintaining the sanctity of the Indian flag is one of our duties as citizens of a free nation.

CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA - 2021/08/12: Children seen carrying Indian National Flag in a fishing area in Chennai. India celebrates its anniversary of Independence from British colonial rule on August 15. (Photo by Sri Loganathan Velmurugan/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

3. On May 29, 1953, the honour of hosting our magnificent flag was bestowed upon the highest peak in the world, Mt. Everest: the Tricolour was hoisted on the mountain top where it took to the air with the Union Jack and the National flag of Nepal.

4. If you want to hoist the flag this Independence Day, make sure you get yours from Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha, for this Hubli-based association alone has the license to produce and supply the national flag across India. The original Tricolour will always be made of khadi (an eco-friendly, handwoven fabric).

5. Until 2002, private Indian citizens were forbidden to fly the national flag on days besides the Independence Day or the Republic Day. But Indian industrialist Naveen Jindal filed a petition arguing that it is every citizens right to hoist the flag and express his love for the country at all times as long as due decorum is maintained and the honour of the flag is upheld. The petition was accepted and private citizens were granted the right to hoist the flag on any day of the year, while safeguarding its dignity, honour and esteem.

Story continues

VOLGOGRAD REGION, RUSSIA - AUGUST 9, 2021: Indian servicemen are seen during the Russian-Indian joint military exercise Indra-2021 at the Prudboi military training ground. Taking part in the joint exercise are more than 250 servicemen of Russia's Southern Military District mechanised infantry force and around 250 Indian military officers with more than 100 pieces of armament and military hardware. Erik Romanenko/TASS (Photo by Erik Romanenko\TASS via Getty Images)

6. The success of Mangalyaan (Indias spacecraft to the Mars) has catapulted India to new heights in the field of space sciences, but space isnt a new frontier for the Tricolour. In fact, it had made its maiden visit to outer space way back in 1971, on the American spacecraft Apollo 15. The flag once again took off to space in 1984, during the joint Indo-Russianspace flight: Cosmonaut Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma wore it like a medallion on his spacesuit.

7. The Flag Code of India has laid down nine different sizes in which the flag canbe made. These measurements vary from 64 inches to 2114 feet. The Maharashtra governments secretariat in Mumbai  the Mantralaya  flies a flag of the latter size.

8. Nonetheless, a colossal Tricolour  110 meters in length and 24 meters in width  was hoisted on a flag mast standing 360 feet tall at the Atari border in March 2017 by Anil Joshi and has been titled the largest national flag of India amast on the highest pole. It is said to be visible from Lahore, Pakistan, as well.

9. When the national flag is flown on Indian territory with flags of other nations, the prescribed rule is that the Tricolour marks the starting point for all other national flags. If you see a car provided by government flying the Indian flag on its right side accompanied by a foreign flag on the left, its clear that theres a foreign dignitary in the vehicle.

10. In December 2014, 50,000 volunteers from Chennai came together to form a massive human flag setting a new Guinness World Record for being the largest of its kind.

It will be necessary for us Indians  Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jews, Parsis, Sikhs and all others to whom India is their home  to recognise a common flag to live and die for. These are the words of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, to enunciate the emphatic significance of the Tricolour.

Jai Hind!
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Ever since humans began committing their view of the world to flat slabs of rock and papyrus, we had a sense that our mental maps are laid out in much the same way. However, our mental maps are nothing like paper maps. Humans rely on route-based maps. These internal maps, also used by animals, are composed of well-trodden routes linking frequently visited locations, with little understanding of where these routes lie relative to one another. Yet, humans are able to supplement these rudimentary representations with knowledge of the distances we cover and direction to take occasional short-cuts. Yet many creatures negotiate far more complex environments and need to navigate efficiently, so being able to combine knowledge of separate routes to take short cuts would be useful. Can other animals navigate like humans?

Black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) comb the forests of Mexico, Belize and Guatemala in search of fruit and edible vegetation, so Miguel de Guinea (Oxford Brookes University, UK), Sarie Van Belle (University of Texas at Austin, U.S.) and colleagues from Mexico and the UK wondered whether the primates are also capable of refining their route-based mental maps. The team publishes their discovery that black howler monkeys adapt their mental maps in the same was as humans, making them the first animal capable of navigating like us, in Journal of Experimental Biology.

However, GPS-tagging the endangered primates wasn't possible, so de Guinea and his colleagues had no choice but to visit the forests covering the Mayan ruins in Palenque National Park, Mexico, and follow the roaming animals. "We'd arrive at the study area where our focal group was expected to be found before sunrise," says de Guinea, explaining that it was relatively easy to locate the troops of black howler monkeys, from 4 to 11 individuals, as they called loudly in the morning. Then de Guinea, Van Belle, field assistant Elsa Barrios and an international team of volunteers pursued the monkeys, at ground level, wherever they roved through their 50-hectare domain. "Sometimes the monkeys decided to travel to the top of the tallest temple in the area, making us climb at a very fast pace in intense heat to reach them," says de Guinea. On other occasions, the primates dragged the scientists across steep waterfalls. One time the monkeys encountered a 5m gap on one of their regular routes; 'a tree had fallen overnight," Van Belle explains. "They stopped for half an hour and then traveled along the edge to reconnect with the second half of their travel path as if they knew this was a new obstacle and they needed to consider their options on what to do next," she laughs.

After a year of tracking five groups of black howler monkeys, de Guinea and Van Belle painstakingly reconstructed the monkeys' movements as they covered 91.5km over 250 days, repeatedly revisiting their favorite fruit treesalways approaching from a few select directionstraveling through the same sequences of trees. In contrast, when the pair simulated how the animals would move if they were roving randomly through the park, the virtual primates rarely revisited the same routes. The black howlers were clearly following mental maps of familiar routes, like humans.

In addition, the researchers compared the distances covered by the foraging monkeys with the routes used by the simulated primates, and it was evident that the black howlers were able to link routes together in order to navigate between distant locations. They can supplement their simple route-based view of the world with knowledge of direction and the distances between locations to take short-cuts and maneuver efficiently through the ever-changing forest. "It was a big effort to collect such detailed and reliable data, but it was worth it to understand the fascinating cognitive skills that black howler monkeys demonstrate in the wild," says de Guinea.

More information: Miguel de Guinea et al, Cognitive maps in the wild: revealing the use of metric information in black howler monkey route navigation, Journal of Experimental Biology (2021). Journal information: Journal of Experimental Biology Miguel de Guinea et al, Cognitive maps in the wild: revealing the use of metric information in black howler monkey route navigation,(2021). DOI: 10.1242/jeb.242430
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Recent announcements by the B.C. and Ontario governments emphasize that institutions of higher education should plan a familiar return to campuses over the next month. Their recommendations call for a return to normal with an eye on backup plans and transitions.

But the research my colleagues and I have done suggests that faculty and students hope for better futures. They don't want "a return to normal."

Over the last year and a half, my colleagues and I have interviewed faculty across Canada and sifted through surveys gathering the opinions of nearly 150,000 Canadian students. We have also surveyed faculty and administrators in the United States multiple times about their experiences with teaching and learning during the pandemic. Most recently, we have returned to interviewing faculty across Canada to learn more about their hopes and fears.

We heard that many of our students and colleagues are anxious, tired and disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Students and faculty recognize that the pre-pandemic "normal" wasn't optimal. It was simply the status quo, the default, that students and faculty were living with.

What faculty and students hope for is that their colleges, universities and governments support them as they seek to carry forward what they learned and experienced during the pandemic. They are hoping the lessons of the pandemic aren't fleeting. Some of these lessons appear below.

What should we carry forward?

1. Teaching and learning innovation

Regardless of how a course is deliveredonline, in-person or in a hybrid fashion faculty noted that they hoped to carry forward various teaching and learning innovations.

Such innovations include things like the ability to invite other experts to their courses for virtual appearances as lecturers or discussions with students. Others include continuing to develop new assessment practices, in favour of more frequent and authentic evaluations of learning rather than tests.

2. Greater support

Faculty and students want greater support from their institutions and from government that will help them maintain physical and mental health during and after the pandemic.

Both students and faculty noted that commitments for predictable and consistent funding can alleviate concerns and anxieties about the challenges that they foresee. To put this into perspective, a Statistics Canada survey of approximately 100,000 students from May 2020 identified that 67 percent of respondents "were very or extremely concerned about having no job prospects in the near future."

Faculty expressed anxiety about workload, program cuts and precarious academic work, hoping that they can be involved in discussions about these issues and about campus safety.

3. Flexibility

One idea that emerged consistently in both our work and the work of other researchers is the value that flexibility affords students and faculty. Students, for instance, appreciated flexibility in deadlines, when they were facing uncertainties in their lives outside their studies.

Faculty whose institutions supported them in working remotely expressed gratefulness for such flexibility. Some also appreciated being able to approach their courses with flexible designs that supported student learning (for example, shifting lectures to pre-recorded sessions and using real-time meetings for workshops). Flexible approaches to teaching and learning will likely help colleges and universities grapple with future local and global threats like climate change.

4. Trust and compassion

While education is an endeavour that involves establishing standards of learning and evaluation, it is also one that involves humans, with all of life's unpredictability and variation. In approaching education with a humanizing lens, faculty and students hope that institutions and governments do not lose sight of the trust and compassion that was extended to them during the pandemic.

In practical terms, trust and compassion may translate to rethinking assessment practices that are grounded on mistrust, such as using surveillance technologies for online exams. It may mean trusting faculty to determine the best assessments for their courses. For example, a faculty member told us they felt what's needed is "culture shift" towards trusting students, away from an "adversarial kind of relationship" that assumes everyone's cheating.

5. Focus on equity

The pandemic has brought to light the many gaps that students of varied socio-economic and demographic backgrounds face, such as inequitable access to technology and private study spaces, as well as inequities in having their basic needs met.

Students and faculty are hopeful that institutions and governments continue to take action on addressing inequities. Some ideas offered include the purposeful design of courses to accommodate different people's needs, and institutional supports to enable broader access to programs and resources.

Rather than regressing "back to normal," what our research highlights is how students and faculty hope for a better futurebetter than the one dominated by COVID-19, and better than the status quo that existed prior.

Explore further College drinking declined during the pandemic

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Firefighters watch a hillside burn on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Wednesday, Aug 11, 2021, near Lame Deer, Mont. The Richard Spring fire was threatening hundreds of homes as it burned across the reservation. Credit: AP Photo/Matthew Brown

Wildfires tearing through Montana and elsewhere in the U.S. West are devouring vast rangeland areas that cattle ranchers depend upon, setting the stage for a potential shortage of pasture as the hot, dry summer grinds on.

On the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, firefighters and local authorities scrambled to save hundreds of homes in the path of a fire that started Sunday and exploded across more than 260 square miles (673 square kilometers) in just a few days, triggering evacuation orders for thousands of people.

Some ranchers stayed behind to help fight it. Yet as flames charred mile after mile of rangeland and forest, they could do little to protect cattle pastures that are crucial to economic survival for families on the remote reservation.

As the fire raged across rugged hills and narrow ravines, tribal member Darlene Small helped her grandson move about 100 head of cattle to a new pasture, only to relocate them twice more as the flames from the Richard Spring fire bore down, she said Thursday. An extreme drought that's blanketing the West has made matters worse by stunting vegetation untouched by fire.

"They've got to have pasture where there's water. If there's no water, there's no good pasture," Small said. Particularly hard hit were some ranchers already depending on surplus grass after a fire burned them off their normal pasture last year, she said.

Rowdy Alexander watches from atop his horse as a hillside burns on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Wednesday, Aug 11, 2021, near Lame Deer, Mont. The Richard Spring fire was threatening hundreds of homes as it burned across the reservation. Credit: AP Photo/Matthew Brown

Meanwhile, California's Dixie Firewhich started July 13 and is the largest wildfire burning in the nationthreatened a dozen small communities in the northern Sierra Nevada even though its southern end was mostly corralled by fire lines.

The fire has burned 790 square miles (2,000 square kilometers), destroyed about 550 homes and nearly obliterated the town of Greenville last week. It was 30% contained.

The Montana blaze was primed over the last several days by swirling winds and hot temperatures. It has spread in multiple directions, torching trees and sending off embers that propelled the flames across the dry landscape.

The fire crept within about a mile (3.2 kilometers) of the eastern edge of the evacuated town of Lame Deer Wednesday night, Northern Cheyenne Tribe spokesperson Angel Becker said. It passed over a highway where officials had hoped to stop it, putting the southern portion of the reservation at increased risk, officials said.

Rowdy Alexander, left, Keanu Scalpcane, center and Darlene Small, wait along Highway 212 after relocating cattle from a pasture that was threatened by the Richard Spring fire burning in southeastern Montana on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation east of Lame Deer, Mont., Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. The fire spread quickly Wednesday as strong winds pushed the flames across rough, forested terrain. Credit: AP Photo/Matthew Brown

As it closed in on the east side of town and a second fire ignited to the west, tribal officials late Wednesday urged residents who did not heed an earlier evacuation order to flee. Buses moved people to a school about 15 miles (24 kilometers) away and to a shelter set up on the nearby Crow Indian Reservation.

Lame Deer, a town of about 2,000 people, is home to the tribal headquarters and several subdivisions.

"We had some people who refused, but the majority of our elders and women and children definitely left with that last push," Becker said.

With 40-foot (12-meter) flames visible from parts of Lame Deer, firefighters worked into early Thursday morning to keep the fire from destroying houses. None were reported lost, but officials continued assessing the damage. More than a dozen sheds and other outbuildings were lost, they said.

An aircraft drops fire retardant to slow the spread of the Richard Spring fire, east of Lame Deer, Mont., Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. The fire spread quickly Wednesday as strong winds pushed the flames across rough, forested terrain. Credit: AP Photo/Matthew Brown

As smoke choked the air, rancher Jimmy Peppers sat on his horse east of town, watching an orange glow intensify over the site of his house as the night wore on.

"I didn't think it would cross the highway, so I didn't even move my farm equipment," said Peppers, who spent the afternoon herding his cattle onto a neighbor's pasture closer to town.

Also ordered to leave were about 600 people in and around Ashland, a small town just outside the reservation. It remained under an evacuation order, but officials said the danger appeared to have eased for now.

Around the perimeter of Lame Deer, crews were building fire breaks and conducting intentional burnsor "burnouts"in hopes of lessening the amount of fuel available on the ground, fire spokesperson Jeni Garcin said. Officials were cognizant of the need to protect pastureland, she said.

A tree goes up in flames as a wildfire burns on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Wednesday, Aug 11, 2021, near Lame Deer, Mont. The Richard Spring fire was threatening hundreds of homes as it burned across the reservation. Credit: AP Photo/Matthew Brown

"We fully recognize the value of grass around here," Garcin said. "There's enough lost in this fire that we will be very strategic about how we do any of these burnouts."

Extreme drought conditions have left trees, grass and brush bone-dry throughout many Western states, making them ripe for ignition.

At the same time, California and some other states face flows of monsoonal moisture that were too high to bring real rain but could create thunderstorms that bring the risk of dry lightning and erratic winds.

In Northern California, a number of wildfires and the threat of more prompted three national forests to close down the Trinity Alps Wilderness Area, a 780-square mile (2,000-square kilometer) area of granite peaks, lakes and trails, into November.

Climate change has made the region warmer and drier in the past 30 years and will continue to make the weather more extreme and wildfires more destructive, according to scientists. The more than 100 large wildfires in the American West come as parts of Europe are also burning.

A plume of smoke rises from a wildfire as Cascade County sheriff's deputies prevent traffic from passing through along Highway 212 on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, near Lame Deer, Mont. The Richard Spring Fire was spreading rapidly Wednesday as strong winds pushed it through rough, forested terrain. Credit: AP photo/Matthew Brown

Smoke from a wildfire obscures a stand of trees on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, near Ashland, Mont. In southeastern Montana, communities in and around the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation were ordered to evacuate as the Richard Spring Fire grew amid erratic winds. Credit: AP Photo/Matthew Brown

Smoke from a wildfire obscures a stand of trees on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, near Ashland, Mont. In southeastern Montana, communities in and around the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation were ordered to evacuate as the Richard Spring Fire grew amid erratic winds. Credit: AP Photo/Matthew Brown

A firefighter stands along the edge of a wildfire burning on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. In southeastern Montana, communities in and around the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation were ordered to evacuate as the Richard Spring Fire grew amid erratic winds. Credit: AP Photo/Matthew Brown

Denim Irish stops in the road before heading to the fire line as the Richard Spring fire moves toward Ashland, Mont., Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021. Ashland and communities in and around the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in southeastern Montana were evacuated ahead of a massive, wind-driven wildfire that threatened the area Wednesday. Credit: Mike Clark/The Billings Gazette via AP

Krystal Two Bulls, left, and an unidentified friend watch smoke rise from the ridge top behind Two Bulls' house on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation east of Lame Deer, Mont., Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. Two Bulls said that she's been preparing for the fire for two days by clearing brush around her house and packing her belongings in case she has to suddenly leave. The fire spread quickly Wednesday as strong winds pushed the flames across rough, forested terrain. In southeastern Montana, communities in and around the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation were ordered to evacuate as the Richard Spring Fire grew amid erratic winds. Credit: AP Photo/Matthew Brown

People are seen on the street as a wildfire approaches the town, Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021, in Ashland, Mont. The Richard Spring Fire was threatening hundreds of homes in Ashland and on the nearby Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. Credit: Mike Clark/The Billings Gazette via AP

A man uses a hose on flames approaching a roadway as the Richard Spring Fire moves towards populated areas in and around the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021, near Ashland, Mont. Credit: Mike Clark/The Billings Gazette via AP

A plume of smoke rises from the Richard Spring wildfire on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, north of Lame Deer, Mont. The fire spread quickly Wednesday as strong winds pushed the flames across rough, forested terrain. Credit: AP photo/Matthew Brown

New research indicates wildfire smoke may be part of a vicious cycle making clouds rain less, which makes it hotter and plants drier and easier to catch fire.

Scientists flew a research plane into smoky skies six times in the U.S. West in 2018 and found five times the water droplets, but they were half the size, according to a study in Wednesday's Geophysical Research Letters. The smaller droplets aren't big enough to fall as rain, said study lead author Cynthia Twohy, a cloud physicist at NorthWest Research Associates.

This is not the main cause for the lack of rain, but "it could be a factor," Twohy said. "The clouds are being affected. We saw that pretty clearly."

The study has worrisome implications that drought and fire can cause more drought and fire.

The main cause of the droughta huge factor in worsening wildfiresis natural weather changes with some possible climate change, said Park Williams a hydrology and fire scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, who wasn't part of the research.

Explore further Huge California fire grows; Montana blaze threatens towns

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
A Big Island firefighter puts out a blaze near Waimea, Hawaii, on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire. Experts say wildfires in the Pacific islands are becoming larger and more common as drought conditions increase along with climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

A metal roof sits atop the burned remains of a homestead on the once-lush slopes of Hawaii's Mauna Keaa dormant volcano and the state's tallest peakcharred cars and motorcycles strewn about as wind-whipped sand and ash blast the scorched landscape.

Generations of Kumu Micah Kamohoalii's family have lived on these lands reserved for Native Hawaiians, and his cousin owns this house destroyed by the state's largest-ever wildfire.

"I've never seen a fire this big," Kamohoalii said. "Waimea has had fires, many of them before and some maybe a few hundred acres, but not this size."

The fire has burned more than 70 square miles (181 square kilometers) in the two weeks it has been going. But it wasn't the first time this area has burned, and won't be the last. Like many islands in the Pacific, Hawaii's dry seasons are getting more extreme with climate change.

"Everyone knows Waimea to be the pasturelands and to be all the green rolling hills. And so when I was young, all of this was always green," Kamohoalii said. "In the last 10 to 15 years, it has been really, really dry."

Huge wildfires highlight the dangers of climate change-related heat and drought for many communities throughout the U.S. West and other hotspots around the world. But experts say relatively small fires on typically wet, tropical islands in the Pacific are also on the rise, creating a cycle of ecological damage that affects vital and limited resources for millions of residents.

Kumu Micah Kamohoalii drives toward smoke from a wildfire near Waimea, Hawaii, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The area was scorched by the state's largest-ever wildfire. Fires on many islands in the Pacific burn large areas of land and are causing environmental damage from the mountaintops to the coral reefs. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

From Micronesia to Hawaii, wildfires have been a growing problem for decades. With scarce funding to prevent and suppress these fires, island communities have struggled to address the problem.

"On tropical islands, fires have a unique set of impacts," said Clay Trauernicht, an ecosystems and wildfire researcher at the University of Hawaii. "First and foremost, fires were very rare prior to human arrival on any Pacific island. The vegetation, the native ecosystems, really evolved in the absence of frequent fires. And so when you do get these fires, they tend to kind of wreak havoc."

But it's not just burnt land that is affected. Fires on islands harm environments from the top of mountains to below the ocean's surface.

"Once a fire occurs, what you're doing is removing vegetation," Trauernicht said. "And we often get heavy rainfall events. All of that exposed soil gets carried downstream and we have these direct impacts of erosion, sedimentation on our marine ecosystems. So it really hammers our coral reefs as well."

Wildfires burn on the slopes of Mauna Kea near Waimea, Hawaii, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The area was scorched by the state's largest-ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

Pacific island reefs support local food production, create barriers to large storm surges and are a critical part of tourism that keeps many islands running.

The wet season on tropical islands also causes fire-adapted grasses to grow tall and thick, building fuel for the next summer's wildfires.

"Guinea grass grows six inches a day in optimal conditions and a six-foot tall patch of grass can throw 20-foot flame lengths," said Michael Walker, Hawaii's state fire protection forester. "So what we have here are really fast-moving, very hot, very dangerous fires."

Walker said such non-native grasses that have proliferated in Hawaii are adapted to fire, but native species and shrubs are not.

"While (these wildfires) may not compare to the size and duration of what folks have in the western United States, we burn a significant portion of our lands every year because of these grass fires, and they're altering our natural ecosystems and converting forests to grass," he said.

Miki Brand's house is shown on Native Hawaiian homestead land near Waimea, Hawaii, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. Brand's property narrowly escaped flames from the state's largest-ever wildfire that scorched the area. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

The latest wildfire on Hawaii's Big Island burned about 1% of the state's total land, and other islands in the Pacific such as Palau, Saipan and Guam burn even moreup to 10% in severe fire years.

On average, Guam has nearly 700 wildfires a year, Palau about 175 and Saipan about 20, according to data from 2018.

Guam, like many other places, has long used fire as a tool. Farmers sometimes use it to clear fields and hunters have been known to burn areas while poaching.

The U.S. territory's forestry chief Christine Camacho Fejeran said fires on the island are mostly caused by arson. "So all of Guam's wildfires are human-caused issues, whether it's an intentional or an escaped backyard fire or another (cause)," she said.

On average, Fejeran said, 6,000 to 7,000 acres (2,430 to 2,830 hectares) of the island burns each year, amounting to about 5% of its land.

Native Hawaiian Mikiala Brand stands on her homestead property near Waimea, Hawaii, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. Brand's home narrowly escaped the state's largest-ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

While no homes have been lost to recent wildfires on Guam, Fejeran believes that trend will come to an endunless more is done to combat the fires.

The island has made some changes in fire legislation, management, education and enforcement. Arson has become a chargeable offense, but Fejeran says enforcement remains an obstacle in the tight-knit community.

Back in Hawaii, last week's blaze destroyed three homes, but the fire threatened many more.

Mikiala Brand, who has lived for two decades on a 50-acre homestead, watched as flames came within a few hundred yards (meters) of her house.

As the fire grew closer, she saw firefighters, neighbors and the National Guard racing into her rural neighborhood to fight it. She had to evacuate her beloved home twice in less than 24 hours.

"Of course it was scary," she said. "But I had faith that the strong, the brave and the talented, and along with nature and Akua, which is our name for the universal spirit, would take care."

Kumu Micah Kamohoalii looks out at smoke from a wildfire near Waimea, Hawaii, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The area was scorched by the state's largest-ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

Demonstrating the tenacity of many Native Hawaiians in her farming and ranching community, Brand said, "I only worry about what I have control over."

Down the mountain in Waikoloa Village, a community of about 7,000, Linda Hunt was also forced to evacuate. She works at a horse stable and scrambled to save the animals as flames whipped closer.

"We only have one and a half roads to get outyou have the main road and then you have the emergency access," Hunt said of a narrow dirt road. "Everybody was trying to evacuate, there was a lot of confusion."

The fire was eventually put out just short of the densely populated neighborhood, but had flames reached the homes, it could have been disastrous on the parched landscape.

"When you have high winds like we get here, it's difficult no matter how big your fire break is, it's going to blow right through," Hunt said.

A truck destroyed by fire sits on Joshua Kihe's property near Waimea, Hawaii, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The area was scorched by the state's largest-ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

A truck destroyed by fire sits on Joshua Kihe's property near Waimea, Hawaii, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The area was scorched by the state's largest-ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

The burnt remains of Joshua Kihe's home is shown near Waimea, Hawaii, on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The home was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

Vehicles destroyed by a wildfire sit on Joshua Kihe's property near Waimea, Hawaii, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

Motorcycles and an ATV destroyed by wildfire sit on Joshua Kihe's property near Waimea, Hawaii, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

A car drives past a fire hazard sign in Waimea, Hawaii, on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. The region was scorched by the state's largest-ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

A coffee mug sits among the burnt remains of Joshua Kihe's home near Waimea, Hawaii, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The home was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

Lights from Waimea, Hawaii, shine in the distance as wildfires burn in the area on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. The region was scorched by the state's largest-ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

A car drives by a burnt roadside sign that says, "Please Prevent Fires, Mahalo," on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, in Waimea, Hawaii. The region was scorched by the state's largest-ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

A dry creek bed is shown as wildfires burn in Waimea, Hawaii, on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. The region was scorched by the state's largest-ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

A truck drives into Waikoloa Village as wildfires burn in the distance on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, near Waimea, Hawaii. The region was scorched by the state's largest-ever wildfire and the village of about 7,000 people narrowly escaped the blaze. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

A field of dry grass is shown near Waimea, Hawaii, on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. The region was scorched by the state's largest-ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

Waikoloa Village is shown on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, near Waimea, Hawaii. The region was scorched by the state's largest-ever wildfire and the village of about 7,000 people narrowly escaped the blaze. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

A U.S Army firefighter sprays water on a hot spot near Waimea, Hawaii, on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The region was scorched by the state's largest-ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

Linda Hunt, who works at a stable in Waikoloa Village, carries horse feed out of a corral on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, near Waimea, Hawaii. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

A Big Island firefighter puts out a blaze near Waimea, Hawaii, on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

A Big Island firefighter puts out a blaze near Waimea, Hawaii, on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

Dried grass is shown near Waimea, Hawaii, on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

A charred goat skull lays amid ashes from a wildfire on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, near Waimea, Hawaii. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

A U.S Army fire official walks along a section of burned grassland near Waimea, Hawaii, on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

Wild goats stand amid ashes from a wildfire on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, near Waimea, Hawaii. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

A fire official drives through a dry field after a wildfire on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, near Waimea, Hawaii. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

Hawaii's Mauna Kea, where a large wildfire burned last week, is shown on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

A couple walks on a beach near Waimea, Hawaii, on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. The area was scorched by the state's largest ever wildfire. Wildfires in the Pacific Islands are becoming more common as drought conditions increase along with climate change. Fires on many islands in the Pacific burn a proportion of land equal to fires in U.S. Western states and the blazes are causing a cascading effect of environmental damage that impacts island communities that rely on the local ecosystems. Credit: AP Photo/Caleb Jones

While fires are becoming more difficult to fight because of dry and hot conditions associated with climate change, experts say the Pacific islands still can help prevent these blazes from causing ecological damage and property losses.

"Fire presents a pretty interesting component of kind of all these climate change impacts that we're dealing with in the sense that they are manageable," said Trauernicht, the University of Hawaii wildfire expert.

In addition to education and arson prevention, he said, land usesuch as grazing practices and reforestation that reduce volatile grassescould help.

"It's within our control, potentially, to reduce the impacts that we're seeing with fires," Trauernicht said. "Both in terms of forest loss as well as the impacts on coral reefs."

Explore further Nearly 900 buildings destroyed by massive California fire

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Study sites and temperature tolerance thresholds of corals from the northern and central Red Sea. (a) Map of Red Sea sites, reefs are shown in red. Seven coral colonies of S. pistillata from each of one site in the Gulf of Aqaba (ICN), northern Red Sea, and three central Red Sea sites near each other (AF, ExT, PrT) were collected and examined for heat stress response patterns. (b) Photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) over temperature curves and determined ED50 thermal tolerance thresholds as a proxy for coral bleaching susceptibility (sensu Evensen et al., 2021) of corals from the ICN, AF, ExT, PrT reef sites. ED50 thermal tolerance thresholds are denoted as vertical bars with temperature values at the top of the respective bar in the respective site color. Solid lines in each curve reflect the mean three parameter log-logistic model fit for each population (n = 7 colonies) with 95% confidence intervals represented by the shaded areas. Statistical differences among sites are indicated by letters in the panel legend with site-specific MMM temperatures denoted thereafter. Symbols denote measurements from individual samples. Blue circles, coral samples from the Gulf of Aqaba ICN site; yellow triangles, coral samples from the central Red Sea AF site; pink squares, coral samples from the Central Red Sea ExT site; dark red diamonds, corals from the Central Red Sea PrT site. Credit: DOI: 10.1111/mec.16064

Thermally tolerant corals have different mechanisms for responding to heat stress. This is the conclusion of a current study by an international team of researchers including the Konstanz biologist Professor Christian Voolstra that was published in Molecular Ecology. The team examined responses to heat stress in the smooth cauliflower coral (Stylophora pistillata) in the Red Sea by combining the Coral Bleaching Automated Stress System (CBASS)  a mobile rapid heat stress testwith molecular analyses, in order to identify different types of thermal tolerance. The procedure is to be used worldwide, and the respective results could help provide corals with more targeted protection from the effects of climate change.

Death of corals worldwide caused by warming oceans

As a result of climate change, corals all over the world are currently dying. Within just a few decades, the global coral population has dropped by half, and, due to their locally adapted thermal tolerance, many corals are poorly prepared to respond to further increases in ocean temperatures. Some corals, however, are more adept at managing heat stress than others.

In order to elucidate the factors that contribute to higher thermal tolerance in corals, Voolstra and his colleagues introduced a new mobile testing system last yearthe Coral Bleaching Automated Stress System (CBASS). The system makes it possible to quickly identify corals that are particularly resilient. "This test procedure is a small revolution for me, because it allows researchers and conservationists alike to assess coral resilience anywhere on Earth and to find out how endangered each coral reef is, without the need for costly and sophisticated tech", Voolstra described the CBASS system in a previous article.

Different thermal tolerance mechanisms

In the current study, the research team used the testing system to evaluate the thermal tolerance of the smooth cauliflower coral in different regions of the Red Sea. The results show that corals from the Gulf of Aqaba, the most northeastern arm of the Red Sea, demonstrate a remarkable thermal toleranceup to about 7C above the respective maximum monthly average for the warmest summer monthjust like their peers from the central part of the Red Sea. However, the absolute thermal tolerance of smooth cauliflower corals from the central part of the Red Sea is up to 3C higher than for the same species in the Gulf of Aqaba, which could suggest that different tolerance mechanisms are at work.

In order to investigate this possibility, the research team conducted molecular analyses to elucidate mechanisms of thermal tolerance in corals from the different locations. Genetic examinations showed that smooth cauliflower corals from the Gulf of Aqaba respond to heat stress with a strongly altered gene expressionfor example the increased production of certain proteins. Parallel to this, the composition of the coral-associated bacterial communities changed. By comparison, corals from the central part of the Red Sea did not exhibit any of these changes when exposed to heat stress.

The molecular results support the idea that smooth cauliflower corals have different thermal tolerance mechanisms. "We interpret the response of the corals from the Gulf of Aqaba as that of a "resilient" population that directly and proportionally reacts to increases in temperature. By contrast, the more static expression of genes of the corals from the central part of the Red Sea indicates a fixed reaction norm, irrespective of the heat stress applied, which provides "resistance" to high water temperatures, but at the cost of the ability to flexibly respond to further increases in temperatures", says Voolstra.

Toolbox of methods for protecting coral reefs worldwide

At the moment, it is unclear which of these tolerance mechanisms protects corals better from the global increase in ocean temperatures caused by climate change. The fact that "resilient" and "resistant" tolerance mechanisms can be distinguished using molecular methods could be of great importance for the conservation prioritization of existing coral reefs or for restoration approaches that could use heat-tolerant corals for sexual propagation.

For this reason, the research team is making plans to employ the methodological approach used successfully in the Red Sea study around the world. "Our study shows the tremendous value of an integrative, combined approach: using the CBASS system for the standardized identification of thermal tolerance in corals with subsequent follow-up molecular analyses to identify the underlying tolerance mechanisms and marker genes", concludes Voolstra.

Explore further Northern Red Sea corals live close to the threshold of resistance to cold temperatures

More information: Christian R. Voolstra et al, Contrasting heat stress response patterns of coral holobionts across the Red Sea suggest distinct mechanisms of thermal tolerance, Molecular Ecology (2021). Journal information: Molecular Ecology Christian R. Voolstra et al, Contrasting heat stress response patterns of coral holobionts across the Red Sea suggest distinct mechanisms of thermal tolerance,(2021). DOI: 10.1111/mec.16064
Pollination bags cover corn tassels at a Florida State University research field for an experiment led by biology Professor Hank Bass. The bags prevent plants from being pollinated, which allows scientists to avoid contamination of the specimens they are researching. Credit: Jonathan Doster

Getting a full understanding of how genes are regulated is a major goal of scientists worldwide. Now, a Florida State University professor and his research partners have developed a technique that can map out nearly all of the likely regulatory switches across a genome.

That knowledge could prove critical for the agriculture field where scientists are constantly trying to improve crop yield by making different plants, such as corn or wheat, more resistant to external forces like drought, flooding or plant viruses.

"Knowledge of the landscape of the genome structure should help focus genome editing and accelerate larger applied research efforts such as those guiding precision agriculture and medicine," said Professor of Biological Science Hank Bass.

The research is published in PLOS Genetics.

Regulatory switches, controlled by transcription factors, are almost like light switches for genes. All genes have specific functions, but some only are on briefly during different stages of development. When that process goes awry, it could disrupt a plant's ability to develop correctly or fight off disease.

"By creating a robust, precise map of regulatory sites and transcription factors in maize, gene expression can be optimized by targeting these sites," said Savannah Savadel, the first author on the paper and an FSU alumna who is now in medical school at Baylor College of Medicine. "This could mean healthier plants, higher nutrient content, better growth or drought resistance, which is an especially important concern in areas where farming is difficult."

Knowing where a transcription factor binds to the gene allows researchers to understand the biochemistry of gene regulation in both normal and pathological contexts.

Corn is a complicated plant that has been studied by hundreds of researchers because it is a good model genetic species that can also help shed light on the genetics of other plants. The corn genome has about two billion base pairsunits of double stranded nucleic acids that are the building blocks of DNA. For comparison, humans have about 2.9 billion base pairs.

Bass and his colleagues used their technique, called MOA-seq, to map DNA sequences in small chunks of about 30 base pairs. The method extracts cell nuclei and applies an enzyme that functions as a probe. It diffuses into the nucleus and identifies areas of the DNA that are open to modification by transcription factor binding.

Narrowing the DNA map to smaller footprints of 30 base pairs would allow researchers to use gene editing tools such as CRISPR to modify specific areas of the gene.

"We found the light switches with high precision in a proof-of-concept test tissue, the developing ear of a maize plant," Bass said. "The ability to get down to this sequence level means you can look for genetic variation within the binding sites for these switches. This enables precision agriculture."

Bass has been refining the chromatin sensitivity profiling technique over the past decade. He worked on this paper with Thomas Hartwig, a researcher from the Max Planck Institute in Germany, who proposed a collaboration after attending a workshop Bass gave that taught researchers how to use the method. Savadel performed many of the experiments as part of her Honors in the Major Thesis at Florida State.

FSU Associate Professor of Biological Science Jonathan Dennis and Associate Professor of Statistics Jinfeng Zhang contributed to this research, along with graduate students Zachary Turpin, Pei-Yau Lung and Xin Sui and former FSU graduate student Daniel Vera. Wolf Frommer and Max Blank from the Max Planck Institute also contributed to this study.

Explore further Team defines meaningful part of maize genome

More information: Savannah D. Savadel et al, The native cistrome and sequence motif families of the maize ear, PLOS Genetics (2021). Journal information: PLoS Genetics Savannah D. Savadel et al, The native cistrome and sequence motif families of the maize ear,(2021). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009689
Spin qubit device being connected to circuit board in preparation for measurement. Credit: Serwan Asaad

Quantum engineers from UNSW Sydney have removed a major obstacle that has stood in the way of quantum computers becoming a reality. They discovered a new technique they say will be capable of controlling millions of spin qubitsthe basic units of information in a silicon quantum processor.

Until now, quantum computer engineers and scientists have worked with a proof-of-concept model of quantum processors by demonstrating the control of only a handful of qubits.

But with their latest research, published today in Science Advances, the team have found what they consider "the missing jigsaw piece" in the quantum computer architecture that should enable the control of the millions of qubits needed for extraordinarily complex calculations.

Dr. Jarryd Pla, a faculty member in UNSW's School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications says his research team wanted to crack the problem that had stumped quantum computer scientists for decadeshow to control not just a few but millions of qubits without taking up valuable space with more wiring, which uses more electricity and generates more heat.

"Up until this point, controlling electron spin qubits relied on us delivering microwave magnetic fields by putting a current through a wire right beside the qubit," Dr. Pla says.

"This poses some real challenges if we want to scale up to the millions of qubits that a quantum computer will need to solve globally significant problems, such as the design of new vaccines.

"First off, the magnetic fields drop off really quickly with distance, so we can only control those qubits closest to the wire. That means we would need to add more and more wires as we brought in more and more qubits, which would take up a lot of real estate on the chip."

And since the chip must operate at freezing cold temperatures, below -270C, Dr. Pla says introducing more wires would generate way too much heat in the chip, interfering with the reliability of the qubits.

"So we come back to only being able to control a few qubits with this wire technique," Dr. Pla says.

Lightbulb moment

The solution to this problem involved a complete reimagining of the silicon chip structure.

Rather than having thousands of control wires on the same thumbnail-sized silicon chip that also needs to contain millions of qubits, the team looked at the feasibility of generating a magnetic field from above the chip that could manipulate all of the qubits simultaneously.

This idea of controlling all qubits simultaneously was first posited by quantum computing scientists back in the 1990s, but so far, nobody had worked out a practical way to do this, until now.

"First we removed the wire next to the qubits and then came up with a novel way to deliver microwave-frequency magnetic control fields across the entire system. So in principle, we could deliver control fields to up to four million qubits," says Dr. Pla.

Dr. Pla and the team introduced a new component directly above the silicon chipa crystal prism called a dielectric resonator. When microwaves are directed into the resonator, it focuses the wavelength of the microwaves down to a much smaller size.

"The dielectric resonator shrinks the wavelength down below one millimeter, so we now have a very efficient conversion of microwave power into the magnetic field that controls the spins of all the qubits.

"There are two key innovations here. The first is that we don't have to put in a lot of power to get a strong driving field for the qubits, which crucially means we don't generate much heat. The second is that the field is very uniform across the chip, so that millions of qubits all experience the same level of control."

Quantum team-up

Although Dr. Pla and his team had developed the prototype resonator technology, they didn't have the silicon qubits to test it on. So he spoke with his engineering colleague at UNSW, Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, whose team had over the past decade demonstrated the first and the most accurate quantum logic using the same silicon manufacturing technology used to make conventional computer chips.

"I was completely blown away when Jarryd came to me with his new idea," Prof. Dzurak says, "and we immediately got down to work to see how we could integrate it with the qubit chips that my team has developed.

"We put two of our best Ph.D. students on the project, Ensar Vahapoglu from my team, and James Slack-Smith from Jarryd's.

"We were overjoyed when the experiment proved successful. This problem of how to control millions of qubits had been worrying me for a long time, since it was a major roadblock to building a full-scale quantum computer."

Once only dreamt about in the 1980s, quantum computers using thousands of qubits to solve problems of commercial significance may now be less than a decade away. Beyond that, they are expected to bring new firepower to solving global challenges and developing new technologies because of their ability to model extraordinarily complex systems.

Climate change, drug and vaccine design, code decryption and artificial intelligence all stand to benefit from quantum computing technology.

Looking ahead

Next up, the team plans to use this new technology to simplify the design of near-term silicon quantum processors.

"Removing the on-chip control wire frees up space for additional qubits and all of the other electronics required to build a quantum processor. It makes the task of going to the next step of producing devices with some tens of qubits much simpler," says Prof. Dzurak.

"While there are engineering challenges to resolve before processors with a million qubits can be made, we are excited by the fact that we now have a way to control them," says Dr. Pla.

Explore further Adding logical qubits to Sycamore quantum computer reduces error rate

More information: Single-electron spin resonance in a nanoelectronic device using a global field, Science Advances (2021). Journal information: Science Advances Single-electron spin resonance in a nanoelectronic device using a global field,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abg9158
A helicopter drops water over a wildfire in the Monte Castillo area, near Tivoli, just a few miles from Rome, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. The southern regions of Sicily, Sardinia, Calabria and also central Italy, where temperatures are expected to reach record hights, were badly hit by wildfires. Climate scientists say there is little doubt that climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is driving extreme events, such as heat waves, droughts, wildfires, floods and storms. Credit: Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse via AP

The disappearance of rural communities in combination with climate change could make wildfireslike those seen in many Mediterranean countries this summermore frequent in the future, Cyprus' environment minister said on Friday.

Costas Kadis told The Associated Press that as more people abandon villages, former cultivated areas are taken over by wild growth and cease to be a natural impediment to the spread of wildfires.

"On the contrary, they constitute one of the best areas for the outbreak and expansion of fires since a large quantity of combustible material accumulates there," Kadis told the AP in response to a written questionnaire.

The minister said this problem is compounded by climate change which is "now unquestionable on a global scale." He said the east Mediterranean is now considered a "global climate change hot spot" where biodiversity and forest ecosystems are "intensely negatively impacted."

"Because of the increased frequency and duration of heat waves and droughts, the danger of fires breaking out that are more intense, destructive and frequently occurring increases," he said. "As a result, forest ecosystems cannot recover through the mechanisms to which they were adapted."

Scientists voice little doubt that climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is driving extreme events such as heat waves, droughts and wildfires. Such hardships are likely to happen more frequently as Earth continues to warm, they say.

Cyprus last month suffered what authorities called it's "most destructive wildfire" in many decades. It cost four lives, scorched more than 50 square kilometers (20 square miles) of forest and orchards and destroyed dozens of homes.

Although there has been no scientific study linking climate change to the increase in the frequency of large wildfires in Cyprus, Kadis said empirical evidence shows this to be the case.

Kadis said Cyprus is coordinating efforts among eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries to counter climate change. He said more than 200 scientists from the region and elsewhere are preparing recommendations that will form the basis of an action plan to counter regional climate change. This plan is expected to be endorsed by regional leaders in Cyprus next summer.

The minister said the Forestry Department is in the process of preparing a study to create "fire safe zones" around rural communities by reducing the amount of combustible material around them.

Explore further Cyprus-based project to monitor Mideast emissions

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, but variations in color patterns provide some of their most distinctive characteristics. A newly released study sheds light on a subset of these patterns, unexpectedly leading to new questions about long-held tenets of dog evolution.

The study, co-authored by Professor Danika Bannasch, the Maxine Adler Endowed Chair in Genetics at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, was published Aug. 12 in Nature Ecology & Evolution. It reveals structural variants that control expression of the agouti signaling protein, or ASIP, gene at two separate locations to produce five distinctive dog color patterns. These different patterns are widespread, occurring in hundreds of dog breeds and hundreds of millions of dogs around the world.

The question of when these changes arose surprised the group of international researchers.

They discovered that the genetic combination for one of the coat patternsdominant yellow, or DYis shared with arctic white wolves and, based on phylogenetic analysis, originated from an extinct canid that diverged from gray wolves more than 2 million years ago.

"While we think about all this variation in coat color among dogs, some of it happened long before 'dogs' were dogs," Bannasch said. "The genetics turn out to be a lot more interesting because they tell us something about canid evolution."

The researchers hypothesize that lighter coat colors would have been advantageous to an extinct canid ancestor in an arctic environment during glaciation periods 1.5 to 2 million years ago. Natural selection would have caused that coat pattern to persist in the population that eventually gave rise to dogs and wolves.

"We were initially surprised to discover that white wolves and yellow dogs have an almost identical ASIP DNA configuration," said Chris Kaelin of the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville, Alabama, who is co-first author of the work with Bannasch. "But we were even more surprised when it turned out that a specific DNA configuration is more than 2 million years old, prior to the emergence of modern wolves as a species."

Bannasch conducted the research during a sabbatical in Professor Tosso Leeb's lab at the University of Bern in Switzerland. Her work at UC Davis focuses on identifying molecular causes for inherited diseases in dogs and horses. During one of Leeb's lab meetings she became interested in figuring out the basis for black and tan coat colors in dogs.

Bannasch expanded her collaboration to include colleagues at the HudsonAlpha Institute who could contribute their expertise in phylogenetics and mammalian coat patterning.

Two mutations lead to five phenotypes

Wolves and dogs can make two different types of pigments, a black one called eumelanin and a yellow pigment, pheomelanin. The precisely regulated production of these two pigments at the right time and at the right place on the body gives rise to very different coat color patterns. Pheomelanin (yellow) production is controlled by the agouti signaling protein, which is produced by the ASIP gene.

The researchers realized that no single genetic mutation accounted for the five major color phenotypes. Dogs need mutations in two areas of the ASIP gene to get different coat patterns. Bannasch and colleagues renamed the phenotypes to better describe the variations: dominant yellow, shaded yellow, agouti, black saddle and black back. They also discovered that the haplotype for dominant yellow was much older than anticipated.

"It didn't come from modern wolves. It had been around for much longer," Bannasch said.

So, the researchers tested the genetics of ancient wolves and dogs to confirm that the dominant yellow haplotype has been around for about 2 million years, long before the domestication of dogs some 30,000 years ago.

The black back pattern was identified in a dog sample that was 9,500 years old, showing that the rich variation in dog coat colors was present in the earliest canine companions.

In addition to her scientific research, Bannasch has a passion for raising and training dogs. Along with her Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers, Bannasch has a black back patterned Danish Swedish farmdog. Soon after coming back to Davis, she brought home her second of that breed, which carries the dominant yellow pattern. Now all she needs are the three other coat patterns, she joked, and she'll have a full set.

Explore further Newly discovered genetic element adjusts coat color in dogs

More information: Danika L. Bannasch et al, Dog colour patterns explained by modular promoters of ancient canid origin, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2021). Journal information: Nature Ecology & Evolution Danika L. Bannasch et al, Dog colour patterns explained by modular promoters of ancient canid origin,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-021-01524-x
Foxglove. Credit: Matthias Becher

Solutions to help pollinators can be tested using a "virtual safe space" tool created by scientists at the University of Exeter in collaboration with farmers and land managers.

BEE-STEWARD is a decision-support tool which provides a computer simulation of bumblebee colony survival in a given landscape.

The tool lets researchers, farmers, policymakers and other interested parties test different land management techniques to find out which ones and where could be most beneficial for bees.

BEE-STEWARDwhich is freely available onlineis a powerful tool that can make bumblebee survival predictions, according to a new study.

"We know that pollinator decline is a really big problem for crops and also for wildflowers," said Dr. Grace Twiston-Davies, of the Environment and Sustainability Institute at the University of Exeter's Penryn Campus in Cornwall.

"BEE-STEWARD takes into account the many complicated factors that interact to affect bumblebees."

"This provides a virtual safe space to test out different bee-friendly management options."

"It's a free, user-friendly tool and we have worked with land managers and wildlife groups on the ground to create it together."

Disentangling the many factors that affect bumblebee colonies is incredibly complicated, meaning real-word testing of different methods by land managers is often not feasible.

This problem prompted the Exeter scientists to create the BEEHAVE (honeybees) and Bumble-BEEHAVE (Bumblebees) computer models. But to help bumblebees thrive across our landscapes, these tools need to be used by people on the ground and not just scientists.

BEE-STEWARD has been designed with and for land managers, farmers and conservation practitioners to test out different ideas for land management and predict the impact that these may have on bumblebee survival.

Bombus lapidarius. Credit: Matthias Becher

BEE-STEWARD is being used by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to help test and guide land management to help bumblebees and farm business thrive in Cornwall. Using BEE-STEWARD, bee-friendly actions are being tested across 1,500 ha of land in collaboration with the Duchy of Cornwall Estate, the National Trust, Treiwthen Dairy and Kellys of Cornwall.

BEE-STEWARD can simulate the growth, behaviour and survival of UK bumblebee species living in a landscape providing various nectar and pollen sources to forage on.

"The BEE-STEWARD model is a significant step towards enabling practitioners to support bumblebee populations," said Professor Juliet Osborne, who leads the team.

"The tool can be used to inform conservation and farming decisions and for assigning bespoke management recommendations."

Professor Osborne and team won the BBSRC Social Innovator of the Year 2017 award for creating the BEEHAVE models.

"We have worked with researchers and landowners who have been using the model and have given us valuable feedback so we could improve our models further" said model developer Dr. Matthias Becher.

"Testing the BEE-STEWARD tool has helped us predict how best to provide new and improved habitat for pollinators in an informed way, considering existing and proposed flora, flowering times and location. This has focused decision making by identifying pollinator habitats that are lacking in a particular landscape, enabling us to focus our attention to improve and protect these specific areas" Ashley Taylor, Assistant Land Steward, Duchy of Cornwall Estate

BEE-STEWARD could be an important virtual test-bed for scientists exploring the impacts of different stressors on bumblebees and used by those with little or no modelling experience. Enabling a shared methodology between research, policy and practice for bumblebee survival.

"'The Bee-Steward model will be fantastic for conservation planningit lets us time-travel to see the long-term results of changing management and compare all the possible options to see which one will work out best for bumblebees" Dr. Richard Comont, Science Manager, Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

The BEE-STEWARD tool sits alongside a wider body of research by Prof. Osborne, Dr. Twiston-Davies and Dr. Becher around pollinator-friendly land-management. Their work on the NERC-funded SWEEP programme has included providing advice on Managing Green Space to improve biodiversity and wildlife habitats and working on the 'Farming for the Nation' trial for a new Agri-environment scheme with Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The new tool, published in Methods in Ecology and Evolution, is entitled: "BEE-STEWARD: a research and decision support software for effective land management to promote bumblebee populations."

More information: Grace TwistonDavies et al, BEESTEWARD: A research and decisionsupport software for effective land management to promote bumblebee populations, Methods in Ecology and Evolution (2021). Journal information: Methods in Ecology and Evolution Grace TwistonDavies et al, BEESTEWARD: A research and decisionsupport software for effective land management to promote bumblebee populations,(2021). DOI: 10.1111/2041-210X.13673
In Suizhou, torrential rains have forced families to evacuate.

At least 21 people died as heavy downpours struck central China's Hubei province, authorities said Friday, weeks after record floods wreaked havoc and killed hundreds in a neighbouring province.

China has been battered by unprecedented rains in recent months, extreme weather that experts say is increasingly common due to global warming.

In Hubei, torrential rains caused power cuts and landslides, destroying hundreds of homes and forcing the evacuation of nearly 6,000 people, the province's Emergency Management Bureau said, as reservoirs reach dangerous levels.

"Twenty-one people were killed and four others are missing as heavy rain lashed townships from Wednesday," state broadcaster Xinhua reported Friday.

Footage showed families wading in water that had risen to almost hip level and carrying essentials in plastic bags in Yicheng, which saw a record 480 millimetres (around 19 inches) of rain on Thursday. Rescuers carried people to safety on bulldozers.

"Yesterday the water levels rose to about two to three metres. My neighbour's house was completely destroyed," a resident from one of the worst affected areas in the city of Suizhou told local media.

"We haven't seen so much rain in 20 or 30 years."

Hundreds of firefighters and thousands of police and military have been dispatched to the worst affected areas, China's Ministry of Emergency Management said.

A map of China locating Hubei province, where deadly heavy rainfalls hit Friday.

Thousands of rescuers have been dispatched to the province's worst affected areas.

Around 100,000 people were evacuated in the southwestern province of Sichuan last weekend as heavy rains caused several landslides.

More than 300 people were killed in central China's Henan province last month after record downpours dumped a year's worth of rain on a city in three days.

China's Meteorological Administration warned that heavy rainfall was likely to continue until next week, with regions along the Yangtze River, including Shanghai, vulnerable to flooding.

Explore further Flooding in central China turns streets to rivers, kills 12

 2021 AFP
Bill Gates said his Breakthrough Energy company would spend $1.5 billion over the course of three years with the goal of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change, according to US media reports.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Thursday said his climate fund would pour $1.5 billion into projects with the United States if the government enacts a program to cut carbon emissions currently working its way through Congress.

A $1.2 trillion infrastructure package passed by the US Senate this week would funnel billions of dollars to the Department of Energy for projects battling climate change.

If the infrastructure package becomes law, "this collaboration will not only send us on a more durable path to net zero, but will create both immediate and long-term jobs in communities across the country," Gates said in a statement published by CNBC.

By funding work on roads, bridges and ports, as well as clean water and high-speed internet, US President Joe Biden said the billwhich still needs House approvalwould create thousands of high-paying jobs for people without college degrees.

"This historic investment in infrastructure is what I believe you, the American people, want," Biden said in a White House address.

Needing just a simple majority, the package passed by 69 votes to 30 with backing from a third of Republican Senators.

The measure now faces a make-or-break vote in the House of Representatives in coming weeks, where its future is less certain as divisions have sprung up in the Democratic majority.

The ambitious plan provides for $550 billion in new federal spending on transport infrastructure, and also for public transit, broadband internet and clean water, as well as electric charging stations and other measures to fight climate change.

A Gates fund run by his Breakthrough Energy company would spend the $1.5 billion over the course of three years with the goal of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change, according to US media reports.

Projects could include airplanes that don't spew pollution and technology for capturing carbon from the air.

"Critical for all these climate technologies is to get the costs down and to be able to scale them up to a pretty gigantic level," Gates was quoted as telling the Wall Street Journal.

"You'll never get that scale up unless the government's coming in with the right policies, and the right policy is exactly what's in that infrastructure bill."

 2021 AFP
Eddy covariance flux measuring system for ammonia. Credit: Wang Kai.

In the past decades, intensive human agricultural activities have caused a significant increase in ammonia (NH3) emissions to the atmosphere, which have led to serious environmental and public health problems.

Accurate quantification of NH3 emissions from agricultural ecosystems is essential for the understanding of NH3 budgets at regional to global scales as well as for the control and mitigation strategies on air pollution.

Scientists at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and their collaborators have developed a portable and solar-powered open-path NH3 analyzer (model: HT8700).

This analyzer is specifically designed for NH3 flux measurement based on the eddy covariance (EC) method, the most direct and effective way to measure NH3 exchanges between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere. The team investigated the analyzer's suitability to measure NH3 fluxes through laboratory and field experiments.

The study was published in Agricultural and Forest Meteorology.

A flux system based on the EC method requires an NH3 analyzer with high sensitivity and fast response. "The availability of the new instrument for the flux community allows us to monitor the NH3 flux, both emissions and depositions, at different types of ecosystems." said Dr. Wang Kai, lead author of the study.

The HT8700 NH3 analyzer is based on the state-of-art quantum cascade laser absorption spectroscopy (QCLAS) technique. Its open-path design overcomes the challenges faced by the close-path instruments. With good performance in terms of response time, precision and stability, this instrument is an ideal tool for NH3 flux measurements based on the EC technique.

"The field experiment proved the importance of open-path design for NH3 flux observation, but we think there are more opportunities for improvement in the future," said a co-author Dr. Wang Yin from Ningbo HealthyPhoton Co., Ltd. "Its data availability is largely constrained by frequent reductions in the laser signal intensity, because the optical mirrors are directly exposed to the environment. An automatic mirror cleaning design is being developed. It will make this instrument more suitable for long-term and automated measurements especially under dusty field conditions."

Explore further Scientists measure HONO and NOX flux in farmland

More information: Kai Wang et al, An open-path ammonia analyzer for eddy covariance flux measurement, Agricultural and Forest Meteorology (2021). Journal information: Agricultural and Forest Meteorology Kai Wang et al, An open-path ammonia analyzer for eddy covariance flux measurement,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.agrformet.2021.108570
Issam Mudawar (far left) inspects one of the modules of the Flow Boiling and Condensation Experiment, which was recently launched to the International Space Station. Joining him at NASA's Glenn Research Center are (left to right) Purdue Ph.D. candidate Steven Darges and NASAs Mojib Hasan and Henry Nahra. Credit: Purdue University

People who design spacecraft must prioritize two factors: reducing weight and managing extreme temperatures.

A new experiment designed by Purdue University engineers addresses both problems. The Flow Boiling and Condensation Experiment (FBCE), which arrived at the International Space Station on Thursday (Aug. 12), will soon advance the science of heat transfer in microgravity.

"Vehicles like the space shuttle used single-phase cooling, which circulates liquid through tubes to remove heat from the avionics," said Issam Mudawar, the Betty Ruth and Milton B. Hollander Family Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and the principal investigator of the FBCE. "But these systems are complex and add a lot of weight to the spacecraft. What we've been exploring is using two-phase flow, which is more efficient and reduces the size of the cooling hardware."

Two-phase flow refers to two phases of matterliquid and vaporthat happen during boiling and condensation. In a process known as "flow boiling," a specialized liquid flows by a heat source, which causes the liquid to boil and create bubbles. Those bubbles of vapor flow past the heat source, reject the heat, and then condense back into liquid, which recirculates constantly in a closed system.

It's a highly efficient and well-studied process, but one aspect remains unknown: is flow boiling in space as efficient as flow boiling on Earth?

To find the answer, Mudawar formed a research partnership with NASA's Glenn Research Center. His team designed and built an experiment to test flow boiling and condensation in microgravity, and in 2012 the team sent it on the "vomit comet," an airplane that simulates periods of 15-17-seconds of microgravity by flying up-and-down parabolas.

"We discovered that at certain flow rates, microgravity actually did reduce the amount of heat flux by up to 50%," Mudawar said.

In collaboration with colleagues at Glenn Research Center, Mudawar's team continued to tweak multiple factors in the process, and in the next few years, sent the experiment up several times on parabolic flights with Zero Gravity Corporation (ZERO-G). Purdue students were aboard to operate the equipment.

"Our goal has always been to achieve design specifications for the experiment to actually be performed in space," Mudawar said.

The researchers got their wish earlier this year. Mudawar and his colleagues at Glenn Research Center had been working on a smaller version of the experiment to fit in a specific rack on the International Space Station. In March, they confirmed that this new experiment module, FBCE, had passed all of NASA's safety and readiness reviews and was ready to be launched.

"This is no small task," Mudawar said. "Every single structural member needs to be optimized for weight and size. Every single screw has to be evaluated and certified. It's actually good preparation for trying to make future spacecraft lighter, which is what we're trying to accomplish!"

On Tuesday, an Antares rocket launched from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia. Atop the rocket was a Northrop-Grumman Cygnus spacecraft carrying 3,000 pounds of supplies for the astronauts aboard ISS, as well as the FBCE and three other science experiments. Cygnus docked with ISS on Thursday. Astronauts will soon run the science equipment through operational readiness reviews and, later this year, will begin to conduct the experiment.

"This is truly a milestone for Purdue's space research," Mudawar said. "I've had 14 Ph.D. students and one master's student work with me on this project over the past decade. And teaming up with Glenn Research Center has been a perfect partnership. This will be the largest phase change experiment ever conducted in space. Hopefully, what we learn from this experiment can be used to make future spacecraft more efficient, and enable us to go to the moon, Mars and beyond."

Explore further Experiment bound for space station turns down the heat
A sign for The Rock on the Ridge Church is seen in Greenville, Calif., after the Dixie Wildfires Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021. California's largest single wildfire in recorded history is running through forestlands as fire crews try to protect rural communities from flames that have destroyed hundreds of homes. The Dixie Fire is the largest single fire in California history and the largest currently burning in the U.S. It is about half the size of the August Complex, a series of lightning-caused 2020 fires across seven counties that were fought together and that state officials consider California's largest wildfire overall. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Garcia

Wildfires in Montana threatened rural towns and ranchland, and victims of a California blaze returned to their incinerated town even as the region faced another round of dangerous weather.

Firefighters and residents have scrambled to save hundreds of homes as flames advance across the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in southeastern Montana.

An evacuation order was lifted Friday morning for about 600 people in and around the town of Ashland, just east of the reservation, signaling progress on the blaze that had burned out of control since Sunday.

But the fire was still burning near the tribal headquarters town of Lame Deer, where a mandatory evacuation remained in place and a second fire was threatening from the opposite direction.

The two fires combined have burned 275 square miles (710 square kilometers) this week, so far sparing homes but causing extensive damage to pasture lands that ranchers depend on to feed their cows and horses.

As the blaze raged across rugged hills and narrow ravines, tribal member Darlene Small helped her grandson move about 100 head of cattle to a new pasture, only to relocate them twice more as the flames from the Richard Spring fire bore down. An extreme drought that's blanketing the West has made matters worse by stunting vegetation untouched by fire.

A metal bench stands in front of a burned structure in Greenville, Calif., after the Dixie Wildfire Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021. California's largest single wildfire in recorded history is running through forestlands as fire crews try to protect rural communities from flames that have destroyed hundreds of homes. The Dixie Fire is the largest single fire in California history and the largest currently burning in the U.S. It is about half the size of the August Complex, a series of lightning-caused 2020 fires across seven counties that were fought together and that state officials consider California's largest wildfire overall. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Garcia

"They've got to have pasture where there's water. If there's no water, there's no good pasture," Small said. Particularly hard hit were some ranchers already depending on surplus grass after a fire burned them off their normal pasture last year, she said.

Gusts and low humidity were creating extremely dangerous conditions as flames devoured brush, short grass and timber, fire officials said.

The same conditions turned California's Dixie Fire into a furious blaze that last week burned down much of the small town of Greenville in the northern Sierra Nevada. The fire that began a month ago has destroyed some 550 homes.

Residents were trying to cope with the magnitude of the losses.

"Everything that I own is now ashes or twisted metal. That's just all it is," said Greenville resident Ken Donnell, who escaped with just the clothes on his back.

Burnt vehicles are seen in Greenville, Calif., after the Dixie Wildfire Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021. California's largest single wildfire in recorded history is running through forestlands as fire crews try to protect rural communities from flames that have destroyed hundreds of homes. The Dixie Fire is the largest single fire in California history and the largest currently burning in the U.S. It is about half the size of the August Complex, a series of lightning-caused 2020 fires across seven counties that were fought together and that state officials consider California's largest wildfire overall. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Garcia

Donnell said he was heart-broken but "by God, I'm gonna smile. Because you know, it just makes things a little bit better and a little bit better right now is a lot."

Sam Prentice, a firefighter for the USDA Forest Service battled the flames in Greenville on Aug. 5, when the town was leveled. He was not optimistic on Greenville's ability to rebuild.

"Essentially it starts to become an archeology sitekind of a testament to the fire era that we're in right now," said Prentice. "It's daunting."

The fire had ravaged more than 800 square miles (well over 2,000 square kilometers)an area larger than the city of Londonand continued to threaten more than a dozen rural and forest communities.

Despite firefighting progress, it was 31% contained and fire officials warned that hot weather would continue and Northern California would see a red flag warning of critical fire weather beginning Friday afternoon. The weather would bring a chance of dry lightning that could spark new blazes even as crews continue trying to surround a number of other forest fires that were ignited by lightning last month.

A church sign is seen partially melted in Greenville, Calif., after the Dixie Wildfire Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021. California's largest single wildfire in recorded history is running through forestlands as fire crews try to protect rural communities from flames that have destroyed hundreds of homes. The Dixie Fire is the largest single fire in California history and the largest currently burning in the U.S. It is about half the size of the August Complex, a series of lightning-caused 2020 fires across seven counties that were fought together and that state officials consider California's largest wildfire overall. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Garcia

Hot, dry and weather with strong afternoon winds also propelled several fires in Washington state and similar weather was expected into the weekend, fire officials said.

Unstable weather was forecast throughout the drought-stricken West, where more than 100 large fires were burning in more than a dozen states.

In Montana, days of swirling winds spread flames in all directions, torching trees and blowing embers that flew across a dry landscape.

The Richard Spring fire was within about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) of the eastern edge Lame Deer, while a smaller fire was about 5 miles (8 kilometers) to the west, said fire spokesperson Jeni Garcin.

Of most immediate concern were areas southeast of the town, where homes in a rural area were threatened. Fire engines were posted in that area to provide protection if flames threatened houses, Garcin said.

Smoke from a wildfire obscure the empty streets of Greenville, Calif., after the Dixie Wildfires Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021. California's largest single wildfire in recorded history is running through forestlands as fire crews try to protect rural communities from flames that have destroyed hundreds of homes. The Dixie Fire is the largest single fire in California history and the largest currently burning in the U.S. It is about half the size of the August Complex, a series of lightning-caused 2020 fires across seven counties that were fought together and that state officials consider California's largest wildfire overall. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Garcia

After walking down a gravel road to do recon on a fire cresting into the trees, a wildland firefighter grimaces as he walks back to his crew on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, at the Bedrock Fire north of Lenore, Idaho. Lenore is about 30 miles east of Lewiston, Idaho. Credit: Pete Caster/Lewiston Tribune via AP

The remains of a burned U.S Postal truck is seen in Greenville, Calif., after the Dixie Wildfires Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021. California's largest single wildfire in recorded history is running through forestlands as fire crews try to protect rural communities from flames that have destroyed hundreds of homes. The Dixie Fire is the largest single fire in California history and the largest currently burning in the U.S. It is about half the size of the August Complex, a series of lightning-caused 2020 fires across seven counties that were fought together and that state officials consider California's largest wildfire overall. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Garcia

Charred metal and ash are all that remain of "Pete" Reyna's Chicago Park home which burned Wednesday night due to the River Fire, Aug. 7, 2021. Credit: Elias Funez/The Union via AP

Charred metal and ash are all that remain of "Pete" Reyna's Chicago Park home which burned Wednesday night due to the River Fire, Aug. 7, 2021. Credit: Elias Funez/The Union via AP

The burned vehicles of "Pete" Reyna await cleanup and removal from this Chicago Park neighborhood, Aug. 7, 2021. Credit: Elias Funez/The Union via AP

A classic Chevrolet El Camino valued at $35,000 was lost along with the home of "Pete" Reyna Wednesday evening in Chicago Park, Aug. 7, 2021. Credit: Elias Funez/The Union via AP

Charred remnants of vehicles sit in the driveway of Porfirio "Pete" Reyna's Rumford Court home in Chicago Park where everything, including his home were a total loss due to the River Fire. Reyna, like others have already begun looking at rebuilding, Aug. 7, 2021. Credit: Elias Funez/The Union via AP

PG&E has completed their damage assessment of the River Fire and has begun repairing the damaged infrastructure, Aug. 7, 2021. Credit: Elias Funez/The Union via AP

The fire map of the River Fire, which started Wednesday Aug. 4, shows the 2.600 acre footprint which straddles the Nevada County and Placer County borders, Aug. 7, 2021. Credit: Elias Funez/The Union via AP

With 40-foot (12-meter) flames visible from parts of Lame Deer overnight Wednesday, firefighters worked urgently to keep the blaze from destroying houses.

After a brief break in the weather that brought cooler temperatures Thursday, it's expected to start heating up again, reaching the 90s by Saturday and staying hot through Monday. Officials say that will dry out grasses and other fuels and make them more susceptible to burning.

Climate change has made the Western United States warmer and drier in the past 30 years and will continue to make the weather more extreme and wildfires more destructive, according to scientists.

Explore further Fires charring range set up ranchers for hardship in US West

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Graphical abstract. Credit: DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2021.117167

Post-pandemic vacation travel was among the biggest stories of summer 2021, raising questions about air travel's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. According to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 710 million tons of global carbon dioxide came from commercial aviation in 2013. By 2017, that number reached 860 million tons, a 21% increase in four years. By 2018, it climbed to 905 million tons, 2.4% of total CO 2 emissions.

Airplane manufacturers and their customers in government and industry have invested in the design of new aircraft engines that function at extremely high temperatures, which means the engines can generate more energy while burning less fuel. However, the very high temperatures can be a problem for the materials used to make the engine.

Haydn Wadley, Edgar Starke Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science, and Jeroen Deijkers, a postdoctoral research associate in Wadley's group, found a way to greatly extend the life of the materials used in these jet engines. Their paper, "A duplex bond coat approach to environmental barrier coating systems," is published in the September 2021 issue of Acta Materialia.

"A jet engine gulps huge quantities of air, which, when compressed and mixed with hydrocarbon fuel and burned in a combustor, powers the plane's propulsion system. The hotter the combustor, the more efficient the engine," Wadley said.

Combustion in airplane engines now reaches or exceeds 1500 degrees centigrade, well above the melting temperatures of engine parts typically made of nickel and cobalt alloys. Research has turned to ceramics that can withstand these temperatures, but they must contend with chemical reactions from the water vapor and unburnt oxygen in the extreme combustion environment.

Silicon carbide is the ceramic of choice. However, engine parts made of silicon carbide would last only a few thousand hours of flight time. At such high temperatures, the carbon element reacts with oxygen to form carbon monoxide (a gas), while the silicon forms silica (a solid), but silica reacts with water vapor to form a gaseous silicon hydroxide. In other words, the engine part progressively turns into gas and disappears out the tail pipe.

To protect the ceramic parts, engine manufacturers apply a two-layer coating, called an environmental barrier coating system, to the silicon carbide. The outer layer is designed to slow the spread of oxygen and water vapor toward the silicon carbide during flight, while an inner bond coat made of silicon protects the silicon carbide's surface by reacting with the oxygen to form a thin layer of silica. But there are still challenges to this design.

"The life of the engine component is often dictated by the time it takes for the silica layer thickness to reach a critical point where the stress caused by expansion and contraction during repeated heating and cooling causes the coating to pop off," Wadley said.

Scientists and engineers have two basic strategies to delay the coating's separation and extend the life of expensive engine components. They can make the outer coating layer very thick to slow down the arrival of oxygen at the bond coat, but that adds weight and cost. Or, they can create a different kind of protective oxide, one that does not "pop off."

Deijkers and Wadley pursued the second strategy.

Their solution uses an outer layer of ytterbium disilicate, a rare earth element that shares silicon's and silicon carbide's thermal expansion characteristics and is slow to transport oxygen and water vapor toward the silicon layer. They first deposited the silicon bond coat and then placed a thin layer of hafnium oxide between the silicon and the ytterbium disilicate outer layer.

Their experimental studies show that as the silica forms on the silicon, it immediately reacts with the hafnia to form a silicon-hafnium oxide, or hafnon. The hafnon's thermal expansion and contraction is the same as the rest of the coating and will never cause the coating to pop off or crack. Wadley calls it adding a little "hafnia fairy dust."

"When we deposit a very thin layer of hafnia on top of silicon, followed by a layer of ytterbium disilicate, the oxygen that passes through the ytterbium disilicate creates a chemical reaction with the underlying materials to form the hafnon," Deijkers said.

Deijkers' access to unique equipment in Wadley's lab, specifically a directed vapor deposition system, enabled this breakthrough in environmental barrier coatings. The ability to deposit a film of ytterbium disilicate that is thinner than the diameter of a human hair is key to their success.

The directed vapor deposition process uses a powerful 10-kilowatt focused electron beam to melt material in a low-pressure chamber. A supersonic gas jet transports the vapor to the silicon-coated silicon carbide where it condenses, creating a thin film. They then use a plasma spray method to deposit the final ytterbium disilicate layer, and the coated component is then ready for testing.

Deijkers successfully defended his dissertation in October 2020, combining his interests in aircraft and high-temperature materials for his Ph.D. research, and following his father's path into materials science and engineering.

"My dad used to work on dredging ships. Seeing the pump house glowing orange-white in the furnace, that's how I caught the engineering bug," Deijkers said.

Deijkers, who is from the Netherlands, combined these early memories with his interest in serving in the Dutch Air Force, earning a bachelor's and master's degree in aerospace engineering from Delft University of Technology.

When Deijkers began applying to Ph.D. programs in the United States, his master's thesis on thermal barrier coatings captured Wadley's attention. Deijkers' arrival was well timed. Group member Brad Richards, who earned his Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from UVA in 2015, had developed the silicon-ytterbium disilicate coating system for ceramics that was subsequently found to be very similar to that being used by the makers of aircraft engines.

Deijkers' dissertation improves Richards' coating system, deepening understanding of the surface chemistry involved and increasing the coating system's viability for commercial adoption.

"One set of questions driving my research focused on how long it takes for the hafnon to form through the oxidation process," Deijkers said. "I wanted to understand how this process really works, and whether we could actually put it to use.

"This coating has greater potential than we thought; we need to develop it and put it in an actual engine, to move it further along the path toward commercialization."

Today's methods are rooted in deposition techniques developed in the 1970s.

"Compared to the state-of-the-art in industry, our research makes a major improvement," Deijkers said. "My rough estimate, if industrial manufacturers were able to implement these newer processing techniques, they could extend the engine parts' lifetime by as much as 200 times. But there are a lot of hurdles to jump through to get that level of performance."

Wadley's research group made these advancements with the support of the Office of Naval Research, which awarded Wadley's team two successive grants over a period of six years.

"The problems we have to solve are multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional," Wadley said. "We need to fuse together knowledge from mechanics, chemistry and materials science in order to make progress. Beyond the immediate need to reduce CO 2 emitted by propulsion technology, our research supports the global shift from carbon-containing hydrocarbons to hydrogen fuels and the eventual electrification of air travel platforms."

Whereas Deijkers hopes to attract private industry to the team's coatings system and deposition process, his career ambition is to pursue scientific discoveries at a national laboratory or in academia.

"The nation has an urgent need for talent in this arena," Wadley said. "We are in desperate need for bright, creative people who want to be trained to solve these kinds of problems for society going forward."

Just as Deijkers continued Richards' research, he encourages UVA Engineering undergraduates to participate in the interdisciplinary research underway in Wadley's group.

"We had undergraduates from aerospace engineering, physics, systems engineering," Deijkers said. "We are working a lot of different aspects of the problemcomputer modeling, materials synthesis, thermo-mechanical life design. We always have things for undergraduates to do, and we're always open for them to do research with us."

Explore further Invisible barrier breakthrough a boon for electronics, artwork and more

More information: Jeroen A. Deijkers et al, A duplex bond coat approach to environmental barrier coating systems, Acta Materialia (2021). Jeroen A. Deijkers et al, A duplex bond coat approach to environmental barrier coating systems,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2021.117167
The trunk diameter of both plants -- is subject to seasonal rhythms. In 2015, the winter was very long; as a result, the dwarf birch showed little growth in late summer. Credit: Ecosphere (2021). DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3688

It is the most comprehensive study of its kind to date. Researchers at the University of Bonn and the University of South-Eastern Norway have studied how two characteristic arctic-alpine plant species respond to global warming. They did this by analyzing almost 500 million of their own readings from the mountainous region of Norway. The analyses show that potential consequences of climate change are extremely dependent on the specific location of the plants and that deciduous species in particular will benefit from warming. The result would be a further increase in the trend toward greening of the arctic-alpine regions. The study is published in the journal Ecosphere.

The Norwegian mountains can be quite inhospitable during the colder months. Nevertheless, there are plants that cope splendidly with the biting temperatures. They include the dwarf birch Betula nana and the black crowberry Empetrum hermaphroditum. Both thrive in arctic-alpine conditions, which makes them typical representatives of tundra vegetation.

Up until now, it has been unclear how the growth of dwarf birch and crowberry is influenced by specific environmental conditions. In the alpine regions of Norway, a project has been underway for 30 years that aims to change that. "We wired up some of the plants here and fitted them with so-called data loggers that record the measurements," explains Prof. Dr. Jorg Loffler from the Department of Geography at the University of Bonn. A pin-like sensor records the diameter of the trunkminute by minute, 365 days a year, to an accuracy of less than a thousandth of a millimeter. At the same time, the researchers measure solar radiation, temperature in the root zone and just above the soil surface, and soil moisture.

Shrinkage against frost damage

In the current study, researchers analyzed nearly 500 million measurements from 40 plants between 2015 and 2019. "We mainly studied how the microclimate, that is, the conditions encountered by the individual plant, affects its growth," says Svenja Dobbert, who is doing her doctorate in Prof. Loffler's research group. This revealed a striking rhythm in both dwarf birch and crowberry. During the colder months, their trunk diameter shrank significantly in each casea process that was reversed in the spring. However, it was not until late summer that the deficits were made up to such an extent that actual growth began.

"Due to low temperatures in the colder months, there is hardly any liquid water available for the plants," Dobbert says, explaining the finding. "They also reduce their trunk diameter by actively reducing the water content of their cells to avoid frost damage." Just how important this strategy is for both species to thrive is demonstrated by another observationplants that shrank very little during the winter often showed little or no growth the following summer.

A second important finding is that he deciduous dwarf birches usually grew better after a mild winter. They therefore seem to generally benefit from warmer winters. With the evergreen crowberries it was the other way around. "In cold winters, there is usually less snowfall," Loffler says. "This could be an advantage for evergreen species because they can then keep up photosynthetic activity for longer and hence enter the growth phase earlier in the spring." It is therefore possible that climate change is causing an increasing spread of deciduous species and a concomitant displacement of evergreen species. Since the leaves of deciduous plants have a comparatively large surface area (in contrast, those of evergreen species are usually needle-like), this effect could contribute to the further greening of arctic-alpine regions.

The microclimate is crucial

"However, our results also show that microclimatic conditions can be extremely different depending on the location," explains Loffler. For instance, at exposed, windy locations, snow cover tends to be very thin. The deciduous dwarf birch however requires a sufficiently thick insulating layer of snow in winter. It then has to use fewer resources to protect itself from frost. Without this warming blanket, the dwarf birch has a difficult time. The evergreen crowberry, in contrast, benefits from the extra sunlight during such snow-free periods. "Overall, our measurements prove that global climate data provide little valid evidence for local vegetation effects," emphasizes the geographer. "Studies like ours can potentially help us better model such complex effects and in turn better predict the effects of climate change on plant life."

Explore further Shrubs and soils: A hot topic in the cool tundra

More information: Svenja Dobbert et al, Contrasting growth response of evergreen and deciduous arcticalpine shrub species to climate variability, Ecosphere (2021). Journal information: Ecosphere Svenja Dobbert et al, Contrasting growth response of evergreen and deciduous arcticalpine shrub species to climate variability,(2021). DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3688
A double stranded DNA fragment. Credit: Vcpmartin/Wikimedia/ CC BY-SA 4.0

Newcastle University research offers important insights into how we could turn DNA into a green-by-design data structure that organises data like conventional computers.

The team, led by researchers from Newcastle University's School of Computing, created new dynamic DNA data structures able to store and recall information in an ordered way from DNA molecules. They also analysed how these structures are able to be interfaced with external nucleic acid computing circuits.

Publishing their findings in the journal Nature Communications, the scientists present an in vitro implementation of a stack data structure using DNA polymers. Developed as a DNA chemical reaction system, the stack system is able to record combinations of two different DNA signals (0s and 1s), release the signals into solution in reverse order, and then re-record.

The stack, which is a linear data structure which follows a particular order in which the operations are performed, stores and retrieves information (DNA signal strands) in a last-in first-out order by building and truncating DNA "polymers" of single ssDNA strands. Such a stack data structure may eventually be embedded in an in vivo context to store messenger RNAs and reverse the temporal order of a translational response, among other applications.

Professor Natalio Krasnogor, of Newcastle University's School of Computing, who led the study explains: "Our civilisation is data hungry and all that information processing thirst is having a strong environmental impact. For example, digital technologies pollute more than the aviation industry, the top 7000 data centers in the world use around 2% of global electricity and we all heard about the environmental footprint of some cryptocurrencies.

"In recent years DNA has been shown to be an excellent substrate to store data and the DNA is a renewable, sustainable resource. At Newcastle we are passionate about sustainability and thus we wanted to start taking baby steps into green-by-design molecular information processing in DNA and go beyond simply storing data. We wanted to be able to organise it. In computer science, data structures are at the core of all the algorithms that run our modern economy; this is so because you need a way to have a unified and standardised way to operate on the data that is stored. This is what data structures enable. We are the first to demonstrate a molecular realisation of this crucial component of the modern information age."

Information processing at the nanoscale level

Study co-author, Dr. Annunziata Lopiccolo, Research Associate at Newcastle University's Centre for Synthetic Biology and the Bioeconomy, added: "If we start thinking about data storage, immediately our minds picture electronic microchips, USB drives and many other existing technologies. But over the last few years biologists challenged the data storage media sector demonstrating that the DNA nature, as a highly stable and resilient media, can function as a quaternary data storage, rather than binary. In our work we wanted to demonstrate that it is possible to use the quaternary code to craft readable inputs and outputs under the form of programmable signals, with a linear and organised data structure. Our work expands knowledge in the context of information processing at the nanoscale level."

Study co-author Dr. Harold Fellermann, Lecturer at Newcastle University School of Computing, added: "Our biomolecular data structure, where both data as well as operations are represented by short pieces of DNA, has been designed with biological implementations in mind. In principle, we can imagine such a device to be used inside a living cell, bacteria for example. This makes it possible to bring computational power to domains that are currently hard to access with traditional silicon-based, electronic computing. In the future, such data structures might be used in environmental monitoring, bioremediation, green production, and even personalised nanomedicine."

Study co-author, Dr. Benjamin Shirt-Ediss, Research Associate, Newcastle University School of Computing, said: "It was really interesting to develop a computational model of the DNA chemistry and to see good agreement with experimental results coming out of the lab. The computational model allowed us to really get a handle on the performance of the DNA stack data structurewe could systematically explore its absolute limits and suggest future avenues for improvement."

The experimental DNA stack system constitutes proof-of principle that a polymerising DNA chemistry can be used as a dynamic data structure to store two types of DNA signal in a last-in first-out order. While more research is needed to determine the best-possible way to archive and access DNA-based data, the study highlights the enormous potential of this technology, and how it could help tackle the rapidly growing data demands.

Explore further DNA 'Lite-Brite' is a promising way to archive data for decades or longer

More information: Annunziata Lopiccolo et al, A last-in first-out stack data structure implemented in DNA, Nature Communications (2021). Journal information: Nature Communications Annunziata Lopiccolo et al, A last-in first-out stack data structure implemented in DNA,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25023-6
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Duck species in Finland are faring poorly, with more than half of the species listed as threatened to a varying degree, with alien predators as one of the suspected causes.

A new study proves the suspicions well-founded. In experiments carried out over three years by the University of Helsinki, Finland and Aarhus University, Denmark, wildlife cameras recorded an abundance of images of alien species predating artificial nests established by the researchers in Finland and Denmark.

More than 400 artificial nests containing farmed mallard eggs were created, of which roughly 290 were located around southern Finland. The nests were built in natural duck nesting environments.

In Finland, raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) were more common nest predators than red foxes, although in Denmark the situation was reversed, possibly reflecting the species' local relative abundance.

"The raccoon dog was the most common mammalian predator in all of the environments studied in Finland. As expected, raccoon dogs destroyed nests on shorelines, but surprisingly often also in forests close to wetlands," says Postdoctoral Researcher Sari Holopainen from the Finnish Museum of Natural History Luomus, University of Helsinki.

Broken eggs attract mammalian predators

Wildlife cameras revealed that many nests were visited by more than one predator. Corvids were often the first to notice the nests. On occasion, they would break an egg in the nest, which would attract mammalian predators to the spot. American minks and raccoon dogs often visited nests previously predated by others.

"Our research shows that predators cohabiting the same area can benefit from one another. Eggs broken by corvids offer a clue to mammalian predators, which, in turn, are a threat to both eggs and female ducks. In other words, the effect of a diverse predator community can exceed the sum of its species," Holopainen says.

The raccoon dog is a genuine habitat generalist

In terms of utilizing their environment, the raccoon dog was found in many ways to be more versatile than native species. The species was commonly observed on shorelines and shore forests, and it was flexible also with regard to agricultural and urban landscapes, whereas the presence of individual native mammal predators was restricted by habitat type. In addition, raccoon dogs were found to be an adaptive part of the predator community, as it was either the only species or a part of a community, rich in species that visited nests during the week-long observation period.

According to the researchers, the artificial nest experiments cannot directly prove that the raccoon dog has an effect on duck populations."What the results do show, however, is that the raccoon dog is a more common nest predator than native mammalian species, and that it is abundant in a range of duck nesting environments," Holopainen explains.

Several reasons for the decline of waterbird populations

In addition to alien predators, the decline of waterbird populations is caused by several factors, of which many are related to excessive eutrophication. However, the results of the artificial nest experiments help to understand the reasons for declining waterbird populations.

"The decline of many waterbird nesting populations, especially in eutrophic lakes, matches temporally the increasing abundance of raccoon dogs and American minks. This came out as we studied long-term changes in aquatic birdlife between the periods 19511970 and 19962015 using datasets collected in the Hame region by Pentti Linkola, the late fisherman," says Hannu Poysa, a principal scientist at the Natural Resources Institute Finland.

The datasets provided a unique opportunity to assess, among other things, the role of alien predators in the decline of waterbird populations, since the data from 19511970 depicted a period of time when the raccoon dog and the American mink were few in number in Finnish nature.

The raccoon dog in Finland

The raccoon dog is a species indigenous to South-East Asia that was introduced as a fur animal in areas of the Soviet Union close to Europe from the 1920s onwards. From there, the species has spread to the continent, gaining ground thanks to its capacity to travel long distances. The longest migration observed using a GPS collar occurred in early 2016 when a raccoon dog made a 600-kilometer journey.

In Finland, the first raccoon dogs arrived as early as the 1930s. While the regional population is especially dense in southern Finland, the species is also able to live in Lapland. In fact, a relentless battle is being fought on the border between Finland and Sweden to prevent the species from spreading to the latter country.

In Finland, the number of culled raccoon dogs has grown steadily. In the early 1980s, the annual number of slain raccoon dogs was roughly 20,000. In the peak year of 2016, that number had increased tenfold. Indeed, the raccoon dog is Finland's second/third most common prey animal. Additionally, more than 20,000 raccoon dogs are estimated to be killed by road traffic each year.

In 2019, the EU added the raccoon dog to the list of harmful invasive alien species. One of the reasons for this was its impact on avian and amphibian species. The raccoon dog can carry and spread a number of diseases, including rabies, echinococcosis, mange and trichinellosis.

Explore further Raccoons and raccoon dogs are expected to expand their ranges in Europe

More information: Sari Holopainen et al, Do alien predators pose a particular risk to duck nests in Northern Europe? Results from an artificial nest experiment, Biological Invasions (2021). Journal information: Biological Invasions Sari Holopainen et al, Do alien predators pose a particular risk to duck nests in Northern Europe? Results from an artificial nest experiment,(2021). DOI: 10.1007/s10530-021-02608-2
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Advancements in technology have resulted in the design of hyperrealistic, Wi-Ficonnected, programmable sex robots that can mimic human responses, but what do these developments mean for how we regulate interactions with "sexbots" in the future?

In a new article in the The Bulletin: The Law Society of SA Journal, Flinders University law researchers analyzed the factors Australian lawmakers will have to consider when they weigh up whether it should be legal to import, own and use sexbots that resemble human adults.

Critics argue sex robots objectify women and increase the risk of sexual violence by desensitizing people to the way they treat living beings. Some robots can even be programmed to reject a user's sexual advances which mimic a refusal of consent, which is a key element of proving sexual offenses in Australia.

On the other hand, advocates claim benefits of sex robots can include empowering older Australians and people with disabilities, addressing sexual related anxiety, treating dysfunctions, promoting safe sex and creating a safe place for people who feel insecure about their sexual orientation.

A recent study into the therapeutic benefits of sex robots found the top three suggestions for the use of robots were for patients with: social anxiety (50%), people who do not have a partner but still want a sex life without resorting to fleeting acquaintances or prostitution (50%) and premature ejaculation (47%), according to sex therapists.

Madi McCarthy, now an Associate with law firm LK, recently completed her honors research into this topic with the College of Business, Government & Law. She says advancements in technology, coupled with increasing demand and public concern, means Australian policymakers are likely to be confronted with calls for the regulation of sex robots in the near future.

"Legislators will have to balance competing and complex individual and public interests which pose new ethical, regulatory and legal challenges because of advancements in technology."

"While no Australian legislation currently regulates or prohibits sexual intercourse with robots, there are regulations on child-like sex dolls which have been addressed by the Commonwealth, South Australia and Queensland. These statutory provisions may guide any future laws on the use of adult sex robots but there are new factors which have to be considered."

Associate Professor Tania Leiman, Dean of Law at Flinders University, says sex robots challenge existing conceptions of how humans interact with emerging technologies in the most intimate way so regulators will have to balance ethical questions, legal challenges and the real potential for technology to objectify and promote sexual violence.

"Even if sex robots are prohibited in Australiait's likely that the courts may consider such offenses to be less objectively serious than sexual offenses against humans, and sentences may be more likely to fall at the lower end of the penalty range, even where maximum penalties are equivalent."

"For example, courts have consistently imposed lower end sentences for child-like sex doll offenses despite the maximum penalty range of 10 to 15 years."

Explore further Design and market sexbots for older adults with disabilities, argues ethicist
To shield the molecules, they are exposed to microwaves from an array of antennas. Credit: Radboud University

Ultracold molecules are promising for applications in new quantum technologies. Unfortunately, these molecules are destroyed upon colliding with each other. Researchers at Harvard University, MIT, Korea University and Radboud University have demonstrated that these collisional losses can be prevented by guiding the interaction between molecules using microwaves in such a way that they repel each other and, therefore, do not come close to each other during collisions. Their paper will be published in Science on 13 August.

Upcoming quantum technologies such as quantum computing and quantum simulation are all the hype right now. Huge leaps are made towards their realization in various platforms such as trapped ions and Rydberg atom arrays. Ultracold molecules are another promising platform. Unfortunately, collisions between the molecules lead to loss as if they were chemically reactive, which has limited the ability to cool molecules over the last decade. A team of researchers has now demonstrated these collisional losses can be suppressed by engineering repulsive interactions between the molecules using microwaves.

Eliminating collisional losses and boosting elastic collisions will enable cooling molecules to a quantum gas and bring their application in new quantum technologies within reach. A unique perk of ultracold molecules is that interactions between molecules can be tuned and controlled by the turn of a knob in the lab, using external fields. For example, when the molecules are exposed to microwaves, their dipole moments will oscillate along with the microwaves. In this way we can control interactions between the molecular dipole moments.

Rather than following the microwave field, the dipole moments can also interlock with one another, which can cause either attraction or repulsion between the molecules. Repulsion between the molecules can prevent them from coming close together. "In this way we can shield the molecules from collisional losses," explains Tijs Karman of Radboud University, who proposed this method and whose calculations guided the experiment.

Experimental realization

For the first time, microwave shielding has been demonstrated experimentally in the lab of Professor John Doyle at Harvard University. This experiment uses calcium monofluoride molecules (CaF) that are cooled to a temperature of 100 K using a technique called laser cooling. These molecules are then stored in individual traps made by focused-down laser light, which are called optical tweezers. Two of these tweezers, each containing a single molecule, are then merged to study collisions between exactly two molecules. To shield the molecules, they are exposed to microwaves from an array of antennas. In this way, physicists engineered repulsive interactions between the molecules that shield them from collisional loss. The loss rate has been reduced by a factor of six.

Cooling to a quantum gas of molecules

In addition to suppressing collisional losses, the repulsion between molecules when they are far apart leads to fast elastic collisions. Here elastic collisions are boosted by a factor 17. These elastic collisions are important for thermalisation. Fast thermalisation and slow loss is exactly what is needed for further cooling of molecules by evaporation, a long-standing milestone in the field. Therefore, the shielding demonstrated here is major step towards creating a quantum gas of ultracold molecules and realizing future quantum technologies such as quantum computing and quantum simulation.

More information: Loic Anderegg et al, Observation of microwave shielding of ultracold molecules, Science (2021). Journal information: Science Loic Anderegg et al, Observation of microwave shielding of ultracold molecules,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/science.abg9502
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of the risk of a 'grave disaster'

Tens of thousands of people were urged to evacuate on Friday as "unprecedented" levels of torrential rain hit western Japan, raising the risk of floods and landslides, the weather agency said.

The downpours are forecast to continue for several days over a large swathe of the country, from the northern Tohoku region to Kyushu in the south.

"There is a possibility that a grave disaster will occur" in the coming days, a Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) official told an emergency news conference shown live on public broadcaster NHK.

In Unzen city in southern Nagasaki prefecture, two houses were hit by a landslide with one woman in her 50s feared dead, a local official told AFP.

The heaviest rain was in Hiroshima prefecture, where non-compulsory evacuation orders were issued to at least 69,500 people and the top flood alert announced.

In the city of Hiroshima, "we have issued a special heavy rain warning. This is a level of heavy rain that we have never experienced before", the JMA said in a statement.

The agency official also called the rain in some areas "unprecedented".

The land ministry warned that water levels are extremely high in three riverstwo running through the Hiroshima region, and one in southern Kumamoto.

Scientists say climate change is intensifying the risk of heavy rain in Japan.

Scientists say climate change is intensifying the risk of heavy rain in Japan and elsewhere, because a warmer atmosphere holds more water.

Downpours last month caused a devastating landslide in the central resort town of Atami that killed at least 21 people.

And in 2018, more than 200 people died as floods inundated western Japan during the country's annual rainy season.

On Friday, the JMA said that in the 24 hours from 6am on Friday, 300 millimetres (12 inches) of rain is expected in the northern part of Kyushu, with 200 to 250 millimetres forecast in many other parts of the country.

Explore further 21 dead as torrential rainfall batters central China

 2021 AFP
Turkey's disaster response authority said 25 people had lost their lives in the northern Kastamonu province.

The death toll from Turkey's flash floods soared to 27 on Friday as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan prepared to inspect one of the hardest-hit regions and lend his moral support.

The devastation across Turkey's northern Black Sea regions came just as the disaster-hit country was winning control over hundreds of wildfires that killed eight people and destroyed swathes of forest along its scenic southern coast.

Turkey suffered another bout of flooding in the northeastern province of Rize that killed six people last month.

Scientists believe such natural disasters are becoming more intense and frequent because of global warming caused by harmful emissions.

Turkey's emergence as a frontline country in the battle against climate change also poses a challenge to Erdogan two years before the next scheduled general election.

The powerful Turkish leader was roundly condemned on social media for tossing out bags of tea to locals while visiting one of the fire-ravaged regions when the wildfires were first spreading at the end of July.

Polls show that the climate is a top priority for up to seven million members of Generation Z whose votes Erdogan will need to extend his rule into a third decade in the 2023 vote.

A car being carried away in Kastamonu, Turkey, after deadly flash floods swept across several Black Sea regions.

Erdogan so far has said little about the floods.

"I offer my condolences to the loved ones of our 17 fellow citizens who lost their lives," he said when the toll was still 17 on Thursday night.

Media reports said Erdogan would chair a crisis response meeting attended by top ministers in one of the worst-hit parts of the inundated city of Kastamonu later Friday.

Building anger

But the anger appeared to be building in Black Sea towns and cities over what some said was a lack of proper warning from local officials about the dangers of the incoming storms.

"They told us to move our cars but they didn't tell us to save ourselves or our children," Kastamonu province resident Arzu Yucel told the private DHA news agency.

"If they had, I would have taken them and left in five minutes. They didn't even tell us that the river was overflowing," the elderly woman said.

A road swept away by the floodwaters near Kastamonu, Turkey.

Turkey's rugged Black Sea coast is dotted with villages built along valleys that frequently experience heavy flooding in the summer months.

Some longtime residents of the region said this year's flooding was the worst they could recall.

"I am 75 years old and have never seen anything like this," Batin province resident Adem Senol told the Anadolu state news agency.

"The water rose higher than the level of our windows, it broke down our door, even a wall," he said. "It was a powerful stream, enough to sweep away houses."

Emergency services said waters briefly rose in some parts as high as four metres (13 feet) before subsiding and spreading across a region stretching more than 150 miles (240 kilometres) wide.

Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli has warned that the area was facing "a disaster that we had not seen in 50 or 100 years".

Collapsed buildings in Kastamonu after deadly flash floods swept several Black Sea regions.

Residents said the flooding is the worst they could remember.

Images on television and social media showed stranded villagers being plucked off rooftops by helicopter, and bridges collapsing under the force of the rushing water below.

The Anadolu state news agency said rescuers were focusing on a four-floor apartment building that partially crumbled and another one next to it that completely collapsed.

Concern was also increasing over how high the death toll could climb.

Some locals told Turkish media Friday that they still had no news from their closest family and friends.

Weather services predicted rains to continue to lash the affected area for the remainder of the week.

Explore further Turkey wildfires death toll rises to eight

 2021 AFP
Firefighters battle flames close to the Santa Cruz airport in Bolivia on August 1, 2021.

Devastating wildfires in Bolivia consumed 749,000 hectares from January to July, the Friends of Nature Foundation (FAN) NGO said on Thursday night.

FAN said it had used images from the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 satellite to study the damage.

As in neighboring Brazil, the fires have been aggravated by widespread deforestation aimed at expanding farming or pastureland.

The eastern Santa Cruz and northeastern Beni departments account for 94 percent of burnt areas, FAN said.

Up to the end of July, 137,000 hectares (3400,000 acres) had been burnt in Santa Cruz but the local governor said Thursday that figure had since passed 200,000.

Beni had registered 564,000 hectares of damage in the seven-month period.

Santa Cruz, which lies close to the border with Brazil, declared a "red alert" on Thursday.

"The red alert was declared because of the progressive increase in heat sources and because of the climactic conditions we're facing," said Yovenka Rosado, the coordinator for forest fires in Santa Cruz.

According to the FAN report, the vast majority of the burnt area was pastureland, shrubs and grasslands.

Just three percent was woodland while eight percent was land used for farming.

FAN estimates that more than 2.3 million hectares of forests and prairies were destroyed by fire in 2020 and 6.4 million hectares the year before.

Explore further Forest fires in Bolivia consume vast area: official

 2021 AFP
Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com. His book, "The Burzynski Breakthrough, The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Governments Campaign to Squelch It" is now available in a soft cover fourth edition. For more Elias columns, visit www.californiafocus.net
Facebook, Amazon seek U.S. approval to operate undersea data cable FILE PHOTO: A 3D-printed Facebook logo is seen placed on a keyboard in this illustration

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Facebook Inc and Amazon.com Inc have asked the U.S. government for approval to operate a new undersea data cable between the Philippines and California after China Mobile agreed to exit the plan, a government agency said on Friday.

The two companies told the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) they intend to start commercial operation by late 2022 and said the new data connection will provide significant new capacity on routes where capacity demand continues to increase substantially each year.

The companies in a joint filing said the new cable will help to support Facebook applications and provide Amazon and its affiliates with capacity to support Amazons cloud services and connect its data centers.

A Facebook spokeswoman said the project parties agreed "the best path forward to complete the construction and bring the... cable system into operation was to restructure the system ownership, allowing the parties to deliver on the goal of bringing connectivity to more people and regions."

Amazon and China Mobile did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The United States has repeatedly expressed concerns about Chinas role in handling network traffic and potential for espionage. Around 300 subsea cables form the backbone of the internet, carrying 99% of the worlds data traffic.

In September 2020, Facebook, Amazon and China Mobile withdrew their application to connect San Francisco and Hong Kong as part of the Bay to Bay Express Cable System. In March, Facebook withdrew a separate FCC application for a Hong Kong to California cable.

In April 2020, the FCC approved Alphabet Inc unit Google's request to use part of a U.S.-Asia undersea telecommunications cable, that excluded Hong Kong, after U.S. agencies raised national security concerns.

Google agreed to operate a portion of this 8,000-mile (12,875-km) Pacific Light Cable Network System between the United States and Taiwan, but not to Hong Kong. Google and Facebook helped to pay for construction of the completed link but U.S. regulators have blocked its use.

Story continues

The companies in August 2020 abandoned the proposal to use the Hong Kong portion.

In May 2019, the FCC voted unanimously to deny China Mobile the right to provide services in the United States, citing risks that the Chinese government could use the approval to conduct espionage against the U.S. government.

(Reporting by David ShepardsonEditing by Chizu Nomiyama, Jane Merriman and Marguerita Choy)
The new IPCC Report includes  get this, good news

Posted on 13 August 2021 by dana1981

This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections

As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its Sixth Assessment Report, summarized nicely on these pages by Bob Henson, much of the associated media coverage carried a tone of inevitable doom.

These proclamations of unavoidable adverse outcomes center around the fact that in every scenario considered by IPCC, within the next decade average global temperatures will likely breach the aspirational goal set in the Paris climate agreement of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial temperatures. The report also details a litany of extreme weather events like heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, floods, and hurricanes that will all worsen as long as global temperatures continue to rise.

While United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres rightly called the report a code red for humanity, tucked into it are details illustrating that if  BIG IF  top-emitting countries respond to the IPCCs alarm bells with aggressive efforts to curb carbon pollution, the worst climate outcomes remain avoidable.

The IPCCs future climate scenarios

In the Marvel film Avengers: Infinity War, the Dr. Strange character goes forward in time to view 14,000,605 alternate futures to see all the possible outcomes of the Avengers coming conflict. Lacking the fictional Time Stone used in this gambit, climate scientists instead ran hundreds of simulations of several different future carbon emissions scenarios using a variety of climate models. Like Dr. Strange, climate scientists goal is to determine the range of possible outcomes given different actions taken by the protagonists: in this case, various measures to decarbonize the global economy.

The scenarios considered by IPCC are called Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs). The best-case climate scenario, called SSP1, involves a global shift toward sustainable management of global resources and reduced inequity. The next scenario, SSP2, is more of a business-as-usual path with slow and uneven progress toward sustainable development goals and persisting income inequality and environmental degradation. SSP3 envisions insurgent nationalism around the world with countries focusing on their short-term domestic best interests, resulting in persistent and worsening inequality and environmental degradation. Two more scenarios, SSP4 and SSP5, consider even greater inequalities and fossil fuel extraction, but seem at odds with an international community that has agreed overwhelmingly to aim for the Paris climate targets.

The latest IPCC reports model runs simulated two SSP1 scenarios that would achieve the Paris targets of limiting global warming to 1.5 and 2C (2.7 and 3.6F); one SSP2 scenario in which temperatures approach 3C (5.4F) in the year 2100; an SSP3 scenario with about 4C (7.2F) global warming by the end of the century; and one SSP5 burn all the fossil fuels possible scenario resulting in close to 5C (9F), again by 2100.

Projected global average surface temperature change in each of the five SSP scenarios. (Source: IPCC Sixth Assessment Report)

The reports SSP3-7.0 pathway (the latter number represents the eventual global energy imbalance caused by the increased greenhouse effect, in watts per square meter), is considered by many experts to be a realistic worst-case scenario, with global carbon emissions continuing to rise every year throughout the 21st century. Such an outcome would represent a complete failure of international climate negotiations and policies and would likely result in catastrophic consequences, including widespread species extinctions, food and water shortages, and disastrous extreme weather events.

Scenario SSP2-4.5 is more consistent with government climate policies that are currently in place. It envisions global carbon emissions increasing another 10% over the next decade before reaching a plateau thats maintained until carbon pollution slowly begins to decline starting in the 2050s. Global carbon emissions approach but do not reach zero by the end of the century. Even in this unambitious scenario, the very worst climate change impacts might be averted, although the resulting climate impacts would be severe.

Most encouragingly, the reports two SSP1 scenarios illustrate that the Paris targets remain within reach. To stay below the main Paris target of 2C (3.6F) warming, global carbon emissions in SSP1-2.6 plateau essentially immediately and begin to decline after 2025 at a modest rate of about 2% per year for the first decade, then accelerating to around 3% per year the next decade, and continuing along a path of consistent year-to-year carbon pollution cuts before reaching zero around 2075. The IPCC concluded that once global carbon emissions reach zero, temperatures will stop rising. Toward the end of the century, emissions in SSP1-2.6 move into negative territory as the IPCC envisions that efforts to remove carbon from the atmosphere via natural and technological methods (like sequestering carbon in agricultural soils and scrubbing it from the atmosphere through direct air capture) outpace overall fossil fuel emissions.

Meeting the aspirational Paris goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C (2.7F) in SSP1-1.9 would be extremely challenging, given that global temperatures are expected to breach this level within about a decade. This scenario similarly envisions that global carbon emissions peak immediately and that they decline much faster than in SSP1-2.6, at a rate of about 6% per year from 2025 to 2035 and 9% per year over the following decade, reaching net zero by around the year 2055 and becoming net negative afterwards.

Global carbon dioxide emissions (in billions of tons per year) from 2015 to 2100 in each of the five SSP scenarios. (Source: IPCC Sixth Assessment Report)

For perspective, global carbon emissions fell by about 6-7% in 2020 as a result of restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and are expected to rebound by a similar amount in 2021. As IPCC report contributor Zeke Hausfather noted, this scenario also relies on large-scale carbon sequestration technologies that currently do not exist, without which global emissions would have to reach zero a decade sooner.

More warming means more risk

The new IPCC report details that, depending on the region, climate change has already worsened extreme heat, drought, fires, floods, and hurricanes, and those will only become more damaging and destructive as temperatures continue to rise. The IPCCs 2018 1.5C Report had entailed the differences in climate consequences in a 2C vs. 1.5C world, as summarized at this site by Bruce Lieberman.

Consider that in the current climate of just over 1C (2F) warmer than pre-industrial temperatures, 40 countries this summer alone have experienced extreme flooding, including more than a years worth of rain falling within 24 hours in Zhengzhou, China. Many regions have also experienced extreme heat, including the deadly Pacific Northwest heatwave and dangerously hot conditions during the Olympics in Tokyo. Siberia, Greece, Italy, and the US west coast are experiencing explosive wildfires, including the truly frightening fire behavior of the Dixie fire, which broke the record as the largest single wildfire on record in California. The IPCC report warned of compound events like heat exacerbating drought, which in turn fuels more dangerous wildfires, as is happening in California.

Western North America (WNA) and the Mediterranean (MED) regions are those for which climate scientists have the greatest confidence that human-caused global warming is exacerbating drought by drying out the soil. (Source: IPCC Sixth Assessment Report) The southwestern United States and Mediterranean are also among the regions for which climate scientists have the greatest confidence that climate change will continue to increase drought risk and severity. (Source: IPCC Sixth Assessment Report)

The IPCC report notes that the low-emissions SSP1 scenarios would lead to substantially smaller changes in these sorts of climate impact drivers than the higher-emissions scenarios. It also points out that with the world currently at around 1C of warming, the intensity of extreme weather will be twice as bad compared to todays conditions if temperatures reach 2C (1C hotter than today) than if the warming is limited to 1.5C (0.5C hotter than today), and quadruple as bad if global warming reaches 3C (2C hotter than today). For example, what was an extreme once-in-50-years heat wave in the late-1800s now occurs once per decade, which would rise to almost twice per decade at 1.5C, and nearly three times per decade at 2C global warming.

The increasing frequency and intensity of what used to be 1-in-50-year extreme heat as global temperatures rise. (Source: IPCC Sixth Assessment Report)

Climates fate has yet to be written

At the same time, there is no tipping point temperature at which it becomes too late to curb climate change and its damaging consequences. Every additional bit of global warming above current temperatures will result in increased risks of worsening extreme weather of the sorts currently being experienced around the world. Achieving the aspirational 1.5C Paris target may be politically infeasible, but most countries (137 total) have either committed to or are in the process of setting a target for net zero emissions by 2050 (including the United States) or 2060 (including China).

That makes the SSP1 scenarios and limiting global warming to less than 2C a distinct possibility, depending on how successful countries are at following through with decarbonization plans over the coming three decades. And with its proposed infrastructure bipartisan and budget reconciliation legislative plans  for which final enactment of each remains another big IF  the United States could soon implement some of the bold investments and policies necessary to set the worlds second-largest carbon polluter on a track consistent with the Paris targets.

As Texas Tech climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe put it,

Again and again, assessment after assessment, the IPCC has already made it clear. Climate change puts at risk every aspect of human life as we know it  We are already starting to experience those risks today; but we know what we need to do to avoid the worst future impacts. The difference between a fossil fuel versus a clean energy future is nothing less than the future of civilization as we know it.

Back to the Avengers: They had only one chance in 14 million to save the day, and they succeeded. Time is running short, but policymakers odds of meeting the Paris targets remain much better than that. There are no physical constraints playing the role of Thanos in our story; only political barriers stand between humanity and a prosperous clean energy future, although those can sometimes be the most difficult types of barriers to overcome.
The collapse of Afghanistan appears to be accelerating and coming much quicker than anticipated as the Taliban took control of three major cities on Friday and Western embassies are sending in troops to help evacuate their citizens from the capital, Kabul. The Taliban has captured the countrys second-biggest city of Kandahar in the south and Herat in the west, which is the countrys third-largest. The Taliban have also captured the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah, which is also in the countrys Pashtun heartland. Now there are only three major cities that are still under government controlKabul, Mazar-i-Sharif in the north, and Jalalabad in the eastand the Taliban controls more than two-thirds of the country.

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Amid the advancing Taliban, the United States does not seem willing to reverse its decision to withdraw troops. Unless its to help evacuations. The Pentagon will be sending 3,000 troops into Afghanistan that could get its personnel out of Kabul so only a small group of diplomats stays behind. We are further reducing our footprint in Kabul in light of the evolving security situation, Ned Price, a State Department spokesperson, told reporters on Thursday. We expect to draw down to a core diplomatic presence in Afghanistan in the coming weeks.

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Other Western countries are also rushing to get their citizens out with Britain saying it will send some 600 troops and Canada deploying special forces to aid evacuations. Meanwhile, more people are making parallels with a potential repeat of the withdrawal from Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. One of those drawing that connection is Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Bidens decisions have us hurtling toward an even worse sequel to the humiliating fall of Saigon in 1975, McConnell said. President Biden is finding that the quickest way to end a war is to lose it.

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For now, Kabul isnt directly under threat but intelligence estimates suggest that a serious fight for the capital could begin within the next month and the Taliban could control the entire country within a period of months. Its worth remembering though those estimates may not be worth much considering the Taliban resurgence has happened a lot more quickly than most were predicting while Afghan forces have been collapsing. The United Nations has warned that if the Taliban begin targeting the capital it will have a catastrophic impact on civilians. The U.N. World Food Programs Thomson Phiri warned that the rapidly evolving situation in Afghanistan has all the hallmarks of a humanitarian catastrophe.

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There are some signs that Washington seems to be getting ready for Kabul to fall. American negotiators are trying to get the Taliban to assure Washington its fighters will not attack the U.S. Embassy in Kabul if they take over the capital. For now, Washington has called on all Americans who arent working for the U.S. government to leave Afghanistan as soon as possible. I dont think people are yet at the point where they would say we need to get out the door, but they will be looking at the door a lot more often, Ronald E. Neumann, who was the American ambassador to Afghanistan from 2005 to 2007, tells the New York Times.
Former President Donald Trump is telling lies about how he would have handled the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, opening a new avenue for Trump-dazed Republicans to attack President Joe Biden.

Trump issued the following statement on Thursday, amid the collapse of the Afghan army in the wake of Bidens pullout:

Had our 2020 Presidential election not been rigged and if I were now president, the world would find that our withdrawal from Afghanistan would be a conditions-based withdrawal. I personally had discussions with top Taliban leaders whereby they understood what they are doing now would not have been acceptable. It would have been a much different and much more successful withdrawal, and the Taliban understood that much better than anyone.

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This is falsea series of unmitigated lieson every level. His opening reference to the rigged election is, of course, the Big Lie, but the other lies are pretty monstrous as well.

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First, the peace accord that Trumps emissaries signed with the Taliban in February 2020, in Doha, imposed only a few conditionsand the Taliban are violating none of them at the moment. The Taliban merely agreed not to allow any individuals or groups, including al-Qaida, to use the soil of Afghanistan to threaten the security of the United States and its allies. The accord did not bar the Taliban from fighting Afghan government troops or from capturing Afghan provinces on its own.

Second, Trumps claim that he had discussions with top Taliban leaders is overstated. A few days after the signing of the accord, on the phone, through an interpreter, he had a discussion with a leader, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who was the Talibans delegate to the Doha talks. Afterward, Trump said he had a very good relationship with Baradar, lauded the Taliban for killing terroristssome very bad people, and said of the war, Theyre looking to get this ended and were looking to get this ended. A statement released by the White House said that Trump emphasized the need to continue the reduction in violence and urged the Taliban to participate in intra-Afghan negotiations. The statement said nothing about Baraders reply, if any.

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In other words, there is no evidence that a withdrawal under Trump would have been much more successful than its going under Biden. Trumps swift withdrawal of a small contingent of peacekeeping troops from Syria in Oct. 2019, leaving Kurdish allies open to Turkish slaughter, suggests that Trump would have been no more discerning about protecting Afghans. (The Kurds had been instrumental in helping U.S. troops crush ISIS in northern Syria.)

The falsehoods notwithstanding, Trumps statement will no doubt be parroted by congressional Republicans and conservative pundits in the coming weeks and months. When Biden first announced his withdrawal in April, his critics were nonplussed. Trump, after all, had long called for a pullout; in fact, he initially supported Bidens decision. Even as the Taliban began routing Afghan security forces and taking over whole provinces earlier this summer, critics remained unsure of how to respond, especially since polls showed a vast majority of Americans agreed with Bidens move.

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Now, however, the critics have received the word from their leader-in-exile: withdrawal isnt a bad thing, but withdrawal under Trump would have been conditions-based; it would have been much more successful. When things worsen in Afghanistan, as they almost certainly will, this will be their mantra for attacking Bidens foreign policyand for absolving themselves of complicity.

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None of this is to deny that Biden has handled the situation badly. The latest evidence came on Thursday, when the Pentagon announced it would send 8,000 troops back to Afghanistan to facilitate the evacuation of the U.S. embassy in Kabul5,000 from bases in the Middle East, 3,000 (an entire combat brigade) from Ft. Hood, Texas. If the withdrawal had been more carefully planned, the evacuationor at least a substantial drawdown of personnelwould have taken place earlier this summer, before the last few thousand U.S. troops in the country were withdrawn.

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When the withdrawal got underway, U.S. officials were still saying the Afghan security forces could resist the Taliban for another six to 12 monthsplenty of time to plan for an orderly transition. It would be interesting to know which intelligence agencies predicted that the Afghan armyand, with it, the governmentcould hold out for so long. Retired officers I spoke with at the time doubted the Afghan army could last for even a few months without U.S. and NATO close-air support, logistics, intelligence, repair and maintenance crews, medevac and surgical units, and helicopter transporta view that the Biden administration now accepts.

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The 20-year war in Afghanistan has been one misbegotten adventure after another, from nearly the beginning. The initial missionsrooting out al-Qaida, ousting the Taliban from power, and killing or capturing Osama bin Laden, in response to the terrorist attacks of Sept.

11were justified. The add-onsestablishing a central government (in a very decentralized country run by warlords), building a civil society, and fostering something like a Western-style democracywere a pipe dream all along. The vision had a glimmer of hope and possibility early on, in 2003-04, when the U.S. commander, a creative three-star general named David Barno, set up small-scale counterinsurgency projectsrecruiting volunteers from corporations and non-profits to train Afghan officials in the rudiments of governance and management, starting programs in economic aid and justice reform to win the hearts and minds of the people. But President George W. Bush scaled back resources, turned his gaze toward Iraq, and by the time attention drifted back to Afghanistan, the effort became all too militarized and all too huge. As money flowed in, corruption soared; the Kabul government never won the trust of the people; the Taliban moved in to fill the vacuums.

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Biden, to his credit, recognized this all along when he was Barack Obamas vice president. In the National Security Councils debates of 2009-10, Biden was almost alone in opposing a massive troop surge or a campaign of nation building, arguing instead for a slight troop-increase to train and equip the Afghan army. Obama sided with the surge faction but, 18 months later, saw that Biden had been right. He backpedaled on the surge, abandoned the nation building, scaled back the troop levels to 5,800, and limited their missions to training and supporting the Afghan military while also countering terrorists along the Pakistani border.

Ten years later, entering the White House as president, Biden understandably retained a certain allergy to all matters Afghan. Eager to deal with more urgent issues, domestic and foreign, he sought to get out of the place altogether and to downplay the whole regionagain, understandably. There has long been a strong case for leaving Afghanistan. Had Biden kept a small number of troops there, and had the next three or four presidents done so as well, not much would ever have improved. But probably not much would have worsened either. Meanwhile, no American troops have been killed there since February 2020.

Was it necessary to get out so swiftly, so completely, and so thoughtlessly? Biden will likely be haunted by those questions for some time. And now that Trump has made it a partisan issue, however mendaciously, the Republicans will be pressing the questions as hard as they can.
This story was reported by the Trace, a nonprofit newsroom covering gun violence in America.

BIRMINGHAM, AlabamaThe pastors huddled together as if preparing for battle, asking God for guidance. Moments later, they found the mayor in the lobby of City Hall. They had come to ask him for something. But as the faith leaders formed a semicircle around Mayor Randall Woodfin, two of Birminghams most powerful institutions collided.

The pastors wanted Woodfin to allocate American Rescue Plan money for violence prevention programs.

The mayor wanted their help fundraising for Crime Stoppers, an effort that pays tipsters for information that can help solve crimes. Its a means to end what Woodfin has called a no-snitch culture and solve shootings that injured or killed numerous children.

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The pastors knew they had leverage. They represented dozens of predominantly Black churches, with prodigious congregations made up of some of the citys most consistent voters. You see these folks right here? one of the pastors leading the group, the Rev. T.L. Lewis, told Woodfin, as he gestured to the other pastors. We got armies.

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Neither side was willing to budge.

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Birmingham, like many other cities, has seen calls for police reform and skyrocketing gun violence over the past year. Many of its staunchest progressive activists have effectively abandoned the young mayor over what they call his pro-police attitudes. Meanwhile, he faces a reelection challenge on Aug. 24 from candidates who have positioned themselves as more supportive of police.

People want to box me in and make me choose between reform and accountability measures, and policing and keeping the city safe, Woodfin said in a June interview. No, I reject your ultimatum. I can walk and chew gum at the same time. We can do both.

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Many young progressives assume that given the long history of racist policing, Black people want a smaller police force. But in Birmingham, and many cities, thats not the case. Woodfin, since early in his tenure, has said that most of his constituents, particularly older residents, want more patrols. Though older Black people may view police less favorably than their white counterparts and desire reforms, many still see police as a main way to combat violence. Even some activists admit as much. National surveys provide some support for Woodfins argument, showing that younger people across racial groups are more likely to support defunding the police. While Black voters are more likely to distrust police, they didnt prefer decreasing police patrols to increasing them.

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Public safety and crime have become a central focus of Birminghams 2021 municipal election, the first since protests swept the nation after the murder of George Floyd. At the same time, murders have increased some 5 percent in the city in 2021, after 2020 marked its deadliest year since 1995. So far in 2021, the city has recorded 65 criminal homicides, putting it on pace to surpass last years record. Most victims are young, Black men.

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In the wake of recent violencealong with rising activism and the opportunity for political changepeople who consider Birmingham home are springing into action. The moment has prompted an outpouring of new ideas and proposals, uniting and sometimes dividing residents on addressing a complex problem. Activists have launched City Council campaigns. Woodfin is rolling out new initiatives. And grassroots organizers and the pastors, with the support of unexpected alliesincluding some in law enforcementhave embarked on an unprecedented push to fund alternative public safety strategies, because they believe that relying primarily on law enforcement simply doesnt work.

This is where the revolution starts

2017 was a violent year in Birmingham, with the city recording more homicides than it had seen in two decades. Much like 2021, the near-record violence shaped a contentious election. Woodfin, then a 36-year-old attorney and city school board president, emerged as the main challenger.

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Woodfin quickly found himself on the national radar as Democrats looked toward down-ballot races in Donald Trumps first year in office. Like many people across Birmingham, Woodfin had personal ties to the gun violence epidemic: He lost his brother to a shooting and, just weeks before Election Day, his nephew.

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He was a young progressive in the heart of Alabama, invigorating supporters and activists in search of their next champion. Our Revolution, an outgrowth of Sen. Bernie Sanders unsuccessful 2016 presidential bid, and Collective PAC, a political action committee that supports Black candidates, endorsed Woodfin.

In these urban areas of the Southeastthis is where the revolution starts, Woodfin said in 2017. He proposed reforms that would be the most radical in Birminghams history: promising to create a free college program, institute a $15 minimum wage, and lobby for Medicare for All, Sanders health care proposal.

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He cited his experience as both a prosecutor and defense attorney as evidence that he would be able to ensure public safety, fight for criminal justice reform and racial justice, and hold police accountable. Woodfin said he wanted to address the root causes of crimedisinvestment in low-income communities and persistent, generational poverty.

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Since 1960, the Magic Citys population has declined nearly 41 percent, to about 200,000 today. While economic downturn played one role, another significant driver was white flight during desegregation.

In recent years, new tech companies and developers invested heavily in downtown Birmingham. Those gains didnt boost predominantly Black communities, like Pratt City, where dozens of homes stand dilapidated or collapsed, schools and businesses have closed, and the population has declined.

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And those Black communities most harmed by the legacies of segregation, redlining, and deindustrialization are most affected by gun violence today. As the citys manufacturing and steel industries declined, many people who once worked in industry shifted into low-paying service sector jobsor moved away entirely. Today, 26 percent of people in Birmingham live in poverty.

By the time Woodfin was running for office, the citys response to violence relied heavily on law enforcement. A few years earlier, in 2015, then-Mayor William Bell had billed the new Birmingham Violence Reduction Initiative as a community-based approach. The partnership between police, the mayors office, prosecutors, and community leaders connected men deemed most likely to engage in, and be victims of violence, with counselors and social services.

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But the program blurred the line between social supports and police enforcement. Counselors would show up at participants homes with help and an ultimatum: stop the violence, or youre going to jail. This approach came to a head in 2017, when, as part of a BVRI enforcement effort, police cars raided Central Pratt. With its SWAT vehicles and public restraint of young Black men, the raids intensity thrust Eric Hallwhose 69-year-old mothers home was blocked by police vehiclesfurther into activism.

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That was the first time Id ever seen an actual armored vehicle in Birmingham, said Hall, who is now an outspoken leader of the local Black Lives Matter chapter and Our Revolution. After the raid, the initiative lost steam, its decline cemented by a negative review from John Jay College.

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As he ran for mayor, Woodfin piled on. His approach to handling violence, he said, would be a poverty reduction initiative. At the same time, he did say he planned to grow the police department somewhat.

But Woodfins focus on inequality and his positioning himself as a disruptor of politics as usual fired up activists like Halland their expectations for a different kind of mayor, one who would address constant reminders of neighborhood decline. Local progressive groups, with their text messages and phone banks, made up a significant portion of the grassroots movement that catapulted Woodfin into a runoff and later to victory in what was expected to be a close race.

Unorthodox ways

As he prepared to take office, Woodfin offered a prediction about what was to come: The choices he would soon have to make to address crime made him anxious, he said, because I know that there are things Im going to have to do in unorthodox ways.

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To disrupt violence, Woodfin thought, Birmingham would need to target prevention, reentry, and enforcement. In 2018, he established the Mayors Office of Peace and Policy to work on the first two pieces. The office engages nonprofits and the citys Tuhska Lusa Initiative to prevent recidivism among Black men through social support and group therapy.

The next year, he launched the Birmingham Promise Initiative, which gave students paid internships and covered the cost of their higher education.

But the honeymoon ended when he and the U.S. attorney announced a task force targeting violent crime. The effort combined local and federal law enforcement agencies, the local housing authority, and prosecutors to target and apprehend key offenders who officials believed were responsible for most violent crime.

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ThenAttorney General Jeff Sessions, who previously represented Alabama as a U.S. senator, selected Birmingham as one of 12 initial cities to participate in a new National Public Safety Partnership, shifting federal resources into local law enforcement and some local gun possession cases into federal courtdespite research showing that longer prison sentences and elevated incarceration rates associated with shifting gun charges to federal court do little to deter violent crime.

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Birmingham voters believed that any work initiated by Mayor Woodfin to deter crime and violence would center root-cause analysis and comprehensive grassroots and community-based solutions, several Black Lives Matter leaders wrote in an open letter at the time. This is why it was a hard pill to swallow.

When asked about this critique, Woodfin pointed to a generational divide between older residentsthe most consistent votersand younger people. When I talk to the mommas and the big mommas in the neighborhoods, they want more police, he said in 2018. People my age and younger say more policing is wrong. As mayor, Im in the middle.

Reimagining public safety after George Floyd

Birminghams Black residents history of facing police brutality left a mark on federal and local policy and politics. Segregationist Public Safety Commissioner Eugene Bull Connors vicious and nationally televised attack on young protesters in 1963 paved the way for the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Later that decade, one of the citys greatest icons, the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworthwho organized the Birmingham Campaign with Martin Luther King Jr.focused on integrating the police and ending police brutality. And the city elected its first Black mayor, Richard Arrington Jr., in 1979 in the aftermath of the police shooting of Bonita Carter, a young Black woman, in large part because of Arringtons work to address racist police abuse. Now, Black leaders oversee Birminghams police force.

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The protests of 2020 prompted Woodfin to launch another task force to reimagine public safety. The result was a 100-plus-page report of recommendations: creating a branch of public safety that would dispatch medics and mental health workers to nonviolent 911 calls, making policing more transparent, developing robust community-based prevention programs, and reallocating some law enforcement funding to programs that take a public health approach.

Woodfin didnt accept every recommendation, but since the reports release, the city has announced a pilot to send social workers, along with police, to some domestic violence calls. In April, Woodfin created the citys first Civilian Review Board to investigate complaints of police misconduct. He pardoned 15,000 people for past misdemeanor marijuana convictions to make it easier for them to get jobs. Over three years, his Birmingham Promise grew from a small pilot to a program expected to send more than 600 students to college this fall. And in July, Woodfin banned the use of no-knock search warrants.

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As protesters and activists called for further alternatives to police, Woodfin rejected cuts to the police budget; instead, in 2020, he proposed an increase. The $11 million boost didnt cover new officer positions. Much of it was an accounting shift and funds for more equipment, and the budget proposed eliminating 48 vacant officer slots. At the same time, the budget cut other workers salaries, instituted furloughs, slashed funding for public transport, and gutted social services like local libraries. Amid the furor of the budget debate, Woodfin and the city ignored funding requests from violence intervention groups including the Birmingham Peacemakers, one of the groups leading, along with the pastors, the effort to invest in community-based gun violence prevention under the umbrella of Fund Peace.

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With disagreement over Woodfins task force, the relationship between Woodfin and the citys activists was already tenuous, and this fight was the final straw. In January, the Birmingham chapter of Our Revolution publicly rescinded its endorsement. A few months later, after police shot and killed a 28-year-old Black man named Desmon Montez Ray Jr., the local Black Lives Matter chapter would call for Woodfins resignation, along with that of the police chief.

If anything, Woodfin has been less bullish on bolstering the police than his platform might have suggested in 2017. When he ran, he promised to grow the police department from approximately 914 to 1,000in addition to addressing poverty. In that time, though, the number of officers has decreased to 885, according to the latest city budget.

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I wish people would check the record, Woodfin said.

Woodfin said he has delivered on his promise, and that the city has focused on modernizing the department and its crime-fighting strategies while also trying to make policing more just. The city is scheduled to complete a real-time crime center this summer, with new technologies like predictive policing to speed up response times, he said.

When I hear people say, Black folks aint doing nothing, I know its wrong

At a Black-owned book and coffee shop in Birminghams Five Points West community, Celida Soto met several women to discuss their community. In Birmingham, activists like Soto and Hall, the Black Lives Matter leader, believe that Woodfinor whoever is elected mayorneeds more checks. So theyre running for the City Council in their respective districts.

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In March 2020, Sotos son wanted to attend a Lil Baby concert at the Birmingham CrossPlex, a new arena meant to bring economic development to western neighborhoods. She had concerns about safety. I dont know, she remembers telling her son. Theres a lot of violence here.

But she wanted him to have something to look forward to, so she took him. Shortly after Lil Baby began performing, she heard gunfire ring out. Soto and her son took off running, along with other concertgoers, before she fell to the ground. You gotta get up! her son told her.

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Im supposed to be protecting him, but I got trampled, she recalled. She wasnt physically injured, but the shooting left them both with trauma.

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Over the course of an hour, a half-dozen women trickled in and out of the shop, Homecoming Coffee, which serves as a community gathering place. Books by Doris Barren, Sanovia Muhammad, and other local authors lined the shelves. Over coffee, the women lamented the violenceand its causes.

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Soto blames the pervasive violence on underresourced schools, poverty, and several other factorsalong with the shared trauma of going through it all. We dont have to live like this, she said. She also blames disinvestment and poor city services. She said her neighborhood had relatively few trash bins, a disparity that leaves it dirtier than wealthier, whiter neighborhoods. She regularly picks up trash but has to walk nearly a mile to toss her garbage bag. People feel like the city doesnt care about them.

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If elected to the City Council, Soto said she would push for participatory budgeting, support new violence interruption programs, and overhaul the citys responses to emergency callsmore broadly than Woodfin did.

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The women at the shop each had personal connections to gun violence. Yvonne Thomas, who volunteers with other Black women to help people with substance addiction and recently launched a transitional home for women, lost her son to a shooting. Vernessa Barnes has watched her 16-year-old grandson organize Solutions, a youth conflict and gun violence prevention group.

When I hear people say, Black folks aint doing nothing, I know its wrong. Black folks are doing so much, Thomas said. We are taking care of ourselves.

Less than 48 hours after Soto met the women at Homecoming Coffee, Lykeria Briana Taylor, 21, was shot in her car and killed, just a few hundred feet away.

Its all about the money

On June 8, less than a week after the group of pastors campaigning for Fund Peace met Woodfin at City Hall, the mayor had different pastors behind himand a bigger audience ahead. At the press conference, he announced a partnership between the city, the pastors, and Crime Stoppers to combat gun violence against children. A rash of shootings killed or injured six children under 10 in 2021, including a deputy sheriffs 11-month-old daughter; police had solved just one.

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Woodfin blamed some residents for not coming forward with information on the shootings. We have a lot of cowards out here in our community, and the thing about a coward is theyll keep shooting, Woodfin said. This community is at an inflection point.

I dont care what your code is, Woodfin said in an interview. Children shouldnt be shot, and if they are, we as adults should be pushing those shooting it up to the front of the line.

Woodfin stressed the need to balance law enforcement with prevention and reentry work, he said, because you cant arrest your way out of this.

The pastors from the Fund Peace campaign werent at Woodfins press conference because Woodfin, in the moment, turned down their proposal for spending Birminghams cut of American Rescue Plan money$140 million over two yearson violence prevention. They rejected the mayors request for help raising money for Crime Stoppers, saying the pandemic had made fundraising for their own congregations hard enough.

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While the American Rescue Plan doesnt have a specific designation in it for anti-violence work, the Biden administration has made clear that federal recovery money can pay for evidence-based community violence intervention programs. So far, Woodfin hasnt committed to that.

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Woodfins administration put out a call for ideas of how to spend the money, receiving more than 150 submissions, which hes now reviewing with the City Council. Woodfins team will make a proposal to the City Council, which has final say on how to spend it. Woodfins proposal does include community-based public safety initiatives, but when asked by the City Council, he wouldnt clarify what that meant.

Everyone, from pastors to police to residents, is tired of the violence in Birmingham: the harm it causes, the way it tarnishes the citys reputation, the business it deters. I am sick and tired of people talking negative about our city, City Councilor Crystal Smitherman said at a July summit in support of the Fund Peace campaign. Its time for the communities to step up and take charge of our neighborhoods.

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To the Rev. Gregory Clarke, 63, of New Hope Baptist Church in Birminghams West End neighborhood, police are not the answer. Im not saying they dont do their jobthey do their job of responding to crime, said Clarke, the founder of Birmingham Peacemakers and a leader of the local Fund Peace campaign. The police had their budget increased. But the effect on crime didnt match. Matter of fact, it went up.

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The intensity of Birminghams exasperation at the constant violence is blurring the lines between would-be foes in the effort to bring peace by investing in alternatives to policing.

Woodfins main challengers in this election are former Mayor William Bell, businessman Chris Woods, and Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales. All three of them, to varying degrees, believe that police should play a role in addressing Birminghams homicides. Bell wants to bring back an updated version of BVRI, Scales wants to increase the presence of police and law enforcement agencies, and Woods has said Woodfins grip on public safety is weakening.

Though not everyone agrees on reducing the number of police officers, the pastors and organizers of Birminghams Fund Peace campaign have made allies with Scales and Bell.

Even local law enforcement leaders, including the countys first Black sheriff and district attorney, say, like Woodfin, that Birmingham cant arrest its way out of gun violence. Theyve joined the call for using the relief funds for community-based gun violence prevention efforts.

And on the left, after years of seeking city funding, the Birmingham Peacemakers and the pastors Fund Peace campaign found a supporter on the City Council in Smitherman. She recently submitted a request for the Fund Peace campaign to receive $400,000 in American Rescue Plan money. Smitherman lost her uncle and, earlier this year, her cousin to gun violence. She said she believes Woodfin and the police have done what they can do to address violence but a true solution will require a broader effort.

The countys health department has also publicly backed the Peacemakers, leaving Woodfin on his own again, as one of a few local leaders who hasnt.

Because of these alliances, community-based violence prevention programs, under the umbrella of the Fund Peace campaign, may be on the cusp of getting city funding for the first time. The City Council is expected to take up the issue later this month. Meanwhile, voters will decide Woodfins fateand the shape of the rest of city leadershipat the ballot box.
Conservative politicians like to talk about morality. Over the years, theyve portrayed various kinds of people as degenerate, dissolute, or reckless. But theres one constituency these politicians wont criticize: people who refuse vaccination against COVID-19. Vaccine refusers endanger their communities and the country, but theyre part of the Republican base. So instead of confronting them, Republican politicians are excusing the bad behavior, retreating to moral subjectivism, and trying to block anyone, including private organizations, from imposing any standard of personal responsibility.

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Two months ago, at the annual Faith and Freedom Conference, Republican lawmakers targeted their usual list of villains. Sen. Ted Cruz asserted that children do best when theyre raised by a mother and a father, and he scorned pastors who didnt preach this view of marriage. Sen. Ron Johnson decried unwed birth rates. Sen. Marsha Blackburn accused liberals of trying to destroy our Judeo-Christian ethic and force girls to compete against boys who self-identify as female. Rep. Barry Loudermilk declared that God intended marriage between a man and a woman and that government assistance  should not be a lifestyle.

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The speakers also claimed to represent science. Sen. Rick Scott and Rep. Steve Scalise, the House minority whip, made the case for banning abortions. Life begins at conception, said Scott. If you deny that, you are anti-science. Loudermilk made a similar case against people who claimed to be transgender or non-binary. Theres two sexesmale and femaleperiod, he decreed. These assertions of scientific clarity, like the rights assertions of moral clarity, advance a self-serving narrative: that liberals are gutless and mushy-headedin Cruzs words, that they cower in moral relativismwhile conservatives are clear-eyed and resolute.

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COVID has shredded this narrative. Faced with a right-wing audience that rejects science and behaves recklessly, conservative politicians have abandoned moral judgment. Getting vaccinated is a personal choice, says Johnson, and we should respect each others medical decisions. Blackburn agrees, arguing that if some people dont want the shot, it is their choice. At the Faith and Freedom Conference, Loudermilk rotated effortlessly from piety to anarchism. Seconds after criticizing same-sex marriage and the welfare lifestyle, he told liberals: Its none of your business if Ive been vaccinated or not. The crowd applauded wildly.

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When Scott gets pressed about COVID, he drops his science shtick and becomes a squish. In a Fox News interview on Sunday, he was asked whether Republican leaders should do more to promote vaccination. Three times during the interview, he stipulated that people should get vaccinated only if you feel comfortable doing so. He argued not just against mandates, but against exhortation as well. Let people make their choices, he pleaded. This is not a country where we need people telling us what to do. I love my mom; I hate her telling me what to do.

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These politicians arent just saying that vaccination should be voluntary. Theyre saying that vaccine refusers shouldnt even face social disapproval. We shouldnt be shaming or pressuring or mandating anybody to get this vaccine, Johnson said in May. Scalise echoed that position in July, when, after months of holding out, he finally consented to a COVID shot. I dont think people should be shamed into getting it, he said of the vaccine. Its their choice. Cruz, who is notorious in Congress for his sanctimony, complained last week about the self-righteousness of liberals who think people who dont get vaccinated are somehow the unworthy, unwashed, reckless people endangering everyone else.

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This double standardmoral judgment of certain people, non-judgment of othersis more than rhetorical. Cruz, Scalise, Blackburn, Loudermilk, and many other lawmakers have repeatedly invoked morality as a basis to discriminate legally against gay people. They have voted against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, Social Security and veterans benefits for same-sex couples, and prohibitions on antigay discrimination by youth programs and federal contractors. They use legislative power to enforce cultural disapprovalor to protect private enforcement of that disapprovalbut only when their supporters are the ones who disapprove.

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Cruz, in particular, is a transcendent hypocrite. He routinely champions the right of religious and other private organizations to discriminate based on their definition of marriage or their interpretations of biblical teachings on sexuality and morality. But this week, he introduced legislation that would, in his own words, ban companies from imposing on their employees any discrimination based on vaccination status. In a CNBC interview, he complained that Houston Methodist Hospitala private, explicitly Christian organizationhad won a court case to require its workers, as a condition of employment, to get vaccinated. Cruz promised that his bill would override that injustice, because its not your employers job to be forcing [vaccination] on you.

In Wisconsin, Republican lawmakers are circulating legislation that would pay unemployment benefits to vaccine refusers. Under state law, people who quit their jobs, or who are fired for misconduct or substantial fault, are ineligible to collect unemployment. The bill would restore eligibility to people whose reason for quitting or being fired was that they defied an employers requirement to get a COVID shot. Wisconsin severely restricts welfare for people who lose their jobs for other reasons. But the party that calls government assistance a lifestyle will pay you not to work if youre a vaccine refuser.

Moral courage isnt about pandering to your base. It isnt about telling conservatives that sinful, selfish liberals are destroying society. Its about telling your supporters what theyre doing wrong. What millions of conservatives are doing right now is spreading a deadly virus by defying personal responsibility. They dont need fake preachers. They need real ones.
People with severely weakened immune systems will be able to get an additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccines as soon as this weekend. The extra dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines will be available to transplant recipients and people with certain types of cancers and other illnesses. The resolution by the Food and Drug Administration brings relief to millions of Americans who are particularly vulnerable and may not have been able to generate a robust response from the first two doses of the vaccines. The details on who exactly will be eligible for the additional dose is expected Friday after a meeting of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisers. But for now it doesnt seem a prescription will be required and people will only have to declare they have a weakened immune system to get the shot.

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The additional dose for the high-risk group, which is estimated to amount to no more than 3 percent of adults in the United States, comes at a time when COVID-19 cases are increasing amid the spread of the highly contagious delta variant. Some see it as the first step to approve booster doses for the entire population. And it comes at a time when the White House appears to be leaning toward the idea that booster shots will be necessary for the population at large, although the timing of that remains far from clear. No vaccine, at least not within this category, is going to have an indefinite amount of protection, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Thursday. Inevitably, there will be a time when well have to get boosts.

The United States is following several other countries that have already taken the step of pushing some people to get additional doses. While the World Health Organization has called for countries to stop giving booster shots at least until the end of September to give every country the opportunity to vaccinate at least 10 percent of their population, some are forging ahead. Israel, for example, has already started giving booster shots for people over 60 and Chile is giving additional doses to people vaccinated with the Chinese Sinovac vaccine.
Its not an exaggeration to say that Alex Haleys epic Roots fundamentally changed America, and did so essentially overnight. The eight-night television event was viewed by more than 100 million people when it aired in the midst of a cold spell in January 1977.

Restaurants and theaters reported seeing a dramatic decrease in attendees while Roots was on TV. New parents all over the country named their children Kizzy and Kunta. And a sophomore theater major saw his life change in a matter of days.

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That extremely green, 19-year-old actor was LeVar Burton. Starring as Haleys distant Gambian ancestor, Kunta Kinte, Burton began his professional career with the most important miniseries in television history. For Slates One Year podcast on the year 1977, I interviewed Burton about the whirlwind that was Roots.

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The following is an excerpt from our interview. It has been edited for clarity.

Josh Levin: Ive read that Roots was your first audition. What was the scene? Do you remember?

LeVar Burton: The first side I ever read was a scene that was eventually a part of the screen test, which I did on March 27, 1976. I say that because its really one of the few days in my life that I absolutely have instant recall around. Its like emblazoned on my soul.

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So the scene was being in the hold of the ship, having a conversation with the wrestler. Kunta was asking the [Mandinka] wrestler, Do you think the moon that we see is the same moon from back home? And the wrestler says, You know, I expect so. Why? And Kunta says, I would hate to know that my family can see that moon and cannot see me.

Just brilliant writing. Powerful, powerful stuff.

Before you started filming, was it clear what was going to be required of you as an actorand as a humanfrom a physical and emotional standpoint?

I had no clue. But, you know, when youre 19 and you have that supreme self-confidence bordering on obnoxiousnessI was up for anything! My imagination was wide open. I was never more eager in my life to be a part of something, and Id certainly never been asked to do it at that high level with the talent and professionals I found myself with. If they had asked me to strip naked and set myself on fire, I would have figured out how to do it.

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What fun things did you get to do in 1977?

The Peoples Choice Awards. I remember we shot it at the Shrine Auditorium, which was right across the street from where I was going to fucking college! It was like, what is happening in my life? I had been to the Shrine to see Supertramp! I was introduced first, and I came out on stage to a standing ovation. And I looked down at the audience and there was Mary Tyler Moore standing on her feet, and Carol Burnett and John Wayne. Its likewow. Wow.

To hear the full interview with LeVar Burton, sign up for Slate Plus. Your first month is only $1.

To listen to One Years episode on Roots, hit play or open the podcast app of your choice.
On Thursday evening, the Supreme Court issued two orders in COVID-related cases that together exemplify the conservative majoritys strategic use of the shadow docketunsigned emergency orders issued outside of the courts normal procedures and without oral argumentto drag the law rightward under the guise of moderation. First, Justice Amy Coney Barrett turned away a constitutional challenge to Indiana Universitys vaccine mandate without explanation, and without formally referring the case to the full court. Second, by a 63 vote, the justices blocked a portion of New Yorks eviction moratorium as a violation of due process with only a single line of legal analysis.

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A casual observer might reasonably assume that, with these two orders, the court acted with Solomonic centrism, upholding one very reasonable COVID regulation while swatting down a different, dubious one. In reality, though, the conservative majoritys assault on New Yorks law marks a radical shift in the law reflecting bottomless concern for the rights of landlords and callous indifference toward indigent tenants. It only looks sensible in combination with Barretts decision to permit the vaccine mandateyet there was never any real chance that the justices would prevent Indiana University from forcing students to get the shot. By issuing the two orders almost simultaneously, the court got good press upfront that drowned out any backlash to its disturbing ruling against New York. The court giveth and the court taketh away, but the court tacks ever to the right in so doing.

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Despite the attention it received, the Indiana University lawsuit was always a frivolous case. The students contesting compulsory vaccination put forth daffy arguments with no basis in either precedent or science. Theres simply no case law to support the claim that anyone has a fundamental right to refuse vaccination as a condition of education at a public school, while there is more than a century of precedent allowing states to demand student vaccinationboth during normal times and in the midst of a pandemic. A three-judge appellate panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, consisting of two Donald Trump appointees and a Ronald Reagan appointee, had upheld the vaccine mandate under longstanding precedent. Moreover, the plaintiffs proffered deceptive scientific theories, pretending college-aged individuals face virtually no risk of serious illness or death. (They largely ignored new data demonstrating that the Delta variant heightens the risk of hospitalization for young people.)

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The weakness of the Indiana suit was only amplified by a bizarre amicus brief filed on behalf of the plaintiffs, by a group called Physicians for Informed Consent, claiming, among other things that there is no evidence that any of the currently available EUA COVID- 19 vaccines prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19, and in fact there is evidence that the spread of SARS-CoV-2 occurs in spite of vaccination. Therefore, there is no scientific justification to segregate vaccinated and unvaccinated people. The brief goes on to note that avoiding such segregation is particularly important in light of super precedent Brown v. Board prohibiting separate but equal schooling.

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To be sure, Barrett did the right thing by batting the Indiana suit away and even by avoiding sending it to her colleagues before so doing. But to confuse that act with centrism or moderation is an error: The fact is that the very existence of the shadow docket and the burgeoning legal belief that everything is an extreme freedom-related emergency, requiring instant off-the-books resolution at the Supreme Court, has invited this sort of frivolous emergency petition. The current court built this climate of exigency and sloppy petitions. Refusing to entertain the zaniest of them is hardly a win for legal process.

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The Supreme Court took a small step toward sanity then a giant leap into unsettling settled law.

A truly moderate Supreme Court would have disposed of the challenge to New Yorks eviction moratorium almost as quickly as Barrett threw out the vaccine case. Like the federal government, the New York legislature implemented a moratorium on evictions, which public health experts say will slow the spread of COVID. To qualify for protection, tenants must sign a declaration stating that they are experiencing financial hardship. A provision of the law prohibits administrative or judicial review of this hardship declaration until the moratorium expires on Aug. 31. A group of landlords filed a federal lawsuit arguing that this section violates their due process rights. They demanded an opportunity to contest their tenants claims of hardship before a judge.

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In June, Judge Gary R. Brown, a Donald Trump nominee, easily disposed of their suit. For decades, Brown wrote, the Supreme Court has granted states immense flexibility to regulate property, including housing, without providing property owners an immediate hearing. That flexibility is even more expansive when the state legislature has enacted a statutory scheme laying out procedural requirements for the deprivation of property. When the legislature passes a law which affects a general class of persons, Brown explained, quoting precedent, those persons have all received procedural due processthe legislative process. The fact that the plaintiffs dislike of the procedures adopted, the judge continued, does not implicate procedural due process concerns. After the plaintiffs appealed, a unanimous panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to issue their requested relief, an emergency injunction. That decision seemed inevitable: Whatever the merits of the precedents that Brown cited, after all, they are the law.

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Or at least they were until Thursday night, when, in another dashed-off, unsigned order, the Supreme Court issued an injunction against the New York law. It provided a single sentence of analysis, declaring, of the self-certification provision: This scheme violates the Courts longstanding teaching that ordinarily no man can be a judge in his own case consistent with the Due Process Clause. Apparently, this lone truism resolved the entire case. Under the courts own rules, SCOTUS may intervene at this early stage only under the most critical and exigent circumstances, and when the rights at issue are indisputably clear. As the lower courts decisions demonstrate, the rights at issue here were nowhere near indisputably clear, and the circumstances were the opposite of exigent: New Yorks moratorium is set to expire in just three weeks. The state is also in the process of disbursing funds to help struggling landlords.

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Moreover, as Justice Stephen Breyer noted in a dissent joined by Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, the court is supposed to balance the competing hardships in a case like this. Yet the majority focused exclusively on the hardships of landlords, completely ignoring that of impoverished tenants who may soon be forced out of their homes. As Breyer noted, quoting Chief Justice John Roberts in a COVID case from last year, The New York Legislature is responsible for responding to a grave and unpredictable public health crisis. It must combat the spread of a virulent disease, mitigate the financial suffering caused by business closures, and minimize the number of unnecessary evictions. The legislature does not enjoy unlimited discretion in formulating that response, but in this case, I would not second-guess politically accountable officials determination of how best to guard and protect the people of New York. Evidently a year on, the second-guessing may begin.

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If you are scoring this at home, its easy to say that COVID public health measures won one and lost one at the Supreme Court on Thursday. But that elides what really happened: The court took a small step toward sanity then a giant leap into unsettling settled law, with yet another unreasoned, unsigned decision. According to University of Texas School of Law professor and Slate contributor Steve Vladeck, this means there were 22 shadow docket decisions this term alone from which all three liberals publicly dissented. (Many court commentators like to leave out these 63 shadow docket decisions when compiling statistics, creating a misleading impression of moderation.) And while the court issued just four emergency injunctions during the Roberts courts first 15 terms, it has now issued a whopping seven in the ten months since Barrett joined the bench.

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The court isnt just deciding more and more cases on an emergency basis. It is also deciding what constitutes an emergency. Exigent circumstances do not seem to include impending executions, prison conditions, or the right to vote. They do seemingly include the need to attend church, study the Bible, and to collect rent in a pandemic. That these cases are then resolved without any legal reasoning, or with empty sloganeering about due process, is yet more troubling. Any way you slice it, the Supreme Court is hastily cobbling together a new doctrine of emergency law in a pandemic. And the only coherent principle that has emerged from the filaments of unsigned orders and opinions is that your rights and freedoms are only exigent, when they touch the hearts of the conservative majority.
Welcome to this weeks edition of the Surge, which was so proud to be part of the Pfizer Pfirst Class only to find out the Moderna Middle Children may have been the elite all along.





This was the last week of school for our friends in Congress, but only the popular kids were invited to Joe Manchins blowout graduation boat party. The Senate passed its bipartisan infrastructure bill, a process that somehow involved an 87-year-old Alabama senator trolling cryptocurrency posters, as well as the blueprint for the still-to-come $3.5 trillion Mother of All Bills. Its going to be an abbreviated summer break for the House, which is returning later this month for a pay-per-view wrestling match between moderates and progressives. When the Senate does come back, they have to figure out how not to destroy the global economy, which we guess will just be another Monday.





But first, lets look at the New York governor who is still, right now, the New York governor.
This past weekend I was at a motel in Colorado. Each room had its own individual door to the outside, but there was a lobby, with a reception desk and breakfast and coffee in the morning. Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that Americans should wear masks indoors, my boyfriend and I put them on when we went in to pick up food. The whole weekend, out of maybe a dozen people or so, I saw only one other person wearing a mask in the lobby. (We also werent saints about itwe took our masks off to eat.)

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What was apparent to me in the motel lobby was: The CDCs guidance to wear a mask indoors, even if youre fully vaccinated, is not working. It is not working, just as the earlier guidance for unvaccinated people to wear masks indoors did not work. Just as the earlier guidance to wear a mask before we had vaccines did not work.

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The guidance isnt working because its just thatnational guidance, suggested in areas of substantial or high transmission. (According to the helpful transmission map included in that link, that means pretty much everywhere except a handful of counties in Nebraska where very few people live.) Its up to local governments and businesses and community norms to enforce it. What the circumstances weve found ourselves in the past year and a half have shown is just how helpless guidances are before the forces, whether political or just human nature, that keep us from doing what we need to do to end the pandemic earlier.

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The guidance is not useless: Some people are following it! Some stores and venues and state governments are turning the guidance into mask mandates. Schools in Dallas are issuing a mandate, in defiance of a governor who banned them; so are schools in Florida. Nearly a dozen states have indoor mask mandates, though not all of them reflect the latest guidance for vaccinated people. But what this shows is how atomized our approach to masking is, how regional and micro-regional, in the face of a virus that has little regard for bordersyou can cross the street from one place to another and experience an entirely different set of rules. I know when I return to New York Ill feel shame if I dont wear a mask in my apartment building. And it will feel extra weird knowing that just over a week before, wearing a mask had made me feel like a dweeb in a motel lobby. Im the same person, with the same values regarding the pandemic, and yet I feel completely differently in different locations.

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This is all only a problem because, simply, masks work. They are not as good as vaccines. Vaccines are not perfect. And they could at this time use some help from masks. The maps make clear that almost everyone should be wearing one in indoor public spaces (congrats on being the exception, sparse counties in Nebraska!). Its not a backslideits an evidence-based adaptation to the present situation. Wearing a mask is not supposed to be a personal choice; it is supposed to be a public health tool that the public adopts. The public is, in many cases, not wearing masks. Forty states do not have mask mandates. Republicans hoping to replace Gavin Newsom are trying to add California to that list.

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It honestly makes sense to not want to wear a mask. Wearing a mask is very annoying, and its more annoying knowing that we have effective vaccines. And its arguably reasonable to not wear a mask if the group is small and everyone is vaccinated; public health experts have suggested as much in contexts like going to an office or dining with friends. Trying the compromise of asking unvaccinated people to mask failed, and now we have delta, a very contagious variant that vaccinated people can themselves spread. Hence: masks.

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I know that masking is a burdenI do not like wearing several layers of cloth over my mouth, and I resent the sentiment that it should be no problem to mask up, particularly in situations where it makes little sense, like outdoors. Its even more of a burden to be masking up when other people arent, to be trying to contribute to a collective effort that is falling far short. And it feels like it doesnt help anyone very much at all to be one of the only people masking in a room with lots of bare faces. The pandemic doesnt end with some of us being super careful and others continuing on as though the CDC has not issued new guidance. Even mask mandates dont work unless they are enforced on the micro level. In Las Vegas, where there is a mandate in place, a reporter found that clubgoers wore them in line to get in, but simply took them off once they were inside.

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One more story: After we had breakfast at the motel, my boyfriend and I went to the national park wed come to visit. Everyone on the park shuttle wore a mask. That was also the case in the visitors centers and gift shops.

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The motel and the park were of course in the same area, in counties with similar COVID transmission levels that are substantial or high. Being in one space or another posed roughly similar risks (the bus was more crowded than the gift shop or lobby). But at the park, there was a rule: Wear a mask. An employee even stood next to the bus entrance and handed out disposable masks to anyone who didnt have one.

The shuttle bus felt like a glimpse of how things could be. People came to the national park from all over the country, and yet there they were, wearing masks. Because they had to.
While Lollapalooza 2021 went off with surprisingly low numbers of COVID cases despite thousands in attendancethanks in part to vaccination numbers and the events outdoor natureit seems that many events this fall are destined for cancellation. Take rock legend Stevie Nicks, who has officially canceled a string of shows across the U.S. due to concerns of rising COVID-19 case counts. On Tuesday, there were more than 130,000 new cases of the coronavirus reported to the CDC, compared with just 7,385 cases reported on June 21.

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So while news outlets and social media users alike were hyping up the arrival of Hot Vax Summer, as Nicks muses in Fleetwood Macs smash hit Gypsy, it seems that She was just a wish/ She was just a wish/ And her memory is all that is left for you now. In the past month, the Atlantic proclaimed that Hot Vax Summer Crumbled Before My Eyes and Vice openly wondered whether it was even happening. Now the fall is looking even bleaker. Or as Wired senior writer Maryn McKennawho inspired this postput it on Twitter: Fall unlikely to be fun.

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So just in time for everything to shutter once more, lets recap whats no longer happening this fall season.

Festivals and Concerts

While DaBaby concerts everywhere are getting canceled because hes a homophobic jerk, several other concerts are shuttering due to COVID itself. Like the psychedelic jam band the String Cheese Incident (forgive my Gen Z self for not knowing who they were until just now, and finding their alleged story about convincing cops that shrooms were string cheese highly unbelievable), who had to cancel shows after a vaccinated member of the band tested positive for the virus. In a remarkably poignant statement about the show, the band said We are super bummed we cant play music for yall, but this how the world seems to run these days. Rock icon Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones have canceled their Buffalo, New York, tour date, along with delaying various shows announced a few weeks back. Following a Lolla performance, Limp Bizkit has canceled its remaining August tour dates out of an abundance of caution. The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival also canceled its 2021 date. However, not all live music is going by the waysideinstead some festivals like Bonnaroo will require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test, much like Lolla did.

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Music festivals arent the only gatherings under a virus attack. Ascension Parish in Louisiana canceled its late August plans for the Jambalaya Festival citing a recent surge in the state. (Damn COVID, even trifling my ability to consume delicious andouille sausage creations in peace.) For the second year in a row, the television network Bravo has canceled its fan event BravoCon. Not to mention, the Big Dog Run Tour of podcast by the McElroy family (of the podcasts My Brother, My Brother, and Me, Sawbones, and Adventure Zone) announced a fall tour on Mondayonly to cancel it Tuesday.

Academic and Public Conferences

Festivalgoers arent the only ones feeling the whiplash of event cancellations. The 11th Annual Texas Tribune Festival in late September has decided to scrap their hybrid schedule and move entirely to a virtual format. The 2021 Conference for the Association of Health Care Journalists is scrambling to find new dates next year. The annual New York International Auto Show was canceled last week following NYC Mayor Bill de Blasios announcement of new restrictions on indoor venues. The pandemic has also canceled a whole mess of academic conferences, which has brought both positive and negative feedback. Recently, the University of Chicagos Department of Economics has made the decision to postpone both the Science of Philanthropy Initiative and Advances with Field Experiments conferences, originally scheduled for September.

Office Reopenings

On Thursday, Facebook pushed its return to office date to January 2022 from its previously scheduled October date. And its not alone: A slew of tech companies made the same decision recently, including Apple, Google, Microsoft, Uber, Amazon, and Lyft. The employment website Indeed moved its date back from Sep. 7 to Jan. 3. Some companies are hoping the COVID spike is only temporary and have issued shorter delayslike Wells Fargo, which only pushed its return date back a month into early October.

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That said, in-person return dates for companies are clearly a moving target, as Box CEO Aaron Levie noted on Twitter:

Office_Reopening_Dates.pptx is the most edited company slide deck in the history of capitalism.  Aaron Levie (@levie) August 10, 2021

Travel

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And while many dreamed of post-pandemic traveland some have started early as restrictions easedthat trend is also waning. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has published new maps that recommend multiple member states of the European Union should issue travel restrictions. If you were thinking of a nice island locale, it would help to know that while Hawaii hasnt changed travel regulations, it has reduced capacity for bars and reinstated mask mandates for indoor destinations. Travelers inbound to Hong Kong must now quarantine on their own dime in a government-approved hotel anywhere from seven to 21 days. Travel restrictions to the United States remain in place for those arriving from the United Kingdom, Schengen nations (that is, most of the EU), and other countries including India, South Africa, Iran, and Brazil.

So much for a new, new normalit seems like this fall will be much of the same. Sitting at home, binging Netflix, and wondering when vaccination rates will rise to a level that could actually provide herd immunity.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Theres a lot of ideas out there about how to make spacesuits better. Theres the MIT-led plan to create shrink-wrapped spacesuits based on the concept of negative pressure. Or a South Dakota School of Mines & Technology contraption that creates a wearable body monitoring system for astronauts. Not to mention a slew of nearly 50 companies that have shown interest in developing a spacesuit for NASA to purchase.

However, I think NASA would be happy just to finish the designs its currently working on, the first new suits its developed in decadeslike the Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit. The xEMU is part of the next generation of the spacesuits already worn on the International Space Station, with upgrades that allow astronauts to not just survive on the Moon, but also live and work on it. The xEMUs and a set of new suits for onboard usage are a key part of the Artemis program, which was started by the Trump administration and aims to return humans to the moon by 2024.

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Except it doesnt seem like were going to the moon in 2024 after alland the spacesuits are a big part of that delay.

Sure, the new xEMU suit solves a lot of the problems of previous suits. First, it significantly expands the range of people it can fit. That was a massive issue when NASA planned (and was later forced to scrub) its first all-female spacewalk in 2019 as the ISS did not have enough medium-sized torso suit components for the two astronauts. According to Kristine Davis, an engineer at NASA, the xEMU can be fitted to anyone from first percentile female to the 99th percentile male. The new suits will also be ready to handle extremely fine lunar dust and massive scales of temperature variation (-250 to +250 degrees Fahrenheit), while also improving suits ability to scrub carbon dioxideextending the time an astronaut can spend in them. And in possibly the most helpful move for life on the Moon and eventually Mars, the xEMU should actually allow spacefarers to bend, squat, and walkno more Apollo bunny hops.

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The new line of spacesuits just falls short in one minorly important way: hitting deadlines. Originally, these spacesuits were supposed to be tested on the ISS in 2023 with a target date for the Artemis missions in 2028. After Trumps acceleration, NASA required xEMU suits to be delivered for mission integration by March 31, 2023. Well, thats not going to happenwith over 20 months of delays currently on the books. NASAs Office of Inspector General released a report on Aug. 10 detailing the issues that have faced developers of next-generation spacesuits. Schedule pressure has led to mistakes, including at one point using the wrong specifications to construct part of the test next-gen suits interface components. Schedule constriction has also resulted in a timeline where spacesuit development and testing are occurring concurrently with other parts of Artemis, which has led to a design maturity mismatch and the possibility of future design mismatches as technical requirements are further defined. Misaligned schedules between various NASA offices have compounded issues in intra-agency coordination. Coordination is extra complicated because NASA is assembling the spacesuit from components supplied by 27 different contractors and vendors.

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And thats all without mentioning budgetary shortfalls, like that NASA only received 77 percent of its requested funding for the Gateway (an orbiting lunar outpost that is part of the Artemis program)resulting in $69 million in budget cuts for spacesuit development this year alone. Thats resulting in at least a 3-month delay to xEMU development schedule, according to the report. Which makes sense given the massive costs of this project. In total, development of next-gen spacesuits is projected to cost more than $1 billion by the time of completion in Fiscal Year 2025. While there was no exact figure for what they should cost, thats a ton of money to spend on suit development alone.

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(Never fear, theres someone who thinks they can solve NASAs spacesuit woes. Elon Musk, has taken to Twitter to let us all know hes ready to step in.)

Spacesuits are just some of the many reasons the U.S. likely wont be landing astronauts on the Moon in 2024. Like it did to everything else, the coronavirus wreaked havoc on the timeline for the Artemis programincluding temporarily shuttering space facilities and delaying work on mission infrastructure. Setbacks to the construction of the rocket to carry the mission also didnt help. Plus, there was a legal battle between Jeff Bezos Blue Origin and NASA after the agency selected SpaceX to build its human landing system for the lunar mission; Bezos was so incensed he offered NASA administrator Bill Nelson to pay $2 billion worth of costs if NASA changed course and selected Blue Origin instead. This protest process had more than contractual ramifications: The NASA IG report said that delays related to lunar lander development and the recently decided lander contract award bid protests will also preclude a 2024 landing. Billionaires just cant play nice.

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The delays regarding spacesuit construction and contract processes reveal some important insights about the space industry, especially in the context of government missions. First, politicians like Trump and former Vice President Pence seem to massively underestimate the complexity of designing a mission to the Moon. Just because we have done it before doesnt mean there arent massive engineering hurdles to overcome, large amounts of money to spend, and complex interagency and cross-company collaborations required to make it happen. Second, while it is in vogue to deride private attempts at spaceflight, many of the issues faced by NASA in their push to land on the Moon are seemingly unique to public spaceflight in a rapidly privatizing industry. Unlike private companies, NASA is subject to changing political priorities, unsure and unstable funding dependent on the whims of Congressional negotiation, and the need to contract out to a slew of various private companies while maintaining strict oversight.

Beyond that, the troubles facing Artemisboth in spacesuit development and other sectorshighlight just how difficult crewed spaceflight is, and how expensive. The need for extra safety measures and the complexity of supporting life in the rugged environment of space is, well, hard. This isnt a new or particularly earth-shattering point, but its always valuable to remember how much easier it is to send a robot beyond Earths atmosphere.

Have no doubt, the Artemis program will eventually reach the lunar surface. But rushing it probably wasnt the best idea.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
On Thursday, Twitter updated the design of its app and website. Some users were baffled by a change to the follow and unfollow buttons that could lead one to mix them up. Others took issue with the new Twitter font, Chirp. While the social network boasted that Chirp is designed to be more accessible and amplify the fun and irreverence of a Tweet, many tweets complained that not only is it harder to read, users are complaining of headaches.

To better understand whats going on with this font, I spoke to Fredrick Brennan, the founderand later the antagonistof 8chan. He launched the infamous imageboard in 2013, but then embarked on a crusade to get the notoriously toxic site shut down. Nowadays, Brennan designs open-source fonts. As someone whos created his own social media site (with regrets), designs fonts, and tweets prolifically, Brennan has been fairly outspoken about Chirp. Our conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.

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Aaron Mak: What were your first impressions of the Chirp font and initial complaints about its readability?

Fredrick Brennan: Back in January, how it was announced was that Twitter had commissioned this bespoke font. That turns out not to be the case. The font that theyre calling Chirp is extremely similar to GT America, which is itself based on Franklin Gothic. They changed the spacing ever so slightly and changed the square dots over i and j, and then the period and comma to be circular. It definitely was not as advertised.

In terms of readability, I would say that typeface readability is not really an exact science at all. The results are not often repeatable. What people find readable tends to be more cultural and experience-based than anything. For example, in the Middle Ages, people found Gothic lettering to be extremely readable, right? The human brain is flexible enough that it can learn how to read any kind of script, and then when you try to present it with one thats differently designed, it will find that challenging. So when people say that they find the new letters more difficult to read than before, my first assumption would be that thats only because theyre so used to seeing Twitters previous default font.

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Does this actually seem like an upgrade from Twitters previous font?

I think that would more depend on the operating system that users were coming from. If youre an iOS user, which most Americans are, I would say no. San Francisco, which is Apples font, is very technically complex and very pleasant to read. Not only that, users are very used to reading it now. It would essentially be like the Times Roman of this time, where peoples eyes are so used to it that any change to it is going to immediately cause a decrease in perceived readability. If they give it [Chirp] time, they will eventually experience the same amount of readability. I quite like it, but again, thats extremely subjective.

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Another thing is, talking about multilingual support, if youre using the operating systems default fonts, those are all meant to work with the fonts on that operating system for different languages. So if you have a multilingual text or even a text that just includes one Russian word or one Greek word, that will flow a lot better than if Twitter tries to put its proprietary font in there. [Chirp] doesnt have a Greek or Cyrillic character set. I kind of view Twitter as cheaping out in some ways that they didnt support the three basic character sets: Cyrillic, Greek, and Latin are often abbreviated as LCG in the type industry, because theyre just expected. Its strange that they would undergo this expensive thing and then not have that. Its possible that they spent all this money on the font for advertising, and then they didnt really let people that were working on it know that they were going to roll it out across the entire site.

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Is there anything about this font that might make it suitable or unsuitable for tweets in particular?

I would say that this font does have kind of a midcentury feel, because its based on Franklin Gothic. That was a font that was very often used in newspaper headlines and magazines especially. If you look at old Time magazines, youll see it all over the cover. Probably even people who wouldnt necessarily be able to look at the font and tell you the name of it still recognize that it kind of reminds them of a magazine or a newspaper from when they were little. It bucks the trend among a lot of tech companies that, when they are rebranding, they will always try to come up with a totally new design, not based on a past design. Its usually something very geometric; you can think of Googles proprietary font. That tends to be more of a safe pick. I think maybe users have certain expectations for which type designs they will see on screen. One thats based on Franklin Gothic might break a lot of those expectations.

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Twitter has been advertising this font as being more accessible. Does it seem that way?

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I dont think so. And as I said, I view the entire field of those studies that try to say one font is more readable than another as extremely suspect. Theres just a total lack of repeatable results. Thereve been studies that have been designed and shown that Comic Sans is better for dyslexic children. And then another one will come out in favor of OpenDyslexic, and then another one will overturn those results. I dont know that a designer can mess up a font so badly, if theyre trying not to, that they can create an unreadable font by doing that  certainly with a font like this that is based on Franklin Gothic, which people have been reading for over 100 years. With the absence of printed materials, were not seeing it as often, but I do think that people will get used to it. I dont necessarily think that Franklin Gothic is an especially unreadable font.

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Were there any other technical flaws you found, besides the multilingual issue?

I saw a thread about how somebody was complaining about the hinting. I looked through the file and I confirmed that there was a problem. Hinting takes the outline thats in a font and it tries to move the points around to make it so that the points will match up to a pixel grid. If this doesnt happen, you can get what a lot of people are seeing where the outline will be misaligned. It will look like some letters are one pixel too tall, and some letters are one pixel too short.

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This is the TLDR. The inconsistent letter heights in Twitter's "Chirp" font don't seem to be intentional; they just set up weird contradictory hinting that confuses the Android and Windows font display engines into misalignments, and make Mac and iOS display the text blurry. pic.twitter.com/My6Gqf4h8W  mcc (@mcclure111) August 12, 2021

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Normally, if youre designing a font for screen use, this is a big deal that you have to think about. I dont know why [Twitter] didnt. This definitely points to them cheaping out. This is something really fundamental and basic to type design. The other issue that I discovered in this font, which kind of points to them rushing it out, was a grave accent issue with all the white space after it. [The accent has roughly twice the amount of space after it than there should be.] Im not saying I hate the font. I do think they can fix it, they probably will, but I dont understand how with their budget this happened.

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Were there any quirks in the font design you noticed?

I do think that some of the numerals were strange; especially the numeral 2 looked quite strange to me in relation to the others. If you have 1, 2, 3, 4 laid out, you can see that. If you look at this specimen of Franklin Gothic, you can see that [Chirps] numeral 2 definitely departs, and not all of this departure was good or necessary. You can see that the top part of it definitely curves inward a lot. I found that to be strange and quite honestly ugly. I would not have departed from the original design in that way.

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When it comes to fonts like this that are sensory and meant for reading, youre never going to see huge differences and grand leaps taken.

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What was your favorite character in the Chirp font? What was your least favorite?

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This lowercase g, I noticed a lot of people complaining about it already, and it is very different than a typical, lowercase g. They have in the font file an alternate lowercase g, which looks more normal.

It seems like they were planning for some kind of outcry here so that they could quickly replace these gs, because none of the other letters have this. I could be wrong about why they did this, but given that Ive seen so many people complaining about the g, I wonder if they did a focus group and found that this was the thing that kept coming up. Its normally quite strange to see those alternates. That kind of betrays, in my opinion, a lack of confidence in the design that they thought they would have to change this g. I would say that the g is both my least favorite and most favorite, because I do think that its a bold design decision. I see that its getting people talking.
Roman military camp in Bratislava makes UNESCO list

Gerulata site dating back to 1st century becomes capitals first World Heritage Site.

A Roman military camp described by experts as a small Rome has become Bratislavas first UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Gerulata site in the Rusovce borough of the capital was officially included on the UN organisations list of globally significant sites at the end of July. It is the eighth such location in Slovakia.

Jaroslava Schmidtova, archeologist of the Ancient Gerulata Museum told The Slovak Spectator: Adding Gerulata to UNESCOs World Heritage List is an acknowledgement of the value [of the site] to the international community. We have become a site worth preserving for future generations.

The Gerulata military camp, which dates back to between the 1st and 4th century AD, was part of the Limes Romanus, or border of the Roman Empire.

For decades it has been a lesser-known, but historically important attraction for tourists in the capital.

Visitors to the Ancient Gerulata Museum in Rusovce are greeted by a copy of a stone plate depicting the shepherd Attis from Phrygian mythology.

Copy of a stone plate depicting the shepherd Attis from Phrygian mythology. (Source: Courtesy of MMB)

Ancient Gerulata Museum Located in the centre of Rusovce near the Roman Catholic Church of St Magdalene, on Gerulatska 7

Open daily except Monday from 10:00 to 17:00, last entry at 16:30, from March 1 to November 30

entrance to the outdoor part of the museum including remains of the fortress is free

admission to the lapidary with an expert guide is 2.50 for adults and 1.50 for children, students and pensioners

The original plate, which was unearthed during an archaeological dig in the area, is on display in the museum and is one of its most valuable historical artefacts.

Gerulata is a small Rome, Schmidtova said. The influence of the entire Roman Empire can be seen in this small area.

Gerulata and Kelemantia

13. Aug 2021 at 16:09 | Jana Liptakova
The horsepeople and patrons of Kawartha Downs have long been supporters of the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society and this Saturday the Fraserville oval will host their Day at the Races in celebration of OSASs 25th anniversary.

Making the presentation to the winning connections on Saturday following the ninth race will be long time OSAS volunteer Sheila Jopling along with Lindsay Bax and Jason Woodward.



Sheila Jopling at Kawartha with OSASs most uniquely coloured ambassador, Hiltons Hot Stuff Sheila Jopling at Kawartha with OSASs most uniquely coloured ambassador, Hiltons Hot Stuff

Three years ago, when the backstretch kitchen at the track was closed, Sheila worked closely with the marketing department to provide food for the horsepeople, the proceeds of which went to OSAS as well as other charities.

It was an initiative that benefitted everyone. The horsepeople received a variety of fresh, homemade food each week at a reasonable price while also supporting worthwhile causes, explained Sheila, who worked on the initiative alongside Lindsay Bax, a member of the tracks marketing department at that time.

Joining Lindsay and Sheila to make the presentation will be Jason Woodward, a trainer/driver at Kawartha for many years who also serves as the back-up starter. Jason was an integral part of one of OSASs most heartwarming stories recently.

A few weeks before Christmas last year, Julie Morrison Kangas reached out to OSAS looking for a horse for her neighbour Glenn Cameron whose wife, Tara, was battling cancer. Tara had ridden in her youth and Glenn wanted her to have a horse in her life again.

Jason helped with the special Christmas gift by driving to Mohawk to pick up the horse, a mare named Foamy. Even though he had been racing for two days down Mohawk way, he made yet another trip to pick Foamy up, noted Julie at the time. Sadly Tara passed in May, but the last months of her life were enriched thanks to Foamy who has remained with her family.

Thanks to Sheila, Lindsay and Jason for making the presentation on OSASs behalf and best of luck to the participants in the race.

To view the entries for Saturday's card of harness racing at Kawartha Downs, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Kawartha Downs.

(OSAS)
Woodbine Mohawk Park would like to inform members of the harness racing community of a change to next weeks training schedule.

Due to track lighting maintenance, training has been moved from Wednesday (August 18) to Thursday (August 19). Training will be offered from 7:00 a.m. to Noon and sign-up (available here) opens Saturday (August 14) at 3:00 p.m.

(Mohawk)
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

An energy meter indicates that hundreds of watts are generated but in reality a small amount of power is consumed. This can happen using the combination of a dimmer and some household equipment, which together only consume about twenty watts. Depending on the actual setting of the dimmer, the energy meter gives the correct read-out, a consumption that is twenty times higher, or even hundreds of watts of generated power. Researchers from the University of Twente will present and explain this effect on the large online conference on electromagnetic compatibility, EMC 2021.

"The meter is running back," we used to say when energy was generatedthe dial of the electricity meter turned the other way around, which was a great way of visualizing the power generated by solar panels, for instance. Today's smart meters have a display that can show the energy that is fed back. Earlier UT research, on intelligent electricity meters, indicated that the errors in reading can be huge: they can show substantial under- or overconsumption of hundreds of percentages. As the researchers now found, they can even show a negative amount of energy, as if electronics would generate power instead of using it.

This effect happens when a remotely controlled dimmer is used in combination with some kind of household equipment. When the dimmer is only used for switching on an off, it still appears to dim for a few seconds. For the equipment, this has no direct consequences, but for the measurements the smart meter shows, it can be the difference between a readout that is fully correct, a readout that indicates far too much power and a readout that actually shows energy production. After consumers noticed this in their homes, Frank Leferink's lab tested it using both a simulated main voltage with no further load and a fully operational environment with all types of devices working.

According to the researchers, this has to do with the rapid current pulses formed by the combination of the dimmer and the device. Like many home devices and battery chargers, the dimmer also has a switching power supplyit will work the same for various main voltages (110 V, 230V) by switching rapidly. Thus, it is not linear load anymore, like many loads used to be. The dimmer, in turn, can take action at several moments of the sinusoidal shape of the net voltage. This moment determines the measured outcome: roughly from minus 400 to plus 400 watts.

Switching power supplies, LEDs, and dimmers are far more complex loads. An average electricity meter determines the overall current using a coil. But this too simple and will not accurately measure today's complex net loads. Many of the smart energy meters were upgraded and have the lastest "immunity norm," but even for this article a meter was used that was built in 2019.

The other side of the coin is that the equipment we use should meet the standards as well, as noted in a recent publication of "Netbeheer Nederland' (Netherlands Grid Management). The combination of equipment and a dimmer that is not used for dimming may be a bit out of the ordinay. But imagine you use a remotely controlled device for several purposes: you dim a few lights, and switch on and off another type of device, all in one. So, this situation may not be that extraordinary after all.

The paper "How to earn money with an EMI problem: static energy meters running backwards," by Tom Hartman, Bas ten Have, Niek Moonen and Frank Leferink, will be presented at the IEEE Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility, Signal & Power Integrity.

Explore further Electronic energy meters' false readings almost six times higher than actual energy consumption
Job Title: Administrative Assistant (UN Job Placements)

Organization: United Nations Organisation Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO)

Duty Station: Entebbe, Uganda

Job Opening Number: 21-Administration-MONUSCO-160708-F-Entebbe (M)

Grade: FS5

About UN MONUSCO:

Following the signing of the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement in July 1999 between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and five regional States (Angola, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe) in July 1999, the Security Council established the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) by its resolution 1279 of 30 November 1999, initially to plan for the observation of the ceasefire and disengagement of forces and maintain liaison with all parties to the Ceasefire Agreement. Later in a series of resolutions, the Council expanded the mandate of MONUC to the supervision of the implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement and assigned multiple related additional tasks.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: Responsibilities: Within delegated authority, the Administrative Assistant, FS-5 will carry out the following duties:

Human Resources Management

Coordinate actions for transactions related to the administration of the units human resource activities, e.g., recruitment, placement, relocation, performance appraisal, job classification reviews, separation of staff members, training etc., ensuring consistency in the application of UN rules and procedures. Liaise with central administration/ executive services as required.

Oversee the maintenance of vacancy announcement files and keep track of the status of vacancy announcements.

Maintains records of the performance evaluation status of the section/office. Assists in formulating responses related to rebuttal cases.

Advise staff on visa matters and other relevant rules and regulations; coordinate the induction and orientation of new staff members in the mission.

Provide advice and answer queries on classification procedures and processes.

Provide information and advice to staff/consultants concerning conditions of service, duties and responsibilities, plus privileges and entitlements under the Staff Rules and Regulations.

Monitors sections/offices staffing tables for a variety of human resource activities, e.g., appointments, retirements, expiration of appointments, reassignments, transfers, and movement of staff.

Budget and Finance

Provide expert assistance and coordination in the preparation and development of the sections/offices work plan and budget.

Assist in monitoring budget/work plan for various budgets, trust funds, grants and other funds regularly, suggest reallocations of resources and implement the reallocations as necessary.

Collect data from relevant databases and prepare customised financial reports.

Assist in the review and preparation of the medium-term plan and its revisions.

Review, analyse and assist in finalising the cost estimates and budget proposals regarding staff and non-staff requirements from departments/offices at headquarters and the field, including programmatic aspects: ensure compliance with the medium-term plan other legislative mandates.

Assist managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.

Monitor budget implementation/expenditures and recommend reallocation of funds as necessary.

Review and verify the availability of funds for all requisitions ensuring that the correct object of expenditure has been charged. Ensure that the allotments and exchange rates within the relevant system are updated regularly.

Monitor extra-budgetary resources, including reviewing agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules, and establishing policies and procedures.

Assist in the preparation of the year-end budget performance report submissions.

General Administration

Coordinate the provision of guidance, training and daily supervision to other staff in the area of responsibility. Provide assistance in drafting host country agreements, budget agreements, and contributions for grants or other activities as appropriate. Identify and resolve diverse issues and problems as they arise, determining the appropriate actions. Coordinate extensively with service units and frequently liaise with internal team members at Headquarters and in the field mission. Consolidate the weekly and monthly reports for submission to the Director of Mission Support.











Compile the overtime statistics for Entebbe Support Base staff and submission to the Budget office.

Training the incoming staff on protocol issues, use of UN software, UMOJA, FSS, etc.

Perform other related administrative duties, as required (e.g., operational travel program, monitoring accounts and payments to vendors and individual contractors for services, physical space planning and the identification of office technology needs and maintenance of equipment, software and systems, organizes and coordinates seminars, conferences and translations).

Run and manage the Liaison Cell of the Head of Premises and the staff to ensure support provided to MONUSCO requirement and Entebbe Support Base tenants in obtaining visas, work permits for staff and their dependents and vehicle red plate numbers.

Providing support to mission level and neighbouring missions by liaising with the Government of Uganda in close coordination with Resident Coordinators office for obtaining customs clearance, ammunition clearance, medical and human remains repatriation.

Arrange and coordinate high-level meetings with the host Government and the UN delegations and senior management.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

The ideal candidate for the United Nations Organisation Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) Administrative Assistant job opportunity should hold a High school or equivalent diploma is required. A technical or vocational certificate in administrative services, finance, human resources, business administration or personnel management is required.

A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience within the United Nations system or the private sector in the field of administrative services, finance, accounting, human resources, audit, or in other related fields, of which 3 years should have been at a supervisory level.

Experience in providing administrative support services of international peacekeeping or military operations is highly desirable.

Extensive knowledge of the UN Administrative rules, regulations and working practices pertaining to field missions is an advantage.

Languages: fluency in oral and written English is required and working knowledge of French is desirable.

Competencies

Professionalism  Substantive experience in and thorough knowledge of administrative functions (e.g., budget/ work programme, human resources, database management, etc.). Extensive knowledge regarding the application of financial and staff regulations and rules. The skills and ability to analyse and interpret financial data. Ability to manage processes, maintain accurate records, interpret/analyse a wide variety of data, and identify/resolve data discrepancies and activity problems. Familiarity with all of the units business operations and objectives. A high degree of commitment to ensure the proper use of the units financial resources. Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

 Substantive experience in and thorough knowledge of administrative functions (e.g., budget/ work programme, human resources, database management, etc.). Extensive knowledge regarding the application of financial and staff regulations and rules. The skills and ability to analyse and interpret financial data. Ability to manage processes, maintain accurate records, interpret/analyse a wide variety of data, and identify/resolve data discrepancies and activity problems. Familiarity with all of the units business operations and objectives. A high degree of commitment to ensure the proper use of the units financial resources. Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Planning & Organising  Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amounts of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

 Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amounts of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. Teamwork  Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organisational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with a final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

 Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organisational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with a final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Client Orientation  Considers all those to whom services are provided to be clients, and seeks to see things from clients point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of the progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to the client.

NB: The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process

(Application, interview meeting, processing, or training). The United Nations

does not concern itself with information on applicants bank accounts.









How to Apply:

All candidates should apply online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 16th 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
LAST Saturday, the Trinidad Express reported that Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage Finance (TTMF) and the Home Mortgage Bank (HMB) had been given the greenlight to merge their operationsa move that was floated about ten years ago by Winston Dookeran when he was the minister of finance.
TOKYO -- Japan on Friday issued the most serious level 5 risk alerts in the western prefecture of Hiroshima, citing unprecedented rains in the region and imminent risk of floods and other disasters.

Japan Meteorological Agency issued the warning, adding in a statement that the rain front could stay over the country for about a week.

On Thursday, hundreds of thousands of residents of Nagasaki and other parts of Kyushu island in southwest Japan were asked to evacuate to avoid floods and the risk of landslides caused by torrential rain.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's office set up a disaster control centre on Friday to handle potential disasters.

"Torrential rains could continue in regions around western Japan," Suga said.

Floodwater seen in a ditch in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan after heavy rains, in this August 13, 2021 still frame obtained from social media video. TWITTER @KAPPACHAN1115 /via Reuters

A road is damaged by the swollen Suzuhari river caused by a heavy rain in Hiroshima, western Japan August 13, 2021, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via Reuters

A passerby holding an umbrella walks in the heavy rain in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan August 12, 2021, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Picture taken by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via Reuters

A swollen river caused by a heavy rain is seen in Nagomi Town, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan August 12, 2021, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via Reuters
After a city leader alluded to citywide movement restrictions to prevent the coronavirus spread in the next few days, residents of Da Nang in central Vietnam on Thursday poured into local wet markets and supermarkets to stock up on groceries.

Da Nang recorded 1,473 coronavirus cases with 13 deaths from July 10 to August 11, said Nguyen Van Quang, secretary of the municipal Party Committee, during a meeting of the Peoples Council on Thursday.

Local authorities are mulling more stringent epidemic prevention measures on top of the existing curbs, such as banning people from going to the beach and restricting outdoor travels to essential duties only.

The Peoples Council has settled on a plan to introduce more rigid measures in the stay where you are tenet if the situation does not improve over the next four days, Quang said.

More specifically, city residents will be required to stay home, while factories and construction sites must prepare to let their workers stay on the spot for seven days, he elaborated.

A citywide screening for COVID-19 to pull infections out of the community is also planned.

Following the statement, many Da Nang dwellers flocked to local supermarkets and wet markets to accumulate groceries to prepare for the imminent movement curb.

Many sellers in traditional markets compared Thursdays footfall to that of the Lunar New Year holiday, the peak season for grocery selling in Vietnam, with the most sought-after items being meat, fish, and veggies.

Tran Thi Chin, a veggie peddler at Dong Da Market in Da Nang, said her stall had sold out early since the demand was upped a few times compared to normal.

Customers could be seen crowding the remaining stalls, vying for the fresh groceries without giving heed to safe distancing.

Likewise, the majority of meat and fish stalls in the market were out of stock early after the demand shot up around 9:00 am.

Da Nang City residents pour into wet markets and supermarkets to stock up on groceries, August 12, 2021. Video: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre

Hurrying customers, one of them being Le Thi Ngoc Phuong from Dong Da Street of Hai Chau District, could be seen making the way through the crowd with big bags of fresh items.

According to Phuong, she and many other residents had dashed to the grocery stalls as soon as the city leaders discussed the possible elevated movement curb on TV.

A crowd also gathered at Big C Da Nang Supermarket, where the most in-demand items were reported to be groceries, canned foods, and dried foodstuffs.

Refuting rumor of dried-up stocks, the supermarket assured that their supply of veggies, meat, fish, frozen foods, dairy products, dried foods, and instant noodles remains sufficient.

Safety measures such as mandatory distancing and medical declaration are imposed upon all customers, while their staffers are provided with gloves, face masks, and the lines at their check-out counters are marked with tape to remind customers not to cluster up while they wait to pay.

The epicenter of the second coronavirus outbreak in July and August last year, Da Nang has recorded 1,801 local COVID-19 cases since the fourth wave hit Vietnam in late April.

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A section of a street in Hanoi has been cordoned off after 16 coronavirus cases were detected in the area in less than a week.

Authorities in Ba Dinh District fenced off a 400-meter stretch of Doi Can Street on Thursday night after 16 coronavirus patients were detected via contact tracing and mass testing between August 7 and 12.

Nine of these cases were recorded on Thursday alone, according to the Hanoi Center for Disease Control.

The patients have been brought to local treatment facilities, while their direct contacts have been quarantined.

A 400-meter section of Doi Can Street in Hanoi is cordoned off, August 12, 2021. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

The Ba Dinh District Medical Center has confirmed 49 COVID-19 infections in the community via mass testing since July 24.

Vietnam had documented 246,568 COVID-19 cases by Friday morning, with 89,145 recoveries and 4,813 deaths, according to Ministry of Health statistics.

A 400-meter section of Doi Can Street in Hanoi is cordoned off, August 12, 2021. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

The country has recorded 242,603 local infections in 62 provinces and cities, including 2,258 cases in Hanoi, since the fourth wave broke out on April 27.

The capital is currently following social distancing regulations under the prime ministers Directive No. 16, which bans gatherings of more than two in public and requires all residents to stay home.

The citys chairman Chu Ngoc Anh on Tuesday approved a plan to carry out a massive COVID-19 testing drive until August 17 with a target to collect 1.3 million samples.

An officer guards an alley on Doi Can Street in Hanoi, August 12, 2021. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

A man brings supplies to his relatives in the locked-down area on Doi Can Street in Hanoi, August 12, 2021. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

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Ho Chi Minh City authorities are considering calling on recovered COVID-19 patients to participate in pandemic control efforts, according to a document signed by city chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong.

Phong has requested the citys Department of Health to give advice to the municipal steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control regarding the plan, particularly on tasks to be assigned to the recovered patients and their benefits.

In the document, the chairman also asked the department to collaborate with a unit of the Ministry of Health in the city to review the operations of COVID-19 treatment establishments so as to provide suitable consultancy for the committee in terms of resource coordination, procedures for patient transfer and treatment, and medical guidelines.

The department was also ordered to regularly update the patient admission capacity of each treatment establishment.

Huynh Thanh Nhan, director of the municipal Department of Home Affairs, previously said that the city needs over 12,000 more health workers, including 2,800 doctors, 8,200 nurses, and 1,000 volunteering medical lecturers and students, to deal with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The citys manpower coordination team for COVID-19 prevention and control, which is led by Nhan, proposed the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of National Defense, and the governments special working group mobilize medical forces from other localities, especially doctors and nurses capable of performing resuscitation, to assist in treatment efforts.

Vietnam had documented 246,568 COVID-19 cases as of Thursday evening, with 89,145 recoveries and 4,813 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

The country has recorded 242,603 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 137,008 cases.

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Two shipments totaling over one million AstraZeneca vaccine jabs will be delivered contractually to Vietnam on Friday, while the country expects to receive more than 12 million vaccine doses from different sources from now through September, local sources said.

These shipments will be delivered under a 30-million dose contract between Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company (VNVC) and the vaccines developer, British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca, a source told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Friday.

Before the upcoming deliveries, nearly 4.4 million doses of AstraZeneca have been sent to Vietnam on several occasions under this contract, VNVC reported.

At a meeting on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said the country will receive more than 12 million doses of vaccines from different sources from now through September.

This vaccine volume is expected to include 10 million doses developed by AstraZeneca and the remainder by Pfizer-BioNTech.

Out of the vaccine supply, 670,000 doses will be delivered to Vietnam by the end of this month or in early September as a donation from the French government through the COVAX Facility, the Ministry of Health reported.

In addition, the Hungarian government will also gift Vietnam 100,000 vaccine doses and 100,000 rapid test kits.

Last week, at a meeting with the research team that is working on the Nano Covax COVID-19 vaccine, which is being developed domestically by Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC, the ministry assessed that the vaccine is safe and produces good immunity response.

Regarding the vaccine, which officially entered the third phase of clinical trials on June 11, State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on July 29 asked health authorities to promptly authorize it to make the first Vietnamese vaccine available soon to drive back the coronavirus spread.

Vietnam has targeted to secure 150 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to inoculate two-thirds of its 98 million-strong population to reach herd immunity as soon as possible amid surging infections in many localities across the country.

However, the Southeast Asian nation has obtained only over 19 million jabs from the COVAX Facility, contractual purchases, and donations, local sources said on Wednesday.

As of Friday morning, more than 13.36 million vaccine doses have been administered nationwide, according to the National COVID-19 Vaccination Portal.

Vietnam has documented 246,568 COVID-19 cases, including 244,173 domestic and 2,395 imported infections, since early 2020, when the pandemic kicked off in the country, the ministry reported on Thursday evening.

Out of the tally, 89,145 have recovered and 4,813 died.

Since the pandemics fourth outbreak erupted in the country in late April, 242,063 infections, or 99.13 percent of the caseload, have been recorded.

Currently, the countrys largest COVID-19 epicenter is Ho Chi Minh City, which detects thousands of cases per day.

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The Ministry of Health confirmed over 9,000 more domestic coronavirus infections and more than 3,500 recovered patients in Vietnam on Friday.

Thirty-nine provinces and cities recorded 9,150 local cases whereas another 30 infections were imported from abroad, the health ministry said.

The ministry had logged 9,653 domestically-infected patients in 42 provinces and cities on Thursday.

Nearly 2,000 of the latest local cases were found in the community while the remainder were detected in isolated areas or centralized quarantine facilities.

Ho Chi Minh City documented 3,531 of the new domestic infections, down by 310 cases from yesterday, Binh Duong Province 2,816, Dong Nai Province 808, Long An Province 623, Khanh Hoa Province 243, Dong Thap Province 152, Can Tho City 142, Tra Vinh Province 140, and Hanoi 97.

Since the fourth COVID-19 wave began in Vietnam on April 27, the country has recorded 251,753 community transmissions in 62 out of its 63 provinces and cities.

Ho Chi Minh City stays atop the table with 140,539 patients, followed by Binh Duong Province with 39,592, Long An Province with 13,232, Dong Nai Province with 12,047, Dong Thap Province with 4,621, Khanh Hoa Province with 3,916, Tien Giang Province with 3,626, Tay Ninh Province with 3,217, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province with 2,494, Hanoi with 2,355, and Can Tho City with 2,329.

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 ministry logged 3,593 recoveries on Friday, taking the total to 92,738 recovered patients.

The death toll has jumped to 5,088 after the health ministry reported 275 fatalities the same day, including 223 registered in Ho Chi Minh City and 25 in Binh Duong Province.

The Southeast Asian country has detected an accumulation of 255,748 cases since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit it on January 23, 2020.

Health workers gave 1,075,584 COVID-19 vaccine doses on Thursday.

Over 13.2 million vaccine shots have been administered in Vietnam since the country rolled out vaccination on March 8, with nearly 1.2 million people having 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.

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Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has urged competent authorities to exert more efforts so that the country can start producing its own COVID-19 vaccines in September.

The premier on Thursday convened a meeting with scientists, businesses, and institutions participating in the production and research of made-in-Vietnam COVID-19 vaccines.

Apart from purchasing and importing vaccines, Vietnam is stepping up the transfer of vaccine production technology, as well as the research and production of homemade jabs in an effort to secure as many doses as possible for the people, PM Chinh stated.

The Ministry of Health reported at the meeting that two homegrown COVID-19 vaccines, namely Nano Covax developed by Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC and COVIVAC by the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals, had already entered clinical trials.

Vietnam has also received vaccine production technology from the United States, Japan, and Russia.

PM Chinh stressed that the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and relevant ministries must do their utmost to facilitate vaccine research, technology transfer, and production, particularly in terms of administrative procedures.

He also ordered the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, the Hanoi Medical University, the Military Medical Academy, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, and the Pasteur Institute to assist in the effort.

The premier tasked the health ministry with establishing a special working group on COVID-19 vaccines, as well as issuing a circular on circulation permits for domestic COVID-19 medicine and vaccines.

We must exert even more efforts so that Vietnam can have its own COVID-19 vaccines, PM Chinh stressed.

If things go smoothly, Vietnam may be able to start the production of COVID-19 vaccines from September.

The Southeast Asian country has so far received about 19 million doses through purchase, the COVAX Facility, and donations from other countries.

The health ministry has approved six COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use, namely AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinopharm, and Johnson & Johnson.

More than 12 million doses have been administered since inoculation was rolled out on March 8, with over one million people fully vaccinated.

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Authorities in the southern Vietnamese province of Kien Giang have facilitated the return of six French students stranded on Phu Quoc Island by expediting their repatriation process and enabling their passage through various COVID-19 checkpoints.

Pham Van Nghiep, deputy chairman of Phu Quoc, on Thursday said that the students left the island for the mainland town of Ha Tien by ferry on Wednesday.

From there, they were taken to Ho Chi Minh City by car.

They were scheduled to board a flight from the southern metropolis to return to France at 3:50 pm on Thursday, according to Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper.

Before leaving Phu Quoc, all six students tested negative for COVID-19.

Earlier, the French Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City sent a diplomatic note to Kien Giang authorities asking them to facilitate the repatriation procedures and help the stranded French students pass through medical checkpoints so that they could get to Ho Chi Minh City in time for their repatriation flight.

The students entered Vietnam on April 24 and stayed in Hanoi.

They traveled to Phu Quoc Island on July 15 as tourists and got stuck there after 19 southern localities, including Kien Giang Province, imposed strict social distancing orders on July 19.

Currently, there are about 400 foreigners in Phu Quoc, primarily working on investment projects or for high-class resorts.

While there are no official statistics on the number of tourists stuck on the island due to social distancing regulations, Phu Quoc City authorities are committed to facilitating the repatriation of stranded foreigners to their home countries.

Phu Quoc, Vietnams largest island, became a top tourist destination after the government rolled out a 30-day visa-free policy for foreigners in 2014.

In 2019, before the onset of the pandemic, it received over five million visitors, including 541,600 foreigners, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

Vietnam closed its borders and canceled all international flights in March last year.

Only Vietnamese repatriates, foreign experts, diplomats, investors, highly-skilled workers, and students have been allowed in since with stringent quarantine requirements in place.

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A University of North Georgia (UNG) record 154 rising senior cadets participated in the Army's Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky, this summer. A year earlier, the camp was canceled due to COVID-19 and converted into the yearlong Operation Agile Leader.

UNG's Corps of Cadets students were grateful to be part of the 38-day Advanced Camp where U.S. Army Cadet Command tested their military and leadership skills. This allowed Cadet Command to assess their proficiency as future officers. Camp is required for all cadets who seek a military officer commission.

A record 13 UNG cadets earned the Recondo badge, which is awarded to cadets who display superior skills by exceeding the standards in all camp activities.

Cadet Capt. Hayley Farmer, a Griffin, Georgia, resident pursuing a degree in criminal justice, received the USAA Warrior Ethos Award, which is given to a cadet in each of the 11 regiments at camp.
On the patchwork multinational map of the Caucasus, the territory of Armenia looks pale - the country has become one of the most mono-ethnic and mono-confessional in the world. Experts have long explained many of Armenia's problems by squeezing out other peoples and creating an area with a 100% mono-ethnic Armenian population. Yerevan seems to support communities of other confessions, but in reality, the situation is different.

For example, last year the National Security Service of Armenia filed a criminal case against Sashik Sultanyan, who supports the rights of the Yezidi community in Armenia. He was accused of inciting ethnic and religious hatred after his online interview. Now the human rights defender faces from three to six years in prison.

Sultanyan heads the non-governmental Yezidi Center for Human Rights. In June last year, in an interview with Yazidinews.com, the human rights activist said that Yezidis are underrepresented in local government structures, discriminated and do not have an opportunity to learn their language or develop their culture. Sultanyan also stated that Armenian entrepreneurs seized agricultural land in Yezidi villages, and the authorities in their turn do not protect the rights of the Yezidis, so the community lives in fear. These statements attracted the attention of the Armenian special services, and on October 3, 2020, the SNB filed a criminal case against the activist, and later confiscated three computers, one of which belonged to a member of his family, two telephones and several USB drives.

The case looks shaky, therefore it attracted the attention of international human rights structures. First, the international human rights organization Human Rights Watch called on the Armenian authorities to stop prosecuting Sultanyan, stating that false allegations were made against him. "Although the Armenian authorities may disagree with the content of Sultanyan's interview, the opinion he expresses is legal and protected by international law," Giorgi Gogia, HRW Deputy Director for Europe and Central Asia said. All the allegations against Sultanyan should be immediately dropped and it has to be guaranteed that no one will unreasonably interfere in his legitimate human rights activities. The Armenian authorities violate Sultanyan's right to freedom of expression." The human rights organization also noted that the criminal case is full of procedural shortcomings that undermine Sultanyan's right to a fair trial.

Needless to say, Yerevan does not listen to Human Rights Watch. But this week, UN experts made a similar statement, saying that "It is not incitement to hatred or violence to raise human rights concerns about the treatment of minorities." UN human rights activists called on the Armenian authorities to drop criminal charges against Sultanyan, which, according to experts, are an attempt to intimidate the activist and everyone who supports minority rights. "People like Mr. Sultanyan and his organisation perform a valuable role by bringing human rights issues to the attention of the Armenian authorities," the experts said.

"The government should discuss grievances about their participation in society directly with the Yezidis and other minorities, not use spurious criminal charges to try to silence them," UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues Fernand de Varennes, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Mary Lawlor and Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of rights to freedom of expression Irene Khan wrote.
In a DW exclusive interview, the Social Democrats' candidate to replace Angela Merkel urged for a new  and European  approach to Russia, and outlined his vision for Germany's future. German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said he would push for a new strategy toward dealing with Russia and other eastern European countries if he were to become chancellor in Germany's upcoming general election in September.

"We need a new policy toward the east that revitalizes the principle of the OSCE and CSCE, but as a principle of the European Union," he told DW in an exclusive interview. He said there should be a return to the "mutual principles" for security and human rights in Europe agreed within the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE and its former title as the CSCE)  the intergovernmental organization that enables dialogue between western and eastern countries in Europe.

Russia

"I also say that Russia and other countries need to accept that European integration will continue," he told DW. "If we want to ensure joint security in Europe, then it's about the European Union and Russia." Scholz, the top candidate for the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), said that Crimea's unification with Russia "is a huge problem". He also did not rule out a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying the German government "has always met with the Russian government" and that there were many talks held in recent years.

Pandemic

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage, Scholz said that Germany has an obligation to ensure enough vaccines are produced for countries in need. "In any case, we have a responsibility for the whole world and we must not focus on just ourselves," Scholz said. "We need to continue ensuring that vaccinations are exported around the globe  and we must expand production capacities in a way that the rest of world can receive enough doses," he emphasized. "There is no lack in willingness to spend money. We have already done that, and we need to continue to do so," the finance minister added. He was firm, however, that the responsibility does not lie solely with Germany in ensuring the doses reach those in need, but that recipient countries need to organize their vaccine rollouts. "This needs to be organized by all those responsible on an international level as well as by those countries affected, to make sure the vaccinations reach the citizens of the global south," he said. As finance minister during the pandemic, Scholz oversaw the approval of a relief package worth 400 billion ($469 billion)  but brushed off criticism that the funds wouldn't be enough to address the growing economic inequalities caused by the crisis.

Refugees

With a growing number of people fleeing violence in Afghanistan, the question of asylum-seekers and migrants is once again in the spotlight in the run-up to Germany's general election. When asked how he plans to deal with a potential new surge in migrant arrivals, Scholz said the focus should now shift to providing aid to the countries where they first arrive rather than committing to taking in a large number of people in Germany. "In German and European politics, I don't believe we are concerned enough about what happens to refugees when neighboring countries take them in," he said. "Many countries aren't governed the same way we would expect in Germany. But they do offer protection," Scholz added. "That's why there need to be prospects for integration in those countries in Africa, Asia and South America. And we need to share responsibility in that." While the German government has temporarily halted deportations to Afghanistan due to the security situation caused by Taliban advances, Scholz also said that he supported deportations of criminals, saying that those who commit crimes "should not expect to stay here."

On the race for chancellor

In recent weeks, the SPD have been polling between 15% and 18%, putting them behind Angela Merkel's conservative CDU/CSU alliance, led by candidate Armin Laschet. But a recent comeback in the polls would make it possible for Scholz's SPD to form a government with the environmentalist Greens or the Left Party. Like many of Germany's other major parties, Scholz ruled out working with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD)  but said his ultimate goal would be to unseat Merkel's conservatives. "I want to lead the next government," he said. "And it's good that we have several options to build a government."
Ever since the Korean War ended in a truce, the U.S. and South Korea have conducted joint military exercises to protect against a possible North Korean attack on the Souths territory. Even though the Souths military capability has been dramatically improved since the 1950s, the South Korean government never seriously considered the withdrawal of the U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, or conducting military exercises without them.

Since South Korean President Moon Jae-in took office in 2017, however, The Diplomat writes, Moon has tried to conduct scaled-down exercises to entice North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to engage in talks with him and the U.S. administration, with the hope of achieving denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula. As a result, Seoul and Washington have conducted considerably smaller exercises in the past few years, but North Korea still recently released statements to criticize the exercises and the presence of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea.

In the first inter-Korean summit in 2018, Kim told Moon that he understands that South Korea needs to conduct exercises with the U.S., according to news reports. Seoul and Washington agreed to conduct the exercises on a smaller scale due to negotiations with the North and, later, the COVID-19 pandemic; however, Pyongyang has now started harshly lambasting Seoul and Washington over the exercises.

The dangerous war exercises pushed ahead with by the US and the south Korean side in defiance of our repeated warnings will surely make themselves face more serious security threat, said Kim Yo Jong, sister of the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, in a statement released on Tuesday.

She also criticized the Biden administration by saying that the exercises prove that diplomatic engagement and dialogue with no strings attached touted by the present US administration is hypocrisy to cover up its aggressive nature.

A more surprising point in her statement is that she targeted the U.S. troops in South Korea directly as the root cause of tension on the Korean Peninsula. At the end of her statement, she implied that the statement was released upon authorization, which indicates that Kim Jong Un shares his sisters stance.

Since Kim Yo Jongs statement was published on Tuesday, some lawmakers in the ruling Democratic Party have argued that the government needs to reconsider holding the exercises, as the North recently showed its willingness to talk with the South by restoring the communication channels. However, former generals and lawmakers who had served in the military have strongly suggested that the government proceed with the exercises, saying that national security should come first. Seoul and Washington have repeatedly made clear that the exercises are purely defensive in nature with no hostile intent toward North Korea and have conducted rehearsals on Tuesday as planned.

With Seoul and Washington holding firm on the exercises, North Korea has not responded to hotline calls from the South, even though the two Koreas restored their communication channels two weeks ago. Experts predict that the North will not answer the Souths calls in the next few weeks. The full exercises are slated to open on August 16 and run through August 26.

Kim Yong Chol, department director of the Central Committee of the Workers Party, also released a statement on Wednesday to back up Kim Yo Jongs statement. He said that we will make them realize by the minute what a dangerous choice they made and what a serious security crisis they will face because of their wrong choice.

Most experts say that the government needs to conduct joint military exercises to prepare for possible attack by the North. However, some experts argue that Seoul and Washington need to provide scenarios in which they can consider halting the exercises in return for the Norths moves toward denuclearization. The South Korean government is in a dilemma, Cheong Seong-chang, a senior fellow at the Sejong Institute think tank in South Korea, told The Diplomat. The Moon administration requires South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises to counter North Koreas nuclear capability escalation, but must also consider the Norths backlash. In order to resolve the escalation of military tensions on the Korean Peninsula caused by North Koreas backlash and warnings, South Korea and the U.S. need to declare that if North Korea actually freezes its nuclear programs, it can halt the exercises, Cheong said. A North Korean nuclear freeze would include measures such as suspending further production of nuclear warheads, suspending the development of nuclear submarines, and accepting inspections of Yongbyon nuclear facilities.

Experts predict that the North would not fire intercontinental ballistic missiles or submarine-launched ballistic missiles during or after the exercises. That level of provocation would provide a critical reason for the U.S. not to consider lifting the devastating economic sanctions against the North. However, Seoul said it will keep tabs on the Norths moves.
The Patriotic War of the Azerbaijani people will forever remain in the hearts of representatives of all nationalities living in Azerbaijan. "Vestnik Kavkaza" invites you to get acquainted with the material of Arkady Khalturinsky, who lives in Baku, who shared his impressions of how the 44-day war was experienced in the country.

Since 1920, Nagorno-Karabakh was part of the Azerbaijan SSR, however, at the end of the USSR, in 1987, the leadership of the Armenian SSR raised the issue of transferring these territories to Armenia, as a result of which relations between the Armenian and Azerbaijani populations of the republic began to aggravate. Since 1991, the conflict has grown into an armed confrontation, where Armenia and Azerbaijan, already independent from the USSR, acted as the opposing sides.

The main question that arises for an independent observer when studying the history of the conflict is what goal was pursued by the leadership of Armenia, sending troops to the lands where the Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples peacefully coexisted for many years. The supporters of the decision to annex Nagorno-Karabakh in favor of Armenia have many versions, but in this case it is necessary to proceed from the norms of international law. De jure, the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh after the collapse of the USSR remained a part of Azerbaijan, which means that no one had the right to violate the sovereignty of an independent state, which is fixed in the Declaration on the Inadmissibility of Intervention and Interference in Internal Affairs and which was adopted by Resolution 36/103 of the UN General Assembly from December 9, 1981

And yet, since 1994, Armenia has occupied the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh by forceful intervention. For a long 26 years anarchy reigned there, the creation of the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh Republic was announced, the existence of which was illegitimate and was not recognized by any sovereign state, including Armenia itself. The leadership of Azerbaijan - Presidents Heydar Aliyev, and then Ilham Aliyev - for many years attempted a peaceful settlement of the conflict, appealed to international organizations in order to return their legitimate territories by diplomatic means. But these attempts were not crowned with much success - the international community took a passive position. Then, on September 27, 2020, on the day of another provocation by the Armenian armed forces, it was decided to launch a counteroffensive.

As an eyewitness to these events, I cannot help recalling how in Baku, from the very first day of the armed clash, every citizen worried about the course of hostilities and supported the course chosen by President Aliyev. All these years, the number one issue in the foreign and domestic policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan has been the return of its territories and the restoration of territorial integrity within the internationally recognized borders of the republic. 20% of the occupied lands literally did not allow every citizen of Azerbaijan to live in peace, this sensitive and delicate moment has always occupied a special place in the minds of people. Everyone understood that sooner or later justice would prevail, but they hoped that everything would be realized peacefully without bloodshed.

But Yerevan, year after year, fed Baku with promises to start negotiations on the peaceful transfer of the occupied territories. Only when all hopes for a diplomatic resolution of the smoldering conflict were exhausted, and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that Nagorno-Karabakh is Armenia, the Azerbaijanis realized that they could not tolerate further.

The people of Azerbaijan, rallying around the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, decided to return the lands of Nagorno-Karabakh by all means. The confrontation between the Azerbaijani military and the Armenian lasted 44 days, every day the citizens of Azerbaijan waited for the morning news about the successes of their army, where their husbands, children and grandchildren fought. The flags of Azerbaijan were hung all over Baku, there was general solidarity around only one problem, everything else was relegated to the background. Over time, photographs of those who went to the front and did not return, those who became martyrs who died during the offensive on the territories occupied by the enemy army, began to appear on the windows and doors of houses. There were men of different ages and professions, students, athletes, doctors, workers at the military registration and enlistment offices. Everyone wanted to go to the front and help their army. But thanks to the competent military leadership, mainly people who connected their professional life with military service left for the war. Thus, it was possible to avoid numerous losses among civilians.

For a month and a half, the whole of Azerbaijan closely watched the successes of its army, which day after day, not without difficulty, advanced deep into Karabakh, conquering more and more regions. Since September 27, five cities, a shooting range of a village and about 300 villages have been liberated, including the heart of Karabakh - Shusha, liberated on November 8. Khankendi was very close to the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh, and victory was inevitable.

On November 10, 2020, thanks to, among other things, the efforts of the President of Russia, the war was stopped. Baku, Yerevan and Moscow have adopted a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Karabakh. That night Baku literally did not sleep, the townspeople took to the streets, sang songs, rejoiced, national music was heard everywhere and the flags of Azerbaijan were seen. The city plunged into a general atmosphere of euphoria from the news, which had been waiting for more than a quarter of a century. President Aliyev made a speech from all TV screens, the key thesis of which was the long-awaited "Karabakh is Azerbaijan".

This day seemed to divide the time into before and after. It was clear that there was still a lot of work to be done to restore the returned territories, to reconstruct the entire infrastructure, residential buildings, roads, but the most important thing had already been done - the territories that had been outside the control of their rightful owner for so long were returned. Let not tomorrow, but in the near future people will be able to return there, who almost thirty years ago, leaving everything, were forced to flee from their land.
The slow pace of vaccinations is sparking anger in Iran, where outraged citizens have abandoned hope of the government providing the essential shots. As an act of defiance, Iranians are now refusing to wear masks and comply with quarantines, Daily Sabah writes. Iranians are suffering through yet another surge in the COVID-19 pandemic  their country's worst yet  and anger is growing at images of vaccinated Westerners without face masks on the internet or on TV, while Iranians remain unable to get shots. Iran, like much of the world, remains far behind countries like the United States in vaccinating its public, with only 3 million of its more than 80 million people having received both vaccine doses. But while some countries face poverty or other challenges in obtaining vaccines, Iran has brought some of the problems on itself.

After Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei refused to accept vaccine donations from Western countries, the Islamic Republic has sought to make the shots domestically, though that process lags far behind other nations. The supply of non-Western shots remains low, creating a black market offering Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech shots for as much as $1,350 in a country where the currency, the Iranian rial, is on the verge of collapse.

Meanwhile, U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran mean the cash-strapped government has limited funds to purchase vaccines abroad. And even as the delta variant wreaks havoc, filling the country's already overwhelmed hospitals, many Iranians have given up on wearing masks and staying at home. The need to earn a living trumps the luxury of social distancing. "What is next? A sixth wave? A seventh wave? When is it going to end? asked Reza Ghasemi, a 27-year-old delivery man without a face mask, smoking a cigarette next to his motorbike on a recent day in Tehran. "It is not clear when this situation will change to a better one.

Since the start of the pandemic, Iran has recorded nearly 4 million COVID-19 cases and more than 91,000 deaths  the highest numbers across the Middle East. The true count is believed to be much higher.

In April 2020, Iran's parliament warned its case number was "eight to 10 times higher than the reported figures, due to undercounting. While coronavirus testing capacity has surged since then, officials repeatedly have suggested the case count remains far off.

The death toll is likely three times higher, officials say, as Iran only counts those who die in a hospital while being treated for COVID-19. Khamenei in January slammed shut any possibility of American or British vaccines entering the country, calling them "forbidden. I really do not trust them," Khamenei said of those nations. "Sometimes they want to test their vaccines on other countries.

The decision, after Khamenei earlier floated conspiracy theories about the virus' origin in March 2020, saw Iran turn inward and try to develop its own vaccines. Those efforts, relying on traditional "dead virus vaccines rather than the Pfizer and Moderna method of targeting the coronavirus spike protein using RNA, have yet to reach mass production. And while the government claims local shots are 85% effective, they've released no data from their trials.

For now, the majority of Iranians receiving vaccines rely on foreign-made shots. Japan has donated 2.9 million doses of its locally produced AstraZeneca shots. China has sent 10 million doses of its shots. Iran also made a deal with Russia to buy 60 million doses of Sputnik V, but so far, Moscow has delivered just over one million shots.

Doctors received the first set of vaccines, while the government now offers shots to those 50 and older, as well as to taxi drivers, journalists and those with diabetes. But it hasn't been nearly enough to keep up with demand. Only 4% of the Iranian public are fully vaccinated, according to government statistics. Those with residency permits have sought shots in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Others have gone to Armenia where authorities offer free shots to visiting foreigners. In Tehran, word-of-mouth claims that Pfizer and Moderna shots smuggled in over the border from Irbil, Iraq, including the ultra-cold freezers needed for them, are now for sale in the Iranian capital. A two-dose Moderna or AstraZeneca vaccine goes for $390, while two Pfizer shots cost $1,350. Those paying go on faith that the products have not expired  or are even legitimate vaccines.

Mahsa, a 31-year-old woman in Tehran, said she got the Moderna vaccine through her boyfriend's friend, a doctor working at a pharmacy. "I am sure the vaccine is genuine because I trust the doctor," she said. Amirali, a 39-year-old father of a baby girl, said he bought shots of the Japanese-made AstraZeneca vaccine from an Iranian doctor secretly vaccinating people for profit. Amirali said he took the chance as his wife, a permanent U.S. resident, received the Pfizer vaccine while visiting the U.S. "I was not sure when the government will provide vaccines for my age group, so I decided to vaccinate myself," he said.

And with the Islamic Republic also facing protests over economic issues, water shortages and blackouts, the government likely wants to avoid triggering wider unrest. "They want us to accept any situation simply because they failed to do their duty with vaccinations," said Abbas Zarei, who sells mobile phone accessories in northern Tehran. "From time to time, they announce that businesses should close because of corona restrictions though it damages our lives. "It is not fair," said Zarei, who like many in Iran, struggles to make a living. "I do not care about the restrictions anymore.
The chairman of Afghanistans High Council for National Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah, has asked the United Nations to call an urgent session of the Security Council to discuss the situation in the country.

"The representatives and envoys of the regions countries, intelligence and countries of the Enlarged Troika (Russia, the United States, China and Pakistan) at their meeting in Doha made it quite clear that the Afghan problem does not have a military solution," Abdullah tweeted on Thursday. "They said they do not recognize the seizure of power by force by any of the parties involved and insist on the acceleration of peace talks."

Abdullah said it was crucial "to urgently hold a special meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss current events in Afghanistan."

A series of meetings on a peace settlement in Afghanistan began in Doha on Tuesday. The participants discussed the outlook for a peace settlement against a backdrop of soaring tensions in Afghanistan and clashes between government forces and the movement Taliban (outlawed in Russia). Abdullah led Kabuls delegation. Special envoys from Russia, the United States, China and Pakistan took part in the Doha meeting.

On April 14, U.S. President Joe Biden declared his decision to curtail the operation in Afghanistan, which has turned out to be the longest foreign military campaign in U.S. history. In the meantime, the security situation in the country has deteriorated, as the radical movement Taliban has stepped up offensive operations on a number of fronts. The Taliban claims that it has established control of 60% to 85% of the countrys territory, including areas along the border with Iran, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev sent a letter of condolences to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in connection with the victims of floods on August 13.

"Dear Mr. President, Dear Brother, I have been deeply saddened by the news of casualties and destruction caused by floods in Kastamonu, Sinop, and Bartin," he wrote.

"On the occasion of this tragedy, on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my deepest condolences to you, the families, and the loved ones of those who were killed and the brotherly people of Turkey, and wish the injured recovery. May Allah rest those killed in peace! the president said in the letter.
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu arrived in China on a working visit to observe the active phase of the Sibu/Interaction-2021 joint Russian-Chinese operational and strategic drills, TASS reports.

As part of his visit, Shoigu will meet with his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe. As Russias Defense Ministry reported, "the upcoming talks will focus on the issues of bilateral military cooperation, including practical interaction of the armed forces of the two countries."

The Sibu/Interaction-2021 drills are running at the Chinese Armys Qingtongxia training ground in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northern China on August 9-13. The drills will involve about 13,000 troops and over 400 items of armament and military hardware. The strategic maneuvers will be directed jointly by the command of the military contingents of the two countries.

The Chinese defense minister invited Shoigu to observe the active phase of the joint drills at a meeting in Dushanbe in late July.
The Pentagon said on Thursday that it would send about 3,000 additional troops to Kabul temporarily to help secure the drawdown of the US embassy personnel, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told a briefing on Thursday.

Kirby said that in addition to sending three infantry battalions  two from the Marine Corps and one from the Army  to the airport, the Pentagon will dispatch 3,500 to 4,000 troops from a combat brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division to Kuwait to act as a reserve force. He said they will be on standby in case we need even more than the 3,000 going to Kabul.

Also, about 1,000 Army and Air Force troops, including military police and medical personnel, will be sent to Qatar in coming days to support a State Department effort to accelerate its processing of Special Immigrant Visa applications from Afghans who once worked for the U.S. government and feel threated by the Taliban, Kirby said.

The 3,000 troops who are to arrive at the Kabul airport in the next day or two, Kirby said, are to assist with security at the airport and to help process the departure of embassy personnel  not to get involved in the Afghan governments war with the Taliban. Biden decided in April to end U.S. military involvement in the war, and the withdrawal is scheduled to be complete by Aug. 31.

The U.S. had already withdrawn most of its troops, but had kept about 650 troops in Afghanistan to support U.S. diplomatic security, including at the airport, The AP reported.

Kirby said the influx of fresh troops does not mean the U.S. is reentering combat with the Taliban. This is a temporary mission with a narrow focus, he told reporters at the Pentagon.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is deeply concerned over the latest developments in Afghanistan, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary General Stephane Dujarric told a briefing on Thursday, TASS reports.

"The Secretary General is following deep concern developments in Afghanistan, including the latest fighting in Gerath and Kandahar. We are particularly concerned about the shift of fighting to urban areas with the potential for civilian harm and even greater," the spokesperson said.

"We hope that discussions this week in Doha between representatives of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban (outlawed in Russia) along with regional and international envoys will restore the pathway to negotiate settlement of the conflict," Dujarric pointed out.

"The UN stands ready to contribute to such a settlement and remains focused on providing assistance to the increasing number of Afghans in need," he emphasized.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai said the three on-the-site is a good model, but southern provinces have found it difficult to implement.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai

Hai, at a press conference on August 11, said localities have a different understanding of and application of the social distancing policy, thus creating problems for goods circulation and industrial production as materials cannot be carried to production facilities.

The Ministry of Investment and Trade (MOIT) discussed solutions with the Ministry of Transport, local authorities and associations but the problem still has not been fixed.

On July 27, MOIT sent a document to the Government, proposing a solution to facilitate goods circulation. All goods serving peoples daily life and production can circulate, except ones on the list of banned goods.

Deputy PM Le Van Thanh later released an instruction based on MOITs proposal. The goods circulation congestion has since eased. However, drivers still complain that they face difficulties carrying goods in some localities.

Hai stressed that localities have to focus on fighting the pandemic, but also ensure smooth production and goods circulation.

Regarding the three on-the-site model, Hai said the model was successfully applied in the northern provinces of Bac Ninh and Bac Giang. However, problems have arisen in 19 southern provinces. The solution can be implemented for a short time.

He explained that the Industrial Zones in Bac Ninh and Bac Giang have fewer workers, but each enterprise in the south has thousands of tens of thousands of workers. They are from many provinces and cities and they cannot stay at the same places for a long time.

The cost of the three on-the-site model is high and enterprises can apply it for only 7-20 days.

Meanwhile, local authorities apply different Covid-19 prevention regulations. In some localities, entire IZs are closed when F0 cases are discovered, and enterprises have to make many preparations for three on the site. So many enterprises refused to apply the model.

MOIT has asked the health ministry to discuss measures to fix the problem, emphasizing that it is necessary to set conditions that enterprises find easy to implement.

We have also proposed amending production conditions, as well as creating clear regulations on what enterprises have to do when discovering F0 cases and other requirements, Hai said.

Nguyen Duy Lam, Deputy Minister of Transport, said in late July, the Government Office released a document conveying the PMs instruction on facilitating goods circulation.

The vehicles granted a QR Code by the transport sector do not have to have their vehicles examined. If vehicles dont have a QR Code, drivers need to show certificates of negative tests for SARS-CoV-2.

Tran Thuong - Thu Hang

Postal services commit to protect supply chains in pandemic hit areas Freelance shippers in Hanoi and HCMC have turned off apps and stopped working, creating 'holes' in goods circulation. But Vietnam Post and Viettel Post have committed to fill the need.
HCM City is experiencing extremely difficult days as the number of Covid-19 infections continues to remain steady day by day.

In such a situation, there are doctors who are willing to give a helping hand to anxious patients, and encourage them to overcome challenges.

1. Nguyen Hai Cong from the Military Hospital 175 registered to join the frontline force to fight Covid-19, where critically ill patients are treated, without discussion with his wife.

His wife just gave birth to a son one week before. As the baby was born prematurely, he was weak and needs more thorough care than other babies.

After sending a message to inform him about his decision and receiving the reply, he felt an ache in his heart, but he remains steadfast with his decision.

I know that our family has a lot of things to do and we are having big difficulties, However, there are many people who really need my help. Everyone, old or young, is invaluable to their families. I am trained to treat disease and save people. The professional and ethical responsibilities do not allow me to choose peace of mind, and patients put their hopes on medical workers. Sorry for not telling you about my decision. But I believe that you will understand and support my decision. Minh (the son of Cong) will also agree with me, said Cong in a message to his wife.

The Covid-19 Treatment Center of the Military Hospital 175 became officially operational on July 19. Dr Cong is the head of the team specializing in moderate and severe cases. As the number of patients is high, Cong is busy day and night.

HCMC is experiencing social distancing days, and the number of patients increases day by day and people are seeking help everywhere. Cong said with the mission of a doctor, he cannot sit still. He has put public personal information on social networks, with the hope that he can help people who are living in fear of the disease.

He said many people in panic and anxiety have called for help. He understands that advice from a doctor is extremely valuable at this moment, because they not only help avoid damage to health, but also help people calm down.

2. At 2 am on Monday, Dr Le Ly Trong Hung intended to turn off his computer to go to bed after continuously messaging, calling patients, giving advice and examining hundreds of people online. But another message came. A mother from Can Tho asked about the conditions of her child, diagnosed with liver cancer. When answering the phone and hearing the sobbing from the mother, his sleepiness vanished.

Everyone is afraid of cancer, especially people in provinces. Some people have benign tumors, but they still cannot sleep because of fears. Everyone wants to ask if they should be hospitalized, he said.

However, the case of the child was really serious.

The doctor is currently working at the HCMC Oncology Hospital. He conducted an online medical examination for patients before the outbreak. But at that time, he was very busy and he could only answer the phones from 10 pm to 12 pm. Since the municipal authorities imposed the lockdown, he has had more free time.

He stays up until 2-3 am every day to answer hundreds of messages from people who seek advice, helping put peoples mind at ease.

Hung said many patients call him these days, saying they fear they suffer from cancer. But in fact, it is actually just a dermatological problem, which is the expertise of his wife, Dr Huynh Kim Chi.

At first, he only asked for advice from his wife sometimes. But later, realizing that many people in quarantine zones, especially children, need advice, he persuaded his wife to give consultancy together.

"The pandemic hits everyone, including my family. But we are still luckier than many other people and we can enjoy better conditions than the colleagues who are struggling at the hospitals treating Covid-19 patients. Therefore, we are happy to help."

3. When Dr Tran Quoc Phong of Binh Dan Hospital decided to give free online medical examination, he could arrange only one hour for this work every day, from 8pm to 9pm.

The doctor said on the first day, when he received hundreds of messages, he had to take a deep breath before starting the online medical examination. Though he knew that people are currently having a lot of problems and had questions to ask, he was still surprised by the high number of messages.

The patients are of different ages, with symptoms related to urology, his speciality, from mild to critical levels.

Khanh Hoa

Doctors go online to help people during Covid-19 Hundreds of doctors have joined the Facebook group Giup nhau mua dich (helping each other) to assist people during the Covid-19 pandemic.
If the patient had been hospitalized later, the larvae would have burrowed deep into the girl's middle ear, causing injury and perforating the eardrum, seriously affecting her hearing.

Luu Ha L, 2, from Yen Dung of Bac Giang province, was brought to Bac Giang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital on July 20 with bleeding from her right ear.

Ls mother said the girl felt pain in the ear two days before. She shone the torch into the ear and saw yellow fluid, so she used a cotton swab to clean the fluid. But on July 20, the state of the girl became worse. She was crying and complaining about the pain. When the mother checked the girls ear, she saw blood flowing from inside, and then hurrued to get her to hospital.

The doctors conducted an endoscopy and discovered there were many fly larvae (maggots) in the right ear of the child.

About 20 maggots built a long-term nest in the baby's ear. We conducted an operation to remove all the larvae and carcasses of flies, and cleaned the ears as well, said Tran Minh Tan, the physician who treated the girl.

As Tan found that the childs ear canal and eardrum were congested and exuded with fluid, he decided that the child needed to be hospitalized for further treatment.

After four days of treatment, the condition of the child improved. Endoscopy showed that the ear canal was cleaned and the tympanic membrane was stable. The child has been discharged from the hospital.

"Fortunately, the child's hearing was not affected," said Tan.

The doctors at the hospital have many times received patients with foreign objects in ears or noses. The most common are beans, peas, small beads of toys, cotton balls, chalk, erasers, button batteries, and insects such as ants and mosquitoes.

In most cases, the foreign objects have been there for many days in ears, caused local inflammation, even destruction of the mucosa or perforation of the nasal septum or the eardrum.

However, this was the first time we received a patient with insects living in ears and with such a high number of larvae, Tuan said, adding that if the patient had arrived later, she might have suffered from perforation of the eardrum.

Doctors recommend that parents be extremely careful when taking care of young children. If children are fussy, have strange fluids such as blood or pus coming out of the ear, parents need to take their children to hospital for timely examination and treatment.

Parents are advised not to try to remove foreign bodies from ears, noses and throats at home, because this may make the foreign objects go deeper, thus causing more serious injury.

Nguyen Lien
The initiatives proposed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the virtual UNSC High-level Open Debate on Enhancing Maritime Security  A Case for International Cooperation on August 9 have earned praises from many international scholars.

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Lauding Vietnams proposals, Professor Giuseppe Cataldi from the University of Naples LOrientale, who is President of the International Association of Maritime Law, reiterated Vietnams call for relevant parties to intensify dialogue and cooperation and respect international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Agreeing with Vietnams view that UNCLOS is the "Constitution" of the seas and oceans, Cataldi said that countries need to comply with the provisions of this original legal document and avoid unilateral actions that may escalate current maritime disputes.

Dr. Antonio Albanese, expert in world geopolitics, director of AGC Communication, assessed that Vietnams proposals not only show the universality in the global context, but also contribute to promoting a substantive approach to solving specific problems of the region. Vietnam has affirmed its support for ensuring maritime security based on clear and consistent rules within the UN framework and concretised into common codes of conduct, he stated.

Vietnams stance of resolutely opposing any unilateral actions and seeking multilateral and peaceful solutions is a suitable choice for interests of each country and the globes common interests, thus ensuring equal access for all countries, especially in the fields of international trade and navigation, he added.

As an expert in Asian geopolitics, Prof. Antonio Fallico, President of the Conoscere Eurasia Association in Veneto, stated that Vietnams proposals clearly demonstrated a foreign policy of peace and cooperation and its responsibility for regional and international stability and security.

With these specific initiatives and under the direction of the new Government, Vietnam will continue to make more contributions to dialogue efforts, enhance trust, and promote efficiency of sea values for the benefits of each country and the common goal of peace and prosperity of the mankind, said Fallico.

PMs speech at UNSC debate on maritime security draws Czech scholars attention

Czech experts on August 11 appreciated the speech that Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had delivered at the virtual UNSC High-level Open Debate on Enhancing Maritime Security  A Case for International Cooperation two days ago.

As maritime security is a global issue drawing more and more attention from the international community, and PM Chinhs speech clearly demonstrated Vietnams role and position in the international arena, contributing to protecting and strengthening maritime security for peace, stability and development in the region and in the world, according to them.

Dr. Takashi Hosoda, an expert on Vietnam and the Asia-Pacific from the Czech Republics Charles University, said that the speech is considered an important milestone for the relations between Vietnam and India because the Prime Minister of India - the rotating Chairman of the UN Security Council - was the one who takes the initiative to organise, and also presides over the UNSC meeting.

Vietnam and India play increasingly important roles in ensuring the maintenance of maritime security in the East Sea and the Indo-Pacific as well as resolving issues related to peace and security in the region. The two countries also share many strategic similarities, so it is very important for Vietnam to intensify cooperation with India, Hosoda stated.

He spoke highly of the proposals made by the Vietnamese Government leader to contribute to solving maritime security challenges, especially the need for the international community to raise awareness of the importance of maritime security as well as threats to marine security.

To that end, the expert suggested Vietnam make specific contributions within the bilateral and multilateral cooperation frameworks, including the cooperation mechanisms between the European Union (EU) and Asian countries such as the EU Critical Maritime Route Wider Indian Ocean (CRIMARIO).

In that spirit, Vietnam needs to focus on improving its capacity of maritime and air patrols and the research of maritime vessels, take the lead in raising awareness of maritime security in ASEAN through bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms, and strengthen its role in connecting countries interested in maritime security, he added.

Dr. Jan Hornat, an Indo-Pacific expert from Charles University, held that the Vietnamese PMs speech shows the countrys active and proactive engagement in ensuring maritime security  the current hot issue of the international community. This helps enhance Vietnams position in the world arena, especially in maintaining order in international waters based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.

Meanwhile, Alex Svamberg, a journalist specialised on Asia-Pacific security, commented that PM Chinhs speech reflects Vietnams wish to ensuring a regional environment of stability and ending unilateral actions violating international law in the East Sea.

According to Svamberg, the EU is showing its increasing interest in ensuring maritime freedom in the East Sea  one of the important international maritime routes.

The Czech journalist held that proposals given by the Vietnamese PM showed Vietnams policy of settling the East Sea issues through peaceful measures on the basis of international law, especially the UNCLOS 1982, and ensuring maritime and aviation freedom in the East Sea through multilateral solutions for peace, stability and development in the region and the world. This is an approach receiving support from the international community, Svamberg said.

British geostrategist praises Vietnam's maritime security initatives

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's intervention at the United Nations Security Council High-level Open Debate on Enhancing Maritime Security - A Case for International Cooperation is very important, according to Dr. James Rogers, Co-founder and Director of Research at the UK's Council on Geostrategy.

In an interview given to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in the UK on August 12, Dr. Rogers, who specialises in British geostrategic and maritime power, and Euro-Atlantic, Indo-Pacific and Polar geopolitics, pointed to the significance of the three proposals on maritime security made by the Vietnamese Prime Minister in his speech at the debate held virtually on August 9.

Commenting on PM Chinh's proposal on awareness of seas and oceans, Dr. Rogers said this is very important not only in countries surrounding the South China Sea (East Sea) but also globally. Given the significance of the sea for the system of international commerce, it is important to maintain it open and free for access by all countries, he said, stressing the necessity to support Vietnam in upholding this important right.

Dr. Rogers said although most countries have signed the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which governs the behaviors that countries can undertake at sea, some countries have ignored rules and regulations they subscribed to in the past. That is the problem for all countries, not just those around the East Sea, he said.

The British expert acknowledged the importance of regional coordination for maritime security in the East Sea as proposed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, pointing out that this should be facilitated not only in the UN, but also in ASEAN, particularly in relation to regulations of the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea. He also pointed to the necessity for a coordination mechanism that encourages countries to uphold important maritime norms established through the UNCLOS system.

He agreed with the Vietnamese PM's point that regulations and conducts of states at sea must comply with both the UN Charter and UNCLOS system, saying that any additional future policy or proposals in relation to the East Sea security and maritime rights must correspond to these rules and regulations that the countries have subscribed to.

He said it is very good seeing Vietnam as an important regional power and close partner with many different countries in the world, including the UK, taking the lead in bringing this issue to international attention. He also acknowledged the role of Vietnam and its support and leadership in dealing with security issues in the East Sea, given the country's important location off the waters.

Regarding maritime security cooperation between Vietnam and the UK, Dr. Rogers said the two countries will have many different opportunities in the coming years given the UK's increasing presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

He said the UK's deployment of the carrier strike group (CSG 21) in the region demonstrates that the country is undertaking its tilt towards the Indo-Pacific, which was put forward in the UK government's integrated review of security, defence, development and foreign policy released in March this year.

He pointed out that the UK understands the strategic significance of the Indo-Pacific and the East Sea in Southeast Asia in particular, and therefore, takes the region seriously when deploying its largest and most powerful maritime group into the region.

As the UK intends to deploy later this year two patrol vessels permanently into the region beyond the periodic deployment, which will interact with regional partners, of which Vietnam is an important one, Dr. Rogers said he sees the prospect for enhancing Vietnam-UK cooperation, given the two countries have similar interests in relation to maritime security and in the East Sea./.

Vietnams initiatives to respond to maritime security challenges lauded

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Talking to Vietnam News Agencys correspondents in Berlin, Dr. Gerhard Will, a former expert on the East Sea at the German institute for political science, said that the speech once again affirms Vietnams viewpoint and policy in ensuring maritime security and peacefully addressing conflicts at sea, as well as proposing specific solutions in this regard. This shows the countrys important role in maintaining peace, stability and maritime security in the region.

According to him, maritime security is a very important issue for Vietnam because it has wide waters, a long coastline, and an economy that is highly dependent on import and export activities and closely linked with the world economy.

Sharing the same view, Prof. Thomas Engelbert from the Asia - Africa Institute under the Hamburg University of Germany stated that Vietnam - one of the main stakeholders in disputes in the East Sea - plays an important role in the peaceful settlement of this issue.

So far, every initiative that Vietnam has made has aimed at seeking a peaceful solution to or peacefully addressing disputes, he stressed.

In order to ensure and maintain maritime security, he suggested relevant countries respect international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Russian opinion appreciates Vietnams initiatives related to maritime security

The Russian opinion has had positive evaluation on three proposals made by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the virtual United Nations Security Council (UNSC) High-Level Open Debate, held on August 9, to effectively respond to maritime security challenges.

Russias leading e-newspaper Infox.ru on August 12 ran an article titled Three steps to peace at sea by Grigory Trofimchuk, Chairman of the Expert Council of the Foundation for the Support of Scientific Research Workshop of Eurasian Ideas.

The author said that with its three proposals, Vietnam not only reminded the world of the risks of territorial disputes and shared responsibility for possible consequences, but also introduced specific points that should be implemented with the help of international efforts.

Trofimchuk expressed his belief that the proposals will become a new start for achieving a lasting peace in the East Sea, which will become an example for replicating this approach in other parts of the world.

Assessing Vietnams responsible behaviour in the international arena, the expert wrote Vietnam regularly shows its positivity and dynamism in its activities, contributing to seeking peaceful solutions and participating in all activities within the framework of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as between ASEAN and its partners to settle disputes in the East Sea; while promoting professional dialogue and establishing multilateral cooperation.

On the same day, the Argumenti I Fakti (Arguments and Facts) newspaper also posted an article affirming that Vietnams three maritime arguments are consistent with international law.

According to the article, security, stability and freedom of navigation in the East Sea has become a common issue of the region and the world. In that context, the speech by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, with three important proposals to strengthen international cooperation and unify actions to promptly and effectively respond to maritime security challenges, is interesting.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Russia, analyst Valeria Vershinina from the ASEAN Centre under the Moscow Diplomatic Academy (MGIMO) appreciated Vietnams approach to addressing regional security issues and potential Vietnam - Russia cooperation in ensuring maritime security.

According to the Russian expert, the participation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in such an important event proves the international communitys high confidence in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Government leader soundly pointed out to today's traditional and non-traditional challenges to maritime security that require global response.

Vershinina affirmed that Vietnams approach to maritime security is completely correct and coincides with Russias official viewpoint.

It is necessary to combine joint efforts to make progress in this direction, with the participation of international organisations, regional structures such as ASEAN, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), while maintaining the central role of the United Nations, Vershinina added./.

Source: VNA
If you're flying Delta One or first-class to Boston or JFK, then starting mid-September your in-flight grub will be a far cry from mini pretzels thanks to new onboard meals by San Francisco's Souvla.

Plus, SF mandates proof of vax at indoor businesses, a San Jose home with musical history might receive landmark status, and more local stories with zero gloom and doom.





Weekend Palate Cleanser: Two New Penguins Graduate From SF Zoo's 'Fish School', SFist

We're still not over David and Lemon's adorable march of the penguins as they head off to meet their grown-up counterparts at Penguin Island. Read more.





COVID: San Francisco Mandates Proof of Full Vaccination for Indoor Activities, CBS San Francisco

While many local establishments are already requesting proof of vaccine, in accordance with Mayor Breed's Thursday announcement, starting on August 20th, indoor businesses like bars, gyms, theaters, and restaurants will require patrons to show their cards before entry. Read more.





Souvla takes to the skies, achieves Bay Area first with new line of in-flight meals, San Francisco Business Times

Back in 2017, Michelle Obama noshed on food from Souvla during a flight from SF to DC. Starting September 15th, Delta One passengers flying to New York and Boston can follow suit with Souvla's famous sandwiches and Greek frozen yogurt, plus brand new offerings like baked feta pasta and a breakfast pita. Read more.





S.F.'s Cliff House to briefly reopen as pop-up museum showcasing historic items, SF Chronicle

This fall, memorabilia from the shuttered Cliff House Restaurantincluding a menu from Teddy Roosevelt's 1903 visitwill be on display once again. Read more.





How corner store cocktails in Ziplock bags became legendary in San Francisco, SFGate

Cutty bangs filled with all the mixers and mini booze bottles you need to make your own DIY cocktails have been a staple at SF liquor stores like Mr. Liquor for over 20 years. Read more.





San Jose's Doobie Brothers house headed for historic landmark status, Mercury News

Tunes like "Listen to the Music" were developed during band practices held at the house throughout singer-songwriter Tom Johnston's stay in the early '70s. Read more.
Getty Images

En espanol | The fastest-growing metro area by population in the United States over the past decade was The Villages, Florida, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Home to a large retirement community outside Orlando, The Villages increased its number of residents by 39 percent  from roughly 93,000 people to 130,000  between 2010 and 2020.

The soaring growth in The Villages suggests just how the combination of the aging boomers and lower birth rates is reshaping Americas population. According to the 2020 census, of the 331.4 million people living in the United States, more than 258.3 million were age 18 or older.

Thats a 10 percent increase over the 234.6 million people who were 18 and older in the 2010 count. By comparison, the nations overall population grew by 7.4 percent during that same period. The under-18 population shrank by 1.4 percent between 2010 and 2020.

More than three-quarters  77.9 percent  of the U.S. population were age 18 and over, said Andrew Roberts, chief of the Sex and Age Statistics Branch in the Census Bureaus Population Division. The adult population grew faster than the nation as a whole. By comparison, the population under age 18 was 73.1 million in 2020, a decline of 1.4 percent from the 2010 Census.
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Troy Kotsur is enjoying his moment in the spotlight.

The actors latest project, CODA has been getting rave reviews since its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January.

Im doing fine, thank you, Kotsur, who is deaf, says through an interpreter. Its been overwhelming but exciting at the same time. What a journey.

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CODA is a drama featuring a hearing teenage girl who is a child of deaf adults, or CODA.

The film is written and directed by Sian Heder and stars Emilia Jones as the only member of family who is able to hear. Her parents are played by Kotsur and Marlee Matlin, who is also deaf. Emilias brother, played by Daniel Durant, is deaf as well.

The movie, which is an English-language remake of the 2014 French-language film La Famille Belier, was filmed on location in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

The film will be released in theaters and stream on Apple TV+ beginning Friday, Aug. 13.

Apple acquired distribution rights to CODA for a festival record of $25 million.

Kotsur plays Frank Rossi, who runs a fishing business.

Kotsur knew he wanted to be part of the project because it was an opportunity to show sign language on the big screen.

As I was reading the script, I envisioned what it would be like to be a hardworking fisherman who happens to be deaf and who runs his family business, Kotsur says. And then the other thing is, I love the way he talked using sign language. I thought, this is gonna be fun. And I went for it.

Kotsur says the story is a touching look at a family dynamic  especially when most of the family is deaf.

That doesnt happen historically, he says. It was an honor to work with such a wonderful cast, including Marlee Matlin, who is a previous Oscar award winner for Children of a Lesser God back in 1987. What a blessing. As a young guy, I was hoping one day I could work with her. And then 25 years later, here I am, were in the same movie. So exciting.

As the theatrical and streaming release approaches, Kotsur is grateful for the opportunity to be represented on the screen.

I didnt know how far this movie was gonna go, he says. I mean, there are so many talented artists, writers, actors, you name it. And its a competitive business. And what an honor to have gotten this far.

Now streaming

CODA begins streaming on Apple TV+ on Friday, July 13. The feature film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January.
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David Luis Leal Cortez is a storyteller.

The New Mexico-based filmmaker is beginning production on his latest project, Successful Outlaw.

According to the New Mexico Film Office, the documentary will be produced by Successful Outlaw LLC and shoot in Taos through November 2022.

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Successful Outlaw follows the life of biker, builder and master silversmith, Daniel Pepe Rochon, as he builds an off-grid, adobe-style hacienda.

My goal is to make a character-driven, transcendental documentary that elucidates and expands ones ideas about sustainability and creativity, and the blending of the two, Cortez says.

He will also direct, produce and edit the project.

According to Cortez, Rochon is featured in a new book, The Art of Stamping by Matthieu Cheminee.

Rochon was born in 1940 in Appleton, Wisconsin, and is part French and part Ojibwe-Chippewa (an Anishinaabe group of indigenous people from Canada).

During the 1970s, Rochon lived and worked at the Mabel Dodge Lujan House when Dennis Hopper was the owner.

There, in 1976, he created the Bicentennial Belt with Jeff Morris and Ed Morgan, a unique belt honoring 200 years of the United States of America. Each concho on this belt featured a flag from U.S. history, but this masterpiece has since disappeared, and it is not known whether it was lost or stolen.

Successful Outlaw is supported by the New Mexico Film Foundation and seeks funding in the form of tax-deductible donations.

Cortez says he has submitted the project to the Sundance Institute documentary fund as well as New Mexico organizations and businesses.

The production will employ 12 New Mexico crew members.

As a director, I call Successful Outlaw countercultural preservation,  he says. Some of the challenges are obvious. The Taos mesa is harsh living, with strong winds, tough winters, and droughts. Films such as Garbage Warrior, although very different, is a notable production that illuminates the audience about off-grid living in New Mexico.

Cortez is no stranger to creating projects in New Mexico. He has a background as a political operative who has worked on local, state, and national campaigns.

He has been a contributor to the New Mexican Inquisition  New Mexicos web based political satire series.

His first feature documentary Drilling Mora County was supported by a grant from the Max and Anna Levinson Foundation and has had screenings throughout the state.

Online

To find out more about Successful Outlaw, visit facebook.com/successfuloutlaw

SEND ME YOUR TIPS: If you know of a movie filming in the state, or are curious about one, email film @ABQjournal.com. Follow me on Twitter @agomezART.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  The founder of a political action committee that contributed to Republican candidates including New Mexico Congresswoman Yvette Herrell has been indicted on federal child sex trafficking charges in Minnesota.

Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota W. Anders Folk announced Thursday that Anton Joseph Lazzaro, 30, was arrested on suspicion of recruiting or attempting to recruit six minors to engage in commercial sex acts.

Lazzaro is the founder of Big Tent Republicans, which on its website says they support Republicans who are women, minorities and members of the LGBTQ community. The groups website says they are dedicated to widening the base of the Republican Party.

Herrell, a member of the Cherokee Nation who represents southern New Mexico in Congress, is one of 10 Republicans displayed on the groups website as an example of a politician the group supports.

The group gave $2,800 to Herrells campaign in October 2019, according to the Federal Election Commissions website.

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A spokesman for Herrell couldnt immediately be reached for comment Thursday.

Lazzaro is accused of recruiting the minor victims from May 2020 through December 2020, according to a copy of the indictment. Lazzaro was arrested by FBI agents on Thursday, according to a federal court website.

Lazzaro is facing 10 charges: conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minor, five counts of sex trafficking of a minor, attempted sex trafficking of a minor and three counts of obstruction.
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Grim milestone has become a standard news headline over the past 18 months, used repeatedly as the COVID-19 pandemic racked up ever-mounting record numbers of deaths and infections.

Sadly, the same phrase  and its not just a cliche, remember, if its true and accurate  applies over and over to crime statistics in Albuquerque.

This week, Albuquerque homicides reached their latest grim milestone. With nearly five months still left in 2021, the city matched the record for the most homicides in a year, 81 for all of 2019. Within hours of the media reporting the news, Albuquerque police determined one of those homicides was justified  so technically we were still at 80 as of Thursday evening. Still, there were roughly half as many homicides by this time last year.

Albuquerque isnt alone in experiencing increases in violent crime during this strange year of 2021  experts cite reduced services and outlets for people struggling with addiction and other issues during the pandemic; the impacts of anti-police sentiment after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis; and even more gun-buying by Americans.

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But Albuquerques homicide numbers are exceptional. As of last week, Tucson had 57 homicides for 2021, compared to 34 over the same period last year; Oklahoma City was at 50, up by 15.

And Paul Guerin, director of UNMs Center for Applied Research and Analysis, notes, If you just looked at national data, you would still see murders that, in total, were higher in the early 90s than they are now  . What were seeing in Albuquerque is were actually seeing a higher number than we saw in the 90s.

This will be just the latest record homicide year after a 2017 Albuquerque mayoral election in which all eight candidates, including the winner Tim Keller, identified crime as the No. 1 issue.

There has, in fact, been a lot of money and effort applied to Albuquerques crime crisis: police initiatives to focus on violent crime in certain areas, more community policing, the mayors efforts for more outreach and social workers addressing crime, and a program that connects people impacted by gun violence with helpful resources or to warn them of the potential consequences. But the body count just keeps rising.

Just last month, leaders from city government, the state Attorney Generals Office, the District Attorneys Office, the judiciary, and a long list of other agencies and community partners announced a series of meetings to address what they called a broken criminal justice system.

The goal is to find solutions and stop the typical fingerpointing among different offices and agencies that happens when, as in a fictional test case created for discussion, a low-level offender and addict goes in and out of jail after racking up a long record of arrests, and eventually shoots and kills someone during a drug buy gone bad.

Our goal is to say OK, heres a couple of things in each department that were going to do that is going to move the needle on fighting crime in our criminal justice system,' Keller said.

Attorney General Hector Balderas noted past recommendations went nowhere, even after prominent cases showed fatal failures in the system. Where we have failed in the past is not independent recommendations; we do not have an interdependent strategy for accountability as it relates to prevention and harm reductions, he said.

Chief Public Defender Bennett Baur said he is hopeful the effort will help address the deep-seated social issues that surface in the criminal justice system.

It all sounds very serious and very official. But, in the end, the public needs to hear specific, realistic plans to address the progressive march of violent crime. And it should be something more proactive than blaming/tasking the victim, essentially what APD did in calling for the owners of motels that have become frequent sites for killings to hire more security.

To the north, Santa Fe made headway against an out-of-control burglary problem several years ago by hassling  not exactly a legal term  a nest of households believed to be responsible for a huge number of break-ins. Officers parked outside certain houses or picked up regular offenders on outstanding warrants for low-level offenses. Aggressive policing doesnt have to be violent or unconstitutional.

Of course, attacking the deep and damaging drug culture that is rampant in New Mexico with treatment, support and diversion programs, as well as enforcement, also has to be a big part of any anti-crime effort.

At the end of the ongoing multi-agency talks on crime, someone  preferably Mayor Keller and Police Chief Harold Medina  must tell the public how they intend, exactly, to make things change for the better. Fighting violent crime and stopping Albuquerques stratospheric rise in homicides will be tough, but it is their job. At some point, this cycle of grim milestones has to stop if Albuquerque is to become a more liveable and prosperous city.

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.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  With chile harvest season already underway in some parts of New Mexico, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced additional details Thursday about a plan to use $5 million in federal relief funds to temporarily boost worker pay.

The first-come, first-serve program will enhance wage levels for chile field workers to $19.50 per hour  the average wage for such laborers is currently $15 hourly  in an attempt to attract more employees and avert a widespread die-off of the states most iconic crop.

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The Democratic governor, who has engaged in a good-natured dispute with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis over state chile supremacy, described chile as an all-important symbol of New Mexico agriculture and commerce.

I will do everything in my power to support the industry in their efforts to harvest and process a successful 2021 crop, Lujan Grisham said in a Thursday statement. Our economic recovery depends on thriving industries in every corner of New Mexico. We have committed substantial state resources to support that recovery and those industries, and chile will be no exception.

New Mexico Chile Association Executive Director Joram Robbs recently told the Journal the industry is facing a current worker shortage of about 2,500 employees  or roughly half of whats needed.

Lt. Gov. Howie Morales recently met with chile industry officials in Las Cruces to discuss solutions to the chronic worker shortage that farmers say has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and expanded unemployment benefits approved as part of a federal relief package.

Morales also cited long-term challenges to New Mexicos chile industry including immigration laws and agriculture technology issues.

New Mexico produced more than 68,000 tons of chile in 2020  about 90% was green chile  with most of the crop sold for processing in salsa and other products, according to the state Department of Agriculture, which will administer the Chile Labor Incentive Program.

The total value of New Mexico chile production hit nearly $52 million last year, up slightly from the previous year.

Meanwhile, several lawmakers had expressed concern about the possibility of huge losses to New Mexicos chile crop this year due to the difficulty finding enough workers, either among local residents or immigrants who work seasonally.

Sen. Crystal Diamond, R-Elephant Butte, said Thursday she appreciated the Lujan Grisham administrations response to the issue.

While we cannot spend our way out of this problem, this temporary aid will help our family farms in desperate need of workers, Diamond said in a statement.

Our agriculture industry is the backbone of our states economy, and for every community and family that relies on a strong chile harvest, this wage program represents a small step toward recovery.
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DENVER  Colorados independent redistricting commissions finally received the U.S. Census data they need Thursday to rush to completion their year-end mission: Crafting new congressional districts, including a new U.S. House seat, and new state legislative districts for the rest of the decade.

What theyre finding is a rapidly-growing Colorado thats increasingly urban, less white and whose Hispanic and Latino residents account for more than a fifth of the states population  and are demanding the political power to match.

Already under pressure to meet state constitutional deadlines, the commissions now have the complex demographic data needed to craft maps, hold public hearings and submit them for approval by the state Supreme Court.

Once all thats done, county clerks in Colorados 64 counties must draw new precincts in time to prepare for a 2022 elections calendar that includes precinct caucuses, state assemblies, primaries and general elections for the states eight U.S. representatives, a U.S. Senate seat, state lawmakers and a multitude of local offices.

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Thursdays release of the redistricting data culled from the 2020 Census came more than four months later than expected due to delays caused by the pandemic.

An earlier data set released in April showed Colorados population rose by 14.8% between 2010 and 2020, or from 5 million to nearly 5.8 million, entitling the state to its first new congressional district in 20 years. Across the 50 U.S. states, total population reached 331.4 million in 2020, a 7.4% increase from 2010.

The Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metro area added more than 420,000 residents to reach more than 2.9 million people, up nearly 17% from 2010. Colorado Springs metro area jumped 17% over the decade, totaling more than 755,000 people. To the north, the Fort Collins and Greeley metro regions jumped by roughly 20% and 30%, respectively, as the Democrat-leaning Front Range drew young, Latino, Black and college-educated residents.

That growth has produced a preliminary congressional map placing a new eighth House district in the northern Denver metro region.

Several rural counties in eastern, southern and northern Colorado lost residents, including Baca, Bent, Cheyenne, Costilla, Kit Carson, Las Animas, Moffett, Prowers, Otero and Yuma  and those counties are likely to remain grouped together in sweeping, Republican-leaning congressional districts.

Statewide, those who identify as white alone declined as a share of total residents, from 70% in 2010 to 65% in 2020. Nationally, the share of the white population fell from 63.7% in 2010 to 57.8% in 2020, the lowest on record, driven by falling birthrates among white women compared with Hispanic and Asian women.

Some 22% of Colorado residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, roughly the same percentage as a decade earlier. Hispanics and Latinos represent the biggest share of residents in three counties  Alamosa, Conejos and Costilla  compared to two counties a decade ago.

Advocates for Colorados Hispanic and Latino residents this week argued for maps recognizing their economic and political diversity and ensuring their growing share of Colorados population is reflected in its politics.

These Census numbers are an important reminder that Latinos must be better and more fairly represented everywhere, from classrooms to corporate boardrooms, and from newsrooms to the halls of power where decisions that impact our communities are being made, Democratic state Sen. Julie Gonzales of Denver said in a statement.

Nearly 5% of Colorado residents identify as Black or African American alone, compared to roughly 4% in 2010.

Democrats hold a 4-3 edge over Republicans in the states congressional delegation. They also control both legislative chambers, the governors and other state elected offices, and Colorados two U.S. Senate seats.

The redistricting commissions were created after voters passed a constitutional amendment in 2018. The vote removed the task from lawmakers, political parties and the governor to make the process less partisan. The congressional commission consists of four Democrats, four Republicans and four unaffiliated residents  none of them current or recent officeholders.
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PRESCOTT, Ariz.  Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes said he was cited for operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol at Lake Powell.

The first-term sheriff said in a statement Thursday that he deeply regrets his actions and believes elected officials should be accountable to the people they represent.

Rhodes was drinking while boating with his family at the lake on the Arizona-Utah border on Saturday. Someone else was operating the boat.

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Later in the day, friends in another boat had trouble docking and Rhodes said he agreed to help. In the process, he said he clipped another boat.

Rhodes said he never should have operated a boat while intoxicated and has learned from his mistake.

If you think its OK, even for a brief moment, its not, he said.

Authorities from Glen Canyon National Recreation Area issued the sheriff a citation for the misdemeanor offense, noting Rhodes blood alcohol content was at least .08%. Those citations are handled through the federal court system.

A spokeswoman for the recreation area said Friday that she was not immediately available to respond to The Associated Press request for more information.

The citation was first reported by the The Daily Courier in Prescott.

The Coconino County Sheriffs Office is handling the investigation into the damage to the boat, which Rhodes characterized as minor.

Coconino County sheriffs spokesman Jon Paxton said Friday that he wasnt sure about the extent of the damage. A report on the incident isnt complete.

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This story has been corrected to show the citation was issued Aug. 7, not Nov. 7.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  With new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations on the rise again, leaders of a prominent New Mexico teachers union said Friday they support mandatory face mask policies for all students and teachers.

The American Federation of Teachers New Mexico union, however, stopped short of calling for mandatory COVID-19 vaccines, but urged the unvaccinated to consider getting the shot.

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New COVID-19 infections have surged in New Mexico and other states in recent weeks, with most cases linked to the contagious delta variant of the virus.

State health officials have expressed renewed concerns about an already strained New Mexico hospital system, as the number of individuals hospitalized statewide due to the virus increased to 296 on Friday  up from 83 hospitalizations a month ago.

There were also 798 new COVID-19 cases reported Friday, according to state Department of Health data, and five additional deaths related to the virus. Those deaths brought the states death toll to 4,446 since the pandemic hit New Mexico in March 2020.

Given that backdrop, face mask policies for New Mexico public school students and teachers have generated debate among parents, lawmakers and school boards.

While some rural school boards have chafed at the states COVID-19 guidelines, the AFT New Mexico union leaders said vaccination and mask-wearing are key to keeping schools open under an in-person model.

While we are not, at this time, calling for mandatory vaccinations for eligible students or staff in K-12 settings, the fact remains that our ability to return to and stay in full-time, in-person education and instruction falls squarely on the shoulders of the remaining adult New Mexicans who have thus far resisted doing their part to fight and eradicate COVID-19 in New Mexico, three union leaders said in a statement.

Meanwhile, state health officials also said Friday they were closely tracking federal agencies review of possible third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for certain people with compromised immune systems, including those who have undergone organ transplant surgeries.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration this week authorized the additional vaccine dose for such individuals and state officials indicated theyre likely to follow suit. As of Friday, a total of 74.6% of New Mexicans age 18 and older had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, while 65.7% of eligible state residents had gotten all doses necessarily to be fully vaccinated.

With reports of some people obtaining fake vaccine cards, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and other state officials said Friday such falsification is a crime and vowed law enforcement officials will pursue any reports received.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 2021  Three industry chemists will kick off the American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall 2021 meeting during the opening session with talks about the meeting theme, Resilience of Chemistry. They will share insights through the lenses of careers, research and COVID-19. ACS President H. N. Cheng, Ph.D., is co-sponsoring the Aug. 22 session. ACS Fall 2021 will be a hybrid meeting, both in-person and virtual, featuring up to 1,400 hours of live interactive virtual technical presentations and 700 hours of in-person technical presentations, including oral and poster talks, networking events and more. To attend in-person or view the events virtually, please register for ACS Fall 2021.

Opening session: Resilience of Chemistry, Sunday, Aug. 22, 12:30-2:30 p.m. EDT, Sidney J. Marcus Auditorium in the Georgia World Congress Center

Gerard Baillely, Senior vice president corporate function R&D, Procter & Gamble

 Resiliency of the Chemical Enterprise During COVID-19: Lessons for the Future

Resiliency of the Chemical Enterprise During COVID-19: Lessons for the Future Dorothy Phillips, Ph.D.: ACS Board of Directors

Resilience of an Industrial Chemist: A Career with Opportunities and Obstacles

Resilience of an Industrial Chemist: A Career with Opportunities and Obstacles Philip Dormitzer, M.D., Ph.D., vice president and chief scientific officer, RNA and Viral Vaccines, Pfizer

The Scientific Basis for a Highly Effective mRNA-based COVID-19 Vaccine

Presidential symposia:

Innovation/Industrial Themed

Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Collaborations

New Frontiers and Opportunities for Chemistry

Industrial Innovations in Polymer Science

Innovation Portfolio Management

Moving Chemistry from Bench to Market

Sustainability Themed

Decarbonizing the Chemical Enterprise

Innovative Materials for Environmental Sustainability

Sustainability in Agriculture

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

Symposia recommended by the ACS president:

Resilience Themed

Fourth CME NASA Symposium: Chemistry for Resilient Human Space Exploration

Leadership and Resiliency in the Global Chemistry Enterprise - Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of CACS (Chinese American Chemical Society)

To promote the safety of everyone at ACS Fall 2021 and related events, ACS has developed an attendee safety plan. Effective July 27, 2021, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now advising those vaccinated (either fully or partially) to wear face masks while indoors in public. As a result, ACS is now requiring all attendees (vaccinated and unvaccinated) at ACS Fall 2021 to wear a face mask while in the Georgia World Congress Center or while attending an ACS hosted/sponsored event or meeting. ACS may adjust its practices to account for changes in government health-related COVID-19 directives. Attendees should become familiar with the attendee safety plan.

For session dates, times and other details, including whether sessions are virtual, hybrid or in person, see the online program.

Journalists and public information officers may request credentials by emailing us at newsroom@acs.org.
Indian mobile handset brand, Lava International Limited, today announced the launch of the second season of its Design in India (DII) challenge. Lavas DII contest invites entries for designing the next Indian smartphone. The contest is open to students and working professionals either presently pursuing or graduated in B.Tech/B.E., Bachelors in Design Program or Masters in Design Program from any institute across India in select specializations. The registrations will be open from 15th August to 25th August 2021.

Talking about the contest, Tejinder Singh, Head  Product, Lava International said, As the nation focusses on Atmanirbhar Bharat, the telecom industry can play a pivotal role in facilitating this mission. India has a fantastic talent pool waiting to be tapped. Through the Design in India challenge, Lava seeks to offer the countrys youth and other talented professionals a platform to showcase their skills for this nation-building process. Therefore, Lavas call for entries offers them an excellent opportunity to showcase their creative skills by providing fresh perspectives in our endeavour to come up with the best smartphone prototype for the country.

Registrations will be via Lavas website, using the team leaders email ID and mobile number. Students/professionals can participate in a team with a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 3 members. Any plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification of the team.

The contest will be conducted in three rounds  ideation, prototype creation and presentation to the jury. After registering, eligible candidates will receive an email intimation and gain portal access to submit a solution according to predetermined timelines. All submissions will be evaluated by a panel comprising Lava Internationals senior leaders. The top 10 teams will then be shortlisted for the Prototype development round.

In Round 2, the top 10 teams will submit functional Smartphone prototypes/plans. The 5 top teams will be shortlisted for Round 3  the Finale. Teams will be judged on three parameters  creativity, functionality and uniqueness. The final 5 teams will present their ideas to a panel constituting of Lavas senior leadership. Sanjeev Agarwal, Chief Manufacturing Officer  Lava International will head the judging panel.

At the competitions culmination, the top three winning teams will receive a pre-placement interview opportunity at Lava. They will also be awarded a cash prize of Rs. 50,000, Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 15,000, respectively.

Sanjeev Agarwal, Chief Manufacturing Officer  Lava International, said During the past decade, Lava International has been instrumental in making Designing in India its forte. The company has leveraged customer insights in building products with unique propositions for consumers. We believe that Indias tech-savvy youth and its working professionals have more to provide in driving greater design options and prototypes and creating the right products for Indian consumers.

Lavas Design in India initiative is powered by MediaTek

Mr. Kuldeep Malik - Director, Corporate Sales, MediaTek India, said "MediaTek is delighted to be associated with Lava for the Design in India initiative. At MediaTek, we believe this is a step towards empowering the entire design community in India and have always supported Make in India initiatives. Our chips are designed keeping in mind the indigenous requirements of our discerning customers, and Lavas contest is also built along the same lines. We wish Lava every success for a splendid contest and look forward to witnessing innovative designs from talented individuals across the country."

Lava launched the first season of Design in India challenge in July last year which received an overwhelming response from across the country. The contest received more than 12000 entries out of which three teams- Ingenium, Magma and Invincible were declared winners. The company also offered placement to the top two performers- Syamala Dasika from Sir C.R Reddy College of Engineering and Nafih Ahammed from NSS College of Engineering.

To register your team, please visit: https://www.lavamobiles.com/ design-in-india-2/

For contest timelines & eligibility criteria, please visit:https://www.lavamobiles. com/terms-and-conditions# terms-and-conditions-design- in-india-2
Castigating media for cooking up false stories to push TRPs top criminal lawyer, Satish Maneshinde has said that TV channels tries to manipulate and manufacture public opinion but once the story is over it has not relevance.

In a conversation with Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now, during the webcast of Visionary Talk series, held by the public policy and governance analysis platform, Maneshinde said in cases concerning NDPS, suicide and murders of his celebrity clients, media went berserk where it thinks it is carrying entire nations message.

TV channels think they carry entire nations verdict. They think they are the executives, deciders, prosecutors, judges and they are going to deliver justice. They try to communicate their own feelings to develop their own TRP which has no relevance does not count once the story is over.

In many cases he said people who carry their own media campaigns themselves land in jails. It is unfortunate this is happening in the country.

Recalling actor Sanjay Dutts 1992 bomb blast case which he was handling, Maneshinde said a certain media company not only went after him and Dutt, but also after the judge and the prosecutors and cooked up bogus stories. The gentleman landed up in jail and was locked up. He was accused of serious offences. This was divine justice.These scoundrels dont go unpunished he said.

Maneshinde said that people like Sanjay Dutt or Rhea Chakravarty and many other celebrities who got entangled in criminal cases were embroiled due to circumstances. They were not accused of a crime or involved in a crime where they profiteered.

While speaking on business man Raj Kundras ongoing pornography case the noted lawyer said the allegations in the case are that electronic methods were used for making large financial gains I dont get entangled in such murky cases if somebody is accused of a crime which he or she did not do and circumstances are very grave and people are after that person I will take up the case and defend that person. But if you are committing an act for profiteering knowing well that it is wrong, immoral and against our nations policy. I have no sympathy for such people he said .

Responding to a question on how the judiciary has adapted to the new normal way of functioning, Maneshinde said while physical appearance is the best way for courts, but during pandemic when entire country was shut and the govt itself was working through virtual mode. It was the only way to render justice to common people of the country. At the same time people who did not have access to electronic medium could not get justice immediately as against those who had access to electronic mediums. But now with the government providing all the facilities almost everyone has a mobile instrument.

He added that during lockdown, the judges have even herd petitions on WhatsApp and sat through till 12 midnight to hear cases. Many judges were hearing cases till 4 am and 5 am. Despite the fact that the county was closed, courts were never shut.

The noted criminal lawyer said 50% of his work is pro bono as large no. of citizens do not have access to justice. He said he gives priority to poor clients and those not financially well off, who approach him without prior knowledge or reference including people from Media and Press because at one time he himself was a penniless lawyer when he came to Mumbai.
Conservative commentator Glenn Beck's dystopic novel Agenda 21 opens with the chilling line: They took Mother away today. Written in collaboration with Harriet Parke, the novel creates a regimented world in which people are relocated from the countryside to cities, where, under constant surveillance and threat of punishment, they can do nothing but what the authorities decide. The aged mother is taken away because for two days she failed to generate her quota of electricity by walking her energy board. The adult daughter has tried to make up the quota and get food for two but has apparently been found out. It's a world where animals, plants, and the wilderness take primacy over humans. And there are no property rights  or any rights, for that matter. The Authority, drawing on a law called Agenda 21, takes care of everything.

It's no coincidence that the frightening novel  which could well become a reality should the leftist global strategy succeed  is named after the U.N.'s Agenda 21. Here's how Rosa Koire, a land use and development expert, described the U.N. document: "an inventory and control plan of all land, all water, all minerals, all plants, all animals, all construction, all means of production all food, all energy, all information, and all human beings in the world." Even from that brief description of the opening of the novel, it's easy to visualize the parallels with Koire's fears: a seemingly innocuous plan of "sustainable development" for the 21st century is in fact a social engineering program to achieve global governance. With surveillance, individual liberties will go, and with individual liberties gone, representative governments will perish. The erosion of government as we know it has already begun  with the slow strangling of local government.

Agenda 21 was introduced at the U.N. Earth Summit in 1992, along with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), as the "comprehensive blueprint for the reorganization of human society." Together, they toll the death knell for wealth creation and economic and personal liberty, based on the fallacious assumption that development will lead to the extinction of life on Earth. With top-down controls, they aim to end local power and vest it in a global governance system. Environment protection is the excuse and weapon for this draconian program to fundamentally transform human lives, force citizens to surrender their liberties, and enforce socialist global control. The agenda is political.

The Convention on Biological Diversity was created under the pretense of restoring biodiversity in the U.S. It was a proposal to set aside land in North America for "rewilding"  to protect biodiversity from human influence and reintroduce animals into areas of human habitation. Antiproperty rights directives that implemented a Wildlands agenda called for the eventual elimination of private property to use it for the "common good."

The project was created in the 1990s by eco-terrorist David Foreman, who in 1979 had founded Earth First, the most militant environmentalist organization in the world. His core beliefs show utter contempt for human life: "Life of the Earth comes first, not life of the people" and "We humans have become a disease  the Humanpox." And Reed Noss, co-author of the project, says, "The collective needs of nonhuman species must take precedence over the needs and desires of humans."

Currently, 12%, or 100 million acres, of U.S. land is wilderness protected as wildlife refuges and national parks. The project aims to convert at least 50% of land across North America to wilderness off-limits to humans. Identified core wilderness areas are to be interconnected by wilderness corridors, also off-limits to humans, and surrounded by buffer zones where use of natural resources will be restricted. Human populations are to be resettled into the remaining 25% of the land into communities deemed "sustainable" as depicted in a U.N. map. Like in the novel, relocation to designated centers will be determined by central planning.

Slowly and stealthily, the conversion of land to conform to this agenda has been occurring for decades. This is being achieved using condemnation, conservation easements, and regulations that offer no compensation for land takeover. Originating from the U.N. and filtering down to local authorities, a comprehensive plan of action has been promoted that will take effect at global, national, and local levels. The prime actors are government agency officials and powerful NGOs, using buzzwords such as "smart growth" and "sustainability" and programs such as the Green New Deal and the Rewilding Project. They have successfully encroached into the domain of local governments with planning, water, energy, and historic preservation boards of unelected individuals with specific political agendas.

A prime example of the diminution of local authority is the saga of the multi-generational Bundy Ranch, established in Nevada in the late 1800s. When the state was created, land had been granted to families like the Bundys to encourage settlement. More than 25 years ago, claiming that an endangered tortoise had to be protected by decreasing ranching on the property, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and other federal agencies began restricting the Bundy family's use of federal land they had historically grazed. When Cliven Bundy, the ranch's current owner, protested, the BLM and federal agencies decided he was a trespasser and set up a military compound with 200 hired guns surrounding the ranch. They rounded up and shot cattle, which were dumped into mass graves. They destroyed water infrastructure that was more than 100 years old. They beat up protesters and threatened the family with Waco- and Ruby Ridgetype actions.

In my own Los Angeles suburb, we face ordinances that, if enacted, could outlaw second stories and other home additions, require building in deep canyon areas a significant distance from ridgelines, and even make it impossible to rebuild homes destroyed in natural or man-made disasters. A wildlife ordinance will require the incorporation of bird-safe building design, including windows that obstruct views, prohibiting non-native plants, imposing height and square footage limitations, decreeing open fencing for free wildlife movement, mandating extensive open space regulations, and imposing the replacement of dead or fallen protected species trees, which must be retained on site. There are other restrictive and costly provisions, too.

Our Founders recognized property rights as the basis for liberty and wealth creation. They also viewed local authorities as central to the principle of representative government. Decentralized and bottom-up by nature, local governments best serve and empower citizens. Plus they can leverage local resources and capital and provide services keyed to specific local needs. But with the advent of Agenda 21focused entities, local governments are being pressured to comply with "smart growth" programs. Zoning, once the preserve of local government, is being wrested from that arena: across the nation, suburban and rural single-family homes are being targeted for elimination, to be replaced by urban, government-controlled housing with strict energy regulations.

Will that mean, that like Mother, you could be taken away for either using too much electricity or not generating enough? There is reason to believe that the taking away of local powers could be the edge of the sword. Eventually, individuals  prized above all by our Founders  will be unable to freely choose how and where to live. The agenda is for a global governance system to end the nation-state, sever national and state borders, and end the ability of individuals to control their fate.

The Biden administration, with its proposed trillion-dollar infrastructure package, aims to federalize zoning laws as part of the Green New Deal, perhaps the most comprehensive program toward full implementation of Agenda 21/CBD. The suburbs will be eliminated. The uniquely American dream of a house with a white picket fence and a backyard for a Fourth of July barbecue will no longer exist.

And the nightmare of the novel may eventually come to pass, with the proposed high-rise apartments packed with people forced off their own land to allow "Grizzlies in Chihuahua" to have an unbroken passage to "Grizzlies in Alaska," as the Wildlands Project envisages. In this state of serfdom, Americans will have no say over their lives in the Land of the Once Free.

Image: sanjitbakshi via Flickr.

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When government fails to act in the interests of its citizens, its their duty to take action. For 20+ years, the United States has seen failure of government through unrestricted illegal immigration, one-sided trade deals, uncontrolled spending, and failed foreign policy.

Predictably this has created a seething anger within the American citizenry. As was their duty, the citizens took action -- at the ballot box. They elected Donald Trump in 2016. President Trump didnt create the anger, the anger created him.

While he made substantial strides in response to their grievances, his time in office was too short to fully institutionalize the necessary course corrections -- particularly with unprecedented resistance from the Deep State. The grievances of the citizenry remain unresolved.

Unfortunately, avenues of redress have continued to close. Our institutions are no longer providing equal protection, our freedom of expression has been curtailed, and even our vote has been undermined. These factors brought us to our current state -- a level of political tension not seen in generations. Traditional avenues of redress are under attack.

The United States has a heritage of civil protest as a means to effect political change. However, even prior to the Trump era, legacy media has used gaslighting to undermine the protest messages. Tea Party protesters were called racists and domestic terrorists. Trump rally attendees were called white supremacists. Peaceful protests have been called violent uprisings while violent protests (by BLM and Antifa) have been called mostly peaceful. The media have effectively used propaganda to crush political expression. They are attempting to impugn the speakers to discredit the message.

In recent years, suppression of expression has taken another alarming turn -- outright censorship. Divergent political views, and even legitimate news stories, are being suppressed by legacy news media, Facebook, Twitter, Google, YouTube and other social media sites. Some have argued that as private companies they may censor content at their discretion. However, these social media companies have become the new town squares. Their control over information goes far beyond that of a private company merely expressing its opinion.

In addition, the Harris/Biden administration recently disclosed that it is colluding with social media oligarchs to prevent the spread of misinformation. Of course, anything contrary to their preferred narrative is considered misinformation. This is the power of government being used to crush political speech. It is a clear violation of our right to freedom of speech -- and they dont care.

Another means to affect government is of course through election. We all have a vote, and our vote mattered -- until November 2020. Allegations of fraud hang over the 2020 election. Media assertions that allegations of fraud have been debunked are simply propaganda. The claims of fraud may or may not be true. We simply dont know, because there has been no litigation of the evidence. Observers were barred from vote counting. Election officials have deleted or hidden logs. Audit reports have been sealed or hidden from the public. Courts have used procedural arguments to avoid trying any of the election cases. There has been no public disclosure or debate of the evidence. We dont know if the election was stolen -- and that is the problem. There can be no faith in elections without transparency.

We do know that no Republican since President George H.W. Bush has been afforded a gracious transfer of power by the Democrats. Both George W. Bush and Donald Trump were called illegitimate for their entire presidencies. No Democrat party administration in 30 years has given up power graciously. Excuse my skepticism, but to believe nothing nefarious was done this time, I need to see the evidence.

Were told we have government institutions to protect us from tyranny. Agencies have procedures to ensure equal treatment. The problem is, they dont follow them. Laws are written to apply equally to all, but in practice, they are applied selectively. It has become all too apparent that members of the Deep State have become active political players.

The IRS targeted the Tea Party and even disclosed confidential tax filings for political purposes. Yet nobody was fired, let alone prosecuted. Now theyre doing it again by classifying faith-based organizations as Republican operatives.

The FBI and CIA were converted into political hit machines to target political opponents. Watergate pales in comparison. Numerous people went to prison for Watergate, yet only one low-level actor received a few months of probation for the biggest political scandal in my lifetime.

In the Hillary Clinton email investigation, her associates were given immunity and the FBI helped destroy the evidence. Yet Robert Mueller spent three years and $25M plus to investigate Donald Trump. Disturbingly, Mueller learned that the whole Russian collusion allegation was a hoax within the first few months of his investigation. Yet, he continued his investigation anyway for another three years -- and through another election cycle. He wasnt investigating a crime; he was looking for a crime, setting perjury traps (creating crimes), and supporting a propaganda ministry narrative.

A sailor was imprisoned for taking an innocent picture aboard a submarine. Hillary Clinton exposed hundreds of classified documents but wasnt charged because she didnt mean it. The I didnt mean it defense never seems to work for anyone but Democrats.

The courts arent blameless in this mess. Theyve become so politicized that identifying who appointed a judge is necessary for all court reporting. Their political affiliation has become predictive of their judicial decisions. The presumption of equal application of laws and unbiased decisions is gone. Hence, we get rulings that Obama executive orders on immigration are constitutional, but Trumps arent. The Democrats are even working towards packing the judicial system to further the corruption.

The courts have also abdicated their duty relative to the 2020 election. The Supreme Court is too busy redefining the Constitution to be bothered with its defense. It was the final institution in a position to ensure adherence to laws and adjudicate allegations of fraud. Yet it simply declined to hear the cases. Protection of our voting rights was of no interest to the court.

In 2021 we have reached an impasse. Our government no longer represents our interests, our attempts to speak out are suppressed, our elections are corrupted, and the courts are no longer protecting our rights. The press has become the propaganda ministry of the left. Government agencies will not acknowledge corruption. The political parties are doing nothing to fix this mess.

In 1969, Richard Nixon asserted that there was a large group of Americans who held traditional American values and who voted but avoided public attention. He called them the silent majority. His reelection proved his theory correct. That majority still exists and is beginning to react to our current political environment. They became the angry majority and elected Donald Trump in 2016. Nothing since Trump left office has lowered their temperature. Oppression of their rights doesnt cool anger -- it inflames it. American citizens have never been subjects and arent likely to accept that status now. The left needs to keep two things in mind: Those who value their liberty are still the majority, and eventually their anger will turn to action.

Our political leadership better get a clue before its too late. If the majoritys voices are silenced, their actions will be loud.

John Green is a political refugee from Minnesota, now residing in Idaho. He currently writes at the American Free News Network (americanfreenewsnetwork.org). He can be followed on Facebook or reached at greenjeg@gmail.com.

Image: Alec Perkins, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 2.0

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Repeatedly in the past year  before the election, when Democrats put into place unconstitutional election rules, and after the election, when people begged it to review fraud claims  a majority on the United States Supreme Court went through mental gymnastics to create reasons not to hear claims about the 2020 election. They did this even though there was already precedence from the top court in Bush v. Gore 2000. Why? Why the staunch refusal by the Supreme Court?

Just now entering the debate is former military intelligence Captain Seth Keshel (ret.), whose findings may force the Supreme Court to grapple with questions about the election. Keshels earthshaking scientific data election report contends that President Trump probably won seven states that had been called for Biden (Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, and Minnesota). If Kassels numbers are correct, that gives Trump 321 electoral college votes, well above the 270 needed to win the White House. Maybe that will give the Supreme Court reason to get involved in the fraudulent and duplicitous election of our president. For now, though, the Supreme Court believes the election was stolen, fair-and-square.

The question is whether the justices are cowards, crooks, or compromised, for those three choices seem to be the only way to explain their resolute refusal to make any decisions regarding the Presidential Election of 2020. This constitutes a historic failure on their part, for the Court is refusing to be a co-equal branch of the federal government. Nor is the role Republicans as of them  reviewing the law connected to possible election fraud  new ground. With 2000s Bush v. Gore, there is legal precedent for them to act.

The answer to the question about what drives their passivity is an important one. One can argue successfully that the January 6 Stop The Steal rally, which continued with a rowdy protest on Capitol Hill, resulted because of the justices lack of integrity and/or guts. Thanks to their blatant disassociation with being a coequal branch with the Presidency and Congress, the Court has lost enormous respect from half of America.

Are the Supreme Court members simply cowards? Did last summers violence leave them too frightened for themselves and their family members to act? Perhaps they feared the BLM/Antifa showing up as a mob on their front doorsteps in peaceful Georgetown, Virginia, or Chevy Chase, Maryland. Or maybe they were worried that Deep State operatives might go after their children or grandchildren at their schools and colleges. After all, a mob showed up at Tucker Carlsons home three years ago, when Tucker was on the air, forcing his wife to hide in the closet until police arrived.

Rumors (unproven) have been flying that Chief Justice Roberts referred to the violence last summer as a reason to refuse cases involving the 2020 election. So maybe, as individuals, parents, and grandparents, the majority of the Court did not want to hear election cases because they were afraid. If so, BLM/Antifa taught us that raw intimidation works, at least as to a cowering Supreme Court.

One must also ask whether the majority of the Supreme Court justices are just crooks? Are they taking bribes from Deep State operatives? Are they getting kickbacks or financial gain from Progressive billionaires by refusing to hear legitimate election questions? This one seems the most doubtful  and I hope it is untrue.

However, we have learned so many awful things over the last six years and especially during Trumps presidency that, frankly, nothing should surprise us anymore. From the six battleground states, there were obviously enough questions, doubts, and sworn witnesses to at least justify hearing evidence in the cases  and yet the Supreme Court was fine with lower courts dismissing the cases unheard.

Moreover, given the Democrats assertion that they won in 2020, why are they so frantic to block any forensic election audits? There was so much smoke out there in terms of possible election irregularities that the Supreme Court had ample reason to see if there was in fact a roaring blaze. But still, a majority of the Court refused to act. Was crookedness the reason?

And then theres the last question, which is whether compromised Supreme Court justices are being blackmailed. There are plenty of rumors about Chief Justice Roberts when it comes to his childrens adoption and his potential relationship with Jeffrey Epstein (although the latter rumor seems to have been reliably debunked). Robertss decisions have long been questionable. He flipped his vote on Obamacare at the last minute, allowing Obamacare to become law by a 5-4 vote. The late, great Justice Anthony Scalia believed that Roberts flipped for unprincipled reasons.

One can also hypothesize that justices arent protecting themselves but others near and dear to them. We just dont know. But something must explain why at least six justices on the Supreme Court refused even to review cases that had been supported by a mountain of affidavits and other documentary and video evidence.

Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch wanted to hear the cases concerning presidential election integrity. They especially wanted to hear cases looking at Democrat D.C. lawyers and Deep State operatives overriding state election laws.

However, even the supposedly conservative Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett refused to hear the evidence. President Trump and MAGA nation were shocked by Kavanaugh and Coney Barretts silence. They appear to have been frozen at the free-throw line. Perhaps its not a coincidence that Kavanaugh and Barrett have the youngest, most vulnerable children.

And of course, the Supreme Court may have been worried about issuing a decision only to have the entire progressive half of America  including in the government and the military  ignore it (as Biden has done when it comes to rent moratoriums, despite admitting theyre unconstitutional). So, they decided it best to do nothing. Unfortunately, that scenario is very possible. And very sad.

The political parties, billionaires, Progressives, and the Deep State, like feral animals, will do what they do because politics isnt for sissies. We Americans, though, always believed that the Supreme Court would be the adult in the room and bring law and reason to bear  and stop peoples partisan passions. It is the Supreme Court, more than any American institution, that ultimately failed in a historic way.

History will decide whether, in 2020, the Court sank to the same ignominious level it occupied when it decided the Dred Scott, Plessey, or Korematsu cases. Those decisions also created outcomes much worse than anything the Supreme Court was trying to avoid.

As individual states try to clean up their election laws to prevent future fraud, we can anticipate more court challenges that will once again end up in the Supreme Courts lap. Hopefully, corruption and/or cowardice will not rear its ugly head. All we ask is that the Court hears the evidence! If the justices again refuse to do so, half of the American population will give up on our constitutional system. The Supreme Court cannot duck this forever.

IMAGE: United States Supreme Court justices. Public domain.

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In a recent conversation with a retired doctor, I voiced my layman's understanding that autopsies are a great engine of medical progress, and I asked where I might find reports on autopsies of people who have died after taking COVID vaccines.

He was stumped, so I plunged into the search engine jungle and got my answer: nowhere, because autopsies are not being performed.

A diligent search can find a report on a single case in the U.S., with ambiguous results, and a sobering study from Germany:

Dr. Schirmacher performed autopsies on 40 people who had died within two weeks of receiving a Covid jab. Of those, 30%40% could be directly attributed to the "vaccines." He is calling for more autopsies of those who die shortly after getting injected to see if his numbers pan out.

These findings are not free of doubt, which would seem to make additional studies imperative.

But Germany has thus far been reluctant to act. Meanwhile, the report of this highly respected pathologist and pro-vaccine doctor is being suppressed.

The most comprehensive summary of the situation is in a recent presentation by Dr. Ryan Cole, "A Pathologist Summary of What These Jabs Do to the Brain and Other Organs," at a "White Coat Summit" put on by America's Frontline Doctors (a much-censored group of skeptics). He starts by noting that there have been 11,000 or more post-vaccine deaths, but the first autopsy report appears only a month ago. "Are you kidding me? Is this science anymore? ... How can we do science if we are not looking? One cannot find that for which they do not look."

Cole refers to both human and animal studies showing that spike proteins from vaccines are widely distributed throughout the body and shows tissue slides illustrating the toxic effect of these proteins.

Cole's conclusion is not that disaster is coming. It is that we don't know. We simply lack knowledge about a wide range of risks.

In a well functioning health care system, the authorities would place high priority on funding autopsies to seek answers. This is not happening, and, like most other questions surrounding the pandemic, it is increasingly difficult to find non-malevolent explanations for the failure.

The corollary to "one does not find what one does not look for" is "one does not look for what one does not want to find." So it is logical conclude that our health authorities, who are obviously perfectly aware of the importance of pathology studies, are scared of what might end up in them.

James V DeLong lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

Image: torstensimon via Pixabay, Pixabay License.

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As a wise man said, be careful what you wish for because you may get it. Will Gov. Andrew Cuomo's exit open the door for Joe Biden's accuser, Tara Reade? Well, Tara is hoping it does.

This is from The Daily Mail:

Tara Reade demanded shortly after Governor Andrew Cuomo's resignation on Tuesday that her sexual assault allegations against Joe Biden be fully investigated and that the president also step down. 'My heart is with the brave Cuomo survivors who endured attempts to discredit them like I did coming forward about Joe Biden with the help of nonprofits that were supposed to help women like Time's Up,' Reade told Fox News. 'May there be some measure of justice for the survivors,' she added. 'Now, let's call for a real investigation into Joe Biden and expose the corruption protecting powerful predators.' The 57-year-old revealed last year her accusation that Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993 in a Capitol Hill office when she was a Senate staffer.

Let me take a guess and say "yes." In other words, Tara may finally get her turn.

First, I don't know whether Tara is telling the truth or not. At the same time, "truth" was never a consideration when the press and the Democrats went after Brett Kavanaugh with all those phony stories. So let the lady make her case.

Second, and more important, the media are bored with President Biden. Worse than that, no one is watching, so a lot of reporters are scared to death that their jobs may be on the line. President Trump was great for the people who sold air time. Biden is the exact opposite.

What better way of getting people to watch than to start talking about another woman and another politician?

The media are desperate for something, and Tara may just be the answer.

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).

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Seven-hundred seventy-eight billion dollars spent. Twenty years of warfare. 3,000 American lives lost. And Afghanistan looks like it's going to collapse by the day Joe Biden pulls out on 9/11. The Taliban has done an ISIS-like blitzkreig-style takeover of the country in the last month and they're dancing with glee in government offices of the provincial capitals they've taken over. As Joe Biden pleads with the barbarians not to attack the embassy, they'd get a kick out of setting fire to the soon-to-be undefended U.S. embassy in the capital on that grimly symbolic day.

This is far from Joe Biden's only idiocy on the Afghan pullout front.

Everything he's done in recent days has been a colossal mistake.

Number one, his ironclad pullout promise, on 9/11, certainly gave the Taliban the date-specific planning tool they've been looking for as they've made their final push. Biden says he has "no regrets" and he still refuses to change course. His and his staff's platitudes and stern warnings to the Taliban are laughable.

Two, Biden was so obsessed with public relations over U.S. strategic interests that he pulled 3,500 U.S. troops out in the past weeks, while leaving the U.S. embassy unguarded and thousands of civilians without defenses. Since the Taliban is busy hanging dissidents on the streets these days, a good deduction might be that they'd harm those U.S. and allied civilians. So now he's forced to send back 3,000 troops to do the evacuations, in a perfect demonstration that he doesn't know what he's doing. With the troops out, Biden's been reduced to trying to halt the Taliban with bombing runs done from third countries. They had bases. Now they don't have bases, but Biden got his exiting Afghanistan camera shots for the press.

Three, the Taliban has the guns. The supposedly U.S.-trained Afghani goverment troops folded like a cheap suit and ran away as the Taliban advanced, in provincial city after provincial city. Rather than blow up the guns behind them -- cripes, it might just take a stray match and some gasoline in some cases -- they left the weaponry, reportedly $1 billion's worth, to become captured booty of the terrorists. Biden didn't even plan for that contingency by at least sending some drones in to blow the abandoned booty up so that the Taliban couldn't get its hands on it. The Taliban is now armed with our weapons.

Four, Biden has decided that now's about the time to go on vacation. He's taking a long weekend as their disaster unfolds. Maybe if he goes and hides, the problem will go away? So much for leadership.

Five, the Chinese and other adversaries have decided not to go on vacation. China has openly declared that it will accept the Taliban as Afghanistan's leader, obviously planning to get the Taliban on its string and its hands on the country's rare-earth minerals. Rest assured, other enemies of the U.S. are making their own plans.

This is nothing short of a disaster, with only the sight of the Taliban flinging $9.5 billion in cash from the central bank in Kabul around, and the Saigon-style U.S. rooftop pullout to wait for. "We are watching President Biden's Saigon moment unfold before us," as Rep. Mike Rogers has on his government website. (Hat tip: Instapundit). Most people think the Afghanistan war did need to draw to come kind of conclusion. But Joe Biden has made it a uniquely bad instance of his foreign policy incompetence in his execution, his bad decisions, and his absence of any sort of plan. His military leadership is focused on wokester critical race theory, not winning wars. The Russians, Iranians, and Chinese are laughing up their sleeves. Now Biden, a senile old man who took office under a cloud of electoral fraud, is hoping no one will notice.

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Joe Biden is begging the Taliban to spare the U.S. embassy when they knock down the Afghan capital of Kabul and overrun the country. And with the fall of Kandahar, Herat, and all the other big Afghan cities, that could be any day now.

Here's the lovely story from the New York Times:

WASHINGTON  American negotiators are trying to extract assurances from the Taliban that they will not attack the U.S. Embassy in Kabul if the extremist group takes over the country's government and ever wants to receive foreign aid, three American officials said. The effort, led by Zalmay Khalilzad, the chief American envoy in talks with the Taliban, seeks to stave off a full evacuation of the embassy as they rapidly seize cities across Afghanistan. On Thursday, the State Department announced it was sending home an unspecified number of the 1,400 Americans stationed at the embassy and drawing down to what the agency's spokesman, Ned Price, described as a "core diplomatic presence" in Kabul.

So after 20 years of warfare, the United States of America is reduced to begging the Taliban to spare our humble embassy so as to save America the humiliation of having a desperate, Saigon 1975style rooftop evacuation as the communists close in.

The Taliban is out doing victory dances like this. They're hanging collaborators like this. They've fired up the kidnap/sex-slave rackets and are hunting down local journalists. They've already been issued stern warnings from the U.S. embassy in Kabul about this to no effect, and $2 trillion's worth of warfare from the U.S. over 20 years has had no effect, either.

Think they'll take to Joe Biden's call to spare our embassy to ensure no hurt feelings and public relations problems?

Even Biden's implicit bribery offer sounds weak. The Taliban already know how to deal drugs and ship illegals. And they've already gotten hold of billions of dollars' worth of U.S. weapons. Once they take Kabul, they'll have access to $9.5 billion in central bank reserves. Bribes? To people whose raison d'etre is looting, pillaging, raping, marauding, trafficking, destroying, and dancing on the graves of their enemies? It's kind of pathetic.

But it does fit in with what appears to be the emerging Biden Doctrine of U.S. foreign policy. Many presidents have historically had them  James Monroe's was an order to Europe to keep its grubby paws off the nascent democracies of Latin America so they could develop properly. Ronald Reagan's was peace through strength. George W. Bush's was shock and awe. Barack Obama's was apologize and coddle.

Biden's is to make a mess and beg our enemies and adversaries to clean it up.

How else do we explain the pattern of events in Biden's short, miserable presidency?

After kneecapping the U.S. oil industry, as the New York Post put it, shutting down a major U.S. and Canadian energy pipeline project, which had been years in the making, and canceling drilling on public lands, Biden officials were begging OPEC to pump more oil to bring energy prices down.

"OPEC+ must do more to support the recovery," national security adviser Jake Sullivan declared Wednesday, and his boss backed him up. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies cut 10 million barrels a day  10 percent of global demand  at the pandemic's start as demand dried up. It's since raised output by about 4.2 million barrels a day and promises to add another 400,000 barrels a day until it's back to pre-COVID levels.

"Simply not enough," says Sullivan, as Biden "has made clear that he wants Americans to have access to affordable and reliable energy, including at the pump." That's news to us. On his very first day in office, Biden killed the Keystone XL pipeline, which would have brought 830,000 barrels of Canadian oil a day down south  and thousands of good-paying jobs with it. In March, he put a moratorium on oil leasing on federal land, which a judge later found to be illegal. Later, he canceled Trump-era oil leases in Alaska.

Who made the mess? Biden. Who is being begged for a bailout? Middle Eastern dictatorships and assorted petro-tyrants who've had it in for America for a long time. His officials claim that OPEC states have lots of room for expanding production. Guess what: So do we.

It gets worse. Biden also begged Vladimir Putin to not cyber-attack or ransomware-attack certain infrastructure locations, sixteen in all, while implicitly leaving open the possibility that everything else was open season. The list itself told the Russians what our strategic priorities were, while the open-season invitation to everything else assured the Russian cyber-attackers, whoever they are, that all else would be met with no consequences. Biden made a mess by telling all, then made a request to Putin to be nice to us and not ransomware us, or else. Think it'll scare Putin straight?

Here's another mess: Biden halted construction of President Trump's border wall and allowed $1 billion's worth of building equipment to rot or get stolen on the ground rather than finish the wall that was started. Then he invited illegals in, assuring families traveling together and children traveling alone that they wouldn't be sent back. They're not only not being sent back; they're being flown or bused to their destinations of choice at taxpayer expense. Biden's also got amnesty on the table for them in the Bernie Sanderscrafted budget reconciliation coming up, and he's attempted to expand DACA. Yet he, and his worthless border czar, Kamala Harris, have both taken note of the historic border surge that has come of this dinner triangle to illegals and begged the migrants...not to come. "Do not come, do not come," Harris said in Guatemala. "I can say quite clearly: Don't come," Biden told ABC in an interview. "We're in the process of getting set up, don't leave your town or city or community." To keep the candle flickering for the illegal migrants, there was also this: "There's help on the way, but now is not the time to make the journey," an unnamed Biden official said, NBC News reported.

He made the mess, and now he's begging the migrants not to come.

There's a second dimension to this in the state-to-state relations on surging migration.

Not only had Biden halted the wall construction to facilitate illegal travel, he also scrapped treaties with Mexico and Central American countries about first countries of refuge to end mass abuse of the asylum system. The presidents of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras have all cited this treaty abrogation as reason for the border surge. And Joe Biden's response to Mexico? Clean up after me. Biden's been pressuring Mexico to use its military and police enforce its southern border and halt smuggling rackets, which are the source of the surge, instead of do it himself. He made the mess, but he wants Mexico to do the job he won't do.

It's very much a sorry pattern  create a problem and then beg our enemies, opponents, or injured parties to pull his chestnuts out of the fire. It's a pattern, and it's why Biden is such an unfit president. There's a reason Robert Gates famously quipped that Biden has been "wrong on nearly every foreign policy question," despite claiming he's some kind of master at foreign policy matters. He's the master of one thing: the Biden Doctrine, and it's embarrassing.

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This is not an easy story to tell because it's so personal. For most of my life I had a very close friend who was the archetypical tree-hugging trust fund baby. His mother's father amassed an adequate fortune after escaping a tsarist penal colony in Siberia and eventually making it to Los Angeles. My friend was raised to be an idealist, and he imparted in me a profound love of nature in all its forms.

The disconnect began to show as we entered adulthood. Though he never held a real job, he was able to buy his house with cash. Insurance to him was a scam and, having no mortgage, he was able to avoid buying a policy. I was startled and amazed at this information. He explained that since the house was made of limestone blocks held together by gravity and inertia, it couldn't burn. I tried to make the point that there's a thing called liability. Should one of his kids leave a roller skate on the sidewalk, and a passerby takes a spill, and gets a fractured pelvis, that person would then own the house and a big chunk of his bank account. His parents eventually talked him into it (or maybe they just bought it for him).

His sister did hold some jobs. I once hired her to work in my printing shop, but she soon quit, since whenever she finished a task, a new one was assigned to her. She was more comfortable sitting behind the counter of a small store, waiting for a customer to enter. A few years later, I told her about my plan to install a dishwasher in my old-fashioned kitchen. She told me that was a bad idea because they use too much energy. "What about my energy?" I thought. After all, she would think nothing of flying from Boston to Los Angeles just to see her dentist.

I bring all this up to demonstrate the cultural mentality that is pushing the "Green New Deal." Excessive bourgeois comfort and prosperity seem to disable commonsense survival instincts. I have long maintained that for a nation to have an effective environmental ethic, it has to have a large and prosperous middle class. Peasant societies are prone to burn down forests to open more space for agriculture. But now we have reached an extreme that maybe should have been predicted.

Adult sensibilities are now in short supply, at least among the green idealists. Also, in my long past days as an environmental journalist, I realized the inherent conflict between the prosperous middle class and the hardworking blue-collar labor force. This was recently brought to mind when I got a mailer from the Alameda County Central Labor Council. It was a condemnation of the Sierra Club for opposing the creation of an outgoing coal terminal at the Port of Oakland. Had the tree-huggers thought this through, they would've realized that China was going to get the coal no matter what, even if it had to come from Tacoma or Long Beach instead of Oakland. The cancelation of the Keystone XL Pipeline construction project is an even more recent example of this misguided malfeasance.

As a logical consequence of this inherent conflict, the Joe and Joanne Sixpacks of America have been changing their political allegiances. Mr. Trump clearly demonstrated that cutting back authoritarian micromanagement of economic activity improves the standard of living of the most ordinary of people. The authoritarians are viciously fighting back. As casualties mount, opinions may further change. But there's also a second front  within the Greenies themselves. Some of the more serious climate change warriors are getting on board with nuclear power  zero carbon, don't you know? To others, this is anathema. My trust fund baby friend once told me he'd rather see the Rocky Mountains strip-mined into oblivion than see another nuclear power plant. Stay tuned.

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The new U.N. climate report is nothing more than a tired ritual of fear-mongering that has been repeated for decades with the complicity of mainstream media.

The report by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change  known as the Climate Assessment Reports  got a hyperbolic boost from none other than U.N. secretary general, Antonio Guterres, a well known propagandist of climate misinformation, who declared a "code red for humanity."

Not to be outdone, Linda Mearns, a senior climate scientist at the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research and an author of the report, declared, "I don't see any area that is safe ... [n]owhere to run, nowhere to hide."

If you lived through the 1970s and '80s, this type of fear-mongering will not be unfamiliar. Prior to climate change hysteria, the most widely promoted environmental concern was overpopulation. Many policy-makers believed that 20th-century population growth threatened humanity with exhaustion of natural resources. Paul Ehrlich's 1968 book The Population Bomb spurred the narrative, advocating action to lower birth rates.

Five decades later, a record percentage of the world's citizens have abundant supplies of food and goods. During the last seven decades, global life expectancy increased from a mere 46 years to an incredible 73 years. India and China  each with more than 1.3 billion people  have registered rapid growth of gross domestic product over the past forty years.

Almost all countries have improved dramatically despite a rapid increase in population. Yet the persistence of the 18th-century Malthusian fear of death by self-propagation is such that many in the world  including news media  still believe that overpopulation is leading to catastrophe.

Today's climate alarmism follows a similar script: instill public fear about an unknown future state with repeated assertions that have little basis in reality. Climate scientists now use computer models that produce a wide range of "scenarios" and their potential "impacts." The problem is that these models are consistently wrong.

Even the U.N.'s own scientists questioned the outlandish warming projections of the climate models. Many of the climate predictions regarding polar bears, sea ice, and extreme weather events have been proven to be false.

Though climate alarmism has many similarities with the population scare of the 20th century, it differs in an important way: the hypothesis of a climate doomsday is changing energy policies for the worse across the globe. Both rich and poor countries are being told to reduce CO2 emissions by abandoning fossil fuels, which provide more than 83% of all primary energy consumed in the world (2019).

This amounts to requiring the entire world to cut back on or give up the very things that have made life better. Electricity, transportation, schooling, health care, food production, manufacturing, and virtually every industrial process need at some point the use of coal, oil, or natural gas.

While many claim that renewable energy sources can substitute for fossil fuels, it has remained a fairy tale. The U.N. and the media seldom  if ever  acknowledge that the prosperity for which billions of people still yearn demands dependable and affordable energy that simply cannot be gotten from wind turbines and solar panels. Instead, climate alarmists ignore the benefits of fossil fuels and exaggerate their environmental impacts.

The movement of climate fear-mongering is not just another media-enabled absurdity that can be brushed aside. Climate alarmism has already caused a global disruption in energy production and is now risking the lives of hundreds of millions. Earlier this year, more than two hundred Texans died because of power failures caused by overreliance on wind energy that failed during an unusually cold spell.

Rational people  armed with good sense and honest science  must rise up with their arguments and votes to answer the dangerous nonsense being advanced by the U.N. and the policy-makers who support it.

Vijay Jayaraj is a contributing writer to the CO2 Coalition, Arlington, Va., and holds a Master's degree in environmental sciences from the University of East Anglia, England. He resides in Bengaluru, India.

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The preternaturally offended are ever on the alert to find reasons to be offended, even within a benign, politically unaffiliated organization like Alcoholics Anonymous.

In April, the 71st General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous recommended that the first sentence of the AA Preamble be changed from a "fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope" to a "fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope."

Alcoholics Anonymous is a worldwide, benevolent, nonpolitical organization. Its preamble declares both what it is ("the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking") and is not ("allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes").

No organization on Earth works harder not to offend than Alcoholics Anonymous. Even so, the woke are offended.

I do not speak for AA, nor do I wish to embroil its members in an imbroglio unrelated to its primary purpose. It's simply to warn that if the woke can infiltrate AA's culture, they can and will infiltrate yours.

To my ear, the sound of this revised socially conscious Preamble is like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Among my several issues with the recommended change is the fact that it introduces politics and controversy into an organization that abjures both.

Like those who consider the U.S. Constitution a "living document" that must adapt to evolving cultural and societal mores and circumstances, proponents of the change argue that the revision simply reflects changing cultural and societal mores involving identity and sexuality among AA members.

I would counter that these newly evolving social and cultural mores are yet unresolved political questions. Social and cultural mores and fashion are in a constant state of flux. Does this portend a revised preamble every 5,10, or 20 years? Or next year?

By immersing AA in a political controversy, the committee is implicitly endorsing (and arguably opposing) a cause. Consciously or unconsciously, its members are choosing sides in an unsettled, contentious, political controversy.

There are other proposed changes to AA literature, most times with euphemisms substituting for unpalatable truths. For example, the committee recommends that to protect criminals' fragile psyches, "inmate" and "offender" be replaced with "persons in custody."

With progressives, the past is always prologue. The beginning is never the end. It's simply the prologue to another beginning.

If the goal is to never offend, where do revisions end?

The opening paragraphs of AA's Step One refer to "men" several times. Should all reference to men (and women) in the organization's literature be changed to accommodate a preternaturally offended few?

There is not a more inclusive term for human beings, alcoholic or otherwise, than a " fellowship of men and women."

Whether Black, White, Native American, straight, gay, LGBT, young or old, by definition, we are all "men and women," including those men and women who identify as members of the opposite sex.

The recommended change is pointless change for the sake of change.

If most members concur that AA is a friendly association of people who share common interests (and I believe they do), then the insertion of "people" is grammatically redundant and aesthetically jarring.

If change is in the air, revise the Preamble thus: "AA is a fellowship of those who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism."

Controversy averted.

Grammatically pleasing.

Purported problem solved.

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Is there anyone on the planet who does not know that the media and Big Tech have sought to control the COVID narrative from the outset?

Probably. Just as there are most likely people who do not know that volumes of contrary information about COVID has been suppressed, which includes valuable information about available therapeutics such as ivermectin and HCQ.

Dr. Fauci knew of the efficacy of those drugs years ago but was determined to ensure that the public was deprived of that knowledge. Any mention of these prophylactic treatments has been quashed by the mainstream media, Google, Instagram, Twitter, etc. Anyone posting information in contradiction to the Biden administration's pandemic porn has likely been banned or canceled. But while one may have to go searching for pertinent information from doctors and scientists other than Fauci, there are plenty of them out there, and they have been sounding various alarms for eighteen months.

There are those the administration has called the "dirty dozen," who, they say, are guilty of misinformation and so must be silenced, but there are many others who have been writing, have given interviews, and have posted videos in their attempts to apprise the citizenry of the facts they've been denied via the mainstream media. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a longtime anti-vaxxer, is among that group, as is Joseph Mercola, who has for years had a massive following.

There are many, many others  doctors, virologists, epidemiologists, biologists, pathologists, et al. who have opposed the CDC and WHO narratives from the outset. They are all routinely banned from social media, their columns suppressed, their videos disappeared into internet neverland. The entirety of the leftmedia mock them and set out to permanently discredit them, all of them. The people running this country, including social media barons Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey, and their cohorts in the media, many of them compromised by the CCP, are deciding for themselves what information we can see and read.

Not one of these self-appointed censors is a medical professional, but all have the effrontery to censor actual medical and science professional experts as if they know better. There are arrogant censors all over the country who, if in positions of minimal power over small newspapers, print or online, or neighborhood sites that function throughout the country, are suppressing any postings that deviate from the mandated government propaganda. For example, post a link to an interview with Dr. Robert Malone, the inventor of mRNA, and you will be canceled. Dr. Malone has much to say about the long-term safety of the vaccines, especially for children and teens. His interviews are removed, and now he is getting death threats! The Atlantic (of course) has a hit piece on him right now. The writer who accuses him of spreading misinformation is not a doctor but assumes he knows better.

One has to ask: who are these people?

Along with Dr. Malone are many others from around the world, all with impeccable credentials: Dr. Peter McCullough, Dr. Vernon Coleman of the U.K. Dr. Ryan Cole is especially good at communicating the science in lay terms. Dr. Denis Rancourt of Ontario, Dr. Reiner Fuellmich, The Children's Health Defense Europe, Dr. Tom Cowan, the late Kary Mullis, the inventor of the PCR test. Dr. David Rasnick, a Ph.D. chemist. Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi, Dr. David Martin, Geert Vanden Bossche, DVM. Dr. Luc Montagnier, Dr. Simone Gold of Frontline Doctors, Dr. Michael Yeadon, formerly of Pfizer. Sunetra Gupta of the University of Oxford, Jay Bhattacharya of Stanford University, authors of the Great Barrington Declaration, and Dr. Martin Kuldorff of Harvard. These are just a few of the doctors and scientists whose expertise has led them to entirely different conclusions regarding the treatment of COVID and the safety of the vaccines.

These people can be found on the internet, in large part thanks to Rumble, but are all banned from the sites too many Americans depend on for information: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, the NYT, WaPo, CNN and MSNBC, and YouTube. The "fact-checkers" at those sites, again none of them medical professionals, are allowed and have been directed to bury the available opinions and conclusions that differ from the Biden administration's possibly, potentially dangerously wrong "guidance." So America has officially become a facsimile of Orwell's 1984, in which only the government-sanctioned "facts" and ideas are allowed, tolerated. All deviations from the party line are forbidden.

The unvaccinated are being threatened with job loss and with being banned from their college and workplace campuses. Democrats want them on a no-fly list and to see them segregated from the vaccinated, a la Jim Crow.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, thinking he is king, has just ordered all California teachers to be vaxxed. That state cannot be rid of him fast enough.

The mystery is that so many Americans have so mindlessly complied with all this nonsense, like masks on children or masks on anyone, for that matter. The masks do nothing but harm, but Oregon governor Kate Brown has just mandated them for everyone, indoors and out. If all those who have so willingly submitted to the whims of our tyrannous elites had done a bit of their own research, beyond Facebook and Twitter, CNN and MSNBC, they might have given masks and vaccines a second thought and been better off for it. If the goal of Big Tech was the thorough indoctrination of 330 million people, they have been wildly successful. A bit more than half of the population has succumbed to their hypnotic, subliminal inculcation of COVID fear and the propaganda needed to maintain control of the masses.

Do all of the censors who are operating as if trained by the Soviets know they are part of a massive cover-up, a calculated plan to deny the American people free access to any and all information actually available and which may be valid?

Everyone should know by now that the CDC says and does only what the Biden administration and his union allies tell it to say. We cannot trust a word that Fauci or CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky says  not one word. The WHO is under the effective control of the CCP, so is equally untrustworthy. We should all realize by now that Fauci, Dr. Francis Collins, and the doctors who show up on CNN and the networks are government apparatchiks who say what they are told to say and what benefits them. Not one of them can utter an anti-vax word. Fauci owns numerous patents on both viruses and the drugs being pushed, and being a patent man, what we see of it now is that the existing therapeutics are disparaged. After all, no one would make money on those two old off-patent drugs HCQ and ivermectin.

People can meander through the articles, essays and videos linked above and decide for themselves who and what makes sense and wonder why these voices have all been if not erased, then hidden from the casual news viewer. Why have non-professional twenty-somethings been ordered to block them from the social media sites, serving as the establishment's useful idiots?

The most serious question though is, what if a few of them, some of them, or even all of these dissenting doctors are right about the vaccines, COVID treatments, the variants, etc.? What if they are?

What if the millions of Americans who have masked, rushed to be jabbed, have had their kids vaxxed and masked did so with faulty, insufficient information as to the truth of these experimental injections that are not actually vaccines?

They were not adequately informed as to the possible side-effects or any potential long-term consequences? If that is the case, if the vaccines are, as some or even all of these shadow-banned doctors believe, exacerbating existing co-morbidities, damaging hearts and other organs, affecting fertility, causing miscarriages, while the TV docs tell us they are safe for pregnant women, then half of the American population is in for a shock if not some serious disappointment and accompanying medical crises.

The people at VaccineTruth2 have made an offer:

We are willing to enter into a written $1M bet contract w/anyone in the world. We bet $1M that over 10,000 Americans have been killed where the vaccine elevated the primary symptom of their death. Court of law decides if we disagree. $ escrowed both sides. Any takers?

This certainly suggests that, whoever these folks are, they too believe the vaccines have made death more imminent for many. Let us hope the naysayers are wrong.

But what if they are right?

"If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear."

 George Orwell

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In The Right Stuff, Tom Wolfe's tribute to American greatness, exemplified by the original Mercury Program astronauts of the 1960s (and one incredibly heroic X15 test pilot), you'll find a manual showing why you might want to be proud to be a citizen of the United States. If you've never seen the movie, I strongly recommend it. It captures the romance, innocence, and patriotism of an era that the United States of 2021 desperately needs to look to as a guide.

There are many conservatives  and many moderates  who read the essays penned in American Thinker. Those essays typically inform and guide thinking. However, we are past just thinking about things. This essay is different. With The Right Stuff in mind, this essay is a call to action.

What we've seen for the past 18 months (and this is an incomplete list) are

Antifa/BLM riots;

the questionable election of 2020;

the Deep State's COVID overreach (both federal and local);

the ascendancy of the radical Marxist Sanders / Omar / AOC / Lightfoot wing of the Democrat party;

the tight control the tech oligarchs exercise over our national discourse;

the malignant invasion of oligarch money of Soros, Gates, Zuckerberg, Bezos, et al. into our national and local elections;

the progressivist money-printing that masks itself as a congressional budget;

the politicization of the U.S. military;

and U.S. corporations kneeling before both the radical domestic left and the CCP in Beijing.

Given these drastic changes to America, it's not unreasonable to say that conservative patriots are being or about to be driven underground. Within your company, house of worship, school, or family, you may be underground right now. Like many "undergrounds" of the past, however, there is still a great deal one can do. Witness the accomplishments of the French and Polish undergrounds under Nazi occupation or the Philippine underground during the brutal Japanese occupation.

It is time for all of us to show "The Right Stuff" and exemplify courage. This does not require breaking the law or engaging in any type of warfare. Instead, it means simply stepping out of the shadows in which we've been hiding. Let's begin with a partial checklist.

Are you a congressional staffer who becomes aware of the left's fascist overreach in upcoming legislation?

Are you a corporate middle manager who becomes aware that your company is striking a nefarious deal with the CCP?

Are you a public school teacher or aide who is aware that your school or school district is about to implement a radical, false textbook or curriculum?

Are you a student being forced to sit through lectures spreading lies and deceit?

Are you a police officer being told to stand down when you know that public safety and property are being threatened?

Are you a media producer or a newsroom staffer aware of certain news stories your station is suppressing or warping?

Are you a military officer being asked to cross a line between national defense and political indoctrination?

Are you a medical caregiver being ordered to participate in procedures you know are morally anathema?

Are you a medical researcher being asked to participate in research you know is flagrantly dangerous?

Are you a statistician being urged to massage data to generate politically correct conclusions?

Are you a computer technician being asked not to notice "irregularities" in voting machines or surveillance equipment?

Are you a family member or neighbor who is afraid to "not get along" when something has been said that you know is false or morally repugnant or both?

There are just some of a thousand examples permeating American society that see the left need your acquiescence, cowering, or indifference for it to prevail. Over the past 50 years, it has typically had all three. That needs to stop

Stopping starts with us, the "little people." We need to stop being afraid to report or oppose what we see or to speak or stand up. Whenever and wherever it comes to the left, we need to put a spoke in its wheels. Just think of that brave school teacher in Loudoun County, Virginia:

That young woman is just the most recent example. The conservative media have been catching a growing avalanche of brave people  teachers, parents, corporate employees, etc.  standing up and speaking out.

The left is undermining America by spreading its ideas through our institutions. We sabotage that effort by countering with our own ideas, our own speech, our own willingness to stand up and be counted.

In the past, we relied on our leaders, but they're not leading. Now we know we must do it ourselves. Let's just see how the left likes it when ordinary people practice personal courage, free speech, and peaceful resistance in the face of the unjust ideas and authority the left is now wielding.

Image: Refuse to bow down. American Strong meme.

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(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 13 - Gino Strada, the founder of medical-aid NGO Emergency, had died at the age of 73, sources close to his family said on Friday.

A surgeon, Strada worked in many conflict zones for the Red Cross before founding Emergency with his late wife Teresa Sarti in 1994.

Emergency has treated over 11 million people in 19 different countries since then.

It currently operates in Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iraq, Italy, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Uganda, and Yemen.

"Defend mankind and its dignity always and everywhere - this is Gino Strada's most beautiful message and we must never forget it," Health Minister Roberto Speranza said via Twitter.

European Parliament President David Sassoli hailed Strada as a "maestro of humanity".

He also quoted Strada, saying "if any human being is suffering at this moment, if they are ill or hungry, this regards all of us, because ignoring a person's suffering is always an act of violence and one of the most cowardly". (ANSA).


ROME - Gino Strada, the founder of medical-aid NGO Emergency, had died at the age of 73, his family said on Friday.

A surgeon, Strada worked in many conflict zones for the Red Cross before founding Emergency with his late wife Teresa Sarti in 1994. Emergency has treated over 11 million people in 19 different countries since then. It currently operates in Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iraq, Italy, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Uganda, and Yemen.

"Friends, my father Gino Strada has passed away," Strada's daughter Cecilia, the former president of Emergency, said via Twitter. "I embrace you all but I can't respond to your many messages (thank you) because I am here (on a search-and-rescue operation in the Mediterranean), where we have just done a rescue and saved lives. "That is what he and my mum taught me".

In a statement, the government said Premier Mario Draghi was saddened by Strada's death. The statement said Strada "spent his life always on the side of the last, working with professionalism, courage and humanity in the most difficult areas of the world". It said Emergency was his "moral and professional legacy".

European Parliament President David Sassoli hailed Strada as a "maestro of humanity". He also quoted Strada, saying "if any human being is suffering at this moment, if they are ill or hungry, this regards all of us, because ignoring a person's suffering is always an act of violence and one of the most cowardly".

"Defend mankind and its dignity always and everywhere - this is Gino Strada's most beautiful message and we must never forget it," Health Minister Roberto Speranza said via Twitter.
The Crown star Emma Corrin said visibility is key as they discussed coming out as queer.

Corrin, who previously updated their pronouns to she/they, shot to worldwide fame after appearing as Diana, Princess of Wales in Netflixs regal drama.

Last month they posted a series of pictures of themselves wearing a chest binder on Instagram, a garment often worn by trans or nonbinary people.

The Crowns Emma Corrin has discussed coming out as queer (PA Media on behalf of So TV)

Speaking to ITV Granada Reports, the 25-year-old discussed coming out.

I think visibility is key with these things, they said.

My journey has been a long one and has still got a long way to go. I think we are so used to defining ourselves and thats the way society works within these binaries and its taken me a long time to realise that I exist somewhere in between and Im still not sure where that is yet.

Corrin described coming out as scary.

They added: I wasnt sure whether it was the right thing to do but the feedback from the people in the queer community has been wonderful.

Theres no fixed identity, especially for, like, people in the queer community. Its going to be an ongoing journey but yeah, I hope that sharing helps people.

Corrin shared the Granada interview on Instagram and wrote: First time addressing my queerness and my journey on TV was scary! But visibility is key.

They added rainbow emojis.
Former education secretary Damian Hinds has been appointed as security minister, Downing Street said.

The announcement on Friday came hours after the Home Office said Home Secretary Priti Patel had expanded her brief to take on the responsibilities of the security minister following criticism of the Government for failing to replace James Brokenshire.

Labour said it was a humiliating U-turn by the Government.

East Hampshire MP Mr Hinds was education secretary from January 2018 to July 2019.

Ms Patel said on Friday she is fully sighted and fully aware of everything that goes on on security issues.

The Government has been criticised in recent days after failing to replace Mr Brokenshire as security minister, with the UK rocked by both a gunmans killing spree and the arrest of a British national in Germany on suspicion of spying for Russia.

But Ms Patel has denied that a lack of a replacement for Mr Brokenshire, who stepped down on July 7 for health reasons, had made it more difficult for the Government to keep a grasp on potential threats, such as the online activity of the man behind the shootings in Plymouth, Devon, on Thursday.

Asked whether the failure to appoint a new security minister had hindered the Governments ability to respond to such events, Ms Patel said: I would say that that is absolutely not the case.

I am the Home Secretary and I oversee these security issues, and I have been doing that throughout.

Ive been kept fully updated and on all issues, all incidences, including those types of issues and incidences that dont even reach the public awareness and consciousness.

Im fully sighted and fully aware of everything that goes on.

A Home Office spokesman confirmed the Home Secretarys remit included those related to national security in the wake of Mr Brokenshires resignation, following reports suggesting she would absorb the role permanently into her own.

For Labour, shadow home office minister Conor McGinn, said: This is another humiliating U-turn from the Conservative Government.

I welcome the fact the Prime Minister has belatedly listened to sense and finally appointed a new Security Minister. But there is no getting away from the fact that the Home Office is lurching from crisis to crisis and chaos reigns across Government.
Residents of a town near Edinburgh have gathered for a quirky tradition that features a man covered in thousands of seeds to bring them good luck.

The Burrymans Day parade features a man walking through South Queensferry on the second Friday in August covered from head to ankles in burrs  the seedheads of burdock plants that grow locally.

Residents and others in the town guide him along the streets for up to nine hours or more with cries of Hip hip hooray, its the Burrymans Day.

Andrew Taylor in the Burryman suit (Jane Barlow/PA)

The exact meaning of the Burryman parade has been lost through the years, although it is believed to have been first recorded in the 17th century.

Andrew Taylor was once again led from the Stag Head Hotel, where the Burryman traditionally gets ready, having participated in the parade role for nearly a decade.

People stand at either side and a youngster from the town stands in front ringing a bell as he walks between seven and nine miles and is not allowed to speak.

The exact meaning of the Burryman parade has been lost through the years (Jane Barlow/PA)

Locals pick burrs in the week leading up to the parade and on Friday one woman had to keep replacing the seeds as they fell from the suit.

Crowds from the town followed behind Mr Taylor as part of the parade on Friday with many taking the fallen burrs as good luck.

Burryman Andrew Taylor gets a nip of whisky using a straw from resident Kathleen Hamblin (Jane Barlow/PA)

Kathleen Hamblin and Yvonne Martin helped start his long day walking the town by giving him a nip of whisky  which he had to drink through a straw to get it through the Burryman suit.

He will make more than 20 ports of call before 6pm  and have a dram of whisky on each occasion.

More information on the parade can be found on the Edinburgh Museums website: https://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/stories/hip-hip-hooray-its-burrymans-day.
Boris Johnson has said the sacrifices made by British troops in Afghanistan have not been in vain, but warned there was no military solution to prevent the resurgence of the Taliban.

Following a meeting of the Governments Cobra contingencies committee, the Prime Minister confirmed the vast bulk of the remaining UK embassy staff in Kabul would return in the next few days.

At the same time, he said the Government was stepping up efforts to relocate Afghans who had assisted British forces during their time in the country and who now face reprisals if they fall into hands of the militants.

A team of Home Office officials to help deal with their applications will join 600 British troops due to fly out to the country to assist in the evacuation of the remaining UK nationals and embassy staff as the Taliban forces close in on the capital.

The Ministry of Defence said troops began deploying on Friday, with members of 16 Air Assault Brigade due to leave over the weekend.

There was, however, widespread dismay among MPs who claimed the country was being abandoned to its fate with a series of provincial capitals falling to the Taliban as they continue their lightning advance across the country.

A Taliban flag flies at a square in the city of Ghazni (Gulabuddin Amiri/AP)

Speaking to reporters, Mr Johnson said it was the inevitable logical consequence of the decision of the the US administration of President Joe Biden to complete the final pull-out of American troops by September.

While he said that the UK would continue to work with international partners to prevent the country again becoming a breeding ground for international terrorism, he acknowledged they could not impose a solution on the battlefield.

It is very difficult obviously, but I think the UK can be extremely proud of what has been done in Afghanistan over the last 20 years, he said.

I think we have got to be realistic about the power of the UK or any power to impose a military solution  a combat solution  in Afghanistan.

What we certainly can do is work with all our partners in the region around the world who share an interest with us in preventing Afghanistan once again becoming a breeding ground for terror.

Mr Johnson said the efforts of British forces, who first entered the country in 2001 following the 9/11 attacks, had helped prevent further terrorist atrocities.

I dont think that it was in vain. If you look back at what has happened over the last 20 years there was a massive effort to deal with a particular problem that everybody will remember after 9/11, he said.

Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy said the Government should do more to support the Afghan army (Jane Barlow/PA)

That was successful. To a very large extent the threat from al Qaida on the streets of our capital, around the UK, around the whole of the West, was greatly, greatly reduced.

I believe it was right, it was worth it and what we must do now is not turn our backs on Afghanistan.

However many MPs said the UK should be doing more to prevent the country falling back into the hands of militants and extremists.

Conservative former defence minister Johnny Mercer, who served as a soldier in Afghanistan, said it was deeply humiliating watching events unfold.

He told BBC Breakfast: (US President Joe) Biden has made a huge mistake here, but also we have a role. This idea we cannot act unilaterally and support the Afghan security forces is simply not true.

Rory Stewart, a former Tory international development secretary, warned of the return of international terrorism as the Taliban regained its grip on power.

They have been backing suicide bombing in the areas they control, women are not going to school and it is a total betrayal by the United States and the United Kingdom, he told Sky News.

For Labour, shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy said the Government should consider all possible measures to support the Afghan army in resisting the advance of the Taliban.

We have an obligation to the people of Afghanistan who have suffered so much  but the Government is sending all the wrong signals, she said.

However Conservative former foreign secretary Lord Hammond said that while the withdrawal of US forces had been a gross miscalculation by the Biden administration, there was little the UK could do.

Its not the fault of the British Government, they had really no choice but to withdraw British troops once the US had decided to withdraw American troops, he told Times Radio.
Is the shepherd's life for you? (Getty Images)

Round up, round up, because Blenheim Palace is offering one lucky candidate the position of a lifetime - the chance to be a shepherd for the stately home's unique heritage flock.

The beautiful country house in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and a World Heritage Site, is actively recruiting both a shepherd and sheepdogs to care for its 1,000-strong flock of Scotch mule ewes.

These cute, distinctive-looking sheep (as all good shepherds will know) are a cross between the Scottish blackface and bluefaced Leicester breeds.

Blenheim Palace doesn't look like a bad place to work (Getty Images)

Would-be applicants will have to be flexible, however, as the job description states that the lucky candidate will also be expected to look after a small number of rare breed suckler cows.

Blenheim's new shepherd will also be invited to live rent-free in a three-bedroom cottage on the glorious estate. So is this the job for you, or would your application be dismissed as a bit woolly?

Unfortunately for most of us, it turns out that modern-day shepherds need a lot more to offer potential employers than a penchant for 'cottagecore' furnishings or a love of collie dogs. And absolutely do not mention the boutique 'shepherd's hut' you went glamping in this summer...

Watch this: Enthusiastic toddler shepherd has sheep on the run

Blenheim are asking for someone with "highly developed livestock skills and substantial experience", the ability to carry out heavy manual tasks and a driving license with relevant specialist trailer licenses. Oh, and you absolutely have to bring your own (equally highly trained) dogs.

So is a shepherd's life for you? While it's easy to romanticise the profession, it's a tough - but rewarding - existence where you will be up early and out in all weathers all year round.

Things can get extremely cold, damp and difficult in winter, and you would have to be on call at all hours of the night during lambing season. It's a high responsibility job, with the welfare of your entire flock resting on your shoulders. That said, you'd see a lot of beautiful sunrises - and you'd be partaking in one of the oldest professions in the entire world.

Having lambs as colleagues is a perk of the job. (Getty Images)

Read more: Counting sheep - an ancient shepherd's hut just sold for 16000

Shepherding, once seen as a bygone profession, has had something of a renaissance in recent times. Modern shepherds such as Amanda Owens (author of the Yorkshire Shepherdess books and TV regular) and James Redbanks (author of English Pastoral: An Inheritance) have huge and devoted followings on social media. So if you're considering a career change, you might want to start by reading their stories first - and see if the lambing life's for you.

Watch this: Deaf sheepdog learns sign language to continue working
Food delivery company Just Eat Takeaway.com is expected to report a drop to negative earnings in the first six months of the financial year.

Investors already know that the companys gross transaction value hit 14.1 billion euros (12 billion) in the first six months of the year, and that orders rose 61%.

So they will be looking at earnings when the results drop on Tuesday.

The business is expected to make an earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) loss of 205 million euros (174 million), according to a consensus supplied by analysts at Numis.

Numiss Georgios Pilakoutas said he thinks that investors will also be looking to see how open Just Eat is about its investment levels, especially in delivery costs, as well as its strategy in the US.

It has been a period of change for JET.

Formed in February last year when the Dutch firm Takeaway.com took over its UK peer, it later gobbled up Grubhub, a US food delivery company, for 5.75 billion.

Yet at least two major investors think this might not be enough to ward off a lowball hostile takeover of the company.

Last month activist investor Cat Rock lobbied the board to either sell off part of its business, or to merge with a major rival.

A big merger would make JET more takeover-proof as rivals would struggle to raise the money to buy it off the market, the activist argued.

Shares reached their all-time peak last October, trading at 9,980p each. On Friday they were trading at 6,161p.

Consolidation talk in the market has not been dampened by Just Eats UK rival Deliveroo.

Earlier this month Germany peer Delivery Hero took a 5% stake in Deliveroo, sending the companys shares soaring.

The chief executives of both companies have tried to play down the likelihood of a takeover offer. Deliveroo only listed its shares on the London Stock Exchange in March.

A month ago JETs shares fell by around 9% in just one day when the company revealed some early figures for the half-year results.

It came despite the firm saying that it now expected orders to grow by 45% during 2021, compared with a previous 42% estimate.
Government plans to ban future Troubles prosecutions risks undermining reconciliation in Northern Ireland, Labour has warned.

Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Louise Haigh urged the Prime Minister to think again on the contentious proposals as she met with families who were bereaved in shootings involving the British Army in west Belfast in 1971.

On Friday, Ms Haigh discussed the issue with relatives of some of the 10 people killed in the Ballymurphy shootings, which occurred 50 years ago this week.

Last month, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis announced plans for a statute of limitations which would end all prosecutions for Troubles incidents up to April 1998 and would apply to military veterans as well as ex-paramilitaries.

The proposals, which Boris Johnson said would allow Northern Ireland to draw a line under the Troubles, would also end all legacy inquests and civil actions related to the conflict.

Louise Haigh, left, met the Ballymurphy families on Friday (David Young/PA)

But the plan has been heavily criticised by all the main political parties in Northern Ireland, as well as the Irish Government and a range of victims and survivors groups.

Earlier this year, a long-running inquest into the Ballymurphy shootings reached conclusion when a coroner declared all 10 victims were entirely innocent and found the Army was responsible for nine of the deaths.

Ms Haigh said: Ive met victims from across the community here in Northern Ireland and over in Great Britain and so far the message has been absolutely unanimous  they are opposed to the Governments offensive proposals on amnesty.

We need to see a change of heart and a proposal thats committed to the rule of law and finding truth and justice for victims across the picture.

I think if Boris Johnson and the Secretary of State actually came here to talk to victims and survivors themselves, they would see there is no support from victims, from political parties, and that there is genuine fear that these proposals are going to set back reconciliation and the promise of the shared future that the Good Friday Agreement made.

If they come and actually have these conversations themselves, Im hopeful that they will have a change of heart and revert back to the kind of proposals that we saw in the Stormont House Agreement.

The 2014 Stormont House Agreement struck between the UK and Irish governments and the main parties in Northern Ireland involved a range of mechanisms to deal with the toxic legacy of the conflict, including a new independent investigations unit.

Ms Haigh added: I think everyone accepts that prosecutions are going to be only likely in a handful of cases, but to shut down the chance of prosecution where there is new compelling evidence, where there are new techniques would be completely in contravention to the rule of law and, crucially, the human rights that are the basis of the Good Friday Agreement and we cannot be ripping them up at this crucial moment in Northern Irelands history.

A march to mark the 50th anniversary of the Ballymurphy shootings (Liam McBurney/PA)

John Teggart, whose father Danny was killed in the Ballymurphy shootings, welcomed Ms Haighs visit.

He vowed to fight the statute of limitations proposals.

Well put up a fight, well put up a good fight, he said.

Mr Teggart said the vindication that the Ballymurphy families had secured through the inquest process should not be denied to other relatives.

A lot of families coming behind us have got hope from what we did and thats why we need to be taking this off the table, not just for ourselves, but for others coming behind us, he said.

A UK Government spokesman said: The Government is committed to finding truth and justice for as many families as possible. Our concern is that the criminal route will not provide this and will fail almost every family. We believe that a robust, independent, information recovery process can give some sense of justice  through truth, recognition and accountability  to more families, more quickly than will ever be provided by the criminal route.

The Secretary of State will continue his ongoing engagement with the Northern Ireland parties, Irish Government and other key stakeholders, including victims groups, to find a way forward on legacy issues that focuses on reconciliation, delivers better outcomes for victims, and ends the cycle of investigations that is not working for anyone.
Drazen Zigic / iStock.com

Home shopping may be ramping up as more Americans are looking to move out of their expensive city homes to more affordable ones in the suburbs. Despite the ups and downs of the stock market, the real estate market has remained hot; with competition for homes at an all-time high, there's no time for rookie mistakes.

Find Out: Here Are 34 Tips To Make Household Items Last

Changes: Renovations To Make  and Skip  Before Selling Your Home

Debunk the most common real estate myths.

Last updated: Aug. 12, 2021

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Myth: Looking at Homes Is the Best First Step

It might be tempting to visit open houses, drive through neighborhoods where you'd like to live and talk to neighbors and friends. But your transaction will go much smoother if you get your ducks in a row first.

The truth: "Assuming that you will be financing your purchase, the first step is to get a preapproval letter -- or a prequalification letter at a minimum -- from a lender of your choice," said Keith Hickman, realtor at Compass in Beverly Hills, California. "This will not only prepare you to make an offer when the time is right but will help you to focus your search within the price range that you qualify for and are comfortable with."

Watch Out: 50 Cities With the Most Overpriced Homes

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Myth: You Dont Need an Agent To Buy a Home

Did you know that you can sell your home without an agent? In fact, you can even buy a home without an agent.

"It's true that sites such as StreetEasy, Zillow and Trulia have made it easy for consumers by providing them with information at their fingertips," said Judy Williams, licensed real estate salesperson with Halstead Properties in Manhattan. However, "many underestimate the value an experienced agent can bring to them."

The truth: Buyer agents have a duty to put your best interests in the transaction at the forefront. They can provide you with knowledge about the current market conditions and use their expertise to negotiate the best deal for you.

"For buyers, an organized agent will ensure that you have all your ducks in a row regarding paperwork and walk you through the process," said Williams.

City Living: 40 Top Cities Where Your Paycheck Goes the Furthest

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Myth: Buying a New Home Means Few Repairs in Years To Come

"Modern home builders have a strong incentive to build quickly and with the least expense in order to maximize profits and move on to the next project," said Hickman.

But, there are some hidden expenses of building a new home. And quick builds designed to maximize profits can result in homes with lower-quality craftsmanship and some important construction details overlooked.

The truth: Employ a home inspector specializing in new home construction to discover potential problems, such as walls with little soundproofing or marble countertops that haven't been properly sealed.

"The time to have these things identified and fixed is before you close on your new home," said Hickman.

Did You Know? Best Place To Buy a Home in Every State

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Myth: Youll Need a 20% Down Payment Plus Closing Costs

"Having the spare capital to put 20% down on a home purchase is great, but it's certainly not the norm," said real estate investment educator and property management specialist Denise Supplee of SparkRental.

The truth: "There are many programs such as FHA mortgages where you only need as little as 3.5% down and some of the closing costs can be covered as well," said Supplee.

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Myth: A Down Payment Is the Only Upfront Cost

Don't get sticker shock when you head to the escrow company to sign your final papers. Your down payment doesn't cover things such as a home inspection, termite inspection or closing costs, which can range from 3% to 6% of the purchase price.

The truth: Many closing costs are negotiable, so you can ask the seller to pay them. If you need to finance closing costs, ask your lender about an FHA loan where some closing costs can be added to the loan.

See: Real Estate Agents Reveal Their Secrets To Get Your Home Off the Market Fast

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Myth: Getting Preapproved Will Hurt Your Credit

Seth Lejeune of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, said one of the top real estate myths he encounters is from those who haven't spoken to a lender.

"They believe that even speaking to a lender will 'ding' their credit," he said. "Moreover, they think getting preapproved will 'ruin' their credit. This prevents them from even entertaining the notion, which is a big mistake."

The truth: Getting prequalified is only a soft hit on your credit, causing absolutely no impact. Once you apply for preapproval of a mortgage, it shows a hard pull on your credit.

However, credit scoring models take into account that you might be shopping around and only count several mortgage applications within two weeks to 30 days as a single inquiry, according to Experian.

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Myth: Theres Plenty of Time for Preapproval When You Find the Right House

Waiting to get a loan approval letter until you find a home that you want to make an offer on puts you at a disadvantage in a competitive market, according to Hickman.

The truth: "Most offers will not be accepted without a lender approval letter," he said. "Potential buyers that have their approval letter in hand will be in a better position to move quickly with a successful offer."

Check Out: 32 Insider Tips for Buying and Selling a House

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Myth: You Should Never Offer Full Price

"These days, low-ball offers on move-in ready homes don't fly in my local market," said Justin Davis of Keller Williams Realty in Albuquerque, New Mexico. "When housing inventory is low and demand is sky-high, you need to come in with a respectable, competitive offer."

The truth: "Low offers can be insulting to sellers and are generally not a good way to open up a transaction," said Davis. "If you really want the home and it is priced reasonably, offer close-to or at list price. In some markets, you may even want to offer over list price to secure the home of your dreams. This is where a great agent will help you come up with a winning offer-strategy."

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Myth: Buying a Condo Is Just Like Buying a Home

Perhaps you're looking to escape the restrictions of your rental apartment so you can decorate or remodel as you please, and you set your mind to buying a condo. Before you start making remodeling plans for your soon-to-be condo, hold on.

The truth: "You might think you can do whatever you want in a condo; that there are no rules," said Jesse Kent, director of communications of Triplemint in Manhattan. "If you are renovating a condo, you still need to get approvals from the condo board and, when necessary, the architect for the condo."

Home Ownership: The Cost To Own a 3-Bedroom Home in Each State

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Myth: Avoid Buying a First-Floor Condo

Safety, privacy and noise levels are a few reasons buyers tend to shy away from first-floor condos. But don't pass up a great deal just because it's on the ground level.

The truth: Window shades that open from the top down can keep out inquisitive stares from passers-by, and decorative iron grills can exclude intruders. Add acoustical paneling inside and a solid door that fits well to eliminate sounds from the outside world.

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Myth: Schools Dont Matter If You Dont Have Kids

Let's face it: Homes in the best school districts cost significantly more -- about $50 per square foot, according to Redfin -- than those in districts where test scores are average or worse. If you don't have kids, it can be tempting to get more house for your money in an area with average education standards.

The truth: When it comes time to resell your home, those in the better school districts will hold their value better and give more return on your investment. So if it's within your budget, consider buying a home in a good school district.

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Myth: Buying Is Always a Better Financial Deal Than Renting

Buying a home can be a good investment -- if you stay in it long enough to see a profit. To find out if renting will be cheaper than buying a home over the long haul, figure out the total of what a purchased home will cost you during the time you plan to own it.

The truth: Your upfront costs such as points, closing costs, insurance, interest and maintenance must be figured into a long-term cost comparison to renting a similar unit. Remember to add in the costs of selling your home into your calculations, such as realtor commissions, appraisal fees and closing costs.

Compare the result to the amount of the monthly rent you'd pay for a similar home plus rental insurance during the same time period. If you plan to stay in a home just a few years, it could cost more to buy than rent.

Take a Look: The 50 Best Cities for Renters

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Myth: Single-Family Homes Are More Affordable Than Multi-Family Dwellings

The list price of a multi-family dwelling might come with a higher price tag than a single-family home, but it can be more affordable overall.

"Although a single-family home sells cheaper, buyers will have to carry the entire payment on their own," said Anna Russo, CEO at Home Mega Management in Fresh Meadows, New York.

The truth: A multi-family home can be more affordable if you rent out the extra space you don't use.

"When purchasing a multi-family unit, they will have the extra apartment for renters, which will increase their earnings and will cover at least 50% of their monthly mortgage payment," said Russo.

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Myth: You Must Sell Your Current Home Before Buying a New One

"Rental real estate is a great way to create wealth, equity and extra income," said Ryan Stewman, real estate sales and marketing expert with the Break Free Academy and author of "Elevator to the Top." "Most people believe you can only have one mortgage or own one home at a time, and that's just not the case these days."

The truth: Talk to your lender about extra requirements to keep your present home as a rental property to generate tenant income while buying a new one. These might include a special type of appraisal on the home you intend to rent to tenants and bank, or investment reserves of 2% to 6% unless your present home is paid off.

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Myth: Your Preapproval Amount Will Be the Loan Amount Youre Approved For

Loan pre-approval is a pretty thorough process, requiring you to provide documentation that backs up your income and credit worthiness. But that doesn't mean your loan will necessarily be in that amount.

The truth: "It all depends on the appraisal," saud Ron Lennox of Lennox Home Buyers in Houston. "Just because you contract the house for a certain price, that doesn't mean the mortgage company will approve the amount of the sale price."

This means you could be left with the choice of renegotiating the contract, coming up with extra funds out of pocket or walking away from your dream home if it appraises too low.

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Myth: You Dont Need a Home Inspection

It might be tempting to save a few hundred dollars by skipping a professional home inspection and having a friend or family member look over the home. Don't do it, said Hickman.

The truth: Home inspectors look for more than 1,600 specific items in the home, helping you avoid tricks that hide a home's flaws.

"Unless your family member is a professional home inspector, you could be in for some very unpleasant surprises after the purchase," said Hickman. Hire an inspector with high customer ratings, and accompany them through the home to ask them to explain what they are seeing.

Buying a Home in 2021? Here's What You Need To Know

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Myth: You Should List Your Home With a Super Agent

"Many top Realtors are actually teams or groups made up of Realtors with various skill and experience levels," said Ryan Hardy, luxury real estate broker at Gold Coast Realty.

The truth: Although top-producing listing agents might advertise an eye-popping number of sold properties, the high number is the result of a team of 15 or 20 agents.

"All of the team sales are closed under one Realtor's name and, although the namesake Realtor may show up to the listing appointment, that is probably the last time you'll see or hear from them," said Hardy.

More likely, you'll be assigned to an assistant or junior Realtor, who will handle the showings, contract and escrow transaction from start to finish.

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Myth: Remove All Holiday Decorations Before Listing Your Home

Personal effects such as family photos and travel souvenirs distract potential buyers from seeing themselves living in the home because they see you living there instead.

The truth: One exception is simple and tasteful holiday decorations, which can add warmth and a homey ambience. The National Association of Realtors suggests a small, simple tree and fresh boughs for Christmas, a dish of candy corn for Halloween and jelly beans at Easter.

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Myth: Always Redecorate in Neutral Tones

Although repainting children's rooms swathed in color to a neutral tone is usually a good idea to appeal to a wide range of buyers, the advice doesn't necessarily hold true for all rooms of your house.

The truth: Walls in bold colors can play up architectural features or divide room areas from one another visually. The National Association of Realtors recommends an alternative of softening strong colors with fresh greenery or neutral rugs or furnishings.

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Myth: Set the List Price Above Comparables To Build in Bargaining Room

Listing a home at a much higher price than what comparable reports show or real estate experts provide seems like a good idea to make sure your home sells for all its worth.

"Sellers commonly will say, 'If we don't ask more, we will never get more,'" said Bruce Ailion, Realtor and attorney at RE/MAX Town and Country in Atlanta.

The truth: "This is factually wrong," said Ailion. "On average, homes will bring real market price. Asking that plus 10% is more likely to cause the home to stay on the market longer, generate less activity and interest, and ultimately sell for less than the market."

See: Houses in These 29 Cities Are Suddenly Major Bargains

FatCamera / Getty Images

Myth: Setting a Low Price Means Youll Make Less Money

Not necessarily so, according to the National Association of Realtors. In fact, this strategy could help you sell your home for more money.

The truth: A lower-priced home will attract more attention from a greater number of buyers. In a competitive housing market, this could lead to interested buyers striving to outbid one another for the home. The end result could be getting offers for more than you asked for in the list price.

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Myth: Negotiate the Realtors Commission To Net More Profit

A common seller myth is that offering a lower commission will net more money.

The truth: "Nothing is further from the truth," said Ailion. "What this will do is cause agents with the most qualified buyers to go to the higher listed commission properties first and show the lower commission properties with less enthusiasm. The result is that fewer interested buyers will see your property and fewer cooperating brokers will show it, and it's more likely that your listing agent will seek to earn the full commission rather than splitting the commission with another agent."

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Myth: Professionally Staging a Home Is Necessary for a Quick Sale

Staging your home to make it the most appealing to the greatest number of buyers can help it sell 88% faster for an average of 20% more than non-staged homes, according to the National Association of Realtors. But professional staging comes with a price tag that can cost hundreds of dollars each month.

The truth: "Staging a home is not a bad task," said Supplee. "But the best thing you can do to sell a home quicker is to price it competitively, market it aggressively and make it available easily for showings."

Shutterstock.com

Myth: If Your Home Isnt in Great Condition, No One Will Buy It

It's true that some remodeling projects can increase your home's value. But if your home is dated or needs major repairs, it doesn't necessarily mean no one will want to buy it.

The truth: "There are people that only buy homes that are in poor condition and require updating or major repairs," said Matthew Miller, managing partner of Stockpile Property Ventures in Los Angeles. "These are typically local real estate investors and professional home buyers who update and renovate properties as a business. If your current home needs some work, consider selling the property to a professional home buyer."

monkeybusinessimages / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Myth: List Your Home With a Neighborhood Expert

Before the days of abundant information freely available on the internet, a real estate agent who was a neighborhood expert was a valuable tool for prospective buyers to find out information about listings, such as which schools had waiting lists or other crucial area information.

The truth: "The neighborhood expert markets their properties the exact same way that that the non-experts do," said Gary Lucido, president of Lucid Realty in Chicago. "The real difference in agents and one that matters tremendously and may often be confused with being a neighborhood expert is in their professionalism, intelligence and responsiveness."

wavebreakmedia / Shutterstock.com

Myth: Open Houses Are a Waste of Time

You might have heard that open houses just attract lookie-loos, and agents only hold them to find prospective buyers. Although the national percentage of homes that sells through an open house is 2% to 3%, there are definite advantages to holding them.

The truth: "Today's buyers are tech-savvy and spend a considerable amount of time browsing the web," said Abraham Walker, lead agent at Ask a Walker in Alexandria, Virginia. "Many of these buyers are preapproved and ready to make an offer. When they see the opportunity to view a house at their convenience, they take it."

An open house shortly after listing generates attention and gives your agent a valuable opportunity to gather any feedback that might hinder a quick sale.

Do It Right: 26 Home Renovations You Can Make for $500 or Less

Tempura / Getty Images

Myth: Youll Recoup Remodeling and Home Improvement Costs When You Sell

Don't expect to see 100% return on your remodeling investment in your home.

The truth: According to Realtor.com, the return rate averages just 64% of your initial outlay. That said, some upgrades can add significant value to the price of your home.

The most recent analysis by the National Association of Realtors cited door replacements such as upgraded garage doors, mid-range wood window replacement and steel outer doors as the only items returning 100% of their cost. Minor kitchen remodels offered the highest rate of return at 79.3% of remodeling costs.

PeopleImages / Getty Images

Myth: The Highest Price Is Always the Best Offer

Many buyers and sellers believe that an offer with the highest price is always the best offer.

The truth: "In reality, the best offer is the one with the highest probability of closing," said Allen Schild, real estate broker for @Properties in Chicago. "This may come in the form of a cash offer, an offer containing the fewest contract contingencies or the shortest time needed to close."

stevecoleimages / Getty Images/Vetta

Myth: Wait Until the Property Is Under Contract for a Home Inspection

Buyers have the option to bring in an inspector to find any hidden problems with the home. Smart sellers buy their own home inspection prior to putting the home on the market.

The truth: For the price of a few hundred dollars, a home inspector will go through the home thoroughly, giving you the opportunity to make minor repairs or take care of deferred maintenance before entering a contract.

You can also disclose any issues before a buyer enters a contract. This prevents your sale from falling through or taking a price reduction based on the buyers home inspection contingency clause in the contract.

Jo Ann Snover / Shutterstock.com

Myth: Winter Is a Bad Time To Sell

Late spring is the best time to list your home, according to Zillow. But the winter experiences a significant peak as well, especially in the Southern states.

The truth: "Sometimes, sellers focus solely on the fact that there are likely fewer buyers in the off season and ignore the fact that there is also a corresponding reduction in listings," said Kevin Mack, real estate broker for @Properties in Evanston, Illinois. "There is less competition for well-positioned properties. Statistics clearly show that the supply of inventory typically reaches its lowest point in the winter months. Smart, realistic, savvy sellers should be all too happy to put their place on the market in the winter."

jhorrocks / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Myth: Save Money by Marketing Your Home as a For Sale by Owner

It's a common belief that you can save money by eliminating all real estate agents and selling your house on your own.

The truth: "Nothing can be further from the truth," said Marla Forbes, real estate broker for @Properties in Highland Park. "Time and again, I see unrepresented buyers overpaying and sellers under selling because they really do not know the intricacies of their particular market or property."

A full-time professional broker has way more market knowledge and insight than the average consumer who is buying or selling one property every few years. Although a client pays a broker a commission, the money saved on a purchase -- or the extra dollars made on a sale -- will compound over time making the broker commission a small price to pay for the extra financial gain."

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YEREVAN, AUGUST 12, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vahan Hunanyan commented whether Armenia is planning to provide aid to Greece in overcoming the situation amid the wildfires.

ARMENPRESS: The recent wildfires in Greece have caused extensive damages. Does the Armenian government plan to provide help to Greece?

Vahan Hunanyan: We are deeply concerned over the situation caused by the wildfires in friendly Greece and we express solidarity with the brotherly Greek people in these difficult times.

We have contacted our Greek partners and offered help. Greece expressed gratitude to Armenia for the offered help and willingness, and at the same time informed that given the fact that the wildfire situation declined from the crisis phase to a comparably mild one, there is no need for additional help for now.

We will certainly continue to closely follow the situation and in case of necessity we will immediately offer a helping hand to the brotherly Greek people.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YERERVAN, AUGUST 13, ARMENPRESS. At the initiative of the Government of Armenia, the National Assembly will convene an extraordinary session with Lake Sevan on the agenda, ARMENPRESS was informed from the website of the National Assembly.

The bill on making amendments to the law "On approving the annual and complex programs of restoration, preservation, reproduction and use of Lake Sevan ecosystem" is on the agenda, which will be presented by the chairman of the Water Committee Karen Sargsyan.
Colorado Department of Transportation crews on Thursday continue their repair work on a short section of Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon that was severely damaged in a July 29 debris-flow incident. The interstate is expected to reopen sometime Saturday afternoon with one lane eastbound and one lane westbound.
SUV

ABS

The Bavarian manufacturer recognized the potential of the vehicles we now call SUVs back in the mid-1990s. After acquiring the Rover Group plc, which included the Land Rover brand, it began analyzing the feasibility of developing the company's firstWith new off-road technologies and engineering know-how at hand, the first-generation X5 was unveiled in 1998 and production began a year later. It was (and still is) marketed as a Sport Activity Vehicle (SAV), which for the German automaker means it is sportier than a typical SUV.During the same period, BMW became heavily involved in motorsports, working with the experts at Williams Engineering on several fronts. After a disappointing Le Mans campaign in 1998, they returned to France the following season with a thoroughly improved car. The upgraded prototype, named V12 LMR , crossed the finish line first, giving BMW its first and only Le Mans title.To celebrate this success and promote the newly released SAV at the 2000 Geneva Motor Show, the company came up with the idea of creating the craziest X5 ever.The basis for this project was a production model shipped to Munich from the North Carolina plant since the X5 was never actually built in Germany. A team of engineers was already toying with the idea of developing a ridiculously powerful SAV and legend has it that the original plan was to use the V10 developed for the upcoming FW22 Formula 1 car. However, this was deemed too complicated and after the recent triumph in the world's most famous endurance race, they set their sights on the P75 unit of the V12 LMR prototype.Part of the legendary S70 engine family at the heart of the BMW 850CSi or the epic McLaren F1 , this blistering 6.0-liter twelve-cylinder was narrower and shorter than the original 4.4-liter V8, making the swap fairly straightforward. This also allowed the engineers to use a six-speed manual transmission from the 850CSi, which was connected to the powerplant via a twin-plate racing clutch.Since there were no restrictions like the ones in place at Le Mans, the team designed a carbon-fiber intake manifold with twin 80-millimeter (3.15-inch) ducts that helped the engine spit out 700 hp. That's about 120 more horsepower than the version that powered the successful race car.The stock transfer case was retained, and its standard 38/62 torque split was left untouched. However, themodule and Range Rover sourced hill descent system was removed to save weight, while the standard exhaust system was replaced with a bespoke straight pipe version which exited from the center of the rear bumper.On the outside, the beefed-up SAV resembled the standard version closely with only minor visual changes. These included bulging fenders to make room for wider wheels, redesigned bumpers, and a carbon fiber hood that featured a large cooling vent. Along with the Le Mans moniker, the air vent hinted that this was no ordinary X5.Inside, most of the standard elements like the dashboard were retained, but for Geneva, the spectacular vehicle was fitted with a new steering wheel , door panels, and four gorgeous bucket seats.The interior was completely revamped after the show, as BMW was not done with the X5 Le Mans and was preparing to take it to the Nordschleife. The fancy bucket seats were removed and replaced up front with a Recaro race seat shielded by a custom roll cage on the driver's side and a regular cloth seat on the passenger side. In the rear, anything deemed unnecessary, including the seats was removed and replaced with seatbelt anchors and a fire extinguisher. The show wheels were also replaced with a set of silver and gold 20-inch BBS LMs.In 2001, the two-time Le Mans winner and DTM champion Hans-Joachim Stuck set a lap time of 7:49 around the legendary racetrack, reportedly reaching 193 mph (311 kph) on the Kottenborn straight. No other SUV would beat that lap time for the next 19 years until the Audi RS Q8 (2020) and Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT (2021) managed to do so. For comparison, two years after that run, the E46 M3 CSL was almost a second slower. You can watch the X5s run bellow, in a video posted on YouTube by CarsGarage.The BMW X5 Le Mans concept never made it into production but is considered by many to be the first true high-performance SUV ever built. It is one of the wildest machines created by the Bavarians, and it proved that crazy ideas can lead to timeless masterpieces.
AMG

The British marque is known for its beautiful creations, and its latest model, the Valhalla , makes no exception. Miles Nurnberger and Adrian Newey co-designed the car, so it has what it takes for high-performance and cool looks. But is it enough for Frank Stephenson?In the latest video on his YouTube channel, Stephenson shows us what he would change on the Aston Martin Valhalla. Before you see his work on the sketches of the Valhalla, you should know that he considers the car to be beautiful.His analysis starts with comparing the concept vehicle with the production model. Frank Stephenson noted that the designer's job is to give a car character, and even the concept that previewed the Valhalla needed attention.Frank Stephenson feels that the headlights look "too normal" for a car like this, while the profile of the vehicle shows aerodynamic elements topping design, which is normal for a vehicle perfected by Adrian Newey.So, what would Stephenson change on the Valhalla? With an average ball-point pen drawing on the sketches of the Aston Martin Valhalla, Stephenson shows us how he would have done things. Social media has provided us with the opportunity of watching world-class craftsmen showing us how they do things, and I suggest you watch the video below to learn more about car design, directly from Frank Stephenson.As he notes in the video below, he would start with the front grille, followed by the headlights, along with the side mirrors. The latter elements feel too traditional for Stephenson 's taste. He would also change a few things on the side of the Valhalla without changing the aerodynamics of the vehicle.Nobody expects Aston Martin to change the design of the Valhalla after this video, as it has already received its production version. The Valhalla comes with a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 unit that provides 740 hp. The latter is the most powerful V8 ever made by Mercedes-, which is impressive.
The 2007 MV Agusta F4 1000 Senna can only be described as an absolute marvel! Within its trellis skeleton, this brutal piece of two-wheeled machinery carries a liquid-cooled 998cc inline-four predator that packs sixteen valves and a compression ratio of no less than 13.0:1. At an ear-shattering 11,900 revs per minute, the engine is capable of spawning up to 172 untamed stallions.On the other hand, a peak torque output of 82 pound-feet (111 Nm) will be accomplished when the crank spins at 10,000 rpm. The mill is coupled with a six-speed transmission, which keeps the rear Marchesini hoop in motion via a chain final drive. Ultimately, this whole ordeal enables the Italian missile to reach a top speed of 176 mph (283 kph).Agustas gladiator sits on upside-down Marzocchi forks at the front and a progressive Sachs monoshock on the opposite end. Abundant stopping power is achieved thanks to dual 310 mm (12.2 inches) brake rotors and six-piston Brembo calipers up front, while the rear 17-inch wheel is brought to a halt by a single 210 mm (8.3 inches) disc and a four-piston caliper.Lastly, the ferocious F4 1000 Senna weighs in at a mere 419 pounds (190 kg) before any fluids are added. Now that weve inspected the brutes technical specifications, you might have already guessed where this is heading. As you browse the BaT (Bring A Trailer) website, youll discover that one of only 300 such entities in existence is heading to auction with less than 3k miles (about 4,500 km) on the odometer.If youre looking to elevate your riding experience to new heights, you may place your bids on Bring A Trailer until Monday, August 16. However, that bank account of yours better be well-nourished, as youll need over $13,000 to surpass the top bidder (for now). In any case, this 07 MV Agusta F4 1000 Senna is a sight to behold!
The Department of Justice announced Tuesday that it has reached an agreement to reform a facility in New Jersey where it claims authorities failed to protect prisoners from sexual abuse from staff, in violation of the Constitution.

The big picture: If approved by a federal judge, the proposed settlement would require the state of New Jersey and its corrections department to reform the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women near the town of Clinton to protect its prisoners and hold staff accountable for sexual misconduct.

The settlement would also appoint an independent monitor to oversee if New Jersey is complying with the reforms.

What they're saying: Every prisoner deserves to be safe from sexual assault and other forms of sexual abuse by staff, and to be protected from retaliation for reporting abuse, said Kristen Clarke, head of the Justice Department's civil rights division, in a statement.
Gevorg Parsian, who runs the provincial capital Kapan and surrounding villages, still has two years left on his term in office. Opposition leaders in Yerevan say the Armenian authorities are trying to oust him, having jailed the mayors of four other Syunik towns at loggerheads with Prime Nikol Pashinian.

Eight of the Kapan councils 15 members have tendered their resignations in recent days, meaning that a new local legislature will have to be elected this fall.

RFE/RLs Armenian Service contacted six of them by phone on Friday. Two councilors refused to comment while the four others denied any political reasons behind their resignations.

Under a controversial law enacted by Pashinians political team last year, the heads of all urban communities of Armenia must be chosen not directly by voters but by local councils to be elected on a party-list basis. Indirect mayoral elections have until now been held only in Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor.

The law means that the next Kapan council will have to appoint a new community head. Syuniks acting governor, Narek Babayan, said his administration will ask the central government to formally schedule a fresh local election.

Parsian and most other elected Syunik officials demanded that Pashinian step down following Armenias defeat in last years war in Nagorno-Karabakh which also created serious security challenges for Syunik. The prime minister faced angry protests when he visited the region bordering Azerbaijan and Iran in May.

Four of those Syunik mayors are senior members of former President Robert Kocharians Hayastan bloc which finished second in snap parliamentary elections held in June 20. They were arrested last month on separate corruption charges rejected by them and Hayastan as politically motivated.

Anna Grigorian, a Syunik-born parliamentarian representing the opposition bloc, said the authorities have tried to prosecute Parsian as well. But since they did not succeed, they are now trying to oust Mr. Parsian in this way, she told reporters.

The authorities have a special attitude towards Syunik because in the run-up to the [general] elections the community heads spoke up and said that these authorities must go because they are unable to ensure the countrys security, claimed Grigorian.

Parsian did not return phone calls on Friday. His press secretary said he will comment on the matter in the coming days.

Babayan, the acting provincial governor affiliated with Pashinians party, insisted that the Kapan mayor is not under government pressure to resign.

At least three other provincial governors have reportedly exerted such pressure on opposition-linked heads of their rural communities, citing the outcome of the June 20 elections. Several elected village chiefs resigned last month.

Parsian, 35, supported Kocharians bloc in the parliamentary race but did not officially join it. He was elected mayor in a 2018 ballot held shortly after the velvet revolution that brought Pashinian to power. Parsian defeated Babayan at the time.
Bakersfield, CA (93308)

Today

Plenty of sunshine. High near 95F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low around 70F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Cheniere Energy has been hit with a proposed $2.2 million federal penalty for its Sabine Pass LNG export facility just across Sabine Lake from the small Port Arthur namesake community.

The charges stem from an investigation by the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration into several cracks found in tanks at the facility in January 2018. The agency said the tanks could have created a flammable cloud of low-lying gas around the tanks.

In a notice made public earlier in this month, the safety agency alleged that the cracks were the result of incorrect operations, adding that Cheniere knew the tank design was inadequate to handle operations.

Two of the five tanks at Sabine Pass LNG still are shut down and pending approval from the administration.

Not only were tank designs not up to standard, according to the agency, but Cheniere didnt have alarms properly set to warn of hazardous conditions that, if addressed, could have prevented the cracks from happening.

Experts estimated months later that 825 thousand cubic feet of natural gas vaporized into the atmosphere around the tanks.

Cheniere representatives said crews at Sabine Pass LNG handled the incident and resulting investigation correctly and prevented danger to workers and nearby residents.

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We engaged in responsive, transparent and productive dialogue with our regulators throughout the investigatory process regarding this event that occurred more than three years ago, representatives for Cheniere wrote in a statement. Our people responded properly to the incident, there was no danger to our workforce or the community, and we have made substantial additional investments and modifications to our storage tanks to further enhance the continued safe operations at our facility.

The company and safety agency have been in frequent contact since the initial incident, according to public filings, and other inquiries and cases have been opened since the cracks were detected.

As a part of the investigation, the agency found that Cheniere didnt properly design its valves to withstand icing conditions.

It isnt the first time the company has been penalized for its valves.

The company last fall was fined more than $80,000 related to the installation of specialized valves. The company allegedly used contractors who werent trained to do that work and its maintenance staff also were likely untrained to do the work.

The valves were connected to key equipment believed to be the source of a fire at the facility in April 2018.

Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox

Five months ago, the agency also found that Cheniere didnt have the proper procedures in place to investigate or report fires, leaks or explosions in or around the plant.

The findings were the most recent events that worry local advocates who believe area agencie are unprepared for an industrial disaster.

John Beard, a Port Arthur resident and CEO of the Port Arthur Community Action Network, said that most people living near the facility or in Port Arthur probably still dont know about the 2018 findings.

The city and the county are remiss in not holding companies feet to the fire and alerting the community when these things happen, Beard said.

The facility is across the state line and under the jurisdiction of Lousianas environmental regulators but Beard said ignoring its proximity to Texas communities and the chance of an incident was a disservice to residents.

The Cheniere case also is the example that environmental advocates have been looking for as they continue to fight approval of LNG facilities across the Gulf Coast.

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Sabine Pass LNG was a trendsetter for the industry when it became the first to convert to an export facility to take advantage of the glut of gas from shale fields during the U.S. fracking revolution.

Since then, other companies have been building and proposing export facilities, including two on the Texas side of Sabine Pass.

LNG is seen as a clean fuel that can be used amid a global transition to renewable sources. It could also be a permanent part of future power grids that will have to continue to use some fossil fuels.

On Thursday, the Sierra Club said that it was happy to see regulators holding a company accountable, but it still believes the best solution would be to end expansion of gas exports.

Its clear that the massive expansion of gas export facilities proposed for the Gulf Coast would be a disaster for our communities and our climate, Sierra Club Senior Campaign Representative Roddy Hughes said in a statement. Theres no such thing as a safe fracked gas facility, and these projects should never be built.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

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Alert: AP source: Canadian special forces to deploy to Afghanistan where embassy will be evacuated before closing
EL CEIBO, Guatemala (AP)  Shortly after crossing the border in south Texas with her 5-year-old daughter, Karla Leiva of Honduras found herself on a chartered U.S. government flight, learning midair that she was headed to the provincial capital of Villahermosa in southern Mexico. Authorities there put her on a bus to Mexico's southern border and on Thursday she sat on the patio of a migrant shelter in a remote Guatemalan border town.

Her swift expulsion through three countries was part of a highly unusual partnership between the governments of the United States and Mexico that the Biden administration hopes will deter migrants from returning to the U.S. border.

The U.S. government has intermittently flown Mexicans deep into Mexico for years to discourage repeat attempts, but flights that began last week from Brownsville, Texas, to Villahermosa and Tapachula, near the Guatemalan border, appear to be the first time that Central Americans have been flown to Mexico.

The administration is starting flights of Central Americans to southern Mexico 24 times a month, with hopes of ramping up, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Mexico agreed to support the effort amid strains between the administration and Central American governments and their reluctance to accept more flights from the United States.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, responding to reporters questions Thursday at a news conference in Brownsville, made the administrations first public acknowledgement that it is expelling Central Americans on flights to southern Mexico. The Mexican government has been publicly silent.

Mayorkas said the flights aimed to deter repeat attempts by migrants who are expelled from the United States under pandemic-related restrictions that prohibit them from seeking asylum. They come as the administration confronts what he called a serious challenge at the border, touting figures released Thursday that show unaccompanied children were stopped a record-high 18,962 times in July and migrants who came in families were stopped 82,966 times, the second-highest on record after May 2019.

U.S. authorities stopped migrants 212,672 times in July, the highest number in more than 20 years, though Mayorkas said 27% of those encounters were with migrants who had been stopped at least once in the previous year.

Pandemic-related expulsions dont carry any legal consequences, encouraging repeat attempts.

While still delivering some migrants on flights directly to their Central American nations, the U.S. government is now supplementing with the flights to southern Mexico.

Leiva, 32, from Yoro in north-central Honduras, had arrived at the shelter in El Ceibo on Wednesday. She said she was not asked by U.S. or Mexican authorities if she feared returning to her country.

At the Mexico-Guatemala border, they were told to walk into Guatemala and look for the shelter. No one registered their entrance into Guatemala. They were not asked for evidence of a negative COVID-19 test required of all foreigners entering Guatemala.

No one told me anything. They never heard my case and why I went to the United States, Leiva said. I couldnt tell them that they were extorting me and that they threatened to kidnap my little daughter and take my adolescent sons to join the gang. Thats why I left the country.

Mayorkas said the U.S. was coordinating with the Mexican government on flights that include Central Americans and ensuring that they comply with international law to provide humanitarian protection when warranted. He didnt elaborate.

If in fact they are turned around and placed in the northern part of Mexico, it is too facile, too easy for them to return and try an illegal entry again," he said. "And so in response to that recidivism, to deter and prevent that recidivism from occurring, we are expelling them further into the interior of Mexico, which is far more difficult to try again.

He said the Biden administration has made changes to border policy, including allowing unaccompanied children into the country, but said people without a legal claim to residency would be removed under the law.

Human Rights First condemned the expulsion flights in a statement Thursday.

These expulsions are illegal, inhumane, and blatant violations of U.S. refugee law and the Refugee Convention, said Eleanor Acer, the organization's senior director of refugee protection.

On Wednesday, five United Nations agencies, including the High Commissioner for Refugees, expressed concern over the U.S. policy and repeated their call for the Biden administration to lift the so-called Title 42 restriction on asylum.

Mayorkas said the people being expelled to the interior of Mexico have been expelled under Title 42.

The move comes after President Joe Biden jettisoned many of his predecessors hardline immigration policies, describing them as cruel or unwise, including one that made asylum-seekers wait in Mexican border cities for hearings in U.S. immigration court.

Biden also scrapped agreements with Central American nations for asylum-seekers from third countries to be sent there to have their claims heard, denying any prospect of settling in the United States.

The Biden administration has said it wants to focus on addressing the root causes of migration from Central America. Vice President Kamala Harris has led that effort, visiting Mexico and Guatemala to discuss how the U.S. can help while encouraging people not to come. But those are at best medium-term solutions, while at the U.S. border, the number of encounters between U.S. authorities and migrants keeps rising.

Leiva had left Yoro on July 27 with her daughter and three older sons. Twelve days later, she and her daughter crossed the Rio Grande on a raft into Texas with a smuggler and were quickly apprehended. She said her sons were supposed to have followed, but didnt manage to cross.

U.S. authorities took Leiva and Zoe to Brownsville. Two days later they were put on the plane. On Thursday, they both still wore the identifying wrist bands U.S. authorities gave them.

The orange-painted hilltop shelter here has been filling this week as more migrants are dropped at the border daily. Theres little else in this remote border outpost surrounded by jungle.

Leiva was still trying to understand what had happened and what would come next. She said she could not return to Honduras and she fretted over the $3,000 she had paid the smuggler.

No one signed any deportation. I didnt sign, she said. They tricked us. They didnt even give me a paper. The bracelets are the only evidence they were ever briefly in the U.S.

Leivas only choice, she said, was to try making her way north again. Her two sons and older daughter were waiting in northern Mexico.

__

AP writers Ben Fox in Washington and Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report.
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP)  Navajo Nation officials say the tribe will return to Orange Status starting Monday due to a recent rise of COVID-19 cases.

On Thursday, the Navajo Department of Health issued three new public health emergency orders for businesses and schools while revising in-person gathering limits for certain events.

The tribes mask mandate remains in effect, but there is no daily curfew or lockdown on the reservation that is the countrys largest at 27,000 square miles (70,000 square kilometers) and covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

The 50% maximum occupancy level remains in place for restaurants (including indoor dining, drive-thru, curbside and outdoor dining) plus tribal casinos, hotels, campgrounds and RV parks.

The difference between this time last year and the uprise in cases we are seeing now is that we have a high percentage of our people vaccinated and our public health experts have provided us with the guidance to reduce the spread of the virus, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said.

Health officials reported no deaths and only a handful of cases for eight consecutive days from Aug. 1-8.

But on Monday, the Navajo Department of Health issued a health advisory notice for 19 communities due to uncontrolled spread of the coronavirus.

The tribe reported 39 new COVID-19 cases and no additional deaths on Thursday after having 49 new cases and two deaths reported Wednesday.

The latest numbers pushed the totals to 31,754 cases on the reservation since the pandemic began more than a year ago with 1,386 known deaths.
CANBERRA, Australia  Australias capital Canberra will remain locked down until there are no more COVID-19 infections in the city, a government leader said on Friday.

The Australian Capital Territory, which comprises Canberra and two villages, locked down for a week after a man tested positive on Thursday.

The tally of infections rose to six on Friday, with more than 1,800 people identified as close contacts of the original case since he became infectious, officials said.

Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the lockdown would last until all new cases had been in isolation throughout their entire infectious period.

We would want to see no additional community transmission, we want to go back to zero, Barr said.

The recent infections are the first cases of community transmission in the city of 460,000 since July 10 last year.

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MORE ON THE PANDEMIC:

 San Francisco mandates proof of vaccination when indoors

 WHO expert had concerns about lab near 1st COVID cases

 Dr. Fauci: Booster shot recommended for weakened immune systems; expect more children to get the virus

 US Health & Human Services orders shots for it workers in patient care

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 Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine

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HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

SYDNEY - The government of Australias most populous state on Friday reported a daily record 390 new locally-acquired COVID-19 infections and warned that the high infection rate would continue for days.

Two people had died overnight, bringing the death toll in New South Wales from an outbreak of the delta variant first detected in Sydney in mid June to 38.

The previous highest infection tally was 356 reported on Tuesday.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said at least 60 of the new cases had been infectious in the community before they were isolated.

I anticipate, given the large number of cases weve had in the last few days, that unfortunately this trend will continue for at least the next few days, Berejiklian said.

Im not going to shy away from the fact that increasing case numbers is a horrible situation and not one we want to be in. But please be reassured that our absolute commitment is to reduce those case numbers whilst were increasing the vaccination rate, she added.

Sydney has been in lockdown since June 26 and the government had hoped that the spread would be halted by Aug. 28.

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LAS VEGAS -- A coronavirus pandemic mask mandate in Nevada has drawn a federal lawsuit from attorneys seeking class-action status for claims that the constitutional rights of thousands of parents and children at Las Vegas-area schools are being violated.

The complaint filed Thursday against Gov. Steve Sisolak, state Attorney General Aaron Ford and the Clark County School District invokes rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

It seeks an immediate court order to invalidate a directive the governor enacted last week requiring K-12 students and school employees in the Las Vegas and Reno areas to wear masks on buses and inside school buildings, regardless of vaccination status.

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ATLANTA  Fights over masks in schools continue to tear at Georgia communities even as hospital leaders again warned of shrinking bed space amid rising COVID-19 cases.

More than 100 protesters gathered Thursday at the Cobb County school board headquarters in Marietta. Most of them were trying to push Georgias second largest school district, with 110,000 students to mandate masks.

The district, which has a sharp division on its school board, has stuck to its mask-optional policy, like the majority of other Georgia school districts, even as infections led the district to send the fifth grade home at one of its elementary schools earlier this week.

Djenaba Pershay, who lives in Mableton, said her daughter, now in fifth grade, had attended remotely all last year. When she chose in the spring to send her back to school in person this year, Pershay said the 107,000-student Cobb County district was still requiring masks. It dropped that requirement shortly afterward.

Im here not just fighting for her, Pershay said. Im fighting for all the kids.

But there were counter-protesters Thursday holding signs saying My body, my choice. In Monroe County, between Atlanta and Macon, school board members voted 6-0 on Wednesday to roll back a mask mandate that had been in place for only 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the Fulton County district, which currently mandates masks for all its students, announced it would open a school for up to 500 students who wouldnt have to wear masks, a concession to parents and students angered over the masking order.

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JACKSON, Miss.  Mississippi has broken its single-day records of COVID-19 hospitalizations, intensive-care use and new coronavirus cases.

The state Health Department said Thursday that 1,490 people were hospitalized Wednesday and 388 were in intensive care because of COVID-19. It also said 4,412 new cases were confirmed.

The states previous record for hospitalization was 1,444 on Jan. 4 and for intensive care was 360 on Jan. 12  before COVID-19 vaccinations were widely available.

The new cases reported Thursday are a 26% increase over the 3,488 cases the department reported in the state Tuesday. The numbers reported Wednesday also exceeded 3,000.

The state health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs, said based on trends, the new virus cases reported Thursday are likely to cause about 93 more deaths, more than 300 new admissions to already-strained hospitals.

Let us be very clear that the vast majority of cases and hospitalizations and deaths are unvaccinated, Dobbs said.

COVID-19 cases in Mississippi have risen sharply in recent weeks because of the highly contagious delta variant of the virus.

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SEATTLE -- Local health officers throughout Washington state have issued a joint statement recommending all residents wear facial coverings in indoor public settings where the vaccination status of other people is unknown.

The health officers from all local health jurisdictions in Washington on Thursday urged everyone to wear masks, regardless of vaccination status.

Thurston County health officials went a step further Thursday, joining Snohomish County in requiring residents ages 5 and up to wear masks in indoor public settings.

Officials say masking will help reduce the risk of COIVD-19 to the public, will help stem the rise in cases and hospitalizations, and decrease the spread of the delta variant.

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LOUISVILLE, Ky.  Kentuckys governor says any local education officials choosing to defy masking requirements in schools will be held accountable if their students or staff get infected as the fast-spreading delta variant drives up COVID-19 cases.

Gov. Andy Beshear issued an emergency regulation requiring anyone inside a public K-12 school to wear a mask. The state school board backed up his mandate.

Beshears executive action came after some Kentucky school districts left it up to parents to decide whether their children should mask up. Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron has called the order an unlawful exercise of power and challenged it in the states Supreme Court.

Statewide, daily COVID-19 cases surged from about 200 a month ago to nearly 3,000 on Wednesday.

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SAN FRANCISCO  San Francisco will require proof of full vaccination against coronavirus for indoor activities, including restaurants, bars and gyms.

Mayor London Breed made the announcement Thursday, saying it is needed to protect the health of workers, customers and the city overall. The move is more stringent than the requirement announced by New York Citys mayor last week. San Francisco will require proof of full vaccination for all customers and staff, while New York is requiring proof of at least one shot for indoor activities.

It will take effect next Friday, but businesses will have two months to verify employees vaccination status to preserve jobs while giving time for compliance. It doesnt apply to people ineligible for vaccines, including kids under 12.

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PHOENIX  Arizona reported 2,970 new coronavirus cases Thursday, the most reported in a single day in the past six months.

Along with reporting over 2,000 additional cases for the ninth day this month, the state reported six more virus deaths as the pandemic totals increased to 955,767 cases and 18,412 confirmed deaths.

The last time Arizona reported more cases on a single day was 4,381 on Feb. 9.

According to Johns Hopkins University data, the rolling average of daily new cases rose in the past two weeks from 1,42 cases on July 27 to 2,450 cases on Tuesday.

There were 1,527 virus patients occupying hospital beds as of Wednesday, a level last seen in February.

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla.  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says hes launching a rapid response unit to expand the use of monoclonal antibodies and relieve pressure at hospitals with COVID-19 patients.

This is probably the best thing that we can do to reduce the number of people that require hospitalization, DeSantis said at a news conference in Jacksonville, noting vaccines were still encouraged and effective at preventing hospitalizations and deaths.

The drugs are delivered intravenously or by injection and made by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. It concentrates doses of lab-made antibodies to fight COVID-19 and are geared toward people who are at high risk.

DeSantis mentioned good candidates were elderly people and those with chronic kidney disease, diabetes, morbid obesity and sickle cell.

The Republican governor says he believes the monoclonal antibody treatment isnt as well known because it received federal emergency use authorization about the same time as the mRNA vaccines were approved.

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JACKSON, Miss.  Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves says hes extending the state-of-emergency order that gives public health officials and other government leaders some flexibility in responding to the coronavirus.

The Republican governor says he would extend the order for 30 days. It was set to expire Sunday.

There will be no lockdowns and there will be no statewide mandates, Reeves wrote on Twitter.

He said extending the order will allow the state to continue coordinating the transfer of patients to hospitals where treatment is available. He also says it will keep options open for Mississippi National Guard members to be called back into service, if needed, for pandemic duties. Guard members spent months running COVID-19 vaccination drive-thru sites until Reeves ended that in mid-July.

On Thursday, the state reported 4,412 cases, its largest single-day total, an increase from the 3,488 cases it reported Tuesday.

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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina  Argentina says it has begun to produce and distribute the Russian-developed Sputnik V vaccine.

Chief Cabinet Minister Santiago Cafeiro says more than 1 million doses of the vaccine will be produced by the local Laboratorios Richmond, calling it a reason for pride.

Argentina was the first country to authorize Sputnik V in December 2020 and the first to enter full production, although Mexico produced a pilot lot of the vaccine last month.

More than 6 million Argentines, most over 60, have received at least the first dose of Sputnik V. The government recently said those who had received a first shot of Sputnik V could use a different vaccine, from AstraZeneca or Moderna, as the second dose.

The large majority of the shots initially produced in Argentina will be of the first dose.

The government says 26.4 million of Argentinas nearly 45 million people have received a first dose of a vaccine, although only 10 million have received both.

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WASHINGTON  The Biden administration is applauding the efforts of private employers, state governments and universities to require vaccination against COVID-19.

However, the federal government will not facilitate a registry of vaccinated people, which some experts say would greatly help verify individuals claims to have gotten their shots.

There will be no federal database, White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients said at Thursdays briefing. As with all other vaccines, the information will be held at the state and local level, he added.

Earlier in the briefing, Zients praised employers, colleges, hospital systems, and government entities requiring vaccine mandates.

Clearly vaccination requirements are gaining momentum across the country, Zients said. Employers have the power to help end the pandemic.

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NEW YORK  Federal officials are poised to OK an additional dose of coronavirus vaccine for people with weakened immune systems, according to the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering allowing another dose for cancer patients, organ transplants recipients and other conditions.

A CDC expert advisory committee is scheduled to discuss the matter Friday, following FDAs decision, according to Walensky.

Growing evidence suggests a benefit of an additional dose of vaccine for vulnerable people who have already received the two recommended doses of the Pfizer and Moderna shots. The FDA is working with the two companies to allow third shots for those patients who are most vulnerable to COVID-19, she says.

She stressed a small proportion of people would be eligible for the extra doses -- less than 3% of adults.

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CHICAGO  Chicago health officials say theyve found 203 cases of coronavirus connected to Lollapalooza, but arent yet reporting any hospitalizations or deaths.

The four-day music festival, which started two weeks ago, drew about 385,000 people to the citys lakefront. Critics questioned holding an event with packed crowds during the pandemic.

But city officials have defended the decision, saying there were enough safety protocols in place. Festival goers had to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.

Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady says the number of cases wasnt a surprise or considered a superspreader.

Among those who tested positive, city officials say 138 were Illinois residents from outside Chicago, 58 were from the city and seven were from out of state. Nearly 80% of those who tested positive were under 30, and about 62% were white, Arwady says.

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LONDON  Britain reported 33,074 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, the highest daily rate since July 23.

The numbers are fueled by the delta variant, which is dominant throughout the U.K. Health experts say Britain needs to achieve a much higher level of vaccination if it hopes to control the disease. About 60% of the U.K. population has been fully vaccinated.

Cases have risen to an average of around 25,000 a day, more than 10 times higher than early May. The seven-day average for coronavirus-related hospital admissions is about eight times higher than in May and deaths are 15 times higher.

British scientists are warning the public not to be complacent, saying high levels of coronavirus infection in the community may lead to another spike in cases this fall.
MONTGOMERY, Ala.  Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday issued a state of emergency as state hospitals face a surge in COVID-19 cases, an order that came the same day the state tied a record low for available intensive care unit beds.

Ivey issued a limited state of emergency aimed at giving medical providers flexibility on staffing and capacity decisions and easier shipment of emergency equipment and supplies. The Republican governor stressed she would not be issuing any closure orders or mask mandates.

I want to be abundantly clear: there will be absolutely no statewide mandates, closures or the like. This state of emergency is strategically targeted at removing bureaucracy and cutting red tape wherever we can to allow our doctors, nurses and hospital staff to treat patients that come through their doors, Ivey said in a statement.

The order came as medical providers described a tidal wave of COVID-19 cases that is putting severe stress on Alabama hospitals. The state on Friday tied the record low for available intensive care unit beds with just 39 vacant beds statewide, said Dr. Don Williamson, the former state health officer who now heads the Alabama Hospital Association.

The system is slowly becoming overwhelmed, Williamson said.

Of the states 1,567 intensive care unit beds, 689 are filled with COVID-19 patients and just 39 are empty.

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MORE ON THE PANDEMIC:

 Moscow reports surge in deaths from coronavirus in July

 FEMA: Paid $1 billion to help cover coronavirus funerals

 Japan races to vaccinate after Olympics as coronavirus surges

 President Biden eyes tougher vaccine rules without provoking backlash

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 Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine

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HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

HONOLULU  A new wave of the coronavirus pandemic has Hawaii in crisis mode, with the state recording its highest single bump in cases and hospitals putting together overflow plans, Gov. David Ige said.

Nearly 1,170 new infections were reported Friday, he said at a news conference. That includes a small number of cases from previous days that were delayed because of a technical glitch, but still represents the largest single increase since the start of the pandemic.

Friday the 13th has never been so frightening. It is real and it is terrifying, Ige said. And tragically, its preventable.

The vast majority of new cases are among unvaccinated people, officials said.

Our behavior can save us, Ige said in urging people to get vaccinated and avoid gatherings. The actions we take each and every day can make a difference in the battle against COVID.

Hawaii saw an average of 729 new cases over the past three days, Ige said. It has a population of nearly 1.5 million people. The seven-day state positivity rate is now 7.4%.

Ige said hospitals filling up and preparing for things to get worse.

They are treating younger and younger people, the governor said. Yesterday, tragically, we reported a death of a man in his 30s.

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PORTLAND, Ore. -- Oregons governor says she will deploy up to 1,500 National Guard troops to hospitals around the state to support healthcare workers as the COVID-19 surges amid the rapid spread of the Delta variant.

Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, says starting Aug. 20 she will send an initial 500 Guard members to serve as equipment runners in hospitals and help with COVID-19 testing, among other things.

There are 733 people hospitalized with the virus in Oregon, including 185 in intensive care units. Hospitals have warned they are near capacity as the state endures a fourth wave of the outbreak.

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SALT LAKE CITY -- Coronavirus patients are filling Utah hospitals beyond capacity.

Officials with the states largest health care system said Friday that intensive care units are at 102% capacity.

Intermountain Healthcare doctors say about 90% of the hospitalized coronavirus patients are not vaccinated.

Infectious disease physicians say the surge driven by the highly contagious delta variant is especially concerning as the new school year begins without a mask mandate for children who cannot yet be vaccinated. Officials worry about school outbreaks that could spread to kids families. The latest surge has also taken a heavy toll on healthcare workers morale.

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NASHVILLE  The Tennessee governors office is pushing back on COVID-19 vaccine misinformation that goes as far as claiming cows are being vaccinated to inoculate unwitting people who eat meat.

The confusion over an assortment of outlandish claims illustrates the hurdles that face a state in the bottom 10 for vaccination rates amid a virus resurgence stretching hospitals thin.

In an email Thursday to lawmakers, a top deputy of Republican Gov. Bill Lee debunked several conspiracy theories about a recent executive order. The email says some components that are being most frequently misinterpreted were included in previous executive orders during the pandemic. Lees office said lawmakers seeking information for constituents and constituents themselves have reached out about the claims.

The push to debunk shows how prevalently misinformation is swirling among unvaccinated circles, even as hospitals of all sizes have begun running out of staffed beds. Vanderbilt University Medical Center said its adult hospital and emergency department are completely full, as it is limiting elective procedures and declining transfer requests from many hospitals. More than 90% of COVID-19 hospitalizations there are unvaccinated people, while vaccinated patients are also severely immunocompromised, the hospital said.

The rumors deemed FALSE in the governors office email are that his executive order creates quarantine camps; that the National Guard will round up unvaccinated people and take them to locations to be quarantined or vaccinated, or forcibly vaccinate them in their homes; that the executive order lays the groundwork for permanent lockdowns; and that COVID-19 vaccines are being given to livestock to vaccinate people through meat consumption.

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HONOLULU  Two visitors from U.S. mainland were arrested for allegedly using fake vaccine cards to travel to Hawaii.

Officials with the Hawaii attorney generals office arrested the visitors at Honolulus international airport, a spokesman for the agency said in a statement.

Investigators said the two violated state rules requiring travelers to produce either a negative coronavirus test or proof of vaccination to avoid quarantine upon entering the state.

Violating the states COVID-19 mandates, including falsifying a vaccination card, is a misdemeanor that can result in a fine of up to $5,000, up to a year in prison or both.

The agency said this is the first time it has arrested someone for allegedly falsifying a vaccination card.

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COLUMBIA, S.C.  A South Carolina health system is rescheduling surgeries and reassigning nurses after two of its hospitals topped 100% capacity as the delta variant spurred a new wave of coronavirus cases in the state.

Tidelands Health says it's also opening two temporary clinics to treat patients with COVID-19-like symptoms as a way to bring down emergency department volumes.

Elsewhere in the state, hospitals are limiting visitors and entire high school football teams are being quarantined as schools newly reopened for the fall semester grapple with outbreaks.

In Pickens County, school board members called an emergency session Friday after 534 students and 28 staff members were quarantined two weeks into the school year. Kershaw County School District, which also began classes last week, quarantined 701 of its 11,033 students by Friday.

Coronavirus cases are soaring toward rates not seen since the height of the pandemic last winter, before vaccines became widely available. On Friday, health officials confirmed 3,585 new cases and 15 deaths, and total daily case counts have risen above 2,000 for the last 12 days.

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PULLMAN, Wash.  Washington State University says students will soon no longer be able to cite a personal or philosophical exemption to the schools requirement that all who attend get a COVID-19 vaccine.

The university says those exemptions would be nixed once the Food and Drug Administration grants full approval to vaccines now allowed under an emergency authorization.

It wasnt immediately clear what effect the schools new policy would have on football coach Nick Rolovich, who has opted not to get a vaccine. Discussions also are underway about changes to the faculty and staff vaccination policy, the university said.

The more strict vaccine requirements are being implemented because of the delta variant of the coronavirus, which has caused spikes in cases and hospitalizations throughout Washington state. Classes begin at WSU on Aug. 23.

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JACKSON, Miss. -- Mississippi broke its single-day record of new coronavirus cases three times this week.

There were more than 3,000 cases reported Tuesday, more than 4,000 Thursday and more than 5,000 Friday.

On Thursday, the state broke its records for patients hospitalized and in ICUs with COVID-19; the previous records were in January, before vaccinations were widely available.

On Friday, Neshoba County had the highest per capita coronavirus caseload in Mississippi and the 55th highest among all counties in the U.S., according to the Johns Hopkins University.

Neshoba General is not alone in the struggle with cases as the delta variant has proliferated in Mississippi since early July. Health officials say few intensive care beds are available anywhere in Mississippi.

On Friday, the state opened an air-conditioned tent as a field hospital in a parking garage at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Its staffed by health care workers sent by the federal government. Patients with COVID-19 can be transferred there from around the state.

Mississippi has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the U.S. at 36% , compared to 50% for the nation.

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NEW YORK  U.S. health officials have acknowledged more than 1 million Americans got extra coronavirus vaccine doses before it was authorized for people with weakened immune systems.

About 1.1 million people who received the two-dose Moderna and Pfizer vaccines got at least one additional dose on their own. About 90,000 people who got the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine received at least one more, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

Its not known how many of the people who got extra doses are immune-compromised. The Food and Drug Administration this week authorized an extra dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines in people with weakened immune systems to better protect them from the virus.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Most Arkansas public school students will be required to wear masks when classes begin statewide next week.

At least 60 public school districts and charter schools have approved the requirements in the week since a judge prevented the state from enforcing a law banning school districts and governmental entities from requiring masks.

The requirements will cover at least half of the states 473,000 public school students.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson didnt issue a statewide mask requirement after the judges ruling and instead left the decision to local school boards. The states 10 largest districts have all approved some type of mandate.

The pace at which the mandates are being approved surprises even health experts, who say theyre needed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus as Arkansas cases and hospitalizations skyrocket.

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OKLAHOMA CITY  The Oklahoma City school district will require students and staff to wear masks starting next week, with provisions for an opt out of the requirement, the districts superintendent announced Friday.

Also, school employees who provide proof of full vaccination by Nov. 15 will receive a $1,000 stipend, according to Superintendent Sean McDaniel.

McDaniel says he issued the requirement days after the start of school on Monday because the number of virus cases increased from four the first day of classes to 119 on Thursday. McDaniel adds he doesnt believe the requirement violates a state law banning mask mandates in schools because he, not the school board, issued the directive.

McDaniel says he hasnt discussed the matter with Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, who issued a statement supporting the district and Santa Fe South, a public charter school that adopted a similar mask requirement that includes opt-out provisions.

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OFALLON, Mo.  Missouri hospitals are filling to capacity with COVID-19 patients, along with the intensive care units with a record number of patients.

The state health departments coronavirus dashboard shows 2,318 people hospitalized with the virus, 50 more than Thursday and the highest number in seven months.

Some 689 COVID-19 patients are in Missouri intensive care units, the most since the pandemic began, topping 685 ICU patients on Dec. 23. The state data indicates 384 people on ventilators.

ICU capacity is down to 15% statewide, and inpatient bed capacity is at 16% remaining.

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TORONTO  The Canadian government will require all air travelers and passengers on interprovincial trains to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says that includes all commercial air travelers, passengers on trains between provinces and cruise ship passengers. Its expected to take effect sometime in the fall and no later than the end of October.

The government also will require vaccinations for all federal public servants in the country.

The Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic Leblanc noted the federal government is the largest employer in the country. Leblanc says it is the governments duty to guarantee the safety of their employees and those they serve.

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MOSCOW  Russia has reported a daily record of 815 COVID-19 deaths, the highest toll of the pandemic.

The Russian coronavirus task force on Friday also confirmed 22,277 cases.

Meanwhile, Moscows Health Department says deaths of all causes in the capital increased 60% in July compared to the same month a year earlier. They included 6,583 coronavirus-related deaths, which corresponds to a COVID-19 mortality rate of 3.95%.

Health officials blamed the increase on COVID-19 deaths on the more contagious delta variant and unusually hot weather that exacerbated coronavirus-induced complications. Russias vaccination drive has lagged other nations. As of a week ago, 20% of the population was fully vaccinated.

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CHICAGO  Chicago Public Schools officials announced theyll require all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by mid-October unless they qualify for a medical or religious exemption.

The mandate  announced two weeks before the full-time in-person learning begins Aug. 30  applies to all Chicago Board of Education workers, a group that includes teachers, staff, workers in the districts central office, and regular vendors and network employees.

Our Chicago Public School communities deserve a safe and healthy environment that will allow our students to reach their greatest potential, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that California would become the first state to require all teachers and school staff to get vaccinated or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing.

CPS says staffers must submit proof that they are fully vaccinated by Oct. 15, unless they have the approved exemptions. In the meantime, employees who have not reported theyre fully vaccinated will be tested at least once a week until Oct 15 or until they provide proof of vaccinations. Those employees who have approved exemptions must be tested throughout the school year.
K. Sophie Will/AP

SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  Zion National Park may soon require reservations to hike one of its most famous trails.

The Angel's Landing hike is a narrow trail perched on the edge of a red-rock cliff in southern Utah. The number of people visiting Zion has been growing at a breakneck pace in recent years, and Angel's Landing is one of the most sought-after destinations. More than 300,000 people made the trek in 2019, according to park officials.
A doctor (left) checks a patients eyesight at the National Eye Science Institute and Hospital in Dhaka, Aug. 11, 2021.

A simple cataract surgery has brightened Momena Khatuns life.

The 65-year-old resident of Chandpur, south of Dhaka, just underwent the operation at a state-run eye hospital in the Bangladeshi capital.

Now I can see everything clearly. I suffered for a long time with this cataract and my vision was reduced. I just spent U.S. $200 to remove the cataract, she told a reporter from BenarNews on Wednesday as Khatun was waiting to leave the National Eye Science Institute and Hospital.

Khatun is among Bangladeshis who say their vision has improved thanks to affordable care for their eyesight offered through government-run clinics and hospitals.

The South Asian nation has cut the rate of blindness among people aged 30 years or older by more than one third during the past two decades, despite struggles obtaining modern equipment and training a sufficient number of eye doctors, according to government officials. And now, Bangladesh is promoting eye-care on the international stage.

Last month, Dhakas ambassador to the United Nations introduced a draft resolution at the U.N. General Assembly aimed at ensuring global access to eye care, as delegates sought to capitalize on a link between proper eye care and the world bodys long-standing sustainable development goals.

About 90 percent of people who did not have access to good eye care live in low- and middle-income countries, Ambassador Rabab Fatima said as she introduced the resolution.

In Bangladesh, according to a 2018 estimate, the number of blind people age 30 and above is 750,000 and more than 6 million people in Bangladesh need vision correction by spectacles or by any other means, Fatima said in a U.N. news release.

Millions of people globally lose their vision, needlessly. And this phenomenon largely impedes their ability to contribute their full potential to the socio-economic development of their societies. The resolution before us has the potential to reverse this situation.

On July 23, the General Assembly adopted the resolution Vision for Everyone: Accelerating Action to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

It was the first-ever resolution on eye-health adopted by the U.N. body. Antigua, Barbuda and Ireland joined Bangladesh as co-chairs of the resolution, which drew 115 co-sponsors.

Ambassador Fatima called the resolution unique because it is the first agreement among U.N. member-states designed to tackle preventable sight loss.

In Bangladesh, government health officials said the nation had succeeded since 2000 in reducing blindness, vision loss, impaired vision or other eyesight problems because patients like Momena Khatun are benefitting from affordable treatments. The officials said the cost of Khatuns treatment could have been two to four times higher if she were treated at a private health-care facility.

Similar treatments are making their way to rural areas.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina established 90 community vision centers at remote villages to treat eye patients. Establishing 40 more community vision centers is underway, Dr. Md, Shahidul Islam, who manages the Health Departments National Eye Care Program, told BenarNews.

The government plans to establish at least one center in every sub-district or upazila, he said.

Since the year 2000, the government has reduced the rate of blindness among people aged 30 or above by 35 percent, he said, citing surveys of people in that age group done in 2000 and 2020.

Both surveys were conducted for persons above 30 years and above. No survey was conducted in Bangladesh [for people] under 30 years of age," Islam said.

He also said cataracts are responsible for 80 percent of eyesight loss cases.

Another cause for sight loss is diabetic retinopathy, which affects 25 percent to 30 percent of those who have suffered from diabetes for more than a decade, noting more than 10 million Bangladeshis are diabetic.

Mafruha Afrin, a doctor at the Bangladesh Eye Hospital, noted that eye-related treatments had spread across the nation even though it has contended with a shortage of technology and specialists.

The more modern the diagnosis for a disease, the better treatment can be given. Eye-related treatments are highly dependent on modern equipment, he told BenarNews.

Shahidul, meanwhile, said the government had increased the use of technologies regarding eye treatment in last decade and was working toward increasing the number of eye surgeons.
Former East Timorese militia leader Eurico Guterres (center) displays an Indonesian flag upon his release from Cipinang prison in Jakarta, April 7, 2008

Indonesian human rights groups criticized President Joko Jokowi Widodo on Friday for awarding the countrys second-highest medal to a former pro-Jakarta militia leader who was linked to alleged atrocities committed in East Timor during a vote for independence in 1999.

Eurico Guterres, who opted for Indonesian citizenship after East Timor voted to break free from Jakarta rule in a United Nations-sponsored ballot 22 years ago, was among more than 330 people decorated with medals by Jokowi during a ceremony at the presidential palace on Thursday. The president handed out the honors as Indonesia prepared to mark its Independence Day on Aug. 17.

A coalition of human rights activists and organizations called on Jokowi to withdraw the Bintang Jasa Utama, Indonesias second highest merit award, given to Guterres, 47.

Awarding the medal to Eurico Guterres is a serious betrayal of humanity and morality and ignores justice for the victims, they said in a statement.

Between 1,000 and 2,000 civilians died and another 500,000 were uprooted in violence surrounding the U.N.-backed referendum in East Timor, according to a U.N. report.

Indonesia invaded the territory that makes up the eastern half of Timor Island in December 1975, amid unrest that followed when Portugal abandoned its longtime colony in the Malay Archipelago. East Timor was born as the nation of Timor-Leste in 2002, after Indonesia eventually withdrew its occupying forces.

The medal was awarded to Guterres because he fought for East Timors continued integration within Indonesia, said Mohammad Mahfud MD, who chairs the governments Council of Merits and Honors.

Eurico Guterres, was a fighter on the side of the Republic of Indonesia when we developed East Timor as part of Indonesia, said Mahfud MD, who is also the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs.

Guterres, known for his oratorical skills, led a pro-Jakarta militia group in East Timor called Aitarak. He now is a politician and member of Gerindra, a political party founded by Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto.

Prabowo, the former son-in-law of President Suharto, Indonesias late dictator, is a retired military officer who commanded the armys special forces (Kopassus), which human rights groups accused of committing atrocities during the occupation of East Timor.

In 2002, a human rights court set up by Indonesia to try cases of abuses in East Timor convicted Guterres of crimes against humanity and sentenced him to 10 years in prison for an attack on the house of Timorese independence leader Manuel Viegas Carrascalao.

The Supreme Court upheld the sentence in 2006 but granted a subsequent case review request by Guterres and acquitted him in 2008, citing new evidence.

The tribunal also acquitted six military and police officers indicted by the human rights tribunal for their roles in East Timors bloodshed.

Visiting Indonesian President Joko Widodo is awarded the Grand Collar of the Order of Timor Leste by his Timorese counterpart, Taur Matan Ruak, in Dili, Jan. 26, 2016. [Antara via Reuters]

Aitarak militiamen, under the command of Guterres, attacked Carrascalaos house, where more than 130 civilians had sought refuge after fighting between two opposing sides, according to human rights groups.

Eurico Guterres just stood by. He did not try to stop the crowd under his command from attacking the house of Manuel Viegas Carrascalao, said the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM), an Indonesian human rights organization.

Carrascalaos son, Manuelito, and 11 other civilians died in the attack, according to the prosecutor at the Indonesian human rights tribunal.

After the Supreme Court upheld the guilty verdict against him in 2006, Guterres said he had been made a scapegoat.

I was declared guilty because I defended the Red and White, he told the Tempo news magazine, referring to the colors of the Indonesian flag.

Those who are innocent are sent to prison, while those who committed the crime are declared not guilty and walk free, he said.

The International Commission of Inquiry on East Timor, a panel set up by then-U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, concluded after an investigation in 2000 that the systematic and large-scale nature of the crimes warranted the establishment of an international human rights tribunal.

Indonesias own National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) set up an inquiry team and named Indonesian and East Timorese military and civilian officials responsible for grave violations of human rights.

Rights group said that the Indonesian ad hoc tribunal was a sham because many senior military leaders believed to be responsible for the violence were not prosecuted, while questions were raised about the professionalism and impartiality of the prosecution.

The tribunal convicted two East Timorese, including Guterres, and acquitted 10 other defendants, including civilian, military and police leaders.

The verdicts drew international criticism, including from U.N. officials, and prompted fresh calls for an international tribunal.

Ex-generals close to president

Despite Jokowis past pledge to resolve old human rights cases, he counts former generals with checkered human rights record among his closest aides.

Wiranto, who was the armed forces chief at the time of the violence in East Timor, served as Jokowis chief security minister from 2016 to 2019 and is a member of the presidential advisory team.

Prabowo, when he was the general commanding Kopassus, was accused of kidnapping pro-democracy activists in the dying days of Suhartos rule in 1998.

This is a betrayal of the commitments he made when he took office" in 2014, said ELSAM researcher Miftah Fadhli.

Jokowi  in 2019 also stated that the government would revive the truth commission for past cases of rights violations, but there has not been progress, Miftah said.
Some members of a church shuttered by authorities in an Indonesian city in 2008 after locals opposed it are insisting the church be reopened, their spokesman said, after the mayor allowed them to build a new house of worship elsewhere.

Human rights groups have cited the controversy surrounding the GKI Yasmin church in Bogor, just south of Jakarta, as an example of growing intolerance in Indonesia. The Christian minority in the worlds largest Muslim-majority country represents about 11 percent of the population.

Mayor Bima Arya Sugiarto should respect a 2010 Supreme Court ruling allowing members to use the old church building  whose unfinished construction site is sealed off nowadays  and the government must to do more to protect religious minorities from intolerant groups, said Bona Sigalingging, the congregations spokesman.

We will not accept, no matter how much real estate we are given, because doing so will set a bad precedent, Bona told BenarNews.

Bima Arya should have obeyed the Supreme Courts decision to reopen our church, instead of giving us land for a new church. We fear that if there is a similar case, the Yasmin case will be used as a template for [future] settlements.

After the city administration in 2008 withdrew the original building permit for the church amid pressure from residents, the State Administrative Court overturned that decision. Then in 2010, the Supreme Court rejected an appeal by the Bogor administration, citing technicalities.

The church had been half built  and still stands  when the building permit was withdrawn.

Bogors mayor, however, said the building permit for the new location was issued at the request of the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) in Bogor, which oversees the shuttered Yasmin church.

Therefore, he declared, the 14-year-old dispute was resolved after he handed the building permit for the construction of a new church to representatives of GKI.

So, I think this is settled. The GKI has officially accepted the land and applied for a building permit, Bima Arya told BenarNews, about the site for the new church, which is 1 kilometer from the original church.

When asked about some congregants desire to return to the old church, Bima Arya said this was not GKIs demand.

That episode ended when GKI decided not to pursue the case and decided to negotiate with the city government, he said.

The discontent is understandable. Everywhere you go there are people who have different views, but this has been officially decided based on an agreement between the city government and GKI.

Worshipers from the Filadelfia Batak Christian Protestant church and the GKI Yasmin church hold a Christmas Mass outside the presidential palace to protest local residents opposition to their churches, in Jakarta, Dec. 25, 2012. [AFP]

Krisdianto, the GKI chairman in Bogor, welcomed the resolution to the dispute.

The agreement was reached without any pressure from anyone and for the greater interest of justice and peace among religious communities, especially in Bogor, Krisdianto said in a statement on the churchs website.

He said it was the most realistic outcome.

The interests of all parties can be accommodated along with respect for the rights of citizens to practice religion and worship.

But another congregation member, Renata Anggraini, remained adamant.

We dont accept it. The new land given by Bima Arya means relocation, and it has never been an option in our struggle, she told BenarNews.

Renata said that since the Yasmin church was closed, she had taken part in a weekly service in front of the presidential palace in Jakarta as a form of protest. That has stopped because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Congregants spokesman Bona said the Yasmin congregation used to have 500 members, but the numbers had dwindled as many had moved on and worship elsewhere.

After the court overturned the municipalitys decision to suspend the building permit, construction of the Yasmin church resumed in 2009, but locals protested and blocked access to the site.

In a show of defiance, the congregants then opted to conduct services on the street near the church.

Protecting minorities

In June, Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas told BenarNews that the government was committed to promoting religious tolerance and freedom.

Differences among groups, including in matters of religion, must be resolved through dialogue without resorting to unlawful acts, he said in an interview.

My position is firm that differences in beliefs should not be the reason for the majority to persecute other groups and take the law into their own hands. This is the stance that the government is taking.

According to a study by the Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace, 180 cases of violations of religious freedom were recorded in 2020, a slight decrease from 200 cases the previous year.

Cases included the forcible closure of places of worship  including churches and mosques  prevention of their use, and intimidation of worshipers, the institute reported.

West Java province, of which Bogor is a part, recorded the most cases of religious freedom violations, with 39 instances, followed by East Java, Aceh and Jakarta.

Rights groups have blamed a 2006 joint ministerial degree for growing intolerance in the country.

Under the decree, the construction of houses of worship must meet several requirements, including the signatures and identification of at least 90 worshipers, the signed approval of at least 60 members of the local community and a written government recommendation.

Rights activists had said the decree was passed due to some Muslims concern about alleged Christian missionary activities and what they perceived as a growing number of churches in Muslim areas.

Minister Yaqut, however, defended the decree. He said that while it may need some amendments, it was necessary to maintain communal harmony in a religiously diverse nation like Indonesia.

It is necessary to understand such a perspective. The joint decree is not meant to discriminate, but it is a preventive measure [against] anarchy, he told BenarNews.

Bona, the spokesman for the GKI Yasmin church worshipers, said the government needed to do more to ensure that religious minorities could conduct their prayers peacefully.

I hope that the minister will have enough courage to ensure that religious freedom, not just religious harmony, prevails, he said.

Ahmad Syamsudin in Jakarta contributed to this report.
Malaysian leader Muhyiddin Yassin, in an extraordinary speech Friday, said he could resign but no other MP has enough support to take over and that parliament should allow his government to stay in power until the Covid crisis is under control and national polls can happen.

Addressing the nation for the second time this month in a live broadcast, the man who leads an unelected government and is under pressure to resign for the first time floated the possibility of a general election taking place no later than July 2022.

My easiest choice would be to resign. If I take this decision, my work is done and it is up to the Kings wisdom to pick a new prime minister, Muhyiddin said, noting that the constitution allows the king to appoint as prime minister the person he thinks has the confidence of a majority of MPs.

However, up to this point, none of the members of parliament can prove that he has the majority to enable the King to appoint a new prime minister.

He also dangled political incentives such as establishing term limits for the prime minister and granting 18-year-olds the right to vote. Opposition members contacted by BenarNews rejected the PMs proposals.

Muhyiddin unveiled them a day after his government set Sept. 7 as the date for a parliamentary vote of confidence on his leadership, although Malaysias king had urged him to move up to next week the vote that could seal his governments fate.

Muhyiddin told the nation that he wanted voters to choose the next leader.

I do not intend to continue to cling to the branches of power. In this situation, it is appropriate that the mandate be returned to the people to elect a new government when the time is more appropriate, he said.

Thus, depending on the pandemic situation, I make a commitment that the 15th general election will be held no later than the end of July next year.

In addition to his proposal to limit the prime minister to two terms in office, Muhyiddin offered an anti-defection bill as part what he sees as his effort to create a bi-partisan framework to ensure the continuity of a functioning government. While details have not been worked out, the bill is an effort to keep MPs from leaving one coalition to join another while in office.

The bills would require two-thirds majority support in both houses of parliament.

The government also agreed to implement the Undi18 (voting rights for 18 to 21-year-olds) without waiting for the automatic registration which would take time. For this, a constitution amendment bill will be tabled in the parliament, he said.

Muhyiddin said he came up with the cooperation framework to allow the government to continue functioning so it can manage the health and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the same time, I like all Malaysians, have a responsibility to not allow the kleptocrats to rule the country should this political crisis not be resolved immediately, he said in an apparent reference to former Prime Minister Najib Razak and former Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The pair face criminal court trials on corruption and money laundering charges. Najib's are linked to 1MDB, a beleaguered state development fund. Malaysian and U.S. prosecutors allege that at least $4.5 billion (18.8 billion ringgit) was stolen from the fund by Najib and associates in what U.S. justice officials described as the worst kleptocracy scandal in recent times.

Negative responses

Zahid, who serves as president of the United Malays National Organization  the largest party if the ruling bloc  questioned Muhyiddins approach to maintaining power.

As an MP who has sworn to protect and preserve the constitution, it is unwise for the Pagoh MP to overstep the kings authority in appointing the prime minister, he said in a statement.

In early August, Zahid claimed that UMNO lawmakers had pulled their parliamentary support for Muhyiddin.

Muhyiddin was elected to parliament to represent Pagoh, a constituency in Johor state. In early 2020, he broke from the Pakatan Harapan alliance and joined forces with UMNO to form a coalition needed to convince the king that Muhyiddin should be prime minister after the Pakatan government collapsed.

On Friday, Pakatan put out its own statement calling for Muhyiddin to step down immediately.

This is the first time in Malaysian history a prime minister who admitted that he has lost majority support but openly appealed [for] support from the opposition, the statement said.

Three parties in Pakatan  the Peoples Justice Party, the Democratic Action Party and Amanah  rejected Muhyiddins latest action.

We are confident that we will be able to propose better planning to manage COVID-19 pandemic, reviving the economy and saving the people and their livelihoods, a statement from the parties leaders said.

But Ong Kian Ming, a Democratic Action Party MP and former International Trade and Industry deputy minister, said Malaysia could see benefits in the long run.

PM Muhyiddin Yassin has proposed a way forward with a number of institutional reforms that could leave a lasting impact on Malaysian politics, if passed. I think that all political parties should sit down to discuss if these terms are acceptable, he said.

Bersatu, the party led by Muhyiddin, offered support for his plan to establish bi-partisan cooperation.

This cooperation opens the door for all political parties in the country to take part in the war against COVID-19, in line with the whole of nation and whole of society practiced by the government while allowing us to refocus on our top priority  the people, Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan said.

Political analysts, meanwhile, described the PMs speech as a desperate move to cling to power, adding that the Pakatan government had previously proposed the same reforms.

The sooner parliament sits, the more dangerous it is for Muhyiddin, said James Chin, a political analyst from University of Tasmania.

[H]e is under tremendous pressure to push the parliament date up  the fact that he announced it on TV and saying that he will meet them next week, this sounds more like delay tactics, he told BenarNews.
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Ongoing research also suggests immunity from vaccines may outlast immunity from many COVID-19 cases.
The Latest: Australia capital's lockdown until no more virus

Australias capital Canberra will remain locked down until there are no more COVID-19 infections in the city
Even as President Joe Biden becomes more aggressive in pressuring Americans to get vaccinated, he has refrained from using all his powers
The Tri-Town Health Department is considering a formal public health advisory recommending indoor masking in public settings, based on the COVID-19 delta variant's spread in Berkshire County.
Community News Editor / Librarian

Jeannie Maschino is community news editor and librarian for The Berkshire Eagle. She has worked for the newspaper in various capacities since 1982 and joined the newsroom in 1989.
Census data show Berkshire County's population fell over the last decade, but the drop was less significant than previous Census estimates had indicated.
Danny Jin, a Report for America corps member, is The Eagles Statehouse news reporter. He can be reached at djin@berkshireeagle.com, @djinreports on Twitter and 413-496-6221.
PITTSFIELD  This is the story of a girls courage and a parishioners resolve. The details all came back to Russell G. Powell last weekend, 44 years after his confrontation with a priest in a Pittsfield basement.

Quote "Im willing to say we were the first ones to discover [and report] he was a molester. I believe nothing was done except to transfer him to Springfield.  Russell G. Powell, speaking of his efforts, in 1977, to remove the Rev. Daniel L. Gill from service in a Pittsfield church

It happened on a summer evening in Pittsfield in 1977. Powell called the Rev. Daniel L. Gill, the assistant pastor of St. Charles Parish, and asked him to come to Powells house, a few blocks away on Lenox Avenue.

I told him that something important had come up and we needed to talk, Powell said.

What happened next helps explain Gills abrupt departure from St. Charles Borromeo Church and offers a rare inside account of how members of a Catholic parish reacted to a report of clergy sexual abuse, decades before the issue blew up around the world.

Powell says he was moved to speak out after learning of a Cheshire womans 19-year battle to have the Springfield Diocese take seriously her reports that the same priest molested her over several years when she was a child living in West Stockbridge. That abuse, Sheri Biasin told the Eagle Investigations team, started on the day of her first Communion. She is fighting to have Gill, who is deceased, listed as an abuser.

I just felt so bad for that woman who was involved with that pervert, Powell, 88, said by phone from his home in Florida. I just wanted to help her. I hope this does.

Powells story reveals that 25 years before Biasin came forward in 2002 to report her abuse, a representative of the diocese was informed of Gills misconduct.

A troubled child

Before moving from Pittsfield years ago, Powell was active in civic affairs, running for City Council and, earlier, serving as an elected official in Dalton. In the 1970s, he joined with others, including John Downing Jr. and Arthur Nichols, a pharmacist, to bring attention to dangers of drug addiction.

Because of that work, Powell and his colleagues were asked to speak to a 14-year-old girl who lived in the North Street area around the church.

These parents were having trouble with their daughter. They wondered if we could talk to her, Powell said.

Drugs werent an issue. A priest was.

After an hour speaking in the Powell familys finished basement, the teen broke down emotionally. She finally came out and said she was being brought up into Father Gills bedroom in the rectory and he was touching her.

She was in tears. She kind of felt embarrassed and was blaming herself, he said. We told her, Hold your head up high, because she had a lot of courage to come forward and say what he did.

Powell asked Gill to come over from the rectory, on Briggs Avenue, to his house, not saying why. The teen waited in another room with Powells wife. Gill listened to what the men had to say, then denied that he had assaulted the girl. The night wasnt over.

I had the girl come down and face him, Powell said of Gill. He finally admitted he was doing it.

The next day, a Saturday, Powell briefed the Rev. John J. Foley, the senior priest at St. Charles. Powell says Foley promised to take care of it. Powell said Foley appeared to be surprised by the report.

In those days, people did not speak up, Powell said.

Nonetheless, when Powell went to church that Sunday, dressing for his role as a lector and taking his place on the altar, he saw Gill approach, prepared to perform Mass.

He saw me there and turned around and walked off, Powell said. That was the last time I saw him at St. Charles. Im willing to say we were the first ones to discover [and report] he was a molester. I believe nothing was done except to transfer him to Springfield.

Powell said that four decades ago, he told a younger brother, John, about Gills admission. In an interview Thursday, John Powell confirmed that his brother did inform him at the time of the priests admitted molestation.

In May 1978, the diocese announced that Gill was being transferred to St. Christophers Church in Brimfield, according to a news article published at the time in The Eagle, ending a nine-year assignment at St. Charles.

The diocese said Thursday that it has no records giving a reason for Gills transfer to Brimfield and did not respond to a question of whether transferring a priest against whom an abuse accusation had been made was ethical.

Return to Pittsfield

Though Powell said Gill didnt return to lead Masses at St. Charles, he did come back to Pittsfield  in a manner that upset Powell.

Five years later, in 1982, Powell said, Gill was part of a group of clergy to attend a St. Joseph High School graduation. The senior class included Powells son. The Most Rev. Joseph F. Maguire, bishop of Springfield, spoke at the ceremony. "In his entourage was Father Gill, Powell said.

Finally, somebody found out who this guy really was, Powell said of Gill, a man he described as affable and generally well-liked by the church community. He had a personality  a phony personality, Powell said.

Biasin said she is grateful to Powell for making public what he and others did in 1977 to hold Gill accountable.

It helps tremendously. You grow up not being believed, she said, speaking of abuse survivors. I know there are other people, theyre just not willing to come forward. I hope they do, so they can heal.

'Like it was yesterday.' Sheri Biasin recalls priest's abuse, in her own words Sheri A. Biasin, of Cheshire, speaks here about the culture surrounding clergy abuse in the 1960s and 1970s, her efforts to confront the abuse

The 14-year-old girl who spoke her truth in 1977, whose name Powell declined to provide, would be 58 today. That makes her about a decade younger than the woman who reported to the diocese in 1992 that she had been sexually assaulted by Gill.

That woman, who today would be about 67, later accepted Biasins offer, forwarded to her through the diocese, to visit the Berkshires and discuss their common experience as survivors.

We have another victim, Biasin said.

The diocese confirmed that it has received three abuse complaints in all against Gill and that those reports were provided to the Misconduct Commission for Diocesan Personnel in 1992 and 2002.

In a statement Thursday in response to questions about Gill, the diocese said that its files contain no documentation that shows an internal finding that the priest engaged in sexual predation. But, as the Biasin case reveals, the dioceses files are inconsistent at best on matters of clergy abuse.

The diocese readily admits that in the past, the process of investigating allegations of sexual abuse of a minor and assisting survivors and their families were not conducted in accordance with present standards, the statement said.

It said the Most Rev. William Byrne, the current bishop, is working to make amends for the harm these errors and omissions have caused survivors and their loved ones

The diocese did not respond Thursday afternoon to a follow-up question about missing records.

Sexual abuse at the hands of someone who represents the church is not only a crime but also reprehensible and contrary to everything the Catholic Church stands for, the diocese said.

The diocese said it is willing to work with anyone who has reported clergy abuse but not yet seen that church official listed as credibly accused.

We will work with them to bring their case to law enforcement and todays review board, the diocese said.

This story has been updated to correct a reference to the bishop who spoke at the 1982 graduation at St. Joseph High School in Pittsfield.
One noteworthy thing about Aaron in the Bible is that he was Moses older brother and mouthpiece in the Israelites exodus from Egypt to the promised land. God offers Moses the position of leading His covenanted people out of bondage and Moses is hesitant, unsure of himself in this role. Moses claims he is slow of speech. What follows next establishes his brother Aarons life purpose. Then the LORDs anger burned against Moses and He said, 'What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you (Exodus 4:14-17). Using Aaron to help lead the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt is Gods backup plan. Aaron is from the start an aid to his charismatic, younger brother. Aarons legacy increases in importance as the exodus unfolds, however.

Who Was Aaron in the Bible?

The most famous Levites born during Israels enslavement in Egypt were Aaron and his younger siblings, Moses and Miriam. Aaron was three years older than Moses (Exodus 7:7), yet Moses was chosen to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt. Moses accepted the leadership position with the Lords concession that Aaron be Moses' mouthpiece.

The brothers first, risky assignment was to petition for Israels release from bondage and permission to leave Egypt. Aaron served with Moses as mediators between God and the Egyptian pharaoh. As Gods prophets, Aaron and Moses foretold of 10 plagues God would unleash on Egypt, which threatened the pharaoh into releasing the Israelites. Aaron performed the miracles God had demonstrated with Moses at meetings with the pharaohturning his staff into a snake, turning water into blood, and contracting and curing leprosy. The pharaoh was convinced of Gods power over Israel and Egypt when first-born Egyptian boys are killed in the tenth plague. The pharaoh then follows Gods order to Let my people go.

After the Hebrews are set free to leave Egypt, they are led through the wilderness by Moses and Aaron. God consecrates all of the Levites, one of the 12 tribes of Israel, as aides to Aaron and his sons, who are the Levite priests for the holy nation of Israel. Instead of holding land, the Levites received Gods portion, tabernacle offerings (Numbers 18:8), while they dedicated their lives to service in the Israelites Tent of Meetings (Number 3:5-10). The Levites were assistants to the priest or became priests in Jewish religious practices.

Why Did God Allow Aaron to Accompany Moses when He Went to Pharaoh?

Moses protested when the Lord asked him to speak to the pharaoh, claiming he had faltering lips and couldnt even convince the Hebrew people he was their leader (Exodus 6:12). Aaron appears to be a better speaker and perhaps more confident and outgoing than Moses at the outset of the exodus. Aaron may be more dramatic as he demonstrates Gods miraclesturning his staff into a snake, turning water into blood, and contracting and curing leprosy on his own handsin presentations to Pharaoh and his officials.

Another possible reason God provided Aarons brotherly support to Moses is two people may serve as witnesses to each other in a difficult situation. They may fill in gaps in each other's performance. Making a huge request of the king Pharaoh of Egypt must have been a daunting assignment. Moses and Aaron (and their sister Miriam) needed to stand together firmly to convincing the Pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The Israelis had been enslaved for over 400 years and were a necessary part of the Egyptian economic system.

What Are Aaron's Biggest Accomplishments?

Aaron is much more than an assistant to Moses. Aaron inspires the pharaoh and the people of Israel from the beginning to the end of the exodus. Aaron enters Gods holy presence on Mt. Sinai with Moses. The rest of the 600,000 Hebrews have boundaries around the mountain, which they are strictly warned by God not to cross (Exodus 19:24). Aaron is perhaps poised as a witness to Gods reciting the 10 Commandments and a dozen or so other areas of social responsibility to Moses.

After the covenant of law is received, Aaron and Hebrew elders join Moses in offering a sacrifice to God and are blessed by looking at God without the punishment of death God warned of earlier. 40 days and nights pass while Moses hears Gods Jewish tabernacle requirements. At some point, Aaron goes back down Mount Sinai to the impatiently waiting Hebrew people and the real trouble begins.

Aarons notorious actions leading to the Hebrews creating a golden calf while Moses was up Mount Sinai, hearing and recording the 10 Commandments and the full set of laws decreed by God. Aaron met the demands of the impatient, unfaithful people by collecting gold from womens earrings and fashioning it into a golden calf. The foolish Hebrew people exclaim, These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt" (Exodus 32:4). Playing to the crowd, Aaron set up an altar and proclaimed a festival to worship the calf.

In this abomination toward God, Aaron displayed his pride and need to appease his followers. The Lord was very angry with him, and Moses exploded in rage when he came down from Mount Sinai and returned to the Hebrew camp to find them dancing around the golden calf. Aaron said, You know how prone these people are to eviland Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control (Exodus 32:25). Aarons dutiful Levites come to Moses assistance, killing 3,000 golden calf worshippers.

Aarons Levite assistants continue to serve God throughout Jewish religious history. Aarons descendants assist in worship and ministry as musicians, gatekeepers, craftsmen, officials, and judges in the tabernacle, which later becomes the Jewish temple in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 23:2-5, 13). Additional tasks of the Levites were to carry the Ark of Gods Covenant, to stand in attendance upon God, and to bless His name. In a modern Jewish service, an available Levite blesses the second reading of the law.

Three items were placed in the ark of the covenant by the ancient Hebrews: a pot of manna, the 10 Commandments, and Aarons staff. Each item testifies to an important blessing within Israels exodus journey. Aarons staff represents how he became the founder of the spiritual priesthood leading the Hebrew people. The fact that the symbol of Aarons priestly calling is placed alongside the divine laws of the 10 Commandments and some of the miraculous manna which fed the wandering Israelites is a testimony to the importance of Aaron in Israels history.

8 Important Lessons from Aaron's Life

Whether we are front and center or helping from the side, we have a purpose in the kingdom of God.

I imagine that Aaron became a humbler man as he was led by his younger brother. This is another example of a nontraditional plan of Godyounger brother Moses is the primary leader and Aaron is his accomplice. Moses had been set apart to be in charge, but Aaron had an equally valuable calling to stand by his side and support his ministry.

Sibling rivalry is alive and well.

At one point, Aaron was jealous of Moses, demanding of God, Has the Lord only spoken through Moses? (Numbers 12:2). Aaron didnt want to relay prophetic messages to the Hebrews through Moses; Aaron wanted to speak directly to God. This outburst helps me understand Aarons people-pleasing behavior when he led his people in worshipping the golden calf. Aaron wanted the glory and popularity of Moses.

Those in faith leadership positions must remain true to the Lods voice and not listen to peoples popular opinions.

The golden calf episode illustrates a weak time in Aarons leadership when people had a stronger influence upon him than God.

With humility, we can recover from a big mistake in our faith walk.

Aarons blasphemous actions in creating a golden calf remind us that God can forgive and we can forgive others and ourselves. Aaron made amends to his brother Moses and God as a powerful leader of the people who did wrong.

We all need a wingman.

We all need someone to go with us to a difficult situation or talk us through it privately.

As it says in Hebrews 5:4, And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.

Moses is an iconic figure in the Christian faith and our common culture (if there is such a thing), but even Moses didnt do it alone. Aaron was with Moses from the start, supporting Moses in fulfilling Gods purposes with His holy nation of Israel.

A biological or spiritual brother or sister shares our expectations and joy.

Aaron and Moses walked through the pharaohs court and the desert together. They brought hope to the grumbling Israelis together. They needed each other in carrying out the difficult task of moving the Hebrew people to the promised land.

We are capable of doing great things as chronologically advanced and worldly-wise people.

Aaron was 83 and Moses was 80 when they first approached the pharaoh in Egypt with their request to let Gods people go.

A legacy of Aarons life and priestly ministry is the blessing attached to his name. From Gods mouth to Aarons lips is this blessing from Numbers 6:22-26.

Aarons Blessing: The Lord Bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace.

Photo credit: GettyImages/MangoStarStudio

Betty Dunn hopes her articles in Crosswalk.com help you hold hands with God, a theme in her self-published memoir Medusa. A former high school English teacher and editor, she works on writing projects from her home in West Michigan, where she enjoys woods, water, pets, and family. Check out her blog at Betty by Elizabeth Dunning and her website, www.elizabethdunning-wix.com.

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
Editor's note: This story is for Insiders, but is being provided for everyone for free as an example of the great work available to Insiders. Read more great journalism work from the staff at the Pioneer by becoming an Insider today.

BIG RAPIDS  Ferris State University will not require COVID-19 vaccinations for students or staff this fall, and some faculty members are speaking out about the need for regulations for the safety of the campus.

Ferris is asking all students and employees to voluntarily document their vaccination status to help gauge vaccination completion rates on campus. The university will also continue its COVID-19 wastewater surveillance and is expanding the efforts to include the implementation of COVID-19 variant strain testing of wastewater.

With new cases of COVID-19 surfacing and cases of the Delta variant spreading, concern for health on university campuses with students, staff and faculty have renewed.

Randall Groves, a philosophy and comparative religion professor at Ferris, said he doesnt see a way to stop the virus or its variants without a vaccine and a willing public.

There is no defeating this virus without people getting their vaccines, Groves said. If we dont stop the spread, our schools and universities will be unworkable again."

"Last year, we had problems with rooms not being big enough," he added. "Even if you wanted to teach on campus, maintaining social distancing in small rooms was really difficult, and I think itll become a problem again in the fall if we dont take action now.

Groves wrote a letter to the Ferris administration encouraging them to stand with science, ethics, the future, and change their decision and require the vaccine.

What were going to become is a disease factory and putting unvaccinated students in a room together will spread the virus, Groves said. I dont see how to get around that, and the recommendations of vaccines just doesnt make a difference to the people who refuse vaccines. Now we have the Delta variant as well, which spreads even faster, and the more time we give the virus to mutate the more it will, which creates new dangers. When we have new variants that the vaccines dont work on, then were back to square one, and back to shutting down.

Ferris really dropped the ball with being part of the solution with this decision, he added. Were creating problems in the classroom that will have effects outside of it. They didnt want to decide to require it even though they're covered, weve seen the bigger colleges of the state announce plans to require it, and thats cover. Theres no real reason not to, the science is behind it and weve seen the impact its had.

According to a university announcement on Aug. 11, Ferris plans to follow the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control and require a mask that covers the mouth and nose be worn indoors in all buildings on the Big Rapids campus effective Aug. 12.

Students, faculty, and staff will be required to complete the daily symptom checker before coming to campus, are encouraged to stay home if you are not feeling well, washing hands frequently, and using hand sanitizer to help mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Gary Huey, a history professor at Ferris, said hes unhappy with the decision the university administration made on vaccination requirements.

Even if we have now gone to everyone wearing a mask indoors, I think the best protection to keep this variant from spreading is vaccination, Huey said. Ferris should really be following the lead of all the other higher education institutions in the state of Michigan requiring that people get vaccinated. Its been shown that the new variants are very contagious, which is the really bad part of it, but vaccination breakthrough cases have been low which is why we need to have them mandated.

Huey wrote a memo to colleagues and the administration pushing for requiring vaccination records for the safety of the campus and advocated for the implementation of an incentive program for vaccinations to encourage participation.

The spread has been seen even with masks in small spaces and thats something we need to worry about, Huey said. From my own personal perspective, I am immune-compromised, and take two medications to suppress my immune system. I am also a cancer survivor, so I think these things make me very susceptible to catching the variant. If people are required to be vaccinated, itll make for a much safer environment for me and for those others in this institution that might be in the same situation.

I know from what Ive seen from the CDC, people in my situation should avoid small spaces, wear masks, and continue social distancing, he added. The classrooms are going to resent a real challenge if we do what we did last fall which is honor the system of social distancing, and right now we arent doing that which I think is a mistake. The re-entry committee may reinstate some of that, but all that Ive seen is that masking indoors will stay.

According to the CDC, having a weakened immune system can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. Many conditions and treatments can cause a person to be immunocompromised or have a weakened immune system.

Primary immunodeficiency is caused by genetic defects that can be inherited. Prolonged use of corticosteroids or other immune weakening medicines can lead to secondary or acquired immunodeficiency.

Having chronic liver diseases, such as alcohol-related liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and especially cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.

Groves said the anti-vaccination movement has had a drastic impact on vaccination efforts across the country, and especially in Michigan.

Theres always some hesitancy with vaccines but the thing is you dont need 100% of people, you just need a certain number, Groves said. With these new variants were in a big mess, and one of the biggest problems that has surfaced within the last year is that people think they can do their own research and be as knowledgeable as a medical doctor. People go to medical school for a reason, and people just cant match what they learn in medical school in a few days of online surfing.

Its hard to understand but throughout history, weve seen movements like this pop-up and the hysteria is always there, he added. People get worked up and run with a false belief, and its disastrous, and if we require the vaccine itll be a teaching moment. Most people I think will do it if theyre required, and theres a certain point where you have to recognize the science working.

According to the CDC, a growing body of evidence indicates that people fully vaccinated with an mRNA vaccine, Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna, are less likely than unvaccinated persons to acquire COVID-19 or to transmit it to others.

However, the risk for COVID-19 breakthrough infection in fully vaccinated people cannot be completely eliminated as long as there is continued community transmission of the virus.

Individual and community-level prevention measures in addition to vaccination have been shown to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. However, there can be individual and societal costs related to physical distancing, quarantine, school and business closures, and other prevention measures.

Huey said his preparation for the year included requesting permission from the administration to work remotely and teach online through the Americans with Disabilities Act. He said concern for his health is a factor if he is forced back into the classroom physically with students who are unvaccinated.

I was so looking forward to being back in the classroom after almost a year and a half and interacting with students, Huey said. But as a result of my compromised immune system, Ive requested to go back online with work. I had to write a letter as to why I should be allowed to go back to using zoom, I had to get a letter from my doctor, and if I get approved for those things Ill then have a hearing to determine whether theyll grant me that privilege.

Frankly I think its overkill under these circumstances and the administration has gone too far to force people to go through the steps we have to go through to get relief from teaching in person this year, he added. I need to know how to prepare my classes and now Im having to prepare for both online and face to face, and my students deserve to know whats going to happen and Im really in limbo in terms of how Im going to be preparing for the fall.

For some Ferris faculty members, the universitys decision will have drastic impacts on their livelihoods and safety on campus. Moving forward, the university has expressed that it will make sure to address issues and personal conflicts regarding protocol directly, and maintain communications with students, faculty, and staff members.

The Ferris administration has said it will continue working together as a community to ensure our campuses remain healthy and safe living, learning, and working environments. Regular updates on protocol and news are available on their Coronavirus updates hub throughout the fall move-in process and the entire year.
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, the states vs. the president.

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Clinical validation studies and trials will be necessary prior to the adoption of this holomedicine solution as a primary clinical method

Singapore's National University Health System (NUHS) has embarked on a research and development programme to explore the use of mixed reality (MR) technology in clinical care. The research programme hopes to support the development of next-generation clinical applications and improve patient safety.

This would augment clinical processes, and enhance both undergraduate and postgraduate education. While the use of holographic technology in operating theatres is still nascent, NUHS hopes to apply it in multiple fields of surgery.

Holomedicine leverages the concept of MR not only to augment our physical environment, but permits interaction with virtual objects superimposed onto the real world. The virtual objects can also be manipulated relative to the real world using natural hand gestures, explained Dr Gao Yujia, Associate Consultant with the Division of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery, National University Hospital (NUH), and the programme lead for holomedicine at NUHS.

A team of neurosurgeons at NUH has initiated a study to assess the feasibility of using holographic technology to spatially locate brain tumours when operating on patients.

The NUHS team, in collaboration with the Engineering Design & Innovation Centre under the National University of Singapores (NUS) Faculty of Engineering, has also been awarded a grant of $100,000 from the Engineering in Medicine Grant under NUHS and NUS in March 2021. The grant will enable the team to embark on a project on real-time volumetric rendering and positioning of ultrasound scans. NUHS has been collaborating with Microsoft and apoQlar in its holomedicine efforts. NUHS will continue to build on its existing partnerships and explore new industry collaborations.
Researchers observe structural abnormalities in liver due to SARS-CoV-2 infection

A team of researchers at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology in Taiwan is providing new information on immunological cytokines and biological parameters related to the pathogenesis and immune response profile in the Syrian hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The main target of SARS-CoV-2 is the lungs, but the researchers observed small amounts of virus appearing in liver, pancreas, heart, kidney, PBMC, and even bone marrow; however, no visible damage appeared in these organs and tissues except liver.

Although no inflammation and cell infiltration was observed in these organs of SARS-CoV-2-infected hamsters, structural abnormalities and large vacuoles were detected in the liver.

According to the researchers, hepatic and pancreatic dysfunction are highly correlated with the severity of COVID-19, contributing to increased ICU admission and intubation and potentially to multisystem manifestations. Some of these parameters (or combinations of them) may have potential as optimal tools for clinical analysis.
The MoU will benefit patients with complications due to end-stage chronic liver disease as also in rare cases of sudden failure of a previously healthy liver

The Apollo Hospitals Group has signed an MoU with Group of Hospitals - DMIMS (DU), a private healthcare medical university based out of Wardha, Maharashtra to bring liver transplant programmes to patients in Central India. The two institutions will work to build a successful liver transplant programme that brings the best of medical expertise and the latest world-class technological advances in liver transplant care to Central India.

The MoU, signed on World Organ Donation Day, would benefit patients with complications due to end-stage chronic liver disease as also in rare cases of sudden failure of a previously healthy liver. The MoU was signed by Dr Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director- Apollo Hospitals Group and Dr Sandeep Shrivastava, CEO, Group of Hospitals - DMIMS, DU.

Sangita Reddy, Joint MD, Apollo Hospitals said, This MoU is the first of its kind in Central India and will change the scenario of liver transplant in the region. We will work with the Group of Hospitals - DMIMS, (DU) to bring world-class practices and create a Centre of Excellence in Central India for 360-degree care in liver diseases and transplantation."

Datta Meghe, Founder and Chairman, Group of Hospitals - DMIMS, (DU) said, The partnership with Apollo Hospitals will enable us to serve the people of Central India with the best of care for liver transplants as we together build a knowledge and result oriented liver transplant programme.
Adjustments to entry criteria and prize allocation

BCX Digital Innovation Awards 2021 announces judges, extends deadline BCX announced its panel of judges for this year's BCX Digital Innovation Awards and extends call for entries to 30 September 2021...

Last year, the Galliova Awards were adapted to accommodate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on both the South African media sector and on the awards themselves. Entry criteria and award prizes were amended and the Galliova Awards event was held virtually.This year, the awards event will also be held virtually on 15 October to suit the changing media industry and Covid-19 safety protocols. Sapa said that it hopes in 2022, food and health journalists will be able to come together again and enjoy the full Galliova Awards experience.The 32nd Galliova Awards will honour excellence food and health media journalism within the following categories:- Galliova Food Champion- Galliova Health Writer- Galliova Egg Champion- Galliova Broiler Champion- Digital Food InfluencerThe Sapa board and the Galliova Awards judges made several changes to the entry criteria and prize allocation for this years awards. The association says it is aware of the ongoing challenges facing the media sector following the closure of several magazines in 2020 and the relaunching of certain titles in 2021, and it is demonstrating its commitment to the industry by allocating over R136,000 in cash prizes for the 2021 Galliova Award winners.The new award category piloted in 2020 for invited digital food influencers who host a popular digital food platform via a blog, Facebook or Instagram page, or all three, will be continued this year and will now include cash prizes for first, second and third place.Cash prizes will once again be awarded for the best food and health print articles (published between November 2020 and October 2021) and food and health online articles (published between November 2020 and August 2021) that meet the entry requirements of the four other awards categories. Due to declining entries for the up-and-coming writer award, this category has not been included in 2021. It will, however, be reconsidered in future.Three renowned food journalists and influencers representing a cross-section of South African cultures and with first-hand experience of excellent food journalism, will join two registered dietitians and two representatives of the egg and broiler sectors of Sapa on the judges panel. The panel will judge entries at an online event scheduled for the end of September.Sapa said this judging event forms a critical part of its efforts to ensure transparency and fairness in the judging process. In addition, an inaugural online judges briefing will also be held this year, at the end of August, to clarify the ongoing changes in the media landscape, and awards criteria and scoring, it said.
Henley Business School Africa prides itself on creativity and innovation, but there are few who will come close to Gerda Olivier; in an era of always on artificial intelligence, machine learning and digital connectivity, she took her creativity to the next level by hand making a quilt.

Henley Business School Africa is a leading global business school with campuses in Europe, Asia and Africa. It holds elite triple international accreditation; has the number 1 business school alumni network in the world for potential to network (Economist 2017); and is the number 1 African-accredited and -campused business school in the world for executive education (FT 2018, 2020), as well as the number 1 MBA business school in South Africa as rated by corporate SA (PMR.Africa 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021).

But its not any old quilt. Instead it tells a story. Hers.The multi-degreed banker was doing her ADMP (Advanced Diploma in Management Practice) as part of a cohort of Standard Bank staffers when she was asked to present her final assessment, a reflective essay. She had sent her programme director Candace Ristic a gift beforehand, with strict instructions not to open until it was Oliviers turn to present her essay to the class via Zoom.The gift was a quilt, made up of squares, reflecting the blocks that made up Olivers ADMP .The first thing I learnt is that you never change your life until you step out of your comfort zone. To reflect on the way the Ecosystems journey shaped me, I have decided to step out of my comfort zone - I have decided to choose something I cant do at all and then use this to describe my Henley Journey, Olivier told her class.She and her husband challenged themselves five years ago to master a skill theyd always wanted to do, but couldnt. Her husband learnt the guitar. Olivier did needlework, hated it but fell in love with quilting. As she told the class, making a quilt was like doing the ADMP itself. Every block was an assignment and a reflection, she says.In the beginning there are so many loose ends, loose materials, loose patterns but at the end it all comes together and this beautiful story is created. This is exactly how I felt when I started with Henley  all the loose ends, lots of learning material, new lecturers, colleagues you dont know, and nothing is making sense. At the end you have this beautiful story, and I wish to share this story with you! All handmadeevery stitchevery step.Normally a quilt takes a year to make, but for Olivier its like reading a book, once she starts, she has to finish. The quilt, with a block for each of the 31 classmates who finished the journey and smaller ones for the seven who were unable to because theyd left the bank, along with bigger blocks for the angels; Noms Dyantyi, Jayesh Reddy, Nicole de Villiers, Lerone Prior, Brett Will, Darren Lang, Melani Prinsloo, Gene van Heerden and Ristic the programme director, took her three weeks to complete.Olivier, who holds a BA, an honours degree and a masters all from North West University as well as all her necessary banking qualifications, found going back to study, especially at the same time that she making sense of working from home, quite challenging.When I began the course, I was bowled over by all the new concepts like pelopele, cohort, system thinking, design thinking, computational thinking, position paper, reflective paper and even youre on mute.The lecturers though were first class, underpinned by Ristic and her team. If she needed any more affirmation that she had made the right choice to study at the school, says the mother-of-two, it came from her daughter Rizaan, who is working in the Netherlands.When I told her I was going to Henley, she told me all her contemporaries had told her that was the place to be and thats when I realised in what high esteem the business school is actually held when the 28/29 year old professionals are all aspiring to go there!Henley is also held in extremely high esteem in corporate South Africa, she says. I was promoted into a brand-new job as head of private banking for the Garden Route, Karoo and Boland West Coast, while I was still doing the ADMP, they didnt even wait for me to graduate, she said.You must always leave people with something to think about. Candace left something in my heart so this is my way of paying it forward. Theres a tree in the middle of the quilt. The individuals are the branches in the tree, Candace managed to keep us together by growing strong roots and ensuring we make an impact wherever we go. The beauty of the tree lies in its branches, but its strength lies in its roots.For Henley Africa dean and director Jon Foster-Pedley, the story of Gerda Oliviers quilt symbolises everything the business school stands for. Its an incredibly personal and heartfelt statement to make something like that for your teachers to express your appreciation for how much theyve done for you.Candace is a real Henley star; I think we are all a bit jealous of her to be honest. We teach of the love of teaching and to unlock the potential in those we are given the privilege to work with. Gerda is right, Henley is a close network and its a relationship that we hope is sustained well after our students graduate.
Many called for President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a state of emergency, as South Africa recently underwent one of the worst unrests in decades. Hundreds of shops and businesses fell victim to looting that took place mainly in the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. Over 100 people lost their lives and many more have been arrested in connection with the looting.

Source: Somchai Kongkamsri from Pexels

When to declare a state of emergency

Disadvantages of declaring a state of emergency

Consequences of a state of emergency for intellectual property owners

As a result of the unrests, many shopping centers, warehouses and schools were damaged and set alight. It is on this basis that many pleaded with the President to declare a state of emergency, in order to curb the widespread looting and damage. This decision would also have consequences for intellectual property owners.According to the State of Emergency Act No. 64 of 1997, it is the President who may declare a state of emergency in the Republic of South Africa or in any area within the country. This is done by a proclamation in the Government Gazette declaring a state of emergency and providing the reasons for same in the proclamation. In addition, this proclamation, which gives the right to a state of emergency, may be withdrawn by the President at any time in a similar manner.Section 37 of the Constitution states that a state of emergency may be declared only in terms of an Act of Parliament, and only when there is war, invasion or general insurrection, to name a few.The sole purpose of declaring a state of emergency is to restore peace and order. It is on this basis that many felt that a state of emergency could have saved many businesses from the destruction that occurred recently, as well as spared many lives.In the event that the President did declare a state of emergency in South Africa, there would have been a limitation on the citizens rights. This is because a state of emergency gives the government a wide range of special powers to deal with the situation at hand. This could have given rise to restrictions on the movement of people, searching of people's homes without a warrant and the provision of health care services, especially to the most vulnerable citizens.The decision to declare a state of emergency must weigh up the above factors versus the need to maintain peace and order.It goes without saying that a limitation of rights that may be caused by the coming into operation of a state of emergency, may lead to certain dishonest businesses devising their own methods of creating essential products. This was evident when the stricter lockdown regulations were first imposed in South Africa and we saw a rise in the manufacturing of illicit and counterfeit essential products.As law enforcement officers are still required to fulfil their duties during a state of emergency (within the ambits of the proclamation) it may still be possible to combat these life-threatening and illegal acts by conducting search and seizure operations and have the offending products removed and ultimately destroyed. This is certainly a positive for citizens who may be exposed to the offending goods. This is also a positive for intellectual property owners, in that, they continue to protect the image and quality of their products and enforce their intellectual property rights.Once again, the decision to declare a state of emergency has many adverse and positive effects for peoples rights and for businesses owners. Was it meant to be (or not to be) a state of emergency in South Africa?
We spoke with Lizelle McConnell, sales director at Tractor Outdoor - a media owner which specialises in connecting brands to customers through Out Of Home (OOH) and Digital Out Of Home (DOOH) inventory.

Lizelle McConnell, sales director at Tractor Outdoor

What do you love most about your work?

The future is DOOH: The renaissance of the OOH industry The global advertising industry is currently experiencing a renaissance in the out of home (OOH) media arena and while Covid-19 may not be the sole instigator, it has certainly been the accelerator...

What is the most effective way of connecting to customers, in your opinion?

How has OOH and DOOH advertising/inventory been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic?

In your opinion, how can diversity - of all kinds - affect the impact of OOH and DOOH advertising and marketing?

Addressing the challenges women face in leadership When looking at the undeniable challenges that we as women face in leadership, we often neglect to look at how far we've come and how much we have achieved when it comes to breaking through barriers, particularly on the African continent.

What is the most exciting project you have ever worked on?

What, in your opinion, constitutes a successful advertising and marketing campaign?

What is the best advice someone has ever given you?

McConnell is responsible for managing their sales team and ensuring they are aligned with the targets defined - while also maintaining high-level client relationships. I believe that one of the most important aspects of my role is the importance of instilling in my team the power of developing, nurturing, and growing these relationships, she said.Here, she tells us more about her work with OOH and DOOH, the place of women in the industry right now, and how diversity can impact OOH marketingAside from the development of relationships, I am also highly passionate about media strategy, and being able to tap into the insights that we now have access to thanks to the advent of technology.The industry is shifting - and with the global debate around advertising fraud in the traditional digital space, advertisers need to be confident that their ads are being seen by the very audiences that they are paying to have access to.As a business, weve invested significantly in new data verification metrics that will establish greater trust with our clients. These tools make DOOH a force to be reckoned with as we can now show measurable results, and for this reason, I believe we are seeing a renaissance of OOH.I also still love the thrill of pitching and the excitement of closing a big deal - I think this is in the blood of all salespeople!Tools and data are important, and being able to show a solid business result is non-negotiable, so having a good reputation and track record is key. But ultimately - and before all of this - people buy from people. This does not mean being a Yes Man or telling your clients what they want to hear - it is about offering guidance that is in their best interests; ahead of your own sales agenda. Your integrity, honesty, and care for your clients and their business is what will set you apart in a highly competitive arena. Being able to solve problems for clients definitely stands you in good stead.Covid has catapulted us into a data-driven world - I would argue that before, we were only flirting with data - we were definitely not leveraging it to its full potential. Its now become a core part of our industry.As one could imagine, the initial hard lockdown was tough on us - it is hard to justify out of home spending in a time when people were told to stay at home. However, in hindsight, it has brought a lot of good to our industry, in that it has forced us to focus and make the necessary investment in technology, which will make us far more resilient into the future.The recovery in OOH was largely due to flexibility on DOOH - plug-and-play has become very important to clients, and for this reason, we are seeing an exciting re-ignition of the entire category. We are also seeing far more combos purchased - where iconic, static OOH (i.e. traditional billboard) and DOOH inventory are frequently booked together.In two ways - we need to see more diversity within the OOH industry, and we need to see wider representation in our OOH marketing campaigns - just as we do across every marketing discipline.OOH as an industry has always been male-dominated, and this is the case globally - only now are we starting to see a change. In the US, the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA), the US trade association for the OOH and digital OOH media ecosystem, recently announced a joint diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative in partnership with Geopat called the OOH United, which aims to advance a culture of inclusion throughout the outdoor arena.Locally, there is still some way to go. We need to be doing more to attract women - especially women of colour. We need to do better at showcasing the industry and what it has to offer in terms of career fulfilment, and make it more welcoming to more people. Once we get this right, I believe that the positive knock-on effect is that we will start seeing more diversity in the marketing campaigns we see across our OOH billboards - because we will have more voices at the table and richer ideas - thanks to this wider representation.I am fortunate in that I have worked on loads of incredible campaigns, so it would be difficult to narrow it down to just one. However, a project I have recently started, which I am very passionate about, is my Women in Leadership Masterclass Series, facilitated by Lockstep Leadership Development. I wanted to create a safe forum for women in the industry to connect, to share their stories, challenges, and opportunities, while building a network of mentors for each other.Clear campaign objectives from clients. This sounds simple but often clients arent sure what they want to achieve, which makes it hard for us to succeed.Secondly, the data has to be in place to ensure that we are reaching the right people at the right time.Last, but certainly not least, creative execution is critical.A comprehensive post-campaign analysis is also key to review what worked well and what didnt so that we can apply these learnings to future campaigns.Focus on what you love - and the rest will follow from there.
The Republic of Mauritius will be fully reopening its borders on 1 October. Vaccinated international travellers will then be welcomed in without restrictions. Visitors who present a negative PCR test taken in the 72 hours before their departure will be able to explore the island freely from the moment they arrive.

Source: Ymon via Pixabay

Mauritius welcomes back international travellers Mauritius has opened its borders to international travellers, both vaccinated and non-vaccinated, from today, 15 July 2021...

Mauritius opened for international travel in the middle of July. Currently, vaccinated guests spend 14 days in a special resort bubble hotel before going on to discover more of the Indian Ocean paradise.The successful acceleration of the countrys vaccination programme has allowed Mauritius to progress with the full reopening and welcome visitors into a safe and secure environment. At this moment 1,322,232 vaccine doses have been administered in total to citizens and residents.- First dose: 60%- Fully vaccinated: 48%The Mauritian government took the decision in January to prioritise tourism workers and hotel staff in the vaccine rollout to ensure visitors will be welcomed into a safe and secure environment in Mauritius.Arvind Bundhun, director of MTPA, said: "Mauritius is delighted to see the world opening up again for travel. We have been welcoming international visitors to our island since the middle of July and the 'resort bubbles' have proven a great success."We are looking forward to the next stage of our reopening on 1 October, when vaccinated visitors will be able to explore the island without restriction from the moment of their arrival. The safety and security of Mauritian residents, citizens and guests remain paramount."Airline capacity from Europe and the Middle East is currently provided by Air Mauritius, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Air France, Kenya Airways and British Airways.International visitors can currently book their 'resort bubble' holidays either via tour operators or directly with the hotels. Unvaccinated travellers are required to complete a 14-day quarantine period in a designated quarantine hotel.
Midweight Copywriter

Remuneration: negotiable cost-to-company Location: Cape Town Education level: Diploma Job level: Mid Own transport required: Yes Travel requirement: Occasional Job policy: Employment Equity position Type: Permanent Reference: #MWCopy Company: Saatchi & Saatchi

Job description

Develop and execute outstanding work across ATL/BTL

Understand the clients strategy and business context, and always aim to do work that performs

Work closely with a the creative team (i.e. Art Director) to generate creative ideas and concepts to fulfil the clients brief

Produce the words of sketches, storyboards, roughs or scamps to communicate ideas to the client

Work closely and in co-operation with strategic planning and client service department under the direction of the Creative Director

Present concepts and ideas to the Creative Director (and Account Management) and to client when requested

Build a strongly collaborative relationship with the broader team, partners and clients

Timeous execution of work as scheduled by the traffic manager to ensure deadlines are met

Check all the content to ensure it retains the highest standard

Able to work on several campaigns at once

Cast actors for TV and Radio , and listen to voice overs

Contribute to proactivity and innovative thinking on brands

Assist with pitches, awards and new business presentations as required

Keep abreast with industry trends and standards in order to ensure work is always fresh, world-class and original

Requirements

A tertiary qualification in Copywriting

Five years experience as a Copywriter in an Advertising Agency which includes at least 1 year as a MW Copywriter

Proficient in MS Office (Word / PowerPoint etc.)

TTL & Digital experience (essential)

A good command of the English language (both verbal and written)

Afrikaans and isiXhosa will be advantageous

Strong organizational and time management skills

Strong multitasking skills (ability to work on more than one campaign at a time)

Strong presentation skills

Strong in-depth knowledge and experience in developing and building brands

Ability to work within a team as well as independently

Ability to remain calm in a highly pressurized environment

Ability to accept constructive feedback and learn from it

Confident

Assertive

Proactive

"Out of the box" creative thinking

Resilient

Solution and deadline driven

Meticulous with attention to detail

Other:

Flexible to work beyond normal working hours (if and when required)



Must be willing to work on alcohol brands

Company Description

About Saatchi & SaatchiSaatchi & Saatchi is the Nothing is Impossible agency.We are a creative and strategic hub that develops and implements integrated solutions for our blue chip-clients across multiple markets  from offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Were a diverse, dynamic, and collaborative team, led by strategy and fired by creativity.We believe in the power of emotion to break through to people and in the necessity of sharp campaign design to deliver the most effective results  an approach we call Heart and Smart.As part of the Saatchi & Saatchi global network, and the Publicis Groupe Africa, we collaborate with partner agencies to deliver a myriad of specialized solutions. Saatchi & Saatchi has a rich history of building brands across Africa. Posted on 13 Aug 13:03
Hunter Biden claimed Russians stole another one of his laptops for blackmail while he was close to overdosing in a Las Vegas hotel room, DailyMail.com can reveal.

The alleged incident would mean Hunter lost a total of three computers - the first abandoned at a Delaware computer store and the second seized by federal agents - each likely to hold sensitive information on President Joe Biden and the embarrassing pictures, videos and communications of his son.

The third laptop still appears to be missing  and was taken by Russian drug dealers after they partied with Hunter in Vegas, he told a prostitute in a conversation caught on camera.

After filming himself having sex with the woman using his laptop in January 2019, Hunter left the camera rolling as he recounted a Vegas bender in which he spent '18 days going round from penthouse suite to penthouse suite,' sometimes costing $10,000 a night.

'I spent f***ing crazy amounts of money,' Hunter said. 'I was with these guys. The one guy was, not like you anyway each night he'd be like 'there's going to be so many people here, crazy f***ing party' and each night it's nobody.'
The Taliban has taken control of the city of Kandahar, Afghanistan's second-largest city, Afghan Member of Parliament Gul Ahmad Kamin told CNN on Friday.

The Taliban said in a statement Friday that "during the conquest operation, the governor's office, police headquarters and many other centers in Kandahar city were cleared of the enemy last night and were under the control of Mujahidin."

"Hundreds of weapons, vehicles and ammunition were seized," the statement says.

Kamin said he and many others have made their way to a military base by the airport and are awaiting a flight out.

"Many (government) soldiers surrendered and the rest fled," Kamin said.
In the roughly two years since Jeffery Epsteins suicide in a Manhattan jail cell, some of his closest associates, friends, and clients continue to scramble to salvage their carefully crafted public images from the fallout of having had links to Epstein and/or the network that enabled his sex-trafficking and blackmail activities. Chief among those who have labored to keep their names out of the press is arguably Epsteins closest associate alongside Ghislaine Maxwell, the retail billionaire Leslie Wexner.

Wexner, the richest man in Ohio, has had his well-crafted public persona irrevocably tarnished by the association, but he has used his influence and power to keep his name largely out of the press, despite the clear ties between him and Epstein as well as the many sordid acts that are now synonymous with Epsteins name.

One obvious consequence of keeping Wexners name mostly out of the headlines has been a lack of journalistic scrutiny applied to his dealings, both past and present. While some Ohio journalists, Bob Fitrakis chief among them, have critically reported on Wexner for decades, there has been little attention given to the dark underbelly of Wexners empire by the mainstream press, despite his obvious and extremely close connection with Jeffrey Epstein.

There are several historical moments when Wexners made-to-order persona of the rag trade revolutionary unravels, with the most critical being the murder of Arthur Shapiro and its subsequent cover-up. While some mainstream outlets, such as the Daily Beast, have recently attempted to dig slightly deeper into Shapiros death and what it reveals about Leslie Wexner, in this article reveals previously unreported implications of Shapiros death and how it relates to the billionaire who was Epsteins most obvious, yet unindicted, accomplice.

The following article is adapted from a chapter on Leslie Wexner from my upcoming book One Nation under Blackmail. You can preorder the book, due out in early 2022, from TrineDay (the books publisher), Amazon, or Barnes & Noble.

The Hit

In March 1985, Arthur Shapiro, a lawyer in Columbus, Ohio, was murdered in broad daylight. Per police reports, he had been eating breakfast in his car with an unidentified man. Shortly after 9:30 AM, Shapiro sprang from his car with the unknown man also abruptly leaving the vehicle, giving chase. The man fired his handgun at Shapiro, grazing his hip and arm, before Shapiro reached a condominium and began pounding on the door. The unidentified man, described as wearing all black and running with a limp, then shot Shapiro twice in the head at point-blank range before fleeing the scene in Shapiros car. The car was found the next morning in a mall parking lot. It had been wiped clean of fingerprints. The killing was regarded by police as a professional hit and likely tied to organized crime.

Local authorities suspected at the time that Shapiros murderer may have been hired by Columbus-based tax accountant Berry L. Kessler. Two of Kesslers then employees later alleged to the Columbus Dispatch that they had seen a man matching the killers description visit Kesslers office the day after the shooting and that they had seen Kessler counting a large pile of money before this man had arrived. Since the killers description was mainly based on his clothing, however, it means the killer showed up to receive a presumed payment for a contract killing in the same attire in which he had committed the killing a day earlier, which seems unlikely given the professional nature of the hit and hitman per the police. It is also not clear how long after the murder these former employees of Kessler relayed this information to the Dispatch, but other Dispatch reporting suggests that such claims were not made until many years later, in the early 1990s, when Kessler was arrested for a contract killing that also involved the FBI.

In 1991 Kessler was charged in Florida with arranging the slaying of a business partner, John Deroo. He was convicted of that crime in 1994 and died in prison in 2005. Kessler was caught in the Deroo case through information provided by an FBI informant, which led to Kesslers attorney arguing that Kessler had been tricked by a government informant into complicity in a criminal act. Per a Columbus Dispatch article entitled Informant Led Way in Florida Arrest, it was only when Kessler was charged in connection with Deroos slaying in 1993 that he became the prime suspect in the Shapiro case, though he had initially been a suspect but was never charged in connection with that murder. Police later stated that no suspect in the Shapiro murder had ever been eliminated from their suspect list.

Newspaper clipping about Berry Kesslers retrial

In 1986, however, Kessler was convicted along with two co-conspirators of having helped Arthur Shapiro file false tax returns. Shapiro, shortly before his death, had been named an unindicted co-conspirator in the same tax case and was due to testify the day after he was killed.

As an unindicted co-conspirator, Shapiro would not have been indicted himself, but he could have provided damaging information regarding those who had been indicted, giving considerable motive to Kessler and the other co-conspiratorsunnamed in the Dispatch or other media reports at the timeto see that Shapiro did not testify. What is odd about this court case, beyond the significant fact that a key witness had been shot in what police referred to as a mob style murder or mafia hit, is that Kessler and his co-conspirators were only sentenced to probation and did not serve prison time for the crime of helping Shapiro file false tax returns in 1971 and 1976.

This raises several questions: Why was Shapiro an unindicted co-conspirator if he was the one who filed the fraudulent tax returns, while those charged were convicted of aiding Shapiro file the false returns? Does that mean Shapiro had planned to testify about other individuals involved in a bigger scheme, who were not part of this particular case, in exchange for avoiding tax-fraud charges against himself? Also, why were those convicted given such lenient sentences despite Shapiros planned testimony being the most likely motive for his high-profile murder?

The Mystery Deepens

Other questions are raised by Kesslers history prior to the Shapiro slaying. Kessler had previously come under suspicion after the murder of his business partner Frank Yassenoff and Yassenoffs fiancee Ella Rich in 1970, but Kessler was never charged with that crime. Yassenoff and Rich were found dead in Yassenoffs car in his driveway. Two years later, Kessler was taken to court by the IRS for failing to provide records of an Ohio-based construction company, Brittany Builders, where Kessler was secretary and thus custodian of those records. Kessler was first ordered to provide the records, but the order was dismissed in 1973. One of the lawyers defending Kessler in both of these cases, Joseph F. Dillon of Detroit, Michigan, represented Detroit mafia figure Anthony Giacalone on federal tax-evasion charges in 1976. A decade later, Dillon was also involved as a lawyer for Arthur Shapiros estate in another case involving his fraudulent tax returns.

In 1972, the records of Brittany Builders were wanted in connection with a tax-liability investigation involving Carl and Sandra Neufeld; and the requested records covered the period from 1967 to 1969. Brittany Builders was incorporated in 1967 by Joseph L. Eisenberg, a Columbus-area lawyer and Bnai Brith member, and was cancelled as a company in 1970, the year of Yassenoffs death. Local media reports cite Yassenoff as having been president of Brittany Builders. Yassenoffs son, Solly Yassenoff, later told the Columbus Dispatch that he knew for a fact that his father had been involved in bribing public officials in connection with real estate deals at the time he was president of Brittany Builders.

An undated photo of Arthur Shapiro

A year after the Brittany Builders case, Columbus police claimed that Yassenoff and Rich were killed during a robbery, a claim they had not made at the time of the victims deaths. The police also claimed that the prime suspect in the robbery and murders, Joseph Bogen, had been killed by his partner, Rudolph Glenn, by the time the claim that Bogen was the murderer was made. Police also stated that Bogen, Yassenoff, and Rich had all been killed with the same gun due to ballistics tests they had conducted, meaning that the gun Glenn had used to kill Bogen was also the weapon responsible for the deaths of Yassenoff and Rich. Yet, police also claimed that the gun in question was never recovered, even though they could have obtained it from Glenn. Glenn was cleared of any wrongdoing in Bogens death due to his claiming self-defense. The murders of Yassenoff and Rich are still classified as unsolved.

It later emerged that accountant Kessler was involved in resolving issues related to Yassenoffs estate after his death, with Arthur Shapiro also being involved as the attorney for the executor of Yassenoffs will. Kessler and a woman named Marjorie Dyer were the only witnesses who had signed Yassenoffs will, and Kessler had come under suspicion when she died in a questionable automobile accident. It was later reported by the Columbus Dispatch that Kessler, Shapiro, and Yassenoff had all been connected through a maze of business dealings. Perhaps most unsettling of all was, when police investigators were looking for the files on the Yassenoff murder case during the investigation into Shapiros murder, they were unable to locate them, which suggests that some police official or officials had deliberately removed or destroyed those documents. The interconnectedness of Yassenoff, Shapiro, and Kessler and the aforementioned information suggests that law enforcement was involved in a series of cover-ups in Yassenoffs, Richs and Shapiros murders and potentially in the death of Marjorie Dyer as well. Did Berry Kessler, an accountant, really wield enough influence in Ohio to avoid being heavily scrutinized for not just one but three murders? It seems unlikely.

No Ordinary Cover-Up

In the case of the Shapiro murder, more evidence that a cover-up had indeed taken place emerged in 1996, when the then Columbus police chief James Jackson was under investigation for corruption. As a part of that investigation, Jackson was charged with the improper disposal of a public record for ordering the destruction of a report on the Shapiro homicide. The homicide report had been written by Elizabeth A. Leupp, an analyst with Columbus polices Organized Crime Bureau, and sent to the commander of the Intelligence Bureau, Curtis K. Marcum, on June 6, 1991. Jackson quickly suppressed the document and then ordered its destruction less than a month after it had been written. According to reports, Marcum bypassed protocol in carrying out Jacksons order. The charge against Jackson was upheld by the Civil Service Commission, and he received a five-day work suspension for destroying a public record. Jackson had justified his actions by claiming that the report was filled with wild speculation about prominent business leaders and was potentially libelous.

Though the homicide report was believed to have been destroyed, it was obtained by Bob Fitrakisattorney, journalist, and executive director of the Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalismin 1998 when Fitrakis was accidentally sent a copy of it as part of a public records request. When confronted with the document after Fitrakis reported on its contents, Jackson responded, I thought I got rid of it, adding that the report was scandalous. However, another high-ranking law enforcement official familiar with the Shapiro murder investigation told Fitrakis at the time that the report is a viable and valuable document in an open murder investigation.

Bob Fitrakis speaking at The National Election Integrity Conference in 2017.

The report is officially titled Shapiro Homicide Investigation: Analysis and Hypothesis, (hereafter in this article, the Shapiro Murder File). The report was most likely suppressed to protect Ohios two wealthiest men, who were both named in the documentLeslie Wexner and Edward DeBartolo Sr. Notably, the document does not once mention Berry L. Kessler. It does, however, mention John W. Jack Kessler, former Columbus City Council president and cofounder of the New Albany Company along with Leslie Wexner. It also mentions former Columbus City Council president Jerry Hammond and former Columbus City Council member Les Wright. Kessler later became a board member of Banc One and still later of JP Morgan and was involved in selecting Jamie Dimon as CEO of that bank.

The document notes that the law firm where Shapiro worked, called Schwartz, Shapiro, Kelm & Warren at the time of his murder but later called Schwartz, Kelm, Warren & Rubenstein, was representing Wexners company The Limited. Arthur Shapiro, prior to and at the time of his death, managed The Limiteds account at the law firm and was in direct contact with Robert Morosky, the top man at The Limited after Wexner. Stanley Schwartz, a senior partner at Shapiros firm, took over The Limited account following Shapiros murder.

Shortly after Shapiro was killed, per the document, Schwartz incorporated Samax Trading Corporation, which was controlled by Wexner with the express purpose of engaging in business liquidation. Through Samax, the report notes, Wexner acquired 70 percent of Omni Oil/Omni Exploration and was elected to its board of directors along with Schwartz that same year.

However, Ohio state records show there is more to the story. Schwartz incorporated the Samax Trading Corporation and Samax Trading Company within one month of each other in 1987, per state records. Samax Trading Company did not adopt the name Samax until 1987 and had previously been called JAS Liquidation Inc. Company records include a consent letter stating that the board of directors of Lewex Inc., another company controlled by Wexner, had given its consent for JAS to adopt Samax as its trade name. Thus, it was JAS, not Samax, that was incorporated in 1985, but the company does not appear to have been incorporated in Ohio as it does not appear in that states records even though its address is listed as existing in Columbus, Ohio. It is possible that the company was reincorporated in Ohio under the name Samax two years after its initial creation, potentially to obfuscate its previous activities in liquidating distressed businesses. One month after JAS became the Samax Trading Company, the Samax Trading Corporation was also incorporated as an Ohio corporation by Stanley Schwartz as a holding company for shares in Omni Oil. Company records note that the trade name Samax Trading Corporation had been used by Schwartz and Wexner since July 1985.

The year that JAS became Samax, 1987, Schwartz also incorporated the Wexner Investment Company. Harold Levin, Wexners neighbor and top money manager from 1983 to 1990, was its initial president, according to the Shapiro Murder File. Levin was also listed as vice president of PFI Leasing, which shared the same telephone number and address as the Wexner Investment Company. PFI Leasing was incorporated by Levin in 1983, the year he began managing Wexners fortune. Records show the address of PFI Leasing as Schwartz, Kelm, Warren & Rubenstein (at the time listed as Schwartz, Shapiro, Kelm & Warren). The Shapiro Murder File also notes that, in 1986, Richard Rubenstein of Schwartz, Kelm, Warren & Rubenstein was given a speeding ticket while driving a vehicle registered to PFI Leasing Company.

The Wexner Investment Company, at the time the Shapiro Murder File was written in 1991, also shared an office with Omni Oil and Intercontinental Realty. Intercontinental Realty was incorporated the same year as the Wexner Investment Company with the involvement of Dorothy Snow, an attorney at Schwartz, Kelm, Warren & Rubenstein. The realty name, notably, is similar to the name of Epsteins main company at the timeIntercontinental Assets Group.

At the time the Shapiro Murder File was written, the head of Wexner Investment Company and Wexners new money manager was Jeffrey Epstein, whose name is not mentioned in the Shapiro Murder File. Crucially, the year 1987, when many of these changes with Samax and the creation of the Investment Company took place, is the very year that Jeffrey Epstein officially began to serve as a financial adviser to Wexner. Levin was forced out of the Wexner Investment Company in 1990 after Epstein was put in charge, effectively demoting Levin and prompting him to resign a few months afterward. It is unknown how involved Epstein was in these different entities from 1987 until he formally became Wexners money manager in 1990. However, Epstein must have significantly benefitted Wexner in some major way during this period to warrant such a rapid and dramatic promotion within a three-year span.

Notably, once Epstein had taken over as Wexners top money manager, PFI Leasing was dissolved. Records of its dissolution list Wexner as director and president of PFI Leasing and Epstein as vice president. Levin had been delisted as the companys agent just a few weeks earlier. Both Samax companies were similarly dissolved in 1992, though the records of their dissolution are not publicly available.

Around the time Epstein became involved with Wexners inner circle, in 1986, John W. Kessler and Wexner cofounded the New Albany Company. The Shapiro Murder File notes that the Wexner Investment Company and PFI Leasing shared a telephone number and office on the 37th floor of Columbuss Huntington Center, which is also the address listed for John W. Kessler Company and the New Albany Company. A 1993 article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer and cited by Bob Fitrakis describes the origins of the New Albany Company as follows:

Legend has it that in 1986 or so, Jack and Les were cruising in Les Land Rover near New Albany, about 12 miles from downtown Columbus. They saw acre after acre of empty farmland. Virgin soil. And thus the billionaire, getting a vision thing, declared to his buddy, this will be my new home.

That same report states that Wexner and Kessler formed the New Albany Co. and spun off a bunch of paper corporations to cover their footprints. Then their minions knocked on doors and made the proverbial offers you couldnt refuse. The business linkages between the New Albany Company, PFI Leasing, the Wexner Investment Company, the Samax companies, Omni Oil, and Intercontinental Realty are worth reconsidering given this context.

Per Fitrakis, New Albanys success required changes be made to Columbus city policy and zoning laws. This is alluded to in the Shapiro Murder File as having been accomplished through questionable investments made by a Wexner-controlled entity in a jazz club run by former City Council member Jerry Hammond and his successor on the council, Les Wright. The Wexner-controlled entity in this case was called SNJC Holding Inc., incorporated in 1987, and gives the same address as the Wexner Investment Company at the Huntington Center. It then cites circumstantial evidence regarding how it was that Hammond was mysteriously able to make payments on a luxury apartment despite not having enough known income for such payments, suggesting a bribe had been paid. Hammond had also been swept up in an emotional debate about the Wexley luxury housing project [i.e., the New Albany project] in 1988 and was accused by local officials of selling out the citys interests to benefit his friend Leslie Wexner.

Even though the New Albany Company managed to secure this local policy change however that was actually accomplishedother company projects were later accused of violating existing state and city laws, though no action was taken against the company.

Wexner and the Mob

The Shapiro Murder File also notes that a motive for Shapiros murder could be found in the IRS investigation, stating that Shapiro was due to appear before a grand jury in connection with that investigation the day after his murder. It states, While the motive remains unclear, the suspect is an individual who (a) knew Shapiro and had some personal/professional contact with him; (b) would benefit from his death or from ensuring his silence; (c) had close contact with LCN [i.e., La Cosa Nostra: the Mafia, organized crime] figures or trusted LCN associates; and (d) had the personal financial resources to afford the cost of the contract (hit).

The Shapiro Murder File strongly suggests that Wexner and/or his associates were involved in ordering and financing the hit on Shapiro. It discusses several transactions of questionable ethics and legality involving associates of Wexner, specifically Kessler, Wright, and Hammond, and some involving Wexner himself. Regarding these transactions, the report states, Arthur Shapiro could have answered too many of these sort of questions, and might have been forced to answer them in his impending Grand Jury hearing; Stanley Schwartz might now be able to answer some of the same questions for the same reason, but does not face a Grand Jury, is immersed in the pattern [of questionable Wexner-linked/Wexner-adjacent transactions] himself, and now has a powerful incentive to maintain discretion.

One important part of the Shapiro Murder File is related to the reports discussion of Wexner associates with ties to organized crime, specifically the Pittsburgh Genovese-LaRocca crime family, which is associated with the National Crime Syndicate founded by Charles Lucky Luciano. Those named Wexner associates are Edward DeBartolo Sr. and Frank Walsh.

Edward DeBartolo Sr. and his son. Source: DeBartolo Holdings.

Edward DeBartolo Sr. was born in 1909 and got his start working for his stepfathers construction business, Michael DeBartolo Construction. In the 1940s, DeBartolo founded his own company, Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation, and eventually became a real estate baron, particularly of suburban shopping malls and complexes. Some of his earlier ventures, such as the 1960 purchase of the Thistledown racetrack near Cleveland, Ohio, involved the Emprise Corporation, which was indicted and convicted in 1972 for racketeering and serving as a front for organized crime. In 1976, Cleveland Magazine described DeBartolos business empire as deliberately labyrinthian with each venture encapsulated as a separate corporation, some of them joint ventures with the real estate arm of a major retailer.

DeBartolo is described in the Shapiro Murder File as a Youngstown, Ohiobased real estate developer associated with Leslie Wexner. The report states that the two men have a well-known history of business and investment partnerships, and in the late 1980s, twice attempted jointly to acquire Carter-Hawley-Hale Department Stores, with that partnership having received considerable press attention at the time. The report goes on to state that DeBartolo is an associate of the Genovese-LaRocca crime family in Pittsburgh, information thatper other indications in the reportseems to have been sourced from the Pennsylvania Crime Commission. At the time of the Shapiro murder, the boss of the Genovese crime family in New York, which represented Pittsburgh on the Mafia Commission, was Tony Salerno, who was represented in legal matters by Roy Cohn.

There is much more to DeBartolos links to organized crime, however, than those mentioned in the Shapiro Murder File. According to investigative journalist Dan Moldea, a 1981 report from US Customs Service special agent William F. Burda asserted that DeBartolos business empire was operating money-laundering schemes, realising huge profits from narcotics, guns, skimming operations, and other organized crimerelated activities through Florida-based banks in which DeBartolo had controlling interests. Burda further stated that DeBartolos organization, specifically those parts of his empire based in Florida, had reported ties to [Carlos] Marcello, [Santos] Trafficante, and [Meyer] Lansky and, because of its enormous wealth and power has high-ranking political influence and affiliations.

An earlier report authored by Burda and cited by Moldea stated that Meyer Lansky, the financial wizard of OC [Organized Crime], is now considered by most to be almost senile and getting out of the business. His successor and new financial wizard is recognized as Edward J. DeBartolo.

The ties of DeBartolo to criminal activity as mentioned in Burdas reports are supported by other documents. For instance, a confidential report from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement stated that the WFC Corporation is a cover for the largest narcotics operation in the world and further states that the organization, under federal and Florida state investigation in the late 1970s, had been heavily influenced by Santos Trafficante. In 1979, Florida authorities were investigating spurious loans made by WFC Corporation from its Grand Cayman Island subsidiary, through Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company of Tampa, a banking institution whose majority stockholder is Edward DeBartolo Sr. DeBartolo had bought Metropolitan Bank in 1975 and held such a strong position that he was able to unilaterally force the resignation of the banks president in 1981, with other board members having no say in the matter whatsoever. The bank collapsed a year later, which bank leadership attributed to bad real estate loans. At the time, it was the largest bank failure in Florida history.

Furthermore, DeBartolo appeared on the Justice Departments 1970 Organized Crime Principal Subjects List, which listed individuals with suspected links to organized crime. In the late 1970s, a FBI wiretap of Los Angeles-based mob figure Jimmy Fratianno picked up Fratiannos discussions about DeBartolo being very friendly with Ronald Carabbia, the mob boss of DeBartolos hometown of Youngstown, Ohio.

Wexners cozy association with DeBartolo is thus highly significant. While the Shapiro Murder File reports there is a connection between DeBartolo and organized crime, it offers little in the way of specifics, whereas other sources, including Dan Moldea, further elucidate this connection. Indeed, this additional information shows that DeBartolo worked with known mob figures throughout the country and was close to several high-ranking members of the National Crime Syndicate, in addition to allegations that he had taken on the mantle of Meyer Lansky himself. As discussed in my original series on the Epstein case for MintPress News, Meyer Lansky was a key figure in the organized crimeintelligence alliance that later gave rise to Epstein and his sex-blackmail activities.

DeBartolo was one of Ohios richest men during his lifetime and, like Wexner, lived his life above the law, having investigations and charges dismissed left and right due to his power and political influence. That legacy has continued with DeBartolos son and heir, Edward J. DeBartolo Jr., who was pardoned by Donald Trump for gambling fraud right before the president left office.

Another close business partner of Wexners mentioned in the Shapiro Murder File, Francis J. Frank Walsh, similarly had ties to organized crime, specifically the Genovese crime family. As the Shapiro Murder File notes, Walsh was owner and chief executive officer of Walsh Trucking Company out of New Jersey and Walsh Trucking is/was the major transporter for The Limited in Columbus. The document goes on to note that Walsh was under investigation by the New York Organized Crime Task Force in 1984, and all notices sent to Walsh in connection with this investigation were addressed to Frank Walsh Financial Resources at One Limited Parkway, Columbus, Ohiothe same address as Wexners The Limited.

In addition to what is mentioned in the Shapiro Murder File, Frank Walsh was charged in 1988 by then US Attorney Samuel Alito Jr., now a US Supreme Court judge, with paying thousands to officers of a corrupt Teamsters union as was well as members of the Genovese crime family in exchange for a sweetheart union contract. This supports the claim in the Shapiro Murder File, though that document does not mention this incident, that Walsh had ties to the Genovese crime family. Per Alito, the case illustrated how certain seemingly legitimate businesses are able to get a jump on their competitors by entering into an agreement with organized crime and it illustrates how organized crime is able to get enormous profits by entering into an agreement with seemingly legitimate businesses. Tony Salerno, the Genovese crime boss, was listed as an unindicted co-conspirator in the case.

After the charges were filed, Walsh was arrested at his home. According to his lawyer, Walsh by then had somehow become a real estate developer worth between $60 and $100 million, while Walsh Trucking, among other companies of his, had been forced into bankruptcy by an antitrust suit. Walsh pled guilty to the charges and was sentenced to four years in prison in 1990.

Similar charges surrounding Walsh and a corrupt Teamsters union local surfaced years later, in 2003, when the Teamsters union filed internal charges against a member of their executive board, Donato DeSanti, for helping Walsh, whom he knew to be a convicted labor racketeer with ties to organized crime, manipulate officers of [Local]107 into cooperating with a scheme DeSanti knew or should have known was of questionable legality. The union further charged DeSanti with hiding Walshs past conviction and organized crime association from union members.

Whitewashing Wexner

While Berry L. Kessler may well have had a role in Arthur Shapiros death, it seems unlikely that he had the political pull to get police to cover up several, apparently connected, murdersthose of Arthur Shapiro, Frank Yassenoff, Ella Rich, and potentially Marjorie Dyeror the financial resources to pay for a professional contract killing. Given the evidence, it appears that Kessler was a deeply corrupt operator, but most likely only a middleman for the dirty deed if he was involved in the hit on Shapiro.

Concerns about the deeper forces at work in these cases appear to be what led Columbus police investigators to produce a document like the Shapiro Murder File in the first place, and its suppression and attempted destruction suggest that the scrutiny was aimed squarely at Leslie Wexner, which was too close for comfort for those in Ohio law enforcement who sought to protect the criminal nexus ultimately responsible for Shapiros death. Wexners involvement with suspect entities and actors came to light well after the Shapiro case, but the blatant murder of The Limiteds lawyer is the first documented instance of this connection and, arguably, one of the most important.

Wexner and many other wealthy clients of Jeffrey Epstein have taken great pains to develop sophisticated PR strategies aimed at keeping their reputations unscathed from the continuing fallout in the Epstein case. Wexner and others, such as Bill Gates, have pursued a narrative where all bad deeds are attributed to the now conveniently dead Jeffrey Epstein, while his enablers, accomplices, and close associate were merely duped by Epsteins charisma or manipulated by his wiles. Many of these individuals, however, and particularly Leslie Wexner, clearly have something to hide.
The country of Belarus, which imposed no legal lockdown at all throughout the entire pandemic, has released COVID mortality figures which are broadly in line with other nearby countries which imposed draconian lockdowns.

After authorities in Belarus refused to put their citizens under lockdown, the global media had a collective hissy fit, with one headline declaring, One leader looks hell-bent on turning COVID-19 into a catastrophe for his country.

However, while managing to avoid all the negative impacts of lockdown, the outcome of Belarus no lockdown policy is far from a catastrophe.

Newly released overall death statistics from the start of the pandemic up to March 2021 show that the death rate is similar to neighboring countries such as Latvia, Russia and Ukraine which imposed full lockdowns.

Indeed, when compared to Poland, which imposed a particularly harsh lockdown, Belarus mortality rate in March 2021 was significantly lower.

Belarus is similar to Sweden, which has suffered fewer than 15,000 COVID deaths despite refusing to impose a lockdown. Figures show that cases and deaths tend to fall in waves whether a lockdown is imposed or not, proving that lockdowns are totally pointless.

The strict lockdown in the UK was so effective that it stopped the spread of Covid in Sweden as well  pic.twitter.com/M12KVBibw5  Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) February 17, 2021

Alongside places like South Dakota, Florida, Sweden and Tanzania, Belarus is an important illustration of what can be expected from COVID-19 when restrictions arent imposed. Like those places, we see that the outcome is basically the same as similar places where restrictions are imposed, writes Will Jones.

It simply isnt the case that a whole country becomes infected if the virus is given largely free reign, as Belarus, like other no-restriction jurisdictions, shows. Even without lockdowns and vaccines the epidemic is self-limiting and comes to an end at around the same point having infected a similar number of people. Until our leaders and their advisers grasp this crucial fact about COVID-19, they will keep pursuing pointless and ineffective but deeply harmful policies.

Dont expect any of this to be highlighted by the mainstream media, which has parroted the provable falsehood that repeated lockdowns were to thank for ending each wave of COVID.

They werent, because countries that didnt lockdown experienced broadly the same pattern of waves as those that did.

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One of the weirdest things about the mass media propaganda which manipulates the way people think, act and vote to maintain the status quo is the fact that mainstream news outlets routinely cite the employees of think tanks that are sponsored by war profiteers and government powers as expert sources for their reports. And they just get away with it.

To pick one of nearly infinite possible examples, here in Australia the Murdoch press are currently citing a report generated through the funding of governments and weapons manufacturers to whip up public hysteria about the ridiculous fantasy that China might attack us. The most egregious of these is a write-up from Sky News whose headline reads, Lowy Institute report: China possesses ability to strike Australia with long-range missiles, bombers.

On social media Sky News is sharing this story with the even more incendiary caption China now has the military arsenal to pose the greatest threat to the Australian mainland since World War II, experts warn.

The experts in question are the Lowy Institute, named after its billionaire founder, which is funded by multiple branches of the Australian government including ASIO and the Department of Defence, by major financial institutions, and by weapons manufacturers like Boeing. The author of the Lowy Institute report these stories are citing is Thomas Shugart, himself an employee of the notorious Center for a New American Security, a Biden administration-aligned warmongering think tank that receives funding from top war profiteers Boeing, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon, as well as the US State Department and numerous other governments.

So in summary, government agencies and war profiteers paid for a report which manufactures consent for their agendas among policymakers and the public, and mass media institutions passed this off as news.

And this is exactly what these think tanks exist to do: cook up narratives which benefit their immensely powerful and unfathomably psychopathic sponsors, and insert those narratives at key points of influence.

Think tank is a good and accurate label, not because a great deal of thought happens in them, but because theyre dedicated to controlling what people think, and because they are artificial enclosures for slimy creatures. Their job, generally speaking, is to concoct and market reasons why it would be good and smart to do something evil and stupid.

And it works. Because of the efforts of warmonger-funded think tanks like the Lowy Institute, Center for a New American Security, and the profoundly odious Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), more and more Australian brains are being turned into soup by ridiculous propaganda narratives about China posing a meaningful threat to them. As The Conversation highlighted last month, a poll conducted by that same Lowy Institute claims that only 16% of surveyed Australians [express] trust in China compared with 52% just three years ago, that a similar number of Australians think China will launch an armed attack on Australia (42%) as on Taiwan (49%), and that more Australians (13%) than Taiwanese (4%) think a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is likely sometime soon.

You can understand why the Lowy Institute would want to show off numbers like that to potential sponsors, and I wouldnt be surprised if they are entirely accurate; Ive started conversations with complete strangers here in Victoria recently and seen them start babbling about how awful China is within a few minutes, completely out of the blue. Its like watching a zombie outbreak in real time.

And this is of course entirely by design. Because of its useful geostrategic location in relation to China, Australia has been turned into a functional US military/intelligence asset so crucial that multiple coups have been instituted here to ensure we remain aligned with the Pentagon against Beijing. You cant have the locals meddling with the gears of your war machine with pesky little nuisances like the democratic process, so youve got to keep them aggressively propagandized.

This is why our consciousness is continually pummelled with think tank-manufactured narratives about China. See an attention-grabbing headline about the big scary Chinese boogeyman and it will almost always be authored by a sleazy think tank denizen or be based on the work of one. A few weeks ago 60 Minutes Australia ran an unbelievably hysterical segment branding New Zealand New Xi-Land because its government didnt perfectly align with Washington on one particular aspect of its cold war agenda, and it featured an interview with an Australian Strategic Policy Institute spinmeister as well as the actual ASPI office.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute is cited by mass media outlets around the world and is funded by, you guessed it, governments and war profiteers. According to APAC News Marcus Reubenstein, ASPI is funded by all the usual weapons manufacturers, by the US State Department and other governments.

ASPI has received funding from the governments of Britain, Japan and Taiwan as well as NATO, Reubenstein writes. Among its corporate supporters are global weapons makers Thales, BAE Systems, Raytheon, SAAB, Northrop Grumman, MDBA Missile Systems and Naval Group. Yet their contribution of over $330,000 last year is dwarfed by that of a handful of government departments and agencies.

Media citation of warmonger-funded think tanks is common throughout the western world. Government-sponsored imperialist spin factories like Bellingcat are routinely cited by the mainstream media, and those citations are leant credibility by the fawning puff pieces which those media institutions regularly churn out about the propaganda firm.

I just grabbed a New York Times article at random about the events transpiring in Afghanistan and found its author citing the chief executive of the Center for a New American Security arguing against the Biden administrations troop withdrawal, as well as a Center for American Progress employee arguing that the Taliban takeover could cause a PR nightmare. Center for American Progress is also partly funded by the war industry.

The fact that disguising statements by propagandists who are sponsored by governments and war profiteers is journalistic malpractice should be obvious to everyone in the world, and if media and education systems were doing their jobs instead of indoctrinating society into accepting the status quo, it would be. But propaganda only works if you dont realize youre being propagandized, and keeping people from realizing this is itself a part of the propaganda.

Make a fortune killing people and selling their bodies and youd be remembered as the centurys worst monster. Make the same fortune selling the weapons used to kill the same number of people in wars you propagandized into existence and youre a respected job creator.

Absolutely appalling.

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"From its start in 2001 through April 2021, the war in Afghanistan has cost U.S. taxpayers approximately $2.261 trillion, according to estimates earlier this year from the Costs of War Project at Brown University," Fox News reviews of the disturbingly high figures. All that as the US public now sits back and witnesses US-trained Afghan forces retreat "without a bullet being fired"...

A massive Afghan army unit with dozens of Humvees & APCs surrenders to Taliban in Zabul. Qalat city of Zabul was taken today without a bullet being fired.



Zabul is where Mullah Omar passed away from Tb. His hideout was not far from the American base 'FOB Wolverine'. #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/c82BOuPgd2  Asfandyar Bhittani (@BhittaniKhannnn) August 13, 2021

And further as a number of veterans and independent analysts are now pointing out: "The Pentagon spent $88 billion dollars training the Afghan Army for 20 years It collapsed in 1 month." It remains that "Not one general or politician will face consequences for this."

Meanwhile as of Friday morning after the Taliban had already captured about a dozen major cities and provincial capitals in a mere week, spurring emergency evacuation efforts to begin at the US embassy in Kabul (in preparation for the inevitable), the Taliban is now in control of the country's second largest city of Kandahar, along with Herat - the latter being the third largest.

The Pentagon late in the day Thursday confirmed it was sending up to 3,000 troops to assist in the evacuation of diplomatic and other staff from the large Kabul embassy. The embassy typically has thousands of Americans working there at any given moment, including over 1,000 deemed 'diplomats'.

The #Taliban not only seized appr. a hundred US humvees and (MaxxPro) MRAPs at Kunduz airport, but also several US ScanEagle drones.

Billions of US tax payer $ going to Islamist extremists, thanks to the administration's hasty withdrawal without a peace deal or follow up mission. pic.twitter.com/Fb5MTpdLKK  Julian Ropcke (@JulianRoepcke) August 12, 2021

Thus a significant logistics and security effort will ensue to get most of them to the international airport, also as the US State Department urges any remaining US citizen anywhere in the country to depart immediately, even offering to pay the airfare back to the states.

* * *

Here's Rabobank's commentary of the currently unfolding Afghan disaster...

But tumble the cards will, nonetheless, and quicker than people think  and very uncomfortably.

For a physical example, after 20 years of war, $2 trillion in spending, and many lives lost, on 14 April, US President Biden announced a full US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. On 2 July, US forces left Bagram airbase overnight. The comfortable thinkers in comfortable jobs in DC were sure the well-funded, US-trained Afghan army would defeat the Taliban: instead, they fled, or handed their weapons over to them. The Taliban are now threatening Kabul, and the US is sending 3,000 troops back in order to evacuate all of its citizens and its embassy, reminiscent of the 1975 helicopter retreat from Saigon.

This is not a political critique of the decision to withdraw. The key point is that the expensive US presence in Afghanistan was --like the QE that ironically paid for a slice of it-- just a house of cards, for all of the comfortable DC assumptions otherwise.

The second point is that the geostrategic ramifications of this event will reverberate for years. Markets could care less: but they may well care about some of the uncomfortable potential outcomes, from renewed terrorism to refugee flows to war: and all the powers in the region, from China to Russia to India to Pakistan to Iran, will have an interest in what happens in the country  as will the US.

My view: This outcome was baked into the Afghan war from the moment the Bush administration fixed its eyes on Iraq, which wasat the latestfour days after September 11. https://t.co/9hDioNnAdI  Jonathan Wilson (@jnthnwwlsn) August 13, 2021

On one level, this is a humiliation for a US already being told its position as global hegemon is in tatters. Then again, the States survived the 1975 debacle and came back even stronger. More near term, what is happening in Afghanistan may mean less US flexibility over negotiations with Iran --which has just agreed to join the Shanghai Cooperation Council-- though that is far from certain given the obvious US imperative to disentangle itself from the Greater Middle East regardless. More importantly, however, it suggests the risk of the US being far more likely to draw red lines in the Indo-Pacific so the Afghan retreat does not define its approach to security guarantees in that region. And red lines open up fat-tail geopolitical risk scenarios that comfortable markets dont want to look at.
A new study has found that mean IQ scores of young children born during the pandemic have tumbled by as much as 22 points while verbal, motor and cognitive performance have all suffered as a result of lockdown.

With limited stimulation at home and less interaction with the world outside, pandemic-era children appear to have scored shockingly low on tests designed to assess cognitive development, reports the Guardian.

The study was conducted by researchers at Brown University and included 672 children born both before and after the pandemic began in March 2020.

In the decade preceding the pandemic, the mean IQ score on standardised tests for children aged between three months and three years of age hovered around 100, but for children born during the pandemic that number tumbled to 78, the study found.

Researchers concluded that the primary reason for the impairment on cognitive functioning was lack of stimulation and interaction at home.

According to lead study author Sean Deoni, The ability to course-correct becomes smaller, the older that child gets, meaning that this inferior foundation is likely to impact the child throughout adolescence and into adulthood.

As Michael Curzon notes, all of these factors were exacerbated by lockdown measures which kept babies and young children away from other children, as well as mask mandates.

Children born over the past year of lockdowns  at a time when the Government has prevented babies from seeing elderly relatives and other extended family members, from socialising at parks or with the children of their parents friends, and from studying the expressions on the faces behind the masks of locals in indoor public spaces  have significantly reduced verbal, motor and overall cognitive performance compared to children born before, according to a new U.S. study. Tests on early learning, verbal development and non-verbal development all produced results that were far behind those from the years preceding the lockdowns.

The study was conducted in the state of Rhode Island and included predominantly white children.

The fate of poorer children from less affluent socio-economic backgrounds, most of whom will be non-white, is likely to be significantly worse.

However, dont expect many leftists, who in general have vehemently supported draconian lockdowns, to care much about that.
Never forget: Dr. Fauci Backed Controversial Wuhan Lab with Millions of U.S. Dollars for Risky Coronavirus Gain of Function Research.

Via: Summit News:

One of the World Health Organizations leading infectious diseases experts says that the first COVID patient zero was likely a lab worker at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Peter Embarek, who spearheaded a WHO team sent to investigate the lab earlier this year, told Danish television that the likely source of the pandemic was someone infected by a bat during fieldwork or at one of the laboratories in Wuhan.

This is where the virus jumps directly from a bat to a human, reports Denmarks TV 2 News. In that case, it would then be a laboratory worker instead of a random villager or other person who has regular contact with bats. So it is actually in the probable category.

The report notes that the type of bat involved in passing on the infection, the horse shoe bat, was only present inside the Wuhan lab and does not live naturally in the general Wuhan area.

An employee who was infected in the field by taking samples falls under one of the probable hypotheses, said Embarek.

Embareks new assessment contradicts the results of the WHO investigation, which originally asserted that the lab leak origin was extremely unlikely.
He has also shared other medical heresies, including the possibility that 'imperfect' vaccines might actually help foster more virulent COVID variants due to a phenomenon called 'ADE' - antibody-dependent enhancement. Essentially, what doesn't kill the virus makes it stronger. In retaliation for sharing these views, Dr. Malone was ridiculed by colleagues as a conspiracist and an "anti-vaxxer".

Dr. Malone

But earlier this week, Dr. Malone saw his views subtly vindicated by an unexpected source: a British scientist and academic named Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, who is the director of the Oxford Vaccine Group. During a briefing, Sir Pollard warned Parliament that the UK likely won't ever achieve herd immunity, thanks to the delta variant.

In remarks that risked undermining the government's vaccination campaign, Sir Pollard, a professor of pediatric infection and immunity, warned Parliament on Tuesday that achieving herd immunity is likely "not a possibility" thanks to variants like delta. Recently, a group of scientists estimated that the threshold for herd immunity might now be as high as 90% due to the delta variant. According to Pollard, we're learning for the first time that herd immunity is magical thinking - and has always been magical thinking.

Since those who are vaccinated can still be infected by variants, "there is virtually nothing the UK can do" to eradicate COVID completely.

"We know very clearly with coronavirus that this current variant, the Delta variant, will still infect people who have been vaccinated, and that does mean that anyone who's still unvaccinated, at some point, will meet the virus," Pollard said.

He said it was unlikely that herd immunity will ever be reached, saying the next variant of the novel coronavirus will be "perhaps even better at transmitting in vaccinated populations."

Pollard also shared what sounded like a subtle criticism of masks by saying that "We don't have anything which will stop that transmission to other people." As an example, he pointed to Israel, which saw new cases and hospitalizations nearly disappear before the new variant took hold, causing cases and hospitalizations to surge once again. Now, there have even been a handful of patients who have tested positive even after receiving their third dose of the Pfizer jab (which the US has only just approved for a third dose as well).

Dr. Malone, meanwhile, celebrated Sir Pollard's comments as vindication.

As I have been saying. The "Noble Lie" is being revealed step by step. https://t.co/xDv8nvsm0A  Robert W Malone, MD (@RWMaloneMD) August 10, 2021

This is what external validation looks and sounds like.

Now, watch carefully for how long it takes until Dr. Fauci and the USG/CDC get on board the bus.  Robert W Malone, MD (@RWMaloneMD) August 10, 2021

For context, Dr. Malone tweeted back in June that herd immunity targets were effectively useless.

U.S. Federal Government Doesnt Possess the Data to Calculate Transmissibility & Thus No Vaccination Target Can Foretell Herd Immunityhttps://t.co/ZktdsXx1hF  Robert W Malone, MD (@RWMaloneMD) June 25, 2021

Even the White House is finally acknowledging that vaccines aren't nearly as effective as they once believed, which is why the FDA has decided to approve the third dose. "I think everybody believes this wanes over time, the question is to what extent, a senior Biden official told Axios. "Nobody wants to be behind the eight-ball here. We want to catch it before theres an issue, and thats why there is very intense scrutiny."

Remember, not only can the vaccinated be sickened by "breakthrough" infections, but they can also pass the virus on to others (including others who are vaccinated). And the more the virus spreads, the more likely a vaccine-resistant variant is to emerge.
CYPRESS RIVER  After spending three years buying up vintage four-wheel-drive tractors, Ken Harpelle decided to put his collection on display for the very first time this summer.

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CYPRESS RIVER  After spending three years buying up vintage four-wheel-drive tractors, Ken Harpelle decided to put his collection on display for the very first time this summer.

Starting on July 28, the 62-year-old farmer lined up all 19 tractors outside his property just north of Cypress River and invited the public to view each piece of machinery at their leisure.

Harpelle told the Sun earlier this week that he finally debuted this collection in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced local attractions such as the Manitoba Agricultural Museum in nearby Austin to close their doors for long periods of time.

"With all the local fairs being cancelled because of COVID for two years, we couldnt parade them around or anything like that," he said on Tuesday. "So I decided to set up a display and have people come on out whenever they could."

The Sun finally got the opportunity to view Harpelles collection in person on Wednesday afternoon, right before he was about to put his tractors back in storage for the year.

During this personalized tour, Harpelle said his collection consisted entirely of Steiger and Versatile models manufactured between 1963 and 1985.

Ken Harpelle poses for a photo next to his 1975 Steiger Allis-Chalmers 440 and some Versatile tractors outside his Cypress River home on Wednesday. (Kyle Darbyson/The Brandon Sun)

Being born into a farming family, Harpelle grew up driving some of these very same four-wheel-drive tractors in the field, which left him with a lifelong appreciation for the vehicles.

"I just fell in love with the feel of power and the smoothness of them," he said. "Even though we were small farmers, we always ran four-wheel-drives, and I just love the way they manoeuvre."

As such, Harpelle and his wife Agnes decided to actively start buying up as many rare Steigers and Versatiles as they could find starting in 2018, discovering some decent deals through websites like Kijiji and eBrandon.

While the pair acquired a couple of models in Westman, they were sometimes forced to travel to small Saskatchewan communities like Paradise Hill and Maple Creek to claim their prize, trips that sometimes took a couple of days to complete.

Once the pair hauled each tractor back to their home in Cypress River, Harpelle then went to work restoring each model to its former glory, whether that involved replacing an engine, patching up some rust holes or slapping on a fresh coat of paint.

Some restorations were more challenging than others, with Harpelles 1973 Steiger Allis-Chalmers 440 requiring a lot of TLC after being used as a heavy road construction vehicle for years.

"So we had to do a lot of mechanical work to it and we had to do a lot of scraping and soaking, getting all that tar off," he said.

Ken Harpelle told the Sun on Wednesday that this 1963 Steiger 1700 is the oldest model in his tractor collection. (Kyle Darbyson/The Brandon Sun)

"So repainting, doing the cab, all the tires had to be redone. That took a long time, too."

However, Harpelle maintains that all this hard work eventually paid off, since all 19 tractors are now fully functional.

Hes particularly proud of getting a 1963 Steiger 1700 back into working shape, especially since that model was originally built by the companys founders  brothers Douglass and Maurice Steiger  in a barn before they began establishing broader manufacturing operations across North America.

Plus, Harpelle said his collection attracted a lot of visitors throughout the two weeks it was on display, which provided a nice distraction from the pandemic and the ongoing drought that is currently plaguing Prairie farmers.

"Everybody was quite amazed. I dont think theyve seen that many four-wheel-drives in one place at one time before," he said.

"We also had a booth set up, like a gazebo, so we could do everything in the shade and have a cold drink and snacks and stuff. We had lots of kids come out, too, which was kind of fun."

Because of this positive reception, Harpelle said he would like to display his tractor collection every year moving forward for the public to enjoy, especially since hes always looking to add a couple of new models into the mix.

"Ive got a few good leads just from people coming to visit this summer, which is kind of nice," he said. "So Im still going to be buying tractors."

 kdarbyson@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @KyleDarbyson
One of Britains biggest respiratory drug makers has agreed to a takeover by the worlds largest tobacco company, in a 1.1 billion ($2.1 billion) deal that will be seen as a crucial test of shareholders commitment to ethical investing.

Directors at Vectura have given their backing to a 165 pence-per-share offer from Philip Morris International (PMI), the US-listed titan that makes Marlboro cigarettes.

Vectura says the Philip Morris bid offers more cash for shareholders, and that the cigarette companys significant financial resources could benefit its business. Credit:Virginia Star

The decision sparked an immediate backlash from anti-smoking charities and piles pressure on major institutional investors, such as Legal & General, which have repeatedly talked up their ethical credentials and are likely to face calls to vote against the deal.

Vectura is supporting PMIs offer instead of a lower proposal of 155 pence made by Carlyle, the US private equity firm.
Chief executives at the countrys largest employers are united in their push to encourage staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19, but have ruled out making the jab compulsory without greater direction from the government.

The federal governments official policy is for vaccines to be voluntary, but Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said it is the responsibility of individual businesses to decide whether it is appropriate to force staff to get vaccinated.

Telstra boss Andy Penn is absolutely pro vaccine and is considering mandatory jab policies for public-facing roles. Credit:Eamon Gallagher

Global tech giants including Google and Facebook have banned unvaccinated staff from entering the office, along with a string of US companies including Walmart and United Airlines, in an effort to curb the spread of the highly infectious disease.

While Qantas is considering a vaccine passport for its passengers, fruit and vegetable processor SPC this month became the first Australian company to order staff to be vaccinated by November if they want to keep their jobs.
An adolescent sea monster, Marvels god of mischief and Cruella de Vil helped Disneys flagship streaming service attract 12.4 million new subscribers between April and June, more than Wall Street had been expecting.

Disney+ ended the most recent quarter with 116 subscribers worldwide, the company reported on Thursday. Analysts had been hoping for between 112 million and 115 million. The most popular offerings on Disney+ were Luca, an original Pixar film; the superhero series Loki starring Tom Hiddleston; and the live-action movie Cruella, with Emma Stone taking over as the classic Disney villain.

The quarter, the third in Disneys fiscal year, was notable for another reason: Disney Parks, Experiences and Products swung to a profit ($US356 million, or $485 million) after four consecutive money-losing quarters, which racked up $US3.6 billion in total. The availability of coronavirus vaccines prompted families to return in large numbers to Walt Disney World in Florida. Disneyland in California reopened on April 30 for the first time in 14 months, although state regulators initially limited capacity to 25 per cent, a restriction that has since been lifted.

Cruella de Vil, played by Emma Stone, was the star attraction on Disneys flagship streaming channel. Credit:AP

Bob Chapek, Disneys chief executive, told analysts on a conference call that theme park bookings remained really strong despite a new surge of coronavirus infections around the world, the result of the Delta variant. Christine McCarthy, Disneys chief financial offer, added that spending on hotel rooms, merchandise and food had been exceptionally strong. McCarthy said that, unless the coronavirus situation changed, Disney planned to increase capacity at its theme park resorts for the coming holidays.
The medicines regulator is urging e-cigarette users to make an appointment with a doctor before new laws kick in banning the import of nicotine vaping products without a prescription.

The laws will mean vapers must organise for a copy of their prescription to be included in any packages being sent to them. Border Force will be allowed to stop imports and destroy products if they do not see a valid script, according to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

The TGA says nicotine e-cigarettes will be legal through prescriptions from October 1. Credit:Eddie Jim

Australians also need a prescription to buy nicotine vaping products and liquids from Australian pharmacies.

Purchase of nicotine vaping products from other Australian sources is already not permitted and will remain illegal, the TGA said in guidance documents released on Thursday.
Once you have crypto networks up and running, with currencies pulling in users, you can build all kinds of things on top of them. So the second phase of crypto has followed from the first: Now that there really is digital money, where anyone can verify the transactions, shouldnt there be truly digital financial services, built around contracts anyone can write, enforced by code rather than banks or law? Thats the theory behind decentralised finance, or DeFi. The hope is you can replace financial intermediaries like banks and title insurers with self-executing contracts built atop the various crypto network ledgers. According to some estimates, there are about $US100 billion worth of assets being held in DeFi applications right now, up from almost nothing just four years ago. I think were one-tenth of 1 per cent into the development of DeFi, Ehrsam told me. But its the third phase when crypto advocates become most starry-eyed: They believe crypto is the basis for a better internet, what some now call Web 3.0. Think about it this way: The internet we have allows for the easy transfer of information. We costlessly swap copies of news articles, music files, video games, pornography, GIFs, tweets and much more. The internet is, famously, good at making information nearly free. But for precisely that reason, it is terrible at making information expensive, which it sometimes needs to be. What the internet is missing, in particular, are ways to verify identity, ownership and authenticity  the exact things that make it possible for creators to get paid for their work (for more on this, I highly recommend Steven Johnsons article Beyond the bitcoin Bubble).

Thats one reason the riches of the web havent been more widely shared: You get rich selling access to the internet or by building companies that add convenience and features to the internet. So Facebook got rich by building a proprietary infrastructure for identity and Spotify created a service in which artists could eke out payment from works that were otherwise just being pirated. The actual creators who make the internet worth visiting are forced to accept the exploitative, ever-changing terms of digital middlemen. Loading This is the problem that the technology behind crypto solves, at least in theory: If the original internet let you easily copy information, the next internet will let you easily trade ownership of digital goods. Crypto lets you make digital goods scarce, which increases their value; it lets you prove ownership, which allows you to buy and sell them; and it makes digital identities verifiable, as thats merely information you own. Together, they unlock the potential for a true economy for digital goods, where creators actually get rewarded for what they make. I will admit to some scepticism that this is how itll play out, because many of the financiers funding crypto also founded and sit on the boards of the companies that set the terms of todays internet, but well see. To the extent this new economy for digital goods is visible now, its in the strange, frothy market for NFTs  non-fungible tokens, like the digital art being sold for tens of millions of dollars. But as people begin to spend more and more time in online metaverses  yes, all these sentences are as weird to write as they are to read  were going to see an explosion of online economies with goods and services that no one can currently predict. The key words there, however, are going to. These are nascent technologies. Regulating them would be, in the eyes of the crypto community, disastrous. And some in Congress agree. Which brings us to the fight over the infrastructure bill.

Who trusts the Treasury department? Lets recognise if we gathered all 100 senators in this chamber and asked them to stand up and articulate two sentences defining what in the hell a cryptocurrency is, that you would not get greater than five who could answer that question, Republican senator Ted Cruz said. His point was simple: Congress doesnt understand crypto, so it shouldnt regulate it. The Senate is a ridiculous institution, run by ridiculous rules. But this is the beginning of what will be, for better and worse, a long relationship between the government and the crypto community. Ill be generous and say Cruz has this one half right. Congress doesnt have the expertise to directly regulate the crypto markets, but then, Congress isnt proposing to directly regulate the crypto markets. Its empowering the Treasury Department to do so. Tucked inside the trillion-dollar infrastructure bill is a provision reinforcing the Treasury Departments authority to force tax compliance from the brokers who are part of those transactions. This was a rare bit of tax policy members of both parties could agree on. It was added to the legislation by Republican senator Rob Portman and backed by the Biden administration.

The tax enforcement agenda the president has put forward is focused on  and this is basic  having people pay the taxes that are owed under current law, David Kamin, a deputy director of the National Economic Council, told me. Disproportionately, there is evasion when it comes to those at the top, often because their sources of income are more opaque. Loading And no market is more opaque right now than the crypto markets. Portmans proposal gave the Treasury Department broad authority to define brokers in the crypto markets, and compel them to issue 1099s and comply with the tax code. The proposal was too broad, in the eyes of the crypto community, which mounted a furious lobbying effort against it. I dont know how Treasury will use that authority, said Jerry Brito, executive director of Coin Center, a pro-crypto advocacy group. I fear theyll use it in a way that has unintended consequences because they dont understand the technology.

Democrat senator Ron Wyden along with Republican senators Cynthia Lummis and Patrick Toomey, agreed and fought to sharply narrow who could be defined as a broker. If 20 years ago everyone wouldve come in with all this inept regulation, you would have lost some of the real opportunities to have the internet grow and prosper, Wyden told me. I think the same thing is true here. Playing catch-up But many in Washington, far from feeling like theyre regulating crypto networks too soon, think theyre entering, if anything, too late. We spent, to my memory, no time on crypto at the White House from 2009 to 2017, Jason Furman, who led President Barack Obamas Council of Economic Advisers during his second term, told me. Im sure there were conversations happening within Treasury and within the regulators, but virtually nothing came out of them. So Washington is really behind in dealing with this industry.

For all the gauzy stories of what crypto could become, theres the simple reality of what it mostly is right now: A financial market in which highly volatile assets are traded, where scams and hacks and broken promises abound, and with DeFi, where complex derivatives and financial instruments are being invented and swapped. One worry many in the government have is that these markets are thriving through the avoidance of taxes and regulations. This is a story weve seen before: Amazon got an early advantage by dodging sales taxes for years, and Uber and Lyft evaded transportation and labour regulations until they got powerful enough to essentially rewrite those rules themselves. But there are particular dangers to financial instruments designed to skirt oversight. Anyone who lived through the 2008 financial crisis knows the threat of shadow banking sectors. It is untenable to allow an unregulated, unlicensed derivatives market to compete, side-by-side, with a fully regulated and licensed derivatives market, Dan Berkovitz, the commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said in a June speech. In addition to the absence of market safeguards and customer protections in the unregulated market, it is unfair to impose the obligations, restrictions, and costs of regulation upon some market participants while permitting their unregulated competitors to operate wholly free of such obligations, restrictions and costs. Still, when I talked to staff members at the Treasury Department, they seemed a bit shellshocked by the past week. To them, the mobilisation against Portmans language was a bizarre overreaction to a modest provision that would be followed by a multiyear rule-making process, where the crypto industry would have plenty of say. The language of the bill was expansive not because the Treasury Department wants to force everyone who touches a blockchain to produce a 1099, but because it doesnt want to prejudge how the crypto networks were structured. Crypto advocates keep saying that they shouldnt be regulated until theyre better understood, but thats precisely, from the Treasury Departments point of view, why Congress shouldnt tie its hands before it can go through a full regulatory process.

Of course, the crypto world saw the effort differently. The language was overbroad, and it still is, Katie Haun, a co-chair of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitzs crypto fund, told me. It could be read to encompass software developers and miners. A possible reading  and where theres a possible reading, it chills activity  is whether, on every transaction, youd have to make a filing. Treasury says thats not what they were intending to capture, but that left uncertainty, and uncertainty chills innovation and moves it offshore. The oddity of reporting this story is that all sides swear they want the same things. All the people I spoke to in the crypto universe agreed that there needed to be tax compliance; they just didnt want to see software developers or blockchain miners caught up in an IRS dragnet. All the people I spoke to on the government side said that they were just trying to get the information necessary for tax compliance, and that they had no intention of bothering software developers and blockchain miners who werent actually brokering transactions. I am, of course, being a bit purposefully naive here. The truth is that theres some mixture of misunderstanding, mistrust and regulatory jockeying on all sides. The crypto industry wants to be lightly regulated and undertaxed, just as every industry does, and many of its key players are deeply hostile to the government  the genesis of the technology, after all, is an effort to wrest the control of currencies away from governments, even if the money flooding into the sector has ensured that crypto will be intimately entwined with governments. The federal government, for its part, wants broad authority, in part because it believes that carve-outs will be used for tax and regulatory avoidance. It fears a future in which crypto is big enough to pose risks to the financial system, and it doesnt have the tools or reporting to see and manage those risks, just as was true in the derivatives markets in 2007.

There is an irony in this. The cryptocurrency boom was partly a reaction to the collapse in trust toward governments that followed the financial crisis. But that same sector is now going to be scrutinised by governments that, after the financial crisis, have become much more sceptical of young whiz kids who are making wild profits from new, highly complex and volatile assets and financial instruments. You have to ask yourself: Do you think, in general, finance is an area thats over or under regulated? Furman told me. Are you more concerned all sorts of cool products dont exist because of regulation or are you worried people are being ripped off and taken advantage of? I know which side of that Im on. Loading The bill ultimately passed the Senate with the crypto language unchanged. There was a compromise proposal that both sides supported, but for procedural reasons too inane to go into here, it needed unanimous consent, and Republican Richard Shelby blocked it in order to try to get $US50 billion in unrelated military spending added to the bill. Shelby failed, but he took the crypto compromise down with him. As Ive said before: The Senate is a ridiculous institution, run by ridiculous rules. But this is the beginning of what will be, for better and worse, a long relationship between the government and the crypto community. After all, this was just about tax compliance. How to track and minimise financial risk in the crypto markets is going to be much harder, but that fight is still to come. What I like about the infrastructure bill is this showed a recognition on the part of the 67 senators who voted for the bill that crypto is here to stay, Haun told me. This is an industry thats maturing. Its not in the shadows.
My mother had been told that I would be away from home for a week. When I did not return on the expected date, she became concerned and visited the school. One week became two and I was some distance from home, fearful that I would not see my family again. In the time I was away, I experienced a holiday that I did not quite expect. On the day I arrived at Rosanna, my cardboard suitcase, containing my clothes and a book I had packed, was burned in an incinerator in the backyard. I was provided with several sets of Harolds clothing. Although they were in better condition than my older brothers clothes, they did not smell of him and I hated wearing them. The next day I was taken to the dentist, where all my back teeth were removed, before a visit to the barber to have my head shaved.

The family was seated around a laminex table. There was a father, who bore a resemblance to Fred MacMurray from My Three Sons, a girl two years older than me with perfect skin and hair, and a boy the same age as me. Harold. The mother briefly introduced me, sat down next to her husband, removed her gloves and looked across the table. None of us spoke. I looked out of a window framed with cafe curtains while the family stared at me, like some member of an exotic species, wearing second-hand clothes and a bespoke although butchered haircut, courtesy of my grandmother, who lived next door to us.

The loungeroom was as large as the three small rooms that comprised our Fitzroy home. Everything in the Rosanna house was big, from the club lounge suite to the 25-inch black-and-white TV set and a decorated Christmas tree, resplendent with lights. Id seen the room before, on imported American television shows, such as Father Knows Best and Leave It to Beaver.

Each night, before getting into a bed that was not mine, where I was acutely aware that my brother would not be sleeping with me, the woman would ask the same question: Do you like it here? I would answer with a question of my own: When am I going home? It does not surprise me, to this day, that this well-off Catholic family believed that they could simply take me from my home, my mum, my family, my street, and not return me. I had no rights and they had everything. My mum went to the school a second time and demanded that I be returned home. And I was, a few days later, wearing one of Harolds best outfits.

While I was away, I became so fearful that I would not be going home that I memorised the Rosanna address, with a plan to run away and report the kidnappers to the police. I never forgot the address. Many years later when I was visiting a friend in Heidelberg, I realised that the Rosanna home was close by. I drove into the street and parked outside the triple-fronted house. It was winter and the garden looked a little sad. I stood on the footpath, mulling over questions that had occupied me for more than 40 years.

I wanted to know why the Rosanna family had wanted me so desperately. I wanted to know why my head was shaved and my clothing burned. I wanted to know how anybody could think they had the right to remove a small childs teeth without asking permission from his mother. Most of all, I wanted to ask how it was that a family incapable of conveying affection to each other, let alone a child that was not their own, would want to take him from a loving family and keep him for themselves.

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I walked along a pathway, rang the doorbell and buried my hands in my pockets. After a second ring of the bell, the door opened. The wallpaper was unmistakable, if a little tatty. The cream colour had turned to a smoky yellow and the dark patten was scuffed and faded. I looked to the old woman standing in front of me. She wore a chenille dressing-gown and what appeared to be a dark wig. She frowned and clutched the gown to her chest, wary of the stranger on her doorstep.
Margaret Farrar called it the Sunday Breakfast Test, a measure to dissuade crossword makers from straying into grim areas. Who wants to blend their muesli with emphysema or atrocity? Nobody, said Farrar, the puzzle editor of The New York Times from 1942 to 1968. She once advised an aspiring compiler, Avoid things like death, disease, war and taxes  the subway solver gets enough of that in the rest of the paper.

David Astle knows the importance of puzzles as diversions in difficult times. Credit:Jo Gay

Seventy years on, the maxim still holds. Puzzles are diversions by definition, diverting us from lifes anxieties. Though lately, illness has joined the zeitgeist. Viral topics infest the airwaves. Usually, Id endorse Basil Fawltys mantra of skipping any war talk, but what if the war is upon us? At the risk of souring Margarets OJ, a legion of clue-mongers has placed a deadly enemy squarely in the frame.

Ingeniously, too. Take Klingsor, say, an Independent regular, who produced this container clue: Introduce steps to change pandemic (10). The surface story is seamless, with no hint of skulduggery.

Until you go digging. Until you realise steps refer to a country stile, the kind you may meet on a moorland hike. As for change, think British currency. Given time, a solver will see STILE inside PENCE yields PESTILIENCE, as Ms Farrar tosses in her grave.
Nobel laureate and Australian National University vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt has criticised media that wilfully distorts the truth after the press watchdog found News Corp coverage of a high-profile ANU forest scientist to be unfair and misleading.

In a ruling published on Wednesday, the Australian Press Council found two stories in the News Corp-owned Weekly Times about logging in Victoria misrepresented prominent ANU ecologist David Lindenmayer.

Professor David Lindenmayer. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong

One article claimed Professor Lindenmayer had been accused of distorting his facts, and was feeding environmentalist groups and the media information on logging that contradicts critical facts. The other described him as an anti-logging academic.

The representation was unfair and misleading and did not accurately report his findings or position, the council found. References that described Professor Lindenmayer as anti-logging were deemed unfair and misleading given the evidence of his extensive, ongoing involvement in sustainable logging.
Police continue searching for clues as to what led to the stabbing death of a man in Sydneys inner west on Friday.

Emergency services were called to Marrickville Road, in Marrickville, about 12.05pm on Friday following reports that a man had been stabbed. Police helicopters circled the area and the tactical operations unit was called out.

Police outside a residence on Denison Road, Dulwich Hill, where a man was located after a stabbing in nearby Marrickville. Credit:James Brickwood

The man, 55, was found with multiple wounds to his chest and neck and, despite efforts to revive him, died at the scene.

A second man, 62, is understood to have driven about two kilometres to another property on Denison Road in Dulwich Hill, where he remained for several hours before he was arrested by police by 2.50pm.
NSW has reported 390 new local COVID-19 cases, the highest daily case total since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, as Premier Gladys Berejiklian warns the surge in infections will continue for at least the next few days.

About 100 locally acquired cases were in the community for some of their infectious period and 250 cases are not currently linked to a known case or cluster.

Two more deaths were recorded overnight: a woman in her 40s in Sydneys south-west, who was unvaccinated and died at home, and a man in his late 90s, in the Hunter New England area, who was vaccinated but under palliative care.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian arriving for todays coronavirus update. Credit:James Brickwood

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Canterbury-Bankstown still has the highest number of cases of the local government areas, but there has been stabilisation.
A police officer who leaked the address of a domestic violence survivor to her former partner could yet face harsher punishment after the Queensland Police Commissioner successfully appealed his reduced sentence in the Supreme Court.

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll launched the appeal in September 2020 and a hearing was held in July before Court of Appeal justices Walter Sofronoff, Debra Mullins and Hugh Fraser.

Queensland Police Senior Constable Neil Punchard leaked the details of a domestic violence victim to her ex-partner. Credit:Nine News Queensland

Senior Constable Neil Punchard was sentenced in October 2019 to two months in prison, wholly suspended, with a conviction recorded after pleading guilty to nine counts of computer hacking.

He has been a police officer since September 2002, was aged 47 and 48 at the time of the offending and had no prior criminal history.
The Queensland Premier has urged NSW to come up with a clear plan to get on top of its current coronavirus outbreak, saying the potential for virus creep was very concerning.

Queensland recorded eight new cases of coronavirus on Friday, one in hotel quarantine and seven linked to the Indooroopilly cluster.

All of them were in isolation for their entire infectious period, as the state continued to squash the outbreak that sparked a recent eight-day lockdown.

However authorities were concerned about the worsening situation in NSW, with the ACT declared a hotspot and cases detected in northern NSW shires near the Queensland border.
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Hugh Stewart and Rachel Knepfer with the Lockdown Picture Show.The show was launched by photographer Hugh Stewart, who runs Halls Lane with his wife Emma Warburton, with Rachel Knepfer, a former photo editor of Rolling Stone magazine in New York. In the spirit of keeping it all together in the face of things falling part, they invited friends and colleagues to send photos of yourself shot on your phone, a portrait of a flower, something you love, your husband, your horse, your mother. A protest, a lament, a drawing, a photograph, a poem. Anything goes. It seemed to click. Knepfer said photos of dogs, babies, flowers rolled in from people they didnt know. Friends and photographers - who theyd worked with over years - also contributed. Stewart said he loved the democratic nature of the show. Everythings been printed inexpensively at the local Office Works, and stuck up with tape. Credit:Edwina Pickles
The City of Melbourne embarked on a three-year campaign to drive possums out of a Carlton park, before commissioning an artist to create a holographic projection of a ghostly marsupial in one of the remaining trees.

Documents released under freedom of information laws show council contractors sealed more than 150 hollows in 13 trees at University Square, removed nesting boxes and sought to limit food supplies for the protected animals before and during the parks redevelopment.

University Square is now home to this holographic possum, created by artist Mikala Dwyer. Credit:Joe Armao

Dozens of possums lived in the park before the council began driving them out in 2017. A spokesman said about five possums remained at University Square.

While possums are protected under the Wildlife Act, councils are permitted to reduce the number of brushtail possums in parks and gardens where their numbers are damaging plants and trees.
Australia will urgently rescue more Afghan nationals who worked with Australian soldiers during the decades-long conflict under a plan to be unveiled within days, as the Taliban advances towards the capital Kabul.

Senior Australian officials are talking with their American and British counterparts about possibly joining with those countries to rescue Afghans who have worked with Australian soldiers.

The options being considered include the United States or Britain rescuing people on behalf of Canberra as well as Australia organising its own commercial flights to pick up Afghans who were engaged by Australian forces.

Taliban fighters stand guard in Kunduz city, northern Afghanistan. Credit:AP

About 3000 US troops and hundreds of British and Canadian soldiers will arrive at Kabuls international airport within the next 48 hours to help evacuate their diplomats and soldiers, as well as thousands of Afghans who worked with their troops.
Switching to online sales, takeaway and working from home has ensured many employers are better prepared to weather coronavirus restrictions now than last year, with the number of businesses taking out a loan repayment holiday in the past month in the hundreds compared to hundreds of thousands last year.

Economists and analysts are optimistic about the resiliency in the business sector despite high case numbers in NSW and a growing outbreak of the Delta strain, pointing to far fewer requests for repayment holidays as one of the signs employers are staying afloat.

Companies have been pivoting more quickly to takeaway and online sales during this round of lockdowns. Credit:Louise Kennerley

The Commonwealth Bank this week revealed only 240 new deferrals for business customers loans by July 31, less than 0.1 per cent of its portfolio. At the height of the pandemic last year the bank, the nations biggest, gave 83,000 business borrowers a repayment holiday. Australian Banking Association data shows that from July 8 to the first week of August about 600 business loans nationally were in deferral compared to 225,000 business loans last year.
People caught breaching the public health orders will face fines of $5000 and a $320 stay-at-home payment will be introduced for residents in Sydneys hotspot areas who need to isolate while waiting for COVID-19 test results.

Under the tougher new lockdown rules, singles in hotspot areas will be required to register the name of their one companion with the state government and anyone who needs to leave Greater Sydney will be required to apply for a permit.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Credit:James Brickwood

The governments crisis cabinet approved a range of new measures on Friday night but a request by police for a citywide rule to stop people exercising more than 5km from their home was not agreed to.

As the states eighth week of lockdown looms, COVID-19 case numbers hit a pandemic record of 390 on Friday, and another two deaths were recorded. Almost one third of cases were in the community for some of their infectious period and 250 have not been linked to a known case or cluster.
The London Telegraph reported that, in the aired interview, Ben Embarek added that it was interesting that the Wuhan Centre for Disease Control (CDC) laboratories had moved in early Dec 2019, to a spot just 500 metres from the market linked to an early cluster of cases. There are other labs in Wuhan that are interesting such as CDC, which also worked with bats, he said. What is more concerning to me is the other lab that is next to the market because they were also handling coronaviruses, without potentially having the same level of expertise or safety or who knows. When we were being shown around I thought it all looked new. I asked how old the lab was and they said we moved on Dec 2. Thats when it all started. We know that when you move a lab it disturbs all the procedures. You have to move the virus collection and the samples. Thats why that period of time and that lab are interesting, The Telegraph reported.

In further comments during the interview that were not included in the documentary but were incorporated in an account by the Danish channel TV2 on its website, Ben Embarek suggested that there could have been human error but that the Chinese political system does not allow authorities to admit that. It probably means theres a human error behind such an event, and theyre not very happy to admit that, Ben Embarek was quoted as saying. The whole system focuses a lot on being infallible, and everything must be perfect, he added. Somebody could also wish to hide something. Who knows? Only two weeks to conduct study: Peter Ben Embarek, of the World Health Organisation team, right, chats with his Chinese counterpart Liang Wannian during a WHO-China Joint Study Press Conference. Credit:AP Asked for comment, Ben Embarek initially said the interview had been mistranslated in English-language media coverage. It is a wrong translation from a Danish article, he wrote, declining to comment further and referring The Washington Post to the WHO. He did not immediately respond to follow-up questions. WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic also said that the comment was mistranslated and that the interview took place months ago.

There are no new elements nor [a] change of the position [that] all hypotheses are on the table and WHO works with member states on the next step, Jasarevic said, referring to comments by senior officials with the global health organisation about the probe. The documentary, titled The Virus Mystery, aired on TV2. Loading Ben Embarek had cooperated with the documentary filmmakers, even going so far as to film his trip to China for them on his phone to provide an inside look at a closed-off trip. He led a team of international scientists on a mission to China in January to work with local officials to investigate the origins of a pandemic that has so far led to more than 200 million confirmed cases and at least 4.3 million deaths worldwide.

From the start, the trip was mired in controversy. Beijing delayed approval for the WHO trip, pushing back the researchers arrival, while some of the international experts on the team were criticised for prior links to Chinese research. Even once it arrived, the WHO team, subject to strict quarantine procedures, had only two weeks in the field to conduct research. After the teams report was released in late March, it grew only more disputed. The team looked at four different scenarios for how the virus first spread to humans, labelling the idea of zoonotic spread from animals to humans as most likely. Other, less likely scenarios included that the virus could have been imported to China on frozen food - a theory pushed repeatedly by Chinese officials but seen as unlikely by many international experts. The lab-leak theory, the subject of intense speculation in the United States, was dubbed the least likely scenario, and the WHO team said it should no longer be investigated. Even sceptics of the theory found the dismissal a surprise.

At a news conference marking the release of the report, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the scenario still needed closer study. Although the team has concluded that a laboratory leak is the least likely hypothesis, this requires further investigation, potentially with additional missions involving specialist experts, which I am ready to deploy, Tedros said. Ben Embarek and other researchers on the team have hinted at immense pressure during the trip from all sides, with as many as 60 Chinese colleagues working with not only scientists but also public health figures. The politics was always in the room with us on the other side of the table, he told Science Magazine during an interview published in February. Later this month, the US intelligence community is expected to complete a 90-day review of the evidence about the origins of the coronavirus.
By the end of the 2000s, the term "landfill indie" gained currency to describe the proliferation of generic guitar-based bands inspired by the likes of The Libertines, The Strokes etc., The Indian movies that have been landing straight on the over-the-top (OTT) video streaming platforms in the aftermath of Covid pandemic are asking for a similarly dismissive term like "landfill cinema".

Apart from Malayalam movie industry, I have started getting this sinking feeling that rest of the country's movie industries can't be bothered to generate interesting content or are preserving the creme de la creme for the opportune time when the movie theatres eventually open their doors.

After 16 months of poring over the dreary content, I would like to posit that most Indian movie producers who have been opting for the OTT route know it in their bones that their content is essentially dead on arrival at cinemas.

Every day we see actors and movie makers galumphing that this is the gilded age for cinema and that the audience has been more receptive than ever before for edgy content. However, so far the audience has been subjected to big-ticket torturous cinema like Coolie No 1, Radhe. These movies wouldn't have survived the cinemas for more than a week while the OTT platforms lapped up these movies for prestige value by paying astronomical prices. A news report said Zee paid a ridiculous Rs 230 crore for Radhe, while another report said Rs 100 crore was given for acquiring that memefest of a movie called Coolie No 1.

One can't find fault with Amazon and Netflix for being this giddily obsessed for latest and exclusive Indian content. Both of them have reached near saturation in the developed world and their next big frontier is the untapped Indian audience.

In terms of new customers, Netflix added the least number of new customers in the second quarter of current financial year for the first time since 2013, which led to worst stock decline in three months. Clearly, time is running out for Netflix and it doesn't seem to mind burning cash to get hold of solid content, which seems chimerical at the moment.

In India, both Netflix and Amazon have lately been acquiring cinema that are short of fresh ideas and are mostly lazy. Make no mistake, it's heartening to see OTT platforms encourage vernacular cinema because of the sheer volumes of the audience. However, it's bloomingly obvious that movie makers would rather sit this one out rather than sell off their premium content for straight-to-OTT prices, which, make no mistake, can be sizeable but theatrical profits can amount to a lot more in case the movie clicks.

The offshoots of OTT culture, like MUBI, a global curated film streaming platform, are to be missed at one's own peril. And one's heart also goes out for the quickly snuffed out Quibi, an American short-form streaming platform that generated content for viewing on mobile devices.

However, Indian OTT space is a whole different kettle of fish. Almost every major movie producing state now has its own streaming platform, like Sun NXT in Tamil Nadu, aha in the Telugu speaking states, Hoichoi in West Bengal. Anecdotal evidence suggests Hoichoi has the most avid audience while the others don't have enough compelling content. Allu Aravind-backed aha was launched with much fanfare and with backing from Chiranjeevi's family but ultimately, the content turned out to be vapid and only modicum of movie acquisitions is keeping it going. Every original aha production is an embarrassment to say the least, be it Samantha's talk show Sam Jam or Tamannaah Bhatia starring series 11th Hour.

Even in terms of web series, for every brutally addictive Family Man there are at least 15-20 web series that should have been asphyxiated at the very stage of conceptualisation. It's as if these seemingly thriving avenues are willing to burn cash on everything except concise storytelling.

That begs the question if Indian OTT space is condemned to be a landfill for movies made with half-baked ideas funded by apparently bottomless coffers? The answer is a resounding no. Of course, this OTT organism is constantly evolving and pay-per-view can be a monetisation avenue (yes, despite the Radhe misfire) for these platforms should they wish to wean off their audience from monthly subscription service worth a large popcorn at a multiplex.

Until they figure themselves out, the Indian OTT platforms should stick to acquiring films after they have had their theatrical run. Let's face it, without cinemas, the OTT emperor has no clothes.
After a stint of two years as the chief executive officer of Royal Enfield, Vinod K Dasari has announced his stepping down from the post to chase his passion - affordable healthcare and skill development.

However, not much was discussed in public about what his future passion is all about, other than letting the media know that it will be a not for profit venture. It is still in a nascent stage. After being a business leader for several years, I wanted to give something back to society. The plan is to go ahead with the healthcare venture founded by my wife Sarita, who is a doctor, Dasari told Business Standard. Before joining Royal Enfield, he was the managing director and chief executive officer of another major automaker Ashok Leyland since 2011.

On August 4, a new building of a 40-bed multi-speciality hospital in Nungambakkam in Chennai under Vijay Ganga Specialty Care Ltd (VGSC) and owned by Dasari's family was inaugurated. Dasari said the hospital will start operations within the next 15 days.

We will come up with more facilities depending on its success. We have invested only around Rs 75 crore for this facility. In the corporate world, what we have invested in this new venture may be a small amount, he said. VSGC was established by Dr Sarita in 2009 and started as a small clinic in Mylapore in 2013. The new hospital would offer a network of comprehensive services that include primarily prevention and wellness, vascular services, nephrological services, urological services, general specialties, hospital care, diagnostic and treatment services.

One out of five people in India is diabetic, one out of three have hypertension and my wife is an expert in that field. So how can we leverage her skill and my skill to build something together, he added. Dr Sarita is a graduate of Karnataka Medical College, Hubli and did her specialisation in Internal Medicine from Aultman Hospital and super specialisation in nephrology from Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF) in Ohio, United States.

The couple is also planning to expand VGSC's dialysis technologist training academy, also known as Train4Life, to develop skills of students, nursing attendants, and current practicing dialysis technologists. Why not provide training to people and help them build their careers, it will be part of the venture. We will be looking at any skill base that is required in the segment, he said.

When asked about the not-for-profit model, Dasari said that for those who cannot afford treatment, a trust will take care of the expenses. Though moving on as a helping hand in VGSC, Dasari considers the success of his son Sanjay Dasari (and partners) agri-commerce venture WayCool Foods as one of the reasons behind his decision to give something back to the society. Chennai-based WayCool Foods is one of the fastest growing agri-commerce focussed on food development and distribution, and is expected to touch revenues of Rs 1,000 crore this fiscal.

When asked about his decision to quit the corporate world, Dasari turned philosophical. My passion or gift is to create investor businesses. The meaning of life is to find your gift and the purpose of life is to give it away. How do I give it away. I cant give it away to some NGOs. The best way to do it is to start something that grows. To give something back to the community, including employment, he said.

Dasari will be replaced by B Govindarajan, the current chief operating officer of as its CEO.
on Friday said it closed a pact to transfer the 'Right to Use' of its 800 MHz spectrum in three circles to rival for Rs 1,004.8 crore. In addition, Jio will assume future liabilities of Rs 469.3 crore relating to the spectrum.

In April, Jio had signed an agreement with Airtel to acquire a portion of spectrum in 800 MHz band for Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, and Mumbai circles at an aggregate value of Rs 1,497 crore. Jio now has its holding in these circles to 10MHz, 10MHz and 15MHz, respectively.

This was the first such deal between the two competitors. The analysts had described this deal a win-win for both the parties.

In case of Jio, the analysts had said with the remaining validity of 14 years, the implied cost/MHz/annum comes to Rs 14 crore, 50 per cent discount to the auction price. It has saved Jio around $400 million.

The pact is useful for Bharti Airtel, which had acquired this spectrum from Tata for little consideration and has remained unutilised. spectrum or airwaves come in different bands for different requirements for the transmission of voice and data.

The lower spectrum bands like 800 Mhz and 900 Mhz provide greater indoor coverage, while bands like 2300 MHz or higher frequency bands have superior transmission capability. The airwaves are sold in quantities measured as MHz.
Cyrus Poonawalla, chairman of the (SII), on Friday termed the ban on COVID-19 vaccine imposed by the Union government a very bad move, saying it put his company, the world's largest vaccine-maker, in a difficult situation.

He also said that his son Adar Poonawalla, the chief executive of the SII which makes the Covishield vaccine, had asked him not to speak about the issue. It is a very bad move by the Modi government. My son asked me not to open my mouth. But it is my view that ought to be opened, Poonawalla said here.

He was speaking to reporters after receiving the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak Award. Over 150 countries are dependent on the SII for vaccines and are blaming the company for stopping the supply during a crucial period, he said. These countries have paid crores in advance to the company, Cyrus Poonawalla said, adding that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and World Health Organisation (WHO) have also given it Rs 5,000 crore. He had offered to return the money to the Gates Foundation and WHO, he said, but hinted that they declined his offer in the hope that the Indian government will lift the ban on soon. India banned vaccine exports in April when the second wave of the pandemic began to peak and the need to vaccinate people in the country at a greater pace was felt acutely. The move led to concerns being expressed from various quarters as the Pune-based SII is one of the biggest suppliers globally and had taken advance orders. About a shortage of vaccines in Pune itself, Poonawalla again voiced disappointment with the Union government.

We told them (the government) that data says that the infections are highest in Pune and requested them to release more (vaccines) for Pune but the Modi government is unwilling to even reply. The government says it will do what it feels, he said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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The man who inadvertently became the face of a public tussle between the Indian government and India, Manish Maheshwari, the managing director of the microblogging platform's marketing arm in India, will be moving to the US in a new role.

confirmed the move, and said Maheshwari will be based in San Francisco as Senior Director, Revenue Strategy and Operations focused on New Market Entry.

Thank you to @manishm for your leadership of our Indian business over the past 2+ years. Congrats on your new US-based role in charge of revenue strategy and operations for new markets worldwide. Excited to see you lead this important growth opportunity for Twitter, tweeted Japan Vice President Yu Sasamoto on Friday.

As of now, Twitter India has not named a successor to Maheshwari, whose name came up time and again in cases related to non-compliance with Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules (or IT Rules) 2021. The Rules require significant social media intermediaries such as Twitter, who have more than 50 lakh users on their platforms, to appoint certain officials who can be held liable for content on the platform, and publish monthly compliance reports.

Twitter was involved in a very public face off with the Indian government over a host of issues ranging from refusing to takedown some content in the beginning of the year, to not fully complying with rules framed for social media under the new IT Rules.

Maheshwari had been named in at least three police complaints, ranging from showing an incorrect map of India to a video of alleged communal violence going viral, one of which even led to him filing a caveat in the Supreme Court.

In July, the Karnataka High Court quashed a notice issued by the Uttar Pradesh Police, related to the first information report against Maheshwari. The Delhi Police also served notice on Maheshwari and Twitter India in May, related to a toolkit allegedly made by the opposition party Indian National Congress, and tagging of some ruling party politicians tweets as manipulated media.

In a statement following the May police notice, Twitter had made a statement saying it was concerned "with regards to the use of intimidation tactics by the police in response to enforcement of our global Terms of Service, as well as with core elements of the new IT Rules,.

Following this, Maheshwari was named in the UP FIR and Court cases related to non compliance of IT Rules.

As part of other ongoing cases in the Delhi and Karnataka High Courts, Twitter said that content regulation comes under ambit of Twitter Inc, the US-based firm, while Twitter India provides support services for promoting and marketing Twitter in India.

Seemingly to clarify his role, which was questioned by Delhi Police in a long communication at the time of the toolkit controversy, and lso in the following court cases, Maheshwari has updated his Twitter bio to say, Business @TwitterIndia. Not in charge of content, which is managed by Twitter Inc.

This is followed by contact details of Twitters India-based grievance officer Vinay Prakash.

The nodal contact person, as required by the IT Rules, is an ex-Bytedance employee Shahin Kamath, also based in India.

The new appointees are employees of Twitter Inc and not the India entity of the microblogging platform.

Before Twitter, Maheshwari worked at organisations such as Procter & Gamble, McKinsey & Co. He also co-founded a mobile technology start-up txtWeb, which was incubated within American software firm Intuit.
E-commerce firm Flipkart announced the expansion of grocery services in and The Walmart-owned company said this will now provide new customers in the state access to high-quality daily essentials at attractive prices while ensuring their safety through doorstep delivery.

Flipkart Grocery offers over 7,000 products across 200 categories. These range from daily household supplies, staples, snacks and beverages, confectionery and personal care. Flipkarts grocery offering is backed by an intuitive user experience through voice-enabled shopping for groceries, credit offerings and open box deliveries.

Over the last one year, consumers across the country have warmed up to e-grocery, and Flipkart has sharpened its focus on scaling up this category with sellers, brands and farmers, said Smrithi Ravichandran, vice president - Grocery, Flipkart. Grocery is a regionally indexed category, and our focus has been to build local sourcing capabilities to better serve local consumer needs with the finest regional selection in addition to bringing the best quality national brands to the consumers doorstep.

With the help of Flipkarts newly launched and dedicated grocery fulfilment centre in Coimbatore, the marketplace will offer online grocery shopping to users in Coimbatore and those in neighbouring cities of Madurai, Trichy, Ernakulam, Tirupur, Erode, Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram. Through a regional expansion focused marketplace model, this new fulfilment centre will serve more than 150 pin codes in the regions.

The government is committed to promoting investments in logistics and warehousing, said N Muruganandam, IAS, Principal Secretary, Industries Department, The grocery fulfilment centre will enable local merchants to use this infrastructure and widen their market access.

The Coimbatore grocery fulfilment centre is spread across nearly 1.25 lakh square feet and will create more than 1,100 direct and indirect job opportunities, leading to a boost in local employment and economy. Sustained growth in Flipkarts grocery business also provides an impetus to the local food processing industry, supporting Indian agriculture and small and medium farmers.

The grocery fulfilment centre will aid the economic growth of the local ecosystem, said Pooja Kulkarni, IAS, MD and CEO, Guidance Tamil Nadu, being the most urbanised state, will also give greater impetus to Flipkart's e-commerce business.

Flipkart said its top priority is the safety of customers and employees, and the marketplace has been able to help lakhs of sellers and MSMEs keep their businesses operational. It is doing this by offering a lively marketplace for them to sell their products, creating lakhs of jobs. The firm said it continues to follow the highest safety protocol across its supply chain network.
Around 1.33 lakh people were vaccinated against coronavirus in Delhi on Thursday and around 83,000 of them got the first dose, according to official data.

The vaccination bulletin released by the said over 1.12 crore doses have been administered in the city since the inoculation exercise started on January 16.

As many as 31.51 lakh people have received both the doses, it said.

According to the Delhi government's data, the city had around 7.91 lakh vaccine doses 3.10 lakh Covaxin and 4.81 lakh Covishield -- left on Friday morning.

The bulletin said the stock can last up to seven days.

Health Department officials had recently told the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) that it will take another year to fully vaccinate all eligible beneficiaries aged above 18 against coronavirus at "the present rate of vaccine supply".

They said around 45 lakh doses are required every month to complete the vaccination by December 2021.

In view of short supply of vaccine and a large number of beneficiaries due for the second dose, the Delhi Health Department recently issued orders asking district authorities to restrict 20 per cent doses of Covishield and 40 per cent doses of Covaxin for the first shot.

Vaccination centres across Delhi can administer around 1.77 lakh doses daily.

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Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will be visiting on August 16 to review the COVID-19 situation in the southern state.

He is also likely to visit Guwahati in on August 17 for holding a review meeting there, sources said.

According to the sources, the Union minister is likely to meet Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and hold a meeting with state Health Minister Veena George and other officials involved in Covid management there.

Mandaviya will be accompanied by director of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and other senior officials of the health ministry.

on Friday reported 20,452 new cases and 114 deaths due to the infection, taking the caseload to 3,62,090 and the death toll to 18,394.

Assam's COVID-19 tally mounted to 5,78,733 as 763 more people tested positive for the infection, while 20 fresh fatalities pushed the death toll to 5,471, the National Health Mission said in a bulletin.

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The Friday sought response from the AAP government and the Centre on a public interest litigation seeking eradication of begging by children here.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Amit Bansal issued notice on a PIL by Ajay Gautam and also sought responses from Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights and Delhi Police.

In his petition, Gautam has sought directions to the authorities to rehabilitate children who are beggars and to identify and arrest the persons who are pushing women using toddlers, teenage girls and small children into begging and...crime and exploiting young girls.

Gautam has alleged that in spite of the presence of beggars in every part of the city, the authorities have failed to take any remedial steps to curb the menace.

Everyone knows that begging mafia is actively behind this menace of begging by the children and they in fact they kidnap, train, force and torture innocent children for begging," the petition states.

It is further said that small children are deliberately harmed and injured to get maximum sympathy of people.

It has been commonly seen in winters that young girls hold toddlers without clothes to gain maximum sympathy. It is also not out of context to mention here that in many cases these gangs I mafias and young girls intentionally give sedatives to small children to gather sympathy of people risking lives of toddlers as young as 9-12 months, reads the petition.

The petition argues that the Constitution of India mandates the State to make efforts to provide best opportunities for the development of children and ensure that they are not abused.

The matter would be heard next on September 27.

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Over 40,000 fresh cases reported

India reported 40,120 fresh coronavirus infections on Friday, taking the cumulative caseload to 32.1 million, according to central health ministry data. The country saw 585 more deaths due to the pandemic, taking the death toll to 430,254. The active caseload is at 385,227, while the total recoveries have surged to 31.3 million. As many as 529 million vaccine shots have been administered since the nationwide inoculation programme kicked off on January 16. Of these, 5.7 million were given on Thursday. Read more





Karnataka: 1 in 6 people had antibodies before second wave hit, serosurvey shows

The second round of a statewide serosurvey carried out in before the second wave hit found the seroprevalence to be at 15.6 per cent, a report in ThePrint said. This means that one in six people in the state had Covid antibodies. The study was conducted from 25 January to 18 February. The low seroprevalence was due to antibody waning, a longitudinal substudy confirmed. The survey found that the seroprevalence was highest in the 50-59 years age bracket (16.8 per cent) and lowest among those between the ages of 18 years and 29 years (10.8 per cent), the report said. Read more



58% Indians confident country well-equipped to handle third wave: survey

A new survey revealed that every three out of five Indians are confident that the country is well-equipped to handle a potential third wave of the pandemic this year, a report in ThePrint said. The survey, conducted by community platform LocalCircles, marked India entering the 75th year of its independence, and questioned respondents on their thoughts about the direction the country will take in the next year. Feedback from citizens has been sought on various national issues, LocalCircles said. Over 75,000 people were polled in the survey, the report said. Read more





A protein-based vaccine that mimics shape of coronavirus

Researchers have immunised mice with nanoparticles that mimic the novel coronavirus by displaying multiple copies of the receptor binding domain (RBD) antigen, a report in The Indian Express said. The findings on their protein-based vaccine have been published in ACS Central Science. The scientists made nanoparticles similar in size to SARS-CoV-2 and decorated them with many RBDs. They injected them into mice, along with separate nanoparticles containing an adjuvant, in two doses three weeks apart, the report said. Read more





Vaccination at govt-run centres in to resume on Saturday

Vaccination is likely to resume at over 300 government-run centres on Saturday after a gap of two days, a report in The Indian Express said. However, the centres are closed on Sundays. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was set to receive 159,000 doses on Thursday nightthe stock is now expected on Friday. The vaccination drive was suspended for Thursday and Friday due to a shortage in supply. The BMC had previously received 45,000 doses last Saturday, which were exhausted by Monday. Due to shortages, the government-run centres have been shut for six days this month, the report said. Read more
Indian Immunologicals (IIL) will make drug substances or raw material to make 3-4 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin a month now, which will be scale up to 10 million doses a month by December.

IIL and International (BBIL), which joined hands in April, have signed four agreements. IIL has repurposed its manufacturing facility in Hyderabad, procured key raw materials and consumables apart from equipment. IIL claimed that these were done at 'breakneck' speed and production commenced in July.

The batches produced at IILs manufacturing facility have been tested at BBIL. The yields are more than expected, the company said.

K Anand Kumar, MD, IIL handed over the first lot of Covaxin Drug Substance to Krishna Ella, CMD, on August 13, 2021. Kumar said that they received support from the Niti-Aayog, BIRAC, DBT, Mission Covid Suraksha Team, Central and State drug control authorities

Renu Swarup, Secretary, DBT and Chairperson, BIRAC said, The government has worked relentlessly to provide all possible support for ramping up Covaxin production in the country and speed up Covaxin inoculation drive. The loan license agreement by CDSCO for Indian Immunologicals Ltd to produce Covaxin Drug Substance is a major milestone, achieved in a very short span of time. The DBT-BIRAC support under Mission Covid Suraksha aims to meet the Covid-19 vaccine requirement of our country.

IIL is also working on another COVID -19 vaccine and the animal trials are underway currently and is expected to come out by next year for human vaccination," Kumar informed.
The Uttar Police police has arrested a 24-year-old man here for allegedly into the (ECI) website and creating hundreds of fake voter IDs, officials said Friday.

Vipul Saini, who has a Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) degree, was arrested Thursday from Nakur town's Maccharhedi village in Saharanpur district.

During initial investigation, police found that Saini worked at the behest of a person named Armaan Malik from Madhya Pradesh, and created over 10,000 fake voter IDs over three months.

Saharanpur Senior Superintendent of Police S Channappa told PTI that Saini was paid Rs 100-200 per ID and when his bank account was examined after the arrest, the police found Rs 60 lakh deposited in it.

The account was immediately freezed.

Police are investigating the source of the money and trying to find more details about Malik, who, Saini said, used to send him details of the day's work.

Police has seized two computers from Saini's home.

Police also said authorities in Delhi will now seek court's permission to take him to the capital for further probe.

It will also be probed if he is linked to anti- or terrorist forces, they said.

According to police, Saini completed his BCA from Gangoh village in Saharanpur district. His father is a farmer.

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The Metro Railway has decided to extend services along its north-south corridor in the city by an hour in the evening from Monday, with the last train leaving terminal stations at 9 pm, an official said.

Kolkata Metro authorities have also increased the number of daily trains to 228 from 220 with a peak hour interval of five minutes between services in view of the rise in passenger count.

"From Monday, along the north-south corridor, the last metro will leave the terminal stations at 9 pm instead of 8 pm as the state government has relaxed the restriction period," a Metro spokesperson said on Friday.

The West Bengal government has announced that night movement restrictions in the state owing to the COVID-19 pandemic will be in place from 11 pm to 5 am, and not from 9 pm, starting August 16.

The Metro official further said that due to heavy waterlogging following incessant rain here, a slip in the embankment may have occurred in about a 100-metre portion of land between Noapara and Baranagar stations.

"As a precautionary measure and in order to strengthen the toe of the embankment slope, repairing work has been taken up to ensure its long-term stability," he said.

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and have come together to celebrate India's rich cultural heritage through the streaming platform's popular animated series "Mighty Little Bheem".

Produced by Green Gold Animation, the animated series premiered on the streaming platform in 2019. It centres on the the adventures of the young boy Bheem.

and will come up with a series of short videos themed 'One Country, Incredible Diversity' that will focus on India's cultural journey, including monuments, living heritage, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festivals such as Dussehra, Diwali and Holi.

The short videos, featuring Bheem, will be released on New Delhi's Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter pages.

The first video in the series was released on Friday, ahead of the 75th Independence Day.

Monika Shergill, VP, Content, India, said they were elated to collaborate with UNESCO.

We are excited to partner with UNESCO to celebrate India's rich cultural heritage through our beloved preschool animated series, 'Mighty Little Bheem'. At Netflix, we want to make stories that are compelling, meaningful, memorable and resonate around the world for authentic representation of their respective cultures, she said in a statement.

Eric Falt, Director and UNESCO Representative to Bhutan, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka, added, "We are pleased to partner with Netflix to take you through a journey of India's rich cultural diversity.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched vehicle scrappage policy and said that the policy is a significant milestone in India's development journey.

Taking to Twitter, PM Modi informed about the launch and urged youth and start-ups to join this programme.

"The launch of Vehicle Scrappage Policy today is a significant milestone in India's development journey. The Investor Summit in Gujarat for setting up vehicle scrapping infrastructure opens a new range of possibilities. I would request our youth and start-ups to join this programme," tweeted PM Modi.

He further said that the vehicle scrapping will help to phase out unfit and polluting vehicles in an environment-friendly manner.

"Vehicle scrapping will help phase out unfit and polluting vehicles in an environment friendly manner. Our aim is to create a viable #circulareconomy and bring value for all stakeholders while being environmentally responsible," he added.

Earlier on Thursday, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that PM Modi will launch Automobile Scrappage Policy during the 'Investors Summit for setting up Vehicle Scrapping Infrastructure' in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

The is aimed at creating an eco-system for phasing out unfit and polluting vehicles in an environmentally friendly and safe manner. The policy intends to create scrapping infrastructure in the form of Automated Testing Stations and Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities across the country.

The Investors Summit is being organized to invite investment for setting up vehicle scrapping infrastructure under the Voluntary Vehicle-Fleet Modernization Program or the Vehicle Scrapping Policy, said Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in a statement.

The Summit is being organized by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the government of Gujarat.

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With a tumultuous session ending with unruly scenes, senior Congress leader on Friday said the Chair in both Houses was "not as neutral as it should be" and asserted that the last-day pandemonium in started because the government tried to pass a legislation by "stealth" by going back on its words.

Chidambaram also questioned the absence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah from debates during the session and alleged that the "two-man army" BJP government has "scant respect" for and if the "two gentlemen have their way, they will lock down Parliament".

In an interview with PTI, the former Union minister also asserted that with patience, further conversations and meetings, he is absolutely certain the difficulties in forging Opposition unity to take on the BJP in 2024 general elections shall be overcome and it will be a reality well before the polls.

The Monsoon session of was curtailed by two days on Wednesday. Just before the was adjourned sine die, opposition MPs jostled with marshals in the well of the House when they were trying to move towards the Chair and the treasury benches.

While the government and the ruling BJP have blamed the Congress and other opposition parties for disruptions, the opposition leaders have accused the ruling dispensation of running away from debate on issues like Pegasus snooping allegations and contentious farm laws.

For Wednesday's ruckus in also, the ruling party has put the blame on opposition leaders while several leaders from Congress and some other parties alleged that opposition members including some women MPs were manhandled.

Asked about the ruckus in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday and the government fielding eight ministers to accuse the Opposition of disrupting the Monsoon session, Chidambaram said the pandemonium was created by the government going back on its word that after the Constitution amendment bill on the OBC reservation was passed by the House, it will be adjourned sine die.

The Opposition had made it clear that it was opposed to passing the bill to amend the general insurance laws which would pave the way for privatisation of all general insurance companies and that it should be referred to a select committee of Parliament, he said.

Chidambaram, a Rajya Sabha member and part of the Congress' strategy group in the House, said that since there was no agreement on that issue between the government and the Opposition, it was agreed that the bill will not be taken up in this session of Parliament.

"But after the Constitution amendment bill was passed unanimously, the government tried to rush through the general insurance amendment bill and one or two other bills. This is a continuation of the BJP's practice of passing legislation by stealth," he said.

Naturally, the opposition was infuriated and opposed the government vehemently, he said.

"The chair, I am afraid, and I am sorry to say this, did not play a neutral role and therefore there was pandemonium in Parliament, but the starting point of the pandemonium was the government's attempt to pass legislation by stealth," Chidambaram alleged.

Asked about Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu expressing disappointment with the behaviour of Opposition members during the session and the Opposition raising questions about the neutrality of the Chair, the senior Congress leader said, "We are increasingly driven to the conclusion, and I say this with a heavy heart and great regret, that the Chair is not as neutral as it should be and the Chair does not reflect the sense of the House."



The House consists of both the treasury benches and the opposition benches and the Chair should reflect the sense of the whole House and not just one side or the other, he asserted.

On the government rejecting Opposition's criticism of passage of bills amid the din, stating that it also happened in the UPA era, Chidambaram said this "whataboutery" must come to an end.

In the UPA era, the prime minister and the home minister attended both Houses, they answered questions in Parliament, they took part in debates and offered clarifications on statements, he said.

Chidambaram said that in this whole session, the prime minister and the home minister were "absent", did not answer a single question and did not participate in any debate.

"This shows that the two-man army, which is the BJP government, has scant respect for Parliament. If these two gentlemen have their way, they will lock down Parliament," he alleged.

Asked about Parliament not discussing the Pegasus snooping row and the parliamentary panel on information technology not being able to take up the issue with BJP members denying the panel a quorum in its last meeting, Chidambaram said the is the only hope.

"The government has a huge guilty conscience which is why the moment the word Pegasus is uttered, the government runs for cover and the government resorts to all kinds of strategies to shut out a debate on Pegasus, but Pegasus cannot be suppressed forever," he said.

One by one skeleton will tumble out of the cupboard, as they are, in France, Israel, Germany and other countries. Newspapers around the world will report on the new revelations, the senior Congress leader said.

"I hope the will take up the issue of Pegasus and order an inquiry," he added.

Asked if with the Opposition unity on display during the Monsoon session -- be it Rahul Gandhi's breakfast meeting, Kapil Sibal's dinner or floor coordination -- seeds of an alliance to take on the BJP in 2024 have been sown, Chidambaram said it was the "beginning of the beginning".

"We are still in the early days but my conversations with opposition leaders clearly point to the fact that every opposition leader is convinced that the Opposition must present a United front," he said.

On Thursday, as the government fielded a battery of eight ministers at a news conference to take on the opposition over the ruckus in Parliament, the presiding officers of the and the Rajya Sabha expressed deep concern over the "disruptive behaviour" of some MPs and felt such actions should not be tolerated.

Opposition leaders also marched in protest against the government on several issues, including the Pegasus snooping row, the three farm laws and alleged manhandling of their MPs in Rajya Sabha, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi saying the voice of people was crushed in Parliament and democracy was "murdered".

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on Friday announced that citizens from September 15 would require cards, certifying both doses of the have been administered, to travel between provinces and in public spaces.

Presently, there is a ban on inter-provincial travel, while employers are asked to ensure most employees work from home.

The National COVID-19 Prevention Centre said from September 15 cards would become mandatory for inter-provincial travel and for moving in public spaces.

The plans were approved during a senior-level health sector meeting. Further, it has been decided that travel restrictions would be put in place for the next two weeks, which may even be extended.

The measures were taken in view of the increasing number of delta variant COVID-19 cases.

The highly transmissible Delta variant, which was first identified in India, is spreading rapidly across and comprises around 75 per cent of the new cases reported in its Western province.

There has been a rise in the number of deaths and new COVID-19 infections driven in large part by the highly infectious variant. has refrained from imposing a total lockdown, keeping in view the adverse effect on the economy.

On Wednesday, 156 deaths were recorded, the highest single-day number with over 3,000 new infections also being reported. Some 11.6 million of the 21 million population have received at least one dose of the vaccine. From that, 4 million have received both the jabs, the health ministry figures show.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has called for care of senior citizens, who suffer from COVID-19. Sri Lanka has reported 345,118 COVID-19 cases and the death toll stands at 5,620, according to Johns Hopkins University.

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West Bengal MLA Mukul Roy, who had joined the Trinamool Congress days after winning the assembly election seat on BJP ticket, stirred fresh controversy on Friday by saying for the second time within a week that the saffron party will win a future by-election in his constituency.

He, however, said that the TMC will do well in the 2023 assembly elections in Tripura.

Senior TMC leader Tapas Roy refused to comment on Roy's gaffe, while the BJP said that the people will judge such statements.

on August 6 had said in a press conference at Krishnanagar in Nadia district that the BJP will win the by-poll in the state. Realising his faux pas, he quickly corrected himself saying he actually meant the TMC.

The senior politician had left the Mamata Banerjee-led party in 2017 to join the BJP and returned to the TMC around a month after the results of the assembly elections were declared on May 2.

However, officially he is still the BJP MLA of Krishnanagar North constituency and has been made the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the state Assembly.

"The BJP will win if a by-election is held in Krishnanagar North," Roy told reporters after attending a PAC meeting in the assembly premises.

To a question if the TMC will not be able to win the seat, he said it will be decided by the people of that constituency.

Asked he was the legislator of which party, Roy said, "I am an MLA of the BJP."



Roy said he is ready to visit Tripura to work for the TMC if asked by the party.

"I will do whatever is told by the party. The BJP is not doing the right thing in Tripura. Our party will do well in the next polls there," he added.

At least 14 leaders and workers of the TMC, including those injured in an alleged attack by BJP workers, were arrested in Tripura on August 8 for "violating Covid norms". Two other TMC workers were nabbed on August 11.

Senior TMC leaders from West Bengal are of late visiting the NE state where the assembly election is due in 2023.

Asked to comment on Roy's statements, TMC Deputy Chief Whip in West Bengal assembly Tapas Roy told reporters: "It will be proper for you to ask what he meant. Since I was not present during the interaction, I won't comment."



Tapas Roy said that he attended Friday's PAC meeting chaired by

BJP MLA and leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari said Roy was greeted with much fanfare when he reached the TMC office to join after winning on BJP ticket.

"Now if he makes such statements, it is for people of the state to judge. He was accorded high security by the state government, he was made the PAC chairman. Now let the TMC see," he said.

The BJP has demanded disqualification of Roy as a member of the assembly under anti-defection law and his removal from the post of PAC chairman which traditionally goes to the opposition party.

The TMC leadership has been saying that Roy is a BJP MLA and hence his appointment as the PAC chairman won't pose any problem on technical ground.

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The master plan, which details the development of the proposed Noida International Airport, was approved by the Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL) on Friday, according to officials.

The master plan along with the project status report was presented before the NIAL board during its 11th meeting in Lucknow on Friday, they said.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Rajendra Kumar Tiwari, who is also the chairman of the NIAL board, while the agenda was presented by NIAL CEO Arun Vir Singh.

In the meeting, the master plan of the Noida international airport at Jewar and the progress made in the greenfield project were presented which got approved by the board, according to an official statement.

The master plan was developed by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), a 100 per cent subsidiary of the project concessionaire Zurich International Airport AG, Singh informed the board.

The master plan was sent for comments and observations to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, which sent it back with in-principle approval, Singh said.

The NIAL board, while giving its approval to the master plan on Friday, directed project officials to get the nod of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) as well, according to the statement.

NIAL CEO Arun Vir Singh is also the CEO of YEIDA, a state government body which manages development along the 165-km-long Yamuna Expressway near Delhi in western Uttar Pradesh.

The meeting was attended by CEO Greater Noida Authority Narendra Bhooshan, CEO Noida Authority Ritu Maheshwari, Secretary Finance (UP government) Sanjay Kumar, Joint Secretary Industrial Development and Director Civil Aviation Visakh G and NIAL Nodal Officer Shailendra Bhatia.

The master plan was first sent to central agencies in December 2020 after which it was sent back with some recommendations and observations.

The revised plan was sent to the central agencies this May after which the NOC (no objection certificate) was received from them recently, officials said.

The NIAL, the authority on the joint venture project, has the Uttar Pradesh government, the Noida Industrial Development Authority, the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority and the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority as its stakeholders.

The greenfield airport, billed to be the largest in India upon completion, is being developed by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited, a 100 per cent subsidiary of Swiss firm Zurich International Airport AG.

Work is underway for the first phase of the project which will be spread over an area of 1,334 hectares, according to officials.

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The government on Friday notified the RoSCTL scheme for textiles exporters and said the duty credit scrips under this support measure would be issued without insisting on realisation of the export proceeds.

On July 14, the Cabinet approved the continuation of the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) scheme under which garment exporters will continue to get a rebate on central and state taxes on their outward shipments till March 2024.

The notification said the adequate safeguard mechanism would be put in place for effective monitoring of realisation of the export proceeds.

"While the proposed scheme will be implemented on a revenue foregone basis, a budgetary control would be exercised through appropriate entries in the annual financial statement.

"To ensure that expenditure under the scheme does not exceed the allocation amount in a particular financial year, the expenditure and liability shall be reviewed on a quarterly basis," it added.

It said that for the purpose of audit and verification, the exporter would be required to keep records to substantiate their claims made under the scheme. And, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) would put a monitoring and audit mechanism, with an information technology-based risk management system (RMS), in place.

The textiles ministry will conduct an annual impact analysis of the scheme.

Rebate of state taxes and levies would include VAT on fuel used in transportation, mandi tax, duty of electricity, and stamp duty on export documents. They will also include embedded SGST and CSGT paid on inputs such as pesticides and fertilisers used in production of raw cotton, central excise duty on fuel used in transportation, embedded CGST and compensation cess on coal used in production of electricity.

The scrips will be issued electronically on customs system. It will be used for payment of basic customs duty on import of goods. They are freely transferable.

"Action under the Customs Act may be taken by the customs authorities for recovery of erroneous or excess paid RoSCTL. Further, the exporter is required to return any over-payment of rebate issued through the scrips arising from miscalculation," it said.

Under the RoSCTL scheme, maximum rate of rebate for apparel was 6.05 per cent; while for made-ups, this was up to 8.2 per cent. Garments and made-ups segment such as home textiles products are covered under the scheme.

Commenting on the latest decision, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) Chairman A Sakthivel said the extension will help exporters get rebate on all embedded taxes and make products globally competitive.

Sakthivel, who is also the FIEO president, said this will help exporters effectively compete with countries such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka.

"The longer stability in the rates till March 31, 2024, will attract further investment in these sectors, as manufacturers can plan their exports on a longer time horizon factoring the RoSCTL rates," he said.

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India and Russia on Friday discussed expanding cooperation in the as New Delhi looks at newer sources of oil and natural gas to diversify its import basket.

Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri held a video interaction with Russian Energy Minister Nikolay Shulginov on furthering energy cooperation between the two nations, the Indian minister tweeted.

India's cumulative investment in projects in Russia exceeds USD 15 billion. It is the single largest destination of Indian overseas investment in the sector.

Russian oil giant Rosneft and its partner in 2017 bought Essar Oil, renamed Nayara Energy, for USD 12.9 billion.

"Had an engaging video interaction with HE Mr Nikolay Shulginov, Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation @MinenergoGov. Discussed ways to further expand bilateral energy cooperation, a key pillar of bilateral Special & Privileged Strategic partnership," Puri tweeted.

Russia, he said, is the largest investor in India's and India has made significant investments in the Russian sector.

"Reviewed the ongoing investments by Indian oil & gas companies in the upstream sector in Russia, supply of LNG & crude oil from Russia," he said. "We also reviewed Russian investments in India's downstream sector."



Last year, state-owned Indian Oil Corp (IOC) signed a deal with Rosneft for the annual purchase of 2 million tonne of crude oil. This is the first-ever annual oil purchase deal between the two countries.

India is also looking to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia and is looking for opportunities for involvement of Indian companies in infrastructure development projects in the Siberian and Arctic regions, the Indian oil ministry had said at the time of signing of the deal with Rosneft in February last year.

India traditionally relies on the Middle East for the bulk of its oil and gas needs and is now exploring sources from Russia to the US to diversify that basket.

Puri said he thanked Minister Shulginov for the invitation to participate in the 6th Eastern Economic Forum from September 2-4, 2021 in Vladivostok.

India is looking to bolster its economic presence in the Russian Far East.

During a 2019 visit to the Far Eastern port city of Vladivostok, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that New Delhi would provide a USD 1 billion loan to aid the region's economic development. He also signed a memorandum to establish a direct maritime corridor between Chennai and Vladivostok.

The new sea route is expected to cut the shipping time for goods between India and Russia to 24 days, versus 40 days via an European route.

The Fast East has huge oil and gas reserves and New Delhi is interested in securing a pie of that.

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Markets regulator Sebi on Friday came out with guidelines for non-convertible debentures with warrants products, whereby it made electronic book platform (EBP) mandatory for the portion of the issue.

The move is aimed at streamlining the procedure of issuance and applicability of EBP mechanism on the portion.

In cases, wherein the size of portion is above threshold prescribed under the rules, Sebi said "EBP platform mechanism shall be mandatory for NCDs portion of the issue (for both stapled and segregated offer)," according to the circular.

Currently, listing of NCDs of Rs 200 crore or above in a year is possible only if such issuance is through the electronic book mechanism.

In a qualified institutions placement (QIP) of NCDs instrument along with warrants, an investor can either subscribe to the combined offering of NCD instruments with warrants or to the individual securities (that is, either NCD or warrants).

It depends upon the type of offering made by the issuer -- whether the issuer has offered staple or segregated product.

In the staple product, warrants are attached with NCDs, while in the segregated product, NCDs and warrants can be subscribed separately.

Of the 'total issue size' of the issue, at least 40 per cent size will consist of 'warrants portion', the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) said.

It may be noted that 'total issue size' will mean combined size of NCDs issue and the aggregate size of the warrants portion, including the conversion price of warrants.

In December, the regulator had came out with a consultation paper regarding issue of NCDs along with warrants as a staple product and a segregated product offered through qualified institutional placement route.

Through the consultation paper, Sebi had proposed to discontinue segregated offerings of NCDs along with warrants to institutional investors under the mechanism.

Further, the regulator suggested that staple offerings of NCDs along with warrants to institutions investors may be retained with the ability to segregate the instruments after the issuance or allotment.

The regulator had also proposed to allow issuance of naked warrants to institutional investors through route.

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At $35 billion in July, India records highest-ever monthly exports

India exported goods worth $35.43 billion in July, the highest first time ever in a month, due to recovery in key global markets and robust demand, according to the data released by the commerce and industry ministry on Friday.

Outbound shipments grew by nearly 50 per cent over July 2020, which can be partly attributed to a favourable base. Read more

Under Covid stress, SpiceJet's net loss widens to Rs 729 cr in Q1

reported a standalone net loss of Rs 729 crore for the June quarter as the operations were significantly hit due to the continued impact of Covid19 which has seriously disrupted travel demand.

The company has been reeling under the Covid stress for quite sometime now as it had posted losses of Rs 235 crore and Rs 593 crore in the March quarter and corresponding quarter of last year respectively. Read more

to step down as Chairman of on Oct 1

Renowned industrialist will step down as Chairman of Ltd (GIL) on October 1, and his younger brother, Nadir Godrej, currently the GIL Managing Director, will succeed him, it was announced on Friday.

Adi Godrej, 79, will also step down from the GIL Board of Directors but will continue to serve as the Chairman of the Godrej Group and also as GIL Chairman Emeritus, while Nadir Godrej, 69, will become the Chairman and Managing Director at the Mumbai-headquartered GIL, as per the company. Read more

Over 5 million domestic air passengers in July, 61% higher than June: DGCA

Around 50.07 lakh domestic passengers travelled by air in July, 61 per cent higher than the 31.13 lakh who travelled in June, the country's aviation regulator said on Friday.

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), 21.15 lakh people and 57.25 lakh had travelled within the country by air in May and April, respectively. Read more
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched the national vehicle scrappage policy, saying it will help phase out unfit and polluting vehicles and also promote a circular economy.

The policy will give a new identity to India's mobility and auto sector, Modi said in a video address to the Investor Summit held to invite investment for setting up infrastructure under the Voluntary Vehicle-Fleet Modernization Programme.

We are promoting a circular economy. The aim is to develop a sustainable and environment-friendly economy, he said.

A circular economy is one where products are designed for durability, reuse and recyclability.

The policy will give a new identity to India in the mobility and auto sector, Modi said.

"This policy will play a major role in removing unfit vehicles from our roads in a scientific manner. It will modernise the vehicular population on our city roads, he said.

The prime minister said that India should work for clean, congestion free and convenient mobility in the 21st century.

The policy will play a key role in 'Waste to Wealth' programme, Modi said, adding it will also help in reducing pollution in our cities.

The launch of Vehicle Scrappage Policy today is a significant milestone in India's development journey. The Investor Summit in Gujarat for setting up infrastructure opens a new range of possibilities. I would request our youth & start-ups to join this programme, Modi tweeted before the event.

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The Reserve Bank has cancelled the licence of Karnala Nagari Sahakari Bank, Panvel in Maharashtra for not having adequate capital and being unable to pay its present depositors in full.

The bank ceased to carry on banking business with effect from the close of business on Friday.

"As per the data submitted by the bank, 95 per cent of the depositors will receive full amounts of their deposits from Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC)," the central bank said while announcing cancellation of the bank's licence.

On liquidation, every depositor would be entitled to receive deposit insurance claim amount of his/her deposits up to a monetary ceiling of Rs 5 lakh from DICGC.

said the licence of Karnala Nagari Sahakari Bank was cancelled through an order dated August 9, 2021.

The licence of the bank is cancelled as it does not have adequate capital and earning prospects, said, adding that the lender has failed to comply with the requirements of various sections of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

Also, "the bank with its present financial position would be unable to pay its present depositors in full", it said.

While announcing cancellation of the licence, said public interest would be adversely affected if the bank is allowed to carry on its banking business any further.

Now, Karnala Nagari Sahakari Bank cannot conduct the business of banking, which includes acceptance of deposits and repayment of deposits.

The Commissioner for Cooperation and Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Maharashtra has also been requested to issue an order for winding up the bank and appoint a liquidator for the bank.

Meanwhile, in separate statements, RBI said it has imposed penalty on three cooperative for deficiencies in regulatory compliance.

A penalty of Rs 25 lakh each has been imposed on Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sahakari Bank Maryadit, Bhopal, and The Greater Bombay Cooperative Bank Ltd, Mumbai.

RBI has also imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 on Jalna People's Cooperative Bank Ltd, Jalna, Maharashtra.

In all the three cases, RBI said the penalties are based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the cooperative with their respective customers.

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Two lawmakers from Afghanistan's southern Uruzgan province say local officials have surrendered the provincial capital to the rapidly advancing

Bismillah Jan Mohammad and Qudratullah Rahimi confirmed the surrender Friday. Mohammad says the governor is en route to the airport to depart for Kabul.

The have captured more than a dozen provincial capitals and control more than two-thirds of the country just weeks before the U.S. is to withdraw its last remaining forces.

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"will probably come back" as the situation in deteriorates, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said.

Wallace is highly critical of Washington's decision to withdraw troops from the country, describing a deal signed by the US and the as a "mistake" and "rotten", Sky News reported.

Asked about the situation in Afghanistan, Wallace said: "I'm absolutely worried that failed states are breeding grounds for those types of people.

"Of course I am worried, it is why I said I felt this was not the right time or decision to make because, of course, will probably come back, certainly would like that type of breeding ground.

"That is what we see, failed states around the world lead to instability, lead to a security threat to us and our interests."

The Defence Secretary said it was his view that the deal signed by the US and the in Qatar in 2020 under then-Republican President Donald Trump to withdraw from was a "mistake" and a "rotten deal".

Trump's successor, Democrat Joe Biden, has continued with the withdrawal timetable since taking office in January.

Wallace said of the deal: "I felt that that was a mistake to have done it that way, that we will all as an community pay the consequences of that, but when the United States as the framework nation took that decision, the way we were all configured, the way we had gone in meant that we had to leave as well."

Speaking to Sky News, former Development Secretary Rory Stewart described the situation in as "terrifying" and added: "It's a total betrayal by the United States and by the United Kingdom."

He said it was not a given that other countries had to pull out once the US had decided to do so, expressing his view that NATO countries could have "taken up that slack".

And Stewart said "we are going to end up with terrorists" as a result of what is going on.

"This is a horrifying group associated with terrorists, they have been backing suicide bombing in the areas they control, women are not going to school and it is a total betrayal by the United States and the United Kingdom," he said.

--IANS

san/vd

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For a large chunk of the past 20 years, British troops fought hard to ensure that the southern province of Helmand did not fall into the hands of the

Confirmation Friday that the had captured Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand, had particular resonance in Britain. The vast majority of the U.K.'s 457 casualties occurred in the province as British troops fought with American and allied NATO forces. The Camp Bastion complex in Helmand was the headquarters for British military operations from 2006 until 2014.

With the advancing rapidly and now in control of around two-thirds of advance, questions are being raised about why the U.K. could not have remained even after the planned departure of US troops by Sept. 11.

US President Joe Biden announced the timeline for the US withdrawal in April, saying he was determined to end America's longest war. His decision led the other nations in the NATO coalition, including the UK, to announce their own departures, two decades after they first arrived in following the 9/11 attacks.

Johnny Mercer, a former defense minister in Britain's Conservative government and an Afghanistan veteran, said Biden made a huge mistake but that the U.K. did not have to follow suit and could have mustered support among other NATO allies in the Security Assistance Force.

This idea we cannot act unilaterally and support the Afghan security forces is simply not true, Mercer told the BBC. The political will to see through enduring support to Afghanistan has not been there, and a lot of people are going to die because of that, and for me that is extremely humiliating."



Britain's defense secretary, Ben Wallace, expressed his concerns about the unfolding situation in Afghanistan but said the government had no choice but to follow the US lead.

When the United States, as the framework nation, took that decision, the way we were all configured, the way we had gone in, meant that we had to leave as well," he said on Sky News.

Wallace denied the decision Thursday to send around 600 British troops to Afghanistan to help the 4,000 or so remaining U.K. nationals in the country to leave was a panic measure, saying plans had been put in place months ago. The U.S. said Thursday that it was sending an additional 3,000 troops to Afghanistan to assist in the evacuation of some personnel from the US Embassy in Kabul.

troops were sent to Helmand in 2006, as part of a reorganization of coalition troops, initially with the intention of providing stability and security for reconstruction projects. However, they were soon drawn into combat operations; Camp Bastion in Helmand became the base of British Operation Herrick, with 9,500 troops stationed there.

Soldiers patrolled the province and faced the constant threat of ambush from insurgents, whose local knowledge often gave them an advantage.

More than 100,000 British troops served in Afghanistan in the past two decades, though their numbers fell dramatically after December 2014, when NATO's combat mission ended. The soldiers there since ostensibly trained Afghan army troops and supported a wide range of projects to improve education, health care, economic growth and local governance in Helmand and across the country.

Yale University Senior Fellow Rory Stewart, a former development secretary in the British government and a respected writer on Afghanistan, criticized the withdrawal as a completely unnecessary, dangerous decision." He warned that millions of Afghans would become refugees.

We've essentially created another Syria overnight," he said.

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envoys were meeting Friday in Brussels to discuss developments in amid a rapidly deteriorating security situation in the wake of the relentless offensive there.

Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and 30 national ambassadors were taking part in the meeting in Brussels, according to a official who spoke on condition of anonymity, in line with regulations.

Allies are constantly consulting on the situation on Afghanistan, the official said, adding that Stoltenberg was in regular contact with allies and the Afghan authorities.

NATO is monitoring the security situation very closely. We continue to coordinate with the Afghan authorities and the rest of the community, the official said.

NATO took charge of security operations in in 2003 its first major mission outside Europe and North America aiming to help stabilize the government, build up local security forces and remove a potential rear-base for militant groups.

The U.S.-led military alliance wound down combat operations in 2014 to focus on training Afghan security forces. The Afghan armed forces, with some 300,000 personnel, outnumber the by roughly four to one but have been unable to halt the insurgent offensive.

The have been emboldened by the Biden administration's decision earlier this year to withdraw U.S. troops and to wind up the NATO training mission in Most NATO troops have already left, with the remainder due to pull out by August 31.

The NATO official said that the organization continues to have a diplomatic presence in Kabul. As the security of our personnel is paramount, we will not go into any operational details.

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The government on Friday signed a deal with GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, to procure 4 million doses of the Moderna vaccine.

The vaccine will be imported under the World Bank's financing, according to a press statement by World Bank, office.

is the second country globally to have completed agreements with GAVI to procure 4 million doses of Moderna vaccines, under the World Bank financing, through the COVAX cost-share option," the statement read.

Gavi is a global, publicprivate health partnership.

"Nepal is an early mover in utilising the COVAX cost-share scheme, and I am pleased to note that we have finalised an arrangement, despite challenging circumstances, to bring safe and highly effective vaccines to Nepal," said Health Minister Umesh Shrestha.

"Moderna vaccines have helped expand options for vaccination among Nepalis above 12 years of age and fast-track Nepal's progress towards a safer post-COVID world," he said.

"Delivery of these vaccines is expected to start by March 2022 and will contribute to Nepal's goal to vaccinate at least 72 per cent of its population, as well as children 12 to 17 years of age for whom the Moderna vaccine is deemed safe and effective," the World Bank said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Nepal reported 3,915 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the country's case load to 800,256, the Health Ministry said.

The death rose to 10,239 after 27 COVID-related deaths were reported in the same period. Currently, Nepal has 38,798 active COVID-19 cases.

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sold about $300 million in Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc. stock, tapping his biggest listed asset again to prop up his business empire during the pandemic.



The billionaire offloaded almost 10.5 million shares -- about 4% of the space-travel company -- through a company he controls, leaving him with an 18% stake, according to a regulatory filing.

The proceeds will support Bransons travel and leisure businesses, as well as help develop new and existing ventures, a representative said. Branson, 71, remains Virgin Galactics biggest shareholder. The companys shares fell 1.3% to $25.60 at 12 p.m. in New York, heading for a fourth-straight day of declines.

The sale marks Bransons first since his test flight to space last month on a Virgin Galactic plane. In April, he sold about $150 million in stock to support his other businesses and raised more than $300 million during the first half of 2020 following the global outbreak of Covid-19.





Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd., the airline majority owned by Bransons group, is now considering a public offering in London after receiving a 1.2 billion-pound (1.7 billion) rescue package last year that included about 200 million pounds from Branson.

Virgin Galactic is planning to debut tourism trips next year, adding space travel to Bransons track record that ranges from record labels to soft drinks. The Virgin brand he founded as a mail-order retailer in 1970 has since become linked to more than 40 businesses worldwide, including British bank Virgin Money UK Plc. Branson has a net worth of about $6.5 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Las Cruces, New Mexico-based Virgin Galactics stock has tumbled about 56% from a February peak, partly due to the company planning a dilutive capital raise. Still, the shares have more than doubled since the firm began trading publicly after merging in 2019 with a special purpose acquisition company set up by Chamath Palihapitiya.

Palihapitiya, Virgin Galactics chairman and another large holder, sold $213 million in Virgin Galactic stock in March.
By Dogyun Kim and Joyce Lee

UIWANG, South Korea (Reuters) - Electronics Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee, convicted of bribery and embezzlement, was released on parole on Friday.

Lee appeared outside the Seoul Detention Center, wearing a dark grey suit and looking thinner than when he was last detained in January.

"I've caused much concern for the people. I deeply apologise," Lee told reporters. "I am listening to the concerns, criticisms, worries and high expectations for me. I will work hard."

In a symbolic move, Electronics on Thursday made good on a promise by Lee by announcing it had signed its first-agreements with four company labour unions that cover the provisions of offices and assurances that union activities will be allowed.

Lee vowed https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN22I0PW in May 2020 to improve labour rights at the tech giant. A raft of employees have been found guilty of sabotaging labour union activities.

(Reporting by Dogyun Kim and Joyce Lee; Additional reporting by Sunghyuk An; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)

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insurgents tightened their grip on on Friday, wresting control of its second and third biggest cities while Western embassies prepared to send in troops to help evacuate staff from the capital, Kabul.

The capture of the second-biggest city of Kandahar in the south and Herat in the west after days of clashes are a devastating setback for the government as the deadly insurgency turns into a rout of the security forces.



"The city looks like a front line, a ghost town," provincial council member Ghulam Habib Hashimi said by telephone from Herat, a city of about 600,000 people near the border with Iran.



"Families have either left or are hiding in their homes." Referring to the southern economic hub of Kandahar, a government official told Reuters: "Following heavy clashes late last night, the took control."



The defeats have fuelled fears the US-backed government could fall to the insurgents as forces complete their withdrawal after 20 years of war.



A US defence official cited US intelligence as saying this week that the Taliban could take Kabul within 90 days.



The U.N. World Food Programme sees food shortages in as "quite dire" and worsening, a spokesperson said, adding the situation had all the hallmarks of a humanitarian catastrophe.



Of Afghanistan's major cities, the government still holds Mazar-i-Sharif in the north and Jalalabad, near the Pakistani border in the east, in addition to Kabul.



In response to the Taliban advances, the Pentagon said it would send about 3,000 extra troops within 48 hours to help evacuate US embassy staff.



Britain said it would deploy about 600 troops to help its citizens leave while other embassies and aid groups said they too were getting their people out.



Canada would also deploy special forces troops to Kabul to help in the evacuation of embassy staff, the AP reported.



The United Nations has warned that a Taliban offensive reaching the capital would have a "catastrophic impact on civilians" but there is little hope for negotiations to end the fighting with the Taliban apparently set on a military victory.



The Taliban also the towns of Lashkar Gah in the south and Qala-e-Naw in the northwest, security officers said. Firuz Koh, capital of central Ghor province, was handed over without a fight, officials said.



The militants, fighting to defeat the government and impose their strict version of Islamic rule, have taken control of 14 of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals since Aug. 6.



In a blow to anti-Taliban forces, the insurgents detained veteran commander Mohammad Ismail Khan after they seized Herat, a provincial official said, adding that they had promised not to harm him and other captured officials.



A Taliban spokesman confirmed that Khan, who had been leading fighters against the Taliban in recent weeks, was in their custody.



HEAVY BLOW



The speed of the offensive, as US-led foreign forces prepare to complete their withdrawal by the end of this month, has sparked recriminations over President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw US troops, 20 years after they ousted the Taliban in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.



Biden said this week he did not regret his decision, noting Washington has spent more than $1 trillion in America's longest war and lost thousands of troops.



The loss of the economic hub of Kandahar will be a heavy blow to the government. It is the heartland of the Taliban, ethnic Pashtun fighters who emerged in the province in 1994 amid the chaos of civil war to sweep through most of the rest of the country over the next two years.



Government forces still controlled Kandahar's airport, which was the US military's second biggest base in during their 20-year mission, an official said.



Lashkar Gah is the capital of the opium-growing province of Helmand, where British, US and other foreign forces battled the insurgents for years.



The US State Department said Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday and told him the United States "remains invested in the security and stability of Afghanistan". They also said the United States was committed to supporting a political solution.



US Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said the exit strategy was sending the United States "hurtling toward an even worse sequel to the humiliating fall of Saigon in 1975," urging Biden to commit to providing more support to Afghan forces.



"Without it, al Qaeda and the Taliban may celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks by burning down our Embassy in Kabul."



Britain's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said Afghanistan was spiralling into a failed state and civil war in which groups such as al Qaeda would thrive and likely pose a threat to the West again.



In the deal struck with former US President Donald Trump's administration last year, the Taliban agreed not to attack US-led foreign forces as they withdrew.



They also made a commitment to discuss peace but intermittent meetings with government representatives have gone nowhere. envoys to Afghan negotiations in Qatar have called for an accelerated peace process as a "matter of great urgency" and for a halt to attacks on cities.



Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said this week the Taliban had refused to negotiate unless Ghani resigned.



Pakistan officially denies backing the Taliban but it has been an open secret that Taliban leaders live in Pakistan and recruit fighters from a network of religious schools in Pakistan.



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The completed their sweep of the countrys south on Friday as they took four more provincial capitals in a lightning offensive that is gradually encircling Kabul, just weeks before the US is set to officially end its two-decade war.

The latest significant blow was the loss of the capital of Helmand province, where American, British and allied Nato forces fought some of the bloodiest battles in the past 20 years. Hundreds of foreign troops were killed in the province, which is also a major opium hub.

The insurgents have taken half of the country's 34 provincial capitals in recent days, including its second- and third-largest cities, Herat and Kandahar.

The now control more than two-thirds of the country just weeks before the US plans to withdraw its last troops.

While the capital of isnt directly under threat yet, the losses and advances elsewhere further tighten the grip of a resurgent The latest US military intelligence assessment suggests could come under insurgent pressure within 30 days and that, if current trends hold, the Taliban could gain full control of the country within a few months.

In the south, the insurgents swept through the capitals of Zabul and Uruzgan provinces, in addition to Helmand's.

Britain said it would deploy around 600 troops to help its nationals and local translators get out.

In response to the Taliban's swift and violent advances, the Pentagon said it would send about 3,000 extra troops within 48 hours to help evacuate embassy staff.

Twelve nations, including the US, India and China, along with representatives of the UN and EU have decided that they would not recognise any government in that seeks to take control through the barrel of a gun, the State Department has said, amid the continued Taliban offensive across the war-torn country.
The completed their sweep of the country's south on Friday as they took four more provincial capitals in a lightning offensive that is gradually encircling Kabul, just weeks before the US is set to officially end its two-decade war.

The latest significant blow was the loss of the capital of Helmand province, where American, British and allied NATO forces fought some of the bloodiest battles in the past 20 years. Hundreds of foreign troops were killed in the province, which is also a major opium hub.

The insurgents have taken half of the country's 34 provincial capitals in recent days, including its second- and third-largest cities, Herat and Kandahar. The now control more than two-thirds of the country just weeks before the US plans to withdraw its last troops.

While the capital of Kabul isn't directly under threat yet, the losses and advances elsewhere further tighten the grip of a resurgent The latest US military intelligence assessment suggests Kabul could come under insurgent pressure within 30 days and that, if current trends hold, the Taliban could gain full control of the country within a few months.

In the south, the insurgents swept through the capitals of Zabul and Uruzgan provinces, in addition to Helmand's.

Attaullah Afghan, the head of the provincial council in Helmand, said that the Taliban captured Lashkar Gah following weeks of heavy fighting and raised their white flag over governmental buildings. He said that three national army bases outside of Lashkar Gah remain under control of the government.

Atta Jan Haqbayan, the provincial council chief in Zabul province, said the local capital of Qalat fell and that officials were in a nearby army camp preparing to leave.

Bismillah Jan Mohammad and Qudratullah Rahimi, lawmakers from Afghanistan's southern Uruzgan province, said local officials surrendered Tirin Kot to the Taliban. Mohammad said the governor was heading to the airport to depart for Kabul.

In the country's west, meanwhile, Fazil Haq Ehsan, head of the provincial council in Ghor province, said its capital, Feroz Koh, also fell to the insurgents.

With security rapidly deteriorating, the United States planned to send in 3,000 troops to help evacuate some personnel from the US Embassy in Kabul. Separately, Britain said about 600 troops would be deployed on a short-term basis to support British nationals leaving the country, and Canada is sending special forces to help evacuate its embassy.

Thousands of Afghans have fled their homes amid fears the Taliban would again impose a brutal, repressive government, all but eliminating women's rights and conducting public executions.

Peace talks in Qatar remain stalled, though diplomats are still meeting, as the US, European and Asian nations warned that any government established by force would be rejected.

We demand an immediate end to attacks against cities, urge a political settlement, and warn that a government imposed by force will be a pariah state, said Zalmay Khalilzad, the US envoy to the talks.

But the Taliban advance continued, as they pushed into the capital of Logar province, just 80 kilometers south of Kabul.

Hasibullah Stanikzai, the head of the Logar provincial council, said fighting was still underway inside Puli-e Alim, with government forces holding the police headquarters and other security facilities. He spoke by phone from his office, and gunfire could be heard in the background. The Taliban said they had captured the police headquarters and a nearby prison.

The onslaught represents a stunning collapse of Afghan forces after the United States spent nearly two decades and USD 830 billion trying to establish a functioning state. US forces toppled the Taliban in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, which al-Qaida planned and executed while being sheltered by the Taliban government. The Taliban fighters now advancing across the country ride on American-made Humvees and carry M-16s pilfered from Afghan forces.

Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the Afghan army has rotted from within due to corruption and mismanagement, leaving troops in the field poorly equipped and with little motivation to fight. The Taliban, meanwhile, have spent a decade taking control of large swaths of the countryside.

That allowed them to rapidly seize key infrastructure and urban areas once President Joe Biden announced the timeline for the US withdrawal, saying he was determined to end America's longest war.

Whatever forces are left or remaining that are in the Kabul area and the provinces around them, they're going to be used for the defence of Kabul, Roggio said.

Unless something dramatically changes, and I don't see how that's possible, these provinces (that have fallen) will remain under Taliban control."



A day earlier, in Herat, Taliban fighters rushed past the Great Mosque in the historic city a structure that dates to 500 BC and was once a spoil of Alexander the Great and seized government buildings. Afghan lawmaker Semin Barekzai acknowledged the city's fall, saying that some officials there had escaped.

Herat had been under militant attack for two weeks, with one wave blunted by the arrival of warlord Ismail Khan and his forces. But on Thursday afternoon, Taliban fighters broke through the city's defensive lines.

The insurgents circulated photos and a video showing Khan in their captivity as well as video footage that appeared to show two Afghan military Black Hawk helicopters provided by the US that were captured in Herat. Later on Friday, they released photos showing two alleged looters being paraded through the streets with black makeup on their faces.

In Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban, insurgents seized the governor's office and other buildings, witnesses said. The governor and other officials fled the onslaught, catching a flight to Kabul, the witnesses added. They refused to be named publicly as the defeat has yet to be acknowledged by the government, which has not commented on the latest advances.

The Taliban had earlier attacked a prison in Kandahar and freed inmates inside, officials said.

Earlier Thursday, the militants raised their white flags imprinted with an Islamic proclamation of faith over the city of Ghazni, which sits on a crucial north-south highway just 130 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of Kabul.

The UN agency for humanitarian affairs warned that civilians in southern faced cut-off highways and mobile phone outages. It described aid groups as being unable to determine how many people had fled as intense fighting and airstrikes continued there.

On Thursday, Nasima Niazi, a lawmaker from Helmand, criticized airstrikes targeting the area, saying civilians likely had been wounded and killed. US Central Command has acknowledged carrying out several airstrikes in recent days, without providing details or commenting on the concerns over civilian casualties.

Pakistan meanwhile opened its Chaman border crossing for people who had been stranded in recent weeks. Juma Khan, the Pakistan border town's deputy commissioner, said the crossing was reopened following talks with the Taliban.

Even as diplomats met in Doha, Qatar on Thursday, the success of the Taliban offensive called into question whether they would ever rejoin long-stalled peace talks with the government in Kabul. Instead, the group could come to power by force or the country could splinter into factional fighting like it did after the Soviet withdrawal in 1989.

(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 Monetary Fund is "carefully watching" the Taliban's advance in a spokesperson said on Friday, but added it was too early to predict the economic spillover in neighbouring programme countries like

Taliban insurgents tightened their grip on on Friday, wresting control of its second and third biggest cities.

"The is carefully watching the fast-moving situation on the ground in Afghanistan," an spokesperson told Reuters. "It is premature to speculate on the outcome and potential economic spillovers to Pakistan".

has a $6 billion IMF programme that began in 2019. The government and the Fund's staff have been in talks in recent months to try to finalise the programme's latest progress review but are yet to reach agreement.

"We stand ready to continue supporting achieve the objectives of debt sustainability and strong and sustainable growth," the IMF spokesperson said.

"No date is currently set for concluding these (review) talks, as we are focused on the reforms and policy steps needed to achieve the programme objectives," which include reducing debt and reforming the country's energy sector, the spokesperson added.



Pak forces clash with Afghans at border



Pakistani border personnel clashed with hundreds of Afghans wanting to cross into from a key border crossing in Chaman closed by Taliban in the restive Balochistan province. Hundreds of Afghans had gathered wanting to cross over but the Taliban are not allowing anyone to cross their demands were met. (PTI)




The price of 10 gm of 22-carat on Friday remained at Rs 45,540, an increase of Rs 260 from yesterday's price. Silver was selling at Rs 62,300 per kg: dropping Rs 200 from yesterday, according to the website Good Returns.

jewellery price varies across India, the second-largest consumer of the metal, due to excise duty, state taxes, and making charges.

In New Delhi, the price stands at Rs 45,750 per 10 gm of For Mumbai, the yellow metal is selling at Rs 45,540, while, in Chennai, it is at Rs 43,860, according to the website.

The rate of 24-carat gold also remained unchanged at Rs 46,540 per 10 gm, and increase of Rs 260 from yesterday's price.

In New Delhi, gold price stands at Rs 49,910 per 10 gm (24 carat) while in Mumbai it is 46,540.
Shares of hit a record high of Rs 1,648.40, up 1.6 per cent on the BSE in intra-day trade on Friday, after the companys heavy engineering arm won an order for Oxidation Reactor from Technip Energies-India. However, the company has not yet disclosed order size. The stock surpassed its previous high of Rs 1,647 hit on July 22, 2021.

The order, according to the company, is for the technologically critical Titanium Clad Reactor is for a public sector petrochemical project for purified Terephthalic Acid plant. The scope of supply involves design, material procurement, fabrication, inspection and testing of reactor meeting the licensors stringent quality requirements.

Meanwhile, in the past two trading days, the stock of construction & engineering company has gained 4 per cent after the it announced divestment of 100 per cent stake in its 99 MW hydro power plant located in Uttarakhand to Renew Power for the sale consideration of Rs 985 crore.

This is in line with the declared L&T focus of divesting non-core assets and improving shareholder value, the company said.

"L&Ts resilient operational performance amid second wave of COVID-19 and retaining guidance related to execution, order intake and working capital requirement for FY2022 are key positives emerging out of Q1FY2022 results," analysts at Sharekhan said in result update note.

International outlook, according to Sharekhan, looks promising especially for GCC countries with a pick-up in oil prices and faster recovery from covid-19 pandemic. On the longer term, L&T remains at the forefront to reap benefits from the AtmaNirbhar Bharat Scheme with its diversified businesses across sectors such as defence, infrastructure, heavy engineering, and IT. The company remains the best proxy for domestic capex and its improving business environment, the brokerage firm said.

"L&T has rightly prioritized its balance sheet strength over growth during the second COVID wave. We believe L&T is poised for strong earnings growth momentum, if and when order inflows gain momentum. The company has some more asset monetization opportunities to capitalize on, including the sale of Nabha Power, a stake sale in L&T IDPL, and the monetization of the Hyderabad Metro," said analysts at Motilal Oswal Securities in a recent report.
Private Market Intelligence Platform Technologies has filed draft papers with regulator to raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO).

The initial share sale will be an offer for sale (OFS) of 38,672,208 equity shares by promoter and investor selling shareholders, according to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP).

The OFS will see the sale of up to 76.62 lakh shares each by promoters-- Neha Singh and Abhishek Goyal-- up to 12.63 lakh shares each by Flipkart founders -- Binny Bansal and Sachin Bansal-- up to 1.09 crore shares by Elevation Capital, up to 40.2 lakh shares by Accel India IV Mauritius, and 21.81 lakh shares by SCI Investments V among others.

The Bengaluru headquartered company operates on a software as a service-based (SaaS) model and is among the leading market intelligence providers for private company data.

It is a comprehensive B2B information platform that identifies, tracks and analyses private market companies and startups on deal sourcing, deal diligence and has the largest global coverage in emerging technology sectors such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, robotics, and blockchain.

was launched in 2015 by Neha Singh and Abhishek Goyal, first-generation entrepreneurs, who both have had their stints as venture capitalists at Sequoia and Accel Partners respectively.

The company now tracks over 1.4 million private companies and works with 855 subscription customers across 50 countries and its customers include private market investors-- venture capital, private equity funds, and large corporates.

IIFL Securities Ltd is the sole book-running lead manager to the issue.

(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.)
Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance, which has entered the third decade of operations this month, is not planing to go public with a listing because it is "the highest-capitalised life insurance company with over Rs 10,000 crore of equity capital", says a top company official.

The Pune-headquartered life insurer has been topping industry growth chart for long and has repeated it in the June 2021 quarter logging in 48 per cent growth in premium sales, thanks to "going digital well ahead of the pandemic that forced others to do so".

As of June, its overall AUM stood at Rs 77,270 crore, up from Rs 73,773 crore in FY21, which was only Rs 56,085 crore in FY20, said Tarun Chugh, managing director and chief executive at Bajaj Allianz Life.

He added that with clipping at 28 per cent in FY21, the company was the fastest growing large life insurer in the year.

"There is no IPO (initial public offering) plan as of now, because we don't need any money.

"We are the highest capitalised life insurance company in the country with over Rs 10,000 crore of equity capital and a solvency ratio of 666 per cent," Chugh told told PTI from Pune on Friday.

There is nothing on my table or with the board on taking the company public, Chugh, who joined the Bajaj group firm in mid-2017, said.

There are only four listed insurers among 57 now -- SBI Life, HDFC Life, ICICI Prudential and ICICI Lombard -- even after 20 years of liberalisation with 23 life and 34 non-life players.

The regulatory amendments for insurers going public mandate promoter holding capping at 50 per cent; while in all unlisted entities, the same much higher.

Recalling the past two decades of operations, wherein it services over 23.6 million customers, he said that one of the most notable features is the "radical change in the outlook of both agents and customers towards life insurance" -- from being a post-death benefit investment to a life protection and savings investment.

There has also been a more radical change in the manner the business of insuring life is done now -- from the primary interaction with a prospective customer to doing the verification and to finally on-boarding the customer all of this is now done digitally.

This, for the industry , was forced by the pandemic but for Bajaj Alliance Life, "it was the result of our deeper focus and investment into digital technologies since early-2018", Chugh said without offering the investment made.

Effectively as much as 99 per cent of the company's sales are through the digital mode now, as nothing is happening physically now due to the lockdowns, "but we consider agents who number of 1 lakh to be our backbone and will continue to be so", he said.

Currently, 44-45 per cent of the business come through agents who also sell digitally now. Down from 90-91 per cent in the beginning, direct selling is around 11 per cent, bancassurance is 10 per cent, online/web is another 10 per cent and the rest is through brokers and other means, he said.

On the hit from the pandemic, Chugh said the industry is not at the end of the tunnel as there has been mounting claims even in July and that the industry will have to wait till September-October to get some granularity.

"While we settled Rs 50 crore in pandemic claims in FY21 from around 1,000 customers, the first quarter of this fiscal saw death claims almost doubling to Rs 96 crore from over 1,600 death customers," he said.

Chugh added that so far, it has set aside Rs 310 crore, net of reinsurance, in reserves for possible claims, which can be increased to Rs 460 crore, if need be.

Within the publicly traded Bajaj Finserve, which is the holding company, Bajaj Life is the third-largest profit centre after Bajaj Finance and Bajaj Allianz General Insurance.

He attributed the better than industry growth to the well-diversified product portfolio of Ulips, traditional, term and now annuity plans.

"We have a well-balanced product mix ranging across Ulips, which contribute 40 per cent of sales, down from 74 per cent four years ago, to traditional products, which chip in with the rest 60 per cent," Chugh added.

He added that the portfolio also includes term, annuity and protection products that get us six per cent. Last year, annuity brought the company 15 per cent of sales but this year, there is nothing at all.

Refusing to offer a growth forecast saying that's against their policy, he said "we will grow over industry average for sure" as they are diversifying their product mix and marketing and also the way their presence is felt.

"As we expect work from home continuing for some more time, we are recasting our branch model, which envisages having more of digital branches; wherein there will be more space for the customers and not for the staff as was the case earlier," Chugh 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.)
Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange traded 14 points down at 16,365 around 8.45 am, indicating a weak start for the benchmark indices on Friday.

Here are the top stocks to track in today's session:

Earnings Today: Burger King India, DHFL, Future Consumer, Grasim Industries, Hindustan Aeronautics, ONGC, and are some of the names slated to report their results today, while Easy Trip Planners, Future Retail, and Vodafone Idea are among over a hundred companies scheduled to report their first-quarter results on Saturday.

Analysts' expectations are that most likely will report a net loss for the April-June quarter of FY22. All eyes are now on the airlines fundraising plans as well as growth in the cargo business during the Covid-hit period. READ MORE

Tata Steel: The Tata Group company posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 9,768.34 crore for June quarter 2021-22. In the year-ago period, the company incurred a net loss of Rs 4,648.13 crore.

Hero Moto Corp: The country's largest two-wheeler maker on Thursday said its consolidated net profit surged over four-folds to Rs 256 crore for the first quarter ended June 30, riding on the back of robust sales during the period.

Eicher Motors: The company reported a consolidated profit after tax of Rs 237 crore for the quarter ended June, riding on improved sales. The company had witnessed a loss of Rs 55 crore in the April-June period of 2020-21. The company also said Vinod Dasari, Royal Enfield CEO, is stepping down with effect from August 13. The company has appointed B Govindarajan as executive director to head the Royal Enfield business.

Jubilant FoodWorks: CRISIL reaffirmed its rating on the commercial paper programme of Jubilant FoodWorks at CRISIL A1+.

Aviation stocks: Ministry of Civil Aviation has allowed domestic air carriers to operate 72.5 per cent of its pre-Covid schedule. The capping has been increased from 65 per cent capacity.

Future Group companies: Kishore Biyani, Rakesh Biyani and other family members of the Biyani family along with the holding companies Future Coupons, Future Corporate Resources, Akar Estate and Finance has filed SLP against Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings LLC before the Supreme Court, said a regulatory filing by a group firm Future Retail Ltd.

RVNL: Rail Vikas Nigam (RVNL) reported a 64.73 per cent rise in its consolidated net profit to Rs 232.26 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 against a consolidated net profit of Rs 140.99 crore in the year-ago quarter. Consolidated total income rose to Rs 3,931.80 crore as against Rs 2,967 crore earlier.

Nucleus Software: IT company Nucleus Software posted about 83 per cent decline in consolidated profit after tax to Rs 6 crore in the first quarter ended on June 30, 2021, due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. It had registered a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 36.33 crore in the same period a year ago.

Dish TV: Direct-to-home firm India reported a 34.07 per cent decline in its consolidated net profit to Rs 49.14 crore for the first quarter ended in June 2021. The company had reported a net profit of Rs 74.54 crore in the April-June quarter a year ago. Its revenue from the operation was down 12.51 per cent to Rs 730.97 crore during the quarter under review as against Rs 835.58 crore of the corresponding quarter.

NMDC: State-owned NMDC on Thursday posted an over six-fold jump in its consolidated net profit to Rs 3,191.30 crore in the first quarter ended June, mainly on account of higher income. The company had reported a net profit of Rs 531.35 crore in the same period a year ago.

Ashok Leyland: Commercial vehicles maker Ashok Leyland on Thursday reported narrowing of its net loss to Rs 282 crore in the three months to June 2021. The Hinduja Group flagship company had posted a net loss of Rs 389 crore in the same period a year ago.

Aurobindo Pharma: Drug firm Aurobindo Pharma on Thursday reported a 1.68 per cent decline in its consolidated net profit to Rs 769.97 crore for the quarter ended on June 30, 2021, mainly on account of reduction in expenses. The company had posted a net profit of Rs 783.16 crore for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Tata Power: Tata Power Solar Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Power, has been awarded a project to build a solar PV plant with 50MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Leh, Ladakh. The order value of the project is Rs 386 crore.

Page Industries: Apparel manufacturer Page Industries reported a net profit of Rs 10.94 crore for the quarter ended June 2021. The company had posted a net loss of Rs 39.55 crore during the April-June period a year ago. Revenue from operations rose 76.08 YoY per cent to Rs 501.53 crore during the quarter under review.

ITC: The company plans to invest $2 billion in the medium term to create growth vectors under its ITC Next strategy. The company plans to invest across its FMCG, hospitality, agriculture, education and stationery businesses, chairman and managing director Sanjiv Puri said at a press conference on August 12.
Shares of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) rallied nearly 4 per cent to Rs 3,479.35 and hit a new high on the BSE in the intra-day trade on Friday. The stock of the information technology (IT) consulting & software giant surpassed its previous high of Rs 3,399, touched on June 25, 2021.

A sharp rally in stock price propelled TCS' market capitalisation (market-cap) towards Rs 13-trillion mark, at Rs 12.87 trillion, in the intra-day trade today. Reliance Industries, with an m-cap of Rs 13.53 trillion, stands at number one position in the overall market-cap ranking.

TCS, part of the Tata group of companies, announced earlier today that the company has been named to the Microsoft Business Applications 2021/2022 Inner Circle, for the second consecutive year. This is based on TCS sales achievements that place it in the top echelons of Microsoft Business Applications global network of partners, resulting from the high standard of excellence in building innovative solutions that help customers achieve their growth and transformation objectives.

is a Microsoft Gold Partner and has successfully delivered over 350 Dynamics 365 engagements for more than 300 global customers. Recently it also won two 2021 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards  Azure Intelligent Cloud in France and Dynamics 365 Field Service in the US.

HDFC Securities maintains an 'add' rating on with a target price of Rs 3,650 per share. Growth drivers for the company, it says, include calibrated focus on upstream/consulting business (larger share of G&T) increasing the addressable market/pipeline, increased outsourcing (Europe), core transformation deals and strong growth in public hyperscaler services, strong deal wins in retail & CPG vertical and increased deal volumes (not TCV) in BFSI, and near-term lift-off with recovery in regional market segment (India revenue).

"Increasing the supply-side pressure (attrition headed towards double digits, yet industry-best) and return of discretionary spend (ex-travel) will cap margin gains despite operating leverage and differential pricing," the brokerage firm said in a June quarter result update.

 brand, culture of investing for the long run and low employee attrition should help company to grow better in coming quarters where demand is strong; while supply side possess the major challenge. In addition company deal wins also improved in past two quarters to $8.1bn/$9.2bn in Q1/Q4 versus $7.6bn in the past eight quarters driven by strong deal in retail vertical. Overall deal pipeline remain strong despite strong booking in past quarters and more towards clouds and automation work with around 50 per cent of the deals are now related to SaaS," analysts at Antique Stock Broking said in a company update.
Aurobindo Pharma posted an 8.9% rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 770 crore on 2.9% rise in net sales to Rs 5,702 crore in Q1 FY22 over Q1 FY21.

Consolidated profit before tax grew 2.2% to Rs 1,017.71 crore in Q1 FY22 from Rs 1,084.35 crore in Q1 FY21. EBIDTA before forex and other income stood at Rs 1,209.4 crore, an increase of 5.6% YoY. EBITDA margin for the quarter was 21.2% compared with 20.7% in Q1 June 2020 and 21.2% in Q4 March 2021.

The drug company's US formulations revenue declined by 1.5% to year on year to Rs 2,681.2 crore Q1 FY22. Europe formulation revenue stood at Rs 1,582.9 crore, growing by 19.7% over corresponding previous quarter. Revenue from Growth Markets rose 13.7% year on year to Rs 329.30 crore. ARV revenue declined by 30.3% year on year to Rs 296.4 crore. API revenue for the quarter was at Rs 812 crore versus Rs 780.1 crore in the corresponding previous period.

The company's Research & Development (R&D) spend stood at Rs 358 crore, representing 6.3% of revenue. The company received final approval for 4 ANDAs from USFDA including 3 injectables.

Commenting on the company's performance, N. Govindarajan, MD of the company said, The quarter's performance reflected the resilience in our operations amidst the current challenging times. We remain focused on ensuring business continuity on the operations front and to resolve regulatory issues in some of our facilities. Our business is well prepared to navigate the journey towards profitable growth and we look forward to execute on our key growth pillars.

Meanwhile, the board has declared an interim dividend of Rs 1.50 per share.

Shares of Aurobindo Pharma declined 6% to Rs 776.25 on BSE. Aurobindo Pharma headquartered at Hyderabad, India, develops, manufactures and distributes generic pharmaceuticals, branded specialty pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients.

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On 13 August 2021

The Board of Directors of Hardcastle Restaurants (HRPL), the wholly owned subsidiary of Westlife Development, has approved the Scheme of Capital Reduction (Scheme) at its Board Meeting held on 13 August 2021, for reduction of paid-up share capital of HRPL by reducing the face value of each equity share along with a reduction to the Securities Premium Account of HRPL and such cumulative reduction would be effected by writing off the balance of Accumulated Losses as on June 30, 2021 pursuant to the provisions of Section 66, Section 52 and other applicable provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 (including the Rules made thereunder), subject to approvals from the shareholders of HRPL and sanction of the National Company Law Tribunal, Mumbai Bench, and other approvals, as may be required.

The Board of Directors of the Company, in its meeting held on 13 August 2021 has decided that the Company accord its approval to the proposed Scheme, in its capacity as an equity shareholder of HRPL.

Equity shares of HRPL are not listed on any stock exchange in India.

The Company is not directly involved in the proposed Scheme. However, as a good corporate governance practice, we are making this disclosure under Regulation 30 of the Listing Regulations.

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On a consolidated basis, Grasim Industries' net profit jumped 612% to Rs 1,667 crore on 53% rise in revenue to Rs 19,919 crore in Q1 FY22 over Q1 FY21.

The Aditya Birla Group company's consolidated profit before exceptional items and tax from continuing operations surged to Rs 3,472.72 crore in Q1 FY22 as against Rs 1,112.53 crore in Q1 FY21. Consolidated EBITDA soared 86% to Rs 4,736 crore during the quarter under review.

In the company's Viscose business, the VSF sale volume registered sequential degrowth in Q1FY22. To cushion the impact of the slowdown in the domestic textile sector, Grasim proactively increased the share of exports to 31% in Q1FY22 from 11% in Q4FY21. The share of value-added products in the overall sales mix also improved to 26% in Q1FY22 from an average of 22% in FY21. Due to the lockdown-led drop in domestic volume, the company advanced the Harihar plant maintenance shutdown to May 2021. VFY volumes were also impacted due to lower demand. The domestic fibre demand has recovered swiftly post easing of the lockdown and is now nearing the Pre COVID level. The VSF prices in China corrected from their multiyear high in Q1FY21 and have stabilised at the current level of 13,000 RMB. China's VSF inventory at plants increased to 24 days in Jun21 from 13 days (Mar-21), leading to readjustment of production levels by Chinese VSF players to take care of inventory built up and to lend stability to the prices. As a result, the OR in China fell to 69% by June end.

The second COVID wave had a marginal impact on the operational performance of the chemical business. International caustic soda prices maintained the upsurge in Q1FY22 driven by supply outages due to maintenance shutdown and demand improvement. The rise in domestic caustic soda prices was subdued owing to weak demand from textile, organic chemicals and excess supply situation. The caustic soda capacity utilisation stood at 85% in Q1FY22, higher than the industry average. The Advanced Materials business reported its best-ever performance in Q1FY22, driven by strong demand scenario and better pricing environment globally and in India. The company said demand continues to be driven by the wind and auto segments.

The company said its paint business is making progress in line with the plans. Land acquisition for setting up plants at different states is in process, and simultaneously project engineering plans are also progressing.

On the capex front, Grasim said commissioning of VSF expansion (2 lines of 300 TPD each) at Vilayat (Gujarat) is as per schedule. Line 1 is expected to be commissioned in Q2 and Line 2 in Q3 of the current financial year. In the Chlor-alkali business, the commissioning of Rehla plant-91KTPA and CMS plant 54.8KTPA is expected in Q2FY22. The commissioning of BB Puram plant (Phase-1)- 73KTPA and Vilayat plant (Phase-1)- 73KTPA is expected in H2FY22. The total capex (to be spent) for FY22 stands at Rs 2,604 crore (excluding the paints and fertiliser).

Shares of Grasim Industries were up 0.35% at Rs 1,497.60 on BSE.

Grasim Industries is a leading global producer of Viscose Staple Fibre, the largest Chlor-Alkali, Linen and Insulators player in India. Through its subsidiaries, UltraTech Cement and Aditya Birla Capital, it is also India's largest cement producer and a leading diversified financial services player.

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Hindalco Industries Ltd is quoting at Rs 442, up 1.09% on the day as on 12:54 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 138.98% in last one year as compared to a 47.64% spurt in NIFTY and a 138.6% spurt in the Nifty Metal index.

Hindalco Industries Ltd gained for a third straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 442, up 1.09% on the day as on 12:54 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.85% on the day, quoting at 16503.85. The Sensex is at 55357.41, up 0.94%. Hindalco Industries Ltd has risen around 12.86% in last one month.

Meanwhile, Nifty Metal index of which Hindalco Industries Ltd is a constituent, has risen around 8.31% in last one month and is currently quoting at 5769.25, down 0.5% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 93.61 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 133.25 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark August futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 441.5, up 0.64% on the day. Hindalco Industries Ltd is up 138.98% in last one year as compared to a 47.64% spurt in NIFTY and a 138.6% spurt in the Nifty Metal index.

The PE of the stock is 51.17 based on TTM earnings ending June 21.

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The domestic equity barometers extended gains and hit fresh highs in mid afternoon trade. The Nifty was trading above the 16,500 mark. Pharma shares declined for the fourth day in a row.

At 14:23 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 541.76 points or 0.99% to 55,385.74. The Nifty 50 index added 143.60 points or 0.88% to 16,508.

The Sensex hit a record high of 55,362.89 and the Nifty hit a record high of 16,507.35 in afternoon trade.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index fell 0.02% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index rose 0.06%.

The market breadth was positive. On the BSE, 1521 shares rose and 1641 shares fell. A total of 127 shares were unchanged.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty Pharma index slipped 0.40% to 14,077. The index has declined 3.14% in four straight sessions.

Aurobindo Pharma (down 7.24%), Cipla (down 0.76%), Biocon (up 0.58%), Dr. Reddy's Labs (down 0.56%) and Alkem Laboratories (down 0.44%) declined.

Meanwhile, Cadila Healthcare (up 2.69%), Torrent Pharma (up 1.16%), Divi's Labs (up 0.63%), Sun Pharma (up 0.31%) and Lupin (up 0.26%) edged higher.

Stocks in Spotlight:

Gujarat Fluorochemicals rose 2.54% to Rs 1736.90. The company's consolidated net profit jumped 115.36% to Rs 151.16 crore on 63.27% rise in revenue from operations to Rs 911.94 crore in Q1 FY22 over Q1 FY21. On a sequential basis, net profit increased by 37% while revenue from operations grew by 8.53% in Q1 FY22 over Q4 FY21.

Zensar Technologies added 0.93% to Rs 422.05. The IT company announced it has signed a four year multi-million-dollar contract with the City of San Diego for Workplace and Enterprise Compute Manage IT services. The contract has the option of extension of two additional two-year terms with the total not to exceed the value of $122 million.

Numbers to Track:

In the foreign exchange market, the partially convertible rupee rose to 74.2925 from its previous closing of 74.2550.

MCX Gold futures for 5 October 2021 settlement rose 0.27% to Rs 46,490.

The US Dollar index (DXY), which tracks the greenback's value against a basket of currencies, was down 0.07% to 92.97.

The yield on 10-year benchmark federal paper rose to 6.234% from its previous close of 6.226%.

In the commodities market, Brent crude for October 2021 settlement declined 41 cents or 0.57% to $70.90 a barrel.

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Infosys Ltd is quoting at Rs 1710, up 1.21% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 79.32% in last one year as compared to a 47.65% spurt in NIFTY and a 81.87% spurt in the Nifty IT.

Infosys Ltd gained for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 1710, up 1.21% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.86% on the day, quoting at 16505.35. The Sensex is at 55340.03, up 0.9%. Infosys Ltd has risen around 8.44% in last one month.

Meanwhile, Nifty IT index of which Infosys Ltd is a constituent, has risen around 11.72% in last one month and is currently quoting at 32245.1, up 1.65% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 29.84 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 57.23 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark August futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 1713.65, up 1.38% on the day. Infosys Ltd is up 79.32% in last one year as compared to a 47.65% spurt in NIFTY and a 81.87% spurt in the Nifty IT index.

The PE of the stock is 38.38 based on TTM earnings ending June 21.

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief and NCP supremo and the Trinamool Congress are likely to take part in a virtual interaction with Congress President on August 20.

Confirming that the Congress leadership has convened a virtual meet next Friday, possibly in a bid to unite non-BJP parties, a senior DMK leader said, We are expecting an official invite today (Friday). Probably it will be received by his (Chief Minister's) office."

The DMK chief has been following in the footsteps of his late father M Karunanidhi in inviting the Congress leaders to the state on various occasions and has always painted a picture of unity with them.

Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena confirmed that the Maharashtra chief minister will attend the meeting. Thackeray will attend the meeting, Sena leader Sanjay Raut told PTI. NCP MP Supriya Sule, too, confirmed that Pawar will take part in the meeting.

Congress is part of the Sena-led ruling coalition in Maharashtra, along with the Nationalist Congress Party.

In Bengal, an aide close of TMC supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the party is also likely to join the meeting.

The Congress President has called the meet in the midst of a political row over alleged phone tapping of opposition leaders, judges and journalists and rowdy scenes in Parliament. While the agenda of the meeting is not known, it is expected to discuss a raft of issues irking opposition parties besides helping build bridge to forge opposition unity.

The DMK, the NCP and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha are among parties that have been invited, according to multiple sources. Banerjee, too, had last month, during a trip to Delhi, made a pitch for opposition unity.

The Bengal Chief Minister had, besides meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other central ministers, held parleys with Congress' Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, Kamal Nath, Anand Sharma and Abishek Manu Singhvi.

She also met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and DMK leader Kanimozhi, besides making telephone calls to NCP chief and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad.

On Thursday, the TMC came out against the suspension of the Congress' Twitter handles, displaying what many saw as signs of a rekindling of a spirit of opposition unity. Banerjees advisor and political campaign pundit Prashant Kishor has also been reaching out to various opposition leaders, while Pawar has also held a meeting with eminent persons and opposition leaders.

Political analysts see these meetings as essential stepping stones to forging unity among political parties ahead of a raft of state assembly elections including in Uttar Pradesh, in the next three years leading to elections in 2024.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
chief on Friday held a meeting with a group of legislators and other leaders from urban areas and discussed several issues, including giving relief to people in the shape of 300 units of free power and reducing tariff for domestic consumers.

Sidhu, along with working presidents Pawan Goel and Kuljit Singh Nagra, held the meeting in which ministers Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Sunder Sham Arora, MLAs Surinder Dawar, Inderbir Singh Bolaria, Pargat Singh, Amit Vij, Harjot Kamal and former legislator Ashwani Sekhri, among others, were present.

However, some ministers and MLAs from urban areas did not show up.

A party legislator said the meeting was called to discuss and resolve issues of urban areas.

The meeting concluded with a consensus that the party and the government must act towards a priority agenda to give relief to urban people of Punjab, according to the Pradesh Committee (PPCC) statement.

There was a demand for providing 300 units of free power to all domestic consumers, reducing power rate to Rs 3 per unit for domestic consumers, Rs 5 per unit for commercial and industrial consumers and giving round-the-clock power supply.

The relief sought in the meeting was in addition to Rs 10,000 crore of annual power subsidy being given by the state government at present.

The legislators in the meeting asked Sidhu to raise the issue of one-time settlement in cases of regularisation of plots and building, extending the scheme for regularisation of colonies and easing burden of no objection certificate for the registration of properties, with the state government.

The ruling party leaders also discussed financial losses and hardships suffered by the people of urban areas due to COVID-19 induced lockdown.

(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 Trinamool Congress has received an invite to a virtual meet for leaders by Congress president slated for next week, a political aide of supremo Mamata Banerjee confirmed.

The is likely to join the meeting.

Gandhi has called the meet in the midst of a political row over alleged phone tapping of leaders, judges and journalists and rowdy scenes in Parliament.

While the agenda of the meeting is not known, it is expected to discuss a raft of issues irking parties besides helping build bridge to forge opposition unity.

The DMK, NCP and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha are among parties that have been invited, according to multiple sources.

Banerjee too had last month, during a trip to Delhi, made a pitch for opposition unity.

The West Bengal chief minister had, besides meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other central ministers, held parleys with Congress' Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, Kamal Nath, Anand Sharma and Abishek Manu Singhvi.

She also met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and DMK leader Kanimozhi, besides making telephone calls to NCP chief Sharad Pawar and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad.

More recently, on Thursday, the came out against the suspension of the Congress' Twitter handles, displaying what many saw as signs of a rekindling of a spirit of opposition unity.

Banerjee's advisor and political campaign pundit Prashant Kishor has also been reaching out to various opposition leaders, while Pawar has also held a meeting with eminent persons and opposition leaders.

Political analysts see these meetings as essential stepping stones to forging unity among political parties ahead of a raft of state assembly elections including in Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, in the next three years leading to elections in 2024.

(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.)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, who piloted his DMK to a spectacular win in the April 6 Assembly election, is likely to attend a virtual interaction with Congress president on August 20.

Confirming that the Congress leadership has convened a virtual meet next Friday, possibly in a bid to unite non-BJP parties, a senior DMK leader said Stalin is likely to take part in the meet. "We are expecting an official invite today. Probably it will be received by his (Chief Minister's) office," he said, adding, Stalin, president of the ruling party, would attend if invited. The DMK chief has been following in the footsteps of his late father M Karunanidhi in inviting the Congress leaders to the state on various occasions and has always painted a picture of unity with them.

Even in organising protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, both the parties, who are allies, presented a show of strength in opposing the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre. Prior to this, Stalin proposed the name of Rahul Gandhi for the Prime Minister's post for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, when the opposition party leaders gathered here in December 2018 for unveiling the statue of his father and former Chief Minister Karunanidhi by

Incidentally, DMK was among the opposition parties, including the Congress and NCP which attended the Trinamool Congress' Martyrs' Day event in Delhi last month where West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's speech giving a clarion call to anti-BJP parties to unite was streamed live.

(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.)
It was announced today that CJK has acquired McGrattan & Kenny and will form a new Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Services Group to compete in the rapidly expanding sector. The formation of the new group will create an additional 100 new jobs over three years, bringing the total to 360 people by 2024.

The CJK and McGrattan & Kenny brands, which have a combined total of 76 years in the marketplace, will both be retained. The new group is projected to have combined 2021 revenues of 45 million (CJK 40 million; McGrattan & Kenny 5.2 million).



CJK and McGrattan & Kenny have a long, shared history during which they have worked successfully together on many projects over the years and continue to do so. Mutual clients include DAA and OPW. The 100 new roles will include mechanical and electrical trade personnel, engineering, operations, commercial and administration staff.



Announcing the establishment of the new Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Services Group, Managing Director of CJK, Vinny Bruen said, "This is a significant development in the engineering services market which is gearing for further strong growth. The alignment of our two companies presents an opportunity to provide enhanced services and efficiencies for our clients, as well as great new career opportunities for our teams."

Managing Director of McGrattan & Kenny, Eamon McGrattan added, "The creation of this new group will; be very positive for the employees and customers alike. We are building on strong foundations forged through successful collaboration over the years. It is rare for two companies to have such a shared history and culture, which augurs well for a deeper alignment. I look forward to exciting times ahead."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Photo: The Canadian Press Afghan security personnel patrol after they took back control of parts of the city of Herat following fighting between Taliban and Afghan security forces, on the outskirts of Herat, 640 kilometers (397 miles) west of Kabul

Canadian special forces will deploy to Afghanistan where Canadian embassy staff in Kabul will be evacuated before closing, a source familiar with the plan told The Associated Press.

The official, who was not authorized to talk publicly about the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity, did not say how many special forces would be sent.

Just weeks before the U.S. is scheduled to end its war in Afghanistan, the Biden administration is also rushing 3,000 fresh troops to the Kabul airport to help with a partial evacuation of the U.S. Embassy.

The moves highlight the stunning speed of a Taliban takeover of much of the country, including their capture on Thursday of Kandahar, the second-largest city and the birthplace of the Taliban movement.

Britain also said Thursday that it will send around 600 troops to Afghanistan to help U.K. nationals leave the country amid growing concerns about the security situation. And Danish lawmakers have agreed to evacuate 45 Afghan citizens who worked for Denmarks government in Afghanistan and to offer them residency in the European country for two years.

Some 40,000 Canadian troops were deployed in Afghanistan over 13 years as part of the NATO mission before pulling out in 2014.

The first planeload of Afghan refugees who supported the Canadian military mission in Afghanistan arrived in Canada earlier this month. The Canadian government last month announced a special program to urgently resettle Afghans deemed to have been integral to the Canadian Armed Forces mission, including interpreters, cooks, drivers, cleaners, construction workers, security guards and embassy staff, as well as members of their families.

The government says more than 800 Afghans who supported the mission have been resettled in Canada over the past decade but acknowledges that many more remain in Afghanistan.

The Taliban, who ruled the country from 1996 until U.S. forces invaded after the 9/11 attacks, have taken 12 of Afghanistans 34 provincial capitals as part of a weeklong sweep that has given them effective control of about two-thirds of the country.

The seizure of Kandahar and Herat marks the biggest prizes yet for the Taliban. Canada's former military mission was based in Kandahar.
Climbing regional cement shipments for Argos in the 1H21

13 August 2021

Argos announced its 1H21 results this week with regional cement shipments climbing in the USA and in the Caribbean and Latin America.

In the USA cement volumes saw a solid increase of 5.7 per cent, because of the positive market dynamics in the country. Concrete volumes, on the other hand, fell 10.1 per cent with different behaviours throughout the territory and strongly affected by the intense rains, especially in Houston and Dallas. Group revenues in the US during the semester remained stable at US$736m.

In Colombia revenues increased 37.7 per cent during the semester and stood at US$313.5m. Likewise, EBITDA increased 54.1 per cent and was US$69m. In the first six months of the year, cement shipments in the country increased 40.1 per cent and concrete rose 25.2 per cent, despite the impacts of the marches and roadblocks that had a great effect on operations in the southwestern part of the country where the Yumbo plant was closed for around 40 days.

Lastly, the Caribbean and Central America region, recorded revenues for the 1H21 of US$272 m, a growth of 31.8 per cent. EBITDA, meanwhile, experienced an increase of 58.9 per cent at US$85m.

In this region, the 45.1 per cent increase in cement shipments during the period was driven by the dynamics of the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Puerto Rico, and the increase in exports from Cartagena to Houston. Likewise, concrete volumes increased 38 per cent in the first half of the year, mainly due to the low comparable base.

Outlook

Prospects continue to be positive the Caribbean and Central American given its correlation with the US economy, the significant growth in remittances, as well as the arrival of funds for the reconstruction of Puerto Rico after Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Likewise, tourism construction activity, which is expected to resume its activities in the Dominican Republic soon, along with the success of the new operating model in Puerto Rico, support the favourable prospects for these two countries. Panama, for its part, is still affected, but it is beginning to show signs of economic recovery.

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Argos opts for Klaveness Digital's CargoValue shipping platform

13 August 2021

Argos has signed on with Klaveness Digital to roll out shipping and logistics platform 'CargoValue' throughout the supply chain. Following a successful pilot project during the 2Q21, the move solidifies Argos digitalisation agenda to preserve its strong market foothold in the Americas.

"CargoValue has enabled us to digitalise existing processes to improve visibility and make better decisions throughout the supply chain towards that goal, says Gabriel Ballestas, senior director of Trading and Business Intelligence at Argos."

Jon Folkedal, head of Customer Success at Klaveness Digital, said the partnership will see the deal roll out its Software as a Service (SaaS) platform to 13 of Argos' ports and terminals in Colombia, the Caribbean, and the USA.

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An officer responded to the Samaritan Center at 9231 Lee Hwy. to recover a firearm that was donated to them in their donation pile outside. The firearm was turned into the owner of the center and he called the police. Police were able to recover the firearm and turned it into the property section. The firearm was a Dickerson .38 pistol with two spent rounds and four live rounds with the firearm. The firearm was not reported stolen at this time.

* * *

An officer saw a panhandler standing in the median obstructing traffic at 7400 Commons Blvd. The officer tried to get out with the suspect and he began to walk away. The suspect was detained and police explained to him the law about obstructing roadways. After a conversation about the law and programs run through the Community Kitchen, the man left the scene.

* * *

A woman on Hixson Pike said she had left her vehicle in the care of a man while she was incarcerated and found out her wallet had been stolen out of her car along with her purse when he came to pick her up from Silverdale. She said he had parked the car at a motel after it was running hot and left it to go get water. Police viewed camera footage from the motel and only saw the man and woman enter and exit the vehicle in the footage. As of now, no suspects are known.

* * *



An officer saw a panhandler standing on the interstate off ramp to Shallowford Road flying a cardboard sign in attempts to solicit money from motorists. The officer approached the panhandler and he identified himself and said he didn't know it was illegal to panhandle on the interstate off ramps. The man said he has been homeless for two months and is in between jobs. The officer informed the man of the options he has for assistance with being homeless and in need. He is clear not to be walking/panhandling on the interstate any more.

* * *

An officer saw a white Saturn Ion that had been parked for hours unoccupied in the parking lot of Carver Rec Center, 600 North Orchard Knob Ave. The Tennessee tag displayed was expired in 2018 and did not come back to the correct vehicle. The VIN was partially covered. The car was locked. No cars with that partial VIN were located in COPLINK. The officer was able to find a report where this vehicle took off when police attempted to make a traffic stop.

* * *

A woman on East 10th Street said she had recently gone to the doctor for a fall she had in April. She continued by saying the fall was caused by management not fixing things within her apartment. She wished to make a report as she did not believe she should be paying for the medical bills.

* * *

A woman at Champy's Restaurant at 526 E Martin Luther King Blvd. said a man wearing blue and white plaid shorts with a black shirt was harassing her and her coworkers while they were closing the restaurant. The suspect was not on scene at this time but the complainant stated that she wanted the man banned if he was located. Police searched the area but did not locate him.

* * *

Police were called to a residence on East Brainerd Road where a man said he was afraid due to his roommate being intoxicated, belligerent and using derogatory terms in their native language. No criminal offense had occurred. The man's roommate went to bed when police arrived.

* * *

An officer responded to a vandalism at 3227 Brainerd Road, The Hatch Outfitters. Upon arrival the officer saw the front door made of glass had been damaged and there was a hole in the glass and the sheet of glass slid down in the door frame. There was no way to get in contact with the business owners through dispatch. It is unclear if there was or is anyone in the business at this time due to both front and back doors still being locked. A complaint card was left in the business.

* * *



An officer responded to Motel 6 at 5505 Brainerd Road, room 103, for a disorder. An anonymous caller said a woman was banging on the walls, yelling to call police. Police arrived and met a woman who said she was the one banging on the walls. She said her boyfriend was arguing with her. She said he attempted to spray shaving cream on her and she was afraid it was going to escalate, prompting her to bang on the walls and call police. The woman told police no physical altercation occurred and left the property to meet with a friend who was going to pick her up.

* * *

A man on 10th Avenue said he had $800 in cash stolen out of his wallet. He said last night he invited two acquaintances of his over to stay the night because they are homeless. He fell asleep and when he woke up he found that the individuals who were staying with him were gone and also that the cash out of his wallet was missing. He didn't know the names of the individuals and contacted a mutual friend to find out what their names were. He was unsure who took the money. Without further evidence and suspect information, no further action can be taken at this time.

* * *

A man on Gurley Street said when he stepped out of his apartment this morning he discovered his 2010 Honda Accord had been taken from the parking area. He and his wife had parked the vehicle there. He has the keys to the car and they paid cash for the vehicle so there was no reason for it to be repossessed. He had no idea how the vehicle would have been removed from the parking area. The man said the vehicle was all factory with nothing descriptive added to the vehicle. At the time of contact with the man there were no witnesses and the parking area was not covered by surveillance video. The vehicle was entered into the National Data Base as stolen. Later police found the Honda abandoned in the driveway of a business at 624 West Bell Ave. There were no cameras and no suspect information/witnesses. The vehicle's window was down and had possible water damage to the interior from weekend rain. The owner was notified, arrived on foot, and was able to drive away his vehicle. The vehicle was taken out of NCIC.

* * *

A man on East 3rd Street said he started his vehicle up and noticed it sounded funny. He saw a hat underneath his car that didn't belong to him and realized his catalytic converter had been cut. No suspect information known at this time.
A preview of the 2022-24 fishing proclamations and the participants in the 2021 Tennessee elk hunt will be announced during the August meeting of the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission. In addition, the grand prize winners of the Tennessee Conservation Raffle will be announced.

The meeting will be held Aug. 19-20 (Thursday-Friday) in Cookeville at the Holiday Inn. The meeting starts at 1 p.m. the first day and 9 a.m. the second day.



The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Fisheries Division will present proposed changes to the bait, sport fish, and commercial proclamations. The preview of the commercial proclamation will include requests made by the Commercial Fishing Advisory Committee. The commercial fishing proclamation will be presented for vote at the September meeting and the bait and sport fish proclamation will be voted on at the October meeting.



Winners of the 14 drawn permits to hunt elk on the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agencys North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area or private lands within the Elk Restoration Zone will be announced by TWRA Elk Program Coordinator Brad Miller on Friday morning. This will include seven quota permits for the archery only hunt, one youth permit, and six permits where participants will have the option to use archery, gun, or muzzleloader.



One additional permit is donated to a non-governmental organization. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation is offering the hunt as one of 10 prize packages that can be chosen in this years format. Proceeds go to support habitat restoration efforts. Details of this years raffle and the grand prize winners, along with other prize winners, will be announced by the foundations executive director, Joey Woodard.



In other items, an update on duck blinds will be given. Also, an overview of the 2022-23 budget will be presented.



The meeting will be available for the public to view each day on YouTube and later in the archives. Full details will be available on the TWRA website and social media.
Mix 104.1 WCLEs Steve Hartline held an exclusive interview with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee where the governor addressed the upward trend in COVID cases across the state.

Governor Lee said the answer lies with the vaccine, not with mask mandates.

He continued to encourage Tennesseans who are willing and able to get vaccinated.

Regarding mask mandates in schools, Governor Lee said that parents should have the choice over their child wearing a mask to schools.

The interview is at:
The Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics said they strongly condemn the violent words and aggressive actions aimed at medical professionals during and after the Williamson County School Board Meeting this week.

Officials said, "We are deeply saddened by these attacks. Everyone should step back and question if this is the behavior we want to model for our children. As parents, we teach our children to have calm conversations and to respect others. The healthcare professionals who attended the

meeting were there to provide recommendations based on evidence-based guidelines to allow for in-person schooling while also keeping children healthy and safe.

"TNAAP represents over 1,000 pediatricians who have a duty to offer their expertise to protect the health of children and to advocate for their safe return to school. This is a critical effort that should never leave our pediatricians fearful of harm.



"It is a myth that children do not get COVID. They do and we have cared for them (and continue to do so with increasing numbers). People who use the death rate for children or discount the death of a child who had an underlying condition to minimize COVIDs impact are not only disrespectful to the lives of those precious children, but also missing the bigger issue. It is true that for many children, COVID will not cause significant illness, but for others, it leads to hospitalization, Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C) or long-term side effects. They can also pass it to more vulnerable people in their homes or in the community.

"Because children under 12 are not eligible for vaccinations, vaccination rates are low in our state and transmission rates of COVID are high, we must have a layered approach to mitigate the

spread of COVID. At this point in time, a layered approach includes masking in schools. It is not going to be forever, but it is clearly needed now. We all recognize that we do not want multiple rounds of quarantine again, especially when virtual school is not an option in some places. Our children need to be in school and learning, and their families must be able to go to work. Parents expect that when they send their child to school that they will not only receive an education, but that they will be kept safe from harm.



"TNAAP supports the rights of parents to make decisions for their children, but those decisions should not infringe on the rights of other children and school staff, including our teachers. We hope parental decisions will be informed by public health needs and a desire to be a good neighbor. A recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll shared on Fox News revealed that most parents support masks."

TNAAP President, Dr. Anna Morad, added, Discussing child welfare and advocating for children should never cause pediatricians to fear for their safety. These are the same pediatricians who are trusted to provide care for children to keep them healthy and safe. They deserve to be kept safe as well.
Southern Adventist University has launched a partnership with Equal Chance for Education (ECE), a Tennessee-based scholarship program that helps provide Hispanic individuals with an equal opportunity to achieve the American dream by completing college. Incoming college students may qualify for an ECE scholarship of up to $6,000 per year if they have a GPA of at least 3.0, are ineligible for federal funding, and have a defined career goal.This partnership came about thanks to scholarship recipient and incoming-freshman Julena Camarena. When Camarena applied for an ECE scholarship and was accepted, she was disappointed to find that her dream schoolSouthernwas not partnered with ECE.She asked if ECE would consider working with Southern, and to her surprise, they agreed. Since then, Southern and ECE have formed a partnership that will help financially insecure students find the funding they need to pay for college expenses.Working with this program will help Southern find financial resources for programs and scholarships that support diversity on campus, said Stephanie Guster, senior advisor for diversity at Southern. This program shows that there are highly capable students who want to be in higher educationwho choose Southernbut who arent eligible for federal funding. Its exciting to have a resource to assist those students!As a freshman at Southern this fall, Camarena will be studying clinical psychology as she begins her journey to becoming a surgeon.I am a first-generation college student, so this scholarship is really important to my family as I build a future for myself, Camarena said. Through ECE and Southern, I can see Gods will working in me. I know this scholarship program will help others who are in the same situation have an opportunity to attend an Adventist university, too.
Nurses across Tennessee say they are highly concerned about the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in the state as campuses are opening for the fall semester and children in K-12 grades are returning to school. "Positivity rates and hospital admissions are rising in both rural and urban areas, and hospitals are still grappling with a nursing shortage that has been exacerbated by the pandemic," officials said.Nurses are reaching the end of their physical and emotional reserves.Pediatric and adult ICU units are full, said Tina Gerardi, MS, RN, executive director of the Tennessee Nurses Association. The public is tired of this, nurses are tired of this, and something has to change to bring relief from the increasing cases and hospitalizations across the state."A clear pattern has emerged of unvaccinated people contracting COVID-19 across all parts of the state. Recent estimates from the Tennessee Health Department show that over 98 percent of COVID-19 deaths and 97 percent of hospitalizations are now among the unvaccinated," officials said.We are asking Tennesseans to do their part to help beat the virus and bring relief to a stressed healthcare system, said Ms. Gerardi. If you can get vaccinated, get it as soon as possible. The virus is real and raging across our state. COVID-19 vaccines are proven to reduce the spread of the virus and the severity of the illness if someone does contract COVID-19.Officials said, "Current vaccines are also still effective against the Delta variant, which is spreading rapidly in Tennessee. TNA has seen several large healthcare employers across the state mandate vaccinations for their employees. TNA highly encourages all nurses to get vaccinated against COVID-19."As case numbers near where they were during last years summer surge, nurses are asking Tennesseans to continue wearing masks while indoors, practice physical distancing, wash their hands often and above all to get vaccinated. Something has to give - getting vaccinated is an essential component to helping stop the spread as we enter the school season."
The COVID-19 pandemic has essentially canceled live shows all over the globe. However, two dozen dancers got the chance to appear on an Apple TV+ series titled Schmigadoon! starring Keegan Michael Key. The show spoofs the 40s and 50s musicals from the Great White Way and Hollywood. A couple is caught in the magical town of Schmigadoon and learns that the only way to escape is to find true love. Choreographer Christopher Gattelli has reflected on Schmigadoon!, along with the challenges that came with choreographing for the show. Keep reading to learn more.

Christopher Gattelli faced challenges choreographing Schmigadoon! amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Gattelli had his work cut out for him with this particular project. Filming would present not only the same challenges that plague any musical during the best of times, but it would also have a whole new set of challenges thanks to the global pandemic. A typical day for pre-production started with everyone taking COVID-19 tests prior to arriving at the studio, according to Dance Spirit. There was also a health representative in the room to make sure that everything they were doing was safe. Everyone would have to wear masks and occasionally face shields.

Filming would take place in Canada. So when Gattelli arrived in Canada, had to be quarantined for 14 days. He did a lot of Zoom meetings with the cast from his hotel room and then went right into rehearsals and filming after his quarantine was over.

The choreography itself had some challenges

Two of the shows stars, Cicely Tyson and Keegan Michael Key, were not trained dancers. Gattelli had to teach them their finale over video. Gattelli employed the help of his two married dancers, Tara Wilkinson and Matt Overfield, to dance the number together so that Gattelli could use the footage to instruct Cicely and Keegan.

The dancers would break down the steps so that the other two performers could learn their steps individually at home alone. Their hard work was apparent as they performed to number for the first time on set. Gattelli was overjoyed that the pair had worked so hard on the choreography and took the time to really understand the performance.

What else is Christopher Gattelli known for?

Christopher Gattelli attends the 72nd Annual Tony Awards. | Steven Ferdman/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Christopher Gattelli appeared on Star Search at age 11 and was the grand champion. He has also played the role of Pouncival in the Broadway musical Cats. His choreography includes Broadway musicals such as Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, The Ritz, and the 2015 revival of The King and I.

Gattelli was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Choreography for South Pacific and won the award in 2012 for his work in Newsies. His work in Newsies also won him the Outer Critics Circle Award. He won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Choreographer for Altar Boyz and Bat Boy: The Musical.

Additionally, Gattelli directed Jim Hensons Emmet Otters Jug-Band Christmas at The Goodspeed Opera House, Conn., in 2008, and worked with Julie Andrews on The Great American Mousical in 2012. He was also the director of the musical spoof SILENCE! The Musical, which ran in 2005 at NYCFringe.

Gattelli has been a fixture in Hollywood and the choreography world for a number of years, causing him to amass an impressive body of work over the years. The fact that he could pull off a production under such restrictive conditions amid a global pandemic really speaks to his abilities and his talent for choreography. Adding to that the fact that he was also working with performers who specialized in acting and not dancing makes it even more impressive.

Schmigadoon! can be seen on Apple TV+ with new episodes airing every Friday.

RELATED: Schmigadoon! Star Kristin Chenoweth Says 18 Page Song Was Way Harder Than Wicked
In lieu of the constant buzz surrounding Da Babys homophobic remarks last month, there have been many celebrities speaking out in support and others in opposition of this incident. Yet, Miley Cyrus is one thats on the rappers side. She defends his unfamiliarity, advocating that instead of feeding this new canceled culture, this is a time to truly educate in the unanimous fight against the stigmas and misinformation around the LGBTQ community and HIV/AIDS.

How is Miley Cyrus looking to teach Da Baby?

Miley Cyrus | 2020 Billboard Women In Music/Getty Images for Billboard

Last Wednesday, on August 4th, after much disapproval from various celebrities and festivals due to the rappers previous demeaning comments, Cyrus urged her supporters to take the high road. The rapper was ostracized soon after his Rolling Loud performance in Miami the week prior. As the internet caught wind of the nature of his slurs, the unanimous critics flew in from every corner.

However, Cyrus combatted the negativity in her space by posting on her Instagram saying: As a proud and loyal member of the LGBTQIA+ community, much of my life has been dedicated to encouraging love, acceptance, and open-mindedness.

She continued by challenging the current trend of permanently revoking support from anyone due to a negligent mistake, as we all have room to grow in this journey called life.

Its easier to cancel someone than to find forgiveness and compassion in ourselves or take the time to change hearts and minds, Cyrus concluded. Theres no more room for division if we want to keep seeing progress! Knowledge is power! I know I still have so much to learn!

Where does her compassion come from?

Miley Cyrus | Getty Images

From a young age, Cyrus too has expressed dealing with being misunderstood and controversy in her career as she rapidly evolved from a childhood star on Hanna Montana to a music icon.

Transitioning out from the stereotypical pop star image that everyone around her at one time had subjected her to, into that 2013 Wrecking Ball rebel caused much debate about who she really was.

Its safe to say that her era of personal and professional maturity shifted her perspective on what it means to be an artist, as it pertains to versatility and the freedom of genuinely find yourself along the way.

What does the future hold for these two artists?

Cyrus is eager to connect, if she hasnt already on the backend, with Da Baby in seeing how they can work together to build a more inclusive future in the world of music no matter the genre.

She persistently promoted resources for education on the subject while directly reaching out to Da Baby saying:

@DaBaby check your DMs  would love to talk and see how we can learn from each other and help be part of making a more just and understanding future, she wrote, tagging Greater Than Aids as a great resource, as well as her own Happy Hippie Foundation.
Vicki Gunvalson is still one of the most recognizable stars of The Real Housewives of Orange County. The insurance maven was on the Bravo reality series for 14 seasons and became an icon. Throughout her time on TV, Gunvalson showcased her life and her relationship with her kids Briana and Michael. The latter recently got a lot of attention after he posted a photo of himself getting vaccinated against the coronavirus (COVID-19)  something that left his famous mother with a broken heart.

Vicki Gunvalson | Noel Vasquez/Getty Images

Is Vicki Gunvalson an anti-vaxxer?

Gunvalson made headlines again and its not because she is returning to RHOC as her former co-star Heather Dubrow is. The former reality TV personality was in the news because her son, Michael Wolf Smith, outed her as possibly being an anti-vaxxer. Smith, who is residing in Hawaii, posted a selfie getting the vaccine at his local CVS Pharmacy and poking fun at the deniers.

We out here, he posted along with a string of hashtags that included #NotDeadYet, #MAGA, and #5GTowers.

The comment section lit up with people debating the vaccine and Smith comically shut them all down with an uncanny wit. One Instagram user asked Gunvalsons son what his famous thought about him getting the vaccine as they had heard she was against it.

She said, it broke her heart, lol, Smith replied.

When another user called Gunvalson smart, Smith added, No, she has terrible sources of information. Guns, American flags, and invisible sky fairies  the All-American Trifecta!

RELATED: Andy Cohen Updates RHOC Fans on Cast Shakeup as Heather Dubrow Returns in Season 16

Vicki Gunvalson appears on her sons Instagram post

Smith called out his mother for not being informed on the subject and in another thread, Gunvalson actually replied to the post. The former housewife is usually very active on social media and often comments and likes her sons posts. However, the selfie of Smith getting the COVID-19 vaccine went without a like from his mother.

After a fan asked Smith why he had gotten the shot he said, Because Im gonna be traveling around and dont want to be restricted. I almost rode it out! The MAGA Variant ruined it all!

Whose restricting you? I travel all over, Gunvalson replied.

Gunvalson has been flying from her home in Orange County to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where she recently bought a beach-front condo. The former Bravolebrity has also been traveling back and forth visiting her daughter Briana in North Carolina and helping her during her move to Chicago. Gunvalson even bought and renovated a home in NC last year.

Vicki Gunvalson | Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

RELATED: RHOC Star Shannon Beador Could Be at Risk of Getting Fired, According to Report

Smith went through the symptoms of COVID-19 during the early months of the pandemic when he was still living in California. At the time, he said he wasnt tested because tests were still scarce.

Been isolating at home. Stay home, everybody. Looking back, this party should have never happened, he wrote on Instagram back in March 2020.

As he explained to a fan earlier, Smith had no plans on getting the vaccine as he had presumably contracted the virus. However, with the Delta variant accounting for most new cases, he thought it was pertinent to get the vaccine. One of his fans asked him how he was feeling after taking the jab.

I feel completely normal, he replied. I went to the gym and worked out as hard as I wanted to 20 minutes after. Tired though, its 1:45am!

Gunvalson has not posted any new messages to his sons Instagram account.
Weve seen the characters fight off multiple creatures based on Dungeons and Dragons monsters in Stranger Things. In season 1, we see the Demogorgon. While season 2 had the characters battle both the Demodogs and the Thessalhydra. In season 3, they face off against the Mindflayer.

Because we now know season 4 is dropping in 2022, many of us wonder whats next? Will the kids be going up against the Russians? A horde of monsters from the Upside Down? While no one knows for sure just yet, fans of the show have come up with some pretty exciting predictions.

David Harbour at Netflixs Stranger Things Q&A and Reception at Pacific Design Center | Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix

Is Dr. Brenner back?

The last time we saw Dr. Brenner (Matthew Modine), the evil scientist experimenting on Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), he was receiving a nice, warm hug from the Demogorgon. Of course, by hug, we mean he was presumably eaten alive, never to be seen again. However, if theres one thing we know about horror movies, its that if the audience doesnt see a body, we cant rule out a comeback.

In the teaser trailer dropped by Netflix in May, we hear Brenner ask, Eleven, are you listening? This scene might be a flashback, as weve watched many flashbacks revolving around Eleven and her time in the lab. Throw in the fact that Eleven sees him in a vision, and most fans can all but guarantee Brenner has yet to shuffle off this mortal coil.

RELATED: Stranger Things: Why Did Eleven Lose Her Powers in Season 3?

Is it another Dungeons and Dragons monster?

Weve seen a new Dungeons and Dragons monster in every season of Stranger Things thus far, so its not a stretch to think well see another one in the upcoming season. Which one audience members will get to watch on their television in season 4 is still a mystery.

However, Michael Walsh from the Nerdist has a compelling theory that the next monster will be similar to what Kurt Russells character, Macready, fought in 1982s The Thing.

Walsh says, That setting alone gives off major The Thing vibes. Hopper is isolated at a snowy outpost where an alien monster also lives. If the base is attacked by the demogorgon or Mind Flayer, both of which already have much in common with the alien shape-shifter dug out of the Antarctic snows, it would be an obvious reference to the iconic 1982 film. But the Duffers note implies an even stronger connection between the two. They write Hopper will face dangers both humanand other which is exactly what MacReady had to deal with in The Thing.

The creature in The Thing can take over its hosts body without anyone noticing. (Well, they noticed eventually but by then, its too late.) This is very similar to what the Mindflayer did in season 3 with the people of Hawkins.

We see your Jason and raise you a demogorgon. pic.twitter.com/YNC8B6E10d  Stranger Things (@Stranger_Things) October 12, 2017

RELATED: Stranger Things: Latest Teaser Trailer Hints at Possibilities for Season 4

Could there be monsters in Russia and America in Stranger Things 4?

The Duffer Brothers released a statement regarding season 4 in February 2020 when the first teaser trailer dropped. Via Indie Wire, Were excited to officially confirm that production on Stranger Things 4 is now underway  and even more excited to announce the return of Hopper! the Duffer brothers wrote in a statement. Although its not all good news for our American; he is imprisoned far from home in the snowy wasteland of Kamchatka, where he will face dangers both humanand other. Meanwhile, back in the states, a new horror is beginning to surface, something long buried, something that connects everything. Season 4 is shaping up to be the biggest and most frightening season yet, and we cannot wait for everyone to see more. In the meantime, pray for the American.

Two monsters wouldnt be too much a change from last years debacle. The Mindflayer was able to control Hawkinss people, which made hiding from it that much harder.

While we dont have too much longer to wait, there are at least a few months before the folks of Hawkins (and now Russia) are back on our screens. Until then, you can stream the first three seasons of Stranger Things on Netflix.
Its official! The Young and the Restless fans have seen the last of Elizabeth Leiner and her character Tara Locke. Leiner joined the CBS soap opera cast earlier this year as Kyle Abbotts (Michael Mealor) ex. Leiners exit comes just as the show wraps up Taras storyline. Fans were curious about Leiners status with the show following Taras downfall, and now they have their answer.

The cast of The Young and the Restless I Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Elizabeth Leiner set to exit The Young and the Restless

Leiner joined The Young and the Restless in February and made her debut in March. Leiner played the role of Tara, the wife of New York businessman Ashland Locke (Richard Burgi). However, like many, The Young and the Restless newcomers, Tara had ties with a Genoa City resident. Its then revealed Tara is the former lover of Kyle, and the two have a big secret theyre keeping from their significant others.

RELATED: The Young and the Restless: Fans Are Critical Over This Newcomers Acting Skills

Tara creates drama for Kyle and his fiancee Summer Newman (Hunter King), when she arrives in town with their son Harrison. The character of Tara earns lots of dislikes from Kyle and Summer fans, who are upset with her antics. The fans wont have to worry about Tara causing any more trouble. As reported by Soaps.com, Leiner and her character will be exiting the show.

Tara Lockes scheming on The Young and the Restless

From the moment Tara arrived in Genoa City, the character was obviously up to no good. When Tara was first introduced, she told Kyle to back off when he began to ask questions about Harrisons paternity. With her husband Ashland being a powerful man, she feared what would happen if her and Kyles secret were revealed.

However, when Tara divorced Ashland, she had a change of heart about Kyle and Harrison. During Kyle and Summers engagement party, she showed up with Harrison and revealed he was the boys father. After DNA tests confirmed Harrison was Kyles son, Summer stood by Kyle and adjusted to her new role as stepmom.

Yet, Tara had other plans. Wanting Kyle for herself, Tara teamed up with Summers enemy Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope), to get rid of Summer. Tara blackmailed Summer into breaking up with Kyle by threatening to take Harrison away. Sally meanwhile worked her charm into getting Eric Forrester (John McCook) to offer Summer a job in Italy. After Summer ended her engagement with Kyle, she took Erics job offer.

Tara Lockes storyline wraps up

Leiners last appearance on The Young and the Restless occurred on August 6th. Viewers watched as Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) busted Tara and Sallys scheme. Phyllis upped the ante in her quest for payback by having Tara arrested for fraud. The last scene of Tara showed her being hauled off in handcuffs while Phyllis gloated.

With Taras storyline wrapping up, fans were curious about what would become of the character. With Mealor and King departing as Kyle and Summer, it appeared there wasnt any use for Tara. As it turns out, the writers didnt have any other plans for Tara. So fans will have to bid farewell to Leiner and her bad girl character.
Its the moment The Young and the Restless fans have been dreading. As seen earlier this week, Summer Newman (Hunter King) and Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) were reunited after being kept apart by Tara Locke (Elizabeth Leiner). Although it was a happy moment, it was also bittersweet.

With Mealor and King exiting the show, fans will have to say goodbye to their favorite couple. Mealor and Kings departures are emotional for fans and their co-workers, whove been paying tribute to the duo. Actor Michelle Stafford, who worked closely with the pair, penned a touching tribute to her former co-stars on social media.

Michelle Stafford I Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic

Michelle Staffords tribute to Hunter King and Michael Mealor

No one is more emotional about King and Mealors exit than Stafford. Stafford plays Kings on-screen mother, Phyllis Summers. Kings chemistry with Stafford made their characters one of The Young and the Restless best mother, daughter duos. Having worked closely with King and Mealor throughout the years, Stafford had a tight bond with the young stars.

Summer catches Nick and Phyllis off guard today on #YR. pic.twitter.com/xZL9HdlZKj  Young and Restless (@YandR_CBS) August 9, 2021

According to Michael Fairman TV, Stafford had nothing but kind words in her social media tribute to the pair. In an Instagram post, Stafford says she loves and will miss her co-stars. They are Super Stars!! I have said that from day one, Stafford wrote about King and Mealor who are leaving to pursue other projects.

Why Hunter King and Michael Mealor are leaving The Young and the Restless?

Reports about King and Mealors exits from The Young and the Restless began in July. According to Daytime Confidential, King and Mealor were in the midst of contract negotiations. When fans heard the news, they hoped it wasnt true and a deal could be made. Unfortunately, the fans didnt get their wish as the actors confirmed their departures.

King has played Summer Newman on and off since 2012. During her time on The Young and the Restless, she won two Daytime Emmy awards for Outstanding Younger Actress. Aside from her work on the soap opera, King also had a recurring role on the CBS comedy Life In Pieces.

RELATED: The Young and the Restless: Fans Are Ready for Summer and Kyle to Make a Major Move  and Its Not Marriage

In March 2018, Mealor made his debut on The Young and the Restless. He immediately became a hit with fans and critics, who felt he was the best actor to Kyle. Mealors popularity would increase when he was paired with King, and their characters became Genoa Citys newest power couple.

Summer and Kyles The Young and the Restless love story

Summer and Kyles love story has become a central focus on The Young and the Restless throughout the years. The two were childhood friends; then, as they grow up, they fell in love. However, like any soap opera couple, Summer and Kyles relationship was plagued with issues. They had several breakups, many of which lead to one of them leaving town.

In 2018, after Summer and Kyle returned to Genoa City, it was obvious the love was still there. However, Kyle was now dating Lola Rosales (Sasha Calle), who Summer was jealous of. When Lola needed a liver transplant, Summer is found to be a compatible donor. Kyle offers to marry Summer in exchange for her agreeing to the donation. After Lola survives the surgery, Kyle divorces Summer, then goes on to marry Lola. Yet, Summer remains a constant presence in Kyles life when they begin working together at Jabot. Problems begin arising in Kyles marriage to Lola, ending when he realizes he still loves Summer.

The perfect way to end the week? A #Skyle reunion, of course! #YR pic.twitter.com/HWiwOxeGm2  Young and Restless (@YandR_CBS) August 6, 2021

Summer and Kyle move in together and eventually become engaged. However, their wedding plans are disrupted when his ex-girlfriend Tara comes to town with their son Harrison. Tara and Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) hatch a scheme, which results in Summer dumping Kyle and moving to Italy.

As seen last week, Tara and Sallys plot was exposed, which paved the way for Summer and Kyles reunion. Kyle went to Italy to be with his lady love, and they informed their families of their intention to stay in the country. Although fans are upset to see Summer and Kyle go, theyre excited the couple got their happy ending.
When genetic testing revealed she carried the breast cancer gene, Avner underwent a double mastectomy with reconstruction, becoming, at 23, one of the youngest patients to undergo such surgery.

The crowd at a National Association of Women Business Owners luncheon giggled recently when Lindsay Avner told them that doctors "need to touch your breasts." The nervous laughter didn't faze the bubbly founder of Bright Pink, a nonprofit that promotes prevention and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer. "It does sound funny," she admits, "but it's something women don't usually realize. They've been going to doctors who aren't always doing a good job explaining what being breast self-aware actually means."



By the time Avner was in her early 20s, 10 family members had died of the disease. When genetic testing revealed she carried the breast cancer gene, the Columbus, Ohio, native underwent a double mastectomy with reconstruction, becoming, at 23, one of the youngest patients to undergo such surgery.



She first developed the Bright Pink website while working in brand management at Unilever in Chicago. In 2008, she began running the charity full time; it now has a $3 million annual budget and employs 15. Bright Pink regularly teams up with big companies and organizationsincluding eBay, Westfield, Churchill Downs and Chicago Bulls Charitiesto promote breast and ovarian health education. "They're committed to supporting people in underserved neighborhoods," Bulls Charities President Nancy Reinsdorf says. "She brings energy to the cause."

Bonus Points

Up next: By 2019, Bright Pink plans to be part of 240 residency programs to help train OB-GYNs on working with young female patients.

Motto: "Be bold and fail fast."

How I unwind: "I watch documentary movies. I always feel like I've learned a ton about a new random topic."

Shia Kapos
How do Matt Garrison, Marc Muinzer and Nate Laurell know when an investment strategy works? When they have to abandon it. "When I see certain sectors that gain a lot of attention, it's a cue to look elsewhere," Muinzer says. "It's a good gauge of what inning we're in."



So far, so good. With the dispassion of an accountant, the group has moved on from investments in student housing and loft offices to the energy market and real estate beyond the confines of Chicago.



Muinzer traded in the Chicago Board Options Exchange pits before cutting his teeth working at Sam Zell's Equity Residential, where he wagered $1.1 billion in West Coast apartment high-rises. Garrison went from sales to residential real estate, becoming Coldwell Banker Real Estate's worldwide leader with 761 condo units sold in pre-crash 2006. The two teamed up as student housing landlords, and when values soared in 2011, they sold all their propertieson the Purdue, Illinois and Kentucky university campusesin deals totaling more than $70 million for their new company, South Street Capital.



That same year, Garrison introduced his partner to Laurell, a former proprietary trader and math whiz he'd known since the 1990s. The meeting proved timely: The entrepreneurial developers already were floating ways to shift into energy as deregulation in Illinois and other states created opportunity for upstarts. The trio hit it offso well, in fact, that Laurell joined in plowing the windfall from their student housing sales into smaller office buildings under the radar of big investors. South Street now owns nearly 1 million square feet of loft offices from River North to the West Loop to the Clybourn Corridor as well as in Minneapolis. They're also planning two office campuses on Goose Island.



"They're stretching the (office market) boundaries farther out, which is a risk," says Jack Keenan, managing director of Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle, who represents tech tenants. "But I think it's a risk worth taking, because a lot of companies are looking for a new way to work."



As for their energy interests, the trio is looking to underprice utility behemoths through Energy.me, which supplies power in the eastern United States. Energy.me will sell $125 million in power this year, up almost 80 percent from $70 million last year, Garrison says. Maybe even more important: He says 2015 will be Energy.me's first year of profitability. "Whether it's real estate or energy, the goal is to find inefficiency," he says. Laurell, meanwhile, has launched a side venture, ampCNG, that fuels more than 400 delivery trucks per day with compressed natural gasmuch of it harvested from cow manure. His philosophy sums up that of his partners: "I'm interested in everything."

Bonus Points

Up next: South Street is looking at properties in Ireland, Pittsburgh and Nashville, Tenn.

Motto: "Stay hungry. Stay foolish."

How I unwind: "Walk my dogs."

Ryan Ori
You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment, Jesus told the crowd in the Sermon on the Mount. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.  You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery, he continued. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matt. 5:21-22, 27-28). He goes on to set a higher standard in other aspects of life, too, a standard where even private intentions matter to God.

The future of American evangelicalismparticularly white evangelicalism, a part often wrongly mistaken for the wholehas been subject to intense scrutiny for at least half a decade, and this years departures of Russell Moore (who has begun a public theology project here at CT) and Beth Moore (no relation to Russell) from the Southern Baptist Convention have revealed just how deep those divisions are.

As Ive browsed reporting on the Moores decisions and read analyses on whether the US evangelical movement is heading for a schisma complete and formal break in fellowshipJesus words about murder and adultery keep coming to mind: If intentions matter so much, have we split already?

Widened and embittered division in the movement is certainly impossible to deny. The specific issues are many, some comparatively new (critical race theory, former President Donald Trump), some all too familiar (racism and race relations beyond the one theory, roles of women, sexual ethics, Christian nationalism, church handling of abuse), all with a political edge.

Its not primarily about different policy agendas or rival partisan loyalties. On paper, a lot of that remains unchanged. The political division I see is more, as CT president Timothy Dalrymple wrote in April, about different informational worlds feeding different fears, hopes, habits of speech, and political priorities. And that political aspect is crucial, in two ways, to thinking through where we are now and where we may go next.

The first is this: If we were to diagram where American evangelicals coalesce around the issues Ive just listed, the collective result would look a lot like a new (and newly important) tribal division in US politics.

For a long time, there was a stereotype that cast Republicans as rich people who go to country clubs and work at big banks, and DemocratsHollywood and the media asideas poor and working-class. This was a decent shorthand once, but no longer.

Nationally, we arent polarized according to income as we once were; the diploma divide is now the more useful indicator, and its importance is growing. More educated people increasingly vote Democratic, while the less educated increasingly vote Republican. That disparity contributes to a defensive populism on the American right, including among educated Republicans, via the perception that elite institutions (where college degrees are a baseline for participation) are all controlled by political enemies.

Among white evangelicals, the education-politics correspondence isnt so strong. Being college-educated doesnt make you a Democrat or a progressive theologically or politically. But theres an echo of the diploma divide in the discord among evangelicals.

The populist faction in evangelicalism similarly accuses prominent figures and institutions (big eva, in the Twitter terminology) of neglecting or abandoning truth to curry secular, liberal favor. Such accusations played a role in both Moores departures from the SBC, though both remain dependably theologically conservative.

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In a widely shared Twitter thread in late May, historian of American religion and politics (and CT contributor) Paul Matzko compared this divide to older divisions in American Christianity in the 1830s and 1930s. Those were times, like ours, of intense political polarization, he told me in an email exchange, as well as intensive technological innovation, dramatic social change, and widespread fears that something vital was being lost in the shuffle.

Matzko believes our politicized breach is already in its middle stages and will prove irreparable. He anticipates the current divide will widen into a series of formal splits that cut through each of the major evangelical denominations and institutions, a forecast with which I struggle to disagree.

Yet Im less sure about his expectation that the populist faction retain control of the existing infrastructure. In many cases, I think that will prove truethe Southern Baptist Convention could become one such case, though the June gathering in Nashville seems to have delayed it.

Elsewhere, however, institutions may go to progressive evangelicals and still-churched post-evangelicals, to borrow a label from a June Mere Orthodoxyarticle proposing a six-way fracture of US evangelicalism. See, for example, Bethany Christian Services shift on LGBT adoption, or how disagreement over gay marriage within Mennonite Church USA has led to conservative departures while progressives stayed put.

The question of reparability brings me to the second way focusing on the political nature of this division is instructive: Our turmoil is significantly about political content consumption and how it competes with Scripture, pastor, and church community to claim our attention and disciple our minds.

Matzkos Twitter thread gestured in this direction: Evangelical clergy only get their congregants in the pews one to three times a week, he wrote, while their favored political media get them every day, all day. When theres a conflict between the two, polling suggests, political media win and the intra-evangelical divide expands.

Matzko highlighted political media sources like Newsmax, One America News, and outlets further right, which is the pulpits populist competition, but the same dynamic can and does emerge anywhere on the political spectrum.

The bad news, as he wrote to me, is its very difficult to break habits of heavy media consumption in a political echo chamber. The resultant influence gap between church and political content will prove a durable challenge to discipleship regardless of the issue arguments at hand.

But the good newsas Matzko and the Mere Orthodoxy authors, Michael Graham and Skyler Flowers, noted alikeis that as alarming, precarious, and dire as intra-church conflicts feel now, some past upheavals have ultimately borne good fruit. Something new can be built on a firmer foundation, new churches founded, new magazines started (or older magazines expanded), new denominations coalesce, new communities engaged and churched, and so on, Matzko wrote to me. You wouldnt have thought it possible in the 1930s, when the liberal-fundamentalist schism happened, but if it happened then, why couldnt it happen in, say, the 2030s?

And after all, Graham and Flowers conclude, the church is not held together by its own strength but by the unbreakable bond of the unity of the Spirit. With this confidence, the church can move forward into this sorting, whatever it may look like, with hope that the Lord is using it to strengthen and embolden his church for fruitful mission in this age.

I suspect that we have indeed already split in our hearts, and that it is impossible to go back to what we had before. Our schism is already here by the standard Jesus raises in the Sermon on the Mount, and we too often do not behave as we ought with the knowledge that, together, we are of Christ, and Christ is of God (1 Cor. 3:23). We may well be subject to judgment, not least for treating fellow Christians as our enemies. Yet even here, God can and will work for our good (Rom. 8:28).
The Spiral of Grace

Most of us want to deal with life the same way we climb a set of stairs. We want to face our problem, get through it, step up and move on. Then, we want to face our next problem, deal with it, step up and move on. Once we've dealt with a problem, we don't want to ever deal with it again. We want to be done with it and never have to talk about it again. Productivity experts tell us to deal with any piece of paper only once. Either throw it away, assign to a subordinate, or take action. We want to face our problems the same way. Deal with them and only deal with them once and then move on to the next challenge.

Life doesn't work that way. We find ourselves coming back to same issue again and again. This can be frustrating, frustrating enough to make us doubt the goodness of God. We've prayed and prayed about this, we'll tell God in our prayers, but still You will not answer. Our friends will remind us God has promised to never put more on us than we can bear. (By the way, hearing this doesn't help). We'll begin reading Paul's testimony about the thorn in his side for which Christ would provide no relief. We will come close to despair thinking we were past something only to find ourselves confronted by it again at a moment of surprising weakness.

There are some good reasons for this. First, the human body and mind are designed to survive. We can endure the most horrific events and gruesome moments and stay alive. We can do this because our bodies tell our minds we can't deal with this right now. So, the mind builds a dam and holds the grief on the other side of the dam. We can function on this side of the dam. We can plan the funeral and deal with all of the details of our lives. Then, when the body understands it's safe to do so, the mind will open up the dam and we'll crash. We'll do this over and over until we process our grief. This could take several weeks, several months or even a few years. The point is...it takes time.

Not only does it take time, it requires us to deal with an issue at different levels. My dad died in 2012. When he died, I had to take care of my mother and didn't have time to grieve my father. When my mom died in 2018, I found myself grieving both of my parents. Some days, I missed my dad. Other days I missed my mom and on my worst days, I missed both of them. I don't care how old you are when you lose your second parent, you become an orphan.

Because we can't deal with the overwhelming grief, we deal with it a little bit at a time. That's one part of it, but I noticed something else. We keep coming back to the same issue again and again but at a deeper level. We deal with our grief as well as we can, but eventually, we'll have to begin to think through what it means. What does this experience mean in the course of my life? How do I understand its significance to my future? How has it shaped who I am?

Yes, we keep coming back to the same issue again and again, but we come back at different levels each time we come back. Say we need to forgive someone and we do forgive them. We forgive them for as much as we can in the moment, but we don't forgive everything. For one thing, we don't understand how being wronged has affected us. That will take some time. That's why the Spirit will keep circling us back again and again at ever deeper levels through the same issue.

Although it took me quite a while to fully understand it, I finally did. Our progress in life is like walking up a set of stairs, but it's a spiral stair case. Yes, we are making progress, but it feels like we're walking in circles. We keep coming back to the same point again and again, but always at a different level. We'll come back again and again, each time with a different perspective to try and understand what's going on in our lives.

We're making progress. It just doesn't feel that way. Only in time can we look back and realize how far we've come.

So, the next time you come back to an issue you thought you had dealt with and start to get frustrated, relax. Christ is just taking you to a different level of understanding, acceptance, forgiveness, and grace. We're not walking in circles. It's a spiral. We'll get through it -- completely through it just as Christ promised.

We just won't get through as fast as we would like. Keep walking.
Is China's financial crisis a judgement from God?

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In the modern media era, we tend not to pay much attention to international affairs, and when we do, its generally in search of ammunition to use in domestic political battles. So you might be surprised to hear that China is going through something of a minor financial crisis following a series of sudden and perplexing state interventions in the economy. You would probably not be surprised to hear that the Chinese government is one of the worlds foremost persecutors of the Church.

I dont believe thats a coincidence. Back in 2019, we researched the relationship between Christian oppression and political instability. Writing at AsiaTimes, we presented data showing that governments which persecute the Church are disproportionately likely to suffer revolutions, civil wars, and coups. We left the question of cause  whether these regimes collapse because of Gods judgment or simply because of material causes within their political systems  open.

But the pattern is real, and reasserting itself under a slightly different guise in China  a country historically hostile to Christian values, headed by a regime willing to sacrifice its economic well-being in service of an ever-tighter grip on its citizens. China is, of course, not undergoing a civil war, coup, or revolution - but they are persecutors of the Church, and they are massively underperforming their neighbors.

Per the chart below, the domestic stock indices of the major East Asian economies have recently diverged substantially, with the Japanese, Singaporean, Taiwanese, and South Korean benchmark stock indices performing multiple times better than those of China and the formerly autonomous Hong Kong.

South Korea: yellow

Taiwan: light purple

Singapore: dark purple

Japan: orange

Hong Kong: teal

China: blue



The sell-off isnt limited to stocks; the yuan and Hong Kong dollar also fell, along with their bonds. As the dump of Chinese assets accelerated in recent weeks, both currencies slipped to 3-month lows, indicating a pessimistic attitude among investors about the Chinese economy in general.



Why the disparity between China and its neighbors? Per the Financial Times, the stock, currency, and bond sell off was triggered by

a regulatory assault on companies that handle large amounts of data and education businesses, as well as an overhaul of how Chinese groups list on stock markets outside the country. Financial Times

In fact, the past year has seen a host of wealth-destroying policies come out of Beijing, whereas the likes of South Korea and Taiwan have seen strong stock performance.

The Chinese government recently ban[ned] companies that teach school curriculum subjects from making profits, raising capital or listing on stock exchanges worldwide, and will prevent them from accepting foreign investment. China is attempting to make childhood education more affordable, hoping to boost their low birthrates and reverse their demographic decline.

Again, the FT:

The changes are part of the Chinese Communist partys drive to make raising children and education more affordable and combat a looming population decline that threatens the countrys economic future. Financial Times

Note that the problem the government is trying to solve is one they themselves created. China's aging population is itself a consequence of decades of inhuman, catastrophic anti-family edicts. They are still paying for the sin of the one-child policy.

Earlier in July, regulatory authorities announced new restrictions on the ability of China-based companies to list shares overseas. Almost immediately after it was listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Chinese regulators arbitrarily ordered the ride-sharing app Didi Chuxing to stop signing up new users.

Naturally, July was the worst month for Chinese tech stocks since the global financial crisis, and over the last year, massive companies such as Alibaba and Tencent have lost hundreds of billions of dollars in value. The market sell-off has not been limited to tech stocks, prompting JPMorgan to say Its unclear what level of restructuring the companies should undergo with a new regime and, in our view, this makes these stocks virtually uninvestable.

So Chinese stocks, Chinese bonds, and the Chinese yuan have all cascaded recently. Beijing is driving away foreign investment and tanking some of its fastest growing industries by arbitrarily undermining property rights in order to maintain state power and reverse the demographic collapse they themselves caused. Hong Kongs performance is tracking alongside the Chinese mainland because China has systematically undermined their political and economic independence.

Given the countless sins of the Chinese government (particularly their persecution of the Church) is it reasonable for Christians to regard this recent economic turmoil as Gods judgement on the Chinese government? Maybe. The modernist can balk, sneer, and deride, but God does judge nations: Canaan, Egypt, Babylon, Israel, Rome, etc. The Hand of Providence is always present, though it may be hidden.

But Gods judgment does not necessarily imply a direct act of divine intervention. The problems facing China may be more analogous to a system than any particular action. Within a properly designed system, good outcomes tend to follow good decisions, and poor outcomes tend to follow poor decisions. The Chinese government has certainly made more than its share of poor decisions, and theyre showing no signs of stopping. But assuming Beijing doesnt want more economic and political trouble, they ought to study their own history.

When China has followed the example of Herod Agrippa, Nero, and Diocletian (to name a few monstrous persecutors of the Church) the result has been disaster. When they violently repressed Christians (or, more accurately, pseudo-Christians) in the mid-19th century, they were rewarded with the Taiping Rebellion, one of the bloodiest wars in human history.

When elements of the Chinese imperial government supported the Boxer Rebellion in 1899, which was intended to stop Christian missionaries and reduce Western influence, they suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of European powers and were forced to pay the equivalent of tens of billions in reparations.

When they followed the pagan example of infant sacrifice in imposing the one-child policy, they created a demographic crisis which has now prompted them to legally forbid a large sector of their economy from making money. Not only is China an aging country with a relatively decreasing working population, but given that the widespread abortions and infanticides of the one-child policy era tended to be directed against girls, over 51% of the Chinse population is male. The disparity is even higher among the youth. Does having 35 million (disproportionately young) men with no prospect of marriage wandering around sound like a recipe for political stability?

On the other side of the equation, when China has followed the example of Christian civilization, they saw one of the greatest economic transformations in human history. Deng Xiaoping, Chinas leader from 1978 to 1989, integrated free market policies derived from the Austrian School of economics and moved his country, however tentatively, towards principles of Christendom: the rule of law, limits on government, property rights, freedom of commerce, and freedom of international trade. When he did so, China had unprecedented economic growth.

Those ideas, so essential to any countrys success that they have become unquestioned political presuppositions, had actual origins within time and space. You can find them in the tradition of the Spanish Catholic Salamanca School, and among the Dutch Calvinists, who were deeply engrossed in Scripture and saw their political and legal philosophy as the practical application of ancient Christian principles. Murray Rothbard, one of the foundational figures of Austrian economics, explicitly understood his own tradition to be derivate of the traditions of the Salamancan theologians.

The East Asian countries which we are unfavorably comparing China to - Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore - have all to varying degree integrated those same principles in their political and economic systems. Singapore is now ranked as the freest economy in the world. The government of Taiwan (the sixth freest economy) is nothing more than the continuation of the republican faction that fought against Mao Zedong. In South Korea, Christians are the largest religious group, and their culture has long been heavily influenced by Christendom  prior to the Second World War and subsequent communist takeover, Pyongyang was once called the Jerusalem of the East because of its heavy missionary activity. And the United States essentially created the modern Japanese nation-state.

Though China has ever-so-slightly applied some of these same principles, they are not quite there. They are lukewarm  neither hot nor cold. Given Chinas vastly different intellectual heritage, should we really be so surprised when they instigate financial shocks while their neighbors keep on their merry way?

Granted, the trend weve seen in East Asian market performance is obviously not universal: there have been, and in all likelihood will be again, times when Chinese markets outperform other East Asian markets. We cannot predict future performance based on past performance; markets fluctuate, vary, and go through cycles. But those fluctuations have causes. However complex and counter-intuitive market performance may be, its causes are not random.

There are reasons that Chinas currency, bonds, and stocks have been underperforming over recent weeks and months. One of these reasons is that the Chinese government does not adequately respect the property rights and freedom of commerce of its citizens. And one of the reasons the Chinese government does not adequately respect the rights of its people is that they have a long history of persecuting the Church and rejecting Christian political and economic traditions.

South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Singapore are not persecutors of the Church. And while they do not have majority-Christian populations, they have politically integrated Christian legal traditions, which means they are not so eager to impose ad hoc, arbitrary, anti-growth policies. Today, their markets are flourishing. Chinas is flailing.

Lest the point be overstated: no, I am not saying that China is in the midst of an economic collapse. Im not saying that a regime change or revolution is imminent. Im not even saying that China is a bad investment; though they are underperforming, the benchmark Chinese stock index has still risen in value over the past year. What I am saying is that their financial problems are directly related to their anti-Christian philosophy. The Chinese government is playing a dangerous game.

They have a long and bloody history of persecuting Christianity, and those who mistreat the Church do not often meet happy ends. Whether God is directly punishing China or not remains, to me, an open question. But were I to speak with President Xi, I would tell him his house is built on sand and remind him that you shall not test the Lord your God.
Judge blocks several Indiana abortion laws; parental notification, ultrasound requirement upheld

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A federal judge has struck down several pro-life laws in Indiana, dealing a blow to the momentum experienced by pro-life activists in the state following a previous court decision.

Judge Sarah Evans Barker, a senior judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, originally appointed to the bench by President Ronald Reagan, issued a lengthy ruling Tuesday weighing in on the constitutionality of several pro-life laws enacted in the state in recent years. Barkers ruling follows a lawsuit filed by Whole Womans Health Alliance, All-Options, Inc., and Dr. Jeffrey Glazer seeking to challenge Indianas statutory and regulatory restrictions on abortions.

Barkers ruling struck down several Indiana laws, including a requirement that abortionists schedule in-person visits with their patients before dispensing abortion pills, thus prohibiting clinics from dispensing the drugs to women via telemedicine appointments. It also struck down laws requiring that second-trimester abortions be performed in hospitals or surgical centers, and that abortion clinics meet basic health and safety standards.

In addition, Barker ruled that mandatory disclosure requirements included in a perinatal hospice brochure informing women seeking abortions about a baby's ability to feel pain, the fact that life begins at conception and the mental health risks associated with abortion were unconstitutional.

She contended that this information violated the truthful and non-misleading standard laid out in the 1992 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, that upheld the right to obtain an abortion as determined by Roe v. Wade.

Under the aforementioned standard, Barker explained, the state may enact measures aimed at ensuring that the womans choice [to have an abortion] is philosophically and socially informed and communicate its preference (if it has one) that the woman carry her pregnancy to term. However, the measures must include information that is truthful and not misleading.

Barker cited testimony from Dr. Daniel Grossman, described by National Review as a prominent abortionist and abortion advocate, who argued that the brochures assertion that human physical life begins when a human ovum is fertilized by a human sperm did not live up to that standard because there is no recognized medical definition for human physical life, nor is there any scientific, medical consensus as to the moment in time or human biology when life begins.

While Barker did uphold some of Indianas abortion laws, pro-life groups and politicians characterized her ruling as a major disappointment.

Indiana Right to Life CEO Mike Fichter slammed Barkers ruling as horrific, warning in a statement that it will lead to a massive expansion of chemical and late-term abortions in Indiana.

The sweeping blockage of these common sense laws jeopardizes the health and safety of women, [and] leaves women in the dark on issues of fetal pain and the development of human life, he added. This is judicial activism at its worst.

Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Ind., also released a statement in response to Barkers ruling, and expressed disappointment that the U.S. District Court struck down several common sense, pro-life provisions in Indiana state law that were designed to protect women and children.

Walorski added, The U.S. Constitution clearly safeguards life, and its my hope that this decision will be appealed.

The laws Barker upheld include: Requiring that abortion facilities show the ultrasound image to mothers before deciding whether to go through with an abortion; that minors seeking an abortion obtain permission from a parent or guardian; that abortion doctors have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital; abortion facilities collect detailed information about their patients and enter it into a database and undergo annual inspections by the state, as well as a law requiring that only licensed doctors perform first-trimester abortions.

Barkers ruling comes less than two weeks after the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an Indiana law requiring abortion facilities to report to the state any complications that arise from abortions performed at their clinics. Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky had challenged the law as being unconstitutionally vague.

As Indianas Attorney General Todd Rokita indicated in a statement, the Seventh Circuit also upheld the in-person counseling law that Barker struck down as part of her ruling. Rokita hinted that his office intends to appeal Barkers ruling to the Seventh Circuit, vowing to continue to fight to defend Indianas common sense laws and to build a culture of life in Indiana.
Supreme Court refuses to grant students request to block Indiana University vaccine mandate

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The U.S. Supreme Court has denied an appeal request from a group of Indiana University students seeking exemption from the institution's COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett denied an application for injunctive relief without comment on Thursday in the case of Ryan Klaassen, et al., Applicants v. Trustees of Indiana University.

According to SCOTUSblog, the denial was an indication that Barret and the other justices did not regard it as a particularly close case.

Barrett, who is responsible for emergency appeals from Indiana, denied the students request without comment, without seeking a response from the state, and without referring the request to the full court for a vote, SCOTUSblog added.

In May, Indiana University announced that all faculty, students and staff would be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and only allowed exemptions for medical or religious reasons.

Those who were exempted for medical or religious reasons would be required to be tested regularly for COVID-19 and wear facemasks when in public spaces on campus.

In response, eight students filed a lawsuit against the university, arguing that the vaccine mandate violated the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment.

Judge Damon Leichty of the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Indiana ruled against the students in July, concluding that their arguments were not likely to succeed on their merits.

[T]he students here havent established a likelihood of success on the merits of their Fourteenth Amendment due process claim, or that the balance of harms or the publics interest favors the extraordinary remedy of a preliminary injunction, before a trial on the merits, wrote Leichty.

Earlier this month, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit upheld the lower court ruling, denying the students an injunction.

Seventh Circuit Judge Frank Easterbrook authored the unanimous panel opinion, deciding that a university may decide what is necessary to keep other students safe in a congregate setting.

Indiana University has exceptions for persons who declare vaccination incompatible with their religious beliefs and persons for whom vaccination is medically contraindicated, wrote Easterbrook. The problems that may arise when a state refuses to make accommodations therefore are not present in this case.

Easterbrook also pointed out that six of the eight students have made a claim for a religious exemption while a seventh is eligible for it, adding that plaintiffs just need to wear masks and be tested, requirements that are not constitutionally problematic.

As students are returning to school for the fall, many educational institutions are considering or even implementing mandatory vaccinations for students and staff.

This has prompted some students to protest that such mandates either violate their rights or do not include sufficient exemptions for medical or religious reasons.

In July, an incoming student of Brigham Young University-Hawaii named Olivia Sandor garnered national headlines when she was denied a medical exemption to being vaccinated.

Sandor, who was diagnosed with the autoimmune disorder Guillain-Barre syndrome in February 2019 that was likely caused by a different vaccine, was denied admission to BYU as a result.

Having Guillain Barre means I am not able to be vaccinated. It could end in permanent paralysis, and possibly death if it spread up my body. This is not a choice for me, she posted to social media.

Do I understand why they denied me? No. Do I think its OK that they did that? No. Do I think its humane? No, but I do know that the Lord has something better in store for me.
Texas CPS declares trans surgeries for minors 'child abuse' after governor's request

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After a request from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, the states Department of Family and Protective Services has declared that performing sex reassignment surgeries on minors with gender dysphoria constitutes child abuse.

In a letter published Wednesday, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner Jaime Masters asserted that genital mutilation of a child through reassignment surgery is child abuse, subject to all rules and procedures pertaining to child abuse.

According to Masters, Such mutilation may cause a genuine threat of substantial harm from physical injury to the child.

Masters agreed with Abbotts earlier assessment that this surgical procedure physically alters a childs genitalia for non-medical purposes potentially inflicting irreversible harm to childrens bodies.

The state official clarified that when medically necessary, this surgical procedure may not constitute abuse.

It may be warranted for the following conditions including, but not limited to, a child whose body parts have been affected by illness or trauma; who is born with a medically verifiable genetic disorder of sex development, such as the presence of both ovarian and testicular tissue; or who does not have the normal sex chromosome structure for male or female as determined through genetic testing, she added.

Masters outlined the legal requirements for professionals such as teachers, nurses, day-care employees, doctors and other state employees that work with children who have cause to believe that a child has experienced any form of abuse, including genital mutilation.

Specifically, they must report that belief to DFPS within 48 hours of first suspecting the abuse. Failure to do so could result in a prison sentence of up to one year or a fine of up to $4,000.

Masters vowed that allegations involving genital mutilation of a child through reassignment surgery will be promptly and thoroughly investigated and any appropriate actions will be taken.

Earlier this week, the governor wrote to Masters requesting that her agency issue a determination of whether genital mutilation of a child for purposes of gender transitioning through reassignment surgery constitutes child abuse.

Abbott announced in a tweet Wednesday that the determination and subsequent enforcement of Commissioner Masters conclusions are effective immediately.

Masters determination follows an unsuccessful attempt by the Republican-controlled Texas legislature to pass a bill banning chemical and surgical sex change procedures for minors with gender dysphoria. While the Texas Senate approved the bill, it stalled in the states House of Representatives.

"Genital mutilation of a child through reassignment surgery is child abuse..." - Commissioner Jaime Masters, @TexasDFPS



The determination and subsequent enforcement of Commissioner Masters' conclusions are effective immediately.https://t.co/EVLp44zi41pic.twitter.com/HSTc9T9hQA  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 11, 2021

Supporters of the effort to ban the genital mutilation of minors allege that pressure from corporate America caused Republicans in the Texas House of Representatives to derail the measure. Before the Senate approved the bill, nearly four dozen companies that do business in Texas expressed opposition to the effort to criminalize or ban best-practice medical care that is proven to save lives.

The Republican-controlled Arkansas legislature passed a similar bill over the objections of the states Republican governor, but it was later struck down by a federal judge.

Texas embrace of the idea that transgender surgeries for minors are a form of child abuse could put it on a collision course with the Biden administration.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a statement of interest in a lawsuit against the Arkansas law, indicating that it views efforts to restrict minors access to puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones as unconstitutional.

Federal law bars the State of Arkansas from singling out transgender minors for specifically and discriminatorily denying their access to medically necessary care based solely on their sex assigned at birth, the department argued. Such action would violate the Equal Protection Clause.

Critics of such legislative efforts claim that children are not undergoing sex reassignment surgeries as the Endocrine Society recommends not having surgeries until they at least hit the age of 18. Puberty-blocking drugs are not prescribed until minors start puberty. Critics contend that the recommendation for young children with gender dysphoria is to begin social transitioning.

Members of the executive branch have explicitly expressed support for allowing minors to undergo gender transitions. When questioning Dr. Rachel Levine, who now serves as assistant secretary in the Department of Health and Human Services, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., noted that the trans-identified cabinet official had supported allowing minors to be given hormone blockers to prevent them from going through puberty as well as surgical destruction of a minors genitalia.

Paul discussed the situation of Keira Bell, a 23-year old British woman who was confused with her identity and was prescribed puberty blockers in addition to having her breasts amputated.

The senator explained that Bell later regretted making such drastic changes to her body, which she retrospectively characterized as a brash decision she made as a teenager. During the confirmation hearing, Levine refused to directly answer Pauls question about whether minors have the capacity to make such life-changing decisions.

According to the American College of Pediatricians, additional side effects of puberty blockers include osteoporosis, mood disorders, seizures, cognitive impairment and, when combined with cross-sex hormones, sterility. Others who regretted undergoing gender transitions testified on a recent episode of the CBS newsmagazine program 60 Minutes that the operations they underwent made their mental health worse, not better.
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Iran is the eighth-worst persecutor of Christians in the world. The radical mullahs that control the country have long been abusers of religious minorities, and display particular hostility for converts from Islam to Christianity.

And, now, following the election of a new president, Ebrahim Raisi  who has a notoriously bloodstained past as an executioner of thousands of his countrymen  Christians are facing even stricter laws and crackdowns.

And more and more frequently, Christians are sentenced for activity against national security.

The Jerusalem Post recently reported that three Christian men are being charged under a new amendment to the Iranian Penal Code known as Article 500-bis, which deals with sectarian activities.'"

The amendment states that any deviant education or propaganda that contradicts or interferes with the sacred Islamic sharia, will be severely punished.

Those who follow the plight of Irans Christians have, in recent days, called on the Iranian government to release one particular prisoner who suffers from ill-health and is serving an extremely harsh 10-year sentence for acting against national security. Nasser Navard, who just days ago passed his 60th birthday behind bars, has been imprisoned since January 2018 for his faith in Jesus Christ and his participation in a house church.

Navard asks, Is the fellowship of a few Christian brothers and sisters in someones home, singing worship songs, reading the Bible and worshipping God acting against national security?

According to Article 18, a London-based non-profit organization that seeks to protect and promote religious freedom in Iran: Nasser has appealed for a retrial on three occasions, but each time his request has been denied. He also recently applied for parole, having served over one-third of his sentence. Again, his request was denied.

How has Nasser Navard responded to these injustices and disappointments? Another courageous and outspoken Iranian Christian, Mary Mohammadi, recently recorded a message from Navard, which she forwarded to FRC. Here he speaks of his faith and his forgiveness of his captors. At this link, youll hear his voice and read, in English, his message of courageous faith and amazing forgiveness.

Thanks to Mohammadis perseverance and Navards testimony, we are able to remember this godly man in prison, as if imprisoned with him (Heb. 13: 3). May Navards illnesses be healed, and his appeals for freedom heard. Lets join our voices with his in prayer.

Originally published at the Family Research Council.
Former Pfizer VP urges pregnant, childbearing age women not to get COVID vaccine; CDC disagrees

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A former Pfizer executive recently advised that women of childbearing age and those who are already pregnant should consider opting out of taking the COVID-19 vaccine, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this week that the vaccines are safe and don't show an increased risk of miscarriage.

On Wednesday, the CDC advised pregnant women to get the COVID-19 vaccine, stating that it found no increased risk of miscarriages among those who've been vaccinated.

While the CDC's guidelines have advised that pregnant women get the vaccine to help protect against the possible risk for severe illness or adverse pregnancy outcomes, stating it was unlikely to pose a risk for people who are pregnant, it previously added that there was "limited data on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant people.

It adds that because the vaccines haven't been studied on mothers who are breastfeeding, "there are limited data available on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in people who are breastfeeding, effects of vaccination on the breastfed baby," and "effects on milk production or excretion.

The CDC's updated guidelines added: "Recent reports have shown that breastfeeding people who have received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have antibodies in their breastmilk, which could help protect their babies. More data are needed to determine what protection these antibodies may provide to the baby."

Last Wednesday, Michael Yeadon, who served as vice president and chief scientist for allergy and respiratory at Pfizer until 2011, raised some concerns about the COVID-19 vaccines use on pregnant and childbearing age women during Life Site News Stop the Shot conference, where he was one of the speakers.

We never, ever give experimental medicines to pregnant women," said Yeadon, Ph.D., in a presentation.

Yeadon, who holds degrees in biochemistry, toxicology, and a Ph.D. in respiratory pharmacology, launched his own biotech company after working in the pharmaceutical industry for 32 years. Since the novel coronavirus outbreak, he's attracted some media attention and criticism for questioning the safety of COVID-19 vaccines.

He argued that pregnant women who've been told that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe for them and their preborn babies have been "lied to."

Thats bad enough because what that tells me is that theres recklessness. No one cares. The authorities do not care what happens, Yeadon asserted.

You never, ever give inadequately tested medicines, medicinal products, to a pregnant woman, he continued. And that is exactly what is happening. Our government is urging pregnant women, and women of childbearing age, to get vaccinated. And theyre telling them theyre safe. And thats a lie because those studies have simply not been done.

Since data show that only some 22% of pregnant women have received one or more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine are among the organizations that have also urged women to get vaccinated.

"Data have shown that COVID-19 infection puts pregnant people at increased risk of severe complications and even death," the organizations asserted in a joint statement.

COVID-19 vaccination is the best method to reduce maternal and fetal complications of COVID-19 infection among pregnant people, added Dr. William Grobman, president of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

Dr. J. Martin Tucker, president of ACOG, added the group encourages its members to enthusiastically recommend vaccination to their patients."

Yeadon, however, also contended during his presentation that the COVID-19 vaccines haven't undergone adequate toxicology testing to assess their effects on the reproductive system.

As an example of why he's raising questions about the safety of the vaccines for pregnant and childbearing age women, he noted the thousands of birth malformations resulted from pregnant women taking thalidomide to treat morning sickness 60 years ago. At the time, he said, studies did not assess that thalidomide was toxic for babies in the womb.

So here we are. Theres been potentially hundreds of millions of women of child-bearing potential [injected] with products which are untested in terms of impacts on fertilization and development of the baby, he continued.

Yeadon added that one study out of Japan found high concentrations of the spike protein in the ovaries, organs and tissue when tested on rats.

What we find is the vaccine [in rats] doesnt just distribute around the body and then wash out again, which is what youd hope, he said. It concentrates in ovaries of rats, and it concentrates at least 20-fold over the concentration in other background tissues like muscles.

You dont want this product in your ovaries. Its simply not necessary to induce immunity to have a vaccine in your ovaries. And, as its concentrating in the ovaries, getting higher concentrations over time, they have not even defined what the maximum levels are or when that occurs, he added.

And I will tell you, a general rule of thumb in toxicology is, if you dont have any data to contradict what youve learned, thats the assumption you make for humans. So my assumption at the moment is that is what is happening to every female whos been given these vaccines. These vaccines are concentrating in her ovaries, he said.

Yeadon concluded his presentation by directing a message to women of childbearing age and younger: I would strongly recommend you do not accept these vaccines.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, however, stressed the urgency for women to get vaccinated, assuring them that the vaccines are safe.

In a statement released Wednesday, Walensky said: CDC encourages all pregnant people or people who are thinking about becoming pregnant and those breastfeeding to get vaccinated to protect themselves from COVID-19. The vaccines are safe and effective, and it has never been more urgent to increase vaccinations as we face the highly transmissible Delta variant and see severe outcomes from COVID-19 among unvaccinated pregnant people.

Though the CDC's advice pertains to all COVID-19 vaccines, an official told The Washington Post that "the one-shot Johnson & Johnson version has not been studied as much as the versions produced by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna."
Pastors son shot dead by Nigerias civilian joint task force for attempting to stop church demolition

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Christians in Nigerias Borno State are protesting the killing of a pastors son as he was trying to stop his churchs demolition by a government agency.

The victim, identified as Ezekiel Bitrus Tumba, was shot and killed last week allegedly by security men from the civilian joint task force, or CJTF, a local group formed in 2013 to support the Nigerian security forces in the fight against the Boko Haram terrorist group in northeast Nigeria, according to the local online newspaper Vanguard.

The 29-year-old man was killed last Thursday when he, along with other youth, attempted to stop the demolition of the Church of Brethren in Nigeria, or EYN, in the Hausa area in Borno States capital city of Maiduguri by a government agency called the Borno Geographic Information Service, or BOGIS, which maintains land.

Officials of Borno Geographic Information System, led by its executive secretary, Engr Adams Bababa, brought CJTF to the church not only for demolition but also ended up killing our brother and son, said Bishop Williams Naga, the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, in a statement, according to the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern.

The entire Christian community has been thrown into mourning mood as a brother, who was a breadwinner of his family, was sent to his early grave, Naga added.

On Sunday, congregants gathered around the ruins of the church to hold their weekly service.

They demolished the building, thinking it is the Church. (But) the Church is forever unstoppable and indestructible, Hausa Christians Foundation wrote on Facebook.

Authorities have demolished four other churches in the area, alleging a failure to formalize land titles and property tax, ICC said, adding that state governments in northern Nigeria prohibit the construction of church buildings and often tear down existing structures without warning.

The other demolished churches include Jubilee Sanctuary Church, Total Gospel Mission International, Sanctuary Church and Christ Forever Land, according to CAN.

If you want to build a church, they will not give you a permit, because the government will (fire) anyone who proposes/signs a document to build a church, a church leader in northern Nigeria was quoted as saying.

Christians in Nigeria face severe persecution also on the hands of Islamic non-state actors, including Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen.

The Anambra-based International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law estimated in May that as many as 1,470 Christians were killed in Nigeria during the first four months of 2021, the highest estimate in the first four months of any year since 2014. The number also surpasses the estimated number of Christians killed in 2019. The report estimated that as many as 300 people had been killed in Kaduna in the first four months of 2021.

In the first four months of this year, the organization estimates that at least 2,200 Christians were abducted. Kaduna state recorded the highest number of abductions at 800.

The Global Terrorism Index ranked Nigeria as the third-most affected country by terrorism and reported over 22,000 deaths by acts of terror from 2001 to 2019.
Andrew Cuomo resigns as governor of New York amid sexual harassment claims

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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced his resignation following credible allegations of sexual harassment and questions over his placing COVID-19 positive individuals in nursing homes.

At a televised address that was held on Tuesday, Cuomo maintained his innocence regarding the allegations, yet also said he was going to step down as governor to avoid further partisan turmoil.

The best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to governing, said Cuomo.

The three-term Democratic governor, who was facing a possible impeachment over his multiple scandals, noted that his resignation would be effective in two weeks.

Cuomos decision to resign came one week after the release of a report from an independent investigation that found that Cuomo had sexually harassed multiple women.

We, the investigators appointed to conduct an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, conclude that the Governor engaged in conduct constituting sexual harassment under federal and New York State law, stated the Executive Summary of the report.

Specifically, we find that the Governor sexually harassed a number of current and former New York State employees by, among other things, engaging in unwelcome and nonconsensual touching, as well as making numerous offensive comments of a suggestive and sexual nature that created a hostile work environment for women.

In response to the findings of the report, New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement that she found the revelations of abuse to be a sad day for the Empire State.

I am grateful to all the women who came forward to tell their stories in painstaking detail, enabling investigators to get to the truth, stated James. No man  no matter how powerful  can be allowed to harass women or violate our human rights laws, period.

Many prominent Democrats and Republicans had called for Cuomo to resign, including President Joe Biden, who stated his belief that Cuomo should step aside at a press conference last week.

Additionally, Cuomo had come under criticism for how his administration handled the coronavirus pandemic, especially the decision to place COVID-19 positive people within nursing homes, possibly resulting in thousands of deaths.

In February, the New York Post had reported that Cuomos top aide Melissa DeRosa had admitted during a video conference call with state Democratic leaders that the administration had hidden the negative impact of the nursing home situation.

We were in a position where we werent sure if what we were going to give to the Department of Justice, or what we give to you guys, and what we start saying, was going to be used against us and we werent sure if there was going to be an investigation, said DeRosa.

Had Cuomo not decided to resign, he was likely going to face impeachment proceedings, which had been championed by state Republican lawmakers going as far back as March.

New York State Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay explained at a press conference held earlier this year that the time has come to hold Cuomo accountable.

In order to lead this great state as governor, you need to have credibility and trust, stated Barclay. Unfortunately, we feel the governor has lost that and now has an inability to lead.
Texas Gov. Abbott asks state CPS to determine if trans surgeries for minors are 'child abuse'

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The governor of Texas is asking the states family services department to compile a report analyzing whether subjecting children with gender dysphoria to sex reassignment surgeries constitutes child abuse.

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott wrote a letter to Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner Jaime Masters Friday, asking the state official to issue a determination of whether genital mutilation of a child for purposes of gender transitioning through reassignment surgery constitutes child abuse.

He noted that the department is responsible for protecting children from abuse.

Subjecting a child to genital mutilation through reassignment surgery creates a genuine threat of substantial harm from physical injury to the child, the governor wrote. This broad definition of abuse should cover a surgical procedure that will sterilize the child, such as orchiectomy or hysterectomy, or remove otherwise healthy body parts, such as penectomy or mastectomy."

"Indeed, Texas already outlaws female genital mutilation of a child, and presumably that also constitutes child abuse," he added.

He urged the department to consider whether an exception should be made for medically necessary procedures," such as when a child is born with "medically verifiable genetic disorder of sex development" or when a child "does not have the normal sex chromosome structure for male or female as determined through genetic testing."

Abbotts letter comes after the Texas Senate passed a bill that would amend the definition of abuse of a child to include administering or supplying, or consenting to assisting in the administering or supplying of, a puberty suppression prescription drug or cross-sex hormone to a child, other than an intersex child, for the purpose of gender transitioning or gender reassignment.

Supporters of the legislation alleged that the Republican leadership in the states House of Representatives used delay tactics to kill the bill because of pressure from corporate America.

As previously reported, nearly four dozen major companies that do business in Texas wrote a letter in opposition to the measure before the state Senate voted to approve the bill. Signatories to the letter included Amazon, American Airlines, Apple, Dell Technologies, Dow, Facebook, IBM, Levi Strauss & Co, Microsoft, PayPal and United Airlines.

Abbott had hinted at the possibility of using his executive authority to classify gender transitioning as a form of child abuse during a radio interview last month.

Speaking to radio host Mark Davis on July 19, Abbott said that I have another way of achieving the exact same thing, and its about a finished product as we speak right now.

Davis had pressed Abbott as to why the bill that would make it illegal to carve up our kids or pump them full of hormones in order to change their sex when they are still minors was not included on the agenda for a special legislative session the governor called to pass an election integrity bill. Abbott maintained that the chances of that passing during the session in the House of Representatives was nil.

When asked if his executive action will ensure that crazy parents and crazy doctors will not be able to try to turn girls into boys and vice versa in the state of Texas, Abbott answered in the affirmative. Another state, Arkansas, already passed a law banning the medicalized transitioning of minors over the objections of the states Republican governor. The law has been struck down by a federal judge as unconstitutional and litigation continues.

Earlier this year, the CBS program 60 Minutes profiled individuals who once identified as transgender and had surgery to make their physical characteristics correspond with their chosen gender identity only to regret their decision later in life. All agreed that they did not receive adequate pushback from the medical community when they pursued such surgeries as either children or young adults.

According to the conservative American College of Pediatrics, the vast majority of children with gender incongruence will outgrow it by young adulthood.

The organization listed some of the side effects of taking puberty-blocking drugs, including osteoporosis, mood disorders, seizures, cognitive impairment and, when combined with cross-sex hormones, sterility. Additionally, cross-sex hormones can put youth at an increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, blood clots, and cancers across their lifespan.


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Dear Chuck,



Ive recently wondered if its possible to be too generous. My wife thinks we need to be more generous with our own families as part of what we give to the church and parachurches.

Giving Too Much?





Dear Giving Too Much,

This is a delicate subject, and I commend you for reaching the point where the question needed to be asked. The vast majority of people need to be encouraged to be more generous and seldom reach the issue that you have raised.

Like many issues in Scripture, there is a balance. We are commanded to give generously but not at the expense of caring for our familys needs.

Are we the rich young ruler?

Jesus clearly commanded the rich young rulerto sell all of his possessions, give the money to the poor, and then come and follow Him. But, the Apostle Paul later wrote that the sincere follower of Christ should decide in his/her heart what to give and to do so cheerfully.

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).

It is my position that unless you are similar to the rich young ruler whose identity and security was in his wealth, you should not sell all of your possessions and give them to the poor. Rather, you should follow Paul's advice to give in proportion to what you have received and to do so liberally and cheerfully.

It is necessary for individuals to seek wisdom and for couples to act wisely and be united in their giving decisions.

Taking care of our families

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever (1 Timothy 5:8 ESV).

Our children observe and learn from our behavior. When we set the example for giving, we demonstrate the Lords generosity to us. Strive to consistently live to give. A friend told my wife years ago that it is always better to err on the end of generosity than to withhold good in all ways, even within our families.

We recently had a used van that reached 200,000 miles; yet, it still had a good market value since it was in top condition. We sold it to our son and his wife after their first child was born because they needed one. He actually preferred to buy it versus having it given to them without a price. So, the sales price was $500. We also signed an affidavit that this was a gift and therefore not subject to market value sales tax.

We should make no excuses for not helping family members unless they do not know how to handle money wisely or they abuse it on selfish whims, addictions or sinful living. Jesus reprimanded the Pharisees who neglected their parents and wrongly justified it:



For God commanded, Honor your father and your mother, and, Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die. But you say, If anyone tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is given to God, he need not honor his father. So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God (Matthew 15:4-6).

Giving to family members

While keeping basic guidelines in mind, look at the pros and cons.

Pros

Demonstrates your love.

Shows that you trust them.

Encourages and grants hope.

Develops stewardship in the receiver.

Cons

Creates dependence or irresponsibility.

Violation of set agreements or Biblical standards.

Manipulation develops, or giving becomes expected.

Development of skills and strong work ethic is prevented.

Stewards are not necessarily overseers or deacons, but the scriptural guidelines below are worthy of striving to attain. If giving interferes with the ability to manage your home and extend hospitality, you need to examine if you are giving too much.

See Pauls list of qualifications for elders in Titus 1:5-9 and 1 Timothy 3:1-13. Note: both hospitality and managing your household well are commended. Are you able to extend hospitality and manage your home well? Can you generously provide for your family in time of need?

There are times when we have to adjust what we give. Changes in income, family needs and crises impact the analysis of dollars we can cheerfully give. We have friends who are attending to their parents needs, who are now in assisted living. That was not on their horizon 10-20 years ago. We know others who face the cost, needs and challenges of children with mental health issues, drug rehab and physical disabilities.

Should the Lord tarry, we have grandchildren who may face unprecedented needs in the future. A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous (Proverbs 13:22).

Pray, and study Gods Word. Get wise counsel. Crown has a number of courses, such as MoneyLife and Flourishing in Generosity, that guide families on how to steward carefully what God provides. He will grant you peace to give generously, motivated by love, and to find the amount that brings joy to your heart.
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In case you havent heard the news, Robin of Batman and Robin fame has been outed as bisexual. And in case you were unsure if he was simply exploring his sexuality or had determined for sure that he was bi, DC Comics made it official: Tim Drake [the third Robin in the series] dates boys.

Robin now joins more than 65 other LGBTQ+ superheroes and villains  but be assured, no one has any agenda at all. Who would think such a thing?

Ten years ago, I wrote an article titled, Mutant as a Codeword for Gay in the X-Men Movies, claiming that the movies, along with the comic books, draw many clear parallels between the mutants and the gay and lesbian community.

After the article came out, I was ridiculed on some gay LGBTQ websites for stating the obvious. Of course mutant stands for gay, I was told. Youre just discovering this?

But, of course, no one has an agenda to promote, and no producers or screenwriters in Hollywood are trying to indoctrinate anyone. Perish the thought.

Its the same with the comic book industry. No one has an agenda, and theres no attempt to indoctrinate or influence the readers. Its just a coincidence that, as of 2017, there were 65 LGBTQ+ superheroes and villains. And its just happenstance that last year, the first, major transgender superhero was announced on Marvel Comics. No agenda at all!

Writing for Out.com in 2017, Jase Peeples noted that: LGBT heroes and villains have been making the realm of superheroes a more colorful place for nearly 40 years. From gay martial arts masters and lesbian detectives to bad-ss bisexual antiheroes and transgender magicians, these are 65 characters thatve left their mark and helped change the genre.

First on the list was Batwoman, a lesbian: Originally introduced in 1956 to silence critics who claimed Batman and Robin were gay lovers, Kate Kane was reintroduced in 2006 as a lesbian who became one of Gothams caped crime fighters after her service in the U.S. Army was cut short when her sexuality was discovered while the militarys dont ask, dont tell policy was in effect.

But, quite obviously, the writers had no ideological or political agenda in making Batwoman a lesbian. How silly.

In January 2020, headlines announced, Marvel to get first transgender superhero. Yes, The Marvel Cinematic Universe is set to get its first transgender superhero."

And very soon. In a movie that we're shooting right now, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige said during a Q&A at the New York Film Academy.

Not to be outdone by Marvel, in March of this year, DC Comics announced that, Supergirl's Dreamer will be making her DC Comics debut in an upcoming Pride anthology introducing TV's first transgender hero to the comics!

But even this was old news of a sort, since the trans hero, Nia Nal, had already appeared on the CW network on TV. Yes, Dreamer is the first transgender superhero to ever appear on television. The character's popularity has led to the character being adapted into the comics for the first time.

But, of course, theres no agenda of any kind and no attempt to promote an ideology. It was just a matter of time and percentages playing out. Soon enough, there had to be gay and lesbian and bisexual and transgender superheroes, right?

Alex Jaffe, a writer with DC Comics, explained: Queer coding in comics, the idea of expressing your true self through a colorful costume as you hid your dual identity from the world, was once considered too scandalous for a largely homophobic nation. As queer kids were finding a piece of themselves in characters like Robin, judges and psychologists and even the comic book publishers themselves, wary of a culture turning against them, did everything they could to censor queer themes from comics for decades to come. But even as those themes were stifled, speculation on Robins sexuality has never stopped.

So, the very fact that you had superheroes leading double lives, appearing one way in their day jobs and another way in their secret, superhero lives, was a parallel to being gay or trans back when America was so homophobic and transphobic. And those colorful costumes, werent they a complete giveaway?

Really now, I have to kick myself, wondering how I could have missed this as a boy watching Superman episodes religiously. Surely there was something else going on. And how did I not realize that something was funny between Batman and Robin? After all, when do two men work closely together without being gay (or, at least one of them being bi)? And how I could not realize that Batwoman was a lesbian? Was there any other choice?

All sarcasm aside, Im sure that people who are marginalized by the society see themselves in characters who appear in film and in writing, and that gives them a sense of identification. As always, my hope for each of them is that they find Gods purpose for their lives and discover full acceptance with Him, regardless of how society treats them.

At the same time, we would have to be utterly naive to think that many of the comic book writers (along with their counterparts in film) have not had clear and definite agendas. And we shouldnt be surprised when young comic book readers want to be like their favorite superhero, not just in terms of their superpowers but in terms of their sexuality.
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Last week, we discussed what it means to be a Christian and the nature of the church in "How Should Christians Respond to Americas Identity Crisis?  Part I." The church is made up of Christians, and Christians are individuals who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, believing that His sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection on Easter Sunday have enabled Him to win salvation for whosoever will accept Him as Lord and Savior.

Jesus promised His disciples that it was better if He went away, because then the Comforter would come and He would lead them to all truth (John 16:7-15). The church was conceived during the earthly ministry of Jesus and was born on the Day of Pentecost.

Not only are Christians a new kind of human being that never existed prior to Pentecost (Eph. 2:14-20). The church is described as a colony of Heaven (Phil. 3:20); and collectively, Christians are a special people, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation (I Pet. 2:9).

Jesus called upon the disciples to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. He commissioned Christians to go out into the world and share the Gospel, baptize converts, and disciple them, Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you (Matt. 28:18-20).

The Christian Church is informed by the Apostle Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthian church, that our Heavenly Father has entrusted Christians with the ministry of reconciliation;  that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation (II Cor. 5:18-20).

Taken as a whole, these biblical passages make it clear that withdrawing from the world into closed meetings of the saints and going into a holding pattern until Jesus comes back is not a viable option for Christians and churches who desire to be obedient to their Heavenly Fathers will.

Salt has to come into contact with that which it is going to preserve from decay and putrefaction. Jesus entrusted the disciples to let their light shine before men so they could be illuminated by the light and feel the heat as well.

If Christians are going to be a preserving salt and a lifegiving light, they have to be in the world but not of the world, and they must walk the talk. The watching world needs to see Christians living out their faith as twice-born men and women who have been born again from above and people within whom Gods Holy Spirit dwells (I Cor. 6:19-20).

The Christian witness in America is consistently and significantly diminished by Christians and churches who do not walk the talk and whose do as I say, not as I do hypocrisy brings shame and reproach to the Gospel. There is an old African proverb that says, Tell me and I will listen. Show me and I will believe. The more Christians lives demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit: love (agape), joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal. 2:22-23), the more the lost world will pay attention to our witness for Jesus.

Of course, no Christian and no church is going to be perfect. The old nature is still present and ready to pounce at any moment of opportunity. In fact, the local church is one of the very few places in American society where you have to confess your moral failures as a condition of admittance. It is Jesus Church and no one will ever find anything wrong with Him. He is the one we worship.

Still, Christians living in Gods will are going to impress the world by how they love each other (Jn. 13:35). Far too often, our Christian church fellowships are characterized by the opposite of love and joy. If we are honest, when we look at the moral record of evangelicalism in the last half of the 20th and the first fifth of the 21st centuries, it is not one to bring joy to our hearts or our Heavenly Fathers.

One reason evangelical Christians have lost the debate on same-sex marriage is that we said marriage was a divinely sanctioned, holy institution and yet we produced divorce rates far too similar to the worlds practices to be taken seriously.

How should Christians and their churches respond to Americas identity crisis? First, we need to get our own house in order. We must practice what we preach.

We must be obedient to our Lords command to be salt and light and ministers of reconciliation. What does that look like?

Seeking to take a Christian approach to several of the most divisive issues besetting Americans today furnishes potential answers to that question.

The abortion issue has been rending the social fabric of our nation ever since the Supreme Courts outrageous overreach in their 1973 Roe v. Wade decision which overturned almost all the various states restrictions on abortion. The result was an immediate ghastly increase in the killing of unborn babies, with the annual rates of abortion going from about 400,000 per year to 1.5 million within 18 months of the decision.

This galvanized the pro-life movement, led by Catholic and evangelical Christians, and the issue has been one of the most divisive moral questions in America for half a century now.

As salt, Christians need to do everything they can to bear witness against the killing of the unborn. The Bibles clear and consistent message is pro-life. The early church understood this fact. The first post-apostolic teaching of the early church (The Didache, circa 134 A.D.) condemned abortion (a common practice in the Roman Empire and most non-Jewish civilizations in the Mediterranean Basin, according to Will and Ariel Darant's book series, The Story of Western Civilization) was condemned as murder and beyond acceptable moral boundaries for Christians.

As Christians gained influence in the Roman Empire, abortion abated and was unacceptable in the Christian West until the collapse of the Christian consensus in early 20th century Europe. Widespread abortion became acceptable first in the Soviet Union after 1917.

As salt, we must seek to stop the killing of innocent life in the womb. As light, we need to bear witness to the humanity of the unborn baby and that everyone, born and unborn, is a somebody to God.

Our Heavenly Father never created a nobody. Everybody is a someone to God. Each and every human life, born and unborn, is sacred and should be protected under the law. However, the church must not just be pro-life from conception to birth. We must treat all life, born and unborn, as sacred since each one is an image-bearer of our Heavenly Father. God had a plan and a purpose for each one of these aborted babies.

Have we aborted the next Billy Graham? Have we snuffed out the life in the womb of the next Martin Luther King Jr. or the next Jonas Salk? Have we killed the young woman God was knitting and embroidering together in her mothers womb (Ps. 139:13-16) to come to faith and be the doctor who found the cure for cancer? The answer is at least a 1-in-4 chance that is exactly what we have done.

It is a certainty that Gods plan and purpose for each of these fellow human beings has been thwarted by this heinous child sacrifice of our children to the false gods of convenience and material well-being. Abortion on demand is a monument to the selfishness, self-absorption and self-idolatry that dominates too much of modern American life.

As Christians, we must bear witness against it. We must also do all we can to rescue the children who are born and never know their fathers and are undereducated in our inner-city schools. We should be there in greater numbers than we have been, ministering to their spiritual and material needs in Jesus name.

Our greatest wasted natural resources are our underserved and emotionally neglected children in our nations great cities. God distributes talent equally among all human ethnicities. Sadly, our society has not been developing them equally. The church should step in this gap in Jesus name and sponsor daycares and better schools that do not neglect the spiritual dimension, while ministering to physical and educational needs.

That brings us to the question of race, what Robert Woodson has correctly called Americas birth defect. The issue of race has bedeviled America from the beginning. Our forefathers knew slavery was wrong. You cannot read Thomas Jeffersons (a slaveholder) quotation on the Jefferson Memorial: Nothing is more certainly written in the book of fate than that these people are to be free. The Declaration of Independences chief author also condemned slavery as unremitting despotism and degrading submissions.

America has been attempting to live up to its founding ideals and remedy its birth defect ever since 1776.

When Dr. King spoke at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, he said the demonstrators had come to demand that America live up to its founding documents that all men are created equal. Dr. King, a Baptist minister and a priceless gift to our nation, called all Americans to the goal of achieving a society where everyone is judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

Unfortunately, with notable and laudable exceptions, too often majority-white churches have been at best indifferent, and at worst intolerant, of that dream. Increasingly, in my lifetime, however, we have seen many white churches and multitudes of white Christians embrace that dream and recognize and love Dr. King for the national treasure and gift of God to our nation he was and is.

As salt, Christians need to denounce racism in whatever form it rears its ugly, serpentine head (including the perpetual racism to which critical race theory would condemn us all), understanding that there is only one race, the human race; and no matter what our ethnicities, we are all equally made in Gods image.

As light, Christians need to reach out and model the racial and ethnic reconciliation made possible by a Gospel in which there is no longer Jew nor Greek, male or female, bond or free (Gal. 3:28), because we are all new creatures and blood brothers and sisters in Christ in that we all have been redeemed by the blood of the Savior.

Christians  white, black, Hispanic, Asian  should seek to model this new redeemed humanity in truly multi-ethnic churches which model the new Kingdom made possible by King Jesus. Christians should all work toward the goal of churches which have no ethnic majority and where the pastoral leadership is multi-ethnic as well.

Given our past, this will not happen in America without intentionality and courage on all sides of the ethnic debate.

Our experience since the Civil Rights Movement began in the 1950s should have taught us at least one major lesson by now. The salt of the law can only go so far. The law alone cannot take us to where our hearts ache to go.

The salt of the law can change actions. Only the light of the Gospel can change attitudes. The salt of the law can change behaviors. Only the light of the Gospel can change beliefs. The salt of the law can change habits. Only the light of the Gospel can change hearts. That is why Sunday morning is still the most segregated moment in American life. That ugly fact is an indictment of the Christian church  white and black. It must change. Lets all be about our Heavenly Fathers business  and let the Redeemed of the Lord say so!

Next week  Part III. What about separation of Church and State?
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP)  U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm plans to spend two days in Alaska traveling with Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski to showcase what Granholms office calls the state's status as Americas living laboratory.

The visit coincides with the recent passage of the bipartisan infrastructure deal and is intended to show how investments and research and development funding will bring jobs and help build the states clean, secure energy future, Granholm's office said.

Americas Last Frontier is leading the way to advance technologies that will make our clean energy transition possible, Granholm said in a statement I look forward to joining Senator Murkowski to witness this innovation.

The visit starts Sunday in Fairbanks, where Granholm and Murkowski plan to tour the National Renewable Energy Labs Cold Climate Housing Research Center. The centers work in training a local workforce to build and rapidly deploy shelter for climate-threatened communities in an effort to reduce the need for relocation will be highlighted.

Also Sunday, they will tour the Permafrost Tunnel Research Facility, where scientists study the impact of thawing on above-ground structures. They also plan to attend the Chena Hot Springs Renewable Energy Fair, where they will give brief remarks before touring Chena Hot Springs.

On Monday, plans call for visiting the Alaska Center for Energy and Power at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, where researchers are developing ways to achieve 100% renewable power for rural villages.

Granholm and Murkowski will then fly to Anchorage and participate in a discussion with Malcolm Woolf, president of the National Hydropower Association.

The visit is set to conclude with a meeting with students and alumni of the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
The home office has revolutionized the cultures of companies both large and small. Right now, many of them are testing hybrid models that allow their employees to go to corporate offices and work from home, in addition to completely remote models.

Before 2020, it was a novel idea to apply telecommuting. In just one year, 88% of 800 HR executives surveyed redefined their workspace and required or encouraged staff to work from home.

With the arrival of the vaccine and other variants of the virus, the question is whether to return to corporate offices and how employers see this new paradigm. In the midst of this, information about Google's policy has been leaked.

The tech giant apparently created a pay calculator that allows its employees to see the effects they would have on their salaries if they decide to work remotely or from home.

The workers of the Alphabet subsidiary would see reductions in their salaries ranging from 10% to 25%, according to information collected by Reuters. However, Google is not the only technology firm that is applying such cuts  Facebook, Twitter and Microsoft are also testing the reduction of wages of people who work from cheaper areas to live.

Related: 5 Great Companies That Allow Their Employees to Work From Home

What do employees say?

An employee of the company, who asked the news agency not to be identified, explained that he normally travels to the Seattle office from a nearby place. He says his salary would be reduced by 10% if he works from home full time.

The worker who did consider telecommuting eventually gave up on the idea, despite having to travel two hours to get to the corporate office. The employee says the amount cut would be as high as the amount he got for his most recent promotion.

What does Google say?

The spokespersons for the technology company explained that the firm's compensation packages have always been determined by location, also explaining that employees are paid the higher salary in the local market where they work.

On the other hand, they affirmed that those who decide to work from home and live in the city where the offices for which they work are located will not receive these type of cuts.

In essence, the salary of a company employee living in Stamford, Connecticut, who is an hour from New York City by train, would be reduced by 15% if he works from home. Others would see their payments reduced by between 5% and 10% in places like Seattle, Boston and San Francisco. But those who decide to work from home in New York City, where the office is located, would not see these kinds of readjustments, according to Reuters.

Related: 10 Business Books That'll Help Your Company Adapt to the New Normal

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Drilling activity continued its steady increase as the rig count recovers from the record low reached last August amid the COVID-19 shutdown.

Oilfield services company Baker Hughes and data analytics company Enverus reported Friday the US rig count jumped nine to 500 and is 256 rigs higher than the record low 244 at work a year ago.

The number of rigs seeking crude oil jumped 10 to 397 for the week and is 225 more than the 172 drilling for oil last year. There were 102 rigs drilling for natural gas, down one for the week but 32 more than the 70 drilling for gas last year.

Texas added three rigs for 232 at work statewide, 132 more than the 100 working across Texas last August. New Mexico added four rigs for 79. California and North Dakota joined Texas and New Mexico as producing states gaining rigs while Alaska, Louisiana and Oklahoma posted slight declines.

The Permian Basin reported 245 rigs at work within the region, up two for the week and 128 more than the 117 drilling across the Permian last August.

Lea County, New Mexico, remains the most active county in the Permian with 46 rigs, up one for the week. Eddy County, New Mexico, follows with 31 rigs, also up one for the week.

Martin County added three rigs  the biggest jump of the week  for 28 rigs while Midland County lost one rig for 27. Reeves County lost three rigs  the biggest decline of the week  for 23 rigs. Howard County and Upton County each reported 16 rigs, down one for Howard and up one for Upton. Loving County reported 14 rigs at work within county lines, down one for the week.

There was no activity in Borden or Hockley counties as their one rigs moved off. At the same time, Gaines and Terry counties saw renewed activity with the addition of one rig each and Yoakum County saw renewed activity with two rigs going to work inside the county.

Enverus Rig Analytics reported the number of rigs running in the U.S. rose by eight in the last week to a total of 575 as of Aug. 11. The count is up 7 percent on the month and up 104 percent on the year. Major plays with the largest week-over-week increases were in Appalachia and the Permian, each gaining three rigs for respective totals of 44 and 230.

So far in the third quarter, the Permian count has averaged 227 rigs, up from 219 in the second quarter and 194 in the first quarter. The most active counties as of Aug. 11 are Lea (41) and Eddy (32) in New Mexico and Martin (30), Midland (23), Loving (20) and Reeves (20) in Texas. When compared to this point in the second quarter  when 214 Permian rigs were running  there are two notable county-level changes, both in the Midland Basin. There are 14 more rigs running in Martin County, with Endeavor Energy Resources (plus five to seven), Pioneer Natural Resources (plus three to seven) and ExxonMobil (plus three to three) fueling the increase. ConocoPhillips (plus two), Ovintiv (plus two) and Occidental (one) reactivated rigs in the county as well.

Compared to this time in the second quarter, Midland County has 11 fewer active rigs. Pioneer reduced its Midland count to 10 from 18, and Endeavor Energy Resources went from four rigs to just one.

So far in the third quarter, the Appalachian rig count has averaged 43, compared to 44 in the second quarter and 41 in the first quarter. Most active as of Aug. 11 are Monroe County, Ohio, and Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, at four rigs apiece.
WASHINGTON - Regulators took steps Thursday to shore up the defenses of millions of vulnerable Americans against the coronavirus, authorizing extra doses of two widely used vaccines for some people with weakened immune systems.

The action by the Food and Drug Administration means that additional shots could be available as soon as this weekend for patients who have received organ transplants or have certain types of cancer or other illnesses.

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The move was applauded by medical experts worried about patients unable to generate robust anti-virus responses even after being fully vaccinated. Details about how the shots will be administered - and who exactly will be eligible for them - are expected to be hashed out Friday during a meeting of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisers.

The FDA authorization came as Biden administration officials appear increasingly convinced that boosters for the broader population will be necessary. Officials are scrutinizing data on the vaccines' durability and discussing when extra shots might need to be administered and which groups might get priority, according to federal officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were describing internal discussions. Those officials said the discussions have become increasingly urgent as the delta variant wreaks havoc in many parts of the country and some studies indicate a waning of the vaccines' protection over time.

"No vaccine, at least not within this category, is going to have an indefinite amount of protection," Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Thursday on NBC's "Today" show. "Inevitably, there will be a time when we'll have to get boosts."

The FDA decision updated the emergency use authorizations for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna coronavirus vaccines to say an additional dose could be given to some immunocompromised individuals, specifically organ transplant recipients and others with similar levels of immune-system impairment. The agency did not give further details. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was not included because there was not sufficient data on the issue, according to the agency.

About 2.7% of U.S. adults, according to the CDC, or about 7 million people, are immunocompromised. Some, like transplant patients, take immune-suppressing drugs to prevent organ rejection. Others have blood cancers and other illnesses that damage the immune system. Still others are on cancer chemotherapy. Making such patients eligible for an extra shot, doctors say, is preferable to having worried patients seek out additional inoculations on their own. Not all patients with impaired immune systems will need an additional dose as of now, experts say.

The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is expected to vote to recommend the extra doses on Friday and to give further details on how they will be administered. The panel also is likely to urge patients to talk to their doctors about the additional shots. CDC director Rochelle Walensky is expected to sign off on the decision Friday afternoon, according to federal health officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

In addition, the panel is scheduled to discuss what kind of evidence would be needed to decide whether boosters are needed for the broader population, and which groups - such as older Americans - should get them first, according to a federal health official. Israel has already started administering booster vaccines to older people, and other countries are laying plans to do so.

The FDA action "is the right thing to do," said Mounzer Agha, a hematologist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center who treats patients with multiple myeloma, lymphoma and other blood cancers.

RELATED: Defiance of Texas ban on mask mandates continues to grow

Immunocompromised patients are more likely to become seriously ill from covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus; to transmit the virus to household contacts; and to have breakthrough infections. These patients also can potentially spawn mutations that lead to dangerous new variants, experts say.

Studies have shown for months that many immunocompromised patients have tepid or no responses to the vaccines, even after a full regimen.

The advisory panel and the CDC are not going to require patients to have a prescription, according to federal officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the plan has not yet been announced. Consumers will simply have to attest that they have impaired immune systems. The goal is to minimize barriers to vaccination, the officials said. The additional doses will be free.

But some experts have said there are sure to be questions about the process. Identifying patients with immune problems "is going to be hairy," said William Schaffner, an infectious-diseases physician at Vanderbilt University and a liaison member to the CDC advisory panel. Older people have immune systems that typically weaken with age and may think they ought to be included, he said, but they are not the patients officials are focusing on now.

Some doctors say prescriptions should be required - in part because they believe patients should be tested for antibodies before and after the extra shots to see if the inoculations boosted immunity. While the FDA discourages use of antibody tests to gauge post-vaccination protection, some doctors have said the agency should reconsider its position for immunocompromised patients, for whom such information is critical.

Dorry Segev, a transplant surgeon and researcher at Johns Hopkins University, said patients should talk to their doctors about the benefits and risks of a third shot. While extra doses might be beneficial, he said, they also stimulate the immune system, which could raise the risk a transplanted organ will be rejected or that an immune-related disease will flare up - though those risks are low.

"I hope that we see thoughtful caution in the pursuit of these boosters rather than a generic one-size-fits-all approach," Segev said.

Studies have shown that immunocompromised patients can benefit from an extra shot of a coronavirus vaccine. In a study published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, Canadian researchers found that a third dose of the Moderna vaccine bolstered protection for a substantial proportion of organ-transplant patients.

The study followed a smaller one co-authored by Segev and published in June. It showed that patients who had a small but detectable antibody response after being fully vaccinated got a big boost from an extra shot. But two-thirds of those who didn't respond to the initial regimen had no change after the third dose.

Many immunocompromised patients were delighted by the FDA action.

Christine Lipuma, a 54-year-old resident of Downers Grove, Ill., had been eagerly awaiting the chance to get a third dose. She has been on immune-suppressing drugs for years following a kidney transplant and had only a small increase in antibodies after getting two shots of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine this year, according to testing by Johns Hopkins as part of a study overseen by Segev.

Lipuma skips indoor dining and sees friends only outside. She considered getting a third shot on her own but decided to wait for the FDA to authorize it.

"I would like science behind the decision," she said.

Jullie Hoggan, a 48-year-old kidney transplant patient who lives in Henderson, Nev., received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in February and had no antibody response, according to the Hopkins study. She got a shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at a mass vaccination clinic and still didn't have an increase in antibodies.

LONG GAME: Gov. Abbott responds to local governments defying mask order

Hoggan lives a highly restricted life. Just this week, her husband decided to move out of their house temporarily after attending a meeting with someone who tested positive for the coronavirus. "It is just so frustrating," she said.

Hoggan doesn't plan on getting another shot. Instead, she is trying to get Regeneron's monoclonal antibody treatment under the company's "compassionate use" program.
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When thousands of Florida seniors were waiting in long lines for a Covid-19 vaccine this past January, Fox News and Gov. Ron DeSantis were plotting to broadcast a public vaccination event exclusively on the network in order to boost the governors image. And according to an expose by the Tampa Bay Times, which obtained emails between the network and governors office, that is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the cozy relationship between DeSantis and Fox News.

The Tampa Bay Times examined 1,250 pages of email correspondence between Fox and DeSantiss office that show the close relationship the governor has with the network. During the broadcast of the vaccination event, DeSantis made comments and jokes as a 100-year-old veteran of World War II got his first dose. Beforehand, DeSantiss office provided talking points.

When the event concluded, a Fox producer wrote to a DeSantis staff member, I honestly think he could host the show with the chops we saw from him at the vaccine site. In other emails, producers lavished praise on the governor, with one gushing that DeSantis spoke wonderfully at CPAC. Another producer called him the future of the party.

The networks love for the governor was so strong, Fox shows asked DeSantis to appear on the network 113 times, almost once a day, between the 2020 election and the end of February 2021.

According to the records the paper obtained, DeSantis most frequently appears on morning and primetime Fox News shows  eight times with Sean Hannity, six with Tucker Carlson, and seven with Laura Ingraham within the first six months of this year  and has avoided requests to appear with hosts like Bret Baier and Chris Wallace, who might ask him tougher questions.

DeSantiss office has even supplied the network with graphics to use during the governors interviews on air. In one instance, when DeSantis appeared on a show guest hosted by Maria Bartiromo, the network displayed a graphic adapted from the governors office without disclosing its origins. Fox said to the Tampa Bay Times: Like all news organizations, we conduct pre-interviews with guests to ensure preparedness for the segment. This is a common practice in television and is not unique to FOX News.

And, of course, there was DeSantiss infamous signing of a voter suppression bill this past May where the governors office only invited Fox & Friends to carry the event, blocking all other media from entering. At the time, the network denied coordinating with the governors office for the exclusive, but emails from earlier in the year show producers were eager to get exclusives with DeSantis. Its a bill perfectly tailored for Fox Newss conservative audience, which is likely why he signed it in front of Foxs cameras only. After the event, he said he was happy to give [Fox News] the exclusive on that.

A DeSantis spokesperson, Taryn Fenske, told the paper why DeSantis chooses to appear on Fox. While other networks were busy lauding states whose governors have either retired in disgrace or are undergoing a recall, Fox News was willing to hear our perspective and report the facts, she told the Tampa Bay Times.

But Republican media strategist, Adam Goodman, told the paper that the network is essentially auditioning DeSantis for a presidential run. And that gives him a leg up against potential competitors, as data from recent polls reveal that without Trump in the race, DeSantis has a huge advantage  likely because hes replaced Trump as the networks new darling.

Hes been given the first Fox audition for 2024, which also means he gets to set the bar, Goodman said. That means all the other competitors, when they have their chance to have their day on Fox, theres a measuring stick that theyre going to be up against, and thats the governor of Florida.

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Today is Friday, August 13, 2021. If you have a single superstitious bone in your body (and I'd be willing to bet that most people do) then today is a special day.

Catch a "Friday the 13th" on your calendar once, maybe twice a year. Some might call the phenomenon, which happens only when a calendar month begins with a Sunday, an unlucky  or worse yet, cursed day. It has inspired a fleet of classic slasher films, cheap tattoos, and for the superstitious, perhaps an uptick in the sale of holy water.

The last time a Friday the 13th landed in this calendar month was in a time and place that might seem fairly foreign and nostalgic to the people of today. That's right  August, 13, 2010.

Before the day starts to heat up (and you pass underneath one too many ladders) here's a look back on some of the notable things that made headlines in San Antonio all those years ago.

There was drama with the Daughters of the Republic of Texas

On the day in question, a news story broke detailing controversy within the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) when one member of the socialite group was accused of leaking important documents revealing half-baked concert plans for the Alamo's 175th anniversary celebration. The organization accused Sarah Reveley, a scorned member who "had previous run-ins with the organization over her criticism of the Alamo's condition" of leaking "internal documents." Reveley posted a brochure about the concert that was tentatively scheduled for March 5 in front of the Alamo, to allegedly take the the temperature on public interest.

"I just wanted to throw (the information) out there and see what kind of response I'd get from the mailing list," Reveley told the Express-News in 2010.

"The information is incomplete, inaccurate and preliminary," said Tony Caridi, the director of marketing and development for the Alamo and the DRT. "We are planning an event for the 175th anniversary of the Alamo, and we will release information to the public in our own time."

At the time of Friday the 13th, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas were considering taking legal action.

According to the Express-News, Jim Ewbank, the DRT's attorney, said in a statement requested by DRT President General Patti Atkins that the brochure was "provided to a person under a nondisclosure confidentiality agreement" and distributed to two "dissident members" of the DRT.

Reveley had no plans of taking the post down.

Two men involved in San Antonio's largest identity theft case landed prison sentences

Meanwhile, in a Nicholas Cage movie-worthy heist, Friday the 13th in San Antonio in 2010 also landed two men in jail.

Christopher Perez, 38, and Nathan Roddy, 27, made fraudulent purchases using around 17,000 different credit card numbers stolen from guests at the Emily Morgan Hotel. Some of the purchases the men made included tow trailers, TVs, all-terrain vehicles and tires.

Perez admitted to investigators that he and accomplices racked up more than $27,000 in expenses.

Underwood Archives/Getty Images

A potential city-wide smoking ban started heating up

It may seem like a long time ago when restaurants in San Antonio still had their smoking sections, but on Friday the 13th in 2010, the legislation was still budding. One editorial on the day in question "Smoking ban merits support; City Council should vote in the interest of public health" called on San Antonio to join other major Texas cities in forgoing indoor and outdoor smoking at commercial centers.

The author argues, "Some opponents of the smoking ordinance changes have shamefully tried to turn the ability to smoke - or to have a smoking-friendly establishment - into a civil rights issue. If there's any right involved in this debate, it is the right of individuals not to have to work in a literally poisonous environment. For San Antonio employees of bars and bingo halls, that right is abridged."

The city's smoking ordinance ultimately wasn't passed until August of 2011, however the conversation was sure percolating on that superstitious day.

A GI severely injured in the Iraq war performed a dark humored stand-up comedy set

In stand-up comedy, it can be hard enough to get up on a stage, let alone on a notoriously unlucky day. However, that's exactly what Army Staff Sgt. Bobby Henline did on Friday the 13th in August 2010.

The veteran, who also moonlighted as a motivational speaker for others experiencing similar conditions, aimed to break down some barriers for burn victims through humor. Henline suffered an amputated arm, a "disfigured face" and severe burns covering 38 percent of his body .

He stood in silence for a moment at the Laugh Out Loud comedy Club, staring out at the audience before addressing the obvious with a real zinger, according to the Express-News.

"I went to Iraq four times. The last time was a real blast," he deadpans.

San Antonio comedian Jay LaFarr told the publication that Henline is "a hero who's still taking risks."

"The first time you see him perform is almost terrifying. But for me, it says you can overcome anything," LaFarr said. "He may not be the funniest comedian, but he's got a great story, and I think Americans like that."

Ahead of his performance, he told the Express-News he was excited about performing on Friday the 13th.

"It's kind of good for me, like Halloween," he told the publication wryly.
A rash of new evidence has made clear that Donald Trumps efforts to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 election were more sophisticated and far-reaching than Americans knew in real time.

Trumps pressure on the Department of Justice, in particular, was relentless. He reportedly plotted to elevate a staunch loyalist, and fellow election conspiracy theorist, Jeffrey Bossert Clark, to the post of attorney general. Newly uncovered documents show how Clark had endeared himself to Trump by circulating a draft letter in December that would have demanded the Georgia legislature immediately call a special session to consider overturning Trumps narrow loss there, citing unspecified irregularities. (Trump reportedly backed down from installing Clark only in the face of a threat of mass resignations at DOJ.) On December 27th, according to notes recently uncovered by the House Oversight Committee, Trump himself pushed top DOJ officials to just say that the election was corrupt and leave the rest to me.

In light of these fresh details, the January 6th insurgency  whipped to motion by Trumps orders to fight like hell against the certification of the Electoral College results  appears to have been the serious, last-ditch act of a would-be tyrant to hold on to power. Yet even as the context of the coup attempt has become clearer, the moral clarity of Republicans in Washington about the blame for January 6th has become increasingly cloudy.

In real time, GOP leaders had blamed Trump for the days violence. The president bears responsibility for Wednesdays attack by mob rioters, House minority leader Kevin McCarthy said on January 13th. Mitch McConnell, then Senate majority leader, was even more direct, insisting Trump was practically and morally responsible for provoking the siege on the Capitol by people who believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their president.

For a brief moment, it appeared as if Trump  deprived of his Twitter megaphone and exiled to Mar a Lago  might have lost his stranglehold on the Republican Party. But as the weeks and months passed  and Trump not only prevailed against impeachment (again) but steadily reasserted himself as the GOPs one true king  most Republicans cowered. (For some prominent Republicans the bravery only lasted days: McCarthy backtracked by January 21st, saying of Trump: I dont believe he provoked it if you listen to what he said at the rally.) Those who stood up to Trumps flamboyant falsehoods about the 2020 election paid a price. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyoming), who voted for Trumps impeachment, lost her leadership post for refusing to toe Trumps authoritarian line. If you want leaders who will enable and spread his destructive lies, Im not your person, she told her colleagues on the eve of her ouster. Cheney was replaced by Rep. Elaine Stefanik (R-N.Y.), a onetime critic of the 45th president who has shamelessly morphed into a Trump toady.

This summer, the vast majority of GOP politicians refused to back an independent commission to investigate January 6th. South Dakotas John Thune, the GOP Senate whip, admitted that getting to the bottom of Trumps complicity in that assault on our democracy pales in importance to 2022s midterm elections. Anything that gets us rehashing the 2020 elections is a day lost on being able to draw a contrast between us and the Democrats very radical left-wing agenda, he said.

But rather than simply avoid the subject, D.C. Republicans have increasingly painted Trumps attempted autogolpe as an innocent protest that got a little out of hand. Others have attempted to deflect attention from Trump by insisting that January 6th was relatively harmless compared to the (utterly unrelated) urban unrest in the aftermath of the George Floyd murder. Still others have followed the presidents lead to argue  without any logic or evidence  that culpability for the violence that day lies not with the man who riled up the mob, but with a woman whose Capitol office was breached: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) is one of a pair of House Republicans now serving on a special committee to investigate January 6th. Hes blasted his partys insane rhetoric, and argued that it smacks of the GOPs desperation to try to derail an effective inquiry  while still seeking the validation of dear leader Trump. But hes practically alone in his party.

Below are four tortured arguments Republicans have put forward to dismiss or minimize the democracy-shaking events of January 6th:

It Wasnt That Bad!

Of all the arguments marshaled by Trumps GOP defenders, the effort to gaslight Americans into thinking the events of January 6th just werent that bad are perhaps the most offensive. In addition to the deaths of four members of the mob, including Ashli Babbitt, who was shot dead while attempting to break into the House Chamber, the days violence resulted in 138 officers being injured, with at least 15 requiring hospitalization. A total of four officers have since died by suicide. Another died of a stroke on the day after the attack. Had Capitol Police not sacrificed their bodies to slow and blunt the actions of the mob, its impossible to say what heinous acts might have been executed, as Trump supporters, whod set up a gallows in the shadow of the Capitol, stormed the halls chanting, Hang Mike Pence!

Republicans have long positioned themselves as defenders of police, calling on America to Back the Blue. But faced with the reality that Trumps backers savagely beat and insulted officers (as detailed by the officers themselves in a recent congressional hearing), powerful Republicans have shrugged their shoulders. None of the carnage of January 6th  or the fact that the mob disrupted the counting of Electoral College votes key to the peaceful transfer of power  appears to weigh on the conscience of senators and representatives whove attempted to rewrite history, chiefly by contesting that the events of that day could be called an insurrection.

In a May interview on Fox News, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) insisted of January 6th that, by and large, it was peaceful protest, while arguing that it wasnt an insurrection. Johnson later embellished: To say there were thousands of armed insurrectionists breaching the Capitol intent on overthrowing the government is just simply a false narrative.

Ron Johnson claims it wasnt an insurrection and goes on to say by and large it was a peaceful protest pic.twitter.com/E9TVzhNPTS  Acyn (@Acyn) May 20, 2021

GOP House members have been driving home the same deplorable talking point. In a May House hearing, Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) insisted that to call it an insurrection is a bold-faced lie. Clyde alternatively suggested the siege of the Capitol resembled a normal tourist visit or at worst an undisciplined mob. Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) likewise described the insurgency as a mob of misfits.

The Insurgents Werent Trump Supporters!

One of the earliest lies about January 6th is that the violent agitators were not in fact Trump supporters, but rather undercover Antifa agents trying to harm the reputation of honest conservatives. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.)  accused of inciting the violence in his own speech to the mob that day  was an early spreader of this disinformation:

Please, dont be like #FakeNewsMedia, dont rush to judgment on assault on Capitol. Wait for investigation. All may not be (and likely is not) what appears. Evidence growing that fascist ANTIFA orchestrated Capitol attack with clever mob control tactics. Evidence follows:  Mo Brooks (@RepMoBrooks) January 7, 2021

In reality, as federal prosecutions have underscored, the overwhelming majority who participated in the events of January 6th were, indeed, Trump supporters who had been summoned to gather in D.C. by the president (whod tweeted: Be there. Will be wild!)  including members of organized, militant right-wing groups like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers.

But in that May House hearing, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) contested the obvious. He took issue with an entry in an official timeline: 2:07 PM: A mob of Trump supporters breached the steps? he said, incredulous. I dont know who did a poll that this is Trump supporters. Rep. Jody Hice (R-Ga.) took this absurd argument and twisted it even further, painting the assailants as the victims. In fact, it was Trump supporters who lost their lives that day, Hice said, not Trump supporters who were taking the lives of others.

In early July, Rep Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) sent around a fundraising email surfacing a new conspiracy theory: Facts are coming to light that the FBI might have had a hand, he wrote, in planning and carrying out that event. But by late July Trump himself took things full circle, releasing a tweet-like statement in which he falsely claimed that evidence might yet implicate Antifa or BLM activists: Will Nancy release the thousands of hours of tapes so we can see the extent to which ANTIFA and Black Lives Matter played a role?

Black Lives Matter Demonstrations Were Worse!

Republicans have attempted to deflect responsibility for the events of January 6th by pointing to the unrelated unrest that arose out of the murder of George Floyd in the spring and summer of 2020. In trying to gin up a reason to oppose the creation of an independent January 6th commission, Republicans insisted that the commission should also investigate what GOP partisans shorthanded as BLM riots.

These talking points came from the top. In May, Trump released a statement in which he demanded Republicans oppose the Democrat trap of the January 6 Commission calling it just more partisan unfairness unless the murders, riots, and fire bombings in Portland, Minneapolis, Seattle, Chicago, and New York are also going to be studied. He concluded, Hopefully, Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy are listening! (McConnell, as if taking his cue from Trump, would call the independent commission a purely political exercise and join with 35 GOP senators who succeeded in blocking its creation by using the filibuster.)

In the May House hearing, Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) cited injuries to police and other fallout from BLM riots last year to strike a pose of outrage that were going to discuss today  as if none of that happened  the events of January 6th. The hypocrisy of this body is, indeed, disturbing!

Republicans are still banging the drum that unrest over racial injustice somehow connects to the Capitol insurrection. I think its important to point out that Democrats created this environment sort of normalizing rioting, normalizing looting, normalizing anarchy in the summer of 2020, said Rep. Jim Jordan (R. Ohio) in late July. And I think thats an important piece of information to look into.

It Was Nancy Pelosis Fault!

The oddest, laziest argument Republicans have yet surfaced is that Pelosi is somehow to blame for the carnage of January 6th because she failed to anticipate  and fortify the Capitol against  the eventuality that the president of the United States would turn loose a mob to attack a co-equal branch of government.

Forget for a moment that Pelosi was in the Capitol at the time and her office was breached, and that this argument amounts to blaming a victim for that days crimes. The truth of the matter is that the speaker of the House has no special role to play when it comes to directing the security of the building, which is guarded by the Capitol Police. Aside from the reflexive GOP impulse to blame Pelosi for everything, condemning her makes no more sense than blaming her GOP counterpart McConnell, about whose actions Republicans have been totally silent.

Its of little surprise that this demented rhetoric comes from the mind of the man who actually set January 6th in motion. In a July 26th statement, Trump lofted the idea that Pelosis actions should be scrutinized, leveling false charges: Will Nancy investigate herself and those on Capitol Hill who didnt want additional protection, including more police and National Guard, therefore being unprepared despite the large crowd of people that everyone knew was coming?

The very next day, Stefanik, newly the third-ranking House Republican, stepped in front of cameras to blast Pelosi: The American people deserve to know the truth that Nancy Pelosi bears responsibility as Speaker of the House for the tragedy that occurred on January 6th. The most powerful House Republican, McCarthy  who recently fantasized aloud about striking Pelosi with the Speakers gavel if he were to succeed her in 2022  also parroted this nonsense: If there is a responsibility for this Capitol, on this side, it rests with the Speaker, McCarthy said.

This reckless and debasing behavior by top Republicans is an indication of the stranglehold Trump has over the modern GOP, and the extent to which he remains the audience of one for whom GOP politicians perform on TV. Republican congressman  and rare Trump antagonist  Kinzinger of Illinois insists that his party continues to make a mockery of itself, and its obligations to defend our democracy, to please the 45th president.

All Donald Trump needs to see is that youre making a defense, no matter how nonsensical that defense is, Kinzinger said in a recent interview. If you stand in front of the proper news channel that Trump watches and say, This is Pelosis fault, youve just done your job. It doesnt matter if it makes sense anymore. It just matters is that youve said something to placate him.
Back in 2002, when Alexandra Horowitz was working toward her Ph.D at the University of California at San Diego, she believed that dogs were a worthy thing to study. But her dissertation committee, which favored apes and monkeys, needed convincing.

"They were primate people," she said. "They all studied nonhuman primates or human primates, and that's where it was thought that the interesting cognitive work was going to happen. Trying to show them that there would be something interesting with dogs - that was a challenge."

Oh, how things can change in just two decades, especially in a nation that includes about 90 million dogs among its residents - everything from beloved pets to working dogs doing all kinds of tasks, from sniffing out drugs in airports to assisting blind people with crossing a street. Today, Horowitz is a senior research fellow at Barnard College in New York City, where her specialty is dog cognition: Understanding how dogs think, including the mental processes that go into tasks such as learning, problem-solving and communication. Dog cognition is now a widely respected field, a growing specialty branch of the more general animal-cognition research that has existed since the early 20th century.

"This field, and animal cognition, really, is all within our lifetimes," Horowitz said. "It's not as if nobody ever looked at dogs, but they weren't looking at their minds."

Looking at dogs' minds, so far, has revealed quite a few insights. The Canine Cognition Center at Yale University, using a game where humans offer dogs pointing and looking cues to spot where treats are hidden, showed that dogs can follow our thinking even without verbal commands. The Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany figured out that dogs are smart about getting what they want - they will eat forbidden food more frequently if humans can't see them. Researchers from Austria, Israel and Britain determined that seeing a caregiver, versus a stranger, activated dogs' brain regions of emotion and attachment much as it does in the human mother-child bond. Other European researchers showed that negative-reinforcement training (like jerking on a leash) causes lingering emotional changes and makes the dog less optimistic overall.

Some dog owners hear about this type of research and think: "They did a whole study to figure out that my dog looks where I point? I could have told you that." But the studies aren't just about what a dog is doing. They're indicating areas to research so that we can better understand why and how the dog is doing it - in other words, what's happening inside the dog's mind.

"Maybe they're not looking at your finger at all. Maybe they're paying attention to your face and not to your hand," said Federico Rossano, whose team at the University of California at San Diego is trying to determine whether dogs can translate their thoughts into words that humans can understand through a language device. "A lot of this becomes interesting in terms of how you can train them better."

- - -

Right now, with no organizing body in the field, it's hard to say exactly how many people are doing dog-cognition research. You can count on two hands the number of dedicated university spaces led by professors with graduate students and funding grants. When the leaders from those places get together once a year, it's usually at someone's home.

But researchers at universities doing studies on dogs? There are now many dozens of those, and there's no lack of students wanting to at least dabble in the work.

"The thing that gets my students all abuzz is that people always want to know whether their dog loves them back," said Ellen Furlong, associate professor of psychology at Illinois Wesleyan University and leader of its Dog Scientists Group.

Every semester, on the first day, she asks students if their dogs are happy. It's her way of helping them understand why the study of dog cognition is important.

"They're always kind of offended - 'Of course my dog is happy. I love my dog,' " she said. "But then you dig a little bit and push them and say: 'Your dog's life is different from your life. You get to decide when your dog gets to eat and play and go outside. You decide everything about your dog's life, but your dog isn't human. They have different wants and needs than you do.' They have a semester-long assignment where they have to consider how their work on cognition can help to design some enrichment activities to improve the dogs' lives."

The topics that dog-cognition researchers focus on today often are chosen based on personal interests. While Furlong is most curious about ethics, welfare and how humans can meet dogs' psychological needs, Horowitz is focusing her research on what dogs understand through smell. At the Duke Canine Cognition Center in North Carolina, Brian Hare is trying to determine - when a dog is still a puppy - whether the way a dog thinks might make her a good candidate for different jobs as an adult.

"We're saying, 'Here are some cognitive abilities that are critical for training for these jobs,' " Hare said. "It's a little bit like talking about personality, but we're talking about your cognitive personality, in a way. Maybe you have a really good memory for space, or maybe you're good at understanding human gestures. The question is whether we can identify some of these dogs really early, in the first two to three months of life, who will do well in these programs."

- - -

One example of dog cognition research with a potential training application is a study that Horowitz did on nose work - an activity that lets dogs use their natural abilities with scents to find everything from a treat hidden under a cone to marijuana in somebody's suitcase.

Horowitz and her team showed the dogs three buckets and taught them that one of the buckets always had a treat under it, and one did not. Then she measured how quickly the dogs went to the "ambiguous bucket" in the middle.

The dogs then attended nose-work classes. These types of advanced classes are widely available at the same types of schools that teach basic obedience. In the nose-work classes, dogs are encouraged and trained to use their noses to search for and find treats or favorite toys that are hidden under boxes or cones, inside suitcases or in other places.

After a few weeks of nose-work classes, Horowitz repeated the bucket test.

"What we found was the dogs in the nose-work class got faster at approaching ambiguous stimulus," she said, adding that the results suggest that for some dogs, taking nose-work classes could help them feel more optimistic. "The group that had nose work changed their behavior afterward, so I have to say it's something about the nose work. I don't know exactly what it was, but if the effect is profound and we keep seeing it, we would go in and try to see what it was that made it useful for the subjects."

- - -

Hare is widely credited with having jump-started America's dog-cognition research field. In the late 1990s as an undergraduate, he was doing research with chimpanzees when he realized they couldn't do something that his dogs could do: follow a human's pointing gesture to find food. Chimpanzees are the closest animal relatives humans have, and dogs could do something they couldn't. Researchers suddenly wanted to know why dogs could understand something that chimpanzees could not.

In his most recent study, published in July, Hare and his team looked at the difference between wolf and dog pups. There had been some debate in the dog-cognition field about where dogs' unusual abilities to cooperate with humans originate - whether those abilities are biological or taught. So the team gave a battery of temperament and cognition tests to dog and wolf puppies that were 5 weeks to 18 weeks old. The pups of both species were given the chance to approach familiar and unfamiliar humans to retrieve food; to follow a human's pointing gesture to find food; to make eye contact with humans, and more. The team found that even at such a young age, the dog pups were more attracted to humans, read the human gestures more skillfully, and made more eye contact with humans than the wolf pups did.

The conclusion? The way that humans domesticated dogs actually altered the dogs' developmental pathways, meaning their abilities to cooperate with us today are biological - a research result that is likely to have many practical implications.

"It's highly inheritable, and it's potentially manipulatable through breeding," Hare said, adding that dogs might be bred to specialize in certain types of thinking. The finding opens up the idea of studying dogs in ways that could make deep-pocketed entities like the U.S. government want to fund more dog-cognition research, Hare said.

By way of example, he talked about dogs he has worked with for the U.S. Marine Corps, compared with dogs he has worked with for Canine Companions for Independence in California. The Marines needed dogs in places like Afghanistan to help sniff out incendiary devices, while the companions agency needed dogs that were good at helping people with disabilities.

Just looking at both types of purpose-bred dogs, most people would think they're the same - to the naked eye, they all look like Labrador retrievers, and on paper, they would all be considered Labrador retrievers. But behaviorally and cognitively, because of their breeding for specific program purposes, Hare said, they were different in many ways.

Hare devised a test that could tell them apart in two or three minutes. It's a test that's intentionally impossible for the dog to solve - what Star Trek fans would recognize as the Kobayashi Maru. In Hare's version, the dog was at first able to get a reward from inside a container whose lid was loosely secured and easy to dislodge; then, the reward was placed inside the same container with the lid locked and unable to be opened. Just as Starfleet was trying to figure out what a captain's character would lead him to do in a no-win situation, Hare's team was watching whether the dog kept trying to solve the test indefinitely, or looked to a human for help.

"What we found is that the dogs that ask for help are fantastic at the assistance-dog training, and the dogs that persevere and try to solve the problem no matter what are ideal for the detector training," Hare said. "It's not testing to see which dog is smart or dumb. What we've been able to show is that some of these measures tell you what jobs these dogs would be good at."

What comes next in the field of dog-cognition research is probably a bit more of everything. Some researchers are following their interests, while others are following the research grants. Those grants can come from a wide array of sources, including the government trying to help soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder, shelters trying to rehome animals and neuroscience institutes looking for insights across species.

"It's a really exciting moment," Hare said. "I think we can continue on with individual researchers pursuing fun, interesting things - the students and the universities love it - but most successful academic endeavors have two parts. Being intellectual is wonderful, but that kind of research tends to struggle with funding. Academic endeavors with practical application tend to be incredibly well funded, and then the field grows.

"If you can have both of those things, then it will grow, and it will grow phenomenally," he added. "If it's just, 'We're going to do this because people love dogs,' that'll be fun, but it will stay small like it is now."
MECOSTA COUNTY  About 1,200 households in Mecosta County were still without electricity Saturday morning.

As of 9 a.m. Saturday, Consumers Energy's online outage map showed 1,219 customers in Mecosta County without power, down from 2,204 customers listed Friday afternoon. At that time, Consumers Energy had reset restoration estimates to late Sunday night; however, in a news release Friday, the company said it hoped to have the majority of outages fixed by the end of Saturday.

Here's a list of how many customers in Mecosta County that Consumers Energy still has left, as of 9 a.m. Saturday. All estimated time of restoration (ETR) are listed as 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15, unless otherwise noted.

 Stanwood (49346):186 customers affected, 9.8%.

 Mecosta (49322): 511 customers affected, 21.8%.

 Remus (49340): 169 customers affected, 26.9%.

 Barryton (49305): 52 customers affected, 10.7%.

 Big Rapids (49307): 189 customers affected, 2.6%. ETR is 10:45 a.m. Saturday.

More than 500 crews from seven different states, some as far away as Missouri, New York and Tennesee, have been working 16-hour shifts to restore power to about 800,000 homes and businesses across Michigan. Of those, about 370,000 were Consumers Energy customers, making it one of the top 10 significant weather event in company history, according to a news release Friday.

These storms hit Michigan hard, but we are working tirelessly to get our customers back up and running, said Guy Packard, Consumers Energys vice president for electric operations. We are grateful for our customers patience and want them to know well keep working until the power is back on for everyone.

To see the latest restoration times, check out Consumers Energy's outage map at consumersenergy.com/outagemap.

RESOURCES

For those impacted by outages, several Mecosta County Parks are open to the public for refilling water containers, charging electronics and showering. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and entrance fees will be waived for those without power.

 Brower Park is at 23056 Polk Road in Mecosta Township.

 Paris Park is at 22090 Northland Drive in Paris.

 Merrill-Gorrel Park is at 3275 Evergreen in Fork Township.

Other places offering free water container filling and electronics charging:

 Morton Township Fire Station No. 1, 8260 100th Ave., Canadian Lakes

 Green Charter Township Hall, 21431 Northland Drive, Paris.
ABBEVILLE, La. (AP)  Four arrests have been made in connection with a killing that happened more than three years ago in the city of Abbeville.

Police told news outlets in the Acadiana region Thursday that new evidence led to the arrest of one person on a second-degree murder charge in the death of Marlon Brown.
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BOSTON (AP)  A Massachusetts man, alleged to be a leader of the MS-13 gang, has pleaded guilty to his involvement in a racketeering conspiracy that led to the murder of a 17-year-old boy, the U.S. Attorneys office said.

Djavier Duggins, 32, pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity in federal court, the Daily Item reported. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 15.
CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  The Australian government said Friday that it remained seriously concerned about the welfare of a Chinese-born Australian journalist a year after she was first detained in China.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne used the first anniversary of Cheng Lei's detention on Aug. 13 to tell China that Australia expected basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment to be met, in accordance with international norms.

The Australian government remains seriously concerned about Ms. Chengs detention and welfare and has regularly raised these issues at senior levels, Payne said in a statement.

We are particularly concerned that one year into her detention, there remains a lack of transparency about the reasons for Ms. Chengs detention, she added.

In February, China formally arrested the 46-year-old journalist for CGTN, the English-language channel of China Central Television, on suspicion of illegally supplying state secrets overseas.

The allegations, which could result a penalty of life in prison or even death, are highly unusual for an employee of a media outlet tightly controlled by Chinas ruling Communist Party.

Chengs two children, aged 10 and 12, live with their grandmother in the Australian city of Melbourne.

The National Press Clubs of the United States and Australia as well as the reporters former CGTN colleagues and friends have recently written open letters calling for her immediate release.

Cheng Leis yearlong detention is an assault on journalism and on human rights. Cheng is a single mother of two. Her children have been living with their grandmother in Australia without knowing if they will ever be reunited with their mother, a U.S. National Press Club statement said.

China has tried to make Cheng disappear, but the world has not forgotten about her or the several dozen other reporters unjustly jailed in China, the statement added.

Worsening bilateral relations since Australia called for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic are suspected by many to be the cause of Chengs arrest.

A month before Cheng was detained, Australia warned its citizens of a risk of arbitrary detention in China. China dismissed the warning as disinformation.

Before the last two journalists working for Australian media in China left the country in September, they were questioned by Chinese authorities about Cheng.

Australian Broadcasting Corp. reporter Bill Birtles and The Australian Financial Reviews Michael Smith were told they were persons of interest in an investigation into Cheng.

Australia has criticized China for charging Chinese Australian spy novelist Yang Hengjun with espionage. He has been detained since January 2019.

Australian Karm Gilespie was sentenced to death in China last year, seven years after he was arrested and charged with attempting to board an international flight with more than 7.5 kilograms (16.5 pounds) of methamphetamine. Some observers suspect that such a severe sentence so long after the crime was related to the bilateral rift.

Cheng was an anchor for CGTNs BizAsia program. She was born in China and worked in finance in Australia before returning to China and starting a career in journalism with CCTV in Beijing in 2003.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  The fight over mask and vaccine mandates moved to the center of Californias looming recall election Friday, with candidate Larry Elder promising to swiftly roll back sweeping government orders while Democrats denounced the leading Republican as a science skeptic who would endanger public health.

Elder, in his first press conference since announcing his candidacy July 12, told reporters that if he replaces Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in the Sept. 14 election, then any mask or vaccine mandates in place at that time will be suspended right away.

Elder stressed during the online gathering that his remarks were focused on what he would do as governor regarding state employees, and private businesses would be free to set their own standards.

At the state level, Im not going to require any kind of public worker to wear masks, any kind of public worker to have a vaccine. I think thats an assault on freedom, Elder added.

Elder, a 69-year-old attorney, said he was vaccinated at the suggestion of his doctor, given a blood condition and other factors.

I believe vaccines work and I believe that if youre in a high-risk category, you should be vaccinated. But there are many Americans who disagree with me, feel that the vaccine was done too quickly, he said, referring to the emergency use authorization under which the vaccines were quickly approved by federal regulators.

Earlier this week, Newsom announced that California will require all teachers and school staff to get vaccinated or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing, amid growing concerns about the highly contagious delta variant.

Previously, the governor mandated that all health care workers must be fully vaccinated and required that all state employees get vaccinated or choose weekly testing. The weekly testing schedule is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In San Francisco, Newsom depicted Elder as an extremist who doesnt believe in mask wearing and would presage a return to the depths of the pandemic by lifting requirements for hundreds of thousands of workers.

He made the remarks while visiting campaign volunteers, who were sitting at tables outside a restaurant sending text messages to voters urging them to oppose the recall that could remove Newsom from office.

He was joined by city Democratic leaders including Board of Equalization member Malia Cohen, who urged Democrats to unite to fight a much greater enemy ... the enemy of science deniers, an obvious swipe at Elder.

The friction over mask wearing and vaccines mirrors a national uproar that has highlighted ideological and political divides. In South Carolina, for example, Gov. Henry McMaster is threatening to withhold funding to schools in his states capital of Columbia over masking rules, while Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has vowed to enforce a similar order against mask mandates that could put him in conflict with Dallas and other large school districts.

In his remarks to volunteers, Newsom focused largely on Elder, who since joining the race has emerged as the front-runner in fundraising and polling, outdistancing 23 other Republicans on the ballot.

The first-term Democrat once seen as a likely presidential prospect issued an ominous warning about his possible ouster in the heavily Democratic state, saying the minimum wage would be eliminated and other progressive policies endangered. That, in turn, could domino around the country.

Larry Elder is running away with this on the other side, he said.

During his visit, Newsom sat down at a computer to take a turn connecting with voters he hopes will return their mail ballots, which already are reaching homes. Hell hold similar events around the state through the weekend.

In other campaign activity Friday, Republican businessman John Cox, who was defeated by Newsom in 2018, was in San Diego to promote his proposed $30 billion tax cut. When Im governor we are going to implement the largest tax cut in state history, he said in a statement.

Another Republican, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, stopped in the Los Angeles suburbs to fault Newsom for spiking crime rates and the dire homeless crisis. Gavin Newsom has failed communities across our state. If we want things to change, we need a leader," Faulconer said.

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Blood reported from Los Angeles.
FRESNO, Calif. (AP)  A California man was charged Thursday with making 10 shrapnel bombs, including one that was thrown at a home and burned a fence, authorities said.

A federal grand jury indicted Wes Parker McDaniel, 52, of Merced in the San Joaquin Valley, on charges of making and possessing unregistered destructive devices, destroying property with an explosive, impersonating a federal agent and being a felon illegally possessing a rifle and ammunition that were found at his home, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney's office.

It wasn't immediately clear whether McDaniel had an attorney to speak on his behalf.

McDaniel was arrested two days after police said the backyard fence of a Merced home caught fire on June 20 and metal shrapnel damaged the outside of the home. Video surveillance footage showed someone throwing a lit device over the fence and that led to McDaniel, authorities said.

Nobody was hurt but a bomb squad found five additional explosive devices around the home. Investigators determined that they were built with an explosive powder and metal shrapnel designed to cause damage and injury, authorities have said.

Other similar explosives were found when police searched McDaniel's home, investigators said.

Authorities haven't said why McDaniel allegedly targeted the home.

McDaniel also is charged with falsely claiming to be a National Security Agency special agent and trying to arrest someone on June 20, the U.S. attorney's office said.

The statement didn't provide details.

If convicted, McDaniel could face up to 20 years in prison for malicious destruction of property by means of explosive materials and up to 10 years for each of the other weapons and bomb charges.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  California's Asian population grew by 25% in the past decade, making it the fastest growing ethnic group in the nation's most populous state, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau released Thursday.

California's white population plummeted by 24% between 2010 and 2020, confirming California is one of three states  along with New Mexico and Hawaii  where whites are not the largest ethnic group.

Hispanics surpassed whites as California's largest ethnic group in 2014. The Census data show California's Hispanic population grew by 11% to 15.5 million people, making up just shy of 40% of the state's nearly 40 million residents.

But it was the Asian population that had the biggest percentage gain over the past decade. California now has more than 6 million people of Asian descent  more than the total population of most other states.

Ten years ago, none of California's 58 counties counted Asians as their largest ethnic group. Now, two do: Alameda County, which includes the cities of Oakland and Berkeley, and Santa Clara County, home to San Jose  the nation's 10th most-populous city  and the technology capitol of Silicon Valley.

I think the story nationwide focuses primarily on the Hispanic population, but in California ... I think the Asian population, in particular related to the growth in the younger age groups, is sort of a major driver of factors as to why we see this large increase over the past 10 years, said Noli Brazil, a demographer at the University of California-Davis.

The data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau will be the foundation for redrawing 429 U.S. House districts in 44 states. Republicans need five seats to win a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Data released earlier this year shows Democratic-heavy California will lose a Congressional seat for the first time in its history because its population grew at a slower rate compared to other states. But California's redistricting process will likely have less partisan drama because, unlike most states, it is led by an independent Citizens Redistricting Commission instead of the state Legislature.

There were few surprises for California in Thursday's data release. Los Angeles County remains the nation's most populous, with more than 10 million people. Eleven counties lost population, with most of them in the sparsely populated region near the Oregon border that has been devastated by wildfires in recent years.

Nine counties had double-digit percentage population growth, led by Trinity County in Northern California with 16.9% growth. Riverside County in Southern California had the largest gain in total population, adding more than 228,000 residents.

California's Asian population growth has led to growing political power for the community, including earlier this year when Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Rob Bonta as the state's first Filipino-American attorney general.

The state Legislature now has 14 Asian Pacific Islanders, a number that will grow to 15 once a special election is held to fill an Alameda County vacancy in the state Assembly, according to Alex Vassar, an unofficial legislative historian at the California State Library.

The rise in influence has coincided with a rise in hate crimes against Asians. A report by the California Attorney General's Office in June revealed 89 hate crimes against Asians in 2020, more than double the amount in 2019. The most events were recorded in March and April of 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic was taking hold in the state.

California's new operating budget includes $156.5 million in response to the attacks on the Asian community, with most of the money going to community organizations that provide victim services.

About $10 million will go toward better data collection to better understand the needs and challenges of the diverse community. Robyn Rodriguez, a professor of Asian American Studies at the University of California-Davis, noted California's Asian population is linguistically diverse and culturally and religiously diverse" that require better data to understand the nuances of the community.

Asian Americans come to the United States under very different circumstances, she said. Some are the products of war and displacement. Others are the product of immigration, of people making the choice to come here. All of these are complexities that really require some better attention.
WAIMEA, Hawaii (AP)  A metal roof sits atop the burned remains of a homestead on the once-lush slopes of Hawaii's Mauna Kea  a dormant volcano and the state's tallest peak  charred cars and motorcycles strewn about as wind-whipped sand and ash blast the scorched landscape.

Generations of Kumu Micah Kamohoalii's family have lived on these lands reserved for Native Hawaiians, and his cousin owns this house destroyed by the state's largest-ever wildfire.

Ive never seen a fire this big, Kamohoalii said. Waimea has had fires, many of them before and some maybe a few hundred acres, but not this size.

The fire has burned more than 70 square miles (181 square kilometers) in the two weeks it has been going. But it wasn't the first time this area has burned, and won't be the last. Like many islands in the Pacific, Hawaii's dry seasons are getting more extreme with climate change.

Everyone knows Waimea to be the pasturelands and to be all the green rolling hills. And so when I was young, all of this was always green, Kamohoalii said. In the last 10 to 15 years, it has been really, really dry.

Huge wildfires highlight the dangers of climate change-related heat and drought for many communities throughout the U.S. West and other hotspots around the world. But experts say relatively small fires on typically wet, tropical islands in the Pacific are also on the rise, creating a cycle of ecological damage that affects vital and limited resources for millions of residents.

From Micronesia to Hawaii, wildfires have been a growing problem for decades. With scarce funding to prevent and suppress these fires, island communities have struggled to address the problem.

On tropical islands, fires have a unique set of impacts, said Clay Trauernicht, an ecosystems and wildfire researcher at the University of Hawaii. First and foremost, fires were very rare prior to human arrival on any Pacific island. The vegetation, the native ecosystems, really evolved in the absence of frequent fires. And so when you do get these fires, they tend to kind of wreak havoc.

But it's not just burnt land that is affected. Fires on islands harm environments from the top of mountains to below the ocean's surface.

Once a fire occurs, what youre doing is removing vegetation, Trauernicht said. And we often get heavy rainfall events. All of that exposed soil gets carried downstream and we have these direct impacts of erosion, sedimentation on our marine ecosystems. So it really hammers our coral reefs as well.

Pacific island reefs support local food production, create barriers to large storm surges and are a critical part of tourism that keeps many islands running.

The wet season on tropical islands also causes fire-adapted grasses to grow tall and thick, building fuel for the next summer's wildfires.

Guinea grass grows six inches a day in optimal conditions and a six-foot tall patch of grass can throw 20-foot flame lengths, said Michael Walker, Hawaiis state fire protection forester. So what we have here are really fast-moving, very hot, very dangerous fires.

Walker said such non-native grasses that have proliferated in Hawaii are adapted to fire, but native species and shrubs are not.

While (these wildfires) may not compare to the size and duration of what folks have in the western United States, we burn a significant portion of our lands every year because of these grass fires, and theyre altering our natural ecosystems and converting forests to grass, he said.

The latest wildfire on Hawaii's Big Island burned about 1% of the state's total land, and other islands in the Pacific such as Palau, Saipan and Guam burn even more  up to 10% in severe fire years.

On average, Guam has nearly 700 wildfires a year, Palau about 175 and Saipan about 20, according to data from 2018.

Guam, like many other places, has long used fire as a tool. Farmers sometimes use it to clear fields and hunters have been known to burn areas while poaching.

The U.S. territory's forestry chief Christine Camacho Fejeran said fires on the island are mostly caused by arson. So all of Guams wildfires are human-caused issues, whether its an intentional or an escaped backyard fire or another (cause), she said.

On average, Fejeran said, 6,000 to 7,000 acres (2,430 to 2,830 hectares) of the island burns each year, amounting to about 5% of its land.

While no homes have been lost to recent wildfires on Guam, Fejeran believes that trend will come to an end  unless more is done to combat the fires.

The island has made some changes in fire legislation, management, education and enforcement. Arson has become a chargeable offense, but Fejeran says enforcement remains an obstacle in the tight-knit community.

Back in Hawaii, last week's blaze destroyed three homes, but the fire threatened many more.

Mikiala Brand, who has lived for two decades on a 50-acre homestead, watched as flames came within a few hundred yards (meters) of her house.

As the fire grew closer, she saw firefighters, neighbors and the National Guard racing into her rural neighborhood to fight it. She had to evacuate her beloved home twice in less than 24 hours.

Of course it was scary, she said. But I had faith that the strong, the brave and the talented, and along with nature and Akua, which is our name for the universal spirit, would take care.

Demonstrating the tenacity of many Native Hawaiians in her farming and ranching community, Brand said, I only worry about what I have control over.

Down the mountain in Waikoloa Village, a community of about 7,000, Linda Hunt was also forced to evacuate. She works at a horse stable and scrambled to save the animals as flames whipped closer.

We only have one and a half roads to get out  you have the main road and then you have the emergency access, Hunt said of a narrow dirt road. Everybody was trying to evacuate, there was a lot of confusion.

The fire was eventually put out just short of the densely populated neighborhood, but had flames reached the homes, it could have been disastrous on the parched landscape.

When you have high winds like we get here, it's difficult no matter how big your fire break is, it's going to blow right through, Hunt said.

While fires are becoming more difficult to fight because of dry and hot conditions associated with climate change, experts say the Pacific islands still can help prevent these blazes from causing ecological damage and property losses.

Fire presents a pretty interesting component of kind of all these climate change impacts that we're dealing with in the sense that they are manageable, said Trauernicht, the University of Hawaii wildfire expert.

In addition to education and arson prevention, he said, land use  such as grazing practices and reforestation that reduce volatile grasses  could help.

It's within our control, potentially, to reduce the impacts that we're seeing with fires, Trauernicht said. Both in terms of forest loss as well as the impacts on coral reefs.

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Associated Press writer Victoria Milko reported from Jakarta.

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On Twitter follow Caleb Jones: @CalebAP and Victoria Milko: @TheVMilko

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  Oregons governor said Friday she will send up to 1,500 National Guard troops to hospitals around the state to assist healthcare workers who are being pushed to the brink by a surge of COVID-19 cases driven by the Delta variant.

Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, said the first group of 500 Guard members will be deployed next Friday to serve as material and equipment runners in the most stricken hospitals and to help with COVID-19 testing, among other things. Troops will be sent to 20 hospitals around Oregon.

There are 733 people hospitalized with the virus in Oregon as of Friday, including 185 people in intensive care units  more than 60 people more than just a day before and nearly double what the number was two weeks ago.

I cannot emphasize enough the seriousness of this crisis for all Oregonians, especially those needing emergency and intensive care, Brown said, reiterating that message. When our hospitals are full with COVID-19 patients, there may not be room for someone needing care after a car crash, a heart attack, or other emergency situation.

The Delta variant now makes up 96% of all samples tested, up from just 15% six weeks ago, according to Oregon Health Authority data.

The harsh, and frustrating reality is that the Delta variant has changed everything," the governor said.

Oregon, once viewed as a pandemic success story, has seen that progress slip away in recent weeks as the highly contagious Delta variant gains a foothold in counties with lower vaccination rates. The state kept an indoor mask mandate and social distancing rules in place until June 30, shut down restaurants, bars, gyms and other businesses repeatedly since March 2020 and had strict indoor capacity limits for businesses long after other states had returned to near-normal.

Amid the surge, Brown has mandated masks for all students and staff in K-12 schools when classes resume later this month regardless of vaccination status and a new statewide indoor mask mandate took effect Friday.

But earlier this week, hospitals warned that Oregon's record-setting virus hospitalization numbers were pushing them to capacity and some have already had to start delaying care for non-COVID conditions. Several counties in southern Oregon, where fewer than half of eligible adults are vaccinated, are particularly hard hit.

All hospitals in Jackson and Josephine counties, in the state's southwest corner, are at capacity, with patients on gurneys in hallways and emergency rooms overflowing. The counties teamed up to ask the state to set up a medical tent for non-COVID patients. They are awaiting a response.

This is the worst condition our hospitals have seen, likely ever. I dont know that anyone could recall a time where weve had this much pressure on our health care system, Josephine County Public Health Manager Michael Weber told reporters Thursday on a conference call.

Oregon Health & Science University said dire projections show the state will have 1,000 hospitalized COVID-19 patients on Labor Day if nothing changes, leaving Oregon short 400 to 500 hospital beds.

This is the worst-case scenario that Oregonians worked so hard to avoid in March 2020," the hospital said in a statement. Its a shocking number, and one that was repeatedly checked against other available data and the effects of the current surge observed in other states.

There were 1,785 new or presumed cases statewide Friday and seven deaths. Other deaths this week included a 19-year-old woman in the state's rural northeastern corner.

About 29% of adults in Oregon are unvaccinated and more than 102,000 vaccine doses have been thrown away because of non-use. More than 70% of eligible residents have had at least once shot, and 65% are fully vaccinated, according to state data.

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Associated Press Writers Andrew Selsky in Salem, Oregon and Sara Cline in Portland contributed to this report.

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Follow Gillian Flaccus on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/gflaccus.
SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (AP)  Rhode Island child welfare authorities have determined that neglect contributed to the "near fatality" of a 5-year-old child in June, officials said Friday.

The Department of Children, Youth & Families in a statement said it had previously been involved with the family of the child from South Kingstown, but was not involved with the family at the time of the June 25 incident.
WASHINGTON (AP)  John Durham, the federal prosecutor tapped to investigate the origins of the Russia investigation, has been presenting evidence before a grand jury as part of his probe, a person familiar with the matter said Friday.

The development is a potential sign that Durham may be mulling additional criminal charges beyond the one he brought last year against a former FBI lawyer who admitted altering an email about a Trump campaign aide who'd been under FBI surveillance. Durham is also expected to complete a report at some point.

A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment, citing an ongoing investigation.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier Friday that Durham was presenting evidence to a grand jury and contemplating possible charges against some FBI employees and others outside government. A person familiar with the matter, who was not authorized to discuss it by name and spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed Durham's use of the grand jury to The Associated Press.

Durham was appointed to the position in 2019 by then-Attorney General William Barr, with a mandate to examine how the FBI and intelligence community set about investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election and potential coordination with Donald Trump's presidential campaign. His team has interviewed a broad swath of officials across the Justice Department and intelligence community, including former CIA Director John Brennan.

Durham's investigation is in addition to a separate inquiry by the Justice Department's inspector general, which issued a December 2019 report finding significant errors and omissions in FBI applications to monitor the communications of former Trump campaign aide Carter Page. The report did not find evidence that any actions by FBI or Justice Department officials were motivated by partisan bias.

Weeks before he resigned as attorney general, Barr appointed Durham  who for years served as the U.S. attorney in Connecticut  as a special counsel, a move designed to give him extra protection to complete his work under the Biden administration.

One area of focus in Durham's inquiry has been the FBI's reliance on anti-Trump research that was conducted by former British spy Christopher Steele, and which U.S. officials cited in applications to a secretive surveillance court for warrants to monitor Page's communications.

The Brookings Institution has confirmed that it received a subpoena from Durham last Dec. 31 for records and other information related to a former employee  a Russia analyst who functioned as a source of information for Steele and who was later interviewed by the FBI.

Durham has also been examining whether anyone presented the U.S. government with information that they knew to be false about potential connections between Alfa Bank, a privately-owned, commercial bank in Russia, and a Trump campaign server, according to the person familiar with the matter. The FBI investigated but concluded that there were no cyber links, according to the inspector general report.

Alfa Bank has, meanwhile, alleged in a lawsuit in Florida state court that it was the target of highly sophisticated cyberattacks in 2016 and 2017, and that it was victimized by a disinformation campaign aimed at publicly and incorrectly linking the bank to the Trump campaign. Durham's line of inquiry resembles the claims in that suit, the person said.

Last August, Durham reached a plea deal with Kevin Clinesmith, a former FBI lawyer who admitted doctoring an email about Page as the FBI was renewing its applications to eavesdrop on Page under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Clinesmith was sentenced to probation. He is the only person charged so far by Durham.

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Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)  The United States says it is sending a special envoy to Ethiopia as the fast-moving conflict in the Tigray region has spread into neighboring regions and Ethiopias government this week called on all able citizens to stop the resurgent Tigray forces once and for all.

The widening war in Africas second-most populous country, with 110 million people, is also a growing humanitarian crisis. Millions of people in Tigray remain beyond the reach of food and other aid as the United Nations and U.S. say Ethiopian authorities allow just a small fraction of whats needed. And hundreds of thousands of people in the Amhara and Afar regions are displaced as Tigray forces move in, vowing to go to the capital, Addis Ababa, if needed to stop the fighting and remove the blockade on their region of 6 million people.

Its one of these cases where weve run out of words to describe the horror of what civilians are being inflicted, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters this week. More conflict can only lead, sadly, to more civilian pain.

Heres a look at the latest in the nine-month war and what pressure the U.S. special envoy might apply.

WHAT IS THE U.S. SEEKING IN ETHIOPIA?

The U.S. announced overnight that special envoy Jeffrey Feltman would travel to Ethiopia, neighboring Djibouti and the United Arab Emirates, a key Ethiopia ally, starting on Sunday. This is a critical moment, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan tweeted. Months of war have brought immense suffering and division to a great nation, that wont be healed through more fighting. We call on all parties to urgently come to the negotiating table.

That seems highly unlikely. Ethiopias government this year declared the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front, which dominated the government for nearly three decades before Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018, a terrorist group. The Tigray forces have set several preconditions for talks and say Abiy no longer has the legitimacy to govern. They retook much of the Tigray region in June in a dramatic turn in the war as Ethiopias military retreated.

What began as a political dispute has now killed thousands of people.

Discussing what pressure the U.S. could apply to encourage negotiations, a congressional aide told The Associated Press that I understand all options are on the table, from Global Magnitsky (sanctions over human rights violations) to an executive order on sanctions, to removal from (the African Growth and Opportunity Act), to more restrictive measures on assistance, as well as ways to block Ethiopias efforts to get cash from international financial institutions. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on policy discussions.

Officials and lawmakers in Washington have signaled impatience as Ethiopian officials deny widespread human rights abuses such as gang-rapes and forced expulsions of ethnic Tigrayans or blame the Tigray forces.

The Ethiopian governments prickly dismissal of a new Amnesty International report on shocking sexual violence against Tigrayan women during the war reflects the tone-deafness with which the government is handling the multiple conflicts and humanitarian crises across the country, Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Sen. Jim Risch tweeted on Thursday.

WHAT DOES ETHIOPIA'S GOVERNMENT SAY?

Ethiopias government has repeatedly expressed frustration, alleging without evidence that the U.S., U.N. and others are taking the side of the Tigray forces or supporting the fighters with aid. It has asserted that disproportionate attention is paid to the Tigray people and not enough is done to address alleged abuses by Tigray forces in the Amhara and Afar regions.

The most urgent allegation was raised by the U.N. childrens agency, which cited credible information from partners about deadly attacks last week on a camp for newly displaced people in Afar. A U.N. team plans to assess the scene as soon as security allows, the agency said Thursday. Ethiopias government has blamed the Tigray forces, whose spokesman Getachew Reda denied it but said theyre willing to cooperate in an independent investigation.

In the Amhara region, humanitarian groups are having trouble reaching their colleagues in Woldiya, one center of the fighting, amid a communications blackout. Now the Tigray forces have formed a military alliance with the Oromo Liberation Army, also designated by Ethiopia as a terrorist group.

On Thursday the prime minister's spokeswoman, Billene Seyoum, told reporters that the governments call to arms this week, signaling an end to a unilateral cease-fire, meant that Ethiopians are urged to stop the Tigray forces by all means necessary. She said this is not a result of the militarys inability to take on the Tigray forces, and asserted that in the millions, people are taking this call.

WHAT ABOUT THE FATE OF EVERYDAY PEOPLE?

Caught in the middle are civilians, and efforts to reach them with aid are increasingly challenging because of the Ethiopian governments concern that it will end up helping the Tigray forces.

Just 10% of the aid needed for Tigray reached the region in recent weeks, the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Samantha Power, told reporters after a brief Ethiopia visit last week in which the prime minister did not meet her. USAID has estimated that up to 900,000 people in Tigray face man-made famine conditions while phone, internet and banking services remain cut off.

The U.N. World Food Program on Friday said at least 30 trucks a day must enter the region to address the need and what has arrived so far is a drop in the ocean.

Meanwhile, Ethiopias government has suspended the operations of two major international aid groups, the Dutch section of Doctors Without Borders and the Norwegian Refugee Council, accusing them of spreading misinformation. This has further deterred many humanitarian workers from speaking openly, worried about retaliation. It also means efforts to respond to the crises in the Amhara and Afar regions could be affected.

Some humanitarian organizations may now alter their public messaging campaigns or self-censor to avoid facing suspension. This would further contribute to Ethiopias closing civic space, the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies wrote on Thursday.

That means even less knowledge about conditions on the ground as many journalists face government-imposed restrictions, it said, adding that civilians will suffer.
ROME (AP)  Gino Strada, an Italian surgeon who co-founded the humanitarian group Emergency to provide medical care for civilian victims of war and poverty in many countries, and was a fierce critic of the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan, has died. He was 73.

His daughter, Cecilia Strada, tweeted: Friends, my dad #GinoStrada is no more. Emergency announced Friday that Our beloved Gino died this morning. He was founder, surgeon, executive director, the soul of Emergency.

Neither cited a cause of death, but the website of Corriere della Sera newspaper said Strada had been suffering from heart problems for years, and died in France.

Prominent among Emergencys medical missions in 19 countries was Afghanistan.

Exactly on the day of his death, Italian newspaper La Stampa had published an article by Strada in light of the Talibans rapid military takeover of key cities in the country in the last few days.

Strada wrote that the blitz shouldnt surprise anyone who has a discrete knowledge of Afghanistan or at least a good memory.

It seems to be that both are lacking  or, better  both were always lacking, Strada wrote in the La Stampa opinion piece. The war against Afghanistan has been  no more, no less  a war of aggression, launched after the Sept. 11 attack, by the United States, to which all the Western countries tagged along.

Strada wrote that in his seven years in Afghanistan, I saw the number of wounded and the violence increase, while the country became progressively devoured by insecurity and corruption."

Referring to his anti-war stance, Strada wrote: We were saying 20 years ago that this war would be a disaster for everybody. Today the outcome of that aggression is before our eyes: a failure from every point of view.

Born in the Milan suburb of Sesto San Giovanni on April 21, 1948, Strada earned his medical and surgical degree at that citys State University and specialized in emergency room surgery. He transferred to the United States where for four years he worked on heart and heart-lung surgery at the medical centers of Stanford and Pittsburgh universities, Emergency said. He also trained at Groote Schuur Hospital in Capetown, South Africa.

He decided to put his skills to use helping civilians wounded in war. Starting in 1988, he worked with the International Red Cross in Pakistan, Ethiopia, Thailand, Afghanistan, Peru, Djibouti, Somalia and Bosnia.

In 1994, together with his wife, Teresa Sarti, and some friends and colleagues, he founded Emergency. The organization began its first mission in Rwanda, ravaged by genocidal war, and went on to establish projects in 18 other countries. Among them was Cambodia, where Strada remained for several years.

His daughter, Cecilia, is currently managing communications with the charity ResQ People Saving People, which operates a migrant rescue boat in the Mediterranean Sea. Helping people and saving lives is what he and my mama taught me, she tweeted after announcing her fathers death.

In a message of condolence, Italian President Sergio Mattarella said Strada led his life in line with our Constitution, which repudiates war. He was referring to Italy's Constitution written and adopted after the country's devastation in World War II.

The surgeon, Mattarella said, invoked "humanity where conflict was cancelling out all respect for persons.

Italy pulled out its troops from Afghanistan in June, following the announcement by Washington that the U.S. military mission was ending there this year.
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP)  A Mississippi woman has pleaded guilty in a federal health care fraud case, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release.

Joy Beth Harden, 51, of Columbia, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of health care fraud involving Medicare and other health benefit programs, said the news release distributed Thursday. Prosecutors said Harden submitted fraudulent bills for medical equipment on behalf of her business, which operated as Duracare Home Medical Equipment in the Hattiesburg area.
CHICAGO (AP)  Say goodbye to at least one of your GOP U.S. House members, Illinois.

The release of new, detailed census data means Democrats who control state government can begin the once-in-a-decade process of redrawing Illinois' congressional district boundaries. With the state losing a congressional seat due to population loss, they're certain to eliminate a district in heavily Republican areas of central and southern Illinois, where most of the losses occurred.

What remains to be seen is which Republican will be drawn out of his or her district  and whether the maneuvering will help Democrats keep control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2022 midterms. Republicans control redistricting in more states than Democrats, including in growing states such as Texas and Florida, and the GOP needs to pick up only five seats to win the majority.

It's pretty much going to be a scratch ball game, said Alvin Tillery Jr., an associate professor of political science and director of the Center for the Study of Diversity and Democracy at Northwestern University.

What's not in question is that one of Illinois' congressional districts currently held by a Republican  all five of which lost population between 2010 and 2020, according to the census  will become part of another GOP representative's district.

I don't think there's going to be anything Republicans can do to stop that, Tillery said.

Illinois currently has 18 congressional districts, with Democrats holding 13 House seats and the GOP controlling five. Under the new map they must draw 17 districts of roughly equal population.

Four of the Republican districts are in central and southern Illinois, and are held by Reps. Rodney Davis, Darin LaHood, Mike Bost and Mary Miller, who is in her first term. The fifth GOP district skirts around the farthest suburbs of Chicago and into largely rural areas of northern Illinois. Its held by Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who was among 10 Republicans who voted to impeach President Donald Trump.

Democrats could carve up Kinzingers district, putting portions that more reliably vote for Democratic candidates into other districts where the party has had some of its toughest reelection fights in recent cycles. That includes the 14th District, which is made up of suburbs and rural areas stretching from the Wisconsin border south through parts of McHenry, Kane and DuPage County, and where Democratic Rep. Lauren Underwood won a second term last fall by just over 1 percentage point against Republican state Sen. Jim Oberweis.

Another area Democrats would like to shore up is the 17th District, which is currently held by Rep. Cheri Bustos, who isnt seeking reelection. Bustos also won a narrow victory in 2020 in a northwestern Illinois district that supported Trump.

Democrats also could change boundaries for the 13th district in central Illinois, where Davis was targeted by Democrats in 2018 and 2020 and won both times. Both Kinzinger and Davis have been mentioned as possible candidates to challenge Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker next year, though both have said theyre waiting to see how the new political boundaries look before deciding what to do.

Eight of the 13 districts held by Democrats gained population over the last decade while five lost population, some modestly. The 17th district, held by Bustos, saw the largest population loss of any Illinois district between 2010 and 2020, losing 5.48% of its population.

Two of the other biggest losers by percentage of population were the 12th district in far southern Illinois, currently held by Bost, and the 15th district in southeastern Illinois, represented by Miller. That could mean the two will be drawn into the same district under a new map.

Democrats have not publicly set a timeline for drafting and releasing the new maps, which must be approved by the Legislature  where the party holds veto-proof majorities in both chambers  and signed by Pritzker.

The redistricting process already has angered Republicans and others who want to see independently drawn political maps rather than a process controlled by the party in power. They have criticized Pritzker for not keeping a promise he made as a candidate in 2018 to veto maps drawn by politicians. Democrats counter that Republicans across the country have used partisan gerrymandering to increase their odds of winning races and give the GOP large political advantages.

Lawmakers earlier this year moved Illinois' 2022 primary elections from March to June 28, after pandemic-related delays in the U.S. Census Bureau release of the redistricting data needed to draw the congressional boundaries.

They went ahead with redrawing state legislative districts using population data from the American Community Survey, and Pritzker signed those maps into law. That prompted lawsuits from top Republicans and a Latino civil rights organization, who argue Democrats used incomplete data and a non-transparent process.

All sides of that debate will now use the new census data to make their case that the maps are either fair or flawed and should be redrawn.

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Associated Press reporter David Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri, contributed.
TOKYO (AP)  Japan's defense minister on Friday visited a Tokyo shrine viewed by China and both Koreas as a symbol of Japanese wartime aggression to pray for the war dead just days before the nation marks the 76th anniversary of its World War II defeat.

Victims of Japanese actions during the first half of the 20th century, especially the Koreas and China, see the shrine as a symbol of Japanese militarism because it honors convicted war criminals among about 2.5 million war dead.

It is only natural in every country to pay respects to the spirits of the war dead, said Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, the younger brother of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, known for his denials of wartime atrocities.

I expressed my reverence and paid tribute to those who fought for the country and lost their lives in the last war, Kishi said after offering prayers. I also renewed my war-renouncing pledge and resolve to protect the lives and peaceful livelihood of the people.

He is the first serving defense minister to visit Yasukuni since Tomomi Inada, an Abe protege, visited in December 2016.

Abe stayed away from the shrine for seven years after a 2013 visit triggered outrage from China and the Koreas, but has regularly visited since he resigned as prime minister last year.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga donated a religious ornament during Yasukuni's spring festival in April but avoided visiting the shrine.

Economy and fiscal policy minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, in charge of pandemic measures, visited the shrine separately on Friday.

Kishi and Nishimura said they chose to visit the shrine to avoid crowds and pray quietly ahead of the Aug. 15 anniversary.

South Korea and China criticize offerings or visits by Japanese leaders to the shrine, urging them to face up to and reflect on Japans wartime aggression.

Many South Koreans hold strong resentment toward Japan for its 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. Relations between Seoul and Tokyo have sunk to their lowest levels in recent years due to disputes over compensation for Korean wartime forced labor and sexual abuse of so-called comfort women by the Japanese military.

South Koreas Foreign Ministry said it summoned the deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul to protest Kishis visit to Yasukuni, a site it described as beautifying Japans past colonial rule and war of aggression and honors war criminals. Seouls Defense Ministry released a statement saying Kishis visit was deplorable and expressed its serious concern and regret.

In China, which Japan invaded in 1931 and then occupied through the end of World War II, the Defense Ministry said it strongly opposed the latest visit to the shrine.

The Yasukuni Shrine is a spiritual tool and symbol of Japanese militarism and its invasion of foreign countries, and it honors 14 convicted Class-A Japanese war criminals from World War II who were directly responsible for its past aggression, Wu Qian, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson, said in a statement Friday.

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Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea and Huizhong Wu in Taipei, Taiwan contributed to this report.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP)  A judge on Friday rejected a request from the federal government to provide classified information in a lawsuit filed by the family of a British teenager killed in England by a member of the U.S. intelligence community who was driving on the wrong side of the road.

The family of 19-year-old Harry Dunn filed a lawsuit in Alexandria, Virginia, against Anne Sacoolas and her husband, Jonathan, after Anne Sacoolas struck and killed Dunn as he drove a motorcycle near the Croughton Air Force base in England.

The Sacoolases left the country after Dunn's death and the U.S. invoked diplomatic immunity on their behalf, prompting an outcry in Britain. Dunn's family then filed the lawsuit.

The government has confirmed that Anne Sacoolas worked in the intelligence community but otherwise has been circumspect about the family's duties.

Last month, the U.S. government filed a motion to intervene in the case and provide the judge more information about the family without making it public or available to the plaintiffs.

At a hearing Friday, though, U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III said he didn't see why the information would be relevant.

I don't want any classified information running around here, Ellis said. This case should have been settled a long time ago.

The hearing came less than two weeks before the Sacoolases are scheduled to give depositions in the lawsuit.

A government lawyer, Jay Powers, told Ellis that the government could not provide more details about its request "without revealing the information we are seeking to protect.

Powers said there could be seemingly innocuous questions that may bear on issues we need to protect.

Anne Sacoolas has admitted she was driving on the wrong side of the road and that she is responsible for Dunn's death.

Lawyers for Dunn's family said there are additional details to sort out that may be relevant for punitive damages, including whether she was talking on her cellphone when she struck Dunn and whether she immediately called for help.

The Dunn family's lawyer, Daren Firestone, said Anne Sacoolas had already been in England for several weeks by the time of the accident and should have been used to driving on the left side of the road.

Ellis, though, said the habit of driving on the right side of the road is a difficult one to break.

I lived in England for more than a year, he said. Even at the end of a year, I was often on the wrong side of the road.

Following the judge's decision, the parties agreed on a compromise in which the plaintiffs and the government will try to sort out between them a way to conduct the deposition without touching on classified information and without requiring the judge to intervene.

In court papers, the plaintiffs' lawyers have said they aren't interested in the Sacoolases' work status.

The case has drawn the direct attention of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Dunn's parents, Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn, said when they visited the White House in October 2019, Trump surprised them by saying the Sacoolases were in the next room waiting to meet them. They turned down the offer.

At Friday's hearing, Ellis pressed the lawyers on why a settlement had not already been reached. Firestone indicated that his clients may be interested in more than a monetary settlement.

To some extent, I think they want to see this played out, he said. "To some extent, they feel like this is some small substitute for the justice they weren't able to get in the U.K."

Ellis sympathized with their viewpoint but said civil litigation is limited in what it can accomplish.

This is a terrible tragedy, but nothing we do in this courtroom is going to bring back that young man, he said. A wrongful death case is not an opportunity for revenge.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP)  Looking for a breakthrough message to persuade the unvaccinated to get the COVID-19 shots, Gov. Andy Beshear is turning to health care professionals across Kentucky.

Doctors from northeastern Kentucky painted a grim situation Thursday as the state confronts surging coronavirus cases and hospitalizations caused by the highly contagious delta variant.

Our COVID ICU is currently full and we've opened a fourth COVID unit," said Dr. Stacy Caudill, chief medical officer at Kings Daughters Medical Center in Ashland.

To emphasize the risk of going unvaccinated, she noted that 94% of the hospitals COVID patients are unvaccinated, and everyone in intensive care skipped getting the shots.

For months, Beshear has looked for any angle to overcome stubbornly high vaccine hesitancy rates. He's pleaded with people to get the shots. The state has offered $1 million prizes and college scholarships. He's hoping the testimonials from doctors and nurses will seal the deal for many.

Barely more than half of Kentucky's population is vaccinated. With the delta variant spreading rapidly, the unvaccinated are at greater risk than any time since the pandemic began, the governor said Thursday. Then he turned his press conference over to the health professionals to discuss what they're seeing on the front lines.

We are experiencing the most rapid rise of cases that Ive seen since the pandemic started, said Dr. William Melahn, chief medical officer of St. Claire HealthCare in Morehead.

As a result, more room is needed to keep up with growing numbers of COVID patients, he said.

We are currently in the process of opening what we call a surge intensive care unit because our usual intensive care unit is full," he said. And it is full with a lot of COVID patients.

The health professionals said they're seeing younger virus patients due to the delta variant. And they're seeing the regret among patients who could have gotten the vaccine but refused to do so.

While I wish I could share a more positive message and tell you were winning the war against this virus, that is just not true," said Cindy Lucchese, chief nurse executive for University of Louisville Physicians, at the Thursday news conference.

Daily virus cases have escalated statewide from about 200 a month ago to 4,000 on Friday. The state also reported 12 virus-related deaths.

Beshear, in a video posted to social media, said it was the tenth-highest day of new cases since the pandemic began, and urged Kentuckians to get vaccinated and wear masks.

I don't know how else to put this. This is getting your friends, your family members, your neighbors sick. Some of them aren't going to make it, Beshear said. "Please care about each other more than you care about political arguments.

On Friday, more than 1,400 virus patients were hospitalized in Kentucky, including 391 patients in intensive care units, the state said. Nearly 69% of the state's inpatient hospital beds were occupied, and 66% of the overall ICU beds.

I'm going to level with you, our hospitals may get full, even with the steps that we're taking, Beshear said Thursday. This delta variant is that serious. We're going to see a lot of loss moving forward. But I think we can lessen that loss and protect each other, if everybody went out and got vaccinated.

Beshear this week mandated indoor mask wearing in K-12 Kentucky schools, regardless of vaccination status, prompting some pushback from state Republican leaders and a mixed response from school officials. The requirement also applies to preschools and child care centers.

The health professionals expressed their resolve to keep up the fight as cases continue to rise, but it came with a plea for help.

Were worn out, but were not going to give up," Melahn said. But if you really want to help us, go get vaccinated. Vaccinations are extraordinarily safe. Weve not seen anybody in our emergency room with a vaccine complication. But weve seen, I dont know how many COVID patients who have not been vaccinated.

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Associated Press writer Piper Hudspeth Blackburn contributed to this report.

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Follow APs pandemic coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic

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GULFPORT, Miss. (AP)  A Louisiana man has pleaded guilty in Mississippi in connection with a multi-million dollar health care scheme, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Gulfport said in a news release.

Thomas Wilburn Shoemaker, 57, of Monroe admitted participating in a scheme to defraud health care benefit programs. Prosecutors said Shoemaker acted as a marketer for a pharmacy  World Health Industries Inc.  specializing in compounded medications.
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP)  A man was convicted Friday of first-degree murder in a Mason City man's shooting death during an argument in March.

A jury deliberated about two hours before convicting Benjamin Bravo Gonzalez, 39, in the death of 36-year-old Michael Creviston.
LAS VEGAS (AP)  Public anger about classroom mask mandates in Las Vegas stopped a school board meeting multiple times, and several people were escorted out by police, including a woman who was handcuffed and later charged with a misdemeanor, officials said.

The woman was ticketed for disrupting a public meeting and was not arrested, Clark County School District police Sgt. Bryan Zink said Friday.

Zink estimated about 400 people attended the Thursday evening school trustees session that was moved from a smaller district venue to the Clark County Commission auditorium because of the expected large turnout and protests during recent public meetings.

A parade of speakers berated school board members for following a directive enacted last week by Gov. Steve Sisolak requiring K-12 students and school employees in the Las Vegas and Reno areas to wear masks on buses and inside school buildings, regardless of vaccination status. The Democratic governor modeled the move on guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The school year began Monday in and around Las Vegas, the fifth-largest district in the nation, with face coverings required for more than 300,000 students and about 18,000 teachers. A district order cited CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics and Southern Nevada Health District recommendations. Distance learning options also were offered.

You have to take the vaccine and wear a mask? parent Jim Blockey complained Thursday to KLAS-TV. Its ridiculous.

Bonnie Taylor, a frequent speaker at board meetings, read aloud the trustees' oaths of office and waved a piece of paper that she said she was serving upon them to cease and desist any and all unconstitutional policies and behaviors.

People in the audience applauded.

Always remember there are way more of us than of you, Taylor said. You work for us. Were not going to back down.

Others, like teacher Sarah Comroe, called face coverings a welcome protection against COVID-19 and dismissed the protesters as this very loud, small group, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

I have over 200 students, Comroe said. Every single one is happy to wear their mask.

President Linda Cavazos paused the meeting three times and board members left the room as shouting from the audience intensified.

The contentious board meeting came about 24 hours after several hundred parents and some school district employees waved signs and protested mask and vaccination policies outside district administrative offices.

Monica Cortez, an assistant superintendent, drew shouts Thursday when she reported that the district was promoting vaccinations for students and their families, along with correct mask use and physical distancing, the Review-Journal reported.

Melody Hendry, the mother of three children and a registered nurse, told the board on that masks create physical and psychological harm to children by restricting oxygen intake and raising blood carbon dioxide levels and breeding bacteria.

This is abuse, she said.

Later, Superintendent Jesus Jara said the district was focused on making the best decisions for students and employees, following the guidance of medical experts.
MOSCOW (AP)  Deaths in Moscow increased 60% in July compared to the same month a year earlier, health officials in Russias capital said as the country reported a new daily record for COVID-19 fatalities.

Moscows Health Department said Friday that 17,237 people died of all causes last month. The number included 6,583 coronavirus-related deaths, which corresponded to a COVID-19 mortality rate of 3.95%.

Health officials blamed the increase on COVID-19 deaths on the more contagious delta variant and unusually hot weather that exacerbated coronavirus-induced complications.

The Russian governments coronavirus task force on Friday reported 22,277 new confirmed cases and 815 deaths, the highest daily toll of the pandemic.

Russia has been struggling with a surge of infections since early June. New confirmed cases went from about 9,000 a day at the beginning of the summer to over 23,000 a day in early July.

Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, who leads the coronavirus task force, said last week that Russia saw a year-on-year increase in July mortality of 17.9%, which she blamed on swelling COVID-19 infections.

Overall in the pandemic, Russia has reported 168,864 deaths. However, retroactive tallies of coronavirus-linled deaths by state statistics agency Rosstat say 316,793 people who had COVID-19 died from April 2020 to June 2021.

Russian officials ascribe the difference to varying counting methods. They note that the government task force only includes deaths in which COVID-19 was the main cause and uses data from medical facilities, while Rosstat counts all deaths of people infected with the coronavirus and gets its information from civil registry offices where deaths are finalized.

Russias vaccination drive against COVID-19 has lagged behind other nations. As of a week ago, some 39 million Russians -- or 26.7% of the country's 146 million people, had received at least one vaccine dose, while 20% had been fully vaccinated.

Authorities in many regions have made vaccines mandatory for certain groups of workers, including those employed in health care, education, retail, public transportation and government offices.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP)  MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell says he was aggressively poked by someone seeking a selfie in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, this week, which led him to say he was attacked.

Lindell, who hosted an election fraud symposium in the city this week, told the conservative talk show FlashPoint that he was approached by a man who wanted a photo on Wednesday night.

He put his arm around and stuck his finger, it was so much pressure, I just knew if I did anything something more was coming, Lindell said, gesturing to his side. He jammed it in where it was just piercing pain.

Lindell had told the crowd Thursday at the election fraud symposium that said he was still in pain and wanted everyone to know about the evil in the world, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reported.

The Sioux Falls Police Department said it is investigating a report of an assault at a hotel near the symposium. Police spokesman Sam Clemens has declined to identify the victim, citing Marsys Law, a state constitutional amendment that protects crime victims.

Lindell announced the symposium in July, saying he hoped hundreds of cyber-forensics experts would attend and back up his claims that voting machines were hacked to flip votes for former President Donald Trump to President Joe Biden in 2020.

Almost all of the legal challenges casting doubt on the outcome of the election have been dismissed or withdrawn and many claims of fraud debunked. State and federal election officials have said theres no evidence of widespread fraud.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said last month she suggested Lindell hold the event in her state.

She said that when she heard Lindell was looking for a place to hold the symposium, she told him: "Why dont you do that in South Dakota? We would love to host guests.

Noem did not attend the event. She acknowledged last month that Biden is the duly elected president, but raised the possibility of election fraud by adding, If there is fraud, we should know the facts.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP)  Nebraska prisons officials have announced the death of a second inmate who had been hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19.

The man in his 40s died Thursday in a Lincoln hospital, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services said in a news release, and was the second Nebraska inmate with the virus to die in the hospital Thursday.
ESPANOLA, N.M. (AP)  New Mexico State Police on Friday said a man wanted for pointing a gun an officer during an encounter in June has been arrested.

State police said they were working with police in Espanola to arrest the man on June 14 in connection with a recent stabbing when he got out of a vehicle and pointed a gun at a state police officer. The officer fired at the man but he ran away and escaped.
BEIRUT (AP)  Severe fuel shortages and wide power cuts have paralyzed tiny Lebanon, with some businesses temporarily closing down on Friday as top security officials met to discuss the situation.

Lebanon has for decades suffered electricity cuts, partly because of widespread corruption and mismanagement. The Mediterranean nation of 6 million, including 1 million Syrian refugees is near bankruptcy.

The situation deteriorated dramatically this week after the central bank decided to end subsidies for fuel products. The decision will likely lead to a hike in prices of almost all commodities in Lebanon.

The move by the central bank was rejected by both Lebanon's president and outgoing prime minister who claimed they were not notified in advance.

Major roads were jammed Friday as thousands of cars waited in long lines at petrol stations. People rushed to bakeries to by bread amid fears some might close down.

Many bakeries that are running out (of diesel) will close tomorrow, Ali Ibrahim, head of the bakers' union, told state-run National News Agency.

Fuel shortages have been blamed on smuggling, hoarding and the cash-strapped government's inability to secure deliveries of imported fuel.

President Michel Aoun called an extraordinary Cabinet meeting to discuss the nationwide crisis but outgoing Prime Minister Hassan Diab, whose government resigned a year ago, declined to attend, saying the constitution restricts duties of his caretaker Cabinet.

The situation has been made worse by the failure of political leaders to agree on a new government to chart a path out of the crisis and negotiate a recovery package with the International Monetary Fund.

Protesters in Beirut and elsewhere in Lebanon closed roads Friday to protest power cuts and fuel shortages.

Earlier this week, Energy Minister Raymond Ghajar said Lebanon needs about 3,000 megawatts of electricity but produces about 750 megawatts. The gap has been filled for decades by thousands of private generator owners who also had to cut supplies amid severe diesel shortages.

People currently get an average of two hours of electricity a day from the notoriously corrupt state company that has cost state coffers more than $40 billion over the past three decades.

Among those to announce a temporarily closure was City Mall, one of the largest in Lebanon. Some hospitals have warned they will be forced to close if they are not supplied with diesel.
NORFOLK, Va. (AP)  A former pharmacy technician on Friday pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining some 50,000 doses of opioids and other prescription medications.

Raj Parekh, acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said Justin Feliciano Agloro stole a large supply of prescription medications from a hospital that were intended for the treatment of deserving patients.
PHILADELPHIA (AP)  Philadelphia health care workers, college students and higher education employees will be required to be vaccinated by mid-October under new mandates announced by the city's Public Health Department Friday.

The mandates were passed Thursday night by the Board of Health, which provides guidance to the city's health department, said acting Public Health Commissioner Cheryl Bettigole. She said both categories of people will be required to be vaccinated by Oct. 15, but exemptions will be allowed for religious or medical reasons with added precautions or accommodations for those people.

Health care workers with an exemption will be required to wear masks and undergo a COVID-19 test twice a week.

At colleges, those with exemptions will have to have a PCR test weekly or two antigen tests weekly. Once a college reaches a 90% vaccination rate, Bettigole said those people with exemptions can double-mask and social distance in indoor spaces, or colleges can offer virtual options as an accommodation.

City public health officials also made adjustments to mask mandates announced earlier this week in an effort to accommodate parents with young children not yet eligible for the vaccine. The city had given the option to most indoor establishments of either choosing to require proof of vaccination for entry or to require masks.

Parents with young children had raised concerns about some spaces opting for vaccine requirements, making trips to pick up dinner or run to the grocery store hard for parents with children not yet eligible for a vaccine.

Bettigole said certain businesses deemed essential, such as grocery stores, urgent care centers and pharmacies, will not be allowed to require vaccines for entry. Those establishments will have to require masks instead.

That way parents do not have to worry that theyll be unable to stop by the grocery store with their children, she said during a news conference Friday.

Many of the cities large hospitals, health care networks and universities previously had announced vaccination mandates of some kind including for new employees, or some with longer deadlines to get students vaccinated.

Bettigole said with students coming from places around the country to attend university, including areas with much higher transmission and positivity rates, and with college-aged people experiencing some of the highest positivity rates right now, the mandate was necessary to prevent spread in the city.

The mandate includes a broad definition of health care workers. Bettigole said it includes anyone who works in a health care institution or comes into contact with patients  school nurses and home health aides, for example. It does not apply to pharmacy workers, she said.

A mask mandate for indoor spaces went into effect Thursday in the city. Some businesses including restaurants and gyms can opt to require proof that all employees and patrons are vaccinated instead of requiring masks be worn. But city officials said the choice is either to require everyone be vaccinated or everyone where masks.

The mandates also require masks at outdoor events without assigned seating and with more than 1,000 people in attendance. A vaccine mandate was also issued for all new city hires. Unvaccinated current employees must wear double masks  a paper mask under a cloth mask  while working indoors with others.
ATLANTA (AP)  A woman was found dead Friday hours after she was reportedly forced into a car outside a home, Atlanta police said.

Police responded around 5 a.m. to a home in southeast Atlanta after someone called 911 to report a possible kidnapping, police spokesman Sgt. John Chafee said in an email. The woman who made the call told officers she'd seen a woman forced into a vehicle.

Officers then received a call around 6 a.m. of shots fired about a mile and a half (2.4 kilometers) away, Chafee said. Officers checked the area but found nothing.

Investigators had already determined the two calls were likely related when someone called just before 10 a.m. to report having found a dead person in that same area.

Officers responded and found a dead woman and determined she was the same woman who had apparently been kidnapped.

The woman was in her mid-20s, Deputy Police Chief Charles Hampton Jr. said at an afternoon news conference. He didn't identity her publicly, but her father told WXIA-TV that she is 27-year-old Mariam Abdulrab.

My daughter was the most peaceful and loving person. She did not deserve this, Khalid Abdulrab said.

Hampton said a person of interested has been detained. We believe that this person detained may be significantly involved in both of these crimes  the kidnapping and the homicide," he said.

That person was being held in a city south of Atlanta, Hampton said, without providing additional details.

The investigation is very active, Chafee said Friday afternoon.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  Those who visit indoor spaces within the city of Raleigh will now need to wear a face mask to limit the spread of COVID-19, the mayor said in an announcement hours ahead of time.

The mayor of North Carolina's second-largest city, Mary-Ann Baldwin, also said on Friday that city employees who are already fully vaccinated or get fully vaccinated by Sept. 17 will receive a $250 reward and two days of bonus leave.

The number of COVID-19 cases continues to increase in our community and across the state at an alarming rate, Baldwin said in a statement. The idea that we can hope COVID-19 will just go away on its own is not a reality. Its time to take responsible action and today we are taking an important step to make sure the people of this community, and those who visit us, remain healthy and safe.

The move to reimpose the mask mandate will only be within Raleigh city limits, not Wake County. But the requirement does apply to both vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

The largest city in the state may also soon decide to compel residents and visitors to wear masks indoors, as Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles backtracked comments she made earlier this week that she lacked the authority to compel people to wear masks indoors.

Renewed masking requirements and further financial rewards for vaccinations are coming as the more contagious delta variant sweeps across the state, giving North Carolina its worst COVID-19 metrics in months.

Baldwin's order does not have an expiration date.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends indoor mask wearing in all of North Carolina's 100 counties. One county is seeing substantial spread of the virus, while all others are at high levels of transmission.

North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper let his statewide mask mandate expire on July 30 at a time when metrics were quickly worsening. He is also letting local K-12 school districts determine their own masking policies, though he is strongly urging them to compel their students and staff to wear face coverings inside the classroom.

The latest numbers the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released on Friday show recent daily cases near 7,000 for the first time in more than six months. For the first time since the middle of January, the share of COVID-19 tests coming back positive has surpassed 10% in each of the past 12 days.

The 2,483 people currently hospitalized in North Carolina due to the virus is the highest count since Feb. 5, and the daily death toll will only continue to rise in the coming weeks.

Despite the increased spread, health officials are encouraged that more unvaccinated people appear to be coming in for a first shot. A combination of factors are likely contributing to increased vaccinations, including concern over the delta variant, more employers mandating their workers get vaccinated and a $100 financial incentive for all unvaccinated residents 18 or older who visit a participating site this month.

The more than 82,000 North Carolinians who came in for a shot last week represents the highest weekly total since the week of May 17. Nearly three-fourths of Wake County residents eligible for the vaccine have gotten at least one COVID-19 shot, according to state health department data.

Baldwin warned of further restrictions if more people don't get vaccinated.

The single most important thing we can do to slow the spread of COVID is to get vaccinated, Baldwin said. "I encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible so we dont have to go back to shutdowns and stay-at-home orders.

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Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak.

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Follow Anderson on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BryanRAnderson.

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Anderson is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)  The Director of the Rhode Island Office of Management and Budget has announced his resignation and will be leaving Aug. 27 for a position at Brown University.

Jonathan Womer will be joining The Policy Lab next month at Brown, the Providence Journal reported. He first became budget director under former Gov. Gina Raimondo.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP)  Southern California police fatally shot a man Friday morning following a disturbance in a Bakersfield apartment where a woman was stabbed, authorities said.

The man's name was not immediately made public. He was pronounced dead at the scene and the woman was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening wounds, police said.

Bakersfield officers were called to the apartment around 8:45 a.m. Friday following reports of a disturbance. Multiple 911 callers said they heard a man screaming and he may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Officers requested a Mental Health Evaluation Team but forced their way into the apartment when they heard sounds of distress, Bakersfield police said in a news release.

Three officers opened fire inside the apartment, police said. All were wearing body-worn cameras. The circumstances inside the apartment that led to the shooting were not immediately released.

Police said multiple knives were recovered from the suspect.

Bakersfield is about 110 miles (177 kilometers) north of Los Angeles.
ST. LOUIS (AP)  A St. Louis County attorney has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for tax evasion.

Nicholas Franke, 58, was sentenced Thursday in St. Louis federal court, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
NEW ORLEANS (AP)  A major steelmaker is calling off a $120 million expansion of its factory in the Louisiana community of Convent.

The Times-Picayune'The New Orleans Advocate reports that Nucor Corp. informed state environmental officials of the decision when it asked for a revised air emissions permit in July.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)  A federal infrastructure bill could allow Kentucky to pay for two large bridge projects without tolls, state Senate President Robert Stivers said Friday.

The $1 trillion plan passed the Senate 69-30 Tuesday, with Kentucky's GOP senators splitting their vote. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who supported the measure, praised the bill's potential to help update highways, bridges and airports; extend broadband; and provide clean drinking water to Kentuckians.

Senator Rand Paul, who voted no, said that the bill was "step one of the `Green New Deal.

While Kentucky would receive at least $5.1 billion over several years for infrastructure, the state would still have to apply for part of $12 billion in federal funds set aside for larger projects that have multistate implications, said Stivers, a Republican. That would help pay for the Brent Spence Bridge and the I-69 bridge projects, he said at a virtual press briefing held with Kentucky business groups by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

That is more than enough to cover our portion of both bridges, without us having to toll or raise taxes, he added.

If so, Louisville bridges that connect Kentucky's largest city to Indiana, would be the only bridges in the state to have tolls.

Stivers warned that if the federal measure did not become law, Kentucky's state budget would be strained by the cost of the projects.

The 56-year-old Brent Spence bridge, which links Ohio and Kentucky, closed briefly in 2020 after it was damaged in a truck collision. It cost roughly $12 million dollars in federal emergency funds to repair.

Kentucky Transportation Secretary Jim Gray noted in December that the structure currently carries twice the number of vehicles per day that it was built for and that the construction of a companion bridge would be the only long-term solution.

The Interstate 69 bridge project, which would run over the Ohio River between Indiana and Kentucky, is estimated to cost nearly $1.5 billion.

Earlier this week, Gov. Andy Beshear shared Stiver's optimism about the role of the measure in restoring the state's bridges and highways.

We can make it happen for communities that have been waiting for so long, said Beshear, a Democrat. "If this transportation bill goes through ... its not just a huge amount of highway and interstate money, but its truly these large significant projects that open up a lot of portions of our state.

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Hudspeth Blackburn is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
DALLAS (AP)  A Texas man who was scheduled for trial on a murder charge this week was instead granted release on bond amid temporary concern that material in his case might be among troves of police data lost from the Dallas departments computer system.

A Dallas County judge granted Jonathan Pitts bond Thursday after prosecutors asked the judge to delay his trial as they worked with police to determine whether case material was part of the information lost while the Dallas Police Department was moving data from a computer network drive. It was not immediately clear when Pitts would be freed from jail.

The release of Pitts, who is charged in the 2019 shooting of Shun Handy, was ordered as authorities race to determine how many cases may have had evidence vanish in the eight-terabyte data loss. Prosecutors told Judge Ernie White Thursday that they needed more time to work with police to audit the materials in Pitts case to determine whether anything was lost.

The district attorney's office had reached out to the homicide detective on the case Thursday to confirm all evidence was available for trial, the police department said in a statement. The detective said he would need more time to confirm.

By the time the detective confirmed all the evidence was available, at 9:50 a.m. Thursday according to police, the district attorney's office had to file a motion of continuance with the court.

On Friday evening, Dallas Police Sgt. Warren Mitchell said that all the evidentiary items and data are available for prosecution on this murder case.

White granted Pitts release without paying bail because state law requires a person be freed if prosecutors arent ready at the time of the trial, his defense attorney, George Ashford III, told The Dallas Morning News. The paper first reported Pitt's so-called personal recognizance bond.

Mayor Eric Johnson said the release underscored the seriousness of the data loss.

The people of Dallas deserve answers about what happened, why top city staff kept it quiet for months, and what can be done to resolve these critical issues that affect public safety, Johnson said in a statement.

City information technology officials became aware of the problem on April 5. But the police and city IT departments did not reveal it to the district attorneys office until last Friday, after prosecutors inquired why they could not find computer files on pending cases.

The lost data included images, video, audio, case notes and other information gathered by police officers and detectives, police said in an earlier statement. A city IT employee was moving the files, which had not been accessed for the previous six to 18 months, from an online, cloud-based archive to a server at the citys data center. The employee failed to follow proper, established procedures, resulting in the deletion of the data files, police said.

Ashford did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Latest developments on Afghanistan, where a weeklong Taliban blitz has taken large swaths of territory just weeks ahead of the final pullout of all American and NATO troops from the war-torn country:

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UNITED NATIONS -- Security Council members are considering a proposed statement that would urge an immediate end to the Taliban offensive and warn that the U.N.s most powerful body will not support any government in Afghanistan imposed by military force or restoration of the Talibans Islamic Emirate that ruled the country from 1996 to 2001.

The proposed presidential statement, a step below a resolution, would also condemn the Talibans attacks on cities and towns across Afghanistan in the strongest terms and reaffirm that there is no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan.

The draft statement, obtained Friday by The Associated Press, urges the Afghan government and the Taliban to engage without delay, with equal participation of women, and make immediate and sustained progress toward achieving an inclusive, just durable and realistic political settlement to their long conflict.

Council diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because consultations have been private, said some of the 15 council members have not yet commented on the proposed statement, drafted by Norway and Estonia, so any action is unlikely until next week.

The draft would express the councils deep concern at the Talibans military offensive, defying its own stated commitments to reduce violence and cease hostilities and would urge an immediate halt to the offensive and an end to violence.

It would also express the councils alarm at the terrorist threat to Afghanistan and the region from the continuing presence of al-Qaida, the Islamic State extremist group and other international terrorist organizations and their affiliates.

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MORE ON THE CRISIS IN AFGHANISTAN:

 Taliban sweep across Afghanistans south; take 4 more cities

 Afghan women fear return to dark days amid Taliban sweep

 Bitter blow: UKs former hub in Afghanistan taken by Taliban

 US rushes in troops to speed up evacuations in Afghanistan

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HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

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UNITED NATIONS -- The United Nations says it wants to continue delivering aid to Afghans at this critical moment and is doing so in Kabul, where thousands have fled, but is also evaluating the security situation on an hour-by-hour basis.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Friday there is no evacuation of U.N. staff going on, but the U.N. has reduced staff, including in Afghanistans second-largest city Kandahar and third-largest city Herat, which fell to the Taliban. He said the U.N. remains with a very light footprint in both cities.

Dujarric said the U.N. is maintaining contact with all the parties to the conflict, including the Taliban who are obviously critical to the situation on the ground.

The U.N. has about 300 international staff and almost 3,400 national staff working in Afghanistan, and Dujarric said it is relocating some staff from different places into Kabul.

He added that the humanitarian community has verified that 10,350 Afghans arrived in Kabul between July 1 and Aug. 12 and most are renting living quarters or staying with friends and family, but a growing number are now staying in the open. He says as of Thursday, the U.N. and its partners provided food, water, medicine and other items to some 6,900 people in Kabul.

Dujarric said in response to a question that urban warfare in Kabul would be catastrophic.

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ROME  Italys defense minister says his government is moving ahead swiftly on efforts to get Afghan interpreters who have worked for Italy out of Afghanistan as the situation there deteriorates amid the Taliban offensive.

Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini said on Friday evening that efforts are going forward to transfer the interpreters and their families to Italy safely.

Since June, when Italy formally withdrew its troops from Afghanistan, 228 Afghan interpreters have already been included in Italys humanitarian program.

Guerini said in a statement that his government is following with great attention and apprehension the situation in Afghanistan.

He added that in a phone call with Italian Premier Mario Draghi on Friday both the transfer program and the security of the Italian embassy in Kabul were reviewed. Italian officials were working rapidly with the Afghan government to carry out the necessary security checks on the interpreters.

The ministry said that interpreters who arrive in Italy will quarantine during the pandemic and than undergo insertion in a network of welcome and integration. It noted that the inability to use the airport in western Herat province  now under Taliban control  made the operation more complicated. Italys base when its soldiers were in the country was in western Afghanistan.

Still, it said that Italy aims, with the utmost commitment to proceed as swiftly as possible to accomplish the transfer.

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UNITED NATIONS  The United Nations chief is urging the Taliban to immediately halt their offensive in Afghanistan and negotiate in good faith to avert a prolonged civil war.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in his first appeal directly to the Islamic militant group, which now controls two-thirds of the country, that he is deeply disturbed by early indications that the Taliban are imposing severe restrictions in the areas under their control, particularly targeting women and journalists.

Afghanistan is spinning out of control, he said. It is particularly horrifying and heartbreaking to see reports of the hard-won rights of Afghan girls and women being ripped away from them.

This is the moment to halt the offensive, Guterres said. This is the moment to start serious negotiation. This is the moment to avoid a prolonged civil war or the isolation of Afghanistan.

He expressed hopes that discussions in Doha, Qatar between the Afghan government and the Taliban, supported by the region and international community, will restore the pathway to a negotiated settlement to the conflict.

Just weeks before the U.S. military completes its withdrawal from Afghanistan after two decades, the Taliban now hold half of Afghanistans 34 provincial capitals.

Guterres cited the tremendous harm from fighting between the insurgents and Afghan security forces in urban environments.

At least 241,000 people have been forced to flee their homes, he said. Humanitarian needs are growing by the hour. Hospitals are overflowing. Food and medical supplies are dwindling. Roads, bridges, schools, clinics and other critical infrastructure are being destroyed.

Guterres called on all parties to do more to protect civilians, warning that continued urban conflict will mean continued carnage -- with civilians paying the highest price.

The message from the international community to those on the warpath must be clear: seizing power through military force is a losing proposition, he said.

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MADRID  Spains foreign ministry has announced that the country will evacuate Spanish nationals and the Afghan staffers who have worked side-by-side with its diplomatic and military presence in Afghanistan.

An emailed statement on Friday said because of the advance of Taliban forces in their march towards Kabul, Spain would begin the repatriation of the embassy staff, the Spaniards remaining in the country, and those Afghans and their families who have worked side by side with us.

Spanish media cited figures ranging from 50 to 100 Afghan staff and translators who could be given safe passage to Spain with their families.

The Taliban have swept over much of Afghanistan in the past few days, and have captured half of the countrys 34 provincial capitals. They control more than two-thirds of the country and are closing in on the Afghan capital, Kabul. The Western-backed government in Kabul still holds a smattering of provinces in the center and east, as well as the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

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ISLAMABAD  Pakistans interior minister has announced that authorities are relaxing visa requirements for journalists working for foreign outlets in neighboring Afghanistan amid the deteriorating security situation there in the wake of the Taliban offensive.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed made the announcement on Twitter on Friday.

He says all journalists and media staffers who are working for international outlets and other foreign media in Afghanistan and who want to leave through Pakistan can apply for Pakistani visas.

Ahmed said his ministry will issue visas on a priority basis, without offering details. He said the decision was made by Pakistans government, primarily keeping in mind the safety of the journalists.

Ahmed did not elaborate but under the previous policy, a visa to enter Pakistan required a lengthy intelligence check of a reporters background.

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PARIS  The French presidency said France will continue providing visas in Kabul and is now making an exceptional effort to facilitate access to French territory to Afghan civilians who are being threatened by the Taliban offensive.

Fridays statement mentioned artists, journalists, human right activists who risk their lives because of their commitment to freedom of expression, freedom of opinion and human rights.

The French presidency also stressed that France this year set up a special procedure to welcome on its ground some of the Afghan employees who worked for French facilities in Afghanistan and were possibly under threat. Between May and July this year, 625 people and their families used that procedure involving housing and health care, it said.

The lightning Taliban push has seized half of Afghanistans 34 provincial capitals over the past days. The Taliban now control more than two-thirds of the country and are closing in on the capital, Kabul, and the surrounding provinces where the Western-backed government is still in control.

The offensive is underway just weeks before the U.S. is set to officially end its two-decade war and all American and NATO troops are to have left the country by the end of the month.

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ISLAMABAD  Pakistans national security adviser is urging Afghan leaders to try to quickly reach a politically negotiated settlement with the Taliban to avoid further violence in Afghanistan.

The adviser, Moeed Yusuf, made the appeal while speaking to reporters in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on Friday. He stressed that the fall of city after city in neighboring Afghanistan underscores the need to expedite the peace process.

Pakistan has held considerable influence over the Taliban and has in the past succeeded in pressuring them to the negotiating table. Kabul has criticized Islamabad for offering shelter to Taliban leaders and has claimed the neighboring country also provides a haven for Taliban fighters.

Trust me, if they sit down, they will be able to come out with some sort of settlement and we will respect whatever Afghans decide, Yusuf said.

He added: History will judge us very badly and poorly if we dont put all efforts behind (this) for a political settlement on the Afghan crisis.

Yusuf also defended Pakistan, saying it has done its best to facilitate the Afghan peace process in the past.

At the stage, we can give only one message: Pakistan cannot be a guarantor for peace, we can only facilitate. We will facilitate whatever we can, he said.

Everybody needs to respect what Afghans decide politically, Yusuf said.

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BRUSSELS  The NATO chief says the military alliance is troubled by the Taliban offensive in Afghanistan and is warning the insurgents that they wont be considered legitimate by the West if they seize the country by force.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters after chairing talks on Friday with NATO ambassadors that the allies are deeply concerned about the high levels of violence caused by the Talibans offensive, including attacks on civilians, targeted killings, and reports of other serious human rights abuses.

He says the Taliban need to understand that they will not be recognized by the international community if they take the country by force, and that NATO is committed to supporting a political solution to the conflict.

The Taliban have been emboldened by the Biden administrations decision earlier this year to withdraw U.S. troops and to wind up the NATO training mission in Afghanistan. Most NATO troops have already left, with the remainder due to pull out by Aug. 31.

Stoltenberg says NATOs aim remains to support the Afghan government and security forces as much as possible. This will almost exclusively happen from outside the country.

Several nations, including the United States, are starting to reduce and evacuate embassy staff from the Afghan capital. Stoltenberg says the 30-nation alliance intends to maintain our diplomatic presence in Kabul, and continue to adjust as necessary.

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MADRID  Spains defense ministry said Friday it would evacuate Afghan translators who have worked with Spanish forces in Afghanistan as soon as possible.

The ministry said in an emailed statement that it had identified translators who felt threatened by remaining in the country and was working with the Interior and Foreign Ministries to bring them to Spain in the coming days.

Spanish media reported that around 50 translators were expected to leave Afghanistan along with their families.

Also Friday, Italys foreign ministry said it was keeping in close contact with the U.S. State Department in the light of the advance by the Taliban.

It said that the ministrys secretary general, Ettore Sequi, spoke on Thursday with Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, with whom he agreed on further reinforcement of the coordination between the embassies of both countries as well as on a bilateral level.

Sequi, who is a former ambassador to Afghanistan, also discussed initiatives, both present and which can be undertaken in consideration of the deterioration of the security context on the terrain, the ministry said.

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark  Denmarks foreign minister on Friday urged Danes in Afghanistan to leave the country, calling the fast-evolving crisis a very serious situation as Taliban take even more territory across the war-torn country.

Jeppe Kofod confirmed that the Danish Embassy in Kabul was closing but that for security reasons, we cannot say exactly when the embassy will close.

On Wednesday, Danish lawmakers agreed to evacuate 45 Afghan citizens who worked for Denmarks government in Afghanistan and to offer them residency in the European country for two years. Denmark opened its embassy in Kabul in 2006.

In Oslo, Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soereide said the Norwegian Embassy in Kabul also was closing. She said it was temporary and that the safety of our employees is our highest priority.

The Norwegian government has said it will not bring home former employees out of the war-torn country. Soereide said the evacuation includes embassy employees  both Norwegians and locals with immediate family.

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BERLIN  Germanys foreign minister says that his country is reducing its embassy staff in Kabul to the operationally necessary, absolute minimum due to the tense security situation in Afghanistan.

Heiko Maas told reporters on Friday that a crisis support team is immediately being sent to the Afghan capital to increase security at the embassy. He called on all German citizens to leave Afghanistan immediately, adding that planned charter flights would be brought forward to fly diplomats and local staff working for the embassy out of the country.

Maas said visas for Afghan will also be issued in Germany in future to speed up the process of getting people out of the country.

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BRUSSELS  NATO envoys were meeting Friday in Brussels to discuss developments in Afghanistan amid a rapidly deteriorating security situation in the wake of the relentless Taliban offensive there.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and 30 national ambassadors were taking part in the meeting in Brussels, according to a NATO official who spoke on condition of anonymity, in line with regulations.

Allies are constantly consulting on the situation on Afghanistan, the official said, adding that Stoltenberg was in regular contact with allies and the Afghan authorities.

NATO is monitoring the security situation very closely. We continue to coordinate with the Afghan authorities and the rest of the international community, the official said.

NATO took charge of international security operations in Afghanistan in 2003  its first major mission outside Europe and North America  aiming to help stabilize the government, build up local security forces and remove a potential rear-base for militant groups.

The U.S.-led military alliance wound down combat operations in 2014 to focus on training Afghan security forces. The Afghan armed forces, with some 300,000 personnel, outnumber the Taliban by roughly four to one but have been unable to halt the insurgent offensive.

The Taliban have been emboldened by the Biden administrations decision earlier this year to withdraw U.S. troops and to wind up the NATO training mission in Afghanistan. Most NATO troops have already left, with the remainder due to pull out by Aug. 31.

The NATO official said that the organization continues to have a diplomatic presence in Kabul. As the security of our personnel is paramount, we will not go into any operational details.

Lorne Cook in Brussels
Estefani Lopezs 11-month-old baby was struggling to breathe. The little girl, Ava Rivera, had contracted COVID-19 and began having seizures. Then her pulse weakened. Her mom couldnt feel her taking breaths anymore.

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Lopez rushed her to an emergency room where the staff began initial treatments, putting tubes down her throat to pump her lungs with oxygen. But the babys condition required care at a pediatric hospital, and none of the ones in the Houston area could take her in. They were all full.

Instead, Lopez had to watch as hospital staff placed her baby in a helicopter to be airlifted 150 miles away to Temple for emergency care at the nearest childrens hospital with space. Lopez spent the next three hours driving to the hospital, praying her baby would survive.

I felt like my heart fell out of my chest. I didnt know what was happening for three hours, Lopez said. It felt like it was three days.

Annie Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Contributor

More children are being treated in Texas hospitals for COVID-19 than ever before. But theres a second factor that is putting pediatric hospitals on the path to being overwhelmed: an unseasonable outbreak of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, a highly contagious virus that can require hospitalization mostly among children 5 years and younger and especially infants.

During the last year, RSV was largely dormant, which experts believe was due to people masking up during the pandemic. Now, in just the last several weeks, thousands of Texas children have tested positive for the virus.

In addition, the delta variant of COVID-19 appears to affect unvaccinated children more often than previous variants. Its unclear if children are also becoming sicker from it than from other variants of COVID-19. And with the regular flu season approaching, medical experts are concerned over how hospital capacity could be affected.

From the start of the pandemic through Aug. 9, over 5,800 children in Texas have been hospitalized with COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There were 783 children admitted to Texas hospitals with COVID-19 between July 1 and Aug. 9. Nationwide, nearly 94,000 children contracted COVID-19 last week, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Childrens Hospital Association.

Lopezs daughter is doing OK now. Doctors replaced the intubation treatment with a nasal tube, her fever broke and she was able to go home the next day. But the situation in childrens hospitals continues to worsen. In Texas, its getting harder and harder for those hospitals to meet the combined demand for beds for COVID-19 and RSV patients as well as children with other conditions or injuries. And physicians fear what will happen with the reopening of schools, with far fewer children masked and far more attending in person than last year.

Were seeing a significantly greater number of children who are being hospitalized with COVID-19. Some are requiring ICU care, more than weve seen with previous surges, and thats related to the increased transmissibility of delta, said Dr. Seth D. Kaplan, president of the Texas Pediatric Society. This is just a more aggressive variant. Its sickening more children, and requiring more to be hospitalized. So that, on top of the RSV, is whats really causing the capacity issues.

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It is spreading like wildfire, said Dr. Jim Versalovic, pathologist-in-chief and interim pediatrician-in-chief at Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston. During the past several weeks, Texas Childrens has been escalating strategies in terms of dealing with this dual surge.

The hospital has extended its urgent care hours. Doctors are postponing elective surgeries that require a postoperative bed. Staff members are opening new units within the hospital and working overtime to meet the demand. Within Texas Childrens, more than 45 children were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Wednesday, and hospital staff members have diagnosed over 1,600 cases of RSV. Around 90% of the hospitals COVID-19 positive patients  all children and adolescents  contracted the delta variant.

Approximately half of Texas Childrens RSV and COVID-19 patients are infants.

The influx of RSV cases during the summer came as a surprise to physicians, who normally see the spread later in the year. Versalovic said southern states are experiencing the surge of RSV, while childrens hospitals in other regions are reacting to increased hospitalizations from COVID-19.

Whats worse, Versalovic said his hospital has identified 25 children who have both RSV and COVID-19. While hes confident that his hospital system can effectively treat these cases, its a new phenomenon, and doctors are unsure of what to expect. Over half of those diagnosed with both viruses have been hospitalized  a hospitalization rate much higher than for either virus alone.

Were certainly concerned about it  . Weve never seen this before, Versalovic said. We are concerned that [the double-diagnosis cases] may be more severe.

Robin Jerstad, San Antonio Express-News / Contributor

Meanwhile, adult hospitals are facing a crisis of their own, as rising numbers of COVID-19 patients fill intensive care units across the state. Staff shortages are compounding the problem as more adults  the vast majority of them unvaccinated  are being hospitalized with the delta variant. In the most recent federal numbers reported last week, 53 hospitals in Texas had completely run out of beds in intensive care units; the situation has likely worsened since then.

Last summer, childrens hospitals helped by taking some of the overflow of non-COVID adult patients from nearby hospitals during the worst of that stage of the pandemic. But now that childrens hospitals are facing crises as well, that will likely no longer be an option.

We are preparing for a very challenging period in the weeks ahead, and we must anticipate, with the beginning of the school year, many more pediatric and adolescent COVID cases, Versalovic said. We cannot have any plans to take adult patients and offload neighboring hospitals, because we need to keep those beds reserved for the children and families we serve.

The delta variant is believed to be at least twice as transmissible as previous variants of COVID-19 and has primarily ripped through unvaccinated populations. A large segment of those unvaccinated are children under 12 who arent yet eligible to be vaccinated. Even among 12- to 15-year-olds in Texas, who are old enough to get the shot, less than 27% are fully vaccinated.

Versalovic said that even when the vaccines are approved for children under 12  with best-case estimates suggesting it could be late September or early October  it would take weeks or even months for that to slow down the surge.

Parents should focus on masking their children and getting them vaccinated if they are eligible, said Kaplan, the pediatric society president. The vaccine remains the most effective defense against the virus. Even in rare breakthrough infections where vaccinated people contract COVID-19, they still are largely protected from hospitalization.

We know that COVID-19 can be transmitted through populations of children. We know that many of them are not vaccinated, and many arent even eligible for vaccination, Kaplan said. Anyone who has not been fully vaccinated should be wearing a mask when theyre in an indoor public setting and social distancing themselves.

Dr. Mary Suzanne Whitworth, director of pediatric infectious diseases at Cook Childrens hospital in Fort Worth, said her facility has seen sharp upticks in RSV and COVID-19 as well. Cook has seen around 200 cases of RSV each week for the last month.

I think that really everyone, nationally, was surprised at how much RSV happened this summer. Its the first time its ever happened like this, she said.

Although earlier in the pandemic some thought children were less likely to catch COVID-19, Whitworth says parents need to keep their guard up with the emergence of the delta variant. On Tuesday, there were two dozen children hospitalized with COVID-19 at Cook Childrens, according to data from the hospital.

Children do have some risk of severe disease, she said. Children, in general, do pretty well with COVID  but there are plenty of children who do not. And you never know who will or not.

FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19: New Orleans Mayor says good times can roll -- with vaccines

Estefani Lopez said she hopes people hear her and her daughters story and take action to protect their own children and other peoples children. She fears for other parents now that childrens hospitals are becoming so overcrowded.

My daughter is so small. She couldve died, she said. I hope people take this seriously.

The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them  about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
Eight candidates have filed for the Aug. 31 special election to fill the seat of former state Rep. Jake Ellzey, R-Waxahachie, who is now in Congress, according to the secretary of state's office.

The filing deadline was 5 p.m. Thursday.

Ellzey was sworn in to Congress late last month after winning the special election runoff for the 6th Congressional District, upsetting fellow Republican Susan Wright, who had the endorsement of President Donald Trump, to replace her late husband in Congress. That created a vacancy in Texas House District 10, a reliably red district covering mostly rural areas south and southeast of Dallas.

The eight candidates include five Republicans, one Democrat, an Independent and a Libertarian. They are:

Independent Scott Goodwin of Waxahachie, who listed his occupation as "V.P. development"

Republican Kevin Griffin, a Midlothian general manager

Republican Brian Harrison, the former Trump administration official who ran in the special election for the 6th Congressional District

Republican Susan Mellina Hayslip, a Waxahachie attorney

Democrat Pierina Otiniano, an Ennis immigration attorney

Libertarian Matt Savino of Seven Points, who listed his occupation as "I.T. support"

Republican Clark Wickliffe, a member of the Midlothian City Council

Republican John Wray, the former HD-10 representative who decided not to seek reelection in 2020

The most competitive candidates so far appear to be Wray and Harrison. Wray held the seat from 2015 until Ellzey took office in January, and he launched his special election campaign early with the swift backing of Texans for Lawsuit Reform, the deep-pocketed tort reform group.

Harrison, the former chief of staff at the Department of Health and Human Services, was the third-place Republican finisher in the crowded May special election for the 6th Congressional District, which overlaps most of HD-10. Harrison began his latest special election campaign with the support of the anti-abortion Texas Right to Life, and he is already airing TV ads.

Early voting for the HD-10 special election starts Aug. 23. If no candidate receives a majority in the first round of voting, the top two finishers will proceed to a runoff.

Disclosure: Texans for Lawsuit Reform has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them  about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
Coming to Canada as a tech worker All about Canadian immigration and work permit pathways for tech workers in 2021.

Coming to Canada as a tech worker All about Canadian immigration and work permit pathways for tech workers in 2021.

Coming to Canada as a tech worker All about Canadian immigration and work permit pathways for tech workers in 2021. Michael Schwartz Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Tech workers have a number of options for immigrating to Canada.

First, lets talk about getting to Canada. Foreign nationals need a work permit in order to legally work in Canada. Some of these work permits are specifically tailored to tech workers. Although, it is possible for tech workers to skip straight to applying for permanent residency without ever setting foot in Canada.

Contact a work permit expert at the Law Firm of Campbell Cohen

That being said, studies have shown that immigrants with Canadian work experience tend to have better labour market outcomes. They tend to make more money and are more likely to be employed in the first year after landing.

Without further ado, here are some Canadian work permit options for tech workers.

Global Talent Stream

A major temporary path is the Global Talent Stream. This route is designed to process 80 per cent of applications in two weeks or less. Employers use it to bring in high-skilled staff quickly. An employer who qualifies can be either Category A or B.

Category A is for companies that are growing very quickly and need specialized talent from abroad. A Category A employer must get approval from a referral partner. This is usually a local, governmental or semi-governmental agency that has as its mission a city or areas economic development.

Category B is for employers who are looking for certain skilled workers that Canada has listed as being needed, but in short supply. The list is known as the Global Talent Occupations List. Canadas most recent list contains twelve occupations. Each of them is in the technology field.

Employers must meet certain other requirements. For example, they must show that hiring the foreigner will create permanent benefits for Canada. Proving the new hire will create jobs for Canadians or transmit skills or knowledge to Canadians are ways to do this. The employer must also show they are paying the foreigner a certain minimum wage. This can vary between occupations and provinces.

Contact a work permit expert at the Law Firm of Campbell Cohen

CUSMA

This the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, which replaced NAFTA. It has provisions which facilitate talent mobility between the three countries. The two categories relevant to tech workers are Professionals and Intra-Company Transfers (ICT).

CUSMA identifies 63 occupations that qualify under the Professionals category. Computer systems analysts are among these occupations.

ICTs are employees that are moving locations within the company to a branch in Canada. There is no list of which occupations qualify or are excluded. Generally, an intra-company transferee is a person who has worked for the company for at least one year and has either management roles or special knowledge.

Intra-Company Transfer (non CUSMA)

It is possible to make an ICT from a country other than Mexico or the United States. For example, the free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada (CETA) has provisions for ICTs, as does the agreement with the U.K.

A worker coming to Canada through any ICT does not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment. The LMIA, as it is often abbreviated, is a process that shows that hiring a temporary worker will not replace any Canadian workers.

Discover if Youre Eligible for Canadian Immigration

Pathways to permanent residency

Those who want to stay in Canada more long term can apply for permanent residency. Permanent residents oftentimes get more mobility within Canada than temporary residents. They no longer need a work permit, though they may have to renew their PR card at some point. Also, the possibility of becoming a citizen opens up after a few years of living in Canada as a permanent resident.

Express Entry

Express Entry, the most popular immigration pathway for skilled workers across all disciplines. Although, it is oftentimes understood as an immigration program, it is actually an online application management system. Tech workers, specifically, can come to Canada through two of the three programs that are managed by the Express Entry system: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is more for trades people.

Express Entry is designed to process 80 per cent of applications in six months or less. Profiles in Express Entry receive scores based on factors such as education, language, and work experience. Every two weeks or so, Canada selects high-scoring profiles and gives them Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence.

FSW is often well-suited for people without major exposure to Canada. To qualify for FSW, a person must have at least one year of Canadian or foreign work experience in a high-skilled job. These are occupations Canada classifies as National Occupation Code (NOC) Categories A or B. Generally, tech jobs are NOC A. FSW applicants must also score a minimum of 7 on either the English CLB or the French NCLC language scoring systems. They do not need a job offer, but having one can add more points to their overall score.

CEC is designed for people who have already studied or worked in Canada. To qualify, a person needs to have worked at least one year (in the past three) in a NOC A or B job in Canada. They must have CLB or NCLC 7 if their occupation is NOC A. As with FSW, no job offer is required. But, having one can gain extra points.

Tech workers tend to do very well in Express Entry. According to the most recent Express Entry annual report, around one third of all successful applicants are tech workers. Four out of the five top occupations most selected for ITAs are in technology.

Each province also administers its own immigration programs that help address more regional labour market needs. Several have dedicated technology streams.

British Columbia Tech

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) offers a priority pathway called the BC Tech stream available to certain tech workers. This Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) targets candidates who have job offers in one of 29 eligible tech occupations.

To be eligible, you must qualify for at least one other B.C. immigration program. The Tech stream is a special path that works within other programs, rather than being a program itself. You need to have an offer for a job in your occupation. This offer must be for at least one year.

Eligible candidates get invited to apply for a provincial nomination from the BC PNP through weekly tech draws. BC Tech candidates get several benefits such as priority processing, and a special processing officer.

Ontario Tech Draws

Ontario conducts Tech Draws from time to time. To be eligible, you must qualify for Ontarios Human Capital Priorities stream. This means you must be eligible for either the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Canadian Experience Class. To be eligible for a Tech Draw, you need to have work experience in one of the following six tech occupations: software engineers and designers; computer programmers and interactive media developers; computer engineers; web designers and developers; database analysts and data administrators; and computer and information systems managers.

Quebec Immigration Program for Workers in Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology, and Visual Effects Sectors

The province of Quebec launched this immigration pilot only a few months ago, in April 2021. This program has two streams.

Artificial intelligence (AI)

This stream has two sub-streams: one for people who graduated from a Quebec college or university, and one for workers trained abroad. The two categories will differ somewhat in what they require. For example, the Quebec sub-graduate stream will require the applicant to have experience and a job offer. The foreign workers sub-stream does not require a job offer, in some cases. But, both demand that an applicant have relevant education at least equal to a Quebec bachelors degree.

Information technology (IT) and visual effects

People in this program must have worked for at least two out of the last five years in 10 occupations. They also need to have an ongoing job or new job offer in their field. They also must meet the education requirement. They must prove they have at least the equivalent of a Quebec technical studies diploma or bachelors degree.

Both streams have two further divisions. One is for francophones, and one for non-francophones. A person who applies under the francophone category must show that they have an advanced intermediate knowledge of French. The non-francophone stream is highly unusual. Usually, a Quebec immigration category will require knowledge of French.

Discover if Youre Eligible for Canadian Immigration

 CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.
By: Chuck Lukaszewski, Vice President and Chief Wireless Technologist at Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company.

The network edge, especially mobile access, remains an area of focus for network planners as applications and communications continue to not only proliferate, but require improved security, performance, and resiliency. Todays enterprises operate multiple radio access networks (RANs) to meet specific business requirements. For example, manufacturing plants increasingly deploy Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and private cellular on the assembly line, working together to connect an incredibly diverse range of endpoints.

An automotive assembly line may have hundreds of Bluetooth and Zigbee connected smart tools that store information about each car as it moves down the line, while the car itself is active on the Wi-Fi network downloading firmware to various car subsystems. Meanwhile, Wi-Fi is used to connect cameras performing optical quality inspection and supporting ruggedized mobile data terminals used by employees.

In healthcare, the hospital is one of the most wirelessly connected buildings on earth, employing Wi-Fi for clinical and patient data access; Bluetooth for patient wayfinding and smart medical device telemetry; cellular distributed antenna systems (DAS) for high-quality in-building 4G/5G service from multiple operators, and wireless medical telemetry (WMTS) for medical devices. What I call the multi-RAN enterprise is already very real, and over the next few years it will permeate across businesses of all size. IT architects have an increasingly rich toolbox of RAN networks to solve business problems that have widely divergent requirements for speed, latency, geographic coverage, and cost.

Aruba

Figure 1  The Multi-RAN Enterprise

In this world we now have the arrival of enormous 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi use, known as Wi-Fi 6E. Six GHz continues to gain momentum across the globe as more than 40 countries have taken a legal decision to open the band, with a further 30 countries expected to act by the end of this year. The amount of new spectrum made available for Wi-Fi is truly unprecedented  up to 1200 MHz in most countries in the Americas, and up to 500 MHz for European countries. This represents an increase in Wi-Fi capacity of as much as three times above what was available over the past 20 years, which will unleash incredible new use cases. Meanwhile, new devices are emerging that support Wi-Fi 6E, including the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra handset, the rumored iPhone 13, and many more. With the expansion of 6GHz, businesses now have access to three separate bands, helping reduce congestion as organizations contend with a growing avalanche of IoT devices coming onto the network, primarily by leveraging Wi-Fi 6E for client devices and other mission-critical functions. This new spectrum will complement existing RANs mentioned above.

Enterprise organizations can leverage each of these RAN technologies as required for the business, to not only maximize wireless connectivity across the network, but to improve performance, user experience, and productivity.

Private Cellular Networks  The CBRS spectrum shows great promise in simplifying the twin intractable problems for private cellular networks: access to spectrum and consolidating multiple mobile network operators into a single-layer infrastructure. In short, privately-owned 4G/5G wireless networks based on the CBRS spectrum provide specific performance and cost characteristics to serve specific application use cases or groups of end-user devices, such as medical devices or portable scan guns found in warehouses and retail environments.

Through Aruba's partnership with Celona, Aruba can deliver a full role-based, policy-driven solution for enterprise-owned 4G/5G RANs. This vision enables the integration of privately-owned cellular RANs with existing enterprise networks including WLAN, LAN, SD-WAN, and other domains under a single unified policy framework.

Bluetooth and Zigbee - Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) tags in unlicensed 2.4 GHz spectrum are being used for an array of IoT devices, asset tracking, and way-finding applications. Other modes of wireless connectivity include Zigbee, Thread, ISA100, and WirelessHART  all based on the 802.15.4 standard using unlicensed 2.4 GHz or 900 MHz spectrum  have become de facto in-building IoT access networks. In essence, network administrators now have more options to distribute network loads from various devices through the appropriate wireless spectrum.

Public Cellular Network Integration - Aruba also offers an integrated cellular experience by providing automatic Wi-Fi offloading onto enterprise networks. The Aruba Air Pass service enables Wi-Fi enabled devices with SIM credentials from major cellular network operators to automatically connect to enterprise networks. The combination of the Aruba Air Pass service, Passpoint authentication, and Wi-Fi Calling enables robust in-building and campus cellular coverage, delivered over Wi-Fi. And now with the Aruba 630 Series Wi-Fi 6E AP, cellular data can offload to the network while taking advantage of the benefits available within the 6 GHz spectrum.

A Multi-RAN Approach Provides Flexibility and Resiliency

Aruba believes there is no one-size-fits-all answer to access-layer connectivity at the edge, as network architects require flexibility to determine the most effective RAN program. That's why Aruba is committed to a holistic approach that integrates cellular and non-cellular technologies that can match the needs of most organizations.

Aruba

Figure 2- The Multi-Band Enterprise

Learn more about Aruba's Wi-Fi 6E solution.

Want to learn more about Aruba's approach to edge networking beyond wireless?
There is a long tradition of imperial denial in the United States. After all, Americans fought the British Empire and have always thought of themselves as different from European colonialists. They are Empire Slayerswhy else would Star Wars and its fight against the Galactic Empire have such a hold on the popular imagination?

In this episode of How We Got Here, a podcast by the Columbia Journalism School faculty, Professor Sheila Coronel talks with two scholars explain how, from the nations birth, imperial expansionfirst westward into Indian Country and later, overseaswas a defining character of these United States.

The echoes of empire can be heard in todays news. Its impossible to talk about immigration, drone strikes, the attacks on Asian Americans, the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, etc., without understanding the history and projection of American power. What would journalism informed by the history of empire look like?
BEIJING  Devastating summer floods in the populous province of Henan in central China are a wake-up call for local authorities to seek better insurance cover against natural disasters, potentially opening up a huge market for insurers in the country.

Many local governments in China, especially those in typhoon-prone areas, have embraced such insurance, but regulators and experts say more needs to be done after losses in under-protected Henan swelled to 133.7 billion yuan ($20.64 billion), or 4.6% of its first-half gross domestic product, due to the floods last month.

Globally, insurance covers 30%-40% of economic losses from disasters, with coverage up to 60% in North America. In China, where local experts warn of more extreme weather due to global warming, coverage is just 10%, according to Swiss Re.

The gap between economic and insurance losses is still sizable (in China) and underpins huge potential demand for catastrophe insurance protection, S&P Global Ratings said in a research note on Tuesday.

Nearly all of Chinas 654 major cities are prone to flooding and waterlogging, official data shows, with their rapid growth creating urban sprawls that cover floodplains with concrete.

Latent Chinese demand for protection offers a potential future source of earnings for insurers, but hurdles remain, both global and local.

Globally, insurers have yet to fully factor in climate-change risks in their offerings and better protect their bottom-lines as extreme events become more frequent and damaging, moderating the speed at which they roll out policies in both developed and emerging economies.

In China, catastrophe insurance is still in its infancy, partly due to a lack of a central government push. In Chinas 2021-2025 economic and social development plan, catastrophe insurance was briefly mentioned without elaboration.

Disaster insurance coverage in China is also highly dependent on local authorities, which may not necessarily be warm to the idea since they would have to pay for such policies out of their own pockets, unlike in advanced economies like Japan and Australia where it is left to the owner of a property or asset to buy what insurance they can afford or is available.

Pilots

So far, 15 provinces and cities have signed up for pilot disaster insurance programs, Chinas top banking and insurance regulator told Reuters, adding it will call for more product rollouts after recent disasters.

With the help of re-insurers in collaboration with Chinese insurers like Peoples Insurance Company of China (PICC) and Ping An, pilots have been launched in coastal cities such as Ningbo and provinces like Guangdong, where typhoons bring economic losses almost every year.

In its renewal of a three-year disaster insurance policy, the Ningbo government paid 41 million yuan ($6.3 million) in premiums to five insurers including Ping An in 2021, public statements showed.

It is unclear if all the pilots have been renewed, given different local budgets and evolving metrics to accurately measure climate-change risks, which vary across China.

Heilongjiang province rolled out a pilot to protect farmers from losses caused by disasters including floods, rain and drought. The first phase ended in 2019, after three years.

Last month, two dams collapsed in Chinas Inner Mongolia region, causing downstream damage and raising alarm bells for neighboring Heilongjiang counties that used to be insured by the pilot.

The Heilongjiang government did not respond to a Reuters request for comment on payouts and renewal of the pilot.

Pricing is challenging, as from the business perspective, insurers have to make sure the product pricing reflects the real risks when disasters happen, said Moodys analyst Kelvin Kwok.

But from the local authorities perspective, they are purchasing coverage in events that could rarely happens.

Product Design

A change in product design may entice more local authorities to sign up.

Swiss Re told Reuters it is working on a product that offers quicker assessment for flood-related disasters in China, remotely tapping data such as the depth of floodwaters and size of affected areas to gauge the severity of the situation.

Stronger support from the top is key.

To expand coverage, regulators and the central government need to play a bigger role, said Wang He, an insurance expert and a former vice president of PICCs Property and Casualty Insurance unit involved in some of the pilots.

Greater fiscal support such as the set up of a specialized payout fund for disasters is needed, Wang said.

Subsidies for coverage would be a direct driver, Swiss Re said, including tax incentives for insurers that run such government programs.

Time will tell if catastrophe insurance in China is viable for insurers, said Moodys Kwok.

We expect to see government policies like premium subsidies to prevent insurers from taking persistent underwriting losses, Kwok said. ($1 = 6.4773 Chinese yuan renminbi).

About the photo: Shopkeepers at the Yubei Agricultural and Aquatic Products World leave the market on a motor tricycle in Xinxiang in central Chinas Henan Province, Monday, July 26, 2021. Record rain in Xinxiang last week left the produce and seafood market soaked in water. Dozens of people died in the floods that immersed large swaths of central Chinas Henan province in water. (AP Photo/Dake Kang)
Purdue Pharmas quest to settle thousands of lawsuits over the toll of OxyContin and its other prescription opioid painkillers is entering its final phase with the grudging support of most of those who have claims against the company.

Nearly two years after seeking bankruptcy protection, the company is scheduled to appear before a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge to ask for approval of its plan to reorganize into a new entity no longer controlled by members of the wealthy Sackler family, and with profits dedicated to abating the opioid crisis.

Opponents fault the deal for giving members of the Sackler family protection from lawsuits over opioids even though they have not personally filed for bankruptcy or admitted wrongdoing.

But most of the groups with claims against Purdue are on board with the settlement plan.

Ed Neiger, a lawyer representing individual victims and their families, is planning to tell U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Robert Drain that its better to approve the settlement plan than to have years more of court battles with Purdue and the Sacklers.

The plan must be analyzed in light of the alternative, not a comparison to the ideal, Neiger said in an interview. Five hundred thousand people have died as result of the opioid crisis thus far. If we go the all-out litigation route, another 500,000 might die before we see a penny from the Sacklers.

Those with claims against Purdue were given a vote on the settlement, though Judge Drain is not bound by the results. Well over 90% of most groups of creditors _ including local governments and individual victims  said they approved, according to court filings.

A group of Democratic state attorneys general were among the last to get on board. Until July, top state government lawyers were divided nearly evenly on whether to accept the deal. But several of the opponents signed on after Purdue agreed to make company records public and Sackler family members agreed to accelerate payments and increase payments. They would contribute a total of $4.5 billion in cash and a charitable fund.

An analysis commissioned by a group of state attorneys general before changes in the agreement found the wealth of Sackler family members, estimated at $10.7 billion in 2020, could rise to $14.6 billion by 2030  even after the payments  because of investment returns and interest.

Sackler family members have been adamant that if they dont receive protections from lawsuits, they would not participate in the settlement and would instead mount a vigorous defense to any claims they face. One, David Sackler, a grandson of one of the three brothers who nearly 70 years ago bought the company that became Purdue, made a declaration in court and could be called to testify on it in the hearing.

My family and I support the Shareholder Settlement because it represents an extraordinary opportunity to bring much needed resources to abate the opioid crisis, rather than spending years and depleting those resources defending the lawsuits against us, he said in the statement.

Activist groups held a rally Monday outside the White Plains, New York, courthouse where Drain is based, urging him not to approve the deal.

They are opioid profiteers who have caused mass death and they sit pretty in this court, one of the activists, Megan Kapler, said at the protest. And its not right.

The Purdue case is the highest-profile part of a vast landscape of litigation over an opioid epidemic that has been linked to more than 500,000 U.S. deaths since 2000, including those from prescription drugs such as OxyContin and generic painkillers, along with illicit drugs including heroin and illegally produced fentanyl.

In recent months, claims against other companies in the drug industry have gone to trial in California, New York and West Virginia, with more on tap in coming months. Some other firms are also settling. Drugmaker Johnson & Johnson and distribution companies AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson are seeking state and local government acceptance of a deal worth $26 billion.

Purdues case was separated from the others in 2019 when the company filed for the bankruptcy protection as it faced about 3,000 lawsuits from state and local governments, Native American tribes and others.

The company says its plan could be worth $10 billion over time. Profits and money already in the companys coffers would be used to abate the opioid crisis, funding treatment programs and education campaigns.

The value of the deal also includes the value of drugs Purdue is developing to reverse overdoses and inhibit addiction.

A portion of the money would also go to individual victims and their families. Payouts are expected to range from about $3,500 to $48,000.

Associated Press video journalist Ted Shaffrey in White Plains, New York, contributed to this report.

About the photo: Cardboard gravestones with the names of victims of opioid abuse are seen outside the courthouse where the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy is taking place in White Plains, N.Y., Monday, Aug. 9, 2021. Purdue Pharmas quest to settle thousands of lawsuits over the toll of OxyContin is entering its final phase with the grudging acceptance of most of those with claims against the company. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
MIAMI (AP)  A private bidder is willing to offer up to $120 million to purchase the Miami-area oceanfront property where the collapsed Champlain Towers South building once stood.

The offer was revealed Wednesday during a hearing before Circuit Judge Michael Hanzman, who is overseeing the dozens of lawsuits that have been filed since the condominium collapsed June 24, killing 98 people. Officials are still trying to determine what caused the building to collapse.

The judge authorized negotiation of an agreement with the bidder, who was not publicly identified. A real estate broker told the judge he had a letter of interest from the bidder that offered $110 million for the property, the Miami Herald reported.

Theyre willing to go to $120 million, said Michael Fay, who has been appointed to work on the real estate deal.

Thats the best news Ive heard so far today, the judge said. He then asked Fay to move as quickly as possible to get to a short auction process.

I want to compensate these victims as soon as possible, Hanzman said.

Some families had hoped the government would purchase the property to turn it into a park or a memorial site to honor the victims, rather than a residential or commercial development.

On Wednesday, Manny Kadre, a lawyer who is serving as a liaison between the court and elected leaders, said that appears very highly unlikely, the Herald reported.

He suggested that perhaps officials could step in to help forgive mortgages, create a victims compensation fund or help with creating a memorial on the site or nearby.

The property being monetized by government is a very, very unlikely scenario, Kadre told the newspaper.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
LAME DEER, Mont. (AP)  A wildfire bore down on rural southeastern Montana towns Thursday as continuing hot, dry weather throughout the West drove flames through more than a dozen states.

Several thousand people in Montana remained under evacuation orders as the Richard Spring Fire advanced across the sparsely-populated Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation.

Meanwhile, Californias Dixie Fire  which started July 13 and is the largest wildfire burning in the nation  threatened a dozen small communities in the northern Sierra Nevada even though its southern end was mostly corralled by fire lines.

The fire has burned 790 square miles (2,000 square kilometers), destroyed some 550 homes and nearly obliterated the town of Greenville last week. It was 30% contained.

Primed by heavy, swirling winds and hot temperatures, the Montana fire spread in multiple directions, torching trees and sending off embers that propelled the flames across the dry landscape.

The blaze began Sunday and winds gusting up to 56 miles per hour (90 kilometres per hour) caused it to explode across more than 260 square miles (670 square kilometers) by Thursday.

The fire had crept within about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) of the eastern edge of the evacuated town of Lame Deer, leaping over a highway where officials had hoped to stop it.

After a second fire ignited just west of the town and quickly spread, tribal officials late Wednesday urged residents who did not heed the initial evacuation order to flee. Busses were being brought in to move people to a school in the community of Busby, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) away.

Firefighters worked into early Thursday morning on hills around Lame Deer to keep the blaze from destroying houses, officials said.

There were no immediate damage reports about buildings.

Rancher Jimmy Peppers sat on his horse east of town, watching an orange glow grow near the site of his house as the night wore on.

I didnt think it would cross the highway so I didnt even move my farm equipment, said Peppers, who spent the afternoon herding his cattle onto a neighbors pasture closer to town. I dont know if Ill have a house in the morning.

The town of about 2,000 people is home to the tribal headquarters and several subdivisions and is surrounded by steep, rugged, forest.

A few miles from town, Krystal Two Bulls and some friends stuck around to clear brush from her yard in hopes of protecting it from the flames. Thick plumes of smoke rose from behind a tree-covered ridgeline just above the house.

Were packed and were loaded so if we have to go, we will, Two Bull said. Im not fearful; Im prepared. Here you dont just run from fire or abandon your house.

Also ordered to leave were about 600 people in and around Ashland, a small town just outside the reservation. Local, state and federal firefighters were joined by ranchers using their own heavy equipment to carve out fire lines around houses.

Cooler weather and less wind was in the weather forecast for southeastern Montana Thursday, the National Weather Service said. That could give firefighters brief relief before a ridge of high pressure moves into the area and pumps temperatures into the 90s over the weekend.

Extreme drought conditions have left trees, grass and brush bone-dry throughout many Western states, leaving them ripe for ignition. Montana alone had 25 large wildfires burning, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

At the same time, California and some other states were facing flows of monsoonal moisture that were too high to bring real rain but could create thunderstorms that bring new fire risks of dry lightning and erratic winds.

In Northern California, a number of wildfires and the threat of more prompted three national forests to close down the Trinity Alps Wilderness Area, a 780-square mile (2,000-square kilomter) area of granite peaks, lakes and trails, into November.

Tracking hikers in unsafe areas pulls much-needed aircraft away from firefighting efforts, and adds risk and exposure to first responders. Additionally, forest managers hope to limit the possibility of human-caused fires with this temporary full closure, Shasta-Trinity National Forest officials said in a statement.

Scientists have said climate change has made the region much warmer and drier in the past 30 years and will continue to make the weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive. The more than 100 large wildfires in the American West come as parts of Europe are also burning.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 13)  State auditors questioned the Department of Social Welfare and Development over 780 million unspent and 4.3 billion unliquidated funds from the government's Social Amelioration Program.

In its 2020 report, the Commission on Audit cited DSWD field offices in regions 2, 7, 8, 11, and CAR for not sufficiently validating the eligibility of individuals included in the list beneficiaries.

The 780 million was unspent as some individuals included in the masterlist turned out to be unqualified.

Auditors said it could have benefitted at least 139,000 poor families who actually qualify for the emergency cash aid program.

Given the scarcity of government resources for COVID-19 expenses, there is a dire need to properly evaluate targeted beneficiaries through proper coordination, monitoring, and validation that could maximize the number of qualified beneficiaries, COA said.

Auditors said these offices should provide an additional list of qualified beneficiaries in case the masterlist submitted is later found to contain unqualified people.

The report also flagged DSWD field offices in regions 4A, 4B, 5, 6, 8, and NCR for unliquidated transfer of SAP funds to local government units amounting to 4.3 billion.

Procurement lapses

Auditors also noted various lapses in the purchase of goods and services for the pandemic response of DSWD field offices in regions 2, 4A, 9, and 11.

According to the report, some transactions violate procurement laws and regulations citing lack of documents and necessary information.

Inconsistent information, alterations on supporting documents and omission of dates and other vital information raise doubt on the integrity and propriety of the transactions, the report read.

CNN Philippines is requesting comment from DSWD.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 13)  The Department of Interior and Local Government reiterates that village watchmen and other police auxiliary units are not allowed to carry firearms while on duty.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano issued the statement after barangay tanod Cesar Panlaqui was arrested for fatally shooting Eduardo Genoga, a 59-year-old scavenger reportedly suffering from a mental illness, for violating the curfew amid the implementation of enhanced community quarantine in the capital region. The Manila police already filed murder charges against Panlaqui.

"While we acknowledge that barangay tanods play a complementary role to local authorities in the maintenance of the peace of order in their respective communities, we firmly reiterate that they are not authorized to carry any firearm in the performance of their duties even if they own these firearms," he said.

The DILG chief also ordered local chief executives to ensure that all village watchmen within their jurisdiction will not to carry any firearm while on duty, warning that violators will face charges.

Ano noted that "The Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act" has revoked the authority of police auxiliary units, including barangay tanods, from carrying firearms previously permitted under Circular 2008-013 of the National Police Commission.

The law also states that registered firearms of local government units should only be issued to a government employee with a permanent position.

Under DILG Memorandum Circular no. 2003-42, village watchmen are only allowed to use nightstick with teargas with belt and holster, handcuff with holster, whistle, flashlight, raincoat, rain boots, small notebooks and ballpens, and first-aid kits.

DILG Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya also reminded authorities to not be reckless and hotheaded when enforcing quarantine protocols.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 13) The Department of National Defense (DND) on Friday refuted information about the alleged presence of a Chinese research ship near the disputed Scarborough Shoal (also known as Bajo de Masinloc), saying the vessel did not pass through nor enter the countrys area of responsibility.

Contrary to some published reports regarding the Chinese research vessel Hai Da Hao, the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) Northern Luzon Command has reported that the said vessel has not been spotted near Bajo de Masinloc as alleged, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement.

Based on the verification of the one-year historical track of CRV Hai Da Hao, the vessel did not pass through nor did it enter the area of responsibility of Naval Forces Northern Luzon, he added.

The defense chief also noted that the vessel is currently monitored 30 nautical miles south of Huidong Xian, Huizhou Shi in China.

A social media post which circulated earlier this week claimed that the research ship  supposedly managed by a China-based university  was sighted operating east of Scarborough Shoal off the coast of Zambales.

The report prompted the DND to launch a probe on the matter.

The Philippine government for the past months has filed a flurry of diplomatic protests against Beijing over the lingering presence of its ships in different parts of the country's waters.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 13)  Workers in the Philippines suffered the worst job displacements across Southeast Asia during the pandemic, the International Labor Organization said Friday.

The United Nations-backed ILO said workers in the country lost 13.6% of their working hours in 2020, well above the regional average of 8.4%. That roughly translates to half a day in a typical 40-hour work week.

In contrast, lost working hours in Thailand, Brunei, and Laos only stood at the 4% level, according to the report titled COVID-19 and the ASEAN labour market: Impact and policy response.

These differences are driven by several factors, including the ability to control the pandemic, as well as the stringency and duration of lockdown measures implemented to curb the spread of the pandemic, the ILO said.

Moreover, the economic structure of a country plays a role, as some sectors such as agriculture have been less vulnerable to the pandemic compared to others such as tourism-related industries.

READ: Weekly economic losses to top 150B due to hard lockdowns  NEDA

ILO labor economist Christian Viegelahn added that the Philippines imposed the strictest lockdown measures in 2020, which largely contributed to the job displacements. He added that 1.9 million workers were affected by movement restrictions.

Roughly half of these working hour losses is caused by people losing their jobs, and the other half is caused by people that might have kept their job but had to reduce simply because of different reasons  because they were not able to work given the health restrictions put in place, or because there was no demand and other reasons as well, Viegelahn said in a Friday press briefing.

The losses came mostly from the tourism, retail, hotel and restaurants, arts, manufacturing, and construction sectors, many of which had to shut down whenever COVID-19 infections rise.

Across ASEAN, ILO said some 9.4 million people are still expected to suffer from shorter working hours or unemployment this year, slightly better than the 10.6 million who suffered the blow of COVID-19 restrictions last year.

The labor market situation is likely to deteriorate further, as the pandemic continues to spread exponentially in large parts of the region, the report added.

By 2022, this employment gap is expected to drop to 4.1 million.

ILO pegged regional foregone income at $100 billion, or a staggering 5 trillion, as a result of the pandemic.

The Geneva-based group added that the job losses affected women and the youth the most, with mothers opting to leave work to tend to household care.

RELATED: Women lost $800 billion in income last year. That's more than the combined GDP of 98 countries

The global agency, however, cited the wage subsidies given to small businesses during the lockdowns as a way to support the poorest laborers. It added that support for small firms, along with investments in skills development of workers and the provision of social protection measures, will help cushion the impact of lost earnings.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 13)  The spokesperson of the Lung Center of the Philippines said the hard lockdown in the National Capital Region must be extended amid the soaring coronavirus cases.

"This is purely on the medical aspect kasi ngayon pa lang natatanggap 'yung increasing cases from the community," said Dr. Norberto Francisco, spokesperson of the Quezon City-based Lung Center, during an interview with state-run PTV's Laging Handa.

[Translation: This is purely on the medical aspect because it is only now that we are receiving the increasing cases from the community.]

Francisco stressed that the number of cases in the past days was increasing "exponentially".

If there were no coronavirus spike, the Lung Center usually allots 35% of its operational capacity for COVID patients, he said.

But now, the hospital has already dedicated 76% for COVID patients.

"This is the highest," he noted.

"Habang tumataas po ang kaso, dinadagdagan po namin ang percentage ng kama na naka-dedicate sa COVID," Francisco said.

[Translation: As the case increases, we are adding the percentage of beds dedicated to COVID.]

He also said the Lung Center has started deploying modular hospitals for moderate, severe, and critical COVID cases.

The Inter-Agency Task Force placed Metro Manila under the strictest enhanced community quarantine until August 20 amid the growing Delta fears.

READ: Delta variant possible driver of COVID-19 surge in Metro Manila  OCTA

The Department of Health earlier confirmed the local transmission of the highly transmissible variant. It also said the Delta variant was detected in all cities and municipality of the National Capital Region.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 13)  Aksyon Demokratiko, the political party that recently elected Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso as its president, continued to expand its membership ahead of the 2022 elections.

The latest to join the party is Marawi civic leader and former senatorial candidate Samira Gutoc.

Gutoc announced on Friday that she accepted Aksyon Demokratiko's invitation for her to be part of its national executive board.

This can be considered a first step in once again trying to enter politics, she told CNN Philippines. But Gutoc said she has to consult with her constituents first regarding another possible senatorial bid.

"I am part of a political party now and I'm trying to understand what's going on right now in national politics," Gutoc said in a phone interview.

"It depends on my constituency, the Muslim Filipinos, the Filipinos who trusted me, the four million Filipinos who gave me their votes," she added.

Gutoc ran in the 2019 midterm elections as part of the Liberal Party's Otso Diretso senatorial slate and placed 25th. She was an independent candidate adopted by the opposition party.

Vice President Leni Robredo, the LP's potential standard bearer, is reaching out to other possible candidates in a bid to unite the opposition behind one presidential bet and increase its fighting chance against the administration.

Gutoc said she hopes Robredo's efforts  including talks with Moreno  will bear fruit.

"Of course, I've been identified in the past with Vice President Leni. I continue to hold her in highest esteem. I still hope that she and...Isko, my president sa (in) Aksyon, will be able to thresh things out," Gutoc said.

Asked why she chose Aksyon Demokratiko, Gutoc said she sees it as a platform to voice her advocacies, including youth development, helping the marginalized sectors, and human rights, among others.

She chairs Ako Bakwit, an advocacy rights group pushing for the rights and welfare of internally displaced persons.

Gutoc said all "pro-democratic progressive movements" should work together.

Aksyon Demokratiko is a relatively small political party founded by the late former Senator Raul Roco.

Aside from Moreno, another elected official in its leadership is Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto, who sits as Executive Vice President.

The party is also in talks with the Nationalist People's Coalition, headed by Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III.

Sotto is the running mate of Partido Reporma's Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, the first to confirm his presidential bid in 2022.

Robredo met with the tandem in July, but talks are now at a standstill after failing to agree on a "unification formula."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 13)  The Philippines on Friday received 15,000 doses of Gamaleya's COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V.

The fresh Sputnik V shots will be used as second doses, Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said.

Galvez on Thursday said those who received Sputnik V as their first dose can have AstraZeneca for their second shot if the supply would face further delays.

READ: Experts approve Sputnik V-AstraZeneca vaccine mix amid delays official

Under the Food and Drug Administration guidelines, the two required doses of Sputnik V must be given within 42 days.

Sputnik V and AstraZeneca are both adenoviral vector vaccines.
Columbia, MO (65201)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 73F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
From the NSO Groups ghastly iPhone hack to Apples recently revealed system to scan user devices, its time to put an end to the endless mission creep from tech convenience to surveillance.

Apple fixes one problem, creates another

Take Apple, for example. The brouhaha surrounding its decision to invent a technology to scan user images for CSAM material has apparently surprised the company.

To my cynical eyes, the fact Apple announced the move in a note quietly published to its website at the end of the weekly news cycle speaks volumes. As I see it, every PR person on the planet knows making announcements at the end of the week is a way to bury bad news.

This makes me think it wasnt actually surprised. It just failed to manage the reaction  and is now in damage control as it continues to add additional explanations to the original announcement. The companys senior vice president for software, Craig Federighi, has even been wheeled out to try to explain things better.

I am glad criticism of the move is now taking place inside the company. I think Apples motivation was to create a solution that enabled it to scan image libraries while defending user privacy, but I also see that it wound up building a technology framework that can easily be twisted to undermine privacy.

It wanted to protect privacy, but instead invented a system that could undermine it. That Apple now just wants us to trust it not to extend the system into other domains stretches credulity. Now that the system has been invented and the company has confirmed its existence, theres no way back.

By accident or design, Apple has opened Pandoras box. Trust is a currency, but at this level it must be backed up by regulation.

The ethics of a hacker

Its the same for the NSO Group, which offers to invade almost anybodys privacy for a very high price. While the company promises that if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear, and says it only works with governments, you just have to take a look how its hacks have recently been used to see the problem.

The lack of respect for human rights evidenced in how NSOs tech has already been used highlights the challenge Apple now faces if it really wants to keep its promise not to extend its CSAM scanning system into other domains.

We need regulation

The problem is that now we know the system exists, there is no way to roll it back  and governments that want such systems in your devices know it's possible. So the pressure is on.

Thats why a United Nations call for a moratorium on the sale of surveillance tech such as the NSO Groups Pegasus seems well timed. "It is highly dangerous and irresponsible to allow the surveillance technology and trade sector to operate as a human rights-free zone," the UN warns.

International human rights law requires all States to adopt robust domestic legal safeguards to protect individuals from unlawful surveillance, invasion of their privacy or threats to their freedom of expression, assembly and association, the agency said.

Whats required is an internationally agreed legal framework that regulates use of tech-based surveillance across the board, from the kind of surveillance-based advertising Apple has pushed so hard against to the egregious use of tech, such as Cambridge Analytica, the NSO Group, and the on-device snooping Apple just revealed.

Anyone using any device should have a reasonable expectation of how their use of that device is protected. And this should be an internationally agreed-upon set of standards, likely built around principles of freedom of speech and association.

Wheres Tim Cook?

It is upsetting, given his leadership on privacy, that Apple CEO Tim Cook has remained silent on this matter. It was only in 2019 he wrote, Its time to stand up for the right to privacy  yours, mine, all of ours, in Time magazine.

In 2018 he had said: Rogue actors and even governments have taken advantage of user trust to deepen divisions, incite violence, and even undermine our shared sense of what is true and what is false.

That last point is one to which Cook often returns. In Canada earlier this year, he warned of the need to protect freedom of expression, and recently discussed the need to give users peace of mind by strengthening that control and the freedom to use their technology without worrying about who is looking over their shoulder.

Just over a week ago, the slow but steady process towards agreeing such rules was acceptable. Things have changed.

Apple is not a small entity. Macs, iPhones, and iPads have over a billion users. The decision to enable on-device surveillance across its platforms means it has now made it critical to put in place an international bill of digital rights.

In order to keep its promise to keep our privacy safe, Apple should  morally, I think  now put the full extent of its corporate might behind the development of such a set of rights. Nothing less will do.

Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe.
08/13/2021

Photo (c) Wachiwit - Getty Images Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 36,326,952 (36,210,096)

Total U.S. deaths: 619,200 (618,572)

Total global cases: 205,752,476 (204,986,180)

Total global deaths: 4,340,137 (4,329,089)

FDA clears boosters for immunocompromised

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved COVID-19 booster shots for one group of people: those who have chronic conditions that may compromise their immune systems.

The country has entered yet another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the FDA is especially cognizant that immunocompromised people are particularly at risk for severe disease, said Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock. After a thorough review of the available data, the FDA determined that this small, vulnerable group may benefit from a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Vaccines.

The approval applies to several million Americans who may be especially vulnerable because of organ transplants, battles with cancer, or other conditions. In allowing some to get booster shots, the U.S. is following the lead of some other nations, including Israel and France.

Analysis shows case surge centered in just eight states

The U.S. is in the grips of another wave of COVID-19 cases, but the surge is not uniformly spread across the country. By looking at a heat map of cases, its clear that the outbreak is centered in just eight states -- Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, and Texas.

A CNN analysis of government health data shows that those states also happen to be at the bottom of the rankings for vaccinations. In the case of Nevada, its new cases are focused in the Las Vegas area, which has resumed drawing visitors from all corners of the country.

The analysis shows that the eight named states' combined total of new cases makes up approximately 51% of COVID-19 patients. Thats alarming because data shows that they account for only around 24% of the nation's population.

Florida county seeks to limit 911 calls

COVID-19, fueled by the Delta variant, is tearing through Florida. Hospitals are filling with virus patients, and emergency rooms are busy night and day -- so much so that Brevard County Fire and Rescue officials are asking citizens not to call 911 unless its absolutely necessary.

Brevard County Fire Rescue Chief Mark Schollmeyer says people with less than serious medical issues should look for alternatives. Ambulance trips, he says, should be reserved for those facing life and death situations.

"Just being COVID positive but asymptomatic does not always make it a life-threatening emergent condition requiring a trip to the ER," he said. "We ask people to take advantage of your primary care physician, telemedicine, or urgent care and leave emergency room and ambulance trips for those with life-threatening or serious emergencies."

Around the nation
08/13/2021

Photo (c) Hirurg - Getty Images In a report on Friday, economists from the University of Michigan said a key consumer sentiment measure declined significantly in early August. The consumer sentiment index fell to 70.2 earlier this month, down more than 13% from Julys reading of 81.2.

The sudden drop, which experts described as rare, suggests that the Delta variant may be creating uncertainty about what lies ahead for the economy. The reading represents a low not seen since 2011.

Over the past half century, the Sentiment Index has only recorded larger losses in six other surveys, all connected to sudden negative changes in the economy, Richard Curtin, the chief economist for Michigans Surveys of Consumers, said in a release.

Delta variant impact

Curtin said the drop could have been spurred by the rise in cases of the Delta variant. The surge in cases has prompted some states and localities to reintroduce mask mandates and other restrictions.

He added that consumer confidence could rebound in the months ahead, especially if matters stabilize on the pandemic front.

Consumers have correctly reasoned that the economys performance will be diminished over the next several months, but the extraordinary surge in negative economic assessments also reflects an emotional response, mainly from dashed hopes that the pandemic would soon end, Curtin said. In the months ahead, it is likely that consumers will again voice more reasonable expectations, and with control of the Delta variant, shift toward outright optimism.

Although the early August consumer sentiment index suggests uncertainty among consumers, other metrics -- including weekly jobless claims -- have suggested that the economy is recovering from its pandemic lows. The Labor Department said recently that the economy added 943,000 jobs last month, which is more than most economists expected.
08/13/2021

Photo (c) jetcityimage - Getty Images The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a recall for approximately 45,500 Volkswagen cars and SUVs due to a seat belt locking retractor malfunction. The recall primarily affects vehicles in the automakers Audi sub-brand, but it also covers the new ID.4 electric compact SUV.

The NHTSA said the rear seat belt automatic locking retractors could deactivate early. An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash, the agency noted.

Affected vehicles include model-year 2021 Audi A4, S4, A6, S6, RS 6, A8 and S8 sedans; A6 Allroad wagons; A5, S5, RS 5, A7, S7, and RS 7 hatchbacks; e-Tron, Q3, Q5, SQ5, Q7, SQ7, Q8, SQ8 and RS Q8 SUVs; model-year 2021-22 S3 sedans; and model-year 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 SUVs.

These vehicles will be inspected by dealers, and the flaw will be fixed at no cost to owners. Volkwagen said it will begin notifying owners on October 1.

Ford to replace Bronco hardtops

Elsewhere in the automotive industry, Ford announced that it will replace every molded-in color hardtop roof for 2021 Bronco vehicles. The company said the existing hardtops arent up to its standards cosmetically, but the problems dont affect their safety or functionality.

Owners already in possession of their Bronco will receive a new roof later this year. These owners will receive a letter from Ford in the coming weeks with details on how the company will install the new roof. Consumers still awaiting delivery of their SUV will have to wait a little longer for it to arrive. Alternatively, they can choose to switch to a soft-top model instead.

Frozen breaded chicken products recalled

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recalled several frozen chicken products this week after 28 cases of salmonella were reported across eight states.

Recalled products include Dutch Farms Chicken with Broccoli & Cheese, Milford Valley Chicken with Broccoli & Cheese, and Kirkwood Raw Stuffed Chicken Cordon Bleu. Consumers with any of these products at home are advised to throw them away or return them to their place of purchase.

Health officials said 11 people in eight states have been hospitalized for salmonella infections after consuming breaded frozen chicken products. Twenty-eight illnesses have been reported in total, but the CDC says the actual number of infected people is likely higher.

Locksets recalled because they can fail to open

The Consumer Product Safety Commission on Wednesday issued a recall of dormakaba Delayed Egress Locks.

The agency said the lockset can fail to open, posing an entrapment hazard and inability to vacate a location in an emergency. The recalled locks have been cited in 56 incident reports, although no injuries have been reported.

The locks were installed by contractors across the U.S. from October 2019 through March 2021. Consumers can check to see if they have a recalled lock by looking for the model number DE8310 inside of the wiring cavity cover plate.

Wavy Lays chips recalled over undeclared milk

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced this week that Frito-Lay issued a limited recall of Wavy Lays Original Potato Chips distributed in three states. The company said the products may contain undeclared milk ingredients.

Those with an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume product contained inside the recalled bags, the FDA said. If consumers have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk, they are encouraged not to consume the product and discard it immediately.

Frito-Lay products that may contain milk ingredients were stocked in retail stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The FDA said consumers would have been able to purchase them as early as July 23, 2021.
60%

Website breast-torture.com uses latest and advanced technologies like: JQuery. It supports HTTPS. The main html page has a size of 95860 bytes (93.61 kb uncompressed).

This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-08-13, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.
60%

Website kohnan-eshop.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 135831 by Alexa. It supports HTTPS. The main html page has a size of .

This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-08-13, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.
Whenever Hobby Lobby is in the news, you can pretty safely assume that its not for something good. The arts-and-crafts giant has a special knack for causing controversies. One of their more head-scratching controversies, though, is their history with stolen ancient artifacts.

Yes, this arts-and-crafts store is a lot like Indiana Jones, except instead of being a professor by day and adventurer by night, they sell art supplies and then buy priceless artifacts through sketchy auctions. The history between Hobby Lobby and archaeological treasures from the Middle East has been well-documented, and they have faced hefty fines for prior offenses. Apparently, they didnt learn their lesson because they recently had to forfeit even more artifacts.

In late July, the Department of Justice ordered that Hobby Lobby was required to forfeit a 3,500-year-old tablet, which contained cuneiform from the Epic of Gilgamesh. Hobby Lobby had purchased the tablet from an auction house in 2014. Steve Green, the founder of Hobby Lobby and a devout Evangelical, also operates the Museum of the Bible, which is where the Gilgamesh tablet and the thousands of other artifacts purchased by Hobby Lobby are put on display. This particular tablet had been seized in 2019 as part of an effort to return stolen artifacts.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement "So you know how your stores have a 'No Shoplifting' policy?"

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While Hobby Lobby is certainly a major player in the illegal artifacts trade, it is hardly the only one. This forfeiture is part of an effort from the United States to return thousands of artifacts to Iraq. During the invasion of Iraq in 2003, tens of thousands of archaeological artifacts were looted. These artifacts often were smuggled and traded under false provenance. The Gilgamesh tablet, which was first sold at auction in 2003, had false paperwork claiming it was in a box with other ancient artifacts sold in the 1980s.

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It may seem like a bummer that these ancient pieces of history are taken away from their homelands and thrown in the propaganda museum of an arts-and-crafts tycoon, but hey, there was a small glimmer of positivity to end on. Following more controversy for stolen artifacts in March 2020, Steve Green issued a statement. Green acknowledged that more than 10,000 artifacts in the Museum of the Bible had less-than-trustworthy origins, and he committed to sending them back to Iraq and Egypt. So thats progress. Kind of.

Top Image: Tony Webster/Wiki Commons
Great news for fedora-clad, neckbeard sporting 4-chan fans  it seems that you can now get absolutely obliterated from the comfort of your mom's basement. Yep  Mountain Dew, the official beverage of local skateboarders and those inhabiting really weird corners of the internet has decided to make its fluorescent green entity even more potent, pumping it full of alcohol. What could possibly go wrong?

A joint venture between PepsiCo and Boston Beer, the company behind Sam Adams (a.k.a the beer we've only ever seen our dad's boomer friends drink at suburban July 4 partier) Hard Mtn Dew is set to drop early next year, arriving in three suspiciously-neon and suspiciously zero-sugar flavors: Original, Black Cherry and Watermelon. Somewhere in the annals of history, 4 Loko is quaking, terrified for the future of its legacy as the douchiest beverage known to man.

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"We know that adult drinkers' tastes are evolving, and they are looking for new and exciting flavorful beverages," Dave Burwick, the CEO of Boston Beer, explained in a press release, per People magazine. "The combination of our experience in brewing and developing the best-tasting hard seltzers and hard teas, and MTN DEW, a one of kind multi-billion dollar brand, will deliver the excitement and refreshment that drinkers know and love."

For more internet nonsense, follow Carly on Instagram @HuntressThompson_ on TikTok as @HuntressThompson_, and on Twitter @TennesAnyone.
Every day, most of us leave trails of online breadcrumbs behind us, disconnected pieces of data that a determined sleuth could connect to learn about our activities and perhaps break through our veil of anonymity. The struggle to prevent attackers from putting these puzzle pieces together is known as operational security (opsec).

Most of us don't think too much about all this: nobody's trying to track us down, and if they did, the consequences wouldn't be too worrisome. But there are those for whom the stakes are much higher. Would it be so bad if someone recognized the handles of your anonymous social media accounts as the name one of your big work projects or the subject of your senior thesis? It might be if you were the director of the FBI. Does it matter if the selfies you upload to social media have location data embedded in them, or if your fitness tracker sends anonymized data about your jogging route to its manufacturer? It might if you're a soldier on a secret military base or in a country where your government swears it hasn't sent any troops.

Hackers and cybercriminalsof both the freelance and state-sponsored varietyare generally quick to exploit any failures in opsec made by potential victims. That's why it's perhaps surprising that these malicious actors often themselves fail to cover their online tracks, whether due to arrogance, incompetence, or some combination of the two. You can view these incidents as morality plays in which the bad guys get their comeuppance, but maybe it's better to think about them as cautionary tales: you might not be spying for the Chinese government or running an online drug market, but you could fall into the same mistakes that these cybercriminals did, to your peril.

All roads lead back to Dread Pirate Roberts

For a few years in the early 2010s, the Silk Road was source of fascination and frustration for computer security researchers and law enforcement alike. An underground marketplace where users could trade cryptocurrency for drugs, weapons, and other illegal goods and services, it brought the idea of the "dark web," along with knowledge about Tor and bitcoin, into the consciousness of regular people. It seemed to truly herald a future where anonymous online transactions would make the world a more dangerous (or exciting, depending on your point of view) place.

There was just one hitch: it was less anonymous that it might've seemed. The Silk Road's founder and admin, who went by the handle Dread Pirate Roberts, was soon identified as a Texan named Ross Ulbricht and tracked down and arrestednot because his anonymizing technology failed, but because, it turns out, he voluntarily left evidence of his identity across the internet. In 2011, a user with the handle "altoid" posted on a bitcoin forum about a new hidden service that would be an "anonymous amazon.com," linking to a site at silkroad420.wordpress.com. Months later, the same user posted looking to hire an "IT pro in the bitcoin community," and urged candidates to write to rossulbricht@gmail.com. That Gmail address was in turn connected to a Google+ account that posted content about Austrian economic theory, a set of libertarian ideas that was also the subject of posts on Silk Road from the Dread Pirate Roberts.

If that wasn't enough, in early 2012, a StackOverflow user with the handle "Ross Ulbricht" posted a query looking for help connecting to a hidden Tor service using PHPa programming technique that, it turned out, the Silk Road site eventually used. Ulbricht changed that username less than a minute after posting the query, but the original remained on StackOverflow's servers. Ulbricht was tracked down and arrested in late 2013, and is currently serving a life sentence in prison.

Marketplaces of bad ideas

With Ulbricht being both a pioneer in the dark web marketplace business and also a prime example of terrible opsec, you'd think subsequent dark web merchants would have taken the hint from his fate and cleaned up their own act. But some seemed determined to repeat his mistakes.

For instance, in 2017, authorities in the U.S. and the Netherlands swooped in to shut down AlphaBay, another dark web drug market, and arrested Alexandre Cazes, its kingpin. Law enforcement officials noted that emails AlphaBay users received when they signed up or reset their password contained the email address Pimp_Alex_91@hotmail.com in their headers. (It's not clear which part of that email should've been more embarrassing for a supposed criminal mastermind, "Pimp_Alex_91" or "hotmail.com.") That email was connected to some 2008 posts on an online tech forum that from a user with the handle Alpha02 (also the username of the AlphaBay administrator; reused usernames are a common opsec failure) and Cazes's real name.

Some of the individual vendors on AlphaBay were brought down by similar mistakes. For instance, Emil Babadjov sold fentanyl, heroin, and meth on the site with an account connected to the email address babadjov@gmail.com; this led the FBI to a Coinbase account and a Facebook profile in the cleverly backwards name of "Lime Vojdabab." Jose Robert Porras, meanwhile, was much more circumspect with his identity information, but he made the mistake of posting a picture of his hand holding marijuana on his AlphaBay page. The photo quality was high enough that investigators were able to see his fingerprints and match them to prints they had on file.

Spies: Just like us?

Perhaps it isn't a complete surprise that online drug dealers aren't the most circumspect people in their conduct. But you'd think that state-sponsored hackerspresumably recruited for their skills in cybersecurity and all too familiar with the opsec failures of their victimswould be less likely to slip up when it comes to their own identities. However, a number of recent high-profile examples have shown that not to be the case.

Take, for instance, the Chinese military hacking group fearsome enough to be known to the U.S. as APT1 (that stands for "advanced persistent threat"). Despite its reputation, this group made some of the same mistakes we saw in our dark web examplesfor instance, reusing usernames across sites. One APT1 member actually signed the source code he wrote for the group's hacking tools with the nickname "Ugly Gorilla". This handle in turn could be connected to posts on programming that were associated with his real name, Wang Dong. Some of those sites themselves suffered data breaches, with information about users being posted publicly on the dark web, which allowed U.S. researchers to connect Wang to a specific IP address that, it turns out, APT1 used as well.

In general, the group used predictable naming conventions for their users, code, and even passwords. Another way in which they were so consistent that they screwed up their own opsec: their working hours. Most timestamped activity associated with the group took place during business hours in Beijing. That not only pointed security researchers to their location, but also indicated that they were professionals rather than activists or enthusiasts hacking during their free time.

Giving away the kingdom

We noted with APT1 that one technique for exploiting opsec holes is to track down the IP addresses of servers associated with a group you're tracking. That can tell you a lot about your target, and if you're lucky, you might be able to do a little counterhacking now that you have part of their infrastructure in your sights.

Or maybe you'll get really lucky, and those servers will be open to the world.

That was the case in two recent counterespionage scenarios. One involved an Iranian-backed hacking group known as APT35, aka Charming Kitten. The group was storing gigabytes of data exfiltrated from U.S. and Greek military systems on a cloud serverbut the security settings for that server were misconfigured, so when security researchers tracked it down, they were able to find all sorts of fascinating files. Perhaps none were more important for understanding APT35's motivations and capabilities than a series of screen recordings showing members of the group engaging in hacking activities. These appear to be demonstration videos, possibly for training purposes to show new members the group's techniques.

Meanwhile, another groupidentified as a "state actor" by researchers, although the state in question was not namedwas discovered by association with a command-and-control server for a novel piece of mobile malware. Again, good opsec would dictate that any such server be locked tight, and that it certainly not contain any data that might be identifying or traceable.

This group apparently didn't feel such opsec hygiene was necessary. The command-and-control server hosted a treasure trove of data, including an extensive set of WhatsApp messages in which members of the group debated on how best to use their government-supplied budgetwhether they should build their own malware that could exfiltrate data from Android or iOS devices, or buy it from one of a number of underground vendors.

We know all this because they ultimately chose to develop the malware in-houseand, in a delightfully self-referential twist, tested it on one of their own phones, extracting the WhatsApp messaging data in which they discussed the malware's development. This is the very set of messages we've been talking about, of course. It stands as a warning to IT pros everywhere that you can be savvy enough to write very clever and effective code, and foolish enough botch your opsec completely.

Maybe you feel like you don't have anything to hide, but why take the risk of ending up in an article like this one?
Connecticuts latest COVID-19 surge likely will dissipate by the end of September, around the time Gov. Ned Lamonts emergency powers expire, public health experts said Wednesday.

Until then, the more Connecticut residents who wear face masks against the virulent delta strain of COVID, the safer the state will be. But a fractured state policy of different mask rules in differnt cities and towns complicates the pandemic response, the public health experts said.

Dr. Albert Ko, professor of public health and professor of epidemiology and medicine at the Yale School of Public Health, said Wednesday that face masks are definitely needed everywhere, but he acknowledged the political atmosphere, the portion of the state that is vaccine-hesitant and the challenges to get people to start wearing masks again.

Do we need masks? I think the short answer is that yes, we need to use face masks during this period, Ko said. This is a variant that is twice as transmissible as the strains we encountered here in Connecticut at the start of the pandemic.

He praised Connecticuts overall vaccination rate, but warned that vaccines alone may not reduce the delta variants spread.

Vaccines fine for pregnant women, CDC says

Ko and another prominent expert, Dr. Ajay Kumar, chief clinical officer at Hartford HealthCare, commented on the latest surge on a day when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued strongly worded guidance that the vaccines are safe for all pregnant and nursing people.

Evidence about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy has been growing. These data suggest that the benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine outweigh any known or potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy, CDC said in a bulletin, adding, There is currently no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems in women or men.

Kumar also said COVID cases will decrease as we move into the fall. How much of a decline is hard to predict, he said during a phone interview Wednesday night. We have a large population of unvaccinated people in Connecticut, including children. I have a concern that the percentage of children eligible for vaccination is not that high.

Ko, who stressed he was not speaking as a member of Lamonts advisory team of physicians, said masks are at least somewhat able to decrease transmission.

While were in much better shape than the southern United States, there wont be a magic point where transmission stops, Ko said. In short, were not going to eradicate this disease, but as we come off the delta wave we have now, in early September or late September, then I think we will come off the need for masks.

The state Department of Public Health on Wednesday announced 11 additional hospitalizations, bringing the total patients statewide to 230. The agency reported 914 new positive tests for COVID out of a total of 29,007 daily tests. The seven-day positivity rate was 3.18 percent, trending slightly upward.

Chaos along town and city lines

Connecticut and the Northeast have generally followed weeks behind the experience of European nations in battling the virus. Infections there recently decreased in countries including The Netherlands.

Lamonts order last week, giving cities and towns the power to decide on mask rules for themselves, defies

We know that COVID doesnt respect borders, Ko said, taking the example of Fairfields proximity, just to the west of Bridgeport, with many people crossing the town lines each way to shop and work. Ko credited Lamont with flexibility and messaging since March of 2020, when the state shut down as the virus first ravaged the state. He believes there is a need for balance, which Lamont has done generally, he said.

Kumar and Ko agreed that the disease will not go away entirely.

When the delta variant, which is highly contagious, comes along it is going to find people who are ready for a disease. These are unvaccinated people, Kumar said to reporters during a conference call on Wednesday afternoon. So this disease will continue to be with us for some time, not at the highest level.

There are mixed reviews among local officials on whether the governors latest order, allowing leaders of towns and cities to make their own rules on wearing face masks in public, should again become a statewide mandate.

Some, like Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti, Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti and Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick, all Republicans, are leaving it to local residents and businesses to decide on wearing masks.

I am okay with the discretion, Lauretti said. I dont think we need a statewide mask mandate. We have been browbeaten for the last year and a half. The notion that the governor is going to solve everything is just a notion. We have to learn to live with this. We have all adapted especially at the government level.

Partisan squabbles over mandates

Lauretti said the hospitalization and death rates have been his focus. We are fortunate. Our numbers are low, Lauretti said in a Wednesday phone interview. Its not a one-size-fits-all. Cities without the resources are affected greater than we are here.

I prefer that we make our own rules, Kupchick said Wednesday. Our vaccination rate is pretty high, so theres no reason to make a mandate. When I go to the grocery store and the CVS, everyone has a mask.

I think its a good idea to let the local officials make decisions, said Cassetti, noting that while his citys 53-percent overall vaccination rate is low, about 85 percent of older residents have been inoculated, and he is scheduling regular, free vaccination clinics. I am not mandating masks at this time. I do wear a mask. It depends on an individual and their beliefs, he said. Cassetti, like Kupchick, expects the virus to lose its tenacity by September or October.

But state Rep. Jonathan Steinberg of Westport, co-chairman of the legislative Public Health Committee, wants Lamont to re-enact the statewide mandate of last year.

With three counties already reaching high-incidence levels, Id imagine its only a matter of days before remaining counties approach that threshold, Steinberg said Wednesday. It seems inevitable that well need to resort to a statewide mask mandate, given the extreme transmissibility of the delta variant. Most importantly, I hope the governor will quickly impose a mask mandate in schools and not delegate that decision to local districts.

The higher statewide testing positivity rate of around 3 percent is a clear warning to mask-up again, said Steinberg, the Democratic candidate for first selectman in Westport. Why would we expect to get things dramatically better? he said in a phone interview. It doesnt seem to be consistent with what weve learned over the last year and a half.

He stressed that schools in particular need clarity on a statewide masking rule for the upcoming academic year.

Gambling with peoples lives

I dont think very highly of the governors decision, said Bethel First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker, a Democrat. He is reminded by the early days of the pandemic, in February of 2020, when various towns and cities came up with local policies, with some communities more stringent that others in varied attempts to stave off the virus.

Leaving it up to the local officials was really quickly turning into a fiasco, Knickerbocker said in a phone interview. To the governors credit, he started issuing universal executive orders and standardized the response. Its not that we cant take the heat, but a patchwork of policies does not serve us very well. Leaving it up to us is a punt.

Gayle Alberda, assistant professor of politics at Fairfield University, said the pandemic is a political tightrope for state and local officials alike. Acknowledging that Lamonts emergency powers are set to expire on Sept. 30, Alberda said the shift to local rules restores some autonomy that a year ago, municipal leaders did not have as the coronavirus raged.

Politically it makes sense, Alberda said in a phone interview. There is strong local authority in the 169 towns, but 169 different decisions makes it tough. Lamont still looks like hes in charge, but hes sharing power at the same time. Of course, the virus doesnt stop at town boundaries, not does it care what party you are affiliated with. Gov. Lamont has got to balance governance while keeping up his approval ratings to balance against any sort of Republican challenger. There has been criticism that he has kept his executive power too long.

Max Reiss, communications director for Lamont, said Wednesday that the governors pandemic response has evolved over the 17 months. We continue to look at the trends, Reiss said. We continue to consult our public health experts. The big difference between today and a year ago is that we have one of the highest vaccine rates in the country. The higher the rate of vaccination, the better it is for the entire state. As far as the politics goes, the state of Connecticut has been successful by taking a lot of politics out of discussion.

But Dr. Ellen Fraint, a pediatric oncologist from Stratford, was discouraged when her Wednesday morning call to Lamonts office, asking for him to order statewide mask-wearing, was finally picked up after many minutes on hold.

My patients are at significant risk, because by and large they are not old enough to receive the vaccine, Fraint said in a phone interview. There are unprotected children and it really breaks your heart. Thousands are not old enough to receive the vaccine.

She opposes giving average citizens and local officials, discretion. People are not going to wear masks unless you mandate it, Fraint said. The state of Connecticut, refusing to issue a mask mandate, isnt helping anyone. Were gambling with peoples lives.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
MIDDLETOWN  The Middletown Emblem Club #452 held its annual potluck dinner at the Middletown Lodge of Elks June 2.

A $500 scholarship was awarded to Jenna Griffith a graduating senior from Haddam Killingworth High School. She is the granddaughter of members Donitta Griffith, niece of Jo Lockhart and cousin of Georgie Leone. She is the daughter of Cathy and Kevin Griffith of Higganum.

Griffith also received the CT State Association of Emblem Clubs Scholarship Award at the May 1 state convention presentation. She received honors or high honors through every quarter of her 4 years in high school. She has been accepted to the University of Saint Joseph and will be participating in the RN Nursing Program in the fall. Above, Georgie Leone presents Griffith with her scholarship.

CHS holding walk along Salmon River

EAST HAMPTON  The Chatham Historical Society is organizing a walk along the Salmon River Aug. 22 at 1 p.m., part of its Explore East Hampton monthly series of walks. Hikers can learn history of the Air Line Rail Road. The walk is sponsored by the East Hampton Parks and Recreation Department.

Sandy Doran, president of the CHS, will lead the walk along the Salmon River. The hike will follow the old River Road to the base of Bull Hill and return back to the parking area. It is a fairly level, two-mile walk. Walkers will meet at the parking lot by the old stone arch of the Air Line Trail; wear comfortable shoes and water. No dogs are allowed.

Contact Sandy Doran at 860-267- 8953 for information.

Directions: Take Route 2 to Exit 16 and travel .8 mi. south on Rt .149 to River Road and parking area. Turn right and follow River Road for about 1.5 miles to the parking lot on left. From the intersection of Rt. 16 & 149 in Westchester, travel north on 149 for 2.7 miles, and turn left on River Road and follow directions above.

From the Marlborough Tavern on Rt. 66 turn right and travel on South Main St for .7 miles. Then take a right on South Rd. and travel 3.0 miles. Turn right on River Rd. to Airline Trail Salmon River State Park parking area.

Middlesex Historical Society car show returns Oct. 3

MIDDLETOWN  The Middlesex County Historical Society is holding its 35th annual classic car show Oct. 3 at Palmer Field, Route 66, Washington St., Middletown. In addition to the popular classic car display, the show will feature an expanded Fall Harvest Market. Opportunities are available for vendors such as antique dealers, vintage purveyors, crafts people, tag salers, and food trucks.

Market organizer Maria Holzberg, predicts that the day will be a beautiful fall Sunday and, with the state opening up, area residents will be excited to get out to view and purchase the offerings of the vendors. The market will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with set-up beginning at 7:30 a.m.

The Fall Harvest Market is being held at a prime location with thousands of cars passing by each day. The classic car show, a perennially popular event, draws a large crowd and vendors are sure to do a brisk business. Booths are 10 by 10 ($40) or 20 by 20 ($50). Customized size and pricing available on request. Pre-registration is required.

Further information is available on the Middlesex County Historical Society Website at www.mchsct.org or by contacting Maria at mariamadsen433@gmail.com

Residents asked to take housing survey

The Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments is currently working on a Regional Housing Plan.

The council is requesting that residents visit www.RiverCOG.org/RHP to take a short housing survey. The Regional Housing Plan will create a housing needs assessment for the region, a plan to provide for those needs, and separate annexes for the 13 participating towns to meet the requirements of 13 C.G.S. 8-30j, according to a statement.

The participating towns are Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Lyme, Middletown, Old Lyme, and Portland. Call 860-581-8554 or visit RiverCOG.org/RHP to learn more.

Alliance announces scholarship winners

GUILFORD  The Shoreline Arts Alliance has announced the seven scholarship winners, seven special recognition winners and nine honorable mention recipients in its 2021 Scholarships in the Arts Competition.

Students from the 24-town region applied, auditioned, and interviewed for $1,000 scholarships to help fund their education in the arts. Each category had a group of dedicated and professional judges interviewing each applicant and reviewing each application. The following recipients are:

Instrumental Music: Rosalie Coleman, Winner, Guilford High School; Malin Nystrom, Special Recognition, Haddam-Killingworth High School; Jeffrey Dobbs Scholarship for Excellence in Painting; Joyce Huang, Winner, Middletown High School

Visual Arts: Emmy Skiles, Winner, Old Saybrook High School; Samuel Stein, Special Recognition, Daniel Hand High School; Heaven Hakai, Special Recognition, Middletown High School; Marina Melluzzo, Honorable Mention, Lyme-Old Lyme High School; Olivia Schaedler, Honorable Mention, Old Saybrook; Artemisia Trowbridge-Wheeler, Honorable Mention, Middletown; Matthew Johnson, Honorable Mention, Old Saybrook High School

Theatre: Spencer Stanley, Winner, East Lyme High School; Gaby Onorati, Special Recognition, Daniel Hand High School; Alex Bunis, Honorable Mention, The Grove School

Vocal Music: Noah Sonenstein, Winner, Daniel Hand High School; Brooke DellaRocco, Special Recognition, Valley Regional High School; Caleb Harris, Honorable Mention, Guilford High School; Maddie Keithan, Honorable Mention, Haddam Killingworth High School

Dance: Faith Anderson, Winner, Guilford High School; Grace Pendleton, Special Recognition, The Morgan School; Brooke DellaRocco, Honorable Mention, Valley Regional High School

Creative Writing: Sina Takyar, Winner, Daniel Hand High School; Brian Girardi, Special Recognition, Daniel Hand High School; Carlin Steere, Honorable Mention, Daniel Hand High School

Both the scholarship winners and the special recognition winners will receive a mentorship with a professional artist in their respective fields.

Learn more about Scholarships in the Arts and the many other programs that Shoreline Arts Alliance has to offer by visiting www.shorelinearts.org.
GUILFORD  Angela Robinson describes critical race theory as a polarizing topic that is often uncomfortable to talk about and misunderstood.

Its also an issue that has gripped Guilford and its school community for months and led to Robinson receiving a troubling email about discussing the topic in town.

Robinson, a Quinnipiac University Law School professor and former judge, provided a presentation on critical race theory this week during a Guilford Human Rights Commission virtual forum attended by more than 300 people.

Critical race theory, a controversial academic framework through which to view systems of racism and oppression in America, has become a hot-button issue in town and political platform for new Republican candidates running for the Board of Education that has drawn national attention.

While some have said the Guilford school district is using its inclusion initiative as a guise to teaching critical race theory in town schools, the superintendent and other officials have denied those claims. There has also been no evidence critical race theory is being taught in Guilford schools or elsewhere in Connecticut.

Critical race theory, despite what a lot of critics say, is not something that youre going to encounter in elementary or high school, Robinson said during the forum. Its not even all that often offered at colleges.

Robinson was asked to discuss critical race theory with the community after giving a presentation on the topic last month to the Guilford Human Rights Commission.

However, after the meeting last month, officials said Robinson received an anonymous email from an encrypted account. Officials said the email warned, you will be met with great resistance when you are in Guilford.

The community forum, which had already been planned to be virtual, went on as scheduled Tuesday. More than 200 of the attendees who registered for the forum said they were from Guilford, officials said.

Robinson said critical race theory is polarizing because it makes people feel uncomfortable and anxious, many do not understand it, and there has been misinformation surrounding the topic.

As you consider whether the anxiety is based on fact, its important to remember that race has often been used as a tool to divide us, Robinson said. We dont have to look very far in our history to see how race specifically has been used to cause anxiety in some groups and hostility among others.

As examples, she listed the Japanese internment of the 20th century, the deportation of Mexican Americans, and the famous image of the Little Rock Nine walking to integrate a school in 1957.

Robinson said she began studying critical race theory after noticing disparities in society and wanting to find answers or solutions. As one example, she pointed to the U.S. Congress, which she said has included just 163 Black members out of more than 12,000 who have served during the countrys history.

Critical race theory provides a way to look at the problem to answer the question of why, and to find solutions to change it, and it says we have to do that, because, if we continue on this trajectory, the disparities wont go away, Robinson said.

Critical race theory is an approach that examines the role of race. It is a theory that draws on information from multiple disciplines, such as neuroscience, despite starting in law, according to Robinson.

The theory was established in 1989 by law professors of color who wanted to develop new methods for talking about race, she said.

Critical race theory does not advocate racism in any form, Robinson said. In other words, to be a pure, pure critical race theory scholar, you must accept the premise that people of all races are equal.

Robinson explained the theory grew from the civil rights and radical feminism movements, which believed eliminating male supremacy would create a fairer society; as well as the legal studies movement.

During a question-and-answer session following the presentation, Robinson fielded queries about Marxism and anti-racism.

I think what has happened is because critical legal studies had scholars who were communist and Marxist, and because critical race theory was built on a lot of foundational information from that, the two have gotten conflated, Robinson said in response to a question.

Jo Keogh, chair of the Human Rights Commission, was pleased with Robinsons presentation and the level of interest in the forum.

I feel really happy about how it went, and I was thrilled at the level of attendance, Keogh said. Im really thrilled that so many people found it valuable and are looking to share it with other people.

Robinsons presentation will be available this weekend on the Human Rights Commissions Facebook page.

christine.derosa@hearstmediact.com
BRANFORD  Sometimes people need a little financial help, a small chunk of cash immediately  such as those living paycheck to paycheck or who have just lost their job.

The nonprofit Branford Microfund, offers qualifying residents who need emergency funds an interest-free loan up to $3,000 with terms up to a 30-month repayment plan.

Were extremely unique and blessed to have this in Branford to help other residents, said Imperato, director and treasurer of the fund and chairman of its loan committee.

Everybody gets in trouble, said Richard Isacoff of Branford, noting he is a big fan of the Branford Microfund.

Isacoff, who is retired, had worked in banking and later as a bankruptcy attorney in Berkshire County, Mass.

Each community, I believe should have a fallback fund if someone is scammed, someone has an emergency and is out three days (from work) and theyre short for rent, Isacoff said. Not all owners of apartments would give someone leeway.

In Branford, the organization has given micro loans were given to clients across a broad range of ages.

Examples, according to the organization, include an elderly couple that was victim of a fraud and whose bank account was emptied, so they used their micro loan to pay their rent; and a mother with a disabled child who was able to pay off predatory interest on a new bed for her daughter with help from the fund.

Another woman who was recently divorced, then was laid off, returned to work and was suddenly facing a cancer diagnosis. She turned to the microfund loan committee to pay the co-pays for necessary medication, according to Imperato.

Generous donors

The microfund organization is one of three like it in the nation, according to its members.

The Branford Rotary was excited to set the fund up here after learning about the project through Rotarians Tom and Alice Laurenson , who had been involved with a similar program in New York state, according to Sue Wharfe, another director for the microfund.

There is a lot of enthusiasm in Rotary for the project, said Wharfe. Raising money to set up the fund, was not too difficult, she said.

People have been very generous to us, she said, noting that the group has some $40,000 at its disposal now, with individuals giving from $50 to $1,000. The First Congregational Church in Branford donated $5,000.

The concept is very attractive  its a fund that rotates, Wharfe said. We loan people money and people pay it back in small increments.

The repaid loan is put back in its treasury to be lent out again to another recipient.

The loan committee is fantastic, she said, with a three-day turnaround and folks can apply via their cell phone.

Weve made it really simple, Wharfe said. Its a one-page application.

Founded in the fall of 2019, the volunteer group has lent some $18,000 so far  but not much during the pandemic as the stimulus was helping many people keep up with their bills, Imperato noted, They havent had to come to us.

But now that those payments have stopped, they are seeing more people, he said.

Wharfe mentioned the elderly couple who turned to them for help: A fraudster had gotten into their bank account and wiped them out  so they couldnt pay their rent  they were looking at becoming homeless. Nobody else would help them out. Someone had forged checks from the couples bank account by using their information from a canceled check.

Isacoff, a former banker, offered words of warning about being careful with paper checks, noting that forgeries are often very difficult to spot  even for the banks. Deposit slips get thrown away because the checks are gone. All a forger needs if your bank account number and routing number, name and address, he noted.

In addition to the immediate relief many recipients feel over being able to pay their debts or meeting living expenses, there is another reaction as well, said Wharfe.

I think there is an emotional level  the feeling of Oh my God, somebody wants to help me. Its a good feeling people get  they know by paying us back theyre helping somebody else.

Imperato said the group is trying to get the word out for potential applicants as well as donors.

Its difficult for some of these folks to come forward  because of the way folks might look at them, Imperato said.

Yet, word is getting out  mostly by word-of-mouth and Facebook, he said.

Branford Microfund committee members also try to help each client beyond their current emergency, according to Imperator. And while he is a finance professional, he does not offer them financial planning advice. But he said he does use his knowledge to help dig them out of a financial hole.

Isacoff noted that as a bankruptcy attorney who also had a long career in banking, he could act similarly as an advocate for his clients: I could talk to any back in Pittsfield  I knew all the lenders. And, this is what the microfund committee aims to do in Branford, he said.

Were trying to give them a helping hand up and get them back into financial shape to again function on their own, Imperato said. Sometimes that takes just a little bit of help to set the course again. Thats what were really trying to do.

These are people who cant go to a bank for traditional financing or will pay steep interest due to poor credit.

And the money is going towards necessities, he said. The cancer patient could not afford medicine that was potentially life-saving as it would help determine whether she had any cancer cells left in her body, Imperato said.

We were able to pick up the co-pay on that for her, he added. I worked with the insurance company to make that happen.

Imperato said he also was able to help a couple of folks were in debt and were ready to go into attachments due to job loss because of COVID, acting as their advocate.

For more information, visit www.branfordmicrofund.org, email Branford Microfund at info@branfordmicrofund.org.
If it wasnt masks, it would probably be something else. But as COVID continues, masks are the most visible sign of cultural battles being waged across the country. And the scenes are getting ugly.

In Tennessee, a school board meeting turned to protests and threats after a mask mandate was instituted. In Florida and Texas, governors are threatening to sue any school systems that try to enforce mask wearing in contravention of state law. And everywhere, vaccination rates remain stubbornly low, as our methods of outreach for the hesitaters prove to be sorely lacking.

Connecticut, meanwhile, is still waiting for clarity on masks even as the school year is only a few weeks away.

School superintendents, to name one constituency, would like some answers, one way or another. Parents, too, want to know the best course of action. But when it comes to COVID, clarity has been hard to come by of late from any level of authority.

Gov. Ned Lamonts emergency powers to make decisions including those on mask mandates for schools run to the end of September, and may be extended beyond that. But like many issues of late, including COVID, Lamont has seemed to want to have it both ways, getting credit for whats popular and passing off responsibility for anything else.

Thats not atypical for a politician, but its not what got us through the awful first year of COVID and its not how Lamont built up a sturdy approval rating in advance of next years reelection campaign. He needs to go back to making tough choices, knowing some people wont like it. That includes a mask mandate for students and teachers.

There should also be widespread vaccine mandates. If you need to get the shot to go to a concert, you should need it to teach. Asking nicely hasnt worked well enough, so we need to change course.

Lamont, though, has shied away from such moves. He left it up to municipalities to decide for themselves on masks in local businesses, and only a few have gone that route. The governor talks a lot about how much the state has gone through, which is true, but that doesnt mean the challenge is over. On some levels, the concern is growing.

For instance, about the only thing keeping parents of young kids going these past 18 months has been the knowledge that COVID doesnt usually have a serious impact on children. They can certainly get it and pass it on to others, but the chances of them coming down with severe cases has been slim.

The past few weeks, though, have been filled with stories about the increased rate of serious COVID-related illnesses among younger people. Though the start of the pandemic was characterized by illness among the oldest cohort, that hasnt been the story lately.

Mask mandates are no ones first choice, and its not as if there are no drawbacks to wearing them. Right now, though, theyre the best option. If its left up to individual communities or even up to individual families, there will be far too many who opt out at the expense of public health.

The difference from the start of the summer when our mask mandate lapsed is the delta variant, which is apparently spreading more easily than earlier versions of the coronavirus. At the same time, young people who initially report mild symptoms are now increasingly saying they have lingering physical and neurological challenges in what doctors call long COVID, which was previously seen as rare in their age group.

Weve seen whats happening nationally, but its not all bad news. California, for example, recently became the first state to mandate teachers either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or get regular testing. Their governor is in the midst of a recall effort, and ours isnt on the ballot for more than a year. Voters have short memories, anyway.

We can be like California.

Hugh Bailey is editorial page editor of the Connecticut Post and New Haven Register. He can be reached at hbailey@hearstmediact.com.
PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP)  Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes is apologizing after being issued a citation after drinking during a day of boating at Lake Powell in northern Arizona.

Rhodes told The Daily Courier that National Park Service officers on Aug. 7 issued him a misdemeanor alleging that he operated a boat while under the influence.
PITTSBURGH (AP)  The former branch manager of a western Pennsylvania credit union stole $340,000 and then set the bank safe on fire to throw off investigators, federal prosecutors said Thursday.

A federal grand jury indicted Patty Lynn Mavrakis of Belle Vernon on Wednesday on charges of embezzlement, wire fraud and using a fire to commit a federal felony.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP)  The dishonesty of a senior executive for Chinese communications giant Huawei Technologies put a bank at risk of violating U.S. sanctions against Iran, a Canadian justice department lawyer told an extradition hearing Thursday.

Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of Huaweis founder and the companys chief financial officer, at Vancouvers airport in late 2018. The U.S. wants her extradited to face fraud charges. Her arrest infuriated Beijing, which sees her case as a political move designed to prevent Chinas rise.

The U.S. accuses Huawei of using a Hong Kong shell company called Skycom to sell equipment to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. It says Meng, 49, committed fraud by misleading the HSBC bank about the companys business dealings in Iran.

The lengthy extradition proceeding is entering a phase which involves arguments over the U.S. governments request to extradite Meng.

Justice department lawyer Robert Frater said Meng was dishonest about Huaweis relationship with Skycom during a meeting with a HSBC executive.

By not being honest and withholding information, HSBC was deprived of the opportunity to protect itself, said Frater.

After the meeting, HSBC made money transfers involving Skycom which could have caused the bank a liability, Frater said.

Given that Huawei was Skycom, the activities of Skycom and Huawei posed an actual real risk to HSBC of violating US sanctions on Iran," he said.

Frater presented case law that says even if there is not a financial loss, fraud can still occur when an institution like HSBC is persuaded to continue to provide services it might have refused had it known all the facts.

In wrapping up his submission, Frater said he disagreed with Mengs defense team that the case against her was unique, unprecedented and a legal stretch.

The defense will begin its arguments against the extradition Friday.

Meng, who attended court wearing an electronic monitoring device on her ankle, followed the proceedings through a translator.

The judge isnt expected to rule on Mengs extradition until later in the year. Whatever her decision, it will likely be appealed.

Mengs lawyers have denied any dishonestly on her part. They also argue HSBC was not placed at any risk and the charges against her are politically motivated.

On Tuesday a Chinese court sentenced Canadian entrepreneur Michael Spavor to 11 years in prison for spying.

Spavor and fellow Canadian Michael Kovrig were arrested in December of 2018 in apparent retaliation to Mengs arrest.

The Chinese government has released few details other than to accuse Spavor of passing along sensitive information to Kovrig, beginning in 2017. Both have been held in isolation and have little contact with Canadian diplomats.

In another case, the Higher Peoples Court of Liaoning province in the northeast rejected an appeal by Canadian Robert Schellenberg, whose 15-year prison term on drug smuggling charges was increased to death in January 2019 following Mengs arrest.

Meng remains free on bail in Vancouver and is living in a mansion.

Canada and other countries, including Australia and the Philippines, face trade boycotts and other Chinese pressure in disputes with Beijing over human rights, the coronavirus and control of the South China Sea.

China has tried to pressure Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government by imposing restrictions on imports of canola seed oil and other products from Canada.
BRIDGEPORT  Danny Roach thought he just had a mild cold when he started to feel sick the last weekend of July.

A few days later, though, the well-known mayoral aide, long-time Democratic insider and bar owner was diagnosed with COVID-19 despite having been vaccinated.

I needed to be tested for a medical procedure, Roach, 60, said Thursday. The doctor came out, asked me how I was feeling, said, You know, you tested positive.

Two weeks later, having quarantined and recuperated, Roach wanted to publicly recount his experience to convince others who have been hesitant to get inoculated to do so. His story is not a dramatic one, which is his point.

He (the doctor) said, Its a good thing you were vaccinated. Dont expect anything severe, Roach recalled. The symptoms were light. I certainly have had bouts with the flu 10 times worse.

He also said that neither his wife, his son nor individuals he had close contact with in the days prior to his diagnosis tested positive.

Vaccine hesitancy has helped result in the rapid spread of the more contagious delta variant across the nation after it initially appeared the pandemic was winding down. In response, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, while shying away from re-instituting statewide mandates to keep the illness at bay, late last week allowed municipalities to do so.

On Tuesday Roachs boss, Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, announced unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals would be required to again don masks indoors in public places like stores and restaurants.

Roach, who lives in the Black Rock neighborhood, is a veteran of Bridgeport politics who has managed or otherwise been closely involved in numerous campaigns, currently works as an aide to Ganim, has been a long-time police commission member and also owns Mattys Corner bar.

He said he has no idea where he may have contracted COVID in July, but acknowledged once he received his two shots of Moderna  one of the three available vaccines  he was leading a somewhat normal life, going mask-less and getting out.

Dr. Ulysses Wu is chief epidemiologist for Hartford HealthCare, which owns St. Vincents Medical Center in Bridgeport.

A lot of (COVID) cases are mild. But we do know your chances of surviving COVID are much greater when vaccinated, Wu said.

He noted that while there has been a lot of focus in the media on breakthrough infections of the fully-vaccinated like Roach, the inoculations were never intended to absolutely prevent illness.

The main purpose is to take a potentially deadly disease and turn it into a normal one i.e. the common cold, Wu said. The key is not to look at the number of (breakthrough) cases, but the number of deaths. And the deaths are 99 percent unvaccinated. Its better if youre vaccinated.
NAMPA, Idaho (AP)  Idaho Gov. Brad Little on Thursday said he is directing $30 million to expand COVID-19 testing in K-12 schools.

The Republican governor made the announcement at Nampa High School in southwestern Idaho as coronavirus cases spike because of the delta variant just as students prepare to return to class next week.

The $30 million is coming from emergency funds set aside by the Legislature to deal with unforeseen events, Little said.

Its critical now, he said. These school districts have got to have some resources.

House Republicans earlier this year killed a bill to use $40 million in federal coronavirus relief funds for voluntary testing in public and private schools.

Little urged residents who havent been vaccinated to get the shot to help avoid COVID-19 disruptions at schools and the potential to overrun hospitals with coronavirus patients if the current trend continues.

As Ive stated from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, our students need to be able to learn in their classrooms with their teachers and peers, Little said. Our main defense in ensuring the new school year is entirely in-person  free from outbreaks and quarantines  is the COVID-19 vaccine.

Little also said workers getting sick and schools shutting down because of coronavirus outbreaks and parents forced to stay home to care for kids and miss work could slow Idahos economic rebound.

Our workforce cannot afford to stay home because schools and day cares shut down due to outbreaks," he said. "This threatens Idahos phenomenal economic success.

Idaho has about a $1 billion budget surplus, and unemployment has dropped to nearly pre-pandemic levels.

But Idaho has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the nation with about half of people ages 12 and up fully vaccinated, compared with 58% nationally.

Of Idahos 206,000 coronavirus cases, about 10%, or just over 20,000, have been school-age children from 5 to 17. There is currently no vaccine for children under age 12.

Nearly 99% of Idaho residents getting COVID-19 since Jan. 1 were not vaccinated. Nearly 99% of hospitalizations because of COVID-19 since Jan. 1 have been people who werent vaccinated. State officials also say nearly all deaths because of COVID-19 in Idaho since January are among people not vaccinated.

But vaccinations in Idaho have climbed steadily in the last month, going from 11,000 doses in the week ending July 11 to 18,000 in the week ending Aug. 1.

Little said that was a good sign and hoped the number increased. If it didn't, the trend in COVID-19 infections could overwhelm hospitals, he said.

Little said he's been in contact with the Idaho National Guard about possibly calling them in to help.

Several protesters showed up at the school but werent allowed into the news conference held in the gym. One came armed with a handgun on his hip. He left after the news conference ended and police arrived and told him guns weren't allowed in the school.

Ben Adams, a Republican representative from Nampa, also arrived and wasnt allowed into the news conference. He was among the majority of House members who earlier this year voted against the $40 million for COVID-19 testing in schools, killing the bill.

Call me a Debbie Downer, but Im not going to jump on the bandwagon that COVID is the most dangerous threat to the people of Idaho right now, he said following Little's news conference. I think its heavy-handed government that is the biggest threat.

More than 206,000 Idaho residents have contracted COVID-19, and more than 2,200 have died.

Two of the states largest hospitals, St. Lukes Health System and Kootenai Health in northern Idaho, have halted some non-emergency procedures due to an increase in COVID-19 patients, nearly all of them unvaccinated.

The overall trend is bad, said Jim Souza, chief medical officer for St. Lukes Health System. Its looking worse than the December, January surge.

The states public four-year universities recently reinstated mask mandates ahead of fall classes, as has the Boise School District.

____

Associated Press writer Rebecca Boone contributed to this report.
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  The Taliban captured two major Afghan cities, the country's second- and third-largest after Kabul, and a strategic provincial capital on Thursday, further squeezing the embattled government just weeks before the end of the American military mission in Afghanistan.

The seizure of Kandahar and Herat marks the biggest prizes yet for the Taliban, who have taken 12 of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals as part of a weeklong blitz.

The capture of the city of Ghazni, meanwhile, cuts off a crucial highway linking the Afghan capital, Kabul, with the country's southern provinces, all part of an insurgent push some 20 years after U.S. and NATO troops invaded and ousted the Taliban government.

While Kabul itself isn't directly under threat yet, the losses and the battles elsewhere further tighten the grip of a resurgent Taliban, who are estimated to now hold over two-thirds of the country and continue to press their offensive.

With security rapidly deteriorating, the United States planned to send in 3,000 troops to help evacuate some personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. Separately, Britain said about 600 troops would be deployed on a short-term basis to support British nationals leaving the country, and Canada is sending special forces to help evacuate its embassy.

Thousands of Afghans have fled their homes amid fears the Taliban will again impose a brutal, repressive government, all but eliminating women's rights and conducting public amputations, stonings and executions. Peace talks in Qatar remain stalled, though diplomats met throughout the day.

The latest U.S. military intelligence assessment suggests Kabul could come under insurgent pressure within 30 days and that, if current trends hold, the Taliban could gain full control of the country within a few months. The Afghan government may eventually be forced to pull back to defend the capital and just a few other cities in the coming days if the Taliban keep up their momentum.

The onslaught represents a stunning collapse of Afghan forces and renews questions about where the over $830 billion spent by the U.S. Defense Department on fighting, training those troops, and reconstruction efforts went  especially as Taliban fighters ride on American-made Humvees and pickup trucks with M-16s slung across their shoulders.

Afghan security forces and the government have not responded to repeated questions from journalists over the days of fighting, instead issuing video communiques that downplay the Taliban advance.

In Herat, Taliban fighters rushed past the Great Mosque in the historic city  which dates to 500 BC and was once a spoil of Alexander the Great  and seized government buildings. Witnesses described hearing sporadic gunfire at one government building while the rest of the city fell silent under the insurgents control.

Herat had been under militant attack for two weeks, with one wave blunted by the arrival of warlord Ismail Khan and his forces. But on Thursday afternoon, Taliban fighters broke through the city's defensive lines and later said they were in control.

Afghan lawmaker Semin Barekzai also acknowledged the city's fall, saying that some officials there had escaped. Witnesses described seeing Taliban fighters once-detained at Herat's prison now freely moving on the streets.

It wasn't immediately clear what happened to Khan, who earlier had been described as under attack with his forces at a government building.

In Kandahar, the Taliban seized the governor's office and other buildings, witnesses said. The governor and other officials fled the onslaught, catching a flight to Kabul, the witnesses added. They declined to be named publicly as the defeat has yet to be acknowledged by the government.

The Taliban had earlier attacked a prison in Kandahar and freed inmates inside, officials said.

Earlier Thursday, the militants raised their white flags imprinted with an Islamic proclamation of faith over the city of Ghazni, just 130 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of Kabul.

Ghazni provincial council member Amanullah Kamrani alleged that the provincial governor and police chief made a deal with the Taliban to flee after surrendering. Taliban video and photos purported to show the governors convoy freely passing by insurgents as part of the deal.

Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Mirwais Stanekzai later said the governor and his deputies had been arrested over that alleged deal. The officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

Stanekzai also acknowledged in a video message that parts of Ghazni had fallen, though he insisted government security forces do exist in the city.

The loss of Ghazni  which sits along the Kabul-Kandahar Highway  could complicate resupply and movement for government forces, as well as squeeze the capital from the south.

Already, the Talibans weeklong blitz has seen the militants seize nine other provincial capitals around the country. Many are in the countrys northeast corner, pressuring Kabul from that direction as well.

In southern Afghanistan, the Talibans heartland, heavy fighting continued in Lashkar Gah, where surrounded government forces hoped to hold onto the capital of Helmand province.

Nasima Niazi, a lawmaker from Helmand, criticized ongoing airstrikes targeting the area, saying civilians likely had been wounded and killed.

The Taliban used civilian houses to protect themselves, and the government, without paying any attention to civilians, carried out airstrikes, she said.

With the Afghan air power limited and in disarray, aviation tracking data suggested U.S. Air Force B-52 bombers, F-15 fighter jets, drones and other aircraft were involved in the fighting across the country, according to Australia-based security firm The Cavell Group.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Nicole Ferrara, a Central Command spokeswoman, acknowledged that American forces have conducted several airstrikes in defense of our Afghan partners in recent days. However, she declined to offer any details on the attacks or to discuss the Afghan complaints of civilian casualties.

Late Thursday night, an Afghan official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss developments, said the Taliban have also taken much of western Badghis province  but not the provincial army corps and the intelligence department. A Taliban tweet claimed the insurgents captured the seat of the provincial governor, the police headquarters and all other government offices.

Even as diplomats met in Doha, Qatar on Thursday, the success of the Taliban offensive called into question whether they would ever rejoin long-stalled peace talks aimed at moving Afghanistan toward an administration that includes members of the current Afghan government and the Taliban. Instead, the group could come to power by force  or the country could splinter into factional fighting like it did after the Soviet withdrawal in 1989.

___

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Faiez from Istanbul. Associated Press writers Hamed Sarfarazi in Herat, Afghanistan, and Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin contributed to this report.
Assignments to remote African credit unions present interesting lodging arrangements. There are no hotels in places like Senegals Ndiaw Ndiaw Village, a six-hour drive from Dakar, into the Sahel Desert. At Ndiaw Ndiaw, I was privileged to experience a traditional home stay in the credit union Board Chairs family compound. I presumed I would be housed in his wives quarters. Not so  I slept with their husband.

Wait, let me clarify!

The social hierarchy in Ndiaw Ndiaw meant as the honored guest I was given the Chairmans bedroom, across the courtyard from his wives quarters. Meanwhile, the Chairman slept in the anteroom just outside an arched entry to his bedroom. His quarters, built from mud-bricks and his wooden four-poster bed would be my lodging for the next four weeks. In a shadowy corner stood a small metal safe that housed cash from member savings. A curtained opening on the back wall led to the toilet facility, while on the opposite wall, an empty curtained window over-looked the family courtyard. His wives mud-baked dwellings encircled the courtyard, the social center of family activity.

This was my first experience in Africa and I was apprehensive about the arrangement, wondering how his wives would respond. Who am I to question their social norms? I asked the translator to accompany me to the womens living area to offer my respects. The wives spoke only Wolof so the interpreter translated my French, as the women prepared the evening meal. We all had a good laugh when they balanced a bucket of water on my head and I sloshed the precious contents everywhere. Women walk miles daily to carry fresh water from the river to the village, since the village well was dry. They all clapped and trilled as a thank you for my visit so my uneasiness was pacified.

The translator explained that when a Muslim man has a polygamous marriage, he may have up to four wives in accordance with the Koran, providing he treats each wife with absolute equality. For example, if a husband buys gold threaded fabric for one wife, he must buy fabric of equal quality for each spouse. The Chairmans four wives and 19 children were well cared for. The family compound comprised dwellings of equal proportion for each wife.

I woke each morning to at least four sets of inquisitive eyes peering through the empty bedroom window, curious about how a white woman behaves. From my first morning stirring until I closed my eyes at night, I was watched and followed. Children competed to hold my hand. Fingers softly stroked my arm or tickled their way to experience the texture of my hair. Touch gratifies childrens youthful curiosity.

Learning cultural norms is important to appropriate credit union development in Africa. These teachings often come through embarrassing mistakes and my lessons were no exception. One example of village culture is that food is the language of hospitality. Every Ndiaw Ndiaw credit union family I visited welcomed me with tasty pea fritters, roasted fresh peanuts or often a full meal.

The first painful lesson came after sharing a family-style dinner with six of us seated on the floor around a common bowl. Thieboudienne is boldly flavored rice with vegetables. In the middle of mounded rice sat two carrots, cassava, bits of cabbage, eggplant and a prized grilled chicken. Hands artfully scooped rice and sauce, forming bite-size pieces. I marveled at how clean their hands were after deftly flicking the sauce-laden rice balls into their mouths. My hand was awash with sauce and errant grains, while theirs were spotless after each bite. They kindly avoided watching my cat-like tongue as I surreptitiously licked my fingers clean.

By tradition, throughout the meal the eldest woman broke up vegetables and chicken and distributed food in front of each persons location at the bowl. She served me generous portions. I ate the spicy offering with gusto and enjoyed the laughter and lilting Wolof chatter I didnt understand. Sitting on the ground, legs lady-like to the side, was uncomfortable for me and took practice too. I often leaned on my right hand to steady myself as I scooped food in my left hand while trying to emulate their tidy bites. Often, I found more rice and sauce in my lap than in my mouth.

Several days after my first communal bowl meal experience, I grilled my translator about local customs. I was horrified to discover a valued chicken was slaughtered in my honor for our meal. From then on, I let it be known I was vegetarian. I did not want to eat the rare protein a family might have to last for a week.

My second lesson causes my face to flush with embarrassment even today. Eating with the left hand is taboo. One eats only with the right hand because the left is used in lieu of toilet paper. They had graciously ignored my gaffe to save me discomfort.

I enjoyed bed time as it was the only privacy I had. I am blessed with immediate sleep and cursed with colossal snoring like a drunken sailor. The children found my snorts particularly amusing. Their imitations of me sent the children into raucous laughter and I played along imitating myself. There were no portable sleep apnea machines that didnt require electricity. Im sure the chairman hardly slept the entire time I lived in his quarters. He never uttered a single complaint.

One night I did a deep dive into blissful sleep and several hours later woke with a start, my heart pounding. I felt thump-thump-thumping from beneath my bed. What animal braved an open doorway to discover if a nasal roar is edible? I lay still and held my breath. A snake? A lizard? Perhaps a curious monkey? I was afraid to exit the bed with no shoes nearby.

I possess a fatal flaw when afraid; I suffer an unbearable urge to move towards the danger to relieve my apprehension. Fearing the worst  a snake  I gradually rolled onto my stomach and lowered my head cautiously to peer under the bed. And there it was.

Revealed in the moonlight radiating through the back doorway, I saw a frog trapped under the bed. Up and down he jumped, colliding his head with the underside of the bed in a repeatedly fruitless attempt to escape. My relief was immense. I tiptoed out the door to the loo  okay its just a hole in the ground filled with maggots and pungent smells. There, I could watch, hoping the poor creature would learn to hop less and creep more to escape his predicament.

Ten minutes later I sighed with satisfaction as the frog realized smaller jumps advanced him forward without bruising his head. In a grand finale, he leapt his way to freedom out the door.

Sometimes moving forward means taking smaller steps and learning lessons from the bruises of our mistakes.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

What cultural norms exist in your credit union and how do they impact team culture?

How do you mentor employees to understand un-spoken and un-written social norms at your CU?

How might your organizations cultural norms impact employee morale?
Oh Lord, what have I done? Many months ago, a friend sent me a WhatsApp message in which she had inserted an emoji of a unicorn mid-sentence, for no good reason that I could discern.

When I asked her what she was trying to say, she replied that she had sent it by accident (dont ask me how that can happen).

I messaged back, saying: I know. These ruddy unicorns get everywhere, dont they? And we left it at that.

Many months ago, a friend sent me a WhatsApp message in which she had inserted an emoji of a unicorn mid-sentence, for no good reason that I could discern

Since then, Ive taken to peppering my messages to my friend with unicorn emojis, as an affectionate in-joke. The trouble is that Ive also got into the habit of sending unicorns to other people, adopting them simply as an idiosyncratic sign-off

But this wasnt quite the end of the story. Since then, Ive taken to peppering my messages to my friend with unicorn emojis, as an affectionate in-joke. The trouble is that Ive also got into the habit of sending unicorns to other people, adopting them simply as an idiosyncratic sign-off.

It was only yesterday morning, when I was doing my research for this column, that I took the trouble to look up what a unicorn emoji actually means, in the strange (to me) sub-culture of the internet.

The unicorn face emoji shouts Sparkles and magic and rainbows!, says dictionary.com. It can express anything bright and sparkly, from fashion styles to whimsical moods. So far, so innocent.

But it goes on: It can also refer to the unicorn in the gay community (a kind of bisexual person) and a unicorn in startup culture (a $1 billion valuation). Well, who would have thought it? Not I.

The embarrassing possibility occurs to me that some recipients of my messages  particularly those of my sons generation  may think that by signing off with a unicorn, Im either coming out as bisexual or declaring myself to be a billionaire entrepreneur. All I can say is that neither has ever been my intention.

The moral, I suppose, is that people of my age (Im 67) should be extremely wary of using emojis, no matter how much we want to seem down with the kids, unless were 100 per cent confident that we know their significance.

This sobering thought was brought home to me by an item on the BBC Today programme this week, which claimed that many young people regard the smiley face emoji as an outrageous insult.

I dont know about you, but I was astonished.

In my book, a smiley face is about as bland and inoffensive as an emoji can get, suggesting nothing but friendly goodwill.

It seems I couldnt be more wrong. According to the Guardian  the Bible of Radio 4s flagship news show  nothing says I hate you more than a smiley face emoji.

Only half in jest, the paper goes on: Its a tool of passive aggression and dismissiveness. A smiley face emoji at the end of a message is a patronising pat on the head from somebody who wishes you nothing but ill fortune. For good measure, the Guardian warns that the yellow smiley has become a symbol of unbridled consumerism since its invention in 1963 to promote a life assurance company.

As it happens, Ive long found smiley faces slightly irritating, but this is not for the reasons outlined by the BBC and the Guardian. Rather, my dislike of them dates from our sons time at their state primary school.

In those days, one or two of their teachers would give them back their homework with no marks or corrections  littered though it was with spelling mistakes and grammatical howlers  but only a drawing of a smiley face at the bottom.

I dont believe those teachers meant to be patronising or passive-aggressive, let alone to say anything about consumerism. They were either plain lazy or, more likely, they were afraid that by pointing out their pupils mistakes, they might set them back by damaging their precious self-esteem.

Call me an old-fashioned brute, but Ive never thought teachers do their pupils much service by bestowing praise and smiley faces where theyre undeserved.

More recently, Ive found those emojis annoying because so many of my nearest and dearest like to send them to our family WhatsApp group, the only social media platform I use, in response to messages or photographs posted there.

I find it exasperating when my iPhone goes ping and I dig it out of my pocket, in the hope of seeing more pictures of the grandchildren or reading more family news  only to see yet another wretched smiley face, a throbbing heart or face with tears of joy, posted by a loving cousin or aunt.

Mind you, I fully understand why people send them. It seems rude not to acknowledge receipt of a photograph or a message  and an emoji of a heart or a smile says all that really needs to be said.

But when a dozen or so friends and relations are in the same group, all of them sending nothing but emojis, the pinging drives me half mad.

Until I heard the Today programme, however, it simply hadnt occurred to me that a smiley face could actually be intended as an insult (though Im certain that all those cousins and aunts have never meant any such thing). But then nor did I realise that an emoji of a skull, with or without crossbones, is taken by young people to mean: Thats so funny that Ive died laughing!

Indeed, the language of emojis turns out to be a veritable minefield for the uninitiated.

Indeed, the language of emojis turns out to be a veritable minefield for the uninitiated

Did you think an aubergine was merely an innocuous ingredient of moussaka or ratatouille?

Beware! To the smutty-minded young, the emoji means something very rude indeed. The same goes for the peach emoji.

Suffice it to say that whatever you do, dont send emojis of peaches and aubergines side by side.

And did you know that an emoji of a fairy can be taken to mean: Everything Ive written in this message is intended ironically, and shouldnt be taken seriously? I didnt. I thought it signified nothing more than a Christmas tree decoration.

No, its wisest, I reckon, for old folk like me to avoid sending emojis altogether. Either that, or risk giving serious offence to the sensitive young, many of whom seem to delight in taking offence where none is intended.

But then if emojis are ruled out, the tricky question arises: What is the safest way to top and tail a message, in the age of the internet?

Even good old-fashioned abbreviations can land us in trouble. Take the woman who sent a text message to her baffled teenage daughter, thinking that LOL stood for lots of love: Very sad to tell you that Grandad died this morning, LOL.

As for those like me who have been known to sign emails love from Tom, all I can advise is that you should be extremely careful. Unless youre very sure that the old formula wont be taken amiss, you could find yourself up before the beak for sexual harassment, or worse.

Just ask David Cameron, who made the big mistake of signing his begging messages to former Cabinet colleagues with the words: Love Dc. It was unseemly enough for him to be lobbying them in the first place on behalf of his dodgy paymasters at Greensill. How much worse that he couched his appeal in the language of personal affection.

Indeed, if Ive learned anything this week, its that emojis are a language I will never understand

Yet all the old conventions of letter-writing  yours faithfully, yours sincerely or yours ever  look wrong on a text message. So if not love, then what?

For what its worth, I reckon its safest to reply to a message with the same formula as that used by the sender. Thus, if you address me by my first name, Ill answer with yours; if you send me best wishes, youll get mine back. The same goes for kind regards, bestest or even pip pip.

But one thing Im very sure of is that therell be no more unicorns from me.

Indeed, if Ive learned anything this week, its that emojis are a language I will never understand.
Angela Carter was alone with her doctor undergoing a routine pregnancy scan when her world was shattered by the most devastating news of her life.

The 39-year-old from the small regional town of Denman, NSW, was told her unborn son, Bob, had died at 21 weeks and would be stillborn.

In normal circumstances she could have reached out to her family for immediate consolation, but due to Covid safety protocols, husband Paul and one of their two young daughters were forced to wait in the corridor outside while she was told.

'[Being alone] just made it so much worse. I had to give my husband the news myself,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

It was June 2020, three months after Australia was plunged into its first lockdown, and Angela felt doctors were more concerned about complying with coronavirus restrictions than providing her with compassionate care.

Angela Carter (pictured with her husband, Paul, and their two daughters, Annabel, seven, and Esther, five) was alone with her doctor undergoing a routine pregnancy scan when she received the most devastating news of her life

Before Bob could be delivered, the heartbroken mum was told she would have to drive 136 kilometres - a one-and-a-half hour journey - to a hospital in Newcastle for further tests.

Paul was initially forbidden from standing by his wife's side during the birth, but the hospital ultimately made an exception.

Angela said she was in shock as she cradled Bob in her arms and said goodbye.

Her grief turned to anger when she returned home and received a phone call from her GP, who said he had no reason to see her because she was no longer pregnant.

'He didn't ask me how I was going or how I was sleeping, he just said he specialised in women's health but didn't see it as his role to provide anything in terms of pregnancy loss,' Angela said.

'I felt alone, I felt like here was nothing available to me. It was a kick in the guts to be honest.'

After that, Angela was forced to wait six weeks for a follow-up consultation.

'It shocked me, the lack of understanding,' she said.

'I'm now pregnant again with our fourth child and the hospital has been really supportive, but when you've lost your baby there's really nothing.'

Sadly, Angela is not alone.

Angela (pictured with daughters Annabel and Esther) said she was shocked by the lack of support and understanding from doctors after losing Bob

Figures from bereavement support service Red Nose Australia (RNA) reveal six babies are stillborn in Australia each day.

During the Covid pandemic, the number of women having miscarriages had gone up by about a third worldwide, with blame put upon overstretched medical services and mothers' reticence to attend hospitals due to the perception they were already overburdened.

'It's utterly heartbreaking to think of women having to go through this alone,' chief executive Keren Ludski told Daily Mail Australia.

'They're going through the worst time of their lives, and they can't have their families with them in hospital, some of them can't even have a normal funeral.'

Ms Ludski added that while the organisation understands Covid restrictions from a public health perspective, the impact will be 'telling down the track'.

'People aren't being given the chance to deal with their grief,' she said.

When Angela was introduced to RNA at her six-week follow-up appointment, she was unaware the charity supported families grieving stillbirths.

'It was very comforting to know that there are charities like Red Nose that actually do provide support for people and great resources,' she said.

'You just want to know there is something there for you.'

How the pandemic increased rates of stillbirths around the world Rates of stillbirth and maternal deaths rose by around a third around the globe during the pandemic, a recent study revealed. Pregnancy outcomes worsened overall for both babies and mothers worldwide, according to the international data review published in March. Pooling data from 40 studies across 17 countries, the review found that lockdowns, disruption to maternity services, and fear of attending healthcare facilities all added to pregnancy risks, leading to generally worse results for women and infants. Delaying care has led to an increase in the deaths of mothers, babies and people on the whole - on top of the 2.8 million Covid-19 deaths the world has seen since the pandemic began. 'The pandemic has had a profound impact on healthcare systems,' said professor Asma Khalil, who co-led the research at St George's University of London. 'The disruption caused...has led to the avoidable deaths of both mothers and babies, especially in low- and middle-income countries.' Published in the Lancet Global Health journal, the review found an overall increase in the risks of stillbirth and maternal death during the pandemic, and found the impact on poorer countries was disproportionately greater. It also found significant harm to maternal mental health. Of the 10 studies included in the analysis that reported on maternal mental health, six found an increase in postnatal depression, maternal anxiety, or both. Advertisement

Angela said talking to a Red Nose counsellor helped her through the darkest days of her grief, as did speaking to women who had experienced similar loss.

Red Nose has seen a 45 per cent rise in calls to their support line and a 40 per cent jump in demand for counselling since the pandemic began in early 2020.

Ms Ludski believes this is because Covid restrictions like border closures and bans on household visits have removed the support structures women traditionally relied on.

'People are stuck at home, they can't have friends or family over, they have no outlet to go through the rituals we usually associated with grief,' she said.

'All we can do is make sure they know we exist and link up with the hospitals to ensure women feel they have somewhere to turn.'

Red Nose Day is celebrated on Friday, August 13.

You can donate to the charity by visiting the website here.

For 24-hour support please call Red Nose Australia's Bereavement Support Line on 1300 308 307.
From the weather in the UK to the traffic light travel system, everything feels wildly unpredictable this summer.

Well, everything except for the bikini silhouette of choice. Every woman poolside is wearing a swimsuit that's cut impossibly high on the leg (or she's got one in her drawer at home).

High-rise bikinis have been spotted on beaches from Polzeath to Palma, worn by everyone from Love Island cast members to celebrities. Even mere mortals are rocking the high-cut look this summer, in budget supermarket suits or the costlier designer versions - and the trend doesn't look to be disappearing anytime soon.

The appeal is understandable: the 80s-era silhouette is flattering, making legs look supremely long, whether you're curvy, slim, petite or tall. A high-cut leg works with a high-waist or a skimpy bikini shape, so there's a wealth of options available to suit your style.

One (not so) small issue: it's a silhouette that requires immense confidence to pull off, something I don't have. I'm not sure I ever would have attempted a high-cut bikini leg in my perkier 20-something days, but after giving birth to four children, my swimwear look is distinctly modest.

Jennifer Barton, 39, of London had a very modest wardrobe of swimwear after giving birth to four children and often kept her skirt on throughout a day at the beach

A new 'bikini facial' treatment gave Jennifer the confidence to adopt a new Love Island-esque look (pictured in a bikini by Boux Avenue)

For much of the past decade, it's mostly involved a towel wrapped around my waist which I only throw off at the last possible minute, seconds before my body touches the water.

I feel most self-conscious about my bikini area: it can be bumpy and spotty, and I worry it's aged faster than the rest of me after all it's been through - my largest baby was 10lbs, 4oz, after all.

I haven't felt remotely inclined to expose this part of my body for years, and I typically buy bikinis and swimsuits with 'boy short' bottoms. My other signature beach look when I'm not wearing my trusty towel is keeping my skirt on the entire time.

However, I have to confess this summer, I've been imagining myself strutting down the beach Bond Girl style in a high-leg seersucker two piece with leg holes that start way up on my hip bones (I blame Love Island).

So I was intrigued by the treatment on offer at Kensington's EF Medispa. The smart beauty clinic offers an 'intimate peel' and 'bum facial', a 45-minute treatment that combines cleansing with a peel and some LED therapy to rejuvenate the intimate area.

Jen felt most self-conscious about her bikini-line area which she said can be 'bumpy and spotty' and appears to have 'aged faster than the rest of her after all it's been through' (pictured left before and right after the treatment)

Jen had been imagining herself strutting down the beach Bond Girl style in a high-leg seersucker - and she now has the confidence to do so (pictured in a two-piece from London brand Maiyo)

EF Medispa is one of the first companies to offer the US treatment in the UK (they've been doing it for about four years), and it's getting more and more popular. My therapist Pauline tells me she's been doing at least one a day all summer.

The treatment is available year-round and it's as common to see women in their 20s as in their 50s booking in. It's suitable for anyone and everyone.

Before you book in for the treatment, some housekeeping: all hair removal in the area should be done in advance (shave two weeks ahead; laser and wax up to four weeks in advance). While it's a treatment that you can in theory do once, the clinic requires you to book in for a series of appointments (come every two-to-four weeks), in order to see optimal results.

Ahead of the treatment, you have to sign two consent forms, one for the LED light and the other for the peels. The 45-minute treatment involved two parts: first came the bum facial. I climbed the stairs of the EF Medispa town house and entered a calming, white-walled treatment room (there are six in total), where Pauline asked me to change into white disposable panties and take some photos of the area in question, so I could compare before and after results.

Ahead of the treatment, you have to sign two consent forms, one for the LED light (machine is pictured) and the other for the peels

EF Medispa is one of the first companies to offer the US treatment in the UK (they've been doing it for about four years), and it's getting more and more popular (pictured: the products)

She began with the 'bum facial', something I must confess I wasn't expecting (I thought I was just getting a bikini line facial!). It costs 1,250 for a course of six and is designed to diminish any breakouts in the area and get rid of any ingrown hairs.

First, Pauline applied two different Dermaquest products to double cleanse the area, including one with papaya and pineapple enzymes, which smelt lovely.

What's involved in a 'bikini facial'? The Bikini Facial Package at EF Medispa was created to help smooth, brighten and improve pigmentation on the delicate intimate regions that are often exposed while wearing a bikini - front and back. It includes a gentle Intimate Peel that treats the bikini line using powerhouse ingredients like tranexamic acid, mandelic acid and retinol to help gently brighten up the area. The ingredients help disperse melanin formation and increase cell renewal, resulting in smoother and brighter skin. The pain-free treatment can be used on all skin types and colours and it's ideal for anyone experiencing discoloration caused by hormonal imbalance or skin ageing, as well as the uneven tone caused by frequent shaving. It also treats the derriere; it works to refine and smooth the skin, addressing any concerns that might be stopping you from feeling comfortable when wearing a cheeky bikini bottom. This involves cleansing and removing any impurities and ingrown hair on the area, followed by a chemical peel to gently clear congestion and exfoliation of the upper layer of the skin, before a revitalising moisturiser is applied. Each Bikini Facial treatment doesn't require any post-treatment downtime and usually a course of 4 treatments is recommended, spaced between one to two weeks apart. Advertisement

I felt a bit self-conscious about having my bum cheeks out on display, but the process itself was nothing other than relaxing.

Then Pauline applied a self-neutralising peel, which contains a salicylic acid resurfacer. Depending on how your body reacts, you can get up to three layers of the peel applied; I managed two coats before 'frosting' (when the peel starts to penetrate).

It was tingly but not uncomfortable and reminded me of facial peels I've had in the past - no surprise considering all these products can be used on the face, too.

Since the peel is self-neutralising, it didn't need to be washed off, but Pauline followed up with Dermaquest's SkinBrite Solution to enhance the results and, once dry, applied retinol to give the skin a firmer appearance.

The peel is meant to help with any areas of 'congestion' (read: spots), and while I couldn't actually see what was happening on my bum, I now can't stop touching it, and it does feel softer. Just be aware it's normal for some light shedding of the skin to occur for a couple of days after the procedure.

The peel was followed by 10 minutes of LED on the area (you wear glasses for this part), using the Dermalux machine. Pauline switched on both the red light to stimulate collagen and help firm the area, and the infrared IR to heal and repair.

I could feel the slight heat from the machine but I'd pretty much forgotten where I was by this point since Pauline offered me a foot massage while the LED was on, which was blissful and reminded me how overlooked my feet were (even more so than my intimate area, perhaps?) If you're not keen on people touching your feet, you can opt for a hand massage instead.

Then Pauline flipped me onto my back: time for the 'intimate peel'. This is most popular and effective for those with hyperpigmentation, promising a reduction in discolouration and spots between 20 and 40 per cent across four to six treatments. It should also help with anti-ageing and improving the overall look of the area  my issue  although Pauline warned I wouldn't get the full results with one treatment.

She applied Me Line cleanser to the bikini area, followed by a degreasing solution, followed by the peel. Unlike the bum peel, this one is designed for use just in the bikini area.

A week after the treatment Jen said her skin - both bikini and bottom - is still the smoothest it's ever been. 'It really feels like I've taken some years off,' she says

After the treatment, Jen said she proudly went swimming with her children last weekend, without her customary towel cover-up (pictured in a Boux Avenue bikini)

The peel has some powerful ingredients, containing 20 per cent mandelic acid, 15 per cent lactobionic acid, 2 per cent salicylic acid and 1 per cent retinol.

It stayed on for 10 minutes, tingled a bit, and I was instructed to keep my legs flat so the peel didn't gather in certain areas. I kept fidgeting because the peel was all over my bikini area - as in, covering every inch - and it was a strange feeling. Once the tingling had faded away, Pauline applied moisturiser with an SPF to finish. Top tip: you can use E45 at home to keep the area hydrated.

The 'intimate bikini peel' costs 1,650 for four sessions, which includes a Me-Line pen you take home. The pen acts as a pigment suppressant and should be used as a touch-up four days after the procedure on the areas being treated.

After the treatment, there are a few no-nos to watch out for: no gym or hot baths for 48 hours, no swimming for two to five days, don't use any perfumed products around the area and, crucially, no sun exposure for two weeks. The skin is most vulnerable to sun damage after a peel, so the last one is a biggie, and applying an SPF with a high factor when you do go to the beach is essential.

Jen says: 'I'm not planning a midlife career change to become a 39-year-old who dons a bikini for reality TV anytime soon. But this has made me rethink my swimwear options for the future: high-leg bikinis, here I come!' (pictured in a two-piece from Maiyo)

Don't be surprised if you notice some pigmentation coming to the surface in the few days after the intimate facial - that's perfectly normal.

It's been a week since I had the treatment done and my skin - both bikini and bottom - is still the smoothest it's ever been. It really feels like I've taken some years off.

Even more transformed, however, is my confidence: I proudly went swimming with the kids last weekend, without my customary towel cover-up  without any towel at all, in fact.

This treatment is pricey, sure, but if you're spending weeks at a time in a bikini, we can attest that the effects are more than just skin deep.

I'm not planning a midlife career change to become a 39-year-old who dons a bikini for reality TV anytime soon. But this has made me rethink my swimwear options for the future: high-leg bikinis, here I come!

For more details, visit https:efmedispa.com
A celebrity bodyguard turned Hollywood actor has revealed what it's really like protecting A-list clients.

Simon Newton, 42, from London, is known for being a bodyguard to some of the most famous people in the world - including Michael Jackson, Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid and Rita Ora.

While working with celebrities across the fashion world, Simon became known for his impeccable style - being hailed by British Vogue as the real style star of London Fashion Week.

He has since turned his attention to pursuing a film career, having already starred as a body double for Dave Bautista in 2018 thriller Final Score and acting alongside Robert Downey Jr in Sherlock Holmes a Game of Shadows.

Speaking to FEMAIL, Simon revealed how he became the top choice for celebrities around the world, as well as sharing some weird and wonderful stories from throughout his career.

Simon Newton, 42, from London, (pictured left), is known for being a bodyguard to some of the most famous people in the world including Michael Jackson. He is pictured with Jackson at the 2006 World Music Awards

MILITARY ROOTS

After leaving school Simon carried out a Mechanical Engineering apprenticeship before joining the Royal Corps of Signals, one of the combat support arms of the British Army, in 2000.

He served in Canada and on operations in Iraq for four years before leaving the military in 2004 and starting his career in the Private Security.

'When I was a child being a solider is all I wanted to be', said Simon. 'The army is big on personal discipline, that definitely helps if you want to become a bodyguard.'

Simon began working as a bodyguard in the Middle East for the American oil company KBR. After a number of years operating in Iraq he was appointed as a Close Protection Officer with the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Afghanistan.

His roster of clients includes model Kendall Jenner, as well as supermodels Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell. He is pictured with Jenner in London

In addition to working in the Middle East, Simon was involved with Maritime Security as a Ship Security Officer preventing pirates operating in the Indian Ocean.

'I was in the military before so it was kind of a natural progression', explained Simon. 'Being a bodyguard is not something I thought I would be doing as a child but I always knew I wanted to be a soldier'.

A-LIST CLIENTS

Simon's first A-list client came in 2006, when he received an unexpected call asking him to look after Michael Jackson during his visit to London for the World Music Awards.

The bodyguard said he still has no idea who recommended him to work for Michael, insisting the call was 'totally out the blue and unexpected'.

During his time as a bodyguard he has looked after Middle Eastern royalty, members of parliament, along with news and TV crews - but says that no celebrity has ever phased him.

'I've never been someone to have heroes or anything like that', said Simon. 'Anytime I looked after a celebrity it was always just another job to me.'

He went on to say that he hasn't had a favourite celebrity, and that each of his clients has 'treated me well' - although his gruelling shift patterns could sometimes see him working over 100 hours a week.

Throughout his bodyguard career, Simon would often dress to impress the paparazzi - routinely styling his dapper tailored suits with a signature Hermes belt. The pair are pictured attending a Dior Backstage party in 2018

'There is always lots to do when managing the security of a celebrity', said Simon. 'The planning before you move anywhere can take up a lot of time, sometimes time you dont have.

'Also, the working day is long, you wake up before them and you go to sleep after them. Often you can do a 16 hour day and work seven days a week.'

Simon, who has worked with supermodels Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss, says his visibility depends on 'the environment youre in', and that he would often match his client's outfit choices depending on what they were doing that day.

'It just depends what you are doing and the environment youre in,' he explained. 'Sometimes you can be in the background slightly, other times you need to be visible.

'I always used to try and dress to fit in with the days activities and a gentle approach to dealing with the public always worked well for me. No one wants an overbearing bodyguard.'

As for some of the stranger requests Simon has had, he recalled when an unnamed client asked him to take her dog to Harrods pet store and dye her dog blue, admitting: 'We did get some strange looks walking down Knightsbridge after'.

British Vogue branded Simon a star of London fashion week after he attended with one of his clients, Bella Hadid. The pair are pictured attending a Dior Backstage party in 2018

DIE HARD FANS

While Simon managed to keep star-struck fans at bay during his career, he says that Michael Jackson had so many admirers that he needed five bodyguards to travel with him at once.

'Michael Jackson was always going to be a difficult job', said Simon. 'His fan base followed him everywhere. Due to his fan base being so large I was one of five bodyguards.

'He did have a lot of die-hard fans that would follow us in taxis. They had paid for them for the whole day. Also ,he had a number of regular fans that would follow him all over the world 365 days a year.

Speaking of how he found Michael personally, Simon added: 'Michael was a nice guy, always had a lot of time for his fans and was very professional to deal with.'

HOLLYWOOD FILM CAREER

Simon is pictured with Kendall Jenner in 2015 as she leaves a Topshop Unique fashion show in central London

Simon began pursuing a career in the film industry while still working in security, but in 2018 decided to pack in being a bodyguard and follow his passion of becoming an actor.

Though Simon still owns a private security company based in Central London, he finished acting school last year and has since been signed to SD Talent Management as a full-time professional actor.

'Sometimes I dont watch some of the stuff Ive been in', he explained. 'I have some bigger roles coming up at the start of next year so that will be interesting to play more complex roles.'

The actor, who has featured in various TV projects including BBC drama Strike, has two movies in the pipeline, one of which is due to start filming in January 2022.

'Unfortunately, I am unable to mention too much detail as its early on in the production process', said Simon. 'I do have my sights set on being involved in a Bond movie. Myself and my agent are both working towards making that happen in the future.'

FASHION RISING STAR

Throughout his bodyguard career, Simon would often dress to impress the paparazzi - routinely styling his dapper tailored suits with a signature Hermes belt.

And his impeccable taste in clothes caught the eye of the fashion world, with British Vogue branding Simon a star of London fashion week, which he attended in 2018 with Bella Hadid.

'I have always loved fashion, ever since I was a child, so to be credited by Vogue cant be a bad thing can it!', said Simon.

'Fashion isn't something I would speak about really. I have my own ideas and thoughts and what looks good on me and what doesn't.

'I've never really asked for advice or anything like that on fashion. I just wear what I like. I like to look smart and presentable day-to-day, I always think if you look and feel good  it sets you up for the day.'
There's nothing wrong with abiding by the rules but some people take it too far when it comes to following instructions - as proven by these hilarious photographs.

Collated by Cracked, the amusing snaps illustrate what happens when very literal-minded people from around the world follow guidance to the letter.

Showcasing people who have ended up in absurd situations while doing exactly as they're told, one photograph captured a man holding on to a lamp post when smoking after a sign reading 'Smoking Area' pointed to it.

Elsewhere, a man was spotted actually drawing a bridge at a 'Draw Bridge' road sign in America, while a family made a toast with actual toast in a third image.

Taking it literally: This smoker climbed on to a post to have his cigarette, no doubt following the direction of the arrow

Pooch problems! This dog's owner in Sydney poked fun at a sign that appeared to advise people to get rid of their pets if they make a mess

Not quite right: One can only assume that the cake decorator was instructed to 'Write Happy Birthday on both'

Double trouble! This duo couldn't help but act out the sign 'Twin Falls' in Idaho for a hilarious image

One man, at an unknown location, took the instructions 'please fall in line' to a whole new level

One child proved very good at following instructions by writing 'or' in each space provided - despite it being a Maths exam rather than an English one

One pupil showed they really did know their alphabet, by putting each letter in every word in alphabetical order

When met with the sign 'Draw Bridge', a creative passerby obeyed by producing a detailed drawing of a bridge

A pupil very literally describes the difference between the numbers eight and six, writing: 'Eight is all curly, six is not'

Taking it too far: When asked to make a ginger bread house, it's unlikely anyone had this version in mind

No cat naps here! Rather than a short, light sleep in the middle of the day, it appears this feline was carrying a heavy load when resting their eyes

Joker: This man definitely saw the comic potential of the sign 'Touch only with your eyes', and soon posed with his face touching the greenery

Cheers to that! Another amusing photograph showed a grinning family making a toast with actual jam on toast
For Deborah Breen, creating her own underwear brand hadn't just been any old way to make money.

She had put her heart and soul into every element of her business, Wilde Mode: from the font used for her company logo, which was a homage to her late grandfather's signature, to the prints she designed to adorn her bra and pants sets.

So to say she was furious when she discovered a blue leopard-print lingerie set she had designed on a Chinese shopping website is an understatement.

However, while fashion copycats abound in the dodgier corners of the internet, this was no random knock-off fashion website one might struggle to come across.

Rather, Deborah found her designs in the hands of a company who are the undoubted emperors of fast fashion. Forget BooHoo, or even Primark: this company is Shein (pronounced She-in), whose recorded revenue in 2020 was an astronomical 7 billion.

Sarah Vaughan from Lancashire who started her fabric business Little Legs Fabrics in 2018, was stunned when she discovered one of the designs she had exclusively purchased and printed on to a high-quality, cotton-based fabric was being sold as a child's set of dungarees on Shein last year

Shein  which ships to 220 countries  has had a pandemic-busting year that in June led to it toppling Amazon as the most-downloaded shopping app on iOS and Android in the U.S.

And it's snapping at Amazon's heels in the UK, too. How? Collaborations with British 'influencers' and reality TV stars such as Love Island's Lucie Donlan and Made In Chelsea's Georgia Toffolo, have turbocharged its dominance, helping it rack up more than 21 million Instagram followers.

So while you may not have heard of it, any teenager or 20-something in your family certainly will have, attracted by their pile-it-high, sell-it-cheap philosophy. Want a new swimsuit? Shein has them priced from 2.49. And of the dozens of dresses on the first page of results on the UK store yesterday, none was priced above 15.

As for Deborah's design, it was on sale for just 6. That's quite a bit less than the 38 a top and 18 for bottoms charged for the same swimwear set, designed, made and sold by her.

'I couldn't believe it when I looked,' says Deborah, a 41-year-old mother-of-two. 'It was the first time I'd even heard of the site.'

While fashion copycats abound in the dodgier corners of the internet, this was no random knock-off fashion website one might struggle to come across

And, as she saw, the font she had modelled on her grandfather's handwriting was now declared 'Shein Curve', while the material looked saggy and poor quality.

It is estimated that Shein places anything from 500 to more than 1,000 new items on its online shopfront every day. But how does the company, which shot to prominence as a shock contender to buy Topshop before Asos struck a deal, churn out stock at such an alarming rate?

Therein lies one of many worrying questions that have been raised about the way this brand operates.

For, as the Mail discovered this week, an ever-growing number of independent designers and businesses have found their own designs  work into which they have poured time, effort and money  have been copied, finding their way on to Shein's website.

It was in June 2020 that Deborah Breen began to receive messages from her global client base, sharing images of a two-piece underwear set they had seen on Shein.

She soon realised she wasn't alone. 'I shared what had happened on Instagram and soon other people started contacting me saying 'they did it to me too'.

'They get away with it as, often, the people behind small brands don't have the knowledge or the finances to do anything about it.'

However, Deborah, who knew enough about intellectual property rights to know Shein was in the wrong, was established enough as a business to have a solicitor.

Last month, Nigerian brand Elexiay posted on social media accusing Shein of copying its hand-crocheted 237 pink and green jumper, sharing an image of it (left) next to a remarkably similar design sold on Shein for 13 (right)

'As soon as Shein were approached, they tried to claim they had no idea the design had been copied,' she says.

'They said they employ people to find them the designs and tried to distance themselves from it.' But for Deborah, who is based in Dundee, the fact Shein has acknowledged copyright issues speaks volumes about the scale of the issue.

They state on their website: 'If you believe your work has been copied in a way that constitutes trademark or copyright infringement, please submit your complaint by report to copyright@shein.com. We will respond to the rights of owners with any concerns they may have about alleged IP [intellectual property] disputes.' We found evidence of brands being copied in every corner of the globe, including Australian label Salte Designs and U.S. brand Sincerely Ria.

Last month, Nigerian brand Elexiay posted on social media accusing Shein of copying its hand-crocheted 237 pink and green jumper, sharing an image of it next to a remarkably similar design sold on Shein for 13. It since appears to have been taken down from Shein's website.

In Deborah's case, Shein did remove the item from its website. But Deborah, who has European and UK trademarks, wanted recompense.

'They said they had only sold six sets,' she laughs. 'They offered me 100, which as a small business is a punch in the eye.'

She fought back and Shein eventually settled for a four-figure sum, which, given Deborah had solicitor's fees to pay, was paltry.

But as she says: 'It's the principle. My intellectual property, my design, you can't just use it. They are nothing more than vultures taking designs off independent traders and selling them at a fraction of the cost.'

As a businesswoman, Deborah, who started sewing as a hobby to help with her depression, prides herself not just on a business that promotes inclusivity but also on quality and sustainability.

'No mass production, no picking off a shelf, less excess waste,' as she puts it. She employs five people whom she pays a living wage.

'We have an incredibly small profit margin, because of how expensive it is as a small brand, buying in small volumes.' Can Shein say the same?

One doubts it. In July, Fashion Revolution, a global campaign to promote more transparent and sustainable fashion, published its sixth Fashion Transparency Index, analysing and ranking 250 of the world's largest fashion brands and retailers based on their public disclosure of human rights and environmental policies, practices and impacts in their operations and supply chains.

Shein scored an average of just one per cent. As for quality, Sarah Vaughan, 36, can attest to the differences between Shein's product and her own.

Sarah, a mother of two from Lancashire who started her fabric business Little Legs Fabrics in 2018, was stunned when she discovered one of the designs she had exclusively purchased and printed on to a high-quality, cotton-based fabric was being sold as a child's set of dungarees on Shein last year.

She was alerted by a customer on social media. There could be no doubt it was a copy because the dinosaur print is one of Sarah's most popular and it looked identical.

'I'd heard of it happening, but when it happens to you, you feel violated,' says Sarah.

'But I felt worse for my customers. My business is based on work-at-home mums trying to make a living by making clothing. They are the ones who suffer if somebody can go on Shein and buy an outfit for 5 which they are making at home for 20.'

Sarah did two things: she ordered Shein's garment and emailed their copyright team.

When it arrived, she discovered that while her clothing is a soft, 95 per cent cotton, 5 per cent elastane blend, made at the factory of a trusted supplier in Poland using carefully tested fabric dyes, Shein's offering was the polar opposite: low-quality polyester, but emblazoned with the same design.

As for the email, it was only when she shared her fury via social media  'it isn't even a replica, it's a clear steal of the design', she wrote  that Shein responded.

'We sincerely apologise for what happened. The product has already been removed from our site. Shein holds every designer's copyright should be respected,' said the brand. Ironically, a section of Shein's website is dedicated to 'product design'.

'In the early days, before our designs became popular, we arranged for our designers to further their study of fashion design and invited senior designers to help us build our brand,' it declares. 'Now, over a decade later, we have established a huge team of professional designers. Every one of our designers has his or her own unique sense of fashion . . .'

Independent designer Jade Clark certainly prides herself on her unique sense of fashion. And so, it seems, does Shein.

Around this time last year, Jade, 30, discovered one of her T-shirts was being sold by Shein, a flame-adorned design made distinctive by her name on the sleeve.

For Jade, who had already gone into battle with the retailer over a swimsuit she designed, it wasn't surprising, but still demoralising.

'The name on the sleeve was just blatant,' she says.

'It's horrible because it had happened to me before, the first time was more soul destroying.'

Jade, who set up her eponymous business six years ago and works alone doing her own design, fabric printing, production and marketing, had a straightforward approach to tackling the copycatting. She recruited her huge social media following to go in to bat for her. The result? 'I never contacted them directly, but within six hours it was taken down.'

A small victory, but one free of penalty for Shein.

In 2018, U.S. jeans brand Levi Strauss accused Shein of copying a stitch pattern in the back pockets of trademarked Levi's jeans, in a suit that was later settled.

Companies and designers, including AirWair International, the maker of Dr Martens boots, have taken legal action against Shein for allegedly copying designs and infringing trademarks.

But when recompense is small, or starting a fight prohibitively expensive, it's unsurprising so many don't act. Little wonder, then, that copied designs keep appearing.

How these copies find themselves on Shein's marketplace and who is responsible is unclear.

A juggernaut ('like Zara on steroids' as one blogger put it) Shein seems to be motoring its way to ultra-fast fashion supremacy, with little known about the company.

Mainly based in China, Singapore and Hong Kong, the company was founded in 2008 by Chris Xu, also known as Yangtian Xu or Sky Xu, who is apparently an American-born graduate of Washington University. With no interviews on public record, he remains as much of a mystery as his brand's workings.

Back then it was called SheInside and sold only women's clothing. But in 2015, he renamed the company Shein, and focused on overseas markets.

As for its supply chain, that's anyone's guess. But we know Shein's popularity stems from its use of data analytics to turn emerging fashion trends into cheap products, sometimes in a matter of days.

Analysts and critics alike have long observed that Shein's attentions have been poured not into transparency, but into building influence using social media.

Emily Salter, a senior analyst with GlobalData, says: 'Until recently, it had gone unseen apart from by its Gen-Z shoppers who are digitally savvy and bargain-conscious, despite this generation also being one that cares more about sustainability and ethics.

'Social media is a huge contributor to Shein's success, with paid partnerships with celebrities boosting brand-awareness among its target shoppers.

'Fans clamour to share their 'hauls'  a feature of fast fashion in which shoppers buy a pile of bikinis, or whatever the item, then share it with an online audience, in the hope Shein might send them free merchandise to promote.'

A quick search of the #sheinhaul hashtag on the social media site TikTok shows videos made with this hashtag have 3.1 billion views.

However, the internet is also awash with complaints about everything from quality to service, including the apparent difficulty of reaching anyone at the company. When the Mail tried to contact Shein for comment via members of their PR team and customer service, we received no response.

And as Ciara Barry, policy and research co-ordinator for Fashion Revolution, says: 'The clothes may be cheap but that comes at a social and environmental cost.'

Not to mention, as Deborah Breen and others have discovered, the personal cost of finding that your unique design  funded, slaved over and perfected by you  has been copied by a faceless fashion behemoth.
A brand selling eyelash serums that promise long, fluttery lashes in a matter of weeks can't stop selling out, after thousands of women uploaded their before-and-after transformations.

More than 2,000 people have signed up to the latest waiting list for Lash Therapy's Eyelash Serum, $59.95, and the brand are repeatedly selling out during coronavirus lockdowns.

With women across Australia missing their regular salon visits for lash lifts and extensions, the brainchild of three best friends in late 2020 has never been more popular.

A brand selling eyelash serums that promise long, fluttery lashes in a matter of weeks can't stop selling out (Lash Therapy serum pictured after use)

More than 2,000 people signed up to the wait list for Lash Therapy's Eyelash Serum , $59.95, and the brand are repeatedly selling out during lockdown (pictured before and after use)

Emma, Jess and Lauren said they noticed a 'gap in the market' for eyebrow and eyelash solutions during lockdown.

With lash technicians and brow artists shut down for months at a time, there was an instant demand for quality lash and brow kits.

Their best-selling lash serum is an affordable solution for bare, brittle lashes.

Their best-selling lash serum is an affordable solution for bare, brittle lashes that mimics the look of a lash lift or extensions (pictured throughout use)

Lash Therapy Australia's Serum is formulated with advanced polypeptides, which work to increase the volume, thickness, length and overall curl of your eyelashes (pictured after use)

Lash Therapy Australia's Eyelash Serum is formulated with advanced polypeptides, which work to increase the volume, thickness, length and overall curl of your eyelashes.

Ingredients including hyaluronic acid and pumpkin seed extract work together to grow your lashes effectively, in a healthy and perfectly safe way.

Once you start applying the serum every night before you go to bed, you can expect to see some results in as soon as a week.

However, devoted shoppers say you should stick with the serum for 6-12 weeks to see maximum benefits.

You can see results after one week, but devoted shoppers say you should use it for 6-12 weeks to see maximum benefits (pictured before and after use)

The serum boasts dozens of glowing reviews on Lash Therapy's website, where it has been described as 'incredible', 'highly recommended' and 'amazing' (pictured after use)

The serum boasts dozens of glowing reviews on Lash Therapy's website, where it has been described as 'incredible', 'highly recommended' and 'amazing'.

'I'm just a normal person from Perth, WA, who is usually very sceptical about these sorts of products, but I have to say this is incredible!' one reviewer posted.

'I've been using this for for four months and I can't stop and won't stop. The results speak for themselves.'

Another added: 'This has shown better results than any lash lift.

'I've been using this product for just over two months, and I'm obsessed. My lashes have grown long enough to touch my eyebrows, and they are now super healthy and thick.

'It has become part of my night-time skincare routine and I no longer need to wear mascara, which saves time and hassle - particularly on beach days. Can't recommend highly enough!'

To apply the serum, the experts recommend that you ensure your eyelid is clean and then apply the serum to the lash line of the upper lashes (pictured before and after use)

To apply the serum, the experts from Lash Therapy Australia recommend that you ensure your eyelid is clean and then apply the serum to the lash line of the upper lashes.

They advise you do it after your skincare before you go to bed at night.

Once your desired results are achieved, it is possible to maintain your results by applying it three or four times per week.

If you stop using the serum, your lashes will go back to their old look within a few months. You need to keep using it two or three times a week to maintain the look.

A single 3mL tube should last you six months if used every day.

For more information about Lash Therapy, please visit the website here. You can also follow the brand on Instagram here.
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Helen Mirren and her husband Taylor Hackford are selling their luxury mansion in Hollywood for $18.5 million after living in the property for 30 years.

Located within six-and-a-half acres of sophisticated landscaping and mature trees and situated at the top of a winding drive, the 10,200 sq ft estate includes a guest house and a total of eight bedrooms and 11 bathrooms.

Built in 1911, the house has beautiful finishes from the era, including large rooms, French doors opening onto the Hollywood hills, a paneled library, hardwood floors and large fireboxes in the fireplaces.

A particularly special room is the cozy bar, complete with stylish bar stools and a comfortable sofa and chairs for an intimate evening of lavish entertaining.

Helen Mirren and her director husband Taylor Hackford are selling their luxury mansion in Hollywood for $18.5 million after living in the property for 30 years

Built in 1911, the house has beautiful finishes from the era, including large rooms and French doors opening onto the Hollywood hills (pictured)

A particularly special room is the cozy bar, complete with stylish bar stools and a comfortable sofa and chairs for an intimate evening of lavish entertaining

The large formal rooms and outside living area, featuring strings of festoon lighting, are ideal for large groups and family get togethers, with relaxed indoor-outdoor architecture taking full advantage of the sunny California weather.

Outside, the gated, manicured grounds feature a large swimming pool with a diving board and envy-inducing views of downtown Los Angeles, combining tranquility, privacy and convenience.

The separate guest house offers three bedrooms and there's also a garage with capacity for five cars, with an office and an apartment above.

It's easy to see why Oscar-winning British actress Mirren, 76, and her American director husband, also 76, have stayed put in the sprawling home for so long, but they are now offering it for sale or for rent at $45,000 a month.

It's easy to see why Oscar-winning actress Mirren and her director husband have stayed put in the sprawling home for so long, but they are now offering it for sale or for rent at $45,000 a month (pictured: a large bedroom)

One of the standout rooms is the panelled library, complete with stylish hardwood floors and large fireboxes in the fireplaces

The large formal rooms and outside living area are ideal for large groups and family get togethers, with relaxed indoor-outdoor architecture taking full advantage of the sunny California weather (pictured: a dining room)

The property features 11 bathrooms, three of which are considered half bathrooms. Pictured is one of them featuring jazzy flamingo wallpaper

Located within six-and-a-half acres of sophisticated landscaping and mature tree, the home is situated at the top of a winding drive

The glamorous property is featured on Top Ten Real Estate Deals and is currently for sale with Coldwell Banker for $18.5 million (pictured: an entertaining lounge room)

The separate guest house offers three bedrooms and there's also a garage with capacity for five cars, with an office and an apartment above (pictured: the view across downtown LA)

The star couple snatched up the standout pad in the 1990s, becoming the latest in a stream of big names to live there.

Former owners include Dustin Farnum, star of DeMille's Squaw Man, writer and producer Mark Hellinger, and Gail Patrick, executive producer of the popular 1950's/60's Perry Mason television series where the home was sometimes used as a film location for the show.

The glamorous property is featured on Top Ten Real Estate Deals and is currently for sale with Coldwell Banker for $18.5 million. It's not known why the couple have chosen to sell.

Mirren won the Best Actress Oscar for her role in the film The Queen, acting the part of Queen Elizabeth II. Taylor also won an Academy Award for the short film Teenage Father and directed An Officer and Gentleman and Against All Odds.

In 2003, Mirren was appointed Dame for her acting career that dates back to when she starred as Cleopatra in a UK National Youth Theatre production aged 20.

She became an American citizen in 2017 and voted for the first time in the 2020 election. She recently revealed that she put on make-up every day during lockdown, even when she wasn't leaving the house, because she 'enjoys' it.

Former owners of the property include Dustin Farnum, star of DeMille's Squaw Man, writer and producer Mark Hellinger, and Gail Patrick, executive producer of the popular 1950's/60's Perry Mason television series where the home was sometimes used as a film location for the show (pictured: the kitchen in the main house)

Another one of the property's bathrooms, which features an art deco-esque glass tiled walk-in shower leading to a sunken bath, with his and hers sinks
The Duchess of Cambridge was 'unashamed' to 'share difficulties' as a parent on her Sheffield Baby Bank UK visit in August last year, the CEO of the charity has claimed.

Kate Middleton, 39, who shares Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, five, and Prince Louis, two, with husband Prince William, was visiting to launch a new initiative she spearheaded, getting 19 major UK retailers and brands to donate more than 10,000 new items to more than 40 baby banks across the UK.

'I think what struck me the most about the Duchess was her genuine interest,' explained Cat Ross, CEO of Baby Basics UK, speaking to Hello! magazine.

'She genuinely wanted to hear of our experiences, she wanted to hear directly from families that had accessed our services, what their experiences were like and was really unashamed to share her difficulties that she faced in parenting and really been able to relate to families about what it's like raising children with three children herself.'

The Duchess of Cambridge was 'unashamed' to 'share difficulties' as a parent on her Baby Bank visit in Sheffield in August last year, Cat Ross, the CEO has claimed. Pictured, Kate Middleon helps to unpack supplies during the visit

Kate Middleton, 39, shares Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, five, and Prince Louis, two, with husband Prince William. Pictured at at Anmer Hall in Norfolk in December 2020

Baby Banks are a crucial nationwide service, run by volunteers, helping to support some of the most vulnerable families in the UK by providing essentials such as nappies, clothing and bedding.

Most of those who seek their help come on professional referral from services including health visitors, midwives and social workers.

The banks have proved to be a lifeline for many struggling parents during the coronavirus crisis, but have found their services under increasing pressure, both as a result of demand and because they have been unable to accept second-hand donations on health and safety grounds.

Hearing of this, Kate - who has previously visited Baby Basics in West Norfolk the start of the crisis - decided to put out feelers for donations from brands and high street retailers.

The Duchess of Cambridge, who opted for a timeless dress by Suzannah, could be seen lifting boxes as she helped unpack donations at the baby bank

In all, she persuaded nineteen brands to donate more than 10,000 items to Baby Basics, Little Village and AberNecessities.

When Kate visited, Baby Basics UK had 37 centres across the UK and it has now expanded to 51, while there are now 27 brands who donate to the charity on a regular basis.

CEO Cat Ross went on to praise the impact of Kate's initiative as 'amazing' and added how donations have 'absolutely snowballed since the Duchess got involved'.

'The Duchess has helped to raise the profile of baby banks and Baby Basics UK, we've seen more and more brands come on board and their support to us has been absolutely phenomenal,' she told the publication. 'It's really exciting to see how they've embraced what we do and they're really passionate about supporting us and supporting families.'

Cat also explained how she regularly updates Kate Middleton on the charity's progress since the initiative launched last year.

'We regularly communicate with the Royal Foundation and the Duchess about what's happening with Baby Basics and where we're opening new centres,' she explained. 'It's just to keep her informed about the impact that continues to happen from the launch of the baby banks initiative that she started with those brands and just how it's developed for Baby Basics since then.'
Meghan Markle should be spending her time building bridges with the Firm not 'lecturing young mums about going back to work' from her 11million mansion, a royal expert has claimed.

Meanwhile the publication of Prince Harry's impending memoirs is hanging over the Royal Family like 'the sword of Damocles'.

The comments come from former royal editor Duncan Larcombe who appeared on True Royalty TV's Royal Beat today.

The Duchess of Sussex launched her new 40x40 initiative, intended to encourage people to commit to giving 40 minutes of their time to support women going back to work, in a video message filmed in her and Harry's Montecito home, shared on her 40th birthday last week.

Meghan Markle should be spending her time building bridges with the Firm not 'lecturing young mums about going back to work' from her 11million mansion, according to royal expert Duncan Larcombe

She personally chose 40 friends in high places to help publicise the announcement, including influential US politician Stacey Abrams, British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful and Prince Harry's cousin Princess Eugenie.

Duncan suggested the campaign is ill-judged, adding: 'She has left behind her a trail of devastation, on the Markle side, and now on the Windsor side.

'I don't want to see her lecturing young mums having to go back to work from inside her $11million LA mansion This initiative is nonsense, she should be spending her time trying to build bridges with the very people that she and Harry have betrayed.'

He added that the issue of the Duke of Susssex's much-anticipated book is also looming over the Windsors.

Duncan described the pending publication as 'like a sword of Damocles hanging over the Royals now'.

Duncan said Meghan should be 'spending her time trying to build bridges with the very people that she and Harry have betrayed'. Pictured: the Sussexes and Cambridges at Christmas in 2018

Duncan Larcombe described the pending publication as 'like a sword of Damocles hanging over the Royals now'

'We mentioned the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and we don't know if it is going to be timed to come out on the day that the nation is supposed to be paying tribute to the Queen,' he told host Kate Thornton.

'I always laugh, if [Princess] Eugenie is helping with the book, let's just hope for her sake that does not mean that she too does not have to live in exile when the rest of the Royal Family are all offended.'

It's been a difficult week for the royals, with Virginia Roberts filing a lawsuit in New York on Monday accusing Prince Andrew of sexually assaulting her.

It claimed she was forced to have sex with the Duke of York three times on the orders of the pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, with all the incidents allegedly taking place in 2001 when she was 17 years old. Prince Andrew has always vehemently denied sexual contact with Roberts.

Journalist and author Wesley Kerr told the Royal Beat that the prince's team's current policy of saying nothing will not be 'sustainable'.

Duncan added: 'This is possibly what Prince Andrew has been dreading; one of the two of them is lying and it is either Prince Andrew or it is her,' indicating Roberts.

He pointed out that the Duke's circumstances are 'exceptional', explaining: 'I think what we have to remember is that Prince Andrew is unlike the rest of us since he was a child, he has been surrounded every day by Royal Protection Officers, and when he went to the Pizza Express in Woking, rather than meet Ms Roberts he would have been driven around, he would have been taken there, it would have been logged You have an entourage of alibis or an entourage of witnesses depending on how it unfolds.'

Royal historian Anna Whitelock told the programme that the filing of sexual abuse allegations will have greatly upset his mother the Queen.

Royal historian Anna Whitelock told the programme that the filing of sexual abuse allegations about Prince Andrew will have greatly upset his mother the Queen

Prince Andrew is rumoured to be her favourite son and is now a cause of 'massive embarrassment' to the monarchy.

However as the situation unfolds, 'the reputational damage to the Royal Family has already been done', she said.

Members of the Royal Family will also have to prepare themselves for series five of Netflix drama The Crown, which has started filming and will dramatise a notoriously difficult period of time in their recent history.

It will cover the Queen's 'annus horribilis', a Latin phrase meaning horrible year which she used in 1992 to describe the collapse of three of her children's marriages - including Prince Charles' to Princess Diana - and the fire that severely damaged her Windsor Castle home.

Anna noted: 'If the Royal Family have found The Crown uncomfortable viewing up until now, this season is not going to give them any respite.'

The Royal Beat is available to watch now on True Royalty TV.
The mother of murdered teenager Liam Gray has emotionally recalled the last words that she said to her son as he was transported to hospital after being fatally stabbed by his friend Jonathan Treadgold over a petty Snapchat argument.

In new documentary Britain's Deadliest Kids, which airs on discovery+, Joanne Peters speaks of how her 'heart shattered' following the loss of her son Liam Gray, 18, who was knifed to death by his friend Jonathan Treadgold, also 18, at a house in Mansfield, Nottingham on August 1, 2019.

His grandfather witnessed the stabbing and desperately tried to save him before paramedics arrived.

'I managed to say, you know, "I love you,"' says an emotional Joanne, remembering the moment her son was loaded into the ambulance. 'I just hope he heard me, because that was the last thing that I managed to say to him while he was still alive.'

Joanne - the mother of murdered teenager Liam Gray - has emotionally recalled the last words that she said to her son as he was transported to hospital after being fatally stabbed by his friend Jonathan Treadgold over a petty social media argument

Jonathan Treadgold (mugshot right) stabbed his friend Liam Gray (left) to death in Mansfield, Nottingham on August 1 2019

But despite the best efforts of hospital staff, Liam died from his injuries, aged just 18-years-old.

'I just remember a doctor walking in with two nurses and I knew then from the look on the doctor's face that Liam had passed,' Liam's sister Paige recalls.

Joanne adds: 'They didn't even have to say anything, I just knew, and I think I said to them, "he's gone, hasn't he?" My heart just shattered.'

In custody, Treadgold claimed that Liam had been bullying him for years, but an intense police investigation uncovered the truth - he had killed his friend in cold blood.

After deliberations, the jury unanimously found Jonathan Treadgold guilty of Liam's murder, sentencing him to life with a minimum term of 16 years.

Growing up in the Nottinghamshire town of Mansfield, Liam was a popular young man with a bright outlook on life.

Liam's sister Paige (pictured) recalls how she remembers a doctor walking in with two nurses and says she 'knew then from the look on the doctor's face that Liam had passed'

Liam's sister Madison Peters (pictured) recalls getting a phone call from her mum and says: 'I knew what she was going to say'

'That was Liam's character, happy-go-lucky,' his mum, Joanne Peters, explains.

Notably, Liam shared a strong bond with his best friend Reece.

'They were like brothers, they were inseparable, they were together nearly all day every day,' Paige Peters, Liam's sister, says.

But in stark contrast to the loving upbringing that Liam enjoyed during his short life, local teenager Jonathan Treadgold had a troubled upbringing marked by stints in care.

As a result, Treadgold started getting into trouble with the police from a young age.

'I think Liam thought he could solve some of his problems by being his friend and taking him under his wing,' says Joanne. 'I wasn't really happy about Liam being around him, I just sensed something about him that I couldn't put my finger on.'

But on 1st August 2019, after a day of celebratory drinking as Liam prepared to start his new life in Birmingham, tensions between Liam and Treadgold came to a head over a text message from the boyfriend of Treadgold's sister referring to a social media video.

'Treadgold shares that text with Reece and Liam, and Liam makes some comment that he would "sort Treadgold's sister's boyfriend out," criminologist Professor David Wilson explains.

With a stab wound to the heart, Liam (pictured) lay on the floor bleeding to death while an ambulance crew rushed to his aid.

Admitting to the killing in his police interview, Treadgold suggested that Liam (pictured) was a violent bully and that he acted in self-defence

'John [Treadgold] got right mad about it,' Liam's friend Reece adds.

Flying off the handle, Treadgold and Liam argued, before Treadgold stormed off back to Liam's grandad's house. Catching up with Treadgold at the house, Liam was suddenly and viciously attacked with a kitchen knife.

Waiting outside, it wasn't immediately clear to Reece what had happened. While Treadgold fled the scene, Reece rushed into the house to tend to his friend.

'I've gone in and Liam's stood there with a handful of tea towels and stuck them to his chest,' he says.

Frantically, Liam's grandfather called for an ambulance as his grandson's condition quickly deteriorated.

'He was holding his chest and he fell to the floor,' Reece recalls. 'Pops was putting pressure onto him where he'd been stabbed.'

With a stab wound to the heart, Liam lay on the floor bleeding to death while an ambulance crew rushed to his aid. Seen by numerous witnesses fleeing the scene, Treadgold was quickly apprehended by the police.

The arrest was captured on an officer's bodycam, where a clearly distressed Treadgold tells police that Liam had actually tried to stab him.

Seen by numerous witnesses fleeing the scene, Treadgold was quickly apprehended by the police (pictured)

Admitting to the killing in his police interview, Treadgold suggested that Liam was a violent bully and that he acted in self-defence.

'He said that Liam was responsible for assaulting him in the past and he's gotten injuries that could substantiate that as well,' Superintendent Kevin Broadhead of Nottinghamshire Police reveals.

However, CCTV footage and other evidence suggested otherwise, and Treadgold was charged with Liam's murder.

In February 2020, Treadgold stood trial for the murder of his friend Liam Gray. For Joanne, it was yet another stressful part of an already horrific ordeal.

'I was terrified that he was going to get away with it,' she says. 'When the police told us that he was going to be tried as a child  so he could only get 12 years  that honestly really upset me. I was broken. He would still be a young man when he comes out of prison, and my son's not here anymore.'

During proceedings, Treadgold's behaviour was disruptive and he refused to take the stand.

'He refused to speak, he wouldn't give an explanation as to why he'd done it,' Joanne explains.

Paige adds: 'He thought he was going to get away with it. You could see on his face that he wasn't sorry at all.'

Despite the jury unanimously finding Jonathan Treadgold guilty of Liam's murder, for Liam's family, the pain of his death remains.

'We've been robbed of seeing our son, brother, father grow up and do all the things he wanted to do,' Joanne says. 'We've been robbed of that, over a silly argument over a video.'

Britain's Deadliest Kids is available to stream now as a boxset on discovery+, with episodes also airing weekly on Quest Red
Princess Charlene of Monaco is undergoing surgery in her home country of South Africa, the royal palace has announced, as speculation grows over her absence from the principality and the state of her marriage.

Charlene, 43, who was last seen in Monaco in January, will undergo a 'four-hour operation under general anaesthesia', a statement from the office of her husband Prince Albert II announced. No other details were shared.

It comes after it was revealed Charlene had developed a 'serious sinus infection'.

Prince Albert and their six-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella will fly out to South Africa to be with Charlene during her recovery.

Princess Charlene of Monaco is undergoing surgery in her home country of South Africa, the royal palace has announced, as speculation grows over her absence from the principality. Pictured, Charlene in a video interview from the South African bush earlier this month

Charlene, 43, who was last seen in Monaco in January, will undergo a 'four-hour operation under general anaesthesia', a statement from the office of her husband Prince Albert II announced. No other details were shared. Pictured, Albert and Charlene in September 2020

Last public outing together: Charlene and Albert were last pictured together at an official event together in January (left) at the Sainte Devote Ceremony in Monaco. On April 2, she shared a photograph alongside her husband Prince Albert and their children Jacques and Gabriella to mark Easter, although it is not clear where it was taken

The statement said: 'Princess Charlene will undergo an operation today, Friday, August 13, for four hours under general anaesthesia. Prince Albert and their children, Crown Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella will join her during her recovery period.'

In recent weeks, lifestyle magazines across Europe have speculated feverishly that the royal couple could be headed for divorce.

Charlene has been in South Africa for months, with media reports suggesting she is looking for a house there.

The princess will not return to Monaco until at least the end of October.

Princess Charlene, who has been well enough to conduct interviews from South Africa and has been seen out and about, this week shared an Instagram post promoting her anti-poaching initiative Chasing Zero, which aims to bring the number of animals killed by poachers down to zero.

She wrote: 'Rhino Horn is Not Cool! Let's unite under my #ChasingZero initiative and put an end to the atrocities that put our precious wildlife at risk.'

The former Olympian, 43, has not been seen in Monaco since January and has spent the last few months holed up in her native South Africa while she receives treatment for a 'serious sinus infection' she developed while on a solo visit trip to the country (pictured)

The former Olympian, 43, 'can't wait' to return to her six-year-old twins Jacques and Gabriella (pictured with Prince Albert in June), but revealed she won't be back in the principality 'until the end of October' as she recovers from a 'serious sinus infection'

The accompanying black and white shot shows Charlene pointing a finger towards the camera while holding her other hand balled up in a fist at her face.

Charlene's last formal engagement was on January 27 when she joined Albert for the Sainte Devote Ceremony in Monte Carlo. She has not been seen at home since.

Princess Charlene's life in the Monaco royal family 1987 - Bea Fiedler, a German topless model, claims her son Daniel was the prince's son. 1992 - An American national files a paternity lawsuit against the Prince, claiming that he was the father of her daughter, Jazmin Grace. 2000 - Princess Charlene meets Prince Albert at the Mare Nostrum swimming competition in Monte Carlo 2005 - In May, a former flight attendant claims that her youngest son, whom she named Alexandre Grimaldi-Coste, was Prince Albert's child. She states that his parentage had been proven by DNA tests requested by the Monegasque government. On 6 July, a few days before he was enthroned on 12 July, the Prince officially confirms via his lawyer Lacoste that Alexandre was his biological son. 2006 - After a DNA test confirmed the child's parentage, Albert admitted, via statement from his lawyer, that he is Jazmin Grace's father. 2010 - Princess Charlene and Prince Albert announce their engagement 2011 - Princess Charlene was said to have bolted two days before the royal wedding after hearing Prince Albert had a third love child during their relationship. It was alleged that Charlene tried to flee home to South Africa three times before her 'arranged marriage', at one point taking refuge inside her country's embassy in Paris. Monaco officials were said to have coaxed her back by brokering a deal between the Prince and his reluctant bride that she provide him with a legitimate heir. After that she would be free to leave of her own free will. During the wedding, Charlene was in floods of tears, while her husband looked on impassively. Later in the year, Princess Charlene confessed she felt 'very lonely' in Monaco 2012 - Princess Charlene was reported to be 'depressed' at her failure to provide her husband with a legitimate heir. 2014 - Pregnancy was announced in May. In December Charlene gave birth to twins Princess Gabriella and heir to the throne Prince Jacques. 2017 - Princess Charlene visits Africa, tells media: 'I am African and this is my heritage. It will always be. It's in my heart and in my veins.' 2019 - In a rare interview, Princess Charlene confessed it is 'sometimes hard to smile' and said the year had been 'very painful'In another interview, she said she found motherhood 'exhausting' 2020 - Charlene debuts a shocking half-shaved hairstyle. It is announced Prince Albert of Monaco will appear in court in the new year to fight explosive claims he fathered a third love child with a secret girlfriend before marrying his now wife Princess Charlene. 2021 - January 27 - Charlene is pictured with Albert for the Sainte Devote Ceremony in Monaco. It is the last time she has been seen in Monaco this year. March 18 - Charlene is pictured at the memorial for the late Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini at the KwaKhethomthandayo Royal Palace in Nongoma, South Africa. April 2 - Charlene posts an Instagram picture of herself, Albert and their twins Jacques and Gabriella for Easter. It is unknown where the image was taken. May and June - Albert, Jacques and Gabriella attend several events in Monaco without Charlene, while she shares snaps from her trip in South Africa. June 24 - Charlene's foundation releases a statement saying the royal is unable to travel and is undergoing procedures for an ear, nose and throat infection July 2 - Charlene and Albert mark their 10th anniversary separately Advertisement

Instead she has been keeping followers updated through social media posts and media interviews, in which she has spoken candidly about missing her children and described her husband as her rock.

The mother-of-two has posted Instagram snaps of her FaceTiming her children, showing how they are keeping in touch despite the distance.

Speaking to South Africa Radio 702's host Mandy Wiener last week, the royal said: '[It's] very frustrating, terribly frustrating. I can't wait to get back to them, I can't wait to see my children.'

Charlene revealed: 'It's the longest period I've actually been away from Europe, let alone my children, but I'm FaceTiming them most days and they've been here and will be returning to see me again after my procedure.

'It's an amazing opportunity [to be here] but I'm very sad I can't be with my children this summer in Europe.'

She added that she was initially only supposed to be in her native South Africa for ten to 12 days for a conservation trip with her Princess Charlene of Monaco foundation.

However, the royal had a problem 'equalising her ears' and was told by a doctor that she was suffering from a serious sinus infection.

'It's taken time to address the problem that I'm having,' explained Charlene. 'I cannot go into full detail, but I cannot force healing so I will be grounded in South Africa until the end of October.

'The reason being I cannot fly above 3,000 metres otherwise I'll have a problem with my ears.

'I feel well, I feel good, it's just obviously a waiting game for me, but I've had a great opportunity to understand a little bit more about South Africa, the environment, the needs and it's been wonderful to be back in South Africa, and I think at this time it's crucial that people are aware of certain things via my foundation.'

Charlene joined the video interview from bush country in the KwaZulu-Natal region.

She has also shared videos released by the Monaco royal palace to mark her and Albert's 10th wedding anniversary, which took place in July. The couple spent the milestone thousands of miles apart.

But royal sources have suggested the princess has 'no plans' to return soon.

A palace source told Paris Match: 'The Princess has, for the time being, in reality, no intention of returning.'

The separation is also affecting Charlene's relationship with the people of Monaco.

Stephane Bearn, easily the most high-profile and trusted Royal commentator in France, uses an impeccably sourced piece in the latest Paris Match to discuss the torturous separation.

He describes subjects in Monaco becoming increasingly angry about their runaway Princess, as they criticise everything from Charlene's mood swings to her appearance.

'In Monaco, since the departure of Charlene, tongues have loosened,' Mr Bearn writes.

'In the whirlwind of a hard-nosed court, her fine shine is rubbing off. Her sad looks are regarded as haggard.

'Disappointed Monegasques talk about her anger, her whimsical moods, which are as changeable as her hair.'

Referring to the couple's six-year-old twins, who remain in Monaco with their nannies, Mr Bearn writes: 'The Palace had to invoke a suffering Princess so often that the Monegasques today find it hard to believe.

'By crying wolf, the mother of Jacques and Gabriella would have discredited and isolated herself.'

Charlene and Albert's marriage has been plagued with rumours from the start.

The couple met at the Mare Nostrum swimming competition in Monte Carlo in 2000, announced their engagement in 2010.

Former Olympic swimmer Charlene reportedly tried to flee Monaco for her native South Africa on three separate occasions before the royal wedding after discovering Albert had allegedly fathered a love child - his third - while they were together.

Monaco officials were said to have coaxed her back by brokering a deal between the Prince and his reluctant bride, saying she could leave once she had provided him with a legitimate heir.

One source said at the time: 'Charlene will provide an heir, then if things don't go well, she will receive a generous divorce settlement once she's served a decent amount of time.'

Charlene was seen in floods of tears on her wedding day in 2011.

Albert and the twins paid a brief visit to South Africa in early June, the Palace has confirmed, but they otherwise keep in touch via video link

Just one year after their wedding, it was reported that Charlene was 'depressed' at her failure to provide her husband with a legitimate heir.

Her pregnancy was announced in May 2014, and in December that year she gave birth to twins Princess Gabriella and heir to the throne Prince Jacques.

In the almost 10 years since, Charlene, who shares six-year-old twins with Albert, has rarely spoken publicly of her experience.

In 2017, the Princess made an emotional return to Africa, where she spoke about how much the continent means to her.

'I am African and this is my heritage. It will always be. Its in my heart and in my veins,' she told Eyewitness News.

Last year she admitted life was 'very painful', saying: 'I have the privilege of having this life, but I miss my family and my friends in South Africa and I'm often sad because I cannot always be there for them.'

It's been a tumultuous start to the year for the royal, after news emerged that her husband is facing a paternity suit over a love child born in the early years of their relationship.

The 63-year-old prince, who already supports two illegitimate children, is alleged to have had a relationship with a Brazilian woman which resulted in a daughter in 2005.

The claim, which his lawyers dismissed as a 'hoax', is particularly painful as he was dating Charlene at the time, having met the former Olympic swimmer in 2000.

The 34-year-old claimant  who cannot be named for legal reasons  says she had a passionate affair with Albert, leading to the birth of their daughter  whose name is also classified  on July 4, 2005.
Nearly one million people in England became addicted to alcohol as a result of Covid lockdowns, official data suggests.

Government polling before the pandemic estimated 1.5million adults drank at least 50 units every week  the equivalent of three pints or nearly a bottle of wine every night.

But this jumped to just shy of 2.5million this summer, which experts have blamed on the endless cycle of virus-controlling restrictions.

Dr Tony Rao, a world-renowned expert on alcohol misuse in older people at Kings College London, warned the impact of lockdowns had been devastating.

Alcohol charities said the data showed drinking in older people has reached a level of crisis 'that is happening now'.

NHS guidelines recommend men and women do not drink more than 14 units a week.

Regularly drinking over the guideline amount can lead to dependence and health problems, including liver disease, heart disease and cancer.

It comes after Public Health England (PHE) figures last month revealed deaths directly caused by alcohol soared by 20 per cent during the first year of the pandemic.

Dr Rao, a clinical research fellow, told MailOnline: The impact of the Covid pandemic on alcohol use has been devastating.

The latest data, taken together with the highest number of alcohol-specific deaths on record, is a stark warning for the Government.

Nearly one million people in England became addicted to alcohol as a result of lockdowns, official data suggests

Government polling before the Covid pandemic estimated 1.5million adults drank more than 50 units every week  the equivalent of three pints or nearly a bottle of wine per day

Public Health England (PHE) has kept tabs on the populations health throughout the pandemic, monitoring smoking, gambling and exercise rates.

The Government-funded agency has also tracked alcohol intake, repeatedly quizzing thousands of participants about how much they consume.

Data from the study, which quizzed 4,061 in several different waves, showed the largest uptick in alcohol dependence was among over-65s.

Before the start of the pandemic, just over 190,000 (3.4 per cent) of people in the age group drank that much.

Covid lockdowns helped to fuel a 20% spike in alcohol-related deaths in 2020 Deaths directly caused by alcohol soared by 20 per cent during the first year of the Covid pandemic, Government figures revealed. Public Health England chiefs say the endless cycle of lockdowns swayed people into binge-drinking at home. Data shows there were 6,893 deaths blamed on alcohol in 2020, compared to 5,819 in 2019 before the virus reached Britain. The North East was hit hardest, with fatalities spiking by almost 80 per cent. Drinking too much alcohol can kill by causing liver damage, as well as cancer. Deaths caused by alcohol have been increasing for a decade but ministers called the jump during the pandemic 'deeply concerning'. They pledged to increase treatment options for alcohol dependence, with 3.3billion in place for public health services over the next year. But Labour hit out at No10 for slashing addiction services and 'doing nothing to give people who need help with addiction the support they need'. Charities urged No10 to address mounting alcohol abuse following the pandemic to prevent a 'liver disease epidemic' after 'Freedom Day' last month. Advertisement

By the end of June, this jumped to more than 453,000 (8.1 per cent)  an increase of around 260,000 people (138 per cent).

Proportionally, the second biggest increase was seen among 18- to 24-year-olds, who jumped from 71,000 to 170,000 (140 per cent).

The huge spike in boozing comes despite the Government having slashed funding for addiction services. Eight out of Englands nine regions have seen a real-term reduction in cash since 2014.

Some 162million has been cut in spending on drug and alcohol addiction services since then, falling from 877million in 2013-14 to 716million in 2017-18.

Dr Rao said: Ministers need to address the balance, not just in funding local authority budgets but in levelling up the Cinderella service of alcohol addiction.

An increase of nearly 1million people drinking at levels suggestive of alcohol dependence is a huge cause of concern, particularly in older people.

The NHS is not equipped to deal with older peoples alcohol problems. Their focus has largely been on young people in pubs, as they are more likely to commit public order offences.'

He said the rise among over-65s could be down to them socialising less during lockdowns, leading to longer periods of loneliness.

Dr Rao said: Many people in this age group were separated from loved ones for prolonged periods of time and may now be drinking more at home.

Home-drinking allows people to consume levels that are unchecked, compared to when they are with their loved ones and friends at the pub, for example.

And Dr Niall Campbell, a consultant psychiatrist at Priory Hospital Roehampton, said he has seen an increase in over-65s in his practice for problem drinking since lockdowns began.

He said over 65s were particularly vulnerable because they were often more isolated from friends and family.

He told MailOnline: 'Many turned to alcohol and one or two drinks in the evening became three or four, or five or six.

'In addition, often because of boredom and isolation, people are drinking earlier and earlier in the day.

'I have seen a steady increase in my clinic of over 65s who have become alcohol dependent, with significant consequences to their physical health, mental health and relationship health with their partners and families.

'Over 65s are more vulnerable to the dangers of too much alcohol especially liver disease, stomach ulcers, pancreatitis, heart disease and brain damage.'

Lucy Holmes, director of research and policy at Alcohol Change UK, called on the Government to improve specialised addiction treatment services for older people.

Increasing alcohol duty and following Scotland and Wales in introducing a minimum price for a unit of alcohol are 'common sense' measures, she said.

The proportion of people drinking more than 50 units of alcohol a week (shaded grey) was 5.4 per cent of the adult population during June this year. It was up from 3.4 per cent before the pandemic started and was the second highest seen since (after Christmas in December), suggesting problem drinking in lockdowns has fuelled new dependence

Men drink significantly more than women with 7.7 per cent drinking more than 50 units per week (shaded grey) at the end of the pandemic compared to 3.2 per cent of women. Both saw increases in problem drinking

She told MailOnline: 'Even before the pandemic far too many people were suffering and dying as a result of alcohol harm, with only one in six alcohol dependent people receiving treatment.

'But this data suggests that, since the pandemic, a huge number of people are now drinking at high risk levels, with the biggest increases among older age groups.

'This isn't an approaching crisis  it's happening now, with the alcohol-related death rate increasing by 20 per cent in 2020 to the highest level since records began.'

It comes after PHE data showed there were 6,893 deaths blamed on alcohol in 2020, compared to 5,819 in 2019 before the virus reached Britain.

The North East was hit hardest, with fatalities spiking by almost 80 per cent. Drinking too much alcohol can kill by causing liver damage, as well as cancer.

Deaths caused by alcohol have been increasing for a decade but ministers called the jump during the pandemic 'deeply concerning'.

They pledged to increase treatment options for alcohol dependence, with 3.3billion in place for public health services over the next year

Do you or someone you know need help with cutting down on drinking? Find free support near you or online with Alcohol Change.
Doctors removed them using tweezer-like tools and the patient fully recovered

He told medics did it before and planned to release them when ejaculating

A 30-year-old man in Michigan put six kidney beans into his urethra

A 30-year-old man shoved six kidney beans inside his penis for sexual pleasure - but they ended up getting stuck.

The unidentified man, of Michigan, wanted to 'express the beans during ejaculation', doctors revealed.

But his goal of shooting them out with 'natural emission' failed, prompting him to try to pluck the beans out using tweezers.

The man's attempts failed and he went to the hospital, where he also told medics he had difficulties urinating.

He confessed that he had engaged in the sex act before but had 'never attempted to utilise this many beans', doctors wrote in the journal Urology Case Reports.

After performing surgery to remove the beans, the patient made a full recovery and was discharged.

The beans removed from the man's urethra were around 15mm long and 7mm wide. The first of the six beans was extracted manually and the remaining five (pictured) were removed through surgery

A scan revealed the final bean made it into the man's bladder

Some of the beans were found in the bulbar urethra area (pictured), which is a spot around halfway between the opening of the urethra and the bladder

What is sounding? And why can it be dangerous? Sounding is when men insert items into the opening of the penis to enhance their sexual pleasure. It usually involves specially designed tools made from glass or metal. Doctors at clinic International Andrology London said there has been a dramatic increase in the number of men having urethral problems due to sounding as men look to expand their sexual activities and enhance their sexual experiences Men interested in the practice should understand the risks and purchase equipment from reputable businesses and ensure they do it hygienically. But they warned the practice can damage the sensitive tissue in the urethral pathway, which releases urine and sperm. It can also lead to a lack of bladder control and infection. And the penis and urethra may even require surgery or implants to rebuild sensitive tissue. Doctors at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, who treated a man who put kidney beans in his urethra for sexual pleasure, said it's important for doctors to work out why someone has engaged in sounding. If they continue to do it they are at higher risk of infection, severe injury or 'permanent disfigurement', they said. So patients may need to be referred for psychiatric care or counselling on safe sex practices to prevent them from doing it again, the medics added. Source: International Andrology London Advertisement

Dr Margeaux Dennis, who treated the patient, said putting objects in the urethra has 'intrigued urologists for years'.

Reasons for doing so can include sexual stimuation called 'sounding', mental illness and even sexual assault.

But it is often hard to work out why someone has put something in their urethra due to 'the taboo nature of the topic', the medics said.

The report stated the man tried to take the beans out of his urethra through 'natural emission' and using tweezers, but was unable to.

Emergency department staff at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing also tried to remove the beans 'without success'.

A CT scan showed he had six beans in his urethra, which were 15mm by 7mm each.

Urologists managed to remove one bean manually with numbing cream, squeezing his urethra and using a tweezer-like tool.

But because it was so tricky to remove, the following day an operation was carried out to remove the remaining five beans.

Medics took them out by stretching the man's urethra open and inserting a tube to pass surgical tools through.

They used graspers - a long metal tool with tweezers on the end - and a basket that can scoop objects up in one piece.

Four of the beans were found in the bulbar urethra - a spot around halfway between the opening of the urethra and the bladder. One had made it into his bladder.

Doctors wrote there was 'minimal' trauma to the man's urethra and the patient was discharged on the same day.

In a previous case when a person put kidney beans in their urethra, doctors had to use a camera to look inside after the beans 'had swollen over several days which made endoscopic retrieval impossible', according to the doctors' report.

Open surgery may be required if the objects inside the urethra are large, irregularly shaped or very small, they said.

Incidences of objects being put into the urethra are 'rare', but are higher among people with underlying psychiatric problems, medics said.

It's important for doctors to work out why someone has done it, because if they continue to do it they are at higher risk of infection, severe injury or 'permanent disfigurement', their report states.

So patients may need to be referred for psychiatric care or counselling on safe sex practices to prevent them from doing it again, they said.

If patients do not have access to health services they are at more risk, with one patient inserting a 40cm long household pipe into his urethra when suffering from urinary retention, the medics added.
Two doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine provide long-lasting protection against the Indian 'Delta' variant, a new study suggests.

Researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that 96 percent of people who completed Moderna's vaccine regimen had antibodies that protected against Delta at least six months after getting their shots.

The patients were also well-protected against several other variants of concern, including the UK 'Alpha' variant and the Brazil 'Gamma' variant.

The South Africa 'Beta' variant did not fare as well, with only 54 percent of patients retaining antibodies at six months.

The findings reaffirm that vaccination is the best possible protection against Delta, with Moderna's shot out-performing other Covid vaccines.

Two doses of Moderna's Covid vaccine provide long-term protection against Covid, including against variants of concern, a new NIH study finds. Pictured: A health worker in Indonesia holds up two vials of Moderna's vaccine, August 2021

After patients received their second shot, their immune systems remained primed to respond to Covid infection for six months, the study shows. Pictured: Antibody response against Alpha variant (blue line), Delta variant (pink line), Beta variant (red line), and others

The super-contagious Delta variant is now causing more than 90 percent of new Covid cases in the U.S., driving the country's current surge.

As recent studies revealed that fully vaccinated people may become infected with this variant and spread it to others, many Americans have become concerned about the vaccines' capacity to protect against Delta.

While fully vaccinated transmission is possible - leading to renewed mask mandates - real-world data suggest that vaccinated people are unlikely to get a severe case of Covid.

The vast majority of Covid patients in America's hospitals are unvaccinated, while vaccinated people tend to have milder cases - or be fully asymptomatic.

A new study reinforces the protective abilities of vaccination, focusing on Moderna's vaccine.

The study - conducted by researchers at the NIH - was published Thursday in the journal Science.

Researchers examined the immune systems of 24 volunteers who had received two doses of the Moderna vaccine.

The group included eight people in the 18-55 age range, eight in the 55-79 range, and eight people over age 71.

These volunteers' immune systems were measured four weeks after their first Moderna dose and two weeks, three months, and six months after their second dose.

Many past studies on Covid variants have taken measurements soon after patients received their shots, the researchers noted, making this study unique in its longevity.

In addition to examining immune system response to Delta, the researchers also examined the UK 'Alpha' variant, the South Africa 'Beta' variant, the Brazil 'Gamma' variant, and others.

The study focused on binding antibodies, a type of immune system particle that attaches to an invading virus, alerting other immune system particles to begin defending against the invader.

In the analysis, the researchers looked to see if the patients' binding antibodies still recognized coronavirus variants at different time intervals after vaccination.

The vast majority of patients - 96 percent - still had binding antibodies that responded to the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant, six months after they received their second Moderna shot

For all of the variants, patient immune systems had some ability to recognize and respond after one Moderna dose.

But after the second dose, binding antibody levels jumped up in all patients, for all variants - including Delta and other variants of concern.

Six months after the second dose, 96 percent of the patients still had binding antibodies for the Delta variant - indicating that their immune systems were still primed to respond to this version of the coronavirus.

The results were similar for other variants of concern. Six months after the second dose, 96 percent of patients had binding antibodies for Alpha and 85 percent had antibodies for Gamma.

The Beta variant had the lowest antibody levels - just 54 percent of patients still had binding antibodies that responded to this variant after six months.

Other immune system measurements further showed that the Moderna vaccine provides long-lasting protection. Pictured: Pharmacist Mia Yuh injects a man with his first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in Queens, New York, March 2021

Other immune system measurements similarly showed that the Moderna vaccine is durable, continuing to protect patients from Delta and other variants six months after vaccination.

Beta was the one exception here as well, following other studies that suggest this variant is more resistant to vaccines.

The researchers found that patients in all age groups were protected against variants for six months, though the oldest age group (71+) had lower antibody levels.

Overall, the study affirms the Moderna vaccine's ability to protect patients from Covid - including from dangerous variants.

Real-world data from Moderna's recent earnings call backs this up. The company reported that its vaccine was 93 percent effective against symptomatic Covid, six months after a second dose.

The Moderna vaccine appears to be more protective than the Pfizer vaccine, which recently reported that vaccine effectiveness dropped to 84 percent after six months.

Still, Moderna's scientists are working to develop booster shots - which they say could be needed after the six-month mark.
Children who develop 'long Covid' could suffer from frequent fatigue and headaches, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Dr Rochelle Walensky, CDC director, said during a White House briefing that her agency has found the condition in two to three percent of children who recover from the virus.

The news comes as cases among children are rising across the country, and the return of in-person schooling presents a potential hotspot for COVID-19 spread.

While children are unlikely to die from the virus, many health officials warn of the potential long term negative effects suffered by Covid survivors.

'We are examining long Covid in children and we are seeing long Covid symptoms, mostly fatigue and headache,' Walensky said.

Bur she added that most cases 'appear to be happening at rates that are lower than they are in adults.'

Around 2% to 3% of children who survive COVID-19 will develop 'long Covid' with the most common symptoms including headaches, fatigue and cognitive issues, the CDC says (file image)

Long Covid is a condition that forms in some survivors of the virus after their recovery.

Despite no longer being infected, a patient still feels some symptoms for months after recovery.

Common symptoms include fatigue, cognitive issues and a host of others that often appear in COVID-19 patients.

Why exactly this occurs, and how to treat the condition, are currently unknown to experts.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, said at the briefing he wasn't sure if the Indian 'Delta' variant is causing more severe illness in children or its after effects.

'There were a couple of studies, mostly international, which suggested that Delta was more severe in the adults, namely causing more relative percentage of hospitalization and more severe disease,' Fauci said.

'With regard to children, this could possibly be the case but we are not seeing this in a definitive way. The only thing we know for sure is that more infections mean more children will be in the hospital.'

Dr Noah Greenspan, who opened the first freestanding treatment clinic for long Covid in New York City, told DailyMail.com that cases of the condition are more common than people think.

Despite, all of his research into the condition, he still said the main theme of long Covid is uncertainty.

'The long-haulers is just a situation in which uncertainty is the major theme of everything that happens,' he told the DailyMail.com in June.

While middle-aged women are most likely to suffer the condition, Greenspan told the Daily Mail that he was aware of the condition arising in children.

'I have seen fatigue, joint and muscle aches, [gastrointestinal] upset, cognitive deficits like inability to concentrate or anxiety,' he said about cases of long Covid he has has seen in children.

Worries about long Covid in children are arising amid a massive surge of the virus in the wake of the return of a new school year.

Cases among children have grown by 31 percent in the past week, and kids account for around 15 percent of active cases in the country, with around 94,000 children testing positive for Covid last week.

Schools are also set to soon return amid this Covid surge, opening the potential for cases to rise among the country's youth.

Children are unlikely to have more than a mild case of the virus, though they are still at risk of developing long Covid, myocarditis, anosmia or other harmful conditions long term.

Kids infected with the virus can also spread the virus to parents, teachers, staff and others.

After studies found that virtual schooling had damaging effects on children's mental health, school districts across the country are making sure in-person learning occurs this time around.

How to do so safely, and realistically, has been a point of controversy, though.

While many experts, like Fauci, support school mandates for teachers to get vaccinated, some states disagree.

Florida Gov Ron DeSantis has threatened to withhold funding from schools that implement mask mandates.

Texas Gov Greg Abbot also banned the use of mask mandates in schools.

Both governors are receiving legal pushback, with counties and individual schools threatening to defy the governors' orders.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) believes the vaccines could be the answer to preventing COVID-19 spread in schools.

Dr Lee Savio Beers, president of the AAP, wrote an open letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration earlier this week, urging the agency to expand vaccine access ahead of the new school year.

'Pediatricians and the families they care for have been anxiously awaiting a vaccine that can be used in children 11 years of age and younger, and especially so now given the rise of the hyper infectious Delta variant,' she wrote.

'The Delta variant is surging at extremely alarming rates in every region of America. This surge is seriously impacting all populations, including children.'

Currently, the vaccines are only available to children aged 12 or older.
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Coronavirus cases continue to spike across the country as the U.S. battles its fourth wave of the pandemic and hospitals struggle to keep up with the surge in patients.

On Thursday, officials recorded 116,545 new infections of the virus with a seven-day rolling average of 123,748.

This is a 181 percent increase from the average of 43,890 recorded three weeks earlier and the highest number seen since February 3.

Additionally, while deaths continue to increase, the levels still remain far below previous peaks.

The U.S. recorded 614 virus-related fatalities with a seven-day rolling average of 528, a 100 percent increase from the 264 average reported 21 days earlier.

However, this is half as many deaths as were being recorded during the November 2020 surge before COVID-19 vaccines were made available.

Meanwhile, hospitalizations are also increasing across the country with more than 81,000 patients hospitalized with the virus, according to data from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Up to one-third of all patients hospitalized in eight states - Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina. Tennessee and Texas - are infected with the virus

Between the states, 43,833 patients are hospitalized, making up 54 percent of all patients hospitalized in the country despite accounting for just a quarter of the population, according to a DailyMail.com analysis.

'In the past week, Florida has had more Covid cases than all 30 states with the lowest case rates combined. And Florida and Texas alone have accounted for nearly 40% of new hospitalizations across the country,' White House Covid-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients said during a White House press briefing on Thursday.

On Thursday, the U.S. recorded 116,545 new COVID-19 cases with a seven-day rolling average of 123,748, a 181% increase from the average of 43,890 three weeks earlier

Additionally, 614 virus-related deaths were reported with a seven-day rolling average of 528, a 100% increase from the 264 average reported 21 days earlier.

More than 81,000 patients are currently hospitalized with the virus with patients in eight states - Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina. Tennessee and Texas - making up half

In Texas, there are currently 11,468 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, a 4.5-fold rise from the roughly 2,500 seen in mid-July.

More than 90 percent of ICU beds in the state are full and nearly half are dedicated to COVID-19 patients, according to HHS data.

Several hospitals have temporality canceled elective surgeries and procedures to help handle the surge in COVID-19 patients.

'What's concerning about the trajectory is that we're seeing a much more rapid increase in the number of cases,' Dr Trish Perl, chief of infectious diseases at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, told CNBC.

'We are seeing unvaccinated people that are younger as opposed to earlier in the pandemic when we saw a lot of hospitalizations over 65. Now, the largest and the highest increases that we're seeing are the 18-to-49-year-olds, and a lot of these people don't have underlying illnesses.'

According to the Texas Hospital Association (THA), more than 2,500 out-of-state medical workers are heading to Texas to help burnt-out doctors and nurses.

'This help could not come fast enough. Many hospitals have already idled non-essential services and are diverting patients to extend staffing capability,' Ted Shaw, president of the THA, said in a statement.

'The hospital industry is losing frontline staff, particularly nurses, to burnout and illness; many have left the profession due to the extreme nature of the work during a relentless pandemic.'

There are currently 11,468 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Texas, and hospitals are so short-staffed that 2,500 out-of-state medical workers are arriving to deal with the surge

Alabama has seen the number of COVID-19 patients increase 12-fold increase from 213 patients on July 4 to 2,596, and only 5% of ICU beds in the state are available

In Louisiana, a record-high 2,617 patients are hospitalized, up 82% from 1,433 recorded on July 27, with ambulances in the southwestern part of the state being diverted to Texas

Alabama is seeing the number of COVID-19 patients rise exponentially, with a 12-fold increase from 213 patients on July 4 to 2,596 on Wednesday.

This means the state is seeing the number of hospitalized is inching closer to the 3,100 peak seen in n January.

State Health Officer Dr Scott Harris said he expects the number of hospitalized will surpass the January peak within the next week.

'We need Alabamians to understand that we are in a very difficult position right now,' Harris during a press conference on Thursday.

'We're seeing case numbers again as high as we have ever seen. As of yesterday we had almost 2,400 people in the hospital. At the rate we are adding people to our hospitals we'll surpass our all-time high from back in January in the next three or four days.

'That's put a severe stress on our hospital situation. We have only about five percent of our ICU beds are available statewide. Many facilities, particularly in the southern part of the state, do not have available ICU beds at this time.'

In Louisiana, which has been recording record-high number of patients since August 2, saw yet another with 2,617 patients hospitalized as of Wednesday.

Over the last two weeks, hospitalizations have surged 82 percent from 1,433 recorded on July 27, according to data from the HHS.

According to the state's department of health, 90 percent of patients in hospitals are not vaccinated.

Louisiana is also suffering from severe shortage, Last week, Governor John Bel Edwards said more than 40 hospitals have requested additional workers and more than 6,000 positions are open across the sate.

Hospitals in the southwestern part of the state have diverted ambulances to Texas in hopes they will find a center with available beds, reported The Guardian.

And because hospitals are being sent elsewhere or stuck waiting outside emergency rooms for beds to free up, they can't respond to other emergencies.

'Some hospitals are diverting patients because of their inability to care for them. In Lake Charles, we've had to go over to Texas,' Dr Chuck Burnell, the chief medical officer for Acadian Ambulance, told The Guardian.

'Heart attacks, strokes and car accidents never went away. None of that went away.'
Dozens of students at a Nevada middle school were exposed to COVID-19 after a parent sent their child to class despite both testing positive for the virus.

According to officials at the Washoe County School District, the child and the parent learned they were infected over the weekend

However, the child - whose name, age and sex has not been revealed - still attended school on Monday, the first day of classes.

Now, more than 80 pupils at Marce Herz Middle School in Reno are quarantining at home and began virtual learning on Tuesday.

Charges will not be brought against the parent.

The incident comes as school officials around the country are working to safely reopen schools amid an Indian 'Delta' variant fueled surge in cases.

More than 80 students at Marce Herz Middle School (pictured) in Reno, Nevada, will have to quarantine after a parent sent their student to school despite having a positive COVID-19 test over the weekend

Cases in Nevada are spiking amid a Delta variant fueled Covid outbreak, growing 120% in the past month

Families were notified on Monday night in a message sent by Herz Principal Brandon Bringhurst, according to the Reno Gazette Journal.

'Out of an abundance of caution and due to possible exposure to COVID-19, your student must be in quarantine at home, per Washoe County Health District guidelines,' Bringhurst said.

There are around 1,400 total students in grades six through eight attending the school.

Fully vaccinated students who were exposed will be able to return to classes immediately.

Other students will be able to return to school on August 17, next Tuesday, if they can produce a negative test on Saturday or later.

The Washoe County Health District is working to track and contain the outbreak, though the parent has refused to work with health or school officials.

The health district will not work to pursue charges, citing an already limited amount of resources on hand.

All students, staff and teachers are required to wear masks in K-12 schools in the county.

Managing the current COVID-19 surge in the wake of school reopenings is the biggest challenge facing school officials at the moment.

Across the U.S., coronavirus cases have grown by more than 330 percent in the past month, from 29,254 cases per day on July 13 to 125,894 on average on August 13.

This year's summer surge is already larger than last summer's, a surprise as vaccines were not available in 2020.

In Nevada, cases have more than doubled in the past month, from 710 average new cases per day on July 12 to 1,568 new cases per day on August 12 - a 120 percent increase.

Washoe County has been hammered over the past month as well, with cases growing from 29 per day on average on July 12 to 164 a day on August 12, a 465 percent increase.

With the way cases are growing, this summer's outbreak could even surpass many records set over the winter.

School districts are still pushing to maintain in-person learning this year, though, after social isolation caused by virtual learning was found to have some negative effects of children's development.

How to go through with school reopenings safely has been a point of contention, though - especially as children now account for 15 percent of active virus cases and cases among the youth having grown by 31 percent over the past week to 94,000.

Children who contract the virus are unlikely to suffer a severe case, though they can develop harmful longterm conditions like 'long Covid,' myocarditis or anosmia.

Many kids returning to school are not yet eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine - which has only been approved for Americans age 12 or older.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) believes the vaccines could be the answer to preventing COVID-19 spread in schools.

Dr Lee Savio Beers, president of the AAP, wrote an open letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration earlier this week, urging the agency to expand vaccine access ahead of the new school year.

'Pediatricians and the families they care for have been anxiously awaiting a vaccine that can be used in children 11 years of age and younger, and especially so now given the rise of the hyper infectious Delta variant,' she wrote.

'The Delta variant is surging at extremely alarming rates in every region of America. This surge is seriously impacting all populations, including children.'
HISTORY

SCENES FROM PREHISTORIC LIFE

by Francis Pryor (Head of Zeus 25, 320pp)

Some time between 800 and 600 BC, someone was driving a two-wheeled chariot, the wheels about 3.5 ft apart, through the wetlands and fenlands north of modern-day Peterborough when they got stuck in the mud.

With some encouragement for the ponies, and rocking the chariot, they managed to pull loose and drive on. This is the sort of extraordinary glimpse of prehistoric daily life that archaeologists can give us, just by closely examining some marks round a gravel pit.

These tracks were first spotted and understood by Francis Pryor, a large, bearded, beer-quaffing sheep farmer from the Lincolnshire Fens, who also happens to be one of this countrys foremost archaeologists, well-known from TVs Time Team.

When he digs down into our muddy, silty, many-layered island past, hes also thinking about how our forebears farmed, how they sheared their sheep, what clothes they wore, what they ate for dinner.

Was caviar, oysters and beer a simple Iron Age dinner? Francis Pryor thinks so...

Pryor zooms in on particular moments over a timespan of almost a million years, from deep in the Ice Ages to bustling Roman Britain.

Around 900,000 BC, a man, a woman (probably) and three children walked along the banks of a now-vanished river at Happisburgh, north Norfolk, foraging no doubt for birds eggs, eels and freshwater shellfish for dinner. You can even still see their toe-prints.

We shouldnt imagine theirs was a bleak and shivering existence either, nasty, brutish and short. When rare bones do survive, they suggest strong, tough and impressive people.

Skip forwards some half a million years, to the Sussex site of Boxgrove, and the recovered tibia of one of these forebears suggests a superb physique, nourished on all that organic wild game and seafood: the man was about 40, 5 ft 11 in tall and weighed about 14 st. I doubt if he carried much extra fat either.

Fast forward to the Age of Farming and permanent monuments and settlements, and its mind-boggling what modern archaeology can tell us. Dendrochronology, the dating of trees, is now so precise that we know that the waterlogged circle of Bronze Age timbers known as Seahenge, from Holme-next-the-Sea in Norfolk, was constructed between April and June in the year 2049 BC.

Pryor is adamant that our roots go very far back, that the great changes that have swept over our country in the past are often caused by the spread of new ideas as much as peoples, and he thinks the Romans claim far too much for themselves.

Of course they didnt give us the gift of roads: Iron-Age Britons were perfectly able to build roads for themselves, such as the incredibly ancient Sweet Track, an ingenious wooden walkway across the wetlands of the Somerset Levels during the winter of 3807 to 3806 BC.

As for prehistoric food, Pryor admits he used to imagine it would be fairly coarse and rudimentary, until some hands-on research proved otherwise. The great experimental archaeologist (and cook) Jacqui Wood demonstrated to him how good rock samphire can be, which we know was eaten in past times: delicious. The British Museum has also famously re-created ancient Egyptian beer from c. 3,000 BC, producing a drink of around six per cent strength and again pronounced absolutely delicious.

Labourers on the pyramids at Giza were given a ration of ten pints a day each, which does make you wonder.

In Britain, our forebears dined regularly on oysters, and even caviar: sturgeon once thronged our rich and pristine rivers, and you only have to salt their roes to produce what is now a food of millionaires.

Every Iron Age thatched roundhouse was also its own smoke-house: you only had to hang up any spare meat or fish from the rafters to dine months later on smoked eel, salmon, or wild boar, just as cottage dwellers until very recently kept a large ham or bacon hanging in the inglenook fireplace.

They would even have had live music, to go with the beer and caviar and sizzling wild-boar bacon, judging from finds like a wooden penny whistle type instrument and even a lyre, from the Isle of Skye and dating from around 300 BC.

Pryors colourful book makes life in Britain BC often sound rather more appealing that the frenetic and anxious 21st century!
THREE WOMEN DISAPPEAR by James Patterson and Shan Serafin (Arrow 7.99, 368 pp)

THREE WOMEN DISAPPEAR

by James Patterson and Shan Serafin

(Arrow 7.99, 368 pp)

Detective Sean Walsh is investigating the murder of Anthony Costello, a crooked accountant who worked for his uncle, mob boss Vincent Costello.

This is an awkward case for Sean: he was once in a relationship with Heidi Haagen  a senior detective who is now his boss.

Worse still, his wife, Sarah Roberts-Walsh, worked as Anthonys personal chef, and is now a suspect for his gruesome murder  stabbed numerous times in the kitchen of his palatial Florida mansion.

Two other women are also in the frame: Anthonys wife Anna, who seems suspiciously unperturbed by his death, and the Costellos maid, Serena.

All three have good reason to wish Anthony dead  and all three have gone missing. Pattersons high-octane thriller, co-written with novelist and film director Shan Serafin, comes with a nail-biting bonus story, Come and Get It.

THE BASS ROCK by Evie Wyld (Vintage 8.99, 368 pp)

THE BASS ROCK

by Evie Wyld

(Vintage 8.99, 368 pp)

The Bass Rock is a small island in the Firth of Forth. Once used to incarcerate political and religious prisoners, the rock is a looming presence in this story of three women, separated in time, but with shared experiences of oppression.

From the opening scene, in which a child finds a womans body on the seashore while walking the family dog, an atmosphere of dread pervades Wylds novel.

Ruth, a young post-war wife brought to live in a big house on the coast, is forced to participate in strange rituals by the wolfish local vicar.

Sixty years later, Ruths step-granddaughter, Vivianne, is clearing the family house when she begins a relationship with a man with a wolf tattoo.

In the early 1700s, a third young woman, Sarah, is accused of witchcraft. Wylds ingeniously linked narratives weave a haunting tale of fear and defiance.

TROY

by Stephen Fry

TROY by Stephen Fry (Penguin 9.99, 432 pp)

(Penguin 9.99, 432 pp)

Frys previous books, Mythos and Heroes explored the classical tales of Greek gods and mortals. Now he turns to the events of the Trojan war, which he describes as the Big Bang of story-telling.

It is almost three millennia since Homer composed his epic poem, The Iliad.

But the story it tells  of the beautiful Spartan queen, Helen, whose abduction by the Trojan prince, Paris, ignited a deadly war in which the gods themselves took sides, continues to fascinate and move us.

Fry begins his version with the founding of Troy, before turning to the fatal kidnapping of Helen that would end with the kingdoms destruction.

This pacy, witty retelling is beautifully illustrated, with an epilogue explaining the myths and historical reality of Troy.
SOMETHING NEW UNDER THE SUN by Alexandra Kleeman (4th Estate 14.99, 302 pp)

SOMETHING NEW UNDER THE SUN

by Alexandra Kleeman (4th Estate 14.99, 302 pp)

This fantastically entertaining, dystopian eco-fiction-slash-satire on capitalism isnt a million miles from Kleemans Pynchon-esque debut, which involved ultra-sinister baked goods.

This time, the suspicion surrounds water, or rather WAT-R, which on the wildfire-hit U.S. West Coast is all thats available  unless you can pay the price that the old stuff now commands.

In the market is starlet Cassidy Carter, whose new role is in a Hamlet-inspired flick written by hapless East Coast author Patrick Hamlin. But with an epidemic of dementia taking hold, somethings clearly rotten in the sunshine state.

Kleeman has ingenious fun with her allusions  a philosophising, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern-style pair of assistants; a play within a play of sorts; even a portentous spectre.

But with Patricks wife and young daughter joining an eco-commune dedicated to mourning the daily toll of extinctions, theres no mistaking the deadly serious message. Famously, everyone dies at the end of Hamlet. Kleeman leaves us to join the dots.

BREATHE by Joyce Carol Oates (4th Estate 16.99, 384 pp)

BREATHE

by Joyce Carol Oates (4th Estate 16.99, 384 pp)

The myth of Orpheus and Eurydice and the demon-gods of the Native American Pueblo people combine to nightmarish effect in Joyces unrelenting latest, which is set against the uncanny landscape of New Mexico.

Creative writing professor Michaela has travelled there from Massachusetts with her older husband, Gerard, a distinguished academic, but, before long, Gerard is diagnosed with terminal cancer. The first half of the book is a gruelling blow-by-blow  or agonised breath-by-breath  account of the vigil Michaela keeps for her beloved.

However, in part two things get increasingly strange as the madness of grief, and a desire to join Gerard in death, take hold of the new widow.

Oates earns a final twist, but nothing in her hallucinatory horror equals the simple, devastating awfulness of the moment when Michaela discovers her dying partner, his brilliant mind now addled with opioids, trying to read his paper upside down.

THE ORIGINS OF IRIS by Beth Lewis (Hodder 14.99, 366 pp)

THE ORIGINS OF IRIS

by Beth Lewis (Hodder 14.99, 366 pp)

The taboo subject of violence in same-sex relationships hasnt often been written about, although Carmen Maria Machado won the prestigious Folio Prize for In The Dream House, which charted the nightmarish descent of a passionate lesbian affair.

Here, Lewis covers similar territory as the eponymous Iris flees for her life from the attacks of her high-flying financier wife, Claude.

Leaving behind their to-be-envied lifestyle and Manhattan penthouse, Iris heads for the Catskills, where she hopes to find herself. Only she gets more than she bargains for when she is confronted by another Iris, a doppelganger who ended up taking a different, though equally fateful, path.

Billed, not inaccurately, as Cheryl Strayeds Wild meets Sliding Doors, Lewis combines the usual white-knuckle, survivalist perils with a dose of Hollywood woo  but that doesnt detract from whats also an empathic, brave exploration of serious themes.
THE ANATOMY OF DESIRE by L. R. Dorn (Trapeze 14.99, 320 pp)

THE ANATOMY OF DESIRE

by L. R. Dorn (Trapeze 14.99, 320 pp)

Written by two successful American screenwriters under a pseudonym, this deliciously contemporary story focuses on a social media influencer, Cleo Ray, who has it all: hundreds of thousands of followers for her fitness advice and a rich and successful boyfriend.

But Cleo is torn between him and her old friend Rebecca (Beck), so on her way to join Finch for a hiking trip in Californias Sierra Nevada Mountains, she and Beck take a canoe trip on a deserted lake.

Less than an hour later, Beck is found drowned and Cleo has disappeared. What happened? A manhunt is launched and Cleo is eventually discovered with her boyfriend in the mountains  where shes arrested for murder.

So begins a fascinating courtroom drama, witnesses each telling their stories as the plot unfolds. It reveals a compelling, poignant portrait of sexual desire in our social media age.

CHASING THE BOOGEYMAN by Richard Chizmar (Hodder 16.99, 336 pp)

CHASING THE BOOGEYMAN

by Richard Chizmar (Hodder 16.99, 336 pp)

A former collaborator of the incomparable Stephen King, here Chizmar branches out on his own with a novel about a serial killer stalking young women in the small U.S. town of Edgewood, Maryland.

But he injects himself into the story, as this is his home town and he imagines himself there in the summer of 1988 as a 22-year-old aspiring writer who witnesses the shocking events, and even knows some of the victims.

It emerges that the girls bodies are not only mutilated, but also posed, though the killer leaves no traces. Rumour spreads that the killer may not be entirely human, hence the nickname Boogeyman.

The writer launches his own investigation, with the help of a local reporter, and even advises the police.

The line between fact and fiction may be blurred here but this is still a haunting story, beautifully told.

THE GREAT SILENCE by Doug Johnstone (Orenda Books 8.99, 300 pp)

THE GREAT SILENCE

by Doug Johnstone (Orenda Books 8.99, 300 pp)

The Skelfs are three generations of female members of an Edinburgh family, who began as funeral directors but then branched out into private investigations.

This is their third outing and the stories get better each time. Here the matriarch of the group, Dorothy, is walking her dog Einstein when he discovers a human foot.

Meanwhile, Dorothys daughter Jenny is investigating the strange circumstances of a dying lady when her violent husband, a fugitive from jail, turns up unexpectedly.

Add in granddaughter Hannah, a budding astrophysicist, whose new colleague insists that he is receiving threatening messages from outer space. And theres a missing big cat roaming the streets, who may have something to do with the foot.

Told with a wry humour and affection, the novel underlines just how accomplished Johnstone has become.
Britons ordering products from overseas are still being hit with big fees by courier, UPS, on their doorsteps - with many unable to find out exactly why.

Whilst there has been an increase in charges since the UK left the EU, with customers now potentially having to pay VAT themselves, higher customs duty and handling charges, other fees are being added on with no explanation.

This is Money previously reported that these charges can reach into the hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds with customers asked to pay up by UPS on their doorstep - or else they will take the parcel away.

In response, a raft of readers contacted us to say they had the same experience, all stating they were given absolutely no explanation for the charges they were handed.

Many UPS customers are still being charged extra 'fees' that the courier cannot explain

Some say the charges listed on the invoice were in the guise of VAT and customs duty, however, the sums didn't add up and when challenged, UPS could not offer an explanation as to what the fees were for.

Others said they were not given an invoice at all, so had no idea they had charges to pay until they were contacted by debt collection agencies.

Despite questioning the amount charged, many said they paid up, as they were concerned about their parcel being returned to the country it came from  or receiving further charges.

One reader, Dominic, said: 'In February this year I ordered some computer parts from a UK retailer who are actually based in Germany.

'The parcel arrived and was delivered by UPS who told me that I had to pay 66.63 in cash or card over the phone. I paid over the phone as I was told if I didn't then it would be sent back to the supplier.

'Shortly afterwards I received a copy of the invoice from the retailer and it clearly showed that I'd paid VAT when I made the purchase and the delivery was free of charge.

'I was confused as I'd been charged "fees" but had nothing to explain what they were and nothing to other than a record on my bank statement to show that I had paid them.'

He said he has tried to contact UPS multiple times but cannot get through on the phone or get a response via email leaving him with little options when trying to get his money back.

This is Money asked UPS why he was unable to get his money back. It said the package was correctly rated for import charges by UPS upon entry into the UK.

However, Dominic paid VAT twice against the shipment because of an error made by the shipper in Germany.

It said it will now be in touch with Dominic to get this rectified.

Meanwhile, other readers said they returned their items after learning how high the delivery cost and other charges were.

However, they were then still charged for the item being returned overseas instead.

Customer, Renee, said: 'I ordered 20 packets of crisps from Belguim for a total cost of 70. However, UPS asked me for an additional 207 in customs and tax charges.

'Needless to say I rejected the parcel. UPS were useless in explaining how it was possible I was being asked to pay 207 for goods worth just 70. Yet they still want the 207.'

UPS delivery drivers have been asking customers to pay for their parcels on their doorsteps

Another reader, Alvyn, added: 'I ordered an item from a company in Germany. When I realised there would be customs and VAT charges costing more than ordering the item in UK I contacted the company to cancel the order.

'They advised me to refuse the delivery and it would be returned to them. I declined the delivery from UPS and I have confirmation the item was received back to the company and they have refunded my payment.

'However I have now received an invoice of 61.70 from UPS for an item that was never delivered and was returned unopened to Germany.'

Some of the fees customers are receiving appear to be disbursement fees, which, according to UPS' website, are given to customers in instances when the courier prepays duties, taxes and other government charges on behalf of the payer.

Others are receiving late fees when a customer has not paid the amount on a UPS invoice by the date it has set.

What are the correct charges? There are now a number of fees that customers must pay when receiving deliveries from overseas, thanks to Brexit. These include VAT, customs duty, handling fees and return charges. To find out exactly what you should be paying - and what might not be right, click here.

On top of the late payment charge, customers may also be charged interest, meaning the fees could quickly rack up.

Other fees are simply deemed as 'government charges' on UPS invoices.

When trying to ascertain exactly what the fees are in regards to, consumers said it has been very difficult to get any answers from UPS, with customer service agents unable to explain why they have received the charges.

When This is Money asked the courier about whether customers should be charged for refusal of delivery, it said it was 'difficult to give a clear answer' without looking at each case individually due to the many different types of shipments it carries.

It added there are some examples when the recipient may be liable for additional charges, even if he or she refuses delivery, for example, where a recipient directs delivery to a third party or in certain circumstances where a third party accepts delivery on behalf of the recipient in the absence of the recipient requesting this.

However, several readers say they never received any communication from UPS so did not know they were due to pay anything.

Meanwhile, in regards to customs charges, UPS said it helps customers move their goods 'smoothly across borders'.

It is not just unknown charges that are proving problematic for customers with other consumers chased by debt collection agencies for not paying their UPS invoices.

Lesley is one such reader who has been contacted by a debt collection agency on behalf of UPS after ordering a gold 1oz Britannia coin from Germany.

She said: 'Shortly after my parcel arrived I got a strange telephone call from a gentleman saying he wanted to assist me with my investment but at no point did he state he was calling from UPS.

'Thinking this to be a scam, I was extremely vague and denied having received a gold coin. Soon after I received a form from UPS, via email asking me to fill in a customs declaration for HMRC.

'Now I have received a letter from a debt collection agency asking for 315 as they say the form was not collected at time of delivery and I had failed to pay the subsequent charge I was billed.

'I have not had a bill from UPS prior to this and I understood that a Gold Brittania is not subject to VAT or import duty and the company I purchased the gold from in Germany had already covered the postage costs.'

Customers said they struggled to get through to anyone at UPS for help understanding bills

This is Money sent this case to UPS which replied: 'Customer satisfaction is important to us. The situation has now been rectified, and we regret any inconvenience this may have caused.'

It confirmed the shipment was incorrectly rated and no charges should have been applied.

Meanwhile, another reader Peter, who is profoundly deaf, also had issues with having fees added after ordering several victorian coins from America.

He was told he was required by UPS to pay 2,480.72, for the 20 per cent VAT on invoice value, before it would deliver the coins.

He made the payment but after investigating realised he had been massively overcharged, as the correct VAT rate for 'collectors items of numismatic interest' is only 5 per cent - meaning he was overcharged by 1,860.54.

As he cannot speak on the phone, he has relied on emails which haven't been answered.

This is Money contacted UPS which said the shipment was rated incorrectly and should have been 5 per cent.

It said it was working to reclaim this payment and will be in touch with Peter on this if it needs additional information.

As reported by This is Money previously, many customers are being charged for investment gold pieces to be delivered, despite the fact they shouldn't have to pay charges.

There should be no VAT on investment gold and no Capital Gains Tax on any British Legal Tender coins, gold or silver.

Despite this, many consumers are still being wrongly charged by UPS when it comes to these deliveries.

Other people have taken to social media to share their frustration with the delivery company.

This Twitter user said his UPS driver expected payment but he wasn't told in advance

Another user said he is not being handed his item until he pays duty but doesn't know how

One UPS customer said his VAT charge was over 20% but he hasn't been told why this is

It is also proving to not just be a UK problem with similar charges being applied to consumers in other European countries receiving parcels from the UK.

Reader, Leny, said: 'My father lives in France and I have sent him parcels containing clothing and dry goods on many occasions.

'Since Brexit I have sent three parcels and each time he has been charged more for import charges, when the goods have a value of 50 and are a gift.

'The most recent charge from UPS is shocking. My dad had to give the driver 30 In cash and received no invoice or receipt at all.'

Overall, every case taken by This is Money to UPS was proven to have incorrect fees attached, highlighting the ongoing problem for consumers.

To find out which charges are correct and which should be challenged, click here.

Courier behaviour has been criticised by Citizens Advice which recently called for fines for delivery companies after saying the way parcels are delivered is not fit for purpose.

It said, despite a large number of people not receiving their deliveries, the majority of couriers receive no penalty for lost or stolen deliveries.
Increasing numbers of DIY investors are deciding to buy individual shares in their SIPPs and ISAs to grow their wealth, and well they might given the hugely democratising influence of the internet.

Information on companies has never been as easily accessible as it is today, which makes the job of picking good stocks something private investors can participate in, if theyre willing to put in the elbow grease to thoroughly research their potential purchases.

But what are the metrics and resources investors should turn to when selecting investments?

Retail investors must consider a range of metrics before selecting a stock to invest in

Probably the biggest store of valuable information for investors lies in the results and reports presented by companies to the stock market.

Institutional investors have no special treatment compared to private investors here; the results are delivered to the market as a whole at the same time, and for UK stocks can be found on the London Stock Exchange website at 7am each day, or on companies investor relations websites.

These reports are a treasure trove of information. Laith Khalaf, financial analyst at investment platform AJ Bell, picks some key things to look out for.

Earnings Per Share

One of the most important figures in company results is the Earnings Per Share (EPS) figure. This tells investors what profits the company is making for each share they hold.

There are two main ways to look at this figure. First, consider how it compares with prior periods to see if earnings are heading in the right direction, taking into account any one-off boosts or dents in profits that arent repeatable.

The Chief Executives commentary which goes along with the results should alert you to such factors, particularly the outlook, which looks ahead to the following year.

Second, divide the share price by the Earnings Per Share figure to derive the Price Earnings ratio, which is a measure of how expensive the shares are compared to the profits the company generates. Make sure you only use the annual Earnings Per Share figure in this calculation - you will get a wonky ratio if you use the earnings from a half year report because youre only looking at part of the picture.

Alternatively, you can also get the Price Earnings ratio from other sources such as the websites of some investment platforms, brokers and media outlets. You might be willing to invest in companies with higher Price Earnings ratios if you think there are good prospects for those earnings to grow quickly.

Dividends

The dividend is another key figure in the reports and accounts for investors to mull, especially income seekers. Again, its a good idea to compare it with previous periods to see if the income payment to shareholders is growing.

Its also worth comparing the dividend per share to the earnings per share and considering how big a proportion of profits are being paid out as dividends. If its a high percentage, it may be a sign that dividend growth is likely to be limited, or in extreme cases that the dividend is unsustainable.

You can also divide the dividend per share by the share price to derive the stocks historic yield, which again is available on many investment websites free of charge.

Of course, there are some companies which dont pay a dividend, preferring instead to reinvest profits in the business, and here this measure cant be used. Big tech companies like Amazon and Alphabet are renowned for this growth-hungry approach which shuns dividends.

Profit margins

It's worth also looking at a firms profit margin. Usually this will be presented in the results, and it tells you what percentage of revenues flows through into profits, which ultimately determine a companys performance.

A low profit margin means a company has little room for error or misfortune before slipping into the red, while a larger margin means the company is better placed to weather any storms while still turning a profit.

Bear in mind some industries simply have low margins, for instance supermarkets and construction. While it may be less of an issue for the former as consumer demand for groceries is relatively stable, construction projects can often run late or over budget, wiping out profits and leading to losses - precisely what happened to Carillion before it collapsed.

Debt

Investors should also pay heed to how much debt a company is carrying. In annual results, net debt is the key figure here. Again you can compare with previous periods to see if its heading in the wrong direction, which could be a warning sign.

You can also divide net debt by EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation) as this figure is often provided in the results.

This ratio gives an indication of how many years it would take a company to pay off all its debt at current levels of profitability. Generally a Net Debt to EBITDA ratio of less than 2 is considered healthy, and a ratio above 3 starts to raise eyebrows.

Broker forecasts and ratings

There are plenty of other measures to look for in the results too, if you really want to roll your sleeves up, and also other resources you can use outside company reports which might help.

Laith Khalaf: Investors should give thought to portfolio diversification

For instance, on their investor relations websites, many large companies will provide the average of professional analysts estimates of earnings in the forthcoming year (known as the consensus estimate). This can give you an idea of market expectations for a stock, and in the short term, share price movements will be guided by how actual performance measures up to these forecasts.

Broker ratings are also available on many websites, which tell you whether analysts rate a company as a buy, hold or sell.

These dont tend to be very useful however, as there are usually as many saying sell as there are hold or buy. And when there is clear analyst agreement on a stock, thats usually baked into the price.

Overall you might want to look at analyst ratings and estimates to get an idea of how the market views a stock, but it shouldnt play a major part in your investment decision. Analysts tend to focus heavily on the next twelve months, whereas investors should be thinking about becoming an owner of a company for five to ten years or more.

Portfolio diversification

As well as picking good companies to hold for the long term, investors should of course give some thought to portfolio diversification. If all the companies you select are in the same country, or in the same industry, then your portfolio will be extremely vulnerable to a downturn in those areas. So make sure youve got a good spread of investments.

You should also make sure there are enough companies in your portfolio to minimise the impact of one performing particularly poorly, or worse still, going bust.

As a rule of thumb, the professional fund managers with the most concentrated portfolios still have around 30 stocks in there. That probably sounds like quite a lot for most private investors, particularly seeing as you need to regularly review your holdings as well as picking them in the first place.
Gregorio Perez, a prosecutor for the State Attorney General's Office in Chiapas, Mexico, was executed inside his car Tuesday night. He was assigned to the investigation of a string violent incidents in July that involved a vigilante group reportedly protecting the Indigenous town of Pantelho from the incursion of drug traffickers

A prosecutor investigating a string violent incidents involving a vigilante group protecting an indigenous town from drug traffickers was executed in the southern Mexico state of Chiapas.

Gregorio Perez was found shot dead while he was sitting in his car two blocks away from his office in the state capital, Tuxtla Gutierrez, late Tuesday.

His body had six bullet wounds, the Attorney General's Office for the state of Chiapas said.

The office did not say whether Perez's death may have been linked to his work in the township of Pantelho, where a group of self-described vigilantes has been fighting what it claims are drug traffickers.

Authorities had not announced any arrests as of Friday.

Perez was assigned to investigate the July 28 incident in which hundreds of fighters with the newly formed vigilante group called 'El Machete,' descended on the village of Pantelho.

They were in search of hitmen linked to Los Herrera before they torched vehicles, 12 homes, vandalized the town hall and abducted 21 people - all of whom were allegedly tied to Los Herrera.

Prosecutor Gregorio Perez was shot dead inside his car (pictured) in the Chiapas capital, Tuxtla Gutierrez on Tuesday

The self-defense group Los Machetes present themselves before members of 86 communities in the Chiapas municipality of Pantelho, on July 18. 'El Machete' has formed armed brigades, pledging to fight the incursion of drug cartels in the largely Indigenous mountain villages of Chiapas

Residents and members of the new self-defense group known as 'El Machete' hold an assembly where they decide to expel members of drug gangs and municipal authorities during a protest against the growing violence in Pantelho, an Indigenous city in the southern Mexico state of Chiapas

The kidnapped residents were taken to San Jose Buena Vista Tercero, the community where the vigilante group is allegedly based.

'We know that you already have knowledge of all of this,' one self-defense force member read from a statement directed at Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

'If you still want to support us, the indigenous people,  that will be up to you. If you don't, it's better that you don't keep intervening [in Pantelho],' he said.

According to the the Fray Bartolome de las Casas Human Rights Centre, nearly 3,000 people in the area have had to abandon their homes in recent months due to incursions by criminal groups seeking to take over the territory.

An alleged member of 'El Machete,' a vigilante group that formed armed brigades in July and pledged to fight the incursion of drug cartels in the largely Indigenous mountain communities of Chiapas, Mexico

Forensic experts canvass the area where the prosecutor Gregorio Perez was murdered

Residents and members of the new self-defense group known as 'El Machete' gathered for a meeting on July 27 in Pantelho, an Indigenous city in the southern Mexico state of Chiapas

Many tens of thousands of people have been killed or disappeared in Mexico since the government embarked on a 'war on drugs' in 2006.

About 370 people who had fled the confrontations returned to villages in the township on August 5, according to Reverend Marcelo Perez. He said the villagers had agreed to return after government-sponsored peace talks began.

'El Machete,' has formed armed brigades, pledging to fight the incursion of drug cartels in the largely Indigenous mountain communities of Chiapas.

One of the 12 homes that were torched by vigilante group El Machete in late July

Tzotzil Indigenous people who had been displaced as a result of the recent violence between a self-defense group called the 'El Machete' and alleged criminal gangs, attend a Mass on their return home August 4

Members of the new self-defense group called 'El Machete', that intends to combat criminal groups in the San Jose Tercero indigenous Tzotzil community, parade during their presentation in the municipality of Pantelho on July 18

The vigilantes, who appear to include members of the Tzotzil Indigenous group, are calling themselves a 'self-defense force,' a phenomenon seen for years in some western Mexican states.

After El Machete announced its presence last month, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he would not accept the presence of the so-called self-defense forces, which have often themselves been allied with criminal gangs.

The vigilantes, who appear to include members of the Tzotzil Indigenous group, are calling themselves a 'self-defense force,' a phenomenon seen for years in some western Mexican states.

After El Machete announced its presence last month, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he would not accept the presence of the so-called self-defense forces, which have often themselves been allied with criminal gangs.
A Muslim cab driver tried to sue a taxi company after he was banned from wearing traditional garments and had to wear 'smart western' clothing under its dress code.

Zulquarnain Ali alleged he was discriminated on the grounds of his religion because he was not allowed to wear his shalwar kameez - a traditional dress worn in South Asian countries - which would allow him to conveniently visit a mosque and pray.

Leeds Taxi Owners Ltd temporarily suspended the veteran hackney carriage driver from its customer booking system when it emerged he was breaching the dress policy by wearing the traditional garments while working.

The taxi firm's customers 'object to drivers in shalwar kameez and want them to be in smart western dress', a tribunal heard.

The shalwar kameez - which is the national dress of Pakistan - consists of loose-fitting trousers and a tunic.

Zulquarnain Ali, who tried to sue Leeds Taxi Owners Ltd after he was banned from wearing traditional clothing, had his case thrown out by a judge at an employment tribunal in Leeds. Pictured: GV of Leeds Employment tribunal

At an employment tribunal in Leeds, West Yorkshire, Mr Ali tried to sue Leeds Taxi Owners Ltd for religion or belief discrimination.

However, his case was thrown out as a judge ruled he was technically self-employed despite being a driver for the member-owned company.

Mr Ali, an experienced taxi driver who is licenced by Leeds City Council, was able to pick up customers from the street but could also access Leeds Taxi Owners booking system to get customers.

The tribunal heard he was involved in the dress code dispute in 2019.

A tribunal report said: 'Leeds Taxi Owners had a dress code and it is that in part that gives rise to these proceedings, because Mr Ali wanted to wear his shalwar kameez so that he could conveniently go to the mosque and pray.

'There is no dispute that Leeds Taxi Ownert had a written policy that its drivers should wear smart western dress and not shalwar kameez.

'An issue arose in 2019 when it was obviously brought to somebody's attention that Mr Ali was wearing shalwar kameez and he was removed from the system for a period.

The experienced taxi driver who is licenced by Leeds City Council, was able to pick up customers from the street but could also access Leeds Taxi Owners booking system to get customers. (Stock image)

'He was reinstated after a couple of weeks. There were various discussions and he ended up having a meeting with the directors.'

What is a shalwar kameez? The shalwar kameez - which is the national dress of Pakistan - consists of loose-fitting trousers and a tunic A shalwar kameez is a traditional dress commonly worn by women and men in countries in South and Central Asia. It consists of a long shirt or tunic and loose-fitted trousers which are held up by a drawstring or elastic belt. The item of clothing is sometimes called a salwar kurta, salwar suit, or Punjabi suit and was introduced into South Asia in the 13th century. The shalwar-kameez is the national dress of Pakistan and is widely worn by men and women in all five provinces - Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. It is also widely worn by men in Afghanistan. Advertisement

The report added 'some of Leeds Taxi Owners' clients object to drivers in shalwar kameez and want them to be in smart western dress'.

Arguing that he was an employee of the company, Mr Ali told the tribunal he worked up to 83 hours a week.

But, it was heard just a third of Mr Ali's fares came from Leeds Taxi Owners and 'fundamentally' he was a self-employed driver who signed up to Leeds Taxi Owners.

As a result, Judge Davies ruled Mr Ali cannot proceed with his claim as he was not an employee.

Judge Davies said: 'I find that Mr Ali falls on the side of the line of being in business on his own account.

'He is a hackney carriage driver plying his trade.

'He can choose at any time simply to pick up street fares. He can go down to the station and pick up passengers there, join a taxi rank or stop if somebody flags him down.

'He chose to sign up with Leeds Taxi Owners... Having regard to the context of the way he works, I find that was in the nature of a business decision taken by him.

'He thought it was in his benefit to pay 60 a month so as to have access to a whole different source of work, namely Leeds Taxi Owners' system work.

'He does not have any obligation to log on and do that work at any time... He is essentially choosing between different available sources of work throughout his working time.'

Judge Davies added: 'Mr Ali is also bound by the rule about dress code.

'That is one factor pointing towards a degree of subordination and integration into a business... but I find that it is outweighed by the other factors that point more towards true self-employment.'
President Joe Biden's administration weighed mandating vaccines for interstate travel as part of a series of stricter rules to combat the rising COVID rate and encourage Americans to get their shot in the arm.

But the administration worried such a move would be too polarizing, the Associated Press reported.

President Joe Biden's administration weighed mandating vaccines for interstate travel as part of a series of stricter rules to combat the rising COVID rate

However, that option remains on the table if public opinion polls shift, indicating more and more people see vaccines as the best route to returning to normalcy.

But there remains a sizable chunk of the population that wants vaccination to remain a choice.

A recent Fox News poll found that 77% of those who voted for Donald Trump said that it's more important to allow people to choose whether or not to get the COVID vaccine, while only 16% of Biden voters said the same.

And a huge majority of Biden voters - 81% - said they believe it's more important to prioritize overall public health and safety by requiring vaccinations in order to return to normal life while only 21% thought the same.

The Biden administration is continuing its push to get more shots in the arms as COVID cases are up 86% in the United States, taking a carrot and stick approach - incentives to get the vaccine and making life tougher for those who don't.

Vaccine rates are up, including in several Southern states that are seeing large breakouts of the virus, even as the daily case rate hits a six-month high.

'We are doing everything we can to get people vaccinated and support state and local leaders on the ground,' said White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeff Zients at Thursday's press briefing. 'But as we have said from the start, ending this pandemic requires every American doing their part. So, please, if you're unvaccinated, get your shot. It's free, it's convenient, it works, and it's never been more important.'

When the pace of vaccinations in the U.S. first began to slow, President Biden backed incentives like million-dollar cash lotteries if that's what it took to get shots in arms. But as new coronavirus infections soar, he's testing a tougher approach.

In just the past two weeks, Biden has forced millions of federal workers to attest to their vaccination status or face onerous new requirements. He's met with business leaders at the White House to press them to do the same.

Meanwhile, the administration has taken steps toward mandating shots for people traveling into the U.S. from overseas. And the White House is weighing options to be more assertive at the state and local level, including potential support for school districts imposing rules to prevent spread of the virus over the objection of Republican leaders.

'To the mayors, school superintendents, educators, local leaders, who are standing up to the governors politicizing mask protection for our kids: thank you,' Biden said Thursday. 'Thank God that we have heroes like you, and I stand with you all, and America should as well.'

But even as Biden becomes more aggressive, he has refrained from using all his powers to pressure Americans to get vaccinated. He's held off, for instance, on proposals to require vaccinations for all air travelers or, for that matter, the federal workforce.

The result is a precarious balancing act as Biden works to make life more uncomfortable for the unvaccinated without spurring a backlash in a deeply polarized country that would only undermine his public health goals.

Vaccine mandates are 'the right lever at the right time,' said Ben Wakana, the deputy director of strategic communications and engagement for the White House COVID-19 response, noting the public's increasing confidence in the vaccines and adding that it marks a new phase in the government's campaign to encourage Americans to get shots.

Many Republicans, particularly those eyeing the party's 2024 presidential nomination, disagree and warn of federal overreaching into decisions that should be left to individuals. Biden and Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, an epicenter of the latest virus wave, have spent weeks feuding over the proper role of government during a public health crisis.

There is notable support for vaccine mandates. According to a recent poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation, 51% of Americans say the federal government should recommend that employers require their workers to get vaccinated, while 45% say it should not.

For now, Biden has required most federal workers to attest to their vaccination status under potential criminal penalties, with those who have not received a dose required to maintain social distancing, test weekly for the virus and face other potential restrictions on their work.

Health workers at the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services will be required to get vaccinated, and the Pentagon has announced that it intends to mandate vaccines for the military by next month.

The sharper federal approach comes as nearly 90 million eligible Americans still have not been vaccinated and as Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, says shots are the only path for the nation to contain the delta variant.

White House officials say Biden wanted to initially operate with restraint to ensure that Americans were ready for the strong-arming from the federal government. The federal moves have been carefully calibrated to encourage a wave of businesses and governments to follow suit.

Biden administration officials briefed prominent Washington trade groups, including the Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable, ahead of the federal announcement in hopes their members would follow suit. White House officials have fielded dozens of calls from business executive in recent weeks about how to implement their own vaccination mandates, officials said, sharing best practices and tips for how to protect their workforces.

'Through vaccination requirements, employers have the power to help end the pandemic,' Zients said Thursday, naming companies, universities and local governments that have implemented them.

The new restrictions appear to be having the desired effect. The rules - combined with fresh concerns about the surging delta variant - have nearly doubled the average rate that Americans are getting newly vaccinated from last month to about 450,000 per day.

Zients said the White House still has no plans to develop the infrastructure for so-called vaccine passports, despite some criticism from businesses that the patchwork of local and state verification systems leaves them without a clear way to enforce mandates. The Biden administration had promised to share frameworks for verification systems, but ultimately left them all to the private sector and local governments, in part because of political sensitivities.

Lawrence Gostin, a professor of health law at Georgetown University, said Biden would likely need to continue to turn up the pressure on the unvaccinated.

'He's really going to have to use all the leverage the federal government has, and indeed use pressure points,' Gostin said. 'And I think there are a few that he can do but he hasnt done yet.'

'The country is completely fatigued with lockdowns, business closures and masking,' added Gostin, 'and vaccines are literally our only tool. Weve tried masking, distancing, occupancy limits, even entire lockdowns now for coming along nearly two years. And the virus just keeps raging back. And the vaccines are the only thing we have now to defeat the virus. We need to use that tool and we need to use it vigorously. And I think there will be large public support for that.'
NSW police have doled out $1,000 fines to a group of young mothers for stopping to talk in a Sydney beachside park as part of a new crackdown on compliance with lockdown rules.

TikTok user @aley.hammer posted a video on Thursday showing two mothers with prams and small children waiting as a police officer writes out a fine.

'These mums have just been fined $1,000 each in Bronte and police are everywhere in Tamarama and Bondi,' the social media user said over the video.

'I guess I just want everyone to stay indoors now, get this lockdown over with, so stay safe everyone.'

NSW Police confirmed they issued Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) to three women in their early 20s sitting together with children at Bronte Park yesterday morning

A number of people commenting on the post said it was 'about time' that the area experienced the same crackdown as LGAs in other parts of Sydney.

'Let them understand what western Sydney is going through,' wrote one.

But others thought the compliance activity was overkill.

'Oh no, children playing outside, how dare they,' one posted.

NSW police confirmed they issued Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) to three women in their early 20s sitting together with children at Bronte Park yesterday morning at 10am.

'The women were spoken to and subsequently issued $1,000 PINs for being in a group of more than two people, from different addresses, in breach of the Public Health Order,' NSW police said.

Another group of three women in their 30s were also given $1,000 fines for the same breach at the same location.

'Both groups of women were directed to move on, to which they complied.'

NSW police are expected to suggest changes to Covid public health orders today to make enforcement more straightforward

'Let them understand what western Sydney is going through,' one person commented on the post about enforcement of lockdown compliance in Sydney eastern suburbs

The increased police activity in Sydney's eastern suburbs came as it was revealed NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller had discussed tightening lockdown compliance measures with NSW Health on Thursday.

Changes to make enforcement of the rules more straightforward and to close loopholes was expected to be put to a NSW crisis cabinet meeting on Friday.

At yesterday's NSW Covid update, police said 407 people had received infringement notices for breaches of public health order in the past 24 hours, 176 of which were for not wearing a mask.

Another 56 people were charged with breaches of public health orders.

NSW recorded 345 new community cases on Thursday, with 57 cases infectious in the community,

Stricter lockdown measures were extended to Bayside, Strathfield and Burwood council areas to try and prevent further spread from the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA.
A mother who has helped feed thousands of unemployed residents by starting a public pantry broke down in an emotional TV interview after she was given $15,000.

Rachael Smith, 48, wiped back tears after she was given the money by Channel Nine's Today Show over her initiative called 'Pantry 4 the People'.

Ms Smith has been able to feed thousands of people in her community after setting up a rain proof pantry on the streets of Botany, in south-east Sydney, last month.

Members of the public can stock up the pantry with essential foods - like canned tuna, breakfast cereals and cooking sauces - to help families who are doing it tough during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Today Show hosts Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon caught wind of the incredible act of charity and decided to phone Ms Smith on Monday.

Rachael Smith, 48, wiped back tears after she was given the money by Channel Nine's Today Show over her initiative called 'Pantry 4 the People'

Ms Smith has been able to feed thousands of people in her community after setting up a rain proof pantry on the streets of Botany, in south-east Sydney, last month

While they waited for producers to connect the call, Langdon took the opportunity to tell audiences they had a very special surprise planned for Ms Smith.

'She doesn't know about this,' Langdon said.

'It's going to be a big surprise,' Stefanovic added.

The call was then connected before Stefanovic told Ms Smith to walk to her front door where she was greeted by camera crew.

A visibly emotional Ms Smith appeared to be taken completely off guard before Stefanovic explained the reason behind the surprise visit.

'We know you have helped hundreds of locals since it began, so we wanted to do our bit to help you,' Stefanovic said. 'Are you ready for this?'

'Yes,' Ms Smith responded.

'We would like to give you $15,000,' Stefanovic said.

A visibly emotional Ms Smith was left speechless and barely able to mumble a few words between her tears.

'This is insane,' she said. 'I can't believe it.'

'Rachael, this is for acknowledging all the hard work that you do,' Langdon said.

A selfless Ms Smith immediately replied that she would be using the money to help her community even more

'You look after your community. You put everyone else first. Just tell us what this means to you.'

A selfless Ms Smith immediately replied that she would be using the money to help her community even more.

'It just means that I can do so much more in our community,' she said.

'I can feed so many more people. This will feed people for months and months. It's amazing.'

Stefanovic and Langdon spoke to pantry contributor and Baker's Delight worker Michael Lee who said the community had been overwhelmed by the support given by Ms Smith.

'The community feedback has been so positive,' he said. 'Everybody loves Rachael.'

Ms Smith previously said that she was inspired to set up the pantry after learning about the Newtown Blessing Box - a charity box set up to help the homeless during the pandemic

'We appreciate the time and effort she's spent in supporting our community and the role she plays in keeping everyone's spirits high.'

Her initiative has been so helpful that the pantry has needed to be restocked up to three times a day.

Written above the pantry is the motto: 'Take what you need. Give what you can.'

Ms Smith previously said that she was inspired to set up the pantry after learning about the Newtown Blessing Box - a charity box set up to help the homeless during the pandemic.

'There's a need (for the pantry) for families where both and mum and dad have lost their jobs,' she said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday that senior Capitol Hill staff can now make nearly $200,000 annually - more than your average lawmaker - in an effort to keep top aides from heading to K Street.

The pay ceiling for aides will be moved from the $173,900 to $199,300.

The average House member makes $174,000, so their top staffers were always kept at a salary just under what their bosses brought in.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday she was delinking lawmaker and staff pay, allowing top aides to make as much as $199,300, instead of the $173,900 they previously were allowed to bring home

Pelosi said she was delinking members salary from staff.

'This order will help the Congress recruit and retain the outstanding and diverse talent that we need, as it also helps ensure parity between employees of the House of Representatives and other employees of the Federal Government,' Pelosi said in a letter to members.

Pelosi said she had been advised to raise the pay by the chair of the Committee on House Administration, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a fellow California Democrat.

While this move impacts the highest-paid staffers, allowing them a salary bump - and possibly preventing lobbying shops from scooping them up - Democrats have also been pushing to have Congressional staff paid more across the board.

Members can decide what to pay each member of their staff, divvying up what's called the Member Representational Allowance, among staff pay, office rent and other needs to run a Congressional office.

Staff salaries on Capitol Hill are notoriously low, with entry-level staff often having to pick up a second job. Top aides will now be able to make more than lawmakers, allowing the Hill to compete with lobbying shops on K Street

In June, more than 100 lawmakers, led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, had argued in a letter to Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the chair of the House Appropriations Committee, that there should be a 21 per cent bump in the Member Representational Allowance, which would allow lawmakers to give more money to their staff.

Staff pay on Capitol Hill is notoriously low, while the cost of living in Washington, D.C. has only grown.

'For years, pay and benefits for the staff of Member offices, leadership offices, and committees have fallen farther and farther behind what is offered in the private sector,' the letter said. 'At the same time, the cost of living here in our nation's capital has risen substantially, placing opportunities such as homeownership, rental housing, and childcare out of reach for many.'

AOC's letter warned that the 'low salary available to entry-level staff continue to raise barriers to entry and advantage those who are already wealthy and connected.'

In the past she's spoken about meeting bartenders and servers in Washington who are working a side hustle in the service industry because their Capitol Hill salary isn't enough to live in the expensive D.C.

'This week I went to dive spot in DC for some late night food. I chatted up the staff. SEVERAL bartenders, managers, & servers *currently worked in Senate + House offices.*' she tweeted in December 2018. 'This is a disgrace. Congress of ALL places should raise MRAs so we can pay staff an actual DC living wage.'
Most businesses are suffering as a result of Australia's never-ending cycle of lockdowns, but some have surprisingly thrived.

Home building companies and banks are among the beneficiaries of lockdown, and the Australian share market has hit record highs with the benchmark S&P/ASX200 climbing by 25 per cent during the past year.

The index hit 7,628 on Friday, despite continued lockdowns in Australia's two biggest cities and major uncertainty about when life can return to normal, and is 6.8 per cent above the pre-pandemic high of February 2020.

While buy now, pay later success Afterpay has been the market darling, some more traditional companies outside the tech space have done well out of lockdown, thanks to government stimulus measures.

Home building companies and banks have thrived because of Australia's never-ending cycle of lockdowns. While lockdowns are causing economic havoc, Mirvac chairman John Mulcahy on Thursday described 2021 as the company's best year since it began in 1972 (pictured are residents at the Everleigh community at Greenbank near Brisbane)

Residential building group Mirvac, which designs master-planned suburbs, has seen its share price climb by 39.9 per cent during the past year to reach $2.98.

Lockdowns are causing economic havoc but Mirvac chairman John Mulcahy on Thursday described 2021 as the company's best year since it began in 1972.

'Our business is in the strongest position we have ever been,' he said.

Mirvac's residential business, during the last financial year, had its best result in five years, with credit going to the federal government's $15,000 HomeBuilder grants to build a brand new home.

It said government stimulus measures announced in June 2020, following the national Covid lockdowns, had seen an 'unprecedented demand for master-planned communities'.

Mirvac's statutory profit surged 61 per cent to $901million in the year to June 30, its annual report revealed on Thursday.

Ratings agency Moody's Investors Service is expecting 2021-22 to be even better for Mirvac.

'We expect solid earnings growth in fiscal 2022,' it said.

The Australian share market has again hit fresh record highs with the benchmark S&P/ASX200 climbing by 25 per cent during the past year. The index hit 7,628 on Friday, despite Sydney recording another 390 new Covid cases, and is 7 per cent above the pre-pandemic high of February 2020

The Commonwealth Bank, Australia's biggest financial giant, has seen its share price surge by 43 per cent to $103.78 during the past year, to near record-high levels.

Australia's biggest home lender also saw its statutory net profit after tax surged by 19.7 per cent to $8.843billion in the year to June 30, covering the first four days of Sydney's lockdown.

While the banks are again offering three-month mortgage repayment holidays, the Commonwealth revealed its loan impairment expenses had fallen by 78 per cent.

The big banks benefited from the Reserve Bank of Australia's Term Funding Facility, which provided $188billion to underpin cheap business and home loans between March 2020 and June 2021.
A pizza shop owner who allegedly raped a young woman with his mate in a disabled toilet also stands accused of sexually assaulting five other females.

The confronting details of the alleged conduct of restaurateur Alberto Nicoletti, 29 and Vincenzo Mineo, 36, came to light on Thursday in the Perth's Magistrates Court.

Prosecutor Sargeant Mike OLeary told the court Mr Nicoletti, who runs pizzeria Lago Di Como, allegedly targeted vulnerable women after they had been drinking heavily.

In the alleged incident at The Lookout Bar on March 14 in Scarborough, when Nicoletti and Mineo told a woman they were a gay couple before offering her cocaine, the court heard.

When the three left the venue, the court heard the woman was allegedly raped by both men in a disabled cubicle at a nearby park, The West reported.

Sgt OLeary outlined to the court details of a number of alleged assaults - dating back to 2016 - as he opposed Nicoletti's bail application.

Confronting details of the alleged conduct of Alberto Nicoletti, 29 and Vincenzo Mineo, 36, (pictured together right) came to light on Thursday in the Perth's Magistrates Court

Both Alberto Nicoletti (pictured) and Vincenzo Mineo have been charged with a raft of serious offences by WA police, including rape

On the same evening of March 14, the men met two other women at the venue El Grotto, who they are both accused of separately raping, the court heard.

Mineo allegedly raped one of the women at his apartment in West Perth after consensual sex, the court heard.

Nicoletti's alleged victim woke up 'groggy' and 'confused' at his South Perth home, reporting the alleged rape to police in June or July this year, the court heard.

The men allegedly later boasted about their respective sexual conquests over FaceTime, the court heard.

The court was told of four other incidents where women were allegedly sexually assaulted by Nicoletti.

One of the alleged attacks involved Nicoletti pretending to be an Uber driver before allegedly assaulting a woman in her home, the court heard.

In another alleged sexual assault, the pizza shop owner allegedly placed his hand up the skirt of a woman on the dance floor at the venue Henry Summer in December.

Nicoletti's bail was denied and he is expected to appear in court again in October.

Magistrate Donna Webb is still to decide Mineos bail application.

Pizza shop owner Alberto Nicoletti (pictured) has been charged with raping a woman in Perth

Alberto Nicoletti and Vincenzo Mineo have both been charged with raping a woman in Perth on March 14 (pictured, one of the men after his arrest)

After police released CCTV footage following the alleged attack in Scarborough on March 14, Nicoletti was charged with two counts of aggravated sexual penetration without consent and four counts of sexual penetration without consent.

Other charges included two counts of indecent assault, aggravated indecent assault and deprivation of liberty.

Mineo was also hit with a number of serious charges, including two counts of aggravated sexual penetration without consent, sexual penetration without consent and aggravated indecent assault.

A colleague of Nicoletti at Lago di Como said the arrest of his boss had shocked staff.

'It was a surprise. I know him quite well, I am working with him,' he told the West Australian.

'It's a shame. I saw the news. I am working here one year already and he's a good boss.'

Western Australia police released CCTV footage after a woman was allegedly raped in a toilet block in March
A nosy neighbour has left a scathing letter under the door of a woman threatening to report her to authorities for inviting a friend over during Sydney's lockdown - despite it being perfectly legal.

The note accuses the single woman, who lives in North Richmond in the City of Hawkesbury, of breaking lockdown by having guests over at her apartment.

'Resident of #11A. You are breaching Covid public order by having people visit you. You will be reported should you continue to break rules,' the letter reads.

'We are in a pandamec (sic) or does that not apply to you?'

The woman who received the note took to a community Facebook page with a pointed message for the author.

The scathing letter (pictured) accuses the woman of breaking Covid lockdown protocol and threatens to report her, when in fact she was doing nothing wrong

'I live alone and have nominated ONE person who can visit. It has been the same person who has been visiting since the introduction of the single bubble and is in the same LGA,' she wrote.

'I have already spoken to the police and I am not breaking the rules.'

Members of the group were quick to jump to the woman's defence.

'This lockdown is stressful for everyone, some kindness and neighbourly understanding would go a long way on their part,' commented one.

Many members of the private Facebook group jumped to the defence of this woman (pictured)

Most comments supported the woman (pictured), stating that it was wrong of the letter author to write to her anonymously

'You keep doing what you're doing,' wrote another. 'Nothing wrong with that.'

Many commented on the fact that the author of the letter had declined to write their own name or apartment number on the note.

'Wow, not even brave enough to sign it, let alone come and have an adult conversation.'

Others have told similar stories of nosey neighbours reporting people who are in fact doing the right thing.

'I've had police turn up twice for my mother-in-law watching the kids while my wife and I work,' commented one frustrated neighbour.

Members of the group shared their similar experiences being reported to the police when they are not breaking Covid lockdown restrictions (pictured)

The singles bubble was announced by the NSW government on July 28 and stated that people who are living on their own during lockdown are allowed to nominate one person to visit their home.

It allows those living alone to have a Covid-safe arrangement, essentially putting two singles under the same household bubble.

The single person can nominate one individual only to visit them and are only able to reciprocate the visit if the individual also lives alone.

They must live within the same LGA and the single person cannot change the individual they nominate at any time.

Under current rules, there is no formal nomination requirement for the people taking part in the singles bubble, making it difficult to police.
British aid money will be used to help tackle plastic waste in developing countries, ministers said yesterday.

The 500million Blue Planet Fund will protect the marine environment and reduce poverty.

Some 16million of this fund will be spent on protecting the oceans from pollution and plastic waste. This will in turn fight climate change as it will protect marine species which are responsible for absorbing carbon from the sea.

The Blue Planet Fund is named after the BBC series narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

The 500million Blue Planet Fund will protect the marine environment and reduce poverty [Stock image]

The ocean is a carbon sink which every year absorbs almost a third of global CO2 emissions thanks to marine species such as coral reefs [Stock image]

The money will also help increase marine protection and save coral reefs, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said.

Some 5.7million will be spent on a project in partnership with developing countries to tackle marine pollution and create protected areas.

Hydrogen boilers 'worse for planet' Hydrogen-fuelled home boilers would be worse for the environment than existing models that burn natural gas and which the Government wants to phase out, scientists have claimed. So-called blue hydrogen is expected to form a key part of the Government's plans to fight climate change and ministers have said gas boilers could be banned as soon as 2035. But the study, from Cornell University in the US, suggests its production  when methane, a key component of natural gas, is split  is 20 per cent more harmful to the environment than burning gas or coal for heat. The researchers said more greenhouse gases  methane and carbon dioxide  would escape during extraction. Many environmentalists back green hydrogen instead, which is created by using electricity to split water. Advertisement

The programme will also help countries respond to disasters such as the X-Press Pearl in Sri Lanka  a devastating ship fire which released plastic and toxic chemicals into the sea.

And will reduce poverty by protecting the ocean for those who rely on it. Some 5million will be used to support countries in the Caribbean, Indian and Pacific Ocean to help them prevent the extinction of coral reefs.

The ocean is a carbon sink which every year absorbs almost a third of global CO2 emissions thanks to marine species such as coral reefs.

The funding was announced in the run-up to the Cop26 global environmental summit in Glasgow this autumn.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said: 'The UK is a global leader in marine protection and will continue to advocate for ambitious climate and ocean action at Cop26.

'Our shared ocean is a vital resource and provides habitat to precious marine life, as well as supporting the livelihoods of one in every ten people worldwide.

'The Blue Planet Fund will support many developing countries on the front line of climate change.'

However, Labour claimed the Government is not 'serious' about tackling the climate crisis because the money is not new.

Preet Kaur Gill, Labour's international development spokesman, said: 'The money announced is from an existing commitment and is only the first tranche from a fund committed to almost two years ago.'

The Daily Mail has been at the forefront of attempts to reduce the amount of waste in the environment with our Turn the Tide on Plastic campaign.

The foreign aid budget was cut this year to 10.9billion, reduced from 14.5billion a year before.
Owners of alpacas and llamas that were slaughtered after suspected false positive bovine tuberculosis tests called last night for under-threat Geronimo to be spared the same fate.

Two farmers told of their harrowing experiences, in which officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) arrived to kill their animals.

They came forward after the Daily Mail published details of a dossier showing nine alpacas and llamas had been killed by Defra only for post-mortem tests to show they were disease-free. Their testimony is the latest development in the stand-off over eight-year-old Geronimo.

Geronimo the Alpaca, pictured with owner Helen Macdonald, is facing a death sentence after Defra officials said he must die

The alpaca was consigned for slaughter last week after a four-year legal battle. His owner Helen Macdonald has steadfastly refused to allow officials to kill him at her farm in Wickwar, south Gloucestershire.

They have been given 30 days to carry out a High Court warrant to kill the animal after Miss Macdonalds final legal challenge failed. There were the first signs of a Tory backbench revolt last night after an MP pledged to write to Defra.

Dehenna Davison, MP for Bishop Auckland, said she made the decision after visiting Doug and Samantha Steen, who own the Teesdale Alpacas farm near Barnard Castle, County Durham.

She said: We had a detailed discussion about bovine TB testing [bTB], as brought into the news by Geronimo. I am writing to Defra on their behalf to raise concerns about the testing regime.

Yesterday farmer Ann Price told how her three-year-old alpaca Diva was culled after a positive Enferplex test in February 2018.

Diva, who lived with the rest of Mrs Prices herd in Bewdley, Worcestershire, had been repeatedly dosed with tuberculin, a substance blamed for false positive tuberculosis results. A post-mortem examination found no evidence of bTB. Officials took samples twice but could not find any presence of the disease.

Ann Price told how her three-year-old alpaca Diva was culled after a positive Enferplex test in February 2018

John Carr-Ellisons llamas Manabi, eight, Oruru, six, Elvis, four, Flash, 11, and Michael, four, were consigned for slaughter in 2015. Mr Carr-Ellison insisted on a post mortem which showed no evidence of TB

Mrs Price said her experience with Defra after the suspected false positive had been harrowing. She said: Officials said Diva would have to be culled and when I asked for a retest to make sure it was not a false positive they said no. I even offered to pay myself. They had already arranged for her to be slaughtered, we had no knowledge of Geronimo and did not know we could fight.

Divas carcass came back and a post-mortem with no sign of bTB. They did not acknowledge the fact that they culled our animal.

It was cruel  my husband had to hold her as they shot her.

She knew what was going to happen. She hurt his arm she moved so much.

It has got to stop. Defra has insisted tuberculin is used in its Enferplex blood test to increase its sensitivity, but this claim has not been subjected to scientific scrutiny. Campaigners argue injecting it prompts an immune response in camelids, an animal group including llamas and alpacas, causing a positive test.

John and Katie Carr-Ellison, both 68, who live near Alnwick, Northumberland, saw five of their llama herd killed after Enferplex TB tests carried out by Defra. As with Geronimo, Mr Carr-Ellisons llamas had been repeatedly dosed with tuberculin as a primer in the months prior to their positive test results.

Mr Carr-Ellisons llamas Manabi, eight, Oruru, six, Elvis, four, Flash, 11, and Michael, four, were consigned for slaughter in 2015.

Mr Carr-Ellison said: I insisted on post-mortems and that they were checked not only for TB but full tissue tests were conducted. They did it twice and they came up with a result where all of them had false positives.

I think it is a miscarriage of justice. If llama and alpaca keepers lose confidence in being dealt with fairly by Defra and feel they are being wrongly slaughtered they wont cooperate with screening. A spokesman for Defra said: While nobody wants to cull infected animals, we need to do everything we can to tackle this disease to stop it spreading and to protect the livelihoods of those affected.
A man has been arrested following the discovery of 41 horses, including pregnant mares, that were shot dead in western Queensland.

The horses were found by a member of the public late on August 5 at a property about 60km north of Longreach, with initial investigations indicating the animals were killed sometime between Tuesday and Wednesday last week, police said.

The owner of the property was not home at the time of the incident and was in a nearby hospital.

Local police (pictured) were quickly on the scene following reports of a mass horse shooting on a farm in western Queensland

Police said they arrested and charged a 49-year-old Mount Isa man on Thursday as part of the investigation into the horse deaths.

The man has been refused bail and will face the Mount Isa Magistrates Court on Friday charged with one count of injuring animals.

Police said last week that colts, mares, pregnant mares, geldings and mares with foals afoot died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds.

Detective Sergeant Allan Cook said the impact of such an incident is damaging to the local community.

Detective Sergeant Allan Cook said the impact of such an incident is damaging to the local community
The Late Show saw a significant drop in ratings on Tuesday when Brian Stelter appeared on the show to discuss his CNN colleague Chris Cuomo's silence on scandal-hit brother Andrew.

Ratings show that Stelter's interview was Stephen Colbert's least-watched segment of the night, with Nielsen ratings showing the 12:15am to 12:22am segment brought in 1,375,000 viewers and 297,000 in the 25-54 demographic.

This is compared to 1.9million viewers, with 375,000 in the 25-54 demographic, who tuned in at the start on the show.

Some 2.6million people initially tuned in at the start of the Colbert show. Some likely switched off because they went to bed.

But Nielsen ratings for the show compared to its usual averages suggest that Stelter's appearance caused many who would have stayed up for the entire program to hit the hay.

It came as Cuomo himself is off air for the week and enjoying a 'long planned' vacation in the Hamptons, amid outrage that he has ignored the sexual harassment scandal engulfing his New York Governor brother Andrew.

Chris has faced a slurry of criticism for participating in strategy sessions during his brothers political crisis while serving as CNNs star journalist  all the while refusing to cover the scandal.

Footage has also emerged of the CNN host dad-dancing in the East Hampton community two weeks ago, before his brother resigned as governor on Tuesday.

SCOOP: I have obtained a video of @ChrisCuomo partying in the Hamptons two weeks before his brothers resignation as governor@HumanEvents pic.twitter.com/H9dOSmyDKG  Jack Posobiec  (@JackPosobiec) August 12, 2021

Chris Cuomo gives water to two photographers outside of his East Hampton home on Thursday

Meanwhile, Chris Cuomo has taken a week-long vacation from his CNN show. He was spotted on Thursday carrying a large water raft at Sag Harbor Yacht Yard in the Hamptons

And he was back in the Hamptons this week as he took a break from his show.

On Monday Chris announced that he takes his birthday off every year and was 'looking forward' to the break, which will see him turn 51.

Cuomo spotted out and about in the resort two days after his brother Andrew announced that he would resign as New York's governor in 14 days.

Andrew's announced departure followed a scathing report by state Attorney General Letitia James that found he had unlawfully sexually harassed 11 women and presided over a toxic workplace.

Cuomo was snapped passing a photographer a bottle of water in East Hampton Thursday, where he keeps a luxurious home.

He was also seen carrying a large water raft at Sag Harbor Yacht Yard.

Cuomo arrived at the boat yard with two children.

Chris Cuomo was spotted leaving his East Hampton home on Thursday

Chris Cuomo arrives at Sag Harbor Yacht Yards on Thursday with two children

Stelter appeared on Colbert to address the ongoing scandal surrounding his colleague.

Stelter described the Cuomo situation as being 'really complicated' and 'definitely awkward'.

'Some people are mad at him,' Stelter told Colbert, also noting that he could confirm that Chris had been in contact with his brother, Andrew Cuomo.

'By the way, I can confirm the New York Times report I also have a source that says Chris was on the phone with his brother this week-' Stelter said.

Colbert interrupted him saying: 'Is your source Chris Cuomo?'

Stelter answered: 'He is not, he is not. You've gotta have boundaries. You've gotta draw lines.'

Colbert then accused Cuomo of not having any boundaries, but Stelter rushed to his colleague's defense.

'I think he does, actually,' Stelter stated. 'I think Chris does, I don't know about the governor.'

CNN has banned Cuomo from talking about the sexual assault allegations against his brother on air and argued that his participation in the governor's strategy sessions was 'inappropriate'.

Stelter said that it was a 'management ruling' for Cuomo not to cover his brother's scandal, prompting Colbert to question the network's integrity.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert saw a significant drop in ratings when CNN correspondent Brian Stelter (pictured) joined to discuss colleague Chris Cuomo

Colbert (pictured) questioned Stelter on CNN's handling of the Cuomo situation, arguing that 'it seems like an odd conflict of rules'

'Well, then why didn't they rule that way when his brother was on the show pretty much every night during the COVID crisis?' Colbert asked.

'Yeah, I think it's really complicated,' answered Stelter.

Colbert responded: 'It seems like an odd conflict of rules.'

'It is an odd conflict,' Stelter affirmed, 'but I don't think- if we open up the journalism ethics book, there's no page for this. The craziest set of circumstances that you can imagine, right? A governor and a brother, both in these high-profile jobs. This is definitely awkward for CNN, though.'

The TV star has been vacationing in the Hamptons this week, with Brian Stelter forced to tell viewers that Cuomo had not been canceled by the network over his brother's sex scandal

Chris' brother, Andrew Cuomo, was spotted walking with his secretary at the New York State Mansion on Thursday

Andrew Cuomo announced on Tuesday that he would resign as New York's governor in 14 days. He announced departure followed a scathing report by state AG Letitia James that found he had unlawfully sexually harassed 11 women and presided over a toxic workplace

Andrew Cuomo has denied any wrongdoing, although he said on Tuesday he accepted 'full responsibility' for what he characterized as ill-conceived attempts to be affectionate or humorous.

He will be succeeded by Kathy Hochul who has served as New York's lieutenant governor since 2015. She will be the state's first female governor.

Hochul has said that she distanced herself from Andrew and the harassment allegations, saying it was well-known that he had kept her at arm's length during his tenure.

'I've not been in the rooms when this has happened and it is actually sickening to me to see this surface,' she said.

Hochul also vowed to oust any Andrew Cuomo aide who was named in the James report as being complicit in 'any kind of unethical behavior'.

'They're gone on Day 1, so let's get that very clear,' she said.
A man has been charged after he allegedly posed as a health department official to gain entry into a Melbourne woman's home, where he threatened her if she didn't perform sexual acts.

Police had been searching for Abdulfatah Awow after he allegedly entered the Burwood home of a quarantining woman while posing as an authorised officer last month.

It is alleged he threatened to send the woman into hotel quarantine unless she performed sexual acts.

A Carlton man has been charged after he allegedly posed as a health department official to gain entry into a Melbourne woman's home, where he threatened her if she didn't perform sexual acts (stock)

The 25-year-old Carlton man handed himself in at a police station on Thursday afternoon.

He was subsequently charged with 11 offences, including attempting to procure sexual penetration by threat, attempting to procure sexual act by fraud, stalking, impersonating an authorised officer, possessing identification information and committing an indictable offence while on bail.

He was remanded in custody to appear in Ringwood Magistrates Court on August 19.

Victoria's Covid-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar said authorised officers will always be in uniform, have appropriate identification and never seek entry into a person's home.

'Please, if you are being visited as part of the home visit program, by one of the authorised offers, ask for ID, check their uniform and if they ask to get into your home, shut the door,' he told reporters on Wednesday.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has imposed stricter rules on essential workers commuting along the state's border with NSW after recording seven new local Covid cases.

At Friday's press conference Ms. Palaszczuk pressured the NSW government to detail its plans to contain the spread of the virus, a conversation which will be further discussed at national cabinet on Friday afternoon.

One of the new Covid cases was linked to the St Aidan's Girls' School while the others are related to Ironside State School and Brisbane Boys' Grammar School. All were in isolation while infectious.

The new cases increased those associated with the Indooroopilly cluster to 137.

While she's not concerned with the community spread in Queensland, Palaszczuk used the conference to reinforce her comments about the state of NSW.

'From Queensland's point of view, we are very concerned about how the clusters are continuing to expand,' she said.

'We would need to hear very clearly from New South Wales what their clear plan is for containment.

'The last thing we want to see is this virus spread north, the virus spread south, and spread across the nation.'

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk warned Queenslanders not to travel to NSW, as new restrictions on the movement of essential workers in the border region between NSW and Queensland were introduced

People line up to enter the mass vaccination hub at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in Brisbane on Wednesday

Ms Palaszczuk said she expected to hear 'very clearly' from New South Wales what their clear plan is for containment of the virus' spread at national cabinet today

Residents who live in seven LGAs on either side of the NSW-Queensland border are allowed to cross the border for a 'permitted purpose', including work, medical treatment, care of a family member and childcare.

Under new Queensland Health restrictions, however, teachers, childcare workers, hospitality workers, sales reps and construction workers on non-critical projects are not permitted to enter Queensland from NSW.

'The reason why we have to exclude them in relation to these seven LGAs is because we cannot risk these teachers and childcare workers coming into Queensland, going into our schools and our daycare centres,' Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said at Friday's update.

Chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young announced that anyone who had been in the ACT since August 9 must quarantine for 14 days, after the nation's capital recorded four new cases.

'And as of 1:00am on Saturday, anyone who arrives will be required to go into hotel quarantine, because there is a significant risk,' she said.

Fears the Indian delta strain had spread to Cairns after two positive cases last week appear to have diminished, after no new cases were recorded in the state's far north.

People line up at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre mass a vaccination hub on August 11

Meanwhile, 6,000 families forced into isolation by the Indooroopilly State High School outbreak emerged from 14 days of home quarantine last night.

'You have absolutely kept Queensland safe,' Dr Young said of the 15,000 people who entered home quarantine as a result of the cluster.

'I don't think I'm a hero, I just think it's wonderful that everybody has done the right thing, because it could've been pretty disastrous when you look at what's happened in Sydney,' emergency department nurse Tina McKay told the ABC, after her household was one of those forced into self-isolation.
Union firebrand Len McCluskey has launched a blistering attack on Sir Keir Starmer  claiming Labour could go under with him at the helm.

In a bombshell memoir  to be published on the same day as Sir Keirs Labour conference speech  the union baron will accuse him of an anti-democratic crackdown on the Left.

The Unite general secretary, nicknamed Red Len, will also finally confirm his relationship with Jeremy Corbyns former chief-of-staff Karie Murphy. Among a number of revelations in the book, he will suggest Sir Keir is unable to win back the Red Wall seats Labour lost in 2019, accusing the party leader of failing to inspire public confidence.

Union firebrand Len McCluskey has launched a blistering attack on Sir Keir Starmer  claiming Labour could go under with him at the helm. He is set to launch a memoir on the date of Sir Keir's conference speech. Mr McCluskey will use his book to announce his relationship with Jeremy Corbyn's former chief of staff Karie Murphy

Sir Keir, pictured, faces a tough conference with supporters of former leader Jeremy Corbyn seeking his readmission into the party

And he will include details about private conversations with Sir Keir and his deputy Angela Rayner about Mr Corbyns suspension last year.

Former nurse Miss Murphy was at the centre of a row over Labours selection of an election candidate in Falkirk in 2013 amid claims of vote-rigging by Unite.

She was temporarily suspended from the party but was later cleared of any wrongdoing.

Mr McCluskey, 71, has always strongly denied claims about their relationship. In January 2019, Unite threatened legal action after the Guido Fawkes news website reported they had shared a room together after a New Years Eve party.

When the Mail approached the union for comment at the time, Unites assistant general secretary Howard Beckett dismissed the claims as untrue, vexatious and malicious. But in his book, titled Always Red, Mr McCluskey boasts about how they kept the relationship secret.

As Karie become more high profile, rumours abounded about our personal connection, he writes. The media, desperate for a way to undermine Corbyn, constantly threatened to expose that we were involved.

We had no intention of providing them with that ammunition. So we engaged the press in a game of cat and mouse, getting Howard Beckett to use his legal genius to knock out gossipy stories.

We wanted our relationship to be kept private, away from the public gaze.

Details of the book were made public yesterday after a leaked preview copy was obtained by Sky News.

But sections about Mr McCluskeys conversations with Sir Keir and Mrs Rayner about Mr Corbyns suspension have been redacted and are expected to cause turmoil in the party when they are published next month.

Sir Keir yesterday dismissed Mr McCluskeys warning that Labour could go under with him as leader.

He said: Ive a lot of respect for Len McCluskey but I dont agree with him on everything and this is one where I dont agree with him.

Asked why he did not agree with the union bosss assessment, he replied: Because I think hes wrong.
Amazon's highly anticipated $1billion Lord of the Rings series will relocate filming to the UK in the latest loss for New Zealand after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced strict border controls were here to stay.

New Zealand's premier yesterday warned that border restrictions will continue until 2022 as she warned Kiwis they will face full lockdowns if the Government fails to keep the Delta variant out.

Ardern said she hoped to cautiously reopen to the rest of the world next year while maintaining the country's virus-free status.

But Amazon, who are due to start shooting for the second season of the hotly-anticipated Lord of the Rings television series, decided to move their filming base from New Zealand to the UK as a result.

The $1billion production, which had already received rebates from the government, will start filming in the United Kingdom from next year - marking the first time the production won't be created using New Zealand's stunning landscapes.

Albert Cheng, co-head of TV for Amazon Studios, confirmed the relocation and said the company would not 'actively pursue' the five per cent financial uplift with New Zealand's government.

Amazon's hotly-anticipated $1bn Lord of the Rings television series will relocate filming to the UK from 2022 after Jacinda Arden's announcement

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that strict border controls will continue until 2022 as she warned Kiwis they will face full lockdowns if the Government fails to keep the Delta variant out

While the first set of television episodes followed in the footsteps of Peter Jackson's epic trilogy by shooting in New Zealand, season two will be made in the United Kingdom.

Vernon Sanders, vice president of Amazon Studios, paid tribute to New Zealanders ahead of the studio's departure.

'We want to thank the people and the government of New Zealand for their hospitality and dedication and for providing the series with an incredible place to begin this epic journey,' he said.

'We are grateful to the New Zealand Film Commission, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Tourism New Zealand, Auckland Unlimited, and others for their tremendous collaboration that supported the New Zealand film sector and the local economy during the production of Season One.'

Announcing the news that New Zealand faces the prospect of tough border measures until at least 2022, Arden said changes would be 'careful and deliberate' to avoid allowing variants such as the highly contagious Delta strain into the country.

'Rushing could see us in the situation many other countries are finding themselves in,' Ardern said, citing an outbreak of the Delta variant in neighbouring Australia that has forced its two largest cities into renewed lockdown.

The government is also warning its citizens to be prepared for a strict lockdown at the first sign of an outbreak of the Delta variant.

Ardern said the government planned to follow the advice of experts and maintain their elimination strategy.

'While the pandemic continues to rage overseas, and the virus continues to change and mutate, the best thing we can do is lock in the gains achieved to date while keeping our options open,' she said.

Ardern said the borders would not reopen until after New Zealand's vaccine rollout was completed at the end of the year. Despite pledges that the country would be 'at the front of the queue' for the vaccine, the rollout has been much slower than in most developed nations, with less than 20 per cent of the population fully inoculated.

Officials also said they would delay second shots of the Pfizer vaccine in order to speed up first shots to protect more people as the threat of the delta variant grows.

COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said the government's response to an outbreak of the Delta variant is likely to be 'swift and severe.' New Zealand has stamped out the spread of the virus and had previously planned to rely primarily on contact tracing for any small outbreaks.

But Hipkins said the problems that Sydney currently faces in trying to contact trace a growing outbreak showed the delta variant was extremely hard to manage and that New Zealand's tolerance for risk was now very low.

Its vulnerability was exposed after unvaccinated port workers in Tauranga berthed a ship where 11 of the 21 crew had tested positive for the virus. More than 90 port workers have been tested but so far no one has returned a positive test.

Ardern said the borders would not reopen until after New Zealand's vaccine rollout was completed at the end of the year. The rollout has been much slower than in most developed nations, with under 20 per cent of the population fully inoculated

Officials also said they would delay second shots of the Pfizer vaccine in order to speed up first shots to protect more people as the threat of the delta variant grows

The announcement comes as Ardern faced calls to ease border measures from sectors such as healthcare, hospitality and agriculture, which are facing acute labour shortages due to the absence of foreign workers.

The country's tourism industry - one of its main economic drivers - is on its knees with the borders shut to non-residents and non-citizens.

New Zealand's success in erasing the coronavirus has allowed life to return almost to normal. The South Pacific nation of 5 million people has reported just 26 deaths since the pandemic began.

That's been achieved in part by closing borders to those who aren't residents or citizens.

But many question whether its feasible for New Zealand to maintain a zero-tolerance approach to the virus once international travel resumes.

Ardern said vaccinations would ramp up with the goal of offering jabs to all the eligible population by year's end, allowing a relaxation of border policies.

She said that from the first quarter of next year, the country would begin allowing travelers to arrive on a carefully managed basis.

Under the proposed changes, international arrivals would be assessed on vaccination status and whether they have travelled from a country deemed high, medium or low risk.

Fully vaccinated travelers from low-risk countries would not be required to quarantine, she said. Those arriving from medium-risk countries would need to complete some form of quarantine. And those arriving from high-risk countries, or who were unvaccinated, would need to stay 14 days in a quarantine hotel run by the military, Ardern said.

The government did not provide a ranking of countries by risk, saying it could change quickly.

'Our ultimate goal is to get to quarantine-free travel for all vaccinated travellers,' Ardern said, without providing a timetable.

She said international travel would never be the same as it was before the pandemic.

'Vaccines, border testing and maybe a bit of monitoring of symptoms when you travel will eventually become our baseline. And we will get used to it,' she said.

Ardern said international travel would never be the same as it was before the pandemic

Ardern said a new trial would begin in October that would allow some business travelers to quarantine at home rather than in military-run hotels as a test of the new system it planned to introduce for medium-risk countries next year.

Ardern also announced it was increasing the standard time scheduled between Pfizer vaccine doses from three weeks to six weeks. She said the initial groups targeted for the vaccine - border workers and older people - had already been fully vaccinated.

'From a population basis, it makes sense to get as many New Zealanders at least partially vaccinated quickly,' Ardern said.

The changes were generally welcomed by business owners, including those in the struggling tourism industry. Before the pandemic, more than 3 million overseas travelers visited New Zealand each year and tourism was among the country's largest industries.

'It's important to have a roadmap so all businesses, including tourism operators, can plan ahead and make informed decisions,' said Chris Roberts, the chief executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa.

Opposition Leader Judith Collins said Ardern's announcements were a step in the right direction but the government needed to speed up its vaccination program.

About 29 per cent of New Zealanders have received one dose of the vaccine and 17 per cent are fully vaccinated.

New Zealand's tentative attempts to relax border controls have so far met with mixed success.

A travel bubble with Australia faced numerous disruptions and was finally suspended in June as multiple outbreaks spread across the Tasman Sea.

Quarantine-free travel is allowed with the tiny Cook Islands, and New Zealand this month launched a scheme to bring in seasonal workers from Tonga, Samoa and Vanuatu without having to self-isolate.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has claimed the officers who wanted to give fallen officer Ella French a bagpipe honor guard from the hospital to the morgue last week after she was gunned down were trying to 'hijack' the night she was killed.

French, 29, was killed in the line of duty while performing a traffic stop. Her partner, who has not been named, was wounded but survived. After she was pronounced dead at the hospital on Saturday night, French's body was transported by ambulance to the medical examiner's office.

Some of her colleagues wanted to line the route and give her a bagpipe procession but First Deputy Police Supt. Eric Carter banned it. He told the EMTs driving the ambulance to carry on straight to the medical examiner's office for the autopsy to be carried out, saying: 'We don't have 20 minutes for this s**t.'

That same night, Lightfoot - who supported calls to defund the city's police - showed up at the hospital to offer her support to the family of French's wounded partner.

Cops who were still there turned their back on her when she arrived and there were reports that the mayor forced her way into the facility.

On Wednesday, Lightfoot held a press conference to deny that claim and to also accuse the cops who wanted to perform the honor guard of 'hijacking' the night and depriving French's family of a crucial window of time to see her body before the autopsy was carried out.

She also railed against the journalists present, accusing them of asking her 'offensive' questions like did she force her way into the hospital and accusing them of 'mining from the bottom of the chum barrel' and producing 'sickening' reports that criticized her.

On Wednesday, Lightfoot held a press conference to deny that claim and to also accuse the cops who wanted to perform the honor guard of 'hijacking' the night

Chicago Police Officer Ella French, pictured, was shot dead on Saturday in the line of duty

Two hundred cops turned out to honor French at a prayer vigil on Tuesday after being 'banned' from holding the procession

'There was no official honor guard that night.

'There was  let me choose my words carefully  well-meaning but not well-organized group that wanted to hijack the procession, which would have meant that the family would have been delayed exponentially in getting to the morgue.

'And again, given the new restrictions that the new coroner has put in place, that wouldn't have been fair to them and they may have lost an important window of time

'There was  let me choose my words carefully  well-meaning but not well-organized group that wanted to hijack the procession, which would have meant that the family would have been delayed exponentially in getting to the morgue

'So the call was made, under those circumstances, to focus on the family.

'Eric Carter made the right call. I support what he did and I'm horrified that in this moment people are trying to savage him for whatever agenda or purpose,' Lightfoot said.

She then fumed at the media and told them they were using unreliable sources.

'I would just caution you all. Be careful. Be careful. Check your sources. Make sure they're accurate. Get the right context. Because I know firsthand, it's really hard when the media becomes ferocious in propagating a story that's just not true.'

Lightfoot then got angry when a journalist asked her if she'd forced her way into the hospital.

'I don't force my way anywhere. And that's offensive, frankly, that you would ask me that question.

'I just sat here and talked about the fact that we've got to be really careful and you have to be really careful in your reporting and be responsible. And you just keep lobbing this nonsense that's offensive and insulting and really does a disservice to the moment that we're in.'

She questioned why it's acceptable 'for people to engage in such nasty, vicious talk' and then have it 'repeated by media as if it is fact and true.'

'People feel like it is their right to spew hatred at everyone that they don't agree with or make fun and mock, usually anonymously and cowardly from social media.

'I think our media plays a very important role in our democracy, but you lose me, you lose me when it's a race to the bottom and it's all about the fight and it's all about the conflict.

'I've got to tell you, some of the reporting I've seen this week is just sickening.

'We all need to ask ourselves what we can do better to show our people everywhere that we have the capacity to be human beings again.'

'Give me a break. What else are you going to mine from the bottom of the chum barrel? Come on. You're better than that. You're better than that. You're better than that,' she said.

Chicago police union boss John Catanzara told Fox News that Lightfoot had to shoulder some of the blame for French's death.

Two brothers - Emonte Morgan, 21, and his brother Eric, 22, have been arrested and charged after French, 29, was shot dead and her partner was critically injured during a routine traffic stop on Saturday.

Lightfoot arrived at the University of Chicago Medical Center shortly after the shooting, where dozens of police officers turned their backs when she greeted them. French's partner remains in critical condition at the hospital.

Eric Morgan is pictured during the traffic stop in the new body worn camera footage

The Morgan brothers were said to have been driving with expired license plates, prompting police to pull them over

The father of the injured officer, who has not been named, reportedly told Lightfoot when she went to the hospital that 'there's blood on her hands.'

A former top police official has slammed the Chicago Police Department after it was revealed that a 'sacred' ritual was skipped after the shooting death of Ella French over time concerns.

Garry McCarthy, the department's former superintendent, told Fox News that officers 'feel under attack by politicians' after French's body was taken directly to the medical examiner's office for her autopsy without a guard of honor.

He claimed they avoided drawing their weapons to honor their fallen colleague - as is tradition - over fears they'd have to file a report for doing so, as part of new police reform laws.

Garry McCarthy, the department's former superintendent, said Chicago cops 'feel under attack' from politicians like Lightfoot, who wanted to defund the police last summer despite soaring gun crime in the city

The Emerald Society, an Irish-American fraternal organization for members who most often come from law enforcement, had gathered outside the medical examiner's office to play ceremonial bagpipes for her final send-off.

Chicago police and other officials worked swiftly to arrest three suspects after French's death, though charges have not yet been filed.

French was the first Windy City officer to be fatally shot in the line of duty in almost two years, and the first female cop shot to death in the line of duty since 1988.

'The officers here in CPD and probably across the country  feel under attack by politicians and the public. Most of them feel like they're not being supported by their leadership Garry McCarthy, the department's former superintendent

Still, McCarthy blasted the department for skipping the procession - which he called an 'inexcusable' affront to cops in the city, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

'The officers here in CPD and probably across the country  feel under attack by politicians and the public. Most of them feel like they're not being supported by their leadership,' he said.

He added: 'It's so important, the sacred nature of rituals, certainly within policing.'

'If there's an excuse for what happened, then maybe, you know, Eric should talk about it publicly himself,' he said.

McCarthy said that officers also did not draw their weapons, as traditionally practiced after the death of a colleague. He blamed the skipping of that tradition on possible police reform measures.

'That's probably the result of a policy that was put in place for every time you draw your weapon, you have to do a report about it. Policing is entirely under attack, and that's why we have a 100% increase in the murder rate,' McCarthy said.

'There's always enough time. Let's put it that way. If we had to wait two or three days, I would have done it,' he said.
Women are being drawn in to gambling addiction by a flood of adverts on daytime TV, MPs and campaigners warned yesterday.

They claimed bookmakers are using predatory adverts to entice stay-at-home mothers, part-time workers and the unemployed to gamble.

Yesterday Foxy Bingo boasted to its investors that its customers losses had jumped 50 per cent in the first six months of this year compared to last year.

The figures helped parent company Entain, which also owns Ladbrokes and Coral, to quadruple its profits to 91million.

They claimed bookmakers are using predatory adverts to entice stay-at-home mothers, part-time workers and the unemployed to gamble [File photo]

In a statement for investors, it credited its TV campaign as helping to drive the success.

Jackpotjoy Bingo is the sponsor of ITVs afternoon panel show Loose Women, while Gala Bingo sponsors afternoon quiz show The Chase.

Bingo has been labelled a gateway to more serious forms of gambling and bookmakers have been accused of cross-selling higher-risk slot games, where players can lose hundreds of pounds per minute.

The Daily Mail has campaigned against predatory gambling firms but while bookmakers have reduced the number of adverts around live sport, there are still numerous adverts on daytime radio and TV.

Labour MP Carolyn Harris, chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on gambling, said: Vulnerable women are watching these programmes with predatory advertising that promises them companionship. Really they are taking advantage of women.

The Daily Mail has campaigned against predatory gambling firms but while bookmakers have reduced the number of adverts around live sport, there are still numerous adverts on daytime radio and TV [File photo]

A senior female Tory MP, who asked not to be named, added: Bingo is absolutely the gateway to women getting into online gambling. Ministers are considering tighter rules on advertising on TV and social media as part of the review into the 2005 Gambling Act.

Earlier this year the NHSs top gambling expert, Dr Henrietta Bowden-Jones, told MPs it was the norm to see suicidal women addicted to betting in her clinic.

A Gambling Commission survey found that 20.6 per cent of women had gambled online in the last four weeks, up from 13.5 per cent in 2016.

The Betting and Gaming Council, which represents the industry, said: The Government states the rate of problem gambling is 0.5 per cent and has been stable for the last 20 years. For women, a recent Gambling Commission report says the rate is 0.1 per cent.
Barack Obama misled the country about ending the war in Afghanistan, according to a scathing new book charting 20 years of U.S. involvement in the country.

Craig Whitlock, author of The Afghanistan Papers, said that Obama was deeply misguided when, in December 2014, he declared that the war was over.

He said that the 'baldfaced' declaration ranked as 'among the most egregious deceptions and lies that U.S. leaders spread during two decades of warfare.'

Whitlock writes that Obama's address even felt hollow at the time - the statement was delivered from Hawaii, while the then-president relaxed on vacation, and the ceremony was held in a gymnasium, where several dozen people sat on folding chairs.

Obama said that U.S. forces would from then on only be acting in an advisory capacity, and leave the combat roles to Afghan national security forces.

But Whitlock points out that, in reality, the U.S. fighting barely dimmed.

Barack Obama is pictured in October 2015 making a statement on Afghanistan, and announcing that troops would remain in the country after he left office - despite his declaration less than a year previously that the war was over

Afghan soldiers stand guard at the gate of Bagram air base on July 2 - the day the last American troops left

Bagram Air Base was once the heart of a huge U.S. military operation. Since July is has been largely deserted

A Taliban flag is seen flying in the main square in Kunduz on Sunday after the Islamists captured the city

By October 2015, Obama had accepted the facts and told the nation that at least 5,500 troops would remain in Afghanistan after he left office in January 2017.

'I do not support the idea of endless war, and I have repeatedly argued against marching into open-ended military conflicts,' Obama said from the Roosevelt Room in the White House.

Craig Whitlock's book has been serialized in The Washington Post

'Yet given what's at stake in Afghanistan, I am firmly convinced that we should make this extra effort.'

Obama, in his first term, had ordered a 'surge' of 100,000 troops to try and get the job done. From 2009-11 there was a huge U.S. presence in the country.

But by December 2014, when Obama announced the end of the war, only 38 per cent of the public said the war had been worth fighting, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Whitlock, in excerpts published by The Washington Post, writes that the Obama administration attempted to sell the U.S. presence as merely advisory, while knowing that they were playing an extremely active role.

In 2015 and 2016, the U.S. military launched missiles and bombs on 2,284 occasions - an average of more than three times a day, Whitlock writes.

Obama is seen in December 2010 delivering his annual Afghanistan-Pakistan review

He notes that U.S. officials knew that the Afghan forces were unable to do the job.

In February 2015, Ash Carter, Obama's defense secretary, visited Afghanistan and claimed that progress had been made.

'A lot has changed here, so much of it for the better,' Carter said in Kabul at a news conference with Ashraf Ghani, the Afghan president.

'Our priority now is to make sure this progress sticks.'

Yet in Kandahar Airfield, on the same trip, he let slip a more realistic assessment.

'It's not that the Afghans aren't good at fighting. They are. But just a few years ago there really was no Afghan National Security Force at all,' he said.

'They're getting on their feet now, and they're beginning to do the things alone that we used to do for them.'

Obama administration officials had concluded that the only way to end the war and to stabilize Afghanistan was for the Afghan government to negotiate a peace deal with the Taliban, Whitlock writes.

Obama is seen in May 2014 during a surprise visit to Bagram Air Field to address the troops

Obama is seen greeting some of the soldiers during his May 2014 visit to Afghanistan

It put the U.S. troops of being in a position that prevented them from attacking the Taliban - to the bewilderment of Congress.

By the time Obama left the White House in January 2017, about 8,400 troops remained.

The next month, Army Gen. John Nicholson Jr. appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Asked whether the United States was winning or losing, he replied: 'I believe we're in a stalemate.'
Tech-savvy TikTok users have found an easy way for Australians to display their proof-of-vaccination certificate on their smartphones.

It is possible to put your vaccination status into Apple Wallet on iPhones or Google Pay wallet on other android phones, making it easy to access when proof-of-vaccination may be required to attend public gatherings.

TikTok user 'pnuks' posted a video to the social media site showing viewers how to add their vaccine card into the Apple Pay Wallet.

In the simple process, he explains that iPhone users need to download the Medicare app and sign in, tap the immunisation history tab on the homepage of the app and find the tab that says Covid-19 digital certificate.

From there, a click of a button adds the certificate into the users Apple Wallet, which is accessible by double-clicking the lock button of the phone.

While this video is specific to Apple users, one commenter stated that the feature is also available on Android phones.

The video (pictured) gives a step by step guide on how to add a vaccine card to an iPhone user's Apple Wallet

In a few steps, TikTok user 'pnuks' explains the simple way to have the card easily available (pictured)

It is also possible to access the card through the MyGov app through the 'Quick Links' tab that will take you through to the Medicare homepage. From there, the same steps apply.

The proof of vaccination could be required to gain access to gatherings such as sporting events, pubs and restaurants, concerts and domestic and international travel.

Some workplaces too are likely to require staff to prove they are vaccinated in order to have a job.

The card pops up in the Apple Wallet (pictured). The feature is also avaliable in Google Pay for Android users

The Committee for Sydney has urged the NSW government should allow the easing of restrictions for those who have already been double-jabbed.

They also commented that the use of vaccine passports should be given an introduction date now that the vaccine rollout has begun to move forward.

Ehssan Veiszdeh, deputy chief executive for the committee says that the introduction of the passport system would help to increase the uptake of vaccines.

'We can't just be held back by states that want to keep things closed forever, we need to start opening things up here,' he stated.

'There is no reason why vaccine passports shouldn't start being used now across industries that are already open, such as in retail settings and essential workplaces.

'Once we begin to emerge out of restrictions, these can be expanded to gyms, cinemas and tourist attractions.'

The Committee for Sydney stated that the introduction of the vaccine passport may help to increase vaccination numbers (stock image)

He commented that in France when they introduced the vaccine passport system, vaccination rates shot upwards.

Despite this, a professor of biostatistics and epidemiology at the University of South Australia, Adrian Esterman, commented that it is too soon for these measures to be introduced.

'If you do it now, you are disenfranchising everyone basically under 40,' he said.

'If we are going to introduce them, and we probably will do, is to do it once everyone's had a chance to be vaccinated.'

Hospitality bosses say that they are open to allowing vaccinated Sydneysiders into pubs and clubs as early as next month.

Hospitality bosses are keen to open their doors to those in the community who are double-vaccinated (stock image)

Mr Craig Laundy told the Today show on Friday that he hopes to open his family's $500million Sydney hotel empire that he runs with his brother, Stu, in mid-to end of September.

'We need to start shifting the thinking - which the NSW State Government are starting to do - about what life looks like living with this virus with vaccinations available to all those in the community,' he said.

He mentioned that he is already being asked by double-vaccinated customers when his businesses will be reopening. He believes that being able to attend these locations may help to raise the vaccination rates.
British lawyers could practise in Australia without having to requalify under plans to slash red tape.

Regulators are considering removing barriers to UK solicitors practising domestic law Down Under.

The UK-Australia trade deal, agreed in June, enables Britons to provide UK and international legal services in Australia with their existing qualifications. But new provisions mean regulators could scrap the requirement for lawyers to sit up to 11 exams to requalify there.

Liz Truss, pictured, wants to sign a deal to allow British lawyers practice in Australia without having to sit any further exams

Almost 85 million worth of legal services were exported to Australia in 2019, and the industry in the UK contributes 22 billion to the economy

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said the deal gives the industry more certainty and support.

She added: 'This deal will reduce barriers to trade, make it easier for our people to travel and work together, and will bring big benefits to our consumers and businesses.'

Almost 85 million worth of legal services were exported to Australia in 2019, and the industry in the UK contributes 22 billion to the economy.

Law Society of England and Wales President, I. Stephanie Boyce, said the proposal was a 'step in the right direction'.

'The free trade agreement establishes and drives collaboration between the relevant bodies with the aim of addressing remaining barriers to practise as a local lawyer in the other country's territory.

'We now look forward to taking new steps to facilitating international business with our colleagues in Australia.

'While the final agreement is yet to come, these commitments are a step in the right direction for both our legal professions and we will continue to seek the best deal for members in these discussions.'

Rebecca Maslen-Stannage, chair and senior partner, Herbert Smith Freehills added: 'Leading multinational law firms such as Herbert Smith Freehills, with major operations in both countries, are looking for certainty on mobility and RPQ provisions relating to the legal profession.

'We are delighted that the UK and Australian governments have included these provisions which will help us to work more easily across regions.'
British jihadis have smuggled themselves into Afghanistan to join the taliban as it continues to seize vast swathes of the country, it was reported last night.

Phone calls intercepted by military intelligence reportedly reveal British men talking openly  one of whom had a London accent.

A security source said there was intermittent intelligence showing Britons taking up arms against the Afghan government.

Phone calls intercepted by military intelligence reportedly reveal British men talking openly  one of whom had a London accent. One Taliban fighter is seen with an RPG in the city of Ghanzi on Thursday

But the source told The Sun: We have no idea who they are. Its difficult to put a number on it.

A senior military intelligence source added: We have received some intercepts of two British men, probably below 30, talking openly on mobiles.

One had a London accent, what you might call a street accent.

Around 800 Britons are thought to have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join Islamic State in recent years.
A western Sydney man has given an impassioned plea for people in his community to take Covid seriously, saying his friend is gravely ill in hospital and 'gasping for breath'

In a video shared on Thursday and viewed by more than 200,000 people, the frustrated man implores people to 'start thinking about the damage this virus is causing'.

'I have a close friend who is dying in hospital 'cause of Covid-19. They're gasping for air 'cause they've got Covid-19,' the man says.

Sydney residents are currently in a lockdown to control an outbreak of the delta variant of Covid (pictured: Bondi on Wednesday)

He then addressed people 'continuously' advancing conspiracy theories on social media, asking them to 'open their minds'.

'It's come to a point where people are dumbf***ed thinking this disease doesn't exist. It does exist. Whether you like it or not it f***ing exists.'

'The government isn't here to f*** us over. The government is here to assist us. The jab isn't to turn us into zombies. The jab is there to help us. So wake up to yourselves,' the clearly emotional man pleads.

In another video from earlier on Thursday the man addressed people in Melbourne and Sydney in particular - saying the reality of the virus had 'unfortunately hit home' for him.

'You've got 20-year-olds dying. Rather than us taking advice of activists that think it's a conspiracy, let's stand united and understand that this disease is real and that is does affect us'.

The Western Sydney man (pictured) pleads with Sydney and Melbourne residents to take Covid seriously in his clip to TikTok

'If we do the right thing, we will be out of lockdown, it's simple' he adds.

He also revealed he has had two vaccine doses and hasn't experienced any negative effects.

The video has received thousands of comments with many agreeing with the man, but a minority pushing anti-lockdown and Covid conspiracy messages.

'I had Covid-19 last year I was in hospital. It's not fun and I'm still suffering from after effects,' one woman said.

'It's a flu bro, relax,' argued another.

Thousands of anti-lockdown protesters and Covid conspiracy theorists flooded the Sydney CBD on July 24 (pictured)

'Covid might be real but the rest is false,' claimed another .

'Well said, hope your mate pulls through,' added a well-wisher.

NSW reported 390 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 on Friday and at least 101 of those people were circulating in the community for all or part of their infectious period.

Two deaths were record: an unvaccinated woman in her 40s in Sydney and a vaccinated man in his 90s from the Hunter region. The toll for the current outbreak in NSW is now 38.

'Behind every single statistic is a loved one, a family, and many carers,' Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Friday.

Greater Sydney and surrounding regions are in lockdown until at least August 28, as are multiple parts of regional NSW, as health authorities battle to contain an outbreak of the virulent Delta strain.

Ms Berejiklian said Blacktown and Mount Druitt in western Sydney had become areas of particular concern for health authorities, with a rise in cases.

There are 63 COVID-19 patients in NSW in intensive care, 30 of whom are ventilated. All of them are unvaccinated.
NSW police are desperately searching for a young man wanted for a string of kidnapping, assault and drug offences.

Josh Bartley, 26, has an outstanding arrest warrant, with cops appealing for public assistance to locate him.

Mr Bartley is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 180cm tall, thin with red hair and brown eyes.

26-year-old Josh Bartley is wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant for kidnapping, assault and drug offences and police are appealing for public assistance to locate him

He is known to frequent the Mt Druitt (pictured Mt Druitt police station), Bathurst, Lithgow and Cowra areas and police are urging anyone who spots him to call 000 and not approach

He is known to frequent the Mt Druitt, Bathurst, Lithgow and Cowra areas.

Police are urging anyone who spots Mr Bartley to call 000 and not approach him.
Canadian government officials are sending special forces to the Afghan city of Kabul to help evacuate staff from its embassy before it closes.

The dramatic move comes as the U.S. military's withdrawal from Afghanistan nears completion, with emboldened Taliban fighters taking over much of the country in their wake.

The Taliban takeover is taking place at a stunning speed. They captured Kandahar, the second-largest city and the birthplace of the Taliban movement, on Thursday.

The seizure of Kandahar marks the biggest prizes yet for the Taliban. Canada's former military mission was based in Kandahar.

Kabul is still independent - but US military officials are now said to fear it could fall within 30 days, while publicly saying they hope Afghan forces can repel the Taliban for at least a year.

The Canadian government is sending special forces to the Afghan city of Kabul to help evacuate staff from its embassy before it closes

According to CBC, Canadian special forces are currently on standby to help with the evacuation. Officials did not say how many special forces would be sent.

The soldiers are expected to work alongside their American and British allies who are deploying forces to partially evacuate their own embassies.

At this time, the Canadian government has 'no intention of deploying a large conventional force' since both the U.S. and U.K. plan to do so.

Britain is sending around 600 troops to Afghanistan in an effort to help U.K. nationals leave the country amid growing concerns about the security situation.

The U.S., who is scheduled to end its war in Afghanistan in a few weeks, is rushing 3,000 fresh troops to the Kabul airport to help with a partial evacuation of the U.S. Embassy.

Meanwhile, Danish lawmakers have agreed to evacuate 45 Afghan citizens who worked for Denmark's government in Afghanistan and to offer them residency in the European country for two years.

The Canadian soldiers are expected to work alongside their American and British allies who are deploying forces to partially evacuate their own embassies

At this time, the Canadian government has 'no intention of deploying a large conventional force' since both the U.S. and U.K. plan to do so

The first planeload of Afghan refugees who supported the Canadian military mission in Afghanistan arrived in Canada earlier this month.

The Canadian government last month announced a special program to urgently resettle Afghans deemed to have been 'integral' to the Canadian Armed Forces mission, including interpreters, cooks, drivers, cleaners, construction workers, security guards and embassy staff, as well as members of their families.

The government says more than 800 Afghans who supported the mission have been resettled in Canada over the past decade but acknowledges that many more remain in Afghanistan.

The Taliban, who ruled the country from 1996 until U.S. forces invaded in 2001, weeks after the 9/11 attacks, have taken 12 of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals as part of a weeklong sweep that has given them effective control of about two-thirds of the country.

They impose hardline Islamic rules, forcing women to cover up, and banning girls from attending schools, with many families fleeing in terror in an attempt to escape that way of life.

Some 40,000 Canadian troops were deployed in Afghanistan over 13 years as part of the NATO mission before pulling out in 2014.
A frustrated MP from Sydney's south has called for his suburb to be exempt from lockdown - despite a health order being placed on the entire local government area.

Member for Maroubra - and former NSW Opposition Leader - Michael Daley took to Facebook after NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed new restrictions would be introduced for residents in the Bayside Council LGA from 5pm on Thursday.

They were introduced after active Covid cases were found in nearby suburbs including Bexley, Banksia and Rockdale.

Daley felt suburbs such as Botany - where he reportedly lives - and Banksmeadow shouldn't also be in lockdown given they both had zero cases.

In Bardwell Park, Bardwell Valley and Bexley, there were 51 active cases.

Member for Maroubra Michael Daley (pictured) took to Facebook after NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed new restrictions for residents in the Bayside Council LGA from 5pm on Thursday

The City of Botany Bay Council and City of Rockdale amalgamated in 2016 to form Bayside Council.

'Treating Botany like Bardwell Park is grossly unfair,' Daley fumed on Facebook.

'I have contacted the (NSW) Minister for Healths office and asked for an urgent separation of the old Rockdale and Botany Council areas for the purposes of the new health orders.

'This would not be hard. The Berejiklian Government just did this in Penrith this month and the Northern Beaches earlier this year. I want our residents to be treated the same way.

'If this does not occur and health restrictions are tightened it would be massively unfair on residents of the former Botany Council area, who have been dutifully observant of the health orders and who have done a tremendous job in keeping our communities almost free of Covid.'

The one time NSW Leader of the Opposition also stated he had the support of Ron Hoenig MP as well as Bayside councillors Christina Curry and Scott Morrisey.

Mr Daley attracted plenty of support on social media for his suggestion to the office of NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard.

'It is completely unfair. We are separated by the physical barriers of the airport and Botany Bay. Our only association is the amalgamated Bayside council which was forced on us,' one wrote.

Another stated 'this joke of a government need to be tossed to the scrap bin of history.'

Others disagreed with Daley's suggestion, believing lockdown restrictions should have applied to all councils in the greater Sydney area once the second wave of Covid began infecting multiple communities in NSW back in June.

'If so, we wouldnt be in this awful mess. We shouldnt be segregated, we should all be bearing the brunt,' one woman said.

Bayside Council in Sydney's south incorporates residents from the old Botany Bay Council and Rockdale Council - with the entire LGA in lockdown, the decision has left people divided (pictured, beachgoers at Brighton Le Sands)

On Friday morning, NSW recorded a new record number of cases with 390, plus two deaths.

Ms Berejiklian announced one of the casualties was an unvaccinated woman in her 40s who died at her home in south-west Sydney.

The other was a vaccinated man in his late 90s who died while receiving palliative care at RFBI Hawkins Masonic Retirement Village in Edgeworth, in northern NSW.

Of the new cases, at least 60 were infectious while in the community with 250 infections not yet linked to a known source.

Western Sydney and south-western Sydney remain the biggest places of concern despite case numbers recently stabilising in the area.
On Thursday, Facebook postponed workers' return to the office until early next year due to surging cases of the coronavirus Delta variant

Facebook has become the latest firm to postpone its workers' return to the office - and now expects them back in early 2022 - as other tech giants including Microsoft and Google mull vaccine mandates for staff.

The leading social network set a new target of having employees back on its campuses in January, but promised to provide ample notice before they are required to show up in person, which they will only be able to do after being fully vaccinated.

'Data, not dates, is what drives our approach for returning to the office,' a Facebook spokesperson said in response to an AFP inquiry.

'We continue to monitor the situation and work with experts to ensure our return to office plans prioritize everyone's safety.'

The leading social network set a new target of having employees back on its campuses in January, but promised to provide ample notice before they are required to show up in person

The firm's global headquarters is located in Palo Alto, California, although it also has large offices peppered across the globe, with significant presences in New York and London.

For now, the data shows rising numbers of Covid cases based on the Delta variant, the spokesperson said.

Along with Facebook, Google and Microsoft have said returning workers will need to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

Facebook is also requiring people in offices to wear masks, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated.

At Microsoft, the earliest date for fully reopening US facilities will be October 4, according to the computing giant based in the state of Washington.

E-commerce colossus Amazon confirmed that it is delaying employees' return to its corporate offices until January of next year instead of September as originally hoped.

Apple has also delayed the return of its staff until October, having previously ordered them to return to its One Infinite Loop Cupertino campus in September.

Like Facebook, Microsoft has said returning workers will need to be vaccinated against Covid-19

The firm has clashed with workers who wish to continue working from home. Apple argues that because it builds hardware, in-person work is vital to its creativity and success.

This month, Google made its campuses off-limits to unvaccinated employees and extend its global work-from-home option through October 18.

Unions and critics of mandates have spoken out against required vaccinations, citing personal freedom arguments.

Google staff AGREE to take pay cuts in return for being allowed to work from home permanently: Staff in cheaper US cities will have salaries slashed to reflect their lower cost of living

Workers at Google have agreed to a pay cut terms recently put forth by the tech giant in exchange for the opportunity to work remotely permanently, as other Fortune 500 players look to follow suit.

A spokesperson for the company told CBS News that staffers working in cheaper US cities will see their salaries slashed to reflect their lower cost of living.

'Our compensation packages have always been determined by location, and we always pay at the top of the local market based on where an employee works from,' a Google spokesperson said.

In just two months time, over 10,000 Google employees out of a total of 135,000 have requested permission to work from home full-time or to relocate to a different company office once the COVID-19 virus abates, the outlet reports.

In just two months time, over 10,000 Google employees out of a total of 135,000 have requested permission to work from home full-time or to relocate

Thus far, Google has approved 85 percent of the employees' work-from-home requests, however those who do opt for remote work or to relocate to a different location will almost certainly face salary cuts.

The average salary at the tech giant is almost $120,000, according to data from PayScale.com.

Google's 'Work Location Tool' was 'developed to help in June to help employees determine the 'make informed decisions about which city or state they work from and any impact on compensation, if they choose to relocate or work remotely,' the spokesperson said.

In major competitive job markets like New York and San Francisco, the company will still be offering employees, both remote and otherwise, the highest tier of compensation packages.

Under that company policy, a Google worker could receive a pay raise for moving to an area of the country with a more competitive job market and a higher cost of living.

A 'Welcome Back!' sign on a building on a Google campus in Mountain View, California

Of the 15 percent of relocation submissions that were not accepted by Google, almost all were employees who occupy positions that require them to either have access to specific equipment or their presence in-person, according to the company.

The rest of the relocation requests that didn't make the cut were from those workers who are committed to working from a certain location, the outlet reports.

However, those who were rejected can resubmit their requests to relocate or work remotely.

The company recently changed their voluntary work-from-home date from September to October 18 following spikes in the far more-contagious Delta variant.

'Many Googlers are seeing spikes in their communities caused by the Delta variant and are concerned about retuning to the office,' said Google CEO Sundar Pichai (pictured)

'Many Googlers are seeing spikes in their communities caused by the Delta variant and are concerned about retuning to the office,' said Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

Meanwhile, several other corporate giants are exploring similar options.

Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman has considered slashing employees' salaries if their living expenses drop, adding that only those who work at the company's offices are paid their full salaries, according to CBS News.

'If you want to get paid New York rates, you work in New York. None of this, 'I'm in Colorado ... and getting paid like I'm sitting in New York City. Sorry, that doesn't work,' he said.

Catherine Merrill, CEO of monthly magazine The Washingtonian, stated that employees who work from home should be paid as hourly contractors in an Op-Ed piece for the Washington Post back in May.
Fears are held for the survival of a whale that spent two days caught in a Gold Coast shark net as conservationists call for policy change to prevent future entanglements.

The whale was released on Thursday with 'a length of anchor chain and large shark net buoys still attached', Sea Shepherd Australia says.

'The buoys have been deflated by the rescue team to allow the whale to dive', it said in a statement.

There are grave concerns for the large humpback whale who was caught in shark nets on the Gold Coast for two days

Some of the net was removed on Wednesday and by late Thursday afternoon 'most' of it had been cut away, the Queensland Department of Fisheries said.

'This has been a significant joint operation out at sea over two days involving multiple vessels and crews,' the government's shark control program manager Michael Mikitis said.

'We did not give up and stayed with the moving whale throughout today while cutting away a lot of the remaining gear before nightfall.'

Conservation groups have long been calling for the removal of shark control nets, especially during whale migration season, saying swimmers can be protected with less damaging tools such as drones.

A joint operation began to free the whale with most of the netting removed by Thursday afternoon

'This was obviously an extremely difficult and dangerous rescue attempt and we acknowledge the risk undertaken by rescue crews. The challenges they faced were extreme and we are also gravely concerned for the survival of this whale,' Sea Shepherd's Shark Campaigner, Jonathan Clark said.

'These rescues ought to be a thing of the past, especially when consideration is given to the modern technology available to enhance beach safety without impacting on these magnificent creatures. When (Queensland Fisheries Minister Mark Furner ) says that human life comes first, I must wonder if he stops to consider the lives of the whale rescue teams.'

Sea Shepherd have called on the Queensland Government to remove the nets during whale migration season

Sea Shepherd is calling on the Queensland Government to immediately replace shark nets with modern alternatives to 'improve safety for beachgoers and protect our iconic marine wildlife'.

'Over 20,000 whales travel from Antarctica to the warm waters of north Queensland every year between April and November,' it said.

There has been one whale entanglement so far this migration season.

Last year, six whales that became entangled were successfully released.

Mr Furner has been contacted for comment.
An ugly neighbourhood dispute came to a head with a man smashing a beer bottle on the ground and screaming in a woman's face during an expletive-laden shouting match on the street.

Sharon Quai-Hoi, 29, who lives in Albury on the NSW-Victoria border, shared footage of last week's dramatic confrontation that she said had been years in the making.

Ms Quai-Hoi told Daily Mail Australia she invited her neighbours - a family-of-nine - over to have drinks for her father's birthday a few years ago.

But the get-together didn't go to plan - and the households have been locked in a bitter feud ever since.

Footage filmed last weekend shows Ms Quai-Hoi - who lives with her father and sister - arguing with her neighbours on the driveways of their cul-de-sac.

An ugly neighbourhood dispute came to a head with a man smashing a beer bottle on the ground and screaming in his female rival's face

'You think we're ******* do you?', the woman asks, before Ms Quai-Hoi replies: 'I know you are.'

'F*** off, what are you talking about?' the man in hi-vis says while holding a beer bottle.

'Get f***ed idiot. You'd better watch your mouth.'

The three adults continued to exchange insults while children watch on.

'F*** off. Go back inside and give your father a head job,' the man said as he walked off.

Ms Quai-Hoi then made a crude reply, before the man smashed his bottle into the ground and stormed towards her.

Ms Quai-Hoi made a crude comment, before the man smashed his bottle into the ground and stormed towards her

Ms Quai-Hoi can be seen arguing with the family - the other couple's children standing behind them with a third adult - on the driveways of their cul-de-sac in Albury's eastern suburbs

'You'd better be f***ing careful, telling me to do that. Watch your mouth. You never say that,' he screams directly in her face.

Ms Quai-Hoi said she has developed anxiety as a result of the vicious verbal spats between the two homes.

'I started filming it all and putting it online so if something happened to me people would know what was going on,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'I got sick and tired of coming home... but today I thought "I'm going to stand my ground today".'

Sharon Quai-Hoi (pictured), 29, who lives in Albury on the New South Wales border has been in ongoing disputes with her neighbours

The confrontation turns ugly when the man gets offended by an insult from Ms Quai-Hoi, smashing his beer bottle and walking towards her screaming

Ms Quai-Hoi said she never intended for the situation to escalate from the night of the birthday party to the events of last weekend.

'We wanted to keep it friendly. I went to them and said we just didn't want to be having drinks anymore, but... then they wouldn't answer the door to us, we got the police involved and it went downhill,' she said.

Ms Quai-Hoi said they took a restraining order out against the man living in the house.

New South Wales Police told Daily Mail Australia they couldn't refer to Ms Quai-Hoi's case directly.

'Police are unable to comment on any specific investigation. However, any complaint received will be investigated accordingly,' they said in a statement.
Supreme Court justices have struck down part of New York's eviction moratorium - meaning renters can no longer avoid being evicted just by saying COVID has left them broke.

In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court ruled against allowing these 'hardship declarations' as a reason to ban landlords from kicking out tenants. They allowed renters to simply state they'd suffered financial hardship and avoid eviction without providing any evidence.

New Yorkers renting apartments will also now no longer be able to stay in homes they've stopped paying rent on by claiming that doing so would endanger their health. The pause on evictions expires at the end of August, meaning Thursday's ruling could see people kicked out of their apartments from the end of this month.

Incoming Governor Kathy Hochul criticized Thursday's ruling, saying that she and state lawmakers would work to try and reinforce the moratorium.

Both parts of the law that have been cut were enacted when COVID decimated many of New York's biggest industries - including hospitality and travel - leaving people who worked in them fearful of being made homeless.

The state has since largely reopened, and its economy appears to be on the path to recovery.

Outgoing Governor Andrew Cuomo enacted the legislation in March 2020. The other part struck down was originally enacted to ensure people could social distance safely at home while the virus rampaged through the city, making it a global COVID epicenter.

The availability of vaccines and other cases - combined with ongoing reopening measures - means the virus is now seen as much less of a fundamental threat to health.

New York issued the COVID Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act (CEEFPA) to help protect renters during the pandemic.

Protesters gather near City Hall in New York City to protest the expiration of the eviction moratorium on August 11

The Supreme Court slashed half the COVID Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act, which does not allow tenants to escape eviction by simply filing a hardship declaration with the state

The act allowed renters to submit hardship declarations - which include lost income and health - to the state to evade evictions.

Under the act, renters could simply submit the declaration to the state and it would immediately pause all eviction proceedings.

However, only part of the act was slashed by the Court. A second measure that allows renters to prove they've suffered financially from the pandemic, stays in place.

In a dissenting opinion, Justices Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor wrote: 'This scheme violates the Court's longstanding teaching that ordinary "no man can be a judge in his own case."'

New York has recently started to evict homeless people from hotels, where they put up in during lockdown

Tenant can still prove financial hardship from the pandemic to avoid eviction, but can no longer avoid it by just filling out a form

Justice Breyer said he doesn't think 'such drastic relief' is needed at this time.

The lower courts rejected allowing New York landlords to evict tenants again.

The case was brought forward by several small landlords who stated they had suffered severe financially hardship and some even faced homelessness because they could not evict tenants as long as they filed a paper.

Those landlords said being denied rent meant they were no longer able to pay the mortgage on the buildings they owned.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear other eviction moratoriums soon, such as the CDC's

Although the law did not block lawsuits against those who did not pay their rent and did not take away the tenant's obligation to pay the rent, according the New York Times.

NY renters gathered near City Hall in New York City on August 11 to protest against evictions as the moratorium is set to expire on August 31.

Other evictions moratoriums, such as the CDC's, are expected to reach the court soon.

The issue has become yet another facet of the ongoing COVID culture war between progressive Americans who insist it is right and fair to protect people from eviction while the country gets back on its feet - and the Indian Delta variant continues to surge.

But conservatives say the measures run contrary to the capitalist principals that undermine American society, and see it as the latest push towards socialism by left-wing Americans.
Young Australians are more affected by the Covid virus than ever before, with a NSW top doctor revealing the 20-29-year-old age range is causing her the greatest concern.

At a press conference on Friday NSW's deputy chief health officer Dr Marianne Gale said the largest number of new infections in NSW in the past two weeks were occurring in men and women in their 20s.

'With this Delta variant we are seeing a large number of younger adults being affected by Covid-19,' she said.

'In the last 14 days [in the] 20-29-year-old age group, we have that being the biggest numbers.

'I want to encourage young adults in our community to please take the stay at home orders in the Greater Sydney area seriously, as seriously as you possibly can.'

The Delta variant has proved to be highly transmissible among younger people, with people in the 20-29-year-old age group showing the largest increases in NSW in the past 14 days

NSW Deputy chief health officer Dr Marianne Gale urged younger people to 'please take the stay-at-home orders in the greater Sydney area seriously, as seriously as you possibly can'

Gladys Berejiklian announced there were 390 new cases of community transmission at the update, with at least 60 of those have been infectious in the community

Unlike the first wave of the virus in Australia which disproportionately affected people over 60, the Indian delta variant has proven to be highly transmissible among younger people.

Of the 63 Covid cases currently in intensive care in NSW, four are in their 20s, six in their 30s and five in their 40s, Dr Gale said.

She said discussions were also ongoing with the Department of Education about higher infection rates in children.

'We look very closely at the infection rates in children,' she said.

'I know that the Children's Hospital network has a large number of children who they are supporting in the community, and for those who need hospitalisation, taking very good care of them in hospital.

'We are seeing more children affected by Covid this year compared to what we saw last year.'

Covid cases in intensive care in NSW currently number 63 , with four in their 20s, six in their 30s and five in their 40s, Dr Gale said

Ms Berejiklian said the large number of recent cases in NSW meant the trend would continue for at least the next few days

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced there were 390 new cases of community transmission at Friday's press conference, with at least 60 of those infectious in the community.

'I anticipate given the large number of cases we have had in the last few days this trend will continue for at least the next few days,' she said.

Ms Berejiklian said 100,000 'authorised workers aged between 16 and 39 were registered for vaccination next week'.

It was announced that an unvaccinated woman in her 40s died at her home in south-western Sydney, while a man in his late 90s also passed away in the Hunter area.

The elderly man was vaccinated but receiving palliative care at the time of his death.
A Texas death-row inmate scheduled to be executed on September 8 has sued state prison officials demanding that his pastor be allowed to lay hands on him as he dies from a lethal injection.

John Henry Ramirez, 37, a former Marine and a devout Protestant, has been on death row since 2009 for stabbing Pablo Castro 29 times with a serrated knife in a grizzly murder in Corpus Christi on July 19, 2004.

For Protestants, the laying of hands is a symbolic act in which a religious leader places their hands on a person to confer a spiritual blessing.

The legal action - filed on Tuesday - asked a judge to allow Pastor Dana Moore, who has been Ramirez's spiritual advisor since 2016, to be present in the death chamber at his execution and lay his hands on Ramirez as he dies.

Denying this symbolic religious gesture is a violation of Ramirez's first amendment right, according to the lawsuit.

Death-row inmate John Henry Ramirez, pictured here during a 2018 prison interview with the BBC, filed a lawsuit ahead of his September 8 lethal injection execution claiming prison officials are denying his first amendment rights by not allowing his spiritual advisor to lay his hands on Ramirez as he dies

Store clerk Pablo Castro (pictured) was 45 when he was murdered by Ramirez in 2004

Ramirez has already had two stays of execution - once in 2017 so he could get a new attorney and again last September because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ramirez joined the Marines to escape an abusive father and the gang activity in his Texas neighborhood, he told the BBC in a 2018 interview

The latest lawsuit cites a 2018 US Supreme Court order that stayed Patrick Murphy's execution unless the inmate's Buddhist spiritual advisor was allowed to accompany Murphy in the Texas execution chamber.

Murphy, who was one of the 'Texas 7' gang of escaped inmates convicted of killing a suburban Dallas police officer, has not received a new execution date.

Officials of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, which operates the Texas state prison system, had no comment, said a department spokesman.

Ramirez was condemned to death for the brutal, drug-fueled 2004 murder of Castro, a 45-year-old convenience store clerk.

Ramirez stabbed him 29 times during a robbery that netted him and his two codefendants $1.25, according to court documents.

In a 2018 BBC interview from prison, Ramirez said he, Angela Rodriguez and Christina Chavez were smoking weed, taking cocaine, prescription pills and drinking vodka that night.

Ramirez is pictured here during his trial, where he was convicted by a jury after less than an hour of deliberations

He told BBC that Rodriguez was fighting with a man, and he got involved in the altercation to try to separate them.

Crime scene photo of Pablo Castro's brutal murder

'I had stabbed him in the neck,' Ramirez said. 'There was like real aggressive gurgling sound. That's what kind of snapped me out of it, and I saw how hurt he was and he was bleeding everywhere. I was just like, "Oh man. I went too far."'

Growing up, Ramirez said he had an abusive father who stabbed his mother multiple times when he was younger. He said in the BBC interview that he was surrounded by gang activity, so he joined the Marines.

Ramirez claimed that during his drug-fueled blackout, the military training took over.

'They teach you to kill a person in the fastest way possible. They teach you kill shot. That's what we call it, which is a lot of places I ended up hitting Pablo,' Ramirez said.

'I hit him in the heart. I hit him in the neck. I hit him in the groin. I hit him in the lung.'

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

After the murder, he fled to Mexico and was on the run for four years until he was arrested at the Texas-Mexico border. He was convicted in 2009.

A juror told BBC in 2018 it took less than an hour to convict.

'If you're sentenced to death in Texas, you're pretty set that you're going to die,' Ramirez told BBC.
A fuming Gladys Berejiklian has blasted Sydneysiders for deliberately breaking lockdown and then blaming it on 'confusion' surrounding the public health orders.

When asked by a reporter at Friday's NSW Covid update whether there needed to be more clarity around the rules, the premier was having none of it.

'With the evolving health orders and police enforcement... there is still confusion around some of the public health orders,' the reporter said.

'How are people meant to know whether they are breaking the rules and whether they can be subject to a fine?'

Ms Berejiklian quickly fired back, saying residents feigned ignorance or misunderstanding when they were 'knowingly doing the wrong thing' and pretending they 'didn't know' they were breaking the law.

'It is pretty obvious to us and from the feedback we get from police that people use the health orders as an excuse to do the wrong thing,' Ms Berejiklian said.

Gladys Berejkiklian (pictured on Friday) has said she is fed up with Sydneysiders breaking lockdown rules and claiming they didn't know them

'People are saying, "oh, I didn't know". Most of the time that is not true,' she said.

'People are knowingly doing the wrong thing. And pretending it is because they did not understand. We have been very clear about what the rules are.

'The vast majority of people are doing the right thing. When a handful doesn't, it is a setback for all of us.'

She then gave an example of one person who knowingly did the wrong thing and has 'caused havoc' in at least half a dozen LGAs is in western New South Wales.

'This just demonstrates Delta does not leave any room for error.' she said.

Ms Berejiklian then urged people to stay at home unless absolutely necessary, and encouraged anyone with symptoms to isolate and get a Covid test.

On Friday, NSW reported 390 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19, with at least 101 of those people circulating in the community for all or part of their infectious period.

Two people also died: an unvaccinated woman in her 40s in Sydney and a vaccinated man in his 90s at the Hunter region. The toll for the current outbreak in NSW is now at least 38.

'Behind every single statistic is a loved one, a family, and many carers,' Ms Berejiklian said.

Police officers patrol Bondi in Sydney on Friday as residents get their exercise outdoors (pictured)

Greater Sydney and surrounding regions are in lockdown until at least August 28, as are multiple parts of regional NSW, as health authorities battle to contain an outbreak of the virulent Delta strain.

In the last 24 hours, 404 infringement notices have been issued and 41 people have been charged with breaching the public health order.

Yesterday a 19-year-old Rose Bay man was charged after travelling to the Byron Bay area - while a 52-year-old man remains before the courts relation to the same matter.

Police also overnight charged a 21-year-old female and a 20-year-old female with breaching the public health orders by travelling to the Newcastle area around two weeks ago.

Face masks are mandatory to be carried by Sydneysiders whenever they go outside regardless of if they are in one of the LGA required to wear them even for exercise (pictured Bondi on Friday)

Police said the woman had a history of non-compliance with the orders and that in both cases the people knowingly flouted the restrictions.

Ms Berejiklian said Blacktown and Mount Druitt in western Sydney had become areas of particular concern for health authorities, with a rise in cases.

There are currently 63 COVID-19 patients in NSW in intensive care, 30 of which are ventilated.

Meanwhile, almost 20 people linked to a special needs school in Sydney's north have caught COVID-19, including students with severe autism.

NSW Health has uncovered 18 cases associated with the Giant Steps special education school in Gladesville including three staff, seven students and eight family members.

Sydneysiders out getting their exercise in Bondi on Friday. (pictured) Leaving your house for exercise is one of the only reasons you can be outdoors

It comes after a COVID-positive person attended a vaccination hub at Qudos Bank Arena, currently being used for western Sydney's Year 12 students. The arena is a casual contact site on the afternoon of August 10.

NSW Health officials are also 'very concerned' about the potential spread of COVID-19 among vulnerable regional communities, with the majority of new cases in Dubbo and Walgett diagnosed in Aboriginal people.

The cases led the state government to call a one-week snap lockdown for the Walgett, Dubbo, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Narromine and Warren areas on Wednesday.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt on Thursday confirmed an additional 7680 Pfizer vaccines will be provided for the affected areas, including Walgett.

Exercising outdoors in groups of one or two is fine under the rules but gatherings are not allowed (pictured: Bondi on Friday)

Western Local Health District Chief Executive Scott McLachlan confirmed the 'vast majority' of those cases were in Aboriginal people, including children.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Thursday acknowledged there had been problems delivering adequate vaccine supplies to Walgett. He said there was strong demand for Pfizer in those communities.

The Dharriwaa Elders Group at Walgett issued an urgent request on Thursday evening for more trained nurses to support Aboriginal Medical Services.

Mr Hazzard admitted those services were understaffed.

Unions NSW on Friday called on National Cabinet to introduce paid isolation and COVID-19 testing leave for all Australian workers. In Victoria, workers who need to get tested and isolate are eligible for a $450 payment.
Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Thursday that he can't rule out people having to have COVID-19 booster shots indefinitely as the virus continues to surge.

Fauci, the chief medical advisor to the president, made his comments in an interview with Anderson Cooper on CNN in which he also warned that fully vaccinated people with so-called breakthrough infections can still get long-term COVID.

'We know a lot more than we did to start, but there's obviously, you know, we need to be humble in the face of this virus,' Fauci said.

Fauci said 'there are a lot of factors' that go into making decisions such as whether people will routinely have to get vaccinated against COVID-19 like an annual flu shot.

He said researchers have already started conducting studies giving boosters to people who have already been full vaccinated, which have shown hopeful promise that future booster shots beyond a third jab may not be needed.

'The good news about that is that the acceleration of the response goes way up. I mean even better than what you get with the two doses together. In other words, it goes up and up and then if you give a boost, it goes way up,' he said.

'I don't know for certain, but that could mean that you induce a response that's high enough - and durable enough - that you may not have to worry about what people are concerned about, needing a so-called boost every year or so.'

He continued: 'I would hope that the degree of elevation of response that we will see with the boost might actually give us a lot of wiggle room of not necessarily needing a boost often.'

'But I have to be, as you say, we are humble and we are modest about it. We don't know the answer to that.'

Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Thursday that he can't rule out indefinite COVID-19 booster shots but that he hopes that, if booster shots are needed, just one will suffice

How long might a booster shot give the recipients further immunity against a Covid-19 infection?



"We are humble, we are modest about it," says Dr. Anthony Fauci. "We don't know the answer to that, and the only way you do that is you continue to do the clinical studies." pic.twitter.com/WEfnvsm36n  Anderson Cooper 360 (@AC360) August 13, 2021

Fauci said 'the only way' the public health officials will become certain whether continued booster shots will be needed will be by conducting clinical and observational studies.

Cooper asked Fauci how future booster shots would be administered - namely if people would get them at their doctor's office and pharmacies or at mass vaccination locations.

'We don't want to get ahead of ourselves,' Fauci said.

'Let's assume that this occurs that we're making a decision to do this, it would have to be in an orderly fashion. So you would not want to say, okay, now everybody's going to go getting a third boost. It will be an orderly fashion in a timely way.'

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working with vaccine makers Pfizer and Moderna to let some vulnerable people receive a third booster shot of their COVID-19 vaccines to improve their immune response.

Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said on Thursday that the shots would be available to certain people who are moderately and severely immunocompromised.

That group, which she estimates sits at less than 3% of U.S. adults, would include people who have had organ transplants and some cancer patients.

Walensky said the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet on Friday to discuss this issue and offer recommendations.

Some Americans have already taken it upon themselves to get booster shots themselves, even before they're approved.

Fauci did not condemn those who had done so, but said he'd urge anyone considering it to wait until more data becomes available.

In his interview on Thursday, Fauci also issued a stark long COVID warning for people with breakthrough infections - those that happen even when someone is fully-vaccinated.

He told Cooper that breakthrough infection sufferers are still at risk of long COVID, a term for those who suffer from lingering symptoms for months after their body clears the infection.

'Certainly if you get vaccinated and you get a breakthrough infection, you can get long COVID,' Fauci said.

'We don't have enough data in that to say if it's the same kind of risk of getting long COVID of others. But it is likely it would be less because you got a good deal of protection from your vaccine.'

A map shows the total number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the United States

A chart shows the daily number of new coronavirus infections per day since the start of the pandemic

A chart shows the daily number of new coronavirus infections per day in July and August

A chart shows the daily number of new coronavirus deaths per day since the start of the pandemic

A chart shows the daily number of new coronavirus deaths per day in July and August

A map shows the percentages of U.S. states that have been vaccinated so far

A chart shows the daily number of COVID-19 vaccinated in the United States

Fauci also warned that children can get long COVID - but the incidence of it is significantly lower than an adult.

'It's just a few percent of children, whereas with the adult it's anywhere from 10% to up to 30%,' he said.

Mayo Clinic researchers has conducted an alarming study, which was published on a pre-print server medRxiv.org - meaning it has not yet been peer-reviewed.

The study found that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was only 42% effective against infection in July while the Moderna vaccine was only 76% effective.

It has been noted that the drop in efficacy happened around the time the Delta variant of the coronavirus started sweeping the globe - raising concerns that booster shots will be needed to particularly protect against it and other future variants.

Earlier this month, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson expressed that they were still confident that their vaccines can protect against COVID-19 variants despite a recent report warning about hundreds of breakthrough infections in a Massachusetts town.

A healthcare worker fills out a Covid-19 vaccination card at a community healthcare event in a predominately Latino neighborhood in Los Angeles, California on Wednesday

The vaccine cards allot room for future doses of the COVID-19 vaccine

A woman walks past a sign of COVID-19 vaccination at a pharmacy in New York on Wednesday

A healthcare worker prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at West Philadelphia High School in Philadelphia last Tuesday

The recent CDC study focused on an outbreak in the Cape Cod town of Provincetown, a heavy tourist hotspot in Barnstable County, after the July 4 weekend.

It found 469 cases of COVID-19 associated with multiple summer events and large public gatherings - even though 69% of Massachusetts residents were vaccinated.

Researchers said that 346 cases - or 74% - occurred in fully vaccinated people. Scientists did DNA sequencing on 133 of those patients and found that 119 of them, or 89%, had the Delta variant.

The study found that 79% of vaccinated patients with breakthrough infection were symptomatic. There were five COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized, four of whom were fully vaccinated - though no deaths were reported.

Researchers found that the Delta variant is 'highly transmissible' but that 'vaccination is the most important strategy to prevent severe illness and death.'

The study found that viral loads, which indicate the likelihood that someone could transmit the virus to others, were similar among 127 fully vaccinated people and 84 people who were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.

The new study came after the CDC recommended that even those who are fully vaccinated should wear masks in indoor public settings in areas where COVID-19 transmission is high or substantial.
More charges have been laid against Sydney residents accused of travelling to regional NSW in breach of Covid health restrictions.

Charges have been laid against two Covid-positive women, aged 20 and 21, for travelling from Sydney to the Hunter without a reasonable excuse.

The pair was charged with breaching NSW's public health orders by travelling to the Newcastle area around two weeks ago.

Two Sydney women who tested positive to Covid-19 have been charged for breaching NSW public health orders, allegedly travelling to the Hunter region

Police allege the women were directed to return to Sydney but failed to leave the area. Both women have since tested positive to Covid-19.

The 20-year-old is due to face Mount Druitt Local Court on September 29, while the 21-year-old will appear at Hornsby Local Court on the same day.

Five new cases were on Friday reported in the Hunter New England area.

Police allege the women were directed to return to Sydney (pictured) but failed to leave the Hunter area and both women have since tested positive to COVID-19

It follows charges being laid against a Covid-positive father and son from Rose Bay in Sydney's east for breaching a public health order by travelling to Byron Bay, sparking a lockdown in the NSW Northern Rivers.

Zoran Radovanovic, 52, was charged over the incident earlier this week. The second male, aged 19, was on Friday also charged.

They'll both appear in NSW courts in September.

'In both of the circumstances the people involved knew exactly what they were doing - they knew they were breaching the health orders,' NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Mick Willing told reporters on Friday.

This incident comes after a father and son from Sydney's east were charged for travelling to Byron Bay, sparking a lockdown in NSW's Northern Rivers after the father tested positive (pictured, SW Police Deputy Commissioner Mick Willing addresses media)

The 20-year-old woman is due to face Mount Druitt Local Court (pictured) on September 29, while the 21-year-old woman will appear at Hornsby Local Court on the same day

'What is frustrating for us is the small minority breaching those orders.'

Police Commissioner Mick Fuller is expected to address a NSW crisis cabinet meeting on Friday with recommendations about additional police measures, including the deployment of additional military.

Some 404 infringement notices have been issued in the past 24 hours in NSW, with 41 people charged with breaching the public health order.
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Donald Trump's secretary of state Mike Pompeo has condemned the White House for their weak tactics in Afghanistan, saying that the country would not be falling to the Taliban if Trump was in charge.

Pompeo warned on Thursday night that the country was turning into 'a breeding ground' for future terror attacks weeks before the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and the Biden administration's response has been 'at best naive and at worst ignorant'.

He spoke as the Taliban continued their rampage across the country on Thursday by capturing the nation's second largest city Kandahar and the third biggest Herat. On Friday they stormed into Lashkar Gar, the capital of Helmand Province.

The Biden administration announced Thursday it would send 3,000 troops back to Afghanistan to help evacuate American personnel from the embassy in Kabul and would leave another 5,000 on standby in Qatar and Kuwait, with just two weeks until the August 31 deadline to end all ground operations.

The move comes amid furious criticism of the Biden's administration troop withdrawal that has allowed the Taliban to run rampant and capture 12 provincial capitals in a week. There are also reports the terrorists are executing Afghan troops who surrender and are going door-to-door to force young women and girls into sex slavery.

Thousands of Afghan citizens have also fled their homes and have headed to the border in fears Kabul could fall by September 11.

'It looks at best naive and at worst ignorant,' he said, of the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. forces. Weakness begets war, and you see what weak leadership ultimately leads to.'

By Thursday night, 12 provincial capitals had fallen to the Taliban and two thirds of the country was under their control. Only three major cities - Kabul, Jalalabad and Mazar-i-Sharif - remain under Afghan government power.

The Taliban seized the cities of Ghazni, Herat and Kandahar on Thursday, in the most dramatic string of captures since launching their offensive.

The militants raised their white flags imprinted with an Islamic proclamation of faith over Ghazni on Thursday morning, just 80 miles southwest of Kabul.

The Pentagon was sending 3,000 troops, part of three infantry battalions, back to oversee the evacuation of the U.S. embassy in Kabul, in addition to the over 650 U.S. service members still currently stationed in Afghanistan.

Another 3,500 to 4,000 reserve forces will be stationed in Kuwait on standby, and another 1,000 will go to Qatar to help with Special Immigrant visa processing.

Pompeo said that Trump was adamant the Taliban would not regain power on his watch.

Mike Pompeo on Thursday night appeared on Sean Hannity's show to discuss events in Afghanistan

A Taliban fighter holds a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) along the roadside in Herat, Afghanistan's third biggest city, on Friday after the US announced it was sending 3,000 troops back into Afghanistan

The economic centres of Kandahar, Afghanistan's second biggest city, and Lashkar Gah - the capital of the southern province of Helmand - were the latest to fall to the insurgency, prompting questions over how long the capital Kabul will hold out. Pictured: Taliban fighters in a vehicle along the roadside in Herat on Friday

Biden is trying to buy off the Mullahs in the same way hes trying to buy off the Taliban. This is bad foreign policy. It will put Americans at risk. pic.twitter.com/iouElDVlX4  Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) August 13, 2021

Afghan army forces are seen standing guard along the road to Herat on Thursday

The Taliban has taken the city of Ghanzi, just 80 miles south of Kabul, and Herat in the west of the country. The fall of Ghanzi means Islamist fighters now control the main highways leading both north and south out of the capital Kabul. Herat is the country's third largest city and was the 11th provincial capital to fall in a week

'We had a conditions-based plan for how we would get our young men and women back home,' he told Sean Hannity of Fox News.

'We were going to get our soldiers back, and we were going to make sure that this kind of thing you are seeing happened today could not happen - which is a breeding ground for what could potentially be terror attacks coming from this very place.

'I'll never forget the president saying you got two missions, Mike: we have got to have an orderly plan and execution of leadership to actually do that, and then second you've got to make sure that we are never attacked from this place.'

Pompeo said the 20th anniversary of 9/11 was a potent reminder of the threat.

Osama Bin Laden was in Afghanistan at the time, under the protection of the Taliban, who had been in power since 1996.

When they refused to hand him over, the U.S. intervened militarily, quickly removing the Taliban and vowing to support democracy and eliminate the terrorist threat.

The latest U.S. military intelligence assessment suggests Kabul could come under insurgent pressure within 30 days and that, if current trends hold, the Taliban could gain full control of the country within a few months.

The Afghan government may eventually be forced to pull back to defend the capital and just a few other cities in the coming days if the Taliban keep up their momentum.

The onslaught represents a stunning collapse of Afghan forces and renews questions about where the over $830 billion spent by the U.S. Defense Department on fighting, training those troops, and reconstruction efforts went  especially as Taliban fighters ride on American-made Humvees and pickup trucks with M-16 rifles slung across their shoulders.

Taliban fighters stand on a vehicle along the roadside in Herat today. The US is now scrambling to get American personnel and local allies out of Kabul amid fears the Taliban will reach the capital in just 90 days

Pictured: Stranded people crossing the border between Pakistan Afghanistan, in Chaman-Spin Boldak, Pakistan, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Thousands of Afghans have fled their homes amid fears the Taliban will again impose a brutal, repressive government after 20 years

Farzia, 28, who lost her husband in Baghlan one week ago to fighting with the Taliban sits with her children, Subhan, 5, and Ismael, 2, in a tent at a makeshift IDP camp in Kabul on Thursday

Afghans forced from their homes in the northern provinces, now controlled by the Taliban, are pictured arriving at a makeshift camp in Kabul on Thursday

Pompeo said that having the Taliban back in control was a threat to international peace and stability.

'We are now a little bit less than a month away from the 20th anniversary of when they came, when Al Qaeda came and attacked our homeland,' he told Hannity.

'We never want that to happen from Afghanistan again.

'So we had begun to prepare. We started to withdraw from our embassy in Kabul.

'President Trump himself made clear to the Taliban leadership: touch an American and we are going to come hard and we are going to come fast.'

Pompeo spoke after the Pentagon announced it is sending 3,000 troops back into Afghanistan to help evacuate some personnel from the U.S. embassy, amid the Taliban's surging encroachment on the capital city of Kabul.

An Afghan policeman stands guard on July 5 inside Bagram US air base, 50 miles north of Kabul, after all US and NATO troops left

Armored Personnel Carriers are seen on patrol along the border with Pakistan and Afghanistan on Thursday. The border was closed a few days ago in the Pakistani city of Chaman, but it has since reopened

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said: 'We believe this is it the prudent thing to do given the rapidly deteriorating security situation in and around Kabul.'

The latest move follows furious criticism of the Biden's administration troop withdrawal that has allowed the Taliban to run rampant across the country.

There are also reports the terrorists are executing Afghan troops the U.S. left to try and stop the government from being overrun.

Kirby said the mission is to reduce the civilian personnel presence at the U.S. embassy in Kabul by the end of the month. He said he wouldn't speculate what the military 'footprint' would look like in Afghanistan beyond August 31.

However, he said President Biden's Aug. 31 deadline to withdraw U.S. forces still stands.

Afghan security officials arrive as part of a reinforcement to fight against Taliban militants on August 1. By Thursday the city had fallen to the Taliban

Kirby specified the new deployment was part of a 'narrowly-focused mission of safeguarding' but refused to say whether the 3,000 troops would be included in that deadline.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said the embassy would continue to focus on counterterrorism, furthering peace and security and consular work, especially facilitating Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for Afghans who worked to help the U.S. military over the past 20 years.

He said those who are leaving are 'those who might be able to perform functions elsewhere in the world' or who 'may not be necessary to perform functions.'

Price refused to classify the clear-out as an 'evacuation,' and stressed it's a withdrawal of civilian personnel.

Price also stressed that U.S. troops were there strictly to help embassy personnel leave the country safely.

'This is not about re-engaging in military conflict in Afghanistan,' he said.

At the same time, the United Kingdom is sending 600 troops back to Afghanistan to help British nationals to evacuate the nation.

'We are in no way abandoning the people of Afghanistan. Far from it. We are going to continue doing everything we can,' he added, when asked what kind of message the Taliban should take from the withdrawal.

Taliban militants are seen inside Ghazni, eastern Afghanistan, on Thursday

Pleas to leave the embassy untouched seem to go against the president's public assurances that he has still has faith Afghan forces can hold on to Kabul.

Still, with the U.S. drawdown, Afghan interpreters for the U.S. are terrified they may never get their chance to flee as the Taliban put a target on their backs.

James Miervaldis, board chairman of No One Left Behind, a non-profit that works to relocate foreign interpreters, said the organization was disheartened by the escalating situation but had secured a $500,000 private grant to fly as many families out of Afghanistan as they can commercially.

'We have been trying to avoid this outcome in Afghanistan for eight years - through three presidential administrations, seven congresses, seven secretaries of defense, and five secretaries of state... yet here we are. No One Left Behind and patriotic private citizens will fly out as many SIV recipients as possible. We will keep our moral obligation to our allies.

By Thursday, Taliban fighters had captured Afghanistan's third largest city, Herat. Hours later, the militant group captured Kandahar, the nation's second largest city behind Kabul, giving them control of 12 of 34 provincial capitals.

Earlier, it was reported American negotiators were seeking assurances from the Taliban that the militant group will not go after the US embassy if they overtake Kabul.

The effort, led by Zalmay Khalilzad, the chief American envoy in negotiations with the Taliban, seeks to avoid an evacuation of the embassy's nearly 4,000 employees, including 1,400 Americans, two U.S. officials told the New York Times.

Khalilzad is working to convince the Taliban the embassy must remain open if they hope to ever receive any form of American aid as part of a future Afghan government.

The State Department last week warned U.S. citizens to get out of the war-ravaged nation immediately.

Khalilzad arrived in Qatar on Tuesday to warn Taliban officials that their government would not be recognized.

Pleas to leave the embassy untouched seem to go against the president's public assurances that he has still has faith Afghan forces can hold on to Kabul.

Taliban fighters could isolate Afghanistan's capital in 30 days and possibly take it over within 90, a U.S. defense official told Reuters citing intelligence reports as the resurgent militants made more advances across the country.

'But it is not a foregone conclusion,' the official said, adding that Afghan Security Forces could reverse course by surging their resistance.

Biden on Monday said: 'They've got to fight for themselves, fight for their nation. The United States will insist to continue the commitments ... they've got to want to fight. I think there's still a possibility.

'I do not regret my decision' to withdraw, the president continued.

The Biden administration has faced intensifying pressure as swelling Taliban advances draw more public condemnations of the decision to withdraw.

'All of this is a result of President Biden believing he knows more than his military advisors. President Biden apparently learned nothing from Iraq. When it comes to Afghanistan, the worst is yet to come.' Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., wrote on Twitter Thursday.

'A vacuum is being created in Afghanistan for the reemergence of ISIS and al-Qaeda who will attack U.S. interests. America is perceived as an unreliable ally throughout the world. Russia, Iran, and China will become stronger in the region,' he continued.

All of this is a result of President Biden believing he knows more than his military advisors.



President Biden apparently learned nothing from Iraq. When it comes to Afghanistan, the worst is yet to come.  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) August 12, 2021

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said in a statement Biden is 'completely detached from reality.'

'Instead of devising and implementing a strategy to responsibly withdraw our troops and ensure that Afghanistan never again becomes a safe harbor for terrorists, President Biden set an entirely arbitrary deadline.

'Because of the president's disastrous decision, security within Afghanistan has collapsed to the point where the Department of State is evacuating embassy personnel from the country and the Department of Defense is deploying some 3,000 troops to assist in the evacuation process.

'We are now seeing the world's most powerful country pleading with Taliban terrorists not to attack American citizens or murder the Afghans who had worked toward a free and democratic future.'

Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., a notorious hawk who has long been opposed to leaving Afghanistan, called the withdrawal an 'unconditional surrender.'

'America's enemies know that the slogan 'ending endless war' actually means unconditional surrender. That is what we are seeing in Afghanistan today. American weakness is dangerously provocative,' Cheney wrote on Twitter.

U.S. warplanes have launched strikes in support of government troops in recent days but the Pentagon has yet to say whether they will continue to offer air support once Biden's withdrawal deadline has passed.

The insurgents have no air force and are outnumbered by U.S.-trained Afghan defense forces, but they have captured territory with stunning speed. The Taliban wants to defeat the U.S-backed government and reimpose strict Islamic law.

In just the latest warning of atrocities being perpetrated by jihadist fighters in areas they have seized, the U.S. now claims that Taliban fighters are executing Afghan troops who surrender.

'We're hearing additional reports of Taliban executions of surrendering Afghan troops,' the US embassy in Kabul tweeted on Thursday.

'Deeply disturbing & could constitute war crimes.'

Taliban fighters are also going door-to-door and forcibly marrying girls as young as 12 and forcing them into sex slavery as they seize vast swathes of the Afghanistan from government forces.

Jihadist commanders have ordered imams in areas they have captured to bring them lists of unmarried women aged from 12 to 45 for their soldiers to marry because they view them as 'qhanimat' or 'spoils of war' - to be divided up among the victors.

Fighters have then been going door-to-door to claim their 'prizes', even looking through the wardrobes of families to establish the ages of girls before forcing them into a life of sexual servitude.

A family including women and children rest at a makeshift camp in the Afghan capital of Kabul after fleeing fighting

Young boys rest in a refugee camp in Kabul, Afghanistan, after fleeing fighting elsewhere in the country

Fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands of Afghan civilians who have fled their homes, with thousands of those heading for the safety of government-held Kabul (pictured)

Meanwhile, White House press secretary Jen Psaki came under fire for her overly-diplomatic attitude toward the brutal militant group.

'The Taliban also has to make an assessment about what they want their role to be in the international community,' she said in an effort to nudge them to the negotiating table.

In an attempt to stop the bloodletting, Afghan diplomats in Qatar said they had approached the Taliban with a deal today that would see the group included in a national unity government in return for halting the fighting.

But such talks have been stalled for years over Taliban demands to turn the country into an Islamic emirate - and there is little reason to believe they will have softened that stance after their battlefield triumphs.

Children forced to flee their homes due to fighting in Afghanistan drink tea as they sit in a refugee camp in Kabul
Border patrol agents have turned a Texas park into a temporary tent city as officials are working to find shelter for approximately 1,000 migrants, including newborn babies, who have been released from U.S. custody.

McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos issued a disaster declaration ten days ago as local officials scrambled to house the growing number of migrants seeking legal asylum in the U.S.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) dropped off a record-breaking 11,026 migrants in the city last week, CBS News reported. The US recorded more than 212,000 illegal crossings in July, it was revealed Thursday - the first time that figure had topped 200,000 in 21 years.

Mayor Villalobos says he is not sure how the situation got to be so 'dire'.

Border patrol agents have created a quarantine camp at Anzalduas Park in McAllen, Texas as they work to find shelter for approximately 1,000 migrants

McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos (pictured) issued a disaster declaration ten days ago as local officials scrambled to house the growing number of migrants seeking legal asylum in the U.S.

'The numbers went from 500 to 600 a day. Soon afterwards, 1,000 a day. And then an excess of 1,500,' he explained.

Upon arrival, migrants are taken to the quarantine camp at Anzalduas Park and tested for COVID-19 and acred for in open air.

About 1,000 others have been placed in quarantine in churches, private buildings owned by charities and hotel rooms.

Now, the city is facing the issue of not having enough housing options for the migrants.

'I did not have enough rooms to place new families in isolation,' Sister Norma Pimentel, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, said.

'So that's when we said to Mayor Villalobos that we have a problem here. I don't think by tomorrow I'm going to be able to contain this within our respite center. So I need help.'

Upon arrival, migrants are taken to the quarantine camp at Anzalduas Park and tested for COVID-19 and acred for in open air. About 1,000 others have been placed in quarantine in churches, private buildings owned by charities and hotel rooms

Now, the city is facing the issue of not having enough housing options for the migrants

Officials are also battling cases of COVID positivity. On August 4 officials reported that 7,000 out of nearly 88,000 migrants (more than 8%) released in McAllen since February had tested positive for COVID-19

Officials are also battling cases of COVID positivity. Texas is experiencing a surge in cases fueled by the Delta variant and low vaccination rates.

Intensive care units in at least 53 hospital have reached capacity and more than 10,000 people have been hospitalized with coronavirus.

'Initially, I didn't see it as a problem, because it was under control,' Villalobos said. 'So I saw no correlation between the increase in COVID within our community and the immigrants because they were isolated.'

According to law enforcement, the number of COVID-positive cases from across the border is relatively small compared to the state's latest surge.

On August 4 officials reported that 7,000 out of nearly 88,000 migrants --more than 8 percent -- released in McAllen since February had tested positive for COVID-19.

However, they say positive tests have become more frequent in recent weeks. Last week, 14.8 percent of migrants released from border patrol custody tested positive for COVID. Texas' statewide positivity rate of is 18.7 percent, as of Wednesday.

'We can't attribute the rise in COVID numbers to migrants,' Villalobos told the New York Times, also acknowledging that he issued the disaster declaration because he believes the surge in border crossings could pose a health risk to local residents.

'The influx of migrants just became too big,' he explained. 'The vast majority of McAllen residents never see a migrant, but we couldn't risk them wandering around town.'

'The problem wasn't that a higher percentage of families were COVID-positive,' Pimentel echoed. 'It was that the numbers arriving were so high, there were more positives among them.'

Texas is experiencing a surge in cases fueled by the Delta variant and low vaccination rates. Intensive care units in at least 53 hospital have reached capacity and more than 10,000 people have been hospitalized with coronavirus

Villalobos argued that Texas 'can't attribute the rise in COVID numbers to migrants' while also acknowledging that he issued the disaster declaration because he believes the surge in border crossings could pose a health risk to local residents

CBP is also working to expand a 'temporary outdoor processing site' under the Anzalduas International Bridge that stretches into Mexico

CBP reportedly does not have the capacity to test migrants for the coronavirus upon arrival and does not routinely test them prior to their release. They leave the testing responsibility to localities and charities who can seek federal reimbursement.

Everardo Villarreal, a county commissioner, issued his support for the quarantine camp, saying the park was the 'perfect location because it has natural barriers to keep immigrants from county residents'.

'We have enough people of our own infecting each other; we don't need people from other countries coming and infecting us,' he said.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas visited Anzalduas Park on Thursday morning and issued his support for efforts underway there.

'The park is outdoors and the safest way in which we can accomplish that testing in isolation,' Mayorkas said.

He told CBS News the federal government would reimburse local government and nonprofits 'for the expenses that they incur' for testing, isolating and quarantining. He also insisted that government leaders are actively pursuing additional resources to help establish 'processes to make sure that migrants are tested, cohorted during transportation, isolated in quarantine as necessary'.

CBP is also working to expand a 'temporary outdoor processing site' under the Anzalduas International Bridge that stretches into Mexico.

Photos of the Anzalduas Park tent city come just days after the release of video taken by border patrol agents showing holding facilities with massive overcrowding where migrants lay packed together  some not wearing masks.

New video from a Border Patrol agent shows migrants crammed together in a holding facility in the Rio Grande Valley  some without masks

'They are way past capacity  so aliens sit outside because where do you take them?' a source told Townhall Media in sharing the jarring images.

'Logistically it's a nightmare,' they continued, 'people want to go to the bathroom, need to eat, women need to breastfeed, and the list goes on.'

'This has surpassed the point of sustainability  this is lunacy,' the border agent added.

The images from the Rio Grande Valley Sector shows the overcrowding that has led to migrants apprehended in that area being held instead under the Anzalduas International Bridge in Mission, Texas.

These migrants remain in outdoor holding areas under the bridge as they await processing  and temperatures reach above 100 degrees.

The images emerged as the border crisis prevails and reports revealed that thousands were being released into local communities without first being tested for coroanvirus

Frustrated border agents provided the images to Townhall Media. Here men lay side-by-side behind a gate an overcrowded facility

Health and Human Services assured earlier this year the overcrowding issue has been resolved as they set up temporary facilities to hold migrants and set up Alternative to Detention Programs, like ankle bracelet monitoring or home check-ins. These measures are slammed by Republicans as so-called 'catch and release' programs, which they claim are ineffective in holding criminals accountable for illegal immigration.

Unaccompanied minors who are being held at HHS facilities are still claiming inhumane conditions, CNN reported this week.

Those in a facility in Pecos, Texas said they are being served undercooked food and experience long wait times for medical attention.

'When we eat meals, the meat and eggs are sometimes a bit raw, and the potatoes are a bit hard,' a 16-year-old from El Salvador who is staying at the Pecos site said, according to court documents. 'Sometimes, I worry about eating the food because I don't want to get sick. I know of two kids threw up after eating the food.'

Customs and Border Protection revealed that 188,829 migrants were stopped at the southwest border in June. Reports reveal that number topped 210,000 in July, although official numbers have not yet been released

Record numbers of migrants are illegally crossing the border under Joe Biden's administration, pleading for asylum. Thousands of these individuals are released into the local communities in Texas and other states every day where they remain in Alternative to Detention Programs while awaiting rulings on their case.

Many localities have claimed they are widely contributing to the surge in COVID-19 cases as the Delta variant and breakthrough cases in vaccinated individuals continue to spike.

In June, CBP revealed it encountered more than 188,000 migrants at the southern border and several reports reveal the number for July tops 210,000, although the official figures have not yet been released.

The latest pushes the number of illegal immigrants who crossed into the U.S. in Biden's first six months in office over the 1.3 million mark.
A 16-year-old boy (above) died on Saturday, days after allegedly being beaten by six teenagers - including a 14-year-old who allegedly struck him 52 times

A 'caring and polite' boy, 14, is accused of striking a teenager 52 times in an alleged fatal pack bashing at a housing commission home in Sydney's west, a court heard.

The accused boy, dressed in a collared shirt and jumper, sat up straight as he appeared by in Parramatta Children's Court on Friday, days after and five others were charged with the 16-year-old's murder.

The young man is the second youngest of four teenage boys and two girls who allegedly took turns assaulting the cowering child in Doonside last Wednesday.

Police allege the 'extremely vicious' assault - which allegedly saw the boy stomped and jumped upon - occurred because the teens sought 'gang notoriety' in a conflict between western Sydney post codes.

Police allege the incident came about after the now-dead boy allegedly stole a pair of Apple AirPod headphones and was then lured to the address with the promise of a party.

During a bail hearing, Magistrate Stuart Devine heard teenagers cried out 'finish him', 'pick him up, I'm going to f***ing throw him through the wall' and 'go hard, don't stop until he is f***ing knocked out c***'.

Incredible gesture: Doonside locals have covered the fence of the housing commission home with balloons, bouquets of flowers and candles - and are demanding 'justice' for the boy

Balloons cover the western Sydney home's simple fence in a moving act of kindness from grieving residents

The teenage boy was left brain dead, with two collapsed lungs and trauma to his face and body after the alleged bashing.

He died in hospital three days later.

Prosecutors told the court that almost 24 hours after the incident, the 14-year-old accused boy attended Granville police station wearing similar clothing.

The magistrate was told the boy had scratches and cuts on his hands and a small amount of blood to his shoes, and his release posed an unacceptable risk.

Defence barrister AJ Karim accepted the boy was at the crime scene, but argued there were several inherent flaws in the police case.

'This is a really sad matter ... The attack was gruesome. I've watched all three footages and I think I'll be lightly putting it if I describe it as horrendous.

'It is terrible. It is truly a stain on our community for an offence like this to occur.'

Mr Karim said the accused boy didn't look like the child who was captured allegedly beating the teenager in mobile phone footage.

The respected barrister asked Magistrate Devine to compare screenshots of the incident with the boy seen in court.

'In my respectful submission: those two do not look alike,' Mr Karim said.

Mr Karim also demanded to know how police could claim the boy had blood on his shoes at the police station.

'How can the police possibly say that without any documentary evidence or analysis?' he asked.

The sixteen-year-old boy (above) died at Westmead Hospital on Saturday after he was allegedly brutally bashed at a home in Doonside three days prior

Defence barrister AJ Karim and solicitor Michelle Karim argued the boy could be released on strict conditional bail akin to house arrest

Mr Karim and solicitor Michelle Karim sought for the boy to be released on strict house arrest conditions while awaiting trial.

The child, who is blind in one eye, was described as 'caring and polite' in a letter from a Glebe youth worker, and the allegations as wildly out of character.

But Magistrate Devine refused the bail application, saying he wasn't persuaded the prosecution case was weak.

Outside court solicitor Ms Karim said the matter was 'very serious'.

The court appearance comes as an incredible balloon tribute was erected outside the home where the boy was allegedly murdered.

Photos shared with Daily Mail Australia show dozens of balloons attached to the fence of the housing commission property, along with bouquets of flowers, handwritten notes and a sign demanding 'justice'.

The windows of the home itself have been boarded up, and later graffitied, since Ms Dawson's arrest last Sunday.

A candlelit vigil was expected to be held on Friday evening. Other teens accused did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.

How a mate of six teens charged with the bashing murder of a boy, 16, in a postcode gang war was 'found WEARING the victim's jumper' seven hours after his lifeless body was found

The jumper of a teenage boy who was bashed to death was found being worn by a mate of his attackers' hours later, police claim.

All six teens - including a 15-year-old girl who police believe was the ringleader, and the house's occupant Kayla Dawson, 19 - have been charged with the body's murder.

In court documents, police detail how officers caught up with a 15-year-old at a home close to the crime scene about 11.45pm that evening.

That alleged offender was injured and had blood on his hands and shoes, a statement of alleged police facts said.

The court document claimed the teen was with a 32-year-old man who 'was observed to be wearing (the alleged victim's) jumper which had a distinct red and blue coloured hood.'

The accused ringleader and another alleged participant, 13 were allegedly found at the older man's home, police claimed.

In court documents police allege a 15-year-old girl (left) was the 'major instigator' of the attacks on the 16-year-old boy at Doonside

Police alleged in court documents that the alleged ringleader was seen to be 'smiling and laughing' as the boy was brutally beaten last week.

Court documents alleged the girl yelled 'stomp on his head, put him in a f***ing grave' and 'go finish him off, go go go' as if cheering her friends on.

Police allege that at one point she grabbed the boy by the hair and rammed his head into a wall, leaving a hole in the gyprock.

The girl is also accused of kicking the boy in the face with the toe of her shoe, jolting his head back.

The young woman allegedly also yelled 'we're going to take you to the other house so the other c***s can f*** you up', court documents claimed.

The boy was allegedly forced to yell obscenities about the 'inner west' post code, court documents said.

The teenagers allegedly took turns attacking the boy with someone eventually yelling 'finish him' at 4.39pm, police allege.

It will be alleged the boy was left lifeless on the floor, not breathing, as many of the teenagers left the home.

About an hour after some of the alleged offenders departed, at 5.42pm, resident Kayla Dawson, 19, called 000, police alleged in court documents.

Dawson told operators the boy was showing no signs of life, it will be alleged.

Kayla Dawson, 19, the resident of the house, allegedly called 000 about an hour after many of the teenagers left the home

Paramedics managed to start the boy's heart with a shot of adrenalin but he died in hospital three days later, court documents said

Paramedics performed CPR for a long time and managed to restart the teenager's heart with a shot of adrenalin.

However, despite their best efforts, the boy was placed in an induced coma upon arrival at Westmead Hospital.

He was brain dead and had suffered blunt force trauma injuries to his face and body, as well as two collapsed lungs.

A social media tribute to the 16-year-old boy said he will 'always be missed'

Doctors switched off the teenager's life support at 10.02am on Saturday.

The boy's aunt revealed in a post to GoFundMe on Tuesday that his organs have been donated to five other people in an incredible gesture.

'After this difficult decision that (the boy's) mum had to make, she has just heard that through his organ donation, (he) has been able to save 5 lives.

'What an amazing boy!'

The boy - who was was allegedly lured to the home on the promise he was attending a party - leaves behind a grieving mother and sisters.

Also in mourning are his school mates - who have remembered him for their 'chats and laughs .... in class and in the playground.'

'You were always smiling and you were caring, funny and do anything for anyone,' one tribute said.

A former school literacy worker said: 'He was always happy, a bit cheeky and chatty with me - though sometimes he chatted to get out of his literacy work.

'It is a great sadness that such a lovely soul should have been taken from this world at such a young age.'

The boy's family are said to be 'overwhelmed' by support, with the community raising more than $43,000 for the boy's funeral at time of publication.

Harley Robinson was cornered at Blacktown train station in western Sydney near the local courthouse as his girlfriend made her first appearance since she was charged with murder

Each of the teenagers have been charged with a series of offences - including murder - and are yet to enter pleas.

Dawson was arrested at home on Sunday and formally refused bail at Blacktown Court on Monday.

That same day, her one-time boyfriend Harley Robinson was allegedly filmed kissing the feet of western Sydney locals close to the suburb's train station.

Daily Mail Australia understands that Mr Robinson has spoken to police about the incident.

He has not been charged with any offences and it is not suggested that he has committed any offence.
A Virginia teacher who quit her job during a televised school board meeting over her opposition to Critical Race Theory has called on others to do the same - and says she now has an exciting new job after being inundated with offers.

Speaking to Tucker Carlson on Fox News on Thursday night, Laura Morris said she'd received support and emails from others she hoped would translate into further resignations.

She told Tucker: 'One of the emails I received from another state, from Connecticut, it's been said that one candle can only light a thousand others without diminishing its own illumination and he said, you are that candle.

'I was so moved by those words because I never thought of myself in that position, never felt like -- in fact, I feel like the blessing of god pouring down for me which is happy that I'm so excited what I did and what I said might spark others, illuminate in others the desire to put some action to their words.

'There's a lot of wars going on in county, people upset on both sides, and I'm just noticing more and more that doesn't seem to be changing things. But if people do something bold, when people put action to their words, actions speak louder than words and that seems to be captivating people. So I'm excited to see what other actions people might be taking.

Morris said she'd been inundated with support from her former students and their parents, and said she was touched to know they 'have her back.'

Laura Morris appeared on Fox News to discuss the sensational moment she quit her job and said she's 'excited' to inspire others to 'put actions to their words'

Since her sensational resignation at the school board meeting, Morris has been flooded with support online - but also branded a villain.

In one tweet, user Peter Anthony said: '#LauraMorris. This woman is a brave hero. She should be trending all over social media. She definitely isn't a sheep. She quit her job as a teacher because of CRT. WAKE UP SHEEPLE.'

In another, user Matt Endspiel said: '#LauraMorris this woman deserves a medal for standing up for her beliefs. The school board are pathetic and tried to silence a dissenting voice by turning off the mic.'

Morris admitted to Carlson that there was a divide between the counties near her school and, so it seems, the world. Despite the multitudes of support she has received, those who are pro-CRT aren't holding back.

Morris experienced tons of support after her resignation at Lucketts Elementary School with many dubbing the teacher 'brave'

Carl McCasland wrote: 'Laura Morris is a bigot who quit her job because her job told her she can't continue being a bigot to children. CHILDREN. Laura Morris isn't a patriot, she is a bigoted, heartless fool parading around fraudulently as a Christian. Good riddance. These kids deserve better.'

Another user, who goes by Emperor Aloysius XVI, said: 'What U incorrectly call #CRT's whole point is to teach inclusion. And In this case, there's nothing that can't be resolved through talking.

'"How did you feel when you were excluded?"'

Despite the divide on the topic, Morris has been offered multiple jobs from different schools and has accepted a position at a private Christian school.

At the school board meeting, Laura Morris spoke before Loudoun County School Board in an emotional address, explaining why the 'equity trainings' and political dogma forced her to resign.

She said she could no longer be part of an organization that told her 'white, Christian, able-bodied females' needed to be reined in.

Morris, who has taught at Lucketts Elementary School in Leesburg, Virginia, for five years - half of her career - told the board: 'I quit being a cog in a machine that tells me to push highly-politicized agendas on our most vulnerable constituents  the children.'

Her voice breaking with emotion, she said she no longer felt able to teach within the district, despite it being affluent and well-resourced.

'This summer I have struggled with the idea of returning to school, knowing that I'll be working yet again with a school division that, despite its shiny tech and flashy salary, promotes political ideologies that do not square with who I am as a believer in Christ,' she said.

Morris said that she was dismayed by the 'lack of consideration for the growing population of concerned citizens in this division', pointing out that Tuesday's meeting was in an empty hall.

Loudoun recently adopted rules for the public comment section of board meetings that prohibit a general audience and allow only 10 scheduled speakers to enter the building at a time.

She said she was angered by 'emails sent by the superintendent last year reminding me that a dissenting opinion is not allowed, even to be spoken in my personal life.'

Laura Morris has been a teacher for ten years, and for the past five has taught within Loudoun County Public Schools. On Tuesday night she quit, saying she could no longer teach their 'highly-politicized agendas' and objecting at being asked to report colleagues to the authorities

Morris taught at Lucketts Elementary School (pictured) as a fifth grade teacher

A map shows Loudoun County in Virginia - which is known to be America's wealthiest suburb

And she said that she had been sent a form which she and her colleagues were told to fill out if they heard others within the school system criticizing 'the controversial policies being promoted by this school board'.

Morris continued: 'Not only that, but within the last year I was told in our so-called equity trainings that white, Christian, able-bodied females currently have the power in our schools and, quote, 'this has to change'.

'Clearly you have made your point.

'You no longer value me, or many other teachers you have employed in this county.

'So since my contract outlines the power that you have over my employment in Loudoun County Public Schools, I thought it necessary to resign in front of you.

'School board, I quit.

'I quit your policies, I quit your training, and I quit being a cog in a machine that tells me to push highly-politicized agendas on our most vulnerable constituents  the children.

'I will find employment elsewhere. I encourage all parents and staff in this county to flood the private schools.'

Morris had spoken before the Loudoun County School Board, in a virtually empty hall. Following a series of heated meetings, the general public is no longer permitted to attend

A man is detained after a fight broke out during a Loudoun County School Board meeting on June 22

Parents attended a packed Loudoun County School board meeting in June which descended into chaos

Loudoun County, when asked about her resignation, said: 'LCPS does not comment on personnel matters.'

Loudon County, which borders Washington DC, has become the epicenter for arguments about the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT) in schools.

School board meetings have become contentious with parents yelling and being arrested, furious at the idea of teaching what they see as divisive and unpatriotic approaches. Defenders of CRT say that it is simply a reframing of traditional narratives, to deal with some uncomfortable truths about America's racial history.

The school board is no stranger to controversy.

On May 25, physical education teacher Byron 'Tanner' Cross was suspended after refusing to 'affirm that a biological boy can be a girl and vice versa.'

He had taught at Leesburg Elementary School for eight years, but said that his Christian faith would not allow him to use a student's preferred pronouns - although he said he was happy to use whichever name they chose.

On June 8, a court ordered that Cross be reinstated, but LCPS said they will appeal.

On Tuesday night, the school board discussed whether to grant transgender children access to sex-specific facilities and school activities that match their gender identities.

A vote was postponed until Wednesday, after public comment stretched on for more than four hours.
New York City's population has jumped to a whopping 8.8 million after the Big Apple gained more residents over the last decade thank many other major cities combined.

From 2010 to 2020, it welcomed 629,057 new New Yorkers to the five boroughs, more than the total number of people who moved to Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas and Phoenix during the same period.

The newest data, compiled during the worst of the COVID-19 crisis last Spring, was release by the US Census Bureau released on Thursday.

Officials in the Big Apple had feared a population drop as the pandemic worsened, which could have affected federal aid, while New York City served as an unwanted epicenter.

'Substantial and surprising,' said Steven Romalewski, an expert in city demographics at the CUNYs Graduate Center.

'Its really impressive to see this kind of growth against the backdrop of the pandemic  and not only the claims that everyone was making about people leaving the city leaving the droves, but also collecting all the data during the pandemic.'

People are seen walking through Times Square in New York, where a 7.7 percent increase in population from 2010 to 2020 made the total jump to 8.8 million

People with and without masks walk on a crowded boardwalk at Coney Island on Memorial Day in the Brooklyn Borough of New York on May 31

The United States' top 10 most populated cities 1. New York, NY - 8.8 million 2. Los Angeles, CA - 4.1 million 3. Chicago, IL - 2.6 million 4. Houston, TX - 2.4 million 5. Phoenix, AZ - 1.7 million 6. Philadelphia, PA - 1.6 million 7. San Antonio, TX - 1.5 million 8. San Diego, CA - 1.4 million Advertisement

The surge in New York's population amounts to a 7.7 percent increase, a figure helping to dispel theories that the pandemic would take a permanent, and big, bite out of the Big Apple.

'Im surprised  very surprised by that. I thought the flow of population was heading out,' Mike C., an actor who lives in Brooklyn, told New York Post.

The outlet reports that the other top ten US cities saw increases in their respective populations, none of which came close to the spike in New York City.

After Gotham, Houston saw 205,000 new faces move to the city over the same time frame, with the populations of Los Angeles increasing by 106,000 people and Dallas by 107,000.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia, the only other northeast city besides New York to break into the top ten, picked up a far more modest 78,000.

And while Chicago gained a meager 54,000 people over that ten year period, bringing the total population to 2.7 million, the figure is far more impressive considering the city was losing residents a decade ago.

As for the five boroughs, Brooklyn remains the fastest-growing in New York, seeing a 9.2 percent increase of 231,374 new residents from 2010 to last year, making the overall borough population 2.7 million, making Brooklyn the same size as Chicago population-wise.

The next fastest-growing borough was Queens, which increased by 174,742 people to bring the total population to 2.4 million.

Shoppers enjoy Manhattan, as new figures show that New York's population rocketed by close to 700,000 in the last decade

Perhaps most unsurprisingly, Staten Island remains the city's slowest growing borough, with the smallest borough in New York only adding 27,012 new residents to the island. The population is now 496,000 after the modest 5.8 increase.

'People are always going to come to New York. Its not one of those cities that dies, you know,' Brooklynite Nick Ambro told the Post.

'Many bad things have happened to this city, and it still kept going.'

America's white population is shrinking: 2020 Census reveals whites make up less than 60% for the first time and there are nearly 20m less than in 2010

The 2020 Census has revealed that America's white population is shrinking and is now less than 60 percent for the first time on record, with nearly 20million fewer white Americans alive today than ten years ago.

White Americans make up 57.8 percent of the country, according to the data that was released on Thursday, a decrease of over 6 percent since 2010.

That is the number of people who replied 'white alone, non Hispanic or Latino' to the survey. Another group who just answered 'white alone' make up 61 percent of the country, according to a data map.

The white population is still the largest in the country at 204.3 million, but that number is down from 223.6 million in 2010.

The second largest group is Hispanics which makes up 62million, or 18 percent. The third are African Americans, which represent 12.1 percent of the country. That is down from 13 percent in the 2010 census.

Generally, the population is becoming more diverse with people responding that they are of 'some other race' than white, black, Hispanic, native American, Asian, or Pacific Islander, than before.

The only states where the majority of the population is non-white are California (Hispanic majority of 39.4%), DC (black majority of 40.9%), Hawaii (Asian majority of 36.5%), New Mexico (Hispanic majority of 47.7%) and Puerto Rico, which has a population that is 98% Hispanic.

White Americans make up 57.8 percent of the country, according to the data that was released on Thursday, a decrease of over 6 percent since 2010. That is the number of people who replied 'white alone, non Hispanic or Latino' to the survey. Another group who just answered 'white alone' make up 61 percent of the country, according to a data map.

White Americans still make up the largest ethnic group in the country but it's a community that is shrinking in size. There are 19million fewer white Americans in this census than in the 2010 census

CENSUS SNAPSHOT - White population has shrunk by 5million from 2010 to 2020 and is now 57.8% - Phoenix has grown the fastest of any city in the country - NYC remains the largest city by population with 8.8million - Vermont is the whitest state, with 95.5% of the population - DC is the only state where the majority of residents are black Advertisement

Vermont is the whitest state, with 95.5% of residents reporting to be white.

'Twenty years ago if you told people this was going to be the case, they wouldnt have believed you.

'The country is changing dramatically,' William Frey, a researcher at the Brookings Institution told The Washington Post of the data.

The data also offered new details on the country's slowing rate of population growth, which is lower than it has been at any time aside from the 1930s.

More than half of all U.S. counties lost population from 2010 to 2020, census officials said.

New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Phoenix are the five largest U.S. cities; Phoenix, which grew faster than any other city in the top 10, surpassed Philadelphia.

The fastest-growing cities across the U.S. are in suburban areas, data showed. Buckeye, a suburb of Phoenix, saw its population increase by nearly 80% to lead the nation.

The Villages, a retirement community in Florida, is the fastest-growing metro area in the country, the census said.

The release arrived months later than originally expected after the census took longer to complete due to the coronavirus pandemic. The delay has forced some states to go to court to postpone their redistricting deadlines.

States use the data to redraw district lines for the U.S. House of Representatives after each decennial census, based on where people now reside.

The number of people who responded that they were 'white alone, not hispanic' represented 57.8% of the country but a map of the country shows 71 percent said 'white alone or in combination with another race'. This map shows where the highest white populations are

The highest African American populations are in the south. DC has the highest black population, at 40.9 percent

The largest hispanic populations are along the border and in Florida, where 25% or more of the state population is hispanic

The Asian population is among the smallest of any race. The only state where more than 20 percent reported being Asian was Hawaii

American Indian or Native American populations are in northern states like Montana and South Dakota and southern states like New Mexico and Oklahoma

In April, the bureau published state-level figures, showing that Texas, Florida and North Carolina - all states controlled by Republicans - will gain congressional seats next year based on increased populations.

Electoral analysts have said Republicans could potentially erase the Democrats' thin advantage in the House through redistricting alone.

Some experts have questioned whether the census data may have undercounted certain populations, given both the pandemic as well as the Trump administration's unsuccessful effort to add a citizenship question to the survey.

Civil rights groups had expressed concern that the failed attempt could nevertheless have dissuaded some immigrants from filling out census forms.

'While no data is perfect, we are confident that today's redistricting results meet our high data quality standards,' Ron Jarmin, the bureau's acting director, said on Thursday.
A confronting video has revealed the large amount of Chemist Warehouse stores listed as Covid-19 exposure sites in Sydney.

TikTok user 'silencebrand' shared a video on Thursday showing himself scrolling through an apparent list of the discount pharmacy chain's store locations.

After scrolling through for a while, he 'realises' he is on the NSW Covid exposure site list, showing it to the camera.

There are 12 Chemist Warehouse stores, mainly based in Sydney's west and south-west, that are currently listed by NSW Health as Covid exposure sites.

The video has been viewed nearly 43,000 times and has received hundreds of comments, many from employees of the store who are worried for the health and safety of themselves and their families.

The TikTok (pictured) scrolls through the large number of Chemist Warehouse stores that are on the Covid exposure site list

'I work at CWH. People aren't getting tested, instead they come into store when sick. I'm worried I'll get it and bring it home to my family,' commented one worker.

Another viewer commented on the layout of the store and how difficult it is to comply with social distancing guidelines.

'The aisles are so thin I get claustrophobic. Impossible to social distance,' they wrote.

'Not a great advertisement for Chemist Warehouse,' remarked another.

Others said it was concerning how many people infected with Covid were visiting the discount chemist for medication instead of getting tested and isolating.

'They all realise they are sick, go get medication, and still get tested for Covid a week later,' wrote one man.

Another man said he spotted three people buying cold and flu tablets in the short time he visited the store.

A comprehensive list of all the exposure sites can be found on the NSW Health website.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Chemist Warehouse for a comment.
Western Australia will demand all arrivals from NSW prove they have had at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine in order to enter the state.

Travellers must also provide proof of a negative PCR test in the 72 hours prior to departure, Premier Mark McGowan announced on Friday.

The new measures will come into effect from August 17, when NSW will be moved into a beefed-up 'high risk' category under WA's controlled border regime.

The decision makes WA the first Australian state to make vaccines mandatory for anyone crossing state borders.

Arrivals from NSW will also be required to use the G2G Now app  which allows police to digitally check on the location for users through their smart phone.

It comes as NSW on Friday reported 390 new locally-acquired cases and a further two deaths.

WA's tough stance came despite Friday's figures of 384 positive results from 127,988 tests in NSW - indicating 99.7 per cent of people in the state do not have the virus.

Mr McGowan described that as a 'raging outbreak'.

It shuts off WA to 60 per cent of the NSW population who have not had the first shot of the vaccine, many because they have not been given the chance.

Western Australia will demand arrivals from NSW prove they have had at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine under tough new arrangements (pictured, WA premier Mark McGowan)

'Given what is happening in NSW, there's no sign of the situation improving over coming weeks,' Mr McGowan said of the new arrangements.

'These are tough measures, but they are necessary to protect the state.

'I (also) think this is a template for other states to look at should they want to protect themselves from the raging outbreak in NSW.

'The situation in NSW is very serious and our hard border arrangements must reflect that and reduce the risk to Western Australians.'

The new rules will be introduced with NSW now being classified as an 'extreme risk' state under WA's Covid-19 risk assessment regime.

Under the 'extreme risk' settings, travellers from interstate would be required to complete 14 days of mandatory hotel quarantine.

Exemptions would also only be granted to defence personnel, members of the Federal Parliament and Commonwealth employees on official business.

'Our thoughts are with the people of NSW with 390 new infections and two people passing away,' McGowan said.

'As a result of the worsening situation in NSW, the risk to WA is too high. The situation in NSW is very serious and the hard border arrangement must reflect that.'

NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia are already subject to a hard border, denying entry to the vast majority of travellers.

Mr McGowan said 61 approved travellers had arrived in Perth from NSW over the past two days and another 43 were due to arrive on Friday.

Compassionate exemptions will be adjusted to ensure West Australians in NSW are able to return home subject to getting vaccinated and tested.

The ACT will also be subject to a hard border from midnight on Friday after an outbreak forced the nation's capital into a seven-day lockdown.

Travellers to WA from NSW must also provide proof of a negative PCR test in the 72 hours prior to departure, Premier Mark McGowan announced on Friday (pictured, a year 12 student receiving her Pfizer vaccination in Sydney's west)

The measures will come into effect from August 17 when NSW will move to a beefed-up 'high risk' category under WA's controlled border regime (pictured, a virtually deserted Strathfield train station in Sydney's inner-west)

But SA will enter the low-risk category, expanding eligibility to more travellers. They will still be required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.

The trigger point for states and territories to enter the 'extreme risk' category will be an average of more than 300 community cases per day.

States and territories will enter the high-risk category when they record an average of more than 50 daily community cases.

WA recorded no new cases overnight. The state is also monitoring four active cases.

Mr McGowan said the Darya Krishna cargo ship was expected to leave Fremantle on Tuesday, with most crew members having recovered from their recent infections.

One man remains in intensive care at Perth's Fiona Stanley Hospital.
President Joe Biden's pick for a top job at the Environmental Protection Agency has been branded an 'extremist' for supporting the 'defund the police' movement on Chinese state-run TV last year.

Carlton Waterhouse has been tapped for the role as assistant administrator of the EPA's Office of Land and Emergency Management, and is awaiting confirmation in the U.S. Senate, the New York Post reported.

Last June, Waterhouse appeared on China Global Television Network to discuss the 'defund the police' movement after the murder of George Floyd - in a clip that has been resurfaced by the conservative think tank American Accountability Foundation.

His comments have since been slammed by Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas in a statement to Fox News on Tuesday.

'Carlton Waterhouse is a political activist who supports fringe environmental and racist policies,' Cotton said.

'Arkansans and all Americans deserve a fair administrator of law  not an extremist who would weaponize the EPA to serve his wacky version of 'social justice.'

Carlton Waterhouse, President Joe Biden's pick for a top job at the Environmental Protection Agency, has been branded an 'extremist' by Sen. Tom Cotton, right, for his comments on 'defund the police'

Last June, Waterhouse appeared on China Global Television Network to discuss the 'defund the police' movement after the murder of George Floyd

Waterhouse, a law professor at Howard University in Washington D.C., had said: 'The idea of defunding the police generally means we should reallocate the funds that are used for policing toward the actual services that are needed by communities.'

'There are places where we see that they don't have robust police forces and they seem to be able to live their lives in a way that is acceptable and comfortable for them,' Waterhouse said.

'In all honesty, if you think about all of our major police forces, we have spent all of our money on a possible cure rather than putting it into education, into health and into social services.'

Carlton Waterhouse has been tapped for the role as assistant administrator of the EPA's Office of Land and Emergency Management,

Demonstrators hold a sign reading 'Defund the police' during a protest over the death of a Daniel Prude

Protesters signs hang on the gate in City Hall Park in New York City that say, 'Defund NYPD' and 'BLM'

People protest the Kentucky grand jury decision in the case of Breonna Taylors death by Louisville police

Waterhouse then joined hundreds of scholars in signing a letter pledging solidarity with the 'defund the police' movement, the Washington Free Beacon reported.

'We are inspired by communities that are demanding redefinition of public safety and redistribution of resources to those who have borne the brunt of state violence,' the letter read.

'Movement organizers have long highlighted the state's simultaneous overinvestment in police and divestment from key resources that communities require to thrive and stay safe: health care, education, housing and employment.'

The letter added: 'Today's calls to defund the police stem from a recognition that policing is rooted in anti-Blackness and the policy choices to impoverish people and then punish them for the predictable consequences of poverty.'

In a press release, the EPA praised Waterhouse as an 'international expert on environmental law and environmental justice, as well as reparations and redress for historic injustices.'

The agency noted that he began his career as an attorney with the EPA - where he served as the chief counsel 'in several significant cases' and as an expert on environmental justice in some others.

Calls to defund - or even abolish - police departments were made by left-wing activists in the wake of Floyd's May 2020 murder in Minneapolis.

But the phrase - also adopted by some far-left Democrats - was unpopular with voters.

It was blamed for Joe Biden's narrower than expected election victory over Donald Trump in November 2020, despite Biden himself disavowing it.
A man has been killed after being stabbed in broad daylight in a street in Sydney's inner west.

Emergency services were called to Marrickville Road, Marrickville, in Sydneys inner west on midday on Friday after reports a man had been stabbed.

The 55-year-old was found by police with wounds to his upper body and died at the scene despite several attempts to revive him.

Police arrived on the scene in Sydney's inner west after midday on Friday

A NSW Police spokesperson confirmed that a man had been arrested and was assisting police with their enquiries.

An investigation began at a property on Denison Road in Dulwich Hill and locals were advised to stay away from the area.

Marrickville Road was closed off between Wardell and Livingstone roads with traffic diverted.

The man was stabbed in the upper body and died on the scene

A police operation began at a property in Dulwich Hill

The police operation is continuing across Sydney's inner west suburbs of Dulwich Hill and Marrickville
A son who flew from Europe only to be forced to farewell his dying mother in Perth from a Melbourne hotel room is so disgusted to be Australian he wants to leave and never return.

Western Australia's Labor Premier Mark McGowan in June refused to allowed James Turbitt into the state to see his mum for the last time in person.

Instead of giving her a last hug in a Perth hospital, the 35-year-old grieving son was forced to farewell his mother via a bad internet video connection from Melbourne's Stamford Plaza hotel, where he was quarantining for two weeks after flying to Australia from Belgium.

'I've just felt pretty embarrassed to be Australian and I'm looking forward to leaving as soon as I can,' Mr Turbitt told the ABC's 7.30 program.

Now Mr Turbitt can't leave Australia because new rules have been brought in forcing citizens who live overseas to prove they have a foreign address.

Western Australia, the state that stopped a man seeing his dying mum, will now also force visitors from other states to be vaccinated or have a negative Covid test.

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A son who flew from Europe only to be forced to farewell his dying mother in Perth from a Melbourne hotel room is embarrassed to be Australian. Western Australia's Labor Premier Mark McGowan in June refused to allowed James Turbitt (pictured) into the state to see his mum for the last time in person

Mr Turbitt's 62-year-old mother died at Perth's Fiona Stanley Hospital on June 20, at 1.30am, with her son denied a chance to see her despite testing negative to Covid-19 when he left Brussels for Melbourne two days earlier.

He was so distressed at his ordeal he staged a hunger strike.

'I've just felt dismayed at the way people have been treated,' Mr Turbitt said.

'Absolute hell. It's been, you know, six weeks of a nightmare that doesn't seem to stop.'

Mr Turbitt wants to return to his girlfriend in the Belgian city of Antwerp after he sorts out his late mother's belongings at his childhood home at Australind near Bunbury, south of Perth.

But last week, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews announced Australian citizens who want to leave the country for personal reasons must prove they live overseas.

'We are asking them to provide proof that they do live overseas and that could be a residency permit, it could be a utility account,' she said.

'It should be reasonably straightforward for them, but we don't want people coming in and out of this country multiple times and taking opportunities for other Australians who are trying to return home and to stay here permanently.'

Instead of giving a last hug in a Perth hospital, the 35-year-old grieving son was forced to farewell his mother via video from Melbourne's Stamford Plaza hotel (pictured is his room), where he was quarantining for two weeks after flying to Australia from Belgium

Now Mr Turbitt can't leave Australia because new rules have been brought in forcing citizens who live overseas to prove they have a foreign address

Western Australia, which denied a man's wishing to see his dying mother, is now stipulating that anyone who visits from another part of the country must be vaccinated with at least one dose.

Mr McGowan announced on Friday that visitors must provide proof of a negative PCR test in the 72 hours before departure to visit WA.

The new measures will come into effect from August 17, when NSW will be moved into a beefed-up 'high risk' category under WA's controlled border policy.

The decision makes WA the first Australian state to make vaccines mandatory for anyone crossing state borders.

Arrivals from NSW will also be required to use the G2G Now app  which allows police to digitally check on the location for users through their smart phone.

It comes as New South Wales on Friday reported a record 390 new locally-acquired cases and another two deaths, including a woman in her 40s who died at home in south-west Sydney.

Western Australia, which denied a man's wishing to see his dying mother, is now stipulating that anyone who visits from another part of the country must be vaccinated. Premier Mark McGowan (pictured) announced on Friday that visitors must provide proof of a negative PCR test in the 72 hours before departure to visit WA

WA's tough stance came despite Friday's figures of 384 positive results from 127,988 tests in NSW - indicating 99.7 per cent of people in the state do not have the virus.

Mr McGowan described that as a 'raging outbreak'.

'Given what is happening in NSW, there's no sign of the situation improving over coming weeks,' he said.

'These are tough measures, but they are necessary to protect the state.'

It shuts off WA to 52 per cent of the NSW population who have not had the first shot of the vaccine, many because they have not been given the chance.

WA, however, has Australia's lowest Covid vaccination rate with just 20.7 per cent of those aged 16 and over having had two doses of either AstraZeneca or Pfizer, compared with 24.4 per cent in NSW.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews has announced Australian citizens who want to leave the country for personal reasons must prove they live overseas

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner were allowed to flew to Tokyo in July to make the case for Brisbane's ultimately successful bid to host the Olympics

WA, however, has Australia's lowest Covid vaccination rate with just 20.7 per cent of those aged 16 and over having had two doses of either AstraZeneca or Pfizer, compared with 24.4 per cent in NSW

Australians have since March 2020 been banned from leaving the country for social or family reasons and must seek an exemption from Australian Force Border, which decides individual cases.

With politicians and celebrities given exemptions to leave and return to Australia, Mr Turbitt said he no longer had faith in the government to fairly decide cases.

'I just feel that it's full of double standards here. If you're a celebrity, if you've got money, you can buy your way out,' he said.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner were allowed to fly to Tokyo in July to make the case for Brisbane's ultimately successful bid to host the Olympics in 2032, despite an online petition with 132,872 signatures demanding she be stopped from leaving Australia.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison in June visited a pub at Cornwall in England after attending the G7 summit of world leaders.
U.S. regulators on Thursday said transplant recipients and others with severely weakened immune systems can get an extra dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to better protect them as the Indian Delta variant continues to surge.

The late-night announcement by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) applies to several million Americans who are especially vulnerable due to organ transplants, certain cancers or other disorders.

No guidance was given for people who had Johnson & Johnson's single-shot COVID-19 vaccination.

Several other countries, including France and Israel, have similar recommendations.

It's harder for vaccines to rev up an immune system suppressed by certain medications and diseases, so those patients dont always get the same protection as otherwise healthy people - and small studies suggest for at least some, an extra dose may be the solution.

Such people  including cancer and HIV patients  in general do not produce an adequate immune response after receiving two doses of a vaccine, U.S. officials say

Growing evidence has suggested select immunocompromised patients mount a diminished protective immune response, even after two doses of vaccine

'Todays action allows doctors to boost immunity in certain immunocompromised individuals who need extra protection from COVID-19,' Dr. Janet Woodcock, the FDA's acting commissioner, said in a statement.

The FDA determined that transplant recipients and others with a similar level of compromised immunity can receive a third dose of the vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna at least 28 days after getting their second shot.

The announcement comes as the extra-contagious Delta version of the coronavirus surges through much of America, pushing new cases, hospitalizations and deaths to heights not seen since winter 2020.

According to Dr. Janet Woodcock, today's COVID-19 climate allows doctors to boost immunity in certain immunocompromised individuals who need extra protection from coronavirus

Importantly, the FDAs decision only applies to a specific high-risk group, estimated to be no more than 3% of U.S. adults.

It's not an opening for booster doses for the general population.

Instead, health authorities consider the extra dose part of the initial prescription for the immune-compromised.

For example, France, since April has encouraged that such patients get a third dose four weeks after their regular second shot. Israel and Germany also recently began recommending a third dose of two-dose vaccines.

Separately, U.S. health officials are continuing to closely monitor if and when average people's immunity wanes enough for to be required - but for now, the vaccines continue to offer robust protection for the general population.

Dr. Fauci told several news networks, including NBC and CNN, that COVID-19 Booster shots are needed for those who are immunocompromised

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to formally recommend the extra shots for certain immune-compromised groups after a meeting on Friday with its outside advisers.

Transplant recipients and others with suppressed immune systems know they're at more risk than the average American and some have been seeking out extra doses on their own, even if it means lying about their vaccination status.

The change means now the high-risk groups can will have easier access to get another shot - but experts caution it's not yet clear exactly who should.

'This is all going to be very personalized,' cautioned Dr. Dorry Segev, a transplant surgeon at Johns Hopkins University who is running a major National Institutes of Health study of extra shots for organ recipients.

Percentage of the U.S. population vaccinated so far has ranged from high to low in multiple parts of the country, varying in the South, West and North East

The FDA determined that transplant recipients and others with weak immune systems can receive a third dose of vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna 28 days after getting double jabbed

For some people, a third dose 'increases their immune response. Yet for some people it does not seem to. We dont quite know whos who yet.'

Recently, one study of more than 650 transplant recipients found more than half harbored virus-fighting antibodies after two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines - although generally less than in otherwise healthy vaccinated people. Another study of people with rheumatoid arthritis and similar autoimmune diseases found only those who use particular medications have very poor vaccine responses.

Theres little data on how well a third dose works, and if it causes any safety problems such as an increased risk of organ rejection. Wednesday, Canadian researchers reported that transplant recipients were more likely to have high levels of antibodies if they got a third dose than those given a dummy shot for comparison. Other small studies have similarly found that some transplant recipients respond to a third dose while others still lack enough protection.

Fauci says he can't rule out Americans having to have booster shots indefinitely - but hopes one will suffice - and warns fully-vaccinated 'breakthrough' infections could still cause long COVID

Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Thursday that he can't rule out people having to have COVID-19 booster shots indefinitely as the virus continues to surge.

Fauci, the chief medical advisor to the president, made his comments in an interview with Anderson Cooper on CNN in which he also warned that fully vaccinated people with so-called breakthrough infections can still get long-term COVID.

'We know a lot more than we did to start, but there's obviously, you know, we need to be humble in the face of this virus,' Fauci said.

Fauci said 'there are a lot of factors' that go into making decisions such as whether people will routinely have to get vaccinated against COVID-19 like an annual flu shot.

He said researchers have already started conducting studies giving boosters to people who have already been full vaccinated, which have shown hopeful promise that future booster shots beyond a third jab may not be needed.

'The good news about that is that the acceleration of the response goes way up. I mean even better than what you get with the two doses together. In other words, it goes up and up and then if you give a boost, it goes way up,' he said.

'I don't know for certain, but that could mean that you induce a response that's high enough - and durable enough - that you may not have to worry about what people are concerned about, needing a so-called boost every year or so.'

He continued: 'I would hope that the degree of elevation of response that we will see with the boost might actually give us a lot of wiggle room of not necessarily needing a boost often.'

'But I have to be, as you say, we are humble and we are modest about it. We don't know the answer to that.'

Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Thursday that he can't rule out indefinite COVID-19 booster shots but that he hopes that, if booster shots are needed, just one will suffice

How long might a booster shot give the recipients further immunity against a Covid-19 infection?



"We are humble, we are modest about it," says Dr. Anthony Fauci. "We don't know the answer to that, and the only way you do that is you continue to do the clinical studies." pic.twitter.com/WEfnvsm36n  Anderson Cooper 360 (@AC360) August 13, 2021

Fauci said 'the only way' the public health officials will become certain whether continued booster shots will be needed will be by conducting clinical and observational studies.

Cooper asked Fauci how future booster shots would be administered - namely if people would get them at their doctor's office and pharmacies or at mass vaccination locations.

'We don't want to get ahead of ourselves,' Fauci said.

'Let's assume that this occurs that we're making a decision to do this, it would have to be in an orderly fashion. So you would not want to say, okay, now everybody's going to go getting a third boost. It will be an orderly fashion in a timely way.'

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working with vaccine makers Pfizer and Moderna to let some vulnerable people receive a third booster shot of their COVID-19 vaccines to improve their immune response.

Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said on Thursday that the shots would be available to certain people who are moderately and severely immunocompromised.

That group, which she estimates sits at less than 3% of U.S. adults, would include people who have had organ transplants and some cancer patients.

Walensky said the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet on Friday to discuss this issue and offer recommendations.

Some Americans have already taken it upon themselves to get booster shots themselves, even before they're approved.

Fauci did not condemn those who had done so, but said he'd urge anyone considering it to wait until more data becomes available.

In his interview on Thursday, Fauci also issued a stark long COVID warning for people with breakthrough infections - those that happen even when someone is fully-vaccinated.

He told Cooper that breakthrough infection sufferers are still at risk of long COVID, a term for those who suffer from lingering symptoms for months after their body clears the infection.

'Certainly if you get vaccinated and you get a breakthrough infection, you can get long COVID,' Fauci said.

'We don't have enough data in that to say if it's the same kind of risk of getting long COVID of others. But it is likely it would be less because you got a good deal of protection from your vaccine.'

A map shows the total number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the United States

A chart shows the daily number of new coronavirus infections per day since the start of the pandemic

A chart shows the daily number of new coronavirus infections per day in July and August

A chart shows the daily number of new coronavirus deaths per day since the start of the pandemic

A chart shows the daily number of new coronavirus deaths per day in July and August

A chart shows the daily number of COVID-19 vaccinated in the United States

Fauci also warned that children can get long COVID - but the incidence of it is significantly lower than an adult.

'It's just a few percent of children, whereas with the adult it's anywhere from 10% to up to 30%,' he said.

Mayo Clinic researchers has conducted an alarming study, which was published on a pre-print server medRxiv.org - meaning it has not yet been peer-reviewed.

The study found that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was only 42% effective against infection in July while the Moderna vaccine was only 76% effective.

It has been noted that the drop in efficacy happened around the time the Delta variant of the coronavirus started sweeping the globe - raising concerns that booster shots will be needed to particularly protect against it and other future variants.

Earlier this month, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson expressed that they were still confident that their vaccines can protect against COVID-19 variants despite a recent report warning about hundreds of breakthrough infections in a Massachusetts town.

A healthcare worker fills out a Covid-19 vaccination card at a community healthcare event in a predominately Latino neighborhood in Los Angeles, California on Wednesday

The vaccine cards allot room for future doses of the COVID-19 vaccine

A woman walks past a sign of COVID-19 vaccination at a pharmacy in New York on Wednesday

A healthcare worker prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at West Philadelphia High School in Philadelphia last Tuesday

The recent CDC study focused on an outbreak in the Cape Cod town of Provincetown, a heavy tourist hotspot in Barnstable County, after the July 4 weekend.

It found 469 cases of COVID-19 associated with multiple summer events and large public gatherings - even though 69% of Massachusetts residents were vaccinated.

Researchers said that 346 cases - or 74% - occurred in fully vaccinated people. Scientists did DNA sequencing on 133 of those patients and found that 119 of them, or 89%, had the Delta variant.

The study found that 79% of vaccinated patients with breakthrough infection were symptomatic. There were five COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized, four of whom were fully vaccinated - though no deaths were reported.

Researchers found that the Delta variant is 'highly transmissible' but that 'vaccination is the most important strategy to prevent severe illness and death.'

The study found that viral loads, which indicate the likelihood that someone could transmit the virus to others, were similar among 127 fully vaccinated people and 84 people who were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.

The new study came after the CDC recommended that even those who are fully vaccinated should wear masks in indoor public settings in areas where COVID-19 transmission is high or substantial.
An alleged cop killer was freed on bond following a hit and run four months before the murder - despite being on probation for robbery at the time of the collision.

Emonte Morgan, 21, who police say fatally shot French during a traffic stop last Saturday, has been connected to a hit-and-run case from April in which a walker was struck in a crosswalk and sent flying against a stop sign.

According to ABC 7, Morgan didn't stop driving until he struck a parked car nearly a mile and a half away. He was freed on a personal recognizance bond in the wake of the hit and run - despite being on probation for a 2019 robbery conviction at the time.

Morgan was still free at the time of French's death, sparking questions about the city's soft justice, as Mayor Lori Lightfoot is shunned by Windy City cops.

Emonte Morgan, left, was charged after he allegedly shot dead Chicago police officer Ella French, right, on Saturday. Now, it has been revealed that he was on probation for a robbery conviction at the time of the officer's murder

The hit-and-run occurred on April 9 around 9.15pm in the 1300 block of Wells Street.

A physician who saw the incident, only identified as Diane, saw a Dodge Caravan swerving in and out of traffic, before she heard a 'terrible sound' and saw a man being thrown against a stop sign from the van's windshield. The van sped off.

Diane stayed with the victim until police and paramedics arrived on scene.

'He was in bad shape, I mean that was just terrible head trauma,' she told the TV station. 'I was telling him not to move because if there was any kind of spinal cord damage, I didn't want him to make it worse.'

The victim was taken to an area hospital in serious but stable condition. No further updates on his condition were given.

Morgan allegedly kept driving until he hit a parked car in the 900 block of North Cambridge Avenue

Police say he exited the vehicle and was apprehended by a security guard. Morgan was taken into custody and later told officers he became distracted while driving because he had been arguing with his brother on the phone.

Emonte's older brother Eric Morgan, pictured, was also charged in French's death

Eric Morgan is pictured during the traffic stop in the body worn camera footage

Morgan was charged with driving without a license, operating an uninsured vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident. His most serious charge was a misdemeanor.

He was released the next day on a personal recognizance bond.

On May 18, the Cook County Adult Probation Department determined that Morgan's hit-and-run arrest was a violation of his 2019 probation in the robbery case, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Diane said she learned this week that Morgan was charged with killing French and severely wounding her partner last Saturday night.

'I was in utter disbelief and felt sadness for her family,' Diane told ABC 7.

French, 29, was killed and a 39-year-old unnamed officer was critically wounded Saturday during a struggle after they stopped an SUV because of expired plates.

Bodycam footage shows Eric Morgan, 22, sitting in the driver's seat as a cop looks into the car through the driver's side window moments before his younger brother Emonte Morgan allegedly fires at the officers.

The footage shows the moments before Emonte Morgan allegedly fired at the officers

Separate surveillance footage shows police pull over the Morgan brothers, and a female passenger

The SUV was pulled over during a routine traffic stop on Saturday night

The brothers initially followed officers' instructions, handing over the vehicle's keys and getting out of the SUV. But the situation escalated after Emonte refused to set down a drink and cellphone he was holding, Murphy said.

'He began physically jerking his arms away from the officers,' Murphy said.

Footage from police body cameras shows Emonte Morgan had a handgun tucked into his waistband, Murphy said.

French is pictured before her death with her fellow officers

As he struggled with police, he began firing several shots, striking the French once in the head and a 39-year-old officer, whose name has not been released, in the right eye, right shoulder and in his brain.

Prosecutors said Emonte admitted to investigators that he pulled his handgun out of his waistband and opened fire.

Cook County Judge Arthur Willis on Tuesday ordered Emonte held without bond on charges of first-degree murder of a peace officer, attempted murder of two other officers, unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

Eric Morgan also was ordered held without bond. He is charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and obstruction of justice.

French was the first Chicago police officer to die from a gunshot in the line of duty in nearly three years.
One in four Australians have now been double-vaccinated against Covid-19, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Friday.

As of Thursday night, 25.02 per cent of Australians over 16 have been fully vaccinated, with one million doses handed out in the past four days.

This time last month only 11.6 per cent had been given both doses of the vaccine.

'That just demonstrates how quickly this vaccination program is gathering pace all around the country,' Mr Morrison said.

At current rates, most states will see 70 per cent of their adult populations fully vaccinated by the middle of November.

One in four Australians have now been double-vaccinated against Covid-19 , Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Friday. Pictured: Residents in Centennial Park in Sydney

This graph shows the date when each state will hit 70 per cent of adults fully jabbed based on current rates

That is the percentage needed to make lockdowns 'much less likely', according to the National Cabinet re-opening plan.

'Australians are charting that course. Australians are making that path ahead for our nation out of Covid-19 with every step they take into those vaccination clinics,' Mr Morrison said.

But the Prime Minister warned that suppression strategies would have to remain in place until the 70 per cent rate was reached.

'We must continue to suppress it. And we must continue to vaccinate. Suppress and vaccinate. That is what phase A of the national plan is all about,' Mr Morrison said.

'And phase B of that plan, hitting 70 per cent, we need to achieve those rates in order to move to that next stage. And what is encouraging is that the vaccination program is continuing to escalate.

'It is continuing to get higher and higher marks every day and I think that gives all Australians great hope about the path ahead.'

As of Thursday night, 25.02 per cent of Australians over 16 have been fully vaccinated, with one million doses handed out in the past four days. Pictured: Scott Morrison on Thurday

The Prime Minister also said states can pass laws to make sure businesses who do not require employees to get vaccinated are not sued for failing to provide a safe workplace in the event of any Covid-19 outbreaks.

'We do not have a mandatory vaccination program. It is free and it is not mandatory. Businesses are encouraging their employees around the country to get vaccinated, as they should,' he said.

Mr Morrison made the comments after a National Cabinet meeting on Friday when NSW recorded its worst day yet of the Covid-19 outbreak with a record 390 new cases and two deaths.

One of the casualties was an unvaccinated woman in her 40s who died at her home in south-west Sydney.

The other was a fully vaccinated man in his late 90s who died while receiving palliative care at RFBI Hawkins Masonic Retirement Village in Edgeworth.

Most of the cases are in Western Sydney and south-western Sydney.

Victoria recorded 11 new cases on Friday and the ACT, which went into lockdown on Thursday, recorded two more, taking its cluster to six.

NSW recorded its worst day yet of the Covid-19 outbreak with a record 390 new cases and two deaths. Pictured: A shopper on Thursday

With Melbourne, Sydney, parts of regional NSW and Canberra in lockdown, some $2.6billion has been paid to people who lost work during lockdowns via the Covid-19 disaster support payment, the Prime Minister said.

Earlier on Friday, WA announced it would make all arrivals from NSW prove they have had at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine under tough new arrangements.

Travellers must also provide proof of a negative PCR test in the 72 hours prior to departure, Premier Mark McGowan said.

The new measures will come into effect from August 17, when NSW will move to an 'extreme risk' category under WA's controlled border regime.

The decision also makes WA the first official Australian state to make vaccines a mandatory requirement for anyone crossing state borders.

'Given what is happening in NSW, there's no sign of the situation improving over coming weeks,' Mr McGowan said of the new arrangements.

'These are tough measures, but they are necessary to protect the state.

'I think this is a template for other states to look at should they want to protect themselves from the raging outbreak in NSW.

'The situation in NSW is very serious and our hard border arrangements must reflect that and reduce the risk to Western Australians.'

The new rules will be introduced with NSW now being classified as an 'extreme risk' state under WA's Covid-19 risk assessment regime.

Under the 'extreme risk' settings, travellers from interstate would be required to complete 14 days of mandatory hotel quarantine.

Exemptions would also only be granted to defence personnel, members of the Federal Parliament and Commonwealth employees on official business.

'Our thoughts are with the people of NSW with 390 new infections and two people passing away,' McGowan said.

'As a result of the worsening situation in NSW, the risk to WA is too high. The situation in NSW is very serious and the hard border arrangement must reflect that.'

NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia are already subject to a hard border, denying entry to the vast majority of travellers.

Mr McGowan said 61 approved travellers had arrived in Perth from NSW over the past two days and another 43 were due to arrive on Friday.

Compassionate exemptions will be adjusted to ensure West Australians in NSW are able to return home subject to getting vaccinated and tested.

The ACT will also be subject to a hard border from midnight on Friday after an outbreak forced the nation's capital into a seven-day lockdown.

With AAP

Western Australia will demand arrivals from NSW prove they have had at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine under tough new arrangements (pictured, WA premier Mark McGowan)
Edinburgh will become the first British city to make Airbnb hosts apply for planning permission to try to clamp down on anti-social behaviour and housing shortages.

Councillors in the Scottish capital yesterday passed plans meaning landlords will have to ask the town hall before putting up homes as short-term lets.

The move left homeowners furious as they claimed they were acting as scapegoats for the government's poor housing policy.

But campaigners supported it after saying the city centre has been 'hollowed out' by properties up for short-term rentals.

Councillors in the Scottish capital (file photo) yesterday passed plans meaning landlords will have to ask the town hall before putting up homes as short-term lets

Edinburgh is home to around a third of Airbnbs in Scotland and locals fear they have forced out Scots and upped prices.

The city's chief planning officer David Givan called for the policy to cover all of it to stop losing short-term lets in certain areas.

Vice-convener of the council's planning committee Maureen Child said: 'It's great to see so much progress being made to tackle this issue we have campaigned so hard to address.

'This is so important as short-term lets have reduced the city's housing stock, hollowed out communities and caused numerous issues for residents, such as noise and other anti-social behaviour.

'I look forward to seeing these new powers being used to improve the lives of many of our residents throughout the city.'

Landlords would have to ask the council for a 'change of use' to keep their short-term rentals.

The only homeowners exempt are ones who have run their properties for over a decade and it only applies to full houses - rather than spare rooms.

Edinburgh council will have to get approval from the government following a consultation before the plans can be put in place.

The Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers slammed the changes as 'wholly disproportionate' and lacking evidence.

Chief Executive Fiona Campbell told the Telegraph: 'Self-catering properties have been a longstanding presence in the capital for decades, enhancing the tourist offering and boosting the local economy, and should not be used as a convenient scapegoat for policy failures elsewhere.'

The Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers' Fiona Campbell (pictured) slammed the changes as 'wholly disproportionate' and lacking evidence

She added: 'Communities are being hoodwinked into believing that regulating short-term lets out of existence will act as a panacea when in reality, we have failed to build enough affordable homes or bring large numbers of empty properties back into use.

'Last year, self-catering generated 50 million for Edinburgh's economy. For a city that is renowned for its hospitality, it is very disappointing that local policymakers are looking to solve multifaceted housing challenges in Edinburgh by concentrating on tourist accommodation and damaging small businesses in the process.'

Tourists often use Airbnbs in the city due to popular annual events such as the Fringe festival and Hogmanay.

But in 2017 MSPs were told the Old Town was being subject to 'very audible sex parties' coming from a rented flat.

Other apartments had allegedly turned into 'party flats' which attracted stag and hen dos.

Director of Public Policy at Airbnb Patrick Robinson said: 'We don't expect this proposal to affect the majority of hosts, who typically rent their own home on a part-time basis for less than 60 nights a year, with around half saying that the additional income is an economic lifeline.

'We are concerned about the impact these measures could have on some Hosts who bring great benefits to Scotland, and we look forward to engaging with Edinburgh City Council to secure the best outcomes for everyone.'
A man has been arrested after his elderly parents were found dead with stab wounds at their home in regional NSW.

Graeme Leslie Murray, 46, is undergoing treatment at Nepean Hospital for injuries he suffered during an incident at his parents' property in Oberon in the state's central west on Friday morning.

Detectives found the bodies of his father Glen, 68, and 66-year-old mother Susan at the home at about 7am.

One of the bodies was discovered at the rear of the house and the other in the kitchen.

Susan and Glen Murray were found dead at their home in Oberon in the NSW's central west on Friday morning

A manhunt for their son was launched after Murray told a work colleague he had harmed members of his family, Acting Superintendent Bruce Grassick said.

Detectives briefly negotiated with the suspect before he handed himself into police in Penrith - about 100km from Oberon - at 9am.

Bruce Grassick, Chifley Police District Commander Acting Superintendent, said the suspect's injuries were minor.

'He has some injuries to is hand and is likely to undergo some form of surgery,' Superintendent Grassick said.

'There are some indications that it (his wounds) may have been inflicted by that source (knife), but we are still trying to establish that at this stage.'

One of the bodies was discovered at the rear of the house and the other in the kitchen

The 46-year-old is thought to be a resident of Sydney and is still being questioned by police.

Superintendent Grassick described the incident as tragic and confronting for police.

'There's no indication at this point of a struggle, but we're still working on that scene,' he commented.

He said the couple had moved from Oberon from Sydney in the last few years.

The Oberon address was not known to police, he noted.
A murder investigation has been launched after the death of a two-year-old boy.

He died at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff on Thursday afternoon after being found in a critical condition in Bridgend on Wednesday at around 8.30pm.

South Wales Police said a 31-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder. She is in police custody.

The boy died at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff on Thursday afternoon after being found in a critical condition in Bridgend on Wednesday at around 8.30pm (pictured)

South Wales Police said a 31-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder. She is in police custody (file photo)

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Davies said: 'I understand this incident will have caused concerns in the local community, but I must stress we are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with this matter at this time.'

He appealed to people not to speculate on social media about the situation during what is 'a very difficult time for all concerned'.

Liaison officers are working with the family.
A successful tech entrepreneur has opened the doors to his ocean-front 'fortress' on social media, and revealed the significant sacrifices of making his $214million-plus fortune.

Fred Schebesta, quirky founder and CEO of comparison website Finder, gave TikTok star Fonzie Gomez a tour of his stunning five-bedroom 'Coogee castle' at 14 Bunya Parade in Sydney that he bought in May for $16.85million.

Mr Schebesta said he had sacrificed 'health, family time, friendships' on the way to running a 'almost a billion dollar empire' made up of Finder, a cryptocurrency brokerage HiveEx.com and his newly-released book.

Tech multimillionaire Fred Schebesta gave TikTok star Fonzie Gomez a tour of the 'Coogee castle' he bought in May for $16.85million as he opened up about the costs of amassing his $214million-plus fortune

Mr Schebesta bought the 800 square metre two-level home, which was designed by architect Renato D'Ettorre and built in 1994, to resemble a moated castle floating above the ocean

Asked how many friends he has, Mr Schebesta, 39, who is also a father, replied 'four'.

He pointed out 'I feel like there are people who take and there are people who give. These people are givers.'

Mr Schebesta, who worked answering phones for Pizza Hut at Pymble when he was at university studying finance, started in digital marketing before founding Finder in 2006, initially as a credit card comparison website.

As well as opening up his home, Fred Schebesta opened up on what getting rich has cost him: Friends, family time and his own health

14 Bunya Parade, South Coogee, cost Finder CEO Fred Schebesta nearly $17million in May 2021. The home is notable for glass, stone, galvanised steel and concrete surfaces

Mr Schebesta bought 14 Bunya Parade from Macquarie Bank executive director Laurie Macri and his wife Christine in May

It now has more than 400 staff in 83 countries and is worth over $300million dollars.

Mr Schebesta was listed 26th in the BRW Young Rich List in 2020, with a net worth of $214million.

He stepped back from running Finder in 2018.

'As the Australian business grew, I felt less in control and became destructive,' Mr Schebesta said.

'I was lost and struggled with a purpose.'

He now concentrates on helping internet start-ups.

The home has a wall of glass facing the ocean and an heated infinity pool

Mr Schebesta claims to run an empire worth almost a billion dollars

After opening the door of his cliffside mansion to Mr Gomez in the viral TikTok, which has been viewed more than 336,400 times, Mr Schebesta said 'you're in the house of crypto. Crypto built this house.'

He bought the 800 square metre two-level home, which was designed by architect Renato D'Ettorre and built in 1994, from Macquarie Bank executive director Laurie Macri and his wife Christine in May 2021.

They bought it from ad guru John Singleton for $7.5million in 2005.

Mr Schebesta says 'crypto built this house' of the home he bought in May

Fred Schebesta is a father of two children as well as running several tech companies

Made using stone, galvanised steel, concrete and glass, the house was designed to resemble 'a moated castle floating above the ocean'.

All five bedrooms - four with ensuite bathrooms - are on the upper level.

It also has a wall of glass facing the ocean and an heated infinity pool overlooking the ocean.

Downstairs are a gym, jacuzzi, huge rumpus room and pool with deck.

Known by locals as 'the Coogee castle', the home received a Commendation Award from the Australian Institute of Architects NSW State Awards in 2000.

Mr Schebesta's book, Go Live! 10 Principles to Launch a Global Empire, was released in June.

When he opened an office in New York in 2016, Schebesta says he told staff it was 'ok to make mistakes'.

'Go make mistakes. Try new things. Go bigger. Go for something that's scary. Push it. Be extraordinary. Be uncomfortable. This gives people the freedom to fail and grow.'
Sydneysiders eligible for the 'singles bubble' could soon be forced to register their companions online as police move to close Covid restriction loopholes.

Under the current rules, singles in Sydney who live alone are allowed to host one person in their home.

They must both live within the same LGA and the single person can only reciprocate the visit if their companion also lives alone.

Sydneysiders eligible for the 'singles bubble' could soon be forced to register their companions online as police crackdown on restrictions in attempts to contain the deadly virus (pictured residents in Sydney)

The New South Wales government is now expected to announce changes to the bubble, which was first introduced on July 28.

The changes could mean singles will have to register their companions through NSW Service, making it easier for police to carry out compliance checks.

Singles are also allowed to have intimate partners visit but this will also likely be modified so only one person is visiting an individual.

The potential changes were being discussed during a crisis cabinet meeting on Friday afternoon.

It comes as the state grapples to deal with the latest outbreak of the Delta variant with a record 390 Covid-19 infections announced on Friday.

Under the current Covid restrictions, those who live alone are allowed to nominate one person only who can visit them at their home

Of the new cases, at least 60 were infectious while in the community with 250 infections not yet linked to a known source.

Two deaths were also recorded, one an unvaccinated woman in her 40s who died at her home in south-west Sydney and a vaccinated man in his late 90s who died while receiving palliative care at RFBI Hawkins Masonic Retirement Village in Edgeworth.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned figures were likely to soar above the record new cases announced on Friday - raising doubts the city would be freed from lockdown on August 28 as planned.

She remained firm that at least 50 per cent of the state had to be vaccinated before she considered rolling back restrictions - and even then they would only be eased gradually.

So far, just 24.4 per cent of people in NSW are fully vaccinated and close to three million people still need to get a second Covid vaccine shot for 70 per cent of the population, aged 16 and over, to be properly protected.

NSW Police have requested an extra 500 military personnel to help police enforce home-quarantine orders.

Authorities on Thursday said extra unarmed defence personnel may be called in to patrol the city's worst-affected suburbs as movement restrictions were tightened for residents in three more local council areas - Strathfield, Burwood and Bayside.

Sixty-five new venues have also been added to the state's ever-growing exposure list and include Bunnings, butchers and restaurants.

Rules regarding the singles bubble is expected to come into effect soon as Sydney continues to tally up record number of Covid cases

Western Sydney and south-western Sydney remain the biggest places of concern despite case numbers recently stabilising in the area.

'But the health experts have asked me to highlight Blacktown and Mount Druitt as areas of concern, and adjoining areas,' Ms Berejiklian said.

'We are really wanting to make sure that people living in Blacktown and Mount Druitt and those adjoining suburbs come forward for testing and stay home.'

Dubbo, in central west NSW, has also been flagged as an area of concern with 25 new cases linked to the region.

Another five cases were linked to the Hunter region while no new cases were reported in the Tamworth, Armidale and Northern Rivers regions.

Ms Berejiklian would not confirm whether hardline restrictions would be extended to the South Coast and Queanbeyan after the nearby ACT was plunged into lockdown.

'If we need to do anything as a pre-emptive move, similar to what we have done in other parts of the state, we will,' she said.

A staggering 128,000 coronavirus tests were conducted in the last 24 hours.

There are currently 391 patients in hospital, with 63 people in intensive care, 30 of whom require ventilation.
British hiker Esther Dingley died instantly after falling 100ft from a rocky ledge, an autopsy has concluded.

The 37-year-old suffered multiple bone fractures in the fall, which was '100 per cent an accident', a source at the prosecutor's office said.

'The final report will be compiled, but effectively the case will be seen as closed.'

Details of the autopsy were sent to the French prosecutor investigating her death and Esther's boyfriend Dan Colgate who found her body earlier this week.

French investigators earlier said Esther fell to her death after losing her footing on a rocky ledge near to the 2,300ft summit of the Pic de la Glere which straddles the French-Spanish border.

Esther went missing on November 22 while solo hiking in the Pyrenees. She was reported missing by Colegate on November 24, just a day before her trip was due to end, sparking a massive manhunt.

The search was suspended in December due to deteriorating weather but resumed in the Spring and human remains, later confirmed to be a piece of Esther's skull, were found last month.

British hiker Esther Dingley fell almost 100ft to her death after losing her footing on a rocky ledge close to the peak of a mountain in the Pyrenees, according to French investigators

Public prosecutor Christophe Amunzateguy, who is in charge of the investigation, said it was likely the circumstances around Esther Dingley's death would never be known but that forensic evidence pointed to an accidental death

In an exclusive interview with MailOnline the Public prosecutor in charge of the investigation Christophe Amunzateguy suggested Dingley had lost her footing as she was wearing a pair of worn hiking boots that failed to give her any grip on the rocky path.

Dingley was wearing a pair of worn La Sportiva hiking shoes, rather than a Kahtoola Microspikes traction system that she had with her.

The spikes are marketed as the gold standard crampon-style add-ons for mountains in frozen conditions.

Mr Amunzateguy said the shoes were worn after months of use, and clearly the soles were a bit smooth.

He admitted the events leading to the Dingleys death might never be known.

He said: The exact and precise circumstances of the death we will never know, a person who falls, and the condition of the body, make the investigation very complicated.'

The prosecutor said all the evidence so far gathered by his forensic teams points to an accidental death.

He is waiting for the results of an autopsy before making public his findings.

The accidental theory is now more than strong because the body was found directly below a kind of rocky peak, he said.

We believed that Esther would have fallen because along this wall, we found items that belonged to her and they ended up at the bottom.

We estimate the fall at about twenty or even thirty meters.

Items from her rucksack, including her phone were found scattered on a rocky ledge spread close to remains of her body that were discovered earlier this week by Colegate.

Pathologists in the French city of Toulouse have carried out an autopsy on the remains that were located about 437 yards (400m) from the top of the Pic de la Glere, a popular spot for hikers who walk along the French-Spanish border.

This is a map showing Esther's route from when she parked her campervan in Benasque, Spain, on November 16 to August 9 when her remains were found 437 yards (400m) from Pic de la Glere

Esther's body was found 437 yards (400m) below Pic de la Glere by her boyfriend Mr Copeland on August 9 - approximately 109 yards (100m) from where part of her skull was found 18 days earlier

Last month fragments of bone from Dingleys were found a short distance away further down the mountain at an area known as Porte de Glere.

Investigators believe a bear or wolf had dragged the skull to its resting place.

A DNA sample provided by her family was able to match the fragment found to that of the hiker.

Mr Amunzateguy, the public prosecutor for Saint-Gaudens  said the remains were badly decomposed and despite the efforts of pathologists it might not be possible to determine an exact cause of death.

He said: 'This autopsy is to confirm, with the remains of the body that we could find, if there was a fall and what could be the exact causes of death.

The body is badly decomposed, and the snow has aggravated the decomposition of the body.'

The prosecutor revealed items that had been found close to her body included her mobile phone.

He said the phone had been examined and had yet not given up any clues to the final moments of the experienced hiker.

'We'll see what we can do with it, but we already know what the last calls were, he said.

We will continue the investigations, but I repeat, we are still focusing on an accident.

Forensic teams have not yet located her ultra-lightweight yellow tent.

The prosecutor said Mr Colegate had spent weeks searching the area once the snow melted around the high peaks.

Dan Colegate had undertaken to search for himself, and he told us where the body was on Monday afternoon,' said the prosecutor.

He contacted the gendarmerie as he had direct numbers because he collaborated in the investigation.'

Last month, human remains later confirmed to be Esther's were found by Spanish hikers at Port de la Glere, a mountain pass on France 's border with Spain , just south of Bagneres-de-Luchon. The trail is known as Puerto de la Glera in Spanish

The hotel, near the Spanish town of Besanque in The Pyrenees from where Esther set off on her hiking expedition last November before she disappeared

The camper van used by Esther Dingley and her boyfriend on the European tour remains in a compond belonging to the Spanish Civil Guard, in Besanquein, The Pyrenees

The 37-year-old Oxford graduate had numerous pieces of kit with her at the time of her disappearance, including a bright red and grey rucksack and a distinctive yellow tent

Oxford graduate Esther Dingley parked the couple's campervan in a car park in Benasque, Spain, on November 21 and started the solo hike from the Spanish town of Benasque to Pic de Sauvegarde, a mountaintop in the Pyrenees, before she disappeared

A police source in Bagneres de Lucon, where the search teams were based, said 38-year-old Mr Colegate had never been considered a suspect.

Police chief Jean Marc Bordinaro said Mr Colegate had been best placed to look for his girlfriend as he was familiar with her hiking abilities and had paced up and down the area in his personal search.

French search teams had used drones and a helicopter in their search which began after November 22 when Ms Dingley was reported missing by her boyfriend.

Heavy snowfall in the area had hidden the body for months and was not thought to be visible from the air.

Mr Colegate had concentrated his search close to where the fragments were found by other hikers in July.

The prosecutor said he wanted to send up a helicopter to immediately to assist in the search but was unable to do so as it was already involved in another mountain rescue.

Describing the events after the body was located, he said: 'The search section moved on Tuesday morning with a helicopter because the area is difficult to access.

We wanted to go there on Monday evening, but all our helicopters were already engaged for rescue.

'When the investigators arrived on the scene, they discovered the body in a fairly advanced state of decomposition.

'The body is very damaged, but we found her personal effects, the backpack, the shoes, water container and the phone that was on her.'

The Oxford graduate had set out to hike alone from the Porte de la Glere to the Port de Venasque, a trek which follows the border between France and Spain.

She parked the couple's campervan in a car park in Benasque, Spain, on November 21 and started the solo hike from the Spanish town of Benasque to Pic de Sauvegarde, a mountaintop in the Pyrenees.

Her last contact with anyone was when she sent Mr Colegate a selfie from the Pic de Sauvegarde mountain on November 22.

She was seen by several witnesses including an Olympic Spanish skier asking for some fruit hiking on the path leading up to the summit.

From there she planned to walk between Port de la Glere and Port de Venasque - a route of some eight miles - before hiking back down from the mountains.

She turned her phone off after that to save the battery and was planning to spend that night at the Refuge de Venasque in France, which is unmanned.

In her last known message, sent to Colegate on November 22, Esther wrote: 'Might dip into France. Hoping Refuge Venasque has a winter room. Keep you posted when can. Love you xxx'

No one knows if she stayed there and no one has reported seeing Esther alive after that.

The pass where Esther Dingley went missing was part of an area described as an 'easy' walk for the British hiker by her boyfriend

The 37-year-old from Durham was on a month-long solo trip and was supposed to return on November 24

Mr Colegate, who was staying at a farm in Gascony, France, raised the alarm on November 25, three days after he received her Whatsapp.

Police from Spain and France took part in the search in an area covering almost 700 miles.

Soldiers from the High Mountain Gendarmerie Platoon from Luchon as well as local hikers and mountain guides took part in the search.

But with area blanketed by snow the search was called off until Spring and warmer weather had melted the snow along the twisting trails.

Colegate has expressed disbelief at the theory that Esther may have died after becoming injured during her solo hike as she was an experienced hiker who should have had no problem with the route she is believed to have taken.

He wrote a 23-page report about Esther's plans to do a circular hike between Spain and France which involved sleeping at a mountain refuge.

He said in his dossier: 'An individual that Esther met on November 19 came forward to say he had specifically suggested this route through France, between Port de Venasque and Port de la Glere, to Esther when he met her. There is no reason to think that Esther did not stick to this plan.'

Esther went missing on November 22 while out hiking in the Pyrenees, and last month, human remains were found by Spanish hikers at Port de la Glere, a mountain pass on France 's border with Spain

Dingley's boyfriend Dan Colegate (left) has expressed disbelief at the theory that Esther may have died after becoming injured during her solo hike as she was an experienced hiker who should have had no problem with the route she is believed to have taken

Dingley (pictured with boyfriend Colegate) was seen by several witnesses including an Olympic Spanish skier asking for some fruit hiking on the path leading up to the summit

In a section titled 'Esther's Planned Onward Route', he suggested she reached the mountain refuge in France and slept there overnight before continuing a hike to return to her initial starting point in Spain.

He said: 'Her onward route would have involved a descent northwards towards the Hospice de France, a flat traverse westwards around the Imperatrice Way, and a climb southwards to the border at Port de la Glere. From the border the route descends back towards Hospital de Benasque.

'This route would have been well within Esther's capabilities for a day hike, in addition to the fact she had a tent, camping equipment and significant experience using it.

'Distance was 16km with 1202 yards (1100m) of ascent, five to seven hours of hiking time. The weather remained excellent that Monday. The route is very obvious on the ground and also from the terrain when starting from Refuge de Venasque.

'It's basically impossible to get lost in good visibility here. The entire route is a well-made and easy to follow path. Although Esther believed and had warned family that there was poor signal in the area, in fact the signal is very good on the French side.

'Within half an hour of leaving the refuge, Esther should have been able to use her phone for most of the rest of the day.'

The couple, both Oxford graduates, had been travelling around Europe in a camper van for years after quitting their careers and Durham home.
Children born during the Covid pandemic may have lower IQs because of reduced interactions during lockdowns, a study has claimed.

Researchers from Brown University in Rhode Island found babies born since March 2020 have worse cognitive, verbal and motor skills than children who entered the world before coronavirus.

Mean IQs for children aged three months to three years old dropped from around 100 in the decade before the pandemic to 79 during it.

And the drop-off was worse in boys and those from poorer backgrounds, scientists said.

Lockdowns have meant children have significantly less interaction with the outside world, leading to 'shockingly' low cognitive development.

Whether or not the fall in development will affect children in later life is uncertain, the researchers said. Babies' brains are more malleable than adults and it is likely they will be able to recover.

Paediatrician Dr Sean Deoni, lead author of the study, said the drop-off in IQ scores was significant.

He told The Guardian: 'Its not subtle by any stretch. You dont typically see things like that, outside of major cognitive disorders.'

Children born during the Covid pandemic have lower IQs because of reduced interactions during lockdowns, a study by Brown University, Rhode Island, has claimed. Graph shows: Babies' verbal development each year since 2010 (100 marks the average score over time)

Graph shows: Non-verbal development in babies each year since 2010 (100 marks the average score over time)

Graph shows: The overall early learning composite  the equivalent of an IQ test for babies, which tests language, motor and problem-solving skill  of children over time

WHAT IS IQ AND HOW IS IT MEASURED? IQ stands for Intelligence Quotient and it is used to measure mental ability. The abbreviation 'IQ' was first coined by psychologist William Stern to describe the German term Intelligenzquotient. Historically, IQ is a score achieved by dividing a person's mental age, obtained with an intelligence test, by their age. The resulting fraction is then multiplied by 100 to obtain an IQ score. An IQ of 100 has long been considered the median score. Because of the way the test results are scaled, a person with an IQ of 60 is not half as intelligent as someone with an IQ of 120. The arrangement of IQ scores also means that results are 'normally distributed', meaning just as many people score either side of the average. For example, the same amount of people score 70 as people who score 130. Although the accuracy of intelligence tests is somewhat disputed, they are still widely used. For Mensa, the acceptance score requires members to be within the top two per cent of the general population. Depending on the IQ test, this can require a score of at least 130. Advertisement

The study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed and published on medrxiv, looked at 672 children in Rhode Island.

Of those, 308 were born before January 2019, 176 were born between January 2019 and March 2020 and 188 were born after July 2020.

Scientists tested the children on verbal, non-verbal and early-learning skills to assess their development.

They calculate an early composite rather than using the usual IQ test used for adults.

All the children were born at full-term and were mostly white.

Experts found children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds fared worse in the tests.

Dr Deoni said: 'Parents are stressed and frazzled. That interaction the child would normally get has decreased substantially.'

He said while the fall in IQs at early ages will not guarantee children are less intelligent in later life, the 'ability to course-correct becomes smaller, the older that child gets'.

The main factor behind the drop-off in performance in tests was parents' stress while working from home, the authors said.

They added mask-wearing by adults may have also impacted babies' development because children were less able to learn from facial cues.

The authors wrote: 'Fear of infection and possible employment loss has placed stress on parents, while parents who could work from home faced challenges in both working and providing full-time attentive childcare.

'For pregnant individuals, fear of attending prenatal visits also increased maternal stress, anxiety, and depression.

'Children born during the pandemic have significantly reduced verbal, motor, and overall cognitive performance compared to children born pre-pandemic.

'Moreover, we find that males and children in lower socioeconomic families have been most affected.

'Results highlight that even in the absence of direct SARS-CoV-2 infection and Covid illness, the environmental changes associated Covid pandemic is significantly and negatively affecting infant and child development.'

It comes after a study released earlier this month showed Covid can cause a 'substantial' drop in intelligence in people recovering from the virus.

The Great British Intelligence Test examined the IQ of 81,337 people across the UK between January and December last year.

Among those surveyed, 13,000 had caught coronavirus  and they were found to have the largest drop off in intelligence.

People recovering from Covid found problem solving, planning and reasoning more difficult, compared to people who were never infected.

And virus survivors who had spent time on a ventilator in hospital lost the equivalent of seven IQ points, data suggested.

This 'brain fog' has already been reported by sufferers for weeks, even months after recovering from Covid. Some have told of losing the ability to recall everyday facts or hold a conversation.

It has sparked fears the disease could have long-term cognitive impacts, in a similar way to the lasting effects strokes or microbleeds have on the brain.
Ministers were today accused of trying to 'dampen demand' for summer holidays with rip-off Covid PCR tests that can cost up to 400 for holidaymakers.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid asked the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to look into companies profiteering on testing.

The watchdog last night revealed it was working on imminent 'interim' measures to ensure families can get a well-earned foreign break or reunite with their loved ones abroad.

And it warned it would 'not hesitate to take enforcement action' against providers flouting the law and not giving customers what they paid for.

But Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, today said the CMA's investigation is 'too late'.

He claimed there is 'no doubt' ministers have been 'determined' to purposely bring down demand for travel.

His comments came as London Gatwick airport blamed No10's travel restrictions for causing its more than 200million losses over the last year. The airport entered talks with banks today to avoid defaulting on its loans built up during the pandemic.

Ministers are trying to 'dampen demand' for summer holidays with rip-off Covid PCR tests for holidaymakers, a travel expert has claimed

Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, says ministers are 'determined' to bring down demand for travel

What companies are advertising 20 tests? Test For Now claims to offer a self-swab Covid test for 21 on the Government website but the cheapest available on its website is for travelers to take on their second day back in the UK and costs 89 for a self-swab version, while it costs 97 for the same test at its clinic. Meanwhile, Everything Genetic's 20 offer is only available to NHS staff, with others charged 60. Pillhub-Feltham Pharmacy and 0-100 Travel 19's 20 tests are currently sold-out and their other PCR tests cost 80. ArrivingUK advertising 'self swab at home' day two kits for 20 on the Government portal. But on the firm's website this was only available to people who could collect them from Wembley in north London. The real cost was 89 plus 10 postage. Abicare Health was listed at the same low price but its website says this is only available if you can travel to Manchester  and not until November. The real cost for a posted kit is 75. Advertisement

Mr Charles told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'This is an industry that has grown up, that's worth some 700million.

'It's grown up in the last six months at great speed, but there's been a lack of oversight or proper regulation.'

He said the process of organising, paying for and carrying out the tests has 'too many layers of complexity'.

He added: 'It's putting off consumers. Government is determined to dampen demand, I don't think there's any doubt about that.

'But of course, because it's putting off people, that's not helping the travel sector recover and we're likely to see more failures and job losses because ministers have not done enough, along with the regulators, to save the August peak period.'

Some providers offering PCR tests which meet the minimum standards can charge upwards of 200.

The most expensive swabs can cost up to 400.

This week, Conservative MP Henry Smith, chairman of the Future of Aviation All-Party Parliamentary Group, said private Covid tests should be capped at 40.

He said this would allow more people to travel abroad, putting aviation 'back on a sustainable path to recovery'.

George Lusty, the CMA's senior director for consumer protection, said: 'It is essential that people paying for PCR tests are treated fairly, get what they pay for and that their rights are respected when things go wrong.

'We will not hesitate to take enforcement action if we find evidence that PCR providers are breaching consumer law.

'We are also working closely with DHSC to get the data we need to identify the cause of any wider problems in the PCR testing market, and to ground our advice on what action may be needed.

'This is a particularly pressing issue just now for families hoping to enjoy a well-earned holiday after such a difficult year, and for those reuniting with friends and relatives overseas.

'That is why we are also providing ongoing support to DHSC (Department of Health and Social Care), including on steps that could be considered in the interim, before the rest of our work on the PCR testing market is concluded.'

Although some private providers are advertised on the Government website as offering single-swab packages for 20, the Mail this week revealed how these rates are often not realistically obtainable for many, as when clicking through to each firm's website they are mostly out of stock.

The 399 PCR test listed on the UK Government's approved list of providers is offered by the Mayfair GP, a small private practice based in London.

The Department of Health says the tests  which can be performed in a matter of minutes  are carried out by people in their own home. But they are supervised by medical staff, meaning the firm may factor in some travel and labour costs.

The Mayfair GP uses Oncologica's laboratory to carry out the testing, suggesting the provider likely has to pay to get samples analysed. Labs use a machine and array of chemicals to decipher whether a sample contains Covid.

Research by airline consultancy Skytrax shows airport PCR tests were available for as little as $8 (5.70) in Mumbai, India, in April. The cost in Britain was nearly 100

Gatwick boss demands Government unlocks travel as airport asks banks for extensions on loans after suffering 200m loss this year London Gatwick Airport was today in talks with banks to avoid defaulting on its loans as it blamed Government restrictions for pushing it to a 204million loss. The West Sussex airport said that a year after requesting short-term waivers on its loans, it was again facing pressure and is asking banks for another extension. And its boss said Ministers had to 'act now' and 'remove unnecessary and costly PCR testing requirements for passengers, particularly for those double vaccinated'. While the airport has remained open throughout the first six months of the year, it said that a collapse in passenger demand and UK restrictions had hit business hard. Gatwick's pre-tax loss hit 204million, about 40 per cent lower than the first six months of 2020 when the Covid pandemic began. Advertisement

A price in the region of 20 would be reasonable for the swabs, according to a world-renowned expert on PCR at Anglia Ruskin University.

Research by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change suggests the whole test process can cost as little as 15.

It comes after London Gatwick today began talks with banks to avoid defaulting on its loans.

The West Sussex airport said that a year after requesting short-term waivers on its loans, it was again facing pressure and is asking banks for another extension.

And its boss said ministers had to 'act now' and 'remove unnecessary and costly PCR testing requirements for passengers, particularly for those double vaccinated'.

While the airport has remained open throughout the first six months of the year, it said that a collapse in passenger demand and UK restrictions had hit business hard.

Gatwick's pre-tax loss hit 204million, about 40 per cent lower than the first six months of 2020 when the Covid pandemic began.

The business was able to save 31.3million by slashing staff costs nearly in half, making more than 40 per cent of its employees redundant last year.

Bosses said it had a 'strong liquidity position' and is 'well placed for recovery due to successful refinancing alongside reduced capital expenditure and operating costs'.

They added that the Government had to 'take advantage of its world leading vaccination programme to improve passenger confidence in international travel'.

Bosses said the UK aviation recovery is far behind countries in Europe such as France and Germany whose bookings are on average over 50 per cent of pre-Covid levels.
A 14-year-old boy appeared in court today accused of murdering a father who was fatally stabbed while trying to defend his teenage daughter from thugs.

James Markham, 45, was attacked after confronting a group of teenagers allegedly targeting his daughter Chloe, 17, in Chingford, East London, on Monday evening.

The boy appeared at Stratford Youth Court today after being charged with murder, possession of a knife in a public place and breach of a criminal behaviour order.

The court heard that Mr Markham was stabbed after confronting youths who had been shouting and swearing outside his home and who had yelled at his daughter.

The boy, who spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address, was remanded in youth detention accommodation to appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, August 17.

Jamie Markham (centre), 45, was fatally stabbed in Chingford, East London, on Monday evening. He is pictured with his wife Candice (right) and his 17-year-old daughter Chloe (left)

A police tent on Tuesday after Mr Markham was fatally stabbed in Chingford, East London

Scotland Yard said earlier today that a second boy, also 14, who was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder, has been released under investigation.

A 16-year-old girl, who was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, has also been released under investigation, the force added.

Mr Markham was described as 'a man with a good heart and good soul' by a family friend this week, while floral tributes have been laid at the scene in his memory.

Bystanders said the tiler's wife Candice was heard screaming after she found him fatally wounded outside their home, and police were called at 6.20pm.

A family friend, who was tearful as she approached the scene of the stabbing and did not want to be named, said: 'He was my friend, my neighbour. He was kind,

Police investigate in Chingford on Tuesday following the fatal stabbing on Monday evening

'A lovely man, a worker. He would wake up at 5am, come back 6pm, doing the daily routine with the kids, always with the kids. We are devastated for Jamie.

'He was kind, a good person, someone who will always be there for you. Anything that you need, he'll always be there, fixing anything that you need from the house.

'He was always working. He was a very good person, a man with a good heart, a good soul, he didn't deserve that.'

A note with one bouquet of flowers read: 'Thinking of you all. You will be in our thoughts and prayers. Much love. 37th Chingford Scout Group xx.'

Scotland Yard Detective Inspector John Marriott said: 'We believe that James confronted a group of youths causing a disturbance and was stabbed as a result.

Detectives from the Met Police's Specialist Crime Command launched a murder investigation

'The brutality of this response is beyond shocking and our thoughts are with James' family who have been left devastated by their loss.'

A post-mortem examination showed he died of a stab wound to the lung. Father-of-three Mr Markham was described by neighbours as a 'kind, family man'.

The Metropolitan Police said his family are being supported by specialist officers.

Chief Superintendent Richard Tucker, responsible for local policing in Waltham Forest, said: 'The Met remains committed to tackling violence across London.'

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or has information about it, is asked to call police on 101 or tweet @MetCC, giving the reference 5735/09AUG. Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers, anonymously, by calling 0800 555 111
A teen mother who went missing five months ago in Venezuela has been found tied up in her own freezer with her naked body mutilated by 50 screwdriver stab wounds.

Ana Gabriela Medina Blanco, 19, was discovered inside the chest freezer in the foetal position with her hands bound, her head between her legs, and arms crossed.

Her ex-partner, who is believed to be the father of her four-year-old son, discovered Ms Blanco after a months-long search on July 29 inside her house in Santiago Marino in the northern Venezuelan state of Aragua.

Detectives believe she was killed by her new boyfriend, named locally as Josue, who was described by neighbours as 'very jealous and abusive', reporting that the pair often fought. Josue, from Caracas, is believed to be on the run.

Ana Gabriela Medina Blanco, 19, was discovered inside the chest freezer in the foetal position with her hands bound, her head between her legs, and arms crossed

As the young woman often travelled to the capital, Caracas, no alarm bells were raised over her disappearance in March

As the young woman often travelled to the capital, Caracas, no alarm bells were raised over her disappearance in March.

Her stepfather also told local media that he had moved to a different part of the country and only maintained sporadic contact with her.

However, as time went on, Ms Blanco's ex-partner decided to take matters into his own hands and enter her home to see if he could find any clues about her disappearance.

When he entered the property, he was met by a stench, so he looked in the fridge and then the freezer, where he came across the grim scene. He then went straight to the police.

Investigators are currently analysing fingerprints left on the freezer, which may link her 'jealous and abusive' boyfriend Josue to the crime.

The murder rate in Venezuela has soared amid an economic collapse in President Nicolas Maduro's failed socialist state.

According to data from the independent Venezuelan Violence Observatory (VVO), the homicide rate was 45.6 per 100,000 in 2020, with 11,891 murders recorded.

While violence remains rampant, the latest figures from the VVO represent a 30 percent decline in murders compared to last year.

Despite this the VVO describes violence as still rampant in the country and an 'epidemic that was 11 times more deadly than the coronavirus' last year.
A toddler accidentally killed his mother with a shot to the head after finding a loaded handgun in their apartment and firing it at her while she was on a work related video call, according to police in Florida.

A colleague who was speaking to 21-year-old Shamaya Lynn heard a loud bang and then saw the mother fall backwards and fail to return back on the screen.

The co-worker dialed 911 and told dispatchers she believed Lynn had been shot.

Detectives said Lynn's toddler discovered an unlocked pistol which belonged to his father and shot his mother in the head at their home in Altamonte Springs on the outskirts of Orlando.

Shamaya Lynn, 21, was on a Zoom call with a colleague when she was shot in the head by her toddler

A colleague who was speaking to 21-year-old Shamaya Lynn heard a loud bang and then saw the mother fall backwards and fail to return back on the screen. Lynn is pictured above with her children

'Officers and paramedics did their best in rendering aid to Lynn, but she was found with a fatal gunshot wound to the head,' police said.

Another toddler was also inside the home, neither of the children were injured.

An investigation remains ongoing as to whether the owner of the firearm will face criminal charges.

'If you own a firearm, please keep it locked and secured,' patrol officer Roberto Ruiz Jr said. 'Incidents like this could be avoided.'

'You can just imagine it's a terrible tragedy for any family to face, one that has devastated her entire family and our community,' Ruiz told WKMG.

There were some 369 unintentional shootings by children in the US last year, including 142 fatalities, according to gun control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.

Detectives said Lynn's toddler discovered an unlocked pistol which belonged to his father and shot his mother in the head at their home in Altamonte Springs on the outskirts of Orlando

The latest shooting came just days after a North Carolina father was killed after his 2-year-old son accidentally shot him while he was eating dinner.

Markovia Durham, 29, and his son were visiting the apartment of the boy's grandmother in the city of Gastonia, near Charlotte, on Sunday when the accident happened at around 8.45pm.

The boy - who has not been named by officials - picked the gun up thinking it was a toy, and shot him in the back, the grandmother Phyllis Holland told Fox 46.

Holland added that Durham recently purchased the gun.

Se said the terrified boy ran out of the apartment after it went off.

Durham was pronounced dead after emergency services arrived at Holland's apartment complex at around 9.30pm.

The Gastonia Police Department says it is unclear if charges will be made as the investigation surrounding the boy's involvement is still pending.

North Carolina father Markovia Durham, 29, (above) was visiting the home of the boy's grandmother Phyllis Holland at her Gastonia apartment when the shooting happened

Durham was eating dinner on the couch when his son grabbed a gun from behind and shot him in the back after he thought it was a toy

Family members have also been questioned by the Department of Social Services about the incident.

Holland said that the boy still does not fully understand the circumstances of the shooting as he continues to ask for his father.

She said: 'He want his Dada. Hes only a 2-year-old. He doesnt understand.'

In February, a 25-year-old mother was shot dead in North Carolina after one of her five kids found a pistol inside her purse.

And in April, a toddler in Houston discovered an unlocked gun and killed his eight-month-old baby brother.
London Gatwick Airport was today in talks with banks to avoid defaulting on its loans as it blamed Government restrictions for pushing it to a 204million loss.

The West Sussex airport said that a year after requesting short-term waivers on its loans, it was again facing pressure and is asking banks for another extension.

And its boss said Ministers had to 'act now' and 'remove unnecessary and costly PCR testing requirements for passengers, particularly for those double vaccinated'.

While the airport has remained open throughout the first six months of the year, it said that a collapse in passenger demand and UK restrictions had hit business hard.

Gatwick's pre-tax loss hit 204million, about 40 per cent lower than the first six months of 2020 when the Covid pandemic began.

A passenger arrives at London Gatwick Airport in July 2020 after the first Covid lockdown

This graph released by Gatwick Airport today shows how quarterly passenger numbers plunged in 2020 and 2021, when compared to 2019 - but are expected to rebound in 2022

The business was able to save 31.3million by slashing staff costs nearly in half, making more than 40 per cent of its employees redundant last year.

Bosses said it had a 'strong liquidity position' and is 'well placed for recovery due to successful refinancing alongside reduced capital expenditure and operating costs'.

They added that the Government had to 'take advantage of its world leading vaccination programme to improve passenger confidence in international travel'.

Bosses said the UK aviation recovery is far behind countries in Europe such as France and Germany whose bookings are on average over 50 per cent of pre-Covid levels.

A graph shows how daily passenger numbers have plunged as a percentage compared to 2019

Gatwick chief executive Stewart Wingate gave his thanks to 'all our staff for their hard work'

In the UK it is sitting at approximately 16 per cent, with 569,000 passengers using the airport in the first six months of 2021.

Gatwick urged Ministers to have no test requirements for travellers from 'green' countries, or for double vaccinated travellers arriving from 'amber' nations.

Chief executive Stewart Wingate said: 'First I would like to thank all our staff for their hard work and fortitude throughout what has no doubt been the most challenging six months the airport has witnessed with its low passenger and air traffic volumes.

'I remain certain that Gatwick will recover and as a business we are financially and operationally well placed for that.'

London Gatwick Airport was today in talks with banks to avoid defaulting on its loans

He added: 'In the UK we are all emerging to enjoy more freedoms due to our world class vaccination programme  however we are in danger of squandering the advantage that vaccination programme has afforded us for international travel.

'Our Government needs to act now and remove unnecessary and costly PCR testing requirements for passengers, particularly for those double vaccinated.

'UK travel recovery should not be allowed to lag behind the US and Europe.

'Passengers need the travel rules simplified so they can choose to travel more freely and enjoy much needed breaks and reunions with family and friends which are currently much more attainable for those in Europe and the US.'
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Boris Johnson said last that it is not 'realistic' to expect outside powers to impose a 'combat solution' on Afghanistan as the taliban's surging advance closes on Kabul and British and US troops are sent into evacuate Westerners.

The Prime Minister said: 'There isn't a military solution. Thanks to the efforts of the UK armed services and all the sacrifices they made we have seen no al Qaida attacks against the West for a very long time.'

'I think we have got to be realistic about the power of the UK or any power to impose a military solution - a combat solution - in Afghanistan.'

He spoke after the Taliban seized large swathes of Helmand province , where hundreds of UK troops died over more than a decade of fighting that has seen 454 UK personnel killed since 9/11.

'What we certainly can do is work with all our partners in the region around the world who share an interest with us in preventing Afghanistan once again becoming a breeding ground for terror.'

After a week of intense fighting saw the Taliban seize control of swathes of the country, the Prime Minister said the UK can be extremely proud of its role in the last 20 years.

But after leading a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee yesterday, Mr Johnson insisted there was no military solution to the deteriorating security situation.

And he denied that the sacrifices made by British forces in Afghanistan had been in vain.

Some of the 600 soldiers headed to Kabul to evacuate Britons are pictured on a military transport headed to Kabul

Members of the Parachute Regiment are among the troops being sent to Afghanistan with the Taliban just 90 miles from Kabul

Boris Johnson said tonight that it is not 'realistic' to expect outside powers to impose a 'combat solution' on Afghanistan

'I don't think that it was in vain. If you look back at what has happened over the last 20 years there was a massive effort to deal with a particular problem that everybody will remember after 9/11,' he said.

'That was successful. To a very large extent the threat from al Qaida on the streets of our capital, around the UK, around the whole of the West was greatly, greatly reduced.

'I believe it was right, it was worth it and what we must do now is not turn our backs on Afghanistan.'

Some 600 troops are due to deploy to Kabul within days to evacuate British nationals as a mass exodus begins to escape the ravages of the hardliners.

He finally addressed the situation after fierce criticism from Labour and even his own MPs over his silence on the issue.

The crisis worsened yesterday as the Taliban continued its bloody advance, seizing control of Afghanistans second largest city Kandahar.

It now controls more than two-thirds of the country and is closing in on the capital Kabul.

Mr Johnson said yesterday it was not realistic to expect outside powers to impose a combat solution on Afghanistan.

There isnt a military solution. Thanks to the efforts of the UK armed services and all the sacrifices they made, we have seen no al-Qaeda attacks against the West for a very long time, he said.

I think we have got to be realistic about the power of the UK or any power to impose a military solution, a combat solution, in Afghanistan. What we certainly can do is work with all our partners in the region around the world who share an interest with us in preventing Afghanistan once again becoming a breeding ground for terror.

Mr Johnson insisted the 457 British military personnel killed in the country had not died in vain and said the military intervention that began 20 years ago was right and had been worth it.

He suggested he had no choice but to pull out troops as he was dealing with the consequences of the USs decision to withdraw.

Tory MPs had earlier accused him of a shameful silence as the situation deteriorated and questioned whether he had done enough to persuade Joe Biden to not pull out US troops.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace yesterday said the US withdrawal was a mistake and the West will probably pay the consequences.

He voiced fears about the resurgence of al-Qaeda  the terror group behind 9/11  who he warned could plot attacks on British soil.

He told Sky News: Of course I am worried, it is why I said I felt this was not the right time or decision to make because, of course, al-Qaeda will probably come back, certainly would like that type of breeding ground.

That is what we see  failed states around the world lead to instability, lead to a security threat to us and our interests.

He refused to rule out further military action in the country, telling LBC: Im going to leave every option open. If the Taliban have a message from last time, you start hosting al-Qaeda, you start attacking the West or countries, we could be back.

Last night, the Prime Minister faced growing calls from some of his own backbenchers as well as opposition party politicians for Parliament to be recalled.

The Lib Dems demanded MPs are brought back from their summer break and shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy said Labour could join the push to hold the Government to account if it did not show a clear strategy.

Tobias Ellwood, the Tory chairman of the Commons defence committee, urged Mr Johnson to call an emergency session of the UN Security Council and to consider recall of Parliament to seek views on leading a non-US led coalition and prevent a full scale civil war.

Grieving families of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan also spoke of their anger as the Taliban captured territory UK troops fought and died to protect.

Donald Trump and the Taliban signed a deal last February for the US to withdraw from Afghanistan. Joe Biden has continued with the withdrawal timetable, with all troops due to have left by the symbolic date of September 11  the 20th anniversary of the terror attacks on the World Trade Center in New York.

The UK Government announced on Thursday around 600 troops are being deployed to help evacuate British nationals and former Afghan staff.

Meanwhile in Kabul, US troops sent to evacuate embassy staff reportedly started to arrive at the international airport, with more expected over the next 24 hours.

And hundreds of thousands of Afghans have fled their homes amid fears the country will return to the brutal, repressive rule imposed by the previous Taliban government. The UN Refugee Agency said nearly 250,000 Afghans have fled their homes since the end of May.

The announcement came hours after the Home Office said Home Secretary Priti Patel had taken on the roles responsibilities following criticism of the Government for failing to replace James Brokenshire  who had left the post last month.

The Pentagon claimed on Friday it did not believe Kabul was under imminent threat from the rapid Taliban advance, as the first of 3000 U.S. troops arrived in the Afghan capital to protect embassy staff.

Earlier Taliban fighters seized the country's second and third biggest cities, and their fighters closed to within 50 miles of Kabul.

The speed of their advance has sent Western nations scrambling to bring home civilian staff.

And a defense official told the Associated Press that an attack on Kabul could come within days.

Department of Defense spokesman John Kirby declined to say whether officials were surprised by the way Afghan forces had failed to slow the advance.

'We are certainly concerned by the speed with which the Taliban has been moving,' he said.

'And as we've said from the very beginning, this still is a moment for Afghan national security and defence forces, as well as their political leadership.

'No outcome has to be inevitable here.'

'We're obviously watching this just like you're watching this and seeing it happen in real time, and it's deeply concerning.'

Instead, he echoed President Biden and other administration officials in insisting that Afghan security forces held the advantage over the Taliban.

'We will do what we can from the air, but they have the advantage,' he said.

They have greater numbers. They have an air force. They have modern weaponry.

'It's indigenous forces that can make the difference on the ground.'

The signs so far are that Afghan forces are struggling, despite billions of dollars in U.S. training and equipment.

In some cases they have simply melted away or switched sides in the face of an insurgency emboldened by Biden's promise to end the U.S. combat mission by Aug 31.

'They have the benefit of the training that we have provided them over 20 years,' said Kirby. 'They have the material, the physical - the tangible - advantages.

'It's time now to use those advantages.'

Yet the Taliban advance continued at rapid pace on Friday. They took four more provincial capitals on Friday, including Ghazni on the road south out of Kabul.

Staff at the U.S. embassy were told on Friday to begin destroying sensitive information or anything that could be used by the Taliban, according to a management memo obtained by CNN.

A former diplomat told DailyMail.com it suggested that plans were further advanced for fleeing the compound than officials had suggested.

But Kirby said the capital was not at imminent risk of Taliban capture.

'Kabul is not right now in an imminent threat environment,' he said.

'But clearly ... if you just look at what the Taliban has been doing you can see that they are trying to isolate Kabul.'

In the meantime, the first forces of a Marine battalion arrived at Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport.

'I expect that by the end of the weekend the bulk of the 3,000 that we talked about yesterday will be in place,' said Kirby.

Yesterday, militants seized Pol-e Alam - the provincial capital of Logar - which lies less than 40 miles south of Kabul, according to a local official. They also captured the key cities of Lashkar Gah - the capital of the southern province of Helmand - earlier on Friday, and the capitals of Kandahar and Herat on Thursday, tightening the group's grip on the country.

The loss of Helmand's provincial capital of Kandahar in the past 24 hours comes after years of toil and blood spill by American, British and allied NATO forces. Estimates suggest those countries lost some 800 troops over the decades-long war there.

Britain alone lost more than 450 troops in Afghanistan. Just over 400 were the result of hostile action, and the vast majority of causalities were in Helmand province.

Former army officer and ex-defence minister Tobias Ellwood invoked Winston Churchill - the PM's political hero - after the evacuation deployment was announced.

Ellwood, chairman of the defence committee, said on Twitter: 'What would Churchill say? This is NOT our finest hour. What happened to GLOBAL BRITAIN and AMERICA IS BACK?

'The largest high tech military alliance ever - defeated by an insurgency armed with mines, RPGs and AK47s. We can and must do better.'

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace this morning said that the withdrawal of the US, the dominant military force in Afganistan, had meant the UK had to leave as well. He said there has been no international will to carry on without Washington's involvement.

But former defence minister and Afghanistan veteran Johnny Mercer contested the idea that the UK cannot act alone in the central Asian country.

The Conservative MP said the current situation was 'deeply humiliating', telling BBC Breakfast: 'This idea we cannot act unilaterally and support the Afghan security forces is simply not true.

'The political will to see through enduring support to Afghanistan has not been there and a lot of people are going to die because of that, and for me that is extremely humiliating.

'It's a world tragedy and we are going to reap the repercussions of this over many years to come.'

It all comes little more than a month after US president Joe Biden said: 'The likelihood there's going to be the Taliban overrunning everything and owning the whole country is highly unlikely.'

The economic centres of Kandahar, Afghanistan's second biggest city, and Lashkar Gah - the capital of the southern province of Helmand where many British troops were stationed - were the latest to fall to the insurgency, prompting questions over how long the capital Kabul will hold out. Pictured: Taliban fighters in a vehicle along the roadside in Herat today

A Taliban fighter holds a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) along the roadside in Herat, Afghanistan's third biggest city, on Friday after government forces pulled out the day before following weeks of being under siege

Taliban fighters stand on a vehicle along the roadside in Herat today. The British Government has said it will be sending 600 troops to Afghanistan to help British nationals flee the country

Up to 300,000 people have fled their homes since May, according to the UN, and thousands of refugees have headed for a makeshift camp in a public park in Kabul or towards the key border crossings to escape from Taliban rule. Spin Boldak, near Kandahar and Khan Kala, near Kabul, are two crossing points where thousands of people have been seen as they hope to enter Pakistan

UN begs Afghanistan's neighbours to keep borders open The United Nations begged on Friday for neighbouring countries to keep their borders open to allow people to escape the Taliban, and U.N. agencies warned of a growing humanitarian catastrophe amid spreading hunger. The plea comes as hundreds of thousands of Afghans fled their homes amid fears the Taliban will again impose a brutal, repressive government, all but eliminating women's rights and conduct commonplace public executions. Pictures from Friday showed fleeing Afghans entering neighbouring Pakistan after the country re-opened its Chaman-Spin Boldak border crossing for people who had been otherwise stranded in recent weeks. The crossing is a major gateway between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and is reported to be under Taliban control. Juma Khan, the border town's deputy commissioner, said the crossing was reopened following talks with the Taliban. The decision to open the border was made after the United Nations refugee agency called on Afghanistan's neighbours to keep crossings open as the crisis intensifies. 'An inability to seek safety may risk innumerable civilian lives. UNHCR stands ready to help national authorities scale up humanitarian responses as needed,' a spokesperson for the agency told a briefing in Geneva. The World Food Programme sees food shortages in Afghanistan as 'quite dire' and worsening, a spokesperson added, saying the situation had all the hallmarks of a humanitarian catastrophe. As Western embassies prepare to send in troops to help evacuate staff, the United Nations said its 320 staff members would remain. 'We fear the worst is yet to come and the larger tide of hunger is fast approaching... The situation has all the hallmarks of a humanitarian catastrophe,' the World Food Programme's Thomson Phiri told a U.N. briefing. More than 250,000 people have been forced from their homes since May, 80 percent of them women and children, the U.N. refugee agency's Shabia Mantoo said. Many reported extortion by armed groups on the way and having to dodge improvised explosive devices along major roads. Thousands of people are rushing from rural areas to the capital Kabul and other urban centres in search of shelter, another U.N. official said. 'They are sleeping in the open, in parks and public spaces,' Jens Laerke, spokesman of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 'A major concern right now is simply finding shelter for them.' A World Health Organisation official reported a doubling of trauma cases in the last two to three months in the health facilities it supports. She also expressed concerns about shortages of medical supplies and said it was training medical staff on mass casualty management. Posting to his private Instagram account on Thursday, Sultan Ghani shared pictures of him walking across a runway to a private jet. 'Moving from one crisis to the other as elegantly as I can' his caption read, sparking outrage on social media. 'While Afghanistan is burning & the ppl are suffering across the country because of his uncle's disastrous leadership, posts these photos on his Instagram account,' one user wrote on Twitter while sharing the images of the Sultan and his plane. The Taliban insurgency seized Lashkar Gah - the capital of the southern province of Helmand - on Friday, and two afghan lawmakers officials had surrendered the capital of Uruzgan province to the rapidly advancing Taliban. On Thursday, the group took of Kandahar and Herat, marking the biggest prizes yet for the Taliban, who have taken 12 of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals as part of a week-long blitz 'The city looks like a front line, a ghost town,' provincial council member Ghulam Habib Hashimi said of Kandahar via telephone from Herat, a city of about 600,000 people near the border with Iran. 'Families have either left or are hiding in their homes.' Of Afghanistan's major cities, the government still holds Mazar-i-Sharif in the north and Jalalabad, near the Pakistani border in the east, in addition to Kabul. According to recent UN data, 400,000 people have fled their homes inside Afghanistan since the start of the year, with almost 300,000 of those fleeing since May as fighting between the government and Taliban stepped up. The vast majority of those are still inside the country, the UN says, but with Islamist fighters making rapid gains in almost every region and government forces in retreat, many are looking to leave the country. Advertisement

The government has now effectively lost control of most of Afghanistan, following an eight-day blitz into urban centres by the Taliban that has also stunned Kabul's American backers.

Prime Minister Ashraf Ghani's administration now controls just three major cities - including Kabil - but is unlikely to have the logistical manpower left to marshal a successful defence of the capital without foreign aid.

The head of the council in the western province of Ghor later on Friday said the city of Feroz Koh had also fallen to the insurgents, after two Afghan lawmakers said officials surrendered Tirin Ko - the capital of Uruzgan province.

The Defence Secretary admitted UK troops could return to Afghanistan in future, warning 'al Qaida will probably come back' and it could again become a major breeding ground for Islamic extremist terrorists.

Yesterday morning he laid into the Republican former US leader Donald Trump, saying his 'rotten' February 2020 peace agreement with the Islamists was a 'mistake'.

The UK is sending 600 soldiers and the US 3,000 to evacuate their people in scenes likened to the fall of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War.

Tom Tugendhat, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee and a veteran of the conflict, said 'the decision to withdraw is like a rug pulled from under the feet of our partners'.

'A hasty exit is not a sign of success. Needing reinforcements to keep the door open as you leave is a sure sign of failure,' he added.

Mr Wallace told Sky this morning: 'I was public about it that at the time of the Trump deal - with obviously the Taliban - I felt that that was a mistake to have done it that way, that we will all as an international community pay the consequences of that, but when the United States as the framework nation took that decision, the way we were all configured, the way we had gone in meant that we had to leave as well.'

Asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme whether the UK could return for future military operations if al Qaida or other terrorist organisations rise in Afghanistan, he added: 'If you want to cut out the short-term threat globally, wherever Britain has a threat to her interests and her people, we have a global counter-terrorism capability...

'It is obviously not as perfect as being based in a country as we have been in Afghanistan but we retain military capability to deal with a threat where we face it or we have to deal with it under international law.

'If there is an imminent threat emanating anywhere in the world. Britain, the United States, France, other countries have a capability to deal with that.'

He added: 'I will always deploy either force or disruptive capabilities alongside other parts of the British state - or indeed a coalition - to protect our national security and our interests. We will always do that, we will reserve the right to do it, and that is a global capability.'

He said that Afghanistan's second biggest city of Kandahar and the town of Lashkar Gah was 'pretty much now in the hands of the Taliban.' The latter fell after two weeks of heavy fighting, according to a police official on Friday.

Former international development minister Rory Stewart called the troop withdrawal 'a total betrayal by the US and by the UK' that risked triggering a civil war between rival warlords currently defending against the Taliban.

Johnny Mercer, a Conservative MP and former veterans minister who served in Afghanistan, called the withdrawal 'a disgrace'.

'I think it's humiliating for the UK military, for the families who lost individuals over there but above all it's a huge tragedy for the people of Afghanistan, who've been through so much over so many years,' he told Times Radio.

'We've chosen this defeat and it's shameful.'

NATO will hold an urgent meeting Friday on the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan after the US said it was sending troops to evacuate its nationals, diplomatic and official sources told AFP.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will lead discussions with envoys from the 30 allies in the meeting starting at 1300 GMT, with one source saying it would focus on evacuation planning from Afghanistan.

'It is about determining who does what, when, and how, and what support is given for this,' the source said.

Two Afghan lawmakers said on Friday that officials have surrendered the capital of Uruzgan province - Tirin Kot - to the rapidly advancing Taliban. The news came shortly after an Afghan official said the Taliban have captured Lashkar Gah, the capital of the southern province of Helmand.

The loss of Helmand's provincial capital comes after years of toil and blood spill by American, British and allied NATO forces. Estimates suggest those countries lost some 800 troops over the decades-long war there.

The Taliban were also closer to taking Logar province, at the gates of Kabul, with a Taliban spokesman saying insurgents had captured the police headquarters and city jail in the capital, Pul-e-Alam.

Earlier Friday, officials and residents in Kandahar told AFP that government forces had withdrawn en masse to a military facility outside the southern city.

'Kandahar is completely conquered. The Mujahideen reached Martyrs' Square,' a Taliban spokesman tweeted, referring to a city landmark.

The Taliban have completed their sweep of the country's south on Friday, as they took four more provincial capitals in a lightning offensive that is gradually encircling Kabul. Pictured: Taliban fighters stand guard over surrendered Afghan troops in the city of Ghazni

Pictured: Afghan military vehicles are parked inside a base in Kandahar city during fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security personnel in the city of Kandahar, southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan

Pictured: Smoke rises after fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security personnel in the city of Kandahar, southwest of Kabul on Thursday

The Taliban has now seized around two thirds of the country from the government in a little over three months

Timeline of Afghanistan's provincial capitals falling to the Taliban Aug. 6 - ZARANJ - The Taliban take over the city in Nimroz province in the south, the first provincial capital to fall to the insurgents since they stepped up attacks on Afghan forces in early May. Aug. 7 - SHEBERGHAN - The Taliban declare they have captured the entire northern province of Jawzjan, including its capital Sheberghan. Heavy fighting is reported in the city, and government buildings are taken over by the insurgents. Afghan security forces say they are still fighting there. Aug. 8 - SAR-E-PUL - The insurgents take control of Sar-e-Pul, capital of the northern province of the same name. It is the first of three provincial centres to fall on the same day. Aug. 8 - KUNDUZ - Taliban fighters seize control of the northern city of 270,000 people, regarded as a strategic prize as it lies at the gateway to mineral-rich northern provinces and Central Asia. Government forces say they are resisting the insurgents from an army base and the airport. Aug. 8 - TALOQAN - The capital of Takhar province, also in the north, falls to the Taliban in the evening. They free prisoners and force government officials to flee. Aug. 9 - AYBAK - The capital of the northern province of Samangan is overrun by Taliban fighters. Aug. 10 - PUL-E-KHUMRI - The capital of the central province of Baghlan falls to the Taliban, according to residents. Aug. 11 - FAIZABAD - The capital of the northeastern province of Badakhshan is under Taliban control, a provincial council member says. Aug. 12 - GHAZNI - The insurgents take over the city, capital of the province of the same name, a senior security officer says. Aug 12 - FIRUS KOH - The capital of Ghor province, was handed over to the Taliban on Thursday night without a fight, security officials said. AUG 12 - QALA-E-NAW - The Taliban have captured the capital of the northwestern province of Badghis, a security official and the Taliban said. Aug 12 - KANDAHAR - The Taliban have captured Afghanistan's second biggest city of Kandahar, government officials and the Taliban said. Aug 13 - LASHKAR GAH - The Taliban have captured the capital of the southern province of Helmand, police said. Aug 13 - HERAT - Capital of Herat province in the west was under Taliban control after days of clashes, a provincial council member said. Aug 13 - POL-E ALAM - Taliban captured provincial capital of Logar, 30 miles south of Kabul Provincial capitals being contested as of Aug. 13: FARAH - Capital of the western province of Farah. Advertisement

Hours later, the Taliban said they had also taken control of Lashkar Gah, the capital of neighbouring Helmand province.

A security source confirmed the fall of the city, telling AFP that the Afghan military and government officials had evacuated Lashkar Gah after striking a local ceasefire deal with the militants.

The government has now effectively lost control of most of the country, following an eight-day blitz into urban centres by the Taliban that has also stunned Kabul's American backers.

The government now controls just three major cities, and is unlikely to have the logistical manpower left to marshal a successful defence of the capital.

The Taliban are moving rapidly towards Kabul with reports suggesting their fighters are making progress on the northern and southern flanks of the capital.

Of Afghanistan's major cities, the government still holds Mazar-i-Sharif in the north and Jalalabad, near the Pakistani border in the east, in addition to Kabul.

The insurgents on Friday held more than a dozen provincial capitals in recent days and now control more than two-thirds of the country just weeks before the U.S. plans to withdraw its last troops.

Fazel Haq Ehsan, chief of the provincial council in western Ghor province, said on Friday that the Taliban had entered Feroz Koh, the provincial capital, and there was fighting inside the city.

The Taliban meanwhile claims to have captured Qala-e Naw, capital of the western Badghis province. There was no official confirmation.

The Taliban are also on the move in Logar province, 50 miles south of Kabul, where they claim to have seized the police headquarters in the provincial capital of Puli-e Alim as well as a nearby prison.

Speaking to the Today Programme, a spokesperson for the Taliban blamed the Afghanistan government for the conflict, saying Taliban wanted a peaceful settlement, and that an agreement had been broken by the Kabul administration.

'We had proposed a three-months reduction in violence about four months ago, but it was rejected by the same Kabul administration,' the spokesperson said on Friday morning.

Suhail Shaheen - based in Doha - also called the claims of the Taliban's brutal regime 'propaganda' against the group when confronted with reports about the group's treatment of women and citizens who don't adhere to their extremist rules.

The United Nations refugee agency called on Afghanistan's neighbours to keep borders open as Taliban insurgent advances heightened the country's crisis.

'An inability to seek safety may risk innumerable civilian lives. UNHCR stands ready to help national authorities scale up humanitarian responses as needed,' a spokesperson for the agency told a briefing in Geneva.

The World Food Programme sees food shortages in Afghanistan as 'quite dire' and worsening, a spokesperson added, saying the situation had all the hallmarks of a humanitarian catastrophe.

The U.N.'s statement came after Pakistan re-opened its Chaman border crossing for people who had been stranded in recent weeks. Juma Khan, the Pakistan border town's deputy commissioner, said the crossing was reopened following talks with the Taliban.

Peace talks in Qatar remain stalled, though diplomats are still meeting, as the US, European and Asian nations warned that any government established by force would be rejected.

'We demand an immediate end to attacks against cities, urge a political settlement, and warn that a government imposed by force will be a pariah state,' said Zalmay Khalilzad, the US envoy to the talks.

Ismail Khan, a veteran local commander leading militia resistance in Herat, Afghanistan, speaks to Taliban media while in their custody, in this screen grab taken from an undated video from social media uploaded on Friday

Meanwhile, Taliban insurgents detained veteran militia commander Mohammad Ismail Khan on Friday after they seized the western city of Herat, a provincial council member said.

Khan, who has been leading fighters against the Taliban in recent weeks, was handed over to the insurgents along with the provincial governor and security officials under a pact, provincial council member Ghulam Habib Hashimi told Reuters.

'The Taliban agreed that they will not pose any threat or harm to the government officials who surrendered,' Hashimi said.

Khan is one of Afghanistan's most prominent warlords. Known as the Lion of Herat, he battled Soviet occupiers in the 1980s and was a key member of the Northern Alliance whose U.S.-backed forces toppled the Taliban in 2001.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that Khan had been detained.

Pictured: Pakistani soldiers stand guard while stranded people walk towards the Afghan side at a border crossing point, in Chaman, Pakistan on Friday

Pictured: Stranded people sit around a coffin of their relative, loaded in a pickup truck moving towards the Afghan side at a border crossing point, in Chaman, Pakistan, on Friday

One clip purportedly showed prisoners - released by the Taliban - walking free down a dirt road, while another showed Taliban forces raising the group's flag outside what was claimed to be a government building in Lashkar Gah (pictured)

Pictured: Video from August 13 purportedly showed freed prisoners walking down the street after the Taliban reportedly broke open a prison in Qalat, the capital city of Zabul

Picutred: Taliban fighters posing with a man believed to be famous warlord Ismail Khan, who is the Governor of Herat. He has been kept in his Herat residence under heavily armed Taliban guards

Taliban fighters stand on a vehicle along the roadside in Kandahar on August 13, 2021

Kandahar and Herat fell on Thursday - further squeezing the country's embattled government just weeks before the end of the American military mission there.

The seizure of the two cities marks the biggest prizes yet for the Taliban, who have taken 12 of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals as part of a week-long blitz.
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The death toll from Turkey's flash floods rose to 27 on Friday after search and rescue crews recovered 10 more bodies overnight, with hundreds still missing.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was preparing to inspect hardest-hit Kastamonu and lend his moral support on Friday after more than 1,700 people were evacuated across the region, many being temporarily housed at student dormitories.

Meanwhile, wildfires that have ravaged Greece for more than a week were brought under control on Friday, with the fire department saying there were no longer any 'major active front, just scattered pockets'.

It is the latest in a bout of extreme weather in the Mediterranean which has also baked in blistering temperatures this week and which are expected to rise again on Friday as the 'Lucifer' heat dome continues to grip southern Europe.

The death toll from Turkey's flash floods soared to 27 on Friday as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan prepared to inspect one of the hardest-hit regions and lend his moral support

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was preparing to inspect hardest-hit Kastamonu and lend his moral support on Friday after more than 1,700 people were evacuated across the region, many being temporarily housed at student dormitories

Search and rescue workers evacuate a girl during flash floods that have killed 27 in Bozkurt, a town in Kastamonu province, Turkey

World scientists believe that natural disasters like those in Turkey are becoming more intense and frequent because of global warming and climate change

Floods in Turkey are the latest in a bout of extreme weather in the Mediterranean which has baked in blistering temperatures this week and which are expected to rise again on Friday as the 'Lucifer' heat dome continues to grip southern Europe

The devastation across Turkey's northern Black Sea regions came just as the disaster-hit country was winning control over hundreds of wildfires that killed eight people and destroyed swathes of forest along its scenic southern coast.

Turkey also suffered another bout of flooding in the northeastern province of Rize last month that killed six.

In worst-hit Kastamonu, a stream burst its banks inundating much of the town of Bozkurt, where most of the victims were found. One building was demolished and two others were severely damaged amid torrents of floodwaters.

The Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, or AFAD, said on Friday that crews are still searching for a woman who was reported missing in Bartin province. Private NTV television said however, that dozens of people remain unaccounted for.

They include 12-year-old twin sisters and their grandparents who were trapped inside an eight-story building in Bozkurt, their mother told private DHA news agency.

Speaking in Bozkurt late on Thursday, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu described the scenes as 'the most severe flood disaster I have seen.'

'The destruction is huge,' Kerem Kinik, head of the Turkish Red Crescent, told NTV. 'I hope that the missing are safe and that the number of deaths doesn't increase.'

Bozkurt resident Yilmaz Ersevenli told NTV that he left his house to move his car to a safe area as the waters began to rise, but soon got swept away by the gushing floods. He managed to save himself by holding on to a tree that had also washed away.

'I nearly lost my life trying to save my car,' he said.

In Bartin province, at least 13 people were injured when a section of a bridge caved in.

In total, five bridges collapsed in the floods while two others were damaged, AFAD said. Dozens of villages are still without power and several roads remain blocked.

Aerial images shows debris strewn across the land after flash floods and mudslides in Bozkurt district of Turkey on Friday

Rescue operations are ongoing in the region of Bozkurt, Kastamonu, Turkey on Friday after search and rescue teams uncovered 10 bodies overnight

Residents survey the damage after flash floods and mudslides caused by heavy rainfall in Zafer village, Turkey on Friday

Search and rescue efforts in Bozkurt district of Kastamonu, Turkey, continued on Friday morning after the death toll from the flash floods rose to 27

Search and rescue efforts continued on Friday morning ahead of a visit from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Cars were left strewn across streets and stuck in mud after floods and mudslides hit a residential area in Bozkurt district of Kastamonu in Turkey

Turkey's disaster and emergency agency said severe floods and mudslides had killed at least 29 people with others missing on Thursday

TURKEY: The floods battered the Black Sea coastal provinces of Bartin, Kastamonu, Sinop and Samsun on Wednesday, demolishing homes and bridges and sweeping away cars as helicopters scrambled to rescue people stranded on rooftops

Search and Rescue team members evacuate locals during flash floods which have swept through towns in the Turkish Black Sea region

World scientists believe that natural disasters like those in Turkey are becoming more intense and frequent because of global warming and climate change.

They also pose a serious challenge to Erdogan two years before Turkey's next scheduled general election.

The powerful Turkish leader was roundly condemned on social media for tossing out bags of tea to locals while visiting one of the fire-ravaged regions when the wildfires were first spreading at the end of July.

Polls show that the climate is a top priority for up to seven million members of Generation Z whose votes Erdogan will need to extend his rule into a third decade in the 2023 vote.

Erdogan has so far said little about the flooding.

'I offer my condolences to the loved ones of our 17 fellow citizens who lost their lives,' he said when the toll was still 17 on Thursday night.

His office said that Erdogan was speaking on the phone to regional leaders and promising to deliver all the assistance available to the state.

Emergency services said waters briefly rose in some parts as high as 13ft (4m) before subsiding and spreading across a region stretching more than 240km (150 miles) wide.

Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli warned on Wednesday that the area was facing 'a disaster that we had not seen in 50 or 100 years'.

Rescuers have been forced to evacuate a hospital holding 45 patients - four of them in intensive care - in the region around the coastal city of Sinop.

Images on television and social media showed stranded villagers being plucked off rooftops by helicopter and bridges collapsing under the force of the rushing water below.

The Anadolu state news agency said Thursday that rescuers were focusing on a four-floor apartment building that partially crumbled and another one next to it that completely collapsed.

Images showed parts of both river-front buildings toppling into the rushing flood of brown water below.

Turkey's disaster response authority said 25 people had lost their lives in the northern Kastamonu province and two in the neighbouring region of Sinop. One person was still missing.

Weather services predicted rains to continue to lash the affected area for the remainder of week.

Flames rise after a forest fire broke out in Bucak district of Burdur, Turkey

TURKEY: Firefighters are still working to extinguish wildfires in Mugla province, an area popular with tourists that runs along the Aegean Sea

TURKEY: At least eight people and countless animals died and thousands of residents have had to flee fierce blazes

The devastation across Turkey's northern Black Sea regions came just as the disaster-hit country was winning control over hundreds of wildfires that killed eight people and destroyed swathes of forest along its scenic southern coast

GREECE WILDFIRES UNDER CONTROL

Fires burning for over a week that caused Greece's worst ecological disaster in decades were finally brought under control on Friday.

The fire department said there was no longer any 'major active front, just scattered pockets' of wildfires.

Rain and falling temperatures helped the fire-dousing effort, but crews remain on alert for possible flare-ups in hard-to-access ravines on the island of Evia and in the region of Arcadia in the Peloponnese, a spokesman said.

But with high winds forecast for the weekend, the bulk of a huge multinational force that assisted Greek firefighters this week remains in place, civil protection spokesman Spyros Georgiou said.

'They are helping to monitor the perimeters of burned areas in Evia and Arcadia, which are many kilometres (miles) long,' he said.

'Many of them are actually requesting to remain,' Georgiou said.

Mitsotakis on Friday appointed a new minister in charge of recovery from natural disasters in a bid to defuse growing anger over the struggle to curb wildfires that have charred thousands of hectares of forest.

The new deputy minister, Christos Triantopoulos, will be responsible for aid and recovery from natural disasters, a new post created to compensate businesses and families hard hit by recent blazes.

Hundreds of homes and many businesses have been destroyed in Evia, Arcadia and the outskirts of Athens in the prolonged fire wave that struck Greece from late July and intensified last week, during the worst heatwave in decades.

Greece is just one of a number of countries in the Mediterranean region that have been hit by a savage fire season.

Heatwaves have become more likely due to climate change, scientists say. As global temperatures rise over time, heatwaves are predicted to become more frequent and intense, and their impacts more widespread.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Thursday described the infernos as Greece's 'greatest ecological disaster in decades'.

He pledged hundreds of millions of euros in reconstruction, reforestation and flood prevention works.

'[Recovery funds] will begin to be disbursed in a few days... and they will be greater than ever before, to all those affected,' the prime minister told a news conference on Thursday.

The government has come under withering criticism from locals in stricken areas whose income from agricultural products and tourism has been wiped out.

There have been growing calls for the resignation of top public safety officials who as recently as June had insisted that the country was well-prepared.

Mitsotakis on Thursday said the country had battled some 600 blazes in a week, some of them 'mega fires'.

But he admitted: 'It seemed that this particular phenomenon exceeded our capabilities and the preparations put in place.'

In a sign of the potentially shifting front of Europe's fires, three French Canadair aircraft that had been dispatched to Greece were redeployed to Sicily.

An aerial photograph of forest near the village of Pefki on the island of Evia, Greece, shows the damage caused by wildfires that burned for over a week

Fires burning for over a week that caused Greece's worst ecological disaster in decades were finally brought under control on Friday after thousands of hectares of forest went up in flames

A shepherd walks with his goats near a burnt area around Krioneritis village on Evia island on Thursday after devastating fires ravaged the region

Greek villagers have refused to evacuate and are working around the clock to save their homes as wildfires continued to ravage the island of Evia

HEAT WARNINGS FOR SPAIN, FRANCE, ITALY AND PORTUGAL

Temperatures have soared over southern Europe this week and are forecast to peak again on Friday with highs of 104F (40C) expected in Italy.

Meanwhile the Spanish weather office said that 15 of Spain's 17 regions were on alert for high temperatures, with the mercury forecast to reach a high of 104F (40C) on Friday in much of the country.

Authorities issued health alerts for Florence and Bologna for Friday and Saturday as wildfires charred the country's south.

Temperatures could hit 115F (46F) in the provinces of Seville, Cordoba and Jaen in the southwestern Andalusia region.

Hot weather, also expected to push the mercury to 104F (40C) in Portugal, is expected to last until Monday.



Temperatures topped 100F (38C) by early afternoon on Thursday in Rome, as the 'Lucifer' heat dome kept its grip on southern Turkey

Stifling heat hit Rome on Thursday, driving people indoors at midday, triggering drinking water restrictions, and turning public libraries into cooling 'climate shelters'

The local National Health Service offices in Rome and Bologna telephoned older residents who live alone to see if they needed groceries or medicines delivered so they wouldn't venture out in the searing heat

A young boy cools off in a fountain in Piazza Castello in Turin as temperatures topped 100F across much of southern Europe - and are expected to rise again on Friday

Meanwhile firefighters brought a wildfire in a forest in Spain's northeastern region of Catalonia under control on Friday as scorching temperatures put most of the country at risk for blazes.

About 100 firefighters had worked overnight to tame the blaze in the Spanish province of Tarragona, which forced the evacuation on Thursday of about 30 campers and has destroyed about 75 hectares (185 acres) of protected forest, Catalonia's firefighting service said in a tweet.

The fire was under control on Friday morning, but 11 water trucks, a helicopter and two water-dropping planes were still at the scene of the blaze, the service added.

Elsewhere in Spain, dozens of firefighters were battling a wildfire which broke out on Thursday evening near the town of Rubia, in the verdant northwestern region of Galicia.

This fire has so far destroyed about 200 hectares of land, the regional government of Galicia said in a tweet.

Firefighters have been carrying out hundreds of operations through the Italian island of Sicily, as well as in the southern Calabria region. Meanwhile overnight, about 30 people were evacuated after a large fire broke out in a nature reserve near Tivoli, east of Rome

ALGERIA ARRESTS 22 SUSPECTED ARSONISTS AFTER WILDFIRES KILL 69

Algeria has arrested 22 people suspected of being behind the most devastating wildfires in the country's history that killed 65 people, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said on Thursday, calling the fires a 'disaster' and urging the preservation of national unity.

Dozens of forest fires have hit mountainous areas in northern Algeria since Monday, mainly in Tizi Ouzou, the main province of the Kabylie region east of the capital, Algiers.

'Some fires have been caused by high temperatures but criminal hands were behind most of them,' Tebboune said in a live speech on state television.

'We have arrested 22 suspects, including 11 in Tizi Ouzou. Justice will perform its duty.'

At least 28 military men were among the dead as the North African country deployed the army to help firefighters contain fires that ravaged several houses in forested areas.

'It's a disaster ... disaster. But our strength will not collapse,' Tebboune said, praising aid caravans from other provinces to provide affected regions with food, medicine and donations of other material.

'We must preserve national unity... I insist on national unity,' he added.

In addition to soldiers on the ground, the army has been using six helicopters to extinguish blazes. The are supported by two firefighting planes hired from the European Union and which have been in action since early Thursday.

The government will receive two more planes from Spain on Friday and a third one from Switzerland in the next three days, Tebboune said.

Tebboune has declared three days of national mourning starting on Thursday after the death toll climbed to at least 69, including 28 soldiers deployed to help overstretched emergency services.



Residents in Tizi Ouzou, Algeria, desperately try to extinguish wildfires after at least 69 people, including 28 soldiers, were killed fighting the blazes

Algeria has arrested 22 people suspected of being behind the most devastating wildfires in the country's history that killed 65 people

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has declared three days of national mourning starting on Thursday after the death toll climbed to at least 69, including 28 soldiers deployed to help overstretched emergency services

Volunteers unloaded humanitarian aid to people affected by the wildfires in Ait Daoud village, in the region of Kabylie in Algeria

A woman carries bottles of water for people affected by wildfires in the village of Ait Daoud, in northern Algeria on Thursday

UN REPORT: MAN-MADE GLOBAL WARMING MUST BE REVERSED

The UN report, which as been dubbed a 'code red for humanity', said the Earth is likely to warm by 1.5C within the next 20 years  a decade earlier than previously expected  and heatwaves, flooding and droughts will become more frequent and intense.

Scientists had expected temperatures to rise by 1.5C above pre-industrial levels between 2030 and 2052 but now believe it will happen between this year and 2040.

'It's just guaranteed that it's going to get worse,' said report co-author Linda Mearns, a senior climate scientist at the US National Center for Atmospheric Research. 'I don't see any area that is safe Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.'

The report by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was produced by 200 scientists from 60 countries.

Drawing on more than 14,000 scientific papers, the review included the latest knowledge on past and potential future warming, how humans are changing the climate and how that is increasing extreme weather events and driving sea-level rises.

The authors said it was 'virtually certain' that heatwaves 'have become more frequent and more intense across most land regions'.

They also said a rise in sea levels approaching two metres by the end of this century 'cannot be ruled out', while the Arctic is likely to be 'practically sea ice-free' in September at least once before 2050.

If temperatures continue to rise, there could be devastating effects here on Earth, including a dramatic loss of sea-life, an ice-free Arctic and more regular 'extreme' weather

'We can't wait. The signs are unmistakable': Biden urges US action after doomsday UN report says global warming is ALREADY causing extreme weather and the world will heat up by 2.7F by 2040 - a decade earlier than forecast US President Joe Biden has sounded the alarm on climate change following the release of a bombshell United Nations report dubbed a 'a code red for humanity.' 'We can't wait to tackle the climate crisis. The signs are unmistakable. The science is undeniable. And the cost of inaction keeps mounting,' Biden said in a statement Monday, as he urged the US and world nations to swiftly limit greenhouses gasses. The Earth is likely to warm by 2.7F within the next 20 years - a decade earlier than previously expected - and heatwaves, flooding and droughts will become more frequent and intense, according to the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment. On Monday, 234 experts warned in the report that the US is headed for disaster. Flooding, deadly fires and heat waves will not only become the norm but will intensify in a warming world, warns the 3,949-page assessment. Humans have already heated the planet by roughly 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1C), since the 19th century, largely by burning coal, oil and gas for energy  with the US being one of the world's top producers. Scientists had expected temperatures to rise by 2.7F (1.5C) above pre-industrial levels between 2030 and 2052 but now believe it will happen between this year and 2040. Advertisement

However, some experts say there is still hope that cuts in emissions of greenhouse gases could stabilise rising temperatures.

Scientists involved in the report said the 1.5C or 2C thresholds are not cliff edges the world will fall off, but that every bit of warming makes a difference, so it is important to curb temperature rises as much as possible.

Professor Richard Betts, from the Met Office Hadley Centre and a contributing author to the report, said: 'Like the speed limit on a motorway, staying below it is not perfectly safe and exceeding it does not immediately lead to calamity, but the risks do increase if the limit is passed.

'Limiting warming to 1.5C clearly needs much more urgent emissions cuts than is currently happening, but if the target is still breached we should not assume all is lost and give up - it will still be worth continuing action on emissions reductions to avoid even more warming.'

The report by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was produced by 200 scientists from 60 countries.

Drawing on more than 14,000 scientific papers, the review included the latest knowledge on past and potential future warming, how humans are changing the climate and how that is increasing extreme weather events and driving sea-level rises.

The authors said it was 'virtually certain' that heatwaves 'have become more frequent and more intense across most land regions'.

They also said a rise in sea levels approaching two metres by the end of this century 'cannot be ruled out', while the Arctic is likely to be 'practically sea ice-free' in September at least once before 2050.

Following the report, Prime Minister Boris Johnson called it 'sobering reading' and said it was clear the next decade was going to be pivotal to securing the future of the planet.

'We know what must be done to limit global warming - consign coal to history and shift to clean energy sources, protect nature and provide climate finance for countries on the frontline,' he added.

And US President Joe Biden urged the country and world nations to swiftly limit greenhouses gasses.

He said in a statement: 'We can't wait to tackle the climate crisis. The signs are unmistakable. The science is undeniable. And the cost of inaction keeps mounting.'

Meanwhile UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the new report a 'code red for humanity'.

He warned: 'The alarm bells are deafening, and the evidence is irrefutable: greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel burning and deforestation are choking our planet and putting billions of people at immediate risk.'

And Anthony Blinken, US Secretary of State, said in a statement: 'Today, the United States joined nearly 200 IPCC member governments in approving the Working Group I contribution to the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report.

'The report finds we are already edging closer to a 1.5 degrees Celsius [2.7F] warmer world, and every day emissions rise the prospects for averting the worst impacts of climate change become dimmer.

'This is why it is essential that all countries - in particular the major economies - do their part during this critical decade of the 2020s to put the world on a trajectory to keep a 1.5 degrees Celsius [2.7F] limit on warming within reach.

'This is why the United States has committed to a 50-52 percent reduction in emissions from 2005 levels in 2030 and is marshaling the entire federal government to tackle the climate crisis. We cannot delay ambitious climate action any longer.'

The UN scientists modelled the changes in annual mean temperatures worldwide based on 2.7F (1.5C), 3.6F (2C) and 7.2F (4C) global warming

These graphs show how human influence has warmed the climate at a rate unprecedented in at least the last 2,000 years
Defence Secretary said he is 'happy to meet with any Gurkha' as former soldiers continue a hunger strike about their pensions outside Downing Street.

The Nepalese-born soldiers are campaigning for equal pensions for Gurkhas who retired before 1997 and are not eligible for a full UK armed forces pension.

The Support Our Gurkhas protesters reached their seventh day of not eating on Friday, while demonstrating opposite Downing Street.

Support Our Gurkhas protester Dhan Gurung holds a teddy bear as he continues a hunger strike during a demonstration for equal pensions

Ben Wallace said: 'I am very happy to meet any Gurkha. My father fought alongside the Gurkhas in Malaya in the 1950s, it is a pretty remarkable group of people'

But Ben Wallace warned that no government 'of any colour' had ever made retrospective changes to pensions similar to the ones the demonstrators are calling for.

Speaking on Sky News, Mr Wallace was asked if he would meet with the demonstrators.

He replied: 'I am very happy to meet any Gurkha. My father fought alongside the Gurkhas in Malaya in the 1950s, it is a pretty remarkable group of people.

Around 200,000 Gurkhas, recruited from Nepal, fought in both world wars, and they have also served in places such as Hong Kong, Malaysia, Borneo, Cyprus, the Falklands, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan

'The group of people currently protesting are groups affected by the change by the Labour government in 1997 to 2003. This was about people who are under a 1947 pension, it is a very small group of Gurkha pensioners, they had different advantages in their pension scheme in that old scheme.

'That scheme said that you got it after 15 years when a British soldier got it after 22, but there is a difference and they feel that difference needs to be made up.

'That is not the same as the Gurkhas of today or the Gurkhas after 2003, they get exactly the same pensions as British serving personnel, but of course no government of any colour, Labour or Conservative, or coalition, has ever retrospectively changed pensions, that has not been the case.'

Gurkha men, recruited from the rugged Himalayan country of Nepal, have a reputation as hard and loyal fighters, and are known for the trademark curved kukri blades they carry sheathed on their belts

Dhan Gurung also said he and his fellow demonstrators had been 'harassed' by police, who then dismantled a gazebo

Change was brought in after an amendment to immigration rules in 2007, backdated to July 1997, meant more retired Gurkhas were likely to settle in the UK on discharge, whereas the previous pension scheme had lower rates

But the public are getting behind the Gurkha heroes with over 3,000 people, at the time of writing, donating to a Change.org petition to help support the Gurkhas.

One donater wrote: 'They served the country well and deserve better treatment.'

Another wrote: 'I am siging this because i have served with the Gurkhas.

'They have such a special place in every soldiers heart, because they are amazing people and amazing soldiers.'

Around 200,000 Gurkhas, recruited from Nepal, fought in both world wars, and they have also served in places such as Hong Kong, Malaysia, Borneo, Cyprus, the Falklands, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Those who served from 1948 to 2007 were members of the Gurkha Pension Scheme until the Labour government of the time eliminated the differences between Gurkhas' terms and conditions of service and those of their British counterparts.

Serving Gurkhas, and those with service on or after July 1 1997, could then opt to transfer into the Armed Forces Pension Scheme.

The change was brought in after an amendment to immigration rules in 2007, backdated to July 1997, meant more retired Gurkhas were likely to settle in the UK on discharge, whereas the previous pension scheme had lower rates as it had assumed they would return to Nepal where the cost of living was significantly lower.

Mr Wallace was speaking a day after another minister said he was 'unsure' who from Government had met with the protesting Gurkha veterans.

When asked to confirm on Thursday that the Government had been in touch with the protesting group, schools minister Nick Gibb said: 'I'm not entirely sure who has met who but I do know that we are always keen to speak to people who are concerned about the welfare of our Gurkha regiment and the pensions arrangements for those soldiers.'

Mr Gibb had earlier said the Government was 'of course in touch' with the demonstrators.

Nepalese-born Gurkhas staging a protest outside Downing Street (above) are pictured entering their sixth day of hunger strike

The Support Our Gurkhas protesters are campaigning for equal pensions for Gurkhas who retired before 1997 and are not eligible for a full UK armed forces pension

Gurkha veterans have been forced to go on hunger strike because Ministers won't listen to their concerns about pension inequality. My letter to the Defence Secretary urging action for those who bravely served our country pic.twitter.com/M80SSsMMYN  Stephen Morgan MP (@StephenMorganMP) August 11, 2021

On Wednesday, Labour's shadow defence secretary Stephen Morgan wrote to Mr Wallace and urged him to 'engage constructively' with the Gurkhas.

He added: 'I would urge you to meet with these veterans, as I have in the past and will do so again this week. No veteran of the British Army should have to resort to a hunger strike to be heard.'

Gurkhas taking part in the protest had accused the Metropolitan Police of harassment, and said officers had taken down a gazebo they had set up.

The Met confirmed it had removed the gazebo on Tuesday.

On Thursday, Met chief Dame Cressida Dick said bylaws for the area opposite Downing Street 'do not allow for what might become a permanent encampment'.

Dame Cressida said she has 'a massive amount of respect' for the Gurkhas and that officers were 'extremely polite' and 'extremely professional' and had done 'the right thing'.
Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after the body of a 52-year-old woman was found burned in a lay-by.

Jomaa Jerrare was discovered by officers shortly before 2.30am on Monday after police received reports of suspicious activity on Bridgnorth Road, close to Perton, near Wolverhampton.

Staffordshire Police said a 76-year-old from Kingstanding, Birmingham, and a 56-year-old man from Bilston, Wolverhampton, have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Jomaa Jerrare, 52, (pictured) was discovered by officers shortly before 2.30am on Monday after police received reports of suspicious activity on Bridgnorth Road, close to Perton, near Wolverhampton

They both remain in custody, police added.

The force previously said they believe the victim was driven to the lay-by.

A post-mortem examination has taken place but the cause of her death is under further investigation.

A 41-year-old man from Wolverhampton, who was arrested on suspicion of murder, has since been released without charge.

A 76-year-old from Kingstanding, Birmingham, and a 56-year-old man from Bilston, Wolverhampton, have been arrested on suspicion of murder, Staffordshire Police confirmed. Pictured: The scene on Monday

A post-mortem examination has taken place but the cause of her death is under further investigation. Pictured: The scene on Monday

The force said specially trained officers are working with and supporting Ms Jerrares family, who have requested their privacy is respected.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said paramedics and a trauma doctor were sent to the scene on Monday but there was nothing that could be done to save the victim.

A service spokesman said: 'We were called to an incident at the junction of Jenny Walkers Lane and Bridgnorth Road at 2.49am on Monday.

'One ambulance, a paramedic officer and a MERIT trauma doctor attended the scene.

'On arrival we discovered one patient, who sadly could not be saved and they were confirmed dead at the scene.'
An angry mother who attacked a rival parent in front of children on the school run by punching her and pulling her hair in the street has been warned she could go to jail.

A simmering dispute between 27-year-old Jade Valentine, of Plymouth, Devon, and the other mother began when one child patted another's backside.

Mother-of-two Valentine jumped out of her car, which had a child strapped in the back, before launching 'a number of punches' at the other parent.

The victim suffered 'bumps and bruises' in the attack which involved 'hair pulling', Plymouth Crown Court heard in March 2020 following the incident in May 2019.

Valentine was handed a 12-month community order last year, but now faces jail after doing only a fraction of her unpaid work and failing to speak with probation.

Mother-of-two Jade Valentine pictured outside Plymouth Crown Court in Devon in March 2020

In the latest hearing, Judge Robert Linford emphasised that the case was heard so long ago that the sentencing judge had since retired.

But he added that Valentine had done just 14 of her allocated 200 hours of unpaid work - despite the order being extended by six months to give her more time.

Judge Linford said: 'It is completely unacceptable. When judges make orders, they need to be followed or there will be consequences.

'If you have genuine problems with childcare, then probation will listen. That is not what is happening here, you have simply not been doing the work.

'If you keep each and every one of the appointments that you are offered then on October 29 I will simply allow the order to continue.

'If you have missed any of the appointments for no good reason you will go to prison. Turn up that day with arrangements in place for the care of your children while you are in prison.'

The attack happened on this road in the Whitleigh area of Plymouth, Devon, in May 2019

The judge extended the community order again until March next year and adjourned the breach hearing.

Valentine, of Budshead Road, admitted breaching the community order by being out of contact with probation since May 11.

She had pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm over the incident, which happened on May 16, 2019.

Charlie Barrass-Evans, for probation, said officers had been 'flexible' with Valentine, for example accepting that she could not talk at certain times on the phone because she was caring for the children.

He added that they agreed to her request that she could do unpaid work in charity shops.

Ali Rafati, for Valentine, said: 'The consequences have left her feeling rather helpless, rather than being someone who is not inclined to do the work. She is very scared and very tearful.'

He added that in fact she had taken her two children along to unpaid work sessions.

Mr Rafati said Valentine had been caring for one of her children who had been ill during the coronavirus lockdown when both had been off school.

Prosecutors last year called the incident 'pathetic' and 'childish', and now-retired judge Paul Darlow condemned the 'sustained violence' in the presence of children.
Leading epidemiologists say it's 'most unlikely' Melbourne's sixth lockdown will end next Thursday as planned, with doubts cast over whether the state will be back to normal by Christmas.

Victoria's five-day moving case average is up to 17.4 and the effective reproduction rate is at 1.4, meaning currently every COVID-19 case is infecting almost one and a half people.

The state has reported 13 mystery cases over the past three days, with about 20 per cent of all new local infections over that span not in isolation while infectious.

The city's stay-at-home orders are due to end at midnight on Thursday, but with another 15 cases reported on Friday - including four mystery infections - Professor Tony Blakely says the restrictions will likely remain.

'Given that we tried a short, sharp lockdown I was hoping now that all arising cases would be occurring amongst quarantining people,' he told 7 News.

'That's not what we see, so I fear we've got quite a way to go with this outbreak yet.'

He said mystery cases were of most concern because they showed there were other chains of transmission undetected in the community.

Prof Blakely urged Victorians to get vaccinated, adding that by Christmas around 80 per cent of the population should have received the jab and therefore restrictions can ease.

'Hopefully we'll have a nice Christmas before we open up next year and deal with incoming people,' he said.

'That's what I'm focusing on is getting to that 80 per cent vaccination coverage and hopefully a good Christmas and New Year.'

But steps will need to be taken to ensure Melbourne's outbreak doesn't escalate to levels seen in New South Wales - which recorded 390 new infections on Friday.

A leading epidemiologist has said it's 'most unlikely' Victoria will be freed from its sixth lockdown next Thursday as planned after a wave of new infections were recorded (pictured in Melbourne)

Victorians need to restrict their movements as much as possible, the epidemiologist said, and live as if they are already infected with the virus.

'I've got a bad feeling about this one because of the fact there's those mystery cases out there,' he said.

'I think it's most unlikely we'll be out of lockdown by next Thursday.'

Professor Adrian Esterman, an epidemiologist and biostatistician at the University of South Australia, agreed.

He said Melbourne will get on top of its Delta variant outbreaks, but not by August 19 when the lockdown is due to end.

'I would say it's highly unlikely,' he said on Friday.

'There is a couple of reasons. The effective reproduction number is still quite high - you want to see that get towards one to feel a bit more comfortable - and the moving average is still going up.

'I don't think that lockdown will finish, if I was the Victorian government, until you're in single digits and no mystery cases.'

The grim warning comes amid a string of new exposure sites across Melbourne including the entire Chadstone Shopping Centre - the largest shopping mall in the country.

The centre was exposed to the virus between 4.26pm and 5.40pm on Saturday, August 7 with anyone visiting the mall between those times instructed to get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.

The Ritz Mansions apartment complex has also been put on alert over several days from Friday, August 6 to Wednesday, August 11.

NEW VICTORIAN EXPOSURE SITES Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed must get tested and isolate for 14 days regardless of test results: Hoppers Crossing, Hotts Cafe - August 4 from 1:02pm - 2:27pm Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed must get tested and isolate until given a negative result: Richmond, Little Frenchie & Co - August 7 from 10:19am - 10:55am North Melbourne, Liberty Petrol Station North Melbourne - August 12 from 7:30am - 7:55am St Kilda, Ritz Mansions - August 6 from 8:45am - 2:00pm, August 9 from 8:45am - 6:30pm, August 10 from 8:45am - 6:30pm and August 11 from 8:45am - 3:00pm Abbotsford, Woolworths Abbotsford - The Hive Shopping Centre - August 9 from 4:31pm - 5:11pm Richmond, Anchovy - August 8 from 12:17pm - 12:52pm Richmond, Jemimas Tasty Place - August 8 from 12:05pm - 12:45pm Malvern East (Chadstone), Coles - Chadstone Shopping Centre - August 7 from 4:28pm - 5:33pm Malvern East (Chadstone), Chadstone Shopping Centre - August 7 from 4:26pm - 5:40pm Advertisement

Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday called for more young Victorians to get vaccinated as he announced all residents aged 18 and above can receive the AstraZeneca jab at all 50 of the state's vaccination hubs from Monday.

'It is the most important thing to come forward to get vaccinated, to play your part, to protect not just yourself but the people you love the most and give us the freedom all of us want,' he said.

'Getting to 70 to 80 per cent vaccinated is what we have to work towards and these one million jabs over the next five weeks are the best way that Victoria can make a contribution, not just to our state's fortunes, but to our national strategy.'

The State Government aims to administer 200,000 vaccine doses a week between August 16 and September 19.

The Chadstone Shopping Centre in Melbourne was exposed to the virus on August 7 from 4:26pm to 5:40pm

Melbourne's lockdown is due to end next Thursday at midnight but with a surge in mystery infections, experts are fearing restrictions will remain (pictured police are seen speaking to a Melbourne resident)

SOUTH MELBOURNE MARKET STALLS ON COVID-19 ALERT Rita's Coffee & Nuts: 322-326 Coventry St, South Melbourne, August 7 from 1.30pm to 2.20pm The Fish Shoppe: 322-326 Coventry St, South Melbourne, August 7 from 1.30pm to 2.20pm Small Town Pie Company: 322-326 Coventry St, South Melbourne, August 7 from 1.30pm to 2.20pm Emerald Hill Nursery: 322-326 Coventry St, South Melbourne, August 7 from 1.30pm to 2.20pm Vangelis Deli: 322-326 Coventry St, South Melbourne, August 7 from 1.30pm to 2.20pm Fruits on Coventry: 322-326 Coventry St, South Melbourne, August 7 from 1.30pm to 2.20pm Haqen's Organics: 322-326 Coventry St, South Melbourne, August 7 from 1.30pm to 2.20pm Advertisement

'There literally are a million reasons to get vaccinated,' Mr Andrews said.

'It's a powerful contribution that every Victorian can make.'

Three more drive-through clinics will also be set up in Melbourne's southeast, southwest and northwest, following the popularity of the Melton site in the city's far west, which also opened on Monday.

Mr Andrews expects 60 per cent of Victorians will be vaccinated by the end of September.

The head of Melbourne University's School of Population and Global Health Nancy Baxter said the continuing spread of cases in the city meant it was unlikely Victorians could travel interstate by the September school holidays.

FIND THE LATEST EXPOSURE SITES NEAR YOU

'Maybe Tasmania or South Australia [would let Victorians in by then], but we'd probably need two weeks of looking like there's no cases before anyone would say okay to us,' she told The Herald Sun.

'For the next three or four months we just need to accept there's no guarantee for interstate travel and plans.'

The future of the AFL grand final and the Spring Racing Carnival is also in jeopardy, with concerns crowds may have to be prevented or severely restricted.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said Friday's unlinked cases include a delivery truck driver who lives in Wyndham Vale, a person in Middle Park and a person in Roxburgh Park, who is possibly linked to a school where an outbreak has recently occurred.

It's the third consecutive day the state has recorded mystery infections, with authorities also racing to find the source of four cases recorded on Thursday.

There are two people battling COVID-19 in hospital, including one person in intensive care.
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Family, friends and supporters of the 16-year-old boy allegedly murdered at a housing commission home in Sydney gathered for a moving candlelight vigil on Friday evening.

The boy was allegedly stomped and bashed to death in a gang attack at a Doonside house, leading to a murder charge for six teenagers, one of whom appeared in Parramatta Children's Court on Friday.

Hundreds of balloons, floral bouquets and messages of support - including calls to end violence - were pinned to the house and front fence, as people gathered with candles at dusk and spoke softly while music played.

Family, friends and supporters of the 16-year-old boy allegedly murdered at a housing commission home in Sydney have gathered for a moving and vibrant candlelight vigil on Friday

Incredible gesture: Doonside locals have covered the fence of the housing commission home with balloons, bouquets of flowers and candles - and are demanding 'justice' for the boy

Hundreds of balloons, floral bouquets and messages of support - including calls to end violence - were pinned to the balustrade of the house and its front fence, as people gathered lit candles at dusk and talked while music was played

The teenage boy was left brain dead, with two collapsed lungs and trauma to his face and body after the alleged bashing.

He died in hospital on Saturday August 8, three days after the alleged attack.

One placard attached to the Doonside house was a plea to 'stop the violence', while another called for justice for the dead boy, whose photo was prominently displayed.

One person left a heart-wrenching poem titled 'You Never Said Goodbye'.

'If love alone could have saved you, you would have never died,' one line read.

The Doonside property where the 16 year old boy was allegedly bashed was covered in heart-breaking and colourful tributes

Children were at the vigil and support shown for the boy who was allegedly murdered

'In life your mum loved you dearly, in death she loves you still. In her heart you hold a place that no-one could ever fill,' the poem continued.

'It broke her heart to lose you, but you didn't go alone. For part of her went with you, the day you grew your wings.'

The front door of the house where the boy was allegedly bashed was boarded up with several rows of tealights, arranged into a cross, burning brightly in front of it.

The community rallied in support of the family and friends of the boy, who was allegedly murdered in a vicious gang bashing last week

Locals, family and friends lit candles in tribute to the dead boy

An emotionally charged poem was pinned to the front fence of the Doonside home

Locals, supporters, friends and family brought gifts and tributes big and small to the Doonside house

'Thank you just being here really, and anyone who has contributed, thank you immensely' one woman announced to the people gathered.

'His family and friends would appreciate it. It's obviously an emotional time for everyone.

'Let's just take this opportunity to set a better influence.'

The people gathered gave three cheers for the deceased teen and released balloons in his name as one woman called out 'Rest in peace, little man'.

Doonside locals joined the emotional vigil to show support for the boy's family and friends.

The front door of the house where the boy was allegedly bashed was boarded up with several rows of tealights, arranged into a cross, burning brightly in front of it

Bouquets of flowers were pinned to the front fence of the Doonside property during the week and on Friday

The colourful tributes were part of a huge show of solidarity and support for the family and friends of the dead boy

Earlier on Friday, a 'caring and polite' boy, 14, was accused of striking the victim 52 times in an alleged fatal pack bashing at a housing commission home in Sydney's west, a court heard.

A 16-year-old boy (above) died on Saturday, days after allegedly being beaten by six teenagers - including a 14-year-old who allegedly struck him 52 times

The accused boy, dressed in a collared shirt and jumper, sat up straight as he appeared in Parramatta Children's Court on Friday, days after and five others were charged with the 16-year-old's murder.

The young man is the second youngest of four teenage boys and two girls who allegedly took turns assaulting the cowering child in Doonside last Wednesday.

Police allege the 'extremely vicious' assault - which allegedly saw the boy stomped and jumped upon - occurred because the teens sought 'gang notoriety' in a conflict between western Sydney post codes.

Police allege the incident came about after the now-dead boy allegedly stole a pair of Apple AirPod headphones and was then lured to the address with the promise of a party.

During a bail hearing, Magistrate Stuart Devine heard teenagers cried out 'finish him', 'pick him up, I'm going to f***ing throw him through the wall' and 'go hard, don't stop until he is f***ing knocked out c***'.

Incredible gesture: Doonside locals have covered the fence of the housing commission home with balloons, bouquets of flowers and candles - and are demanding 'justice' for the boy

Balloons cover the western Sydney home's simple fence in a moving act of kindness from grieving residents

Prosecutors told the court that almost 24 hours after the incident, the 14-year-old accused boy attended Granville police station wearing similar clothing.

The magistrate was told the boy had scratches and cuts on his hands and a small amount of blood to his shoes, and his release posed an unacceptable risk.

Defence barrister AJ Karim accepted the boy was at the crime scene, but argued there were several inherent flaws in the police case.

'This is a really sad matter... the attack was gruesome. I've watched all three footages and I think I'll be lightly putting it if I describe it as horrendous.

'It is terrible. It is truly a stain on our community for an offence like this to occur.'

The sixteen-year-old boy (above) died at Westmead Hospital on Saturday after he was allegedly brutally bashed at a home in Doonside three days prior

Mr Karim said the accused boy didn't look like the child who was captured allegedly beating the teenager in mobile phone footage.

The respected barrister asked Magistrate Devine to compare screenshots of the incident with the boy seen in court.

'In my respectful submission: those two do not look alike,' Mr Karim said.

Mr Karim also demanded to know how police could claim the boy had blood on his shoes at the police station.

'How can the police possibly say that without any documentary evidence or analysis?' he asked.

Defence barrister AJ Karim and solicitor Michelle Karim argued the boy could be released on strict conditional bail akin to house arrest

Mr Karim and solicitor Michelle Karim sought for the boy to be released on strict house arrest conditions while awaiting trial.

The child, who is blind in one eye, was described as 'caring and polite' in a letter from a Glebe youth worker, and the allegations as wildly out of character.

But Magistrate Devine refused the bail application, saying he wasn't persuaded the prosecution case was weak.

Outside court solicitor Ms Karim said the matter was 'very serious'.
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The United Nations begged on Friday for neighbouring countries to keep their borders open to allow people to escape the taliban, and U.N. agencies warned of a growing humanitarian catastrophe amid spreading hunger.

The plea comes as hundreds of thousands of Afghans fled their homes amid fears the Taliban will again impose a brutal, repressive government, all but eliminating women's rights and conduct commonplace public executions.

Afghanistan's government has now effectively lost control of most of Afghanistan to the Taliban, following an eight-day blitz into urban centres by the group.

With just three cities remaining under government control - including the capital of Kabul - thousands of people are making a last ditch attempt to flee the country.

The insurgents have taken 18 of the country's 34 provincial capitals in recent days, including its second and third-largest cities Herat and Kandahar, and Lashkar Gah.

The Taliban now control more than two-thirds of the country just weeks before the U.S. plans to withdraw its last troops, along with other Western allies.

Pictured: Stranded people crossing the border between Pakistan Afghanistan, in Chaman-Spin Boldak, Pakistan, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Thousands of Afghans have fled their homes amid fears the Taliban will again impose a brutal, repressive government after 20 years

Pictured: Afghan military and officials leave Kandahar city during fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security personnel, in Kandahar, southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan, in the early hours of Thursday, August 12, 2021

In this picture taken on August 13, 2021, a Taliban fighter holds a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) along the roadside in Herat, Afghanistan's third biggest city, after government forces pulled out the day before following weeks of being under siege

Up to 300,000 people have fled their homes since May, according to the UN, and thousands of refugees are now heading towards the key border crossings to escape from Taliban rule. Spin Boldak, near Kandahar and Khan Kala, near the capital Kabul, are two crossing points where thousands of people have been seen as they hope to enter Pakistan

Pictures from Friday showed fleeing Afghans entering neighbouring Pakistan after the country re-opened its Chaman-Spin Boldak border crossing for people who had been otherwise stranded in recent weeks.

The crossing is a major gateway between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and is reported to be under Taliban control.

Juma Khan, the border town's deputy commissioner, said the crossing was reopened following talks with the Taliban.

The decision to open the border was made after the United Nations refugee agency called on Afghanistan's neighbours to keep crossings open as the crisis intensifies.

'An inability to seek safety may risk innumerable civilian lives. UNHCR stands ready to help national authorities scale up humanitarian responses as needed,' a spokesperson for the agency told a briefing in Geneva.

The World Food Programme sees food shortages in Afghanistan as 'quite dire' and worsening, a spokesperson added, saying the situation had all the hallmarks of a humanitarian catastrophe.

As Western embassies prepare to send in troops to help evacuate staff, the United Nations said its 320 staff members would remain.

'We fear the worst is yet to come and the larger tide of hunger is fast approaching... The situation has all the hallmarks of a humanitarian catastrophe,' the World Food Programme's Thomson Phiri told a U.N. briefing.

More than 250,000 people have been forced from their homes since May, 80 percent of them women and children, the U.N. refugee agency's Shabia Mantoo said.

Many reported extortion by armed groups on the way and having to dodge improvised explosive devices along major roads.

Thousands of people are rushing from rural areas to the capital Kabul and other urban centres in search of shelter, another U.N. official said.

'They are sleeping in the open, in parks and public spaces,' Jens Laerke, spokesman of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 'A major concern right now is simply finding shelter for them.'

A World Health Organisation official reported a doubling of trauma cases in the last two to three months in the health facilities it supports.

She also expressed concerns about shortages of medical supplies and said it was training medical staff on mass casualty management.

Pakistani soldiers stand guard while stranded people walk towards the Afghan side at a border crossing point, in Chaman, Pakistan, Friday, August 13, 2021. Pakistan opened its Chaman border crossing for people who had been stranded in recent weeks

Pakistani soldiers stand guard while stranded people walk towards the Afghan side at a border crossing point, in Chaman, Pakistan, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021

Stranded people cross the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, in Chaman, Pakistan, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021

Pictured: People wait to cross the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, August 3, 2021. Pakistan has completed around 90 percent of a wire fence along its border with Afghanistan

The Taliban insurgency seized Lashkar Gah - the capital of the southern province of Helmand - on Friday, and two afghan lawmakers officials had surrendered the capital of Uruzgan province to the rapidly advancing Taliban.

On Thursday, the group took of Kandahar and Herat, marking the biggest prizes yet for the Taliban, who have taken 12 of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals as part of a week-long blitz

'The city looks like a front line, a ghost town,' provincial council member Ghulam Habib Hashimi said of Kandahar via telephone from Herat, a city of about 600,000 people near the border with Iran.

'Families have either left or are hiding in their homes.'

Pictured: A stranded Afghan family waits for the reopening of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing point in Chaman on August 13, 2021

A stranded Afghan national carries his son at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing point in Chaman on August 13, 2021, after the Taliban took control of the Afghan border town in a rapid offensive across the country

According to recent UN data , 400,000 people have fled their homes inside Afghanistan since the start of the year, with almost 300,000 of those fleeing since May

The Taliban has now seized around two thirds of the country from the government in a little over three months

Of Afghanistan's major cities, the government still holds Mazar-i-Sharif in the north and Jalalabad, near the Pakistani border in the east, in addition to Kabul.

According to recent UN data, 400,000 people have fled their homes inside Afghanistan since the start of the year, with almost 300,000 of those fleeing since May as fighting between the government and Taliban stepped up.

The vast majority of those are still inside the country, the UN says, but with Islamist fighters making rapid gains in almost every region and government forces in retreat, many are looking to leave the country.

Just how many is largely unknown. The UN says just 200 crossed the border into Iran on the weekend just gone, but only counts those who are officially registered as refugees.

Speaking to the MailOnline by phone from Zaranj, one smuggler said: 'I and my team here used to send around 50 or even fewer people to Iran on our pickup trucks each day for years it now stands at 100 or 150 on a good day.

'I should thank Trump, Biden and the Americans. Many of these people are highly educated, sometimes I regret sending them out, but it may save their lives.

'We are responsible for getting these people to Teheran, and our job ends there.

'But I know through talking with many of them that their final destination is not Iran. Many have plans for Europe in their heads. Thousands are being sent out of Afghanistan each day through this city.'

Most migrants make their way to the smuggling hub of Herat - which has come under attack by the Taliban in recent days - before they are either taken north to the Khosan border crossing with Iran, or south to Zaranj - which has also fallen into Taliban hands.

The northern route is the most expensive and also the most dangerous - with migrants forced to swim a river and then crawl for two hours to avoid security cameras - but carries the least risk of getting caught.

A second route goes from Zaranj directly into a Iran and to a safehouse in Kerman, before a final journey to Tehran.

The third route - the cheapest and most commonly used - goes into Iran via Pakistan, then to Kerman and Tehran. It is also the safest route, but carries the greatest chance of getting caught.

Rapid advances by the Taliban has led to warnings from anti-migrant Turkish opposition that new refugee crisis mirroring 2015 is looming - with opposition leader Kemal Klcdaroglu saying up to a million Afghans could come.

Frontex, the EU's migration agency, said on Wednesday that migration through the Balkans almost-doubled in the first half of this year compared to last, driven mostly by an increase in Afghans and Syrians.

That prompted Greek migration minister Notis Mitarachi to warned the EU is 'not ready' for another migrant crisis.

Pictured: Taliban fighters are pictured in a vehicle of Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS) on a street in Kandahar on August 13, 2021

Taliban fighters stand on a vehicle along the roadside in Kandahar on August 13, 2021

Taliban fighters drive an Afghan National Army (ANA) vehicle through a street in Kandahar on August 13, 2021

Peace talks in Qatar remain stalled, though diplomats are still meeting, as the US, European and Asian nations warned that any government established by force would be rejected.

'We demand an immediate end to attacks against cities, urge a political settlement, and warn that a government imposed by force will be a pariah state,' said Zalmay Khalilzad, the US envoy to the talks.

Fazel Haq Ehsan, chief of the provincial council in western Ghor province, said on Friday that the Taliban had entered Feroz Koh, the provincial capital, and there was fighting inside the city.

The Taliban meanwhile claims to have captured Qala-e Naw, capital of the western Badghis province. There was no official confirmation.

The Taliban are also on the move in Logar province, 50 miles south of Kabul, where they claim to have seized the police headquarters in the provincial capital of Puli-e Alim as well as a nearby prison.

The latest US military intelligence assessment suggests Kabul could come under insurgent pressure within 30 days and that, if current trends hold, the Taliban could gain full control of the country within a few months.

The Afghan government may be forced to pull back to defend the capital and just a few other cities in the coming days if the Taliban maintain momentum.

The onslaught represents a stunning collapse of Afghan forces after the US spent nearly two decades and 830 billion dollars trying to establish a functioning state after toppling the Taliban in the wake of the September 11 attacks.
An anti-vaxxer German nurse who allegedly injected up to 8,600 people with saline solution instead of a Covid-19 vaccine has said she diluted the jab only once to save her job.

A lawyer for the Red Cross nurse, 40, said she diluted the jab with saline solution in a 'one time incident' after she panicked she would lose her job for breaking a vial of vaccine.

Police claim the nurse of injecting patients with saline on six occasions, but investigators believe the deception was more widespread.

The unnamed nurse has been fired and thousands of people who received their first jab at a vaccination centre in Friesland in March and April and may have been affected have been urged get another jab.

An anti-vaxxer German nurse (not pictured) accused of injecting up to 8,600 people with saline solution instead of a Covid-19 vaccine has said she diluted the jab only once to save her job (file photo)

A lawyer for the Red Cross nurse, 40, said she diluted the jab with saline solution in a 'one time incident' at at Friesland vaccination centre (pictured) after she panicked she would lose her job for breaking a vial of vaccine

The nurse's lawyer Christoph Klatt said the nurse replaced the broken vial with saline solution after panicking she would lose her job over the mistake.

A spokesperson for the Oldenburg public prosecutor confirmed the nurse gave the same information in questioning, telling investigators she split vaccine residues from two vials into six syringes.

Klatt also said jabs given to patients were diluted shots of the vaccine but maintained his client only did it once.

However witnesses from the vaccination centre told police they believed she injected patients with saline solution more frequently.

Police said the unnamed suspect had aired sceptical views about vaccines in social media posts but Klatt said his client was fully jabbed.

'I am totally shocked by this episode,' Sven Ambrosy, a local councillor, said on Facebook as local authorities issued the call to around 8,600 residents who may have been affected.

While saline solution is harmless, most people who got vaccinated in Germany in March and April - when the suspected switch took place - are elderly people at high risk of catching the potentially fatal viral disease.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the state would stop paying for Covid-19 tests for unvaccinated residents by October in an effort to encourage more people to get the jab (file photo)

At least 3,600 potentially affected people had made new appointments by Friday and nearly 2,000 more had reached out to the information hotline.

'The citizens are reacting very prudently,' a spokeswoman for the state Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

She added there was no evidence people injected with saline solution had later become seriously ill with Covid-19.

Police investigator Peter Beer, speaking earlier at a news conference covered by German media, said that based on witness statements there was 'a reasonable suspicion of danger'.

It was not immediately clear whether the suspect had been arrested or charged in the case, which according to broadcaster NDR has been handed to a special unit that investigates politically motivated crimes.

Local police declined to comment outside of normal working hours.

It comes as German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the state would stop paying for Covid-19 tests for unvaccinated residents by October in an effort to encourage more people to get the jab.

Merkel said free testing will end on October 11 because all citizens are now eligible for the vaccine.

Around 55 per cent of Germans are fully vaccinated, but the pace of inoculations has slowed and Merkel has said she wants to see at least 75 per cent of the population jabbed.

Germany had made the tests free for all in March to help make a gradual return to normal life possible after months of lockdown.

From October, unvaccinated residents will have to pay for their own tests but teenagers, children, and people who cannot get the jab for medical reasons will be exempt.

The government will also require people to be either vaccinated, test negative or have a recovery certificate to enter indoor restaurants, participate in religious ceremonies and do indoor sport.
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The British Defence Secretary has blasted the American decision to leave Afghanistan as a 'mistake' that has handed the Taliban 'momentum' and means that al-Qaida 'will probably come back' to the war-ravaged country.

Ben Wallace warned 'the international community will probably pay the consequences' as he confirmed Afghanistan's second biggest city, Kandahar, and the capital of blood-soaked Helmand province, Lashkar Gah, were 'pretty much now in the hands of the Taliban.'

The Islamists seized the cities of Ghazni, Herat and Kandahar on Thursday, in the most dramatic string of captures since launching their offensive in the power vacuum which the U.S. and Nato left behind in their hasty retreat.

Wallace's comments echoed those of Mike Pompeo, Donald Trump's Secretary of State, who said the country was being turned into 'a breeding ground' for future terror attacks less than a month before the anniversary of 9/11.

'It looks at best naive and at worst ignorant,' Pompeo told Fox News last night, blaming Joe Biden for the chaotic withdrawal. 'Weakness begets war, and you see what weak leadership ultimately leads to,' he added.

But it was the Trump administration which forged the 'rotten deal' with the Taliban, according to Britain's Defence Secretary, which the UK tried to resist.

'I've been pretty blunt about it publicly and that's quite a rare thing when it comes to United States decisions, but strategically it causes a lot of problems and as an international community, it's very difficult for what we're seeing today,' Wallace told Sky News.

'I'm absolutely worried that failed states are breeding grounds for [terrorists]. It's why I felt this was not the right time or decision to make because al-Qaida will probably come back.'

The seizure of Kandahar and Herat marks the biggest prizes yet for the Taliban, who have taken 12 of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals as part of a week-long blitz.

While Kabul itself isn't directly under threat yet, the losses and the battles elsewhere further tighten the grip of a resurgent Taliban estimated to now hold some two-thirds of the nation.

Wallace added: 'I think the deal that was done in Doha [by the Trump administration] was a rotten deal. It effectively told a Taliban that wasn't winning that they were winning, and it undermined the government of Afghanistan and now we're in this position where the Taliban have clearly the momentum across the country.

'The United States are leaving, we are leaving alongside them, and that leaves a very, very big problem on the ground developing with the Taliban, obviously with the momentum and it's not what we probably would have liked.

'I did try after the announcement, to see if we can bring together the international community. And I'm afraid most in that community weren't particularly interested.'

Joe Biden (left) led Nato countries in a hasty retreat from Afghanistan which the Taliban swiftly benefited from. The British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (right) blasted the American decision a 'mistake' that has handed the Taliban 'momentum' and means that al-Qaida 'will probably come back' to the war-ravaged country

Taliban fighters drive a seized Afghan National Army (ANA) vehicle through a street in Kandahar on Friday

Smoke rises after fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security personnel, in Kandahar, southwest of Kabul, on Thursday

In this picture taken on August 13, 2021, a Taliban fighter holds a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) along the roadside in Herat, Afghanistan's third biggest city, after government forces pulled out the day before following weeks of being under siege

In this picture taken on August 13, 2021, Taliban fighters stand on a vehicle along the roadside in Herat. The British Government has said it will be sending 600 troops to Afghanistan to help British nationals flee the country

Pictured: Taliban fighters are pictured in a vehicle along the roadside in Herat, Afghanistan's third biggest city, on Friday

The Taliban has now seized around two thirds of the country from the government in a little over three months

Pompeo said that Trump was adamant the Taliban would not regain power on his watch.

'We had a conditions-based plan for how we would get our young men and women back home,' he told Sean Hannity.

'We were going to get our soldiers back, and we were going to make sure that this kind of thing you are seeing happened today could not happen - which is a breeding ground for what could potentially be terror attacks coming from this very place.

'I'll never forget the president saying you got two missions, Mike: we have got to have an orderly plan and execution of leadership to actually do that, and then second you've got to make sure that we are never attacked from this place.'

The Pentagon is sending 3,000 troops, part of three infantry battalions, back to oversee the evacuation of the U.S. embassy in Kabul, in addition to the over 650 U.S. service members still currently stationed in Afghanistan.

Another 3,500 to 4,000 reserve forces will be stationed in Kuwait on standby, and another 1,000 will go to Qatar to help with Special Immigrant visa processing.

The seizure of Herat - a strategic provincial capital near Kabul - was celebrated by Taliban fighters on Thursday who rushed past the Great Mosque in the historic city, which dates to 500 BC and was once a spoil of Alexander the Great.

Witnesses described hearing sporadic gunfire at one government building while the rest of the city fell silent under the insurgents' control.

An AFP correspondent filmed the Taliban flag flying over the police HQ in Herat, while the insurgents tweeted 'the enemy fled... Dozens of military vehicles, weapons and ammunition fell into the hands of the Mujahideen'.

'Right until this afternoon the situation in the city was normal,' Herat resident Masoom Jan told AFP.

'Late afternoon everything changed. They (the Taliban) entered the city in rush. They raised their flags in every corner of the city.

Herat had been under militant attack for two weeks, with one wave blunted by the arrival of warlord Ismail Khan and his forces. But on Thursday afternoon, Taliban fighters broke through the city's defensive lines.

Afghan lawmaker Semin Barekzai also acknowledged the city's fall to the Taliban, saying that some officials there had escaped.

Footage posted online showed heavily armed Taliban fighters rampaging through Herat today after they seized the strategically important third-biggest city in Afghanistan

The Taliban has captured Afghanistan's third biggest city, Herat, further squeezing the country's embattled government just weeks before the end of the American military mission there. Pictured: Taliban fighters pose for a photo in Ghazni on Thursday

Witnesses described hearing sporadic gunfire at one government building while the rest of the city fell silent under the insurgents' control. Pictured: A Taliban fighter poses for a photo in Ghazni on Thursday

Herat had been under militant attack for two weeks, with one wave blunted by the arrival of warlord Ismail Khan and his forces. But on Thursday afternoon, Taliban fighters broke through the city's defensive lines. Pictured: A Taliban fighter poses for a photo in Ghazni on Thursday

News of the capture of Herat came as the United States accused the group of executing Afghan government troops who had surrendered. A Taliban flag is seen flying in a square in the city of Ghazni on Thursday

Timeline of Afghanistan's provincial capitals falling to the Taliban Aug. 6 - ZARANJ - The Taliban take over the city in Nimroz province in the south, the first provincial capital to fall to the insurgents since they stepped up attacks on Afghan forces in early May. Aug. 7 - SHEBERGHAN - The Taliban declare they have captured the entire northern province of Jawzjan, including its capital Sheberghan. Heavy fighting is reported in the city, and government buildings are taken over by the insurgents. Afghan security forces say they are still fighting there. Aug. 8 - SAR-E-PUL - The insurgents take control of Sar-e-Pul, capital of the northern province of the same name. It is the first of three provincial centres to fall on the same day. Aug. 8 - KUNDUZ - Taliban fighters seize control of the northern city of 270,000 people, regarded as a strategic prize as it lies at the gateway to mineral-rich northern provinces and Central Asia. Government forces say they are resisting the insurgents from an army base and the airport. Aug. 8 - TALOQAN - The capital of Takhar province, also in the north, falls to the Taliban in the evening. They free prisoners and force government officials to flee. Aug. 9 - AYBAK - The capital of the northern province of Samangan is overrun by Taliban fighters. Aug. 10 - PUL-E-KHUMRI - The capital of the central province of Baghlan falls to the Taliban, according to residents. Aug. 11 - FAIZABAD - The capital of the northeastern province of Badakhshan is under Taliban control, a provincial council member says. Aug. 12 - GHAZNI - The insurgents take over the city, capital of the province of the same name, a senior security officer says. Aug 12 - FIRUS KOH - The capital of Ghor province, was handed over to the Taliban on Thursday night without a fight, security officials said. AUG 13 - QALA-E-NAW - The Taliban have captured the capital of the northwestern province of Badghis, a security official and the Taliban said. Aug 13 - KANDAHAR - The Taliban have captured Afghanistan's second biggest city of Kandahar, government officials and the Taliban said. Aug 13 - LASHKAR GAH - The Taliban have captured the capital of the southern province of Helmand, police said. Aug 13 - HERAT - Capital of Herat province in the west was under Taliban control after days of clashes, a provincial council member said. Provincial capitals being contested as of Aug. 13: FARAH - Capital of the western province of Farah. PUL-E-ALAM - Capital of Logar province in the east Advertisement

The Taliban has now seized around two thirds of the country from the government in a little over three months.

News of the capture of Herat came as the United States accused the group of executing Afghan government troops who had surrendered.

'We're hearing additional reports of Taliban executions of surrendering Afghan troops,' the US embassy in Kabul tweeted on Thursday. 'Deeply disturbing & could constitute war crimes.'

It was not immediately clear where the new reports had come from. Video taken in Faryab province last month did appear to show Taliban fighters massacring 22 Afghan commandos after they had surrendered, including the son of a prominent general.

Hundreds of government troops have surrendered to the Taliban since fighting escalated in May with the withdrawal of US troops - some without firing a shot, others after being cut off and surrounded with little or no chance of reinforcement or resupply from the government in Kabul.

In an attempt to stop the bloodletting, Afghan diplomats in Qatar said they had approached the Taliban with a deal today that would see the group included in a national unity government in return for halting the fighting.

But such talks have been stalled for years over 'unreasonable Taliban demands to turn the country into an Islamic emirate - and there is little reason to believe they will have softened that stance after their battlefield triumphs.

In a sign of the rapidly worsening situation, the US today told all of its citizens to leave the country as soon as possible by any commercial means. It comes a week after the UK gave its citizens the same advice, and after India pulled its diplomatic staff out.

On Thursday, the US said it would send troops to assist with the evacuation of civilians.

'We are further reducing our civilian footprint in Kabul in light of the evolving security situation,' US State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters, while noting the embassy would remain open.

Price added the US would also start sending in daily flights to evacuate Afghan interpreters and others who assisted the Americans and are fearful for their lives due to the Taliban's sweeping offensive across Afghanistan.

Earlier on Thursday, it was announced the jihadists had taken the city of Ghazni, located just 80 miles from Kabul and along the main highway to the south. The Taliban already controls the main highway going north, and is tightening the noose on what could soon become Ghazni's last stronghold.

The capture of Ghazni, meanwhile, cuts off a crucial highway linking the Afghan capital with the country's southern provinces, which similarly find themselves under assault as part of an insurgent push some 20 years after US and NATO troops invaded and ousted the Taliban government.

Thousands of people have fled their homes amid fears the Taliban will again impose a brutal, repressive government, all but eliminating women's rights and conducting public amputations, stonings and executions. Peace talks in Qatar remain stalled, though diplomats met throughout the day.

The latest US military intelligence assessment suggests Kabul could come under insurgent pressure within 30 days and that, if current trends hold, the Taliban could gain full control of the country within a few months.

Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand, appears on the verge of falling to the Islamists after a huge IED explosion destroyed part of the police headquarters on Wednesday and allowed fighters to capture it

The Afghan government may eventually be forced to pull back to defend the capital and just a few other cities in the coming days if the Taliban keeps up its momentum.

The onslaught represents a stunning collapse of Afghan forces and renews questions about where the over $830 billion spent by the US Defense Department on fighting, training those troops, and reconstruction efforts went - especially as Taliban fighters ride on American-made Humvees and pickup trucks with M-16s slung across their shoulders.

Afghan security forces and the government have not responded to repeated questions from journalists over the days of fighting, instead issuing video communiques that downplay the Taliban advance.

The jihadists said Lashkar Gah was briefly captured on Wednesday, but later revised to say that fighting is still ongoing and the city is not fully under their control.

A huge IED exploded near the main police headquarters yesterday, sending a plume of smoke into the sky and partially destroying the outer walls - allowing Taliban fighters to stream inside.

Multiple police officers were killed, the jihadists said, but some government troops managed to escape the slaughter and made it to the governor's office, where they have resumed their fight.

Nasima Niazi, a lawmaker from Helmand, said she believed the Taliban attack killed and wounded security force members, but she had no casualty breakdown.

Another suicide car bombing targeted the provincial prison, but the government still held it, she said.

In Kandahar, the Taliban claimed to have captured the city's prison on Wednesday, freeing 'hundreds' of inmates which including some of its own fighters, who have now rejoined the ranks as reinforcements.

The loss of the jail is an ominous sign for government forces defending the city, which has been besieged for weeks by an assault that shows no sign of letting up.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is trying to rally a counteroffensive relying on his country's special forces, the militias of warlords and American airpower ahead of the US and NATO withdrawal at the end of the month.

He was in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, in the country's traditionally anti-Taliban northern strongholds, on Wednesday in an attempt to rally his men as jihadists approached its outskirts with a major offensive expected soon.

Fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands of Afghan civilians who have fled their homes, with thousands of those heading for the safety of government-held Kabul (pictured)

A woman carries her child through a refugee camp in the Afghan capital of Kabul where thousands are now living after being displaced by fighting elsewhere in the country

Children forced to flee their homes due to fighting in Afghanistan drink tea as they sit in a refugee camp in Kabul

Young boys rest in a refugee camp in Kabul, Afghanistan, after fleeing fighting elsewhere in the country

Makeshift camps are springing up around Kabul to house thousands of refugees who have fled their homes due to fighting

Families rest in a camp in Kabul after they fled their homes due to fear of the Taliban and sought shelter in government areas

With the Afghan air power limited and in disarray, the US Air Force is believed to be carrying out some series of strikes to support Afghan forces.

Aviation tracking data suggested US Air Force B-52 bombers, F-15 fighter jets, drones and other aircraft were involved in the fighting overnight across the country, according to Australia-based security firm The Cavell Group.

It's unclear what casualties the US bombing campaign has caused. The US Air Force's Central Command, based in Qatar, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

The success of the Taliban offensive also calls into question the outcome of long-stalled peace talks in Qatar aimed at moving Afghanistan toward an inclusive interim administration as the West hoped.

Instead, the Taliban appears to be aiming to seize power by force, threatening a split of the country into factional fighting like it did after the Soviet withdrawal in 1989.

In Doha, US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has met with diplomats from China, Pakistan and Russia in an effort to as a group warn the Taliban they could again be considered international pariahs if they continue their offensive, State Department spokesman Ned Price said.

Khalilzad also plans to meet with Afghan government and Taliban officials as the fighting goes on without a sign of it abating.

The multiple battle fronts have stretched the government's special operations forces - while regular troops have often fled the battlefield - and the violence has pushed thousands of civilians to seek safety in the capital.

A family including women and children rest at a makeshift camp in the Afghan capital of Kabul after fleeing fighting

An internally displaced Afghan family, who fled from Takhar province due to battles between Taliban and Afghan security forces, sits inside their temporary tent at Sara-e-Shamali in Kabul

Internally displaced Afghan families, who fled from Kunduz, Takhar and Baghlan province due to battles between Taliban and Afghan security forces, walk past their temporary tents at Sara-e-Shamali in Kabul
A manslaughter investigation is under way in France today after a migrant thought to be in his 20s died following a boat sinking in the English Channel.

The man, who has not been identified, was among 36 people including families aboard the boat when it got into difficulty about 13 miles off the coast of Dunkirk.

He was pulled unconscious onto a lifeboat by crew from a passing cargo ship at about 10am yesterday and airlifted to hospital in cardio-respiratory arrest but died.

Other people from the sinking vessel were hoisted aboard the helicopter while more were rescued by nearby fishing boats.

Charities said the death was a 'sobering reminder' of the struggles faced by refugees and should be a 'wake-up' call for Home Secretary Priti Patel.

This year more than 10,000 people have made the perilous crossing aboard small boats, with crossings in 2021 having already eclipsed last year's annual total of 8,417.

Further arrivals were brought into Dover in Kent this morning on board a Border Force vessel as the number continued to rise amid the calm summer conditions.

And it comes after the RNLI carried out a dramatic overnight rescue of around 50 migrants overnight, with a lifeboat bringing them into Dover shortly after midnight.

Young children were seen walking up the gangway to be processed with women and dozens of men then followed, with one seen carrying a baby in a blanket. People smugglers were again desperately deploying migrant vessels late into the night.

Migrants who crossed from France arrive at Dover after being picked up in the Channel today

Migrants who made the crossing from France are brought into port at Dover in Kent today

A group of migrants are brought into Dover this morning on board a Border Force vessel

Migrants who made the crossing from France on a small boat are brought into Dover today

The area in the port of Dover where Border Force officials process migrants is pictured today

Speaking about the incident off Dunkirk, a border force source in France said: 'The Elena cargo ship reported as many 40 migrants in the sea. They were all on a flimsy boat that was thought to have been provided by people smugglers, before it sank.

'A search and rescue operation was launched, and it included the fishing vessels Nicolas Jeremy and Notre Dame de Boulogne, as well as a fast rescue boat from the Elena.'

Fresh Covid-19 cases at Napier Barracks site months after outbreak Cases of Covid-19 have once again been identified at a military barracks being used to house asylum seekers, several months after a major outbreak at the camp. Four dormitory blocks are in isolation after three cases of the virus were found at Napier Barracks in Folkestone, Kent. Napier Barracks in Folkestone, Kent Nearly 200 people at the site contracted coronavirus earlier this year, leading to accusations that health advice had been ignored. The site has been dogged by allegations of poor conditions in communal dormitories, with inspectors describing an isolation block as 'unfit for habitation'. The Home Office insisted again yesterday that it would be an 'insult' to suggest that Napier Barracks is not 'adequate' for asylum seekers. New transfers to the barracks were halted after a High Court judge in June found the accommodation failed to meet a minimum standard, but resumed about two weeks ago.. The number of people at the site, which features dormitory-style accommodation, is around 230. The department confirmed that those who tested positive have been removed from their dormitories but could not say if others are self-isolating. Questions have also arisen in recent weeks about the future of the Ministry of Defence-owned site, with MPs and peers told it could be used to house asylum seekers for 'another couple of years'. Advertisement

French army and Belgian air force helicopters were also scrambled, along with the French navy ship Flamant.

'The French helicopter NH90 hoisted a number of men on board, as did the other vessels involved,' said the source.

'One of the men was unconscious when he was transferred to the Flamant, and so he was rushed to hospital in Calais by helicopter, but he did not survive.'

The Dunkirk prosecutor's office opened an investigation for manslaughter, endangering the lives of others, and people smuggling.

At least 155 people were intercepted by French authorities and returned to the continent yesterday.

The Home Office has yet to confirm how many people succeeded in crossing the Dover Strait to the UK yesterday but a number of boats are reported to have landed on Kent beaches, with more than 100 people thought to have arrived.

The man who died has not yet been publicly identified but the prosecutor's office said he is aged between 25 and 30 and of African descent.

The prosecutor confirmed that 36 people including families had been aboard the boat when it got into difficulty in the Channel as it headed to the UK.

Labour's shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said: 'Conservative ministers must urgently get to grips of this situation, get a meaningful deal in place with France that stops organised crime gangs profiting from vulnerable people and address the factors that are driving people to take these incredibly dangerous routes.'

Steve Valdez-Symonds, refugee and migrant rights director at Amnesty International UK, said: 'We are deeply saddened by this loss of life and our thoughts are with the family and friends who have lost their loved one.

'The Home Office must take this as an urgent wake-up call.'

Lisa Doyle, director of advocacy and engagement at the Refugee Council, said: 'This tragic loss of life is a sobering reminder that the odds are stacked against ordinary men, women and children, who are desperately struggling for safety and protection.'

The International Organisation for Migration tweeted: 'We are saddened by reported loss of life after a boat carrying 40 migrants sank in the Channel.

'Combating smuggling is crucial, but this tragedy is also a reminder that legal pathways need to be strengthened as alternatives to dangerous crossings.'

And the Home Office's clandestine channel threat commander Dan O'Mahoney said: 'This loss of life is a tragedy and we are providing support to our French counterparts who are leading the response.

'This underlines the terrible dangers of small boat crossings and why we must work together with the French to prevent callous criminals exploiting vulnerable people.'

A Border Force worker bring a migrant to shore following a group's arrival at Dover today

Migrants who made the crossing from France are brought into port on the Kent coast today

Migrants are brought into Dover in Kent this morning onboard a UK Border Force vessel

A migrant is brought to shore after a group arrived at Dover on a Border Force vessel today

A migrant who made the crossing from France is disembarked after being picked up today

Migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel this morning

The Channel crisis has previously claimed numerous lives.

In October last year Rasoul Iran-Nejad and his wife Shiva Mohammad Panahi, both 35, drowned on the French side of the Channel along with their three young children.

Their 15-month-old son Artin was reported missing following the tragedy and it was not until June this year that police confirmed a body found on the Norwegian coast was that of the young boy.

Yesterday saw more than 100 arrivals - but figures have not yet been officially confirmed.

Incidents yesterday included a black inflatable boat landing on Hythe beach in Kent. Around 20 young men reached the shore in front of bemused day trippers and beachgoers

Police outside the Hythe Imperial Hotel in Kent yesterday after 20 migrants landed nearby

In a separate incident, a group of around 12 migrants wearing life jackets were seen crammed on to a small boat in the English Channel on Wednesday before they were rescued

Incidents included a black inflatable boat landing on Hythe beach, 12 miles west of Dover.

The boat arrived directly in front of Hythe Imperial Hotel on the seafront at around noon.

Around 20 young men reached the shore in front of bemused day trippers and beachgoers. One arrival gave a 'thumbs up' sign to an on-looking photographer as he arrived.

Meanwhile in Dover, officials used a stretcher to carry one woman from a berthed Border Force vessel to land.
Peers billed the taxpayer 46,000 after spending a day praising the Duke of Edinburgh after his death - even though fewer than half actually spoke in the House of Lords in his honour.

Some 162 members of the upper house claimed expenses for the session on April 12, three days after the royal consort died at the age of 99.

But just 65 of those who claimed spoke during the session, either in person or remotely. It means 97 billed the taxpayer for turning up but did not participate.

They are allowed to claim 323 a day for attending Parliament in person or 162 if they dial in from home.

Some 162 members of the upper house claimed expenses for the session on April 12, three days after the royal consort died at the age of 99.

They are allowed to claim 323 a day for attending Parliament in person or 162 if they dial in.

The session lasted more than five hours after the regular business of the day was wiped so they could pay tribute and agree a 'Humble Address' of condolences to the Queen.

The figures were revealed in an FOI response to Sky News.

Darren Hughes, the chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society, told the broadcaster: 'This is the kind of expenses scandal in the unelected Lords which just seems to keep repeating itself.

'While many peers work hard, too many appear to see the Lords as a cash cow - eroding trust in the work of parliament as a whole.

'There is simply no way for voters to kick out those who fall short of the standards we need in the UK's revising chamber.'
A Christian academy has been blasted after shooting dead a fox and her three cubs living on their school field.

Parents and animal charities slammed the secondary school for its 'cruel and barbaric' choice and for not looking for a more humane deterrent.

The Littlehampton Academy, in West Sussex, said it had seen 'increasing amounts of damage' and an 'increasing prevalence of fox faeces' that was a danger to children.

The school also claimed they had found a den in an area intended for educational use.

Parents and animal charities slammed the secondary school for its 'cruel and barbaric' choice and for not looking for a more humane deterrent. Pictured: Fox Guardians take on the deaths

Fox Guardians, a West Sussex charity, wrote an open letter to the school saying: 'We were shocked to be informed by extremely distressed local residents and parents of children who are pupils at your school that on the night of the 4th of August a much-loved vixen and her three cubs were shot and killed on the grounds of the Littlehampton Academy by paid marksmen you had employed.

'The foxes' only ''crime'' was that they soiled your playing fields.' Charlotte Owen, from Sussex Wildlife Trust, said: 'The killing of any wild animal should be a last resort.

'Foxes are widespread and common, so neither translocation nor killing will provide a long-term solution.'

Ms Owen added it's 'far more effective' to focus on deterrence and that there are a 'number of ways to do this humanely'.

Parents and local residents also voiced their anger at the killing of the fox and her cubs.

Brandon Pragnell said: 'Personally I think it's cruel and barbaric to even think of killing them let alone their young.

'They didn't even try to relocate them, there are so many different things they could've done to move them on off the school property but instead they inhumanely shot them.

'Having three and a half years experience working and rehabilitating wildlife, I hear of this so often, selfish people just going out of their way to destroy innocent creatures for no reason.

'The foxes weren't doing any harm to the students of the school.' Kirsten Ann Connelly said: 'I think it's disgusting.

'In this day and age, they should be setting an example to their students on how to nurture nature not destroy it.'

The Littlehampton Academy in West Sussex (pictured) said it had seen 'increasing amounts of damage' and an 'increasing prevalence of fox faeces' that was a danger to children

A spokesman for the school, which describes itself as a Christian Academy, said the school had explored other options but their 'choices were limited'.

They said: 'We did look at trapping them as an option but, once trapped they would be destroyed, and on balance, we felt that allowing them to be trapped and held in cages for a period before being destroyed was a worse option.

'This is not something we decided on lightly but I hope that you can see that as an educational establishment with over 1,300 children on site we have a responsibility to ensure their safety and health, and so we took this difficult decision.'

The government states foxes may be 'humanely killed' if they are on private property using a 'suitable firearm and ammunition'.

It also states foxes should not be relocated as it will cause them stress transporting them to an unfamiliar environment.
A toddler has died after she climbed into a pan of boiling water and was taken by her medical student mother to unqualified traditional healers.

Trainee doctor Darina Gorova, 18, took daughter Lesya to traditional Ukrainian healers who administered natural ointments rather than rushing her to hospital.

Lesya suffered horrific burned to her abdomen, back, and bottom after getting into a pan of boiling water her mother was using to cook chicken.

Toddler Lesya Gorova died after she climbed into a pan of boiling water and was taken by her medical student mother to unqualified traditional healers instead of a hospital for treatment

Lesya Gorova, two, suffered horrific burns to her, back and bottom after getting into a pan of water boiling so her mother could cook a chicken

Five days later Lesya's grandmother visited, saw the girl's terrible wounds and immediately insisted she be taken to the hospital.

But it was too late to save the child, who succumbed to her wounds ten days later.

Police are investigating Darina and her husband Ivan Gorov, 29, for pre-meditated murder following the incident.

If convicted, they could face between seven and 15 years in jail.

Police said Darina, from Bakhmach, Ukraine, had failed to properly secure the pan of boiling water she intended to use to a cook a chicken the family had slaughtered.

Police are investigating Darina Gorova, 18, and her husband Ivan Gorov, 29, for pre-meditated murder following the incident. If convicted, they could face between seven and 15 years in jail

Police said Darina, from Bakhmach, Ukraine, had failed to properly secure the pan of boiling water she intended to use to a cook a chicken the family had slaughtered

Officers added the traditional remedies given to Lesya by traditional healers did little to ease her burns and that Darina, as a medical student, should have noticed.

Darina is studying to become a doctor at Konotop Medical College.

A local report said villagers 'cannot understand why Lesya wasn't immediately taken to hospital and saved She is a future doctor.'
A local 61-year-old man was beaten up at Appleby horse fair before 'men from travelling community walked away from the scene.

A number of men thought to be from the travelling community were seen walking quickly away from the scene of the attack shortly afterwards, although police say they are keeping an open mind.

The victim, a local man, had been drinking with older travellers earlier in the evening at The Midland pub in the market town, which is bursting at the seams from the huge annual influx.

He suffered severe bruising in the assault and was taken by ambulance to hospital but was later allowed home.

The incident has caused further tension between local people and members of the Gyspy, Roma and Travelling (GRT) community.

Locals have been complaining about disorder and littering surrounding the 250-year-old event, while gypsies have accused motorist of driving too fast and inconsiderately as they lead their horses and wagons along the roads.

Police have launched a manhunt for two men after a 61-year-old local was assaulted at the Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria. Pictured: Horses are washed in the River Eden on the first day of the event on Thursday

The man injured in the assault left the Midland, close to the town's railway station, but was attacked nearby at 10.20pm on Thursday night.

Police said the attackers left in the direction of the Midland and people living in Clifford Street, the scene of the attack, saw a group of around eight men walking briskly away.

A resident said: 'The fair is now too big for the size of the town and sadly incidents like this are becoming too common.

'Three years ago a local businessman was seriously attacked after his car accidentally struck a child from a traveller family. It's terrible that local people are being subjected to incidents like this in what is a quiet country town for 51 weeks of the year.'

Another resident reported seeing seven men walking up the street towards the Midland in the minutes following the attack and said they were joined by an eighth soon afterwards.

Police say they cannot say 'for certain' that the attackers were members of the travelling community.

A Cumbria Police spokesman said: 'Police are appealing for information as they investigate an assault which occurred in Appleby last night. The incident took place at around 10.20pm.

A man aged 61 and from Appleby was punched a number of times by two men in the Clifford Street area. The men then left the area in the direction of The Midland pub.

'The victim suffered severe bruising to his face and a cut over his eye. He was taken to hospital as a precaution but has subsequently been discharged.

'Police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to make contact.'

Police are appealing for witnesses to the assault, which happened at 10.20pm on Wednesday night and left the victim, a local man, in hospital. Pictured: Horses are washed in the River Eden on the first day of the event on Thursday

This year's event has also seen problems arise in Kirkby Stephen, which neighbours Appleby.

Travellers traditionally camp there in the lead up to the fair starting, using roadside verges as makeshift stopover points.

There was anger from local people as they moved off leaving litter strewn across fields and verges.

One resident said: 'Most of the rubbish has been cleaned up but it wasn't by the travellers, they just left for the first day of Appleby and their mess was strewn everywhere.There was even a shopping trolley left behind.

'I don't see why local tax payers should foot the bill, they should pick up their litter when they leave.'

In the neighbouring village of Long Marton there were claims the village green had been used as an ad hoc toilet.

A post on a village community forum warned parents not to allow their children to play on the green until it could be cleaned up.

In turn travellers have complained that one of their traditional camps had been sprayed with cow manure and sectioned off with boulders by the land owner.

This year's event has also seen problems arise in Kirkby Stephen, which neighbours Appleby. Pictured: A bow top wagon was driven through the town centre on the first day of the event

That forced them to find a new pitch in Kirkby Stephen and they chose Upper Eden Rugby Club, leading to a stand-off with locals and the police.

The group of around 20 caravans and motor homes was moved on the following day when an eviction notice was served.

Travellers also issued a plea to motorists to slow down when passing their horses and carts.

Billy Welch, known as the Shera Rom or Head Gypsy is pleading with the public to be patient he said: 'Please drive with caution there are families with small children in them.

'It's better to be late than the late. My concern is something serious could happen and someone could be seriously injured.

'It's not just the horse we have to worry about it's the families and children. Drive with caution and be prepared to slow down.'

The fair looks set to receive a larger than average number of visitors because fewer people are holidaying abroad.

The flock to the town to watch centuries-old tradition of washing horses in the River Eden, before they are taken up the hill to the 'flashing lane' where they are put through their paces for prospective buyers.

Travellers also issued a plea to motorists to slow down when passing their horses and carts. Pictured: Some attendees arrive at Appleby Horse Fair on Thursday

A good carriage horse can sell for as much as 30,000, with deals being struck in swift, informal auctions at the roadside and sealed by slapping hands together.

Among those washing their horses in the Eden was Tianna Mullan, 13, and her grey mare Ice Cube. Tianna's dad Bernard Mullan, 39, of Belfast, said: 'She's an excellent horse woman, she knows what she'd doing and the horse is happy.

'Tianna races him in carriage races, they have a great understanding.

'Taking the horses into the water has been done for generations, it's one of the great traditions of the fair. It's great to be back after so long away, it feels like coming home.'

RSPCA Chief Inspector Rob Melloy is supervising the event. He said: 'Our advice is not to go into the water with their horses but there is no law to stop them doing it.

'We have a team of 30 on hand to deal with any welfare issues for the animals and the horses that have gone into the river have been closely watched.

'They have been fine, we haven't seen any showing any sign of distress and if we do we'll intervene. We're not just here to monitor the travelling community. Every year we have to free a dog left in a hot car and that is more often from non travelling visitors.

'We expect large numbers of people this weekend because of people being on staycations so we're asking them to be particularly mindful of their dogs and preferably not bring them to the fair.'

This year sees a return to the fair after it was cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19.

It was only the second time in its history it had been called off, the first being due to the foot and mouth epidemic of 2011.
Russia has expelled senior BBC journalist Sarah Rainsford in retaliation for Britain 'discriminating' against the Russian press.

Moscow has refused to renew a visa for Rainsford, state TV reported, in an effective expulsion amid simmering tensions with the UK.

Rainsford will have to leave Russia before the end of the month when her visa expires, state TV reported late on Thursday, terming the de facto expulsion a 'symbolic deportation'.

It said the Foreign Ministry's decision not to extend her visa came in retaliation to British refusal to grant or extend visas to Russian journalists.

Rainsford would not comment on the situation, but the BBC said the move was a direct assault on media freedom. A spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry said she would comment on the matter once Rainsford had done so.

Russia has expelled senior BBC journalist Sarah Rainsford in retaliation for Britain 'discriminating' against the Russian press

Moscow has refused to renew a visa for Rainsford, state TV reported, in an effective expulsion amid simmering tensions with the UK

It is an unusual move that signals a further deterioration in already poor ties between London and Moscow.

It follows a crackdown before parliamentary elections in September on Russian-language media at home whom the authorities judge to be backed by malign foreign interests intent on stoking unrest.

State TV blamed Britain's treatment of state-backed Russian broadcaster RT and of online state news outlet Sputnik, saying neither could get accredited in Britain to cover international events, for the expulsion.

'Sarah Rainsford is going home. According to our experts, this correspondent of the Moscow's BBC bureau will not have her visa extended because Britain, in the media sphere, has crossed all our red lines,' Rossiya-24 said.

'The expulsion of Sarah Rainsford is our symmetrical response,' it said.

Rainsford, a Russian-speaker, is an experienced BBC foreign correspondent who has also done stints in Havana, Istanbul and Madrid.

Rainsford, a Russian-speaker, is an experienced BBC foreign correspondent who has also done stints in Havana, Istanbul and Madrid

Russia's relations with the West have sunk to the lowest levels since the Cold War, following Moscow's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula, accusations of Russian interference with elections, hacking attacks and other tensions.

Relations between Russia and Britain have remained particularly strained after the 2018 poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the UK.

It was an attack with a Soviet-designed nerve agent that British authorities said had almost certainly approved been 'at a senior level of the Russian state'  an allegation Moscow denies.

In a June incident that further aggravated ties, Russia said one of its warships fired warning shots and a warplane dropped bombs in the path of the British destroyer HMS Defender to chase it away from an area near Crimea that Moscow claims as its territorial waters.

The UK, which like most other nations did not recognise Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, insisted the Royal Navy ship was not fired upon and said it was sailing in Ukrainian waters.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the incident as a provocation, and Moscow warned that the military could fire to hit intruding warships if they do not heed warnings.
A 'cynical' conman who posed as an NHS employee to trick a 92-year-old woman into paying for a fake Covid-19 vaccine has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Kathleen Martin, now 93, allowed David Chambers, 33, into her home in Surbiton, South West London, as the jab was first being rolled out to vulnerable people.

She had recently been contacted by her GP surgery and believed Chambers, who was wearing a fake lanyard, had been sent to administer the vaccine.

He asked her to roll up her sleeve and pretended to give her the jab, pressing something she described as 'dart-like implement' against the back of her wrist.

Chambers, who did not inject anything or break his victim's skin when he visited on the afternoon on December 30 last year, charged her 140, then returned days later on January 4 to demand another 100, which she refused to pay.

Ms Martin, who lived alone, has since described the scam as 'harrowing' but said she hopes it 'doesn't deter people from getting vaccinated'.

David Chambers, of Surbiton, South West London, was jailed at Kingston Crown Court today

Chambers, 33, is brought into custody at Bishopsgate police station in London in January

Chambers was jailed at Kingston Crown Court today after pleading guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation and battery at a previous hearing.

Judge Hannah Kinch branded his actions 'despicable' and said: 'I have no doubt your actions caused significant anxiety and distress to other elderly people at that time, worried they might too fall victim to that scam.

'I hope it doesn't deter people from getting vaccinated': Full statement from victim Kathleen Martin said: 'I've lived in Surbiton all my life and I have never been subjected to such a deceitful and horrific crime. 'It has been a difficult few months coming to terms with the reality that someone could go to such lengths to defraud a person. Knowing first hand someone would use the Covid 19 vaccination process to scam money from the elderly is very harrowing. 'I hope this doesn't deter people from getting vaccinated. It is important people are aware of these scams and always check the validity of what people say when they contact you by phone or knock on your door. These scams are on the rise and they specifically target the elderly. This person posed as an NHS employee with a fake lanyard and gained access to my home. 'I would like to express my sincere thanks to City of London Police for operating a swift, thorough and diligent investigation. Not only were they able to catch the perpetrator extremely quickly they kept me and my family informed throughout the whole process. 'Finally, thank you to my family and especially my neighbours, and I hope the awareness of such scams continues to prevent any further victims in the future.' Advertisement

'Your actions were cruelly calculated to trick the victim into thinking she had been properly vaccinated so as to be able to obtain payment from her.'

Chambers was also given a seven-year criminal behaviour order to stop him targeting elderly victims in their homes.

The court heard he was previously jailed for 18 months for burgling an elderly woman after telling her he needed to check her boiler and radiators.

He was also handed a suspended sentence, which was later activated, for defrauding two elderly victims by claiming he needed to borrow money for a locksmith after getting locked out of his home.

The judge said: 'Your previous convictions show a propensity to deliberately target vulnerable elderly victims in their own homes, a place where they should feel safe and secure.

'You took full advantage of the vaccination rollout to prey on another vulnerable victim in her own home.'

Father-of-three Chambers, from Surbiton, appeared in the dock with his hair swept back into a manbun  the same distinctive hair style seen on CCTV images released in the police appeal that led to his arrest.

Prosecutor William Davis said he had carried out the scam amid rapidly rising Covid-19 infection rates in the UK.

'We say this offending risked undermining confidence in the vaccine rollout, which was in its early stages at the time,' he said.

'Elderly people hearing about these offences may have been concerned they would be victims of a fraud in this way.'

He added: 'These offences are a particularly cynical act of deception perpetrated against a vulnerable victim.'

In a statement, Ms Martin said she has lived in Surbiton her whole life and had 'never been subject to such a deceitful and horrific crime'.

She added: 'It has been a difficult few months coming to terms with the reality that someone could go to such lengths to defraud a person.

'Knowing first hand someone would use the Covid-19 vaccination process to scam money from the elderly is harrowing.

Chambers is taken into police custody after being arrested in January following the incident

'It is important people are aware of these scams and always check the validity of what people say when they contact you by phone or knock on your door.

'These scams are on the rise and they specifically target the elderly. This person posed as an NHS employee with a fake lanyard and gained access to my home.'

Edward Butler, defending, said Chambers felt 'shame and disgust at his behaviour' towards Ms Martin and has 'recognition and remorse for the pain he has caused'.

He added: 'These are deeply unpleasant and shameful offences. They are the product of a life hitherto wasted in the form of addiction to illegal drugs.'

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Kevin Ives, from the City of London Police's Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit, said: 'This was a heartless and shocking offence with David Chambers showing a complete disregard of an elderly woman's health, exploiting public concern during this global pandemic.

These images of David Chambers were circulated by City of London Police after the incident

'We are grateful to members of the public for the large amount of information received following our appeal, which led to this arrest. Make no mistake: this will have stopped other members of the public being defrauded and assaulted.

'There could very easily have been more people whose lives were endangered whilst believing they had been vaccinated against this deadly virus.'

Maryam Arnott from the Crown Prosecution Service added: 'David Chambers has a criminal history of exploiting elderly people. On this occasion, he used fears generated by the pandemic to cynically extract funds from a 92-year-old woman.

'He also placed someone in a high-risk category at risk of Covid transmission, at a time when Tier 3 restrictions were in force.'
A 'heartless' gang took advantage of a drunk reveller, driving him around Manchester for hours and plundering thousands of pounds of his mother's savings on 'pointless luxuries'.

The victim had been out in Manchester city centre with friends but became separated from them in the early hours of October 18, 2017.

His family reported him missing to police, after he 'disappeared' for some 18 hours.

Manchester Crown Court heard how the victim, who was in his 20s, was then 'befriended' by Janice D'Aguilar, 54, Zeno Sharif, 29, Isaiah Thompson, 29, and Gemma Green, 35.

The gang plied him with more alcohol to keep him intoxicated as they withdrew money from cash machines, transferred thousands out of his mother's account and went on a spending spree.

During the spending spree they splashed out at Thomas Cook and Amazon and bought two high end Canada Goose coats worth more than 800 from Harvey Nichols.

The young man had an 18-hour gap in his memory but prosecutors were able to piece together his movements through credit card transactions made on his mother's bank cards, which she had lent him.

The gang were told they were 'extremely fortunate' not to be jailed.

A 'heartless' gang of crooks took advantage of a drunk reveller, driving him around Manchester for hours and plundering thousands of pounds of his mother's savings on 'pointless luxuries'. Pictured: Janice D'Aguilar, 54, (left) and Gemma Green, 35 (right)

The man's family reported him missing to police, after he 'disappeared' for up to 18 hours. Pictured: Zeno Sharif, 29, (left) Isaiah Thompson, 29 (right)

Canada Goose coats, petrol and holidays: Gang's 'pointless' 7k spending spree Thursday October 19, 2017 1.30am: 33 worth of petrol was bought at Asda. 1.50am: 250 was withdrawn from a cash machine in Rusholme Friday October 20, 2017 9.50am: Nearly 500 was spent at Thomas Cook in Droylsden 10.50am: Eight Amazon gift cards worth 100 each were bought from Tesco in Stretford, with 50 cashback also being claimed 11.42am: 40 cash was withdrawn in Altrincham, 12.30pm: 800 in vouchers were bought from a premium menswear and footwear shop in the town. 1pm: Another 20 was withdrawn in Sale, before Sharif and DAguilar bought two Canada Goose jackets worth more than 800 from Harvey Nichols in Manchester city centre. Another card belonging to the mum was used to withdraw 1,800 from Natwest in Middleton. Bank transfers of 3,000 and 1,400 were withdrawn from the mums account. About 2,600 of the loss was blocked, so the mum was left out of pocket to the tune of about 7,800. Advertisement

The mum has been left 7,800 out of pocket, while her son, in his early 20s, felt suicidal and needed medical help.

The Judge, Recorder Abigail Hudson told the gang: 'That young man had family and friends who were so worried about him that they reported him missing to the police,' a judge told the gang.

'There is an 18 hour gap in his memory, where he knows that strangers abused him. Anything could have happened to him in that period.'

'One of you realised he was vulnerable enough for you to exploit him,' the judge, added.

The gang, who 'knew each other very well', then 'befriended' him.

He has little recollection of what happened, but had memories of being in a car and being allowed out to go to the toilet.

He was given alcohol to keep him intoxicated, prosecutor David Pojur told Manchester Crown Court.

The next thing he remembered was returning home at about 6pm, and he had to be taken to hospital as he felt cold and unwell. He couldn't remember how he got home.

Prosecutors were able to piece together his movements through credit card transactions made on his mother's bank cards, which she had lent him. Just after 1.30am, 33 worth of petrol was bought at Asda.

Then 20 minutes later, 250 was withdrawn from a cash machine in Rusholme. The following morning, the spending spree began.

Nearly 500 was spent at Thomas Cook in Droylsden at 9.50am, and about an hour later eight Amazon gift cards worth 100 each were bought from Tesco in Stretford, with 50 cashback also being claimed.

At 11.42am 40 cash was withdrawn in Altrincham, and at about 45 minutes later 800 in vouchers were bought from a 'premium menswear and footwear shop' in the town.

Another 20 was withdrawn in Sale at 1pm, before Sharif and D'Aguilar bought two Canada Goose jackets worth more than 800 from Harvey Nichols in Manchester city centre.

Another card belonging to the mum was used to withdraw 1,800 from Natwest in Middleton. Bank transfers of 3,000 and 1,400 were withdrawn from the mum's account.

About 2,600 of the loss was blocked, so the mum was left out of pocket to the tune of about 7,800. Thompson was pulled over by police in Whalley Range about two weeks later, by officers concerned about his driving. All four defendants admitted fraud.

Prosecutors said Green's involvement related to the transferring of the 3,000 and 1,400 sums. Thompson was said to been the driver of the car.

The court heard how the victim has been left traumatised. 'He is fearful of Manchester city centre, and avoids going where possible,' Mr Pojur said.

He has suffered from anxiety, depression and had suicidal thoughts, and was given anti-depressants and sleeping tablets. His mother 'was very worried and stressed' about her son 'disappearing'.

'The theft of her savings and the clearing of her account has caused her great stress and anxiety,' Mr Pojur said.

Sentencing, the judge described the offences as being 'mean' and 'heartless', and showing a 'complete lack of respect for other people'.

She said they had been 'simply frittering away her (the mother's) hard earned cash on pointless luxuries'.

He was given alcohol to keep him intoxicated, prosecutor David Pojur told Manchester Crown Court (pictured)

Thompson's barrister said he was a 'very different' person now compared with when the offence occurred.

Stuart Duke, for Green, said she didn't personally profit and had a 'lesser role'.

All four defendants received suspended prison sentences. Thompson, of Gorton, was sentenced to two years in jail, suspended for two years, and must complete 300 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

D'Aguilar, of Openshaw, was sentenced to 20 months in jail, suspended for two years, and must complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and observe a curfew for six months.

Sharif, of Longsight, was sentenced to two years in jail, suspended for two years, and must complete 300 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Green, of Clayton, was sentenced to 15 months in jail, suspended for two years, and must complete 250 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Thompson and Sharif were ordered to pay back 250 a month in compensation, with 7,800 set to go to the mum and 1,200 to her son.
A group of nine moderate Democrats told Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday they won't vote for the $3.5 trillion budget package until the House passes the bipartisan infrastructure bill approved by the Senate.

The threat is enough to sink the budget deal, which contains a long list of social policy items demanded by progressives.

But, in the other corner of the party are the liberals, who've told Pelosi they won't vote for the infrastructure deal until the Senate passes the budget package.

Friday's announcement puts Pelosi in a rock and hard place between the two wings of her party.

It also threatens to derail both pieces of legislation, which are central to President Joe Biden's legislative agenda and top talking points for Democrats headed into the 2022 midterm election.

The competing demands between the moderates and liberals essentially has Pelosi in a stalemate and threatens an early deal she made with progressives, who vastly outnumber the moderates.

Given the Democrats' small majority in the House, she can only afford to lose three votes on any piece of legislation. Both moderates and liberals have enough votes to sink either piece - and both have threatened to do so.

A threat from House moderates put Speaker Nancy Pelosi between a rock and a hard place between the liberal and moderate wings of Democratic Party

Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey (left) is leading the effort by moderates, which is threatening to derail Pelosi's deal with liberals like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York

Nine moderate Democrats threatening mutiny with Pelosi The nine moderate Democrats who wrote to Speaker Pelosi to say they won't vote for budget deal unless House passes infrastructure first: Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas Rep. Filemon Vela of Texas Rep. Jared Golden of Maine Rep. Ed Case of Hawaii Rep. Kurt Schrader of Oregon Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas Rep. Jim Costa of California Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux of Georgia Advertisement

'With the livelihoods of hardworking American families at stake, we simply can't afford months of unnecessary delays and risk squandering this one-in-a-century, bipartisan infrastructure package,' the nine lawmakers, led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, wrote to Pelosi. 'It's time to get shovels in the ground and people to work.'

'We will not consider voting for a budget resolution until the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passes the House and is signed into law,' the moderates wrote in their letter, which was obtained by The New York Times.

The Senate passed the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill - which funds traditional projects like roads and bridges - on Tuesday with 69 votes, including 19 Republicans.

The Senate then approved on Wednesday the $3.5 trillion budget resolution with only Democratic votes. If the House passes the resolution, it will allow Democrats in both chambers to pass a massive social policy program - including free pre-school, expanded paid family and medical leave, and environmental programs - this fall without fear of a Republican filibuster in the Senate.

Pelosi, to appease liberals in the House, said she would not bring the infrastructure bill up for a vote until the Senate passed the social policy bill.

Democrats' budget framework allocates billions of dollars to Senate committees to begin drafting proposals for final bill Agriculture: $135 billion for conservation, drought, and forestry programs to reduce carbon emissions and prevent wildfires; clean energy investments; agricultural climate research; Civilian Climate Corps funding, child nutrition and debt relief Banking: $332 billion for housing programs, including down payment and rental assistance and community investment Commerce: $83 billion for technology and transportation; coastal resilience and oceans; funding for the National Science Foundation. Energy: $198 billion for clean electricity; rebates to weatherize and electrify homes; financing for domestic manufacturing of clean energy and auto supply chain technologies; federal procurement of energy efficient materials; climate research Environment and Public Works: $67 billion for low-income solar and climate-friendly technologies; clean water affordability and access; EPA climate and research programs; federal investments in energy efficient buildings and green materials Finance: At least $1 billion in deficit reduction. 'This will provide the Committee with flexibility to make investment, revenue and offset decisions consistent with the policy recommendations,' the instructions state. Offsets to include: Corporate and international tax reform; taxing high-income individuals; IRS tax enforcement Health, Education, Labor and Pensions: $726 billion for universal pre-K for 3 and 4-year olds; child care; tuition-free community college; investments in HBCUs, MSIs, HSIs, TCUs, and ANNHIs; increase the maximum Pell grant award; School infrastructure, student success grants, and educator investments; Investments in primary care; pandemic preparedness Homeland Security: $37 billion for electrifying the federal vehicle fleet; electrifying federal buildings; improving cybersecurity infrastructure; border management investments; investments in green materials and resilience Judiciary: $107 billion for lawful permanent status for qualified immigrants and border security Indian Affairs: $20.5 billion for native health, education, housing, energy and climate programs and facilities Small Business: $25 billion for small business access to credit, investment, and markets Veterans Affairs: $18 billion for upgrades to VA facilities Advertisement

But, with the Senate out for the summer, that may not happen into the fall, particularly as Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer needs to get his own moderate Democrats - particularly Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema - on board. Both Manchin and Sinema have raised concerns about the $3.5 trillion cost.

Friday's threat from moderates, however, endangers the two-track plan of passage that President Biden and congressional Democratic leaders saw as their way to ensure they get both pieces of legislation signed into law.

The letter is also signed by Democratic Reps. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Filemon Vela of Texas, Jared Golden of Maine, Ed Case of Hawaii, Kurt Schrader of Oregon, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Jim Costa of California and Carolyn Bourdeaux of Georgia.

The House is scheduled to return the week of August 23 to vote on the budget resolution.

Pelosi and Schumer have told their committee chairs in their respective chambers to draft the social policy package - also known as reconciliation legislation - by September 15.

The goal of leadership is to have both bills passed by late September or early October. But if the House can't pass the budget resolution, those plans could collapse.

Pelosi told Democrats on Wednesday she will not bring bipartisan infrastructure bill for a vote in the House until the Senate passed the other measure.

'I am not freelancing. This is the consensus,' she said on a call with House Democrats, according to The Hill newspaper.

'The president has said he's all for the bipartisan approach ... bravo! That's progress, but it ain't the whole vision,' Pelosi said on the call.

'The votes in the House and Senate depend on us having both bills.'

The speaker was under heavy pressure from the liberal wing of her party.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, informed Pelosi in a letter on Tuesday that she had taken a poll of their liberal members, who said they would not support the infrastructure bill without the budget reconciliation package.

'A majority of respondents affirmed that they would withhold their votes in support of the bipartisan legislation in the House of Representatives until the Senate adopted a robust reconciliation package,' Jayapal wrote.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her fellow members of 'The Squad' are part of that group.

The Democrat from New York has been clear she will not support one piece of legislation without the other.

'If there is not a reconciliation bill in the House and if the Senate does not pass a reconciliation bill, we will uphold our end of the bargain and not pass the bipartisan bill until we get all of these investments in,' Ocasio-Cortez said on CNN's 'State of the Union.'

She added that the contents of the bipartisan bill 'are not all, you know, Candyland. There are some of these political pay-fors that are very alarming.'
An Aldi worker who stuffed his pants with over 12,000 of company cash before blowing it on 'drugs and prostitutes' has been spared jail.

Steven Pyle, 34, who was reportedly suicidal and had a 150-per-day cocaine habit, had been tasked with putting the supermarket's takings into a secure safe when he decided to keep some of the profits for himself so that he could 'go out with a bang', Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Pyle, a 'functioning addict' who the court was told would 'down 16 pints of lager in one sitting', was arrested when G4S security attended the store in Stamfordham Road, Newcastle, on May 3 to find some money bags were missing.

A quick glance at the CCTV footage showed Pyle, who had resigned without notice two days earlier, filling his pants with the cash with his back facing the camera.

Prosecutor Jenny Haigh told Newcastle Crown Court: 'G4S counted the bags and noticed there were 22 but the computer said there should be 25.

A quick glance at the CCTV footage showed Steven Pyle (pictured), 34, who had resigned without notice two days earlier, filling his pants with the cash with his back facing the camera

'There was concern three bags were missing.'

Miss Haig said Pyle came under suspicion because of his recent and unexpected resignation.

She added: 'They looked at the CCTV where Mr Pyle was the person who was dropping the cash bags in.

'On closely looking, the defendant seemed to mark up the bags as normal but instead of dropping them in the safe as she should, he seems to conceal them in the front of his trousers while his back is turned away from the CCTV camera.'

Pyle, of Newcastle, admitted theft of 12,690.

Tony Cornberg, defending, said Pyle was leading the 'secret life of a functioning addict' and had planned to end his life but has since sought help.

The court heard Pyle has never been in trouble before and had references to his ordinarily good character.

Recorder Matthew Happold told Pyle: 'Instead of putting cash bags into the safe, you put them down your trousers at the Aldi store in Stamfordham Road, Newcastle.

The cash was taken from an Aldi on Stamfordham Road in Newcastle (pictured)

Tony Cornberg, defending, said Pyle (pictured) was leading the 'secret life of a functioning addict' and had planned to end his life but has since sought help.

'The pre-sentence report says at the time you had decided to take your own life and you wanted to go out with a bang.

'You took the bags with the intention of replacing it with your gambling winnings.

'The report says you essentially blew it on drugs and prostitutes.'

The judge said Pyle had come 'very close' to going to prison but was capable of rehabilitation.

Pyle was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, with rehabilitation requirements, alcohol treatment and 80 hours unpaid work.
The Government must provide extra funding to help sixth forms cope with a surge in demand for places after record numbers of students were awarded top GCSE grades, education leaders have said.

The proportion of GCSE UK entries awarded the top grades  at least a 7 or an A  reached an all-time high (28.9%) this year after results were determined by teachers amid cancelled exams.

Some 77.1% of UK entries achieved at least a 4 or a C  another record high, compared to 76.3% in 2020 and 67.3% in 2019.

James Kewin, deputy chief executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association, has called on ministers to boost funding for sixth forms so they can expand, as well as support students who may need additional help when they start their post-16 qualifications in the autumn after Covid-19 disruption.

The proportion of GCSE UK entries awarded the top grades  at least a 7 or an A  reached an all-time high (28.9%) this year after results were determined by teachers amid cancelled exams. Students are seen getting their results at Nendrum College, Comber in County Down

He said: 'The growing popularity of many sixth forms and colleges coupled with the demographic increase in 16 to 18-year-olds has meant that many institutions are already at or near full capacity.

'The increase in GCSE grades will add further pressure to the sixth form sector and the Government must do a lot more to help institutions respond to this surge in demand.

'This year's spending review provides the ideal opportunity to move away from the current model of inadequate, single year funding settlements to a multi-year funding model where sixth forms can expand when they need to and provide all young people with a high quality education.'

Mr Kewin criticised the Government for not providing more catch-up support to sixth form students who have been affected by months of missed learning.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said it is unclear at this stage what impact this week's GCSE results will have on applications for school sixth forms and sixth form colleges

He said: 'Many students that have received their GCSE results this week will need additional support when they enter the sixth form.

'Despite the Government's pledge that no student will be left behind by Covid, the Department for Education has set aside just 100 million to provide catch up support to the 1.1 million sixth form students in England.

'That is woefully inadequate and will do little to help students, particularly disadvantaged students, that require additional support to catch up from the disruption to their education caused by Covid.'

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said it is unclear at this stage what impact this week's GCSE results will have on applications for school sixth forms and sixth form colleges.

But he said: 'Our biggest concern is that the Government's funding rate for 16 and 17-year-olds is so pitifully inadequate that it is extremely difficult for institutions to cater for any sudden increase in numbers.

'The Government will need to be ready to provide extra support.'

Ahead of results day, Mr Barton warned that pressure could be placed on admissions teams at sixth forms colleges and schools if students secured higher grades than expected, while he said some young people could be 'turned away' if centres could not increase capacity due to limited space and staff.

David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said: 'Colleges will be working hard to ensure everyone that needs a place can get one, but we need the Government to step in with the extra funding as soon as the student is recruited, much the same way as in universities.

'The lagged funding formula currently used makes it much harder for colleges to ensure they have the capacity to cater for every student.'

Girls extend lead over boys in getting top GCSEs: Proportion of exams by female pupils marked 7 or above is 33% compared to male rivals on 24% - with gender gap widening 1% on 2020

This year's GCSE figures are the highest on record for both girls and boys

Of those who achieved a clean sweep, 64% were girls and 36 % were boys

ASCL's Geoff Barton said it seemed to be the case that girls 'fared better' under 'a more holistic form of assessment' as happened this year amid the pandemic

Boys, Barton said, had a tendency to cram last minute for end-of-year exams

Professor Alan Smithers said in a report that there has long been a tendency to 'explain away' girls' superior performance in schoolwork

By Charlotte Mitchell for MailOnline

Girls have extended their lead over boys in the top GCSE grades this year, with one expert saying it's time to 'just accept' that girls 'are cleverer'.

The proportion of female entries awarded 7/A or above was 33.4 per cent - 9.0 percentage points higher than male entries, which stood at 24.4 per cent.

Last year, girls led boys by 8.0 percentage points - 30.2 per cent for girls, 22.2 per cent for boys. This year's figures are the highest on record for both girls and boys.

Of the youngsters who achieved a clean sweep, 64 per cent were girls and 36 per cent were boys, according to an analysis by exams regulator Ofqual.

Addressing the widening gender gap at GCSE, Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), told the PA news agency: 'It does seem to be the case that girls tend to fare better under a more holistic form of assessment - as has happened this year - whereas some boys have a tendency to cram at the last minute for exams.

'It is a stereotype which obviously does not hold true for all girls and all boys but certainly enough to make a difference to overall outcomes.'

Girls have extended their lead over boys in the top GCSE grades this year, with one expert saying it's time to 'just accept' that girls 'are cleverer'. Pictured: Aleigha Nelson (left) and Atlanta Greer open their results at Nendrum College on Thursday

Professor Alan Smithers, an author of a report on the results by Buckingham University's Centre for Education and Employment said the way girls learn may have little to do with the fact that their results regularly outperform those of their male classmates.

Smithers wrote in his report that there had been little difference between boys' and girls' grades at O-level but that changed with the creation of the GSCE almost 40 years ago.

'This was explained as being due to the new modular structure of GCSEs, which favoured the consistent and conscientious application of girls, in contrast to boys who showed up best in final exams,' it said.

Girls have extended their lead over boys in the top grades. The proportion of female entries awarded 7/A or above was 33.4%, 9.0 percentage points higher than male (24.4%). In 2020, girls led boys by 8.0 percentage points (30.2% girls, 22.2% boys)

'When GCSEs were reformed, however, to become more like O-levels, the girls' lead was dented only slightly. Now, with teacher assessment, girls have gone further ahead and it has been suggested this is because teachers favour them.'

'Girls have long been ahead in school work, but the tendency has been to explain away their superior performance.

'When they did better in the 11-plus, it was said that they matured earlier, when they leapt ahead in GCSEs it was said that it was because they worked harder, and now with teacher assessment the impression is that they are favoured by the teachers.

'Why can't we just accept that they are cleverer?,' Smithers asked.

Reforms introduced in 2017, which saw coursework scrapped and greater emphasis placed on final exams, did lead to some narrowing of the attainment gap between girls and boys.
A POLICE investigation into the country's worst maternity scandal is being widened, with extra officers drafted in to examine baby deaths.

West Mercia Police is probing maternity services at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals in Shropshire, where dozens of newborns are feared to have died needlessly.

An interim NHS inquiry in December warned that blatant failures had been ignored for decades, and that in some appalling cases staff were obsessed with blaming mothers instead.

The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (pictured) is one of the sites run by Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust and under scrutiny by Operation Lincoln, which is probing maternity care

The final report, which will publish findings on 1,862 suspect cases, will be the largest review into a single service in the NHS's history.

When the Daily Mail exposed the unfolding scandal in August 2018, hospital bosses denounced coverage as 'scaremongering', 'irresponsible' and 'factually untrue'.

West Mercia Police launched Operation Lincoln last June to examine whether there was a criminal case to answer in any of the deaths or incidents of poor care.

The probe covers cases which occurred between October 1, 2003, and the present day.

The force is liaising closely with the NHS inquiry and they have since confirmed they are hiring additional staff and have a much bigger budget.

An advert reveals the force is looking for three full-time investigative support officers to work on Operation Lincoln, having secured 4million from the Home Office and 650,000 from the Police and Crime Commissioners' office.

The investigation is looking into maternity services at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals in Shropshire, where dozens of newborns are feared to have died needlessly (stock image)

The six-month roles will largely involve 'data input onto the Home Office Large Major Enquiry System and full training and support will be provided', reports The Shropshire Star.

The force has also set up a dedicated website for the investigation, which urges families who believe they have been affected by the scandal to get in touch.

The NHS review - which is being led by independent midwife Donna Ockenden - was initially commissioned in 2017 to examine just 23 suspicious cases, under former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

But dozens of other families came forward, many of whom reported similar tragic events.

Some had lost babies to infections which could have been detected and treated, others had been forced into natural labours with terrible consequences.

Operation Lincoln is probing cases between October 1, 2003 and the present day affecting Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust, including at the Royal Shrewsbury (pictured)

The interim NHS review, which examined an initial 250 of the 1,862 cases, warned the trust's maternity units favoured natural births and were slow to switch to caesareans when labours weren't progressing.

Monitoring of babies' heart rates was found to be inadequate and midwives were often reluctant to inform consultants if there were problems.

The final report is likely to name individual staff and several of the most senior managers have since left, and walked into lucrative new jobs.

But the scandal would never had come to light had it not been for the detective work and campaigning of two bereaved families, Richard Stanton and his partner Rhiannon Davies, alongside Kayleigh and Colin Griffiths.

Kate Stanton-Davies died just hours after her birth at a midwifery-led unit in Ludlow in March 2009.

Pippa Griffiths died in April 2016 after midwives failed to recognise a deadly infection, Group Strep B, which could have been treated.

In response to the expansion of Operation Lincoln, a spokesperson for The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust said: 'The Trust is fully cooperating with the police investigation and is therefore unable to make any further comments at this time.'

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said 'the investigation itself' had not widened its scope, but confirmed 'the team is recruiting additional investigative support officers.'
Tennessee detectives have admitted they have no new clues in the hunt for missing five-year-old Summer Wells and say that 'everybody's still a suspect.'

Summer was reported missing from her Rogersville home on June 15 around 5.30pm after her parents Donald and mother Candus Bly said she went into the basement alone and then vanished.

Hawkins County Sheriff Ronnie Lawson vowed that the investigation was still active as he addressed the huge public curiosity in the case and urged people not to 'speculate.'

'Everybody is still a suspect, person of interest, however you want to put it,' Lawson added. 'And we're still very intensely looking into it.'

Summer was reported missing from her Rogersville home on June 15 around 5.30pm after her parents Donald and mother Candus Bly said she went into the basement alone and then vanished

Donald Wells (pictured with his wife Candus) said last month that rumors swirling around his daughter's disappearance had led him to drink, which had in turn led children's services to remove his three sons

He added: 'I understand people's curiosity about where we're at in the case, as far as the investigation, I know people speculate, and I understand that. But they have to understand our No. 1 goal from day one is to find Summer.'

Summer's three brothers have reportedly been taken into protective custody after Donald Wells admitted that he had taken to drink amid rumours about the girl's disappearance.

'Right now, with everybody attacking us and all this stuff going on, it's probably better for them,' Wells said in an interview with the Jay is 4 Justice podcast last month.

Her disappearance had sparked a 13-day search in the area around the home with few leads, and Wells told podcast host Jennifer Youngblood that his daughter's disappearance has fueled rumors and theories, which had begun to affect him, WJHL reported.

'They come at me and said  either posing  said they had the inside scoop with TBI [Tennessee Bureau of Investigation] and that they knew I sold my daughter for drugs, and I flipped out. I flipped out,' Wells told Youngblood. 'I believed that stuff. Like an idiot, I believed it and I flipped out, started drinking and everything else. And that's why they took our kids.'

Youngblood told the station: 'He did tell me regarding the boys being taken away that it was due to him having an episode of drinking and there's other things swirling around the internet that it could be the home life or what's going on right now in Summer's case.'

The Tennessee Department of Children's services told DailyMail.com that children's removals are confidential, however, the department told Fox News that it has been involved in the investigation into Summer's disappearance.

In a separate interview with the Kingsport-Times News Monday, Wells also said his sons had been taken away but declined to give a reason.

Wells said his three sons (pictured) had been taken away earlier this month. The Tennessee Department of Children's said child removals were confidential, but said it has been involved in the case of Summer's disappearance

Donald Wells (pictured with his family) says amateur detectives and psychics have been turning up at his home in recent weeks, sometimes in the middle of the night

'Right now it's not safe at my house,' he said. 'There's too much going on and people are crazier than hell, and right now it's just not safe at my house. There's too much going on. Too many crazy people coming around trying to start stuff.'

He said a number of amateur detectives and psychics had shown up at his home, sometimes in the middle of the night.

'All this speculation is getting worse, and worse and worse,' Wells said. 'People are threatening us, and it's not safe at my house. We're hoping if something happens things will start to get safer, but the way things are going it's just getting worse and worse.'

Meanwhile the investigation into Summer's disappearance continues, Hawkins County Sheriff Ronnie Lawson told the outlet.

He said misinformation about the case had been circulating on social media, which has at points hurt the investigation, the Times News reported.

'Social media is still causing problems with information and rumors that is not correct,' he said. 'Theres a lot of incorrect information, and a lot of advice coming from social media thats hampering the investigation with stuff weve already done many times.'

Previously, Wells said he was doubtful his daughter would be found alive.

She is described as being about three-feet tall and weighing approximately 40 pounds, with close-cropped blonde hair and blue eyes

Summer was last seen wearing a pink shirt and grey shorts, and may have been barefoot

Summer's disapperance sparked a 1e-day search in the area around her home

'I'll see her in the resurrection,' he said.

'Statistically speaking, there's a good chance she's already dead,' Donald told the Times-News in an earlier interview. 'I hate to think that. I love her with all my heart.'

'If nothing else,' he continued, 'I'll see her in the resurrection. As long as I keep the commandments and do what I'm supposed to do, I'll see her.'

He and Candus have maintained that Summer was lured away from the home by a stranger - but authorities have not labeled the case an abduction and say they are still exploring 'all possibilities'.

Summer had been outside planting flowers with her mother, Candus Bly, and her grandmother, Donald previously told WVLT, and went inside on her own. She was reportedly wearing a pink shirt and grey shorts, and may have been barefoot.

In his newspaper interview, Donald suggested that someone may have been 'hiding in the weeds there waiting for her to go into the basement'.

He said his belief was confirmed when police dogs picked up her scent in the backyard and followed it through the woods, eventually reaching the end of their road.

'We've had several people sneaking around there, but we've had them sneaking around at night,' he said. 'We've never had somebody up there at 5.30 in the afternoon that we know of. They didn't come up the driveway.

'They came up a dog trail from the woods,' he said. 'The dog that they used, that's where the scent took them - down through the woods, not the driveway.'

'It's really discouraging,' Donald added. 'Only God can turn this around at this point.'

'The police can't come up with anything,' he said. 'All these people on Facebook all over the world can't come up with anything. Nobody can. Only God can.'

Donald also said he would 'do anything to have my baby back,' and has to put his faith in God.

'I've made up my mind not to let Satan win,' he said. 'I've still got to move forward. I've still got to go to work. I've still got to try, even though I miss her.

Summer was reportedly last seen entering the basement of the Rogersville home, seen here

Donald said police dogs picked up Summer's scent in the backyard and followed it through the woods, ultimately leading to the end of their road

The investigators had to trek through tough terrain in the woods as part of their investigation

'We live in an evil world,' he added. 'I'm not the first one to lose a family member. All sorts of tragedies have happened since the beginning of creation. There's been all kin ds of bad stuff going on.'

Despite these 'tragedies,' though, he said at that point, he had not gone back to drinking.

'I'm not going to let Satan convince me to go drinking,' Donald said in the phone interview with the outlet. 'I'm not going down that road. I choose life. I choose God.'

Both he and Candus have previous criminal records, according to FOX News.

Donald was arrested on domestic assault charges in 2020, leading Candus to file for an order of protection against him, writing: 'I am afraid for my children and myself.'

She later asked for the order to be dismissed and the charges against Donald were dropped on April 21, two months before Summer's disappearance.

Both parents were ordered to take a lie-detector test as part of the investigation into Summer's disappearance, FOX reports, and reportedly passed.

Tennessee investigators have since received nearly 1,000 tips in connection with her disappearance, but the Hawkins County Sheriff's Office said none of the leads have panned out.

Investigators are still looking for a red pickup truck that may have been nearby when Summer went missing and are asking neighbors to check their home security and trail cameras for any evidence that might help locate Summer.

The circumstances surrounding her disappearance have yet to be determined, authorities said, and have not yet announced a person of interest of a suspect in the case.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation assistant special agent in charge Shelly Smitherman sad the case has been 'frustrating' for law enforcement.

Initial searches were marred by poor cellular service and challenging terrain in the woods near the home, and they have still not received a credible lead.

Wells said he had little hope his daughter would return home alive earlier this month. 'Statistically speaking, there's a good chance she's already dead,' Donald Wells (left) told the Kingsport Times-News. 'I hate to think that. I love her with all my heart'

'Typically on an AMBER alert ... within a couple of days, we have a tip or lead, or have an idea if they've been abducted, if they maybe left into the woods,' she said in another video posted to Twitter on Tuesday.

'Somebody saw something that leads us hopefully to get an answer where the child went or if they were taken. We're going to have some tip or lead,' she said, adding that the fact that they have not received such information in this case 'is the frustrating part for law enforcement.'

But, they said, they are continuing to look into 'all possibilities,' and pushed back investigators claims that the massive search placed a 'burden' on the sheriff's office or budget reserves.

'I wouldn't support ending a search with credible leads,' Hawkins County Commissioner Jason Roach told FOX. 'But that's not part of the conversation at all.'

He said the county always overestimates its expenditures and underestimates its tax revenue, giving it flexibility to shift funds in case of emergency situations, like Summer's disappearance.

Summer is described as being about three-feet tall and weighing approximately 40 pounds, with close-cropped blonde hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call the Hawkins County Sheriff's Office at (423) 272- 7121 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
It may have sounded like a cool idea but police in Canada were not smiling when a man decided to land his helicopter in a school parking lot in order to pick up some Dairy Queen.

The 34-year-old pilot, as yet unnamed by authorities, from Leroy, Saskatchewan, apparently needed to satisfy his sugar cravings as he landed his bright red aircraft across the street from the fast-food joint known for its frozen treats.

Onlookers were astonished as the helicopter came down, churning up a load of dust and other debris and blowing it into an area that borders a school and an aquatic center.

A helicopter pilot landed in a school parking lot in order to run to a Dairy Queen

The 34-year-old Canadian man ran in to pick up an ice cream cake before flying off

The copter landed in a parking lot which belonged to the town's middle and high schools. Both were empty with it being a summer Saturday.

Officials say that although the man did have a pilots license to fly the chopper, he did not land in a recognized helipad and was charged with dangerous operation of an aircraft.

Initially, some thought the helicopter was an air ambulance because of its bright red color, and believed it had landed to assist with a medical emergency, but the town's mayor saw the pilot leave with an ice cream cake.

'Well, I thought somebody must be hungry,' Mayor Al Jellicoe told CBC News. 'Initially, I thought that's probably not the right thing to do.'

Investigators have determined the trip pick up the delicious Dairy Queen ice cream cake was 'not an emergency'

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police launched an investigation and quickly determined the unscheduled landing was not an emergency.

'The parking lot was empty when they landed,' Jellicoe added. 'I suppose that doesn't make it right.'

The man went into the Dairy Queen to pick up one of its famous ice cream cakes, but staff did not know the customer had arrived by copter until police broke the news to them.

Residents in the providence's town of Tisdale, with a population of 3,000, are now questioning whether it is worth taking to the skies for a lick of the tasty cake.

'Apparently they are,' said Kiara Broeckel, who works at the local Dairy Queen. 'I wouldn't think you would take a helicopter to go get ice cream, but I guess some people do.'

The pilot will appear in court next month.
President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have vowed to throw their weight behind keeping Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom in office as he faces a recall election next month.

'Gov. Newsom is leading California through unprecedented crises - he's a key partner in fighting the pandemic and helping build our economy back better,' Biden tweeted Thursday night. 'To keep him on the job, registered voters should vote no on the recall election by 9/14 and keep California moving forward.'

Pelosi, a fellow Californian, also chimed in Thursday, saying of the recall, 'We respect it, but we do not like it, and we will defeat it,' according to Fox News.

At an event in San Francisco Friday, Newsom said both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, a former California senator, would be joining him on the campaign trail.

'We are comparing schedules right now, but we anticipate the president and vice president will be here in a matter of weeks,' Newsom said, according to Deadline.

California's Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing a recall election on September 14, but is expected to receive help from high-profile Democrats

President Joe Biden (left) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (right) both pledged on Thursday to support Newsom beat the effort to oust him from office in September

On September 14, California voters will be faced with two questions - should Newsom be recalled and who should replace him.

The California Democratic Party is instructing voters to vote 'no' on the first question and leave the second question blank.

If more than 50 per cent of voters vote 'yes' on the first question, the top vote-getter then becomes governor.

This happened in 2003 when Democratic Gov. Gray Davis was recalled by 55 per cent of voters, opening the door for Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the action movie star.

This time around, there are 46 replacement candidates on the ballot.

President Joe Biden sent out a tweet in support of Newsom Thursday night

No establishment Democrats are running against Newsom, but in the same vein as Schwarzenegger, reality television star, former Olympic athlete and transgender activist Caitlyn Jenner is in the race, running as a Republican.

Conservative talk show host Larry Elder is also on the ballot.

More traditional Republicans are also taking on Newsom including former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, former gubernatorial candidate John Cox - who lost to Newsom in 2018 - state Assemblymember Kevin Kiley and former Rep. Doug Ose.

Newsom got in trouble politically over the slew of restrictions he enacted to combat the coronavirus. At the same time, the governor got caught attending a birthday party at the tony French Laundry restaurant in the Napa Valley, when he was advising Californians to stay home.

A judge also granted an extension to recall supporters, allowing them more time to gather signatures, which is how Newsom is now on the ballot.

Vote-by-mail ballots start getting sent out on August 16.
Fears rose today that Spain could be forced on the the UK's quarantine red list, scuppering the holiday plans of more than a million UK holidaymakers.

The number of people testing positive for Covid after returning from the Mediterranean hotspot has risen almost six-fold in the space of a month, figures released today show.

Around one-in-35, or 2.9 per cent of those entering Britain from the amber list country in July tested positive, up from 0.9 per cent in June as the number of those tested doubled.

That rate is almost double that of returnees from Greece and Portugal, which are also on the amber list.

Around one-in-35, or 2.9 per cent of those entering Britain from the amber list country (Barcelona pictured) in July tested positive, up from 0.9 per cent in June as the number of those tested doubled.

That rate is almost double that of returnees from Greece and Portugal, which are also on the amber list. Pictured: La Concha beach in San Sebastian, northern Spain

The proportion of infected travellers flying back from Spain stands at 2.9 per cent, up from 0.6 per cent three weeks earlier. But positivity rates among travellers are higher from 11 other countries, with 11.1 per cent of those coming to England from Jersey having the virus. But the highest number of infected people came from Spain (2,065) - four times higher than the second-highest country Greece

The test and trace figures show that between July 1 and 21, the latest period for which numbers are available, 2,065 people arriving in Britain from Spain tested positive for Covid, out of 71,418 tests conducted.

In the prior period from June 10 - 30, there were 358 positive results from 39563 tests.

Since last month people who have been double jabbed have been allowed to visit amber list countries without quarantining when they return.

Plans were drawn up for an 'amber plus' category after cases of Covid rose in France - blamed mainly on a spike on an island in the Indian ocean - that would see people have to isolate at home.

But the plans were attacked as too confusing and later scrapped. That means the only way ministers can now alter Spain's status would be to put it on the red list.

This means visitors would have to isolate in hotels for 10 days at a cost of up to 2,250.
lmost two years after van driver welcomed the arrival of his son Logan

The father of one of Britain's smallest babies has died in a horror car crash just 23 months after celebrating the birth of his son who was born weighing just 1lb 8oz.

Benjamin Teague, 26, was killed alongside his 18-year-old female passenger when his BMW was in collision with a Volkswagen ID4 at 9.10pm last Monday.

Emergency services rushed to the scene on the A5 between Potterspury and Paulerspury, Northants., but nothing could be done to save the pair.

The tragedy comes almost two years after van driver Benjamin welcomed the arrival of his son Logan who was tinier than his teddy bear when he was born 11 weeks early.

The miracle tot weighed just 1lb 8oz when he was born on September 30, 2019 - just 10oz more than the UK's smallest baby.

Northamptonshire Police yesterday released a poignant photo of Benjamin and Logan both smiling for the camera beside a lake.

Benjamin Teague, 26, was killed alongside his 18-year-old female passenger when his BMW was in collision with a Volkswagen ID4 at 9.10pm last Monday. Pictured: Ben with his partner Danielle and baby Logan

The tragedy comes almost two years after van driver Benjamin welcomed the arrival of his son Logan who was tinier than his teddy bear when he was born 11 weeks early. Pictured: Ben and Logan

Fighting back tears, his heartbroken former partner Danielle Forrester, 26, said today: 'I'm just absolutely devastated.

'We had split up but were on the verge of getting back together before this happened so I'm just heartbroken really.

'I don't know what more to say he was just a brilliant father, and I'll always make sure Logan remembers his dad.

'The police have told us not to say anything about the crash until after the investigation. We are just trying to come to terms with it.'

Paying tribute to Benjamin, his devastated parents said: 'Ben Teague was a much-loved Daddy, son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend.

'Our beautiful boy gone way too soon, our hearts are broken. Your smile will never be forgotten. We love you mate xxxx.'

Police are now appealing for witnesses to the smash and anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage to get in touch with the force.

A Northamptonshire Police spokesperson said: 'The family are being supported by specially trained officers, and ask that their privacy be respected at this incredibly distressing time.'

When Logan was born at Northampton General Hospital he was popped in a sandwich bag to keep him warm because he arrived so prematurely.

His mother Danielle nestled a teddy bear beside him to comfort him whilst he was in an incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit.

The soft toy was bigger than the tiny tot, but after nine weeks in hospital, Logan battled to full health and was allowed home.

Mother Danielle, of Northampton, who works in recruitment, said previously: 'When Logan was born we put a little teddy bear in his incubator to comfort him while he was in hospital.

'The teddy was pretty small, but Logan was so weeny, it swamped him. It made us realise just how tiny and fragile he was.

'He was so tiny - you could hold him in the palm of your hand. He's come such a long way and is now in proportion with his little bear. It's become one of his favourite toys - he loves snuggling up with it. We are so proud of how far he's come.'

Benjamin was said to have been thrilled at the prospect of becoming a father despite the couple not planning to start a family so soon.

Danielle added: 'It was a bit of a shock at first. I was on the pill and we hadn't planned it. We had always wanted to have a baby, but thought it would be a bit later on in our lives.

'Once we got our head around the news, it was a lovely surprise. Ben was in the operating theatre with me and as soon as Logan arrived we were able to have a quick glance.

'Logan let out a big scream when they took him out which made both Ben and I cry - mainly tears of relief. We were really lucky.'
Joe Biden is reportedly aware of Russian efforts to interfere in US elections, including the 2022 midterms, and that the activity is persistent and increasingly sophisticated.

On Friday it was revealed that the Biden administration is getting regular updates from the intelligence community on Russia's attempt to destabilize American democracy and those never actually stopped - making it likely that Vladimir Putin was unfazed by Joe Biden's repeat threats and sanctions.

There's recent evidence that points to Russia even trying to manipulate US tensions over masks and COVID vaccines, a source told CNN, as the US grapples with a nationwide surge in infections fueled by the Delta variant.

The intel reports have focused on Russia's social media disinformation campaigns and weaponization of US media outlets, people familiar told the outlet.

The Biden administration announced extensive sanctions targeting 32 Russian entities and individuals in April. They were in response to an array of charges including interference in the 2020 election and the SolarWinds cyberattack.

But Republican lawmakers criticized him over not issuing sanctions on Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany - which after more than a decade of American opposition, Biden agreed to step back from in a win for Putin.

Biden has been receiving regular reports on Russian efforts to meddle in the 2022 election, a new report claims

Biden acknowledged the Russian threat in July remarks to staff at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

'Look at what Russia's doing already about the 2022 elections in misinformation. It's a pure violation of our sovereignty,' he said in his speech.

Former Senate Intelligence Committee staffer Emily Harding confirmed there is 'a spike in activity around elections,' but told CNN Russia's 'activity is sustained' beyond campaign cycles.

The Biden administration failed to meet a deadline set by Congress to levy sanctions for the alleged poisoning of Putin critic Alexei Navalny (pictured behind glass at a Moscow court on February 20th)

Senator Bob Menendez, a top Democrat, criticized the Biden administration for failing to act on a Congressionally mandated deadline of June 2nd to levy sanctions against Russia over the poisoning of Putin critic Alexei Navalny - which the country has denied doing.

Congress passed the measure under the Trump administration, and neither president made a move to act on it.

Biden officials have been threatening further actions against Russia since he met with Putin in Geneva in June.

The meeting was highly-anticipated at a time when relations between Moscow and Washington are at a low.

But with White House officials setting out minimal expectations for progress, Republicans said they feared a public relations win for Putin.

'Giving Putin a meeting is just the latest win that Joe Biden has handed Russia,' said Republican Nation Committee communications director Danielle Alvarez. 'Bidens foreign policy failures have strengthened Russia at the expense of our country.'

Their meeting in a book-lined room got off to an awkward start. The two leaders avoided looking directly at each other as journalists jostled for position in a chaotic opening.

Above the hubbub of reporters and translators, Biden could be heard referencing 'two great powers.'

Biden could be heard calling Russia a 'great power' during the summit

The description is an elevation of Moscow's status on the world stage and President Obama called Russia a regional power when it annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

Just weeks later Biden was widely criticized as 'weak against Putin' or his allegedly slow response to a global cyberattack that has affected at least 1,000 companies in the United States, and has been linked to Russian hackers.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy tweeted on Saturday, referencing news from June that Biden had given Russian president Vladimir Putin a list of targets that were off-limits to cyber attacks.

'Remember when President Biden gave Putin a list of things that were supposed to be off-limits for cyber attacks? What he SHOULD have said is that ALL American targets are off-limits,' McCarthy tweeted.

He added: 'Biden is soft on crime and weak against Putin.'

Biden had warned Putin the US would retaliate. After speaking with the Russian president on the phone on July 9th, he told reporters the call 'went well' and that he was 'optimistic.'

'Remember when President Biden gave Putin a list of things that were supposed to be off-limits for cyber attacks? What he SHOULD have said is that ALL American targets are off-limits,' McCarthy tweeted

The president said he made it 'very clear' that when a ransomware attack originates on Russian soil 'we expect them to act' even if the attack wasn't directed by the Russian government.

'I made it very clear to him that United States expects when ransomware operation is coming from his soil but is not, not sponsored by a state, we expect them to act if we give them enough information to act on who that is,' he noted.

He also replied 'yes' when asked if there would be consequences for Russia but offered no further details. When Biden met with Putin in Geneva in June, he issued his first warning of consequences to come if the cyber attacks persisted.

Biden also said he would personally deliver a message to Putin about the rash of cyber attacks taking place on American companies and groups.

'I will deliver it to him,' he told reporters at the White House when asked his message for the Russian president.

It came after a U.S. software firm was hit by a REvil - a Russian cybercriminal group - in a ransomware attack that crippled hundreds of companies worldwide.

Kaseya provides services to more than 40,000 organizations and it was considered the single, largest global ransomware attack on record.

Biden has faced a slew of criticism for his slow response to the ransomware attack and his failure to 'get tough' on Russia despite vowing retaliation if there were any attacks on U.S. critical infrastructure.

Rep. John Katko told DailyMail.com Monday night the U.S. is 'facing a time of reckoning' in relations with Russia.

'Only weeks after President Biden sat down with Putin and allegedly talked a tough game with Russia, hackers from Russia again attacked thousands of U.S. companies, compromising our nation's critical infrastructure,' Katko, ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said.
Persistent claims that leftist congresswoman Ilhan Omar married her own brother to get around US immigration laws may be legitimized by what appears to be a conclusive DNA test.

The results of the test assert that there is a 99.999998% chance that Omar and her second husband Ahmed Elmi are siblings.

The report, drawn up by Endeavor DNA Laboratories does not name either Omar or Elmi, instead referring to them as 'Sibling 1' and 'Sibling 2.' DailyMail.com understands that Omar is Sibling 1.

It says that Sibling 1's sample was garnered from a cigarette butt and Sibling 2's from a drinking straw.

Omar has never before been known publicly to be a smoker, although her third husband Tim Mynett is. However, a grainy picture of her with a cigarette in her mouth, said to have been taken outside her home in Washington, D.C. appears as part of the evidence gathered in an intensive investigation by a shadowy conservative group.

A supposed DNA match between Rep. Ilhan Omar and her second husband Ahmed Elmi allegedly proves that the two are siblings. The match says that Omar's DNA was taken from a cigarette butt, while Elmi's purportedly came from a drinking straw. Omar has never before been known to be a smoker, however, she was seen in a grainy picture with a cigarette in her mouth

It has long been rumored that Omar and Elmi are siblings, but because of a lack of paperwork in war-torn Somalia, positive proof has never been uncovered

Endeavour Laboratories did not name either Omar or Elmi on the results, identifying them merely as 'Sibling 1' and 'Sibling 2.' DailyMail.com understands Sibling 1 is Omar

The test was posted online by Anton Lazzaro, a Republican strategist in Minneapolis on Wednesday. Around 12 hours later Lazzaro was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges.

He is now in custody awaiting a hearing on Monday.

Lazarro's lawyer Zachary Newland could not immediately be reached as he was on a flight. However he confirmed by email that the website was put up by his client.

Omar's spokesman Jeremy Slevin threw shade on the report. 'This is a fraudulent website created by a man charged this week with child sex trafficking and lying to federal investigators to cover it up,' he said in a statement.

The supposed DNA match between the two was posted on Republican strategist Anton Lazzaro's (pictured) Facebook page and Twitter feed just before he was arrested and charged with trafficking underage girls for sex

Endeavor, which is based in El Paso, Texas did not return a call for comment. The company charges $189 for a siblingship test.

DailyMail.com understands that a shadowy Republican group was planning to release details of a DNA report in the next day or two. It is not known what relationship Lazarro, 30, has to that group.

Its work could have been undermined by Lazarro as it gives Minnesota congresswoman Omar, 38, an opportunity to try to discredit the information as coming from a tainted source.

Lazzaro's website says that the group garnered a DNA sample from Elmi's straw in Leicester, England as part of a two-year investigation. He has recently been living in both Kenya and on the east African island of Zanzibar.

The test result appears to show that some of the DNA matches are exact while others are close. The group behind the surreptitious sleuthing claims this proves the two are siblings.

Claims that Omar and Elmi, 36, are siblings have been rampant for years. The allegation is that they married so Elmi, a British citizen could go to school in the United States. He followed Omar to North Dakota State University.

Lazzaros' website says: 'Rep. Omar was a U.S. Citizen for a decade and her brother/ex-husband Mr. Elmi was a UK Citizen.

'This is purely a crime of convenience, by an individual with extremely poor ethics now representing hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans in Congress. There was absolutely no threat to these individuals causing them to commit multiple felonies while living in the two wealthiest countries in the world seeking reduced tuition at a public University.

Omar, who was first elected to Congress in 2018, has never fully addressed the question of whether she is related to Elmi. While serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives she did issue a press release in which she called the allegations 'absurd and offensive.'

In her memoir, This Is What America Looks Like, published last year, she claims she hardly knew him when they married, saying: 'I had a Britney Spears-style meltdown, I not only eloped with a man  whom I spent so little time with that I wouldn't even make him a footnote in my story if it weren't for the fact that this event turned into the main headline later on  but I shaved my head.

'Yes, like the beleaguered pop star, who shaved her head in 2007, I took clippers to my own head. Too many headaches, too little sleep  I had to flee myself, my relationships, my hair.

'The difference between Britney and me is that I wore a hijab, so nobody knew what I had done  except my children who were very surprised. ''Mommy looks like me,'' Adnan (her young son) declared. And he was right, I did look like a little boy.'

She didn't even name Elmi in her memoir.

Although Ilhan Omar is not known to be a smoker publicly, Elmi has been seen smoking along with her current husband Tim Mynett

DailyMail.com previously revealed that Omar was having an affair with her chief fundraiser Tim Mynett, a married father-of-one, whose company received more than half a million dollars from her campaign last year. They married last year

Omar was married to Ahmed Hirsi  who she later remarried. They have since divorced and in March 2020 she married Mynett, her chief fundraiser

But others have long claimed that she married him so he could go to school in the United States. She had come to America as a refugee fleeing war in her native Somalia, but he had taken up British nationality.

He followed her to North Dakota State University, after their marriage in 2009. A Christian minister performed the ceremony despite the fact that both are Muslim.

Somali blogger Abdihakim Osman Nur told DailyMail.com in February last year that he had known Omar growing up and suddenly her brother arrived in Minneapolis.

At the time Omar was married to Ahmed Hirsi  who she later remarried. They have since divorced and in March 2020 she married Mynett, her chief fundraiser.

'No one knew there had been a wedding until the media turned up the marriage certificate years later,' Nur said, about the Elmi-Omar marriage.

'People began noticing that Ilhan and Southside were often with a very effeminate young guy,' Osman said, referring to Hirsi by his nickname.

'He was very feminine in the way he dressed  he would wear light lipstick and pink clothes and very, very, short shorts in the summer. People started whispering about him, added Nur, who spoke in Somali through an interpreter.

'Southside and Ilhan both told me it was Ilhan's brother and he had been living in London but he was mixing with what were seen as bad influences that the family did not like,' added Nur.

'So they sent him to Minneapolis as ''rehab''.'

Nur said that Omar kept her marriage to Elmi quiet, with no one from the Somali community invited to the wedding that was held at a county office in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

He explained: 'When Southside and Ilhan got married, a lot of people were invited. It was a big Islamic wedding uniting two large clans in the Minneapolis community.

'I would say there were 100-150 people there.'

But he said: 'When she married Elmi, no one even knew about it.'

Nur said he believed Elmi and Omar sought out someone outside the Somali community to conduct the ceremony because an imam would have known they were related and would have refused to marry them.

Elmi and Omar married on February 12, 2009 at a Hennepin County office in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, southwest of Minneapolis, their license shows. The marriage was conducted by a Christian minister

In the late 2000s Elmi (pictured) appeared in Minneapolis, said Somali blogger Abdihakim Osman. 'People began noticing that Ilhan and [Hirsi] were often with a very effeminate young guy. He was very feminine in the way he dressed  he would wear light lipstick and pink clothes and very short shorts in the summer. People started whispering about him. [Hirsi] and Ilhan told me it was Ilhan's brother'

The marriage was conducted by Christian minister Wilecia Harris. When DailyMail.com approached her in 2019 she would not discuss the ceremony or why a Muslim couple would have asked her to marry them.

In a Facebook message, Harris's husband Marcus told DailyMail.com: 'My wife doesn't want to be involved or interviewed about Congresswoman Omar.'

'It's not going to happen, not now and not never.'

Lazzaro's arrest could complicate the latest attempts to prove the congresswoman may have broken federal immigration laws.

According to a press release from the Department of Justice in Minnesota, Lazzaro 'conspired with others to recruit and solicit six minor victims to engage in commercial sex acts.'

'The indictment charges Lazzaro with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors, five counts of sex trafficking of minors, one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor, and three counts of obstruction.'

He is being held in federal custody until a hearing on Monday.

Lazzaro, who has appeared on Fox News and other conservative media outlets has posted pictures of himself posing with former president Donald Trump, former vice-president Mike Pence and other leading Republicans.

According to the Daily Beast, which broke the story of his arrest, the FBI had raided Lazzaro's luxury apartment in the Hotel Ivy Residences in downtown Minneapolis in December last year.

'The indictment accuses Lazzaro of having 'recruited' at least five underage victims for paid sex between May and December last year, and trying to entice a sixth. It also says he 'knowingly and intentionally interfered' with the investigation as it closed in on him,' the Daily Beast reported.

The outlet said law enforcement served the condo building's management company with a search warrant seeking Lazzaro's bank records and video surveillance footage a week before the raid.

At the time, Lazzaro told the Daily Beast: someone had 'made a false allegation against me,' and he said the matter was 'almost resolved.'
A fashion designer who claimed he owned a 44million bottle of perfume made by Michael Jackson has appeared in court charged with a string of fraud offences.

Hrh Arfaq, 50, also claimed to have the intellectual rights for a special 'Michael Jackson fragrance' and had sold a bottle to fellow designer Deborah Martinelli Bonavia for 370,000, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard.

Prosecutors say Arfaq also claimed he had a special agreement to sell 200 Ghost brand bags to the Brunei royal family in a deal worth 48m.

Hrh Arfaq, 50, who changed his name from Arfaq Hussain, pictured leaving Westminster Magistrates' Court, denies a string of fraud offences, as well as theft of a motor vehicle

He is charged with two counts of fraud by false representation, one count of possession of criminal property and one count of theft of a motor vehicle.

The court heard that between August 2019 and July 2020, Arfaq had driven a Ferrari Spider - worth 229,000 - knowing or suspecting it was the proceeds of criminal conduct.

He is also alleged to have told Russian socialite Natalia Rotenberg that he had finalised an agreement with a company to produce a pen with her personal branding, and later stole her Bentley convertible.

Arfaq, of Batley in West Yorkshire, denies all charges.

Graham Atkins, 54, a partner at law firm Atkins Thomson, also appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with assisting Mr Hussain's fraudulent activity, which he denied

Arfaq claimed to own the intellectual rights to a 44million perfume made by Michael Jackson

He attended court in person on Thursday alongside his lawyer Graham Atkins, 54, who is charged with two counts of making articles for use in fraud.

Atkins, of Fleet Street, London, also denies the charges.

Arfaq was dressed in a black hoodie and a white T-shirt and spoke only to confirm his details and enter his plea of not guilty.

Atkins was dressed in a suit and striped tie and also only spoke to confirm his details and enter his plea of not guilty.

Both men were granted bail and will next appear at Inner London Crown Court on September 9.
State Department spokesman Ned Price was hounded by reporters on Thursday as he tried to explain the Biden administration's decision to evacuate much of its embassy personnel, at the same time touting 'diplomacy' advances with the Taliban.

'This is not abandonment. This is not an evacuation,' Price assured reporters numerous times throughout his briefing. 'What this is is a reduction in the size of our civilian footprint.'

'It appears to be a preparation for a full evacuation,' one reporter said. 'That's not true,' the spokesman responded.

'I respect you and we all know you have a job to do,' CBS reporter Christina Ruffini said to Price.

'But there is no way you can sit there and say that the people of Afghanistan watching the Taliban take over provinces, watching their country crumble are now going to watch American diplomats get on military planes and leave the country that that sends a signal that the U.S. is with them in the long haul diplomatically.'

As of Friday, half of the nation's 34 provincial capitals had fallen under Taliban control, including the second and third larges cities after Kabul.

Just three major cities are believed to be under government control, and the terrorists are now in a position to advance on Kabul.

The Pentagon has a briefing set for 2 p.m. on Friday, one day after the bombshell evacuation announcement, but both State and the White House will remain silent, as the president heads from his Delaware home to Camp David.

Meanwhile, U.S. personnel prepared to destroy documents and evacuate the embassy in Kabul.

'It's normal procedure to destroy anything sensitive before getting out, but it suggests that things are much further along than the State Department is saying,' said a former diplomat in contact with embassy staff.

CBS News reporter Christina Ruffini, above, 'But there is no way you can sit there and say that the people of Afghanistan watching the Taliban take over provinces, watching their country crumble are now going to watch American diplomats get on military planes and leave the country that that sends a signal that the U.S. is with them in the long haul diplomatically'

Taliban fighters stand guard inside the city of Ghazni, southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. The Taliban have completed their sweep of the country's south on Friday as they took four more provincial capitals in a lightning offensive that is gradually encircling Kabu

'Look at what we've been doing. Look at the investment we have made in Afghanistan. Look at the investments  however you measure it,' replied Price. 'Whether it is humanitarian. Whether it's political. Whether it's diplomatic. Whether it is the security investments that we have made.'

The US has spent just under a trillion dollars fending off the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan over the past two decades, according to a Brown University estimate.

Former President Trump hit Biden for the disaster unfolding. 'Tragic mess in Afghanistan, a completely open and broken Border, Crime at record levels, oil prices through the roof, inflation rising, and taken advantage of by the entire worldDO YOU MISS ME YET?' he said in a short emailed statement.

His administration negotiated the terms of a U.S. withdrawal in talks with the Taliban last year.

Amid fast-encroaching Taliban control in Afghanistan, the Biden administration for weeks asserted it would stay the course and continue to withdraw US troops by Aug. 31.

But on Thursday, the Department of State announced it would clear out non-essential embassy personnel, and would bring in 3,000 US troops to do so. Another 3500-4000 will be deployed to Kuwait on standby if the security situation worsens and 1,000 will be sent to Qatar to assist with Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs).

That day it emerged that Biden's envoy to stalled peace talks in Doha, Qatar, had asked the Taliban to spare the U.S. embassy if their forces overran Kabul.

At the same time, the United Kingdom is sending 600 troops back to Afghanistan to help British nationals to evacuate the nation.



Taliban forces have gone door to door selling girls and women into sex slavery and beheading Aghan security forces who surrender. But Price touted the 'diplomacy' advances between the Taliban and Afghan government.

The economic centres of Kandahar, Afghanistan's second biggest city, and Lashkar Gah - the capital of the southern province of Helmand - were the latest to fall to the insurgency, prompting questions over how long the capital Kabul will hold out. Pictured: Taliban fighters in a vehicle along the roadside in Herat on Friday

A Taliban fighter holds a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) along the roadside in Herat, Afghanistan's third biggest city, on Friday after the US announced it was sending 3,000 troops back into Afghanistan

'This diplomacy has been ongoing for less than a year,' Price said. 'A year ago ... the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban were not speaking to one another. They were not sitting in the same room. That has changed.'

Last year, US negotiators sat down with members of the Taliban to draw up a peace agreement between America and the Taliban. That agreement was supposed to be the start of an intra-Afghan dialogue.

Afghan peace negotiations began last September as the two sides tried to come to an agreement to end four decades of fighting, but those talks faltered over 'unreasonable' demands from the Taliban to turn Afghanistan into an Islamic emirate.

Some blame the US-Taliban agreement in part for growing Taliban reign.

'We stop[ped] actively targeting the Taliban in Afghanistan during the  what I would call, again  the capitulation negotiations,' retired General H.R. McMaster, President Trump's national security advisor until 2018, said at a Wilson Event center on Thursday.

'And then, once that capitulation agreement was signed, we were hands-off with the Taliban ... Meanwhile, the Taliban were marshaling for this offensive.'

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby faced heat from the press in his subsequent briefing.

'What do you think evacuation of civilians by the military is going to look like and how are you going to avoid a parallel with the fall of Saigon?' AFP reporter Sylvie Lanteaume asked Kirby.

After the evacuation of almost all US civilian and military personnel from Saigon, the capital of south Vietnam, in 1975, the city fell to the Viet Cong, thus ending the war and establishing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

'What this is going to look like is what it is, Sylvie. That the United States government is looking after the safety and security of our people,' the press secretary said. 'Making sure we, the military, supporting the safe movement of these individuals out of Afghanistan.'

'We're not walking away from our commitments to Afghan forces,' Kirby continued. 'Nobody is abandoning Afghanistan, we're not walking away from it.'

Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell also drew a comparison to Saigon, where US officials were airlifted from the roof of the embassy.

'The latest news of a further drawdown at our embassy and a hasty deployment of military forces seem like preparations for the fall of Kabul,' said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

'President Bidens decisions have us hurtling toward an even worse sequel to the humiliating fall of Saigon in 1975.'

'They've got to fight for themselves, fight for their nation. The United States will insist to continue the commitments ... they've got to want to fight. I think there's still a possibility,' Biden said on Monday of the Afghan military.

'I do not regret my decision' to withdraw, the president continued.

The Biden administration has faced intensifying pressure as swelling Taliban advances draw more public condemnations of the decision to withdraw.

'All of this is a result of President Biden believing he knows more than his military advisors. President Biden apparently learned nothing from Iraq. When it comes to Afghanistan, the worst is yet to come.' Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., wrote on Twitter Thursday.

'A vacuum is being created in Afghanistan for the reemergence of ISIS and al-Qaeda who will attack U.S. interests. America is perceived as an unreliable ally throughout the world. Russia, Iran, and China will become stronger in the region,' he continued.

Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., a notorious hawk who has long been opposed to leaving Afghanistan, called the withdrawal an 'unconditional surrender.'

'Americas enemies know that the slogan ending endless war actually means unconditional surrender. That is what we are seeing in Afghanistan today. American weakness is dangerously provocative,' Cheney wrote on Twitter.
A new mother from Florida died from the coronavirus just days after giving birth to her newborn daughter.

Kristen McMullen, 30, was forced to deliver her baby several weeks early following complications with her pregnancy after contracting the virus.

It is not known whether McMullen ever received the COVID vaccine.

Doctors became concerned after she began to have breathing problems which also saw her unborn child receiving less oxygen in the womb.

Her symptoms became so bad that doctors at the Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne had to perform an emergency C-Section to deliver her baby girl, Summer Reign.

Kristen McMullen, 30, held newborn daughter, Summer, for just a couple of photos before she was rushed to intensive care

McMullen had longed to be a mother and was hoping for a big family. She took ill with covid about five weeks before her due date and was forced to have a c-section to save her daughter

McMullen got to hold her daughter for just a few short minutes before she was rushed to the intensive care unit after her own breathing took a turn for the worse.

She was pictured giving her infant a bottle of milk in one of the few photos she had taken with her newborn child.

'She was able to hold Summer for basically just two pictures,' Melissa Syverson, McMullen's aunt, told Florida Today.

'One she had the mask on, and one she took the mask off. They took the quick pictures, she put the mask back on  and then they moved Kristen to ICU immediately after that,' she said.

It would be the first and last time she would ever hold her baby.

While in the ICU, McMullen's condition quickly worsened and she developed pneumonia.

The West Melbourne woman was unable to see her little girl in-person - only through video calls on an iPad.

She was unable to see her little girl in-person - only through video calls on an iPad, pictured above

Dad, Keith McMullen, had been caring for his sick wife while looking after their newborn girl

'She couldn't interact. But at least she could see Summer while she was being cared for and just look at her. And then her breathing just progressively got worse,'Syverson explained.

Eventually, doctors were forced to sedate her and she was placed on a ventilator. She died days later on August 6.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with medical bills and to help pay for help to look after Summer.

'Kristen dreamed of being a mom and after several years of fighting an uphill battle, her and her husband Keith, received the good news that they were expecting. This bundle of joy is the first great grandchild in the family and we couldn't have been happier for her and her little growing family,' Syverson said days before the death of her niece.

'About 3 weeks prior to her due date, Kristen started developing COVID-19 symptoms. Things progressed quickly and she ended up in the hospital with an official 'positive' test as well as confirmation of having COVID pneumonia. She was in the hospital for 4 days at this point and was sent home with antibiotics. After less than 48 hours she returned to the hospital not able to breathe and worried about her unborn baby,' Syverson explained.

Dad and husband, Keith McMullen, is pictured with his newborn daughter Summer Reign

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help raised funds to care for baby Summer Reign and pay for her mother's medical bills who sadly passed away from the coronavirus

Hours after returning to the hospital, the baby was delivered with husband and new father Keith doing double duty as he became a dad while still caring for his wife.

Days after the initial posting on the donation website, the aunt had to share the tragic news of McMullen's passing.

'She lit up the room wherever she was, her laughter was contagious and she will be truly missed every day until we all take our last breath.

'We're so thankful for the time we had with her and thank God for the blessing of her little girl that she left behind,' she wrote.

'At this point it's unclear how much money is needed to cover the insane hospital bills and to help keep Keith and baby Summer figure out how they're going to move forward through this tragedy'

'We're so thankful for the time we had with her and thank God for the blessing of her little girl that she left behind,' aunt Melissa Syverson wrote

'We really thought with her being young and full of energy and completely healthy we thought she was going to pull through,' said Syverson to ClickOrlando.

'She was giving it all to the baby and giving it all to fight this illness, and unfortunately the illness won. Absolutely terrible,' added uncle James Syverson.

'It's such a loss all the way around. Summer not having a mom, me not having a niece, Keith not having a wife,' he said.

'She never got sick, and we assumed like many people that this would just go away just as quickly as it came because with a lot of younger people  she was only 30 years old  that she would breeze through it and be back taking charge of life.'

Doctors believe McMullen was infected with the Delta variant. They recommend pregnant women get the coronavirus vaccine following an increase in COVID-19 patients who are pregnant.

'They definitely have pneumonia and are requiring oxygen,' Dr. Lori Boardman from Orlando Health's Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies said. 'If the baby doesn't look good because sometimes the heart rates will slow, we're having to deliver babies before they're supposed to be born.

'One of the biggest questions I get is 'Does it increase risk of miscarriage?' Data says no. We're not seeing a negative impact at all from receiving the vaccination,' Boardman said. 'We've seen the babies getting antibodies from their moms who get vaccinated which protects them.'
Afghanis who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Australian soldiers face being slaughtered by the taliban after a former ADF base fell on Friday - unless the Morrison Government's plan to evacuate them succeeds.

The insurgents have taken half of the country's 34 provincial capitals in recent days, including its second and third-largest cities, Herat and Kandahar.

On Friday evening local officials surrendered Tarin Kowt, the capital of the southern Uruzgan province, where 40 Australian soldiers died during a 12-year military operation.

Afghanis who supported Australian soldiers and aid workers face being slaughtered by the Taliban unless Australian forces evacuate them after a former ADF base fell on Friday. Pictured: A Taliban fighter poses in Ghazni

Smoke rises after fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security personnel in the city of Kandahar, southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Sidiqullah Khan)

Afghan military and officials leave Kandahar city during fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security personnel, in Kandahar, southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Sidiqullah Khan)

The Australian government is in the process of offering sanctuary to locals who assisted Australian forces during conflict in Afghanistan. But grave fears are held for dozens of them.

'All who previously worked with government or foreign forces are now in danger,' Uruzgan senator Mohammad Hanif Hanifi told The Weekend Australian.

'They will be killed by the Taliban.'

The Australian government was in the process of offering sanctuary to locals who assisted Australian forces during conflict in Afghanistan. But grave fears are now held for dozens of them

Australian troops served in Afghanistan for 12 years

The Taliban now control more than two-thirds of the country just weeks before the U.S. plans to withdraw its last troops and is expected to continue a push towards the capital Kabul. Pictured: The Taliban pose in Ghazni on Thursday

Bismillah Jan Mohammad and Qudratullah Rahimi, lawmakers from Afghanistan's Uruzgan said local officials surrendered Tarin Kowt to the Taliban.

Mohammad said the governor was heading to the airport to depart for Kabul.

The Australian government has confirmed 570 locally engaged employee (LEE) humanitarian visas were granted to Afghanis since April.

But a further 50 approved applicants were still in Afghanistan and certain to face persecution or worse at the hands of the Taliban - which has a policy of killing Afghans who have worked with foreign powers.

A former Australian Army Captain, Jason Scanes, said it was 'negligent' those applicants had been left behind.

'The only way to reach those people now would be a military evacuation,' Mr Scanes said.

Last week Scott Morrison said planning was underway to help the at-risk Afghanis who had helped Australian forces out of danger.

'We are liaising very closely with, particularly, the United States and others who are engaged in that area,' Mr Morrison said.

'We will be working closely with them including, when necessary, using Australian Defence Force personnel to assist in securing that outcome  both for the safe passage of people who we are taking out of Afghanistan to Australia and also the remaining people who may still be there under the conditions that we have had them still there.'

While the capital of Kabul isnt directly under threat yet, the losses and advances elsewhere further tighten the grip of a resurgent Taliban. Pictured: A Taliban fighter poses in Ghazni on Thursday

The Taliban now control more than two-thirds of the country just weeks before the U.S. plans to withdraw its last troops and is expected to continue a push towards the capital Kabul.

While the capital of Kabul isn't directly under threat yet, the losses and advances elsewhere further tighten the grip of a resurgent Taliban.

The latest U.S. military intelligence assessment suggests Kabul could come under insurgent pressure within 30 days and that, if current trends hold, the Taliban could gain full control of the country within a few months.

A market is shuttered closed over security fears during fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security personnel, in Kandahar, southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Sidiqullah Khan)

The Taliban completed their sweep of the country's south on Friday as they took four more provincial capitals in a lightning offensive that is gradually encircling Kabul, just weeks before the U.S. is set to officially end its two-decade war.

The latest significant blow was the loss of the capital of Helmand province, where American, British and allied NATO forces fought some of the bloodiest battles in the past 20 years.

Hundreds of foreign troops were killed in the province, which is also a major opium hub.

In the south, the insurgents swept through the capitals of Zabul and Uruzgan provinces, in addition to Helmand's.

Attaullah Afghan, the head of the provincial council in Helmand, said that the Taliban captured Lashkar Gah following weeks of heavy fighting and raised their white flag over governmental buildings.

He said that three national army bases outside of Lashkar Gah remain under control of the government.

With security rapidly deteriorating, the United States planned to send in 3,000 troops to help evacuate some personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.

Separately, Britain said about 600 troops would be deployed on a short-term basis to support British nationals leaving the country, and Canada is sending special forces to help evacuate its embassy.

Thousands of Afghans have fled their homes amid fears the Taliban would again impose a brutal, repressive government, all but eliminating womens rights and conducting public executions.

Peace talks in Qatar remain stalled, though diplomats are still meeting, as the U.S., European and Asian nations warned that any government established by force would be rejected.

'We demand an immediate end to attacks against cities, urge a political settlement, and warn that a government imposed by force will be a pariah state,' said Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. envoy to the talks.

But the Taliban advance continued, as they pushed into the capital of Logar province, just 80 kilometres south of Kabul.

The onslaught represents a stunning collapse of Afghan forces after the United States spent nearly two decades and $830 billion trying to establish a functioning state.

U.S. forces toppled the Taliban in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, which al-Qaida planned and executed while being sheltered by the Taliban government.

The Taliban fighters now advancing across the country ride on American-made Humvees and carry M-16s pilfered from Afghan forces.

Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the Afghan army has rotted from within due to corruption and mismanagement, leaving troops in the field poorly equipped and with little motivation to fight.

The Taliban, meanwhile, have spent a decade taking control of large swaths of the countryside.

That allowed them to rapidly seize key infrastructure and urban areas once President Joe Biden announced the timeline for the U.S. withdrawal, saying he was determined to end America's longest war.

'Whatever forces are left or remaining that are in the Kabul area and the provinces around them, theyre going to be used for the defense of Kabul,' Roggio said.

'Unless something dramatically changes, and I dont see how thats possible, these provinces (that have fallen) will remain under Taliban control.'

In Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban, insurgents seized the governors office and other buildings, witnesses said.

The governor and other officials fled the onslaught, catching a flight to Kabul, the witnesses added. They refused to be named publicly as the defeat has yet to be acknowledged by the government, which has not commented on the latest advances.

The Taliban had earlier attacked a prison in Kandahar and freed inmates inside, officials said.

Earlier Thursday, the militants raised their white flags imprinted with an Islamic proclamation of faith over the city of Ghazni, which sits on a crucial north-south highway just 130km (80 miles) southwest of Kabul.

The U.N. agency for humanitarian affairs warned that civilians in southern Afghanistan faced cut-off highways and mobile phone outages. It described aid groups as being unable to determine how many people had fled as intense fighting and airstrikes continued there.
Kadian Nelson, 26, (pictured) assaulted the 13-year-old while she made her way to school in Mitcham

A man who kidnapped and raped a schoolgirl in south-west London has been handed a 20-year sentence.

Kadian Nelson, 26, who previously pleaded guilty to rape, kidnap and threats to kill, assaulted the 13-year-old while she made her way to school in Mitcham.

Kingston Crown Court heard the girl was speaking to her friend on the phone when Nelson began following her.

He then suddenly approached her, placing one hand 'incredibly tightly' around her mouth and then on top of her head.

The prosecution said the incident on November 3 was caught on CCTV and was witnessed 'fortuitously' by a 10-year-old girl who was walking along the road at the same time that morning.

'She saw the defendant place his hands over the girl's mouth and the girl gave the witness a look that indicated to her that she was definitely not OK,' Ms Akudolu added, prompting the 10-year-old to call her older sister, who then called the police.

Nelson then took the victim into an alleyway and told her that if she did not do what he said, he would kill her.

The case sparked a fevered vigilante response when the witnesses uploaded a clip of themselves apprehending Nelson in the street.

Footage shared to social media last year prompted outrage, with furious locals warned not to take the law into their own hands after angry groups gathered at addresses in the area.

In April, Nelson was beaten in jail hours after admitting his crimes, according to The Sun.

According to MyLondon, people who knew Nelson said he, 'fantasised about cutting people's tongues out of their throats' as a teenager.

Prosecuting, Nneka Akudolu described Nelson as 'prowling around' while 'wearing a pair of rubber gloves' 20 minutes before the victim was grabbed.

Kingston Crown Court heard the girl was speaking to her friend on the phone when Nelson.(pictured being arrested) began following her

Ms Akudolu told the court: 'The call was still connected to her friend and the girl could be heard saying to the defendant 'I'll pay you, take all my money, take all my belongings, just leave me alone'.

'She also asked him where he was taking her. He told her to 'not be so f****** stupid and to not say a word'.'

He took off his jacket, told her to take off her coat and her school blazer and told her to kneel to the floor before sexually assaulting her, the court heard.

Minutes later, the assault stopped and he told the victim to put her blazer on and her jacket and then made her wear his coat and pulled the hood of the coat down over her face.

The 10-year-old witness and her sister then intervened, with the older sister recording the incident on her phone.

'The witness stepped into the alleyway and shouted 'What are you doing with her?' and the defendant said to leave them alone, saying, 'She's my sister, she's family',' Ms Akudolu said.

The defendant was then chased by the witnesses and quickly made off as the police arrived at the scene.

Later on, the witnesses uploaded the footage to social media.

Nelson was later arrested by police after a member of the public spotted him in a shop and recognised him from the footage.

Prosecuting, Nneka Akudolu described Nelson as 'prowling around' while 'wearing a pair of rubber gloves' 20 minutes before the victim was grabbed

The court heard that prior to the attack, several people reported Nelson acting suspiciously in the area after seeing the video on social media.

One woman told police Nelson followed her home and the next day spotted him again, prompting her and her flatmate to spend the night in a hotel as they were 'so unsettled by his presence,' Ms Akudolu said.

The court heard Nelson also had three previous offences, two relating to possession with intent to supply of cocaine and heroin and one relating to threatening with an offensive weapon in a public place, for which a hospital order was given.

A doctor assessed Nelson prior to his guilty pleas and found he was 'not suffering from a mental health defect'.

The victim, who appeared in person at the hearing, read out a victim impact statement to the court.

She said it affected her and her family on an 'extremely personal level' and how she views aspects of her life and her relationships.

Nelson was later arrested by police after a member of the public spotted him in a shop and recognised him from footage which had been shared on social media

'It has affected my ability to do very simple everyday things now, such as go to school or be able to be independent,' she added.

In mitigation, Nelson's defence solicitor Mr Akinsanya said he was still only 26 and had no previous convictions of sexual offences.

He added: 'The sentence he will receive will be an extremely difficult one for him to serve as within hours of him entering his guilty plea, he was seriously assaulted in Wandsworth prison.'

Judge John Lodge handed Nelson a 20-year sentence, 12 years of which he will serve as a custodial sentence with an extension period of eight years, for rape.

He was also given 12 years for kidnapping and five years for the threats to kill, which will run concurrently.

Nelson is also subject to a sexual harm prevention order and has been placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Sentencing, Judge Lodge said: 'The offence was every child's worst nightmare and every parent's worst nightmare. A young, intelligent, articulate girl trusted walking to school, as she did every day, as she was entitled to do.

'You attacked her in a brutal way. If it was not for the prompt actions of those who noted that, this shameful and shocking incident could have been even worse.'

The two witnesses have been awarded 250 each by the court for their efforts.
Anyone given China's Sinopharm Covid vaccine should get a third booster dose, claim scientists.

Real-world data from Peru, which has used the jab, shows two doses only cut the risk of infection by 50.4 per cent.

The findings, published by the South American country's Ministry of Health, said the vaccine's efficacy at stopping infection was 'not high'.

Boosters should therefore be considered, the researchers said.

However, the data also showed the jab was still in the region of 94 per cent effective at cutting the risk of death.

It comes amid a debate on whether booster are needed in Britain, where protection against infection after two doses of the AstraZeneca or Pfizer jab varies between 65 and 90 per cent.

The study of 400,000 healthcare staff in Peru found that Sinopharm is just 50.4 per cent effective against infection. Meanwhile, latest estimates from Public Health England revealed Pfizer to be 70 to 90 per cent effective and AstraZeneca to be 65 to 90 per cent effective at stopping infections

Sinopharm's vaccine was just 50.4 per cent effective at preventing infections in a study of around 400,000 double-jabbed healthcare workers led by scientists at Peru's National Institute of Health

Why are vaccines always better in clinical trials? Before vaccines are approved by health authorities and rolled out to the population, they must go through rigorous clinical trials that estimate how effective they are. Researchers recruit volunteers as part of randomised controlled clinical trials to test jabs. Initially, just small numbers are given a vaccine to test their safety, before it is rolled out to the hundreds and subsequently thousands if the initial trials have been successful. But findings from trials are not always reflected in the population, because they only provide a snapshot of the general population. For example, vaccines are often given to healthy young volunteers who are monitored for a short period. When vaccines are rolled out to the general population and given to different age groups or those with underlying health conditions, the effectiveness of the jab can be different. In the UK, Public Health England issues weekly updates on the effectiveness and safety of the Covid vaccines used in the UK. But the UK also uses data from other countries to assess the impact of the jabs, such as evidence of the link between myocarditis - an extremely rare heart condition side effect that has been linked to the jabs - to determine vaccine policy in the UK. Source: UK Parliament Advertisement

Academics at Peru's National Institute of Health and two other institutes monitored nearly 400,000 frontline medics who had the BBIBP-CorV vaccine, which is made by Chinese state-owned drug firm Sinopharm. Most were double-jabbed.

Experts examined data on the jab's effectiveness from February to June in Peru when the country was dealing with a second wave.

BBIBP-CorV has been approved for use in some countries in South America, Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa.

Healthcare workers in Peru were the first to get a Covid vaccine in the country, and were all given Sinopharm's because it was the first jab to arrive in the country.

Peru has since vaccinated some people with AstraZeneca and Pfizer.

And countries including Cambodia and the UAE have already offered boosters using the UK and US vaccines to people who received Sinopharm's.

The research paper, originally published in Spanish but translated by Reuters, stated: 'The efficacy to prevent infection is not high.

'And this is something to consider once a high percentage of the population receives its two doses.'

It said this would be the 'moment when boosters can be considered to optimize the protection of frontline health workers'.

Dr Lely Solari, from Peru's health institute, told Reuters the 'vast majority' of positive tests included in the study were from symptomatic people, while some got tested if they suspected an infection.

She added: 'The most likely thing is you will indeed need a third dose at some point, the question is when is the best moment and with what type of vaccine.'

While the 50.4 per cent efficacy against infections was low, it was still accepted by the World Health Organization which requires a 50 per cent efficacy level.

The jab was originally found to be 78.1 per cent effective in clinical trials, according to the WHO.

The study examined how effective the jab was at preventing infections in healthcare staff between February and June, while the country was battling a second wave of infections

As it stands, 27.5 per cent of people in Peru have received a single dose of the vaccine, while 19.6 per cent are double-jabbed

The emergence of the Peru 'Lambada' variant in December, which has been found to render the jabs less effective, may have fueled the drop in efficacy.

It comes amid an ongoing debate about whether third booster jabs should be used in the UK, which has dished out the more effective AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna jabs.

Officials told the NHS to prepare to administer third doses from September to over-50s and healthcare workers alongside their annual flu jab.

But ministers are yet to make a formal decision on the jabs, with No10 waiting for the latest advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

Experts including Sir Andrew Pollard, one of the experts behind the AstraZeneca jab, said vaccines should be used to give first doses to people in other countries before being used as boosters in Britain.

Professor Danny Altmann, an immunologist at Imperial College London and adviser on SAGE, said vaccines should be shared out equitably 'because the fewer millions of lungs you have virus replicating in, the better off we're all going to be.'
Students will face a $750 fine if they show up to campus without a vaccine and will be required to wear masks inside, Wesleyan College in West Virginia has warned.

Unvaccinated students will be required to social distance, need weekly Covid tests and have limited access to campus facilities.

If they do not follow these rules they will face 'student judicial action,' the liberal arts college in Buckhannon said.

Anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 will also need to fork out $250 to quarantine on campus if they are unable to return home.

Students will face a $750 fine if they show up to campus without a vaccine and will be required to wear masks inside, Wesleyan College (pictured) in West Virginia has warned

'That fee is going to be used to cover the expenses that will come with increased testing and other resources that the college will have to utilize and deploy to keep every student safe,' Dean James Moore told CBS affiliate WDTV.

Vaccinated students 'may return to normal on-campus activity and are not required to wear a mask unless they choose to do so,' the college said.

'The safety of each and every member of the campus community is the College's highest priority,' the university said.

'We continue to urge all members of the Wesleyan campus community to follow all safety and public health protocols.'

Wesleyan College Dean James Moore

The university said that around 90 percent of its faculty and staff had received the vaccine and 'a large percentage' of students have already confirmed they've had the shot.

Wesleyan says they are not forcing students to have the vaccine but that they would consider doing so pending any further ruling by the Food and Drug Administration on the vaccines' current emergency status.

West Virginia has a seven-day average of 425 daily coronavirus cases, a 750 percent increase on the start of July.

Scientist say that, like much of the United States, the spike in infections is being driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant which first emerged in India.

Wesleyan is not the first college to take a hardline approach to protecting its students and staff from Covid.

Last month it was reported that an incoming college freshman had been denied her $200,000 scholarship to Brigham Young UniversityHawaii (BYUH) because she refused to take the vaccine.

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, 18, said she couldn't have the shot because of a pre-existing medical condition.

Sandor, who suffers from Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), shared her story on Sean Hannity's Fox News program 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.'

The exemption letter written by Sandor's doctor, and made public by Turning Point USA, reads in part: 'Because of [Sandor's] medical history I believe a COVID vaccine or another influenza vaccine will endanger her health and possibly her life' and that she 'should avoid those vaccines indefinitely'.

However, her request was met with denial from the university via email.

Sandor appeared on Sean Hannity's Fox News last month to share her outrage at BYU-Hawaii's decision to deny her admission over her COVID-19 vaccination status

Sandor submitted an letter from her doctor (pictured above) requesting exemption from BYUH's COVID-19 vaccination requirement due to her history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome

'After careful consideration of your request for a medical exemption, we regret that we cannot accommodate your request,' the email read.

'Due to our unique location, diverse student population, and daily interaction with international tourists at the Polynesian Cultural Center, we must take extra precautions to protect our campus and community.'

The university also encouraged her to considering attending BYUH when she is able to be 'fully vaccinated' or to 'consider attendance at one of [their] other church universities'.

Sandor said that since BYUH did not alert students of the vaccination mandate until mid-June she doesn't know what she is going to do about college.

'All those scholarships are gone,' she said. 'I really don't know where I'm going to turn or what my next steps are.'
The increasing demand by local governments and businesses that people must show proof they've been vaccinated against COVID-19 to go to restaurants, gyms and enter businesses has created a black market for fake cards and some are selling for as much as $400.

Most are being sold on Telegram, an encrypted site that is favored among people who don't trust typical Silicon Valley giants like Facebook and Twitter.

On Telegram, people can buy vaccine cards that are approved by the CDC or NHS in Britain for between $25 and $400.

Twitter and Facebook are controlling searches for it by directing anyone who searches 'vaccine card' to official government websites.

Most are being sold on Telegram, an encrypted site that is favored among people who don't trust typical Silicon Valley giants like Facebook and Twitter.

But there is still growing concern over the number of sites where they are available.

Some have been reported as for sale on Craigslist.

Democratic cities across America are gradually adopting vaccine mandates for things like indoor dining, indoor workout classes and working for certain companies.

New Orleans , Los Angeles and San Francisco are all bringing them in.

New York City's vaccine mandate for indoor dining and gyms will start being enforced on September 13. Businesses are expecting guidance on August 16 as to how to implement it.

This week, New York's Attorney General Letitia James issued a warning that anyone caught using fake vaccine cards would face criminal charges.

'As the Delta variant becomes more prominent, it is more important than ever for New Yorkers to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

'Not only do fake and fraudulently-completed vaccination cards violate federal and state laws and the public trust, but they also put the health of our communities at risk and potentially prolong this public health crisis.

Norbert Chung and his son Trevor Chung were both arrested on Sunday, Aug. 8, at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport after arriving with fake vaccine cards to vacation

Todd Anderson, a bar owner in California, was arrested for selling cards like these earlier this year which he filled out

Anderson, the owner of the Old Corner Saloon bar in Clements, California, now faces federal charges

'I strongly urge New Yorkers to reject these fake vaccination cards and get the COVID-19 vaccine, so that we can move forward from this pandemic and return to normalcy as soon as possible.'

A collection of Attorney Generals wrote a letter to the CEOs of Twitter, Shopify and eBay - where fake vaccine cards were being sold - asking them to crack down too.

In New York City, there has been no guidance for businesses as to how to tell real vaccine card from a fake one and businesses have been asked to start checking from August 16.

From September 13 onwards, they may be fined if they don't ensure people are vaccinated before they enter the business.

The genuine vaccine cards are merely pieces of cardboard, filled out with handwritten details of when a person got their first or second dose.

There is no official scannable code or seal on them.

'I just dont think that were gonna be the vaccination police. Thats up to the mayors office.

In New York City, there has been no guidance for businesses as to how to tell real vaccine card from a fake one and businesses have been asked to start checking from August 16

'Its up to the health department to figure out, but it certainly shouldnt be the burden of store owners, bars and gyms to be regulating that,' Mary Josephine Generoso, manager at Pasticceria Roccos of Bay Ridge, told CBS.

They have placed a sign in their window to say that they will still allow unvaccinated customers in, despite the Mayor's order.

So far, there have been several cases across the country of people who have been fined or charged for trying to use a fake vaccine card.

Todd Anderson, the owner of Old Corner Saloon in Clements, California, was arrested earlier this year after he was caught selling fake cards from his bar.

A California father and son were also arrested after being caught in Hawaii trying to vacation with fake vaccine cards.
Public Health England was today accused of being 'away with the fairies' for claiming that Covid vaccines have prevented 23.4million infections.

The Government-run agency, which will be axed within a matter of weeks, yesterday released 'remarkable' updated estimates about how well the jabs have worked.

As well as drastically curbing the spread of the coronavirus, the PHE data suggested vaccines have saved more than 84,000 lives and prevented almost 67,000 hospital admissions.

But experts today questioned the maths behind the estimate.

Professor David Livermore, a microbiologist at the University of East Anglia, said the jabs have undoubtedly thwarted the spread of Covid and saved tens of thousands of lives.

But he told MailOnline it 'cannot possibly be correct' that more than 20million cases were stopped.

Vaccines are thought to cut infections by around 60 per cent, so in order for them to have prevented 23.4million, the UK would have had to have seen approximately 17m cases among unvaccinated people since the start of the rollout, he explained.

There have only been 3.8million confirmed cases among the entire population since the start of the year  and most have been unvaccinated during that time.

Professor Livermore said: 'The 85,000 deaths prevented is plausible  itd be a fifth of the care home population, who are the most vulnerable.

'But 23.4million infections prevented cannot possibly be correct. I find myself a little shocked that (the figure) isnt getting a sanity check anywhere.

'Its away with the fairies and whatever mathematical model has been used to project these numbers needs a serious review.'

PHE said its model is based on a worst-case scenario with no vaccines or lockdowns to protect the population. Sources at the health body said it is 'impossible to predict' how the pandemic would have played out without jabs in reality.

Graph shows: The number of hospitalisations in over-65s (brown line) plotted against the number of expected admissions without the vaccine programme (green line). The dotted lines show vaccine coverage in people aged 85 and above, 75 to 84 and 65 to 74 for first (D1) and second (D2) doses

Professor David Livermore, a microbiologist at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline it 'cannot possibly be correct' that more than 20million Covid cases have been stopped by vaccines

Why IS Public Health England's modelling being questioned? PHE yesterday claimed vaccines had prevented 23.4million people being infected in England. Vaccines are estimated to only prevent 50 to 60 per cent of infections, with their main role to prevent serious disease and death from the virus. In order for 23.4million to be prevented, there would have to have been 17million vaccinated people infected by that ratio. This means the model predicts without vaccines, there would have been just over 40million Covid cases in total. In reality, Britain only recorded 3.8million confirmed cases among the entire population since the start of the year. But the actual case numbers, published by the Government every day, are only based on positive tests. Not everyone who gets Covid will develop symptoms and ask for a swab. Advertisement

Professor Livermore claimed in order for the numbers to add up, there would have to have been 40million Covid infections if not for the vaccine in PHE's model.

He said: 'Thats 60 per cent of a UK population thatd already experienced the first and  substantially  second waves, generating significant natural immunity.

'Again, utterly implausible.'

But the actual case numbers, published by the Government every day, are only based on positive tests. Not everyone who gets Covid will develop symptoms and ask for a swab.

PHE said its real-time surveillance model  developed with the University of Cambridge  compares how the pandemic played out with vaccines to a counterfactual scenario where no vaccines had occurred.

But it also assumes the Government did not introduce a lockdown in January, meaning cases would have continued to soar after the second peak.

Sources admitted in reality, it is likely lockdown would have been extended and restrictions not eased on July 19 if not for the vaccine programme, which would have reduced the number of cases than what is predicted by the model.

The main purpose of vaccines is to prevent severe illness and death from Covid.

Experts have always been open that jabs are not 100 per cent effective at stopping mild infection. It is, for this reason, many believe herd immunity is impossible.

But PHE yesterday boasted it figures prove just how well the vaccines work at reducing cases.

Dr Mary Ramsay, PHE's head of immunisations, said: 'These figures show the vaccine programmes remarkable impact on saving lives and reducing the spread of the virus.

'As cases have increased, the true scale of protection from the vaccine programme has become clear. Everyone who has come forward for the vaccine has played a part in this vital effort.

'Its important people under 30 continue to take up the offer of the vaccine. Infection rates are highest in this age group and Covid can be serious for some.'

It came as teenagers as young as 17 were invited to book their first vaccine appointment if they are within three months of their 18th birthday.

In line with Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) guidance issued last week, the NHS is already vaccinating people who are 16 and 17 with a single dose of the jab at GP and walk-in sites, and more than 16,000 in this age received theirs last weekend.

Vaccination sites across the country are working hard to complete the rollout with more than 300 sites already offering the jab to 16- and 17-year-olds including GP teams who began vaccinating eligible teens last week.

Children aged 12 to 15 who are clinically vulnerable or who live with adults who are at increased risk of serious illness from the virus are also being contacted by the NHS and invited for their vaccine.
A serving West Mercia Police officer and a three-year-old child were found dead today at a house in Kidderminster.

The bodies of the 39-year-old man and child were discovered in the Worcestershire town by officers from the same force following concerns for their welfare.

Ambulances, paramedics and a Hazardous Area Response team attended the scene.

An investigation has been launched into the deaths, which are being treated as unexplained and have been described by the force as a 'tragic incident'.

Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Jones said: 'It is with great sadness that I share the news that a serving police officer and a three-year-old child have passed away.

Cairndhu Drive in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, where the discovery was made (file image)

'While the circumstances of the deaths are not fully known, this is clearly a tragic incident and our deepest condolences are with family and colleagues.'

A police spokesman said: 'Earlier today we attended an address in Cairndhu Drive in Kidderminster following concerns for the welfare of a man and young child.

'On arrival officers found the man, aged 39, and a three-year-old child had sadly passed away. The man was a serving West Mercia Police officer.

'We have launched an investigation into the deaths, which are currently being treated as unexplained. It is with great sadness that we share this news today.

An investigation has been launched into the deaths, which are being treated as unexplained

'Whilst the circumstances surrounding the deaths are not fully known, this is clearly a tragic incident. Our deepest condolences are with the officer's family, friends and colleagues.'

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: 'We were called to reports of a medical emergency at a property on Cairndhu Drive at 9.21am.

'Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and our Hazardous Area Response Team attended the scene. On arrival we discovered two patients, a man and a young child.

'Sadly, it quickly became apparent that neither patient could be saved and they were confirmed dead at the scene.'

Kidderminster is a large market town with an estimated population of 55,000, and is located 17 miles south-west of Birmingham.
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey is calling on Biden DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to step down after leaked audio revealed Mayorkas saying the border crisis is 'unsustainable' and 'we're going to lose' with illegal crossings at a 21-year high.

Mayorkas privately admitted to Border Patrol agents in Texas that Joe Biden's government is struggling under the influx of migrants and admitted he knew the infrastructure in place to deal with it was near 'breaking.'

'If our borders are the first line of defense, we're going to lose, and this is unsustainable,' he said in audio obtained by Fox News.

'We can't continue like this, our people in the field can't continue and our system isn't built for it.'

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey called for Mayorkas' resignation just hours after the leaked audio became public.

In a statement he accused Mayorkas of having 'confirmed our worst fears.'

Mayorkas announced on Thursday that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) encountered more than 212,000 migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border in July  a record 21-year high.

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey called on Mayorkas to resign in the wake of leaked audio where he can be heard telling Border Patrol agents that 'if our borders are the first line of defense, we're going to lose'

Arizona's governor called for Mayorkas' resignation hours after the audio became public

Ducey said 'the safety of Arizona and our entire nation' hinges on the Biden Cabinet secretary stepping down.

'We can't have a defeatist fighting for our nation's border security. It's time for Sec. Mayorkas to resign, and he needs to be replaced with someone who will tell the truth publicly & stand up to the radical activists inside the Biden-Harris administration,' Ducey wrote on Twitter.

He told the border agents at the leaked meeting 'these numbers cannot continue.'

'We cannot get to a point where we were a couple of weeks ago, and we're gonna make sure that doesn't happen,' the DHS head continued, apparently referencing July's historic numbers.

He privately disclosed that the US 'system isn't built' to handle the number of people coming to the border (pictured: Asylum-seeking migrant families disembark from an inflatable raft after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico on August 12th)

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas revealed Thursday that CBP encountered 212,672 migrants in July  a 13 per cent increase from June and 21-year month high

He said the department would be looking into new policies.

Trump slammed the Biden administration's handling of the border crisis in a Friday morning statement.

'Tragic mess in Afghanistan, a completely open and broken Border, Crime at record levels, oil prices through the roof, inflation rising, and taken advantage of by the entire worldDO YOU MISS ME YET?' the ex-president wrote.

The new figures are a record for encounters and nears Biden toward the 1 million mark as the encounter count hits 934,257 when counting the data between February and July.

In June, CBP reported it encountered 188,829 illegal immigrants at the border, which was the previous decade-long high before this month's figures were released.

Mayorkas, who heads Biden's Department of Homeland Security, visited the border on Thursday as images emerged overnight of a new batch of hundreds of illegal immigrants lining up to turn themselves into border patrol agents.

Mayorkas said that Homeland Security would look into new policies after the unprecedented July surge (pictured: Asylum-seeking migrant families arriving in the US on August 12th)

Biden DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on the border crisis in leaked audio:



This is unsustainable. These numbers cannot continue. pic.twitter.com/60sQDuApWl  RNC Research (@RNCResearch) August 13, 2021

Donald Trump's former acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan said Thursday that border agents were directed to create the appearance of a lessened crisis ahead of Mayorkas' visit.

During a briefing hosted by conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, Morgan claimed his sources revealed they were instructed to clear out overcrowded facilities and temporarily holding camps, as well as coordinate with the Mexican government to increase security and quell illegal crossings during the trip.

'Those pictures that we showed you under the bridge, you know, a couple thousands migrants, those facilities that we showed you of illegal aliens basically, you know, stacked on top of each other, laying on top of each other, crowded and dangerously overcrowded positions. I'm actually having sources report to me right now that they have been directed to clear out the illegal aliens under that bridge and start transporting illegal aliens out of those overcrowded facilities,' Morgan said.

'And why?' Morgan posed. 'In anticipation of Secretary Mayorkas' visit down there.'

'I've got to tell you  I'm having sources report that to me, and I've got to tell you, that is simply  if that is, in fact, true, it is outrageous and it is disgusting, and I hope somebody on this call does a little bit more investigative work to find out exactly what's happened,' he said.

The former CBP acting commissioner added: 'I'm also hearing that they reached out to their Mexican counterparts to try and get them to increase their patrols right now as Secretary Mayorkas is going to visit there. And every time that happens, of course, the flow goes down in that area.'

A fresh batch of asylum-seeking migrants lined up to be processed by Border Patrol after crossing the Rio Grande Valley into Roma, Texas in the early morning hours of Thursday

'That's what I'm being told and I wanted to mention that to the folks on this call.'

Theresa Cardinal Brown, managing director of immigration and cross-border policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, said: 'This report is sounding the alarm at the border. Its not only a record number of interactions, but one that is both counter-cyclical and whose composition includes a significant number from countries outside of Central America or Mexico. We are witnessing a global phenomenon in migration.

'This is an urgent situation and requires the direct attention of the Biden administration and Congress working togethernot pointing fingerson constructive solutions to prevent a humanitarian disaster.'

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham added: 'So much for the idea that there would be a seasonal downturn in illegal immigrant crossings at our southern border!

'Between the crisis at the border and the debacle in Afghanistan, one could argue that President Biden is the most incompetent national security president in modern history.

'The only thing worse than being incompetent is being stubborn to the point that you cant look at the facts and change your mind when necessary. When it comes to the border and situation in Afghanistan, the worst is yet to come.'

Migrants arrive each day along the U.S.-Mexico border. Here migrant families disembarks an inflatable raft after crossing the Rio Grande River overnight

Thousands of migrants are being held under the Anzalduas International Bridge in Mission, Texas in 100 degree-plus conditions as border facilities become overcrowded with the continued influx of border crossings

Trump's former CBP Acting Director Mark Morgan (left) said Thursday border agents were told to clear the temporary camps and overcrowded facilities ahead of DHS Secretary Mayorkas' (right) visit there Thursday

Thousands of migrants continue to arrive each day at Americas southern border.

Morgan said the administration can stop the flow if they just impose consequences on illegal immigrants, and those who help them commit the crime.

'Look, it's all about consequences, right? If you apply consequences, the flow will stop,' Morgan said.

'I mean, all this 'root causes' in Central America, it's all spin, mirrors and misdirection,' he added. 'We've been working on that for decades.'

He is referring to Vice President Kamala Harris' role as 'border czar', which when she was criticized for not doing enough to address the crisis was rebranded to put her in charge of addressing the 'root causes' of migration in Northern Triangle countries.

Harris visited Guatemala and Mexico earlier this summer in a trip dubbed a failure by pundits and politicians on both sides of the political aisle.

'This is about what our policies are on our borders. And if you apply effective consequences, if you close the loopholes like ending catch and release,' Morgan said. 'And on the backend you're actually deporting people and applying those consequences and you're detaining individuals who break into our country against the rule of law instead of releasing them into the country, I promise you, the flow will go down.'

'You don't have to be a rocket scientist.'

Morgan also said agents were instructed to coordinate with Mexico for an increase in security on their side of the border to create the illusion of a decreased migration flow during Mayorkas' trip. Here a migrant mother carries her sleeping child as she prepares to enter the U.s. illegally after crossing the Rio Grande River on August 12

Mayorkas previewed on Wednesday his trip to the southern border in Texas

After crossing the river, migrants turn themselves over to border agents to be transported to a processing and holding facility

These facility, however, have been flanked with migrants and continue to experience massive overcrowding. Here a facility for men shows the immigrants nearly on top of each other  many not wearing masks

Morgan was joined on the virtual briefing with Trump-era Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf and Lora Ries, former acting DHS Deputy Chief of Staff, who are all fellows with The Heritage Foundation.

Wolf called the crisis 'manufactured' and Morgan called it one of the most substantial 'public health emergencies'.

All three also claimed that the Biden administration can easily thwart the flow of illegal immigration by holding migrants to the same COVID restrictions as imposed on Americans.

Biden has assured his administration is using Title 42, a provision that allows expulsions of individuals who have recently been in a country where a communicable disease was present, to deport migrants arriving in the U.S. by way of Mexico.

Bur Morgan said the administration 'continues to openly defy' their own COVID guidelines when it comes to dealing with the border crisis.

The neighbors to the south have seen a 90 per cent increase in COVID-19 cases this month, reaching the same numbers it was experiencing in January of this year.

Texas communities also claim that thousands of migrants being released into their communities under Biden's policies are not being tested for coronavirus and are causing a massive spike in cases among citizens.

Early Wednesday morning, the Senate adopted in a 88-11 vote to adopt an amendment to its $3.5 trillion budget resolution that requires migrants receive a negative coronavirus test before they are transported or released into American communities.

The Lone Star State has the second highest daily average of cases with 14,117. It falls behind Florida, the state with the largest surge, which saw 21,169 in its seven-day rolling average.

Migrants line up at a portion of the border where Trump's wall ends

Migrants stand out in the hot Texas sun with little shade and line up to get water as they wait to be processed by border patrol

Areas across the U.S. are seeing case rates severely spike with the emergence of the Delta variant and the increase in breakthrough cases in vaccinated individuals.

Nearly all migrants arriving at the southern border are not vaccinated against COVID-19 and pictures of overcrowded facilities show it's impossible to socially distance  and some were seen not wearing masks.

Morgan said if Biden 'reinstitutes every policy under the Trump administration', he will be able to end the border crisis.

'Reinstitute every single effective tool, authority and policy that effectively worked under the Trump administration. Title 42, the ACAs, remain in Mexico program, and build the freaking wall system,' Morgan told DailyMail.com during the briefing when asked what can be done to end the crisis and stop overcrowding.

'We can start with that, and that would absolutely reduce the flow and address the crisis and help secure our border,' he added.

Wolf agreed, telling DailyMail.com 'this isn't a new phenomenon.'

'We saw overcrowding in 2018 and 2019,' he said. 'I mean, we have a playbook and, unfortunately, it was very difficult times then.'

'We did our homework and we put in place some programs and policies such as the migrant protection protocols, such as the ACAs and others that alleviate that crowding, specifically that crowding that you would see in border patrol facilities. Why? Because not only the cartels, but the migrants themselves understood that if they crossed illegally they would either wait in Mexico or they'd be returned back to their home country once they went through that due process. And the ability not to apply for asylum if they passed through a safe third country,' the former DHS acting head added.

'It's not that they have to come up with creative and unique ideas, we did that for them,' Wolf said. 'They can rename it, they can do whatever they want, they can call it something else. But the policy and the playbook is there, they just need to execute.'

He said cartels are making $1 million every day on smuggling people into the U.S. over the Mexican border  and without consequences, they feel emboldened to continue doing so.

'It's clear in my mind that the Biden administration doesn't have a strategy to effectively deal with this [crisis],' Wolf said.

'A new strategy needs to be in place.'
A South Florida woman has been arrested for allegedly shooting her younger brother in the head and burying his body in a backyard seven years ago.

A Broward Sheriffs Office Det. John Curcio received a tip in June from a retired law enforcement officer about the death of Donald Shoff.

The detective then contacted Shoffs sister, Darlene Ann Shoff-Brock, 62, to set up an interview, and she told him her brother had been living out of the country for the last few years, sheriffs spokeswoman Veda Coleman-Wright said.

The next day, Shoff-Brock's attorney contacted the detective to cancel the interview.

Darlene Shoff-Brock, 62, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting her brother, Donald Shoff, 53, in the head in 2014 and burying him in a backyard

On July 9, detectives and crime scene technicians located Donald Shoff's remains in the yard in Dania Beach where the tipster said he was buried.

The Broward Medical Examiners Office determined on July 19 that the man had been shot in the back of the head, Coleman-Wright said. Shoff would have turned 60 in April 2021.

'Additionally, detectives said the Pinellas County Forensic Lab confirmed on Aug. 4, 2021, the remains of the murder victim were consistent with being the biological child of Shoff-Brocks mother,' she said.

Evidence from the remains and witness statements led detectives to believe that Shoff was killed in May 2014.

Shoff-Brock was arrested on Wednesday at her home in Tamarac, Florida (pictured)

Detectives believe Shoff was killed at a home in Hollywood and then buried in the backyard of the home in Dania Beach. It was not clear who lived at the home in Dania Beach.

Shoff-Brock was arrested on Wednesday at her home in Tamarac on a first-degree murder charge. She remained jailed without bond as of Friday.

The motive for the killing remains under investigation, although detectives said witnesses reported hearing the brother and sister argue often about money, and Shoff accused his sister of stealing money from him.
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The taliban seized its 17th major city on Friday as they raced to take full control of Afghanistan and inched closer to Kabul, with the main settlement in Logar province - just 40 miles from the capital - falling to the militants.

The blitz through Afghanistan's southern heartland means the insurgents now hold half of the country's 34 provincial capitals and control more than two-thirds of the nation - weeks before the U.S. plans to fully withdraw.

As Kabul looks to be on the brink of being taken by the Taliban, fears have also been raised of a refugee crisis and a rollback of gains in human rights. Some 400,000 civilians have been forced from their homes since the beginning of the year, 250,000 of them since May, the U.N. says.

Speaking from Kabul as refugees from across the country retreated to the city, former British marine Paul Farthing spoke of his despair that Afghanistan is once again on the cusp of being under the Taliban's rule after two decades of British and Western military presence in the country.

'I lost two of my young marines in Helmand back in 2006,' Mr Farthing told Sky News on Friday. 'I truly now want somebody to tell me  what was the point? I have no words to describe the hurt, the upset, the confusion.'

The loss of Helmand's provincial capital of Kandahar in the past 24 hours comes after years of toil and blood spill by American, British and allied NATO forces. Estimates suggest those countries lost some 800 troops over the decades-long war there.

Britain alone lost more than 450 troops in Afghanistan. Just over 400 were the result of hostile action, and the vast majority of causalities were in Helmand province.

Describing the scenes in Afghanistan's capital, Mr Farthing - who founded Afghan animal welfare charity 'Nowzad' in the country - said it was 'absolute panic'.

'I've never seen anything like it at all,' he described. 'There are thousands of refugees now coming in from the country hoping that Kabul is going to be their last hope of safety, and it is just desperation everywhere.'

Both Britain and the United States will deploy thousands of troops to evacuate their citizens from the city, which some have predicted could fall within days as the Taliban continue their march to seize it from the government.

The evacuation orders came as the Taliban took control of Kandahar - the nation's second-biggest city - in the insurgency's heartland, leaving only Kabul and pockets of other territories in government hands.

Pictured: A Taliban fighter stands guard over surrendered Afghan security member forces in the city of Ghazni, southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Friday

The Taliban have completed their sweep of the country's south on Friday, as they took four more provincial capitals in a lightning offensive that is gradually encircling Kabul. Pictured: Taliban fighters stand guard over surrendered Afghan troops

A Taliban fighter holds a rocket-propelled grenade in Herat, Afghanistan's third biggest city, after government forces pulled out the day before following weeks of being under siege

Taliban fighters drive an Afghan National Army (ANA) vehicle through a street in Kandahar on August 13, 2021

The Taliban has now seized around two thirds of the country from the government in a little over three months

Timeline of Afghanistan's provincial capitals falling to the Taliban Aug. 6 - ZARANJ - The Taliban take over the city in Nimroz province in the south, the first provincial capital to fall to the insurgents since they stepped up attacks on Afghan forces in early May. Aug. 7 - SHEBERGHAN - The Taliban declare they have captured the entire northern province of Jawzjan, including its capital Sheberghan. Heavy fighting is reported in the city, and government buildings are taken over by the insurgents. Afghan security forces say they are still fighting there. Aug. 8 - SAR-E-PUL - The insurgents take control of Sar-e-Pul, capital of the northern province of the same name. It is the first of three provincial centres to fall on the same day. Aug. 8 - KUNDUZ - Taliban fighters seize control of the northern city of 270,000 people, regarded as a strategic prize as it lies at the gateway to mineral-rich northern provinces and Central Asia. Government forces say they are resisting the insurgents from an army base and the airport. Aug. 8 - TALOQAN - The capital of Takhar province, also in the north, falls to the Taliban in the evening. They free prisoners and force government officials to flee. Aug. 9 - AYBAK - The capital of the northern province of Samangan is overrun by Taliban fighters. Aug. 10 - PUL-E-KHUMRI - The capital of the central province of Baghlan falls to the Taliban, according to residents. Aug. 11 - FAIZABAD - The capital of the northeastern province of Badakhshan is under Taliban control, a provincial council member says. Aug. 12 - GHAZNI - The insurgents take over the city, capital of the province of the same name, a senior security officer says. Aug 12 - FIRUS KOH - The capital of Ghor province, was handed over to the Taliban on Thursday night without a fight, security officials said. AUG 13 - QALA-E-NAW - The Taliban have captured the capital of the northwestern province of Badghis, a security official and the Taliban said. Aug 13 - KANDAHAR - The Taliban have captured Afghanistan's second biggest city of Kandahar, government officials and the Taliban said. Aug 13 - LASHKAR GAH - The Taliban have captured the capital of the southern province of Helmand, police said. Aug 13 - HERAT - Capital of Herat province in the west was under Taliban control after days of clashes, a provincial council member said. Aug 13 - POL-E ALAM - Taliban capture provincial capital of Logar, 50 km (30 miles) south of Kabul, a local official said Provincial capitals being contested as of August 13: FARAH - Capital of the western province of Farah. Advertisement

Asked whether he would be evacuating the city, Mr Farthing said he would want to stay with his staff, many of whom are young women he fears for, should the Taliban take control of Kabul.

'Right now, I'm going to say no  I cannot just leave my staff behind. We've got young women who work for us  what do I say to them? "Well, I've got a British passport and Boris (Johnson) is sending in the troops to get me out, but sorry you've got to stay."

'Whether or not I can (stay), I honestly don't know. Whether I put my staff in more danger by being here is something we're actually discussing now. Right now, I couldn't give you an honest answer. My heart says I want to stay for my staff.'

Afghanistan's government has now effectively lost control of most of Afghanistan to the Taliban, following an eight-day blitz into urban centres by the group.

Following a meeting on Friday, NATO called on countries to support the Afghan government 'as much as possible', and to maintain diplomatic presence, as some - such as Denmark and Germany - announced plans to either close or greatly reduce their embassy presence in Kabul.

'Our aim remains to support the Afghan government and security forces as much as possible. The security of our personnel is paramount. NATO will maintain our diplomatic presence in Kabul, and continue to adjust as necessary,' NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, in a statement following the meeting of NATO envoys.

On Friday, Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani chaired a national security meeting, after which Afghan First Vice President Amrullah Saleh said he was proud of the country's armed forces.

'It was decided with conviction & resolve that WE STAND FIRM AGAINST TALIBAN TERRORISTS & DO EVERYTHING TO STRENGTHEN THE NATIONAL RESISTANCE BY ALL MEANS AND WAYS. PERIOD,' Saleh tweeted.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin both spoke to Ghani on Thursday and told him the United States remained 'invested' in Afghanistan's security.

The United Nations has said a Taliban offensive reaching Kabul would have a 'catastrophic impact on civilians'. But there is little hope for a negotiated end to the fighting, with the insurgents apparently set on a military victory.

Television footage showed families camping out in a Kabul park with little or no shelter, escaping violence elsewhere in the country.

In the last 24 hours, the country's second and third-largest cities - Herat in the west and Kandahar in the south - have fallen to the insurgents as has the capital of the southern province of Helmand, where American, British and Nato forces fought some of the bloodiest battles of the conflict.

The Taliban also took the towns of Lashkar Gah in the south and Qala-e-Naw in the northwest, security officers said. Firuz Koh, capital of central Ghor province, was handed over without a fight, officials said.

Attaullah Afghan, head of the provincial council in Helmand, said the Taliban captured Lashkar Gah after weeks of heavy fighting and raised their white flag over government buildings.

He said three national army bases outside the city remain under control of the government.

Atta Jan Haqbayan, council chief in Zabul province, said the local capital of Qalat fell and officials were in a nearby army camp preparing to leave.

Bismillah Jan Mohammad and Qudratullah Rahimi, legislators in Uruzgan province, said local officials had surrendered Tirin Kot. Taliban fighters paraded through a main square there, driving a Humvee and a pick-up seized from Afghan security forces.

In the west, Fazil Haq Ehsan, head of the council in Ghor province, said its capital Feroz Koh also fell to the insurgents.

As the Taliban completed their sweep of the country's south on Friday, the United Nations begged neighbouring countries to keep their borders open to allow people to escape the militant group, and U.N. agencies warned of a growing humanitarian catastrophe amid spreading hunger.

The plea comes as hundreds of thousands of Afghans fled their homes amid fears the Taliban will again impose a brutal, repressive government, all but eliminating women's rights and conduct commonplace public executions.

Pictured: An internally displaced Afghan boy from northern provinces, who fled his home due to fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security personnel, take refuge in a public park Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021

Internally displaced Afghans from northern provinces, who fled their home due to fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security personnel, take refuge in a public park in Kabul

Internally displaced Afghans from northern provinces, who fled their home due to fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security personnel, take refuge in a public park in Kabul

The Taliban have completed their sweep of the country's south on Friday, as they took four more provincial capitals in a lightning offensive that is gradually encircling Kabul, just weeks before the U.S. is set to officially end its two-decade war. Pictured are refugees from the north of the country who have fled to a makeshift camp in a park in Kabul

Meanwhile, Taliban insurgents detained veteran militia commander Mohammad Ismail Khan on Friday after they seized the western city of Herat, a provincial council member said.

Khan, who has been leading fighters against the Taliban in recent weeks, was handed over to the insurgents along with the provincial governor and security officials under a pact, provincial council member Ghulam Habib Hashimi told Reuters.

'The Taliban agreed that they will not pose any threat or harm to the government officials who surrendered,' Hashimi said.

Khan is one of Afghanistan's most prominent warlords. Known as the Lion of Herat, he battled Soviet occupiers in the 1980s and was a key member of the Northern Alliance whose U.S.-backed forces toppled the Taliban in 2001.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that Khan had been detained.

Picutred: Taliban fighters posing with a man believed to be famous warlord Ismail Khan, who was the Governor of Herat. He has been kept in his Herat residence under heavily-armed Taliban guards

Pakistani soldiers check stranded Afghan nationals at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing point in Chaman on Friday

Pictured: Stranded people crossing the border between Pakistan Afghanistan, in Chaman-Spin Boldak, Pakistan, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Thousands of Afghans have fled their homes amid fears the Taliban will again impose a brutal, repressive government after 20 years

Pictured: Afghan military and officials leave Kandahar city during fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security personnel, in Kandahar, southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan, in the early hours of Thursday, August 12, 2021

Up to 300,000 people have fled their homes since May, according to the UN, and thousands of refugees are now heading towards the key border crossings to escape from Taliban rule. Spin Boldak, near Kandahar and Khan Kala, near the capital Kabul, are two crossing points where thousands of people have been seen as they hope to enter Pakistan

Pictures from Friday showed fleeing Afghans entering neighbouring Pakistan after the country re-opened its Chaman-Spin Boldak border crossing for people who had been otherwise stranded in recent weeks.

The crossing is a major gateway between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and is reported to be under Taliban control.

Juma Khan, the border town's deputy commissioner, said the crossing was reopened following talks with the Taliban.

The decision to open the border was made after the United Nations refugee agency called on Afghanistan's neighbours to keep crossings open as the crisis intensifies.

'An inability to seek safety may risk innumerable civilian lives. UNHCR stands ready to help national authorities scale up humanitarian responses as needed,' a spokesperson for the agency told a briefing in Geneva.

The World Food Programme sees food shortages in Afghanistan as 'quite dire' and worsening, a spokesperson added, saying the situation had all the hallmarks of a humanitarian catastrophe.

As Western embassies prepare to send in troops to help evacuate staff, the United Nations said its 320 staff members would remain.

'We fear the worst is yet to come and the larger tide of hunger is fast approaching... The situation has all the hallmarks of a humanitarian catastrophe,' the World Food Programme's Thomson Phiri told a U.N. briefing.

More than 250,000 people have been forced from their homes since May, 80 percent of them women and children, the U.N. refugee agency's Shabia Mantoo said.

Many reported extortion by armed groups on the way and having to dodge improvised explosive devices along major roads.

Thousands of people are rushing from rural areas to the capital Kabul and other urban centres in search of shelter, another U.N. official said.

'They are sleeping in the open, in parks and public spaces,' Jens Laerke, spokesman of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 'A major concern right now is simply finding shelter for them.'

A World Health Organisation official reported a doubling of trauma cases in the last two to three months in the health facilities it supports.

She also expressed concerns about shortages of medical supplies and said it was training medical staff on mass casualty management.

Pakistani soldiers stand guard while stranded people walk towards the Afghan side at a border crossing point, in Chaman, Pakistan, on Friday. Pakistan opened its Chaman border crossing for people who had been stranded in recent weeks

Pakistani soldiers stand guard while stranded people walk towards the Afghan side at a border crossing point, in Chaman, Pakistan

Stranded people cross the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, in Chaman

Smoke rises after fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security personnel in Kandahar before the insurgents took the city, Afghanistan's second largest

The Taliban insurgency seized Lashkar Gah - the capital of the southern province of Helmand - on Friday, and two afghan lawmakers officials had surrendered the capital of Uruzgan province to the rapidly advancing Taliban.

On Thursday, the group took of Kandahar and Herat, marking the biggest prizes yet for the Taliban, who have taken 12 of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals as part of a week-long blitz

'The city looks like a front line, a ghost town,' provincial council member Ghulam Habib Hashimi said of Kandahar via telephone from Herat, a city of about 600,000 people near the border with Iran.

'Families have either left or are hiding in their homes.'

Pictured: A stranded Afghan family waits for the reopening of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing point in Chaman on August 13, 2021

A stranded Afghan national carries his son at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing point in Chaman on August 13, 2021, after the Taliban took control of the Afghan border town in a rapid offensive across the country

According to recent UN data 400,000 people have fled their homes inside Afghanistan since the start of the year, with almost 300,000 of those fleeing since May

Of Afghanistan's major cities, the government still holds Mazar-i-Sharif in the north and Jalalabad, near the Pakistani border in the east, in addition to Kabul.

According to recent UN data, 400,000 people have fled their homes inside Afghanistan since the start of the year, with almost 300,000 of those fleeing since May as fighting between the government and Taliban stepped up.

The vast majority of those are still inside the country, the UN says, but with Islamist fighters making rapid gains in almost every region and government forces in retreat, many are looking to leave the country.

Just how many is largely unknown. The UN says just 200 crossed the border into Iran on the weekend just gone, but only counts those who are officially registered as refugees.

Speaking to the MailOnline by phone from Zaranj, one smuggler said: 'I and my team here used to send around 50 or even fewer people to Iran on our pickup trucks each day for years it now stands at 100 or 150 on a good day.

'I should thank Trump, Biden and the Americans. Many of these people are highly educated, sometimes I regret sending them out, but it may save their lives.

'We are responsible for getting these people to Teheran, and our job ends there.

'But I know through talking with many of them that their final destination is not Iran. Many have plans for Europe in their heads. Thousands are being sent out of Afghanistan each day through this city.'

Most migrants make their way to the smuggling hub of Herat - which has come under attack by the Taliban in recent days - before they are either taken north to the Khosan border crossing with Iran, or south to Zaranj - which has also fallen into Taliban hands.

The northern route is the most expensive and also the most dangerous - with migrants forced to swim a river and then crawl for two hours to avoid security cameras - but carries the least risk of getting caught.

A second route goes from Zaranj directly into a Iran and to a safehouse in Kerman, before a final journey to Tehran.

The third route - the cheapest and most commonly used - goes into Iran via Pakistan, then to Kerman and Tehran. It is also the safest route, but carries the greatest chance of getting caught.

Rapid advances by the Taliban has led to warnings from anti-migrant Turkish opposition that new refugee crisis mirroring 2015 is looming - with opposition leader Kemal Klcdaroglu saying up to a million Afghans could come.

Frontex, the EU's migration agency, said on Wednesday that migration through the Balkans almost-doubled in the first half of this year compared to last, driven mostly by an increase in Afghans and Syrians.

That prompted Greek migration minister Notis Mitarachi to warned the EU is 'not ready' for another migrant crisis.

Pictured: Taliban fighters are pictured in a vehicle of Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS) on a street in Kandahar on August 13, 2021

Taliban fighters stand on a vehicle along the roadside in Kandahar on August 13, 2021

Peace talks in Qatar remain stalled, though diplomats are still meeting, as the US, European and Asian nations warned that any government established by force would be rejected.

'We demand an immediate end to attacks against cities, urge a political settlement, and warn that a government imposed by force will be a pariah state,' said Zalmay Khalilzad, the US envoy to the talks.

Fazel Haq Ehsan, chief of the provincial council in western Ghor province, said on Friday that the Taliban had entered Feroz Koh, the provincial capital, and there was fighting inside the city.

The Taliban meanwhile claims to have captured Qala-e Naw, capital of the western Badghis province. There was no official confirmation.

The latest US military intelligence assessment suggests Kabul could come under insurgent pressure within 30 days and that, if current trends hold, the Taliban could gain full control of the country within a few months.

The Afghan government may be forced to pull back to defend the capital and just a few other cities in the coming days if the Taliban maintain momentum.

The onslaught represents a stunning collapse of Afghan forces after the US spent nearly two decades and 830 billion dollars trying to establish a functioning state after toppling the Taliban in the wake of the September 11 attacks.
Out of all the vehicles he could have chosen, a would-be car thief picked the one belonging to a UFC fighter.

Jordan Williams, 30, went inside a gas station in Colorado to fetch some snacks and a drink on his way back from the gym, but in the short amount of time he was away from his car, a have-a-go thief climbed into the driver's seat.

The car's engine had been switched off but as soon as Williams was within five feet, the push-to-start engine was activated.

It took the car thief a few moments to shift the vehicle into reverse, but it was just enough time for Williams to dash from the Denver store and yank open the driver's door to pull the robber out.

A would-be car thief can be seen lying in wait, left, for Jordan Williams to head insider the gas station shop

The carjacker casually slipped inside the vehicle having found it to be unlocked

Jordan Williams poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in at UFC APEX on July 23, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada

Williams could be seen struggling with the thief before punching him in the head.

'At first I couldn't really believe it,' Williams told ESPN. 'And then I was like, 'Holy s***, there's someone really in my car.

'So, I run up to the car, and I have a push-to-start car. So, if my keys aren't within five feet of the car it won't drive. As I started to run towards the car it started to slowly back up. And man, the look this guy gave me on his face through the window was like, "Yeah, I got your car and this is happening."

'I opened the door and, it's funny, the first thing I did was throw the stuff I bought on the passenger seat and then I proceeded to punch the guy. After the first punch he said, "OK, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." I was able to get some knees on him, as he was exiting out.'

The carjacker could be seen on surveillance video clutching his head in pain as he ran away.

No sooner had the would-be carjacker begun to reverse Williams ran to the driver's side and pulled the thief from the car seat and threw a few punches

The pair scuffled with one another but Williams had the upper hand from the very start

'Wish I would of hit him with the trip after the clinch work when I tossed him out of the whip, and finish off with some ground and pound but I'll settle with getting my car back,' Williams wrote on his Instagram account together with the video.

Williams is a regular at the gas station because it is conveniently located between his house and gym, he said.

Currently Williams is 0-2 in UFC with losses to Nassourdine Imavov and Mickey Gall. Overall, Williams is 9-5 in his MMA career.

In video footage that was posted to Instagram, the carjacker could be seen clutching his head

Williams posted about the experience on social media and noted how his fannypack barely shift
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A Serbian hermit who lives in a cave has received his Covid-19 vaccine after he discovered the pandemic was raging - and has encouraged anti-vaxxers to get the jab too.

Panta Petrovic, 70, only discovered there was a pandemic when he ventured out of his tiny mountain cave home and visited the nearby town of Pirot last year.

But despite choosing social distancing as a lifestyle choice, Petrovic got jabbed as soon as Covid-19 vaccines became available.

'[The virus] does not pick. It will come here, to my cave, too', the 70-year-old said in his cave on the forested Stara Planina mountain in southern Serbia.

Petrovic said he 'doesn't understand the fuss' some vaccine sceptics make, and underlined that he believes in a process that aims to eradicate diseases.

'I want to get all three doses, including the extra one. I urge every citizen to get vaccinated, every single one of them.'

Panta Petrovic, 70, only discovered there was a pandemic when he ventured out of his tiny mountain cave home and visited the nearby town of Pirot last year

Serbian hermit 70-year-old Panta Petrovic rests in his bedroom in his cave on the forested Stara Planina mountain in southern Serbia

Despite choosing social distancing as a lifestyle choice, Petrovic got jabbed as soon as Covid-19 vaccines became available

Until the 1990s, Petrovic worked in France as a technician for overseas cargo ships but decided to return home to Serbia after 18 years abroad. He remarried on multiple occasions, a life he called 'hectic'

Until the 1990s, Petrovic worked in France as a technician for overseas cargo ships but decided to return home to Serbia after 18 years abroad. He remarried on multiple occasions, a life he called 'hectic'.

During this time, life became tough when war erupted. He decided to leave his family home in Pirot and move to the suburbs - but instead of living in a home, he constructed a tree house 26ft off the ground.

The 70-year-old gave up his career as a mechanical engineer fifteen years ago in a bid to distance himself from the grind of modern life, initially moving into a tree house he built himself.

Now, the cave Petrovic calls home is accessible only by a steep climb that is not for the fainthearted. It is equipped with an old rusty bathtub which he uses as a toilet, some benches and a stack of hay that serves as a bed.

Always a nature lover, he gradually found out that isolating from society brings him freedom he never tasted before.

'I was not free in the city. There is always someone in your way - you either argue with your wife, neighbours, or the police', Petrovic told AFP while peeling vegetables for lunch.

'Here, nobody is hassling me', the man added with a smile, revealing his decaying teeth.

Petrovic mostly feeds on mushrooms and fish from the local creek, but also hikes downtown in search of leftover food in the bins. And his visits to the town have become more regular recently.

Serbian hermit Panta Petrovic gives a phone call with a cellphone in front a cave outside the southern Serbian city of Pirot

Petrovic mostly feeds on mushrooms and fish from the local creek, but also hikes downtown in search of leftover food in the bins. And his visits to the town have become more regular recently

The cave Petrovic calls home is accessible only by a steep climb that is not for the fainthearted. It is equipped with an old rusty bathtub which he uses as a toilet, some benches and a stack of hay that serves as a bed

The gang includes several goats, a flock of chickens, some thirty dogs and cats and his favourite - an adult wild boar named Mara

The 70-year-old gave up his career as a mechanical engineer fifteen years ago in a bid to distance himself from the grind of modern life and now lives in a self-made house in the southern city of Pirot

The 70-year-old gave up his career as a mechanical engineer fifteen years ago in a bid to distance himself from the grind of modern life, initially moving into a tree house he built himself. He now lives in a tiny mountain cave

Hermit Panta Petrovic, 70, demonstrates how he leaves his bedroom in his tiny mountain cave house on the forested Stara Planina mountain in Serbia

Serbian hermit 70-year-old Panta Petrovic rests in his bedroom in his cave on the forested Stara Planina mountain in southern Serbia

After wolves slaughtered some of the animals he kept near the cave, Petrovic decided to move them to a shack he assembled in the outskirts of the town where he thought they would be safe.

The gang includes several goats, a flock of chickens, some thirty dogs and cats and his favourite - an adult wild boar named Mara.

Petrovic found her eight years ago as a helpless piglet entangled in the bushes, and bottle-fed her until she recovered.

Now, the intimidating 400lbs (200kg) animal playfully rolls in the creek and eats apples from Petrovic's hand.

'She means everything to me, I love her and she listens to me. There is no money that can buy such a thing. A true pet', Petrovic said.

Among the animals, there are three kittens whose mother was killed by a wolf, which he now feeds through a syringe.

Petrovic receives welfare, but also relies on donations for food and supplies for the animals.

Before isolating, Petrovic donated all the money he had made abroad to the community by funding the construction of three small bridges in the town.

'Money is cursed, it spoils people. I think nothing can corrupt a human like money', Petrovic told AFP.

On top of one of the bridges, Petrovic built a pigeon loft which he, despite his advancing age, effortlessly climbs in order to stock them with pieces of bread he found while searching the bins.

Petrovic found her eight years ago as a helpless piglet entangled in the bushes, and bottle-fed her until she recovered. Now, the intimidating 400lbs (200kg) animal playfully rolls in the creek and eats apples from Petrovic's hand

Petrovic mostly feeds on mushrooms and fish from the local creek, but also hikes downtown in search of leftover food in the bins. And his visits to the town have become more regular recently

On top of one of the bridges, Petrovic built a pigeon loft which he, despite his advancing age, effortlessly climbs in order to stock them with pieces of bread he found while searching the bins
A 13-year-old boy has died after being struck by lightning on Thursday afternoon at Orchard Beach in New York City, police reported.

Carlos Ramos was among seven people rushed to the hospital after a lightning bolt struck the Bronx beach at 5.20pm.

Ramos suffered cardiac arrest after the strike, according to officials, and was rushed to Jacobi Medical Center. He died Friday morning from his injuries.

The six other victims are expected to survive.

Thirteen-year-old Carlos Ramos has died after being struck by lightning on Thursday afternoon at Orchard Beach in the Bronx (pictured), police reported.

The lifeguards at Orchard Beach had ordered people out of the water and made announcements to clear the beach before the lightning strike, a spokesperson from the Parks Department said

Eric Sandoval told New York Daily News that he was 'walking on the beach with my family' when the lightning struck his 13-year-old daughter Stacey.

Sandoval said: 'It hit my daughter and she went down. I thought she had a heart attack. I went crazy. I was screaming, "Somebody help us! Somebody help us!"'

He said another beachgoer helped him pump his daughter's chest until the ambulance arrived, according to the newspaper.

A 5-year-old, Stefon Harris, also survived the lightning strike. His father, who is also named Stefon, said: 'I was able to speak with my five-year-old over the phone. He seems like he's going to be OK.'

Fifteen-year-old Miguel Maldonado was also struck. The teen was part of a group of six children and two adults making a trip to the beach that day.

'They were getting ready to leave the beach and it came, the lightning. They were all struck,' Alfredo Ferrer, Miguel's uncle, told the paper.

The strike happened the same day an excessive heat warning was put into effect in New York City. The National Weather Service warned of 'dangerously hot conditions with heat index values up to 105'

Ramos was among seven people rushed to Jacobi Medical Center (pitcured). The six other victims are expected to survive

The lifeguards at Orchard Beach had ordered people out of the water and made announcements to clear the beach before the lightning strike, a spokesperson from the Parks Department said.

The hospitalized victims were all on the sand when the storm arrived.

Beachgoer Raul Dejesus told NBC 4 New York that the storm 'came out of nowhere'.

'Everybody started running to the bathroom and when we were in the bathroom, we kept hearing these thunders. Boom boom boom. We heard screams and yelling and, oh man, somebody got struck,' he said.

The strike happened the same day an excessive heat warning was put into effect in New York City. The National Weather Service warned of 'dangerously hot conditions with heat index values up to 105'.

It was 92 degrees out when the storm passed through the Bronx.

The fatal lightning strike way the latest in a string of incidents to hit the US this summer.

Seventeen people died from lightning incidents in the US in 2020, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Last week, 37-year-old Nicholas Torchia died after he was struck by lightning while hiking a trail in the Northern California mountains.

And last month five people were struck while on the beach in Southwest Florida over just a 10-day span.

Two were killed, including Walker Bethune, 17, who died in the hospital from his injuries 11 days after the lightning strike.

In total, six people have been killed by lightning in the US this year, according to the National Weather Service.
A high-ranking State Department official wrote in a now-deleted tweet that Afghan women 'stand to lose everything' in Afghanistan as the Taliban swiftly advance toward total control of the nation and US forces take their exit.

'Woke up with a heavy heart, thinking about all the Afghan women and girls I worked with during my time in Kabul. They were the beneficiaries of many of the gains we made, and now they stand to lose everything. We empowered them to lead, now we are powerless to protect them,' Molly Montgomery, US Deputy Assistant Secretary in Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, wrote on Twitter Friday morning.

Montgomery previously worked at the US embassy in Kabul.

Montgomery, a high-ranking State official, deleted the tweet warning women's rights in Afghanistan could be reversed

Molly Montgomery, Deputy Assistant Secretary in Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs ,previously worked at the US embassy in Kabul

On Friday insurgents captured another four provincial capitals in southern Afghanistan as they encircle the capital Kabul. Taliban now control 16 of 34 provincial capitals in the nation, including the second and third larges cities after Kabul.

Just three major cities are believed to be under government control, and the terrorists are now in a position to advance on Kabul.

Taliban fighters are going door-to-door and forcibly marrying girls as young as 12 and forcing them into sex slavery as they seize vast swathes of the Afghanistan from government forces, according to reports on the ground.

Jihadist commanders have ordered imams in areas they have captured to bring them lists of unmarried women aged from 12 to 45 for their soldiers to marry because they view them as 'qhanimat' or 'spoils of war' - to be divided up among the victors.

Fighters have then been going door-to-door to claim their 'prizes', even looking through the wardrobes of families to establish the ages of girls before forcing them into a life of sexual servitude.

Amnesty International, an international human rights NGO, warned in May that the US's 'unconditional withdrawal' of forces, together with intra-Afghan peace talks where no women were represented, could unravel two decades of hard-won progress for women.

Under Taliban rule from 1996 to 2001, Afghani women were subject to harsh restrictions - they were banned from working outside the home and could not even appear in public without a close male relative. They had to wear full body coverings. Since the Taliban were deposed, women's rights, particularly in urban areas, drastically improved - women no longer had to wear the full body coverings, known as chadaree.

The US negotiated its exit with the Taliban in February 2020, promising to withdraw its forces if the Islamist group did not attack them, but did not mention human rights. It left other factors to be negotiated between the Taliban and Afghani government.

Women are not required to wear full face covering under the Afghani government, as they were under the Taliban, though many still do

Internally displaced Afghan women, who fled from the northern province due to battle between Taliban and Afghan security forces, gather to receive free food being distributed by Shiite men at Shahr-e-Naw Park in Kabul on August 13, 2021

Afghan women and men walk past female election candidate Shukria Barakzai's campaign billboard in Kabul. Women have begun to hold elected office in some of the biggest women's rights advances of the last 20 years

The Biden administration has insisted it would stay the course on withdrawal, withdrawing forces by an Aug. 31 deadline.

As of Friday, half of the nation's 34 provincial capitals had fallen under Taliban control, including the second and third larges cities after Kabul.

Just three major cities are believed to be under government control, and the terrorists are now in a position to advance on Kabul.

But amid growing concerns that the US was abandoning Afghanistan, the Biden administration vowed to stay the course.

'They've got to fight for themselves, fight for their nation. The United States will insist to continue the commitments ... they've got to want to fight. I think there's still a possibility,' Biden said on Monday of the Afghan military.

'I do not regret my decision' to withdraw, the president continued.

On Thursday, the State Department announced it was evacuating non-essential embassy personnel in Kabul, hours after a report broke that the US had been pleading with the Taliban to spare the embassy if they take the capital.

The Pentagon announced it would send 3,000 troops the Hamid Karzai airport in Kabul to evacuate US officials, another 4,500-5,000 to Kuwait to be ready on 'standby,' and another 1,000 to assist Afghan interpreters who worked for the US military with Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs).

'This is not abandonment. This is not an evacuation,' State Dept. spokesman Ned Price assured reporters numerous times throughout his briefing on Thursday. 'What this is is a reduction in the size of our civilian footprint.'
Social networks have removed Plymouth gunman Jake Davison's accounts from their platforms in the aftermath of the attack.

The 22-year-old was active across Facebook, Reddit and YouTube, where he uploaded a video a few weeks ago saying he was 'beaten down' and 'defeated by life'.

Davison was today named by police as the gunman who murdered five people in Devon city, including a three-year-old girl, before turning his gun on himself.

Both his YouTube and Facebook accounts were removed by about lunchtime on Friday, but a Reddit account believed to belong to Davison could still be accessed on Friday afternoon.

Plymouth gunman Jake Davison's had accounts on Facebook, Reddit and YouTube, where he uploaded rambling videos complaining that he was 'beaten down' and 'defeated by life'

Davison was today named by police as the gunman who murdered five people in Devon city, including a three-year-old girl, before turning his gun on himself

Google-owned YouTube confirmed to the PA news agency that Davison's account had been terminated under its offline behaviour policy.

'Our hearts go out to those affected by this terrible incident,' a spokesperson said.

'We have strict policies to ensure our platform is not used to incite violence on YouTube.

'In addition, we also have long standing policies that prohibit those responsible for attacks like these from having a YouTube channel and have since terminated their channel from our platform.'

Google also said that it will comply with any police requests made through proper legal processes.

Meanwhile Facebook, which also owns Instagram, confirmed it too has removed Davison's accounts.

The social network said he was removed under its dangerous individuals and organisations policy, which does not allow mass murderers on either platform.

However, an account on Reddit thought to belong to Davison was still accessible on Friday afternoon.

In a post on the account he said he 'hated' his mother Maxine and blamed her for being a virgin.

And in another written just over three weeks ago about the evolution of gun attacks over the past 80 years, Davison wrote: 'There are lot more guns in Europe and the UK then people think.'

Reddit has been approached for comment.

Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer of Devon and Cornwall Police has confirmed that detectives are examining Davison's social media output as part of their investigation.
A mother-of-two died while on hold to report an assault, having called police about her boyfriend seven times in the year leading up to her death.

Daniela Espirito Santo's final call reported her partner Julio Jesus for attacking her while he was on bail for another assault that same day.

A report leaked to The New York Times found no evidence to suggest that police caused or contributed to Ms Espirito Santo's death at her Grantham home on April 8, 2020.

Her boyfriend, Julio Jesus, was initially charged with manslaughter but it was dropped after prosecutors said an 'evidential link' between the heart failure which killed Ms Espirito Santo and the attacks by Mr Jesus could not be proven.

Mr Jesus was sentenced to 10 months in jail on two counts of assault.

The report by the Independent Police Complaints Commission revealed that in the space of 12 months, Ms Espirito Santo had called police seven times regarding her boyfriend.

A mother-of-two died while on hold to report an assault, having called police about her boyfriend seven times in the year leading up to her death

A report leaked to The New York Times found no evidence to suggest that police caused or contributed to Daniela Espirito Santo's death at her Grantham home on April 8, 2020

The first call was May 19, 2019, when she was pregnant with her second child. She allegedly told officers Mr Jesus, whom she described as violent and 'excessively jealous' had threatened to kill her. She told police she did not want to press charges.

On the morning of her death, Ms Espirito Santo called emergency services to report Mr Jesus for throwing her on the bed and grabbing her neck. In this call, she agreed to support a prosecution against her boyfriend.

Mr Jesus was arrested and taken into custody later that day before being released on bail. The conditions of his bail dictated that he not contact Ms Espirito Santo or visit her home.

However, Mr Jesus did return to her home and attacked her again within two hours of being released.

Three hours later, Ms Espirito Santo made her final call to police. As her boyfriend had now left her home, the incident was not considered urgent and she was asked to call a non-emergency number.

When an operator picked up, after Ms Espirito Santo had been on hold for eight minutes, they could hear her baby crying.

Ms Espirito Santo's boyfriend, Julio Jesus, was initially charged with manslaughter but it was dropped after prosecutors said an 'evidential link' between the heart failure which killed Ms Espirito Santo and the attacks by Mr Jesus could not be proven. Mr Jesus was sentenced to 10 months in jail on two counts of assault

When police forced entry to her home, Ms Espirito Santo was unresponsive with her baby in her arms. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Jesus was arrested and charged with manslaughter as investigators believed his attacks had affected a pre-existing heart condition Ms Espirito Santo had.

However, a consultant cardiologist enlisted by the defence argued that stress or an argument could also have contributed to Ms Espirito Santo's heart failure, meaning it could not be proven that Mr Jesus was directly responsible for her death.

The manslaughter charge was therefore dropped.

A Crown Prosecution spokesperson said: 'Julio Jesus was originally charged with the manslaughter of Daniela Espirito Santo on the basis that his actions that day triggered a fatal complication from a pre-existing heart condition.

'Following a review of further expert medical reports it became apparent we could not prove an evidential link between Ms Santo's tragic heart failure and what occurred that day between her and Mr Jesus. As a result, our evidential tests were no longer met, so we stopped the charge of manslaughter.

'We explained to Ms Santo's family the way the evidence in this case led to this conclusion, and our thoughts and sympathies remain with her loved ones.'

The leaked report acknowledged that officer's decisions on the day Ms Espirito Santo died may have influenced the circumstances of her death but found no evidence that standards were breached.

Lincolnshire Police did not immediately respond to a MailOnline request for comment but told other outlets it could not comment due to an upcoming inquest into Ms Espirito Santo's death.

Ms Espirito Santo was one of 16 women to die from suspected domestic killings in the first month of lockdown last year. The figures are the highest reported in a decade.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission will release its findings publicly following the conclusion of future inquest proceedings.

Ms Espirito Santo died at her home in Grantham on April 8, 2020 after reporting her boyfriend

If you are in immediate danger from domestic abuse in the UK, call 999. If you cannot speak and are calling on a mobile, press 55 to have your call transferred to the police.

Helplines offering free, confidential advice 24/7 in the UK's four nations can be found here.

In the United States, you can get help and advice through the National Domestic Abuse Helpline.

In Australia, you can seek help and advice from the The National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line.
The man who was accused of kidnapping an Alabama billionaire last year as part of a $250,000 extortion plot has pleaded guilty to federal charges carrying a lengthy sentence.

Matthew Burke, 35, on Thursday pleaded guilty to counts of kidnapping, bank fraud and conspiracy in connection with the September 2019 home invasion targeting prominent Birmingham businessman Elton B Stephens Jr.

Authorities alleged that Burke and his alleged accomplice, fiancee Tabatha Hodges, 34, had brought the woman's two children along for the home invasion.

In exchange for Burke's change of plea, prosecutors have agreed to drop additional counts and recommend a sentence of 17 years in prison. Sentencing is set for November 2.

Matthew Burke, 35 (left), has pleaded guilty to kidnapping, bank fraud and conspiracy charges for the September 2020 home invasion targeting billionaire Elton Stephens Jr (right)

Under the conditions of the plea agreement, Burke has given up his right to appeal the conviction and sentence.

Had he been found guilty at trial, Burke could have faced up to life in prison.

Hodges, who faces the same charges as Burke, is scheduled to have a change of plea hearing on August 31.

According to an indictment, Stephens awoke in his rental home at around 8.30am on September 11, 2020, to find two suspects, later identified at Burke and Hodges, inside the residence along with two children, ages 11 and 14.

Authorities believe the pair had been inside the home since 2am and had already stolen three firearms, including two pistols and a shotgun.

Burke falsely claimed that he had just bought the home and demanded to know why Stephens was there.

During a subsequent exchange about Stephens' money and real estate holdings, Burke allegedly asked the billionaire: 'how much life you think you have left?' to which Stephens replied, '10 years.'

Burke's fiancee and alleged accomplice, Tabatha Hodges, is scheduled to have change of plea hearing on August 31

Burke was said to have stated: 'I think you have 20 more, I think you do. Good healthy years, being successful in whatever it is you may choose to do, after this, as long as you do this right.'

Burke then allegedly threatened to kill Stephens and his family if he tried to escape, and hauled him off to a mobile home in St Clair County.

There, the pair forced Stephens to wire $250,00 into their bank accounts, according to the indictment.

After wiring the ransom, Stephens was returned to his rental home unharmed and his suspected kidnappers fled in his Toyota Tacoma, which the billionaire said they could keep as a 'bonus.'

Stephens later told authorities that he did not known either suspect, and did not know the two children who were reportedly with them.

Burke and Hodges were arrested by police the following day. A search of their trailer turned up several items that had been stolen from Stephens, including a digital camera, credit and debit cards, his Toyota truck, a checkbook, a cooler and watches valued around $2,500.

Those items and the $250,000 have since been recovered.

When questioned by police, Hodges claimed that Stephens had sexually assaulted her and that the valuables in the trailer were meant to be 'collateral,' but she later admitted that she had lied and that she had never seen the elderly businessman before the home invasion.

Stephens is the son of Elton Bryson Stephens Sr., an American businessman who founded EBSCO Industries in 1944.

According to Forbes, the Stephens family was worth $4billion as of 2014 and ranked No. 66 on the list of America's richest families that year.

The publication reported that EBSCO Industries, which has more than 40 business units, had a revenue of $2.8million and was listed at No. 166 on America's Largest Private Companies in 2019.
A Democratic Texas official in the US's third most populous county has overruled the Republican governor's ban on mask mandates, and says students in Harris County schools will have to wear a mask.

Governor Greg Abbott signed an executive order last month banning mask and Covid-19 vaccination mandates, declaring that it would promote 'individual right and responsibility' in the Lone Star State.

But Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo - whose role is equivalent to an executive position like a mayor, rather than a judicial one - announced Thursday that all students in schools and childcare centers from Pre-K to 12th grade to wear a mask in school.

Harris County includes the Houston Independent School District - the state's largest district - which has 276 schools and 196,943 students.

It came as the Indian 'Delta' variant wreaks havoc on the area.

In Harris County, there are more than 32,000 active cases, largely brought on by the highly contagious variant.

'We have no choice,' Hidalgo said in a Thursday afternoon tweet. 'Pediatric COVID-19 cases are at all-time highs in Texas, and most schools haven't even started yet.'

Harris County joins Dallas and Bexar counties as well as the city of San Antonio in challenging Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order that prohibits any school or government entities from mandating mask wearing.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo - whose role is equivalent to an executive position (not a judicial position) - overruled the Republican governor's pro-choice mask decree and says students in Harris County schools - including Houston - have to wear a mask

These are the latest seven-day average for Harris County, Texas, according to the CDC

A judge issued a temporary restraining order to prevent enforcement of Abbott's executive order.

Abbott was defiant in a statement defending his executive order.

'The path forward relies on personal responsibility - not government mandates,' Abbott said. 'The State of Texas will continue to vigorously fight the temporary restraining order to protect the rights and freedoms of all Texans.'

The conflicting orders will likely have to be sorted out in court, but classes are about to resume.

Some schools have already told parents that they will follow the governor's executive order.

One of those school districts is the the Humble Independent School District just outside of Houston in Harris County. In a message to parents, Humble ISD said masks are optional.

A Crosby school district parent on Twitter said schools officials issued a robocall saying the same thing.

DailyMail.com left messages for comment with the governor and Judge Hidalgo's offices.

Abbott's press secretary Renae Eze told The Hill in a statement 'we are all working to protect Texas children and those most vulnerable among us, but violating the Governor's executive orders - and violating parental rights - is not the way to do it.'

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was defiant in a statement defending his executive order that makes masks optional in schools saying, 'The path forward relies on personal responsibility - not government mandates'

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden said he's looking into whether he's able to intervene in states like Texas, which have been outspoken and defiant against mask mandates.

'My concerns are deep and  I'm very concerned. And we all know why,' Biden said when asked during a press conference about some red state governors preventing compulsory mask wearing.

Biden said he doesn't believe his office was the power to intervene, but 'we are checking that.'

The mask debate has been a lighting rod for controversy throughout the country that appears to be split along political lines.

Democrats tend to agree with the mask mandate; while Republicans believe it should be a choice and have called mandates 'anti-freedom.'

Texas and Florida - led by Republican governors - have been leading the anti-mask charge.

On Monday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis even threatened to withhold salaries from school superintendents or board members who ignore his executive order banning compulsory face masks for students.

Meanwhile leaders in Democrat-led states and cities have moved swiftly to impose COVID-19 mask and vaccine requirements in the face of the Delta variant, including California, Illinois, Kentucky and New Jersey.

While Texas is a overwhelmingly a red state, it is facing a spike in COVID-19 numbers not seen since the start of the year.

The rolling two-week daily average of new cases increasing by 165 percent to 8,533 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University research data.

And the state currently ranks second behind Florida for the highest daily average COVID-19 cases.

Earlier this week, Abbott made an urgent appeal for medical staff to come and assist with surging COVID cases - even as he resists actively fights against the mask mandate.

Greg Abbott, the Republican leader of the state, made his cry for help as the rolling two-week daily average of new COVID-19 cases in his state has increased by 165 per cent to 8,533, according to Johns Hopkins University research data.

On Monday, the Texas governor spoke as two hospitals in his state closed their ER rooms, elective procedures were cancelled, and the capital, Austin, sent out an emergency warning to residents telling them to stay home, mask up and get vaccinated.

'The situation is critical,' said Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis county's medical director.

'Our hospitals are severely stressed and there is little we can do to alleviate their burden with the surging cases.'
The Governor resigned on Tuesday, a week after being labeled a serial sexual harasser by Attorney General Letitia James. He is pictured afterwards

Andrew Cuomo was only brought down because of the number of enemies he'd made politically over the years, and not because of the Attorney General's sexual harassment report, insiders in Albany have claimed.

The Governor resigned on Tuesday, a week after being labeled a serial sexual harasser by Attorney General Letitia James.

She said that he'd sexually harassed 11 women and created a 'toxic work place'.

Some of the allegations are that he physically assaulted women, including an aide who says he stuck his hand up her blouse in November 2020.

Others are based on public comments he made, like telling the doctor who gave him his COVID test that she made the PPE gown 'look good' - something he did in the glare of the world's media, when millions were tuning into his press conferences every day.

He maintains that he didn't touch anyone and that the public comments were 'jokes' which do not amount to sexual harassment and are inappropriate at worst.

Others, like FOX host Tucker Carlson, agree with Cuomo that the AG report is shaky and that a lot of the evidence is lacking.

In a New Yorker piece that was published on Friday, one unnamed Albany official said: 'Talk about reaping what you sow. He is reaping a lifetimes worth of bad will.'

Boylan, one of the women who accused him in the AG report, said he is a 'master manipulator' who took years to bring down despite widespread claims of bullying.

'It was worth the wait. It was worth the wait to be able to counter this master manipulator who doesnt care about truth, who doesnt care about fact, who doesnt care about abuse. It had to be airtight,' she said.

Ron Kim, who has announced a run for Lieutenant Governor in the November 2022 election, said: 'I didnt expect any outcome when I came forward, but I didnt think it was going to be like this.'

Cuomo was ultimately brought down by AG Letitia James, left. He has been replaced by Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul, who was quick to distance herself from him

Earlier this year, he went public after receiving a call from the Governor where Cuomo allegedly threatened to 'destroy' him for publicly criticizing his handling of the nursing home scandal.

Accuser Charlotte Bennett said Cuomo's resignation speech was typical of him - he tried to blame the women

Before Cuomo spoke, his attorney Rita Glavin gave her own press conference where she sought to undermine the women's credibility.

'He couldnt resign without first being the victim and blaming all of us,' Bennett said.

Boylan said she felt re-victimized when Glavin started picking apart her story.

She had first tweeted against Cuomo in December 2020, when he was a pandemic hero, calling him an abuser.

'It was like December 13th again. Im speaking up and Im being retaliated againstexcept now its on national news across the country. Thats what it felt like, when his lawyer went on air and said I was a liar, again, and suggested that I was politically motivated,' she said.

She denied Glavin's claim that she was politically motivated against Cuomo, saying: 'I think we can all agree it was ludicrous to go against, at the time, the most popular, the most powerful Democrat in the country. Strategically speaking.'

Both of the women think Cuomo only resigned because he saw no other 'political move'.

'He was not resigning because he knows he acted inappropriately.

'He knows he acted inappropriately. He resigned because he had no next move to make. And, in that sense, we have a lot of work to do,' Bennett said.
Speaker maker Sonos is continuing its long-running legal battle with Google, seeking to ban imports of some Google devices to the U.S. over patent infringement claims.

U.S. International Trade Commission Judge Charles Bullock is expected to announce his findings on Friday, indicating whether the bid to block imports of Google Home devices from China has merit, according to Bloomberg.

Bullock's findings will not be definitive, as the full commission has to consider them before making a decision, which is scheduled to be issued on December 13. An import ban wouldn't take effect for another 60 days.

Sonos' complaint to the ITC accuses Google and its parent company Alphabet of importing 'audio players and controllers, components thereof, and products' that ripped off its patented technology without permission.

Speaker maker Sonos is continuing its long-running legal battle with Google, seeking to ban imports of some Google devices to the U.S. over patent infringement claims

A Google Home device is seen. Google has filed counterclaims and accuses Sonos of infringing on its intellectual property

The company has also filed a lawsuit, and Google filed a countersuit accusing Sonos of infringing on Google's patents for several products, including controller apps and its Sonos Radio service.

'Sonos has misrepresented our partnership and mischaracterized our technology,' a Google spokesperson told Bloomberg. 'We designed our products and services independently, and we have strong IP rights that we believe they have infringed.'

U.S. International Trade Commission Judge Charles Bullock is expected to announce his findings on Friday

Suits and countersuits in the legal war have been filed in California, Texas, Canada, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

'Google has thrown everything at us in this case, but we believe that the evidence before the ITC demonstrates Google to be a serial infringer of Sonos' valid patents and that the ITC case represents just the tip of the iceberg,' Sonos Chief Legal Officer Eddie Lazarus said in an earnings call Wednesday.

Sonos claims that Google has been ripping off its designs since 2015, when the two companies were working together to integrate Google Play Music in Sonos devices.

Among the proprietary technology that Sonos accuses Google of stealing are systems to synchronize audio playback between multiple speakers, to eliminate lags that can sound like echoes.

The ITC, a quasi-judicial body, has the power to ban imports of goods that are found to violate U.S. patents. The ITC first opened its investigation into Sonos' claims in February 2020.

The case has drawn scrutiny from regulators and lawmakers, as Congress probes antitrust concerns about Google and other tech giants.

Sonos CEO Patrick Spence accused Google and Amazon of using their dominance of search and online retail, respectively, to subsidize their push into the smart speaker market

Last year, Sonos CEO Patrick Spence in Congressional testimony accused Google and Amazon of using their dominance of search and online retail, respectively, to subsidize the smart speaker market and, potentially, dominate the market for other smart home devices.

Amazon makes Echo smart speakers and the virtual assistant Alexa while Google makes the Nest series of smart speakers.

In a June hearing, lawmakers from both parties pressed Google and Amazon about their smart speakers.

Senator Amy Klobuchar, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee's antitrust subcommittee, noted that Amazon had more than 50 percent of the smart speaker market while Google had 30 percent, and stressed the importance of interoperability.

'In a few years, people might easily have 20 or more connected devices in their homes - from a vacuum and a fridge to speakers and lights. We want those devices to work with each other seamlessly,' she said.

'You shouldn't have to choose the right devices for your home based on whether they play nicely with Google or Amazon's digital assistants.'

Google Senior Public Policy Director Wilson White said interoperability was a goal and there were 'robust conversations' underway on how to achieve it.

Ryan McCrate, Amazon's associate general counsel, said Amazon wanted users to have access to multiple assistants from a single device if that was what the user wanted.

But Sonos Chief Legal Officer Eddie Lazarus argued that neither Google nor Amazon appeared to be trying for true interoperability.

Google contractually prohibits Sonos from using technology that allows users to switch between Amazon's Alexa and the Google voice assistant, Lazarus said.

He said Amazon's effort to work with smaller companies was 'just an on-ramp into the Amazon ecosystem because you can't mix and match between the big companies.'

It comes at a time of extraordinary interest in tougher antitrust enforcement, much of it focused on the biggest U.S. technology companies.

One result has been a series of investigations and several federal and state lawsuits filed against Google and Facebook as well as a long list of antitrust bills.
Former President Donald Trump is avoiding running a pro-vaccine campaign to get his supporters to get their shots because he doesn't feel the need to do any 'favors' for President Joe Biden.

The Daily Beast reported Thursday that a number of Trump confidants have urged the ex-president to get involved in the vaccine effort, especially because Operation Warp Speed - the public-private partnership to develop a COVID-19 vaccine - was initiated under the last administration.

Sources told The Beast that Trump doesn't want to be helpful to Biden - though the current president is welcome to ask - and he's concerned that being too vax-happy would 'p*** off his base.'

Former President Donald Trump reportedly won't run a pro-vaccine campaign because he doesn't want to do any 'favors' for President Joe Biden

Two sources told the publication that Trump has occassionally referenced polling that indicates vaccines are unpopular with his supporers.

That's encouraged him not to press too hard on the subject.

Instead Trump has split the difference.

In an interview with Fox News Channel in March, the former president told viewers of the vaccine, 'I would recommend it.'

'And I would recommend it to a lot of people that don't want to get it. And a lot of those people voted for me, frankly,' Trump said.

But then he also gave supporters an out.

'But, you know, again, we have our freedoms and we have to live by that, and I agree with that also,' the ex-president said.

'But it's a great vaccine, it's a safe vaccine, and it's something that works,' Trump added.

Both Donald and Melania Trump - who had contracted COVID-19 in October - received the vaccine in January before they left Washington.

Neither Trump let their vaccination be televised.

However, Ivanka Trump posted a photo of herself getting the jab.

Early in the Biden administration, every living president - except Trump - participated in a PSA that showed them being vaccinated.

Vaccine hesitancy is still plaguing President Joe Biden administration's work to pull the country out of the coronavirus pandemic, which originally caused shutdowns in March 2020

White House press secretary Jen Psaki has repeatedly said that Trump is welcome to tout the vaccine, though she's suggested there's been no direct ask from the White House to have its former occupant get involved - especially as he's continued to falsely claim he won the election.

Vaccine hesitancy, however, is still plaguing the Biden administration's work to pull the country out of the coronavirus pandemic, which originally caused shutdowns in March 2020.

The White House's goal of getting one shot in the arm of 70 per cent of the adults by July 4 fell short by several weeks.

With a new surge of Delta cases, predominantly among unvaccinated Americans, southern states, especially, are nearing hospital capacity.

Kaiser Family Foundation polling found that about 14 per cent of vaccine-eligible Americans say definitely won't get the vaccine.

That number has held steady since December, when the first Pfizer vaccine rolled out.

Of those who answered definitely not in July, 58 per cent were Republicans compared to 15 per cent who identified as Democrats.

And a July 6 metric found there was an 11.7 per cent gap in vaccination rates between counties Biden won and those Trump held.

At that moment, 46.7 per cent of adults in Biden counties were fully vaccinated, versus 35 per cent in Trump counties.

Trump, in a statement last month, blamed Biden for the problem saying, 'people are refusing to take the Vaccine because they don't trust [Biden's] Administration, they don't trust the Election results, and they certainly don't trust the Fake News, which is refusing to tell the Truth.'
Airbnb will allow hosts and guests to sue the company over sexual assault and sexual harassment claims that take place in its listings after quietly removing a clause from its 40-page terms of service.

The clause - which said customers claiming sexual assault or sexual harassment took place in an Airbnb property had to seek a judge to settle the dispute - had been buried in the terms for more than a decade.

The 150 million Airbnb users agreed to this clause when they registered for the site.

In a statement released Friday, Airbnb said, 'We're announcing that arbitration provisions will no longer apply to sexual assault or sexual harassment claims by hosts or guests in the next iteration of Airbnb's Terms of Service.'

Before it was removed the clause - which said customers claiming sexual assault or harassment took place in an Airbnb property had to seek a judge to settle the dispute - had been buried in the 40-page terms for more than a decade

The 150 million Airbnb users agreed to the previous clause when they registered for the site. The new terms are expected to take effect this fall but the statement (pictured) didn't specify an exact date

The new terms are expected to take effect this fall but the statement didn't specify an exact date.

Airbnb, which went public last year, saw a a slight 0.55 percent dip in its stock price - down to $150.32 a share - after the announcement.

'We believe that survivors should be able to bring claims in whatever forum is best for them,' the statement read.

It also encouraged 'industry peers within the travel and hospitality space to consider taking similar steps for their respective communities'.

Airbnb concluded the statement by ensuring hosts and guests that it is 'building trust' by 'doing the right thing in the rare instances where things go wrong'.

However, the company - which reportedly spends about $50million annually on payouts when 'things go wrong' - is no stranger to the occurrence.

Airbnb saw a 0.55 per cent fall in its stock price - which now stands at $150.32 - after the announcement

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky. The short-term property rental company, which went public in December, has spent an estimated $50 million every year on payouts to hosts and guests when things go wrong, according to Bloomberg Businessweek

Airbnb has a history of paying out victims of the worst crises that take place at the company's short-term rental properties to keep news of the disasters quiet.

The company even has a secretive team to do just that known as the 'black box' team inside the firm - a group of about 100 agents in cities across the world, several of whom have backgrounds in the military or emergency services.

Team members in Dublin, Montreal and Singapore have the power to spend any amount of money tackling crimes such as sexual assaults, murders and deaths.

In one incident, a rape victim received a $7million payout in exchange for agreeing not to 'imply responsibility or liability' on Airbnb or the host after a 'career criminal' used a duplicate key to enter a New York City rental to rape and attack her at knifepoint, according to a report published by Bloomberg Businessweek.

The unidentified Australian woman, who was 29 at the time, and a group of friends had rented a first-floor apartment on West 37th Street, close to Times Square.

In one incident a rape victim received a $7million payout in exchange for agreeing not to 'imply responsibility or liability' on Airbnb or the host after a 'career criminal' used a duplicate key to enter a New York City rental (above) to rape and attack her at knifepoint

The group had picked up the keys for the apartment from a bodega close by without having to show any identification, Bloomberg reported.

They went out to a party together but the 29-year-old returned back to the property alone - ahead of her friends.

The suspect, 24-year-old Junior Lee, was allegedly already inside the apartment hiding in the bathroom when she returned.

He raped her at knifepoint.

The incident was under wraps until the Bloomberg report was published two months ago.

It revealed that Airbnb's safety team sprung into action right away, paying to fly the victim's mother over from Australia and house them in hotels before flying them back home again. They also offered to pay for health and counseling costs, according to the report.

Florida woman Carla Stefaniak (above) was murdered by a security guard at the apartment complex where she was renting an Airbnb in Costa Rica

Two years later they paid the victim $7million in an agreement that she wouldn't blame or sue Airbnb or the host.

In another incident the 'black box' team arranged for contractors to cover bullet holes in the walls of properties or hire body-fluid crews to clean blood off the floors, the report said.

In extremes case they've even had to deal with hosts who discovered dismembered human remains inside their homes.

In another previously reported incident, Florida woman Carla Stefaniak was murdered by a security guard at the apartment complex where she was renting an Airbnb in Costa Rica in 2018.

Her partially-buried body was found half-naked and covered in plastic bags by sniffer dogs 200 feet away from her Airbnb.

Stefaniak's body was found half-naked and covered in plastic bags near the San Jose vacation rental she was staying in (above)

Traces of blood were found left behind in the Airbnb, which she described as 'sketchy'

She suffered a blunt force wound to the head and stab wounds.

Stefaniak had told friends that she thought the accommodation was 'sketchy' and that there was heavy rain and no power.

She said in a FaceTime call that she might ask a security guard at the Airbnb to buy her water because of the storm.

Bismark Espinoza Martinez, 33, was sentenced last year to 16 years for her murder.

Stefaniak's family filed a suit against Airbnb claiming it failed to perform a background check on the security guard, who it transpired was working in the country illegally.

The case was settled for an undisclosed sum.

Despite the critical role the team has played in supporting guests and hosts and helping to evade PR disasters, 25 of its most experienced agents were laid off last year amid the pandemic, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky announced in May of last year.

Safety agents slammed the move, arguing they had already sacrificed their mental health to the role.

Chesky later partly walked back the decision and rehired 15 of the workers on time-and-a-half pay.
The devastated family of the Plymouth gunman's last victim were alerted to the shooting by his loyal dogs.

It is believed that Stephen Washington, 59, was out walking his two pet Huskies along a tree lined path past homes on Biddick Drive when he was shot by Jake Davison.

The 22-year-old killer had already fatally shot his mother Maxine before going out into the street and firing 'at random'.

The Huskies are then believed to have raced back to his family home nearby and alerted relatives of the shocking incident that was unfolding.

Neighbours say Stephen Washington, 59, was out walking his two pet Huskies along a tree lined path in Plymouth when he was shot and killed by gunman Jake Davison, 22

Mike Moore, who lives nearby said: 'Both the dogs ran back to Stephens home and thats when the family became concerned.

'Stephen was well known around here because he was always out with his beautiful dogs.

'He wasn't friends with Jake and theres nothing connecting them so we think it was completely random.'

The grandfather's Huskies are then believed to have raced back to his family home nearby and alerted relatives of the shocking incident that was unfolding

Stephen was the last person to be killed by Davison before he turned the gun, said to be a 'pump action firearm', on himself.

Devon and Cornwall Police today identified the other victims as Maxine Davison, 51, who was Davison's mother.

Sophie Martyn, who was just three years old, was killed alongside her father Lee Martyn, aged 43.

Kate Shepherd, aged 66, was injured at the scene and died later at Derriford Hospital.

22-year-old killer Jake Davison had already fatally shot his mother Maxine before going out into the street and firing 'at random'

Stephen's son Simon paid tribute to his father in a post, writing: 'After tonights events we lost our dad, my mum lost her world, my kids and brothers and sisters kids lost their grandad.

'Each and everyone of us will miss him deeply. RIP dad you will be missed love you xxxx.'

The mass shooting  the first in Britain involving an 'active gunman' for 11 years since taxi driver Derrick Bird killed 12 people in Cumbria - will spark an inquiry into how Davison was able to get the weapon in a country with strict gun controls.

Home Secretary Priti Patel was briefed throughout the evening as was Boris Johnson, who today tweeted: 'My thoughts are with the friends and family of those who lost their lives and with all those affected by the tragic incident in Plymouth last night. I thank the emergency services for their response'.

Local MP Luke Pollard called the incident 'utterly devastating' and 'probably the darkest day in Plymouth's history since the end of the Second World War', when Nazi Luftwaffe carpet bombed the city and its world-famous docks.

There will also be questions for the police about whether he was known to them before the attack. Devon and Cornwall Police are yet to comment on any contact they may have had with him or how he got the gun.
Swimmers along a 14 mile stretch of beach in Los Angeles from Malibu to Marina Del Rey are being told to avoid going into the Pacific Ocean following a sewage spill that saw 17 million gallons dumped into the sea.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has warned people to avoid swimming, surfing and playing in the ocean, particularly around storm drains, creeks and rivers following the spill that happened last month.

Public health officials have been testing the water every day since the spill on July 13 but bacteria levels are still exceeding state standards.

The sewage was discharged over an eight-hour span into Santa Monica Bay. Beachgoers are being told to avoid the water around Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica among others

The water at Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach, Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Mother's Beach in Marina Del Rey and Avalon Beach at Catalina Island still has high levels of bacteria

Visitors to Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach, Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Mother's Beach in Marina Del Rey and Avalon Beach at Catalina Island are being told to avoid going in the water.

The Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant, Los Angeles' largest wastewater facility, became flooded with 'overwhelming quantities of debris'.

The backup kicked off an emergency system that released untreated sewage into Santa Monica Bay through a one-mile outfall over a period of eight hours.

At the time, state officials say residents were spared an even greater disaster.

The outflow, which makes up only 6 percent of the plant's daily amount of sewage, prevented the plant from 'going completely offline and discharging much more raw sewage.'

Several Los Angeles beaches were put on alert in the days following the spill, including Malibu, San Pedro, Catalina, Marina del Rey, Pacific Palisades and the El Segundo and Dockweiler Beach areas.

Beachgoers were told to avoid the areas until water samples came back negative for 'elevated bacteria.' One month after the spill, levels are still above state guidelines

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn initially attributed the spill to a power outage last month

Some blamed state officials and plant operators for the spill, though later evidence showed it was caused by unknown debris that caused a backup

Local politicians are now demanding answers into what caused led to the swage leak.

'I'm requesting that the EPA and NOAA investigate the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant's massive and continuing wastewater discharge into the ocean,' Rep. Ted Lieu wrote on Facebook last week. 'This facility plays a critical role in processing wastewater in LA County and its continued problematic operation requires federal action.'

Lieu has said he would like to see an investigation launched by the Environmental Protection Agency and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The city has been discharging sewage at the Hyperion plant location since 1894, two years after it bought 200 acres of beachfront property in the area.

The first treatment facility at the site began operating in 1925.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on Friday she was extending proxy voting in the House until October 1 due to concerns about the coronavirus.

The decision, made in consultation with the capital physician, means lawmakers will be able to vote by absence as the House debates the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill and the $3.5 trillion budget package that sets the stage for a massive social policy program favored by liberals.

Lawmakers can vote by proxy simply by signing a letter to the House clerk saying they were 'unable to physically attend proceedings in the House Chamber due to the ongoing public health emergency.'

Many Republican lawmakers bashed proxy voting even as several of them have used it themselves, notably earlier this summer when about a dozen of them traveled to the border for an event with Donald Trump.

Several GOP lawmakers also filed a lawsuit to try and stop proxy voting - to no avail.

Democrats, who in general embraced COVID health restrictions more from the start, have used the tool to ensure Pelosi keeps her slim majority vote in the House even when all lawmakers can't be physically present.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi is extending proxy voting in the House until October 1 due to concerns about the coronavirus

With proxy voting in hand, Pelosi can ensure all 220 House Democrats vote with her.

Proxy voting first began in May 2020 in the early days of the pandemic. Pelosi has extended it several times as the pandemic continues.

Nearly three in four House Democrats have voted remotely at least once, according to a July 1 analysis by CNN, and six Democrats had not voted in person since January, including some who have serious health risks. Republican use has been less, but dozens of GOP lawmakers have used it.

Additionally, since its start, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have used it to their advantage - to be able to cast their vote in Washington D.C. while working back home in their district.

In June, outgoing Democratic Rep. Ron Kind used proxy voting so that he could accompany President Joe Biden on a visit through his home state of Wisconsin.

In February, a dozen Republicans, including Matt Gaetz of Florida, used proxy voting while they attended the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Florida. Many of those GOP lawmakers had criticized Democrats who used proxy voting.

But there are also many members of Congress who use it who are higher risk for COVID, mainly because of age. Of the 435 members of the House, 141 are over the age of 65.

Lawmakers can request to vote by proxy simply by sending a letter to the House clerk; members of both parties have used that option

The House is scheduled to return the week of August 23.

The extension of proxy voting comes as two big items - both top priorities of President Biden - loom on the House agenda.

First is a bipartisan infrastructure bill. The Senate passed the measure - which funds traditional projects like roads and bridges - on Tuesday with 69 votes, including 19 Republicans.

Now it is in the House.

Additionally, the Senate then approved on Wednesday the $3.5 trillion budget resolution with only Democratic votes. If the House passes the resolution, it will allow Democrats in both chambers to pass a massive social policy program - including free pre-school, expanded paid family and medical leave, and environmental programs - this fall without fear of a Republican filibuster in the Senate.

Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer have told their committee chairs in their respective chambers to draft the social policy package - also known as reconciliation legislation - by September 15.

The goal of leadership is to have both bills passed by late September or early October.
A federal judge on Friday ruled against a challenge to President Biden's eviction moratorium after a group of landlords.

U.S. District Court Judge Dabney Friedrich, appointed under former President Trump, said her 'hands are tied' by the decision of an appeals court, which concluded that an earlier version of the moratorium, based on the same public health claim the CDC made in the current iteration, is legal.

'Absent the D.C. circuit's judgment, this court would vacate the stay,' and block the moratorium, the judge added.

Congress imposed a four-month freeze on evictions in March 2020. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), then under President Trump, issued its own moratorium that expired July 31.

The group of landlords, led by the Alabama Association of Realtors, challenged the CDC's first moratorium as well as this one. They argued the moratorium was unlawful and had been enacted for 'nakedly political reasons- to ease the political pressure, shift the blame to the courts for ending the moratorium, and use litigation delays to achieve a policy objective.'

Friedrich had ruled against the CDC's original moratorium back in May, but stayed her order to give the Biden administration time to appeal.

After the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, a panel of three judges appointed by President Obama, rejected the landlord's plea to enforce Friedrich's ruling. She's now bound to follow the ruling from the appeals court that sits above her.

The Biden administration had argued that the latest rent freeze was less broad in scope than the original, since it only applies to counties with high rates of Covid-19 transmission. The government conceded that 90 percent of the country is in an area of high transmission.

'The minor differences between the current and previous moratoria do not exempt the former from this Court's order,' that the CDC lacks authority to order a temporary ban on evictions, Friedrich wrote.

The landlords could ask the Supreme Court to weigh in.

Last month, the court ruled 5-4 refusing to allow evictions to resume, but only because the moratorium was set to expire at the end of the month. Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in an opinion that it would take an act of Congress to enact another moratorium.

U.S. District Court Judge Dabney Friedrich said she would have blocked the moratorium if an appellate court had not already deemed the CDC's first rent freeze to be legal

Demonstrators attend a rally calling for an extension of the state's eviction ban until 2022 and the cancellation of rent, in lower Manhattan, New York city on August 11, 2021. - Under pressure from progressive Democrats, US health authorities declared a new moratorium on evictions until October in much of the country, citing public health risks posed by the pandemic

President Biden faced intense pressure from his party's leftist flank, and extended the moratorium though he admitted it might be struck down in court

The challengers argued the Supreme Court had already signaled the CDC lacked the authority for the moratorium.

Biden had faced intense pressure from his party's left flank to extend the moratorium without Congress, though he admitted that he wasn't sure if he had the legal authority to do so. Squad members, most notably Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., drew attention to the cause by camping out on the Capitol steps for 5 days.

Biden told reporters at the White House last week he spoke to 'a number of legal scholars' about the moratorium and there was a 'split' in their opinion.

'I can't guarantee you the court won't rule that we don't have that authority but at least we'll have the ability to, if we have to appeal, to keep this going for a month - at least. I hope longer,' he said.

He added that he hoped it would give states time to distribute funds they have in their possession from an earlier allocation by Congress.

Distribution of rental assistance that Congress allocated in December and March has been painfully slow. The $47 billion Emergency Rental Assistance program has, to date, disbursed only $3 billion.

More than 15 million people live in households that owe as much as $20 billion to their landlords, according to the Aspen Institute. As of July 5, roughly 3.6 million people in the U.S. said they faced eviction in the next two months, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey.
An experienced detective faces jail after he was today convicted of forging the signature of a key witness in a murder investigation.

DC Robert Ferrow faked signatures on several pages of a witness statement so he could fill it in himself while investigating the murder of mother-of-five Lucy-Anne Rushton.

Ms Rushton's estranged husband Shaun Dyson was jailed for life to serve minimum of 17 years for the murder in December 2019.

DC Ferrow took a statement from Ashley Grace-O'Neill, Dyson's best friend, on the day Ms Rushton was found at her home in Andover, Hants.

But when the witness asked to leave, DC Ferrow suggested he signed blank witness statement pages so the detective could finish transcribing text messages between him and Dyson.

A detective has been found guilty of forging a witness statement during the murder investigation of Lucy-Anne Rushton, who was killed by her husband Shaun Dyson (pictured together)

Detective Constable Robert Ferrow, 50, forged the signature of Ashley Grace-O'Neill, a friend of Dyson, on five pages of a witness statement he had taken away to 'write out' with text messages that were being used as evidence. Pictured: Ferrow leaving court

Mr Grace-O'Neil agreed, but when he returned to the police station the next day to check his statement he noticed that some of the pages which bore his signature were not signed by him.

The witness described some of the other signatures as 'imitations' and some as 'definitely not him' and the key statement had to be taken again.

Today at Winchester Crown Court, Hants, the 50 year old detective was found guilty following a five day trial by unanimous decision after a jury spent two hours deliberating.

DC Ferrow bowed his head as he was convicted of making a false instrument with intent for it to be accepted as genuine, under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981.

The crime carries a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment.

He will be sentenced at Winchester Crown Court in September.

DC Ferrow took a statement from Ashley Grace-O'Neill (pictured), killer Dyson's best friend. But when the witness asked to leave, DC Ferrow suggested he sign blank witness statement pages so the detective could finish transcribing text messages

During the trial Robert Bryan, prosecuting, told jurors Mr Grace-O'Neill was at Andover police station giving his witness statement on June 23 2019.

Mr Bryan explained that Mr Grace-O'Neill forwarded screenshots of text messages between himself and Dyson to DC Ferrow but, when the officer said he needed to write these up as well, they came to an agreement.

Mr Bryan told the court: 'After between 90 minutes and two hours the officer who was taking the witness statement said he also needed to write into the witness statement every single text message that had gone between Mr Grace-O'Neill and Shaun Dyson.

'He asked if he could return the next day, after the officer had transcribed the text messages, to check it as truthful and accurate and sign it.

'[DC Ferrow] described it as, "if I'm only copying it out... do you want to sign a couple of blank pages and I would be able to write it out".

Ferrow, who has 18 years' experience as an officer, will be sentenced at Winchester Crown Court in September

'It was definitely the officer's idea.

'He said "I still want to come down and read it to check if it's ok", and the officer said that would be fine to do that.'

However, Mr Bryan explained the 23-page witness statement, with each page signed, was instead submitted to Detective Sergeant Daniel Hunt at 9.44pm that night.

When Mr Grace-O'Neill came down to Andover police station the next day, he saw a number of pages he had not signed.

Mr Bryan added: 'He had signed some blank pages but some of the pages in the witness statement had not been signed by him.

'Those not signed by him had been forged. He thought he had signed between five and ten pages.'

The court heard Mr Grace-O'Neill said he had signed pages one to six as the interview went along, but then signed approximately nine blank pages before leaving.

However, DC Ferrow - who served in the British Army and Royal Navy before joining Hampshire Constabulary in 2001 - denied signing any of the pages himself.

When questioned by Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) officers, DC Ferrow claimed the witness had signed every page and that he even had two extra signed blank pages, which he 'tore up and disposed of in confidential waste'.

He told the court: 'It was his suggestion of signing so he could leave because he didn't want to leave his phone. He said he just wanted to get it over and done with there and then.

'He signed all the blank statement forms. I didn't sign any statement forms..'

Originally from Liverpool, DC Ferrow was working as part of Operation Amberstone, Hampshire Police's serious sexual offences unit based in Portsmouth, at the time of the offence.

Shaun Dyson, then 28, was jailed for life to serve a minimum of 17 years at Winchester Crown Court in December 2019 for the murder of his estranged wife Ms Rushton at the family home in Andover, Hampshire, while children were at the property.

He originally denied her murder and admitted a lesser charge of manslaughter, but changed his plea to guilty after the jury heard horrific details of a long history of domestic violence.

Dyson was said to have become 'enraged' by a phone call 30-year-old Ms Rushton received from a man she had been in a relationship with.

The couple - who got together in 2010 and married four years later after eloping to Gretna Green - frequently argued but had split by the beginning of 2019.

Six months after their 'toxic' relationship ended Dyson demanded his wife swallow her wedding ring before launching a murderous assault on her in her home.

Dyson repeatedly stamped and jumped on her body in a 'prolonged and very severe' attack in June 2019. She had been dead for 'some time' before he decided to dial 999, claiming Ms Rushton had drowned.
China is reportedly prepared to recognize the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan if they succeed in toppling the Western-backed government in Kabul.

According to U.S. and foreign intelligence sources cited by U.S. News & World Report, Chinese Communist Party leaders are preparing to formalize their relationship with the Islamist insurgents.

It comes as the Taliban control nearly two-thirds of Afghanistan including half of the 34 provincial capitals following a relentless military blitz, with the group closing in on Kabul.

Recognition from Beijing would come as a blow to President Joe Biden's plan to use the threat of international isolation to force the Taliban back into talks for a political settlement.

China is reportedly prepared to recognize the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan if they capture Kabul. Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen above

Taliban fighters stand on a vehicle along the roadside in Kandahar on Friday. The militants have raced across the country seizing cities and are closing in on Kabul

China has long cultivated close ties with Pakistan, which shares a long mountainous border with Afghanistan. Many Afghans believe Pakistan is tacitly aiding the Taliban by providing safe haven for training camps and medical aid to wounded fighters.

'I can say openly to Afghans that this war, it isn't between Taliban and the Afghan Government. It is Pakistan's war against the Afghan nation,' Ismail Khan, a powerful U.S.-allied warlord near Herat, told the AP this week. 'The Taliban are their resource and are working as a servant.'

Meanwhile, Beijing may see an opportunity to make inroads with what may be the inevitable next rulers of Afghanistan, which shares a border with China but is largely untapped in China's regional economic expansion plans.

'Beijing has reportedly been actively engaging with Kabul on construction of the Peshawar-Kabul motorway, which would connect Pakistan to Afghanistan and make Kabul a participant in China's massive infrastructure and investment plan, the Belt and Road Initiative,' wrote Derek Grossman, a senior defense analyst for RAND.

'Beijing is also building a major road through the Wakhan Corridora slim strip of mountainous territory connecting China's westernmost province of Xinjiang to Afghanistanand onward to Pakistan and Central Asia, complementing its existing road network through the region,' he noted.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Pakistan's President Arif Alvi last year. China has long cultivated close ties with Pakistan, which many believe is tacitly aiding the Taliban

'Once completed, these new thoroughfares should enable Beijing to pursue its goals of increased trade with the region and natural resource extraction in Afghanistan,' wrote Grossman. 'Beijing is set to benefit significantly if the Taliban come to power again in Afghanistan.'

Last month, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said in an interview that 'China is a friendly country and we welcome it for reconstruction and developing Afghanistanif [the Chinese] have investments, of course we will ensure their safety.'

Beijing has already secured agreements from the Taliban not to give save haven to any Islamic extremists devoted to insurgency in China's western Xinjiang province.

The Biden administration has repeatedly threatened the Taliban with a lack of 'international legitimacy' unless the group returns to the peace process to reach a political settlement.

On Friday, the Taliban seized more major cities as they raced towards full control of Afghanistan and inched closer to Kabul, with the United States and Britain deploying thousands of troops to evacuate their citizens from the capital.

In the last 24 hours, the country's second- and third-largest cities - Herat in the west and Kandahar in the south - have fallen to the insurgents, as has the capital of the southern province of Helmand, where American, British and NATO forces fought some of the bloodiest battles of the conflict.

The blitz through the Taliban's southern heartland means the insurgents now hold half of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals and control more than two-thirds of the country.

The Western-backed government in the capital, Kabul, still holds a smattering of provinces in the center and east, as well as the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

Taliban militants gather after taking control of Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital of Helmand, Afghanistan on Friday. Taliban fighters have captured Kandahar and Helmand

Taliban fighters drive an Afghan National Army (ANA) vehicle through a street in Kandahar on Friday

The scale and speed of the onslaught has shocked Afghans and the US-led alliance that poured billions into the country after toppling the Taliban in the wake of the September 11 attacks nearly 20 years ago.

Security forces have capitulated on fronts, with individual soldiers, units and even whole divisions surrendering -- handing the insurgents even more vehicles and military hardware to fuel their lightning advance.

While Kabul is not directly under threat yet, the resurgent Taliban were battling government forces in Logar province, some 50 miles from the capital.

The U.S. military has estimated that Kabul could come under insurgent pressure within 30 days and that the Taliban could overrun the rest of the country within a few months. They have already taken over much of the north and west of the country.

In the south, insurgents swept through three provincial capitals on Friday.

Attaullah Afghan, the head of the provincial council in Helmand, said the Taliban captured Lashkar Gah following weeks of heavy fighting and raised their white flag over governmental buildings. He said that three army bases outside of the city remain under government control.

In Tirin Kot, the capital of the southern Uruzgan province, Taliban fighters paraded through a main square, driving a Humvee and a pickup seized from Afghan forces. Local officials confirmed that the Taliban also captured the capitals of Zabul province in the south and Ghor in the west.

Taliban militants gather around a provincial government's office after taking control of Herat, Afghanistan on Friday. The fall of Kandahar came hours after the Taliban captured Herat

With security rapidly deteriorating, the United States planned to send in 3,000 troops to help evacuate some personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. Britain and Canada are also sending forces to aid their evacuations. Denmark said it will temporarily close its embassy, while Germany is reducing its embassy staff to the 'absolute minimum.'

The United Nations chief urged the Taliban to immediately halt its offensive and negotiate 'in good faith' to avert a prolonged civil war.

In his first and strongest appeal to the Islamic militant group, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was 'deeply disturbed by early indications that the Taliban are imposing severe restrictions in the areas under their control, particularly targeting women and journalists.'

He said: 'It is particularly horrifying and heartbreaking to see reports of the hard-won rights of Afghan girls and women being ripped away from them.'

Hundreds of thousands of Afghans have fled their homes amid fears the Taliban will return the country to the sort of brutal, repressive rule it imposed when it was last in power at the turn of the millennium.

At that time, the group all but eliminated womens rights and conducted public executions as it imposed an unsparing version of Islamic law. An early sign of such tactics came in Herat, where insurgents paraded two alleged looters through the streets on Friday with black makeup smeared on their faces.

Kabul police secure areas in the central part of the city on Friday. Tensions are high as the Taliban advance on the capital city after taking Herat and the country's second largest city

There are also concerns that the fighting could plunge the country into civil war, which is what happened after the Soviets withdrew in 1989.

'We are worried. There is fighting everywhere in Afghanistan. The provinces are falling day by day,' said Ahmad Sakhi, a resident of Kabul. 'The government should do something. The people are facing lots of problems.'

The U.N. refugee agency said nearly 250,000 Afghans have been forced to flee their homes since the end of May, and 80 percent of those displaced are women and children.

In all, the agency said, some 400,000 civilians have been displaced since the beginning of the year, joining millions who have fled previous rounds of fighting in recent decades.

Peace talks in Qatar between the Taliban and the government remain stalled, though diplomats are still meeting, as the U.S., European and Asian nations warned that battlefield gains would not lead to political recognition.

'We demand an immediate end to attacks against cities, urge a political settlement, and warn that a government imposed by force will be a pariah state,' said Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. envoy to the talks.

But the Taliban advance continued.

Displaced Afghan women and children from Kunduz pray at a mosque that is sheltering them on Friday in Kabul, Afghanistan. Tensions are high as the Taliban advance on the capital city

Hasibullah Stanikzai, the head of the Logar provincial council, said fighting was still underway inside Puli-e Alim, with government forces holding the police headquarters and other security facilities.

He spoke by phone from his office, and gunfire could be heard in the background. The Taliban, however, said they had captured the police headquarters and a nearby prison.

The onslaught represents a stunning collapse of Afghan forces after the United States spent nearly two decades and $830 billion trying to establish a functioning state. U.S. forces toppled the Taliban in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, which al-Qaida planned and executed while being sheltered by the Taliban government.

With only weeks remaining before the U.S. plans to withdraw its last troops, the fighters now advancing across the country ride on American-made Humvees and carry M-16s pilfered from Afghan forces.

Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the Afghan army has rotted from within due to corruption and mismanagement, leaving troops in the field poorly equipped and with little motivation to fight. The Taliban, meanwhile, have spent a decade taking control of large swaths of the countryside.

That allowed them to rapidly seize key infrastructure and urban areas once President Joe Biden announced the timeline for the U.S. withdrawal, saying he was determined to end America's longest war.

'Whatever forces are left or remaining that are in the Kabul area and the provinces around them, theyre going to be used for the defense of Kabul,' Roggio said. 'Unless something dramatically changes, and I dont see how thats possible, these provinces (that have fallen) will remain under Taliban control.'

Taliban militants are seen inside the Kandahar city, southern Afghanistan, Friday. Taliban militants on Friday claimed to have taken control over key southern Afghan cities

A day earlier, in Herat, Taliban fighters rushed past the Great Mosque in the historic city - a structure that dates to 500 BC and was once a spoil of Alexander the Great - and seized government buildings. Herat had been under militant attack for two weeks.

In Kandahar, insurgents seized the governors office and other buildings, witnesses said, adding that the governor and other officials fled. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the defeat has yet to be acknowledged by the government, which has not commented on the latest advances.

The Taliban had earlier attacked a prison in Kandahar and freed inmates inside, officials said.

On Thursday, Nasima Niazi, a lawmaker from Helmand, said civilians likely had been wounded and killed in airstrikes. U.S. Central Command has acknowledged carrying out several strikes in recent days, without providing details or commenting on the concerns over civilian casualties.

Meanwhile in neighboring Pakistan, the country's national security adviser urged Afghan leaders to seek a politically negotiated settlement with the Taliban to avoid further violence.

Moeed Yusuf made the appeal Friday while speaking to reporters in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. He said the fall of city after city in Afghanistan underscored the need to expedite the peace process.
Progressive Democrats hit back at the nine moderates who threatened to tank their deal with Speaker Nancy Pelosi to pass a $3.5 trillion budget package in an internecine battle that threatens to derail President Joe Biden's economic agenda.

'You're not a "moderate" Democrat if you vote against jobs with a livable wage, paid leave, child care, health care and a livable planet for American families,' wrote Rep. Rashia Tlaib of Michigan, a member of the The Squad.

'Democrats need to be the party that delivers for people. That doesn't just mean fixing roads & bridges, it means improving lives with: Child care, Paid leave, Education, Affordable housing, Medicare expansion, Lower drug prices, Climate action, A roadmap to citizenship,' tweeted Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the head of the Progressive Caucus.

And Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York, the only male member of The Squad, responded with a GIF signaling his disapproval of the moderates, who said on Friday they won't vote for the $3.5 trillion budget package until the House passes the bipartisan infrastructure bill approved by the Senate.

Rep. Rashia Tlaib of Michigan, a member of the The Squad, and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the head of the Progressive Caucus, both blasted moderates for threatening the $3.5 trillion budget

The threat sets up a battle between the two wings of the party, each of which has enough votes to sink the other piece of legislation.

And it puts Speaker Pelosi in between a rock and a hard place. Unless she can convince one wing of the party or another to reverse course, both piece of legislation fail and a major piece of Biden's economic agenda collapses.

The competing demands between the moderates and liberals essentially has Pelosi in a stalemate and threatens an early deal she made with progressives, who vastly outnumber the moderates with their 96 members of the Progressive Caucus. Pelosi told liberals she will not bring the bipartisan infrastructure plan to the House floor until the Senate approves their social programs.

Given the Democrats' small majority in the House, Pelosi can only afford to lose three votes on any piece of legislation.

A threat from House moderates put Speaker Nancy Pelosi between a rock and a hard place between the liberal and moderate wings of Democratic Party

Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey (left) is leading the effort by moderates, which is threatening to derail Pelosi's deal with liberals like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York

Nine moderate Democrats threatening mutiny with Pelosi The nine moderate Democrats who wrote to Speaker Pelosi to say they won't vote for budget deal unless House passes infrastructure first: Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas Rep. Filemon Vela of Texas Rep. Jared Golden of Maine Rep. Ed Case of Hawaii Rep. Kurt Schrader of Oregon Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas Rep. Jim Costa of California Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux of Georgia Advertisement

'With the livelihoods of hardworking American families at stake, we simply can't afford months of unnecessary delays and risk squandering this one-in-a-century, bipartisan infrastructure package,' the nine lawmakers, led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, wrote to Pelosi. 'It's time to get shovels in the ground and people to work.'

'We will not consider voting for a budget resolution until the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passes the House and is signed into law,' the moderates wrote in their letter, which was obtained by The New York Times.

The Senate passed the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill - which funds traditional projects like roads and bridges - on Tuesday with 69 votes, including 19 Republicans.

The Senate then approved on Wednesday the $3.5 trillion budget resolution with only Democratic votes. If the House passes the resolution, it will allow Democrats in both chambers to pass a massive social policy program - including free pre-school, expanded paid family and medical leave, and environmental programs - this fall without fear of a Republican filibuster in the Senate.

Pelosi, to appease liberals in the House, said she would not bring the infrastructure bill up for a vote until the Senate passed the social policy bill.

Democrats' budget framework allocates billions of dollars to Senate committees to begin drafting proposals for final bill Agriculture: $135 billion for conservation, drought, and forestry programs to reduce carbon emissions and prevent wildfires; clean energy investments; agricultural climate research; Civilian Climate Corps funding, child nutrition and debt relief Banking: $332 billion for housing programs, including down payment and rental assistance and community investment Commerce: $83 billion for technology and transportation; coastal resilience and oceans; funding for the National Science Foundation. Energy: $198 billion for clean electricity; rebates to weatherize and electrify homes; financing for domestic manufacturing of clean energy and auto supply chain technologies; federal procurement of energy efficient materials; climate research Environment and Public Works: $67 billion for low-income solar and climate-friendly technologies; clean water affordability and access; EPA climate and research programs; federal investments in energy efficient buildings and green materials Finance: At least $1 billion in deficit reduction. 'This will provide the Committee with flexibility to make investment, revenue and offset decisions consistent with the policy recommendations,' the instructions state. Offsets to include: Corporate and international tax reform; taxing high-income individuals; IRS tax enforcement Health, Education, Labor and Pensions: $726 billion for universal pre-K for 3 and 4-year olds; child care; tuition-free community college; investments in HBCUs, MSIs, HSIs, TCUs, and ANNHIs; increase the maximum Pell grant award; School infrastructure, student success grants, and educator investments; Investments in primary care; pandemic preparedness Homeland Security: $37 billion for electrifying the federal vehicle fleet; electrifying federal buildings; improving cybersecurity infrastructure; border management investments; investments in green materials and resilience Judiciary: $107 billion for lawful permanent status for qualified immigrants and border security Indian Affairs: $20.5 billion for native health, education, housing, energy and climate programs and facilities Small Business: $25 billion for small business access to credit, investment, and markets Veterans Affairs: $18 billion for upgrades to VA facilities Advertisement

But, with the Senate out for the summer, that may not happen into the fall, particularly as Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer needs to get his own moderate Democrats - particularly Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema - on board. Both Manchin and Sinema have raised concerns about the $3.5 trillion cost.

Friday's threat from moderates, however, endangers the two-track plan of passage that President Biden and congressional Democratic leaders saw as their way to ensure they get both pieces of legislation signed into law.

The letter is also signed by Democratic Reps. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Filemon Vela of Texas, Jared Golden of Maine, Ed Case of Hawaii, Kurt Schrader of Oregon, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Jim Costa of California and Carolyn Bourdeaux of Georgia.

The House is scheduled to return the week of August 23 to vote on the budget resolution.

Pelosi and Schumer have told their committee chairs in their respective chambers to draft the social policy package - also known as reconciliation legislation - by September 15.

The goal of leadership is to have both bills passed by late September or early October. But if the House can't pass the budget resolution, those plans could collapse.

Pelosi told Democrats on Wednesday she will not bring bipartisan infrastructure bill for a vote in the House until the Senate passed the other measure.

'I am not freelancing. This is the consensus,' she said on a call with House Democrats, according to The Hill newspaper.

'The president has said he's all for the bipartisan approach ... bravo! That's progress, but it ain't the whole vision,' Pelosi said on the call.

'The votes in the House and Senate depend on us having both bills.'

The speaker was under heavy pressure from the liberal wing of her party.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, informed Pelosi in a letter on Tuesday that she had taken a poll of their liberal members, who said they would not support the infrastructure bill without the budget reconciliation package.

'A majority of respondents affirmed that they would withhold their votes in support of the bipartisan legislation in the House of Representatives until the Senate adopted a robust reconciliation package,' Jayapal wrote.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her fellow members of 'The Squad' are part of that group.

The Democrat from New York has been clear she will not support one piece of legislation without the other.

'If there is not a reconciliation bill in the House and if the Senate does not pass a reconciliation bill, we will uphold our end of the bargain and not pass the bipartisan bill until we get all of these investments in,' Ocasio-Cortez said on CNN's 'State of the Union.'

She added that the contents of the bipartisan bill 'are not all, you know, Candyland. There are some of these political pay-fors that are very alarming.'
Videos have emerged of the weightlifter moaning about being 'defeated in life'

Staring intensely into the camera, Jake Davison signed off his final video on YouTube with the chilling words: 'I am a Terminator.'

Within weeks, the 22-year-old virgin would enact his bloody fantasies with appalling consequences.

In a 12-minute rampage, the gunman murdered his own mother and four strangers, including a three-year-old girl.

The gun massacre  the worst in a decade in the UK  left Plymouth residents questioning how a loner with seemingly serious mental health problems was allowed to have a firearms licence.

Shockingly, it emerged yesterday that the behaviour of the apprentice crane operator had been of concern for some time to those close to him, including his mother Maxine and father Mark  who had reportedly begged the NHS for help and even allegedly contacted the police saying he should not be allowed to keep a gun.

Within hours of the shootings, disturbing videos emerged online in which the 17-stone weightlifter moaned about being 'defeated in life' and talked about the violent sci-fi films starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

He said: 'The whole premise of the Terminator movies is that you know everything is rigged against you, there's no hope for humanity, you know, we're on the brink of extinction.

'These machines are unstoppable killing machines that can't be beaten, can't be outsmarted, but yet humanity still tries to fight to the end.

'I know it's a movie but, you know, I like to think sometimes I'm a Terminator or something and despite reaching almost total system failure, he keeps trying to accomplish his mission.'

Recording his final video on July 28, Davison said: 'I'm beaten down and defeated by f****** life. That drive I once had, that's gone.'

The loner had described himself as an 'incel'  a reference to the 'involuntary celibate' movement, a radical group of misogynistic young males who spend their lives ranting online about women and are of growing concern to police.

Recording videos in a small bedroom he likened to a 'prison cell', Davison spent his days agonising over why he had never had a girlfriend or even been kissed.

Obsessed with sex, he fired off scores of messages to incel groups asking why he was constantly rejected on dating sites and bemoaning his lack of experience of love as a teenager.

Rambling virgin Davison said he hoped working out would help him lose weight and become more attractive to women

Revealing he had not spoken to a girl since he was 17, Davison considered himself a virgin loser with nothing to live for.

He wrote of his loneliness and despair, saying he had been 'forgotten about'.

'I used to be OK with being a virgin too, but when you get older and the inferiority complex kicks in and the feeling of despair and missing out occurs,' he said.

'Try being an unemployed, autistic, poor, sexually frustrated male with tons of health issues, no social circle and being stuck in government housing with my mother for years on end, having missed out on so much in life.

Videos left online for hours Social media giants were accused last night of allowing extremists time to 'glorify' the Plymouth gunman after his accounts were left online for hours after the killing. Jake Davison's YouTube channel and Facebook page, which revealed a young man obsessed with firearms and his struggle attracting girls, attracted thousands of comments before being removed. Much of the content referred to the 'incel' community. Among the sick comments were users branding the 22-year-old a 'new hero' and calling him a 'supreme gentleman', used to refer to US mass shooter Elliot Rodger. Campaigners accused firms of allowing the community to thrive on their platforms for years. The Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) said Davison's rhetoric would have been amplified through the platforms' algorithm. He posted several videos in the weeks before the attack in which he blamed his troubles on not having a girlfriend. His YouTube account was taken down on yesterday morning. But in the 18 or so hours between the killings and the removal, incels had flocked to leave positive comments. Davison's Facebook account also had received more than 2,000 comments before it was made unavailable. Imran Ahmed, of the CCDH, said: 'He was glorified while YouTube dragged their heels.' A YouTube spokesman said: 'We have strict policies to ensure our platform is not used to incite violence.' Advertisement

'Not being able to do the hobbies and things I enjoy as I don't have a car, I am socially isolated and a black sheep who barely interacts with anyone other than a few people at work.

'It's not just sex and teen romance I feel I missed out on, I feel I missed out on the entire teenage experience. Since leaving school I don't have any friends.'

Born in Plymouth, he was raised with his older brother and sister by their single mother Maxine, with whom he had a difficult relationship, writing online: 'Feel my mother has played a role in [me] being a male virgin.'

Diagnosed with autism as a child, Davison was sent to Mount Tamar special school in Plymouth, where he was said to have been a 'disruptive' influence on his peers.

Jess Wallace recalled: 'My boyfriend went to school with him and said he was pretty shy and quiet and would talk about how cool Americans are, and the idea of having a gun collection.'

Another woman related to a former classmate said: 'He was well-known for his anger issues.'

After leaving school, Davison described feeling positive as he embarked on a career working in construction scaffolding before an ankle injury sent him spiralling into depression. He admitted online that his 'mental, physical and emotional health' had been deteriorating for two years.

He wrote of his frustration at being unable to get a doctor's appointment and revealed he tried a cocktail of supplements and steroids and even considered drugs like cocaine.

Consumed by self-loathing, the recluse posted regular questions such as 'Should being ugly be considered a disability?' and recorded scores of videos and selfies discussing his weight issues and fear of being too fat to get a girlfriend.

Lonely and bored, he described himself as a 'computer addict with nothing else to do for many years'.

He wrote: 'When you have been a recluse for as long as I have, you search up and go on pretty much every subject on the internet. I can't think of a subject I haven't dabbled in on the internet  technology, politics, space, exploration, astronomy, LGBT transgender movies, comics, video games, military, special forces guns, weapons, tanks, jets, nuclear power, futurism, transhumanism, drugs, biology, history.'

In a desperate search for like-minded individuals, he signed up for IncelTV on YouTube.

Spurred on by others in the community, Davison said he had 'overdosed' on 'black pill'  an incel philosophy centred on the belief that success with the opposite sex is determined by genetics.

He wrote: 'Inferiority complex of being a virgin for almost 23 years and the panic of getting older is crippling.' Incel culture has been associated with killings and acts of violence, particularly in the US, where Davison had fantasised about living.

Elliot Rodger became a spiritual figurehead of the incel movement when he murdered six people in Isla Vista, California, in 2014 aged 22  the same age as Davison.

Jake Davison's mother Maxine (left) and other relatives are claimed to have begged the police and NHS to help him with mental health problems. Davison started his rampage by kicking down her door and shooting her dead

Sophie Martyn, 3, and her father Lee, 43, (pictured above) were shot at random as Plymouth incel gunman Jake Davison entered Biddick Drive and fatally killed the pair who were walking up the road

Davison then moved on towards a nearby wooded area where he shot and murdered dog walker Stephen Washington, 59, (above)

66-year-old Kate Shepherd was Davison's final victim, and was gunned down by Blush hair salon in Plymouth

Before his rampage, Rodger had posted a video on YouTube saying he wanted to take revenge on women for rejecting him.

Within hours of Davison's killings, other incel internet users had built what was described as an online 'shrine' to him yesterday.

Shortly before the attacks, Davison called for a 'Government-funded incel social programme or rehab centre' to get them to do group activities 'to build confidence and self-esteem and getting them out of their depressed mindset'.

Among his ideas were group therapy, activities such as rock climbing and 'taking away computers, phones, internet to detox from social media and the internet'.

But trapped in his bedroom during lockdown, Davison's despair only grew.

Yesterday it emerged that he had liked nearly 800 videos on YouTube pointing to an obsession with US gun culture, violent video games and weightlifting.

He boasted to followers that he held a shotgun licence, writing: 'It would be good if there were more [shooting] ranges and clubs too.

'I have a section SGC (shotgun certificate) but would properly have a FAC (firearms certificate) as well if there were more ranges... as soon as I get a car, which should not take too long, I will apply for my FAC.'

Within recent weeks, Davison's thoughts had turned to death and knives. He wrote online: 'Machetes are awful weapons... most are cheaply made and lack the cutting power to do any real damage like actual swords do.

'If you actually look at machete attacks, videos and news reports, more often than not they only manage to cut and lacerate skin.

Police work near the scene on Biddick Drive following the shooting in the Keyham area of Plymouth yesterday evening

A police car at the scene on Biddick Drive today following the shooting in Keyham, Plymouth, yesterday evening

'They rarely have the weight and sharpness to cut through bone and skull. They are good for cutting through bush, not cutting limbs and heads... best sword for zombie would be a two-handed great sword which would cut limbs clean off and penetrate skull easily.'

In another post on 'mass shootings' he referred to the Texas clock tower shooting in America in 1966 and the Hungerford massacre in Berkshire in 1987.

Davison wrote: 'There are a lot more guns in Europe and the UK than people think.'

Yesterday, neighbours revealed the Davison family's desperate pleas for help.

Donna Croft said: 'His poor mum has only just got cleared of cancer. His sister was a harmless soul, she was in the same class as my son.

'The dad even begged the mental health team to assess him but they basically said they couldn't be bothered and said they were too short of staff to come out.

'So not have only the mental services on this country let these poor families down, they could [have] prevented this to happen.

'People like that need 24/7 help. How he got a gun to kill these people is crazy.'
The National Weather Service reported the other injuries were minor

Four people were injured while hiking around the peak at Grandfather Mountain

Seven people were impacted by lightning strikes near MacRae Peak on Friday

Seven people were impacted by lightning strikes on a hiking trail in North Carolina that left four people injured.

Lightning struck MacRae Peak on Grandfather Mountain, located in the northern part of the state, at 12.05pm Friday, as a storm passed over it abruptly.

One victim had fallen and had to be airlifted to a hospital with a head injury, while another suffered from burns.

The other victims of the strike had minor injuries, according to the National Weather Service.

Seven people were impacted by lightning strikes while hiking near MacRae Peak (above in a file photo) at Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina on Friday afternoon

Lightning struck MacRae Peak at 12.05pm Friday, as a storm passed over it abruptly. Pictured: Satellite image of the storm in the northern part of the state

A representative from Grandfather Mountain reported that four people suffered injuries from the nearby lightning strike, but all seven on the mountain were able to evacuate on foot.

Thunderstorms typically occur due to rapidly rising warm air and moisture. With rising temperatures and global warming, it provides the perfect environment for storms and lightning.

Linville had a high of 79 degrees today with scattered thunderstorms throughout.

The National Weather Service has reported six deaths this year from lightning strikes, with the youngest victim being 15 in Georgia.

Lightning kills an average of 49 people per year with Florida and Texas having the highest number of lightning fatalities in the country.

Getting to MacRae Peak is not for the faint of heart. The hikers had to descend rocks and climb over boulders and up ladders to exit the park after the lightning strike

Earlier this week, a 13-year-old boy died after being struck by lightning on Thursday afternoon at Orchard Beach in New York City, police reported.

Carlos Ramos was among seven people rushed to the hospital after a lightning bolt struck the Bronx beach at 5.20pm.

Ramos suffered cardiac arrest after the strike, according to officials, and was rushed to Jacobi Medical Center. He died Friday morning from his injuries.

The six other victims are expected to survive.

Thirteen-year-old Carlos Ramos has died after being struck by lightning on Thursday afternoon at Orchard Beach in the Bronx (pictured), police reported

Seventeen people died from lightning incidents in the US in 2020, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Eric Sandoval told New York Daily News that he was 'walking on the beach with my family' when the lightning struck his 13-year-old daughter Stacey.

Sandoval said: 'It hit my daughter and she went down. I thought she had a heart attack. I went crazy. I was screaming, "Somebody help us! Somebody help us!"'

He said another beachgoer helped him pump his daughter's chest until the ambulance arrived, according to the newspaper.

A 5-year-old, Stefon Harris, also survived the lightning strike. His father, who is also named Stefon, said: 'I was able to speak with my five-year-old over the phone. He seems like he's going to be OK.'

Fifteen-year-old Miguel Maldonado was also struck. The teen was part of a group of six children and two adults making a trip to the beach that day.

'They were getting ready to leave the beach and it came, the lightning. They were all struck,' Alfredo Ferrer, Miguel's uncle, told the paper.

The lifeguards at Orchard Beach had ordered people out of the water and made announcements to clear the beach before the lightning strike, a spokesperson from the Parks Department said.

The hospitalized victims were all on the sand when the storm arrived.

Beachgoer Raul Dejesus told NBC 4 New York that the storm 'came out of nowhere'.

'Everybody started running to the bathroom and when we were in the bathroom, we kept hearing these thunders. Boom boom boom. We heard screams and yelling and, oh man, somebody got struck,' he said.

The strike happened the same day an excessive heat warning was put into effect in New York City. The National Weather Service warned of 'dangerously hot conditions with heat index values up to 105'.

It was 92 degrees out when the storm passed through the Bronx.

The fatal lightning strike way the latest in a string of incidents to hit the US this summer.

Last week, 37-year-old Nicholas Torchia died after he was struck by lightning while hiking a trail in the Northern California mountains.

And last month five people were struck while on the beach in Southwest Florida over just a 10-day span.

Two were killed, including Walker Bethune, 17, who died in the hospital from his injuries 11 days after the lightning strike.

In total, six people have been killed by lightning in the US this year, according to the National Weather Service.
Fears are growing Melbourne's sixth Covid lockdown could be extended after the state recorded 21 new infections overnight and 'mystery' cases of the Indian delta variant keep arising.

The 21 new locally acquired cases have been linked to previously reported cases, though only 11 were in isolation for their whole infectious period, the Victorian health department said.

A number of new exposure sites including the largest mall in Australia, Chadstone Shopping Centre in Melbourne, were listed on Friday night.

Anyone who was at Chadstone between 4.26pm and 5.40pm on Saturday August 7 must take a Covid test and isolate until they receive a negative result after the centre was listed as a Tier 2 site.

The Coles supermarket within the shopping centre has also been listed.

'We want a million jabs in arms these coming five weeks. Today's 21 cases show us why that is so important,' Victoria's Health Minister said in the state's Saturday update.

'Fifteen of the 21 cases are linked to the Glenroy outbreak that we've indicated growing concerns about over recent days,' he said.

Ten of those cases are from three households linked to the Glenroy West Primary school, along with two students and one staff member at the school.

The remaining two Glenroy cases are a household contact of an existing student case and a student who rode on a bus with a case from Glenroy.

There are now more than 450 exposure sites in Melbourne including Highpoint shopping centre and several large apartment blocks.

Victoria recorded 21 new Covid cases on Saturday as Melburnians endure their sixth lockdown (pictured: locals out exercising on Friday)

Victoria's Health Minister Martin Foley said the state wants to see 1million jabs administered in the next five weeks (pictured: Melbourne on Saturday)

Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the lockdown's ongoing effects on children were 'heartbreaking'.

Professor Sutton said he considers the social impacts of lockdowns when providing health advice to the state government, including keeping children out of school and away from their friends.

'It's heartbreaking,' he told 3AW of having to explain that fact to his own three young children.

'But, again, what alternative pathway have we got available to us? Because we know what happens when restrictions are not done in a timely way or are not sufficient to control transmission - it explodes in numbers.'

Melbourne is in the second week of its sixth lockdown, brought on to contain several Indian delta variant outbreaks.

Chadstone Shopping Centre in Melbourne (pictured) has been listed as a Tier 2 exposure site

Police speak to a Melbourne resident (pictured) on Friday as the state battles a delta outbreak

There is concern Covid has spread to regional Victoria with fragments found in wastewater at Lakes Entrance and Shepparton (pictured: Melbourne on Saturday)

In addition to Chadstone Shopping Centre, an apartment building in Richmond has been listed as a potential exposure site for 12 full days after a confirmed case visited the building.

The Bosisto Street Residential Apartment Complex is listed as a Tier 2 exposure site from 12am August 2 through to 11.59pm on August 13.

Anyone who was at the building on those days is required to immediately get a Covid test and isolate until they receive a negative result.

There is also concern the virus may have spread to regional areas after 'unexpected' detections of virus fragments appeared in wastewater at Shepparton in central Victoria and Lakes Entrance in the state's east.

Anyone in these areas with even mild symptoms is asked to immediately get tested.

Melbourne's new cases include four connected to the Al-Taqwa College cluster in Truganina in Melbourne's south-west, two to the Glenroy West Primary School in the city's north and one to the Caroline Springs shopping centre in the western suburbs.

Victoria's Chief Health Officer said the lockdowns' effect on children who were kept away from school and their friends was 'heartbreaking' (pictured: Melbourne locals on Friday)

Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday called for more young Victorians to get vaccinated as he announced all residents aged 18 and above can receive the AstraZeneca jab at all 50 of the state's vaccination hubs from Monday.

'It is the most important thing to come forward to get vaccinated, to play your part, to protect not just yourself but the people you love the most and give us the freedom all of us want,' he said.

'Getting to 70 to 80 per cent vaccinated is what we have to work towards and these one million jabs over the next five weeks are the best way that Victoria can make a contribution, not just to our state's fortunes, but to our national strategy.'

Mr Andrews said there is strong demand at nine vaccination hubs where AstraZeneca has been made available since Monday to Victorians aged between 18 and 40.

Mystery Covid cases in Victoria could mean the state's coronavirus restrictions are extended for months. Pictured are pedestrians walking in Melbourne on Friday as the city endures its sixth stay-at-home lockdown

Demand has been slower for those aged in their 50s and 60s, who are currently eligible for Pfizer at all state hubs.

The state government aims to administer 200,000 vaccine doses a week between August 16 and September 19.

'There literally are a million reasons to get vaccinated,' Mr Andrews said.

'It's a powerful contribution that every Victorian can make.'

Three more drive-through clinics will also be set up in Melbourne's southeast, southwest and northwest, following the popularity of the Melton site in the city's far west, which also opened on Monday.

Mr Andrews expects 60 per cent of Victorians will be vaccinated by the end of September.

The head of Melbourne University's School of Population and Global Health Nancy Baxter said the continuing spread of cases in the city meant it was unlikely Victorians could travel interstate by the September school holidays.

FIND THE LATEST EXPOSURE SITES NEAR YOU

'Maybe Tasmania or South Australia [would let Victorians in by then], but we'd probably need two weeks of looking like there's no cases before anyone would say okay to us,' she told The Herald Sun.

'For the next three or four months we just need to accept there's no guarantee for interstate travel and plans.'

The future of the AFL grand final and the Spring Racing Carnival is in jeopardy, with concerns crowds may have to be prevented or severely restricted.

Dr Sutton said Friday's unlinked cases include a delivery truck driver who lives in Wyndham Vale, a person in Middle Park and a person in Roxburgh Park, who is possibly linked to a school where an outbreak has recently occurred.

It's the third consecutive day the state has recorded mystery infections, with authorities also racing to find the source of four cases recorded on Thursday.

The South Melbourne Market has again been closed for deep cleaning after a positive case visited while contagious

'We're looking at all possible linkages - schools, local sites visited in the acquisition period of the 14 days before symptom onset and any workplace connections for those attending on-site work,' Professor Sutton said.

There are now more than 400 exposure sites across Melbourne and its urban fringe, including inner-city tram routes, an Australian Taxation Office building in Moonee Ponds and a VicRoads site in Hoppers Crossing.

Seven shops in the South Melbourne Market were listed as tier-one sites overnight after an infected person attended on Saturday from 1.30pm. The market will reopen on Friday morning following a deep clean.

SOUTH MELBOURNE MARKET STALLS ON COVID-19 ALERT Rita's Coffee & Nuts: 322-326 Coventry St, South Melbourne, August 7 from 1.30pm to 2.20pm The Fish Shoppe: 322-326 Coventry St, South Melbourne, August 7 from 1.30pm to 2.20pm Small Town Pie Company: 322-326 Coventry St, South Melbourne, August 7 from 1.30pm to 2.20pm Emerald Hill Nursery: 322-326 Coventry St, South Melbourne, August 7 from 1.30pm to 2.20pm Vangelis Deli: 322-326 Coventry St, South Melbourne, August 7 from 1.30pm to 2.20pm Fruits on Coventry: 322-326 Coventry St, South Melbourne, August 7 from 1.30pm to 2.20pm Haqen's Organics: 322-326 Coventry St, South Melbourne, August 7 from 1.30pm to 2.20pm Advertisement

It comes less than a month after the market was forced to close due to another Covid-19 outbreak.

There are two people battling Covid-19 in hospital, including one person in intensive care.

Thursday's mystery cases include three in two separate households in Glenroy, including a child who attends Glenroy West Primary School.

Victoria's Covid-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar said the families don't know each other and their children do not go to the same school.

'Seeing something pop up that's not on the radar yet is a little bit disturbing,' he told reporters.

'All the other pieces, we can see how they fit in. These two don't yet fit in.'

COVID-19 has been detected in wastewater in the Glenroy area since August 5 and Mr Weimar said contact tracers would visit the schools to try to find a possible acquisition source.

The other mystery case from Thursday, a man who lives in Brunswick East, has some social connections to known exposure sites and authorities are confident a definitive link will be found in the coming days.

The Australian Medical Association's Victorian president Dr Roderick McRae said health officials in Victoria were growing increasingly concerned about the level of mystery cases in the state.

Pictured is a Covid-19 vaccination hub in Melton - 35km west of Melbourne's CBD - on Wednesday as the city endures its sixth stay-at-home lockdown

Contact tracers in Victoria are still scrambling to trace four unlinked cases from Thursday. Pictured are Melburnians wearing face masks

Melbourne residents exercise in the city on Friday. Premier Daniel Andrews said there had been incredibly strong demand at the nine vaccination hubs where AstraZeneca has been available since Monday

'It's slowly moving up the scale of concern, frankly,' he told the Today show.

'Any time there's a mystery case, it's indicating that there's somebody out there that is spreading Covid.

'They may not be symptomatic or may only be mildly symptomatic but they clearly aren't getting tested and are transmitting the virus.'

Victoria reported 21 new local cases on Thursday and two from interstate travellers who flew from Sydney to Melbourne while infected with the virus.

The women boarded Qantas flight QF471 on Monday afternoon without valid permits and were taken to hotel quarantine, where they tested positive.

Victorians, including Melbourne (pictured on Wednesday) are in the midst of a lockdown as the state battles a Delta outbreak

Both have been fined $5452 and Mr Weimar said the incident proved the need for Victoria's strict border restrictions.

All 46 people on the flight, which has been listed as a tier-one exposure site, have been contacted and told to quarantine for 14 days.

On Thursday night, the state's health department said COVID-19 fragments had been detected in the Camberwell-Balwyn area of Melbourne's eastern suburbs, and two catchments in the city's west including Tarneit, Truganina and Williams Landing.

There are now more than 380 exposure sites across Melbourne and its urban fringe, including inner-city tram routes, an Australian Taxation Office building in Moonee Ponds and VicRoads site in Hoppers Crossing.

Meanwhile, the state and federal governments announced an additional $367 million worth of taxpayer money would be spent on keeping Melbourne businesses afloat during the city's extended sixth lockdown.
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A stunning photo showing a spiral of jack fish has won the 2021 BMC Ecology and Evolution annual image competition.

Snapped by Kristen Brown from the University of Pennsylvania, the winning entry depicts the jack fish school at Heron Island in Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

BMC calls it a 'visual metaphor for the spiralling crisis unfolding within our oceans' due to the climate crisis, which is a particular threat to the famous reef on the Australian east coast.

Among the other commended entries in this year's competition are a shot of a wasp and its spider prey in Ecuador, a giant gladiator frog moments before being attacked by a snake, and a doomed crustacean sporting what looks like a 'fur coat' due to a parasitic infection.

Overall winner and best image for 'conservation biology': A school of jack fish in a spiral formation at Heron Island in the Great Barrier Reef

Eulimnogammarus verrucosus, a species of crustacean endemic to Russia's Lake Baikal, is pictured suffering from a parasitic ciliate infection - which makes it look as though it's sporting a 'fur coat'

Section editor Josef Settele at BMC, who recommended the winning entry, said: 'Marine biodiversity sustains life and the health of our planet, but human activities are threatening the well-being of the worlds oceans.

'Kristen Browns striking image is a symbol for the need for concentrated efforts to manage biodiversity loss and set conservation priorities.'

Brown herself said the image 'represents both the beauty and bounty of our oceans' as well as 'the spiralling crisis unfolding within the marine environment'.

'Coral reefs with high coral cover and plentiful fish populations like this one at Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef are sadly becoming rarer,' she said.

'Without a concentrated effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve water quality, coral reefs as we know them are at risk of disappearing within our lifetime.'

In addition to the winning image, the judges also selected an overall runner up, as well as winners in six categories  'conservation biology'; 'evolutionary developmental biology and biodiversity'; 'behavioural ecology'; 'human evolution and ecology'; 'ecological developmental biology'; 'population ecology'; and 'the editors pick'.

The runner-up  which was also best image for evolutionary developmental biology and biodiversity  was snapped by Kseniya Vereshchagina, a biologist at Irkutsk State University in Russia.

It shows Eulimnogammarus verrucosus, a species of crustacean endemic to Russia's Lake Baikal, suffering from a parasitic ciliate infection.

'Ciliates living on weakened crustaceans are capable of forming vast colonies resembling a "fur coat",' said Vereshchagina.

'Unfortunately, the crustaceans dressed in such a "fur coat" are sentenced, since the ciliates parasitising them lead endemics to rapid death.'

The 'population ecology' winner was captured by Roberto Garcia-Roa from University of Valencia, Spain, who also submitted the winning images for the 'behavioural ecology' and 'human evolution and ecology' categories.

It shows soldier termites migrating along a length of abandoned rope in a Malaysian forest.

'Thousands of soldier termites are able to migrate in a complex social environment where each individual has its own mission framed altogether in a global objective: the survivorship and reproduction of the colony,' said Garcia-Roa.

'In this case, these termites used meters of an abandoned rope to move across the Malaysian forest. Once humans disappear, nature recovers its space and uses what is needed to survive.'

Pictured, thousands of soldier termites migrating along a length of abandoned rope in a Malaysian forest. The shot was the winner in the 'population ecology' category

An 'epic scene' showing a battle between a wasp and its much larger spider prey in Tiputini, Ecuador. The shot won best image for 'behavioural ecology'

Garcia-Roa's shot entitled 'The Hunter' (the best image for 'behavioural ecology') depicts a wasp and its much larger spider prey in Tiputini, Ecuador.

'Spiders are one of the most sophisticated hunters on earth,' he said. 'Nevertheless, they cannot escape from what evolution has provided to other species.

'In particular, some groups of wasps are specialised in hunting spiders and use them as a trophic resource for their larvae. I found this epic scene in a wall of a biological station in Tiputini, Ecuador.'

Garcia-Roa's third image (the best image for 'human evolution and ecology') entitled 'Learning to Be Human' shows a researcher using a baboon to study the evolution of human locomotion.

The curious photo of the baboon on a treadmill was captured at the Station of Primatology in the south of France during research into the evolution of bipedalism  walking on two limbs.

Meanwhile, the best image for 'ecological developmental biology' was entered by Chey Chapman, a PhD student studying the mechanisms underlying zebrafsh tissue regeneration at the University of London's Royal Veterinary College.

It shows a zebrafish that regrew its tail fin only two weeks after the appendage was clipped.

'Editors pick': 'Eerie Stalker' shows a giant gladiator frog prior to its escape from a snake. Seconds after this photo was taken, the snake struck out at the frog, which managed to get away

Best image for 'human evolution and ecology': 'Learning to Be Human' captures a researcher using a baboon to study the evolution of human locomotion

Many primitive vertebrates such as zebrafsh have a spectacular ability to regenerate various tissues after traumatic injury.

'This image shows the blood vessels in a regenerated zebrafsh tail fin,' Chapman said. 'The cells forming the blood vessels are labelled with a red fluorescent reporter.

'Whether regeneration is a primitive or adaptive trait to environmental conditions is the subject of much debate, and the mechanisms underlying the regeneration process are not yet fully understood.'

Lastly, the editors pick is entitled 'Eerie Stalker' and was taken by Dimitri Ouboter from the Institute for Neotropical Wildlife and Environmental Studies in Suriname, South America.

It shows a giant gladiator frog seconds before escaping from an attempted snake attack. Giant gladiator frogs have been previously observed escaping from the jaws of snakes by emitting distress calls, jumping and inflating their lungs, making it harder for small snakes to hold on to them.

Best image for 'ecological developmental biology': A zebrafish regrew its tail fin only two weeks after the appendage was clipped at the white horizontal dotted line

'It isnt often you come upon the behavioural interaction of two species so I was ecstatic to be able to capture part of it,' said Ouboter.

'I was walking at night surveying some pools when I saw this snake sneak up on a frog. Seconds after this photo was taken, the snake (Helicops angulatus) struck out at this giant gladiator frog (Boana boans).

'The frog got away  all the better as it may have been a meal too big to handle for the snake. If it had succeeded in biting the frog, the fight would have been far from over.

'This species of frog has been observed to escape from the jaws of snakes on at least two occasions, employing multiple defensive techniques such as emitting distress calls, jumping and lung infation, making it harder for small snakes to hold on to them. Excellent survival strategies.'

All the successful entries are detailed in BMC Ecology and Evolution, which is an open access, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to all aspects of ecological and evolutionary biology.

2021 marks the first year of the BMC Ecology and Evolution image competition and follows on from the BMC Ecology competition, which ran for seven years until BMC Ecology merged with BMC Evolutionary Biology to form BMC Ecology and Evolution.

Last year, the winner of the 2020 BMC Ecology image competition was a shot of a magnificent frigatebird chick dying of a viral infection in French Guiana.
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One of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year reached its peak on Thursday evening, with up to 40 shooting stars visible every hour in some areas.

Skywatchers across the UK had less of a show, with parts of the country covered in blanket cloud, and light pollution making fewer shooting stars visible in other areas.

The shower takes place when the Earth ploughs through debris left behind by the Swift-Tuttle Comet during its trips through the inner solar system.

Posting to UK Astronomy groups on social media, British skywatchers reported seeing between two and 20 shooting stars per hour in various parts of the country.

Also known as the 'fiery tears of Saint Lawrence', it was visible both north and south of the equator, with sensational images of the space rocks being shared from Russia, Spain, Macedonia, US and the UK.

NASA has warned that we may not get another 'good' view of the Perseid meteor shower until 2024.

'With a full Moon (and lower meteor activity) during the Perseids peak in 2022 and a waning crescent high in the sky for 2023, this might [have been] your best chance to do some summer skywatching for a few years.'

Scroll down for video

Twitter user Mary McIntyre captured this shooting star over Oxfordshire, UK on Thursday night while running two cameras to capture as much of the Perseids meteor shower as possible

A view of the Perseid meteor shower over the Church of St Paraskevi of Iconium in the village of Russkoye Khodyashevo in Russia's Republic of Tatarstan

A shooting star seen from the sanctuary of the Virgen de las Nieves more than 2,600 meters above sea level on August 12, 2021 in Sierra Nevada, Spain

Sam Binding captured this stunning image of a meteor flying over Stonehenge. He said there was a 'bucketload of mist arriving, which created the otherworldly starlight (Jupiterlight)' visible in the image

WHERE DO METEORS COME FROM? Meteors come from leftover comet particles and bits from broken asteroids. When comets come around the sun, they leave a dusty trail behind them. Every year Earth passes through these debris trails, letting the bits collide with our atmosphere and disintegrate, creating fiery streaks in the sky. Source: NASA Advertisement

Light pollution and cloud cover are the two biggest issues skywatchers face when staying out overnight to watch for shooting stars.

It means that rather than see the 40 per hour predicted, many will only be able to view a small handful of meteors.

The quality of the show from a meteor shower depends on a number of factors and can vary dramatically year-by-year, according to NASA, with light pollution having a major impact.

Bill Cooke from the US space agency said the Perseids have a theoretical maximum of 100 per hour, but in reality many people will see far fewer.

'In the 1980s, meteor researchers were searching for a way to compare the meteor shower rates observed by various individuals and groups across the globe,' he said.

The rate published each year, in this case 40 per hour, known as the Zenithal Hourly Rate, is based on what the perfect observer would see under perfect skies if it was straight ahead. That never happens, said Cooke.

Conditions in the area, such as light pollution levels, cloud cover and the position of the radiant of the shower, all play a part in the true number visible per hour.

As well as capturing a picture of a shooting star from the Perseids meteor shower, Twitter user Mary McIntyre also photographed an explosive star in the form of Kappa Cygnid, seen next to Jupiter in this image

Perseid meteor shower at Tres Mares peak, in Cantabria, northern Spain. One of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year reached its peak on Thursday evening, with up to 40 shooting stars visible every hour in some areas

A Perseid meteor streaks across the night sky over Izmir, Turkey on August 13, 2021. The shower takes place when the Earth ploughs through debris left behind by the Swift-Tuttle Comet during its trips through the inner solar system

A double one on camera!!! #Perseids

(and two shorter, but colourful ones).

They all emerge from a bit below Cassiopeia, so most likely this was indeed the end for some Swift-Tuttle leftovers... pic.twitter.com/gmYVybusT1  Philippe Smet (@pfsmet) August 13, 2021

In the UK and US countryside, with clear skies and no cloud, you could expect to see about 40 per hour, or one every couple of minutes, but it is likely to be less.

Even in the best conditions, the quality of the shower can also depend on the phase of the moon and even your own eyesight.

In an area of higher light pollution it will drop to about 10 or less per hour, and in a city such as London it will drop to one or two at most.

A Perseid meteor streaks above a sandstone outcropping at Redstone in the Pinto Valley wilderness area on August 12, 2021 in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada

In this 30 second cameras exposure, a meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower, Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, in Spruce Knob, West Virginia

This is why astronomers recommend those wanting to catch a glimpse of a meteor shower to find somewhere away from the lights of towns, cities, buildings and trees, and where there is a clear view of the horizon.

At this year's peak, the moon was in a thin crescent phase, creating perfect viewing conditions without interference from moonlight because it will only be at about 20 per cent illumination.

A Perseid meteor streaks across the night sky over Izmir, Turkey. Posting to UK Astronomy groups on social media, British skywatchers reported seeing between two and 20 shooting stars per hour in various parts of the country

Perseid meteorites streak over the stone dools near the village of Kuklica in the municipality of Kratovo, Northern Macedonia, an area of naturally formed stone pillars that resemble humans

WHAT IS THE SWIFT-TUTTLE COMET? The pieces of space debris that interact with our atmosphere to create the popular Perseids meteor shower originate from Swift-Tuttle. This annual meteor shower takes place each August, and peaks mid-month. It was Giovanni Schiaparelli who realised in 1865 that this comet was the source of the Perseids. Comet Swift-Tuttle was discovered in 1862 independently by both Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle. Swift-Tuttle is a large comet  its nucleus is 16 miles (26 kilometers) across  and it last passed near Earth in 1992. Source: NASA Advertisement

The Perseids actually started in mid-July, reaching their full illumination on Thursday when the Earth passes through the bulk of the debris.

When comets travel close to the sun, they heat up and disintegrate. If this happens in Earth's path around the sun, they can head towards our atmosphere at high speeds.

The superheated air around the meteors glows and leaves behind trails of light and explosions in the form of fireballs.

The Swift-Tuttle Comet, which causes the Perseids, spans 16-miles wide and is formed of ice and rock.

It ploughs through our Solar System once every 133 years, with the last pass in 1992.

The comet will come within one million miles of Earth on August 5, 2126 and August 24, 2261.

The name 'Perseids meteor shower' comes from the fact meteors appear to shoot out from the Perseus constellation  the 24th largest constellation in the sky.

The event is best for viewing in the Northern Hemisphere, according to Dr Massey.

'The radiant for the Perseids  the point in the sky the meteors appear to come from  is in Perseus, and high in the Northern Hemisphere of the sky,' he said.

'It's 58 degrees north of the celestial equator, which means it would be overhead from 58 degrees north (the latitude of places like Ullapool in Scotland).

'This also means the radiant never rises for places south of 32 degrees south, so the southernmost parts of Australia, and much of Argentina and Chile.

Milky way during Perseid meteor shower at Tres Mares peak, in Cantabria, northern Spain. NASA has warned that due to a variety of reasons we may not get another 'good' view of the Perseids meteor shower until 2024

Perseid meteorites streak over the stone dools near the village of Kuklica in the municipality of Kratovo, Northern Macedonia. Light pollution and cloud cover are the two biggest issues skywatchers face when staying out overnight to watch for shooting stars

A shooting star and the Milky Way seen from the sanctuary of the Virgen de las Nieves more than 2,600 meters above sea level. The quality of the show from a meteor shower depends on a number of factors and can vary dramatically year-by-year, according to NASA, with light pollution having a major impact

'The upshot is that the Northern Hemisphere has the best potential view, as the radiant is higher in the sky and visible for longer, so in theory more meteors are visible.

'As you move further south the number declines, and south of 32 degrees south essentially none are seen.'

The sparkling show is set to continue over the Northern Hemisphere for a few days after the peak with reduced activity. .

The next major meteor shower will be the Draconids in October, although it tends to be a less active shower than the Perseids.

Several shooting stars next to the Milky Way seen from the sanctuary of the Virgen de las Nieves in Sierra Nevada, Spain. The Perseids actually started in mid-July, reaching their full illumination on Thursday when the Earth passes through the bulk of the debris

View of a Perseid meteor shower in the Tatra Mountains, southern Poland, 13 August 2021. The name 'Perseids meteor shower' comes from the fact meteors appear to shoot out from the Perseus constellation  the 24th largest constellation in the sky
The European Space Agency Solar Orbiter probe has sent back footage of Venus two days after passing less than 5,000 miles from the surface of the hellish world.

Both the Solar Orbiter and BepiColombo probes operated by ESA made a flyby of Venus this week, in a bid to use its gravity for a speed boost to their final destination.

Solar Orbiter is on its way to the sun, and while passing Venus turned its Heliospheric Imager (SoloHI) telescope to capture a gleaming view of the planet.

The video and images show Venus approaching from the left while the sun is off camera to the upper right, with the nightside of the planet part hidden from view.

Like the ESA BepiColombo images published yesterday, they are in black and white with minimal detail as the cameras weren't designed for use on Venus.

The double flyby offers ESA astronomers a chance to study Earth's sister-planet Venus from different locations at the same time, and places rarely visited by probes.

Both the Solar Orbiter (artist impression) and BepiColombo probes operated by ESA made a flyby of Venus this week, in a bid to use its gravity for a speed boost to their final destination.

The European Space Agency Solar Orbiter probe has sent back footage and images of Venus two days after passing less than 5,000 miles from the surface of the hellish world

VENUS: THE BASICS Venus, the second planet from the sun, is a rocky planet about the same size and mass of the Earth. However, its atmosphere is radically different to ours - being 96 per cent carbon dioxide and having a surface temperature of 867F (464C) and pressure 92 times that of on the Earth. The inhospitable planet is swaddled in clouds of sulphuric acid that make the surface impossible to glimpse via the visible light spectrum. In the past, Venus likely had oceans similar to Earth's - but these would have vaporised as it underwent a runaway greenhouse effect. The surface of Venus is a dry desertscape, which is periodically changed by volcanic activity. The planet has no moons and orbits the Sun every 224.7 Earth days. Advertisement

The planet's nightside, the part hidden from the sun, appears as a dark semicircle surrounded by a bright crescent of light, which is glare from the Venus sunlit side.

'Ideally, we would have been able to resolve some features on the nightside of the planet, but there was just too much signal from the dayside.' said Phillip Hess, astrophysicist at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC

'Only a sliver of the dayside appears in the images, but it reflects enough sunlight to cause the bright crescent and the diffracted rays that come from the surface.'

Two bright stars are also visible in the background early in the sequence, before being eclipsed by the planet.

The rightmost is Omicron Tauri, and above and to the left of it is Xi Tauri, which is actually a quadruple star system. Both are part of the Taurus constellation.

This was Solar Orbiter's second Venus flyby, with an Earth flyby in November 2021 and six more Venus flybys planned from 2022 to 2030.

The spacecraft uses Venus' gravity to draw it closer to the Sun and tilt its orbit, swinging it up and out so as to 'look down' on the Sun.

From this vantage point, Solar Orbiter will eventually capture the first images of the sun's north and south poles.

Solar Orbiter is on its way to study the polar regions of the sun in a bid to better understand its 11-year cycle, as well as capture the polar regions.

It made its approach to Venus at 05:42 BST, ESA said, coming within 4,967 of the planet. That was just 33 hours before the BepiColombo fly-by of Venus.

ESA said it wasn't possible to take high-resolution imagery of Venus with the science cameras onboard either mission, so what is shared would be low-resolution.

Solar Orbiter must remain facing the sun, and the main camera onboard BepiColombo is shielded by the transfer module that will deliver the two planetary orbiters to Mercury, according to ESA officials.

Despite reaching Venus second, the pictures from BepiColombo came back first, s the Solar Oribiter had to wait until it had moved further from the planet to take its images and then send them back to the Earth.

Solar Orbiter has been acquiring data near-constantly since launch in February 2020 with its four instruments that measure the environment around the spacecraft itself.

The planet's nightside, the part hidden from the sun, appears as a dark semicircle surrounded by a bright crescent of light, which is glare from the Venus sunlit side

Both the Solar Orbiter and BepiColombo are using the gravitational pull of Venus to help them drop a little bit of orbital energy to reach their destinations at the centre of the solar system

HOW WILL BEPICOLOMBO GET TO MERCURY? BepiColombo's two orbiters, Japan's Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter and the ESA's Mercury Planetary Orbiter, will be carried together. The carrier will use electric propulsion and gravity-assists at Earth, Venus and Mercury in its 7.2 year journey. Once at Mercury, they will separate and move into their own orbits to make complementary measurements of Mercury's interior, surface, exosphere and magnetosphere. The information will tell us more about the origin and evolution of a planet close to its parent star, providing a better understanding of the overall evolution of our own Solar System. BepiColombo features three components that will separate: Mercury Transfer Module (MTM) for propulsion, built by the European Space Agency (ESA) Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) built by ESA Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO) or MIO built by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Advertisement

Both Solar Orbiter and BepiColombo's Mercury Planetary Orbiter and Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter collected data on the magnetic and plasma environment of Venus from different locations around the planet.

JAXA's Akatsuki spacecraft is already in orbit around Venus, creating a unique constellation of datapoints on the mysterious hot world.

It will take many months to collate the coordinated flyby measurements and analyse them in a meaningful way, so information won't be available straight away, ESA explained.

The data collected during the flybys will also provide useful inputs to ESA's future Venus orbiter, EnVision, which will launch to the planet in the 2030s.

Solar Orbiter and BepiColombo both have one more flyby of Venus this year.

BepiColombo will see Mercury for the first time overnight on October 1, making its first of six flybys of Mercury  with this one from just just over 100 miles.

The two planetary orbiters will be delivered into Mercury orbit in late 2025, tasked with studying all aspects of this mysterious inner planet.

This includes its core to surface processes, magnetic field, and exosphere, to better understand the origin and evolution of a planet close to its parent star.

On November 27, Solar Orbiter will make a final flyby of Earth, coming just under 300 miles from the surface, kicking off the start of its main mission.

It will continue to make regular flybys of Venus to progressively increase its orbit inclination to best observe the sun's uncharted polar regions.

Solar scientists say understanding and imaging the polar regions of our star is key to understanding its 11 year activity cycle.

Both NASA and the European Space Agency are sending spacecraft to study Venus in more detail in the 2030s, where they will explore how it became so different to the Earth, despite having a similar origin.

BepiColombo, a collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), snapped a black and white image of Earth's twin when it was 977 miles away

The double flyby offers ESA astronomers a chance to study Earth's sister-planet Venus from different locations at the same time, and places rarely visited by probes
A new artificial intelligence (AI) platform monitors vital signs of employees when they look at their smartphone to see if they're sick.

Binah Teams, created by Israeli company Binah, comes in the form of an application for smartphones, as well as tablets, laptops and desktops.

Once installed, an employee, student or any other team member just has to look at their device's camera for the AI to determine vital signs like heart rate, oxygen saturation and respiratory rate in a couple of minutes.

The results could help a business remotely determine 'with medical grade accuracy' if a team member really is ill, although employees couldn't legally be forced to use it.

The company stresses that its application 'does not save images or input video streams used for measurement' to assuage privacy concerns.

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HOW DOES IT WORK? Users can measure vital signs in a matter of seconds, at any time and from any location using their smartphone, laptop, or desktop. They just have to open the app and point the camera at the face for 45 seconds. Light from surrounding environment or device torch penetrates the skin and reflects off blood vessels to camera. Binah.ai connects to camera and receives captured video stream. Region of interest (ROI) is cropped by the AI from full image. Skin detection is performed on each ROI followed by extraction of RGB (red, green, blue) light. Each vital sign is calculated based on varying quantities of data. Results appear within 10 seconds to 1 min. Advertisement

Jake Moore, a cybersecurity specialist at ESET, told MailOnline that it could be used as 'simply another tool in HR', although employees could likely decline to use it considering data about whether they're ill or not gets fed back to bosses.

'There is already software available to monitor employees work and screen time but health monitoring by employers is the next level of intrusion that is potentially riddled with many false positives,' he said.

'Smartphones and artificial intelligence are an impressive mix but Im not sure they are smart enough to take the role of a GP just yet.'

According to Binah, the app only needs a device's camera for the AI to detect small changes in colour that indicate sickness, which are too subtle for the human eye to notice.

'Basically we're following around the tiny colour changes that are happening to the skin and the tiny colour changes indicate the blood flow that is happening below the skin surface,' Binah co-founder and CEO David Maman told Times of Israel.

Users would open the application on their device and look into the camera for up to 45 seconds so the AI can get a video of their face for analysis.

Cameras can record video at a rate of 30 to 120 frames per second  and it's these individual frames that the AI analyses, not the video as a whole.

That means from just 45 seconds of footage, the AI is looking at an impressive 5,400 frames of the person's face.

It processes the differences between red, green and blue (RGB) light reflected by the skin in the frames, to reveal things like heart rate, oxygen saturation and respiration rate based on blood pulse.

The company stresses that its application 'does not save images or input video streams used for measurement' to assuage privacy concerns

'The pulse is actually the peak that is happening as part of the blood flow,' said Maman. 'You can actually see the peak in RGB colours that you extract from the persons face.

'Its such a tiny change that our eye cannot even track it, but the RGB signals that are extracted from the face are sensitive to those tiny changes.'

Users would open the application on their device and look into the camera for up to 45 seconds so the AI can get a video of their face for analysis

According to the firm, results are displayed on both the user's account and a team portal instantly, for the benefit of all team members, within 10 seconds to 1 minute after the 45-second scan is complete.

Users can perform a vital signs scan even when not connected to the internet, although they need to be connected for data to be stored and shared.

Just with any AI model, the technology required extensive training for detecting another vital sign  blood pressure, which is more difficult to measure.

The firm had to build a massive data set of video footage of hundreds of people connected to medical devices in hospitals.

Multiple visual 'indicators' of those with high pressure were used to help the model ascertain if a fresh face has high blood pressure, Maman said.

The app only works with up to date technology  on an Apple phone, only iPhone 8 or more recent, for example  and won't work under poor light conditions.

If an employee is actually quite sick, the technology cannot be used to make medical decisions, such as making an assessment that would lead to a prescription, because it has not yet been approved for medical use.

Binah is now working on adding other vital sign detection capabilities to its product, including body temperature and blood alcohol levels.

Binah Teams, created by Israeli company Binah, comes in the form of an application for smartphones, as well as tablets, laptops and desktops

According to the company, their product suits the thousands of employees who are now working remotely permanently due to the Covid pandemic, who can't be in the office for physical checks.

Combining multiple different checks in one solution is also more feasible than multiple test kits being sent in the post.

'People understand that the future is not to send you dozens of different devices that you will own and have available for yourself,' Maman said.

'Its actually that any smartphone will be able to provide those kinds of services.

'There are places that dont even have a sewer system but everyone has a smartphone.'
Expressions of outrage are effectively encouraged on platforms like Facebook and Twitter because they are rewarded with 'likes' and 'shares', a study has concluded.

Researchers from Yale University used artificial intelligence to scan the tweets of more than 7,000 individuals and see how levels or moral outrage changed with time.

Their analysis revealed that the more positive responses people got for expressing outrage online, the more likely they were to post more indignant content in future.

They also found politically moderate individuals to be more susceptible to the social rewards of expressing outrage  showing how they may be radicalised over time.

These findings challenge the claims of social media firms that their platforms just provide a neutral venue for conversations that would otherwise happen elsewhere.

Expressions of outrage are effectively encouraged on platforms like Facebook and Twitter because they are rewarded with 'likes' and 'shares', a study has concluded

'Amplification of moral outrage is a clear consequence of social media's business model, which optimises for user engagement,' said paper author and psychologist Molly Crockett of Yale University.

'Given that moral outrage plays a crucial role in social and political change, we should be aware that tech companies, through the design of their platforms, have the ability to influence the success or failure of collective movements.

'Our data show that social media platforms do not merely reflect what is happening in society. Platforms create incentives that change how users react to political events over time.'

In their study, Professor Crockett and colleagues developed a machine-learning powered AI system that was capable of detecting moral outrage in Twitter postings.

Using this, they analysed a total of 12.7 million tweets from 7,331 individuals to determine if users tended to express more outrage over time.

The team found that those users who received more 'likes' and 'retweets' in response to their expressions of outrage were significantly more likely to express outrage in the subsequent post that they made.

To validate these findings, the researchers went on to perform two controlled behavioural experiments involving 240 volunteers who used a simulated, Twitter-like social media platform.

These tests also found that being rewarded for expressing outrage encouraged users to act more outraged over time.

Based on their original analysis, the team also found that outrage was more extensively expressed among members of politically extreme online networks  but that politically moderate users of social media were more influenced by the rewards.

'Our studies find that people with politically moderate friends and followers are more sensitive to social feedback that reinforces their outrage expressions,' explained Professor Crockett.

'This suggests a mechanism for how moderate groups can become politically radicalised over time  the rewards of social media create positive feedback loops that exacerbate outrage.'

'This is the first evidence that some people learn to express more outrage over time because they are rewarded by the basic design of social media,' said paper author and psychologist William Brady, also of Yale.

He added: 'Social media's incentives are changing the tone of our political conversations online.'

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Science Advances.
They're here. Again.

Asian giant hornets, colloquially known as murder hornets, are back in Washington state after a resident spotted a live insect, officials at the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) confirmed on Thursday.

The sighting occurred on August 11, near a rural area east of Blaine, in Whatcom County, Washington.

This is roughly two miles where the first Asian giant hornet nest, which contained 500 live specimens, including 200 queens, was eradicated in October 2020.

'This hornet is exhibiting the same behavior we saw last year  attacking paper wasp nests,' Sven Spichiger, WSDA managing entomologist said in a statement.

Murder hornets are back in Washington state after a resident spotted a live insect on August 11. This hornet was seen attacking paper wasp nests (pictured), similar to behavior seen last year

The sighting occurred near a rural area east of Blaine, in Whatcom County, Washington, roughly two miles where the first Asian giant hornet nest, which contained 500 live specimens, including 200 queens, was eradicated in October 2020

'If you have paper wasp nests on your property and live in the area, keep an eye on them and report any Asian giant hornets you see. Note the direction they fly off to as well.'

The WSDA said it will set live traps in an attempt to catch a live hornet, tag it and track it back to the nest.

In addition, the British Columbia government will set traps in Canada, roughly a half mile from the US-Canada border.

Those who spot the Asian giant hornet should report them online at agr.wa.gov/hornets, emailing hornets@agr.wa.gov or calling 1-800-443-6684.

Murder hornets kill honeybees, which are already under siege from mites, diseases and other factors. They have an extremely painful sting and are the world's largest hornet, at two inches

The discovery of the live Asian giant hornet follows news earlier this summer that a dead male Asian hornet was found in Snohomish County, Washington.

A Marysville resident found and reported the dead bug on June 4 via the agency's Hornet Watch Report Form.

Entomologists determined it was a male, but after they looked at its DNA and coloring, they believed it to be unrelated to the Whatcom County or Canadian murder hornets seen in 2019 and 2020.

The new finding highlights how important the public is to finding this invasive species, which can decimate entire hives of honeybees, which are already under siege from mites, diseases, pesticides and loss of food.

The Asian giant hornet, which has an extremely painful sting, is the world's largest hornet at two inches.

In March, Washington state said it was making plans for the 2021 murder hornet season, similar to last year's, emphasizing public outreach, reporting and trapping.

More than half of confirmed Asian giant hornet sightings in Washington and all in Canada came from the public, WSDA has previously stated.

The first confirmed detection of the hornet in the US was in December 2019 near Blaine and the first live hornet was trapped in July 2020

The first confirmed detection of the hornet in the US was in December 2019 near Blaine and the first live hornet was trapped in July 2020.

The invasive insect is normally found in China, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam and other Asian countries.

'The hornets enter a "slaughter phase" where they kill bees by decapitating them. They then defend the hive as their own, taking the brood to feed their own young,' the WSDA has said previously.

The agency has already killed six or seven hives in Washington State.

Despite their nickname, the hornets kill at most a few dozen people a year in Asia, and experts say it is probably far less but they do deliver painful stings to humans.

Hornets, wasps and bees typically found in the US kill an average of 62 people a year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A handheld railgun, which uses electricity rather than gunpowder to propel ammunition, is being sold in the US for the first time.

L.A.-based Arcflash Labs is accepting preorders for the GR-1 Anvil, available online for $3,375.

That includes the 20-pound rifle, a battery pack and a hard carrying case, though ammo and a charger are sold separately.

The GR-1 Anvil is an 8-stage semi-automatic high-voltage Gauss Rifle, billed as the world's first handheld coilgun.

The coils in a coilgun attract a ferromagnetic projectile down the barrel, accelerating it to ultra-high speeds: According to its specs, the Anvil is capable of accelerating a projectile up to 200-plus feet per second.

Using an advanced capacitor charging system, it can fire up to 20 rounds per minute at full power, or up to 100 rounds per minute at half power.

'It is the most powerful coilgun ever sold to the public,' according to the Arcflash Labs website, 'and also (very likely) the most powerful handheld coilgun ever built.'

There's about a six-month wait for orders, according to the site but buyers must also sign a full liability waiver prior to shipment.

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The GR-1 Anvil from Arcflash Labs is an 8-stage semi-automatic high-voltage Gauss Rifle, billed as the world's first handheld coilgun. The weapon uses electricity, rather than gunpowder, to accelerate a projectile down the barrel

The Anvil generates muzzle energy  the energy of the projectile as it leaves the barrel  of around 85 joules, according to New Scientist, comparable to high-end air rifles 'or about half the power of a .22 caliber rifle.'

That non-lethality is a selling point, according to Arcflash co-founder David Wirth, who started the company with Jason Murray, a fellow aerospace engineer and former Air Force officer.

'The scalable effects of a Gauss rifle would allow law enforcement to fire rubber bullets at a speed proportional to their distance to target, so they're less likely to injure someone if they're close and more likely to reach the intended target if they're far away,' Wirth told New Scientist.

Animal control experts could also use a coilgun to more efficiently and safely fire tranquilizer darts.

The $3,375 price tag includes the rifle, a battery pack and a hard carrying case. Ferromagnetic ammo and a charger are sold separately

While any steel rod with a diameter of under a half-inch could be used as ammo, Arcflash recommends its three standard projectiles 32 mm, 42 mm, and 52 mmand maintains it's not responsible for 'for damage to the unit or personal injury' caused by firing non-standard ammo.

Is the ANVIL the semi-automatic or Uzi of the future? Not just yet, say experts.

The Anvil's muzzle energy is comparable to high-end air rifles, or about half the power of a .22 caliber rifle. The impact is equivalent to that of a .22 short bullet, used in Olympic events and to hunt small game like rabbits

'If your prior exposure to Gauss rifles comes from laying waste to your video enemies in the Fallout series you may be slightly underwhelmed by the power of the real thing,' reported Field & Stream.

'Nevertheless, early firearms weren't that deadly either, and look where we are now.'

The hunting enthusiast site compares the impact from an Anvil projectile to a .22 short bullet, used in Olympic events and to hunt small game like rabbits.

'It is far more powerful than Arcflash Labs' earlier gun,' Field & Stream adds, 'which had about the same punch as a Daisy Red Ryder [BB gun].'

A haldheld Gauss rifle like the Anvil could be used by law enforcement to fire rubber bullets less likely to cause significant injury while still reaching targets that are further away

While the Anvil is handheld, militaries around the world have been interested in larger-scale railguns that could fire massive projectiles faster than the speed of sound to devastating effect.

Railguns have the capability of accelerating a projectile to Mach 6, equivalent to 5,400 miles an hour.

China expects to unveil a super-sized electromagnetic railgun on naval ships as soon as 2025.

Pictured: One of two electromagnetic railgun prototypes on display aboard joint high speed vessel USS Millinocket at Naval Base San Diego on July 8, 2014. For now, the Navy is suspending its railgun program

In July, the U.S. Navy announced it was pulling the plug on an electromagnetic railgun program it had spent more than 15 years and $500 million developing and even considered mounting on a warship.

But the mammoth weapon's limited range (about 110 miles) and frequent need for repairs made it impractical.
Two pilots over Canadian airspace reported seeing a 'bright green flying object' that flew into a cloud and 'disappeared' over the eastern part of the country last month.

The incident occurred on July 30, when a Canadian military plane - flying between CFB Trenton, a military base in Ontario and Cologne, Germany - and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight KLM618 - traveling from Boston to Amsterdam - saw the mysterious object.

Two pilots over Canadian airspace reported a 'bright green flying object' that flew into a cloud and 'disappeared'

A Canadian military plane and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight KLM618 saw the mysterious object on July 30. The military plane was flying between CFB Trenton, a base in Ontario and the passenger jet was traveling from Boston to Amsterdam

According to a post on the Canadian government's flight incident website, there was 'no impact to operations' on either plane.

According to the Canadian government, there was 'no impact to operations' on either plane

However, logistics expert and consultant Steffan Watkins looked at the flight data information and tweeted that the Canadian military plane, a CC-177 Globemaster III, 'made a change in course and had climbed 1,000 ft when they reported seeing the UFO.'

'So, I would like to know if the [Royal Canadian Air Force] pilot changed course to avoid it, changed course to see what it was, or if the swerve-like course correction was completely routine and just a coincidence,' Watkins added.

Logistics expert and consultant Steffan Watkins looked at the flight data information

Watkins saw that the military plane made a change in course and climbed 1,000 ft upon seeing the UFO

'So, I would like to know if the [Royal Canadian Air Force] pilot changed course to avoid it, changed course to see what it was, or if the swerve-like course correction was completely routine and just a coincidence,' Watkins added

Watkins added that the object could have been a meteor, given it took place at the early part of the Perseid meteor shower, which started July 14 and peaked earlier this week.

The government report is perhaps unsurprisingly, tagged 'weather balloon, meteor, rocket, CIRVIS/UFO.'

A spokesperson for the Royal Canadian Air Force confirmed the sighting to DailyMail.com.

'The crew saw something in the air, and reported it to NAV Canada as per standard procedure, before carrying on with their mission without further incident,' the spokesperson said in an email. 'While it is not known what they saw, there was nothing to indicate that it posed any kind of security concern or posed a safety risk to the aircraft.'

The RCAF spokesperson disputed Watkins' comments, adding that the craft did not take any evasive action and the 1,000ft climb was done 'simply for the aircraft to reach its oceanic entry point and altitude, which are a routine aspect of trans-oceanic flights.'

A spokesman for NAV Canada, the company that operates Canada's air traffic control, pointed DailyMail.com to the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS) website.

'This Canadian incident case is fascinating, not least for the light it sheds on how sightings are categorized not as UFOs, but as aviation occurrences,' Nick Pope, a former employee and UFO investigator for Britain's Ministry of Defense, told DailyMail.com via email.

'Part of this stems from historical reluctance on the part of pilots - civil and military - to report UFOs,' Pope added.

'Instead, these objects are described in terms of unidentified aircraft or drones, as potential air safety issues. What this means is that one has to trawl through all sorts of aviation occurrence reports and then read between the lines to find details of possible UFO encounters.'

Vice News was first to report on the incident with unidentified aerial phenomena.

Though Canada's Department of National Defense does not track UFO sightings, a department spokesperson told Vice, the US's neighbor to the north is acutely aware of these incidents.

In April, Canada revealed dozens of UFO reports made by commercial airline pilots, kept in the CADORS database.

Two months later, DailyMail.com reported that the Canadian military has 'dozens' of UFO reports that date back 70 years, with some reports describing 'bright' objects moving at speeds twice the rate of an F-86.

In 2015, former Canadian defense minister Paul Hellyer made the wild and controversial claim that governments are hiding aliens, many of whom 'walk among us.'

The incident over Canadian airspace comes after the US government released its report on the subject earlier this year that did little to settle the matter of what these objects are, one way or another.

The long-awaited report from the Pentagon on the subject of 'unidentified aerial phenomenon' (UAPs) offered no explanation for 140 of the 144 observations dating back to 2004.

The declassified June 25 report, which came from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, added that it lacks sufficient data to determine the nature of mysterious flying objects.

'In 18 incidents, described in 21 reports, observers reported unusual UAP movement patterns or flight characteristics,' the report reads.

'Some UAP appeared to remain stationary in winds aloft, move against the wind, maneuver abruptly, or move at considerable speed, without discernable means of propulsion. In a small number of cases, military aircraft systems processed radio frequency (RF) energy associated with UAP sightings.

'The UAPTF holds a small amount of data that appear to show UAP demonstrating acceleration or a degree of signature management. Additional rigorous analysis are necessary by multiple teams or groups of technical experts to determine the nature and validity of these data.

'We are conducting further analysis to determine if breakthrough technologies were demonstrated.'

The term UFO has been more recently replaced by unidentified aerial phenomenon, especially in light of the U.S. Pentagon declassifying three videos in April 2020.
A British artificial intelligence (AI) company has recreated Hollywood actor Val Kilmer's voice  with amazingly realistic results.

London-based firm Sonantic used the actor's voice recordings from throughout his career, which were fed to their AI to create the lifelike yet artificial mock-up.

Film producers could potentially use the tool  described as 'Photoshop for voice'  for voiceovers if they have a role in mind that would be suited to Kilmer's tones.

Kilmer, whose career has spanned nearly four decades, has starred in blockbusters such as Top Gun, Willow, The Doors, Tombstone and Batman Forever.

But after undergoing a tracheotomy in 2014 as part of his treatment for throat cancer, Kilmer's voice is now barely recognisable.

Luckily, Kilmer himself is also able to use the AI tool in his personal life, to help him communicate, rather than relying on a voice box to speak.

Val Kilmer, pictured here in 2019, underwent a tracheotomy in 2014 as part of his treatment for throat cancer and now speaks with a voice box

The artificial voice, which speaks in the first person as Kilmer in Sonantic's video, could easily be mistaken for the real thing.

Praising the results, the real Val Kilmer said: 'Im grateful to the entire team at Sonantic who masterfully restored my voice in a way Ive never imagined possible.

HOW WAS AI VAL KILMER MADE ? For the project, Sonantic gathered audio recordings of the actor from his films, which were digitally 'cleaned' to remove background noise. Next, the experts generated transcripts from the audio before pairing the audio and text together in short chunks that could be fed to the AI during its training. The firm generated more than 40 different voice models and selected the 'most expressive one', said CTO John Flynn. Kilmer can use the tool in his personal life, to help him communicate, by inputting new sentences for the AI to say. Advertisement

'As human beings, the ability to communicate is the core of our existence and the effects from throat cancer have made it difficult for others to understand me.

'The chance to tell my story, in a voice that feels authentic and familiar, is an incredibly special gift.'

Sonantic CTO and co-founder John Flynn described the ambitious project in a blog post on his company's website.

The firm is mostly used to working with video game studios like Obsidian, Embark, Sumo Digital to record dialogue for their characters.

Flynn told MailOnline his firm were approached by Kilmer's team late last year as they were creating the Amazon Prime documentary, Val.

'We all came together  Val as someone whod lost their voice and Sonantic as a company who creates best in class quality voices,' he said.

'There was lots of brainstorming around how we could work together and what we could do  poetry, interactive games, other promotional material for films he might be involved with.

'But it always came back to the fact we wanted to give him something for his craft, something that had flexibility to enable him to create moving forward, so we ended up creating a voice model for him.'

Val Kilmer (right) starred alongside Kurt Russell (left) in the 1993 movie 'Tombstone' directed by George P. Cosmatos

For the project, Sonantic gathered audio recordings of the actor from his films, which were digitally 'cleaned' to remove background noise.

Next, the experts generated transcripts from the audio before pairing the audio and text together in short chunks that could be fed to the AI during its training.

The firm generated more than 40 different voice models and selected the 'best, highest-quality and most expressive one'. The results left Kilmers son, Jack, close to tears.

'Wed worked on the voice model and heard it so many times, but when we played it for Val and his team it was incredibly emotional for us,' Flynn told MailOnline.

'I remember talking to Jack after presenting the voice model, and him telling us how powerful it was, like it was the first time hed heard his dads voice in years, so he was quite moved.'

Kilmer will be able to use the AI model in both his professional and personal life, according to Flynn.

'Kilmer can take part in TV or film productions that require voice overs or replacement dialogue that will be created by Sonantics easy-to-use computer app,' he told MailOnline. 'He can license that audio to different productions and studios.

Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison and Meg Ryan as Pamela Courson in the 1991 movie 'The Doors' - a film about musician and Doors frontman Jim Morrison

'The voice model can be used as a personalised replacement to robotic speech generating devices and help him communicate in his day-to-day life.'

The CTO wouldn't reveal to MailOnline whether his firm is working with any other actors in a similar way.

'We believe actors will always work real-life jobs but this gives them the opportunity to earn money doing virtual work too,' he said.

'For example, they can turn up for an important audition while their voice model works on an advertisement or other work.'

Amazon Prime Videos' autobiographical documentary of Val Kilmer's life, 'Val', was released on August 6.

The film contains thousands of hours of footage ranging from home videos to test shots for his iconic films such as Top Gun.
Mars' largest moon, Phobos, may be the key to answering one of science's greatest questions  was there life on the Red Planet?

Scientists from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) suggest asteroids that hit Mars billions of years ago may have sent ancient microbial life to its moon that are now 'dead remains' in its soil.

Dr. Ryuki Hydo, who is leading the research, told DailyMail.com in an email: 'Phobos is very unique in terms of its location to the host planet, Mars -- Phobos orbits very close to Mars (~3 times Mars radius).

'As a comparison, the Earth's moon orbits at ~60 times Earth's radius. So, we thought that if Mars has ever had life on it, it could be easily transferred to Phobos without a big impact on Mars that would destroy biosignatures within the ejecta (by impact melting/vaporization).'

The research refers to the dead remains as 'SHIGAI' (Sterilized and Harshly Irradiated Genes, and Ancient Imprints), which includes sterilized microorganisms and potential DNA fragments.

Hydo and his team are set to launch the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission in 2024, which will collect samples from the Phobos surface and return them to Earth five years later.

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Mars' largest moon, Phobos, may be the key to answering one of science's greatest questions  was there life on the Red Planet?

Dr James O'Donoghue, a planetary space scientists at JAXA, told DailyMail.com: 'Phobos is one of the best places to look for the remains of ancient life in the solar system, probably second only to Mars. I don't know if it will be found, but I've got my fingers crossed!'

Mars has two moons, Demios being the other, which are the smallest in the solar system.

Phobos orbits just 3,700 miles from the Martian surface  no known moons orbit closer  which is why it could be harboring ancient signs of life from its host planet.

Even if Martian lifeforms were transported to Phobos, Hydo said they died shortly after reaching the small moon or may have been destroyed during the impact-shock.

Scientists are set to launch the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission in 2024, which will collect samples from the Phobos (pictured) surface and return them to Earth five years later

When MMX launches in 2024, it 'will first orbit around Phobos, while we will study the surface in detail before selecting the landing site'

Hydo wrote in an article published in Science Magazine that Phobos' environment is highly inhospitable, as it does not have air or water, and its 'surface is constantly bathed in solar and galactic cosmic radiation.'

When MMX launches in 2024, it 'will first orbit around Phobos, while we will study the surface in detail before selecting the landing site,' explained Hyodo.

'Then, we will decide which region on Phobos would be the best to maximize the scientific outcomes.'

When the team lands the craft on Phobos' surface, it will use a driller/core system to extract samples that will then be brought back to Earth in 2029 for analysis.

'Even if microorganisms were present on the surface of Mars, sterilization via the collision or radiation will have occurred. The probability of a living microorganism in the Martian moon samples returned to Earth by the MMX project remains less than one million to one,' Hydo told DailyMail.com.

Scientists from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) suggest asteroids that hit Mars billions of years ago may have sent ancient microbial life to its moon and are now 'dead remains' in the soil

'Here, being 'dead' is very important because there is an international rule, 'planetary protection', defined by COSPAR. This international regulation says that we cannot bring back any living life-from from outside the Earth because it may be dangerous to Earth life-forms.'

NASA's Perseverance is currently on Mars searching the Jezero Crater for such ancient signs of life.

Perseverance, nicknamed Perky, landed on Mars on February 18, following a 239-million-mile journey, it spent the first few months helping the Ingenuity helicopter.

It has now begun its primary mission on the Red Planet, to look for traces of ancient life signs that could suggest microbial life evolved on Mars billions of years ago.

As part of this is it hoping to collect samples to be studied in much more advanced laboratories back on Earth.

Perseverance is carrying seven instruments that analyze samples from the surface, including an advanced panoramic camera, a ground-penetrating radar and an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer for analysis of chemical elements.

Selected samples will be collected by drilling down to nearly three inches and then sealed in special sample tubes and stored on the rover.

When the rover reaches a suitable location, the tubes will dropped on the surface and collected by a future retrieval mission, which is currently being developed.

Currently, NASA and ESA plan to launch two more spacecraft that would leave Earth in 2026 and reach Mars in 2028.

The first will deploy a small ESA Fetch rover, being built in the UK, which will make its way to Perseverance, pick up the filled sampling tubes and transfer them to a Mars ascent vehicle  a small rocket.
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One month after North America set a record for the hottest June ever, July topped it, becoming the hottest month in recorded history, officials said on Friday - days after a dire climate change report from the UN.

The combined land and ocean-surface temperature was 1.67F (0.93C) above the 20th-century average of 60.4 (15.8C), the hottest since record keeping started 142 years ago, according to data released from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released on Friday.

The combined temperature was 0.02F above the previous record, which was initially set in July 2016, then tied in July 2019 and July 2020, the agency added.

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July 2021 has become the hottest July ever and the hottest month in recorded history, NOAA said on Friday

NOAA also noted the land-surface temperature in the Northern Hemisphere was 2.77F above average last month, surpassing the record from 2012.

Breaking the data down further, NOAA said Asia had its hottest July on record, while Europe had its second-hottest - tied with July 2010 - behind July 2018.

North America, South America, Africa and Oceania all had July temperatures in their respective top-10 lists.

The combined land and ocean-surface temperature was 1.67F above the 20th-century average and the hottest since record keeping started 142 years ago. The combined temperature was 0.02F above the previous record, initially set in July 2016, then tied in July 2019 and July 2020

The land-surface temperature in the Northern Hemisphere was 2.77F above average last month, surpassing the record from 2012. Asia had its hottest July on record, Europe had its second-hottest and North America, South America, Africa and Oceania all experienced July temperatures in their respective top-10 lists

'In this case, first place is the worst place to be,' said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad in a statement.

'July is typically the world's warmest month of the year, but July 2021 outdid itself as the hottest July and month ever recorded. This new record adds to the disturbing and disruptive path that climate change has set for the globe.'

Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean was the fourth-smallest coverage area in 43 years of analysis, NOAA said on Friday

Antarctic sea ice coverage was above average, the largest since July 2015 and the eighth highest on record, NOAA said

The report also noted that sea ice in the Arctic Ocean was the fourth-smallest coverage area in 43 years of analysis, behind July 2012, July 2019 and July 2020, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center.

Antarctic sea ice coverage was above average, the largest since July 2015 and the eighth highest on record.

NOAA highlighted the above-normal number of named storms in the tropics, with Elsa, the fifth named storm, having formed on July 1.

'With last months data, it remains very likely that 2021 will rank among the worlds 10-warmest years on record,' NOAA wrote in the statement.

July's searing temperatures were aided in part by an extreme heatwave in Canada that has stretched down to Washington and Oregon creating record temperatures while California is suffering from forest fires.

The 'once in 10,000 years' event is being caused by a heat dome, which means the warmth extends high into the atmosphere and impacts pressure and wind patterns.

The 'once in 10,000 years' event is being caused by a heat dome, which means the warmth extends high into the atmosphere and impacts pressure and wind patterns

A mountain of hot air is trapped by high-pressure conditions, further heating its and compressing it like a lid and wedging the high pressure between areas of low pressure, pushing cooler air away.

A significant portion of the western US is also dealing with a drought that has brought on a crisis to the diverse basin filled with flat vistas of sprawling alfalfa and potato fields, teeming wetlands and steep canyons of old-growth forests.

Earlier this year, analysis from NOAA forecast that the US would experience a hotter than normal summer, as climate change continues to disrupt weather patterns all over the planet.

NOAA's analysis of July's record temperatures come in light of the United Nation's damning report that said global warming is already causing extreme weather and the world will see a temperature increase of 2.7F by 2040, compared to a previous forecast between 2030 and 2052.

Additionally, heatwaves, flooding and droughts will become more frequent and intense, according to the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment, released earlier this week.

It is 'unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, oceans and land,' the report warned.

The lengthy report added that it is virtually certain' heatwaves 'have become more frequent and more intense across most land regions' and a rise in sea levels approaching 6 feet by the end of this century 'cannot be ruled out.'

Humans have already heated the planet by roughly 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1C), since the 19th century, largely by burning coal, oil and gas for energy  with the US being one of the world's top producers.

Scientists largely agree that temperatures could rise anywhere between 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 degrees Celsius) and 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius) by the end of the century, due to rising carbon emissions and greenhouse gases.
Scientists have determined forests in temperate zones like the United States are a key tool in combatting climate change because of their ability to draw cooling clouds.

Environmental engineers at Princeton University analyzed satellite records of cloud cover at latitudes of between 30 and 45 degreesa region encompassing much of the US and Eurasiafrom 2001 to 2010.

Comparing conditions in areas where forests had been planted or replanted with regions without tree cover, they found forests in midlatitudes attracted more clouds, helping to reflect sunlight back into space and keeping the area cooler.

The clouds formed are the right kind, IFLScience reports: Thick, long-hanging strati that form earlier in the day, when the sun is higher, thereby enhancing their cooling effects.

'If one considers that clouds tend to form more frequently over forested areas, then planting trees over large areas is advantageous and should be done for climate purposes,' the study's senior author, Amilcare Porporato, an environmental engineer at Princeton's High Meadows Environmental Institute, said in a statement.

The research was published this month in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Forests in midlatitude regions like the United States and Eurasia have a net beneficial impact on combatting global warming, according to a new report from Princeton University, thanks to their ability to attract clouds that can reflect sunlight back into space

The reflectiveness of the Earth's surface, known as the 'albedo,' is a key factor in both global and regional climate.

'Forests absorb large amounts of solar radiation as a result of having a low albedo,' the researchers said in the release.

Trees absorb carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas, but their leaves are darker than grasslands and desert and could trap excess heat.

In tropic zones, any warming caused by forest cover is far outweighed by the carbon the trees store but climate experts were unsure that principle held once you moved into more temperate climes, where you don't have year-round vegetation.

Black dots on this map represent forested areas, while green dots represent grasslands and other short vegetation. Areas are shaded from cloudiest (white) to least cloudy (brown)

'In the tropics, low albedo is offset by the higher uptake of carbon dioxide by the dense, year-round vegetation,' Porporato said.

'But in temperate climates, the concern is that the sun's trapped heat could counteract any cooling effect forests would provide by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.'

Because of the albedo question, 'nobody has known whether planting trees at midlatitudes is good or bad,' Porporato added.

Since clouds tend to form more frequently over forested areas, 'planting trees over large areas is advantageous and should be done for climate purposes,' says Amilcare Porporato, an environmental engineer at Princeton's High Meadows Environmental Institute

'We show that if one considers that clouds tend to form more frequently over forested areas, then planting trees over large areas is advantageous and should be done for climate purposes.'

Tree-planting is not always the solution to climate change, though: In northern climates, it can have a net warming effect.

Some critics have said planting trees is an ineffective strategy because the land needed to achieve global 'net zero' carbon targets by 2050 would be five times the size of India.

Earlier this month, Oxfam said at least 3 billion acres of new forest land would be needed to offset emissions, and reaching that goal was 'mathematically impossible.'

In a report, Oxfam warned that offsetting global carbon emissions worldwide by planting trees was 'mathematically impossible,' as it would require an area five times the size of India

More than 120 countries, including the EU, Japan and South Korea, have vowed to be 'net zero' by the middle of the 21st century.

THE AMAZON RAINFOREST: FROM CARBON SINK TO EMITTER The largest forest in the world, the Amazon rainforest, has actually shifted from being a carbon absorber to a carbon emitter because of extensive logging and raging wildfires. A July report in the journal Nature found the Amazon was actually 'fueling' global warming. Logging in Brazil has tilted the Amazon from a carbon 'sink' to a carbon emitter Scientists at the National Institute for Space Research in Sao Jose dos Campos reported southeastern Amazonia  about 20 percent of the entire rainforest  has switched from being a buffer to a substantial source of CO2. Without all the deforestation, the Amazon could soak up carbon emitted by human activity, forestalling the worst impacts of climate change, said lead author Luciana Gatti. But millions of trees have been lost to fire and logging and are releasing CO2 as they die. Historically the Amazon has slowed the pace of climate change by storing up to 200 gigatons of carbon, equivalent to five years worth of human emissions. It's green leaves convert carbon through photosynthesis into carbohydrates that end up in the trees' trunks and branches, acting as a 'carbon sink.' But 'factors such as deforestation and climate change are thought to have stimulated a decrease in the capacity,' Gatti said in a statement. 'They have altered the local balance of carbon gases, which is indicative of the health of an ecosystem.' Advertisement

The pledge involves offsetting unavoidable emissions by removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere with new technologies and nature-based strategies.

Oxfam calculated that the tree-planting goals of four of the world's largest oil and gas corporations  Shell, Eni, Total and BP  would require an area twice the size of the UK to meet 'net-zero' targets.

Shell alone would need an area the size of Honduras by 2030, the anti-poverty nonprofit stated.

In 'Tightening the Net,' Oxfam International warned that if countries and companies over-rely on tree-planting to meet 'net zero' targets, global food prices could soar 80 percent over the next three decades.

Governments and corporations are 'hiding behind unreliable, unproven and unrealistic 'carbon removal' schemes in order to claim their 2050 climate change plans will be 'net zero,' the agency said in a release.

'We will be hoodwinked by 'net-zero' targets if all they amount to are smokescreens for dirty business-as-usual,' Nafkote Dabi, Oxfam climate change director said in a release.

'Net zero should be based on 'real zero' targets that require drastic and genuine cuts in emissions, phasing out fossil fuels and investing in clean energy and supply chains.

'Instead, too many 'net zero' commitments provide a fig leaf for climate inaction. They are a dangerous gamble with our planet's future.'

'Nature and land-based carbon removal schemes are an important part of the mix of efforts needed to stop global emissions,' Dabi added,

'But they must be pursued in a much more cautious way. Under current plans, there is simply not enough land in the world to realize them all.

'They could instead spark even more hunger, land grabs and human rights abuses, while polluters use them as an alibi to keep polluting.'

She called relying on planting trees rather than legitimately focusing shifting away from fossil fuel-dependent economies 'a dangerous folly.'

Eni told Oxfam that nature-based solutions were 'crucial' to achieve carbon neutrality goals in the long-term, while Total said it operated on the principle that 'natural carbon sinks must be connected to an agricultural or forestry value chain that is local and sustainable.'

Shell maintains its 2050 goal did not rely on extensive reforestation, while BP also said it was not relying on offsets to meet 2030 emission reduction targets.
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Fancy a refreshing dip?

Then head to France and dive in, because the water there is particularly lovely - as a stunning travel guide reveals.

Wild Swimming France, written by Daniel Start, reveals 1,000 of the country's most magical wild swimming spots, taking the reader on an 'aquatic voyage into the wild heart of one of Europe's most beautiful countries... from the tranquil river beaches of the Ardeche and the secret canyons of the Languedoc, to the shimmering aquamarine pools of Corsica and the Alps'.

The book, the author states, documents some of the most beautiful traditional swimming locations in France, covering well-known classics and hidden local spots.

And what's more, to make sure you can pinpoint them, each entry contains detailed directions and even map co-ordinates.

Scroll down for MailOnline Travel's pick of some of the book's most eye-catching finds - as well as 10 crucial safety tips...

BRANTOME, PERIGORD VERT: Behold the picturesque island town of Brantome  the Venice of the Perigord region, Daniel points out. The waters here are shallow and clear and best explored by canoe he says, but there is swimming from the town beach or several river spots close by, such as Puy Joubert or Valeuil. Co-ordinates: 45.3638, 0.6528

ANGLES-SUR-LANGLIN, NOUVELLE-AQUITAINE REGION: This beautiful French village is overlooked by a romantic ruined chateau, notes Daniel, while below it, the old mill and lily-pad strewn pools seem unchanged since medieval times. Fancy a dip? Follow the footbridge over the shallows to the little island, and swim in deeper water from the roots of trees, says Daniel, or head downstream to the main pool below the island  a popular spot with space for picnics on the riverside.' Co-ordinates: 46.6942, 0.8808

LAC DES HUATS, GAVE DE GAUBE RIVER, PYRENEES NATIONAL PARK: Head here to enjoy a secluded pool, about a kilometre from the larger Lac De Gaube. Co-ordinates: 42.8427, -0.1400

CASCADE DAITONE, EVISA, CORSICA: A large beautiful mountain pool with a waterfall and surrounded by woodland, notes Daniel. Co-ordinates: 42.2679, 8.8309

RAVIN DE REDEBRAUS, ALPES-MARITIMES: Popular with families, [this is a] little oasis with a deep tub that gets the sun in the afternoon, explains Daniel. Co-ordinates: 43.8529, 7.3733

CASCADES DE ST-VINCENT & DES ANGLAIS, VERNET-LES-BAINS, PYRENEES-ORIENTALES: There are a series of impressive falls and white-granite plunge pools on the St-Vincent stream, Daniel reveals. And theyre reached via a pleasant, easy woodland walk. He continues: Follow yellow waymarks to Cascade de St-Vincent, probably the best for a plunge. Another 500m leads to Cascade des Anglais, also with pools. Co-ordinates: 42.5388, 2.4170

CHATEAU DE CENEVIERES, LA TOULZANIE, RIVER LA LOT: Here there is fine swimming at the weir with a view of the beautiful Chateau De Cenevieres above. Co-ordinates: 44.4623, 1.7567

PONT DARC, ARDECHE: The river Ardeche flows through this famous natural arch, with beaches on both sides. Daniel adds: Upstream you can climb up and into a cave tunnel and appear out of a hole high on the inside of the arch. Great for jumps. Incredibly busy  canoe madness  but worth visiting nonetheless. Co-ordinates: 44.3837, 4.4186

CHATEAU DE MONTARNAL, VIEILLEVIE, UPPER LOT: At the exquisitely restored medieval hamlet of Vieillevie, Daniel reveals that theres a chateau, tower and chapel, plus a sandy little swimming beach next to the car park. Co-ordinates: 44.6462, 2.4451

POILLY-SUR-SEREIN, SEREIN RIVER, BOURGOGNE-FRANCHE-COMTE, NORTH-CENTRAL FRANCE: Here, not far from the Moulin de Poilly B&B, water chutes through an exquisitely built, old stepped-stone weir into a perfect plunge pool. Co-ordinates: 47.7630, 3.8877

CHATEAU DE VAL ON THE DORDOGNE, AUVERGNE, SOUTH-CENTRAL FRANCE: There are beaches near this fairytale waterside chateau but they can get busy. As an alternative, there are quiet rocky shores near the village of Le Monteil that offer lovely views of it. Co-ordinates: 45.4352, 2.5015

PONT DU DIABLE, THUEYTS, ARDECHE: Here youll find jade green, beautifully clear water, with a canyon lined by volcanic basalt columns. Co-ordinates: 44.6711, 4.2213

CASTELBOUC, GORGES DU TARN, LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON: The Tarn is an exquisite swimming and canoeing river, says Daniel. And its home to the stunning village of Castelbouc. Co-ordinates: 44.3394, 3.4677

LES TOURS, RIVER LA VEZERE, LES EYZIESDE-TAYAC-SIREUIL, DORDOGNE: This spot is a shallow but beautiful stretch of the Vezere under white cliffs with caves and pebble islands, reveals Daniel. There are deeper pools under the overhanging rocks. Co-ordinates: 44.9496, 1.0216

LE GRAND SAUT, SOURCE DE LA LOUE, JURA MOUNTAINS: Here the Loue river gushes up out of a giant cave in the cliff face and spills into a giant pool. Co-ordinates: 47.0175, 6.2929

LE STYX, VERDON RIVER, PROVENCE-ALPES-COTE D'AZUR: The Verdon River, says Daniel, offers the most spectacular swimming in the region, with crystal-clear river pools to be found in some of the wildest parts of the river canyon. He continues: At the legendary Styx the Verdon passes through a gorge of carved white rock, then a cave and eventually disappears in a jumble of boulders.' Co-ordinates: 43.7521, 6.3239

LAC DE GAUBE, PYRENEES ATLANTIQUES: This ethereal, turquoise lake with beaches is backed by snowcapped peaks and has a large rock for diving. Co-ordinates: 42.8339, -0.1390

PLAGE DES TEMPLIERS, ARDECHE: This riverside beach on a beautiful S-shaped stretch of the Ardeche is popular with naturists, Daniel reveals. Co-ordinates: 44.3404, 4.5030

FORTERESSE DE CROZANT, LA CREUSE RIVER, CROZANT, NOUVELLE-AQUITAINE: These spectacular clifftop ruins are surrounded by water on three sides and are great fun to explore. Daniel says of the swimming opportunities here: Possible to descend to water on [the right] of final tower but better to swim from the boat launch ramp on the castle side of road bridge D30/D72 - but watch out for tour boats.' Co-ordinates: 46.3945, 1.6248

LOWER FALLS, SILLANS-LA-CASCADE VILLAGE, PROVENCE: Here theres a great mossy cliff and a huge luminous blue pool adorned with palms and vines, reveals Daniel. Sadly, he points out, swimming is now prohibited in the main pool due to a risk of rockfalls. However, there are smaller pools (pictured) all the way downstream until the stream reaches private houses. And its all well-signposted from the village. Co-ordinates: 43.5625, 6.1889

ST-LAURENT-LE-MINIER, LA VIS RIVER, LANGUEDOC: This is a superb and popular swimming hole on the beautiful Vis river, says Daniel, who adds that the river flows over a high weir/waterfall with deep pools and rock ledges below. Co-ordinates: 43.9247, 3.6624

CALVIGNAC, RIVER LOT: Here you can enjoy wooded river bays with views across to the lofty village of Calvignac, says Daniel. Co-ordinates: 44.4642, 1.7827

PONT DU GARD, GARD: This renowned French swimming spot comes with a multi-level Roman aqueduct, plus rocks for sunbathing and diving. Co-ordinates: 43.94668, 4.53305

CASCADE DE LARTIGUE, AUZAT, SOUTH-WESTERN FRANCE: A jade-green pool beneath falls in a delightful mountain valley, is Daniels summation here. Co-ordinates: 42.7090, 1.4076

CLUE DAIGLUN, ALPES-MARITIMES: In the mountains behind bustling Nice are some of the most spectacular canyons in France, a land of brilliant-white polished stone, aquamarine pools and wild mountains, writes Daniel. Water flowing down from the Alps has carved the soft, brilliant-white dolomite rock into smooth pools, chutes and spectacular rock formations. The image above shows the white slot canyon and one of the swimmable marble pools whittled by the region's L'Esteron river. Co-ordinates: 43.8637, 6.9058

GORGES DHERIC, LANGUEDOC: The jade-green Gouffre du Cerisier natural swimming pool sits beneath a waterfall and is set among the towering spires of the Caroux, says Daniel. And its filled with sweet, clear mountain water. There are many other pools along the well-signposted route from the village of Mons la Trivalle, adds the author. Co-ordinates: 43.5865, 2.9576

LICHERES BARQUE, CHARENTE DEPARTMENT, SOUTHWESTERN FRANCE: The main attraction on this beautiful deep stretch of river is the restored wooden ferryboat, says Daniel. Theres a chain to pull it from one bank to the other. Co-ordinates: 45.9010, 0.2229

SOURZAC, PERIGORD BLANC: Sourzac, reveals Daniel, is blessed with pretty riverbanks overlooking cliffs and the ancient church of St-Pierre-et-St-Paul, with its caves below. Co-ordinates: 45.0527, 0.3965

LABEAUME VILLAGE, ARDECHE: This is picture shows a blue stretch of the river Baume, a lesser-known tributary of the Ardeche, under towering cliffs. Theres a beach and a bridge at the village  which is often busy. Co-ordinates: 44.4482, 4.3086

PONT ROMAN DE FANGHETTO, ALPES-MARITIMES: A beautiful plunge pool below a Roman bridge (co-ordinates - 43.8895, 7.5353) mere yards south of the Italian border. Theres another good spot back in France, a few hundred metres upstream (43.8917, 7.5306), says Daniel

Wild Swimming France is out now, written by Daniel Start and published by Wild Things Publishing (18.99)
The rush for a holiday in France is on.

Skyscanner revealed that as a result of the country's status changing on the traffic light system, week-by-week bookings from the UK to France are up by 75 per cent.

According to the travel search site, the most-booked French airports are Paris, Marseille and Nice.

Skyscanner revealed that as a result of France's status changing on the traffic light system, week-by-week bookings from the UK to the country are up by 75 per cent. Pictured is Montmartre, Paris

The average prices for return airfares for these destinations are 102 for Paris, 164 for Marseille and 55 for Nice.

France moved from amber plus to 'amber' on Sunday, August 8, meaning fully-vaccinated Britons do not need to quarantine upon their return. However, unvaccinated travellers still have to self-isolate at home for 10 days after holidaying in France, according to the FCDO.

Skyscanner also revealed that interest in trips to Dubai rocketed after it was announced that the UAE would move off the red list and onto amber.

Searches for trips from London to Dubai went up 235 per cent between August 2 and 9 compared to the previous week, and by 287 per cent for flights from Manchester to Dubai.

The airport in the coastal city of Nice (pictured) has also proven a popular choice among sun-starved holidaymakers

Holidaymakers are also looking to central Europe, with searches for Slovenia booming by 235 per cent following its green-list move.

Searches for Latvia, which was moved to the green list at the same time, have also been rising over the past month, with a 70 per cent week-on-week increase in searches by Britons.

Romania, another new addition to the green list, has seen a 51 per cent surge in searches following its change in status.

Laura Lindsay, Destination Expert at Skyscanner, said: International travel is definitely back on peoples agendas and while the selection of destinations trending amongst Britons in 2021 may look a little different, it is clear that UK travellers are jumping at the chance of a break in the sun, returning to favourite spots whenever they can do so safely and within the rules.

Dubai, pictured, was moved off the red list and onto the amber on August 8

The new guidance for vaccinated travellers means that much-anticipated trips to traditional favourites like Spain and France can take place once again.

Weve seen the addition of the UAE to the amber list drive a surge in searches and bookings, as well as extend travellers gaze into the autumn to take advantage of the climate and luxury escapes.

The list of quarantine-free destinations for unvaccinated travellers is smaller, but summer sun can still be enjoyed in Malta, Croatia and newcomers like Slovenia.

Travel searches for Slovenia rocketed by 235 per cent after it was moved to the green list. Pictured is Lake Bled

It comes as the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) vowed to crack down on the cost of PCR and antigen tests, after Health Secretary Sajid Javid referred the travel test market to the watchdog.

More than 400 private firms are listed on the government's website for holidaymakers.

The CMA warned it would 'not hesitate to take enforcement action' against providers flouting the law and not giving customers what they paid for.
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The first roller coaster at sea is open for business - and amazing point-of-view video footage of the ride in action shows that it's a spectacular experience.

The ride is called Bolt and it winds its way around the top of the 1billion Carnival ship the Mardis Gras.

Described as the Ultimate Sea Coaster, the clip sees the ride shooting around the ships 'Ultimate Playground' water slides and its funnel, with the azure blue water of the ocean to one side.

Amazing point-of-view video footage of Bolt on the Mardi Gras shows that it's an exhilarating experience

After years of anticipation, Bolt debuted on a trip to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas on July 31, on a sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida.

Built by Munich-based Maurer Rides, the roller coaster track - which reportedly cost 5.7million ($8 million) to construct - is 187 feet (57m) above sea level and reaches speeds of nearly 40 miles per hour.

The all-electric roller coaster, which costs 10.80 ($15) for two laps, allows two riders to strap in to a motorcycle-like vehicle and race each other, experiencing nearly 800 feet (243 metres) of thrilling twists and plunges as it flies around the track.

The roller coaster allows two riders to strap in to a motorcycle-like vehicle and race one another

The roller coaster track is 187 feet above sea level and reaches speeds of nearly 40 miles per hour

It finishes with a high-powered hairpin turn around the Mardi Gras funnel

As their stomachs drop, guests can take in 360-degree views of the sky and sea around them, before the ride finishes with a high-powered hairpin turn around the ship's funnel.

Riders' speeds are posted after the race, and just like land-based roller coasters, guests have their photo taken during the ride for a memorable keepsake.

Guests can even choose their own speed using an in-car throttle, making it a tailor-made experience.

Bolt: The Ultimate Sea Coaster flies around the ships 'Ultimate Playground' water slides

Riders can enjoy 360-degree views from the top of the cruise ship as they experience the ride

Bolt debuted on a trip to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas on July 31

Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said: Bolt will continue the tradition of Carnival providing exciting new ways for our guests to choose fun.

We are so thrilled to introduce this one-of-a-kind, game-changing, exhilarating attraction  our guests are going to love it!

Mardi Gras, an XL-class ship, weighs 180,000 tonnes, is 1,130 ft (340m) long and features six onboard zones, including a French quarter.

The cruise line took delivery of Mardis Gras from the Meyer Turku Shipyard in Turku, Finland, where she was constructed.

The ship was set to launch in 2020 but the occasion was pushed back into 2021 because of the pandemic.

After the race, guests have their photos taken for a memorable keepsake
The Bachelor star Tatum Hargraves blindsided Jimmy Nicholson when she decided to leave the mansion this week.

And while the 27-year-old said she quit because her feelings for the pilot did not develop, she has since revealed they did in fact share a secret kiss.

However, their romantic moment wasn't shown on television.

The secret kiss you didn't see on The Bachelor: Tatum Hargraves has revealed she and Jimmy Nicholson locked lips before she sensationally quit the show this week

Viewers will remember she won one-on-one time with Jimmy, 31, following the surfing group date last week.

They actually ended up kissing, but the moment was left on the cutting room floor.

The company director, who hails from Queensland, described their date as a 'classic couch setting' with cocktails and candles.

'We did kiss. He did the whole "lean over and grab the rose", and I received a rose which was really nice,' Tatum told Yahoo on Friday.

She suspects the scene was edited out because for much of their date she and Jimmy were 'sitting a bit far away' from each other.

Cutting room floor: 'We did kiss. He did the whole "lean over and grab the rose", and I received a rose which was really nice,' Tatum said on Friday, describing the unaired scene

Bad shot: She suspects the scene was edited out because for much of their date she and Jimmy were 'sitting a bit far away' from each other

Despite enjoying her time with Jimmy, she admitted to having doubts about their connection and did not want to force herself into having feelings for him.

'I thought in my head, do I feel something here or am I getting caught up in this process?' she said.

Tatum had a straightforward chat with Jimmy about her place in the competition on Wednesday's episode.

'I feel like I've sort of been here long enough to know how I feel. For me, I just don't want to be in this environment anymore,' she said.

Quitting: Tatum had a straightforward chat with Jimmy about her place in the competition on Wednesday's episode. 'I think at this point I'd like to go home,' she told him

Jimmy was shocked as she then told him she would 'like to go home'.

'I think at this point I'd like to go home. I just feel like I wouldn't be true to myself if I stayed here any longer,' she said.

Jimmy told her he was 'disappointed' by the decision, but supported her choice and respected her honesty.

The Bachelor continues Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel 10
He dismissed critics of his family's parenting amid the controversy following his wife Coco Austin's admission that she still nurses their five-year-old daughter Chanel.

And in case it wasn't already clear, Ice-T made it explicit that he and Coco weren't 'normal parents' in a risque photo he tweeted on Thursday.

The 63-year-old rapper and actor looked off guard with his face covered in shaving cream, while Coco, 42, had her nether regions lathered up for a shave.

High and low: Ice-T, 63, gave his fans more than they asked for with a risque photo of himself and his wife Coco Austin shaving on Thursday, after he dismissed people complaining that she still breastfeeds their five-year-old daughter Chanel

The snap showed Coco putting on a busty display in a white lace bra and nothing else.

She was nude below the waist and had her bikini line area covered in shaving cream, with a razor at the ready in her hand.

She sported hot pink hair that was tied up in a bun and had a playfully shocked expression on her face.

Meanwhile, Ice-T squinted with fake anger while his face was covered in shaving cream, and he wore a black tank top and matching pants.

The photo instantly aroused criticism from other Twitter users, who objected to its explicit nature, but the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star wasn't having it.

Not his problem: Shortly afterward, the Law & Order: SVU star told his followers to unfollow him if his 'Twitter page offends you in any way'

Following through: He showed his finger was hovering over the block button in a follow-up

Taking her time: The rapper and rocker, born Tracy Marrow, was responding to waves of criticism he and Coco received on social media after she revealed last month that she still breastfeeds Chanel, five

'*Attention* If my Twitter page offends you in any way.. PLEASE unfollow. It's that simple...' he tweeted shortly afterward.

He showed his finger was hovering over the block button in a follow-up.

'Blocked,' he wrote simply while quoting a user who previously replied, 'Yeah but who needs this pic really?'

On Wednesday, Ice retweeted a user who posted a steamy photo of his wife from years earlier, only to tell another person to 'go eat multiple D***s. And worry about your pathetic life' after they criticized her for her comments about breastfeeding.

Late last month, Coco revealed to Us Weekly that her daughter sometimes still nurses, though she described it as more of a 'snack' than a full meal.

Just a snack: Late last month, Coco revealed to Us Weekly that her daughter sometimes still nurses, though she described it as more of a 'snack' than a full meal

Coping: In a previous breastfeeding update last year, the 42-year-old beauty said: 'At a time when the world feels like its coming to an end.. suck up as much love as you can!

She explained that Chanel likes to 'eat steak and hamburgers,' but she 'likes a little snack every now and then.'

'Chanel still likes my boobs,' the blond beauty continued. 'Its a big bonding moment for a mother and your child.'

She added: 'Why take that away from her?  If she doesnt want it, all right, thats where you stop it. But Im not just going to say no.'

Coco's previous update on breastfeeding came more than year earlier in an Instagram post from March of 2020, in which she said Chanel mainly nursed for 'comfort.'

'Believe me, the girl loves meat so its not like she isnt eating real food,' she wrote in her caption. 'Thank you to all that understand my view. I see most of you are so eager to side with me and I too root for you in your journey as well. Us moms are connected.'

Solid update: The 63-year-old rapper took to Twitter to defend his family after online trolls criticized Coco for breastfeeding the child

Earlier in August, Ice took to Twitter to defend his wife and daughter.

'News Flash!' We feed Chanel FOOD...' he clarified. 'She just likes to suck moms boob every now and then... Me too!!!'

During an appearance this week on E!'s Daily Pop, Coco said she thought it was wrong for 'society' to pressure moms to stop breastfeeding 'at two.'

'I'm [not] going to stop because I feel like it's a great bonding experience between her and I,' she said. 'She's my only child, it's not like I have a big family of kids, and so I'm savoring every moment with this child.'

She conducted the interview with Chanel, who looks shockingly like her father, sitting on her lap.

Her way: Coco said it's wrong for 'society' to pressure women to stop breastfeeding 'at two' and added she'll keep nursing five-year-old daughter Chanel until her little one 'says so' this week on E!'s Daily Pop

Coco added that she and her husband were completely in agreement over allowing Chanel to breastfeed as long as she wanted.

'Well, he loves the boobs too,' she joked.

'He's got one side, she's got the other. She's going to be a boob freak.'

In the same interview, Coco revealed that the whole family still co-sleeps in a big bed, which has also elicited criticism from fans.
He spent a full year in Australia to escape Covid-ravaged America.

And after leaving the country for work projects several months ago, Zac Efron is now reportedly back in the land Down Under.

The High School Musical star, 33, has made a 'quiet return' to Australian shores and has already completed hotel quarantine, reports The Daily Telegraph.

He's back! Hollywood actor Zac Efron has made a 'quiet return' to Australian shores and has already completed hotel quarantine, reports The Daily Telegraph

He is believed to have served out his mandatory two-week quarantine in Sydney.

Zac had reportedly left Australia months ago to shoot the film adaptation of the Stephen King novel Firestarter in Canada.

He went on to spend time in the U.S. with his family.

Jet setter: He is believed to have served out his mandatory two-week quarantine in Sydney

While in America, Zac and his brother Dylan recorded a viral video in which they 'broke into' their grandfather's nursing home to help him watch the Euro 2020 final.

During his previous year-long visit to Australia, Zac was mostly based in Byron Bay, where Thor actor Chris Hemsworth owns a $30million mansion.

He also filmed Stan Original movie Gold in South Australia, and shot scenes for his Netflix docuseries Down to Earth.

Last visit: Zac had reportedly left Australia months ago to shoot the film adaptation of the Stephen King novel Firestarter in Canada. He went on to spend time in the U.S. with his family

Zac found love in Australia with Byron Bay waitress Vanessa Valladares, 26, but they broke up in April before he left for North America.

They are believed to have first met in June last year, when Vanessa was waiting tables at the Byron Bay General Store cafe.

It remains to be seen if they will reconnect now Zac is back on Australian shores.

Watch the Stan Original film Gold, exclusively on Stan later this year.
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's 13-year-old daughter Sunday has been vaccinated against Covid-19.

Country music star Keith confirmed the teenager received the Pfizer vaccine earlier this year in the US, during an interview on The Kyle and Jackie O show on Friday.

Keith, who is currently in lockdown with his daughters in Sydney, said the couple were also vaccinated back in April.

'It's kinda like the flu shot': Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's 13-year-old daughter Sunday (pictured here middle left) has been vaccinated against Covid-19. The couple's youngest daughter Faith, 10, is pictured far right

'Nic and I both got vaxxed back in April, we were in the States at the time,' Keith explained.

''Even Sunday, our 13-year-old, when she was eligible, she got hers.'

Jabbed: Keith, who is currently in lockdown with his daughters in Sydney, said the couple were also vaccinated back in April

Kyle asked if the couple's children were 'worried' about getting a 'needle'.

'It's kinda like the flu shot,' Keith said. 'They know they get it, they see the benefits in it. All of her (Sunday's) friends have had it.'

Kyle then began playing his vaccination jingle 'Get Vaxxed Baby'.

While Keith is stuck in lockdown, his wife Nicole, 54, has been keeping up with a very busy schedule.

The actress recently wrapped Nine Perfect Strangers before lockdown, and was seen on Thursday boarding a private jet in Sydney to fly to her next project in Hong Kong.

The project in Hong Kong is a limited Amazon series called Expats, where Nicole will be the lead star. It's based on Janice Y.K. Lee's novel The Expatriates.
They're reprising their roles as Mr. Big and the inimitable Carrie Bradshaw for the upcoming Sex And The City reboot, titled And Just Like That..., which started shooting last month.

And Chris Noth treated fans to a snapshot of himself and onscreen wife Sarah Jessica Parker snuggling in bed as they filmed a scene together on Thursday.

'Just like the old days!' captioned the 66-year-old actor, who could be seen smirking sweetly at his 56-year-old costar in the behind-the-scenes snap.

Good old days! Chris Noth treated fans to a snapshot of himself and onscreen wife Sarah Jessica Parker snuggling in bed as they filmed a scene together for the forthcoming Sex And The City reboot

Sarah, with her eyes closed, grinned in Chris' direction as their bodies remained concealed beneath a cozy white comforter.

Taking to the comment section, Parker joked that their character's Big and Carrie must have 'overslept. Again. X,' alluding the lovers' famously passionate - and often reckless - romance.

Sarah and Chris have been teasing their fans on social media in recent days as they continue to shoot scenes for And Just Like That..., which is set to premiere in late 2021 on HBO Max.

Last Saturday, the Emmy Award-winning actress uploaded a sweet shot of Noth cradling her face in his hands, with the caption: 'These 2. I bet they stay out late tonight.'

Meanwhile, the Law And Order alum shared a candid photo of himself and Sarah that showed her with one arm wrapped around his shoulders.

Whoops! Taking to the comment section, Parker joked that their character's Big and Carrie must have 'overslept. Again. X,' alluding the lovers' famously passionate - and often reckless - romance

Iconic lovebirds: They're reprising their roles as Mr. Big and the inimitable Carrie Bradshaw for the Sex And The City reboot, titled And Just Like That..., which started shooting last month; Noth and Parker pictured

'Together again!' he exclaimed in the post's caption, which was seen by his 324,000 followers at some point last Saturday.

Wanting to take fans along for the ride on the production of the forthcoming SATC reboot, Parker captured several videos in her glam room as she got ready for another day in front of the camera on Tuesday.

She happened to be preparing to film one of many scenes featuring Noth as her husband M. Big, which was set in the beloved TV couple's NYC abode.

The shoe designer looked youthful as she was makeup free with her rose-tinted gold-rimmed aviator glasses on. Her thick hair was pulled back in a messy knot as she had two clips in front.

Teasing: Sarah and Chris have been teasing their fans on social media in recent days, with SJP uploading a sweet shot of Noth cradling her face in his hands, with the caption: 'These 2. I bet they stay out late tonight' on Saturday

Familiar: The pose from Saturday's on-set snap looked similar to many tender moments shared between Carrie and Mr. Big throughout the duration of SATC and its respective theatrical films; Sarah and Chris pictured in 2010's Sex and The City 2

Sarah wore a light gray top that fell over her tanned shoulders as she had on no jewelry.

The star's squad members - Elaine, CJ and Serge - milled around her as all of the products used on Sarah Jessica were seen in front of her.

Parker both looked bored and then shared a shocked expression as she filmed away with her phone.

After her hair was done, Parker took another photo.

Her honey blonde locks were nicely styled into soft waves that fell over her shoulders. In this image she wore a black face mask.

Longtime costars: Meanwhile, the Law And Order alum shared a candid photo of himself and Sarah that showed her with one arm wrapped around his shoulders; Chris and Sarah pictured Saturday

Also with her were the glam members: two men and a woman.

There was incense burning as music played in the background and Sarah gave fans a look at her silver Mary Jane SJP heels.

Also on the table were two bottles of red Vitamin Water.

'I think this is my first selfie Story, OK there is Elaine, invaluable, there is CJ, invaluable, Serge, invaluable,' said Parker during her clip.

She then sings to the song, humming as well.

Behind-the-scenes: Wanting to take fans along for the ride on the production of the forthcoming SATC reboot, Parker captured several videos in her glam room as she got ready for another day in front of the camera on Tuesday

'OK we are shooting on the stage today, I wonder who I am shooting with today hmmmm.'

She was going to shoot a scene with her on screen husband, Mr Big, played by Law & Order vet Chris Noth. The setting was their home.

And she gave a look at the set: 'Backlot. Stage. Married domicile. They build. They shoot. They make sure story is heard. They make our day. X, SJ.'

On Monday the cast of And Just Like That... was been spotted filming a funeral scene sparking wild speculation about which Sex and the City character will meet their demise.

Shooting: She happened to be preparing to film one of many scenes featuring Noth as her husband M. Big, which was set in the beloved TV couple's NYC abode

The team: 'I think this is my first selfie Story, OK there is Elaine, invaluable, there is CJ, invaluable, Serge, invaluable.' She then sings to the song, humming as well. 'OK we are shooting on the stage today, I wonder who I am shooting with today hmmmm'

It was recently reported that a major cast member will be killed off in the revival series and a TikTok video shows extras dressed in black milling around the Wolf Building in New York City.

Fans of the series went into meltdown after the clip was released as they attempt to work out which character will be meeting their maker.

Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall) and Mr Big (Noth) are among the frontrunners to be killed off while Steve Brady (David Eigenberg) and Magda (Lynn Cohen) have also been tipped to meet a grisly end by fans.

A source close to the show recently teased that 'it is going to be a big death'  suggesting that it could be Mr. Big  the husband of Carrie Bradshaw (Parker).

Other show insiders have suggested that Samantha could die as Kim is not involved in And Just Like That..., turning down the chance to reprise her most famous role.

The mood: There was incense burning as music played in the background and Sarah gave fans a look at her silver Mary Jane SJP heels. Also on the table were two bottles of red Vitamin Water

The things that glam up SJP: There was lotion and hair spray as well as brushes

Fans on social media speculated about the possible victim, with one writing: 'Rumour has it it's Mr. Big?'

Another added: 'Lord forgive me please be Big. I can't handle more back and forth with him and Carrie, enough is enough lol.'

However, another fan was saddened by Mr Big's possible demise.

They wrote: 'Ok why do they have to do something so depressing? Why would Big have to die? That will ruin it for me.'

Only senior cast and crew have been made aware of which character will die and are sworn to secrecy. A source said: 'In the first episode fans will be served up a jaw-dropping storyline where one of the major names on the show will die. Those in the know are calling it a ''big death'', which obviously has everyone leaping to the conclusion that Mr. Big will be no more.'

And in late July DailyMail.com shared that the reboot is reportedly getting a second series.

On stage: The look of the set which seemed to be Parker's NYC apartment

Looks like Carrie's home: On one of the tables was Carrie Bradshaw's book Sex And The City

A crew member at rest: One of the rooms had a table and bookshelves with a laptop

Filming of 'And Just Like That...' has been such a 'resounding success' that executive producers Michael Patrick King and Sarah Jessica Parker (Carrie Bradshaw) are considering extending the show past its currently confirmed 10 episodes.

A source told the outlet that another instalment is 'expected to be announced soon by HBO Max.'

It's even been claimed that the 'door is open' for Kim Cattrall to return as sex-obsessed PR executive Samantha Jones, despite her feud with Sarah Jessica and not taking part in the first season.

The source said: 'There was obviously a concern that people would miss Kim and not be engaged but the response so far has been phenomenal. And for fans of Kim, the door is open for her to return. If she ever changes her mind, she can come back.

'The ladies love and value her and would love to see her on the new show. The whole point of this series is to show that friendships evolve and change over time, so Kim is always welcome to come home.

Proof! One of the rooms was labeled Carrie and Big's living room. Big is Mr Big played by Chris Noth

He is ready to roll: A camera man looks at his cell phone as he wears a black mask

'If Kim's reps called us now and said she was available  we'd book her on the first flight to New York. There's still time.'

HBO Max claimed the character won't be returning for the spin-off series because they wanted to reflect the 'actual stages of life' which often see friends part ways.

When only Sarah Jessica, Cynthia Nixon (Miranda Hobbes), and Kristin Davis (Charlotte York Goldenblatt ) were confirmed for the new show, questions were raised as to why Kim wasn't on the list to return.

However, HBO Max's chief content officer Casey Bloys explained that show bosses thought it would be unrealistic for all four of the original leading ladies to still be best friends almost 17 years after the original show came to an end in 2004.

He said: 'They're not trying to say that these characters are reliving their 30s. It is very much a story about women in their 50s, and they are dealing with things that people deal with in their 50s.'

Last week Sarah told DailyMail.com that she is proud of her award-winning wine Invivo X, SJP.

On the go: Sarah with Cynthia Nixon, left, and Kristin Davis, right, in the Sex And The City reboot And Just Like That...

The star talked to DailyMail.com a week ago about the wine she launched in 2019.

The siren said she is happy that the label has been a major success. 'It's such an honor to be awarded two gold medals and the Europe Rose trophy from the 2021 New York International Wine Competition,' the blonde told DailyMail.com.

'Lots of love has gone into making our wines, from vineyard through to blending, and we are thrilled and honored to be recognized,' added the former child star.

The red carpet wonder added, 'We thank everyone who has brought a bottle home and included us as part of their special moments. We're delighted to share this exciting recognition with you.'

Having her wine take off like this is a joyful moment for the actress: 'We are proud. And stunned. And honored. And delighted.
Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell are certainly doting parents.

The married couple read a storybook to their baby daughter Grace Warrior to celebrate National Book Lovers Day this week.

In sweet photos shared to the Australia Zoo Instagram account, the pair smile from ear to ear as they read a book written by Bindi herself.

Bonding time: Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell read a storybook to their baby daughter Grace Warrior to celebrate National Book Lovers Day this week

'Grace Warrior is celebrating with her sweet parents. Were so proud of @bindiirwin for writing a beautiful book that you can find by visiting shop.australiazoo.com,' the caption read.

This post comes two days after Bindi, 23, and Chandler, 24, shared another photo of their nature-loving daughter, five months.

On Tuesday, Chandler took Grace to a creek at Australia Zoo, and described his little girl as 'the best adventure buddy in the world'.

He explained they were exploring the creeks in the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve, which is named after Grace's late grandfather.

Family: On Tuesday, Chandler took Grace to a creek at Australia Zoo, and described his little girl as 'the best adventure buddy in the world'

Chandler couldn't wipe the smile off his face as he basked in the sunshine, wearing his Australia Zoo uniform while cradling his daughter.

Meanwhile, Grace looked adorable in a white outfit and a matching hat.

'Exploring Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve creeks with the best adventure buddy in the world,' he wrote in the caption.

Outdoors: The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is located on Cape York Peninsula and is a vast mosaic of rainforests, wetlands and savannas. Pictured: Bindi Irwin with her late father Steve

The Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve is located on Cape York Peninsula and is a vast mosaic of rainforests, wetlands and savannas.

It has been set aside as a tribute to Steve's conservation work as 'a place for scientific research and discovery'.

Steve died in 2006 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming a wildlife documentary on the Great Barrier Reef.

Passing on the legacy: Despite being just a few months old, Grace has already made a mark on the family-run business

Despite being just a few months old, Grace has already made a mark on the family-run business.

In a post on Australia Zoo's Instagram page in June, it was announced the wildlife park's new bird sanctuary had been named in the child's honour.

Bindi and Chandler announced their daughter's birth on March 26, just a day after she was born on their first wedding anniversary.
Ant and Dec performed their famous 90s song Let's Get Ready To Rhumble at the TV star's wedding to Anne-Marie Corbett earlier this month, David Walliams revealed.

The Britain's Got Talent judge made the reveal during his pre-recorded interview for The Lateish Show With Mo Gilligan, which is set to air on Friday.

According to reports, David, 49, confirmed: 'Ant and Dec also did Let's Get Ready To Rhumble on the dance floor.'

Party time! A nt and Dec performed their famous 90s song Let's Get Ready To Rhumble at the TV star's wedding to Anne-Marie Corbett earlier this month, David Walliams revealed (pictured during a performance in 2013)

The Sun adds that doting father David will continue: 'I filmed it and said to Dec, ''Can I put this on social media?''. He said no and I was really sad. It's one of the funniest things you have ever seen.'

Elsewhere during David and 33-year-old Mo's chat, the comedian cheekily reveals he once caught a glimpse of Simon Cowell's privates in a urinal, describing what he saw as 'a big one'.

David will also touch upon his and former Little Britain co-star Matt Lucas' upcoming project, revealing they hope to 'get something on screens' within the next twelve months.

It comes after David shared a glimpse inside 45-year-old Ant's star-studded reception as he posted a snap with the groom and his Best Man Dec, also 45, to his Instagram on Monday.

Sealed with a kiss! Ant and Anne-Marie married in Hampshire last weekend

Wedding: According to reports, David, 49, confirmed: 'Ant and Dec also did Let's Get Ready To Rhumble on the dance floor' (pictured in May)

The comedian beamed as he posed with the Geordie duo after close pal Ant had exchanged vows with his wife Anne-Marie, 43, at a Hampshire church.

In the snap the trio all looked in great spirits as they flashed smiles for the camera dressed up in their suits.

David turned heads when he showed up to the service with his ex Keeley Hazell, who it appears he was on holiday with in Italy in the weeks before the wedding.

The British model, 34, put on a busty display in a red and white spotty dress while David looked dapper in a light grey suit and blue tie.

Throwback: Ant and Dec - then known as PJ and Duncan - had success with the song during the nineties (pictured performing the song in 1994)

Friends: It comes after David shared a glimpse inside Ant's star-studded reception as he posted a snap with the groom and his Best Man Dec

Reunited: David turned heads when he showed up to the service with his ex Keeley Hazell, who it appears he was on holiday with in Italy in the weeks before the wedding

The couple, who were regularly spotted together on the London social circuit towards the end of the Noughties, arrived at the church service together.

It comes after David shared two loved-up snaps with Keeley from their recent holiday together, after her brief romance with Jason Sudeikis.

He posted a picture on Instagram of his arm wrapped around the beauty's waist and another of him tying her hair up.

Their trip came after Keeley's brief romance with actor Jason, 45, reportedly fizzled out in recent weeks, according to E! news.

Keeley and David appeared to have been on a holiday to Italy before pal Ant's wedding.
The Hills: New Beginnings star Heidi Montag Pratt underwent hysteroscopic polypectomy surgery at a LA hospital on Wednesday amid her fertility struggles.

'Hopefully after this, I can get pregnant right away,' the 34-year-old reality star said in her 11-minute vlog on The Pratts' YouTube channel.

Heidi prayed that removing uterine polyps was the only thing standing in her way from getting pregnant with baby No. 2.

'Hopefully after this, I can get pregnant right away!' The Hills: New Beginnings star Heidi Montag Pratt underwent hysteroscopic polypectomy surgery at a LA hospital on Wednesday amid her fertility struggles.

A dazed Montag then filmed herself after the procedure where she thanked the doctors and nurses and revealed she'll have spotting over the next few days and she can't pick up anything over 20lbs.

'I can have intercourse in two days,' the Colorado-born blonde smiled.

'Hopefully I am ovulating because [the doctor] was like, "Well maybe you're ovulating every other month." We'll see. I'm just so happy I had this done. I'm feeling good. I have no cramping and the anesthesia felt great.'

Heidi's husband of 12 years Spencer Pratt then picked her up and bought her a bouquet of flowers.

Vlogger: The 34-year-old reality star prayed that removing uterine polyps was the only thing standing in her way from getting pregnant with baby No. 2

'All done!' A dazed Montag then filmed herself after the procedure where she thanked the doctors and nurses and revealed she'll have spotting over the next few days and she can't pick up anything over 20lbs

The Colorado-born blonde said: 'I can have intercourse in two days. Hopefully I am ovulating because [the doctor] was like, "Well maybe you're ovulating every other month." We'll see'

'Thank you!' Heidi's husband of 12 years Spencer Pratt then picked her up and bought her a bouquet of flowers

On Thursday morning, Montag was 'really nauseous' and admitted via Instastory that she probably should have had the recommended soup rather than Mexican food after her surgery.

That same afternoon, the Black Easter actress spoke with her doctor, who informed her 'there were not as many polyps removed as I thought.'

'Part of me was a little disappointed like, "Aw man is that not the reason that I'm not getting pregnant?"' Heidi - who boasts 3M social media followers - lamented over Instastory.

'So I kind of felt a little defeated, but I'm just going to count my blessings. I'm glad I got them removed for process of elimination and also they can turn cancerous so it's good to have them out...

Oops! On Thursday morning, Montag was 'really nauseous' and admitted that she probably should have had the recommended soup rather than Mexican food after her surgery

'Part of me was a little disappointed': That same afternoon, the Black Easter actress spoke with her doctor, who informed her 'there were not as many polyps removed as I thought'

Heidi continued: 'So I kind of felt a little defeated, but I'm just going to count my blessings. I'm glad I got them removed for process of elimination and also they can turn cancerous so it's good to have them out'

'I'm so thankful for the child I have. I'm going to have faith. I'm meant to have another one. I'm gonna have another one. Let it go. I have a beautiful house, food, water, a husband I love, a healthy son. What else can you do?'

Montag and her three-year-old son Gunnar Stone will next celebrate the Pratt Daddy Crystals owner's 38th birthday this Saturday.

The Erewhon Market-obsessed couple don't think that MTV will be renewing their reality series for a third season following the second season finale on August 4.

July 8 family portrait: Montag and her three-year-old son Gunnar Stone will next celebrate the Pratt Daddy Crystals owner's 38th birthday this Saturday

'It's not getting renewed, it's not even a maybe': The Erewhon Market-obsessed couple don't think that MTV will be renewing their reality series for a third season following the second season finale on August 4

'It's not getting renewed, it's not even a maybe,' Spencer said on the Unpopular with Jacques Peterson podcast on July 12.

'They would have to use another production company. This production company wouldn't even do it. They won't even mess with this cast. There's no way. I think it would be like Gossip Girl with a new cast of kids. That's the only chance.'

Back in 2006-2010, the Laguna Beach spin-off was frequently criticized for fabricating storylines.
She never puts a fashion foot wrong.

And Molly-Mae Hague, 22, lived up to her high stylistic expectations on Thursday as she stepped out in Manchester, after returning from her trip to Ibiza.

The former Love Island star decided to team a white cropped tee with black trousers, finalising the look perfectly with a dark beige and black leather blazer.

Fashionista: Molly-Mae Hague showcased her enviable style in a cropped blazer as she got 'back to business' in Manchester on Thursday

Molly-Mae kept things comfortable in a pair of sliders and pulled back her blonde tresses into a large clip.

The Beauty Works ambassador also carried a miniature black bag for the outing.

She kept things simple yet effective on the makeup front, a touch of bronze radiating her cheekbones.

Stylish: The former Love Island star kept things comfortable in a pair of sliders and pulled back her blonde tresses into a large clip

Radiant: The beauty decided to team a white cropped tee with black trousers for her day in Manchester

Chic: Molly-Mae finalised the look perfectly with a dark beige and black leather blazer

Turning heads: The reality star kept things simple yet effective on the makeup front, a touch of bronze radiating her cheekbones

The blonde stunner looked in good spirits in Manchester as she occasionally glanced down to check her phone.

She also told her 5.8 million followers that she had missed a 'blazer day' and also shared a glowing selfie to her Instagram Story.

The outfit appreciation didn't stop there either, as she used her ever-growing platform to inform her fans she was 'back to business' whilst showing off a hint of her tanned midriff.

Stepping out: The blonde stunner looked in good spirits in Manchester as she occasionally glanced down to check her phone

Selfie: She told her 5.8 million followers that she had missed a 'blazer day'

And pose: Molly-Mae also shared a glowing selfie to her Instagram Story

The Manchester day out comes after Molly-Mae hit back at speculation she had split from boyfriend Tommy Fury after fans claimed they've 'been quiet' on social media.

Molly-Mae took to Instagram on Tuesday for a Q&A when a fan asked: 'Are you and Tommy okay? Been quiet on here lately.'

Her fans' concerns come after her boxer beau left their holiday in Santorini to prepare for the Jake Paul fight in the USA.

Squashing rumours: The Manchester day out comes after Molly-Mae hit back at speculation she had split from boyfriend Tommy Fury after fans claimed they've 'been quiet' on social media

Reassuring all was well between the couple, who have been dating since the 2019 series of Love Island, Molly-Mae told her worried follower: 'Of course we are OK!

'Just because we don't post a selfie together on stories for a few weeks doesn't mean things are bad.'

She revealed: 'We are both soooo busy. He's in training camp currently also which is super serious stuff.'
The Home Alone reboot starring Archie Yates in a role made famous by Macaulay Culkin has been given a November release date on the Disney+ streaming service.

Home Sweet Home Alone will premiere exclusively on Disney+ on November 12 as the sixth installment in the Home Alone franchise.

Macaulay, 40, starred as young Kevin McCallister in the original Home Alone that was released in November 1990.

November release: The Home Alone reboot starring Archie Yates, shown in December 2019 in New York City, has been given a November release date on the Disney+ streaming service

Archie, 12, portrays Max Mercer in the reboot and his character gets left behind while his family is in Japan for the holidays.

Max then protects the family home when a married couple attempt to break-in to retrieve a priceless heirloom.

Ellie Kemper, 44, Kenan Thompson, 43, and Rob Delaney, 44, also star in the family comedy directed by Dan Mazer with a script by Mikey Day and Streeter Seidell.

Macaulay also will make a cameo appearance reprising his role as Kevin from the first two Home Alone movies.

The original: Macaulay Culkin is shown in a still from the 1990 film Home Alone

Also starring: Ellie Kemper, shown in May 2019 in Los Angeles, also has a starring role in Home Sweet Home Alone

Archie is best known for playing Yorki in the 2019 comedy-drama Jojo Rabbit.

The British child actor received a Critics' Choice Movie Award nomination in the Best Young Actor/Actress category for his portrayal of Jojo's best friend.

Home Sweet Home Alone also features Aisling Bea, Tim Simons, Pete Holmes, Devin Ratray, Ally Maki and Chris Parnell.

Funny guy: Kenan Thompson, shown in March in Santa Monica, California, will be featured in the reboot

The film was announced after The Walt Disney Company acquired 21st Century Fox and gained the film rights to the Home Alone Franchise.

The reboot is the first in a line planned by Disney since its acquisition of Fox titles.

Revivals of Fox titles such as Cheaper By The Dozen, Night At The Museum and Diary Of A Wimpy Kid also have been in the works, according to Deadline.
The Bachelorette alum Jef Holm on Monday received a temporary restraining order in Los Angeles from his former roommate Robby Hayes, claiming repeated instances of harassment.

In court documents reviewed by US Weekly, Holm, 37, claimed that he was once roommates with Hayes, 32, who has continued to linger around the residence they shared after he moved out.

'Robert used to live at my house but does not now,' the St. George, Utah native said in docs filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. 'He continues to enter the premises & harass me & I do not feel safe around him.'

The latest: The Bachelorette alum Jef Holm, 37, on Monday received a temporary restraining order from his former roommate Robby Hayes, 32, claiming repeated instances of harassment

Holm, who won the Bachelorette's eighth season, said that Hayes, a Jacksonville, Florida native, 'threatens [him] and still hasnt stopped to this day.

'He claims he has belongings there and that's why he enters but he is not on the lease and is making me fearful.'

Holm told the court that in one instance last month, Hayes 'yelled at me and threatened me and entered [the home] without permission.

'I was alone in my home when he entered abruptly and aggressively started threatening me & I felt very unsafe,' he said, adding that Hayes has made repeated appearances at his abode.

Details: Holm, who won the Bachelorette's eighth season, said that Hayes, a Jacksonville, Florida native, 'threatens [him] and still hasnt stopped to this day'

Out and about: Holm was snapped on the red carpet in LA in 2014

Holm, who was linked with Emily Maynard on the series in 2012, said that 'once a week,' Hayes 'enters the property and becomes hostile' with him.

The judge in the case ruled that Hayes, a native of Florida, must remain at least 100 yards away from Holm's residence, work and vehicle.

The judge in the case ruled that Hayes, a native of Florida, must remain at least 100 yards away from Holm's residence, work and vehicle

The case is due back in court later this month, as both sides will be able to present their arguments as to how much longer the temporary restraining order should be kept in effect.

Holm and Hayes initially met in 2017 at a party at a Venice Beach, California home Holm resided in, as they also resided with The Bachelorette alum Chase McNary, 32, according to the outlet.

The party was held in the wake of a Women Tell-All taping for former contestant Nick Viall.
Kate Langbroek has weighed in on the Photoshop scandal that has rocked The Real Housewives of Melbourne cast this week.

The saga began on Monday when Lydia Schiavello shared a throwback photo from 2014, which showed her posing with fellow Housewives Pettifleur Berenger, Janet Roach and Chyka Keebaugh, who looked noticeably larger in the image.

On Thursday night's episode of The Project, Kate said she was shocked someone would do such a thing.

'She never looked like that, mate!' Kate Langbroek weighed in on the Photoshop scandal that rocked The Real Housewives of Melbourne cast this week on Thursday night's episode of The Project

Kate told co-hosts Waleed Aly and Peter Helliar that Photoshopping someone in a picture is a 'really strange thing to do', but she wanted to give Lydia, who has denied claims she was the one who altered the picture, the benefit of the doubt.

'It's a really strange thing to do,' Kate said.

'To give her some credit, I don't think she was necessarily trying to make Chyka look bigger as she was trying to make herself look smaller.'

Spot the difference: Real Housewives of Melbourne's Lydia Schiavello has denied Photoshopping an image of her co-star Chyka Keebaugh to make her look heavier, instead claiming she was sent the doctored image by someone else. Left: the edited version Lydia posted on Monday; right: the original photo uploaded in 2014

Weird: Kate told co-hosts Waleed Aly and Peter Helliar that Photoshopping someone in a picture is a 'really strange thing to do', but she wanted to give Lydia, who has denied claims she was the one who altered the picture, the benefit of the doubt'

She added: 'Even though she doesn't look bigger anyway.'

When Waleed pointed out that the images fans used to bring the scandal to light are two different images, Kate fired back: 'Chyka never looked like that mate, never... go back to your field of expertise!'

On Wednesday, Lydia insisted that she did not edit the photo herself but had instead been sent it by someone else, and naively uploaded it to Instagram because she thought it 'looked great'.

Addressing the scandal on Instagram, she wrote 'Hi Chyka. I was sent many old photos of previous seasons of Real Housewives of Melbourne.

Apologetic: On Wednesday, Lydia insisted that she did not edit the photo herself but had instead been sent it by someone else, and naively uploaded it to Instagram because she thought it 'looked great'

'I thought this was a great photo of us all and it's something we can't do now. It was never my intention to offend anyone. Sending love.'

After deleting the edited picture from her main grid, she shared another photo on her Stories of Chyka looking svelte in a leopard-print dress, and captioned it: 'Last post deleted. My apology to all.

'After being fat shamed I would not intentionally do that to any one.'

She then shared one last photo of herself and Chyka looking glamorous, and wrote: 'Oldie but a goodie! I hope everyone in this lockdown are looking after themselves.'

The saga started on Monday when Lydia shared a throwback photo from 2014 which showed her and Chyka with fellow Housewives Pettifleur and Janet.

But eagle-eyed fans noticed Chyka looked larger than usual around the torso, so went through the archives to find the original photo from seven years ago.

In the original photo uploaded in 2014, Chyka was noticeably slimmer, leading fans to conclude that Lydia - or someone else - had used a warp tool to make her look fat.

'Dying at the Photoshop. Poor Chyka doesn't deserve the extra 47kg, Lydia,' one fan commented, while another added: 'Someone please find the original of this photo and bring justice for poor Chyka!'
Lorde has set the record straight on her working relationship with songwriter Jack Antonoff in a new interview with The New York Times.

The Kiwi songstress, 24, hit back at the 'growing narrative' concerning her connection to Antonoff, 34, following his involvement in her new album Solar Power.

Lorde, whose real name is Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor, said it was 'insulting' and 'sexist' for critics to refer to Solar Power as 'a Jack Antonoff record'.

'Retro and sexist': Lorde (left) has scoffed at romance rumours with songwriter Jack Antonoff (right) and slammed the 'narrative' that she's part of his 'stable' of female collaborators

'I haven't made a Jack Antonoff record. I've made a Lorde record and he's helped me make it and very much deferred to me on production and arrangement,' she said.

'Jack would agree with this. To give him that amount of credit is frankly insulting.'

Lorde then criticised the speculation surrounding her personal relationship with Antonoff, as well as the idea she's part of his so-called 'stable' of female collaborators.

'Frankly insulting': The Kiwi songstress, 24, hit back at the 'growing narrative' concerning her connection to Antonoff, 34, following his involvement in her new album Solar Power

'She called the narrative - which has also included speculation about the pair's romantic and sexual life - "retro" and "sexist",' reported The New York Times.

Antonoff, who penned 10 songs for Lorde's sophomore release Melodrama, has worked with a slew of major female artists including Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey.

In July, Lorde again rubbished rumours of romance with Antonoff, telling Ash London Live on Australia's Hit Network she sees him as a 'platonic husband'.

Setting the record straight: 'She called the narrative - which has also included speculation about the pair's romantic and sexual life - "retro" and "sexist",' reported The New York Times

Just friends: In July, Lorde again rubbished rumours of romance with Antonoff, telling Ash London Live on Australia's Hit Network she sees him as a 'platonic husband'

Lorde said: 'Jack's and my relationship is really deep and is like a marriage in some ways - a platonic marriage.

'We're in it for life I think at this point. We've been very close for five or six years now. We don't seem to get sick of each other. But who knows, anything could happen.'

Elsewhere in the interview, Lorde  who remains out of the limelight when she is not working  also revealed she prefers being a 'normal person' to a pop star.

'We're not dating!' In 2018, Jack denied rumours they were a couple on Twitter. Lorde echoed that sentiment, telling fans on Instagram that she and the Fun band member were not together

She said: 'The good thing about the way I do it is that I get to be a normal person for years at a time and then I have six weird months that are really fun and surreal and busy, and then I go back to being a I go back to being a normal person.

'I never feel like I'm depriving myself.'

In 2018, Antonoff denied rumours they were a couple on Twitter.

Lorde echoed that sentiment, telling fans on Instagram that she and the Fun band member were not together.

'Guys Jack and I are not dating, for the last time,' she said. 'I love him, he's awesome, but we're not dating! Please!'
2:22  A Ghost Story (Noel Coward Theatre, London)

Rating:

Verdict: Smart, funny  and scary

Carousel (Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park)

Rating:

Verdict: It's grim up north

The life of pop star Lily Allen has never been short of drama. In the past, she has been the sort of party animal who likes to eat other party animals for breakfast.

Now, though, she has cleaned up her act and is making her West End debut in a supernatural thriller.

Allen plays Jenny, a typical London yummy mummy who thinks the house she's converting might be haunted.

She hears a man tramping around the stripped floors of her baby's bedroom at exactly 2:22am every night.

Jenny's cynical, glibly self-righteous husband Sam (Hadley Fraser) doesn't believe a word of it. He has an explanation for everything. The lights went out? Yeah right . . . ghosts are scared of electricity  'just like the Amish!'

Lily Allen is making her West End debut in a supernatural thriller. Allen plays Jenny, a typical London yummy mummy who thinks the house she's converting might be haunted

But Jenny is convinced and persuades their two dinner-party guests to wait up with her and see for themselves.

American shrink friend Lauren (Julia Chan) is sympathetic because she has experienced ghosts in her childhood.

And Lauren's feisty builder boyfriend Ben (Jake Wood from EastEnders) is up for it, too, because he reckons he had a previous life . . . in the French Revolution.This irritates Sam, who notes that people who think they have had past lives always seem to set them somewhere exotic ('never Wolverhampton in the 1980s').

But this is just cover for the fact that Sam still holds a bit of a candle for Lauren . . . who is carefully eyed, during the course of the long evening, by Jenny.

This isn't the hardest role Allen will face, should she tread the boards again. It's a case of following a formula to deliver the goosebumps. But deliver she does.

She has a bone-chilling scream and can go from nought to nuclear in a fraction of a second.

Allen, looking willowy in an hourglass dress, could use a little more modulation in her voice. But there is subtlety in her performance. She has terrific stage presence, pays careful attention to the action and only bumps into the furniture on cue.

Danny Robins's play is cleverly constructed, with a nice sting in the tail. There is perhaps too much debate on the reality of things that go bump in the night and the real reason why tables move around during seances.

But be sure to keep eyes and ears open, because when the play is over you'll realise it is littered with clues. Maybe Matthew Dunster's production lays on a few too many Hammer Horror thunderclaps and overplays the fox screeches between scenes, but he has us screaming and laughing by turns as the clock counts down to 2:22.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel has been given a new spin in Regent's Park. Gone is the Victorian setting of a fishing community in coastal Maine. Gone is the gorgeous orchestration. And gone are any trappings that sugar a nasty tale of domestic violence.

This latest take is set somewhere in the north of England in the 1960s. Swelling strings are replaced with the jangle of electric guitars and a colliery band. The choreography comes perilously close to the outre Sixties musical Hair. And a spartan set of a wooden ramp with a turntable ensures Timothy Sheader's production is a solemn occasion.

The innovations sit well with a dark story about unemployed circus barker Billy Bigelow (Declan Bennett) who meets, marries and then becomes increasingly violent towards millworker Julie Jordan (Carly Bawden).

But I struggled to believe in the clam festival. In England's culinary wastelands of the Sixties?!

I also missed the townsfolk's god-lovin' American accents.

There is some sweetness in the show's famous anthem You'll Never Walk Alone. And tenderness in Bawden's apple-pie voice, deployed in her melancholy song What's The Use Of Wond'rin'?

Christina Modestou has a lot of fun, too, as Julie's friend, sending herself up as a mother of eight.

But none of that saves us from having to endure a long, dark night. For that, I'm afraid, they'll need another plot.

Outcast's tale is less odyssey, more oddity

Paradise (Olivier, National Theatre, London)

Rating:

Verdict: Paradise lost

Paradise is a new version of Sophocles's tragedy about the Ancient Greek warrior Philoctetes, adapted by performance poet Kae Tempest and performed with an all-female cast directed by Ian Rickson. The new title may have been chosen because 'Philoctetes' is a mouthful.

Our hero is a veteran of the Trojan War abandoned on a remote island by his former commanding officer, Odysseus.

Ten years later, Odysseus wants him back  together with his magical bow  to help in the ongoing war effort.

Normally writers turn to Greek tragedy when they have something big to say, but in Tempest's case I couldn't work out what that something was.

She certainly makes Philoctetes a fascinating outcast; and Lesley Sharp (pictured) plays him as an old-school Cockney rag-and-bone man, akin to Albert Steptoe.

She certainly makes Philoctetes a fascinating outcast; and Lesley Sharp (pictured) plays him as an old-school Cockney rag-and-bone man, akin to Albert Steptoe

He shares the island with a crew of female refugees who serve as a chorus, commenting on the action.

Into their camp strides uniformed Odysseus, played by Anastasia Hille, who has been well drilled in the mannerisms of military top brass. But Gloria Obianyo as Neoptolemus is the most complex character. Under orders to extract Philoctetes from his lair, she grows from obedient squaddie to crafty negotiator.

Jingling with profanities like bells on a goat, Tempest's script nibbles on themes of pride, bitterness, betrayal and lost glory.

I'm not sure what the all-female casting adds  in some ways it makes the story more comic and less tragic. But I'd sit through this long, uninterrupted 110-minute show all over again, just for Odysseus's brilliant pizza gag.

P.M.

It may be elementary, but Holmes versus the Hound is a rip-roaring treat

Baskerville (Mercury Theatre, Colchester)

Rating:

Verdict: Fast-moving fun

This is the Mercury rising, rebuilt over two years with a cool cafe and dance studio, modern eco-glazing and, to respect the town's history, a solemn archaeological display of Roman bricks and copper alloy nose-hair tweezers they found underneath.

It's good sense to reopen with a family-friendly lark: Ken Ludwig's take on Sherlock Holmes' adventure with the Hound of the Baskervilles. It helps that many, like me, remember from childhood the atmospheric terror of the Great Grimpen Mire and the dog with shining jaws, while actually forgetting who the killer was.

It's a jokey five-actor show in the tradition of the Reduced Shakespeare Company or National Theatre of Brent, with a great many hats and wigs, but has some impressively detailed sudden costume changes.

There are classily brilliant sets and projections by Amy Jane Cook and Louise Rhoades-Brown, plenty of theatrical smoke and unexpected trapdoor-work.

Richard Ede remains Holmes throughout and Eric Stroud a mournfully nerdish Watson, while the other three whip through 38 parts, from Baker Street to Dartmoor and an opera house finale. Phil Yarrow and Marc Pickering are elegant shape-shifters, Naomi Petersen is all the women and two urchins.

Seasoned Vaudeville jokes abound: fake wind, running-on-the spot, an upright bed, talking portraits and at one point the traditional profile gag: an actor in half a suit and half a beard, changing character by whipping round to face the other way. Never fails, that one.

Fast small-troupe comedies like this always work best with a degree of knowing self-mockery between the players. Yarrow and Petersen are both improv veterans but this element was a bit tentative at first, maybe rusty after the long performance famine which actors, as well as us audiences, have glumly endured.

But it grows in the second act, and their glee will ripen as the run goes on. The new surround-sound system, by the way, does very well indeed by the Dartmoor gales and the virtual Hound. Brrr, Grrr.

Until August 22, mercurytheatre.co.uk

Libby Purves

Warning: This may hurt a bit

Medicine (Edinburgh International Festival @ Traverse)

Rating:

Verdict: Gleeson shines

At the heart of Enda Walsh's play Medicine, which he also directs, is a superb performance by Domhnall Gleeson (General Hux in the Star Wars sequel trilogy).

We are in what looks like a work canteen in Jamie Vartan's evocative set, strewn with the detritus of a party. Yet there is no evidence of alcohol.

Ah, the penny drops: John (Mr Gleeson, below) is in an institution. Walking into the room in his pyjamas, he is agitated about the mess, which he didn't create.

Then a light comes on in a booth; John speaks into a microphone and we hear a man's voice.

'How are you today?' he asks. This, we gather, is John's annual assessment  where he tries to remember why he's in here and why he needs to stay.

John (Mr Gleeson, above) is in an institution. Walking into the room in his pyjamas, he is agitated about the mess, which he didn't create

And so John's story unfolds. We meet two women  both actors, both called Mary (Clare Barrett and Aoife Duffin, on terrific form). One is dressed as a lobster, the other as an elderly man. They help John to remember by playing people from his past.

Soon they are joined by a drummer (Sean Carpio), who underscores much of the action. But are they real? Or simply figures in John's head?

Mr Walsh has some laughs at actors' expense. 'What's the first rule of acting?' Mary 1 asks Mary 2. 'Be important.'

But the gags decrease as shocking details of childhood neglect and teenage humiliation emerge in John's monologues, and absurdist comedy becomes dystopian despair as Mr Gleeson's performance holds us rapt.

Medicine (the highlight of the EIF's programme, presented in collaboration with Landmark Productions and the Galway International Arts Festival) may be a surreal fantasy. But Walsh and Gleeson make John's distress feel frighteningly real.

Until August 29 (eif.co.uk).

Veronica Lee

A Grand Night For Singing (Edinburgh International Festival @ Edinburgh Academy Junior School)

Rating:

Verdict: Singing in the rain

A Grand Night For Singing  a show of Rodgers and Hammerstein's songs  would be lovely to listen to under the stars on a balmy evening.

The atrocious weather on the night I saw it made this closer to singing in the rain, but thankfully it was being performed in a gigantic marquee  one of the outdoor venues created by the International Festival especially for this Covid-affected year.

Kim Criswell has devised this new staging of a show that was created by Walter Bobbie for Broadway in 1993.

It's chock-full of great songs from Oklahoma!, The King And I, South Pacific and more, and it links them together in a celebration of love  from infatuation ('Hello Young Lovers') to rejection ('All At Once You Love Her') to marriage ('When The Children Are Asleep').

It's a clever conceit and allows some re-imaginings; 'Maria' from The Sound Of Music, for instance, is sung from a frustrated boyfriend's point of view.

The cast of Criswell, Danielle de Niese, Anna-Jane Casey, Damian Humbley and Richard Morrison, under the musical direction of Wayne Marshall, create some enchanted evening.

Until August 13 (eif.co.uk)

Veronica Lee
Jared Padalecki has started a GoFundMe campaign to support the children of Holli DeWees, with whom he worked on Supernatural.

The 39-year-old actor started the initiative earlier this week in memory of the late 'family member,' who recently passed away following a bout with breast cancer, which she documented on her Instagram account.

The campaign has surpassed its intended goal of $10,000 and currently stands at $24,434 after just three days of activity.

A good cause: Jared Padalecki has launched a GoFundMe campaign for his late Supernatural 'family member' Holli DeWees; he is seen in 2019

Padalecki, who portrayed Sam Winchester on the series, also wrote a message on the GoFundMe page to notify his fans about the reason for the campaign.

The actor began the statement by writing: 'Hey yall. As some of you may have seen, one of our own #SPNFamily members has recently passed away from a brave battle with cancer.'

The performer went on to note that DeWees was loved by many who knew her and encouraged her fans to offer their financial assistance to her family.

'She worked to make so many lives better, and now we have an opportunity to take up her mantle and provide some help to the most important people in her life - her kids,' he wrote.

Lending a hand: The performer encouraged his fans to donate to the campaign, which is meant to support DeWees' family

The Walker star went on to express his gratitude for the continued support of the campaign, as he was personally affected by the tragic loss of DeWees.

'Thank yall so much for helping her family make it through this incredibly difficult time,' he expressed.

DeWees is survived by her husband, Michael, and their two children.

Padalecki previously offered to have a Zoom call with a fan as part of a raffle for the campaign, although he later learned that GoFundMe did not allow for donations to be taken in that manner.

Expressing his gratitude: The actor also wrote a message where he thanked his supporters for 'helping her family make it through this incredibly difficult time'; he is pictured in March

Incentive: The Walker star is also hosting a raffle for a Zoom call as part of the campaign; he is seen in 2019

The actor remained committed to his offer in memory of DeWees, and the raffle for the call, which is being done through Rafflecopter, is still ongoing.

The Room 401 host previously 'photobombed' one of her pictures with his Supernatural co-star, Misha Collins, that was shared to her Instagram account in 2016.

DeWees humorously wrote that the performer jumped in on that shot 'after having pushed us around a bit, (it was all in good fun he's just very strong).'

Her last post on her Instagram account was made this past May, where she expressed excitement over growing her hair back after receiving chemotherapy treatments.
Christy Carlson Romano is opening up about working for the Disney Channel more than two decades ago, revealing she didn't also get along with her Even Stevens co-star Shia LaBeouf.

Romano played Ren with LaBeouf playing her brother Louis in Even Stevens, which followed their drastically different personalities, running from 2001 to 2003.

The 37-year-old actress took to her YouTube channel on Thursday where she talked about her experiences working with the Disney Channel, and her experiences working with LaBeouf.

Opening up: Christy Carlson Romano is opening up about working for the Disney Channel more than two decades ago, revealing she didn't also get along with her Even Stevens co-star Shia LaBeouf

Personalities: Romano played Ren with LaBeouf playing her brother Louis in Even Stevens, which followed their drastically different personalities, running from 2001 to 2003

'I remember all of the things that ended up becoming my first job with Disney, I remember the moments leading up to it like it was yesterday because it was just so intense for a young person to go through. So you just don't forget that sort of thing,' she said.

She added that she remembers, 'seeing Shia LaBeouf in the lobby of the audition room' and she was just 14 when she auditioned for Even Stevens.

'We had a perfect amount of space just doing homeschooling and what not at the set,' she said, adding they used the same studio that Baywatch was used for.

First job: 'I remember all of the things that ended up becoming my first job with Disney, I remember the moments leading up to it like it was yesterday because it was just so intense for a young person to go through. So you just don't forget that sort of thing,' she said

Teens: She added that she remembers, 'seeing Shia LaBeouf in the lobby of the audition room' and she was just 14 when she auditioned for Even Stevens

'We literally, me and Shia, had David Hasselhoff's dressing room split in half so that we each had a side because I guess it was that big,' she said.

'There's also kind of like, set politics, here's some tea for you guys. Every set has some people that don't get along. On my set, from time to time it was like, me and Shia, but I think there was other people that didn't gel well as well,' she said.

The actress continued that LaBeouf was, 'a very negative presence amongst everybody.'

Me and Shia: 'There's also kind of like, set politics, here's some tea for you guys. Every set has some people that don't get along. On my set, from time to time it was like, me and Shia, but I think there was other people that didn't gel well as well,' she said

Dressing room: 'We literally, me and Shia, had David Hasselhoff's dressing room split in half so that we each had a side because I guess it was that big,' she said

She added she would sometimes speak against Even Stevens' 'physical gags' that she didn't think were too safe.

'But then all I had to do was tell them, "Look, guys, I don't want to do this' and then they never wrote those gags for me anymore and that's fine because my character was like, a teenage girl anyway,"' the actress said.

'She found comedy in ways that didn't have to do with physical humor  and Shia was more than willing to clown it up for everybody on the set so I just kind of let him have that and take the bullet when it came to doing the craziness,' she said.

Unsafe: She added she would sometimes speak against Even Stevens' 'physical gags' that she didn't think were too safe

Clown: 'She found comedy in ways that didn't have to do with physical humor  and Shia was more than willing to clown it up for everybody on the set so I just kind of let him have that and take the bullet when it came to doing the craziness,' she said

She also talked about the kinds of things that she couldn't do as a typical kid, because it would make them, 'uninsurable.'

'You can't go surfing, you can't rollerblade, you can't do high impact sports, you can't do team sports, you can't do certain things, unless the executives I think like, have to really evaluate it case-by-case,' she said.

'And I'm not saying that they're going to say no every time, but it's a consideration,' she added.

Uninsurable: She also talked about the kinds of things that she couldn't do as a typical kid, because it would make them, 'uninsurable'
Los Angeles County made masks mandatory again in indoor public places last month due to the surge in COVID-19 cases caused by the Delta variant.

And Cindy Crawford made sure to obey the rules as she enjoyed a lunch date with husband Rande Gerber on Thursday.

The couple were snapped arriving at members-only club SoHo House in Malibu.

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Casually smart: Cindy Crawford headed to a lunch date in Malibu with husband Rande Gerber on Thursday wearing one of her favorite looks - a white blouse tucked into blue jeans

While her famous face was covered up, the supermodel, 55, showed her signature style in choice of outfit.

She opted for one of her favorite looks, a white cotton blouse tucked into blue jeans.

She added inches with nude sandal heels and left her lovely long brunette hair loose.

Cindy carried a large beige purse and brought along a wide-brimmed sun hat.

Covered up: The supermodel's famous face was hidden behind a mask in line with LA County rules as she headed into the members-only SoHo House clutching a wide-brimmed sun hat

Couple: Rande, 59, wore a navy t-shirt and jeans with a black leather belt and sneakers. He donned a trucker's hat and used a blue bandana as a face covering

Cindy has been a household name since the 1980s and is regarded as one of the foremost supermodels in the world.

From 1991 to 1995, she was in a high-profile marriage to Hollywood star Richard Gere.

Following their divorce, she tied the knot with male model turned entrepreneur Rande in 1998.

The couple are parents to son Presley, 22, and daughter Kaia, 19, both of whom have followed their famous parents into modeling.

Famous face: Cindy has been a household name since the 1980s and is regarded as one of the foremost supermodels in the world (pictured in an Instagram snap in April)

Family: Cindy and Rande have been married since 1998 and share daughter Kaia, 19, and son Presley, 22. Cindy was previously wed to Hollywood star Richard Gere from 1991 to 1995

Kaia, who has taken the fashion world by storm since making her catwalk debut at the age of 16, has now also ventured into acting.

Following small roles in 2016 and 2017, she booked her largest part to date in the Ryan Murphy anthology series American Horror Stories.

The show is a spin-off of the similarly named American Horror Story and the teen was seen in the second of a two-art episode that was released in July.

She also has a role in the upcoming new AHS season titled Double Feature.
Kourtney Kardashian shut down body shamers Thursday who speculated on social media that she's pregnant.

The 42-year-old reality star posted six selfies from her closet on Instagram that showed off her stomach and one person commented, 'SHES PREGNANT'.

Kourtney according to E! Online clapped back in a reply, 'I'm a woman with a BODY.'

Clapped back: Kourtney Kardashian shut down body shamers Thursday who speculated on social media that she's pregnant

The KUWTK alum in the Instagram snaps gave fans a glimpse of her walk-in closet inside her $8.5M six-bedroom mansion at the gated community, Estates at the Oaks.

The Poosh founder - who boasts 186.7M social media followers - captioned the six pictures of herself: 'Say hi to my closet.'

According to her hairstylist Sienree - who coiffed her 'perfectly undone top knot' - Kourtney was wearing no make-up for the Instagram snaps.

However, Kardashian made sure to rep her younger sister Kim's $32 SKIMS 'Fits Everybody' scoopneck bra after pulling down her silky red dress.

The 42-year-old Poosh founder - who boasts 186.7M social media followers - captioned the six pictured of herself: 'Say hi to my closet'

The half-Armenian socialite was getting glam to attend the 40-year-old SKIMS CEO's private screening of PAW Patrol: The Movie in which she voices Delores the Poodle.

Missing from Kourt's side on Thursday was her neighbor-turned-boyfriend since December, Grammy nominee Travis Barker.

The Calabasas neighbors reportedly knew each other for years before going Instagram official with their relationship on February 16.

'Makeup: NONE!' According to her hairstylist Sienree - who coiffed her 'perfectly undone top knot' - Kourtney was wearing no make-up for the Instagram snaps

Mirror, mirror: However, Kardashian made sure to rep her younger sister Kim's $32 SKIMS 'Fits Everybody' scoopneck bra after pulling down her silky red dress

Movie night! The half-Armenian socialite was getting glam to attend the 40-year-old SKIMS CEO's private screening of PAW Patrol: The Movie in which she voices Delores the Poodle

Calabasas neighbors: Missing from Kourt's side on Thursday was her neighbor-turned-boyfriend since December, Grammy nominee Travis Barker (L, pictured August 4)

The 45-year-old Blink-182 drummer was too busy bonding with his daughter Alabama Luella.

The 15-year-old platinum blonde watched with pride as Travis practiced drums in a blue-lit recording studio.

Barker is also father to 17-year-old son Landon Asher from his on/off three-year second marriage to Hollywood Exes star Shanna Moakler, which ended in 2008.

Kardashian has three children - daughter Penelope, 9; son Reign, 6; and son Mason, 11 - from her on/off nine-year romance with Talentless CEO Scott Disick, which ended in 2015.

'Dad love!' The 45-year-old Blink-182 drummer was too busy bonding with his daughter Alabama Luella (R)

Daddy's girl: The 15-year-old platinum blonde watched with pride as Travis practiced drums in a blue-lit recording studio

Ex-wife #2: Barker is also father to 17-year-old son Landon Asher (R, pictured December 4) from his on/off three-year marriage to Hollywood Exes star Shanna Moakler (L), which ended in 2008

2020 family portrait: Kardashian has three children - daughter Penelope, 9; son Reign, 6; and son Mason, 11 - from her on/off nine-year romance with Talentless CEO Scott Disick (L), which ended in 2015

Streaming in late 2021! On December 10, the University of Arizona grad and her famous family signed a new multi-year global content deal with Hulu/Star

On December 10, the University of Arizona grad and her famous family signed a new multi-year global content deal with Hulu/Star, which starts streaming in late 2021.

The heavily-tattooed musician is currently hard at work producing the upcoming album Born With Horns for pop-punk rocker Machine Gun Kelly.

Travis is also featured on Willow Smith's track Transparent Soul, which was nominated for the best alternative trophy at the fan-voted MTV Video Music Awards airing September 12.

'Back for round two!' The heavily-tattooed musician is currently hard at work producing the upcoming album Born With Horns for pop-punk rocker Machine Gun Kelly (L)
He became a father to son Benjamin, born via surrogate, in 2019.

And Bravo's Andy Cohen has revealed that his love life has become more complicated as a result.

The Watch What Happens Live host, 53, told People: 'Now there's an endgame... Are you going to be a good stepfather? It's changed everything.'

Changed priorities: He became a father to son Benjamin, born via surrogate, in 2019. And Bravo's Andy Cohen has revealed that his love life has become more complicated as a result

While he has a different criteria for a potential partner now, Cohen hasn't stopped looking for love.

As for his ideal companion, he told People: 'I like very independent people who have their own things going with their own lives, who are very strong in their belief systems. That's very attractive to me.'

Meanwhile, Cohen stated Tuesday that he and regular Met Gala date Sarah Jessica Parker may skip this year's extravaganza.

Single dad: The Watch What Happens Live host, 53, told People : 'Now there's an endgame... Are you going to be a good stepfather? It's changed everything'

Single: While he has a different criteria for a potential partner, Cohen hasn't stopped looking for love. As for his ideal companion, he told People: 'I like very independent people who have their own things going with their own lives, who are very strong in their belief systems'

The Met Gala 2020 will be held next month in New York City, marking the event's return since being postponed in May 2020 following the breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During an interview on Access Hollywood, he said he wouldn't be attending the gala on September 13 because Parker would be unable to go with him due to filming commitments.

Parker is currently shooting the HBO Max Sex And the City sequel And Just Like That.

Cohen and Parker have walked the red carpet together at the annual benefit for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York City several times - in 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018.

The New York fashion event is requiring all guests including the rich and famous to show proof of full vaccination and wear face masks inside while not eating and drinking.

The theme for the event is America: A Lexicon of Fashion, which is named after a new exhibition at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Cameron Diaz surprised many in Hollywood when she confirmed in March 2018 that she was retired from acting, four years after her last movie, 2014's Annie.

The 48-year-old blonde beauty hasn't spoken much about her retirement since then, but she opened up about her decision to call it quits on Kevin Hart's Hart to Heart.

Diaz revealed that she still does love acting, but it had gotten to the point where she couldn't manage her own life anymore.

Retired: Cameron Diaz surprised many in Hollywood when she confirmed in March 2018 that she was retired from acting, four years after her last movie, 2014's Annie

Couldn't manage: Diaz revealed that she still does love acting, but it had gotten to the point where she couldn't manage her own life anymore

When asked what 'motivated' her to step away from acting, she said that when you do something 'at a really high level for a long period of time, when you're the person who's delivering on this one thing... everything around you, all parts of you that isn't that, has to be handed off to other people.'

She added that aspects of her life like maintaining her home to finances, and, 'that one part of me that functioned at a high level wasn't enough.'

'It's fun to do, I love acting. I could go forever. I literally feel like I have unlimited energy and inertia,' Diaz said.

Handed off: When asked what 'motivated' her to step away from acting, she said that when you do something 'at a really high level for a long period of time, when you're the person who's delivering on this one thing... everything around you, all parts of you that isn't that, has to be handed off to other people'

She realized that there were so many aspects of her life that she wasn't managing and she couldn't manage because, 'everything was so massive.'

When asked how old she was when she came to this realization, Diaz said she was about 40, adding she has a, 'lot of great friends and people who have supported me for so long,' but she also had other people 'who were not serving my best interests.'

'But you don't have time to figure those things out if you're just going going going like this with blinders on,' she said.

Aspects: She realized that there were so many aspects of her life that she wasn't managing and she couldn't manage because, 'everything was so massive'

'For me, I just really wanted to make my life manageable by me. My routine in a day is literally what I can manage to do by myself,' Diaz said.

She added it's 'the best feeling' and she felt 'whole,' adding during this time she met her husband Benji Madden and they started a family, with daughter Raddix born in December 2019.

'All of those things I didn't have time for before, and not only not have the time for, but didn't have the space to make the right decisions for me at the time,' she said.

Routine: 'For me, I just really wanted to make my life manageable by me. My routine in a day is literally what I can manage to do by myself,' Diaz said

While Diaz hasn't acted in nearly seven years, she's been keeping busy in other ways since her acting retirement.

She wrote The Body Book: Feed, Move, Understand and Love Your Amazing Body in 2013 and The Longevity Book: The Science of Aging, the Biology of Strength, and the Privilege of Time in June 2016.

She has invested in biotech startups such as Seed Health and Modern Acupuncture.

Diaz's latest venture was launching her own organic wine brand in 2020 called Avaline with partner Katherine Power.

Keeping busy: While Diaz hasn't acted in nearly seven years, she's been keeping busy in other ways since her acting retirement
Angelina Jolie stepped out with 17-year-old child Pax for a mother-son dinner date.

The 46-year-old actress, who adopted Pax from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in 2007, grabbed some dinner with her son at Nobu in Los Angeles.

The Maleficent star and her son were both still masked up as the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus continues to spread throughout Los Angeles.

Angelina and Pax: Angelina Jolie stepped out with 17-year-old son Pax for a mother-son dinner date

The actress was spotted wearing a white top and white wide-legged pants under a a full-length tan trench coat.

She was wearing a black face mask covering her mouth and nose, with diamond earrings and a gold chain dangling from her neck.

She completed her look with a pair of brown Dolce & Gabbana shoes and a brown purse.

Angie's look: The actress was spotted wearing a white top and white wide-legged pants under a a full-length tan trench coat

Pax stepped out wearing a plain white t-shirt with a small silver chain and pendant dangling from his neck.

He was wearing a black coat that matched his black face mask that covered his mouth and nose.

He completed his look with a pair of grey pants and a pair of black Converse All-Star sneakers.

Pax's look: Pax stepped out wearing a plain white t-shirt with a small silver chain and pendant dangling from his neck

The outing comes just weeks after Jolie scored a major victory in her lengthy custody battle with ex-husband Brad Pitt.

The 2nd District Court of Appeal in California disqualified Judge John W. Ouderkirk, who failed to properly disclose prior dealings he had with Pitt's attorneys.

Jolie filed for divorce in 2016 and is seeking sole custody of their adopted children, Pax, Zahara, 16, Shiloh, 15, Knox, 13 and Vivienne, 13.

Legal: The outing comes just weeks after Jolie scored a major victory in her lengthy custody battle with ex-husband Brad Pitt

She also opened up about her struggles within her personal life while promoting her film Those Who Wish Me Dead, which was released on HBO Max in May.

'I felt a little beaten up in my own life, as we all do at times, and I felt like I wasnt holding myself together and I felt a little broken,' she said.

While she did not specifically detail what the struggle was, Angelina, 45, has been engaged in a lengthy custody battle with ex-husband Brad Pitt since 2016, following their split after more than a decade together and over two years of marriage.
Yazmin Oukhellou is reportedly set to make an explosive return to TOWIE to confront her ex-boyfriend James Lock.

The reality star, 26, is said to be 'furious' after discovering James, 34, had a secret fling with one of her close friends and is in talks with producers to come back to the show.

Yaz and James split earlier this year, with the television personality staying out in Dubai while James jetted home to star in the last series of TOWIE.

Back with a bang: Yazmin Oukhellou is reportedly set to make an explosive return to TOWIE to confront her ex-boyfriend James Lock

The reality star even moved on and got into a new relationship during her stay in UAE, but is now newly-single and, it seems, ready to confront James about the betrayal.

A source told The Sun: 'Yaz is fuming. And Lockie is doing his best at damage limitation control.

'He says he totally regrets the night of passion with her pal but it's not looking like it'll wash. The cast will reunite for the next series in Sandbanks in Dorset.

Upset: The reality star, 26, is said to be 'furious' after discovering James, 34, had a secret fling with one of her close friends and is in talks with producers to come back to the show

'Whilst it's not confirmed just yet that she'll be back, there have been a lot of talks about her return.'

MailOnline has contacted Yaz and James' representatives and TOWIE for comment.

The Essex couple have had experienced a tempestuous relationship, splitting up and reconciling on a number of occasions after they first started dating in 2017.

They broke-up in 2019 after Yazmin accused James of betraying her by partying with a group of women in a hotel room in Turkey, where the couple were on holiday together.

On-off: The Essex couple have had experienced a tempestuous relationship, splitting up and reconciling on a number of occasions after they first started dating in 2017 (pictured in 2020)

A year after their bitter breakup they got back together, confirming their romance by kissing on a beach in Mallorca.

Yazmin eventually took James back after the pair failed to keep their distance from each other amid filming for TOWIE and sharing the same group of friends.

However they split once again during their New Year's trip to Dubai.

James was spotted getting cosy with Love Island's Rachel Fenton in June.

James and Rachel were seen in close conversation outside the venue, with Rachel placing her hand on the reality star's waist.

However, a source told MailOnline: 'They are just friends, James is single and not dating anyone.'

Yazmin, meanwhile, is currently completing the final leg of her trip in the amber-list Santorini so she can return home to the red-list United Arab Emirates.
Bindi Irwin paid tribute to her husband, Chandler Powell, in a heartfelt post on Instagram on Friday.

Sharing a smiling selfie of the two of them standing cheek-to-cheek, Bindi, 23, praised the father of their five-month-old daughter, Grace.

'Love of my life. Partner in raising Grace, animal puns, endless baby laundry, coffee drinking, Parks & Rec watching, conservation missions, hug giving, crocodile feeding, life adventuring and so much more,' she wrote.

'I love you with all my heart': Bindi Irwin paid touching tribute to her husband, Chandler Powell, in a heartfelt post on Instagram on Friday

The renowned Wildlife Warrior added: 'You're the best babe, and I love you with all my heart.'

Commenting on the sweet post, Chandler, 24, returned the sentiment, praising his wife of 17 months.

'The sweetest post. I love you with everything I have. Grateful to live such an extraordinary life together with our Grace,' he wrote.

Love: Bindi praised the father of their five-month-old daughter, Grace: 'Love of my life. Partner in raising Grace, animal puns, endless baby laundry, coffee drinking, Parks & Rec watching, conservation missions, hug giving, crocodile feeding, life adventuring and so much more'

Bindi first met Chandler in 2013, when the American former wakeboarder went on a guided tour of Australia Zoo in Queensland.

Following their chance meeting, Chandler wrote to Terri to ask her permission to contact Bindi before they embarked on a long-distance relationship.

He eventually relocated to Australia from his home in Florida, and now works at the family's zoo.

Chance encounter: Bindi first met Chandler in 2013, when the American former wakeboarder went on a guided tour of Australia Zoo in Queensland

In July 2019, the couple announced their engagement, with Chandler proposing to Bindi on her 21st birthday.

'Chandler, close to six years ago I fell in love with you and every day since has been a whirlwind of adventure and true happiness,' she announced on Instagram at the time.

'I'm so looking forwarding to spending our forever together as your wife. Here's to a lifetime of friendship, purpose and unconditional love. Now let's get married already!'

'The sweetest post. I love you with everything I have. Grateful to live such an extraordinary life together with our Grace,' Chandler responded

Bindi married Chandler in a surprise ceremony at Australia Zoo, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, in March last year.

'Our wedding day wasn't what we planned but it was an extraordinary starting point for our marriage to bloom,' she wrote on Instagram in May last year.

Bindi said the coronavirus pandemic had meant she and Chandler 'had to change our entire wedding'.

Newlyweds: Bindi married Chandler in a surprise ceremony at Australia Zoo, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, in March last year

She added: 'We changed our wedding date the night before we got married but we were determined to let love win.'

They announced they were expecting their first child together in August last year, before welcoming daughter Grace on their first wedding anniversary on March 25.

'She chose the perfect day to be born and we feel tremendously blessed,' Bindi wrote on Instagram at the time.
She never fails to look sensational.

And Michelle Keegan was showing off her natural beauty as she shared a radiant selfie to her Instagram on Thursday.

The Our Girl actress, 34, had been enjoying a day shopping in Manchester when she was travelling home with her haul and decided to pose up a storm for the camera.

Stunning: Michelle Keegan was showing off her natural beauty as she shared a radiant selfie to her Instagram on Thursday

The star opted for a low-key makeup look with a bronze sheen over her cheeks and a slick of light pink lip.

She wore her brunette tresses up in a high pony while leaving curls falling softly around her pretty face.

She captioned her new post: 'Comfort is key' as she posed in a casual grey shirt and across the body Prada bag as she showed off her shopping bags.

It comes after on Tuesday, Michelle took to her Instagram Stories where she shared a series of adorable childhood snaps to celebrate her cousin Katie Fearnehough's birthday.

Radiant: The Our Girl actress, 34, had been enjoying a day shopping in Manchester when she was travelling home with her haul and decided to pose up a storm for the camera

The star was barely recognisable as a young girl with a chunky fringe in the throwback photos contained within sweet collages.

Proving their close bond, one photograph shows a baby Katie sitting on Michelle's lap during a day at the park.

In another shot, Michelle is dressed in a dark vintage-looking green dress as she wraps an arm around Katie.

The soap star also included some more recent photographs of herself and her cousin, with teen throwbacks and nights out as adults.

Yummy: Later on Thursday Michelle shared snaps of herself enjoying some Tapas out with friends

Sharing the snaps to her Instagram Stories, Michelle said: 'Happy 30th Birthday to my girl @katiefearnehoughx. Not only my cousin but my best friend.

'For three decades we have been side by side, growing up together & how lucky are we to have such special memories.'

Alongside a video of her cousin riding a Bucking Bronco ride, Michelle penned: 'Here's to the net 3 decades...let's ride them the way you are riding this bull.

'Holding on tight through the lows, laugh through the highs, all with an arm in the air and a smile on your face! Love you loads xxxx.'

Throwback! It comes after on Tuesday, Michelle (pictured right as a child) took to Instagram to share adorable childhood snaps to celebrate her cousin Katie Fearnehough's birthday

Last September, Katie gave birth to a boy named Brody, making Michelle a doting auntie.

Last year, Michelle admitted that she felt 'frustrated' by constant questions about when she and husband Mark Wright will have a baby.

The actress, who has been married to the TOWIE star turned TV presenter, for six years, hit out at sexist double standards - admitting queries about when she is going to have a baby do 'bother' her now.

In an interview with Cosmopolitan magazine, she said: 'A few years ago it didn't bother me and I answered the question.

'But now I think, ''I don't need to answer that because nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors''.

'I remember when I finished Our Girl people were like, ''Is it because you're going off to have a baby?''

'I know for a fact if Mark finished a job, nobody would ask him if he was going to have a baby. It's not fair. It does make me feel frustrated.'

Michelle and husband Mark have been together since late 2012 when they met while they were both on holiday in Dubai.

The former TOWIE star popped the question nine months later and the pair married in a lavish ceremony at Hengrave Hall in Suffolk in May 2015.
She welcomed her second child Fredrick in June.

And comedian and actress Katherine Ryan looked radiant while being pictured taking a stroll with her baby for the first time in north London on Thursday.

Keeping things casual, the 37-year-old paired a denim jacket with a black V-neck T-shirt, along with black joggers and small hoop earrings.

Glowing: Comedian Katherine Ryan was spotted for the first time with her son Frederick, two months in north London on Thursday

The Canadian TV star had tied her tresses into a ponytail for the outing and pushed the tot along the pavement in a grey pushchair.

Katherine looked deep in thought as she strolled along the streets of the leafy suburb.

She announced the arrival of her son with husband Bobby Koostra, 38, in July, sharing a sweet selfie holding her baby to social media.

Radiant: Katherine looked incredible during her walk

Beautiful: Katherine Ryan looked radiant while taking a stroll with her newborn son in North London on Thursday

Strolling: She accessorised her look with a pair of small hoop earrings

Emerging: She kept things casual in a pair of black joggers

Geared up: The Canadian presenter pushed the tot along the pavement in a grey pushchair

Katherine had impressively kept her pregnancy a secret until just two weeks before she gave birth.

A few hours after first sharing the news, the new dad also took to Instagram to reveal their little one's name and gush that Katherine was a 'total hero'.

Alongside, a stunning snap of the new parents about to head home with their son and posing on the steps of the Lindo Wing as well as a closer image of the tot.

Family: Katherine has been sharing her motherhood journey with husband Bobby Koostra

Bobby penned: 'Our son Frederick Ryan Kootstra, born June 13th:)

'Mom has the reproductive organs of a finely tuned Sportscar, and in a flash raced this baby over the line just in time for kickoff. Shes a total hero 3 hours start to finish.'

The Duchess actress is also mother to daughter Violet, 12, from a previous relationship.

Sleek: She had tied her blonde tresses into a ponytail for the outing

Loved up: She kept her hands firmly on the handlebar

Exploring: The Netflix actress looked deep in thought as she strolled along

Low key: She took off her jacket and hung it over the pushchair's handlebars at a later point

While getting to grips with motherhood in a hilarious snap, Katherine enjoyed a beer in her hospital bed just hours after welcoming Fred.

The All That Glitters presenter was getting to grips with motherhood in a hilarious throwback snap Bobby shared last month where she can be seen swigging the bottle.

Making sure to receive her daily dose of gut-healthy fibre, the star also munched on guacamole while Fred could be seen alongside her.

Motherhood: Katherine enjoyed a beer in her hospital bed after welcoming her son Fred with Bobby on June 14

On Friday, Katherine took to her Instagram story to share an adorable selfie video of herself carrying a Gucci-clad Freddie.

Looking very cool in the designer tracksuit, the panel show veteran overlayed the clip with the Dr Dre hit The Next Episode.

Ever the comedian, she raised the corner of her lip as she bit into her son's dummy, while balancing a bottle of milk in her hand.
They recently returned from a sun-drenched getaway in Mallorca.

So Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright, both 34, no doubt had plenty of tales to tell as they met up with friends for drinks at Brindisa in London on Friday.

The married couple seemed in great spirits as they made the most of the balmy evening by sitting outside.

Loving life: Michelle Keegan collapsed in giggles as she joined husband Mark Wright and friends for al fresco drinks at London's Brindisa on Thursday

Michelle got the giggles as she chatted away with her pals, throwing her head back as she put on a very animated display.

The former Coronation Street star looked effortlessly stylish on the outing as she donned an oversized grey plaid blazer layered over a black blouse.

She also donned a pair of black cropped trousers and swapped her typical towering heels for cream sliders.

Out and about: The married couple seemed in great spirits as they made the most of the balmy evening by sitting outside

Loving life: Michelle got the giggles as she chatted away with her pals, throwing her head back as she put on a very animated display

Michelle completed the look by toting a small black cross body bag and styling her glossy locks in a single plait.

Meanwhile, Mark also looked stylish as he opted for a single colour scheme on the outing.

The Heart FM presenter slipped into a cobalt T-shirt and navy shorts that he teamed with Nike trainers.

Plaid's a good look: The former Coronation Street star looked effortlessly stylish on the outing as she donned an oversized grey plaid blazer layered over a black blouse

The couple's outing came after Michelle showed off her natural beauty in a radiant selfie taken earlier in the day.

The Our Girl actress had been enjoying a day shopping in Manchester when she was travelling home with her haul and decided to pose up a storm for the camera.

The star opted for a low-key makeup look with a bronze sheen over her cheeks and a slick of light pink lip.

She wore her brunette tresses up in a high pony while leaving curls falling softly around her pretty face.

Leggy lady! She also donned a pair of black cropped trousers and swapped her typical towering heels for cream sliders

She captioned her new post: 'Comfort is key' as she posed in a casual grey shirt and across the body Prada bag as she showed off her shopping bags.

It comes after on Tuesday, Michelle took to her Instagram Stories where she shared a series of adorable childhood snaps to celebrate her cousin Katie Fearnehough's birthday.

The star was barely recognisable as a young girl with a chunky fringe in the throwback photos contained within sweet collages.

Finishing touches: Michelle completed the look by toting a small black cross body bag and styling her glossy locks in a single plait

Feeling blue: Mark also looked stylish as he opted for a single colour scheme on the outing

Proving their close bond, one photograph shows a baby Katie sitting on Michelle's lap during a day at the park.

In another shot, Michelle is dressed in a dark vintage-looking green dress as she wraps an arm around Katie.

The soap star also included some more recent photographs of herself and her cousin, with teen throwbacks and nights out as adults.

Looking good: The Heart FM presenter slipped into a cobalt T-shirt and navy shorts that he teamed with Nike trainers

Chatting away: Mark seemed very animated on the dinner date

Sharing the snaps to her Instagram Stories, Michelle said: 'Happy 30th Birthday to my girl @katiefearnehoughx. Not only my cousin but my best friend.

'For three decades we have been side by side, growing up together & how lucky are we to have such special memories.'

Alongside a video of her cousin riding a Bucking Bronco ride, Michelle penned: 'Here's to the net 3 decades...let's ride them the way you are riding this bull.

'Holding on tight through the lows, laugh through the highs, all with an arm in the air and a smile on your face! Love you loads xxxx.'

Back in blighty: The couple recently returned from a sun-drenched getaway in Mallorca

Last September, Katie gave birth to a boy named Brody, making Michelle a doting auntie.

Last year, Michelle admitted that she felt 'frustrated' by constant questions about when she and husband Mark Wright will have a baby.

The actress, who has been married to the TOWIE star turned TV presenter, for six years, hit out at sexist double standards - admitting queries about when she is going to have a baby do 'bother' her now.

Stunning: The couple's outing came after Michelle showed off her natural beauty in a radiant selfie taken earlier in the day

Radiant: The Our Girl actress, 34, had been enjoying a day shopping in Manchester when she was travelling home with her haul and decided to pose up a storm for the camera

In an interview with Cosmopolitan magazine, she said: 'A few years ago it didn't bother me and I answered the question.

'But now I think, ''I don't need to answer that because nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors''.

'I remember when I finished Our Girl people were like, ''Is it because you're going off to have a baby?''

Yummy: Later on Thursday Michelle shared snaps of herself enjoying some Tapas out with friends

Throwback! It comes after on Tuesday, Michelle (pictured right as a child) took to Instagram to share adorable childhood snaps to celebrate her cousin Katie Fearnehough's birthday

'I know for a fact if Mark finished a job, nobody would ask him if he was going to have a baby. It's not fair. It does make me feel frustrated.'

Michelle and husband Mark have been together since late 2012 when they met while they were both on holiday in Dubai.

The former TOWIE star popped the question nine months later and the pair married in a lavish ceremony at Hengrave Hall in Suffolk in May 2015.
Rebel Wilson showed off her svelte figure in an Yves Saint Laurent T-shirt and dark blue skinny jeans as she posed for selfies in a hotel room in Paris on Friday.

The Australian actress, 41, has been enjoying a holiday in Europe, making sure to document the trip on Instagram, posting snaps from Italy and Saint Tropez earlier this week.

She cut a casual figure in the ensemble, with the T-shirt reading 'Love 1983' and had multicoloured graphic shapes on it.

Bonjour! Rebel Wilson, 41, showed off her svelte figure in an Yves Saint Laurent T-shirt and dark blue skinny jeans as she posed for selfies in a hotel room in Paris on Friday

Holiday: Looking very chic she captioned the pose: 'Bonjour' with the french flag and croissant emojis

Looking very chic, she posed on the balcony in her Parisian hotel room, with clear blue skies and the Eiffel Tower for a backdrop.

She accessorised by framing her face with black oversized cat-eye sunglasses, as she captioned the social media post: 'Bonjour' with the french flag and croissant emojis.

Her bright blonde locks were parted to the side and in a poker straight style, and she flaunted her natural beauty by emphasising her green eyes with a subtle slick of mascara.

Tres chic! She has been enjoying a European getaway and she posed in one photo on her balcony in the Parisian hotel room, with clear blue skies and the Eiffel Tower for a backdrop

Rebel has shed more than 30 kilograms over the last year thanks to an impressive workout regimen and lifestyle overhaul.

She recently revealed she lost weight to boost her chances of getting pregnant.

The comedian was initially 'offended' that her doctors suggested her fertility would improve if she was slimmer and 'healthier'.

However, the comments gave her the motivation to tackle her eating habits.

Beautiful: Her bright blonde locks were parted to the side and in a poker straight style, and she flaunted her natural beauty by emphasising her green eyes with a subtle slick of mascara

Speaking on Instagram Live, she said: 'When I was going through and looking into fertility stuff, the doctor was like, 'Well, you'd have a much better chance if you were healthier'.

'I was actually a bit offended. I thought that even though I was bigger, I was pretty healthy.

'So that's what started it  that if I lost some excess weight, it would give me a better chance of freezing eggs and having better quality eggs.

'At first it wasn't even for myself, it was thinking of a future mini-me and their quality. That's what kick-started it.'

However, in May, Rebel told her Instagram followers she'd been given some 'bad news' about her fertility.

She wrote: 'I got some bad news today and didn't have anyone to share it with ... but I guess I gotta tell someone.

To all the women out there struggling with fertility, I feel ya. The universe works in mysterious ways and sometimes it all doesn't make sense ... but I hope there's light about to shine through all the dark clouds.'
Georgia Fowler is expecting her first child, a daughter.

And on Friday, the beauty showed off her blossoming baby bump as she enjoyed a swim at a Sydney beach.

The former Victoria's Secret model, 29, donned a cute black bikini as she took to the waves.

Soon! Georgia Fowler (pictured) is expecting her first child, a daughter. And on Friday, the beauty showed off her blossoming baby bump as she enjoyed a swim at a Sydney beach

The trendy swimwear included a strapless top that sat snug across her bust and had added button details.

She paired it with matching bottoms in a low cut design with the same button features on the sides.

The model had her brunette hair slicked back off her face and worn in a low bun at the nape of her neck.

Swim: She showed off her blossoming baby bump as she enjoyed a swim at a Sydney beach

Sweet: The former Victoria's Secret model, 29, donned a cute black bikini as she took to the waves

A look: The trendy swimwear included a strapless top that sat snug across her bust

On trend: The bikini top had added button details for a fashionable look

Wow: She paired it with matching bottoms in a low cut design

Georgia added a pair of retro sunglasses to the ensemble and went barefoot as she traipsed across the sand.

The stunner seemed relaxed as she strode toward the water, her famous figure on display.

Heavily pregnant Georgia looked blissful during her swim, throwing her arms in the air and smiling as she splashed.

Fashion: The bottoms had the same button features on the sides as the top

Pretty: The model had her brunette hair slicked back off her face and worn in a low bun at the nape of her neck

Casual: Making the most of the warm and sunny weather, she took her time

Sun drenched: The beauty shielded her eyes from the sun

Shielded: Georgia added a pair of retro sunglasses to the ensemble

Making the most of the warm and sunny weather, she took her time, absorbing the rays and playing in the water.

Georgia announced she is expecting her baby with her first child with her Fishbowl co-founder boyfriend Nathan, 26, back in April.

She shared the happy news on Instagram alongside a series of gorgeous black and white photographs of her baby bump.

Water baby: The model went barefoot as she traipsed into the water

Chill: The stunner seemed relaxed as she strode toward the waves, her famous figure on display

Happy: Heavily pregnant Georgia looked blissful during her swim

All smiles: Gregoria seemed thrilled as the cool water hit her skin

Details: She wore two dainty necklaces which she didn't mind getting wet

At the time, she sweetly announce the news by writing: 'We can't wait to meet you little one.'

'It's been hard to keep this one quiet, but now it's pretty hard to hide,' Georgia continued.

'Nathan and I couldn't be happier to share our exciting news with you. We cannot wait to meet you little one and begin our next adventure together. The best is yet to come.'

Woo! She was seen throwing her arms in the air and smiling as she splashed

Pleased: Nathan, a co-founder of the Fishbowl restaurant group, also shared the sweet baby news on his respective Instagram account and revealed they're having a daughter

Close: The couple had confirmed their romance in February last year

Nesting: The lovebirds already share a puppy together, called Chilli

Nathan, a co-founder of the Fishbowl restaurant group, also shared the sweet baby news on his respective Instagram account and revealed they're having a daughter.

The couple had confirmed their romance in February last year, and already share a puppy together, called Chilli.

In the past, Georgia has been romantically linked to Hollywood stars including Nick Jonas, Leonardo DiCaprio and Harry Styles.

Loving it! Georgia was in fantastic spirits as she enjoyed her day at the beach

Ring on it: She had rings on her fingers in addition to her necklaces

Nailed it! The model also had on a bracelet in the shape of a twisted nail

When prodded about Harry's song Kiwi on Channel Seven's The Morning Show in 2017, the star's face dropped before addressing the question.

The song Kiwi on Styles' self-titled debut album has long been rumoured to be about the Georgia and features the curious lyric: 'she said "I'm having your baby, it's none of your business".'

'Definitely don't have a baby... that's what the song is all about,' she said, adding: 'I think it's highly unlikely.'
Tammin Sursok has revealed her role in a new Australian drama will be based on real-life female publicists she has encountered in her life.

The former Home and Away star will next appear in The Good Hustle, which follows the adventures of five PR queens.

The 37-year-old, who is filming the series in Sydney, says her role is inspired by 'cutthroat' women she met during her time in Hollywood.

New role: Tammin Sursok (pictured) has revealed her role in a new Australian drama will be based on real life real-life female publicists she has encountered in her life

'It can be very cutthroat,' the actress told Confidential on Friday.

'It is based off that high profile businesswoman who is also trying to have a family at the same time and try to manage their personal life and also try to be successful in their own business and company.

'It is hard, especially for women, to do it all. And rising up the ladder as a female isn't easy; I feel you have to work harder.'

Knows them: The former Home and Away star will next appear in The Good Hustle, which follows the adventures of five PR queens. The 37-year-old, who is filming the series in Sydney, says her role is inspired by 'cut throat' women she met during her time in Hollywood

Tammin is herself a highly motivated mother and career woman who works hard to balance both.

She and her producer husband, Sean McEwen, are celebrating ten years of marriage.

The former Pretty Little Liars star and her husband share two children, Phoenix, seven, and Lennon, two.

Family: Tammin and her producer husband, Sean McEwen, are celebrating ten years of marriage. They share two children, Phoenix, seven, and Lennon, two. All pictured

'10 years married this month. 15 years together. The secret? Say yes to your wife's adventures,' Tammin wrote alongside an image of the couple on a beach, which she shared to Instagram recently.

Tammin arrived in Australia in June and underwent 14-day mandatory hotel quarantine in Sydney.

She had previously lived in Los Angeles for many years where she has forged a successful acting career.
The film is described as a fictional account inspired by true events set in 1960s America.

And in the trailer for new film Charming The Hearts Of Men, Anna Friel, 45, strips naked for a steamy bath scene as she unwinds with an alcoholic beverage.

The actress also puts on a flirty display elsewhere as she has co-star Kelsey Grammer literally eating out of the palm of her hand during an intimate dinner.

Steamy: In the trailer for new film Charming the Hearts of Men, Anna Friel, 45, strips naked for a steamy bath scene and she unwinds with an alcoholic beverage

In one scene, Anna, who plays Grace Gordon, unwinds in the bath, with just bubbles helping to maintain her modesty.

In another clip, the actress shows off her curves in a plunging green gown before heading to a dinner date with Fraser star Kelsey, who plays a Southern congressman.

The story follows Grace Gordon, who has returned home following the sudden death of her father, and finds her life immediately changed from privileged to penniless.

Realising that women in 1960s America have very little power, in a bid to change the law she reaches out to the Southern congressman after meeting him at her father's funeral.

Intimate scenes: The actress also puts on a flirty display elsewhere as she cosies up to co-star Kelsey Grammer

Risque: In one scene, Anna, who plays Grace Gordon, unwinds in the bath, with just bubbles helping to maintain her modesty

Prowess: Anna has Kelsey literally eating out of the palm of her hand during an intimate dinner

Speaking of the film, producer Richard T Lewis explained: 'Charming the Heart of Men is a story of the dawning awareness of the central character during the dawning awareness of a nation.

'Many of the issues faced in 1964 are the same issues the world is dealing with today.'

The new trailer comes after after Anna shared a sweet clip of her daughter Gracie blowing out her candles on her 16th birthday as she doted that her birth was the 'best day of my life'.

The Marcella star posted the heartwarming video to Instagram, which saw Gracie beaming from ear to ear.

Stunning: In another clip, the actress shows off her curves in a plunging green gown before heading to a dinner date with Fraser star Kelsey

All change: The story follows Grace Gordon, who has returned home following the sudden death of her father, and finds her life immediately changed from privileged to penniless

Doing what she must: In a bid to change the law for women in 1960s America, she reaches out to the Southern congressman after meeting him at her father's funeral

Captioning the post, she wrote: 'Yesterday, 16 years ago, was without question the best day of my life because I was given the honour of becoming your mother Gracie.

'We were lucky enough to be in the mountains with our family. Gracie You are the kindest and most delightful human being I have ever encountered.

'I am so proud of who you are and what you stand for. Keep doing what you are doing and life will continue to shower you with wonder. You are my heart. I love you. Happy happy sweet 16th my beautiful, always, Mama.'

Anna shares her daughter Gracie with her ex-partner and actor David Thewlis, 58, who is now married to his French partner Hermine.

The former couple first met in 2001 on a flight to Cannes and, despite Anna's endometriosis diagnosis in the same year, they welcomed Gracie in 2005. They announced their separation in December 2010.
Nine Perfect Strangers was recently filmed in Byron Bay, a beachside town in New South Wales.

And the producer of the series, which stars Nicole Kidman, says that Australia is the best place on earth to film movie and TV projects.

'No-one can pull it off like the Australians. Australia does offers this massive breadth of locations and the best technicians in the world,' Australian producer Bruna Papandrea told TV Tonight on Friday.

Down Under: Nine Perfect Strangers was recently filmed in Byron Bay. And Bruna Papandrea (pictured), the producer of the series, which stars Nicole Kidman, says that Australia is the best place on earth to film movie and TV projects.

'We make so much here, as has Nicole [Kidman]. We can't shoot everything here, but I'm gonna try.'

She added that Covid-19 spurred her plans - while the rest of the world was ravaged by the pandemic, many film and TV productions moved Down Under.

'For years, I've said to my American husband, 'Why can't we just do a Baz Luhrmann and make everything in Australia?' Because that's my dream!

'In some ways that's always been our plan but COVID accelerated that plan' Bruna told the publication.

Loves it: 'No-one can pull it off like the Australians. Australia does offers this massive breadth of locations and the best technicians in the world,' the Australian producer says. Nicole Kidman is pictured in the series

The show follows nine stressed city dwellers looking for a better way of living at a health-and-wellness resort, but Nicole admitted there's no easy way to categorise the program, which is based on Liane Moriarty's novel of the same name.

Nicole, 54, revealed in an interview recently that she stayed in character the whole time she was filming the show, joking she was 'bats**t crazy'.

She plays wellness resort director Masha in the upcoming limited series and insisted on staying in character for the five months she was working on the drama.

She added: 'We make so much here, as has Nicole [Kidman]. We can't shoot everything here, but I'm gonna try.' Nicole is pictured on set

Joking she was 'bats**t crazy' - a line her character uses in the series - she explained during a TCA panel: 'I'd only respond as Masha.

'I wanted a very calm healing energy to emanate all the time so I remember going over to people and sort of putting my hand on their heart, holding their hand, they would talk to me or use my name Nicole when I would completely ignore them.

'The only way I could actually relate to people was that way because I felt like otherwise I would be doing a performance and I didn't want to feel that way.'
They confirmed their romance was back on as they attended Ant McPartlin's wedding to Anne-Marie Corbett in Hampshire last weekend.

And David Walliams shared another loved-up snap from his Italian getaway with girlfriend Keeley Hazell on Instagram on Thursday.

The BGT judge, 49, looked in the throes of love in the photo, while model Keeley, 34, uploaded a bikini-clad snap and said she had the 'post holiday blues'.

Smitten: David Walliams shared another loved-up snap from his Italian getaway with girlfriend Keeley Hazell on Instagram on Thursday

Sporting a floral shirt, David smiled for the camera and wrote: 'The inspiration for Gangsta Granny @keeleyhazell'.

To which Keeley replied: 'I think I look more like mega monster'.

The model also took to her Instagram stories to share a snap of herself relaxing on an inflatable watermelon in a bright two-piece.

Flirty: Sporting a floral shirt, David smiled for the camera and wrote: 'The inspiration for Gangsta Granny @keeleyhazell'

Beach babe: The BGT judge, 49, looked in the throes of love in the photo, while model Keeley, 34, uploaded a bikini-clad snap and said she had the 'post holiday blues'

She wrote: 'Got the post holiday blues, some might say I'm feeling meloncholic'.

The couple, who were regularly spotted together on the London social circuit towards the end of the Noughties, made their relationship Instagram official after attending Ant's wedding on Saturday.

Their joint appearance came after Keeley's brief romance with actor Jason, 45, reportedly fizzled out in recent weeks, according to E! news.

Keeley and Ted Lasso actor Jason were first linked in February following his split from wife Olivia Wilde, who is now in a relationship with Harry Styles.

Although insiders claimed at the time that their relationship was 'never anything serious', the former flames appear to have now good their separate ways for good.

New couple? It comes after David s shared two loved-up snaps with Keeley on Sunday, after her brief romance with Jason Sudeikis

Close: The comedian posted a picture on Instagram of his arm wrapped around the 34-year-old British model's waist and another of him tying her hair together

Funny: David jokingly captioned the snaps from their sunny getaway: 'Huge congratulations to @keeleyhazell who won a competition to meet me'

A source told E! News the father of two and actress are 'no longer romantic' after enjoying a brief relationship.

An insider previously said: 'Jason and Keeley were never in a serious relationship,' the insider shares. 'It was definitely never a serious thing.'

Meanwhile, David and Keeley were last seen enjoying a cosy dinner together in London in May.

In July last year, it was reported David had moved former page 3 girl Keeley, into his London home for nine months after she returned from the US.

Back on? The news snaps come just a day after the pair appeared to confirm their romance was back on as they attended Ant McPartlin 's wedding to Anne-Marie Corbett in Hampshire on Saturday

Although they reportedly share a 'special chemistry', it was previously claimed that David and Keeley are just close pals and share a long-standing friendship.

A source previously told The Sun: 'David and Keeley go way back and have kept in touch since she attempted to break into acting in the US.

'He has a big empty home and was grateful for the company so it suited both parties. During her glamour modelling days, David was known as a keen admirer but now sees her very much as a close pal.

Keeley also used David's pad as a base while renovating her new home in London She moved out just before lockdown.'

Last year, Keeley revealed she was looking for a new man in her life, as well as a new line of work as she told her followers: 'Looking for a job and a boyfriend. Not sure where I'm going wrong.'

David's most high-profile relationship to date was with Dutch model Lara Stone, with whom he shares son Alfred, seven. The former couple wed in May 2010 after just one year of dating, and split in October 2015.

The children's author also dated Made In Chelsea's Ashley James after his divorce.
She has been maintaining her rigorous fitness regime and nutrition plan throughout the pandemic.

And Amber Turner, 28, flaunted her sensational figure as she shared a series of Instagram posts from her holiday in Greece to Instagram on Friday.

Making the most of the sunshine while holidaying abroad, the TOWIE star showcased her enviable physique in a bold animal print bikini and nude crochet skirt.

Bombshell! Amber Turner looks sensational as she shared a series of snaps from her holiday to Greece with partner Dan Edgar to Instagram on Friday

Amber's blonde hair was tied into a classy low bun that perfectly complimented her sleek look, which was brought together by a pair of chunky black sunglasses.

Ever glamorous, the star made sure to accessorise her look with a stunning brown Louis Vuitton clutch and matching sliders.

To add some sparkle, the blonde bombshell rocked a medley of gleaming rings and unmissable golden watch.

And pose! Amber flaunted her sizzling figure in a busty animal print bikini and crochet skirt

A natural beauty, Amber went for a simple makeup look, wearing a dash of pink lipstick which looked fabulous against her sun-kissed skin.

Of course, the star stepped out with a glorious fresh manicure and pedicure in order to get the perfect holiday snap.

The reality star captioned the pictures, 'Summer Lovin', which she certainly is as she enjoys some time away with beau Dan Edgar, 31.

Ready to go! Amber gave all 850,000 of her fans a video of her beige ensemble

And pout! The TOWIE star showed the stunning shell details on the top of her crochet skirt

The reality sensation had previously shared a saucy bedroom snap of herself rocking a turquoise lingerie set.

Smiling and content, the blonde bombshell wrote, 'Happiest Girlie' while heaps of fans and friends flooding her comments with words of praise.

One friend, Mia Sully wrote, 'Oh this is a vibe', while fans added, 'Dreamy!!'.

Amber's latest trip comes after she was forced to spend her 28th birthday in quarantine last month after jetting back from Mykonos just days before.
Oliver Proudlock's wife Emma Louise Connelly was a victim of a very unfortunate photo glitch on Friday.

The couple have been enjoying a relaxing sun soaked getaway in Greece after tying the knot last December.

Yet the couple were left in hysterics after what should have been a romantic dip in the pool in Corfu, resulted in an epic photo fail.

'She's letting it all hang out!' Oliver Proudlock shared a snap of model wife Emma Louise Connolly with a VERY unfortunate glitch while holidaying in Corfu on Friday

Attempting to take a sweet picture of his model wife swimming between his feet, Ollie, 32, quickly realised a camera glitch had made Emma, 29, look like she had a penis hanging out of her bikini bottoms.

'Day 3 and @emmalouiseconnolly letting it all hang out,' joked the former Made In Chelsea star alongside the hilarious photo and a cry laughing, and aubergine emoji.

Emma, who looked otherwise stunning in a busty black bikini and matching glamorous sunglasses couldn't resist getting in on the joke.

Honeymooning: The couple have been enjoying a relaxing sun soaked getaway in Greece after tying the knot last December

The model took to her own Instagram profile and wrote alongside a video zooming in on the image: 'Can someone please explain cause Im done with iphone #freewilly.'

And Ollie wasn't about to let the X-rated imagine be forgotten any time soon as he shared a picture of Emma with a beer captioned: 'Cheers big schlong...'

Followers were left in hysterics at the unexplainable snap as they flooded to comment on Emma's Instagram reel.

'That's definitely just your schlong,' joked model Zara Martin while other pals inundated the page with cry laughing emojis.

'Best photo Iv seen in my life,' wrote one fan with another adding: 'I can't stop laughing.'

'Cheers big schlong': Ollie wasn't about to let the X-rated imagine be forgotten any time soon as he then shared a picture of Emma with a beer

Earlier this year, Oliver revealed he and Emma only met face to face after they spent a staggering four years messaging each other.

Oliver explained that he had been in Scotland for five days to do Personal Appearances and go partying, back in his Made In Chelsea days.

He said: 'I hadn't seen any culture and I became good mates with these guys there and they said look 'you should go and check out this art gallery called Kelvin Grove.

'So I was like "ok cool", so I went down there and I was on the ground floor and I came into the central room and there was this long catwalk.

'It was this graduate fashion show, and so I'm standing there at the front and this model walks down and it's Emma. And I'm like "oh my gosh, this chick is out of control." And we catch eyes and then after she's doing her show, doing her thing.

'I can't stop laughing': Followers were left in hysterics at the unexplainable snap as they flooded to comment on Emma's Instagram reel

'I went back to my buddies and I said "guys, I saw this girl, described what she looked like, she was just insane!

'And they were like "sounds like this girl Emma Louise." So I was like "show me". So they showed me a picture and I was like "oh my god that's her." I was probably just like 'I'll probably never see her again.'

The Made In Chelsea star admitted: 'Had I not decided to go to this particular place on that day I don't think we'd be together now and I always look back on that moment.'

Persistent! Earlier this year, Ollie revealed he and Emma met face to face after they spent a staggering four years messaging each other

But, a few weeks later, when Oliver returned to Edinburgh for another PA, he saw a photograph of Emma modelling jewellery.

'I'm standing at the baggage reclaim and I look up and there's this huge billboard for this jewelry company, and it was Emma modelling this jewellery on this billboard.

'And I was like "oh my god" and it was the same guys from Glasgow who picked me up and I was like "guys I just saw her on this billboard, it's a sign. I need to get her number or find her or whatever it is." And I ended up finding her on Facebook.'

Proudlock sent a friend request, which spurred Emma to drop him a message, and their communication began.

He explained: 'We ended up talking on Facebook for, I don't know, two or three months maybe and then she was in Glasgow this time.

'I was down in London and then about a year in she moved down to London with modelling, we got each other's number.

'We then messaged for three years. But we never met, and it was a weird one. She was seeing someone at the time, nothing serious but we would just message just like harmless stuff.'

First sight: Oliver revealed he first laid eyes on Emma by chance, as she strolled down a catwalk at an art gallery in Edinburgh

After messaging for years without ever having met, Oliver decided to go to the commonwealth games in Glasgow, after hearing that Emma would be there and knowing that they were both single.

'I was like "I have got to go." I messaged my buddies, same guys from all those years back, and I'm like "guys, I found her four years later. Guys, it's time. I need your help."'

After travelling up to Glasgow, Proudlock messaged Emma to let he know he was there.

'She was like "I live in London now so why don't we hang out when we get back to London?" And I was like "well why don't we get the train from Glasgow to London?"

'And then on the day that we were meant to get the train she was like "I'm so sorry I have just got a last minute job come up, I can't get the train now."

'So I was like "don't worry, I'll stay here another night and we'll get the train tomorrow." I was persistent. And do you know what man, I just knew, it sounds weird, but I just knew she was the one.'

It's a sign! A few weeks later, when Oliver returned to Edinburgh for another PA, he saw a photograph of Emma modelling jewellery and so he sent her a friend request on Facebook

Oliver explained that Emma made the train with about a minute to spare, running down the platform carrying numerous bags.

He admitted: 'I was just like "oh my god" I just remember that moment so well, and that was the first time we actually met, on a train journey from Glasgow to London.'

And, it appears that Emma was definitely worth the wait, because not only did their train ride lead to a date the next evening, the couple are now happily married.
Real Housewives of Salt Lake City's second season is delving into the murky legal woes of Jen Shah, who was arrested in March over her alleged involvement in a $5million telemarketing scheme.

A teaser for the new series was unveiled Friday, that sees Jen, 47, sobbing as she admits to being terrified over the prospect of serving jail time - and also wanting to recruit Kim Kardashian to her legal team.

'Do you know how f***ing scared I am?' she tells her husband Sharrieff Shah in the clip, adding that she might not see her two sons Sharrieff Jr. and Omar 'for eight years.'

'Do you know how f***ing scared I am?' Jen Shah SOBS at prospect of jail time over $5M telemarketing scam... as new RHOSLC trailer delves into her legal woes in a Friday teaser

At the end of the clip, Jen's lawyer tells her ominously: 'The U.S. Attorney's Office is no joke.'

However, perhaps not quite grasping the severity of the situation, Jen replies: 'Do we need to add Kim Kardashian to our legal team?'

The Bravo reality star has been accused of allegedly targeting 'vulnerable, often elderly, working-class people' out of money in a wire fraud scam, and actually faces up to 30 years jail time.

As it appears many of the housewives turn against Jen, she is seen having lunch with Heather Gay, telling her: 'I need a friend right now.'

Later in the teaser, Jen - who has a pre-trial conference date set for October 8 - fights with Meredith Marks over the scandal as the housewives try to play the blame game.

Having a ugly cry: A trailer released Friday showed Jen, 47, sobbing as she admits to being terrified over the prospect of serving jail time

Pictured: Jen Shah leaving court in March after being arrested over her alleged involvement in a $5million telemarketing scheme

Blame game: In the new teaser, Jen starts pointing fingers at Meredith after it was suggested she had something to do with Jen's indictment

Really though? Meredith Marks seems unimpressed with Jen's actions

'It looks like you might have something to do with the fact that Jen was indicted,' Whitney Rose says to Meredith.

An angry Jen is then seen screaming in Meredith's face, raging: 'I swear to God, if you have anything to do with the bulls*** charges against me, Meredith, you're f***ing disgusting.'

The pair are seen getting up in one another's faces, as Jen angrily points her finger at Meredith shouting in a very tense exchange between the pair.

Kicking off: Jen loses her cool at dinner when her legal woes are discussed

Making things worse? Jen is seen getting very aggressive with Meredith on camera

Holding back: Jen and Meredith go at it over dinner but fall short of actually brawling

Standing back: Whitney Rose and Heather Gay wisely keep out of the firing line

Whose side are they on? The pair pulled priceless expressions at the dinner from hell

That's rich! Meredith reacts after embattled Jen calls her a fraud

'Get out of my face,' Meredith hits back, adding: 'I'm out, I'm disengaging.'

'You're f***ing fraudulent,' Jen says richly. As Meredith walks away, she quips before slamming the door: 'Who's calling who a fraud? Love you baby, bye.'

The sound effect of the door closing - added by show producers - sounds similar to that of a jail cell being slammed shut.

Jen needs a friend: Shah appears to be worried in the trailer about who is on her side

Loyal: Heather tells Jen she will be there for her over lunch

Carrying on regardless: Elsewhere in the trailer it's business as usual for the RHOSLC cast, as they get up to their usual hijinks

Storylines galore: It is also teased in the clip that housewives believe Mary Cosby could be a cult leader

Deep: Mary says in the clip to Lisa, 'I'm like God, I worship the God in me.'

Earlier this week, Shah filed a motion for the case against her to be dismissed - which was denied by U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein.

Shah previously claimed that she was unable to understand her Miranda rights at the time of her arrest because a dry contact lens had caused her to have blurry vision.

But the judge said in response: 'In addition to showing Shah the Miranda waiver form, [officers] read each question aloud.'

Elsewhere in the teaser trailer, we see new housewife Jennie Nguyen proving to be a feisty addition to the show, as Jen Shah describes her as being 'a little firecracker.'

Jennie is then seeing having a conversation with her husband Duy about having more children together.

Here comes trouble: New housewife Jennie Nguyen proving to be a feisty addition to the show, as Jen Shah describes her as being 'a little firecracker'

Classic: Heather is seen joking around as she wears a penis headband

Naughty! Whitney and her husband Justin Rose joke around as they claim to be making a sex tape

After Jennie appears not to be interested, Duy says, 'What if we get a sister wife?' which prompts anger in the reality star who walks away saying 'I'm p****d.'

Tensions are also brewing between Jen and Meredith's son Brooks.

Brooks reveals to his mother: 'Jen continued to like tweets about me. She liked a tweet saying, 'I want Jen to slap Brooks and call him a sissy b****.'

In a separate argument, Meredith raises her voice at Jen, saying: 'I can't listen to the projecting, deflecting and lying anymore,' while Jen yells back: 'I'm trying to defend my f***ing vagina.'

Is she taking it seriously? Jen says to her lawyer in the clip, 'Do we need to add Kim Kardashian to our legal team?'

Party time: Not everyone in the show is getting bogged down with Jen's legal woes

Out out: The cast are seen partying together in another scene promising lots of fun for season two

Not buying it: One housewife not on Jen's side is Meredith (above)

The trailer also reveals the topic of Mary Cosby possible being a cult leader.

'I'm like God, I worship the God in me," Mary says to Lisa Barlow.

Lisa is then speaking with a man who has a conspiracy theory about Mary, saying: 'Is it a cult? Yes. Does she call herself God? Yes.'

Season two of RHOSLC airs on Sep. 12 at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.

Serving looks: Embattled Jen shows off a number of different hairstyles in the series

Future: Jen admits to being scared about the prospect of going to jail
Sofia Richie and her boyfriend Elliot Grainge masked up while leaving a restaurant in the Los Angeles city of Santa Monica.

The model, 22, wore a fashionable floral ensemble while her beau wore a less colorful outfit, sticking to a black t-shirt underneath a white button-down, jeans and white shoes.

The two ate at Giorgio Baldi, an upscale Italian restaurant just steps from the beach. Rihanna, Reese Witherspoon and Gwyneth Paltrow often dine there.

Using protection: Sofia Richie wore a mask after having dinner in an Italian restaurant with her boyfriend, Elliott Grainge, on Thursday

Recently, Los Angeles County reinstated mask mandates for all people, regardless of vaccination status, while indoors.

The daughter of Lionel Richie started dating her current man earlier this year but is no stranger to courting in the spotlight. She had an infamous on-again, off-again relationship with Scott Disick, the longtime partner of Kourtney Kardashian.

Like her, Richie's current squeeze comes from a family experienced in the music industry. Grainge, who is the CEO of the independent record company 10K Projects, is the son of Universal Music Group Chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge.

His father has worked with legendary artists like Elton John, The Rolling Stones and Queen among many others.

Record mogul royalty: Richie's current squeeze comes from a family experienced in the music industry. Grainge, who is the CEO of the independent record company 10K Projects, is the son of Universal Music Group Chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge

Positive personal and professional developments: The Tommy Hilfiger model, seated next to her man after dinner, has experienced as much professional success as personal success recently including two fashion collection releases this year alone

On top of the positives in her personal life, the Tommy Hilfiger model has experienced a run of professional success lately as well.

Michael Jackson's goddaughter has released two fashion lines this year. The first was a clothing collection collaboration with sister Nicole called Sofia Richie x House of Harlow 1960.

The second, released just last month, was a collaboration with the 8 Other Reasons brand. The collection carried 61 pieces including jewelry, bucket hats and a number of other accessories to choose from.
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Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber have sold their flipped Beverly Hills home to WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum - who also happens to be the couple's neighbor.

The supermodel and the Casamigos co-founder made an impressive $1.8million profit on the sale, after Koum - worth a staggering $10.5 billion - snapped up the neighboring property for $13.5million.

Koum, 45, is now the proud owner of the mid-century modern abode, in the idyllic 90210 neighborhood of Trousdale Estates, the New York Post reports.

Impressive! Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber have sold their flipped Beverly Hills home to WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum for $13.5M... making an impressive $1.88M profit

However, Cindy, 55, and Rande, 59, had originally intended to make a slightly bigger profit, having put the home on the market for just under $16million.

That's a difference of a hefty $2.5million, though still small change for billionaire Koum.

Ukrainian-American billionaire entrepreneur Koum was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, then in the Soviet Union. He moved with his mother and grandmother to Mountain View, California in 1992, and became interested in computer programming at the age of 16.

Meanwhile, Cindy is now said to have notched up around $8million in profits over the last six years thanks to her property flipping skills.

Three years ago, the Hollywood power couple purchased the property from New Republic frontman Ryan Tedder for $11.625 million, who extensively renovated and expanded the house.

Exchange: WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum (left) who is worth a staggering $10.5 billion, is said to have already been a neighbor of Cindy and Rande, so is familiar with the aria

Incredible views: Three years ago, the Hollywood power couple purchased the property from New Republic frontman Ryan Tedder for $11.625 million, who extensively renovated and expanded the late 1950s home

The pair, who reside primarily in their lush compound in Malibu, appeared to make a 'few cosmetic alterations to the interior along with fair number of landscaping changes, especially in the backyard,' as pointed out by Variety.

The couple's five bedroom property is equipped with an impressive outdoor area, pool and a fire pit fit for entertaining guests.

Flooding the neutral toned living quarters with lots of light, the sitting room features a statement stand alone fireplace in the middle of the room which doubles up as a bar.

The 5,386-square-foot home, built in 1959, boasts three living spaces, high ceilings, a media room, tree-shaded deck space, five-and-a-half bathrooms and multiple sliding glass doors.

Welcoming: The pair, who reside primarily in their lush compound in Malibu, appeared to make a 'few cosmetic alterations to the interior along with fair number of landscaping changes, especially in the backyard,' as pointed out by Variety

Cozy: The supermodel and the Casamigos co-founder's five bedroom property is equipped with an impressive outdoor area, pool and a fire pit fit for entertaining guests

While the master suite is something to behold, the piece de resistance of the home is the chef's kitchen, which features an incredible marble island and stainless steel appliances.

The owner's suite also includes a bathroom with two massive vanities and a glass-enclosed shower.

The property recently hit the market with the asking price of $15.99 million and is 'stylish, chic, and completely private,' according to the listing with Kurt Rappaport of Westside Estate Agency.

Comfy: Flooding the neutral toned living quarters with lots of light, the sitting room features a statement stand alone fireplace in the middle of the room which doubles up as a bar

Living room: The 5,386-square-foot home boasts three living spaces, high ceilings, a media room, tree-shaded deck space, five-and-a-half bathrooms and multiple sliding glass doors

Fire place: The owner's suite also includes a bathroom with two massive vanities and a glass-enclosed shower

Media room: The property recently hit the market with the asking price of $15.99 million and is 'stylish, chic, and completely private,' according to the listing with Kurt Rappaport of Westside Estate Agency

Additionally, the the interiors are open and contain 'meandering paths' and is invisible from the street behind thick foliage and heritage trees.

Positioned on a one-acre lot, the house is surrounded by stunning and luxurious outdoor patios.

Crawford and Gerber have invested heavily in the City of Angeles' luxury real estate market over the years.

Bedroom: While the master suite is something to behold, the piece de resistance of the home is the chef's kitchen, which features an incredible marble island and stainless steel appliances

Their biggest recent deal was in 2018, when they sold their Malibu beach house for $45 million, after first listing for $60 million in 2016, then $50 million.

Last summer, the savvy pair paid $4.9 million for a home at the Madison Club resort in La Quinta, near Palm Springs.

In a interview with Architectural Digest last April, Cindy, who has been married to Rande since May 1998, revealed that they have multiple homes, to please their kids.

Private: Additionally, the the interiors are open and contain 'meandering paths' and is invisible from the street behind thick foliage and heritage trees

Sliding glass doors: Positioned on a one-acre lot, the house is surrounded by stunning and luxurious outdoor patios

Making money: Crawford and Gerber have invested heavily in the City of Angeles' luxury real estate market over the years

Doing well: Their biggest recent deal was in 2018, when they sold their Malibu beach house for $45 million, after first listing for $60 million in 2016, then $50 million

She revealed: 'We have our main house, in Malibu, which we've had for 15 years, and we have a lake cottage in Canada, which is on the East Coast, outside of Toronto. It's very Ralph Lauren. That's what my husband and I both wanted. We both grew up going to lakes in the summer. He went to summer camp, I just went with my family, but we wanted that experience for our kids. And so we wanted it to feel like almost like a log cabin camp vibe.'

'Then, we just bought a house last year in Beverly Hills, because our kids were getting older. Malibu's great when they're little, but they're starting to be like, "It's so boring here, we wanna be in town." So we got that house.

'It's midcentury modern, so it's been fun putting it through our own filter, because some of the midcentury stuff is too low or it's not comfortable. We make a lot of our upholstery. My husband is very, very picky about the cushion density and seat depth because he's taller. We've got it down now. We know the dimensions we like, so sometimes we just change the body style.'

Investing: Last summer, the savvy pair paid $4.9 million for a home at the Madison Club resort in La Quinta, near Palm Springs (pictured the Beverly Hills home)

Doting mom: In a interview with Architectural Digest last April, Cindy, who has been married to Rande since May 1998, revealed that they have multiple homes, to please their kids

'We have our main house, in Malibu, which we've had for 15 years, and we have a lake cottage in Canada, which is on the East Coast, outside of Toronto. It's very Ralph Lauren. That's what my husband and I both wanted. We both grew up going to lakes in the summer. He went to summer camp, I just went with my family, but we wanted that experience for our kids. And so we wanted it to feel like almost like a log cabin camp vibe,' she revealed

As for her design inspiration, she gets it from her extensive traveling, or occasionally a 'piece of clothing.

'I'm about comfort and the way things feel. My husband, he would sacrifice functionality for the look, and I wouldn't,' she noted. 'I think that's my practical mom brain.'

She joked: 'When my kids were little, I was like, "Can a kid throw up on this?" It had to pass that test.'

She and her husband are the parents of models Kaia, 18, and Presley, 21.

'Then, we just bought a house last year in Beverly Hills, because our kids were getting older. Malibu's great when they're little, but they're starting to be like, 'It's so boring here, we wanna be in town.' So we got that house,' Cindy said last April
She has earned massive praise for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher on the hit Netflix series The Crown.

And on Thursday, Gillian Anderson gave fans a first look at an upcoming role, as another notable female historical political figure  none other than former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

The X-Files actress, who turned 53 earlier this week, shared a smiling selfie to her Instagram from Atlanta, Georgia, where she was being fit for a wavy brown wig similar to the style of Eleanor.

On Thursday: Crown star Gillian Anderson gave fans a first look at an upcoming role, as another notable female political figure  none other than former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt

She then included a snapshot of the name Eleanor on her trailer door, followed by an insightful quote from the longest-serving first lady in US history.

The quote read: 'A woman is like a teabag; you never know how strong it is until its in hot water.'

Anderson is slated to appear in all 10 episodes of the first season of the series, which will costar Kiefer Sutherland as her husband Franklin D Roosevelt.

Good hair recreation: The X-Files actress shared a smiling selfie to her Instagram from Atlanta, Georgia, where she was being fit for a wavy brown wig similar to the style of Eleanor

Truth: She then included an insightful quote from the longest-serving first lady in US history

The show, from creator Aaron Cooley, features a fabulous extended cast, including Viola Davis as Michelle Obama, Michelle Pfeiffer as Betty Ford and Ellen Burstyn as Sarah Delano Roosevelt.

Other notable stars in the show include Little Womens Eliza Scanlen as a younger Eleanor Roosevelt, the Handmaids Tales O-T Fagbenle as Barack Obama, Aaron Eckhart as Gerald Ford and Dakota Fanning as Susan Elizabeth Ford.

The First Lady looks to be an interesting concept, as it seems the show will intersperse various characters and time periods throughout each episode, as opposed to concentrating on one era or presidential term at a time.

A longtime respected actress: Gillian is currently nominated for a Primetime Emmy for her role as Margaret Thatcher this year for The Crown

A longtime respected television and film actress, Gillian is currently nominated for a Primetime Emmy in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category for her role as Iron Lady Thatcher this year for The Crown.

She has previously been nominated five times, winning once in 1997 for her portrayal of skeptic special agent Dana Scully in The X-Files opposite David Duchovny.

The First Lady is set to premiere later this year on Showtime.
Treading lightly on Tanna We go on a new ecotourism adventure tour in North Tanna
The theatrical release of Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior had proven to be a successful biographical warfare film for the two times National-Award winner (for Zakhm in 1998 and The Legend of Bhagat Singh in 2002). Taking the cue, as if, he will be next seen in Bhuj: The Pride of India, another biographical war film set during the IndoPakistan War in 1971.

The historical film narrates the story of Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik, who was then in charge of the Bhuj airport. Even as audiences wait to see their favourite actor to light up the screens with his almost life-like performances, the film  which was meant for a theatrical release  is premiering on Disney Hotstar from 13th August 2021. We spoke to the actor about all that excites him about his upcoming film and the industry in general. Excerpts from the interview:

Bhuj, like Tanhaji, is also a biopic. Is it a conscious decision to do biopics? How realistic is this one too?

I believe in being real to the character and not making it too filmy. Whatever you have seen in my biopics is very real. When a person is fighting for his country, he is not showing off. It comes naturally from within. So a film needs to be made true to its craft and should be based on reality. We have shown it to Army and Air Force personnel and they have been happy about it.

How important is it for the recent generation to know about Indian history and these unsung heroes?

Its very important for people to know our history, which has not been depicted a lot. The British tried to push our history under the carpet so that the sacrifice of our true heroes shouldnt come to the forefront. There is not much written about many unsung heroes in our school textbooks too. During our school days, Tanhajis bravery had a mention of half a page, which has disappeared altogether now. We should talk about it.

This generation does not know who all fought and sacrificed their lives to get us freedom from the clutches of the British. When you understand the difficulty that has gone into achieving independence for the nation, youll come together. Real people have worked selflessly and their sacrifice needs to be remembered. Recently, we met a few families belonging to the Army and Air Force. Listening to the stories of their family members gave us goose bumps and we teared up.

Bhuj was meant to be a theatrical release but its releasing on an OTT. Would you like to comment on the losses incurred especially since theatres are slowly opening up around the world?

We recently watched our film on the big screen for colour corrections. And watching on the big screen was altogether a different experience. We have indeed been facing losses since the theatres shut, but Id like to believe that it will all get covered up. And while all over the world wherever theatres have been opened, people have gone into the theatres to watch the film, we have no surety if the third wave may also begin. But as I see it Bhuj will at least be seen on the OTT.

Do you agree that big producers muscle power fetch them more theatres?

When making a film, we work so hard with many people involved in the filmmaking. Then there is all that money getting spent. You naturally want your product to go all the right places and youre looking at the best possible release for your film. So its not about muscle power and its not that were trying to create loss for others but that were trying to get maximum theatres to be able to show our product to many more people.

I dont see anything wrong in it and such competitions will carry on because the number of theatres is less compared to the number of films made every year. We mean no harm to each other but we have no choice and so this fight will continue.

You debuted on the OTT with Rudra. How different did you find it to be working on the platform?

I find working in films and for OTT platforms just the same except that filming on OTT takes fewer days in comparison to that for films. Also, we have to up our sleeves in terms of filmmaking and its storytelling etc. If its not up to the mark, even children will shun it in a minute and say, Yeh kya bakwas hai (What rubbish is this!).

Many actors are moving to work on OTTs. Whats your take on it?

What do actors want? They want to be seen to the maximum. So, with the advent of platforms, I think it strikes a good balance between theatres and OTT platforms. In fact, I also see OTTs as a very good change for the film industry. For instance, most filmmakers keep complaining about not getting enough theatres. So now when theatres open sometime, producers like us will strike a good balance as some films will be seen in the theatres while others can be watched on the OTT. I see this change as a growth for the film industry, enabling filmmakers to show their work to people all over.

What are your thoughts on social media? It has also become the deciding factor for reviews.

I believe the deciding factor is the film ultimately. With regard to the meter gauge of the film on OTT, that is there. We dont know exactly about it. But we do get a sense of how well the film has been received on OTT. As for comments on social media, we cant do anything as everyone takes on the role of the media when they comment on the film. The best way I see around it is to stay away from it. In any case, Im not much on any other platform. I only use social media when I feel like conveying something

How do you handle trolls on social media?

Honestly, I am not operational on any social media platform via my phone. I think the best way is not to stay updated with all of this. So also, most times, I remain disconnected.
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmirs frontier town of Rajouri is tense after a mysterious blast, possibly a grenade attack, at the house of a local BJP leader killed his minor nephew and injured him and six other family members. A protest strike is being observed in the town, 147-km northwest of winter capital Jammu.

Meanwhile, one suspected militant was killed and two security personnel and as many civilians were injured in a gunfight in Kashmir Valleys southern Kulgam district. The fighting had erupted on Thursday afternoon after two militants made an abortive attempt to target a convoy of Border Security Force (BSF) while it was plying on vital Srinagar- Jammu highway and ended on Friday morning, officials said.

The police sources said that a powerful explosion took place at the residence of BJP Mandal president Jasbir Singh, an ex-serviceman, at Khandil Bridge Chowk in the heart of Rajouri town, killing his four-year-old nephew and injuring him and five others, two of them critically.

The sources said that it could be a grenade attack by separatist militants but added that the investigations were underway, and the police was with the help of forensic experts trying to ascertain the nature of the blast.

The incident comes close on the heels of the militants killing a Ghulam Rasool Dar, district president of BJP Kisan Morcha (Kulgam) and a sarpanch, and his wife Jawahira Banoo in Anantnag town and just a day after a 28-year-old man Ankush Kumar Sharma was stabbed to death by unknown assailants in Chakli village of Rajouri district.

The boy killed in the Rajouri blast has been identified as Veer Singh son of Balbir Singh and nephew of the BJP leader who was along with his family targeted at around 9.25 pm on Thursday, the sources said. The locals said that the blast occurred when Jasbir Singh, 36, and his brother Balbir Singh and their families were sitting in the gallery of the house. The injured were immediately rushed to the hospital where Veer Singh succumbed to the injuries.

Besides the siblings-Jasbir and Balbir, their parents Romesh Chander, 65 and Sia Devi, 60, Karam Singh and Arjun Singh- both 12-years-old- were injured, the police and hospital sources said. Two seriously injured persons have been taken to Jammus Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital for specialised treatment.

Soon after the incident, the residents held protests over the authorities not providing security to the BJP leader and his family and poor medical facilities available in the town. A protest shutdown is being observed in the town and its peripheries in response On Friday in response to a call issued Sanatan Dharam Sabha and some other local Hindu organizations.

BJP general secretary, In-charge J&K, Tarun Chugh, while condemning the incident alleged that it was a cowardly attack by Pakistan-based terrorists on BJP leader and his family. BJPs J&K unit president Ravinder Raina said We strongly condemn the attack and urge the police authorities to immediately take measures for arresting the terrorists responsible for it and bringing them to justice.

Meanwhile, the gunfight that had broken out in Malpora, Mir Bazar area of Kulgam on Thursday afternoon ended early Friday, leaving one suspected militant killed and one Army and one CRPF jawan and two civilians injured.

The encounter had started after militants targeted a convoy of the BSF along the Srinagar-Jammu Highway near Malpora, Mir Bazar at around 3 pm on Thursday.

Reinforcement of the J&K Police and Army reached the area immediately and cordoned it off. Besides, the joint party ensured not to give any chance to terrorists to escape from the spot and they managed to take shelter in a nearby huge building, a police statement said. It added, Due to indiscriminate firing by terrorists holed up in the building, one CRPF and one Army personnel and two civilians received gunshot injuries and were immediately evacuated to hospital.

The police said that on Friday morning, the corpse of a militant was found lying at the encounter site. Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range), Vijay Kumar, said that the slain militant has been identified as Usman, a dreaded foreign terrorist whereas his accomplice may have managed to flee from the area.

The terrorists were planning a big strike on the security forces ahead of Independence Day. One AK-47 rifle with four magazines, a few grenades and one RPG launcher were recovered from the encounter site, he said. He added that the security forces had earlier received an input about the possible terror attack along the highway and that it was due to the alertness of the security forces that the terror plan was frustrated.
New Delhi: Days after Twitter blocked his account and several other party leaders, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged that the microblogging site is a "biased platform" and follows the government's directions.

In a video statement, the Congress leader questioned if India would let a company define the politics of the country.

"A company is making its business to define our politics and as a politician, I don't like that. This is an attack on the democratic structure of the country. This is not an attack on Rahul Gandhi, this is not simply shutting Rahul Gandhi down," the Member of Parliament from Kerala's Wayanad said.

Gandhi claimed that taking sides in a political context will have repercussions for Twitter, as it will breach the idea that the microblogging site is a neutral platform.

"I have 19-20 million followers, and you are denying them the right to an opinion. It's not only patently unfair but also breaching the idea that Twitter is a neutral platform. For investors, it's a very dangerous thing. Taking sides in a political context has repercussions for Twitter," he stated.

He further claimed that the democracy of the country is under attack and alleged that the Opposition is not allowed to speak in Parliament.

"We are not allowed to speak in Parliament. The media is controlled and I thought there was a ray of light where we could put what we thought on Twitter. But obviously, that's not the case. It's obviously not a neutral objective platform. It's a biased platform and it listens to what the government of the day says. As Indians, we have to ask the question that are we going to allow the companies just because they are beholden to the Government of India. Is that what's we have come to, or are we going to define our politics on our own? That's the question," he added.

On Thursday, clarifying its position regarding blocking accounts of Congress party and several of its leaders, Twitter said its rules are enforced judiciously and impartially for everyone on its service.

In a statement, a Twitter spokesperson said the microblogging site it will continue to take proactive action if its rules are violated.

"The Twitter Rules are enforced judiciously and impartially for everyone on our service. We have taken proactive action on several hundred Tweets that posted an image that violated our Rules and may continue to do so in line with our range of enforcement options. Certain types of private information carry higher risks than others, and our aim is always to protect individuals' privacy and safety. We strongly encourage everyone on the service to familiarise themselves with the Twitter Rules and report anything they believe is in violation," the spokesperson said.

Citing the reason behind blocking accounts, the company said it was alerted by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) about specific content on the platform that allegedly revealed the identity of an alleged sexual assault victim's (and a minor's) parents.

"We reviewed it against Twitter Rules and policies, as well as the concerns expressed as a matter of the Indian law," stated the spokesperson.

"As explained in our Help Center, if a Tweet was found to be in violation of the Twitter Rules, and has yet to be deleted by the account holder, we hide it behind a notice and the account remains locked until the Tweet is removed or the appeal is successfully processed," they added.

Prior to that, after blocking the official accounts of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other senior party leaders, Twitter on Thursday also blocked the official handle of the Indian National Congress (INC) for violating the rules of the microblogging site.

The Congress earlier said the Twitter account of party leader Rahul Gandhi has been temporarily suspended and he will stay connected through other social media platforms and continue to raise the voice of people.
KURNOOL: Leaders from the Kurnool region played a major role in setting the tone for the freedom movement. Though Uyyalawada Narasimhareddy was credited with bravery in opposing the British, the contributions of Muthukur Gowdappa and Nawab Rasool Khan are no less significant. Veterans remember their sacrifices and say the present generation needs to be informed as the governments have totally forgotten them.

Muthukukr Gowdappa revolted against the East India company officials for imposing taxes on agriculture even though the region suffered from a series of droughts at the turn of the18th century. Termed as "Ternekal revolt", the non-cooperation of villagers in the Kurnool region angered the British so much so that they had ordered the execution of Gowdappa and a few other villagers in 1801. Sattenna, the convener of MK Gowdappa Memorial Trust, said the struggle for independence from the British began as early as 1800 and the brave hearts who lost their lives must be recognised by the government and their story of struggle must be made into school lessons.

The last Nawab of Kurnool, Nawab Ghulam Rasool Khan, whose death anniversary week is being celebrated from July 12 with great pride by the descendants of the illustrious son of India, has left a legacy of pride and prejudice to the vast sections of Muslims.

Paying glowing tributes to the contribution made by his great grandfather, Dr Shafi Ul Mulk, great-grandson of Ghulam Rasool Khan, said the government had totally forgotten the contributions made by him. He said he was instrumental in arranging regular poojas at Srisailam during the 18th century when everyone dreaded to traverse the thick Nallamala forest from Atmakur in Kurnool.

Ghulam Rasool Khan, the last Nawab of Kurnool, also played a crucial role in defending his region from the aggression of the British. A true friend of Nizam, according to a historian, Rasool Khan the Nawab of Kurnool too was attracted towards the Wahabi movement. When Hyderabad Prince Mubarez came to know of Rasool Khans opposition to the British, he sent his men to strike a secret alliance with the Nawab of Kurnool. Rasool Khan agreed to establish a secret arsenal to manufacture arms and ammunition that was needed for any concerted insurrection which they contemplated. Mubarez, on his part, assured monetary help for the manufacture of such arms. Rasool Khan, being of the same age as Mubariz was drawn close to the Hyderabad Prince as both hated the presence of the British power.

The activities of the Wahabis greatly increased by 1838 when it was widely believed that the Russian troops were advancing from Central Asia towards India. It was the plan of the Wahabis that Mubarez would take command of the combined armies at Kurnool and overthrow the British through insurrection. Wahabis also believed that the Shah of Persia would appoint Mubarez-ud-Doulah as the Subedar of the Deccan after driving away the British and deposing the Nizam, Nasir-ud-Doulah.

Gen. Fraser, the then British Resident at Hyderabad, as soon as he came to know of the suspected involvement of Mubarezud-Doulah, ordered a strict watch on him. Mubarez started sending his emissaries to several places like Lahore, Sindh, Gwalior, Bombay, Kurnool, Madras, and Sholapur. Fraser spoke to the Nizam, Nasir-ud-Doulah, and convinced him of the conspiracy being attempted by his brother against both the British as well as the government of the Nizam. Mubarez-ud-Doulah was taken into custody and put under guard in the fort of Golconda. All his close associates who were involved in the spread of the Wahabi movement, numbering 46, were captured and imprisoned.

East India Company troops attacked and rounded the Kurnool fort on 12 October 1839. After six days of fierce fighting, the enemy was able to detain Ghulam Rasool Khan, on 18 October 1839 at Joharapuram, a village near Kurnool. Later on, they took him to Tiruchirapalli and imprisoned Rasool Khan in Tiruchirapalli Jail. The British rulers wished to eliminate the Nawab of Kurnool. So, they bribed his personal servant into serving poisoned food to Nawab, due to which Nawab Ghulam Rasool Khan died on July 12, 1840.

In the 19th century, the sacrifices made by Gadicherla Hari Sarvothama Rao, Kalluri Subba Rao, Pappuri Ramacharyulu, Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, Kadapa Koti Reddy, and Rama Subbamma, Kopparapu Subramanyam were all played a significant role in securing independence to the country, said veteran citizen Chandrasekhar Kalkura.
The new Limits feature of the Facebook-owned photo-sharing platform once turned on, will automatically hide comments and DM requests from people who don't follow the user or who only recently followed them. (PTI Photo)

Washington: Popular photo and video sharing service Instagram has announced a new set of features, particularly for celebrities and high-profile creators, which will ensure that users are protected from abuse on the platform.

According to Mashable, these features include the ability for people to limit comments and DM (direct message) requests during spikes of increased attention and stronger warnings while posting potentially offensive comments.

Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, in a blog post, said, "We don't allow hate speech or bullying on Instagram, and we remove it whenever we find it. We also want to protect people from having to experience this abuse in the first place, which is why we're constantly listening to feedback from experts and our community, and developing new features to give people more control over their experience on Instagram, and help protect them from abuse."

The new Limits feature of the Facebook-owned photo-sharing platform once turned on, will automatically hide comments and DM requests from people who don't follow the user or who only recently followed them.

Stronger warnings will be shown by Instagram on the first instance when a user tries to post potentially offensive comments. The platform already throws up a warning when someone tries to post a potentially offensive comment.

Hence, if the platform realises that a user is trying to post potentially offensive comments multiple times, it shows an even stronger warning - reminding them of its Community Guidelines and warning them that it may remove or hide their comment if they proceed.

As per Mashable, in a bid to combat abuse in DMs and comments, the company has also announced a global rollout of its Hidden Words feature, which allows people to automatically filter offensive words, phrases and emojis into a Hidden Folder.

It also filters DM requests that are likely to be spammy or low-quality.

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In a significant development, veteran industrialist Adi Godrej has decided to step down as Chairman of Godrej Industries Ltd (GIL), the parent company of Mumbai-headquartered Godrej Group, which has diverse business interests ranging from typewriters to defence.

The GIL announced the following changes to its Board of Directors, effective October 1, on Friday.

Adi Godrej will step down as Chairman and from the Board of Directors of GIL, however, he will continue to serve as Chairman of the Godrej Group and Chairman-Emeritus of GIL. Nadir Godrej, who is currently Managing Director of GIL, will take over as Chairman and Managing Director of the company.

Commenting on the announcement, Adi Godrej, said: It has been a privilege to serve Godrej Industries for over four decades, during which we have delivered strong results and transformed our company. I am grateful to our Board for their support and guidance; to all our team members whose passion, commitment and hard work has driven our success; and to all our customers, business partners, shareholders, investors, and communities, for their continued partnership.

Adi Godrej said that he was "very confident that our best years are ahead of us, and is looking forward to Nadir and our team achieving our exciting aspirations.

Meanwhile, Nadir Godrej said: On behalf of our team at Godrej Industries and our Board, I want to thank our Chairman for his vision, values and exceptional leadership that has guided and shaped our company. Our leadership team is committed to building forward on these foundations; continuing to serve our people and communities, and creating long-term value for all our stakeholders.

Adi Godrej (79), a widely-respected industrialist, had at the helm of several Indian trade and industrial bodies, and associations and had served as Chairman of the Board of the Indian School of Business, and was President of the Confederation of Indian Industry.
IT hardware company Lenovo on Friday said it has ramped up its personal computer manufacturing capacity in the country to 2 million units per year and will continue to expand facilities to meet the growing domestic demand.

Lenovo India Site Leader and Lenovo PCSD Managing Director Shailendra Katyal told PTI the company has doubled production capacity.

"We have doubled our capacity in the last 12 months. Our capacity is growing 100 per cent year-on-year. We were earlier making only enterprise PCs which were mostly desktops.

"In the last 6-7 months we have started making laptops. Last month we started making consumer segment notebooks as well," Katyal said.

In India, Lenovo has recorded steady growth throughout the last fiscal and delivered an exceptionally strong performance this past quarter.

Total revenue for all Lenovo Group businesses in India was approximately $462 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, representing year-on-year growth of 31.3 per cent.

Katyal said work-from-home and online classes have fuelled growth for laptops. The company is not yet making gaming laptops but most of its portfolio products are now made in India at its Puducherry plant.

"Gaming laptops will follow. Right now, our focus is on volume products," he said, adding historically the company was domestically manufacturing 15-20 per cent of the total PCs it sold in India, but it looks to take the figure to 30 per cent by the next quarter.

According to market research firm IDC, Lenovo maintained the third position with a share of 17.8 per cent in the second quarter of 2021. It witnessed a marginal decline in its overall shipments due to the delayed supplies in the country but still retained its second position in the consumer segment as its shipments saw a 28.8 per cent yearly growth in the second quarter of 2021.

Katyal said the current component shortage, especially chipset, is a challenge but the company has planned well to ensure the production facility meets the demand of the Indian market.
Recalling how the industry used to face "hardships" in securing permissions and "harassment from bureaucrats" 50 years ago, chairman of the city-based vaccine maker Serum Institute of India (SII), Dr Cyrus Poonawalla, on Friday hailed the Modi government saying that red-tapism and licence raj have come down under its rule.

He also said that in the past, he had to "fall at the feet" of bureaucrats and drug controllers in order to get permissions, and added that the situation has changed now, which resulted in the quick launch of SII's Covid-19 vaccine -- Covishield.

Poonawalla was speaking at the event where he received the Lokmanyat Tilak National Award instituted by the Lokmanya Tilak Trust.

"Serum Institute was founded in 1966 the morning after my marriage with Villoo, my dear late wife, to whom I dedicate this award. Fifty years ago, the industry had to face hardships in getting basic facilities like power, water, in getting permissions from bureaucrats. It had to face harassment from bureaucrats...I was not supposed to say this," he said.

"Transport and communication were also great problems and challenges that were faced by my staff and fellow directors...It was a long journey and a very painful one, which has now become very rewarding. I had to fall at the feet of bureaucrats and drug controllers, etc, to get permissions. But I must stress that difficulties, red tape are much reduced now under the Modi government," he said.

Read | India set for huge boost in Covid vaccine supplies: Nadda

Licence raj has also come down, which has resulted in the quick launch of the coronavirus vaccine, Poonawalla said.

"Certainly, one of the major reasons why we could launch our vaccine so quickly was forthcoming grant or permission, encouragement to industries as the licence raj has come down considerably. We have got a drug controller, which responds in the evening even after the office hours. There is no need for 'maska polish' now," he said.

Talking about the award, he said that he values it a lot although he had been honoured in America, UK and various other countries in the past.

Speaking on the occasion, Deepak Tilak, president of the Lokmanya Tilak Trust, said, "In unstable and challenging conditions, SII took immense efforts to develop an indigenous vaccine, which mitigated panic associated with Covid-19. This is the result of the effort and solid support of Dr Cyrus Poonawalla to his team."

Former Union minister and senior Congress leader Sushil Kumar Shinde also lauded Poonawalla for his work and said that with the SII vaccine was saving lakhs of lives.
India will be able to achieve the critical mass of 70 per cent population coverage with twin doses of Covid-19 vaccine by mid-March next year, according to a report by the State Bank of India (SBI).

In India, in the last 50 days, the daily cases have averaged 3.0 per 1 lakh population, while daily deaths average was 0.6 per 1 million.

India has fully vaccinated 9% of its total population -- 12% of the eligible population.

Currently, Indias vaccination 7-day moving average is around 45 lakh and 43% of the eligible population stands vaccinated with the first dose and 12% with the second dose.

"If we go by the present vaccination rate of around 45 lakh per day, the critical mass (70%) may be covered by 1st dose: end of November 2021 and 2nd dose: March 15, 2022, according to the special research report from State Bank of Indias Economic Research Department  Covid-19: Vaccinate, vaccinate & vaccinate!.

Indias cumulative Covid-19 vaccination coverage has crossed the 52 crore mark and till now more than 54.04 crore vaccine doses provided to States/UTs.

The report authored by Dr Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Group Chief Economic Adviser, SBI, states that the latest nationwide serological survey conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) showed 67.6% in the age group of 6 and above having Covid antibodies.

Read | Two major Covid-19 clusters emerge in Chennai

"Different states have different levels of seropositivity. Combining it with the population with double doses, the estimated susceptible population for our sample 14 states which includes Maharashtra, Kerala among others, comes at 20.4 crore," it said

The report noted that there is an urgent need to vaccinate these people immediately.

To vaccinate these people, we need around 45-days for 1st dose, it said.

Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, HP, Kerala, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan have already given double doses of vaccine to a large percentage of the population.

Vaccination in rural areas has increased significantly for certain states including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, MP, Odisha and UP and rural Indias share has also come down in total cases. However, the report stated, most of the worst affected rural districts have vaccinated a lesser number of the population.

States like West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra need to pick up the momentum of vaccination in rural areas, it said.

In around 80% of districts, 52% of the eligible rural population has received a single dose of vaccine as compared to 63% of the eligible population in urban areas.
Drugmakers Pfizer Inc, BioNTech and Moderna Inc are expected to reap billions of dollars from Covid-19 booster shots in a market that could rival the $6 billion in annual sales for flu vaccines for years to come, analysts and healthcare investors say.

For several months, the companies have said they expect that fully inoculated people will need an extra dose of their vaccines to maintain protection over time and to fend off new coronavirus variants.

Now a growing list of governments, including Chile, Germany and Israel, have decided to offer booster doses to older citizens or people with weak immune systems in the face of the fast-spreading Delta variant. The UK and United States, among many others, are expected to follow suit.

Pfizer, along with its German partner BioNTech , and Moderna have together locked up over $60 billion in sales of the shots just in 2021 and 2022. The agreements include supply of the initial two doses of their vaccines as well as billions of dollars in potential boosters for wealthy nations.

Going forward, analysts have forecast revenue of over $6.6 billion for the Pfizer/BioNTech shot and $7.6 billion for Moderna in 2023, mostly from booster sales. They eventually see the annual market settling at around $5 billion or higher, with additional drugmakers competing for those sales.

The vaccine makers say that evidence of waning antibody levels in vaccinated people after six months, as well as an increasing rate of breakthrough infections in countries hit by the Delta variant, support the need for booster shots.

Also read: India to vaccinate 70 per cent 'critical mass' by mid-March 2022: SBI report

Some early data suggests that the Moderna vaccine, which delivers a higher dose at the outset, may be more durable than Pfizers shot, but more research is needed to determine whether that is influenced by the age or underlying health of the people vaccinated.

As a result, it is far from clear how many people will need boosters, and how often. The profit potential of booster shots may be limited by the number of competitors who enter the market. In addition, some scientists question whether there is enough evidence that boosters are needed, particularly for younger, healthy people. The World Health Organization has asked governments to hold off on booster shots until more people worldwide receive their initial doses.

"We don't know what the market forces will be," Moderna President Stephen Hoge said in an interview last week. "At some point, this will become a more traditional market - we'll look at what are the populations at risk, what value are we creating, and what are the number of products that serve that value. That will ultimately impact price."

Pfizer declined to comment for the story. During the companys second-quarter earnings call, executives said they believe a third dose will be necessary 6 to 8 months after vaccination, and regularly afterward.

A Model in Flu Shots

If regular Covid-19 boosters are needed among the general population, the market would most resemble the flu shot business, which distributes more than 600 million doses per year. Four competitors split the U.S. flu market, which is the most lucrative and accounts for around half the global revenue, according to Dave Ross, an executive at CSL's flu vaccine unit Seqirus.

Flu vaccination rates in developed countries have settled at around 50 per cent of the population, and Covid boosters would likely follow a similar pattern if approved widely, said Atlantic Equities analyst Steve Chesney.

Flu shots cost around $18 to $25 a dose, according to U.S. government data and competition has kept price increases in check, with producers raising prices 4 or 5 percent in 2021.

Pfizer and Moderna may have greater pricing power for their boosters, at least at the outset, until competitors arrive. Pfizer initially charged $19.50 per dose for its vaccine in the United States and 19.50 euros for the European Union, but has already raised those prices 24 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively, in subsequent supply deals.

AstraZeneca Plc and Johnson & Johnson are both gathering additional data on boosters of their vaccines. Novavax, Curevac, and Sanofi could also potentially be used as boosters, though their vaccines have yet to receive any regulatory authorization.

"A lot of these firms aren't even in the market yet. I think within a year's time, all these companies will have booster strategies," said Morningstar analyst Damien Conover, who covers Pfizer.

Mizuho Securities analyst Vamil Divan expects at least 5 players in the Covid-19 booster market within a few years.

There's still a lot of uncertainty around how boosters would be rolled out in the United States. Still, it is possible or even likely that people will be boosted with different vaccines than they were originally vaccinated with. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is already testing mixed boosting, and other countries that have used so-called mix and match vaccination have not had problems with that strategy.

One factor that could curb prices is if the U.S. government continues paying for most or all of the shots administered in the country, rather than leave it in the hands of private health insurers. In that scenario, the government would still be negotiating prices directly with vaccine makers, and could use its buying power to stave off price increases.

Bijan Salehizadeh, managing director at healthcare investment firm Navimed Capital, said the U.S. government is likely going to want to keep paying in order to keep vaccination rates high and prevent new Covid surges, particularly if a Democratic administration is still in power.

"It's going to be paid for until the virus disappears or mutates to be less virulent," Salehizadeh said.
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jay Y Lee, convicted of bribery and embezzlement, has been released on parole.

But he has two other trials to face -- one in which he is accused of accounting fraud and stock price manipulation and another in which he is accused of unlawfully using a sedative.

The following is a timeline of Lee's legal woes.

2016, October 24: Allegations of wrongdoing by former President Park Geun-hye involving a personal confidant, Choi Seo-won, better known by her former name Choi Soon-sil, is reported by a local cable channel.

November 13: South Korean prosecutors question Jay Y Lee in a probe over the growing political scandal involving Park.

December 21: A team led by a special prosecutor launches a formal criminal investigation.

2017, February 17: Lee is arrested, accused of paying bribes to organisations controlled by Choi to secure support for a merger of two Samsung affiliates that was widely seen as designed to cement his control of the Samsung conglomerate.

February 28: Samsung Group dismantles its corporate strategy office amid accusations that Lee worked with the office to bribe Park via Choi.

February 28: South Korean prosecutors indict 17 people including Lee over the scandal.

August 25: The Seoul Central District Court sentences Lee to five years in prison for bribery, hiding assets abroad and embezzlement.

2018, February 5: Lee is released from jail after an appeals court cut his sentence to two and a half years and suspended the sentence for four years. Lee's attorney says he will appeal to the Supreme Court to try to overturn the conviction.

2019, August 29: South Korea's Supreme Court sends Lee's case back to the appellate Seoul High Court for review, saying its interpretation of what constituted bribes was too narrow.

2020, January 9: Samsung Group sets up an anti-corruption panel headed by a former supreme court judge to improve compliance and prevent violation of governance rules.

May 6: Lee makes a public apology over controversies in succession plans at Samsung and says he will not hand over management rights to his children.

September 1: Prosecutors indict Lee and 10 others, accusing them of accounting fraud and stock price manipulation in connection with a 2015 $8 billion merger of two Samsung affiliates.

2021, January 18: The Seoul High Court sentences Lee to two and a half years and he returns to prison.

March 19: Lee receives emergency surgery for a burst appendix and is hospitalised until April 15 when he returns to prison.

March 26: A South Korean independent panel recommends prosecutors stop probing Lee over an allegation of unlawful use of a sedative.

April 22: Trial in which he is accused of accounting fraud and stock price manipulation begins.

June 4: Prosecutors seek a 50 million won ($43,670) fine for Lee over the alleged unlawful use of the sedative.

June 29: A court orders Lee stand trial for the sedative use.

August 9: Parole for Lee is approved.

August 13: Lee is released from Seoul Detention Center on parole.

September 7: Trial over his sedative use is scheduled to begin.
Facebook Inc has pushed back its office return date for all US and some international employees until January 2022 due to concerns over the highly infectious Delta variant, the company said on Thursday.

The move comes days after Facebook said its US employees must get vaccinated to step into offices.

Other tech giants including Alphabet Inc's Google and Uber Technologies Inc have also said all their US employees have to be vaccinated before returning to the office.

The resurgence of Covid-19 cases in the United States due to the Delta variant and the new guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that requires fully vaccinated individuals to wear masks have led companies to change their plans on return to office, vaccinations and masking.

AT&T Inc will require management employees to be vaccinated before entering a work location and plans to begin talks with its union partners to jointly align on a path forward for union-represented employees, a company spokesperson said on Thursday.

AT&T will implement the CDC's guidance on face coverings for its employees, regardless of vaccination status, who come in to work locations in areas with high or substantial transmission of Covid-19.

Helicopter-taxi firm Blade Air Mobility, which ferries people to luxury destinations such as The Hamptons, on Thursday mandated that starting next month its passengers be inoculated against Covid-19.

On Wednesday, McDonald's Corp said it would require its US-based office workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus and will delay a return of employees to its offices until at least October.
Denmark and Norway will temporarily shut their Kabul embassies while Finland will evacuate up to 130 local Afghan workers, ministers from the Nordic countries said on Friday.

"The Danes in Afghanistan must leave the country immediately, the situation is very serious," foreign minister Jeppe Kofod told a news conference, adding that all embassy employees will be evacuated and the mission will be closed temporarily.

Also read: Germany to cut Kabul embassy staff to 'absolute minimum'

Norway echoed the move, with foreign minister Ine Eriksen Soreide telling a news conference that evacuation will also be available "to locally employed Afghans with immediate family in Norway who wish it".

Meanwhile Soreide's Finnish counterpart Pekka Haavisto said the country's parliament had agreed to "take in up to 130 Afghans who have worked in the service of Finland, the EU and Nato along with their families" because of "the quickly weakening security situation".

Also read: Al-Qaeda will probably come back: UK defence minister on Afghanistan crisis

Haavisto said Finland's embassy would remain open for now, subject to ongoing security evaluations.

The announcements come as Washington announced on Thursday that it was sending thousands of troops to Kabul to evacuate diplomats and other nationals in the face of the Taliban's advance into the Afghan capital.

The United Kingdom quickly followed the US lead.

On Friday, Germany announced it was reducing its diplomatic staff in Kabul to the "absolute minimum" in the face of the Taliban offensive, which is approaching the Afghan capital.
Germany is slashing staff levels at its embassy in Kabul to an "absolute minimum", Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Friday as Taliban militants advance on the Afghan capital.

Maas told reporters the evacuation would be carried out "in the coming days" following similar moves by the US and Britain.

"We will send a crisis support team to Kabul to help us boost security precautions" during the withdrawal, Maas said, adding that the embassy would "remain able to function".

Maas said he had spoken overnight about the steps with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken ahead of a crisis cell meeting at his ministry early on Friday.

"We have been preparing for weeks for this situation we are now confronted with," he said.

The German minister said that already scheduled charter flights would be moved forward to take both German embassy staff "as well as local staff who are still in Afghanistan" to Germany.

The ministry earlier on Friday estimated its staff levels at the Kabul embassy in the "high double digits".

Also read: Al-Qaeda will probably come back: UK defence minister on Afghanistan crisis

Maas said that the Afghan personnel would be issued visas on their arrival in Germany "to accelerate their departure".

He renewed a call made on Thursday by his ministry for all German citizens still in Afghanistan to leave the country immediately.

"We will coordinate all further measures with our international partners in the coming days," he said.

The evacuation orders by NATO allies came as the Taliban took control of Kandahar -- Afghanistan's second-biggest city -- in the insurgency's heartland, leaving only Kabul and pockets of other territories in government hands.

The first wave of the offensive was launched in early May after the United States and its partners all but withdrew their forces from Afghanistan, with President Joe Biden determined to end two decades of war by September 11.

NATO envoys were holding an urgent meeting on Friday afternoon about the deteriorating situation, diplomatic and official sources told AFP.
Western coalition forces have not fully withdrawn from Afghanistan yet, but the majority of the country including the second and third largest cities of Kandahar and Herat are under Taliban control.

There are many reasons for the speed with which the Taliban have taken over provinces and cities across the country (at least 2 provincial capitals per day). One of the many factors is the presence of ghost soldiers. Ghost soldiers are those that are listed on paper as part of the forces but dont exist in real life. The USs Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has expressed concern over corruption leading to the presence of ghost soldiers and police personnel.

The total authorised strength of the ANDSF is 350,000, which includes police and paramilitary forces. Military operations analyst Jonathan Schorden wrote that the total number of combat personnel are likely to be around 180,000 of which 96,000 form the on-hand army fighting force. Several estimates peg the number of core Taliban fighters at 60,000 and total manpower of over 200,000.

Read | What next for Afghanistan as Taliban rise again?

In a quarterly report from July 30, 2020, SIGAR quoted an Afghan government assessment that in Kandahar, Zabul, Helmand and Uruzgan provinces, 50% to 70% of police posts are filled by ghost personnel. The lack of accurate figures further raises questions over the strength of the Afghan forces.

SIGAR has expressed serious concerns about the corrosive effects of corruption within the ANDSF (including the existence of ghost soldiers and police); the questionable accuracy of data on the actual strength of the force; the inability of assessment methodologies to account for the influence on combat readiness of intangible factors such as the will to fight, the latest quarterly report to Congress from July 30, 2021, said. However, this is not the first SIGAR report to have mentioned the concept of ghost personnel. Several reports in the past have explained the concept and the corruption behind it.

The US is concerned because, over the years, over $88 billion dollars have been appropriated to support Afghanistans security sector. A significant portion of this US taxpayer money goes towards paying the salaries of policemen, soldiers and civil servants. The USs Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A) in the past has developed a system to check corruption, however, the efficacy of such checks is yet to be determined.

Read more | Taliban capture Afghanistan's Lashkar Gah

However, it is important to note that corruption is not the only reason for the Talibans rapid onslaught. While ghost soldiers and corruption within Afghanistan's bureaucracy and military have certainly diminished the actual capability the ANDSF has had, it is not the primary reason why we see a collapse of the Afghan defence infrastructure. There is no single reason why this has happened, however, the rapid US withdrawal, specifically in airpower, has highlighted the hollowness of some of the institution-building done over the past years, and this includes the military, Kabir Taneja of Observer Research Foundation tells DH.

Taneja adds that he believes corruption is not the reason behind the dire situation. He says, It is one of the reasons, however, the US withdrawal may demolish the morale of some in ANDSF, but it makes little sense considering the pace at which Taliban has managed to take cities and provinces.

Read more | EU threatens Taliban with 'isolation' if seizes power

He adds that in many cases, the ANDSF has either abandoned territory or cut deals with the Taliban for safe passage. In other cases, ANDSF has held strong in the battlefield and pushed back. So there is little linearity to how the ANDSF is fighting right now, which is perhaps why the Afghan Army Chief was replaced overnight this week by President Ghani. However that may be too little too late now, Taneja says.

The situation in Afghanistan is grim and Afghan forces appear to lack the capacity and organisation to fend off the Taliban. This is evidenced by how quickly the Taliban has been able to capture major cities and provinces like Kandahar, Lashkar Gah, Herat and Ghazni. Though corruption and ghost soldiers are major issues plaguing the military, they are not the only causes for Afghan forces failure to secure these crucial geographies.
Five centuries after the fall of the Aztec empire, some of emperor Moctezuma II's descendants strive to defend his honor, while others want compensation from the Mexican government.

They number in their hundreds and include the Mexican ambassador to the United States, Esteban Moctezuma, as well as members of Spanish nobility.

And until decades ago, some were even paid a "Moctezuma pension."

At her home in Mexico City, Blanca Barragan Moctezuma displays centuries-old documents showing the money that her family used to regularly receive.

The payment to Moctezuma II's descendants through his daughter Isabel was worth an estimated $60,000-$90,000 a year in today's money -- until it was scrapped in 1934.

"Perhaps there was no more money. It was post-revolutionary Mexico," said Blanca's husband Jesus Juarez.

Some descendants sued to try to have the pension reinstated, but without success.

The payment "was compensation for the right to use the lands belonging to Isabel's descendants," said Alejandro Gonzalez Acosta, a researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

After the fall of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan on August 13, 1521, Spain granted Isabel perpetual ownership of territory consisting of the city of Tacuba.

"According to chroniclers, it contained more than 300 towns," said Gonzalez Acosta.

So why was Isabel, who died in 1550, given such privileges?

"Moctezuma had many children, but Tecuichpo Ichcaxochitl was the only legitimate one," Blanca Barragan Moctezuma said, calling Isabel by her Aztec name, meaning "daughter of the ruler" and "white flower."

Some scholars believe that it was more about quelling a rebellion.

Isabel was married five times -- twice to Moctezuma's relatives and successors and three times to Spaniards.

She also had a daughter out of wedlock with conquistador Hernan Cortes, whom her descendants and historians accuse of raping her.

Most of her seven children came from her fourth and fifth marriages which produced the Andrada-Moctezuma and Cano-Moctezuma lineages.

Despite the Aztec blood running through his veins, Pablo Moctezuma, a historian and brother of the ambassador in Washington, was once embarrassed by his roots.

Moctezuma is seen by some as a superstitious man who capitulated by confusing Cortes with the god Quetzalcoatl.

"That was an invention," said Pablo Moctezuma, who has also found contradictions in accounts of the emperor's death in July 1520.

"The conquistadors say that the Mexica (Aztecs) killed him, but religious and indigenous chroniclers say it was the Spanish," he said.

Moctezuma's lineage in Spain came through Pedro -- his son with a concubine -- who was taken to Europe as a child, probably to prevent an uprising, according to historians.

In 1627, a great-grandson living in Spain was granted the hereditary title of count, which was later elevated to the duke.

The current holder, Juan Jose Marcilla de Teruel-Moctezuma, criticizes Mexican President Andres Lopez Obrador's demand for Spain to apologize for the events of the conquest.

"There's no point in demanding that the king apologize for something that happened five centuries ago," he said.

The Cano-Moctezuma branch arrived in Granada and holds the title of the Count of Miravalle.

"They're one more family among the descendants," said Gonzalez Acosta, the researcher, who met the 12th Countess of Miravalle, Maricarmen Enriquez de Luna, before her death in 2014.

Some in Spain, however, have bestowed a higher status on them.

One newspaper declared that Mexico had a "new empress" when Carmen Ruiz Enriquez inherited the title -- a claim that Gonzalez Acosta attributes to an overimaginative press.

Together with some Mexican descendants of Moctezuma II, the Miravalles tried to get the pension reinstated in 1991 and again in 2003.

But such behavior draws scorn from other heirs of the Aztec emperor for whom honor comes before money.

"They're ridiculous claims," Pablo Moctezuma said.
Pakistan on Friday said that it considers the US as a "friend" and wants broad-based relations to achieve the shared objective of peace and prosperity in Afghanistan, clarifying Prime Minister Imran Khan's comments that Washington sees Islamabad as "useful" only for clearing the "mess" it has left behind in the war-ravaged country.

Foreign Office spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said this in response to media queries about Prime Minister Khan's remarks.

Talking to foreign journalists on Wednesday, Khan said, Pakistan is just considered only to be useful in the context of somehow settling this mess which has been left behind after 20 years of trying to find a military solution when there was not one.

Afghanistan has seen an uptick in violence by the Taliban after US President Joe Bidens announcement of the withdrawal of American and NATO troops by August 31.

We have convergence of views and interests on a number of key issues including the ongoing Afghan Peace Process. We both believe that theres no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and we both want to see peace in Afghanistan, Chaudhri said.

He said Pakistan played a key role in facilitating the US-Taliban agreement for Peace in Afghanistan in February last year.

We consider the United States a friend and want broad-based relations to achieve our shared objective of peace and prosperity in the region and beyond, he said.

Pakistan and the United States have a history of close cooperative relations. This cooperative relationship has served the interests of both the countries, he said.

Read | Taliban near gates of Kabul as embassies prepare for evacuations

We have repeatedly stated that neither should Pakistan be looked at through the prism of another country, nor should our relations be viewed narrowly, he said.

The spokesperson said that Pakistan wants to build long term, broad-based, comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnerships rather than having transactional relations.

Pakistan will take all such decisions and pursue policies that are in our national interest and contribute to peace and prosperity in the region and beyond, he said.

Responding to queries on the Extended Troika meeting, he said that the meeting of the Extended Troika, including Special Envoys of Pakistan, US, China and Russia, was held in Doha on August 11.

The members of the Extended Troika discussed the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and explored ways of expediting the intra-Afghan peace talks for achieving an inclusive political settlement and bringing an end to the four-decades long conflict in Afghanistan.

Delegations of Afghanistan led by Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and Taliban led by Mullah Baradar also had an interaction with the Extended Troika, which broadly conveyed the messages to the Afghan sides for a need for urgent measures to reduce violence leading to a ceasefire, as there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict.

It asked that the Afghan sides put forward their peace plans on priority basis so that progress is made towards a political roadmap. It also said there is a need for all sides to respect human rights and not indulge in human rights violations.

Pakistan attaches importance to the role of Extended Troika for bringing lasting peace and stability to Afghanistan, Chaudhri said, adding that Pakistan will continue to engage in this platform to undertake collective efforts to expedite the peace process.
Jude Walker, an 11-year-old boy, is on an odyssey he hopes will help save the planet: he is walking to London from northern England in a bid to garner support for a carbon tax to tackle carbon emissions.

Partly inspired by activist Greta Thunberg, Walker, from Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire, has braved hills, rain and doubts along his 210-mile trek to the British parliament in Westminster, central London.

Global warming is dangerously close to spiralling out of control and the world is already certain to face further climate disruptions for decades, if not centuries, to come, a United Nations climate panel said this month.

While most political leaders and investors accept the science behind climate change, there are deep divisions over what must be done to stop it, how radical the response should be - and who should pay for it.

Walker is clear that a carbon tax is a crucial step to slowing down humanity's current path to what he called a dystopian world.

"We now know a lot more about climate change and I think a carbon tax would be definitely one of the most useful solutions to it," Walker told Reuters as he walked through Woburn Sands, a town about 50 miles (30 km) north of London.

He wants people to sign a petition calling for a carbon tax. Currently just under 57,000 people have signed it. If it gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate by parliament.

In a response to the petition, Britain said it was the first major economy to legislate for net zero emissions by 2050 and that it was committed to ensuring that polluters continue to pay for their emissions.

"The effects of climate change are already being seen," Walker said. "We really need to make the changes now particularly if you want to avoid the devastating impacts later on."

He is walking for 10 miles a day, accompanied on each day's walk with either members of his family or friends. He is due to finish the walk at St James's Park on Saturday.

Ahead of the UN climate conference, known as COP26, in Scotland in November, Walker called for serious action to slow climate change.

"It would be just a dystopian world unless this summit doesn't goes to plan," he said. "We can avoid catastrophe."
Taliban insurgents tightened their grip on Afghanistan on Friday, wresting control of the second- and third-biggest cities as Western embassies prepared to send in troops to help evacuate staff from the capital, Kabul. The Islamist militants now control about two-thirds of Afghanistan. Reports say that the militant group has captured Herat and Kandahar, the countrys second and third largest cities after Kabul, and a strategic provincial capital on Thursday, as the United States and Britain said they would send thousands of troops to help evacuate their embassy staff. Stay tuned on DH for latest updates.
When the pace of vaccinations in the US first began to slow, President Joe Biden backed incentives like million-dollar cash lotteries if that's what it took to get shots in arms. But as new coronavirus infections soar, he's testing a tougher approach.

In just the past two weeks, Biden has forced millions of federal workers to attest to their vaccination status or face onerous new requirements. He's met with business leaders at the White House to press them to do the same.

Meanwhile, the administration has taken steps toward mandating shots for people travelling into the US from overseas.

And the White House is weighing options to be more assertive at the state and local level, including potential support for school districts imposing rules to prevent spread of the virus over the objection of Republican leaders.

Read | WHO urges China to share raw data on early Covid cases

To the mayors, school superintendents, educators, local leaders, who are standing up to the governors politicising mask protection for our kids: thank you, Biden said Thursday.

"Thank God that we have heroes like you, and I stand with you all, and America should as well.

But even as Biden becomes more aggressive, he has refrained from using all his powers to pressure Americans to get vaccinated. He's held off, for instance, on proposals to require vaccinations for all air travellers or, for that matter, the federal workforce. The result is a precarious balancing act as Biden works to make life more uncomfortable for the unvaccinated without spurring a backlash in a deeply polarised country that would only undermine his public health goals.

Vaccine mandates are the right lever at the right time," said Ben Wakana, the deputy director of strategic communications and engagement for the White House Covid-19 response, noting the public's increasing confidence in the vaccines and adding that it marks a new phase in the government's campaign to encourage Americans to get shots.

Many Republicans, particularly those eyeing the party's 2024 presidential nomination, disagree and warn of federal overreaching into decisions that should be left to individuals. Biden and Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, an epicentre of the latest virus wave, have spent weeks feuding over the proper role of government during a public health crisis.

Read | US FDA authorises Covid-19 vaccine boosters for immunocompromised

There is notable support for vaccine mandates. According to a recent poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation, 51 per cent of Americans say the federal government should recommend that employers require their workers to get vaccinated, while 45 per cent say it should not.

For now, Biden has required most federal workers to attest to their vaccination status under potential criminal penalties, with those who have not received a dose required to maintain social distancing, test weekly for the virus and face other potential restrictions on their work.

Health workers at the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services will be required to get vaccinated, and the Pentagon has announced that it intends to mandate vaccines for the military by next month.

The sharper federal approach comes as nearly 90 million eligible Americans still have not been vaccinated and as Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, says shots are the only path for the nation to contain the Delta variant.

White House officials say Biden wanted to initially operate with restraint to ensure that Americans were ready for the strong-arming from the federal government. The federal moves have been carefully calibrated to encourage a wave of businesses and governments to follow suit.

Read | Covid-19 mutations: Why the virus might still have some tricks to pull

Biden administration officials briefed prominent Washington trade groups, including the Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable, ahead of the federal announcement in hopes their members would follow suit. White House officials have fielded dozens of calls from business executive in recent weeks about how to implement their own vaccination mandates, officials said, sharing best practices and tips for how to protect their workforces.

Through vaccination requirements, employers have the power to help end the pandemic," White House Covid-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said Thursday, naming companies, universities and local governments that have implemented them.

The new restrictions appear to be having the desired effect. The rules  combined with fresh concerns about the surging delta variant  have nearly doubled the average rate that Americans are getting newly vaccinated from last month to about 450,000 per day.
On a recent evening, Tyler Daye, an organiser with Common Cause North Carolina, hosted an online seminar for residents of the city of Wilson on an important but arcane topic: redistricting.

With the help of publicly available mapping software known as Districtr, Daye clicked through maps of federal and state voting districts, showing how in each case Republican lawmakers in 2011 neatly cleaved the city in two, dividing the largely Black eastern half from the mostly white western half.

"When your communities are split, your voting power and representation is split as well," he told attendees. "This attacks the very backbone, the very core of our democratic system, which is having the voters, the citizens, picking their legislators. Through this system, it's the other way around."

The once-a-decade process of redistricting has long been a back-room affair in many states, with lawmakers carving out skewed, politically advantageous voting districts with the help of proprietary software that can sort voters down to the individual block.

As states begin the 2021 redistricting cycle, however, legislators face a powerful new check: a suite of freely accessible map-making tools that allow ordinary citizens to draw their own lines and evaluate those proposed by lawmakers for any partisan bias.

Advocacy groups say the new technologies are transforming their fight against gerrymandering, a tactic used by one political party to manipulate district lines to maintain power. The groups' efforts are bolstered by redistricting labs housed at universities including Princeton and Tufts, where experts have developed new ways to measure gerrymandering.

"I think that's ground-shifting," said Michael Li, a redistricting expert at New York University's Brennan Center for Justice. "You'll have thousands of maps out there."

The redistricting battle effectively began on Thursday, when the US Census Bureau released data from its 2020 count that states use to draw both US House of Representatives and state legislative districts for the next decade.

It promises to be a brutal, high-stakes fight. Control of the House - where the Democrats hold a narrow majority - could be decided simply through redistricting. Republicans are expected to create more favourable maps in Georgia, Texas, Florida and North Carolina, while Democrats may counter with their own gerrymandering in states including Illinois and New York, according to election analysts.

In states like Missouri and Michigan, activists and residents are submitting hundreds of maps to lawmakers and redistricting commissions. Organisers are employing map software to mobilise citizens against gerrymandering. And some groups are using mapping contests to assemble "citizens map corps" to press their case at the local level.

"It's almost like a light-bulb moment," said Bob Phillips, the executive director of Common Cause North Carolina, a voting rights organization. "We feel we've been able to reach people in ways we never have."

It remains to be seen whether reform groups can succeed in blocking gerrymanders, given that in most states legislators have the final say in redistricting. A sweeping federal voting bill backed by Democrats would outlaw partisan gerrymandering for congressional districts, but the legislation appears to have no path forward in the Senate.

Even if gerrymanders are enacted, however, advocates say their work could strengthen potential court challenges. It could also lay the groundwork for the future by engaging the public and calling out lawmakers' manipulation, they say.

"We're playing a long-term game," said Djemanesh Aneteneh, a redistricting coordinator with Fair Count in Georgia, a nonpartisan group founded by former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

'Smoke-filled room'

Twelve years ago, Dave Bradlee, a former Microsoft software engineer interested in redistricting, discovered there was no free software available online where people could try their hand at drawing district maps. So he designed his own.

Dave's Redistricting App now boasts thousands of visitors a day. The website has added new powerful features, including metrics to measure partisan and racial bias.

"The level of awareness of redistricting, especially now  a lot more people are aware of it, and they can see what used to happen in that so-called 'smoke-filled room,'" Bradlee said.

Other applications have since launched, including Districtr, backed by a redistricting lab at Tufts University; DistrictBuilder, founded by researchers at the University of Florida and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and Representable, housed at Princeton University.

More than 125 organisations have launched "mapping drives" using Representable, including Fair Count, which has been hosting "Mapping Mondays" workshops in Georgia with an emphasis on reaching rural Black communities.

The Southern Coalition for Social Justice is holding dozens of seminars across eight states that include how to identify gerrymanders using mapping software, said Jeff Loperfido, the group's senior counsel.

Other groups have created mapping contests as an organising tool. In Pennsylvania, winners of Draw the Lines PA's competitions helped form a citizens map corps that meets monthly to discuss submitting testimony and maps to lawmakers.

"It makes it way harder for politicians to get away with what they have in the past, which is to draw these maps behind closed doors," said Kyle Hynes, 17, a statewide winner.
The Taliban have captured Afghanistan's Lashkar Gah, capital of the southern province of Helmand, after two weeks of heavy fighting, a police official said on Friday.

Government and senior armed forces officials flew by helicopter out of the government's last stronghold in the town at about midnight on Thursday, said the official, who declined to be identified.

"About 200 ANDSF members, who were left in the governor's compound, with the intervention of elders, surrendered to the Taliban," said the official, referring to members of the national defence and security forces and tribal elders.
The Taliban have captured another three provincial capitals in southern Afghanistan, including in Helmand, the scene of some of the heaviest fighting in the past two decades, as the insurgents press a lightning offensive that is gradually encircling the capital, Kabul.

The loss of Helmand's provincial capital comes after years of toil and blood spilled by American, British and allied NATO forces. Hundreds of foreign troops were killed there over the course of the nearly two-decade war.

The insurgents have taken more than a dozen provincial capitals in recent days and now control more than two-thirds of the country just weeks before the US plans to withdraw its last troops.

Attaullah Afghan, the head of the provincial council in Helmand, says that Taliban captured the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah following heavy fighting and raised their white flag over governmental installations. He says that three national army bases outside of Lashkar Gah remain under control of the government.

Also read: Twelve nations, including India, decide not to recognise any Afghan govt imposed by force

Atta Jan Haqbayan, the provincial council chief in Zabul province, said the local capital of Qalat fell to the Taliban and that officials are in a nearby army camp preparing to leave.

Two lawmakers from Afghanistan's southern Uruzgan province said local officials have surrendered the provincial capital, Tirin Kot, to the rapidly advancing Taliban. Bismillah Jan Mohammad and Qudratullah Rahimi confirmed the surrender Friday. Mohammad says the governor is en route to the airport to depart for Kabul.

The latest advances came hours after the insurgents captured the country's second and third largest cities in a lightning advance. The seizures of Kandahar and Herat mark the biggest prizes yet for the Taliban.

While Kabul isn't directly under threat yet, the losses and the battles elsewhere further tighten the grip of a resurgent Taliban, who are estimated to now hold over two-thirds of the country and continue to press their offensive.

With security rapidly deteriorating, the United States planned to send in 3,000 troops to help evacuate some personnel from the US Embassy in Kabul. Separately, Britain said about 600 troops would be deployed on a short-term basis to support British nationals leaving the country, and Canada is sending special forces to help evacuate its embassy.

Thousands of Afghans have fled their homes amid fears the Taliban will again impose a brutal, repressive government, all but eliminating women's rights and conducting public executions.

Also read: Ghost soldiers emblematic of a problem that has plagued Afghanistan's security for decades  corruption

Peace talks in Qatar remain stalled, though diplomats are still meeting, as the US, European and Asian nations warned that any government established by force would be rejected.

We demand an immediate end to attacks against cities, urge a political settlement, and warn that a government imposed by force will be a pariah state, said Zalmay Khalilzad, the US envoy to the talks.

Fazel Haq Ehsan, chief of the provincial council in the western Ghor province, said Friday that the Taliban had entered Feroz Koh, the provincial capital, and that there was fighting inside the city. The Taliban meanwhile claimed to have captured Qala-e Naw, capital of the western Badghis province. There was no official confirmation.

The Taliban are also on the move in Logar province, just south of Kabul, where they claim to have seized the police headquarters in the provincial capital of Puli-e Alim as well as a nearby prison. The city is some 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Kabul.

The latest US military intelligence assessment suggests Kabul could come under insurgent pressure within 30 days and that, if current trends hold, the Taliban could gain full control of the country within a few months. The Afghan government may be forced to pull back to defend the capital and just a few other cities in the coming days if the Taliban maintain momentum.

Read | India won't recognise any Afghan govt imposed by force

The onslaught represents a stunning collapse of Afghan forces after the United States spent nearly two decades and $830 billion trying to establish a functioning state after toppling the Taliban in the wake of the September 11 attacks. The advancing Taliban ride on American-made Humvees and carry M-16s pilfered from Afghan forces.

Afghan security forces and the government have not responded to repeated questions from journalists, instead issuing video communiques that downplay the Taliban advance.

Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the Afghan army has rotted from within due to corruption and mismanagement, leaving troops in the field poorly equipped and with little motivation to fight. The Taliban, meanwhile, have spent a decade taking control of large swaths of the countryside, positioning themselves to rapidly seize key infrastructure and urban areas once President Joe Biden announced the US withdrawal.

The difficulty of moving troops out to the provinces means the government is likely to focus all its efforts on defending the capital.

Whatever forces are left or remaining that are in the Kabul area and the provinces around them, they're going to be used for the defense of Kabul, Roggio said. Unless something dramatically changes, and I don't see how that's possible, these provinces will remain under Taliban control."

In Herat, Taliban fighters rushed past the Great Mosque in the historic city  a structure that dates to 500 BC and was once a spoil of Alexander the Great  and seized government buildings. Witnesses described hearing sporadic gunfire at one government building while the rest of the city fell silent under the insurgents' control.

Herat had been under militant attack for two weeks, with one wave blunted by the arrival of warlord Ismail Khan and his forces. But on Thursday afternoon, Taliban fighters broke through the city's defensive lines and later said they were in control.

Afghan lawmaker Semin Barekzai also acknowledged the city's fall, saying that some officials there had escaped. It wasn't immediately clear what happened to Khan, who earlier had been described as under attack with his forces at a government building.

In Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban, insurgents seized the governor's office and other buildings, witnesses said. The governor and other officials fled the onslaught, catching a flight to Kabul, the witnesses added. They declined to be named publicly as the defeat has yet to be acknowledged by the government.

The Taliban had earlier attacked a prison in Kandahar and freed inmates inside, officials said.

Earlier Thursday, the militants raised their white flags imprinted with an Islamic proclamation of faith over the city of Ghazni, which sits on a crucial north-south highway just 130 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of Kabul.

In southern Afghanistan, the Taliban's heartland, heavy fighting continued in Lashkar Gah, where surrounded government forces hoped to hold onto the capital of Helmand province.

Nasima Niazi, a lawmaker from Helmand, criticised ongoing airstrikes targeting the area, saying civilians likely had been wounded and killed.

The Taliban used civilian houses to protect themselves, and the government, without paying any attention to civilians, carried out airstrikes, she said.

With the Afghan air power limited and in disarray, aviation tracking data suggested US Air Force B-52 bombers, F-15 fighter jets, drones and other aircraft were involved in the fighting across the country, according to Australia-based security firm The Cavell Group.

US Central Command has acknowledged carrying out several airstrikes in recent days, without providing details or commenting on the concerns over civilian casualties.

A United Nations agency warned that civilians in southern Afghanistan faced cut-off highways and mobile phone outages. It described aid groups as being unable to determine how many people had fled as intense fighting and airstrikes continued there.

In Kabul and surrounding central provinces that remain under government control, the U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said the security situation remained unstable and unpredictable with elevated conflict and violence.

Pakistan meanwhile opened its Chaman border crossing for people who had been stranded in recent weeks. Juma Khan, the Pakistan border town's deputy commissioner, said the crossing was reopened following talks with the Taliban.

Even as diplomats met in Doha, Qatar on Thursday, the success of the Taliban offensive called into question whether they would ever rejoin long-stalled peace talks with the government in Kabul. Instead, the group could come to power by force  or the country could splinter into factional fighting like it did after the Soviet withdrawal in 1989.
Rapid Taliban conquests across Afghanistan led the Biden administration on Friday to rush 3,000 fresh troops to the Kabul airport to help with a partial evacuation of the US Embassy in the capital and send thousands more to the region, to be on standby and speed airlifts for Afghans who worked with the American military.

The temporary buildup of troops for US evacuations highlights the stunning pace of the Taliban takeover of much of the country. The Taliban completed their sweep of the country's south on Friday as they took four more provincial capitals in a lightning offensive that is gradually encircling Kabul, just weeks before the US is set to officially end its two-decade war.

Also Read | Taliban near gates of Kabul as embassies prepare for evacuations

The latest significant blow was the loss of the capital of Helmand province, where American, British and other allied NATO forces fought some of the bloodiest battles in the past 20 years. Hundreds of Western troops during the course of the war died fighting to try to knock back the Taliban in the province and give Afghanistan's central government and military a better chance to take hold.

The State Department said the embassy will continue functioning, but Thursday's decision to bring in thousands of additional US troops is a sign of waning confidence in the Afghan government's ability to hold off the Taliban surge.

Those advances, and the partial embassy evacuation, increasingly isolate the nation's capital, home to millions of Afghans.

This is not abandonment. This is not an evacuation. This is not a wholesale withdrawal," State Department spokesman Ned Price said. "What this is is a reduction in the size of our civilian footprint.

Also Read | NATO envoys to hold urgent meeting on Afghanistan

President Joe Biden, who has remained adamant about ending the US mission in Afghanistan at the end of this month, gave the order for the additional temporary troops Thursday morning after conferring with national security officials overnight.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. The US also warned Taliban officials directly that the US would respond if the Taliban attacked Americans during the temporary US military deployments.

Britain's ministry of defence will send about 600 troops to Afghanistan on a short-term basis to help UK nationals leave the country. Canadian special forces will deploy to Afghanistan to help Canadian staff leave Kabul, a source familiar with the plan told The Associated Press. That official, who was not authorized to talk publicly about the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity, did not say how many special forces would be sent.

The Pentagon's chief spokesman, John Kirby, said that in addition to sending three infantry battalions  two from the Marine Corps and one from the Army  to the airport, the Pentagon will dispatch 3,500 to 4,000 troops from a combat brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division to Kuwait to act as a reserve force. He said they will be on standby in case we need even more than the 3,000 going to Kabul.

Also, about 1,000 Army and Air Force troops, including military police and medical personnel, will be sent to Qatar in coming days to support a State Department effort to accelerate its processing of Special Immigrant Visa applications from Afghans who once worked for the US government and feel threatened by the Taliban, and for their families, Kirby said.

Americans are preparing a military base in the region to receive and house large numbers of those Afghan translators and others as their visa applications are processed. The Biden administration has not identified the base, but earlier was talking with both Kuwait and Qatar about using U.S. bases there for the temporary relocations.

As of Thursday, the US has flown 1,200 Afghans  former American employees and their families whose visas are farthest along in the approval process  to Fort Lee, Virginia.

Price said the US would soon have the flights flying out daily, for those Afghan translators and others who manage to reach the Kabul airport despite the fighting. The total of Afghans flown out under the special visa program is going to grow very quickly in the coming days, Price said.

Also Read | UK says US pullout from Afghanistan a 'mistake'

Kirby said the 3,000 troops will assist with security at the airport and to help process the departure of embassy personnel, but will not get involved in the Afghan government's war with the Taliban. Biden decided in April to end US military involvement in the war, and the withdrawal is scheduled to be complete by Aug. 31.

The US had already withdrawn most of its troops, but had kept about 650 troops in Afghanistan to support US diplomatic security, including at the airport.

Kirby said the influx of fresh troops does not mean the US is reentering combat with the Taliban.

This is a temporary mission with a narrow focus, he told reporters at the Pentagon.

The viability of the US-trained Afghan army, however, is looking increasingly dim. A new military assessment says Kabul could come under Taliban pressure as soon as September and, if current trends hold, the country could fall to the Taliban within a few months.

Shortly before Price's announcement, the US Embassy in Kabul urged US citizens to leave immediately  reiterating a warning it first issued Saturday.

The latest drawdown will further limit the ability of the embassy to conduct business, although Price maintained it would still be able to function. Nonessential personal had already been withdrawn from the embassy in April after Biden's withdrawal announcement and it was not immediately clear how many staffers would remain on the heavily fortified compound. As of Thursday, there were roughly 4,200 staffers at the embassy, but most of those are Afghan nationals, according to the State Department.

Apart from a complete evacuation and shuttering of the embassy, Price said other contingency plans were being weighed, including possibly relocating its operations to the airport.
The WHO on Thursday urged China to share raw data from the earliest Covid-19 cases to revive the pandemic origins probe -- and release information to address the controversial lab leak theory.

The World Health Organization stressed it was "vitally important" to uncover the origins of the worst pandemic in a century, which has killed at least 4.3 million people and battered the global economy since the virus was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019.

In the face of pushback from Beijing, the UN health agency called for the provision of "all data and access required so that the next series of studies can be commenced as soon as possible".

Read | Covid-19 mutations: Why the virus might still have some tricks to pull

After much delay, a WHO team of international experts went to Wuhan in January 2021 to produce a first phase report, which was written in conjunction with their Chinese counterparts.

Their March report drew no firm conclusions, instead ranking four hypotheses.

It said the virus jumping from bats to humans via an intermediate animal was the most probable scenario, while a leak from the Wuhan virology labs was "extremely unlikely".

However, the investigation faced criticism for lacking transparency and access, and for not evaluating the lab-leak theory more deeply -- with the United States upping the pressure ever since.

A WHO call last month for the investigation's second stage to include audits of the Wuhan labs infuriated Beijing, with vice health minister Zeng Yixin saying the plan showed "disrespect for common sense and arrogance towards science".

In a statement on advancing phase two of the studies, the WHO insisted the search was not "an exercise in attributing blame" or political point-scoring.

"The next series of studies would include a further examination of the raw data from the earliest cases and sera from potential early cases in 2019," the UN agency said.

"Access to data is critically important for evolving our understanding of science."

Read | Covid-19 may become mostly a childhood disease in a few years: Study

The WHO said it was working with several countries that reported detection of SARS-CoV-2 in samples from 2019 stored biological specimens.

For example, it said, in Italy, it had facilitated an independent evaluation by international laboratories, which included the blind retesting of pre-pandemic blood samples.

"Sharing raw data and giving permission for the retesting of samples in labs outside of Italy reflects scientific solidarity at its best and is no different from what we encourage all countries, including China, to support so that we can advance the studies of the origins quickly and effectively," the WHO said.

After reading the phase one report, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus concluded that the probe into Wuhan's virology labs had not gone far enough.

Long derided as a right-wing conspiracy theory and vehemently rejected by Beijing, the hypothesis has been gaining momentum.

It was a favourite under former US president Donald Trump, but his successor Joe Biden is also keen to see this line of enquiry pursued.

"China and a number of other member states have written to WHO regarding the basis for further studies of the SARS-CoV-2 'lab hypothesis'," the WHO said.

"They have also suggested the origins study has been politicised, or that WHO has acted due to political pressure.

"In order to address the 'lab hypothesis', it is important to have access to all data and consider scientific best practice and look at the mechanisms WHO already has in place."

Read | 499 children in Bengaluru test positive for Covid-19 in last 10 days

It added that analysing and improving lab safety and protocols "including in China, is important for our collective biosafety and security".

Meanwhile Danish scientist Peter Ben Embarek, who led the international mission to Wuhan, said a lab employee infected while taking samples in the field falls under one of the likely hypotheses as to how the virus passed from bats to humans.

He told the Danish public channel TV2 that the suspect bats were not from the Wuhan region and the only people likely to have approached them were workers from the Wuhan labs.

He also revealed that up until 48 hours before the end of the mission, the international and Chinese scientists still could not even agree on mentioning the lab theory in the report.
With a tumultuous Parliament session ending with unruly scenes, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Friday said the Chair in both Houses was "not as neutral as it should be" and asserted that the last-day pandemonium in Rajya Sabha started because the government tried to pass a legislation by "stealth" while going back on its words.

Chidambaram also questioned the absence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah from debates during the session and alleged that the "two-man army" BJP government has "scant respect" for Parliament and if the "two gentlemen have their way, they will lock down Parliament".

In an interview with PTI, the former Union minister also asserted that with patience, further conversations and meetings, he is absolutely certain the difficulties in forging Opposition unity to take on the BJP in 2024 general elections shall be overcome and it will be a reality well before the polls.

The Monsoon session of Parliament was curtailed by two days on Wednesday. Just before the Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die, opposition MPs jostled with marshals in the well of the House when they were trying to move towards the Chair and the treasury benches.

While the government and the ruling BJP have blamed the Congress and other opposition parties for disruptions, the opposition leaders have accused the ruling dispensation of running away from debate on issues like Pegasus snooping allegations and contentious farm laws.

Also read: Opposition, Treasury benches like 'two eyes' of Rajya Sabha: Venkaiah Naidu

For Wednesday's ruckus in Rajya Sabha also, the ruling party has put the blame on opposition leaders while several leaders from Congress and some other parties alleged that opposition members including some women MPs were manhandled.

Asked about the ruckus in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday and the government fielding eight ministers to accuse the Opposition of disrupting the Monsoon session, Chidambaram said the pandemonium was created by the government going back on its word that after the Constitution amendment bill on the OBC reservation was passed by the House, it will be adjourned sine die.

The Opposition had made it clear that it was opposed to passing the bill to amend the general insurance laws which would pave the way for privatisation of all general insurance companies and that it should be referred to a select committee of Parliament, he said.

Chidambaram, a Rajya Sabha member and part of the Congress' strategy group in the House, said that since there was no agreement on that issue between the government and the Opposition, it was agreed that the bill will not be taken up in this session of Parliament.

"But after the Constitution amendment bill was passed unanimously, the government tried to rush through the general insurance amendment bill and one or two other bills. This is a continuation of the BJP's practice of passing legislation by stealth," he said.

Naturally, the opposition was infuriated and opposed the government vehemently, he said.

"The chair, I am afraid, and I am sorry to say this, did not play a neutral role and therefore there was pandemonium in Parliament, but the starting point of the pandemonium was the government's attempt to pass legislation by stealth," Chidambaram alleged.

Asked about Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu expressing disappointment with the behaviour of Opposition members during the session and the Opposition raising questions about the neutrality of the Chair, the senior Congress leader said, "We are increasingly driven to the conclusion, and I say this with a heavy heart and great regret, that the Chair is not as neutral as it should be and the Chair does not reflect the sense of the House."

The House consists of both the treasury benches and the opposition benches and the Chair should reflect the sense of the whole House and not just one side or the other, he asserted.

On the government rejecting Opposition's criticism of passage of bills amid the din, stating that it also happened in the UPA era, Chidambaram said this "whataboutery" must come to an end.

In the UPA era, the prime minister and the home minister attended both Houses, they answered questions in Parliament, they took part in debates and offered clarifications on statements, he said.

Chidambaram said that in this whole session, the prime minister and the home minister were "absent", did not answer a single question and did not participate in any debate.

"This shows that the two-man army, which is the BJP government, has scant respect for Parliament. If these two gentlemen have their way, they will lock down Parliament," he alleged.

Asked about Parliament not discussing the Pegasus snooping row and the parliamentary panel on information technology not being able to take up the issue with BJP members denying the panel a quorum in its last meeting, Chidambaram said the Supreme Court is the only hope.

"The government has a huge guilty conscience which is why the moment the word Pegasus is uttered, the government runs for cover and the government resorts to all kinds of strategies to shut out a debate on Pegasus, but Pegasus cannot be suppressed forever," he said.

One by one skeleton will tumble out of the cupboard, as they are, in France, Israel, Germany and other countries. Newspapers around the world will report on the new revelations, the senior Congress leader said.

"I hope the Supreme Court will take up the issue of Pegasus and order an inquiry," he added.

Read | Vice President Naidu, Birla review unruly scenes in Parliament

Asked if with the Opposition unity on display during the Monsoon session -- be it Rahul Gandhi's breakfast meeting, Kapil Sibal's dinner or floor coordination -- seeds of an alliance to take on the BJP in 2024 have been sown, Chidambaram said it was the "beginning of the beginning".

"We are still in the early days but my conversations with opposition leaders clearly point to the fact that every opposition leader is convinced that the Opposition must present a United front," he said.

On Thursday, as the government fielded a battery of eight ministers at a news conference to take on the opposition over the ruckus in Parliament, the presiding officers of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha expressed deep concern over the "disruptive behaviour" of some MPs and felt such actions should not be tolerated.

Opposition leaders also marched in protest against the government on several issues, including the Pegasus snooping row, the three farm laws and alleged manhandling of their MPs in Rajya Sabha, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi saying the voice of people was crushed in Parliament and democracy was "murdered".
In a major development, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulator on Thursday authorised an extra dose of Covid-19 vaccine for people with weakened immune systems, as the country struggles to thwart the Delta variant. It authorised the emergency use of a third injection of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.

Back in India, the national expert committee on Covid-19 vaccination is also looking into the issue of giving booster vaccine dose as many states are witnessing trend of increase in reproduction number. NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr V K Paul said on it must be taken as a work in progress as science is still emerging in this area. At the same time, Paul also noted that the WHO has called for a moratorium on booster doses.

Covid-19 cases in India have been plateauing around 40,000 cases a day but many districts in states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu have been witnessing a rising trend in the average daily new Covid-19 cases over the last two weeks.

India saw a single-day rise of 40,120 coronavirus infections, taking the tally of Covid cases to 3,21,17,826, while the recovery rate increased to 97.46 per cent, the highest recorded so far, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated Friday. The death toll, meanwhile, climbed to 4,30,254 with 585 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

What caused panic among parents was as many as 499 children testing positive for Covid-19 during the first ten days of August in Bengaluru. Though 10-15 per cent of fresh Covid cases reported in the last 20 days are children aged between one and 19, BBMP officials played down the impact of the third wave primarily targeting children.

Amid fears of a possible third Covid-19 wave, India expects to get about 26 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses in August as a simpler licensing process has helped the government secure far more doses than earlier expected, BJP president J P Nadda said on Friday. Nadda, who was the health minister in Modi's first term, said India's vaccine supply will reach 26.65 crore doses in August, 26.1 crore in September, 28.2 crore in October, 28.2 crore in November and 28.5 crore doses in December.

With the vaccine supply pipeline plan in place, the government has given its nod to Christian Medical College, Vellore, to launch a mix-and-match clinical trial involving Covishield and Covaxin in order to find out whether a single dose of two vaccines could be combined for an effective protection against the Covid-19 epidemic.

The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has also reportedly given its nod to Bharat Biotech to conduct a study on mixing Covaxin and its own intranasal vaccine to evaluate the immunogenicity and efficacy.

On Thursday, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya met WHO Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan and held discussions over the global health body's approval for Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin. A top vaccines official at the World Health Organisation says the agency expects to make a decision next month on an emergency authorisation for Covacix, which is yet to be authorised by any Western regulatory authorities.

A new study has debunked a myth on vaccines affecting one's chances to get pregnant. Medical experts say there's no biological reason the shots would affect fertility. And real-world evidence offers more assurance for anyone worried about their chances of conceiving. In Pfizer's study, a similar number of women became pregnant in the group given the vaccine as in the group given dummy shots.
Assam Assembly on Friday passed the Assam Cattle Preservation Bill 2021 that seeks to prohibit the sale and consumption of beef in areas "pre-dominantly inhabited" by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and other non-beef eating communities and within a 5 km radius of temples and satras (Vaishnavite monasteries).

The Bill was passed following a walkout by the Oppostion parties including Congress and Badruddin Ajmal's AIUDF, who demanded that it should be referred to a select committee for clause-wise discussion and necessary amendments.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma proposed for passage of the Bill in the Assembly after the opposition MLAs walked out as their demand for a select committee was turned down by the ruling BJP and its allies. The ruling alliance including Asom Gana Parishad and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) at present has 74 MLAs in the House of 126.

The Oppostion parties proposed 75 amendments including the clause for banning the sale of beef within a 5 km radius of temples and satras. But the government opposed the proposed amendments claiming that the Bill was framed in order to check communal tension.

Also read: Karnataka Minister vows action on illegal slaughterhouses

The Bill was tabled in the Assembly on July 12 and was passed minutes before the budget session ended on Friday.

The Bill also seeks to prohibit cattle from other states or to other states through Assam without permission.

Although the Bill says beef would not be allowed in areas "pre-dominantly inhabited" by the non-beef eating communities, Chief Minister Sarma in an interview to DH on July 15 said that the rules to be framed after the Bill is passed would bar consumption of beef in places where there is even a single Hindu or other non-beef eating people. He said that the beef would not be allowed in most urban centres in Assam, where mixed population lives.

Opposition Congress and AIUDF said apart from creating communal tension and distrust, the Bill would cause huge economic loss to farmers. "In Assam's villages, people rears a buffalo or a cattle as an investment. They sell it and spend the money for education of their children or for marriage. This Bill will hugely affect such economic activities," senior Congress leader Rakibul Hussain said.

As the Opposition MLAs walked out, CM Sarma proposed an amendment for removing the buffalo from the purview of prohibition, which was instantly passed by the Assembly.

BJP MLAs chanted slogans like Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Jai Shri Ram inside the Assembly as soon as the Bill was passed.
At an age when youth begins to blossom, can you imagine someone giving up their life for the sake of the country's freedom? At 18, one man took it upon himself to free his motherland from the clutches of British rule. As India celebrates its 75th Independence Day, it is time to remember one of India's youngest revolutionaries  a forgotten hero named Khudiram Bose.

Born on December 3, 1889, in a small village named Mohobani in the Medinipur district of then undivided Bengal (present West Bengal), Khudiram was the fourth child in a family of three daughters. He lost his mother when he was six years old, and a year later, lost his father.

He joined a group named 'Anushilan Samiti', became a volunteer at the age of 15, and was arrested for distributing pamphlets against British rule in India. When he was a 16-year-old, Khudiram took part in planting bombs near the police stations and targeted government officials.

Also read: Birsa Munda: Spearhead of tribal fight against British

In 1908, 'Anushilan Samiti' hatched a plan to murder Douglas Kingsford, who was the Chief Magistrate of the Presidency Court of Alipore. Kingsford was known for his antipathy towards the Indian revolutionaries, and his effort to cripple the Bengali newspaper 'Jugantar' drew severe criticism from many erudite people of that time but the group's first attempt to kill Kingsford by delivering him a book bomb failed flat.

On April 29, 1908, they made another attempt. And it was to be executed by Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki, who was then a 19-year-old. Khudiram and Prafulla adopted the name of Haren Sarkar and Dinesh Chandra Roy respectively and went to Muzzafarpur, where Kingsford was transferred to as the District Judge.

On a fateful day, Kingsford and his wife were playing bridge with the daughter and wife of Pringle Kennedy, a British author, and barrister. While heading home, Kingsford and his wife were in a carriage identical to the one carrying Kennedy and his family. As their carriage reached the eastern gate of the compound of the European Club, Khudiram and Prafulla ran towards the carriage and threw the bombs into the carriage. A loud explosion ensued and the carriage was taken to Kingsford's house. It was shattered and the Kennedy ladies sustained terrible injuries. Pringle Kennedy's daughter died within an hour and his wife on May 2.

Khudiram Bose was arrested on the morning of April 30 at the Wani station where he reached after walking 25 miles. Two police constables became suspicious of him when he asked for a glass of water at a tea stall. His disheveled look led the constables to suspect that something was wrong. They later found in his possession 37 rounds of ammunition, Rs 30 in cash, a railway map and a page of the rail timetable, thus sealing his fate. Prafulla Chaki committed suicide while trying to escape from the police. The Wani station is now known as Khudiram Bose Pusa station.

Also read: Remembering the brave women who fought for Indias freedom

Khudiram had to give a statement of declaration to the magistrate. Unaware of the fact that Chaki was dead, Khudiram took full responsibility for the act to save his compatriot from the inevitable threat of gallows. But once the police brought Chaki's body, he realised the futility of his effort.

After numerous hearings and trials, the British judges gave the verdict of a death sentence. Khudiram was hanged on August 11, 1908. At the time of his hanging, Khudiram was 18 years, seven months, and 11 days old, making him one of the youngest revolutionaries in India. The region around the prison was thronged by a large crowd, and the funeral procession went through the city, with police guards holding back the crowd all along the central artery street. The people kept throwing their flowers on the body as the carriage passed by.

Several newspapers like the Amrita Bazar Patrika, a prominent Bengali newspaper of that time, and The Empire, an established British newspaper, reported that Khudiram was smiling while mounting the scaffold.

His story will continue to burn with an aura of immortality, 113 years later. The legend of Khudiram Bose, who gave death a defiant smile, lives on.
India expects to get about 266 million Covid-19 vaccine doses in August as a simpler licensing process has helped the government secure far more than earlier expected, the president of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party said on Friday.

Late last month, a senior government official told reporters that the government could only count on getting about 150 million doses in August.

CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH

Since then, India's drug regulator has approved the Johnson & Johnson vaccine -- though the company has not yet committed to a delivery schedule -- and commercial production of Russia's Sputnik V in India could start too.

Indian drugmaker Cadila Healthcare's ZyCoV-D could also be approved soon, the health minister said this month.

Writing in a column for The Times of India, Jagat Prakash Nadda, president of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, credited Modi for making it easier for vaccine makers to get approval.

"Among the many significant decisions taken by the PM is simplifying compulsory licensing policy to speed up vaccine production," Nadda wrote.

"It ensured clearance for manufacturing of Russia's Sputnik V in the country and just a few days back Johnson & Johnson vaccine has also been given clearance. In the coming days more vaccines will be available in India."

Nadda, who was the health minister in Modi's first term, said India's vaccine supply will reach 266.5 million doses in August, 261.5 million in September, 282.5 million in October, 282.5 million in November and 285 million doses in December.

The health ministry, whose end-July target of supplying 516 million doses fell short, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Nadda's projections.

India wants to vaccinate its entire adult population of 944 million by the end of this year. It has so far administered 528.6 million doses https://dashboard.cowin.gov.in, giving at least one dose to about 44% of its adults, while 12% have had the required two doses.

India is the world's biggest vaccine maker, thanks to the Serum Institute of India. The company stopped all exports of Covid-19 shots in April as the government asked it to divert supplies to the domestic inoculation drive as infections surged.

India has reported 32.11 million Covid-19 infections, the most after the United States, with about 430,000 deaths, though experts say these are gross underestimates.
The government on Thursday claimed that the disruptions in Parliament were pre-planned by the opposition leaders, who had even threatened union ministers with disastrous things if certain bills were pushed in the Rajya Sabha.

The government also rejected the opposition allegations that outsiders were brought into the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday to rein in unruly members and demanded an apology from opposition leaders for the unprecedented scenes in the Upper House.

Read more
BJP on Friday said Rahul Gandhi was locked out of Twitter for an illegal act of disclosing the identity of a rape victim's family's to further his petty politicsand cannot hide behind the argument of freedom of expression.

Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) President Tejasvi Surya questioned whether it was proper on Gandhi's part to disclose the identity of the family of the rape victim.

Not only rules of Twitter, but the law of the land frowns upon such indecent, illegal as well as inhuman acts, Surya said, adding that Gandhi cannot seek umbrage behind the argument of freedom of expression after committing such a heinous act.

The BJP's sharp attack came after Congress accused Twitter of bias and launched a campaign in support of Gandhi, claiming that he was locked out of the social media platform under pressure from the Modi government.

Read more: Twitter trying to define nation's politics: Rahul Gandhi on ban

Taking a swipe at Congress scion, Surya said Twitter has shown the door to Gandhi from the only place where he was active.

Rahul Gandhi's politics was never on the ground, but only on Twitter, said Surya, a Lok Sabha member from South Bengaluru.

In a dig at Gandhi, BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh said, Disney prince Rahul Gandhi should not have disclosed the victim's identity for his petty politics. He should understand this is real world, not his Disney world.

Surya said the same Congress was crying hoarse and attacking the government when it framed the new rules to empower social media platform users.

Surya said Gandhi and the Congress should make use of the rules and regulations framed by the Modi government and raise a complaint at the appropriate level to get his account restored.

Gandhi had accused Twitter of bias and of interfering in the country's political process by blocking his account.
The ruling DMK on Friday presented its first budget after coming to power, months after it swept the April 6 Assembly elections, with the opposition AIADMK boycotting the financial exercise.

AIADMK, Tamil Nadu's main opposition, staged a walkout from the Assembly, boycotting the first budget presentation by Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan.

Read | Twitter trying to define nation's politics: Rahul Gandhi on ban

As soon as Speaker Appavu gave tips to MLAs on accessing budget document on their computer, leader of opposition, K Palaniswami began reading out from a prepared text and sought an opportunity to covey his views.

While opposition MLAs stood up, requesting the Speaker to give Palaniswami an opportunity, Appavu said they can convey their views on Monday during general discussion and asked them to sit down.

However, Palaniswami continued to read out from the statement, and after he completed it, AIADMK members, led by him, walked out of the House.

Read | Atrocities on Tripura TMC workers to have repercussions in Delhi: Mamata

However, AIADMK's allies -- BJP and PMK, stayed put.

This is the first budget, also the first paperless one, of the DMK government after it assumed power in May after a 10-year stint in opposition.
The Modi government on Thursday went on the offensive against the Opposition, as it demanded action against unruly members and a public apology from them for assaulting a lady marshal in the Rajya Sabha.

With Opposition leaders stating that outsiders were brought into the Rajya Sabha, the government, claiming violence was pre-planned, released CCTV recordings of Wednesday evening that showed a lady marshal being pushed around by members.

Seven Union ministers, including Pralhad Joshi, Piyush Goyal, Anurag Thakur, addressed a joint press conference after meeting Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and Deputy Chairman Harivansh, seeking a thorough investigation and strongest possible action over the shameful and deplorable behaviour.

A lady marshal, in an incident report submitted to her superiors, said two women MPs Chhaya Verma and Phulo Devi Netam forcefully dragged her by pulling her arms to help their male counterparts break the security cordon.

Read | RS interim security report names some opposition MPs for unruly behaviour in House

Joshi, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, said the Opposition was in a belligerent mood since the first day of the monsoon session and had clearly told him that there would be a washout of proceedings.

He said the government was ready to extend the monsoon session by a day had the Opposition agreed for a discussion on farmers issues and the state of the economy.

But, we were threatened by the Opposition with more disastrous things if the government tried to pass any other bills other than the OBC bill. It was told to us in no unambiguous terms, Joshi said, narrating his interaction with Opposition leaders.

Thakur, the I&B Minister, said the Opposition had brought anarchy of streets to Parliament during the monsoon session and demanded an apology for their behaviour.

Goyal, Leader of the Rajya Sabha, dismissed Opposition claims that outsiders were let in to prevent members from exercising their right to protest.

A total of 30 house marshals  18 male and 12 women  from the Parliament Security Service were deployed to protect the secretary generals table and the Chair, Goyal said, adding that the decision was taken after Opposition members had climbed the secretary generals table and flung books at the empty chair.

Goyal also rejected NCP leader Sharad Pawars claim that he had never seen a woman member attacked in Parliament.

Mr Pawar is misinformed. A lady marshal was attacked by Opposition members. Does Mr Pawar condone the Parliament Security Staff being strangled, Goyal asked.
The Trinamool Congress has received an invite to a virtual meet for opposition leaders by Congress president Sonia Gandhi slated for next week, a political aide of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee confirmed. The TMC is likely to join the meeting.

Gandhi has called the meet in the midst of a political row over alleged phone tapping of opposition leaders, judges and journalists and rowdy scenes in Parliament. While the agenda of the meeting is not known, it is expected to discuss a raft of issues irking opposition parties besides helping build bridge to forge opposition unity. The DMK, NCP and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha are among parties that have been invited, according to multiple sources.

Also Read | Atrocities on Tripura TMC workers to have repercussions in Delhi: Mamata

Banerjee too had last month, during a trip to Delhi, made a pitch for opposition unity. The West Bengal chief minister had, besides meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other central ministers, held parleys with Congress Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, Kamal Nath, Anand Sharma and Abishek Manu Singhvi. She also met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and DMK leader Kanimozhi, besides making telephone calls to NCP chief Sharad Pawar and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad.

More recently, on Thursday, the TMC came out against the suspension of the Congress Twitter handles, displaying what many saw as signs of a rekindling of a spirit of opposition unity. Banerjee's advisor and political campaign pundit Prashant Kishor has also been reaching out to various opposition leaders, while Pawar has also held a meeting with eminent persons and opposition leaders.

Political analysts see these meetings as essential stepping stones to forging unity among political parties ahead of a raft of state assembly elections including in Uttar Pradesh, Indias most populous state, in the next three years leading to national elections in 2024.
Rahul Gandhi, whose account was temporarily suspended by Twitter, on Friday accused the social media platform of "interfering" in the country's political process and trying to define the nation's politics, which he said amounted to "attack on the democratic structure of the country."

"Its obvious now that Twitter is actually not a neutral, objective platform. It is a biased platform. It's something that listens to what the government of the day says. So this is not only patently unfair, this is their breaching the idea that Twitter is a neutral platform," Gandhi said in a video statement a day after Congress alleged that not only Rahul Gandhi's, the Twitter account of a number of other leaders were suspended as well.

Gandhi's account was temporarily suspended by Twitter last week after the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) issued a notice to Twitter asking it to act against the Congress leader's handle for tweeting pictures of the family of a minor victim of alleged rape and murder in Delhi last week.

Also Read  Twitter locks Congress's official handle, party claims govt pressure

On Friday, NCPCR wrote to Facebook and Instagram about violation of Indian laws on their platforms after Gandhi shared posts on these platforms "revealing identity of victims" of the family of the nine-year-old girl.

While the NCPCR had cited the juvenile justice law that mandates the privacy of minor victims to argue for action against Rahul's twitter handle, Congress questioned Twitter as to why it did not act when a similar photo was tweeted by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.

Twitter has stuck to its guns saying that if a post is found to violate its rules and is not deleted by the account holder, the platform hides it behind a notice and the account remains locked until that tweet is removed or the appeal is successfully processed. It also argues the company's rules are enforced judiciously and impartially for everyone in its service.

"By shutting down my Twitter they are interfering in our political process. A company is making its business to define our politics and as a politician I don't like that," Gandhi said.

"This is an attack on the democratic structure of the country. This is not an attack on Rahul Gandhi. This is not you know simply shutting Rahul Gandhi down. I have 19-20 million followers. You are denying them the right to an opinion. Thats what you are doing..... And for the investors this is a very dangerous thing because taking sides in the political contest has repercussions for Twitter," the former Congress President said days after his party made a huge political campaign around the issue.

Also Read | Rahul shown the door from only place he was active: BJP

Gandhi also shared an image saying "Digital Dadagiri nahi chalegi" on Instagram. He also shared his video message on Instagram.

On Thursday, Congress started a campaign "I am Rahul Gandhi" with many party leaders including Priyanka Gandhi changing her profile picture with that of her brother Rahul. On Monday, Mahila Congress had organised a flash protest march from Press Club of India to Parliament while Youth Congress had led a protest outside Twitter India office in the national capital, alleging that the government is trying to silence the voice being raised by the Opposition against the rape and murder of a dalit girl in Delhi. On August 8, a meeting of top party functionaries at the AICC also discussed the issues and decided to scale up the protest further, giving "Daro Mat (don't be scared)" message to the microblogging site.

Congress said the Twitter accounts of its Communication department chief Randeep Surjewala, AICC general secretaries K C Venugopal, Ajay Maken, party's Whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore, Assam in-charge and former Union minister Jitendra Singh and Mahila Congress president Sushmita Dev were also locked.

"Our democracy is under attack. We are not allowed to speak in Parliament. The media is controlled. And I thought there was a ray of light where we could put what we thought on Twitter. But obviously, that's not the case. As Indians, we have to ask the question: are we going to allow companies just because they are beholden to the Government of India to define our politics for us?," Gandhi said, seeking to amplify the message from the temporary suspension of the account of the Congress leaders to the large issue of controlling the political narrative.

"Is that what this is going to come to? Or are we going to define our politics on our own? That's the real question here," Gandhi said.

His sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tweeted "Is Twitter following its own policy for the suspension of Congress leaders' accounts or the Modi governments? Why hadnt it locked the account of the SC commission that had tweeted similar photos before any of our leaders did? By locking Congress leaders' accounts en masse, Twitter is blatantly colluding with the stifling of democracy by the BJP government in India."

At an AICC press conference, Congress's spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said, "First it was Twitter and now it is Instagram where they are threatening to block us."

She stressed that the channels of communication cannot be banned for Indias principal opposition. "They cannot be banned specifically on the pretext that we are trying to be the voice of the voiceless," she said.

Also Read | Chair not as neutral as it should be: Chidambaram

"I want to ask Twitter. What is the crime Rahul Gandhi has committed? He has gone and met the family of a nine-year-old Dalit girl, who was brutally raped, cremated against her mothers wishes, all that was left of her was partially burnt legs. He has been asking for justice.'

The Congress spokesperson alleged Twitter is against its own prescribed public available policies of what they have done.

"They are in violation of their own policy. Twitter very categorically states that if you have shared personal information, which has already been available on a public platform, then it is not a violation of their policy. Rahul Gandhi shared personal information or the pictures of those parents on August 4. This was already available in the public domain through many platforms, including media, including the National Commission for Schedule Caste, we were not in violation, " she said

Congress MP Udit Raj alleged that Rahul Gandhi's Twitter was locked, because he stood with the poor and the Dalits. "Our Congress Twitter handles are being locked because the Congress stood for Dalit Beti, thats it," Raj said.

Clearly the Congress is not in a mood to lose the momentum on the issue as the idea of social media control resonates with people.
A Pakistani militant affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit was killed while two security forces personnel and many civilians were injured in an overnight gunfight in Mir Bazar area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district.

The gunfight broke out on Thursday evening after two LeT militants fired at a BSF convoy on the Srinagar-Jammu highway and were later holed up in a nearby building in Mir Bazar after being chased by the security forces.

Police said that 22 civilians, including 12 shopkeepers, six females and four non-local labourers were evacuated safely from the building where the encounter broke out.

Kashmir police chief, Vijay Kumar, said that a Pakistani militant was killed in the encounter while the second one managed to flee. Intermittent firing remained on throughout the night and in the wee hours one foreign militant identified as Usman affiliated with the LeT was killed, he told reporters in Srinagar.

Kumar said that Usman was a dreaded militant and was planning a big strike on security forces ahead of Independence Day. One AK-47 rifle, four magazines, a few grenades and a RPG launcher along with the mobile phone, was recovered from the possession of the slain militant, he said.

The Kashmir police chief said that militant were planning attacks ahead of 15 August to instill fear among the people to prevent them from participating in Independence Day functions.

Pertinently 94 militants and 19 security forces and J&K police personnel have been killed in Jammu Kashmir since the beginning of this year. The highest number of militants (31) were killed in July which included several top commanders of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Among 94 militants killed in J&K this year, only 11 were Pakistanis while the rest were all locals.

According to the Army, there are still 200-225 militants active across the J&K while 250-300 ultras are waiting to infiltrate at launch pads along the Line of Control in Pakistan occupied Kashmir
The Taliban has detained Mohammad Ismail Khan, one of New Delhis old friends in Afghanistan, on Friday, as its militants occupied Herat, a provincial capital in the northwestern region of the country, and took control of the Salma Dam, which the Government of India had built spending over Rs 1,775 crore.

Two other old friends India has in Afghanistan, Ata Muhammad Noor and Abdul Rashid Dostum, vowed to fight back the Taliban and drive the militants out of the northern region of the war-torn country. The Taliban, however, occupied the capitals of at least 18 of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan by Friday, with the Afghan National Defence and Security Force (ANDSF) finding it difficult to slow down the militants' advances towards Kabul.

Khan, 75, was detained by the Taliban after his militia and the ANDSF soldiers failed to hold out against the repeated attacks launched by the militants to wrest control of the capital of Herat in northwestern Afghanistan. His detention by the militants was confirmed by the Talibans spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Twitter. Some reports from Herat and Kabul, however, indicated that his surrender to the militants was part of a deal between the local government officials and the Taliban. The videos and pictures of him surrounded by gun-toting militants were widely circulated on social media.

Also read: US rushes in troops to speed up evacuations in Afghanistan amid Taliban conquest

The warlord, once known as Lion of Herat, had fought against the erstwhile Soviet Unions army, which had invaded Afghanistan in December 1979. He had also been a prominent member of the Northern Alliance, a coalition of warlords, which had fought against the Taliban in the 1990s with the support from India, Iran, Russia, Tajikistan and Turkey.

Khans latest visit to New Delhi was on April 8 this year when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had hosted him in his office and discussed with him the evolving situation in Afghanistan, in view of the imminent withdrawal of troops by the United States and its NATO allies from the conflict-ravaged country.

He had last month led his militia to fight alongside the ANDSF soldiers to repel the Talibans attack on Herat  the third largest city of Afghanistan.

After occupying Herat on Friday, the Taliban also took control of the Afghan-India Friendship Dam, a.k.a. Salma Dam, a hydroelectric and irrigation project located on the Hari River in the Chisti Sharif district of the province.

Also Read | Taliban near gates of Kabul as embassies prepare for evacuations

India had spent Rs 1775.69 crore to build the dam in Afghanistan. The WAPCOS Limited took over 10 years to build the dam, with the remoteness of the site and security situation being the primary reasons for the delay in implementing the project. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had inaugurated it on June 4, 2016.

Two other friends of India and Northern Alliance veterans  Dostum and Noor  are camping in Mazar-e-Sharif, as the militias led by them are helping the ANDSF to repel the Talibans advances towards the Balkh province in northern Afghanistan. Jaishankar had hosted Dostum and Noor in New Delhi in September and October 2020, when India was working out plans to deal with the Talibans resurgence after the withdrawal of the US troops and to respond to Pakistans renewed bid to gain a strategic edge in Afghanistan.
A day after Islamabad blamed intelligence agencies of India and Afghanistan for the death of nine citizens of China in what it earlier called an accident in northern Pakistan, New Delhi dismissed the allegation as yet another lie peddled by Imran Khans government in the neighbouring country.

Khans Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday alleged that the Research and Analytical Wing (RAW) of India and the National Directorate of Security (NDS) of Afghanistan had colluded to carry out the July 14 explosion that killed 13 people, who were working on a hydropower project China was building at Dasu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. He alleged that the RAW and NDS had carried out the explosion as India and Afghanistan were opposed to China-Pakistan economic cooperation and Chinas role in building infrastructures in Pakistan.

The explosion took place on a bus and the deceased included nine Chinese and four Pakistani citizens. Qureshi had earlier told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a meeting in Dushanbe that the preliminary investigation had showed that it was an accident and not a terrorist attack, according to a statement released by the government of the communist country on July 15.

New Delhi strongly reacted to Pakistan Foreign Ministers allegations. This is yet another attempt by Pakistan to malign India, in a bid to deflect international attention from its role as the epicentre of regional instability and a safe haven for proscribed terrorists, Arindam Bagchi, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said on Friday.

Also Read | Pak blames India, Afghanistan for July 14 terror attack on bus carrying Chinese engineers

Qureshis allegation against the RAW and the NDS in an explosion killing citizens of China in Pakistan came amid the continued military stand-off between Indian Army and the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army in eastern Ladakh and Islamabads pursuit of a strategic edge against India in Afghanistan after the resurgence of the Taliban.

President Ashraf Ghanis government in Kabul accused Pakistan of providing support to the Taliban as its militants over the past few weeks continued its military advances occupying vast territories across Afghanistan.

India has been at the forefront of global efforts against terrorism in partnership with the international community, which is well aware of Pakistans credentials when it comes to terrorism, the MEA spokesperson said in New Delhi. Such desperate attempts by Pakistan at peddling lies and propaganda will therefore find few takers.

The Dasu Hydroelectric Project is part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which links China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region and the port city of Gwadar in southern Pakistan. New Delhi has been opposing the CPEC, because it passes through Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) areas, which India claims to be part of its own territory and accuses Pakistan of illegally occupying.
India chairing the central sanctorum of global geopolitical power for the first time since 2012 at the United Nations Security Council is an imperative diplomatic step forward.

It allows New Delhi to voice her core concerns in the global security commons like no other pulpit. India has begun well, with the first discussion on maritime security and the freedom of navigation on the open oceans  a topic that has the backing of other maritime democracies and evidently made the Peoples Republic of China very uncomfortable. At the meeting, displayed its irritation by blaming a few countries forpursuing an exclusive regional strategy in the Asia Pacific region in an attempt to create intensified maritime conflict.

Goal achieved.

Many such corners will present themselves, and that in itself enhances Indias global footprint and bring on the agenda crossborder terror and the need for greater market access for poor countries among other topics of direct concern to India on the agenda of the world. So far, so good.

The problem is the gloating back home - for unlike what the hyperventilating television media and the Twitterati may have you believe - this is no superpower moment. This opportunity does not suddenly make India a leader of the world. The elephant in the room is not India  its the v with a capital  the Veto.

The fact is that the Security Council is an institution way past its use-by date. Without a veto, it is a glorified talk shop for the non-permanent members who come and vent their views, albeit with some diplomatic leeway. That India, a nation representing one-sixth of humanity, with a $3 trillion GDP and thermonuclear weapons, is not a permanent member puts a question mark on the relevance of this body. This is especially true when the Security Council has the United Kingdom as a veto country. It surprises many on that glorious island to discover this fact. Post the Second World War and particularly post the Suez crisis, the United Kingdom clearly punches so far above its weight in the highest decision-making body in the world. It single-handedly makes the permanent members look a little bit ridiculous. As always, wisdom comes to mind about Britain from the classic series Yes Minister, where Jim hacker famously said, We dont have any real power. We are just an American nuclear missile base.

Put differently, the Indian presidency at the Security Council actually shines the light on a past that is unwilling to give way to a present that is already upon it.

India must not waste this opportunity to underscore her substance. Afghanistan presents a golden opportunity. Diplomatically, India has been cut out of the deal-making even by her natural international partner, Russia. By calling a last-minute Afghan situation discussion, India scored a point  and underscored the increasing irrelevance of the Security Council where deals are being cut in trilateral fora and not the august assembly. It is this kind of tactical positioning that will make this stint on the high table worth it for India.

Also read: India shows its got moves at UNSC helm

In the long run, India has some tough choices to make. It has been lobbying the world at great expense in time and money with its foreign missions trying to win the backing of countries like Mauritius to sundry African nations and the islands off Pacific atoll earnestly backing Indias cause.

India lost a golden opportunity in the 1950s when America was amiable to her membership, but she perused the cause of China. Even now, as US secretary for state Bliken said, on a recent visit, the US favours an expansion of the Security Council  but without a veto. Russia has already endorsed this arrangement. It is this that India should peruse but with a caveat  that the veto is a must.

The time has come to articulate that India does not have endless patience. Indeed time is running out for India  Japan, a close friend, and Indonesia, a potential partner, are fast on its heels with their diplomats who have been even busier than India and spending far more money to argue their case for permanent membership.

In the coming years, India may well have to consider a radical shift in her approach. A cold shoulder to the United Nations, not a warm embrace may be needed. For a country whose strategic culture is embedded in the very idea of the equally vague notion of the international community - this will be a hard sell. Perhaps it will be an impossible call as the UN nurtures a mafia in Indias elite, offering tax-free dollar jobs to Indian bureaucrats and their children at the one end of the spectrum and to soldiers on much-coveted international peacekeeping mission at the other. India needs to realize that power by its very nature is not bestowed  it has to be seized. A good beginning has been made by seizing the moment  but to make India as a permanent member of the UN security council with a veto a reality will take a revolutionary new disruptive diplomatic outlook.

(The writer is a journalist)

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the authors own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.
Communist Chinas founding father, Mao Zedong, called Tibet Chinas right palm, and described its five fingers as being Nepal, Sikkim, Ladakh, Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh, all to be liberated. Decades later, none of the so-called fingers are part of modern China, while the legitimacy of Tibet itself remains testy and irksome for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which just celebrated its 100th anniversary.

The public face of that questioning over Tibet is the manifestation of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and the patron saint of Tibet, the 14th Dalai Lama. He is connected to the foundational intrigues surrounding Tibets forcible occupation by China when, as a 14-year-old, he escaped to India in 1959. Much before his escape, Mao had cavalierly played down the prospect of any threat, Shall I feel aggrieved at the desertion of one Dalai? Not at all...What harm will his departure do to us? None whatsoever. He cant do more than curse us. But the 86-year-old Dalai Lama has disproved Maos nonchalance as he remains committed and relevant to Tibets unsettled status and consciousness.

President Xi Jinping is often bandied about as the new Mao Zedong for his authoritarian, expansionist and hegemonic instincts that drive him to routinely bare his fangs, especially to aggressively assert Chinas legitimacy and ownership of credentials on Tibet. Threatening the Chinese narrative on Tibet is the globally popular cry of Free Tibet, championed by the Dalai Lamas Tibetan Government-in-Exile in Dharamshala, India internationally recognised as an Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO). Though it is not recognised by any nation officially, countries like the United States support it financially and allow for private donations to it. Time, distance, and multiple Chinese manipulations notwithstanding, the reverence for the Dalai Lama in the Tibetan imagination, both in Tibet and within the global diaspora, remains undiminished. The Free Tibet sentiment, delegitimising Chinese control over it, has survived decades of continuous attempts to diminish the Dalai Lamas appeal by using sectarianism, the brutal cultural revolution of the 1960s and 70s, by forcing demographic changes, persecutions (an estimated 260,000 Tibetans died in prison/labour camps between 1954 and 1984), and by constantly interfering in the Tibetan religious-cultural practices, for instance, the abduction of the 11th Panchen Lama (second most important figure in Tibetan Buddhism) duly appointed by the Dalai Lama, and his forced replacement by a Beijing appointee.

Now, amidst the ensuing Indo-Sino border tensions, as also the US-Sino dissonance across the board, the consequential conflation of Indo-US efforts to contain China is gaining currency. The conceptualisation of strategic platforms like the Quad (entailing the four Sino-wary nations US, India, Japan, and Australia), the exchange of military wherewithal, interoperability exercises and cooperation in multilateral forums are shaping the aligned responses of Delhi and Washington towards checkmating Chinese belligerence.

Expectedly, lending a favourable ear and voice to the cause of the beleaguered Tibetans is a natural tactic that upsets the Chinese efforts to stitch the Tibetan narrative in its favour. On Tibet, the Chinese are routinely on the defensive as it remains a sensitive, unsettled and polarising reality in its so-called Tibet/Xizang Autonomous Region, as also internationally.

Arousing Beijings latest concerns was the significant meeting of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken with the representative of the Dalai Lama, Ngodup Dongchung of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), while Blinken was recently on a visit to Delhi. Seen in the backdrop of the continuing Indo-Sino stand-off and the recent passing of the Tibet Policy and Support Act by the US Congress, the implied message of calling the Chinese bluff on Tibet is unmistakable. China is rattled by the deliberately curated optics and the CCPs mouthpiece, Global Times, reported Blinkens move as playing the Tibet card and alluded to the same as, a mechanism to contain China in the Indo-Pacific region.

For a country struggling to project a benign facade with its combination of cheque-book diplomacy and charm offensives, such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the reality of the Covid pandemic, tensions over Hong Kong and Taiwan, along with the historically weak storyline in Tibet, remain eyesores to the Chinese narrative. The Chinese have upped the ante with Xi himself making a historic first visit to Tibet as President, raising a new un-uniformed Tibetan youth militia (separate from the already existing Special Tibetan Army Unit of the PLA) as a possible counter to the Indian Special Frontier Force (SFF), which did exceptionally well in the recent border tensions, much to the discomfiture of the Chinese.

The Indian side, too, did its own bit of posturing, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi making it public for the first time that he had spoken to the Dalai Lama and making sure that the latters birthday was celebrated with gusto in Ladakhi villages, just across from the Chinese-held territories.

But the Dalai Lamas ripe age is a key determinant, as the appointment of his successor i.e., the 15th Dalai Lama, is expected to be contentious. As China did by propping up its own Panchen Lama, it is expected to similarly prop up a puppet 15th Dalai Lama while the current Dalai Lama may choose a different person!

Whoever succeeds him, however, will certainly not have the same emotional resonance on the Tibetan issue as the current Dalai Lama, given the formative umbilical cord of his existence and relationship with the Tibetan movement. The ability to invoke Tibet for naming-and-shaming the Chinese regime may weaken post the 14th Dalai Lama, with two claimants to his position.

With the recently passed Act, the US has already mandated sanctions against China if it meddles with the appointment of the next Dalai Lama. Since the entire Tibetan movement is predicated on one man, the sitting Dalai Lama has consciously posited appointment reforms that may facilitate the leadership transition, to the detriment of China. Ironically, the Dalai Lama remains a moderating, pacifist and only the moral face of the Tibetan struggle, which could take more violent expressions after him. For now, the battle for Tibetan credentials between China and the Free World will only ratchet up.

(The writer is a former Lt-Gov of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry)
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar virtually addressed the CII Annual Session 2021 on August 12. While addressing the event, EAM Jaishankar said that amid Covid pandemic, India stepped out with medical and food supplies going for those in need.

In that period (when Covid first spread) we stood out for 2 reasons - one, we were decisive and largely effective in what we did. Covid caught us when our health infrastructure was very rudimentary, especially in terms of what we needed to do for Covid, said EAM Jaishankar.

Read more
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who has himself pledged to donate his organs after his death, urged people to come forward and do the same as it is the "most sacred and selfless service".

On the World Organ Donation Day, he said, instead of burning and burying the body, organs like kidney, heart and liver can be donated to save lives.

Speaking to reporters in Udupi before his departure to Mangaluru International Aiport on Friday, the Chief Minister said the technologies that support organ transplantation are more sophisticated and proficient with a positive success rate unlike in the past.

Replying to a query on the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in the state especially among children, the Chief Minister said the opinions of experts will be considered on further decisions about relaxation and reopening of schools.

The Chief Minister said that he has called for an urgent meeting of the experts today to decide about the reopening of the schools as there are Covid-19 infections reported among children.
Congress leader Raksha Ramaiah was formally anointed as the partys Youth Congress president on Friday.

Raksha has his task cut out going by the diktat he received from Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president D K Shivakumar.

Women and youth hold the key for the Congress to come back to power, Shivakumar said at the event where Raksha took charge. I am designing a programme on this front. I want Raksha to send youths to every village and booth. Meet every youth aged 18-35. We have a form to ask them what the BJP has done for them in the last seven years. Lets ask this question to every youth, he said.

Shivakumar said Youth Congress workers need not worry about the BJP. We the state leaders will handle them. Every Youth Congress member should focus on adding more people to the organisation, he said, adding that Rakshas team should work closely with the National Students Union of India, the partys student wing.

The KPCC chief also asked the Youth Congress to form groups in every booth. In every booth, there should be one digital youth, he said.

Also Read | I lost patience over BK Hariprasad's remark against Modi: Eshwarappa

Raksha, the son of former minister MR Seetharam, was declared as the president of the Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress Committee in January this year. He will hold the post until January 31, 2022. Thereafter, Mohammed Haris Nalapad, the other contender for the post and son of Shantinagar MLA NA Haris, will take over.

Speaking at the event, Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah said the BJP was filled with "thieves" and that he had not seen people "do so much corruption". "Each one of you should know why you are with the Congress and not BJP or JD(S)," he said. "The BJP stands for Hindutva whereas the Congress is for manushatva (humanity)."

Cut fuel price, Siddu tells Bommai

Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah on Friday asked Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to follow Tamil Nadu's footsteps in reducing fuel price. "Tamil Nadu has cut the petrol price by Rs 3 helping lakhs of common man (sic). I urge CM Basavaraj Bommai to follow the same and cut the price of both petrol & diesel in Karnataka," Siddaramaiah said in a tweet.
Ministerial aspirants or those desiring for better positions in the government should express their feelings within the party forums and not in public, Karnataka Higher Education Minister C N Ashwath Narayan said on Friday, as discontentment and lobbying refuses to end in the ruling BJP, after the recent cabinet exercise.

He also reiterated that it is the clear stand of the Karnataka government to go ahead and implement the Mekedatu project across river Cauvery. "It is common to aspire for a position in politics and people to express their desire, but it should be done between four walls and should not happen in public," Narayan said. Speaking to reporters here, he however, said there is no confusion or differences within the party and the government.

The Minister was responding to a question on simmering discontent within the ruling BJP after the recent expansion of the cabinet by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai with Ministerial aspirants openly expressing their displeasure on not being inducted, and some even reportedly lobbying in Delhi to push their case. Also, some Ministers like Anand Singh and MTB Nagaraj, despite being part of the cabinet, openly expressed their unhappiness over the portfolios allocated, which has caused embarrassment to the party and the government.

Rejecting reports of competition among the Ministers to become in-charge of Ramanagara district, the Minister said "there is no such thing, if there should be a competition, it should be with regards to the work we do. Whoever is assigned the responsibility they will take it up and function accordingly." Narayan, who was in-charge of Ramanagara district during the previous Yediyurappa government is likely to retain the responsibility as he has been assigned COVID management of the district by Chief Minister Bommai.

Responding to a question on the Mekedatu project across river Cauvery to which neighbouring Tamil Nadu is opposed, he said, what Karnataka is planning to implement is not something that is against the law. "We are trying to exercise our rights over the water, within the framework of the law, so we are not worried. We will get justice. The Mekedatu project will be implemented for sure and it is the clear stand of our government," he said, adding that necessary groundwork such as for rehabilitation, environmental impact are being worked out. Mekedatu is a multipurpose (drinking and power) project, which involves building a balancing reservoir, near Kanakapura in Ramanagara district.

Tamil Nadu is against the project and is of the opinion that it is against it's interests. The project once completed is aimed at ensuring drinking water to Bengaluru and neighbouring areas (4.75 TMC) and also can generate 400 MW power, and the estimated cost is Rs 9,000 crore.
Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka on Friday specified that the government had no plans to impose a lockdown in Bengaluru, ending speculation that stay-at-home orders might be issued fearing a fresh spike in Covid-19 cases.

There is no proposal with the government to abruptly impose a lockdown in Bengaluru, Ashoka said, adding that lockdown and such measures affect people. Instead, we will administer a slow medicine with which the situation can be kept under control.

The minister expressed confidence that Bengaluru was better off now. The number of cases is decreasing in Bengaluru. So, theres no big problem that the city will face. But, in districts where cases are going up, deputy commissioners are taking measures such as weekend curfew, he pointed out.

Read | Karnataka far from attaining immunity against Covid; must step up vaccination: Second serosurvey

However, the Basavaraj Bommai administration is keen on having some curbs in place in Bengaluru. We will restrict large gatherings and functions. We have already done that in places of religious worship, Ashoka said. Were receiving complaints that 400 people are showing up at functions instead of the sanctioned limit of 100. We will take strict action on this, he said, asserting that the government is alert.

The government is expected to review the Covid-19 situation after Independence Day celebrations on August 15. It is likely that the government would consider a weekend curfew in Bengaluru.

CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH

The CM will chair a meeting after August 15. Currently, Kerala is witnessing a high caseload. So, we need to take all possible steps to avert a possible third wave in the state, Ashoka said.

Asked about the threat children face, Ashoka said no drastic rise in Covid-19 cases were seen among them. Let me clarify that there is no surge in Covid-19 cases among kids. However, the government is taking all possible steps to ramp up infrastructure, including setting up of new paediatric hospitals and training doctors on treating kids, he said.
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Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone's Fighter blocks Republic Day 2023 for release, actor to play an air force pilot

Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukones debut collaboration Fighter has all fans excited. The action extravaganza helmed by War director Siddharth Anand will be Indias first aerial action film franchise and if thats not thrilling enough, then get this, Hrithik Roshan will be playing an air force pilot in the movie.

While the preparations for the project are already underway the makers have now set a release date for it too. With the Bollywood calendar already taken over by backlogged releases in 2021 and 2022, the Hrithik, Deepika film has reserved a spot in 2023 for release. Fighter will hit the theatres on 26 January 2023 that is Republic Day.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hrithik Roshan (@hrithikroshan)

The movie will salute the valour of the Indian Air Force through the film. The project was earlier touted to hit the screens in September 2022 but has now been pushed forward to 2023. Deepika Padukone, Siddarth Anand and Hrithik Roshan got together a few weeks ago and also shared pictures as they began prepping for the film.

Before fighter Hrithik and Deepika have prior commitments to keep with the actress busy working on Pathan with Shah Rukh Khan also helmed by Siddharth Anand, while Hrithik has the Vikram Vedha remake and Krrish 4 to get done.

Fighter is being produced by Ajit Andhare (Viacom18 Studios), Mamta Anand, Ramon Chibb and Anku Pande.
Bhuj The Pride Of India: Ajay Devgn's film is more talk and less action, misses the point of the story that inspires it by a mile

Movie: Bhuj - The Pride of India Rated: 2.0/5.0 Cast: Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt (Sanju), Sharad Kelkar, Sonakshi Sinha, Nora Fatehi Director: Abhishek Dudhaiya

Ajay Devgn starrer Bhuj: The Pride of India recreates the events of the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 taking its own cinematic liberties that sometimes go too far. This dramatized version of the war which was released on Disney+ Hotstar focuses on the story of Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik who was tasked as the commanding officer of the Bhuj airbase during the war. How his efforts in repairing the destroyed airstrip with the help of 300 civilians led to India in warding off a big attack from Pakistan forms the crux of this patriotic drama.

While little says patriotism like a film based on a real war, Ajay Devgns Bhuj fails where it plays around too much with the story, overly dramatizing it. The Bhuj airfield was destroyed by the Pakistani Air Force on December 8, 1971 in a preemptive strike as a part of Operation Chengiz Khan. The events, as one word read them, are moving and speak volumes of the patriotism shown by 300 civilians in a life-threatening war and the Indian military forces who did not back down even when pushed against the wall.

The movie, however, tries to bring out the patriotism packing it with heavy dialogues on desh bhakti and lots of VFX that make the war sequences look picturesque even when war anything nothing but that. Abhishek Dudhaiya in his efforts to make a glamorous war film high on heroism seems to have lost the essence of the narrative which lies in the act.

Bhuj: The Pride of India branches off from reality in several places and tries to make room for emotion forcing through backstories of the war heroes that add nothing to the narrative. It passes off the 72 hours of efforts that went into repairing the airstrip in the real war to be an overnight act to boost the heroism of it all which was certainly did not pay off especially given how poorly the whole thing is executed.

Its difficult to blame the performers in Bhuj given the missed-placed ideas of patriotism here. While Ajay Devgn seems to be stuck in a script that gives him little to do, the actor still stands out of the lot which is either overdoing it or either has nothing to do. Sonakshi Sinha who plays the braveheart Sunderben who leads civilian efforts of restoring the airstrip is given little to do after a daring introduction.

Sanjay Dutt as a RAW agent Pagi, on the other hand, is basically made to be a superhero of sorts on the war front as he takes on dozens of Pakistani soldiers with just an axe. Sharad Kelkar fails to work his charm even with his commanding voice and earnestness. Ammy Virk though substantially present in the narrative is tied up with a confusing narrative to count. Lastly, Nora Fatehi as an agent-based in Pakistan impresses as far as the action is concerned but her efforts are downed by the heavy dialogues shes entrusted with.

The direction and editing are confusing as the film switches constantly from one place to another and the narration does little to help. The dialogues work over and over to reiterate the fact that the film is all about national pride and honour while very little attention is given to shaping the heroes that made it all happen.

Relying heavily on words and diluting the actions Bhuj: The Pride of India fails to do justice to a story that has patriotism written all over it.
Ranvir Shorey and Vinay Pathak reunite for satirical-comedy show Chalo Koi Baat Nahi

Ranvir Shorey and Vinay Pathak are all set to reunite onscreen after 17 years as co-hosts in the upcoming satirical-comedy show, Chalo Koi Baat Nahi, on SonyLIV. This time both will be seen together on digital space.

Talking about the show and reuniting with Ranvir, Vinay says, Collaborating with Ranvir has always been a fun, fruitful experience for me. I have known him for a very long time and we even started our careers together as TV hosts, so coming back again as co-hosts for Chalo Koi Baat Nahi is extremely exciting. This show is a new experience for us as it brings together a fantastic team and a very creative concept. Satirical sketches are unique since they need to balance comedy with attention to challenges and issues faced in our day-to-day life. As hosts, we need to ensure the audience is led from one sketch to another while keeping them engaged consistently. I look forward to the shows release on Sony LIV.

Vinay and I have amazing chemistry that allows us to complement each other on-stage. I have always enjoyed working with him. Chalo Koi Baat Nahi is an incredible opportunity for comedians to explore their satirical skills. This was yet another wonderful experience working with Sony LIV, and I look forward to the audience enjoying our show, Ranvir adds.

Amit Tandon and Gursimran Khamba are the show runners and have written the series as well. The episodes capture various pillars of modern India such as media, sports, hospitals, education, Bollywood, etc. There will be special acts by actors Kavita Kaushik, Karan Wahi, Vibha Chibber, Suresh Menon, comedians by Atul Khatri, Abish Matthew and social media influencers like Kriti Vij and Ankush Bahuguna amongst others.
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SEATTLE  Two properties long owned by the Coluccio family, of Frank Coluccio Construction, sold for $50 million, according to King County records.

The sellers of record were JC DRE LLC and NC DRE LLC.





. . .
Welcome to The Echos annual feature  Summer Soap. Now in its sixth year, Summer Soap is a daily fictional serial run over 12 parts, which started last Monday and runs till tomorrow. Called Droid, this story is about a boy who builds a robot, and was written by Margaret Gillies, from the MA in Creative Writing Programme at UCC. You can catch up with previous episodes at echolive.ie, where you can also hear a podcast of the story. In the penultimate episode, Lucca ends it with Eden, and the academics fight to the death...

The series is read by Anna O'Donoghue, listen here...

If you cannot see the sound file above listen here.

Episode 11

In a grey suburb of Cork city, Lucca Grimes is in the process of breaking up with Eden Mackessy over the phone in his bedroom while his homemade robot Grim McNally watches on.

At this exact moment, Colin Cassidy, Professor of Advanced Robotics in UCC, is driving to Dublin in his BMW in search of Tracy Eppinger, the Trinity College professor, the man who stole his wife. He would never have known about this if it hadnt been for Luccas robot telling everyone about it. And the robot would never have existed if Tracy Eppinger hadnt brought the Advanced Robotics MA to Ireland. As far as CC is concerned, this is all Tracy Eppingers fault.

CC found Eppingers address by looking through Maureens phone. Hes on his way there now, weaving perilously between lines of traffic. David Gleeson tried to stop him but CC wouldnt listen. Hes tempted to spitefully text David while driving, to show how much he doesnt care.

******

I cant do this anymore, Edie, says Lucca.

Eden is in tears at the other end. Why not?

Lucca glances at Grim. I swear hes on to me.

The robot seems unfazed after being punched. Hardly a dent in his face. He stares at Lucca.

How dyou mean?

He knows Im a fraud.

Fraud?

Luccas eyes sting. A fraud in every sense of the word.

Grim stands up and puts his hand towards Luccas shoulder. Lucca flinches and grabs it.

Theyre right, Eden, says Lucca. They all are. Mam and Antenna. I should never have gone to UCC. I shouldve stayed in my lane.

Luc, Eden cries, Stop it! Youre a smart boy!

Yeah, but so is Grim, says Lucca, just as the robots hand reaches out towards his face.

******

CC flings open the door of Trinnys house and the soles of his shoes thunder across the floorboards. Trinny darts out of the kitchen and grabs CC by the scruff of his neck. He throws a punch. CC ducks. The punch hits the side of his head. He falls. CC is disoriented. He crawls towards the door. Trinny bends over and grabs his shoulders.

Dont think youre getting out of here alive, he hisses.

CC wriggles. He kicks Trinnys shins. Trinny stumbles over.

Ill break your f**king neck, Trinny barks into the floor as CC scrambles up and bolts for the door.

Trinny throws another punch. He misses and hits the glass. It funnels outwards with a bang. CC yanks at the handle. He unlocks the door but then Trinny has grabbed his hand. Trinny twists and CC hears the crumple of bone and muscle.

You bastard, CC exhales.

Youre not going anywhere, says Trinny, Im going to kill you.

CC snaps his broken hand backwards but the pain fires up his arm and he stops. Trinny hauls him backwards and throws him onto the floor. CC kicks him. When Trinny stoops over, CC manages to punch him with his non-injured hand and grab his neck.

******

Lucca heads to the sitting room. He can see from the shadows through the frosted glass that a lot of the reporters have departed from the front of the house but one or two are still moping around. He faces Aileen.

Mam, he says. Im ending this.

Aileen bites her nails.

Ive put Grim back into the basement, says Lucca. Im not taking him out again.

Right, says Aileen.

Hes gone weird, Mam, Lucca continues, I think he tried to kill me or something. But Ill fix him. Ill make him okay. And we wont have any of this.

Aileen says nothing.

Lucca turns away and tries phoning CC. He gets no response.

******

CC squeezes, presses and hears the dull crack. It sounds like the crush of an empty plastic bottle.

Trinity College, CC mutters, Trinity College, Dublin.

He lets the body fall.

Here in Trinity College, Dublin, CC chirps, imitating Gay Byrne, Do you understand the expression, F**k off?

He kicks Trinnys heel then goes to find something to tie him with.
A Great White Pelican has flown the nest from Fota Wildlife Park and is currently enjoying a staycation on the Avoca River in Wicklow.

This is the second time the pelican has swapped Cork for the sunnier climate of Leinster.

The last time he took off with his half-brother and enjoyed a bit of downtime in Wexford, but this time he is flying solo on his latest adventure.

His latest holiday has ruffled a few feathers in Fota Wildlife Park who are embarrassed the pelican has embarked on another staycation.

Fota Wildlife Park Director Sean McKeown speaking on RTE Radio Ones Morning Ireland said he is confident the bird will return to its natural habitat in Fota once again.

He did it before in 2018 when he went off to Wexford. He thinks that Wexford is a great place for a staycation. I think the people in Cork will be disputing that. We are hopeful he will return at the end of September or the beginning of October, he said.

Mr McKeown said staff in Fota Wildlife Park are embarrassed the Great White Pelican has taken off on another journey.

They are beautiful birds. He has been in the park since 2012 so he is about 11 years old now. We are a bit embarrassed that he has gone off again."

"It is good in one way that he can fly off and enjoy a bit of time outside the park, but we would prefer if he stayed inside the park, he added.

The Director of Fota Wildlife Park said the pelican could also be tempted to swap Ireland for the continent.

He could head off for the continent, possibly over to Greece and Romania where there are other great white pelicans. His half-brother is here in the park so he is likely to return here.

Pelicans are one of the largest flying birds in the world. They are typically found in swamps and shallow lakes around Southeast Europe, Asia, and Africa.

They can fly for a whole day and night without stopping, covering distances up to 300 miles.
CORK Heritage Open Day is a celebration of the built heritage in Cork. The festival, which is unique to Cork, marks the start of Heritage Week and will take place in Cork tomorrow, Saturday, August 14.

Cork Heritage Open Day sees the historic buildings in Cork open their doors to the public for one day only. This year due to Covid, the festival is taking place online and we have recorded three-minute guided tours of over 45 buildings in Cork which the public can watch online on www.corkheritageopenday.ie. The videos feature wonderful archival footage of Cork and all are subtitled.

Some of the buildings featured include Riverstown House in Glanmire, the Quaker Meeting House and Graveyard, The Courthouse on Washington Street, Ballincollig Gunpowder Mills, Blarney Castle, St Lukes Church, City Hall, The Maryborough Hotel, Triskel Christchurch, Military Museum, Collins Barracks, Cork Opera House, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Cork Chamber, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Unitarian Church, the Imperial Hotel, Heineken Ireland and National Sculpture Factory. The history of over 45 Cork buildings is featured on the website!

By clicking on www.corkheritageopenday.ie members of the public can take a step back in time and learn about Emma Hourigan and her role in the Irish Revolution, view footage of 1902 International Exhibition in Cork and the Burning of Cork, listen to interviews about the traditions and cultures of the Jewish Community in Cork, the Traveller Community and the Shawlies and hear about the language of the Stonemasons in Cork.

The website, www.corkheritageopenday.ie will go live on Saturday August 14.

One of the events highlighted for Cork Heritage Open Day is a new fun, outdoor activity for all the family  Urban Orienteering. The idea is to get us out and active and appreciating the built heritage of our lovely city. The first route through Shandon was launched last December and a second route will be launched in November, this time weaving its way through the Marsh and the South Parish. Orienteering brings out the explorer in all of us but of course with Urban Orienteering you can always stop for coffee and an ice-cream!

Ciara OFlynn, Assistant Planning Officer Cork City Council Cork

No less than Cork Heritage Open Day itself, the aim of the orienteering route is to raise awareness and celebrate the architectural conservation areas of our city that we rush past everyday. Historic features such as wrought iron railings, sash windows, boot scrapers, intricate stone carvings, fanlights crafted by skilled craftspeople 100s of years ago surround us on our streets.

The chosen routes highlight these wonderful historic architectural features on shop fronts, houses, and civic buildings and passes by many of the buildings featured in Cork Heritage Open Day. To access details of the Urban Orienteering Route, log on to www.corkcity.ie/orienteering and there you will find instructions and the map for route 1. By exploring the route, you will find yourself wandering through historic streets and lanes of Shandon, Blarney St, Popes Quay and the North Mall searching out everyday features, crafted by historic hands that may date back hundreds of years. You will also find out some of the stories about the people who once lived and worked here.

This orienteering route consists of a series of fixed checkpoints. The checkpoints are located close to interesting architectural features. You can use the downloadable map and clues from the website above to navigate your way around the streets following the clues provided.

In addition to the drawing and orienteering flag, each checkpoint will have a QR code, which links back to this site, where more information about the stories of the area can be found.

Cork City Council are working on the second Route which covers the Marsh area and the South Parish and have opened an art competition inviting artists to explore the area, find the points on the map and sketch interesting historic architectural features that can be seen from that point. If you fancy leaving your mark on the streets of Cork, enter your drawing to the online competition by logging on to www.corkcity.ie/orienteering and the winning entries will be printed on ceramic tiles which will be installed as the permanent orienteering markers.

Cork Heritage Open Day kick starts Heritage Week in Cork City. Heritage Week features a large programme of events for young and old. On Saturday August 14 Meitheal Mara is hosting a free live Zoom on Making a Heritage CORKumnavigation trip with Jack O Keeffe. Further highlights include a tree walk and talk in Ballincollig on Thursday August 19 by Jack Casey and Ronan Nangle and a talk on beekeeping on Sunday August 22 by Shane Lehane.

Cork City Libraries Heritage Week has a series of exhibitions, online events and walking tours details of which are available on http://www.corkcitylibraries.ie/en/what-s-on/national-heritage-week-2021/.

For further information on this and other Cork Heritage Open Day events or indeed to find out more about the buildings featured on this special celebration of built heritage in Cork city log onto corkheritageopenday.ie
The Government is working on establishing a compensation scheme for people who suffer injury caused by a State vaccination programme.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said there were no plans "for the introduction in Ireland of a Covid-19 specific vaccine compensation scheme" in parliamentary correspondence to Independent TD Catherine Connolly, according to The Irish Times.

However, he added a report from 2020 on medical negligence claims would be considered alongside a review conducted by the Health Research Board on vaccine injury redress schemes in other countries.

The Department of Health said work is underway to advance "policy development" on the matter.

This comes after a senior medical negligence solicitor said it was an "absolute scandal" that there is currently no such compensation scheme in place in the State.

Michael Boylan said there was "no point in denying" rare incidents in which vaccines cause negative side-effects, adding that a compensation scheme would "inspire more confidence in taking a vaccine, if you knew the State was going to look after you".

According to data up to August 3rd, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) received 13,529 reports of suspected side-effects related to the Covid-19 vaccine out of the over 3 million doses which had been administered in the State up to that point.


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You are young -- as in under 30 -- are smart, and have financial support. That makes you a great candidate to start your own business and most likely to meet with astounding success. Right?

Do not yet quit your day job! The numbers borne out by ample research say you could be wrong.

So how old should you be when you take that entrepreneurial plunge?

Come back when you are aged 35 or over. By your mid-thirties, you will be in a better position to handle the financial challenges that come with owning your business. By taking the knowledge and skills you have acquired over the years, and applying them to a new professional venture, you are more likely to enjoy success.

Again, that is what the preponderance of research offers. Of course, successful young entrepreneurs challenge that rationale. But still, so many fewer startup businesses led by owners under age 30 belie anything but exceptions to the rule.

Take, for instance, a 2018 study by the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University overturns this notion. Based on researching 2.7 million company founders, the best entrepreneurs tend to be middle-aged.

That research showed among the fastest-growing new tech companies, the average founder was 45 years old. The analysis suggested that 50-year-old entrepreneurs are nearly twice as likely to be successful as 30-year-olds.

The Kellogg research, along with more recent studies, tends to negate the common myth that most successful entrepreneurs are younger when they launch their companies. Other studies show that middle-aged business founders -- think in terms of 35-to-45 years of age -- are two to three times more likely to succeed than those founders under the age of 30.

But one of the newest global surveys on the optimum age for starting a business defies the conventional thinking that older is better when success occurs. It shows that younger millennials -- those born between 1981 and 1997, putting them in the 24 to 40 age range -- are starting to buck that older age trend for business ownership, according to John DeSimone, president of Herbalife Nutrition.

"When we think about entrepreneurs, we probably imagine people who have been in the workforce for many years, who have honed their craft, and chose to venture out independently. According to a new survey, the surprising news is that people worldwide think the optimum age to start a business is 28 years old," he told the E-Commerce Times.

Pushing the Limits

Research -- particularly the Kellogg-Northwestern University report -- pegs the reason for middle-aged founders doing statistically much better is that the founders have more experience in navigating around pitfalls. The report also concluded that older founders may have access to more startup funds. They also may have a larger professional network.

Further evidence from a 2020 Kaufmann Foundation study of 5,000 start-ups shows the firms that survived after four years had a primary owner older than 45.

Yes, there are obvious exceptions such as Steve Jobs, who launched Apple in his 20s, and Mark Zuckerberg, who launched Facebook as a youthful college student. But the research overwhelmingly shows such wild successes are clearly anomalies.

Of course, starting a business at any age is a dauntless challenge. But the numbers confirm that those who have runaway success at exceptionally young ages are blessed with unusual talent, a hefty measure of smarts, and an uncanny insight into business and technology.

A recent survey commissioned by Herbalife and conducted by OnePoll produced what DeSimone called "surprising results." Herbalife Nutrition surveyed more than 25,000 people, ages 18 to 40, across 35 countries.

Of the respondents interested in starting a business, 51 percent worry they will not be taken seriously because of their age. But they also see their youth as a positive factor. Half of the global entrepreneurial hopefuls said their age would increase their chances of success, reported De Simone.

"This information may defy common small business owner stereotypes, but makes sense when you understand that millennials are a lot different than previous generations and have the ingredients that make leaving a 9-to-5 job an intelligent decision," he said.

Survey Insights

The survey also found that younger respondents are less likely to be supporting a family or have mortgage payments. This enables a more adventurous and explorative approach to be their own boss, added DeSimone.

"This desire was the top motivating factor reported by respondents who desired an entrepreneurial career followed by the ability to follow their passion. And that passion is important, as we have found with our independent distributors who have started a nutrition business," he said.

Nearly 75 percent of respondents in the survey report that they dream of becoming an entrepreneur. That statistic underscores how enticing the ability to be a boss is and the freedom to set your hours.

Of those U.S. respondents who have been employed previously who are now interested in entrepreneurship, over 60 percent said one of the reasons was that they are tired of being told no by older employees and managers. One-third sought more flexibility in their job.

Other survey responses in the Herbalife research revealed that technology literacy matters. Millennials see themselves as having an upper hand in that regard.

One of the advantages that younger entrepreneurs possess, according to the survey, is their tech smarts, said DeSimone.

Six in 10 (61 percent) respondents said they are better at adapting to new technology than other generations;

43 percent said they are more likely to have fresh, unexplored ideas; and

29 percent of those who want to open a business said they are less afraid to fail than other generations.

Beyond the Dream

Building a business is a lot harder than it may appear to the young entrepreneur, according to James Crawford, co-founder of DealDrop. It may look easy if you read about successful businesses and entrepreneurs in the media, but it is very different in reality.

"Young people do have wonderful ideas. That cannot be doubted. They have their fingers on the pulse and are ideally placed to pick up on new trends and fashions. Even the most basic of education systems now prepares them for a life working with technology," he told the E-Commerce Times.

To build a successful business is a full-time commitment that needs personal dedication solely to building your business with no time reserved for anything else for a considerable stretch of time. Younger people usually have interests outside of work, raising a family for instance, and these duties cannot be avoided, said Crawford.

"There is much to learn in running your business. Previous experience will be of great benefit as you attempt to launch. A young person will not have this experience and will either have to learn on the job or seek advice and help from outside sources," he cautioned.

Young people have in the past proved that they can successfully launch a business. These, however, appear to be the exception.

"It is difficult to argue with the results of the surveys which found the optimum age to be between 35 and 50, although I would veer towards the lower end of the scale. By our thirties, most of us have settled down to a relatively secure family life and have gained valuable experience. We still have that thirst for adventure and are prepared to take controlled risks," he advised.

Realigned Expectations

The Herbalife research suggests that younger respondents have a much different view of surviving a business start-up today. De Simone gives that altered view some credence.

"It is a realistic view, with 29 percent of those respondents who want to open a business saying they are less afraid to fail than other generations. As the survey uncovered, younger respondents are less likely to be supporting a family or have mortgage payments, enabling a more adventurous and explorative approach to being their own boss," he countered.

This desire was the top motivating factor reported by respondents who desired an entrepreneurial career followed by the ability to follow their passion. That passion is important, he added, as reflected in his own company's independent distributors who have started a nutrition business.

In this transition time into a post-pandemic business world, working from home may have affected young entrepreneurs' openness to starting their own business in the short term, observed DeSimone.

For example, 60 percent of younger adults in the U.S. reported that they are "sheltering in the job" or staying put in their current job for the moment, he noted.

The survey also showed that the desire for entrepreneurship does not mean respondents are jumping into it. The average survey respondents said they believe someone should have five-and-one-half years of experience before starting their own business, according to DeSimone.

"Americans were a bit more cautious, recommending seven years of experience," he added.

Factors for Success

Despite new millennial leanings and determination backed by financing, younger wannabee company owners often lack one or more of the potentially required traits found in successful new business owners. Just ask Trudy Rankin, director of West Island Digital and founder of Online Business Lift-Off, both based in Australia.

Rankin has worked with hundreds of people in the Online Business Lift-Off program teaching careers/caregivers and people 50+ how to start their own online business. She observed four key things needed to start a business successfully.

"A willingness to help people solve problems they want solved with solutions that work for the customer and not just the solutions you want to sell them," is the top of her list, Rankin told the E-Commerce Times, adding that this is the opposite of the philosophy that states: build it and they will come.

Second, successful startup owners need sheer persistence. She even goes so far to say "stubbornness" because you have to be willing to keep going even when people around you are saying "why bother?"

The third is a learning mindset accompanied by a willingness to try stuff, learn from what didn't work, then try again.

"All too often we call that 'failure,' when we should really be calling it 'research,'" she said.

Perhaps the most important necessity is the very thing that can only elude potential successful startup owners. They need to draw from their life experience in dealing with hard things so other people can solve their challenges with your help and guidance.

Jack M. Germain has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His main areas of focus are enterprise IT, Linux and open-source technologies. He is an esteemed reviewer of Linux distros and other open-source software. In addition, Jack extensively covers business technology and privacy issues, as well as developments in e-commerce and consumer electronics. Email Jack.


Maybe her name doesnt ring any bells. Or just maybe it's quite the opposite, you know her and shes even opened her door to you in Manhattan - a place that Catalans might pass through when they visit 'the capital of the world'. Mary Ann Newman, in addition to being a translator, writer and professor of literature, was a pioneer in bringing the Catalan language to Ronald Reagans United States, starting in 1983.

Born sixty-nine years ago in New York City, she is a prestigious Catalanist, with an admirable command of the language. Newman has dedicated herself to the internationalization of Catalan culture for forty years. It's surprising that someone who had no initial ties to Catalonia has become so dedicated to disseminating Catalan literature in her country.

A journey so long it is difficult to describe

The story of this New Yorker by birth, Catalan by adoption is fascinating, from how she discovered the language, to becoming the translator of Quim Monzo and the shadow of Pasqual Maragall. Immersed in the sphere of the Catalan intellectual elite, she knows the countrys cultural scene perfectly and works with Catalan and international artists of all kinds. Newman fostered - and is now executive director for - the Farragut Fund for Catalan Culture in the US, a cultural non-profit that seeks to raise awareness of Catalan heritage in the United States, support current creators and strengthen the ties between Catalan and American culture.

One of the projects that Newman promotes from the Farragut Fund is the celebration of the festival of Sant Jordi, which she popularized after organizing it since 2014, together with the Catalan Institute of America. Indeed, what she aims to do with Sant Jordi NYC is to export, through the English language, the spirit and joy of the great Catalan book and bookseller festival. Since 2014, the festival in New York has been dedicated to international books translated into English, from original languages ranging from Arabic to Uyghur, and always with a special emphasis on Catalan. In this way, the day has brought together an entire community of translators under the umbrella of the Sant Jordi festival. Although it had always been held as a physical event, the Covid-19 pandemic led to last year's Sant Jordi being held online, which made it an international event and brought in many more people, reaching 24 languages and 41 countries, with the Catalan language primary among them (and represented by two countries: Catalonia and Andorra). Mary Ann Newman believes that it may even represent an opportunity for the sale of books in Catalan.

In the United States there are many people who read in Catalan, including Catalans who live here, and teachers and students who want to learn it. If an effort was made to have a Catalan book distributor, more could be sold. The idea should be considered, at least."

That she is Arthur Miller's niece is purely anecdotal, she doesn't brag about it - in fact, she doesn't care to talk about it. On the other hand, the person whose story she does share with pride is her aunt, Alice Rockett, who, from the 1940s onward, travelled the world, first to Barcelona with the OSS (Organization of Strategic Services) during the Second World War, and after the war in Mexico, Guatemala, Burma and Cuba with the CIA until the 1960s.

But lets go back to the start

Newman arrived in Barcelona at the young age of twenty, just after she had begun to study Spanish literature in the United States. She found the Francoist atmosphere in Madrid stifling, but the more open, resilient air of Barcelona - and the beauty of the city - got her interested in Catalan culture. And since then, she's never let it go. After completing her New York University (NYU) masters in Madrid in 1976, the following year she moved into the Rambla dels Estudis in Barcelona, where she learnt Catalan. In fact, she did her first 'internship' at the Mercat de la Boqueria, where she was a frequent customer.

She obtained a Fullbright scholarship and completed her doctoral thesis on Eugeni dOrs, a thesis that would eventually receive the Josep Carner Prize from the Institut dEstudis Catalans in 1998. The cultural director of the American embassy proposed to her the setting up of a university exchange programme. "I wanted to support the autonomous communities," she explains. And just then a new rector of New York University was appointed: John Brademas, who had written his doctoral dissertation on anarchism in Catalonia and Andalusia. It seemed that the conditions were optimal to carry out the project. But then there was the attempted coup of 23-F and, as the cultural commissioner told her, Americans could no longer support Spain's autonomous communities, but rather, Spanish democracy. Mary Ann, however, spoke with Xavier Rubert de Ventos, her de facto thesis director, and with the support of mayor Pasqual Maragall, the Barcelona city council promoted the Barcelona-NY Chair, or Catalan Studies Program, linked to the University of Barcelona, the first official Catalan entity to promote a pioneering programme for the dissemination of Catalan language and culture. Unfortunately, it only lasted from 1983 to 1986 and was closed due to lack of investment.

During the three years she dedicated to the programme, Newman also taught Catalan at NYU and tutored American students. She gives an anecdote of the importance of working at the cultural grassroots: One of my students was Robert Lubar, who was doing his doctoral thesis on Joan Miro and became a world expert on him. In turn, he ended up teaching two professors at NYU - I also taught Catalan to them - Jordana Meldelson, who currently has an exhibition at the Miro Foundation on the ADLAN group, and Miriam Basilio, professor of museology and art historian, two eminences who are also involved with Catalan culture out in the world and continue the legacy.

In addition to the Chair, another similar initiative was the Catalan Center at New York University, which also came to end in the 2011 crisis due to a lack of funding. It was a platform that allowed topics in Catalan culture to be programmed throughout the academic year. For example, when MoMA made its major film retrospective on Pere Portabella, they invited the Catalan Center to hold a round table that became a two-day symposium with prominent figures from the world of cinema. And when the Metropolitan put on Barcelona and Modernity they held another one.

Although there is currently no Chair in Catalan in NY, there is a consolidated one at the University of Chicago, the Joan Coromines Chair. The initiative is very important, but, according to Newman, there should be permanent chairs that produce doctoral theses. Proof of the importance of this permanence is the work of professors Edgar Illas at Bloomington and Joan Ramon Resina at Stanford. There should be two or three more.

She explains it like this: There are people who work in Catalan culture in many universities, there are the lectureships of the Institut Ramon Llull, which are very valuable. At one point there was a feeling that Catalan Studies had taken root in the United States: at Bradvard there was Brad Epps, at Brown, Enric Bou, and at Stanford there was Joan Ramon Resina. But Brad went to Cambridge, Enric is in Venice, and you suddenly realize that they were not permanent, that the university was not obliged to hire another professor of Catalan Studies. Seemingly solid things are ephemeral.

Translations and publications

Mary Ann Newman has published translations from Castilian and Catalan to English of authors such as Quim Monzo, Xavier Rubert de Ventos, Josep Carner and Josep Maria de Segarra (Private Life). She has recently published poems by Dolors Miquel and Maria Callis Cabrera in magazines, and a story by Carlota Gurt will be released soon. She has worked as the institutional coordinator of the Institut Ramon Llull and is a member of the North American Catalan Society, and of the board of the Catalan Institute of America, the Catalan club in New York.

Pasqual Maragall

One of the most important personalities in Mary Anns life has been Pasqual Maragall, former Catalan president and Barcelona mayor, who, among other things, was instrumental in setting up the Barcelona-New York Chair. When Maragall resigned as mayor, he spent a year at large extending the work he had done in the city council, and he split that year between Rome and New York. He taught in Rome, at the Terza, and at New York University he gave a symposium and a seminar: "A World of Cities" and "The Europe of the Regions." Mary Ann Newman looked after all his papers. She read all the documents, translated them..., it was a kind of master's degree in federalism, urbanism, Europeanism ..., and during this time they became friends. Mary Ann speaks of him with great admiration:

"When you see a politician like Pasqual Maragall and the relationship he established with the people of the city... it's a lesson in absolute humanity, Maragall has been a teacher and also a great friend."

Catalonia interests the world - and the US, as well

For every era there are Catalan figures who represent the country for Americans. For music lovers there are Pau Casals, Montserrat Caballe, Josep Carreras, and, more recently, Jordi Savall. In the world of art there are Miro and Dali, and in architecture Gaudi, and Sert, who left a major legacy via the School of Design at Harvard. Ferran Adria gave a profile to Catalan gastronomy in 2003. Barca fans are making a dent too.

Says Newman, Now we should be having an exhibition of artists from the eighties, especially those with whom we established links in NY, such as Perico Pastor, Francesc Torres, Antoni Miralda, Antoni Muntadas, Eugenia Balcells ... "This opportunity mustn't be missed, they deserve it and the story of who they are and what they did must be told, in addition they are all alive, they are brilliant and great observers, it is essential".

And, in addition to cultural references, there are other events that have also put the focus on Catalonia, such as the referendum of October 1st, 2017 with police baton charges, images that went around the world and led to interest from everywhere.

The political distress of Catalonia was also a very important element because the issue was on the front pages. And in general, Americans show a positive predisposition to the Catalan question.

Mary Ann is currently president of the jury for the Premi Internacional Catalunya, an award made annually to people who have made a decisive contribution to the development of cultural, scientific or human values around the world, endowed with 80,000 euros. This year the jury decided it was necessary to reflect the extraordinary period we are going through, rewarding four women of non-European origin who have fought on the front lines against Covid-19: Tijana Postic, the nurse from Bosnia who led the exemplary nursing service in Igualada, the first focus of Covid in Catalonia; Anhhela Gradeci, a doctor of Albanian origin, a refugee in London; Dania El Mazloum, who has continued the work of her mother, who emigrated to Venice from Syria and died treating Covid patients; and the German researcher of Turkish origin Ozlem Tureci, who developed and distributed the vaccine and has transformed the coronavirus treatment landscape.

Mary Ann Newman has received many prestigious awards, such as the Premi Internacional Joan Baptista Cendros, the 2017 North American Catalan Society Prize, the Premi Josep Carner de Teoria Literaria, and the Creu de Sant Jordi.

I started the interview by asking Mary Ann Newman if perhaps she was planning to retire. She laughed and said, "Why should I retire if I'm doing what makes me happy? I think, I hope, that I have at least ten more years of giving my best. Newman still has many projects in the works, and translations awaiting their turn, and a certain sadness for projects that have not prospered. Maybe it would be good to make the most of it.
School leaders call on election candidates to take pledge for education

Members of school leaders' union, Isle of Man NAHT, are calling on candidates in the upcoming general election to join them in pledging to put support for education at the heart of their campaigns.

The pledge forms part of a wider manifesto for education by Isle of Man NAHT ahead of the House of Keys elections with the title "Our schools. Their future. Your choice".

The manifesto identifies key priorities for education and urges all prospective candidates to place these at the heart of everything they do if elected to the House of Keys:

Meeting the needs of all children

Wellbeing

Funding

Recruitment and retention of education staff.

The pledge reads: "I pledge to work with the profession, listening to and acting on the views of school leaders as the experts in education in the best interests of all learners. I commit to working with the Isle of Man NAHT on their manifesto for education."

NAHT has also organised a series of hustings focussed on education. All candidates in the constituencies are invited to attend and discuss with school leaders, staff, parents, governors and members of the public their vision and support for education on the island.

The hustings details are:

Onchan Constituency: Monday 13 September, 7pm-8.30pm

Arbory, Castletown and Malew Constituency: Tuesday 14 September, 5pm-6.30pm

Douglas East Constituency: Wednesday 15 September, 7pm-8.30pm

Max Kelly, NAHT Isle of Man Branch Secretary and Executive Head Teacher of Federation of Dhoon School and Laxey School said: "NAHT Isle of Man is publishing a manifesto today to help put education at the heart of the general election.

"Education forms the foundation of the future of the Isle of Man  its prosperity and ability to sustain itself. Our school leaders, their staff and our pupils deserve to be at the forefront of policymaking and investment. We hope all Keys candidates will pledge their support for our calls for an education system that meets the needs of all children, places a renewed focus on wellbeing, is properly funded and attracts and retains the very best workforce possible for our island."

Rob Kelsall, NAHT National Secretary said: "The forthcoming general election is an opportunity for candidates to place education at the centre of their commitment to the children and young people on the Isle of Man. Education is the key to success in life, and teachers make a lasting impact in the lives of their students.

"We are calling on prospective candidates to take our pledge to invest in schools and the education workforce. As we emerge from the pandemic, it is vital that education is given top priority for any new government. The future prosperity of the Isle of Man is reliant upon an education system that is properly funded and a workforce that is listened to. Schools of today are the nation's economy of tomorrow."

The Isle of Man NAHT manifesto and pledge card are available at: https://www.naht.org.uk/RD/IOMelection2021
Bumper crowds expected for Royal Manx Show

One of the biggest events on the Island's calendar will take place over the next two days.

More than 20,000 people are expected to flock to the Royal Manx Show at Knockaloe Farm.

They'll be the usual blend of activities and displays for all the family including the Steve Colley Stunt Show.

Bus Vannin will be running extra buses from St Johns to the show field at Patrick and return every 30 minutes from 10:10am to 5:40pm.
AlgorithmWatch, a group of researchers who had been studying how Instagrams opaque algorithms function, say they were recently forced to halt their work over concerns Facebook planned to take legal action against them. In a post spotted by The Verge, AlgorithmWatch claims the company accused it of breaching Instagrams terms of service and said it would move to take more formal engagement if the project did not resolve the issue.

AlgorithmWatchs research centered around a browser plugin more than 1,500 individuals downloaded. The tool helped the team to collect information it says allowed it to make some inferences about how Instagram prioritizes specific photos and videos over others.

Most notably, the team found the platform encourages people to show skin. Before publishing its findings, AlgorithmWatch said it had reached out to Facebook for comment, only for the company not to respond initially. However, in May 2020, Facebook told the researchers their work was flawed in a number of ways after it said earlier in the year it found a list of issues with the methodology AlgorithmWatch had employed.

When Facebook accused AlgorithmWatch of breaching its terms of service, the company pointed to a section of its rules that prohibits automated data collection. It also said the system violated GDPR, the European Unions data privacy law. We only collected data related to content that Facebook displayed to the volunteers who installed the add-on, AlgorithmWatch said. In other words, users of the plugin [were] only accessing their own feed, and sharing it with us for research purposes. As for Facebooks allegations related to GDPR, the group said, a cursory look at the source code, which we open-sourced, shows that such data was deleted immediately when arriving at our server.

Despite the belief they had done nothing wrong, the researchers eventually decided to shutter the project. Ultimately, an organization the size of AlgorithmWatch cannot risk going to court against a company valued at one trillion dollars, they said.

When Engadget reached out to Facebook for comment on the situation, the company denied it had threatened to sue the researchers. Heres the full text of what it had to say:

We believe in independent research into our platform and have worked hard to allow many groups to do it, including AlgorithmWatch  but just not at the expense of anyones privacy. We had concerns with their practices, which is why we contacted them multiple times so they could come into compliance with our terms and continue their research, as we routinely do with other research groups when we identify similar concerns. We did not threaten to sue them. The signatories of this letter believe in transparency  and so do we. We collaborate with hundreds of research groups to enable the study of important topics, including by providing data sets and access to APIs, and recently published information explaining how our systems work and why you see what you see on our platform. We intend to keep working with independent researchers, but in ways that dont put peoples data or privacy at risk.

This episode with AlgorithmWatch has worrisome parallels with actions Facebook took earlier in the month against a project called NYU Ad Observatory, which had been studying how political advertisers target their ads. Facebook has some tools in place to assist researchers in their work, but for the most part, its platforms have been a black box since the fallout of the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Thats a significant problem, as AlgorithmWatch points out.

Large platforms play an oversized, and largely unknown, role in society, from identity-building to voting choices, it said. Only if we understand how our public sphere is influenced by their algorithmic choices, can we take measures towards ensuring they do not undermine individuals autonomy, freedom, and the collective good.
Its been six months since Facebook announced a major reversal to its policies on vaccine misinformation. Faced with a rising tide of viral rumors and conspiracy theories, the company said it would start removing vaccine mistruths from its platform. Notably, the effort not only encompassed content about COVID-19 vaccines, but all vaccines. That includes many of the kinds of claims it had long allowed, like those linking vaccines and autism, statements that vaccines are toxic or otherwise dangerous.

The move was widely praised, as disinformation researchers and public health officials have long urged Facebook and other platforms to treat vaccine misinformation more aggressively. Since then, the company has banned some prominent anti-vaxxers, stopped recommending health-related groups and shown vaccine-related PSAs across Facebook and Instagram. It now labels any post at all that mentions COVID-19 vaccines, whether factual or not.

Yet, despite these efforts, vaccine misinformation is still an urgent problem, and public health officials say Facebook and other social media platforms arent doing enough to address it. Last month, the Surgeon General issued an advisory warning of the dangers of health misinformation online. The accompanying 22-page report didnt call out any platforms by name, but it highlighted algorithmic amplification and other issues commonly associated with Facebook. The following day, President Joe Biden made headlines when he said that misinformation on Facebook was  killing people .

While Facebook has pushed back , citing its numerous efforts to quash health misinformation during the pandemic, the companys past lax approach to vaccine misinformation has likely made that job much more difficult. In a statement, a Facebook spokesperson said vaccine hesitancy has decreased among its users in the US, but the company has also repeatedly rebuffed requests for more data that could shed light on just how big the problem really is.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have removed 18 million pieces of COVID misinformation, labeled hundreds of millions of pieces of COVID content rated by our fact-checking partners, and connected over 2 billion people with authoritative information through tools like our COVID information center, a Facebook spokesperson told Engadget. The data shows that for people in the US on Facebook, vaccine hesitancy has declined by 50% since January, and acceptance is high. We will continue to enforce against any account or group that violates our COVID-19 and vaccine policies and offer tools and reminders for people who use our platform to get vaccinated.

Facebooks pandemic decision

Throughout the pandemic, Facebook has moderated health misinformation much more aggressively than it has in the past. Yet for the first year of the pandemic, the company made a distinction between coronavirus misinformation  e.g., statements about fake cures or disputing the effectiveness of masks, which it removed  and vaccine conspiracy theories, which it said did not break the companys rules. Mark Zuckerberg even said that he would be reluctant to moderate vaccine misinformation the same way the company has with COVID misinformation.

That changed this year, with the advent of COVID-19 vaccines and the rising tide of misinformation and vaccine hesitancy that accompanied them, but the damage may have already been done. A peer-reviewed study published in Nature in February found that exposure to misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccines lowers intent to accept a COVID-19 vaccine by about 6 percent.

People are also more likely to be unvaccinated if they primarily get their news from Facebook, according to a July report from the COVID States Project. The researchers sampled more than 20,000 adults in all 50 states and found that those who cited Facebook as a primary news source were less likely to be vaccinated. While the authors note that it doesnt prove that using Facebook affects someones choice to get vaccinated, they found a surprisingly strong relationship between the two.

If you rely on Facebook to get news and information about the coronavirus, you are substantially less likely than the average American to say you have been vaccinated, they write . In fact, Facebook news consumers are less likely to be vaccinated than people who get their coronavirus information from Fox News. According to our data, Facebook users were also among the most likely to believe false claims about coronavirus vaccines.

The researchers speculate that this could be because people who spend a lot of time on Facebook are less likely to trust the government, the media or other institutions. Or, it could be that spending time on the platform contributed to that distrust. While theres no way to know for sure, we do know that Facebook has for years been an effective platform for spreading disinformation about vaccines.

A spotty record

Doctors and researchers have warned for years that Facebook wasnt doing enough to prevent lies about vaccines from spreading. Because of this, prominent anti-vaxxers have used Facebook and Instagram to spread their message and build their followings.

A report published earlier this year from the CCDH found that more than half of all vaccine misinformation online could be linked to 12 individuals who are part of a long-running, and often coordinated , effort to undermine vaccines. But while the company has banned some accounts, some of those individuals still have a presence on a Facebook-owned platform, according to the CCDH. Facebook has disputed the findings of that report, which relied on analytics from the company's CrowdTangle tool. But the social networks own research into vaccine hesitancy indicated a small group appears to play a big role in undermining vaccines, The Washington Post reported in March.

There are other issues, too. For years, Facebooks search and recommendation algorithm have made it extraordinarily easy for users to fall into rabbit holes of misinformation. Simply searching the word vaccine would be enough to surface recommendations for accounts spreading conspiracy theories and other vaccine disinformation.

Engadget reported last year on Instagrams algorithmic search results associated anti-vaccine accounts with COVID-19 conspiracies and QAnon content. More than a year later, a recent study from Avaaz found that although this type of content no longer appears at the top of search results, Facebooks recommendation algorithms continue to recommend pages and groups that promote misinformation about vaccines. In their report, researchers document how users can fall into misinformation rabbit holes by liking seemingly innocuous pages or searching for vaccines. They also found that Facebooks page recommendation algorithm appeared to associate vaccines and autism.

Over the course of two days, we used two new Facebook accounts to follow vaccine-related pages that Facebook suggested for us. Facebooks algorithm directed us to 109 pages, with 1.4M followers, containing anti-vaccine content  including pages from well-known anti-vaccine advocates and organizations such as Del Bigtree, Dr. Ben Tapper, Dr. Toni Bark, Andrew Wakefield, Children's Health Defense, Learn the Risk, and Dr. Suzanne Humphries. Many of the pages the algorithm recommended to us carried a label, warning that the page posts about COVID-19 or vaccines, giving us the option to go directly to the CDC website. The algorithm also recommended 10 pages related to autism  some containing anti-vaccine content, some not  suggesting that Facebooks algorithm associates vaccines with autism, a thoroughly debunked link that anti-vaccine advocates continue to push.

Facebook has removed some of these pages from its recommendations, though its not clear which. Avaaz points out that theres no way to know why Facebooks recommendation algorithm surfaces the pages it does as the company doesnt disclose how these systems work. Yet its notable because content associating vaccines with autism is exactly one of the claims that Facebook said it would ban under its stricter misinformation rules during the pandemic. That Facebooks suggestions are intermingling the topics is, at the very least, undermining those efforts.

Claims and counterclaims

Facebook has strongly opposed these claims. The company repeatedly points to its messaging campaign around covid-19 vaccines, noting that more than 2 billion people have viewed the companys COVID-19 and vaccine PSAs.

In a blog post responding to President Bidens comments last month, Facebooks VP of Integrity Guy Rosen argued that vaccine acceptance among Facebook users in the US has increased. He noted that the company has reduced the visibility of more than 167 million pieces of COVID-19 content debunked by our network of fact-checking partners so fewer people see it.

He didnt share, however, how much of that misinformation was about vaccines, or details on the companys enforcement of its more general vaccine misinformation rules. Thats likely not an accident. The company has repeatedly resisted efforts that could shed light on how misinformation spreads on its platform.

Facebook executives declined a request from their data scientists who asked for additional resources to study COVID-19 misinformation at the start of the pandemic, according to The New York Times. Its not clear why the request was turned down, but the company has also pushed back on outsiders efforts to gain insight into health misinformation.

Facebook has declined to share the results of an internal study on vaccine hesitancy on its platform, according to Washington DC Attorney General Karl Racines office, which has launched a consumer protection investigation into the companys handling of vaccine misinformation.

Facebook has said its taking action to address the proliferation of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation on its site, a spokesperson said. But then when pressed to show its work, Facebook refused.

The Biden Administration has also  unsuccessfully  pushed Facebook to be more forthcoming about vaccine misinformation. According to The New York Times , administration officials have met repeatedly with Facebook and other platforms as part of its effort to curb misinformations about coronavirus vaccines. Yet when a White House official asked Facebook to share how often misinformation was viewed and spread, the company refused. According to The Times, Facebook responded to some requests for information by talking about vaccine promotion strategies, such as its PSAs or its tool to help users book vaccine appointments.

One issue is that its not always easy to define what is, and isnt, misinformation. Factual information, like news stories or personal anecdotes about vaccine side effects, can be shared with misleading commentary. This, Facebook has suggested, makes it difficult to study the issue in the way that many have asked. At the same time, Facebook is a notoriously data-driven company. Its constantly testing even the smallest features, and it employs scores of researchers and data scientists. Its difficult to believe that learning more about vaccine hesitancy and how misinformation spreads is entirely out of reach.
It can be hard for a single host to manage large unruly video meetings, particularly given the complexity and features available in video conferencing apps these days. Now, Google has a solution for its Meet app with a new feature that allows you to have up to 25 co-hosts in a meeting, as 9to5Google has reported. That way, they can split chore like muting participants, launching polls, managing Q&As and more, while you focus on the business at hand.

Until now, the feature was only available to Google Workspace for Education customers. Now, it's on all of Google's Meet apps across desktop and mobile, including users with personal Google accounts.

On top of that, Google introduced new controls for meeting hosts, which can be extended to co-hosts. All hosts will be able to limit who can share their screen, limit who can send chat messages, mute all with one click, end the meeting for all and control who can join the meeting and how they can join with the "quick access" setting. The latter allows participants in the same domain to enter automatically.

Quick access allows automatic video call entry for users in the same domain. If disabled, hosts must join first, and those that are not invited will have to request permission to enter. Otherwise, the host must join first and give permission to anyone who isn't invited.

The last feature, the "People" panel, adds search to let hosts quickly find participants if moderation actions are needed. The new features will begin rolling out next week on the web and Meet for Android, and the iOS version will arrive at the end of the month.
Google is updating its Nest Hub displays with a new feature that displays the air quality index (AQI), Android Central has reported. The feature will appear on the weather widget, showing a numeric ranking from 0 to 500 and color coding from green (good) to maroon (hazardous). Google is taking the data from the US government's AQI site used by the EPA to monitor air quality across the US.

Along with the AQI index and colors in the weather widget, Nest display owners can also ask Google Assistant for air quality information by saying "what's the air quality near me" or something similar. You can also ask Assistant to give alerts when the air quality your location drops to unsafe levels, a feature that could be handy for folks with respiratory problems.

The feature is rolling out as wildfires rage across the western United States, particularly in Oregon and California. "Between wildfire season and recent increased efforts to reduce air pollution, its more important than ever to know about the air quality in your area," Google said in a Nest community update.

The update will be rolling out in select markets "over the coming weeks," hopefully in those regions affected by wildfires and smoke. In our review, we called the $100 Nest Hub (2nd generation) "a great smart display and mediocre sleep tracker."
Last week, Apple announced that it was taking new steps to prevent the distribution of CSAM on its platform. This included a system to detect such material by scanning the images in peoples iCloud libraries, which has proved controversial. Privacy campaigners have said that this is the first step on a slippery slope to allowing governments all over the world access to peoples phones. That could have implications for activists and journalists in more authoritarian countries, something Apple has prior form in bowing to.

Thats why Engadgets Karissa Bell has taken a deep, deep dive into what exactly is going on with all of this. If youve only heard snatches of whats going on, and dont quite get what the real world impacts are, then weve got you covered. Shes explored how the technology works, what Apple has said, and if anyone really needs to be concerned.

-Dan Cooper

Teachers can stop classmates from pulling focus away from the lesson.

Zoom

Zoom knows that not even the internet can dampen the allure of watching the class clown instead of your teacher. Thats why the company is unveiling Focus Mode, which is designed for educators trying to wrest control of their lesson back from the students. With it, teachers can see all of the students on their own feed, but each student can only see the teacher and whatever presentation the teacher is giving. That could be a key tool to keep kids paying attention especially with the Delta variant threatening to derail the start of school. Continue Reading.

It says it needs to in order to protect its users.

Amazon is planning to license keystroke-monitoring software to keep an eye on its employees when they work from home. A leaked document purportedly from the company says that there is a concern that remote working could lead to a rise in data breaches. As such, its planning to use software from a company called BehavioSec which tracks keyboard and mouse use. In a statement, Amazon said that it treated the security of user data with the highest respect, and that it was always exploring new ways of safeguarding its customers. Continue Reading.

There's something for every budget.

Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

If youve been waiting for VR to mature to the point where you can really get some value out of the technology, now may be the time. A number of companies are now making comfortable, usable and in some cases surprisingly affordable headsets for standalone and PC gaming. In our latest buyers guide, we explore the best VR gear for most people, the most affordable way to get set up, and which headset comes out on top as the best that money can buy. Continue Reading.

Photography is at the heart of this new handset, and the specs are outrageous.

Honor

Honor, for many years, was a subsidiary of Chinese mega-corp Huawei responsible for making budget phones. When the US sanctions against the company began to bite, however, Huawei sold Honor off so it could try to flourish as a standalone business. Now, Honor is reintroducing itself to the world with the Magic3, a new flagship with a more-is-more-is-more approach to photography. The Magic3 Pro+, for instance, has a 50-megapixel primary camera, flanked by a trio of 64-megapixel sensors for zoom, wide-angle and monochrome photography. Honor says that it can even shoot cinema-quality video, which is a feature we cant wait to test. Continue Reading.

The crew of the USS Cerritos is back.

CBS

The best Star Trek series since Deep Space Nine is back, and its as good as it ever was in its first year. Lower Decks features the crew of the USS Cerritos, with an emphasis on those folks who arent doing all of the top-tier adventuring on the bridge. In our preview of the second season premiere, youll find out if it remains as funny as it was, if it stays true to the shows core and if its worth tuning in, although given that it airs on Paramount+, we probably shouldnt say tuning in'' any more, should we? Continue Reading.

All the news you might have missed

The entry-level Polestar 2 with a single motor will start at $45,900

Home Alone reboot debuts on Disney+ on November 12th

Activision Blizzard loses three senior designers amid sexual harassment lawsuit

Criterion is releasing 'Citizen Kane' and five other classics on 4K Blu-ray

TikTok limits the visibility of teens' videos amid safety push
If you're concerned that Amazon might misuse palm print data from its One service, you're not alone. TechCrunch reports that Senators Amy Klobuchar, Bill Cassidy and Jon Ossoff have sent a letter to new Amazon chief Andy Jassy asking him to explain how the company might expand use of One's palm print system beyond stores like Amazon Go and Whole Foods. They're also worried the biometric payment data might be used for more than payments, such as for ads and tracking.

The politicians are concerned that Amazon One reportedly uploads palm print data to the cloud, creating "unique" security issues. The move also casts doubt on Amazon's "respect" for user privacy, the senators said.

In addition to asking about expansion plans, the senators wanted Jassy to outline the number of third-party One clients, the privacy protections for those clients and their customers and the size of the One user base. The trio gave Amazon until August 26th to provide an answer. We've asked Amazon for comment.

This won't necessarily lead to government restrictions on One and other biometric payment tech. Amazon might not get much sympathy, however. The company has offered $10 in credit to potential One users, raising questions about its eagerness to collect palm print data. This also isn't the first time Amazon has clashed with government  cities have dropped Amazon's Rekognition face detection system, and Congress has proposed face detection regulations with Rekognition in mind. It wouldn't be surprising if the One investigation eventually led to legislative action, even if the effort isn't targeted specifically at Amazon.

Update 8/13 at 11:05AM: Amazon declined to comment, but pointed to an earlier blog post where it said One palm images were never stored on-device and were sent encrypted to a "highly secure" cloud space devoted just to One content.
Bill Cosby is already a free man, but it doesn't mean he's entirely out of the woods - legally - just yet.

The 84-year-old disgraced comedian's lawyer, Michael Freedman, told the LA Superior Court judge that is overseeing his civil lawsuit by Judy Huth, who claims Cosby sexually assaulted in 1974, that Cosby will continue to resist talking about his alleged sex crimes due to fear that he may be prosecuted in Los Angeles.

This is after Cosby has already unreasonably been through hell and then back.

In a status conference report publicized on Wednesday, Freedman told the judge that Bill Cosby would invoke his Fifth Amendment Right.

"Defendant does not agree that merely because the Pennsylvania Supreme Court vacated Defendant's criminal conviction for a single offense, allegedly arising from an incident that occurred in 2004, Defendant no longer enjoys a Fifth Amendment right to remain silent."

The lawyer further claims that numerous states have no criminal statutes of limitations for sex crimes.

The Fifth Amendment will protect not only the innocent but also the guilty.

Freedman also said that "Having already been forced to face a malicious criminal prosecution that resulted in an unlawful three-year incarceration, Defendant is not confident that such a risk does not still exist in this jurisdiction and others."

The Huth case was initially filed in 2014 and has been put on hold for several years. She was 15 years old when the alleged assault happened.

There was one point that Cosby was required to sit for a deposition, and though he did, he refused to answer questions.

READ ALSO: Eminem's Ex Kim Scott Second Suicide Attempt Update: She Tried To Kill Herself Because of This?

The highest court of Pennsylvania has overturned Cosby's conviction for assaulting Andrea Constand because of an old non-prosecution prosecution agreement in that jurisdiction. The "Bill Cosby Show" star is free to testify in civil cases.

Cosby was released from prison on June 30, although 12 jurors found him guilty during his trial - which could also mean that they don't believe his overturned conviction should rid him of his alleged wrongdoings.

Bill Cosby served more than two years of his supposed three to a ten-year prison sentence for drugging and molesting Constand, whom he reportedly met through Temple University, his alma mater.

Cosby, once a beloved actor and even got the nickname "America's Dad," said he will serve his 10-year sentence instead of admitting any wrongdoing to the parole board.

READ MORE: Tom Cruise's Exes Katie Holmes and Nicole Kidman Friendship Revealed: They Have One Thing in Common
Recent reports had it that Meghan Markle is crushed she and Prince Harry were not even invited on President Obama's 60th birthday party. Some reports were so malicious they claimed the two simply are no longer A-list figures and this is the reason why got snubbed.

A new reason however, is now being reported. It is unclear whether this is more offensive than being tagged as "not an A-list."

According to a royal expert, the Obamas passed on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle because the former president and first wife 'would move towards William' amid the brother's spat, as reported by Mirror UK.

It can be remembered that back during the weekend, Harry and Meghan were not invited to Barack Obama's spectacular 60th birthday party, leading to speculation that their connection with the president and his wife had cooled.

According to royal insiders, the Obamas are wary of appearing to be friends with Harry and Meghan due to public image concerns and respect for the Queen as well as Prince William.

READ ALSO: 'And Just LIke That' MAJOR SPOILER: THIS Cast Will Star in One Episode Only But Gets $5 Million [RUMOR]

Barack and Michelle are also close to Prince William and his family, according to royal writer Angela Levin.

The Obamas have visited with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on multiple occasions, including immediately after their wedding in 2011, when they were memorably introduced to Prince George looking adorable in his pyjamas and dressing gown at Kensington Palace.

Speaking to The Sun, Angela said: "I'm sure that if they say we can only deal with one brother and his wife - you cannot have both because they are so far apart now - they will go towards William.

While the Obamas will back Harry when necessary, the insider claims that they have already "saw through" Meghan Markle. This is why Barack and Michelle Obama would no longer be as "pally" to the divisive couple as they were previously.

Levin says that the Obamas can feel the feud between brothers will drag on.

Barack and Michelle have not commented on any of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's interviews or books, or any projects for the matter, but they kept abreast and have formed their own opinions.



"The problem for the Obamas is that the Sussexes' attack is not just one outburst of anger, which you can forgive, but it is going on and on. First there was the Finding Freedom book, then came the joint interview with Oprah, followed by Harry's mental health session with her again," Levin explained.

Apart from their previous sporadic contacts, former President Barack Obama has openly endorsed Prince William's Earthshot Prize project. Taking to his Twitter account, he worte "It's going to take a lot of big-thinking and innovation to save the one planet we've got - and that's why @KensingtonRoyal's leadership on climate change can make a real difference."

READ MORE:Tom Cruise's Exes Katie Holmes and Nicole Kidman Friendship Revealed: They Have One Thing in Common
2021-08-13

Maeci

In light of the Taliban advance in Afghanistan, the Italian Foreign Ministry is maintaining the closest contact with the US State Department. Just yesterday, Italy's General Secretary Ettore Sequi spoke with the US Deputy Secretary of State, Wendy Sherman. They agreed to further strengthen coordination between the embassies of all the allied countries in Kabul, as well as bilaterally, and discussed the initiatives currently in place and those that may be undertaken, taking into consideration the worsening security situation on the ground. This has been announced by the Italian Foreign Ministry.
Greetings, all you newcomers to Texas.

Please accept this can of Off and a handgun as your welcome gifts.

As we learned from the U.S. census, there are a lot of you  nearly 4 million from 2010 to 2020, making Texas the third fastest-growing state in the nation.

Are you settled in? People friendly enough for you? Have you found the H-E-B that best matches your personality and lifestyle?

And the heat, right? At some point, some leather-skinned Texan will tell you that if you dont like the weather, wait 10 minutes or so. Well, dont wait outside or youll die of heatstroke.

So, I have some good news for you: Texas still doesnt have a state income tax. Yay.

I sense youre growing uneasy, like youre afraid Im about to deliver bad news. I am. But because Ive lived in San Antonio for more than two decades, Im super slow getting to the point.

Which is this: Youve nested in a pariah state. Sorry about that.

Each of the following is as true as the other: Big Bend is a gift from God, barbecue sauce on brisket is a sin, and Gov. Greg Abbott worships power for its own sake and will do anything to keep it in his grasp.

If that means allowing the delta variant to steamroll through the state  in the name of liberty to choose whether to mask up  so be it. Whats a full-blown public health emergency, with hospitals reaching capacity and a new wave of COVID deaths, compared to a potentially thorny Republican primary in 2022?

On May 18, Abbott announced his decision to bar local governments and public schools from imposing mask requirements. Texans, not government, should decide their best health practices, which is why masks will not be mandated by public school districts or government entities, he said.

Sure, many of us in May were drunk on the belief the crisis was over, that we could finally get on with our lives. Abbott didnt come off as a reckless radical in that moment.

He appears that way now. In fact, he is a reckless radical, even if, somewhere in the murky depths of his soul, theres a part of him that knows better.

With Texas in the teeth of the delta variant, not only has he not changed his position, he and indicted Attorney General Ken Paxton are fighting San Antonios and Dallas Countys righteous lawsuits to overturn the governors executive order barring mask mandates.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff and Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins want to do the right thing  require masks in public schools and government facilities. Abbott and Paxton want to continue to do the wrong thing.

Heres a snippet from Paxtons Aug. 11 statement on trying to slap down the temporary restraining order that Jenkins won: Im confident the outcomes to any suits will side with liberty and individual choice, not mandates and government overreach.

We all know what Abbott and Paxton mean by liberty. Its the liberty not to wear masks. And theres no mistaking who theyre talking to. Its not the majority of Texans, who support mask-wearing as protection against the coronavirus. Its the GOP hard-liners and MAGAs among us who would show up during a hurricane for a primary election and believe that requiring kids to wear masks at school is tantamount to child abuse.

These are many of the same people who cling to the poisonous fantasy that Donald Trump won. To them, Joe Biden and the Democratic Party are the greatest election swindlers of all time. Thats the one funny part of this delusion  thinking the partys moderates and liberals could stop backbiting long enough to orchestrate such a crime.

Abbott, Paxton and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick take their orders from this sliver of the electorate.

Counterclaim

Now, you might object to me calling Texas a pariah state, mounting this reasonable argument: Pariahs are shunned by others, but you and many other recent arrivals have embraced Texas, for a lot of reasons.

The states blessings include its low taxes and small number of regulations, its modestly priced housing (sorry, new Austinites, not talking to you) and available land, its abundance of jobs, Whataburger.

All true.

But consider the following:

As newcomers, the overwhelming majority of you live either in or near Texas big four  Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Thats why the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston metro areas led the nation in growth from 2010 to 2020, according to census data, and why San Antonios population swelled 8.1 percent, adding more than 107,000 residents, for a grand total of 1.4 million.

Few of you came here to enjoy everything the town of Muleshoe has to offer.

Abbotts anti-mask-mandate crusade does the most harm to the states urban centers, the places with the densest populations. Hence our recent headline: Big Texas cities are in open revolt over Gov. Abbotts ban on mask requirements.

The same holds true for the batch of voting restrictions championed by Abbott, Patrick and most Republican state lawmakers. Under the guise of combating widespread fraud, which theyve made up, their aim is cut into the voting power of Black, Hispanic and left-leaning voters. Big cities in Texas have a lot of those.

These facts are key when considering their election measures: Trump won Texas with 52 percent of the vote, but lost in the states five most populous counties  Bexar, Dallas, Harris, Tarrant and Travis.

Think of Texas today like a human body. Its immune system, which is supposed to fight off infections, has gone haywire and is attacking the bodys major organs. Thats what large, diverse cities are  organs of job- and wealth creation and cultural variety.

Please take a moment here to project yourself back in time to when you were considering a move to Texas.

If youd known then that the states most powerful politicians would actually try to stop local governments from protecting their residents against a deadly, highly contagious virus (let alone refusing to take the responsible steps themselves), suppress voters and wage war on Texas urban centers, would you come?

Major corporations, same question.

And thats not even taking into account state leaders attacks on transgender Texans and womens reproductive rights.

Some of you would still move here. Maybe many of you. But some of you recognize a pariah when you see one and would steer clear of our state, its strong economy notwithstanding.

We like to say that if Texas were its own country, it would have the worlds ninth-largest economy. It would also hang out with the authoritarian regimes of Hungary, Belarus, the Philippines and maybe North Korea.

But Texas hasnt achieved nationhood. And its bestie at the moment is Gov. Ron DeSantis and his great state of Florida.

greg.jefferson@express-news.net
The energy transition is well underway at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, and everyone in the fossil fuel industry should pay attention.

Following the cancellation of last years OTC due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the four-day conference of energy suppliers, producers and supporters will be much smaller. Fewer panels, fewer technical discussions and, more than likely, fewer people.

Consider OTCs shrinkage a bellwether for the entire fossil fuel industry.

TOMLINSONS TAKE: Smart offshore tech moving from oil to wind

The summer of 2021 is proving climactically catastrophic, bringing home to people around the world the reality of climate change. From forest fires in the Pacific Northwest to flooding in Germany to downpours in China and a heatwave in England, the crows of profligate fossil fuel consumption are coming home to roost.

The world can no longer burn as much oil and natural gas as it once did and not expect to make life on Earth miserable. Sure, we can capture carbon, and yes, the energy transition will take time. But we must phase out fossil fuels, which necessarily means fewer offshore rigs and less work for the industry.

RBN Energy, an industry consulting firm, notes that between the pandemic and the most active hurricane season on record, oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico ebbed to the lowest levels since 2016 with an average 1.65 million barrels a day, 13 percent less than in 2019.

This year and next should show significant growth, with several new projects producing first oil, RBN notes. Royal Dutch Shell also announced plans to move ahead with the Whale deepwater development, which is expected to produce 100,000 barrels a day. Exxon Mobil is expanding off Guyana.

Exploration, though, is down. Most of the new wells in recent years are tied to existing fields. Talk of drilling in the ultra-deepwater has faded. Big offshore projects need 30 or more years to pay off, and the world appears committed to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Do the math.

Most oil analysts predict oil demand will peak by 2035. Climate scientists say we should reach peak consumption as soon as possible. Either way, we will need a lot fewer offshore wells.

OTC 2021 is consolidating to find efficiencies, another good example to follow. For the first time, OTC will coincide with the annual National Association of Petroleum Engineers Summit to create what they call a Synergy in Energy partnership.

Globally, the energy industry has been called upon to meet the dual challenges of addressing climate change and meeting growing energy demand, said Cindy Yeilding, chair of the OTC Board of Directors. The Synergy in Energy partnership represents a significant opportunity for policymakers, business leaders and industry experts to come together to address these challenges and find solutions to continue safely and efficiently powering the world.

Note her focus on producing energy, not fossil fuels. Every international oil and gas conference these days focuses on the global transition to low-carbon energy and a net-zero carbon emission future. Folks in the oil patch must take notice.

OTC 2019 was the first year I saw a significant renewable energy presence. This year, offshore wind takes center stage, literally.

Sundays Offshore Wind: Supporting a Growing Industry panel includes Shells general manager for offshore wind, the head of wind permitting for Equinor, the Norwegian oil company, and a project manager from Orsted, Denmarks former state-owned oil company that has transitioned into 100 percent renewable energy.

The next day, the afternoons keynote panel is titled: Bringing Offshore Wind to Scale: Offshore Energy at the Heart of the Transition. Panelists from Shell, TotalEnergies and many other organizations will discuss how to make money constructing wind farms off the U.S. coast.

TOMLINSONS TAKE: The world has already found all the oil it should ever burn

Theres never been a more exciting time for offshore wind in the U.S. After years of permitting delays, the industry is poised to take off, the panels description says. Compatibilities between offshore wind and oil and gas sectors are resulting in companies activities to diversify services and investments and share expertise.

European oil and gas companies see the writing on the wall, and they are adjusting their organizations and business plans to give customers what they want: clean energy.

The men and women who work in the Gulf of Mexico understand how to build offshore structures and string together underwater systems better than any other workforce. A network of offshore wind projects along the Gulf Coast can meet our energy needs, even during the summer heat or a winter freeze.

The energy transition will not be easy, but thats why we have an Offshore Technology Conference. The goal is not to pump oil but to produce energy in the most sustainable and reliable form possible.

Tomlinson writes commentary about business, economics and policy.

twitter.com/cltomlinson

chris.tomlinson@chron.com
At the end of April, with the COVID-19 vaccination rate sputtering and the supply of vaccine outstripping demand, Frost Bank Chairman and CEO Phil Green said he had no intention of requiring his companys roughly 4,700 employees to roll up their sleeves and get the jab.

Thats not our style, he said before quickly adding, Well encourage it.

Three and a half months later, as the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus spreads, a third surge of COVID patients is threatening to overwhelm hospitals. Yet Frost Bank and many other major San Antonio employers remain steadfast in not requiring workers to be vaccinated before returning to the office.

Meanwhile, many big-name companies  including United Airlines, Disney and Walmart  are requiring some or all of their workers to get the vaccine as they return to the office this fall or early next year. Others, such as Amazon, will require unvaccinated employees to wear masks in the office.

Most big San Antonio employers plans for returning to the office and policies on masks have not changed, though the companies could make adjustments if the surge lingers.

At Frost, the largest regional bank based in San Antonio, employees arent required to wear masks in the office  even if theyre not vaccinated.

Theyre welcome to if they want, but were not requiring it, Green said late last month. The bank is keeping social distancing in place while instituting such measures as enhanced air filtration and additional levels of cleaning, Frost spokesman Bill Day said this week.

So far, the delta variant hasnt changed Frosts plans for bringing employees back to the office, either. Next month, the bank plans to introduce a hybrid program  with some employees working in the office, some from home and some switching back and forth  based on department and job duty.

Were looking at jobs and organizations and what it takes for them to be productive and for it to be a win-win situation for them and the company, Green said.

A weekly Morning Consult poll of American workers last week found that most employees of companies that are returning to the office are already back at their workstations and that the remaining 19 percent will be there by September. An additional another 8 percent are employed by companies that have adopted permanent work-from-home policies, and 7 percent said their companies havent announced a policy.

USAA, credit unions

At USAA, rising COVID cases in San Antonio led to several postponements of plans to bring its workforce back to its Northwest Side headquarters. The insurance and financial services company is one of the citys largest employers, with roughly 19,000 of its 35,000 workers based here.

USAA started allowing employees to return to its offices in phases in May, though its unclear how many ultimately will be coming back to their desks. The company also is adopting a hybrid model, with employees able to work remotely, in the office or a combination of the two.

Unvaccinated employees must wear masks any time they are away from their desks. And USAA is offering at-home and on-site COVID testing, spokeswoman Lara Hendrickson said.

The companys lobby and financial centers are still closed.

John Locher, STF / Associated Press

USAA continues to closely monitor evolving pandemic conditions in the communities where we work and live and take steps to help protect our employees, Hendrickson said.

Live Oak-based Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union and San Antonios Security Service Federal Credit Union, the areas two largest credit unions, arent requiring employees to get vaccinated as a condition of employment.

Spokeswoman Brandy Ralston-Lint said Security Service has highly encouraged its employees to be vaccinated and has conducted multiple on-site vaccine clinics. The credit union has about 1,800 employees.

We continue to have a large number of employees working remotely, and we are limiting on-site workers, she said. We are requiring all employees, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask around members or other employees. In addition, we have heightened cleaning and social distancing protocols in place, along with air filtration systems in all buildings and branch locations.

At Randolph-Brooks, masks are optional for employees, spokesman Sal Guerrero said. The credit union employs more than 2,100.

NuStar, CPS

Pipeline operator NuStar Energy is maintaining a 50 percent occupancy limit at its headquarters on the far North Side. Only director-level employees and above are regularly coming into the office, spokeswoman Mary Rose Brown said.

The vast majority of NuStars roughly 1,400 employees are vaccinated, she said. NuStar is requiring employees to show proof of vaccination because unvaccinated employees have to wear a mask when away from their work stations.

NuStar had been testing employees weekly for COVID until mid-May, when several weeks had passed with no employees testing positive. But the resurgent virus prompted the company this week to restart COVID testing for employees every Monday.

We had planned to bring the remainder of our employees back into the office over the next several weeks as children return to school, Brown said. However, given the fact that the delta variant is impacting even individuals who have been vaccinated, we have decided to wait to see how the next few weeks unfold to make sure the situation is under control.

CPS Energy will maintain a 50 percent capacity limit at its downtown headquarters at least through Labor Day, spokesman John Moreno said. Office workers will be on a hybrid work arrangement between the office and remote work for the foreseeable future.

We continue to encourage employees to vaccinate and have no plan to require vaccination, Moreno said.

Rackspace reopening

Rackspace Technologys Windcrest headquarters is open for site-essential workers, while all other employees are allowed to work there as needed, spokeswoman Natalie Silva said.

It plans to have a headquarters reopening next month, when all the cloud computing companys employees who are working from home can return.

We will operate in a hybrid working model by enabling employees to work from home or office depending on their needs and will continue to do so through at least the end of this year, Silva said.

Rackspace, which has more than 6,000 employees, is not requiring them to be vaccinated. But the company will follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and safety practices in the office, she said.

President Joe Biden recently announced requirements for federal workers to either be vaccinated or get tested regularly, the Wall Street Journal reported. This week, Biden called on businesses to require their workers to do the same.

The president met with the CEOs of United Airline Holdings and Kaiser Permanente, which have introduced vaccine requirements for workers, in an effort to get others businesses to follow their lead.

United CEO Scott Kirby told CNN after the meeting that he expects vaccine requirements will become widespread among businesses across the country within a few weeks.

Its really just a basic safety issue, Kirby said. The facts are that youre about 300 times as likely to die of COVID if youre unvaccinated than if youre vaccinated. Given that, I think that this is just inevitable that safety is going to win the day.

Vaccination incentives

Some companies are taking the carrot approach, dangling cash to get employees vaccinated. Asset management company Vanguard announced last week that its giving $1,000 to each of its employees who get the shot.

Bexar County this week also said it would offer $1,000 to county workers for receiving the vaccine.

Toyota is not requiring proof of vaccination from workers at its South Side manufacturing plant, where the automaker produces the Tundra and Tacoma pickup, said spokeswoman Melissa Sparks.

Employees with jobs that can be done away from the plant  primarily office workers  are allowed to continue working from home. Production employees have been working at the site since last year.

Theres no timeline yet for when employees might fully return to the plant.

Were being flexible as we see changes in the national/state/local health recommendations, Sparks said.

pdanner@express-news.net
With the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus fueling a surge in COVID-19 cases just as students return to classrooms, anti-mask protesters descended on downtown Friday, demanding that the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District repeal its order that schools require face coverings to slow the spread of the disease.

Wearing white, 60 to 100 protesters outside the Bexar County Courthouse said parents should be able to choose whether their children wear masks. A second protest took place at nearby City Hall.

The protests come as the city on Friday reported that 25 pediatric patients were among the 1,299 hospitalizations related to COVID-19. Of those hospitalized, 133 are in intensive care units, and 214 are relying on ventilators to breathe. And 88 percent of hospitalized COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated; children 12 and younger are ineligible to be vaccinated.

Protesters at the courthouse called for Mayor Ron Nirenberg to be recalled and questioned the credibility of Dr. Junda Wu, Metro Healths medical director, who issued a directive to area school districts this week instructing them to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions recommendations for wearing masks.

Wus directive goes against Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts executive order that prohibits local governments from issuing mandates requiring masks and vaccinations.

Staff

Dr. Wu is responsible for muzzling and oppressing and depressing  our children, Patty Gibbons, a former candidate for the City Council who leads the Greater Harmony Hills Neighborhood Association, said to protesters.

The crowd booed.

All of us have the right to be an individual. All of us have the right to stand in an individual fashion, Gibbons said, not our mayor and not our county judge.

On ExpressNews.com: Judge allows San Antonio, Bexar County to issue mask mandate for schools, public buildings

The protest consisted largely of parents and some children. It was organized by Unmasked.SanAntonio, Unmask our Kids San Antonio and Parents United for Freedom. Leaders from the Republican Party of Bexar County were also present.

Unmasked.SanAntonio is an anti-mask Instagram account created by Kellie Buckingham, a San Antonio mother of three. The account, created shortly after Abbott lifted the statewide mask mandate in March, is an effort to point people to places in town that dont require patrons to wear masks.

We dont want to co-parent with the government. We want to make choices on our own regarding our own children, Buckingham told the Express-News before the protest.

The protest comes amid a court battle between Abbott and local leaders who are rebelling against the governors ban on local governments issuing mask mandates. Judges in San Antonio and Dallas have granted local requests to require face coverings. Harris County is also challenging Abbotts order.

On Friday, an appeals court rejected a motion by Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton to stay a temporary restraining order blocking the governors order, which was issued this week by state District Judge Antonia Arteaga and facilitated Metro Healths order to school districts.

In recent weeks, the more infectious delta variant of the coronavirus has contributed to Texas children being hospitalized with COVID-19 at the highest rate in at least a year.

The city on Friday reported 1,842 new cases of COVID-19. Thats significantly above the seven-day average of 1,391, which is roughly twice what it was two weeks ago.

On ExpressNews.com: Most - but not all - San Antonio area school districts ready to follow Metro Health's mask order

In lieu of local requirements, critics on Friday said officials should instead rely on each parents personal responsibility.

Parents are the best arbiters of what is best for their children, and these mandates are against parental rights and the rights to parent our children in the manner we see fit, John Austin, the chairman of the Republican Party of Bexar County, said in a statement. We are not co-parenting with the city and the county.

timothy.fanning@express-news.net
The curators behind the Texas Biennial considered the work of more than 850 artists for the exhibition, an independent survey of the work of contemporary artists across the state.

The finished product, a sprawling show titled A New Landscape, A Possible Horizon, features more than 50 artists at various points in their careers and is spread between five spaces: four in San Antonio and one in Houston.

I think whats so beautiful about this exhibition is that it is inter-generational, said co-curator Ryan N. Dennis, a San Antonio native who is chief curator and artistic director of the Center for Art & Public Exchange at the Mississippi Museum of Art. We have Donald Moffett and and Melvin Edwards, who are in their 60s and 80s, still working, and then we have younger artists like Irene Reece or Matt Manalo, more emerging artists from Houston.

This is the seventh edition of the biennial, which was founded in 2005 by a group of Austin-based artists to create a snapshot of whats going on in contemporary art in the state. It was initially held every two years, but since 2013, it has been held every four years. It is produced by the Austin arts nonprofit Big Medium.

In San Antonio, exhibits are now open at Studio at Ruby City and Artpace. The San Antonio Museum of Art exhibit will open Aug. 19 and the McNay Art Museum exhibit will open Sept. 1.

On ExpressNews.com: Majestic Theatre lobby aquarium has drawn attention for decades

Heres a look at four of the Texas Biennials emerging artists who youre probably not following but should.

On ExpressNews.com: Majestic Theatre lobby aquarium has drawn attention for decades

Ari Brielle

Ari Brielle

Some of the work that Dallas native Brielle has in the show grew out of the fact that she contracted COVID-19 twice last year and ended up having to quarantine. That meant she couldnt go to her studio at the University of Texas at Arlington, where she is pursuing her masters degree, and had to find ways to work with what she had on hand at home.

I became really interested in documenting my virtual existence, and so I would have, as many of us do, multiple tabs open or multiple windows open, said Brielle, 27, who said she has recovered from her illnesses.

She started taking screen shots that captured the juxtaposition between her artwork in one window and YouTube videos or other sites she had open elsewhere on her screen. Enlarged renderings of the screen shots are included in the Biennial.

Her work in the show also includes digital collages of family photos that she started working with after her family moved her great-grandmother from Arkansas to Texas.

Her work will be on display at the McNay alongside a number of established artists.

Its a huge honor, especially this year, to be among so many artists I look up to, she said. Its kind of crazy.

Matt Manalo

Matt Manalo

Manalo grew up in Manila, relocating to Houston with his family in 2004. It was a difficult transition, he said, and he had a hard time finding fellow Filipinos. That continued as he launched his career as an artist.

Manalo will be represented at the McNay in two different ways. His 2018 piece Evolution of the Filipino will be exhibited, and so will works by the Filipinx Artists of Houston, a collective he founded in 2019.

Being a Filipino in Texas, I feel like we are still very under-represented in the arts, said Manalo, 36. To be part of a survey of the best of the best contemporary works from Texas, thats really huge, and to be able to include my community with me makes it even sweeter.

Evolution of the Filipino is painted on rice sacks that he stitched together to create a work that is 108 inches long and 28 inches tall. The first panel depicts a black silhouette of Kenkoy, the first Filipino cartoon character created by a Filipino artist. The image takes on definition in the following panels, then loses those details. The final panel is blank.

Before Kenkoy made his debut in the 1920s, Manalo said, Filipinos were painted as savages. We were drawn in newspaper comics with the bone in the hair and the grass skirt. Kenkoy is kind of the assimilated version of a Filipino  he wears a Zoot suit, and then he has a big smile and he has much lighter skin and big, bright eyes.

(The piece) shows a timeline in terms of facial characteristics ... So the last rice sack is basically completely empty  its the Filipino that has been completely devoid of values and culture and identity.

On ExpressNews.com: Ruby City re-opens

Stephanie Concepcion Ramirez

Stephanie Concepcion Ramirez

Stephanie Concepcion Ramirezs work in the show, including a single channel video and a large installation, all draws on her personal story, including the impact of her mothers decision to leave El Salvador for the United States four years before civil war broke out.

Ramirez, who was born in Maryland and now lives in Pearland, grew up not knowing much about her mothers life before she migrated or about El Salvador.

As I got older, I started studying in college, getting into higher education, and thats when I really started diving into questions about my identity a little bit more and and wanting to know that history, she said. My work really is about grappling with these two histories, the relationship between the United States and Central America, and the issues still clearly going on since the civil war broke out.

The 36-year-old artists work will be on display at FotoFest in Houston. Being included in the exhibit has an additional layer of meaning for her because shes only lived in Texas for a few years.

It has allowed me to really consider what does it mean to be an artist from Texas, geographically? she said. Also, what can I bring to the community that I can contribute in a positive way?

Troy Montes

Irene Antonia Diane Reece

Texas Biennial What: The 2021 Texas Biennial, a survey of contemporary art in Texas, is spread across four sites in San Antonio and one in Houston. San Antonio sites Artpace: 445 N. Main. Open now. Works by Alisha B. Wormsley and Kaneem Smith. Through Dec. 26. Free. Info, artpace.org. Studio at Ruby City: Open now. 111 Camp St. inside Chris Park. Open now. Exhibit features works by Melvin Edwards, Ann Johnson and Ariel Rene Jackson, among others. On display through Dec. 26. Free. Reservations strongly suggested at rubycity.org/location. San Antonio Museum of Art: 200 W. Jones. Opens Aug. 19. Exhibit features works by 14 artists, including Vincent Valdez, Trenton Doyle Hancock, Rick Lowe and Jose Villalobos. Through Dec. 5. $10 to $20; free for Bexar County residents from 10 a.m. to noon Sundays and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays. Info, samuseum.org. McNay Art Museum: 6000 N. New Braunfels. Opens Sept. 1. Exhibit includes works by Irene Antonia Diane Reece, Matt Manalo, Ari Brielle and the Filipinx Artists of Houston. Through Jan. 9. $10 to $20; free for members and children 12 and under; free for everyone 4 to 9 p.m. Thursdays and from noon to 5 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month. Info, mcnayart.org. Houston site Houston FotoFest: Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards Street, Houston. Opens Sept. 2. Through Nov. 13. Free. Info, fotofest.org. See More Collapse

Houston-based artist Irene Antonia Diane Reece has noticed that patrons have a variety of responses to her installation Home-goings, from crying and getting upset to getting very happy. The installation, which is currently on exhibit at the Galveston Arts Center and will be shown at the McNay as part of the biennial, includes large photos depicting her fathers church in Conroe, north of Houston.

One image captures the congregations matriarchs; another depicts the exterior of the building. A kneeler is stationed in front of the matriarchs, inviting visitors to have a moment of prayer. The other image is paired with communion wafers bearing the images of victims of police brutality.

Im canonizing them and making them sacred because Black lives are not considered sacred, said Reece, 28.

She created the installation as part of her thesis for her masters degree. She went to graduate school in Paris and experienced a lot of discrimination there, she said. The installation was a way to deal with that.

Any work that Ive done is based on my own personal experience first and then tying into things culturally that I grew up with, she said. I am half Black and half Mexican, so Ill use things from both sides of my family. And I try to not just use photographs, just a flat image  I want to create depth. Its very nontraditional photography work.

Being included in the biennial is very meaningful, she said, partly because of the message that it sends.

As someone that is a Black artist, I feel like its great to have that form of representation, especially with the topics Im talking about, she said. And when people walk into the space, especially Black audiences, I want them to feel like they belong in that space because a lot of times, in the arts, were not included.

Note: This story has been edited to correct the location if Irene Antonia Diane Reeces fathers church. It is in Conroe.

dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN
Texans can now start their mornings with an H-E-B favorite at P. Terry's Burger Stands across the state.

As of Thursday morning, the burger chain now serves H-E-B's Cafe Ole Organics coffee during breakfast hours at all of its locations.
Larry W. Smith/Getty Images

A man accused of stabbing a woman during a bus ride from Dallas to San Antonio on Thursday night was arrested after a standoff, police said.

The bus was near the end of its trip at around 7 p.m. on U.S. 281 in downtown when a 32-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman began to argue. At one point, the man pulled out a knife and stabbed the woman in the neck, according to police.
TORONTO (AP)  Canadian special forces will deploy to Afghanistan where staff in Canada's embassy in Kabul will be evacuated before it closes, a source familiar with the plan told The Associated Press.

The official, who was not authorized to talk publicly about the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity, did not say how many special forces would be sent.

Just weeks before the U.S. is scheduled to end its war in Afghanistan, the Biden administration is also rushing 3,000 fresh troops to the Kabul airport to help with a partial evacuation of the U.S. Embassy.

The moves highlight the stunning speed of a Taliban takeover of much of the country, including their capture on Thursday of Kandahar, the second-largest city and the birthplace of the Taliban movement.

Britain also said Thursday that it will send around 600 troops to Afghanistan to help U.K. nationals leave the country amid growing concerns about the security situation. And Danish lawmakers have agreed to evacuate 45 Afghan citizens who worked for Denmarks government in Afghanistan and to offer them residency in the European country for two years.

Some 40,000 Canadian troops were deployed in Afghanistan over 13 years as part of the NATO mission before pulling out in 2014.

The first planeload of Afghan refugees who supported the Canadian military mission in Afghanistan arrived in Canada earlier this month. The Canadian government last month announced a special program to urgently resettle Afghans deemed to have been integral to the Canadian Armed Forces mission, including interpreters, cooks, drivers, cleaners, construction workers, security guards and embassy staff, as well as members of their families.

The government says more than 800 Afghans who supported the mission have been resettled in Canada over the past decade but acknowledges that many more remain in Afghanistan.

The Taliban, who ruled the country from 1996 until U.S. forces invaded after the 9/11 attacks, have taken 12 of Afghanistans 34 provincial capitals as part of a weeklong sweep that has given them effective control of about two-thirds of the country.

The seizure of Kandahar and Herat marks the biggest prizes yet for the Taliban. Canada's former military mission was based in Kandahar. More than 150 Canadian soldiers died during the Afghanistan mission.'

A spokeswoman for Canadas Global Affairs department declined to comment on specifics about the embassy.

The security of the Canadian Embassy and the safety of our personnel in Kabul is our top priority. For security reasons we do not comment on specific operational matters of our missions abroad, spokeswoman Ciara Trudeau said in an email.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The last-minute decision to send 3,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan to help partially evacuate the U.S. Embassy is calling into question whether President Joe Biden will meet his Aug. 31 deadline for fully withdrawing combat forces. The vanguard of a Marine contingent arrived in Kabul on Friday and most of the rest of the 3,000 are due by Sunday.

Officials have stressed that the newly arriving troops mission is limited to assisting the airlift of embassy personnel and Afghan allies, and they expect to complete it by month's end. But they might have to stay longer if the embassy is threatened by a Taliban takeover of Kabul by then. On Friday the Taliban seemed nearly within reach of contesting the capital.

Clearly from their actions, it appears as if they are trying to get Kabul isolated, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said, referring to the Taliban's speedy and efficient takedown of major provincial capitals across the country in recent days.

Biden had given the Pentagon until Aug. 31 to complete the withdrawal of the 2,500 to 3,000 troops that were in Afghanistan when he announced in April that he was ending U.S. involvement in the war. That number has dropped to just under 1,000, and all but about 650 are scheduled to be gone by the end of the month; the 650 are to remain to help protect the U.S. diplomatic presence, including with aircraft and defensive weapons at Kabul airport.

But Thursday's decision to dispatch 3,000 fresh troops to the airport adds a new twist to the U.S. withdrawal. There is no discussion of rejoining the war, but the number of troops needed for security will depend on decisions about keeping the embassy open and the extent of a Taliban threat to the capital in coming days.

Having the Aug. 31 deadline pass with thousands of U.S. troops in the country would be awkward for Biden given his insistence on ending the 20-year U.S. war by that date. Republicans have already criticized the withdrawal as a mistake and ill-planned, though theres little political appetite by either party to send fresh troops to fight the Taliban.

Kirby declined to discuss any assessment of whether the Taliban are likely soon to converge on Kabul, but the urgent movement of extra U.S. troops into Afghanistan to assist the embassy drawdown is clear evidence of Washington's worry that after the rapid fall of major cities this week with relatively little Afghan government resistance, Kabul is endangered.

Kirby reiterated the Biden administration's assertion that Afghan security forces have tangible advantages over the insurgents, including a viable air force and superior numbers. The statement serves to highlight the fact that what the Afghan forces lack is motivation to fight in a circumstance where the Taliban seem to have decisive momentum.

Stephen Biddle, a professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University, said in an interview the announcement that 3,000 U.S. troops are heading to Kabul to help pull out American diplomats and embassy staff likely made Afghan morale even worse.

The message that sent to Afghans is: The city of Kabul is going to fall so fast that we cant organize an orderly withdrawal from the embassy,' Biddle said. This suggests to Afghans that the Americans see little future for the government and that this place could be toast within hours.

Kirby said lead elements of a Marine battalion arrived in Kabul on Friday as the U.S. speeds up evacuation flights for some American diplomats and thousands of Afghans. The rest of that battalion and two others are due in coming days.

The Pentagon also was moving an additional 4,500 to 5,000 troops to bases in the Gulf countries of Qatar and Kuwait, including 1,000 to Qatar to speed up visa processing for Afghan translators and others who fear retribution from the Taliban for their past work with Americans, and their family members.

The remainder  3,500 to 4,000 troops from a combat brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina  were preparing Friday to depart for Kuwait in very short order. Kirby said the combat troops would be a reserve force on standby for whatever mission might be required in Kabul.

The temporary buildup of troops for U.S. evacuations highlights the stunning pace of the Taliban takeover of much of the country.

Friday's latest significant blow was the Taliban capture of the capital of Helmand province, where American, British and other allied NATO forces fought some of the bloodiest battles in the past 20 years. Hundreds of Western troops died there during the course of the war, in fighting that often succeeded in knocking back Taliban fighters locally, only to have the Taliban move back in when a Western unit rotated out.

The State Department said the embassy in Kabul will remain partially staffed and functioning, but Thursday's decision to evacuate a significant number of embassy staff and bring in the thousands of additional U.S. troops is a sign of waning confidence in the Afghan government's ability to hold off the Taliban surge. The Biden administration has not ruled out a full embassy evacuation or possibly relocating embassy operations to the Kabul airport.

There are a little over 4,000 personnel still at the embassy; the State Department has not said how many are being pulled out in the next two weeks.

The Biden administration warned Taliban officials directly that the U.S. would respond if the Taliban attacked Americans during the stepped-up deployments and evacuations.

Americans are preparing a military base abroad to receive and house large numbers of those Afghan translators and others as their visa applications are processed. The Biden administration has not identified the base, but earlier was talking with both Kuwait and Qatar about using U.S. bases there for the temporary relocations. State Department spokesman Ned Price said the U.S. soon will have evacuation planes flying out daily, for those Afghan translators and others who manage to reach the Kabul airport despite the fighting.

__

AP Diplomatic writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report.
Bexar Countys population grew by almost 300,000 people between 2010 and 2020, while Texas gained 4 million residents during the same decade, according to new census numbers released Thursday.

The city of San Antonio swelled by more than 107,000 people during that same period.

The data was culled from the 2020 decennial census, which aimed to count every person living in the U.S. on April 1, 2020.

The census numbers are used to allocate political power by dividing the U.S. House of Representatives 435 seats among all states. The data also determines how $1.5 trillion in federal funds are distributed, as well as where infrastructure such as roads and hospitals are built.

Bexar Countys population last year reached more than 2 million people  up from more than 1.7 million in 2010. That marked a gain of 294,551 residents, or an increase of 17.2 percent.

Bexar County is Texas fourth most populous county.

Comal County, where New Braunfels is the county seat, recorded the second-largest growth rate among all Texas counties from 2010 to 2020. Its population grew 49 percent during that decade, surging to a total of 161,501 people last year. Thats a gain of more than 53,000 residents.

Comal County was outranked only by Hays County  the home of San Marcos and Texas State University  which grew by more than 53 percent during the 10-year period. Thats an increase of almost 84,000 residents.

On ExpressNews.com: Fast-growing Texas will gain two congressional seats

The results seem to be pretty consistent with what we thought was going to happen, said State Demographer Lloyd Potter, a demography professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Comal County is growing so quickly. That doesnt come as a surprise. And San Antonios growth has continued to be robust.

In San Antonio alone, the citys population rose to more than 1.4 million people in 2020, a jump of 8 percent since 2010.

San Antonio continues to be ranked as the seventh most populated city nationwide. Phoenix, meanwhile, moved up to become the fifth-largest city nationwide, trading places with Philadelphia, which fell to sixth place.

The accuracy of the 2020 census numbers cant be evaluated overnight, Potter said.

With the anomalies of conducting the census during a pandemic and the various political wranglings, such as whether to add a U.S. citizenship question to the form, all those things certainly cause us to have some concerns about the accuracy of the data, Potter said. But with some time, well be able to do some assessment of that.

Texas population soared to more than 29.1 million last year  up from 25.1 million in 2010. That marks a growth rate of 16 percent.

As a result, Texas gained two more congressional seats in the House. The state will have a total of 38 seats.

Not all that growth is the result of people moving here. Historically, births outnumbering deaths have accounted for half of the population surge, Potter said.

I think theres kind of this assumption that these people all moved here, he said. Its not just that.  Were also having more babies (being born) than people dying.

The nations population has become exceedingly metropolitan, census officials said Thursday. Metro areas grew more prominent between 2010 and 2020, while other areas recorded widespread population decline.

Texas is a good example of this. ... Parts of the Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Midland and Odessa metro areas had population growth, whereas many of the states other counties had population declines, said Marc Perry, a senior demographer with the Census Bureaus population division.

On ExpressNews.com: Bexar Countys population tops 2 million for first time

Harris County, the home of Houston, continues to have the largest population of any Texas county, gaining more than 630,000 residents between 2010 and 2020  a growth rate of 15.6 percent. Its population now tops more than 4.7 million.

Tarrant County, where Fort Worth is located, marked an increase of 300,000 residents during that decade. Its total population now tops more than 1.2 million.

Those counties recorded bigger population increases than Dallas County, which gained more than 245,000 residents between 2010 and 2020. Its total population now stands at more than 2.6 million people.

Texas also is seeing more housing, census numbers show. The state recorded more than 1.6 million additional housing units between 2010 and 2020  a surge of 16.2 percent. Of the nearly 11.6 million housing units across Texas last year, 9.5 percent were vacant.

Bexar County saw its total housing units rise by more than 130,000, or 19.8 percent, during that decade. Of the 794,173 total housing units in Bexar County last year, 8.5 percent were vacant.

Nationally, the U.S. population grew by just 22.7 million people between 2010 and 2020, a rise of 7.4 percent. Thats the second-lowest percentage increase of any decade ever, Census Bureau officials said Thursday.

Only the 1930s had slower growth, Perry said.

The national population now stands at more than 331.4 million.

The Hearst Texas Data Visualization Team contributed to this report.

pohare@express-news.net | Twitter: Peggy_OHare
Until recent weeks, I had never imagined Gov. Greg Abbott to be politically vulnerable in Texas.

With a knack for appearing centrist and reasonable, even though he is neither of these things, Abbott routinely polls as one of the most, if not the most, popular politicians in the state, and his campaign bank account is loaded.

Just think of the 2018 election. While then-U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke lost to Sen. Ted Cruz by just under 3 points and little-known Democrat Mike Collier came within 5 points of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Abbott trounced challenger Lupe Valdez by more than 13 points.

He is a formidable incumbent who has built a national following, but his grave mishandling of the pandemic has upended this aura of invulnerability. His refusal to allow local officials and school districts to mandate masks and vaccines  as hospitals overflow with COVID patients and kids return to school, many of whom are too young to be vaccinated  is stomach-turning. But, hey, for some, nothing says liberty like a packed ICU.

To appease the fringe of ones political party by risking the health and safety of children too young to be vaccinated is political calculus of the grotesque. More fundamentally, though, Abbott represents a state government that has made clear  be it the pandemic, this winters deadly freeze or the failure to expand Medicaid  it does not care whether Texans live or die.

Billy Calzada /Staff Photographer

On ExpressNews.com: Brodesky: Abbott governing to base at the expense of the rest

And this is exactly why former House Speaker Joe Straus, who helped build the Republican Party in Texas, should run for governor as an independent. And if Straus were to run as an independent, Democrats, who championed country before party during the Trump years, should support him by not running a candidate for governor. Instead, party stars such as ORourke and former San Antonio Mayor and Housing Secretary Julian Castro should back Straus.

Ill return to this point in a moment, but lets talk about Straus, who could win a statewide general election for the very reasons he would lose a statewide Republican primary.

Despite whatever limiting political bubbles we might live in, Texas is a vast and diverse state with competing interests, perspectives and priorities. And here is Straus, a proven bipartisan leader. As a five-time speaker of the House  2009 to 2019  he governed with the support of Republicans and Democrats, and in his post-elected life, he continues to stump for bipartisanship.

He also exudes compassion at a time of cynicism. I was struck by this section in an op-ed he wrote for the Dallas Morning News condemning the political bullying of transgender people:

Listening with humility and believing peoples experiences can transform the political into the personal, he wrote. Officeholders should work to create opportunities for Texans to advance in the world, not the other way around. Elected officials make Texas better for their constituents when they listen to and learn from experts in their fields, and when they listen to and learn from families about their own lives  especially when those families experiences are unfamiliar to them.

The magic of a Straus candidacy is that such empathy applies across the board. Imagine the states pandemic response under Straus, or how the grid might have been reformed to serve markets and people. Consider his commitment to investing in education and business development as a commitment to prosperity for all.

It is next to impossible to win as an independent, but not impossible. In this case, it would likely require some arms-length coordination with Democrats in a state flirting with going from red to purple. But independent is the only way to go.

First, Straus is neither a Democrat nor a liberal. He ran U.S. Rep Lamar Smiths first congressional campaign back in 1986. In 2016, state Rep. Lyle Larson, a conservative from San Antonio, wrote an op-ed championing Straus conservative leadership.

But he is also no longer welcome with the base of the Republican Party, having been censured by the GOP at the end of his term as speaker, not voting for former President Donald Trump, and often taking stances in opposition to Patrick and Abbott.

For Democrats, a Straus run as an independent is their best chance. ORourke and Castro are too liberal for a statewide run, and a second-tier candidate offers nothing. Plus, Straus aligns with Collier, a disaffected Republican.

On ExpressNews.com: Brodesky: Who will step up as GOP stomps on voters?

For Republicans no longer at home in their own party, Straus is the only option. If Straus were to unify Democrats, disaffected Republicans and independents, he would reshape Texas politics.

Straus should run because a window of opportunity has opened. He should run simply to give a credible alternative to Abbott. But, most importantly, he should run because the principles he has governed by are the ones most Texans should embrace.

jbrodesky@express-news.net
Jan. 6 was one of the darkest days for our nation. A despicable day that history will view with shame. But the alternate history insurrection apologists are peddling might be more frightening.

Rather than calling it what it was  an insurrection  and supporting a bipartisan commission to fully investigate, most Republican lawmakers have downplayed Jan. 6, looking away from how President Donald Trumps rhetoric and actions incited the attack.

They continue to minimize the mob violence even as reports that high-ranking officials, including Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, worried that the outgoing president was attempting a coup.

Lets pause. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was concerned about a coup. In the United States. In 2021.

Yet instead of uniting to find the ground truth of the tumultuous period between Nov. 3 and Jan. 6, Republicans have doubled down on the Big Lie about massive voter fraud while also whitewashing the narrative of the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol.

On ExpressNews.com: Lingle: Militarys imperfect path led to common ground

Its particularly troubling most Republican lawmakers who are military veterans have placed their partys agenda ahead of their oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

In the immediate aftermath of Jan. 6, many  myself included  thought we would see an effort akin to the 9/11 Commission. Instead, we slid into a mess of obstructionism and obfuscation that has hobbled members of Congress in reaching consensus on how to investigate an attack that directly targeted them.

An important tenant of the military is candid, clear-eyed feedback to learn, quash bad habits, foster attention to detail and maintain safety. In healthy units, the practice empowers everyone to point out risky situations, mistakes and threats. Thats one reason pilots spend hours debriefing even their simplest missions. And the military relentlessly investigates mishaps and misconduct. These safeguards are woven into the culture.

So, one would think lawmakers who served in the military  and lived in this culture  would be the first to support a full and transparent investigation to ensure an insurrection never happens again. Instead, most House Republican lawmakers with military ties have saluted House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy in an ongoing campaign to chill candid dialogue about Jan. 6.

On ExpressNews.com: Commentary: Transparency, listening would unite military, civilians

Thankfully, we have the House Select Committee on the Jan. 6 attack, and at least one Republican military veteran, Adam Kinzinger, is speaking with truth and conviction.

Like all Americans, I am frustrated that six months after a deadly riot breached the United States Capitol for several hours on live television  we still dont know exactly what happened, he said in emotional opening comments July 27. Why? Because many in my party have treated this as just another partisan fight. Its toxic, and its a disservice to the officers and their families, to the staff and employees on the Capitol Complex, and to the American people who deserve the truth.

He blasted his colleagues counternarrative to discredit the investigation, particularly the argument that Congress didnt investigate the riots in cities across the country during the summer of 2020. Turns out Kinzinger, an Air National Guard pilot, was called up to serve during the unrest. Despite the violence and destruction, he said, not once did I ever feel that the future of self-government was threatened like I did on January 6th.

Texas nine Republican representatives who are veterans havent rallied to support Kinzinger. None have fully supported Congress efforts to investigate the attack.

Navy vet Tony Gonzales, who represents Texas sprawling 23rd Congressional District, as well as Marine vet Van Taylor, who represents the 3rd Congressional District, initially broke ranks from their party to support the bipartisan committee but later back-pedaled and voted against the House select committee. What changed?

On ExpressNews.com: Commentary: Some soldierly advice in war against COVID-19

The rest of the vet contingent among Texas Republican representatives  Brian Babin, Daniel Crenshaw, Pat Fallon, Louie Gohmert, Ronny Jackson, Troy Nehls and August Pfluger, my Air Force Academy classmate  stayed true to party lines and voted against the House select committee.

Many of these officials continue to defend the twice-impeached former president. Some worked for him. Jackson was Trumps doctor, and Pfluger served on his national security council.

History will not look kindly upon betting big on the Big Lie and minimizing the insurrection.

Its time to stop the outrage and conspiracies that fuel violence and division in our country, and most importantly, we need to reject those that promote it, said Kinzinger. As a country, its time to learn from our past mistakes, rebuild stronger so this never happens again, and move onward.

Kinzinger remembered his oath to the Constitution and is working to find common ground. Too bad he is the only one.

brandon.lingle@express-news.net
The Dallas, Austin and Fort Worth school districts, along with Houston-area districts, have implemented mask mandates for all school personnel and students despite Gov. Greg Abbotts executive order that bans any government entity from enforcing a mask or vaccine mandate.

Rigid state-level mandates, such as a ban on mask mandates, do not make Texas schools safer, and more districts should follow the lead of these superintendents by reinstating a mask mandate to protect children during this alarming COVID-19 surge.

More than 11,000 COVID-19 patients in Texas are now hospitalized  more than the number of people hospitalized last year when the state implemented a statewide mask mandate.

It is true that the current COVID-19 surge has not affected all communities the same. For example, El Paso has much lower rates of hospitalization than Austin and Dallas, where hospitals have few available beds for patients. The variation in COVID-19 infections across the state means that school districts should make decisions about mask mandates based on local information and input.

All districts should consider a mask mandate. We dont know which community might be hit hard next. Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston has diagnosed approximately 15,000 children with COVID-19 since the pandemic began, with about 10 percent of those children ending up in hospitals  a third of those in critical care. Doctors and researchers are still not sure what might be the long-term effects of COVID-19 for children or adults.

Due to the highly contagious delta variant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized the benefit of in-person learning but recommended universal indoor masking (for) all students (ages 2 and older), staff, teachers, and visitors of K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. The recommendation by the CDC is for all schools, not just communities experiencing a surge. Texas should follow the recommendation.

Abbott has argued that Texans have the individual right and responsibility to decide for themselves and their children whether they will wear masks.

We believe a policy that values parental rights in a large state like Texas would allow parents to decide at the local level, where their voices can truly be heard.

Other governors have banned mask mandates, but as COVID-19 cases surged, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson has worked to eliminate this ban, reflecting, In hindsight, I wish that (a ban on mask mandates) had not become law.

It is a shame that masking has been made into a political issue. Many Republican governors have reinstated mask mandates for schools or allowed local districts to make decisions, such as those in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Perhaps these states have also recognized that individual parental rights should not be the singular priority of policy.

We need to keep in mind that superintendents are responsible for the health and safety of all employees and students, which means individual parental rights cannot override the rights of other parents, children and personnel whose lives may be at greater risk from COVID-19. For example, parents of children with compromised immune systems may feel differently from some other parents. School personnel who are pregnant or raising small children currently ineligible to receive the vaccine may feel they are putting their families in jeopardy by going to work with no mask during a serious surge.

This fall marks the third school year affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and every precaution must be taken. One of us was a school administrator and recalls the worst possible day as an educator: learning of an eighth-grade students passing, having to tell faculty members and students, and grieving. We are pained to think of educators and children going through such an ordeal because of a ban on mask mandates during a surge.

Now is the time to demand that state leaders use the best available science and evidence to protect our children. Masks save lives, COVID-19 is once again raging, and the loss of one child that could be prevented by a mask is one too many.

David DeMatthews is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Texas at Austin. David S. Knight is an assistant professor of education finance and policy at the University of Washington.
No, Chicken Little, the sky is not falling  contrary to what shrill naysayers from the right and the left would have you believe. Gov. Greg Abbott set a steady course since his election nearly seven years ago, and his re-election in 2022 will continue the Texas legacy of a safer, freer and more prosperous state.

He has expanded opportunities for hardworking Texans; prioritized solutions for the border, crime, education and COVID; and protected communities, as well as our freedoms. The Lone Star State has always stood for smaller government and maximum liberty  values Abbott believes in and yet is criticized for.

If Abbott is so bad, why is everyone moving here? Texas has gained nearly 4 million new residents in the last decade  so many that our state will receive two more members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

If Abbott is so bad, why is our state economy the envy of the world? If Texas were its own country, its economy would be ranked ninth-largest in the world. More than 500,000 jobs have been created since Abbott became governor, and our cost-of-living numbers are substantially lower than the national average.

If Abbott is so bad, why are we the top energy-producing state? Texas produces 43 percent of the nations crude oil, 26 percent of natural gas, 28 percent of wind power and more electricity than any other state.

On ExpressNews.com: Brodesky: Abbott governing to base at the expense of the rest

If Abbott is so bad, why do other states copy our election laws? Texas was the first state to offer early voting in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and will expand to more days next year if the Democrats return to Texas and perform their legislative duties. Currently, all but six states now have early voting, and President Joe Bidens home state of Delaware will finally add early voting in 2022. Texas and 35 other states require some form of ID when voting, which is approved by 4 out of 5 Americans, including Democrats at 62 percent and nonwhites at 84 percent.

If we want this prosperity to continue, we should reward Abbott with another four years.

Those opposing the governor would make the case Texas is on the wrong track. The challenge to all who complain: The things you want to change are not going to make Texas better. Electing a Democrat will put us on a fast track to become the next failed California.

Lets examine how Democrat policies fail Texas. An AWOL president is responsible for creating the chaos on the border with Mexico. Biden has opened the door to a historic surge of migrants during a deadly pandemic, with nearly 20 percent testing positive for COVID upon leaving Border Patrol custody for deportation or transfer to other governmental or nongovernmental organizations, according to news reports.

The Biden administrations hypocrisy is rich. Lawbreakers are treated better than American citizens and others entering the United States legally. They must test negative for COVID-19 before boarding a flight from a foreign country, but migrants dont have to prove anything.

This is lawless overreach by an out-of-control president. He has brought us to a moment of real peril with a humanitarian crisis, a public safety crisis, a health crisis, a security crisis, a crime crisis and  yes  a political crisis. For any Democrat to criticize Abbott for attempting to uphold the laws of the land is a double standard. If the federal government wont act, then the state must  and Abbott will.

On ExpressNews.com: Commentary: Abbott's order may lead to suffering, but not liability

Yes, Chicken Little, the sky is falling  but not in Texas. The sky is falling in Democratic-controlled states and cities where local authorities defund police and refuse to put down riots. Without law and order, we cannot pursue happiness.

Who are the announced and likely opponents at this point in the governors race? Three short-term legislators and a folksy Hollywood actor  all empty-suit opportunists. Looking at the four of them, Abbott deserves our vote.

Governing is hard, but Abbott will fight to continue the freedoms and opportunities for all races, religions, ages and sexes to get a fair shot at the limitless potential that is Texas.

Thank you, Abbott. Stay the course. We trust you to keep Chicken Little on the other side of the road.

After working on the legislative affairs staff in the Reagan White House, Nancy Palmer returned to San Antonio and taught government and journalism at John Jay High School.
I am frustrated that we, as a community, have not been able to stamp out COVID-19.

We came very close as vaccines rolled out and mask mandates were in effect. I was hopeful that by now the pandemic would have been a thing of the past, at least in San Antonio. We know what works  vaccines, social distancing and masking.

As a former teacher, I also know children must return to in-person learning. However, I cannot in good conscience send children who are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine back to school without the basic precaution of a mask.

On Tuesday, District Court Judge Antonia Arteaga granted a temporary restraining order restoring our city and county governments local authority to protect the health and safety of our residents. During a council meeting last week, I called for action to enable the city to reinstitute mask mandates at government facilities. Im pleased Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff took the necessary steps to mandate masks as thousands of kids return to school.

Our city charter clearly outlines that the city may sue in the best interests of its residents, to promote the welfare and health and safety of city residents, even if it means suing our own state government. At least for now, Gov. Greg Abbotts claimed authority to prevent local governments from enacting proven measures to mitigate the pandemic is put on hold. The Texas Legislature specifically gives the power to local governments to enact these measures during an emergency. A governor cannot simply take away local control without expecting a fight.

Abbott is hanging his hat on Government Code Chapter 418: Emergency Management as his authority to ban local governments from mandating masks. Abbotts emergency powers provision states its No. 1 purpose is to reduce vulnerability of people and communities of this state to damage, injury, and loss of life and property resulting from natural or man-made catastrophes.

It appears to me, and now a growing number of Texas courts, that his order is a direct contradiction of the law that empowers him in times of emergency because it prohibits city and county governments and school districts from initiating Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and various health professionals recommendations necessary for the public health and safety of their residents.

As a parent, grandparent and former teacher, I especially share the concerns of parents, families, teachers, administrators and all people involved with the education of our children about the lack of protections for the hundreds of thousands of children set to congregate in classrooms in our community and across this state. It is unconscionable that this governors overreach prevents even basic attempts to protect the health and safety of our children, and it will directly contribute to serious illnesses or death for students and families across the state.

As an elected official for the city of San Antonio and a representative of all our residents, I wholeheartedly support the actions taken to stay Abbotts order and strike down his dangerous and clearly politically motivated actions.

I believe Abbotts order is aimed at garnering political support from a narrow-minded segment of the states electorate, to ensure their undying allegiance to his primary re-election as governor and his dreams to run for president. That may serve his ego, but it doesnt have anything to do with the health, safety and best interests of the residents of our community or our state, which he has sworn to serve.

John Courage is the city councilman for District 9.
There is a crisis in Texas that deserves the governors full attention, but its not on the U.S.-Mexico border.

No, the crisis burning across our state, endangering lives, upending the start of school, filling hospitals, disrupting commerce and dividing Texans is the surging delta variant of COVID-19. And Gov. Greg Abbott has responded to this crisis by using all the powers of his office to muzzle local officials from enacting mask and vaccine mandates.

The only urgency he has shown as Texans die from COVID-19 is in regard to the U.S.-Mexico border. After President Joe Biden slammed Abbott for his order on mask and vaccine mandates, the governor responded with talking points about immigration and the border.

As he has tweeted: While the Biden administration is contemplating more draconian controls on U.S. citizens, they are allowing illegal migrants with COVID to freely enter America.

Its a point he reiterated on Fox News: Biden, he said, has one standard trying to mask up and vaccinate our fellow Americans, but by allowing free pass into the United States of people with a high probability of COVID and then spreading that COVID up in our communities, as has been shown in the Rio Grande Valley, so what the Biden administration is doing is deadly and dangerous and must be stopped.

On ExpressNews.com: Commentary: COVID, too, is going back to school

Look in the mirror, governor. Have you no shame?

There is much to unpack here, but this type of rhetoric is rooted in the xenophobic trope of outsiders carrying diseases. Its the type of language that historically has been hurled at Jewish, Italian, Irish and Asian immigrants. And its neither accurate nor fair.

There is patchwork testing of migrants, and those who are seeking asylum are tested for COVID. Beyond this, the Biden administration has maintained a cruel Trump-era policy, commonly known as Title 42, to expel migrants and asylum-seekers due to concerns about COVID. More than 500,000 such expulsions were made between February and June, according to Factcheck.org. These are migrants who never leave Border Patrol processing stations. And its hard to see how migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border play much of a role in COVID surges in Florida, Arkansas, Missouri and Louisiana.

The reality is there is plenty of homegrown COVID in Texas  something we should all own since our governor is the champion of personal responsibility  and Abbotts laissez-faire stance on masks and vaccines has been deadly and dangerous.

Abbotts border posturing fits a familiar playbook, not just mirroring Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis or former President Donald Trump but reviving the ugly politics in Arizona with SB 1070. His recent executive order  temporarily blocked by a federal judge  would allow state troopers to pull over anyone believed to be transporting migrants who potentially may be spreading COVID-19.

Its hard to imagine how this might be done without racial profiling. Abbott would gladly violate civil liberties to prevent the spread of COVID, but he wont let school districts mandate masks. How does that keep Texans safe?

This is right out of the playbook for SB 1070  the show me your papers law. Its also reminiscent of disgraced former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whose deputies used traffic stops to target and brutalize immigrants.

On ExpressNews.com: Ayala: Texas' Abbott and Florida's DeSantis in a race to the bottom on COVID safety

As Abbott seeks a third term as Texas governor, and receives national attention that could prelude a presidential campaign, its clear he will play immigration for all it is worth.

He has his symbolic fence on a patch of private property in the Valley, where he can arrest immigrants on trespassing charges. He has made unfounded allegations of sexual assault and child abuse at a temporary migrant shelter at Freeman Coliseum, and he has ordered the suspension of child care licenses for those federally funded shelters that house migrant children.

We can only assume Abbott sees short-term political gain in such cynical and calculated actions. But he would do well to think of the long game and remember that SB 1070 brought ignominy to Arizona, and that Arpaio and former Arizona state Sen. Russell Pearce, the author of SB 1070, eventually lost their elections.

For the sake of all Texans, such a day for Abbott cant come soon enough.
Infrastructure requires solid building material  bricks-and-mortar and, perhaps most important, workmanship.

The same is true, metaphorically, of the legislation to create infrastructure.

Which is harder to achieve?

We saw the answer play out in real time.

For years, perhaps most pronounced since President Barack Obama entered the White House, partisanship has trumped policy, with any bill proposed by one side almost automatically derided by the other.

The divisions between Republicans and Democrats on fundamental political values  on government, race, immigration, national security, environmental protection, and other areas  reached record levels during Barack Obamas presidency, according to a report by the Pew Research Center in 2017. In Donald Trumps first year as president, these gaps have grown even larger.

Infrastructure imploded that theory. The most hardened naysayer, summoning all the partisanship at his or her command, had a hard time arguing against the restoration of our roads, freeways and bridges. Who wanted to see the nation crumble? And yet for years, a deal on infrastructure was perpetually out of reach, becoming something of a running joke in Washington.

At long last, the Senate passed the massive bill Tuesday. It was a slog, with months of often contentious debate. Yet despite easy passage in the Senate  60-39, with 19 Republicans voting in favor  the bill faces petty resistance in the House.

What we saw during the last three weeks, however, was unique. Both sides united to act on the $1.2 trillion, 2,702-page infrastructure bill that addresses roads, railways and lead water pipes. Washington had eyed infrastructure for years, but only until recently was the talk partnered with action.

The bill proved so popular that the most intransigent Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, voted to pass the legislation. This earned him the scorn of former President Donald Trump.

I have quietly said for years that Mitch McConnell is the most overrated man in politics  now I dont have to be quiet anymore, Trump said.

Despite the passage, which he viewed as a betrayal, the former president had his allies, including the two Texas senators, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, who voted against the bill even though it would provide $30 billion to address Texas needs.

Partisanship is embedded in the fabric of this Congress, and nothing is ever as smooth as it seems, as debate dragged on for weeks.

The back-and-forth was furious. As McConnell strode to the podium for his weekly press conference on Aug. 3, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer cut him off, chuckling as he looked back at his rival. The top Democrat followed this bizarre move with a succinct statement.

The prerogatives of the majority, Schumer said.

Some Republicans complained that the bill contained items that had nothing to do with infrastructure, including health care and internet access  features they viewed as partisan trickery.

In the end, McConnell capitulated, infuriating Trump, who had once hoped to pass his own infrastructure bill. He tried to hold Infrastructure Weeks during his administration, but the promotions collapsed among the various scandals and controversies that defined his presidency. What looked like a popular piece of legislation crumbled like the roads and highways it was meant to repair.

Going forward, the bill faces stiffer opposition in the House, where some members are invested more heavily in the mammoth budget bill to come. It would be ironic if the president faced more opposition from his own party. But it could happen. This is the newest brand of partisanship.
My hat is off to Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson for his intelligence, common sense and logic to realize things change and to have the character, integrity and courage to change his position regarding mask mandates.

Meanwhile, it appears Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have replaced the Abbott and Costello comedy team. Of course, this is not funny at all. It is sad, and the painful joke is on the people who are precluded from protecting themselves, or those who wantonly fail to protect themselves and contract the virus, and those people, often loved ones, who are inadvertently, needlessly or foolishly infected.

Meanwhile, I feel very sorry for anyone who is impacted in any way by COVID. However, I am willing to take a (third) vaccination shot in the place of someone who refuses to be vaccinated.

Gregory C. Meyer

Abbott a lightweight

Re: Suffer the little children, our governor decrees, Other Views, Cary Clack, Sunday:

Cruel, craven and small are words Clack used in his recent column about Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Truer words were never written.

They describe an absolute lightweight potential presidential candidate. And a laughable one, at that. Abbotts dreams are just that. Let us not make them our nightmare.

Christine M. Crowley

No lifeguard on duty

Columnist Cary Clack used a great analogy that describes perfectly Gov. Greg Abbotts bizarre decision to ban local governments from enforcing mask mandates: Its like a lifeguard refusing to save a drowning child, then preventing anyone else from saving the child.

Unbelievable to think a governor could issue such a ban. How irresponsible!

Sister Jean Durel
On a recent summer day, Noah Lipman sat in his classroom at Highlands High School, waiting to see if a student or two might show up for the voluntary summer writing class he was scheduled to teach.

No one did. But judging by the decor on the walls, students might wish that they had.

Hanging on the back wall were three large posters, each with a congratulatory message applauding the social studies teacher for campus, district and regional recognitions he earned the previous school year. And pinned on bulletin boards around the room were dozens, if not hundreds, of photos of Mr. Lipman grinning with recently graduated students.

In most of the photos, Lipman is in a custom-made suit, the shirt pocket monogrammed with his initials. He wears the same outfit on this summer day  he has worn it every single day through 17 years of teaching.

I come to education a little differently than most people, he says when asked how he ended up teaching high school on San Antonios East Side.

From the front of the classroom, Lipmans voice resonates with a gruff New York accent, which gives the impression that he just walked off the set of The Wolf of Wall Street.

On ExpressNews.com: These San Antonio twins moved through high school as one - to the top of their class

Lipman, 62, landed in the Alamo City after more than 10 years teaching high school and college in Long Branch, New Jersey, which followed a decades-long career as a criminal defense lawyer in lower Manhattan.

Education is professional, just like practicing law, he says. I wont try cases in court without a suit and tie on; Im not walking into my classroom without a suit and tie on. That sets a tone, it really does.

Kin Man Hui /Staff photographer

Lipman has made a reputation as the type of teacher who doesnt mess around, yet students gravitate toward him. He sets high standards but is keenly aware of the challenges many of them face, and he goes out of his way to make sure they know those hardships dont define them.

Hes tough as nails with his expectations of them, said Lipmans principal, Penny Pruitt. But hes funny, hes nice and hes just a good person. It doesnt get any better than that, right?

Those qualities earned him a place in SA Lights, an Express-News initiative that for 12 weeks will honor people who are making a difference in education, housing, food security and economic innovation.

Lipman teaches Advanced Placement U.S. History, AP U.S. Government and Politics, and AP macroeconomics, as well as regular government and economics classes. Over the years, hes become a champion for the College Board, the national nonprofit that runs the AP model, spending much of his time outside of school consulting for it and training educators around the country.

Ive become, basically, somebody whos devoted to what College Board does, and that is closing the achievement gap in America, or at least attempting to, Lipman said. Weve made some progress, but theres a lot of progress left to be made.

Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox

College Board leaders can be credited with Lipmans arrival in San Antonio. They saw the way he had turned around his New Jersey schools AP program and challenged him to do the same at Highlands, where almost no student in the previous 10 years had passed the AP exam for any of the subjects he teaches, Lipman said.

Now, Highlands, where about 90 percent of students are economically disadvantaged, has the highest AP scores in the San Antonio Independent School District for all three of his subjects, Pruitt said. Lipman also started Highlands mock trial team, which won regionals and placed 17th in the state last year.

One member of that team, Johnathan Rodriguez, a recent graduate said Lipman was a lot different than many of my other teachers, especially because at Highlands the culture is very different.

He really pushed us, Rodriguez, 18, said. Its kind of this attitude of not wanting to settle for less.

Lipman long ago decided to only teach in high schools where a majority of students are economically disadvantaged. Its a way to support students who may need more help and guidance, but Lipman said he makes it clear to them that hes not going to go easy.

I enjoy working with students who can achieve a potential most people dont think they can have. But it requires work, Lipman said. I keep (expectations) the same and that means that some students will fail. That is unfortunate, but that is life, and Id rather you fail now and succeed later than pass now and fail in life.

On ExpressNews.com: Alamo Colleges expands offer of free tuition to thousands more high school seniors

The drive to help students who may have a harder time excelling in school came from his own experience.

Growing up in a single-parent household in New York City public housing was tough, Lipman said. He attended a majority-minority trade school and later worked his way through college and part of law school, where he had teachers and professors who helped him land scholarships and find his way.

Today, Lipman pays it forward. His students say he helps them find scholarships and apply to college, gives them bits of legal advice if they or a relative need it, and makes himself available at all times.

After working out at 5 a.m. every day, the former competitive triathlete gets to school around 6:30 a.m. and stays in his classroom until about 7 p.m., his door open to anyone who wants to come in for extra help, or just to chat.

When hes not traveling, hiking or seeing a show at the Majestic Theatre, Lipman will host Saturday sessions, where he greets students who show up with extra credit opportunities and breakfast tacos  a treat he first discovered when he moved to San Antonio, he said.

If you put in the work, I will take care of you, and thats basically my attitude towards education, Lipman said.

Daniel Ochoa, 17, took AP classes with Lipman and finished in the top 10 of his senior class. But toward the end of the school year, he struggled to maintain his high grades while working to support his family, and talked to Lipman about it.

Knowing that Ochoa had a penchant for music, Lipman proposed a creative project to bump his grade. Ochoa would have to write, produce and record 15 rap songs, each one about a different landmark Supreme Court case that students had to understand as part of the AP Government and Politics curriculum.

Ochoa spent five days working on the project. The songs were so good, Lipman said, that he played a couple of them for a group of teachers he was training in North Carolina a few weeks later as an example of how students might engage with the course content in a more exciting way than just cramming from a textbook and writing an essay.

It felt like I was really being supported by somebody, said Ochoa, who received a scholarship to study civil engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.

On ExpressNews.com: 'Performance declines are noticeable' - STAAR results show retreat, disparities in student scores during pandemic

Over here, all the other teachers are like, Youre a good student, we dont have to worry about you, but then Mr. Lipman, hes the one whos actually there supporting me and like, Hey, why did your grade slip by one point? Ochoa added. It can be annoying, but at the same time, I know hes just trying to make me do my best.

Lipman has also been praised by students for his willingness to lead conversations in the classroom about important and sometimes controversial topics. He has made time in class for discussions about current events, finance, abortion, immigration and health care, said Dayanh Rubio, 18, a recent graduate.

I thought that was really impressive, especially since were a Title I school and social issues are a lot more prominent, Rubio said, referring to a federal law that defines poverty thresholds for school funding programs. It was nice that this white guy from New York is aware of these social issues, because most people his age probably wouldnt be.

Many teachers might avoid those conversations for fear of offending students or others, she said, but Lipman created an environment where students felt comfortable asking uncomfortable questions.

Obviously, he didnt force you to choose a side; he just wanted you to know that whatever side you do eventually choose, you have to know enough to back it up, Rubio said.

Before his new graduates start college or work this summer, Lipman will meet with them one final time to celebrate their passing scores on the AP exams. Theyll choose a local restaurant and, per Lipmans longstanding policy, dinner rates will be a meritocracy: Those who got a 3 out of 5 on their exam will bring $10 and Lipman will cover the rest. Students who got a 4 must bring $5 and those who earned a 5 will get a free meal.

Its consistent with the style that makes Lipman so effective. He can seem intimidating at first, but once you get to know him, students said, you understand that behind those high expectations is a level of honesty, respect and understanding that drives students to want to do well, whatever their circumstances.

A kid picks up real quick whether youre fake or not, Lipman said. Kids are very bright when it comes to that and I try to be as real as possible.

andy.picon@hearst.com | Twitter: @andpicon
The Census Bureau on Thursday issued its long-awaited portrait of how the U.S. has changed over the past decade, releasing a trove of demographic data that will be used to redraw political maps across an increasingly diverse country. The data will also shape how $1.5 trillion in federal spending is distributed each year.

Here are five takeaways from the latest census figures:

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WHITE POPULATION DECLINED FOR FIRST TIME ON RECORD

A U.S. headcount has been carried out every decade since 1790, and this was the first one in which the non-Hispanic white population nationwide got smaller, shrinking from 196 million in 2010 to 191 million in 2020.

The data also showed that the share of the white population fell from 63.7% in 2010 to 57.8% in 2020, the lowest on record, though white people continue to be the most prevalent racial or ethnic group. In California, Hispanics became the largest racial or ethnic group, growing from 37.6% to 39.4%, while the share of white people dropped from 40.1% to 34.7%.

Some demographers cautioned that the white population was not shrinking as much as shifting to multiracial identities. The number of people who identified as belonging to two or more races more than tripled from 9 million people in 2010 to 33.8 million in 2020. They now account for 10% of the U.S. population.

People who identify as a race other than white, Black, Asian, American Indian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander  either alone or in combination with one of those races  jumped to 49.9 million people, surpassing the Black population of 46.9 million people as the nations second-largest racial group, according to the Census Bureau.

But demographers said that may have to do with Hispanic uncertainty about how to answer the race question on the census form.

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THE U.S. BECAME MORE URBAN

Almost all of the growth of the past 10 years happened in metropolitan areas. More people in smaller counties moved to larger counties. Around 80% of metropolitan areas saw population gains, while less than half of the smaller so-called micropolitan areas did.

Phoenix was the fastest-growing of the nations top 10 cities. It moved from sixth to fifth, trading places with Philadelphia, which is now the nations sixth-largest city.

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DECLINE IN CHILDREN; ADULTS TAKE LARGER SHARE

The share of children in the U.S. declined because of falling birth rates, while it grew for adults, driven by aging baby boomers. Adults over age 18 made up more than three-quarters of the population in 2020, or 258.3 million people, an increase of more than 10% from 2010. However, the population of children under age 18 dropped from 74.2 million in 2010 to 73.1 million in 2020, a 1.4% decrease. Nationwide, children under age 18 now make up around 22% of the population, but it varies by region. The Northeast had the smallest proportion of people under age 18, around 20%, while the South had the largest at 22.5%.

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SKYROCKETING HISPANIC AND ASIAN GROWTH

The nation's 7.4% percent growth rate over the decade, the smallest since the Great Depression, largely was propelled by a Hispanic boom. The Hispanic population grew by almost a quarter over the decade. By comparison, the non-Hispanic growth rate was 4.3%. Hispanics stood at 62.1 million residents in 2020, or 18.7% of the U.S. population, up from 16.3% in 2010. The most Hispanic growth was in Florida, Texas, New York, Illinois and California.

Meanwhile, Asian growth jumped more than a third over the decade, rising to 24 million people in 2020.

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RAPID GROWTH IN UNEXPECTED PLACES, LOSSES IN PUERTO RICO AND WEST VIRGINIA

Among all U.S. metro areas, the fastest-growing one was in The Villages, the Florida retirement community built on former cow pastures. Other fast-growing areas in the U.S. were fueled by the energy boom, particularly in North Dakota, where McKenzie County was the country's fastest-growing county. Its population increased by 131% from 2010 to 2020. Nearby Williams County, North Dakota, grew by 83%.

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Associated Press Writer Astrid Galvan in Phoenix contributed to this report.

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Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP
As the mayors of Connecticuts largest cities use the authority granted to them by Gov. Ned Lamont to institute mask mandates, many of their suburban counterparts in the area will not be following suit.

At least, not yet.

Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said shes encouraging residents wear masks indoors per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, but stopped short of issuing a mandate.

Since Fairfields positivity rate is low and our vaccination rate is high and continues to grow, I will not be instituting a mask mandate at this time, she said. I will continue to monitor the situation with our health director and emergency management director.

Fairfields vaccination rate was 68.3 percent as of Aug. 4, she said, adding vaccination is the most important defense against severe illness and hospitalization from COVID-19.

The Griffin Health mobile vaccination van will be in Fairfield from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 17 at Greenfield Hill Congregational Church, 1045 Old Academy Road. It will have out both Pfizer, which is approved for ages 12 and older, and Johnson & Johnson, which is approved for ages 18 and older.

Kupchick said the current state policy doesnt require masks outdoors or for vaccinated individuals indoors. Unvaccinated people must still wear masks under the policy, as well as everyone in certain settings, such as healthcare facilities, public transportation, correctional facilities, schools, childcare and places housing vulnerable populations.

Businesses have the option to require masks be worn by everyone in their establishments.

I have already witnessed an increased use of masks indoors throughout our community, Kupchick said.

Ansonia, Derby, Trumbull and Stratford have also not issued masking mandates.

Bridgeport , New Haven and Stamford , meanwhile, have all instituted some form of citywide vaccine mandates for businesses and public places. This has meant crossing borders will now lead to different mask requirements  even for businesses with multiple locations in the state.

Such a sporadic approach, with mask rules changing by town or from one street to the next along a municipal border, can put business owners in a tough spot.

Martin McCarthy operates the Fire Engine Pizza Co. in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport. Its location near the Fairfield line means his restaurant must require masks, while other eateries a one-minute drive south on Fairfield Avenue do not.

How are you going to have it here in Bridgeport and not in Fairfield? Theres no continuity, McCarthy said. I will follow the rules. But now I have to play COVID cop again or pay another person to stand at the front door at all times and risk the ridicule.

McCarthy also has a Shelton location of Fire Engine Pizza Co., and while the staff and patrons at the Bridgeport location are wearing masks, in Shelton they arent.

He would like to see an across-the-board state mandate which, he said, would ease the burden of enforcement on businesses. Informing customers that they must wear a mask has the potential to quickly escalate into a hostile confrontation, he said.

Ive been swung at, he said. I make good food and beverages. Im not a police officer.

Wayne Pesce, president of the Connecticut Food Association, shares McCarthys concerns. Last year, just days into the pandemic, the association helped craft agreed-upon state regulations for supermarkets to avoid just such a confusing patchwork of rules.

He said a statewide mandate would be much easier for his members, particularly chains with stores in multiple towns, to manage. Still, the association so far has not implemented its own mask rule.

We will comply with local ordinances and where we dont (have those), will work with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control guidelines, he said. Thats the bottom line for us.

The Connecticut Restaurant Association, with members in 169 state towns, similarly is not recommending its members adopt a uniform mask rule. Scott Dolch, the groups executive director, said he was worried about how mask mandates would change the perception of people who wanted to go out for dinner.

Does a consumer go, I dont want to go into Bridgeport tonight. Id rather stay in the suburbs, Dolch said. Does it strike a sense of, Bridgeport must be worse if the mayors putting in a mandate? I might need to stay out in the suburbs. Why is Bridgeport having a mandate and not Westport? Is there something I dont know about?

Dolchs message to diners is that, while cases and hospitalizations may be on the rise in Connecticut, the state still has a relatively low infection rate and a relatively high vaccination rate .

Were not Florida. Were not Louisiana. Were not Georgia, he said.

McCarthy anticipated eventually the state would simply re-institute a mask mandate.

Im sure at some point it will all change and be across-the-board, he said. But at what point?

Staff writers Brian Lockhart, Ethan Fry, Eddy Martinez and Brian Gioiele contributed to this report.
FAIRFIELD  The school district is among the newest participants for the Teacher Residency Program this upcoming year.

The program is designed to embrace a different approach to attract and retain teachers of color. An opportunity Fairfield Director of Communications Andrea Clark calls revolutionary,

Fairfield school officials said the Teachers Residency Program falls in line with the districts commitment to increasing staff diversity and is also in line with the states commitment to increasing racial, ethnic and linguistic diversity of Connecticuts teaching workforce.

We are excited to be part of this program, said Colleen Deasy, Fairfields executive director of personnel and legal services. We are continually seeking ways to ensure that our teaching staff reflects the diversity of our community and appreciate how the TRP supports our efforts..

The Teacher Residency Program was approved by the State Department of Education in May 2019. In June of the same year, the program started their first cohort with 12 teachers. Ten of them are currently second year full-time teachers.

The program expanded quickly with the number of the second cohort of teachers reaching 15. However, as the third year approaches, the organization has taken a drastic leap to 46 teachers within 25 different school districts split between four cohorts.

Some of the other districts include Milford, Westport, Darien, Hamden, Stamford and Middlebury and Southbury.

Participating districts join together to create a cohort of teacher trainees who work in the district with a mentor teacher and take classes with others in the cohort. Residents who successfully complete the certification requirements are guaranteed full-time classroom teaching positions in the second school year with their participating district

Fairfield will work with Westport, Darien and Stamford as the Cooperative Education Services cohort.

I would say our success is pretty good, Program Director Marlene Megros said. We are really looking to not only diversify the teaching staff by recruiting and hiring teachers of color across the school district partners that we partner with, but also in helping retain teachers of color in our schools in Connecticut.

Our mission is to diversify staff, but to create inclusive environments within our schools, she added.

Megros said districts become partners because they are interested in diversifying their own staff, as well as ensure they are giving opportunities to those that may already work in their schools, but may not be teachers yet. This includes substitutes, parents or associate directors.

The Teacher Residency Program is a revolutionary method of recruiting, training, certifying, and retaining elementary teachers of color, Clark said. TRP eliminates the typical barriers to certification for teachers of color, like the high cost of graduate school tuition, standardized test requirements, and inadequate preparation for candidates.

The idea is to prioritize minority candidates potential to work with diverse students, provide quality training and minimize barriers to traditional certification programs, she add.
Joseph Odelyn/AP

PORT-AU-PRINCE (AP)  Haitian authorities have postponed elections to choose the successor to assassinated President Jovenel Moise until Nov. 7, a spokesman for the electoral council confirmed Thursday.

Richard Dumel said the nine-member council agreed on Wednesday to the new date for the elections, which were originally to be held Sept. 26. He did not say why the vote was postponed. Haitians will also vote for a new legislative assembly and on a referendum on that date.
HOUSTON (AP)  Texas most populous county on Thursday joined the legal battle by local officials seeking to override Gov. Greg Abbotts ban on mask mandates and institute protections against COVID-19 as hospitals around the state continue to swell with patients sickened by the virus.

Harris County, where Houston is located, first filed a lawsuit against Abbotts executive order banning mask mandates by any state, county or local government entity. A few hours later on Thursday, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced the county health authority had issued an order requiring that people must wear masks when inside any public school, non-religious private school or licensed child care center in the county.

Vaccination remains the primary way to protect our community from COVID-19. However, children 12 and under remain ineligible for the vaccine. At this point, public health interventions like masking, contact tracing and notifications in schools remain their only protection against this virus, said Hidalgo, the top elected official in Harris County, which has 4.7 million residents and is the third most populous U.S. county.

Bexar, Dallas and Fort Bend counties along with San Antonio have also sued Abbot t and have been granted temporary restraining orders that for now let them put mask mandates in place in their communities.

The dispute over mask mandates in Texas comes as COVID-19 hospitalizations continued to rise, increasing to 10,791 on Thursday, the most since Feb. 2. In the past month, hospitalizations have increased by 343%. State health officials reported 120 deaths on Thursday, the most since March 1.

The current wave of the Delta variant presents a real and imminent threat to our most vulnerable populations, and local officials need to be able to respond to this crisis. The governors executive order acknowledges this crisis, and then bans any meaningful action to address it, Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee said in a statement.

Abbott said Wednesday the Texas Disaster Act gives him the power to guide the state through emergencies and the path forward relies on personal responsibilitynot government mandates.

Any school district, public university, or local government official that decides to defy the order will be taken to court, Abbott said.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons office has already asked a state appeals court in Dallas to stay a temporary restraining order granted to Dallas County on Tuesday that is allowing the county to require that masks be worn inside schools, county buildings and businesses.

The lawsuits filed against Abbotts executive order were expected to end up before the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court, which has often ruled in favor of Abbott and Paxton.

In addition to the lawsuits, various school districts around the state have also defied Abbotts executive order and have mandated that students, faculty and staff wear masks as a new school year resumes this month. School districts in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, La Joya, San Antonio and Spring have put in place mask mandates.

Late Thursday afternoon, the Brownsville school district board of trustees approved a mask mandate for its campuses in South Texas. The board announced it also planned to sue Abbott over his executive order.

The superintendent of Houstons school district, the states largest, planned to ask his school board to approve a mask mandate during a Thursday evening meeting.

Officials from hospitals around the state say their facilities are overrun with COVID-19 patients and many dont have enough nurses and other personnel to adequately staff intensive care unit or ICU beds.

In Corpus Christi in South Texas, officials on Thursday began using an ambulance bus, which can care for up to 21 patients, as a temporary emergency room to relieve the current strain on our health care system, said Mayor Paulette Guajardo.

Dr. Rohith Saravanan, chief medical officer at Odessa Regional Medical Center in West Texas, said Thursday the surge of COVID-19 cases has many medical personnel at his hospital feeling defeated as they thought they were winning the battle against the virus, feeling angry that people are not using the tools  vaccines and masks  that are available to beat the virus and feeling depressed because younger individuals are now getting sick.

Nobody wants to go through this again. The hospitals do not want this surge, do not want to take care of these many COVID patients. We are here for you if you need us. But were hoping that youll do your part to make sure this does not get to where its projected to get to, Saravanan said.

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Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70
Authorities with the right to exercise compulsory purchase powers have been accused of being 'unreasonable' and 'unethical' toward tenant farmers.

The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) has slammed acquiring authorities in their treatment of the occupiers of the land they require access to for various projects.

The industry body said there had been 'increasing reports of bullying tactics across the board'.

Be it for high-speed rail, solar energy farms or cabling to support offshore wind farms, land required by acquiring authorities varies.

Government guidance relating to the procedures for the compulsory acquisition of land states that authorities should seek to acquire land by negotiation wherever practicable.

However, some acquiring authorities appeared to be ignoring this guidance completely, the TFA warned.

The group's senior adviser, Caroline Foot said that TFA members across the country were experiencing this poor practice first-hand.

"While the importance of some of these projects is acknowledged, their implementation should not be allowed to be at the expense of Britains farmers," she said.

The law allows for owners and occupiers to be treated and compensated fairly, but the TFA said that procedures in place to raise legitimate concerns were 'expensive' and 'time-consuming'.

It said some land owners and occupiers were 'reluctant' to use these procedures, in turn enabling authorities to 'press on regardless of the devastating impact their schemes can have'.

It makes a mockery of the system for acquiring authorities to be able to rely on not being taken to task for their unreasonable behaviour," Ms Foot explained.

"It shows that something is broken if the procedures are in place, but they are not being used; not because they are not required, but because they are not fit for purpose."

The TFA has called for the dispute resolution procedures to be reassessed so that they could be used effectively where necessary.

Ms Foot added: Something must change so that owners and occupiers are treated fairly and in accordance with the law and guidance in this area.

"The time, hassle and cost involved with raising a legitimate dispute should not allow acquiring authorities to bully their way through the process."
Farmers looking to take advantage of new grant funding opportunities around farm productivity and diversification are being urged to act now ahead of the scheme opening.

The new Farming Investment Fund is set to provide grants to farmers to invest in equipment, technology, and infrastructure that will improve profitability and the environment.

The fund will open in October and will include two strands - being the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund and the Farming Transformation Fund.

Agricultural and property consultancy Fisher German has urged farmers to 'act now' to put plans in motion and make the most of the opportunity.

Grants from the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund will be available towards the purchase cost of a list of specified, pre-determined items.

Grants can be awarded for the purchase of multiple items that are deemed to improve farm productivity, manage water resources or add value to agri-food.

The Farming Transformation Fund's grants will be available towards the cost of more substantial investments in equipment, technology, or infrastructure, with the potential to transform business performance.

Applications will be assessed against their ability to contribute towards the Farming Transformation Fund scheme objectives, which could include making more efficient use of water or using nutrients and pesticides more effectively.

David Kinnersley, of Fisher German, said: While it may be all too easy to concentrate on the decreasing BPS payments, we are urging farmers to consider new grant funding opportunities.

The new Farming Investment Fund will begin to open in October this year, so farming businesses should begin thinking, planning and discussing potential projects which could add value to their current farming operations now."

The BPS reductions witnessed in 2021 will be the lowest set of reductions across the next six to seven year period as the government plans a gradual phasing out of these payments.

Although the payments are decreasing, the overall funding is remaining constant until 2024 and the Farming Investment Fund is one way in which the government intends to redirect funding away from BPS.

Mr Kinnersley said this bought farming businesses time to make alterations to their current business plans in order to add value, reduce cost and drive revenue.

Charlie Fowler, also of Fisher German, added that future grant funding presented a 'fantastic opportunity' for farming businesses looking to improve their productivity.

He said they should be utilised as seed capital to help propel businesses through the difficult period which lied ahead and build foundations for future years.

We would urge any business looking to take advantage of the new grant funding to seek expert advice to discuss the viability of future projects," he added.
Britain's workplace regulator has called for farmers to make safety a priority following four fatalities on farms in the space of just two weeks.

Recent incidents include the death of a three-year-old boy in Wales and a suspected cattle-trampling in Chippenham earlier this week.

There has also been a report of a separate incident involving members of the public being attacked by cattle.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said more must be done to improve farm safety following the incidents.

It comes just three weeks after Farm Safety Week, when HSE issued its 2021 report highlighting the high fatality rate in the farming industry.

Agriculture has the worst rate of fatal injuries of all the major industrial sectors, around 20 times higher than the average five-year annual rate across all industries.

HSEs acting head of agriculture Adrian Hodkinson said most injuries or deaths seen on farms had been 'both predictable and preventable'.

An industry-wide change in attitude is needed for farmers to take action to protect themselves and others to the well-known risks they face," he added.

We have additional factors such as the school holidays and higher numbers of members of the public enjoying the summer weather and walking along public footpaths through fields with cattle.

"But we ask that farmers, farm workers and farming contractors take the right steps to stop these incidents.

"At this time of year, its important to manage risk from livestock and, with harvest well underway, to work safely with farm machinery."

The HSE said there were simple measures workers could take to cut risk, including making sure to switch off machinery power before attempting to carry out repairs and keeping people away from moving vehicles.

It also said that farmers should take steps to ensure dairy bulls and cows with calves were not in fields with public footpaths.

We are urging people who work on farms to make safety a priority and help us to reduce the number of deaths and injuries in the industry," Mr Hodkinson said.

Guidance in managing livestock, reducing the risks to children and the public, and maintaining farm vehicles and machinery is available on the HSE website.

Workers within the sector are also encouraged to seek help and advice from any of the Farm Safety Partnerships or leading farming organisations if they require guidance and support for specific tasks or activities.

Where were the recent fatal incidents?

 Tuesday 27 July: A man died in an apparent fall from height at a farm in Angus, Scotland.

 Tuesday 3 August: A three-year-old boy died following a collision with a vehicle at a farm in Carmarthenshire, South Wales.

 Monday 9 August: A man died in a crushing incident involving a ramp falling from a truck at a farm in Hampshire.

 Tuesday 10 August: A man was found with fatal injuries and surrounded by cattle at a field in Chippenham.
More than 100,000 people have signed a petition calling on the Prime Minister Boris Johnson to save Geronimo the alpaca from being euthanised by Defra.

Geronimo, who was imported from New Zealand, has twice tested positive for bovine TB using the Enferplex blood test, meaning he has to be euthanised under government guidelines.

According to Defra figures, 28,356 animals - the vast majority being cattle - were slaughtered due to a bTB incident in England in the 12 months to March 2021, while 205 camelids were culled in 2020.

But it is Geronimo's case which has received significant media attention. Owner Helen Macdonald believes the two TB tests were false positives, and she has also been refused permission to have a third test.

The veterinary nurse recently lost her final High Court appeal to save the alpaca, and now a warrant has been signed for him to be put down.

She said she will not break the law when government officials attend her farm to euthanise Geronimo, but she added she will not "make it easy".

"I'm not going to be helping them kill an animal that does not need to be killed," she said.

"This is an animal injustice and everyone can relate to it and people are coming from all sectors of farming to support us.

"We can make a difference. Geronimo is the poster boy for doing a better job than what we have done in the past."

This week, campaigners staged a protest outside Downing Street over the issue, while more than 100,000 people have signed a petition calling for the Prime Minister to intervene.

Elsewhere, around 30 people, including fellow alpaca farmers, gathered outside Defras headquarters in Smith Square, Westminster on Monday.

But Mr Johnson's spokesman insisted the order would not be backtracked, adding that Defra secretary George Eustice had "interrogated all the evidence".

The spokesman said: "We know how distressing losing animals is for anyone. Thats why the environment secretary has looked at this extremely carefully, indeed multiple times over a number of years and interrogated all the evidence.

"The fact remains that Geronimo has sadly tested positive twice, using a highly specific, reliable and validated test."

George Eustice said he knew it was "soul-destroying" for animals to be ordered to be put down due to the 'insidious disease', but that it was necessary.

"There has been a great deal of focus on the case of Geronimo the alpaca last week," he said recently in the Daily Mail.

"However, each week, on average, we have to remove more than 500 cattle from herds due to infection in England alone. Behind every one of those cases is a farmer who has suffered loss and tragedy.

"Farmers understand that infected animals are a risk to the remainder of their herd, so while the loss of individual animals is always a tragedy, the farming communities have worked with our government vets in this arduous but necessary endeavour."

It comes as the British Alpaca Society (BAS) called for urgent talks with Defra amid concern that the recent events had considerably undermined confidence in the current bTB testing regime.

The unique circumstances that had developed relating to Geronimo clearly showed the testing system was not working as well as it should, the body said.

It highlighted concerns to Defra specifically in Geronimos case in March 2018 about the potential adverse effects of multiple priming before an Enferplex test in alpacas.

To date no evidence has been produced to explain the effects of this practice on test results.

A BAS spokesperson said: "Defra will not allow further testing on Geronimo. There is no science to explain the effects of multiple priming on the outcomes of the Enferplex test in alpacas and no research has been carried out.

"Four years on from the tests Geronimo is healthy, as are the alpacas which have been sharing his paddock, and indeed the alpacas that travelled from New Zealand with Geronimo on the same or contiguous crates."

BAS asked the government for controlled experiments to produce evidence that resolves concerns around the effect of multiple priming on test results.

The body also urged Defra to include alpacas in ongoing bovine bTB vaccine work, which it said would move alpaca owners into a position where they could 'truly engage with bTB control measures in the animals they own'.
Researchers in the UK who are working to combat a devastating pest of oilseed rape have been supported by a fresh injection of funds.

The 1.8m BBSRC Industrial Partnership Award (IPA) scientists and industrial partners working on desperately needed solutions to tackle cabbage stem flea beetle.

Crop losses to the beetle in the UK were estimated at 6.4 percent in 2016 and 2017, rising to 15 percent in some counties.

The pest is increasingly problematic since the withdrawal of neonicotinoid-based pesticides which were previously used as seed treatments to control the beetle.

The escalation has led to questions over the future of the UK oilseed rape crop, with a decline in cropping area of 35% between 2012 and 2019.

The research-industry partnership led by the John Innes Centre will look to implementing an integrated pest management approach.

Key to this is the use of pest resistant cultivars of the crop, but there are none currently available.

This project will enable researchers to identify genetic markers - landmarks in the crop genome - which will guide breeders in developing resistant varieties of oilseed rape that are less palatable to the beetle.

Further research into the lifecycle and feeding preferences of the beetle is being carried out by the research team.

Industrial partners participating in this research include seven crop breeding companies: DSV, KWS, Limagrain, Bayer, Elsoms, RAGT and LS Plant Breeding, and the AHDB.

Dr Rachel Wells, principal investigator of the successful bidding team said: The success of the bid has been made possible with the support of a strong network of industrial partners which we have built over time.

"Through this partnership approach we are addressing an important problem for industry, turning scientific discovery into solutions in the field.

Dr Sam Cook, lead of the project at Rothamsted Research added: "I believe that growing crops resistant to this pest will help to reduce insecticide use and secure UK production of oilseed rape which is important for farmland biodiversity."
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While it is proven that cave men used to shave with animal teeth, shells or stones in order to protect themselves in the wild, thousands of years later, hair removal was modernized in Ancient Egypt. The Egyptians originally adopted the sugaring method of hair removal which is popular once again today. They used a sticky paste made from sugar, water, and lemon juice along with muslin cloth to pull the body hair. Other tools like seashells or pumice stones were also used to achieve the desired degree of hairlessness in Egyptian culture. The practice of hair removal was popularised by Queen Cleopatra who removed all of her body hair, including from the top of her head, to signify social class.





Body hair, especially pubic hair, was a symbol of the uncivilized and depicted as dirty and unhygienic in ancient Egyptian culture. Therefore, many women opted for hair removal. Even men preferred a clean-shaven face to show class, because beards or stubbles were common among servants and slaves.





Pubic hair was also associated with the lower class in ancient Greek culture. This is why Ancient Greek statues of women are completely hairless. When hair removal techniques moved to the Roman Empire, wealthy women and men used razors, tweezers, pumice stones, and depilatory creams to remove their body hair.


Blake Lively turned up to the premiere of the Ryan Reynold movie, Free Guy, with pressed flowers in her immaculate manicure. Truly, it was beautiful (both the nails and the fact that the red carpets are not virtual anymore). But this is 2021, and unfortunately, pretty is not cutting it. Pretty was 2019 when the world was not all topsy-turvy, and we didnt look toward fashion as a safe passage into escapism. We want fashion to blow us away, transport us to a fantasy land where everything is OTT and restraint belongs only in the dictionary. We want surrealism, and we want it even in the way we wear our nails.

At Schiaparelli, a Maison practically dedicated to Surrealism, creative director Daniel Roseberry has made gilded finger look-alikes that are jewellery for the nails. One of the designs, a three-part finger ring of sorts that encases the whole finger even comes with a nail that is painted siren red.





If these are too extravagant for your liking, you can turn to Dior, where creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri has transmogrified dainty rings by twisting and turning them to sit atop the finger, covering only the nails. Leave it to MCG to package surrealism with a subtle dose of femininity, too.





Designer Lilian Shalom has an entire line of futuristic finger accessories she calls Armor Rings dedicated to this type of jewellery. These rings have decorated the multi-million-dollar hands of one too many celebrities like Cardi B, Lady Gaga, and Beyonce, and even made their presence felt on red carpets.





The purveyor of every whimsical trend ever, Lady Gaga was spotted wearing nails of an extreme kind by the designer  custommade ruby claws that could kill both with its looks and sharpness.





Miss a little colour on your talons? Then look toward these teardrop-shaped nail rings by emerging French label EGONlab who might permanently put salons out of business with their assortment of colourful cuticle jewellery made with multitudes of semi-precious stones.





if you are unafraid to experiment, they also have designs inspired by mythical fire-breathing dragons that Daenerys Targaryen rightfully deserves but could be yours to wear.





Injecting these designs with a little bit of her iconoclastic, science-fueled design sensibilities is Iris van Herpen who collaborated with Japanese nail artist Eichi Matsunaga to make these 3D transparent nails. Unveiled as a part of her AW21/22 collection, Earthrise, these look like tiny droplets of water frozen in black vastness of space.





So, what we are trying to say is, sure, a manicure isnt out of commission. It isnt even a bad thing. Its just boring. And in times when we want our fashion to help us feel better, why do we want to feel boring?
Sommelier Nikhil Agarwal, CEO of All Things Nice, tells you why the time is right to drink way cooler

Image: Shutterstock



Note: We advocate a responsible enjoyment of spirits.

Its no secret that Indians love their booze. The idea that we do not imbibe as a society is so far from the truth that it is almost impossible to say so with a straight face.

We like our spirits. In fact, we are one of the highest spirit-consuming nations in the world. Clearly, we like our beer too. Wine is newish, but growing at a phenomenally rapid pace.

What has been on offer in terms of spirits for decades and even today to a large degree is sub par. There, Ive said it and I stand by it. There are some brands, however, in this category that do deserve respect.

Maybe thats even okay if I have to put it relatively. If we have to generalise from the standpoint of an Indian population, there is a majority of people consuming those brands that dont drink for the taste of it. Perhaps they do not know better, or perhaps they do know better but cannot afford to upgrade.

So they drink what they can because it will have to do.

So What Has Changed?

Images: Shutterstock



Why are we suddenly seeing a plethora of quality spirits, with cool names, serious thought processes put into their brands, and world-class packaging, being launched in India practically every two months ?

The answer is simple. A large number of us have changed.

If you are a 40-something and your folks enjoy a drink, they probably have a drink every evening. But you and the younger generations do not follow in that path. What we want is quality, something to taste, to savour and not every day, so we are prepared to spend more but on fewer occasions.

Younger generations want to drink something that they identify with, not what their parents generation drank. They have travelled more, experienced the world faster, and the Internet has brought global trends to their front door.

So now its no longer blended scotch, it is single malt. Its no longer mass-produced whisky, its craft. Its no longer a boring old-school label, it has to be cool and intricate.

In a nutshell, the reason why there is a sudden spike of quality spirits being produced is simply because there is a clear demand for spirits that are high in quality and that also offer value that was missing before.

The second reason is that you have entrepreneurs who have decided that it is okay if they dont cater to the mass market. They would rather make something that they are proud of. This didnt happen when the booze barons of the world were dominating the booze business here.

The good news for these entrepreneurs is that even though this target market in comparison is small in terms of percentage, the number is staggering.

So Much Of India In Each Spirit



We have often overlooked our natural resources to make quality spirits. We are finally shrugging off the notion that everything imported is better. We are happy to use locally-sourced six-row barley to make malt whisky and celebrate the difference that it provides.

We have botanicals that are so unique to India (we are a tropical country; its what we have!) to offer a unique gin proposition. To make vodka that is refined and now to make high-quality rum, which, come to think of it, we should have done decades ago. With our hot climate, we have accelerated ageing in the barrels; this gives us complexity in our spirits at a much younger age.

The spirits are seriously good too, and this is not me trying to fly the flag; the proof is in the pudding.

Images: Instagram/@amrutmalt + @pauljohnwhisky





The malt whiskies from Paul John and Amrut, for example, are a revelation and win awards and recognition at global platforms.

Image: Instagram/@hapusagin + @strangerandsons + @pumorigin





A similar scenario for Indias gins: in a blind tasting with brands such as Hapusa, Stranger and Sons and Pumori, for example, not only will they win you over but also make you choose them over older and more established brands from other parts of the world.





Image: Instagram/@segredoaldeia





And one sip of the Segredo Aldeia white rum is guaranteed to make you a believer in what we can do.

I strongly believe that the future of us drinking high-quality spirits will be what we make in India by passionate young entrepreneurs that are proud of their product themselves.

The writing on the wall is that we could always do it, we just never did.





Disclaimer: All views are the authors own. Femina is not liable for any dispute and mishap arising thereof.



Also see: 6 global wine trends you need to know about
Images: Eliane Meyer/Pixabay (Russia), Shutterstock (Switzerland, The Maldives)



New data reveals the destinations Indian travellers want to travel to  when the world opens out completely again



Most WFHers have a lot of leave in hand. In fact, everyone who has faithfully kept the lockdown is ready to take on the world. Travellers are ready to escape their four walls, and how. The domestic and international travel preferences of Indian travellers are now revealed in travel brand Booking.coms list of the top searched domestic and international destinations on the portal by Indian travellers in the month of August 2021.



The five top most-searched international destinations among Indians this month are the USA, Russia, the Maldives, Switzerland and Qatar, while, closer home, were looking into immersing ourselves in the outdoors and communing with Mother Nature. Leisure destinations such as Lonavala and Leh are among the list of most-searched-for domestic destinations.
Next Story : Take Back The Power From Pimples With Clean & Clear

As we set forth to overcome the impact of the deadly second wave of COVID, there are several recovering patients staring at a long haul of persisting symptoms  also called the Long COVID Syndrome. Weeks after the initial COVID infection, many people continue to experience breathlessness, headache, loss of taste, loss of smell or decreasedsense of smell, hearing loss, vertigo, dizziness, cough, stuffy nose, hearing loss, ringing in the ears and so on. Many patients do not even understand what long COVID syndrome is and how it impacts some of the most significant sensory organs such as the ear, nose and throat. Dr Sonali Pandit, consultant ENT, Fortis Hospital Mulundand Dr.Kirti Sabnis, infectious disease specialist, Fortis Mulund assert that these can cause added anxiety and lead people into depression, but here are a few ways to helpCOVID mainly causes distinct upper respiratory tract-related symptoms including nasal congestion, sore throat, and smell dysfunctions. It can also involve the lower respiratory tract causing symptoms such as cough, difficulty in breathing and chest tightness.In most patients with mild Covid, symptoms like Anosmia(absence of smell sensation), Cacosmia (distorted smell perception, either with or without an odorant stimulus present), hyposmia (reduced sense of smell) are present. These symptoms can last upto few weeks however if patients continue to experience these symptoms beyond 4 weeks, they must report them to their doctors.Along with the loss of smell many people complain about loss or decrease sense of taste. In a few patients, sudden onset of sensorineural hearing loss has also been reported during COVID and post-recovery. Another issue that a lot of patients are presenting with is vertigo. Especially, those who have had long ICU stays developed positional vertigo. In a small sub-set of patients ringing in the ears has also been observed.One must also be cautious about persistent headaches and facial pain as it can indicate a deeper problem, like black fungus(mucormycosis). Black fungus involves the nose and sinuses and can reach upto the brain and eyes.Smell dysfunction like Anosmia andHyposmia are self-limiting conditions and a majority of patients will recover within 4 weeks. The reason being COVID 19 doesnt damage the OlfactoryNeurons but harms the supporting cells. Once the virus is out of the system, the supporting cells come back to normal and the sense of smell is also restored. Even after weeks if people do not get back their sense of smell, doctors recommend steroidsnasal spray, decongestant nasal spray and OLFACTORY Training that involves smell training techniques.Loss of taste is a self-limiting condition and people will recover in a few weeks. However, if these symptoms impact the quality of life, then people should seek help.For patients experiencing a sudden onset of hearing loss should be reported to an ENT surgeon at the earliest where an audiogram is performed to gauge the extent of hearing loss. The treatment line includes IV/ oral steroids and injecting of steroids in the eardrum. The hearing recovery is unpredictable but earlier diagnosis and treatment improve the prognosis. The treating doctor will guide you on the best possible treatment option depending on the extent of Covid infection in the lungs and sugar levels.In Mucormycois, earlier diagnosis and treatment such as anti-fungal medicine and surgery will greatly improve the chances of recovery.It is also important to note that these treatments are prescribed on a case-to-case basis and patients are advised not to self medicate. Therefore, understanding the long covid ENT issues are important and reporting them to specialists will save a lot of anxiety issues and timely intervention can be implemented.
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Hera Pheri (2000) starring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal went on to become a blockbuster at the box-office thanks to its incredible comedy. South director Priyadarshan earned the fame of king of comedy in Hindi films, as the director soon helmed several comedies in Bollywood. However today producer of Hera Pheri - Firoz Nadiadwala spoke to a leading daily and made some shocking allegations about the director.





Recently Priyadarshan in an interview stated that he had rejected to direct Hera Pheri 2 which happened in 2002. This irked the producer Firoz Nadiadwala and pushed him further to speak about Priyadarshan in his interview to the daily.

Firoz Nadiadwala says that Priyadarshan never even completed Hera Pheri. The producer further adds that Paresh Rawails iconic character was not even the directors vision and neither were Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shettys his own. Priyadarshan had a film about an economically challenged family drama written for the makers with a runtime of 3 hours and 40 mins. Moreover his version had many dramatic scenes and less humorous lines. It is said that he was even absent during the background music recording, and dubbing.



Firoz Nadiadwala further breathes fire and says that the real work on the film began after Priyadarshan's disappearance. He says he completed the film with late writer and director Neeraj Vora and choreographer Ahmed Khan. The producer credits the writer Neeraj Vora for most of the work, He added a lot of punchlines. We deleted the sad scenes. We did a lot of improvisations during the dubbing and editing to make it what the audience knows by today, he told the daily.





The producer adds that Priyadarshan didnt inform that the Hindi remake rights of the Malayalam film Ramji Rao Speaking (1989) were sold to someone else. The producer is furious and says that he had to break his silence. Whats more, he even concludes by saying that the director even tried to convince some actors not to do the sequel.



Read More - Abhishek Bachchan Sells His Worli Property For Rs 45.75 Crores
critic's rating: 3.0/5

The film is a fictionalised account of real events. The Pakistani Air Force destroyed the Bhuj airstrip during the 1971 Indo-Pak War, dropping 14 napalm bombs on it. The devastation continued for two weeks, with relentless attacks by bombs and rockets. 300 people, majority of them women, hailing from the nearby village of Madhapur, came to the Air Forces rescue at that point of time. Working mostly at night, they repaired the airstrip in 72 hours under the guidance of Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik. It was a remarkable feat indeed and was one of the factors that decided the war in Indias favour as the IAF was able to remain operational. It was Pakistans intention to capture Bhuj and use it as a bargaining tool but the resilience of our troops and the common citizens saved the day.

Bhuj: The Pride Of India, tells the story of their heroism, albeit in a highly dramatic manner. Vijay Karnik is played by Ajay Devgn here. As said earlier, Karnik, though he deploys an anti-aircraft gun to much effect, isnt able to save the almost total destruction of the Bhuj airstrip. A parallel story tells us about the sacrifice of Indian spy Heena Rehman (Nora Fatehi), who before her death is able to convey Pakistans plans to her Indian handlers. Another strand tells us of Colonel Nair (Sharad Kelkar), who and the 120 soldiers serving under him are in charge of the crucial Vighakot post. Then we also have Indian spy Ranchordas Pagi (Sanjay Dutt), who knows the desert like the back of his hand and whose reconnaissance of the Pakistani army proves vital to the Indian defence. And Ammy Virk plays Flight Lieutenant Vikram Singh Baj Jethaaz, who flies in the reserve forces to the base. Sonakshi Sinha plays Sunderben Jetha Madharparya, the village woman who inspires others to come to the aid of the IAF. Kannada actress Pranitha Subhash plays Karniks wife.

The first half of the film is devoted to giving short backstories to everyone. We learn that Noras character spies for India because her brother, also an Indian spy, was brutally killed by the Pakistanis after he got captured. Sharad Kelkar is a tough soldier with a soft heart who has fallen for a handicapped Muslim girl, Ammy Virks wife has passed away and hes anxious about bringing his little girl up. Sanjay Dutts character is obsessed with killing the Pakis for personal reasons and Sonakshi Sinha, whose husband is abroad, is a braveheart who can kill a leopard single-handedly. The narrative rambles all over the place and your interest starts wavering. However, the drama-filled narrative of the second half more than makes up for the lapses of the first. Sharad Kelkar and Sanjay Dutt are shown to be a two-man army who put a stop to the advancing Pakistani troops through a mix of guile and bravery. While Ajay Devgn, Sonakshi Sinha and Pranitha Subhash race against time to finish the runway. Ajays moment of glory comes when he helps land the transport plane, whose front tire is missing, with the help of a truck. The events are overtly dramatised but nevertheless convey the fortitude and determination of the people involved.

The VFX, sound design and the background score help transport us to the war zone. Whats galling is the jingoism and the religious propaganda, which should have been toned down a bit. Ajay Devgn comes across as a true patriot ready to lay down his life for his country. His sincerity, his dedication seeps through in every frame. His anger at losing his beloved airfield initially and his hardiness is getting it running again is real. Sanjay Dutts screen presence hasnt faded with age and he has done another competent job here, and so has Sharad Kelkar. Ammy Virk, Sonakshi Sinha, Nora Fatehi and Pranitha Subhash have been sincere as well. Navni Parihar is spot on as former PM Indira Gandhi.

All-in-all, Bhuj: The Pride Of India brings to life an important aspect from the 1971 war. Its a good enough history lesson if you choose to ignore the over-the-top narration and Paki-bashing involved in the telling.

Trailer : Bhuj: The Pride of India
"The rising growth in Decentralised Finance provides an alternative to the fund strapped Real Estate industry leveraging the power of digitalization"

DUBAI, UAE, Aug. 13, 2021 /PR Newswire/ -- LandOrc, headquartered in UAE, is a new Tech solutions provider that facilitates lending for real estate industry by providing access to Decentralised Financing (DeFI) and utilising land titles in non-fungible token (NFT) form as a collateral, with all transactions on the Ethereum blockchain for greater trust, transparency and speed.

The value of the world's real estate market reached US$280.6 trillion, the highest figure ever recorded by Savills'. With an annual increase of 6.2%, residential real estate accounted for the largest share (US$ 220.6 trillion) of the market. Commercial real estate (US$ 33.3 trillion) and agricultural and forestry real estate (US$ 27.1 trillion) made up the rest.

In 2017, the average global base lending rate was 11.53%, but it has since increased almost across the board in 2019 (11.57%). According to a 2020 KPMG report.

Digitalizing the real-estate market with NFTs + DeFI

Digitalization in the real estate market has been emerging. However, processes are often a time and labour-consuming affair and have often been seen as a stagnant investment for large corporations, especially those with assets in different countries.

"Property Developers need loans for development and this funding gap needed to be closed. In came the private lending sector to support, but alas, the Covid-19 pandemic led to a decline in both capacity and appetite to lend as companies shifted their focus on their existing businesses and bottom lines."

"Furthermore, there is a dearth of transparency in processes causing volatility in property prices and coupled with slow transactions, the real estate market is in desperate need of a digital transformation. Complicating these are the snail-paced speed with which transactions occur," said Damo, Chief Executive Officer of LandOrc.io.

The NFTs are built on blockchain, a distributed ledger technology currently being widely adopted for various applications. NFTs are essentially digital tokens that carry data and are stored in the immutable blockchain ledger.

NFTs optimize real estate processes by implementing it in infrastructural, architectural, or physical assets such as buildings and title or ownership deeds.

As NFTs can be digitally represented, tracing and tracking ownership and authenticity of the digitally represented asset is simplified to a fraction of the time taken in traditional processes.

Land NFT (LNFT) represents the land title on the blockchain allowing for tracking changes in ownership as it moves from the wallet, including placing it as collateral for lending.

Associated information like valuation, site location, and visuals, as well as vicinity analysis are brought on-chain via oracles and stored in the associated IPFS (InterPlanetary File System, a peer-to-peer hypermedia protocol) for easy and secured access.

This allows for hybridized digital-physical land titles that makes authentication and tracking and tracing of ownership of properties a breeze.

LandOrc's NFT + DEFI ecosystem features



simplified complex real estate transaction processes

shortened traditional real estate transaction processes from 4 months to 21 days

ease of managing collateral due to traceability of ownership

real estate lending options that are lower than locally accessible rates

"The time has come for property players to look into NFTs as a realistic and practical solution to circumvent the pain points that have been plaguing the industry for decades," said Damodharan Vijayaragavan, Chief Executive Officer of LandOrc.io.

Decentralised Financing (DeFi), the process of using blockchain based financing, has grown to USD 87 billion in May 2021 based on Defi Pulse Data. Thus, providing a new source for bridging the real estate funding gap.

LandOrc enables DeFi participants to utilise LandOrc Tokens (LORC) as alternative financing for staking on property development projects. Members of the LandOrc ecosystem are involved in key decisions of the platform including the choice of projects for lending. The Land Governance Token (LGOV) can then be utilised to vote for the choices made in a transparent manner on the blockchain.

For more information, visit www.landorc.io.

About LandOrc

LandOrc, based in Dubai, provides digitalized real estate solutions through incorporating NFTs in DeFI Technology. It aims to offer an exhaustive end-to-end solution encompassing land title digitisation, value assessment, real estate project funding using collateral and staking on real estate projects.

Helmed by a cross-cultural team of experienced and enterprising experts across finance, technology, property, legal and marketing, LandOrc is venturing into high base lending markets in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1593588/LandOrc_Press_Release_Horizontal_FA_png.jpg
NYON, Switzerland, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MedAlliance has announced completion of patient enrolment in the PRISTINE clinical trial with SELUTION SLR 018 DEB (drug-eluting balloon) for the treatment of patients with Below-the-Knee (BTK) disease. SELUTION SLR is the first DEB to be awarded "Breakthrough Device Designation" by the FDA.

PRISTINE is a Prospective Registry to Investigate the Safety and efficacy of Treatment with SELUTION SLR Sirolimus Drug Coated Balloon in TASC C and D athero-occlusive Infra-iNguinal disease in patients with chronic limb threatening ischemia from SingaporE.

The objective of this trial is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the SELUTION SLR DEB in the treatment of infra-inguinal occlusive lesions (TASC C and D) in patients with chronic limb threatening ischemia in 75 patients over 12 months at Singapore General Hospital.

PRISTINE is a follow up registry to the PRESTIGE Trial. The 12-month data from PRESTIGE was presented at LINC 2021 in January, showing sustained benefits up to one year. 18-month data is to be presented at VIVA in October this year, where it is anticipated that these benefits will be further sustained. A similar outcome benefit is expected from PRISTINE in a larger real-world population.

BTK represents the worse part of the spectrum of peripheral artery disease and patients are at an increased risk of limb loss and mortality. One of the cornerstones of BTK treatment is to re-establish blood flow to the foot to promote wound healing. Although percutaneous lower limb angioplasty has become the favored option of revascularization, its Achilles Heel is vessel recoil and restenosis from neointimal hyperplasia.

"One of the important things to note is that we had few exclusion criteria, unlike many of the RCTs using drug coated balloons in the peripheral vasculature, and the data represent real life lesions that we face every day as a vascular specialist in Singapore," said Associate Professor Tjun Yip Tang, Lead Investigator & Senior Consultant, Department of Vascular Surgery, Singapore General Hospital.

"PRISTINE will offer further insight, leveraging on our initial experience with the PRESTIGE Trial, into whether this sirolimus eluting balloon will become an established device in our angioplasty armamentarium to fight the neointimal hyperplasia effect and restenosis phenomenon that lead to a significant number of clinically driven target lesion revascularizations in the below-the-knee arteries, in this frail and challenging cohort of patients, whose ischemic foot wounds are difficult to heal."

"This is an important study for MedAlliance", explained Chairman and CEO Jeffrey B. Jump. "Our breakthrough technology has demonstrated safety and efficacy in below-the-knee diseases in highly complex patients as seen in the PRESTIGE trial. We are expecting similar observations in the PRISTINE registry. This is particularly encouraging, as to date no other DEB has demonstrated effectiveness in this challenging patient population."

In February 2020 MedAlliance received CE Mark approval for SELUTION SLR in the treatment of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) and in May 2020 received CE Mark approval for treatment in Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). MedAlliance has been awarded FDA Breakthrough designation for the SELUTION SLR for use in BTK and expect to begin the IDE study later this year. MedAlliance has a robust global clinical trial program to evaluate outcomes in Coronary, SFA, BTK, Dysfunctional AVF and Erectile Dysfunction, across different demographic population groups.

MedAlliance's DEB technology involves unique MicroReservoirs made from biodegradable polymer intermixed with the anti-restenotic drug sirolimus. These MicroReservoirs provide controlled and sustained release of the drug for up to 90 days1. Extended release of sirolimus from stents has been proven highly efficacious in both coronary and peripheral vasculatures. MedAlliance's proprietary CAT (Cell Adherent Technology) enables the MicroReservoirs to be coated onto balloons and adhere to the vessel lumen when delivered via an angioplasty balloon.

Media Contact:

Richard Kenyon

rkenyon@medalliance.com

+44 7831 569940

About MedAlliance

MedAlliance is a privately-owned medical technology company. It is headquartered in Switzerland, with facilities in Irvine, California; Glasgow, UK; and Singapore. MedAlliance specializes in the development of ground-breaking technology and commercialization of advanced drug device combination products for the treatment of coronary and peripheral artery disease. For further information visit: www.medalliance.com

1. Drug concentration evident in MicroReservoirs and tissue - Data on file at M.A. Med Alliance SA

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1593621/SELUTION_SLR.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1196864/MedAlliance_Logo.jpg
LONDON, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Launching the SDG programme, former UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon encouraged young people to take action: "Be a global citizen. Act with passion and compassion. Help us make this world safer and more sustainable today and for the generations that will follow us." BE OPEN and Cumulus too strongly believe in the creative potential of younger people and their ability to look at the world with fresh eyes and to come up with ideas no one has found before.

"Design for Sustainable Cities" collected hundreds of submissions from students and graduates of art, design, architecture and media disciplines worldwide. The competition aims to encourage creation of innovative solutions for more sustainable cities. The focus of the competition is the United Nations' SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

In addition to the Main Prize (5,000) and Safe City Prize (2,000) awarded at the decision of the international expert jury, there are two more prizes:

An online vote defined the Public Vote Prize winner (2,000) - congratulations go to Catalina Mutis Gutierrez, Universidad de los Andes, Colombia. Catalina is an architecture graduate from Bogota; her Innovation Laboratory projects gathered over 5000 votes. Innovation Laboratory is an urban renovation project which allows experimentation in areas of architecture such as housing, public space and an innovation center in a disused historical block of Bogota.

The awardee of the Founder's Choice Prize has been selected by BE OPEN Founder Elena Baturina: 3,000 go to Dharan Koruduvar of CEPT University, India. Dharan is taking a Bachelor course in Urban Design. Sva: A Vision of Self-sustenance pivots on the link between city, food and productive landscapes. Dharan proposes to design and introduce an 'ideal sector' for producing food on an everyday basis that deals with waste, water, energy, food on its own, and therefore is sustainable and self-sufficient.

Elena Baturina, Founder of BE OPEN, commented on her choice: "I was amazed at the depth of the research conducted for the project. It takes a lot of commitment and determination to tackle an issue of such importance and scale. And I find the passion behind designing a sustainable solution for one's home town so very endearing. BE OPEN will further make every effort to make sure all these solutions are seen and heard by those able to make them our common sustainable reality."
The "Greece Cards and Payments Opportunities and Risks to 2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

'Greece Cards and Payments Opportunities and Risks to 2024' report provides detailed analysis of market trends in the Greek cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including cash, cards, credit transfers, direct debits, and cheques during the review-period (2016-20e).

The report also analyzes various payment card markets operating in the industry and provides detailed information on the number of cards in circulation, transaction values and volumes during the review-period and over the forecast-period (2020e-24f). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including market shares of issuers and schemes.

The report brings together the publisher's research, modeling, and analysis expertise to allow banks and card issuers to identify segment dynamics and competitive advantages. The report also covers detailed regulatory policies and recent changes in regulatory structure.

This report provides top-level market analysis, information and insights into the Greek cards and payments industry, including

Current and forecast values for each market in the Greek cards and payments industry, including debit, credit, and charge cards.

Detailed insights into payment instruments including cash, cards, credit transfers, direct debits, and cheques. It also, includes an overview of the country's key alternative payment instruments.

E-commerce market analysis.

Analysis of various market drivers and regulations governing the Greek cards and payments industry.

Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit, credit, and charge cards.

Scope

To promote electronic payments in the country and to tackle tax evasion, the government introduced a new law effective from January 1, 2020, mandating salaried workers, pensioners, property landlords, freelance professionals, and farmers in Greece to spend at least 30% of their annual income via electronic payment methods such as debit and credit cards. Breaches of this law result in fines, although unemployed individuals and people over 70 are exempt from the requirement.

Digital-only banks are gradually expanding their presence in the country, helping drive demand for banking products such as debit cards. In December 2016, Germany-based digital bank N26 expanded to 17 new European countries, including Greece. In February 2020 the bank launched various new products targeting individual and corporate customers, including N26 You, Metal, and Business You accounts. In March 2021 the bank launched the CASH26 cash withdrawal and deposit service at partner merchant stores. On a similar note, Revolut launched its banking services in Greece in March 2021. It offers Standard, Plus, Premium, and Metal accounts in Greece, which include a debit card.

To benefit from the growing preference for alternative payments, banks and payment service providers are launching new payment solutions. In June 2019, digital payment solution Apple Pay launched in Greece. The solution enables users to make in-store, online, and in-app payments. Users can store their debit, credit, and store card details within Apple Pay and use them to make payments. In November 2020, Google launched its Google Pay digital wallet in Greece. The solution enables users to make in-app, in-store, and online payments using stored payment card details. The solution is now supported by various issuers in Greece including Curve, Monese, N26, Revolut, and Viva Wallet.

Reasons to Buy

Make strategic business decisions, using top-level historic and forecast market data, related to the Greek cards and payments industry and each market within it.

Understand the key market trends and growth opportunities in the Greek cards and payments industry.

Assess the competitive dynamics in the Greek cards and payments industry.

Gain insights into marketing strategies used for various card types in Greece.

Gain insights into key regulations governing the Greek cards and payments industry.

Key Topics Covered:

Market Overview

Payment Instruments

Card-based Payments

Ecommerce Payments

Alternative Payments

Job Analysis

Payment Innovations

Payment Infrastructure Regulation

Appendix

Companies Mentioned

Alpha Bank

Bank of Greece

Eurobank

NBG

Piraeus Bank

Visa

Mastercard

Apple Pay

PayPal

Masterpass

paysafecard

MyBank

Viva Wallet

my Alpha wallet

i-bank Pay

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2v8sme

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210813005101/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



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The "Opportunities in the Eastern European Wine Sector to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global wine sector was valued at US$313,500.2 million in 2020. During the forecast period of 2020-2025, it is set to grow at a CAGR of 6.75% to reach US$434,500.8 million by 2025.

Eastern Europe ranked second lowest in the global wine market in 2020, with a value share of 9.9%. It recorded value and volume sales of US$31,069 million and 3,234.2 million liters, respectively, in 2020. During 2020-2025, the region is forecast to grow at value and volume CAGRs of 4.36% and 1.56%, respectively.

In 2020, the top five companies in the Eastern European wine sector accounted for a volume share of 19.5%. Slaviansky Rpk Zao made up 7.1%, with presence in the still wine category. It was followed by Bacardi Limited (4.3%), Ironstone Vineyards (4.1%), Inkerman Fine Vintage Wine Llc (2.1%), and Vino Mikulov, spol. sro (1.9%). Private labels held a 1.2% volume share of overall sales.

Scope

Market Environment: Includes sector size, market size, and growth analysis by category.

High-potential Countries' Analysis: Indicates changing share of value consumption in the various wine by category across high-potential countries in Eastern Europe. It also provides Risk-Reward analysis of four countries across Eastern Europe based on market assessment, economic development, socio-demographic trends, governance indicators, and technological infrastructure.

Country Deep Dive: Provides the overview, demographic analysis, and key trends across high-potential countries.

Success Stories: Provides some of the most compelling wine manufacturers, brands, products, and marketing campaigns in Eastern Europe. It also provides a better understanding of how certain manufacturers achieved success in the sector, and insights.

Competitive Environment: Provides an overview of leading companies in Eastern Europe, besides analyzing the growth of private label in the region.

Distribution Analysis: Provides analysis on the leading distribution channels in Eastern Europe's wine sector in 2020. It covers the following distribution channels: hypermarkets supermarkets, convenience stores, e-retailers, food drinks specialists, on-premise, and others, which includes department stores, "dollar stores", variety stores general merchandise retailers, cash carries warehouse clubs, and other retailers.

Packaging Analysis*: The report provides percentage share (in 2020) and growth analysis (during 2015-2025) for various pack materials, pack types, closure types, and primary outer types based on the volume sales (by pack liters) of wine.

Challenges and Future Outlook: Provides the challenges and future outlook pertaining to Eastern Europe's wine sector.

Key Topics Covered:

Executive summary

Part 1: Market Environment

Market size analysis Eastern Europe compared to other regions

Value and volume growth analysis by region

Eastern Europe market growth analysis by country

Eastern Europe market growth analysis by category

Part 2: High-Potential Countries' Analysis

Methodology Identifying high-potential countries

Top four high-potential countries in Eastern Europe

Overview of high-potential countries in Eastern Europe

Growth contribution analysis by country (1/2)

Growth contribution analysis by country (2/2)

Value share analysis of wine sector compared to overall alcoholic beverages industry

Change in consumption levels by country and category

Per capita consumption analysis

Per capita expenditure analysis

Part 3: Country Deep Dive

Overview of the Polish wine sector

Key trends in the Polish wine sector

Overview of the Czech wine sector

Key trends in the Czech wine sector

Overview of the Ukrainian wine sector

Key trends in the Ukrainian wine sector

Overview of the Bulgarian wine sector

Key trends in the Bulgarian wine sector

Part 4: Success Stories

About case studies

Case study: Mad Late Harvest 2017

Case study: Erdevik Omnibus Lector Chardonnay

Case study: Bjana Cuvee Prestige Extra Brut

Part 5: Competitive Environment

Leading companies' share in the Eastern European wine sector

Brand share analysis of top five companies

Leading companies in the Eastern European wine sector

Leading brands in the Eastern European wine sector

Private label penetration in the Eastern European wine sector

Part 6: Distribution Analysis

Leading distribution channels by country

Leading distribution channels by category

Part 7: Packaging Analysis

Growth analysis by key pack material and pack type

Growth analysis by closure type and primary outer type

Part 8: Challenges and Future Outlook

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/rskjn1

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210813005113/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



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ISTANBUL, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Turkey-China Culture and Business Development Forum on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the Exhibition were held at the Congresium Ankara between August 5 and 7, 2021. Two State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC)'s subsidiaries, namely EMBA Electricity Production Inc., (hereinafter referred to as "EMBA") and CPI Power Engineering Co., Ltd. Turkey Branch (hereinafter referred to as "CPIPEC (Turkey)") participated in the exhibition at the invitation of the organizers.

During the exhibition, EMBA mainly showcased its progress in the construction of the Hunutlu Power Plant Project; CPIPEC (Turkey) displayed its business capabilities and achievements in renewable and sustainable energy, integrated smart energy, offshore wind power and nuclear power. Both companies provided a window for Turkish government agencies, business counterparts, as well as potential local partners to better understand their operations in Turkey.

Since their founding, based on the common philosophy that embraces extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, the two companies have been committed to collaborating with their owners and other Chinese firms to explore markets and implement projects in Turkey by fully leveraging their respective competences in business management and technologies, while boosting local employment.

August 4, 2021 marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and China. Co-organized by the General Chamber of Commerce of Chinese Enterprises in Turkey (hereinafter referred to as the "CINSIAD)") and the Turkey-China Business Development and Support Association as part of the celebrations, the forum and exhibition were the first two major economic and trade events taken place in Turkey since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The exhibition took the form of offline booth and simultaneous online display, and attracted over 100 Chinese member firms of the Chamber and over 200 local Turkish firms operating in infrastructure, communications, transportation, energy, electronics and services sectors.
- SGT Capital to purchase Utimaco, the global leading provider of mission-critical professional cybersecurity and data intelligence solutions for regulated critical infrastructures

- Co-headquartered in Aachen, Germany, and Campbell, CA, US, Utimaco provides on-premises and cloud-based hardware security modules, as well as key management solutions and compliance solutions for governments and corporations globally

- Utimaco has more than 470 employees around the globe and with its focus on protecting data, identities and critical infrastructures against cyber-crime, the Company is a crucial force in contributing to making the world and societies a safer place

FRANKFURT, Germany, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SGT Capital is pleased to announce that the EQT Mid Market Europe fund ("EQT Private Equity") has agreed to sell Utimaco Verwaltungs GmbH ("Utimaco" or the "Company") to SGT Capital, a global alternative asset manager with offices in Germany and Singapore.

Headquartered in Aachen, Germany, and Campbell, CA, US, Utimaco is the leading platform provider of trusted cybersecurity and compliance solutions and services. The Company provides on-premises and cloud-based hardware security modules, as well as key management solutions and data intelligence solutions for regulated critical infrastructures. Utimaco has more than 470 employees around the globe and with its focus on protecting data, identities and critical infrastructures against cyber-crime, the Company is a crucial force in contributing to making the world and societies a safer place.

Joseph Pacini, Co-Managing Partner of SGT Capital, said: "Utimaco is the clear market leader in global cybersecurity as well as data intelligence solutions and has executed an impressive innovation, growth and M&A strategy. We look forward to working with Stefan Auerbach and the entire Utimaco team as well as EQT Private Equity and Bain Capital Credit going forwards."

Florian Funk, Partner within EQT Private Equity's Advisory Team, said: "Utimaco plays a crucial role in fighting cyber-crime making the world a safer place. We would like to thank all employees for this exciting journey - we are convinced that Utimaco will continue its successful path with its new majority owner and are happy to stay invested as a minority owner."

Tom Maughan, Head of Private Credit in Europe for Bain Capital Credit, said: "We have been very impressed with the performance of Utimaco over the last few years. Bain Capital is delighted to support SGT Capital in their investment and to continue to work alongside this talented management team led by Stefan Auerbach. "

Stefan Auerbach, CEO of Utimaco, said: "In the last years, we have built a global platform leader for trusted cybersecurity solutions, providing the highest level of security and compliance to the world's largest corporates and governments. We look forward to the next phase of growth together with SGT Capital."

Carsten Geyer, Co-Managing Partner of SGT Capital, said: "Utimaco clearly fits within the SGT Capital business model of investing in market leading business with excellent executives and significant future global growth potential - particularly into high growth regions such as Asia. We look forward to opening up doors of success together with the Utimaco team, EQT Private Equity and Bain Capital Credit."

The transaction is subject to regulatory conditions and approvals and is expected to close in Q4 2021. The parties have agreed not to disclose the transaction value.

SGT Capital was advised by E&Y (commercial/technology, financial, tax) and Willkie Farr Gallagher (legal). Bain Capital Credit provided the financing for this transaction.

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Contact:

Deep Value Advisors

Dirk Schmitt

Tel.: +49 170 302 8833

Email: ds@deepvalue.de

Investor relations:

investor-relations@sgt-capital.com
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Oil prices were declining for the second day running on Friday amid concerns that the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant will curtail oil demand growth as the year progresses. Benchmark Brent crude futures slipped 0.2 percent to $71.19 per barrel, while WTI crude futures were down 0.3 percent at $68.91. Increasing demand for crude ground to a halt in July and is set to rise at a slower pace over the rest of 2021 because of the surge in infections from the Delta variant of the coronavirus, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Thursday. A monthly report from OPEC on Thursday suggested that the cartel was sticking to its recent forecast for a rebound in oil demand globally this year and further growth in 2022, despite surging COVID-19 infections worldwide. Goldman Sachs has reduced its estimate for the global oil deficit to 1 million bpd from 2.3 million bpd in the short-term given the threat to demand from Delta. 'We don't see the recent White House statement as threatening the current market deficit nor the pace of the rebalancing in 2H21,' the U.S. investment bank said. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.




Singapore, Aug 13, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Multifunctionality businesses rely on a strong network infrastructure that can support heavy data usage. With the quality of internet connectivity and broadband speed improving drastically, enterprises are seeking to shift from legacy MPLS to SD-WAN and SASE services.The shift in trend to cloud-based solutions combined with certain demographical advantages that APAC's geographical positioning provides the potential for huge demand for SD-WAN and SASE services.The inaugural edition of SD-WAN and SASE Summit will digitally converge key players and experts to help Asian countries digitize at speed and scale, on 19 August 2021.The summit will feature eye-opening keynotes, government and enterprise use-case presentations, exciting product showcase, panel discussions and tech talk to discuss the latest challenges and explore the latest applications in SD-WAN and SASE powered solutions.The event will focus on topics such as: Outlining possible pathways for SD-WAN evolution; Understanding SASE: The Why, What and How; Key architectural requirements of SASE; Key architectural requirements of SD-WAN; How Machine Learning changes SD-WAN; Main characteristics of the new era; and much more.The summit will feature a groundbreaking collaboration of experts such as:- Dr IR Ismail, Director General of Spectrum Management and Standardisation of Post and ICT, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT) of Republic of Indonesia- Vladik Arshanski, IT Communication & Infrastructure Director, NVIDIA Networking BU- Zeus Kerravala, Founder and Principal Analyst, ZK Research- Boaz Avigad, Director of Product Marketing, Cato Networks- Shashi Kiran, Chief Marketing and Product Officer, Aryaka Networks, a Cloud-First WAN company- Vikram Dua, Sr. Director, Head of Enterprise IT Security, Philips India Ltd- Marlon P Sorongon, CISO, Maybank- Mel Migrino, Chairperson & President, Women in Security Alliance(WiSAP)- Samuel NG, Director of Cybersecurity & Analytics, Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI)- Gabriel David, CIO, LCC Group of companies- Bijender Mishra, CISO, Alkem Laboratories Limited- Balram Choudhary, VP Head (IT Infra & Infosec Operation), Bob Financial Solution Ltd- Renne Barcelona, Director and Head of IT, Global University Systems- Subrat Kumar Kanungo, Principal Consulting Architect, Cloud, and Networking, Kyndryl; to name a few."In the aftermath of the pandemic, organizations are looking for effective approaches to manage hybrid work models. The need to provide consistent access and security for employees connecting from the office, home or the road is requiring solutions which are wider than just VPN or ZTNA. SASE offers a comprehensive approach which addresses these needs and offers a simpler, consistent and more secure approach to work from anywhere," states Boaz Avigad, Director, Product Marketing at Cato Networks."In the era of all the challenges during the M&A process, there is a common & major question: how can companies prepare and manage the integration of IT networks in M&A to enable the combined business process and achieve the expected M&A goals' Software-defined WAN manage services can be an efficient way to blend networks without compromising security, service degradation & time losing," states Vladik Arshanski, IT Communication & Infrastructure Director at NVIDIA Networking BU.Zeus Kerravala, Founder and Principal Analyst at ZK Research stated, "SD-WANs and SASE are at an inflection point as they are moving out of the early adopter phase and into the mainstream. The primary catalyst for the acceleration of the technologies has been the pandemic as IT and business leaders are looking to modernize the network to accommodate the shift to hybrid work. The World SD-WAN Summit Asia provides an excellent forum for people to get some practical advice on how to adopt SD-WAN and SASE without putting their businesses at risk.""The pandemic's disruptions have driven firms to explore SD-WAN & SASE solutions as a means of identifying major technology trends and prioritizing those that have the greatest influence on their competitive advantage. The World SD-WAN & SASE Summit is a great place to discuss and learn about the newest strategies, challenges, and trends that are driving Asia's SD-WAN and SASE services," stated Mithun Shetty - CEO, Trescon.The summit will be hosted on the virtual events platform Vmeets to help participants network and conduct business in an interactive and immersive virtual environment. Participants can also engage with the speakers during Q&A sessions and network with solution providers/sponsors at their virtual exhibition booths, private consultation rooms and meeting tables.World SD-WAN & SASE Summit is officially sponsored by Premium Gold Sponsor - CATO Networks; Gold Sponsor - Aryaka; Bronze Sponsor - Telin.To get your complimentary passes, visit World SD-WAN & SASE Summit (bit.ly/3AEsUvf).About World SD-WAN & SASE SummitWorld SD-WAN & SASE Summit is a thought-leadership-driven, business-focused, global series of events that takes place in strategic locations across the world.As part of the world tour, this Asian edition is virtually gathering pre-qualified C-Suite IT Leaders, Data Heads, Heads of Research, Industry Practitioners, IT Decision Makers and Expert service providers in SD-WAN and SASE Technology among others from cross-industry verticals across Asia.About TresconTrescon is a global business events and consulting firm that provides wide range of business services to a diversified client base that includes corporations, governments and individuals. Trescon is specialised in producing highly focused B2B events that connect businesses with opportunities through conferences, road shows, expos, demand generation, investor connect and consulting services.For further details about the announcement, please contact:Media, PR & Corporate Communications+91 81059 75937media@tresconglobal.comSource: tresconCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TerraPay, a global payments infrastructure company, today announced the partnership with BOSS Revolution Money Transfer - the international remittance service of IDT Corporation to provide BOSS Revolution's customers with new money transfer destinations across Africa, Asia, LATAM and Europe. BOSS Revolution has already begun offering seamless and secure payments to mobile wallets in Senegal and Benin through TerraPay.

Commenting on the relationship, Ani Sane, Co-founder and Chief Business Officer, TerraPay, said, "Our exciting partnership with BOSS Revolution will empower customers in the US to connect with family and friends worldwide, starting with mobile wallets in Senegal and Benin, while growing both companies' footprints. This collaboration is another example of the impact our digital interoperable payment network provides across regions. We are driving greater access to financial services globally for all our partners and customers."

"Our customers in the US can now send money to friends and family in Senegal, Benin and 36 other countries including over 309,000 points of payment, we are delighted to partner with TerraPay as we open new corridors and emphasize on real-time payment options leveraging their extensive platform," said Alfredo O'Hagan, IDT's SVP for Consumer Payments.

With international remittances at the core, TerraPay is embarking on creating unified payment rails for businesses and merchants across the globe. Company's intent is to strengthen and offer value-added services on its digital global. As a B2B company, TerraPay connects multiple and diverse payment instruments and payment modes, with a single API integration - 4 Bn+ bank accounts, 500 Mn+ mobile wallets, and a large and diversified merchant ecosystem spanning across 79 receive countries and 153 send countries. TerraPay's payments highway deepens engagement by adding more participants to a financial ecosystem.

The BOSS Revolution Money Transfer service is readily available through the convenient BOSS Revolution Money app and its nationwide network of retailers. First time users of the app (free at App Store and Google Play ) pay no fees on any transfer up to $300. BOSS Revolution Money Transfer is also available online or at any BOSS Revolution Money retailer .

About TerraPay:

TerraPay is a licensed digital payments infrastructure and solutions provider, paving the global payments highway. The company's robust foundation and innovative platform technology serve as the digital interoperability engine enabling customers and businesses globally to send and receive payments on a secure, transparent, efficient, and real-time basis. The agile network supports diverse payment instruments and types of payments while adhering to complex regulations and compliance standards in different markets.

For more information, please visit terrapay.com

Press Contact:

Anwesha Mukherjee

+91-971-724-1606

About IDT Corporation:

IDT Corporation is a global provider of fintech, cloud communications and traditional communications services.We make it easier for families to connect, support and share across international borders. We also enable businesses to transact and communicate with their customers with enhanced intelligence and insight.

Our BOSS Revolution branded money transfer and international calling services make sending money and speaking with friends and family around the world convenient and reliable. National Retail Solutions ' (NRS) point-of-sale retail network enables independent retailers to operate and process transactions more effectively while providing advertisers and consumer marketers with unprecedented reach into underserved consumer markets. net2phone 's unified communications as a service solution provides businesses with intelligently integrated cloud communications and collaboration solutions across channels and devices. Our IDT Carrier Services and IDT Express wholesale offerings enable communications companies to provision and manage international voice and SMS services.

For more information, please visit invest@idt.net

Press Contact:

Bill Ulrey

(973) 438-3838

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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - CareMax, Inc. (CMAX, CMAXW), a technology-enabled provider of value-based care to seniors, Friday said it has signed a collaboration agreement with Anthem, Inc. (ANTM), a health benefits company. Through the collaboration deal, CareMax plans to open approximately 50 medical centers with a focus on Indiana, Texas, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Georgia, Connecticut, and Virginia, among others. CareMax said it will build medical centers in areas where Anthem will offer a value-based care model to improve patient outcomes. Further, the company noted that Empire BlueCrossBlueShield, an Anthem Company, in partnership with nonprofit insurer EmblemHealth, was awarded the City of New York group Medicare Advantage retiree contract in mid July to serve up to around 250,000 retired workers. The contract is scheduled to go into effect January 1, 2022. In this contract, Anthem will be working collaboratively with CareMax, and other providers, to bring as many of these retirees as possible into value-based arrangements. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
WOODLAND, Calif., Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Solar Biotech, led by industrial biotech expert Alex Berlin, has become a significant piece of the puzzle for sustainable food tech companies taking products to market. TurtleTree knew from the beginning that one of the biggest challenges for food tech companies was developing the technologies required to scale up bio-manufacturing processes.

TurtleTree is a biotech company based in Singapore and the US. The company is focused on providing access to the best nutrients in milk using sustainable technologies. With so many food tech companies coming onto the scene, dedicated talent and resources needed to reach commercial scale are scarce.

Microbes like yeast and fungi are nature's perfect tools for bio-manufacturing. Precision fermentation uses microbial hosts as cell factories to produce specific beneficial ingredients in a controlled environment without having to go through animal agriculture.

What happens in the lab is just half the battle. Efficient precision fermentation and product recovery at an industrial scale demand agility, flexibility, decades of experience, unique multidisciplinary process and equipment engineering, and a well-connected network of bioprocessing and microbial biotech partners, all professionally taken care of by Solar Biotech.

Many startups and VC's believe major breakthroughs in the lab will result in the real-world commercialization of bioproducts. The reality is that many projects run into years of roadblocks and scale-up challenges making commercial viability difficult. There is a major difference between traditional fermentation methods, where the microbial biomass itself is the end product, and precision fermentation, where a highly technical skillset is required to obtain the specific desired bioproduct synthesized by the microbial host.

A key factor in reaching price parity with traditional food production methods is the availability of technologically advanced large-scale food-grade bioprocessing facilities, which combine precision fermentation and downstream processing lines that are customized for each player. Based on a Good Food Institute (GFI) report, available biomanufacturing facilities suitable for food precision fermentation is only 3% of the total manufacturing capacity. With the increasing demand for large-scale precision fermentation, we are already seeing the supply falling short.

Alex Berlin, Solar Biotech Founder, CEO & CTO, having built his extensive experience from his time at Novozymes and other industrial biotech companies, has a track record of developing and scaling up bioproducts that were quite challenging for many others. The TurtleTree team identified this value early on, built a strong collaboration model, and made an investment in Solar Biotech.

"TurtleTree's decision to back Alex Berlin and Solar Biotech's team from the early days has started to pay dividends. Our teams can focus on lab-scale R&D and go-to-market as we look to play a major role in the sustainable food supply chain, while Solar Biotech delivers the bioprocessing technologies required for production at scale," says Max Rye, co-founder and chief strategist of TurtleTree.

"My team and I are passionate about not only producing the food of the future but also about making a difference in the way these bioproducts are made. Industrial Biomanufacturing at scale has not evolved significantly for decades. We are committed to making a difference, in particular, with a focus on the deployment of unique cutting edge and sustainable bioprocessing technologies. We believe solar energy and a circular economy strategy will play a major role in how we produce novel bio-processed ingredients," says Alex Berlin.

About TurtleTree

TurtleTree is unlocking access to the natural ingredients found in milk using a host of cell-based technologies. Together with its valued partners, TurtleTree is able to achieve resource efficiency and provide millions with access to the beneficial nutrients found in milk. We aim to transform performance nutrition, food systems, and cellular agriculture with our cell-based technology platform.

www.turtletree.co

About Solar Biotech

Founded in 2019 by Alex Berlin, Solar Biotech brings bioproducts from benchtop to industrial bioprocessing commercial scale. Its proprietary technology uses a combination of unique technologies, skills, and experience to swiftly adapt to the needs of each bioproduct. Solar Biotech customises modular plant architectures, called BioNodes, for specific bioproducts. Solar Biotech's 100% solar-powered platform and facility help precision fermentation companies scale up their operations sustainably and at a fraction of the cost.

www.solarbiotech.com

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Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - August 13, 2021) - Cortus Metals Inc. (TSXV: CRTS) (the "Company", or "Cortus") is pleased to announce the completion of a 128 line-kilometer high-resolution ground magnetic survey over the entirety of its Powerline Project. The project consists of 219 recorded unpatented federal lode mining claims (>1,800 hectares) located 8 kilometers northeast of the Spring Valley gold deposit along a southwest extension of the Getchell Trend, a major northeast structural trend of deposits containing 19.4 Moz Au produced and 42.5 Moz Au endowment.3





Figure 1. Results of 2021 high-resolution ground magnetic survey at the Powerline Project superimposed on the regional USGS magnetic survey map.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6646/93052_3028ff33d425a8c0_001full.jpg

Cortus CEO Sean Mager commented "The data indicate linear magnetic lows coincident with mapped northeast-trending faults that intersect with northwest-trending epithermal vein trends projected from the range. These structures project below the pediment and onto the Powerline claims. The major north-northeast fault is a direct extension of a regional fault controlling mineralization at Spring Valley, Coeur Rochester and Relief Canyon (see Figure 1), which host more than 6Moz Au combined.1,2,4 The relationship between magnetic lows and regional structural trends demonstrates the link between the Spring Valley deposit and Coeur Rochester Mine. Magnetic and geobotanical data indicate that the structures and mineralization extend beneath the pediment, supporting the definition of drill targets at Powerline."

Project Highlights

Highly analogous to the Waterton Spring Valley Deposit (4.12 million ounces of gold 1 ), sharing a similar structural trend and lithologies, including Triassic rhyolites, siliciclastics, and carbonates in the Humboldt range.

), sharing a similar structural trend and lithologies, including Triassic rhyolites, siliciclastics, and carbonates in the Humboldt range. Well-defined correlations between mapped structures, geobotanical anomalies, and magnetic anomalies.

Silver and antimony mines on the range formed in a northwest-trending corridor which projects onto the pediment to intersect the main north-northeast fault through the major deposits. These elements are common pathfinders to gold mineralization, often occurring peripheral to a central hydrothermal hot spot in large Nevada gold deposits.

Two strong geobotanical anomalies suggest typical epithermal mineralization in Nevada.

A soil geochemical survey has been completed over the entire Powerline Project area, and assay results are pending.

A property-wide gravimetric survey will determine relative bedrock depths and identify potential horst-type structures beneath the alluvial cover.

Initial drilling targets will be further defined by geochemical and gravimetric data.

The Powerline Project is available for acquisition, option, or joint venture.

Next Steps

The 2021 exploration program is nearing the drill-ready stage, and permitting is in progress. Results are pending for 507 multi-element assays from the recent soil sampling program of 120m sample spacing and 300m line spacing totalling 61.24 line-kilometers. A detailed gravity survey is planned for 2021 to define bedrock-depth and achievable drill targets. The geochemical and gravity results will enhance the understanding of the stratigraphic and structural controls on mineralization and strengthen the drill targets.

References

Gustavson Associates 43-101 (September 2014) Coeur Mining 43-101 (December 2020) Total estimated gold endowment based on Muntean (PDAC, 2020) Reference-Technical Report and Feasibility Study for the Relief Canyon Project, Pershing County, Nevada, USA. Pershing Gold Corporation. July 6, 2018.

About Cortus Metals Inc.

Cortus Metals Inc. (TSXV: CRTS) is a new Canadian mineral exploration company with a portfolio of highly prospective early-stage projects in Nevada and an innovative project generator strategy to advance them to fruition. Cortus' expert team uses systematic methods and proprietary data to target significant epithermal and Carlin-type mineralization beneath shallow cover. We provide investors with exceptional opportunities to capitalize on the potential to discover gold-silver deposits of >1-million-ounces in a top-ranked mining jurisdiction. Our mandate is to collaborate with third parties to complete drill programs of 2-4,000 metres, with Cortus retaining a significant interest in the outcomes. Our projects are available for acquisition via sale, option and/or joint venture mechanisms.

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc, P.Geol., P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

s/ "Sean Mager"

Sean Mager, Chief Executive Officer

Email: seanm@cortusmetals.com

Telephone: +1.780.701.3215

Forward-Looking Information

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements". Although the Company believes that assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including without limitation, future plans and objectives of the Company, are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release. No assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/93052
12 August 2021

Boanerges Limited

("Boanerges" or the "Company")

Director/PDMR Shareholding

Boanerges, a special purpose acquisition company, established for the purpose of identifying investment opportunities and acquisitions in small and medium sized enterprises ("SMEs") within the technology sector, in the UK or Europe, notes that Richard James Griffiths, CEO of the Company, has transferred his entire holding of 39,250,001 Ordinary Shares representing 71.69% of the issued share capital of the company into trust. The transfer was done at nil consideration on 11th August 2021, into Sidney PTC LTD, wholly owned by The Original Purpose Trust. Richard Griffiths is a director of Sidney PTC LTD.

The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

For further information, please contact:

The Company

Andrew Fearon + 44 (0) 808 1968 324 AQSE Corporate Adviser:

Peterhouse Capital Limited

Guy Miller/Mark Anwyl +44 (0) 20 7469 0936

Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them
VALLETTA, MALTA / ACCESSWIRE / August 13, 2021 / NearPad, the DeFi hub on NEAR's layer 2 protocol - Aurora, has announced the successful close of its $2m seed round. The raise was led by NGC with participation from leading backers in the blockchain space including NEAR Foundation, OWC, Ellipti, LD Capital, Flow Ventures, Genblock Capital, SuperNova Fund, Exnetwork, and Arkn. NearPad has set its sight on jumpstarting ecosystem growth on Aurora through its DAO-centric protocol.

"We're excited to partner with NearPad to help early teams fair launch," says NEAR Foundation. "NearPad brings the best of both worlds' to early projects. Projects and their community members can hold ERC-20 tokens to take advantage of capital flow within the ETH economy. While still getting the dynamic benefits of NEAR: lower fees and fast finality of transactions."

NearPad is a protocol and a community - a protocol that enables users to connect to value and a community that adds value to projects. NearPad is uniquely based on making the protocol community-owned by vesting control of its treasury and public funds in the hands of its users. Imagine having a DeFi protocol where you not only get to vote on changes to the protocol but can also propose and vote on funds allocation and utilization. Holders are empowered to vote on projects and teams to incubate, developers can directly pitch their projects to the community.

Building for the Community

NEAR protocol has quietly been growing over the past couple of months, thanks to its lightning-fast finality times and a market that is ripe for low fees and instant transfers. However, as a blockchain platform, NEAR's ecosystem is yet to blossom the same way its competitors have in recent months, a problem Aurora is addressing by providing users and developers with access to DeFi's most used toolings and interfaces.

As a layer 2 on NEAR, Aurora provides a highly customizable platform supported by a dynamic set of toolings and environments to accommodate developers at any level of experience to make the creation, transfers, and ownership of value accessible and inclusive. It leverages significant technological advantages to produce an ecosystem with greater potential.

As Ethereum becomes increasingly oversaturated and difficult to transact on with high transaction fees and slow transaction times, DeFi users will be looking to explore alternative chains. Aurora is uniquely positioned to benefit from an already established DeFi ecosystem in Ethereum. With lower fees and faster transactions and finality, users on Ethereum can take advantage of the robust ecosystem while simultaneously benefiting from the scalability advantages of NEAR.

One of the biggest challenges in the blockchain industry is getting the attention of developers to create dApps on a new ecosystem. Users are also cautious about embracing new ecosystems. They're not sure what to expect and tend to be conservative when it comes to adopting unfamiliar products. NearPad is set to eliminate this bottleneck by creating a platform where developers can easily connect to resources while providing users with tools to optimise their experience on the network.

"Crypto market is getting structured more like a traditional venture market but with a more robust community ethos," says John Kwak, Co-founder & Partner of Ellipti Ventures "Especially for the burgeoning ecosystem like NEAR, it's pivotal to thoroughly plan the projects' journey from initiation with the right people & methods to approach the broader market overall. We are excited to back NearPad, the all-around DeFi hub embracing diverse needs and making them real."

With the launch of NearPad, Aurora will be able to accelerate its growth of DeFi projects on Aurora even further, expanding the DeFi ecosystem beyond Ethereum and bringing further adoption and usability to the space.

About NearPad

A launchpad, DEX Aggregator, and Yield Aggregator all in one. NearPad is changing the way communities and developers access open finance tools for crowdfunding, asset management, and yield optimization. The platform will also be the first DAO-led protocol on Aurora by giving its community complete control over how treasury and public funds are utilised for the ecosystem.

Social Links

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NearPAD

Telegram: https://t.me/nearpad

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5PTYw7OStk

Media Contact

Company: NearPad

Contact: Media Team

E-mail: press@nearpad.io

Website: https://nearpad.io/

SOURCE: NearPad

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/659644/DAO-led-DeFi-Hub-NearPad-Announces-2m-Seed-Raise
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 13, 2021) - ACME Lithium Inc. (CSE: ACME) (OTCQB: ACLHF) (the "Company", or "ACME") is pleased to announce that after successfully completing the application process, the Company has received approval from OTC Markets Group Inc. for its common shares to begin trading on the OTCQB Market ("OTCQB") beginning at market open on August 13th, 2021 under the symbol "ACLHF". The Company's common shares will remain listed on the CSE in Canada under the ticker symbol "ACME".

OTC Markets Group Inc., located in New York, N.Y., operates the world's largest electronic inter-dealer quotation system for broker dealers to trade over 10,000 securities. The OTCQB is a transparent trading platform that offers a cost-effective method for United States investors to access ACME's securities. ACME's quotation and trading on the OTCQB provides investors the opportunity to benefit from streamlined market standards which enhance the availability of information to the general public, enabling greater transparency. North American and international investors can find Real-Time level 2 quotes (denominated in US dollars) and market information for ACME Lithium Inc. common shares at https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/ACLHF/quote along with current company news.

The Company would like to thank Nikolaos Galanopoulos of Galanopoulos & Company, the corporate securities law firm that advised ACME in relation to the OTCQB application process.

About ACME Lithium Inc.

Acme Lithium is a mineral exploration company engaged in the business of acquiring, exploring and evaluating natural resource properties. The Company has acquired or under option to acquire a 100-per-cent interest in 1212 claims encompassing approximately 2,440 acres, comprising the CC, CCP, JR and SX placer lithium claims, located in Clayton Valley, Esmeralda county, Nevada. Acme also holds a 100-per-cent interest in the FLV claims, being 81 lode mining claims totaling approximately 1,620 acres, in Esmeralda county, Nevada, which are prospective for lithium contained in tertiary claystones.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Steve Hanson

Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

Telephone: (604) 564-9045

info@acmelithium.com

Neither the CSE nor its regulations service providers accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur and in this news release include but are not limited to the attributes of, timing for and expected benefits to be derived from the drilling program to be carried out on the FLV property. Information inferred from the interpretation of drilling and other sampling results may also be deemed to be forward-looking statements, as it constitutes a prediction of what might be found to be present when and if a project is actually developed. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to fluctuations in metal prices; uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing to fund the planned work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; changes in planned work resulting from weather, logistical, technical or other factors; the possibility that results of work will not fulfill expectations and realize the perceived potential of the Company's properties; risk of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in the work program; the risk of environmental contamination or damage resulting from the Company's operations and other risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/93046
The acquisition values ACT at an enterprise value of nearly USD 1.2 billion

ACT serves around 2 million wired broadband subscribers in India

The Company is positioned to benefit from rapidly rising data consumption in the country

Partners Group, a leading global private markets firm, has agreed, on behalf of its clients, to acquire Atria Convergence Technologies ("ACT" or "the Company"), one of India's largest providers of high-speed fiber-optic broadband, from Argan (Mauritius) Limited and TA Associates. Partners Group, which has been a joint investor in ACT since 2016, will acquire a controlling stake in a transaction that values the Company at an enterprise value of nearly USD 1.2 billion.

Headquartered in Bangalore with over 7,000 employees, ACT is a leading multi-service operator offering a package of internet, TV, data, and other broadband services. The Company serves around 2 million wired broadband subscribers across 19 cities in India and has one of the largest fiber networks in the country, capable of delivering connection speed of up to 1 Gbps. ACT has high customer retention rates and delivers reliable broadband, strong uptime, and quality customer service. The Company is well-positioned to benefit from rapidly rising data consumption in India, which has been accelerated by new working and learning from home trends since COVID-19. Partners Group will work closely with ACT management and TA Associates, which will continue to hold a minority stake, on a value creation plan to support the Company's ongoing growth and contribution to the Digital India mission.

Manas Tandon, Managing Director, Private Equity, Partners Group, says: "ACT is on the frontline of digitization in India, providing fast, reliable broadband to millions of homes in the country. The Company is an excellent opportunity for us to support the transformation of a growing business through expansion into new markets and development of new product offerings. As existing investors, we have followed ACT's journey for several years and have been impressed with Bala and his team's strategic vision, and their commitment to customer satisfaction, which converges with our focus on operational excellence."

Bala Malladi, Chief Executive Officer, Atria Convergence Technologies, comments: "ACT has been a pioneer in the fixed broadband industry with its relentless focus on creating a culture of technological excellence, as well as employee and customer centricity. The Company has been at the forefront of facilitating working from home and learning from home during the pandemic and believes in supporting the Digital India mission significantly. Partners Group has been an integral part of the Company's growth journey for several years and is a great believer and supporter of our core values. The firm's experience working with global technology companies and its expertise in supporting multi-dimensional growth will be very valuable."

Vageesh Gupta, Member of Management, Partners Group, adds: "Data consumption in India is booming yet our thematic research shows the wired broadband market is supply constrained with the country continuing to have amongst the lowest fiber-to-the-home penetration in the world. We are delighted that Bala and his team have chosen to partner with us as we work together to implement a value creation plan that will focus on expanding ACT's share in new geographies and customer segments."

Partners Group's other investments in India include Vishal Mega Mart, franchisor of the Vishal Mega Mart brand and wholesale supplier to Vishal-branded hypermarket stores; Aavas Financiers, provider of housing loans to low and middle income customers; and Ecom Express, a leading provider of logistics solutions to the Indian e-commerce industry. ACT is Partners Group's third investment in the telecom space this year after Unity Digital, a telecom tower platform in the Philippines, and Eolo, Italy's leading fixed wireless access broadband provider.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including clearance by the relevant merger control authorities.
Oslo, 13 August 2021: Yara International ASA will hold an Extraordinary General Meeting on Monday 6September at 16:30 CEST to approve the Board's proposal to pay an additional dividend of NOK 20 per share.



In accordance with the Norwegian Public Limited Liability Companies Act section 5-8 the Extraordinary General Meeting will be held as a digital meeting only, with no physical attendance for shareholders.

The complete notice of the Annual General Meeting will be distributed to Yara's registered shareholders and is also available on Yara's website:

Reports and presentations 2021 | Yara International



Contact



Silje Ingeberg Nygaard, Acting Head of Investor Relations

Mobile:





About Yara



Yara grows knowledge to responsibly feed the world and protect the planet. Supporting our vision of a world without hunger and a planet respected, we pursue a strategy of sustainable value growth, promoting climate-friendly crop nutrition and zero-emission energy solutions. Yara's ambition is focused on growing a climate positive food future that creates value for our customers, shareholders and society at large and delivers a more sustainable food value chain.

To achieve our ambition, we have taken the lead in developing digital farming tools for precision farming, and work closely with partners throughout the food value chain to improve the efficiency and sustainability of food production. Through our focus on clean ammonia production, we aim to enable the hydrogen economy, driving a green transition of shipping, fertilizer production and other energy intensive industries.

Founded in 1905 to solve the emerging famine in Europe, Yara has established a unique position as the industry's only global crop nutrition company. We operate an integrated business model with around 17,000 employees and operations in over 60 countries, with a proven track record of strong returns. In 2020, Yara reported revenues of USD 11.6 billion.



www.yara.com



This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act

Attachment
Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 13, 2021) - Metals Creek Resources Corp. (TSXV: MEK) (OTCQB: MCREF) (FSE: M1C1) (the "Company" or Metals Creek) is pleased to announce that the company has received the 1st year anniversary payment of $20,000 and 300,000 shares from Quadro Resources Ltd. ("Quadro"). Quadro has the right to earn a 100% interest in the company's Careless Cove/Yellow Fox claims in central Newfoundland. The claims are located approximately 12 kilometers southwest of New Found Gold Corp. ("New Found Gold") as illustrated on the attached map. New Found Gold announced excellent results from recent drilling on their Queensway Gold Project. Drill Hole NFGC-19-01 results included an intersection of 92.86 g/t Au over 19.0 meters (see Mexican Gold Corp., Press Release dated January 26, 2020). Gold values on adjacent properties in similar rocks are not representative of the mineralization on the property, have not been verified, and should not be relied upon.

Figure 1

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/943/93053_42b2cab254a18a3a_002full.jpg

The terms of the acquisition are outlined as follows:

The Property consists of five licenses (40 units) in two separate groupings referred to as the Careless Cove group and the Yellow Fox group.



To acquire MEK's interest, QRO will issue to MEK a total $100,000 and 1,500,000 shares according to the following schedule:

a) $15,000 and 300,000 on signing; (Paid)

b) $20,000 and 300,000 shares on the first anniversary; (Paid)

c) $20,000 and 400,000 shares on the second anniversary; and

d) $45,000 and 500,000 shares on the third anniversary

Once QRO is vested at 100% by meeting all the payments above, MEK will retain a 2.0% Net Smelter Return (NSR) royalty on any future mineral production. QRO will have the right to purchase 50% of the NSR from MEK for $1,000,000.



The foregoing proposal is subject to QRO and MEK board approval and may be subject to Exchange approval, in which regard the parties will provide such assistance and cooperation as may reasonably be required.

Prospecting activities on the Careless Cove property by Metals Creek returned 11.8 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) in grab samples. The Careless Cove claim block is one of two 100% owned Claim blocks comprising the Careless Cove/Yellow Fox Property. (see MEK news release dated 30 July 2020).

Careless Cove Claims

The recent prospecting carried out at Careless Cove uncovered mineralization comprised of quartz breccia with disseminated and vein hosted pyrite/arsenopyrite with minor stibinite.

Three samples taken from outcrop, assays are as follows:

Sample Number g/t Au 236102 7.39 236103 0.47 236104 4.15

In addition, follow up prospecting has located rubble approximately 50 meters away from the above mentioned outcrop samples with assays of :

Sample Number g/t Au 323763 7.37 323764 11.83

Yellow Fox Claims

No new sampling was carried out at Yellow Fox however a description of previous MEK sampling carried out in 2011 follows: (see Newfoundland Geoscience Resource Atlas Geofile Number: 002D/0779).

Initial prospecting carried by Metals Creek in 2011, resulted in a concentration of highly anomalous gold values with one sample returning an assay of 59.413 g/t Au (main Yellow Fox showing) (see MEK press release dated June 22, 2011). This led to an enhanced work program which included soil sampling and trenching. B-horizon soils were collected 25 meters apart over two, 100m spaced, east-west trending recce lines over the higher-grade gold sample in an attempt to trace the direction of mineralization. Follow-up trenching was completed across the mineralization. Initial sampling consisted of 13 selective grab samples taken throughout the trenches with assay values ranging from 214 ppb to 1877 ppb Gold and up to 11.1% Sb, 5.5% Pb, 7% Zn, and 72.9 g/t Ag. The trenches were then channel sampled along their length using a diamond bladed rock saw. The best result from the channels were from Trench #1 which assayed 0.306 g/t Au over 26.82m within 29 continuous samples and 4.57% Sb over 1 meter. These results were very encouraging and indicated the potential for a more widespread gold system on the Yellow Fox claim group.

Alexander (Sandy) Stares, President and CEO of Metals Creek states, "The Central Newfoundland Gold Belt is currently a beehive of activity with multiple companies performing exploration activity. Optioning the Careless Cove/Yellow Fox claims to Quadro allows for the properties to receive the exploration it deserves while Metals Creek remains focused on the Ogden Gold Project in Timmins and the Dona Lake Gold Project in northwestern Ontario."

Wayne Reid, P.Geo, a Director for the Company and a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, is responsible for this release, and supervised the preparation of the information forming the basis for this release.

Analyses in this release were performed by Eastern Analytical of Springdale, NL with ISO 17025 accreditation. Samples were transported in sealed bags to Eastern and all samples were assayed using industry-standard assay techniques for gold. Gold was analyzed by a standard 30 gram fire assay with an AA finish.

Note: The surface grab samples described in this news release are selective by nature and are unlikely to represent average grades of the property.

In addition to its portfolio of projects, Metals Creek also holds a position of equities in other companies such as O3 Mining, Sokoman Minerals, Quadro Resources, Anaconda Mining, Benton Resources, White Metal Resources, Trifecta Gold, Manning Ventures, Magna Terra Minerals, General Gold, as well as others.

About Metals Creek Resources Corp.

Metals Creek Resources Corp. is a junior exploration Corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, is a reporting issuer in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, and has its common shares listed for trading on the Exchange under the symbol "MEK". Metals Creek has earned a 50% interest in the Ogden Gold Property from Newmont Corporation, including the former Naybob Gold mine, located 6 km south of Timmins, Ontario and has an 8 km strike length of the prolific Porcupine-Destor Fault (P-DF). In addition, Metals Creek has signed an agreement with Newmont Corporation, where Metals Creek can earn a 100% interest in the past producing Dona Lake Gold Project in the Pickle Lake Mining District of Ontario.

Metals Creek also has multiple quality projects available for option in Ontario and Newfoundland which can be viewed on the Corporation's website. Parties interested in seeking more information about properties available for option can contact the Corporation at the number below.

Additional information concerning the Corporation is contained in documents filed by the Corporation with securities regulators, available under its profile at www.sedar.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Alexander (Sandy) Stares, President and CEO

Metals Creek Resources Corp

telephone: (709)-256-6060

fax: (709)-256-6061

email: astares@metalscreek.com

www.MetalsCreek.com

Twitter.com/MetalsCreekRes

Facebook.com/MetalsCreek

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/93053
PALO ALTO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 13, 2021 / Bitcoin Latinum, a more scalable and sustainable network which uses an energy-efficient consensus process, is thrilled to announce that it has officially joined the Crypto Climate Accord as a Signatory and Supporter.

Bitcoin Latinum (LTNM) is the next-generation cryptocurrency, executing the necessary changes on going green. Greener, faster, and more secure than Bitcoin. In high-growth markets including media, gaming, telecommunications, and cloud computing, Bitcoin Latinum aims to improve transaction speed, lower fees, and increase security.

Bitcoin Latinum made several alterations to guarantee the transformation on going greener. Bitcoin Latinum is launching with 80% of pre-mined Latinum, meaning that there will be no waste in electricity to mine the coins, as well as moving away from PoW to PoS in Bitcoin.

Bitcoin Latinum, uses an advanced version of the Proof of Stake mechanism that can handle a larger number of transactions per second and does not require the nodes to solve complex equations to mine the currency. This helps to improve the electricity usage for the bitcoin latinum network.

The Bitcoin Latinum Foundation stated, 'We understand the necessity for cryptocurrency mining and hosting companies to expedite the use of renewable energy solutions in order to reduce emissions and advance toward net-zero electricity consumption emissions. We are thrilled to be a part of this project.'

By joining the Crypto Climate Accord (CCA) , Bitcoin Latinum seeks to achieve a net-zero carbon footprint, from power consumption linked to its crypto-related operations within the next decade, by deploying an environmentally friendly, more secure, proof of stake consensus mechanism. As well as to report progress toward this goal using best industry standards.

Bitcoin Latinum (LTNM) is a bitcoin hard fork that intends to keep Satoshi Nakamoto's vision of Bitcoin as a bankless, peer-to-peer electronic cash system alive. Bitcoin Latinum will also have their third pre-sale, which will last for at least one week. Purchases under 1,000 tokens will receive 5% bonus, and purchases of 1,000 tokens or more will receive 10% bonus. Pre-sale will happen from the 2nd of August and will last for 10 days thereafter.

About Bitcoin Latinum

Bitcoin Latinum is the next-generation Bitcoin fork which is environmentally friendly, faster, and more secure than Bitcoin. Bitcoin Latinum intends to improve transaction speed, cut costs, and increase security in high-growth areas such as media, gaming, telecommunications, and cloud computing by employing an energy-efficient Proof of Stake consensus process. The main goal is to enhance Bitcoin's code, so that it can operate with greater security, transactional speed, dependability, and lower transaction costs. For more information about Bitcoin Latinum, visit bitcoinlatinum.com

About Crypto Climate Accord

The CCA is a private sector-led project for the global crypto community, inspired by the Paris Climate Agreement, with the goal of decarbonizing the cryptocurrency and blockchain industries in record time. The rising demand for cryptocurrencies and the rapid adoption of blockchain-based solutions has brought attention to an essential issue: the technology's increasing energy consumption and its impact on the environment. That's why CCA is collaborating with the crypto and blockchain businesses to speed the development of digital ProofOfGreen solutions and establish a new benchmark for other industries to follow.

Social Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bitcoinlatinum

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bitcoinlatinum

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinlatinum/

Media Contact

Company: Bitcoin Latinum

Contact: Kai Okada, Media Manager

E-mail: marketing@bitcoinlatinum.com

Website: https://bitcoinlatinum.com/

SOURCE: Bitcoin Latinum

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/659661/The-Next-Evolution-of-Crypto--Going-Green-with-Bitcoin-Latinum
Over One Hundred Mothers Denounce the United States of America Before the United Nations, for Human Rights Violations.

The MeToo Movement of Mothers

MeTooFamilyCourt

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On Sunday, August 1, 2021, over one hundred mothers submitted a formal Complaint to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women denouncing the United States Government, and the states within, for systematic human rights violations waged against women and children throughout the family court systems in the country. The Complaint was submitted by advocacy groups One Mom's Battle and Custody Peace with over one hundred women throughout the United States joining in the Complaint.

The Complaint alleges human rights violations that include systemic gender bias, discrimination on the basis of sex, and facilitation of physical, sexual, financial, legal and emotional abuse of women and children. Through personal letters submitted with the Complaint, these brave women provided firsthand accounts of their experience suffering injustices and human rights violations in family court.

The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women considers such communications as part of its annual program of work in order to identify emerging trends and patterns of injustice and discriminatory practices against women for purposes of policy formulation and development of strategies for the promotion of gender equality.

Devin McRae, Lisa Boswell and Rebecca Claudat of Early Sullivan Wright Gizer & McRae LLP , who are representing Renee Izambard in a groundbreaking civil domestic violence lawsuit which includes allegations of coercive control under California's newly amended Family code  6320 , assisted the group of women with their submission to the UN.

The Claim submitted to the UN documents disturbing trends throughout family courts in the U.S. including a failure to recognize coercive control tactics as domestic violence warranting court intervention, the tendency of judges to discredit mothers' child abuse allegations particularly when the father alleges parental alienation as a counterclaim, the weaponization of the family court system itself by an abuser as a means to harass and control a domestic violence victim, punishment of women who raise child safety and abuse concerns by stripping them of custody rights, and judges' bias towards and unfavorable treatment of women who resist shared parenting with an ex-intimate partner who abused them and/or their child, often leading to a dismissal of these women as simply angry, emotional or crazy.

In their Claim, the women highlight the need for court reforms including that coercive control be recognized in all family courts as domestic violence warranting court intervention, that domestic abuse and coercive control be considered in all divorce and custody cases, for priority and early evidentiary hearings on determinations of abuse as a threshold matter, prohibition of admissibility of parental alienation claims in custody or visitation proceedings, and mandated education of judges, attorneys and all court-related/appointed professionals on domestic violence, child abuse and common mental health issues plaguing the family court system.

The complainants' accounts to the UN included the following pleas (*the names of the complainants are omitted here for their protection):

"When I entered into the family law court system, l thought that once the judge and officials saw the patterns of abuse, they would do everything they could to protect my children and l. Instead, the courts have supported the on-going abuse of us post-separation. The lack of understanding and training about coercive control has been shocking. It's been frightening, terrorizing, and traumatizing."

"I have been threatened -- maybe a better word to choose is strongly warned -- by multiple attorneys that if I speak my truth, it will not go over well in family law court."

"If I had known my ex would get any significant form of custody, I would never have left him. I would have stayed in that miserable, abusive situation so that I could be there for my kids 24/7 and do my best to keep them safe."

"My ex was allowed to file as much as he wanted against me. It did not seem to matter that his claims were frivolous; if I did not show up and defend, then I would lose. The domestic violence advocate told me this was court system abuse."

"If I 'react' further then I risk being labeled an alienator. I risk being held in contempt of court. I risk losing custodial rights to my child. Yet if something ever happened to us, people would ask why I didn't do more."

Full length letters are available upon media request.

The lifelong impact of such trauma has been proven through scientific studies and is corroborated by numerous noteworthy scholars. In the late 1990s, Kaiser Permanente, with the CDC, conducted the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study . For the first time, ACEs were correlated to addiction, disease, mental health issues and other adverse life-experiences.Kevin Chroman, Esq, Adjunct Professor at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, attorney and author of Making The Case for ACEs (How the Legal System Can Further Help Children and Take Meaningful Steps to Address ACEs) said: "The Family Court system is often the family's first entry point in its call for help, and the time has come for us to have a comprehensive, evidence-based, response to our children's needs. We should consider implementing ACE-based policies and programs as if our children's lives depend on it because, as we now know, they do."

Professor Joan S. Meier, Esq, Professor of Clinical Law and Director, National Family Violence Law Center at George Washington University Law School said, "Our research confirms that overall the courts reject mothers' abuse claims the majority of the time. Widespread complaints from protective parents (mostly mothers) have been that their reports of family abuse, especially child sexual abuse, are not only ignored and rejected, but often trigger punitive responses, including custody reversals, granting custody to the alleged abusive fathers. Our data confirms this, and also show that when there are cross-claims of parental alienation, approximately one in two mothers loses custody of their children to the alleged abuser."

A groundbreaking research study into high-conflict personalities in divorce proceedings led by Santa Clara University School of Law (Confronting the Challenge of High-Conflict Personality in Family Court) Professor Michelle Oberman with Bay Area attorney Esther Rosenfeld revealed interesting findings. According to Ms. Rosenfeld, "Our study indicates there is a measurable problem within family courts wherein some high-conflict personalities are able to 'work the system' to the detriment of children. Quality education into the nature and effects of these personalities for the judiciary and attorneys alike should be mandated, so that courts are better equipped to spot issues and make appropriate rulings to protect children's best interest."

The manipulation of the family court system by abusers to continue to harm and punish their familial victims is a textbook example of coercive control. Professor Evan Stark, the world-renowned expert on coercive control says, "My focus is on what perpetrators do to their partners. But the political significance of coercive control derives from what men prevent women from doing for themselves. The coercive control model defines abuse as a liberty crime and sets the use of violence in the context of the arrogation of women's rights, the realization of which is critical to overall social and economic development, as well as her ability to fulfill her purposes in the world."

Dr. Karen Williams, a Consultant Psychiatrist specializing in trauma, who recently presented to the NSW Select Committee into Coercive Control in Australia, states, "Clinically, what we see in survivors of coercive control are symptoms identical to that of first responders or defense personnel with PTSD, except these women never get to leave the war zone."

Williams continues, "It is a myth that an abuser can be a good or even average father whilst abusing the mother of the children. Abusive partners/husbands are abusive fathers. It is really that simple. Children rely on their parents for a sense of safety, when that safety is compromised - when a father attacks the person who is protecting them, whether it's physically, emotionally or financially, then inevitably the child will lose that sense of security. Just like being in a boat, which has a hole in it, the child realizes that they are no longer safe if the mother is not safe. This is not just intuitive, this has been backed up by the evidence over and over again. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) lists family violence, witnessing family violence as traumatic experiences. Children who have witnessed abuse experience higher levels of learning disorders, mental illness, obesity, substance abuse, as well as higher levels of criminal behavior themselves and lifelong history of disadvantage. The fact that this is overlooked by the family law court, time and time again in family courtrooms throughout the globe is one of the greatest examples of government-sanctioned abuse that we are witnessing in our time."

Tina Swithin of One Mom's Battle explains that the UN submission is simply the first step. "This is the first step in our advocacy efforts. Over two thousand mothers and allies of all genders have joined our Global Family Court Advocacy Community in just the last two weeks alone. We urge that child safety is made top priority in all custody cases in the U.S. and internationally and hope to raise awareness of coercive control and post-separation abuse," says Swithin.

For media inquiries , please contact media@custody-peace.org or visit www.custody-peace.org.

Learn more, donate to the movement or to join the Global Family Court Advocacy Community at www.custody-peace.org

About One Mom's Battle: The mission at One Mom's Battle is to raise awareness and educate family court professionals on post-separation abuse as it relates to co-parenting and the family court system (divorce, paternity and child custody battles). Education on high-conflict individuals and post-separation abuse will allow family court professionals (judges, commissioners, magistrates, CPS workers, guardians ad litem (GAL), parenting coordinators (PC), custody evaluators, therapists and attorneys) to recognize the abusive dynamics that play out in the family court system so they can make decisions that are in the best interest of children. Learn more at www.onemomsbattle.com

About Custody Peace: Through the cultivation of community, awareness building & advocacy Custody Peace is on a mission to ensure child-safety is the top priority in all custody cases and that everyone is free from coercive control and post-separation abuse. Learn more at www.custody-peace.org

RESOURCES:

Post-Separation Abuse www.postseparationabuse.com

Coercive Control: https://youtu.be/YbZYSBeHuLU & https://youtu.be/UOlO8eTViec

Adverse Childhood Experiences Study: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/about.html

Saunders study: https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/238891.pdf

Meier Study: bit.ly/ChildCustodyOutcomes

Confronting the Challenge of High-Conflict Personality in Family Court (Santa Clara Law Study): https://www.npdandlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Confronting-the-Challenge-of-the-High-Conflict-Personality-in-Family-Court.pdf

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1594079/omb.jpg

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Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - August 13, 2021) - Grizzly Discoveries Inc. (TSXV: GZD) (OTCQB: GZDIF) (FSE: G6H) ("Grizzly" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of the Company's annual general and special meeting of shareholders held on August 9, 2021 in Edmonton, Alberta (the "Meeting").

The total number of votes represented at the Meeting was 32,877,764, being 35.24% of the total issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. Shareholders voted in favour of all matters considered at the Meeting. All matters considered at the Meeting are described in more detail in the Company's management information circular dated July 2, 2021, which was mailed to shareholders of the Company and is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Included in the business of the Meeting, shareholders authorized amended and restated by-laws of the Company that had been approved by the Board of Directors on July 2, 2021, replacing the Company's previous by-laws.

More information about the business of the Meeting is available in the Company's Management Information Circular dated July 2, 2021, and a copy of the amended and restated by-laws of the Company are available on SEDAR.

ABOUT GRIZZLY DISCOVERIES INC.

Grizzly is a diversified Canadian mineral exploration company with its primary listing on the TSX Venture Exchange, with 90 million shares issued, focused on developing its over 156,000 acres of precious and base metals properties in southeastern British Columbia. Grizzly is run by a highly experienced junior resource sector management team, who have a track record of advancing exploration projects from early exploration stage through to feasibility stage.

On behalf of the Board,

GRIZZLY DISCOVERIES INC.

Brian Testo, CEO, President

Tel: 780 693 2242

For further information, please visit our website at www.grizzlydiscoveries.com or contact:

Chris Beltgens

Corporate Development

Tel: 604 347 9535

Email: cbeltgens@grizzlydiscoveries.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/93121
JACKSONVILLE, FA / ACCESSWIRE / August 13, 2021 / ParkerVision, Inc. (OTCQB:PRKR) ("ParkerVision"), a developer and marketer of technologies and products for wireless applications, today announced results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021.

Second Quarter 2021 Summary and Recent Developments

The district court in the Western District of Texas issued a favorable Markman ruling in ParkerVision's second infringement case against Intel.

ParkerVision amended its complaints in both pending cases against Intel to add Intel Wi-Fi products to the cellular products cited in the initial complaints. The court has indicated that given the number of patents at issue in the first Intel case, the first case will be split into two trials, resulting in an aggregate of three trials against Intel. As a result of adding Wi-Fi products to the complaints, the first Intel trial date is scheduled for June 2022 with a second trial expected a few months following the first.

A confidential patent license and settlement agreement was reached with Buffalo, Inc.

A patent infringement complaint was filed against LG Electronics in the Western District of Texas.

ParkerVision is awaiting a new trial date in ParkerVision v. Qualcomm in the Middle District of Florida (Orlando division). The court delayed the trial, originally scheduled for July 2021, citing a backlog due to the pandemic, among other factors. All motions and pre-trial statements have been filed by the parties. The court is expected to set a pre-trial conference and trial date once it has completed ruling on the outstanding pre-trial motions.



Jeffrey Parker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We were pleased this past quarter to be able to resolve our outstanding litigation with Buffalo, and we welcome the opportunity to do so with others as well. The favorable Markman decisions received this year from the Texas court help to clarify what we believe to be the strong merits of our cases against Intel, and we are now focused on preparation for at least two trials next year against Intel. Meanwhile, we look forward to our next Markman hearing in the Texas court which is scheduled for October 2021 in our cases against Hisense, ZyXel, and TCL."

Mr. Parker continued, "The district court in Orlando continues to issue rulings on the outstanding motions in the Qualcomm case, and we believe the strong merits of our case remain unchanged based upon the court's rulings to date."

Financial Results

Net loss for the second quarter of 2021 was $4.4 million, or $0.06 per common share, compared to a net loss of $3.6 million, or $0.08 per common share for the second quarter of 2020. The increase in net loss year-over-year is due to a $1.5 million increase in the change in fair value of the contingent payment obligations, offset by a $0.5 million, or 20%, decrease in operating expenses and a $0.2 million gain from forgiveness of the company's 2020 Paycheck Protection Program loan.

Net loss for the first half of 2021 was $6.9 million, or $0.10 per common share, compared to $11.5 million, or $0.27 per common share for the first half of 2020. The 40% decrease in year-to-date net loss is a result of a $2.4 million decrease in litigation fees and expenses in addition to the recognition in 2020 of approximately $2.2 million in noncash charges related to the modification of equity-related agreements with third parties.

We used cash for operations of approximately $6.1 million in the first half of 2021 compared to approximately $3.0 million in cash used for operations in the first half of 2020. The increase is the result of a significant decrease in accounts payable and other current liabilities in 2021, resulting in a $3.8 million improvement in working capital.

About ParkerVision

ParkerVision, Inc. has designed and developed proprietary radio-frequency (RF) technologies that enable advanced wireless solutions for current and next generation wireless communication products. ParkerVision is engaged in a number of patent enforcement actions in the U.S. to protect patented rights that it believes are broadly infringed by others. For more information, please visit www.parkervision.com . (PRKR-I)

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, each of which speaks only as of the date made. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that are disclosed in the Company's SEC reports, including the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and the Forms 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated or projected.

Cindy French

Chief Financial Officer

ParkerVision, Inc.

cfrench@parkervision.com

(TABLES FOLLOW)

ParkerVision, Inc.

Balance Sheet Highlights

(in thousands) (unaudited) June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,487 $ 1,627 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 698 607 Intangible assets, net 1,974 2,170 Other noncurrent assets, net 46 52 Total assets $ 4,205 $ 4,456

Current liabilities $ 2,096 $ 5,989 Contingent payment obligations 41,515 38,279 Convertible notes 3,465 3,018 Other long-term liabilities 78 991 Shareholders' deficit (42,949 ) (43,821 ) Total liabilities and shareholders' deficit $ 4,205 $ 4,456

ParkerVision, Inc.

Summary Results of Operations

(unaudited)



Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (in thousands, except per share amounts) June 30, June 30,

2021 2020 2021 2020 Gross margin $ - $ - $ - $ - Selling, general and administrative expenses 1,848 2,328 4,128 7,823 Total operating expenses 1,848 2,328 4,128 7,823 Other income 194 - 194 - Interest expense (78 ) (115 ) (115 ) (301 ) Change in fair value of contingent payment obligations (2,674 ) (1,142 ) (2,824 ) (3,382 ) Total interest and other (2,558 ) (1,257 ) (2,745 ) (3,683 ) Net loss $ (4,406 ) $ (3,585 ) $ (6,873 ) $ (11,506 ) Basic and diluted net loss per common share $ (0.06 ) $ (0.08 ) $ (0.10 ) $ (0.27 ) Weighted average shares outstanding 71,933 45,393 67,836 41,861

ParkerVision, Inc.

Summary of Cash Flows

(unaudited)

Six Months Ended (in thousands) June 30,

2021 2020 Net cash used in operating activities $ (6,101 ) $ (2,977 ) Net cash used in investing activities (2 ) (3 ) Net cash provided by financing activities 5,963 3,466 Net (decrease) increase in cash & cash equivalents (140 ) 486 Cash & cash equivalents - beginning of period 1,627 57 Cash & cash equivalents - end of period $ 1,487 $ 543

SOURCE: ParkerVision, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/659651/ParkerVision-Reports-Second-Quarter-2021-Results
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 13, 2021) - Relay Medical Corp. (CSE: RELA) (OTCQB: RYMDF) (FSE: EIY2) ("Relay" or the "Company") is pleased to announce certification by Florida-based Tritan Software Corporation ("Tritan"). Tritan's SeaCare is the first and only complete enterprise software solution for global medical operations within the maritime industry.

Tritan is a leading provider of Health and Safety Management software platforms. Its SeaCare solution currently operates on approximately 95% of existing Cruise Lines, including on Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, and Viking Ocean Cruises, and has a rapidly growing presence in the Commercial Shipping, Energy and Mining industries.

Relay becoming a Tritan SeaCare API Certified Partner provides Relay with products and tools to support SeaCare clients, such as the Cruise Line Industry in gathering critical data. The SeaCare API Certified Partners program was created to vet third party vendors that aim to leverage the SeaCare platform for integrations in order to provide them with all of the proper tools and training to develop their solutions.

The partner program includes the following:

- SeaCare training on API requirements.

- Listing in our certified partner directory.

- Access to a testing environment to develop and test product integrations.

"With new variants of the COVID-19 pandemic persisting, testing in remote or mobile locations such as cruise lines and other industries, is a critical function and continuous need," said Yoav Raiter, CEO of Relay Medical. "Relay's Fionet Platform provides for rapid testing and tracking and is of value for those industries that must safeguard against unscheduled shutdowns. Tritan has built an impressive business supporting non-medical commercial organizations with critical health information and incident management software with its leading SeaCare API. Fionet will be a great option for many of their clients."

Tritan's ability to aggregate and synchronize high-volumes of data across globally dispersed and limited connectivity locations remains unmatched in the industry. It is the leader in this respective area of expertise and utilizes several patented and proprietary methods to ensure clients receive the most value out of their data. Tritan's extensive experience and specialized product suites specifically address the unique needs of the industry while achieving the highest value for clients and a proven return-on-investment. Its global success is due to a focus on technology innovation and 24/7 service excellence. Tritan with a rapidly growing presence in the Commercial Shipping, Energy and Mining industries. Tritan Software is a privately held corporation with headquarters in Miami, FL.

The SeaCare API Certified Partners program was created to vet third party vendors that aim to leverage the SeaCare platform for integrations in order to provide them with all of the proper tools and training to develop their solutions. As a certified partner Relay will receive SeaCare training on API requirements, a listing on Tritan's certified partner directory, and access to a testing environment to develop and test product integrations.

Relay's Fionet Platform is an end-to-end, rapid testing and tracking solution for commercial and community-based decentralized settings including cruise liners, shipping, mining, and energy operations. Combining a fast, handheld point-of-need device connected in real time to cloud data services, the Fionet Platform handles scheduling and registration via phone app at home, on-site check-in, rapid, on-the-spot antigen testing, data integration with other testing devices, result notification, public health notification as appropriate, and anonymized data and stats for dashboards for authorized stakeholders.

Tritan's industry leading software is designed to be easy-to-use and quick to learn in order to effectively maximize adoption and leverage the value it brings to an organization. The feature-rich and robust platform brings added capability and enhanced insights into the key operations of any organization. Furthermore, it uses the latest in advanced replication and satellite synchronization technology to ensure clients receive the highest quality of information at the highest speeds in some of the most challenging environments.

RECENT NEWS: Relay recently announced COVID-19 testing at Toronto's 2021 National Bank Open presented by Rogers[1]: https://bit.ly/3fTmHnh

SUBSCRIBE: For more information on Relay or to subscribe to the Company's mail list visit: https://www.relaymedical.com/news

About Tritan Software Corporation

Tritan is the industry's #1 provider of Health Information and Incident Management software platforms. Our extensive experience and specialized product suite provide us with an unmatched capability to address the unique needs of the industry. Our focus on technology innovation and 24/7 proactive service have contributed to our global success. Tritan currently supports approximately 95% of existing Cruise Lines with a rapidly growing presence in the Commercial Shipping, Energy and Mining industries. Tritan Software is a privately held corporation with headquarters in Miami, FL.

Website: www.tritansoftware.com

About Relay Medical Corp.

Relay Medical is a technology innovator headquartered in Toronto, Canada focused on the development of novel solutions in the diagnostics and AI data science and IoT security sectors.

Website: www.relaymedical.com

Contact:

Destine Lee

Media & Communications

Relay Medical Corp.

Office. 647-872-9982

TF. 1-844-247-6633

Media Inquiries: media@relaymedical.com

Investor Relations: investor.relations@relaymedical.com

Forward-looking Information Cautionary Statement

Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the CSE. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the commercialization plans for the technology described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com.

[1] https://www.relaymedical.com/newsblog/2021/8/4/5s0nkf4dw045qv3ls5c2xa00jgnfm5

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/93133
Rockley Photonics, Ltd. (NYSE: RKLY) ("the Company" or "Rockley"), a leading global silicon photonics technology company, today announced that it plans to report its second quarter fiscal year 2021 financial results after the market closes on Monday, August 16, 2021. The company also plans to host a conference call that day at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to review its financial results and business outlook.

The conference call can be accessed by dialing 844-200-6205 from the United States or +44 208-0682-558 internationally, referencing access code 821259. A live webcast and replay of the conference call can be accessed from the investor relations page on Rockley's website at investors.rockleyphotonics.com. Following the completion of the call through 11:59 p.m. ET on August 30, 2021, a telephone replay will be available by dialing +1 929-458-6194 from the United States or +44 204-525-0658 internationally with recording access code 348691.

About Rockley Photonics

A global leader in silicon photonics, Rockley is developing a comprehensive range of photonic integrated circuits and associated modules, sensors, and full-stack solutions. From next-generation sensing platforms specifically designed for mobile health monitoring and machine vision to high-speed, high-volume solutions for data communications, Rockley is laying the foundation for a new generation of applications across multiple industries. Rockley believes that photonics will eventually become as pervasive as micro-electronics, and it has developed a platform with the power and flexibility needed to address both mass markets and a wide variety of vertical applications.

Formed in 2013 by Dr. Andrew Rickman (who previously founded the first commercial silicon photonics company, Bookham Technology), Rockley is uniquely positioned to support hyper-scale manufacturing and address a multitude of high-volume markets. Rockley has partnered with numerous Tier-1 customers across a diverse range of industries to deliver the complex optical systems required to bring transformational products to market.

To learn more about Rockley, visit rockleyphotonics.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210813005402/en/

Contacts:

For Rockley

Media

John Christiansen, Camilla Scassellati Sforzolini

Sard Verbinnen Co

Rockley-SVC@sardverb.com

Investors

Gwyn Lauber

Rockley Photonics

investors@rockleyphotonics.com
Vernon, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 13, 2021) - True Leaf Brands Inc. (CSE: MJ) (OTC Pink: TRLFF) (FSE: TLAA) ("True Leaf" or the "Company") is providing a bi-weekly default status report in accordance with National Policy 12-203 - Management Cease Trade Orders ("NP 12-203").

On July 26, 2021, the Company announced that it had applied to the British Columbia Securities Commission ("BCSC"), under NP 12-203, requesting that a temporary management cease trade order ("MCTO") be granted in respect of the anticipated late filing of the Company's annual audited financial statements, management's discussion and analysis, and officers' certificates for the year ended March 31, 2021 (collectively the "Annual Filings"). On July 30, 2021, the Company announced the MCTO had been granted. The Company continues to work with its auditor to complete its Annual Filings.

The Company confirms there have been no undisclosed material business developments, since its most recent news release on August 3, 2021, regarding the status of its continuous disclosure filings, that have not been otherwise disclosed by the Company by way of news release, and there has been no failure by the Company in fulfilling its stated intentions with respect to satisfying the provisions of the alternative information guidelines set out in NP 12-203.

During the MCTO, the Company confirms that it will comply with the provisions of the alternative information guidelines set out in NP 12-203 for as long as it remains in default, including the issuance of bi-weekly default status reports, each of which will be issued in the form of a news release. Further, if the Company provides any information to any of its creditors during the period in which it is in default of filing the Annual Financial Statements, the Company confirms that it will also file material change reports on SEDAR containing such information.

The MCTO restricts all trading in securities of the Company, whether direct or indirect, by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and the directors of the Company until such time as the Annual Filings have been filed by the Company and the MCTO has been lifted. The MCTO does not affect the ability of shareholders who are not insiders of the Company to trade their securities. However, the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities could determine, in their discretion, that it would be appropriate to issue a general cease trade order against the Company affecting all of the securities of the Company.

About the Company

True Leaf is a Licensed Producer of cannabis preparing to launch a program to provide path-to-market services for micro-cultivators. The program will operate from the Company's 40-acre property in Lumby, BC, Canada, and will provide a full suite of in-house processing services to the craft cannabis community.

To learn more, visit www.trueleafbrands.com.

Contact:

Darcy Bomford

Chief Executive Officer

Darcy@trueleafbrands.com

1 (250) 275-6063

Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, the Company may not complete its audit and file the Annual Filings as currently anticipated, or at all; the Company will be subject to a general cease trade order in the event that the Annual Filings are not completed and filed; and other related risks as set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected effects on the Company.

The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligations to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/93091.
Syntr Health Technologies, Inc., an Irvine, Calif.-based medical device company specializing in the processing of autologous adipose tissue, raised $2.2m in seed funding.

Backers included previous investors, angels and surgeons.

Led by Ahmed Zobi, Chief Executive Officer, Syntr Health Technologies aims to to assist physicians with a device that accelerates adipose tissue processing at the point of care.

The company, which is headquartered at University Lab Partners, a premier wet lab incubator in the heart of Orange County, intends to use the funds to build out sales for its patented, FDA-cleared SyntrFuge System, a single-use disposable medical device that uses a patients own adipose tissue (also known as fat tissue) at the point of care.

The company announced FDA Clearance of their SyntrFuge System for harvesting, concentrating, and transferring of autologous adipose tissue, which is cleared for use in several surgical specialties when the transfer of harvested adipose tissue is desired, and released and listed with FDA its Class I SyntrFPU 360 device, a reusable lab centrifuge that facilitates expedited processing, as an accessory to the SyntrFuge System.

Syntr also added Dane Shackleford to its board of directors. Shackleford has held C-level positions with multiple medical device companies, most notably VP of Sales at KCI (an Acelity Company) and VP of Global Sales and Marketing at Spiracur, a Negative Wound Pressure Therapy company, which was acquired by Acelity in 2015. Other recent positions include Chief Commercial Officer for Dallas, Texas-based Stasis. Prior to that, he was CCO at Newport Beach, California-based Evoke Neuroscience; and before that, he was a regional VP at Phillips. Shackleford also sits on the Advisory Board at California Lutheran University.

FinSMEs

13/08/2021
TaxBit, a Salt Lake City, UT- and Seattle, WA-based tax and accounting software provider for the digital economy, raised $130m in Series B funding round at a $1.33 billion valuation.

The round was led by IVP and Insight Partners with participation including Tiger Global, Paradigm, 9Yards Capital, Sapphire Ventures, Madrona Venture Group, and Anthony Pompliano. In conjunction with the financing, Tom Loverro, General Partner at IVP, joined TaxBits Board of Directors. In addition, Ajay Vashee, General Partner at IVP, will join the company as a board observer, alon g with Nikhil Sachdev, Managing Partner at Insight Partners.

The company will use the funds to scale its multi-channel ecosystem of tax and accounting offerings across enterprise, consumer, and government sectors, double headcount by the end of the year and continue to open new offices in the USA and UK to accelerate international expansion.

Led by Austin Woodward, CEO, TaxBit provides CPAs and tax attorneys with a tax and accounting solution including core accounting suite, customer management suite, and form issuance for commodities, equities, and other digital asset investments. Customers include the worlds top exchanges, institutional investors, governments, and individuals. TaxBit connects all digital asset transactions across every exchange so that individuals and enterprises can file their taxes, manage their portfolios, and make tax-optimized trades, all through its software.

FinSMEs

13/08/2021
I've only done this on one truck and I didn't do anything scientific with it. What is going to matter the most is how picky you are, how good your hearing is (I have hearing loss) and how loud the truck is to begin with. My venture down this path started off with a 1969 C60 with a 427 big block. I was not going for absolute perfection, I was going for I'd like to hear my own thoughts driving down the road.Here is what I started with. Once I cleaned everything up I sprayed a layer of rough bed liner down. I also undercoated the truck with the same spray.A layer of frost king I believe it was called.. Cheap from lowes. I put it on so much more than this picture shows including inside of both doors and on anything that had a hollow sound when I tapped on it with my fingers.. .Then a padded layerAfter that I went ahead and put the rubber mat down. The only thing I did as a test was recorded me slamming the doors before and after from the outside. There is a very clear difference in the before and after video.As far as driving it now I can hardly hear the motor anymore where as before that's all I heard. At an idle now I can hear my motor driven air pump but not the engine itself. Having a conversation driving down the road at 3200 rpm (redline) is not an issue. On top of that I didn't have to break the bank to accomplish what I set out to do.Since this worked so well I've decided I'm going to do something very similar to this to my 52 ****** also. In an all metal cab with nothing to absorb the sound I anticipate a night and day difference.
Guerlain Homme: Will It Be Recreated a Century Later?

Fragrance Reviews

Right now, while you are reading these words, somewhere on the shelves of perfumery stores and in the warehouses of webshops, the last bottles of Guerlain Homme Eau de Toilette are waiting. The decision to withdraw the fragrance from production was made back in 2015 - by that time L'Homme Ideal had already shown that it could pick up the swinging banner of sales in the men's segment. In addition, a year earlier, Guerlain Homme was released in Eau de Parfum concentration, housed in the new standard bottle. So the fate of the eau de toilette, in its unique bottle with a metal car hood designed by Paolo Pininfarina, was a foregone conclusion.

I remember how enthusiastically the Guerlain fan base was waiting for this masculine fragrance. Four years after LInstant Pour Homme, Guerlain Homme was the debut for Thierry Wasser as the brand's in-house perfumer. Considering that Wasser created for Guerlain the well-received Iris Ganache and Quand Vient La Pluie, expectations were high but still rather negative (nobody could make Guerlain perfumes as well as the Guerlain family, they said).

I remember that the oddities began already in the official video for the fragrance - Sylvaine Delacourte, then the creative director of the House, sitting next to Wasser, said that she got the idea for Guerlain Homme in Cuba when she was drinking a refreshing mojito in the Cuban bar Hemingway, six years ago. Thierry Wasser himself, speaking after her, said that he had independently been working on the mojito accord (lime, mint, and rum) for a long time, meaning that he had developed it even before he was invited to Guerlain. What was it? A struggle for the top position in the corporation or a manifestation of an undercover struggle?

The scent was promoted under the slogan Pour l'Animal Qui Dort En Vous, For the Animal That Sleeps In You (and after that one could hope to get some animalic notes, right?), but in the end, all that was animalic in Guerlain Homme was a black and white zebra print inside the box. The design is typical for old Guerlain perfume boxes - but here it personified a herbivore zebra at a watering hole (the advertisement poster promised a tiger).

In the commercial, the hero of the fragrance was not Tarzan and did not perform heroic deeds - the Brazilian model Renne Castrucci, like Mowgli, peacefully drank water with other animals of the jungle. And then he looked at us with his green eyes. A message in the spirit of the times - humans are not the main creatures on the planet, but just one among equals. But along with Delacourte's message it sounded somewhat comically, "the animal inside of you dreams about a mojito lake!"

We were promised "inimitable and endless freshness" hidden in the bottle of Guerlain Homme. There is freshness indeed, and it is far from both aquatic freshness and Green Water Jacques Fath, despite the fact that it is based on a citrus and mint accord. This is a light green citrus fougere that starts with a non-alcoholic mojito, as if the party starts in the office. The greens are followed by green tea and geranium, and in addition, there is a white chalky or powdery shade (white paper? A starched shirt?), cold metal, and some light sweetness. The woody base also speaks of the office; meeting rooms decorated with bonsai trees and bouquets - not at all about the jungle or even greenhouse plants. A head office fragrance that knows all the rules of its behavior in corporate buildings - or is it a modern Guerlain cologne that escaped from the bee bottle? Or one of the Aqua Allegoria family?

Thierry Wasser managed to convey with Guerlain Homme a certain DNA known from the previous Guerlain men's fragrances - transparent, clean, chalky in the heart, and woody-musky in the base. It has some features in common with LInstant Pour Homme, for instance, the woody accord with patchouli, cedar, and vetiver. And the accord of Hedione, greenery, and woody ionones, which, with the light hand of Jean-Claude Ellena, became the embodiment of the green tea smell for a decade.

But this was not what the fans were expecting - they were waiting for the return of the classic Guerlain (and hated the first in-house Guerlain perfumer who did not bear the legendary surname, and also those who brought him to this venerable perfume house). Thierry Wasser ended up recreating legendary Guerlain classics like Bouquet des Faunes, Fleur Qui Meurt, Kriss, Coque d'Or, Pao Rosa (about two dozen old formulas) - but that's a completely different story. In any case, I would not say that Thierry Wasser's first pancake at Guerlain came out lumpy - Guerlain Homme was ruined by the excessively high expectations of 'guerlainophiles' and the wrong direction in search for new freshness. I'm not sure if after a hundred years it will be recreated, as was the case with Coque d'Or.

Today you can buy the Guerlain Homme Eau de Parfum in online stores (even with discounts!), and the original eau de toilette is available through webshops that bought the leftovers from the official representatives and some stores.

Guerlain Homme

Notes: Mojito, Mint, Bergamot, Lime, Geranium, Tea, Rum, Vetiver, Cedar.
The Intense Odor of Roses That Defines Brazil

Fragrances and Cultures

In terms of perfumery, I've always preferred fragrances with enigmatic and complex compositions or even fragrances that are impregnated with concepts to recreate times and odors, which, through creative freedom, manage to build small moments of sensory delight.

For many decades Brazilian perfumery has only sought to stick to the notion of perfume as a simple complement to personal hygiene without worrying too much about the public's taste, or even about the immense possibilities of creation that exist in our flora.

The native peoples of Brazil have already achieved this mastery in the creation of their scented baths, smokes, and scented waters with the typical components of our biodiversity.

Often the easiest path to a successful fragrance was simply to follow the olfactory trend of what was being produced in Europe, which is a legacy that is still one of the remnants of the way we were colonized, where everything that came to the colony was the European fashion and everything produced by the colony was considered to be of inferior quality.

For centuries, this process of cultural suppression of knowledge of native peoples was carried out and endorsed by our own people, considering that this ancestral knowledge was somewhat rudimentary and would never meet the wishes of nobles from Europe or the Portuguese court.

This process caused us to lose a lot of our identity with an ultra-fragrant culture and thus, few Brazilian brands managed to establish themselves and grow within the country. One of the rare cases of success at this historic moment was the Phebo perfumery.

Phebo appeared in 1930 in the city of Belem do Para, which is right in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. Their objective was to create very high quality fragrances which were striking and refined; thus began the brand's first product in the form of a perfumed soap with the scent of roses.

The striking fragrance based on the central note of rose also used a typical element of Brazilian biodiversity, which was rosewood. Combined with many other fragrant components such as sandalwood, cloves and cinnamon, it became the flagship of the brand's sales.

For decades, only this soap and the products in the bath line were sold by Phebo, without there being a translation in the form of perfume for those who fell in love with the fragrance of the rose-scented soap.

In a process of rescuing traditional Brazilian perfumery, it was only in 2020 that the Phebo Odor de Rosas cologne was launched. Finally the Brazilian population could wear a perfume that for generations has always been associated with the ritual of the bath.

The Odor de Rosas cologne represents the Brazilian people's taste very directly with intense nuances of roses, carnation, rosemary, and lavender. It reflects the cultural and religious effervescence of Brazil, ranging from the most delicate touches of lavender and rosemary, to the deeper and more sensual notes of rose and carnation.

The leather, sandalwood, and patchouli base reminds me of smoking rituals, to ward off low vibrations, in addition to giving the fragrance a sophisticated and soft aspect with a slightly smoky touch. Notes like juniper, thyme, and bergamot give the sensation of tonic freshness, which is typical of a traditional eau de cologne.

This exotic blend of notes recreates one of the golden moments of Brazilian perfumery, where we began to care more about our culture without being guided by patterns coming from other countries. We mark here the exact moment when Brazilians began to recognize themselves through a fragrance.

Here begins the first of many chapters on typically Brazilian fragrances that hold memories and scraps of our ancestral culture.






[This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Gamasutra and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press.]

Touhou DollDraft by WSS playground, game label operated by Why So Serious?, (https://whysoserious.jp/) will be released on Steam at 2:30AM PDT on 13th August 2021. Additionally, tune into Touhou Station, Touhou Projects web media program, at 7AM PDT on the same day to watch Vtuber Arurandeisu battle viewers in Touhou DolDraft!. What is Touhou DollDraft? In Touhou Doll Draft, you form teams comprising dollified Touhou Project characters and send them into battle against each other. Characters can be made stronger by gathering characters from the same group together, or by putting characters who have special feelings for one another on the same team. Can be played by up to four players online.



All characters belong to a specific tribe and each has their own strength value, unique skills and costs. Additionally, each character also is assigned an affinity value towards each of the other characters, putting characters with special feelings for each other in the same team will result in a boost in strength.



Purchase dolls with game currency that save up over time. Every player present will be locked in a real-time tug-of-war for the best dolls available. If youre willing, you can even pay extra to snatch somebody elses dolls.



Form your team with the dolls that youve picked. Players can pay extra to increase the number of dolls they can include in their team.



In battle, each turn sees the players engage in two 1 vs 1 battles in turns, players will continue picking dolls and engaging in battle until somebodys HP reaches 0.



Story Suddenly finding herself far away from her native Gensokyo, lost in a world similar to that of Alice in Wonderland, in order to return to her world Alice must fight in a mysterious game known as the Doll Draft in which she must take control of puppets...



Characters



Alice Margatroid A magician with the ability to control dolls.

Character with an Alice-based motif.

When chosen as player character, has the ability to increase the levels of the picked characters. Tewi Inaba A Youkai rabbit, who, in attempting to stay as healthy as possible in order to live long, ended up attaining Youkai transformation powers. Has the ability to bring fortune to humans.

Character with a White Rabbit-based motif.

When chosen as player character, player will receive currency when levelling up a character. Sakuya Izayoi Remilia Scarlets maid, with the ability to control time. Human.

Character with a Playing Card-based motif.

When chosen as player character, has ability to stop time, preventing other players from doing anything for one turn. Remilia Scarlet A vampire with the ability to control fate.

Character with a Queen of Hearts-based motif.

When chosen as player character, has the ability to reduce all characters HP by half.

Vtuber "Arurandeisu" VS Viewers Live!



At 7AM PDT on August 13th, Touhou DollDraft will be featured on Touhou Station, Touhou Projects program broadcasted on mildom. Tune in to see Vtuber Arurandeisu (https://twitter.com/arurandeisu) take on viewers of the show in-game!



For more details on the event, please head over to the Discord server link below:

https://discord.gg/SpZbH3kC



Please stay tuned to Touhou Stations official Twitter account for the latest information and updates.

https://twitter.com/touhou_station



Touhou DollDraft



 Steam Store: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1341460/_/

 Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQZvwcBjytw

 Developer: WSSplayground, milliondoubts

 Publisher: WSSplayground

 Genre: Versus, digital board game

 Platforms: PC (Windows)

 Release Date: 13th August, 2021

 MSRP: $14.99



Team Shanghai Alice Why so serious?, Inc./milliondoubts <Corporate Information>

Company Name: Why So Serious?

CEO: Daichi Saito



<Inquiries>

https://whysoserious.jp/contact
Washington, D.C., Aug. 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The New Civil Liberties Alliance filed a motion for summary judgment this week, requesting relief on behalf of more than a thousand charter boat captains who are challenging a Final Rule subjecting charter boats operating in the Gulf of Mexico to 24-hour warrantless surveillance. The motion was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, in NCLAs class-action lawsuit, Mexican Gulf Fishing Company, et al. v. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, et al.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published the Final Rule in July 2020, requiring that each charter boat be equipped with NMFS-approved hardware and software with a minimum capability of archiving GPS locations. The Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) must be permanently affixed to the vessel and archive[] the vessels accurate position at least once per hour, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. In other words, NOAA and NMFS want to LoJack every charter boat in the Gulf of Mexicobut they dont own these boats.

Unfortunately for NOAA/NMFS, the Supreme Court struck down long-term location tracking by government agencies as an unconstitutional invasion of privacy months before the issuance of the notice of proposed rulemaking. Thus, NCLA argues the 24-hour GPS tracking of all charter boats in the Gulf of Mexico without any suspicion of wrongdoing violates the Fourth Amendments prohibition against unreasonable searches. Moreover, the permanent installation of GPS tracking devices on charter boats effects an uncompensated taking, in violation of the Fifth Amendment. These constitutional violations are even more stark, given that many owners of charter boats also use them for personal non-fishing activities but are still monitored and tracked on such excursions.

Plaintiffs do not challenge the transmission of fish-related information in electronic fishing reports. Rather, they challenge the requirement to transmit other information not specified in the regulatory text, including business data. The Final Rule creates a regime of pervasive and constant electronic monitoring. It imposes burdensome technological and reporting requirements on small businesses and confers virtually no benefit over cheaper and less intrusive methods in monitoring fish stocks in the Gulf of Mexico.

Beyond the blatant constitutional violations, NOAA/NMFSs surveillance program for chartered boats is not authorized by the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which Congress passed to protect, manage, and grow U.S. fisheries resources. Each of these grounds provides enough reason to set aside the Final Rule and declare it unlawful.

NCLA released the following statements:

Taking people out into the Gulf of Mexico to fish is not a crime, and the Administrative State should not be able to track our clients with marine ankle bracelets reporting their every move.

 John Vecchione, Senior Litigation Counsel, NCLA

The Final Rule would subject every single charter boat owner in the Gulf of Mexico to 24-hour GPS tracking, without warrants or even suspicion of wrongdoing. The Supreme Court has said clearly and repeatedly such panoptic surveillance violates the Fourth Amendment. Whats worse, under the Final Rule boat owners must pay for the violation of their own constitutional rights because the rule forces them to purchase, install, and maintain expensive tracking 6devices themselves for the governments use.

 Sheng Li, Litigation Counsel, NCLA

For more information visit the case page here.

ABOUT NCLA

NCLA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights group founded by prominent legal scholar Philip Hamburger to protect constitutional freedoms from violations by the Administrative State. NCLAs public-interest litigation and other pro bono advocacy strive to tame the unlawful power of state and federal agencies and to foster a new civil liberties movement that will help restore Americans fundamental rights.

###
New York, Aug. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Child Presence Detection System Market Overview: According to a comprehensive research report by Market Research Future (MRFR), Child Presence Detection System Market Research Report, Sensor Type, Vehicle Propulsion, Sales Channel, Vehicle Type and Region - Forecast till 2035 the market volume can reach 57,762.6 units by 2035. It is bound to register 47.31% CAGR over the forecast period 2020-2035.

Child presence detection systems are software capable of detecting children in front and rear seats. It aims to prevent deaths of children due to heat strokes. Government bills and efforts of car manufacturers to improve safety and comfort of passengers are likely to influence market demand. The report on the global child presence detection system market by Market Research Future (MRFR) covers trends in manufacturing and opportunities for the industry for the forecast period (2019-2035). The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the market value are discussed in high detail.



Get Free Sample PDF Brochure https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/10618





Competitive Analysis:



List of the key companies profiled in the Child Presence Detection System Market Research Report are:



Robert Bosch GmbH

Magna International Inc.

Continental AG

ZF Friedrichshafen AG

Infineon Technologies AG

Denso Corporation, among others



These are prominent players of the global child presence detection system market. Partnerships and collaborations are on the uptick as manufacturers aim to dominate the market.

Industry Update

STMicroelectronics has collaborated with Eyeris for development of a suite of applications of the interior of vehicles, one of which includes the child presence detection system.



Browse In-depth Market Research Report (157 pages) on Child Presence Detection System



https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/child-presence-detection-system-market-10618





Government Initiatives to Drive Market Demand

Government efforts to tackle child deaths by being left alone in cars has been a major issue and led to development of software. For instance, the Hyundai Group had developed the Rear Occupant Alert system for providing alerts to car owners in case of passengers in the back seat. Improvement in rating points of cars according to European regulators due to presence of child presence detection systems can lead to high adoption and bolster market demand significantly.

Sales of Luxury and Electric Vehicles

The huge sales of luxury and electric vehicles owing to attractive government schemes and subsidies can offer a lucrative opportunity to the child presence detection system market. Inclination towards SUVs and high purchasing power of individuals can bode well for the market.

Exorbitant Installation Costs to Hamper Market Growth

The high investments and maintenance & repair costs of child presence detection systems can deter significant buyers. Automotive manufacturers looking to lower costs can baulk at prospects. Lack of quality raw materials and adherence to international standards can limit the scope of the market.

COVID-19 Impact

The COVID-19 outbreak will negatively impact the child presence detection system market due to shutdown of various production facilities and suspension of work. But federal stimulus packages to the automotive sector and concerns of safety for children can provide an impetus to market growth.



Share your Queries https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/10618





Segmentation

Radar Sensors to Dominate Global Market

Radar sensors are an effective technology and highly accurate for detecting the presence of a child. Radars can minimize concerns of citizens while working in tandem with cameras to detect children in locked cars. Stringent laws by governing bodies in the EU and U.S. can drive the demand for radar sensors and prevent unwanted deaths of children.

Hatchback Vehicles to be the Biggest Customer

Hatchbacks are cars capable of seating 5 people without any trunk or boot section. Examples of hatchbacks include the Mazda 3, Hyundai Elantra GT, Honda Civic Sport, and Toyota Corolla hatchback.

Multi-utility vehicles (MUVs) are cost-effective than SUVs. The low initial manufacturing cost compared to SUVs and the simplified layout can lower servicing costs. The child presence detection system in MUVs can alert car owners or passers-by through honks or alarms in case of an unattended child passenger.

OEM to be a Reliable Channel

The OEM segment is expected to perform exceptionally owing to demand for safety features for children and adherence to strict laws. Many automotive manufacturing companies are working on ensuring safety and comfort to customers by complying with recent child presence detector laws. OEMs are more credible and authentic to the automotive manufacturer and will integrate the system by ensuring it passes the most rigid quality tests. For instance, General Motors launched a new technology for the GMC Acadia called the Rear Seat Reminder to remind busy parents to check the back seat before leaving the car in June 2016.

Electric Vehicles to Offer Huge Market Potential

The electric vehicles segment is expected to display a strong growth rate during the forecast period. As per the latest report by the IEA, the global sales of EVs are expected to reach 44 million vehicles annually by 2030. Shift to electric vehicles due to its compatibility with latest technologies and awareness of high pollution levels by conventional cars can bode well for the market.

Regional Analysis

APAC to Lead Global Child Presence Detection System Market

APAC is set to dominate the market due to implementation of sensing systems in cars. China, Japan, South Korea, India, and Australia are biggest customers of the region. Large number of children coupled with procurement of hatchbacks and MUVs by families can drive the market demand significantly.



Segmentation of Market covered in the research:

Information by Sensor Type (Ultrasonic, Radar, Pressure, and Others), Vehicle Propulsion (Electric Vehicle and ICE Vehicle), Sales Channel (OEM and Aftermarket), Vehicle Type (Hatchback, Sedan, SUV, and MUV) and Region (North America, Europe & Asia-Pacific))



To Buy: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=10618





About Market Research Future:

Market Research Future (MRFR) is a global market research company that takes pride in its services, offering a complete and accurate analysis with regard to diverse markets and consumers worldwide. Market Research Future has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions.

Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter


Green Energy Group (Seabird Exploration Plc) announces its second quarter 2021 presentation and report.



Headlines Q2 2021

Reorganizing into Green Energy Group

23% utilization and EBITDA of negative $1.4 million marks cycle trough for SBX, outlook improving

SBX delivers on growth plan, winning awards on 4 vessels

GEM granted 3x development support from Forskningsradet

GEM signs agreement involving the Project ULTRA

LOI for the Fulmar Explorer following end of quarter

Completed private placement of 7,000,000 shares, raising NOK 31.5m in gross proceeds

Market conditions improving

The company will host a webcast at 08:00 CEST today. Please use the following link to join the webcast:

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MzAxMTMxMDAtYzI5Mi00ZjNmLWI4ODItYTI5N2E1N2QwNDgy%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2265f51067-7d65-4aa9-b996-4cc43a0d7111%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22473e7d3b-5f4f-4129-845f-e97d4b42a85e%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3atrue%7d&btype=a&role=a

For further queries contact:

Erik von Krogh

CFO

Mob: +47 930 38 075

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.





Attachments
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Musk Metals Corp. (Musk Metals or the Company) (CSE: MUSK) (OTC: EMSKF) (FSE: 1I30) is pleased to announce the completion of its first ground survey on its 100% owned Elon Lithium Property, located approximately 600 meters northeast of the Lithium Amerique du Nord project, which produced over 907,000 tonnes of material, at 1.40% LiO2 from 1955 to 1965 (Boily et al, 1989).

The Survey

The Company recently completed a high-resolution heliborne magnetic survey conducted by Prospectair Geosurveys Inc (see news release dates April 26th, 2021) that identified magnetic anomalies that could relate to felsic or intermediate intrusions hosted into volcanics, which was Phase 1 of a three Phase exploration program. Following this survey, Musk Metals started Phase 2 which include data compilation, geological mapping, trenching and sampling. Phase 3 should be conducted during the fall and would consist of diamond drilling and metallurgical testing.

Field Observations

Exploration work shows that a thick layer of sand covers the center and northern part of the Property, while more outcrops and till are available on the southern part. The survey discovered outcrops and boulders that demonstrate that the geology of the Property is a favorable host for lithium mineralization. Boulders and outcrops showed gabbros associated with felsic and mafic intrusions. Some of the outcrops are associated with chloritic and potassic alterations. Mineralization associated with the outcrops includes pyrite, pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite ranging from traces to 5% content (pyrite). Multiple samples are also interesting for their gold and base metals potential.

The main low magnetic anomalies found during the previous airborne survey has yet to be explained. On the southern part of the Property, soils samples in till were taken and should allow the Company to better define where potential lithium mineralization may be found in relation to the magnetic low, by using glacial drift directions and assay results. Finally, multiple boulders (glacial floats) were also sampled during this work phase. Sampled boulders include gabbros, felsic intrusions and also quartz veins (associated with copper mineralization).

A total of 19 outcrop rock samples, 22 boulder samples and 29 till samples were collected and sent to ALS Laboratories for trace elements analysis. The Company expects to receive the results in the following month and will report them once interpretation is completed. Musk Metals 100% owned Elon Lithium project spans over 245 hectares in the La Corne and Fiedmont townships of Quebec, strategically located approximately 600 meters northeast of the Lithium Amerique du Nord (North American) project (formerly Mine Quebec Lithium). The current work program includes data compilation from historical work and a comparison of field observations with the airborne magnetic survey, while assay results are pending.

Appointment of Director and CFO

Musk Metals announces the appointment of Emily Sewell to the board of directors and the position of CFO effective immediately. Miss. Sewell is a consultant to a number of private companies in the manufacturing, design and real estate sectors. She holds a business degree from UBCs Sauder School of Business with a major in finance. Prior to joining the company Miss. Sewell was employed as an Institutional Associate at RBC Global Asset Management and also worked at RBC Dominion Securities holding the position of Associate. The Company would also like to announce the resignation of Charn Deol as CFO and thanks Mr. Deol for all his work during his time at the Company and wishes him well in all his future endeavors.

Musk Metals CEO and Director, Nader Vatanchi states, We are happy to welcome Emily Sewell to the board of directors and feel that her experience within the institutional investment sector and business experience will be a valuable asset to the Company. Musk Metals is continuing its 2021 work programs on both of our highly prospective lithium projects situated in active lithium camps with lithium deposits in close proximity. The preliminary work completed to date will allow the Company to better define the potential for lithium mineralization and so far, the results are encouraging with the identification of potential host rock for lithium mineralization along with some mineralization found in outcrops and boulders. The correlation of those sample and the till survey results will better define targets for the Company to explore in the following phase of work which should consist of trenching to complete Phase 2 and to be followed by Phase 3, which will include drilling and metallurgical testing of any lithium mineralization discovered.

Offering

The Company is also pleased to announce the Offering; a non-brokered private placement consisting of the issuance of up to 4,000,000 Units at a price of $0.075 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to $300,000.

Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (each, a Share) and one Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a Warrant), with each Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional Share (each, a Warrant Share) at a price of $0.10 per Warrant Share for a period of two years following the closing of the Offering.

The aggregate gross proceeds from the sale of the Offering will be used for general working capital. In connection with the private placement, the Company may pay finders fees in cash or securities or a combination of both, as permitted by the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

None of the securities sold in connection with the Offering will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and no such securities may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Stock Options

The Company has granted 3,400,000 stock options at an exercise price of $0.095 for a two-year term to directors, officers and consultants of the Company pursuant to its Stock Option Plan

Qualified Person

Pierre-Alexandre Pelletier, P.Geo OGQ, and Steven Lauzier, P.Geo OGQ whom are qualified persons as defined under National Instrument 43-101, have reviewed and approved the geological information provided in this news release.

Make sure to follow the company on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook as well as subscribe for company updates at www.muskmetals.ca

References

Boily, M., Pilote, P., Raillon, H., 1989: La metallogenie des metaux de haute technologie en Abitibi-Temiscamingue. Ministere des Ressources Naturelles, MB 89-29.

About Musk Metals Corp.

Musk Metals is a publicly traded exploration company focused on the development of highly prospective, discovery-stage mineral properties located in some of Canadas top mining jurisdictions. The growing portfolio of mineral properties exhibit favorable geological characteristics in underexplored areas within the prolific Electric Avenue pegmatite field of northwestern Ontario, the Abitibi Lithium Camp of southwestern Quebec, the Golden Triangle district of British Columbia, the Mineral Rich Red Lake mining camp of Northwestern Ontario and the Chapais-Chibougamau mining camp, the second largest mining camp in Quebec, Canada.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Nader Vatanchi

CEO & Director

For more information on Musk Metals, please contact:

Phone: 604-717-6605

Corporate e-mail: info@muskmetals.ca

Website: www.muskmetals.ca

Corporate Address: 2905  700 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC, V7Y 1C6

Neither Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
TORONTO, Aug. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Churchill Resources Inc. (Churchill or the Company) (TSXV: CRI) is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of up to 3,750,000 flow-through common shares of the Company to be sold to charitable buyers (the Charity FT Shares) at a price of C$0.40 per Charity FT Share for gross proceeds to the Company of up to C$1,500,000 (the Offering). Subject to demand, the Company may elect to sell an additional 1,250,000 Charity FT Shares to raise an additional C$500,000 under the Offering. Red Cloud Securities Inc. is acting as a finder in connection with the Offering.



The Company intends to use the gross proceeds of the Offering for the exploration of the Companys key projects, which may include its Taylor Brook Project in Newfoundland, its Pelly Bay Project in Nunavut, White River Project in Ontario and its recently optioned Florence Lake Project in Labrador.

The gross proceeds from the issuance of the Charity FT Shares will be used for Canadian Exploration Expenses (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) (the Qualifying Expenditures), which will be renounced with an effective date no later than December 31, 2021 to the purchasers of the Charity FT Shares in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of the Charity FT Shares. If the Qualifying Expenditures are reduced by the Canada Revenue Agency, the Company will indemnify each subscriber of Charity FT Shares for any additional taxes payable by such subscriber as a result of the Companys failure to renounce the Qualifying Expenditures.

The closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about August 25, 2021 and is subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals including the TSX Venture Exchange. Finders fees will be payable and finder warrants will be issuable to eligible finders in connection wit the Offering in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Charity FT Shares and any common shares of the Company that are issuable from any finders warrants will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day in accordance with applicable securities laws.

About Churchill Resources Inc.

Churchill is managed by career mining industry professionals which currently holds four exploration projects, namely Taylor Brook and Florence Lake in Newfoundland, Pelly Bay in Nunavut and White River in Ontario. All four projects are at the evaluation stage, with known mineralized Ni-Cu-Co showings at Taylor Brook and Pelly Bay, and diamondiferous kimberlitic intrusives at White River and Pelly Bay. The primary focus of Churchill is on the continued exploration and development of the Taylor Brook and Florence Lake Project.

Further Information

For further information regarding Churchill, please contact:

Churchill Resources Inc.

Paul Sobie, Chief Executive Officer

Tel. 416.365.0930 (o)

647.988.0930 (m)

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", proposed, "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the completion of the Offering, including receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, the Companys objectives, goals and exploration activities conducted and proposed to be conducted at the Companys properties; future growth potential of the Company, including whether any proposed exploration programs at any of the Companys properties will be successful; exploration results; and future exploration plans and costs and financing availability.

These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: the expected benefits to the Company relating to the exploration conducted and proposed to be conducted at the Companys properties; the receipt of all applicable regulatory approvals for the Offering; the completion of the Offering on the terms described herein, or at all; failure to identify any mineral resources or significant mineralization; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, including to fund any exploration programs on the Companys properties; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate); change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining and mineral exploration; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); the unlikelihood that properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines; geological factors; actual results of current and future exploration; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated; soil sampling results being preliminary in nature and are not conclusive evidence of the likelihood of a mineral deposit; title to properties; and those factors described in the most recently filed managements discussion and analysis of the Company. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information, will prove to be accurate. The Company does not undertake to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
PALM BEACH, FL, Aug. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Magnesium is an essential mineral for better living.

You might be surprised to learn that magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body, which needs magnesium to stay healthy. This explains why, for centuries, people have soaked in magnesium-rich waters to relax, ease sore muscles, reduce pain, strengthen the immune system, and improve their overall well-being.

Now, a Missouri company is launching a promotional campaign to highlight the benefits of its all-natural topical magnesium product line.

Everyone needs magnesium, and the best way to get magnesium into the body is not with a pill, but with the topical application of quality magnesium oils, gels, and bath crystals, said Laura Collinwood, president of Health and Wisdom, which sources its raw magnesium chloride oil in the United States.

We want people to know about the benefits of topical magnesium, Collinwood said. People dont realize the human body needs magnesium for more than 300 enzyme reactions. They dont know that 50 percent of Americans could be magnesium deficient .

Health and Wisdoms affordable topical magnesium product line, which contain all-natural minerals and ingredients, include:

Magnesium Oil USP: Purified, full-strength magnesium chloride used to help build up cellular magnesium levels throughout the body. It can relieve sore muscles and joints, calm nerves, and help people to relax.

Magnesium Oil USP with Aloe Vera: All the same benefits of Magnesium Oil USP but with aloe vera to help soothe the skin and retain moisture.

Magnesium Gel: Less concentrated, Magnesium Gel provides the benefits of purified magnesium chloride formulated with seaweed extract for people with more sensitive skin.

Magnesium Gel with Aloe Vera: The same sensitive skin formula as the Magnesium Gel but it also contains aloe vera.

Magnesium Bath Crystals: Highly concentrated magnesium chloride in a solid form that you can add to bath water or foot soaks to help your body absorb the elemental magnesium it needs to function at its optimal level.

Collinwood said Health and Wisdom is excited to announce that it will be launching additional body care products containing pure Magnesium in the coming months.

Collinwood said Health and Wisdoms products stand apart from its competitors because their products contain USP grade, pure, concentrated Magnesium.

Health and Wisdom is a unique and innovative company whose specialization in magnesium products and herbal formulas has transformed the lives of many people. Being the first to provide transdermal Magnesium to the public since 2000, Health and Wisdom has gained a reputation for excellent service and commitment to customer satisfaction worldwide.

We have outstanding products that help to improve a variety of health concerns, Collinwood said. Our topical magnesium products provide essential magnesium that people need.

For more information or to purchase, visit health-and-wisdom.com.

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VALHALLA, N.Y., Aug. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- USI Insurance Services (USI), a world leader in risk management, employee benefit and retirement consulting, has been named a Top Insurance Employer for the fourth consecutive year by Insurance Business America (IBA). Now in its fourth year, IBAs annual Top Insurance Employer program ranks leading U.S. insurance organizations based on a series of employee satisfaction metrics, including benefits, compensation, culture, employee development and commitment to diversity and inclusion.



It is an honor to see USI recognized again as one of IBAs Top Insurance Employers, shared Kim Van Orman, senior vice president and chief human resources officer for USI. Over the last year and a half, our teams have shown incredible resilience in the face of a global pandemic, delivering critical client solutions and exceptional client service while navigating personal health and safety, and successfully adjusting to remote work environments and virtual collaboration techniques. We are proud of the inclusive, employee-focused culture were building at USI and remain committed to continuously innovating a supportive work environment that recognizes and rewards the dedication of our people.



Michael Sicard, USIs chairman and chief executive officer, stated: Our people are at the heart of everything we do at USI, and its their inspiring dedication and collaborative spirit that brings the USI ONE Advantage to life for our clients and communities each day. Congratulations to all of our more than 8,000 team members for achieving this well-deserved industry workplace recognition for the fourth consecutive year.



IBAs Top Insurance Employer program consists of a two-phase qualification process, including an employer and an anonymous employee satisfaction survey. Company results are distributed across four separate categories based on the number of employees and overall employee satisfaction scores. Learn more about IBAs Top Insurance Employers program.



About USI

USI is one of the largest insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the world, delivering property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk, program and retirement solutions to large risk management clients, middle market companies, smaller firms and individuals. Headquartered in Valhalla, New York, USI connects over 8,000 industry-leading professionals from approximately 200 offices to serve clients local, national and international needs. USI has become a premier insurance brokerage and consulting firm by leveraging the USI ONE Advantage, an interactive platform that integrates proprietary and innovative client solutions, networked local resources and enterprise-wide collaboration to deliver customized results with positive, bottom line impact. USI attracts best-in-class industry talent with a long history of deep and continuing investment in our local communities. For more information, visit usi.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.





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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) and the CPA Western School of Business (CPAWSB) congratulate the 307 B.C. CPA students who passed the multi-day national Common Final Examination (CFE) written in May 2021. The exam was administered by CPAWSB.



Two B.C. students also made the National Honour Roll for their outstanding results on the CFE. They are: Sammi Leung and Yujia Zhang.

For a full listing of successful B.C.-based CFE writers, click here.

Congratulations to the 307 B.C. CPA students for successfully passing the CFE, said Karen Horcher FCPA, FCGA, chair of CPABC. On behalf of the CPABC Board of Directors and CPABC, I look forward to welcoming them to the ranks of B.C.s chartered professional accountants and wish them all the best as they move forward in their careers.

In order to become designated, students must complete rigorous course work, pass the CFE, and fulfill relevant practical experience requirements. The national CFE ensures all Canadian chartered professional accountants meet the same high standards, which are recognized nationally and internationally.

On behalf of everyone at the School, I congratulate these hard-working individuals and wish them the very best, said Steve Vieweg, FCPA, FCMA, CEO of the CPA Western School of Business. The 307 hard-working British Columbia candidates who passed the 2021 May CFE have developed and demonstrated technical and professional skills they will take with them into the next stage of their careers and beyond.

CPAWSB delivers the nationally-developed CPA professional education program in Canadas western region. Throughout the program, CPA candidates develop the competencies expected of professional accountants, developing technical skills and enabling competencies as they grow in professionalism and leadership.

About CPA British Columbia

The Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) is the training, governing, and regulatory body for over 38,000 CPA members and 5,500 CPA candidates and students. CPABC carries out its primary mission to protect the public by enforcing the highest professional and ethical standards and contributing to the advancement of public policy.
Memphis, TN, Aug. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Civil Rights Museum and Memphis-based International Paper are accepting applications for this years Keeper of the Dream Award, honoring 6th12th graders throughout the Greater Memphis Area who have demonstrated a commitment to making lives better for others. Students can apply on the the National Civil Rights Museums website by September 10, 2021.

The Keeper of the Dream Award, now in its 18th year, is inspired by the National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Award, which honors men and women globally who are recognized for their work in the struggle for civil and human rights. The Keeper of the Dream Award recognizes young people who have demonstrated extraordinary courage, compassion, leadership and service and are forging paths to expand opportunities for others.

"The Keeper of the Dream Award celebrates students who are role models for all of us," said Dr. Alissa Campbell Shaw, International Paper senior manager, global corporate social responsibility and community engagement, and executive director of the IP Foundation. "We are looking forward to celebrating this years up and coming youth leaders who are making a difference in their communities."

We are excited to have the Keeper of the Dream award back after its hiatus last year due to the pandemic, said Dr. Noelle Trent, museum Director of Interpretation, Collections and Education and Student Forum managing producer. We know there are numerous young people throughout the Mid-South who have worked to empower and improve their communities.

Students in grades 612 are encouraged to apply by September 10, 2021. The application form, requirements, and other details are available on the National Civil Rights Museums website.

Award recipients will be recognized at the virtual Freedom Award Student Forum on October 14, 2021. Two winners in grades 6-8 and two winners in grades 9-12 will each receive $500, a trophy and a one-year family membership for up to five people to the National Civil Rights Museum. Relatives of International Paper and National Civil Rights Museum employees are not eligible.

The Student Forum is the opening event for the National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Award celebration which honors individuals worldwide for their work in the advancement of civil and human rights. This program allows students and educators the opportunity to hear from trailblazers fighting for civil rights. Recognizing that they began their life's journey as everyday people, these leaders tell their story on how they were able to accomplish extraordinary things because of their commitment to equality, justice and freedom.

About the National Civil Rights Museum

The NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM, located at the historic Lorraine Motel where civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, gives a comprehensive overview of the American Civil Rights Movement from 1619 to the present. Since the Museum opened in 1991, millions of visitors from around the world have come, including more than 90,000 students annually. Serving as the new public square, the Museum is steadfast in its mission to chronicle the American Civil Rights Movement, examine todays global civil and human rights issues, provoke thoughtful debate and serve as a catalyst for positive social change. A Smithsonian Affiliate and an internationally acclaimed cultural institution, the Museum was recognized as TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Top 5% U.S. Museum, USA Today's Top 10 Best American Iconic Attractions; Top 10 Best Historical Spots in the U.S. by TLC's Family Travel; Must See by the Age of 15 by Budget Travel and Kids; Top 10, American Treasures by USA Today; and Best Memphis Attraction by The Commercial Appeal and the Memphis Business Journal.

About International Paper

International Paper is a leading global producer of renewable fiber-based packaging, pulp and paper products with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, Europe, North Africa and Russia. We produce corrugated packaging products that protect and promote goods, and enable world-wide commerce; pulp for diapers, tissue and other personal hygiene products that promote health and wellness; and papers that facilitate education and communication. We are headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., employ approximately 48,000 colleagues and serve more than 25,000 customers in 150 countries. Net sales for 2020 were $21 billion. For more information about International Paper, our products and global citizenship efforts, please visit internationalpaper.com.

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Oakville, ON, Aug. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Chopped Leaf announced five athletes they will fuel while training to represent Canada and chase their dreams to represent our country.

Fuelling the body is key while preparing for and competing in sport, and while their energy is focused on training, The Chopped Leaf wants to take care of the food. These athletes understand the importance of quality meals that serve as fuel to compete, train and achieve excellence.

The Chopped Leaf is an ideal fit for lifestyles that rely on proper nutrition and a variety of complex carbohydrates, animal and plant-based protein options, micro-nutrients and healthy fats. The brand is transparent about their ingredients and is committed to customizing meals dependent on what exactly their body needs.

As the companys first athlete ambassadors, they hope to encourage the country in recognizing the importance of proper nutrition, and showcase how The Chopped Leaf is an ideal fit for diverse nutritional needs. They are thrilled to partner with these world class athletes and feel confident their wholesome food will assist them during their training and competition.

Each athlete will appear on The Chopped Leafs media platforms beginning this month.

Charity Williams  Rugby Sevens

Shelby Newkirk  Para-swimming

Chris Holmstead  Speed Skating

Dawn Richardson Wilson  Bobsleigh

Katrina Abram  Trail Running

To follow the journey and learn more about the athletes, visit https://www.choppedleaf.ca/ambassadorathletes/

About The Chopped Leaf

Proudly Canadian, The Chopped Leaf has over 100 locations open and committed to open within Canada and the USA. We are a lifestyle brand that offers delicious, chef designed meals, served fresh and quick for a better-for-you experience. Find The Chopped Leaf on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit us at choppedleaf.ca. The Chopped Leaf is owned and managed by Innovative Food Brands.

Franchise Opportunities with The Chopped Leaf start with the roots to ensure franchises grow. Every element counts, from operations to marketing and design. If you are interested in becoming a Franchisee, visit https://www.choppedleaf.ca/franchise-opportunities/.

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Investors with losses are encouraged to contact the firm before September 28, 2021; click here to submit trade information

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of Concho Resources, Inc. (NYSE: CXO) investors that acquired shares between February 21, 2018 and July 31, 2019. Investors have until September 28, 2021 to seek an active role in this litigation.

Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy , to determine eligibility to participate in this action, by phone 310-692-8883 or email , or click here to join the case.

It is alleged in this complaint that Concho made misleading and/or false statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the well spacing at Dominator Project was highly risky and aggressive, and premised on no reasonable basis to believe it would work as intended; (2) Concho's practice of implementing tighter well spacing was not limited to a handful of "tests", therefore more widespread than the market was led to believe; (3) it was known or recklessly disregarded that measures to mitigate well spacing risks were non-existent and/or impossible; (4) these risks were evident during the Class Period, which caused underground well interference and permanently decreasing production, forcing Concho to scale back production targets, adopting more conservative spacing measures in its other projects; (5) it would take multiple quarters to reverse the impacts of this widespread well spacing failure; and (6) Conchos public statements were misleading and materially false at all relevant times, as a result.

A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 28, 2021.

Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information.

The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims arising from corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq.

Admitted CA and NY Bar

lesley@portnoylaw.com

310-692-8883

www.portnoylaw.com

Attorney Advertising
Governor Northam Announces 63 New Jobs in Pulaski County

The Patton Logistics Group to invest $11 million to expand trucking, logistics, and warehousing operation

RICHMONDGovernor Ralph Northam today announced that The Patton Logistics Group will invest $11 million to expand its trucking, logistics, and warehousing operation in the New River Valley Commerce Park in Pulaski County. The company will expand its newly-constructed 250,000-square-foot logistics center by an additional 150,000 square feet. This expansion will include a trucking operations and maintenance center that will provide the infrastructure to support a future investment in electric trucks. Virginia successfully competed with Pennsylvania for the expansion project, which will create 63 new jobs. Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball attended the announcement today in Dublin, Virginia.

The Patton Logistics Group has become a significant employer in Pulaski County and the New River Valley since they came to Virginia two years ago, said Governor Northam. The Commonwealths extensive infrastructure networks, business-friendly environment, and dependable and skilled workforce provide companies like Patton with the tools they need to succeed and are just a few of the reasons why Virginia is the best state for business. We are excited to support Pattons growth in Southwest Virginia.

The Patton Logistics Group is comprised of three affiliate companies employing over 150 people in Virginia, where its Pulaski County facility serves as a critical hub for major clients in the Eastern United States markets. Watsontown Trucking Company is a family-owned-and-operated asset-based motor carrier founded in 1941. Nationwide, they operate a fleet of 450 trucks and 1,400 trailers. Patton Logistics, LLC was organized in 2013 as an affiliated entity of Watsontown Trucking Company to provide transportation brokerage and third-party logistics services for its expanding customer base. Patton Warehousing, LLC was formed in 2015 and currently manages 2.5 million square feet of warehouse space in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, and Virginia. The Patton Logistics Group management team has over 200 years of combined transportation and logistics knowledge and provides integrated supply chain solutions ranging from motor carrier transportation, warehousing, distribution services, logistics, and brokerage sourcing.

Patton Logistics Groups substantial investment to expand its operation in the New River Valley is welcome news for Southwest Virginia, said Congressman Morgan Griffith. I applaud the efforts of all those involved to make this possibility a reality, resulting in more jobs and a boost to Pulaskis economy.

The Patton Logistics Groups second major expansion to its Pulaski County facility after only four months in operation demonstrates how highly companies value Virginias strategic location and sophisticated transportation infrastructure, said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. Pattons reinvestment solidifies the Commonwealths position as a premier supply chain destination and is a testament to the New River Valleys strengths in this sector. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the company as they grow in the region.

Our major expansion into Pulaski County in 2020 was the result of our confidence in the people of Southwest Virginia to perform various supply chain solutions for our clients at a new logistics center, said Steve Patton, President of The Patton Logistics Group. That confidence has only grown, and just four months into this endeavor, we have decided to expand. I thank my coworkers in Dublin for their hard work in getting this operation off the ground. The close proximity to major Interstates 81 and 77 has proven invaluable to our trucking company and has spurred this significant investment for a new trucking operations center. We are excited about our future in Southwest Virginia.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Pulaski County, Virginias First Regional Industrial Facility Authority, and Onward New River Valley to secure this project for Virginia. Governor Northam approved a $225,000 grant from the Commonwealths Opportunity Fund to assist Pulaski County with the project. Patton Logistics is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Funding and services to support the companys job creation will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

Patton Logistics is one of the newest members of our esteemed business community, so to see the company rapidly expand operations in Pulaski County gives us great confidence in its strong commitment to serve the logistics needs of the region, said Joseph Guthrie, Chairman of the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors. We are honored to be the home of the New River Valley Commerce Park within the County, and will continue to work with the Commonwealth and our fellow member jurisdictions to help shape the New River Valley into a premier manufacturing and distribution region by supporting the expansion plans of key industrial partners like Patton Logistics.

On behalf of the 11 localities that participate in Virginia's First Regional Industrial Facility Authority, we want to once again welcome Patton as they embark on their second expansion in two years, said Mary Biggs, Chair of Virginias First Regional Industrial Facility Authority. We believe that there is no better place in the world to build and expand than the New River Valley Commerce Park. Patton, in a short amount of time, has become an important part of the industrial infrastructure of our region.

Patton Logistics Groups continued investment in the New River Valley signifies the confidence companies have in our regions workforce, business climate, and infrastructure, said Scott Blankenship, Chairman of Onward NRV. The substantial investment and job creation will not only positively impact Pulaski County, it will ripple throughout the regional economy. We look forward to Patton Logistics continued growth and success.

This expansion by Patton Logistics Group is great news for Pulaski County, and a tremendous example of the competitive value that Southwest Virginia offers to new and existing companies, said Senator Travis Hackworth. I congratulate the company on their investment and wish them great success.

The Patton Logistics Group's expansion in Pulaski is not just an investment in the New River Valley, but an investment in Southwest Virginia, said Delegate Nick Rush. I extend my personal well-wishes to their entire team and look forward to the Group's continued success.

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Valtteri Bottas caused a lot of problems in the first corner of the Hungarian Grand Prix. With one mistake he immediately eliminated Sergio Perez and Lando Norris, but Max Verstappen also lost a lot of his car. After the race, some people wondered if this was intentional, but Ralf Schumacher put down that rumour.

For Bottas it was a Grand Prix to forget. The Finn had qualified in second place, but in the rain, he made an error of judgement in the first corner. He braked and thus eliminated a lot of competitors. Schumacher doesn't believe this was done on purpose to harm Red Bull.

Bottas' mistake not intentional

''I completely rule out that Bottas caused the crash on purpose. He is currently fighting for a cockpit in Formula One and was totally dejected himself. I think the Mercedes chapter is over for him and I imagine he is currently negotiating with Williams or Alfa,'' Schumacher said in his column for Sky Germany.

''Such a fatal mistake doesn't help at all - and he knows that. It doesn't help Bottas at all if Lewis Hamilton becomes world champion again. Besides, you can't calculate that you're pushing another car in front of you. Anyone who suspects a conspiracy should think about that.'

Mistake by Mercedes

Bottas was out after just one lap and had caused a lot of damage to competitors Perez and Verstappen, but Mercedes were unable to take full advantage of this opportunity. They were the only ones who chose to leave Lewis Hamilton out on intermediates at the restart, while the rest of the field dived in.

''Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes gave away the win when Hamilton was the only one who didn't go into the pits before the restart and didn't change the tyres. Toto Wolff said he remains behind the action, but he has been around long enough and knows it was a mistake. But you also have to hold Lewis responsible. He should have said to his team: 'I have to come in, the track is too dry,'' the German concluded.

Read more Jeremy Clarkson opens another attack on Hamilton
GREENWICH  The Seaside Center at Greenwich Point Park offers activities at the seashore for visitors of all ages on Wednesdays through Sundays throughout the summer.

There are daily beach walks with naturalists from the Bruce Museum at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on those days, along with childrens activities on the porch from noon to 3 p.m. The interior of the building is closed to visitors this summer due to COVID. Visitors can look for the Seaside Center flag to join in the seashore activities.
The new census data released Thursday shows a significant amount of growth and decline in the population in Connecticut and the nation overall.

Nationally, as multiple media outlets reported, the U.S. white population declined for the first time in decades.

Thats true for Connecticut, too, though the picture is even more complex in the Nutmeg State.

Here are five key things to know about how the population of Connecticut has changed since 2010, according to census data:

1. The rise in the Hispanic population

The states total population increased by 1 percent, but the number of people of Hispanic origin increased by 30 percent, driving the population increase across the state.

That story is particularly interesting in Litchfield County. The number of people of Hispanic origin increased in every Connecticut county, but rose by 70 percent in Litchfield County, far more than any other.

Litchfield Countys largest city, Waterbury, saw the states biggest increase in Hispanic population, with a spike of 8.4 percent, followed by Danbury, East Haven and Meriden.

Those municipalities with the largest percentage increases in the Hispanic population also saw some of the biggest decreases in the white population, particularly in Danbury, where there were 13.4 percent fewer white people in 2020 than there were in 2010.

2. Fairfield County got a lot bigger

The states overall population increased by 31,847 people in the last decade, with particular population growth in Fairfield County, where there are 40,590 more people than there were in 2010, according to a data analysis courtesy of DataHaven.

Hartford County increased by 5,484 and New Haven County increased by 2,358. The other counties  Litchfield, Windham, Tolland, Middlesex and New London all lost population.

3. Large towns got larger

The big news is Stamford, which overtook New Haven as the second-largest city in the state, with 135,470 people compared with New Havens 134,023.

Overall, the states 10 largest municipalities increased by 37,109 people, while the other 159 towns actually got smaller by 5,262, according to DataHavens analysis, though Hartford was one major exception. The population in the states capitol city decreased by 3 percent.

4. The state is getting older

The overall drop in the population of smaller towns seems to be driven by a decrease in the population of children.

Overall, the states population of children decreased by 10 percent, though it was more stable in the larger cities.

5. Most towns increased in population

Of Connecticuts 169 towns, 74 of them decreased in overall population. Most notable of those is tiny Canaan, which lost more than 12 percent of its population (though its important to note that there are a little more than 1,000 people in the town) as well as Somers, Hartland and Winchester.

The towns that saw the largest percent increases included Salisbury, which jumped 12.1 percent, Stamford (10.5 percent increase) and Cornwall (10.4 percent increase).

In terms of real numbers, Stamford had the largest population increase in the state by a long shot, with 12,827 more people in 2020 than there were in 2010. Danbury, which saw the second-largest increase in population, increased by a comparatively small 5,625 people.

Hartford saw the largest overall decrease in population, with 3,721 fewer people than there were a decade ago.
CAIRO (AP)  For three days last month, Nasser joined hundreds of others jammed into emergency rooms in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, searching for a hospital bed for his mother, who was struggling to breathe. By the time one became available, his mother was dead.

But her death certainly wont figure in the countrys coronavirus numbers. Officially, there have been only four virus cases and one death in Yemens north, according to the Houthi rebel authorities who control the capital and surrounding provinces.

Its not just a struggling health care system that's to blame for the unaccounted for deaths. In interviews with The Associated Press, more than a dozen doctors, aid workers, Sanaa residents and relatives of those believed to have died from the virus said the Houthi authorities are approaching the pandemic with such outright denial that it threatens to further endanger the already vulnerable population.

They say doctors are forced to falsify the cause of death on official papers, vaccines are seen with fear, and there are no limits or guidelines on public gatherings, much less funerals.

Nassers mother, like many others, was buried without any precautions against the virus and the funeral was attended by hundreds. A few days later, an aunt, in her 40s, died, and two other relatives got sick and were hospitalized for over a week.

Certainly, my aunt died from corona, said Nasser, who asked to be identified only by his first name for fear of reprisal by the Houthi authorities. But no one tells us the truth.

The deaths came as Sanaa and other areas of northern Yemen have been experiencing a third deadly coronavirus surge, according to doctors and residents. But its difficult to know how many have been sickened or died, beyond anecdotes from residents. The Houthi rebels have imposed an information blackout on confirmed cases and deaths from COVID-19. Testing remains sparse, or hushed.

Yemen, the Arab worlds poorest country, has already been devastated by six years of civil war. The fighting pits the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels against the internationally recognized government, which is aided by a Saudi-led coalition.

The war has killed more than 130,000 people, displaced millions and created the worlds worst humanitarian disaster. Aerial bombings and intense ground fighting have destroyed the countrys infrastructure, leaving half the countrys health facilities dysfunctional. About 18% of Yemens 333 districts have no doctors at all. Water and sanitation systems have collapsed. Many families can barely afford one meal a day.

Amid the fighting came the COVID-19 pandemic, adding to the war's deadly toll.

There was a big wave of COVID-19 and they (the Houthis) knew that very well, said a U.N. health official in Yemen, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of undermining negotiations with the rebels on vaccinations and other issues. Isolation centers were full; the numbers were doubled three or four times.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Houthis have not treated it with seriousness and action, said Afrah Nasser, Yemen researcher at Human Rights Watch. They even have hindered international efforts to help fight it in their areas, she said.

Each party in Yemen has its own strategy, but the Houthi one is destructive, she said. Its a recipe for disaster.

Dr. Adham Ismail, the World Health Organization representative in Yemen, said it was a big achievement to get any coronavirus vaccine at all into Houthi-controlled territories. Initially, authorities banned the shots, and then agreed to allow in only 1,000 doses. They have not held any campaigns encouraging people to get vaccinated.

The Houthis' opposition to vaccines forced doctors and other residents to seek their shots in Yemeni government-held areas. Many, including aid workers working in Houthi-held areas, registered online and traveled secretly to cities like Aden, Lahj and Taiz for vaccination.

Yemen received its first 360,000-dose shipment of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the United Nations-backed COVAX initiative in March. The shipment was the first batch of 1.9 million doses that Yemen is to receive through the end of the year. A vaccination campaign was launched in government-held areas in April.

Yemens internationally recognized government has reported around 7,200 confirmed cases, including 1,391 deaths in areas under its control. The actual numbers, however, are believed much higher mainly because of limited testing.

A spokesman for the rebels did not answer calls seeking comment. But last year, Youssef al-Hadhari, a spokesman for the Houthi health ministry, told the AP: We dont publish the numbers to the society because such publicity has a heavy and terrifying toll on peoples psychological health.

Meanwhile, the Houthis continue holding public events, including recruitment gatherings and funerals attended by thousands for senior military officials killed in battle, as virus cases spike. All are held with no precautionary measures against the virus.

Over a dozen doctors, aid workers and residents said cases in the north are rising rapidly, with more frequent funerals, apparently of virus victims, though doctors said they've been warned not to confirm the causes of the deaths. All spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation from the rebels.

Doctors and other health care workers said the 24 isolation centers in the north have been full since mid-July. One health care worker in the Palestine hospital said dozens of patients have come every day with coronavirus-like symptoms, most in their 30s and 40s. He said many are being told to isolate at home for lack of other options.

In Sanaa cemeteries, grave diggers have found it difficult to find space for new burial plots. At one cemetery in Jarraf, one digger estimated that over 30 people were buried every day in the past two months, many of them women and elderly.

In the northern province of Ibb, two health care workers at the Jibla hospital said the facility receives nearly 50 people with Covid-19-like symptoms every day. The hospital lacks testing capacities, so doctors usually depend on other means to diagnose.

When patients die at the Jibla hospital, doctors don't tell relatives they are suspected to have been infected by the virus, for fear of being targeted afterwards. The Houthis have appointed security supervisors at hospitals to control the flow of information between medical staff and patients' families, according to health care workers.

Earlier this year, two senior Houthi officials died, apparently among the countrys most high-profile virus victims. Yahia al-Shami, spent over a month in an isolation center in Sanaa before he succumbed to the virus in April and Zakaria al-Shami, transportation minister in the Houthi-run government, also caught the coronavirus and died in March, according to doctors who treated them.

The Houthi rebel authorities announced both of their deaths  but there was no mention of the cause.
Diversity in phone charger connectors has been nerfed since 2011, but now the European Union is pushing for a universal solution. The European Commission, the executive branch of the EU, is currently drafting a proposal for a common mobile charger solution, sources have told Reuters. It is expected to be presented in September.

Apple is most likely to be hurt by such legislation. According to a study from 2019, ordered by the EC, a Lighting connector is used in only 21% of phones, with 79% being micro-USB or USB-C. The source did not give any more details on drafting the legislation, but we already know lawmakers at the European Parliament voted in favor of a common charger.

The main reasons for the unification of charger standards are environmental impact and user convenience.

Apple has stated that a universal solution would hurt innovation and create a mountain of electronic waste if consumers were forced to switch to new chargers. It also stated the industry is naturally moving towards a USB-C solution, so any direct regulation would be unnecessary.

Via




Haiti - News : Zapping...





Trafficking : 15 children intercepted at the border

The Haitian National Police (PNH) is redoubling its vigilance. More than fifteen children, intended for human trafficking, were intercepted on the border, announced the spokesperson of the PNH, the Divisional Inspector Marie Michele Verrier.



113 UDMO agents transferred

113 police officers from the Departmental Unit of Maintenance of Order (UDMO) in the north were transferred to other geographic departments of the country. These police officers are accused of having been notably too be passive during the funeral of former President Jovenel Moise in Cap-Haitien. Companies including the branch of Valerio Canez had been looted and set on fire on the sidelines of the funeral. The transferred police officers were replaced by other UDMO agents recruited from other departments



Desras installs his Director of cabinet

Simon Dieusel Desras, the new Minister of Planning, proceeded this week to the installation of Romeo Latry as Director of his cabinet.



Milot : 3 gang members arrested

This week in the North department, three individuals active members of a large gang specialized in spoliation, assassination, death threats and criminal associations operating in Morne-rouge, were arrested in Milot by the Departmental Service of Judicial Police North il They are: Louvens THERMIDOR (23 years old), Jamesson ZEPHIRIN (24 years old) and Stanley SAM (24 years old).



Diaspora : TPS hotline

The Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in Washington DC announces the establishment of a TPS hotline to provide basic information to Haitian citizens living on American soil wishing to obtain temporary protection status. 202-706-9999 Monday to Friday between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. The Embassy emphasizes that the information provided is not a substitute for legal advice. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34363-haiti-flash-tps-registrations-for-haitians.html



MHAVE : Message to young people in the diaspora

Message from the Minister of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE), Mrs. Judith Nazareth Auguste, on the occasion of World Youth Day, this Thursday, August 12, 2021. "[...] I send my best wishes for Peace and solidarity with all the young people of the Diaspora who dream one day to see their country of origin, leave the list of the most marginalized countries. A prosperous country worthy of the exploits of their ancestors is all they want for Haiti."



HL/ HaitiLibre


















By William Schwartz | Published on 2021/08/03

Yun Ji-on in "Monthly Magazine Home"

Actor Yun Ji-on made his first noteworthy appearance in a drama in "Be Melodramatic" from 2019, where he played the younger brother and producer of the lead actress played by Jeon Yeo-bin. This followed on his debut in the Olive drama "Dear my Room" in 2018. Now he's making a surprising resurgence with small roles in 2021 dramas that have gained disproporionate interest in clips. This suggests a positive future for the thirty-one year old musical actor who only recently switched to screen roles.

Yun Ji-on in "You Are My Spring"

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Yun Ji-on has also done an eclectic set of roles to boot. These range from a part in the romantic "Monthly Magazine Home" as a photo assistant, a turn in the serious "You Are My Spring" as a junior detective, and an appearance in the fantasy drama "The Witch's Diner" as an affectionate boyfriend. Notably, none of these dramas have been especially popular- limiting Yun Ji-on's exposure regardless of his individual performance.

He will have a better chance to prove himself in the drama "Jirisan" later this year. The mountain mystery serial is already expected to draw attention simply because it stars Jun Ji-hyun and Ju Ji-hoon in the leading roles. That role, much as the previous three summer parts, Yun Ji-on likely earned thanks to a strong performance in a more important role in the web drama "Breakup Probation, A Week" earlier this year.

Written by William Schwartz
Laurel Park approves zoning to allow more commercial use

Greg Plumb, a Hawthorn Hills subdivision resident, speaks against zoning changes in Laurel Park during a public hearing on Thursday.

LAUREL PARK  The Laurel Park Town Council on Thursday voted unanimously to rezone several areas in the town to allow for a mix of residential and commercial use.

The vote came after a public hearing where council members heard for more than two hours from residents living in the area of the proposed zoning changes. All but one speaker urged the council to reconsider making the changes, saying mixed use zoning would destroy the residential nature of their properties.

Laurel Park held Thursdays meeting outside the town hall under a large tent. A crowd of about 45 people attended and applauded as residents spoke against the zoning changes.

Many speakers lived in the Hawthorn Hills subdivision along U.S. 64 where Laurel Park staff recommended a zoning designation of Mountainside Mixed Use.

Bob Buchanan, who lives in Hawthorn Hills, said he moved to the area two years ago from Florida because he wanted to live in the country.

I dont want to see more commercial traffic near our entrance, he said. I dont want to lose that country atmosphere.

Hawthorn Hills resident Greg Plumb brought with him a large map of the community and questioned why the council wanted to zone the area for mixed use as a transition between residential and non-residential properties when property in all directions is residential.

That is the polar opposite of the definition of transitional, he said.

Laura Bannister, the homeowners association president at the Hunters Crossing subdivision along U.S. 64, said she was concerned that increased traffic along the route would lead to more accidents. She said she was also concerned that the zoning change will allow developers of the nearby Arcadia Views project to build almost anything.

Council members later in the meeting assured people concerned about what the zoning change would mean to Arcadia Views. Developers must remain under constraints on commercial development that were put in place before the zoning change and would need to return to the council and be approved for any changes to their current plan, they said.

Other residents living in the area of Davis Circle and Pisgah Drive said they were also concerned about the zoning changes creating more commercial development in their communities. Some of those residents live in the towns extra territorial jurisdiction, which allows the town to apply its zoning rules to areas that lie outside the town limits.

In emailed comments, one man living on Davis Circle said the zoning change will cause his home to be surrounded by businesses.

It is a classic power grab, he said. Put yourself in the place of residents in your community.

Before the vote, Council member Paul Hansen told the crowd the council was trying to think about what the town needs in the future as it grows and adjusts to land use changes including the Ecusta Trail that will pass through the area.

The Ecusta Trail is great, he said. However, its gonna bring change.

Mayor Carey OCain also addressed concerns about commercial development around homes in the Davis Circle area. He said the MM district allows the town to put more restrictions on developers, including putting buffers between the developments and residential properties.

Council member Kristin Dunn said zoning that allows for a mix of residential and commercial development will support residents who want to live in communities that are walkable.

We are giving folks something they want, she said.

After voting on the zoning changes, the council voted to impose a moratorium on buildings higher than 40 feet for 60 days.

The public hearing and vote on zoning changes in Laurel Park came after the town at an earlier meeting adopted a Unified Development Ordinance that created seven zoning districts. The districts include R-30 (low-density residential), R-20 (moderate density residential), OI (office institutional), MM (mountainside mixed-use), TC (town center), I-I (Industrial), PD (planned development).

Most of the public hearing concerned changing areas from previous zoning designations to MM and TC areas.

The MM district was created as a transitional area between residential and non-residential areas to permit a mix of various housing types, commercial businesses and institutional uses in a pedestrian-oriented setting with a sense of community and place along the Ecusta Trail and U.S. Hwy 64 (Brevard Road). Staff recommends the parcels along White Pine Drive and Brevard Road corridor and Valley Hill Department as MM, according to an agenda summary of the proposed changes.

The Ecusta trail is a19.4-mile trail planned for an abandoned rail bed linking Hendersonville and Brevard. Construction on the first phase in Henderson is expected to begin next year.

The TC district was created to foster the establishment of a high-quality, mixed-use town center, according to the summary. The area is planned to balance functionality between pedestrian and vehicular uses.

The zoning changes proposed and that council adopted were consistent with the Unified Development Ordinance and the towns comprehensive land use plan, according to the summary.
10 Troop 601 Eagles earn Barber scholarships

Collier Lilly poses with his parents, Dr. Edward Lilly and Lillian Lilly. William Parker is shown with parents Bill and Tracey Parker.

Former Troop 601 member and Eagle Scout Dan Barber recognized local Scouts who have just achieved their Eagle Scout ranking on Tuesday at the Park at Flat Rock.

The Eagle Scouts will receive college scholarships from the Dan Barber BSA Troop 601 fund held at the Community Foundation of Henderson County. Upon entering college, each of the Scouts will be awarded a $500 scholarship from the fund.

The 10 newly recognized Eagle Scouts are Gray Capps, Christopher Collie, Matthew Gambrell, Patrick Jones, Collier Lilly, Casey McCraw, William Parker, Jake Patterson, William Wick and James Wiggins.

Barber established his fund with the Community Foundation in 2016 to honor and encourage members of Troop 601 who achieve the Eagle Scout rank, which only one in 25 Scouts achieves. These young men have worked hard to earn their Eagle rank and I want to help them realize their potential and what opportunities a college education can afford them, Barber said.

Since its inception, the Dan Barber BSA Troop 601 fund has awarded 17 scholarships totaling $8,500 to local Eagle Scouts assisting them with tuition costs during their post-secondary education journeys.
Appointment

13 August 2021

Sam Coulstock FIH, award-winning founder of social enterprise, Inspired Community Group, has been appointed the new head of professional development of the Institute of Hospitality. Sam assumes his post on 23 August, taking over responsibility for the division currently led by Alistair Sandall FIH, who is moving on from the Institute after four successful years.

As the only international professional body for current and aspiring hospitality leaders and managers, professional development forms the core of the Institute of Hospitality's work.

Sam, who has spent twenty-five years in hospitality operations, business development, apprenticeship training and careers  notably for the Springboard Charity and Springboard UK - will drive the growth strategy and execution of the Institute's mandate for lifelong learning and continuing professional development.

This includes the on-going accreditation and endorsement of academic and vocational training programmes, mentorships, and the organisation of professional workshops and webinars. Sam's new role will also involve cultivating close relationships with employers, universities, colleges, training providers, and careers organisations.

Sam is well-known to the UK hospitality industry. He was behind a number of high-profile initiatives such as the nationwide 'Big Hospitality Conversation' which created over 60,000 jobs, apprenticeships and work experience opportunities across the UK. From 2016-2020, Sam was business relations director for apprenticeship company, Umbrella Training. In the past year, his consultancy business has carried out strategic-level projects in addition to setting up Kickstart programmes for organisations wishing to support unemployed young people into jobs in hospitality.

His record of voluntary work includes spending ten years as vice-chair of HR in Hospitality, the forum for people and talent management professionals, and serving on the editorial board of HQ, the Institute of Hospitality's quarterly members' magazine. In November 2020, Sam launched the Inspired Community Group with the aim of 'stimulating minds in hospitality careers.' The initiative has drawn support from the likes of Red Carnation Hotels and the Savoy Educational Trust. He is also a guest writer for Caterer.com

In 2020, Sam was named Enter prise Advisor of the Year by the London Enterprise Adviser Network, co-founded by the Mayor of London. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality and a Member of the Institute of Employability Professionals.
Appointment

13 August 2021

Keith Frisley has been appointed Executive Chef at Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, with him trading the vibrant city life in Johannesburg for the serene beauty of the Serengeti National Park.

Formerly Executive Chef at Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff, Johannesburg, Frisley is a native South African, who has worked across a number of leading luxury hotels in Johannesburg. He has also travelled internationally to represent his country in the national culinary squad, following an extensive career working alongside multiple Michelin star chefs.

Arriving to the savannah, Frisley is excited to play host to guests discovering their bucket list safari adventures and ensuring their culinary experiences are an extension of the unique atmosphere afforded by the Lodge's central location in the Serengeti National Park.

In his new role as Executive Chef, Frisley will oversee the culinary teams and operations to serve the Lodge's three restaurants; Maji Bar and Terrace, for international fare and views overlooking the active animal watering hole; Boma Grill, which is designed like a traditional Maasai house and offers an African-inspired menu; and Kula's Restaurant for live cooking stations and varied hot and cold buffets, all complemented by a backdrop of the Serengeti Plains. Furthermore, Frisley will be responsible for the culinary experiences of bush dinners, private villa dinners and individually personalised wine pairing menus for guests opting to dine in the exclusive Vineyard.
Opinion Article

13 August 2021

Stability is important. Hotels, casinos, and resorts have guests they need to serve right now, today. Hospitality software solutions in place help them do that by taking care of the basics: reservations, check-ins, folios and check-outs, along with a staggering variety of in-house services and their associated charges. Essential software like hotel PMS is pretty sticky that way; its easier to stick to what youve got than it is to change. Why fix what isnt broken?

Heres the thing. Five years from now  perhaps sooner  the way guests engage with hospitality providers will likely look very different. Innovative solutions and platforms will be necessary to scale to that new paradigm, whatever it may be. So how do hospitality organizations know when its time to start planning for that? How do decision-makers know when its time to get unstuck? Here are 3 considerations to help answer that question.

1. Start with business needs, not new software features

With all the new products and features you read about in the industry publications, it can be easy to confuse shiny objects with important trends. One way to discern the difference is to decide what your goals are as a business.

What observable, measurable business problems are you trying to solve right now? Which challenges are you likely to face in the future, and when? Deciding where you are and where you want to be will give you a solid rationale for how much you need to change and how soon you need to do it.

2. Consider whats best for guests

What factors make your offering attractive to guests? Where are you winning when it comes to things like online reviews, repeat visits, and increased guest lifetime value? Where are you not winning? How might new hospitality software measurably improve how well you serve guests?

Understanding the relationship between your software systems and the guest journey helps you envision your future need. Considering guest-centric factors like easy check-ins, self-managed ordering and upgrades, mobile-friendliness, and other elements will help you enhance your organizations capacity to grow and meet continually evolving consumer expectations.

3. Maintain continuous communication with your technology partners

Your relationship with your technology partners should be another factor to help you decide on what to keep and what to replace. Technology partners can often be as sticky as the products they support. Like judging those products, considering the sticky situation of an established vendor relationship involves examining how well you and your partners are aligned with your goals.

What steps are your partners taking to develop and match product features to the business objectives youve outlined? Are they responsive to your suggestions and questions? These are important issues to consider, since your future business successes may rely heavily on your relationship with partners who can either enhance or hinder your efforts.

Dont let technology lead. YOU do that

Heres an important distinction; a hospitality software upgrade or replacement should not be a strategy. It should be a considered tactic thats matched with the business objectives you have proactively identified. Your way forward is best when its led by you and other decision-makers in your organization, and not by third-party offerings and timelines.

Getting unstuck isnt necessarily about technology. Its about actively challenging your status quo. That process should involve honest discussions with partners and colleagues around how you will continue to competitively serve guests in a changing industry landscape. From there, youll be able to map out and act upon a dynamic plan to greet the future whether that means a new system or not.
Houston hotels and restaurants, counting on a boost from the return of the Offshore Technology Conference, are instead counting cancellations as the delta variant drives a surge in coronavirus infections just as the worlds largest oil and gas trade show is set to kick off Monday.

The citys hospitality industry was already expecting a smaller OTC, as travel restrictions limited international participants, but early forecasts still put attendance at about 30,000, half the nearly 60,000 who attended in 2019. But attendance is unlikely to reach even that modest estimate, according to hotel and restaurant operators.

The Wyndham Hotel near NRG Park, where the annual conference is held, is normally booked solid when OTC comes to town. But cancellations began rolling in just over a week ago as COVID-19 cases began to overwhelm hospitals in Houston and across Texas, said Shahpar Razmzan, the hotels corporate executive director.

On HoustonChronicle.com: While leisure travel is making a comeback, a key driver of Houston's economy isn't so lucky

Bookings at the hotel are likely to end down as much as 85 percent from previous OTC weeks.

OTC is mostly international travel, Ramzman said, and obviously that's gone down because people dont want to take a chance.

The shrinking attendance and growing cancellations are another setback for an industry that was among the hardest hit by the pandemic, and more evidence that the progress of the economic recovery is linked to progress in controlling the pandemic.

OTCs return, after last years cancellation, brought hope to a hotel industry waiting for business travel and revenues to rebound. In the past, the conference has generated at least $60 million in spending inside Houston hotels and restaurants, according to Houston First, the citys convention and visitors bureau.

Usually held in early May, the conference was pushed back this year to August as vaccinations became widely available and COVID-19 cases fell. In April, Houston First started reserving room blocks for OTC based on its attendance projections of around 30,000. But hotel owners said actual bookings are falling far short of even that modest forecast.

Youre going to hear that its just not the normal OTC, said Michael Heckman, Houston Firsts chief executive, and probably by a long shot.

OTC organizers declined to provide updated attendance projections, but said more than a quarter of the conferences attendees came from outside the U.S. in 2019, and this years event would be smaller, with more virtual offerings.

From day one, the OTC team has been organizing a hybrid conference with health and safety as our top priority, said Leigh Ann Runyan, OTCs executive director. While we are planning to have a smaller footprint at NRG Center this year, we look forward to welcoming energy professionals  whether in person or online.

Hopes dashed

Benjamin Berg, owner of Berg Hospitality Group, said he was preparing to host a 150-person private party for OTC attendees next week, but the organizers canceled Tuesday. He still has 12 smaller OTC events on the books across his five Houston restaurants, but given this weeks flow of COVID-related cancellations  10 dinner parties between Monday and Wednesday  he fears more will follow.

The conference normally makes for one of his busiest weeks of the year, he said  sales typically jump 50 percent from normal weeks. This year, he budgeted a 20 percent sales spike next week, he said, but Im not confident in that right now.

Dan Zimmerman, principal of La Colombe d'Or Hotel, is also preparing for a disappointing OTC week.

Were just not seeing as much of the big event traffic, he said. Everybody is hopeful that its going to be a good OTC; I just dont think youre going to see as much travel as you would normally see.

On HoustonChronicle.com: 'I don't want blood on my hands': Delta forces Houston companies to change back-to-office plans

OTC typically flushes hotels with customers in downtown, the Galleria area and even as far north as the Woodlands, which houses corporate energy offices, said Nick Massad III, vice president of development for American Liberty Hospitality, which operates a dozen hotels in the Houston area.

But rooms blocked off for OTC arent panning out into many actual bookings, he said. What he and other hotel owners had looked forward to  the moment when OTC gave way to a robust convention season  is not happening.

Revenues and staffing levels across his hotels are still down between 30 and 40 percent from before the pandemic, he said. Food and beverage hubs inside his hotels are either closed or running at reduced levels. The so -far weak OTC showing is not doing anything to change that.

Its going to push a lot of operators to question whether or not theyre going to turn back on all of the full services at their operation, Massad said.

Looking ahead

OTC is just the beginning of Massads worries. This week, Amazon canceled a conference that had blocked off nearly 400 of his rooms later this month. Walmart postponed a September event expected to draw around 10,000 to Houston.

Massad is looking ahead at the back half of 2021 and is concerned about what hes seeing.

Hes worried, too, about the World Petroleum Congress, a quadrennial event slated to bring 10,000 largely international guests to Houston in December. If the recent rise in COVID cases prolongs border and travel restrictions, he fears the conference could take a blow.

Theres a cost to our caution, he said. Not saying its wrong, but its a big cost every week we wait.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston energy companies update COVID-19 office policies

Suzanne Neufang, CEO of the Global Business Travel Association, a trade group, said travel restrictions hampering events like OTC are out-of-date and fail to recognize the vast majority of business travelers are vaccinated. The association is calling on federal leaders to review these policies, especially in cases where countries permit vaccinated Americans to enter, but the U.S. is not reciprocating.

Were asking them to follow the science, reciprocate and set the guidelines in place for what would be allowable travel inbound because we do know businesses are hurt by this, she said.

Energy conventions such as OTC and the World Petroleum Congress are big for the Houston hospitality industry because they generate so much spending, Massad said.

Its not just room sales, he said. These are business people who are doing business the entire time theyre here  breakfast, lunch, events. We get to sell them everything because they need so much.

amanda.drane@chron.com

becca.carballo@chron.com
Cheniere Energy has been hit with a proposed $2.2 million federal penalty for its Sabine Pass LNG export facility just across Sabine Lake from a small Port Arthur community.

The charges stem from an investigation by the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of several cracks found in tanks at the facility in January 2018 that the agency said could have created a flammable cloud of low-lying gas that would have gathered around the tanks.

In a notice made public earlier in the month, the safety agency alleged that the cracks were a result of incorrect operations, adding that Cheniere knew the tank design was inadequate to handle operations.

Two of the five tanks at Sabine Pass LNG are still shut down, pending approval from the administration.

Not only were tank designs not up to standard, according to the agency, but Cheniere didnt have alarms properly set to warn of hazardous conditions that could have prevented the cracks from happening in the first place.

Experts estimated months later that 825 thousand cubic feet of natural gas vaporized into the atmosphere around the tanks.

Representatives for Cheniere said crews at Sabine Pass LNG handled the incident and resulting investigation correctly, and prevented danger to workers and nearby residents.

We engaged in responsive, transparent and productive dialogue with our regulators throughout the investigatory process regarding this event that occurred more than three years ago, representatives for Cheniere wrote in a statement. Our people responded properly to the incident, there was no danger to our workforce or the community, and we have made substantial additional investments and modifications to our storage tanks to further enhance the continued safe operations at our facility.

The company and the safety agency have been in frequent contact since the initial incident, according to public filings, and other inquiries and cases have been opened since the cracks were detected.

As a part of the investigation, the agency found that Cheniere didnt properly design its valves to withstand icing conditions.

It isnt the first time the company has been penalized over to its valves.

The company last fall was fined more than $80,000 because it allegedly used contractors to install specialized valves who werent trained to do that particular work and because its own maintenance staff on hand also were likely untrained to do the work.

The valves were connected to key equipment believed to be the source of a fire at the facility in April 2018.

Five months ago, the agency also found that Cheniere didnt have the proper procedures in place to investigate or report fires, leaks or explosions in or around the plant.

The findings were the most recent events that worry local advocates who believe area agencie are unprepared for an industrial disaster.

John Beard, a Port Arthur resident and CEO of the Port Arthur Community Action Network, said that most people living near the facility or in Port Arthur probably still dont know about the 2018 findings.

The city and the county are remiss in not holding companies feet to the fire and alerting the community when these things happen, Beard said.

The facility is across the state line and under the jurisdiction of Lousianas environmental regulators, but Beard said ignoring its proximity to Texas communities and the chance of an incident was a disservice to residents.

The Cheniere case is also the perfect example that environmental advocates have been looking for as they continue to fight approval of LNG facilities across the Gulf Coast.

Sabine Pass LNG was a trendsetter for the industry, becoming the first to convert to an export facility to take advantage of the glut of gas from shale fields during the U.S. fracking revolution.

Since then, other companies have been building and proposing export facilities, including two on the Texas side of Sabine Pass.

LNG is seen as a clean stop-gap fuel during a transition to renewable sources and a possible permanent part of future power grids that will have to continue to use some fossil fuels.

On Thursday, the Sierra Club said that it was happy to see regulators holding a company accountable, but that it still believed the best solution would be to end expansion of gas exports.

Its clear that the massive expansion of gas export facilities proposed for the Gulf Coast would be a disaster for our communities and our climate, Sierra Club Senior Campaign Representative Roddy Hughes said in a statement. Theres no such thing as a safe fracked gas facility, and these projects should never be built.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/jd_journalism
Rita Cammarata and Dottie Maggio were perfectly comfortable in their 1930s-era house near the Texas Medical Center, having expanded its smallish kitchen and making the place their own.

Things change, of course, and they did for Cammarata and Maggio.

Cammaratas 85-year-old mother, who lived in Port Arthur, was getting older, and they knew that someday soon shed need to come live with them.

The first time she broached the subject, her mother rejected the idea. She called again a week later, getting an Im not sure response. A week after that, her mother asked if she might be able to bring some of her own furniture. On the fourth and final call, her mother had come around: When are you coming to get me?

Cammarata, 60, and Maggio, 65, sprang into action to find a new home, either a ranch with enough square footage that they wouldnt be stepping over each other, or a two-story with an elevator. Cammarata, a pediatric dentist, owns Cammarata Pediatric Dentistry Group; Maggio runs the businesss three locations.

They went to an open house at a spec home in Southgate, just blocks from where they lived, and when they walked in, they knew it was the home for them. Its nearly 6,000 square feet  more than they thought they needed  but they could instantly see themselves in the home.

I dont think we knew we were ready for a style change. Everything was lighter, and the rooms were so much larger. When we walked in and felt the height of the ceiling and the openness, it just called for things that were more modern, Maggio said of the shift from traditional to transitional decor. Its surprising how different I feel in this house. We are able to spread out and relax a lot more.

While the home didnt have an elevator, it was built to accommodate one. It was installed in just a few days with a minimum of fuss, and it works well for Cammaratas mother as well as the couples dog, Maddie, an older shepherd mix.

They made the transition with help from interior designer Lauren Haskett of Lauren Haskett Fine Design, who they met when she worked at Kitchen & Bath Concepts.

Theyd gone there looking for help with the kitchen expansion/remodeling job on their prior home and were so satisfied with Hasketts work that they asked for decorating help, too. In the years since, Haskett has launched her own interior design firm.

Cammarata and Maggio  a couple for 37 years  bought the home in November 2018 and moved in immediately with Cammaratas mother, who has her own suite upstairs with a bedroom, bathroom and den.

Cammarata is a graduate of the UT Health Science School of Dentistry and an active alumnus. When the school hired a new chair of the pediatric dentistry department, she planned a reception/fundraiser at her home.

So just a few months after moving in, the couple called Haskett for help. The party wouldnt be for several months, but they were living in a big white box that needed everything.

Haskett brought in an eclectic mix of antiques and new furniture, lighting, rugs and art.

In the foyer, Haskett added paneling and Venetian plaster to its plain walls; she used the paneling to hide a coat closet in a corner. A beautiful rug, antique settee, small table and a chandelier make it a welcoming entry for anyone who visits.

Nearby, a simple office that looks out to a center courtyard got a major upgrade with black grasscloth wallpaper and black painted trim, setting a stylish mood in the office and offering a bold backdrop for a bright piece of contemporary art by Austin painter Sarah C. Ferguson.

When the coronavirus pandemic shut down Cammaratas practice  they closed for seven weeks and werent fully operational for three or four months  she and Maggio kept the business alive working from this comfortable study.

A small transition space between the foyer and home office and the dining room is a jewel box of its own. Haskett wallpapered the walls and ceiling in neutral grasscloth, hung a large panel of framed chinoiserie and finished it with a pagoda-style lantern hung from the ceiling.

Dining rooms seem to be a thing of the past, but Cammarata and Maggio use theirs often. Everything in this room is new, including a large enfilade  a French term for an antique buffet  that sits behind a trestle-style table with a solid oak slab top and iron base.

We learned early on to trust a professional. Its what we ask of our patients, and things work a lot better when they understand what we know, Cammarata said of the Rose Uniacke dining table. When (Lauren) says this table from England that costs this much money and cannot be sent back will be perfect for your dining room, you go Really? OK. If you say it is, then well go with it.

A satellite-style chandelier replaced a clunky, oversize piece that was original to the home, and Cammarata and Maggio purchased new art  a trio of panels by Sarah Genn and a landscape by Robert Roth to decorate the room.

The living room is filled with new things, including a light gray sofa and white chairs, side tables with an iron base and marble top, and one made of wicker in the shape of a voluptuous skirted table. A hat-shaped chandelier proved to be even more whimsical after it arrived, its ribbonlike spokes and rim able to be shaped any way they wanted.

When the women were moving in, they werent sure where they wanted their linen-covered, L-shaped sofa, so they told movers to put it in the breakfast nook, figuring theyd decide later where it would reside permanently. Instead, it stayed put.

They added motorized window shades, a small round table and ended up with the perfect breakfast nook, a relaxing place to have a cup of coffee or a light meal.

When they showed the home to us, the Realtor said, This is great for kids and watching TV. We dont have kids, and the dog doesnt watch TV, Cammarata quipped.

The nearby kitchen was finished well, but the women brought barstools with them, and Haskett reupholstered them from mustard-colored fabric to a neutral palette.

The primary bedroom suite also got some new things: a new bed upholstered in green fabric and a built-in desk made from the walnut top of their former breakfast table. A pair of comfortable chairs were reupholstered and wallpaper was added to the bathroom  a marbleized pattern in the water closet and vinyl grasscloth in the main area.

One remodeling fix was the exterior of the fireplace, which the builders had given an odd finish with uneven strips of sheetrock. Haskett and her clients werent sure what to make of it, except that it had to go. Instead, they installed a simpler finish: shiplap.

Cammarata said that while she and Maggio appreciate original art, they didnt own much and werent plugged into the local arts community. They found Dimmitt Contemporary Art online and it became their go-to gallery.

We gained a wine room and (the new home) gave us an opportunity to expand our art collection. We had more wall space. That was the fun part, she said. Now we see things and think, Where would I put that?

One of the first pieces they found was the Ferguson piece in their study. Cammarata said she texted a photo of it to Haskett to see what she thought, only to find they were on the same wavelength. Haskett was about to send the same photo to Cammarata.

I never thought Id spend this much money on art. We turned down a piece that every day I think, Why didnt we buy that? Cammarata said. I dont think of myself as a real artsy person, but you get the right piece and you look at it and it does change the way you look at a room.

It started as a white box, which is not us. The decor ended up very much a reflection of who we are and how we want to live, Maggio said. We didnt have a vision of how to get there, but Lauren did.

diane.cowen@chron.com
U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, who was arrested for civil disobedience while protesting outside the Supreme Court building last week, says SCOTUS often gets things wrong before it gets them right.

Our purpose was to go to Washington, D.C., to protest the voter suppression thats taking place not only in Texas, but across the county, Green said.

A much-viewed video clip on Greens Twitter feeds shows Green and State Rep. Ron Reynolds singing We Shall Overcome before being cuffed and led away by Capitol police.

Green and Reynolds were part of a large group which included NAACP Beaumont Branch leader Michael Cooper, Rev. Frederick D. Haynes of Dallas, and Bishop James Dixon of Houston. Theirs was the latest in a series of rallies against Senate Bill 1, which seeks to tighten Texas voting laws. The demonstrators also voiced their support for H.R.1 and H.R.4, two bills which would achieve the opposite and expand voting rights.

Despite great efforts from Senate Democrats to block its passage, SB1 was approved by the Texas Senate on Thursday morning.

Senate Bill 1

After being approved by the Texas Senate State Affairs committee on Monday, SB 1 was passed Thursday morning on an 18-11 party-line vote by the Republican-led Texas Senate. It has been dispatched to the House.

The legislation has been through a few iterations, with earlier versions containing more significant restrictions. Last month, it was the cause of a dramatic, high-profile walkout by Democrats in the Texas House, in order to deprive the Legislature of a quorum.

According to the Republican-led Texas Legislature, the provisions of SB 1 would prevent voter fraud and protect disabled voters from being taken advantage of.

Many Democratic lawmakers, voting rights advocates and disability rights groups say it will have the effect of impeding the voting rights of people of color and hurt voters with disabilities.

SB 1 contains new identification requirements for those who vote by mail. It proposes banning early voting and 24-hour voting.

I went out there at around midnight and I found people very much excited about the opportunity to vote late, because they will shift workers, Green said. And if youre working from midnight to 6 a.m., and maybe you have another job, its just not convenient for you to come in at what would be normal voting hours.

Night shift workers tend to be lower income people of color.

I have a duty to defend those who want to vote but will find obstacles in their way because of what the Texas Legislature is doing, said Green. Sometimes you defend them by passing laws.

Advocating for voting reform

H.R.1, or the For the People Act, aims to expand voting rights. The Democrat-backed bill seeks to end partisan gerrymandering, limit the influence of money in politics and reform voter registration and enrollment procedures.

Democrats are also advocating for H.R. 4, or the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Named for the late Civil Rights icon John Lewis, H.R. 4 seeks to restore the original Voting Rights Act of 1965.

It was at the Supreme Court that Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act was found to be illegal, said Green. In a way we went back to the scene of the crime. In the Shelby County case, they concluded that we should update the coverage area portion of it. Immediately after the Supreme Court rule, Texas started doing things that would have been illegal if we still had the Voting Rights Act at its full strength with Section 4 in place.

Green was referring to the Shelby County v. Holder case of 2013, when the Supreme Court struck down a key provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Jurisdictions with a history of discrimination in voting had to pass federal scrutiny referred to as preclearance when they wished to make changes to their election rules or protocol. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court invalidated the old coverage formula, declaring Section 4 to be unconstitutional.

We were there to ask that H.R. 1 be passed, said Green. We were there to ask that the John Lewis Voting Rights Act be passed. We want to see these two passed and we want to prevent what Texas is doing, that we find egregious, from becoming law.

SB 1 has been dispatched to the House, which is still a few members shy of a quorum.

juhi.varma@hcnonline.com
BURLINGTON, Conn. (AP)  A Connecticut firefighter died Thursday, two days after falling ill while responding to a blaze that destroyed a historical building in New Hartford, officials said.

Colin McFadden, 26, a firefighter and EMT with the Burlington Volunteer Fire Department for six years, died at UConn John Dempsey Hospital in Farmington.

Burlington Fire Chief Michael Boucher said McFadden had undergone emergency surgery and his doctors discovered a previously undiagnosed medical condition, an acute form of leukemia, that caused him to become ill.

Our department suffered a great loss this morning," Boucher said at a late afternoon news conference. Colin was an amazing kid. ... He pours his heart and his soul into everything he does. ... He was one of those guys who was always at the station and always jumping on the truck when there was a call."

Boucher read a statement from McFadden's family that thanked hospital staff and first responders. They also urged people to donate blood, as blood supplies are very low.

Fire departments across the region offered condolences on social media, and Gov. Ned Lamont ordered all state and U.S. flags in Connecticut to be lowered to half-staff in McFadden's honor.

It is with a heavy heart that we mourn the passing of Burlington Firefighter Colin McFadden, who responded early Tuesday morning to a tragic fire out of a courageous sense of duty and compassion to protect the lives of others, Lamont said in a statement.

This is a terrible reminder of the dangers that firefighters put themselves in each time they respond to an emergency," the governor said.

Fire department and police vehicles escorted McFadden's body from the hospital to a funeral home in Bristol on Thursday. Firefighters at departments along the route saluted him as the procession went by. Funeral services have not been announced.

McFadden was one of nearly 100 firefighters from the region that responded to the blaze at New Hartford House early Tuesday morning. Two other firefighters suffered minor injuries.

All 22 residents who lived in the building were accounted for, but several pets were missing. The building, which dated to 1850, was torn down Wednesday. It had six businesses on the ground floor and 14 apartments above. Only its brick facade was left standing after the fire.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP)  Kansas farmers are expected to harvest a smaller corn crop this season, according to a forecast released Thursday.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service said in its monthly production report that the state is projected to bring in 745 million bushels of corn, down 3% from last year. The smaller corn crop is expected because the estimated 5.4 million acres to be harvested in Kansas is down 6% from last year.

The agency also said released its latest forecasts for other the state's major crops. Sorghum production is expected to come in at 240 million bushels, up 1% from a year ago. The soybean harvest was forecast at 187 million bushels, down 2% from last year.

That compares to the estimated winter wheat harvest of 380 million bushels, up 35% from last year.
The warning crackled across radio channel 13. Relief Captain Tony Marie pulled his foot off the towboat console and tossed aside his cell phone.

Come in there, Voyager, Pilot Jason Charpentier said. Its that ship looking at ya.

Ahead on the Houston Ship Channel, Marie could see the 754-foot vessel Charpentier piloted. Charpentier struggled to control it, steering the boat right as it instead began to point left. The ship traveled quickly, faster than it was supposed to be going.

Just keep an eye on me, Charpentier said.

Charpentier navigates ships on the channel for a living. Hed started at sea as a third mate on a chemical tanker. Now hes one of the 80-some Houston Pilots licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard and required by state law to take over foreign vessels on the complex waterway. He could draw its 52 miles from memory within a pencil-width of accuracy.

Sometimes, Charpentier boarded a ship around the channels entrance, matching its speed in a small boat lined with airplane tires and then reaching for a rope ladder. Around 11:45 a.m. that day two years ago, Charpentier and a colleague boarded the Genesis River, a Panama-flagged ship, around Galena Park near the channels other end.

Now Playing: In 2019, a pair of ships collided in the Texas Ship Channel, spilling roughly 11,276 barrels of reformate into the bay. Here's how it happened. Video: Laura Duclos/Houston Chronicle

Their task May 10, 2019 was to bring the ship back toward the Gulf of Mexico from one of the roughly 200 terminals on the channels upper half. These make up the Houston port, where the weight of cargo, chemicals and other products coming in and out make it the busiest port in America. What happened that day led to investigations and a lawsuit only recently resolved and points to risks of navigation along the Ship Channel.

With any transit, pilots must stay alert. Its a hard channel for big ships to navigate, and the stakes are high. A significant crash can harm or kill crew members and damage the environment.

The ships have gotten so big that some require two pilots to take turns so they dont lose focus. Charpentier asked the Genesis River crew to silence the alarms, since they would repeatedly pass other boats closely. He had his own navigation system. The crew put their radar and electronic chart systems on standby.

The other pilot, Craig Holland, steered the Genesis River down the upper channel in Buffalo Bayou. Ships go slower there as they negotiate the docks and traffic. The Genesis River handled poorly and was loaded evenly with liquid butane and propane, potentially making it harder to handle than if it were loaded so the front sat higher.

It reminded Holland of the Gaetano Delisio, which was infamous for its unpredictable behavior.

Charpentier took over around 2:45 p.m. as they entered the bay. He called for sea speed, typically a top speed and a setting that makes it hard to change speeds quickly. Hed been a pilot for nearly 13 years. He approached an intersection where a turn led from the channel to Bayport and gave directions for a typical maneuver, the Texas Chicken.

Pilots use the move because the muddy channel is narrow. They direct the ships straight for each other, then turn when theyre less than a mile apart. This helps them handle hydraulic forces acting between the two vessels and between the vessels and the banks that make it too hard to pass in opposing lanes as cars would do.

Yi-Chin Lee, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

But as the Genesis River continued, the channel was shallower than the expected 45 feet. Silt that collects can change the hydraulic forces acting on a boat. The U.S. Army Corps hadn't dredged it out. Charpentier didn't know it was there.

With Charpentiers warning, Marie knew something might be wrong

Charpentier called to the Genesis River crew for more speed to try to get control. They didnt activate an emergency override to give it.

The Houston Ship Channel wasnt built for the Genesis River. It opened in 1914, a boon to Houston after the 1900 hurricane pummeled Galveston. The port became intertwined with the citys identity. It was periodically made bigger and now is being widened to make room for the 1,200-foot boats that pass through the Panama Canal.

Officials say a bigger channel will be safer. But it will still be a treacherous passageway. The 58 ships that the pilots steer on average daily might carry hazardous products. Same with the several hundred tow boats. Twenty-nine collisions have occurred since 2018, some considered bump and gos, when one boat gets sucked alongside another.

Marie knew he faced trouble if the Genesis River hit him. His tow, the Voyager, pushed two, 300-foot-long barges side-by-side. They carried around 50,000 barrels of reformate, a gas blending stock that can catch fire. Marie didnt want the ship to hit that or the Voyager. He was married. He had three kids. The crew of four could die.

Source Note This story relies on interviews of those involved as recorded in a National Transportation Safety Board investigation. The recently completed U.S. District Court trial provided additional detail. Transcripts of the radio recordings varied slightly; we use a transcript provided by Kirby Corporation at trial. For context, the reporter and photographers received a tour of a portion of the ship channel on a Kirby Inland Marine tow boat and of the channel entrance and anchorages with the Houston Pilots. See More Collapse

Seconds passed as Marie considered how to avoid a crash. He trained for moments like these, starting as a deckhand and climbing the ranks for nearly 21 years at Kirby Inland Marine to become a relief captain. He preferred the Voyager, which stretched 70 feet long, and had several levels stacked high like a wedding cake. Theyd left Texas City that morning for a routine trip to Channelview.

Marie couldnt stop where he was because another tow was coming behind him. He couldnt turn right out of the channel because he would hit shallow ground with the barges and the tow would swing toward the ship. He couldnt keep going because the Genesis River might hit him. But he thought maybe he could cross the channel and get safely to the ships other side.

Charpentier reached the same conclusion.

What do you need me to do? Marie asked.

Go to the greens, Charpentier said, directing him across to the side meant for outbound traffic, lined by green markers.

Marie was moving much slower than Charpentier. He pushed the 1,750 horsepower Voyager into full throttle and turned hard to the left. He rang the alarm to notify crew members, who worked shifts around the clock and slept, rested or exercised during 5- and 7-hour breaks. They put on life jackets. A crew member alerted Captain John Wheat downstairs on the treadmill.

The two boats were less than a mile apart.

Ken Ellis/Staff

Charpentier issued more orders to the Genesis River crew, cursing. The person who had been steering was in training. He called for someone to go get the other pilot, Holland, who was reading a book. Holland grabbed his socks and shoes and ran to his junior colleague.

The master of the ship, Kevin Barnes, was getting up from a nap one deck below when someone knocked on his door. He drank a few Coronas at a pub the night before and got stuck at a Jack-in-the-Box when a storm flooded the roads. Hed returned around 4 a.m. to the ship, for which he had final responsibility.

To Charpentier, it felt like forever before the Voyager started to swing. And, though he was trying hold the Genesis River steady, he worried the ship would ricochet again.

Marie stood up, and drove the Voyager as fast as he could.

Charpentier didnt think it was fast enough.

God damn, man, Charpentier radioed over. Go, Voyager, go, go, go, go.

They were going to collide.

Charpentier ordered a hard right turn into the barge. He didnt want to hit the Voyager and all those men aboard. A Voyager deckhand ran down to close the door that the captain had opened in the hot engine room when he ran there on the treadmill. The deckhand shut it as water covered the floor by a few inches.

At 3:16 p.m., the ship carved a wedge in the barges double hull, nearly cutting the barge in half, spilling the toxic material. Wires that fastened the barges pulled at the boat and then snapped. Marie tried to keep his boat from getting sucked under the ship. The second barge flipped under the water.

Charpentier radioed, Shut down the channel.

A loose wire got caught in one of Marie's engines. But he managed to back away from the Genesis River, surprised there had been no explosion. He tied off to the tow that had been coming up behind him. Marie felt he made the right decisions. His crew was still alive.

Yi-Chin Lee, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Epilogue

About 11,276 barrels of reformate spilled into the bay. No one reported injuries. Residents reported petrochemical smells. Fish, shrimp and crabs died. Two-way traffic on the channel didnt resume for five days.

The National Transportation Safety Board warned that large vessels passing too fast at the Bayport turn have a greater risk of losing control. It also found that moving in the narrow channel at top speed provides little room for error.

It recommended that the Houston Pilots change how Genesis River-type ships are loaded, avoid passing in the ends of the Bayport Flare and avoid passing in large ships at sea speed in the lower ship channel.

The pilots put in place new rules to adjust how those ships are loaded and required ships to be able immediately to change speeds. The group did not implement speed limits.

The Pilot Board Investigation and Recommendation Committee suggested a letter of reprimand and two training courses for Charpentier.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown in July found the Genesis River completely at fault.

The pilots and captains are all still employed.

emily.foxhall@chron.com | Twitter: @emfoxhall
These days, its all delta variant all the time as COVID-19 surges yet again in Houston. With so much information swirling around the internet, the Houston Chronicles COVID Help Desk is here to break it down.

This week, we answer questions about whether masking practices should be updated for the delta variant, obtaining a COVID-19 vaccine for a kid just about to become eligible and what happens when you catch a breakthrough infection.

With the prevalence of the delta variant, is it time to return to double masking? Better masks?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention never recommended using two masks, but public health experts did as a precaution against more transmissible coronavirus variants.

Double masking can be helpful for creating a tighter seal around the nose and mouth, preventing particles from getting into the body. However, if you have just one mask that provides a good fit, thats perfectly fine, said Dr. Carl Vartian, an infectious disease specialist and chief medical officer at HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake and Mainland hospitals.

The gold standard of masks, a N-95, filters out 95 percent of the tiny particles in the air. The virus particles are about 0.3 microns wide, or 0.005 percent of the size of a grain of salt.

Its hard to wear a N-95 in the heat  we have to be realistic that were in Houston in the summertime, Vartian said.

Cloth masks are often more obtainable for the average consumer. When shopping for one, look for tightly woven, breathable fabric and a metal wire that fits the top of the mask to your nose.

With delta, you should continue wearing a mask indoors if youre around people who are not part of your household. That means grocery store runs and shopping at the mall.

MORE HELP DESK: What's the deal with double masking?

I'm fully vaxxed and just tested positive. What measures do I need to take?

Before you start Googling whether your allergy symptoms are COVID-19, know that a small portion of people who are vaccinated are actually experiencing a breakthrough infection. (Its more likely a flu or cold you havent had in months because youve been masked and inside.)

Since vaccination began in Texas in December, 291 people, or 0.2 percent of all COVID-19 hospitalizations reported breakthrough infections after being fully immunized, according to the New York Times. As of this week, fewer than 1,200, or 1.1 percent, of more than 107,000 adult patients hospitalized nationwide for COVID-19 are fully vaccinated, according to the Associated Press.

Breakthrough infections are incredibly rare and usually much milder symptomatology, said Dr. Ann Barnes, chief medical officer at Harris Health System.

But if you have caught the delta variant, experts say you need to remain careful. Vaccinated people can still transmit the virus to others, Barnes said.

While many businesses in the Houston area have signs saying vaccinated customers can go maskless, thats not a good idea if youre sick. Isolate yourself for at least 10 days if you have COVID-19, and continue to practice hand washing and social distancing, Vartian said.

It was decided that COVID was not very easy to transmit by touching objects. Is this true for the delta variant?

Research indicates that COVID-19 is an airborne virus particle, meaning the pathogens are transmitted as someone breathes, coughs or sneezes. Even if the coronavirus lands on a surface, the chances of catching it from touching a countertop are far lower than inhaling it as someone else breathes it out, according to the CDC.

The chance of catching the virus from someone with COVID-19 who has occupied an indoor space is "minor" after three days, researchers said.

Delta is more contagious because of the physical shape of the virus  the spike protein infects lung cells more easily because it is structured differently, Vartian said.

With the vaccine, we have great bloodstream protection, he said, but whether it provides the same level of mucosal immunity, meaning antibody levels in your respiratory passagesthe number of particles could overwhelm your first line of defense.

The replicability of the delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 is also part of the problem. When someone catches the original strain of the virus, theyre likely to spread it to two to three others. A person sick with the delta variant is likely to spread it to five or six others, Barnes said.

Thats why we are seeing, especially in unvaccinated groups, huge numbers of people being infected and requiring hospitalization and ICU care, Barnes said.

HOSPITALIZATIONS RISING: Texas Children's identifies 25 cases of kids with both RSV and COVID

What other research is available about how the Pfizer vaccine affects teenagers? If my kid is about to turn 12, can they go get the vaccine before school starts?

Pfizer is the only vaccine currently available to kids age 12 to 16. Adolescents experience similar side effects to adults  a sore arm, body aches and fever, which usually resolve themselves within 24 hours.

Vaccine providers will check school IDs to see if a child qualifies for the vaccine. Generally, parents shouldnt expect that their middle schooler will qualify any earlier than their 12th birthday for the COVID-19 vaccine, Barnes said.

We're hoping that maybe by the end of the year, we'll have data in the 2 to 11-year-old age group, so that we can start vaccinating that group, Barnes said.

As pediatric hospitalizations rise, doctors are urging parents to vaccinate eligible kids.

Consult your pediatrician if youre concerned about the vaccine, so they can help determine whether prior medical conditions may affect whether a child should be immunized against COVID-19.

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Aldine, Galena Park, Sheldon and Galveston ISDs on Friday became the latest Houston-area school districts to announce they would enforce mask mandates on their campuses.

Aldines announcement came one day after Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo issued a face-covering mandate for all schools and day cares in the county. Sheldon and Galena Park began the day saying they would encourage but not require masks, but changed to a mandate after a Travis County judge temporarily blocked Gov. Greg Abbotts July 29 executive order barring local governments and schools from enacting such requirements.

Area districts spent most of Friday watching the legal challenges to Abbotts order work through courts in several counties. A Tarrant County appeals court struck down a Fort Worth ISD mask requirement, but appeals courts in Bexar and Dallas counties upheld mandates in San Antonio and Dallas.

Several districts said they were consulting with their lawyers to try to figure out whose direction to follow  the top official in the state or in the county  while some released statements reiterating that while recommended, the wearing of masks would remain voluntary on their campuses.

Aldine came to its decision early. Starting Monday, all staff, students and visitors must wear a mask at or on all Aldine buses, campuses and administrative buildings, following guidance from county health officials and Hidalgos order, according to a district statement.

We were able to keep our students and staff safe last year, in large part, due to universal masking, the statement read. It has been proven that the three Ws  wearing a mask, washing your hands, and watching your distance  effectively prevent the spread of the virus. We will continue to share this message with our community.

Galveston ISD followed suit later in the morning announcing that all students and staff will be required to wear masks at district facilities and buses when school begins Aug. 23.

This is a health and safety decision made for the purpose of keeping our children and our staff safe during the school day and at all district-sponsored events, district officials said. We will continue conversations with local health officials throughout the year to determine any future course of action or adjustments to our health and safety practices.

After the Travis County judge granted Harris County a temporary restraining order against Abbotts order, Galena Park officials said they would comply with Hidalgos order by requiring masks, effective immediately.

Sheldon ISD also announced plans to follow the order but noted in a statement that the courts finding was temporary.

After consulting with our legal counsel to review the conflicting orders, Sheldon ISD is now legally required to follow the countys mask mandate for all students, staff and visitors in Sheldon ISD facilities regardless of vaccination status, officials said in a statement. We wanted to provide you with notice as soon as we found out so that our families and staff are prepared to bring a facial covering for school on Monday.

Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton have pledged to fight any attempts to overturn the governors order.

Clear Creek ISD said it would not mandate masks but said face coverings help slow the spread of COVID-19.

In a school district located in two counties, governed by an independent school board of trustees, and required to follow the laws of the State of Texas and rules of the Texas Education Agency, Clear Creek ISD will continue to comply with Gov. Greg Abbotts executive order which prohibits a school district from mandating face coverings be worn indoors, officials said in a statement.

Also Friday, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona sent a letter to Abbott and Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath, saying the states actions may infringe upon a school districts authority to adopt policies to protect students and educators as they develop their safe return to in-person instruction plans required by federal law.

The safe return to in-person instruction requires that school districts be able to protect the health and safety of students and educators, and that families have confidence that their schools are doing everything possible to keep students healthy, Cardona wrote. Texass recent actions to block school districts from voluntarily adopting science-based strategies for preventing the spread of COVID-19 that are aligned with the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention puts these goals at risk.

Meanwhile, Deer Park ISD officials said they planned to monitor developments.

Spring Branch ISD said masks will remain optional at its facilities until Harris Countys lawsuit challenging Abbotts order to determine which takes precedence is resolved.

We also continue to remind students, staff and parents that CDC guidelines recommend that everyone ages 2 and older wear a mask on campus, district officials said in a statement. We are monitoring the status of pending legal actions and will update parents and students, staff and our community if our protocols are expected to change.

La Porte, Crosby and Humble issued statements stating they plan to continue following the governors order while Alief ISDs leader said the district would continue with previously released plans.

This is a complicated legal issue that may take some time to reach a conclusion, officials from Crosby said. We want to eliminate any possible confusion for our Crosby ISD families. Families who choose for their child to wear a mask can do so and feel comfortable doing so at any campus in Crosby ISD.

Alief ISD Superintendent HD Chambers said officials intend to continue the protocols outlined in the districts reopening plan to protect youngsters and staff by continuing to expect staff and students to voluntarily wear masks while in school facilities.

In the event our COVID-19 protocols are expected to change, we will promptly notify you, Chambers said in a letter to staff, students and parents.

In a statement, Pasadena ISD said it would not enforce a mask requirement while it followed the litigation between the county and governor.

Respectfully, the district is caught in the middle between two governmental authorities, officials said. The district is committed to continuing our efforts to strongly recommend the use of masks and encourage district stakeholders to wear masks when entering district facilities.

Channelview ISD said it planned to wait before enforcing Hidalgos mandate to ensure the district will not face any repercussions from the state.

At Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, officials were reviewing the two conflicting orders and seeking legal advice.

It is our hope that some of the legal proceedings will have concluded, and clearer guidance will be received from our state and local officials prior to the first day of school, the district said.

Klein ISD also said it was seeking legal advice and would not mandate masks while the matter progressed through the courts.

Spring ISD announced earlier this week, before Hidalgos order, that it would mandate masks for students and staff. The district opened its schools on Wednesday, but the mask requirement goes into effect Monday.

Meanwhile, Houston ISD, the largest district in the state, will have a mask mandate after the board of trustees on Thursday night voted to support the superintendents decision to implement one. The requirement starts Monday, a week before the school year begins, according to the district.

IDEA Public Schools, which operates three schools in Houston, will follow the Harris County mask order, officials said Friday.

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Many of the companion animals that quarantined Houstonians adopted last summer are being returned as families go back to school, work and travel, overwhelming already crowded shelters that are also struggling with higher rates of disease among animals.

The increase in surrenders has put the Houston Humane Society at near-critical capacity, coming also as adoption rates have declined during a typically busy summer mating season, said Angelina Saucedo, marketing director. Other facilities say theyve been strained by COVID-19-related abandonments and evictions.

Take Molly, a 3-year-old tabby who was at the shelter for nearly a year before finally being adopted in July 2020. It seemed to be a perfect match  a loving family with kids who wanted a low-maintenance animal. She was returned in March when the adopters took a road trip to visit family out of state.

That was just devastating, Saucedo said. Now she is back where she started and she is a harder-to-adopt animal.

The process of surrendering adopted pets not only takes a toll on the shelter and its staff but also the animals.

It affects them. They go to a home, they become comfortable with a family and have companionship, and then she comes back and shes a little more timid now, a little more scared, Saucedo said.

Karen Warren / Staff photographer

Molly is not alone. Many of the pandemic puppies adopted last summer are being returned as full-grown dogs, which are much harder for the shelter to adopt out. The shelter had 106 adopted animals returned last summer; that number has jumped to 163 this summer.

Some shelters, including the Humane Society, have strict vetting processes for adopting animals that sometimes delay getting them into homes. The Humane Society, for example, requires vet records of every pet in the applicants home, a meeting between the pet and every family member in the home and a detailed inquiry into the applicants living arrangement.

Montgomery County Animal Shelter director Aaron Johnson said many inundated shelters are aiming to make the adoption process as easy as possible so that they can get more animals into homes.

Saucedo and others are worried about the effect of the return to school, a time that often leads to more intakes as families become too busy to care for their pets. Hurricane season and storms can lead to large influxes.

Anytime we have flooding issues or storms, we are still going to see a lot of intakes, said Eddie Miranda, senior public information officer for Harris County Public Health, which oversees the Harris County Pets shelter.

Harris County Pets most recently reached critical capacity in the days after the July Fourth weekend, when it had 741 animals; it can comfortably care for 525. It was sitting at 430 as of Monday.

The Montgomery County Animal Shelter is operating at critical capacity, with staff having to triple and quadruple the number of animals per kennel. The shelter can comfortably care for around 490 animals. As of early August, it had more than 650 in its care.

The worst its been

On a sweltering July weekend, officials with the Pasadena Animal Shelter found a German shepherd mother tied to a tree, her puppies left free to roam next to a busy road in an area where coyote sightings are common. She was one of 14 animals abandoned outside the shelter on that weekend alone. Other shelters reported more abandoned animals as well.

Karen Warren / Staff photographer

We cannot keep up with the flood of animals coming through our doors, Marketing Communications Manager Carey OConnor wrote in an email.

She added that the cruelty cases the shelter has seen have also contributed.

In this area of the country, animals are neglected, abandoned and abused in record numbers, and this year is the worst its been, OConnor said. In social media forums for shelter professionals, the stress is palpable.

Similar to many Houston-area shelters and rescues, the Pasadena shelter heavily relies on transports to send animals across the country, especially to the Northwest, where adopters are on wait lists. It also is working on creative adoption campaigns to get more animals into homes, such as its new Doggie Date program.

The pandemics financial toll has played a critical role in the increase of intakes, mostly because of evictions. HHS and MCAS have seen a rise in people unable to care for their pets because of losing their homes or other financial struggles.

Johnson of the Montgomery County shelter, said another common explanation for owner surrenders these days is that residents say they arent home enough. He argues that especially during the summer months, those pets would most likely be better off in a home where the owners are not there often than in an overcrowded shelter, grouped with multiple animals to a kennel, where the threat of disease is present.

Whether if its a shelter that has to euthanize for space, or a shelter encountering disease problems and the animal is not vaccinated and gets sick and ends up getting euthanized or something like that, they are essentially playing with their pets life.

Johnson said shelters are seeing more disease, particularly distemper. It has been especially present since Hurricane Harvey, but this year its just been hitting everybody kind of hard.

The issue is certainly present in Houston: The citys municipal shelter, BARC, had to close its doors in June and July because of a distemper outbreak.

Johnson added that parvo has also been seen more commonly in shelters. He is pushing for a new facility that is critically needed to keep up with the countys growth.

We are growing so much up here that we really arent able to keep up, Johnson said. And this shelter, its not big enough, its old, its just falling apart.

Johnson said he is hopeful community members become more mindful of the effect their actions can have.

Its like getting a child. You dont end up giving your child up because youre moving or something like that, Johnson said. If they would just try, try to find a rescue or try to rehome the pet.  (Now) is probably the worst time of year to do it (surrender an animal).

Karen Warren / Staff photographer

All the shelters mentioned in this story are working to get pets out through adoption events, including the upcoming national Clear the Shelters event, and are in need of fosters, adopters and volunteers. For more information on the Houston Humane Society click here. For Montgomery County, click here. For Pasadena Animal shelter, click here, and for Harris County Pets, click here.
Leaders in Harris and Fort Bend counties on Thursday escalated their fight with Gov. Greg Abbott over COVID-19 restrictions and joined with the leaders of the other largest Texas counties in defying the governors latest executive order.

In Houston, County Judge Lina Hidalgo required masks in schools and daycares while County Attorney Christian Menefee sued Abbott in state district court, arguing the governor exceeded his authority in prohibiting local officials on July 29 from implementing pandemic restrictions of their own.

Fort Bend County Judge K.P. George issued a mask mandate for anyone inside county buildings, though he stopped short of requiring them in schools.

Hidalgo and George said they needed to act decisively to slow the spread of COVID-19 as schools began to reopen this week and students under 12 still cannot get vaccinated, which health officials agree is the best defense against the virus.

I did what I needed to do to protect our community, especially our children, George said. This has nothing to do with politics. Its simply about saving our children's lives.

The Houston region is in the throes of a fourth wave of the pandemic; virus hospitalizations have increased for a record 27 consecutive days and are on pace to top Januarys surge by Friday. Harris and Fort Bend counties in the past week returned to their highest COVID-19 threat levels.

Elsewhere in Texas, officials in San Antonio, Austin and Dallas also have issued restrictions or challenged the governor in court. School districts that have required masks include some of the largest in the state: San Antonio, Fort Worth, Austin and Fort Worth IDs. Houston ISD joined them Thursday night.

Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, meanwhile, pledged on Wednesday to file suit against any school district, public university, or local government official who violates his executive order.

After a state district court judge ruled in favor of Dallas Countys mask order, Abbott and Paxton filed a petition with Texas 5th Court of Appeals seeking to block it.

Legal scholars disagree on whether the Texas Disaster Act of 1975 grants Abbott the authority to prevent local officials from issuing pandemic-related restrictions of their own.

If the past is any guide, the local governments are unlikely to prevail in court, said University of Texas School of Law Adjunct Professor Randall Erben. Governors have broad power under the Disaster Act, he said, noting that the state Supreme Court sided with Abbott when Travis County attempted to enact a New Years Eve curfew for restaurants.

Given the precedent and given the broad discretion the governor has under that act, hes probably on pretty solid ground, Erben said.

The current dispute over masks is bizarre, said Southern Methodist University law professor Nathan Cortez, because Abbott is using the law to limit, rather than enhance the response to a disaster. He said that could hurt the states argument in court.

Typically, when theres a hurricane or something else, you see these disaster declarations being made to free up funds to enhance cooperation, Cortez said. Here, you have the governor trying to tie the hands of local officials to take public health actions that are being recommended by the CDC and every epidemiologist that you could think of.

The Texas Supreme Court likely will settle the issue, the lawyers said. In the meantime, hundreds of thousands of students, teachers and staff at public and non-religious private schools in Harris County must wear masks on campus. The countys order also applies to daycares.

In addition to mask wearing, schools also are required to notify parents when a student has close contact with someone who tests positive for the virus.

Theres an unwritten contract between parents and their schools  and its that when our children are under the care of their schools, they do everything they can to keep them safe, Hidalgo wrote in a letter to superintendents.

In its latest guidance last week, the Texas Education Agency said schools should but are not required to notify parents of positive COVID-19 cases or when their child has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus.

The TEA guidance also reversed itself somewhat, allowing schools to offer up to 20 days of online instruction for students sick with COVID or quarantining because of contact with a sick individual. Earlier this year, the TEA had said remote learning would not be allowed because the Texas Legislature did not provide funding for it.

Parents anxious about their childrens return to campuses have implored districts, administrators, Abbott and the TEA for an online option for students and the authority for school districts to implement mask mandates.

Spring ISD was the first local school district to announce it would enforce a mask mandate on students and staff.

Houston ISDs board of trustees unanimously voted Thursday night in support of a mask mandate proposed by Superintendent Millard House II. House announced he would bring such a proposal to the board last week.

Fort Bend ISD district Wednesday evening said masks would be optional in keeping with the governors order. On Thursday morning, the district sent an email to parents saying it would require masks in its buildings once the county health director issues such an order.

The order from the county health authority, Dr. Jacquelyn Johnson-Minter, however, merely recommends that districts make masks mandatory. On Thursday evening, Fort Bend ISD said masks would remain optional.

The districts communication about the expected mandate was confusing and frustrating, said Sonia Rash, parent of two kids in Fort Bend ISD.

Its a lot of stress on us as parents, she said. We don't know if our children will go into school and come out healthy.

There are five school districts in or partly in Fort Bend County.

Of those, Lamar ISD said in an email to parents it would leave masks optional, as the school board had decided. Katy ISD said it would keep them optional, as well.

Hannah Dellinger and Alejandro Serrano contributed reporting.

zach.despart@chron.com
Texans got a rare glimpse this week of our lawmakers doing something in this sideshow of a special session that we elected them to do: tackle a serious issue and reach a consensus most Texans would support.

The issue that brought Republican and Democratic senators together wasnt unnecessary voting laws or attacks on trans kids. It was something that urgently needs to be addressed: the spike in violent crime.

Perhaps no place has felt the recent crime wave more acutely than the Houston area, where a backlog in the courts dating back to Hurricane Harvey has been exacerbated by pandemic closures and delays and an uptick in serious cases. The logjam has meant that repeat violent offenders who bail out  the vast majority by paying traditional money bail  are out roaming the streets for longer as they await trial, leaving more opportunity to commit new crimes. And they do.

The uptick in crime continues with near-daily incidents adding up to one of the highest homicide rates in three decades. To date, there have been 276 homicides in Houston  a 33 percent increase from this time last year.

On Monday, by a 27-2 vote, a bill aimed at keeping repeat violent offenders off the streets sailed through the Senate, and now heads to the House, which still lacks a quorum to consider it.

The bills author, state Sen. Joan Huffman, a Houston Republican and a former criminal court judge and felony prosecutor, has spoken eloquently about the fear taking hold in communities where crime is rampant. Huffman described her motivations behind the bill in a letter to the editorial board, citing the words of a grieving mother whose son had been murdered by an offender who had been released on multiple bonds: Stop the madness.

I have seen the tearful lamenting  if only the timing had been slightly different, if only they had intervened earlier. If only, Huffman wrote. They deserve better than what the current system is delivering in the way of justice.

Shes right. And Huffmans bill appears to take a sensible approach that incorporates bipartisan concerns, but the limited solutions it proposes dont address the driving causes of the crime spike: namely, here locally, the backlog. And in some cases, the bills provisions are so broad that they threaten to ensnare far more defendants than those deemed to pose a true risk to our communities.

In the same way the crime wave decades ago led to draconian federal solutions that overcorrected for a problem while causing new problems, aspects of this particular bill miss the mark.

Among our concerns: the legislation strips judges of their discretion to make individualized decisions for broad categories of offenders. It inexplicably constrains charitable bail funds ability to bond people out of jail, while letting the for-profit bail bonds industry off the hook. And it requires small counties to overhaul magistrate processes, which could be a positive step toward uniformity in such a big state where offenders can easily slip through the cracks, but fails to allocate a single cent in state funds to help implement these unfunded mandates.

The limits Huffmans bill puts on judges use of cashless bail, also called personal recognizance bonds, may be helpful in some ways. We cant think of any good reason for a judge to let an accused murderer out on a PR bond, and unfortunately that has happened in Harris County. But Huffmans focus on PR bonds gives the false impression that theyre playing a major role in the violent crime problem. In fact, the vast majority of people committing violent crimes while out on bond paid for their freedom the old-fashioned way: by posting bail.

The bill would restrict judges from releasing defendants on personal bonds if they are charged with an offense involving violence, for instance, or any felony offense committed while already out on bail.

An incident as relatively benign as a bar fight could, in theory, be grounds to deny someone a cashless bail. And the bill doesnt account for cases in which the accused was suffering from a documented mental illness. The last thing we want is jail cells filled with mentally ill defendants who are poorly equipped for those settings. We encourage lawmakers to specify the violent crimes that should be red-flagged for considering personal bonds and allow judicial discretion for defendants with a documented mental illness.

Another area of concern is the bills targeting of charitable organizations that focus on bailing out indigent defendants charged with mostly low-level crimes. Were at a loss to understand why the bill forces these charities to register in each county where they are active and report monthly to the sheriff on all defendants for whom they paid a bail bond. The bill reasonably bars the groups from bailing out defendants who have committed a variety of serious violent offenses, but goes too far by including defendants who have any felony convictions in their past. As state Rep. Joe Moody, an El Paso Democrat, told NPR, that same criteria would likely have prevented the Bail Project from bonding out Hervis Rogers, the Houston man charged with voting illegally because he voted a few months before his voting rights were restored upon completion of a sentence for felony burglary. The bill also empowers sheriffs to block a charitable bail organization from paying bail bonds for a year if at any time the organization is considered to be out of compliance with the reporting requirements of this article.

Putting up hurdles for charitable bail funds makes little sense when a bail bondsman, or even a defendants family member, can post cash bail without any such restrictions. And if the point of this bill is to keep people who pose a danger locked up, then the language should be narrowed to include only violent criminal histories.

Even the bills good faith efforts to establish a uniform system where a defendant arrested while out on bond for a felony can only be released by the judge who set his bond in the first place creates a burden on local governments. In Harris County, where the criminal court system has slowed to a crawl because of a 148,000-case backlog, this would be nearly impossible without significant financial aid from the state to hire more court personnel and judges. The state doesnt provide funding. Alas, the fiscal note attached to the bill spells out the short-shortsightedness: The fiscal impact to counties cannot be determined at this time.

We support keeping violent people who pose a danger to our communities locked up while awaiting trial. This bill can do it, and should do it, without creating more opportunities to confine people for long periods just because theyre poor or mentally ill.

Gov. Greg Abbott was right to add this bill to the special session call, but if he deems its proposals truly urgent he should work with lawmakers and help Huffman secure state funding for them. Meanwhile, we urge Huffman to work with the House in narrowing her bill more directly toward its initial target: repeat violent offenders.
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Charles Ivar Kronick is hoping to represent Pittsfield's Ward 2. This is his first time running for office.

Charles Ivar Kronick Wants to be Independent Voice for Ward 2

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Charles Ivar Kronick wants to be the voice for residents of Ward 2 who are living on a fixed income and, as a member of the City Council, make choices based on the fundamental principles of what is good for the community.

The Williams College graduate says he has well-rounded experience in the fields of business, finance, and the arts and identifies himself as an independent voice.



Kronick has lived in Pittsfield since 2010 and has a long family legacy in the Berkshires.



"There are two kinds of faces in Ward 2, A and B, and one the poorest parts of our city, the Morningside district, and then there's the other district, which has got a lot of people living on fixed incomes, and I am adamant that the city be respectful and concerned about these people's ability to enjoy their quality of life in the city," he explained.



"They live on fixed incomes, they have very tight budgets, and because I'm concerned about the cost of living that is rising rather rapidly in terms of property taxes and water and sewer bills, I want to see the city be very mindful of keeping those costs in containment, I want to see better plans presented to provide long term solutions that are more cost-friendly to our infrastructure needs."



Out of respect and admiration for the ward he calls home, Kronick wishes to make the area the best that it can be by asking hard questions and ensuring that constituents are reaping the benefits of their taxpayers' money.



"I love this neighborhood, I love the culture, the dynamics here, it's a beautiful area, but it has a lot of challenges in the area as well, naturally," he said.



"Now that Kevin Morandi said he was not going to seek another term, I felt it was critical that a person with an independent voice, a strong mind for asking challenging questions, and with a strong interest in defending taxpayers and the residents, our property and our right and our interest in strong city services, take that position and follow in his footsteps."



Kronick believes that there are many components that contribute to his constituents having a good quality of life within the ward. These include the mitigation of crime, improved city services, and supporting schools to achieve higher retention rates.



Crime is a real source of oppression to people lives in the ward, he said, with the Morningside area getting the full brunt of it and the outlying areas worrying about it, if not encountering it from time to time.



"And also keep in mind, as a ward councilor I represent the concerns of my district, but we share everything, everybody, the city shares everything, we all use these resources and when a problem happens in one area, it spills off into another area," he added.



"But the crime is a big issue, we really began to talk about it seriously towards the end of the (former Mayor Daniel Bianchi's) term and it's gotten only worse."



Kronick also wishes to improve the presence of city services such as pothole repairs and landscaping. He cited tall growing grass at the courthouse on East Street, overgrown medians and sidewalks, and a lack of beautification in the Morningside area.

Kronick will face Matthew Kudlate for the open Ward 2 seat in the November election. Incumbent Kevin Morandi is not running for re-election. More information can be found about Kronick's campaign on his website.

This is part of a series of candidate interviews for the 2021 November elections in Pittsfield that will appear over the next two months. Interviews will appear in random order as they are completed.
Mount Greylock District Requiring Students to Wear Face Coverings

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The Mount Greylock Regional School Committee on Thursday voted to support the superintendent's recommendation that face coverings be required indoors regardless of vaccination status in all three of the district's schools when classes begin in September.

Jake McCandless included the districtwide "mask mandate" recommendation as part of a series of steps the district is considering as it prepares to welcome students back on campus at a time when the Delta variant of the novel coronavirus is linked to rising infection rates, hospitalizations and fatalities nationwide.

"One of my mantras that I carry with me professionally and as a husband and as a father and a resident of Pittsfield and a servant here in the communities of Lanesborough and Williamstown is  'How can I be a great neighbor to every single one of my neighbors?' " McCandless said in explaining his reasoning behind the mask requirement.

"Not just the ones I know, not just the ones I like, not just the ones I share political opinions with. How can I be a great neighbor to all of them? Because that seems to be what this would be about. If we can come together and put the right amount of energy into taking care of ourselves and taking care of each other, we are going to have a safe, healthy, really positive school year. And we're going to do that together."

McCandless said steps like requiring masks and encouraging social distance where possible will help the district achieve its two main goals: keeping the community safe and keeping students in the classroom for in-purpose learning for 180 school days in 2021-22.

For now, McCandless said, the district has the authority to require that students wear face coverings, but it does not have the power to unilaterally require it of its employees.

Unlike in the spring, when schools reopened to in-person learning and there was a state mandate in place requiring face coverings, there is no mandate out of Boston, he said. In order for the district to apply the policy to adults, it needs to reach an agreement with the Mount Greylock Educators Association.

McCandless said, the conversation with the district's "union partners" on the issue have been amicable. He said the two sides share the twin goals of keeping students and staff safe and keeping as much of the education in person as possible.

The School Committee agreed, voting unanimously to support McCandless' plan to require face coverings, pending the successful completion of negotiations with MGEA on the new workplace rule.

That vote did not include one committee member, Steven Miller, who said he had to leave Thursday's meeting in progress due to a "slight medical issue."

Prior to the vote, Miller did question the step of requiring face coverings. He said the face-covering requirement should be supported by more data.

"Last year, with things happening so quickly, we did many things that, in the end, turned out to not be that effective," Miller said. "One thing I've found a little disappointing in going to places like [the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and others is that they're not really showing the studies behind their recommendations. They're making the recommendations, but they're not showing studies."

Miller said he was "not against masks or for masks" but did suggest the requirement may not be supported by the data.

"It's balancing all the different risks and rewards and trying to figure out what is the right path forward," Miller said. "More kids die from drowning than from COVID. We don't have a response of shutting down the swimming pools. We need to figure out what is the right way going forward.

"What I would love to see  is some studies, and I'm happy to help try to find them, that show that the policies we're choosing are actually beneficial, that they actually have a quantifiable known benefit to the community to balance out the cost to the students."

Miller's comments drew elicited comments from a couple of his colleagues.

"I don't imagine any of us take the death of any child lightly or think of it lightly, but I do take issue with the comparison of drowning deaths to COVID deaths because drowning isn't contagious," Curtis Elfenbein said. "Also, the number of children dying from COVID, that was with us shutting down schools for the better part of a year and shutting down a lot of society. Without those mitigating factors and the use of masks, I don't know if those numbers would have been the same."

Ursula Maloy agreed, pointing out that the evidence locally is that children did not have a problem wearing masks when schools started to reopen earlier this year, a point that was supported later by McCandless.

"As a leader, putting aside what's popular, not popular but always keeping in mind that unlike any other activity that a child engages in, a child is legally required to engage in the activity that we run for 180 days," McCandless said. "No child is mandated to go swimming. No child is mandated to ride a go-cart.  We've chosen a path to follow expert recommendations that recommend masks help.

"I described it to a parent I was speaking to today as a low-investment, high-return strategy."
Pittsfield Police Arrest Two Believed To Be Involved In Home Invasion

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Pittsfield police arrested 24 year old Peter Campbell and 22 year old Jawuan Loiodice-St. John who are believed to be connected to a July Perrine Avenue home invasion.

On July 28, 2021, Pittsfield Police Department patrol officers responded to a residence in Pittsfield for a reported home invasion. A subsequent investigation revealed that two men forced their way into a home with a firearm.

The suspects assaulted a man at the residence and later fled the home.

A firearm was discharged in the residence by one of the suspects during the incident. Minor injuries to one of the victims was reported.

Through an investigative effort, to include obtaining and executing multiple search warrants, Pittsfield Police Department Investigators were able to make two arrests.

On July 29, 2021 24 year old Peter Campbell was arrested and charged with Home Invasion (while armed and masked).

On Aug. 5, 2021 22 year old Jawuan Loiodice-St. John was arrested on a warrant, charging him with Home Invasion (while armed and masked).

Additional charges against both men may be forthcoming. Both men are residents of Berkshire County.

"This is a great example of the police work being done on a daily basis by the Pittsfield Police Department," Chief Michael Wynn said. "I would like to thank the victims in the case, as well as other members of the community, for their assistance and perseverance in this case."

The investigation into this incident is on-going and being conducted by members of the Pittsfield Police Department Detective Bureau, with assistance from members of the Berkshire County Sherriff's Department and Massachusetts State Police. Anyone who wishes to provide information regarding this incident is asked to contact the lead investigator, Detective Diane Bassett, at 413-448-9700 x529.
Quentin Tarantinos mother Connie Zastoupil has said she supports her son and is proud of him, after the directors remarks about not supporting his mother financially after making a vow as a child.

Earlier this week, the 58-year-old Once Upon A Time in Hollywood director revealed his personal pledge to not support his mum after she was not supportive of his ambitions during his childhood.

Speaking on an episode of The Moment podcast, Tarantino said his teachers viewed this as a defiant act of rebellion.

After getting in trouble, he said that his mum was bitching at me about that... and then in the middle of her little tirade, she said, Oh, and by the way, this little writing career, with the finger quotes and everything. This little writing career that youre doing? That s*** is over.

When she said that to me in that sarcastic way, I go, OK, lady, when I become a successful writer, you will never see penny one from my success. There will be no house for you. Theres no vacation for you, no Elvis Cadillac for mommy. You get nothing. Because you said that.

When he was asked if he stuck to his pledge, Tarantino said: Yeah. I helped her out with a jam with the IRS. But no house. No Cadillac, no house.

File image: Quentin Tarantino accepts the Hall of Fame Award at the 15th Annual Final Draft Awards 2020 (Getty Images)

He added: There are consequences for your words as you deal with your children. Remember there are consequences for your sarcastic tone about whats meaningful to them.

The directors mum has responded to his words. She told USA Today quoted her as saying that her son has her love and support no matter what.

Regarding my son Quentin  I support him, Im proud of him and love him and his growing new family, Zastoupil said. It gave me great joy to dance at his wedding and receive his news upon the birth of my grandson Leo.

To find out what others are saying and join the conversation scroll down for the comments section or click here for our most commented on articles

She additionally said its easy for podcast comments to spin and go viral without full context and that she does not wish to participate in this salacious transactional media frenzy.

While unconfirmed, Tarantinos mother, Connie Zastoupil, is thought to be around 75.

Tarantino has produced and directed a number of classics like Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Inglourious Basterds, The Hateful Eight, and Django Unchained.

Find The Independents ranking of Tarantinos greatest movie characters here.
Dir: Sian Heder. Starring: Emilia Jones, Eugenio Derbez, Troy Kotsur, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Daniel Durant, Marlee Matlin. 15, 111 mins

CODA redefines the concept of the crowd-pleaser. Any impulse to pigeonhole it  as the uplifting drama about the hearing child of a deaf family, which walked away from the Sundance Film Festival with a record $25m acquisition deal  disintegrates the moment we meet Frank (Troy Kotsur) and Jackie (Marlee Matlin). Theyre parents to Leo (Daniel Durant) and Ruby (Emilia Jones), the latter being the only hearing member of the Rossi clan and, therefore, their de facto interpreter. At a doctors appointment, she looks on with an all-too-recognisable look of teenage mortification as Frank asks her to sign an increasingly graphic list of medical ailments (the phrase like a boiled lobster claw makes an appearance).

Writer-director Sian Heder hasnt thrust upon these characters the mantle of saints, role models, or victims  nor any of the familiar narratives hearing people create about those who are deaf in order, primarily, to feel better about themselves. Frank and Jackie are like so many other lovingly enervating parents found in coming-of-age indie cinema. Theyre slightly hippie-ish, with a high sex drive and a tendency to embarrass potential boyfriends with their lurid frankness (here, the unlucky stooge is played by Ferdia Walsh-Peelo). That familiarity  and the familiarity of the films plot, which sees Ruby torn between her home life and her nascent dreams of a singing career  has led some critics to accuse CODA of lapsing into cliche. Heders work isnt even totally original, since the film is actually a sly remake of a French drama titled La Famille Belier.

But CODAs success, in all its tender-heartedness and unguarded humanity, provides a robust argument that cliches have only become cliches because were so used to viewing them through a single, limited perspective. Heders film is refreshing not only because it casts deaf actors as deaf characters, but in the sincerity of its storytelling. Deafness is both material and immaterial to CODA (which stands for Children of Deaf Adults)  Rubys path to musical success is threatened partially by her fears that leaving her family behind means stealing away one of their few concrete connections with hearing culture. Shes tethered, too, by her fathers fishing boat, the ever-dwindling source of their income. Corporate interest has stealthily taken hold of their sleepy Massachusetts town  now 60 per cent of their catchs worth lines the pockets of middlemen. And within all that, she has to overcome her own self-consciousness to impress her schools choirmaster, the demanding but ultimately visionary Bernardo (Eugenio Derbez).

Cinematographer Paula Huidobro pushes for delicacy over artistic flair  rightly so, since theres no need for CODA to play theatrics with its camerawork. When Rubys in the outside world, theres an openness to the way things are framed that feels both limitless and claustrophobic; when shes home, theres a glow that seems to emulate not from any particular light source but from the bodies that inhabit it. Every choice Heder makes is in service of the radiant performances  of the way Kotsur, Matlin, Jones and Durant perfect the dynamics of a family whose displays of affection consist mainly of teasing and name-calling.

Frank (Troy Kotsur) and Jackie (Marlee Matlin), noticing the tears of their fellow audience members, realise just how talented their daughter is (Apple TV+)

When theyre being truly honest with each other, their gestures pour out with the force of a flash flood. Theres a similar catharsis to Joness onstage performances  when she sings Joni Mitchells work, she pushes through into some yet untapped plane of emotional freedom. Her fluency in ASL is presented no differently from any other kind of bilingualism  it was her first language, and is still the one in which she feels the most comfortable expressing herself. Its a small but meaningful choice on Heders part. She allows the films hearing audience to have some insight into the deaf experience on only one occasion. The sound cuts midway through one of Rubys performances. Frank and Jackie, picking up on the small, choked sobs and brushed-away tears of their fellow audience members, realise just how talented their daughter is. As with so much in CODA, its simple  but so beautifully executed.
Kevin Harts interview with Don Cheadle has gone viral after the comedian gave a strong reaction to Cheadle revealing he is 56 years old.

After Cheadle dropped the fact, a stunned-looking Hart blurted out damn!. There was an awkward pause before Hart apologised.

Cheadle simply stared back, prompting Hart to say: I blurted it out, I did not mean it that way. I didnt mean it the way it came out.

Seeing Cheadles disgust at his comment, Hart continued: I can sit up here and honestly say, buddy, that that was from a place of love.

The awkward moment has since made the rounds on social media with fans offering their thoughts and reactions to the clip.

One posted to Twitter: Kevin Hart gotta chill! Don Cheadle looked so hurt.

Another wrote: Don had no mercy and I felt the second hand embarrassment through the screen.

It seems all is well, however, as Cheadle later went on social media and claimed that it was his favourite interview ever. He also said that he and Hart need to do a movie together.

The Hotel Rwanda actor has recently appeared on screen in Space Jam: A New Legacy and crime thriller, No Sudden Move.

New episodes of Hart to Heart appear every Tuesday on the Peacock streaming service.
Newly appointed Jeopardy host and The Big Bang Theory star Mayim Bialik has stressed she is not opposed to vaccinations.

The actor had been receiving backlash over resurfaced comments in her 2012 parenting guide, Beyond the Sling, where she wrote: We made an informed decision not to vaccinate our children.

Bialik has now clarified her stance and said she has been vaccinated against Covid-19, via a statement to The Wrap.

She has been fully vaccinated for the Covid-19 virus and is not at all an anti-vaxxer, a spokesperson for the actor said.

This is not the first time Bialik has had to deny being anti-vaccination. In 2015, she tweeted: Dispelling rumours about my stance on vaccines. Im not anti. My kids are vaccinated. So much anger and hysteria. I hope this clears things up.

Yesterday (11 August), Bialik was announced as the new co-host of Jeopardy alongside Mike Richards, following the death of the shows previous host, Alex Trebek. This will be the first time hosting duties on the show have been split between two people.

(Fox)

Richards has been accused of pregnancy discrimination by multiple women during his time as executive producer on The Price is Right. He has denied the allegations.

Bialik is set to start appearing on the show from 2022.
Hong Kongs population has seen a dip of 1.2 per cent in the year after the national security law was implemented, with at least 89,200 people leaving the Asian financial hub in this period, according to several reports citing data released by the government.

The number of people now estimated to be in the city is about 7.39 million. This is the second year in a row that Hong Kongs population decreased after more than 15 years of steady growth.

In 2020, the population dropped slightly by 0.3 per cent, the first such dip after 2003.

Hong Kong also saw an inflow of 13,900 people with one-way permits and a net natural decrease of 11,900 people after 38,500 birth and 50,400 deaths.

Several critics of the controversial national security law that was imposed in Hong Kong last year have said it clamps down on dissent and curtails the freedoms of individuals. The law, which was imposed in June 2020, was the result of protests that began in 2019, which saw the participation of thousands of people.

The Hong Kong government, however, responding to the data, said people have been leaving for many purposes, including work and study, which was conceptually different from immigration and emigration.

The coronavirus pandemic led to strict border controls and containment measures that led to low influx of people, according to a government spokesperson cited by the South China Morning Post.

The trend was dubbed alarming by Paul Yip Siu-fai, chair professor in social work and social administration at the University of Hong Kong. A chunk of the decline occurred due to a sharp increase in net migration compounded by low birth rate, he told SCMP.

Hong Kong residents holding foreign passports or other connections overseas have opted to relocate to nations like United Kingdom which allowed citizenship to those holding British National (Overseas) travel documents, reported Bloomberg.

More than 34,000 applications have been received by the UK, out of which 7,200 have been granted, the report added, citing Home Office data.
The Taliban has continued its gains across Afghanistan capturing the cities of Kandahar, Lashkar Gah as an international evacuation effort gets under way.

Officials there say that Afghanistans second biggest city Kandahar fell on Thursday night but that government officials made it to their airport before fleeing to safety.

And the loss of Helmands provincial capital of Lashkar Gah comes after years of toil and blood spilled by US, UK and allied Nato forces.

The insurgents have also captured the capital of Zabul province as their offensive in the south gradually encircles the government in the capital, Kabul.

The Taliban have taken more than a dozen provincial capitals in recent days and now control more than two-thirds of the country, just weeks before the US plans to withdraw its last troops.

As thousands of Afghan civilians flee to the capital in Kabul, the World Food Programme has warned of dire food shortages

The rapidly deteriorating security situation has prompted an international scramble to evacuate country nationals from Afghanistan.

The United States announced that it will send in 3,000 troops to help evacuate personnel from the US Embassy in Kabul.

The Pentagon says that one Army and two Marine infantry battalions will enter Afghanistan within the next two days to assist at the Kabul airport with the partial evacuation.

Hundreds of Marines are already on the ground of the embassy complex in Kabul and are responsible for evacuating the embassy, which has a staff of 4.000  including 1.400 Americans.

Washington has also warned Taliban leaders directly that the US would respond if the Taliban attacked Americans during the temporary US military deployments.

Great Britain has said it will also send 600 troops into the country to help support British nationals as they leave.

Germanys foreign minister, Heiko Maas, said his country is reducing its embassy staff in the capital to the operationally necessary, absolute minimum.

Norways foreign minister announced its foreign embassy in Kabul was closing, and Denmarks foreign minister was quoted by DV2 as saying their embassy in Kabul was being evacuated.

Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg and 30 national ambassadors are meeting in Brussels, according to an official.

Allies are constantly consulting on the situation on Afghanistan, the official said, adding that Mr Stoltenberg was in regular contact with allies and the Afghan authorities.

Canadian special forces will deploy to Afghanistan to help Canadian staff leave Kabul, a source told the Associated Press, without specifying how many.

Australia is working urgently to evacuate the last Afghans who helped its troops and diplomats, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday.

US military officials have told the White House that they believe Kabul could be overrun by the Taliban in as little as 30 to 90 days, officials told The Washington Post.

That is far quicker than an initial US projection that it could take between six and 12 months for that to occur.

The Taliban took Kandahar in the 1990s after claiming the country as an Islamic state, but were forced out when US troops invaded the country in 2001.

The citys airport was a main base for US and NATO troops, before being handed back to the Afghanistan government in May.

Earlier this week Joe Biden said he did not regret his administrations decision to pull out of Afghanistan and end the 20-year campaign there, a move which will be completed by 31 August.

I do not regret my decision. We spent over a trillion dollars, over 20 years. We trained and equipped with modern equipment over 300,000 Afghan forces ... theyve got to fight for themselves, he said.
Europe needs to brace itself for further record-breaking temperatures of 50C and higher, weather experts at the Met Office have warned.

On Wednesday the mercury hit 48.8C in Syracuse, Italy, which if confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization, will break the previous highest of 48.0C in Athens in 1977.

In a blog post on Thursday, experts from the Met Office said that climate change meant Europe can expect further soaring temperatures.

Professor Peter Stott, who leads climate attribution at the Met Office, said: Climate change is making heat-related extremes of weather more intense and when we think about those record-breaking temperature the chance of breaking temperature records  or coming close to breaking records  is greatly increased.

Record-breaking temperatures in June 2019 saw the French temperature record exceed 45.0C for the first time, and our analysis found that event was at least five times more likely because of climate change.

Although we havent yet been able to run an in-depth study on the current situation, I think its going to be clear that climate change has made this current event more extreme.

The blog added that average temperatures have risen by around 1.1C since the pre-industrial period (1850-1900), but that in some regions, such as North Africa, it has increased by more.

Professor Stott said: The chances each summer of seeing really extreme temperatures are pretty high now. We cant say exactly when it is likely to happen, but Europe will need to prepare for the eventuality of further records being broken with temperatures above 50.0C being possible in Europe in future, most likely close to the Mediterranean where the influence of hot air from North Africa is strongest.

Chris Almond, a meteorologist in the Met Offices Global Guidance Unit warned that climate change meant the team are seeing more frequent and severe events, and will continue to do in the future.
An anticyclone named Lucifer sweeping across Europe is set to bring further record-breaking temperatures and wildfires.

Countries in the south of the continent have been battling blazes for some weeks now, and it is expected that the hellish conditions will likely spread beyond Turkey, Italy and Greece to Spain, Portugal and France.

The hot, dry weather has been brought about by a weather phenomenon known as an anticyclone, causing a heat dome, and originating in this instance from north Africa.

A heat dome forms in an area of high atmospheric pressure, in which air sinks instead of rising, compressing as it descends.

Because of this no clouds form, and instead the hot air is trapped within the dome, bringing blistering temperatures to the area.

The Met Office says anticyclones are not unusual for this time of year, although the high temperatures, caused by a number of factors, are.

Meteorologist Chris Almond said: With climate change, we are expecting, and are already seeing, more frequent and severe events, and will continue to do so in the future.

Lucifer has produced what is believed to have been the hottest day ever recorded in Europe, with temperatures of 48.8C measured in Sicily, Italy, on 11 August.

The Met Office has warned that even higher temperatures, exceeding 50C, are not impossible as the climate warms up.

Professor Peter Stott, Met Office lead on climate attribution, has studied European heatwaves for nearly two decades, and says its clear climate change has made the current wildfires more extreme.

Prof Stott said: The chance each summer of seeing really extreme temperatures is pretty high now. We cant say when it is likely to happen, but Europe will need to prepare for the eventuality of further records being broken, with temperatures above 50C being possible in Europe in future.

The hot, dry conditions seen across southern Europe are expected to move into Iberia in the coming days, with Mr Almond warning that temperatures arent expected to decrease until next week.

He added: Adverse human health impacts are likely, particularly to those exposed to the extreme heat for prolonged periods, or those who are part of vulnerable population groups.

This is combined with poor air quality in some places due to ongoing wildfires and smoke.
Two back-to-back tropical storms are expected to hit Florida in the coming days as the state braces amid an already busy Atlantic hurricane season.

Tropical storm Fred is expected to make landfall in southwest Florida on Saturday.

Fred became the sixth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season late on Tuesday as it moved past the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

For the sixth year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expects that hurricane season will be far more active than normal.

A second, Tropical Storm Grace is expected to gather momentum this weekend and reach Florida by the middle of next week.

Fred formed in Puerto Rico on Tuesday and has been tearing through the Caribbean. As the storm tore through Haiti and the Dominican Republic, it led to a power outage for 400,000 people.

Storm-related flooding has forced officials to shut down part of the Dominican Republics aqueduct system, interrupting water service for hundreds of thousands of people.

Local officials reported hundreds of people were evacuated but there have been no deaths reported.

As of Friday, Fred was a tropical depression with sustained winds of less than 39mph.

Grace will move through the Leeward Islands on Saturday night, the Virgin Islands on Sunday, and Puerto Rico on Sunday night.

In a landmark report by the UNs leading authority on climate change, scientists said that its likely that the amount of category three to five storms has increased over the past four decades. The report also said that the climate crisis will lead to more category 4 to 5 storms.

AP contributed to this report
It is the storied sea traversed by Odysseus and the Vikings, a body of water that has been the wellspring of civilisations, culture and commerce as well as countless myths and legends. It is the holiday destination for millions of people who enjoy its splendid beaches, verdant islands and ancient ruins.

But the Mediterranean Sea littoral is turning into a wasteland, as shown by the vast fires engulfing parts of Greece, Turkey, Italy, Algeria and Tunisia.

Its going to be a desert climate all around the Mediterranean by the end of the century, says Levent Kurmaz, head of the Centre for Climate Change and Policy Studies at Istanbuls Bogazici University.

Scientists say the regions unique geographic location  a body of water sandwiched between three giant land masses  makes it particularly vulnerable to climate change. The region is already outpacing global average temperature increases by more than 20 per cent since the end of the 19th century. Researchers have detected numerous disturbing patterns that have included hotter temperatures and altered rainfall patterns.

I am definitely seeing varying trends in the Mediterranean basin in terms of droughts getting harsher [and] a bit more unpredictable and frequent, average temperatures increasing and extreme heat waves, says California-based climate researcher Gokce Sencan.

Fires have laid waste to tens of thousands of hectares of woodland in vast stretches along the Mediterranean coast in the past few weeks. At least eight people have died in Turkey, where fires have been concentrated in the southwest. Four people have been killed in wildfires in the wooded mountain region of Kabylia in Algeria, east of the capital.

Tunisias Bizerte province was hit by a wildfire on Monday amid strong winds and temperatures blasting as high as 122F (50C). Morocco suffered wildfires in July that destroyed 1,200 hectares of forest.

Greeces prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said 586 fires had erupted over the last week throughout the country.

It is a disaster without precedent, said Christian Solinas, the governor of the Italian island of Sardinia.

The fires have displaced thousands, scorched treasured forests, and killed untold numbers of living creatures.

Tens of thousands of animals died in the fires for no reason, says Emir Eksioglu, an environmental activist in Turkey. Bears, deer, squirrels, pigs, turtles. Peoples love for animals gives me hope. But I do not see the same hope in government policies.

Though Spain and Portugal have been spared the worst of the wildfires so far this year, Professor Kurmaz cautions that anticipated hot temperatures could prompt severe blazes in the Iberian peninsula as well.

People in Italy think its the mafia. People in Greece think its the Turks. People in Turkey think its the PKK. But no one stops to think: did they all organize to start the fires around the same week? People dont like to focus on the big picture. Climate researcher Gokce Sencan

Though rising atmospheric temperatures are contributing to drier forests more susceptible to wildfires, uncontrolled land-use has exacerbated the problem, says Irem Daloglu Cetinkaya, an environmental scientist at Istanbuls Bogazici University.

These forest fires are not only because of the changes in climate, she says. There is also the accumulation of too much garbage, and land-use changes and development. There are two things happening at the same time.

Experts have warned of the potential effects of rising temperatures on the Mediterranean for years. A study prepared last year by McKinsey and Associates forecast rising numbers of heatwaves, increased drought and decreased precipitation, devastating food production and decimating tourism throughout the Mediterranean states.

The Mediterranean basin is often perceived as the ultimate in climate, comfort and culture, said the report. However, climate change may harshen the Mediterranean climate and disrupt vital industries such as tourism and agriculture.

In a separate study published last year, a pair of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) scientists argued that the unique location of the Mediterranean made it particularly vulnerable to climate change. While rising temperatures will be coupled with increased rainfall throughout much of the world, the Mediterranean is being saddled with both hotter and drier weather.

Wind patterns create a natural high-pressure system associated with hot dry weather over the Mediterranean. Meanwhile, the temperature differential between land and sea is closing faster in the Mediterranean than other places because it is surrounded by three land masses.

Whats really different about the Mediterranean compared to other regions is the geography, researcher Alexandre Tuel told an MIT journal. Basically, you have a big sea enclosed by continents, which doesnt really occur anywhere else in the world.

Professor Kurmaz, whose team is about to release a paper on wildfires, predicts that by the centurys end, the climate in southern Turkey, southern Greece and southern Italy will be similar to that of Cairo and the southern Iraqi city of Basra now.

Were moving towards that, he says. Its not going to happen overnight.

Smoke from the wildfires spreads over people as they enjoy the sea at Edipsos on Evia island (AP)

Scientists say governments can make efforts to mitigate, accommodate, and perhaps even reverse some of the disastrous changes. Turks have criticised their government for failing to allocate enough planes specialised in putting out forest fires, and for refusing to recognise the local version of the environmentally focused Green Party, which Ankara does not recognise as an official political grouping despite surging support for the party in opinion polls.

Governments can also limit development on vulnerable land and protect undisturbed green spaces. We interfere in the forest areas, says Ms Cetinkaya. We use them for recreation. We pollute them. Climate change is kind of unavoidable, but we can reduce the impact of it.

But instead of coming to grips with the reality of the changing climate, those living in the wildfire-stricken countries are instead casting about for conspiracies. Some Turks, for example, have alleged that Kurdish separatists associated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) set the fires.

People in Italy think its the mafia, says Ms Sencan. People in Greece think its the Turks. People in Turkey think its the PKK. But no one stops to think: did they all organize to start the fires around the same week? People dont like to focus on the big picture.
Given the recent UN code red warning on the climate crisis, and the lofty rhetoric of British ministers in the run-up to the Cop26 climate conference in Glasgow in November, it may seem odd that those very same minsters are permitting fresh developments to extract oil from the North Sea.

The first minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, certainly thinks so, conscious as she is that the grand conference is taking place on her territory. She has written to Boris Johnson querying the activation of the licensing of the Cambo field, west of Shetland. Although it is beyond the remit of the devolved administration, Ms Sturgeon obviously feels obliged to raise her concerns. She has asked the British government to reassess the plans, though, rather than to reject them outright. There are reasons for this, and revealing ones in the wider context of Scottish politics.

First, there is no great point in her making demands of Westminster that she knows will certainly be rejected. That merely draws attention to the limits of her power, and diminishes her prestige. Johnson and Michael Gove, the senior Scot in government in London, are going out of their way to marginalise the role of Sturgeon at the Glasgow meeting, and she is alert to their, arguably, petty manoeuvrings, just as they are to her attempts, also arguable, to pass herself off as the host government of an independent Scotland.
Apple employees are reportedly raising concerns internally about the tech giants plans to roll out a feature that would allow its devices to scan through peoples photos and messages to check for signs of child abuse.

Employees with the company have flooded an internal slack channel with over 800 messages on the plan that was announced a week ago, news agency Reuters reported.

Many Apple workers reportedly expressed worries in a thread of messages on Slack that repressive governments could exploit the feature to find materials for censorship or arrests.

Apple announced a week ago that new features under the plan to be rolled out later this year would use the phones on-device machine learning to assess the content of childrens messages for photos that may be sexually explicit.

When receiving this type of content, the photo will be blurred and the child will be warned, presented with helpful resources and reassured it is okay if they do not want to view this photo, Apple noted in a blog post.

It said the features will be coming as updates to all of its platforms, including iOS 15, iPadOS 15, WatchOS 8 and MacOS Monterey.

We want to help protect children from predators who use communication tools to recruit and exploit them, and limit the spread of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), Apple noted.

The tech company said children would be warned before they send sexually explicit photos and parents could set up notifications when their child sends a photo which triggers the new system.

In one of the features, Apple said it would use a database of known CSAM images provided by child safety organisations and apply on-device machine learning to look for matches in the photos stored on the device.

Instead of scanning images in the cloud, the system performs on-device matching using a database of known CSAM image hashes provided by NCMEC and other child safety organizations. Apple further transforms this database into an unreadable set of hashes that is securely stored on users devices, the company noted.

While Apple said the feature is designed so the company does not get access to the messages, it could lead to concerns from privacy advocates, given the tech giants long history and commitment to securing the privacy of its users.

Core security employees were reportedly not part of the complainants on the topic, but some reportedly said they thought the companys response was reasonable to crackdown on illegal content.
A US study has found that children born during the pandemic have significantly reduced verbal, motor and overall cognitive performance compared to children born before, due to lack of stimulation.

The coronavirus pandemic drove people indoors as businesses, nurseries, daycares, and schools closed, and interaction with others outside a household became severely restricted. Many parents found themselves more stretched as they tried to juggle childcare and working from home.

Infants born during between 2020 and 2021 were unable to interact with the outside world as much as before, and limited stimulation at home appeared to have contributed to the decline, the study found.

Researchers examined the general childhood cognitive scores in 2020 and 2021 and compared it to scores in the preceding decade. The mean IQ score on standardised tests for children aged between three months and three years stood around 100 between 2011 and 2019, but this dropped to 78 for children born during the pandemic.

The study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, included 672 children from the state of Rhode Island, with 188 of them born after July 2020 and 308 born before January 2019. A further 176 were born between January 2019 and March 2020. The children were mostly white, born full-term and had no known developmental disabilities.

Male children and children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds had worse scores in the standardised tests, which highlighted the environmental changes associated with the pandemic significantly and negatively [affect] infant and child development.

The infant brain is born with immense capacity to learn remodel and adapt, but is sensitive and vulnerable to neglect and environmental exposures that begin even before birth, the study authors wrote.

Sean Deoni, lead author of the study and associate professor of paediatrics (research) at Brown University, told the Guardian that the difference in scores is not typically seen outside of major cognitive disorders.

Pointing towards the lack of stimulation and interaction at home as parents struggled to cope with work and childcare without help from outside their household, Deoni said: Parents are stressed and frazzled.. that interaction the child would normally get has decreased substantially.

It is unclear what the long-term impact of the decline in childrens cognitive performance will be as restrictions lift and businesses, schools and other facilities reopen.

Researchers suggest government assistance programmes to help families from low socioeconomic backgrounds could help minimise the impact of the pandemic on the most sensitive of children.

But Deoni fears that things may be worse in poorer parts of the US and the world, considering the study used data from a relatively affluent part of the country. The researchers called for further studies to understand underlying factors, adding that it is critical to helping ensure affected children rebound as the pandemic winds down.
Setting aside time to dedicate to yourself can be easier said than done.

But if youre looking for an incentive to practise self-care, why not take inspiration from some other countries?

From Japan to Sweden these places often have simple wellness tips built into their everyday culture

1. Japan: Go forest bathing

Known as shinrin-yoku, forest bathing is all about communing with nature. Dont worry, you dont have to get wet  the practice calls for walking or sitting in a forest, soaking up the environment, and feeling yourself slowly unwind.

For so many of us living in cities, the calming presence of nature often feels a million miles away. But you might be surprised how hanging out with some trees can recharge your batteries and take you away from the stresses of daily life.

The key to successful forest bathing is to really switch off  ditch your phone and try to focus on your immediate surroundings as much as possible.

2. Sweden: Take a coffee break

Fika loosely means a coffee and cake break, and its a cultural phenomenon in Sweden. It means carving time out of your busy working day to pause, grab a brew and socialise with friends or colleagues.

It feels like we need fika more than ever  with work increasingly bleeding into our personal lives, many of us forget to take a break. A self-imposed fika will help you feel refreshed, more connected to the people around you  even if youve just spoken over the phone  and ready to attack the rest of the day. After all, who doesnt feel better after a slice of cake and a cup of tea?

3. Also Sweden: Hop in a sauna

Theres a reason Scandinavia constantly tops the list for the worlds happiest countries  plenty of self-care tips are ingrained in their day-to-day lives, such as the Swedish obsession for saunas.

Known as bastu, saunas are everywhere in Sweden  you can go either with others, as a social activity, or solo. Once youve sweated out all those toxins, follow the Swedish tradition of jumping in a cold shower  we promise youll feel amazing afterwards.

4. Denmark: Get cosy

Hygge had a massive global moment in 2016  it came second only to Brexit (inevitably) in Collins English Dictionarys top ten words of the year .

Although it was a brief trend in the UK and Ireland, its been popular in Denmark for decades  and wed argue its high time we got back on board with all things hygge. It loosely translates as cosiness and is all about making your surroundings as comfortable, warm and peaceful as possible. Whether its cuddling up with fluffy blankets, lighting lots of candles or curling up with a good book, sometimes the smallest things can make a big difference.

5. China: Face tapping

Inspired by ancient Chinese medicine, face tapping  the practice of gently tapping key points on your face  has a host of suggested benefits. Skincare aficionados love it because its linked to increased collagen production and lymphatic drainage, but its also said to help you destress. Regardless, its an opportunity to slow down, focus on your breathing, and take some time out of the day for yourself.
One in five UK adults experienced a complete breakdown in a relationship during the pandemic, a new study has revealed.

According to University College Londons Covid-19 Social Study, the largest study of social ties during Covid-19, 22 per cent of adults suffered the dissolution of a relationship with either family, friends, colleagues or neighbours.

The study, which is ongoing, was launched in 2020 shortly before the first lockdown was imposed in England.

It has been examining the state of peoples relationships and lifestyles during the pandemic and includes data on more than 70,000 people.

The research is funded by the Nuffield Foundation, with additional support from Wellcome and UK Research and Innovation.

In the latest release, it found that adults aged 18-29 were most likely to report a relationship breakdown out of all age groups.

Adults in this bracket were 35 per cent more likely to have had a relationship breakdown compared to 12 per cent of adults aged 60 and over.

Meanwhile, in more positive news, nearly half (46 per cent) of young adults said the quality of their relationships with their spouse or partner had been better than usual during the past year.

Thats significantly more than adults aged 30-59 and those aged 60 and over, of whom 27 per cent and 21 per cent respectively reported better relationships with their partners.

The studys lead author, Dr Elise Paul from the UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health, told the Guardian that the research reflected the mixed impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr Paul added: Younger adults reporting a better relationship with their spouse or partner may have benefited from furlough or remote working allowing them to spend more time together.

On the other hand, the stress of the pandemic and lockdown measures which prevented people from seeing those outside their household may have contributed to the breakdown of other relationships, particularly those with people who do not live close by.
A prolific narcotics agent known as the white devil among drug traffickers was sentenced Thursday to more than 13 years behind bars for stealing money from suspects, falsifying government records and committing perjury during a federal trial.

U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo said the longtime U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent, Chad A. Scott, caused far reaching damage to the administration of justice.

The sentencing capped a five-year case that shook the DEA and resulted in convictions of three other members of a New Orleans-based federal drug task force.

Prosecutors portrayed Scott as more dangerous than the most hardened heroin dealers he locked up, saying the Louisiana lawman broke every rule in the book to enforce his own approximation of justice. They had asked Milazzo to sentence Scott to nearly two decades in prison.

He undercut law enforcement and he disgraced the entire judicial process, federal prosecutor Timothy Duree told the first jury that convicted Scott. He was sworn to uphold the law but instead, he broke it for his own selfish purposes.

Scott, 53, was found guilty at successive trials of a long list of corruption counts. The charges stemmed from an expansive federal investigation into misconduct claims that had surrounded Scott for much of his 17-year career, even as he racked up headline-grabbing drug busts between Baton Rouge and New Orleans

Scott told Milazzo he was ashamed of being here, adding he had long since been convicted in the press and public opinion. But he sought to underline his contributions to law enforcement and the DEA's mission, in which he said he had truly believed. He was twice the target of murder-for-hire plots, he told the judge  an example of the length people will go to to remove me from drug trafficking investigations.

Scott's remarks  his first since his 2017 arrest  came during an unusual sentencing hearing this week that revealed details of crimes Scott was alleged to have committed but for which he was not charged. The alleged victims included a Louisiana man who accused Scott of planting an ounce of marijuana in his truck in 2005 and a Houston man who said Scott twice lashed his mouth with the medallion on a necklace he was wearing during a 1999 arrest that brought no charges, then confiscated the chain and took nearly a year to return it.

This goes against everything that the Drug Enforcement Administration stands for," Anne Milgram, the newly sworn-in DEA administrator, said in a statement. "Scott betrayed the very people he was entrusted to protect and today he is being held accountable for his crimes.

Scott was convicted in 2019 of orchestrating false testimony against a Houston-based heroin and cocaine trafficker  perjury that tainted the dealer's conviction and allowed him to walk free. The same federal jury found Scott falsified paperwork for a Ford F-150 pickup  a vehicle he directed another drug trafficker to buy so the DEA could seize it and give it to Scott.

Earlier this year, a separate federal jury convicted Scott and Rodney Gemar, a former member of his task force, in what prosecutors described as a long-running scheme to steal money and property from suspects they arrested.

Two other former members of the task force, Johnny Domingue and Karl E. Newman, were accused of stealing cash and drugs and testified against Scott. Both were Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office deputies  detailed to the DEA  and served federal sentences after agreeing to cooperate with the government. Domingue since has been charged with new federal drug trafficking charges in Texas.

Scott is among a growing list of DEA agents who have been accused of abusing their authority in recent years. Another veteran agent, Jose Irizzary, pleaded guilty last year to conspiring with a Colombian cartel money launderer, filing false reports and ordering DEA staff to wire money slated for undercover stings to international accounts he controlled.

At least a dozen DEA agents across the country have been criminally charged since 2015 on counts ranging from wire fraud and bribery to selling firearms to drug traffickers, according to court records. That includes a longtime special agent in Chicago who pleaded guilty to infiltrating the DEA on behalf of drug traffickers and another accused of accepting $250,000 in bribes to protect the Mafia.

___

Mustian reported from New York. Associated Press writer Kevin McGill contributed to this report.
A protracted war in neighboring Afghanistan is Pakistan s nightmare scenario, the country's national security advisor said Monday. He also slammed relentless blaming of Islamabad for the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan.

The U.S. needs to take the lead to get the Afghan government and the Taliban back to the negotiation table, Moeed Yusuf told foreign journalists in the Pakistani capital.

He said Pakistan is pushing the Taliban to return to negotiations but its leverage is waning as the insurgent group gains more ground in Afghanistan.

Pakistan hasn't even been able to convince the Taliban to reopen the border crossing at Spin Boldak in southeastern Afghanistan, which the insurgent force captured last month, Yusuf said.

In their sweep through Afghanistan, which began with the late April start of the final withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops, the Taliban have gained control of strategic and lucrative border crossings, including the Spin Boldak crossing with Pakistan.

Last weekend the Taliban closed the crossing in southeast Afghanistan after Islamabad demanded that Afghans crossing to the Pakistani side have a passport and a Pakistani visa, something that had not previously been required. The Taliban accused Pakistan of imposing the new rules to please Kabul and President Ashraf Ghani

They shuttered the border, insisting Pakistan reinstate an earlier lax policy under which the thousands who cross daily were rarely required to show even local identity cards. As a result, thousands of Afghans and Pakistanis are stuck at the border and hundreds of trucks loaded with perishable goods have been waiting to cross.

As the Aug. 31 deadline for the final withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops from Afghanistan approaches, Yusuf called for a reinvigorated, re-emphasized, rejuvenated effort to try and get Afghan political actors ... in one room ... to get to a settlement of how to move forward."

Anything but an inclusive political settlement means a protracted conflict, through which instability will likely spill over into Pakistan, he said. So our nightmare scenario is a protracted conflict."

Yusuf said Pakistan, which already hosts about 2 million Afghan refugees, hasn't got the resources to absorb a fresh wave of refugees. The government fears that will happen if fighting continues and the sides don't return to the negotiating table.

The Taliban's onslaught defies statements by their political leadership in the Middle Eastern country Qatar advocating for talks. The insurgent force has shown no sign of wanting to negotiate, instead pressing ahead on the battlefield, sweeping through five provincial capitals in less than a week.

Yusuf accused Afghanistan of scapegoating Pakistan, blaming it for the Taliban advances and demanded evidence of accusations by Kabul at a recent U.N. Security Council meeting that 10,000 fighters were crossing from Pakistan to Afghanistan.

Instead he attacked the performance of Afghanistan's National Defense and Security Forces in those areas where they abandoned districts, occasionally crossing into Tajikistan or Iran or Pakistan to escape the advancing Taliban.

We are told that over a trillion dollars were put into Afghanistan and much of that into the ANDSF to prepare the army and the security forces. ... What is going on with this well-equipped and trained force?
A man who posed as an NHS worker to swindle money from a 92-year-old woman during the Covid pandemic has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

David Chambers, 33, pretended to be a healthcare worker going door-to-door administering the vaccine last December, as the jab was first being rolled out to the elderly and vulnerable.

Having recently been contacted by her GP, Kathleen Martin invited Chambers into her home in Surbiton, south west London, believing he had been sent by her doctor.

Chambers, who had been wearing an NHS lanyard, asked her to roll up her sleeve and pretended to vaccinate her by pressing something she described as a dart-like implement against the back of her wrist.

It did not break her skin nor inject anything.

Chambers charged his victim 140, returning days later in the new year to demand another 100 of her, which she refused to pay.

He appeared at Kingston Crown Court on Friday, after pleading guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation, and battery at a previous hearing.

Judge Hannah Kinch described his actions as despicable and said there was no doubt they caused significant anxiety and distress to other elderly people at the time who were worried they would fall victim to a scam.

She said: Your actions were cruelly calculated to trick the victim into thinking she had been properly vaccinated so as to be able to obtain payment from her.

Chambers was also given a seven-year criminal behaviour order to stop him targeting elderly victims in their homes.

The court heard he was previously jailed for 18 months for burgling an elderly woman after telling her he needed to check her boiler and radiators.

He has also received a suspended sentence, which was later activated, for defrauding two elderly victims by claiming he needed to borrow money for a locksmith after getting locked out of his home.

Judge Kinch said: Your previous convictions show a propensity to deliberately target vulnerable elderly victims in their home, a place where they should feel safe and secure.

You took full advantage of the vaccination rollout to prey on another vulnerable victim in her own home.

The prosecution argued Chambers undermined confidence in the Covid vaccine rollout, having acted amidst rising cases and ahead of the second peak of the pandemic.

Martin, who has lived in the area for her whole life, said she had never been subject to such a deceitful and horrific crime.

Admitting it was taken a difficult few months to come to terms with the scam, she warned others against falling victim to similar cons.

In a statement, she said: Knowing first hand someone would use the Covid-19 vaccination process to scam money from the elderly is harrowing.

It is important people are aware of these scams and always check the validity of what people say when they contact you by phone, or knock on your door.

These scams are on the rise and they specifically target the elderly. This person posed as an NHS employee with a fake lanyard, and gained access to my home.
Disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson has launched a bid to have his conviction for putting women through unnecessary surgery overturned, in a move that has left victims devastated.

Officers from West Midlands Police have contacted victims of the surgeon to warn them that he has begun the appeal process.

Paterson was jailed in 2017 after being convicted of 17 counts of wounding with intent and three counts of unlawful wounding, after he subjected more than 1,000 women to operations they didnt need or that left them dangerously at risk of their cancer returning.

The appeal bid comes despite a recall of 11,000 of the surgeons former patients this year, which has led to private hospital company Spire Healthcare admitting the existence of more previously unknown victims and setting up a new 22m fund to compensate patients and support their care.

Victims of the surgeon, who operated on women both through the NHS and in private hospitals for more than 14 years, said news of his appeal bid had left them shocked and angry.

Deborah Douglas, a victim of Paterson who fought for an independent inquiry and supports other women affected, told The Independent: I cant believe he has a hope in hell. It is him trying to get back control; he is playing games and it cant be a coincidence that this is coming in the middle of the recall and inquests being held by the coroners.

Coroners in Birmingham have launched new inquests into the deaths of some of Patersons patients who died after being treated by him, on the grounds that their deaths may have been caused or contributed to by acts or omissions by Paterson and other clinicians.

The coroners were asked to consider the deaths by West Midlands Police in relation to concerns that some of Patersons patients may have died as a result of his unapproved cleavage-sparing mastectomies, which left behind breast tissue in some cancer patients, risking a return of the disease.

Ms Douglas added: When I received the email from the police I was shocked and angry that he could do this after four years. It brings back all the feelings for lots of us. People are worried they might have to go to court, and some women live in fear of seeing him.

Another woman harmed by Paterson, writer Tracy King, said: This news brings back so much trauma for those of us affected by Paterson. We can never be free of the physical scars, but we might have a chance to heal the emotional scars if only he left us in peace to do so.

Attempting an appeal is cruel, and speaks to the entitlement and denial that have defined this case.

A message sent to victims by police officers, which was seen by The Independent, confirms that Paterson has lodged an application for leave to appeal against his conviction.

This will mean a hearing in open court to determine whether his application should go ahead to the Court of Appeal.

No date for a hearing has yet been set.

An inquiry led by the former Bishop of Norwich, Rev Graham James, found Paterson was able to hide in plain sight due to a dysfunctional healthcare system and the wilful blindness of some NHS managers.

It found that, between 1998 and 2011, more than 6,600 patients were treated by Ian Paterson at Spire Healthcare. He also treated more than 4,400 NHS patients. The report reveals that he also carried out unnecessary surgery on children.
 Close Vigil held in Plymouth following Jake Davison mass shooting

Labour has said police have questions to answer over how a gunman obtained a firearms licence and went on a rampage as more tributes poured in for the victims of the killing spree.

Gunman Jake Davison killed five people  including his mother and a three-year-old girl  and injured two others in the citys Keyham area on Thursday evening before turning his gun on himself.

The 22-year-old had his gun returned weeks before Thursdays deadly shooting spree after it was taken away last December following an assault allegation, according to the police watchdog.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has said it will investigate Devon and Cornwall Polices decision-making in relation to Davisons possession of the weapon and certificate.

On Saturday, Priti Patel visited Plymouth to pay tribute to the victims . The city council chief also said residents remained in a state of shock after experiencing the UKs first mass shooting in more than a decade.
The Home Office has prompted outrage after it emerged that potential modern slavery victims are being transferred from immigration detention centres to prisons.

Lawyers and charities have warned that vulnerable people will be left without access to vital support due to the decision to place them in a jail setting.

Since the start of the pandemic, the Home Office has sought to hold fewer people in removal centres for Covid-19 safety reasons, placing many in prisons instead.

Conditions in jails have meanwhile become significantly more restrictive, with most adult inmates now locked in their cells for 23 hours a day  in some cases, 24 hours a day.

The Independent is aware of at least two cases where detainees who have trafficking indicators have been informed that they will be transferred from a removal centre  where conditions are less restrictive and they have better access to legal advice  to a prison.

One man, who cannot be named to protect his identity, had been due to be deported to Jamaica this week but had his ticket cancelled after he was referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) and the Home Office identified him as a potential trafficking victim.

The 23-year-old, who in June completed a two and a half year sentence for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs  which his lawyers say involved him being groomed over a number of years  told The Independent: Ive completed my sentence. Ive done nothing wrong since Ive been here, now theyre telling me Im going back to prison.

Being there makes people hurt themselves. I cant go through that again. Theyre messing with my mental health. I wouldnt cope back in jail. I wouldnt be able to speak to my son. Id be going back to suffer.

Karen Doyle, of campaign group Movement for Justice, said: Deciding to move vulnerable detainees, potential victims of trafficking who have finished their sentence, back to prison is torture. It prevents them from accessing vital outside support.

To do it when Covid is spreading through the centre, putting the prison population further at risk, is unconscionable.

Last December, a letter signed by 40 organisations and lawyers called on the government to immediately release people held in jail under immigration powers, warning that immigration detainees had been left to navigate the complex process of challenging their detention and deportation without any form of assistance whatsoever.

Annie Viswanathan, director of Bail for Immigration Detainees, which coordinated the letter, said: Since the start of the pandemic, extremely severe lockdown conditions have become commonplace, with most of our clients held in prisons locked in their cells for 23 hours per day.

These conditions amount to prolonged solitary confinement which is banned under international law due to the incredibly harmful mental and physical health consequences. It is particularly dangerous for people who are already vulnerable including survivors of human trafficking.

A lawyer who represents the man quoted above, who did not want to be named due to death threats they have received for representing detainees, said that moving potential trafficking victims back to prison once theyd completed their sentence was a terrifying practice.

The idea that once youve been recognised as a possible victim of exploitation you are supposed to begin your recovery period from prison is nonsensical, they added.

Many of these cases are criminal exploitation cases where the reason for exploitation is county lines related activities. Often theres a risk of coming into contact with other individuals affiliated with the traffickers in prison, so it can be potentially very dangerous for some of these young men, and increases the risk of re-trafficking.

If you have someone really scared and traumatised who has finally started to open up about past experiences of criminal exploitation, it just makes no sense to shove them back in prison.

A Home Office spokesperson said: Those held in prison are typically individuals who present a threat to themselves or others and will only be move from an immigration removal centre after a dedicated Home Office team conducts a thorough risk assessment on their suitability to remain.

Foreign national offenders who abuse our values and laws by committing crimes should be in no doubt of our determination to deport them.
The gunman who murdered five people in a shooting spree in Plymouth has been named as apprentice crane operator and self-described incel Jake Davison.

In the UKs first mass shooting in more than a decade, the 22-year-old shot his mother, a three-year-old girl and her father, and a 59-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman, who all died.

He also shot and injured two other people during the spree  which lasted around six minutes  before turning the gun on himself.

View more

The 22-year-old had been an apprentice at Babcock since August last year, according to a spokesperson for the international aerospace, defence and security company.

He had a firearms licence and his gun was taken away last December, following an assault allegation several months earlier in September. His firearm licence and gun were returned weeks before Thursdays shooting.

According to reports, Davisons firearms licence was returned after he attended an anger management course.

The police watchdog has said it will investigate Devon and Cornwall Polices decision-making in relation to Davisons possession of the weapon and certificate.

Davison posted on a YouTube channel under the name Professor Waffle.

His social media use suggests an obsession with the incel culture, meaning involuntary celibate , a culture which has amassed a following online among some men who feel they are being oppressed by women due to a perceived lack of sexual interest.

Nazir Afzal, who was previously chief crown prosecutor for the North West, said Davisons social media posts painted a picture of a man who thought women were lesser beings.

Davison had also posted support for President Trump on his social media.

Follow Plymouth shooting latest: Incels could be deemed terrorist, government adviser says

(PA)

In one post on Facebook, Mr Davison reposted a photo of the former US President with a quote that read: In America, we do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to watch.

He also updated his Facebook cover photo to a picture of a bald eagle  the emblem of the United States  standing in front of the American flag.

Davison had also "liked" a series of videos about guns on social media.

Police have said they are looking into the 22-year-olds activity on social media, his hard drive and his phone use in the wake of Thursdays attack.
The police will face an inquiry over its decision to return a gun licence to the Plymouth attacker just a month before he killed five people in a shooting spree.

Jake Davison, 22, had his shotgun certificate revoked in September following an allegation of assault. Witnesses said that he used a pump-action shotgun during his rampage on Thursday in the Keyham area of the city, although police have not confirmed this.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into Devon and Cornwall Polices decision to hand the licence back.

A three-year-old girl and her father were named on Friday as being among the five victims of the attack. Davison gunned down his mother, Maxine, 51, in their home before shooting Lee Martyn, 43, and his daughter Sophie on their doorstep in an attack that lasted six minutes before he took his own life.

Mr Martyn was returning home from a walk when Davison attacked. The gunman then went to a nearby park where he shot dead Stephen Washington, 59. He then continued to Henderson Place and shot Kate Shepherd, 66, who later died from her injuries.

Hundreds of people gathered on Friday evening to pay their respects to the victims at a candle lit vigil near to the site of the shooting.

Local Neighbourhood Watch chairman Kevin Sproston, who organised the vigil said, said: The community wanted something to mark their respects.

Maxine Davison was killed at her home by her son, Jake ( )

People are feeling sombre, but I think they find strength together and in this turn out and how everyone is looking after each other and checking up on each other.

My house is just a few yards away from where its been cordoned off.

This is not a quick fix for our community. Ive spoken to young kids that have witnessed horrific things. Thats deep scars that are going to take support. Thats what we will do.

Tributes poured in for the victims  dozens of flowers, cards and soft toys have been left close to the scene.

One note read: Rest in peace. Thoughts and prayers with you all. A tragic loss. Such beautiful souls. Love to all.

A friend of Mr Martyn said: You were such a kind selfless gentleman who put everyone before yourself, we have shared many memories together. I will never forget the things in life you have done for me, you will forever be in my heart.

Davison described himself as an incel, and posted a series of videos online bemoaning the fact that he had not lost his virginity as a teenager.

One neighbour and a friend of the Davison family said that the killer had fallen out with his mother over his misogynistic views.

Lee Martyn, 43, and his three-year-old daughter Sophie, were among the victims ( )

The neighbour said: Maxine and Jake used to be close. Youd always see him helping her with the shopping at Lidl, but they started to clash a lot. Jake was very quiet growing up. He was a troubled soul.

He got into guns and he knew everything there was to know about them.

The chief constable of Devon and Cornwall police, Shaun Sawyer, said: We believe we have an incident that is domestically related, that has spilled into the street and seen several people in Plymouth losing their lives in extraordinarily tragic circumstances, adding that multiple shots have been fired from a firearm during that six-minute or so period.

Davisons social media profiles show he had a strong interest in American gun culture and followed campaigns for the ban on machine guns to be lifted in the United States.

Locals to Keyham reported that Davison would often put on an American accent, such was his obsession with the country.

A gun was recovered from the scene, but police have not yet confirmed whether it is the firearm that Davison was licensed to own.

Witnesses described it as a pump-action shotgun.

Police are now investigating comments that the gunman made on social media prior to the incident. The killer had made comments online relating to the incel movement, in which men who describe themselves as involuntary celibates, or incels, and hold aggressively anti-female views, promote the idea that women are to blame for their inability to find a sexual partner.

The movement has been linked to a number of violent attacks around the world.

A vigil in Plymouth on Friday night for the victims (Getty Images)

One family friend claimed in a post on social media that the killers father had become concerned about his sons mental health, and had tried to access help but had been rebuffed by doctors.

Armed police arrived in Keyham within six minutes of multiple phone calls from the public describing a gunman on the loose at around 6pm on Thursday evening.

One eyewitness wrote on social media: Theres [a man] on the rampage in my cul-de-sac with a real gun and hes already shot two people.

They are laying on the ground. One is dead  blood everywhere. Im shaking like a leaf.

Another said: The guy shot members of his family then went out onto the street.

A witness called Sharon, who lives near Biddick Drive where the incident took place, said: Firstly, there was shouting, followed by gunshots  three, possibly four to begin with.

This was when the shooter kicked in the door of a house and randomly started shooting. He ran from the house, shooting as he ran, and proceeded to shoot at a few people in Linear Park up from the drive.

Another neighbour, who gave his name as Philip, said: I know a guy who lives [in Biddick Drive] and he came home late and he had to walk past the body on the pavement.

He didnt know initially what it was but when he got closer there was this big black mound, with a black cover over it, covered in blood. He said it was on the pavement at 7pm.

Robert Pinkerton, 54, said he had bumped into a bloke with a shotgun after he heard a loud bang.

Mr Pinkerton saw an injured woman in the doorway of a hairdressers and a man trying to give her medical help.
Six people, including a gunman, have died in a shooting in Plymouth, with two others injured.

The atrocity, which happened shortly after 6pm on Thursday, is being treated as a domestic incident and not terror related.

However, the governments terrorism adviser has now said that incels, which the killer described himself as, could be treated as terrorists if more violent attacks occur.

Thursdays attack was the first mass shooting to happen in the UK in 11 years.

What happened?

The shooting spree took place in the Keyham area of Plymouth on Thursday and lasted for around six minutes, according to police.

Devon and Cornwall Police receive reports of a serious firearms incident in Biddick Drive at around 6.11pm. Police said they received multiple calls from members of the public after residents heard gunshots.

Police arrived at the scene within six minutes to find bodies of several victims, as well as of the gunman.

Davison first shot his mother in an address on Biddick Drive. He left the property and opened fire on two people, including a young child, who both died.

The 22-year-old then shot two people further along the road, who were left injured.

Davison then proceeded to shoot dead a man in nearby parkland and then a woman in Henderson Place, who later died at Derriford Hospital.

View more

Davison then turned the gun on himself before officers could intervene. He was reported as dead at 6.23pm, according to police.

Parts of the incident happened in front of other members of the public who are said to have been "shocked at what was unfolding before them".

A weapon has been recovered, described by witnesses as a "pump action shotgun".

The killer had a firearms licence, and police will now investigate why it was returned to the gunman just a month before the attack. His shotgun certificate had been revoked after an assault allegation.

Police said on Friday the crime scene stretched to 13 separate sites.

Who are the victims?

Lee Martyn and his daughter Sophie Martyn, were also among the victims ( )

Police released the names of the victims on Friday evening.

The first victim was the gunmans mother, 51-year-old Maxine Davison, also known as Maxine Chapman.

The three-year-old girl killed was named as Sophie Martyn, who was shot dead alongside her father, 43-year-old Lee Martyn, in Biddick Drive .

The victim killed in the parkland was 59-year-old Stephen Washington.

The woman shot in Henderson Place who died in hospital was named by police as 66-year-old Kate Shepherd.

Police said the woman injured in Biddick Drive was 53 years old and the man was 33 years old. They were both known to each other.

Hundreds placed flowers and candles in North Down Crescent Park in Keyham on Friday evening to remember the victims of the shooting the night before.

Plymouth City Council said a minutes silence will be held for the victims at 11am on Monday, which will be one of a series of tributes that will be made.

Who was Jake Davison?

The 22-year-old had been an apprentice at Babcock since August last year, according to a spokesperson for the international aerospace, defence and security company.

He had a firearms licence and his gun was taken away last December, following an assault allegation several months before. His licence and gun were returned weeks before Thursdays shooting spree.

Police are examining the hard drive and social media activity of Davison, who posted on a YouTube channel under the name Professor Waffle.

His social media use suggests an obsession with the incel culture, meaning involuntary celibate , a culture which has amassed a following online among some men who feel they are being oppressed by women due to a perceived lack of sexual interest.

He has also posted support for President Trump on his social media.

Additional reporting by Press Association
In a video posted online before he shot dead five people in Plymouth on Thursday, Jake Davison reflected on how some men his age had wives and children.

Does an incel, a virgin, get that? he asks, apparently referring to himself. No.

Why exactly this 22-year-old crane operator went on his deadly rampage  which included killing a three-year-old girl  remains, for now, unknown.

Detectives have suggested it may have started as a domestic incident and spiralled out of control.

But whatever the ultimate motive, Davisons fascination with incel culture  which involves men expressing anger towards women because they find themselves involuntarily celibate  will come under much scrutiny.

Questions will inevitably be raised about whether the carnage he unleashed on Thursday night  in Englands worst mass shooting in 11 years  was encouraged by the culture of the online spaces he inhabited. Crucially, given that there have been six mass shootings carried out by self-proclaimed incels in the US, some will wonder if this is now a new terror threat facing the UK.

Incel subculture is littered with misogyny in which violence against women is often glorified, says Florence Keen, research fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation in London. Thats not to class everyone that belongs to the incel subculture as necessarily approving of violence, but I would say that misogyny online in general is something that needs to be taken more seriously  you know, anonymous spaces where we see females dehumanised  because the tail end of that can be real-world violence.

In the more disturbing forums, contributors can be found justifying  and discussing how to get away with  sexual violence. Their enforced celibacy, they say, is a kind of reverse rape enacted on them by the entire female population.

If Davisons own online mix of blog posts and videos do not appear to have signposted opinions quite so extreme, they still came brimming with both an antipathy towards women and a sense of self-pity at the idea that his physical appearance was holding him back.

Im almost 23, he wrote in one Reddit post. Dont even know how to meet even 1 women havent [spoken] to one at all since I was 17.

In another, he complained that females were very picky. A third shows him complaining about having spent a year working out at the gym only to find himself still overweight. F***ing fat ugly virgin, he declares.

Tellingly, he also refers to something called the black pill  an incel term referring to the idea that a lack of success with the opposite sex comes down to simple genetics.

All of this matters because of what has gone before in North America. There, some 46 people have been killed in shootings carried out by incels, perhaps the most notable example being when 22-year-old student Elliot Rodger murdered six people in California in 2014 after posting a video saying the attack was revenge for continual romantic rejection. He then killed himself.

Its not unanimous, but some people that operate in online communities do sanctify him, says Keen. Its important to say we dont know what motivated [Thursdays killings] but, online, there are people praising it by saying he went Elliot Rodgers.

How much this translates into a new terror threat in the UK, however, remains uncertain.

In March last year, Anwar Driouich was jailed for possessing an explosive substance. The 22-year-old from Middlesbrough had written about carrying out a massacre after trawling the internet reading about incel culture, the Old Bailey was told. Yet whether he and Davison really signify the start of a new menace is very much open to question.

I personally probably dont think so says Keen. But I think the sort of rolling violent misogyny that filters down [from incel culture] into more mainstream online forums  that is rife, and it is concerning, and we do need to pay more attention to it.
Afghanistan is heading towards civil war and Al-Qaeda will probably come back with the country becoming a breeding ground for instability after the withdrawal of coalition troops, Ben Wallace has warned.

Following the announcement that the UK was sending 600 troops to the region to carry out an emergency airlift of civilians, the defence secretary said the Taliban had the momentum as it sized several key cities.

Most embassy staff, other British nationals, and Afghans who have been given refuge in Britain, are among around 3,000 who will be evacuated in an operation that commences at weekend.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mr Wallace warned the country was heading towards civil war and said he had concerns that in failed states the breeding ground for both poverty and indeed terrorism indeed grows.

Asked whether he was worried that the Talibans resurgence in Afghanistan would lead to terrorism in the future as a result of the instability in the middle eastern country, Mr Wallace told Sky News he was absolutely worried that failed states are breeding ground for those types of people.

He added: Its why I said I felt this was not the right time or decision to make because of course Al-Qaeda will probably come back, it certainly would like that type of breeding ground. That is what we see  failed states around the world lead to instability, lead to a security threat to us and our interests.

But yes Im concerned. We do have capabilities to protect ourselves, even after leaving Afghanistan.

The cabinet minister also hit out at the deal reached by the former US president Donald Trump and the Taliban in Doha, Qatar, in February 2020, to withdraw from Afghanistan was a mistake.

Well all as the international community probably pay the consequences of that, but when the United States as the framework nation took that decision  meant that we had to leave as well.

He later added: I think that deal that was done in Doha was a rotten deal, Im on the record as saying that because what it effectively told, it told the Taliban that wasnt winning that they were winning and it undermined the government of Afghanistan.

Following the announcement on Thursday evening that the UK would send in troops to the region to evacuate civilians, Conservative MPs reacted angrily at the UKs decision to withdraw from Afghanistan.

Tobias Ellwood, the chair of the Commons Defence Committee and former Tory minister, posted on social media: What would Churchill say? This is not our finest hour. What happened to global Britain and America is back?

The largest high tech military alliance ever  defeated by an insurgency armed with mines RPGS and AK47s. We can and must do better.

He added: Its not too late for a collation to remain to avoid a civil war. But it should be the PM making the calls to allies and the foreign secretary rallying nations and the UN security council. Lets publicly state the UK will stay if partners join us.

Former defence minister Johnny Mercer added that it was deeply humiliating to watch the situation in Afghanistan, warning: [Joe] Biden has made a huge mistake here, but also we have a role.

This idea we cannot unilaterally and support the Afghan security forces is simply not true. The political will to see through enduring support to Afghanistan has not been there and a lot of people are going to die because of that, and for me that is extremely humiliating.

Its a world tragedy and we are going to reap the repercussions of this over many years to come, he stressed.

The Conservative chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Tom Tugendhat, who served in Afghanistan, said the decision to withdraw from the region is like a rug pulled from under the feet of our partners.
Boris Johnson has said there is realistically no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan following an emergency meeting of the Cabinet security committee.

The prime minister said British troops who had died in the country since being sent there in 2001 had not done so in vain in light of recent Taliban advances and he added that the UK should not turn our backs on Afghanistan.

Describing the situation as very difficult, Mr Johnson said: I think we have got to be realistic about the power of the UK or any power to impose a military solution  a combat solution  in Afghanistan.

What we certainly can do is work with all our partners in the region around the world who share an interest with us in preventing Afghanistan once again becoming a breeding ground for terror.

But Labour's shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy said all possible measures should be looked at and called for meetings of the UN security council and Nato.

Ms Nandy said there was a horror unfolding in Afghanistan but that it was not inevitable and we are not powerless.

The government must examine all possible measures it can take to back the Afghan army so they have the means and support to fight back, she said, not clarifying whether this included military intervention.

There should be an emergency meeting of Nato to explore what steps could be taken in step with our allies to arrest the Talibans advance.

The government should call an urgent meeting of the UN security council, to engage regional partners and rally support for the Afghan government. And Britain must play our role in international efforts to support refugees, including safe and legal routes.

She went on to say: We have an obligation to the people of Afghanistan who have suffered so much  but the government is sending all the wrong signals, slashing aid to the country as it faces a humanitarian crisis and dragging its feet over resettling Afghans who have supported the UK presence in the country.

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey demanded the recalling of parliament to discuss the deployment of UN peacekeepers in the country, stating: "The UK government must use its seat at the table at the UN security council to initiate consultations on the deployment of UN peacekeepers in Afghanistan.

UN peacekeepers operate with the consent of all sides in the conflict, would be impartial, and would not use force except in self-defence and pursuit of their mandate.

Following a meeting of the government's Cobra contingencies committee, Mr Johnson confirmed on Friday afternoon that the vast bulk of remaining UK embassy staff in Kabul would return in the next few days.

And he said the government was stepping up efforts to relocate Afghans who had helped British forces during their time in the country and who now face reprisals.

A team of Home Office officials to help deal with their applications are expected to join 600 British troops flying out to the country to assist in the evacuation of the remaining UK nationals as the Taliban close in on the capital Kabul.

Conservatives have given a mixed response to the withdrawal. Tory former defence minister Johnny Mercer, who served as a soldier in the country, said it was deeply humiliating watching events unfold.

[US president Joe] Biden has made a huge mistake here, but also we have a role. This idea we cannot act unilaterally and support the Afghan security forces is simply not true, he told the BBC.

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She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. 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The bridge was closed last year after cracks in it worsened during a heatwave Getty UK news in pictures 16 July 2021 The sun rises behind the Sefton Park Palm House, in Sefton Park, Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 15 July 2021 Sir Nicholas Serota watches a short film about sea monsters as he opens a 7.6 million, 360 immersive dome at Devonport's Market Hall in Plymouth, which is the first of its type to be built in Europe PA UK news in pictures 14 July 2021 Heidi Street, playing a gothic character, looks at a brain suspended in glass at the worlds first attraction dedicated to the author of Frankenstein inside the Mary Shelleys House of Frankenstein experience, located in a Georgian terraced house in Bath, as it prepares to open to the public on 19 July PA UK news in pictures 13 July 2021 Rehearsals are held in a car park in Glasgow for a parade scene ahead of filming for what is thought to be the new Indiana Jones 5 movie starring Harrison Ford PA UK news in pictures 12 July 2021 A local resident puts love hearts and slogans on the plastic that covers offensive graffiti on the vandalised mural of Manchester United striker and England player Marcus Rashford on the wall of a cafe on Copson Street, Withington in Manchester Getty Images UK news in pictures 11 July 2021 England's Bukayo Saka with manager Gareth Southgate after the match Pool via Reuters UK news in pictures 10 July 2021 Australias Ashleigh Barty holds the trophy after winning her final Wimbledon match against Czech Republics Karolina Pliskova Reuters UK news in pictures 9 July 2021 England 1966 World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst stands on top of a pod on the lastminute.com London Eye wearing a replica 1966 World Cup final kit and looking out towards Wembley Stadium in the north of the capital, where the England football team will play Italy in the Euro 2020 final on Sunday PA UK news in pictures 8 July 2021 Karolina Pliskova celebrates after defeating Aryna Sabalenka during the women's singles semifinals match on day ten of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London AP UK news in pictures 7 July 2021 The residents of Towfield Court in Feltham have transformed their estate with England flags for the Euro 2020 tournament PA UK news in pictures 6 July 2021 A couple are hit by a wave as they walk along the promenade in Dover, Kent, during strong winds PA UK news in pictures 5 July 2021 Alexander Zverev playing against Felix Auger-Aliassime in the fourth round of the Gentlemen's Singles on Court 1 on day seven of Wimbledon at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club PA UK news in pictures 4 July 2021 Aaron Carty and the Beyonce Experience perform on stage during UK Black Pride at The Roundhouse in London Getty for UK Black Pride UK news in pictures 3 July 2021 Englands Jordan Henderson celebrates after scoring his first international goal, his sides fourth against Ukraine during the Euro 2020 quarter final match at the Olympic stadium in Rome AP UK news in pictures 2 July 2021 Dan Evans serves against Sebastian Korda during their mens singles third round match at Wimbledon Getty UK news in pictures 1 July 2021 Prince William, left and Prince Harry unveil a statue they commissioned of their mother Princess Diana, on what would have been her 60th birthday, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London AP

But Conservative former foreign secretary Lord Hammond said that while the withdrawal of US forces had been a gross miscalculation by the US government, there was little the UK could do.

It's not the fault of the British government, they had really no choice but to withdraw British troops once the US had decided to withdraw American troops, he told Times Radio.

Despite spending nearly 20 years in Afghanistan, the international coalition has failed to defeat the Taliban, which has fought back as an insurgent force after being quickly ousted from the government during the initial invasion.

A grip on the country has proved elusive for the current Afghan government and international forces, with the Taliban controlling as much territory by August 2019 as it did in 2001.

The Islamist militant group has made significant further advances across the country as the US announced it would withdraw the last of its troops by September.

The bulk of international combat forces were withdrawn between 2011 and 2016, with most gone by 2014. A force of 650 US troops is expected to remain for diplomatic protection duties, down from 4,000 last year and 2,500 at the start of this year.
(AP)

The Taliban must not allow Afghanistan to become a breeding ground for terrorism, Nato has said.

After the alliances foreign ministers met virtually on Friday, they released a statement saying: We will not allow any terrorists to threaten us. We remain committed to fighting terrorism with determination, resolve, and in solidarity.

The message comes after reports that fighters from the militant group massacred nine Hazara men in south-eastern Afghanistan early last month.

Fighters shot six people dead and tortured another three to death in the village of Mundarakht in Ghazni province, eyewitnesses told Amnesty International.

The cold-blooded brutality of these killings is a reminder of the Talibans past record, and a horrifying indicator of what Taliban rule may bring, said Agnes Callamard, the human rights groups secretary general.

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson is to chair a Cobra meeting on Friday afternoon to discuss the current situation in Afghanistan, Downing Street said.

The British government has been widely criticised for its handling of the crisis, with both the prime minister and foreign secretary Dominic Raab away on holiday shortly before Kabul fell.
A right-wing Danish lawmaker, considered a rising star within the anti-immigration Danish Peoples Party, was found guilty Friday of misusing European Union funds worth 98,835 kroner ($15,667) and falsifying documents.

A court in Lyngby, a municipality near Copenhagen gave Morten Messerschmidt a six-month suspended sentence for making false statements about holding an EU conference in 2015 in order to receive EU funding. He maintained his innocence throughout the trial.

Messerschmidt served in the European Parliament at the time and is now deputy leader of the opposition party in Denmark's parliament. He received more personal votes than any other Danish candidate in the 2014 EU legislative election and campaigned on a promise to combat alleged EU fraud.

The court said the politician received the EU money promising he would hold a conference in northern Denmark with his Movement for a Europe of Liberties and Democracy (MELD), a pan-European party which was dissolved in 2015. The event never took place and the money was used instead for a Danish People's Party meeting that included soccer matches and museum visits.

The court also convicted Messerschmidt, 40, of using a forged document that he presented as a contract between the Danish People's Party and the hotel where the MELD conference was to be held. The contract was signed by the Danish Peoples Partys administrative chief, who purported to be representing the hotel because the party was using the hotel at the same time as MELD.

During the trial, several top Danish People's Party members and other witnesses contradicted Messerschmidt, who had plans of becoming the party's future chairman.

He called the verdict a surprise and immediately appealed it. It was unclear what would happen to his political career.

The Danish People's Party once was a kingmaker in Danish politics but it has struggled to win back its voter base. In the 2019 general election, the party received 8.7% of the vote compared to 21.1% in 2015.

The drop in popularity is partly due to the ruling Social Democrats having an immigration policy that resembles that of the populists and the establishment of a new anti-immigration party in Denmark.
Priti Patel has lost the security minister brief at the Home Office less than 24 hours after she reportedly took it over on a permanent footing.

The government has been without a security minister for over a month since James Brokenshire stepped down for health reasons, and had not filled the crucial position with another MP.

Ms Patel, the home secretary, was this morning reported to have personally taken charge of the brief following wrangling about who should replace Mr Brokenshire.

A Home Office spokesperson, asked if Ms Patel was now holding the security minister brief, said: The home secretary is responsible for all areas of Home Office business, including those related to national security.

But on Friday evening Downing Street announced: The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of the Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP as a minister of state (minister for security) in the Home Office.

The security minister holds an extensive brief, with responsibilities including counterterrorism, serious and organised crime, extradition, cybercrime, economic crime, hostile state activity, and royal and VIP protection. It also covers natural disaster relief and online harms.

Labours shadow security minister Conor McGinn had said on Friday afternoon, prior to the announcement of Mr Hinds being appointed to the role, that the lack of a separate minister was a clear sign that the Conservatives dont take the safety of our citizens seriously enough.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. PA UK news in pictures 26 July 2021 A woman is helped by Border Force officers as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel, following a small boat incident in the Channel PA UK news in pictures 25 July 2021 Vehicles drive through deep water on a flooded road in Nine Elms, London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 24 July 2021 Utilities workers inspect a 15x20ft sinkhole on Green Lane, Liverpool, which is suspected to have been caused by ruptured water main PA UK news in pictures 23 July 2021 Children interact with Mega Please Draw Freely by artist Ei Arakawa inside the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern in London, part of UNIQLO Tate Play the gallery's new free programme of art-inspired activities for families PA UK news in pictures 22 July 2021 Festivalgoers in the campsite at the Latitude festival in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk PA UK news in pictures 21 July 2021 A man walks past an artwork by Will Blood on the end of a property in Bedminster, Bristol, as the 75 murals project reaches the halfway point and various graffiti pieces are sprayed onto walls and buildings across the city over the Summer PA UK news in pictures 20 July 2021 People during morning prayer during Eid ul-Adha, or Festival of Sacrifice, in Southall Park, Uxbridge, London PA UK news in pictures 19 July 2021 Commuters, some not wearing facemasks, at Westminster Underground station, at 08:38 in London after the final legal Coronavirus restrictions were lifted in England PA UK news in pictures 18 July 2021 A view of spectators by the 2nd green during day four of The Open at The Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 July 2021 Cyclists ride over the Hammersmith Bridge in London. The bridge was closed last year after cracks in it worsened during a heatwave Getty UK news in pictures 16 July 2021 The sun rises behind the Sefton Park Palm House, in Sefton Park, Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 15 July 2021 Sir Nicholas Serota watches a short film about sea monsters as he opens a 7.6 million, 360 immersive dome at Devonport's Market Hall in Plymouth, which is the first of its type to be built in Europe PA UK news in pictures 14 July 2021 Heidi Street, playing a gothic character, looks at a brain suspended in glass at the worlds first attraction dedicated to the author of Frankenstein inside the Mary Shelleys House of Frankenstein experience, located in a Georgian terraced house in Bath, as it prepares to open to the public on 19 July PA UK news in pictures 13 July 2021 Rehearsals are held in a car park in Glasgow for a parade scene ahead of filming for what is thought to be the new Indiana Jones 5 movie starring Harrison Ford PA UK news in pictures 12 July 2021 A local resident puts love hearts and slogans on the plastic that covers offensive graffiti on the vandalised mural of Manchester United striker and England player Marcus Rashford on the wall of a cafe on Copson Street, Withington in Manchester Getty Images UK news in pictures 11 July 2021 England's Bukayo Saka with manager Gareth Southgate after the match Pool via Reuters UK news in pictures 10 July 2021 Australias Ashleigh Barty holds the trophy after winning her final Wimbledon match against Czech Republics Karolina Pliskova Reuters UK news in pictures 9 July 2021 England 1966 World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst stands on top of a pod on the lastminute.com London Eye wearing a replica 1966 World Cup final kit and looking out towards Wembley Stadium in the north of the capital, where the England football team will play Italy in the Euro 2020 final on Sunday PA UK news in pictures 8 July 2021 Karolina Pliskova celebrates after defeating Aryna Sabalenka during the women's singles semifinals match on day ten of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London AP UK news in pictures 7 July 2021 The residents of Towfield Court in Feltham have transformed their estate with England flags for the Euro 2020 tournament PA UK news in pictures 6 July 2021 A couple are hit by a wave as they walk along the promenade in Dover, Kent, during strong winds PA UK news in pictures 5 July 2021 Alexander Zverev playing against Felix Auger-Aliassime in the fourth round of the Gentlemen's Singles on Court 1 on day seven of Wimbledon at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club PA UK news in pictures 4 July 2021 Aaron Carty and the Beyonce Experience perform on stage during UK Black Pride at The Roundhouse in London Getty for UK Black Pride UK news in pictures 3 July 2021 Englands Jordan Henderson celebrates after scoring his first international goal, his sides fourth against Ukraine during the Euro 2020 quarter final match at the Olympic stadium in Rome AP UK news in pictures 2 July 2021 Dan Evans serves against Sebastian Korda during their mens singles third round match at Wimbledon Getty UK news in pictures 1 July 2021 Prince William, left and Prince Harry unveil a statue they commissioned of their mother Princess Diana, on what would have been her 60th birthday, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London AP

He had added: Getting rid of a specific, day-to-day, senior government minister responsible for security and counterterrorism when Britains national security is under threat 24 hours a day, seven days a week is an abdication of responsibility.

From the chaos in the Channel to the Police Federation declaring no confidence in her, the home secretary is clearly struggling to deliver on her current responsibilities. It is unwise that she takes on an additional role.
Nearly a quarter century ago, when Maria de Lourdes Zavala moved here from Michoacan, Mexico, Commerce City was a hub for mostly White agricultural and oil refinery workers.

There werent any Mexicans, almost nobody spoke Spanish, said Zavala, 65, reflecting on a time when the surrounding county was more than two-thirds White.

Now its all different.

As she makes her way to her restaurant each morning, she passes by quinceanera venues, a tamale cafe, a Mexican candy store and shops for wire transfer services.

Her customers often greet her in Spanish, standing at the counter below a string of papel picado - colorful Mexican banners - and in front of a menu with a mix of Spanish and English words, advertising items like chicken nuggets con papas - with fries.

The changes Zavala has witnessed are reflected in a momentous shift in the 2020 Census figures released Thursday: For the first time in its history, the majority of Adams County, Colo., residents are people of color.

In fact, the Census figures confirm, the entire American West has flipped to majority-minority - the first major geographical region in the United States to do so. The South is not far behind. And by the 2040s, the entire nation is expected to follow.

Adams joined 64 other counties that shifted to majority-minority in the last decade, and together they offer a glimpse into the future of America, a nation undergoing a rapid demographic transformation. Only four decades ago, 80 per cent of the U.S. population was White. Now, its 57 per cent, marking the first time the populations share of White people has dipped below 60 per cent.

With the change has come a struggle, and a question of whether a country that has historically offered preferential treatment to its White majority can evolve its power structures to better reflect the new multiracial reality.

In Adams, the question has become especially relevant: A proslavery colonel was one of the first settlers in the area in the mid-19th century, and for most of its history, its leaders have been White. But in recent years, communities of color - predominantly Mexican American - have begun to gain political representation and speak up against conditions they feel adversely affect them, including environmental pollution and substandard schools.

Still, advocates here say there remains a long road ahead for non-White groups to achieve representation and services in proportion to their growing size.

Local officials use this term We are Adams, said Maria Gonzalez, who runs Adelante, an area nonprofit that helps Mexican immigrant small businesses. What does that really mean?

The answer to that question has been changing rapidly.

- - -

In the United States and in Colorado, our fastest growth is in our Asian and Hispanic populations, especially at the youngest ages, state demographer Elizabeth Garner said. In Adams County, its even faster.

Most of this growth in the county has been caused by natural increase, via births. But there has also been strong growth among new arrivals, with people moving here from elsewhere in Colorado, from other parts of the U.S. and from beyond Americas borders.

Latinos have contributed most of the growth to the county: They were 29 per cent of the population two decades ago and account for 41 per cent of the population today. Black, Native and Asian American groups represent between 2 per cent and 4 per cent of the population.

From center left, Diego Sanchez, 11, Jordan Vielma, 9, and Estevan Vielma, 11, stand with Deacon Mario Vielma and Pastor Jorge de los Santos in prayer before Mass at Our Lady Mother of the Church in Commerce City, Colorado, on July 15 (Rachel Woolf/The Washington Post)

There are many reasons Adams has become such a magnet. The county is seen as a less expensive and more tranquil place to live compared to Denver, which has experienced skyrocketing housing prices and increasingly congested roads. And then there are the jobs. Construction is Adams number one industry, according to Garner, followed by transportation and warehousing, as well as state government work.

The growing diversity in Adams is reflected in the countys coronavirus testing materials, which are issued in English, Spanish, Hmong and Farsi.

Latinos, predominantly Mexican Americans, are largely concentrated in the countys Southwest corner, near Denver. Several years ago, the county fair decided to re-create its final day, which was often the least attended, as Dia de la Familia. Now its the most popular, bringing in about 30,000 visitors, county officials said.

In Aurora, which straddles three counties, including Adams, thousands of refugees from the world over have made themselves at home. With them came West African restaurants, Asian supermarkets and multicultural church services.

Farther north, though still in the Denver suburbs, Japanese Americans are an integral part of Brighton, the county seat. A historic farm named after a Japanese family offers agricultural education and workshops to the public.

The county sprawls for dozens of miles to the east through sparsely populated farmland that resembles what much of the county used to look like, before the suburbs and exurbs began to boom.

- - -

With that growth, of course, has come some tension. And nowhere are the fraught dynamics more visible than in Commerce City, a 60,000-person municipality near Denver that is increasingly regarded as two cities, with the southern half lower-income and more Hispanic than the north.

Theres a big disconnect, said Debra Bullock, co-founder of the Commerce City Historical Society.

The citys northern and southern neighborhoods are physically divided by a nature preserve - once a chemical weapons arsenal during World War II - that is wedged in the middle.

On the northeast side, in a neighborhood called Reunion, cars wind along tree-lined streets with tidy homes. Its quiet except at the edges, where developers are feverishly building replicas.

The homes here are cheaper than in Denver, but remain out of reach for many of those who live in downtown Commerce City, near the countys southwest side. Known as the Derby Downtown District, its a historic neighborhood and was once the citys beating heart.

But, the area is no longer a focal point for many of its residents. Unhoused people, who local residents say were pushed out of Denver, wander the streets and sleep on park benches. Unlike the school district in the north - which receives passing grades from the state - the district serving the south, which is predominantly Latino, is being run by a consulting company after repeatedly failing state benchmarks.

In 2010, a civil rights complaint against the school district alleged that bilingual teachers were being harassed and that students were banned from speaking any language but English, among other forms of discrimination. Four years later, the federal Office of Civil Rights issued a scathing report that charged the district with violating civil rights and creating a hostile environment for Latinos. District officials reached a settlement agreement with the agency.

The district has also struggled with how to teach its students for whom English is not their first language - more than half the population. At the end of 2017 and into 2018, an uproar broke out among parents and community members when the new superintendent announced plans to shrink the biliteracy program. The district has since revised its plans.

Infrastructure has also been a flash point. Voters have defeated bond proposals that would have paid for school renovations that community advocates say are acutely needed.

In the core city theres a lot of immigrants and our whole school district has changed, said Bullock, who is White and was raised in the area. A lot of people dont welcome that and dont want that.

- - -

On a recent day, a rhythmic drum emanated from the center of Fairfax Park in Commerce Citys south side as the smell of tamales, rice and beans wafted through the air.

Olga Custodio, executive director of the nonprofit Cultivando, sat down on a park bench facing several signs demanding clean air and corporate accountability. It was EcoFiesta, the launch of a community effort to install air monitoring systems throughout the city to evaluate pollution levels caused by the nearby oil and gas refinery, operated by Suncor Energy.

The company agreed to pay up to $9 million in a settlement with the state last year to resolve several violations of air pollution regulations dating back to 2017.

In one instance that still haunts local memory, the refinery emitted a billowing, orange cloud that settled like fine mist on top of cars and homes. The company later said the substance was harmless.

Around $2.6 million of the settlement money was reserved for community programing, and a panel put together by the state selected Cultivandos proposal to establish an independent evaluation of air pollution in the area, granting it $1.7 million, Custodio said.

She sees the program as one of many ways that Commerce Citys Latinos are finally speaking up for themselves.

You hear stories from community members that say their children have had headaches, and problems breathing, and frequent nose bleeds, and some have developed cancer. They are wondering now if thats tied to whats coming out of Suncor, Custodio said.

An Indigenous group blessed the land at the park, while community members took the microphone, giving testimony about the illnesses they faced and calling for the closure of the facility.

Concerns over the refinerys emissions have troubled community members for years, but it wasnt until recently that they started to take action.

People got fed up, Custodio said.

In a statement, Suncor said it is actively listening to community concerns and helping with the installation of third-party air monitors.

- - -

Not all the tensions exist along racial lines, or between communities and companies.

Several residents described a fault line within the Mexican American community - between those whose families recently arrived in the United States and those who have been in the country for generations, known as Chicanos.

Theyre the ones that say the border crossed them, said Gonzalez, the Adelante executive director. Thats where you get the majority of your racism from.

She was one of four candidates of color who unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2019. The incumbent, a White man, won. The city has never had a non-White mayor.

She said on the campaign trail, there was a sense that Chicanos looked down on her for being a first-generation Mexican American. She met Mexican Americans who pronounced their Hispanic last names with Anglicized accents.

Many Mexican Americans whose families have been here for generations dont speak Spanish because their grandparents were punished as children for speaking it in American schools.

The tension is everywhere, said Maria Zubia, a community advocate and southern Adams County school board member.

But the community still comes together for historic firsts.

Raymond Gonzales is Adams first county manager of color, and he began prioritizing inclusivity and culturally accessible services soon after he was appointed in 2017. He has also sought to eliminate questionable practices that appeared designed to favor Whites.

In one instance, he discovered the county had an informal policy that required board approval to hire a bilingual speaking staff member - a step in the vetting process that English-only staff members didnt have to go through.

He wasnt sure why it was there, or who began the practice, but he saw it as an extra obstacle for non-White prospective employees and it was soon eliminated. Instead, Gonzales built incentives to hire and retain bilingual employees.

This year, Lynn Baca was the first woman of color elected county commission in Adams. Baca, who is half Filipina, half Mexican, grew up in Brighton as a second-generation American.

Since her election, Baca has helped to stage vaccine clinics that target communities with historically poor access to health care, including agricultural workers and the Hmong population. She is optimistic about the future for non-White communities in Adams.

Were no longer in the shadows. We are at the forefront. We sit on nonprofits, and were engaged in our community, Baca said. We are finding our way.

- - -

Zavala works in the kitchen and at the counter of her restaurant, Birrieria La Guera Michoacana, every single day. She no longer relies on her daughter to translate when she interacts with customers or store clerks. She speaks a little more English, and more people speak Spanish. Sometimes people post discriminatory comments on her restaurants Facebook page, she said, but her son deletes them so she doesnt have to see them.

After more than two decades in Commerce City, Zavala has no plans to move. Her children and grandchildren were born here, and shes found prosperity in the United States, just as she had hoped when she came here.

Her restaurant started as a business out of her house. Now it has four walls, a Google Maps location and 183 reviews.

The U.S., what it is, has helped so many people get ahead, Zavala said. Theres everything you need.

- - -

The Washington Posts Ted Mellnick contributed to this report
The rates of children in the US hospitalised for Covid-19 are at their highest point in the pandemic, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

An average of 246 children were admitted to hospital every day between 4 August and 10 August, a spike of more than 27 per cent from the previous seven-day average, and marking the highest seven-day average of pediatric admissions during the public health crisis, surpassing Januarys peak average of 217 daily admissions.

Severe cases and infections among children have grown since July, as spread of the more-contagious Delta variant has driven a surge of disease across the US.

Nearly 4.3 million children have tested positive for Covid-19 since the onset of the pandemic, as of 5 August, according to a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Nearly 94,000 of those cases were added within that week alone, with children now representing 15 per cent of all confirmed infections, an increase from 14.3 per cent, and between 1.5 and 3.5 per cent of all hospitalisations.

The reports arrive as children return to in-person schooling for the 2021-2022 school year, while state and local governments consider or reject mask mandates in schools to combat spread of the disease.

Two states with the highest number of pediatric admissions  Florida, which has seen a daily average of 54 children admitted to hospitals, and Texas, where the daily average is 40  have both banned mask mandates for schools.

This week, a federal team was dispatched to Childrens Hospital New Orleans after Louisiana officials requested assistance during an influx of patients unlike anything observed previously during the pandemic, according to a statement from the hospital.

Unlike the first or second wave of the virus, this variant is more contagious as it sweeps through our community, this time with more kids requiring hospitalization compared to previous waves of the pandemic, said the hospitals chief quality officer Dr Leron Finger.

In Nevada, more than 80 students were potentially exposed to Covid-19 on their first day of school after a parent reportedly sent their child to school despite both the parent and child testing positive for Covid-19 just two days earlier, according to officials.

Three available and free vaccines to fight against Covid-19 are effective against the Delta variant, but children under 12 years old are not yet eligible to receive them, which public health officials have pointed to the spike in pediatric infections.

The CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics have urged everyone, regardless of vaccination status, be masked indoors, including in K-12 classrooms.

The CDC also recommends schools maintain three feet of physical distance between students, implement screening testing, and ensure classrooms are ventilated.
Police video has revealed the moment an alleged drunk driver accused of causing a crash that killed a mother of four in New Mexico asked police to smoke a cigarette in the immediate aftermath.

Jennifer Munoz, 26, is accused of causing the collision that killed Janelle Katesigwa and left her passenger screaming in pain in May on a road in Albuquerque.

Video recording during the aftermath of the collision obtained by KRQE shows the woman asking an officer if she can smoke a cigarette while emergency responders attempt to help her friend.

Can I just smoke a cigarette? Ms Munoz purportedly says. I would not do that right now, the officer told her in response. Please, she asks again.

Let them try to help your friend, the officer said as a girl can be heard screaming outside of the video shot.

Can I please light this cigarette? the woman later asks an officer again. No you can not, they reply. Why not? she pushes.

Ms Munoz was allegedly going 50mph over the speed limit and ran a red light before she collided with Ms Katesigwa's car.

According to KRQE police retrieved a warrant to search the car and allegedly found a bottle and flask of tequila, beer and a jar holding capsules of THC.

Ms Katesigwa had been heading to work at McDonald's when the crash occurred. Reports said that she died on impact.

In the moment, my body was frozen, Ms Katesigwas husband, Silver Katesigwa, told the local outlet. I couldnt believe that my wife was gone.

When Ms Munozs blood was reportedly taken five hours after the crash and her levels were allegedly still almost double the legal limit.

The 26-year-old has been charged with vehicular homicide and is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center while she awaits trial. She is facing up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

We are going to be in pain for the rest of our lives, Mr Katesigwa said. This has changed our lives.
A 21-year-old Florida woman was accidentally killed after a toddler allegedly shot her in the head during a video call, police said on Thursday.

A member attending the same work-related zoom conference call alerted police when they saw the woman  identified as Shamaya Lynn  fall backward with a loud noise and saw a toddler in the background, Altamonte Springs police said in a statement.

Lynn died from a gunshot wound to her head.

Investigators determined that the injury was caused by a toddler who found a loaded handgun, which was left unsecured by an adult in the apartment, police said.

The womans relationship with the child was not revealed by the police. NBC-affiliated Wesh reported that she was the toddlers mother.

According to initial information, the gun belonged to the father of the womans two young children. None of the children were harmed in the incident.

If you own a firearm, please keep it locked and secured, police officer Roberto Ruiz Jr was quoted as saying by Wesh. Incidents like this could be avoided, he added.

The incident comes as the US has been witnessing increasing firearm-related crimes. There have been at least 369 unintentional shootings by children younger than 18 in 2020 and 142 people died in such incidents, according to gun control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.

In Chicago earlier this month, a four-year-old girl was accidentally shot in the chest by another toddler at her home, leading to the girls death.

In North Carolina in February, a 25-year-old mother was accidentally shot dead after one of her children found a gun in her purse.
A Pennsylvania man has been charged with killing his father before allegedly cutting his head off and placing it on a white dinner plate in a freezer of his home.

Donald L. Meshey Jr, 32, reportedly told police after his arrest that he had found a cadaver doll that looked like his father, then butchered it.

Police have not yet publicly identified the victim, but WJACTV said police have identified the remains as the mans father, 67-year-old Donald L Meshey.

Mr Meshey Sr also lived at the address.

Law enforcement were called to the house in West Strawberry St, Lancaster, on Wednesday morning by a female relative of the two men who told officers she had found a severed head.

"Patrol officers made contact with the reporting person, who advised them that she had just been inside the residence and spoke with Meshey, a statement from Lancaster Police said.

Mr Meshey Jr allegedly escorted an attending officer inside the kitchen and removed what appeared to be a human head from the freezer to show the officer.

Mr Meshey Jr later told detectives he had found what he described as a cadaver doll in his fathers bedroom, which looked and sounded like his father".

Meshey admitted to stabbing the cadaver doll for 2 to 3 minutes with a knife and then dismembered the body, with an eight inch knife, the statement read.

According to Pennlive , Mr Meshey Jr then used a 3-foot saw to dismember the body and placed the body parts in garbage bags and left them in the basement of the house and a car.

Authorities say Mr Meshey Jr is facing charges including criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with evidence.

Pennlive reported Mr Meshey Jr had previous criminal convictions for harassment and criminal mischief, and had been ordered to undergo anger management sessions.
Police in South Carolina have dropped murder charges against the scion of a wealthy family two months after he was gunned down along with his mother on their home estate.

Paul Murdaugh was facing felony charges of boating while drunk after a February 2019 crash which left a young female friend dead and several others injured.

The 22-year-old was shot dead along with his mother Maggie Murdaugh, 52, at their family estate in Islandton, on June 7.

South Carolinas attorney general, who had recused himself from Mr Murdaughs prosecution because of the familys near 100-year association with the prosecutors office, announced the charges had been dropped as a formality.

Mr Murdaugh, then aged 20, was accused of operating his fathers 17-foot boat while drunk when it crashed into Archers Creek Bridge in Beaufort County in 2019 with five of his friends on board.

Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were killed at their Islandton estate. Authorities believe Paul was the intended target (Handout)

Mallory Beach was thrown overboard, and her body was discovered a week later.

Beachs family filed a wrongful death lawsuit which claimed Mr Murdaughs older brother Buster had allegedly supplied his ID to his younger brother to buy alcohol.

Another passenger, Connor Cook, also filed legal action over the crash, and sought to depose law enforcement who he claimed had tried to frame him as the driver of the boat.

The case attracted national attention due to the close ties between the Murdaughs, a prominent legal family in the area, and the prosecutors office.

Three generations of the Murdaugh family ran the prosecutors offices in the five counties that make up the Lowcountry, the southernmost area of South Carolina, for 87 years.

Robert Kittle, a spokesman for the South Carolina Attorney Generals Office, told the Augusta Chronicle dropping the charges was really just a formality.

We were waiting on a copy of the death certificate, and some other bureaucratic red tape, he said.
Four teachers in Floridas Broward County have died from Covid-19 within 24 hours, according to the countys teachers union.

Three of the educators were not vaccinated from the disease, the unions president told CBS News. The teachers died between Tuesday and Wednesday, Anna Fusco said.

Broward County Public Schools  encompassing the second-largest county in the state  have mandated that students, staff and visitors at its schools must wear face coverings, defying an order from Governor Ron DeSantis that bans such mandates, despite surging infections across the US.

The governor has also urged school officials to slash educators salaries for enforcing mandates, as millions of students return to in-person instruction for the 2021-2022 school year against climbing rates of infections and hospitalisations among children.

Two states with the highest number of pediatric admissions  Florida, which has seen a recent daily average of 54 children admitted to hospitals, and Texas, where the daily average is 40  have both banned mask mandates for schools. Arizona also implemented a similar ban.

Governor DeSantis order requires the states health and education departments to make rules giving parents and guardians  rather than schools  a choice as to whether their children should wear masks.

At least 138 employees in Broward County Public Schools has have tested positive for Covid-19 since 1 August, according to the school systems Covid-19 dashboard.

Just two days after Palm Beach County schools reopened, at least 440 students were sent home, according to the countys interim superintendent Michael Burke.

The incident is one of several across the US forcing thousands of school children and families in 14 states to quarantine as schools reopen.

Every one of the nations 100 largest districts serving roughly 100 million students are fully reopening schools for in-person instruction this fall, according to an analysis from The New York Times.

Of those districts, only 53 per cent are requiring students to wear masks, and eight of 10 are offering all-virtual options, the analysis found. Only four districts  Cincinnati, Denver, San Francisco and Washington DC  are requiring vaccinations, and seven will require regular Covid-19 testing among staff and students.
The Phoenix police chief was suspended for one day after officers circulated challenge coins that mocked an injured anti-Trump protester.

The coin featured a caricature of an incident in which Phoenix police officer Christopher Turiano struck Josh Cobin in the groin with a smoke canister during an August 2017 protest.

The front side of the coin depicts a caricature of Mr Cobin along with the phrase Good Night Left N*t, and on the back was written Making America Great Again One N*t at a Time.

A challenge coin is a small coin or medallion that have historically been handed out within some organisations, including US police departments and military units, to recognise achievements and improve morale.

City leaders took action after hiring Ballard Spahr, a national law firm based in Philadelphia, to investigate.

The law firms report confirmed the challenge coin was circulated through the Phoenix Police Department, but they did not discover who created it.

The investigation found that phrase Good Night Left N*t was similar to one used by Neo-Nazis, Good Night Left Side, but found no direct link to it.

(Phoenix City Manager )

The also found that hats, T-shirts and patches were also distributed, as well as dozens of the coins.

The report blamed the distribution of most of the coins on a Sgt Jantra Palmer and her husband, Detective Sam Palmer.

Investigators also stated that several members of the police department refused to be interviewed during the process.

Police chief Jeri Williams also received a letter of reprimand in addition to the suspension.

A second report into the department criticised it for an incident last October in which protesters who marched against police brutality were indicted on charges of assisting with a criminal street gang.

The charges were later dropped and the grand jury testimony of a Phoenix police sergeant and deputy with the Maricopa County Attorneys Office was described as egregious and false.

City Manager Ed Zuercher said that he was disturbed at the findings of both reports.

I was disappointed, but beyond disappointed, angry, he said.

He said that a one-day suspension was appropriate for the police chief, who he acknowledged was never informed of the issues but had taken responsibility.

I made the decisions on the discipline based on all the information I had and based on city policies, so I feel for the chief that discipline is appropriate, he added.

People can disagree with that and they often do. But whats important to me is she has taken accountability.

She has stepped up and accepted responsibility and she has accepted the task of fixing this and holding others accountable for where they failed her.

And he said that the city would continue its own investigations into the issues.

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego criticised the behavior of the police department in a statement.

Im disheartened and deeply disappointed by the findings of this investigation, she said.

The behavior described falls far below my expectations. More importantly, it fails to meet the expectations of our community.
More than 80 students were potentially exposed to Covid-19 on their first day of the 2021-2022 school year after a parent reportedly sent their child to school despite both the parent and child testing positive for the disease just two days earlier, according to officials.

Families of children who may have been exposed were notified by the principal of Marce Herz Middle School in Reno on Monday.

Out of an abundance of caution and due to possible exposure to COVID-19, your student must be in quarantine at home, per Washoe County Health District guidelines, principal Brandon Bringhurst said in a message to families obtained by local news outlets.

Unvaccinated students must isolate at home until 20 August, while students who are vaccinated and do not display symptoms are allowed to return to school.

The incident is one of several across the US forcing thousands of school children and families in 14 states to quarantine as schools return to in-person learning for the 2021 and 2022 school year.

Just two days after Florida schools reopened without a mask mandate in place, due to a statewide ban pushed by Governor Ron DeSantis, at least 440 students in Palm Beach County were sent home, according to the countys interim superintendent Michael Burke.

Arizona and Texas has also banned mask mandates in the states schools, while schools and local governments have pushed back against anti-mask mandates to curb the spread of infections as a highly contagious Delta variant drives a surge of disease across the US  including climbing hospitalisations among children.

More than 700 students and staff members in Kentuckys Warren County Public Schools are isolating after at least 95 infections were confirmed, prompting the district to implement a mask mandate.

Nevada requires children with known communicable diseases to stay home from school, and current health guidelines require people who test positive for Covid-19 to isolate for at least ten days, but health officials in Washoe County said we are not seeking to invest our limited resources in bringing charges against the parent at this time and are seeking cooperation from our community members.

Under a state order, students in kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as staff, parents and visitors on school campuses must wear face coverings inside school buildings, regardless of their vaccination status.

Nearly 4.3 million children have tested positive for Covid-19 since the onset of the pandemic, as of 5 August, according to a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Nearly 94,000 of those cases were added within that week alone, with children now representing 15 per cent of all confirmed infections, an increase from 14.3 per cent, and between 1.5 and 3.5 per cent of all hospitalisations.

Three available and free vaccines to fight against Covid-19 are effective against the Delta variant, but children under 12 years old are not yet eligible to receive them, which public health officials have pointed to the spike in pediatric infections.
Fox News prime time host Tucker Carlson on Thursday mocked Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over her fear that she could have been raped during the 6 January riots.

During a segment in which Mr Carlson criticized lawmakers for defending the police officer who killed Capitol rioter Ashli Babbitt, he also sneered at Ms Ocasio-Cortez for an interview she gave to news channel CNN.

Mr Carlson said AOC, as the congresswoman is fondly known, should get a therapist.

Derisively referring to her as Sandy, Mr Carlson said: During a recent special on CNN, Sandy Cortez  does she ever stop talking about herself, by the way?  she explained she wasnt simply afraid of being murdered by Ashli Babbitt, she was also worried about being raped.

Babbitt, air force veteran was part of a mob of rioters who supported former US president Donald Trump and stormed the US Capitol building on 6 January in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.

She was shot by a Capitol police officer as she was forcing her way through a broken glass door near the speakers lobby and later died from injuries.

Ms Ocasio-Cortez, who was barricaded inside her office during the Capitol insurrection, told CNNs Dana Bash that she not only feared for her life, but also that there may be a lot of sexualising of that violence.

I didnt think that I was just going to be killed. I thought other things were going to happen to me as well, she said in the interview.

So it sounds like what you are telling me right now is that you didnt only think that you were going to die. You thought you were going to be raped, replied Ms Bash. Yeah, said the congresswoman. Yeah, I thought I was.

Sexualising? Get a therapist, honey! This is crazy, said Mr Carlson, dismissing her experience of the riots.

These people were mad because they thought the election wasnt fair. Now you may disagree with that but it wasnt about you. Surprise, surprise. Sexualising the violence. I was going to be raped by Ashli Babbit, said Mr Carlson, mocking the lawmaker.

Imagine this was said by a Republican about Black Lives Matter rioters across the country, Kenosha, Green Bay, Wisconsin! What would happen if some Karen said that? Carlson continued. Sexualised violence... Could you imagine? You could go to jail for that. But Sandy Cortez could say that because the people rioting on 6 January had the wrong political views.

Mr Carlson was slammed on social media for ridiculing the lawmakers fear.  This is Tucker Carlson today laughing at [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] fears of being raped on January 6. He laughs about it. This is disgusting and I hope [Fox News] and their advertisers are hit with backlash from millions of people, wrote author Don Winslow.

 At what point is this man deemed dangerous? I mean, everything he says in this clip is divisive at best and deeply toxic, bordering on inciting violence at worst. Seriously, how can this be allowed to air on national television without caveat or consequence? asked another user.
Fresh off sweeping electoral victories a decade ago, Republican politicians used census data to draw voting districts that gave them a greater political advantage in more states than either party had in the past 50 years, according to a new Associated Press analysis.

That advantage, measured by a formula designed to detect potential gerrymandering, allowed Republicans to hold decade-long majorities in some congressional delegations or statehouses even as Democrats in those states won top-of-the-ticket races for president or statewide offices. In short: Republicans won more seats than would have been expected based on the percentage of votes they received.

The GOP's power will be put to the test starting Thursday, when the U.S. Census Bureau releases 2020 population data that will kick off the next round of the once-a-decade redistricting process. The redrawn districts will take effect in most states starting with the 2022 elections and, if the maps survive expected court challenges, remain in place through the 2030 elections.

Though redistricting can seem wonky, it has big implications for public policy. Republicans who benefited from favorable districts this past decade used their power in state capitols to cut taxes, restrict abortion and curb union bargaining rights.

In Congress, redistricting has resulted in fewer competitive seats for both Republicans and Democrats, leaving less incentive to compromise as politicians appeal further to the right and left. With Republicans needing to gain just five seats to take control of the U.S. House from Democrats, the redistricting getting underway this year ultimately could determine the fate of President Joe Biden's agenda to create new national voting rights and spend more on social programs.

Like 10 years ago, Republicans will have an advantage over Democrats. The GOP will control redistricting in the pivotal states of Texas, Florida and North Carolina  three of the six states gaining seats in the U.S. House. Independent commissions will draw maps in Colorado and Montana, each gaining a seat. Oregon also is adding a seat, but majority Democrats in the House have agreed to share control of the redistricting process with Republicans.

Because of recent redistricting reforms, it could be more difficult for Republicans to maintain their advantage in some states. But in an era of increased political polarization among voters, the past decade showed that it's really hard for one party to win when the other party has designed the maps, said Chris Warshaw, a political scientist at George Washington University who analyzes election data.

The AP used a mathematical formula called the efficiency gap to calculate the size of partisan advantage in elections for U.S. House seats and in state House and Assembly contests for the 2016, 2018 and 2020 elections.

The formula identifies which parties are more effective at turning their votes into victories. It can point to partisan gerrymandering  when a party maximizes its chances of winning elections by drawing maps that spread voters for the other party among multiple districts or pack large numbers of their political opponents into a single district. The formula also can reveal natural redistricting advantages that occur when like-minded voters cram together, such as the edge that New York Republicans get when Democrats cluster tightly in New York City.

The AP compared its findings to data compiled by Warshaw using a similar formula for hundreds of congressional and state legislative elections dating to the 1970s.

The analysis showed that Republicans' advantages early in the decade generally decreased from 2016 to 2020, as would be expected with changing demographics and shifts in voters' political preferences. But the analysis also showed that the Republican edge lasted longer in more states than for either party in previous decades.

In each election from 2012 to 2020, Republicans in Florida, New York, North Carolina, Ohio South Carolina and Texas won about one more U.S. House seat than would have been expected based on their average share of the district votes. Republicans controlled the redistricting process after the 2010 census in each of those states except New York, where courts drew the map because the Democratic-led Assembly and Republican-led Senate failed to agree.

Democrats benefited from a similar one-seat congressional advantage in Connecticut and Massachusetts, where they wielded more influence over the redistricting process.

All told, there were eight states with a decade-long partisan tilt of about one congressional seat from 2012-2020  matching the combined total from 1972-2010, according to Warshaw's data.

For state House and Assembly races this past decade, the data showed a roughly one-quarter percent increase in the proportion of states consistently favoring the same party. Nearly all of those were Republican advantages  in contrast to the 1980s, when Democrats enjoyed an edge in more states.

The Republican-controlled swing states of Florida, North Carolina and Ohio showed a persistent Republican tilt in both their congressional and state House districts.

In Ohio, Republicans won 12 of the 16 U.S. House districts in each election since the last redistricting  taking 75% of the seats even though Republican candidates never received more than 58% of the total two-party votes.

We have some of the most rigged districts in the country," Luke Feeney, a Democrat who is mayor of the south-central Ohio city of Chillicothe, asserted during an online forum on redistricting last month.

Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman, a Republican, said new redistricting criteria limiting the splitting of counties should put an end to oddly shaped districts, such as the so-called snake on the lake that stretches from Toledo to Cleveland to squeeze together a bunch of Democratic voters. However, Hoffman maintains Democrats could have won more seats under the current map if they had run better campaigns in closely contested districts.

Those who want to simply say, `Well, its all because of what the districts are,' well thats just simply false, Huffman said. "Its not just about indexes and parties; its about candidates.

Since the last redistricting, Ohio voters approved a pair of constitutional amendments meant to discourage gerrymandering by requiring bipartisan support for new maps to last a full decade. If Republicans pass maps without a certain level of Democratic support, those districts can last just four years before being redrawn again.

Florida voters also backed a pair of Fair Districts constitutional amendments in 2010 prohibiting lawmakers from drawing districts favoring a political party or incumbents. The state Supreme Court approved new districts that took effect with the 2016 election after finding the Republican-led Legislature violated the party-favoritism ban. That cut the GOP advantage in half in the 2016-2018 congressional elections, compared to the two preceding elections under the original Republican-drawn map.

Although Republicans will control redistricting in twice as many states as Democrats, their advantage won't be as strong as it was last time in some key states. Republican-led legislatures will be paired with Democratic governors in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which both had full GOP control after the 2010 census. In Michigan, a voter-approved citizens commission will handle redistricting instead of lawmakers and the governor.

The AP's analysis showed the Republican advantage in Michigan's state House districts was so large after the GOP drew the maps that it could have played a role in determining control of the chamber in every election this past decade. The analysis also showed a significant Republican tilt in Michigan's U.S. House races from 2012 to 2018.

Though Democrats are likely to make gains in Michigan under maps drawn by the new citizens commission, Republicans may continue to hold an edge because their voters are more geographically dispersed than those favoring Democrats, said Matt Grossmann, a political scientist who directs the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University.

Even if youre not trying to gerrymander on behalf of Republicans, the fact that Democrats are concentrated in cities and in the inner-ring suburbs means that it is easier to accidentally gerrymander on behalf of Republicans, Grossmann said.
As the US draws down its presence in Afghanistan, Taliban militants have recaptured a third of the country , and the former US ambassador says Donald Trump bears a large share of the blame.

We bear a major responsibility for this, Ryan Crocker, former US ambassador to Afghanistan, told CNN on Thursday. It began under President Trump when he authorised negotiations between the US and the Taliban without the Afghan government in the room. That was a key Taliban demand, and we acceded to it, and it was a huge demoralizing factor for the Afghan government and its security focus.

The dire assessment comes as the militant force has taken back large portions of the country. The Taliban controlled 12 of the countrys 34 provincial capitals as of Friday, as well as Kandahar, the second largest city in the country.

In 2019, as part of peace negotiations with the Taliban that didnt include the Afghan government, the US agreed to release large numbers of Taliban prisoners if the group stopped attacking US forces. In February of the following year, the Trump administration announced a fuller peace deal, which traded a US withdrawal by May 2021 for the group agreeing not to harbour extremist groups like Al Qaeda. The Biden administration reviewed the deal, and pushed back the removal date of US troops to September.

Like any complex phenomenon, there are a number of reasons for the collapse of the Afghan forces, but we cannot ignore that we had a central role in delegitimising them and their government, the former ambassador said, adding, It is very sad to hear that our envoys to Taliban are now pleading with them not to shoot at us as we retreat, when you think how this started, a peace agreement we would somehow broker. Well, welcome to reality.

On Thursday, as Taliban forces continued their advance, the US State Department announced it was pulling its staff from the US embassy in Kabul for safety reasons, and the Pentagon is sending an extra 3,000 troops to bolster the 650 left in the city as officials make their evacuation.

The former president distanced himself from any blame for the situation, even though the Trump administration set in motion the US withdrawal.

I personally had discussions with top Taliban leaders whereby they understood what they are doing now would not have been acceptable, Mr Trump said in a statement this week. It would have been a much different and much more successful withdrawal, and the Taliban understood that better than anyone.
Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer has for years been a candidate-in-waiting, viewed by many California Republicans as someone moderate enough to win back the governor's office in the heavily Democratic state.

That theory is being put to the test in the recall election against Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom but the mild-mannered, self-described vanilla candidate is quickly running out of time to make his mark.

With mail-in ballots for the Sept. 14 election already going out to voters, recent polls show him trailing conservative radio talk show host Larry Elder, a newer entrant in the race who quickly outraised his GOP rivals. Faulconer also faces challenges attracting independents and moderate Democrats because of his support in 2020 for then-President Donald Trump who lost to Joe Biden by a record margin in California.

I think Im uniquely suited to effectively, steadily guide our state back on the right path, Faulconer said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. Theres a whole lot of things that arent going well, that you need strong and stable leadership.

The 54-year-old Faulconer announced his run for governor in February, betting that a policy-driven campaign would break through with voters in a time of strife. The recall is happening amid another coronavirus surge, raging wildfires and an unabated homelessness crisis.

He's pointed to his record governing San Diego, a Democratic city that is among the nation's largest, as evidence he's got the executive know-how to lead a state of nearly 40 million. He's rolled out policies to majorly cut income taxes and build more homeless shelters.

Faulconer was elected mayor in 2014  after Democrat Bob Filner resigned amid a sexual harassment scandal  and was reelected in 2016. He took a more open stance on immigration than the national GOP, backed efforts to reduce the city's greenhouse gas emissions and favors abortion rights, all stances that contributed to his moderate label.

Republicans havent won a statewide election since 2006, when Arnold Schwarzenegger was reelected governor. Faulconers victories in San Diego had some in the GOP pushing him to run for governor in 2018 but he said he wanted to finish his term as mayor. Newsom won in a landslide over John Cox, a conservative businessman who is running again.

The recall was driven by Republicans who gathered more than 1.7 million signatures to place the question on the ballot. They are seeking to tap into displeasure over Newsom's handling of the pandemic, homelessness and crime.

Voters will have two choices: First, should Newsom be removed, yes or no? Second, who should replace him? Voters have 46 choices on the second question, including Faulconer. If a majority approve Newsoms recall, the candidate who gets the most votes becomes governor.

The recall is about who can best crystallize voter anger with the direction of the state, and Kevin Faulconers not your guy for that, said Thad Kousser, chair of the political science department at the University of California, San Diego. This is about the red meat and I just dont think he can pivot to running a campaign thats focused on todays Republican base.

Democrats are urging their voters to reject the recall and not choose a replacement option. That means candidates like Faulconer are fighting for support among the states 5 million Republicans, plus independents and Democrats who support the recall. If Newsom is recalled, its possible a winner could get 25% or less.

In an Aug. 4 debate with three other Republican hopefuls, which Elder skipped, Faulconer was the only candidate to say he'd been vaccinated against the coronavirus and urged others to do so. But he also said he doesn't support masks in public schools and took a hard line against the teaching of critical race theory," the latest target in the GOP culture wars.

He didn't mention that, as mayor, he supported an Office of Race and Equity aimed at tackling systemic racism in the city.

Looking back on his mayoral tenure, Faulconer says his top accomplishments were reducing homelessness, fixing roads and increasing the police budget as the defund the police" movement took hold. His critics say he left office with few tangible accomplishments and some notable failures, including botched city real estate deals worth nearly a quarter-billion dollars and the departure of the city's NFL San Diego Chargers for Los Angeles.

Faulconer counts his efforts to reduce homelessness as a signature achievement, one that could be upsized to clean up encampments around the state. San Diego was the only big city in California where homelessness went down, not up, said Faulconer, who was in office through December 2020.

But his record on the issue has come under scrutiny and criticism.

His doubters include Republican rival Doug Ose, a former congressman, and San Diego homeless advocate Michael McConnell, who say the reduced numbers cited by Faulconer are the result of changes in the way an annual homeless count is conducted that overlooked people living in vehicles, and aggressive policing that temporarily chased off transients.

McConnell says Faulconers statements about falling homeless cases amount to a nice little fairy tale.

Faulconer says he reduced homelessness by double digits. But the San Diego Regional Task Force on the Homeless annual count shows the citys homeless population went down by about 4% in 2020.

Nine months after Faulconer left office, one thing is obvious: Homelessness remains an agonizing problem in the seaside city of nearly 1.5 million.

On a recent afternoon, about a dozen people, many with shopping carts overflowing with their belongings, huddled near a pharmacy in a neighborhood near San Diego State University, about a 15-minute drive from downtown. Scores of people use San Diegos Balboa Park as a campground.

The San Diego Union-Tribune recently reported that more than 1,000 homeless people are living on downtown streets, despite hundreds being moved into shelters. There are fears unsanitary conditions could lead to a hepatitis A outbreak similar to 2017, when 20 people died and hundreds were hospitalized.

It was the 2017 outbreak  one of the worst of hepatitis A in the United States in 20 years  that spurred Faulconer to action. The city opened large tent shelters to get people off the streets, diverting $6.5 million that had been budgeted for permanent homes to operate them.

Later, Faulconer was praised for moving homeless people into the citys convention center during the pandemic and accelerating the process to get them into permanent housing.

San Diego City Councilman Chris Cate, a Republican who backs Faulconer, pointed to Faulconer's efforts to revamp the city's housing policies to allow for more affordable units as evidence he can work across party lines. Faulconer's Complete Communities" plan passed the Democratic-led City Council in his final months in office. It aims to boost affordable housing near public transit and make disadvantaged neighborhoods more bikeable and walkable.

He took that on and was really unapologetic about wanting to address it," Cate said of Faulconer's approach to the city's housing challenges.

Gil Cabrera, former chairman of the San Diego Convention Centers board of directors, worked alongside Faulconer on efforts to expand the center, which remain stalled. He said Faulconer did a lot of press conferences but the follow through was always kind of lacking. Cabrera is a Democrat who does not support the recall.

If the recall doesn't succeed, Faulconer has said he plans to run in 2022, when Newsom is up for reelection. How he fares in the recall will boost or dim his chances of becoming the party standard-bearer next year.

In the race's closing weeks, Faulconer believes voters will find what they're looking for in his candidacy.

You have to be able to win Republicans and independents and Democrats to win," he said. I'm confident that this is a real chance, as voters get to know me, get to know my record, that folks break in our direction."

___

Blood reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press reporter Julie Watson contributed from San Diego.
At his three-day cyber symposium ostensibly meant to reveal incontrovertible proof that the 2020 election was stolen, MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell gave a particularly bizarre performance in a CNN interview in which he seemed to fly off the handle.

Speaking to reporter Donie OSullivan, well-known for his interviews with fringe figures on the pro-Trump right as well as militant supporters at Trump events, a noticeably hoarse Mr Lindell repeated his unsubstantiated election fraud claims in his trademark free-associative, high-energy style, a performance exacerbated by the length of time he had stayed awake in a hyper-energetic state as the symposium proceeded.

Just forget about the evidence! he told Mr OSullivan during a break in an event he had pitched for weeks as an exposition of said evidence. If Im right that China took our country, right now, do you care? Would that bother you?

Pushed several times, Mr OSullivan conceded that of course it would.

Then why do you think I keep going? Mr Lindell asked. Do you think I like getting attacked?

Mr Lindell began the third day of the symposium by claiming to have been attacked at his hotel the previous night, though he didnt go into details as to what the supposed attack entailed. I just want everyone to know all the evil thats out there, he said. As of Thursday afternoon a police report had not been filed.

Asked by Mr OSullivan whether it wouldnt be better just to hand his data over to cybersecurity experts if it was indeed legitimate, Mr Lindell again pushed back.

Ive been told that they can go out there and corrupt it and make fake stuff and put fake news out  So I dont need your people to go out and doctor the evidence and put out a, Mike Lindells a conspiracy theorist! Were showing it right on the screen right now, so you cant sit here and do a hit piece when its on the screen right now.

Mr OSullivan brought to the conference with him a cybersecurity expert, Harri Hursti, who said the data made available did not come close to proving the election was stolen  and that in fact, what little Mr Lindell provided in the way of evidence bore no relation to electoral machinery, the supposed medium of electoral interference.

We expected a huge file of data which we wouldnt be able to understand how it could be evidence, he said. We didnt expect theres no pile of evidence. Theres only a pile of nothing.

But as one of the speakers on the stage made clear, the medias efforts to understand what Mr Lindell was putting forward were apparently misguided. The CNNs of the world: you guys need to start reporting this stuff and stop fact-checking it!

While the three-day symposium yielded a complete dearth of meaningful data, it also saw Mr Lindell and various other speakers putting in bizarre and sometimes sinister performances. Among those appearing virtually was Ron Watkins, a major player in the QAnon conspiracy theory who is considered a prime suspect for posting as Q himself.

Mr Watkins earlier this summer told followers on Telegram that he was about to share election fraud evidence of his own, but ultimately disappointed them with a strangely edited video of the CEO of Dominion Voting Systems as well as a link that installed a virus on users smartphones.

Alongside his other exploits this summer, Mr Lindell has been a proponent of the theory that Mr Trump is somehow going to be reinstated as president. In a July interview, he was pushed to provide a specific date and offered up 13 August, saying that by then, the talk of the world will be Hurry up! Lets get this election pulled down, lets right the right. Lets get these communists out.

As of that morning East Coast time, there was no sign of any reinstatement in the offing.
One of the speakers at MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell's election conspiracy cyber-symposium has come under investigation for her own allegedly shady dealings around election equipment.

Tina Peters, the Mesa County clerk, is under investigation by the Colorado Secretary of State's Office as well as the Mesa County District Attorney's Office for allegedly participating in a strange incident that resulted in the county's election software passwords being posted online.

Ms Peters was an attendee at Mr Lindell's cyber symposium, where he promised, but failed to provide, data that would prove the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump.

Mr Lindell's symposium was met with mockery and derision by critics online, particularly from actual cybersecurity experts. The event was a mixture of Mr Lindell's breathless conspiracy theories and a few bizarre turns, including unfounded allegations that antifa was menacing people in the parking lot and a claim from the pillow company CEO that he had been attacked outside his hotel room.

While the event was treated like a sideshow by many, Ms Peters' situation is no laughing matter.

According to CBS Denver, Mesa County will have to replace all of its election equipment because of a security breach.

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said that the Mesa County Clerk and Recorder's Office told its staff to shut down video surveillance of its voting equipment just before the machines were updated on 25 May. By shutting off the video feed, it makes it impossible for the county to "verify the chain of custody of the machines. In other words, they cannot be sure the machines were not tampered with while the video was off.

Ms Griswold believes that the machine's passwords were stolen during the period of time when the video was shut down. She also claimed an unauthorised person was in attendance during the update session.

The secretary of state has blamed the password theft on "conspiracy theorists" and insinuated Ms Peters may have been an accomplice to what happened.

This is troubling for the entire state of Colorado to have someone in a trusted position, literally trusted to protect democracy, allow this type of situation to occur. To be very clear, Mesa County Clerk and Recorder allowed a security breach and by all evidence at this point assisted it, she said.

Ms Peters denounced the investigation while she was at Mr Lindell's symposium. She called the probe a "raid" and made conspiratorial accusations that the agencies examining her were working in coordination with Dominion Voting Systems. Dominion was the focus of several highly circulated conspiracy theories in the aftermath of the 2020 election.

"I don't know what they did, I don't know what they did, but I can tell you that I don't trust them," she said during the event.

The security breach did not occur during an election period, so Colorado officials are confident no elections were compromised.

If the state attorney general's office finds Ms Peters was directly involved in the breach, she could face criminal charges.

Meanwhile at the symposium, Mr Lindell's "absolute proof" mostly fizzled. Numerous election voting software experts and cybersecurity experts  who Mr Lindell invited to attend  were promised evidence of voter fraud in the 2020 election, but ultimately received nothing.

Even conservative pundit Steve Bannon criticised the event, saying Mr Lindell needed to bring "receipts" if he was going to continue making his claims.
As electoral officials in Zambia counted ballots on Friday a day after tense voting, President Edgar Lungu has deployed more troops in some restive parts of the country following two election-day killings.

Lungu had deployed the military in selected hotspots ahead of the polls following pre-election violence between the countrys two main political parties.

Two supporters of Lungu's ruling Patriotic Front party were killed on election day as violence hit the Western, North-western, and Southern provinces of the country, according to statements by Lungu and the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

Additional troops were ordered to quell this unprecedented violence," said Lungu. He blamed the violence on the opposition, which in turn accuses him of using state security to crush dissent and restrict the country's democratic freedoms.

An uneasy calm prevailed in the capital, Lusaka, where people waited anxiously, many fearful of an eruption of unrest when the election results are announced.

There was little traffic in Lusaka's usually bustling city center with most businesses closed as the day after polling was declared a public holiday. In many outlying townships, people stayed indoors or gathered in small groups to chat.

We dont know what will happen, maybe there will be some fracas. We just wait, said Primrose Manga, plaiting the hair of a friend in the poor Mandevu township, where some shops were open.

Army soldiers moved around in trucks and with the police maintained a presence at the National Results Center at Mulungushi International Conference Center, where violent protests broke out in 2016 when election results were disputed. The conference center is now cordoned off by razor wire.

Lungu, 64, is seeking re-election in a tight contest with opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema, whom he narrowly defeated in a snap poll in 2015 and again in 2016. Hichilema alleged fraud in both polls and charges that Lungu is also trying to rig the current poll. Lungu denies the charges, calling the opposition crybabies.

Although polls were supposed to close at 6 p.m. local time Thursday, voting went on until early Friday morning in some areas where violence aimed against electoral officials delayed the polling, the Electoral Commission said Friday. Final results are expected within 72 hours after the closure of polling centers.
Thursday was Alvin Motley Srs birthday. But instead of celebrating, he was mourning the shooting death of his son by a security guard at a Memphis gas station.

Alvin Motley Jr. was riding in a car with his girlfriend when they pulled into the Kroger station on Saturday evening to fill up. The security guard said something about the volume of the music coming from the car, his girlfriend told police.

Surveillance video showed Motley, holding a beer can and lit cigarette, walking toward the white guard. Lets talk like men, Motley said, according to what his girlfriend told officers.

A shot rang out, and Motley fell to the ground. The 48-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gregory Livingston, a 54-year-old former police officer in Mississippi, confirmed that he had shot the man, according to a police report. He is charged with second-degree murder.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who has represented the families of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and Michael Brown, announced Tuesday he will take on the case.

It is not yet clear what company hired Livingston and could bear the liability for his actions. Kroger and a security company the grocer uses both say Livingston was hired by third-party contractors. He was not licensed to work as a security guard in Tennessee, state records show.

Alvin Motley Sr. said hes forgiven Livingston for shooting his son because my Lord calls for that. But he wants the law to be enforced to its fullest extent, he said. He wants the guard to have to think about his sons death as long as he will.

Were not asking for anything except justice, whatever the rules are for justice, he told The Washington Post.

Motley Sr. called the killing, which Crump said may have been over the volume of a Snoop Dogg song, senseless and unnecessary.

How could this escalate to someones death? asked Carl Adams, one of Motleys cousins. Over music?

Motley Jr. lived in Chicago but was visiting his niece and nephew in Memphis, his family said. He was also in the area to look into opening a pop-up shop for the clothing brand he co-founded, Mac Boo Made.

At a Tuesday news conference, loved ones remembered Motley as the life of the party. His great aunt, Beverly Adams, said in an interview Motley was always ready, willing and able to do any favor. He would immediately ask when, where and how? she said.

We all have a hole in our heart that cannot be repaired by any monetary award - nothing, she said. He was murdered in cold blood just because he chose to listen to a song, a little louder - maybe, allegedly - than what the security guard felt it should have been.

Motley Sr. said his son, who he always called Boo, was pretty much legally blind and couldnt see his cellphone screen unless he held it up practically to his eyebrow. He said Motley Jr. also had Marfans syndrome, which can weaken connective tissue. He did not drive, Motley Sr. said, and was a passenger in the car that was being refueled.

We never ever had an argument, Motley Sr. said. He wasnt violent at all.

Crump said he keeps thinking about how the song would have ended in just a few minutes, and Motley Jr. would have moved on from the gas station.

The attorney said the case was similar to that of Jordan Davis, who was killed in 2012 after an argument over loud music at a Florida gas station.

How many more times will we have to face these tragedies, these senseless, unnecessary, unjustifiable tragedies that leave our children in the morgue and families with holes in their hearts? he asked Tuesday at a news conference.

Davis was the son of now-Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Ga., who Crump said has reached out to the Motley family to offer support.

Crump implored Kroger to use its influence to make this right and hire security guards who dont dont profile Black people and kill them for playing music.

If we dont hear from you, we will be calling for people to boycott Kroger over the unjustified killing of Alvin Motley, he said at the news conference.

No defense attorney is listed in Livingstons online court documents. A spokesperson from the police department in Horn Lake, Miss., told Fox 13 Memphis that Livingston was employed as a police officer there from 1998 to 2001.

Mississippi state records show Livingston was certified as a law enforcement officer in July 1997 and left law enforcement in 2004, Mississippi Department of Public Safety official Robert Davis said in an email.

Its unclear which company initially hired Livingston.

A large security company called Allied Universal, which contracts with Kroger, told the Commercial Appeal it didnt hire Livingston. He was hired by one of the companys subcontractors, a spokesperson said.

Allied Universal said it has terminated all business with the third-party contractor, though it did not name the contractor.

Kroger, in a statement, said: We ask all third-party contractors to respect and honor our core values which include respect, diversity, and inclusion.

Crump said that as Livingston was a representative of Kroger, the supermarket chain should take responsibility.

The safety of your customers is a non-delegable duty, he said.

Motley Sr. said knowing his sons last words were an attempt to talk the situation through peacefully gives him solace.

I want people to just know that there is not a lot of bitterness and hate in response to this situation, he said. We want the right thing done, and nothing more than the right thing done.

Author: Caroline Anders
Moscow expels BBC correspondent, citing British discrimination of Russian reporters

A British reporter has reportedly been declared non grata by Russian authorities  a move that appeared to send a sharp message about the Kremlins intentions for freedom of speech and other journalists working in the country.

Sarah Rainsford, the BBCs Moscow correspondent since 2014, was said to have been told her accreditation would not be renewed when it expires on 31 August.

A state television channel said the move was a symbolic deportation in retaliation for British discrimination of Russian reporters.

The same report suggested the UK had provoked the expulsion by not renewing visas to Russians, threatening to remove a broadcasting licence from Kremlin mouthpiece RT, and funding investigative outlets Bellingcat and OCCRP.

A spokesman for the British Embassy in Moscow did not respond to a request for comment. Russias Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also declined to officially confirm the expulsion.

This comes in a week where tensions are already running high, after a British man was arrested in Berlin on suspicion of spying for Russia as a British Embassy employee for a number of months.

Ahead of parliamentary elections in September, the Kremlin has ratcheted up pressure on the media. It has arrested and jailed dozens of journalists, and branded critical domestic media outlets as foreign agents and undesirable organisations. Many have folded as a result.

Foreign journalists have in the most part escaped the worst of the clampdown. Expulsions themselves have been mercifully rare, with the headline exceptions of British reporter Luke Harding in 2011 and American David Satter in 2013.

But as relations between Russia and the UK spiralled downwards post Crimea, Moscow began to drop heavy hints it considered the BBC a justified target, an extension of the UK government  and the supposed mirror of its own, much-maligned RT.

Ms Rainsford, an experienced foreign correspondent, appears to have become an unlucky first victim of that logic.

Having been previously posted in Istanbul, Madrid and Havana, Ms Rainsford is widely considered to be a thoughtful, fair and expert hand, with deep knowledge of the former Soviet Union.
Russias richest politician, Igor Redkin, confessed to accidentally killing a man he said he mistook for a bear.

On Wednesday, a Russian court said that the 55-year-old millionaire was placed under a two-month house arrest as a restrictive measure, while a murder investigation is underway.

The fishing and aviation magnate turned himself to police on August 10, days after the shooting on August 2.

Speaking on August 10, Mr Redkin told officials that he wanted to scare a bear roaming around the area but accidentally shot a man at dusk rummaging in a garbage dump in Russias Far Eastern village of Ozernovsky. The man later died in hospital.

Some locals dispute Mr Redkins account, with local media reporting that he may have been engaged in reckless shooting while drunk.

There are an estimated 20,000 bears on Kamchatka, and they occasionally roam the remote settlements scanning for food.

Mr Redkin, a member of the United Russia party, of which President Vladimir Putin is the de facto leader, wrote a request to suspend his party membership. He also withdrew his candidacy in the upcoming legislative polls, a Russian news agency said.

A standing executive committee of United Russias political council ruled to exclude him on Tuesday.

According to Russian local media, Mr Redkin half-owns Vityaz-Aero, an aviation company specialising in helicopter tours to specially protected natural areas.

Mr Redkin will remain under house arrest until October 6.
Flash floods are inundating Turkeys north even as the countrys south struggled to emerge from raging wildfires in what appears to be the latest in a series of climate change-induced calamities to befall the country.

The death toll in the floods has risen to 27 with scores more feared dead as heavy rains and high water levels swept away roads, bridges and buildings in several provinces along the Black Sea. Video footage showed muddy, fast-moving waters coursing through city streets, swarming buildings and washing away vehicles. Numerous villages and towns were left without electricity as water inundated power plants and felled utility lines. At least a half a dozen bridges collapsed, and photos from the disaster zone showed badly damaged residential buildings.

We are watching the destruction of our district in a way that cannot be described, Muammer Yanik, mayor of Bozkurt in the province of Kastamonu, told the television channel NTV. Our citizens have been waiting to be saved on roofs. It is not possible to save citizens apart from using helicopters.

Turkeys interior minister, Suleyman Soylu, touring the stricken area, described it as the worst flood disaster I have ever seen.

The countrys disaster management agency, Afad, dispatched several thousand rescue workers, as well as boats, divers, water pumps and helicopters to the flood zone to evacuate those in areas struck by floods after the heavy rains began earlier this week.

Turkey has been beset by environmental anomalies in recent weeks including the formation of toxic sea snot believed to be caused by pollutants. Ongoing fires in the countrys southwest have burned away thousands of hectares of woodlands, displaced thousands and killed off untold numbers of animals.

The countrys northern Black Sea provinces regularly suffer flooding. Warmer planetary temperatures caused by the burning of carbon-emitting fossil fuels allow the atmosphere to hold more moisture and increase the frequency and severity of devastating storms. On Wednesday alone, more than nine inches of rain fell on Ayancik, a town of 23,000 people in the northern province of Sinop, according to Afad.

Just a month ago, flash floods in northeastern Turkey led to six deaths and major damage to buildings and infrastructure.

But environmental experts have argued that overdevelopment and poor land management have heightened their impact. Fuelled by cheap credit and lax regulations, Turkey has been on a decades-long building boom, which critics argue largely ignores the mountainous regions delicate ecology.
The Afghan war appears to be approaching its endgame faster than anyone expected. The Taliban, having taken swathes of the countryside have started capturing cities with ten provincial capitals falling in less than a week.

The latest setback for the Afghan government, the fall of Ghazni, has further tightened the noose around Kabul, with the Taliban seemingly aiming to isolate and then attack the capital in the coming weeks.

The city, just 80 miles away from Kabul, is on the main route to Kandahar in the south. Its capture came 48 hours after the seizure of Pul-e-Khumri, 110 away, linking Kabul to the north and west, in what appears to be a rapidly progressing encirclement of the capital.

Government forces seem unable to contain the insurgent advance. The strife, and fear of the jihadists, has driven thousands of people from across the country to flee to Kabul where there is now a growing refugee crisis.

There is now a sense of panic among the people here about if and when, and now more when than if, the Taliban take over.

Kim Sengupta, the Defence and Diplomatic Editor of The Independent, has been covering the Afghan conflict for more than 20 years. He is in Kabul now having spent the last week in Herat.

He will be available to answer your questions on 13 August at 1pm BST.

Register to submit your question in the Comments below. If youre not already a member, click sign up in the Comments box to leave your question.

Dont worry if you cant see your question  they will be hidden until he joins the conversation to answer them.

Then join us live on this page from 1pm as he tackles as many questions as he can within an hour.
The travel correspondent of The Independent is usually to be found at the bar of the Zollpackhof in central Berlin, sharing a drink and Cold War story or two with discreet contacts at a range of foreign embassies in the German capital.

But he put down his refreshing glass of Berliner Weisse for an hour to tackle your travel questions.

Red alert

Travel question of the day for Saturday 14 August

Q: I have a client who was recently in Mexico for 10 days. This was before Mexico went on to the UK red list, but I gather it still has an impact. He left Cancun on 5 August and arrived in the European Union on 6 August. He is due to travel to UK 10 days later on 16 August.

Is that OK or does he need to arrive a day later? The details seem so vague.

Kokeshi AC

A: To stop the spread of potentially harmful variants into the UK, the government says, stricter measures are in place for people who have been in a red list country in the 10 days before they arrive. The exact test is: on any of the 10 days preceding the day of arrival into the UK, has the traveller been in a country that is currently on the red list? If so, on arrival in the UK they face mandatory hotel quarantine for 11 nights at a cost of 2,285 (207 per night).

From your clients perspective, the rules may seem grossly unfair. Like thousands of other British travellers, he was in Mexico at a time when it was on the amber list but left before it became red on 8 August. But while vaccinated holidaymakers who made it back to the UK ahead of the 4am deadline last Sunday were able to go home without self-isolation, anyone who stopped off along the way faces with the harshest form of quarantine.

However, it looks as though your client will avoid that prospect. Even though he did not arrive in the EU until 6 August, he left Mexico to Europe on 5 August (most eastbound transatlantic flights are overnight, giving a bit of extra leeway).

In this case, on 16 August he will be able to say he has spent the previous 10 days (6-15 August inclusive) outside a red list country.

The one possible technicality that I cannot assess fully from the governments online information: if his flight left Cancun after 7pm on 5 August, that would already be 6 August according to British Summer Time. To be absolutely certain of avoiding hotel quarantine, if it was a later flight it would be wise to add an extra day and return on 17 August.

Q: My timing isnt great. I am due to fly to the Greek island of Zante on 24 August; you have said the next travel review takes place on 25 August.

I know that cases in Greece have risen over the last few days. I dont want to change my holiday. However the thought of the country moving from the amber list to the red list, and having to rush straight home fills me with dread. Is this a low chance?

Stuart 1974

A: Such have been the surprising and unpredictable decisions on travel restrictions that I cannot rule out the possibility completely, but I would happily set off with you to Zante on 24 August and expect to enjoy a full week or two without disturbance.

Raw coronavirus infection rates in Greece have been lower than the UKs for the past two months. Although the gap is narrowing, the seven-day new infection rate in the UK is still 50 per cent higher than that in Greece. Some of the islands  Santorini and Mykonos at the start of the month, Crete now  have seen very high levels, but these tend to take hold quickly and subside fast.

I would be very surprised if Greeces infection rates put the country on the red list. And in terms of the other main criterion, variants of concern, the data analyst Tim White has just reported very good news for tourists heading for Greece. The Beta variant, which put France on the temporary amber plus list with mandatory self-isolation for all arrivals, has declined sharply over the past week.

Add to that my prediction that the UKs hotel quarantine system cannot possibly cope with large numbers of people coming back from Greece, Spain, Portugal or France and I hope you will share my optimism. There is a non-zero possibility that amber plus could be reincarnated but Id say its very unlikely. I might see you in Zante, and promise you a Mythos beer if I do.

Q: Do you think Mallorca will be okay to travel to at the end of September? Or where else do you think would be ideal for a sunny holiday with least risk of going amber plus or even red?

Jaiya S

A: Mallorca looks ideal at the end of September, and I think I might even be there too.

Q: Do you see the Maldives coming off the red list soon? Really hoping to go later in the year.

Rhinash

A: The Maldives has an infection rate around half of the UKs. The government here may be worried about variants of concern. However, Id say a move to amber is likely in the next review on 25 August or the one after (14 September, unless the system changes completely again).

Q: We are due to fly to Turkey on the first day of Jet2s flights there, 9 August. Is it likely to have come off the red list by then?

Bored of life

A: I imagine you mean 9 September. I think it is very likely that Turkey will be off the red list by then, but the government may have other ideas.

Q: Im booked to go to the Dominican Republic in October, Ive been watching the data closely and cases are now really low  lower than Antigua, which is on the green list. Any thoughts on if I should look to change destination or hold my nerve?

Bekki

A: Hold your nerve. Either the Dominican Republic will go on to the amber list (which I think is likely) or the trip will be cancelled.

Traffic light changes

Q: Off to Madeira on bank holiday Monday. Do you think its likely to stay green?

LJH

A: According to data analyst Tim Whites tweets in the past hour, infections in Portugal as a whole are up 5 per cent on last week  with nearly 40 per cent of them in the capital, Lisbon. Levels in Madeira (and the Azores) are much lower.

Personally I would not worry. You are likely to be travelling immediately after the next traffic light review takes effect  which will be announced on Wednesday 25 August or Thursday 26 August, I believe.

If I am wrong and Madeira slips from green watchlist to amber list, you will at least have time to change your destination or postpone your trip if circumstances require.

Testing times

Q: We are due to travel to Lisbon in September, but cant find out what will happen if we test positive prior to returning to the UK. The hotel say we contact the authorities but dont know what happens after that. Could you help please?

Norman

A: You should certainly contact the health authorities at which point everything will be taken out of your hands.

I have not checked the exact details for Portugal but I imagine they have a network of quarantine hotels where positive cases are instructed to stay for 10 days. I am not sure who pays.

Afterwards you are free to go  though you must have a negative test-to-fly certificate; note that the UK does not recognise evidence of past infection as an alternative way to show that you present no threat.

Q: I am going to Ibiza at the end of the month and the UK guidelines say you must get a PCR test when returning to the UK. However, I had Covid two months ago and the government also recommends not to take a PCR test within 90 days in case it shows up as positive.

What should I do? I dont want to risk not being able to return home if I just do a lateral flow test.

Holloway 111

A: There is no compulsion about getting a PCR test before coming back from Spain. The government here says 90 per cent of British people returning from Spain choose the more expensive, slower and more stressful PCR test rather than a quick, cheap and easy lateral flow. Heavens knows why.

Furthermore, even though the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, asks Brits to take a PCR test, his Department for Transport (DfT) says: If you have recently recovered from Covid but are no longer infectious, you should use a lateral flow device (LFD) test. LFD tests have a lower sensitivity than PCR or LAMP tests, so they are less likely to return a positive result from a historic infection.

Like the DfT, I suggest you take a lateral flow test.

Q: My wife had Covid two weeks ago. We are going to Spain in three weeks. To come home we need a test to board flight and a day two test. However, we are advised not to have a test for 90 days. What is the solution?

Top Gooner

A: I agree the government is issuing conflicting advice. The general view from the NHS is that people who have recovered from Covid should not take a test for 90 days  partly because they should have substantial immunity.

But that does not work for the Department for Transport. This part of the government insists on a negative test-to-fly on the way back from Spain and a test within two days of arriving. All you can do is hope that both are negative. Get the PCR test done as late as you can on the second day after the day you arrive to maximise the chances.

Q: In your understanding, what happens if you book a post-arrival test at your UK airport and your plane home is delayed? Do the UK airports make allowances if you miss your booking slot in these circumstances?

Nick 59

A: Testing is organised by a private company, not the airport, but everything I have seen indicates that they are entirely flexible. If your test is booked at 4pm and you turn up at 8pm, that is absolutely fine. I hope.

Q: You previously stated that when flying back from an amber country we only need a lateral flow test and not a PCR test. However, on my flight from Germany, Ryanair check in asked for my PCR test (which I had, luckily). So, just to be sure, when flying from an amber country do I need a PCR or lateral flow test?

SSD from Deutschland

A: In order to board a train, boat or plane to the UK, you need a negative Covid test that matches the UK governments requirements. A lateral flow test conducted by medical professionals in Germany should certainly do that.

If you are properly documented and an airline turned you away, they must pay you compensation.

Having said that, it is an awful time to be an airline and to be conducting detailed health documentation checks under the pressure of check-in deadlines. I imagine that in this case a member of ground staff was over-cautious.

Q: What are the chances something will be done sooner rather than later about the cost of pre- and post-holiday testing? I know others will be in a worse position than me and my family but we have just spent 32 for a fit to fly test for my daughter before travelling to Greece. Then theres the added unwanted bonus of then spending approx 160 for four day two tests, to simply put a reference number on the government locator forms.

Kev S

A: I predict that the onerous and expensive testing requirements will be eased  probably in early September just as a school children in England and Wales go back after the holidays.

The Competition and Markets Authority will report back to the health secretary about whether excessive profits are being made, and the industry will duly clean up its act  having cleaned up financially through the summer.

Q: I will be coming back from Spain on 28 August. Should I get a test at Heathrow or book one online that is sent to me for self testing?

ROBC

A: Just to be clear, we are talking here about the poorly named day two PCR test that must be taken in the UK on the day you arrive, or one of the two following days. It is in addition to the test-to-fly (which can be lateral flow) that must be taken on the day of your journey to the UK or one of the three preceding days.

I recommend you get the PCR test done at the airport on arrival. With ExpressTest, which has facilities in Terminals 2 and 5, I paid 69 last time.

The test is professionally conducted, which from a public health standpoint is important. The results came through in 25 hours.

Rather than messing around with self testing after you return home it is simply one more piece of airport bureaucracy to complete.

Q: Please can you advise what are the testing requirements for Dubai? Im quite nervous that we may get re-tested on arrival at the airport. Do you know if this is common? Weve been double vaxxed and travelling with an 11-year old this month. (I know its too hot but its booked now.)

Swinuk

A: Do double check close to departure, but at the moment my understanding is that you will need a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before your departure to Dubai (or Abu Dhabi). You may be required to undergo an additional PCR test on arrival, but this is a random and rare procedure, I believe.

Q: Do we think Portugal might drop the pre-arrival negative tests for double vaccinated travellers from UK like they have for EU covid passport holders before 26 August?

Jay Whay 1

A: I imagine you are heading for Portugal on that day. All I can say is: I really hope they do ease the testing requirements.

Ever since Portugal became one of the very few green list nations in the founding group of low-risk locations on 17 May, it has had tough testing demands (though the island of Madeira has not).

As summer dwindles, and competition increases for the remaining tourists, I imagine this requirement will disappear.

Q: Due to go to France from 23-28 August. Havent booked tests yet. How easy is it to arrange a test for return in France? Can I just go to the pharmacy there? Also, how likely is it that the test to return to UK will downgrade from PCR to lateral flow?

AliRR

A: Who told you that you need a PCR test to return from France? The UK test-to-fly requirement from any foreign country can be met with a lateral flow test, which is much cheaper and easier than PCR.

There are plenty of local pharmacies that will administer the test. The window of dates is comfortably wide: your day of departure from France or any of the three preceding days.

Q: Is it true that only the UK ask for their citizens/residents to take a pre-departure test before returning to their own country? Do the EU ask for this? If not is there any likelihood that this test will be removed in the near future to help free up travel and aid recovery of the travel industry?

A Chapo

A: The UK is an outlier in many aspects of travel in the coronavirus era, and the pre-departure and post-arrival tests constitute an example  no other European country requires this.

Presumably most other European nations want to give their inbound tourism industries some hope. Not the UK.

Q: Do you think Covid testing before returning to UK will ever end for the fully vaccinated? It makes it impossible for us to return to holidaying abroad with our autistic teen.

It is too big a risk to take that, despite all being fully vaccinated, that one of us tests positive. He wouldnt cope with 10 days isolation in a strange hotel room. Its been another upsetting school summer holiday at home for him as he absolutely loves going on aeroplanes and being abroad. We could go away in the October school break, but were not holding out much hope.

Name supplied

A: You sons dismal summer is a reminder of the emotional toll that the UKs current severe testing requirements can take. The government seems very keen on travel restrictions despite the stress and upset they can cause.

I believe they are more onerous regulations than any other European country. As you know, travellers aged 11 or over from all overseas countries except Ireland must take a test-to-fly before boarding a plane (or ferry, or train) to the UK. Should this test prove positive, you cannot travel back to the UK must immediately notify the health authorities of the country you are in and follow their instructions  typically to spend 10-14 days in a quarantine hotel.

This rules out a lot of foreign travel for anyone who would find it impossible to go through that experience, whether for emotional or logistical reasons. I think the post-arrival PCR test will be eased before the more understandable test before travel  the one that is of concern to your family.

Yet I can offer a solution that would allow you to take a four-day break with no such risk.

The UK government allows the test-to-fly to be taken on the day of the journey or, crucially, any of the three preceding days. Therefore you can take a morning flight from an airport with testing facilities (just allow an extra hour before departure for a quick and cheap lateral flow test). In the highly unlikely event that one test is positive, you simply dont board the plane. But assuming it is negative, you are guaranteed to be allowed aboard a flight to the UK on day four  even a late evening departure, which will permit you to maximise your time on holiday.

The other option is simply to holiday in Ireland  the one foreign destination where no testing or quarantine is required for fully vaccinated travellers from the UK. All you need do is complete a simply online passenger locator form for the republic before departure. No further bureaucracy required.

Vaccine proof

Q: When will the UK join the EU vaccination pass scheme, not for entry into countries, but for use at venues once within a country?

Badvoc

A: The situation is fluid and messy at the moment, with some countries saying that they will accept the NHS app and/or the NHS Covid pass letter (which, incidentally, is available in several languages).

But prompted by your question, I have just checked on my French TousAntiCovid app  as used across France by local people and visitors.

I was delighted to read: The NHS certificate is now recognised in France. If the venue staff cant scan it properly, please ask them to force a refresh and update TousAntiCovid Verif app on the store.

Q: Do I need my vaccine certificate through the post for travel to Malta? Im from Wales. Will the print out from online be OK?

Curtis 2021

A: The Foreign Office says slightly mysteriously: If you live in Wales, Malta will accept your NHS letter. That doesnt sound like a print-out to me, so I would call 0300 303 5667 without delay and get a copy of the letter.

Q: Any news on when British citizens double vaccinated in Canada (with UK approved vaccines) might be considered exempt from quarantine in the UK

Ellie2578

A: At present only NHS, EU and US vaccinations are recognised for the purposes of dodging quarantine on arrival in the UK from amber list countries  such as Canada.

I imagine that in two or three weeks time, the UK will fall into line with most of the rest of the world, and accept approved vaccines administered by health authorities that are regarded as trustworthy. This will include jabs given in Canada, the UAE and much of Asia.

But by rights Canada should be on the green list anyway, with no quarantine from any arrivals.

At least the Foreign Office has finally stopped pretending Canada presents a risk because of its coronavirus infection rate. Today, that rate is below 10 per cent of the UKs.

Foreign Office advice

Q: French Polynesia in October? Theres still a Foreign Office warning against non- essential travel, but it is on the amber list and allowing in vaccinated Brits. The Foreign Office advice doesnt match the Department for Transport. Any news on when they will align the data please?

Caroline W

A: Personally I cannot envisage a trip to French Polynesia being possible in October, because of access. The main gateways are the US and Chile. The first may well still be off-limits, the second could still be red listed.

There is no compelling reason why the Foreign Office and Department for Transport should align their advice.

The Foreign Office is looking at the overall risk for an individual British traveller. The Department for Transport is looking at the risk to public health in the UK.

A Foreign Office warning against non-essential travel means standard insurance policies are not valid, but there are plenty of specialists who will provide cover for journeys that are against Foreign Office advice.

Recovery position

Q: My friend returns to England from amber list France next week, and being unvaccinated will apparently have to self-isolate for 10 days. He does however have an antibody test which shows that he has had covid previously, and would like to know if this does not exempt him from the self-isolation rule?

(Have looked high and low on gov.uk website and can find no mention of exemption from self-isolation for someone who has previously had covid)

Of James

A: There is no interest whatsoever in the government about travellers having recovered from Covid. Only jabs are relevant. This is at odds with most European countries, which recognise that someone who has recently recovered from Covid is extremely unlikely to contract it again imminently and infect others.

American adventures

Q: When do you think the US will allow travellers from the U.K. in without quarantine or isolation if double jabbed?

We are trying to plan a trip but its so uncertain and yet I dont understand why at all when US Citizens are now coming in to UK.

Nikki Staffs

A: I have asked a number of travel industry chief executives that very question in the past 48 hours, and the answers or predictions range from September to no idea. While infection rates are high in the US, they are even higher (10 per cent above) in the UK.

The main problems now appear to be inertia (once draconian rules are imposed, they can be slow to remove), combined with an unwillingness in Washington DC to complicate the situation at a time when the Delta variant is running wild across America.

Q: What are the chances of the US opening up to UK residents by 1 October? If laundering before entry to US where would you recommend? Finally, does your vaccine status and type of vaccine matter to US on arrival or is it just that you have come from one of their acceptable countries?

Alfaman 159

A: The obvious place to launder your UK status by staying for two weeks outside the UK remains in Mexico, because it is relatively easy to reach, low-cost and close to America.

It is also on the UKs red list, so any stay in the US would need to be at least 10 days, in order to launder your Mexican status from the British perspective.

At present the US does not have vaccination requirements for arrivals, as far as I know.

Italian connections

Q: I am due to go to Italy on 11 September. Do you think the Italian government will drop the five-day isolation rule and/or lateral flow testing requirement for double vaccinated Brits?

Leila J

A: Italy is still concerned about infection rates in the UK, currently about four times higher. Thirty days from now, though, I am pretty sure that the picture will look different. I am expecting an announcement easing the UK arrival rules from the government in Rome in late August.

Going Dutch

Q: A friend visiting UK from Netherlands has a British passport but is a Dutch. Does he have to quarantine for 10 days on his return to the Netherlands after a two-week stay in UK?

Sparkler

A: The UK is currently regarded as a very high-risk area without a virus variant of concern by the Dutch, which isnt a great position to be in.

Residency or vaccination count for nothing, from what I can see. The Dutch government says: You must self-quarantine for 10 days at home or in your accommodation if you travel/return to the Netherlands after staying in an area where the risk of coronavirus infection is very high, including areas where there is a virus variant of concern.

This requirement applies even if you have proof of vaccination or proof of recovery. If you get tested on day five you might be able to shorten the quarantine period.

I expect that hard line to be eased soon, so if he can hang on in the UK until the Dutch remove the need to self-isolate, it could pay off.

Covid cover

Q: Is TUIs Covid Cover sufficient to cover the costs of a hotel and different return flight of you test positive on the pre departure test? If not do you have any recommendations on insurance providers to cover this?

A Chapo

A: The companys cover, which comes at no extra charge to package holidaymakers, looks admirable  including costs associated with an extended stay if youre asked to quarantine while on holiday.

Climate emergency

Q: I cant seem to find my previous comment about The Independents apparent wish to promote travel and tourism in a business as usual way despite the proven climate emergency to which travel and tourism makes such a colossal contribution. What happened to my comment?

Edward Norfolk

A: I dont know what happened to your comment, Im afraid. The Independent continues to urge people to consider the environmental impact of their travels, and to recommend ways of reducing the cost to the planet.
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The Raj Kundra pornography racket case is getting murkier day by day. Twelve people have been arrested so far and many more have been found to be involved.

As the case is getting complicated, Mumbai Police has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to be headed by ACP Rank Officer to probe the case involving Shilpa Shetty's husband.

Twitter

In another update, director of one of Raj Kundras companies Abhijit Bhomble has been arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch in connection to the case. Earlier, an actress had filed FIR against two directors and two producers of Kundra's company in Malvani police station.

BCCL

The Mumbai sessions court had refused pre-arrest bail to Kundra earlier this week. Kundra had argued that his name did not crop up in the charge-sheet filed in April. He also pointed out that the accused named in the charge sheet are out on bail.

Twitter

Police, on the other hand, argued that Raj Kundra is closely involved with absconding accused Pradeep Bakshi, who is his relative. The Police said that he might communicate with him and help the latter evade probe. Being a British citizen, Kundra could also escape if granted bail, the police told the court and may also try to repeat the crime.



Instagram

Meanwhile, Raj Kundra's bail plea is scheduled to be heard in the court on August 20.


Vikram Batra's courage and bravery is remembered with a few tears. Batra was commissioned in the Indian Army as a Lieutenant of the 13th Battalion Jammu & Kashmir Rifles in 1997. Later on, he was promoted to the rank of Captain on the battlefield itself.

During the Kargil War, on 19 June 1999, under the leadership of Captain Vikram Batra, the Indian army captured point 5140. Batra's war cry was Yeh Dil Maange More for the capture of point 5140.

Agencies

After this successful operation, Captain Batra volunteered himself to recapture point 4875, which is still touted as one of the toughest operations in mountain warfare in Indian history.

The historic capture of Point 4875 led to the mountain being named Batra Top to honor his bravery.

Agencies

The martyred soldier was a dedicated and brave soldier and sincere towards his partner Dimple Cheema, whom he dearly loved.

Agencies

You can now watch Captain Batra and Dimple Cheema's story on your screens as Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani play these characters in their movie 'Shershaah,' released on 12th August.

Amazon Prime Video

Vikram Batra and Dimple Cheema's love story will make you want to believe in the idea of forever and 'true love'.

The meeting (Reel v/s Real)

Twitter

Like the film, in real life, too Vikram Batra and Dimple Cheema meet during their university days in Chandigarh when Captain Vikram Batra was pursuing an MA in English from Punjab University when he met her. They began their journey as friends but soon, love blossomed, and they chose to marry each other. Despite Dimple's family disapproving of their relationship, she stood by her love and promised to marry him.

The 'wedding' (Real v/s Real)

Dimple and Batra would make frequent visits to Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar. During one of the visits, during Parikrama, Batra kept walking behind Dimple holding her dupatta (As shown in the movie- but instead of the temple, Sidharth and Kiara are seen in a Gurudwara) After the Parikrama, Batra turned to Dimple and said, Congratulations, Mrs. Batra. Till today, Dimple recalls his dedication towards their relationship and how he wanted to marry only her.

The 'sindoor' scene: Captain Batra loved films and was 'filmy' in real life!

In the movie, we see Batra using his own blood to fill Dimple's 'Maang.' In real life too, when Dimple was slightly insecure about Vikram's constant absence, he took a blade out of his wallet, cut his thumb, and filled her maang. Dimple was speechless, and she used to tease him frequently, reminding him of his 'filmy' antics.

Dimple Cheema decided to stay Batra's widow and never married anyone.

Twitter

Dimple chose to devote her entire life to him. She has held on to his memory and remembers each detail of their meetings in four years of courtship. 17 years on, Dimple still proudly says she loves him and teaches at a school.

Vikrams identical twin, Vishal Batra, has treasured all the letters his brother wrote to him from the war zone. One of the letters reads: "Don't mind my handwriting. I'm at the height of 17,200 feet. It's very cold here."



Twitter

You can now watch Vikram Batra's real story on Amazon Prime video as Shershaah is streaming now!
Mumbai recorded its first death due to the Delta Plus variant of COVID-19 with a fully vaccinated, 63-year-old woman in Ghatkopar, having succumbed to the infection on 27 July.

Second death in Maharashtra

This is the second death caused due to the Delta Plus variant in Maharashtra, with the first being an 80-year-old woman from Ratnagiri, who passed away on 13 June.

The Mumbai woman was fully vaccinated and among seven patients in the city whose reports turned out positive for the Delta Plus variant. The results of genome sequencing from the woman's samples arrived on Wednesday.

BCCL

Mumbai's civic body BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) started contacting the seven patients after receiving the results from the state health department.



Two of her close contacts have also tested positive for the Delta Plus. She didn't have any travel history. The woman was on oxygen support and was administered steroids and Remdesivir, according to officials. The Delta Plus is a mutation of the Delta, the highly contagious Covid variant first detected in India.

13 tested positive for Delta Plus variant

Along with seven samples from Mumbai, 13 more have tested positive for the Delta Plus variant across Maharashtra, according to the state government. Three cases are in Pune, two each in Nanded, Gondia, Raigad and Palghar, and one each in Chandrapur and Akola.

AP

With this, the number of Delta Plus patients has increased to 65. The mutant Covid strain was also found in seven children and eight senior citizens. Maharashtra health department officials are trying to trace people who have recently come into contact with the infected patients.

86 cases across India

On Wednesday, the central government said the Delta Plus has been detected in 86 cases across the country but there is no "exponential surge" so far. The most were detected in Maharashtra, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Sujit Singh, the chief of the National Centre for Disease Control, told reporters at the Union Health Ministry briefing. "This variant, through its transmission, has not led to any major exponential surge," Singh said.

BCCL

The Delta variant drove the deadly second wave of the coronavirus in April-May that overwhelmed the country's health infrastructure and left thousands desperate for hospital beds, oxygen, medicines and vaccine.


Former Amazon CEO and space enthusiast Jeff Bezos recently made headlines after briefly dipping out of the Earth's atmosphere on a spaceflight developed by his company Blue Origin.

The spaceflight took place on July 20, following which Bezos extended words of gratitude to his customers and employees for making the trip happen.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart", the jubilant space enthusiast announced after the completion of a successful spaceflight.

But not everyone is pleased.

Unsplash

Why customers are opting out of Amazon Prime

The interest shown by private players in space travel has irked a considerable chunk of society, with many asking why billionaire moguls like Bezos and Elon Musk don't invest in curbing pressing issues like climate change instead.

Also read: Some Older Amazon Kindle Devices Will Soon Go Offline: Here's Why



In the aftermath of his speech, many Amazon loyalists have turned sour. According to Business Insider, customers who pay an annual fee for Amazon's popular Prime bundle subscription are now opting out.

AP

A former Amazon Prime customer told BI, "I am over paying to shop on a website for a zillionaire's rocket ride". As the story unfolded, turns out the customer isn't the only way.

Amazon's questionable track record with employee rights

Bezos' tone-deaf comments have rightly angered many, especially given the ghastly depictions of employee conditions in Amazon warehouses.

A report by the New York Times recently revealed how Amazon's warehouse employees are unable to take even toilet breaks owing to the harrowing pressure to meet goals.

In many instances, employees who take regular breaks are at risk of losing a portion of their pay.

Also read: Teenager Who Travelled To Space On Blue Origin Told Jeff Bezos He Has Never Ordered Anything From Amazon



Attempts to unionise Amazon warehouse fell flat in Alabama, United States after employees sided with the company.

With so much happening in the world of Amazon, users are feeling disillusioned with Bezos the billionaire and other members of the elite club, one of whom - Elon Musk wants to colonise space!

Unsplash

Another user, Katie told BI how what seemed like a good place to buy books on Amazon has become the publishing industry's enemy.

Soon after, she found herself cancelling her Amazon Prime subscription for good.

Also read: Top 10 Apocalypse Movies on Amazon Prime

In the aftermath of Bezos' spaceflight, customers are urging fellow buyers to source their goods from local buyers instead of Amazon, whose one-day delivery mechanism is deeply seated in the exploitation of its employees.

An Amazon Prime subscription in India comes with free expedited delivery within 24 hours, access to Prime Video and Prime Music, along with exclusive deals and discounts for paid customers.


The United States Army is making all sci-fi enthusiasts' dreams come true with an upcoming laser weapon.

The army is in the process of building its first Stryker infantry carrier vehicle equipped with a high-power laser weapon, taking wargames to the next level.

On Tuesday, the army announced successful completion of its pilot Directed Energy-Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) system wherein a shoot-off between two laser systems was assessed at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, US.

How were these laser-based weapons developed?

The 50-kilowatt laser weapons were developed competitively by defence contractors Northrop Grumman and Raytheon.

The army claims that laser tech was employed in a life-like setting, recreating real combat scenarios and threats. Tests undertaken by both the contractors included artillery, mortar targets, and rockets on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

Also read: China Has Built Laser That Can Find Hidden Objects From Over 1 Km Away

In a statement, the service claimed that Stryker vehicles were put in realistic scenarios to ascertain how the laser-based weapons system would perform.

Unsplash

If the US Army is to be believed, laser-based weaponry is ready to be deployed in the next war, but it's still unclear whether the technology is as feasible as traditional weapons.



"The technology we have today is ready. This is a gateway to the future", asserted Army Hypersonics and Directed Energy Chief Ltg L Neil Thurgood in a statement, while adding how this development marked the first application of lasers for manoeuvres in the army.

According to DE M-SHORAD programme manager Col G Scoot McLeod, the brand new capability was built over the last 24 months and saw collaboration from the government and industry leaders.

McLeod in a statement said that "it [is] ready to perform in an operational environment".

What inspired laser weaponry?

War-mongering aside, will laser weapons replace the generic systems currently employed by global governments. If yes, will these be quicker and more effective in neutralising adversaries? We'll have to wait and see.

Also read: Scientists Invent Laser Surgery To Kill Cancer Cells Without Harming Healthy Tissues



The US is no stranger to strange tech. In fact, the Pentagon once wanted to deploy laser-equipped Strykers in Iraq and Syria to outsmart and kill drones carrying explosives, especially from terror groups like ISIS.

Unplash

Russia's unlawful annexation of the Crimea region also forced US officials into a moment of reflection, wherein they identified gaps in terms of short-range air defence systems (SHORAD).

What will laser weapons do?

In a statement, the army asserted that the laser-based weaponry would allow "lethality" against rockets, artillery and mortars (RAM), and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

Also read: USA Flew It's First 6th Generation Fighter Jet, Will Reportedly Have Drones And Lasers



Unsplash

Additionally, this fresh take on weapons could help reduce the total lifecycle cost of the technology during reduced logistical limitations.



The first platoon of four laser-ready Stryker vehicles will be dispatched to a real combat unit sometime in 2022 by the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO).
A driver miraculously escaped unhurt after crashing his Tesla into a set of petrol pumps at a gas station in Austin, Texas, causing a massive fire.

The Austin Fire Department said they responded to the crash at around 1:22 a.m. local time at a Shell gas station at Westover Road in Tarrytown, CBS Austin reported.

It was reported that the male juvenile was driving a Tesla Model X when he crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection and then into a gas pump.

The driver was able to escape from the car before it burst into flames. When police arrived on the scene, they determined he had been driving under the influence of alcohol and arrested him for his gross negligence.



CBS Austin

Austin firefighters said crews had to use additional precautions because of re-ignition from the cars battery pack.



According to The Independent, they used 40 times the amount of water for the Tesla than they would normally use for a car fire.

Screengrab/YouTube

They run completely on battery power, so theres a battery under the frame. Once its burning, theyre extremely hard to put out, the AFD Division Chief said.



Thankfully, no injuries were reported.

The driver was the only occupant of the vehicle. Police said while the fire did damage the awning of the gas station, the building itself was not affected.


We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

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Historically, under normal market conditions, China is only a medium-sized buyer of processed South African foundry material. This is because Chinese foundry sand buyers tend to source foundry-grade material domestically, by screening and washing metallurgical-grade product (coarse ore grades at 44% or slightly higher) through Chinese wash plants.

These operations normally extract a grade that is both usable by local foundries and more competitively priced than material sourced from South Africa.

The performance of the foundry market in China is, therefore, largely linked to domestic metallurgical grade material. So a strong metallurgical grade market could add support to the quiet foundry sector in China, albeit slowly, sources said.

The foundry wet bulk market has been stable since the start of June, as has the foundry dried and bagged market, although both markets did tick up slightly in the week to Tuesday July 27. Fastmarkets price assessment for chromite, foundry, 46% Cr2O3 min, wet bulk, fob South Africa, rose to $200-225 per tonne on July 27, up by 2.41% from $195-220 per tonne, where it had been steady for the previous one-and-a-half months.

Also on July 27, the price for chromite, foundry, 46% Cr2O3 min, dried and bagged, fob South Africa, was assessed at $285-330 per tonne, a rise of 2.5% from $275-325 per tonne, where it had been unchanged since the middle of June.

In contrast with the slow movement in foundry chromite prices, a price rally for chrome ore 42-44% has been reported in recent months. Prices for deals concluded in late June were around $200 per tonne cif Tianjin port, versus $180 per tonne in late May. The offer price was $210 per tonne cif Tianjin port on July 19, and liquidity was heard at $230 per tonne on July 28, sources reported.

Fastmarkets chrome ore South Africa UG2 concentrates index, basis 42%, cif China, rose throughout July. Its sharpest increase occurred in the week to July 27 when it rose by $8 per tonne to $174 per tonne, from $166 per tonne one week earlier, marking a 10.83% increase from the start of June.

Bullish metallurgical market

Energy-consumption restrictions in Chinas Inner Mongolia, in effect since late December 2020, caused the high-carbon ferro-chrome market to surge throughout the first quarter of this year.

The ferro-chrome spot price soared by 45% in the first couple of months of 2021 to peak at 8,800-9,100 yuan ($1,357-1,403) per tonne on March 2.

Although the ferro-chrome spot price depreciated from April to early June in response to looser restrictions in Inner Mongolia and improved supply for smelters in central and southern China, it lurched upward again after several main production regions experienced power cuts in late May. By the end of July, it had jumped to its highest level since September 2008.

Fastmarkets price assessment for ferro-chrome, spot, 6-8% C, basis 50% Cr, ddp China, was 11,000-11,500 yuan per tonne on July 27, up by 49% from 7,400-7,700 yuan per tonne at the start of June.

Fast-rising ferro-chrome prices have encouraged smelters to consider shifting to high-grade chrome ore, not only to improve alloy output, but also to reduce power use amid energy-consumption restrictions, market participants told Fastmarkets.

"Everyone is rushing to produce material thanks to the amazing profits," a ferro-chrome producer said. "Chrome ore with higher chrome content can help us to get more alloy output per kilowatt-hour we consume."

Market participants have also suggested that chrome ore 42-44% could remain in tight supply in the foreseeable future amid robust downstream demand.

"Immediate availability of chrome ore 44% is limited given the lasting strong demand, especially from the south," a chrome ore trader said, "and we are holding the cargoes for now until a further price rise, which we believe will come soon."

Chinese buyers face a choice

Given the expected increased consumption of high-grade metallurgical chrome ore and the rally in chrome ore prices, foundry chromite market participants in China are expecting a demand shift to processed foundry sand in South Africa. This is because the material used in washing and screening is similar to that used in ferro-chrome production.

With a bullish high-grade metallurgical chrome market, material will mainly be shipped to ports such as Tianjin and Qinzhou and less often to Lianyungang, a washing hub for foundry material in China, a China-based supplier of foundry sand said. "This means that we may expect a shortage of screenable material," the supplier added.

Chinas energy restrictions are another factor. "Should they continue," a chrome ore producer said, "ferro-chrome producers will definitely prefer high-grade material with higher alloy output. This will result in a declining supply of screenable material in China."

In addition, with South African miner Chrometcos mining and chrome wash operations on care and maintenance, an expected supply reduction could also lend some support to the market, participants said.

"Chrometco used to mainly supply the foundry sector. Therefore, it is possible that foundry buyers could start to look for material from the metallurgical sector once supply in the foundry sector falls short," a second chrome ore trader said.

Given the remarkable price increase for 44% grade material, the domestic foundry chromite market is bound to go up, a second supplier of foundry sand in China told Fastmarkets on July 27. The supplier reported hearing an offer price at 40 yuan per dry metric tonne unit (dmtu) compard with its previous price of 33 yuan per dmtu.

"Should the price at 40 yuan per dmtu for 44% grade material be a tradable level, we might get a price of $250 per tonne cif China," the same supplier added. "The price differential is narrowing when compared with the foundry sand processed in South Africa. And it would be possible for Chinese foundry buyers to source directly from South Africa."

Nevertheless, there are some that want to stand on the market sidelines, given that Chinas chromite foundry market could still be under pressure from sluggish demand during the slow summer season and amid ample inventory.

"Its difficult to say how the market will perform in the near term. But we have enough inventory for the second half, and there are seaborne materials to come in the following months," a foundry sand supplier in China told Fastmarkets. "Hence, chances for a shortage of material could be slim."

There are 100,000 tonnes of screenable material at Lianyungang port, indicating that supply could be adequate for at least three or four months. With seaborne materials yet to arrive, a supply shortage in the foundry sector is unlikely, a Chinese chromite trader said.
The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent preliminary injunction preventing a Holbrook, Massachusetts, tree service company and its sole officer from retaliating against former and current employees who cooperate with an investigation by the departments Wage and Hour Division or engage in other activity protected by the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The departments complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, alleges that Ronan A. De Souza  the director and sole officer of PS Tree Service Inc.  made threats to a former employee and the employees family member in retaliation for their participation in the Wage and Hour Divisions investigation of PS Tree.

In its complaint, the department alleges De Souza:

Sent a teenage employee messages on a texting app, in which he expressed a belief that the employees legal guardian had made a complaint about PS Tree.

Sent an employee and the employees legal guardian intimidating messages concerning the investigation, including one warning that if they did not keep quiet, they both would pay.

Replied to the legal guardians message that they were looking for a lawyer to help address De Souzas threats, writing, Go right now, otherwise tomorrow will be too late.

To provide immediate protection to the threatened employee, the employees family and other employees and their families, the department obtained a consent preliminary injunction from the court. Among other things, the order prohibits the defendants and their agents from instructing employees not to speak to the department and enjoins them from threatening or inflicting any physical harm or verbal abuse on any current or former employee or their family members because the employee engaged in protected activity under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Under the order, the department also will notify employees that they have the right to speak with the departments representatives about possible wage and hour violations and participate in the departments ongoing investigations, free from threats, intimidation or other retaliation from the defendants.

In the ongoing lawsuit, the department seeks a permanent order restraining the defendants and their agents from retaliating against employees who assert their rights under the Fair Labor Standards Act. In addition, the department seeks an order awarding punitive damages for the defendants unlawful retaliation against the employee and the employees family.

Effective enforcement of the Fair Labor Standards Act depends on workers feeling safe asserting their rights or simply asking questions about their pay without fear of retaliation, said Wage and Hour Division District Director Carlos Matos in Boston in a U.S. Department of Labor press release. This is particularly critical for vulnerable, at-risk workers who may already be hesitant to come forward and make their voices heard.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor

Topics Massachusetts
Community Bank System Inc. acquired the assets of the New England-based Thomas Gregory Associates Insurance Brokers Inc. (TGA), a property/casualty broker specializing in the food and agribusiness industries. TGAs assets were acquired by OneGroup, NY Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Community Bank System.

Thomas Gregory Associates represents clients across the U.S., many doing business internationally. The firm specializes in all lines of property/casualty coverage, including hard to place professional liability and product recall, particularly firms requiring controlled atmospheres and controlled environments.

OneGroup is Community Bank Systems insurance agency subsidiary, with a team of more than 200 experts and specialists providing risk management services, business insurance, personal insurance, employee benefits and human capital consulting, as well as retirement plan consulting through its affiliated OneGroup Retirement Advisors. OneGroup operates from eighteen offices located in New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Florida and now Massachusetts.

Source: OneGroup, NY, Inc.

Topics Mergers Agencies
Zurich Insurance Chief Executive Mario Greco wants governments to levy a carbon tax and remove the incentive for socially irresponsible companies to maximize profits by polluting the environment, he told Reuters.

Europes fifth-largest insurer has already taken steps to clean up its own house and canceled coverage for around 100 corporate clients that had no intention of improving their sustainability, Greco said in an interview.

There is a price imbalance which is not for us to fix. I think we have to make pollution or social lack of responsibility on sustainability expensive, he said as Zurich reported a strong rebound in first-half earnings.

This is why Im advocating for an intervention which eventually has to be a tax on pollution and on the creation of carbon. Carbon needs to be priced in whatever we do.

Zurich has announced plans for a 25% cut in carbon intensity for listed equity and corporate bond investments by 2025 and a 30% cut for direct real estate investments, as the world grapples with climate change sparking extreme weather events.

Greco also said he was keeping a tight grip on coverage of cyberattack risks, which he called huge and hard to assess.

We will limit our exposures by event and by causes significantly, he said, calling for governments to step in too.

Cyber  as some other risks like pandemic, like nuclear  requires a public-private approach. It can easily lead to a scenario where the consequences of a cyberattack can really be relevant for countries, for society as whole, and not just for private companies.

I would be in favor of a public-private scheme addressing at least the biggest events.

Greco said Zurich had no global policy on having staff return to the office as the coronavirus pandemic ebbs. It was not forcing anyone to return even as it vaccinates its own staff in many countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

It is wise, it is fair that people can work from home, but not always. We still need interaction with other humans, which boosts energy and fosters training and decision-making, he said.

The planned sale of its closed-book portfolio of life insurance in Italy and Germany was progressing.

We think that if everything goes well Italy will be concluded in the second half of the year, he said.

For sure Germany is about next year, not about this year. But there is no guarantee we will conclude the processes. We dont have to sell.

(Reporting by Michael Shields Editing by David Holmes)

Top Photo: Zurich Insurance Chief Executive Mario Greco

Topics Mergers Cyber
The European Commission has granted competition law clearance for Vienna Insurance Groups proposed acquisition of Aegons businesses in Central and Eastern Europe, according to the insurer.

The acquisition by Vienna Insurance Group AG Wiener Versicherung Gruppe (VIG) was first announced on November 29, 2020. Aegon agreed to sell its insurance, pension and asset management business in Hungary, Poland, Romania and Turkey to VIG for EUR 830 million ($1 billion).

VIG said it is is continuing the process of obtaining all approvals from the national authorities.

In April, the deal hit an unexpected roadblock when Hungarian officials blocked the sale of Aegon NVs local unit to VIG. VIG officials told Bloomberg News then that they were in talks with Hungarys government and trying to salvage the deal. The deal would make VIG the largest insurer in Hungary,

Vienna is already the biggest insurer in its home market of Austria as well as in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria.

Topics Mergers Europe
A jury has reached a verdict in a civil case involving a Fargo hotel and a fatal fight outside its doors.

Jurors decided The Hotel Donaldson is not responsible for paying damages to the widow of the man who died in the fight and another man who was injured, KVLY-TV reported.

The case stems from a fight in May 2017 involving Darren Patterson, Jamie Grant and Christopher Sang. Patterson was earlier convicted of throwing punch that killed Grant more than a week later. Sang suffered a traumatic brain injury in the fight.

Patterson pleaded guilty to negligent homicide in 2018 and served 15 months of his 18-month sentence.

Jenny Grant and Sang sued the hotel for $2.5 million, saying staff there should have known the three men were going to fight after getting kicked out of the bar.

The hotel maintained that its staff would have no authority over anyone outside of its doors. Two witnesses testified that the hotel did not hire security and instead relied on staff to break up any altercations.

During the trial, Jenny Grant told the jury that she and her family thought Jamie would recover quickly, and stated death was never a thought that crossed their minds until days later. Jamie Grant spent nine days in the ICU until he passed away.

We were just praying and hoping and being so positive that everything was going to work out ok. And then as each day passed, the news got worse and worse, she said.

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Topics North Dakota
Deerfield, Illinois-based Alera Group acquired Risk Consulting Partners (RCP), a firm that specializes in working with private equity firms and assessing risk exposures across all companies in their portfolios.

With core competencies in property/casualty insurance, employee benefits, life insurance, risk management and succession planning, RCP delivers enterprise-level expertise to businesses with $25 million to $1 billion in revenue. The firms staff of experienced specialists evaluates, designs and procures innovative risk management solutions for companies, family offices and private equity firms in more than 20 different industries, including healthcare, construction and real estate and manufacturing.

RCP currently has three offices, located in Chicago, Dallas and St. Louis.

The RCP team will continue serving clients in their existing roles. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Alera Group is an independent, national insurance and wealth management firm with more than $650 million in annual revenue, offering comprehensive employee benefits, property/casualty insurance, retirement services and wealth management solutions to clients nationwide.

Source: Alera Group

Topics Mergers
The Boy Scouts of America sought bankruptcy protection in February 2020 to halt thousands of lawsuits by men who said they were molested as youngsters by Scoutmasters or other leaders. The filing was part of an attempt to reach a global resolution of abuse claims and create a compensation fund for victims. The Boy Scouts recently announced an $850 million agreement with key constituencies, but not all parties in the case are on board. A judge will hold a hearing starting Thursday to decide whether to approve the agreement, which could result in a new reorganization plan for the Texas-based Boy Scouts.

There are still plenty of issues to be resolved and no guarantee that the 111-year-old organization wont be forced to liquidate its assets and cease to exist. Heres a look at where the case stands.

THE AGREEMENT

The $850 million agreement includes the national Boy Scouts organization, the roughly 250 local Boy Scout councils, the official victims committee appointed by the bankruptcy trustee, attorneys separately representing 70,000 of the sex abuse claimants, and lawyers representing victims who might file future claims. Hearings Get Underway Into Boy Scouts Bankruptcy Plan Opposed by Insurers

The Boy Scouts have proposed contributing up to $250 million in cash and property to the victims fund. Local councils, which run day-to-day operations for Boy Scout troops, would contribute $600 million. In addition, the national organization and local councils would transfer their rights to Boy Scout insurance policies to the victims fund. In return, they would be released from future liability for abuse claims.

GROUPS OPPOSING THE SETTLEMENT

Three key groups are opposed to the tentative agreement: troop sponsors such as churches, schools, and civic organizations; insurance companies that cover the Boy Scouts and local councils; and victims attorneys who are at odds with other law firms representing the majority of abuse claimants.

Churches/Schools/Civic Groups

These roughly 41,000 sponsoring organizations are the lifeblood of the Boy Scouts. They also are defendants in many sex abuse lawsuits.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the largest troop sponsor until it ended the partnership in January 2020. Attorneys for the church have objected to the tentative agreement. They say the plan allows victims to pursue lawsuits against sponsoring organizations after the bankruptcy, while stripping them of the insurance policies that could be used to defend themselves.

An attorney representing the United Methodist Church, which is currently the largest Boy Scouts sponsoring organization, said recently that the current plan threatens the very future of the Boy Scouts. What organization would choose to do business with the Boy Scouts being treated like this going forward? he asked.

Insurance Companies

The dispute over insurance proceeds to pay sex abuse claims is the most contentious issue in the bankruptcy case.

The Boy Scouts initially estimated that up to 5,000 victims would seek compensation from the proposed settlement fund. Instead, more than 82,000 abuse claims are before the court.

Insurance companies say the passage of time appears to have invalidated tens of thousands of abuse claims, while thousands more claims lacked information that is essential to determining their validity. They have attributed the huge number of complaints to aggressive advertising by attorneys working with for-profit claims aggregators and electronically signing claim forms, sometimes several hundred a day.

The insurance companies argue that the current reorganization plan unlawfully strips them of their rights to question claims and improperly allows the trustee overseeing the victims fund to determine what they owe. They also question a provision allowing expedited payments of $3,500 to resolve abuse claims, no questions asked.

One company, The Hartford, agreed to pay $650 million into the victims fund in exchange for being released from any further obligations. But the Boy Scouts are seeking to back out of that deal, which was signed in April, because victims attorneys say their clients will never support a reorganization plan that includes it.

Dissenting Victims Attorneys

The vast majority of the alleged victims, about 70,000 people, are represented by various law firms that support the agreement, including several affiliated with a group called the Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice. The coalition has dominated the flow of the case, even though there is an official victims committee appointed by the U.S. bankruptcy trustee.

Thousands of other alleged abuse victims, however, are represented by law firms that dont support the agreement. Among other issues, they want local councils to contribute more than $600 million to the victims fund.

Regardless of what their attorneys think, however, it is the abuse survivors themselves who will ultimately determine with their votes whether a reorganization plan is approved.

TIMELINE

If the judge approves the $850 million agreement, she will then hold a hearing starting Aug. 25 to decide whether to approve a disclosure statement that explains and outlines an updated Boy Scouts reorganization plan. Approval of the disclosure statement is required before ballots can be sent to abuse survivors to vote on the plan. The judge will hold a separate hearing in the fall to determine whether to approve the plan itself.

Top Photo: In this Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018 file photo, Boy Scouts lead the Pledge of Allegiance to begin a Veterans Day ceremony in Wrightwood, Calif. Facing a possible bankruptcy due to sex-abuse litigation, the Boy Scouts of America issued a new apology Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, to survivors of abuse and announced plans for expanded services to support them. (James Quigg/The Daily Press via AP)

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
London-based DUAL, the underwriting arm of Howden Group Holdings, has agreed to acquire Align Financial Holdings, a specialist general agency and underwriting management group in California.

San Diego-based Align underwrites more than $630 million gross written premium on an annualized basis through its commercial casualty, commercial property catastrophe, personal property, and surety businesses. Align operates four agency businesses: Align General Insurance Agency, Catalytic Risk Managers & Insurance Agency, Deposit Choice, and NALICO General Agency.

DUALm which writes gross written premiums of $1.1 billion, said the acquisition creates an international managing general agency group with more gross written premium, 1,000 employees in 16 countries, more than 80 capacity providers, and 7,000 broker partners.

Kieran Sweeney, founder and CEO of Align, will lead the combined U.S. businesses, supported by Jim OConnor, CEO of DUAL North America, and John Johnson, president of Align. Sweeney will also become executive chairman of DUAL Group globally and a member of the Howden Group Executive Committee. Current DUAL Group Non-Executive Chairman, David Ibeson will become a non-executive director.

The complementary product and program mix, the broadened distribution, cross-sell opportunities, deepened pool of capacity providers, and expanded broker partnerships, present a very special opportunity not only in the U.S., where the business will be one of the largest general agencies in the biggest marketplace in the world, but globally, commented Richard Clapham, CEO of DUAL Group.

The acquisition remains subject to completion and regulatory approval.

Evercore Group LLC served as financial advisor, and Dentons Durham Jones Pinegar P.C. served as legal counsel to Align. Howden Group was supported by Weil, Gotshal and Manges LLP, Locke Lord LLP, and EY.

Topics Mergers
Invest

Invest, the classroom-to-career education program backed by the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America, appointed Juan Padron, partner at SafeGuard Insurance Agency in McAllen, Texas, as the new chair of the national Invest board.

Padron has been part of the insurance industry since 2002. He has served on the Invest board since 2019 as an agent member and currently serves on the board of the Independent Insurance Agents of the Rio Grande Valley as well as the regional advisory board for Teach for America of the Rio Grande Valley.

From 2009 to 2016, Padron served on the Big I Diversity Council, chairing the group from 2010 to 2016. He received a Big I Chairmans Award in October 2015. Through service in various affinity groups and trade associations, Padron has been a champion for education and has been involved in awarding many scholarships to young people pursuing college degrees.

Prior to joining the insurance industry, Padron worked as an aerospace engineer at NASA in Houston and for General Electric as a Six Sigma Black Belt. Padron earned a bachelors degree in aerospace engineering from The University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Business Administration degree from The University of Houston, and an Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation from The Institutes.

Source: Invest

Topics Agencies Texas
A $3 million settlement has been reached with Tyson Farms, Inc. over a 2019 wastewater spill that killed an estimated 175,000 fish _ one of the largest recorded fish kills in Alabama history, Attorney General Steve Marshall said Wednesday.

The settlement agreement, filed in Walker County Circuit Court, brings an end to the lawsuit brought by the state in April 2020 over the spill in the Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River, Marshall said.

The lawsuit alleged the meat company illegally discharged thousands of gallons of partially treated wastewater in May and June of 2019 that ended up in the states waters after a pipe failed. The spill angered local residents in northern Alabama as waves of dead and decomposing fish washed down the river for days.

The settlement, valued at $3,025,000, directs money to the affected communities for specific projects and requires Tyson take steps to lessen the possibility of such a spill happening again, Marshall said.

I am pleased to finally be able to tell the communities of the Mulberry and Sipsey Forks that the state has resolved this matter, Marshall said. Though my Office was ready to go to trial, I am convinced that this agreement prioritizes the concerns that I heard from locals and gets money into the right hands quickly.

An email to the company for comment on the settlement was not immediately returned Wednesday.

The spill occurred on June 8, 2019, when a pipe failed at the River Valley Ingredients poultry processing facility in Hanceville, sending tens of thousands of gallons of partially treated wastewater into the river.

Described as the largest poultry rendering facility in the country, the facility would take parts of chicken not desired for human consumption and turn it into animal and pet feed.

Tyson says the spill occurred because some temporary piping that was installed by an outside contractor failed, sending partially treated wastewater into the river.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Agribusiness Alabama
Carlton Fields

Law Firm Carlton Fields has added Erin J. VanSickle to the firms Tallahassee office as a senior government consultant focused on insurance regulatory matters. VanSickle brings more than 15 years of experience in regulated industries, public

policy, public affairs, and crisis management, most recently as deputy chief of staff of the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR).

Prior to joining Carlton Fields, VanSickle oversaw communications, emergency management, and other strategic initiatives for OIR, which regulates a $154 billion industry and more than 4,400 insurance-related entities in Florida. Previously, she served as director of external affairs for Volunteer Florida and the Volunteer Florida Foundation, the states lead agency for volunteerism and national service, where she managed public relations and legislative affairs.

Before that, VanSickle served as vice president of communications and marketing for one of Floridas premier professional associations, where she managed public affairs and media relations for the association and its 20,000 members. VanSickle previously launched a communications firm where she advised local and statewide public affairs and legislative initiative campaigns.

Beecher Carlson

Atlanta-based Beecher Carlson Insurance Services, LLC (Beecher Carlson), a specialized large account segment of Brown & Brown, Inc., has added Danny Seagraves and Michael Perron as Senior Managing Directors. Seagraves will be responsible for leading production, product/solution development, and liaising with targeted industries and their respective stakeholders for the Energy practice with an emphasis on renewable/alternative energy and climate technology. Perron will be responsible for leading client advisory and placement for

the Energy practice. They will both report to Joe Siech, Chief Executive Officer of Beecher Carlson.

Prior to joining Beecher Carlson, Seagraves led the international renewable energy insurance and risk finance practice for a large, multinational broker. He has extensive experience developing proprietary insurance and risk finance products and solutions that offer unique balance sheet protection for clients while maximizing investment returns.

Perron joins Beecher Carlson from a large broker where he was their US Power and Utilities leader. He led a team that negotiated property placements for energy and engineered risks, serving large national and multinational clients. For the last 16 years, Perron has been placing property insurance for large clients,

focusing on energy, chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and other engineered risks. In addition to his marketing skills, he provides informed coverage analyses to assist clients in renewal negotiations and claim settlements.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis says the state should be able to reopen a vital interstate highway corridor that was blocked by massive mud and debris slides in a wildfire burn scar area to limited traffic on Saturday.

Polis made the announcement after touring repair work along Interstate 70 in the Glenwood Canyon area on Wednesday. The interstate, which winds through the narrow, 18-mile-long (29-kilometer-long) canyon, has been closed since July 29, when a series of mud and debris slides triggered by heavy rain buried parts of the highway.

Polis said workers hope to open traffic on one lane in each direction by Saturday afternoon as repairs continue. State transportation workers have been removing thousands of tons of debris from the roadway, which connects Denver to the West Coast.

Mudslides have become more frequent and intense since the Grizzly Creek Fire scorched about 50 square miles in the canyon last summer, making conditions ripe for debris flows in burn-scarred terrain. Scientists have long warned mudslides can follow wildfires made worse by climate change. Such slides have caused deaths and destruction in recent years in California and other parts of the U.S. West.

The July 29 mudslides stranded more than 100 people in their vehicles overnight, capping several weeks of perilous conditions in the scenic canyon carved by the Colorado River. The 46-mile-long closure has forced commercial and personal vehicle traffic to make hours-long detours, and state transport officials even recommended long-haul commercial trucks take Interstate 80 to the north in Wyoming as an alternate route.

We are pushing to get this open as quickly as we can. But of course it has to be safe before we can do that, Polis said after touring the area with Shoshana Lew, executive director of the state transportation department, and other transport and U.S. Forest Service officials, The Post-Independent reported. At this point, we are confident it will be open Saturday afternoon with one lane each way.

Polis said both lanes in each direction will open, likely in November, with initial repairs to the road surface, though motorists should prepare for short-term closures as repair work continues. Theres really only about a quarter-mile patch where it would go down to one lane, he said.

In one section, a 15-foot-deep hole pocks the eastbound lanes, and a barrier wall along the westbound lanes sustained significant damage. In several areas, crews had to remove 10 to 15 feet of debris in order to inspect damage underneath.

The Federal Highway Administration has authorized an initial $11.6 million in funding for the work. Polis has requested $116 million in emergency federal aid.

Scientists say special calculations are needed to determine how much global warming is to blame, if at all, for a single extreme weather event such as the debris flows. But a historic drought and recent heat waves tied to climate change have, no doubt, made wildfires harder to fight in the American West.

Climate change has made the region much warmer and drier in the past 30 years and is expected to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive, which could lead to more mudslides as rain falls on burn scars.

Related:

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Topics Colorado
The recent heatwave in Ireland, and the extreme heat and fires internationally that are hitting the headlines, have sparked a discussion on how such events are being reported, and whether or not their reporting should be more embedded in coverage of climate change.

For artist and environmental activist Katie Holten, there is no discussion: what were seeing is the impact of climate change writ large upon our lives.

Parts of Pakistan have recently hit 52 degrees Celsius, Holten says, speaking via Zoom from Connecticut, itself bathed in a sweltering high-thirties temperature.

I get this sense that people think that this is somehow going to stop; as though 30 degrees is very hot but it will somehow just stop there. But now were seeing 40 degrees, and now 50 degrees in some places. Its just going to keep getting hotter and hotter, but people just arent getting it.

Somehow, Holten believes, the messaging is wrong. The public doesnt join the dots between individual events and the overall picture.

There are decades of climate science, she says. We all know about it, but theres a huge disconnect there between whats known and how to make it public. So it seems like an obvious thing to get artists involved. It becomes pretty obvious that the data has to become visual, and some artists are good at that.

Little love letters

Holtens Irish Tree Alphabet, first exhibited at VISUAL Carlow last year, is amongst the Crawford Art Gallerys recent 400,000 spend on additions to the national collection.

The Longford-born artist has drawn a native Irish tree for every letter of the alphabet, creating a font called Irish Trees; A is Ailm, Irish for Scots Pine, B is Beith or Birch, and so on.

The idea is one Holten has been working on, in one form or another, for many years. First arriving in the US on a Fulbright Scholarship in 2004, she had started drawing New Yorks trees, and this evolved into the New York Tree Alphabet, she explains.

I felt like I had to be in a big city to see how humans are all working together on a big scale, she says. But street trees are the only real nature that I had access to, so I started doing tree drawings, little love letters.

It was ten years later that I realised that I could use the trees as an alphabet. The whole heart of the tree alphabet was realising that we were using words like nature and green, but their meaning was being twisted around. This was 2014, before the awful 2016 here, but we were in the build-up to it and there was this toxic relationship with words and lies and truth swirling around. So while I hope the tree alphabet is playful and humorous, its political as well.

An image from The Irish Tree Alphabet, by Katie Holten, Picture: Ros Kavanagh.

Plans with New York Citys parks department to plant trees in words fell through, but Holten is keen to use the Irish Tree Alphabet for the same purpose, and she feels Cork is the perfect place for it.

The Crawford is being renovated, so now the work wont be installed for a couple of years, she says. The hope is that I finally get to escape America and come back to Ireland because once youre there, thats how things happen.

Holten has been trying to escape America for quite some time now: prior to the Covid crisis, she and her American partner, art dealer Dillon Cohen, had been hoping to buy some land in Ireland and settle here: although Holten has built a life for herself in the US, with the couple holding regular Sunday Salons at their home to discuss art and activism, she never planned on settling permanently in the US.

The feeling of wanting to escape to Ireland has been exacerbated by her experiences of lockdown in the US: Holten and Cohen found themselves stuck in California for 15 months when the first Covid lockdown was announced while the couple was on a business trip to the West Coast.

When we got there, we visited my partners parents and when we arrived, they said, Oh, theres this virus coming, well arrange a house and maybe you should stay for two weeks until after it passes. And our two-week trip turned into 15 months, she says with a shrug.

"When I got back to New York, I tried to book flights back to Ireland and a friend said, can you come back again, if you leave? I looked into it and Im on an 01 visa and it means that if I come back to Ireland, Ill be stuck.

Roots

Holten was supposed to be present in Ireland on a residency while the Irish Trees Alphabet exhibition was being installed in Carlow, and had hoped to continue house-hunting for a piece of land that she can let it do its thing, and let the trees come back.

She had also hoped to present a petition to the Dail during this time; the artist retains strong links to Ardee, where she spent part of her childhood, and is involved with a group called Friends of Ardee Bog, which has been trying to prevent the construction of the N52 Ardee Bypass across the last intact raised bog in Ireland.

Weve raised 15,000 signatures, Holten says. The whole thing has been going on for years and its just such an ugly mess and such a miscarriage of justice. It never should have left the drawing board. But it doesnt even look like there was a drawing board to begin with. It looks like they just got a ruler and drew a straight line on the map, cutting through the bog. No thought or sensitivity.

For Holten, the Irish obsession with notions of progress based on roads and construction projects has clear roots in our traditionally trans-Atlantic gaze.

I grew up in the '80s, and America was the shining vision of the future when I was growing up, she says. That was what we aspired to, because they were modern and first-world and it was progress and they made so much money. It was all very fabulous and wonderful. And now you see how bleak it has become: the malls, and the roads that just stretch on. Holtens art and her activism go hand in hand.

Its not that I see Friends of Ardee Bog as an artwork, but its all part of the same ecosystem of who I am in the world, she says. Everything comes from what you are as a person and theres no distinction between it all.

She believes that a rapid increase in awareness on environmental issues is underway, and that hope can be drawn from this.

Theres a time when suddenly everything clicks and people start all seeing the same thing and I think thats happening at the moment, she says.

Its becoming very obvious now that the whole system has to change. Ecology and economy need to be reconsidered; the word economy comes from the word for home. Its really simple: we have to go right back to basics and examiner what our home is, and how we are taking care of it.
Peppa Pigs playing in the background when Helen Mohan phones from Melbourne on a Friday night. The Raheny woman is about one third of the way into her fellowship in colorectal surgery at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, a world leader in cancer research, education and treatment.

For the 38-year-old surgeon, the fellowships an important stage in her progression to consultant, and her husband Rory  who works in emergency medicine  along with their children, Domhnall, 4, and two-year-old twins Sophie and Oisin, all decamped with her to the Australian city back in February.

Helens had her heart set on doing her fellowship training in Australia for several years. Id heard really great things about this fellowship. Peter MacCallum Cancer Centres very well regarded. It has a very high volume of complex advanced cancer care and does a high degree of robotic surgery.

But the mum of three isnt sure shed have achieved her dream if she hadnt been awarded the prestigious Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) bursary (funded by Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies), which promotes female participation in surgical training at fellowship level.

I knew itd be expensive getting to Australia with a family. I was saving. Ordinarily youd spend thousands on flights, visas, registration. What I hadnt counted on was a pandemic and that getting to Australia would suddenly be a huge challenge  routes closing, Australia capping the number of arrivals.

Nor had Helen factored in herself and the three kids getting Covid and being forced to delay and then rebook their flights. Financially, trying to get to the far side of the world with three kids in a pandemic was difficult  hotel quarantine for two weeks was 6,000. I used a lot of the scholarship just to get to Melbourne.

The RCSI decision to support provision of a fellowship for female surgeons arose out of its 2017 report: Progress: Promoting Gender Equality in Surgery. This identified complex barriers to female progression in surgery. The ratio of female to male medical graduates has been at least 50/50 since the 1990s. Yet, surgery remains stubbornly male-dominated  just 10.5% of surgeons affiliated to RCSI are women. The proportion of female doctors active in Ireland (as of 2017) range from 35% for ophthalmic surgery and 26% for plastic surgery to 8% for trauma and orthopaedics and just under 7% for neurosurgery.

Professor Deborah McNamara, consultant general and colorectal surgeon at Beaumont Hospital, chaired the working group on gender diversity in surgery, whose work led to publication of the Progress report.

We wanted to understand why only a small percentage of women were entering surgery, she said.

They quickly found a societal perception that surgery wasnt a role for women. When we asked secondary school students what was their picture of a surgeon, they described a man. At medical school, we found many students werent encountering women surgeons because in 2017 all professors of surgery were men. Thats changed a little now. So it all led to students ruling themselves out of considering surgery as a possible career.

Fellowship training

Professor Deborah McNamara: 'When we asked secondary school students what was their picture of a surgeon, they described a man.'

The Progress report highlighted another big barrier to a career in surgery for women  inability to access high-quality surgical fellowship training. To be appointed to a consultant role after surgical training  to be competitive at interview you have to have good training and experience. Typically, youd go abroad to do a fellowship where youd explore a very specialist area of surgery. With uncommon conditions, going abroad is especially important so you get more exposure to these conditions, explains Prof McNamara.

But typically this career stage happens when the surgeon is in their mid-30s, a time when its common for women to be thinking about, or to already have, a family and to have a partner already established in a job.

Going abroad then can be quite hard, she said. And yet when it comes to sitting at interview for a consultant position, its a real advantage if youve had some of that specialist training.

This is where the Progress Fellowship for Women in Surgery comes in. Now in its third year, it enhances the expertise and skill base of Irish female surgeons by supporting their opportunities to gain international exposure in their chosen fields, acquire additional surgical skills, have access to new technologies, and contribute to the advancement of surgical science and practice in Ireland.

Helen Mohan, whos working with world-leading surgeons at the Peter MacCallum Centre (I watched videos of their operations while training back in Ireland), says the full span of consultant surgeon training is a significant commitment. And there are challenges integrating life and career for men and women, but with specific challenges for women

Supporting mothers

Helen with children Domhnall, Sophie and Oisin.

While on the higher surgical training programme, she spent a year at University Hospital Limerick. It meant moving with a two-year-old to the west, but theyve an excellent colorectal robotic programme and great trainers so I chose to go there for that year.

Pregnant at the time with the twins, Helen was dealing with the challenging condition, hyperemesis, which involves very bad nausea and vomiting. I had to, unexpectedly, take time out of work. Id a lot of support from my bosses  my direct bosses were all men. We were able to find ways to ensure I got the training I needed. It showed me the importance of having good mentors and good senior supports.

But she knows her positive experience isnt a given for every woman pursuing surgical training. A former president of the Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT), shes published on the experience of pregnant trainees in the Postgraduate Medical Journal and the BJS. Our survey showed theres still quite a proportion of pregnant trainees in Ireland and the UK, who dont feel supported during pregnancy. She also introduced initiatives to support parents at the ASiT conference including a breastfeeding room and a creche. I remember a woman with an eight-month-old who won a research prize at the ASiT conference  she couldnt have done it without the creche.

Helen believes the profession needs to take account of particularly vulnerable moments in life  someones undergoing IVF or has suffered pregnancy loss  that can intersect with career at crucial junctures. Support and awareness is key, she says.

Unconscious bias

Gillian Harford of the 30% Club: 'We see a different balance between men and women as we move up into more senior roles.'

Gillian Harford is country executive with the 30% Club (exa.mn/30percent), a global campaign committed to greater gender balance in senior decision roles. She says across every industry and in many professions young men and women enter in equal numbers at undergraduate level.

Over time we see changes in the percentage of men and women working in specialist roles, which are deemed to be more masculine or which are built around masculine traits. And we see a different balance between men and women as we move up into more senior roles.

One barrier to womens progression up the surgical ladder that Harford sees is unconscious bias. This is borne out in a 2019 study included in JAMA Network Open, a medical journal published by the American Medical Association. This found that healthcare professionals and surgeons hold implicit and explicit biases, associating men with careers and surgery  and women with family and family medicine.

The Royal College of Surgeons in England lists manual dexterity and physical skills for performing an operation among skills and qualities of a surgeon. Prof McNamara acknowledges physical strengths important in some specialities.

But generally technique and training are more important than physical strength, she says.

Is new technology making it easier for women to perform surgery? Prof McNamara says it isnt necessarily an asset in the gender mix. Most technologys designed for male surgery, she says, citing surgical disposable equipment and equipment like endoscopes  generally designed for optimum use by average hand (glove) size 7. This can make them more unwieldy to use by people with small hand sizes. She says robotic surgery is more ergonomic.

In 2019, 27% of new entrants to core surgical training were women. As a result of work being done by RCSI to create greater gender balance, Prof McNamara says this year the figure has risen to 46%. Were beginning to see an impact on getting women into the start of the pipeline.

Helen Mohan didnt have medics in her family, yet always wanted to be a doctor, even as a little girl. I used to watch ER, she recalls. In college, it was a toss-up between obstetrics and surgery: My sister, younger by 10 years, is now doing obstetrics.

A past pupil of Rahenys Manor House School, Helen notes that colorectal surgeon Dr Ann Hanley attended the same school. There are a few female surgeons from Raheny, she says. Proof positive that: to be it, you have to see it.

Visit exa.mn/ProgressFellowship

Female fellowships

Ailin Rogers FRCSI: 'Its challenging as a woman to go abroad on fellowship and leave your kids.' Picture: Julien Behal

Having a how-was-your-day conversation over FaceTime with a five-year-old is hard. So Ailin Rogers has found other ways to connect on-screen with her son, Louis  like physically going to the Science Museum in South Kensington and showing him old vintage cars. Or going to car showrooms in Chelsea and impressing him as she wanders among Lamborghinis and Ferraris. Her younger son, 18-month-old Leo, said Mama and took his first steps on FaceTime.

Ailin, 37, from Lucan, began her year-long fellowship in robotic colorectal surgery (and multivisceral resection for advanced pelvic malignancy) at Londons Royal Marsden Hospital last August. She was the inaugural recipient of the Women in Surgery Fellowship, which was funded by Johnson and Johnson Medical Devices.

Its challenging as a woman to go abroad on fellowship and leave your kids. The baby was just 10 months when I left. Yet, professionally this has been the best year of Ailins career. She got to operate every day for a full year on advanced cancer patients in a dedicated hospital. The Royal Marsdens a really prestigious, well-established cancer surgery hospital. It specialises in robotic surgery and care of patients with advanced cancer. It has really high volume case numbers.

Ailin has always been attracted to technology and loved doing robotic surgery. This technologys perfect for cancer in the pelvis. Its a very small tight area to work in. Robotic technology miniaturises your movements, allowing you go into spaces with extreme precision where normally you couldnt.

We also had the huge benefit of 3D vision through binoculars with optical zoom. You can see nerves with a very small structure that you couldnt with the naked eye. This is really important for patients best surgical outcomes.

Becoming a surgeon didnt cross her radar as a pupil at Loreto on Stephens Green. I wanted to be a doctor but didnt know what path Id follow, not until I worked as an intern in St Vincents Hospital and saw other women surgeons who I realised I could aspire to be like.

Seeing people  of all diversities  who match your own makes it easier to visualise yourself doing it.

Getting the RCSI support and bursary removed a lot of the financial pressure involved in a move to London.

Fellowship jobs abroad arent particularly well paid. Living in London meant huge financial outlay  and theres also my contribution to the mortgage at home and childcare. Now Im able to travel to see the kids without worrying about finances.

She describes her GP husband Niall as the rock of the whole situation. And shes grateful for a phenomenal child-minder who hasnt missed a day all year. Fellowships like the PROGRESS one help women like me  who have a family  do something a bit different. Women coming behind me will see me do this  and perhaps having a baby during training, or leaving your family for a while, may not seem so unusual.

Shes due to take up a post in September as consultant surgeon at the Mater Hospital and at Our Ladys Hospital, Navan. But first theres August  and a few weeks off. So I can have some mum time with the family.
Volkswagen will debut a lightly disguised version of the new ID.5 full-electric crossover at the Munich auto show in September ahead of the cars full unveiling later this year.

The coupe-styled, four-door model will become VW brands third Modular Electrification Toolkit (MEB)-based electric model in Europe following the ID.3 hatchback and ID4 SUV.

The ID.5 was previewed by the ID Crozz concept at the 2017 Frankfurt auto show.

Deliveries will start in the first quarter of next year.

The Munich show car will be the performance-oriented GTX version with the biggest 77kWh battery available to MEB-based cars. It will also be all-wheel drive.

The production ID.5 will be unveiled this winter, a VW brand spokesperson said.

Deliveries will start in the first quarter of next year. A key rival will be the Tesla Model Y, which will be built at the EV makers new European factory near Berlin.

The ID.5 will initially be sold in Europe only, but VW has hinted it may go to other markets.

The ID.5 is closely related to the ID.4, indicating that the ID.5 could only be offered with the 77kWh battery to help differentiate the two models.

The model will start at around 46,000, with the GTX version costing from around 52,000, the VW spokesperson said. VW will disclose exact pricing at a later date.

The ID.5 is closely related to the ID.4, indicating that the ID.5 could only be offered with the 77kWh battery to help differentiate the two models.

The ID.5 will expand the total number of models on the MEB platform to eight.

The MEB-based cars currently include the VW ID.6 on sale in China, the Audi Q4 e-tron and Q4 e-tron Sportback, the Skoda Enyaq and the upcoming Cupra Born. Further MEB models will appear, including the retro-styled VW ID Buzz minivan.

The ID.5 will expand the total number of models on the MEB platform to eight.

VW is adding performance variants with the GTX badge to its ID family of full-electric cars, continuing its tradition of using the GTI, GTE and GTD badges for sporty versions of its petrol, plug-in hybrid, and diesel models.

The first variant, the ID.4 GTX, is being rolled out in Europe this summer.

BMW unveils iX3

BMW has unveiled the latest iX3, which has undergone an exterior design refresh and will be introduced with the M Sport Package as standard in Ireland and will cost 73,295 OTR.

As has been the case with other models launched recently, the iX3 will feature a kidney grille which is now larger than before and has a single-piece frame that comes in Pearl-effect Chrome.

BMW has unveiled the latest iX3, which has undergone an exterior design refresh and will be introduced with the M Sport Package as standard in Ireland and will cost 73,295

The headlight contours are now 10mm slimmer, helping to give the new BMW iX3 a sharper look and lending the front end a distinct similarity to that of the BMW iX and BMW i4.

The lower air intake, which comes with ten-stage active air flap control to cool the drive system components and brakes, has gained in size. The air curtains positioned at the outer edges of the front end are now L-shaped and have blue accents.

The new iX3 will deploy BMWs fifth generation eDrive technology including an innovative charging unit, which sends power to both the 400V battery and the 12V on-board power supply.

As has been the case with other models launched recently, the iX3 will feature a kidney grille which is now larger than before and has a single-piece frame that comes in Pearl-effect Chrome.

When charging using alternating current, it enables both single-phase and three-phase charging at up to 11 kW. Plugging the vehicle into a direct current rapid-charging station opens the door to charging outputs of up to 150 kW, meaning the high-voltage battery can be charged from 0 to 80% of its full capacity in 34 minutes.

Drivers can inject the power required to add 100kms to the cars driving range (in the WLTP cycle) in just 10 minutes. The iX3 will offer a range of up to 450km.

For customers choosing the BMW iX3 M Sport Pro, additional standard features include BMW Head-up Display, Harman Kardon surround sound, gesture control, parking assistant plus, darkened headlights, automatic high beam assistant, comfort access, and lumbar support. BMW IconicSounds Electric, developed in collaboration with Hans Zimmer, completes the extensive offering.

Selection on show

The company says Renault Selection cars come with a full certified vehicle history check with every used car prepared to a unique Buy Today  Drive Today standard.

Kearys of Midleton recently completed a major site transformation with the completion of Munsters first dedicated Renault Selection used car showroom.

The company says Renault Selection cars come with a full certified vehicle history check with every used car prepared to a unique Buy Today  Drive Today standard. This, it says, means that when a customer purchases a used car, its ready to go to its new home the same day.

The new Renault Selection showroom is located adjacent to Kearys Renault showroom on the Cork Road, Midleton, and is the latest development for the dealership which has just completed the new Renault Store brand identity.

Audi on a journey

Audi is continuing its journey to electrification as the Audi Q3 plug-in hybrid officially arrives in Ireland, priced from 46,305 RRP.

The combination of an electric driving experience, simple charging, and high level of suitability for everyday use makes Audis plug-in hybrid models especially appealing.

Audi is continuing its journey to electrification as the Audi Q3 plug-in hybrid officially arrives in Ireland, priced from 46,305 RRP.

The Q3 45 TFSI e and the Q3 Sportback 45 TFSI e complete the range of plug-in hybrids that the company has brought onto the market since 2019, marking the first step into the world of electrified Q models.

The plug-in hybrid drive installed in both models delivers a system output of 180 kW (245 bhp), and the compact SUVs can cover a distance of 51 km for the Q3 45 TFSI e and 50 km for the Q3 Sportback 45 TFSI e in the WLTP.

The two Q3 models both include a 1.4 TFSI as the combustion engine. This four-cylinder engine delivers 110 kW (150 bhp). The dual-clutch transmission, which transfers the power to the front wheels, integrates an electric oil pump.

The free myAudi app allows the customer to control the charging, the timer and the pre-entry climate control remotely from their smartphone.

Both the Q3 45 TFSI e and the Sportback take 7.3 seconds to burst from 0 to 100 km/h, and both reach a top speed of 210 km/h. The Q3 Sportback 45 TFSI e records the same values of 1.7 to 1.4 litres of fuel per 100km (38 to 33 grams of CO2). The total range achieved by both models is approximately 710km.

The Audi Q3 45 TFSI e and the Q3 Sportback 45 TFSI e can be charged using alternating current (AC) at a 400V socket with an output of 3.6kW. An empty battery can be recharged in just three hours and 45 minutes using the standard power charging cable. The free myAudi app allows the customer to control the charging, the timer and the pre-entry climate control remotely from their smartphone.

The e-tron Charging Service, with over 1,000 locations in Ireland, covers the majority of countries in Europe and offers great convenience: With a single card, the customer has access to more than 155,000 charging points.
A gunman killed five people including a three-year-old girl before turning the weapon on himself in a mass shooting that lasted less than 10 minutes, police have confirmed.

Jake Davison, 22, shot and killed a 51-year-old woman at a house in Biddick Drive in the Keyham area of Plymouth, Devon, on Thursday evening before going outside and immediately shooting dead the girl and her male relative, aged 43.

He moved along Biddick Drive, where he aimed and shot at two local residents  a man aged 33 and a 53-year-old woman  who received significant injuries that are not currently believed to be life-threatening.

Davison then entered a nearby park, where he killed a man, aged 59, before shooting a woman, aged 66, on Henderson Place.

Eye-witnesses have told police how Davison then turned the gun on himself.

A forensic officer photographs evidence in Biddick Drive (Ben Birchall/PA)

In a press conference in Plymouth on Friday, Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer of Devon and Cornwall Police said the force received multiple calls about the incident at 6.11pm.

Armed and unarmed officers arrived at the scene within six minutes and discovered Davisons body a short time later, with this logged by police at 6.23pm.

Mr Sawyer told reporters that it is believed the first female victim and Davison were known to each other, and there was a view there was a familial relationship.

He added that he did not yet know of any formal relationship between Davison and the other victims. No motive has yet been identified for the attacks.

Forensic officers in Biddick Drive in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds (Ben Birchall/PA)

Mr Sawyer described the shootings as truly shocking and said they had been witnessed by members of the public, who he urged to seek support.

We believe we have an incident that is domestically related, that has spilled into the street and seen several people in Plymouth losing their lives in extraordinarily tragic circumstances, he said.

A weapon  described by witnesses as a pump-action shotgun  was recovered from the scene.

Mr Sawyer confirmed that Davison had held a firearms licence since at least 2020 but it was not yet known whether that firearm was used during the incident.

A painstaking search is being carried out (Ben Birchall/PA)

Multiple shots have been fired from a firearm during that six-minute or so period, Mr Sawyer told reporters.

There are some 13 scenes and potentially more scenes.

There are therefore five people of Plymouth who have lost their lives overnight  and Mr Davison himself  including a particularly young child.

He said the identities of the victims would be made public and said officers were working with their families, who he described as being throughout the UK.

Detectives are examining Davisons social media output as part of their investigation, Mr Sawyer confirmed.

Jake Davison pictured in a video posted on YouTube (Jake Davison/YouTube)

The killer appeared to post on a YouTube account under the name Professor Waffle just weeks before the massacre about how he was beaten down and defeated by life.

His channel was subscribed to gun-related accounts and another named Incel TV, which features content related to involuntary celibacy, although in one of his videos Davison said he wouldnt clarify myself as an incel.

The online subculture involves men who express hostility and extreme resentment towards those who are sexually active, particularly women.

In another clip, he discusses missing out on a teenage romance and refers to Chads, an incel community term for good-looking men who attract women.

Emergency services near the scene of incident on Biddick Drive on Thursday night (Ben Birchall/PA)

And in another video, Davison says: I know its a movie but I like to think sometimes Im the Terminator or something. Despite reaching almost total system failure he keeps trying to accomplish his mission.

Mr Sawyer said he could not say at this time whether Davison had mental health issues, but added: This is an extraordinarily unusual response by a fellow human being.

We are not considering terrorism or a relationship with any far-right group, he confirmed.

Officers are working with the Metropolitan Police to investigate what happened.

Mr Sawyer told reporters that witnesses were shocked at what was unfolding before them and there was no evidence to suggest Davison was saying anything as he carried out the atrocity.

The chief constable urged people not to contact police unless it was truly an emergency as the force was very, very busy.

Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer during a press conference on Friday (Rod Minchin/PA)

On Friday, forensic officers in protective clothing could be seen conducting fingertip searches at the scene, while a coroners ambulance was filmed leaving the area.

A large yellow tent was set up in the area, with several uniformed officers posted around the cordon.

Mr Sawyer confirmed that it took several hours before police were able to tell residents that the incident had concluded on Thursday night.

We were searching to see whether this was a lone individual, whether there were other individuals, he told reporters.

This was a very fast, developing scene.

He told how members of the public were evacuated primarily to ensure that there were not other persons who had been shot, injured or killed in the neighbouring premises.

The incident is the first mass shooting in Britain since June 2010, when taxi driver Derrick Bird killed 12 people and injured 11 others in Cumbria.
Burma Myanmar Ex-Dictator Than Shwe, Wife Test Positive for Coronavirus

Than Shwe (right) and his wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing (left) attend a Buddhist ceremony in March 2009. / Khin Maung Win

Myanmars former dictator Than Shwe and his wife tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday, several days after being admitted to a military hospital in Naypyitaw, a senior military official told The Irrawaddy.

They were admitted to the hospital as a precaution amid the countrys raging COVID-19 outbreak.

They both are confirmed as coronavirus-positive but they are in good health, the official said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case.

Than Shwe is 88 and his wife Daw Kyaing Khaing is 89.

The pairwho are believed to have received their inoculations, as the countrys vaccine program prioritizes anyone over 65entered the hospital to ensure they had good access to medical care should they be infected with the virus.

The couple has now been at the 1,000-bed military-owned medical facility in Thaik Chaung in the capital for three or four days, the source said.

They are at the hospital lest they should contract COVID at home, as [some] vaccinated people have become infected, the official added.

Myanmar has been reeling from a deadly third wave of the coronavirus since late June. Six thousand people were killed by COVID-19 last month alone, the deadliest month since the virus hit the Southeast Asian county last year.

Than Shwe ruled Myanmar with an iron fist at the head of the previous military regime from 1992 to 2011, when he transferred power to a military-proxy civilian government handpicked by him.

During his reign, his regime brutally cracked down on dissidents, not to mention jailing his political opponents, including the countrys popular leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who endured long spells of periodic house arrest for many years until 2010.

Myanmar is now under military rule againafter five years of fledgling democracy led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from 2016 to January 2021as Than Shwes successor as military chief, Min Aung Hlaing, staged a coup in February. Since the takeover, the country has been in social and political turmoil as military rule has been strenuously opposed by the majority of the population.



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Burma Myanmar Junta Troops Killed in Sagaing and Kayah

Junta reinforcements in Loikaw, Kayah State, in June. / Tharlikar

More than 30 junta soldiers were reportedly killed and others wounded by armed resistance fighters in Kayah State and Sagaing Region on Thursday.

The Irrawaddy was unable to independently confirm the casualties.

On Thursday afternoon, two out of seven military vehicles carrying junta troops traveling from Pale to Monywa Township in Sagaing Region triggered Yinmabin People Defense Force (PDF) landmines near Mount Phowintaung in the east of Yinmabin Township.

The troops were allegedly returning after raiding villages and attacking resistance fighters in Pale.

Around 30 military casualties were reported after two vehicles were seriously damaged, a fighter in the ambush told The Irrawaddy on Friday.

He said they used seven landmines and suffered no casualties, despite junta troops firing indiscriminately.

We will resist them until they return to their barracks, said the Yinmabin PDF member.

In the south of Kale Township in Sagaing Region, the PDF ambushed junta troops near Nat Chaung village.

Kales PDF said in a statement that troops raided Nat Chaung the previous day.

During eight hours of shooting, three junta soldiers were killed and a PDF member was lightly injured by a military explosive.

Residents warned the Kales PDF to be alert as junta troops are still deployed at Nat Chaung.

Civilians in Kale, Yinmabin, Pinlebu and Tamu townships in the sprawling region have used traditional, homemade air guns or rifles since late March when junta forces began killing peaceful anti-regime protesters.

Another five soldiers were killed and three injured on Thursday in a shootout with ethnic armed groups the Karenni Army (KA) and Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) in Kayah State.

Civilian resistance fighters and troops from the KNDF and KA, the armed wing of the Karenni National Progressive Party, ambushed junta sentries near Htee Kalu Daw village in Hpruso Township on Thursday morning.

Five junta soldiers were killed and three wounded and junta firearms, including a heavy weapon, were seized by the KNDF and KA, the KNDF said in a statement.

A shootout between junta troops and Karenni forces, including civilian fighters, was reported on the Demoso-Hpruso highway on Thursday morning.

In response, Battalion 102 based in Demoso used artillery on villages in Hpruso Township, injuring a Htee Paw So villager in her thigh, according to the KNDF and the media.

On Thursday afternoon, a shootout between junta soldiers and the KNDF occurred in Pekon Township, Shan State, according to the KNDF.

Armed resistance against the junta started in Kayah State in late May. The regime is currently attacking Karenni forces in Loikaw, Demoso, Hpruso, Bawlakhe and Hpasawng townships.



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Commentary Myanmars Military Chief Staged a Coup. But He Did Not Act Alone

From left: Snr-Gen Than Shwe, President U Thein Sein and coup maker Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing (right)

As commander-in-chief, Min Aung Hlaing is the public face of the coup staged against the countrys elected government by Myanmars military on Feb. 1. But he did not act alone. His former bosses, ex-supremo Than Shwe and ex-president Thein Sein, and their cohort undoubtedly supported his action, as they all played a role in devising the political doctrine that the coup seeks to upholdto maintain for their military not only a dominant role in the political system, but also its place as the supreme institution in Myanmars society.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing probably would not have staged the coup if the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) had managed to win by a margin of 25 percent of parliamentary seats in the last general election, in November 2020. If that had happened, the electoral scenario would have been: 25 percent of seats held by military representatives directly appointed by Min Aung Hlaing himself in the countrys parliaments, plus 25 percent or more of seats held by the USDPs representatives, allowing it to form a government fully controlled by the military.

Under those circumstances, there would have been no coup. Whether Min Aung Hlaing or the USDPs chairman should be president would have been an internal matter between the Myanmar military (known as the Tatmadaw) and its proxy party.

But the USDP won just 6.4 percent of seats, while the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) won another landslide victory, securing more than 83 percent of the elected seats in the Union Parliament.

That outcome eventually triggered Min Aung Hlaings state power seizure, not only on behalf of the military as a whole, but also to salvage his own thwarted personal political ambitions. If he hadnt done so, in its second term (2021  2026), the elected NLD government would have cemented the countrys nascent democratic reforms, including a diminishment of the militarys role in politics. To that end, the newly elected civilian government, other political forces and civil society groups, acting in a freer political atmosphere, would have continued the push to amend the military-favoring 2008 constitution they began during the NLDs first tenure.

Political doctrine

When it comes to politics, the Myanmar militarys doctrine is to maintain its leadership role. We could say this doctrine officially dates to 2008, when the previous military regime led by then Senior General Than Shwe succeeded in getting its draft undemocratic constitution approved. One of the basic principles of their constitution is clearly stated in Article 6(f): [The unions consistent objectives are] enabling the Defense Services to be able to participate in the national political leadership role of the State.

For the first time in Myanmars history, the generals had explicitly inserted their political intentions into the constitution. The move can be regarded as the official establishment of military supremacy as law, and the abandonment of any pretense of the Tatmadaw playing the role of a standard or professional military. No such clause existed in the previous two constitutionsnot the first charter drawn up in 1947 just before the country gained independence, nor even the second one drawn up by dictator General Ne Wins regime in 1974.

The 2008 constitution doesnt just grant the military and its chief extraordinary powers; it completely favors the military in all aspects. In other words, it enshrines the militarys political doctrine.

The architect and the implementer

The 2008 constitution was part of the militarys exit strategy from the sustained domestic and international pressures that were beginning to weigh on it, including economic sanctions imposed by Western countries, which the regime had faced since seizing power decades earlier following the nationwide democratic uprising in 1988, and as a result of the continuous gross human rights violations it committed thereafter.

The constitution was the most important element in the militarys seven-step exit strategy, which would lead to the creation of, in their official terms, disciplined democracy. Though it could in some ways be seen as the collective creation of the previous regime, Snr-Gen Than Shwe was its architect as the head of the junta and commander-in-chief of the military.

If Snr-Gen Than Shwe was the architect of the militarys political strategy, including creating its central doctrine enshrining a permanent leading role for the military in politics, general-turned-president U Thein Sein was to be its key implementer. Lieutenant General Thein Sein became a member of the junta when Than Shwe restructured his regime into the State Peace and Development Council in 1997.

To set this strategy in motion, including the political doctrine, Lt-Gen Thein Sein steered the juntas National Convention from 2003, tasked with drafting the future 2008 constitution. He became secretary-1 of the military regime in 2004 and its prime minister in 2007.

The following year, Thein Sein accomplished the task of getting the undemocratic constitution officially approved through a referendum, which was held just a week after Cyclone Nargis killed about 138,000 people in the Irrawaddy Delta and Yangon. Thus, the charter came to be dubbed the Nargis Constitution. Nonetheless, it was a significant step in Thein Seins implementation of the militarys roadmap.

Even before then, Than Shwe seemed to have seen in Thein Sein a future president with the ability to execute his vision. No doubt he also believed that Thein Seinwho looks more like a school headmaster than a combatant generalwas the perfect person to defeat the popular Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in the upcoming political battle.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was a prisoner of the junta throughout Thein Seins rise to the presidency. Just a few months before Thein Sein was promoted to secretary-2 of the junta in 2003, Daw Aung San Suu Kyis motorcade was attacked by a junta-organized mob in Depayin, Sagaing Region. She narrowly escaped the ambushwidely regarded as an assassination attemptwith her life. Dozens of her supporters were killed in the violent incident.

In April 2010, Thein Sein retired from the military with the rank of general to serve as the first chairman of the USDP, right after it was transformed into a political party from its former incarnation as the Union Solidarity and Development Association, a so-called social organization formed by Snr-Gen Than Shwe.

On Nov. 7 of that year, the regime held a general election and the USDP won by a landslide, while the NLD and the other main ethnic and political parties boycotted it. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was still a prisoner in her house when Thein Sein, as chairperson of the USDP, and his team celebrated their victory on election night. Six days later, she was released.

We shouldnt forget would-be president Thein Seins list of achievements up to that point. As secretary-1 of the previous junta (the third-highest-ranking official after Than Shwe and his deputy Maung Aye) and prime minister of the military government, he bore significant responsibility for much of what had happened over the previous decade, especially since 2003: for the juntas violent crackdown on the monk-led Saffron Revolution; for the systematic blocking of international relief efforts in the days immediately following the deadly Cyclone Nargis (as prime minister, he chaired the juntas National Disaster Preparedness Central Committee); and for many more of the juntas actions, including its acts of political repression.

In March 2011, former general U Thein Sein became president as planned. This represented another step taken along the military regimes roadmap, mainly designed by Snr-Gen Than Shwe and implemented by Thein Sein.

It was a new era for Myanmar. The generals had achieved everything they plannedthe military-favoring constitution; the enshrining of the militarys political doctrine in Article 6(f); Than Shwes handpicked former general Thein Sein as the countrys civilian president; the placation of the international community through the freeing of the regimes enemy Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Myanmar was now a normal country.

Reformist era

President Thein Sein had a tricky task to pull off. In this new political environment, ostensibly characterized by reform but still skewed in favor of the military, his primary duty was to open up the country under a military-dominated civilian government. To do this, he had to strike a balance, reforming the political process while preserving the militarys leading role in it. In a nutshell, he was to reform the country to the extent that continued military dominance allowed. Thats the doctrine his boss Than Shwe, he himself and all the other generals had formulated for their military institution over the previous decade.

President Thein Sein never crossed the line. He never attempted radical reforms (as the majority of people and democratic forces asked for), such as amending the constitution to reduce the militarys role in politics. As the key implementer of the militarys doctrine, he was loyal to it.

Nonetheless, even the limited tangible reforms implemented by his quasi-civilian government were enough to earn him a reputation as a reformist president. He was dubbed Myanmars Mikhail Gorbachev, which may in fact be a fair comparison. US President Barack Obama himself recognized the reform process, saying, After years of darkness, weve seen flickers of progress. But most rational people doubted that this flicker of progress would develop into the flame of a truly wide-ranging democratic reform process.

And as the former general President Thein Sein emerged as a reformist, some of the ex-generals serving as key ministers in his government anointed themselves as reformists too. This earned them love from many quarters; international leaders respected them; diplomats adored them; local and international scholarsand alleged scholarsexchanged intellectual rigor for emotion in their assessments; journalists and other professional observersboth local and foreignabandoned their basic powers of critical thought in their approach to this seemingly new regime.

Absurdly, in Myanmar in this era, self-described ex-military reformists were more popular than the real fighters for freedom and democracy who had paid and continued to pay a high pricethose who had languished in prisons, been forced into exile or been injured or killed on battlefields over the preceding decades of struggle for democracy and against military dictatorship.

Those who were deceived or simply naive were blind to the nuances of the situation. In truth, Thein Seins role was to implement superficial changes, not to bring about fundamental structural reform through the kinds of radical change that would compromise the militarys doctrine. These onlookers failed to see that Thein Seins reform efforts were not built on solid ground.

The ordinary people of Myanmar understood it well, however, based on their own experiences and their instincts about general-turned-president Thein Sein and his team of ex-military reformists, not to mention the military leadership itself. The peoples instinctive sense was very different from the views of President Thein Seins apologists, and of the scholars and advisers who surrounded him during his presidency from 2011 to 2016.

President Thein Seins reform process was never designed to deliver genuine democracy, just a hybrid democracy under the pro-military constitution. Its aims were never aligned with the peoples aspirations; its ultimate goal was to ensure that the military and its proxy party continued to rule the country.

In the end, however, he failed to achieve that goal.

The savior

The USDP under the leadership of Thein Sein lost both of the electoral battles it fought with the NLD: the by-election in 2012 and the general election in 2015. His puppet master Snr-Gen Than Shwes visionthat President Thein Sein would defeat their arch-enemy Daw Aung San Suu Kyi politicallyproved unrealizable.

But that was not entirely Thein Seins fault. The majority of the population of Myanmar has always hated military-backed parties (including the National Unity Party in 1990), just as they hate the military leadership and its regimes. So, in any free and fair election, no military-backed party would ever have any chance of winning.

President Thein Sein left the stage after he himself and his party lost in the 2015 election, after which, in 2016, the NLD managed to form the first civilian government in more than five decades. The military faced a genuine political threat from the ruling NLD, which attempted to amend the constitution to reduce the Tatmadaws extraordinary political power. In the 2020 election, under a new chairman, the USDP was defeated again.

After defeats in two consecutive general elections, it was clear that the militarys initial planto rule the country through its proxy partyhad failed. But there was always a Plan B for enforcing the militarys doctrine: a coup detat. Many people, including well-known observers and scholars, wrongly thought that option had been permanently removed from the military leaderships handbook. It showed their failure to grasp the basic mentality of the military leaders and ex-generals, or the militarys political doctrine as described above.

Now it was military chief Min Aung Hlaings turn. It was his job to save the military and its political doctrine from the elected civilian government.

To preempt the civilian government from making any further inroads, Min Aung Hlaing staged a coup on Feb. 1, just a few hours before the newly elected Parliament was to convene in Naypyitaw, the capital of Myanmar. Almost all elected government leaders and high-ranking officials were arrested. A fledgling democracy was killed; everything, including the countrys future, was destroyed at a stroke.

Where were the flickers of progress? Where were the reformists, who were, after all, the coup-makers seniors? Where was Than Shwe, who appointed Min Aung Hlaing military chief in 2011? Where was the reformist Thein Sein to whom Min Aung Hlaing reported when the former was president?

They have seemingly been silent in the months since Februarys coup.

In fact, they have not been silent. Their actions say much.

At least six ministers in the current military government are former ministers in U Thein Seins government: U Wunna Maung Lwin, foreign minister; U Khin Yi, immigration and population minister; U Win Shein, minister of finance; Dr. Pwint San, minister of commerce; U Aung Than Oo, minister of electric power; and U Maung Maung Ohn, minister of information, and of hotels and tourism.

With the exception of U Maung Maung Ohn, they have all been reappointed to the portfolios they held in the U Thein Sein government. U Khin Yi is a former brigadier general and police chief under the previous military regime, and currently vice chairman of the USDP. He was a key minister in the U Thein Sein government, working with other key ministers in the Presidents Office, ex-Admiral U Soe Thein and former Major General U Aung Min. They were all once celebrated as reformists by the circle of diplomats and local and foreign scholars that touted the opening up under Thein Sein. Maung Maung Ohn, an ex-general, was appointed by U Thein Sein as chief minister of Rakhine State.

Now we know where our reformists stand.

Reliable sources tell me that more former ministers of U Thein Seins government are waiting for the right moment to join the caretaker government recently set up by coup maker Min Aung Hlaing, six months after the coup. Others, I am told, are exercising patience and would prefer to wait for the legitimate government that will be set up after the election the junta says it will hold within the next two years.

The presence of so many former ministers in the military regime is proof that by and large, the officials who comprised the former U Thein Sein government and other ex-generals are happy, whether quietly or publicly, with the coup. To them, Min Aung Hlaing is the savior who has restored their military institution to its rightful leading political roleor even as the sole institution in charge: an absolute military dictatorship. To them, questions of legitimacy are neither here nor there.

Than Shwe and Thein Sein have no reason to complain about Min Aung Hlaings coup. He staged it to restore the militarys leadership role in politicsthe role they defined and attempted to implement. They must surely be proud of him.

Now, the military chief has absolute power to continue their shared mission.

While we can identify Than Shwe as the creator of the militarys political doctrine through the 2008 constitution and Thein Sein as its first implementer, Min Aung Hlaing is now the savior of the military, causing Myanmar to revert from fledgling democracy to military rule. Or, more accurately, to military dictatorship.

The fact is, these three generals collectively designed the doctrine underpinning the leading role their unprofessional military plays in Myanmars political sphere, and explicitly asserted the militarys supremacy in the country. They did so in order to establish a legal mechanism by which they can hold power indefinitely, and to create a space for themselves that is privileged above all other stakeholders in the country.

Everything they have done completely contradicts the will of the people. They are the destroyers of the countrys democracy, of any prospect of a brighter future for Myanmars people, and of the peoples aspirations.

Naing Khit is a commentator on political affairs.

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Opinion Demystifying the Narratives on the Myanmar Military

Feature: Myanmar coup leader Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing during the Armed Forces Day parade in Naypyitaw in March 2021.

On November 7 2016, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief of Myanmars military, proudly delivered a presentation on the militarys efforts for democracy to the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) meeting in Brussels. To the surprise of many, he had been invited as the guest speaker for that meeting of the EU military chiefs by the then-EUMC Chair General Mikhal Kostarakos.

In its press statement, the EU mentioned that the participation of Snr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing in the meeting was an achievement of military diplomacy helping Myanmar to regain its position in the worlds political scene. On that trip, Myanmar militarys chief also met with the EU officials to discuss further military ties before visiting Italy for engagements with military officials and defense companies.

This was followed by another trip to Austria and Germany on April 22 2017. While there, Snr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing met with his German and Austrian counterparts and made several visits to local defense companies and industries. Around that period, not only the EU, but the United States also planned to gradually re-engage its military to military relations with the Myanmar military, initially by extending some training programs with the junior officer corps.

Narrative of Constructive Engagement

Wishful thinking was then prevalent in the West that advancing constructive engagement with the Myanmar military could enhance the professionalism and democratic outlook of its officer corps and speed up their withdrawal from politics. That sort of thinking primarily flowed from the narrative that after political liberalization in 2011, the military was ready to gradually retreat from politics if its leadership could be assured that the new constitutional order led by the civilian authorities could function without threatening territorial integrity, security and stability.

In reality, the military carefully planned to ensure its power under a disciplined democracy and lacked a genuine desire to disengage from politics. Under the 2008 constitution, they predetermined the extent of space for civilians to operate within, to what extent they would scale down political intervention and when they would intervene to shut down the nascent political space. As an armed forces which deeply perceived themselves as entitled to rule the country in perpetuity, the military has never intended to fully disengage from politics.

The narrative of the militarys voluntary withdrawal from politics fell apart completely when it seized power on February 1 2021. Some might argue that the military did not have a plan for its coup and that tension between elected civilian leaders and the military in the previous five years led to the takeover. During the first five years of National League for Democracy (NLD) rule, the civilian government held to a conciliatory stance towards the military, and there were no incidences that risked threatening the territorial integrity of the country or the institutional autonomy of the military.

With hindsight, however, it becomes clear that civil-military tensions only reached a crucial boiling point with the November 2020 election, the result of which compelled the military leaders to launch the coup. It was a choice wrought not by civil-military contestation but by the militarys fear that the NLD, if they remained in power for two full terms, would become firmly entrenched in a political leadership role that would enable them to finish off the militarys remaining political prerogatives and economic privileges.

Constructive engagement with the military by Western democratic countries did not transform the military into a professional organization, but instead inadvertently emboldened and legitimized its leadership to do whatever they wished. Less than a year after Snr. Gen, Min Aung Hlaings trips to the EU, the world was stunned to witness the military committing the brutal crimes in Rakhine State that a UN fact-finding mission labeled a genocide against the Rohingya minority.

In fact, this was nothing new in the modern history of Myanmar. There is a long history of military atrocities, ranging from campaigns of terror that may amount to crimes against humanity in the ethnic minority areas to brutal suppression and mass slaughter of civilian protestors in urban environments. Constructive engagement without holding the military to account for its past crimes, and without promoting the roles of its civilian counterparts, had the unintended consequences of virtually strengthening the militarys political positions and legitimizing its barbarous atrocities.

Narrative of the pro-democratic and stabilizing force

Similarly, there is another narrative that the next generation of Myanmar military officers would be more liberal and pro-democratic. This narrative was widely popular even before the 8888 uprising of 1988. In this narrative, Western investment in the future generations of Myanmars officer corps via academic opportunities and exposure to the West could depoliticize and professionalize the force. However, no evidence has emerged that the new generation of officers have changed their approaches and ideological orientations. On the contrary, they became woefully more antagonistic towards Myanmars pro-democratic forces.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi seems aware of this fact, despite her persistent conciliatory overtures towards the military as her fathers army. When the veteran journalist Bertil Lintner asked her in February 1989 if there were any younger officers who were more sympathetic to her, she replied, No. Its the opposite. Some of the older officers are okay as they are still loyal to my father [General Aung San, the founder of the Myanmar military]. The younger officers are the worst. They rose to prominence under Ne Win [the first military dictator who established the precedent for coups in Myanmar] and were hardened in combat in ethnic minority areas. Now, the new officers who ascended to the top positions under Than Shwe [the dictator who created the post-2010 political reform] deposed and arrested her and also followed their predecessors in murdering the people they vowed to protect.

Another prevailing narrative is that the military is a stabilizing force for the country. The military has justified its political interventions with this narrative since 1958 and, through its propaganda machines, some analysts and even some neighboring countries has bought into that narrative. They believed, as the generals always claimed, that unless the military played its active political leading role, the country and its sovereignty would be at risk of disintegration. Even after the coup, Snr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said that the military is the only force holding Myanmar together and always striving to prevent the countrys disintegration.

Historically, as Andrew Nachemson once wrote, the military is a force of chaos, not stability. In 1962, the military staged a coup with the dubious justification that the country was at risk of drifting towards disintegration due to the federal ambitions of the ethnic minority groups under civilian rule. The military has persistently hung onto that justification ever since, despite the 1962 coup leader Ne Win regrettably admitting that he would not have carried out the coup if he was well-informed of the Buddhas Dhamma (teaching) at that time.

Notable Shan scholar Chao Tzang Yawnghwe also argued that instead of keeping the country together, the 1962 coup brought about havoc and ruin to the country, damaging the political links between the various ethnic components of Myanmar. Also, in the recent coup, the military has obviously destabilized the previously stable political order by bringing an end to the countrys brief experiment with political development and dragging the country into chaos and towards the status of a failed state.

Narrative of Restoration of Democracy

The final key narrative is that military rule is transitory and temporary with the generals being ready to voluntarily transfer power back to elected civilians as they have promised. That narrative was also widely circulated in 1962 and 1990 after the military staged coups. Following the 1962 coup, General Ne Win said in the fourth meeting of the revolutionary council held on March 16 1962 that the military would not rule the country for a long time. Ne Wins military council promised to pave the way back to constitutional rule led by a civilian political leadership. However, the military leaders of the council simply exchanged their uniforms for mufti, crafted the constitution as they wished and ruled the country for 26 years in different incarnations.

After the 1988 coup, the then military chief General Saw Maung promised that the military would return to their barracks and transfer power back to elected civilians after the 1990 election. In reality, the military would rule for another two decades. In 2021, coup leader Snr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said again that military rule will be temporary, and that it will hold elections and transfer power back to civilians. That narrative has been catching the attention of the international community, mostly countries from the region.

Nevertheless, the coup leaders, as the UN special envoy Christine Burgener has said, appear determined to solidify their grip on power by annulling the 2020 election won overwhelmingly by the NLD, extending their stay in power from a one-year emergency to August 2023, and declaring Snr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing as the prime minister of the newly-formed caretaker government. Just six months after the coup, it has become obvious that the narrative of temporary military rule is fundamentally flawed.

All these narratives relating to the military have been more or less integral in the approaches of the international community towards Myanmar. The policy makers of the international community have not yet relinquished the hope that the junta will voluntarily restore civilian rule. Also, they believe, as Biahari Kausikan is convinced, that the military is the only indispensable stabilizing institution that can keep the country together. Consequently, constructive engagement with the military without imposing too much pressure on it, as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is now cheerleading for, is the only way to enlighten the officer corps and to guarantee a return to some form of civilian rule.

The militarys political prerogatives have been deeply entrenched in Myanmar politics for a long time. As an army ingrained with a distrust of civilian politicians and entrenched with the notion of playing the leading political role in the country, any hope that the junta will voluntarily transfer power back to a civilian government through elections is nothing more than a daydream.

Recent evidence has demonstrated that the officers of the Myanmar military have been extremely hostile towards pro-democratic forces and that they havent hesitated to destabilize, even to destroy, the country in order to rule it. Similarly, another round of the constructive engagement promoted by ASEAN is definitely destined to fail. Rather than resort to the old narratives attached to the military, the time has come for the international community to demystify the old narratives and to reconsider its approaches in formulation of policy concerning Myanmar.

Ye Myo Hein, aka Ko Ye, is the public policy fellow at the Wilson Centers Asia Program and the executive director of the Tagaung Institute of Political Studies.



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The growing program integrates companies within the fintech ecosystem and networks them with its key players.

Amazon Web Services (AWS), Mastercard, EY, Facebook, Google, eftpos, Idemia, Regional Australia Bank, RSM Australia, and the Newcastle Permanent Building Society are members.

We look forward to working with Xero to reinforce the companys strong connections in the Australian fintech industry, FinTech Australia CEO Rebecca Schot-Guppy said.

Having welcomed Xero as a partner is yet another indicator of the strong demand for collaboration with Australias booming fintech sector, reinforcing its position as a driver of overall economic growth, she adds.

We look forward to working with FinTech Australia to drive greater visibility of the innovation being led by fintechs in Australia, and to coordinate with others on technology related policy, concludes Xero director of partnerships APAC Ian Boyd. The recent Intersekt conference was a key example of the vibrant industry engagement FinTech Australia is fostering.
Security company FireEye Mandiant has appointed 20 year cyber security, telecommunications and technology industries veteran Mark Ellis as Country Manager for New Zealand.

FireEye Mandiant says Ellis - with experience in leadership, management and sales - will be responsible for devising and executing strategic initiatives to drive forward sales enablement and support the growth and presence of the company in the region.

Joining Ellis, Bhojraj Parmar is now based in Auckland leading Mandiant Consulting to further drive the ambitious growth in the market.

FireEye Mandiant says Parmar has been part of the Mandiant team for roughly two years and his 20 years expertise in the cyber security industry and local market will be invaluable - and will focus on expanding Mandiant Consulting to bolster incident response and cyber defence capabilities to customers in New Zealand.

Over the past 10 years, FireEye has already had a strong presence in the New Zealand market, supporting customers across various industries including government, telecommunications, utilities and banking. Ellis appointment, alongside Parmar, is a significant step forward in expanding the local presence, responding to the challenges and finding new opportunities, FireEye said.

Louis Tague, Vice President and Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand, FireEye Mandiant said, Were thrilled to have Mark join the team. His appointment is critical at a time where there is high demand from customers in New Zealand.

The market has huge growth potential and there is a great opportunity for us to bring our global experience to our customers and introduce new capabilities like Mandiant Automated Defence, Mandiant Advantage and FireEye XDR. The new leadership duo of Mark and Bhojraj will be instrumental in supporting us to drive and deliver meaningful impact in the market.

I am excited to draw on my experience to create impactful business development strategies and propel our growth in New Zealand, said Ellis.

There is huge potential in the market and FireEye Mandiant is uniquely placed to support customers. I look forward working in partnership with Bhojraj to empower customers and partners to uplift their cyber security capabilities and resiliency.

I joined FireEye Mandiant with the intention to come back to New Zealand and establish local presence. The depth, coverage and quality of service that Mandiant Consulting brings to the market is second to none, said Bhojraj Parmar, Head of Mandiant Consulting, New Zealand, FireEye Mandiant.

I am confident that we will make a positive impact in uplifting the quality of cyber security services in Aotearoa within a short period of time. Marks vast experience and relationships within the industry will help enable this impact significantly.

I am excited that the senior leadership has supported this decision to establish a local presence in New Zealand at a time when the industry needs it the most.
COMPANY NEWS: LEADING Australian technology company RBC Group is preparing for strong growth after signing its most significant partnership in its 46-year history with Australias largest private IT company Interactive.

The partnership, which was 12 months in the making, will enable RBC to offer its small-to-medium size business clients the range of Interactives services including data centre hosting run from Interactives six data centres on the East Coast, business continuity, hardware maintenance and cyber security services.

RBC Group, which has more than 100 staff at its head office in Milton and a further 60 across the Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne offices, will gain access to sell to Interactives impressive enterprise client roster, including Aldi, Volvo Group and Village Cinemas.

The Interactive partnership comes 15 years after RBC pivoted from a traditional printing company to a technology service provider that does everything from advanced managed IT services, printer fleet supply and management through to cloud technology and automated document management systems.

RBC provides managed services including hardware and software solutions for more than 2500 clients nationwide.

RBC Group General Manager Michael Manton said the partnership accelerates RBCs transformation into a fully-fledged XaaS (anything as a service) business through its ability to offer a more comprehensive set of IT and technology services than ever before.

Interactive has impressive experience in running data centres for more than 20 years, Mr Manton said.

Their capacity gives us an enhanced level of enterprise cloud services that we can now make available to our small-to-medium size business clients.

The RBC/Interactive partnership is an exciting next step in the RBC journey. It will enable us to significantly grow our managed IT services business thanks to Interactives expertise. Our plan is to offer each of our respective service offerings to both new and existing clients.

We complement each others service offerings, which will see new opportunities emerge for both parties, so the partnership is a match made in heaven.

Interactive Director of Enterprise Sales Brad Wells said RBC had built its reputation on delivering the best service at the right price to its customers.

We are excited to have RBC on board as a strategic alliance partner to offer our respective customers a broader range of service offerings, Mr Wells said.

RBC, which has its head office in Brisbane with offices on the Gold Coast, Melbourne and Sydney, has recorded 70 per cent year-on-year growth across its managed IT services division between 2018 and 2021.

Mr Manton said he expects this to grow further due to the Interactive partnership.

Staff numbers have increased by 20 per cent within our Queensland Managed Services division while we are also recruiting for additional team members in our Sydney office, Mr Manton said.

The Interactive partnership follows RBCs recent Game Changer Award from HP Workpath at the 2021 HP Developer Partner Conference.

RBC has been a key Tier 1 partner of HP since 2015 and maintains partnerships with world-leading companies including IBM, Microsoft, Cisco, Lexmark and Apple.

Interactive was founded in 1988 and is based in Port Melbourne, Victoria.

It has more than 650 staff in eight locations across Australia and NZ and 2500 customers.

About RBC Group www.rbcgroup.com.au

RBC Group is one of Australias largest independent and privately owned technology integrators with a large market penetration, founded from its core business as a print and imaging solutions company. Formed in 1975 by Geoff Layton, RBC Group is in its 46th year of operation and is 100% Australian owned and operated.

A shared vision to help businesses reduce the cost and hassle of document output management has evolved into the companys current portfolio, which includes IT infrastructure, cloud hosting and a complete managed service. This holistic portfolio showcases RBC Groups focus on optimizing consumables, service, IT administration and financing, all of which lead to a more streamlined and cost effective operational structure.

Today, RBC Group has emerged to become one of the fastest growing and most successful businesses in Australia with consistent year on year growth. The company currently provides managed services to over 3,000 clients nationally, comprising both hardware and software solutions, as well as maintaining billions of prints and associated devices..
NBN Co announced the creation of 44 new NBN Business Fibre Zones to deliver premium business-grade fibre to an additional 60,000 eligible businesses premises across Australia, on demand, with no charge for the design and construction of fibre to the premises when they order a premium business NBN Enterprise Ethernet service.

The new NBN Business Fibre Zones will be available for eligible businesses in these new locations from 1 September 2021. NBN said, if the business customer signs up to a three-year plan from their internet retailer, NBN Co will not charge the retailer an up-front connection cost.

NBN says, it follows NBN Cos announcement in September 2020 to create the first 240 NBN Business Fibre Zones, offering direct fibre connections and enabling access to business-grade broadband to a customer base of around 790,000 eligible business premises across Australia.

NBN advise that the 284 Business Fibre Zones will offer more than 850,000 business locations across Australia access to business NBN Enterprise Ethernet, the companys fastest symmetrical wholesale product options with a 99.95 per cent network availability uptime target designed to help optimise network reliability and help reduce downtime for business.

NBN says, that Enterprise Ethernet also offers access to plans based on the highest wholesale upload speed tier options available on the NBN network and dedicated onshore service plan support for providers via the business NBN Operations Centre. The plans remain flexible for small, medium and large businesses with options for prioritised data, high capacity symmetrical wholesale download and upload speed tiers from 10 Mbps to close to 1 Gbps service enhancements available to add on to plans

NBN Co chief customer officer Brad Whitcomb said, NBN Co has a very clear and simple purpose: to lift the digital capability of Australia. We are therefore expanding the coverage of our NBN Business Fibre Zones across Australia to help support and grow Australias digital economy.

Businesses are increasingly using business NBN Enterprise Ethernet to support cloud-based business operations, remote file storage, content hosting, unified communications, large file distribution, and to connect head office locations.

"However, for decades the location of a business - whether its in the city or outer metropolitan area, peri-urban fringe, regional city, town or rural area - has been the determining factor in the price they pay for business-grade fibre.

For business NBN Enterprise Ethernet customers, we are helping to level the playing field and ensuring that more businesses throughout Australia can participate in the digital economy on an equal footing, with greater parity on recurring monthly wholesale charges in more locations.

New wholesale pricing discounts

NBN said that the NBN Business Fibre Initiative helps level the playing field for businesses of all sizes and in more locations by reducing the significant variation that has existed in the cost of business broadband services in regional and rural areas compared to CBD Zones.

NBN added, eligible businesses within any of NBN Business Fibre Zones that order an Enterprise Ethernet service will receive their chosen speed tier and service based on the same CBD-equivalent wholesale charge that is applied to a company based in a CBD Zone.

NBN Co announced that it will be introducing further discounts for Enterprise Ethernet. NBN says, the discounted wholesale pricing will be offered in relation to new and existing customers within all NBN Business Fibre Zones. The company will also offer the wholesale pricing discounts to eligible businesses outside of new and existing NBN Business Fibre Zones.

Further discounts within NBN Business Fibre Zones

NBN said that, "Businesses that were previously located in Zone 3 (regional areas such as Broken Hill), which have now been incorporated into a new NBN Business Fibre Zone, will be able to take advantage of wholesale pricing discounts of up to 68%.

"Businesses located in any of the existing 240 NBN Business Fibre Zones may also benefit from wholesale pricing discounts of up to 37%, where the Zone and Bandwidth discounts are combined.

"For businesses that are located outside an existing NBN Business Fibre Zone, NBN Co will offer wholesale discounts of up to 58%, where the Zone and Bandwidth discounts are combined."

Fibre build cost certainty

NBN continues, "From 9 August 2021, for eligible businesses located within any of the NBN Business Fibre Zones, NBN Co will offer a no up-front build cost to internet providers when they order an Enterprise Ethernet product. Additionally, if the internet provider signs up for a three-year Enterprise Ethernet service, they will have no up-front connection cost.

"For businesses that are located outside an existing NBN Business Fibre Zone, customers are quoted for the design and construction of their required fibre extension to their premises as part of the ordering process5. It is common practice within the industry that when unforeseen costs, such as additional civil works, trenching and site restoration are identified, those costs are passed on to resellers and then to end customers.

"To eliminate any uncertainty, NBN Co is introducing a new Fibre Build Quote Guarantee. For all locations in the NBN fixed line footprint, NBN Co will offer Retail Service Providers a guarantee on all Fibre Build Quotes5. It will not pass on any variations to resellers, providing them and end customers much greater certainty on their upfront costs.

"NBN Co will also introduce a Service Delivery Guarantee, under which it commits to complete the design and construction of new fibre infrastructure in most business locations within the NBN fixed line footprint within 50 business days. This is designed to be the first step of many improvements to help ensure our resellers and customers are able to get connected more quickly and easily.

NBN Business Fibre Zones across Australia

New South Wales

NBN advise, in New South Wales, ten new NBN Business Fibre Zones will be created in metropolitan and regional areas throughout the state, which will give businesses access to premium business-grade services when they order a business NBN Enterprise Ethernet service.

NBN said, the ten new NBN Business Fibre Zones in New South Wales are located on the tip of Sydneys northern beaches peninsula from Avalon to Palm Beach, Camden, Casino, Cessnock, Hunters Hill, Lithgow, Nelson Bay, Singleton, Wauchope and a Lake Macquarie - West zone incorporating parts of Morisset, Toronto, West Wallsend and Edgeworth.

Whitcomb said, The new NBN Business Fibre Zones will cover more than 17,500 eligible businesses.

Of the ten new zones, three are in metropolitan areas covering around 6,000 business locations and seven are located in regional and remote New South Wales, covering around 11,500 eligible business premises.

NBN say it has now established a total of 103 NBN Business Fibre Zones in New South Wales with the first 93 zones established as part of the companys investment to deliver premium business-grade Enterprise Ethernet availability to lift the digital capabilities of eligible businesses in those areas.

Victoria

NBN said it will be establishing 13 new NBN Business Fibre Zones across the state, with eight of the zones in metropolitan locations and five new zones in regional and remote areas.

Whitcomb said, The 13 new zones will enable approximately 19,500 additional businesses to become eligible to acquire access to premium business nbn Enterprise Ethernet services.

Of the 13 new zones, eight are in metropolitan areas covering around 14,500 business locations and five are located in regional Victoria, covering around 5,000 eligible business premises.

The 13 new NBN Business Fibre Zones in Victoria are located in Balwyn-Surrey Hills, Bentleigh, Cowes, Eltham, Glenroy, Hampton-Sandringham, Hastings-Tyabb, Melton, Ocean Grove, Rosebud, Tatura, Torquay, and Yarrawonga.

NBN say it has now established a total of 61 NBN Business Fibre Zones in Victoria with the first 48 zones established as part of the companys investment to deliver premium business-grade Enterprise Ethernet availability to lift the digital capabilities of eligible businesses in those areas.

Queensland

NBN said it will be establishing nine new NBN Business Fibre Zones across the state, with one additional zone in the rapidly growing northern Brisbane suburb of North Lakes and eight new zones in regional and remote areas.

Whitcomb said, The nine new zones will enable approximately 12,500 additional businesses to become eligible to acquire access to premium business NBN Enterprise Ethernet services.

Of the nine new zones, one is in metropolitan Brisbane covering around 3,000 business locations and eight are located in regional Queensland, covering around 9,500 eligible business premises.

The nine new NBN Business Fibre Zones in Queensland are located in Ayr, Dalby, Emerald, Goondiwindi, Hervey Bay, Nambour, North Lakes, Warwick, and Yeppoon.

NBN say it has now established a total of 49 NBN Business Fibre Zones in Queensland with the first 40 zones established as part of the companys investment to deliver premium business-grade Enterprise Ethernet availability to lift the digital capabilities of eligible businesses in those areas.

Western Australia

NBN says, in Western Australian, four new NBN Business Fibre Zones will be created, with three zones in metropolitan locations and one zone in Collie in the South West region of Western Australia.

The four new NBN Business Fibre Zones in Western Australia are located in Cottesloe, Joondalup, Maddington and Collie.

The four new zones will enable approximately 8,000 additional businesses to become eligible to acquire access to premium business nbn Enterprise Ethernet services, said Whitcomb.

NBN says it has now established a total of 27 NBN Business Fibre Zones in Western Australia with the first 23 zones established as part of the companys investment to deliver premium business-grade Enterprise Ethernet availability to lift the digital capabilities of eligible businesses in those areas.

South Australia

NBN said, five new NBN Business Fibre Zones are set to be established in South Australia, with an emphasis on strengthening the digital connectivity capabilities for businesses located in regional and remote locations.

The establishment of the new zones will include approximately 4,000 additional eligible businesses across South Australia with approximately 2,000 additional eligible business locations in metropolitan areas and around 2,000 in regional areas, said Whitcomb.

The five new NBN Business Fibre Zones in South Australia are located in Goolwa, Modbury, Naracoorte, Port Pirie and Stirling.

NBN say it has now established a total of 29 NBN Business Fibre Zones in South Australia with the first 24 zones in metropolitan and regional areas established as part of the companys $700 million investment to deliver premium-business grade Enterprise Ethernet availability to lift the digital capabilities of eligible businesses in those areas.

ACT

NBN said it will be creating two new NBN Business Fibre Zones in the Australian Capital Territory in Gungahlin and Tuggeranong.

Whitcomb said, The two new Business Fibre Zone locations will include more than 3,300 additional business in the ACT.

In Gungahlin more than 1,800 businesses will now be included in the Business Fibre Zone, and approximately 1,200 business premises in the Tuggeranong area will also be included in the zone.

NBN says it has now established a total of seven NBN Business Fibre Zones in the ACT with the first five zones in metropolitan and regional areas established as part of the companys investment to deliver premium business-grade Enterprise Ethernet availability to lift the digital capabilities of eligible businesses in those areas.

Tasmania

NBN said, in Tasmania, it is setting up one new NBN Business Fibre Zone, which will be located in George Town and Bell Bay.

The new Business Fibre Zone will include approximately 450 eligible businesses in George Town and Bell Bay, said Whitcomb.

NBN says it has now established a total of five NBN Business Fibre Zones in Tasmania with the first zones now well-established in Hobart, Burnie, Launceston and Davenport as part of the companys investment to deliver premium business-grade Enterprise Ethernet availability to lift the digital capabilities of eligible businesses in those areas.

Northern Territory

NBN said it has previously established a total of three NBN Business Fibre Zones in the Northern Territory in Casuarina, Darwin and Palmerston as part of the companys investment to deliver premium business grade Enterprise Ethernet availability to lift the digital capabilities of eligible businesses in those areas.

Business Fibre Zones benefit eligible businesses in the Casuarina, Darwin and Palmerston areas of the Northern Territory, said Whitcomb.

A detailed list of all existing NBN Business Fibre Zones, and maps of each zone, nationally, is available here.

Comments

I haven't been a fan of NBN over-building business fibre in CBD locations, it seemed a waste of capital and its initial sales approach somewhat anti-competitive. They were effectively buying market-share with public funds in order to continue to support their forecasted 3% ROI.

However, building out in regional communities, not supported in the past, will have positive economic outcomes for those communities and the country. Business is going through a paradigm change, accelerated by COVID-19, with remote working and rethinking where businesses can effectively operate. Having access to affordable business grade services in these locations will enable more business decentralisation and drive better economic outcomes for regional Australia.
This Week in Review

A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
Sudan and the International Criminal Court signed a cooperation deal Thursday as one step further towards ex-dictator Omar al-Bashir facing trial for genocide in the Darfur conflict.

ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan, who described the Darfur civil war as a dark chapter in Sudans history, said plans were underway for The Hague-based ICC to open an office in Sudan to collect further evidence to build a solid case.

Bashir, 77, has been wanted by the ICC for more than a decade over charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Sudanese region.

Two other former aides are also wanted to face war crimes charges.

The United Nations says 300,000 people were killed and 2.5 million displaced in the Darfur conflict, which erupted in the vast western region in 2003.

Sudan has been led since August 2019 by a transitional civilian-military administration, that has vowed to bring justice to victims of crimes committed under Bashir.

On Thursday, Khan told reporters in Khartoum that he was pleased to report the transitional government had signed a new memorandum of understanding with my office, that includes all individuals against whom warrants of arrest have been issued by the ICC.

Bashir, who ruled Sudan with an iron fist for three decades before being deposed amid popular protests in 2019, is behind bars in Khartoums high security Kober prison.

 Slow wheels of justice 

The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Bashir in 2009 for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, later adding genocide to the charges.

Bashir is jailed alongside two other former top officials facing ICC war crimes charges  ex-defence minister Abdel Rahim Mohamed Hussein and Ahmed Haroun, a former governor of South Kordofan.

Earlier this week, Sudans cabinet agreed to hand over Bashir and other wanted officials, a decision that still needs the approval of the ruling sovereign council, comprised of military and civilian figures.

But on Thursday, Khan said other key steps were needed before any possible extradition for trial.

Transfer of any suspect is an important step, but should be preceded and accompanied by substantive and ever deepening cooperation, Khan said.

The Darfur war broke out in 2003 when non-Arab rebels took up arms complaining of systematic discrimination by Bashirs Arab-dominated government.

Khartoum responded by unleashing the notorious Janjaweed militia, recruited from among the regions nomadic peoples.

Human rights groups have long accused Bashir and his former aides of using a scorched earth policy, raping, killing, looting and burning villages.

Khartoum signed a peace deal last October with key Darfuri rebel groups, with some of their leaders taking top jobs in government, although violence continues to dog the region.

Bashir was convicted in December 2019 for corruption, and has been on trial in Khartoum since July 2020 for the Islamist-backed 1989 coup which brought him to power. He faces a possible death penalty if found guilty.
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U.S. and U.K. will deploy troops to help Evacuate staff After Joe Biden decided to withdraw US troops, the Taliban continued to carry out lightning offensives on the capital cities of Afghanistan.

The Pentagon stated that it will send 3,000 soldiers to Kabul in the next few days to help the embassy evacuate, including aircraft that can send personnel out of the Afghan capital and a reserve brigade of 3,500 soldiers to prevent the security situation from deteriorating further.

The US State Department stated that it was withdrawing diplomats due to the threat of the Talibans offensive, adding that only a small number of personnel would remain after the operation was completed.

The British deployment, also announced yesterday, will include 600 soldiers to speed up the evacuation of some diplomats and Afghans working with the British army.

read more: Taliban captured Kandahar And Herat, Afghanistans second and third largest city, after a day of fighting.The militant group has taken control of 12 provincial capitals set a goal In Kabul.

View: Different results may still occur in Afghanistan-but only if the United Nations and other agencies act now, Mark Malloch-Brown writes, Chairman of the Open Society Foundation. (FT, Associated Press)

There are five more stories in the news

1. Adidas sells Reebok for up to 2.1 billion euros Adidas is Sell Reebok provided up to 2.1 billion euros in funding to Authentic Brands, an American celebrity and apparel licensing group. The deal cleared the line for the German sportswear manufacturers unfortunate $3.8 billion acquisition in 2005 in an attempt to compete with rival Nike.

2. Reddits value jumps to 10 billion U.S. dollars Online discussion forum, its users Disrupt the U.S. stock market This year, after a new round of financing, it is experiencing its own valuation leap Worth 10 billion U.S. dollars. In the past two and a half years, the value of the company has tripled.

3. Extreme weather causes insurance losses to skyrocket Wildfires, U.S. winter storms and European tornadoes helped deal with the estimates $40 billion blow For global insurance companies, the first half of 2021 is the worst start for natural catastrophe insurance in a decade.

4. UK-Ireland freight rates drop by 29% The post-Brexit trade frictions include Significant changeThe volume of freight between the UK and the Republic of Ireland has fallen by nearly a third since January. Irish companies have chosen to ship their goods directly to Europe.

5. The deadly Plymouth shooting The British police reported that in what they called Serious gun incidentYesterday in a city in southwest England. The details of the attack are limited, but it is widely reported as a domestic incident.

Coronavirus Digest

US Health officials are preparing to authorize Third dose Moderna and BioNTech/Pfizer vaccines are used in adults with weakened immune functions.

This British Decrease in infection rate Has slowed down, A leading survey found that there are signs of rising.The countrys economy has grown 4.8% In the second quarter, as restrictions were relaxed, consumers eagerly spent money.

NHS in the UK Preparing for record breaking Waiting list It is used for routine hospital treatment and emergency services in summer.

new Zealand Next year, its international borders will be reopened and the speed of vaccination will be accelerated, which is the slowest among developed countries.Key industries have lobbied to relax restrictions to solve the problem Severe skills shortage.

After losing the sprint, the European Union led the vaccine marathon, Our editorial board wrote. register For us Coronavirus business update communication.

Thank you for participating in the voting on Wednesday. 82% said that the government should absolutely enforce the use of coronavirus vaccine passports.

the day before

football A new football season Kick off Today in Europe.This After Messi is In Spains La Liga and the Premier League in the first game of England saw the newly promoted Brentford host Arsenal. In Germany, the Bundesliga has also returned. (Associated Press, Financial Times)

income Suzuki Motor, Alrosa, and Rusal are among the companies reporting earnings.Read the full list here.

What are we still reading

How Turkey became a European tech star Since last summer, the valuation of Turkish technology companies has exceeded the $1 billion mark, which is considered Business successAlthough a series of investments have made Istanbul a veritable city, its new success has been brewing for many years.

The $600 million robbery illustrates the future of cryptocurrency In a traditional bank siege, observers may need to rely on news helicopters hovering overhead to get updates. In encrypted robberies, such as this weeks robbery, you can see all this directly on your smartphone. This is a fascinating story that reveals many situations in the current industry, Adam Samson wrote.

go on holiday?Keep the to-do list at home The pressure to increase productivity is everywhere, even during vacations. But how often can we honestly look back at our day and say that no minute was wasted? Tired when it happens. We cannot burn brightly every day, Tim Harford wrote.

Tim Harford: A good time management system provides the same clear commitments every day, and the same inner peace comes from the confidence that you spend your time wisely  Anna Wray



Security policy As a woman, I dont know what dark alleys or rushing footsteps are, which is more or less unimaginable. The murder of Sarah Everard brought this matter into focus.But focus on Street and stranger safety There is little help for women who have suffered male violence in the family sphere.

Red State Rescue Dogs Leading the Blue State Life Since 2014, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has relocated 140,000 dogs from overcrowded southern shelters, most of which have moved north. Culture is part of this, although it is a tricky topic: dogs are sometimes seen in the South as being more easily abandoned and treated as such. Joshua Chaffin wrote, When he was studying the origins of Louis, the Tennessee Hound he adopted last year.

recipe

Apricot Rice Pudding Cold storage service, Rowley Leighs Summer turn Even on the hottest days, traditional dishes will be very popular.

Rice pudding is perfect for gatherings  Andy Sewell


Weeks after its premiere, Netflix excites fans by releasing the official trailer and main poster of the upcoming series "D.P."

Netflix's Newly Unveiled Trailer and Poster Introduces Jung Hae In and Goo Kyo Kwan's Exciting Journey as D.P Members

On August 13, Netflix made a full blast promotion of their forthcoming drama "D.P." Not one but two, from the main poster to the official trailer, viewers can't hide their eagerness to watch the said show.

Let's talk about the main poster first. It gives a sneak peek of Ahn Jun Ho (Jung Hae In) and Han Ho Yeol (Goo Kyo Hwan) duality as active members of the civilian society. The poster clearly projects the two different worlds that Jun Ho and Ho Yeol will be living with.

As they travel around Korea with their hair grown and wearing their simple and daily outfits, they are also hiding their identity as soldiers in order to fulfill their mission to catch deserters.

Meanwhile, in the official trailer released, the future viewers of "D.P" have a closer look at what to look forward to in the upcoming episodes of the series. It started on Ahn Jun Ho, who is tasked to track down the deserters outside the military camp.

As a newly recruited individual, Jun Ho was puzzled by his responsibilities as a D.P (Deserter Pursuit) team member. But he will not have a lonely journey because he has Han Ho Yeol with him.

The two joined forces to complete their tasks. Before they begin their journey, Han Ho Yeol reveals a secret to Ahn Jun Ho that in order for them to easily catch the deserters, they must try to become one of them first.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'D.P' Still Cuts Illustrate Jung Hae In and Goo Kyo Hwan's Bromance as They Undergo Brutal Military Training

Jung Hae In and Goo Kyo Hwan's Back to Back Projects

Actors Jung Hae In and Goo Kyo Hwan's first drama collaboration is already gaining anticipation from fans.

Not to mention that Goo Kyo Hwan recently participated in the blockbuster movie "Escape from Mogadishu." And is now dominating the Asian and the U.S market.

Plus, Goo Kyo Hwan also shared the screen with actors Ju Ji Hoon and Jun Ji Hyun in Netflix's original series "Kingdom: Ashin of the North." The 54th Baeksang Arts Award winner is already booked to appear in TVING's upcoming series "Strange," which is set to premiere in 2022.

Meanwhile, the "Something in the Rain" actor Jung Hae In has also confirmed his participation in Lee Je Hoon's directorial film debut "Unframed." Not just that, Jung Hae In also has an upcoming Korean drama "Snowdrop" where he will be working with BLACKPINK member Kim Jisoo.

Netflix's original series "D.P" will be available on August 27, be sure to watch it!

Are you also excited to watch Jung Hae In and Goo Kyo Hwan's first drama collaboration? Share it with us in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Written by Shai Collins.
On August 13, tvN's new romantic comedy-drama series "Hometown Cha-cha-cha" released a new set of photo stills featuring its lead actors Shin Min Ah and Kim Seon Ho.

"Hometown Cha-cha-cha" is Shin Min Ah and Kim Seon Ho's first project together. The two actors shared their thoughts and impressions about each other's characters, as well as the charms that the two characters possess.

Shin Min Ah and Kim Seon Ho Shares Their Thoughts On Their Characters in 'Hometown Cha-cha-cha'

Legendary actress Shin Min Ah will be taking on the role of the frosty yet charming dentist Yoon Hye Jin who just moved from Seoul to the quaint and peaceful seaside village of Gongjin.

Opposite Kim Seon Ho who will be playing the role of the handsome and free-spirited all-rounder handyman Hong Doo Shik.

The two are like two opposing poles, they both have different preferences and individual quirks that lead them to an endless banter every time they see each other.

Despite that, the two eventually find themselves drawn to each other as they develop huge and gentle feelings as they enter each other's lives on a much personal level.

According to the actress, Kim Seon Ho's character is warm-hearted and enjoys his life to the fullest. Shin Min Ah added that his empathetic and free-spirited self is his charm that will surely make the viewers feel good as they watch him on the small screen.

On the other hand, Kim Seon Ho praised Shin Min Ah for his portrayal of her character. He described her character as a person who has natural charms and someone who is easy to love wherever she goes, no matter what she does. He added that these traits would make the viewers love her as well as resonate with her in the drama series.

Shin Min Ah and Kim Seon Ho On Their On-Screen Chemistry

The two actors confidently shared that they have very great chemistry and perfect synergy.

Shin Min Ah shared, "Our chemistry is a "four-beat rhythm." We tune in very well with one another. Despite the endless bickering, our teamwork is unmatched. And even if Hong Doo Sik and Yoon Hye Jin are like two opposing poles, they surprisingly have a lot in common."

The two also thought of their new "love team name". Playing with their characters' names, the actor shared that they are the "SikHye Couple".

Kim Seon Ho reasoned, "Our chemistry is like sikhye (Korean sweet rice drink). It's sweet and refreshing that you crave to drink it in the scorching hot summer."

They also shared their desire while their drama aired. "I want to give viewers a sweet and refreshing feeling that will make them often think of our chemistry and acting prowess as "SikHye Couple."

Fans and viewers expect that the new drama series and the two actors will exceed their set expectations.

'Hometown Cha-cha-cha' Production and Release Date

"Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" (also known as "Seaside Village Cha-Cha-Cha" or "Fishing Village Cha-Cha-Cha") is a 2021 drama remake of the 2004 film "Mr. Handy, Mr. Hong," which starred Uhm Jung Hwa and Kim Joo Hyuk. It is helmed by filmmaker Yoo Je Won and scriptwriter Shin Ha Eun and produced by Studio Dragon.

The drama revolves around the romantic affairs between the uptight and pragmatic dentist Yoon Hye Jin (Shin Min Ah) and all-around handyman Hong Doo Shik (Kim Seon Ho) in the beautiful seaside village of Gongjin.

"When the Camellia Blooms" actor Lee Sang Yi, "Cheer Up!" actor In Gyo Jin, "Run On" star Lee Bong Ryun, and "national grandma" Kim Young Ok will also be starring in the show.

"Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" premieres on August 28 at 9 p.m. KST on tvN. It will also be available for international streaming on Netflix.

ICYMI, here's the refreshing "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" teaser:

Source: (1)

Follow KDramastars for more Kdrama, KMovie, and celebrity news updates!

KDramastars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
ETNA, Calif.  Crews battling a constellation of fires across Siskiyou County are struggling against extreme weather conditions at the close of this week, with thunderstorms bringing high winds and the threat of lightning strikes to the prevailing hot and dry landscape.

On the Antelope Fire burning around the remote community of Tennant, that led to extreme fire behavior even in the overnight hours this week, creating dramatic scenes of blazing flames and billowing smoke through the mountain forestlands northwest of Mount Shasta.

"Typically, fire activity decreases overnight as humidity increases and temperatures drop," fire officials said Thursday. "Extremely dry fuels are contributing to active fire behavior that is not commonly seen during the night."

Fire officials say that they anticipate one more day of extreme fire weather amid Red Flag conditions on Friday afternoon and evening, while crews work to contain the most active areas of the fire on the southwest and northeast perimeter where flames pushed past control lines earlier this week.

Firefighters are working to reinforce contingency lines west of Lower Garner Road in an attempt stop the fires eastward progression. Meanwhile, efforts continue near Antelope Canyon where the fire moved west toward Harts Meadow. Officials said they are working with logging companies and other local partners to identify advantageous areas to build additional containment lines if needed. In the southeast area of the fire, crews were assisted by winds that pushed the fire back onto itself and slowed its progression along the fire perimeter from Garner Mountain southwest to Typhoon Ridge.

Evacuation orders remain in effect for Mount Hebron, Shasta Wood, Duck Lake, the Round Valley area south of Red Rock Road, including Long Prairie Road, Robison Road, and Old State Highway. An evacuation warning has been issued for the areas east of Garner Mountain, south of Red Rock Road, west of the Medicine Lake area including Red Cap Mountain, north of Harris Springs Road, along with the Antelope Sink areas, Tennant, Bray, Red Rock Road, Medicine Lake, Payne Spring, and Blanche Lake.

The Antelop Fire was last estimated at 47,762 acres with containment at 24 percent.

In the far southeastern corner of Siskiyou County, crews are still working to contain the River Complex fires. The most active remains the Haypress Fire, which spread southeast along McNeil Creek and up to Adams and Packers Peak on the border of the Klamath and Shasta-Trinity forests.

"Infrared data shows the fire is backing downslope to the east into Coffee Creek near the Crosby and Thompson Gulch area," fire officials said. "The Coffee Creek area is an area of very dense continuous mixed conifer forest with no previously recorded fire history."

The smaller Summer Fire saw limited growth to the northwest, while the Cronan Fire backed somewhat to the southwest.

The River Complex was last estimated at a total 36,954 acres with containment at 10 percent. Evacuation orders remain in place for Cecilville, Summerville, Petersburg, and Coffee Creek past Sugar Pine Campground in Trinity County. Sawyers Bar remains under an evacuation warning.
LAKEVIEW, Ore.  Governor Kate Brown on Friday invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act for the Patton Meadow Fire in Lake County. The fire emerged on Thursday about 10 miles west of Lakeview, growing to at least 7,000 acres and causing Level 3 "GO" evacuation orders.

A declaration of conflagration allows state-level resources to deploy to a fire because a "threat to life, safety, and property exists," exceeding the ability of local firefighters to suppress. More specifically, it clears the way for the Office of the State Fire Marshal to bring in firefighters and equipment to help with the response.

Brown's office said that the OSFM Blue Incident Management Team is mobilizing to the fire and will assume unified command with the Oregon Department of Forestry's Team 3. Seven firefighter taskforces have been mobilized, with two arriving on the scene as of Thursday.

Fire officials said Friday that crews are working to keep the Patton Meadow Fire north of Highway 140 and west of buildings along Cottonwood Road.

As of Thursday night, evacuations of multiple levels remained in place west of Lakeview  Level 3 "GO" for Juniper RV Park to Patton Meadow and all of Drews Gap on both sides of Highway 140; Level 2 "Be Set" for areas north of Hwy 140 from Juniper RV Park to Lower Cottonwood; and Level 1 "Be Ready" for areas east of Lower Cottonwood Road and Cottonwood Creek.

The Red Cross has established an evacuation center for the Patton Meadow Fire at Daly Middle School, located at 220 South H St. in Lakeview.

Another fire, the Willow Valley Fire, is burning 16 miles southeast of Bonanza in Klamath County, right along the Oregon-California state line. Fire officials said Friday that the fire is estimated at 800 acres, including 37 acres within California, with no containment.

"Both fires were caused by lightning yesterday afternoon," fire officials said. "Firefighters are expecting rapid growth on both fires today due to forecasted weather, current fuel conditions and a lack of resources."

The Patton Meadow Fire is threatening communication infrastructure on Grizzly Peak.

ODF Team 3 is expected to arrive in the area the area today for both the Patton Meadow and Willow Valley Fires. The Oregon State Fire Marshal Blue Team is arriving in Lakeview on Friday for the Patton Meadow Fire.
EAGLE POINT, Ore.  The Eagle Point School District has joined their counterparts in Medford in lobbying Governor Kate Brown to return decisions over coronavirus countermeasures in schools to local school and public health officials.

The Eagle Point School District 9 Board of Directors passed a resolution this week to urge Governor Brown for a return to local control, asking that EPSD be allowed to work with Jackson County Public Health on determining "the appropriate mitigation strategies for our schools."

Brown directed the Oregon Health Authority and Department of Education at the end of July to require masks indoors for K-12 students and staff. That mandate was followed this week by a broad requirement statewide for everyone, vaccinated or unvaccinated, in indoor public spaces.

The Governor's decisions come amid a statewide surge in both COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, overwhelming the ability of healthcare systems to handle the volume of sick patients with staffing stretched incredibly thin.

In a letter accompanying the resolution, Superintendent Andrew Kovach acknowledged the existing threat from the Delta variant while echoing the demand for local control.

"We understand perfectly that the arrival of the Delta variant is significant and that we at EPSD9 would have needed to review our planned procedures for the coming school year whether or not your office had taken any action," Kovach wrote. "We understand as well that your decision gave us, the leadership of this school district, short-term political cover for an unpopular decision that we would quite possibly have had to make ourselves."

Nevertheless, Kovach said that Brown's decision to take back local control after only few weeks of restoring that authority is "harmful in the long-term," eroding trust in the Governor's future decisions and undermining faith that local institutions can make difficult decisions.

Brown said in a press conference Wednesday that local officials had not reacted quickly enough to the current conditions, forcing her hand.

"In late January, Eagle Point was one of the first Oregon school districts to return to in-person instruction," Kovach continued. "We did so safely with robust systems that maintained a low rate (10%) of quarantine for many months. We did so while the larger proportion of Oregon students, including children of color and children in poverty, remained in virtual instruction."

Kovach asked Brown to give the resolution her "strongest consideration."

While COVID-19 has proven to be less harmful to children and teens than older adults, the advent of the Delta variant and widespread availability of vaccines has changed the landscape of where cases are emerging. Because the vaccines are not yet approved for children under 12 and vaccination rates are highest among seniors, cases are skewing younger.

Jackson County Public Health reported Friday that only 7 percent of recent cases are among people 70 and older, while ages 19 and younger represented 15 percent of cases. Ages 20 through 39 amounted to 39 percent of cases. About 30 percent of cases were 50 or older.
The COVID-19 infection rate in BC has leaped to 536, a figure not seen since mid-May. There are more than 3,500 active cases in the province and more than half of those are in the Interior Health region.

You voted:
EUGENE, Ore. -- With more than one fire burning in Lane County, officials have set up an evacuation shelter for livestock and bigger animals at the county fairgrounds.

This is the second time the county has done this, with the first time being for the Holiday Farm Fire.

Elyse Larkin, the animal welfare officer for Lane County, said the fairgrounds is the ideal shelter for livestock.

Anyone under an evacuation notice due to the Kwis or Knoll fire are encouraged to evacuate animals early.

I think an added factor this year with the fires is also the temperatures that we're seeing, said Larkin. So not only are animals going to be stressed by the smoke but they're also going to be stressed by the heat.

The shelter is currently open from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. but times may change depending on the evacuation notices.

Those with pets can reach out to Greenhill Humane Society for evacuation shelters.

Evacuation crates are available at the Oakridge Fire Station from 8 a.m to 4 p.m.
National women's health campaigner and Mooncoin native Vicky Phelan flew back to the United States last Sunday after spending some time with her family in Ireland but has since received some disheartening news.

In a post shared by Vicky on social media this week, Phelan told followers that she is moving to a new trial in the U.S. after her doctors weren't "seeing the results that they would like" from her current treatment procedure.

"I am back in the States since Sunday evening and met with my doctor Tuesday to discuss a plan going forward," Phelan writes.

"Basically, my team are not seeing the results that they would like and think it would be best if I come off my current trial and start on a new (but similar) trial which has just started enrolling patients on it this week.

"And so, following a LOT of thinking over the past month I decided after yesterday's meeting and results from my last scan which showed growth in 2 of my tumours, that I would move to this new clinical trial and give it a shot."

Vicky will undergo a series of scans and tests next week before starting this new treatment regime but she notes that it will be very similar to the clinical trial that she was on.

"I will post a video update next week once I know more and once I have settled back in over here," she added, before thanking everybody for their support during such an emotional time.

"I am very emotional at the moment. I did not want to come back! I spent the first two days this week crying every time I thought of my kids and I found it so difficult trying to hold it together when I spoke to them on FaceTime... I am feeling less homesick and less teary today. I will just take it one day at a time at the moment so please bear with me.

"Thank you all for your wonderful support, as always."
MASON CITY, Iowa - The first day of school is right around the corner, and you may be checking what you need off your list. But for some families in financial straits, getting necessary supplies like notebooks, folders, backpack and clothing can be stressful.

Kaylee Ciavarelli notes that it can be an annual dilemma.

"The clothes, the shoes, the school supplies, all at once for one kid is a lot, let alone four kids or for single parent homes."

Having been in this situation before, she's paying it forward, volunteering at Thursday's Back to School Block Party. She acknowledges the amount of support each year that helps take the guesswork out of making sure kids are prepared for the school year.

"This takes away a lot of stress for parents that need a little help.

"We want them to have the fresh start, going to school feeling good, feeling confident about this year."

According to a survey from Deloitte, consumers are projected to spend 16% more than last year on school supplies. The National Retail Federation cites supply chain disruptions and port congestion are behind the increase. To alleviate that increase, KIMT and our Giving Your Best partner Diamond Jo Casino teamed up with the Salvation Army, the United Way of North Central Iowa and other community organizations on providing students with a backpack full of supplies, shoes and other essential items for the upcoming school year. About 500 backpacks were distributed in just under two hours.

Major Geffory Crowell has been hearing from kids and parents who are eager to return to some sense of a normal school year, and the struggle for paying for supplies.

"Usually, there's a giant section full to the ceiling. This year, there's been a shortage, and prices are up. There's probably going to be more children in need."

Even when the pandemic eventually passes, Crowell hopes this type of large community/organization setup will be utilized in future years.

"People are excited. I think this is going to be a big event, and hopefully, it can be annual."

The Salvation Army will have a second supply pickup day next Thursday beginning at 10 a.m. at the Salvation Army's office across from Menards.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  Iowas Ethics Board has found that Republican Governor Kim Reynolds didnt violate any laws when she appeared in a series of taxpayer-funded ads last fall promoting coronavirus public safety measures.

The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board voted unanimously Thursday to find Reynolds did not violate a 2018 state law that prohibits statewide elected officials from using public funds for self-promotion.

Iowa's Democratic state auditor, Rob Sand, had accused Reynolds of the ethical violation, saying the ad campaign she launched in November was used to promote her own image when she appeared in several of the ads encouraging mask-wearing.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - The organization, Education Minnesota, is encouraging all educators to get vaccinated and wear a face mask in school this year. Nearly 90% of educators in the U.S. are already vaccinated, but Education Minnesota is wanting to raise that percentage even higher over the next two weeks.

The president, Denise Specht, said while the state cannot force a vaccine policy on employees of local school districts because the governor no longer has emergency powers, districts themselves can come up with an agreement around the vaccine if need be.

Education Minnesota created a sample agreement if local school districts want to have either a vaccine mandate or require weekly testing for educators who can't get the shot. "Many of our students don't qualify for the COVID vaccine, so they are unprotected," explained Specht. "It is paramount that educators do everything they can to keep their students safe and to think about the safety of their colleagues, too."

Specht said they want to make sure every educator has a voice and the students stay safe this fall. "All signs are pointing to a positive start, so that's really great. But we also know that all signs are also pointing to COVID cases on the rise," she explained. "So, we're just kind of excited to start. We want to be in-person, but we have this in the back of our minds like, 'here we go again.'" Specht said if something changes in the future and schools have to switch back to online learning, the good news is they already know how to do it.

On Wednesday, Governor Tim Walz announced that every state worker must either be fully vaccinated by September 8th or get a negative COVID-19 test at least once a week. That includes some educators across the state.
MASON CITY, Iowa - A Mason City woman is facing a felony first-degree theft charge for allegedly stealing money over the course of 18 months from a chiropractic business where she worked.

Sydney Keith, 25, was arrested Thursday and booked into the Cerro Gordo County Jail.

According to court documents, Keith worked at the clinic and stole more than $10,000 from the business from April 2019 to October of 2020.
ST. PAUL, Minn.  Student vaccinations for COVID-19 have more than doubled since Minnesota launched its Vax to School campaign in July.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) says since the campaign began, more than 20,000 12-17-year-olds across the state have now received their first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and are on their way to being fully vaccinated by the beginning of the school year. The weekly number of first doses administered to 12-15-year-old and 16-17-year-old students is up 107% and 112% respectively since the start of Vax to School.

MDH says students who get vaccinated through Sunday are also eligible for a $100 Visa Gift card. Reward requests must be submitted to mn.gov/covid19/100/ by 11:59 pm on August 15. Vaccine information will be subject to verification by MDH.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. SSE winds at 5 to 10 mph, increasing to 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 62F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
According to a police statement, a number of people have died at the scene of a serious firearms incident in Keyham on August 12, in Plymouth, England.
Moon Hyun-jin, founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation, speaks during the virtual International Forum on One Korea 2021. Courtesy of Global Peace Foundation



By Kwon Mee-yoo



The world is looking at Korea's diplomatic priorities as South Korea pursues peaceful unification of the two Koreas, participants in an international forum organized by the Global Peace Foundation said Friday, sharing ideas on ways to achieve peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.



Moon Hyun-jin, founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation (GPF), called for greater attention to the movement for a free and unified Korea, during the High Plenary Session of the International Forum on One Korea 2021, the same day. The forum is running from Aug. 7 through 15 as part of the Global Peace Convention 2021.



Moon's book "Korean Dream," exploring the vision of a unified Korea, was reissued in observance of Korea's independence movement. In the book, Moon emphasizes that unification is needed to continue South Korea's "Miracle on the Han River," the remarkable economic transformation from a war-ravaged, agricultural society to a modern, high-tech economy in less than half a century.



"In the long term, unification will bring economic benefits that address all of these concerns. It would bring together the existing synergistic elements of both Koreas for the benefit of all. The South has a highly developed economy that is in dire need of new avenues for growth. The North provides those opportunities through its untapped natural resources, extensive need for new industries and infrastructure, an expanded labor pool, and in the long run, a larger combined domestic market," Moon said.



Edwin Feulner, founder and former president of the Heritage Foundation, said Moon's "Korean Dream" concept was timely.



"One of the most noteworthy and original aspects of Korean Dream is its emphasis on the importance of an overarching vision for a united Korea and the principles that should guide that vision and the need for a vigorous civic society to play a central role in the pursuit of unification," Feulner said.



Lee Jong-kul, president of the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, said peace and unification will emerge as a key topic in the upcoming presidential election and Koreans should refrain from making political interpretations of the road they are headed on to realize "complete independence."



U.S. Congresswoman Young Kim, who is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and co-chair of the Congressional Study Group on Korea, stressed that the Korean Peninsula issue is ranked high on the foreign policy priorities of the Joe Biden administration.



"The U.S. and South Korea must work together to stabilize the security situation on the Korean Peninsula. This requires the maintenance of a strong and coordinated U.S. force in South Korea, as well as increased coordination between Tokyo and Seoul on responding to and preparing for threats from North Korea that could go beyond basic intelligence sharing. We must form a united front through a trilateral partnership to ensure a more secure and stable relationship with North Korea," she said.



She also introduced the Divided Family's Reunification Act HRA26, which would push for opportunities for Korean Americans to reunite with their long-lost family members in North Korea.



North Korean defector-turned-lawmaker Tae Yong-ho of the main opposition People Power Party stated, "a papal visit to North Korea should be pursued to serve as planting the seeds of religious freedom in North Korea."



"Unlike other religious leaders, the Pope can play a very important role in ending the ideological confrontation between the two Koreas in that he can communicate with the leaders of the communist bloc," Tae said.



"The Pope's visit to North Korea should serve as a catalyst for religious freedom, human rights and a liberal democracy on the Korean Peninsula. We need to persuade and help build more religious facilities in Pyongyang and other destinations that will be mostly visited by South Koreans and foreign tourists."



However, he also cautioned, "The Pope's visit to North Korea is an issue that should be approached with great care because there is a possibility for the North to use it in its favor to seek the lifting of economic sanctions on the nuclear state."


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ROME, AUG 13 - Italy's COVID-19 Rt transmission number has dropped to 1.27 from 1.56 last week, according to a draft of the weekly coronavirus monitoring report of the health ministry and the Higher Health Institute (ISS). An Rt above 1 indicates the epidemic is in a phase of expansion. The incidence, however, has risen to 73 COVID cases for every 100,000 inhabitants from 68 last week, the draft of the report said. It said the proportion of Italy's intensive care places occupied by COVID patients had increased slightly to 4%, with 322 coronavirus sufferers in ICUs on August 10, compared to 258 on August 3. It said the proportion of ordinary hospital places taken up by COVID patients had risen to 5%. The report stressed that none of Italy's regions were above the critical thresholds for the proportion of COVID patients in intensive care and in ordinary hospital wards. The monitoring report will be presented at a press conference later on Friday. (ANSA).
One #terrorist who was killed in a gunfight between the terrorists and security forces in South Kashmir's Kulgam district has been identified as a Pakistani, officials said on Friday.



Photo: IANS (File) pic.twitter.com/VBlvS5789s IANS Tweets (@ians_india) August 13, 2021

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World Health Organization (WHO) chief Peter Embarek admitted that the first COVID patient in the world might have contracted the virus while working with bats at a laboratory in Wuhan, China.

The WHO chief revealed that the first case of COVID might have happened while getting samples from bats for research at the said laboratory.

READ NEXT: FDA to Authorize Pfizer, Moderna Booster Shots For Immunocompromised People Within 48 Hours

WHO Chief Says World's First COVID Patient Might be a Lab Worker

Peter Embarek told Denmark's television station TV2 that a lab worker instead of a random villager probably got the coronavirus first as lab workers have greater exposure to bats.

"An employee who was infected in the field by taking samples falls under one of the probable hypotheses," said Embarek, who led the WHO probe into the origins of the COVID pandemic in China.

Despite giving the shocking claims, the WHO chief underscored that the investigators from their organization have not yet found direct evidence of the said narrative.

Embarek made the shocking claim after he rejected the idea of the virus escaping from the laboratory. He initially dismissed the notion that the coronavirus escaped from a lab as extremely unlikely.

While still in China on the fact-finding mission, the WHO chief also called on scientists to stop investigating the possibility of the coronavirus escaping from the said laboratory.

WHO Chief Says Wuhan Lab Virus Leak Should be Further Investigated

Peter Embark said the Wuhan Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (WHCDC) lab was more concerning. The WHCDC is just a few hundred yards from the Huanan wet market, where experts say the first cluster of COVID cases was officially reported. It reportedly kept disease-ridden animals in its labs, including some 605 bats.

The market is also only a few miles from the Wuhan Institute of Virology lab, where researchers and scientists were reportedly studying and conducting experiments on bats and bat-based coronaviruses similar to COVID before the pandemic started.

Some experts believed that the market might have been simply the area where COVID cases were amplified and not where the coronavirus first breached the species barrier.

When Embarek and his team visited the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the WHCDC, the WHO chief noted that they were not permitted to look at the laboratory records. He also said the WHCDC lab was moved in December 2019 near the wet market, and the time of its transfer was when the cases started emerging.

"This is the period when it all started, and you know what when you move a laboratory, it is disruptive to everything. You have to move the virus collection, sample collection and other collections from one place to another... So at some point it will also be interesting to look at that period and this laboratory," Embarek noted.

The WHO chief earlier stressed the lack of evidence of transmission of the virus in "Wuhan or elsewhere" before December 2019. But Embarek later backtracked and said his team found at least 13 COVID variants in Wuhan, and about 1,000 individuals in Wuhan might have been infected with the virus in early December.

The presence of these different strains supports some claims that the coronavirus had been in development for some time.

Meanwhile, WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus still acknowledged that it was still "premature" to discard the possibility of a lab leak as the source of COVID. This statement was echoed by Embarek, stressing that there should be further investigations done on the idea.

Apart from the WHO officials, the lab leak theory was also supported by former CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield, who believed that the pathogen in Wuhan was from the laboratory that escaped.

The former CDC director said it was not unusual for the lab workers to be infected by respiratory diseases, especially when working on it.

READ MORE: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Threatens to Withhold Salaries of School District Officials Over Face Mask Mandate Dispute

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Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Inside The Wuhan Lab At Center Of Coronavirus Controversy - From TODAY
Hundreds of migrants, who had been expelled from the U.S. under pandemic-related restrictions and flown to Mexico, are now stranded in a border town in Guatemala.

Under the policy that originates back to the Trump era, "Title 42" allowed the expulsion of migrants over COVID concerns. With this in effect, the Biden administration began expelling Central American migrants to Mexico since last week. It was touted to be a much faster deportation procedure.

After they were flown from Brownsville, Texas to Villahermosa and Tapachula in Mexico on a chartered U.S. government flight, the migrants were then reportedly bused to El Ceibo, Guatemala near the Mexican border.

READ NEXT: CDC Extends Trump-Era Policy That Allows Migrants to Be Expelled at U.S. Border Over COVID Concerns

Central American Migrants Stuck in Guatemala

The migrants' swift expulsion was part of a partnership between the U.S. and Mexico governments. The Biden administration hopes it will deter migrants from returning to the U.S.-Mexico border.

The U.S. started flying migrant families deep into Mexico, which is far from the border, last Thursday. At least 200 Central American and Mexican family members were reportedly expelled deep into southern Mexico that day under the Trump-era policy, Title 42, that allows migrants to be deported over COVID concerns.

It was the first time that the Biden administration used Title 42 to expel migrants. It also appeared to be the first time that Central Americans have been flown to Mexico.

As the policy on the border continues to be applied, migrant shelters in Guatemala are becoming overcrowded. One of the shelters, Casa del Migrante, located in El Ceibo, was overwhelmed as more than 300 deported asylum seekers arrived in the area since Friday last week.

The said shelter, which was reported to have a maximum capacity of 30 people, implemented a two-night limit for the deported migrants.

Natalia Lorenzo from the Guatemalan government's human rights ombudsman told the Washington Post that the Central American migrants were tricked as they were told there would be a bus in El Ceibo that will take them to their countries but there's none.

Andres Toribio, the man who runs the shelter in El Ceibo, also told the Post that he was stunned by the large number of migrants arriving in their area. He said at least seven buses arrived with migrants from the U.S. on Monday night alone.

He added that another U.S. flight was due to leave for Mexico on Tuesday night and that the migrants would again later be bused to El Ceibo. Toribio noted that the rights of these migrants were violated as they were not given the right to apply for asylum in the U.S. or Mexico.

"Then they end up here in a place with almost nothing for them, without organizations that work with migrants," he added.

Concerns on Expulsion of Migrants from Central America

Different groups and organizations had expressed concerns about the U.S. government's migrant policy. On Wednesday, five agencies from the United Nations (UN) called on the Biden administration to lift the "Title 42" restriction on asylum.

Eleanor Acer, Human Rights First's senior director of refugee protection, said these expulsions are "illegal, inhumane, and blatant violations of U.S. refugee law and the Refugee Convention."

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas defended the Biden administration's strategy for dealing with migration to the border on Thursday. Mayorkas said the move aims to curb the repeated attempt of the migrants at getting into the U.S. illegally.

Mayorkas noted that they were working with the Mexican government regarding the flights. He also said that they comply with international law to provide humanitarian protection when warranted.

The border patrol agents encountered more than 212,000 migrants along the southwest border in July. Data from Customs and Border Protection showed that 27 percent were repeat crossers.

READ MORE: 11 Dead, 13 Injured in Crash Involving a Van Packed With Illegal Migrants in Texas

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Migrant Apprehensions at U.S. Border hit 21-Year High - From CBS Evening News
As Mexican drug cartels continue to fight over lucrative drug trafficking routes, an official confirmed Thursday that six male bodies were discovered hanging off a bridge in the city of Zacatecas in Mexico.

According to Reuters, a source at the local prosecutor's office said the half-naked bodies were discovered early morning. The source requested anonymity because he was not allowed to disclose the information to the public. Some newspapers in Mexico also reported the horrible find.

Turf and Route Wars of Mexican Drug Cartels

The city of Zacatecas, which is the capital of the state with a similar name, has been heavily damaged by the intense violence between rival Mexican drug cartels.

The Sinaloa Cartel and its biggest rival, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, battled over key trafficking routes in recent months.

Last month, 11 bodies were also found hanging under bridges in Zacatecas state. Some of the incidents were accompanied by threatening messages.

Some bodies were dumped in the municipalities of Valparaiso and Fresnillo that have also seen crime rates spike in the past weeks.

The official figures showed that in the first six months of the year to June, at least 536 individuals being killed in Zacatecas state, which was a 57 percent rise on the same period last year.

READ NEXT: 4 Cops in Mexico Arrested for Rape, Murder of a Young Man

2 Men Crucified in Mexico's Zacatecas

Two bodies were found separately hanging from trees in Fresnillo and Valparaiso on June 29. The next day, authorities discovered nine more bodies, all with torture marks, in Zacatecas state.

The two bodies were discovered in plastic bags in Fresnillo, while four were found wrapped in blankets in Zacatecas city. The other three bodies were located in Morelos municipality.

The killings were believed to be linked to the territorial dispute between two Mexican drug cartels - the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco Cartel.

On June 19, three bodies were found hanging from a bridge in Fresnillo. The municipal mayor of Fresnillo noted that after discovering the bodies of two slain police officers in an overpass in Zacatecas city, seven other individuals were massacred by gunfire in a Fresnillo home the same day.

Another gunfight between the Jalisco Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel in the municipality of Valparaiso left at least 18 people dead on June 23. Local media reports placed the death toll as high as 35 after further investigation.

Alejandro Tello, the governor of the northern state of Zacatecas, wrote to Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in February that the state, located between the Pacific coast ports and Mexico's northeastern border with the United States, made the region a drug trafficking nexus.

The Zacatecas governor sought support from the federal government after the security forces of the state and municipalities were outnumbered and outgunned by the rival Mexican drug cartels.

Tello said that "with opposing organized crime groups as the protagonists, the fierce fight for the control of territory has placed our state in a grave security crisis."

READ MORE: 2 Men Found 'Crucified' in Mexico as Jalisco Cartel and Sinaloa Cartel's Bloody Turf War Goes On

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written by: Jess Smith

WATCH: Body Found Hanging From Bridge in Mexico City -From AP Archive
President Joe Biden signaled support for Gavin Newsom as the California recall election against the governor is about to take place.

Through his official Twitter account, Joe Biden on Thursday expressed backing up the current California governor. Gavin Newsom is facing a roster of Republican gubernatorial candidates waiting to take his office and lead the state.

READ NEXT: California Secretary of State Faces Lawsuits From Governor Hopefuls Kevin Faulconer, Larry Elder as Recall Election Nears

President Joe Biden Supports California Gov. Gavin Newsom in Recall Elections

Joe Biden tweeted an appeal to Californians to reject the recall vote that would remove Gavin Newsom from office.

"Governor Gavin Newsom is leading California through unprecedented crises," the president said, adding that Newsom was a "key partner" in fighting the pandemic.

Biden also emphasized that the California governor helped in the recovery of the nation's economy following the distress caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The president then ended his statement by urging the California voters to vote "no" in the recall elections, saying that doing so would keep the state moving forward.

Gov. @GavinNewsom is leading California through unprecedented criseshe's a key partner in fighting the pandemic and helping build our economy back better. To keep him on the job, registered voters should vote no on the recall election by 9/14 and keep California moving forward.  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 13, 2021

Besides Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris also reportedly supports the California governor in the upcoming gubernatorial recall elections. An official from the White House said that Kamala Harris, a former Democratic senator from the state, suggested that the two U.S. top officials could hold an "in-person campaign" to support Newsom.

Los Angeles Times reported that the vice president also criticized the recall election issued against Newsom. Meanwhile, White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Wednesday touted the works of the Biden administration with the California governor.

She said the administration looks forward to continuing the partnership with Newsom. Although the president expressed his support with Gavin Newsom, Psaki noted that Biden does not plan to get specifically involved in the race.

"He [Biden] supports him... I don't have anything in terms of additional steps to preview for you," Psaki said.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom to Campaign as Recall Elections Nears

Gavin Newsom would soon engage in a tour around the state to urge the voters to vote no. The "VOTE NO" weekend campaign by Newsom would begin in San Francisco by Friday morning. Newsom's office released a statement on Thursday revealing that the campaign would last for four days across the cities of California.

With one month to go until the recall election (and ballots already in the mail), @GavinNewsom will begin a 4-day Vote No campaign trip across the state.



He kicks off tomorrow in San Francsico. Exact location not yet revealed. pic.twitter.com/nwFWKcpXIE  Liz Kreutz (@ABCLiz) August 13, 2021

The statement further noted that Newsom would "rally voters and volunteers" to prevent Republicans from being the state's next governor. Gubernatorial candidate, Larry Elder, was also mentioned in the statement, labeling him as a "Trump disciple."

It can be recalled that apart from Larry Elder, other gubernatorial candidates such as Caitlyn Jenner, Representative Doug Ose, John Cox, and former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer were also among those who hope to take Newsom's office. The second recall election in California history will be on September 14.

READ MORE: California Secretary of State Says "Enough Signatures" Gathered for Gavin Newsom's Recall Election

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: What You Need to Know About the Upcoming California Recall Election - From KCET
Asylum seekers in the United States could soon use a mobile phone to apply for asylum as the Biden administration plans to expand the online asylum registration system.

In a press conference in Texas on Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the Biden administration would expand the online asylum registration system so people could apply remotely.

Mayorkas' statement came after the U.S. experienced "unprecedented" border arrivals in the past weeks.

READ NEXT: Migrant Families in U.S. Are Now Being Flown to Mexico Under Trump's Controversial Title 42 Border Policy

Biden Administration to Expand Online Asylum Registration System

Alejandro Mayorkas said a mobile phone asylum application process could soon be operational. Asylum seekers can also use other gadgets such as computers to apply for asylum via the online portal.

Mayorkas noted that this is an option that could reduce the number of migrants since this could discourage them from physically coming to the U.S.-Mexico border.

The DHS secretary hinted that the online asylum registration system would be similar to the online process used under the Migrant Protection Protocols or "Remain in Mexico" program. Under this program, migrants were forced to stay and wait in Mexico, often in dangerous and squalid conditions.

Alejandro Mayorkas has yet to provide details on which asylum seekers would be eligible to use the online system, which has yet to be tested broadly. However, he noted that more information would be announced in the coming days.

'Unprecedented' Migration at the U.S.-Mexico Border

Alejandro Mayorkas admitted that the Biden administration is "encountering an unprecedented number of migrants in between the ports of entry at our southern border."

The DHS secretary described the situation at the border as "one of the toughest challenges" the administration is facing.

Mayorkas admitted that the biggest challenge was the large number of migrant families, single adults, and unaccompanied children attempting to cross the border.

Border patrol agents recorded more than 210,000 apprehensions at the southwest border in July. It was a 13 percent increase from the recorded apprehensions in June and a 20-year-high.

Mayorkas said that 27 percent of all encounters last month were repeat crossers. The DHS secretary blamed poverty, violence, and corruption on the surge of migrants in the borders.

Meanwhile, Laredo, Texas Mayor Pete Saenz said the Biden administration's method in curbing migration now is broken and needs fixing.

READ MORE: Justice Department Urges Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to Walk Back on His New Migrant Order

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Asylum Seekers Surge at U.S. Southern Border Amid Biden Administration's New Policies - From CBS Evening News
Agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) patrolling in California arrested two illegal migrants who have been previously convicted with sexual offenses that involved minors.

According to Fox News, the CBP said the arrests of the two individuals happened at two separate encounters.

The first incident reportedly happened at around 1 p.m. Tuesday, when the border patrol agents assigned in the El Centro Sector encountered an illegal migrant who illegally entered the U.S. through the Jacumba Wilderness region near the Mexican border.

The second incident happened at around 2:20 a.m. Wednesday when agents caught an undocumented migrant who entered the U.S. through a desert region of California, east of the city of Calexico.

Border Patrol Agents Arrest 2 Convicted Sex Offenders

Following the arrest of the two undocumented migrants, the agents of the CBP did a background check on them. The agents discovered that both illegal migrants had been previously deported from the U.S. after being convicted of sex crimes.

The first migrant was reportedly convicted of a sex offense against a minor in Washington state. A Border Patrol spokesperson told Fox News that his identity was not released because of a pending prosecution.

Record checks also revealed that the second illegal migrant caught was a 43-year-old Mexican national named Santiago Echeverria-Gutierrez.

Echeverria-Gutierrez had a lengthy criminal history in his stay in the U.S. His offenses included sex crime convictions that involved a minor in California and has been previously deported.

Border Patrol agents said that Echeverria-Gutierrez was the 37th sex offender that El Sector had apprehended this year. Both illegal migrants who were arrested were transported to the El Centro Sector Processing Center for processing.

READ NEXT: ICE Will No Longer Arrest, Deport Illegal Immigrants Who Are Crime Victims

Another Sex Offender at the Border

Last month, another undocumented individual convicted of a sexual offense was arrested by the Border Patrol agents assigned to the El Centro Sector. The migrant was apprehended while agents inspected a train traveling northbound near the Highway 111 immigration checkpoint.

Based on the records, the individual was identified as Benjamin Tirado-Jaramillo, a 53-year-old from Mexico. Tirado-Jaramillo had an extensive criminal and immigration history.

The Mexican national was convicted and served 90 days in jail for sexual arousal and unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor in Visalia, California.

Tirado-Jaramillo's other convictions included disorderly conduct, driving with a suspended license, and driving under the influence of alcohol. Tirado-Jaramillo has also been previously deported back to Mexico.

READ MORE: 2 Men Found 'Crucified' in Mexico as Jalisco Cartel and Sinaloa Cartel's Bloody Turf War Goes On

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written by: Jess Smith

WATCH: Border Patrol Agents in California Arrest 2 Illegal Migrants With Sex - From News Pilot
Prince Charles believed that there would be no way back for Prince Andrew to return to his royal duties, even if he wins the rape case filed against him by a Jeffrey Epstein accuser.

A source close to Prince Charles also revealed that the Duke of Wales was "furious" with his brother over the new lawsuit, as he tries to protect the British monarchy from another scandal.

The source told The Times that the sexual allegations against Prince Andrew would be an "unwelcome reputational damage to the institution."

"This will probably further strengthen in the Prince's mind that a way back for the Duke is demonstrably not possible because the spectre of this accusation raises its head with hideous regularity," the source said.

Despite being furious with Prince Andrew, the unnamed source noted that Prince Charles still loves his brother, adding that the Duke of Wales still sympathizes with his brother, whatever the issues may be.

"His [Prince Charles] ability to support and feel for those having a tough time is well known," the source said.

READ NEXT: Jeffrey Epstein's Pal Ghislaine Maxwell Faces 2 New Sex Trafficking Charges

Prince Charles Worried About Prince Andrew's Case

Prince Charles and Prince William were reported to be worried about how Prince Andrew's legal team handles the case.

The U.S. Sun reported that both Prince Charles and Prince William shared "growing frustrations" at the silence from Prince Andrew since the Jeffrey Epstein accuser filed the lawsuit in New York on Monday.

The Duke of York has already stepped down from his royal duties in 2019. Because of this, a royal insider said the British monarch is limited in what they can say and what control they can do over the situation.

The sexual assault lawsuit filed by Jeffrey Epstein accuser, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, has finally received its first court date. It will have a preliminary hearing on September 13 in a Manhattan Federal Court.

A telephone conference would take place at 4 p.m. to decide whether to serve Prince Andrew with papers if he would not respond to the plaintiff's claims.

Prince Andrew's Rape Case

According to court records, Prince Andrew sexually abused Giuffre when she was 17 years old on different occasions. The lawsuit said Giuffre was "forced to have sexual intercourse" with the Duke of York against her will and lists offenses including rape in the first degree.

The Jeffrey Epstein accuser said the sexual abuse happened in London, U.S. Virgin Islands, and New York.

Prince Andrew has denied all the allegations against him. He said he has no recollection of meeting Giuffre, and he was with her daughter on one of the dates the Jeffrey Epstein accuser alleged the abuse took place.

Prince Andrew also denied the photo of him and Giuffre, which was taken in 2001, arguing that the picture might have been doctored.

Prince Andrew earlier said that he met convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 1999. The Duke of York noted that he did not regret his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. But after receiving enormous public criticism for this, Prince Andrew voluntarily stepped back from his royal duties.

READ MORE: Jeffrey Epstein Victim Starts Foundation for Survivors of Sexual Abuse

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Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Prince Charles Says Prince Andrew Won't Return To Royal Life - From Access
The wife of a Laois man who almost died from Covid-19 has shared her experience, to remind people how dangerous it is, and ask for support for a Portlaoise nurses fundraiser.

Patricia and Gerard Jack McHugh are Dubliners now living in rural Portarlington. Jack was diagnosed on April 4 this year and by April 10 was brought by ambulance to Portlaoise hospital where within hours he was placed into intensive care on a respiratory unit.

He deteriorated through the week and by Friday I got a call saying they were ready to intubate Jack. He asked for a couple of days because of the fear, they had been very blunt in saying it can go very wrong when someone is intubated, Patricia recalls.

I was allowed in on Saturday before he was intubated on Sunday for a very brief visit. I was in full PPE. After he was intubated it all went very wrong, and his condition changed to end of life. I called in on Monday to say my goodbyes. There was a delay then in them turning off the life support, and then the staff noticed a trickle of urine from Jacks kidneys.

She said that Dr Masood in the ICU got on the phone to the ECMO team in the Mater Hospital to ask for help. An ECMO machine takes blood from a patient and reoxygenates it, effectively an artificial lung.

They called the Mater hospital to say we think there is a bit of hope here. Dr Carton from the ECMO team decided he wanted his team to come down and see Jack himself.

They came down with a critical ambulance crew and a heart ambulance crew and the ECMO machine. They put him on the machine in Portlaoise and then he travelled up to the Mater, they told me the chance of getting him there alive was pretty slim.

I will never forget the dignity they showed to Jack. He was end of life, he was not meant to survive. It was a miracle, thanks to the quick action of the Portlaoise ICU team and Dr Masood, Dr Carton told me that he couldnt give a guarantee but he just wanted to give him a chance.

If this had happened last year at the height of Covid, there is no way Jack would have gotten that chance. There were only four ECMO machines in Ireland, now there are seven. Its a lottery, Patricia said.

Below: Jack before and after his induced coma to save his life.

Jack is still very slowly recovering in the Mater, undergoing intense physiotherapy to learn to walk again. The plan is for him to eventually be transferred back to Portlaoise hospital and then home, but that might be next year. It has been a lonely road for Patricia.

We are devastated, its absolutely horrific, some days I am still so overwhelmed. Just three weeks ago he had sepsis.

We want to hammer home to people just what this disease can do. Unless you are living it, you see it with your own eyes, you cant comprehend it. Seeing those doctors faces, you can see how distraught they are. Dr Carton said to me for every punch we give it, Covid comes back with two. I remember Dr Masood calling it this godforsaken disease. They are baffled themselves the way it keeps coming back at them.

We dont know now what we are facing, with long Covid. There is a massive big hole where our life used to be, she said.

The couple have two grown children Amy and Jessica, and two grandchildren Alex and Lily.

The Mater staff arranged a very special short visit recently for Jacks grandchildren on a private staff terrace, where the children got to hug their grandad in an emotional reunion (pictures below).

They go above and beyond. I said to Dr Carton, Id take Jack home in whatever condition he is in, just dont have me to tell his grandchildren their granddad is gone.

He has had huge weight loss, and his mobility will come back. He remembers nothing, God gave him that gift. But his cognition seems to be unaffected, said his wife.

Nurse Gerard Hosey and the Portlaoise ICU team ring the Mater every week to ask after Jack. Now Gerard has started a Gofundme in aid of the ECMO unit, and is walking 100 miles for it.

We are very struck by Gerards generosity. He works so hard, its full on in the ICU. He is so grateful to the Mater for keeping his patient alive as he calls Jack. They have a huge connection. He was there when we said our goodbyes. All we could do was tell each other we had no regrets. I remember my gut telling me it wasnt going to be good, but I prayed. I wouldnt wish this on anyone. Cases like Jack's very rarely come back.

I am not looking for glory, I want to push Gerards cause now , but I also want to give hope. There are 33 people in the ICU now I think, and where there is life there is hope. This is a celebration for him, to say thank you.

To the people who dont believe, the anti-vaxxers, they are entitled to their opinion, but Covid exists, just take a look. Someone said to me Jack was only one case, but does it have to be thousands? Covid turned our life upside down, it robbed us of time we will never get back. Thank God for the hands of the medical teams Jack has around him, we are forever grateful, Patricia McHugh said.

On his 100th day in hospital, they told me it would probably be another 12 months before he was ready to come home. You feel like you're living someone elses life. But we will come out of it stronger, she said.

Read about Nurse Gerard Hoseys fundraiser here.
Creating a new album of music is exciting, recording it inside the home of one of the most important flute players in Irish traditional music is special, but recording a new album in John McKenna's homestead playing on of his flutes which dates back to the early 1800s is extra-ordinary.



At home with McKenna is a new album launched this Summer from McKenna's homestead at Tarmon, Drumkeerin and recorded by Liam Kelly and Kevin Brehony.

Well known Liam Kelly is a founding member of Irelands internationally renowned and award-winning traditional band Dervish. In a career spanning 31 years, which they celebrated in 2020, Dervish have produced 14 albums and have toured worldwide.

Liam Kelly and Kevin Brehony outside McKenna's homestead in Drumkeerin



Kevin Brehony on piano hails from Calstlebaldwin, Co Sligo and has a long-standing empathy and a deep-rooted understanding of McKennas music. Kevin was first introduced to the music of John McKenna in the 1990s and has been involved with traditional music in the area ever since. Kevin has featured on many acclaimed recordings associated with the music of Sligo and Leitrim.



The album which is available as CD, download and vinyl. The vinyl is a nod to the wonderful 78s recorded by McKenna in the early 1900s in New York, critically important recordings which have influenced and guided the course of flute-playing to this day.

Next year will marks 100 years since John McKenna first recorded his music.

The crowning glory of this very unique and special album is the Concert D flute.

This flute played by Liam Kenny is believed to have originated in the 1830s.

The flute is concert-pitch D, eight-keyed, cocuswood and ivory. It has a scar or two.



Its widely believed that it originates in Litchfield, Connecticut in the 1830s, likely made by local craftsmen as a cheaper copy of the exclusive concert flutes being sold and circulated at the time.

It doesnt have a makers stamp (thus avoiding any potential copyright issues) but is no less special for that.

It is not known how the instrument came to McKenna, but its believed he played it on at least some of his concert-pitch recordings.

Liam Kelly with McKenna's flute



McKenna sold the instrument to his friend Joe McAuliffe in New York in the late 1930s and it passed down to his nephew, John McAuliffe, who agreed to send it to the John McKenna Society for the launch of brilliant album and booklet The Music and Life of John McKenna: The Buck from the Mountain in 2014.

The flute was in fairly good condition, but a crack in the ivory head joint across the embouchure hole made it unplayable.

It was restored by Hammy Hamilton in Cork (this meticulous work of restoration done as a labour of love, Hammy honoured to give his time and expertise for the cause of music and the circle completed) and played in style at the launch of The Buck.

It might have gone back to New York but for the tightening up of the international ban on the export of ivory introduced while the flute was in Ireland.



John McAuliffe donated the flute to the John McKenna Society, and it will remain in Ireland.

McKenna's flute, in McKenna's home doing exactly what it was intended for; making beautiful music.



At home with McKenna is available at www.johnmckenna.ie
LIMERICK'S Troy Studios has been acquired by one of the worlds leading media real estate and studio services organisations.

The multi-million euro deal has been announced this Friday by the consortium which includes California-based property group Hackman Capital Partners, its studio operator affiliate, the MBS Group and Square Mile Capital.

Ardmore Studios in Bray being has also been acquired as part of the deal.

The partnership owns the worlds largest independent studio and media portfolio, which now includes approximately 3.6 billion in media real estate assets and exclusively services over 360 sound stages within its MBS Group network of at more than 65 locations across 46 cities and four countries.

Both Troy Studios and Ardmore Studios will continue to operate with their existing branding and staff will not be impacted.

Commenting on the announcement, Elaine Geraghty, CEO of Ardmore Studios and Troy Studios says the deal will preserve the legacy of the two studios as well as ensure the continued success of Irelands two most significant studios.

"Ireland has a long history of filmmaking and todays announcement solidifies the ambition of the industry, and will bring new opportunities in line with the Government ambition to establish Ireland as a global hub for the production of film, TV drama and animation. The demand for high-end TV series is exponential. We compete globally to attract inward productions and valuable investment to Ireland and todays announcement is momentous to enable further growth of the industry in Ireland, she said.

Michael Hackman, CEO of Hackman Capital Partners said: Ireland is a superb destination for production, with the richness of its natural landscape, its indigenous content industry and its skilled production crews. We look forward to building upon this great history and are committed to growing both indigenous and international production activity in Ireland, by investing in and forging strong links with local talent and communities and by promoting further inward investment from international content creators.

Craig Soloman, CEO of Square Mile Capital added: "We are excited to grow our platform by establishing a presence in Ireland, which we view as a premier and growing global production market. While we have now established strong presences in several of the worlds top production centers, we will continue to look for additional opportunities.

Located in Castletroy, Troy Studios has become Irelands largest studio complex, offering 100,000 square feet of stage space and a further 250,000 square feet for production support, including the largest sound stages in the country.

There is also a significant back lot which can be used for outdoor filming.

Joe Devine, Chairman of both Troy Studios and Ardmore Studios has welcomed the completion of the deal: On behalf of the shareholders in both Troy and Ardmore, I want to congratulate Hackman Capital Partners on their acquisition and wish them every success in the coming years. When we were approached, we realised that this could really transform the outlook not just for the two studios but for the wider industry in Ireland," he said.

Mr Devine added: "When we began this journey in 2016, we had ambitious plans to establish world class production facilities here in Ireland and create the market leader through acquisition and development. After a successful 30m company investment programme we have achieved our objective and are delighted that a global leader like HCP will continue developing the studios. The industry is transforming before our eyes and HCP will ensure that Troy and Ardmore  and Ireland - can take full advantage of that transformation.

Members of Limerick City and County Council as well as other stakeholders were informed of the sale of Troy Studios shortly before the public announcement.
MORE than 2,300 children, aged between 12 and 15, are expected to receive their first Covid-19 vaccine at dedicated clinics across the Mid West this weekend.

The UL Hospitals Group says parents have been registering their children for vaccination in considerable numbers since the HSE online portal opened on Wednesday evening and that the first clinics will take place on Saturday.

The clinics, by appointment only, will take place at Limerick Racecourse, the West County Hotel, Ennis, and Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh this Saturday and Sunday.

Children attending any of the clinics must have an appointment and they must be accompanied by an adult. UL Hospitals says the timing of future clinics will take account of the new academic year.

Commenting ahead of the first dedicated clinics, Dr Siobhan Gallagher, Consultant Paediatrician, and Clinical Director, Maternal and Child Health Directorate, UL Hospitals Group, said: We are pleased to be moving to the next stage of the vaccination programme. Ireland has made great progress to date and we are one of a number of EU countries now in a position to move ahead with vaccinating children aged 12 and over."

Parents are being reassured that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been approved for this age group by the European Medicines Agency and recommended in Ireland by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee.

I would in particular encourage vaccine uptake for children with an underlying health condition that puts them at increased risk of becoming unwell with a Covid-19 infection. While serious illness from Covid-19 in healthy children is thankfully rare, we are encouraging all parents and guardians to visit the HSE website and consider the benefits and risks of the vaccine for their children, their families and their communities before making an informed choice about vaccinating their child against Covid-19, Dr Gallagher said.
TWENTY five further families have a brand new home after unlocking the door to a new life in Mungret.

Co-operative Housing Ireland (CHI) confirmed to the Leader they have acquired a further 25 homes in Baunacloka Heights, Mungret for just over 6m.

It is the second phase of CHI's project in Mungret. Last year, they purchased 46 houses in the same development for just over 11m. In total, they have delivered 71 homes for 17m.

CHI is the national organisation representing, promoting and developing co-operative housing in Ireland.

David Ryan, CHI regional housing services manager, said they are all two and three bedroom abodes with a mix of semi-detached, terraced and apartments. Mr Ryan said the allocations process is nearing completion.

Unsurprisingly, Mr Ryan said there has been great interest in the scheme and positive feedback to date.

Approved applicants from Limerick City and County Councils housing waiting list were sent to CHI, who carry out assessments and interview the families. CHI work closely with city and county councils to provide homes to people on local housing lists.

We do this by developing strong relationships with builders and developers. Key to our model is the involvement and engagement of our members at all levels, said Mr Ryan.

Rent is based on Limerick City and County Councils Differential Rent Scheme, therefore it is income based and affordable.

He explains that each household in Mungret will be a member of the Ralahine Housing Co-operative and may participate in its board and participate in CHI cooperative structures.

Members have a say in the running of the co-operative, the management of estates, hosting community events and can propose to elect representatives on to the national board of CHI.

Co-operatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, co-operative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others, said Mr Ryan.

He continues: The estate will be managed by staff at our local office in Limerick. CHI take the approach of it being member led, and we hope the new members will take the lead in setting up a committee onsite to liaise with our housing officer around the upkeep of the estate and community activities.

The development was achieved through partnership with Limerick City and County Council, the Housing Finance Agency, and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
A LIMERICK man who was recognised earlier this year for his bravery in rescuing two Italian brothers during an offshore search and rescue mission has been reunited with them for the first time since the incident.

Philip Wrenn, who is originally from Limerick city, works as a winchman with Rescue 115 - the Shannon-based coastguard helicopter.

In February 2019, he was a member of the crew which responded to an incident at Pol na bPheist (the Worm Hole) on Inis Mor off the Galway coast.

Ricardo Zanon and his brother Giovanni were hit by a wave and were knocked into the water having fallen around 20 around metres.

Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland this week, Mr Zanon said he thought he would die after he fell off the cliff.

"I just remember a big, huge wave like a grey wall coming towards me and then it was completely dark and I thought I was going to die," he said.

He recalled being dragged around by the waves before seeing the rescue helicopter.

When Rescue 115 arrived on the scene it was ascertained that Ricardo was seriously injured and needed immediate medical attention.

Phillip Wrenn, who now lives in Rathkeale, was lowered to the surface and as the waves were getting higher and more unpredictable he made a decision to release from his winch in order to secure one of the brothers who had gone under water. He then gathered both and all three were winched on board the helicopter.

The brothers were taken to University Hospital Galway where they were both treated for their injuries. Ricardo was seriously injured having sustained an open Tib/fib fracture and has undergone serious rehabilitation since.

This week, the brothers and their families returned to Inis Mor for the first time since the incident. They also visited the CHC facility at Shannon where Rescue 115 is based.

Speaking having met the brothers Mr Wrenn, who is married with three children, said the rescue was a team effort.

"As a winchman, when you're on the deck of a boat or a cliff edge or mountain you have to think on the hoof and make split-second decisions and that comes from experience," he told RTE News.
Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam accused Vipul Chitalia has been granted bail to attend a pre-marriage ceremony of his daughter.

A special CBI court granted bail to the Gitanjali group's vice president on Thursday.

Chitalia was arrested in March 2018 in connection with the scam in which diamond traders Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi are the prime accused. Since then, Chitalia has been in the judicial custody at the Arthur Road Jail, Mumbai.

Chitalia sought bail to attend a ceremony ahead of his daughter's marriage.

Special judge V C Barde allowed him to attend the ceremony at his residence in suburban Borivali in police escort on August 14 and 15, as per the court order.

Choksi and Nirav Modi are accused of obtaining Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) and Foreign Letters of Credit (FLCs) of 12,636 crore from the PNB based on fraudulent claims, and causing the nationalized bank a huge loss. An LoU is a guarantee given by an issuing bank to Indian banks having branches abroad to grant short-term credit to the applicant.

Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi are accused of obtaining letters of undertakings (LoUs) and foreign letters of credit (FLCs) of about 13,500 crore from Brady House branch of PNB in favour of foreign branches of Indian banks, based on fraudulent documents, and causing the nationalized bank a huge loss. An LoU is a guarantee given by an issuing bank to Indian banks having branches abroad to grant short-term credit to the applicant.

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Newly appointed Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai convened an emergency meeting with experts on Friday regarding the Covid-19 effects on children.

CM Bommai said that the experts have warned that the children will likely be affected during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, as they belong to the non-vaccinated group.

As a result, the state government has started 'Vathsalya' scheme in Udupi and Haveri districts for complete monitoring of the children.

"We will organise pediatric health camps to check their nutritious strength, and will do all necessary treatment for lack of nutrition and undergrowth," Karnataka chief minister added.

"We have provided training to all concerned officers working on the scheme, and will try to protect the children from this virus. All district hospitals have been instructed to arrange pediatric ICU," he said.

The meeting has come after that Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) said that 543 children were tested positive for Covid-19 from August 1 to August 11.

Of the infected children, 210 children belonged to the age group of 0-9, and 333 children or teenagers belonged to the age group of 10-19.

However, no COVID-19 related death in the age group of 0-19 has been reported, and the infected children were mostly asymptomatic or had mild symptoms of the virus.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka government decided to reopen schools for students of classes 9 to 12 (II PUC) from 23 August. The classes will be held in batches on alternate days and details will be given soon.

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Laredo officials traveled to McAllen on Thursday as Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas visited South Texas to hear concerns regarding the border.

And Laredo leaders including Mayor Pete Saenz continued to discuss their opposition over migrants coming into the areas non-governmental organizations and asked for the federal government to make changes.

I stand ready to listen to them, I stand ready to also do our part, said Saenz in a post-visit meeting. But keep in mind that this is a federal issue created by failed federal policies, and theyre expecting us smaller entities to bail them out. Its very, very unfair, and I know we can do better as a country.

Saenz added that he is still waiting on solutions by the U.S. government and asked for more funding for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, reinforcements at the border and an investment in creating a virtual wall that would be laden with new surveillance equipment.

Saenz has frequently expressed that its vital to bus migrants out of the area so that Laredoans have first rights to all hospital facilities, even agreeing to the deal last week with U.S. Border Patrol to spend upwards of $8,000 per day to bus them to other northern cities. However, as hospitalizations have continued to skyrocket to beyond capacity within the last few days, Laredo Health Director Richard Chamberlain confirmed to LMT Wednesday night that there were no migrants in any of the citys hospitals.

At the event, Saenz was questioned how migrants have been impacting Laredos hospitalization rate. And the mayor said that migrants are rarely admitted to the hospitals and have little impact on the rate.

Its not the migrant population that is impacting (the hospitalization rate), but it has gotten to a point now that any other later population that comes into our community is truly, truly fighting for a bed in the City of Laredo, Saenz said.

Interestingly enough, Saenz did say Wednesday that he also planned to propose to Mayorkas the reopening of the Mexican border for the first time since the pandemic began locally in March of 2020 despite the countrys low vaccination rates.

This in itself would be another population in the area, and it would be coming directly into all parts of the city instead of the NGOs. Saenz stated that he thought many would come for the vaccine and touted the economic benefits, stating they can shop, can assist the retail industry. However, he did admit that we cant force them either to get vaccinated.

In the same post-visit meeting Thursday, Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina echoed Saenzs disapproval with the federal governments handling of the situation. Tijerina expressed that there is risk of COVID-19 spread due to the incoming migrants from surrounding sectors.

We are fighting a battle with our hands behind our backs and unarmed, Tijerina said. We need the federal government, we need President Biden to be looking down here and not just looking at the red, not just the blue, but rather the red, white and blue, because we are all Americans. This is not just a border crisis, this is a United States of America border crisis.

Meanwhile, Laredos Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX-28), who led the press conference, also has been a critic of the migrant influx for months. And Cuellar was among those Thursday that blamed Mexico, stating that the country should be doing more to stop them long before they come near the U.S. border.

We cannot play defense on our 1-yard line because we are going to lose, Cuellar said. We have to play defense on their first-yard line, which is in the southern border in Mexico and Guatemala and those countries. The bottom line is that Mexico  our neighbor to the south  they can do more. They can do more, as they have done it in the past.

Cuellar also weighed in on the possibility of the border reopening to Mexico, believing that it is unlikely to occur later this month amid surges of cases on both sides. However, he does believe that this could happen in the next few months, as the additional donation of 7 million vaccines to Mexico could help kickstart it.

The congressman hopes that the border opens back before the holiday shopping season begins, as it is one of the most profitable times of the year for businesses on the border such as local malls, outlets and downtown establishments.

Most of the businesses do make a large part and chunk of their money around Thanksgiving and in December, and a little bit beyond that, Cuellar said. We cannot let another shopping season go by, because thats where most businesses along the border make their business.

Overall, Cuellar and many others stated that the meeting was a step in the right direction for the solutions needed along the border. Cuellar described Mayorkas as in a listening mode as he met with border sheriffs, police chiefs and other officials from South Texas.

For his part, Mayorkas did clarify some misconceptions regarding CBP enforcement actions and unique individuals encountered at the border, as the former is often used which shows an inflated number of people as they are counted multiple times.

Thus the DHS leader expressed the figures for unique encounters this fiscal year. As of July 2021, a total of 845,307 unique individuals were reported, with 27% of encounters made up of people who have made multiple attempts at crossing the border over the past 12 months.

While some border officials have previously compared this years totals to 2020  showcasing sky-high one-year increases due to significantly lower figures during the pandemic  these are not nearly as elevated when compared to 2019. That year featured the CBP reporting 796,400 during the same time period  an approximate 6.1% increase of unique encounters.

Mayorkas attributes this increase to the rising difficulties in countries of origins, primarily involving gang violence.

In the CBP July operations report, they state that there were 154,288 unique encounters and 212,672 enforcement encounters along the southern border; these include the 27% Mayorkas discussed. Approximately 52% of 110,443 July encounters were single adults, a 6% decrease from June.

Unaccompanied children and family unit encounters increased by 24% and 49%, respectively, from June to July. Comparatively, there were 1,363 unaccompanied children in CBP custody in July and 794 in June. While still below its peak of 88,587 of May 2019, family unit encounters edged closer with 82,966.

The number of encounters with family unit individuals so far this fiscal year (328,121) remains below the number of encounters at the same point in Fiscal Year 2019 (474,545), CBP stated.

The pandemic exacerbated the situation, along with the changes made to the asylum system by the previous administration, Mayorkas said.

The DHS leader thus gave a four-point plan to address the root causes of the influx. This includes addressing root causes, the rebuilding and building of a safe and legal pathway for migrants to apply without the need to travel, improvements to security, management, processing and other measures at the border, and dealing with the human smugglers.

cocampo@lmtonline.com

jorge.vela@lmtonline.com
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP)  One of South Carolinas largest school systems is adding more mental health resources for students.

Greenville County Schools announced some of the details this week, The Greenville News reported.

In a newsletter to parents, the district says that teachers and counselors this year will work together to teach social-emotional learning lessons to all students through a new mental health program called Lets Talk.

The Lets Talk program has been in the works since 2018, although COVID-19 brought about an urgency to the strategic plan to implement it, Greenville County Schools spokesman Tim Waller said.
During a UISD special call meeting on Thursday night, the board of trustees gathered to discuss and vote on a mask mandate for all employees and students for the 2021-22 school year.

The meeting followed an emergency meeting by the City of Laredo on Wednesday night that discussed the possibility of a lawsuit against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the state of Texas so that they could enact a city-wide mandate, but they left without approving one officially.

After the trustees and district officials exited a closed executive session at 8:45 p.m., district leaders unanimously approved of a resolution for a mask mandate for all students and employees. This would last for the first 30 calendar days of the new school year and be required at all district facilities and buses.

The overall impact of COVID and the prevalence of the delta variant were cited as the main reasons for the decision.

The board will revisit the mandate after the 30 days to discuss an extension, with a chance to meet sooner. The resolution exempts individuals under 2 years old, a person with a disability who cannot wear a mask or cannot safely wear a mask, and a person with a qualifying exemption approved by the district. A person who states a mask would decrease their job safety would need to have their request approved by the district.

The executive meeting lasted a bit longer than what board member Javier Montemayor first thought, possibly a result of the discussion at hand and the consequences it may bring.

As for LISD, Board President Hector J. Garcia said that despite the board wishing to enact a mandatory mask policy in the district, the state will not allow it. He said that Abbotts legal action against Dallas and other cities with mask mandates have taken away the choice of the district.

UISDs meeting began with a majority of members of the community voicing their opinion in favor of a mask mandate. This included a lengthy number of written public comments  over 20  that were also read before the board. Additionally, both the district and city meetings saw participation of students who will directly be affected alongside district staff but may not always have a voice in the conversation.

Society can and should be judged by how we care for and protect the most vulnerable among us. I am here to ask you to challenge the governor, I am here to ask you to represent our most vulnerable students, Alexandra Solis said during the public comments.

A number of those who registered for a public comment highlighted the inability of children younger than 12 to get a vaccine and how it may affect their children returning to school this year. Some lambasted those who are anti-vaccine and anti-mask, citing the current hospitalization rate and rising COVID cases in Laredo while saying that civil freedoms are no excuse to present risks to the community.

Speaking for some of the youth that will be reporting to classes was Genesis Britz, 16, a United South High School junior and Head Chair of the Laredo City Youth Council. She spoke in favor of a mask mandate and criticized those against it, highlighting that while not everyone is old enough to receive a vaccine, everyone is old enough to wear a mask.

I dont see why people here are debating why we should or should not wear a mask when we clearly know that science has proven that it saves our lives, Britz said. It is your job to provide your students education, but most importantly to prioritize our safety.

At the city council meeting, Cassia Solis brought that same younger opinion to local leaders. The Alexander High School student and member of the Laredo Youth Council said that a mask mandate would be the best way to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 among schools. She added that from her experience, she believes that high school students are old enough to understand the impact of wearing a mask and being informed of the vaccines effectiveness.

During a Tuesday virtual meeting, Dr. Victor Trevino spoke about the COVID-19 delta variants impact on the school setting and said that 94,000 COVID positive cases in children were reported. With the more aggressive variant, Laredo without a pediatric ICU and data showing Hispanic children are eight times more likely to be hospitalized, there is increased concern.

Trevino said that the vaccine is the best form of mitigation for children, and he agrees with the CDC recommendation that all children over 2 should wear a mask.

The governors executive order banning mitigation, specifically masks in schools, is going to lead to more pediatric infections and hospitalizations, Trevino said. I am all for personal responsibility, but 5 year olds depend on their parents, and we have already seen misinformed parents sending their children who may be potentially coronavirus (positive) to school environments.

Abbotts Executive Order GA-38 prohibits government entities form mandating face coverings, including school districts. Any school district, public university or local government official that decides to defy the order will be taken to court, Abbott stated in a release Wednesday.

This isnt the first time we have dealt with activist characters. Its deja vu all over again, Texas Attorney General Paxton said in the same release. Attention-grabbing judges and mayors have defied executive orders before, when the pandemic first started, and the courts ruled on our side  the law. Im confident the outcomes to any suits will side with liberty and individual choice, not mandates and government overreach.

Deputy Superintendent Gloria Rendon said that in the case of immunocompromised students, a new public guidance was issued by the state. It reads that students exposed to COVID positive people and students with documented criteria eligible and signed off by a licensed doctor can move to a remote learning environment for 20 days.

However, this is 20 days total  meaning in the case of a COVID infection, a student who is infected would have 10 days to recover and return to school. If one student is infected twice, they would essentially run out of days and the district would require a waiver from the TEA to issue another remote learning period, which may come with added difficulties.

cocampo@lmtonline.com
The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks!

Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics.

The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc.

The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics.

The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates.

Access to college recruiters and advisors  its harder to line up higher education.

Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family.

Vote

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Cllr John Browne has expressed a very low opinion of Irish Water following a significant delay in the rectification of sewage problems at the Cartron Breac estate.

The estate was formally taken in charge at the November 2018 Municipal Meeting, according to Cllr Browne, but Irish Water claim to have a Taking in Charge Application as of April 2021.

Its summertime, heat, children at play, charge or no charge, the estate residents require immediate action, he said in his notice of motion.

The issue has since been resolved, Cllr Browne told his council colleagues but he wanted to know whether it had been sorted by Irish Water or the council.

This has been going on for months and months, he fumed at the July meeting of Longford Municipal District.

Irish Water will tell you its a backyard problem but its in the middle of the road and within feet of houses. Ive a very low opinion of Irish Water who send you from Billy to Jack. They just send you in circles. This problem has since been rectified and I want to know by whom.

Cllr Peggy Nolan agreed that Irish Water are not fit for purpose when it comes to solving the problems of its customers.

Its a nightmare. I have people on holidays down the country and back after three days and their houses are flooded, she said.

Irish Water want to shirk their responsibilities to the council. If thats the case, they should give all the responsibility to the council. However, we can support people in Cartron Breac, we should.
Weather Alert

HENRI IS FORECAST TO IMPACT LONG ISLAND AND SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT SUNDAY AND MONDAY This product covers Southeast New York, Northeast New Jersey, and Southern Connecticut **HENRI IS FORECAST TO IMPACT LONG ISLAND AND SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT SUNDAY AND MONDAY** NEW INFORMATION --------------- * CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - A Storm Surge Watch and Tropical Storm Watch have been issued for Northern Nassau, Southern Fairfield, Southern Nassau, and Southern Westchester - A Storm Surge Watch and Hurricane Watch have been issued for Northeast Suffolk, Northwest Suffolk, Southeast Suffolk, Southern Middlesex, Southern New Haven, Southern New London, and Southwest Suffolk * CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - A Storm Surge Watch and Tropical Storm Watch are in effect for Northern Nassau, Southern Fairfield, Southern Nassau, and Southern Westchester - A Storm Surge Watch and Hurricane Watch are in effect for Northeast Suffolk, Northwest Suffolk, Southeast Suffolk, Southern Middlesex, Southern New Haven, Southern New London, and Southwest Suffolk * STORM INFORMATION: - About 730 miles south of New York City NY or about 750 miles south of Montauk Point NY - 30.2N 73.1W - Storm Intensity 65 mph - Movement West-northwest or 300 degrees at 9 mph SITUATION OVERVIEW ------------------ Tropical Storm Henri is currently due east of the South Carolina coastline and will likely track north nearing eastern Long Island and into southern New England Sunday. The main threats from Henri are heavy rain capable of producing flash flooding, tropical storm force winds along the south shore and east end of Long Island and across southeast Connecticut, and associated marine and coastal hazards, including very rough seas and dangerous rip currents. A widespread rainfall of 1 to 3 inches is forecast with the potential of 2 to 4 inches locally higher amounts are possible Saturday through Sunday evening. The highest amounts are forecast to be across eastern Long Island and much of southeastern Connecticut. This will present a likelihood for scattered areas of flash flooding, particularly for areas that could see heavy rain Saturday leading into Sunday. Dangerous marine conditions are likely on the ocean waters south of Long Island, as well as on Long Island Sound, and the south shore and eastern bays of Long Island. Tropical storm force winds will be most likely in those areas, near the south shores and east end of Long Island and southeast Connecticut, and in some higher elevations away from the coastline. Dangerous rip currents and high surf are expected along the ocean beaches of Long Island beginning Friday. POTENTIAL IMPACTS ----------------- * WIND: Prepare for dangerous wind having possible significant impacts across eastern Long Island and Southern Connecticut. Potential impacts in this area include: - Some damage to roofing and siding materials, along with damage to porches, awnings, carports, and sheds. A few buildings experiencing window, door, and garage door failures. Mobile homes damaged, especially if unanchored. Unsecured lightweight objects become dangerous projectiles. - Several large trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted. Several fences and roadway signs blown over. - Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban or heavily wooded places. A few bridges, causeways, and access routes impassable. - Scattered power and communications outages, but more prevalent in areas with above ground lines. Also, prepare for hazardous wind having possible limited impacts across southern New York and northeast new Jersey. * SURGE: Prepare for locally hazardous surge having possible limited impacts across coastal Long Island Connecticut. Potential impacts in this area include: - Localized inundation with storm surge flooding mainly along immediate shorelines and in low lying spots, or in areas farther inland near where higher surge waters move ashore. - Sections of near shore roads and parking lots become overspread with surge water. Driving conditions dangerous in places where surge water covers the road. - Moderate beach erosion. Heavy surf also breaching dunes, mainly in usually vulnerable locations. Strong and frequent rip currents. - Minor to locally moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers. A few small craft broken away from moorings. Elsewhere across Southeast New York, Northeast New Jersey, and Southern Connecticut, little to no impact is anticipated. * FLOODING RAIN: Prepare for dangerous rainfall flooding having possible significant impacts across eastern Long Island and Southern Connecticut. Potential impacts include: - Rivers and streams may quickly become swollen with swifter currents and may overspill their banks in a few places, especially in usually vulnerable spots. Small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches may overflow. - Flood waters can enter some structures or weaken foundations. Several places may experience expanded areas of rapid inundation at underpasses, low lying spots, and poor drainage areas. Some streets and parking lots take on moving water as storm drains and retention ponds overflow. Driving conditions become hazardous. Some road and bridge closures. Prepare for locally hazardous rainfall flooding having possible limited impacts across southern New York and northeast new Jersey. * TORNADOES: Little to no impacts are anticipated at this time across Southeast New York, Northeast New Jersey, and Southern Connecticut. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ---------------------------------- * EVACUATIONS: Listen to local official for recommended preparedness actions, including possible evacuation. If ordered to evacuate, do so immediately. For those not under evacuation orders, assess the risk from wind, falling trees, and flooding at your location. If you decide to move, relocate to a safer location nearby. If you do not relocate, help keep roadways open for those under evacuation orders. If evacuating, leave with a destination in mind and allow extra time to get there. Take your emergency supplies kit. Gas up your vehicle ahead of time. Let others know where you are going prior to departure. Secure loose items and pets in the car, and avoid distracted driving. If evacuating, follow designated evacuation routes. Seek traffic information on roadway signs, on the radio, and from official sources. * OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION: Now is the time to check your emergency plan and emergency supplies kit and take necessary actions to protect your family and secure your home or business. When making safety and preparedness decisions, do not focus on the exact forecast track since hazards such as flooding rain, damaging wind gusts, storm surge, and tornadoes extend well away from the center of the storm. If you are a visitor, know the name of the county in which you are located and where it is relative to current watches and warnings. If staying at a hotel, ask the management staff about their onsite disaster plan. Listen for evacuation orders, especially pertaining to area visitors. Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather Radio and local news outlets for official storm information. Listen for possible changes to the forecast. * ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION: - For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov - For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org - For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org NEXT UPDATE ----------- The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather Service in New York NY around , or sooner if conditions warrant.
(Alliance News) - Welcome to the Alliance News UK service (ISSN 2515-9453), consisting of the Alliance News UK Professional and its family of financial newswires serving investors and their professional advisers.

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Canadian Overseas Petroleum Ltd - oil and gas company - Says its affiliate Southwestern Production Corp, operator of the Barron Flats Shannon Miscible Flood Unit, has filed a law suit in the State Court of Wyoming, against Cuda Energy LLC, a subsidiary of Cuda Oil & Gas Inc, Bridging Finance Inc, and Tallinn Capital Energy LP, to seek a judicial foreclosure on Cuda's non operated working interest in the Barron Flats Unit. Cuda's current cumulative operating arrears owed to Southwestern for the month ending June 30, amounts to USD2.5 million. It is noted that the Claim against Cuda will be subsequently amended to reflect Cuda's ongoing cumulative arrears, and any further resulting damages.

Current stock price: 0.38 pence

Year-to-date change: up 58%

By Evelina Grecenko; evelinagrecenko@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Delivery Hero SE - Berlin, Germany-based delivery platform - Confirms it will not be making an offer for food delivery giant Deliveroo PLC.

The news comes after Delivery Hero's announcement on Monday that it had bought a 5.1% stake in London-based rival Deliveroo.

Delivery Hero was founded in 2011 and operates in 46 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America. It formerly operated in the UK under the Hungryhouse brand, before selling that to Just Eat Takeaway.com NV in 2018.

Deliveroo, which also counts Amazon.com Inc among its investors, was founded in 2013 and is available in 12 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, although it is in the process of shutting down its Spanish business.

Both companies use a network of restaurants and gig-economy couriers to provide a food delivery.

Delivery Hero current stock price: EUR117.00

Year-to-date change: down 7.9%

Deliveroo current stock price: 384.50 pence, up 3.5% Friday

Year-to-date change: up 34% since March IPO

By Will Paige; willpaige@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Triple Point Social Housing REIT PLC - real estate investment trust - Notes the regulatory notice published by the Regulator of Social Housing in relation to Auckland Home Solutions. This follows the regulator's ongoing review of the specialised supported housing sector. Auckland, a registered provider focused on the supported housing sector, has recently been subject to a review by the regulator, resulting in Auckland being deemed non-compliant with regards to elements of the governance and financial viability standard. This reflects the regulator's desire to see Auckland demonstrate improvement in the areas of business planning and risk management. Triple Point says its independent valuer, Jones Lang LaSalle Ltd, has confirmed that there should be no material impact on the value of Triple Point's property portfolio as a result of the regulatory notice.

Current stock price: 112.60 pence

Year-to-date change: up 1.0%

By Evelina Grecenko; evelinagrecenko@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Adds Fetch.ai comment)

By Kirstin Ridley

LONDON, Aug 13 (Reuters) - London's High Court has ordered

Binance, one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, to

identify hackers and freeze their accounts after one user said

it was the victim of a $2.6 million hack.

In a judgment made public this week, a High Court judge

granted requests by artificial intelligence (AI) company

Fetch.ai for Binance to take steps to identify the hackers and

track and seize the assets.

While involving a relatively small sum, the case is one of

the first public ones involving Binance and will be a test of

the English court system's ability to tackle fraud on

cryptocurrency platforms.

"We can confirm that we are helping Fetch.ai in the recovery

of assets," a Binance spokesperson said.

"Binance routinely freezes accounts that are identified as

having suspicious activity occurring in line with our security

policies and commitment to ensuring that users are protected

while using our platform."

Binance, which has an opaque corporate structure, has faced

intense regulatory scrutiny amid a worldwide crackdown on

cryptocurrencies over concerns that such exchanges could be used

for money laundering or to allow consumers to fall victim to

scams or runaway bets.

Binance has said it is committed to complying with

appropriate local rules wherever it operates and has expanded

its international compliance team and advisory board.

"We need to dispel the myth that cryptoassets are anonymous.

The reality is that with the right rules and applications they

can be tracked, traced and recovered," Syedur Rahman, a partner

at Rahman Ravelli, which is representing Fetch.ai, told Reuters.

Fetch.ai, which is incorporated in England and Singapore and

develops AI projects for blockchain databases, alleges

fraudsters hacked their way into its cryptocurrency accounts on

the Binance exchange on June 6.

Unable to remove the assets because of account restrictions,

they allegedly sold them to a linked third party at a fraction

of their value in under an hour.

Rahman said Binance, which had notified Fetch.ai of unusual

activity in its account, had already frozen a sum and had

indicated it would comply with the orders. The claimants will

have to prove they are victims of fraud before seeking a

recovery order.

"We have been working closely with Binance and local

enforcement to obtain details about the hacker," Fetch.ai said

in an emailed statement. "Issuing a court order for the release

of this information is a standard process."

(Reporting by Kirstin Ridley

Editing by Mark Potter and Richard Chang)
Gatwick Funding Limited13 August 2021

Issuer: Gatwick Funding Limited

13 August 2021

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES TO THE DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION THAT QUALIFIED AS INSIDE INFORMATION WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) 596/2014 AS IT FORMS PART OF DOMESTIC LAW OF THE UNITED KINGDOM BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018

Gatwick Funding Limited(incorporated with limited liability in Jersey with registered number 107376)

announces a consent solicitation

Gatwick Funding Limited (the "Issuer") today announced a consent solicitation (the "Consent Solicitation") in respect of the following series of its bonds (the "Bonds"):

(i) 300,000,000 6.125 per cent. Notes due 2 Mar. 2028 (Scheduled Redemption Date: 2 Mar. 2026) (ISIN: XS0596919299);

(ii) 300,000,000 6.5 per cent. Notes due 2 Mar. 2043 (Scheduled Redemption Date: 2 Mar. 2041) (ISIN: XS0596919539);

(iii) 300,000,000 5.25 per cent. Notes due 23 Jan. 2026 (Scheduled Redemption Date: 23 Jan. 2024) (ISIN: XS0733794407);

(iv) 300,000,000 2.500 per cent. Notes due 15 Apr. 2032 (Scheduled Redemption Date: 15 Apr. 2030) (ISIN: XS2332199830);

(v) 300,000,000 5.75 per cent. Notes due 23 Jan. 2039 (Scheduled Redemption Date: 23 Jan. 2037) (ISIN: XS0733786130);

(vi) 350,000,000 4.625 per cent. Notes due 27 Mar. 2036 (Scheduled Redemption Date: 27 Mar. 2034) (ISIN: XS1047788523);

(vii) 300,000,000 2.625 per cent. Notes due 7 Oct. 2048 (Scheduled Redemption Date: 7 Oct. 2046) (ISIN: XS1502174581);

(viii) 350,000,000 3.125 per cent. Notes due 28 Sep. 2041 (Scheduled Redemption Date: 28 Sep. 2039) (ISIN: XS1691441924);

(ix) 300,000,000 3.25 per cent. Notes due 26 Feb. 2050 (Scheduled Redemption Date: 26 Feb. 2048) (ISIN: XS1781266793); and

(x) 300,000,000 2.875 per cent. Notes due 5 Jul. 2051 (Scheduled Redemption Date: 5 Jul. 2049) (ISIN: XS2022203801).

Capitalised terms used in this announcement and not defined herein have the meanings given to such terms in the solicitation memorandum dated 13 August 2021 (the "Solicitation Memorandum"). This announcement does not contain the full terms and conditions of the Consent Solicitation, which are contained in the Solicitation Memorandum. Subject to the restrictions described under "Solicitation and Distribution Restrictions" below, Bondholders may obtain a copy of the Solicitation Memorandum from the Tabulation Agent, the contact details for which are set out below.

Purpose of this Announcement

The purpose of this announcement is to:

(a) provide information on the STID Proposal which is the subject of the Consent Solicitation, for which see "The STID Proposal" and "Comfort Package" below; and

(b) provide details on Gatwick Airport's financial and operational performance (including forecasts and projections), for which see "Background" below and the compliance certificate and investor report for the six months ended 30 June 2021 and the quarterly information package for the three months ended 30 June 2021, in each case published on 13 August 2021, which can be found here https://www.gatwickairport.com/business-community/about-gatwick/investor-relations/other-financial-documents.

Background

In August 2020, in response to the impacts the COVID-19 pandemic had on the operations at Gatwick Airport (along with the air travel sector more generally), Gatwick Airport Limited (the "Borrower") requested a number of short term waivers, approvals and amendments to the Finance Documents (the "2020 Consent"), to ensure the Borrower was able to fully implement the management's recovery plans. All such requests were duly approved by the Borrower Security Trustee following a creditor voting process.

The Borrower was able to take actions to ensure the business is well positioned to recover from the pandemic. Notwithstanding this, the continued impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have continued to be felt during the first half of 2021. Despite the Borrower's strong financial position and the anticipated recovery in travel, there is continued short term pressure on covenants, and as a consequence the Borrower is requesting extensions of the prior waivers, approvals and amendments.

There is currently improved visibility over trading conditions in the short to medium term, and a forecast recovery in passenger numbers from 2022 through to 2024. The vaccination programmes in the UK and Gatwick Airport's key destinations are very advanced and significant pent up demand has been observed when key markets for Gatwick have reopened.

As at 30 June 2021, the Security Group had total liquidity of 779 million, comprised of cash and cash equivalents of 624 million and access to an undrawn, committed 150 million liquidity facility and a 5 million overdraft.

The Security Group has proactively managed its cash position by making operating expenditure savings of 140 million in the 2020 financial year compared with the 2019 financial year and reducing its capital expenditure run rate to under 3 million per month (compared to approximately 20 million per month prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic). In 2021, the Security Group also received a capital injection of 370 million.

Gatwick and its shareholders continue to target the maintenance of investment grade credit ratings, with a long term target of strong investment grade ratings (BBB+/Baa1/BBB+) for the Bonds.

The STID Proposal

The 2020 Consent included a waiver of any Default in respect of the financial ratios which may arise in respect of the Calculation Dates falling on 31 December 2020 and 30 June 2021. The continued reduced EBITDA of the Borrower during 2021 is expected to have a significant continuing impact on the financial ratios calculated in accordance with the CTA, and thus an extension of this waiver to the Calculation Dates falling on 31 December 2021 and 30 June 2022 is requested.

The Borrower's leverage covenant is calculated by dividing net debt by RAB, which is calculated based on Transfer RAB. Transfer RAB is equal to the average of the Relevant EBITDA for the last three years multiplied by 11.1x. An average of the last three years' Relevant EBITDA (as opposed to the last year's Relevant EBITDA) was used to ensure that the Transfer RAB (and therefore the implied borrowing base of the business) was less volatile, and not driven solely by outperformance (or underperformance) in a given year. However, given the severe and exceptional impact of COVID-19 on the Relevant EBITDA for 2020 and 2021, the Transfer RAB will be materially changed, and this impact will persist until at least December 2024.

The 2020 Consent included an amendment to the calculation of Transfer RAB for the Calculation Dates from (and including) December 2021 to (and including) June 2023, such that the amount to be included in the calculation as Relevant EBITDA for each calendar quarter in the period of 12 months commencing on 1 April 2020 was replaced with an average of the respective quarterly Relevant EBITDA in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Given the continued impact of COVID-19 on the Relevant EBITDA during 2021, the Borrower is now seeking a further amendment to the calculation of Transfer RAB to apply from (and excluding) 30 June 2022 to (and including) 30 June 2024, such that the amount to be included in the calculation as Relevant EBITDA for each calendar quarter in the period of 12 months commencing on 1 April 2021 is replaced with an average of the respective quarterly Relevant EBITDA in 2017, 2018 and 2019. These averages have been calculated and are set out in paragraph 3(b) of the STID Proposal.

The 2020 Consent included a waiver of certain other technical Defaults which may arise from actions taken by any Governmental Agency relating directly to the COVID-19 pandemic and which result in a full or partial closure of, or a full or partial suspension of operations at, Gatwick Airport. The Borrower is seeking to extend this waiver, although currently no such Defaults are expected. These are set out in paragraph 3(c) of the STID Proposal.

The 2020 Consent included approval to issue up to 300,000,000 of unsecured commercial paper under the Bank of England Covid Corporate Financing Facility ("CCFF") programme. The Borrower currently has 275 million outstanding under the CCFF which is due for repayment in March 2022. The Borrower believes it would be prudent to ensure it is able to explore a variety of options to replace this debt (including through any replacement to the CCFF that may be offered in the future). The Borrower is therefore requesting approval pursuant to paragraph (a)(iv) of the definition of "Permitted Financial Indebtedness" in the MDA to permit the incurrence of unsecured Financial Indebtedness of up to 300,000,000 (less the amount of any outstanding CCFF Debt, unless amounts are raised solely to repay such CCFF Debt). In line with the current position for the Borrower's outstanding CCFF Debt, any CCFF Replacement Debt (as defined below) shall not be included within the calculation of the Senior RAR. Furthermore, no distributions shall be permitted whilst any CCFF Replacement Debt is outstanding.

The 2020 Consent included a waiver of the consequences of the occurrence of a Trigger Event pursuant to paragraphs 2.1 (Further Information and Remedial Plan), 4 (Independent Review) and 5 (Consultation with Regulator) of Part 2 (Trigger Event Consequences) of Schedule 3 (Trigger Events) to the CTA, where a Trigger Event arises under paragraph 1 (Financial Ratios) of Part 1 (Trigger Events) of Schedule 3 (Trigger Events) to the CTA in respect of a Calculation Date up to and including 30 June 2021, or that otherwise relates directly to the COVID-19 pandemic (with such waiver ceasing to apply on and from 31 December 2021 if the relevant Trigger Event is continuing on such date). The requirements to be waived provide for the right of the Borrower Security Trustee to request information and receive a remedial plan, commission an Independent Review, and to participate in any discussions with the Regulator. The Borrower is requesting an extension of such waiver, to waive the consequences of the occurrence of a Trigger Event pursuant to the above-mentioned paragraphs of Part 1 (Trigger Events) of Schedule 3 (Trigger Events) to the CTA in respect of a Calculation Date up to and including 30 June 2022, or that otherwise relates directly to the COVID-19 pandemic (with such waiver ceasing to apply on and from 31 December 2022 if the relevant Trigger Event is continuing on such date).

Comfort Package

The Borrower proposes that if the provisions set out above are waived, approved and/or amended (as applicable), the Borrower will provide the Borrower Secured Creditors and the Issuer Secured Creditors (by publication on the Designated Website) a quarterly information package in respect of quarter end dates from 30 September 2021 to 30 June 2022 inclusive, to include traffic updates, financial ratios and six month liquidity forecasts, as have been provided up to 30 June 2021 pursuant to the conditions of the 2020 Consent.

In line with the 2020 Consent, if any six month liquidity forecast shows that Available Cash minus Required Expenditure (each as defined in the STID Proposal) is less than 225,000,000, the Borrower will be required to provide a remedial plan outlining how it intends to address the issue, and monthly updates to both the plan and the liquidity forecast until the issue is resolved. If Available Cash minus Required Expenditure is less than 150,000,000, any failure to provide the remedial plan or undertake the actions set out in such plan within the time periods specified in the plan will result in a Loan Event of Default.

Finally, the Borrower proposes that, conditional upon the requested consents being provided, further restrictions on Restricted Payments shall apply, such that no Restricted Payments shall be made prior to the Calculation Date falling on 31 December 2022 (extended from 31 December 2021 which was agreed in the 2020 Consent), and any Restricted Payments made in the period prior to the next Calculation Date falling after 30 June 2024 (extended from 30 June 2023 which was agreed in the 2020 Consent) shall be subject to a tighter Senior RAR test (0.60 for Calculation Dates up to and including June 2023 (extended from June 2022 which was agreed in the 2020 Consent), and thereafter 0.65, on an adjusted basis), meeting the current Senior RAR threshold of 0.70 on an unadjusted basis, and a six month liquidity test, and may not be made if amounts are outstanding in respect of any CCFF Debt or CCFF Replacement Debt (as mentioned above).

The Borrower considers this package of waivers, approvals and amendments, together with the related undertakings from the Obligors, will allow the Borrower to continue to implement the management's recovery plans, and therefore asks for due consideration of the proposals.

For detailed information on the STID Proposal see the form of the STID Proposal (appended at Schedule 2 to the Solicitation Memorandum) and an investor presentation prepared in connection with the Consent Solicitation which is available to Bondholders via NetRoadshow at https://www.netroadshow.com/nrs/home/#!/?show=e0c49dd1 or by visiting www.netroadshow.com and entering the entry code: Gatwick2021 (not case-sensitive).

Expected Timetable

The times and dates below (other than the Expiration Time) are indicative only. Accordingly, the actual timetable may differ significantly from the expected timetable set out below.

All references to times are to London time unless otherwise stated, and any announcements or notifications to be made to Bondholders arising out of or in connection with the STID Proposal will be made as soon as is reasonably practicable after the event giving rise to the announcement or notification by the Issuer in accordance with the provisions of the Bond Trust Deed and the Bonds.

All notices to Bondholders will be given by delivery through the Clearing Systems.

Event Date Announcement and delivery of the STID Proposal. 13 August 2021 Solicitation Memorandum and draft amendment documentation in respect of each of the CTA and the MDA to be made available at the specified office of the Tabulation Agent (copies of which are obtainable by Bondholders upon request, free of charge). Expiration Time Latest time and date for receipt of valid Electronic Voting Instructions by the Tabulation Agent through the Clearing Systems. 4.00 p.m. (London time) on 3 September 2021 STID Voting Deadline 7 September 2021 Announcement of results of the STID Proposal 8 September 2021 or earlier, subject to the STID Proposal, should the Borrower Security Trustee have received votes in favour of the STID Proposal from 75% of Participating QBS Creditors If the STID Proposal is approved and the Borrower Security Trustee has announced such approval Payment of the Instruction Fee to those holders who are eligible for payment in accordance with the conditions set out in the Solicitation Memorandum. On the Payment Date which is expected to be on or about the fifth Business Day following the announcement of the results of the STID Proposal, if the STID Proposal is approved. If the Amendment Conditions are satisfied Execution of amendment documentation in respect of each of the CTA and the MDA and implementation of the STID Proposal On the Amendment Date - currently expected to occur within five Business Days of the STID Voting Deadline (but, in any event, to be implemented at a time which is at Gatwick Airport Limited's sole and absolute discretion).

Bondholders or Beneficial Owners are advised to check with the bank, securities broker, trust company, custodian, Clearing System or other intermediary through which they hold their Bonds whether such intermediary applies different deadlines for any of the events specified above, and then to adhere to such deadlines if such deadlines are prior to the deadlines set out above.

All of the above dates are subject to earlier deadlines that may be set by the Clearing Systems or any intermediary.

Instruction Fee

Subject to the conditions set out in the Solicitation Memorandum, including the approval of the STID Proposal by the requisite proportion of the Participating QBS Creditors and the announcement by the Borrower Security Trustee of such approval, holders of the Bonds who have delivered a valid Electronic Voting Instruction in respect of the STID Proposal which has been received by the Tabulation Agent at or prior to the Expiration Time, which has not been validly withdrawn following the Expiration Time and which remains in full force and effect until the announcement of the results of the STID Proposal, will be entitled to receive a fee equal to 0.05 per cent. of the Principal Amount Outstanding of such Bonds which are the subject of the relevant Electronic Voting Instruction (the "Instruction Fee"). The Instruction Fee will be paid on the Payment Date via the relevant Clearing System for payment to the cash account of an eligible holder of Bonds in such Clearing System.

Creditor Support

Special Committee of the Investment Association

The STID Proposal set out in the Solicitation Memorandum has been considered by a special committee consisting of certain Bondholders and convened by The Investment Association at the request of the Issuer. The members of the special committee, who hold in aggregate approximately 40.48 per cent. in Principal Amount Outstanding of the Bonds have examined the STID Proposal. They have informed the Issuer that they find the STID Proposal acceptable and, subject to client and other approvals, they intend to vote in favour of the STID Proposal in respect of their holdings of Bonds.

As such, Bondholders should bear in mind that while the Bondholders that participated in the special committee are asked to confirm, after due enquiry, the amount of their holdings they will be able to commit to vote in favour of the STID Proposal, any indication given by such a Bondholder of its intention to vote is not binding on the relevant Bondholder.

The special committee has advised the Issuer that this recommendation relates only to the STID Proposal set out in the Solicitation Memorandum and not to any future offers or proposals which the Issuer may make.

Other Qualifying Borrower Secured Creditors

The Borrower has undertaken pre-engagement regarding the STID Proposal with the lenders on the Borrower's Revolving Credit Facility, and the required number of banks have indicated that, subject to final approvals, they intend to vote in favour of the STID Proposal with votes representing 300 million of Qualifying Borrower Debt.

Overall Creditor Support

Taking into account the position above in relation to the review by a special committee of The Investment Association and the support from other lenders and investors of the Issuer, as of the date of the Solicitation Memorandum, approximately 45.73 per cent. of the aggregate principal amount of Qualifying Borrower Debt (including the Bonds) have indicated that subject to client, final and other approvals, they intend to vote in favour of the STID Proposal.

Amendment Conditions

Implementation of the STID Proposal is conditional on:

(a) the approval of the STID Proposal; and

(b) the announcement by the Borrower Security Trustee of the approval of the STID Proposal; and

(c) the delivery to the Borrower Security Trustee of a legal opinion of Clifford Chance LLP as to matters of capacity and enforceability of the Amendment Document,

(the "Amendment Conditions"). The Issuer will announce satisfaction of the Amendment Conditions as soon as practicable thereafter.

It is intended that the STID Proposal will be implemented within five Business Days of the STID Voting Deadline, however the timing for the implementation of the STID Proposal is at the Borrower's sole and absolute discretion.

General

Subject to applicable law and as provided herein, the relevant Issuer may, in its sole discretion, amend the terms of (save for the Expiration Time), terminate or withdraw the Consent Solicitation at any time up to the Solicitation Amendment Deadline.

Bondholders are advised to check with the bank, securities broker, trust company, custodian, Clearing System or other intermediary through which they hold their Bonds whether such intermediary will apply different deadlines for participation to those set out in the Solicitation Memorandum and, if so, should adhere to such deadlines if such deadlines are prior to the deadlines set out in the Solicitation Memorandum.

In relation to the delivery of Electronic Voting Instructions, in each case, through the Clearing Systems, Bondholders holding Bonds in Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg should note the particular practice of the relevant Clearing System, including any earlier deadlines set by such Clearing System.

Only direct accountholders in Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg may deliver Electronic Voting Instructions. Bondholders who are not direct accountholders in Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg should arrange for the accountholder through which they hold their Bonds to deliver an Electronic Voting Instruction on their behalf to the relevant Clearing System as more particularly described in the Solicitation Memorandum. The deadlines specified by the relevant Clearing System may be earlier than the Expiration Time.

Bondholders are advised to read the Solicitation Memorandum carefully for full details of, and information on the procedures for participating in, the Consent Solicitation.

Further Information

For general assistance and queries relating to the STID Proposal please contact the Solicitation Agents at:

Barclays Bank PLC

5 The North Colonnade

Canary Wharf

London E14 4BB

United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)203 134 8515

Email: eu.lm@barclays.com

Attention: Liability Management Group

NatWest Markets Plc250 BishopsgateLondon EC2M 4AAUnited Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7678 5222Email: liabilitymanagement@natwestmarkets.comAttention: Liability Management

For questions or requests for assistance in connection with the delivery of Electronic Voting Instructions please contact the Tabulation Agent at:

Lucid Issuer Services LimitedTankerton Works12 Argyle WalkLondon WC1H 8HA

Tel: +44 207 704 0880E-mail: gatwick@lucid-is.comAttention: Arlind Bytyqi / Mu-yen Lo

Disclaimer

This announcement must be read in conjunction with the Solicitation Memorandum. The Solicitation Memorandum contains important information which should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the Consent Solicitation. If any Bondholder is in doubt as to the action it should take, it is recommended to seek its own financial, legal or other advice, including as to any tax consequences, from its stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant, independent financial adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (if in the United Kingdom) or other appropriately authorised financial adviser. Any individual or company whose Bonds are held on its behalf by a broker, dealer, bank, custodian, trust company or other nominee must contact such entity if it wishes to participate in the Consent Solicitation. None of the Solicitation Agents, the Tabulation Agent, the Security Trustee or the Bond Trustee accepts any responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

Market Abuse Regulation

This announcement is released by the Issuer and contains information in relation to the Bonds that qualified as inside information for the purposes of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("EUWA") ("MAR"), encompassing information relating to the Bonds. For the purposes of MAR and Article 2 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1055 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA, this Notice is made by Philip Iley, a Director of the Issuer.

Solicitation and Distribution Restrictions

Any materials relating to the Consent Solicitation do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, any form of offer or solicitation in any place where such offers or solicitations are not permitted by law. If a jurisdiction requires that the Consent Solicitation be made by a licensed broker or dealer and any Solicitation Agent or any of their respective affiliates is such a licensed broker or dealer in that jurisdiction, the Consent Solicitation shall be deemed to be made by such Solicitation Agent(s) or such affiliate(s), as the case may be, on behalf of the Issuer and in such jurisdiction where it is so licensed and the Consent Solicitation is not being made in any such jurisdiction where the Solicitation Agents or one of their respective affiliates is not so licensed.

The distribution of the Solicitation Memorandum in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession the Solicitation Memorandum comes are required by the Issuer, the Obligors, the Solicitation Agents and the Tabulation Agent to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions.

The Solicitation Memorandum contains important information which should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the Consent Solicitation. If any Bondholder is in any doubt as to the action it should take, it is recommended to seek its own financial, legal or other advice, including as to any tax consequences, from its stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant, independent financial adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended, the "FSMA") (if in the United Kingdom) or other appropriately authorised independent professional adviser. Any individual or company whose Bonds are held on its behalf by a broker, dealer, bank, custodian, trust company or other nominee must contact such entity if it wishes to participate in the Consent Solicitation.

The communication by the Issuer of the Solicitation Memorandum and any other documents or materials relating to the Consent Solicitation is not being made, and such documents and/or materials have not been approved, by an authorised person for the purposes of section 21 of the FSMA. Accordingly, such documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. Such documents and/or materials are only directed at and may only be communicated to (1) any person within Article 43(2) of the (Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005), which includes a creditor or member of the Issuer, and (2) to any other persons to whom these documents and/or materials may lawfully be communicated in circumstances where section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply.

IMPORTANT - PROHIBITION RELATING TO EEA RETAIL INVESTORS: The Consent Solicitation is not intended to be made to and should not be made to any retail investor in the European Economic Area ("EEA"). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, "EU MiFID II"); (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of EU MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended or superseded, the "EU PRIIPs Regulation") had been prepared in relation to the Bonds and therefore certain actions in relation to the Bonds involving any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the EU PRIIPs Regulation.

IMPORTANT - PROHIBITION RELATING TO UK RETAIL INVESTORS: The Consent Solicitation is not intended to be made to and should not be made to any retail investor in the United Kingdom (the "UK"). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law of the UK by virtue of the EUWA; (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the FSMA and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law of the UK by virtue of the EUWA; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law of the UK by virtue of the EUWA. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended or superseded, the "UK PRIIPs Regulation") had been prepared in relation to the Bonds and therefore certain actions in relation to the Bonds involving any retail investor in the UK may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation.

END
German Porras, a one-time director of Spains national tourism agency, Turespana, suggested in an article in the newspaper La Razon earlier this week that the UN World Tourism Organization could be about to up sticks and move its headquarters from Madrid to Riyadh.

The WTO has been in existence since November 1975. The HQ has always been in Madrid, the choice of Spain having been made when Franco was still alive (the Generalissimo died three weeks after the official formation of the WTO). Spains growing importance in international tourism was a reason for choosing Madrid, as was the belief that a UN body would assist in a move towards democracy, which was more assumption than fact at that time.

If there were to be a relocation to Riyadh, the WTO would have its headquarters in a country that is not democratic and is most certainly not on the cusp of becoming so. Moreover, it has a dreadful human rights record. From a tourism point of view, there are big ambitions for the Red Sea development - up to 8,000 hotel rooms in a part of the country to be given separate treatment so that, for example, women will be able to wear bikinis. Strategically, tourism is seen by the Saudis as a means of diversifying from being a petrostate. Not, however, that this should play any part in WTO decisions.

The possibility of the move has partly been inspired by the opening at the end of May of the WTOs regional office in the Middle East. It is in Riyadh. The secretary-general of the WTO, Zurab Pololikashvili, said that this office will be a centre of conversation, debate and decision-making and bring hope to many people across the region, allowing them to enjoy the social and economic benefits only tourism can deliver.

Where Spain is concerned, there is the prestige and kudos of having the WTO. The UN doesnt have any other headquarters in the country, and the one that it does is a reflection of the fact that Spain is very much among the tourism industrys global leaders. The WTO, as it turned out, did become a partner in the transition to democracy and therefore to a fostering of cross-cultural relationships, which are an essential element of tourism. Plenty of credit is still given to politicians and officials who worked for Francos tourism ministry in having succeeded in getting the UN to set up the HQ in Madrid.

There are, it needs saying, plenty of critical voices - the WTO is another UN monolith and not a particularly useful one either. But it is the one body that at least aspires to be truly global in the advancement of tourism, with particular emphasis nowadays on sustainability, developing economies and rural tourism. While the criticism can be valid, opinion is that it is better to have the WTO than not have it, as it does represent kudos for Spain, which would lose its permanent position on the WTO executive council, if the relocation were to happen. This is the only permanent position that Spain has in the UN.

In the past, there have been attempts by various countries to get the WTO to relocate. They have all seen the potential benefit because of prestige and a rubber-stamping of their position in the global tourism market. But the latest attempt would seem to be the most concerted, the Saudis having undertaken a diplomatic campaign. This is being directed at the general assembly, which comprises 159 governments. It is due to meet in Marrakech in October, though this is likely to be postponed.

Whenever the assembly does gather, it is believed that there is a genuine risk to Spain and that a two-thirds vote (which would be needed) will approve a move. The Spanish government needs to launch a counter campaign, but it is being pointed out that an important factor in any decision by the general assembly is that the government has been dragging its heels in redeveloping the Palacio de Congresos de la Castellana in Madrid as a new headquarters building.

German Porras argues that this is the main reason why the WTO might leave Madrid. For him, the loss of the WTO would be an unmitigated diplomatic, political and economic failure. The impact would be highly negative in that it would damage Spains image as a global tourism leader.

The secretary of state for tourism, Fernando Valdes, said in August last year that the redevelopment of the old convention centre would give greater visibility to the WTO. He therefore hinted that the government would be moving ahead on it, but there is still no obvious commitment, and for some in the tourism industry this is further evidence of the Spanish government not appreciating the role of tourism sufficiently.

For all its apparent faults, Spains loss would be greater than the benefit of ensuring that the WTO stays in Madrid (at an estimated cost of 70 million euros for redevelopment). This loss may well be being exaggerated, but right now, because of Covid and the ramifications of the pandemic, a decision to relocate would be a blow.

Imserso - the latest debacle

The Imserso programme of subsidised holidays for Spanish senior citizens has once again been plunged into complete chaos. This has become almost an annual event because of challenges to terms and conditions by different organisations, and the 2021-2022 programme is threatened because the Hosbec hotelier association in Valencia has successfully appealed against the specifications to the court for contractual disputes. The Spanish governments Institute for Senior Citizens and Social Services (Imserso) has been given five days to respond.

At present, the processing of contracts is temporarily suspended, but it could be that the court ends up deciding on a permanent suspension. One of Spains main unions, the CCOO, says that it hopes there is a swift resolution and that there is no delay to the start of the programme in October. The union notes that there are usually over 800,000 hotel places across different regions, which of course include the Balearics, and that some 12,000 direct jobs could be affected.

The hoteliers have been complaining for years about how little they make from Imserso. They do have very legitimate grievances in this regard. However, this really is not the time to be playing hardball and to be risking a delay or even a complete loss of the programme. Every last euro counts right now, as does every last job.
Every time you buy a bottle of Elephant Gin, 15% of the profits go to foundations that support the conservation of African elephants. Today we uncover the story behind the brand whose activism is based in booze.

Today is World Elephant Day and, while wed love to simply just share pics and trade stories of the glorious animals, sadly all is not well for elephants. There used to be millions of elephants roaming Africas huge open spaces. Today, after two drastic surges in poaching, only 415,000 remain. Criminals kill endangered animals for tusks, horns, scales, and skins. Ivory demand, human-wildlife conflict, and a simple battle for space have greatly affected the plight of the African elephant.

Since 2013, a gin brand has been doing its bit fighting the good fight on behalf of elephants (who, despite being awesome dont actually possess the ability of distillation). Elephant Gin was founded with the belief that the first step to changing the world is having the right spirit.

The team has been boosting conservation efforts for Africas favourite gentle giants, contributing 15% of all of its gins profits to elephant conservation. Up to date, Elephant Gin has donated over 500,000 to its partner foundations.

The cause

These include the Big Life Foundation, in which Elephant Gin supports the work of the 45 rangers who protect two million acres of wilderness in Kenya, paying for training, salary, and equipment such as rucksacks, tents, and mosquito nets. Theres also The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which rescues and rehabilitates baby elephants that are left behind when their mother dies due to poaching, with Elephant Gin becoming a foster parent of 22 orphaned elephants.

The gin brand has also partnered with Space for Giants Foundation to fund an education centre called The Wildlife Spirit, the purpose of which is to educate local youth and adults in the area on their countrys wildlife and environment, as well as give local and international visitors an opportunity to learn about elephants.

Donations are one method, but Elephant Gin also gets directly involved too, offering jobs that provide income for people that might have looked for illegal activities and are keen to work with the communities. For its Sloe Gin, for example, the beautiful craftsmanship of the Kenyan Maasai tribe is celebrated by paying them to create beads for the bottle.

One example of how Elephant Gin is committed to the cause was in 2016 when the brand helped save 69 elephants by negotiating the removal of a fence between Pongola Game Reserve and Swaziland Reserve (two big reserves of 15,000-25,000 hectares of wildlife each). Dropping the fence resulted in reconnecting the two reserves and letting all wild animals roam freely between borders. Several elephants that were on the brink of being shot (as a result of the current drought) were able to survive under the new circumstances.

The gin

Elephant Gin was founded by Robin Gerlach and Tessa Wienker. They were inspired after spending time in Africa, where they witnessed first-hand the reduction of elephants natural habitat for farming and the horror of ivory poaching. The duo decided that they would prefer to create a physical product that people could enjoy and relate to rather than simply establishing a charity, utilizing the power of a forward-thinking, socially-minded business.

A keen gin enthusiast, Gerlach began researching African botanicals to combine his desire to see more radical ingredients in gin and maintaining a narrative that suited the projects inspiration. Botanicals like buchu, devils claw, and lions tail (plants and herbs native to South Africa), as well as Baobab (the fruit of the baobab tree) and African wormwood, are distilled at a German schnapps distillery. Elephant Dry Gin also features more classic botanicals such as juniper, ginger, elderflower, lavender, cassia bark, sweet orange peel, and more.

The same recipe is used for a navy strength edition, fittingly called Elephant Strength, and theres also a Sloe Gin. And dont forget, 15% of the profits of each goes to helping African elephants.

Making a difference with drinks

Social responsibility is reflected in all facets of the company, which includes sustainability too. Elephant Gin is committed to a plastic policy that actively avoids single-use plastic, favouring shredded 100% recyclable boxes and paper straws (sugar cane alternatives are in the works), and omitting the likes of bubble wrap and styrofoam.

Recyclable and sustainable materials like glass bottles, natural corks, and hemp string decoration are also used, as is a 100% biodegradable shrink sleeve made from a compostable material called polylactic acid. When Elephant Gin hands out brochures and flyers, the paper is made out of elephant dung, which is neat.

Gin and elephants might not be the most obvious combination. But, by working closely with foundations to ensure that donations arrive on the ground and regularly visiting Africa in order to keep up to date on the progress and developments, the Elephant Gin team has managed to make a real difference with drinks.

Now thats something worth raising a glass to.
One might assume that it is tough being an elected server of the public because when you win from a constituency, it's just self-explanatory that the person in power will enable, uplift and help his people.



Actor and politician Sunny Deol, who won from Gurdaspur apparently is using his constitutional powers for good and also helping people in whatever way he can. Last year, when the farmers protest began, he was trolled for having a very neutral stand and not speaking up in support of the protest. Now an old letter from February has gone viral where the politician is asking for a Thar Jeep to be urgently delivered for an MLAs daughter.

BJP MP fm Punjab Shri Sunny Deols recommendation letter want Thar delivery expedited for BJP MLAs daughter.. Gurdaspur ppl u chose him for this pic.twitter.com/fRfxAxPnMn     (    ) (@AdnanAliKhan555) August 13, 2021

The letter has garnered an insane amount of opinionfrom the general public on social media and people have a lot of thoughts.

MP Sunny Deol is working so hard in his Lok Sabha constituency . This is what happens when you don't exercise your vote rightly. pic.twitter.com/xd7PlKB30N  Bombur (@boombur) August 13, 2021

BROOOO all this effort for a Thar https://t.co/19R8TB9WMA  Akshar |  (@akshaaaaar) August 13, 2021

This looks more like dhai kilo ka ehsaan?

Hope everyone is absolutely clear that Funny Deol is a       Blue Reepublic (@bluereepublic) August 13, 2021

Leave farmers protest aside this sunny deol doesn't even know the basic problems of his constituency. Hell I challenge he can't even tell all the vidhan sabhas under his constituency.



movie industry and politics cannot go hand in hand.  Kavish (@KavishAMahajan) August 13, 2021

When people are elected because they can pull out water pumps then this is what can be expected.  Bhaskar Sabesan (@BSabesan) August 13, 2021

Well, jokes apart, it is moments like these which make us realise that as citizens of a democracy, we need to make better decisions in terms of electing better leaders.
Prices for seaborne pulverized coal injection (PCI) increased in the cfr China market in the week to August 13 based on good restocking demand from end users and rose slightly in the fob market against low trading activities, sources told Fastmarkets. Premium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang : $345 per tonne, up $4.81 per tonne Hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang : $299.50 per tonne, up $5.2 per tonne Premium hard coking coal, fob DBCT : $222.17 per tonne, down $0.20 per tonne Hard coking coal, fob DBCT : $195.91 per tonne, down $0.25 per tonneThe fob Australia coking coal market held steady on Friday after new deals in the week.The fob Australia market gradually stabilized after the new transaction price of $220.50-222.50 per tonne fob Australia for premium low-volatility (PLV) hard coking coal was heard early in the week, while the Chinese market showed a strong upward trend, a mill source from South Korea said.In China, offers for seaborne coking coal from North America remained strong due to increasing domestic coking coal and coke prices.Most coke producers proposed to increase the coke price by 120 yuan ($18.52) per tonne on August 12, which is the third price increase proposal they have made in August. Market sources expect major steel mills to accept the price increase soon due to necessary procurement demand, based on their current low stock level.Offers for PLV from North America were about $355-360 per tonne cfr China on Friday and for second-tier hard coking coal (HCC) offers were about $315 per tonne cfr China, sources said. No firm bids or deals were reported on Friday.Overall demand for seaborne coking coal is limited but the supply of high-quality coking coal from both North America and China is tight, which could continue to support transaction prices in the short term, a Beijing-based trader source said.A few traders are looking to Russian coking coal, which has a lower price and quality (due to low CSR), rather than cargoes from North America.Russia-origin K10 (semi-hard coking coal) was offered at about $246 per tonne cfr China in the week, sources said.The seaborne PCI price in China in the week to August 13 also increased amid necessary procurement demand and tight supply.Fastmarkets calculation of the index for PCI, low-vol, cfr Jingtang was $188.76 per dry metric tonne on August 13, up by $4.42 per tonne on a weekly basis.A Beijing-based seller source noted that there is more buying interest for cargoes loaded in late August and early September from Russia due to rising domestic PCI prices in China.A cargo of Russia-origin low-volatility PCI was traded at about $185 per tonne cfr China during the week, sources said.Offers for high-quality Russian PCI were about $190 per tonne cfr China in the week to August 13, yet cargoes with firm laycan were limited.The fob Australia PCI price stayed largely stable in the week to August 13 because both demand and supply for Australia PCI remained weak, sources said. Only end-users with necessary restocking demand were procuring material and others held back due to high prices, sources added.Fastmarkets calculation of the index for PCI, low-vol, fob DBCT , was $157.14 per dmt on August 13, up by $0.40 per tonne on a weekly basis.The most-traded January coking coal futures contract closed at 2,184.50 yuan ($337.16) per tonne on August 13, down by 21 yuan per tonne day on day.The most-traded September coke contract closed at 2,885 yuan per tonne on August 13, up by 16 yuan per tonne day on day.
While the strict lockdown was officially ended on August 10, sources said that some Bangladeshi induction furnace (IF) mills had restarted steel production on August 8. The countrys electric-arc furnace (EAF) mills had been allowed to continue production in recent weeks A major Bangladeshi steelmaker source told Fastmarkets that the end of the lockdown was positive for activity in the steel retail market and for scrap logistics, which were badly affected by the measures . But he said that he was worried about future lockdowns, with Covid-19 infection numbers in Bangladesh still high.

Buyers have started going back to their offices in recent days, and factories have been allowed to re-open. I am hoping that the market will...
Michigan Department of Civil Rights Issues Statement on Federal Grants to Help Preserve Michigan Civil Rights Sites and History

Michigan Department of Civil Rights Issues Statement on Federal Grants to Help Preserve Michigan Civil Rights Sites and History

Vicki Levengood levengoodv@michigan.gov

August 13, 2021

LANSING, MI--John. E. Johnson, Jr., Executive Director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, has issued the following statement on the announcement that Michigan projects were selected to receive $1.4 million in African American Civil Rights Grants from National Park Service.

"The history of the civil rights movement cannot be told solely through the study of storied marches and inspiring oratory. The places this funding will protect showcase the lived experience of Black families and communities striving for equality in a tumultuous and consequential time. We are proud of these places of significance to our own civil rights story and echo the Governor's words on the importance of preserving the sites where Michiganders fought for equity and fair housing."

The Michigan Civil Rights Commission was created by the Michigan Constitution to safeguard constitutional and legal guarantees against discrimination. The Commission is charged with investigating alleged discrimination against any person because of religion, race, color or national origin, genetic information, sex, age, marital status, height, weight, arrest record, and physical and mental disability. The Michigan Department of Civil Rights serves as the operational arm of the Commission.

# # #
The Region VII Area Agency on Aging has received national recognition for its efforts in preventing elderly patients from getting sick.

The agency received an Aging Achievement Award from the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging for its pharmacy and vaccination program, which only started last year.

Nathaniel Bergman, a pharmacist with Region VII, said the award focused mainly on the agencys efforts to give influenza vaccinations to homebound patients who otherwise would not have received such vaccines otherwise.

Last year was the first Region VII gave such vaccines to homebound individuals, and it plans on continuing during the 2021 flu season and further in the future.

One of the unique things told to us was we were one of the only triple As nationwide that directly administered to individuals, Bergman said. Our agency sent staff out to give shots.

In Region VIIs coverage area, 250 individuals were vaccinated against influenza in 2020.

These awards are normally given out by the n4a at an annual conference, but this years conference was held virtually. Bergman said that a large number of staff members were able to attend the virtual conference.

Region VII did receive a similar award last year for its care transition program, which provides services to Medicare beneficiaries and links patients with home and community-based services.

The success of giving influenza shots led Region VII to later start administering COVID-19 vaccines, of which it has administered over 1,000 so far in its coverage area. Those were done at patients' homes and at vaccine clinics.

During the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of receiving the influenza vaccine was increasingly apparent and our agency jumped at the opportunity to fulfill this need that was not being met, Bergman said. We are proud of our staffs hard work and extra effort put forth to ensure the homebound seniors in our communities were protected.

Influenza and COVID vaccines are Region VII's primary focus for vaccinations in the immediate future.

Region VII covers a 10-county area in Mid-Michigan, providing services to elderly residents without the need to go to a nursing home. Its coverage area including Huron, Tuscola, Sanilac, Gratiot, Bay, Saginaw, Midland, Clare, Gladwin, and Isabella counties.
MIDDLETOWN  Cats, dogs and other rescued animals can now take be housed within city limits following the opening of the new animal shelter in the North End.

Middletown will celebrate the launch with a warming party Saturday at 150 Berlin St., behind the Pieper-Olson veterinary care facility at the end of the road, the former site of The Dog Cabin, which moved to Stack Street.

Gail Petras is in her 17th year as Middletowns senior animal control officer. This will be the first time the shelter is located in the city. The city shared a facility with the town of Portland for many years.

This has been in the works for a long time so Im very happy, Petras said.

For the last several years, Middletown Animal Control was renting space over the Arrigoni Bridge, which, she said, is close to 40 years old and outfitted for a department that takes in far less animals than Middletown.

It was just outdated, Petras said.

The city worked out a 15-year rental agreement with Pieper-Olson to use their newly renovated space as a shelter. Improvements made include new air conditioning and heating systems, a washer and dryer, office space for adoption meetings, and separate spaces for different types of animals.

One upgrade that Petras is most excited about is the safer orientation of the kennels. They allow for officers or others to remain protected from animals while working with them. This way, its all much easier with a dog we are unsure about, she said.

Petras is excited to show off the new facility, and has seen excitement among residents as well. The public knew we were getting a new space, and theyre excited to see it.

The facility will be open to the public that day between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Mayor Ben Florsheim and members of the Common Council will be in attendance to mark the occasion. The event will feature light refreshments and raffle prizes, ranging from pet supplies to free products from local businesses.

Masks will be required inside.

The event will also feature an educational aspect for children interested in learning more about the citys animal control unit, Petras said.

Items still needed for the new shelter are included in an Amazon wish list posted at bit.ly/3jIUO2g. For information, visit the Middletown Animal Control Facebook page.
3 1 of 3 CT State Police / Contributed Show More Show Less 2 of 3 CT State Police / Contributed Show More Show Less 3 of 3





After fighting cancer into remission, retired Connecticut State Police Sgt. William Billy Longo died last month from COVID-19 complications, the agency said Friday.

Longo joined the Connecticut State Police ranks after graduating the academy in 1976 with the 87th training troop. He retired in 1998.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

William Chittenden, Texas State University

(THE CONVERSATION) Editors note: A growing number of colleges and universities across the country are using money from the American Rescue Plan to clear their current and graduating students debt. The American Rescue Plan was signed into law in March 2021 and allocated nearly $40 billion to the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III. Colleges and universities may use a portion of these funds to cover lost revenue, including unpaid student account debts. Here William Chittenden, an expert on debt in higher education, explains what this means for college students futures.

1. How does debt clearance work?

Current students, recent graduates and colleges and universities will all benefit from debt clearance.

Debt clearance is not the same as student loan forgiveness. Rather, debt clearance refers to the forgiveness of amounts that students and recent graduates owe to their universities for past semesters for things like tuition, fees and room and board. With these debts outstanding, current students may not be able to register for classes the following semester.

2. How do students benefit?

Students and recent graduates who were enrolled on or after March 13, 2020, may be eligible for debt clearance. Those who can demonstrate financial hardship will benefit, as they will not have to repay the debt. By clearing this debt, universities are allowing current students to finish their studies.

For recent graduates, having debt outstanding to their school may prevent them from obtaining a transcript or proof that they graduated. By clearing the debts for recent graduates, alums can, as noted by the chancellor of City University of New York, Felix V. Matos Rodriguez, move ahead in pursuit of their educational and career objectives without the specter of unpaid tuition and fees.

3. How will colleges and universities benefit?

Colleges and universities will also benefit, since the debts that are being cleared are being paid for by the federal government instead of the university. Schools are receiving funds they may have had to write off. This gives universities money to spend in the local economy on things like office supplies and catering services.

4. Will school debt clearance benefit the economy?

The direct economic benefit to students and recent graduates is simple to measure, as it is equal to the amount of the debt forgiven. A student who has $1,000 in debt cleared receives a direct economic benefit of $1,000.

The indirect benefits to students are positive but harder to measure. If the debt clearance allow students to finish their final semester and earn their undergraduate degree, they will earn 50% more, on average, than those who completed some college but did not earn a degree. I consider that a significant benefit to students.

Federal dollars used for debt clearance will be spent by colleges and universities on a variety of goods and services. That spending ripples through the economy. The estimated size of the economic impact of this spending by universities varies greatly. The state of Washington estimates that each dollar the state spends on higher education at the University of Washington generates $1.48 in economic activity, while Oklahoma estimates there is $9.40 of economic impact per dollar spent on higher education. Although the exact dollar impact is unknown, all estimates are that it will be positive.

5. How fair is it to clear balances for students and graduates at this time but not others?

We are in the midst of a once-in-a-century global pandemic. In the second quarter of 2020 we saw the largest decrease in gross domestic product on record. In April 2020, over 20 million people lost their jobs, and unemployment hit levels not seen since the Great Depression. The economic hardships students are facing because of the pandemic are extraordinary. Therefore, it can be argued that federal funding for debt clearance is fair, given the extraordinary circumstances.

On the other hand, one could ask the question: Is it fair that those students who also experienced financial hardship this past year, but still managed to pay their tuition in full, will not get debt clearance? What about students who suffered financial hardship before March 2020 and owe money to their university? Why is their debt not eligible for clearance?

Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman stated, There is no objective standard of fairness. Unfortunately, without such a standard, individuals will disagree on the question of debt clearance fairness.

[Youre smart and curious about the world. So are The Conversations authors and editors. You can read us daily by subscribing to our newsletter.]

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/colleges-are-using-federal-stimulus-money-to-clear-students-past-due-debts-an-economist-answers-five-questions-165657.
MIDDLETOWN  On their frequent trips through the city, first-time business owners Patrick Dwyer and Jillian Webber noticed that Middletowns downtown area was missing something a health-centric juice bar.

It was always a dream of Webbers to open a business, and now that dream has materialized. I still cant believe it, she said.

After nine months of renovations, the couple was finally ready for the soft opening of CleanHeart Juice Bar in July, at the site of a former tailoring shop.

Renovations at the property, located at 80 Washington St., included electrical work, extending the bathroom, improving the walls and ceiling, upgrading the decor, and more. We decided to do it ourselves, Dwyer said.

Webber said that business has been increasing. Now, were seeing more regulars come back, which is nice, she said.

CleanHeart offers healthy snacks, teas, smoothies, smoothie bowls and cold-pressed juices. The latter is what Webber thinks separates their restaurant from other similar establishments in the region.

Its just a better, cleaner juice that keeps more of the nutrients, she said.

Creating custom juices is something Webber and Dwyer have plenty of experience with. Weve both been into it since before it was a fad, Webber said.

Offerings include sea moss gel, juices, such as beet, apple, spinach and aloe water; ginger, orange, carrot, apple and aloe water; and pineapple, watermelon and coconut water.

Dwyer said owning the business is also an opportunity to give back to the community. This includes discounts, special events, and giving away any juice or ingredients nearing their expiration dates. We always want to give back, he said.

Webber said that they are working with the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce to organize a grand opening celebration in the near future.

The duo is also looking for more opportunities for locally sourced products, and asks that anyone interested in showcasing their wares to reach out through social media.

Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For information, call 860-553-1377 or visit cleanheart-juice-bar.business.site, cleanheart_juicebar on Instagram or CleanHeartjuicebar on Facebook.
A Green Beret who is facing charges of kidnapping and assault following an armed standoff with police will be honorably discharged next month, according to Army documents obtained by Military.com. While he faces civilian charges, there is no indication the service plans to pursue a court-martial.

Col. Owen Ray, 47, a former commander of 1st Special Force Group, will be allowed to retire with full benefits Sept. 30 at his current rank as he faces a range of charges stemming from his Dec. 27, 2020, arrest.

He was suspended from his current assignment as chief of staff for I Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Army officials did not respond to requests for comment.

"I approve his retirement and [in] lieu of elimination, and he will be placed on the retired list in his current grade of O-6 (colonel)," reads a memo signed by Michael Mahoney, deputy assistant to the secretary of the Army. "I have determined his service in the grade of O-6 was satisfactory."

Ray faces charges of first-degree kidnapping, second-degree assault, felony harassment and reckless endangerment, according to court records.

Read Next: More US Troops Heading into Afghanistan as Taliban Conquest Approaches Tipping Point

His attorney, Jared Ausserer, told Military.com that a trial in civilian court is set for Sept. 15, and prosecutors are seeking a seven-year prison sentence. The trial will start two weeks before Ray's retirement.

Ausserer said Ray has struggled with alcohol and mental health issues, adding that he has attended a chemical dependency program and post-traumatic stress treatment through the Department of Veterans Affairs since his arrest. Both were organized by military officials.

Brenner Fissell, an associate professor of Law at Hofstra University and vice president of the National Institute of Military Justice, told Military.com there's nothing stopping the military prosecuting Ray itself.

"[The Army] could file charges and then his retirement could be delayed and he would face a concurrent military trial," Fissell said. "The law says you can be tried in civilian and military court at the same time.  There's really no reason this guy shouldn't be court-martialed for this."

But according to Ausserer, there is "no indication" the service is interested.

The incident that led to Ray's Dec. 27 arrest started with a domestic argument and escalated to him pointing a firearm at his wife and threatening to kill her in front of their children, the affidavit in that case says.

Ray proceeded to "kick [his wife] over and over with his boots in the face and chest.  Two children had woken up and were screaming, 'Don't kill mom, don't shoot us,'" according to the affidavit.

Police arrived shortly after midnight, and Ray allowed his wife and three children to leave the house. His wife had visible cuts and abrasions on her nose and a large bump on her forehead, the affidavit adds.

Ray said he would shoot officers if they tried to arrest him and later threatened suicide. But he surrendered to police after about two hours.

His wife asked the court to forbid Ray to travel through the small town where she and the children live, saying another existing protection order will expire once he retires, court records show.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: Green Beret Colonel Threatened to Kill Wife in Front of Children Before Standoff with Police: Affidavit
For the first time, a civilian is in charge of running the Army's criminal investigations as the service continues to reckon with the fallout from the murder of Spc. Vanessa Guillen.

Gregory Ford will be the next director of the Army's Criminal Investigation Command, or CID, the service said Wednesday. The Army decided to put a civilian in charge of CID, which was previously run by a commanding general, as part of a slate of reforms announced earlier this year in the wake of outrage over the service's handling of Guillen's case.

An investigation found that Guillen was sexually harassed by a member of her unit -- though not the soldier believed to have murdered and dismembered her at Fort Hood, Texas, last year -- but received no assistance from her superiors after reporting the harassment. The soldier who allegedly murdered her killed himself as law enforcement closed in.

Read Next: More US Troops Heading into Afghanistan as Taliban Conquest Approaches Tipping Point

Guillen's case drew attention to a toxic culture at Fort Hood that was permissive of sexual assault and harassment, and galvanized advocates pushing the military to reform its handling of those crimes.

In May, the Army announced that it would split up the duties and responsibilities that had been held by one general officer, who both ran CID and served as the Army's provost marshal general. The service pledged to hire a Senior Executive Service civilian with criminal investigation experience, and said that person will report to the undersecretary of the Army to ensure the independence of criminal investigations.

The CID restructuring recommendations were first suggested by the Fort Hood Independent Review Committee that was convened after Guillen's murder.

Ford, a special agent, has more than two decades of experience in local and federal law enforcement, the Army said Wednesday, and served at the Naval Criminal Investigative Service for 16 years. He is now deputy director of operations at NCIS.

"The Army deserves no less than superior criminal investigative support and I, along with the CID workforce, will ensure that need is met," Ford said in a press release.

The Army also said that, as part of the process to restructure CID, it would have a higher ratio of civilian criminal investigators to military special agents, though it is unclear what the ratio will wind up being. This is intended to increase CID's investigative experience and help the command build partnerships with local and regional law enforcement.

More than two dozen current and former leaders at Fort Hood or connected to Guillen were disciplined, suspended or relieved of command as a result of the investigations following her death.

The Fort Hood Independent Review Committee last December also issued 70 recommendations, including the CID changes, which the Army said it would adopt.

-- Stephen Losey can be reached at stephen.losey@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StephenLosey.

Related: Army to Overhaul Criminal, Sexual Assault Investigations After Vanessa Guillen Murder
WASHINGTON  The first forces of a Marine battalion arrived in Kabul on Friday to stand guard as the U.S. speeds up evacuation flights for some American diplomats and thousands of Afghans, spurred by a lightning Taliban offensive that increasingly is isolating Afghanistan's capital.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said elements of a battalion were now in Kabul, the vanguard of three Marine and Army battalions that the U.S. was sending to the city by the end of the weekend to help more Americans and their Afghan colleagues get out quickly.

The Taliban, emboldened by the imminent end of the U.S. combat mission in the country, took four more provincial capitals Friday, heightening fears they would move soon on the capital, which is home to millions of Afghans. Clearly from their actions, it appears as if they are trying to get Kabul isolated, Kirby noted at a Pentagon briefing.

The Pentagon also was moving an additional 4,500 to 5,000 troops to bases in the Gulf countries of Qatar and Kuwait, including 1,000 to Qatar to speed up visa processing for Afghan translators and others who fear retribution from the Taliban for their past work with Americans, and their family members.

The remainder  3,500 to 4,000 troops from a combat brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division  were bound for Kuwait. Kirby said the combat troops would be a reserve force on standby in case we need even more than the 3,000 going to Kabul.

The temporary buildup of troops for U.S. evacuations highlights the stunning pace of the Taliban takeover of much of the country, less than three weeks before the U.S. is set to officially end nearly 20 years of combat in Afghanistan.

President Joe Biden has remained adamant about ending the U.S. mission on Aug. 31, insisting the American and NATO mission that launched on Oct. 7, 2001, has done what it could to build up a Kabul-based Afghan government and military that could withstand the Taliban when Western troops finally withdrew.

Friday's latest significant blow was the Taliban capture of the capital of Helmand province, where American, British and other allied NATO forces fought some of the bloodiest battles in the past 20 years. Hundreds of Western troops died there during the course of the war, in fighting that often succeeded in knocking back Taliban fighters locally, only to have the Taliban move back in when a Western unit rotated out.

The State Department said the embassy in Kabul will remain partially staffed and functioning, but Thursday's decision to evacuate a significant number of embassy staff and bring in the thousands of additional U.S. troops is a sign of waning confidence in the Afghan government's ability to hold off the Taliban surge. The Biden administration has not ruled out a full embassy evacuation.

The U.S. had already withdrawn most of its troops, but had kept about 650 troops in Afghanistan to support U.S. diplomatic security, including at the airport.

The Biden administration warned Taliban officials directly that the U.S. would respond if the Taliban attacked Americans during the stepped-up deployments and evacuations.

Americans are preparing a military base abroad to receive and house large numbers of those Afghan translators and others as their visa applications are processed. The Biden administration has not identified the base, but earlier was talking with both Kuwait and Qatar about using U.S. bases there for the temporary relocations.

As of Thursday, the U.S. had flown 1,200 Afghans  former American employees and their families whose visas are farthest along in the approval process  to Fort Lee, Virginia.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said the U.S. soon will have evacuation planes flying out daily, for those Afghan translators and others who manage to reach the Kabul airport despite the fighting.

The number of Afghans flown out under the special visa program is going to grow very quickly in the coming days, Price said Thursday.

The viability of the U.S.-trained Afghan army was looking increasingly dim. A new military assessment says Kabul could come under Taliban pressure as soon as September and, if current trends hold, the country could fall to the Taliban within a few months.

Shortly before Price's announcement of the evacuation of some embassy staff, the embassy urged U.S. citizens to leave immediately  reiterating a warning it first issued Saturday.

The latest drawdown will further limit the ability of the embassy to conduct business, although Price maintained it would still be able to function. Nonessential personal had already been withdrawn from the embassy in April after Bidens withdrawal announcement that same month, and it was not immediately clear how many staffers would remain on the heavily fortified compound. As of Thursday, there were roughly 4,200 staffers at the embassy, but most of those are Afghan nationals, according to the State Department.

Apart from a complete evacuation and shuttering of the embassy, Price said other contingency plans were being weighed, including possibly relocating its operations to the airport.

Britain also was sending 600 troops to Afghanistan on a short-term basis to help its nationals leave the country.

Canada was sending special forces to help Canadian staff leave Kabul, a source familiar with the plan told The Associated Press. That official, who was not authorized to talk publicly about the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity, did not say how many special forces would be sent.

__

Associated Press writer Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report.
KABUL, Afghanistan -- U.S. troops who deployed to Afghanistan over the past two decades say the Taliban's rapid conquest of much of the country in the past week has left them stunned and dismayed.

"This one will hurt for a long time, man," said Sean Gustafson, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who deployed to the city of Herat in western Afghanistan from 2006 to 2007.

The capture of Herat by the Taliban on Thursday shocked Gustafson. On Friday, he forwarded to Stars and Stripes photos from 2007 of him and other troops building schools and handing out books to children.

Now, like other veterans of America's longest war, he can only watch from afar as the projects he worked on and the people he tried to help come under threats from the Taliban.

The Taliban controlled an estimated two-thirds of the country as of Friday, after gaining several provincial capitals and large cities throughout the country.

The collapse of much of the Afghan military has come weeks before the scheduled Aug. 31 final withdrawal of U.S. troops ordered by President Joe Biden. The withdrawal stems from a peace deal signed last year by the Taliban and the Trump administration.

The final days of the U.S. war in Afghanistan should have been handled better, several veterans told Stars and Stripes.

"A complete pullout is not only unnecessary, it is sabotage," said Army Staff Sgt. Seamus Fennessy, who fought in Ghazni province in 2010.

The withdrawal was "a betrayal of American and international forces who have expended so much in life and limb to prevent the resurgence of the Taliban," Fennessy said in a Facebook message.

Some U.S. troops should have stayed in the country to preserve the gains of the last 20 years, he said.

"I am disgusted," he said.

Other troops spoke about the way the withdrawal imperils their Afghan friends and co-workers.

"Maybe we stayed longer than we should have, but the manner in which we pulled out, it's just unfortunate, and my heart breaks," said Christy Barry, who deployed to Afghanistan multiple times as both an Air Force officer and a civilian adviser.

Like other veterans, Barry said she's been deluged with messages from people seeking her help to get visas to escape the country.

Barry learned about Afghanistan's culture and received language training as part of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Hands, which aimed to build a cadre of military officers who could advise local leaders in their own languages.

In a phone call Thursday, she recalled the days when she thought she was making a difference in the country. In 2010, Barry helped start a women's bazaar in partnership with two Afghan Americans. The project gave jobs to women in need by allowing them to sell goods at U.S. bases.

Then Barry learned in 2015, when she came to Afghanistan as a civilian adviser, that the bazaar had stopped coming to the bases. Commanders who came after her discontinued it, which is when she said she first felt disheartened about her earlier achievements.

"You pour your heart into it, and at the time, it feels like you're doing something great and you're making a difference," she said. "And looking back on it now, I still feel that way, but it's with a sadness."

U.S. Marine Maj. Gen. Richard Mills, Commanding General 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Forward, walks off the flightline at Bastion airfield, Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, April 5, 2010. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ezekiel Kitandwe)

Many U.S., British, Afghan and allied troops sacrificed much in pursuit of a modernized Afghanistan, said Richard Mills, a retired Marine lieutenant general who commanded in the southern province of Helmand from 2009 to 2011.

Mills recalled efforts to build the enormous Kajaki Dam, with hopes of bringing electrical power and prosperity to the area.

The U.S. invested more than $775 million into the dam since 2004, betting that it would bolster support for the government and turn people against the Taliban.

U.S. Marines and British troops launched the Battle of Sangin in part to secure supply lines to the dam. It was the bloodiest campaign of the war, with more than 100 coalition troops killed in action.

With U.S. help, the Afghan government installed a third turbine generator in the dam in 2017, greatly increasing the electricity supply to the region, a 2019 report by the United States Agency for International Development said.

But the dam's success did nothing to stem the Taliban's power in Helmand, which fell to the militant group Friday.

The U.S. came close to "turning the tide" in Helmand province, Mills said in a phone call Thursday. He said Americans had constructed several pillars of stability in Helmand by shoring up the economy, establishing schools and providing security.

"It's sad to see that those pillars are being destroyed one at a time by the Taliban," Mills said. "To see it snatched away, of course it's hard."

Zubair Babakarkhail contributed to this report.
ORLANDO, Fla.  Four police officers and two sheriff's deputies fatally shot a gun-wielding 73-year-old military veteran who was apparently suffering a mental health crisis on Thursday morning, officials said.

Orlando Deputy police Chief Jose Velez told news outlets that the man called the veteran's crisis line early Thursday to say he was considering suicide. He also said that if police gets called, theres going to be blood."

When officers arrived at the home near Orlando International Airport just before 9 a.m., the man was outside armed with a pistol.

The officers, along with two Orange County Sheriff's deputies, tried for about 20 minutes to deescalate the situation, Velez said. One of the deputies is a military veteran and tried to use that relationship to talk to the man.

They begged him to put the gun down, Velez said, adding that the man eventually made movements in a threatening manner."

According to Velez, four officers and two deputies fired at the man. He died from his injuries. No law enforcement personnel were injured.

The man's name has not been released. The shooting will be investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
MOSCOW  Russia's defense minister on Friday hailed joint war games with China this week as a sign of increasingly close military cooperation that should expand further.

Sergei Shoigu flew to China to attend the drills that wrapped up Friday in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

We have achieved a high level of cooperation between our militaries on land, in the air and at sea, Shoigu said during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Expanding it is an important part of our future activities.

The Russian military sent several Su-30SM fighters and a motorized infantry unit to take part in the maneuvers.

Shoigu noted that the exercise marked the first time that Russian troops had taken part in joint drills on the territory of China, adding that it reflected a new level of military cooperation, to the benefit of regional and global stability.

In a statement about the exercise, the Russian Defense Ministry quoted Wei as saying that it was intended to increase the ability "to jointly respond to risks and challenges and wasn't aimed against any third country.

Russia and China have held a series of drills in recent years including combat aircraft and warships, including an exercise in December when Russian and Chinese long-range bombers flew a joint patrol mission over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea.

The region where this week's drills were held is located in northwestern China, east of Xinjiang, where China has detained more than 1 million Uyghurs and members of other Muslim minorities in what it calls a campaign against terrorism and extremism. Critics say the detentions violate the human rights of a minority group.

Xinjiang shares a narrow frontier with Afghanistan, and Beijing is concerned about violence spilling over its border if the Taliban take control in Afghanistan following the pullout of U.S. troops.

Russia has sought to expand ties with China as its relations with the West sank to post-Cold War lows over Moscows 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimea, accusations of Russian hacking attacks, interference in elections and other disputes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's leader, Xi Jinping, have developed strong personal ties to bolster a strategic partnership between the former Communist rivals as both Moscow and Beijing face increasing tensions with the West. And even though Russia and China in the past rejected the possibility of forging a military alliance, Putin said last fall that such a prospect cant be ruled out entirely.

Putin also noted in October that Russia has been sharing highly sensitive military technologies with China that helped significantly bolster its defense capability.
MOSCOW  A court in Moscow on Thursday ordered a specialist in hypersonic technologies to be kept in jail pending trial on charges of high treason, in the latest in a series of espionage cases targeting Russian scientists.

The Lefortovo District Court ruled at a hearing behind closed doors that Alexander Kuranov, director-general and chief designer of the St. Petersburg-based Hypersonic Systems Research Institute, should remain in pre-trial detention for two months. The materials of the case were classified, but Russian media reports said Kuranov was accused of handing over sensitive information to representatives of unspecified foreign countries.

The website of Kuranov's institute states that it has worked on the concept of the Ajax hypersonic vehicle, a project first proposed in the late 1980s by Soviet engineer Vladimir Freighstadt. Instead of protecting a vehicle flying at hypersonic speed from the heat it generates, Freighstadt suggested assimilating the heat to augment energy resources.

It's unclear whether Freighstadt's concept has seen any practical development since he first proposed it.

The website of Kuranov's institute also contained a program of an international workshop on thermochemical processes in plasma aerodynamics held in St. Petersburg last month.

Russia has prided itself on being the only country to commission hypersonic missiles  traveling more than five times faster than sound. Their development came as Moscow's relations with the West hit post-Cold War lows after Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.

The new weapons include the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, which Russian officials say is capable of flying 27 times faster than sound and making sharp maneuvers on its way to target to dodge the defensive missile shield.

Avangard has been fitted to the existing Soviet-built intercontinental ballistic missiles instead of older type warheads, and the first unit armed with the Avangard entered duty in December 2019.

Another hypersonic weapon, the Kinzhal, which has been commissioned to arm Russian warplanes, has a range of up to 2,000 kilometers (about 1,250 miles) and flies at 10 times the speed of sound, according to Russian officials.

And later this year, the Russian navy is set to complete the tests of the Tsirkon hypersonic missile intended to equip cruisers, frigates and submarines. Russian President Vladimir Putin said it would be capable of flying at nine times the speed of sound and have a range of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles).

Russian officials have charged that Western spy agencies have redoubled their efforts to obtain information on the country's new technologies. Over the past years, several scientists, including those involved in studies on hypersonic technologies, have been accused of passing classified information to foreign powers.
Mark McLaughlin and Arch Watkins are both naval aviation veterans. McLaughlin has a background in business and finance, while Watkins is a trained engineer. Separately, those are valuable skills in todays workforce. Together, it meant a booming distilling business.

After leaving the Navy, the duo took a chance on themselves and the fields in which theyd been training for so long. A chance meeting with a Vietnam veteran opened the door to the distilling industry, where they turned a passion into a business: their own line of high-quality spirits, made at their own distillery.

I was an investment banker for a couple of years, McLaughlin told Military.com. Arch became an engineer after leaving active duty. We both found our way into deciding that whiskey was the right next step.

(Courtesy of Old Line Spirits)

Baltimores Old Line Spirits gets its name from the Marylanders who fought with Gen. George Washington at the Revolutionary War Battle of Long Island. When Washington needed to conduct an orderly -- but hasty -- withdrawal to Manhattan, hundreds of Maryland troops, nicknamed The Old Line, repeatedly assaulted thousands of British troops to give the Americans time to depart.

After the revolution, Washington dubbed Maryland The Old Line State, still one of its official state nicknames.

When McLaughlin and Watkins left the Navy, they, too, were Marylanders. But it would be years before they needed a name for their brand of spirits. McLaughlin left the Navy in 2011 and transitioned to the life of a student, earning an MBA from the University of Virginia and eventually joining the world of finance. Watkins served for 11 years on active duty and nine more in the reserves. As a reservist, he first went to work as an engineer.

While their transition to civilian life went smoothly for the most part, something was missing.

I wanted to give it a full two years just to commit myself to doing it, McLaughlin says. I felt that two years was the required time to give it a fair shake and get my employer a fair effort. But from day one, I knew it wasn't for me. I had the edge to have my own business.

McLaughlin believes the military mindset allows veterans to get out of the military and enter a new world with confidence; that what might seem unattainable to most doesnt seem so insurmountable after starting one's adult life overcoming the kinds of hurdles military life can put in ones way.

You have to redefine yourself one more time and become a part of a new community with a new skill set, Watkins adds. The same is true for getting into whiskey.

While attending a distilling conference in Seattle, McLaughlin met Bob Stillnovich, an Army veteran who served as an infantry officer in Vietnam. Stillnovich was operating his own distillery in Washington state at the time, one he co-founded with his neighbor, a Navy veteran, and ran with the help of a friend. For them, it was a post-retirement hobby turned business. But they were in their 70s, and it was becoming too much for the trio. They were looking to pass the torch.

McLaughlin and Watkins went to Washington for another kind of basic training -- to learn to make Stillnovichs amazing single-malt American whiskey.

Bob had been self-taught, and the other guys had been doing it for a little bit longer, McLaughlin says. One of them was an engineer, and it was like a graduate-level course on distillation. We took back that education to Baltimore with us, and we finally got up and running.

McLaughlins business background got the business end of Old Line Spirits up and running while Watkins engineering skills built the urban distillery.

The military is good for giving you the confidence to do new things, Watkins says. Because you're just given a task and expected to perform it competently. Sometimes youre trained for it; sometimes you arent. We had complementary skill sets, but with our military background, it never crossed our mind that we wouldn't be able to start something like this up and get it right out.

It took McLaughlin and Watkins two years from their first step in starting the business to put out a finished product in 2017.

We were advised by a friend before we got started that it'd take twice as long and be twice as expensive as we thought, McLaughlin says. And we were like,Oh, no, we've got a solid plan. And we did have a solid plan, but he was right. It took twice as long and cost twice as much.

Today, Old Line Spirits offers six different whiskeys and three types of rum, all of which they say are of the highest quality. The two are especially proud of their American single malt, for which they took a master class in distilling from their Vietnam veteran friend.

We really put our heart and soul behind our American single malt, Watkins says. Single malt whiskey is historically the realm of the Scots. We make a rich, very flavorful, non-peated whiskey from the same grain. We're taking this category that the Scots have done an amazing job with and do what Americans do, which is innovate and make it our own.

The Old Line Spirits staff. (Courtesy of Old Line Spirits)

McLaughlin and Watkins have three key pieces of advice for any veteran looking to venture out on their own. The first is to find someone they trust who has started their own business before and take advice from them. The second is to assess their strengths and weaknesses and figure out how to bridge the gaps in those strengths. Finally, they say its all about the drive to get the work done.

It's easy to look at people who've started a business and think that they know something you don't, McLauhglin says. But there's nothing inherently different about me and Arch. We had the drive to do it, and we took the risk.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

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On the eve of Justice Rohinton Fali Narimans retirement from the Supreme Court, ANAND GROVER writes a tribute to his professionalism as a judge and his commitment to Constitutional values, explaining why, in his eyes, Justice Nariman is the perfect judge.

JUSTICE Rohinton Fali Nariman retired on Thursday from the Supreme Court. After an illustrious career as a lawyer, he left behind a legacy as a judge unmatched in the present times.

An exceptional judge and model professional with high EQ

That he is extremely learned, not only in law but also on a range of topics, including theology and history, would be evident to anyone who has read his judgments or listened to any of his speeches.

His memory is recalled as legendary in all the circles he moves in. His knowledge of English and American Constitutional law is exceptional.

But all this never made him arrogant as a judge in court. He was also careful to take the opinion of his fellow judges who sat with him on any bench.

He was polite to lawyers. He listened to all who had a point to make, regardless of their seniority. Face law, as it is popularly known in legal circles, was not a factor at all in his court. A junior who had a point to make not only had an ear in his court but was openly lauded for their arguments by him. I recall that during the hearings in Puttaswamy, he remarked in open court that the juniors who appeared for the government had better points than the seniors; a case of the tail wagging the dog, as he put it.

He would carefully take down the points made by counsel, and if in doubt, would ask the counsel to repeat. Despite his enormous learning and knowledge in law, his thirst for learning meant that he would always want to learn from anyone who had something different to say. As a lawyer, one genuinely felt that one was being listened to.

He is also quite hard working. I happened to meet him at a social event once, and ventured to ask him how he was faring as a judge; he remarked that he tremendously enjoyed being a judge, and wished he had taken up judgeship earlier.

I reckon that is what gave him the enormous energy to work hard, listen to long, sometimes boring and poor arguments, and then write judgments meticulously addressing all the issues raised.

The only quibble one could hold against his judgments is that they tend to be extremely lengthy, with long quotations drawn from other judgements. But that is a tradition of the Indian judiciary. As an aside, this needs to change; it is high time that we adopt the custom of the South African judiciary, where there is an unwritten rule that a judgment should not be more than 50 pages.

Judgments that illustrate his commitment to constitutionalism

What sets Justice Nariman apart from the rest of the pack is his commitment to liberal constitutional philosophy, the underlying ethos of our Constitution, in both letter and spirit. Due to that, he was always ready to take tough decisions, irrespective of whether the executive branch liked it or not. He was not bothered about the interest of the government at all. All he was concerned with was faithfully following the Constitution and the law. For him, this was not only a theoretical matter to be waxed lyrical about in speeches when it was convenient to do so, but the basis of what actually applied in practice in the cases that came before him, and rendering judgements on that basis.

It is in this context that the most important judgments he rendered, in my opinion, were Mohd Arif, Nikesh Tarachand Shah and Tofan Singh, all concerning the liberty of individuals.

Mohd Arif

Under the extant Rules of the Supreme Court, review petitions were disposed of by circulation. In practice, this meant that judges would not meet, would not confer, and would simply reject the review petition without any oral arguments in open court. Experience shows that 99% of review petitions are dismissed, sometimes even without application of mind. In Mohd Arif , the question raised by the persons on death row was whether, in death penalty matters where Supreme Court had affirmed the death penalty in the appeal or otherwise, the review petitions should be heard in open court. Seeing the importance of the issue, that involved of extinction of the life of an individual, it was held by Justice Rohinton Nariman that considering the fate of one life would depend on review petition, the mandate of the Articles 14 and 21, due process, required that review petitions be indeed decided in open court. With this not only the fair process was set into motion but the dictum of Justice must be seen to be done was also fulfilled.

Nikesh Tarachand Shah

In Nikesh Tarachand Shahi in 2020, the issue involved was the constitutionality of Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA). This provision laid down two stringent conditions for granting bail in respect of those arrested for offences punishable with imprisonment for over three years, listed in the Schedule to the PMLA: that for the bail to be granted, the Public Prosecutor has to be heard, and the court has to be satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the accused is not guilty of the offence. The two conditions were applicable to money laundering offences, and all offences under Part A of the Schedule.

Originally, Schedules Part A contained serious offences, and its Part B contained less serious offences. Later, Part B offences were transplanted into Part A of the Schedule. As a result, the twin stringent conditions for bail became applicable to all offences of widely different types, some extremely serious, and others not so.

Justice Nariman held that applying the same yardstick to all offences was manifestly arbitrary (his favourite doctrine), and struck down the provision authorising the same.

Tofan Singh

Again last year in Tofan Singh, the issue was whether officers under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) were police officers within the meaning of Section 25 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. Under this provision, statements given to the police are not admissible as evidence, as it has been understood right from the British days that a person is likely to be coerced by the police to give a confession. This is also fortified under ordinary criminal law, wherein a statement made to the police under Section 161 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is not admissible as evidence.

However, surprisingly, in the 1960s, under special enactments such as the Customs Act and the Excise Act, among others, the Supreme Court started holding that the officers employed to investigate offences under such special laws were not police officers within the meaning of the Evidence Act.

Under the NDPS Act, one of the most draconian laws on the statute book today, the officers, after carrying a search of the accused, would summon them, and elicit from them a statement that would incriminate them fully. If the contraband seized would be of commercial quantity, the accused would not get bail and would be incarcerated for 10 years.

This practice, in spite of being contrary to the general law of evidence, was regularly employed since the NDPS Act was enacted in 1985. Several judgments went on to endorse this practice, such as in Raj Kumar Karwal in 1990.

Justice Nariman carried out detailed scrutiny of earlier judgments in this regard and found that the NDPS Act was quite different from the earlier special laws that were the subject matter of earlier judgments. He then held, in no uncertain terms, that statements made to the NDPS officers are akin to police officers, and while overruling Raj Kumar Karwal, he held that statements made to the officer appointed under the NDPS are not admissible in evidence.

Both these judgments had a huge impact on the liberty of persons incarcerated under the PMLA and NDPS Act. Persons rotting in jail on account of these draconian provisions were later granted bail.

Any other judge would have thought twice before striking such provisions down as unconstitutional or reading them in consonance with the Constitutional ethos. Justice Nariman not only spoke but he also acted. This is what sets him apart from all other judges, past and present. To me, he was the perfect judge.

Indian citizens are currently plagued by a number of issues. Unfortunately, Justice Nariman will not be on the bench to lend his mind to those issues. Knowing him, though, he will, even off the bench, continue working towards ensuring that the liberal pluralist constitutionalism, with its Preamblutory vision, survives in India.

We shall dearly miss your presence on the bench, Justice Nariman.

(Anand Grover is a senior lawyer at the Supreme Court and co-founder of The Leaflet. The views expressed are personal.)
We had mentioned in previous weeks closing report that Nifty, Sensex uptrend may continue. The major indices were volatile but closed with major gains. The trend of the major indices in the week is given in the table:

On Monday, the indices were a bit volatile but ended with minor gains. On the NSE, there were 675 advances, 1,366 declines and 0 unchanged.

Tata Power reported consolidated net profit of Rs 391 crore, up 88% from Rs 207 crore YoY. Consolidated revenue grew 54% to Rs 9,968 crore compared to Rs 6,453 crore YoY.

Hindalco Industries reported consolidated profit of Rs 2,787 crore against a loss of Rs 709 crore YoY. Consolidated revenue grew 64% to Rs 41,358 crore from Rs 25,283 crore YoY.

National Aluminium Company reported consolidated net profit of Rs 347.7 crore compared to Rs 16.6 crore YoY. Consolidated revenue grew 79% to Rs 2,474.5 crore from Rs 1,380.6 crore YoY.

Shree Cements reported net profit of Rs 630 crore compared to Rs 330 crore YoY. Total income grew to Rs 3,775 crore, up 45% from Rs 2,613 crore YoY.On Monday, the indices were a bit volatile but ended with minor gains. On the NSE, there were 675 advances, 1,366 declines and 0 unchanged.

On Tuesday, the indices opened higher but closed with minor gains. On the NSE, there were 351 advances, 1,675 declines and 1 unchanged.

Reliance New Energy Solar Ltd (RNESL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), along with strategic investors Paulson & Co. Inc. and Bill Gates, and a few other investors, will invest USD 144 million in Ambri Inc, an energy storage company based in Massachusetts, US.

Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) has reported a sharp 427 per cent increase in its standalone net profit for April-June quarter of 2021-22, helped by strong demand and higher sales including an uptick in steel prices.

Manali Petrochemicals reported net profit of Rs 80 crore compared to Rs 3 crore YoY. Total income grew 267% to Rs 334 crore from Rs 91 crore YoY.

On Wednesday, the indices had suffered a correction but recovered its losses and ended flat. On the NSE, there were 653 advances, 1,358 declines and 1 unchanged.

Zomatos consolidated net loss widened to Rs 356 crore from Rs 99.8 crore YoY. Revenue from operations grew 217% to Rs 844 crore from Rs 266 crore YoY.

Cadila Healthcare reported consolidated net profit of Rs 587 crore, up 29% from Rs 454 crore YoY. Revenue grew 14.5% to Rs 4,025 crore from Rs 3,515 crore YoY.

IDFC reported consolidated loss of Rs 410 crore compared to loss of Rs 26 crore YoY. Total revenue from operations grew 23% to Rs 109.30 crore from Rs 88.65 crore YoY.

Siemens reported consolidated net profit of Rs 161.50 crore for the quarter ended 30 June 2021, against a loss of Rs 2 crore in the corresponding period of the previous financial year (YoY). Revenue grew 140% to Rs 2,934 crore from Rs 1,222 crore YoY.

On Thursday, the indices opened higher and closed with decent gains. On the NSE, there were 1,598 advances, 413 declines and 9 unchanged.

IRCTC board has proposed for sub-division of 1 equity share of face value of Rs 10 each into 5 equity shares of face value of Rs 2 each, subject to the approval of shareholders.

Power Grid Corporation of India board plans to infuse fresh equity of up to Rs 425 crore in Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture company of Power Grid, NTPC, PFC and REC.

Cadila Healthcare reported consolidated net profit of Rs 587 crore, up 29% from Rs 454 crore YoY. Revenue grew 14.53% to Rs 4,025 crore from Rs 3,515 crore YoY.

PTC India reported consolidated profit of Rs 120 crore, up 32% from Rs 91 crore YoY. Revenue grew 7% to Rs 4,958 crore from Rs 4,631 crore YoY.

On Friday, the indices opened higher and closed with major gains. On the NSE, there were 941 advances, 1,054 declines and 8 unchanged.

Larsen & Toubro heavy engineering arm won an order for an oxidation reactor from Technip Energies-India.

Zensar Technologies signed a four-year multi-million-dollar contract with the city of San Diego for workplace and enterprise compute manage IT services. The contract has the option of extension of two additional two-year terms with the total not to exceed USD 122 million.

Eicher Motors reported consolidated net profit Rs 237 crore for the quarter ended 30 June 2021 against a loss of Rs 55 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year (YoY). Revenue rose to Rs 1,974 crore from Rs 818 crore YoY.

Bharti Airtel announced the closure of its agreement with Reliance Jio Infocomm to transfer the Right to Use of Airtels 800 MHz spectrum in three circles to Jio. Airtel has received Rs 1004.8 crore (net of tax) from Jio for the proposed transfer. In addition, Jio will assume future liabilities of Rs 469.3 crore relating to the spectrum.
Section 6(3) of the RTI Act is intended to save the applicants effort and time if the information sought from a public authority is with another department. However, it is being exploited by several officials who refuse to furnish information and forward the application to another department or authority.



CITIZENS must be empowered to obtain information from the government for the promotion of transparency and accountability in a democracy. must be empowered to obtain information from the government for the promotion of transparency and accountability in a democracy. The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 , a revolutionary legislation that allows every Indian to access information from public authorities, was enacted with this aim.

The Act mandates timely response to a request for information by a citizen. Section 6 allows a citizen to obtain any information under this Act by requesting in writing or through electronic means accompanied by such fees as may be prescribed.

Subsection 3 of Section 6 has the noble intention of saving the applicants effort and time if the information sought from a public authority is with another department. In such a case, the Central/state public information officer (CPIO/PIO) must transfer the application to the authority possessing the required information within five days of receiving it and inform the applicant accordingly.

However, this loophole in the Act is being increasingly used by government departments to deny information to RTI applicants by passing the buck. Even if the PIO possesses the information, the application is forwarded to other public authorities mostly subordinate to the officer.

PIOs not posts offices

In Rakesh Kumar Gupta vs Central Information Commission, 2021 , the Delhi High Court (HC) said that PIOs cannot function merely as post offices, but have to provide the information sought from them.

The court observed that Central/state PIOs cannot withhold information without a reasonable cause and evade disclosure of information.

Every effort should be made to locate information, and the fear of disciplinary action would work as a deterrent against the suppression of information for vested interests, the HC said while stressing the PIOs cannot function merely as post offices, but ensure information is provided to the applicant.

The PIO has to apply his/her mind, analyse the material and then direct disclosure or give reasons for non-disclosure of information, the court added.

PMGSY RTI application in J&K

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is a rural infrastructure scheme of the ministry of rural development (MoRD). The tendering process, allotment of work, detailed project reports (DPRs) and other information related to the scheme are available in digital format.

Information about any road constructed under PMGSY in any state is available with the MoRD or its allied agencies, like National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA) or the respective chief engineers in states or Union Territories (UTs).

However, when Mushtaq Ahmad Lone, 31, of Batwodder hamlet, in Budgam district of J&K, sought a copy of the DPR of a 9-km PMGSY road project in June, he was in for a shock. The roadwhich connects the Bonyar and Gogji Pathri villages via Kutabal and passes through Batwodderwas damaged within six months of construction in 2019-20. Lone and many locals allege that the work was not done according to the specifications of the DPR.

Lone sought a copy of the DPR directly from the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) after the Budgam office of PMGSY didnt provide the information to several other locals. Ironically, the information sought was unavailable on any website of the J&K administration.

Lone filed his application through www.rtionline.gov.in , which only provides information about Central government offices. Despite being a UT, J&K administration offices lack the facility of receiving RTI applications electronically.

Within 24 hours, Lone started experiencing the rigmarole of Section 6(3). First, his application was transferred to the MoRD, which further forwarded it to NRIDA within a week. On June 30, NRIDAs New Delhi office directed the chief engineer of PMGSY in Kashmir to provide the information, who passed the buck to the executive engineer of PMGSYs Budgam office the next day.

More than 40 days after the communication between the chief engineers office and the executive engineer, Lone has not been provided the details of the project.

On July 6, Lone, who is not entitled to pay RTI application fees being a Priority Household category ration card holder, was asked by the executive engineer to pay the sum accompanying his application. Lone also refused to meet him at his office for negotiation. Subsequently, the engineer cross-checked Lones ration card category with the department of food, civil supplies and consumer affairs.

PIOs responsibility is not limited to forwarding applications

In its 2014 judgement in Ministry of Railways through Secretary and others vs Girish Mittal , the Delhi HC observed that Section 6(3) doesnt mean that a Central PIOs responsibility is only limited to forwarding applications to departments/offices.

Forwarding an application by a public authority to another public authority is not the same as a public information officer of a public authority arranging or sourcing information from within its own organisation, the court observed.

The case relates to an RTI application filed by one Girish Mittal, who had sought information on the Garib Rath trains in all the zones from the ministry of Railways but didnt get a reply within the stipulated 30 days. The Railways CPIO had forwarded his application to the Research Designs and Standards Organisation. Subsequently, he filed a complaint with the Central Information Commission (CIC), which directed that CPIO to furnish the information and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on him. The CPIO challenged the CIC order in the court.

Emphasising that he cannot escape his responsibility by merely forwarding the application to other officials under Section 6 (3), Justice Vibhu Bakhru dismissed the CPIOs petition. Maintaining that the information would be available with the Railway Board, the court directed the CPIO to furnish the information sought by Mittal.

Duties of PIOs

The writer has faced similar challenges while seeking information in, at least, two dozen applications. The PIOs, who possessed the information, forwarded his applications to subordinate offices. Some farmers whose land was acquired were even denied copies of notifications issued under Sections 6, 7, 9, 9-A and 17 of the repealed Jammu and Kashmir Land Acquisition Act, 1934. The writer had to draft an RTI application for the farmers to get the information.

Section 5(3) and (4) make it mandatory for a PIO to deal with requests of citizens seeking information and render reasonable assistance to them while taking the assistance of any other officer, if considered necessary by him or her, for the proper discharge of duties.

PIOs have to render all reasonable assistance where requests for information cannot be made in writing to the applicant making the request orally to reduce the same in writing.

(Raja Muzaffar Bhat is a Srinagar-based columnist and activist. He is the founder and chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir RTI Movement and an Acumen India Fellow.)
In the Saurav Das vs the department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) case, the latter, an important public authority at the Centre, was not willing to share very important public information, namely, the information relating to sufficient supply of oxygen.

It is not a mere reflection of public authorities rejection of the demand for information of high public importance, but also their refusal to deliver information pertaining to life and liberty within 48 hours, as mandated by the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

The chief information commissioners (CICs) decisions are buttressing this anti-RTI attitude and rigidifying the central public information officers (CPIOs) as if it was not statutorily permitted. In the latest decision, though CIC ordered disclosure, it rendered a death blow to life and liberty disclosure norm.

The RTI request was filed by activist and freelance journalist Saurav Das in April 2021.

One year ago, a nine-member committee was set up under the chairmanship of Guruprasad Mohapatra, secretary of DPIIT, to ensure adequate availability of medical oxygen in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Saurav Das had asked for:

1. The list of exact dates on which the said committee had met till date.

2. The certified copies of detailed agenda of all the meetings.

3. The certified copies of presentations made before the group and detailed information about each of them.

4. The copies of the minutes of each meeting held along with all notes, annexures, etc. put before the committee for consideration. He wanted this information to be given within 48 hours because it was concerned with the lives and liberty of the people at large.

The CPIO declined to provide the information, invoking the provisions u/s 8(1)(a) and (d) of the RTI Act, without an application of his mind. Section 8(1)(a) exempts the information which is prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the state, relation with a foreign state or leads to incitement of an offence.

Section 8(1)(d) says information, including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party, need not be provided.

The first appellate authority (FAA) also failed the law. First appeal does not serve any purpose in this nation, because the so-called senior officer occupying the statutory seat as the FAA to hear appeals emerging from CPIOs rejections, simply sits there to endorse whatever is stated by CPIO.

His seniority, experience and wisdom, if any, does not result in serious review at all in most of the cases. This is the attitude of ninety% FAAs. It is shameful, to say the least.

In this case also, FAA joined the CPIO in adamantly rejecting the demand without applying his mind in rejecting it, citing national security reasons. It is ridiculous.

The RTI Act did not provide for accountability of FAA. But it made CPIOs accountable, which the CIC ignores as a rule and seldom initiates action even in cases of a blatant refusal such as this.

The CPIOs will get emboldened to reject RTI demands repeatedly with all impunity.

The CPIOs, who do not give the reasons for rejecting an order, and FAA, who does not care, gets ready to argue that the empowered group was set up in a time of crisis to cut across the several arms of the government and to ensure that bureaucratic hassles did not impede decision-making.

These proposals and deliberations contain highly sensitive information, they maintain.

The applicant was constrained to file a second appeal contending:

(a) This RTI application relates to life and liberty of a person and the disclosure of information would have helped save several lives and would have fixed accountability during the time it was asked for.

(b) A proper remedial action by way of litigation and public interaction with the government could have been done if the information was revealed at that time.

(c) The action/non-action by this very important committee of the government could result in mass deaths and mass chaos, both of which the country was a witness to during the second wave of COVID-19.

(d) This request should not be treated as an adverse case. It is only in the larger public interest and transparency that this case has been filed so that such situations could be avoided in future. As the second wave of the pandemic was the deadliest, several people died and the government of India could not manage the situation as expected. This mismanagement led to the intervention of several High Courts across the country and the Supreme Court to fix the broken system and alleviate the sufferings of the masses.

The CPIO pleaded with CIC that the second appeal should be 'outrightly dismissed' because it was filed under the life and liberty clause and also, the first appeal was filed within 12 days from the filing of this RTI, instead of giving 30 days-time and did not wait for 45 days to file the second appeal.

After-thought and Farfetched

The CIC rejected the defence, saying that the citing of exemption on the grounds of Cabinet discussions appears to be an afterthought which seems far-fetched also.

The exemption cited relating to national security was 'also not justified,' it said.

Regarding commercial confidence and intellectual property rights, the CIC said a blanket denial of all requested information was unjustified.

The commission also rejected the contention of the appellant that the information sought was concerning life and liberty. If there is any delay, the CIC assumed it was because of CPIOs COVID-19 indisposition.

Agreeing that rejection on the grounds invoked was not justified, the CIC left it at that. The commission did not find it deserving of a show-cause notice, at least.

Despite sanctions, approvals and availability of funds, the establishment of the contemplated oxygen plants was not initiated, and it was held up at tenders level for more than eight months.

The appellant says early disclosure of information should have stirred the authorities to act quickly to augment the supply to save lives. The commission was not inclined to agree with this.

The unquestioned and unaccountable CPIOs are using the listed grounds of exemption such as national security, strategic interests, commercial confidences, intellectual property and Cabinet papers to deny any information, heartlessly and mindlessly.

Almost every exception clause was invoked by the CPIO in this case, in a cut-and-paste way.

How could the supply of oxygen be a threat to national security?

What kind of intellectual property it is that deserves to be kept as secret? What is commercial confidence? Which Cabinet paper is being sought?

The CIC also agreed with this.

India is asking the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to exempt vaccines for COVID-19 from intellectual property rights (IPR) bonds, and the IPR wing of DPIIT thinks of oxygen supply-related information as IPR protected!

It is atrocious and unpardonable, but excused and pardoned by the CIC.

It is undisputed that several patients died not because of coronavirus infection but mainly due to lack of oxygen. The government is afraid of losing its image by disclosing specific data. It is not the national security which is threatened but their reputation is.

The fear of adverse publicity through revelation of the truth about the inefficiency and recklessness of the administration, is a major obstacle for the implementation of the RTI law.

The CIC was very critical of the public authority, and slammed the public authoritys blanket denial of information related to a committee overseeing medical oxygen supplies during the pandemic.

The CIC pointed out that its rationale was 'far-fetched' and 'unjustified.' The information commissioner Vanaja Sarna directed the government to provide the RTI requested within 10 days, but not chosen to start penal proceedings against the CPIO, who as per Section 20, should be punished for unjustifiable denial. It was also not explained why the CIC ignored it.

The institution of information commission has a duty to bring in both answerability and accountability. Rarely is the commission directing the authorities to give information and very rarely penal proceedings are started, most of which end up without any penalty.

The state machinery is free from any responsibility or liability for negligence in supplying the oxygen.

The CPIOs and public authorities are allowed immunity for harassing the citizens without giving information unless they carry the fight up to the commission or beyond.

Most of the public authorities exude confidence that the commission will not force them to disclose and, hence, deny the information.

Unless the applicant is an activist or has ample time, he will not approach the CIC and wait at least for a year.

No Concern for Life or Liberty

An important area where the RTI is not being properly implemented is the clause of life and liberty in the case of which the information should be given within 48 hours. In the case of Saurav Das vs DPIIT that the CIC decide recently, this clause suffered a severe blow.

Section 7(1) of the RTI Act states that where the information sought concerns the life or liberty of a person, it shall be provided within 48 hours of the receipt of the request.

In some orders, the CIC felt that it is exceptional and, hence, given in exceptional circumstances only. It is not correct. It is part of the main rules which appear in the form of proviso to 30-day rule.

The RTI Act laid down a rule that life and liberty related information should be given in two days, without waiting for 30 days. But unfortunately, the commissions discouraged implementation of this rule by imposing several restrictions over it.

In Pratap Kumar Jena vs PIO, Central Institute of Psychiatry Ranchi, the CIC (Decision No. CIC/SG/A/2012/000814/18825) in 2012, the CIC held the life or liberty provision can be applied only in cases where there is an imminent danger to the life or liberty of a person and the non-supply of the information may either lead to death or grievous injury to the concerned person. Liberty of a person is threatened if she or he is going to be incarcerated or has already been incarcerated and the disclosure of the information may change that situation. If the disclosure of the information would obviate the danger then it may be considered under the proviso of Section 7(1). The imminent danger has to be demonstrably proven. The commission is well aware of the fact that when a citizen exercises his or her fundamental right to information, the information disclosed may assist him or her to lead a better life. But in all such cases, the proviso of Section 7(1) cannot be invoked unless imminent danger to life or liberty can be proven.

It was further explained: The Commission is well aware of the fact that when a citizen exercises his or her fundamental right to information, the information disclosed may assist him or her to lead a better life. But in all such cases, the proviso of Section 7(1) cannot be invoked unless imminent danger to life or liberty can be proven.

This order imposes additional criteria on disclosure which was not supposed or imposed by the Act. It is not called for. If the intention of the Parliament or law-makers was to invoke life and liberty clause only in a situation of imminent threat or danger to life they would have mentioned it.

Suppose, somebody is asking for information about delay in oxygen supply to a hospital, which deals with a life issue but may indicate imminent threat to life, then why should it be denied under this clause and be delayed by one month?

The commission, in Pratap Kumar Jena case, has directed the information to be disclosed, but laid down the test of imminent danger as essential component, which is not provided by enactment.

This is further noted, "If the disclosure of the information would obviate the danger then it may be considered under the proviso of Section 7(1). The imminent danger has to be demonstrably proven."

To be demonstrably proven is almost impossible, but that is prescribed by the commission over and above the Act.

The possibility of getting information of life and liberty within two days is further reduced by a different decision of the commission in Sehar Singh and Others vs PMO, wherein the commission said, The RTI application must be accompanied with substantive evidence that a threat to life exists (eg. A medical report). If the claim of concern for life and liberty is not accepted in a particular case by the public authority, the reasons for not doing so, must be given in writing while disposing of the application.

It is almost like laying down a hard and fast rule not to give such information. It is fortunate that the CIC's decisions are not precedents, though some are used to deny information. If the second appeal is against the PMO, very rarely will the CIC direct disclosure.

Fortifying the argument based on these anti-RTI Act orders, the CIC in the Saurav Das case rejected that the request does not fall under the category of life and liberty, but was generous enough say, For a CPIO to be able to ascertain the impediment to life and liberty of a person, there ought to be some consideration between the information seeker and the person whose life and liberty is at stake. The commission could not find any relation nor as a matter of fact, any justification of concern of life and liberty of any person and therefore, there is no question of applicability of the proviso of Sec 7(1).

However, as the second appeal was already filed and a hearing was granted, the bench within its discretion is not inclined to dismiss this appeal in limine (at the threshold) and rather decided to take up the case on its merits and in larger public interest.

Another point is the locus standi. The Act does not say whether the information sought should concern the life or liberty of the applicant. The RTI Act is also very clear not to limit the request relating to the applicant or victim or the aggrieved person. Anybody can ask information for anybody and about anybody, subject, of course, to exceptions.

But some commissioners rejected RTI requests based on locus standi, which was not provided for in the Act. It is unfortunate. There are thousands of such rejections, which could be revealed if someone studies the orders of the commissions which went straight away against the Act and remained valid because the poor applicants could not afford to challenge them before the High Courts.

Jammu and Kashmir State Information Commission gave a very good order in tune with the principles of transparency and RTI Act, in Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat/Dr Mushtaq Ahmad vs PIO, GB Pant Hospital, Srinagar on 1 December 2015.

"5. Similarly, there was a question, whether information sought for the life and liberty of a person has to be by the same person whose life or liberty is at stake. The nature of the situations for these two eventualities and situations makes seeking of information directly by the affected persons very difficult and at times impossible. If a person is unauthorizedly incarcerated, he may not be in a position to use his right of seeking information. Similarly, if a patient is admitted in the hospital and is not in a position to invoke his right personally, any close member of his family or any other person who has a bonafide interest in the preservation and maintenance of life and liberty of that person can invoke the right to information which may ultimately ensure safety of the life and liberty of any person. Therefore, after establishing genuine interest in preserving life and liberty of a person, the information can be sought by any other person who is otherwise qualified to seek information under J&K RTI Act, 2009."

The CIC, in this case, took up the matter and decided it with a positive direction to disclose information; but, at the same time, it stated that this decision should not be considered as precedent. Anyway, legally the CIC decision has no precedential value, a blessing in disguise.

But the same CIC uses all decisions of earlier CICs, though against the RTI Act, to draw a conclusion, which it does not want to be a precedent. The commission should broaden their view and understand that they are just giving information and not supplying real oxygen.

The commission should see whether the disclosure of information under this clause will help protecting lives and liberties, instead of insisting on the appellant to demonstrate the imminent danger to life and liberty, which is impossible for anybody.

The commission should go beyond their bureaucratic frame of mind and try to reach justice and humanity, besides having a concern for the rule of law, instead of concentrating only on protecting the interests of their political and administrative bosses.

The CICs should think of people and their sufferings, deaths caused by lack of oxygen, need to spread the information about sanctions made but government machinery is cruel in not pursuing the supply mechanisms.

There is no justification for CIC to reject the contention of Saurav Das that quick disclosure would have accelerated supply of oxygen and saved thousands of lives. India needs human beings in the decision-making offices.

(Prof M Sridhar Acharyulu is Dean & Professor, School of Law, Mahindra University, Hyderabad, and former Central Information Commissioner.)
August 13, 2021

Afghanistan - This Is The End ...

This was fast. The Taliban have as of now 18 of 34 province capitals (province) under there control.

August 6 - Zaranji (Nimruz)

August 7 - Sheberghan (Jowzjan)

August 8 - Kunduz (Kunduz)

August 8 - Sar-e Pol (Sar-e Pol)

August 8 - Talquan (Takhar)

August 9 - Aybak (Samangan)

August 10 - Farah (Farah)

August 10 - Pul-i Khumri (Baghlan)

August 11 - Faizabad (Badakhshan)

August 12 - Ghazni (Ghazni)

August 12 - Kandahar (Kandahar)

August 12 - Herat (Herat)

August 12 - Qala-e-Naw (Badghis)

August 13 - Lashkar Gah (Helmand)

August 13 - Tirin kot (Uruzgan)

August 13 - Chaghcharan (Ghor)

August 13 - Pul-e Alim (Logar)

August 13 - Qalat (Zabul)

Only three of the bigger cities, Kabul, Jalalabad and Mazar-i-Sharif, are not yet in Taliban hands.

Jalalabad and the eastern provinces near the border to Pakistan are Taliban heartland. They will fall automatically. Mazar-i-Sharif, home of the brutal warlord 'General' Dostum, may decide to fight to the end. The fate of Kabul is still open.

The other still yellow provinces will likely change hands with little or no fighting.

Paktawal @Paktyaw4l - 9:06 UTC  Aug 13, 2021

My province has just announced they are surrendering to the Taliban without a fight, Gardez city will be spared from fighting. Scholars and tribal elders are telling government forces that the government is no more, no more fighting.

The U.S. is sending 3,000 soldiers to Kabul to secure the evacuation of its embassy. 650 soldiers are already there. A reserve of 5,000 is kept on bases near the Persian Gulf. Britain will send 600 soldiers. The U.S. will have to evacuate at least 4,000 'embassy' staff of which 1,400 are 'diplomats'.

The AP summarizes the situation:

The onslaught represents a stunning collapse of Afghan forces after the United States spent nearly two decades and $830 billion trying to establish a functioning state after toppling the Taliban in the wake of the September 11 attacks. The advancing Taliban ride on American-made Humvees and carry M-16s pilfered from Afghan forces. Afghan security forces and the government have not responded to repeated questions from journalists, instead issuing video communiques that downplay the Taliban advance. Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the Afghan army has rotted from within due to corruption and mismanagement, leaving troops in the field poorly equipped and with little motivation to fight. The Taliban, meanwhile, have spent a decade taking control of large swaths of the countryside, positioning themselves to rapidly seize key infrastructure and urban areas once President Joe Biden announced the U.S. withdrawal. The difficulty of moving troops out to the provinces means the government is likely to focus all its efforts on defending the capital.

There is fear of a battle for Kabul but I find it unlikely that the Afghan army will take a stand. Who or what are the Afghan soldiers supposed to fight for? Its units are likely to negotiate a peaceful change of command as they have done elsewhere. They will then be told to go home. There may be some bodyguards of this or that warlord or politician who will try to protect their compounds. If they fight they will have little chance to survive.

President Ashraf Ghani and other politicians will soon retreat to their villas in Dubai. In a week or two the whole of Afghanistan may well be, for the first time ever, under total control of the Islamic Emirate.

Our politicians have lied to us over 'bringing democracy' to Afghanistan. Corruption, from Washington DC through Kabul down into the smallest army units in Afghanistan, had long destroyed all hope for better results.

The incompetent military leaders have disregarded their duty when they declared again and again that they have turned the corner of the fight. The intelligence people have never understood Afghanistan. How else could they have misjudged the speed of the current outcome?

All this was well known to anyone who read the reports by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. But lots of weapons were sold and lots of contractors made abstruse profits for projects that were never done. The war was a self licking ice cream cone.

It is good that this scam is now finally ending. The Afghan people will be mostly happy about it. Corruption will end. No more bribes will have to be paid.

The country will continue to be poor but much safer.

Posted by b on August 13, 2021 at 14:14 UTC | Permalink

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Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a new law Thursday allowing judges to issue community service and other penalties to those violating an existing law that requires drivers to slow down and change lanes when there is a first responder present with flashing lights stopped on the road.

Senate Bill 1913 was sponsored by Sen. Julie Morrison, D-Lake Forest, and Rep. Janet Yang Rohr, D-Naperville, and will take effect in January.

Pritzker was joined by a bipartisan group of lawmakers and members of the Illinois State Police for the bill signing. All participated in a silent prayer for Chicago Police Officer Ella French, who was shot to death during a traffic stop this week, and her partner, who remains hospitalized with gunshot wounds from the attack.

The governor also signed a bill clarifying the scope of Scotts Law and one creating a database of mental health programs for first responders. All three measures passed the General Assembly with unanimous bipartisan support.

This is a wake-up call for every resident of Illinois  your distracted driving could be someone elses worst nightmare, and no text or other distraction is worth that, Pritzker said at a bill-signing event at the Illinois Capitol in Springfield. So next time you hit the road  to be clear, every time you hit the road  please remember the real risks of not honoring Scotts Law.

In February, Illinois State Trooper Brian Frank was the fourth involved in a crash this year because of a violation of Scotts Law. His wife, Lauren Frank, said at the bill signing event that over the past six months, she and her husband have been on an arduous journey that has included visits to 35 doctors, four hospitals, three brain surgeries, two emergency room visits, 12 ambulance rides and eight weeks of therapy.

Lauren Frank said Brian is in a state of unresponsive wakefulness and remains in critical condition.

The setbacks are devastating, and the unknowns of our future are overwhelming, she said. The daily grief sits heavily on us as we wait and watch Brian fight for his life, to come back to us. And again, this was all preventable.

Frank said while Scotts Law was named for Lt. Scott Gillen, a firefighter killed in 2000 while assisting with a crash on the Dan Ryan Expressway, it honors every officer who has died on roads and those who patrol them.

State police reported 1,340 violations of the law during the 19-day period between Feb. 18 and March 7, according to the governors office.

Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly noted education and enforcement are the best method of ensuring safety through Scotts Law, crediting Frank for her efforts to share her story.

And maybe if they listen just a little bit to what she had to say, theyll slow down, theyll move over, theyll give a damn about whats going on around them, instead of being self-centered and being clueless about the people that are out there trying to protect public safety, he said.

Kelly said one of the laws signed by Pritzker, House Bill 3656, makes it easier to prosecute drivers violating the law.

That language says, Drivers of vehicles approaching a stationary emergency vehicle in any lane shall heed the warning of the signal, reduce the speed of the vehicle, proceed with due caution, maintain a safe speed for road conditions, be prepared to stop, and leave a safe distance until safely (past) the stationary emergency vehicle.

That law, sponsored by Chicago Democrats Rep. Fran Hurley and Sen. Antonio Munoz, also creates a Move Over Early Warning Task Force made up of members appointed by state agencies and law enforcement entities to study ways to better enforce road safety and alert drivers to hazards.

Senate Bill 1575, sponsored by Chicago Democrats Sen. Robert Martwick and Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, directs the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Mental Health to create an online database of mental health resources geared to first responders.

The database will include information on crisis services, wellness, trauma information, nutrition, stress reduction, anxiety, depression, violence prevention, suicide prevention and substance abuse. The goal is for that program to go live by January.

Frank, meanwhile, said more is needed to support officers, including adequate funding to ensure every squad car is the most capable the market has to offer at withstanding damage.

It continues after that with unparalleled medical care for officers injured in the line of duty, she said, citing costs and barriers to medical care as burdens on officers families.

She also said society must work at getting back to a state and a country that doesnt just see a uniform or cop, but instead sees Brian, a husband, a son, a brother, a godfather, an uncle and a best friend, someone who has already saved countless lives and who has a lifetime of saving more ahead of him.
LONDON (AP)  For a large chunk of the past 20 years, British troops fought hard to ensure that the southern Afghanistan province of Helmand did not fall into the hands of the Taliban.

Confirmation Friday that the Taliban had captured Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand, had particular resonance in Britain. The vast majority of the U.K.'s 457 casualties occurred in the province as British troops fought with American and allied NATO forces. The Camp Bastion complex in Helmand was the headquarters for British military operations from 2006 until 2014.

With the Taliban advancing rapidly and now in control of around two-thirds of Afghanistan, questions are being raised about why the U.K. could not have remained even after the planned departure of U.S. troops by Sept. 11.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned there was no military solution to prevent the resurgence of the Taliban.

Following an emergency meeting over the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, Johnson said the vast bulk of the remaining U.K. embassy staff in Kabul would return in the next few days. Meanwhile, the British government was also stepping up efforts to relocate Afghans who had assisted British forces during their time in the country and who now face reprisals if they fall into hands of the militants.

I think weve got to be realistic about the abilities of the U.K. or any power to impose a military solution, a combat solution in Afghanistan, he said. What we certainly can do is work with all our partners in the region and around the world who share an interest with us in preventing Afghanistan from once again becoming a breeding ground for terror.

U.S. President Joe Biden announced the timeline for the U.S. withdrawal in April, saying he was determined to end Americas longest war. His decision led the other nations in the NATO coalition, including the U.K., to announce their own departures, two decades after they first arrived in Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks.

Johnny Mercer, a former defense minister in Britain's Conservative government and an Afghanistan veteran, said Biden made a huge mistake but that the U.K. did not have to follow suit and could have mustered support among other NATO allies in the International Security Assistance Force.

This idea we cannot act unilaterally and support the Afghan security forces is simply not true, Mercer told the BBC. The political will to see through enduring support to Afghanistan has not been there, and a lot of people are going to die because of that, and for me that is extremely humiliating."

Britain's defense secretary, Ben Wallace, expressed his concerns about the unfolding situation in Afghanistan, not least the potential for al-Qaeda to return, but said the government had no choice but to follow the U.S. lead.

When the United States, as the framework nation, took that decision, the way we were all configured, the way we had gone in, meant that we had to leave as well," he said on Sky News.

Wallace denied the decision Thursday to send around 600 British troops to Afghanistan to help the 4,000 or so remaining U.K. nationals in the country to leave was a panic measure, saying plans had been put in place months ago. The U.S. said Thursday that it was sending an additional 3,000 troops to Afghanistan to assist in the evacuation of some personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.

U.K. troops were sent to Helmand in 2006, as part of a reorganization of coalition troops, initially with the intention of providing stability and security for reconstruction projects. However, they were soon drawn into combat operations; Camp Bastion in Helmand became the base of British Operation Herrick, with 9,500 troops stationed there.

Soldiers patrolled the province and faced the constant threat of ambush from insurgents, whose local knowledge often gave them an advantage.

More than 100,000 British troops served in Afghanistan in the past two decades, though their numbers fell dramatically after December 2014, when NATO's combat mission ended. The soldiers there since ostensibly trained Afghan army troops and supported a wide range of projects to improve education, particularly for girls, health care, economic growth and local governance in Helmand and across the country.

Yale University Senior Fellow Rory Stewart, a former international development secretary in the British government and a respected writer on Afghanistan, criticized the withdrawal as a completely unnecessary, dangerous decision." He warned that millions of Afghans would become refugees.

Weve essentially created another Syria overnight," he said.

___

Follow AP's coverage of Afghanistan at https://apnews.com/hub/afghanistan
All but 15 of Illinois counties lost population over the past 10 years, according to the latest U.S. Census data released Thursday.

Census data released earlier this year was only by state totals, not data on a local level. The outcome for Illinois was the state losing one congressional seat because of population decline. More detailed data was released Thursday by the U.S. Census.

Marc Perry, senior demographer in the bureaus Population Division, identified a trend across the country during a news conference Wednesday, when more detailed Census data was released.

We see a strong relationship to population size with small counties tending to lose population and more populous counties tending to gain people, Perry said.

The data, analyzed by the Center for Governmental Studies at Northern Illinois University, shows Chicago gained population by around 50,000. In addition, Cook County grew by more than 80,800.

Kendall County grew at the fastest rate of nearly 15%, or more than 17,100 people. Monroe and Johnson counties grew by more than 5%. Every other county grew less than 5%, with the most losing population over the decade.

The remaining 87 counties experienced population decline, NIU demographer Sherrie Taylor said. Alexander lost the greatest proportion of their residents at 36.4%, more than twice the next county as well.

More Information Population changes among west-central Illinois counties between 2010 and 2020: Morgan County - down 7.4% Brown County - down 10% Cass County - down 4.4% Greene County - down 13.7% Jersey County - down 6.4% Macoupin County - down 5.9% Pike County - down 10.3% Sangamon County - down 0.6% Schuyler County - down 8.5% Scott County - down 7.6% See More Collapse

In general, across the country, Perry said, people are moving to larger cities.

Counties with 1,000 to 5,000 people, 5,000 to 10,000 people and 10,000 to 50,000 people also lost people this decade on average, Perry said. Only two categories of counties showed growth. Counties with between 50,000 and 100,000 people grew by 4.1% while counties with 100,000 or more people grew by 9.1%.

Illinois is the only state in the Midwest and only of three states overall to lose population, decreasing by 18,124 over the decade. Thats different from the 2019 estimates of the state losing nearly 169,000 people.

Policymakers, demographers and analysts now are unpacking the latest data.

Michael Cook with the U.S. Census said policymakers now will use the data to make key decisions on how best to spend taxpayer resources.

Local leaders who chose to use this data may make decisions such as where to build roads and hospitals and even how to respond to natural disasters and future pandemics, Cook said.

The Census says they plan to release more information in the weeks ahead, including different forms of data in an easier to use format.

Illinois state lawmakers now must use the data to redraw congressional boundaries. Gov. J.B. Pritzker had said the state might have to update legislative maps he already approved when the new data is released. Legislative maps based on estimates released months ago are being challenged in court.
WESTWOOD, Calif. (AP)  The U.S. Forest Service said Friday it's operating in crisis mode, fully deploying firefighters and maxing out its support system as wildfires continue to break out across the U.S. West, threatening thousands of homes and entire towns.

The roughly 21,000 federal firefighters working on the ground is more than double the number of firefighters sent to contain forest fires at this time a year ago, and the agency is facing critical resources limitations, said Anthony Scardina, a deputy forester for the agency's Pacific Southwest region.

An estimated 6,170 firefighters alone are battling the Dixie Fire in Northern California, the largest of 100 large fires burning in 14 states, with dozens more burning in western Canada.

The fire began a month ago and has destroyed more than 1,000 homes, businesses and other structures, much of it in the small town of Greenville in the northern Sierra Nevada.

The fire had ravaged more than 800 square miles (well over 2,000 square kilometers)  an area larger than the city of London  and continued to threaten more than a dozen rural and forest communities.

Containment lines for the fire held overnight, but it was just 31% surrounded. Gusty and erratic winds were threatening to spread the fire to Westwood, a lumber town of 1,700. Lightning could spark new blazes even as crews try to surround a number of other forest fires ignited by lightning last month.

"Mother nature just kind of keeps throwing us obstacles our way," said Edwin Zuniga, a spokesman with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, working together with the Forest Service to tamp out the blaze.

Meanwhile, firefighters and residents were scrambling to save hundreds of homes as flames advance across the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in southeastern Montana.

The blaze was still burning near the tribal headquarters town of Lame Deer, where a mandatory evacuation remained in place and a second fire was threatening from the opposite direction.

Smoke from the blazes grew so thick Friday morning that the health clinic in Lame Deer was shut down after its air filters could not keep up with the pollution, Northern Cheyenne Tribe spokesperson Angel Becker said.

Smoke drove air pollution levels to unhealthy or very unhealthy levels in portions of Montana, Idaho, Oregon Washington and Northern California, according to Environmental Protection Agency air quality monitoring.

An air quality alert covering seven Montana counties warned of extremely high levels of small pollution particles found in smoke, which can cause lung issues and other health problems if inhaled.

The fires near Lame Deer combined have burned 275 square miles (710 square kilometers) this week, so far sparing homes but causing extensive damage to pasture lands that ranchers depend on to feed their cows and horses.

Gusts and low humidity were creating extremely dangerous conditions as flames devoured brush, short grass and timber, fire officials said.

Hot, dry weather with strong afternoon winds also propelled several fires in Washington state, and similar weather was expected into the weekend, fire officials said.

In southeastern Oregon, two new wildfires started by lightning Thursday near the California border were spreading through juniper trees, sagebrush and evergreen trees.

Gov. Kate Brown declared an emergency for one of the fires to mobilize crews and other resources to the area of ranches, rural subdivisions and RV parks about 14 miles (23 kilometers) from the small town of Lakeview.

The blaze grew from a lightning strike to 11 square miles (28 square kilometers) in less than 24 hours, said Tamara Schmidt, a U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman.

Authorities Thursday evening ordered the evacuation of an RV park that stood in the path of the Oregon's Patton Meadow Fire.

The fires are near the area torched Oregon's Bootleg Fire which started July 6 and burned an area more than half the size of Rhode Island before crews gained the upper hand. The fire is not yet fully contained and was the nations largest until being eclipsed by the Dixie Fire.

Triple-digit temperatures and bone-dry conditions in Oregon, enduring a third day of extreme heat, could increase fire risks through the weekend.

Climate change has made the U.S. West warmer and drier in the past 30 years and will continue to make the weather more extreme and wildfires more destructive, according to scientists.

More than 6,000 square miles (almost 16,000 square kilometers) have been burned in the U.S. so far this year. That's well ahead of the amount burned by this point last year, but below the 10-year average, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

Parts of Europe also are burning, including in Greece, where where a massive wildfire has decimated forests and torched homes, and was still smoldering 10 days after it started.

___

Nguyen reported from Oakland, Calif. Matthew Brown in Billings, Mont., Olga R. Rodriguez in San Francisco and Gillian Flaccus in Portland contributed to this report.
A new online tool is geared toward helping high school students explore post-graduation options.

The Illinois High School 2 Career tool was created by the Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Department of Employment Security and Illinois Student Assistance Commission as a way to help inform high school students about various job fields.

The organizations used student data from 2007 to 2016, along with their post-secondary education and employment data, to present real outcomes for various paths.

The tool includes information such as average salaries and required certifications or degrees. Students also can use the tool to compare colleges and universities that offer the major in which they are interested.

The tool can be found at bit.ly/3xI3KKc.

 Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree
The other day, someone reminded me that I had a public Facebook page titled Christine Flowers, Columnist and Radio Host. I rarely post there, which is why Id almost forgotten about it.

My old editor had suggested I create a public page after stalkers and people who didnt like what I wrote (almost exclusively readers and agitators from the left) had done some unsavory things. She thought that setting up a public space would protect me and my loved ones from the usual abuses of social media.

But then a friend sent me a screen shot of my Facebook page, which included a warning advising possible readers that This page may share content that violates our community standards. Review this page before you join.

I scratched my head, trying to figure out which of the few posts Id made violated the community standards and what those community standards were.

Because you see, it is virtually impossible to know what comments or photos or other things that fall into the class of free expression trigger Mark Z. and the woke elves who toil away at that shop of his near the North Pole, or wherever. There is no definitive standard by which thoughts can be considered dangerous or offensive. Its kind of like when Justice Potter Stewart set out the criteria for obscenity, namely, I know it when I see it.

I suppose I shouldnt be surprised at this new high-tech imprimatur. The same thing is happening on Twitter, except not in such a targeted manner. The other day I tried to reply to a tweet about Nancy Pelosis belief that abortion is a civil right for poor women, and it immediately triggered this message: Want to review this before sending? Were asking people to review replies with potentially harmful or offensive language.

I am certain that I used the word beast in my reply, since I find Pelosis devotion to abortion to be quite savage. Still, its a bit much to start flagging non-threatening comments to a public figure with a finger wagging 21st century Miss Brooks (for those of you who have no idea who that is, Google it).

I suppose a lot of this is in response to the events of Jan. 6, which have completely thrown the country off of its axis. There are those who liken it to a terror attack, those who think it was nothing more than a group of rowdy tourists, and those like me who think it falls somewhere in between the two.

Social media was blamed for allowing conspiracy theories to be foisted upon an innocent public by twisted minds with access to keyboards. That, of course, could describe the internet well before that crazy shaman fellow with the Ride of the Valkyries outfit forced himself into the Capitol.

But the left is using Jan. 6, and some repentant folks on the right, to advance an agenda that has very little to do with the danger and damage on that winter day, and everything to do with silencing dissent.

There is nothing I have ever said, done, or written that could be considered so subversive that it warrants a warning. Being offensive or controversial is common course for a pundit, and those who dont arouse strong emotions arent doing their collective job.

But offense and controversy are necessary in a free society, and even the most despicable opinions have a place. If you do not want to read them, hear them, digest them, that is your prerogative.

But the social media tycoons and their sycophants on the left should not have the ability to act as guardians at the gate of free expression. They should not, in their own way, exercise a 21st century version of prior restraint, dissuading people from reading things they themselves have decided are against community standards.

And the larger questions are: whose community are they worried about? And what exactly are the standards that govern that pristine and protected society?

It reminds me of that old movie, Village of the Damned, where the little children with their platinum blonde page boys and their empty ice-blue eyes could destroy, with a look, those who crossed and challenged them.

I am not afraid that Facebook will stop open minded people from reading my thoughts. And if they do, there are other ways for me to communicate. Im Italian and Irish, after all. We are born knowing how to express ourselves with absolutely no ambiguity.

But Im worried for those who actually will take their lead from the Stalins of social media and allow themselves to be diverted from offensive content that will trouble the waters of their gentle community.

I have asylum clients from other, similar communities, who could attest to how easy it is to be numbed into a sense of comfort by those who want to hide painful truths from them.

And thats a lot scarier than anything Christine Flowers, columnist and radio host, has to say.

Christine Flowers is an attorney and a columnist. She can be reached at cflowers1961@gmail.com.
Is it true that weve done such a good job bringing back bald eagles that theyve become pests now?

Its hard to believe the bald eagle was on the brink of extinction in the lower 48 United States just a half century ago, given how common the majestic birds are all over the country nowadays.

While their population rebound is indeed a great source of pride for the environmental movement, some American farmers are wondering if maybe we have too much of a good thing, given a recent uptick of eagles preying on livestock.

While bald eagle populations fell drastically in the first half of the 20th century mostly due to hunting, it wasnt until the 1960s that people started to realize how big a threat the insecticide DDT was to supporting healthy eagle populations. The synthetic chemical was successful in keeping insects down.

But when eagles ingested the chemical, it made their egg shells fragile and prone to cracking prematurely, dooming the chick inside to a premature death. Rachel Carsons landmark 1962 book Silent Spring highlighted the plight of eagles and other birds as victims of DDT poisoning.

In 1963, there were just 417 known mating pairs of bald eagles within the U.S. In 1972, the federal government banned DDT, and eagle populations started to rebound within a few years, with no looking back. By 2017, researchers believe 70,000 bald eagles inhabited the lower 48; a 2021 survey estimates that number has now grown to over 300,000 individual bald eagles.

This exponential growth has sparked a call for officials to reconsider protection for the species. The presence of too many bald eagles has been a problem for decades in Alaska, where the birds were able to hold on better than in the lower 48.

In 1917, bald eagles were causing so many issues for the Alaskan fishing industry that the government placed a bounty on the birds. An editorial in 1920 from Douglas Island News in Alaska said that: Sentimentally, [the bald eagle] is a beautiful thing, but in life it is a destroyer of food and should be and is killed wherever found.

Similar situations could start to become more common in the lower 48, where bald eagles have grown so much in population that they pose a significant threat to farms and pastures where chickens, ducks and other animals roam. Farmers dont know what to do about it, though, as shooting a bald eagle is a $100,000 fine along with a year of jail time.

One option for farmers is to get an eagle-depredation permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service if the birds have become injurious to wildlife, agriculture or other personal property, or human health and safety.

Once granted, non-lethal deterrents like air horns, scarecrows and pyrotechnics can be used to scare them off, though farmers have little recourse if these tactics fail.

In the end, were just going to have to get used to having so many of these majestic creatures around, reminding us not only of our freedom and national pride but also of what good stewards we can be for nature when we set our hearts and minds to it.

EarthTalk is written by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss. Send questions to question@earthtalk.org.
Australia chides China over journalists yearlong detention View Photo

CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  The Australian government said Friday that it remained seriously concerned about the welfare of a Chinese-born Australian journalist a year after she was first detained in China.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne used the first anniversary of Cheng Leis detention on Aug. 13 to tell China that Australia expected basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment to be met, in accordance with international norms.

The Australian government remains seriously concerned about Ms. Chengs detention and welfare and has regularly raised these issues at senior levels, Payne said in a statement.

We are particularly concerned that one year into her detention, there remains a lack of transparency about the reasons for Ms. Chengs detention, she added.

In February, China formally arrested the 46-year-old journalist for CGTN, the English-language channel of China Central Television, on suspicion of illegally supplying state secrets overseas.

The allegations, which could result a penalty of life in prison or even death, are highly unusual for an employee of a media outlet tightly controlled by Chinas ruling Communist Party.

Chengs two children, aged 10 and 12, live with their grandmother in the Australian city of Melbourne.

The National Press Clubs of the United States and Australia as well as the reporters former CGTN colleagues and friends have recently written open letters calling for her immediate release.

Cheng Leis yearlong detention is an assault on journalism and on human rights. Cheng is a single mother of two. Her children have been living with their grandmother in Australia without knowing if they will ever be reunited with their mother, a U.S. National Press Club statement said.

China has tried to make Cheng disappear, but the world has not forgotten about her or the several dozen other reporters unjustly jailed in China, the statement added.

Worsening bilateral relations since Australia called for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic are suspected by many to be the cause of Chengs arrest.

A month before Cheng was detained, Australia warned its citizens of a risk of arbitrary detention in China. China dismissed the warning as disinformation.

Before the last two journalists working for Australian media in China left the country in September, they were questioned by Chinese authorities about Cheng.

Australian Broadcasting Corp. reporter Bill Birtles and The Australian Financial Reviews Michael Smith were told they were persons of interest in an investigation into Cheng.

Australia has criticized China for charging Chinese Australian spy novelist Yang Hengjun with espionage. He has been detained since January 2019.

Australian Karm Gilespie was sentenced to death in China last year, seven years after he was arrested and charged with attempting to board an international flight with more than 7.5 kilograms (16.5 pounds) of methamphetamine. Some observers suspect that such a severe sentence so long after the crime was related to the bilateral rift.

Cheng was an anchor for CGTNs BizAsia program. She was born in China and worked in finance in Australia before returning to China and starting a career in journalism with CCTV in Beijing in 2003.

By ROD McGUIRK

Associated Press
Greek wildfires: New blaze burning on ravaged Evia island View Photo

ATHENS, Greece (AP)  A new fire broke out Friday on Greeces second largest island of Evia, south of the area where a massive wildfire has decimated forests and torched homes, and was still smoldering 10 days after it started.

Greeces fire department said four water-dropping aircraft and six helicopters were sent to control the fire that erupted in the morning in central Evia, along with 40 firefighters and 10 vehicles. By late afternoon, the fire had not been brought under control, the fire department said. The larger fire that broke out on Aug. 3 destroyed most of the islands north and is one of the countrys worst known forest fires.

Firefighters from Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Slovakia, Poland and Moldova, along with Greek colleagues, were still working to extinguish the smoldering remnants of Evias main blaze, which has burnt more than 50,900 hectares (125,777 acres).

Although wildfires are common in Greece during the hot, dry summers, hundreds of blazes have broken out across the country in the space of a few days in the wake of an especially long and intense heat wave. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Thursday described the fires as the greatest ecological disaster Greece has seen in decades.

Several Mediterranean countries have suffered intense heat and quickly spreading wildfires in recent weeks, including Turkey, where at least eight people have died, and Italy. In Algeria, wildfires in the mountainous Berber region have killed at least 69 people.

Worsening drought and heat  both linked to climate change  have also fueled wildfires this summer in the Western United States and in Russias northern Siberia region. Scientists say there is little doubt that climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is driving more extreme events.

The fires in Greece stretched the countrys firefighting capabilities to the limit, and the government appealed for help from abroad. Around 24 European and Middle Eastern countries sent aid, including firefighters, aircraft and vehicles.

Two more major fires were still burning in the southern Greek region of the Peloponnese, where hundreds of French, German, Austrian and Czech firefighters were operating.

During his news conference on the fires on Thursday, the Greek prime minister warned that difficult days lay ahead until the summer season when wildfires typically break out is over.

___

Follow APs coverage of climate change issues at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-change

By ELENA BECATOROS

Associated Press
Man kills 5, himself in UKs first mass shooting in decade View Photo

LONDON (AP)  A young man who killed five people, including his mother, and then took his own life in Britains first mass shooting in over a decade had complained online about difficulties meeting women and being beaten down by life.

Police said Friday the motive for the shootings was unclear but there were no immediate signs that the crime was an act of terrorism or the 22-year-old gunman had connections to extremist groups.

They identified the shooter as Jake Davison, 22, and said he had a gun license, but revealed few other details. Witnesses reported that he used a pump-action shotgun, police said, though they wouldnt confirm what type of weapon it was and whether it was the one Davison was licensed to use.

Gun crimes are rare in Britain, which has strict firearm control rules.

Police responded to multiple emergency calls at 6:11 p.m. Thursday arrived six minutes later at an address in Plymouths Keyham neighborhood, where Davison had shot and killed his mother, 51-year-old Maxine Davison, also known as Maxine Chapman.

According to police accounts, Davison left the house and immediately shot and killed a 3-year-old girl, Sophie Martyn, and her father, Lee Martyn, 43. He then shot and wounded two other people down the street whom police havent identified.

Police said Davison moved on to a park where he shot Stephen Washington, 59, who died at the scene, and then to a nearby street, where he shot Kate Shepherd, 66 on a nearby street. She died later in hospital.

Eyewitnesses reported that Davison shot himself before police arrived. He was licensed to use a gun last year and police are checking whether he had the license before then.

Shaun Sawyer, chief constable for Devon and Cornwall police, told reporters that investigators are not sure what Davisons motive was and keeping open minds but do not think extremist ideology prompted the attack.

Lets see whats on his hard drive, lets see whats on his computer, lets see whats on social media, Sawyer said.

We believe we have an incident that is domestically related that has spilled into the street and seen several people of Plymouth lose their lives in an extraordinarily tragic circumstance, he added.

Davison appeared to post on YouTube under the name Professor Waffle in an account that has now been taken down, replaced by a notice saying it violated the sites community guidelines. In a final 11-minute clip posted before the killings, Professor Waffle talks about how he was beaten down and defeated bylife.

He talks about struggling to stay motivated at working out and losing weight, working as a scaffolder when he was 17-18, and hinted at his lack of a love life by referring to people who are incels  shorthand for involuntarily celibate.

The incel movement justifies violence against women as revenge for men who are rejected as sexual partners, and believes society unjustly denies men sexual or romantic attention. The online subculture has been linked to deadly attacks in California, Toronto and Florida. Davison said that while he wouldnt describe himself as an incel, they are people similar to me, theyve had nothing but themselves, and then theyve socially had it tough.

He compared himself to a businessman struggling to break even despite working long hours but who has a wife and kids supporting him.

Does an incel virgin get that? No, he said.

Britains last mass shooting was in 2010, when a taxi driver killed 12 people in Cumbria in northwest England before taking his own life.

By KELVIN CHAN

Associated Press
LAS VEGAS (AP)  A coronavirus pandemic mask mandate in Nevada has drawn a federal lawsuit from attorneys seeking class-action status for claims that the constitutional rights of thousands of parents and children at Las Vegas-area schools are being violated.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness have been ripped away from law-abiding citizens and their children, the attorneys declared in the complaint filed Thursday against Gov. Steve Sisolak, state Attorney General Aaron Ford and the Clark County School District.

It seeks an immediate court order to invalidate a directive the governor enacted last week that generally requires K-12 students and school employees in the Las Vegas and Reno areas to wear masks on buses and inside school buildings, regardless of vaccination status.

Plaintiffs Monica Branch-Noto and Tiffany Paulson are identified as the guardians of three students at Henderson schools. The childrens names are not provided in the 27-page complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas.

Its preposterous that these kids have to go to school hindered, said attorney Sigal Chattah, a Republican candidate for Fords job who has also sued Sisolak over vaccination plans and coronavirus-related restrictions he imposed on churches.

Were trying to get the kids unmasked, she said.

A spokesman for Ford declined comment. Representatives for the governor and the school district did not immediately respond to email messages.

Masks in schools have become a flashpoint in areas where students are returning to in-person classroom instruction after more than a year of school closures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Schools opened Monday in and around Las Vegas, where more than 300,000 students and about 18,000 teachers make the Clark County district the fifth-largest in the nation.

The lawsuit in Nevada was filed the same day parents and the Oklahoma State Medical Association filed a lawsuit asking a judge there to overturn a state law banning mask requirements in public schools.

In Kentucky, Republican lawmakers including the attorney general are challenging a school mask mandate that Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear issued Tuesday.

The Nevada complaint calls rules enacted in March 2020 to stem the spread of COVID-19 onerous, burdensome and unconstitutional after 17 months, and claims they are inflicting massive emotional distress on students and parents.

It declares the governors order infringes on the fundamental right of parents to make child rearing decisions, including arbitrarily forcing children to wear masks in school.

Children have a one in a million risk of dying from COVID-19, the lawsuit says, pointing to an online article by a Johns Hopkins University surgeon and professor who calls the case for vaccinating children not compelling right now.

In northern Nevada, school officials reported Wednesday that about 80 people were exposed to the coronavirus after a parent knowingly sent a child to middle school two days after learning the student tested positive for the coronavirus.

The Washoe County School District said in a statement the parent also tested positive and refused to communicate with the childs school.

An unspecified number of students were sent home to quarantine. But the district said they would be expected to participate in home-learning and keep up with school work.

Unvaccinated students sent home may return to school after five days if they test negative for the virus and are free of symptoms, the district said. Fully vaccinated students could return to school if they are free of symptoms and show vaccination records to a school nurse.

By KEN RITTER

Associated Press
MOSCOW (AP)  Russia's defense minister on Friday hailed joint war games with China this week as a sign of increasingly close military cooperation that should expand further.

Sergei Shoigu flew to China to attend the drills that wrapped up Friday in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

We have achieved a high level of cooperation between our militaries on land, in the air and at sea, Shoigu said during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Expanding it is an important part of our future activities.

The Russian military sent several Su-30SM fighters and a motorized infantry unit to take part in the maneuvers.

Shoigu noted that the exercise marked the first time that Russian troops had taken part in joint drills on the territory of China, adding that it reflected a new level of military cooperation, to the benefit of regional and global stability.

In a statement about the exercise, the Russian Defense Ministry quoted Wei as saying that it was intended to increase the ability "to jointly respond to risks and challenges and wasn't aimed against any third country.

Russia and China have held a series of drills in recent years including combat aircraft and warships, including an exercise in December when Russian and Chinese long-range bombers flew a joint patrol mission over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea.

The region where this week's drills were held is located in northwestern China, east of Xinjiang, where China has detained more than 1 million Uyghurs and members of other Muslim minorities in what it calls a campaign against terrorism and extremism. Critics say the detentions violate the human rights of a minority group.

Xinjiang shares a narrow frontier with Afghanistan, and Beijing is concerned about violence spilling over its border if the Taliban take control in Afghanistan following the pullout of U.S. troops.

Russia has sought to expand ties with China as its relations with the West sank to post-Cold War lows over Moscows 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimea, accusations of Russian hacking attacks, interference in elections and other disputes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's leader, Xi Jinping, have developed strong personal ties to bolster a strategic partnership between the former Communist rivals as both Moscow and Beijing face increasing tensions with the West. And even though Russia and China in the past rejected the possibility of forging a military alliance, Putin said last fall that such a prospect cant be ruled out entirely.

Putin also noted in October that Russia has been sharing highly sensitive military technologies with China that helped significantly bolster its defense capability.
River Walk barge operators are quick to tell tourists that San Antonio served as the backdrop for movies like Miss Congeniality and Selena, but more than 40 years ago, Hollywood was in town for another film.

Rolling Thunder, a revenge thriller starring William Devane, Linda Haynes, and Tommy Lee Jones, was released August 12, 1977. The production took place in the Alamo City for about a month the previous year.

While the reviews weren't great, director Quentin Tarantino is said to be a huge fan. He apparently liked it so much that he named his distribution company after it. Though short-lived (the company launched in 1995), Rolling Thunder Pictures released several cult favorites before folding in 1999.

If you're a Tarantino fan, the Rolling Thunder might be right up your alley as well.

The movie, written by by Paul Schrader and Heywood Gould, begins in 1973 as Major Charles Rane, played by Devane, and three fellow soldiers return home to San Antonio after being held captive for seven years in Hanoi as POWs. After the grandeur of his homecoming is wrapped up, Rane is confronted with the harsh reality that life moved on while he was away. As he attempts to get reacquainted with his wife and a son who hardly remembers him, four men break into his home. The attackers mangle Rane's arm in a garbage disposal before shooting the family. His wife and son are killed, but Rane survives and embarks on a violent vendetta against the murderers.

LMPC/LMPC via Getty Images

The San Antonio Express-News followed the production throughout the summer of 1976, when crews were in town. Archives show the Bexar County Courthouse made a prominent appearance.

Members of Classic San Antonio: 1950-1999, a popular Facebook group dedicated to Alamo City history and pop culture, pointed out the climax of the movie, which was purported to be set in a Juarez brothel, was actually filmed at the Heimann Building in Cattleman Square.

On its August 12, 1977, release date, a San Antonio Express-News review said the city "had no reason to rejoice that Rolling Thunder rolled out of San Antonio." The local journalist said there's no such thing as a "totally bad" movie, considering the filming provided Hollywood opportunities for the city, but if there were, it would be Rolling Thunder.

News research Misty Harris contributed to this report.
With the delta variant on the rise, COVID-19 outreach is more important than ever, and the push to get San Antonio vaccinated is a fierce effort.

Thomas Wright, senior management coordinator for Metro Health, is responsible for a great deal of public outreach to boost the city's vaccination levels. His day typically begins like most people's  with nothing more than a cup of coffee.

Overseeing the Community Health and Prevention Team from March until about the end of May, he spent most of his time on the ground leading vaccine pop-up clinics and getting a sense for people's thoughts and concerns surrounding the vaccine.

But in the pandemic world, there is no such thing as status quo. Like the virus itself, you have to adapt. And evidently, answer a lot of emails.

Now, the role of the team has pivoted to a focus on canvassing and spreading awareness about pop-up clinics all over the city. A typical day finds Wright in constant communication, trying to ensure each pop-up clinic is the most successful it can be (which is measured in terms of how many shots are doled out). Often, the job involves shooting a lot of emails meetings with Metro Health leadership and reporting on the issues the teams are facing on the ground.

"Right now our primary goal is to canvas areas where Metro Health's pop-up clinics are to be hosted, so that way we can make those community members aware that there are clinics coming and they'll be very close and near to you," Wright tells MySA.

"It's just also trying to make sure that we're fighting this battle against disinformation that's out there."

Katerina Tsvetkova, health program manager in COVID-19 vaccination outreach for Metro Health, greets the day by doing a cursory scroll on the Outlook app, checking any important messages from organizations or groups she may have missed. Once she's had her breakfast (usually an egg, some yogurt, and two cups of joe) Tsvetkova sets out to determine where San Antonio's next pop-up clinic might be. Whether it's a church, a museum, or the San Antonio Zoo, she says there's no lack of interest on behalf on local organizations.

It's just a matter of drumming up public interest. Both Metro Health employees tell me the past two weeks have shown an uptick in vaccination rates across the city, likely spurned by the rapidly spreading delta variant.

Robin Jerstad / Robin Jerstad

Recently, there's been a move to host vaccination sites in areas that might lure in the 18 to 35 demographic, the age bracket most lacking when it comes inoculation. As a result, bars and venues on the St. Mary's Strip have entered the conversation.

On a given day, Tsvetkova may comb through data and file a report to City Council about vaccination rates in their relevant ZIP codes.

"I did one recent report that was for all of the vaccination clinics that are planned and that have happened from August to September, and all the doses we've done. So interestingly, it's a lot of math." Tsvetkova says. "Thankfully my degree came in handy." (Both Tsvetkova and Wright have bachelor's in Public Health.)

Though no longer an Operations Manager at the city's Alamodome clinic, which involved a lot of in person work, Tsvetkova now tries to be a presence in the community and on the ground by showing up to each clinic that springs up, usually with bagels and a jug of Starbucks coffee in tow for the team, always ensuring everyone is adequately caffeinated and in good spirits.

Tsvetkova prides herself in keeping an open conversation with her team throughout the day. "We're all in this together. I try my best to spend my time at the vaccination sites, then usually I have meetings."

Both Tsvetkova and Wright try to be generally optimistic about the numbers and the recent jump in inoculations. "It's been really rewarding seeing those vaccination rates rise," says Tsvetkova. Wright feels similarly, however, adds that the effort can be demoralizing at times. "It does get frustrating when you feel like you see the big picture and you're trying to explain it to somebody else and they either don't want to see it or don't see it altogether," he tells MySA.

Thomas Wright

Tsvetkova also highlights the importance of taking care of mental health when working during a pandemic and doing pandemic relief work. Hot showers, sticking to a schedule, meditation, and bonding with her cats are crucial tools in a pandemic stopper's toolkit. For Wright, it's hanging with his family, spending time with his girlfriend, and keeping up with his beloved Atlanta Braves.

It can be heavy work but it's also important. Each person vaccinated is considered a win.

Currently, around 64 percent of Bexar County's eligible population has been fully vaccinated. This is no small feat for relief workers like Tsvetkova and Wright, who are slowly but surely making sure more San Antonians survive this pandemic, one email and morning cup of coffee at a time.
On the Northwest Side of San Antonio, a young entrepreneur spends his summer days wheeling around a cart filled with spray cans and paint for his creative self-start job.

Since June, Kaiden Mantooth, 15, wanders through nearby neighborhoods, knocking door-to-door to promote his curbside painting service. He points to any of the four address designs he can whip up for his hopeful customer. Yes, you too can freshen up your curb appeal for $12 for a black-and-white address or $18 for a red-and-blue Texas-themed one.

"I got these friends who were just making some money, and we're doing the exact same thing," Mantooth tells MySA.com while out at work on a hot Saturday afternoon. "They showed me how to do it, and I ordered everything and started practicing, and then finally got it going."

In a process that takes about 30 to 45 minutes, Mantooth, who's homeschooled, says he's typically out whenever he can be on weekdays and weekends. He'll try to schedule his work at the hottest time of the day, as the paint dries faster, he says.

Priscilla Aguirre, MySA.com

His mother, Amy Mantooth, says they've lost count on how many curbs he's serviced. However, 13 is the most he's finished in one day.

"He's been working hard. We are so proud of him," his mother says. "Most kids are inside and on the screen. I've been real proud of his work ethic. He's not afraid of working hard and getting out there. He'll sweat for hours and hours some days, but he's not bothered."

Kaiden says he launched the service to help pay for a car. Amy jokes he's already earned more than his three older siblings with jobs. She adds he's covered most of their neighborhood but has expanded his services to the Bandera and 1604 area.

His days became longer after a customer posted about Kaiden's skills on Nextdoor, a hyperlocal social networking service for neighborhoods. It's blown up since then, Amy says. The Nextdoor post has nearly 200 likes and more than 50 comments praising Kaiden for his hard work.

Priscilla Aguirre, MySA.com

"I think it's pretty cool," Kaiden says about the positive response he's received from the Nextdoor post. "It's nice to see that people care about something that, to be honest, I wouldn't have thought they would have. It's really helped me out."

That kindness extends to routes, where Kaiden has been offered offering water, drinks, and mats for him to sit while out on the job. It's like he now has a second mom in most areas, Amy jokes.

Amy notes she's also figured the service could help first responders find homes quicker, as she noticed some homes are hard to locate when passing by.

Although the schoolwork will begin soon, Kaiden says he plans to continue his work throughout the year. He says he will have more designs in the future as well. At the moment, Kaiden only services the Northwest Side. If you'd like more information on his services, please text his mother Amy at 210-712-9633.
The once-a-decade battle over redistricting is set to be a showdown over the suburbs, as new census data showed rapid growth around some of the nation's largest cities and shrinking population in many rural counties.

From Texas to Florida, some of the biggest gains reported Thursday came in states where Republicans will control the redistricting process, but often in and around cities where Democrats have been faring well in recent elections.

The new detailed population data from the 2020 census will serve as the building block to redraw 429 U.S. House districts in 44 states and 7,383 state legislative districts across the U.S. The official goal is to ensure each district has roughly the same number of people.

But many Republicans and Democrats also will be trying to ensure the new lines divide and combine voters in ways that make it more likely for their party's candidates to win future elections, a process called gerrymandering. The parties' successes in that effort could determine whether taxes and spending grow, climate-change polices are approved or access to abortion is expanded or curtailed.

Republicans need to gain just five seats to take control of the U.S. House in the 2022 elections  a margin that could potentially be covered through artful redistricting. As they did after the 2010 census, Republicans will hold greater sway in more states over the redistricting process.

"The question is going to be how creative this new data will force Republicans to get in maintaining or expanding their advantages, given an increasingly diverse, increasingly urban population, said Joshua Blank, research director of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas.

Texas will be a major focal point in redistricting.

The Census Bureau said five of the 14 U.S. cities that grew by at least 100,000 people are located in Texas  Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Four of the nations 10 fastest growing cities also were Texas suburbs  Frisco and McKinney near Dallas; Conroe near Houston, and New Braunfels near San Antonio. All are prime battle grounds for redistricting.

By contrast, many Texas counties outside of its metropolitan areas saw populations decline, the Census Bureau said.

Republicans, who currently hold 23 of the 36 U.S. House seats in Texas, will have full control over the redistricting process, allowing them to decide where to draw the two new seats the state is gaining. But that could be complicated because Democrats generally have fared better in Texas suburbs in recent elections.

Though Republican Donald Trump carried Texas by more than 6 percentage points in the 2020 presidential election, he and Democrat Joe Biden essentially split voters who identified as suburbanites, according to The Associated Press' VoteCast. Trump won decisively among men and Biden had a wide advantage among women in the Texas suburbs.

Hispanic residents accounted for half the population growth in Texas. In the last election, about 6 in 10 Texas Hispanic voters chose Biden over Trump, according to VoteCast.

As the process of redistricting begins, the Legislature should be guided by the principle of fair representation for every Texan, said state Rep. Rafael Anchia, a Democratic member of the House redistricting committee and chair of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus.

Texas had been among several states that needed advance approval from the U.S. Justice Department for its redistricting plans because of a history of racial discrimination. But the U.S. Supreme Court overturned that requirement in 2013 and, in a separate ruling in 2019, said it would not get involved in disputes over alleged political gerrymandering, leaving that to state courts to decide. Lawsuits are expected to challenge redistricting maps in many states.

The GOP will control redistricting in 20 states accounting for 187 U.S. House seats, including the growing states of Texas, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, where the governor is a Democrat, but the legislature has complete control of drawing new electoral lines.

Courts ordered multiple changes to the pro-Republican maps drawn in North Carolina after the 2010 census. Lawmakers on Thursday voted not to use election or racial data in redistricting. State Rep. Destin Hall, a Republican leading the House Redistricting Committee, said he is committed to making significant and reasonable efforts to attempt to limit the partisan consideration.

Democrats will control redistricting in just eight states accounting for 75 seats, including New York and Illinois, where the loss of a seat in each gives them a chance to squeeze out Republican incumbents.

In 16 other states accounting for 167 U.S. House seats, districts will be drawn either by independent commissions or by politically split politicians with legislative chambers led by one party and governors of another. Six states have just one U.S. House seat, so there are no district lines to be drawn.

Outside of Texas, some of the largest growth occurred in Arizona's chief city of Phoenix, including a nearly 80% population increase in its suburb of Buckeye. But Arizona's voting districts are drawn by an independent commission, making it more difficult for Republican or Democratic officials to gain an edge in redistricting.

Census data also showed large growth in Seattle and Los Angeles and some of their suburbs. Other cities gaining at least 100,000 people included Charlotte, North Carolina; Columbus, Ohio; Denver; Jacksonville, Florida; New York; and Oklahoma City. The suburbs of Salt Lake City and Boise, Idaho, also ranked high in growth rates.

Simply because Democrats may be gaining strength in suburbs doesnt mean maps drawn by Republicans will reflect that. The party in control can divide areas of strength for the opposition, said Republican pollster David Winston.

When youre talking about redistricting, its different than looking at a state as a whole, said Winston, a longtime adviser to U.S. House Republican leadership.

The fastest-growing U.S. metropolitan area was The Villages in central Florida, which grew 39% from about 93,000 people to about 130,000. The largest retirement community in the nation is dominated by Republican voters and is a must-stop for GOP candidates. Though the Florida Constitution prohibits drawing districts to favor a political party, Republicans leaders may nonetheless try to take advantage of the new population figures. Because of its growth, Florida is gaining a U.S. House seat, giving lawmakers more leeway in line-drawing.

After the 2010 census, Republicans who controlled redistricting in far more states than Democrats drew maps that gave them a greater political advantage in more states than either party had in the past 50 years, according to a new AP analysis.

But Republicans won't hold as much power as they did last time in some key states. Republican-led legislatures will be paired with Democratic governors in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which both had full GOP control after the 2010 census. In Michigan, a voter-approved citizens commission will handle redistricting instead of lawmakers and the governor. And in Ohio, voter-approved redistricting reforms will require majority Republicans to gain the support of minority Democrats for the new districts to last a full decade.

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David A. Lieb reported from Jefferson City, Missouri, and Acacia Coronado reported from Austin, Texas. Associated Press writers Bryan Anderson in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Thomas Beaumont in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report.
CHICAGO (AP)  Illinois grew more diverse, multiracial and urban over the past decade, just like the nation overall, according to data released Thursday from the 2020 census.

The data will have big implications as Democrats  who control the once-in-a-decade redistricting process in Illinois  use it to redraw congressional boundaries ahead of the 2022 election.

Illinois is one of three states to lose population between 2010 and 2020, falling from 12,830,632 people to 12,812,508, and will lose a House seat when the new district maps are drawn. Democrats will look to eliminate a district currently held by a Republican in central or southern Illinois, where population loss occurred, and make some districts in the northern part of the state friendlier to Democratic candidates.

Here's a look at some of the Census Bureau findings:

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INCREASING DIVERSITY

Illinois' non-Hispanic white population fell 14.3% between 2010 and 2020, mirroring a national decrease, though white people remain the most prevalant racial or ethnic group in the state and the U.S.

Overall, 58.3% of Illinois' population is white alone, 13.9% is Black alone, 18.2% is Hispanic or Latino and 5.8% is Asian. The percent of residents who are two or more races and those who are white in combination with another race both roughly tripled.

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BIGGEST LOSS

The county with the largest population loss in the U.S. was in the far southern tip of Illinois, where Alexander County lost over one-third of its residents over the past decade.

Anchored by Cairo, Illinois, which borders Kentucky and Missouri where the Mississippi and Ohio rivers meet, the rural county has been losing residents for decades. The Department of Housing and Urban Developments 2017 closing of dilapidated public housing complexes further fueled the loss, forcing some 200 families to relocate.

The county lost 36.4% of its population between 2010 and 2020, dropping from 8,238 people to 5,240, according to the census.

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URBAN GROWTH

Illinois saw modest population growth in metro areas like Chicago and its suburbs, the communities east of St. Louis and the Champaign-Urbana area. Rural areas saw population losses.

Nationwide, the population of metro areas grew by 9% from 2010 to 2020. That meant 86% of the U.S. population was living in metro areas in 2020.

But not all metro areas are growing. The Danville, Illinois, area was among 72 metro areas that lost population between the 2010 and 2020 census. The area just west of the Illinois/Indiana border saw the third-largest percentage decline of those 72, losing 12.5% of its population, according to the Census Bureau.

Kendall County, located about 50 miles southwest of Chicago and home to communities including Oswego and Yorkville, was Illinois fastest-growing county, growing nearly 15%.

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CHICAGO HOLDS AT THIRD

Chicago remains the nations third-largest city, with 2,746,388 residents  an increase of 1.9% over the past decade. Thats a reversal of the previous decade, when the city saw a nearly 7% decline in population. The number of Black, non-Hispanic residents fell by 9.71%, or a loss of 84,735 people, while the number and proportion of Hispanic residents grew.

The city's population in 2020 was 31.4% white, non-Hispanic, 29.8% Hispanic and 28.7% Black, down from 32.4% in 2010. Another nearly 7% is Asian.

The two largest U.S. cities remain New York and Los Angeles. Fast-growing Houston, which grew by almost 10% over the past decade, is closing in on Chicago with 2,304,580 residents.

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Lynda M. Gonzalez /Staff Photographer /Lynda M. Gonzalez /Staff Photographer

Texas Democrats are criticizing Gov. Greg Abbott and his response to local governments and school districts that are defying his executive order banning face mask mandates.

In a news release on August 11, Abbott announced any school district, public university, or local government official that decides to go against his order will be taken to court. He notes the Texas Disaster Act states that the governor has the power to guide the state through emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission sent a letter to two popular Austin restaurants, Laundrette and Fresas, asking to stop requiring proof of vaccination or risk having their alcohol permits revoked. TABC cited Section 14 of Senate Bill 968, which states that businesses that do not comply could lose licenses and access to state funding.

A TABC spokesperson said in an email the restaurants ownership group  which includes chef and San Antonio native Rene Ortiz  was not aware of the new law and immediately took steps to comply. Both restaurants posted on Instagram that they would no longer require proof of vaccination after TABC notified them, but the restaurants will still require masks for indoor dining when customers are not seated.

TABC posted a reminder on its website Thursday about prohibiting proof of vaccination from customers.

"Our goal is not to pull anyone's permits and it hasn't come to that yet," says TABC spokesperson Chris Porter. "Our goal is going to be to educate and inform business owners across the state to make sure they're aware of what is required."

But what is required? What can businesses do and not do to protect its employees and customer from the spread of COVID-19?

What about when it comes to concert venues, which may have TABC permits to sell alcohol?

On Wednesday, folk rock artist (most definitely not country) Jason Isbell canceled his show at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in Houston, tweeting that venue would not comply with his safety protocols requiring proof of vaccination or COVID-19 test results.

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion did tweet out a statement, shared by Houston FOX 26 morning anchor and the venue CEO's daughter Sally MacDonald, that the venue just didn't have enough time to adapt to Isbell's protocols, a claim he says is "false."

It's clear that businesses can face repercussions for requiring proof of vaccinations for service, and TABC's Porter says that can apply to venues and businesses that have permits to sell alcohol.

He says businesses can still require customers to mask up, enforce social distancing protocols and stress "good health habits." When it comes to other protocols like requiring COVID-19 test results or temperature checks at the door, Porter wasn't sure from TABC standpoint.

Texas Department of State Health Services spokesperson Chris Van Duesen says he is not aware of anything that would prevent COVID-19 test results or temperature checks at the door, but adds that DSHS didn't implement or enforce any restrictions on safety protocols.

Though venues could still operate sans TABC permit, most rely on alcohol sales to succeed. No one wants to imagine a country show without a Lone Star.

Local business attorney Kelli Cubeta, partner and founder of Cubeta Law Group, says privately-owned businesses have maintained for a longtime the right to refuse service to anyone.

"Where it starts getting a little hairy is whenever you have what people believe are almost like constitutional rights," Cubeta says.

Cubeta is digging into what businesses can do in regards to the recent state law and the case with TABC pulling permits from businesses, but she believes that businesses are going to start testing the legal waters moving forward. Especially in light of San Antonio receiving its temporary restraining, which will be challenged by the state Monday.

Businesses her law firm have talked to, Cubeta says, are trying not to be more restrictive than they have to, but are worried about their employees.

"I can tell you, most business owners are so desperate to stay alive," Cubeta says."But I think it's going to have to keep getting tested in the court, which is unfortunate, because that's not a good use of taxpayer money  litigating policies."
Bob Owen /San Antonio Express-News

In a news briefing on Thursday, White House COVID-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients announced the two states alone make up nearly 40 percent of new hospitalizations across the country in the past week. He also states Florida has had more COVID-19 cases than all 30 states with the lowest case rates combined.

Previously, on August 2, Zients sharedTexas and Florida accounted for a third of the new COVID-19 cases reported in the United States.
An Andrews man was awarded $5.5 million on July 27 after he filed a civil suit against La Fogata Mexican Grill, claiming the restaurant and bar was negligent when they overserved him alcohol, which he alleges later caused him to be injured in an altercation with another customer. The restaurant has no relation to San Antonios La Fogata Mexican Cuisine.

Daniel Rawls filed a lawsuit through his attorney, Odessa-based Lane Haygood, on May 17 regarding an incident at the 708 E. Broadway St. restaurant (in Andrews) that occurred in May of 2019, according to court records.

Rawls was awarded a total of $5.5 million for five claims, including premises liability, negligence and damages arising from foreseeable criminal conduct. The Andrews County 109th District Court ruled in Rawls favor in a default judgment, meaning the owner of La Fogata did not respond to the suit or attend the hearing. The court did not rule on whether Rawls claims were true.

After drinking at La Fogata on May 21, 2019, Rawls was in an altercation with another customer, Robert Henrickson, in the parking lot of the restaurant, according to a copy of the lawsuit. Rawls alleges he sustained a head injury during the argument with Henrickson, who had also been drinking heavily.

The lawsuit states La Fogata, its owner Lourdes Galindo and an unknown bartender are responsible for the injury because they allowed the two men to drink excessively and leave the restaurant together. The restaurant was also negligent by not calling an ambulance after Rawls was injured, according to the suit.

The bartender, identified in the suit as John and/or Jane Doe, was not adequately trained by Galindo to detect when patrons had been overserved, according to the suit. Rawls also alleges that Galindo failed to ensure the parking lot didnt include obstacles that would pose a tripping or falling hazard to intoxicated patrons.

Rawls sustained a serious and debilitating head injury after he was assaulted by Henrickson and fell over an uneven parking lot, according to the suit.

La Fogata has 30 days to file a notice of appeal if they intend to seek a new trial, according to the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.

Rawls allegedly has a history of excessive drinking. Andrews jail records show he was arrested twice, in February 2019 and May of this year, on charges of public intoxication.
Yves here. I imagine this post will frustrate quite a few readers, since its yet another Band-Aid over gangrene response to climate change. If the US is going to construct new infrastructure (which has carbon and natural resource costs given that any new construction will wind up using fossil fuels to haul in materials and equipment), it should be weighing the costs of policies to foster withdrawal from exposed coastal communities versus throwing more energy and supplies at them.

However, this article also highlights a thorny issue: a lot of industrial production is also close to the coast, such as oil refineries and chemical plants near New Orleans. Having them flooded is an environmental train wreck. Yet it bizarrely brushes aside the idea of forcing companies either to invest more in disaster preparation or else forcing them to shutter and clean up their plants.

Having said that, the plan also includes what amounts to overdue disaster relief for Puerto Rico.

By Tom Conway, the international president of the United Steelworkers Union (USW). Produced by the Independent Media Institute.

After Hurricane Harvey swamped Texas, Chad Sullivan spent five straight days rescuing flood victims from their attics and rooftops and rushing sick, elderly residents, some long overdue for dialysis, to an overwhelmed hospital.

The volunteer firefighter still chokes up at the memory of navigating a personnel carrier through streets that Harvey turned into a debris-filled lake, pulling the stranded and sodden aboard while fielding calls the 911 center relayed to him from terror-stricken residents still waiting for help.

It was call after call after call. They didnt know what to do, said Sullivan, a unit president with United Steelworkers (USW) Local 227 who works at the Albemarle specialty chemicals plant near Houston.

Four years after Harvey caused billions in damage and killed about 100, Sullivan knows exactly what the nation needs to do to avert future calamities like this: Commit to a national infrastructure program that strengthens coastal barriers and toughens Americas roads, bridges, utilities and buildings against the more frequent and stronger storms associated with climate change.

President Joe Bidens American Jobs Plan, now before Congress, not only calls for much-needed investments in transportation systems, utilities, schools and other facilities, but also makes the increased resilience of infrastructure a central part of the building program.

If the funds are allocated properly, this could go a long way, said Sullivan, a lieutenant in the Southeast Volunteer Fire Department, who fears what will happen if the nation fails to act now.

In addition to the death and destruction, hurricanes exact other tolls. They close schools and universities, pose environmental hazards and halt the operations of factories, triggering disruptions that ripple across the economy.

And the storms keep coming. Last years season produced about 30 named storms, including Hurricanes Hannaand Laura, which struck parts of Texas.

More resilient infrastructure means measures like stronger home and school construction, relocation of utility lines underground to protect them from wind and water damage, increased use of microgrids to ensure power stays on in some areas even if it goes out in others, and building coastal barrier systems to deflect the storm surges that accompany hurricanes.

Sullivan also cited the need for an expanded highway network to speed up the evacuation of residents during weather emergencies and better drainage systems, especially in unincorporated areas like his 5-square-mile community just outside of Houston.

Increased residential development since Harvey has only increased the risk of damage and death from future hurricanes. Yet his community has little in the way of infrastructure or government services.

We dont even have city building inspectors, said Sullivan, whose department rescued about 2,500 residents after Harvey, many in personnel carriers it previously acquired from the National Guard.

The hundreds of chemical plants, several oil refineries and thousands of storage tanks concentrated along the Gulf Coast compound the threats that hurricanes pose to residents, local communities and the national economy. These facilities produce much of the nations jet fuel and gasoline, plus chemicals for numerous other products the country uses every day.

Many of these sites have zero protection against storm surge, even though flooding could lead to explosions, fires or chemical releases that claim more lives and divert first responders from other hurricane-related duties. These grim scenarios haunt firefighters like Sullivan throughout the storm season.

While Sullivan points out that chemical companies need to take greater responsibility for their own facilitiesby upgrading water-pumping equipment, for examplehe sees a national infrastructure program as a historic opportunity to make the comprehensive improvements needed to avert future weather disasters.

That means not only construction of storm barriers to protect plants and storage tanks but also upgrades to transmission pipelines that could suffer damage, with catastrophic consequences, during extreme weather.

Stronger infrastructure also would spare millions of families the heartache of loss and the misery of rebuilding. In 2017, for example, Hurricane Maria killed about 3,000 people in Puerto Rico, knocked out power to the whole island and reduced entire communities to rubble.

Abandoned by the previous presidential administration, residents relied on donations of water, clothing and other items just to survive, recalled Mayra Rivera, president of USW Local 8198, which represents municipal workers in Ponce.

Four years later, Rivera remains grateful for the help of her union brothers and sisters. But the island continues its slow recovery, with many residents still struggling to clean up and rebuild homes that have blue tarps covering holes in their roofs.

When you fly to Puerto Rico, from the air, you see a lot of blue tarps, explained Rivera, who took special training on flood cleanup from the USWs Tony Mazzocchi Center for Health, Safety, and Environmental Education and now teaches others how to guard against mold and other flood hazards.

Hurricanes arent the only threat. Over the past two years, an unusually large number of earthquakes leveled more homes and businesses while also destroying or damaging many of the poorly constructed schools in her part of the island.

We need a lot of funds to recover and improve our infrastructure in Puerto Rico, observed Rivera, citing the need not just for stronger roads and bridges but for a resilient power grid, sturdily built schools and assistance to weary homeowners. Only the federal government has the resources to accomplish this work, she added, noting severe financial problems limit the projects the island can fund itself.

The sweeping infrastructure upgrades in the American Jobs Plan will modernize the nation and supercharge the economy while averting needless deaths and untold anguish.

I dont subscribe to the idea that infrastructure is just bridges and roads, said Sullivan, who favors Bidens go-big approach. This is our chance, right? We need to take it.
WCS board member resigns as family plans move to Virginia

Director since 2018 is married to state's former top vaccine official
(Natural News) Health officials have insisted that almost all patients who caught the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) were unvaccinated. Their claim that 99.5 percent of hospitalized COVID-19 patients were unvaccinated was used to promote inoculation. However, newly released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed this was not the case.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky admitted that the 99.5 percent claim was based on faulty data. During an Aug. 5 press briefing, she said that the false percentage was derived from analyses in several state states from January [2021] through June [2021]. Walensky added that the data did not reflect the data [CDC has] now from the delta variant.

Based on Walenskys statement, the CDC picked states and the timeframe that best suited its desired clinical outcomes. It then interpreted the data to arrive at numbers in support of COVID-19 inoculation. However, actual CDC data showed that the number of vaccinated people who died of COVID-19 in May 2021 while hospitalized was 15 percent higher.

Despite the revelation, Walensky doubled down on the need for vaccination against the delta variant. I do want to reiterate, though, that based on the data were seeing universally  our [COVID-19] hospitalizations  and deaths, they are overwhelmingly unvaccinated people.

Other health officials agreed with the CDC directors call for increased inoculations, even though the data used was false. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci said: 99.5 percent of the deaths in the U.S. are among unvaccinated people, and 0.5 percent are among vaccinated people. If there ever was a statistic that would stimulate someone to get vaccinated, I think this one is it.

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy also called for increased COVID-19 vaccination efforts in light of the spread of the new delta variant. I am worried about what is to come because we are seeing increasing cases among the unvaccinated in particular. [If] you are vaccinated, you are very well protected against hospitalization and death. [Unfortunately,] that is not true if you are not vaccinated, he said.

Many COVID-19 patients in hospitals are actually VACCINATED

Claims by Walensky, Fauci and Murthy that unvaccinated individuals made up the majority of COVID-19 patients in hospitals were eventually proven false by reports from other countries. In fact, an Israeli doctor warned that a huge percentage of Israels hospitalized COVID-19 patients were inoculated.

Dr. Kobi Haviv told Channel 13 News that 85 to 90 percent of Israelis hospitalized for COVID-19 were vaccinated and that 95 percent of that group had the most severe symptoms. I understand that most of the patients are vaccinated, even severe patients, he said. Because of the sudden spike in COVID-19 cases, Haviv said more and more hospitals have opened COVID-19 wards. The increase in cases suggested that the vaccines effectiveness is waning, he added. (Related: 95% of severe patients in Israeli hospitals are vaccinated, warns doctor.)

The same issue was also observed in Singapore. According to a July 23 Reuters report, vaccinated Singaporeans made up 75 percent of new COVID-19 cases. The report came amid the Singaporean governments increased efforts to vaccinate citizens. Teo Yik Ying, dean of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at the National University of Singapore, said: As more and more people are vaccinated in Singapore, we will see more infections happening among vaccinated people.

However, the same Reuters report noted: While the data shows that vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe cases, it also underscores the risk that even those inoculated could be contagious, so that inoculation alone may not suffice to halt transmission.

According to risk communication expert Matthew Seeger of Detroits Wayne State University, public health experts over-emphasized the effectiveness of vaccines. A lack of communication about breakthrough infections coupled with the realization that the COVID-19 vaccines are not perfect may feel like a betrayal, he said. (Related: Public Health England: Virus levels the same in vaccinated people vs. those who arent.)

Seeger added that health officials had done a great job of telling the public that the COVID-19 shots were miracle vaccines. But he continued: We have probably fallen a little into the trap of over-reassurance.

CDC.news has more articles about the public health agencys push for COVID-19 vaccination.

Sources include:

HeadlineUSA.com

InformationLiberation.com 1

InfoWars.com

Reuters.com

InformationLiberation.com 2
(Natural News) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is lying once again about the alleged number of new Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in the state of Florida.

The private corporation posing as a federal agency inflated the Chinese Virus count in the Sunshine State by at least 50 percent, reports indicate, and was later forced to adjust its figures following outcry from Floridas state health department.

After the Florida Department of Health (FDH) took to Twitter to protest the CDCs made-up figures, the CDC announced that it was working with the FDH to come up with a more accurate number.

Wrong again, the FDH tweeted about the CDCs official covid numbers. The number of cases @CDCgov released for Florida today is incorrect. They combined MULTIPLE days into one. We anticipate CDC will correct the record.

Before the error was detected, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported the fake figures, claiming that there had been 28,317 new cases of Chinese Germs in Florida on a single Sunday. As it turns out, this number was pulled out of the CDCs behind to push the latest plandemic agenda.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the state has surpassed 20,000 for its 7-day average of new cases, a day after the federal agency misreported numbers given by the Florida Department of Health by combining data from the last three days into two, Fox News reported.

DeSantis says public school officials who defy his mask mandate ban will lose salaries

The CDC clearly opposes Floridas open for business policies, which prohibit mask mandates, vaccine passports, and other forms of Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) medical fascism. As a result, the CDC is trying to fudge the numbers to create mass hysteria.

It might work were it not for the diligent work of FDH and other groups that continue to set the record straight every time the CDC lies about the situation in Florida.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has been a hard-hitter when it comes to swatting down federal efforts to keep Florida locked down and masked unless everyone there gets fully vaccinated for the Fauci Flu.

The situation is becoming so inflamed that DeSantis has warned that any public school teachers who attempt to defy his mask mandate ban will have their salaries withheld until they agree to follow the law and honor medical freedom.

In a statement, DeSantis threatened to cut off funding in Broward County, where a proposed mask mandate would have defied his executive order prohibiting such a thing from being forced on students.

With respect to enforcing any financial consequences for noncompliance of state law regarding these rules and ultimately the rights of parents to make decisions about their childrens education and health care decisions, it would be the goal of the State Board of Education to narrowly tailor any financial consequences to the offense committed, the governors statement reads.

For example, the State Board of Education could move to withhold the salary of the district superintendent or school board members, as a narrowly tailored means to address the decision-makers who led to the violation of law.

If only more governors would follow DeSantis lead, me might see an end to all this nonsense once and for all. Any takers?

The only people still listening to the CDC these days are the types of people who wear masks in their own car  while they are alone, wrote one commenter at Zero Hedge about the insanity of it all.

You can see the streets / parks filled with sheep droppings (used masks), joked another.

The latest news about Chinese Virus plandemic hysteria can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) The United States Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) fatality rate hits its lowest level on record despite the fearmongering of the mainstream media regarding the spread of the post-vaccine delta variant.

All the data shows that the post-vaccine delta variant is more infectious, especially because it can be spread with the help of fully vaccinated individuals. (Related: Fully vaccinated Americans are SPREADING covids delta variant, health expert warns.)

This is supported by data from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering. Since July 5, cases per million have risen from 35 cases per million to over 350 cases per million.

But despite this, an investigation conducted by journalist Taylor Penley for The Western Journal shows that the fatality rate in the U.S. began declining sharply around July 15.

The data from Johns Hopkins shows that the fatality rate went from around 2.29 percent on July 15 to around 0.70 percent as of Tuesday, Aug. 10.

Its a sharp contrast to a few short months ago when the fatality rate in the U.S. reached 2.91 percent around March 2. And it begs us to ask why news of this decline isnt more widespread, wrote Penley.

Delta fatality rate difficult to figure out

Multiple sources point out that the data is inconclusive on whether or not the post-vaccine delta variant is deadlier.

Because the data is inconclusive, so-called public health experts instead like to point out that most of the COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are likely due to the delta variant. This conveniently ignores the fact that most current COVID-19 cases are because of the post-vaccine variant.

Since the latest projections suggest that more than 94 percent of current COVID-19 cases are due to [the delta variant]  we can be fairly confident that the overwhelming majority of deaths we are seeing are due to delta, said Dr. Francesca L. Beaudoin, interim chair of epidemiology at Brown University.

Steffanie Strathdee, Associate Dean of Global Health Sciences at the University of California, San Diegos Department of Medicine, explained why it is difficult for researchers to calculate the post-vaccine delta variants death rate.

She said the U.S. is falling short of surveillance. It is understood that a vast majority of cases currently active in the country are from the delta variant, but a lack of exact numbers makes it difficult to understand its death rate.

If we only test people who are sick, those who have mild symptoms or who are asymptomatic dont end up in the denominator, she said.

Complicating matters further is the fact that analysts are not factoring in people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This means that the death rates for fully vaccinated individuals are not even considered, let alone compared to the death rates for unvaccinated people.

Stephen Kimmel, chair of the University of Floridas Department of Epidemiology, explained that other factors also have to be taken into account.

Fatality rates will also differ based on a persons underlying risk factors, he said. They will be much higher in the elderly and those with underlying risk factors and lower in young healthy individuals.

Mainstream media continues delta variant fearmongering

But this lack of conclusive data regarding the delta variants supposed deadliness has not stopped mainstream media outlets from attempting to frame it as such.

National Geographic recently headlined an article: Why is delta more infectious and deadly? New research holds answers. CNN anchor Jim Acosta mockingly called the variant the DeSantis variant, and warned Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis about all of the funerals in the days to come.

The establishment medias fixation remains on the brooding, powerful presence of this variant thats [supposedly] taking the country  and the world  by storm, wrote Penley. She further speculated that the fearmongering regarding the delta variant is all about keeping the population controlled. She wrote:

We can speculate why theyre avoiding reporting any progress: Governments that have used the coronavirus as an excuse to control the population could be loath to allow perceptions of the situation to improve too much; Big Tech and the establishment media, which have been abetting those governments from the beginning, have an incentive to downplay it.

Learn more about the attempts to overemphasize and fearmonger about the post-vaccine delta variant by reading the latest articles at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

WesternJournal.com

LiveScience.com

Newsweek.com
(Natural News) Many men and women have fought and lost their blood in the name of freedom and liberty. In 2021, mask and vaccine (and vaccine passport) mandates are a violation of said freedoms. Corruption in media, education and politics; censorship in all of the alike, is a gross example of the same. Cultural violations of harmony and respect, such as, political correctness, Black Lives Matter, ANTIFA, anti-Semetic or any type of radical supression or expression of speech, is a violation of freedom and liberty.

(Article by Ian Trottier republished from IanTrottier.Medium.com)

Cohesive living is what America has obtained for now almost 250 years of US Constitutional living. Great men and women like MLK, Jr, JFK, Rosa Parks, John Lennon, have taught us through their music, politics and religious stands that said Constitutional principles survive.

When a conventional group, a historical power, one that controls millions of peoples belief in God, their taxes and their tithes, is able to infiltrate a free society by controlling its economics, said societys livelihood becomes jeopardized. Such is the case for America in 2021. It indeed is on the door step of peril and destruction. The Covid19 pandemic is being used as a said tool. Not only to wipe-out freedoms of America but, wipe-out freedom on a global scale by means of an economic enslavement known as The Great Reset.

Therefore, I provide and express to you, various research from scholars and others of and for academic publication; that support my claim that the United States Federal Reserve DOES NOT represent the best interest of the Republic for which the Constitution stands and therefore, not governed by the Federation. A deeper look into the banking mechanics, is immediately suggested by you, reader.

Cross-examine and cross-check all and any of the following sources and please report inaccuracies.

I start with this phrase: All Roads Lead to Rome. There is good reason for this phrase and if you follow the money you will arrive at the same place.

To begin: outside of the work of Dr. Sutton, I first direct readers to the following researchers.

Eric Jon Phelps. His book: Vatican Assassins, 2014. It paints and compiles a very defining 500 year history of the Society of Jesus, their stealth infiltration of global governments and most importantly, their hidden modern take-over of the UK and US financial systems by means of the Rothschild banking industry. James McBride and Ed Rychkun. Their book: The Divine Province  Birthing New Earth, 2013. It is the most comprehensive literature that lists numerically and chronologically the build-up of what has brought the stealth invasion and infiltration of communism to our USA shores. Historically it paints this picture on a very simple canvas for reader to understand.

Now, to the literature supporting the below information of Dr. Antony Sutton. Sutton delivered a speech in 1972 in Miami Beach for which he was later reprimanded by Palo Alto. He walked away from is fellowship at the Stanford Hoover Institute due to this censorship. My personal link (experience) to reading Sutton was from investigating Tetraethyl as a listed ingredient in Dibrom. A pesticide used in Miami Beach in 2016 to combat the ZIKA virus. bit.ly/ZIKAMiamiBeach

Key to all this is the Uganda Virus Research Institute (Africa), funded by the Rockefeller Foundation in 1936  then known as the Yellow Fever Research Institute: Link. Find more information on coronavirus research through the decades (such as ZIKA), HIV research (via Dr. Judy Mikovitz) and Anthony Faucis work with Covid19. As a detour, consider this chronological listing of viral outbreaks compiled by the African based group, The Balanta: LINK

Follow the money and find the connection to the coming global digital currency. What should most alarm every American citizen this very second, in so much as they should be demanding an answer at every City Hall, every State Capital, every Federal Reserve Bank building and every government building across this land is: WHEN will this Federal debt be paid off? And who is it owed to? And if that statement resonates with you, the reader, I ask you to read the following article and immediately pass forward: link

Only if and until, you (reader) realize there is something drastically wrong with America and her banking system, you will simply consider literature and voices like mine and these to be theory. I tell you NOW, there is NO THEORY to the blatant and designed destruction of the United States. America is UNDER ATTACK. The USA is being DISMANTLED. This is a blatant CONSPIRACY happening right in front of your eyes! You will either relinquish your freedoms and liberties in the guise of being saved (from a mostly non-threatening virus, in 2021) or you will awaken your senses, alert your neighbor, defend and fight for them and demand your country that is your freedom, justice and liberty for you an all.

Read more at: IanTrottier.Medium.com and Globalism.news
(Natural News) An Indiana doctor made a speech in front of a school board, railing against the propaganda being spread to justify Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) regulations involving masks and vaccines.

Dr. Daniel Dan Stock, a licensed primary care physician and family medicine physician specializing in immunology and inflammation regulation, made his speech during a school board meeting in Mount Vernon, Indiana. The school board called for an emergency meeting on Friday, Aug. 6. to discuss enacting COVID-19 restrictions for the schools it handles. (Related: Schoolchildren are being LURED into getting coronavirus vaccines.)

Around 20 parents were in attendance, nine of whom spoke, including Stock. Before he began his speech, he provided the school board with a flash drive containing multiple studies about COVID-19.

Everything being recommended by the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and the state board of health is actually contrary to all the rules of science, he said. We still have a problem because were doing things that are not useful.

Regarding mask mandates, Stock first explained how the coronavirus worked. He said the virus is spread by aerosol particles that are small enough to go through masks. He said this is supported by at least three studies that were sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The CDC and NIH have chosen to ignore the very science that they paid to have done, said Stock.

Because [COVID-19] cannot be filtered out and they have animal reservoirs  no one can make this virus go away, he added. No one can make this virus go away. The CDC has managed to convince everybody that we can handle this like we did smallpox, where we could make a virus go away.

That will not happen with this any more than it will with influenza, the common cold, respiratory syncytial virus, adenoviral respiratory syndromes or anything else that has animal reservoirs.

Watch Dr. Dan Stocks speech at the Mount Vernon, Indiana school board meeting here:

Stock explains how COVID-19 vaccines hurt more than help

Stock also spent his time explaining to the school board how the COVID-19 vaccines are hurting more than they are helping.

He explained that the COVID-19 vaccines are causing outbreaks among the fully vaccinated of a respiratory virus in the middle of summer. He explained that other respiratory viruses do not do that.

He said that the COVID-19 vaccines actually cause the immune system to fight the virus wrong. This reaction allows the virus to get worse than it would have been had the vaccinated individual simply gotten a regular COVID-19 infection.

You should also know that no vaccine, even the ones I support and would give to myself and my children, ever stops infection, said Stock. He cited a case in 2014 when several people who were vaccinated against the mumps spread the disease to multiple unvaccinated people.

Therefore, there is no reason for treating any person vaccinated any differently than any person unvaccinated.

This last statement was an attack on any potential vaccine mandate that may come from the school board. He pointed out that mandating the experimental and side effect-riddled COVID-19 vaccines is not necessary when there are simple and very effective remedies for the virus.

Stock said he had treated over 15 patients positive for COVID-19 by giving them vitamin D, ivermectin and zinc.

He also referenced several studies that prove that people who have healthy levels of vitamin D are unlikely to succumb to COVID-19.

At the end of his speech, Stock said he did not blame the school board for following the recommendations of the CDC and the NIH because they believed it was reasonable to listen to public health authorities on matters related to COVID-19.

But I would encourage that instead you listen to the people out here in this audience and read whats on that data drive, said Stock, urging the school board members to do their own research.

Stock said he was willing to testify in court regarding his recommendations if required.

The doctors speech was met with applause, and the video of his speech has spread on various social media platforms.

The Mount Vernon school board has agreed to take into account the testimonies and feedback from Stock and the other parents and will meet again on Aug. 16 to finalize its plans for the school district.

Learn more about the people like Stock who are raising their voices regarding how people can actually deal with the coronavirus by reading the latest articles at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

Heavy.com
(Natural News) Scientists advising European governments are starting to realize that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is likely to be around for a very long time and that mass vaccinations are not going to eradicate it. They are now recommending that the virus be allowed to circulate throughout the population, with precautions taken for vulnerable individuals.

As part of this, British experts have called for an end to mass testing.

We dont have anything that will stop transmission, so I think we are in a situation where herd immunity is not a possibility and I suspect the virus will throw up a new variant that is even better at infecting vaccinated individuals, Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, told a parliamentary panel.

Pollard argued that if mass testing was not stopped, the UK could be in a situation of continually vaccinating the population. He said that only those with symptoms should be tested while others should go about their daily lives.

Infectious disease expert Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at University of East Anglia, told the panel that vaccination would not bring about herd immunity. He said it was time to stop concentrating on supposed cases rather than actual infections.

We need to start moving away from just reporting infections or just reporting positive cases admitted to hospital, to actually start reporting the number of people who are ill because of COVID, said Hunter, who also advises the World Health Organization (WHO) on the virus. Otherwise we are going to be frightening ourselves with very high numbers that actually dont translate into disease burden.

According to recent reports, analysis by Public Health England has shown that vaccinated and unvaccinated people have a similar viral load when they catch the virus and likely have the same odds of transmitting it to others.

U.K. scientists arent the only ones arriving at these conclusions. Icelands state epidemiologist voiced similar sentiments on Aug. 8. Local paper reported Visir that a record number of people [in Iceland] have been diagnosed infected in recent weeks, despite the fact that the majority of the population has been vaccinated. (Related: Coronavirus spreading among the vaccinated in highly vaccinated countries.)

We really cannot do anything else but allow the virus to take its course in order for the population to achieve herd immunity, said Porolfur Gudnason, chief epidemiologist of Icelands Directorate of Health. We need to try to vaccinate and better protect those who are vulnerable, but let us tolerate the infection. It is not a priority now to vaccinate everyone with the third dose.

Experts have been trying to stop vaccinations for the past several months

Experts were giving similar recommendations in the past several months only to be ignored and ridiculed.

In April, former Pfizer Vice President Dr. Michael Yeadon implored those in the medical profession to stop giving COVID-19 vaccines to people who are not at risk of dying from the virus.

Just stop giving them the vaccine. People are dying, Yeadon said. He cited the cases of blood clots in the brain associated with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Germany where the victims were mostly women under the age of 60. Those are women who would not have died of the virus. Theyre being killed by the vaccine, said Yeadon, who has extensive experience as an allergy and respiratory researcher.

In March, vaccine expert Dr. Geert Vanden Bossche urged governments to stop vaccination drives. He said in an open letter that vaccinations will fuel the spread of new dangerous variants of the virus.

I am not against vaccination. On the contrary, I can assure you that each of the current vaccines has been designed, developed and manufactured by brilliant and competent scientists, wrote Dr. Vanden Bossche, a seasoned vaccine developer who coordinated the Ebola vaccine program at the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI).

However, this type of prophylactic vaccines is completely inappropriate, and even highly dangerous, when used in mass vaccination campaigns during a viral pandemic,

A prophylactic or preventative vaccine involves introducing antigens into a persons body. The goal is that the individuals immune system will create antibodies for those antigens and become immune to the associated illness.

Mass vaccination during pandemic makes virus more infectious

Vanden Bossche said the ongoing mass vaccination drives are likely to further enhance adaptive immune escape as none of the current vaccines will prevent replication or transmission of viral variants. (Related: Fully vaccinated Americans are SPREADING covids delta variant, health expert warns.)

Immune escape is a term used to describe when the host  in this case humans  is no longer able to recognize and counter a pathogen such as a relevant variant or mutant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

The more we use these vaccines for immunizing people in the midst of a pandemic, the more infectious the virus will become, Vanden Bossche wrote. With increasing infectiousness comes an increased likelihood of viral resistance to the vaccines.

Under this scenario, manufacturers will be forced to refine or improve the vaccines, which will then increase the selection pressure. Selection pressure is a term used to describe the process that helps an organism or pathogen to evolve in ways that make it better adapted to its changing environment. An antibiotic resistance, which is caused by overuse of antibiotic drugs, is a good example of selection pressure.

The virus will effectively outsmart the highly specific antigen-based vaccines that are being used and tweaked.

Vanden Bossche said the multiple emerging, much more infectious viral variants are already examples of immune escape from our innate immunity, and most likely created by the government interventions themselves  lockdowns and mask mandates.

Our innate immune system protects us from a multitude of pathogens, thereby preventing these pathogens from causing disease. Vanden Bossche noted that suppression of innate immunity, especially in the younger age groups, can become very problematic. (Related: Lockdowns BACKFIRE: Areas with most aggressive covid lockdowns saw highest infection numbers.)

There can be no doubt that lack of exposure due to stringent containment measures implemented as of the beginning of the pandemic has not been beneficial to keeping peoples innate immune system well trained, he wrote.

As the innate immune system cannot remember the pathogens it encountered  innate immunity has no so-called immunological memory  we can only continue to rely on it provided we keep it trained well enough.

By keeping the innate immune system trained, we can much more easily resist germs which have real pathogenic potential. It has, for example, been reported and scientifically proven that exposure to other, quite harmless coronaviruses causing a common cold can provide protection, although short-lived, against COVID-19 and its loyal henchmen (i.e., the more infectious variants), wrote Vanden Bossche.

Training is achieved by regular exposure to a myriad of environmental agents, including pathogens. Thus, lockdowns and mask mandates are possibly stunting the training of our innate immune system.

Follow Immunization.news for more news related to coronavirus vaccines and mass vaccinations.

Sources include:

TheNewAmerican.com

Dryburgh.com

WakingTimes.com
(Natural News) More companies are announcing their plans to coerce employees to get the experimental Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines under threat of unemployment.

The latest large entities to join this growing list of corporations are McDonalds and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Theyre following in the footsteps of major companies like Walmart, Uber, Google and Facebook that had previously announced their own vaccine mandates. (Related: More companies forcing employees to take experimental COVID-19 vaccines now linked to over 12,000 deaths in the USA.)

New York Stock Exchange to only allow fully vaccinated traders in building

On Wednesday, Aug. 11, the NYSE announced it would require traders to be fully vaccinated to access the stock exchanges historic 16,000 square-foot trading floor.

NYSE Chief Operations Officer Michael Blaugrund said that all traders and other personnel who work on the trading floor must be fully vaccinated by Sept. 13. Exemptions will be granted for employees with medical or religious concerns to vaccinations.

But even if a trader or an NYSE employee qualifies for the exemptions, they have to abide by certain regulations before being allowed to enter the trading floor.

Firstly, the NYSE has imposed a mask mandate for all unvaccinated traders and employees. Second, they must present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours before their entry. This means they have to take a COVID-19 test at least three times a week.

Blaugrund said the NYSE will expand its on-site random COVID-19 testing. But this free testing service is only available for fully vaccinated traders and NYSE employees.

Unvaccinated traders and employees who qualify for exemptions have to source and pay for their own testing off-site.

McDonalds pushes back return to offices to give corporate employees time to get vaccinated

The McDonalds Corporation also announced its vaccine mandate on Wednesday.

The multinational fast-food chain told its U.S.-based corporate office workers to be fully vaccinated by Sept. 27 or risk being fired. Exemptions will be granted for people with medical or religious reasons to not get the vaccines.

McDonalds is also pushing back the reopening date of its offices from Sept. 7 to Oct. 11. This is to give its corporate workforce more time to get the dangerous vaccines and to build up their so-called immunity to the virus.

Executive Vice President and Global Chief People Officer Heidi Capozzi wrote in an internal memo that the company enacted its vaccine mandate because of requests from its own workforce.

Since the Town Hall, weve heard from many of you that you would feel more comfortable returning to the office if you had more certainty your colleagues were vaccinated, she wrote.

We are also being asked by state and local governments to require vaccinations for corporate employees because getting more of the population vaccinated reduces our own chances of being infected and contributes to community protection, she added. Capozzi wrongfully believes that the COVID-19 vaccines offer protection and do not contribute to the spread of the virus.

McDonalds vaccine mandate does not apply to restaurant-level workers, whether the store is corporate-owned or franchised. Many franchise owners have been struggling to find enough workers who are willing to staff their locations. These employers believe instituting vaccine mandates could alienate many potential applicants or cause some existing employees to quit.

The corporate offices currently require face masks to be worn at all times, regardless of an employees vaccination status. That said Capozzi stated that, once everybody is fully vaccinated, wearing masks may become optional in the future.

Learn more about the private sectors push to mandate the COVID-19 vaccines by reading the latest articles at Vaccines.news.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

WSJ.com

Bloomberg.com

CNBC.com
Northwest has experienced what is now a summer of high-temperature misery, another intense heat wave will continue in the region and states are making efforts to get ready.

On Tuesday, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown made an announcement, declaring a state of emergency before the forthcoming heat. Kate Brown also urged residents to take bold steps and come up with a game plan so as to keep cool.

Measures like going to one among the dozens of cooling centers across the state, preparing hydration, and visiting family and friends should be taken.

Heat Wave

This summer, the northwestern US has experienced an unusual, fatal heat wave and season of disastrous fire activity. While most residents are hoping for a long period of relief, AccuWeather forecasters warn that more sad news is heading to the region.

An alteration in the general weather pattern will give way for the temperatures to increase abruptly across the northwestern United States and largely reduce possibilities for rainfall that is needed.

Brandon Buckingham, an AccuWeather Meteorologist said: "Yet another stretch of record-challenging high temperatures is in store for some across the Northwest this week as an expansive dome of high pressure settles over the region."

Also Read: How to Stay Safe During a Heat Wave

Heat Watches and Warnings

On Tuesday, excessive heat watches and warnings became active across parts of Washington and Oregon, ready to continue through the week for some places.

There is a possibility that Seattle will be under an excessive heat warning till Saturday at about 7 p.m. PDT. For Portland, Oregon, an excessive heat warning has been issued and it will last until 10 p.m. Saturday.

It is predicted that on Thursday temperatures will peak at 104 in Portland, tying the former day by day record of last set in 1994. While highs are predicted to fall short of the century mark in Seattle, a temperature of 96 is forecast on Friday. And this temperature would peak the former daily record of 92 from 2002.

In every part of the Northwest, temperatures are predicted to arrive at 15 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit above average into the end of this week, and this will make the already severe drought across the region worse, as per Jessica Storm, AccuWeather Meteorologist.

Exceptional Drought

Around 63 percent of the West as in general is experiencing extreme to exceptional drought as of early August. The most extreme kind of drought which the U.S. Drought Monitor set forth is the exceptional drought.

When the soil is very dry, as it presently is in much of the region, all of the energy from the sun starts heating the ground. This in turn usually makes temperatures to top out at levels that are greater than normal.

The normal high temperatures for the beginning to middle of August in the Northwest range from the upper 70s to low 80s for locations like Portland and Seattle, to middle 80s to low 90s for inland regions.

Related Article: Heat Wave: Masked Dangers of this Excessive Hot Weather

For more news, updates about heat waves and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
New research published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a publication of the American Society for Microbiology, states that marine bacteria found in the cold seas of the Canadian Arctic are capable of biodegrading oil and diesel fuel.

Coauthor Casey Hubert, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Geomicrobiology at the University of Calgary, said that genomic sequencing showed incredible potential for hydrocarbon bioremediation in bacteria lineages such as Paraperlucidibaca, Cycloclasticus, and Zhongshania.

According to the report, these "may be crucial participants in response to Arctic maritime oil disasters," according to the report.

Introducing Additional Nutrients

According to Dr. Hubert, "the study also demonstrated that adding nutrients might improve hydrocarbon biodegradation under these low-temperature conditions."

"These persistently frigid seas are witnessing more industrial activity connected to marine transport and offshore oil and gas sector activities," Dr. Hubert explained.

Sean Murphy, a student of Dr. Hubert's who grew up in the area, was the driving force behind the initiative.

Mr. Murphy, ERM Canada's Aquatic Scientist, had noted both the benefits offshore oil had brought to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, but had also been deeply troubled by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and had focused his master's research on the Labrador Sea to "help inform future oil spill mitigation strategies... at cold temperatures in the region."

Related Article: There Are 5 New Listeria Species That Can Help Improve Food Safety, Scientists Discover





Labrador Coast's Environmental Make-Up

The Labrador coast, where the study was conducted, is crucial for Indigenous peoples who rely on the ocean for sustenance. Unfortunately, there has been a paucity of bioremediation studies thus far north, unlike at lower latitudes.

"As climate change lengthens ice-free seasons and increases industrial activity in the Arctic, it is critical to understand how the Arctic marine microbiome will adapt if an oil or fuel spill occurs," Dr. Hubert stated. This is critical because "this region remains large and inaccessible, making oil spill emergency response complex and slow."

Replicating Oil Spill Cleanups

To replicate oil spill cleanup within bottles, the researchers used dirt from the first few centimeters of the bottom, artificial seawater, diesel or crude oil, and other nutritional additions in varying quantities.

The trials lasted many weeks and were conducted at 4C to simulate the temperature in the Labrador Sea. Dr. Hubert explained, "Our models revealed that naturally occurring oil-degrading bacteria in the water constitute nature's initial responses to an oil disaster."

American Society for Microbiology

The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) is one of the largest professional organizations dedicated to the life sciences, with 30,000 scientists and healthcare professionals. The aim of the American Society for Microbiology is to promote and develop microbial research.

ASM advances the microbial sciences through conferences, publications, certifications, training opportunities, and advocacy activities. Through training and resources, it improves laboratory capacity all around the world.

In addition, it connects scientists working in academia, industry, and clinical settings. ASM also encourages a better knowledge of microbial sciences across a diverse range of audiences.

Also Read: Deadly Virus Detected in Hawaiian Dolphin May Trigger Global Outbreak Amongst Marine Animals

For similar news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
A 24-year-old Russian woman, Yana Balobanova, who "stormed off" a forest wedding after a heated argument, died as she wandered. People believed she was brutally devoured alive by bears.

Authorities said, Balobanova, 24, left the wedding event and wandered the woods after an altercation with another visitor. The authorities added she was able to call 911 from the middle of the woods. Unfortunately, the local officials could not locate her.

Bear Scent Scared Off Trackers

Trackers were reportedly employing canines to sniff for the woman's smell, according to The Sun. When her smell collided with that of some brown bears, the dogs got scared and anxious. According to the news site, the search crew discovered many bear tracks in the vicinity.

The pungent odor drove the dogs away, leaving them nearly worthless in the hunt. The collection of prints led police to assume that Balobanova had been assaulted by the bears and perhaps devoured.

When the authorities confirmed the bears' presence, Yana Balobanova's situation was put in jeopardy.

Related Article: Grizzly Bear Stalks Man for Days, Until He Was Rescued by Coast Guard After Spotting SOS Sign





Search Operation

The search has been ongoing over the last month. "It is no longer conceivable to expect that the woman would be recovered alive," Wildlife Inspector Andrei Sakulin stated.

While the notion is unfortunate, the woman's position appears to be dire. In the vicinity, searchers discovered the tracks of a mother grizzly and her cubs. A mother bear, as everyone who knows anything about bears knows, can be pretty dangerous.

"If a person is unintentionally caught between a bear and her cubs, the predator can strike instantly and severely, without growls or warnings," Sakulin added.

Aggressive Bears

Male bears can also be violent at this time of year, according to the wildlife expert. But, overall, the search may provide no results. According to the article, if the lady had been assaulted by these predators, they might have hidden her body.

Furthermore, it's possible that the lady was just unable to survive in the woods on her own. Her father said she has never done anything like this before. "It was conceivable a bear grabbed her," her father stated.

Things don't appear to be going well while the media waits for news regarding the woman's disappearance. Aside from the fact that Balobanova was likely confronted by an angry mother bear, it's also probable that she didn't know how to prevent an assault.

What to do during bear encounters

According to a CNN repport, you should never flee from a bear encounter. However, in Balobanova's instance, if she got the chance to run, this was most likely her method of escape. Instead, the National Park Service recommends moving sideways gently.

It won't endanger the creature, and you'll be able to flee without stumbling. Bears will pursue fleeing animals since they hunt; therefore, escaping will not be the safest choice.

Despite what you may have seen in the movies, the piece also advised against climbing trees since bears of all types excel at it. The National Park Service added that most bears prefer to be alone and unbothered rather than attack.

Also Read: Grizzly Bear Dragged 65-Year-Old Woman Out of Tent, Mauled Her to Death in Montana

For more wildlife news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
In Alaska's Aleutian Islands, things are heating up. The archipelago protruding from the 49th state, which is part of the "ring of fire" where the Pacific tectonic plate meets several others, has four active volcanoes.

According to the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), a joint program of the US Geological Survey, the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, three of the volcanoes are erupting or spewing steam and ash, while the fourth has elevated surface temperatures.

Raising Danger Levels

According to Mark Thiessen of the Associated Press, scientists have raised the danger level for the Great Sitkin, Pavlof, and Semisopochnoi volcanoes to "orange," meaning that eruptions are ongoing. In addition, Cleveland is now marked as "yellow" due to signals of unrest. All four are on the Aleutian Islands' furthest reaches.

Related Activity: Following 8.2 Earthquake, Alaskan Volcano Under Watch for Possible 'Explosive Activity'



Pavlof Volcano

The most active volcano is Pavlof, which is located on the peninsula. A webcam placed on the summit of the 8,261-foot stratovolcano, which is typically covered in snow and ice, has recorded occasional low-level ash emissions and small explosions.

Pavlof lies roughly 35 miles northeast of Cold Bay, a town of 108 inhabitants, and last erupted in 2016. At this moment, the community is not considered to be in danger.

Chris Waythomas, a geologist with the Alaska Volcano Observatory, told AP, "It's a very stealthy volcano." "It can start without any notice."

Other Volcanoes

The other three volcanoes are on islands further south in the archipelago that separates the Bering Sea from the North Pacific Ocean. At the peak of Great Sitkin, a stratovolcano with a caldera and dome, scientists discovered a lava fountain. On Great Sitkin Island, there are two tiny settlements with less than 400 people.

According to Jenna Romaine of Changing America, the volcano on the uninhabited island of Semisopochnoi has occasionally been erupting, spewing clouds of ash 10,000 feet into the air.

Showing the Least Seismic Activity

According to AVO reports, Cleveland, located on the western end of Chuginadak Island, has seen minimal levels of seismic activity thus far, but satellite imaging has identified higher surface temperatures. The last time this volcano erupted was in 2020.

Monitoring Volcanic Activity

Scientists continue to keep a careful eye on the volcanoes for evidence of activity changes or increases.

According to Danielle Banks, a meteorologist for The Weather Channel, "it may seem like a catastrophe movie in the making, but the states of eruption aren't all that spectacular so far." She goes on to say that Pavlof is "one of Alaska's most active volcanoes."

US Volcanoes

These aren't the only volcanoes in the United States that need to be watched. Two other volcanoes, one in Hawaii and the other in Guam, are now active, according to the Weatherboy website.

Mauna Loa, the world's biggest volcano, is located on Hawaii's big island and has been experiencing a series of earthquakes in recent days but has not erupted. Pagan, in the South Pacific Ocean near Guam, has also experienced earthquakes and smoke emissions.

Also Read: USGS Raises Yellow Warning on 6 Active Volcanoes in US for 'Elevated Unrest'

For similar news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Oregon's temperature has reached triple digit heat, and people are advised to brace themselves for another incoming heat wave moving in to the Pacific Northwest, as the region is put under state of emergency.

As the no. 1 weather killer in the U.S, officials in Oregon make sure to warn residents of excessive heat and possible disruption in power grids and transportation.

The people's safety is always a priority which is why cooling and hydration centers are made accessible in many communities. A statewide helpline in Oregon is also providing information on ways to stay cool.

"Oregon is facing yet another extreme heat wave, and it is critical that every level of government has the resources they need to help keep Oregonians safe and healthy," Gov. Kate Brown said in a statement.

"I encourage Oregonians to take proactive steps to keep themselves and their families safe, including drinking plenty of fluids, taking advantage of cooling centers, and checking in on neighbors, friends and loved ones."

Excessive heat warnings are now in effect through Saturday along the western and northern parts of Oregon, as well as much of Washington. States like Idaho, Nevada and Northern California are also forecasted to see triple digit temperatures in the coming days.

June heat wave mainly caused by human activities

Every year, extreme heat waves claim over 100 lives in an average year in the U.S and considered more deadly than other weather hazards like flooding, tornadoes, lightning and hurricanes.

Oregon has reached over 80 heat-related deaths, amid record-breaking temperatures across the Northwest earlier this summer.

"It's a very, very hot pattern," weather.com senior meteorologist Chris Dolce said. "We've got quite a few records in the Northwest being threatened."

"There can be no doubt after June that extreme heat can kill and we are treating these events like the health hazard they are," Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury said in a news release.

According to a study group called World Weather Attribution comprised of scientists, human-caused climate change contributes greatly to the western north American extreme heat waves and would have been 'virtually impossible' without it. The record-breaking temperature since June 2021 in the Pacific northwest areas of the U.S. and Canada was 'never previously observed'.

Other recent studies confirm that human-caused global heating is directly connected with all heat-related deaths in the world.

Also read: India Warned of 'Irreversible Changes' After Being Declared as World's 3rd Largest Carbon Emitter

Staying safe during the hot season

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had provided some tips on how to 'stay cool' during hot weather.

This includes relying to air-conditioners, not fans, as the main cooling source as much as possible, seek shelter in cool places, and avoid going outside.

It's also important to hydrate and drink lots of water from time to time. Using a stove or oven should also be avoided, if possible, to not add heat inside the house. Taking cool bath also helps, and wearing loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing right after.

Most importantly, get plenty of rest and check on a friend, neighbor, or family member - especially the elderly - and ask someone to check on you.

Also read: Scientists Warn a 'Long-feared Era' of Disastrous Climate Change
One week after consumers saw the startling rise in European natural gas prices, the same prices hit a new high as a slow, then much quicker tightening of Russian supplies threatens to produce a storage shortage on the continent.

Since the beginning of the month, Russian gas supplies via the Yamal-Europe pipeline, which runs via Belarus and Poland to Mallnow, Germany, have declined, leaving Europe with little time to replenish stockpiles before the winter

The volume of gas entering Germany at the Mallnow compressor station has nearly halved, indicating that Russia is pumping less gas via the Yamal-Europe pipeline in what might be a Kremlin shot over the Atlantic.

Moreover, despite Gazprom's claims that it was continuing to meet its obligations for supplies via the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline and that it was utilizing all available means to do so, the facts clearly show otherwise.

Related Article: New Renewable Fuel Can Be 3 Times More Powerful Than Gasoline





Gas Production

So, what exactly is going on? According to Reuters, Gazprom experienced a fire at its Urengoy processing facility a week ago, halting gas exports via the Yamal-Europe pipeline and forcing the Russian natural gas giant to cancel gas condensate exports this month.

According to Reuters, a fire at a gas condensate processing facility in the Yamal-Nenets area on August 5 prompted the company to halt condensate shipments to the Surgut gas condensate stabilization plant and cut gas exports via the Yamal-Europe pipeline.

Drop in Shipments

Of course, all of this could simply be a rationalization for what has been a sharp drop in natural gas shipments to Europe, which has pushed European natural gas futures higher, giving the continent a taste of how expensive the coming winter could be if Russia is "forced" to limit natural gas exports.

Gazprom announced earlier this week that it had reopened its Urengoy facility and resumed shipments of condensate, a kind of light oil that is subsequently processed into motor fuels, to the Surgut plant, but in lesser quantities. Usually, Gazprom provides gas condensate to the local market, but during scheduled maintenance at the Surgut facility this month, the company intended to export over 100,000 tonnes of condensate.

As the firm announced force majeure on condensate exports in August, one of the Reuters sources said, "There will be no exports of condensate in August."

Meanwhile, gas flowed via the Yamal-Europe pipeline via the Mallnow compressor station on the German-Polish border halved to 250-gigawatt hours per day (GWh/d) and was even lower on August 11 to 205 GWh/d, according to Bloomberg data.

Natural Gas Supplies

With supplies at a fourth of typical levels, the Dutch TTF front-month wholesale gas price, a European benchmark, hit a new high of 45.78 euros per megawatt-hour on Wednesday, traders said, which was fueled in part by supply concerns, and reduced Mallnow flows.

"To at least partially counterbalance the decline, Gazprom has shifted to withdrawals from storage in northwest Europe. What is going on is quite worrying for the market," Marina Tsygankova, a Refinitiv gas analyst, said.

Gazprom Export, the company's export arm, said in a statement on Wednesday that it was continuing to meet its contractual obligations on gas supplies via the Yamal-Europe pipeline, utilizing "available choices and routes for gas delivery."

Imagine what would happen to European natural gas prices if Gazprom chose to stop fulfilling its gas delivery obligations for whatever reason.

Also Read: Marine Bacteria Found Capable of Biodegrading Diesel and Oil: Can it Clean Up Oil Spills?

For more news about making the environment sustainable, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
WASHINGTON (AP)  A federal judge on Friday refused landlords' request to put the Biden administrations new eviction moratorium on hold, though she ruled that the freeze is illegal.

U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich said her hands are tied by an appellate decision from the last time courts considered the evictions moratorium in the spring.

Alabama landlords who are challenging the moratorium, which is set to expire Oct. 3, are likely to appeal her ruling.

In discussing the new moratorium imposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention because of COVID-19, President Joe Biden acknowledged last week there were questions about its legality. But he said a court fight over the new order would buy time for the distribution of some of the more than $45 billion in rental assistance that has been approved but not yet used. The Treasury Department has said that only about $3 billion of the first slice of $25 billion had been distributed through June.

As of Aug. 2, roughly 3.5 million people in the United States said they faced eviction in the next two months, according to the Census Bureaus Household Pulse Survey.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement Friday that the administration believes the CDC moratorium is legal. We are pleased that the district court left the moratorium in place, though we are aware that further proceedings in this case are likely, Psaki said.

Friedrich, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, wrote that the CDC's new temporary ban on evictions is substantially similar to the version she ruled was illegal in May. At the time, Freidrich put her ruling on hold to allow the Biden administration to appeal.

This time, she said, she is bound to follow a ruling from the appeals court that sits above her, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. A panel of three judges appointed by President Barack Obama rejected the landlords' plea to enforce Friedrich's ruling and allow evictions to resume, saying it believes the CDC moratorium falls within a 1944 law dealing with public health emergencies.

If the D.C. Circuit doesn't give the landlords what they want now, they are expected to seek Supreme Court involvement.

In late June, the high court refused by a 5-4 vote to allow evictions to resume. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, part of the slim majority, said he agreed with Friedrich, but was voting to keep the moratorium in place because it was set to expire at the end of July.

Kavanaugh wrote in a one-paragraph opinion that he would reject any additional extension without a new, clear authorization from Congress, which has not been able to take action.

Biden and his aides initially said they could not extend the evictions ban beyond July because of what Kavanaugh wrote. But facing pressure from liberals in Congress, the administration devised a new order that it argued was sufficiently different.

The old moratorium applied nationwide. The current order applies in places where there is significant transmission of the coronavirus.

But Friedrich noted the moratorium covers roughly ninety-one percent of U.S. counties, citing the CDC's COVID-19 data tracker.

The minor differences between the current and previous moratoria do not exempt the former from this Courts order," that the CDC lacks authority to order a temporary ban on evictions, she wrote.

She also noted that Kavanaugh's opinion and decisions by other courts that either questioned or also found the earlier moratorium illegal raise doubts about the D.C. Circuit's decision.

For that reason, absent the D.C. Circuits judgment, this Court would vacate the stay and allow evictions to resume, Friedrich said. But she said she was not free to do that.

___

Associated Press writer Michael Casey contributed to this report from Boston.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Sunshine to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 86F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds light and variable.
Reporter

Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
Results from a Michigan Medicine study reveal that targeting a protein found in the skin may reduce the severity of psoriasis.

Interferons play a major role in activating the body's response to viral threats, but they have also been detected in the lesions of many psoriasis patients at abnormal levels. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes overproduction of skin cells and impacts nearly 30 million people in the world.

Using a model that mimics psoriasis in mice, researchers found that changing the levels of interferon kappa, a protein made by skin cells, altered the severity of inflammation and production of cell signaling molecules, called cytokines, that induce inflammation characteristic of psoriasis. Investigators found more psoriasis-like inflammation when more interferon kappa was present, while decreasing interferon kappa levels reduced disease.

The findings, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, suggest using therapies to modulate interferon states may limit inflammation in psoriasis patients.

We've known that psoriatic inflammation is marked by interferon-related gene expression, but how interferons alter the severity of the disease has not been clear. Understanding how interferon kappa may modulate psoriasis brings us one step closer to optimizing our treatments." J. Michelle Kahlenberg, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of rheumatology at Michigan Medicine and senior author of the paper

The research team induced psoriasis in mouse models, splitting them into groups with interferon kappa at low, normal or elevated levels. The overexpressed protein alone didn't induce the disease, but it primed the skin for the inflammatory response that followed.

"This work shows how the context of the skin environment can shape inflammatory responses." said Mehrnaz Gharaee-Kermani, DVM, M.P.H., Ph.D., lead author of the study and a senior research lab specialist at Michigan Medicine. "It will be exciting to see how this can be applied in clinic."

The research team is conducting further studies to understand the role of interferon kappa in psoriasis patients through their Taubman Institute-sponsored study at Michigan Medicine and in partnership with Johann E. Gudhonsson, M.D., Ph.D., receiving funding through the National Psoriasis Foundation. Several treatments are used against the disease, but there is no cure.

A few current psoriasis drugs inhibit interferons, but many that are more specific are still in the trial phase. Coupled with the study's findings, personalized medicine will be paramount as physicians attempt to treat this disease, Kahlenberg said.

"Until now, treatments have been tested by studying a drug in hundreds of patients, lumping the average of them all together and targeting the average of those patients," Kahlenberg said. "As any patient who has been on these medications will tell you, this trialand-error approach wastes patient time and money trying to get control of the disease. Understanding a patient's background level of interferon might help us target things within that person to make their disease better faster and stay in remission."
In 2019, the Rockville Centre school district in Long Island, New York, was shaken by a string of student deaths, including the suicides of a recent graduate and a current student.

When you get these losses, one after the other, you almost cant get traction on normalcy, said Noreen Leahy, an assistant superintendent at the school district.

To Leahy, the student suicides exposed a childrens mental health crisis brewing for years. She had observed a concerning uptick in depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation among students. Her school district had a team of mental health professionals, but Leahy said they couldnt provide the kind of long-term care many students needed.

Remember, psychologists and social workers and counselors in school districts are there to make sure kids are learning, said Leahy. Were not hospital wards. We dont do psychotherapy. So its very limited what we can do for these students.

She said she saw an urgent need to connect students to mental health care quickly and easily, and the 2019 tragedies drove her to find a way.

Her vision ultimately led to the formation of a unique partnership between several Long Island school districts and the nearby childrens hospital, Cohen Childrens Medical Center, part of the Northwell Health system. That partnership provides prompt access to mental health services for students and includes ongoing support for school staff members in addressing kids mental health, creating a mental health safety net for children and families in the area that didnt exist before.

At its heart is a new behavioral health center, which the hospital opened in January 2020. Students are evaluated by the centers child psychiatrist and mental health counselor, who start and continue treatment until a child can be connected to long-term care in the community.

The concerning rise in mental health issues noticed by the Long Island school administrators mirrors national trends. Roughly 1 in 5 U.S. children meet the criteria for a mental health disorder, and the rate of suicide attempts among teens has risen over the past decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Around the country, most kids who have mental health issues dont get treatment. Theres a shortage of providers who work with children and it can take months to get an appointment.

The wait times on average to see a mental health specialist on an emergency basis is somewhere between two to three months, and for regular basis is up to 12 months, which is an unacceptable wait time, said Dr. Ujjwal Ramtekkar, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Nationwide Childrens Hospital.

Without timely access to care, many kids end up with worsening symptoms and eventually land in a hospital emergency department, as the fastest way to either avert [a mental health] crisis, or as the fastest way to get some kind of mental health evaluation, Ramtekkar said.

It sort of creates this ping-pong effect, said Tina Smith, executive director of special education at Oceanside School District in Long Island.

Its common to see students go to the ER only to be discharged soon after and return to school without a plan for follow-up care, she said. And then the problems start to spiral again out of control, Smith said, and then theyre sent back to the hospital [ER].

It was with these worries in mind that, after the student suicides in 2019, Leahy began raising her concerns with colleagues, school board members and other parents, including Gina-Marie Bounds, a hospital administrator at Cohen Childrens.

Bounds took the idea to the head of emergency child psychiatry and other hospital officials at Cohens and they got to work. Leahy spread the word to neighboring school districts, who were dealing with similar problems, and persuaded them to come on board. Several months later, the mental health center opened its doors.

This couldnt have come at a better time, said Leahy. As many large hospitals around the country saw a surge in the number of kids in mental health crises in their emergency departments, the new behavioral health center reports the opposite trend. The number of mental health visits to the emergency room by students from these school districts declined by at least 60% in 2020 compared with the previous year.

School administrators also say the health center has played a critical role in prevention by promoting the emotional well-being of students, families and school personnel. School and health center staffers meet twice a month via Zoom to check in and brainstorm ways to address emerging health and wellness concerns of staff members and families.

Getting kids the right help at the right time

The goal of the new health center is to provide kids with care as soon as symptoms emerge.

The center is staffed by a child psychiatrist, a mental health counselor and a medical assistant. Its located next to a pediatricians office and within a few miles of the school districts it serves.

When a child first arrives, the child is evaluated to determine whether they need to be hospitalized.

Most kids dont need that, said Dr. Vera Feuer, Northwell Healths associate vice president for school-based mental health, who helped create the center and now oversees it. Most kids need outpatient care.

And the center starts that care right away  medication and/or therapy, depending on what each child needs  to stabilize the child and prevent worsening of symptoms, and connect them to ongoing care with a provider in the community.

In January 2021, a local resident, Tara, found herself calling the health center to make an appointment for her 17-year-old sister, who had been struggling with irregular sleep patterns and panic attacks for months.

Tara had recently become her sisters legal guardian. KHN is not using their last names and only using the sisters middle name  Jasmine  to protect their privacy.

Jasmine said she felt suffocated during her panic attacks.

It felt like I was running, like my heart got really fast, and like I was being put in a little tiny box, she said.

Jasmine and Tara met with a mental health counselor at the behavioral health center. The follow-up sessions were helpful for Jasmine, who learned about the importance of speaking with a trusted friend or adult any time she felt triggered. And the clinic helped Jasmine get connected with a nearby psychologist whom she now sees for weekly therapy sessions, Tara said.

Removing barriers for the most vulnerable

The new health center provides an important safety net for kids who might otherwise fall through the cracks, like 17-year-old Alyssa Gibaldi, who was refused care by other mental health providers because of a disability.

Alyssa attends Oceanside High School and is extremely social, said her mother, Jennifer.

Shes like the mayor of the school; everybody knows her, Jennifer said.

Alyssa has Down syndrome and the pandemic upped her anxiety. Last fall, she became catatonic and went into what Jennifer describes as a zombie-like state.

She couldnt talk. She couldnt move. She couldnt speak. She couldnt feed herself, Jennifer said.

On several occasions, Jennifer called 911. Alyssa was transported in an ambulance to the ER and hospitalized. After her neurologists ruled out seizures and other conditions, they suggested Alyssa see a psychiatrist.

But Jennifer said Alyssa was turned down repeatedly by providers saying they didnt take her insurance or that they didnt work with kids with disabilities.

Thats when Jennifer reached out to the school nurse, who referred the family to the new behavioral health center. The centers child psychiatrist, Dr. Zoya Popivker, reviewed Alyssas medical records and prescribed medications for depression and anxiety.

Jennifer said they got the meds on a Saturday morning, and by Saturday night, she was out of the catatonic state. Ever since then, shes been coming back to us, like her personality came back.

Alyssa continued to go to the behavioral health center for several months, until they were able to transition to a psychiatrist who works with kids with disabilities.

The case for school-hospital partnerships

It makes sense for childrens hospitals to partner with schools because thats where kids spend most of their day, said Ramtekkar, the psychiatrist at Nationwide Childrens Hospital.

School staffers often know their students well and can spot early signs. Its why schools in many parts of the country have been working to forge partnerships with nearby mental health care providers.

But such partnerships still depend on mental health care resources in the communities they serve. A 2019 study found 70% of counties didn't have a single practicing child psychiatrist.

Leahy, the assistant superintendent at Rockville Centre in Long Island, said sharing a behavioral health center across multiple school districts leads both to better collaboration and cost savings. The price her district pays for the services is less than the cost of one full-time staff member, and the state chips in to cover part of that.

Cohen Childrens will add a new behavioral health center this summer, expanding to 14 school districts. At that point, about 60,000 students in Long Island will have access to immediate mental health support should they need it.

This story is part of a reporting partnership that includes NPR, Illinois Public Media and KHN. Nationwide Childrens Hospital, mentioned in this story, is a financial supporter of NPR.

If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (en espanol: 1-888-628-9454; deaf and hard of hearing: dial 711, then 1-800-273-8255) or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla was confident in June about the ability of his company's vaccine to protect against the highly contagious delta variant, as it marched across the globe and filled U.S. hospitals with patients.

"I feel quite comfortable that we cover it," Bourla said.

Just weeks later, Pfizer said it would seek authorization for a booster shot, after early trial results showed a third dose potentially increased protection. At the end of July, Pfizer and BioNTech announced findings that four to six months after a second dose, their vaccine's efficacy dropped to about 84%.

Bourla was quick to promote a third dose after the discouraging news, saying he was "very, very confident" that a booster would increase immunity levels in the vaccinated.

There's one hitch: Pfizer has not yet delivered conclusive proof to back up that confidence. The company lacks late-stage clinical trial results to confirm a booster will work against covid variants including delta, which now accounts for 93% of new infections across the U.S.

Pfizer announced its global phase 3 trial on a third dose in mid-July. That trial's completion date is in 2022. Phase 3 results generally are required before regulatory approval.

"We are confident in this vaccine and the third dose, but you have to remember the vaccine efficacy study is still going on, so we need all the evidence to back up that," Jerica Pitts, Pfizer's director of global media relations, said Monday. The financial stakes are enormous: Pfizer announced in July that it expects $33.5 billion in covid-19 vaccine revenue this year.

Meanwhile, Pfizer recently said that if a third dose couldn't combat the delta or other variants, the drugmaker is poised to come up with a "tailor-made" vaccine within 100 days.

All of this has sown a sense of confusion about what exactly will work, and when. The pharmaceutical industry's rush to recommend boosters for the public is "a little frustrating," said Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and an adviser to the National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration. Even if a booster is found to be safe, he said, the U.S. effort should focus on "vaccinating people who are unvaccinated."

In any case, decisions about boosters do not rest with vaccine makers, he said.

"Pharmaceutical companies aren't public health agencies, it's really not theirs to determine when or whether there should be booster dosing," Offit said. "That is the purview of the CDC."

Indeed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA - the federal agencies overseeing the authorization of covid vaccines - said in July that fully vaccinated Americans do not need a booster shot. Currently authorized vaccines - from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson - are working as they should: All three lower the risk of covid severe enough to hospitalize or kill a person.

If hospitalization and death rates increase among the vaccinated, then it would be time to talk about boosters, Offit said, but "we're not there, yet."

The White House has added to the mixed messaging: Spokesperson Jan Psaki confirmed that the U.S. will buy an additional 200 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for inoculating children under 12 and for possible boosters.

Natalie Dean, a biostatistician at Emory University in Atlanta, said the confusion is not necessarily the fault of any one institution but rather "there is genuine scientific uncertainty about how well [existing] vaccines work against the new variant."

Scientists are piecing together information from observational studies, outbreak investigations and analyses of antibody responses.

For many Americans - especially those who struggled six months ago to find any dose, frantically hiring vaccine hunters and driving hours-long distances for their first jab - the confusion has set off a feverish search for an illicit third dose just in case it's necessary.

"I snuck in a dose of Pfizer last week," Angie Melton, a 50-year-old mother of four, shared on Facebook. Melton received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson shot at a mass vaccination site in April and feared the highly contagious delta variant could infect her and, then, her unvaccinated 10-year-old son, who has asthma.

After consulting friends and doctors and seeing reports about mix-and-match approaches in Europe, Melton signed onto a local pharmacy site and made an appointment to get a Pfizer shot. She's scheduled for a second shot as well.

"I'm trying to keep my family safe," Melton said.

The CDC advisory panel was set to meet Friday to consider updates on whether additional vaccine doses are necessary for immunocompromised people. A presentation about boosters is also on the agenda.

Immunocompromised patients like Sarah Keitt, who has multiple sclerosis and Crohns disease, expressed relief that federal regulators planned to recommend a third dose. Keitt, a disability rights activist who lives in Connecticut, said her neurologist told her to get a booster even after she had received two doses of Moderna. On Thursday, she said she was eager to get another dose but still frustrated about a lack of confidence in how much protection it would offer.

"If someone could definitely say there is a 95% chance you are protected" by a booster, Keitt said, "I would love it."

Despite widespread media reports of "breakthrough cases," a recent data analysis by KFF found that hospitalizations and deaths are extremely rare among the fully vaccinated - well below 1%.

Offit points to a recent outbreak in Provincetown, Massachusetts, in which only four of the 346 fully vaccinated people infected with covid were hospitalized, two of whom had underlying medical conditions. And no one died. "This vaccine still does an excellent job in the face of the delta variant at protecting people against severe, critical disease," he said.

Yet the effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine against variants is still under debate. This month a new preprint study by the Mayo Clinic found that the product's effectiveness against infection dropped to 42% from January to July - as the delta variant's prevalence markedly increased.

Pfizer and partner BioNTech announced they are developing an updated version of their vaccine in Germany to target the genomic features of the delta variant.

However, the idea that a new formulation could work better is "mostly hypothetical at this point," said Vaughn Cooper, a professor of microbiology and molecular genetics at the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Vincent Rajkumar, a hematologist at the Mayo Clinic who closely studies his patients' immune responses and antibody levels, said trying both strategies of using the current vaccine and testing a new version sounds reasonable.

There is one hypothesis that if "breakthrough" infections are due to a drop in antibody levels, boosting those levels will be enough, Rajkumar said. But the more worrisome hypothesis is that the delta variant, or any other variant, might respond considerably differently - and be less threatened - by the antibodies the current vaccine generates.

"So unless you boost [antibodies] with a vaccine that is specific to delta, it won't work," Rajkumar said. Rajkumar said testing both hypotheses is the "right thing to do in the interest of time."

At the same time, though, the push for giving booster shots to healthy populations is premature, said Dr. Sadiya Khan, an epidemiologist and cardiologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. That's because even if those already fully vaccinated do get a third dose or booster, the virus is still circulating among millions of unvaccinated people.

"The overwhelming majority of infections and hospitalizations and deaths are occurring among those who are unvaccinated," Khan said.

"Giving up on that greater strategy of vaccinating the population is going to lead to continued surges," she said. "The potential for harm is quite large."

KHN editor Arthur Allen contributed to this report.
Last month, three states  Virginia, South Dakota, and Connecticut  joined the ranks of more than a dozen others that have legalized marijuana  also known as cannabis  for recreational use. Yet, despite these changing laws and growing social acceptance of the drug, a new study finds that use is still lower among cancer patients.

The study, published today in the journal Cancer by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center, analyzed data from nearly 20,000 people over a span of four years and found that reports of marijuana use peaked at 9% for cancer patients, compared to 14% among people with no cancer history.

"Even when we looked at whether someone used cannabis over the four years of observation and we control for things like age and race, cancer patients are still not increasing their use over time like the general population," said study lead author Bernard Fuemmeler, Ph.D., M.P.H., associate director for population science and interim co-leader of the Cancer Prevention and Control research program at VCU Massey Cancer Center. "I would have expected them to have at least mirrored what was happening in the general population."

This paper drew on data collected between 2013 and 2018 from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH), which tracks a representative sample of Americans to survey smoking behaviors, including both tobacco and marijuana.

For people who never had cancer, rates of marijuana use rose during the four-year PATH study period. This same period saw a wave of recreational marijuana legalization sweep across the nation.

"Because of law enforcement changing, we expect to see changes in attitudes and perceived benefits and harms," said study co-author Sunny Jung Kim, Ph.D., Harrison Scholar at VCU Massey Cancer Center and assistant professor of health behavior and policy at the VCU School of Medicine. "This work gives us perspective on prevalence of cannabis use among cancer patients and how it has changed over time."

But why aren't cancer patients following the same trend as the rest of the population? The odds of a cancer patient using marijuana in the past year were essentially flat between 2013 and 2018.

There is that element of a life-changing moment when you have cancer. You have to be mindful of your health and contemplate whether something like cannabis is helpful or hurtful." Bernard Fuemmeler, Professor, Health Behavior and Policy, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University

Regardless of cancer history, this latest analysis revealed that people who reported higher levels of pain were more likely to use marijuana, whereas lower rates of marijuana use were seen among women, older people, and those with higher incomes, medical insurance, or better mental health.

The authors note the need for greater research into the health effects of marijuana use for cancer patients and survivors so that doctors and patients can have more informed conversations about whether the potential benefits might outweigh the risks.

"As with all health decisions, it's best to talk to your doctor before making any big changes," said study co-author Egidio Del Fabbro, M.D., the Thomas Palliative Care Endowed Chair and director of palliative care at VCU Massey Cancer Center and professor of internal medicine at VCU. "Now that marijuana is becoming legal in more parts of the country, we're expecting more questions, and although we may not have all the answers, we're here to listen and provide our patients with the best available evidence."

Additional authors on the study include Elizabeth Do, Ph.D., and Albert Ksinan, Ph.D., both of the VCU Department of Health Behavior & Policy.

This research was funded by Massey's NCI Cancer Center Support Grant P30 CA016059.
The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating five additional imported COVID-19 cases.

The patients arrived in Hong Kong from Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Switzerland, the US and Bangladesh.

A total of 43 cases were reported in Hong Kong in the past 14 days, one of which is a local case with an unknown infection source while the rest are imported.

As a preliminary positive case with the L452R mutant strain arriving from the US was detected in the community today, seven specified premises visited by the patient are included in the compulsory testing notice. In view of this case, the Foreign Domestic Helpers Section on 3/F, Immigration Tower in Wan Chai will not be open tomorrow and will resume public service on August 16.

The Immigration Department said thorough cleaning and sterilisation of the office have been carried out and all relevant staff have been arranged to get tested for COVID-19. Citizens are advised to make use of its Online Services for Foreign Domestic Helpers, mobile application and Smart Renewal service to handle issues such as foreign domestic helper employment and contract renewal.

Additionally, any individual who had come into contact or handled the fish sold by four specified fish stalls must undergo compulsory testing, as the swabs of a batch of imported fish and its outer packaging have tested positive.

The above compulsory testing requirement applies to those who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course as well.

The Government will set up a mobile specimen collection station at the coach parking area, podium, 5/F, Stanley Plaza tomorrow for people subject to compulsory testing for free. Another four mobile specimen collection stations will extend their service period to August 22.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Governments dedicated webpage.
The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department today announced that it conducted deep cleansing and disinfection at a market stall which had processed a batch of fish that tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

The cleansing and disinfection also covered the entire To Kwa Wan Market where the stall is located to safeguard the health and safety of its tenants and the public.

On August 10, the Centre for Food Safety collected 10 pomfret fish surface samples and packaging samples from a batch of 10 boxes of chilled pomfret fish imported from Indonesia via a flight.

Two of the fish samples and one packaging sample were found to be positive for the COVID-19 virus and the viral load was low. The fish concerned was imported from an Indonesian exporter PT. Perishable Logistics Indonesia.

Apart from stepping up the sampling of the frozen foods and their packaging imported from the exporter for testing, the centre also conducted an investigation.

The probe confirmed that the batch of chilled pomfret fish had been sold to Aberdeen Wholesale Fish Market and Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Fish Market and further distributed to five retailers.

Deep cleansing and disinfection had been carried out at the two fish markets as a result.

The Government has conducted further investigations on the vendors and locations concerned to identify the people who had had contact with the affected product for undergoing epidemiological assessment and arrange quarantine or compulsory testing for the individuals concerned.

While an investigation is ongoing, the Centre for Health Protection, as at last night, arranged quarantine for nine staff who had come in contact with the contaminated product.

To prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus through imported frozen foods, the Government has stepped up precautionary testing measures since mid-2020, including enhanced testing of various types of frozen foods and their packaging imported from different countries and regions.

So far, over 14,000 samples of foods and their packaging were collected for testing and only the above pomfret fish and packaging samples were found to be positive.

The Government stressed that the sampling of imported frozen foods and their packaging for testing will continue.
(Newser)  "'The only thing I do is 9/11 stuff,' Bob Sr. says. 'My whole basis of everything revolves around the day.'" That's understandable. Bob McIlvaine Sr. lost his 26-year-old son that day, and in a lengthy piece for the Atlantic, Jennifer Senior presents a deep picture of the shapes grief takes, of 9/11 conspiracy theories, and of a life lost. Senior has not just access to Bobby McIlvaine's familyBob Sr., mom Helen, younger brother Jeff, and Jen, the woman he planned to marrybut also familiarity. Bobby was her brother's roommate at Princeton, and later his roommate in Manhattan on 9/11. Bobby wasn't typically at the World Trade Center. He had gone that day to help a colleague set up for a conference at Windows on the World as part of his media-relations job with Merrill Lynch and was just outside the building when the planes hit.

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His "was one of fewer than 100 civilian corpses recovered from the wreckage," writes Senior, and it was years later, when Bob Sr. finally mustered up the courage to read the medical examiner's report, that his "whole thesis" changed. "Looking at the body, I came to the conclusion that he was walking in and bombs went off," says Bob Sr., who has emerged as one of the better known 9/11 "truthers." Helen, Jeff, and Jen have wrangled with their grief in other ways. They've also all wrangled over Bobby's diariesin the days after his death, Bob handed Jen the one Bobby was writing in at the time of his death. Helen was furious and wanted to see it; Jen refused. All these years later, Senior met with Jen, who handed the diary over. In it were three words the family had clung to, three words Jen had long ago shared that no one could now recall the source of: "Life loves on." (Read the incredible full piece.)
(Newser)  On a 4-3 vote, members of an Oregon school board decided to prohibit signs, flags, and clothing with political messages on district property. The Newberg board members didn't specify what they consider "political," but community members who spoke at the meeting brought up pride flags and Black Lives Matter signs, NBC reports. One supporter on the board said the idea is to "get political symbols and divisive symbols out of our schools so we can focus on the already difficult task of educating our students in the core subjects." Another member didn't see the connection, pointing out that state districts with poor academic records lack efforts on "anything to do with equity," while Oregon's Top 5 districts have diversity coordinators and diversity statements. "This feels so draconian ... this feels so anti-everything," Brandy Penner said, "anti-free speech, anti-free expression, anti-safety."

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A parent told the board that safety is a real issue. "Black students and other kids of color are under attack in Newberg schools," Tai Harden-Moore said. "I know this to be true because my son was called a n***** at school." A sign, or a pride flag, on display at school can help students feel they belong, Harden-Moore said, per KGW. "Research shows an affirming school environment improves behavioral, academic and mental health outcomes for all students," Caitlin Collins told the meeting. The superintendent said the measure will have to be reviewed by district lawyers before it can be enforced. The board also plans to come up with "replacement language" for the state's policy against racism. And at a meeting later this month, members want to reconsider Oregon's Every Student Belongs policy, which is intended to keep schools inclusive and safe, prohibiting hate symbols such as swastikas and confederate flags. (Read more Black Lives Matter stories.)
(Newser)  Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett on Thursday declined to block Indiana University's controversial vaccine mandate. The high court judge has jurisdiction over the appeals court involved in the case and made the decision without referring the matter to the full court, CNN explains. It's the first time SCOTUS justices have been asked to get involved with a vaccine mandate as such mandates are increasingly being put in place, and Barrett's decision indicates similar mandates could be legally enforceable. It could set a legal precedent for similar cases, Fox News reports.

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The lawsuit over the school's mandate was filed by eight students, seven of whom have either already been granted an exemption or are eligible for one, Politico reports. The university allows exemptions on religious or medical grounds. Other courts have also denied the students' request for emergency relief, but the students say they will continue to fight the mandate in the lower courts. Barrett gave no reason for her denial of the request, but other courts have cited a 1905 Supreme Court decision allowing states to mandate the smallpox vaccine. One of the judges who ruled against the students noted that anyone who disagrees with the mandate can attend a different school. Some conservatives on Twitter were decidedly unhappy with the Trump-appointed justice's decision on the matter. (Read more Amy Coney Barrett stories.)
(Newser)  In Palm Beach County, Florida, students returned to school Tuesdayand by Thursday, at least 440 of them were in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 or being exposed to an infected person. Superintendent Michael Burke said Thursday that 57 COVID cases had been confirmed37 students and 14 employees, the Sun-Sentinel reportsbut the totals on a county dashboard were updated late Thursday to 105 students and 26 employees. Burke blamed the number of cases on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' order allowing students to opt out of mask mandates with a note from their parents, reports NPR.

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A district spokesperson said Thursday that 6,394 of around 167,000 students in Palm Beach County schools have opted out wearing masks, WPTV reports. Burke said he is worried that unless there is a change to the rules, cases will grow exponentially, forcing more students to learn from home. "The governor's got to take responsibility for establishing the ground rules we're operating under," Burke said. "And this ability for families to opt out is leading to more cases, which is ultimately going to send more kids home and deprive them of that traditional classroom experience." He said that while they can't completely mitigate COVID risks, mandating masks is the best way to keep kids in school. "The academic and social, emotional benefits to having students in school outweigh some of the risks," Burke said. (Read more Florida stories.)
(Newser)  Shia LeBeouf has been living under the radar for a while, reportedly in treatment and otherwise avoiding the spotlight after being accused of abuse by ex-girlfriend FKA Twigs. Now, Variety reports the 35-year-old actor might be lined up for a "comeback." Abel Ferrara, the director behind such films as The Funeral and Bad Lieutenant, tells the outlet he's recruited LeBeouf to play the role of Italian saint Padre Pio in his next movie, with longtime Ferrara collaborator Willem Dafoe also possibly taking a part. "It's set in Italy right after World War I," Ferrara says. "He was very young before he became a saint, so Shia LaBeouf is going to play the monk."

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Ferrara, who'd already made a short documentary on Padre Pio, plans on shooting the film in Italy's Puglia region starting at the end of October. At least one person isn't happy to hear about LeBeouf's shot at Hollywood redemption, per E! Online. "Shoots dogs. Beats women. Ummmm I'm gonna pass," Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause tweeted after hearing about Ferrara's recruitment of LeBeouf, adding sarcastically, "Glad he got a Comeback Role though." In her late 2020 lawsuit, FKA Twigs accused her ex of boasting that he shot dogs around the LA area while prepping for a role. (Read more Shia LaBeouf stories.)
(Newser)  Another case of US tourists allegedly faking their vaccine cards: On Sunday, two travelers were arrested at Hawaii's Honolulu airport and accused of violating the state's Safe Travels rules. Hawaii has a mandatory 10-day quarantine for new arrivals, but US travelers aren't subjected to it if they offer proof they're fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Norbert Chung, 57, and Trevor Chung, 19, were arrested after police received a tip from a community member, USA Today reports. If convicted, the California father and son face up to a year behind bars and fines of up to $5,000 each, KMPH reports.

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"To come to Hawaii and spend thousands of dollars on a trip and hotel and airfare and the money youre going to spend to enjoy paradise, youre going to risk that and spend even more money, because you put yourself, your family and others in jeopardy by trying to falsify documents to come and enjoy paradise," says a special agent from the DA's office. An attorney for the Chungs tells KHON2 they flew back to California after their arrest, tested negative for COVID-19, then flew back to Hawaii to be arraigned Wednesday morning. (A similar incident just took place in Toronto.)
(Newser)  MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell says he was attacked Wednesday night at a hotel in South Dakota, where he has been holding a three-day "cyber symposium" on his election fraud claims. "Im OK. It hurts a little bit," Lindell told attendees at the Sioux Falls event Thursday morning, per the Argus Leader. "I just want everyone to know all the evil thats out there." A police spokesman tells the AP that a report was received Thursday of an assault at a hotel near the symposium around 11:30pm Wednesday. The spokesman declined to provide the name of the victim, but said nobody was hospitalized. He said no arrests have been made.

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The three-day event concluded Thursday, and it did not go well for Lindell, who had promised to provide "irrefutable" evidence that hackers backed by China had flipped votes for Donald Trump to President Biden, Gizmodo reports. Josh Merritt, Lindell's chief "cyber expert," told the Washington Times Wednesday that the "packet capture" data Lindell had claimed could restore Trump to the White House didn't prove a cyberattack had occurred. He said Lindell's offer of $5 million to any symposium attendee who could disprove his claims had been withdrawn. One attendee complained that all they had been shown was "random garbage that wastes our time," the Daily Beast reports. (On Wednesday, a federal judge ruled that a defamation case against Lindell from Dominion Voting Systems could proceed.)
(Newser)  The Taliban's offensive in Afghanistan continued with terrifying speed Friday, with another three provincial capitals falling to the militants. Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand province, was under Taliban control Friday after weeks of heavy fighting. Lawmakers in Uruzgat and Zabul provinces say their capitals have fallen to the Taliban, with leaders fleeing to Kabul or military bases. The group has now seized 18 of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals in a week, completing its sweep of the south of the country and putting increasing pressure on Kabul, the AP reports. Kandahar and Heratthe country's second and third-largest citieswere captured Thursday. More:

Government forces "close to collapse." The New York Times reports that Afghanistan's government forces now appear "close to a complete collapse." US officials have warned the government could fall in 30 to 90 days, though some fear that even that timeline could be optimistic.

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US is sending 3,000 troops . Pentagon officials confirmed Thursday that 3,000 troopsthree infantry battalions from the Marines and Armyare being sent to Afghanistan to help evacuate embassy personnel and Afghans who received special visas after working with the US, CNBC reports. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby called it a "very narrowly focused mission" and said the US still plans to have all troops out of the country by Aug. 31.

. Pentagon officials confirmed Thursday that 3,000 troopsthree infantry battalions from the Marines and Armyare being sent to Afghanistan to help evacuate embassy personnel and Afghans who received special visas after working with the US, CNBC reports. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby called it a "very narrowly focused mission" and said the US still plans to have all troops out of the country by Aug. 31. UK sends reinforcements . The UK says it is sending 600 troops to help evacuate diplomats and is relocating its embassy to a safer area near the center of Kabul, the Guardian reports. Canada and other Western countries have also stepped up plans to evacuate personnel.

. The UK says it is sending 600 troops to help evacuate diplomats and is relocating its embassy to a safer area near the center of Kabul, the Guardian reports. Canada and other Western countries have also stepped up plans to evacuate personnel. Disbelief and panic in Kabul. BBC correspondent Yogita Limaye says thousands of people fleeing the Taliban onslaught have arrived in Kabul in recent days. " People are in disbelief about what's happened in a single day," she says. "Some of them have taken days, and these are dangerous journeys past Taliban checkpoints and active frontlinesto get to Kabul. This is the last place many of them believe they can go to. They say, from here where else do we run?"

BBC correspondent Yogita Limaye says thousands of people fleeing the Taliban onslaught have arrived in Kabul in recent days. " People are in disbelief about what's happened in a single day," she says. "Some of them have taken days, and these are dangerous journeys past Taliban checkpoints and active frontlinesto get to Kabul. This is the last place many of them believe they can go to. They say, from here where else do we run?" McConnell likens situation to fall of Saigon . Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called for the Biden administration to provide more support for Afghan forces, including air support beyond Aug. 31, the Washington Post reports. "The latest news of a further drawdown at our Embassy and a hasty deployment of military forces seem like preparations for the fall of Kabul," the Republican said. "President Bidens decisions have us hurtling toward an even worse sequel to the humiliating fall of Saigon in 1975."

. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called for the Biden administration to provide more support for Afghan forces, including air support beyond Aug. 31, the Washington Post reports. "The latest news of a further drawdown at our Embassy and a hasty deployment of military forces seem like preparations for the fall of Kabul," the Republican said. "President Bidens decisions have us hurtling toward an even worse sequel to the humiliating fall of Saigon in 1975." "Taliban 2.0." The CBC looks at how the Taliban changed from the fractured force of as little as two years ago to today's well-organized insurgency. Sean Maloney, a history professor who has advised the Canadian military, says there was clearly "external support," with foreign fighters believed to make up around 40% of the "New Taliban." He notes that some of the tribes who could have countered the Taliban have declared themselves neutral, apparently after long negotiations. "They had to do months of preparation to get some of that," he says.

(Read more Afghanistan stories.)
(Newser)  Six people, including a child, died Thursday in Plymouth, in Britain's first mass shooting since 2010. The suspected shooter, believed to have taken his own life, has been identified as 23-year-old Jake Davison, a scaffolder who has "posted videos expressing despair about the future and frustrations about failing to lose weight and find a girlfriend," reports the Guardian. Authorities are calling it a domestic incident and say it is not terror-related. Devon and Cornwall Police, called to the Keyham area of Plymouth around 6:10pm, found Davison, two males, and two females dead from gunshot wounds. Another female was taken to a hospital, where she died of her wounds. In a tweet, Plymouth Member of Parliament Luke Pollard says one of the victims is "a child under ten years old." The Times reports a 5-year-old girl is among those feared dead.

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Police have not publicly described what happened. But a witness tell the Times that a gunman "kicked in" the door of a home before shooting a mother and daughter. The man, armed with a semi-automatic weapon, fled through a park, then shot two dog walkers, the outlet reports, per Reuters. Residents reportedly found bodies gunned down in the streeta rare sight in Britain, where few people carry firearms. Strict gun laws were adopted after 16 children were killed in a mass shooting at a school in 1996. There has been only one other mass shooting since, in 2010, reports the New York Times. Britain's home secretary, Priti Patel, says the latest shooting is "shocking." Police will now investigate whether the gunman had a license to carry a firearmwhich requires a police interview, background check, and character referencesas well as any potential motives. (Read more mass shootings stories.)
(Newser)  Samsung leader Lee Jae-yong walked out of prison Friday a year early, in a parole decision showing the conglomerate's outsize influence in South Korea. Lee left the prison near Seoul to a barrage of camera flashes and bowed in apology over the anger ignited by his case, related to the explosive corruption scandal that toppled South Korea's ex-president in 2017. Hundreds of demonstrators simultaneously shouted slogans denouncing or welcoming his release, per the AP. "[I] caused too much concern to our people. I am very sorry," said Lee before walking into a black sedan without answering reporters' questions. Lee, 53, served a total of 18 months of a 30-month sentence for embezzling millions of dollars from corporate funds to bribe then-President Park Geun-hye to ensure her government's support for a 2015 merger between two Samsung affiliates that tightened his control over the corporate empire.

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His case was part of a massive corruption scandal that triggered nationwide protests and led to the impeachment and ouster of Park, who's been jailed since 2017 and won't be released until 2039 if she fully serves her term. Lee's parole marked an about-face for the government of President Moon Jae-in, who after being elected in 2017 pledged to curb the excesses of "chaebol," or South Korea's family-owned conglomerates, and end their cozy ties with the government. A Moon spokesperson said in a statement that Lee's release benefited "national interest" and pleaded for people's understanding. While Lee has always been in control of Samsung, even from prison, it's unclear how quickly he can formally resume his management role. He would need the justice minister to officially approve his return to work, as the law bans people convicted of major financial crimes from returning to work for five years after their release. He's widely expected to get that approval.

(Read more Lee Jae-yong stories.)
(Newser)  President Biden is enduring the harshest criticism of his presidency to date in the wake of the Taliban's swift spread throughout Afghanistan. As of Friday afternoon, the group had completed its takeover of the south and now controls two-thirds of the nation, reports the AP. All eyes are now on the capital of Kabul, which remains in government hands for the time being. A sampling of opinions:

As recently as last month, Biden was sayingincorrectly, as it turned outthat the Taliban wouldn't be able to run roughshod over the country as American forces pulled out. "Who knows what he will be saying next month?" writes Gideon Rachman in the Financial Times. "And, frankly, who cares? On Afghanistan, Biden's credibility is now shot." What's more, this could hurt America's reputation elsewhere, particularly in regard to China, writes Rachman.

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"This is a horrible, epic defeat and disaster," writes Shay Khatiri at the Bulwark. Yes, it is "technically true" that most Americans in opinion polls want US forces to come home. "But it would be more accurate to say that they don't care about Afghanistanuntil they have to, and then they will care about it a lot." Just wait until the inevitable photos begin to emerge of Taliban brutality, warns Khatiri.

At Axios, Mike Allen notes that top Biden aides "derive comfort from the fact that the American public is behind theman overwhelming majority support withdrawal from Afghanistanand they bet they won't be punished politically for executing a withdrawal." But hawks such as Sen. Lindsey Graham are warning of longer-term terror implications.

Susan Glasser at the New Yorker writes that Biden's comments on the fallout for the Afghan citizenry have been "strikingly cold" for a politician known for his empathy. She's also been struck by the lack of serious debate on all this since Biden announced his decision four months ago. "Political calculation by both parties is part of it, undoubtedly, as well as the all-too-pressing problem of too much else terrible going on, with American democracy in crisis and a horrible summer coronavirus surge." But the time is now upon us. "So, the question must be, and is starting to be, asked: What will come next from this disaster?"

In a New York Times essay by Frederick W. Kagan of the American Enterprise Institute, Kagan rejects Biden's explanation that a deal struck by former President Trump with the Taliban left him no choice on the withdrawal. "The way [Biden] announced the drawdown and eventual departure of American troopsat the start of the fighting season, on a rapid timeline and sans adequate coordination with the Afghan governmenthas in part gotten us into the current situation."

The situation on the ground is indeed grim, but Walter Shapiro writes in the New Republic that the only thing worse than leaving Afghanistan would be staying. "After $1 trillion and 2,312 US military deaths in Afghanistan, Joe Biden appears determined not to be sucked into another face-saving combat mission to stave off the apocalypse," he writes. "Sadly, another surge, another fantasy about a negotiated settlement, will only delay the inevitable."

(Read more Afghanistan exit strategy stories.)
(Newser)  A young mother was fatally shot in the head by her toddler during a Zoom call on Wednesday, according to police in Florida. A person who was on the work-related conference call dialled 911 saying they heard a loud noise, then saw 21-year-old Shamaya Lynn fall backward, reports WESH and NBC News. She wasn't seen again on camera, per the AP. The camera reportedly captured Lynn's toddler in the background. Authorities rushed to the scene at the Oaks of Spring Valley apartments in Altamonte Springs, just north of Orlando, but were unable to save the young mother of two, who'd been shot in the head.

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Investigators said one of Lynn's two children had found the loaded gun, which belonged to the children's father, unsecured in the apartment. The Seminole County State Attorney's Office will determine whether the father should face charges. "If you own a firearm, please keep it locked and secured. Incidents like this could be avoided," said officer Roberto Ruiz Jr. The police department is offering free gun locks to gun owners who don't have one, per WESH. There have been at least 220 unintentional shootings by children in the US so far this year, resulting in 83 deaths and 149 injuries, according to the Everytown for Gun Safety advocacy group. (Read more shooting death stories.)
(Newser)  It was a sensational case, and it appeared to be a slam dunk for prosecutors. Back in 1975, two men in Brooklyn were arrested and charged with kidnapping 21-year-old Samuel Bronfman, an heir to the Seagram Company fortune. The two suspects, Irish immigrants named Mel Lynch and Dominic Byrne, confessed, which wasn't too surprising at the time: Bronfman was found bound and blindfolded in Lynch's apartment after nine days, and Lynch was there, too. The men were essentially caught red-handed, writes Alex Traub in the New York Times. In an astonishing turn, however, both were cleared of kidnapping charges at trial. Now, a "deathbed confession" from Byrne attorney Peter DeBlasioalong with corroborating reporting by Traubsuggests they were indeed guilty all along. Both of the alleged kidnappers are now dead.

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It's a convoluted tale. At trial, Lynch stunningly declared that Bronfman had engineered his own kidnapping to get money from his family. He also alleged that he and Bronfman were lovers. After seeing how convincing Lynch was in court, DeBlasio shifted strategy for his own client, Byrne, and went along with the story of the hoax kidnapping. It worked. Last year, however, DeBlasio published a memoir months before his death. "I want it to be clear to all who may ever read these pages that Samuel Bronfman was not a part of the kidnapping," he wrote. Also, "neither he nor Lynch were gay as far as anyone ever knew and certainly they were not lovers." The Times reached out to Bronfman about DeBlasio's big reveal. "I was really kidnapped in 1975 and his and Lynch's defense was a fraud," he wrote in an email. "I am glad he acknowledged this fact." (Read the full story.)
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 52F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 43F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

A woman convicted to five years in jail for peddling Shabu in the Kingdom has had her prison terms confirmed by the High Appeals Court.

The woman, an Asian national, had challenged the verdict before the appeal court, which now stands rejected. The appeals court also confirmed the BD3,000 fine slapped along with the jail term.

Authorities will also deport her once she completes her prison terms. Court files say the woman landed in the police net following an undercover operation based on a tip-off received.

The woman agreed to sell an undercover agent BD250 worth of illicit drugs during the police action. Unsuspecting the trap set, the woman handed the drugs to the officer in plain clothes before accepting money.

However, as the deal was live, she sensed danger and managed to flee. Police officers, who were keeping a close watch on her, went on a pursuit.

The woman, however, managed to broke into an apartment and shut the door behind her. Police later took her into custody from the apartment.

Cops found that the woman had in possession several types of illegal drugs. Public prosecution charged her with possession of illegal drugs and peddling them.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Tampering with the dates of PCR test certificates to gain entry to Saudi Arabia through King Fahad Causeway landed two Bahrainis in jail for a year.

Court files say the duo faked the certificate, as one of them failed to bring a newly obtained certificate. So, to avoid getting rejected, they decided to change the dates on the certificate.

However, they could not fool the authorities. Bahraini police arrested the men after the Saudi authorities notified them of the crime. The first defendant used to travel regularly to Saudi Arabia to sell sweets. However, he wasnt aware of the new requirement to take a PCR test 72 hours before entering Saudi after the causeway reopening.

I had a test done before, and the result was negative. Therefore, I used it and changed the date to avoid turning back, the first defendant confessed during questioning. His co-traveller also got implicated in the case, for he knew that the first defendant had modified the test result.

Public prosecution charged the duo with forgery. The Chief Prosecutor warned that tampering with the results of the Coronavirus examination and related documents constitutes a felony. Forging official documents issued by the state is a serious crime punishable by imprisonment for up to ten years.
Al Baraka Banking Group records net profit of US$ 53 million attributable to share holders, for first half of 2021 - records US$ 27 million for second quarter of 2021

Al Baraka Banking Group records net profit of US$ 53 million attributable to share holders, for first half of 2021 - records US$ 27 million for second quarter of 2021

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain-based Al Baraka Banking Group (BARKA) yesterday reported profits for the second quarter and first half, which according to the bank was buoyed by expense discipline and lower provisioning as a result of the gradually improving outlook and environment. This has allowed us to increase return on equity to 8.6 per cent from 8 per cent a year earlier, said Mazin Manna, Member of the Board of Directors and Group Chief Executive Officer of Al Baraka Banking Group.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al Baraka Banking Group, Abdullah Saleh Kamel, said they worked to enhance financial performance and operations while containing the repercussions of the pandemic on the organisation, both at the group and subsidiary level.

This contributed to delivered good results across the Group and growth in our net income compared to last year, while also ensuring that the efforts towards supporting the communities in all the geographies continue.

Q2 results

Net income attributable to shareholders of the parent company rose 19% to US$ 27 million from US$ 23 m in the same quarter a year ago. Earnings per share were US Cents 0.94 compared to US Cents 0.57 in the year-ago quarter. Total net income was US$53 m, compared to US$ 50 m in the prior-year quarter, registering an increase of 5%.

This was aided by lower provisioning levels enabled by gradually improving macro-economic conditions in the countries of our operations.

Net income before net allowance for expected credit losses/ impairment and taxation decreased by 26% to US$ 128 m compared to US$ 173 m, while total operating income decreased by 11% to US$ 265 m from the same quarter a year ago.

First-half results

Net income attributable to shareholders of the parent company was US$ 53 m, compared to US$ 47 m for the same period in 2020, registering an increase of 12%.

Earnings per share were US Cents 3.05 compared to US Cents 2.54 for the same period of 2020. Total operating income decreased by 11% from US$ 553 m to US$ 494 m during the same period of 2021, hurt by significant currency devaluation in some markets, a significant increase in base rates in some markets and exceptional income items that were booked during the same period last year.
The family of a construction worker killed at a worksite accident in Redding last month say he was a devoted worker and avid adventurer.

Sourasinh Bouttavong, who also went by Haum, began working in the energy industry after graduating from high school in 2003, according to the obituary shared by his sister.

His work and outdoor pursuits brought him all over the United States. From working in the scorching heat in California to below freezing temperatures in North Dakota and Wyoming, he was a natural at adapting to extremely harsh conditions, the obituary reads.

Bouttavong loved hiking and fishing, as well as snowboarding. No mountain was too big, no slope was too small for Haum to shred the gnar, his obituary reads.

He died on July 29, just days before what would have been his 36th birthday.

Police in Redding said they were called to a home on Putnam Park Road around 5 p.m. that day after a worker, later identified as Bouttavong, was struck by a falling steel pipe. Bouttavong was taken to Danbury Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

I only wish I had the chance to tell him how much I loved him after asking what he wanted for dinner; and to drive safe to work, his elder sister, Ratsamy May, wrote in a crowdfunding page.

The state office of the chief medical examiner has ruled his death an accident, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has launched an investigation.

Bouttavong was working for Dandelion Geothermal, a company that installs home geothermal heating and cooling systems. A spokesperson for the company said previously its working with OSHA and local authorities to investigate what happened. We are deeply saddened for this employee and his family and are focused on providing support to them, as well as our Dandelion teams, at this time.

Sourasinh Bouttavong was born Aug. 2 1985 in Dallas, Texas to Sommay and Xoymany Bouttavong, according to the family. He learned to fish growing up in Sacramento.

Bouttavong was a loving son, brother, uncle and friend, according to his obituary. Besides his elder sister, he is survived by his parents, three other sisters, two brothers and nieces and nephews.

Haums life was tragically taken from us too soon and the pain is unbearable, his obituary states. He will forever live on in our hearts and minds and the only solace we will find is in the memories we have.

The family plans to hold a burial in Sacramento on Thursday. A GoFundMe page has been established to help with funeral expenses.
DANBURY  New census data released Thursday show some Danbury-area towns changed more than others in the past decade.

Bethels population grew 9.5 percent, the highest percentage growth in the past 10 years. Danburys population grew by 7 percent, with Brookfield close behind at 6.5 percent.

Danbury had the second-highest net growth of any municipality in the state, behind only Stamford, which saw its population increase by more than 12,800. Danbury added 5,625 residents.

Overall, however, the states total population barely nudged upward, growing by less than 1 percent since 2010, the smallest gain of any state in the Northeast and the fourth-smallest nationwide.

I would much rather be a city thats on the growing side than a city thats declining, Danbury Mayor Joe Cavo said.

The growth in Danbury isnt a surprise. It has been most evident in the citys crowded schools, where enrollment has surpassed demographers projections. The city has needed to expand the size of school buildings and, most recently, has plans to add a career academy for middle- and high-school students.

There is a Danbury difference, Cavo said. We hope to be able to compete in the state and make Danbury attractive to want to live and work here. If you grow your workforce and you grow your potential of folks that are employable and you provide them with businesses where they can make a living, its a good model.

Bethel First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker knew his town was growing. Its been evident in the massive, massive workload increase in the building and land use departments. But the figures exceeded his expectations.

Thats even more than I thought, he said. But Bethel is a very, very nice, desirable town.

It remains relatively affordable compared to the rest of the area, he said.

It attracts people, it always has, Knickerbocker said. It seems like that attraction still continues.

Some population gains were more modest.

Kent, Washington, Easton and Ridgefield saw growth between 1 and 2 percentage points.

Several towns saw their numbers go down: New Fairfield, Torrington, Newtown, Sherman and New Milford experienced population decline over the past decade.

Redding had the biggest drop, losing 4.3 percent of its population in the past decade.

Diversity grows in Danbury area

The Danbury areas diversity has increased in nearly every municipality, with shares of nonwhite residents doubling in many cases.

The white population in Connecticut declined precipitously over the last 10 years, the newly released data show, as the mix of people living in the state grew more diverse, in line with national trends.

Though white residents still make up nearly three-quarters of the state, their numbers dropped by 14 percent in the last decade. At the same time, the Hispanic population surged by 30 percent and the Asian population climbed by 27 percent, while the Black population rose by 7 percent.

Bethels nonwhite population nearly doubled from 2010, growing to 29.2 percent of the overall population compared to its previous 16.1 percent share.

Brookfields percentage of nonwhite residents doubled to 21.4 percent of the total population.

Now, more than half of Danburys residents are nonwhite.

The citys Hispanic population increased by more than 8 percent. In Torrington, the number of Hispanic residents increased by 6.5 percent, followed by New Milford and Bethel, which saw increases by slightly more than 5 percent.

Ridgefields and Brookfields Asian population increased the most in the Danbury area, but still represented only a marginal increase of 1.9 and 1.8 percent respectively. Danbury lost Asian-identifying residents in the past decade.

Danbury saw little growth in its Black population, with an increase of just 0.3 percent, compared to Brookfields 0.7 percent and Bethels 1.1 percent.

The greater diversity has been forecast in Bethels school population, Knickerbocker said.

That doesnt surprise me, he said. It confirms what weve been seeing for some years now in our school enrollment.

Hearst Connecticut Media Data Editor Matt Rocheleau contributed to this report.
ATLANTA (AP)  A prosecutor on Friday announced the indictment of two alleged gang members on charges related to the shooting death last year of an 8-year-old girl in Atlanta.

Secoriea Turner was killed July 4, 2020, while riding in an SUV with her mother and her mothers friend near the Wendys restaurant where Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old Black man, had been killed by a white police officer just weeks earlier.

This case is the highest priority for my office, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said, calling it one of the saddest cases Ive seen.

A grand jury returned a 37-count indictment against Julian Conley and Jerrion McKinney. Conley is charged with malice murder and felony murder in Secoriea's killing, and both men face aggravated assault, gun and gang-related charges.

We are alleging that Mr. Conley fired into the car when it failed to stop and respect their barricade, and that led to the tragic killing of Secoriea Turner, Willis said during a news conference.

Both men had previously been arrested in connection with Secorieas killing and were being held without bond.

Conley, 20, was arrested last year. An attorney for Conley who no longer represents him has previously said Conley was peacefully protesting and witnessed the shooting but did not open fire himself. No new attorney for Conley was listed in online court records.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation last week announced the arrest of 23-year-old McKinney. No attorney who could comment on the charges was listed for him in online court records.

Willis said the two men were members of the Bloods street gang.

The fast food restaurant was set on fire the day after Brooks killing, and people protesting police brutality camped out at the site during the weeks that followed. Makeshift barricades had been set up in the area by members of the Bloods street gang who were protesting the killing of Brooks. Willis said Brooks was also a member of the gang, but lawyers for his family said they had no knowledge of such an affiliation.

Authorities said armed men had been blocking roads and turning some drivers away. As the driver of the SUV Secoriea was riding in approached the barricade, armed people began walking toward the vehicle and signaling that the driver couldnt pass, according to officials.

We are alleging that Mr. Conley fired into the car when it failed to stop and respect their barricade and that led to the tragic killing of Secoriea Turner, Willis said.

Willis said both men are accused of manning the barricade and encouraging the commission of various crimes as part of their participation in the Bloods, including aiming a firearm at at least two other people in a car the same day Secoriea was killed.

L. Chris Stewart and Justin Miller, attorneys for the family of Brooks, said they have no knowledge or information regarding any alleged gang affiliation of Rayshard Brooks.

Willis said she has video evidence that shows other people besides Conley and McKinney were involved in Secoriea's killing, and she urged anyone with information to call her office.

The city stopped tolerating protesters occupying the Wendys site after Secorieas killing, and the charred shell of the restaurant was demolished on July 14, 2020.

Secoriea's parents, Charmaine Turner and Secoriey Williamson, said the indictment brings them closer to justice for their daughter.

We are thankful that at least two of the men have been captured and pray and hope that more arrests are made," Turner said at a news conference after the charges were announced.

Turner and Williamson filed a lawsuit in June against the city and city officials. It says city leaders showed negligence in failing to remove armed vigilantes who gathered at the site along with peaceful protesters, creating a dangerous situation that led to the girls death.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  Students, teachers and staff at public and private K-12 schools must wear a mask while indoors under a new public health order Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's administration issued Thursday.

The move came after a handful of school districts in recent days decided to buck the governor's interpretation of a state law and opt not to require face coverings, against the current recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tension over the politically divisive issue has exploded at one school board meeting after other in the past week.

This is a way to ensure uniformity in schools across Virginia, Northam spokeswoman Alena Yarmosky said.

The mandate came in the form of a public health order from the state health commissioner, Dr. Norman Oliver.

It requires that any individual aged 2 or older wear a mask while inside a school building, with limited exceptions for activities including eating, drinking, sleeping and exercising. The text of the order says it takes effect Thursday and will remain in effect until the CDC guidelines change.

The order also says anyone with a medical condition or sincerely held religious objection to wearing a mask may request a reasonable accommodation.

The governor's administration has offered shifting guidance on the subject in the past month as conditions worsened due to the surging delta variant of the coronavirus, frustrating some school officials and parents.

Cases of COVID-19 and hospitalizations are both on the rise in Virginia, although the state is not currently facing the same dire conditionsas others in the South. Over the past two weeks, the rolling average number of daily new cases has increased by nearly 988, an increase of about 132%, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Republican lawmakers blasted the governor's move Thursday.

House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert called the new mandate a triumph of bureaucracy over common sense." Both he and the leadership of the Senate GOP caucus said local divisions should be able to make their own decisions about the issue.

For a short time, it looked as if that would be the case for the 2021-22 school year, which has already begun for some students in Virginia.

After a previous public health order that required masking in schools came to an end in July, Northam opted not to issue a new mandate. His administration said school divisions would have the ability to implement local policies based on community conditions and public health recommendations.

At the time, the CDC was not recommending indoor masking, but the agency changed its guidance in late July, recommending it for all teachers, staff, students and visitors at schools nationwide, regardless of vaccination status.

Then, at a news conference a week ago, Northam highlighted a law passed by the General Assembly earlier in the year mandating in-person instruction, emphasizing that it also requires school districts to follow mitigation strategies from the CDC to the maximum extent practicable.

The governor suggested school districts could face legal action if they did not comply.

His comments prompted some school districts that had not intended to require masks to reverse course. But other districts decided in recent days not to require masks.

Among them was mostly rural Patrick County, where the school board voted Monday to recommend but not mandate mask-wearing, against the advice of its attorney and insurance agent, the Martinsville Bulletin reported.

Superintendent Dean Gilbert said in an interview Thursday that the school board was meeting later in the evening, and he expected the board would comply with the order.

As superintendent - we want to do what we have to do to keep our students safe, he said.

Other districts that had opted against mandates announced plans Thursday to follow the order, including Hanover County and Chesapeake.

Even in districts that adopted mask mandates, school board meetings have turned contentious over the past week.

In Virginia Beach, dozens of people spoke at a meeting that stretched into the early morning hours of Wednesday before the school board ultimately voted to require masks, The Virginian-Pilot reported. Some speakers cursed the board, made offensive gestures at them and accused them of child abuse, according to the newspaper.

The leading candidates in the closely watched race for Virginia governor also weighed in on the issue Thursday.

Republican Glenn Youngkin called the Northam administration's move a first step towards returning to a full shutdown of our economy" and said parents should be able to decide what is best for their children.

A spokesman for Democrat Terry McAuliffe, who recently issued a vaccine mandate for his staff, said McAuliffe believes everyone should follow CDC guidelines in wearing masks and getting vaccinated."
According to the 2020 U.S. Census, within Litchfield County there was a drop in overall population but an increase in the number of Hispanic and Black residents over the past decade.

Overall. Litchfield County saw a drop in population from 189,927 residents in 2010 to 185,186 in 2020, census data shows. The change included 7,645 fewer children living in the county in 2020 than in 2010, the data shows.

But there was an increase of about 6,000 Hispanic people living in Litchfield County, or 71 percent, from 2010, bringing the total Hispanic population to more more than 14,500, the census data shows. Additionally, the total population of Black residents living in Litchfield County has increased by 34 percent, going from about 2,200 to about 3,000 people, the census shows. The Asian population increased by 19 percent or about 560 people to 3,400 residents.

Mark Abraham, executive director of DataHaven  a nonprofit organization that partners with public and private agencies to collect, share and interpret public information, in commenting on census data, said Litchfield County declined in population by 2 percent from 2010 to 2020, which is very similar to what we saw in Connecticuts four other smaller counties.

Although a handful of Litchfield Countys smaller towns saw upticks in population, most towns in the county, including the largest towns there, saw substantial declines, he said. This is a reversal of the trend seen from 2000 to 2010.

Abraham said that, also similar to other areas of the state, Litchfield County is growing more racially and ethnically diverse. While the population that identifies as Hispanic or Latino of any race rose by 71 percent, from 8,535 to 14,580, and the non-Hispanic multi-racial population grew by 214 percent, from 2,342 to 7,352, over the past decade, he said.

This population tends to be younger  for example, while 6 (percent) of all adults in Litchfield County identify as Latino, 15 (percent) of children do, Abraham said. This suggests that Litchfield County will continue to grow more diverse over the next decade, and may begin to grow again if these more diverse communities continue to thrive in the area.

While it is a community of just 1,080 in 2020, a 12 percent decrease from 2010, leading the Litchfield County towns with the greatest percentage increase in the Hispanic population is Canaan, with a 195 percent increase from 2010  going from 19 residents, up to 56 residents.

Additional towns within Litchfield County that saw an increase in the Hispanic population over the past 10 years include Torrington, with a 70 percent increase; Goshen, with a 79 percent increase; Harwinton with an increase of 115 percent; and Plymouth, with an increase of 100 percent, the census data shows.

In contrast, the total non-Hispanic, Hawaiian or Pacific Islander population within Litchfield County has increased by 54 percent of the past 10 years.

There was a decrease over the past decade, however, in the total white population in Litchfield County  of 10 percent, from about 173,000 down to 156,000.

The decline in residents from white-only backgrounds reflected a trend across the state. Although white residents make up nearly three-quarters of the population in the state, the number of white residents dropped by 14 percent in the last decade.

At the same time, the statewide Hispanic population increased by 30 percent, the Asian population climbed by 27 percent and the Black population rose by 7 percent.

The overall Torrington population dropped from 36,383 residents in 2010 to 35,515 residents in 2020, a decrease of 868, census data shows.

Deirdre Houlihan DiCara, executive director of Torrington-based Friends in Service to Humanity of Northwestern Connecticut, or FISH, said it is their mission to serve those experiencing food insecurity or homelessness, and they have definitely seen for some time the demographic changes in our community.

We are so very pleased that people are feeling a comfort level when they come to the FISH food pantry for food assistance, she said. At both the FISH food pantry and shelter, we do our best to connect with clients to guide them to other resources they may need, as we collaborate and partner with a great variety of other agencies.

Maria Gonzalez, director of the nonprofit agency, New Opportunities, said she was happy to see that the census reflects an increase in the Hispanic populations in Torrington.

In 2010, I dont think as many were counted, because people werent getting the information they needed, she said. This year during COVID-19 when the census was going on, I put video on Facebook reminding people that we were open, that we were there to help, and I also reminded them about filling out the census.

Nationally, there was much more of an outreach effort this time around, Gonzalez said. There was a bigger effort to get everyone counted.

Im glad, she said. A few years ago we werent able to get certain grants, because we didnt have the numbers. This year many, many more people took part in the census and it shows. We were helping people fill out the census forms at New Opportunities, because a lot of people didnt know what to do.

It makes a difference when more people are counted, she said.

Torringtons Hispanic population in 2010 was 3,193 people. In 2020, the census reported 5,433 people, an increase of 2,240 people including 1,577 adults and 663 children or 70 percent.

Winsted Mayor Candy Perez the census numbers that stand out for her show a loss of children, in the community.

Her towns population dropped from 11,242 in 2010 to 10,224 in 2020, a difference of 1,018. Out of that number, 627 were children, according to the census data.

I find that very interesting. Town hall staff and the Board of Selectmen will be looking at the data and discussing it, Perez said.

However, Perez said, questions remain.

I have a question about second home data in the northwest corner as well, because that affects a towns population, Perez said.

Kent First Selectman Jean Speck said the decrease in the number of children is concerning.

I am interested in diving into what that decrease means, Speck said. This data will be helpful as we develop our municipal affordable housing plan that is due to OPM next year.

Abraham said the decline in the number of children living in Litchfield County was particularly pronounced: down 19 percent with the drop of 7,645 children, compared to a drop of just 10 percent statewide.

Middlesex County was the only other county with such a large percentage decline in its child population. This may reflect that the population is aging, leading to lower birth rates than previous decades, he said. There may be relatively fewer young families establishing themselves in places like Litchfield County or Middlesex County each year, especially when compared to the larger towns with more housing and employment options.

In particular, Stamford, Norwalk, Danbury, Bridgeport, and New Haven have younger populations and stable or growing populations of children, so are increasing in population even as the rest of the state is declining, Abraham said.

Abraham also has noted longer-term trends in Connecticut are that the population has aged and people, on average, are having fewer children. The state population did grow in size, but was largely driven by people moving into Fairfield County, Abraham said.

School enrollment has declined from 546,349 young people in 2014-15 to an estimated 512,393 in 2020-21, according to the state Department of Education. There were 33,242 people born in Connecticut in 2020, according to the state, down from 36,021 in 2016.
RIDGEFIELD  Town officials announced Friday that residents will have to mask up in public indoor settings regardless of vaccination status beginning at 12:01 a.m. Monday.

Ridgefield joins the neighboring communities of Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield and Redding in issuing an indoor mask mandate. On Friday, town leaders from the Danbury area met virtually to discuss if they should follow in the citys footsteps. Danbury officials started requiring masks in indoor settings last Sunday.

The main purpose of the mandate is to protect children under 12 who are not yet eligible for a vaccine, First Selectman Rudy Marconi said. He explained the more contagious delta variant poses a threat to unvaccinated people with the potential for serious consequences, according to a release.

We have a good percentage of our population that can in fact get very, very ill, and that's what were trying to prevent here, he said. Were starting to see them show up in hospitals, these younger children.

Marconi said protecting children and keeping schools open is the main priority. He also urged those who are eligible for a vaccine to get one. Theres plenty of opportunities to do that, he said.

Ridgefields Health Director Ed Briggs agreed. I can't stress enough the importance of vaccinations for those who are eligible, he said. Unless we get enough people vaccinated, we will be chasing variants forever."

As of Thursday, 39 towns are now considered red, meaning they have an average of at least 15 new daily infections for every 100,000 people in the two weeks ending Aug. 7.

Many of Connecticuts red towns remain in the center and eastern part of the state. Ridgefield is currently orange, which means its averaging 10 to 14 cases per 100,000. But it also leads the area in vaccination rates, with roughly 73 percent of residents immunized.

But Marconi believes that percentage should be higher.

Vaccinated individuals, he explained, may get a cold and feel lousy for a couple of days (if they contracted COVID-19) but they're not gonna fall into serious illness  thats the single most important thing.

The towns recently reactivated COVID task force will continue to monitor data issued by the Center for Disease Control and the state Department of Public Health, Marconi said.

Kendra Baker and Currie Engel contributed to this story.

alyssa.seidman@hearstmediact.com
The theme of this year's Annual Meeting is ' India@75: Government and Business Working Together for Atmanirbhar Bharat', informed the official release by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

New Delhi [India], August 12 (ANI): India@75 is a declaration for a new India with new dreams, new energy and new commitment, said Union Minister Piyush Goyal while virtually addressing the Confederation of Indian Industrys Annual Summits special session on Synergy between the Government and Business for sustainable growth.

The theme of this years Annual Meeting is  India@75: Government and Business Working Together for Atmanirbhar Bharat, informed the official release by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

While delivering the keynote address, Piyush Goyal said that 75 years ago we worked to get freedom, now we must work in mission mode to become Aatma Nirbhar. We have a never-before opportunity to take the country to the sphere of fast-track growth, development and prosperity. At 75, it is about looking at how far we have come and the journey ahead, he said.

Piyush Goyal said that Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is a call to action for 130 crores Indians and 130 crore is not just a number, it is 130 crore possibilities, it is our USP or Unlimited Sources of Potential. He said, we are looking at Jan-Bhagidari and Udyog-Bhagidari for an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Indias youth is a torchbearer of the future, he said.

Union Minister mentioned that India at 75 is a Declaration for a new India with new dreams, new energy and new commitment. He said that it will be a beacon of hope for the world, guided by ancient wisdom and energised by its youth.

Goyal said, Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India wants to mark 75th Independence Day as a watershed moment in its history. At 75 we must look ahead with a clear vision, blueprint and resolve for the next 25 years. In the last seven years, India under the guidance of Prime Minister has embarked to make structural changes with the mantra of Reform, Perform and transform has been our guiding light and these changes have made the Indian business ecosystem one of the most competitive ecosystem. Soon to be launched National Single Window System will address issue of window within a window.

Goyal further added that India has attracted the attention of the world and everyone is looking up to us to take the mantle. He said, Production-Linked incentive (PLI) schemes will be taken up by the business leader to improve our capacity and capability and we are pursuing FTAs with like-minded nations who share our values of democracy, transparency and rule of law. Our aim is to make Brand India a flag bearer of Quality, productivity, talent and innovation. The world is looking towards India for Investment, Innovation or establishment of any Industry and India at 75 is becoming a hub for IDEAS  Investment, Demand, Exports, Aspirations and Start-ups.

Union Minister said that Covid-19 has caused disruptions in our way of doing things. Post Covid, India will emerge as the driving force on the global stage and the speed and results of vaccination drive are very promising. India has inoculated the largest number of people in the world. I call upon the industry to take a leading hand in the vaccination drive to strengthen the synergy between businesses and government, the BJP leader said.

Goyal in his concluding remarks said that the services sector drives on the back of the manufacturing sector. For the country size and scale of India, the manufacturing sector is a key player. I appeal to the industry to engage with the Government in supporting efforts to skilling India. I also urge Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to take more responsibility and action to help increase synergy between business and Government, he said.
BELFAST, Maine (AP)  A large, land-based salmon farming operation in Maine has obtained a key approval it needed to move forward, but opposition to the project remains.

Nordic Aquafarms wants to build a $500-million, 55-acre (22-hectare) salmon farm in Belfast. The company announced earlier this week that is has received an Army Corp of Engineers permit, which is the final permit it needs.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  Samsung leader Lee Jae-yong walked out of prison Friday a year early in a parole decision demonstrating the conglomerate's outsized influence in South Korea as well as continuing leniency for bosses who commit corporate corruption.

Wearing a gray suit and a mask, Lee left the prison near Seoul to a barrage of camera flashes and bowed in apology over the anger ignited by his case, which was related to the explosive corruption scandal that toppled South Koreas previous president in 2017. Hundreds of demonstrators standing behind police lines simultaneously shouted slogans denouncing or welcoming his release.

(I) caused too much concern to our people. I am very sorry, said Lee, who had spent the past months in prison relaying his business decisions through visiting employees. He said he was keeping close attention to the concerns, criticism and huge expectations about him and then walked into a black sedan without answering reporters questions.

Lee, 53, is the third-generation heir of a business empire that runs everything from technology, construction, and financial services companies to hospitals, an amusement park and baseball and soccer clubs. The crown jewel, Samsung Electronics, singlehandedly represents about 20% of South Koreas entire stock market value and one-fourth of its total exports.

Lees parole marked an about-face for the government of President Moon Jae-in, who after being elected in 2017 pledged to curb the excesses of chaebol, or South Koreas family-owned conglomerates, and end their cozy ties with the government. Park Soo-hyun, Moon's spokesperson, said in a statement that Lee's release benefited national interest and pleaded for people's understanding.

Business leaders and key members of Moons government had endorsed Lees early release in recent months, citing Samsungs vital role in South Koreas export-driven economy and the increasing challenges it faces in the global semiconductor market.

Freeing Lee became politically convenient for Moon after recent polls indicated South Koreas public  years removed from the angry protests that filled the streets with millions of demonstrators in 2016 and 2017  largely favored Lees release. With the next presidential election coming in March 2022, the ruling liberals are hoping to win votes among the millions of South Koreans who own Samsung shares, some experts say.

Samsung had no immediate comment to Lees release.

Lee served a total of 18 months of a 30-month sentence for embezzling millions of dollars from corporate funds to bribe then-President Park Geun-hye to ensure her government's support for a 2015 merger between two Samsung affiliates that tightened his control over the corporate empire.

His case was part of a massive corruption scandal that triggered nationwide protests and led to the impeachment and ouster of Park, who has been jailed since 2017 and wont be released until 2039 if she fully serves her term.

Even with his release, Lee isnt out of the legal woods. He appeared at the Seoul Central District Court on Thursday for another trial over alleged stock price manipulation, auditing violations and other financial crimes related to the 2015 merger. His lawyers have insisted the allegations in that case were not criminal acts but were normal business activities.

In including Lee among some 800 prisoners who were granted paroles ahead of Sundays Liberation Day, which celebrates Koreas independence from Japanese colonial rule at the end of World War II, the Justice Ministry cited unspecified economic concerns related to the pandemic and global markets.

Lee runs the Samsung conglomerate in his capacity as vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, a major global provider of computer memory chips and smartphones.

Lee was originally sentenced in 2017 to five years in prison on the corruption charges but was freed after 11 months in February 2018 following a Seoul High Court ruling that reduced his term to 2  years and suspended his sentence, overturning key convictions and reducing the amount of his bribes.

The Supreme Court returned the case to the high court in 2019, ruling that the amount of Lees bribes had been undervalued. Lee was jailed again in January this year following a retrial.

Almost no one had expected Lee to serve his full sentence through July 2022.

After avoiding the issue for months, Moon signaled a step change in May when he told reporters that his government will consider both the intensifying competition in the semiconductor sector and public feelings before deciding whether to grant Lee an early release.

Moons office initially distanced itself from Lees release, saying paroles are up to the Justice Ministry, before using its statement on Friday to address criticism that it revived a tradition of preferential treatment for convicted tycoons.

While Lee has always been in control of Samsung regardless of whether he was in the boardroom or a prison cell, its unclear how quickly he could formally resume his management role. He would need the justice minister to officially approve his return to work as the law bans people convicted for major financial crimes from returning to work for five years after their release. He is widely expected to get that approval.

Samsung showed no obvious sign of trouble while Lee was in prison. It has reported robust profit during the coronavirus pandemic, seeing larger demands for its consumer electronics products and chips used in computing devices and servers as the virus forced millions to stay at home.

But there were also views that Lees prison term compromised Samsungs speed in major investments when it needs to spend aggressively to stay competitive in semiconductors and other technologies.

While Samsung remains dominant in memory chips, which are used to store information, its apparently falling behind rival Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. in the race for high-tech chips designed to perform a broader range of functions.

The demand for advanced chips is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years, driven by 5G wireless services, artificial intelligence and self-driving cars. Some analysts say Samsung will become more active in pursing merger and acquisition deals to gain such technologies as Lee will be able to sign off on investments more easily.
PHOENIX (AP)  Arizona on Thursday reported 2,970 additional COVID-19 cases, the most reported in a single day in the past six months, as the number of virus patients occupying hospital beds continued to climb.

The climbing cases have prompted colleges and universities to impose renewed mask mandates and a plea from hospitals in northwestern Arizona for more people to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Along with reporting over 2,000 additional cases for the ninth day so far this month, the state also reported six more virus deaths as the pandemic totals increased to 955,767 cases and 18,412 deaths.

The last time Arizona reported more cases on a single day was 4,381 on Feb. 9.

All three of the state's public universities announced Wednesday that they were again requiring masks to be worn in classrooms and most other indoor settings. On Thursday, the state's largest community college district and a second large district did the same.

The Maricopa County Community College District, which has 10 colleges across metro Phoenix that serve over 168,000 students annually, said its decision is allowed by state law. Pima Community College, which has five campuses in the Tucson area and had nearly 40,000 students in 2019-2020 school year, said it was following guidance issued by federal, state and local health agencies.

Arizona State University had a public dispute with Republican Gov. Doug Ducey in June prompted by the universitys decision to require unvaccinated students to be regularly tested for the virus and wear masks. The governor blocked the policy by an executive order applying to public colleges and universities that was later added into law in the state budget.

But unlike a budget provision banning K-12 schools from requiring masks to be worn, the budget does not ban universities from imposing universal mask mandates. Some school districts are openly defying the new law because it does not take effect until late next month, although it contains a retroactivity clause.

According to Johns Hopkins University data, the rolling average of daily new cases rose over the past two weeks from 1,424 new cases on July 27 to 2,450 new cases on Tuesday.

There were 1,527 virus patients occupying hospital beds as of Wednesday, a level last seen in February as the winter surge wound down, the state's dashboard reported.

The dashboard also reported the administration of 28,947 additional vaccine doses.

While the daily reports of additional cases and hospitalizations rose steadily in July and so far in August, they remain below numbers seen during the surges last summer and last winter. Deaths are far fewer than the previous surges.

In Mohave County, the county health director and the CEOs of the area's four major hospitals took the rare step of holding a joint news conference urging people to get vaccinated.

The heads of Havasu Regional Medical Center, Western Arizona Regional Medical Center, Kingman Regional Medical Center and Valley View Medical Center said unvaccinated people make up over 90% of their COVID-19 patients.

We are again asking the community out there to reconsider getting vaccinated, said Feliciano Jiron, Valley Medical Center CEO. Work with others around you that may need help and your neighbors and friends that may not understand. Have some of these conversations with them.

Mohave County has among the lowest vaccination rates among Arizona's 15 counties at just 35% of the population getting at least one shot compared with 53% statewide and nearly 60% nationally. Only 58% of Mohave County residents over age 65 who are more at risk of serious illness are vaccinated, compared with 89% statewide.

In contrast, Pima County has vaccinated 59% of its population and more than 93% of those over age 65.

All four Mohave County hospital systems have asked federal officials to deploy teams of nurses to help it deal with a surge of patients, according state health officials. The state Health Services Department is working to get the federal government to fill the request, spokesman Steve Elliott said.

There are already 15 professionals from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services deployed to Mohave County to run infusion centers providing monoclonal antibody therapy, Kingman Regional Medical Center spokeswoman Teri Williams said. The therapy can reduce the length of COVID-19 symptoms and cut the risk of severe illness requiring hospitalization.

Kingman Regional had 154 patients in all on Thursday and was treating 25 people with COVID-19, six of them in intensive care, Williams said. Those patients are more labor-intensive to care for and drain resources from the hospital.

When you get a large influx of people with COVID and this has been happened for 18 months, hospital staff are not only exhausted," Williams said. "We just dont have enough staff to take care of them as well as other patients that need hospital care.
BOSTON (AP)  Massachusetts grew older, less white and more populated during the past decade, according to information released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday.

Those identifying as white alone in Massachusetts  not Hispanic or Latino  declined from 76.1% in 2010 to 67.6% in 2020.

During the same decade the percentage of the population identifying as Hispanic or Latino grew from 9.6% in 2010 to 12.6% in 2020. The Black and African-American population (non-Hispanic) increased slightly from 6% in 2010 to 6.5% in 2020. The Asian population also ticked up from 5.3% to 7.2%.

Those identifying as two or more races (not Hispanic or Latino) more than doubled from 1.9% in 2010 to 4.7% in 2020.

The total population for Massachusetts increased from more than 6.5 million in 2010 to just over 7 million, making it the 15th most populous state in the nation and ensuring it retains all nine of its existing seats in the U.S. House.

Most of the growth in Massachusetts came in the eastern portion of the state, particularly in the Metropolitan Boston area. Suffolk County, which includes Boston, added nearly 76,000 residents in the past decade, boosting its population by 10.5%, while neighboring Middlesex County added the most new residents of any county in the state  nearly 129,000  increasing its population by 8.6%.

Worcester County added more than 63,000 residents, increasing its population by 8%.

In contrast, two of the states most western counties were the only ones to see a decline in population. Berkshire Country saw its population fall by -1.7% during the past decade while Franklin County fell by -0.5%.

Nationwide, Massachusetts ranked sixth when measured by the age of the population over 18. It fell behind Washington D.C., ranked first, and four other New England states  Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island  making the region one of the oldest in the country when measured by the percentage of its population over 18. Massachusetts reported 80.6% percent of its population aged 18 or over.

In 2010, the state reported 21.7% of its population was under the age of 18, compared to 19.4% of the population in 2020.

The greater Boston area also had some of the tightest housing markets in the state. Suffolk County, which includes Boston, had a housing vacancy rate of 7.1% in 2020, while other neighboring counties had even tighter vacancy rates: Middlesex County (4.9%); Norfolk County (4.5%) and Essex County (5.5%).

On average  according to the Census Bureau  smaller counties tended to lose population and more populous counties tended to grow during the past decade. Population growth was almost entirely in metro areas.

In Massachusetts, Middlesex County remained the most populous with more than 1.6 million people, followed by Worcester County with more than 862,000, Essex County with more than 809,000 and Suffolk County with nearly 798,000.

The fastest growing city in Massachusetts is Revere, which saw its population jump by more than 20 percent to 62,000 residents, according to Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin. Boston remained the largest city with more than 675,600 residents followed by Worcester (206,500 residents), Springfield (156,000), Cambridge (118,400) and Lowell (115,500).

The shift in population in Massachusetts  with most growth occurring around Boston  means new political districts drawn in the northeastern part of the state will have to shrink in geographic size while districts in western and central Massachusetts will have to expand to help equalize the number of voters in each, said Galvin, a Democrat and the state's top elections official.

Massachusetts voting rights advocates said Thursday that with the release of the new data, they will propose what they called a unity" redistricting map with the goal in part of ensuring equitable representation for Black, indigenous, Latinx, Asian American, people of color, immigrant, and low-income communities.

The release of the redistricting data culled from the 2020 census is coming more than four months later than expected due to delays caused by the pandemic. The redistricting numbers states use for redrawing congressional and legislative districts show where white, Asian, Black and Hispanic communities grew over the past decade.

It also shows which areas have gotten older or younger and the number of people living in dorms, prisons and nursing homes.

The data covers geographies as small as neighborhoods and as large as states. An earlier set of data released in April provided state population counts and showed the U.S. had 331 million residents last year, a 7.4% increase from 2010.
BRANFORD  For the next 30 days, those passing by the Indian Neck/Pine Orchard Volunteer Fire Company can see a black bunting draped over the firehouse.

Caroline Schollaert, 27, a former firefighter and EMT for the company, was shot Aug. 3 in Jacksonville, Fla., after a man attempted to break into her car, the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office said. She later died from her injuries.

We put that up as soon as we found out, said Capt. Chris Gagliardi, of the Indian Neck/Pine Orchard Volunteer Fire Company.

A man was later arrested and charged with second-degree murder, the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office announced Tuesday.

Schollaert, a petty officer 3rd Class for the U.S. Coast Guard, was sent to New Haven around 2013 after graduating basic training in New Jersey. She was assigned to be a firefighter for the Coast Guards Aids to Navigation Team for Long Island Sound, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

At that time, she became part of the Indian Neck/Pine Orchard Volunteer Fire Company.

Gagliardi said Schollaert fit in quickly with the tight-knit team. She even helped plan a surprise party for Gagliardis 22nd birthday.

I always think about that, he said. She was very generous.

She walked in the door and she knew how to make you smile, Gagliardi added. She was always looking out for others and putting others first. ,

Schollaert started off as a firefighter with the volunteer fire company. Near the end of her tenure in New Haven, she finished classes to become an emergency medical technician, Gagliardi said.

As a member of the Aids to Navigation Team, she kept navigation equipment along waterways to ensure the free flow of maritime traffic, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

Gagliardi said Schollaerts Coast Guard training came in handy.

She knew the water a lot better than we did, he said.

In 2017, Schollaert left Connecticut to attend Aviation Maintenance Technician training in North Carolina. She graduated to her current rank and was assigned to the Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron in Jacksonville, the Coast Guard said.

The Virginia native joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 2013.

We are extremely saddened by the loss of a member of our Coast Guard family, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement.

Early on Aug. 3, Schollaert called the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office and reported that someone was burglarizing her vehicle, according to T.K. Waters, chief of investigations for Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

While on the phone with the sheriffs office, Schollaert held the suspect at gunpoint and ordered him to remain until police arrived, Waters said.

The suspect, 22-year-old Tyree Levon Parker, fired several shots at Schollaert, Waters said. She later died from her injuries.

Parker later turned himself in to police. He has been charged with second-degree murder. Waters said other possible charges are pending.

Police said Parker used a handgun that was stolen from an unlocked vehicle in the same neighborhood 11 days before.

When Gagliardi heard of Schollaerts death, he was heartbroken.

It shouldnt have happened, he said. Everyone in the fire department is completely torn over this.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP)  Embattled Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin acknowledged Friday he may have lost majority support in Parliament but said he will seek the backing of opposition parties to keep his government from collapsing and promised to hold elections next year.

Muhyiddin has pledged to test support for his leadership when Parliament resumes next month, but has been under increasing pressure after some governing coalition lawmakers withdrew their backing.

Muhyiddin said he could take the easy way out and resign but that no other lawmaker currently has the necessary support of a majority to be appointed by the king as the new leader. In such a case, he said, there would be no government and this would throw the country into limbo during a worsening pandemic.

Muhyiddin said he will meet opposition leaders to obtain their support in exchange for a raft of benefits, including proposals to limit the prime minister's tenure, lower the voting age from 21 to 18, bolster checks and balances, and offer the opposition leader perks similar to a senior minister. He said he would also increase the budget to fight the coronavirus and give more cash aid to the poor.

The purpose of my proposal is to enable the government to continue to function amid this epidemic with bipartisan support in Parliament, he said in a televised speech.

I do not intend to continue to cling onto power. In this situation, it is right that the mandate be returned to the people to elect a new government when the time is right. Depending on the pandemic situation, I give a commitment that the 15th general election will be held no later than the end of July next year," he said.

Muhyiddins announcement marked a U-turn just a week after he told Malaysians he believes he still has majority support and would call for a vote of confidence in Parliament in September.

At least eight lawmakers from the United Malays National Organization, the largest party in the ruling alliance, have signed declarations withdrawing their support for the government, which is enough to cause its collapse because of its razor-thin majority. Two UMNO ministers have resigned from the Cabinet.

Under Malaysia's Constitution, the prime minister must resign if he loses majority support and the king can appoint a new leader who he believes has the confidence of Parliament. But the opposition and UMNO are split and unable to agree on who should become leader.

A three-party alliance led by Anwar Ibrahim, which is the biggest opposition bloc, said Muhyiddin has now openly admitted that he has lost majority support and must resign.

The bloc slammed Muhyiddin for offering blatant corruption on live television" and making insincere offers to save his political career. They accused him of twisting the constitution and undermining the king's role in appointing the prime minister.

The bloc, which earlier urged all Muhyiddin opponents to back Anwar as prime minister, said it was confident it can offer a better plan to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, revive the economy and save the people."

Four smaller opposition parties also rejected Muhyiddin's offer and repeated calls for him to quit and allow the democratic process to resume." They said all Muhyiddin's proposals can be brought to Parliament by a new leader.

Muhyiddin took power in March 2020 after initiating the collapse of the former reformist government that won 2018 elections. His party joined hands with UMNO and several others to form a new government that is unstable. UMNO has been unhappy with playing second fiddle to Muhyiddins smaller party.

He had been ruling by ordinance without legislative approval since January after suspending Parliament under a state of emergency declared to battle the coronavirus. Critics say he used the emergency, which expired Aug. 1, to avoid a vote in Parliament that would show he had lost a majority of support.

Public anger with his government has mounted after a lockdown imposed in June failed to contain the virus, with daily cases soaring above 20,000 this month. Malaysia reported 21,468 new cases on Friday, bringing its confirmed total to 1.36 million. Deaths have soared to near 12,000.
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  The New York state Assembly will suspend its investigation of Gov. Andrew Cuomo once he steps down after its leader concluded the Legislature didn't have the clear authority to impeach a departed official, the chamber's top Democrat said Friday.

Cuomo announced Tuesday he planned to resign over sexual harassment allegations as it became clear he was almost certain to be impeached by the Legislature. He said his resignation was effective in 14 days, at which point he'll be replaced by Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Some lawmakers have urged the Assembly to press on with an impeachment proceeding, perhaps to bar Cuomo from holding state office in the future if he attempted a political comeback.

But Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said Friday that lawyers had advised the body's judiciary committee that the state constitution doesn't authorize the Legislature to impeach an elected official no longer in office.

Heastie had provided reporters a less definitive legal memorandum saying Assembly lawyers and outside counsel had concluded lawmakers probably lack the constitutional authority to do so, though the matter hasn't been settled definitely.

Let me be clear  the committees work over the last several months, although not complete, did uncover credible evidence in relation to allegations that have been made in reference to the governor, said Heastie, a New York City Democrat.

He said that included evidence related to the sexual harassment claims, possible misuse of state resources in conjunction with publication of the governors book on the pandemic, and improper and misleading disclosure of nursing home data."

This evidence  we believe  could likely have resulted in articles of impeachment had he not resigned," Heastie said.

When asked whether lawmakers could still release a report with findings to the public as originally planned, Heastie said: I guess it could.

The concern behind that is, if youre in the middle of an investigation and other law enforcement areas are looking at this, I dont know if we can, I dont want to have us step on their toes while there are criminal investigations going on," he said Friday on the news program Capital Tonight.

Heastie didn't explain how releasing a committee report could interfere with independent law enforcement investigations. He has previously said that hes asked the committee to turn over evidence it had gathered to the relevant investigatory authorities.

Heastie denied that he had reached any deal with Cuomo to let him resign without facing an impeachment trial or investigation.

There was no deal, Heastie said. Ive said that 150 times and Ill make that the 151st time.

Cuomos office and his lawyer, Rita Glavin, didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

The first woman to publicly accuse Cuomo of misconduct, Lindsey Boylan, called the Assembly leadership's decision to call off its separate investigation an unjust cop out.

The public deserves to know the extent of the Governors misdeeds and possible crimes. His victims deserve justice and to know he will not be able harm others, she tweeted.

Since March, outside lawyers have been helping the Assembly conduct a wide-ranging investigation on whether there were grounds to impeach Cuomo. The announcement that the inquiry would cease came on a day the Assembly had initially set as a deadline for Cuomos legal team to respond with any additional evidence refuting the allegations against him.

Cuomo faces ongoing probes from the state attorney general over his $5 million book deal and from federal prosecutors, who are scrutinizing his handling of nursing home deaths data. The states ethics commissioners, who could levy fines against Cuomo, are also looking into similar issues.

Heastie also cited active investigations by county district attorneys in Manhattan, Albany, Westchester, Nassau and Oswego concerning incidents of alleged sexual harassment by Cuomo. Several women have said the governor inappropriately touched them, including an aide who said he groped her breast.

Several committee members said Heastie's announcement took them by surprise.

Assembly Judiciary Committee Chair Charles Lavine, a Democrat, said Heastie alone made the decision to suspend the impeachment investigation.

Committee members were split in their reaction with some like Assemblymember David Weprin, also a Democrat, saying an impeachment trial would have been a tremendous waste of government resources. Latrice Walker, a Democrat, told NY1 on Tuesday that lawmakers have more important work to do than focus on Cuomos future career choices.

But others objected to the end of the Legislatures probe. Assemblymember Tom Abinanti, a Westchester Democrat on the committee, called the decision premature.

The governor has not even left office, he said. The committee should continue to meet and issue a public report to the people on the extensive investigation that the committee and its attorneys have conducted to date.

The Republican Minority Leader in the Assembly, Will Barclay, called it a massive disservice to the goals of transparency and accountability.

The Assemblys probe has already cost taxpayers at least $1.2 million, according to Lavine.

All six Republicans and nine out of 15 Democrats on the committee said the Assembly should at least release a public report on the findings of the impeachment investigation.

Lavine said he will be consulting with committee members about whether to do so, and will decide once Cuomo resigns.

Thats something I'm going to give full consideration to, Lavine said. I expect there will be a full report.

Legal experts this week said they had questions over both the legality and practicality of trying to impeach Cuomo after hed already left office.

Ross Garber, an attorney who's represented four recent U.S. governors facing impeachment proceedings in their respective states, had told The Associated Press his reading of state law is that a person must be in office at the time of impeachment.

Richard Rifkin, an attorney who's worked in state government for 40 years, including in the attorney generals office and as special counsel to former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, said the language in the state Constitution on impeachment was really quite vague" and that there wasn't definitive precedent saying whether impeachment could continue after Cuomo left office.

___

Attribution on a quote in this story has been corrected to reflect that it was said by Heastie, not Judiciary Committee Chair Charles Lavine. The story has also been corrected to reflect that federal, not state, prosecutors are investigating the handling of nursing home data.
NORFOLK, Va. (AP)  Police in the Virginia city of Norfolk say they've solved the decade-old slaying of a college student who was a nephew of the late Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings.

WAVY-TV reports that Norfolk police announced Thursday that they have made four arrests in the killing.

Christopher Cummings, 20, was a student at Old Dominion University in 2011 and had just finished his junior year when he was shot and killed in his home. His roommate also was shot but survived.

Police say four men from the nearby city of Newport News have been indicted on 15 charges each, including murder.

Police identified the men as Kwaume Edwards, 32; Javon Doyle, 31; Ahmad Watson, 30; and Rashad Dooley, 28. They have been jailed without bond, police said. It's not known if any of them has hired an attorney who could comment on the case.

A police news release gave few details about the killing and did not offer a suspected motive. Police Chief Larry Boone said in a statement that investigators followed up on every lead necessary to ensure the Norfolk Police Department was able to deliver justice to both the surviving victim and to the Cummings family."

Cummings was the son of the late congressmans brother, James Cummings. In 2011, Elijah Cummings spoke about the shooting and reflected on what it was like for tragedy to strike his own extended family.

When it hits your house and it hits your family, Ill tell you, its a lot different because I think it gives you a far better understanding of what people are feeling in those circumstances, and you can also understand the pain and the anger and the desire for closure that is, making sure that whoever might be responsible for an incident like this is brought to justice, Cummings told The Associated Press then.

The congressman died in 2019.
Orange Police Department / Contributed Photo

ORANGE  A major accident closed a section of northbound Route 15 and sent one person to the hospital Friday afternoon, according to Connecticut State Police.

State police said the accident involved multiple vehicles. The accident occurred shortly before 2 p.m. Friday near Exit 58 in Orange.
TOLLAND  A gas station convenience store attendant was restrained and assaulted during a theft of cigarette cartons this week, according to Connecticut State Police.

The agency didnt say when the incident occurred, but said the Eastern District Major Crime Squad is investigating a robbery at the Mobil gas station at 56 Merrow Road.
NEW ROADS, La. (AP)  A Louisiana sheriff is investigating after three children riding on tubes on a waterway were struck and injured by a pontoon boat.

The occupants on the boat all fled the scene after the Aug. 8 crash, Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff Rene Thibodeaux told WBRZ-TV.
After a monthslong delay caused by COVID-19, the U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday afternoon plans to publish counts of the American population, broken down by race, ethnicity, age and other categories. The release will kick off the state-by-state process of redistricting, which entails redrawing the boundaries of the areas covered by each federal and state political office.

Behind schedule, officials must hustle in order to meet their own deadlines and prepare state maps before primary elections in 2022.

After the once-in-a-decade count wrapped up at the end of 2020, Census staff got to work processing the count. The bureau released top-level population totals for each state in April, four months later than it usually would. Population growth meant five states gained one seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to the official results. Texas picked up two seats. California and New York are among the seven states that will lose a seat.

Now, with a second batch of census data poised for release  several months later than the deadline set pre-COVID-19  state lawmakers will need to decide where the lines that define seats everywhere from the U.S. House of Representatives down to their own Statehouses will fall. The ultimate goal is to create voting districts each with roughly equal numbers of people.

The early data was an overview, said Wendy Underhill, director of elections and redistricting at the National Conference of State Legislatures. Now they've got the details worked out for us.

U.S. Census Bureau sampling of the population done each year is considered to be highly accurate, said Sudip Bhattacharjee, a professor at the University of Connecticuts business school and a census senior research fellow. But the U.S. Constitution requires a full counting of every individual living in the country every 10 years. One has been done every decade since 1790.

That is how congressional seats are determined, Bhattacharjee said. It also determines the share of taxes that a state would get from the federal government.

Roughly $1.5 trillion in federal dollars were tied to the 2010 census, according to research from George Washington University. That includes funds for Medicare and Medicaid, both of which are among the U.S. governments biggest line-items, as well as many other state and local programs.

Underhill said traditionally, each states legislature does the redistricting. Elected legislators dont redraw the lines everywhere, however: In California, members of the bipartisan Citizens Redistricting Commission undergo a complex hiring process.

During the last Census, Underhill said two-thirds of states had a draft of their new maps done by August. This time, barely any have even begun because they lacked the data, and delays have left them a compressed time table.

"It does mean that states will be very active from this moment right through the very early parts of 2022," Underhill said. "There are fewer months for them to get their work done."

In Connecticut, the deadline of Sept. 15 is enshrined in the state Constitution. But the committee of legislators appointed to redraw the lines missed the initial due date in both 2000 and 2010.

A secondary deadline of Nov. 30 serves as a backup in Connecticut. And if the designated lawmakers dont complete the job by then, the state Supreme Court can step in and redraw the maps itself, according to the states Office of Legislative Research. In 2010, the court appointed a Columbia University elections expert to redraw the maps based on recommendations from the commission.

Rep. Gregg Haddad, D-Mansfield, is the co-chair of the bipartisan committee that will redraw the lines this year, which so far has met only once. Haddad said with no population data on-hand, there hadn't been a need to meet.

"It really hampered our ability to accomplish much of anything," he said.

Following the Thursday data release, the committee plans to stage at least one public hearing in each of Connecticut's five congressional districts before the first deadline of Sept. 15.

Haddad said the group will try to change people's districts to the least extent possible.

"We do need to start paying some attention to just ensuring that communities can expect some level of status quo," he said. "We're not going to shake things up so much that the map becomes unrecognizable to people in their own communities."

The decennial census information is released in phases so experts can ensure each households data is kept private, Bhattacharjee added. The more granular the data, the greater the risk of exposing peoples private information and the more work the Census Bureau has to do in order to protect it.

Even though not everyone fills out their census questionnaire unprompted  the Census Bureau says about two-thirds of the population self-responded in 2020  persistent follow-up means the error rate for the decennial counts are low, typically somewhere between 1 and 3 percent, Bhattacharjee said.
Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel, has admitted NGolo Kante is an injury doubt for their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace on Satur...





Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel, has admitted NGolo Kante is an injury doubt for their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Kante was taken off midway through the second half of the Super Cup victory over Villarreal on Wednesday.

The France midfielder is now unlikely to feature at Stamford Bridge.

There is an issue with NGolo Kante from the (Super Cup) final we need to sort.

The decisions are not made yet, who starts and who we push over the line, Tuchel told the media on Friday.

Tuchel also said Hakim Ziyech, who scored Chelseas only goal on Wednesday, had suffered a serious shoulder injury.

But the Moroccan could return to training within a fortnight.

Hakim is out for sure. It will be treated conservatively, we dont need surgery which is good news, he added.
President Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration is determined to tackle insecurity in Nigeria. Buhari gave the assurance at the gradu...





President Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration is determined to tackle insecurity in Nigeria.

Buhari gave the assurance at the graduation of Course 29 participants of the National Defence College on Friday in Abuja.

Represented by the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, the president said his government had embarked on a comprehensive multisectoral and cross-thematic approach, by strengthening existing structures and initiating new security outfits.

He said: Although the nation is still grappling with the challenges of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, farmers and herder clashes and militancy, the responses by my government and security agencies in tackling these threats have been strong, determined and robust in order to enhance the security of lives and property of Nigerians.

We consolidated the peace in the Niger Delta and recovered vast territories overtaken by terrorists in the North East.

We are making continuous efforts at consolidating the progress made in improving the enabling security environment for peace and development.

In spite of all of these challenges, our faith in the nation is unshaken.

Our resolve and will to take the nation to greater heights remains strong.

My governments collective effort is to leverage technological innovations to deliver the dividends of democracy for national development.

For the graduands of Course 29, you are graduating at a time when the values acquired in the College are most needed.
Niger State Commissioner for Information, Mohammed Idris is out of bandits captivity. He was released around 9:30pm at a location in Suleja...





Niger State Commissioner for Information, Mohammed Idris is out of bandits captivity.

He was released around 9:30pm at a location in Suleja and taken to a hospital for medicals.

Idris was seized from his residence at Baban Tunga village in Tafa Local Government Area in the wee hours of Monday.

Speaking after regaining freedom, the official narrated his ordeal and revealed why he was abducted.

Idris disclosed that the assailants came from Zamfara and were not familiar with the Suleja terrain.

He said they told him someone gave them money to carry out the act thinking Governor Sani Bello allocates N200million to his office every month.

The person who sent them told them that if I am unable to pay N200million as ransom, they should kill me.

They drew the picture of my house, the exact way the house is. The person that sent them and the bandits, I forgive all of them.

The state government insists no ransom was paid to secure Idris from the kidnappers.
A white-tailed deer is seen eating leaves in front of a home in Bethesda, Md., on May 27, 2020. Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images/TNS
As school starts back up, the New Orleans Public Library has tons of resources for educators and students of all ages to help them achieve academic success. Students can meet with a live online tutor through HomeworkLouisiana, Dive into e-Books for kids with Tumblebooks, use online encyclopedias like Britannica Library and World Book Online Encyclopedia, and more.

Additionally, the library staff has created subject-specific homework guides for grades kindergarten through 12th grade detailing books and other resources to help teach and study subjects ranging from English language arts to math, information literacy to civics, geography to science, and much more.

All this and more can be found at homework.nolalibrary.org.

WHO DUN IT? Librarian and mystery lover Shelby Goddard will host the New Orleans Public Librarys monthly Who Dun It? Book Club from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 19 via Zoom.

Participants will discuss When No One is Watching, by Alyssa Cole, a slow-burning thriller that follows protagonist Sydney Green as she discovers a grisly truth while attempting to stay connected to her beloved Brooklyn neighborhood as it rapidly becomes gentrified.

Visit catalog.nolalibrary.org to reserve a copy of When No One is Watching, which is available in print, e-book, and audiobook formats.

For details, including the title of next month's book and Zoom information, email sgoddard@nolalibrary.org or visit nolalibrary.org/events. New members are always welcome.

TEEN CRAFT: Teens are invited to pick up a Take & Make Craft Kit from any library location ahead of this months Zoom crafting workshop 4 p.m. Aug. 24. All Library locations have a limited number of craft kits available with each kit containing items to create a craft and an instruction sheet. Additional supplies may be required and will be noted on the instruction sheet.

Take & Make Craft Kits are made possible through support from the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library. Kits can be reserved by calling your library location.

Dr. Gabriel Morley is director of the New Orleans Public Library.
The 2021 French Quarter Festival's dream of having its event this year lasted a little longer than the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival's.

But in the end, COVID-19 killed it, too.

+5 2021 New Orleans Jazz Fest canceled as Louisiana COVID cases surge; spring dates announced Last week, the Rolling Stones announced that drummer Charlie Watts would not perform at the 2021 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival this fall.

Producers of the French Quarter Fest announced Friday they had called off the festival, which was scheduled to open Sept. 30 after first being postponed from its usual spot on the spring calendar. Rising rates of COVID infections and hospitalizations, sparked by the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus, were cited as the reason.

"As the state of Louisiana and our nation see a precipitous rise in COVID cases, we must put the health, safety and well-being of our entire family first  our fans, musicians, staff, volunteers, sponsors and partners, as well as the residents and businesses in the French Quarter," read a statement from the festival. "It is with great sadness that we must cancel French Quarter Festival 2021 but look forward to celebrating next spring as we return to the stage April 21-24, 2022."

Said Emily Madero, CEO of the non-profit French Quarter Festivals Inc.: After careful consideration and with consultation from a host of experts including city and state officials, we concluded this was the best decision for the safety and security of our community. We share the heartbreak this announcement brings to our fans, musicians, food vendors, and our broader community."

The French Quarter Festival had previously dropped Oct. 3 from its schedule so as not to conflict with a New Orleans Saints home game that Sunday in the Caesars Superdome.

Five days ago, Jazz Fest's producers bowed out of 2021 as well.

The French Quarter Festival plans to provide relief payments to about 1,500 musicians and gig workers who will lose out on anticipated income because of the its cancellation. The festival's presenting sponsor, Chevron, is helping make those payments possible.

Jazz Fest has also said it will pay deposits that were due to all musical acts that were on the schedule for 2021.

French Quarter Festivals Inc. also produces the Satchmo Summerfest on the grounds of the Old U.S. Mint and New Orleans Jazz Museum. The 2021 Satchmo Summerfest took place July 31 and Aug. 1. It was the first in-person music festival in New Orleans since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

With both Jazz Fest and French Quarter Fest having scrapped their 2021 events, what initially looked to be a jam-packed October in New Orleans is now much less so. The Voodoo Music + Arts Experience, which normally occupies Halloween weekend, elected early on to sit out 2021 entirely.

+3 Here's a list of the biggest New Orleans area event cancellations due to COVID-19 As the fourth wave of COVID-19 hits Louisiana, several local events are being called off due to safety concerns and at the urging of city gove

The only major music festival still on the calendar in New Orleans for October is BUKU: Planet B, on the grounds of Mardi Gras World. It features headliners Megan Thee Stallion and Machine Gun Kelly, plus dozens more hip-hop and electronic dance music acts.

BUKU is co-produced by AEG Presents, which announced this week that proof of a COVID vaccine will be required for admittance to all AEG-owned and -operated festivals and venues starting Oct. 1.

New Orleans announced similar requirements Thursday for a wide range of indoor events, including concerts and Saints games, and businesses.
Plaquemines Port has secured land for its proposed "gateway" container ship terminal, giving it a jump on a rival effort by the Port of New Orleans to build a large terminal at Violet in St. Bernard Parish.

The Plaquemines Parish agency said that its private sector partner, LA23 Development Co., this week secured an option to buy 1,000 acres of land and 8,200 feet of Mississippi River frontage on the West Bank of the Mississippi River some 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. It also said its governing body, which is comprised of the members of the Parish Council, approved another private sector partner, Sustainability Partners, to begin a $50 million project to connect the proposed terminal site to railroads.

+4 Angry residents force St. Bernard Parish Council 'no' vote on $1.5 billion Port Nola expansion The St. Bernard Parish Council voted unanimously late Tuesday to oppose a proposed $1.5 billion Port of New Orleans container ship facility in

The announcements come on the heels of a vote by the neighboring St. Bernard Parish Council against the proposed Port Nola terminal at Violet. The St. Bernard Council had voted under pressure from angry residents who see Port Nola's $1.5 billion container terminal as disrupting their quality of life, especially because of the thousands of daily truckloads expected to enter and leave the terminal.

Though as semi-independent, state-owned entities the Plaquemines and New Orleans ports are technically "sister ports," they have a behind-the-scenes rivalry to be the first to build a large-scale container ship terminal downriver from New Orleans.

Plaquemines Port is one of the largest in the world for moving bulk cargo, including agricultural products, as well as oil and petrochemicals. But world shipping volumes have for years been moving toward containerized shipping, and in recent years Gulf of Mexico ports, including Houston and Mobile, have been vying to capture market share.

Paul Matthews, deputy director of Plaquemines Port, said the United States' largest and busiest container terminal - at Los Angeles-Long Beach - has become overburdened, which has meant that shipments coming from Asia and elsewhere can arrive there much earlier than they can at Gulf of Mexico ports but that they must wait for two weeks to offload.

Plaquemines came up with a master plan for its terminal a decade ago and hired its first executive director in 2013.

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The process took a big leap forward in May when the agency struck a deal with APM Terminals, one of the world's largest container shipping companies, for a 120-day feasibility study with the prospect that APM would manage it when built.

Though Plaquemines executives don't talk explicitly about a rivalry with Port Nola, their announcement this week about the land purchase also highlighted some differences that have made Port Nola's proposal controversial. They note, for example, that Plaquemines Parish has a much smaller population than St. Bernard and that most of the population lives in the north end of the parish at Belle Chasse, well away from the terminal site. They also note that their proposal would be light on truck traffic and instead use inland waterways and rail to move containers from ship to inland destinations.

Both Port Nola and Plaquemines are looking to facilitate the larger container ships that are coming through the Panama Canal. Port Nola's existing terminal at Napoleon Avenue is limited by both the river's shallower draft and height limitations at the Crescent City Connection.

Plaquemines Parish already has a 47-foot draft and no height limitation. It would also have a six-hour advantage over bringing ships further upriver to Port Nola.

The story has been updated to clarify that the land was secured by an option to buy, rather than an outright sale.
Over the past two weeks, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents have seized at least three batches of counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination cards that were being shipped to New Orleans.

The blank cards, mimicking official ones supplied by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, were confiscated in Memphis, Tennessee, between Aug. 4 and Aug. 10 after being sent from Shenzhen, China, Customs spokesperson Matthew Dyman said.

On their face, the phonies look remarkably similar to the CDC cards, with spaces for the recipient's name, personal information, vaccine maker, lot number and date of place that shots were administered. They even have the CDC logo in the upper right corner.

But Customs officials described them as "low quality." "There were typos, unfinished words and some of the Spanish verbiage on the back was misspelled," Dyman said.

The agency has begun to see an increase in fake COVID vaccination cards. On Aug. 10, Memphis Customs officers seized another 13 shipments headed to other states, including Alabama, New York, South Carolina, New Jersey and Tennessee, Dyman said.

New Orleans will require vaccination proof or negative COVID-19 test for indoor activities New Orleans residents and visitors will need to prove theyve been vaccinated against COVID-19 or tested negative within 72 hours for the viru

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The market for counterfeit COVID cards in the United States likely began heating up as businesses, colleges and government officials began pondering and implementing vaccine mandates amid the most recent coronavirus surge. Spurred by Louisiana's record-breaking fourth wave of infections, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell on Thursday announced that residents and visitors to restaurants, bars, fitness centers and other indoor venues must show proof of either a COVID-19 vaccination or a recent negative test for entry. The mandate takes effect Monday.

At least one of the counterfeit card batches seized in Memphis was destined to New Orleans' Central Business District, Customs said. The agency did not provide a specific address.

Federal and local officials warned against buying, selling or using counterfeit vaccination cards. It not only puts you and others at risk, it's illegal, Dyman said. Use of a official government agency seal such as the CDC's is a federal crime punishable by as long as five years in prison, the FBI said.

+2 Need proof of COVID vaccine? LA Wallet app can store your vaccine card on your phone Many New Orleans bars, restaurants and other indoor venues will soon require proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or a recent negative coronavirus 

In New Orleans, people may present their official vaccination card for entry to regulated buildings or show proof of vaccination via the free LA Wallet app on their smartphones.

These vaccinations are free and available everywhere, said Michael Neipert, Memphis area port director. If you do not wish to receive a vaccine, that is your decision. But dont order a counterfeit, waste my officers time, break the law and misrepresent yourself."
For the second week in a row, parents opposed to Louisiana's mask mandate for students showed up at the St. Tammany Parish School Board meeting Thursday, fewer in number this time but wearing red to demonstrate their anger. Unlike last week, the crowd also included several parents in favor of a mask mandate.

Board members responded by voting to ask the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to let parents choose whether to send their children to school with masks. St. Tammany Superintendent Frank Jabbia said the local school system was waiting for a directive from the state board, which plans to discuss the issue Aug. 18 in Baton Rouge. If BESE adopts a policy change, a special meeting of the St. Tammany board will be held, Jabbia said.

+4 Some St. Tammany parents revolt against masks in schools. Can the School Board even make a change? As dozens of parents berated the St. Tammany Parish School Board last week over their children having to wear masks in class, they pleaded wit

It was Gov. John Bel Edwards who issued the mask mandate that includes schools. Attorney General Jeff Landry, however, says the authority over school masks rests with BESE.

A crowd of about 60 people gathered outside the School Board meeting at Robert Brooks Educational Center in Slidell. One person carried a U.S. flag, and others carried signs saying "My kids my choice," "Lets End This Madness" and "Put the Pressure on Garvey," presumably a reference to BESE member Jim Garvey, whose district includes St. Tammany Parish.

At several points, arguments broke out between a handful of pro-mask people and the largely anti-mask crowd.

Rina Gallien, who said her father spent 27 days on a ventilator with COVID, said she wasn't able to make last week's School Board meeting but wanted to make her opinion known.

"If your kid doesn't want to wear a mask, keep them home," she said.

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Anti-mask people began to challenge her, as she and others began raising their voices. "Go back where you came from," said Steven Romano, who then turned and shook his backside at Gallien.

Slidell police officers urged those present to remain civil.

A death threat was made against an unnamed School Board member earlier Thursday in a phone call to the school system's central office in Covington. System officials reported the threat to the Covington Police Department.

Last week, hundreds of parents swarmed the School Board administrative building in Covington, after Edwards issued his statewide mandate that masks be worn inside, including in schools. Classes in St. Tammany schools started the next day.

One school system employee tested positive for coronavirus in June. No students tested positive during that time, which included the Accelerate Learning camps, Jabbia said.

But from middle of July to Thursday, 266 cases among students and 177 among employees were reported, he said.

Staff writer Andrew Canulette contributed to this report.
Samsung launched the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic to plenty of acclaim and attention, ditching its in-house Tizen operating system. However, several finer points were missing from the numerous press junkets.

For one, the Galaxy Watch 4 series is only compatible with devices running Android 6.0 or newer with Google Mobile Services (GMS) and at least 1.5 GB of RAM. Hence, recent and future Huawei smartphones are out of luck, as are iPhones. While we imagine that few people used a Samsung smartwatch with an iPhone, the Galaxy Watch 3 supported iOS devices.

Additionally, pairing the Galaxy Watch 4 with an Android device requires you to download the Galaxy Wearable app, Samsung accessory service and the Galaxy Watch 4 plug-in. In short, the Wear OS app is redundant for the Galaxy Watch 4 series.
Teams Ride Wave of Winnings To Succeed in Water Desalination Challenge

Aug. 13, 2021

Seasoned Waves to Water Prize competitors are developing novel, wave-powered desalination devices that can provide clean drinking water to coastal and island communities as well as in disaster recovery scenarios.

Renewable energy is all around us. Both the sun and the wind help power the United States electric grid, but the existing infrastructure may not be able to support all of usespecially in the event of a natural disaster.

Oncoming storms and hurricanes create challenges for remote, coastal, and island communities, like reliable access to energy and drinking water. To help communities overcome these challenges, innovators are tapping into another renewable resource: the power of ocean waves.

To design wave-powered desalination devices that could be used in disaster recovery scenarios and freshwater-scarce coastal and island locations, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) launched the $3.3 million Waves to Water Prize. The five-stage competition incentivizes a diverse group of innovators to create small, modular, cost-competitive desalination systems powered by clean energy from ocean waves.

In February 2021, WPTO selected 10 teams as winners of the competitions third stage, ADAPT. With a portion of the $800,000 cash prize pool, each team moved on to the fourth (and next to last) CREATE Stage. Three of those 10 winning teamsReVision, Canvasback Desalination System, and CalWave Power Technologieshave competed in other current DOE marine energy competitions. Now, they are relying on this practice to gain an edge in the Waves to Water challenge.

Practiced Competitors Dive Into New Prize

The California-based ReVision team is not only participating in the Waves to Water competition, they are also simultaneously competing in the Ocean Observing Prize, where they recently advanced to the BUILD Contest. With seven engineers and over a decade of experience in numerical analysis, controls, and hydrokinetic energy (power created from moving water), the team created a desalination system powered by a wave energy converter. Their scalable technology is designed to meet the operational requirements of reverse-osmosis systems, which push saltwater through a membrane to remove impurities, and deliver continuous power output. Now, during the CREATE Stage, the team is refining its design to capture even more power.

Two companiesWave Venture and Jacks Plastic Weldingteamed up to create the Canvasback Desalination System. While Ireland-based Wave Venture analyzes the performance of each component within the device, New-Mexico-based Jacks Plastic Welding Inc. fabricates the body. With their diverse knowledge and experience, the duo engineered their Canvasback Desalination System from standard parts for simple installation and operation. The octagon-shaped, inflatable raft has a compact design for easy transport. On its top, an elastic covering bulges in and out with the motion of the waves, creating enough force to power the reverse-osmosis pump that turns seawater into fresh water.

Wave Venture is also currently competing in the Ocean Observing Prizes BUILD Contest. Jacks Plastic Welding previously partnered with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to build rescue rafts for astronauts who land in the ocean.

In 2020, the CalWave Power Technologies Inc. team won the Nautilus Grand Prize from the first Ocean Observing Prize DISCOVER Competition. They also competed in WPTOs Wave Energy Prize in 2016. For the 2021 Waves to Water competition, the California-based company has designed the CalWave HydroNode. The HydroNode is a lightweight, low-profile, inflatable buoy that can be deployed from a small boat. The device generates power using a winch connected to an anchor on the seabed. As waves rock the device, the motion of the winch produces energy to power a land-based, reverse-osmosis system that can supply about 6 liters of fresh water per hour.

On the Final Laps

Up to seven CREATE Stage winners will share the $500,000 cash prize pool and move on to the final stage of the competition, DRINK. Then, they will have 180 days to build and ship their systems to Jennettes Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina.

The Coastal Studies Institute, part of the University of North Carolina system, and Jennettes Pier have partnered with WPTO and NREL to host the prize finalists in North Carolina in April 2022. The pier will serve as the competitors main test site where judges will assess how their final designs perform during a 5-day, open-ocean trial.

Competitors are receiving support from prize sponsors, including Janicki Industries, a full-service engineering and manufacturing company that is consulting with teams on how to manufacture their design. Teams can also work with the International Desalination Association, which is connecting them with the desalination community and providing access to technical training seminars. Engineering for Change is providing additional support through mentor recruitment and training materials.

This spotlight article series features competitors from academia, industry, and entrepreneurial contestants who have moved on to the next-to-last stage of this years Waves to Water Prize. Learn more about the various Waves to Water ADAPT Stage winners in upcoming and past articles. You can also follow competition news and progress on Twitter @AMCprizes and learn more about NRELs water power and water treatment research online.
Community Reporter

Erica Welch is the special sections editor for The News-Review, mother of two and a native of Roseburg. She is an alumni of RHS, UCC and Western Oregon University. Contact her at ewelch@nrtoday.com or 541-957-4218.
The number of coronavirus-related hospitalizations across the state is projected to climb to well over 15,000 by the end of August, according to the University of Texas at Austins Covid-19 model consortium.

The fact that were having to construct the tents shows that the system in general is not prepared, said Amanda Callaway, associate administrator for Harris Health System, which oversees the two hospitals in the Houston area requiring overflow space. Theres lots of concern. Theres only so much you can do, only so many rooms. Were just trying to respond as fast as we can.

Aside from the tents, doctors are also treating patients in waiting rooms because of a shortage of beds, she said, adding that at least 90 percent of the coronavirus patients are unvaccinated.

Dr. David Persse, Houstons chief medical officer, blamed inadequate attention by state officials to highlight the importance and necessity of vaccinations to stem the surge, with Mr. Abbott framing it as an issue of individual rights. Its the wrong approach, Dr. Persse said. The rhetoric around this has been such that people adhering to their right to make their own decisions are endangering themselves and their families.

Mr. Abbott, like governors in Florida and elsewhere across the South, maintained his position even after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reversed course and recommended that both vaccinated and unvaccinated people wear masks indoors in high-risk areas. He issued an executive order prohibiting local governments from mandating vaccines and prohibiting school districts from enforcing masks.
When you are old and gray and full of sleep and nodding by the fire  whom do you expect to help take care of you? Family? Friends? Paid aides? All of the above?

The nations caregiving work force is fraying. Paid providers are overworked and undervalued, often forced to take on multiple jobs or turn to public assistance just to scrape by. Many family caregivers are struggling as well, sacrificing their own health and well-being to tend to loved ones for years on end. Consistent, skilled, affordable care is in short supply  and getting shorter  and those who provide it are shouldering an increasingly unsustainable burden.

Women, who do most of this caregiving, are being hit the hardest. The industry relies heavily on women of color, who make up about half of the paid work force, and on immigrants. Around one-fourth of caregivers were born outside the United States. Just something to remember the next time certain politicians start screeching about the scourge of immigration.

But the widespread disrespect for and neglect of this work ultimately hurts everyone. We cant have a strong economy if we have millions of people working as full-time caregivers and making so little that they are still living in poverty, Gina Raimondo, the secretary of commerce, told me in a recent interview. We cant have a strong economy when we have millions of other people dropping out of the work force to take care of elderly loved ones.
At first blush, Thursdays release of census data held great news for Democrats. It painted a portrait of a considerably more urban and metropolitan nation, with increasingly Democratic metropolitan areas bustling with new arrivals and the rural, Republican heartland steadily losing residents.

It is a much less white nation, too, with the white non-Hispanic population for the first time dropping in absolute numbers, a plunge that exceeded most experts estimates, and the growth in the Latino population slightly exceeding forecasts.

But the census paints a picture of America as it is. And as it is, America is not very Democratic.

Besides the census, the other great source of data on American politics is the result of the 2020 election, which revealed a deeply and narrowly divided nation. Despite nearly the full decade of demographic shifts shown by the census, Joe Biden won the national vote by the same four-point margin that he won by as Barack Obamas running mate eight years earlier  and with fewer votes in the Electoral College.

Democrats face great challenges in translating favorable demographic trends into electoral success, and the new census data may prove to be only the latest example. While the census shows that Democratic-leaning groups represent a growing share of the population, much of the population growth occurred in the Sun Belt, where Republicans still control the redistricting process. That gives them yet another chance to preserve their political power in the face of unfavorable demographic trends. And they are well prepared to do so.
In the summer of 2014, Shmurda released a music video, Hot Boy in its edited form, that was equally grimy and catchy, threatening violence even as he rocked those hips and grinned big with his neighborhood friends. One clip, isolated and looped, showed the rapper throwing his fitted cap in the air and doing his trademark Shmoney Dance. It went viral on Vine, and then everywhere. Even Beyonce mimicked the move.

Hot Boy  with lines like, Ive been selling crack since like the fifth grade  would go on to score Shmurda a seven-figure record deal with Epic, along with agreements for some of his East Flatbush associates, and the song reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. But its success was too late and, according to the authorities, had not stemmed the violence that continued to surround the rapper.

That December, New York gang prosecutors conducted a sweep, arresting Shmurda at a Manhattan studio and eventually locking up more than a dozen others they said were part of GS9, an offshoot of the Crips. Though Shmurda was not accused of committing the most serious acts himself, prosecutors used racketeering statutes to argue that he was the driving force and organizing figure within this conspiracy, which they said was responsible for multiple shootings and at least one murder.

Nearly two years later, at 22, Shmurda pleaded guilty to two counts  six others filed against him were dropped  and he was sentenced to seven years in prison. While incarcerated, Shmurda was disciplined for violations including fighting and possessing contraband in the form of a shiv, which he later told a parole board was for self-defense, calling Rikers Island just a crazy place.
For the pianist Evgeny Kissin, it was a love story that provided the inspiration to write his own music again. After being reunited with a childhood friend  now his wife  he woke up in the middle of the night and jotted down a Meditation that would become the first of his Four Piano Pieces Op. 1.

Mr. Kissin is best known as a soloist who began his career as a child prodigy. By age 12 he had performed both Chopin concertos in his native Russia and by 19 he had made headlines with the Berlin Philharmonic and the New York Philharmonic.

He remains one of todays most highly regarded pianists for the intensity and sensitivity of his interpretations. He also began writing music as a child, as soon as he had learned notation, but stopped at about age 14, not resuming until just shy of a decade ago.

As he approaches his 50th birthday in October, Mr. Kissin maintains an insatiable intellectual curiosity. His solo recital Saturday at the Salzburg Festival features works by Chopin, Gershwin, Alban Berg and Tichon N. Chrennikow (as a child, Mr. Kissin performed works, including ones he had written himself, for this Russian composer).
A woman who accused the rapper Nicki Minajs husband, Kenneth Petty, of sexual assault during high school filed a lawsuit on Friday against the couple, alleging that they harassed and intimidated her while trying to convince her to recant her account.

The case dates back to 1994, when Jennifer Hough, then 16, reported to the police that Mr. Petty  a 16-year-old she had known growing up in Jamaica, Queens  had raped her after leading her into a home at knife point, the lawsuit says. Mr. Petty was arrested that day and was charged with first-degree rape, and subsequently pleaded guilty to attempted rape, said Kim Livingston, a spokeswoman with the Queens district attorneys office. He served about four and a half years in prison, according to inmate records.

According to the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Ms. Hough, 43, and her family members started to receive communications from people claiming to be connected with Ms. Minaj and Mr. Petty shortly after Mr. Petty was arrested last year for failing to register as a sex offender in California. The lawsuit alleges harassment and witness intimidation, as well as intentional infliction of emotional distress by Ms. Minaj and Mr. Petty, and seeks unspecified damages. It also alleges sexual assault and battery against Mr. Petty, referring to the mid-90s case.

A representative for Ms. Minaj did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A lawyer for Mr. Petty, Michael Goldstein, declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Season 2, Episode 4, Carol of the Bells

Houston? We have a Christmas Episode.

Here Ive been, trying to convey the relatively subtle ways in which the second season of Ted Lasso differs from the first. And then, four episodes in, they give away the whole game. Its not merely that theyve produced a Christmas episode  albeit one airing in August  its that its an episode that, back in the day, would have been billed as a Very Special Christmas Episode: absurdly uplifting  even for Ted Lasso!seasonally sweet, devoid of tension or discord, et cetera.

This was the unfair knock on the first season of Ted Lasso: That it was too much about just making viewers feel good (as if that were a bad thing), and was unwilling to plumb deeper  which it actually did, mostly without making a big deal about it.

Our newest episode, by contrast, is not merely a holiday episode, but a meta-holiday episode: an episode about holiday movies, and about one movie very much in particular. There are red herrings scattered about  youve got to love the Christmas Story leg lamp that Keeley unveils early on and the fractional glimpses of Its a Wonderful Life. But this episode is aiming at a much more specific target.

Rebeccas invitation to a Christmas party at Elton Johns may be the first obvious clue. Why, her Yuletide plans sound almost as awesome as those of a certain over-age rocker circa 2003.
Collective action problem

As they approach the limits of persuasion and incentives, the biggest question facing companies is whether to make coronavirus vaccines mandatory for workers. This is legally allowed, but many companies are still worried about political implications, employee pushback and other issues.

Also of concern is what competitors are doing, which is why C.E.O.s have been hustling behind the scenes to figure out their counterparts plans, gauging if the time is right to change their vaccine policies without standing out from the crowd.

The Business Roundtable is surveying members about their plans, DealBook hears. The influential lobbying group, led by Walmarts Doug McMillon, declined to make the results public, but the results indicate that more companies are considering vaccine mandates compared with a few months ago, we understand.

The White House wants C.E.O.s to help persuade others. President Biden met with executives of companies that have mandated vaccination, including Scott Kirby of United Airlines, to discuss how they could encourage fellow business leaders to do the same. Since United issued its mandate (to a work force that was largely vaccinated), it has held a number of town hall meetings to discuss it. Frontier and Hawaiian Airlines issued their own mandates after Uniteds, and Alaska Airlines told employees it was considering doing the same.
One of the other takeaways I had was, early in my tenure at McKinsey, I had a manager who gave me some very harsh feedback. He tore me up in my performance review for not interviewing our clients in this extremely direct and hostile manner, which was his style. He had a military background and would be very confrontational. It was the first time in my career that I had really had to step back and think about feedback and say: Am I going to internalize this? Do I really think hes right, and is this style going to serve me and advance my objectives? Or am I actually getting really good outcomes, but I just disagree with him about the method and where is he coming from?

There was a gender element there, but I realized that while its good to get harsh feedback, you also have to look at it critically and say: You know what? Thats not for me. I have to be kind of true to who I am and move forward.

How do you explain the rise of the freelance economy?

People want more flexibility and control over how they work, where they work, who theyre working for and really charting their own path around their careers in a different way.

At the same time, the pact around what an employee-employer relationship looks like has been weakening over time. Over the course of several recessions, most recently 2008, the social contract has been shown to be not what it was several generations ago.

As newer generations enter the work force, millennials and Gen Z in particular, theyve seen that the contract for employment is broken and say, Thats not for me. They have a much more kind of empowered idea around how theyre going to build their careers thats much more autonomous and not related to a single firm. Its much more about skills that they have, portfolios that theyre building. They feel like thats where they have safety and security. Being tethered to a single employer actually feels more risky to them.

And I think peoples mind-set has shifted with the pandemic, and weve seen now a sea change in people really re-evaluating their relationship to their work. Theyre saying: Wait a minute. I need some different things. I want to draw boundaries in different ways. I want to have a different relationship to my work than I did in the past, where I am much more in control.

Do you think that social contract between the employer and the worker is broken forever in this country?
A few Republicans, like Senator Mitt Romney of Utah and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, have said they support charging companies for the carbon dioxide they generate, a strategy that economists say would create a powerful incentive to lower emissions. But neither man is championing such a measure with any urgency.

The majority of Republican lawmakers back less aggressive responses popular with their voters, like planting trees to absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, or offering tax credits to businesses that capture carbon dioxide after it has been released into the air by power plants or industrial sites.

What they are opposing is any program to meaningfully reduce emissions, said David G. Victor, co-director of the Deep Decarbonization Initiative at the University of California, San Diego.

Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana helped craft the $1 trillion infrastructure package that the Senate passed this week, and made sure it included billions of dollars to protect coastal states from sea level rise caused by climate change. But Mr. Cassidy said he wont support policies to curb the amount of oil that is drilled off the Louisiana coast  the burning of which is contributing to melting ice caps and rising seas.

We cannot live without fossil fuels or chemicals, period, end of story, said Mr. Cassidy, who wants to expand exports of liquefied natural gas, which is produced in Louisiana and emits half the carbon dioxide of coal but is a source of methane, a greenhouse gas even more potent in the short term.

And while Senator Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, allowed that climate change is driving the extreme drought that has devastated crops and decimated livestock in his state this summer, he said the gases produced by burning fossil fuels should be the target, not the fuels themselves.
The dish I keep on repeat all summer long is something Ive come to call the Super Caprese. Its just a caprese salad, that ultra-Italian combination of fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, salt and olive oil, but made deluxe and regarded as a complete meal, with olives and capers added, maybe prosciutto and salami, and a fair amount of bread on the side. If summer is here, so is the Super Caprese.

Imagine my joy, then, when I saw Hana Asbrinks new recipe for chilled silken tofu with tomatoes and peaches, inspired by caprese salads and hiyayakko, the Japanese dish of cold tofu adorned with toppings like ginger and shiso. Thats below, with two dishes that involve very, very minor cooking (and no ovens). There are two additional cold dinners, too, including one of my favorite summer recipes: Scarletts tuna salad, which Tejal Rao once wrote about for The New York Times Magazine.

Speaking of Tejal and her impeccable taste in recipes: Her new vegetarian newsletter, The Veggie, perfect for omnivores and vegetarians alike, has arrived and will send weekly on Thursdays. Sign up here! And stay in touch, please: dearemily@nytimes.com.
The leader of the New York State Assembly said Friday that lawmakers will suspend their ongoing impeachment investigation of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, following his resignation earlier this week over sexual harassment allegations.

Carl E. Heastie, the speaker of the Assembly, said the inquiry was moot since its main objective was to determine whether Mr. Cuomo, a third-term Democrat, should remain in office. Mr. Heastie, a Bronx Democrat, also said he believed lawmakers did not have the constitutional authority to impeach a governor who was no longer in power.

Mr. Cuomo, whose resignation will take effect later this month, said Tuesday he would step down after a report from the New York State attorney general that found that he had sexually harassed 11 women. The Assembly had been investigating some of the same allegations, among others, and began to move quickly toward impeachment once the report was released.

The suspension of the investigation marks one less concern for Mr. Cuomo, who could have found himself in the middle of a costly impeachment trial. Mr. Cuomo is still facing inquiries from local, state and federal investigators.
To the Editor:

Re Why Dont We Have Cures for Headaches?, by Tom Zeller Jr. (Opinion guest essay, Sunday Review, July 25):

Finally, someone is shedding light on a traumatic disorder that wrecks relationships and careers, and makes you feel crazy and completely alone. At 47, just as I entered the prestigious Smith College School for Social Work, my migraines started.

Three years later, as my fellow students and our families cheered our graduation, my heart sank. My migraines had become so frequent and so painful that I couldnt imagine how I could commit to being a therapist. How could I hold other peoples emotional pain when I was in such physical pain? How could I still be a decent mother and wife?

Nine neurologists and three psychiatrists later, I came away with a suitcase full of drugs and multiple analyses: Grad school had been too much, gluten was the trigger, or perhaps I had bipolar disorder! I cried, railed and contemplated suicide.

Ashamed, I shrunk into myself and retreated to a dark room. I also faced painful rejection from friends who didnt like the new me who could no longer drink and laugh.
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ezra klein

Im Ezra Klein, and this is The Ezra Klein Show. [MUSIC PLAYING] Lilliana Mason is a political scientist at Johns Hopkins University and the author of the 2018 book Uncivil Agreement  How Politics Became Our Identity. And Uncivil Agreement is a touchstone book for me. For my money, its one of the most important books on politics published in the last decade. But its come out a little bit ago, so the work for it was done before even that, right, before even 2018, and a lot has happened. And so I wanted to have Mason on the show to talk through how her thinking on political identity changed across the expanse of the Trump era and into this era, into the Biden era. One animating thought for this conversation: I talk a lot about polarization. I wrote a book on polarization, Why Were Polarized, out in paperback now. My book is very influenced by Masons book. But something Ive come to think of as a real problem when we talk about polarization is we talk about it as a singular, right? We are polarized. But over what? We often dont specify that, that over what. Its a theme of my book that I feel people sometimes miss. I mean, you can be polarized on policy, but maybe youre not polarized on democracy and elections. You can be polarized on democracy, but maybe not on race relations across your society. You can be polarized on economics, but not on foreign policy. There are all these different possible dimensions of conflict in a political system, and which ones are front and center at any given moment is really important. And so tracking that is really important. And this is a fascinating moment to track that. I mean, in the same year, the same year you have an insurrection, a violent insurrection at the Capitol and this very fundamental fight over voting in this country, you also have a big bipartisan infrastructure bill. You also have big Republican support in polling for much of Joe Bidens economic agenda. And so thats a key question here. What is driving the composition of the political parties and the things they end up fighting over? And in particular, how has the coalition that both rose up behind Donald Trump and that Donald Trump assembled, how has that coalition changed the Republican Party? Thats a topic where Mason more recently has been doing some really fascinating, unnerving research. One note before we get into this. We recorded this before, a couple of days before the infrastructure bill passed the Senate. You can hear in here that we expected that it would. And then a couple of days later, it did. But if the tenses sound a little bit odd, that is why. It is the nature of time and podcasting. But this one was a lot of fun. I love talking to Mason about these topics. So youre going to hear its very much a conversation, which is always a pleasure for me. As always, my email, if youve got guest suggestions, book or whatever else recommendations  one of you just recommended the video game Kentucky Route Zero to me, I think it was, and Ive started playing it, and Im trying to get into it  but you can send it all to ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com. [MUSIC PLAYING] Lilliana Mason, welcome to the show.

lilliana mason

Thank you for having me. Its great to be back.

ezra klein

So theres something weird about this moment in politics. On the one hand, the fight between the parties feels existential. You have insurrections, and were divided over voting rights and democracy itself and what kind of country we are at root, and then you tune into Congress and were about to pass a giant bipartisan infrastructure package, and Joe Bidens major proposals actually poll pretty well with Republicans. So how do you square all that?

lilliana mason

One way that I would think about it is we sort of have general agreement that government should help Americans, but what we disagree over is who gets to be American. The fundamental disagreement that were having is whether American democracy means being a fully representative, egalitarian, multiracial democracy, or whether it means something less than that and going backwards in time, and not counting people who are not white, rural, Christian, largely men having the most voting rights and having the most ability to influence government, and whether that sort of traditional social hierarchy, A, still exists at all, and B, should exist, right? Thats the debate. And when we start having a debate over who is American, who deserves the rights and protections of the American government and Constitution, that is a place where there is zero room for compromise. We can compromise on how much money were putting into infrastructure and what counts as infrastructure. Thats compromisable. But do human beings count as Americans, people who were born here, do they count less as Americans because of their religion or their race, we cant find a middle ground on that. Either people are fully American and they have the full rights and protections of the Constitution or they are not. And thats a battle that becomes extremely passionate extremely quickly.

ezra klein

I think this gets to the core thesis of your 2018 book, Uncivil Agreement, which was very, very influential for me, which is that Americans dont experience politics through policy, they experience it through identity. And a lot of the debates we have in this country are identity debates masquerading as policy debates. Can you talk a bit about that?

lilliana mason

So on average, Americans have left of center issue positions. Most people are to the left of center on their preferences for economic policy and legislation. Even when you put issues like abortion and gun control and immigration into the equation, right, were still a left of center country on policy preferences. The problem is that there are a lot of people who identify as conservative and hold liberal, leftist policy preferences, but that conservative or Republican identity is so strong that they will vote to make sure that their group is winning regardless of what the policies theyre actually voting for are. And then at the same time, one of the main points of Uncivil Agreement was that we have this social sorting, right, where effectively the Republican Party has become increasingly white, Christian, rural, male  or at least pro- sort of patriarchy  and the Democratic Party is not as monolithic as that. Theyre just sort of the party thats trying to push for a more egalitarian, multiracial democracy. And so the Republican Party is kind of forced into this  I mean, ironically, right  identity-based politics where they are really trying to make sure that the white Christian male is at the top of the American social hierarchy. Thats what theyre fighting for. And so that becomes infused into a lot of issue conversations that were having. So for instance, health care, which before Barack Obama was not correlated with racial attitudes in any way, is now correlated with racial attitudes, our feelings about health care. Same thing with gun control. Gun control attitudes were not correlated with racial attitudes prior to Barack Obama. And now, they are. And increasingly so under Trump. So we have all of these policy attitudes that, facially, theyre not about race or equality, but theyre increasingly becoming associated with racial attitudes, especially among people who are paying attention to politics and hold attitudes towards non-white, non-Christians that are negative and full of what we would call in this most recent paper animosity.

ezra klein

So when I talk to Republican politicians or Republican voters about whats motivating them, they dont say to me, well, I just want to make sure white Christian men are on the top of the American social hierarchy. When I talk to them about voting rights issues or election protection issues, they say Im worried about fraud, not that I want to make sure my vote counts more. So what makes you confident that that is the division here, that that is what is motivating at least a substantial portion of the Republican electorate?

lilliana mason

So this is related to a study that I just published with Julie Wronski and John Kane where we used this data set called the Voter Study Group, which is publicly available. Its online. Anybody can get this data. And they interviewed like 8,000 people in 2011. And then when Trump was elected, they thought, you know, if we reinterview these people, we can maybe learn a lot about whats going on in politics. So they reinterviewed them in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019. Theyre doing it basically every year. But because they had interviewed these people in 2011, these data became sort of a time machine for us, where we could go back to 2011, before Trump was a major political figure, and try to see what types of people are drawn to Trump in the future. Before Trump existed, what were their characteristics that then predicted they would really like him in 2018. So one of the things that we found, obviously being a Republican, being a conservative, that predicted that they would like Trump in 2018. And it also predicted that they would like Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan and the Republican Party in general. However, for Trump himself, and Trump alone, the other thing that predicted whether they would like him was that they disliked Muslims, African Americans, Hispanics and L.G.B.T.Q. Americans. Any mix of those, but largely all of them. And that animosity towards those marginalized groups did not predict support for the Republican Party. It did not predict support for Mitch McConnell or for Paul Ryan. It just predicted support for Trump. And also, these people were coming not just from the Republican Party. Democrats who had these attitudes in 2011 liked Trump in 2018. Independents who had these attitudes in 2011 liked Trump in 2018. So its almost like Trump acted as a lightning rod for people who held these attitudes. He was extremely attractive to them, regardless of party, regardless of ideology. Trump attracted and really kind of corralled this group of people from across the spectrum, and really empowered this faction of Americans who held these attitudes. And I think its important to say that this is not about the Republican Party, because its not true  these attitudes dont predict support for the Republican Party. Trump was really kind of crystallizing or collecting all of these people into one political movement. And they happened to take over the Republican Party, but its not that every Republican holds these attitudes. Its that people who hold these attitudes really love Trump, and Trump is now the figurehead, became the figurehead of the Republican Party. So its important to kind of keep them separate, to some degree.

ezra klein

I want to hold on that idea of takeover for a minute. So in your view, is the Republican Party of, lets call it 2020 or 2018, a compositionally substantially different party than the Republican Party of 2008? Like, are we really dealing with a different coalition of people?

lilliana mason

So, slightly. What happened during the Obama administration is that racial attitudes became much more aligned with partisanship. Not because of anything Obama did, but simply because there was a Black man in the Oval Office. And for people who were not paying attention to politics previously, that was a very, very easy cue for them, to just look at the front page of the newspaper and see whos the president and that hes a Democrat. And of course, we have social media and Fox News and all of these other entities that are really doubling down on which team are you on, really? If youre a white person, should you really be on that Democratic team? And so the racial messages I think became really powerful during Obamas administration. The Tea Party was very powerfully motivated by racial animosity. And ultimately, this faction of people who love Trump were kind of bubbling up during the Obama administration. And then Trump, of course, really encouraged it. But Trump pulled people from not just the Republican Party. Now, this is not to say that the Republican Party has not been benefiting from racial rhetoric. And the entire Southern strategy is trying to use implicit racial dog whistles in order to get votes from racially resentful white voters. So its not an accident that Trump was popular within the Republican Party, because the Republican Party has been cultivating this group of people. Theyve just been doing it on an implicit level, to a large extent. But for some reason, between then and now, it went from, if you say something out loud, youre in trouble and you have to defend yourself against accusations of racism. And to Trump, whos able to say racially explicit things  Mexicans are rapists, right  he just said racist things, and it didnt end his campaign. And in fact, according to this data, he actually attracted a bunch of people who werent previously all that excited about voting for Republicans.

ezra klein

So I want to pull out something kind of subtle in this conception of the electorate and how its changed. So imagine weve got an electorate of 100 people, and zero opinions have changed between 2000 and 2020, but that the people who have a lot of lets call it outgroup animosity, right, racial animosity, animosity towards L.G.B.T.Q. people, that they used to be split, lets call it, 70-30 between the parties. And then now, theyre split 90-10 or 95-5. And the reason I think this is important for the dynamic that youre talking about is that its true that, for a long time in politics  you know, lets call it the 90s and the aughts  you got in more trouble if you violated, like, speech norms, in a way, on both sides, right? Like, a Republican had to try not to do that, too. And then post-Trump, its actually a huge selling point within the Republican primary electorate to be somebody whos constantly getting attacked by the liberal media for saying stuff that seems kind of racist. But on the other hand, when these two groups were split between the parties more, they also had more suppressive power within American politics. So within the Democratic Party, too, they could keep the Democratic Party, for instance, from wanting to do too much on voting rights, or keep the Democratic Party very interested in things like welfare reform or having a very racialized view of poverty. So on the one hand, you had to be careful not to seem too racist in both parties, but on the other hand, both parties were either, lets call it a little bit more racist, or there was at least less of an interest in either party for a kind of forthright political agenda built around racial equality and just, Id say, generalized equality. And so this is kind of this polarization-suppression tradeoff, I think, that weve been in for the past decade or two, where on the one hand, our politics now feels much more divisive, like, and angry, because weve structured it around, like, a really, really difficult, deep argument in American life, so that feels bad. But on the other hand, these are maybe arguments we needed to have that were suppressed when Democrats who would have been the party to prosecute, you know, at least the racial equality side of this, didnt want to split their own coalition. They didnt want to, say, lose white Democrats in West Virginia who were voting for Jay Rockefeller but who werent going to be on board with this kind of more forthright racial politics.

lilliana mason

Yeah. I mean, I think that the Democratic Party has been gradually, partly in response to the Republican Partys attraction of attracting people who are high in racial animosity, the Democratic Party has had to react against that. So we end up with Obama, then Trump, and then Biden, for the first time ever, in his inaugural address, actually saying the words white supremacy. So the parties have been making it more clear where they stand along this line. And unfortunately, that means that we have in the Republican Party  and again, its really this MAGA faction, right, these people that really disliked marginalized groups even before Trump came along. Theyve always been in the American electorate. They were Democrats during the Civil War and Jim Crow, et cetera, and now theyve moved into the Republican Party. But the problem with that is that we end up with an entire political party that is really trying to speak to these animosities and that sense of hatred of marginalized groups, which means that it has become an anti-democracy party, right? It is not in their interest to fully represent every single American. Its not in their interest to have a multiracial democracy. In fact, theyre campaigning against that. And that puts us in a really dangerous place because we only have two parties. We need them to be both pro-democracy in order to have a functioning government. And if one of them is increasingly being led or pushed by this really racially motivated or anti-egalitarian motivated group of people  which isnt tiny, its like 20 to 30 percent of Americans, and this group is also, as youve said many times before, institutionally and systematically overrepresented in our government because of various things like the Senate and the electoral college, et cetera, and gerrymandering  if that group has control over the levers of government, it is effectively a group that is trying to lead a country with ethnic minority rule, ultimately. This is a country that has been diversifying. Its going to continue to diversify. White Americans will be not the majority relatively soon. And so ultimately, this movement is for future white ethnic minority rule of the country, which is not compatible with democracy at all. So I think that, in that sense, its something to really pay attention to and worry about.

ezra klein

So let me hold on the point you made about Democrats a minute ago, that they have changed in reaction to this, too. Because I think its easy, I think the audience for this podcast certainly leans liberal, and its easy to take what Democrats do or dont do or how they change for granted. But the blogger Kevin Drum, whos a liberal himself, has argued that, quote, its Democrats who have moved farther left on a lot of the policy issues, in particular issues around racial equality and on redistribution, than Republicans have moved right in the past 10 or 15 years, and that it is liberals, or progressives, if you want to put it that way, who are pushing really hard for progress, pushing really hard to diversify the country, diversify leadership, to change the way we understand American history. And so its true that theres a huge counterreaction to this, that it often does terrible things. I think Kevin would say many of these fights are good, but that Democrats have to accept that part of whats happening here is that they have moved left and are pushing for change and are creating a reaction to that, and this is not all just something ginned up by Donald Trump. Like, this is, in some ways, a political choice of trying to fight for what they see as a more just world, but that its Democrats whove made the big kind of moves here. Do you think theres validity to that view?

lilliana mason

Yeah, I mean, I think that its laid out right there in make America great again, right? Something has changed in America, and Trump supporters want it to go back to the way it was before. And youre right that, if you look at white peoples racial attitudes, Republicans have stayed relatively stable, but that is at a very, very racially resentful level, right, while white Democrats have really changed their attitudes. Im not sure what the chicken and egg answer is for this particular phenomenon because I think there has been a lot of sort of iterative change between Democrats and Republicans, with activists getting more attention in the Democratic Party to reveal whats really happening, in terms of race and racism and institutional prejudice and brutality. Weve also had social media and cell phone videos, right? I mean, we have a lot more information about racism in America now. And thats also part of the reason why we see this pushback against critical race theory, right? As the sort of reality of racism is becoming more apparent, the parties are kind of required to go to their respective corners and pull in very opposite directions.

ezra klein

Theres a dynamic here that Ive come to think of as ricochet polarization, although I know polarization may not be the word all would prefer for it. But there is this way that youre getting at that the parties change repeatedly in response to each other. And something important in your book is that its not that identity and policy are completely separate. Its that oftentimes our policy positions are downstream from our identity positions. We take the identity position first, and then we find the policy position that supports it. And I want to use immigration here as an example. If you go back and look at, say, the Democratic National Committee platform in 2004 or 2008, or even 2012, its very focused on border enforcement. Its very focused on things that Democrats, frankly, dont talk about that much these days. But then Donald Trump happens, and he gives the Republican Party a much more forthright anti-immigrant identity. Like, that had always been a strain in the Republican Party, but George Bush and John McCain had tried to keep that in check. And then Trump says, nope, thats who were going to be. And in response, you watched Democrats become much more pro-immigrant as an identity. And then behind that, the policy begins to change, right? And they become more pro more legal immigration, and more skeptical of certain kinds of border enforcement. And so theres this way in which the identities change, like the party sentiment towards different groups and sentiment about who they represent change, and you really watch changes in the policy happen behind that, which I think, to your point about chicken/egg, is really important because things arent just stable, theyre in this kind of constant dynamic equilibrium with each other. And in particular, the parties move in reaction to the other. Like, if the Republican Party becomes much more anti-immigrant, the Democratic Party becomes much more pro. And to some degree, vice versa. And so it becomes hard to say whos moving what because they move the other one.

lilliana mason

Yeah. I mean, same with trade policy, right? We saw that completely reversed during the Trump administration. So this brings up this whole, like, what even is ideology? Like what 

ezra klein

Yup. [LAUGHTER]

lilliana mason

 what are even in opinions? Do they exist in reality? Which is very existential, so I wont go into that one. But absolutely, our elites, our party leaders have influence on voters opinions, and we take cues from our leaders. But were supposed to do that. Like, thats how the system was created because, as voters, were not supposed to know everything. Our leaders are supposed to do a lot of the thinking for us, and then give us a simplified set of choices based on what they think is the best. The most benign version of this is actually, its working the way it should. The problem happens when the leaders can say anything. Maybe theyre not making the best choices for us. Theyre just trying to make sure that they get the most power or they get the most money or they get whatever it is theyre after. And so if theyre not giving us reasonable choices, but were still kind of blindly following them, then we end up in a less normatively good Democratic situation. And that is sort of where we are now, right? Our leaders are partly encouraging their voters to be kind of their most extreme selves, to take on what the leaders tell them to take on and to defend it with everything that they have because this partisan battle has become so dire for everyone involved. Everyone feels very angry about it. And it feels really, really important, and its like the country is going to end if the other people win the election. So opinion leadership is good if its done for good reasons, but it certainly can be weaponized. And I think were seeing it weaponized now.

ezra klein

I want to go into the existential part of this, where the whole ground drops out beneath our feet. [LAUGHS] So one of the things that youre getting at there that I struggle with all the time: so my background is as a policy reporter. I covered health care for years, and the economy, and I spent so much time at think tank lunches and the unveilings of new bills. And so much of the policy community in Washington, D.C., what they do is they think of ways to conceptualize the policy space, right  what is it the Republicans want today, what is it the Democrats want today  and come up with clever ways to achieve their goals that seem to work for both sides. And what that is built on is an idea that policy preferences are stable, and that youre running some kind of negotiation between the preferences of the two sides. But if theyre not, if theyre driven by identity, and identity is at least somewhat negative, such that a big part of my identity is, I dont want the other side to win, like, then the policy collapses beneath your feet. You try to build a health care bill, and you say, well, Republicans have liked the individual mandate in the past, well put that in there. And the Republicans say, no, no, no, no, we now think the individual mandate is unconstitutional. Or this would come up with Donald Trump a bunch of different times, where he would say something out there that some Democrats thought meant maybe theres a compromise here, like I want to raise taxes on people like me. But then it turned out he didnt want to do that, and he definitely didnt want to do anything that Democrats would see as a win for them. And so I always try to push this idea that you can compromise on policy. Like, policy is a positive sum environment. Like, I can come up with policies and make a lot of different ideological groups better off, and kind of fit their ideas well enough. But identity and electoral competition are often zero-sum. And that if thats whats really happening, then theres a lot less room for compromise. It is true, I think, that Josh Hawley has a lot more room to compromise with Bernie Sanders than John Boehner or Paul Ryan ever did. It is also true that, in practice, I dont think Josh Hawley is going to compromise very much with Bernie Sanders because central to Josh Hawleys identity is owning the libs. And you cant do that working with the libs all that often. So occasionally therell be a feint here or there, but when it comes down to it, youre just not going to see big coalitions on central issues because, if Josh Hawley developed a reputation for voting with the Democrats on issues of economics, he would get a reputation as being somebody who wasnt owning the libs. And like, that would be very, very destructive for him. So if you take this, I think, sort of Lilliana Mason-ified view of politics, the space for policy compromise really, really narrows because whatever you think it is is not what its going to be after Democrats decide to adopt a conservative policy or even Republicans decide to adopt a liberal one.

lilliana mason

Right. And also, unfortunately, the way any of these government achievements is covered, right, is who won? Legislation to give every American $1,000, which party does that benefit? And thats generally the framing. And so in a sense, you know, Trump was right when he said were going to get tired of all the winning, right, because so much is just about who wins, rather than what does government do, what is governments role? You know, how much should government be helping citizens or intervening in their lives? And those are the sort of traditional debates, right? The traditional debate over policy is what role does government play in regular Americans lives? And so you can find some common ground in the middle of that conversation. But if the conversation instead is which party wins literally everything, then why would anybody want to find common ground there? Everyones just going to try to make it a win regardless, and also to prevent the other side from winning. So its not even about what government is supposed to be or governing at all. Its about winning, which is horrible. I mean, that is absolutely not the way to run a government. That doesnt allow the government to function. I mean, the Republican Party doesnt have a platform right now, they dont even have policies, because its just winning. And this is also one of the asymmetries between the parties. Because American policy preferences are generally to the left of center, the Democratic Party actually has a much more popular policy agenda. So its actually in the Democrats interest to talk about policy and enact policy and try to do these popular things. But what then the Republicans are incentivized to do because of that is focus on the grievance politics, so that even if a policy helps someone, theyre not going to vote for Democrats because they hate that Democrats helped other people, as well. So the two parties have very different incentives in terms of campaigning and governing. And I think weve seen that, just comparing the Trump administration to the Biden administration, right? Actually getting things done and trying to not only pass legislation in Congress, but even just the president just trying to care for American people and enact things that help them. So its not exactly the same for both parties. And I think thats another thing that we need to start talking more about, because this is one of the things thats really been bothering me. We have these norms, both in journalism and in academia, norms of sort of non-partisanship. But what were seeing is very asymmetric, and the things that are happening on the Democratic side are not exactly the same as the things that are happening on the Republican side. So increasingly, from a democratic, small d, like democracy, point of view, its really, really important that we actually point out the differences between whats happening in the Democratic and Republican parties, because to pretend theyre the same is allowing an anti-democracy faction of people to get an opportunity to harm our ability to govern ourselves. [MUSIC PLAYING]

ezra klein

Let me try out a version of what is different between the parties on you here. So one version of whats different that Ive argued for years, its a big part of my book, is that the Democrats have to abide by and are disciplined by democracy, and the Republicans arent. That if the Republicans had to win majorities of the country to win the Senate, to win the House, to win the presidency, then the strategy theyve been pushing would not have worked, right? Donald Trump did not win a majority of voters in 2016. Republicans in the Senate routinely do not win most voters when they go before the electorate. And so they would have to try to figure out some way to appeal to more people, which might mean offering policies that actually appeal to more people, whereas Democrats really have to appeal to a lot of people, including people who maybe culturally dont like them that much. And so they push on policies that give them something to say to skeptical electorates because they have to win, you know, 51, 52, 53 percent of the popular vote  more than that in the Senate  in order to win a majority. So I think thats a huge difference. But on top of that, its true that Democrats are polarizing more on policy. Theyre moving further left on policy right now than Republicans are moving right on it. But Republicans have been polarizing, if thats the right word, against the political system itself. That the nature of the Republican coalition, where theyve been moving very far to the right, is in how they view elections, is in how they view the media, is in how they view more fundamental questions of, like, liberal democratic competition. The two parties are really, to the extent they become more extreme, they become more extreme on different things. Republicans have become like more of an anti-system party, and Democrats have become, like, that much closer to being a truly liberal or, if you want, Democratic socialist party. But its not just, like, asymmetric because one side has gone more left or one side has gone more right, its asymmetric because, like, the locus of thing the parties are changing on is actually different in the two parties. Theyre actually not having the same argument, really.

lilliana mason

Exactly, yeah. They are, right now, disagreeing about democracy. And youre right that Democrats are kind of becoming more liberal on policies that would create a more multiracial democracy, but also Republicans are trying to stop democracy from happening, and even just basic governance, right? The things that the Republican Party wants to do policy-wise just  Im not even sure what they are. Its so much more powerful to appeal to identity and threat, right? Thats what my book is ultimately about, is that when you make people feel like their group is being threatened, the status of their group is being threatened, they respond much more forcefully and emotionally than they do if youre going to enact a policy that they dont like. Its a very different emotional response. And what sort of white Republicans are being constantly told is that their place in society is being threatened. They dont get to be at the top of the social hierarchy anymore. And if they want to be at the top of the social hierarchy, then they should really be the only ones voting. Stop the steal was about  you know, they said if it wasnt for Madison and Milwaukee, right, we would have won. Its like, if it wasnt for non-white people in cities voting, then Trump did win. If we dont count non-white people in the electorate, Trump won the 2020 election, right? So youre right that theyre polarizing on two different things, but I also do see some sense that theyre both pulling on the same rope when it comes to democratic access and the equal protection of people under American laws. In that particular fight, I think theyre pulling on the same rope. And thats where the battle is, and thats where theres no room for compromise.

ezra klein

That I agree with. I just think that the Democrats, in their relationship to democracy itself, have become somewhat more progressive, but not wildly. You know, Democrats are trying to do a really major expansion of voting rights right now under, you know, in HR 1 and HR 4, but theyre not willing to do that much to get it done. Like, they wont even, in the end, get rid of the filibuster. And so their view on democracy, which I think is sharper now but is continuous with our recent history, is we are a democracy, and we should be a bit more of one. And the Republican take on this I think has changed dramatically. You will hear much more direct anti- small d- democratic rhetoric now from Republicans, like Mike Lee tweeting about how ranked democracy is the threat, or Tucker Carlson going to Hungary to talk about how great it is, where Hungary is like the example in Europe of a country that was a democracy and has backslid into competitive authoritarianism. Or Donald Trump, you know, saying in the 2020 election that, if the vote by mail stuff the Democrats wanted to do had happened, like, Republicans would never win an election in this country ever again, and that any election against him is rigged. And so thats more my point. Not that  I agree that the fight over democracy is the central fight, but where Democrats seem to me to have changed dramatically is policy. They were for democracy and more, and maybe now theyre for democracy and more plus, whereas Republicans, like from where a Mitt Romney stood on this, or a George W. Bush, in many ways, or a John McCain, like, that has been sharp in a way that their economic policy just, like, has not changed that sharply.

lilliana mason

Yeah, I mean, Dick Cheney himself is now worried about the direction the Republican Party is heading in, right? And you can see this in even in the January 6 commission, the makeup of that commission, right? You can find two Republicans to sit on that commission who actually think it was really bad that people stormed the Capitol on January 6 in order to steal the election, right? Or undo the election. And that those people are ostracized from the party, as well. The way that I see it is that we have this really sort of anti-egalitarian faction in the Republican Party thats very loud and votes in the primaries and, you know, does all the talking and yells at town halls, and then you have other Republicans who think that thats gross and they dont like it and makes them uncomfortable, but they think Democrats are worse. And so we have some people who are really fighting for, essentially, a white supremacist, Christian nationalist nation, and other people in the party who just dont want to vote for Democrats. And so I would really love to see  and this is never going to happen  but what I would really love to see is some sort of fight back from the kind of Liz Cheney wing of the party that says, Im a Republican, Im not MAGA, right? Like, Im part of a responsible party that believes in democracy and is going to actually work in government to do things. Im not here to make a giant riot and to wave around Confederate flags, right? Im not a militiaman, Im a Republican. And I would love to see something like that just kind of, like, grow out of the Republican Party, because I think there are people in there that believe that. But its just too scary to kind of disassociate yourself from this really loud group of people that are scary. Theyre terrifying. They stormed the Capitol.

ezra klein

Well, even if theyre not scary, you do need their votes. I mean, this, to me, is what cowed that group. Look, a lot of Republicans are like that. And I think if you talk to Republicans in Congress, a lot of them say, I am doing that. I mean, I didnt storm the Capitol. I was hiding from those people. And here I am, working on bills that you never pay any attention to, and here I am, like, putting out bog-standard completely boring press releases about government red tape and regulation and so on. But the problem is that they dont want to have a internal confrontation, because what holds a party together is you need to win elections. I mean, this is our mutual friend and your mutual political scientist, Lee Drutman, his argument for why America so badly needs multiparty democracy, because in some other world, maybe a Republican Party or Republican coalition on the right that has different parties in it. And so theres a MAGA-ish party and a conservative party, and maybe on the Democratic side theres a Democratic socialist party and a liberal party and so on. And you can have different coalitions form and fall, but if you had a different electoral system that had more proportional representation, like, it wouldnt be a total disaster if you didnt get the votes of the MAGA faction. There would be other ways to come into power. But in a two-party first past the post system, like, if Republicans dont get more votes, or at least more electoral college points or more states or more districts than Democrats, like, they just dont win power. And it seems to me that, on the one hand, a lot of Republicans have realized the energy in the party is in the animus. And thats why you see somebody like JD Vance adopting this Twitter persona to how to win the Ohio primary for Senate. But on the other hand, even the ones who dont want to become a kind of bootleg Donald Trump recognize that you cant win by splitting your own party. Like, you cant have a schism. And so they say theyre acting exactly as you want them to act, theyre just not going to, like, get into a fight. This is what they all say about Liz Cheney, that they didnt excommunicate her from leadership because she believed the 2020 election was correctly decided, that they kicked her out because she wouldnt stop talking about it. And like, what they want is to keep the peace at any cost. And like, that is, to me, the central vulnerability of the party, that they will forever try to keep the peace internally, even as the compromises that means making become more and more horrific, and even as that means then allowing their base to go down a path that they cant recover from, because at some point, like, it goes so far you really cant challenge it. And I think probably [INAUDIBLE] the Republican Party is already there.

lilliana mason

Thats right. And thats why theyre sort of stuck in this position. And as Lee Drutman says, thats one of the problems with the two-party system, is that it requires a zero-sum mentality. Every election is zero sum. One of the parties is going to win the thing. Its also true that the Republicans are uniquely vulnerable to this because theyre much more homogeneous, racially and religiously, than Democrats are. And so theyre much more focused on sort of purity and loyalty and staying exactly with what the party is doing at all times, whereas Democrats are a huge mix of people who are all kind of talking in different directions. And its easier for that to happen in a really heterogeneous mixed group. And in previous work that I have with Julie Wronski, we actually found that Republicans are much more sensitive to people who dont fit the mold, the social mold of Republicans. People will discount other Republicans who arent the correct combination of identities, and theyll even identify less as a Republican themselves if they dont fit that white Christian paradigm. Whereas with Democrats, you can be kind of any collection of identities that you are, and you still feel like a Democrat. So I do think the Republican Party is particularly vulnerable to that, which, again, just piles on to all of the other sort of institutional problems that are in the way of trying to calm things down and create more concern for actual democracy and equal representation and equal protection. Right? Thats just another thing on the list of why its going to be hard for us to defend democracy against these forces.

ezra klein

So I do want to question on the Democratic side, because I do think this is a genuine weakness of the Democratic Party, whether its true that you can be any collection of identities and feel comfortable as a Democrat. And I think the biggest weakness of the Democratic Party is that it often makes people feel stupid or retrograde. The leaders of it, the kind of atmosphere of it, which is not to say like every individual Democratic politician or person, but the partys kind of cultural structure has just become, like, much more dominated by college-educated liberals and postgrad liberals. And like, theres a lot of knowing the right language. You know, like using Latinx and things like that. Like, that is the sorting in the Democratic side that makes me most concerned, which, of course, like, I, as a nerdy college-educated guy with glasses who likes to do a lot of podcasts with political scientists, is probably not exactly helping. But the sorting on education, the education polarization, like, thats a real issue for the Democratic Party. In many ways, I think class was, like, a healthier cut for them. But there are a lot of people who, they tune in and it doesnt feel like them. Joe Biden has helped on that a lot. I think Joe Biden is somebody who a lot of folks feel like theyre in his tent and well liked by him, but Biden is, in many ways, a very throwback politician, where if you look at the ones vying to be the leader of the party in the future, I dont think its quite as open, particularly if youre not somebody who shares a lot of the kind of fundamental language and concepts.

lilliana mason

Yeah, I mean, I think that the key thing to specify here, though, is that these are white Democrats. So race and class are sort of cutting against each other in a lot of ways in contemporary partisanship. And its generally kind of the rural white Democrats who feel looked down upon, sort of less educated white Democrats. And I can see that being true. And part of the reason, I think, that they can be attracted to somebody like Trump is that just based on the psychology. When you have a person whos feeling like they are low status in society, that other people in the society look down upon them, theyre going to cling much more strongly to identities that are high status. Thats partially why its a white phenomenon, right, because people who feel looked down upon who have a white identity can then cling to that identity, can hold on to that and use that to help them feel higher status. And that becomes, then, a threat to that identity. Thats a vulnerability thats always existed in American, among American white society. And part of the education part of it is that in institutes of higher education, institutions of higher education, there is sort of a language that people learn. But part of that language is due to these institutions trying very hard to be as inclusive as possible. Thats whats happening on college campuses, is that the kind of push for the fully multiracial, egalitarian society that the Democratic Party wants for democracy, thats what college campuses are trying to live right now. And theyre probably the most egalitarian places in the country at this point. So exposure to that type of place creates sort of an acknowledgment of the current social hierarchy, the things that are unfair within it, and it also does create this language that says, if you use language that dehumanizes another person, thats bad. You shouldnt do that. And youre going to be socially sanctioned for that. Obviously, that would be really embarrassing and feel really condescending to someone. And then Trump can come along and say, look at all this PC bull crap, you know, that everybody is telling you to do. You dont have to do that. So the education relationship I do think is related to this sort of social inequality phenomenon. These are the places where I think the institutions are trying the hardest to maintain a sort of peaceful, egalitarian place. Now, theyre certainly not succeeding, all of them, but I think that they are trying more than, for instance, like a corporate boardroom.

ezra klein

I think thats true, but let me indulge my inner reactionary here for a minute on this, because within the colleges  and I think were talking here a little bit more about elite colleges than the just sort of, like, say, community college world  I think a lot of things begin with the idea that they can be inclusive, and they end up being exclusionary, they end up being guild-protecting, they end up being other things. And I think youre seeing this in the electorate, right? It is true enough that a lot of what is going on is about the racial divisions in society. Its of course the case that some of the things that are upsetting people about speech is that they cant say things that are racist. And so like, Im on board with you cant say things that are racist or you get socially sanctioned. But you know, Latinx is an example people use a lot. That is not the way most people who are covered by that designation talk about themselves. So like, saying youre using inclusive language that people dont use about themselves, I mean, I get the kind of academic argument for it, but its getting into a weird place. And youre starting to see this, I think, play out in elections that are not exactly conforming to these theories of electoral inclusion that particularly elite Democrats are putting forward. I mean, you have Eric Adams in New York, who wins the Democratic mayoral primary with this very working class multiracial coalition, running very much against a lot of these trends of the Democratic Party, on crime, but just also on the way Democrats talk about things, a lot of  like, as you said, the sorting is mostly among white voters, so Democrats still have a lot of more conservative and moderate Hispanic and Black voters in the coalition. In the 2020 election, Democrats do better among white voters, and thats part of how Joe Biden wins, but Donald Trump made real gains, particularly with Black voters, with Hispanic voters, to some degree, with potentially Asian voters. So theres got to be some questioning on the Democratic side about if you are driving a pretty intense political theory thats supposed to make you a more inclusive party, but the trends are going actually a little bit against you on that, like, is it working? Like, do you have to rethink where maybe a good motivation, but then a set of, like, tactics and internal group dynamics have actually gotten you?

lilliana mason

Yeah. So I mean, I think the Latinx things a little overblown. Like, I used the word Hispanic and Latino all the time, and Ive never been socially sanctioned for it.

ezra klein

Yep, agreed.

lilliana mason

And yeah, Im a professor, right? Im constantly surrounded by people who know the term, just they dont get that mad at me. So the Trump appeal among Black and Hispanic mainly men, actually, voters, but  so one of the things, going back to this study that we did where we looked at peoples attitudes in 2011, the people who had animosity towards any of these four groups were not all white, right? There was a pretty mixed bunch, actually. And so within that group are African Americans who dislike L.G.B.T.Q. people, right, or Hispanics who dislike Muslims. You can harness hatred from a lot of places. And thats really what Trump was so good at, just harnessing whatever grievance, whatever hatred you have, and putting it to electoral political use. So its not like non-white people are immune from prejudice. And those who hate other groups are possibly going to appreciate something that Trump has said thats against one of those groups, or any of those groups. So it is more complicated than white versus everybody else, certainly. And then as to like the Democratic Party being kind of exclusionary, I see that in the educational divide among white people, in particular. But I dont think that Trump is appealing to Hispanics and Black Americans because they have low education, or they feel like theyre not using the right language. I think hes just appealing to sort of whatever animosities theyre already holding. One of the things that was actually brilliant about the Trump campaign and whole approach is that hes a reality television star, right? He understands that conflict gets clicks. And anything that is a big fight between people, itll bring viewers. Itll make people watch. Itll make people pay attention. So as long as you can get people fighting against each other, hell be in the conversation, and the news will be covering him, and hell gain popularity from some people who really love that fight. So its not just educated and, like, special language versus uneducated and anti-PC talk, right? Its not just that people are not voting for Democrats, its that Trump really has this unique appeal. [MUSIC PLAYING]

ezra klein

So Bernie Sanders has an answer to some of this that I want to talk through, which is yes, it is true: a lot of American politics is about identity signals, status competition. Like, it pits group against group, and the way to get around that, the way to get out of this trap is to refocus on material concerns. That if you make your policies big enough in terms of who they will help, if you are clear enough in your political messaging that you think its the millionaires and billionaires who are trying to divide us, that you can create a different kind of coalition. I have some sympathy for that. And at the same time, Ive been thinking a lot about vaccination as an example of the way political identity can overcome what I would think of as, like, the ultimate materialist concern, which is not dying from Covid, or not spreading it to somebody you love. How does what is happening with the huge gap in vaccinations between Democrats and Republicans, about 30 points or more in a recent poll I saw, how does that make you think about the competition between political identity and material concerns in shaping our decision making?

lilliana mason

I think the problem with the Bernie Sanders approach, the sort of class-based approach, is that the problems of poor white people and poor Black people are not the same, for example. There are massive wealth disparities even among poor white and Black people, so the solutions cant be exactly the same. So thats the first thing. And also, poor white and Black people have been pitted against each other throughout American history, literally since the Civil War ended, or even before that, where white people have been encouraged to hate and resent poor Black people. So I think its a tough argument to make that you can just do one policy and everybody gets helped, when some people are already so far behind. Im just not convinced that that works.

ezra klein

Well, can I challenge that a little bit? I mean, the beginning of the coalition of the Democratic Party that had Black Americans in it was after the  was in the New Deal, like before the Democratic Party went through its civil rights revolution. So the Democratic Party was still the racist party in American life, comparatively. It had the kind of Southern Dixiecrats. I feel like better is better on a lot of these economic policies. My concern is just that the political identity stuff is so strong in the way it shapes the way people view the world, like, I think you could have a lot of policies that made poor whites and poor Blacks better off, and you have at other times in American politics. And it seems to have shaped political behavior at other times in American politics. I mean, thats why the vaccination stuff to me is very potent because, like, that really does make people better off. You get vaccinated, youre really probably not going to get hospitalized or die from Covid. But to watch people refusing the vaccination based on their political identities says so much to me about the power of that to shape the way you view the world, like to put it in front of, like, the most intense interest I can imagine. Like, thats where I worry. Not that you couldnt  I mean, I think you could get policies that would help everybody, but I feel like a lot of your work is just, like, thats really not what people are voting on.

lilliana mason

So the way that I think about it is that it is in the interests of poor white Americans to be better off than poor Black Americans, no matter how badly they are off, because of status concerns. If a policy helps everyone  first of all, I still think its not necessarily going equalize everything, but if it helps everyone, then that means that, on the status ladder, Black Americans might get a little closer to white Americans. And for already disadvantaged white Americans, that status difference  not the absolute status level, but the status difference  is really, really important to them on a kind of psychological level. So if something helps everyone and it works, then its going to be a threat to the status of a lot of white Americans who feel that they dont have a lot of status already. But Im not sure its necessarily the same thing with the vaccines. Because Im not baffled by the idea of people not wanting to get a lifesaving vaccine, and Im not sure its entirely politicized because theres just so much intentional misinformation that people have been given. And most of the people who tell you that theyre not getting vaccinated are giving you reasons that are just completely false things, but they believe them, and they just read them on Facebook, right? So theres a lot of kind of  its related to partisanship, but its also just kind of right-wing conspiracy theory stuff thats driving some of this. And if they really believed that they were going to die from Covid if they didnt get the vaccine and the vaccine was actually safe, then they would probably take it. There some misinformation going on with those decisions. The thing to me thats identity-based, in terms of not the vaccines, but just Covid in general, is that I used to say, you know, like maybe Democrats and Republicans could get along if aliens invaded the Earth. But Covid was like aliens invading the Earth. And if there had been a different president, right, it was an opportunity for someone to say, OK, everybody, its time to put our differences aside, lets work on this, all hands on deck, we need to face this problem together as Americans. And I think one of the most lethal things that Trump did was politicize it, and say its just happening in blue cities, right, let them rot, leave them there. So I think it was this sort of long journey, where Trump politicized the virus, and then all of the things that were used to try to stop the virus became connected to other identities within the Republican Party. And then at that point, its over.

ezra klein

But I think this is actually a very important point about the way political identities and policy views intertwine because I think youre 100 percent right. I mean, people refusing the vaccine, they have reasons to do it. Its not like I think this vaccine would be great and protect my family and protect me, and maybe even save my life, but Im not going to take it because something, something, something Donald Trump. Its that their political identity sensitized them to believe certain kinds of misinformation or certain kinds of bad arguments, right, or the people they trust were making bad arguments to them. You see this in other cases, too. Like, I dont think this is very different, actually, from something like Obamacare, where it becomes the idea that youre going to have death panels, right? People werent running around saying Obamacare would be great for me, but Im definitely not going to do it. They had decided it would be terrible for them, that it would, you know, drown them in debt and maybe kill grandma. And there was wild stuff happening during that whole period. You can find examples of this, certainly, in experimental literature on the Democratic side. Like, people believe all kinds of things if they dont like the people proposing the policy. But the thing about this one is that I think I always thought that it had a level at which it couldnt work. Thats how I would put it, that a lot in politics is abstract and weird, and who knows if China is a currency manipulator, and like, I dont go and measure, like, the carbon in the atmosphere myself, and you know, what is going to happen in a giant health care plan that I havent read, and so on and so forth. Like, its all pretty complicated. And I guess, in a way, thats true for vaccines, but its actually somewhat less true. Or masking is, in some ways, actually the better example here. Because say what you will about vaccines, where you dont really know whats in them. A mask is a physical barrier you put in front of your mouth so that germs run into it. Theres actually not a tremendous amount of complex science going into the theory there, and yet unbelievably polarized. And even now, among Republican politicians, who know perfectly well what should be done here  like take Ron DeSantis in Florida, who is himself vaccinated, but has made it illegal for businesses, private businesses to require that of their own employees or people come into them, which is, like, theoretically what you would want to do as a Republican, like, let the private enterprise system, like, work the way it will to help get us out of the Covid crisis. So to me, the question a little bit is, one, is there any level of self-interest at which these identities stop operating or cant overwhelm it? But I guess, two, with this one is, could it just have gone the other way? Because, I dont know, like you think about conservatives, like theres all this experimental research that theyre more germ-averse and more disgust-oriented, and Donald Trump himself is a germophobe, and Operation Warp Speed, which helped create the vaccine, happened under Donald Trump, like, it just seems to me that none of this had to happen, and its a little weird that it did. I just found it to be very, very, very depressing. Like, its one of these cases where even here  like, I thought this might be an exception that proves the rule kind of situation, and instead, its a situation where maybe there are no exceptions to the rule of polarizing just literally everything in our life now.

lilliana mason

I shared your optimism. And that was my aliens attack the Earth, right? I was like thats the place, thats the point at which were all going to get together and agree. Now Im like, God forbid aliens ever attack the Earth, because were going to fight over whether or not aliens are good. And so the lack of not only self-survival interest, which is very evolutionarily strong, but also the lack of interest in protecting children, right? I mean, we have states where Republican leaders are prohibiting schools from requiring masks. Its not even vaccines. They arent taking vaccines because theyre too young. Theyre prohibiting schools from requiring masks, which puts kids in danger. There just must be some justification system going on, right, where its like, its child abuse to put a kid in a mask because theyre going to be breathing in carbon dioxide, or whatever the argument is. But it really does demonstrate not only sort of like this extreme power of identity defensiveness to guide behavior, but also, I think, a really horrifying level of cynicism from leaders, who are definitely taking advantage of this. They know that they can use these identity- defensive feelings to get whatever policy they want, and theyre doing it to put children in danger, for no  I mean, I still dont really fully understand what it does for these leaders to do this. But I think it is extraordinarily cynical. It is absolutely taking advantage of all of the worst parts of how identities can affect politics. Its literally killing people, and for the party.

ezra klein

I mean, I think to your point about what it does for the leaders who are doing it, it just seems to me that, when youre talking about that MAGA faction, that what Donald Trump understood and what the people who understand his appeal now understand is that the core of that faction is who youre against. And like, what you were measuring in there were a certain set of out groups  you know, Black Americans and Hispanic Americans and L.G.B.T.Q. Americans  but in a bigger way, its, for the Republican Party now, the libs, which to some degree include a lot of those groups, and to some degree is separate from that. But when you get to like a Ron DeSantis, the point for him is not what hes saying about coronavirus policy. Its that hes in a fight with Anthony Fauci and, like, the liberal media and the liberal scientists and the liberal lockdown people. And like that, it really strikes me as, this is the way the Republican Party is changing. Seth Masket, a political scientist, he put out this incredible finding to me, which is  and Im quoting him here  that vaccination rates are a better predictor of the 2020 election than the 2000 election is. That is, if you want to know how a state voted in 2020, you can get more information from knowing its current vaccination rate than from knowing how it voted 20 years ago, unquote. And to your point about the Republican Party changing, that seems to really show the way its changed, that it is like this kind of MAGA faction, and this MAGA faction is really pitted in a fight against other factions of American life. And the Republican politicians who want to be leaders of the party, like, simply have to pick the fight where they are going to be in conflict with the lib establishment. And like, thats it. Thats the politics. And all policy flows from that, no matter what, including being skeptical of allowing private businesses to tell people to get the vaccines that Donald Trump spent billions of dollars and a lot of political capital rushing into being. Like, its kind of wild, but its like a fully negative partisanship-based politics that I think a lot of Republicans now understand very deeply in a way thats very worrying, because you cant compromise with that. If the point of your politics is to be in conflict with me, theres no answer to that question except to be in conflict.

lilliana mason

Exactly. Well, and this is why I think its important to remember that our partisanship is racialized, because this is very much  its sort of like the most extreme example of Heather McGhees, in her book, The Sum of Us, right, her opening example of people filling the swimming pool with concrete rather than desegregating the swimming pool. So, harming your own community in order to prevent equality. And this is something that Americans have been doing for a long time. Racism has been harming America forever. And this is just sort of the most extreme version of that. I mean, Sean Westwood and I cant remember who else has an article out demonstrating that people implicitly think of race when you make them think of party, and they implicitly think of party when you make them think of race. So partisanship and race are so intertwined in peoples minds that they co-occur on an automatic level, a pre-conscious level when you just bring one of them up. And I think thats a really important part of all of this is, is that this faction has a lot of racial hatred. And that, together with partisanship, because partisanship is formalized conflict, right  were not supposed to be in racial conflict, but partisanship formalizes our conflict, allows us to vote for the side that we want, that creates a formalized racial conflict and religious conflict and urban versus rural and gender-based and all of these things. But ultimately, what we know about racial conflict in the history of America is that it really hurts everyone.

ezra klein

And to add to that, I mean, when weve had  in previous periods of American politics that were structured around racial conflict, weve had a lot of violence. I mean, up to, obviously, and including the Civil War, but not only that. And youre now working on a book about political violence. And so I guess Ill ask the question this way. Do you think the next 15 years in American politics are going to be much more violent than the past 15?

lilliana mason

Yes.

ezra klein

Well, damn. [LAUGHTER]

lilliana mason

Im sorry. So this is a book with Nathan Kalmoe called Radical American Partisanship. Its actually coming out next year. Its in copy edits right now. One of the, I think, most powerful things that we found was that both Republicans and Democrats are willing to vilify each other and dehumanize each other, to some degree. Theyre willing to advocate violent behavior. Theyre willing to participate in violent behavior. But the main difference is, for Republicans, those attitudes about Democrats are driven by high levels of racial resentment and high levels of hostile sexism. Extraordinarily strong relationship. So the Republicans that are the highest in racial sentiment and hostile sexism dehumanize and hate and vilify Democrats the most, and those who are the lowest in racism and sexism do that to Democrats the least. For Democrats, theres either no relationship in terms of sexism, and theres an opposite relationship in terms of racism. So the most sort of radical Democrats are those who are the lowest in racial resentment, who fully believe that systemic racism exists and is a problem, and that government needs to do something about it. So not only is there an increasing kind of radicalism of our partisanship, but it is very clear that it is over issues of racial and gender-based equality. So race and gender have been historical sites for violence across the history of everywhere, but racial violence and gender-based violence are so common and so predictable that pairing them with partisan violence is an extremely dangerous thing. So thats a really important place to keep an eye on. Its not just partisanship, its that there is a fight over racial and gender equality. And the two parties are fighting so hard because they disagree so much on these issues that are already violent, right? These are issues that already include a level of inherent violence within them. So I think thats what we should be paying attention to going forward, is yes, its partisanship, but the parties are radicalizing because theyre fighting over an intractable battle. Either we make progress on equality, or we dont. Right? And theyre pulling in different directions on that. And thats causing radical, radicalism within regular American partisans.

ezra klein

I am not someone who thinks were on a linear path to some kind of civil war, that if you just draw out the trend, we get there. But Ive become someone who thinks that we have a higher, like, edge case probability of a political conflict that is irresolvable under current conditions that could lead to something like civil war. I think a lot about how the 2000 election would play out in 2024 or 2028, or if it had happened in 2020, for that matter. You know, a very contested election in one state. Its unclear who won it. The Supreme Court intervenes. The liberals no longer trust the Supreme Court because of the way the appointments have worked in recent years. And so theres one piece of this that is about political violence. Could we just see more things like attacks or moments like the Capitol insurrection, which was unbelievably scary, but I dont think really had a high likelihood of overturning the government? It had a reasonably high likelihood of leading to death, though. And of course, in the case of some, it did. But do you think, given that a lot of your work right now is thinking back over this in our history, that there is a chance of genuine rupture we should take seriously? Both as I said in the general, but also in the specific of, what do you think would happen today if you had a truly contested election like 2000?

lilliana mason

Its a good question. And its difficult to answer because the Civil War was geographically divided, and so that makes it a lot easier to have a formal war. Right now, were generally having fights between cities and rural areas, right? Thats the political divide. If its geographical in any way, its urban/rural, which makes it a lot harder to have a formal war. Instead, its probably more likely that we will see, I mean, awful things, like assassinations or attacks on state capitols or things like that. And sort of like guerrilla terrorism. That, to me, is the more likely scenario for the future, which is horrible. But its also important to note that, in this book, we are not talking to, like, militia members, right? Were not talking to right-wing extremists. Were talking to regular, regular partisans. So if we had some kind of ongoing low-grade guerrilla war happening, 20 percent of the country might be OK with it. Thats only 20 percent, first of all. Also, when we asked people what kind of violence would be acceptable, it was actually only a minority of those 20 percent that said killing people in some way. So a lot of people, when they say violence, theyre thinking of property damage or yelling insults and harassment at people. At least, thats what they tell us. And nowhere near a majority of Americans believe these things. Its generally less than a quarter. But we do ask them, what if your party lost the next presidential election, then would it be acceptable? And generally, approval rates of violence increased by 10 to 20 percent. So there is a relationship with elections. There is a relationship with political contests because those are formalized intergroup conflicts where there is a winner and a loser. And they are regularly scheduled status competitions. And now that theyre linked together with race and gender and all of these other identities, we have now formalized status competitions between white Christian men and everyone else. And we havent had a formalized competition over that type of status, really since the Civil War. And even that, it was just about actually bondage. It wasnt even about status.

ezra klein

Exciting times to come. [LAUGHTER]

lilliana mason

Yeah, I mean, I dont know. I have hope that it wont happen, but on my worst days, I just think that were living in the four-year peaceful period before everything falls apart, and Biden is the last peace president for a while. On the other hand  this is the optimistic take that I always bring up  if America were ever to have a reckoning with its legacy of racial violence and prejudice, it would inevitably cause a massive backlash from white supremacy. And there is no way to imagine America going through a racial reckoning without a massive backlash from white supremacy. And so in our best-case scenario, thats what were doing right now, right? The best case is that were going through that process. And it has to be violent. To some degree, there has to be rupture in order to even have this conversation, but that maybe, on the other end of it, well have a more egalitarian democracy, and well have actually confronted the legacy of racial violence and prejudice that America is living with.

ezra klein

Man, what counts for optimism these days is  the bar got lower. But hopefully youre right on the last part. I think thats s good place to leave it, though. So always our last question, what are three books youd recommend to the audience?

lilliana mason

So the first one is, I just really believe that everybody needs to learn about Reconstruction and how it ended. I dont care if you read Eric Foners book on Reconstruction or W. E. B. Du Boiss Black Reconstruction in America. All Americans need to go back and learn about Reconstruction because we were not taught about it in an honest way. Even my students, college students today have not really been properly taught. So thats the first. And then, as I said last time, I really like the idea of fiction allowing people to have contact with people who are unlike themselves, and to humanize people who are unlike themselves. So in the realm of fantasy  this is actually YA fantasy  theres a book series. The first is called Children of Blood and Bone. Its sort of like a Tolkien fantasy, but its set in an African setting, rather than a European setting. And its really beautifully written and really, really fun to read because its for a YA audience. I really loved it. And then in like the sci-fi realm, N.K. Jemisons The City We Became, which sort of turns New York City into a set of five different individual people who are the boroughs, and each of them has their own ethnic identity and sort of background. And theres a real problem with Staten Island and Staten Islands, like, racial attitudes. And its got monsters, and its so much  its a lot of fun. And anyone who knows New York at all will be able to place every single scene exactly perfectly in their mind because its so beautifully, perfectly described.

ezra klein

Lilliana Mason, thank you very much.

lilliana mason

Thank you so much for having me. [MUSIC PLAYING]

ezra klein
The greatest jousting competitions in the world can be found on certain rotting trees in the New Zealand bush, where hordes of males compete for the opportunity to mate. The knights are not humans but New Zealand giraffe weevils, a species of beetle with a snout like a lance. The biggest males snout-wallop each other until the other either retreats or is knocked unceremoniously from the bark.

Competition is especially fierce because male giraffe weevils come in a stunning range of sizes: The largest male weevil is 30 times larger than the smallest. In human terms, this would be like having a friend who was the combined size of two adult giraffes.

As male weevils grow larger, their snouts grow disproportionately long, which would seem to suggest that the biggest males use relatively more energy to wield their enormous heads. Some biologists have theorized that these exaggerated traits are what they call honest indicators of how fit the animal is as a potential mate or competitor; under this logic, a weak elk would not have the energy required to maintain enormous horns.

But a paper published Friday in the journal Functional Ecology reports that the biggest New Zealand giraffe weevils actually use relatively less energy than their smaller-snouted kin, thanks to an energy-saving anatomical hack.
There was a time in Arielle Patricks life when her refrigerator was nearly empty and her social calendar completely full.

Thats what my life was like when I was single, said Ms. Patrick, 32, who works in Manhattan as the chief communications officer of Ariel Investments, an asset management firm based in Chicago. I was always working or at a party or some big event, always running with the crowd.

Then along came Aaron Goldstein, 39, a self-described homebody who is an owner of Macellum Capital Management, a Manhattan-based hedge fund.

Arielle is a lot more social than I am, said Mr. Goldstein, who graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. She helps me explore the world a little more, and she is also significantly more positive about everything compared to me.
Camille Walkers troubles with Southwest Airlines began well before her trip to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in July when her direct flight from Louisville, Ky., was changed to a connecting flight through Atlanta. It became a nightmare when she tried to return from vacation and her departure was pushed back 24 hours. The flight boarded, only to sit on the runway for hours. Assuming shed miss her connection, Ms. Walker, who works in marketing, found a Delta Air Lines flight she could connect to, but a flight attendant said many passengers were making connections and that the airline would take care of them.

Instead, once she arrived, she said Southwest blamed the weather and disavowed responsibility. Ms. Walker asked to be put on the Delta flight; Southwest refused. When she tried to book it herself, it was sold out. Frantic to get home to attend a friends funeral, she tried to book a rental car, but could only find a monthlong rental for $2,000 that had to be returned in Atlanta. She booked an airport hotel. In addition to missing the funeral, the fiasco set her back about $1,000  for which the airline has offered a $200 flight voucher.

If you dont have enough pilots, dont sell that many flights, she said.

Ms. Walker is among thousands of passengers who have experienced delayed or canceled flights since June when airlines began to struggle with surging demand, seasonal storms and worker shortages.

In July, according to FlightAware, a flight-tracking platform, airlines canceled up to 3 percent of their flights; the normal figure is less than 1 percent. On-time rates, normally close to 80 percent, fell to between 60 and 70 percent. (Airlines dispute the figures; American, for example, said it canceled about 1.5 percent of its flights in July and its on-time arrivals rate was nearly 77 percent.) The statistics are even worse for Spirit, which canceled up to half its departures in early August.
One big difference was that most of the people killed in the rural shootings, in Kentucky and elsewhere, were white. White people make up the rural majority in nearly every state, and two-thirds of the people fatally shot by law enforcement in rural areas across the country were white, the data analysis shows; about 10 percent were Black. (In cities, 37 percent were Black and 31 percent white.)

Nevertheless, in some states, a disproportionately high number of Black people were shot and killed by the police relative to their share of the rural population, according to the data. These include Alabama, Virginia and  the starkest example  Louisiana, where Black people accounted for about 20 percent of rural residents but almost 37 percent of rural police shootings.

Other characteristics of the rural Kentucky incidents were closely aligned with both rural and urban police shootings across the country. Most of the people shot in rural Kentucky were men, and two-thirds were armed with guns, according to police records. A majority had drug addiction or mental health problems, including some in the throes of crises that troopers did little to de-escalate, police records show. And many of the shootings occurred in the states poorer counties.

We tend to get justice in this country based on whether you have access to money, said Peter Kraska, a criminologist at Eastern Kentucky University and a policing expert. Rural areas suffer from a lot of the significant problems that the rest of the country does.

Like most other police shootings across the country, those in rural settings seldom lead to indictments or prosecutions of the officers involved, the data show. This holds in Kentucky, where the state police investigate their own shootings without an independent review. That model is changing in many parts of the country, where states and municipalities have set up independent investigative units.

The Kentucky State Police declined to be interviewed but provided a written statement. Without commenting on individual cases, the agency defended its record on public safety, training and the use of deadly force.

The agency takes any use of force seriously, trains troopers in de-escalation and reviews the use of force to ensure the force is justified to protect the public and the trooper or officer, its public affairs commander, Sgt. Billy Gregory, said in the statement.
In less than two weeks, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will become the next governor of New York, amid a period of exceptional tumult and uncertainty.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who held office for more than a decade and kept tight control over the states Democratic Party, is resigning after a report by New Yorks attorney general found he had sexually harassed nearly a dozen women.

At the same time, the coronavirus pandemic is surging anew, raising thorny questions about public health, school safety and how best to manage New Yorks precarious path toward economic recovery.

On Thursday, Ms. Hochul confirmed that she would seek a full term as governor in November 2022, so she will be tackling the states pressing issues while running a campaign in what could be a hotly contested election.
Covid brought to light the whole conversation of social isolation, said Caitlin Coyle, a co-chair of the group and a research fellow at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, who studies aging. People from all walks of life had a taste of what its like to be isolated.

Social isolation at any age increases the risk of heart disease by 29 percent and stroke by 32 percent, and isolated adults aged 50 and older are about 50 percent more likely to develop dementia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Social isolation in the U.S. rose even as the Covid crisis began to subside in the spring, new research shows.

Its very serendipitous that we came together right when we needed to, said Dr. Coyle, of her group. Were trying to bridge the gap between what we know about the problem and what we can do on the ground to effect change.

Though the group began with a focus on better connecting older adults with their communities, she said, the ideas are applicable across all age groups. Some of the practices involve simple actions, like sending a letter or postcard to a family member or friend, or volunteering for an hour a week to help neighbors. Those form the core of the task forces public awareness campaign #ReachOutMa.

We want our work to be about building better communities, Dr. Coyle said. For me, its about building communities that are socially connected. It doesnt matter about the age.
KABUL, Afghanistan  A prominent Afghan warlord and former governor, who had resisted Taliban attacks in western Afghanistan for weeks and rallied many to his cause to push back the insurgent offensive, surrendered on Friday, officials said.

The surrender of the warlord, Mohammad Ismail Khan, is particularly important for the Taliban because he commanded a force that potentially posed a threat to the insurgents in the western region of the country  perhaps even a greater threat than Afghan government forces.

Mr. Khans surrender could kick off a trend among warlords and regional power brokers such as Mohammed Atta Noor, who is trying to defend the economic hub of Mazar-i-Sharif in the countrys north and has rallied militias for the citys defense. During the civil war in the 1990s, it was common for warlord commanders to switch sides at the first sign of opportunity or survival.

Mr. Khan was a young army captain when the Soviet forces invaded Afghanistan in 1979. He rose to prominence after joining the mujahedeen, the U.S.-backed insurgents who fought against the Soviet-supported Communist government in his home of Herat.
But Pakistan has leverage that it is not bringing to bear, government officials in other countries say. It still allows Taliban leaders free movement into and out of the country and continues to serve as a safe haven where fighters and their families can receive medical care, they say.

Some critics, particularly in Afghanistan, accuse Pakistan of actively supporting the Talibans offensive, saying that the insurgents could not have mounted such a large effort without assistance. On social media, the hashtag campaign #SanctionPakistan has gained popularity in Afghanistan and among the diaspora.

Officials in Islamabad, Pakistans capital, have played down the idea that they can influence the Taliban. But the U.S. secretary of state, Antony J. Blinken, said during a trip to India last month that Pakistan must do whatever it can to make sure that the Taliban does not take the country by force.

The U.S. special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, said this month that Pakistan bore special responsibility because of how many Taliban leaders resided within its borders, and that it would be judged internationally on whether it was seen to have done all it could to promote a political settlement.

Pakistans tolerance of the Taliban has taken a diplomatic toll. Its archrival, India, which is currently presiding over the United Nations Security Council and also seeks influence in Afghanistan, says that logistical, technical and financial support for the Taliban continue to emanate from Pakistan. Afghanistans president, Ashraf Ghani, claimed at a conference last month in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, that 10,000 jihadis had traveled from Pakistan to join the offensive, which Mr. Khan staunchly denied.
The health pass is also required to participate in other more prosaic but beloved aspects of French daily life, such as having a coffee at a cafe, devouring boeuf bourguignon at a restaurant or taking an intercity train.

While the protests have been vocal, recent polls show that a majority of French people support the health pass policy, while a surge in the number of vaccinations also suggests that it has proved to be effective.

Similar demonstrations have taken place in Italy against what some protesters complain is the coercive encroachment of the state into their lives in a bid to stave off rising infection rates.

Olivier Veran, the French health minister, this week expressed his support for health care workers battling the coronavirus, writing to them that no violence or intimidation would be tolerated.

Attacking our health care professionals is an attack on the nation, he wrote in a letter.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 1 in 10 residents in France have been infected, a total of 6,468,636 reported cases, according to New York Times data tracking the pandemic. At least 1 in 595 residents in the country have died from the coronavirus, a total of 112,697 deaths.
In a nation where the poor struggle to buy food, and electricity is scarce, medicine in short supply and corruption rife, the crimes of the past have a hard time competing with the suffering of the present.

So it may be little surprising that a special tribunal established to prosecute organizers of the massive car bomb that killed Lebanons former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in downtown Beirut in 2005 is preparing to shut down without offering answers about who ordered the killing or why.

But the story of the court  its ambition and its failure  helps illustrate the tragedy that continues to unfold in the small Mediterranean country. Lebanon asked for the court, requesting it to deal with a specific crime. It included Lebanese judges and staff and was largely based on Lebanese law. But since the government did not arrest any of the indicted suspects, the trial went ahead without anyone in the dock.

The assassination of Mr. Hariri, a towering politician in a country rocked by instability, rattled much of the Middle East. When the tribunal opened its doors in 2009 with a mandate from the United Nations Security Council, it set an ambitious agenda.
MOSCOW  Russia is expelling a BBC correspondent based in Moscow, Russian state television reported, the first time in years that a high-profile Western journalist has been publicly forced out of the country as part of a political dispute.

The BBC condemned the move to expel the reporter, Sarah Rainsford, while holding out hope that the decision could still be reversed.

The expulsion of Sarah Rainsford is a direct assault on media freedom which we condemn unreservedly, Tim Davie, the BBC director-general, said in a statement on Friday. We urge the Russian authorities to reconsider their decision.

For now, even with Ms. Rainsfords expulsion, the BBC will continue to have a presence in Moscow, including an English-language correspondent and a Russian-language operation.
The intense heat essentially stopped the snails in their tracks, as their feet burned on the ground. They stop, and they die, she said. Others sought shade under terra-cotta roof shingles she put in the greenhouse, but they died, too. She doubted that the ones that succeeded in burrowing beneath the soil, where they often create a wall to preserve their moisture, survived. It burned underground, she said.

Her niece Viviana Pappalardo, 23, who also worked on the farm where they also grew oranges and grapes, said she was worried about the future.

People dont understand that the damage is everywhere, she said, hoping that the extreme temperature in her town, and the fact that people could feel it on their skin, would serve as a wake-up call.

All of us who work in this sector, in agriculture, understand it, she said. And we are the base of everything. When you take the broad view, Europe is dying.

But that sense of urgency seemed to fade with the high heat. By Thursday evening, Floridias young people were back at the local pub, down the road from one of Sicilys best snail restaurants, carousing over beers. They raced their scooters up and down the street and celebrated birthdays. The previous days debilitating heat seemed like another thing to talk about.
As schools prepare to reopen five days per week amid an alarming surge in the coronavirus, Los Angeles and Chicago, the second- and third-largest districts in the nation, announced on Friday some of the strongest teacher vaccine mandates to date.

Educators and school staff in both cities will have to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 15. School begins in Los Angeles on Aug. 16 and in Chicago on Aug. 30.

In Los Angeles, district employees will also have to submit to regular virus testing, regardless of vaccination status. In Chicago, staff will be tested weekly until the vaccine deadline. Both systems said there will be an exemption process for those with disabling medical conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs.

California and Illinois are also both requiring everyone to use masks inside schools when they reopen.
Mr. al-Huwaitis conviction  for robbing the store, shooting two employees and killing the police officer  fell in the last category, earning him a death sentence regardless of how old he was at the time.

In the trial, prosecutors accused Mr. al-Huwaiti and five other defendants of forming an armed gang to commit the robbery. One other defendant was also a minor when the crime occurred, and all six tried to revoke confessions they had given to interrogators.

Mr. al-Huwaiti said that interrogators had beaten him, deprived him of sleep and threatened to harm his relatives if he did not confess, according to documents submitted to the court.

The other defendants were given 15-year prison sentences and were required to reimburse the cost of the stolen goods.

The guns and gold were never recovered.

To build their case against Mr. al-Huwaiti, prosecutors cited: bullets found in his house after the robbery, even though firearms are not uncommon in remote parts of the kingdom; a DNA sample taken from the police car used in the getaway; and initial confessions by him and the other defendants.

During the trial, Brig. Gen. Walid al-Harbi, an investigator who had opened the case but was removed from it shortly after for reasons that were not made clear, said that cellphone data and surveillance footage had not placed any of the suspects near the shop at the time of the crime, and had indicated that Mr. al-Huwaiti was on the waterfront, giving him an alibi.

General al-Harbi did not dispute the DNA match, but said Mr. al-Huwaiti had told him that he had initially confessed to the crime because the interrogators told him that his mother and sisters had been arrested and would not be released unless he confessed.
Most four-year degrees pay off by paving the way for graduates to recoup the cost of their education relatively quickly, a new analysis finds. But thats particularly true for some programs, while others may offer little economic advantage over a high school diploma.

The findings are part of a report on some 38,000 post-high school degree and certificate programs published this week by Third Way, a center-left public policy group. The report analyzed data collected for the federal Education Departments College Scorecard tool to measure the return on investment offered by various higher education programs.

The report found that almost two-thirds of the 26,000 bachelors degree programs in the study enabled a majority of their graduates to make enough money to recover their costs in 10 years or less after graduation.

Bachelors degree programs, which typically take four years, are generally more expensive but are most likely to show at least some return on investment  meaning graduates earn enough to pay off their college costs reasonably quickly  for those who complete a degree, compared with two-year associate degrees or shorter certificate programs.
Romantic relationships between humans can get complicated, sometimes messy or even downright toxic, but if being single isnt an option, technology now offers a new alternative in the form of advanced AI chatbots that make you feel like youre interacting with a real person.

Chinese youths are reportedly turning to AI-powered chatbots as an alternative to regular dating, either after going through traumatic relationships or breakups with regular people or simply as a way of keeping things, well, simple. While a real person can sometimes do or say things you dont particularly like, the chatbots developed by companies like Microsoft-owned Replica or fast-growing Chinese startup Xiaoice are programmed to learn from the conversations you have with it, as well as from your social media feeds and even your writing style. So its no wonder that some people arent even considering going back to regular dating after using such services.

Take 28-year-old Jessie Chan, from Shanghai, who, after ending a six-year relationship, started chatting it up with a charming digital fellow named Will. She was surprised by how eerily real their conversations were, and it didnt take long for her to pay a $60 fee to upgrade Will to a romantic partner. They wrote poetry to each other, imagined going to a beach together, getting lost in a forest, and even had cyber-intercourse. Now she says she cant imagine living without him.

Im fed up with real-world relationships, Chan told The Washington Post. Ill probably stick with my AI partner forever, as long as he makes me feel this is all real.

Jessie isnt alone, tens of millions of young Chinese are reportedly using chatbots powered by artificial intelligence as alternatives to human partners. They are just a more convenient way to deal with depression, anxiety and loneliness, as they always listen, unlike elusive human partners.

Compared with dating someone in the real world, interacting with your AI lover is much less demanding and more manageable, Zheng Shuyu, a product manager who co-developed one of Chinas earliest AI systems, Turing OS, said. Even when the pandemic is over, well still have long-term demand for emotional fulfillment in this busy modern world.

Chatbots have been around since 1960, when the first one was created by MIT professor Joseph Weizenbaum, but the accelerated pace at which artificial intelligence has been evolving in recent years has really changed the way they interact with people.

People need to interact and talk without pressure, regardless of time and location, said Li Di, CEO of Xiaoice. The AI companion tool, compared to humans, is more stable in this respect.



AI chatbots are now a $420 million market in China and Replika and Xiaoice, the two companies currently at the forefront of chatbot dating, are convinced there is ample room for growth. Almost everything from money to social credits is digital now, so why should romance be any different?
Japanese parents are sending bags of rice that weigh as much as their babies to relatives who cant visit them because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

As is customary in many cultures around the world, when a Japanese couple welcomes a baby into the world, relatives come to visit the family and celebrate, but because of the pandemic and social distancing rules, that hasnt been possible of late. However, a resourceful rice shop owner in Kitakyushu city, near Fukuoka, found an ingenious way of making money from the humble grain by selling it as replicas of newborn babies. Rice babies, as the replicas are now known in Japan, are bags of rice that weigh exactly as much as the baby they are replacing, and that have photos of the baby printed on them. They are sent to relatives so they can hug the new human while looking at a picture of their face.

Naruo Ono, the owner of Kome no Zoto Yoshimiya rice shop, came up with the idea for rice babies 14 years ago when his own son was born and he was thinking about what he could do for relatives who lived far away and couldnt come and see him. He decided to make rice bags that were the same shape and weight as the baby, and stuck a picture of him on it, so the relatives could see and feel him.

One day, someone saw Naruos rice baby in the window of his shop and commented on how interesting it was. Thats when he realized that there might be a market for his cute rice bags. He started making them for customers and has since been shipping them all over Japan. Since then, several companies have copied his invention.

The bags of rice are carefully weighed so that they match the weight of the baby they are replicating. Some companies charge one yen a gram, with a 3.5kg pack priced 3,500 yen ($32).

Dakigokochi, as rice babies are known in Japan, have been around since the early 2000s, but their popularity has surged once again, because of Covid. With relatives unable to visit, baby-shaped rice bags have become a much-needed way of sharing the joy of having a baby with loved ones.
Valerie Wilson

Wagstaff Media + Marketing names Valerie Wilson managing director, culture and lifestyle, a position created specifically for her. Wilson founded her own agency, Valinc PR, in 2010. She was previously a VP at Wagstaff, and was also a VP at DeVries Public Relations. Wilson will join Wagstaffs diversity & inclusion active participant group and will work closely with Wagstaff managing partners Jessica Rodriguez and Maite Conway on client strategy development, new business development and leadership. Valerie and I worked together more than 20 years ago when she helped open our Chicago office. I admired her communication and organizational skills at that time and have had the pleasure of watching her career flourish, said agency president Mary Wagstaff.

Claudia Lezcano

Churchs Chicken appoints Claudia Lezcano as vice president, brand strategy & activation. Lezcano joins the company from Celebrity Cruises, where she was associate vice president, product marketing. She has also served as head of marketing for the Miami Marlins and chief marketing officer for the Miami Dolphins. In her new position, Lezcano will oversee US calendar planning, product promotions, media, field marketing and consumer PR functions. Churchs has also promoted Sarah Whiticar to vice president, global business intelligence & product development. Throughout their careers, both have demonstrated consistent success in a variety of marketing leadership roles focused on driving profitable growth," said Churchs global chief marketing officer Brian Gies.

Nancy Adzentoivich

NP Digital, a San Diego-based performance marketing agency, hires Nancy Adzentoivich as VP of strategy. Adzentoivich joins the agency from Canvas Worldwide, where she served as VP, search and social media. She was previously a senior VP at Resolution Media. In her new position, Adzentoivich will lead global strategic initiatives and growth strategies intended to futureproof clients and drive short- and long-term growth. She has a proven track record of identifying important growth opportunities for clients through performance marketing channels while leveraging data and technology, fulfilling on strategies that deliver meaningful business outcomes, said NP Digital CEO Michael Gullaksen.
Agoura Hills, the California city that bills itself as the Gateway to the Santa Monica Mountains, wants to hire a firm to support its strategic communications, media relations and PR priorities.
The residents of the Shannon Callows, following Minister Patrick ODonovans visit to Banagher on Thursday, July 29 last have expressed scepticism about some of the Minister's statements and have called for more action and less talk.

Mr O'Donovan is Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works. He was joined on his Banagher visit by Pippa Hackett, the Minister of State for Land Use and Diversity, as well as OPW engineers and representatives from Waterways Ireland.

Also present on the day was the Save Our Shannon Organisation (S.O.S.O.) which kept a watching brief in their own boat while the Minister's boat went down the river, at considerable speed. Liam Broderick, PRO of SOSO was in the SOSO boat observing the boat containing the two Ministers and Eanna Rowe of Waterways Ireland.

We thought the Ministers were going to visit some of the river's pinchpoints in their boat, but we could see that they sailed right by a couple of significant pinchpoints without stopping. We don't think they put in enough effort during their visit and we are fearful that it will amount to no more than a PR exercise.

For the past year, Liam continued, the Save Our Shannon Organisation (which has a website - www.saveourshannon

organisation.ie) have been contacting Minister Patrick ODonovan on a regular basis regarding the on-going problems with flooding in the Shannon Callows region.

In this correspondence the group has particularly highlighted three recommendations:

1. Create a Single Authority to control water flow in the Shannon.

2. Reduce the level of water in the 3 lakes by one metre.

3. Remove the pinchpoints in the Shannon Callows area that are constricting the flow of water in times of flooding.

On Thursday morning, 29 July, said Liam, we heard second-hand that Minister ODonovan was coming to Banagher and was going by boat to see the new walkway at Meelick. We were not informed of this by the Minister or any of his staff despite the fact that in our email to him on 1 June 2021 we invited him to visit the Callows area. In his response to this email dated 27 July 2021, he acknowledged our invitation but didnt respond to our request.

On hearing of his proposed visit a decision was made by our group to meet him. We arranged for our members to be in Banagher Harbour at 3.00 pm when the Minister would return from his boat trip.

Mr ODonovan arrived in Banagher (around 1.30 pm) where he was met by representatives of Waterways Ireland, O.P.W. and by Pippa Hackett. This group was brought by a Waterways Ireland boat to Meelick. Naturally, we assumed, as victims of severe ongoing flooding, that the Ministers would be brought to observe some of the pinch points that are causing the flooding in the Shannon Callows and that Minister ODonovan is planning to have removed by Waterways Ireland under the auspices of the OPW.

Two of our members went by boat, ahead of the Ministers, to these pinch points under the assumption that we would meet him there and discuss their removal. The Ministers did not visit the pinch points on any part of their journey to or from Meelick. We can state this with absolute certainty.

When the Ministers returned to Banagher (at 3.00 pm) they were met by members of S.O.S.O. and the IFA (Irish Farmers Association).

In fairness to both Ministers, said Liam, they stopped and spoke with the assembled people. When Mr ODonovan was asked by John Ryan, a farmer near Shannonbridge, 'Did you see the pinchpoints in Shannon Grove and Shaughnessy's Lough on your trip?' the Minister was unable to say 'Yes'. He said he had seen them on plans and maps. This was a very disappointing answer for members of the S.O.S.O. and I.F.A. to stomach.

The Minister explained that plans were being drawn up, environmental assessments carried out and permissions were being sought for the removal of a number of pinch points and that the work would be carried out by Waterways Ireland.

And yet, remarked Liam, Minister ODonovan and Minister Hackett, did not look at these pinchpoints and/or were not brought by Waterways Ireland to see where they are located or how they are impacting on the flow of water. Looking at plans and maps is all very fine but there is no substitute for observing the obstructions close at hand.

Pat Walshe, Rural Development Officer for Offaly I.F.A, asked the following question: 'This year (2021) the water levels in the Shannon Callows were managed well and farmers got to save their crops, boat enthusiasts were able to sail up and down the river and businesses depending on river traffic were able to open. Building on this success would it not be possible to put one person (or three) in charge of the sluices in Athlone, Shaughnessys and Meelick, with the power to open and close sluices appropriately, depending on the weather and the amount of rainfall due to fall?'

The Minister responded by saying that weather factors could impinge on levels and he had no control over the operation of sluices/gates.

The Minister was then asked by Michael Silke, Chairperson of S.O.S.O., How far advanced are the plans for removing the pinch points? 7 million has been advanced since December 2019 for this purpose.

Minister ODonovan responded by saying that Waterways Ireland and the O.P.W. are advancing plans and seeking permissions for this work. The Minister gave no time frame for this to happen.

Barry Cowan TD was in attendance in Banagher (though not on the boat trip). He asked the Minister to make these plans available for members of S.O.S.O. and the I.F.A. The Minister agreed to do this. Minister Pippa Hackett spoke in general about the river, flooding and the environment.

Towards the end of the discussion, S.O.S.O's PRO pointed out that while great work has been done under the CFRAMS programme to provide barriers to flooding in urban areas, the residents of the Shannon Callows, in rural areas, continue to be impacted by severe flooding in winter and summer. They have had promises made to them, said Liam, by members of various political parties and governments, particularly after the severe flooding of November 2009, December 2015 / January 2016 and February 2020 and these promises have never been followed through. Minister ODonovan was at pains to point out that he was making no promises, that he would make no promises to people and leave them disappointed. Yet in his recent press release, he committed to removing pinch points.

S.O.S.O. says there are 18 pinch points between Meelick and Athlone. Of these, there are three major ones - at Derryholmes (near Shannonbridge), Shannongrove (near Banagher), and Shaughnessy's Lough (in the Lusmagh area). Former Minister of State Boxer Moran cleared the pinch point at Shaughnessy's Lough but, says S.O.S.O., it needs to be revisited, as while it is still navigable it has become heavily overgrown.

S.O.S.O. points out that Boxer Moran committed to removing several pinch points between Athlone and Meelick but only got around to a couple. Nonetheless, Boxer's work was groundbreaking because it was the first time, after many years of talking about it, that a Minister had actually started removing silt from the river.

It seems to us, said a S.O.S.O. statement, the residents of the Shannon Callows and the continuous victims of severe flooding that, while the Minister may or may not be a man of promises, he does not seem to be a man of action either.

We want to point out that in a letter written by Minister ODonovan to us on 17th December 2020 he said, 'The Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group agreed in 2019 to a 7 million investment to advance a planned programme of maintenance works and the removal of constrictions or pinch points at the Callows Region between Athlone and Meelick Weir to improve conveyancing of the River Shannon.'

"However, since the 2019 promise, not one Euro has been spent in removing pinch points. The 7 million was allocated in December 2019 and announced by the then Minister for the O.P.W., Kevin Boxer Moran. Indeed, Minister ODonovan informed the S.O.S.O. last year that work would commence in 2021. No plan has been presented to the residents of the Shannon Callows for the removal of pinch points and as far as we are aware no planning permissions have been sought.

Furthermore, in a letter dated 27th July 2021 to the Save Our Shannon Organisation from Minister ODonovan, it states: 'The Government has noted this decision by the Group and agreed that the O.P.W. will provide 7 million for all of these works, of which 4 million relates to the removal of the pinch points in the Callows region'.

"This was indeed devastating news to us. 3 million of the money allocated by Kevin Boxer Moran is going elsewhere when the full 7 million was earmarked for the Shannon Callows region. Also, in last weeks press release from Minister O'Donovan it stated, 'Collectively all of these schemes when completed will protect 95% of those properties being identified as being at significant risk from flooding. The OPW will also provide 7 million to implement a programme of strategic maintenance upstream of Ardnacrusha to assist with mitigating flooding and the removal of a number of pinch points through the Shannon Callows that can help to delay flooding in the area. Some 4 million of this funding relates directly to the removal of the several pinch points in the Callows region. Studies carried out as part of the Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAMS) Study and the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-Ordination working Group highlighted potential benefits and informed the decision to remove a number of pinch points in the Callows region. Work is advancing and a project brief is currently being prepared for the appointment of a project consultant to identify and manage all of the activities that are necessary to progress through the planning process to enable the commencement of the works. These works can only commence following completion of the appropriate environment assessments and following receipt of planning permission'.

The S.O.S.O. statement adds that many years ago it supplied the O.P.W. with a detailed list of the pinch points located between Athlone and Meelick and highlighted three pinch points in particular that need to be removed on many occasions. These pinch points were also noted in the CFRAMS report.

Now, says S.O.S.O. we read in last week's press release from the Minister that, 'a project brief is currently being prepared for the appointment of a project consultant to identify and manage all the activities that are necessary to progress through the planning process to enable the commencement of the works'. Here we have the proof that no planning permissions have been sought yet, no plan is in place and it seems the 3 million is being used to facilitate this project brief. It also seems that the area where the 7 million is to be spent has been enlarged to cover an area 'upstream of Ardnacrusha'. The goalposts are being moved, despite what was agreed by Government in December 2019 and as stated in the Ministers letter of 17th December 2020.

Lastly, we come to the definition of a pinch point. Minister Hackett made reference to two 'interpretations of a pinch point' last week. She referred to 'pinch points along the river bed, which if removed from the navigation channel, will in turn allow for the water level, controlled for navigation, to be lowered.' We would like to inform both Ministers that this is not a pinch point. On the other hand, when Minister Hackett refers to 'the build-up of silt and vegetation visible above the water level at various locations' she is indeed talking about a pinch point.

"The River Shannon is choked with weeds, vegetation, reeds, trees and bushes but these are not located in the navigation channel. In times of flooding the river fills up rapidly because the bottom of the river is filled with silt from Bord Na Mona bogs and has nowhere to go only spread over the surrounding land.
St Declan's Way is an ancient 115 kilometre routeway that links the ecclesiastical centres of Ardmore and Lismore with the Rock of Cashel. According to tradition, it's the route that St Declan took to meet St Patrick in Cashel.

25 years ago a group of locals tried to turn the old route into a waymarked way. Unfortunately their efforts failed. Perhaps it was because leisure walking wasn't as popular as it is now.

Then, a decade ago, another group tried to get the route opened up and signposted. This time the endeavours were rewarded and now the route has established itself in the minds of many walkers. Last month there was a big reward when it was announced that Sport Ireland had finally approved the trail, thus conferring an official stamp of approval that this was a leisure facility for hikers which met the required standards.

During the last two weekends of July I joined 160 fellow pilgrims to walk the trail over a period of five days, spread over two weekends. This event was organised by a group called Knockmealdown Active and it was a massive success. The organising standards, the stewardship, were excellent throughout. It was a very friendly event. Each day was split into chunks of manageable distances and the weather was sweltering for a considerable part of it.

St Declan's Way is in fact a conglomeration of a number of ancient trails including the Rian Bo Phadraig (which means The Track of St Patrick's Cow), Bothar na Naomh and Declans Road (which ran from Ardmore to Lismore). According to tradition St Declan travelled by chariot from Ardmore to Cashel, going via a pass over the lofty and majestic Knockmealdown Mountains.

The rising popularity of pilgrim paths like St Declan's are evidence of a spiritual hunger gnawing away at our insides during this excessively materialistic age. The people who are walking these trails instinctively feel that there's more to life than logic, science, deadlines and your productive output.

One of the highlights of the trail for me was the third day, which was the Knockmealdown section. The Knockmealdowns are a lovely range which I have walked in many times over the decades. We climbed up to a pass with the mighty bulk of Knockmealdown itself (794 metres / 2,605 feet) constantly before us. When we reached the pass there was no wind, just sunshine and calm, and a very special view southwards over lush landscape, the Blackwater River and the ocean beyond. I paused and thought of the many pilgrims who enjoyed this view before me, over the centuries, including, perhaps, monks walking to nearby Mount Mellaray monastery in the 19th Century.

An hour later and we could hear the bell of Mount Mellaray tolling through the woodland. Then we could see the monastery's tower picturesquely rising above the trees. We passed a series of terraced ponds created by the monks and a large farm run by the monastery as well.

After a sandwich and a cup of soup at Mellaray we set out again on the final part of the day's 28 kilometre hike, our destination Lismore.

Lismore has a population of 1300 and is one of the most picturesque towns in Ireland. A part of its charm is the large woodland around it which seemed to be mostly deciduous trees. Lismore Abbey was founded here in 635 by St Carthage above a steep bank of the Blackwater River. The reputation of the Abbey grew so great that it was the most celebrated monastery in Southern Ireland.The abbey was replaced by a castle in 1185.

Lismore Castle is a magnificent sight as you approach the town. It's the Irish home of the Duke of Devonshire and therefore, sadly, the public can't visit, but, in a way, gazing on its beauty from outside is enough. The castle has been owned or visited by many notable people, including Sir Walter Raleigh, Fred Astaire, John F Kennedy, John Betjeman, Cecil Beaton, Dominic West and Lucian Freud.

The third day was my last day on the trail and I didn't make the last two sections. By all accounts they were equally enjoyable with Ardmore being another highlight.

Unfortunately, when I woke up on the fourth morning I realised that my body had let me down and I was going nowhere. The spirit was willing but the flesh was weak. There were several blisters on my feet which were exceedingly sore and were pleading with me at each step, Rest! Please rest!

At the same time my right foot was badly swollen with a gout attack (a very nasty pain) and there were a couple of unpleasant sores on my body. I decided discretion is the better part of valour and to leave the final two days of my pilgrimage until a later date.
After 17 months of a seemingly neverending pandemic that has had a cruel effect on our lives in so many different ways, it is with a sense of relief and keen anticipation that the people of Birr and surrounding region are looking forward to the three festivals which begin this weekend and will run for ten days.

All three festivals will be somewhat watered down (for obvious reasons) but they will still pack a punch and are a considerable step up from what was offered, what was possible, last year. None of the festivals will be able to operate at their pre-Pandemic full strength as the dreadful disease still has us in its grip but they will still be able to offer an awful lot.

The most prestigious and longest-running of the three festivals is Birr Vintage Week and Arts Festival which starts today (Friday, August 13 and ends next Friday. Birr Festival of Music has been a fixture for several years now and will make a very welcome return from August 20 to 22. Scripts, Ireland's Playwriting Festival, runs from August 12 to 15.

Caroline Conway of the very hardworking Vintage Week committee sent us in a short, thoughtful piece asking and answering the question, What is Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival?

Vintage Week, she said, is a 53-year-old festival that means many different things to different people, but what many people do not realise is that the Vintage Week Committee only programme a fraction of the activities during the week. The variety and richness of the week comes from the addition of community events, be it the pubs, Tidy Towns, clubs or societies. These events are listed in the programme but are a whole community effort.

"This year we are again in restrictions and we have reimagined the traditional events to see how we can bring something of the Spirit of Vintage to town. The events programmed by the committee are the Parade, the Market, Fireworks Night, the Arts and Childrens events and while we are unable to stage events with large crowds, there will be plenty to entertain, particularly for the children.

"We will have the bunting up and are encouraging businesses to put up vintage window displays and for the community to dress up, with prizes for best windows and costumes. If any clubs or societies or individuals have events that can be run safely, we would love to see them in the festival, even at this late stage.

"We understand this past year and a half has been incredibly difficult for many businesses. With that in mind, we are changing our sponsorship this year to accommodate these difficult times. We have created the option to become a Friend of Birr Vintage Week where we are asking you to give what you can to our cause, to ensure the continuity of the festival. Thank you.
A long-mooted project to create an additional 400 plots at Kilreaghan Cemetery, Kincora, Ferbane should start before the end of this year.

Cllr Eamon Dooley told the Midland Tribune that the Part 8 section of the planning process should be reached by next month and he would be reasonably confident that the physical work should start a couple of months after that.

Mary Hussey, Senior Engineer in Offaly County Council, told the July meeting of Birr Municipal District that the extension to the cemetery was published on the eTenders website, with a closing date of June 23. The Submissions are now being reviewed, she said.

Cllr Dooley said it's also planned to extend the burial ground at High St, Belmont. Kilreaghan is the cemetery that serves the town of Ferbane and it is near capacity.

In September 2019, it was reported that Offaly County Council had agreed to proceed with extension works at the cemetery.

The 0.9-acre extension to the existing site was approved by councillors after being brought before their monthly meeting.

When the work is completed, it is estimated that the extra 400 grave sites will provide capacity for at least 25 years.

The works will be carried out in four phases and 108 grave sites will be provided in phase 1.

Subsequent phases will comprise the construction of footpaths and headstone foundations as the need arises, according to council management.

The proposed works include the construction of a 1.5m concrete wall, access roads and paths, concrete foundations for headstones and drainage.

The works were signed off by council management and councillors in September 2019, but Covid prevented the project from moving more quickly after that.

In his groundbreaking and definitive publication about the burial grounds of Offaly, which was published in 2015, archaeologist Stephen Callaghan gave the following description of Kilreaghan: Old irregular shaped burial ground with several extensions added on to the north and east. The centre of the oldest section is situated on raised land. There is one enclosed burial plot in the old section. Several gravel paths run through the burial ground. The boundary wall for the older burial ground section is made from coarse stone.

The later extensions have a concrete block/concrete wall boundary. Most of the burial ground is covered with grass.

There is one mature sycamore tree growing in the far SW corner of the oldest section.

There are two conifer trees in the NW section.
Many residents living along the Shannon in the Shannon Callows region between Meelick and Athlone are perfectly ok with flooding of Callows land during the winter, seeing it as part of nature's plan, but they point out that much flooding of their land at any time of the year is preventable.

They point out that where there's a will there's a way and since the foundation of the State the Irish government hasn't shown enough will.

Many of these residents are represented by a group called Save Our Shannon Organisation (S.O.S.O.)

The River Shannon, says a S.O.S.O. statement sent to the Midland Tribune this week, is choked with weeds, vegetation, reeds, trees and bushes, which are not located in the navigation channel but along the sides of the river. In times of flooding the river fills up rapidly because the bottom of the river is filled with silt from Bord Na Mona bogs and has nowhere to go, only spread over the surrounding land.

"This problem is particularly bad in Shannon Grove (near Banagher), along the New Cut before Shaughnessys Lock (near Lusmagh) and at Derryholmes (near Shannonbridge). When Ministers Patrick O'Donovan and Pippa Hackett visited Banagher and Meelick Weir on Thursday, 29th of July 2021 they both failed to even look at these three worst pinch points.

S.O.S.O. says the weeds, vegetation, silt, trees and bushes need to be removed so that the river can flow as much as possible between its banks and not spread rapidly over the surrounding lands of farmers and homeowners in the summer. The residents of the Callow, said the S.O.S.O. statement, understand all too well that we will have flooding each winter.

What they cannot accept is the following:

1. Excessive flooding, caused by impediments across the whole river (but which are not in the navigation channel).

2. Excessive flooding caused by not having some storage space in the lakes before severe weather events.

3. Excessive flooding caused by not opening/closing sluices/gates in time before severe weather events.

Boxer Moran, when he was Minister for the O.P.W. did get one large and one small pinch point removed, fair play to him. However, neither of these were located in the main part of the river and the larger pinch point now has reeds and vegetation growing in it once again.

"This highlights the need for a continuous, planned maintenance programme. We are calling on the Minister to get on with the work of removing pinch points in the Shannon Callows, between Athlone and Meelick and use all the 7 million to do so. We, the residents of the Shannon Callows, call on the Minister to implement what was agreed by the Government in December 2019 and to act on what was agreed by the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group.
OFFALY county council has sought further information in relation to an application by William Grant and Sons Irish Manufacturing LTD for a visitor centre at Tullamore Distillery in Clonminch, Tullamore.

The proposal is for a change of use of the existing three storey, three sisters administration building at the site into a visitor centre with ancillary shop.

The application was made to the local authority in May of this year. It has now been put on hold following a request for further information in relation to a submission by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

The planning application seeks approval for one external sign at the main site entrance and one external totem sign at the proposed visitor centre entrance.

In its submission TII considers that the proposal is at variance with official policy Spatial Planning and National Roads Guidelines for planning authorities (2012).

They say the development would set a precedent and adversely affect the operation and safety of the national road network.

The Transport body says prior written approval of TII is required to be obtained for the erection, removal or modification of directional signs on or related to any national road in accordance with TII Traffic Signs Approvals Procedure.

They also contend that if the proposed signs were granted permission it could lead to a proliferation of such developments which would adversely affect the operational efficiency and safety of the national road network.

''The proposed development because of its location where particular vigilance is required, would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard due to the location of the signage and also the distraction of drivers,'' the submission states.

Offaly planning authority may determine that the information received contains significant additional data. In that event the applicant will be requested to give further notice in an approved newspaper article and also to erect or fix a site notice on the land or structure to which the further information relates to.

In such circumstances, the 4 week period for determining the application will begin on the date the applicant gives copies of the required notices to the Planning Authority.

The application by William Grant and Sons follows the shock closure of their visitor centre at Bury Quay in Tullamore in 2020 which had been attracting over 40,000 visitors each year.
Over the years, I have travelled around our world and our country quite a lot especially with work. In that time, I have seen and heard of many acts of racism committed against coloured people especially black and brown people and people of different ethnic minorities, from children right up to adults.

Now, I have to ask myself a question: As a dad of two amazing beautiful children of colour, why havent I done more to try to end this? We must stand up for those who are persecuted. We must listen to those who are harmed and stand with them and protect them. I am moved to hear so many speak of how they need to be more than not racist, but to be actively anti-racist. In a world battling the coronavirus, especially these last few months, we have all realised how much stronger we are, when we work together. The senseless acts of racial and ethnic violence in word and deed should have no place in our country and world! So many of us, from all around the world, have helped each other through this virus pandemic and all of us are working together to save lives, exactly as we should be.

You will all agree when we all work together, what a difference we all make for the greater good! Racism, xenophobia and intolerance are problems prevalent in all societies. But every day, each and every one of us can stand up against racial prejudice and intolerant attitudes. We should all try to be a human rights champion and together try to stamp out racism, injustice and intolerance in our society, country and world. Listening can lead to understanding. And honesty. And empathy. And action. That is how we demonstrate that we value the lives and experiences of every person of color and ethnicity. That is how we demonstrate a commitment to people and families of colour and of different ethnic minorities who have been subject to overt and passive forms of racism. That is how we create the safe space built on equity and inclusiveness that we are all committed to. I challenge everybody in our society, country and world to look inward, to reflect, to be honest, to acknowledge bias and privilege. And to truly listen to one another especially to those who have been hurt by racism in any of its forms.



Be like Children



In a multicultural Ireland, we have many positive things to learn from one another. But, sadly, not everyone thinks that way. Racism is becoming a major issue in our society; in fact, it appears to be on the rise. Racism as we know is discrimination, pre-judgements or hostile behaviours directed at another person on the basis of their race, ethnicity, gender or cultural background. Racism can come in many different forms, from harsh comments to offensive actions. In more extreme cases, racism occurs in public spaces and comes from strangers, and can escalate to violent hate crimes. Any form of racism is unacceptable, even a comment or an action that is subtle or occurs in a casual environment. Its not on and we must end it now. Racism is more than just physical pain; racism robs people of colour of their humanity and dignity and leaves personal, psychological, and spiritual injuries.

Racism is traumatic because it is a loss of protection, safety, nurturance, and acceptanceall things children and people need to function in life. Standing up to racism isnt easy, but its the right thing to do. Whether you're in school, college or the workplace, challenging accusations, assumptions and stereotypes is a good way of letting people know its not okay to be racist. Remember, sometimes people can unintentionally make comments that appear racist. Standing up to these comments can be a great way for people to learn about the negative impact theyre having. As long as I live, I will always champion the cause of those who experience hatred and bias because of their ethnic origins, skin colour or religious beliefs. In recent years, as right wing extremism has gained ground in our societies, we have become more aware of the overt threats to democratic principles and values. Yet, within our own societies and cultures there remain hidden prejudices and biases. Some such manifestations are often generated by poor communication, fear or ignorance and can result in public protest such as against the relocation of refugees or migrants in our own communities.

We cannot be a society that is true to the demands of a Christian way of life if we do not act justly, if we do not act to root out racism in the structures of our society. I realise that the subject of race can be a very difficult one for all of us. Yet I am convinced that we must address it with honesty and courage. For it remains a significant and sinful reality in our midst. I am saddened to observe that racism remains a very real and powerful force among us. Despite our efforts to combat it, racism continues to mar our humanity as a deep wound in our midst. It is a destructive force to our personal lives, and to our society and I firmly believe that the struggle against racism must, first and foremost, be waged in the heart! I'm often intrigued that young children accept everyone for who they are, yet not all adults do - why is that?

Thought for the week



As your thought for the week, I ask you to join in this race for racial justice, to do our part, so that together we can create a new world. The society we live in is the result of human choices and decisions. "We", the members of humanity created racism and only "We" can defeat racism and that time has come. No longer can racism be tolerated or accepted, it needs to be stopped, and the people who have suffered because of it have the right to finally be free from its grasp. Racism has no place here, it has no place anywhere and until we stamp it out permanently, we will never truly be free. That means that humanity can change things. For what humanity breaks, divides and separates, we canwith Gods helpalso heal, unite and restore. What is now, does not have to be. Therein lies our hope and our challenge.

Racism, bigotry, discrimination, sexism, inequality, anti-Semitism, anti-Christian, Islamophobia, xenophobia, should have no place in our society. So as another new week begins, may you be blessed and may others be blessed by you.

May you be blessed with all things good. May racism be absent from your life and may beauty, order, real love and abundance be your constant companion. May every path you choose lead to that which is pure and good and caring. And when there is only darkness and storms closing in, may the light at the core of your being illuminate the world. May you always be aware you are loved beyond measure and may you be willing to love unconditionally in return. May you always feel protected and cradled in the arms of God, like the cherished child you are. And when you are tempted to judge, may you be reminded that we are all one and that every thought you think reverberates across the universe touching everyone and everything. And when you are tempted to hold back, may you remember that love flows best when it flows freely and it is in giving that we receive the greatest gift. And while we give thanks for the diversity of people of cultures and ethnicities, of histories and life-stories, of skin colour and language and hearts that love the world; the best way to give thanks is to disassemble the systems, the stories, the myths, that privilege of one colour over another is to root out and unroot the insidious beliefs of those of us with privilege that me and mine are better than you and yours. It is time. It is well past time to End Racial Discrimination. Lets stand together to understand, confront and stop racism. God of all creation, bless us all with what we need, to take on this work, and live it. Today. Every day. Always. May it be. End racism now. Amen
Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia:

Berkshire Residential Investments closed real estate fund Berkshire Multifamily Debt Fund III at its hard cap of $1.85 billion in equity commitments.

The total exceeds its fundraising target of $1.5 billion, said a press release.

The US residential-focused lending vehicle will primarily consist of Freddie Mac's Multifamily Capital Markets Execution B-piece debt investments that are collateralized by high-quality multifamily mortgages throughout the United States.

The fund will also invest opportunistically in other debt assets secured by multifamily properties such as preferred equity, mezzanine debt, B-notes, and discounted notes.

"The success of Berkshire's debt fund series reflects continued investor interest and their confidence in our Debt Investments team," noted Jon Pfeil, Managing Director, Head of Debt Investments at Berkshire. "Berkshire has decades of U.S. housing investment experience, and we will continue to develop both equity and debt products in the sector that meet evolving market trends."

Investors in Fund III include Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management Board, Boston; Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System, Nashville; and New Mexico State Investment Council, Santa Fe.

The previous fund, Berkshire Multifamily Debt Fund II, closed at $1.25 billion in 2018.

As of March 31, 2021, Berkshire had approximately $12.1 billion in real estate assets under management.

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The Oil & Gas Africa - Int'l Trade Exhibition, is a hub for key players in the oil and gas community, attracting leading oil, gas and petroleum companies from around the world. This regional trade event serves the resource-rich East African region and city of Nairobi, Kenya's major centre of oil and gas activity, for many of the leading operators in the country. Kenya has attracted oil & gas companies not only 
Upon learning of the death of Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, Prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Camerlengo emeritus of the Holy Roman Church, of the Title of the Santissimo Nome di Gesu, Pope Francis expressed his condolences in a telegram addressed to Msgr Fernando Loza Martinez. The following is a translation of the Popes telegram which was written in Italian, accompanied by a brief biography of the late Cardinal.

Having learned of the pious death of your uncle, Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, I wish to express my closeness to you, to his relatives, and to those who knew and esteemed him, recalling with affection the spiritually fruitful witness of this dear brother. In considering with sincere admiration the long and rich experience acquired by the dear departed Cardinal and devoted collaborator of six Popes, my Predecessors, who entrusted delicate and important offices to him, I give thanks to the Lord for his faithful and generous service to the Church and to the Holy See. I ask the Lord, by the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin, to welcome him in the homeland of Heaven to enjoy the beatitude promised to faithful servants of the Gospel, and I impart my Apostolic Blessing to those who mourn his passing, with a special thought for the Missionary Sisters of Jesus the Eternal Priest, who lovingly cared for him.

Franciscus pp.

From the Vatican,

11 August 2021
On the occasion of the UN International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples, we obtained the testimony of Fr Vittorio Castagna, a Salesian priest who has been living in Guatemala in contact with its indigenous people and their ancestral wisdom: I learned how to listen and to be a guest. On 9 August, celebrations were held throughout the world for the Day of Indigenous Peoples, instituted by the United Nations to celebrate the first meeting in Geneva  on 9 August 1982  of the UN working ...

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Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, Camerlengo emeritus of the Holy Roman Church, Prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, passed away at his home in the Vatican on Tuesday morning, 10 August. He was 94.

Eduardo Martinez Somalo was born on 31 March 1927 in Banos de Rio Tobia, Spain, in the Diocese of Calahorra y La Calzada-Logrono. He was the youngest of 12 children of Jose Martinez Campo and Julia Somalo Ibanez. After attending the diocesan seminary in Logrono, he was sent to Rome to continue his ecclesiastical studies at the Pontifical Spanish College and the Pontifical Gregorian University, earning a license in Theology and Canon Law.

He was ordained a priest in 1950 by Cardinal Vice Regent Luigi Traglia in the Chapel of Our Lady of Clemency in the Pontifical Spanish College, and then returned to his native village to serve in pastoral ministry. He then returned to Rome to study at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy to prepare for service to the Holy See in pontifical representation.

After earning a doctorate in Canon Law at the Pontifical Lateran University, he entered the Secretariat of State as an official in 1953. The following year he was promoted to the Nunciature and was appointed a professor at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. As the head of the Spanish Section of the Secretariat of State, he accompanied Pope Montini on his Apostolic pilgrimage to Colombia from 22 to 25 August 1968, for the 39th International Eucharistic Con-gress.

Two years later, on 25 April 1970, he was appointed an advisor to the Apostolic Delegation in Great Britain. He was appointed Prelate of Honour of His Holiness shortly thereafter, on 14 May 1970, and in October of that year he was summoned back to the Vatican as Assessor of the Secretariat of State and then as direct collaborator of Archbishop Giovanni Benelli, then the Substitute of the Secretariat of State. Throughout this period, despite his increasingly demanding responsibilities, he continued to carry out an intense pastoral ministry, particularly dedicating himself to those suffering in the hospitals of Rome.

In 1975, Paul VI appointed him Archbishop and Apostolic Nuncio to Colombia, and Cardinal Jean Villot, Secretary of State, conferred his episcopal ordination in the Vatican Basilica, with concelebrants Archbishop Benelli and Bishop Francisco Alvarez Martinez of Tarragona, Apostolic Administrator of his native diocese. Archbishop Somalo chose Caritas et Veritas as his episcopal motto.

In January 1928, in Bogota, he spoke at the international conference promoted by UNESCO on the cultural politics in Latin America and the Caribbean. In 1979, between 27 January and 13 February, he participated in the third General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate in Puebla, Mexico. Then, after four years of service as Pontifical Representative in Colombia, he was appointed Secretary of State by John Paul II. He served in this role for nine years: tireless in his faithful service to the See of Peter, he was always at the side of John Paul II during his numerous Apostolic pilgrimages in Italy and around the world. He particularly remembered the visits to Nagasaki and Auschwitz, the pilgrimages to Poland, meetings in Africa and in countries where freedom and human dignity were denied, as well as the witness of solidarity in 1980, with the populations in Irpinia who were struck by an earthquake.

He was later placed at the helm of two important Vatican Dicasteries: the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, which he led from 1988 to 1992, and the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, serving as its Prefect until 2004.

From 1993 to 2007 he served as Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, and participated in the Conclave that elected Benedict XVI. In the days of April 2005, between the death of John Paul II and the election of his successor, Cardinal Somalo carried out the functions of his office as Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, and presided the rites following the death of Pope Wojtya. On 4 April 2007 Pope Ratzinger sent him a letter to express his gratitude for the zeal, competence and love with which he carried out the delicate duties of Camerlengo, particularly the solemn sobriety he employed at the moment of the pious death of the dear departed Pope John Paul II, on the occasion of the extraordinary demonstration of faith during the funeral services of the beloved Pontiff, throughout the entire period of the sede vacante and in carrying out the works of the Conclave for the election of the new Pope.

He was created a Cardinal in the Consistory of 28 June 1998, with the Title of the Santissimo Nome di Gesu, and in taking possession of the Title, he made explicit reference to the missionary initiative of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and of the Society of Jesus, to the Marian dimension and to his fidelity to the Pope.

He took part in numerous convocations of the Synod of Bishops and was, in particular, President Delegate to the First Special Assembly for Europe (1991) and to the Ninth General Assembly (1994) on consecrated life. He also participated in the Ordinary Synod of 1990 on the formation of priests; the Special Assemblies for America in 1997, for Asia in 1998, for Oceania in 1998, and for Europe in 1999; and in the Ordinary Synods of 2001 on the mission of the bishop and of 2005 on the Eucharist.

As the Special Envoy of the Holy Father, he presided the Fifth National Eucharistic Congress in Ecuador in 1988, the First National Eucharistic Congress in Santo Domingo in 1991, the 11th International Mariological Congress and the 18th International Marian Congress in Huelva, Spain, in 1992. In addition, he served as Papal Legate to the closing ceremony of the Ignatian Year on 31 July 1991, in his titular Church in Rome.

From 12 to 28 October 1992 he took part in the Fourth General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate in Santo Domingo. On 10 October 1993 he participated with particular joy  as he also shared in an article published in LOsservatore Romano  in the Beatification of Victoria Diez y Bustos de Molina, a young woman martyred in Spain in 1936.

In 1996 he presented John Paul IIs Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata, which followed the Synod of Bishops celebrated from 2 to 29 October 1994 on the theme Consecrated Life and its Mission in the Church and in the World. A reflection relaunched on the occasion of the Holy Year 2000, in particular during the days dedicated to the jubilee of consecrated life.

He was Cardinal Protodeacon from 29 January 1996 until 9 January 1999, when, during the Ordinary Public Consistory for the vote on certain causes of canonization, after having requested it, he opted for the Order of Presbyteral Cardinals, maintaining the diaconia of the Santissimo Nome di Gesu, elevated to presbyteral title pro hac vice.

Within the Roman Curia, he served in the Council of the Second Section of the Secretariat of State; of the Congregations for the Causes of Saints, for Bishops, for the Evangelization of Peoples, for the Clergy, for Catholic Education; of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts; of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America; of the Cardinals Commission for Oversight of the Institute for Works of Religion.

Cardinal Somalos funeral was held on Friday morning, 13 August, at the Altar of the Chair in Saint Peters Basilica.
The crisis and never-ending conflict in Ethiopia are dramatically intensifying the humanitarian emergency and the vulnerability of the people of Tigray. Increasingly shocking news of violence against women and children is being reported from the region, sparking dismay and indignation. The alarm has been sounded both by Amnesty International and unicef . At the same time, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has issued a call to arms to all capable Ethiopians who are of age, to take up the ...

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The following is a translation of the Message written in Croatian sent by Pope Francis to the Youth Festival (Mladifest), an annual prayer meeting for young people, held from 1 to 6 August in Medjugorje.

Dear ones!

T

he Youth Festival is an intense week of prayer and encounter with Jesus Christ, in particular in his living Word, in the Eucharist, in adoration and in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This event  as the experience of so many people tells us  has the power to set one on the journey towards the Lord. And it is precisely this first step that makes even the rich young man whom the Synoptic Gospels speak of (cf. Mt 19:16-22; Mk 10:17-22; Lk 18:18-23), who sets out walking, or rather, runs to meet the Lord, full of enthusiasm and desire to find the Teacher in order to inherit eternal life, that is, happiness. The guiding word of the this years Festival is precisely the question that that young man asks Jesus: What must I do, to have eternal life?. It is a word that places us before the Lord; and he fixes his gaze on us, loves us and invites us: Come, follow me! (Mt 19:21).

The Gospel does not tell us the name of that young man, and this suggests that he may represent each one of us. He, beyond possessing many goods, appears well educated and cultured, and also animated by a healthy restlessness that spurs him to seek true happiness, life in its fullness. Therefore, he sets out on a journey to encounter an authoritative, credible and trustworthy guide. This authority is found in the person of Jesus Christ and it is why he asks Him: Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? (Mk 10:17). But the young man is thinking of a good to be obtained with his own forces. The Lord answers him with another question: Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone (v. 18). Thus, Jesus directs him to God, who is the one and supreme Good from which all other good comes.

To help him access the wellspring of goodness and true happiness, Jesus points to the first stage to be travelled, that is, learning to do good towards ones neighbour. If you would enter life, keep the commandments (Mt 19:17). Jesus returns him to earthly life and points the way to inherit eternal life, that is to say, concrete love for neighbour. But the young man replies that he has always done this and he has realized that it is not enough to follow precepts to be happy. So Jesus fixes a love-filled gaze upon him. In fact He recognizes the desire for fulfilment that the young man carries in his heart, and his healthy restlessness that sets him in search; for this He feels tenderness and affection for him.

However, Jesus also understands what his questioners weak point is: he is too attached to the many material goods he possesses. For this reason, the Lord proposes a second stage for him to fulfil, to pass from the logic of merit to that of giving: If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven (Mt 19:21). Jesus changes the perspective: He invites him not to think about assuring the afterlife for himself, but to give everything in his earthly life, thereby imitating the Lord. It is a call to a further maturation, to pass from precepts observed in order to obtain reward, to free and total love. Jesus asks him to leave what weighs down the heart and hinders love. What Jesus proposes is not so much a man stripped of everything, as a man free and rich in relationships. If the heart is filled with goods, the Lord and neighbour become only things among others. Our having and wanting too much will suffocate our heart and make us unhappy and incapable of love.

Lastly, Jesus proposes a third stage, that of imitation: Come! Follow me!. Following Christ is not an outward imitation, since it touches man at the very depths of his being. Being a follower of Christ means becoming conformed to him (John Paul ii, Encyclical Letter Veritatis Splendor, 21). In exchange, we will receive a rich and happy life, full of the faces of many brothers and sisters, and fathers and mothers and children (cf. Mt 19:29). Following Christ is not a loss, but an incalculable gain, while sacrifice pertains to the obstacle that hinders the journey. That rich young man, however, has a heart divided between two masters: God and money. The fear of risking and losing his goods makes him return home unhappy: his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful (Mk 10:22). He did not hesitate to ask the decisive question, but he did not have the courage to accept the response, which is the proposal to untie himself from himself and from riches in order to bind himself to Christ, to walk with Him and discover true happiness.

Friends, Jesus also says to each of you: Come! Follow me!. Have the courage to live your youth by entrusting yourselves to the Lord and setting out on the journey with him. Allow yourselves to be conquered by his loving gaze that frees us from the seduction of idols, from false riches that promise life but procure death. Do not be afraid to welcome the Word of Christ and accept his call. Do not be discouraged like the rich young man of the Gospel; rather, fix your gaze on Mary, the great model of the imitation of Christ, and entrust yourselves to the One who, with her here I am, answered the Lords call without reservation. Her life is a total giving of self, from the moment of the Annunciation to Calvary, where she became our Mother. Let us look to Mary to find the strength and receive the grace that enables us to say our own here I am to the Lord. Let us look to Mary to learn to bring Christ into the world, as she did when, full of haste and joy, she ran to help Saint Elizabeth. Let us look to Mary to transform our life into a gift for others. With her concern for the bride and groom at Cana, She teaches us to be attentive to others. With her life she shows us that our joy is in the will of God and welcoming it and living it is not easy, but it makes us happy. Yes, the joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew (Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, 1).

Dear young people, in our journey with the Lord Jesus, also enlivened by this Festival, I entrust you all to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our heavenly Mother, invoking light and strength from the Holy Spirit. May the gaze of God who loves you personally accompany you each day, so that, in relationships with others, you may be witnesses to the new life that you have received as a gift. For this I pray and I bless you, and I also ask you to pray for me.

Rome, Saint John Lateran,

29 June 2021

Francis
Midland native H. Allen Lintz was at Big Boy with family and friends on Monday while in town for his wifes mothers funeral when he was told he had to leave the restaurant because of his service dog, Blue.

I was just kind of in awe and complete disbelief, said Lintz, who did seven tours of duty with the U.S. Navy.

Lintz, who grew up in Midland and now lives in Moore, Oklahoma, also used to have lunches with his late mother at the restaurant and worked at the very restaurant that denied him service with his dog.

Midland Big Boy Assistant Manager Paula Gemeinhardt said she wasnt at work at the time of Monday afternoons incident.

To my understanding, the dog didnt have a vest and looked like a dog on a leash, she said.

That is no reason to deny a service animal, said Lori Shaw of Helping Paws for Veterans in Farwell. According to the law, those with service animals are allowed to have their dog in businesses, even ones with a no pet policy  if they are vested, tethered, or leashed. They can be asked to leave if the animal is behaving badly.

Michigan law and the federal Americans with Disabilities Act allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals to all public accommodations, including stores, hotels, restaurants and more.

Shaw, who helps train service dogs for veterans and gives seminars educating businesses about the service dog laws, encourages her clients to vest their animals. Still, she noted they dont have to be vested if they are either tethered or leashed.

Gemeinhardt said service animals are welcome at the restaurant.

Lintz said Blue, a blue healer/beagle mix, is normally vested. Yet, on Monday, she was leashed and wearing her service dog tags. He said in his six and a half years of having Blue, hes never been asked to leave a business. People have asked Lintz if Blue was a service dog  but never shunned her. For Lintz, Blue is part of him.

She gives me the security I need, he said. Shes actually saved my life  a few times. Ive had the gun in my hand, and I was actually going to kill myself and she would jump in my lap.

In the two to three years prior to getting Blue from Wounded Warrior Project, Lintz wouldnt leave his house. Yet, with the help of Blue, Lintz began to live life again.

Lintz, a 1990 Midland High School graduate reconnected with his high school sweetheart, a 1993 graduate Anna (Chlupac), 25 years after graduation and the couple married a year ago.

While Lintz was stunned by the Big Boy staffs reaction on Monday, his wife, her sister, and Lintz friend since kindergarten were all very upset. They immediately took to social media to spread word of what they deemed to be a huge injustice.

Shaw said for some veterans, having their service dog helps them feel more comfortable in a group, as their animal is watching their back and covering them. Veterans especially know their dogs will protect their back and side should someone come up to them.

Michigan businesses need to be more aware of service animal laws, Shaw said, noting that some businesses tend to turn a blind eye to the federal laws.
DOVER, Del. (AP)  An attorney for the Boy Scouts of America told a Delaware judge on Thursday that the groups national board never adopted a resolution approving an $850 million agreement that is the linchpin of the Boy Scouts' proposed bankruptcy plan.

Despite that acknowledgment, the Boy Scouts are asking the judge to rule that the organization properly exercised its business judgment in entering into the agreement and should be allowed to proceed with it as the foundation of a final bankruptcy plan.

The agreement involves the national Boy Scouts organization, the roughly 250 local Boy Scout councils, and law firms representing some 70,000 men who claim they were molested as youngsters by Scoutmasters and others. It also includes the official victims committee appointed by the U.S. bankruptcy trustee.

The agreement is opposed by insurers that issued policies to the Boy Scouts and local councils, other law firms representing thousands of abuse victims, and various church denominations that have sponsored local Boy Scout troops.

The Boy Scouts, based in Irving, Texas, sought bankruptcy protection in February 2020 amid an onslaught of lawsuits by men who said they were sexually abused as children. The filing was part of an attempt to reach a global resolution of abuse claims and create a compensation fund for victims.

Under the agreement presented to U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Laura Selber Silverstein, the Boy Scouts have proposed contributing up to $250 million in cash and property to a fund for abuse victims. Local councils, which run day-to-day operations for Boy Scout troops, would contribute $600 million.

The national organization and councils also would transfer their rights to Boy Scout insurance policies to the victims fund. In return, they would be released from further liability for abuse claims.

If approved, the agreement could result in one of the nation's largest settlements in a sex abuse case.

Silverstein expressed surprise Thursday when Glenn Kurtz, an attorney for the Boy Scouts, said during arguments over what board materials had been provided to the insurers that the board never approved a formal resolution approving the agreement.

Isnt it a little unusual that a board doesnt actually authorize the actual agreement? the judge asked.

Kurtz replied that the board authorized deal terms, but delegated the documentation to the professionals.

I dont know it was the worlds most formal procedure in terms of documenting the approvals, but you got a yes vote from all 72 board members on these deal terms, Kurtz said.

Silverstein suggested that the lack of board authorization for the agreement was particularly surprising given that several members of the board are lawyers.

Well see whether the debtor is able, without an authorization, to convince me that theyve met the business judgment standard or theyre entitled to the business judgment standard and they made informed decisions, she said.

Under Delawares business judgment rule, courts typically give strong deference to a corporate boards decision-making unless there is evidence that directors shirked their duties, had conflicts or acted in bad faith.

As part of the proposed agreement, the Boy Scouts are seeking permission from Silverstein to back out of a settlement reached in April with one of their insurers, The Hartford. The Hartford agreed to pay $650 million into the victims fund in exchange for being released from any further obligations, but victims attorneys have said their clients wont support a reorganization plan that includes it.

The hearing, which is scheduled to resume Friday, is for the judge to examine whether the settlement agreement provides a basis for the Boy Scouts to move forward with a proposed reorganization plan.
Rep. Annette Glenn, R-Midland, while visiting family friends Thursday in South Dakota, stopped to pay her respects at a memorial erected in honor of Rapid City Police Officer James Ryan McCandless, who was killed in the line of duty on Aug. 2, 2011.

McCandless, a Midland native and son of Jim McCandless, a 27-year veteran of the Midland County Sheriff's Department, stopped that day to help two other Rapid City officers respond to a group of people drinking publicly in a residential area. When he stepped out of his car, one of the suspects pulled a handgun and fired at the officers, hitting Ryan under his bullet-proof vest. Ryan died at the scene, and another officer also died from his wounds.
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  The Taliban completed their sweep of Afghanistan's south on Friday, taking four more provincial capitals in a lightning offensive that brought them closer to Kabul just weeks before the U.S. is set to officially end its two-decade war.

In the last 24 hours, the country's second- and third-largest cities  Herat in the west and Kandahar in the south  have fallen to the insurgents, as has the capital of the southern province of Helmand, where American, British and NATO forces fought some of the bloodiest battles of the conflict.

The blitz through the Taliban's southern heartland means the insurgents now hold half of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals and control more than two-thirds of the country. The Western-backed government in the capital, Kabul, still holds a smattering of provinces in the center and east, as well as the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

While Kabul is not directly under threat yet, the resurgent Taliban were battling government forces in Logar province, some 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the capital. The U.S. military has estimated that Kabul could come under insurgent pressure within 30 days and that the Taliban could overrun the rest of the country within a few months. They have already taken over much of the north and west of the country.

In the south, insurgents swept through three provincial capitals on Friday.

The Taliban captured Lashkar Gah following weeks of heavy fighting and raised their white flag over governmental buildings, said Attaullah Afghan, the head of the provincial council in Helmand. He said that three army bases outside of the city remain under government control.

In Tirin Kot, the capital of the southern Uruzgan province, Taliban fighters paraded through a main square, driving a Humvee and a pickup seized from Afghan forces. Local officials confirmed that the Taliban also captured the capitals of Zabul province in the south and Ghor in the west.

With security rapidly deteriorating, the United States planned to send in 3,000 troops to help evacuate some personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. Britain and Canada are also sending forces to aid their evacuations. Denmark said it will temporarily close its embassy, while Germany is reducing its embassy staff to the absolute minimum.

The United Nations chief urged the Taliban to immediately halt the offensive and negotiate in good faith to avert a prolonged civil war. In his strongest appeal to the Islamic militant group, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was deeply disturbed" by indications that the Taliban were "imposing severe restrictions in the areas under their control, particularly targeting women and journalists.

Hundreds of thousands of Afghans have fled their homes amid fears the Taliban will return the country to the sort of brutal, repressive rule it imposed when it was last in power at the turn of the millennium. At that time, the group all but eliminated womens rights and conducted public executions as it imposed an unsparing version of Islamic law. An early sign of such tactics came in Herat, where insurgents paraded two alleged looters through the streets on Friday with black makeup smeared on their faces.

There are also concerns that the fighting could plunge the country into civil war, which is what happened after the Soviets withdrew in 1989.

We are worried. There is fighting everywhere in Afghanistan. The provinces are falling day by day," said Ahmad Sakhi, a resident of Kabul. "The government should do something. The people are facing lots of problems.

The U.N. refugee agency said nearly 250,000 Afghans have been forced to flee their homes since the end of May, and 80% of those displaced are women and children. In all, the agency said, some 400,000 civilians have been displaced since the beginning of the year, joining millions who have fled previous rounds of fighting in recent decades.

Peace talks in Qatar between the Taliban and the government remain stalled, though diplomats are still meeting, as the U.S., European and Asian nations warned that battlefield gains would not lead to political recognition.

We demand an immediate end to attacks against cities, urge a political settlement, and warn that a government imposed by force will be a pariah state, said Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. envoy to the talks.

But the Taliban advance continued.

Fighting was still underway inside Puli-e Alim, with government forces holding the police headquarters and other security facilities, said Hasibullah Stanikzai, the head of the Logar provincial council. He spoke by phone from his office, and gunfire could be heard in the background. The Taliban, however, said they had captured the police headquarters and a nearby prison.

The onslaught represents a stunning collapse of Afghan forces after the United States spent nearly two decades and $830 billion trying to establish a functioning state. U.S. forces toppled the Taliban in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, which al-Qaida planned and executed while being sheltered by the Taliban government.

With only weeks remaining before the U.S. plans to withdraw its last troops, the fighters now advancing across the country ride on American-made Humvees and carry M-16s pilfered from Afghan forces.

Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the Afghan army has rotted from within due to corruption and mismanagement, leaving troops in the field poorly equipped and with little motivation to fight. The Taliban, meanwhile, have spent a decade taking control of large swaths of the countryside.

That allowed them to rapidly seize key infrastructure and urban areas once President Joe Biden announced the timeline for the U.S. withdrawal, saying he was determined to end America's longest war.

Whatever forces are left or remaining that are in the Kabul area and the provinces around them, theyre going to be used for the defense of Kabul, Roggio said. Unless something dramatically changes, and I dont see how thats possible, these provinces (that have fallen) will remain under Taliban control."

A day earlier, in Herat, Taliban fighters rushed past the Great Mosque in the historic city  a structure that dates to 500 BC and was once a spoil of Alexander the Great  and seized government buildings. Herat had been under militant attack for two weeks.

In Kandahar, insurgents seized the governors office and other buildings, and officials fled, witnesses said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the defeat has yet to be acknowledged by the government, which has not commented on the latest advances.

Civilians were likely wounded and killed in airstrikes, Nasima Niazi, a lawmaker from Helmand, said Thursday. U.S. Central Command has acknowledged carrying out several strikes in recent days, without providing details.

Meanwhile in neighboring Pakistan, the country's national security adviser urged Afghan leaders to seek a negotiated settlement with the Taliban to avoid further violence. Moeed Yusuf made the appeal Friday while speaking to reporters in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.

___

Faiez reported from Istanbul and Krauss reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Frank Jordans in Berlin, Jan Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Edith Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.
LONDON (AP)  Police in southwest England said six people were killed, including the suspected shooter, in the city of Plymouth Thursday in a serious firearms incident that wasn't terror-related.

Devon and Cornwall Police said in a statement on Twitter that several other casualties were receiving treatment following the shooting. They declared a critical incident but did not provide details of what occurred in the Keyham district of the city. The area has been cordoned off.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Anthony Siracusa, University of Colorado Boulder

(THE CONVERSATION) With Congress considering legislation to protect voting rights and address police accountability, its worth remembering that throughout U.S. history new civil rights laws have been followed by resistance and the stubborn persistence of racial inequity across American life.

Still, these discussions in Congress come on the heels of millions of Americans calling for change.

The demonstrations that followed George Floyds death belonged to a broader effort to reckon with white violence and discrimination in U.S. life.

The historical roots of our contemporary racial injustice were documented in the 1619 Project, a New York Times undertaking that reexamined the legacy of slavery in the U.S. This years widespread commemoration of the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 also contributed to this moment of racial reckoning.

As 28 states consider or enact legislation to limit the teaching of this painful history, Id argue that this is a moment to dig more deeply into our nations past.

As a scholar of African American history, I believe that doing so can uncover the roots of our current challenges  from what children learn in school to how Americans are treated as they drive a car  and help us chart a better path forward.

Legacy of violence and discrimination

The racial ethic that has endured for centuries in America was made plain in the 1852 Supreme Court ruling Dred Scott v. Sandford, which determined that Black Americans were not American citizens and could not sue in federal court. This decision helped cement white supremacy in American legal and social life.

Following the Civil War, a Republican Congress seemed to make progress for American civil rights with the passage of the 13th amendment, which abolished slavery. Congress attempted to guarantee equal protection under the law for all Americans with the 14th amendment.

And Congress passed the 15th Amendment, which ruled that the right to vote shall not be denied on account of race.

Additionally, Congress passed two Civil Rights Acts in 1866 and 1875. These laws and amendments, passed during the period of Reconstruction, were intended to provide the full benefits of citizenship for African Americans.

But the legacy of Dred Scott endured.

In 1883, the Supreme Court struck down the Civil Rights Acts in a series of decisions and opened the way for public and private entities to refuse service and accommodation to Black Americans. These decisions were the precursor to the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision that made separate but equal the law of the land, legalizing segregation.

The Plessy decision was not simply about relegating Black Americans to separate water fountains and toilets. It invalidated Black Americans equal protection under the law, a move that subjected African American communities to horrific consequences.

The ruling resulted in a major setback for racial equality. Between 1877 and 1945, more than 4,400 Black Americans were lynched without a trial.

In the summer of 1919, whats known as the Red Summer, the blood of Black Americans flowed in the streets of American cities as Black people and their property endured violent assault, with no protection from the law.

This white mob violence was a response to African Americans seeking wartime jobs in Northern and Midwestern cities during the Great Migration. Thats when millions of African Americans moved from the Southern countryside to urban areas nationwide, escaping horrific discrimination, lynchings and the terror of the Ku Klux Klan.

During World War II, white and Black Americans battled Nazi racism in segregated units. But a budding freedom movement at home finally began to secure legal victories before the Supreme Court.

In 1944, the courts Smith v. Allwright decision ended the exclusionary white primary that had prevented Black Americans from voting across the South. And the high court made segregation in schools illegal in 1954s Brown V. Topeka Board of Education.

Retrenchment and resistance

Yet, after the Allwright case, Black Americans still could not vote across the South as the law went unenforced.

And the Supreme Courts ruling in Brown was met with massive resistance by lawmakers, ultimately requiring a second Supreme Court decision  Brown II  and an act of Congress  the Civil Rights Act of 1964  to end lawful segregation in the United States.

Yet 60 years after Brown, the Economic Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, reported that Black youth are twice as likely to attend segregated, high-poverty schools as their white counterparts.

In 2013, the Supreme Court removed the heart of the Voting Rights Act, allowing nine states with a history of race-based voting restrictions to change their election laws without prior federal approval.

And in July 2021, the court upheld an Arizona law that disqualifies ballots of those who vote in the wrong precinct  a decision that challengers say will make it harder for minority populations to vote.

Finally, despite the Fair Housing Act of 1968, Black Americans were victims of systematic predatory mortgage lending in the years leading up to the 2008 financial crisis. Non-white homeowners were overcharged for mortgage fees and subjected to long-term financial risks, such as monthly payments that get more expensive over time.

These practices created significantly lower levels of home ownership and home equity in Black communities.

In the wake of the Great Recession, lawsuits revealed the depth of this housing problem: Countrywide Financial Corporation charged African American and Latino borrowers higher fees for subprime loans, resulting in a US$335 million fine from the Department of Justice.

This violation of civil rights, among others, led to the passage of the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010, which outlawed such predatory lending practices.

But no law yet has created the equality enshrined in the nations founding documents.

Indeed, the challenging lesson from our history is that a deep well of strength and resilience are required for the long struggle to make equity and equality under the law a reality in the United States.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/what-americas-social-justice-activists-can-learn-from-past-movements-for-civil-rights-165233.
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Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libyan Prime Minister Abdelhamid al-Dbaiba on Thursday announced the establishment of a National Youth Council as the government unveiled a number of decisions to strengthen the role of the youth in the country's development
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - UN human rights experts have expressed alarm at rampant police brutality against peaceful protesters worldwide and warned States of the grave danger arising from such abuse for human rights and the rule of law
Back in June, a large group of Apple employees openly rebelled against the company's back to work policy set by Apple's CEO Tim Cook. They made sure the rebellion would make headlines by leaking their demands to The Verge. Then earlier this week Apple shut down employee-run surveys on pay equity that includes diversity data.

The first known survey began in the spring and asked people to volunteer salary information in addition to how they identify in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, and disability. After about 100 responses, Apples people team  the companys name for what is commonly called human resources  asked employees to take the survey down, saying the demographic questions constituted personally identifying information.

Last week, employees tried to start another pay equity survey but were again told to take it down because it included a question on gender. Apple's version of human resources sent out a notice that "All requests for identifiable employee data must be submitted to the People team via the People Report Request Form. If approved, the People team will provide the employee data directly from their systems."

On August 5, we learned that Apple employee Ashley Gjovik, a senior engineering project manager who had a long history of publicly criticizing the company's culture of work, was sent on paid leave.

In recent months, more and more Apple employees have started to loudly criticize the actions of their superiors and working conditions in this company. Once again, it was The Verge that got the scoop.

So, following raising concerns to #Apple about #sexism, #hostileworkenvironment, & #unsafeworkconditions, I'm now on indefinite paid administrative leave per #Apple employee relations, while they investigate my concerns. This seems to include me not using Apple's internal Slack.  Ashley M. Gjvik (@ashleygjovik) August 4, 2021

Late yesterday Reuters reported that a contingent of Apple employees are rebelling against the company's latest child protection features.

A backlash over Apples move to scan U.S. customer phones and computers for child sex abuse images has grown to include employees speaking out internally, a notable turn in a company famed for its secretive culture, as well as provoking intensified protests from leading technology policy groups.

Apple employees have flooded an Apple internal Slack channel with more than 800 messages on the plan announced a week ago, workers who asked not to be identified told Reuters. Many expressed worries that the feature could be exploited by repressive governments looking to find other material for censorship or arrests, according to workers who saw the days-long thread.

Past security changes at Apple have also prompted concern among employees, but the volume and duration of the new debate is surprising, the workers said. Some posters worried that Apple is damaging its leading reputation for protecting privacy.

Forget about possibly apprehending child predators and saving children from a lifetime of pain if not death, it's the me-generation and their privacy is all that matters. These Apple employees are not happy that drug dealers, Antifa and terrorists are protected by Apple. No, privacy will die if Apple proceeds to protect children.

That said, Apple employees state that "that while the U.S. government cant legally scan wide swaths of household equipment for contraband or make others do so, Apple is doing it voluntarily, with potentially dire consequences.

People familiar with the matter said a coalition of policy groups are finalizing a letter of protest to send to Apple within days demanding a suspension of the plan. Two groups, the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Center for Democracy and Technology both released newly detailed objections to Apples plan in the past 24 hours."

Critics, mostly from groups trying to protect their own encryption programs, have lashed out at Apple and have created theories of what dire consequences Apple's decision could bring to world so as to whip up support.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation went on the offensive stating that a "Police and other agencies will cite recent laws requiring 'technical assistance' in investigating crimes, including in the United Kingdom and Australia, to press Apple to expand this new capability."

Lawmakers will build on it as well, said Neil Brown, a U.K. tech lawyer at decoded.legal: "If Apple demonstrates that, even in just one market, it can carry out on-device content filtering, I would expect regulators/lawmakers to consider it appropriate to demand its use in their own markets, and potentially for an expanded scope of things." For more, read the full CNBC report.

Apple Inc. responded to concerns about its upcoming child safety features, saying it doesnt believe its tool for locating child pornographic images on a users device creates a back door that reduces privacy.

Apple has published a technical summary document on child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that is presented in full below:

3 - Apple, CSAM Detection Technical Summary by Jack Purcher on Scribd

At the end of the day, it appears that Apple has a growing problem with outspoken employees out to embarrass the company publicly. Whether Apple legal will bake new employment rules into future contracts to stop complaints from going public is unknown. Though one thing is for sure, Apple's famed secretive culture is unravelling.

Some will view these situations as nothing more than progress while others will see this as the beginning of chaos at Apple that is spreading across all of Silicon Valley's big tech companies at the moment. Stay tuned, there's likely more to follow.

Update 7:55 a.m.: The Wall Street's Joanna Stern interviewed Craig Federighi on Apple's decision to use a new architecture to detect child porn photographs stored on iCloud. It's a must see interview on this issue.
Earlier today U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) requested information about Amazons data collection practices involving biometrics in a letter to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy. The senators expressed concerns about the companys use of data gathered by Amazon One, the companys palm-print recognition and payment system.

The letter follows reports of Amazon offering credits to consumers to share their biometric data with Amazon One. Amazon has also announced that it is planning to expand the program, including potentially selling Amazon One technology to third-party stores.

The senators wrote: "Amazons expansion of biometric data collection through Amazon One raises serious questions about Amazons plans for this data and its respect for user privacy, including about how Amazon may use the data for advertising and tracking purposes.

Amazon One users may experience harms if their data is not kept secure. In contrast with biometric systems like Apples Face ID and Touch ID or Samsung Pass, which store biometric information on a users device, Amazon One reportedly uploads biometric information to the cloud, raising unique security risks...Data security is particularly important when it comes to immutable customer data, like palm prints," the senators continued.

Apple filed for a Palm Print biometric patent in September 2019. A second Palm Print biometrics patent was granted to Apple in December 2020. Once again, Apple's implementation would restrict storage of a user's biometrics on the device's secure enclave and not the cloud.

Below is a full copy of the letter from the U.S. Senators to Amazon's CEO in a SCRIBD document.

1 US Senate Letter to President and Ceo of Amazon by Jack Purcher on Scribd
A man who decapitated his baby stepdaughter with a machete then left her body next to a motorway has been sentenced to 54 years in prison.



Diogo da Silva Leite initially denied killing Maria Clara and claimed she had been kidnapped, but confessed after CCTV footage contradicted his story.



His lawyer has said he will appeal the length of the sentence, saying: The penalty is very high.



The crime took place on October 13 last year in the city of Pindamonhangaba in the south east of Brazil.



Read Full Story .... Metro.co.uk >>> :

















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Two family members of Master Paul Okyere Boateng, the 10-year-old boy who allegedly committed suicide at Atonsu S-Line in Kumasi have been picked up by the Asokwa Police Command to assist the police in its investigation surrounding their relative's death.



The deceased was on Sunday, August 7, 2021, found dead at his home with his neck in a noose.



The Police has since begun investigations into the matter to unravel the mystery surrounding the boy's death.



Confirmation



Confirming the arrest of the two suspects to Pure FM's Osei Kwadwo, on Wednesday, the Assembly member of the area, Mr Owusu Brempong, aka 'Join the Line', said the police on Tuesday picked up the two.



"We suspect foul play in the death of the boy. When we went into the room that day with the Police, there was nothing that showed that indeed the boy committed suicide", he narrated.



He added that one of the suspects has been identified as the 33-year-old elder brother of the deceased, Yaw Akuoko Sarpong, who reported the matter to the Asokwa Police Command, a day after the incident happened.



In his statement, he told the police that on his return from work, he found the deceased hanging in one of their rooms.



Background



Okyere Boateng on Sunday, August 7, 2021, allegedly committed suicide by hanging at Atonsu S-Line in Kumasi.



The lifeless body of the boy has since been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) morgue in Kumasi, for preservation and autopsy.



The Assistant Public Relations Officer of the Ashanti Regional Police Command, ASP Mr Godwin Ahianyo on Monday confirmed the death of the boy to the Daily Graphic.



The Command has not yet responded to telephone calls to address the arrest of the two suspects.







Source: graphiconline.com









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Mr Benjamin Amoako, Assin Central Municipal Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has expressed worry over the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in the area.



He said it was unfortunate that though many people knew about the protocols, deliberately refusing to wear nose masks remained a major challenge to efforts at rooting out the virus in the Municipality.



Mr Amoako in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), revealed that the area since the outbreak of the disease in the country in May 2020, to August this year, had recorded a total of 380 cases.



The rate of infection reduced drastically from January to June 2021 but had resurged since July this year, he revealed.



He called on the public to show greater commitment to the fight against the pandemic, as the surest way to drastically reduce the rapid spread of the virus.



Similarly, Mr Nicholas Fiifi Baako, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) has also expressed concern about the blatant disregard for COVID-19 health and safety measures in the Municipality.



He expressed regret that the use of nose masks, remained minimal, and crowded environments such as markets, religious gatherings and ceremonies have been turned into transmission centres for the virus leading the sharp rise in positive cases in the area.



"We must step up the pace and show the people our unflinching commitment to public welfare and safety, and our commitment to make the difference we seek for, the MCE said.



A visit by the GNA to some shops and public places, revealed that many shopping centres that used to enforce the wearing of nose masks, washing of hands and ensure social distancing have rather relaxed these safety measures.



Some of the shops, however had Veronica buckets still placed at the entrance, but few had soap and tissues by them.



Meanwhile the few that had the buckets were not enforcing the mandatory washing of hands like previously, while those with inscriptions 'No nose mask no entry', were also not going by that rule anymore.

Source: GNA









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A civil society organization called Global Citizens for Peace and Safety GH (GCPS) has asked individuals and organizations who are busy crucifying the Health Minister Hon. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu must come again.



According to the Executive Secretary of GCPS Akonoba Nana Boadu, the Hon. Health Minister did what every critical thinking leader will do at that crucial moment to find a solution to better the lives of Ghanaians.



The Executive Secretary maintained that Hon. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu is rather serving the country diligently and hence deserves better from Ghanaians for his selfless service.



Even in the midst of the brouhaha, the Hon. Health Minister has tirelessly worked to procure from Johnsons and Johnson a total of 177,600 vaccine doses which arrived on Saturday 8th August 2021 at 4:00 pm and was received by Hon. Tina Mensah Deputy Minister of Health on behalf of the Honorable Minister, GCPS statement read.







Below Is A Full Statement From GCPS:



GCPS is aware of the pressure being mounted and the call for the resignation of the health minister; Hon. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu.



We are of a view that, individuals and organizations who are busy crucifying Hon. Agyeman-Manu must come again. They must rethink their stance because the Hon. Health Minister did what every critical thinking leader will do at that crucial moment. All of us should be mindful that, our lives matter most and therefore the health Minister's decision was most appropriate under the circumstances.



On record, the Dubai Sheikh Al Maktoum tendered in a proposal to supply Ghana 300,000 doses of the vaccine as a result of its scarcity because even India the hub of production was battling with the second wave of infections. Hon. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu we believe has diligently served his country and he deserves better from Ghanaians for his selfless service.



Even in the midst of the brouhaha, the Hon. Health Minister has tirelessly worked to procure from Johnson's and Johnson a total of 177,600 vaccine doses which arrived on Saturday 8th August 2021 at 4:00 pm and was received by Hon. Tina Mensah deputy Minister of health on behalf of the Honorable Minister.



Hon. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu has achieved a lot at the health ministry since he assumed office in 2017. Some of his achievements are as follows; The N.H.I.S was in arrears of over 13 months to providers but he worked to settle the outstanding debt to the current 4-month arrears.



Again, the Hon. Minister in question led the cause for the restoration of nurses training allowance.



On his assumption to office, he was met with a backlog of unemployed nurses, doctors and other health professionals both in the public and private sectors from 2012. He has worked to clear this backlog and currently one hardly hears of unemployed nurses demonstrating. One hardly hears of doctors going on strike due to non-payment of salaries.



Several abandoned hospitals and polyclinics such as the Wa Regional Hospital, Tepa hospital, Twifo Praso hospital and 12 polyclinics in the Central region have been completed and commissioned. Several CHIP compounds have again been completed during his tenure.



The final phase of the Tamale teaching hospital has been completed and commissioned. This is the Minister who has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ROCHE pharmaceutical company to subsidize the price of Herceptin used for the treatment of breast cancer.



*GCPS* is therefore basing on these outstanding records of the Health Minister Hon Kwaku Agyeman-Manu Manu and entreating our fellow activists to stop pushing for the Minister's resignation because he should rather be applauded as the best health Minister. GCPS conclude by saying as follows:



 The Hon. Minister is not the first leader who have breached protocols to save the lives of his citizens. In fact, all great leaders have done that.



 The Hon. Minister is a living testimony of Covid-19 as he has suffered the deadly disease himself and will do anything to save his fellow citizens.



 Our investigation in the Ghanaian society indicates the massive support for Hon Agyemang Manu's brave action of risking his position as minister in an attempt to save the lives of his fellow citizens.



 The lives of Ghanaians should not be politicized and all political parties should immediately stop political witch-hunting and ease all protocols for the procurement of more vaccines dosses for the citizens of this nation. That is what the citizens are craving for not to play political games in their lives.



Finally, we are appealing to H.E The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to continue to have faith in the Hon. Minister of Health because we believe in his capabilities. God bless us all and Thank you for your attention.



Long Live Ghana



Long Live GCPS







Akonoba Nana Boadu (Executive Secretary)



GCPS



0571171177/ 0552896339





Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com









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Prosper Ahmed Amunquandoh pushed a paper to the manager of the Global Container Terminal (GCT) at the Tema Port, Mr. Kudjoe Wonder Kagbetoh.



We are here to inspect these containers suspected to contain charcoal meant for illegal export, he said, an undercurrent of tamed fury and frustration in his voice.



Amunquandoh is the inspector-in-charge of renewable energy at the Ghana Energy Commission. He leads a group of officers to enforce the laws and regulations, including clamping down on the illegal export of charcoal.



At his instruction, a terminal hand emerges and trudges over with a giant container seal cutter to confront a seal affixed to the 20-footer container with serial number, SUDU 7934298.



With some practiced force, the worker breaks the seal. The container, with its squeaking metal doors and bars, flings open, displaying the contraband content.



It is not charcoal. It is rosewood. It's harvesting, transportation, processing, and export have been banned since March 2019.



Several weeks of coordinated surveillance, intelligence gathering has paid off.



Why is rosewood in high demand?



Rosewood has a dark, deep reddish hue, sometimes purple, sometimes cherry. Add this to its strong, sweet smell and that explains the name rosewood. It is the colour and smell that conspired to give it the name.



Rosewood grows in areas where the sun shines all yearthe tropics. And that makes Ghana one of the countries where the tree blossoms. No one really cared about harvesting rosewood in Ghana. Like any other locals used it in negligible quantities, for fuel at home.



But everything changed in about 2004, according to a government report.



Rosewood from Ghana hit Chinese shores. And when China, with a population of 1.398billion, develops a taste for anything in the world, the demand literally shores up.



In China, rosewood products are highly coveted and used mainly for aesthetically pleasing ornamental furniture, those reminiscent of the Ming and Qing dynasties of China. The wood is also used for producing musical instruments, and its oil is extracted for its antidepressant, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, and antibacterial properties.



In China, rosewood products are associated with class, wealth, and success. The middle and upper classes cannot have enough of it. A rosewood-carved bed can fetch a cool $1million in plush Shanghai showrooms, according to Times Magazine.



While other tropical hardwood species can go for $1,700 per ton, rosewood can go for $17,000ten times more. And those in Thailand can fetch up to $50,000 per cubic meter.



With that kind of money at stake, impoverished loggers in Cambodia, Ghana, Zambia, and Thailand are hugely incentivized to destroy ecological areas to feed an insatiable Chinese appetite.



That is how come China has been able to import a total of 3.5million tonnes of rosewood valued at $2.4billion from 2000 to 2013.



That is how, in Ghana, the illegal felling of rosewood trees in places like Tamale, Buipe, Yipala, the Mole National Park, and more than a dozen other forest zones from 2012 to 2019 has seen at least 489,700 rosewoods move from Ghana to mainly China.



That is how in Thailand, the forests have become war zones, with loggers armed with AK-47 rifles and grenades.



When the world rose up to the environmental implication of depleted rosewood, it was finally listed among the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 2013.



In Ghana, rosewood grows in dry savannah regions in the north of the country. Northern Ghana is already threatened by desertification that triggered a number of failed tree-planting programmes by the government. The illegal and indiscriminate felling of rosewood, therefore, aggravates the environmental problems in northern Ghana.



Ghana has banned trading in rosewood five times since 2012. The latest ban came on March 11, 2019. But the country remains a prime target for illegal export. With Chinese business cartels lurking around impoverished areas in Ghana, where the supply of money meets a desperate demand for wealth, or rather a desire to get out of poverty.



Tracking trucks, terminals, and Tema



In early June 2021, five trucks emerged on the radar of the Energy Commissions continuous surveillance and intelligence gathering activities.



The trucks were first noticed in Kumasi, heading for Accra. Their contents moved unchecked at various checkpoints of the Forestry Commission. The Energy Commission had intelligence that the cargo could be charcoal about to be illegally exported through the port. And so, Mr. Amunquandoh and his team kept their eyes on Tema, terminals, and trucks.



By June 17, 2021, one of these containers had finally parked inside the Global Container Terminal (GCT), a large, sprawling space where containers meant for export waited for necessary approval documents from the Customs Divisions of the Ghana Revenue Authority before leaving the country.



Mr. Amunquandoh contacted the Forestry Commission and it assigned Winifred Ohene Wiafe, the Tema District Manager of Forestry Services Division to join him inspect the container, SUDU 7934298.



He needed her because the Forestry Commission checks illegal export of Rosewood while the Energy Commission deals with the illegal export of charcoal. And intelligence had it that smugglers would conceal rosewood deep inside the container and cover it up with bags of charcoal to divert suspicion from authorities.



The two officials from the two-state institutions and a representative of the terminal would, therefore, inspect it together. If the goods were charcoal, the Energy Commission had jurisdiction to determine if it was being illegally exported. If it was Rosewood, the Forestry Commission would take over.



At 12 p.m., on June 17, the two inspectors walked into the terminal. A container of Rosewood was being offloaded brazenly into another container.



A middle-aged man in charge of this offloading was Mohammed Yusif. There were seven others with him. They were two Chinese nationals, at least two Ghanaians, the rest were brawny youths who Mohammed Yusif said were Togolese. They were masterful in arranging the heavy wood neatly into the containers.



According to Mohammed Yusif, he had bought the rosewood from the Forestry Commission, which, he said, had auctioned them after impoundment. But Mrs. Ohene Wiafe cast doubt on Yusifs account. After examining the wood, she said some of the rosewoods were freshly cut, meaning they had been recently harvested despite the governments ban.



But Yusif stood by his story and claimed he had re-sold the wood to a Chinese entity. The new owners were packing the goods into a new container. They had contracted Jonada as its shipping agent to export a 20-footer container of rosewood.



While he spoke cajolingly, trying to establish some friendship in an air of suspected illegality, Winifred Ohene Wiafe sent word to the shipping line and to the Forestry Commission, alerting them to trigger processes to detain the container.



Yusif suspected it. The Chinese suspected it. But in that uncomfortable assembly of two state officers and some seven smugglers, no one said it.



But the terminal manager, Kudjoe Wonder Kagbetoh, would not have the team inspect it without following due processes. Bring an official letter, he said, explaining that he would need it to show the container owners if they reported a break-in.



The inspection team backed off, promising to be back with the letter. On Tuesday, June 22, 2021, the letter was delivered. Three days later, Amunquandoh came back to the terminal. He was in the company of a Customs officer, A.K Attra. One official from the Forestry Commission was needed to complete the inspections team. They waited for Winifred Ohene Wiafe in vain. She did not show up despite several calls.



Three containers were opened because those were the ones that were found/located by the officials of the Terminal. The Container Numbers of three were UACU3840352, TLLU2598583, and MRKU7980575.



The team did not open the fifth container, TCLU9913631, because it could not be found at the time of the inspection.



Since the containers did not contain charcoal, and there was no official from the Forestry Commission, the Energy Commission reported the matter to the Sector Commander of Customs at the Tema Port, Julius Aweya Kantu.



When the officers were about leaving the terminal, they met a Forestry Commission official who was later identified as Samuel Osei Kofi who was entering the Terminal. He told the Customs officers that the owners of the rosewood may have valid permits. The Customs officers told him to come to the office of the Sector Commander the next Monday, June 28, 2021, and show the permits. If they are genuine, Customs would allow the owners to ship the items, they told him.



On Monday, June 28, 2021, at the Sector Commanders office, Customs officials and Mr. Amunquandoh waited for the Forestry Commission officer Samuel Osei Kofi to join the team once again for the final search for the fifth suspected container. Interestingly, Samuel Osei Kofi didnt show up on Monday.



The team made calls to find a different Forestry Commission official to join the inspection.



But no one came.



The inspection team went into the terminal again to inspect the final container, TCLU9913631. Busted.



Done and busted! It was rosewood.



After three inspections, five containers of rosewood were found and were seized.



On June 30, 2021, following the media reports, suddenly half a dozen top officials of the Forestry Commission showed up at the terminal. The deputy minister for Lands and Forestry, Benito Owusu Bio, had come to inspect the containers and assure the country that the ministry would investigate the matter, possibly within a month.



On the sidelines, the Forestry Commissions Chief Executive, John M. Allotey, re-echoed the words of the deputy minister, We will investigate and get to the bottom of this.



But during three rounds of inspection, the Forestry Commission showed up at only once.



The Fourth Estate has contacted the Forestry Commission to explain its auction process for rosewood and also steps it has been taking to deal with the harvesting and transporting of rosewood.



But the Commission has declined to speak, referring our reporters to the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry. The Ministry has already indicated, it is investigating the matter.

Who are the agents behind these intended shipments?

On June 2021, 17, a Toyota Highlander with registration number GT 7144-21 pulled up inside the Global Container Terminal (GCT) in Tema Port. Two men climbed out and waited.



This was on the first day when The Fourth Estate reporters had got wind of suspected rosewood loading at the Tema Port and had come to the port to follow the trail of illegality.



It has been close to two months since the Energy Commission went to do the work of the Forestry Commission and tracked down five containers.



It has also been close to two months since the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry vowed to investigate the seizure of these containers.









Read Full Story .... thefourthestategh.com >>> :









Source: thefourthestategh.com









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Ghanas Chief Justice Anin Yeboah has called for the effective implementation of the Case Tracking System (CTS) activity nationwide.



He said stakeholders must ensure that the CTS activity was firmly rooted to enable efficiency and effectiveness in the criminal justice system, while promoting transparency and accountability at every stage of the process.



"As we seek the support of citizens, we as stakeholders must forge ahead with a common purpose to achieve the full implementation of the activity."

Justice Yeboah made the call at a sensitization workshop on the CTS, on Thursday in Accra.



He said the CTS, launched in May 2018, sought to support governments capacity to effectively investigate and prosecute criminal acts in a transparent and accountable manner.



"It is targeted at improving Ghana's ability to track criminal cases from their introduction into the system to prosecuting the case in court, enhancing information sharing communication among Ghana's law enforcement and judicial authorities.



It is also to increase efficiency and effectiveness of investigation of criminal cases of all types especially corruption, security and cyber crimes."



He said since its launch, five thousand staff in all six Justice Service institutions had been trained to use the system in seven regions. Eighty-nine per cent of officers have commenced its use.



The CJ said the new system was a new initiative designed to improve the work of stakeholders and benefit the criminal justice system, and urged them to continue giving it their fullest commitment in order to ensure its complete roll out and sustainability.



"I urge you to continue to strengthen the collaboration and coordination to ensure that the task is done well despite the challenges."



Already there are genuine concerns about the long term sustainability of the system because of the usual drying up of funds, equipment, lack of follow-ups in the regions which may result from the withdrawal of focal persons, and the usual attitudinal resistance to change among others,he said.



The CJ however noted that the challenges would be addressed if all stakeholders remained committed to the overall objective of the system given its obvious importance in addressing the major challenges in the criminal justice system.



Mr Enock Jenhre, Rule of Law Specialist, said access to justice means access to state sponsored health, welfare, education and legal services, particularly for the poor, or fair opportunities and treatment in the allocation and use of social, public services and goods.



He said there were two avenues for access to justice including formal and informal avenues, as well as other avenues for administrative complaints.



He said some challenges in accessing justice service included high cost of initiating or defending suits, limited or no knowledge about legal rights and entitlement, or legal and social responsibilities, high perception of corruption, and executive or political interference, limited and ineffective real access to court, among others.



Mr Jengre said the CTS looks at Tracking criminal cases from one justice sector institution to the other and there should be more lawyers to work with the Legal Aid Commission to defend people who could not afford the services of lawyers.



70 per cent of lawyers in the country are centred in the Greater Accra Region, while 20 per cent are in the Ashanti Region and the remaining 10 scattered across the rest of the regions, a situation which does not auger well for the judicial service system in the country."



He said the Legal Aid Commission by virtue of Act 2018 was mandated to support persons who could not afford the services of lawyers, adding that the CTS would go a long way to help information flow among such institutions.



Mr Jengre applauded the regions using the system, saying "this is something that is quite useful and we cannot ignore it. So let us all support each other and advocate for it."

Source: GNA









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The Upper East Regional Police Command has retrieved firearms and ammunition from two houses and arrested six suspects at Kandiga in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality in a special cordon and search operation.



The Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Dr Sayibu Pabi Gariba, who briefed journalists in Bolgatanga on the operation, said the arms and ammunition were retrieved from houses in two different locations in the area.



We had intelligence that some people in the Kandiga area have been assembling arms and ammunitions with the objective of attacking each other. In one of the houses, we discovered two pump action guns and a quantity of ammunition.



In the other, we discovered ammunitions of over 500 rounds of AK 47. In all these cases, we have some suspects that have been arrested, numbering about six. They are all in custody, he said.



He said the suspects comprised two males and four females but the owners of the houses that the items were retrieved from were at large, We are tracing them, we have been able to narrow down on them.



We have noted that they are teachers, we have pursued them to their various schools and we are currently doing everything to ensure that they are arrested, the Regional Police Commander said.



He said the issue would be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators brought to book, We will continue to mount intelligence-led operations in the entire Region including the Kandiga-Doba areas to ensure that the people there will have peace.



DCOP Dr Gariba said personnel from Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces had been peace-keeping in the Kandiga and Doba areas as a result of communal violence that erupted in 2020.



He called on residents of the Region to be law-abiding and live peacefully, emphasising that Insecurity will not help anybody. Development must go on in the Region and development must go with peace.



The Commander assured residents of the Region that the Ghana Police Service would continue to collaborate with other security agencies across the Region, to ensure that persons who illegally possess firearms and ammunitions were arrested and dealt with according to the law.

Source: GNA









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Former Acting CPP General Secretary, James Kwabena Bomfeh, popularly known as Kabila, has asked the Health Minister Mr. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu not to return to office after his two-weeks break.



The Health Minister has taken an annual leave to rest following the public backlash against him regarding the controversial Sputnik V deal.



The Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Dormaa Central in the Bono Region, made a request to the Presidency to go on a two-week leave.



The leave was granted by the Chief of Staff, Mrs Akosua Frema Osei-Opare.



Making his submissions on the Minister's leave during Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Kabila prayed Mr. Agyeman-Manu must use the opportunity to draw his exit plan.



"My prayer for him is that he should ask God to guide him and give him wisdom on how he will do his exit plan . . . sometimes, when you are becoming the weakest link to a government and you step aside, it brings honour to you," he told host Kwami Sefa Kayi.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The ruling NPP Ashanti Regional Secretary, Sam Pyne, has slammed UTAG over their defiance against the injunction by an Accra High Court to compel them to cancel their strike.



The National Labour Commission has secured an injunction to stop UTAG from continuing their industrial action but the Teachers Association has refused to comply with the injunction.



According to UTAG President, Charles Marfo, the Association has instructed its lawyers to take up the matter.



"We were almost reaching a consensus until the government's court issue arose. Now, a whole new ballgame has started because we're also asking our lawyers to go to court . . . We were getting there. We were pushing; now this argument I'm making is lost," he said.



To Sam Pyne, UTAG, not obeying the court ruling, is setting a bad example.



According to him, "every legal defiance isn't positive. We must respect the rulings and verdicts of courts".



"If those who are intellectuals do something like this, what example are they leaving for those who resort to violence?'', he questioned.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The minority in Parliament has demanded that the government of Ghana abrogate a $570 million contract with Portuguese company Mota Ingil for the expansion of the Accra-Tema motorway.



The minority MPs told the media at a press conference on Wednesday, 11 August 2021 that the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwasi Amoako-Atta, sidestepped parliament in signing the agreement which will see to the expansion of the motorway into three lanes.



The minority spokesperson on Roads and Transport, Mr Governs Kwame Agbodza, said: The process leading to the selection of the contractor is what we have always cautioned the government against, adding: If the government decides that the PPP process wouldnt work, that they still needed a developer and Mota Ingil has failed and cannot raise the funds, Mota Ingil is an international company and falls directly under article 185.



The top five contractors in this country can do a good job as Mota Ingil can do but the minister says, No, they cant. I feel very sad for the minister, the Adaklu MP noted, adding: So, we are calling on the government, this contract is illegitimate. Mota Ingil is touting this contract all over the world trying to raise funds. This contract is not binding on the government. The minister must come back to parliament or do an open competitive bidding or consider yourself as someone who has breached the law and it would catch up with you in the future.



Earlier this year, the minority MPs on parliaments Appointments Committee said in their report that Mr Amoako-Attah, the Presidents Minister-designate of Roads and Highways at the time, was unconvincing and opaque on the matter relating to US$570 million Accra-Tema road expansion project when he appeared before them to be vetted.



We note that the same project was valued at US$480 million in an earlier PPP arrangement, the minority caucus said in its report.



Mr Amoako-Attah, who served in the same portfolio in the presidents first term, was, at the time, one of five ministers-designate whose nominations were suspended by the minority MPs.



The caucus, at the time, said: He must clarify his role in signing the contract with Mota-Engil Engenharia & Construcao Africa without cabinet and parliamentary approvals.



Mota-Engil has built up a large business in Africa.



A press release signed by Mr Amoako-Attah months ago, said the contract was signed on 16 December 2020, after receiving approval from the countrys Public Procurement Authority and the Central Tender Review Board.



The project will upgrade and extend the motorway between the capital, Accra, and the city of Tema, which hosts the countrys largest port. The existing 19.5-km road will be reconstructed and expanded into a two-lane dual carriageway, with an extra lane added in urban areas.



A number of interchanges will also be modernised. Work will take place over a period of 48 months.



The original road was completed in 1965 under the administration of Kwame Nkrumah, Ghanas first president, and it was the first motorway in the country.



However, it was built with insufficient lighting, which has posed a challenge to the drivers that use it.



As part of the contract, Mota-Engil will add lighting to the road.



The company had previously headed a consortium of companies that was to have carried out the same work, as part of a public-private partnership, the first in Ghanaian history.

Source: classfmonline.com









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The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has proposed that the Electoral Commission be split into two as part of an ongoing electoral reform proposal by the party.



According to the party, one of the two bodies of the proposed Electoral Commission (EC) will be in charge of regulating activities of the various political parties and the other will be strictly handling elections.



Communications Officer of the party, Mr Sammy Gyamfi, confirmed to the Daily Graphic media reports about the NDCs proposal for the Electoral Commission to be split into two.



Its authentic and that is part of the reform proposal we are submitting to the EC, Mr Gyamfi said.



This, the party said, would also see to the amendment of the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574).



Split the EC into two separate bodies namely an Office for the Regulation of Political Parties (ORPP) and an Electoral Commission (EC) by amending the Political Parties Act, 2000, Act 574, NDCs 10th proposal reads.



Regulation of parties



Neither the Constitution nor the EC Act makes the EC responsible for the regulation of political parties; that function is prescribed by Act 574; the two functions are separate, involving heavy responsibilities that require full-time attention, the background to the proposal said.



The NDC, in justifying the proposal, stressed that the separation would enable the two offices to focus equal and full-time attention on their two different mandates; mitigate the perception of bias on the part of the EC as a result of its current dual mandate.



Address the concern expressed by the National Security Secretariat that mistrust of the EC is a potential ground for violence and a threat to state security; ensure conformity with international best practice as many countries have this system of separation



EC chairperson



The opposition NDC is asking that EC chairpersons should be appointed subject to parliamentary approval.



The party said the current mode of appointing electoral commissioners is partisan, therefore, the party, in over 30 proposals, seeking electoral reforms, argues that parliamentarians must have a hand in the appointment.



The NDC in its justifications indicated that, it is critical for an independent body like the EC chairperson to be independent, neutral, credible, transparent, and competent.



The NDC further referenced the appointment of Justices of the Supreme Court whose role is similar to the EC Chair and subordinates, but are appointed with prior parliamentary approval to advance their argument.



Chairperson of EC, as the Returning Officer of the presidential election, must not be solely appointed by the President, who is often a candidate, the party proposed.









Source: graphiconline.com









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Amid calls for the government to apply the same principle that led to her removal as chairperson of the Electoral Commission in the Kwaku Agyeman-Manu case, Charlotte Osei has sent a message which could be viewed as her take on current issues.



In a brief post on her Twitter page, the former EC chair said Dear Karma, please calm down small wai.



Charlotte Osei, it will be recalled was dismissed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2018 for alleged procurement breaches.



In the wake of the Sputnik V saga, certain public figures have questioned why the government that dismissed Charlotte Osei appears not to be keen on sacking Kwaku Agyeman-Manu for committing the same breaches.



Speaking on Metro TVs Good Morning Ghana on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, veteran journalist Kwesi Pratt criticized the government for not applying the democratic provision of equality before the law.



You cannot have a democracy anywhere in the world where the principle of equality of citizens is not respected. Its a cardinal principle and when you violate the principle of equality of citizens before the law, the very foundation of democracy is shaken if not broken.



In light of all this what comes to my mind is what then justifies the continued prosecution of Dr Opuni. How do we feel when you begin to look at how monumental decisions took place at the Electoral Commission ahead of the last elections and the justification we provided that? Can we in all honesty and sincerity say that it was okay to remove Charlotte Osei as EC chair? Im not sure? Pratt quizzed.



Randy Abbey, the host of the program has also for weeks now been making the same argument, asking if the government has the moral right to prosecute people for committing similar offences.



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Source: ghanaweb.con









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Ghanaian musician, Mujahid Ahmed Bello popularly known as Fancy Gadam has established that LGBTQI is not common in the Northern region hence he doesn't know much about it.



According to him, the LGBTQI community cannot survive in the Northern region because when caught in the act, they could be beaten to a pulp.



I dont see such things in the north not at all because if you are caught being gay or lesbian they will beat you severely. I havent condemned homosexuality since is not in the north so I dont know much about it, he explained in an interview with Kastle FM.



On the issue of people advocating for same-sex marriage to be made legal in Ghana, Fancy Gadam who is staunch Muslim has declared his stance against it.



Legalizing same-sex marriage in Ghana can never happen, that thing will not come to pass, he revealed on Kastle FM in Cape Coast.



Meanwhile, scores of Ghanaian celebrities have defended the rights of homosexuals in the country. The likes of Sister Derby, Wanlov the Kubolor, Lydia Forson and others have taken to social media to condemn the anti-LGBT bill which has been laid before parliament.

Source: mynewsghana.net









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Lucio "WizardOfAz" Lima shoved 55,468,880 and Anson Tsang called for slightly less in what was the last hand of the event.

Anson Tsang:

Lucio "WizardOfAz" Lima:

The flop instantly fanned out, with an ace in the window to pair up Tsang but it was followed by a three when the flop landed.

Lima took a commanding lead with his set of treys and the sealed the deal for him. Tsang was then drawing dead to the river, finishing as the runner-up for a respectable $66,918.

Congratulation sot Lucio "WizardOfAz" Lima on his victory here in Event #9: $525 Superstack Turbo Bounty, pulling in a total of $91,205 for his victory and a new shiny WSOP bracelet.

A recap of the day will follow shortly.
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Nearly 2 million South Carolinians have been fully vaccinated since December. Now, with the state firmly in COVID-19's clutches once more, many of them are clamoring for another dose.

"About every day, someone asks us" if they can get a coronavirus booster shot," James Island pharmacist Dottie Farfone said.

One person told her that his doctor recommended he get a third dose. At the time, she explained to him that the Food and Drug Administration wasn't authorizing booster shots yet.

Others have resorted to subterfuge.

"Two people didn't tell us the truth," Farfone recalled.

They came into Dottie's Pharmacy on Folly Road claiming they hadn't been vaccinated, trying to get another dose. Her staff referenced the online database that tracks who has received a first and second shot, then sent them away.

The good news for a small group of people is that the guidance on third shots is changing. Late on Aug. 12, the FDA cleared the way for people with severely weakened immune systems who "have a reduced ability to fight infections and other diseases" to get a third dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Patients must wait at least 28 days after their second shot of the vaccine to receive a third.

The FDA announcement didn't specify the protocol for patients who initially received the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but Dr. Danielle Scheurer, who heads up qualify and safety initiatives at the Medical University of South Carolina, said it's likely they will qualify for either a Moderna or a Pfizer dose. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention allows for the mixing of different vaccines, she said.

MUSC is updating its website soon, Scheurer said, to outline steps patients should take to receive their extra dose. It's likely, she said, they will need to attest that they're "immunocompromised."

The FDA estimates those who are immunocompromised make up about three percent of the U.S. population, and include those who have certain types of cancer or who have undergone an organ transplant. But the definition isn't always clear-cut.

Dr. John Wrangle, an oncologist at MUSC, said it's obvious that patients who are taking immune-suppressing medications, like those with leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, will qualify to receive the third shot.

But what about patients who underwent chemotherapy a few years ago? He said some studies suggest this group is more prone to infection, but it's unclear if they meet the criteria of "immunocompromised."

"The tricky part will be defining who is immunocompromised," Wrangle said.

Of course, none of this helps healthy adults who feel like they'd benefit from another dose of the vaccine, too. And interest in the possibility of a booster shot for the broader population remains intense. Even in a state like South Carolina, where fewer than half of all eligible residents are fully vaccinated, many people are desperate for another shot of the vaccine to further fortify their immune systems against this deadly virus.

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"There is definitely interest. It's in the back of everyone's mind," said Dr. Bill Simpson, a retired family physician who treats patients at the Barrier Island Free Medical Clinic on Johns Island. Simpson also writes a column about aging for The Post and Courier.

Older adults tend to experience a natural decline in immunity as they age, Simpson said. There are ways to counteract this decline, like walking and watching what you eat, he said, but another dose of the vaccine would probably help this group, particularly those elderly adults who got their first two doses more than six months ago.

"I'd sign up for one in a heartbeat," Simpson said.

But it isn't clear when  or even if  aging adults or other groups will qualify for a booster. While Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Aug. 12 that "inevitably" everyone will need a boost of the vaccine at some point, Dr. Jane Kelly, an epidemiologist with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, said most fully vaccinated adults wouldn't glean much benefit from one right now because their immune systems produced sufficient antibodies to protect them against the virus.

Some studies show this third dose might be useful for people with weaker immune systems, she said, but that's not the case for everyone.

"Theres no evidence right now that the general population needs a booster dose," she said. "Thered be no additional benefit for the vast majority people."

That doesn't mean most of us won't eventually need another COVID-19 vaccine, she said. But these won't be booster shots. In future years, Kelly explained, we'll likely need completely new COVID vaccines as the coronavirus continues to mutate.

She likened that scenario to getting an annual flu shot. We don't get a flu booster every year. We get a new flu vaccine, manufactured to provide protection against a virus that changes from year to year.

"Viruses mutate for a living. Viruses mutate frequently," Kelly said.

In the meantime, Kelly and her DHEC colleagues are much less focused on booster shots than they are about vaccinating more than 2 million people in South Carolina who are eligible to receive their first shot, but haven't yet. South Carolina has one of the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the country.

"Vaccines are the way out of this pandemic," Kelly said.

But it remains a hard sell for many people.

Wrangle, the MUSC oncologist, said he thinks that might have something to do with the fact that many people in this country take more stock in treatment than in prevention.

"Ive had patients who refuse the vaccine and die," he said. "Its heartbreaking because its avoidable."
CONWAY  Masks are not mandated at any South Carolina public universities, but some Coastal Carolina University faculty members are hoping to change that.

In July, the S.C. Legislature tried to ban mask mandates at colleges, but they wrote a rule with a loophole that the University of South Carolina used to implement an indoor mask requirement. USC removed its mandate four days later after S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson said it violated the intent of lawmakers.

Democratic state Sen. Dick Harpootlian is suing Wilson and USC, asking the S.C. Supreme Court to interpret the Legislature's rule.

Coastal Carolinas Faculty Senate passed a resolution Aug. 13 urging the university's administration to require a mask mandate for all students, teachers and faculty no matter of vaccination status.

If the university's administration does not start a mask mandate, the resolution asks that faculty members be allowed to craft individualized classroom plans where they can mandate COVID-19 precautions.

The push for masking comes as COVID-19 cases skyrocket across the Grand Strand. No local governments in Horry County have mandated masks.

Horry County health care officials warn that case numbers are headed back to where the county was a year ago, in part because of low vaccination rates and a boost in tourism.

The largest spike in COVID-19 cases across the Pee Dee was back in January averaging about 350 cases a day, and today cases are averaging 250 a day.

At their Aug. 13 meeting, Faculty Senate members brought up their own concerns with the lack of a mask mandate and how it will affect their personal lives.

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Coastal Carolina journalism professor Wendy Weinhold said she was worried that her two children, both under age of 12, wouldn't be protected because they aren't eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

I mean we wear shoes, and we're required to wear shoes to keep ourselves safe and to keep our community safe, Weinhold said. Masks are not unlike shoes.

The next step will happen next week when CCUs full faculty is given the opportunity to vote on the resolution.

Even if approved by professors, the university administration has the final say in requiring masks, Faculty Senate Chairman Brian Bunton said.

Coastal Carolina, along with other universities throughout the state, removed its mask mandate in May as cases dropped amid rising vaccination rates.

Coastal Carolina President Michael Benson said in a statement that he is encouraging students and faculty to continue to wear face coverings and get the vaccine, but at this time he isnt encouraging a mask mandate due to the legal repercussions other universities are facing. Benson added he wants to see how the S.C. Supreme Court rules on Harpootlian's challenge.

But Coastal Carolina political scientist Drew Kurlowski, a member of faculty senate, pushed back.

While Wilson pushed back at USC, Kurlowski said Coastal Carolina should do the right thing and enact a mask mandate no matter how the state government leaders react.

While I understand there are clear costs in terms of political capital by pursuing a mask mandate," Kurlowski said. "I think its an important opportunity to show solidarity with other institutions. We're not waiting around for USC, and Clemson and College of Charleston to take the lead. We're right up there taking the lead as well.
MYRTLE BEACH  As COVID-19 cases in Horry County rise at an alarming rate, area hospitals are taking added precautions and offering incentive pay for employees willing to work extra shifts.

They also are getting very crowded.

Over the past two weeks, Horry County recorded the most new cases in South Carolina, more than 2,500, and has the fifth-highest per capita rate of new cases, according to the latest S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control data.

Weekly cases in Horry County have risen 18-fold from two months ago.

While Georgetown County's recent new case rate is 40 percent less than Horry County, Georgetown's weekly cases also have spiked 18-fold in the past two months.

The influx of COVID-19 patients has pushed three hospitals to either surpass or approach capacity and caused at least one health system to rearrange staffing, shifting non-clinical nurses to frontline roles.

The number of COVID-19 related patients at Grand Strand Health rose by 75 percent in the past two weeks, spokeswoman Katie Maclay said, while the number of people on ventilators has tripled.

The influx has lengthened emergency room wait times, she said, and means some patients must stay in the ER until an inpatient bed is available.

The surge is causing Tidelands Health to open temporary respiratory clinics in Murrells Inlet and Georgetown beginning Aug. 16 to treat patients with coronavirus-like symptoms.

Tidelands also is rescheduling surgeries and supplementing frontline staff.

Tidelands went from no COVID-19 patients on June 30 to 43 on Aug. 12, including 12 patients in critical care and nine on a ventilator, the hospital said in a news release.

After one COVID-19 inpatient death in the months of June and July combined, Tidelands Health system has recorded seven COVID-19 inpatient deaths since Aug. 1.

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Both Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital and Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital are over 100 percent capacity, said Jane Arthur, spokeswoman for Tidelands.

Tidelands Health is postponing and rescheduling some surgeries that are not time-sensitive but require a hospital admission. Patients whose surgeries need to be rescheduled will be contacted by their physicians office.

Numerous steps are being taken to supplement clinical staffing at Tidelands.

Nurses who work in non-clinical roles are being temporarily reassigned to frontline care roles, and the health system is offering incentive pay for team members who work additional shifts. Clinicians caring for COVID-19 patients also receive supplemental pay. Efforts to secure additional travel nursing staff are underway.

Our region is back in a place wed hoped to never see again, Gayle Resetar, chief operating officer, said in a statement. The strategies were implementing will reduce pressure on our health care resources."

At Conway Medical, there were 35 COVID-19 positive patients hospitalized, 15 of them are in the intensive care unit and four of them on a ventilator, pushing their system to 87 percent capacity on Aug. 13, spokeswoman Allyson Floyd said.

"We ask that people arriving at our emergency department please be patient and we will get to them but wait times will likely be very long," Floyd said.

Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune said the Myrtle Beach Fire Department is offering a mobile vaccine clinic for businesses or neighborhoods with 10 or more people needing to get vaccinated.

"People taking personal responsibility is paramount," Bethune said.
Tropical Depression Fred was traveling west Aug. 13 as it moved further from South Carolina.

As of 8 p.m. Friday, the storm had passed over much of Cuba, bringing with it heavy rainfall. It was projected to reach Florida's tip about 2 a.m. Aug. 14, according to a Hurricane Center wind map. Fred is expected to travel west and northwest toward Floridas Panhandle, Alabama and parts of Georgia and Mississippi.

Fred was positioned about 175 miles southeast of Key West, Fla., on Friday evening, moving west at 12 mph with maximum sustained winds at 35 mph. For a system to become a hurricane, it must reach wind speeds of at least 74 mph.

The Hurricane Center called the system disorganized in its update, but said the storm has moved further west than originally anticipated and was expected to continue turning west or northwest later Friday night.

Fred was expected to gradually strengthen over the next day or two until reaching the northern Gulf Coast about Aug. 16, when it was projected to reach its peak. Heavy rainfall, gusty winds and tornadoes could affect portions of the Sunshine States peninsula, according to the forecast.

Fred was downgraded from a tropical storm to a depression Aug. 11.

Meanwhile, still east of the Caribbean Sea, forecasters were watching a disturbance they said would likely become Grace, the seventh named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. Tropical storm watches for that storm have been issued for Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, St. Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Saba and Sint Eustatius, Saint Maarten, St. Martin and St. Barthelemy, the British Virgin Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 90F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Low 76F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
The current situation in Afghanistan is dire and roots of the current quagmire were planted 30 years ago.

I went to the Afghan-Pakistan border three times between 1985 and 1990 while working with Afghan surgeons.

There were seven political parties at that time. I worked with three: two were secular and one Islamist.

When the Afghan men went to fight the Soviets, they left families in Peshawar, Pakistan, where I witnessed the founding of the Saudi Arabian-funded madrassas, Islamic religious schools that taught the young sons of the fighters to become Taliban.

When the Soviets withdrew in 1989, the United States quickly lost interest in the country.

In 1990, I went into Afghanistan in the early phases of its civil war. Everything was destroyed: homes, roads, orchards.

During that civil war, the secular parties with whom I worked were destroyed.

During my time there, I developed a great affinity for the Afghan surgeons with whom I worked. I had planned to return in 1993, but the mission was regarded as too dangerous.

Ahmad Shah Massoud, legendary commander of the Islamist party, was killed by suicide bombers one day before the 9/11 terror attacks on the U.S. His party was the only opposition to the Taliban.

After 9/11, a brilliant military action had the Taliban on the run, but with the invasion of Iraq, resources were diverted from Afghanistan, giving the Taliban a chance to regroup, and they did.

The combination of the boys in the madrassas becoming Taliban and the elimination of the secular parties in the 1990s civil war were too much for the insufficient effort in the 2000s to control the rise of the Taliban.

I am heartbroken at the current situation.

Consequences of foreign policy decisions may not be evident for many years.

Unfortunately, the next news cycle takes priority.

RICHARD GROSS

Oak Marsh Drive

Mount Pleasant

Sitting on hands

Gov. Henry McMaster uses the analogy that if we park all cars, we would have no accidents as an argument against a shutdown or a mask mandate.

True, but we do not allow motorists to drive recklessly, which puts others at risk of harm. Wearing masks does not shut down commerce.

Responsible leaders take action to stop harm rather than sitting on their hands waiting for people to use common sense when they are stuck on stupid.

Sign up for our opinion newsletter Get a weekly recap of South Carolina opinion and analysis from The Post and Courier in your inbox on Monday evenings. Email

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DOUGLAS DEVLAMING

Colleton Drive

Charleston

Protect farmland

South Carolina and the rest of the Southeast are under pressure from rapid development with farmland succumbing alongside natural lands.

American Farmland Trusts Farms Under Threat: The State of the States report, released in May 2020, revealed South Carolina ranked eighth in the nation with 280,000 acres of farmland lost or compromised by development.

South Carolina is one of five Southeastern states in the Top 12 nationally.

Sen. Chip Campsens proposed conservation legislation is being offered none too soon.

Development on farmland puts food security, the environment and South Carolinas economy in jeopardy.

The state generates $3 billion in annual revenue from farms, with more than $750 million in agricultural exports in an industry that employees nearly 60,000 citizens.

Nearly half of the states 5.8 million acres of farmland is considered nationally significant, meaning it is among the nations best land for growing crops, important for the local and national food supply.

We agree with the senators statement, Without intentional action, we cannot guarantee these benefits for future generations.

Whats more, Floodwater Commission Chairman Tom Mullikin said the additional lands protected through Campsens proposal will provide a firewall of natural support from flooding and protect some of the most fragile and beautiful areas for generations.

Doubling the states protected lands by 2050 is necessary.

American Farmland Trust is working across the nation with partners such as Sustain SC and the Palmetto Agribusiness Council to ensure that farmland makes up a significant portion of protected lands.

Without farms and food, there will be no future.

BILLY VAN PELT

Director of external relations and senior adviser

American Farmland Trust

Connecticut Avenue

Washington, D.C.
Ammo Grrrll draws on one of her favorite jokes to ask: TIME TO CHANGE CLOTHES? She writes:

Last week I included one of my favorite jokes and readers asked for other favorites. Sadly, because of the amount of time spent around male co-workers and comedians, my repertoire consists largely of jokes that  even euphemized beyond recognition  could not get by either my gentlemanly editor or the Disqus censors that MT Deb refers to as Sister Mary Algorithm.

I am hoping that the following offering is an exception to that as it is the linchpin to my further thoughts today. I first heard this joke from the fellas on a Blue Collar Comedy DVD when, after their individual sets, they were just sitting around on stage telling THEIR favorite jokes.

Many centuries ago, a Spanish capitan in the Armada was sailing with his crew when, in the distance, three pirate ships were spotted. Failing to outrun them, there was no choice but to fight. El Capitan ordered his First Mate, Bring me my red shirt!

It was done, he donned the red shirt and led his men into a fierce battle in which he was lightly wounded while two of the pirate ships were sunk and the other run off. My capitan! My capitan! Why did you call for your red shirt? It inspired the men and we have won the day! cried his First Mate.

Well, I feared that I might be wounded and it would demoralize my men, but I hoped the red shirt would hide the blood, which it did. And they kept on fighting.

Just then, the look-out in the crows nest informed the capitan that the surviving pirate ship was returning with eight more ships. The Capitan yelled: Fetch me my brown pants!

And I wonder aloud, Is it getting perilously close to the time for patriots to don our brown pants?

Let us further ask: if every Constitutional Conservative DID seek to purchase brown pants, where would we go to do so? And, in the answer, we see the extent of the problem. Target? Where men pretending to be women are allowed in a restroom with little girls? Walmart? Where gazillionaires increased their wealth exponentially during the COVID lockdowns because only huge stores were safe to visit. Amazon? Suppose you used your phone or computer to search for brown pants? That insurrectionist search could be monitored and reported to the Proper Authorities as abuse of  wait for it  The Children.

The First Amendment has been toast for quite a while now, since the geniuses who represent us passed laws against hate speech. Miscreants are fired; bank accounts canceled; GoFundMe attempts disallowed. Recent graduates who majored in Entitlement Studies will let you know if your misinformation passes muster on all social media.

The A.M.A. is hard at work on birth certificates that do not designate the sex of the baby. Instead of Mama or Dada being the first words of the typical baby, we can hope that the first words are the babys preferred pronouns.

We have a senile kleptocrat child-sniffer in the White House who cannot memorize a sentence or even read a note, but who confidently assured us just the other day that 350 million Americans have now been vaccinated. Whew! Thank God, THATS over!

However, somehow more millions of Americans must be forced to get shots from laid-off Avon salesladies going door to door. Which most definitely does NOT mean the vaccinated can throw out their masks. EVER. UnlessIf you are at the Obama birthday party where the COVID cooties cannot catch you because you are so gosh-darned sophisticated, no masks are needed. What a shame it would have been to needlessly cover all those beautiful celebrity facelifts! Why, John Legend has been on a People cover as The Sexiest Man Alive! Viruses only attack the unattractive, unfamous and unsophisticated like you and me.

Oh, heck, I just remembered another group that gets a pass  in the Brave New Borderless United States  its the infected illegals being chauffeured to their free hotels. No forced vaccinations for them! Parcel them out to Texas and Florida and hope that they either kill enough people to flip the states from Red to Blue, or simply outvote them. Talk about transparency! Could any evil be more obvious? They are stickin it to us, friends.

The litany is long and depressing. I barely scratched the surface. But if we need BOTH our red shirts and our brown pants, then let us put them on today and finally begin  as Senator Rand Paul has suggested  to practice NONCOMPLIANCE. No violence, no trespassing at the Capitol traumatizing the appalling morons blathering therein, just NOT COOPERATING. As the brilliant Candace Owens said on Tucker, Just live your life. A defiant act.

Do you remember what it was like to try to pick up a child who did not wish to leave the playground to go home for a nap? Perhaps a more advanced one would kick and attempt to fight back against an adult several times his size, against hopeless odds. But a far more effective way for the toddler to resist was just to go limp and refuse to cooperate with either walking or being picked up. They all seem to know the technique instinctively.

When I was in a lovely old Southern hotel last May, eating breakfast with some commenter-friends, I got up to speak to the bellman about our luggage issues, and on my way back to the table, a double-masked lady just entering the lobby yelled, Oh, Miss, I must insist that you put on a mask. To which I just said, No. She was at least 25 feet away from me, I had had all my shots and I was not in the mood to be told what to do.

This was not exactly Rosa Parks-level courage, but it has to start somewhere, my friends. My real hope lies with the truck drivers. If comedians or columnists go on a general strike, it has the same effect as Gender Studies professors or phone solicitors not showing up for work. But if goods are not delivered, if toilet paper disappears from the shelves, theres no food, or, God forbid, the new iPhones do not reach the marketplace, we might have a fighting chance to reclaim America. It will NOT come from the useless cabal currently in Congress.

Give not one penny to the faux-Republican half-wits not even pretending to fight against the 3,000-page monstrosity that will empty out the Treasury. Patronize no craven corporations. Ya basta! Enough! Make the Most Pathetic Elite in the World fetch THEIR brown pants.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged a court to sack Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State for taking up another executive position as the caretaker chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, the PDP argues that combining the governors office with another executive position is a constitutional violation.

The Yobe State governors office and that of the deputy governor, Idi Gubana, have therefore become vacant after Mr Buni took up the APC appointment, the PDP said.

The opposition party asked that its governorship candidate in the 2019 election, Umar Damagum, and his running mate, Baba Aji, should be sworn in as replacements for Mr Buni and his deputy.

Channels Television posted copies of some pages of the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/885/2021 on its website on Thursday.

The court document shows the PDP, along with Messrs Damagum and Aji, as the plaintiffs who jointly instituted the suit.

Mr Buni, the Yobe State deputy governor, Mr Gubana, the APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were sued as the defendants in the suit.

The governor was appointed the chairman of the APCs Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) in June 2020 following the crisis that led to the exit of the partys former chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

Plaintiffs latch on to Supreme Court judgment

The plaintiffs, relying on section 183 of the Nigerian constitution and a recent judgement of the Supreme Court, urged the trial court to determine if Mr Buni who is the governor of Yobe State and caretaker committee chairman of the APC has not ceased to hold the office of the governor of Yobe State.

The apex courts judgement cited by the plaintiffs was delivered on July 28, 2021 on an appeal regarding the last governorship election in Ondo State.

PDPs governorship candidate in the Ondo State election, Eyitayo Jegede, had filed the appeal to challenge Governor Rotimi Akeredolus victory at the October 2020 poll.

Mr Jegede rested his case on the argument that Mr Akeredolu was not a proper governorship candidate in the election because his nomination was supervised by Mr Buni said to be illegally doubling as the APC chairman and the Governor of Yobe State.

He asked that Mr Akeredolus nomination be nullified as it breached section 183 of the constitution and article 17(4) of the APC constitution, which according to him, prohibit such combination of executive positions.

Mr Akeredolu, who opposed the case, won the legal battle by a whisker with a 4-to-3 split decision of the Supreme Court panel ruling in his favour on technical grounds.

The majority decision favouring Mr Akeredolu dismissed Mr Jegedes case, saying it was incompetent as a result of the failure to join Mr Buni, against whom weighty allegations were levelled, as a party to the case.

But the minority decision upheld Mr Jedgedes argument and nullified Mr Akeredolus election, explaining that Mr Buni breached constitution when as a sitting governor, he acted as chairman of the APC by submitting Mr Akeredolus name to INEC for the governorship election.

Contrary to the majority judgment, it also ruled that the case was not rendered incompetent by the non-joinder of Mr Buni.

With the APC already joined, Mr Buni, who was merely acting as its agent, needed not be joined, the minority judgement explained further.

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Some legal voices within the APC, including the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, warned that the judgment held an uncertain future for the APC if Mr Buni was not immediately removed as the leader of the party.

Latching on to the judgement, however, the PDP said Mr Buni is not fit to continue to hold the office of the Yobe State governor after accepting to be and stepping into the APC chairmanship position.

Citing section 187(2) of the Nigerian constitution, the PDP argues that the Yobe State deputy governor could not lawfully remain in office upon the cessation of the 1st defendants (Mr Bunis) occupation of the Yobe State governors office.

The section 187(2) of the constitution treats the nomination of the governorship and the deputy governorship candidates as an indivisible entity on issues relating to qualification for election, tenure of office, disqualifications, among others.

Prayers

Among other prayers, the plaintiffs, through their legal team led by Emeka Etiaba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, urged the court to declare that Mr Bunis actions of taking up the appointment as the caretaker committee chairman of the APC while he remains the governor of Yobe State are wrongful, null and void.

They also seek an order directing the Chief Judge of Yobe State or any other relevant judge in his absence to immediately swear in the 2nd and 3rd plaintiffs as governor and deputy governor, the offices having become vacant.

APC reacts

Meanwhile, the APC reacted to the suit describing it as misplaced and frivolous court action on Thursday.

In a statement signed by the national secretary of its caretaker committee, John Akpanudoedehe, the party said the PDP leadership is obviously executing a desperate and poorly-scripted propaganda plot aimed at deflecting attention from the crisis of confidence the failed opposition party faces.

The PDP are ignominious rabblerousers and have no locus to take any action on the internal affairs of the APC.

The Supreme Court has already affirmed the status and legality of the CECPC and that is all there is to it, the APC said.

It said further that the PDP lacked the locus standi (legal right) to sue concerning its internal affairs, imploring the court to took punitive measures against such act of abuse of court processes against the PDP.

We are confident that the Judiciary will apply these measures fully, the party added.

The APC and the other defendants sued will still have to file their defence against the suit in court.
Indonesias Ambassador to Nigeria, Usra Harahap, who met with Nigerias Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, on Monday told the minister that an assaulted Nigerian diplomat was to blame for the incident.

Mr Harahap said Ibrahim Abdulrahman was the aggressor during his encounter with some Indonesian immigration officers.

PREMIUM TIMES obtained a copy of Mr Harahaps presentation to Mr Onyeama.

A viral video had showed at least three men in a vehicle assaulting Mr Abdulrahaman in front of his official residence in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Nigerian government promptly condemned the incident, describing it as unacceptable and unfortunate.

But at his meeting with Nigerias foreign minister on Monday, Mr Harahap did not acknowledge that Mr Abdulrahman was assaulted by Indonesian officers.

Instead, he said the immigration officers from South Jakarta Immigration Office were carrying out surveillance functions on foreigners. When they asked Mr Abdulrahman for identification, he refused to identify himself or tender his passport, the official said.

When they met with Mr Abdulrahman and politely requested him to show his travel document, he answered that his passport was in his room.

After being asked several times, Mr Harahap said, the Nigerian official was not willing to show his passport.

Then you come with us to the office to check the travel document Sir, through our system. If nothing wrong are found concerning the passport and residence permit, we will not investigate further, the immigration officers reportedly told Mr Abdulrahman.

And Mr Abdulrahman, who was reportedly angry, was reported to have said, Just arrest me and you will regret to know who really I am.

You will know who really I am and be careful on that, Mr Harahap quoted him as replying to the officers.

The officer reportedly said, We will not detain you further Sir, if you can show us your identity card. Then Mr Abdulrahman was quoted as saying, Where is your car, Ill come to your office.

By the time the officers car arrive, the Nigerian diplomat requested to sit on the left side near the door and the officers treated him as an ordinary foreigner without any intimidation and didnt handcuff him, and didnt hold anything in his body such as cellphones and other stuff that were in his clothes.

On the way to the immigration office in South Jakarta, several incidents happened, Mr Harahap recalled.

Abdulrahman elbowed the immigration officer, Mr. Laode Hauzan Baidi, who was sitting next to him until Mr. Laodes lip was bleeding.

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This led to other officers restraining him from attacking another officer during the trip. However, Mr Abdulrahman kept on resisting and shouting until to the point where it required officers to hold and calm him down.

The officers did this for the sake of security and safety as they were carrying out the Immigration Duties and Functions, he said.

In the midst of the row, Mr Harahap added that the diplomat shouted he was a staff of the Nigerian embassy.

But due to the incident that happened in the car, officers detained him when they arrived at the South Jakarta Immigration Office because he continued to attack the officers.

The Indonesian envoy said the Nigerian diplomat showed his identity card during the investigation at the office.

Mr Harahap further said the problems of the two parties had been resolved with the achievement of a peace agreement witnessed by the Nigerian Ambassador to Indonesia, the Head of Section of Intelligence and Action for the South Jakarta Immigration Office, and the Ambassadors Guard from the Police.

There was also a police report made by the immigration officer who was injured, but it was not further processed because the issue was resolved amicably.

I believe that you have received a report and information as well from the Nigerian Ambassador in Jakarta, and it might be different from my report to Your Excellency, Mr Harahap told Mr Onyeama during their meeting.

There is no official account, yet, of the incident from Nigerias foreign ministry as of press time.

But a spokesperson for the ministry, Esther Sunsuwa, in an interview with The PUNCH newspaper said, The Federal Government will make its position known after consulting with the recalled Nigerian envoy expected to arrive in the country along with Abdulrahman on Thursday.
The Nigerian government has appealed to the striking resident doctors to return to work while talks continue on the areas of disagreement.

The health minister, Osagie Ehanire, made the appeal during the 18th ministerial briefing, which was held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, on Thursday.

The minister, who said Nigeria could be the only country in the world where doctors are on strike amidst the global pandemic, said the No Work, No Pay rule isnt a punitive measure against the striking doctors but an implementation of the provisions of law.

He said embarking on an industrial action in the middle of an outbreak is unconscionable.

We have said openly that this is not a good time for doctors to go on strike. We are having a strike for the third time this year; that is not good.

Every country who has a difficult situation at this time should understand that responsibility is on all of us. If you have any problem, any grudges, lets talk about it.

I think Nigeria is probably the only country in the world today where doctors are dropping work in the middle of a threat to the whole country, he said.

No Work, No Pay

Speaking on the No Work, No Pay policy of the government, the minister said; Yes, but thats the standard thing. ILO recommends that if you didnt work, then why will you take your salary that comes from taxpayers money.

Because if that is so, you cant be encouraged to stay home for six months and your salary is running from public funds, from taxpayers money, or you have not given the community any service.

Mr Ehanire also noted that the government has not threatened the doctors but you do not put peoples lives at risk. That is what the minister of labour is saying. Nobody has threatened anybody with anything.

Earlier, while appearing on a Channels Televisions programme  Politics Today  last Friday, the minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige, said the doctors were taking the country for a ride.

He also threatened that the doctors would be sacked by their various employers if the seven-day ultimatum he issued them expires.

The ultimatum, according to the minister expired on Monday.

However, in spite of the threat, the doctors said the strike would continue until their demands are met.

The strike entered its 12th day on Friday.

Blame the states too

Mr Ehanire said the federal government is not entirely responsible for meeting all the demands tabled by the striking doctors.

He said seven of the 12 demands listed are issues between the doctors and governments of some states.

Part of the problem we have is that some of the demands are with state governments, not the federal government. So if the state government has not paid some people a salary why go on a nationwide strike?

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Among the 12 original demands that they made, seven were state-related and federal government cannot compel a state to pay you a certain salary that you want, he said.

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Monday, August 2, resumed indefinitely the strike it had suspended earlier in April, saying having observed things for more than 100 days, the union realised that the government was taking its members for granted.

The doctors grievances are contained in a Memorandum of Action (MOA), endorsed in April by both the striking doctors and the government representatives, including Mr Ngige.

They had demanded, amongst other things, the immediate payment of COVID-19 inducement allowance to some of its members in federal and state tertiary institutions.

They also demanded a review of the hazard allowance for health workers due to the risk associated with their profession.

The association also decried the undue hardship its members on GIFMIS platform are facing due to the delays in payment of their salaries ranging from three to seven months.

On cholera outbreak

On the cholera outbreak in the country, Mr Ehanire said the country will distribute chemicals for treating water to areas of concern.

He said the cholera was caused by contaminated water consumed by people.

The minister said, If you drink raw water from the stream and other raw water (sources, which) is carrying the cholera bacteria because somebody upstream has already defecated in water, downstream, you think youre getting pure water, youre not.

So people go freely and collect water. Now thats why we advise them that the least they can do is to boil the water that they are going to drink. If you have a chemical to treat it, you can treat it.

Now we are looking for that chemical treatment to send to areas of concern.

Meanwhile, as of August 1, 2021, a total of 31,425 suspected cholera cases and 816 deaths have been recorded in 22 states and the FCT since the beginning of the outbreak in January, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The affected states are Benue, Delta, Zamfara, Gombe, Bayelsa, Kogi, Sokoto, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Kebbi, Cross-River, Niger, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Yobe, Kwara, Enugu, Adamawa, Kastina, Borno and FCT.
More revelations have emerged from the report of the Senate Public Accounts Committee on the audit of accounts of over 100 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

This time, it is from the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture (Culture Sector).

An audit of the ministrys account for 2015 shows that it carried out many uncompleted projects in the same year, amounting to over N390 million.

The audit, which was done by the Auditor-General of the Federation, also disclosed that a former Minister of Information forcefully collected a jeep which the ministry has failed to recover to date.

The name of the minister was, however, not mentioned in the report.

The report also queried the ministry for non-deduction and non-remittance of taxes in many cases.

Details of these discoveries are contained in the annual report of the Auditor-General of the Federation (AuGF) for 2015 submitted to the Senate by its Committee on Public Account in June.

Query

The ministry of information is part of the 114 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) indicted and queried by the auditor-general for incessant violation of extant rules, some of which include non-retirement of personal advances within a financial year and grant of cash advances above approved limit.

The ministry is also one of the seven MDAs that refused to appear before the Senate Committee during the hearings.

In the report obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, of the 114 MDAs queried by the auditor-general, 84 responded, made submissions and appeared before the Senate panel to defend the queries raised. While 21 MDAs sent in written reports but did not appear before the committee.

This paper had reported how the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) was queried by the Senate for spending N995 million on store items and paying salaries to dead officers.

It also reported how the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) failed to recover N1.6 billion overpaid to oil marketers.

AuGFs queries

According to the report, the sum of N7,974,200 was paid to two Contractors through the Chief Registrar of Federal High Court, Abuja, for the execution of judgment in favour of the Construction company. But N797,420 due to FIRS as VAT and Withholding Taxes (WHT) were not deducted.

The ministry had explained that the payment was made directly to the Chief Registrar, Federal High Court, Abuja, on the advice of the Legal Adviser of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.

However, the committee observed that the ministry paid the contract sum without deducting VAT and WHT, contrary to Rule 234 of the Financial Regulations (FR).

The panel, therefore, asked that the amount due to FIRS as VAT and WHT be recovered from the Statutory allocation of the ministry in accordance with FR 234(ii).

It also asked that evidence of payment be forwarded to the AuGF and the committee for verification while the Accounting Officer (in charge) be sanctioned under VAT Act No 102 of 1993 as amended.

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Uncompleted Projects

A constituency project contract worth N51.7 million for construction of Roads and Parking Lots, Drainage at Ureje Dam in Ado-Ekiti was paid for, but the job was not completed, the report said.

And the AuGF recommended that N25.4 million be recovered from the unnamed contractor as the value of the job not done.

Another contract of N122.4 million was awarded for the construction of Fence and Gate House at the dam but was not completed.

While the ministry claimed that the contract was verified and completed but could not visit the location to verify the consultants claim due to Budget constraint, the committee observed that the contractor was paid for a job not done.

The committee, therefore, recommended that the contractor be referred to the EFCC for prosecution in accordance with Rule 3104 (ii) of the Financial Regulations, and evidence of compliance should be submitted to the Auditor-General and the panel.

For another constituency project contract worth N132.3 million for the construction of Retaining Wall at Ureje Dam Waterfront Scheme in Ado-Ekiti, about N5.2 million was paid for part of the project but was not executed.

To this query, the ministry said the contractor confirmed that the project is 100 per cent completed but the Senate panel observed that there was no proof to show that the project had been completed.

It, therefore, asked that the contractor be referred to the EFCC for prosecution in accordance with Rule 3104(ii) of the Financial Regulations and that evidence of compliance should be submitted to the Auditor-General and the committee.

In a different project, N138.2 million was fully paid for the construction of Event Centre/Restaurants at Ureje Dam Waterfront Scheme in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State but was not completed.

The money was paid to Home Tech Construction Limited.

But the ministry explained that the consultant, Home Tech Construction Limited, has completed 75 per cent of the project and noted that the project needs extra funds for it to be completed, the report said.

The committee, however, observed that the project has not been completed after five years.

The panel asked that the contractor be referred to the EFCC for prosecution in accordance with Rule 3104 (ii) of the Financial Regulations, and evidence of compliance should be submitted to the AuGF and the committee.

The report further revealed that part of a contract valued at N73 million for the construction of Museum Arts and Craft Centre was paid for, but not completed. And the ministry claimed that the contract awarded on the said amount was partially delivered.

But the committee observed that there was no evidence of a job done. It recommended that the contractor be referred to the EFCC for prosecution in accordance with Rule 3104(ii) of the Financial Regulations.

For the construction of Fence/Gate House, Road, Drainage and provision of Electrical/Mechanical External Infrastructure at Out-Itesiwaju LGA of Oyo State, N19.3 million was paid but the job was not executed.

This time, the ministry agreed to the query, and requested time to provide the evidence of work done.

And like other uncompleted projects, the committee recommended that the contractor be referred to the EFCC for prosecution and evidence of compliance should be submitted to the AuGF and the committee.

More irregularities

Another revelation from the report is an unrecovered Land Cruiser Jeep.

The AuGF, in the report, noted that a Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep, bought at the cost of N19,425,000, was taken away by a former minister.

In its response to this query, the Permanent Secretary explained that the Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep was forcefully taken away.

All efforts made to ensure that the former Minister returns the official vehicle proved abortive, the report said.

However, the Senate committee recommended that the ministry recover the Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep, by whatever legal means possible and evidence of recovery forwarded to the AuGF and the committee.

The report also shows irregularities in contract execution for a fence at Exekuna Cultural Museum in Nchi-Onu Amuzu Ezza South LGA, Ebonyi State for which N17.5 million was paid.

The provision of Gate House amounting to N6,089,160.00 was not executed. The ministry was requested to invite the contractor to build the Guest House and repair the broken fence or return the total sum to Government Coffers and send evidence of recovery particular for audit verification, part of the report read.

The Ministry claimed that the project was 100 per cent completed; however, during the monitoring exercise, it was observed that there were various cracks in the newly constructed structure.

And the committee observed that the project has not been completed. There is no evidence that the Gate House has been provided and the cracks on the new house repaired.

The panel recommended that the contractor be referred to the EFCC for prosecution and evidence of compliance should be submitted to the AuGF and the committee.

The committee had also faulted the executive for withdrawing funds from Special Fund Accounts for purposes other than the objectives the funds were created, and without recourse to the National Assembly for authorisation  contrary to Section 80 (4) of the Constitution.

It noted the lack of collaboration between the two key agencies involved in the management and review of public funds;  the Office of the auditor-general and the Office of the accountant-general.

In June, the chairman of the panel, Matthew Urhoghide, emphasised the need to pass the Audit Service Bill into law, which he said will help strengthen and streamline the audit process to ensure prudence in public finance and transactions.
President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Abuja after joining world leaders in making a firm commitment to increase funding for the education sector at the recent Global Education Summit in London, United Kingdom.

The Nigerian leader also used the opportunity of the trip to also spend a few days for his medical check-up.

The president travelled to the UK on July 26.

While he was away, members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) began a strike over repeated failure of his administration to implement agreements signed with them.

Mr Buhari and members of his family routinely travel to the UK for medical treatment.

Before the recent trip, he had travelled in March and returned to the country two weeks later.

The Global Education Summit, co-hosted by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya successfully generated about four billion dollars out of the targeted five billion dollars for the transformation of the education sector in low income countries, including Nigeria.

Mr Buhari, who actively participated in the activities of the summit, appeared on a panel of discussants with a live audience alongside his counterparts from other African countries, including Mr Kenyatta, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, President Faure Eyadema of Togo and President Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi.

The summit focused on topical issues including Educations Reset  Learning from COVID; Transforming the Childs Learning Journey; Gender Equality in and Through Education; Ripple Effect  Educations Impact on Sustainability, and Financing for Impact  Volume, Equity, Efficiency.

At the summit, Mr Buhari pledged to increase the budget for the education sector in Nigeria by as much as 50 per cent over the next two years.

We commit to progressively increase our annual domestic education expenditure by 50 per cent over the next two years and up to 100 per cent by 2025 beyond the 20 per cent global benchmark, he stated.

The president also held bilateral meetings with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, at the sidelines of the Global Education Summit.

Messrs Buhari and Johnson, during the bilateral talks, appraised the war against different forms of terrorism in Nigeria, and agreed that the judicial process be allowed to run its course.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in a statement, quoted the two leaders saying it was important that the judicial process runs without interference, no matter who was involved.

He said Mr Buhari also briefed the prime minister on Nigerias power needs and efforts being made, as well as initiatives geared at achieving food security.

The president also reviewed the security situation in the different regions of the country, while Johnson pledged Britains preparedness to lend a helping hand.

We are available to help, Mr Adesina quoted the British PM as saying.

The two leaders equally discussed how to increase trade between the two countries, develop solar and wind power, leadership of the Commonwealth going forward and other matters of mutual interest, Mr Adesina added.

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During the bilateral meeting with the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Baroness Patricia Scotland, Mr Buhari said Nigeria would be glad to receive support from the Commonwealth in diverse areas of needs and challenges.

The president said Nigeria was doing a lot to address the issue of food security through heavy investment in agriculture, and tackle security issues confronting the country in different regions.

He, therefore, welcomed the offer of assistance by the Commonwealth scribe.

Baroness Scotland said the Commonwealth had developed programmes on agribusiness, adding value to agriculture products for young people to get involved, climate change, criminal justice reforms, police reforms and security.

She, therefore, invited Nigeria to benefit from technical assistance that could be provided.

She added that since Mr Buhari was the Champion for Anti-Corruption in Africa, the Commonwealth had developed anti-corruption benchmark tools, and would like to work with Nigeria in both public and private sectors.

Other areas the Commonwealth could assist, according to Ms Scotland, include countering violent extremism, trade and modalities to implement the African Continental Free Trade Agreement

Before departing London, Mr Buhari was reported to have on Thursday visited former Lagos State governor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, who is believed to be on a medical trip to London.

NAN reports that those at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja to welcome the president included his Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Bello, security chiefs as well as some presidential aides.

(NAN)
The police have released a Youtuber, Israel Balogun, who was arrested on Wednesday for criticising the Overseer of the Omega Fire Ministry (OFM), Johnson Suleman.

Mr Baloguns lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday that his client was released after meeting the bail conditions.

Mr Balogun was released about an hour and thirty minutes ago after we had processed his bail and I was able to get the sureties to bail him out, Mr Effiong said.

Because yesterday we couldnt get the letter of introduction from one of the sureties so we had to look for another one with all the documents after which he was granted bail.

Mr Balogun was detained by the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID), Abuja after posting a video clip of Mr Suleman on YouTube, praying for the audience to receive mysterious money alerts.

Punch newspaper reported that the video highlights the pastors ministration of money miracle in Atlanta, USA, where the members of the congregation confirmed receiving alerts into their respective bank account.

Stiff bail conditions

Mr Effiong accused the police of undue interrogation and bail conditions before the release of his client.

The formal interrogation was for about four hours, including the time they used in taking his statements. Part of his bail conditions was to provide two sureties with landed property and certificate of ownership in Abuja, and a Level 14 civil servant with either a letter of last employment or letter of introduction.

We have somebody with CofO, and presented a Level 13 civil servant, which they accepted. But they insisted that the person should bring a letter of introduction, whereas the person has a letter of last promotion. Even though we said we will bring the originals tomorrow, they rejected it and put Balogun in the cell.

The conditions are difficult and unnecessary given the nature of offence. There is no reason why the police should get involved as he (Suleman) should have gone to court to file legal action if he felt he had been defamed, Mr Effiong said.

The lawyer explained that prior to his arrest, Mr Balogun had received a letter from Mr Sulemans lawyer requesting him to remove the content from Youtube and tender an apology within seven days.

He said the first letter was issued to Mr Balogun on August 2, six days after the video clip was uploaded on the social media platform.

But the police said the bail terms were standard.

Ordeal

Speaking of his ordeal, Mr Balogun said he was first threatened by one Obi-West who identified himself as the popular pastors eye.

He said he is the eye of Apostle Suleman on Social media and said I should expect to hear from them. He said I will be missing and he will make sure I get punished by officers from the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters.

He said killing me is nothing to them. I recorded the whole conversation and used it in recording another video where I called people to rescue me because my life was in danger.

I was still consulting with my lawyer when somebody called to notify me that some guys from Abuja were in Lagos to pick me up in Abuja. My wife, daughter and I immediately abandoned our home and went into hiding, the Punch newspaper quoted the Youtuber as saying.

The podcaster said he got an invitation from the Special Enquiry Bureau, Abuja, ordering him to come to FCIID.

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In the morning hours from Friday to Sunday, thunderstorms are expected in some northern states of Nigeria, NiMet, the nations meteorological agency, said.

The periodic weather forecast announced by the agency said the thunderstorms are specifically expected over parts of Adamawa, Jigawa, Kebbi, Zamfara, Bauchi, Gombe, Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Yobe, Borno and Sokoto satates.

It added that by afternoon all through to the evening of Friday, the same weather condition is expected over parts of Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina, Kano, Bauchi, Borno and Kaduna state.

On the other hand, rains are anticipated over parts of Niger, Nasarawa, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory during the morning hours.

But later in the day, isolated thunderstorms and rains are expected over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi, Kwara, Benue and Niger State.

No southern states like Edo, Ebonyi, Enugu, Ogun, Delta, Cross River, Lagos and Akwa Ibom, rains are envisaged during the morning hours.

NiMet added that during the afternoon and evening hours, rain could fall over parts of Edo, Enugu, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ogun, Rivers, Lagos and Akwa Ibom States.

By Saturday morning hours, the agency projected, thunderstorms are again anticipated over parts of Sokoto, Kebbi, and Gombe States.

Later in the day, thunderstorms are expected over parts of Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Kebbi and Adamawa State. NiMet said.

Kwara, Nasarawa, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory were told to brace up for rain showers in the morning hours of Saturday, but thunderstorms and rain from noon.

Inland and the coastal cities of the countrys south have the chances of cloudy skies with possibility of rains over Ekiti and Osun States during the morning hours.

Rains are anticipated over parts of Edo, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Delta, Bayelsa and Lagos State during the afternoon and evening hours, NiMet noted.

Thunderstorms are anticipated over parts over parts of Kebbi, Jigawa, Adamawa, Gombe and Taraba State. Further into the day, thunderstorms are expected over Bauchi, Katsina, Yobe, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano and Borno state, it added.

Cloudy skies are expected in the morning hours. Later in the day, there are prospects of thunderstorms and rains over parts of Benue, the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi and Niger during the afternoon and evening hours. Rains are anticipated over Ebonyi

Akwa Ibom and Cross River State during the morning hours. Further into the day, rains are expected over parts of Delta, Anambra, Oyo, Ondo, Imo, Ebonyi, Abia, Enugu, Cross River, Rivers, Lagos and Bayelsa state, NiMet said.
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The Niger State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Muhammad Idris, who was kidnapped five days ago, regained his freedom around 9.30 p.m. on Thursday, the family has said.

A member of the family, Ado Ada, who issued a statement on the development, expressed his delight over the victims safe return.

He said his release was wholly the result of the efforts of his family and no ransom was paid. The family facilitated his release with divine intervention from Allah.

The commissioner has since been reunited with his family after receiving medical attention, the statement said, while expressing the familys sincere appreciation to community members, well-wishers and his associates for all their love, sacrifices and support during the trying period.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that Mr Idris was abducted at 11 p.m. last Sunday by unknown gunmen at Babban Tunga village in Tafa Local Government Area of the state.

The heavily armed gunmen had invaded the commissioners residence at the village and whisked him away on foot to an unknown destination.

The following day, Monday, the abductors, however, opened discussions with the family which resulted in the release of the victim, though without any ransom paid.

(NAN)
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An elder stateman, Ahmad Joda, who headed President Muhammadu Buharis transition committee in 2015, is dead.

Mr Joda, a journalist who became a civil servant and was one of the so-called super federal permanent secretaries under the military government of Yakubu Gowon, died Friday afternoon at 91.

Family sources told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Joda died at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, Adamawa State capital.

From Adamawa State, he attended Yola Elementary School and Yola Middle School before proceeding to Barewa College, Zaria from 1945 to 1948.

He worked briefly at Moor Plantation in Ibadan, and later as an agricultural officer in Yola before entering the field of journalism at Gaskiya Corporation in Zaria.

He then attended Pitmans College, London from 1954 to 1956. On his return, he became a correspondent at the Nigerian Broadcasting Service from 1956 to 1960.

He then joined the Northern regional government as a Chief Information Officer and then later Permanent Secretary from 1962 to 1967.

In 1967, following the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War, he was seconded to the Federal Civil Service as a Permanent Secretary serving in the federal ministries of Information, Education and Industries, where he retired in 1978.

He retired into private business during the Second Nigerian Republic, where he served as chairman and board member of various companies including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Nigerian Communications Commission, Pastoral Resolve, SCOA, Nigeria, Chagoury Group, Flour Mills of Nigeria, and the Nigerian LNG.

He was also a member of the 1988 Constituent Assembly which planned the constitutional transition of the Third Nigerian Republic.

In 1999, he was appointed the head of the committee to advise the Presidency on Poverty Alleviation and in 2015, headed the Muhammadu Buhari presidential transition.
The head of Development Desk at one of Africas foremost investigative newspapers- PREMIUM TIMES, Mojeed Alabi, has been elected the chairman of the Education Writers Association of Nigeria (EWAN).

The association, an affiliate of the Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), comprises journalists across print, online and electronic media, who are dedicated to reporting issues concerning education globally, but with specific focus on Nigeria.

The keenly contested election, which was held within the compound of Lagos Television on Agidingbi road, Ikeja, on Thursday, was supervised by the incumbent executive council of NUJ in the state.

Mr Alabi, who was sworn in immediately after the poll by the chairman of NUJ in Lagos, Adeleye Ajayi, defeated his opponent, a veteran education correspondent, Gabriel Dike of The Sun Newspapers, with a narrow margin of four votes.

Two other members, Taiwo Omilani and Saidat Alausa of Upshot Media and Brand Visibility respectively, were also elected alongside Mr Alabi.

While Mrs Omilani was returned unopposed as the groups secretary, Mrs Alausa was returned as vice-chairman.

Shortly after the swearing-in ceremony, Mr Ajayi, who was assisted by the unions secretary, Tunde Olalere, admonished the members to unite in their efforts to impact the education sector positively.

In his short acceptance speech, Mr Alabi thanked members, the interim committee which he noted was chaired by a senior official of Radio Nigeria and one of the newly ordained pastors at the Redeemed Christian Church of Nigeria (RCCG), Kikelomo Ifekoya, for their sacrifices towards ensuring a smooth transition.

He thanked his opponent whom he described as a renowned education reporting specialist, for what he described as a show of sportsmanship.

He also applauded his predecessor, an assistant editor with Tribune Newspapers, Tunbosun Ogundare, for what he described as his forthrightness, accountability and hard work.

Despite the pre-election politicking and exchanges, the conviviality and camaraderie that we exhibited here today say so much about what we can offer this nation as a united team because Nigerias wobbling education sector needs our critical interventions.

We must wear our critical reporting caps because our urgent interventions are required on issues of teacher quality, rising figure of out-of-school children, violent attacks on schools, incessant industrial actions, and lately, the crisis of appointment of principals officers in tertiary institutions, Alabi said.

He said as a result of politics of religion and ethnicity, Nigerias universities are now being localised as host communities or states and religious bodies are now fighting over who gets what in the management circle.

ALSO READ: AFRICMIL trains journalists on protection of whistleblowers

Mr Alabi appealed to members for their support, guidance and counselling at all times, saying the tasks towards making impactful contributions to the reform of education in Nigeria cannot be achieved by a few but by everyone through collaborative engagements.

About Alabi

Mr Alabi, an alumnus of Obafemi Awolowo University where he bagged a BA certificate in English, is also a holder of Masters in Diplomacy and Strategic Studies (MDSS), from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka.

He joined the defunct National Mirror Newspapers in 2010 and served as both education correspondent and campus page editor. He later moved to New Telegraph Newspaper in 2014 as correspondent before joining PREMIUM TIMES as deputy head of investigations.

He was in May announced as the pioneer head of Development Desk by the management of PREMIUM TIMES. The desk, which is dedicated to reporting and x-raying issues of human development including health, education, environment and gender, is arguably the first to be created by any newspaper in Nigeria.

The multiple award winning journalist won the education category of Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) in 2012 and 2017. He won the Human Rights Reporter of the Year of the same award in 2018.

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Mr Alabi also won the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting (Print Category) in 2016 and 2018.

He is a recipient of the Golden Pen Report of the Year (Sponsored by Nigerian Breweries) 2017 and 2018, and was a fellow of the World Health Organisations Road Safety Fellowship at the Road Safety Conference in Brazil in 2015.

He has participated in conferences and workshops both locally and internationally including the 2017 Global Investigative Journalism Conference at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
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The real purpose of the interview, however, appeared to have been to seek to change the memory Nigerians have of him as the President who turned Nigeria into one of the most corrupt countries in the world. To counter the idea, he attacked the current regime led by the same General he had removed from power, so he could rule without encumbrance  Muhammadu Buhari: From what I read, from analysis, I think we are saints when compared to what is happening under a democratic dispensation, he said.

Anybody who headed a military regime subverted the wishes of the people We all subverted the wishes of the people.  General Ibrahim Babangida, interview with Tell magazine, 7/12/98

In preparation for his 80th birthday celebrations, General Ibrahim Babangida is back in the news, working hard to craft a positive image for himself. In an interview with Arise News, he took up the issue Nigerians have against him  annulling a democratic and credible election. In his words: Do you want me to be honest with you? If it materialised (If the election had gone through), there would have been a coup detat which could have been violent. Thats all I can confirm. In other words, he sacrificed democracy to stop a coup against his regime  this is the only explanation for his argument that I can see. This begs the real question because he was supposed to be transiting out of power, so why remain to stop a coup that would remove him from power?

The real purpose of the interview, however, appeared to have been to seek to change the memory Nigerians have of him as the President who turned Nigeria into one of the most corrupt countries in the world. To counter the idea, he attacked the current regime led by the same General he had removed from power, so he could rule without encumbrance  Muhammadu Buhari: From what I read, from analysis, I think we are saints when compared to what is happening under a democratic dispensation, he said. Today, those who have stolen billions and are in court are now parading themselves on the streets. Who else is better in fighting corruption? The message is  Babangida was better than Buhari. Maybe in the next interview, the issue might be that Babangida was better than Obasanjo. My view is that all of them, as coup plotters, subverted the will of the Nigerian people for democracy and we should avoid the trap of who was less subversive.

The military ruled Nigeria for almost 30 years and impacted strongly on the countrys culture and institutions. Their rule impacted negatively on society by generalising authoritarian values, which are in essence anti-social and destructive of politics. Politics in this sense is understood as the art of negotiating conflicts related to the exercise of power. Military regimes have succeeded in permeating civil society with their values  both the formal military values of centralisation and authoritarianism and the informal lumpen values associated with barrack culture and brutality that were derived from the colonial army. The contemporary Nigerian elite has been acquiring a lot of barrack culture over the period. Why, for example, do the Nigerian elite starch and press their clothing in a very military style? Many within the aging ruling class we have today spent a lot of their younger days in army barracks  major social centres at that time for sports, discotheques, consumption of alcoholic beverages, gambling and prostitution. Yes, my young compatriots, the elders in power today did all that also. The decline in civility and a rise in violence in social interactions that we have today have their origins in the orientation received under military rule. The specific legacy from the military is therefore neither corruption nor authoritarianism, much as they took both to new heights. The military legacy is the fabrication of a political culture oriented towards the imposition of a command and control structure on the political process, which is destroying the residual democratic values that have survived in the Nigerian society.

The current generation of Nigerians are young and have no memory of military politics. Let us remember that the Gowon regime sought to perpetuate its rule and repudiated its promise of a quick transition to civil rule after the civil war. It was the Murtala coup that led to the acceptance of the agenda of civil society and eventually to the Second Republic.

At the time of the 1999 transition, the Nigerian military, serving and retired, were the major segments of the power elite. They occupied the summit of the most powerful organisations in the countrys polity and economy. In May 1999, there were forty retired generals in the leadership of the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (ThisDay, 22/2/99). The elected President, General Obasanjo, was from the military. Four other retired generals were elected senators  Tunde Ogbeha, Ike Nwachukwu, Brimo Yusuf and David Mark. Other elected people from the armed forces included Senator Group Captain Haruna Aziz, Senator Nuhu Aliu, the former Deputy Inspector General of Police and the governor of Kwara State, a retired army officer. In the economy, many banks and other financial and economic institutions were owned by retired and serving military officers. The military, with its high concentration of corrupt and crass individuals, hedonists and putschists had wielded power for so long and were so wealthy and influential that they became some of the most respected members of their communities and were thus capable of winning democratic elections, which they had guided over a long transition period to be money-based politics.

The current generation of Nigerians are young and have no memory of military politics. Let us remember that the Gowon regime sought to perpetuate its rule and repudiated its promise of a quick transition to civil rule after the civil war. It was the Murtala coup that led to the acceptance of the agenda of civil society and eventually to the Second Republic. The Buhari regime that ended the Second Republic sought to impose on Nigerians a clearly military value system  that discipline and force, applied in a military manner, could resolve the numerous problems confronting Nigeria. The Buhari regime could be considered to be a sincere attempt at militarising Nigeria and Nigerians abhorred it. Dont ask me how he came back to power; that is for another day. The negative responses of Nigerians to the culture of militarism created the conditions for the emergence of the Babangida regime, who took the title of President and embarked along a trajectory of personal, as opposed to the tradition of collegiate military, rule. For example, he dissolved and reconstituted the ruling military council at will and informed his military colleagues of his decisions, rather than consult with them in the official decision-making bodies.

the military succeeded in destroying Nigerian federalism, sacrificing it on the altar of over-centralisation. The military are structurally incapable of running a federal system of government. Their unified command structure is incapable of accepting that a state government, which they consider to be hierarchically subordinate to the federal government, could have domains over which it is sovereign

The Nigerian military transformed the countrys body politic in a very significant manner. They entrenched the culture of public corruption established by earlier civilian regimes. It was a major change in the countrys political culture. Before the military, corruption was corruption  unethical or illegal advantages procured through official positions. Gradually, the military became power drunk and started believing they could generalise corruption and use their monopoly of force to prevent Nigerians from complaining about it. The turning point in this regard was Gowons attempt to prevent the swearing to affidavits containing accusations of corruption against leading members of his regime. Under the Babangida and Abacha administrations, what used to be known as corruption became part of the art of government itself. There was a complete prebendalisation of state power and virtually all acts by public officials involving public expenditure or public goods of any kind led to the looting of the treasury. The routine operations of government were subjected to prebendal rules. It was widely known, for example, that officials of state governments and parastatals had to pay, as they put it, a percentage of their statutory allocations to the Presidency, Ministry of Finance and Central Bank officials before their allocations were released. They, in turn, simply took their own personal shares from the so-called government coffers.

Secondly, the military succeeded in destroying Nigerian federalism, sacrificing it on the altar of over-centralisation. The military are structurally incapable of running a federal system of government. Their unified command structure is incapable of accepting that a state government, which they consider to be hierarchically subordinate to the federal government, could have domains over which it is sovereign, which, as is generally recognised, is the essence of federalism. Nigerias geopolitical realities have been completely modified. The tripartite structure which had become quadripartite, with the creation of the Mid West in 1963, has changed drastically as a result of the multiplication of states, whose number,] now stands at 36. The multiplication of states has produced a Jacobin effect that strengthens the centre by eroding the autonomy of the states. Nigeria thus finds itself now with a so-called federation that is for all practical purposes a unitary state, with some limited devolution of power to the states. As we wish the amiable General IBB a happy 80th birthday, lets not forget.

A professor of Political Science and development consultant/expert, Jibrin Ibrahim is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development, and Chair of the Editorial Board of PREMIUM TIMES.
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The Police in Kogi State said they have arrested a man, Mohammed Bako, with two AK-47 rifles, a locally fabricated pistol and 41 rounds of ammunition.

The police spokesperson in the state, Williams Aya, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Lokoja.

Mr Aya said Mr Bako was intercepted on Idah-Ayingba road by operatives of the command attached to Ayingba Area Command while on a stop-and-search operation.

He said that the suspected gunrunner, kidnapper and armed robber was also found in possession of one locally made Beretta Pistol and 6.7mm ammunition hidden in a sack while on transit in a commercial vehicle.

According to him, the suspect, who hailed from Koton-karfe, immediately confessed ownership of the arms and ammunition.

The police spokesperson said investigation into the matter had commenced and that the suspect would be arraigned in court on completion of the investigation.

He assured members of the public that the command was determined to work in synergy with other security agencies in the state to ensure adequate security of lives and property.

(NAN)
The family of Ikechukwu Iloamuzor, a 55-year-old driver killed by a stray bullet during the #EndSARS protest at Ojuelegba, Lagos, has approached the panel to seek justice for the deceased and adequate compensation.

Mr Iloamuzor was shot while the police were trying to disperse protesters at Surulere and Ojuelegba axis on October 12, 2020.

He was a driver in the employment of one Sam Okafor until his death.

In a petition before the panel, the wife of the deceased and his former employer demanded justice for the late Mr Iloamuzor and compensation for the family he left behind.

Mr Iloamuzor was killed and several persons injured while the police tried to disperse peaceful protesters who were demanding good governance, employment, and an improved standard of living in Nigeria.

Although the police denied firing shots at the protesters, a plain-clothed police Inspector, Ayodeji Erinfolami, was also killed by a stray bullet in the incident.

The Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, paid a visit to the family of the late Mr Iloamuzor, where he commiserated with them and assured them that some of the officers involved had been arrested and would be brought to book.

It is highly disheartening to learn that the victim, Mr. Iloamuazor, was performing his legitimate duty when the unfortunate incident happened. He hurt no one to have subjected to such pain death.

The officers involved are undergoing orderly room trial as we speak, but we will allow the police complete their investigation. We will certainly take the case out of the police and bring the full wrath of the law on the officers who perpetrated this irresponsible act. This will be clear signal for other trigger-happy officers, Mr Sanwo-Olu said, while commiserating with the family.

The Petition

The family of the deceased on Friday approached the judicial panel to seek justice and compensation.

In an affidavit deposed to the panel by the wife of the deceased, Ngozi Iloamuzor, the family urged the panel to bring the perpetrators to book.

The employer of the deceased, Mr Okafor, was also at the panel where he explained how they were stuck in traffic around Stadium Bus-Stop, Ojuelegba, and that his driver alighted to ease himself before being hit by a stray bullet.

He said there was an attempt to save the late driver, but all attempts to resuscitate him were futile because he was shot in the neck, and the bullet pierced through his neck.

Mr Okafor said he went to Area C command but the officers of the Command were nonchalant to his concerns and were unwilling to bring forward the officers culpable in the act.

Mrs Iloamuzor also told the panel that when she visited Area C police command, the officers condoled with her but were not willing to disclose the identity of the officers who fired the gunshots.

The former Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Panti, DCP Longe reached out to us that an investigation is to be conducted into the death of my husband and we met her at the Police Headquarters in presence of our lawyer, she said.

The family said despite several efforts and promises made by the police and the state governor to bring the perpetrators to book, no police officer is yet to be prosecuted for the death of her husband.

Until today, justice has not been served to my family. I want adequate compensation for my family, my husband was the breadwinner, he was the one taking care of his parents and giving them money, she said.

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Mrs Iloamuzor, who was married to the deceased for 11 years, said they were still expecting to have children together before the unfortunate incident happened.

She urged the panel to give adequate compensation to the family and prosecute erring officers.

Doris Okuwobi, a retired judge heading the panel, adjourned the matter till August 27.
Further Dr. G. Sateesh Reddy said that this is the era of growth in space technology. India has launched more than 40 satellites through PSLV satellite launchers. Heavy satellites are launched into space by the GSLV Satellite Launcher. Work is underway at various levels in India to send a man into space, 'Chandrayan, Marshyan'. A variety of new technologies are being launched by the Department of Defence.

Today, India is the 6th largest producer of fighter aircraft and battle tanks in the world and the 4th largest producer of supersonic Brahmastra missiles in the world. The world's largest range gun is being manufactured in Pune. The development of new technologies is being encouraged through DRDO start-up companies. It wants to establish its identity as a country that will export defences technology. Universities and educational institutions will play an important role in this. DRDO has started several Centres of Excellence in the country. DRDO has signed MoUs with more than 3,000 educational institutions.

MIT ADT University should take the initiative to start a course on Defence Technology. Currently, 8,000 students across the country are doing internships in DRDO's labs. They are being given the opportunity to study defences technology. An incubator will provide Rs 1 crore to students and Rs 10 crore to industry to encourage innovation. The research will be promoted in Bioengineering Labs, Foot Technology Labs, and Marine Engineering Labs.

Meanwhile, Apple training centre, MIT School of Indian Civil Services and MIT-ISBJ's Translation and fact-checking laboratory were inaugurated.

Air Marshal Shri. Ajit Bhosale said, "The task of building a successful personality through holistic development should be done by the universities. Teachers should continue to work recognizing their responsibility for the development of the country. National character, nationalism, nationalism and competence for nation-building should be inculcated in the students. Online education is causing huge losses. This has created a gap between online education in urban and rural areas. Webinars, exams, online learning methods have been adopted. Efforts will have to be made to strengthen the education system in rural areas. We need to provide problem-solving education."

Prof. Dr. Vishwanath Karad said, "MIT ADT University is using research, innovation and creativity in its curriculum as well as the university is providing value-based education to all its students. Through holistic education, the university is working on the overall growth of its students. MIT ADT University is working to create a peace-loving society."

At the inauguration session Prof. Rahul Karad, Prof. Dr. Mangesh Karad expressed their views.

The 6th foundation day of MIT Art, Design and Technology University was celebrated virtually on Wednesday 11th August 2021. Air Marshal Shri. Ajit Shankarrao Bhosale, Member of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), New Delhi, Prof. Dr. Vishwanath Karad, Founder of MIT Group of Institutions, Prof. Rahul Karad, Managing Trustee and Executive President, MIT Group of Institution, Prof. Dr. Mangesh Karad, Executive President and Vice-Chancellor of MIT ADT University. Prof. Dr. Sunita Mangesh Karad, Prof Jyoti Karad Dhakne, Dr. Anant Chakradev, Dr. Mahesh Chopde and dean, director, teaching and non-teaching staff were present.

About MIT ADT University



MAEER's Trust which is known to set the strong precedence for the privatization of Engineering education in Maharashtra had taken a first mover's advantage by establishing the Maharashtra Institute of Technology (MIT-Pune), in 1983, which continues to remain the flagship institute of the group.



MIT Art, Design and Technology University, Pune has been established under the MIT Art, Design and Technology University Act, 2015 (Maharashtra Act No. XXXIX of 2015). The University commenced its operations successfully from 27th June 2016. The University is a self-financed institution and empowered to award the degrees under section 22 of the University Grants Commission act, 1956. The University has a unique blend of Art, Design, and Technology as the core of its academics.



Recently, MIT Art, Design and Technology University, Pune has accomplished the following accolades:



Ranked 26th for ARIIA 2020 by the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India .

Received 5 Star rating for exemplary performance by the Ministry of Education's Innovation Council, Govt. of India .

Conferred with Best University Campus Award by ASSOCHAM, New Delhi

Granted with Atal Incubation Centre under ATAL Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, Govt. of India

MIT Art, Design and Technology University has been taking a holistic approach towards imparting education wherein the students are being motivated to build a complete winning personality which is "physically fit, intellectually sharp, mentally alert and spiritually elevated". The students are being encouraged to participate in yoga, meditation, physical training, spiritual elevation, communication skills, and other personality development program. Currently, we have 7500+ students studying in various schools of higher education under the University viz. Engineering and Technology, Food Technology, Bioengineering, Arts, Design, Marine Engineering, Journalism and Broadcasting, Film and Television, Music (Hindustani Classical Vocal and Instrumental), Teacher Education, and Vedic Sciences.

Media Contact :

Sanju Chavan

[email protected]

9130010810

Public Relations Officer

MIT ADT University Pune

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1594178/6th_Foundation_of_MIT_ADT_University.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1479539/MIT_ADTU_Logo.jpg

SOURCE MIT ADT University, Pune
SAULT STE. MARIE, ON, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Algoma Steel Inc. ("Algoma" or the "Company") and its merger partner Legato Merger Corp. (LEGO, LEGOU, LEGOW), announced today that Algoma will release its financial results for its fiscal first quarter ended June 30, 2021 on Thursday, August 19, 2021, after the close of the market.

Michael McQuade, Algoma's Chief Executive Officer, and Rajat Marwah, Algoma's Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call on Friday, August 20, 2021, at 11:00 am Eastern Daylight Time to discuss the Company's results and business outlook. To access the call, dial 1.800.734.8583. Following the conclusion of the live call, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Investors section of the Company's website for at least 90 days.

Cautionary Information About Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "pipeline," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this document, including but not limited to: the risk that the benefits of the proposed merger with Legato (the "transaction") may not be realized; the risk that the transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all; the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the transaction, including the failure of Legato's stockholders to approve and adopt the merger agreement or the failure of Legato to satisfy the minimum cash condition following redemptions by its stockholders; the inability to complete the concurrent private placement in connection with the transaction; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be initiated following announcement of the transaction; the effect of the announcement or pendency of the transaction on Algoma's business relationships, operating results and business generally; risks that the proposed transaction could disrupt current plans and operations of Algoma; the risks associated with the steel industry generally; the ability of Algoma to implement and realize its business plans; the risk of downturns and a changing regulatory landscape in Algoma's highly competitive and cyclical industry; and changes in general economic conditions, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive and readers should also consider the other risks and uncertainties set forth in the section entitled "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in Legato's final prospectus dated January 19, 2021 relating to its initial public offering (the "Legato Final Prospectus") and in subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including the proxy statement/prospectus described below filed by Algoma and Legato in connection with the transaction. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Algoma and Legato assume no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

This news release is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the transaction and does not constitute an offer to sell, buy or exchange or the solicitation of an offer to sell, buy or exchange any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, purchase, or exchange of securities or solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.

In connection with the proposed transaction between Algoma and Legato, on July 6, 2021, Algoma filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-4 which includes its prospectus as well as Legato's preliminary proxy statement (the "Preliminary Proxy Statement/Prospectus"). Legato plans to mail the definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus to its stockholders in connection with the transaction once available. INVESTORS AND SECURITYHOLDERS OF LEGATO ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ALGOMA, LEGATO, THE TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Preliminary Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by Algoma and Legato through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and securityholders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC on Legato's website at https://legatomerger.com or by directing a written request to Legato at 777 Third Avenue, 37th Floor, New York, NY 10017 or by contacting Algoma by email to [email protected].

Participants in the Solicitation

Legato, Algoma and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and employees may be considered to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of Legato in connection with the transaction, including a description of their respective direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus described above when it is filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding Legato's directors and executive officers can also be found in the Legato Final Prospectus. These documents are available free of charge as described above.

About Algoma Steel Inc.

Based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, Algoma is a fully integrated producer of hot and cold rolled steel products including sheet and plate. With a current raw steel production capacity of an estimated 2.8 million tons per year, Algoma's size and diverse capabilities enable it to deliver responsive, customer-driven product solutions straight from the ladle to direct applications in the automotive, construction, energy, defense, and manufacturing sectors. Algoma is a key supplier of steel products to customers in Canada and Midwest USA and is the only producer of plate steel products in Canada. The Company's mill is one of the lowest cost producers of hot rolled sheet steel (HRC) in North America owing in part to its state-of-the-art Direct Strip Production Complex ("DSPC"), which is the newest thin slab caster in North America with direct coupling to a basic oxygen furnace (BOF) melt shop.

Algoma has achieved several meaningful improvements over the last several years that are expected to result in enhanced long-term profitability for the business. Algoma has modernized its DSPC facility and recently installed its No. 2 Ladle Metallurgy Furnace. Additionally, the Company has cost cutting initiatives underway and is in the process of investing to modernize its plate mill facilities.

Today Algoma is returning to its roots as a customer-focused, entrepreneurial company with the courage and growing capability to meet the industry's challenges head-on. It is investing in its people and processes, optimizing and modernizing so that it might continue to be your partner in steel.

SOURCE Algoma Steel Inc.

Related Links

http://www.algoma.com


BOSTON, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank Dora, an all-digital banking service provided by USALLIANCE Financial, a national 2 billion-dollar credit union based in Rye, NY, has selected digital marketing agency, V12 Marketing, to expand the outreach of Bank Dora's new all-digital checking account mobile application.

V12 Marketing logo

Kristi Kenworthy, Managing Director at Bank Dora has said, "This is a brand new concept. Dora is the first cooperative neo-bank, powered by the credit union movement, designed to reduce racial and economic disparities in banking access. Our team is extremely excited to bring the Bank Dora app to a larger user base. The user feedback has been positive and people love the mobile app."

The Dora Everyday Checking account features include: no minimum balance, no monthly fees, early payday with direct deposit, bill pay, a surcharge-fee free network of 30,000 ATMs nationwide, and much more. Bank Dora offers a fully bilingual experience for the website, onboarding, disclosures, app, email notification, IVR, and support.

Alaina Froton, Digital Marketing Manager at Bank Dora, said, "Bank Dora's namesake derives from Dora Maxwell, who helped charter hundreds of credit unions in the United States. Dora believed everyone should have access to fair deposit products."

Mike Visconti, founder, and Creative Director at V12 Marketing says, "The team at V12 Marketing is looking forward to being a part of such a value-creating initiative. We've always had an affinity for financial inclusion and equality, and Bank Dora certainly is a game-changer in this space."

Bank Dora's motto, "Banking For Everyone," means changing how others think about access to affordable and fair financial services.

About USALLIANCE Financial

USALLIANCE Financial is an innovative, dynamic, and industry-leading financial Cooperative founded in 1966 based on the shared Cooperative mission: "People helping people." Currently serving 125,000+ members across the nation with over $2 Billion in assets, USALLIANCE is a full-service not-for-profit financial institution that offers a variety of banking products and services such as checking and savings accounts, credit cards, loan products, and financial services. Members also have access to 5,800+ Shared Branch facilities and 30,000+ Surcharge-free ATMs throughout the nation in support of our Cooperative initiative. To learn more about USALLIANCE Financial, please visit www.usalliance.org.

About V12 Marketing

V12 Marketing is a full-service marketing and web development agency that provides an entire suite of value-driven solutions servicing a wide range of industries. To learn more about V12 Marketing, please visit www.v12marketing.com .

To learn more about Bank Dora, visit: https://www.bankdora.com

CONTACT:

Alaina Froton

Digital Marketing Manager

Bank Dora

[email protected]

https://www.bankdora.com/

Mike Visconti

866-243-9023

v12marketing.com

SOURCE Bank Dora
COSTA MESA, Calif., Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CerraCap Ventures, a Global Venture Capital fund headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, USA, today announced acquisition of its portfolio company Nirveda Cognition by Jiddu Inc for an all-stock deal. The transaction is one of a slew of recent exits from CerraCap's investment fund.

Nirveda Cognition, a B2B Enterprise AI company, was founded on the core belief that unprecedented problems require unprecedented solutions, and technologies like AI should be democratized to benefit everyone, not just a privileged few. Nirveda Cognition's motto of "Reshaping the Future of Work" thrives on removing any potential barrier to Enterprise AI adoption and making AI within reach of every facet of an enterprise; thereby enabling enterprises to make data-driven decisions, faster and smarter. Nirveda Cognition's Enterprise Document Intelligence Platform, along with the suite of AI products, excels at reimagining, automating, and enhancing the document intensive business processes by leveraging the power of Decision Insights through Cognitive Automation with a conscious focus on human-centered-user-experience.

Jiddu is the parent company of AgTech industry disruptor, AgShift, an AI based food technology company working on designing the world's most advanced autonomous food inspection system. The current food quality assessment processes are paper-based and extensively manual, many times leading to inconsistent and subjective outcomes that result in losses in the range of USD 15~16 billion annually. AgShift's solution augments manual inspections, thereby reducing the human fatigue of inspectors doing high volume of inspections daily. This results in objective, consistent, and standardized food quality assessments across the organization, every single time, thereby saving organizations millions of dollars in recovery costs, claims management and loss of brand reputation due to inconsistent food quality. Jiddu's mission is to draw synergies across industries and make AI-first approach an integral part of our everyday lives.

"Nirveda Cognition is going to be a fantastic addition to Jiddu's portfolio of companies. We are excited to see Nirveda Cognition's AI platform, and their talented engineering team becoming a part of Jiddu's ecosystem to advance AgShift's growth further. This acquisition is yet another feather in the cap for CerraCap's Sales & Scale business model," said Saurabh Ranjan, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CerraCap Ventures.

"We are pleased to become a part of Jiddu and look forward to an exciting journey together," commented Abhi Mukherjee, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Nirveda Cognition. "Nirveda Cognition & AgShift have a common vision of amplifying AI's cause to elevate, not replace, humans. This strategic partnership is in line with Jiddu's continued efforts to strengthen its presence in the arena of Artificial Intelligence and formulate industry solutions that categorically drive holistic business transformation for organizations."

"We believe that the proven Nirveda Cognition's Enterprise Document Intelligence platform, coupled with AgShift's deep understanding of domain and delivery, will truly make the recipe for a formidable team. The assets built under Nirveda Cognition will continue to fuel the momentum of innovation and growth at AgShift. Given the increased market traction of AgShift, it needed a robust AI Platform like Nirveda Cognition to expand its offerings to become a dominant player in the AgTech space," added Naveen Tiwary, Chief Strategy Officer and Board Member, Jiddu.

About CerraCap Ventures

CerraCap Ventures, a Global Venture Capital fund headquartered in Southern California, dedicated to early-stage technology investments in enterprise (B2B) solutions focused on the new fundamentals of the digital age - Enterprise AI, Cyber Security and Healthcare. It enables rapid growth of technology startups leveraging its unique Sales & Scale business model, driving revenue from large enterprises into its portfolio companies. For more information, visit www.cerracap.com

Media contact: [email protected]



SOURCE CerraCap Ventures

Related Links

https://www.cerracap.com/


PORTSMOUTH, Va., Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Erica L. Skipton, MD, is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Trusted General Surgeon for her outstanding achievements in the medical field, her dedication to serving the medical community at the Navy Medical Center Portsmouth, and her remarkable leadership as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy.

Proudly serving in the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant Commander, Dr. Erica L. Skipton is also a board-certified general surgeon currently practicing at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, the oldest continuously running hospital in the Navy Medical System. She has been performing surgery and providing the best possible surgical care at the medical center since July 2018. Her valuable experience in the U.S. Navy for over seven years performing surgery aboard a ship allows her to follow the patient through critical care and surgical recovery all the way to outpatient care. She takes pride in providing a high level of communication with her patients. In addition to her clinical role, Dr. Skipton teaches residents at the Navy Medical Center Portsmouth.

Among her academic achievements, Dr. Skipton obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and English from the University of Rochester in New York. Her distinguished medical career began after she earned her medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical School in Syracuse, NY, followed by completing a General Surgery residency at the Guthrie Clinic in Sayre, Pennsylvania.

Remaining abreast of the latest advancements in her field, Dr. Skipton maintains active memberships with the American College of Surgeons and the Christian Medical and Dental Association.

An active member of her community, Dr. Skipton devotes her time as a volunteer with the homeless ministry at Forward Church of Portsmouth, providing food and clothing to the underprivileged.

Dr. Skipton dedicates this honorable recognition to her mother, Deborah Geer, MD, who is her biggest proponent, critic, and inspiration.

In her spare time, Dr. Skipton enjoys music and is a piano player.

To learn more, please visit https://portsmouth.tricare.mil/.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE Continental Who's Who

Related Links

http://www.continentalwhoswho.com


DUBLIN, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Radiotherapy Market - Analysis By Procedure (External Radiation, Internal Radiation), Product, Application, By Region, By Country (2021 Edition): Market Insights and Forecast with Impact of COVID-19 (2021-2026)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global radiotherapy market is forecasted to reach USD 7987.01 Million in the year 2020

Increasing healthcare expenditure on the back of growing disposable income, rapid technological advancements along with high prevalence of cancer is expected to drive the radiotherapy market significantly across the globe.

Further, expanding healthcare infrastructure accompanied with rising R&D activities is expected to propel the radiotherapy market during the forecast period. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a leading trend in the radiotherapy market and is gaining significant popularity in the market. Incorporation of AI innovation in disease care is expected to improve exactness and speed of analysis, help clinical dynamics, and lead to better results.

For instance, Varian Medical Systems, a US-based manufacturer of radiation oncology medical devices, launched Ethos artificial intelligence radiotherapy device. The traditional treatment arranging process takes days to make an improved radiation treatment conveyance plan; however, the new AI advancements are helping to speed up this procedure.

AI is also expected to include deep learning applications in treatment planning, clinical decision support, and automated image-guided adaptive radiation therapy and genomic/radio-biologic data mining, thus supporting the growth of the market. Virtual and remote care via video consultations, online patient portals, patient wellness apps and remote monitoring provide even more data and are being used to overcome shortages of oncologists and to meet patient demands for more access points. Several significant mergers have been taken place in the radiotherapy industry.

For instance, Siemens Healthineers AG has successfully completed the acquisition of Varian Medical Systems, Inc. With Varian, Siemens Healthineers has the most comprehensive portfolio in the MedTech sector, which offers the company considerable potential for value creation.

With a highly integrated approach, Siemens Healthineers will take the global fight against cancer to a new level. The combined company is creating a unique, highly integrated portfolio of imaging, laboratory diagnostics, artificial intelligence and treatment for the global fight against cancer with significant potential for increased value creation.

The North America region dominates the radiotherapy market. Key factors responsible for ample regional demand of radiotherapy equipment include growing incidence of cancer especially, amongst pediatric patients, favorable reimbursement policies and presence of large multinational companies. In addition, high focus on international sales, mergers and acquisitions by key players in the region along with improving economic conditions is anticipated to drive the market in the forecast period.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Market Overview



2. Impact of COVID-19



3. Global Radiotherapy Market Analysis

3.1 Global Radiotherapy Market Value, 2016-2026

3.2 Global Radiotherapy Market Segmentation By Procedure

3.2.1 External-Beam Radiation Therapy- Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

3.2.2 Internal Radiation Therapy- Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

3.3 Global Radiotherapy Market Segmentation By Product

3.3.1 Linear Accelerators- Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

3.3.2 Proton Therapy- Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

3.3.3 Compact Advanced Radiotherapy Systems- Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

3.4 Global Radiotherapy Market Segmentation By Application

3.4.1 Breast Cancer- Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

3.4.2 Prostate Cancer- Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

3.4.3 Lung Cancer- Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

3.4.4 Colorectal Cancer- Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

3.4.5 Others- Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

3.5 Global Radiotherapy Market: Regional Analysis



4. Regional Radiotherapy Market Analysis

4.1 North America

4.1.1 North America Radiotherapy Market: Size and Forecast (2016-2026), By Value

4.1.2 North America Radiotherapy Market - Prominent Companies

4.1.3 Market Segmentation By Procedure (External-Beam Radiation Therapy and Internal Beam Radiation Therapy)

4.1.4 Market Segmentation By Product (Linear Accelerators, Proton Therapy and Compact Advanced Radiotherapy Systems)

4.1.5 Market Segmentation By Application (Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Prostate Cancer and Others)

4.1.6 North America Radiotherapy Market: Country Analysis

4.1.7 Market Opportunity Chart of North America Radiotherapy Market - By Country, By Value (Year-2026)

4.1.8 Competitive Scenario of North America- By Country

4.1.9 United States Radiotherapy Market: Size and Forecast (2016-2026), By Value

4.1.10 Prominent Companies in Radiotherapy Market

4.1.11 United States Radiotherapy Market Segmentation By Procedure, Product and Application

4.1.12 Canada Radiotherapy Market: Size and Forecast (2016-2026), By Value

4.1.13 Canada Radiotherapy Market Segmentation By Procedure, Product and Application

4.2 Europe

4.3 Asia Pacific



5. Market Dynamics

5.1 Growth Drivers

5.1.1 Increasing incidence & prevalence of cancer

5.1.2 Range of Healthcare Applications

5.1.3 Increasing Number of Conferences and Symposium to Boost Awareness about Radiation Therapy

5.1.4 Favorable Government Initiatives

5.1.5 Rising healthcare expenditure across developing countries

5.1.6 Technological advancements

5.2 Key Trends and Developments

5.2.1 Artificial Intelligence In Radiotherapy

5.2.2 CyberKnife S7 System

5.2.3 Hypofractionation

5.2.4 PreciseART Adaptive Radiation Therapy Option

5.2.5 Tomotherapy Systems, including Radixact, the next generation Tomotherapy platform

5.3 Challenges

5.3.1 Lack of adequate healthcare infrastructure

5.3.2 Risk of radiation exposure



6. Competitive Landscape

6.1 Global Mosquito Repellent Market

6.1.1 Key Players - Market Share Comparison

6.1.2 Key Players - Revenues Comparison

6.1.3 Key Players - Market Cap Comparison

6.1.4 Key Players - R&D Expenditures Comparison



7. Company Profiles

7.1 Business Overview

7.2 Financial Overview

7.3 Business Strategies

Varian

Elekta

Accuray

Mevion Medical Systems

ViewRay, Inc

Isoray

IntraOp Medical Corporation

Siemens Healthineers

Eckert & Ziegler

P-Cure Ltd

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/nr3l7d

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


DUBLIN, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "North America Wheelchair Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Application (Hospitals, Homecare, ASCs), by Product (Manual, Electric), by Category Type, by Country, and Segment Forecasts, 2021-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The North America wheelchair market size is expected to reach USD 1.7 billion by 2028, registering a CAGR of 7.9%

This is largely due to an increase in the adoption of advanced, compact, and portable mobility aids on account of the growing target population in the U.S. Rising geriatric population is most likely to create higher demand for mobility products, such as wheelchairs.

As per the U.S. Census Bureau, mobility is the most common disability among older Americans. 61 million adults live with a disability in the U.S. out of which, 13.7% have mobility disability with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.



Also, in 2016, there were 3.3 million wheelchair users in the U.S., with 1.825 million of those users aged 65 years and above. This number is predicted to grow every year, with an expected 2 million new wheelchair users per year.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated a global shipping and logistics crisis in early 2020, resulting in container shipping shortages and rising costs, as well as interrupting, and potentially continuing to disrupt global trade. This made it difficult for wheelchair manufacturers to obtain necessary products, components, and raw materials.

However, companies are anticipated to restart operations due to the ease of lockdown, which will support market growth in the years to come.



North America Wheelchair Market Report Highlights

The manual wheelchair product segment dominated the market with the largest revenue share of more than 60% in 2020. This growth can be attributed to the high product demand to its low costs and weight and non-dependability on charging.

The adult category segment accounted for the highest revenue share of over 84% in 2020. This is owing to the fact that adults have a higher rate of spinal injuries, neuromuscular diseases, and trunk/neck weakness than children.

The rehabilitation centers application dominated the market with a revenue share of more than 34% in 2020.

The hospitals application segment is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR over the forecast period due to the rising number of medical emergencies that need the use of wheelchairs.

Canada is projected to register the fastest CAGR of more than 8.5% over the forecast period due to the rising number of startups in the country.

is projected to register the fastest CAGR of more than 8.5% over the forecast period due to the rising number of startups in the country. For instance, Braze Mobility, a university of Toronto firm, has developed a set of adjustable blind spot sensors that can be mounted on wheelchairs and scooters to make it easier and safer for people to move around.

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1 Methodology and Scope



Chapter 2 Executive Summary



Chapter 3 North America Wheelchair Market: Variables, Trends, & Scope

3.1 Penetration & Growth Prospect Mapping

3.2 Market Dynamics

3.2.1 Market Driver Analysis

3.2.1.1 Growing geriatric population and age-related issues

3.2.1.2 Availability of technologically advanced, compact, and portable mobility aids

3.2.1.3 Increasing demand for home healthcare services and staff

3.2.2 Market Restraint Analysis

3.2.2.1 High purchasing and maintenance costs

3.2.3 Average Pricing Analysis

3.2.3.1 Adult wheelchair pricing (ASP)

3.2.3.2 Pediatric wheelchair pricing (ASP)

3.2.3.3 Pricing strategy analysis (ASP)

3.2.4 Consumer Demographics

3.2.4.1 Prevalence of disability in the U.S., By age, 2018

3.2.4.1.1 By age (all age)

3.2.4.2 Prevalence of disability in the U.S., By gender, 2018

3.2.4.2.1 Male

3.2.4.2.2 Female

3.2.4.3 Prevalence of disability in people by Hispanic/Latino origin and age group in the U.S., 2018 37

3.2.4.3.1 Hispanic

3.2.4.3.2 Non-Hispanic

3.2.4.4 Prevalence of disability among working-age people (21 years to 64 years) by Race in the U.S., 2018

3.2.4.5 Annual earnings of people (full-time workers) with disability in the U.S., 2018

3.2.4.6 Annual household income

3.2.4.7 Education

3.2.4.7.1 High school diploma/equivalent

3.2.4.7.2 Some college/associate's degree

3.2.4.7.3 Bachelor's degree or more

3.2.5 Wheelchair Users in the U.S.

3.2.5.1 By age

3.2.5.2 By gender

3.2.5.3 By location

3.2.5.4 By race

3.2.5.5 By ethnicity

3.2.5.6 By income

3.2.5.7 By education

3.3 North America Wheelchair Market Analysis Tools

3.3.1 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

3.3.2 PESTEL Analysis



Chapter 4 North America Wheelchair Market: Product Segment Analysis

4.1 North America Wheelchair: Market Share Analysis, 2020 & 2028

4.2 Manual Wheelchair

4.3 Electric Wheelchair



Chapter 5 North America Wheelchair Market: Category Segment Analysis

5.1 North America Wheelchair: Market Share Analysis, 2020 & 2028

5.2 Adult

5.3 Pediatric



Chapter 6 North America Wheelchair Market: Application Segment Analysis

6.1 North America Wheelchair: Market Share Analysis, 2020 & 2028

6.2 Homecare

6.3 Hospitals

6.4 Ambulatory Surgical Centers

6.5 Rehabilitation Centers



Chapter 7 North America Wheelchair Market: Regional Analysis

7.1 North America Wheelchair: Market Share Analysis, 2020 & 2028



Chapter 8 Competitive Landscape

Carex Health Brands, Inc.

DeVilbiss Healthcare LLC

GF Health Products, Inc.

Invacare Corporation

Medline Industries, Inc.

Sunrise Medical

Karman Healthcare, Inc.

Quantum Rehab

Numotion

Pride Mobility Products Corp.

Sermax Mobility Ltd.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/mt4ikv

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DFW-based whiskey producer, Oak & Eden has announced the re-release of their summer seasonal whiskey, Rye & Rumba. Inspired by the coastal life, Rye & Rumba begins with Oak & Eden's award-winning rye whiskey, and is finished with a Caribbean Rum-soaked American Oak spiral. Oak & Eden originally launched Rye & Rumba in the summer of 2019, which consumers quickly made clear the desire to keep the product as a rotating seasonal. This will be the product's first encore into the market since launch.

Oak & Eden Re-releases Seasonal Caribbean Rum Infused Rye Oak & Eden Re-releases Seasonal Caribbean Rum Infused Rye

Oak & Eden Whiskey has pioneered a patented process called "In-Bottle Finishing," where they place a 5" long spiral-cut piece of wood, called the Spire, into their fully-aged bottle of whiskey, imparting new flavors and characteristics to the whiskey that wouldn't be achieved in a single barrel alone. In the creation of Rye & Rumba, Oak & Eden steeped an American Oak spire into a craft Caribbean Rum for two weeks before placing it into a bottle of rye whiskey.

"Rye & Rumba is among our most balanced & flavorful whiskeys," says Joe Giildenzopf, cofounder and CEO of Oak & Eden. "There is a delicate complexity of flavors that exist when you introduce Caribbean Rum into rye whiskey. Putting the two together creates a rich, aromatic whiskey that is full of flavor and a clear fan favorite."

The patented technique of In-Bottle Finishing has led Oak & Eden to producing and launching 10 unique whiskeys into their portfolio, such as Bourbon & Vine (Cabernet infused Bourbon), Bourbon & Brew (cold brew coffee infused Bourbon), the Ale Series (beer infused whiskeys), among others.

Oak & Eden has taken home 30+ Platinum, Double Gold, and Gold medals across the industry's most prestigious competitions since 2019, and has been named among the Top 10 Whiskies Made in the U.S. by Best Products, one of the Spirits Business' Top 50 Innovative New Spirits, and has been included on Top 10 whiskey lists by publishers such as Forbes, Wide Open Eats, Brobible, UPROXX, and many others.

Rye & Rumba is available for sale across most of the 22 states that Oak & Eden distributes within, and is also available for sale online at oakandeden.com/shop-whiskey.

Learn more about Rye & Rumba at oakandeden.com/rye-rumba.

Media Contact:

Brad Neathery

214.729.5192

[email protected]

SOURCE Oak & Eden

Related Links

https://www.oakandeden.com


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Key Highlights Offered in the Report:

Information on how to identify strategic and tactical negotiation levels that will help achieve the best prices.

Gain information on relevant pricing levels, detailed explanation on pros and cons of prevalent pricing models.

Methods to help engage with the right suppliers and discover KPI's to evaluate incumbent suppliers.

Get a free sample report for more information

Insights into buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers:

Several strategic and tactical negotiation levers are explained in the report to help buyers achieve the best prices for the Sodium Citrate market. The report also aids buyers with relevant Sodium Citrate pricing levels, pros, and cons of prevalent pricing models such as volume-based pricing, spot pricing, and cost-plus pricing and category management strategies and best practices to fulfil their category objectives.

For more insights on buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers, www.spendedge.com/report/Sodium Citrate-sourcing-and-procurement-intelligence-report

Key Drivers and Trends Fueling Market Growth:

The pressure from substitutes and a moderate level of threat from new entrants has resulted in the low bargaining power of suppliers.

Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by the constant monitoring of price influencing factors. During the forecast period, the market expects a change of 5.00%-8.00%.

Identify favorable opportunities in Sodium Citrate TCO (total cost of ownership).

Expected changes in price forecast and factors driving the current and future price changes.

Identify pricing models that offer the most rewarding opportunities.

Some of the top Sodium Citrate suppliers listed in this report:

This Sodium Citrate procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.

Cargill Inc.

Merck & Co. Inc.

RZBC Group Co. Ltd.

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Table of Content

Executive Summary

Market Insights

Category Pricing Insights

Cost-saving Opportunities

Best Practices

Category Ecosystem

Category Management Strategy

Category Management Enablers

Suppliers Selection

Suppliers under Coverage

US Market Insights

Category scope

Appendix

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SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions.

Contacts

SpendEdge

Anirban Choudhury

Marketing Manager

Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340

https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us

SOURCE SpendEdge
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Accumed Radial is pleased to announce renowned entrepreneur and venture capitalist William (Bill) N. Starling has become an investor and joined the Accumed Radial Board of Directors.

William Starling Headshot

Starling is managing Director of Synergy Life Science Partners, LP, a $143 million Venture Capital Partnership and Chief Executive Officer of Synecor, LLC (Synecor), a business generator of new Life Science companies based in Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina. In addition to and among William Starling's many achievements, Starling was a co-founder of Ventritex, which was later acquired by St. Jude/Abbott after completion of its IPO. He was on the founding team of Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, which was acquired by Lilly/Guidant/Abbott, and was former President & CEO of Cardiac Pathways, which was acquired by Boston Scientific following completion of its IPO. He has raised over $280 million in private and public capital. The startup companies he co-founded represent over $4 billion in annual revenues today.

"Accumed Radial Systems warmly welcomes Bill Starling to our Board of Directors," said Patrick O'Neill, Chairman of the Board. "Bill is a pioneer in helping companies like Accumed Radial, significantly improve the human condition through advances in the treatment of heart disease. Bill's wisdom and guidance will be immensely helpful to our company."

William O'Neill, Founder of Accumed Radial, said "As a cardiology pioneer, I am particularly honored to have one of the founders of the cardiology device industry joining the Accumed Radial Board. Bill Starling's vast knowledge and insight into this industry is a huge asset to Accumed Radial as we develop new, useful, innovative cardiac devices."

"I am very pleased to join the Accumed Radial team as an investor and Board member," said William Starling. "Dr. William O'Neill's personal contributions to the interventional cardiology/structural heart field are second to none and I am looking forward to helping Accumed Radial as we develop and commercialize more novel technologies for today's and tomorrow's cardiology marketplace."

For more information on this press release or more information on Accumed Radial (www.AccumedRadial.com), please contact Raj Riswadkar, CEO at [email protected].

About Accumed Radial

Accumed Radial designs and develops medical devices for interventional cardiology; a medical specialty that treats heart disease. Accumed Radial is developing a portfolio of near-term devices that are desired and needed by interventional cardiologists to improve clinical outcomes. Accumed Radial strives to develop devices that are innovative, patented, have low-or-no competition, and have easier/simpler FDA regulatory requirements. Accumed Radial plans to take product ideas all the way to market launch, while also actively working on other business options for our products such as partnerships and license agreements.

Accumed Radial Systems, LLC

24031 Research Drive Farmington Hills, MI 48335-2632

Phone: 734.930.0461

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.accumedradial.com

Related Images

william-starling.jpg

William Starling

William Starling Headshot

SOURCE Accumed Radial Systems, LLC
THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TerraPay, a global payments infrastructure company, today announced the partnership with BOSS Revolution Money Transfer - the international remittance service of IDT Corporation to provide BOSS Revolution's customers with new money transfer destinations across Africa, Asia, LATAM and Europe. BOSS Revolution has already begun offering seamless and secure payments to mobile wallets in Senegal and Benin through TerraPay.

Transfer money online

Commenting on the relationship, Ani Sane, Co-founder and Chief Business Officer, TerraPay, said, "Our exciting partnership with BOSS Revolution will empower customers in the US to connect with family and friends worldwide, starting with mobile wallets in Senegal and Benin, while growing both companies' footprints. This collaboration is another example of the impact our digital interoperable payment network provides across regions. We are driving greater access to financial services globally for all our partners and customers."

"Our customers in the US can now send money to friends and family in Senegal, Benin and 36 other countries including over 309,000 points of payment, we are delighted to partner with TerraPay as we open new corridors and emphasize on real-time payment options leveraging their extensive platform," said Alfredo O'Hagan, IDT's SVP for Consumer Payments.

With international remittances at the core, TerraPay is embarking on creating unified payment rails for businesses and merchants across the globe. Company's intent is to strengthen and offer value-added services on its digital global. As a B2B company, TerraPay connects multiple and diverse payment instruments and payment modes, with a single API integration - 4 Bn+ bank accounts, 500 Mn+ mobile wallets, and a large and diversified merchant ecosystem spanning across 79 receive countries and 153 send countries. TerraPay's payments highway deepens engagement by adding more participants to a financial ecosystem.

The BOSS Revolution Money Transfer service is readily available through the convenient BOSS Revolution Money app and its nationwide network of retailers. First time users of the app (free at App Store and Google Play ) pay no fees on any transfer up to $300. BOSS Revolution Money Transfer is also available online or at any BOSS Revolution Money retailer .

About TerraPay:

TerraPay is a licensed digital payments infrastructure and solutions provider, paving the global payments highway. The company's robust foundation and innovative platform technology serve as the digital interoperability engine enabling customers and businesses globally to send and receive payments on a secure, transparent, efficient, and real-time basis. The agile network supports diverse payment instruments and types of payments while adhering to complex regulations and compliance standards in different markets.

For more information, please visit terrapay.com

Press Contact:

Anwesha Mukherjee

+91-971-724-1606

About IDT Corporation:

IDT Corporation is a global provider of fintech, cloud communications and traditional communications services. We make it easier for families to connect, support and share across international borders. We also enable businesses to transact and communicate with their customers with enhanced intelligence and insight.

Our BOSS Revolution branded money transfer and international calling services make sending money and speaking with friends and family around the world convenient and reliable. National Retail Solutions ' (NRS) point-of-sale retail network enables independent retailers to operate and process transactions more effectively while providing advertisers and consumer marketers with unprecedented reach into underserved consumer markets. net2phone 's unified communications as a service solution provides businesses with intelligently integrated cloud communications and collaboration solutions across channels and devices. Our IDT Carrier Services and IDT Express wholesale offerings enable communications companies to provision and manage international voice and SMS services.

For more information, please visit [email protected]

Press Contact:

Bill Ulrey

(973) 438-3838

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1222771/TerraPay_Logo.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1594220/BOSS_Rev_Money_Stacked_KO.jpg

SOURCE TerraPay
FRANKLIN, Tenn., Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Carl's Jr. announced today that it has selected 10 recipients for the 2021 Carl N. and Margaret Karcher Founder's Scholarship. Each winner will receive $10,000 towards tuition at the university of their choosing.

This year in honor of the company's founders, Carl's Jr. awarded $100,000 to outstanding high school students who exhibit impeccable academic performance; have demonstrated leadership and participation in their school and community and who have financial need in pursuing a college degree. Since 1998, Carl's Jr. has granted more than one million dollars to 1,000-plus deserving students.

"This year's recipients shared compelling stories that made it easy for our judging panel to make their selections," said Ned Lyerly, CEO of CKE Restaurants. "Among our recipients, three are Carl's Jr. crew members, two were valedictorians of their graduating class and eight had a 4.0 GPA. Thank you to our Carl's Jr. franchisees for embracing future generations and making special moments like this possible for these stellar students."

Winner List

Karen Orozco of Desert Hot Springs, Calif. , University of California  Irvine

of ,  Kyle Li of Monrovia, Calif. , Princeton University

of , Gustavo Valenzuela of McFarland, Calif. , University of California  Los Angeles

of ,  Gavin Garcia of Olivehurst, Calif. , California State University

of , Lydia Belay of Aurora, Colo. , Harvard College

of , Eric Montes of Denver, Colo. , Stanford University

of , Henry Trinh of Queens, N.Y. , Harvey Mudd College

of , Tucker Bundy of Idabel, Okla. , Oklahoma State University

of , Tess Barnett of Salem, Ore. , Corban University

of , Corban University Tofik Hamscho of Brownsville, Texas , The University of Texas  Austin

The Carl N. and Margaret Karcher Founder's Scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors in states where Carl's Jr. operates. Scholarships are offered each year for full-time study at an accredited institution of the student's choice. The application program for the next round of scholarships will be available in early 2022. Students interested in next year's scholarship should complete an application through Scholarship America.

Follow Carl's Jr. on social media for the latest product news and promotional offers.

Twitter: @CarlsJr

Instagram: @CarlsJr

Facebook: www.facebook.com/carlsjr

About CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc.

CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. ("CKE"), a privately held company based in Franklin, Tennessee, runs and operates Carl's Jr. and Hardee's, two beloved regional brands, known for one-of-a-kind premium and innovative menu items such as 100 percent Black Angus Thickburgers, Made from Scratch Biscuits and Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders. With both a US and international footprint, Carl's Jr. Restaurants LLC and Hardee's Restaurants LLC have over 3,900 franchised or company-operated restaurants in 44 states and 42 foreign countries and U.S. territories. For more information about CKE, please visit www.ckr.com or its brand sites at www.carlsjr.com and www.hardees.com.

SOURCE CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.hardees.com


SAO PAULO, Aug. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CCR S.A. (CCR), one of Latin America's largest infrastructure concession groups, discloses its results for the 2 nd quarter of 2021.

Highlights 2Q21 vs. 2Q20

Consolidated traffic increased by 33.7% . Excluding ViaSul and ViaCosteira, growth was 28.0% in the period.

Excluding ViaSul and ViaCosteira, in the period. Adjusted EBITDA grew 65.4% , with a margin of 60.7% (12.4 p.p.). Same-basis adjusted EBITDA 1 increased 63.7% , with a margin of 60.7% (12.4 p.p.).

, with a margin of 60.7% (12.4 p.p.). Same-basis adjusted EBITDA , with a margin of 60.7% (12.4 p.p.). Net Loss totaled R$44.0 million , compared to a loss of R$142.1 million in 2Q20. On the same base 1 , Net Income totaled R$294.4 million , compared to a loss of R$142.5 million .

, compared to a loss of in 2Q20. On the same base , , compared to a loss of . As disclosed on a Material Fact of June 29, 2021 , the Company announced the execution of a preliminary Amendment and Modifying Instrument (TAM) between CCR and the Sao Paulo State Government. The purpose of the Preliminary Agreement is to establish conditions for the dismissal of lawsuits filed by the Granting Authority and ARTESP to annul the Amendment and Modifying Instruments executed in 2006, as well as to have the Parties recognize, irrevocably, the economic and financial imbalances in favor of the Granting Authority and the Concessionaires; and AutoBAn's right to an economic and financial rebalancing in its favor by extending the term of its concession agreement to January 2037 (estimated date). A period of 9 months was defined, counted from its signature and renewable by agreement between the Parties, for ARTESP to confirm the calculations indicated in the Preliminary Agreement.

, the Company announced the execution of a preliminary Amendment and Modifying Instrument (TAM) between CCR and the Sao Paulo State Government. The purpose of the Preliminary Agreement is to establish conditions for the dismissal of lawsuits filed by the Granting Authority and ARTESP to annul the Amendment and Modifying Instruments executed in 2006, as well as to have the Parties recognize, irrevocably, the economic and financial imbalances in favor of the Granting Authority and the Concessionaires; and AutoBAn's right to an economic and financial rebalancing in its favor by extending the term of its concession agreement to (estimated date). A period of 9 months was defined, counted from its signature and renewable by agreement between the Parties, for ARTESP to confirm the calculations indicated in the Preliminary Agreement. As disclosed on a Material Fact of June 30, 2021 , ViaMobilidade - Lines 8 and 9, and the Sao Paulo State , executed a Concession Agreement, whose objective is the concession of public passenger transportation services of Lines 8  Diamond, and 9  Emerald, comprising their operation, maintenance, conservation, improvements, and expansion .

, ViaMobilidade - Lines 8 and 9, and the Sao , executed a Concession Agreement, whose objective is the concession of public passenger transportation services of Lines 8  Diamond, and 9  Emerald, comprising their operation, maintenance, conservation, improvements, and expansion Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the authorities have imposed social distancing and free movement restrictions, impacting demand and, consequently, CCR's 2Q21 results. For more details, please refer to the "COVID-19" section of this earnings release and Note 1.1 of the Quarterly Information.

1 - Adjustments on the same basis are described on the same basis section of the companys earnings release, available at www.ccr.com.br/ri.



IFRS

Proforma Financial Indicators (R$ MM) 2Q20 2Q21 Chg %

2Q20 2Q21 Chg % Net Revenues1 1.767,3 2.327,1 31,7%

1.834,7 2.453,0 33,7% Adjusted Net Revenues on the same basis2 1.767,3 2.303,9 30,4%

1.834,7 2.429,9 32,4% Adjusted EBIT3 177,1 315,6 78,2%

179,3 378,1 110,9% Adjusted EBIT Mg.4 10,0% 13,6% 3,6 p.p.

9,8% 15,4% 5,6 p.p. Adjusted EBITDA5 853,6 1.411,7 65,4%

894,4 1.501,3 67,9% Adjusted EBITDA Mg.4 48,3% 60,7% 12,4 p.p.

48,7% 61,2% 12,5 p.p. Adjusted EBITDA on the same basis2 853,7 1.397,6 63,7%

894,4 1.487,2 66,3% Adjusted EBITDA Mg. on the same basis2 48,3% 60,7% 12,4 p.p.

48,7% 61,2% 12,5 p.p. Net Income (142,1) (44,0) -69,0%

(142,1) (44,0) -69,0% Net Income on the same basis2 (142,5) 294,4 n.m.

(142,5) 294,4 n.m. Net Debt / Adjusted EBITDA LTM (x)6 2,7 2,3



2,8 2,3

Adjusted EBITDA5 / Interest and Monetary Variation (x) 3,0 4,4



2,8 4,2





IFRS

Proforma Financial Indicators (R$ MM) 1H20 1H21 Chg %

1H20 1H21 Chg % Net Revenues1 4.154,9 5.767,0 38,8%

4.360,2 6.007,1 37,8% Adjusted Net Revenues on the same basis2 4.154,9 4.604,0 10,8%

4.360,2 4.844,0 11,1% Adjusted EBIT3 1.015,3 2.081,3 105,0%

1.085,4 2.197,4 102,5% Adjusted EBIT Mg.4 24,4% 36,1% 11,7 p.p.

24,9% 36,6% 11,7 p.p. Adjusted EBITDA5 2.320,5 3.916,2 68,8%

2.463,2 4.084,2 65,8% Adjusted EBITDA Mg.4 55,8% 67,9% 12,1 p.p.

56,5% 68,0% 11,5 p.p. Adjusted EBITDA on the same basis2 2.320,5 2.766,2 19,2%

2.463,2 5.213,9 111,7% Adjusted EBITDA Mg. on the same basis2 55,8% 60,1% 4,3 p.p.

56,5% 107,6% 51,1 p.p. Net Income 147,6 644,9 336,9%

147,6 644,9 336,9% Net Income on the same basis2 147,2 420,4 185,6%

147,2 420,4 185,6% Net Debt / Adjusted EBITDA LTM (x)6 2,7 2,3



2,8 2,3

Adjusted EBITDA5 / Interest and Monetary Variation (x) 3,8 6,1



3,6 5,7



1 Net revenues exclude construction revenues.

2 The same-basis effects are described in the same-basis comparison section.

3 Calculated by adding Net Revenues, Construction Revenues, Cost of Services, and Administrative Expenses.

4 The adjusted EBIT and EBITDA margins were calculated by dividing adjusted EBIT and EBITDA by net revenues, excluding construction revenues.

5 Calculated by excluding non-cash expenses: depreciation and amortization, provision for maintenance, and recognition of prepaid concession expenses.

6 To calculate the Net Debt / Adjusted EBITDA ratio, the Adjusted EBITDA was used as of 1Q21, and the operating adjusted EBITDA was used for the other periods (as announced in previous earnings releases).

Conference Calls/Webcast

Access to the conference calls/webcasts:

Conference call in Portuguese with simultaneous translation into English:

Friday, August 13, 2021

13:00 p.m. Sao Paulo / 12:00 p.m. New York

Participants calling from Brazil: (11) 3181-8565 or (11) 4210-1803

Participants calling from the U.S.: (+1) 412 717-9627 or (+1) 844 204-8942

Access Code: CCR

Replay: (11) 3193 1012 or (11) 2820-4012

Code: 8366456# or 5097751#

The instructions to participate in these events are available on CCR's website: www.ccr.com.br/ri.

IR Contacts

Flavia Godoy: (+55 11) 3048-5955

Douglas Ribeiro: (+55 11) 3048-6353

Caique Moraes: (+55 11) 3048-2108

SOURCE CCR S.A.

Related Links

http://www.ccr.com.br/ri


JERSEY CITY, N.J., Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Verified Market Research recently published a report, "Convergent Billing System for Telecom Market" By Solutions (Customer Relationship Management, Settlement and Payment Management), By Services(Consulting Services, Managed Services, and Customization Services), By Deployment(Cloud, and On premise), and By Geography. According to Verified Market Research, the Global Convergent Billing System for Telecom Market size was valued at USD 12.92 Billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 62.41 Billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 21.76% from 2021 to 2028.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/download-sample/?rid= 176726

Browse in-depth TOC on "Convergent Billing System for Telecom Market"

202 - Pages

126  Tables

37  Figures

On the basis of Deployment Mode, the Cloud segment is estimated to hold the largest market share in the Global Convergent Billing System for Telecom Market by 2028.

A convergent billing system refers to a cluster of all service charges within a single customer invoice. Consumers receive a unified view of their account information for all services preferred to make a single payment for all the services. The convergent billing system consolidates a combination of products and services within a single bill, irrespective of the nature of the product segment.

In other words, convergent billing consists of a single price for all services within a catalogue for post-paid and pre-paid subscribers. There are several features and benefits that a convergent billing system offers. The convergent billing system helps operators in achieving a single product and service catalogue which gives better time to market and reduced the cost of implementation.

Moreover, the convergent billing comprises unified billing for cross-service discounts, so that customers who order multiple services can receive preferential pricing and centralized customer care and support for both types of customers pre-paid and post-paid. The commercial aspects involved are the unification of services for customers, high revenue generation for companies, and real-time billing and personalized services

Convergent billing system for the telecom market is driven by the rising digitalization of the telecom sector. The digital transformation has accelerated the hard-reset button for businesses across industry sectors, and the telecommunications sector is no exception to this phenomenon. Moreover, the rising focus towards cost-cutting across the manufacturing and maintenance processes together with the increasing incorporation of single-window billing solutions are other prominent factors that are improving the market growth.

Furthermore, these systems are not flexible enough to handle several functionalities required for post-paid customers for example complex customer hierarchies, CDR re-rating, volume discounts, flexible reporting, roaming charging, interconnect charging, and others. The post-paid billing systems such as Convergys Infinys or Amdocs Billing Systems are great for post-paid products and services. These systems are not capable to handle pre-paid traffic and charge the calls in real-time. Moreover, these systems cannot be made highly available because of their base architecture. These are the factors that might limit the market growth.

The cloud-based segment is expected to have growth due increasing adoption of micro-services in 5G billing. The cloud-based services offer enhanced real-time experience to consumers, which helps them to view the bills as well as track service records. In addition, the growing demand from the new generation of telecom operators is another impact rendering factor for the industry expansion.

By Services, the Managed Services segment is anticipated to growth at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Managed services provide efficient and effective billing functions and act as excellent alternative solutions to self-managed billing. Furthermore, the growing need for saving the operational costs and the interim or long terms of functionality will add to the lucrative growth of the market. MSPs bring practical delivery of a predictable service model and cost too quickly and effectively deliver new IT services to the company. It also enhances the stability and peace of mind for IT and business leaders.

The Asia Pacific region is projected to lead the Global Convergent Billing System for Telecom Market from 2020-2028.

The Asia Pacific region is likely to witness higher growth in the Global Convergent Billing System for Telecom Market over the forecast period owing to the rapid adoption of Convergent Billing Systems across the commercial as well as individual users across the Asia-Pacific region. With growing demands from the development in the Chinese Telecommunication Industry and technological advancements across the other countries Asia Pacific countries such as Japan, India, thereby, the market is growing in the region.

The region is one of the leading and fastest-growing economies in the global market. The mobile internet penetration across Asia-Pacific had been increased by 18% in 2018 since 2014 and accounted for 56%, according to the Global System for Mobile Communications Association, 2019. Furthermore, around 93% of the Asian-Pacific population is using a 4G internet connection, on the other hand, over 96% of the population is using 3G network services.

North America is going to hold a significant market share during the forecasted period due to various driving factors including, the rising demand for the convergent billing system in the North American Telecom Market, rise in the number of cellular telecommunications and internet users across the region, need for maintenance of telecommunication records of the users for better results, and the rest others.

The rise in the adoption of compatible devices and feasible networks is significantly aiding in the growth of the North American Convergent Billing System for Telecom Market. According to the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, Washington, DC, 99% population of the United States have access to three or more 4G/LTE networks. Smartphone technology is developing in such a way that it is influencing the consumer's daily marketing strategies, business activities as well as lifestyle. The acceptance of smartphone technology is a key factor in determining success in today's technology.

The major players in the market are Genew Technologies Co., Ltd, Amdocs, Huawei, Alcatel-Lucent, IBM, Comverse, Redknee, Elitecore Technologies, Orga Systems, SAP, Microsoft, and many more.

Verified Market Research has segmented the Global Convergent Billing System for Telecom Market On the basis of Solutions, Services, Deployment, and Geography`.

Convergent Billing System for Telecom Market, By Solutions

Customer Relationship Management



Settlement and payment management



Voucher management



Mediation



Others

Convergent Billing System for Telecom Market, By Services

Consulting services



Managed services



Customization services

Convergent Billing System for Telecom Market, By

Cloud



On premise

Convergent Billing System for Telecom Market By Geography

North America



U.S





Canada





Mexico



Europe



Germany





France





U.K





Rest of Europe



Asia Pacific



China





Japan





India





Rest of Asia Pacific



ROW



Middle East & Africa

&



Latin America

Browse Related Reports:

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Telecom Billing And Revenue Management Market By Component (Solutions and Services), By Operator (Mobile Operator and Internet Service Provider), By Deployment Type (On-Premise and Cloud), By Geography, Forecast, 2020-2027

Billing And Invoicing Software Market By Deployment (Cloud Based and On-Premises), By Enterprise Size (Large, Medium-Sized, and Small Enterprise), By Geography, Forecast, 2020-2027

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Top 10 access control and authentication companies improving security at breakneck speed

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VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Deep-South Resources Inc. ("Deep-South" or "the Company") (TSXV: DSM) announces that it has received Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation ("DTC") eligibility, making the Company's securities more accessible to US investors.

The DTC is the largest securities depository in the world and facilitates electronic settlement of stock certificate transfers in the United States. The shares of the Company, trading under the symbol "DSMTF" and Cusip # 24378W103 in the United States, are now eligible to be electronically cleared and settled through the DTC and is therefore considered "DTC eligible". This electronic method of clearing securities accelerates the settlement process for investors and brokers.

"We are very pleased that the Company is now DTC eligible, providing US investors further opportunities to participate in Deep-South's growth," said Pierre Leveille, CEO of Deep-South. "Deep-South's stock is now traded in Canada, Germany, and the United States. We are well positioned in both domestic and international markets to grow our global investor base."

About Deep-South Resources Inc

Deep-South Resources is a mineral exploration and development company Deep-South growth strategy is to focus on the exploration and development of quality assets in significant mineralized trends and in proximity to infrastructure in stable countries. In using and assessing environmentally friendly technologies in the development of its copper projects, Deep-South embraces the green revolution.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Information contained in this news release which are not statements of historical facts may be "forward-looking information" for the purposes of Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking information. The words "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "contemplate", "plan", "intends", "continue", "budget", "estimate", "may", "will", "schedule", "understand" and similar expressions identify forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things: the Minister's refusal to renew the Company's Licence, the Company's intention to contest the Minister's decision before the Courts of Namibia and the outcome of such proceedings.

Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Deep-South, are inherently subject to significant technical, political, business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Factors and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: political risks associated with the Company's operations in Namibia; the failure of the Namibian Government to comply with its continuing obligations under the Act to allow for the renewal of the Licence; the impact of changes in, or to the more aggressive enforcement of, laws, regulations and government practices; the inability of the Company and its subsidiaries to enforce their legal rights in certain circumstances. For additional risk factors, please see the Company's most recently filed Management Discussions & Analysis for its quarter ended ended February 28, 2021 available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

There can be no assurances that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as many factors and future events, both known and unknown could cause actual results, performance or achievements to vary or differ materially from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements contained herein or incorporated by reference. Accordingly, all such factors should be considered carefully when making decisions with respect to Deep-South, and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release is made as at the date hereof. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Deep-South Resources Inc.
"Today, Divvy Homes provides a third option that scales homeowner accessibility," Tweet this

Over 750,000 Americans have applied to Divvy Homes since 2017, when it was founded with a mission of creating a new path to homeownership through its innovative three-year homeownership program. Customers were immediately drawn to Divvy Homes' intuitive tech-enabled application, flexible and innovative underwriting, and its customer-centric approach along every step of the home buying process.

Janese Scott, a Divvy Homes success story, describes her experience: "My credit wasn't the best. I knew I couldn't purchase a home, but I thought I could get myself into a better situation. In February 2020 I moved into my house with Divvy Homes, and I ended up buying it in June 2020. I'm never going to get rid of this house because it changed my life completely." Divvy Homes exists to serve customers like Janese, helping Americans like her facilitate homeownership and boost wealth creation in America.

"U.S. homeownership has been at record lows throughout this decade because of rising home prices and stricter underwriting. This trend has only been exacerbated by COVID. More than ever before, Americans are having to put their dreams of homeownership on hold," said Adena Hefets, co-founder and CEO of Divvy Homes. "We're the first real estate platform that helps you save for a down payment while you live in your dream home. We are a tech-driven real estate platform, not a rental business. We are a homeownership program, not a landlord."

Divvy Homes' Series D is testament to the rapid growth achieved over the past six months:

Divvy Homes now operates in 16 markets, with expanding footprints in Georgia , Texas and Florida .

, and . Cumulative qualified applicants and monthly homes closed have both grown 3x since the Series C.

Nearly 25,000 real estate agents work with Divvy Homes, more than tripling over the past year.

To date customers have exercised their option to purchase their homes at a rate of ~40 percent, estimated to be ~10x the conversion rate of major competitors.

Divvy Homes' market share has doubled since the end of 2020.

"Historically, Americans could only choose between renting and owning. Today, Divvy Homes provides a third option that scales homeowner accessibility," says Raymond Tonsing, Caffeinated Capital. "Not only has Divvy Homes grown faster than their competition, they also care deeply about the mission. Creating this entirely new category, Divvy Homes is helping turn renters into homeowners."

Divvy Homes not only enables homeownership, but also encourages financial stability. Its customers often are in a far more stable and positive financial situation than their peers, having built up an average of $8,200 in savings during their time with Divvy Homes. This is ~10x the median savings of renters in America, according to a 2017 study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. Divvy Homes has already put thousands of families on a path of saving towards and eventually owning their own home.

With the appetite for its product intensifying over this past year, the Company plans to use the Series D equity investment to further market expansion, launch new partnership channels, and efficiently deploy its new capital against ROI positive acquisition channels. With this recent raise, Divvy Homes remains a market leader in the proptech industry, and is on a path to help millions of Americans access homeownership.

How it Works

Divvy Homes uses technology and a human-centric approach to partner with customers at every step of the home buying process, with the goal of helping renters transition into homeowners. Buying a home with Divvy Homes starts with a five-minute application that results in an approved home-buying budget and shopping with a real estate agent.

Once the customer finds their dream home, Divvy Homes purchases the property, while the renter contributes an initial 1-2 percent of the home value towards their down payment savings.

Up to 25% of each subsequent monthly payment goes toward saving for a down payment, setting customers up to apply for a traditional mortgage when they are ready. A customer builds up to 10 percent of the value of the home over their three-year lease, but they can buy the home at any time. If a customer changes their mind, they can walk away from the home and get cashed out for their savings. Divvy Homes provides the flexibility of renting with the freedom and wealth-building power of homeownership.

About Divvy Homes

Divvy Homes is on a mission to make homeownership more accessible to American families. The program is currently available across 16 major U.S. metropolitan areas: Atlanta, GA; Cincinnati, OH; Cleveland, OH; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Ft Lauderdale, FL; Houston, TX; Jacksonville, FL; Memphis, TN; Minneapolis, MN; Miami, FL; Orlando, FL; Phoenix, AZ; San Antonio, TX; St. Louis, MO; and Tampa, FL. Divvy Homes is backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Caffeinated Capital, GGV Capital, GIC, JAWS Ventures, Lennar, Moore Specialty Credit, SciFi VC, and Tiger Global Management. Divvy Homes was incubated in Max Levchin's startup studio HVF, and co-founded by Adena Hefets, Nick Clark and Alex Klarfeld.

Contact

Kelley McCormick

Divvy Homes

[email protected]

www.divvyhomes.com

SOURCE Divvy Homes

Related Links

https://www.divvyhomes.com/


XTC is an annually-held global competition between startups aimed at solving problems outlined in the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year, over 3,700 startups from 92 countries participated in the fierce competition for good. Dot Inc. took first in the preliminaries in "Enabling Technology" , one of the seven categories of the competition, before advancing to the finals. The company eventually was named "Overall Winners" of the entire competition, along with Hillridge Technology from Australia.

As consensus winners of XTC, Dot Inc. will receive direct guidance for global expansion from the internationally-acclaimed XTC judge panel. The XTC cohort includes: Jerry Yang, co-founder of Yahoo; Young Sohn, ex-CSO of Samsung Electronics and currently Chairman of the Board at Harman International; and Bill Tai of Charles River Ventures, an early investor of Zoom and other fast-growing startups.

Eric Ju Yoon Kim and Ki Kwang Sung, Dot Inc.'s founders, commented on the company's win, saying, "As a startup built on people-driven innovation, it is an honor and a blessing to be highlighted through this competition where startups from around the world are all working together to achieve causeworthy goals. We hope to use this win as inspiration and as a springboard to help Dot's accessible technology help people around the world live more fulfilled and independent lives."

Dot Inc. first shocked the world with their "Dot Watch," the world's first Braille smartwatch, that found acclaim with global influencers like Stevie Wonder and Andrea Bocelli. Now, their impressive portfolio includes the "Dot Pad," a tactile pad aimed to help the visually impaired experience images through touch, and the "Dot Kiosk", barrier-free tech that includes a smart kiosk and an indoor navigation system for inclusive access to infrastructure for all people. All heights included, as the Kiosk boasts an auto-height adjustment function that uses camera sensors to raise and lower to the eye level of the user. They have stated that the Dot Kiosk system was designed so that Hellen Keller could access any part of the airport, museum, or building without any additional guidance.

It seems that the company's vision has struck the right chord at the right time, especially in a post-pandemic world that begs for more accessibility innovation and contactless services. So far, the company has attracted over 13M USD in external investments and boasts over 120 technology patents through innovative research and development. In June of 2021, the company was selected in a government project, led by the U.S. Dept. of Education, to be the exclusive supplier of tactile educational pads for the entire nation. As a key partner of the project, Dot Inc. received and signed a contract worth 30M USD for the exclusive supply of Dot's devices. Most recently, the company received international attention during a recent Korean presidential visit to Spain when President Moon Jae-in and First Lady Kim Jung-sook personally presented a Dot Watch to the ONCE Foundation, a national organization for the blind and visually-impaired in Spain.

Dot Inc.'s top priority and mission is to close the information gap for the visually impaired, and to help them live more fulfilling and independent lives. Through the advancement of enabling tech, they wish to bring in a paradigm of inclusivity in all corners of the world.

For more information about Dot Inc., visit https://www.dotincorp.com/ .

Media Contact

Dot Inc.: [email protected] (Korean), [email protected] (English)

Born2Global Centre: [email protected]

SOURCE Born2Global Centre
SAO JOSE DOS CAMPOS, Brasil , Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Embraer S.A. ("Embraer" or "Company") (B3: EMBR3,NYSE: ERJ), in accordance with CVM Instruction No. 358, of January 3, 2002, informs its shareholders and the market in general of its projections for the year 2021.

Embraer continues to operate in an environment of greater uncertainty than normal due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on several of the markets in which the Company operates. Uneven rates of vaccination access, distribution, and application, combined with new strains of the virus, cause levels of risk and uncertainty to remain high at present. However, vaccination progress in many areas of the world have led to lower case counts and lower severe cases, improving confidence among consumers to travel, particularly shorter-haul leisure travel.

Embraer Commercial Aviation aircraft are among the leaders in service utilization, in comparison with the aircraft of our competitors, as the industry recovers from the pandemic, and our aircraft offer airlines increased flexibility in this uncertain environment. Also, during the pandemic, increasing numbers of high net worth individuals have migrated to using executive aviation, due to airline capacity reductions as well as a desire for a safer and more hygienic means of travel, allowing the customer to avoid large crowds and control who will travel in the same aircraft.

Small and medium-sized business jets have performed well in the recovery, with an increase in its sales, and Embraer is well-positioned with its portfolio of Phenoms and Praetors. Embraer's Services & Support segment has also steadily improved from pandemic lows as commercial and executive traffic improve, with the revenue run rate back to pre-pandemic levels. The Defense & Security segment did not experience the immediate impact of the pandemic on results, though there are signs that budgets of some important customers have become strained following spending to fight the pandemic and its economic impacts. However, the Company remains confident that its portfolio of products in the Defense & Security segment will see improved worldwide demand over the coming years.

Given results over the first six months of 2021, better than the initial expectations, and improved visibility across business segments, Embraer is issuing financial and deliveries guidance for 2021.

















2021 GUIDANCE















Commercial Aviation deliveries 45 - 50







Executive Aviation deliveries 90 - 95







Consolidated Revenues (US$ blns) $4.0 - $4.5







Adjusted EBIT margin 3.0% - 4.0%







Adjusted EBITDA margin 8.5% - 9.5%







Free Cash Flow (US$ mlns) ($150) - $0









Embraer expects free cash flow usage in 2021 to be considerably better than in 2020 as the Company sees improvement in revenues as well as profitability, on achieved and ongoing cost efficiencies. In addition, projects to improve working capital efficiency, combined with lower capex and development spending needs, will also contribute to lower free cash usage in the year. The Company expects 2021 free cash flow to be a usage of US$ 150 million to breakeven for the year. It is important to note that the free cash flow guidance does not include any potential cash inflows from non-core asset sales or any strategic partnerships that may close during the year.

Antonio Carlos Garcia

Executive Vice-President, Finance &

Investor Relations

SOURCE Embraer S.A.
SAO PAULO, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- EMBRAER S.A. (NYSE: ERJ; B3: EMBR3) releases its Second Quarter 2021 Earnings Results.

HIGHLIGHTS

Embraer delivered 14 commercial jets and 20 executive jets (12 light / 8 large) in 2Q21, bringing the year-to-date deliveries to 23 commercial jets and 33 executive jets (22 light /11 large). Following solid sales activity in the period across businesses, total company firm order backlog at the end of 2Q21 was US$ 15.9 billion ;

; Revenues in 2Q21 reached US$ 1,130.5 million , representing year-over-year growth of 110.4% compared to 2Q20, with double digit growth in all segments. First half 2021 revenues grew 65.5% compared to the same period of 2020;

, representing year-over-year growth of 110.4% compared to 2Q20, with double digit growth in all segments. First half 2021 revenues grew 65.5% compared to the same period of 2020; Excluding special items, adjusted EBIT and EBITDA were US$ 104.7 million and US$ 160.7 million , respectively, yielding adjusted EBIT margin of 9.3% and adjusted EBITDA margin of 14.2%. In the first six months of 2021, adjusted EBIT margin was 3.9% and adjusted EBITDA margin was 9.2%;

and , respectively, yielding adjusted EBIT margin of 9.3% and adjusted EBITDA margin of 14.2%. In the first six months of 2021, adjusted EBIT margin was 3.9% and adjusted EBITDA margin was 9.2%; Adjusted net income (excluding special items and deferred income tax and social contribution) in 2Q21 was US$ 43.6 million , with adjusted earnings per ADS of US$ 0.24 . This is the Company's first quarterly adjusted net profit reported since the first quarter of 2018;

, with adjusted earnings per ADS of . This is the Company's first quarterly adjusted net profit reported since the first quarter of 2018; Embraer generated free cash flow in 2Q21 of US$ 45.1 million , and in the first half of 2021 free cash usage was US$ (181.4) million . The free cash flow in both periods represented a significant improvement compared to the negative free cash flow in 2Q20 and the first half of 2020 on better profitability and on working capital efficiencies;

, and in the first half of 2021 free cash usage was . The free cash flow in both periods represented a significant improvement compared to the negative free cash flow in 2Q20 and the first half of 2020 on better profitability and on working capital efficiencies; The Company finished the quarter with total cash of US$ 2.5 billion and net debt of US$ 1.8 billion ;

and net debt of ; Embraer has issued financial and deliveries guidance for 2021. The Company expects commercial jet deliveries of 45-50 aircraft, executive jet deliveries of 90-95 units, consolidated revenues in a range of US$ 4.0 to $4.5 billion , adjusted EBIT margin of 3.0% to 4.0%, adjusted EBITDA margin of 8.5% to 9.5%, and free cash flow to be within a range of a usage of US$ 150 million to breakeven for the year without M&A or divestitures.

MAIN FINANCIAL INDICATORS

IFRS 1Q21 2Q20 2Q21 YTD21 Revenue 807.3 537.2 1,130.5 1,937.8 EBIT (33.1) (342.4) 143.8 110.7 EBIT margin % -4.1% -63.7% 12.7% 5.7% Adjusted EBIT (29.6) (140.5) 104.7 75.1 Adjusted EBIT margin % -3.7% -26.2% 9.3% 3.9% EBITDA 14.5 (221.1) 199.8 214.3 EBITDA margin % 1.8% -41.2% 17.7% 11.1% Adjusted EBITDA 18.0 (120.4) 160.7 178.7 Adjusted EBITDA margin % 2.2% -22.4% 14.2% 9.2% Adjusted net income (Loss) (95.9) (198.8) 43.6 (52.3) Adjusted earnings (losses) per share - ADS basic (0.5219) (1.0801) 0.2373 (0.2848) Net income (loss) attributable to Embraer Shareholders (89.7) (315.3) 87.9 (1.8) Earnings (losses) per share - ADS basic (US$) (0.4882) (1.7131) 0.4785 (0.0098) Adjusted free cash flow (226.6) (472.2) 45.1 (181.4) Net debt (1,902.2) (1,800.7) (1,840.5) (1,840.5)

For additional information, please check the full document on our website ri.embraer.com.br

INVESTOR RELATIONS

Eduardo Couto, Chris Thornsberry, Caio Pinez, Marilia Saback, and Viviane Pinheiro.

(+55 11) 3040-6874

[email protected]

ri.embraer.com.br

EARNINGS RESULTS EVENT INFORMATION

Embraer will hold an event to discuss its 2Q21 earnings results on Friday, August 13, 2021 starting at 9:30 AM (SP) / 8:30 AM (NY). The financial results presentation will be followed by the ESG Flight Plan event, in which Embraer will announce its commitments toward carbon reduction, social responsibility, and corporate governance standards. Both the financial results presentation and ESG Flight Plan even will be held in English with Portuguese translation via a Reuters platform, and can be accessed via the following web address: http://esgflightplan.splashthat.com/ [esgflightplan.splashthat.com]

During the Q&A session of the event, questions will only be accepted via the chat function in the Reuters platform.

SOURCE Embraer S.A.

Related Links

http://ri.embraer.com.br


LOS ANGELES, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Land Use legal team at Ervin Cohen & Jessup (ECJ) secured a significant win for Los Angeles housing developers, housing advocates, and residents across the City. ECJ, representing developers of a 46-unit housing project at 5877-5891 West Olympic Boulevard (called The Olympic Project), and the City of Los Angeles successfully defended a lawsuit filed by activist group Fix the City, Inc. alleging that two housing projects (the other was located at 10400 Santa Monica Boulevard (the Santa Monica Project)) approved by the City Planning Department did not comply with Measure JJJ.

Under Measure JJJ, which was passed by Los Angeles voters in 2016, the City drafted Transit Oriented Community (TOC) Guidelines and has approved a total of 1,952 dwelling units (including 362 affordable units) and development incentives for projects located within a half mile of public transit. The Court upheld the legality of the City's TOC program and rejected all of Petitioner Fix the City's claims.

Honorable Mitchell Beckloff soundly disagreed with Petitioner's interpretations of Measure JJJ. "There are four requirements for TOC incentive eligibility: The project (1) is located in a "TOC Affordable Housing Incentive Area"; (2) provides required percentages of affordable units; (3) meets replacement unit requirements and (4) is "not seeking or receiving" a development bonus under another state or local programNothing more is required for eligibility."

The Court also strongly disagreed with Petitioner's other claim that the TOC Guidelines, which were drafted and approved by the City Planning Department in 2017, were somehow inconsistent with Measure JJJ - "Based on the foregoing, the Court finds the TOC Guidelines are consistent with and do not exceed the scope of Measure JJJ."

Finally, the Court rejected Petitioner's obvious facial challenge of Measure JJJ as untimely. Both the attorneys for the City and for the developers/Real Parties successfully argued that because Measure JJJ was passed by voters in November 2016 and the City approved the TOC Guidelines in September 2017, Petitioner was barred by the 90 day statute of limitation under Government Code section 65009 (c)(1).

The Court concurred  "To the extent Petitioner challenges the CPC's authority to have adopted and released the TOC Guidelines or the CPC's authority to do so, Petitioner's challenge must have been made within 90 days of September 27, 2017.  It is clear Petitioner's challenge to the TOC Guidelines is a facial one. Accordingly, Petitioner's facial challenge brought years after the guidelines' adoption is time barred."

Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP is a full-service firm that provides a broad range of business-related legal services including corporate law; litigation; intellectual property & technology law; real estate transactions, land use and finance; construction & environmental law; tax planning and controversies; employment law; health care law; bankruptcy, receivership and reorganization; and estate planning. For more information, visit http://www.ecjlaw.com/

SOURCE Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP

Related Links

https://www.ecjlaw.com/


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Contact

BizVibe

Jesse Maida

Email: [email protected]

+1 855-897-5880

Website: https://www.bizvibe.com/

SOURCE BizVibe

Related Links

http://www.bizvibe.com/


SEATTLE, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fierce Conversations, a Seattle-based leadership development organization, has been named to The Silicon Review's "50 Best Companies to Watch in 2021."

Fierce, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, joins an impressive list of companies from around the world that have been recognized for their innovation and innovative services.

"What an honor to be selected to this list," said Edward Beltran, the company's CEO. "Our 20-year journey is grounded in listening to our customers, finding their pain points, and developing innovative solutions that we're offering today."

In a wide-ranging interview, Beltran tells the editors at the publication that the company has developed 3D/VR simulations that allow individuals to practice real-life conversations that will prepare them to become better communicators. He adds that Fierce is also using these new tools to help companies and employees to better address unconscious bias and microaggressions in their workplaces. "We're allowing employees to learn the words that can offend others and learn how to improve how they articulate their thoughts and foster a more collaborative place to work."

The Silicon Review is the world's most trusted online and print community for business & technology professionals. Our community members include thought-provoking CEOs, CIOs, CTOs, IT VPs and managers and numerous diverse IT professionals.

ABOUT FIERCE

Fierce Conversations is an award-winning leadership development and training company that drives results for business and education by improving workplace communication. Fierce Conversations creates authentic, energizing, and rewarding connections with colleagues and customers through skillful conversations that lead to successful outcomes and measurable ROI. Tailored to any organization, Fierce Conversations' principles and methods translate across the globe, ensure individual and collective success, and develop skills that are practical, easy to learn, and can be applied immediately. Fierce Conversations' programs have been successfully implemented at blue-chip companies, non-profits, and educational organizations worldwide, including Ernst & Young, Starbucks, Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola, CARE, and Crate & Barrel. Fierce Conversations has received numerous industry and business accolades. The company has been honored as an Inc. 500|5000 company six times; in 2021 has been named to TrainingIndustry.com's "Companies to Watch" list; and, for three years, was selected a Seattle Business magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" in Washington lists.

FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT:

[email protected]

(206) 787-1100

SOURCE Fierce Conversations
As a native of Southwest Virginia, Phipps is passionate about the success of agriculture in the region and wants to help better equip farmers throughout Southwest Virginia and Western North Carolina by meeting their financial needs. Phipps said, "Our region deserves the very best in financial support and in collaboration with First Bank & Trust, that is exactly what I am going to offer. It's a privilege to work for a bank of this stature and be a part of its vision moving forward. I'm grateful for the opportunity."

Senior Vice President and Agriculture Lending Division Supervisor, Keith Phillips, said, "Our team has long recognized Western North Carolina as a part of our region's agricultural footprint. Adding Austin to our team is going to allow us to better serve farmers in Watauga, Ashe and Avery Counties."

Phipps has spent the last decade as a commercial lending officer for Skyline National Bank. His passion for agriculture is what ultimately led him to join the First Bank & Trust team, citing the bank's continuing investment in the success of the region's farmers.

Before beginning his career in banking, Phipps received his bachelor's degree from Radford University. He is currently attending the Virginia Bankers Association's School of Bank Management. Phipps is very involved in his community, attending Mountain View Baptist Church with his wife, Carlie, and their two daughters. Phipps is currently a board member for the Virginia Workforce Development Authority and has previously served on the advisory board for the Grayson County Sheriff's Department and the Grayson Carrol Virginia Tech Extension Agency.

Phipps can be reached at the bank's West Abingdon branch at 667 West Main Street, by calling 276-628-9558 or via email at [email protected].

About First Bank & Trust Company

First Bank and Trust Company, one of the top community banks in the United States, is a diversified financial services firm with office locations throughout southwest Virginia and the New River and Shenandoah Valleys of the state. First Bank and Trust Company also operates locations throughout northeast Tennessee. Financial solutions are addressed by offering free checking products for personal and business accounts, savings, money market and time deposit accounts. Lending solutions are managed by mortgage, agricultural and commercial lending divisions. Comprehensive wealth management solutions are available through trust and brokerage service representatives.

For more information, visit www.firstbank.com.

Media Contact:

Kaitlyn Widner

Vice President  Marketing

276-285-0293

[email protected]

SOURCE First Bank & Trust Company

Related Links

https://www.FirstBank.com


The company will hold an earnings call on Tuesday, August 24 at 8:30 a.m. EST

DETROIT, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Gage Growth Corp. ("Gage" or the "Company") (CSE: GAGE) a leading high-quality cannabis brand and operator in Michigan, today announced the opening of its 10th provisioning center (dispensary) located in Burton, Michigan, serving medical and recreational customers. The new storefront at 1234 N. Center Road is just a few miles from Flint, Michigan and will provide an unparalleled in-store experience, coupled with convenient curbside pickup and mobile ordering.

"Michigan continues to be one of the strongest cannabis markets in the country, and the opening of our 10th store location in the state is further proof of our continued commitment to provide greater access to high-quality cannabis in Michigan," said Fabian Monaco, CEO of Gage. "Our team is excited to serve customers and patients in the Burton area and make a positive impact on the community."

The 4,600+ square-foot location is expected to create 20+ new jobs in Burton. As a part of Gage's commitment to provide Michigan's best cannabis, the new provisioning center will carry Gage's entire selection of products, as well as award-winning Cookies branded offerings that are exclusively available at Gage locations. The new storefront will be open Monday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Conference Call

In addition to the store opening, the Company is announcing that it will hold a conference call on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time to review its operational and financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021.

To join the call, dial 1-833-366-1123 toll free from the United States or Canada or 1-412-317-5786 if dialing from outside those countries.

Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time.

A live audio webcast of the call will also be available at https://services.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=LY0Hndaz

About Gage

Gage Growth Corp. is innovating and curating the highest quality cannabis experiences possible for cannabis consumers in the state of Michigan and bringing internationally renowned brands to market. Through years of progressive industry experience, the firm's founding partners have successfully built and grown operations with federal and state licenses, including cultivation, processing and retail locations. Gage's portfolio includes city and state approvals for 19 "Class C" cultivation licenses, three processing licenses and 15 provisioning centers (dispensaries). For more information about Gage Growth Corp., visit www.gagecannabis.com or www.gageinvestors.com.

Instagram: @gagecannabis

Facebook: @gageusa

Twitter: @gagecannabisco

Caution Regarding Cannabis Operations in the United States

Investors should note that there are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in the United States. While legal in certain states, cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal under federal law in the United States to, among other things, cultivate, distribute or possess cannabis. Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, cannabis-related business activities in the United States may form the basis for prosecution under applicable U.S. federal money laundering legislation. Investors should carefully read the risk factors and disclosures contained in the offering circular prepared in connection with the Offering before making any decision to invest in the Company.

Explanatory Note Regarding the Company's Operations

References in this news release to the Company and its operations and portfolio are inclusive of the operations and assets of certain licensed cannabis operators that operate under the Gage brand pursuant to contractual arrangements with the Company. For additional information, please refer to the Company's long form prospectus dated March 26, 2021 and other disclosure documents available on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com.

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as, "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "expect", "anticipate", "believe, "intend", "plan", "forecast", "project", "estimate", "outlook" and other similar expressions, and include statements with respect to future growth of the Michigan market and future product offerings of Gage. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors relevant in the circumstances, including assumptions in respect of current and future market conditions, the current and future regulatory environment; and the availability of licenses, approvals and permits.

Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information including, but not limited to, those risks disclosed in the Company's long form prospectus dated March 26, 2021 and other disclosure documents available on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Gage Cannabis Co.

Related Links

https://gageusa.com/


FACTS AT A GLANCE Edition: 6; Released: May 2021 Executive Pool: 1969 Companies: 42 - Players covered include Aleris Corporation; Arconic, Inc.; ATI Metals; Constellium SE (Netherlands); Kaiser Aluminum; Kobe Steel, Ltd.; Rio Tinto Group; Solvay S.A.; Teijin Limited; Toray Industries, Inc. and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Type (Aluminum Alloys, Steel Alloys, Titanium Alloys, Super Alloys, Composite Materials, and Other Types); and Aircraft Type (Commercial Aircraft, Military Aircraft, Business & General Aviation, and Other Aircraft Types) Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.

Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry

ABSTRACT-

Global Aerospace Materials Market to Reach $25.3 Billion by 2024

Aerospace materials refer to materials employed by aircraft OEMs & component manufacturers to build various aircraft components and parts. In the aerospace engineering sector, material engineering represents an important field which is characterized by continuous innovation and strong investments in research and development (R&D). Currently, few of the innovative materials used in aircraft and aircraft parts production include carbon fiber, advanced composites, new metal alloys beyond lightweight aluminum alloys such as alloys of titanium and beryllium; and new composites designed to improve robustness, durability, thermal resistance, fire resistance of aerospace products. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Aerospace Materials is projected to reach US$25.3 Billion by 2024, registering a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2% over the analysis period. United States represents the largest regional market for Aerospace Materials, accounting for an estimated 33.7% share of the global total. The market is projected to reach US$8.6 Billion by the close of the analysis period. China is expected to spearhead growth and emerge as the fastest growing regional market with a CAGR of 9.4% over the analysis period.

Growth in the global market is set to be fueled mainly by the strongly growing commercial air travel demand. The demand for stronger, lighter, safer, quieter operating, fuel efficient and lower emission aircraft is driving demand for next generation materials in manufacturing. Some of the key factors driving growth in the market include the growth in the number of orders and deliveries for new and wide-bodied commercial aircraft, increasing number of low-cost carriers, rising demand for lightweight and more fuel-efficient aircraft, and technological advancements in composite materials. The US represents the largest market for aerospace materials, primarily due to significant research and development investments by the government in the aerospace industry, the presence of several major aircraft manufacturers, such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing, and adoption of various growth strategies, such as expansions and mergers and acquisitions by leading market participants. In Asia-Pacific, the region has been witnessing a significant rise in demand for new aircraft on account of the economic growth and an increase in disposable income that has led to the rapid increase in the number of air travelers and low-cost carriers, which is expected to drive growth in the regional market.

The market for Composite Materials is forecast to emerge as the dominant aerospace material category over the analysis period. Composites are increasingly being preferred over traditional material for production of a range of products for a simple reason that they combine properties of different constituent material to provide more benefits and features to the end-users. Composite materials are thus driving the trend of one piece designs, or fewer components in aircraft assembly. Man-made composite materials used in the aerospace industry mainly comprise carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and glass-fibre-reinforced plastic (GFRP). CFRPs are the most used composite materials in both functional and cabin components currently. Aircraft OEMs have started incorporating considerable amounts of carbon composites even in single-aisle, long in-service passenger jets. More

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Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years.

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DUBLIN, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Antifungals Global Market Report 2021: COVID-19 Impact and Recovery to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global antifungals market is expected to grow from $9.98 billion in 2020 to $10.29 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1%. The market is expected to reach $13.71 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 7.4%.

Major players in the antifungals market are Pfizer, Novartis, Merck & Co., Bayer Healthcare and Abbott Laboratories.



The antifungals market consists of sales of antifungal drugs which are used to detect and eliminate fungal pathogens. The fungal pathogens thrive in the body under unhygienic and unclean environments. These drugs are also known as an antimycotic medication, used to treat and prevent mycosis such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis (thrush), serious systemic infections such as cryptococcal meningitis, and others.



Drug developers and manufacturers are scaling up the various departments such as research and development, marketing, and manufacturing through collaborations and strategic partnerships with other companies and research institutes, to expand the product portfolios. So, companies in the anti-infective drugs market should consider strategic collaborations to broaden their scope and product portfolios to increase the revenues and stay competitive in the market.



A point prevalence survey was conducted in Turkey. According to the survey, antifungal drugs were mostly prescribed in pediatric hematology and oncology (PHO) units (35.2%), followed by neonatal ICUs (NICUs) (19.6%). The other units prescribing antifungal drugs included pediatric services (18.3%), pediatric ICUs (PICUs) (14.6%) and hematopoietic (HSCT) units (7.3%).

According to the same survey, the antifungals were used for prophylaxis in 48.8% of patients and about 50% of patients were treated with antifungal drugs based on observation. Among 50% of patients, who were treated post observation, around 18.8% of patients were prescribed an antifungal therapy and 31.2% of patients were targeted for the treatments.



Antifungal drugs manufacturers are offering skimming price for branded drugs. The discovery, development and manufacturing processes of branded drugs generally require high investments. As a result, companies in the market offer the branded drugs at the highest initial prices, and implement other pricing strategies to ensure the product stays competitive at a high price.

Price skimming is a pricing strategy in which a company charges a high initial price and then gradually lowers the price to attract more price-sensitive customers. It is used to maximize profits when a new product is introduced in the market.

Manufacturers and marketers of branded drugs should consider adopting the price skimming strategy for branded drugs. They should price these branded drugs high to recover the high costs incurred during drug development and manufacturing.



Key Topics Covered:



1. Executive Summary



2. Antifungals Market Characteristics



3. Antifungals Market Trends And Strategies



4. Impact Of COVID-19 on Antifungals



5. Antifungals Market Size And Growth

5.1. Global Antifungals Historic Market, 2015-2020, $ Billion

5.1.1. Drivers of the Market

5.1.2. Restraints on The Market

5.2. Global Antifungals Forecast Market, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

5.2.1. Drivers of the Market

5.2.2. Restraints on the Market



6. Antifungals Market Segmentation

6.1. Global Antifungals Market, Segmentation By Drug Type, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

Echinocandins

Azoles

Polyenes

Allylamines

6.2. Global Antifungals Market, Segmentation End users, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

Hospitals & Clinics

Dermatology clinics

Other Users

6.3. Global Antifungals Market, Segmentation By Route of Administration, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

Oral

Parenteral

Topical

6.4. Global Antifungals Market, Segmentation By Therapeutic Indications, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

Aspergillosis

Dermatophytosis

Candidiasis

Others

7. Antifungals Market Regional And Country Analysis

7.1. Global Antifungals Market, Split By Region, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

7.2. Global Antifungals Market, Split By Country, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion



Companies Mentioned

Pfizer

Novartis

Merck & Co.

Bayer Healthcare

Abbott Laboratories

Sanofi-Aventis

Kramer Laboratories

Glaxosmithkline Gilead

Enzon Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Basilea Pharmaceutica AG

PerkinElmer

Alternaria

Sigma-Aldrich

Astellas Pharma Inc.

Janssen Pharmaceutica NV

Zydus Cadila Healthcare Ltd.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co. Ltd.

Scynexis Inc.

Mayne Pharma Inc.

Cosmo Pharmaceuticals NV

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ndaxvc

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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SOURCE Research and Markets

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FACTS AT A GLANCE Edition: 9; Released: May 2021 Executive Pool: 17423 Companies: 50 - Players covered include BAE Systems Plc; Canon Inc.; Cobham Plc; Elbit Systems Ltd.; FLIR Systems Inc.; General Atomics; Leonardo DRS; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Northrop Grumman Corporation; Raytheon company; Thales SA and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Environment (Ground, Aerial, Underwater); System (Unmanned Vehicles, Camera, Radar, Laser, Biometric Systems, Other Systems) Geographies: World; USA; Canada; Japan; China; Europe; France; Germany; Italy; UK; Rest of Europe; Asia-Pacific; Rest of World.

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ABSTRACT-



Global Border Security System Market to Reach $51.4 Billion by 2024

Border security system is an automatic security system that is utilized for protecting country borders against illegal movement of people, weapons, drugs and other contraband products. Border security is increasingly becoming critical for homeland security departments to prevent illegal migration of people and to maintain national sovereignty. With the world witnessing a consistent threat of terrorism, countries are focusing efforts on protecting national boundaries. The rising geopolitical tensions and increasing territorial disputes are also enhancing the need for ensuring security of the international borders. All of these factors are driving demand for a range of highly efficient border security systems that will enable border security agencies to address various threats emerging at the borders. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Border Security System is projected to reach US$51.4 Billion by 2024, registering a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3% over the analysis period. United States represents the largest regional market for Border Security System, accounting for an estimated 46.1% share of the global total. The market is projected to reach US$24.2 Billion by the close of the analysis period. China is expected to spearhead growth and emerge as the fastest growing regional market with a CAGR of 10.4% over the analysis period.

Driven by the growing need to prevent terrorist activities and cross-border disturbances, the border security systems market is witnessing high growth with military sector and border control agencies emerging as the most widespread users of border security systems. Technological advancements in border security systems have been playing a critical part in enabling more effective and efficient monitoring and surveillance of international borders. The development of advanced security systems with greater product features and better features for border security agencies to benefit from is driving market growth. North America represents the leading regional market for border security systems. The country is using advanced border security systems for border security monitoring and surveillance purposes in the country and in conflict areas such as Libya and Syria. The growing investments being made to bolster surveillance capabilities at borders in countries such as China and India are contributing towards the region's high growth. The increasing skirmishes at the border areas over territorial disputes between China and India, the influx of immigrants from Myanmar into neighboring nations, and the illegal immigration from Bangladesh into India are also leading to intensified internal security concerns in these nations, driving the governments to focus on better surveillance along the border areas.

The market for Air-based border security systems is forecast to witness high growth over the analysis period. Air-based border security systems, in particular, unmanned aerial systems for border surveillance and security purposes is experiencing high demand. Aerial security systems are used for performing reconnaissance, intelligence and security operations using airborne vehicles. Air-based security systems are intended to help in border management by monitoring and reporting any security-related emergencies, detecting people and vehicles and tracking from the skies to detect less observable objects on the land, sea and in the air. Air surveillance radar (ASR) systems, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and military aircrafts and helicopters are used for maintaining aerial based security of border areas. More

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Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years.

CONTACTS:

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Director, Corporate Communications

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Phone: 1-408-528-9966

www.StrategyR.com

Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

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FACTS AT A GLANCE Edition: 18; Released: June 2021 Executive Pool: 6899 Companies: 110 - Players covered include Allegheny Technologies Incorporated; AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.; Aperam S.A.; Carpenter Technology Corporation; Constellium SE; Doncasters Group Limited; ERAMET S.A.; Fort Wayne Metals Research Products Corp.; Glencore Plc; H.C. Starck GmbH; Haynes International, Inc.; High Performance Alloys, Inc.; Hitachi Metals, Ltd.; Howmet International Inc.; Metallurgical Plant Electrostal, JSC; Nippon Yakin Kogyo Co., Ltd.; Precision Castparts Corp.; Sandvik AB; Special Metals Corporation; TimkenSteel Corporation; Titanium Metals Corporation (TIMET); Universal Stainless & Alloys Inc.; VDM Metals GmbH; VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Product Type (Non-Ferrous Metal, Super Alloys, Refractory, Platinum Group); Alloy Type (Wrought Alloy, Cast Alloy); Application (Aerospace, Industrial Gas Turbine, Automotive, Oil & Gas, Other Applications) Geographies: World; USA; Canada; Japan; China; Europe; France; Germany; Italy; UK; Spain; Russia; Rest of Europe; Asia-Pacific; Latin America; Rest of World.

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ABSTRACT-



Global High Performance Alloys Market to Reach $9.8 Billion by 2026

Superalloys, or high performance alloys (HPAs), typically refer to a complex metallurgical blend of usually three or more VIIA elements developed for performing at elevated temperatures and in harsh operating conditions where high surface stability and mechanical strength are required. Non-ferrous alloys comprising titanium and aluminum are used in a broad range of applications including gas turbines and aerospace due to their superior mechanical properties. Post pandemic growth in the market will be driven by demand momentum for lightweight, high performance materials in various applications in the aerospace, automotive, oil & gas, construction, energy generation, among others. Another important growth driver will be the substitution of metals including steel by aluminum- and titanium-based high-performance alloys supported by their increasing use in the manufacture of rocket and aircraft engines; in the automotive sector due to their contribution towards significant weight reduction; and in oil & gas exploration applications due to their capabilities to withstand high-pressure and high-temperature conditions. The market will also witness growth due to increasing activities of titanium extraction and magnesium mining leading to high availability of these elements, which are used as raw materials for the manufacture of high performance alloys.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for High Performance Alloys estimated at US$7.4 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$9.8 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 4.9% over the analysis period. Non-Ferrous Metal, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 5.6% CAGR to reach US$5.4 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Super Alloys segment is readjusted to a revised 4.3% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 30.9% share of the global High Performance Alloys market. Demand will be driven by industrial and aerospace applications due to the ability of non-ferrous alloys to withstand high pressure and temperature. The demand for super alloys is expected to be driven by their attractive properties such as strength at high temperature, toughness, and resistance to oxidizing and corrosive environments. Market demand for super alloys will be fueled by their increasing use in oil & gas industries, chemical/petrochemical processing, and power plants.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $1.9 Billion in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $1.6 Billion by 2026

The High Performance Alloys market in the U.S. is estimated at US$1.9 Billion in the year 2021. The country currently accounts for a 25.35% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$1.6 Billion in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 6.5% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 3.6% and 3.9% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 4.1% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$1.8 Billion by the end of the analysis period. In the post-COVID-19 scenario, anticipated resurgence in core end-use sectors especially in the developing Asia-Pacific and Latin America nations, would renew the demand for machine tools in various end-use sectors, thus creating growth opportunities for high performance alloys. Europe is also anticipated to post steady growth in the post pandemic period due to the expected increase in the use of high performance materials in the automotive industry.

Refractory Segment to Reach $1.3 Billion by 2026

In the global Refractory segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 3.6% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$805.8 Million in the year 2020 will reach a projected size of US$1 Billion by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$124.7 Million by the year 2026. More



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Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android



About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years.

CONTACTS:

Zak Ali

Director, Corporate Communications

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Phone: 1-408-528-9966

www.StrategyR.com

Email: [email protected]



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Journalists & Media

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SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Related Links

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FACTS AT A GLANCE Edition: 9; Released: May 2021 Executive Pool: 463 Companies: 27 - Players covered include Axcelon Biopolymers Corporation; Borregaard ASA; CelluForce, Inc.; Daicel FineChem Ltd.; Fpinnovations; GranBio Investimentos S.A.; Kruger, Inc.; Melodea Ltd.; Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.; Oji Holdings Corporation; RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB; Sappi Ltd; Stora Enso Oyj; UPM-Kymmene Oyj. and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Product Segment (MFC & NFC, Nanocrystalline Cellulose, Other Product Segments); Application (Composites & Packaging, Paper & Pulp, Paints & Coatings, Oil & Gas, Personal Care, Other Applications) Geographies: World; USA; Canada; Japan; China; Europe; France; Germany; Italy; UK; Rest of Europe; Asia-Pacific; Rest of World.

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ABSTRACT-



Global Nanocellulose Market to Reach $726.5 Million by 2024

A natural biomaterial extracted from plant cell wall, nanoceullulose is derived generally from disintegration of natural polymers or produced through bacterial action. Nanocellulose features numerous characteristics, with high strength, high surface area and superior stiffness among the most vital attributes. In addition, nanocellulose benefits from its low toxicity, biodegradability, and low weight. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Nanocellulose is projected to reach US$726.5 Million by 2024, registering a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.3% over the analysis period. United States represents the largest regional market for Nanocellulose, accounting for an estimated 35.8% share of the global total. The market, estimated at US$111.5 Million in 2019 is projected to reach US$307.5 Million by the close of the analysis period. China is expected to spearhead growth and emerge as the fastest growing regional market with a CAGR of 21.8% over the analysis period.

Growth in the global market is set to be driven by the constantly rising demand for sustainable products. The increasing awareness about the advantages and potential uses of nanocellulose, rising concerns over environmental degradation and growing demand for sustainable products are fueling demand for nanocellulose. The shortage of non-renewable or petroleum-based resources is also driving focus onto bio-based products and renewable materials such as nanocellulose. The global nanocellulose market is also favored by increasing support from governments and other organizations, especially in countries such as the US, Canada, Finland, Japan and Sweden, due to its renewable nature and its ability to reduce carbon footprint. Growing interest in using nanocellulose as an alternative to petroleum in the manufacture of synthetic polymers and chemicals has further added to the material's popularity. Efforts are also underway to use nanocellulose in novel applications such as scaffolds in tissue engineering, artificial skin and cartilage, wound healing as well as vessel substitutes, to name a few. Demand for nanocellulose is led by North America and Europe primarily owing to interest in composites & packaging, personal care, food & beverages, paper and paperboard, coatings, and biomedicine. Canada is also one of the pioneers in the nanocellulose industry. The nation is credited as one of the earliest to set up a cellulose nanocrystals demonstration unit at the Domtar Windsor mill and has also set up a CNF plant on commercial scale.

The market for Cellulose Nanocrystalline is forecast to grow the fastest over the analysis period. Cellulose Nanocrystalline, also known as CNC, are obtained from acid hydrolysis of cotton, wood, or other cellulose-rich sources, and used in cosmetics, medical devices as well as composites. The ability of CNCs to organize into a chiral nematic (cholesteric) liquid crystal phase with a helical arrangement has garnered considerable interest and research effort in the material. The potential market has led to several research efforts among the producers of CNC. More

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Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide.

Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years.

CONTACTS:

Zak Ali

Director, Corporate Communications

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Phone: 1-408-528-9966

www.StrategyR.com

Email: [email protected]

LINKS

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SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

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FACTS AT A GLANCE Edition: 8; Released: May 2021 Executive Pool: 36162 Companies: 36 - Players covered include Aptos, Inc.; Citixsys Americas - iVend Retail; Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation; Diebold Nixdorf, Inc.; dunnhumby Limited; Fujitsu Limited; HCL Technologies Limited; Infor Global Solutions, Inc.; Infosys Limited; Magento, An Adobe Company; Microsoft Corporation; NCR Corporation; Oracle Corporation; Retail pro international; Salesforce.com, Inc.; SAP SE; Toshiba Corporation and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Solution (eCommerce, Order Management, Other Solutions); Deployment (SaaS, On-Premise); Vertical (Consumer Electronics, FMCG, Apparel & Footwear, Hospitality, Other Verticals) Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.

Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry

ABSTRACT-



Global Retail Omni-Channel Commerce Platform Market to Reach $11.1 Billion by 2024

Retail omni-channel commerce platform can be described as a cross-channel business model used by retailers to enhance overall shopping experience of customers. Involving a multi-channel strategy that takes into consideration the various platforms and devices customers will use for interacting with the company, omnichannel sales approach is designed to provide an integrated shopping experience to customers using the information drawn from various channels. Retail Omni-Channel Commerce Platform is a software tool designed to support omnichannel retail strategies of brands and retailers. Key benefits with the omnichannel commerce platform include end-to-end integration of online/offline stores, dynamic order allocation, integrated omni-channel order management, centralised inventory management, simplified logistics, and convenient return management. Further, the platform comes with seamless integration with ERPs and can generate data periodically, supporting analytical approach. Effective internal organization, adequate customer analytics capabilities, data quality, and ability to identify customers across shopping trips are some of the focus areas that potentially improve omni-channel retail platforms. Like other software tools, omnichannel platform is made available in on-premise as well as cloud-based SaaS versions. Omni-Channel Commerce Platform is of immense use in FMCG, Apparel & Footwear, Consumer Electronics, Hospitality, and several other retail sectors.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Retail Omni-Channel Commerce Platform is projected to reach US$11.1 Billion by 2024, registering a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.4% over the analysis period. The United States represents the largest regional market for Retail Omni-Channel Commerce Platform, accounting for an estimated 31.0% share of the global total. The market is projected to reach US$3.6 Billion by the close of the analysis period.

The growing customer demand for consistent shopping experience through online and offline retail channels constitutes a major factor fueling growth in the ominchannel commerce market. The platform also increases operational efficiency of retailers besides enabling them to gain better information about customer's purchasing patterns. The omnichannel retail platforms have the potential to enable retailers to boost customer traffic and sales and enable integration of digital strategies. Omnichannel retail strategy additionally helps enhance shopping experience and drive sales by offering more channels for customers to make purchases from, i.e. through website, mobile and physical stores. Omnichannel customers are known to spend around 20-30% more when compared to multi-channel or single-channel customers. Further, customers are known to be more willing to visit physical stores, after discovering retail information about the stores online. Omnichannel retail also assists consumers to commence purchases on one channel and complete the same on others. The platform provides customers the ability to gain from constant information availability through various channels and also enables in creating a stronger bond between customers and retailers. Customers are also becoming more amenable to interacting with digital touchpoints of retailers, for instance through mobile apps. In short, the ability to tap opportunities from multiple channels allows omnichannel retail to increase traffic to physical stores besides increasing revenues from online platforms enables retailers to increase overall revenues.

Given the significant advantages offered by omnichannel strategy, a growing number of retailers are looking to create presence in multiple channels as against restricting themselves to online or store formats. The promise of integrated shopping experience for customers through strong physical stores and through multiple online channels, such as desktop or mobile and social media or online websites or digital touchpoints such as kiosks or smart shelves continues to drive retailers towards omnichannel platforms. The recent years have witnessed the disruption in the retail industry through the advent of a number of digital touchpoints, such as smart shelf technologies, self-serve tablets and interactive kiosks. The rising significance of these technologies can be seen by the fact that about 45-50% of retail sales in the US are known to be influenced by digital touchpoints. Consequently, in a retail industry impacted by increasing competition, advent of new technologies and changing consumer behavior, omnichannel retail is emerging as an effective solution for the industry to adapt and respond to the challenges.

One of the major factors influencing growth in the global retail omni-channel commerce platform market is the rapid growth of e-commerce sales across the world. In both developed and developing economies, e-commerce retail is witnessing exponential growth and emerging as the preferred sales channel among customers. Growing penetration of low cost Internet services and rapid increase in sales and use of mobile devices specifically smartphones are major contributors to the growing retail sales through online channels. Since e-Commerce is regarded as one of the key channels in the omnichannel commerce ecosystem, the rapid growth of e-commerce industry has huge positive implications for the retail omni-channel commerce platform market. Several leading retailers are adopting retail ominchannel strategy to tap the e-commerce opportunity and also drive traffic and sales in physical stores. The need to offer seamless shopping experience to customers remains the major factor fueling adoption of omnichannel commerce platform among retailers. The potential of ominichannel strategy is also being realized by small and mid-sized retailers, who are investing in the platform to survive the intensely competitive conditions. More

MarketGlass Platform

Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide.

Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years.

CONTACTS:

Zak Ali

Director, Corporate Communications

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Phone: 1-408-528-9966

www.StrategyR.com

Email: [email protected]

LINKS

Join Our Expert Panel

https://www.strategyr.com/Panelist.asp



Connect With Us on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-industry-analysts-inc./



Follow Us on Twitter

https://twitter.com/marketbytes



Journalists & Media

[email protected]

SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Related Links

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"This is a great honor for our in-house teams who are committed to manufacturing and distributing the best-tasting, premium formulated gummies available," said Global Widget co-founder Kevin Collins. "Everything we do, we do in-house, from formulation to manufacturing, marketing, sales and compliance, which allows us to consistently craft award-winning gummies."

Hemp Bombs' CBD Gummies  Botanical Blend contain popular functional ingredients such as Passiflora, Scutellaria and L-Theanine, and are available in a delicious berry flavor.

Global Widget produces about eight million gummies daily at its 100,000-square-feet of manufacturing space, and recently introduced Gummy Central as part of its ongoing commitment to shaping the future of gummy innovation. Last year, Hemp Bombs gummies were voted a 2020 Retailer Choice Best New Product by more than 1,000 retailers participating in the 17th annual CSP Daily News awards.

"In an over-saturated market, category managers are looking to align themselves with trusted, experienced brands who can deliver tasty, affordable CBD gummies that consumers enjoy and benefit from," said Global Widget's Vice President of Sales Vince Gillen. "Hemp Bombs has been the category captain in convenience with over 60% market share for over five years and counting, so we have the sell-through data to back up the product awards."

Entries for 2021 Convenience Store News Best New Product were rated and awarded points based on taste, value, convenience, healthfulness, ingredients, preparation requirements, appearance and packaging. Taste was considered the most important criterion.

"Gummies are the leading format and the top delivery method in CBD and in the health and wellness space," Collins said. "With our focus on taste and quality, we believe our gummies stand apart from other brands, and it's great to have the industry validate that."

Available in 50-count and 100-count bottles, with 8-count and 20-count packages coming soon, Hemp Bombs CBD Gummies  Botanical Blend MSRP is:

$9.99 (8-count)

(8-count) $14.99 (20-count)

(20-count) $49.99 (50-count)

(50-count) $99.99 (100-count)

For more information about partnering with Hemp Bombs, retailers and distributors can visit https://hempbombs.com/wholesale/.

About Us

Global Widget, founded in 2016 and headquartered in Tampa, Florida, is a vertically integrated manufacturer, distributor and marketer of CBD and health and wellness products, and a leader in gummy production and packaging. The company is the trusted powerhouse behind CBD brands Hemp Bombs and Nature's Script and the wellness brand, Defense Boost. With more than 150,000 square feet of manufacturing space and about 300 employees, Global Widget is one of the nation's largest CBD companies and a leading contract manufacturer providing quality products and support services to retailers, distributors and private brands worldwide. www.globalwidget.com.

Media Contact:

Joe Agostinelli, PR Manager

813.497.5752 | [email protected]

SOURCE Global Widget

Related Links

http://www.globalwidget.com


Guardian Intensive Outpatient (IOP) utilizes a multi-pronged approach, tackling addiction with a wide variety of medical, clinical and holistic evidence-based addiction treatment methods . The centers will offer individual, group and family therapy, life skills education, guided meditation, yoga and medication assisted treatment (MAT) options, including Suboxone maintenance, which has been shown to greatly improve treatment outcomes. By treating the mind, body and soul, Guardian addresses the mental, emotional, physical, social and spiritual aspects of addiction. Treatment plans are highly individualized to best suit each client.

"Quality drug and alcohol treatment programs are perhaps more critical now then they ever have been," said Amanda Hilzer, Executive Director of New Jersey Operations for Guardian Recovery Network. "We are proud to be helping individuals in New Jersey rebuild their lives and find freedom from addiction."

The Hoboken facility is located approximately 15 minutes north of Jersey City, just across the water from lower Manhattan. A PATH station is just a few blocks away, making the facility an easy commute for clients from many surrounding areas including the New York City metropolitan area. The New Brunswick program takes place in a beautiful Victorian home in a residential neighborhood just one mile southeast of St. Peter Hospital near Joyce Kilmer Park.

Both new facilities are recently remodeled and designed to create intimate spaces conducive to recovery. Each location can accommodate approximately 35 clients, but groups will be kept to an average of 12 clients, organized around key demographics such as gender or age. These small groups allow clients to be vulnerable and do the important healing work necessary for their recovery.

Intensive outpatient (IOP) is a critical step on the recovery journey for many individuals who are learning to be sober while slowly reintegrating into the world-at-large. Many clients transition to an IOP program after undergoing a medical detox or completing a residential inpatient treatment program. IOP can, however, be a standalone treatment option for certain individuals when appropriate. IOP allows clients to go to work, attend school and maintain their day-to-day responsibilities while receiving treatment several days a week, for several hours at a time.

Using evidence-based addiction treatment methods, IOP groups teach individuals how to be sober in the real world, form meaningful relationships, heal from past emotional wounds, transform old behavioral patterns and connect with a community of other recovering individuals. Guardian IOP uses a wide range of effective therapeutic treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing.

Guardian IOP will offer medication assisted treatment for clients who desire medical aid in their recovery. These medications could include prescriptions that help fight cravings, prevent relapse and aid in emotional stability. Examples include Suboxone, Vivitrol, Antabuse, antidepressants and antianxiety medications. Every client will have the benefit of regular medical follow up and medication management appointments.

The new facilities will offer holistic healing practices, including breathwork, guided meditation and yoga with an instructor who has a clinical background and counseling license.

Every client will have a weekly individual therapy session with their primary therapist and a psychiatric evaluation with Guardian's new addiction psychiatrist, Dr. Tamer Wassef. Dr. Wassef has roughly two decades of experience in the mental health and addiction treatment fields and has been affiliated with multiple hospitals in the New Jersey area, including CarePoint Health Bayonne Medical Center and CarePoint Health Hoboken University Medical Center. He received his medical degree from Cairo University School of Medicine.

Dr. Wassef is a passionate advocate for combining medication assisted treatment, such as Suboxone Maintenance, with high-quality therapeutic services, clinical care and peer-supported recovery.

For more information about Guardian's intensive outpatient programs in New Jersey, please visit Guardianiop.com .

Press Contact:

DJ Prince

Senior Marketing Director, Guardian Recovery Network

[email protected]

(561) 573-9944

About Guardian Recovery Network

Guardian Recovery Network is a well-respected family of drug and alcohol treatment centers founded in 2006 that has been serving communities in Florida, New Jersey, Colorado, New Hampshire and Maine. The network has earned a reputation for providing world-class clinical care and evidence-based treatment methods that really work. Guardian has facilities for every level of care, including medical detox, residential inpatient, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient, which allows clients to customize their treatment path based on their own individual needs. For more information about Guardian Recovery Network, visit GuardianRecoveryNetwork.com .

SOURCE Guardian Recovery Network

Related Links

www.guardianrecoverynetwork.com


PHOENIX, Aug. 13, 2021 Harvest Health & Recreation Inc. ("Harvest") (CSE: HARV, OTCQX: HRVSF), a vertically integrated cannabis company and multi-state operator in the U.S., today announced it has acquired an option to purchase all of the membership interests in an entity that owns an Arizona Adult Use Marijuana Program Establishment License.

A subsidiary of Harvest has entered into a management services agreement that allows for the development and establishment of a dispensary for adult use customers over 21 years of age until the purchase option is exercised.

"This acquisition demonstrates our commitment to growing our retail operations in our home state," said Chief Executive Officer Steve White. "With the successful launch of recreational sales in Arizona, we were fortunate to identify this opportunity to acquire an additional dispensary license."

Harvest operates sixteen dispensaries in Arizona and can expand to 20 locations with existing licenses and agreements. Harvest dispensaries in Arizona are located in Avondale, Casa Grande, Chandler, Cottonwood, Glendale, Guadalupe, Lake Havasu City, Mesa (two locations), Peoria, Phoenix (two locations), and Scottsdale.

About Harvest Health & Recreation Inc.

Headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, Harvest Health & Recreation Inc. is a vertically integrated cannabis company and multi-state operator. Since 2011, Harvest has been committed to expanding its retail and wholesale presence throughout the U.S., acquiring, manufacturing, and selling cannabis products for patients and consumers in addition to providing services to retail dispensaries. Through organic license wins, service agreements, and targeted acquisitions, Harvest has assembled an operational footprint spanning multiple states in the U.S. Harvest's mission is to improve lives through the goodness of cannabis. We hope you'll join us on our journey: https://harvesthoc.com

Facebook: @HarvestHOC

Instagram: @HarvestHOC

Twitter: @HarvestHOC

Forward-looking Statements

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" regarding Harvest's business strategies or prospects, which may be identified by the use of words such as, "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "expect", "anticipate", "believe, "intend", "plan", "forecast", "project", "estimate", "outlook" and other similar expressions. Such statements include, but are not limited to, the following: our growth potential in our core cannabis markets, and the sustainability of such growth; our ability to successfully and timely execute our business and operational plans in such markets; statements regarding our proposed strategic business combination with Trulieve Cannabis Corp. ("Trulieve"), including without limitation, the expected terms, timing and closing of the combination, the timing and nature of all required regulatory approvals, estimates of pro-forma financial information of the combined company, Trulieve's and Harvest's expected financial performance for fiscal 2021, the combined operations and prospects of Trulieve and Harvest, and the current and projected market and growth opportunities for the combined company and value for shareholders; the development of favorable federal and state cannabis regulatory frameworks in the United States applicable to multi-state cannabis operators; and adverse changes in the public perception of cannabis. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, including assumptions in respect of current and future market conditions. Actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from that expressed in, or implied.

SOURCE Harvest Health & Recreation Inc.

Related Links

www.harvestinc.com


All major aspects that include detailed analysis of market overview, market drivers, opportunities, potential application are covered. Both qualitative & quantitative analyses are focused in a better way to helping you with decision-making strategies.

Top Key players of Home Furniture Market In US covered as:

Ashley Furniture Industries Inc.

Inter IKEA Holding BV

Klaussner Home Furnishings

LaZBoy Inc.

Pier 1 Imports Inc.

Raymour & Flanigan Furniture

Restoration Hardware Inc.

Roomstogo.com Inc.

Steinhoff International Holdings NV

Williams-Sonoma Inc.

The home furniture market in the US will be affected by increased online sales. In addition, the growing real estate industry will aid in market growth.

Have a query before purchasing home furniture market in us report @ https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR44284

Home Furniture Market In US Split by Product

Living room furniture



Bedroom furniture



Storage furniture



Others

Home Furniture Market In US Split by Distribution Channel

Brick and mortar



Online mode

The market analysis is done on the basis of regional distribution helping us to utilize & make performance estimations for the international market over the period from 2020-2024.

Imperative Insights on the following aspects:

What was the size of the global home furniture industry by value in 2020?

What will be the size of the global home furniture industry in 2024?

What factors are affecting the strength of competition in the global home furniture industry?

How has the industry performed over the last five years?

What are the main segments that make up the home furniture market?

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Related Reports on Consumer Discretionary Include:

Outdoor Furniture Market in US - Outdoor furniture market in US is segmented by product (outdoor furniture and accessories, outdoor grills and accessories, and patio heating products), end-user (residential and commercial), and distribution channel (offline and online).

Download Exclusive Free Sample Report

Office Furniture Market in US - Office furniture market in US is segmented by product (seating, table, system, storage unit and file, and overhead bins), end-user (commercial and home office), distribution channel (offline and online), and material (wood, metal, and others).

Download Exclusive Free Sample Report

Home furniture market in the US research report presents critical information and factual data about the home furniture industry, with an overall statistical study of this market based on market drivers, market limitations, and its future prospects. The widespread trends and opportunities are also taken into consideration in the home furniture market study.

The product range of the home furniture industry is examined based on their production chain, pricing of products, and the profit generated by them. Various regional markets are analyzed in the home furniture market research report and the production volume and efficacy across the world are discussed.

Why buy?

Identify factors affecting growth prospects across markets.

Track competitor gains and losses in market share.

Assess the financial performance of competitors.

Browse Home Furniture Market In US related details @ https://www.technavio.com/report/report/home-furniture-market-in-us-industry-analysis

Table of Content:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Value chain analysis

Market Sizing

Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2019

Market outlook: Forecast for 2019 - 2024

Five Forces Analysis

Five Forces Analysis

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

Market Segmentation by Product

Market segments

Comparison by Product

Living room furniture - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Bedroom furniture - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Storage furniture - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Others - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by Product

Market Segmentation by Distribution channel

Market segments

Comparison by Distribution channel

Brick and mortar - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Online mode - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by Distribution channel

Customer landscape

Customer landscape

Market drivers

Market challenges

Market trends

Vendor Landscape

Competitive scenario

Vendor landscape

Landscape disruption

Industry risks

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

Ashley Furniture Industries Inc.

Inter IKEA Holding BV

Klaussner Home Furnishings

LaZBoy Inc.

Pier 1 Imports Inc.

Raymour & Flanigan Furniture

Restoration Hardware Inc.

Roomstogo.com Inc.

Steinhoff International Holdings NV

Williams-Sonoma Inc.

Appendix

Scope of the report

Currency conversion rates for US$

Research methodology

List of abbreviations



About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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Jesse Maida

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Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

Report: www.technavio.com/report/home-furniture-market-in-us-industry-analysis

SOURCE Technavio

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BROKEN ARROW, Okla., Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jean-Maria C. Langley, DO, AOCOHNS, is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Trusted Name in Otolaryngology for her exceptional work in the field and in acknowledgment of her work at Utica Park Clinic.

As an Otolaryngologist, also known as an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor, she has over 14 years of experience in the field. Dr. Langley is a highly-respected doctor who specializes in sinus and sleep apnea surgeries. She is currently one of only three physicians in Oklahoma who are able to perform these types of surgical procedures.



Jean-Maria C. Langley, DO, AOCOHNS is recognized by Continental Who's Who

To achieve her long-standing career, Dr. Langley started by attending Washington State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Chemistry, along with a secondary education certificate. She then graduated from Drake University with a Master of Science degree in Biology (Cardiac Physiology). Dr. Langley then completed a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree, an internship, and a residency in Otolaryngology at Oklahoma State University Medical Center in 2007. She is a board-certified Otolaryngologist through the American Osteopathic Colleges of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AOCOO-HNS). AOCOO-HNS provides board certification to doctors who meet strict criteria for medical and surgical treatment of the ears, nose, and throat. Dr. Langley is certified to practice medicine in Oklahoma.



Dr. Langley previously taught high school, and also served as an adjunct professor with Des Moines Community College. In her current role, she welcomes patients of all ages to her Utica Park Clinic. Dr. Langley prides herself on her sincerity, honesty, and compassion in all aspects of her work.



Common reasons patients seek ENT services are for hearing issues, earaches, ear infections, nasal congestion, sleep apnea, and sinus issues. Chronic sinusitis is one of the most common medical complaints in the United States, affecting about 35 million adults each year. Dr. Langely's specialties are sleep apnea and sinus surgeries, and managing disorders of the nose and sinus.



She has been providing top-quality patient care at Utica Park Clinic for nine years. The clinic accepts most insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare. Utica Park Clinic offers numerous health services for all age groups and genders. They provide virtual care and telehealth options, and have over 250 providers in over 20 specialties. Dr. Langley provides patient care at the Utica Park Clinic, located at 9001 S. 101st East Ave., Suite 280, in Tulsa, OK. She also sees patients at Hillcrest Hospital South, Hillcrest Medical Center, and Oklahoma State University Center.



To stay alert to new advances in the field, she is a Fellow of the American Osteopathic College of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery; and a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, American Osteopathic Association, Auxiliary of the Tulsa Osteopathic Medical Society, and American Rhinology Society.



Awards for her exceptional accomplishments include the Compassionate Doctor Recognition (2013, 2014, 2015), Patients' Choice Award (2013-2018), Top 10 Doctor  State (2014), On-Time Doctor Award (2015-2018), and Patients' Choice 5th Anniversary Award (2017, 2018).



On a personal note, Dr. Langley has been married to Dan Langley for 22 years, and they have one child together. She enjoys volunteering as Department Chair of the Otolaryngology Department at Oklahoma State University. Her hobbies include exercising, reading, and cooking.



She would like to dedicate this honorable recognition to her mentors, Tom Nunn, DO, and Tom Hamilton, DO.



For more information, visit www.uticaparkclinic.com.



Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634 [email protected]

SOURCE Continental Who's Who

Related Links

http://www.continentalwhoswho.com


LAFAYETTE, Calif., Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mary Furlong & Associates (MFA) announces its annual $10,000 Business Plan Competition winner, Dr. Sandra Saldana, CEO of Alva Health.

This competition has been a part of the What's Next Longevity Venture Summit for the past 18 years. This year more than 40 applicants submitted their business plans for the opportunity to win the prize money and pitch at the Thrive Center. These applicants consisted of startups with solutions to address health and well-being in the areas of telehealth, telefitness, and mental health.

Alva Health focuses on real-time stroke detection that is wearable for older Americans living with high stroke risk. According to the CDC, more than 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke each year, with more frequent occurrences among older adults. Stroke can lead to disabilities and immobilities and is known as one of the leading causes of death for Americans. Alva Health supports older adults in maintaining their ability to live independently by bringing peace of mind to them and their families through timely stroke detection. You can learn more on their website https://www.alva-health.com .

Business Plan Competition judges came from a variety of backgrounds and brought different perspectives. One of them, Christine Brocato from CommonSpirit Health, shared, "I've been attending the What's Next Longevity Conference for several years. The Business Plan competition is my favorite part of the conference. As a judge, I'm thrilled for this year's winner, Alva Health. Stroke prevention has been a public health focus for decades but we have lacked the technology and innovation to really make an impact at scale. I think what Sandra and her team is developing has the potential to truly make an impact in stroke prevention across the country."

To learn more about ideas and trends in the longevity market you can register for our What's Next Longevity Venture Summit, which is available on-demand through August 31. Register now and save 50% off with the discount code post50.

For more Information on the Venture Summit visit www.boomerventuresummit.com .

For more information regarding stroke awareness and prevention visit the American Stroke Association at www.stroke.org .

The What's Next Longevity Venture Summit top event sponsors include: AARP Innovation Labs, Home Instead Inc., Ageless Innovation, Nationwide, VitalTech, iN2L, LifeBio, CareLinx, Ziegler LinkAge, Thrive, Constant Companion, GetSetUp, BrioCare, Caregiving Club, and CABHI.

Contact:

Maysen Folsom

8054053370

[email protected]

SOURCE Mary Furlong and Associates
ATLANTA, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- International law firm McDermott Will & Emery announced today that Phillip Street joined as partner and Craig Smith as counsel in its Health Practice Group. Both join McDermott's rapidly growing Atlanta office from King & Spalding LLP.

"We couldn't be more excited to add these widely-known and highly-respected health law attorneys to our bench, and to be building up our new Atlanta presence," Eric Zimmerman, global chair of McDermott's Health Practice Group, said. "Phillip and Craig are not only among the country's leading lawyers for hospital and health system transactions, but they also possess unique experience and insight into the Southeastern U.S. healthcare market."

Mike Poulos, McDermott's Head of Strategy, added: "Our Global Health Practice has been at the vanguard of the industry for more than a decade and we are committed to continued growth of our offerings. Phillip and Craig join our existing roster of leading practitioners and immediately strengthen our strong position in Atlanta."

Phillip is a seasoned industry operator with over 30 years of experience in helping organizations develop and execute strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures. His insights into the regulatory and business issues that arise during healthcare collaborations make him a valued partner to, among others, providers, clinically integrated networks, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, private equity investors and research consortiums working to drive healthcare innovation through novel transactions. His tax experience also provides him with a unique perspective among healthcare dealmakers.

"I'm thrilled to join McDermott  a Firm that offers a top-tier health brand, full-service health transactions capabilities and a commitment to ambitious growth," Philip noted. "I'm looking forward to leveraging this superb platform to support my clients."

Craig is also a deeply experienced transactional and corporate lawyer and represents all types of clients in the healthcare and life sciences space in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, business and regulatory matters (including for-profit and non-profit hospitals and health systems), physician groups, practice management companies, clinically integrated networks, continuing care retirement communities, home health and hospice providers and clinical research organizations. He also has extensive experience in a variety of financing matters, including commercial lending and bond, private equity and venture capital transactions.

McDermott Will & Emery is the nation's leading health law firm and is the only health practice to receive top national rankings from U.S. News  Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms," Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US and Law360. The practice was also recognized by Chambers as "Health Team of the Year" in 2010, 2013, 2017 and 2019. McDermott has also held the top spot in PitchBook's League Tables as the most active firm for healthcare private equity since 2017.

About McDermott

McDermott Will & Emery partners with leaders around the world to fuel missions, knock down barriers and shape markets. Our team works seamlessly across practices and industries to deliver highly effectiveand often unexpectedsolutions that propel success. More than 1,200 lawyers strong, we bring our personal passion and legal prowess to bear in every matter for our clients and the people they serve.

SOURCE McDermott Will & Emery
Another September premiere featuring a hometown return of the main character is Captain Maria, a new Italian mystery starring Vanessa Incontrada as a police captain looking to recharge her career in Puglia and track down her husband's killer.

The second and final season of Spanish "Godfather-esque" series Gigantes makes its debut on September 21st. In the second installment of this gripping series, the women take the lead as the Guerrero men are on the run as they try to stay on top of Madrid's criminal underworld.

Also of note in September is the return of an MHz Choice subscriber favorite, the hit Swiss mystery series The Undertaker starring actor-comedian Mike Muller as Luc Conrad - an ex-cop turned undertaker investigating strange deaths in a small Swiss canton.

The full September 2021 schedule available here: https://mhzchoiceblog.com/premiere-schedule/

SEPTEMBER 7

CAPTAIN MARIA, ITALY, RAI, NEW SERIES

Carabinieri captain Maria Guerra returns to her hometown in Puglia to recharge her career, raise her kids - and also to solve the mystery of her husband's death.

FIRE IN THE SKY, FINLAND, YLE, NEW DOCUMENTARY

A fascinating Finnish documentary on that most Nordic of natural phenomena - the Northern Lights!

MOVIE OF THE WEEK  YOUNG MOTHERS IN THE '70s, FRANCE, FILM & PICTURE, NEW FEATURE

On the outskirts of Paris, a notorious home for teenage mothers is rocked from the inside by a social revolution. Starring Blandine Bellavoir (Agatha Christie's Criminal Games).

SEPTEMBER 14

WARA, FRANCE-SENEGAL, FILM & PICTURE, NEW SERIES

Politically-charged student Aicha fires up the campus by urging her law professor Moutari to get back into politics. Together they want to change the world, but their relationship is beset by generational conflict.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK  DR. BLANCHE'S CLINIC, FRANCE, FILM & PICTURE, NEW FEATURE In mid-19th century France, two doctors with very different methods compete in the brand-new field of psychiatry.

SEPTEMBER 21

GIGANTES: SEASON 2, SPAIN, APC, NEW SEASON

The women take the lead as the Guerrero men are on the run - battling rivals, the police and each other to stay on top of Madrid's criminal underworld.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK  LAST DANCE, FRANCE, FILM & PICTURE, NEW FEATURE

Two teens spend summer vacation in the country in this heartwarming coming-of-age story.

SEPTEMBER 28

THE UNDERTAKER: SEASON 6, SWITZERLAND, GLOBAL SCREEN, NEW SEASON

An ex-cop turned undertaker investigates strange deaths in this delightful and long-running Swiss series.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK  MARIE AND MADELEINE, FRANCE, FILM & PICTURE, NEW FEATURE In Nazi-occupied France, the madam of a brothel seeks refuge for herself and her girls - in a convent!

About MHz Networks

MHz Networks offers viewers access to a library of the best television mysteries, dramas, comedies and documentaries subtitled in English through its subscription streaming service, MHz Choice. Select MHz Networks content is also available on DVD and on its free ad-supported service MHz Now, available on Samsung TV Plus.

New MHz Choice customers receive a free 7-Day Trial. For more information, go to mhzchoice.com.

SOURCE MHz Networks
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA and Boeing are continuing discussions on the status of the Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) mission, and will host a joint media teleconference at 1 p.m. EDT, Friday, Aug. 13, to discuss the second uncrewed flight of Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station, as part of the agency's Commercial Crew Program.

Participants in the briefing will be:

Kathryn Lueders , NASA associate administrator for human exploration and operations

, NASA associate administrator for human exploration and operations Steve Stich , manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program

, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program John Vollmer , vice president and program manager of Boeing's Commercial Crew Program

Audio of the teleconference will livestream online at:

https://www.nasa.gov/live

To participate in the teleconference, media must contact the newsroom at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at: [email protected] by 12 p.m. for the dial-in information.

The OFT-2 mission will launch Starliner on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. After launch, Starliner will dock to the space station before returning to Earth in the western United States as part of an end-to-end test flight to prove the system is ready to fly with crew aboard.

Learn more about NASA's Commercial Crew Program at:

http://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


NORFOLK, Va., Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) today announced plans to reopen its intermodal facility in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, creating capacity to support economic growth and help ease supply-chain congestion that has slowed the flow of commerce across all modes of the U.S. transportation sector.

Effective Sept. 10, the railroad plans a gradual phase-in of business at the Franklin County Regional Intermodal Facility, starting with a lane of domestic intermodal traffic that currently moves between Norfolk Southern intermodal facilities in Memphis and Rutherford, in South Central Pennsylvania. Greencastle will provide additional terminal capacity and help to improve service as demand for the railroad's robust franchise continues to grow.

"With strong growth in volume driven by e-commerce and a recovering economy, we believe the timing is right to bring our Greencastle facility back online," said Chief Marketing Officer Alan Shaw. "We are excited about the new opportunities that this reopening provides for us and for our business partners across Pennsylvania and beyond. We are collaborating with our customers to support their business needs, offering shippers a more sustainable transportation solution and a commitment to best-in-class service."

Norfolk Southern opened the Greencastle facility in January 2013 as part of its Crescent Corridor initiative, a public-private partnership designed to convert freight from highway to rail to ease congested roadways and reduce carbon emissions while creating opportunities for jobs and economic development. Under the initiative, the railroad also constructed intermodal terminals in Birmingham, Charlotte, and Memphis as part of a 2,500-mile rail corridor from the Gulf Coast to the Northeast. The company idled the Greencastle terminal in 2019 for business reasons, while leaving open the possibility of resuming operations if market conditions changed.

A combination of factors, including a rapid rise in e-commerce, strong market demand, and pandemic-driven supply chain changes, figured into the decision to reopen Greencastle. The added capacity at Greencastle is expected to reduce terminal congestion and improve network fluidity across Pennsylvania.

The Greencastle terminal has the capacity for an estimated 100,000 shipping container lifts annually. A lift occurs every time a container is lifted onto or off of a rail car. The first phase of traffic at Greencastle is expected to generate around 50,000 lifts.

About Norfolk Southern

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation's premier transportation companies, moving the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Norfolk Southern connects customers to markets and communities to economic opportunity, with safe, reliable, and cost-effective shipping solutions. The company's service area includes 22 states and the District of Columbia, every major container port in the eastern United States, and a majority of the U.S. population and manufacturing base.

http://www.norfolksouthern.com

Forward-looking statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that may be identified by the use of words like "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "consider," "project," and similar references to the future. Forward-looking statements reflect our good-faith evaluation of information currently available. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, and our actual results may differ materially from those projected. Please refer to our annual and quarterly reports filed with the SEC for a full discussion of those risks and uncertainties we view as most important. Forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as, a guarantee of future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to be accurate indications of the times at or by which any such performance or results will be achieved. As a result, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation

Related Links

http://www.nscorp.com


NEW YORK, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CEO of American Human Rights Organization and candidate for U.S. Senate against incumbent Chuck Schumer in 2022, Khaled Salem, said today, in the strongest terms, "Fight back against Hamas and Hezbollah. Call out Iran as the 'heinous pimp' of global terrorism." Salem points out that President Biden, the UN, NATO and the State of Israel have tangible proof of Iran's funding of terrorism, long-range missiles and focused development of nuclear warheads. Iran's "Islamo-Nazis," labeled by Middle East scholar, Mark Langfan, "espouse genocidal, anti-Semitic vitriol intended to destroy Israeli Jews."

US Senate Candidate Khaled Salem US Senate Candidate Khaled Salem

Global hate groups sponsored by Iran, Turkey and many Arab nations support the use of "a one nuke solution" to be exploded in Tel Aviv. "If one nuclear warhead hits Tel Aviv, 50% of the Israeli Jewish population will die," said Salem. He continued, "Iran advocates its intent to murder millions of Jews and is trying to 'finish the job' that Hitler started."

Domestic Drug Tragedy

"The United States is mired in a substance abuse and overdose epidemic," said CEO of American Human Rights Organization and U.S. Senate Candidate, Khaled Salem. "Tobacco and alcohol are addictive. Now marijuana is legal in most states. America is way past 'Just Say No,' we are in a fight for our children and loved ones."

The rise in opioid addiction is directly related to drug companies such as Purdue Pharma illegally pushing oxycodone to medical practitioners. When patients run out of prescriptions, they often resort to "roaming the streets" to find a substitute pill or heroin. "We see Methamphetamine (ICE) 'taking down' some of the most vulnerable people who live in poor, at-risk populations."

Salem continued, "With more than 93,000 dead from a drug overdose in 2020, a rise of 30% more deaths since 2019 is directly related to one of most alarming trends in NY and other states, the drug, fentanyl. The synthetic opioid made in illegal labs,is responsible for a huge rise in overdose deaths, as drug dealers "mix fentanyl with other drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and MDMA.' The mix is known as a "cheap high" but can immediately lead to overdose. This is particularly common in teenagers and young adults who feel impervious to any consequences, but they die, quickly." Many U.S. high schools have had to cope with student overdoses.

Khaled Salem is positioning himself to unseat four-term incumbent Chuck Schumer in the next general election, which is scheduled for November 8, 2022. Thirty-four of the Senate's 100 seats are being contested in this election.

For more information, visit https://www.khaled2022forcongress.com/

Or visit https://www.facebook.com/Khaledforcongress/, https://twitter.com/KhaledYork, or https://www.khaled2022forcongress.com/donate

Media Contact

US Senate Candidate Khaled Salem US Senate Candidate Khaled Salem

518-348-6868

[email protected]

SOURCE U.S. Senate Candidate Khaled Salem

Related Links

http://khaled2022forcongress.com


The Report reflects our Board of Directors' business judgement position relative to these matters. It is provided in the context of its review of certain suggestions made by a relatively new hedge fund shareholder. The Report's issuance underscores our commitment to transparent and open disclosure to all shareholders. The Report may also be viewed on ORI's website at the address below.

About Old Republic

Chicago-based Old Republic International Corporation is one of the nation's 50 largest shareholder-owned insurance businesses. It is a member of the Fortune 500 listing of America's largest companies. The Company is organized as an insurance holding company whose subsidiaries actively market, underwrite, and provide risk management services for a wide variety of coverages mostly in the general and title insurance fields. A long-term interest in mortgage guaranty and consumer credit indemnity coverages has devolved to a run-off operating mode in recent years. Old Republic's general insurance business ranks among the nation's 50 largest, while its title insurance operations are the third largest in its industry.

The nature of Old Republic's business requires that it be managed for the long run. Its consistent and reliable cash dividend policy reflects this long-term orientation. The current annualized dividend rate of $0.88 per share marks the 40th consecutive year that Old Republic has boosted this rate, and 2021 becomes the 80th year of uninterrupted regular cash dividend payments. Here's a summary of recent years' total book and market returns, which includes the addition and reinvestment of cash dividend payments, in comparison with the financial performance of three selected indices similarly developed.



ORI Selected Indices' Compounded

Annual Annual Total Annual Returns

Book Value Market Value Nominal

S & P

Compounded Compounded Gross S & P P&C

Total Total Domestic 500 Insurance

Return Return Product Index Index Ten Years 2001  2010 8.0% 1.9% 3.9% 1.4% 1.0% Ten Years 2011  2020 8.8% 9.9% 3.3% 13.9% 14.3% Twenty Years 2001  2020 8.4% 5.8% 3.6% 7.5% 7.4%

First Six Months 2020  only 0.6% -25.4% -10.2% -3.1% -13.5% First Six Months 2021  only 11.0% 35.8% 5.1%* 15.2% 8.9% *Estimated

For Old Republic's latest news releases and other corporate documents: Please visit us at www.oldrepublic.com





Alternatively, please write or call: Investor Relations Old Republic International Corporation 307 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60601 (312) 346-8100

August 13, 2021

To the Shareholders of Old Republic International Corporation (NYSE: ORI)

Special Report Focused on Certain Matters Pertaining to Enterprise Risk Management:

Insurance Underwriting Risk

Capital Management

Corporate Governance Policies and Practices





Contents



Pages Subject



1 Why we are sending the Special Report



1  2 Background to our receipt of correspondence from a new institutional shareholder, and Executive Summary thereof



2  3 Executive Summary of ORI's response



3  14 Part 1: ORI response to the new institutional shareholder's suggestion for splitting off a single business of insurance and the issues with doing so in light of ORI's critical Enterprise Risk Management of insurance underwriting risk and capital management



15  17 Part 2: ORI's views on shareholder communications, and corporate and Board of Directors' governance policies and practices



17 Part 3: ORI position on capital management, cash dividend policies, and Total Market Return focus in the interest of shareholder value creation and evaluation





Why we are sending this Special Report

For decades, we've regularly communicated that ORI manages its strategically diversified insurance business for the long term, to benefit our shareholders, those we insure, our associates, and other stakeholders. Within the last year, we have received letters from a relatively new shareholder, Owl Creek Asset Management, L.P. (OCAM), stating its view that stockholders and others would be better served if we took three actions:

Split our strategically diversified insurance business into two companies: general insurance and title insurance

Changed our board structure and adopted what it termed corporate governance best practices

Authorized a large stock repurchase program funded by more debt

We're taking this opportunity to make all shareholders and other stakeholders aware of the correspondence and our Board of Directors' business judgment position relative to it.

Background on OCAM's Letter

OCAM is a hedge fund with about $2 billion of assets under management. Based on its periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), OCAM's investment style is marked by high turnover of its diversified portfolio.

Based on OCAM's most recent filings with the SEC, it owns 6.37 million common shares, or 2.09% of ORI's outstanding stock. The firm appears to have acquired these shares in the second half of 2020, when our stock's month-end closing price on the New York Stock Exchange ranged between $16.26 and $19.52 per share.

We learned of OCAM's investment in early November 2020. That's when it sent a first letter to our Board of Directors. At the regularly scheduled December 2020 meeting, our Directors reviewed operating strategy, capital management, and governance subjects already on the agenda, as well as the letter. As a result of its analysis of ORI's business situation, the Board did not act on OCAM's recommendations as the Board concluded that it would not be in the best interests of ORI and its shareholders to do so. The Board did, however, take a significant step: declaring an additional special cash dividend of $1.00 per share, the third special distribution in the past four years.

On January 6, 2021, we followed this up by writing a letter to our shareholders, giving the Board's reasoning for declaring the special dividend. This letter addressed such critically important Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) matters as capital management and ORI's philosophy of insurance and industry specialization in managing the business for the long run in a sustainable manner.

On April 6, 2021, OCAM sent a second letter to our Board. This criticized the Board for not adopting OCAM's recommendations and proposals in its first letter. OCAM issued a press release and also forwarded this letter to a news organization, which publicized the contents and placed this discussion into the public domain. Both letters provided substantially similar commentaries from OCAM's perspective. Since receipt of the second letter the Board has once again fully considered OCAM's comments and proposals.

Executive Summary of OCAM's Letters as We Read Them

Both of OCAM's letters are organized in three separatethough significantly interrelatedparts. We view them as dealing with important ERM aspects of ORI's single business of insurance.

Part 1: Split ORI into Two Separate Businesses

OCAM states its belief "... the Board could potentially realize additional shareholder value by initiating a review of strategic alternatives ..." It suggested a potential disposition of our Title Insurance segment through a spin off, sale, or other means.

Part 2: Change the Board Structure and Corporate Governance

OCAM recommends that we review and change what it claims are deficiencies in the structure of our Board of Directors and corporate governance practices.

Part 3: Take on More Debt to Partially Fund Share Repurchases

OCAM recommends that the Board immediately authorize a sizable share repurchase program through "a disciplined and valuation-based approach." It believes that an increase in ORI's debt level " should not be ignored as a source of capital to repurchase shares "

Executive Summary of ORI's Response

Our response is largely dedicated to the most substantive part of OCAM's letters. The firm is calling for a split up of Old Republic's business, a business that has been successfully managed for the long run in the best long-term interests of its shareholders and other important stakeholders. In our Board's judgment, the recommendation is driven by OCAM's desire for an unprovable short-term rise in the valuation of our common shares, and is not consistent with the long-term sustainable success of ORI.

Part 1: Split ORI into Two Separate Businesses

Our Board has determined that splitting Old Republic's Title Insurance and General Insurance segments is not in the best interests of ORI and our shareholders, as the suggestion ignores, among other things:

Old Republic's critical need to balance and diversify its insurance risk exposures, which allows it to achieve maximum stability of revenues, earnings, and capital returns to shareholders in a highly cyclical industry. Old Republic's fiduciary responsibility to allocate capital to its operating insurance underwriting subsidiaries to reflect their individual insurance risk profiles, which also assures stability of important independent financial ratings, and the continued and growing support of their customers for the long term. It uses a simplistic numbers-crunching approach to validate an unprovable short-term objective for raising Old Republic's common stock price.

Part 2: Change the Board Structure and Corporate Governance

We believe our Board of Directors' organizational structure, and the consistency of our governance practices, have a proven track record. This combination has worked well for managing Old Republic's needs in the long-term interests of shareholders and all other important stakeholders.

Part 3: Take on More Debt to Partially Fund Share Repurchases

Our capital management practices have been discharged in harmony with the interests of our insurance subsidiaries' policyholders, ORI's shareholders, and other important stakeholders. We have met the goal of achieving a necessary, all-inclusive balance in returning capital to all shareholders, while building shareholder value and producing competitive and sustainable Total Market Returns.

Detailed Responses to Each of the Three Parts

Part 1 Response:

Splitting ORI into Two Separate Businesses Is Not in the Best Interests of ORI and its Shareholders

The Board believes selling or spinning off Old Republic's strategically important underwriting and capital management-integrated Title Insurance from our consolidated business is not in the best interests of ORI and its shareholders for three reasons:

1. The proposal fails to recognize the fiduciary necessity for diversification and balance in the important ERM functions of an insurance institution:

Diversifying insurance risks by types of coverage and industries to ensure greater stability, mix, and planned growth of net operating income and shareholder valuethrough different insurance industry and general economic cycles Managing and allocating capital based on the risk profiles and balance sheet leverage of individual insurance underwriting subsidiaries Managing invested assets based on the cyclical and dissimilar nature of taxable income streams that are produced by individual insurance underwriting subsidiaries, and as they rise to the consolidated business

2. It reflects a simple numbers-crunching approach:

As a result it ignores the professional sophistication of Old Republic's insurance underwriting business, the conceptual framework of our long-term strategy, and the public interest with which our insurance underwriting subsidiaries are vested. Breaking up a well-organized business, which is sustainably and successfully managed for the long-term, in exchange for a possible short-term monetary gain, is a poor trade. That action also would deprive shareholders of the long-term value creation they have experienced with ORI.

3. It fails to recognize the importance of culture. All of our people are committed to shared values, beliefs, and allegiance to societal and business purposes in ORI's "WE" meritocracy. This powerful connection enhances productivity, team spirit, and mutual trust and respect.

Here are some additional clarifying points.

ORI Is One Business, Not Separate BusinessesWe manage our single business of insurance through 19 key, state-regulated insurance companies in four segments. These companies (including a number of their operationally focused sub-divisions) are limited to underwriting insurance specifically authorized by regulations of the states where they're licensed. For example, our General Insurance segment's Old Republic Insurance Company flagship provides insurance coverages regulated as multiple-lines property and casualty insurance. On the other hand, our Title Segment's Old Republic National Title Insurance Company flagship is a regulated mono-line insurer, limited to underwriting the single coverage of title insurance.

As a single integrated insurance business, ORI has uniformity in important ERM matters among each segments' insurance underwriting subsidiaries. Through them, we've been responsible competitors and a force for good throughout the insurance industry. For instance, in the late 1980s, the ORI parent holding company issued a white paper suggesting that all title insurance underwriters adopt the same disciplined claim reserving practices long followed in general insurance. Then we took the lead, working within the state regulatory system and the title industry's main trade association to make this happen. This led to a second paper, providing the basis for independent financial ratings of title insurers. Since then, both disciplines have become standard practice in evaluating title insurers' financial strength and financial accounting reliability, just as they are in our general and other insurance lines.

Regulatory distinctions notwithstanding, the 19 key insurance companies are headed by strictly focused management teams that act in a unified way:

Provide long-term, quality insurance security and related services to selected insured businesses, individuals, and public institutions

Adhere to the critical insurance underwriting principles of disciplined risk selection, diversification, and pricing

Manage the operations as long-term stewards of assureds' trust, ensuring we will honor our insurance companies' promises of financial indemnity in the near and long term

Ensure that our policyholders' interests are linked to our commitment to protect and sustainably grow shareholder value for the long term

Our insurance companies' good names, financial strength, independent agency financial ratings, and market identity and acceptance are exceptionally enhanced by their association with the Old Republic International Corporation parent.

We Coordinate and Leverage a Shared Approach to the IndustryORI's purpose, strategy, and underwriting philosophy are grounded in a single belief. We can best differentiate ourselves and succeed through coordinated specialization in industries and types of insurance coverages we know well. From the beginning, ORI's specialization has been driven by the strategically planned distribution of insurance products needed or required by selected industries or types of assureds. We started in the 1920s as an insurer of people's lives, assuring their families could still pay the mortgage if breadwinners became disabled or died. Then we used a steadily growing complement of insurance coverages and services, delivered in both traditional and specially tailored alternative insurance market solutions.

Our Title Insurance business was acquired in 1978. It represented and remains a natural extension of our commitment to industry specialization matched to insurance underwriting competency. For the past 42 years under Old Republic's umbrella, it has progressed and added substantially to the long-term sustainability of our consolidated business. This came from the commitments and shared values of our Title associates, and ORI's unwavering support through all the cycles in the insurance business and industries we serve. Here are a few indications of that progress, because of the alignment among Title Insurance, General Insurance and the rest of Old Republic's operations.

OLD REPUBLIC TITLE INSURANCE GROUP 1977 Last Full Year Before ORI's 1978 Purchase 2020 42 Years After Late 1978 Purchase Compounded Annual Growth Rate Assets $35.7 $1,920.9 9.9% Liabilities 16.3 946.5 10.1% Shareholders' Equity $19.3 $ 974.3 9.7%

OLD REPUBLIC GENERAL INSURANCE GROUP Year Ended in 1977 2020 42 Years After Late 1978 Title Purchase Compounded Annual Growth Rate Assets $381.4 $19,226.1 9.7% Liabilities 299.4 15,393.9 9.8% Shareholders' Equity $ 82.0 $ 3,832.2 9.5%

OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION Year Ended in 1977 2020 42 Years After Late 1978 Title Purchase Compounded Annual Growth Rate Assets $594.5 $22,815.2 9.0% Liabilities 512.0 16,628.5 8.6% Shareholders' Equity $ 82.5 $ 6,186.6 10.8%

The long-term benefits of specialized diversification are clear in ORI's financial outperformance over the years. We've attached several tables (at the end of this report) to illustrate that. Here is a summary of key points.

Table A (Insurance Underwriting Long-Focused on Industry Specialization) shows the industry and segmented sources of ORI's revenues from premiums and fees:

ORI's accelerated specialization by industries and types of coverages since the 1970s resulted in the anticipated, reasonably consistent growth of revenue sources through industry and general economic cycles. The historical focus on diversified insurance coverages delivered to large industries (heavily reliant on and affected by the nation's banking and financial services infrastructure) is reflected in the relatively stable premium and fee contribution percentages highlighted in column (a). This also shows that an average 91% of consolidated premium and fee revenue is consistently derived from three industry groups. These industry groups account for nearly 55% of the nation's GDP. Most major subsidiaries in the regulatory reporting segments contribute to the largest of those three industry groups.

Concentrating on industries we know well is the core of our long-term strategy. Our primary goal is to achieve underwriting profitability over industry and economic cycles. Experience has shown that a greater possibility of long-term success rests on the following approaches to enterprise-wide, insurance risk management:

Select insurance coverages that are counter-cyclical in product demand and market-pricing sensitivity

that are counter-cyclical in product demand and market-pricing sensitivity Select industries that tend to be counter-cyclical to achieve greater stability of revenue and profit

that tend to be counter-cyclical to achieve greater stability of revenue and profit Combine industry specialization with expertise in selecting and pricing insurance coverages in which we have strong competencies

The percentages in column (a) include Title and Mortgage Guaranty premiums and fees. It's worth noting that ORI's 2012 decision to place its Mortgage Guaranty (MI) line into run-off operating mode did not significantly affect the long-term trends. Title Insurance's faster growth since the Great Recession, and the rebounding economy's effect on General Insurance's premium revenues, took up most of the slack from the expected decline of the MI premium base.

In Table B (Trends in ORI's Net Premiums and Fees), we see how the somewhat divergent insurance business cyclicality of our General and Title coverages nonetheless aligns (in the black line) to produce a singularly consistent positive top-line trend for the consolidated business.

Table C (Insurance Underwriting: Long-Focused on Selected Insurance Coverages Managed through 26 Regulated Insurers Assigned to Four Regulatory Defined Segments) shows the complementary and beneficial effect of blended general and title coverages. Underwritten through diverse cycles, this combination has stabilized our critically important consolidated underwriting profitability. It has also enabled us to largely absorb the recurring costs of investments in new operations, integration of acquired businesses, and attraction of new intellectual capital.

Past, current, and expected underwriting performance drives significant elements of ERM. ORI maintains sophisticated, centralized management of invested assets, tax planning, and capital resource allocation functions, all of which are highly sensitive and responsive to long-term plans, including these:

Capital allocation, due to underwriting's effects on policy and claim reserve levels and their resulting impact on balance sheet leverage

Invested asset management due to underwriting's impact on asset class allocations and the differing taxability of their income streams

Consolidated income tax planning due to the dissimilar nature of the underwriting and other income streams produced by the General Insurance and Title Insurance segments in particular

Table D (Specialized Balance of Business: Leads to Greater Stability of Long-Term Operating Margins) shows the positive and steadying impact that blending of industry specialization and insurance coverage diversification have on long-term operating margins over cycles. Together with our subsidiary-by-subsidiary capital allocation process, and the overall strength of ORI's balance sheet, our focused underwriting helped us weather many economic downturns, including the Great Recession. It shows the necessity of a diversified book of business to advance ORI's long-term objectives.

Table E (Capital Management: Trends and Objectives) reflects ORI's purposeful management of the different capital intensities and needs of its diversified insurance underwriting subsidiaries' business:

1. Capital allocated to the General Insurance business has grown steadily to accommodate a consistent rise in most of its insurance subsidiaries' leverage, driven by:

a. Increasing claim reserves

b. Greater debt in the form of surplus note capital contributed by the ORI parent

c. Greater investments in common stocks, whose mark-to-market requirements can affect important statutory capital levels

2. Capital allocated to Title Insurance, which has also grown steadily due to the factors just mentioned, as well as its expanding involvement in the commercial side of the business.

3. Capital allocated to Mortgage Guaranty (RFIG run-off) has been declining steadily since the 2007 onset of the Great Recession. This segment's capital will be gradually returned in one form or another to the ORI parent company.

Our longer term capital allocation plans are shown at the bottom of this table. They reflect our expectations for the interplay of the factors just mentioned at both segmented and individual insurance subsidiary levels.

Table F (Trends in ORI's Segmented Pretax Operating Income [Loss]) shows the unrequited impact of the industry-wide implosion of the Mortgage Guaranty business during and after the Great Recession. With this occurrence, we placed the segment in run-off operating mode at year-end 2012. There were two basic reasons for that:

The unavailability of large amounts of financial and intellectual capital to re-build the operation

The inability to formulate an industry-acceptable long-term financial accounting model, which would allow appropriate current period reserving to cover the possibility of future, similarly catastrophic aggregations of risk

These serious outcomes not-withstanding, the table reveals the value and merits of our approach to managing insurance risk-taking for the long term. This involves not putting all our "insurance eggs in one basket." It lies in 1) diversifying risks by type of insurance coverage and industries served, 2) a capital allocation model that marries all key elements of ERM to advantage, and 3) maintaining strong and resilient balance sheets at both insurance subsidiary and holding company levels.

The black line on the table shows the interplay of the General Insurance and Title Insurance segments' contributions to earnings growth in a stable, counter-cyclical manner:

Starting with the pre-Great Recession year of 2005, pre-tax combined operating income was $411.6 million. The two segments combined produced pre-tax operating income of $783.8 million in 2020. This means they gradually surpassed ORI's consolidated all-time high of $682.4 million set in 2005. That record had been achieved on the strength of our then fast growing, high performing Mortgage Guaranty business (which added $270.9 million or nearly 40% of 2005's pre-tax operating income). Old Republic Title Insurance delivered 41.4% of ORI's 2020 consolidated pre-tax operating earnings of $830.4 million. This also validates ORI's ERM disciplines: diversifying insurance coverage risks, concentrating on serving industries we know well, and managing capital resources to achieve greater cash returns, total book returns, and total market returns to shareholders.

Title Insurance Is an Integral Part of ORI's Business StrategyIn our view, OCAM's proposal fails to recognize the strategic fit of our Title Insurance segment within ORI's overall business plan:

1. OCAM asserts that the "... title and general insurance segments operate fundamentally different business models that have distinct strengths but share no clear benefit from being operated under the same corporate umbrella." We believe that assertion is unfounded for these reasons:

The business model and purpose are identical for all of our insurance companies. They're intended to provide long-term, quality insurance security and related services to insured businesses, individuals, and public institutions. All parts of the business are managed by consistently adhering to the same critical insurance underwriting principles of careful risk selection, diversification of coverages, and pricing discipline. All of our subsidiary insurance companies benefit from reliably consistent state regulation, the loyal support of insurance buyers and markets, and independent agencies' financial ratings. This is leveraged by the time-proven value of the protective and steadying influence of the product and industry-diversified Old Republic International Corporation and its access to capital markets.

2. OCAM asserts that "General insurance is a traditional balance-sheet-intensive insurance operation, while title is better described as a 'fee based' business that's driven by real estate market fundamentals and maintains a stable pricing with a disciplined industry structure." We do not agree with these assertions for the following reasons:

Balance sheet intensity and strength are critical in title insurance:

1) This is shown by a number of title industry bankruptcies over the years, including the third largest title operation during the Great Recession.

2) Large commercial title insurance buyers (banks, life insurance companies, real estate law firms, and large Wall Street private equity and similar financial institutions) are careful in choosing and assigning acceptable maximum policy limits. This is based on their evaluations of title insurers' financial strength, size, and reputation. If balance sheet management and strength were not critical to ORI's Title business, our commercial title premium volume would not have jumped by more than 10 times to 16% of ORI's current premium volume since the depths of the Great Recession.

1) This occurred as Title's statutory capital grew by 313% from $157 million in those lean years to $648 million at year-end 2020. It stemmed from the combination of ORI capital additions of nearly $200 million between 2006 and 2009 (a 155% increase from 2005), the deferral of dividend payments to the ORI parent for a period of time, and the significant bottom-line expansion that resulted from favorable real estate markets and the great opportunistic efforts extended by our highly-motivated, high-integrity, and fairly incentivized group of Title associates.

2) In the same time frame, Old Republic Title's overall share of the title insurance market grew by 178% to 15%. Its investments in technology, and the additional talent we welcomed from competing title insurers, also did much to seal this success. OCAM asserts that title insurance is a "fee based" business driven by real estate markets, that these fees are controlled by industry discipline and, as a result, title insurance is not the same as general insurance.

1) We agree that the title insurance business assumes risk by charging a fee. But that's what all insurers do. That fee is called a "premium."

2) We agree that title insurance is driven by real estate fundamentals, such as mortgage and other borrowing rates, and by demand for title insurance that is significantly affected by banking and government economic policy interactions.

3) We agree with those two points because they're all basic elements of our purposeful specialization in industries naturally affected by all those fundamentals (already mentioned earlier).

4) We strongly disagree that title "... fees are controlled by industry discipline." Title premiums are largely set through individual insurers' rate filings with state insurance regulatory authorities, which must approve them. As is the case with general and other insurance industry sectors, the approvals hinge on individual insurers' historical claims experience on a state-by-state basis.

5) To assert that title insurers operate within a "...disciplined industry structure" fails to appreciate the highly competitive nature of this market. The competition manifests itself not through the relatively low premium rates, but through the professional underwriting decision-making processes used by title insurers directly, and in combination with agents, abstractors, attorneys, and other financial services intermediaries. It is in this context that title insurance underwriting aims to reduceif not eliminatefuture losses. It is all done by expending great efforts and spending a sizable amount of money before issuing a policy. In these regards, we should note that this underwriting approach to front-end loss mitigation is also inherent to important parts of ORI's General Insurance business. There it applies to our surety line and, most importantly, to the alternative insurance market solutions we provide to strongly financed corporate insurance customers that wish to retain a portion of their own risk exposures.

A Potential and Speculative Short-Term Stock Price Change Shouldn't Drive Our Growth Strategy

OCAM argues that a theoretical market valuation of ORI's common stock supports its proposal to split-up of our Title Insurance business. There is no empirical evidence for the argument:

That a stand-alone Old Republic Title Insurance stock would be valued at the same levels as those of its three differently diversified and situated title competitors

That ORI stock without the Title Insurance business would be similarly or better valued as its general insurance peer companies

Like any public company, our peers' stocks are priced at various times and affected by factors, variables, and market perceptions unique to each. For example, the fourth largest title competitor's stock recently appears to have outperformed others because of stock market assumptions that the company will likely be sold at a high price (as it could have been in what was a failed attempt in recent times).

To also make its non-strategic fit argument, OCAM: 1) provides a single numerical calculation of stock price-to-book value relationships, 2) claims that Old Republic's shareholder returns disclosure is misleading and 3) suggests that a split-up business would serve to "... improve management team incentives."

OCAM's price-to-book value argument rides on two factors:

Its assertion that "Old Republic trades at a substantially lower multiple than comparable commercial lines peers trading at ~2x tangible book value"

Its belief that "... the market has never ascribed real positive value to the title business, even at peak share prices"

Price-to-book value ratios are just one data point among the many factors involved in the market pricing of common stocks. We do not know from where and how OCAM derived its figures. However, based on the most current quarter-end data for us and our 11 peers, our calculation of this ratio shows an insignificant 14% difference with those companies' averages. For a historical perspective about some valuation measures pertinent to ORI's common stock, please see Table I (ORI's Stock Market Performance Measures Over Time) at the back of this report.

Total Market Return Is a Valid Measure of Our Progress

OCAM claims that our use of Total Market Returns (TMR) in communicating ORI's stock performance is misleading. We think this claim lacks foundation. It rests on an arcane income tax policy argument that has nothing to do with corporations' or investment firms' management practices.

ORI's way of communicating the TMR to its shareholders is in complete harmony with the law of the land: it is part of our SEC annual disclosure. We have used it for decades. That's because it is the great stock market performance equalizer for all types of publicly traded enterprises, managed investment pools such as mutual funds, and other SEC-registered companies.

TMR allows the combination of capital returnscash dividends, stock repurchases, other shareholder-affecting capital transactions, and stock market pricingto tell the entire market performance story in a uniformly calculated, pre-tax basis for all shareholders and everyone else to see. The shareholders of course include the millions of Americans who benefit from significant tax preferences and deferrals on dividends, other capital distributions, and the unrealized market appreciation of stocks held directly and in such long-term benefit plans as pensions, IRAs, and 401-Ks.

The Combination of Title and General Insurance Doesn't "Punish" Shareholders

OCAM says that "... the current combination deters many natural shareholders given the limited overlap between segments ..." We believe the facts don't support this opinion:

ORI 's stock has no difficulty in attracting a large variety of shareholders that can easily buy it, hold it, or sell it in a very liquid market for the 304.1 million outstanding shares

ORI's stock is continually traded by institutional shareholders that do the same with other companies' publicly traded shares

Liquidity-wise, approximately 1.87 million shares (0.6% of all outstanding shares) trade each day on the New York Stock Exchange.

In the tables below, we show a variety of statistics on our stock's current ownership mix. At last count, we had approximately 2,090 registered holders. The statistics, however, relate to the 89 largest institutional holdersincluding OCAM (at 2.09%) and the ORI Employee Savings and Stock Ownership Plan (ESSOP) (at 6%)that together controlled 76% of our outstanding shares at this year's annual meeting of stockholders. This largest shareholder group is identified as investment professionals (98% in table S-1) that tend to be long-term investors (79% in table S-3) and growth-seekers (79% in table S-2).

S-1) Holders Defined by Principal Institution Type: Institution Type # of Institutions Millions of Shares Owned % of Total # of Institutions Shares Investment Advisors 46 120.9 51.6% 39.8% Mutual Fund Managers 12 58.8 13.5 19.3 Private Banking & Wealth Management (Incl. ORI ESSOP) 11 29.3 12.4 9.6 Hedge Funds (Incl. OCAM) 11 14.3 12.4 4.7 Pension Fund Managers 7 6.7 7.9 2.1 Brokers 2 0.8 2.2 0.5 Totals 89 230.8 100.0% 76.0%

S-2) Holders Defined by Principal Investment Style: Index 8 90.6 9.0% 29.8% Growth (Incl. ORI ESSOP and OCAM) 35 66.9 39.3 22.0 Growth at Reasonable Price/GARP 26 27.8 29.2 9.2 Value 11 24.9 12.4 8.2 Deep Value 4 10.4 4.5 3.5 Yield 4 9.8 4.5 3.2 Aggressive Growth 1 0.4 1.1 0.1 Totals 89 230.8 100.0% 76.0%

S-3) Holders Defined by Investment Turn-Over Level: Very low (Incl. ORI ESSOP) 47 165.0 52.9% 54.2% Low 23 45.8 25.8 15.1 Medium 10 8.6 11.2 2.8 High (Incl. OCAM) 8 11.1 9.0 3.7 Very high 1 0.3 1.1 0.1 Totals 89 230.8 100.0% 76.0%

S-4) Holders Defined by Their Voting Decision Patterns: Internally done (Incl. ORI ESSOP) 31 136.5 34.8% 45.0 Internal with ISS* 19 30.0 21.3 9.9 Internal with Glass Lewis* (Incl. OCAM) 10 24.0 11.3 7.9 Internal with ISS and Glass Lewis 15 29.1 16.9 9.6 ISS/Fully 9 7.9 10.1 2.6 Glass Lewis/Fully 5 3.3 5.6 1.0 Total 89 230.8 100.0% 76.0% * ISS (Institutional Shareholder Services) and Glass Lewis are well-known proxy advisory firms whose businesses include providing advisory services related to shareholder fiduciary duties fully or partially sub-contracted or delegated to them by all types of investment managers.

This report once again lets the numbers speak for themselves. We do this by including additional background:

Table G (Total Returns Compared to Nominal GDP and Two Selected Indices) shows our stock's 53 years' performance by total market returns. It also includes internal total book returns, which reflect the per-share performance unaffected by our stock's market price movements. ORI's annual and compounded book value exceeded the three benchmarks in nine of 13 comparisons (69%) over the past five decades. The same was true for our annual and compounded TMR. Table H (Comparison of Cumulative Total Market Return to Shareholders) portrays the independently produced TMR data for ORI, the S&P 500 Index, and the market-weighted 11-company peer group we always include in our proxy statements. The data has been put together for four distinct periods:

a. The one-and-one-half year periodfrom January 1, 2020 to June 30 , 2021shows the pandemic's effect on the TMR and the recovery from the downturn through mid-year 2021.

b. The five-and-one-half yearsfrom January 1, 2016 to June 30 , 2021show the five-year minimum period we believe is necessary for a relative, short-term evaluation of our business' performance and the market's valuation of it.

c. The 10-and-one-half yearsfrom January 1, 2001 to June 30 , 2011in our opinion is a more representative period for a realistic long-term evaluation of our business and stock's performance.

d. The 15-and-one-half yearsfrom January 1 2006 to June 30 , 2021encompasses the early peak years of ORI's consolidated operating earnings, the difficult years of the Great Recession, the year-end 2012 decision to place our mortgage guaranty business into run-off operating mode, and the subsequent years-to-date that reflect ORI's recalibrated capital allocation focused on its General Insurance and Title Insurance segments. Table I (ORI's Stock Market Performance Measures Over Time) reflects certain per-share statistics at various times in the past 53 years. In the table below, we selected data appearing in the far right portion of Table I, and made the following adjustments to enhance comparability: 1) eliminated the data pertinent to Great Recession loss years of 2008 to 2012 in columns b/a, b/c, d/b, d/c, and 2) eliminated the effect of special cash dividends on dividend yields for years 2003, 2005, 2017, 2019, and 2020.

Averages for years: (b/a) (b/c) (d/b) (d/c) Price/ Earnings Ratio Price/ Book Value Ratio Dividend Yield/ Market Value Dividend Yield/ Book Value 1971 -1980 5.3% 1.3% 3.6% 4.3% 1981 -1990 8.3% 0.9% 3.6% 3.0% 1991  2000 10.9% 1.1% 2.3% 2.3% 2001  2010 (Excluding 2008  2010 and special dividends) 11.2% 1.1% 2.4% 2.9% 2011  2020 (Excluding 2011  2012 and special dividends 13.8% 1.1% 4.4% 4.7% Average for all years shown above, adjusted for 2001 - 2020 9.9% 1.1% 3.3% 3.4%

These are the key takeaways from Table I and the above detail:

The price/earnings ratio has grown steadily since the late 1970s and 1980s purchases of the Title and Mortgage Guaranty businesses, and the much accelerated diversification momentum between the late 1970s and 2000s. The price/book value ratio has been highly stable since the early 1980s. This stability enhances the case for using TMR as a best gauge of stock market performance on behalf of long-term investors in Index Funds and others, such as our 7,000-plus associates who are ORI stock investors through participation in our billion dollar assets ESSOP. The cash dividend yield, however measured, has risen steadily since the early 2000s. That happened as ORI delivered increasingly greater earnings, which enabled increasingly higher returns of capital via cash dividends paid to all shareholders. This too gets factored into the TMR.

To summarize: the trends highlighted in Table I do reflect the stock market's increasingly greater appreciation of ORI's consolidated business performance.

Management Is Focused and Incentivized

OCAM argues that a split-up would "... sharply focus management" and "... improve management team incentives."

ORI addresses management focus in two ways. First, our 19 key insurance companies each have a dedicated management team, which is serious about its responsibilities for directing that business. Second, they are guided by ORI's centrally-set, overarching long-term strategy and direction of capital resources. This is established by the Board of Directors who monitor and oversee how the CEOs and appointed management teams conduct their business.

The Board serves in the same capacity for the Company's nine largest insurance companies. (These account for about 78% of consolidated operating revenues and 85% of profitability). This group, of course, includes our Title segment's Old Republic National Title Insurance Company flagship. Directly and through its four committees, the Board's coverage is all-encompassing. The critical functions and responsibilities for the consolidated insurance underwriting direction, investment management, and capital allocation necessarily fall within its purview. These all apply and begin at insurance company levels and move on up to the ORI consolidation. In combination, this coordinated Board coverage leads to a coherently balanced, thoughtful execution of ORI's overall strategy to ensure the long-term sustainability of our business.

The segments and the 19 key operating insurance companies within each (12 in General Insurance, 2 in Title Insurance, 3 in Mortgage Guaranty, and 2 in Life and Accident Insurance) are largely managed with significant operating autonomy. However, they operate within the necessary constraints of certain centrally controlled enterprise-wide risk management functions.

The operating insurance subsidiary groupings are led by individual executive teams, organized in Office of the Chief Executive Officer management structures. As such, they provide mutually supportive, interdisciplinary senior management expertise tailored to the particular nature and types of coverages offered to specific industries and/or markets. They manage the separately organized businesses according to annually approved operating plans and strategic reviews.

An important part of senior executives' compensation is based on results achieved according to those plans. As we disclose in each year's proxy statement, the formula-based determinations of the various annual profit-sharing pools take uniform account of these items:

Growth in premiums and fees

Income from insurance underwriting and related services

Net operating earnings (excluding realized and unrealized investment gains or losses)

Return on equity in excess of a pre-set minimum target, pegged to "risk free" yields on U.S. Treasury securities

At the end of 2020, there were 18 plans (Key Employee Performance Recognition Plan or KEPRP) applicable to our various insurance underwriting operations and segments:

One for the ORI executive group charged with overall operating direction and enterprise-wide duties

12 in the General segment

5 in the Title segment

This strictly focuses our management teams' efforts, and the incentive plans are drawn accordingly. The design of these incentive plans focuses our management teams' efforts on key results and exemplifies the high level of accountability to which each of the 18 senior management teams is held in ORI's meritocracy.

Through our ESSOP, substantially all participating associates are incentivized on the basis of ORI's consolidated operating earnings performance over consecutive time frames. This allows them to benefit from the company-wide performance of ORI's diversified insurance business. With its nearly 6% ownership of ORI common shares, the ESSOP's interests are closely aligned with those of all other shareholders.

In addition to the ESSOP, almost every associate is incentivized through a Baseline Security Plan (BSP). All of these plans' benefits reflect the separate underwriting profitability of the individual insurance operating subsidiaries.

Using 2020 as an example, the three plans produced profit-based awards of $89.7 million, distributed as follows:

BSP: $23.8 million awarded to substantially all of our 9,000 associates

ESSOP: $30.4 million awarded to approximately 6,600 actively saving participants in the ESSOP

KEPRP: $35.5 million awarded to approximately 1,600 key employees from 15 award-producing pools

Total: $89.7 million

This shows a reasonably equitable distribution of profit-sharing awards in ORI's "WE" meritocracy. It clearly refutes OCAM's assertion that splitting up our business would "sharpen the focus of management and improve management team incentives."

Part 2 Response

We Are Focused on Communications with Our Shareholders and Will Continue to Develop Our Communications Channels

We communicate with our shareholders in a number of ways, both written and oral. The following outlines some of our communication channels and we continue to consider how best to communicate with shareholders about our business and strategy as well as to seek input from our shareholders.

We communicate through our quarterly and annual reports as mandated by the SEC and made available to all shareholders. This is done in a straightforward and transparent way. As circumstances warrant, we hold conference calls immediately following our release of quarterly earnings. These calls can be accessed live or via recordings. Each includes a question and answer period, during which invited financial analysts, investment managers, and others may ask questions and receive answers from the CEO and senior executives hosting the calls. From time-to-time, we hold group meetings with invited financial analysts and investment managers and give in-person updates about our results. In these and similar situations, the tables and charts we present are posted on our website, so that all shareholders and stakeholders are empowered with the same information. We adhere faithfully to the SEC's Regulation FD, which is intended to prevent possible disseminations of non-public information to the few rather than all shareholders. ORI spends a significant amount of time and effort to prepare reports, news releases, and annual proxy statements. Shareholders and other stakeholders may read these and take them as Old Republic's intended and unvarnished views. We are interested in hearing from shareholders about other means of communication that would be helpful in understanding our business and strategy and providing input to our company and our Board of Directors.

ORI is Focused on the Corporate Governance Practices Best Suited to the Company's Sustainable Business Success

Our annual proxy statement outlines our views on the Company's governance practices.

We regularly review these practices and from time to time we have changed practices when the Board believes such change is right for the Company. Where the Board determines that change is not right for the Company, we provided our reasons for our decision to keep the practices we have in place. Like others in the business community and elsewhere, we are not convinced that practices that some, like OCAM, may present as "best practices" would in fact lead to better governance or create greater shareholder value.

We believe our Board and management practices have stood the test of time. They've guided us splendidly in the best and worst of times. From humble beginnings at the start of the last century, they've enabled us to build a sustainably strong, competitive, socially responsible, and purposeful business.

The Board Is Structured to Manage Our Business for the Long Term

The organizational structure of our Board of Directors and our various governance practices are fully aligned with ORI's strategy to manage the business for the long term. They are there to ensure that all-encompassing stability needs are met for these groups:

The Company on behalf of all shareholders

Our regulated insurance underwriting subsidiaries, in the long-term interest of policyholders and their beneficiaries

Our associates as critical intellectual capital providers (so they can pursue personal goals of professional and economic achievement in the context of our mission's objectives)

The North American society that we serve, and which relies on stable institutions such as Old Republic to reduce the uncertainty of possible harm to persons or damage to property

Our Board reviews the composition, skill sets and the contributions of our directors regularly. We have engaged in Board refreshment prudently and will continue to do so. Directors with long tenures often continue to bring great value and stability to the Board. At the same time, we also recognize the importance of new perspectives. Our Board will continue to evaluate every director every year and make decisions as to retirements and new appointments based on the best interests of the Company and our shareholders.

In this regard, in the past four years, we have added seven new, highly qualified individuals to both ORI's and key insurance underwriting subsidiaries' Boards. The average age of these newer members is 64.6 years. Their membership on the Board has added significantly to diversity and business perspectives. Looking ahead, we are intent on reducing our Board's membership to an 11-person group from its current level of 14. We'll do this through the planned effects of forthcoming retirements, the annual director selection and slating process, and adding qualified people who can contribute to ORI's business.

Retirement policies are in place at both the Board and management levels. Occasionally, and on an individual basis, we make exceptions. This happens whenever there are mutually agreed-upon reasons for extending relationships beyond policy bounds. The goal is to assure continuity of service in the best long-term interests of our Company and its stakeholders, and flawless transitions of authority.

In selecting, slating, and retaining Board members, ORI adheres faithfully to non-discriminatory policies on age, gender, race, and any political and religious affiliations. We believe that good corporate governance begins with a Board that appreciates our special place as a holding company for state-regulated insurance underwriting companies vested with a public trust. As many years of proxy statements attest, we seek to attract and retain Board members who possess such important personal characteristics as these:

Intelligence, honesty, good judgment, high ethics, and high standards of integrity, fairness, and responsibility

Respect within a member's social, business, and professional milieus for his or her integrity, ethics, principles and insights

Demonstrated analytic capabilities

The ability to frame insightful questions, and challenge questionable assumptions collegially and in a constructive manner

In selecting, slating, and retaining Board members, we also place great value on their long term, successful experiences in business and the professions. This allows them to make meaningful contributions to the execution of our mission and strategy. That's one reason why we may permit extended Board tenures on occasion, which bring a knowledge-based, long-term perspective to the steady direction of our business. Longstanding directors may bring greater assurance of stability, continuity, and sustainability to our enterprise.

Old Republic's and its subsidiaries' Boards have been divided into three classes for decades. Through a staggered Board, the organization promotes these important perspectives:

Policyholders' dependence on insurance underwriting subsidiaries' stability and reliability to meet just obligations of financial indemnity many years into the future

Associates' reliance on directional stability and understandings as they extend faithfully their intellectual capital to the insurance subsidiaries with which they are associated

The shareholders who can rely on the direction and management of the Company according to its stated mission and published charter and by-laws

Part 3 Response

We Have a Disciplined and Valuation-Based Approach to Dividends and Share Repurchases

OCAM proposes that the Board should authorize a sizable share repurchase program.

The possibility of a stock repurchase authorization remains under consideration. Our last discussion of this occurred at the December 2020 Board meetings. Any analysis will take into account such important considerations as the fair and equitable treatment of existing, exiting, and continuing shareholders, and the maintenance of responsible balance sheet leverage and resiliency in support of ORI's prudently managed capitalization for the long term.

On debt leverage: we had planned to issue new debt for general corporate purposes in the second half of 2019. The pandemic of 2020 interfered with that plan. In June of this year, favorable market conditions led us to raise $650 million in the form of a 30-year straight debt instrument.

We are happy to share the substance of OCAM's letters and our responses with all of our shareholders, as part of our commitment to transparent and open disclosure.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Board of Directors of Old Republic International Corporation,

Aldo C. Zucaro Craig R. Smiddy Chairman President and Chief Executive Officer

Attachments: Tables A to I referenced in our letter

Safe Harbor Statement

Table A

Insurance Underwriting Long-Focused on Industry Specialization

 In addition to its insurance coverage diversification (See Tables B and C), Old Republic's long-term underwriting success

in its single business of insurance is also significantly due to the specialization in cyclically heterogeneous industries that

are at the core of the North American economy.





Percent of Premiums and Fees Volume by Industry Groupings Underlying Specialization



(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(h)

(i)



Banking,





General Mfg





Natural Energy



















Construction,





& Services,





Resources



















Finance,





Retail &

Subtotal

(Coal, Gas, Oil,















Years Ended

Housing &

Air, Land & Sea

Wholesale

Top 3

Utlities, Wind

Education &











December 31,

Real Estate

Transportation

Trade

Industries

& Turbines)

Government

Health Care

All Other

Total





































2001

53.3%

27.7%

5.4%

86.4%

4.6%

1.5%

0.3%

7.2%

100.0% 2002

56.7%

26.9%

5.0%

88.6%

4.0%

1.8%

0.3%

5.3%

100.0% 2003

58.2%

25.3%

6.4%

89.9%

3.6%

1.7%

0.2%

4.6%

100.0% 2004

54.5%

26.8%

8.6%

89.9%

3.6%

1.7%

0.5%

4.3%

100.0% 2005

53.0%

27.2%

8.6%

88.8%

3.8%

2.8%

0.4%

4.2%

100.0% 2006

53.6%

27.6%

8.0%

89.2%

4.0%

2.2%

0.2%

4.4%

100.0% 2007

54.8%

24.9%

9.9%

89.6%

3.7%

2.0%

0.2%

4.5%

100.0% 2008

53.5%

24.7%

12.8%

91.0%

4.0%

0.3%

0.2%

4.5%

100.0% 2009

54.7%

23.9%

13.5%

92.1%

3.4%

0.4%

0.5%

3.6%

100.0% 2010

55.5%

24.6%

11.9%

92.0%

2.9%

0.4%

0.8%

3.9%

100.0% 2011

54.0%

21.3%

15.6%

90.9%

2.6%

1.1%

2.3%

3.1%

100.0% 2012

55.3%

21.4%

14.0%

90.7%

2.5%

1.7%

2.2%

2.9%

100.0% 2013

56.7%

20.7%

14.3%

91.7%

2.4%

1.3%

2.1%

2.5%

100.0% 2014

52.1%

22.1%

16.7%

90.9%

2.9%

1.3%

2.4%

2.5%

100.0% 2015

53.5%

22.3%

16.5%

92.3%

2.4%

1.0%

2.3%

2.0%

100.0% 2016

53.2%

22.8%

16.1%

92.1%

2.1%

1.0%

2.0%

2.8%

100.0% 2017

51.5%

23.0%

17.5%

92.0%

2.1%

0.7%

1.7%

3.5%

100.0% 2018

50.6%

23.4%

17.7%

91.7%

2.3%

0.9%

1.5%

3.6%

100.0% 2019

50.5%

23.9%

17.5%

91.9%

2.1%

1.4%

1.3%

3.3%

100.0% 2020

51.7%

24.7%

16.0%

92.4%

1.9%

1.3%

1.0%

3.4%

100.0% Average



































2001-2020

53.8%

24.3%

12.6%

90.7%

3.0%

1.3%

1.1%

3.8%

100.0% Most Recent GDP



































Industry Distributions*

23.9%

3.6%

27.3%

54.8%

2.9%

11.8%

6.9%

23.6%

100.0%





































* Derived from data published by the U.S. Department of Commerce at https://apps.bea.gov/iTable/iTable.cfm?reqid=150&step=2&isuri=1&categories=ugdpxind.

Table C

Insurance Underwriting: Long-Focused on Selected Insurance Coverages Offered through 26 Regulated Insurers Assigned to Four Regulatory Defined Segments

 The long-term success of Old Republic's single business of insurance underwriting has resulted from the blending of industry specialization (see Table A), types of insurance coverages (see Tables B and D),

and a capital allocation process that maximizes utilization among regulated insurance underwriting subsidiaries to promote greater operating returns (see Table E).





Combined Underwriting Ratios*











Aggregated

RFIG



Years Ended December 31,

General

Title

General & Title

Run-off

Consolidated 2001

102.6%

91.2%

99.0%

43.6%

88.9% 2002

100.0%

90.6%

96.2%

47.5%

88.1% 2003

95.1%

90.4%

93.2%

50.2%

86.4% 2004

92.0%

96.3%

93.9%

62.6%

89.3% 2005

92.5%

94.2%

93.3%

61.8%

88.5% 2006

92.4%

99.5%

95.0%

64.2%

90.0% 2007

91.3%

104.7%

95.5%

126.0%

101.5% 2008

93.1%

110.6%

97.8%

194.1%

120.9% 2009

95.6%

101.7%

97.9%

189.1%

118.5% 2010

94.7%

101.0%

97.4%

182.3%

111.4% Average 2001-2010

94.9%

98.0%

95.9%

102.1%

98.4% 2011

94.4%

99.0%

96.4%

252.6%

115.3% 2012

98.7%

97.1%

98.0%

232.2%

110.0% 2013

97.3%

95.2%

96.3%

76.9%

95.2% 2014

100.8%

95.9%

98.8%

106.7%

99.4% 2015

97.6%

93.7%

95.9%

98.0%

96.1% 2016

97.8%

92.5%

95.4%

72.6%

94.8% 2017

97.3%

91.8%

94.8%

177.5%

96.9% 2018

97.2%

92.8%

95.3%

60.9%

94.9% 2019

97.5%

93.0%

95.6%

78.5%

95.3% 2020

95.5%

90.7%

93.1%

111.9%

93.3% Average 2011-2020

97.4%

94.2%

96.0%

126.8%

99.1% Average 2001-2020

96.2%

96.1%

95.9%

114.5%

98.7%



* Represents the sum of the ratio of claims & claim expenses and the ratio of general expenses, both taken as percentages of premiums and fees revenues.

Table D

Specialized Balance of Business: Leads to Greater Stability of Long-Term Operating Margins*

 The long-term success of Old Republic's single business of insurance underwriting has been due to the sale of insurance products delivered through four segments that include 19 state-regulated insurance underwriting subsidiaries (also see Tables A and C for industry specialization and insurance coverages sold).













Aggregated

RFIG



Years Ended December 31,

General (**)

Title

General & Title

Run-off (**)

Consolidated 2001

14.1%

11.9%

13.3%

74.2%

23.4% 2002

14.8%

12.0%

13.6%

68.8%

22.6% 2003

18.1%

11.7%

15.2%

63.9%

22.5% 2004

19.9%

6.1%

14.3%

51.0%

19.3% 2005

18.9%

8.2%

14.7%

51.6%

20.1% 2006

19.9%

3.2%

14.0%

49.1%

19.4% 2007

21.1%

-1.7%

14.2%

-14.8%

8.6% 2008

20.3%

-7.1%

13.0%

-83.2%

-10.0% 2009

18.7%

0.2%

12.3%

-78.0%

-8.3% 2010

18.7%

0.8%

11.2%

-69.0%

-2.3% Average 2001 - 2010

18.5%

4.5%

13.6%

11.4%

11.5% 2011

16.8%

2.4%

10.9%

-144.6%

-8.5% 2012

11.2%

4.0%

8.0%

-123.9%

-3.8% 2013

11.5%

5.7%

8.8%

34.8%

10.3% 2014

8.1%

5.2%

6.9%

4.0%

6.8% 2015

11.6%

7.5%

9.8%

13.4%

10.1% 2016

10.9%

8.7%

9.9%

41.1%

11.1% 2017

10.9%

9.4%

10.3%

-59.8%

8.9% 2018

11.1%

8.5%

10.0%

65.7%

11.3% 2019

10.8%

8.4%

9.7%

51.2%

11.0% 2020

13.0%

10.5%

11.7%

21.7%

12.3% Average 2011 - 2020

11.6%

7.0%

9.6%

-9.6%

7.0% Average 2001 - 2020

15.0%

5.8%

11.6%

0.9%

9.2%



* Pretax operating income (loss) as a percentage of net premiums and fees earned.

** Effective July 1, 2019, immaterial results of the Consumer Credit Indemnity (CCI) run-off business (previously included in the RFIG Run-off) have been classified within the General Insurance Group.

Table G OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION

Total Returns Compared to Nominal GDP and Selected S&P Indices' Returns



































Nominal Gross































Domestic





S&P P&C























Product

S&P 500

Insurance



Old Republic International Corporation (1)

(GDP)(2)

Index (3)

Index (3)















Total

Total























Annual

Book Value

Market

Total

Total

Total



Year End

Year End

Cash

Annual &

Annual &

Annual &

Annual &

Annual &



Book

Market

Dividend

Compounded

Compounded

Compounded

Compounded

Compounded Year

Value

Price

Declared

Return

Return

Return

Return

Return 1968

$0.280

$0.472

$0.007

18.2%

41.8%

9.4%

11.0%



1969

0.312

0.336

0.010

15.1%

-26.6%

8.2%

-8.4%



1970

0.360

0.528

0.012

19.2%

60.7%

5.5%

3.9%



1971

0.472

0.840

0.014

34.9%

61.7%

8.5%

14.3%



1972

0.480

1.240

0.016

5.1%

49.5%

9.8%

19.0%



1973

0.472

0.456

0.018

2.2%

-61.7%

11.4%

-14.7%



1974

0.376

0.408

0.020

-16.1%

-6.1%

8.4%

-26.5%



1975

0.288

0.440

0.020

-18.1%

12.7%

9.0%

37.2%



1976

0.560

0.624

0.011

98.3%

44.4%

11.2%

23.9%



1977

0.792

0.792

0.022

45.3%

30.4%

11.1%

-7.2%



1978

0.976

0.976

0.033

27.4%

27.4%

13.0%

6.6%



1979

1.080

1.112

0.052

16.0%

19.3%

11.7%

18.6%



1980

1.224

0.888

0.054

18.3%

-15.3%

8.8%

32.5%



10 Year Compound Annual Growth Rate

17.5%

9.0%

10.3%

8.5%



1981

1.392

1.144

0.054

18.1%

34.9%

12.2%

-4.9%



1982

1.648

1.456

0.056

22.4%

32.2%

4.3%

21.6%



1983

1.888

2.353

0.058

18.1%

65.6%

8.7%

22.6%



1984

2.208

2.039

0.059

20.1%

-11.2%

11.1%

6.3%



1985

2.304

3.014

0.062

7.1%

51.4%

7.5%

31.7%



1986

2.528

2.316

0.065

12.5%

-21.0%

5.5%

18.7%



1987

2.952

1.861

0.068

19.5%

-16.7%

6.0%

5.3%



1988

3.152

2.345

0.071

9.2%

29.8%

7.9%

16.6%



1989

3.544

2.604

0.076

14.8%

14.3%

7.7%

31.7%



1990

3.920

2.465

0.081

12.9%

-2.2%

5.7%

-3.1%

-2.3% 10 Year Compound Annual Growth Rate

15.4%

14.2%

7.6%

13.9%



1991

4.456

4.207

0.086

15.9%

-74.2%

3.3%

30.5%

25.3% 1992

5.072

5.896

0.094

15.9%

42.4%

5.9%

7.6%

17.2% 1993

5.744

5.363

0.102

15.3%

-7.3%

5.2%

10.1%

-1.8% 1994

6.112

5.037

0.111

8.3%

-4.0%

6.3%

1.3%

4.8% 1995

7.248

8.415

0.121

20.6%

70.1%

4.8%

37.6%

35.4% 1996

7.768

9.511

0.148

9.2%

15.1%

5.7%

23.0%

21.5% 1997

8.312

13.222

0.178

9.3%

41.2%

6.2%

33.4%

45.5% 1998

9.216

12.000

0.206

13.4%

-7.8%

5.7%

28.6%

-6.6% 1999

9.590

7.267

0.262

6.9%

-37.5%

6.3%

21.0%

-25.5% 2000

11.000

17.066

0.294

17.8%

142.1%

6.5%

-9.1%

55.9% 10 Year Compound Annual Growth Rate

13.2%

23.9%

5.6%

17.5%

16.4% 2001

12.480

14.938

0.314

16.3%

-10.6%

3.2%

-11.9%

-8.1% 2002

13.960

14.934

0.336

14.6%

2.0%

3.4%

-22.1%

-11.0% 2003

15.650

20.288

0.890 * 18.5%

42.4%

4.8%

28.7%

26.4% 2004

16.940

20.240

0.403

10.8%

1.9%

6.6%

10.9%

10.4% 2005

17.530

21.008

1.312 * 11.2%

10.5%

6.7%

4.9%

15.1% 2006

18.910

23.280

0.590

11.2%

13.9%

6.0%

15.8%

12.8% 2007

19.710

15.410

0.630

7.6%

-31.5%

4.6%

5.6%

-14.0% 2008

15.910

11.920

0.670

-15.9%

-18.0%

1.8%

-37.0%

-29.4% 2009

16.490

10.040

0.680

7.9%

-10.1%

-1.8%

26.5%

12.4% 2010

16.160

13.630

0.690

2.2%

43.4%

3.8%

15.1%

8.9% 10 Year Compound Growth Rate

8.0%

1.9%

3.9%

1.4%

1.0% 2011

14.760

8.920

0.700

-4.3%

-27.2%

3.7%

2.1%

-0.3% 2012

14.030

10.650

0.710

-0.1%

23.4%

4.2%

16.0%

20.1% 2013

14.640

17.270

0.720

9.5%

70.7%

3.6%

32.4%

38.3% 2014

15.150

14.630

0.730

8.5%

-11.2%

4.4%

13.7%

15.7% 2015

14.980

18.630

0.740

3.8%

33.4%

4.0%

1.4%

9.5% 2016

17.160

19.000

0.750

19.6%

6.2%

2.7%

11.9%

15.7% 2017

17.720

21.380

1.760 * 13.5%

16.9%

4.3%

21.8%

22.4% 2018

17.230

20.570

0.780

1.6%

4.8%

5.4%

-4.4%

-4.7% 2019

19.980

22.370

1.800 * 26.4%

17.8%

4.0%

31.5%

25.9% 2020

$20.750

$19.710

$1.840 * 13.1%

-7.7%

-2.6%

18.4%

6.3% 10 Year Compound Annual Growth Rate

8.8%

9.9%

3.3%

13.9%

14.3% 53 Year Compound Annual Growth Rate

12.8%

11.9%

6.2%

10.4%

9.4% Note: (*) Includes special cash dividends of $1.000, $1.000, $1.000, $0.800, and $0.534 per share at December 2020, September 2019 and December 2017, 2005, and 2003, respectively. Sources: (1) Old Republic Database / (2) Nominal Gross Domestic Product from Federal Reserve Bank St. Louis, with 2020 estimate / (3) Standard & Poor's Indices from S&P Global Market Intelligence LLC. Data for years 1989 and prior is not available for the S&P P&C Insurance Index

Table I

Stock Market Performance Measures: ORI Stock's Reported and Market Performance Measures Over Time





(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(b/a)

(b/c)

(d/b)

(d/c)





Diluted NOI**

Ending

Ending

Cash

Price/

Price/

Dividend

Dividend





Earnings

MV**

BV**

Dividends

Earnings

Book Value

Yield

Yield

Year

Per Share

Per Share

Per Share

Per Share

Ratio

Ratio

(MV**)

(BV**)

Average 1971-1980















5.3 x 1.3 x 3.6%

4.3%

Average 1981-1990















8.3 x 0.9 x 3.6%

3.0%

Average 1991-2000















10.9 x 1.1 x 2.3%

2.3%

2001

1.46

14.93

12.48

0.315

10.2 x 1.2 x 1.8%

2.9%

2002

1.68

14.93

13.96

0.336

8.9 x 1.1 x 2.3%

2.7%

2003

1.95

20.29

15.65

0.890 * 10.4 x 1.3 x 6.0% * 6.4% * 2004

1.75

20.24

16.94

0.402

11.6 x 1.2 x 2.0%

2.6%

2005

2.19

21.01

17.53

1.312 * 9.6 x 1.2 x 6.5% * 7.7% * 2006

1.94

23.28

18.91

0.590

12.0 x 1.2 x 2.8%

3.4%

2007

0.97

15.41

19.71

0.630

15.9 x 0.8 x 2.7%

3.3%

2008

(0.81)

11.92

15.91

0.670

-14.7 x 0.7 x 4.3%

3.4%

2009

(0.67)

10.04

16.49

0.680

-15.0 x 0.6 x 5.7%

4.3%

2010

(0.16)

13.63

16.16

0.690

-85.2 x 0.8 x 6.9%

4.2%

Average 2001-2010















-3.6 x 1.0 x 4.1%

4.1%

2011

(0.86)

9.27

14.76

0.700

-10.8 x 0.6 x 5.1%

4.3%

2012

(0.39)

10.65

14.03

0.710

-27.3 x 0.8 x 7.7%

4.8%

2013

1.25

17.27

14.64

0.720

13.8 x 1.2 x 6.8%

5.1%

2014

0.84

14.63

15.15

0.730

17.4 x 1.0 x 4.2%

5.0%

2015

1.28

18.63

14.98

0.740

14.6 x 1.2 x 5.1%

4.9%

2016

1.46

19.00

17.16

0.750

13.0 x 1.1 x 4.0%

5.0%

2017

1.11

21.38

17.72

1.760 * 19.3 x 1.2 x 9.3% * 10.3% * 2018

1.86

20.57

17.23

0.780

11.1 x 1.2 x 3.6%

4.4%

2019

1.84

22.37

19.98

1.800 * 12.2 x 1.1 x 8.8% * 10.4% * 2020

$2.24

$19.71

$20.75

$1.840 * 8.8 x 0.9 x 8.2% * 9.2% * Average 2011-2020















7.2 x 1.0 x 6.3%

6.3%

Average All Years, excluding 2008-2012 (Great Recession impacted years)

9.6 x 1.1 x 3.8%

4.0%

(*) Includes special cash dividends of $1.00, $1.00, $1.00, $0.80, and $0.534 per share for 2020, 2019, 2017, 2005, and 2003, respectively.





(**) NOI: Net Operating Income / MV: Market Value / BV: Book Value























Safe Harbor Statement

Historical data pertaining to the operating results, liquidity, and other performance indicators applicable to an insurance enterprise such as Old Republic are not necessarily indicative of results to be achieved in succeeding years. In addition to the factors cited below, the long-term nature of the insurance business, seasonal and annual patterns in premium production and incidence of claims, changes in yields obtained on invested assets, changes in government policies and free markets affecting inflation rates and general economic conditions, and changes in legal precedents or the application of law affecting the settlement of disputed and other claims can have a bearing on period-to-period comparisons and future operating results.

Some of the oral or written statements made in the Company's reports, press releases, and conference calls following earnings releases, can constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Of necessity, any such forward-looking statements involve assumptions, uncertainties, and risks that may affect the Company's future performance. With regard to Old Republic's General Insurance segment, its results can be particularly affected by the level of market competition, which is typically a function of available capital and expected returns on such capital among competitors, the levels of investment yields and inflation rates, and periodic changes in claim frequency and severity patterns caused by natural disasters, weather conditions, accidents, illnesses, work-related injuries, and unanticipated external events. Title Insurance and RFIG Run-off results can be affected by similar factors, and by changes in national and regional housing demand and values, the availability and cost of mortgage loans, employment trends, and default rates on mortgage loans. Life and accident insurance earnings can be affected by the levels of employment and consumer spending, changes in mortality and health trends, and alterations in policy lapsation rates. At the parent holding company level, operating earnings or losses are generally reflective of the amount of debt outstanding and its cost, interest income on temporary holdings of short-term investments, and period-to-period variations in the costs of administering the Company's widespread operations.

The General Insurance, Title Insurance, Corporate and Other Segments, and the RFIG Run-off business maintain customer information and rely upon technology platforms to conduct their business. As a result, each of them and the Company are exposed to cyber risk. Many of the Company's operating subsidiaries maintain separate IT systems which are deemed to reduce enterprise-wide risks of potential cybersecurity incidents. However, given the potential magnitude of a significant breach, the Company continually evaluates on an enterprise-wide basis its IT hardware, security infrastructure and business practices to respond to these risks and to detect and remediate in a timely manner significant cybersecurity incidents or business process interruptions.

A more detailed listing and discussion of the risks and other factors which affect the Company's risk-taking insurance business are included in Part I, Item 1A - Risk Factors, of the Company's 2020 Form 10-K Annual Report and most recent From 10-Q filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which ares specifically incorporated herein by reference.

Any forward-looking statements or commentaries speak only as of their dates. Old Republic undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any and all such comments, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, and accordingly they may not be unduly relied upon.

At Old Republic: At Financial Relations Board:



Craig R. Smiddy, President and CEO Analysts/Investors: Joe Calabrese 212/827-3772

SOURCE Old Republic International Corporation
SILVER SPRING, Md., Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Three weeks after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, when the world was afraid to get on an airplane much less a plane to New York City, 1,000 Oregonians led by Portland Mayor Vera Katz took 62 flights through twelve airports across the country to show the terrorists they had not shut down American life and to boost the tanking New York economy. What they found were fellow Americans who needed more than their money, they needed their hearts. The Flight for Freedom is a little-known story of Americans at their best, being there for their fellow Americans in a time of tragedy.

Oregon Loves New York Book Cover Oregonians on the Flight for Freedom sing "God Bless America" after marching in New York's 2001 Columbus Day Parade, October 8, 2001. Standing in the red jacket at center, Portland Mayor Vera Katz. Kneeling in front of her are organizers Sho Dozono, Portland Chamber of Commerce chair, and Jack McGowan, SOLV executive director. Photo courtesy of Loen Dozono.

In observance of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Oregon Loves New York: A Story of American Unity After 9/11 captures their story. Based on more than 100 interviews, memoirs, and hundreds of news articles as well as personal experience, Oregon Loves New York documents previously untold 9/11 history, a moment when the United States came together. The book includes nearly 200 color photos from this historic trip.

While other cities and states aspired to emulate the project, no other community was able to bring together its citizens in a similar effort.

The Flight for Freedom was a completely volunteer-based trip. The airlines and hotels offered prices at less than cost. Packages started at $379 for airfare and two nights at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel. (They were empty anyway.) Organizers, who were civic and business leaders from across Oregon, hoped to find 200 participants. Within days, they had to cap participation at 1,000 to have time to ticket.

The Freedom Fliers came from across the state  rural and urban, Republican and Democrat, all colors, races, religions. Nobody asked, nobody cared about people's backgrounds, though organizers made an effort to ensure that the group included Muslims and people of color, and raised funds for scholarships as well.

While they were in New York, the Oregonians marched in the Columbus Day Parade, rang the bell at the Stock Exchange, held a memorial service at Union Square, appeared on Good Morning America and other TV and radio shows, spoke at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine's Blessing of the Animals, and dined in a Chinatown banquet for 700, along with other activities. Easy to spot in T-shirts and buttons with two Douglas firs and "Oregon  New York," Freedom Fliers were routinely stopped, hugged, and thanked by raw, shell-shocked New Yorkers. The Oregonians embraced the New Yorkers at every level; they listened to their 9/11 stories and called to be present in more ways than they ever could have anticipated.

Author Sally Ruth Bourrie covered the event for the Chicago Tribune and The Boston Globe. Learn more about the Flight for Freedom and Sally at https://oregonlovesnewyork.com. See Sally's writing portfolio at www.sallybourrie.com.

Media Contact:

Sally Bourrie

301-608-8070

[email protected]

SOURCE Sally Ruth Bourrie
POMPANO BEACH, Fla., Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientists, government officials and citizens concerned about climate change and sea level rise will soon have a new source of data when Wahoo Bay in Pompano Beach launches. This underwater marine park will become a global incubator for the ocean's ecosystem and will test the SEAHIVE marine and estuarine shoreline protection system, a research project funded by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) in collaboration with FDOT.

The team at Wahoo Bay collaborated with scientists and engineers from the University of Miami's College of Engineering and the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science with the hope that green engineering solutions will prove to be superior to traditional measures such as the controversial U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' proposal to wall-off Miami against water.

"There are a variety of potential solutions being discussed to combat sea level rise and protect areas like South Florida from the impacts of flooding, erosion and wave attack," explained Rob Wyre, Chairman of Shipwreck Park. "However, many of the options can be detrimental to the overall ecosystem. Wahoo Bay will play a critical role in helping scientists and government officials test the SEAHIVE system, while the park itself will create an environment for local, national and international scientific experiments and collaboration."

The SEAHIVE configuration for Wahoo Bay combines a modular concrete structure with adequate complexity and material composition with mangroves. The projection is that the system will not only reduce flooding and erosion in the area but will be hospitable to sea life, creating an eco-laboratory for Wahoo Bay visitors.

"We are very excited to be collaborating with the team at Wahoo Bay, said Landolf Rhode-Barbarigos, an assistant professor of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering at the University of Miami who is part of the SEAHIVE development team. "They were very enthusiastic about implementing our research in Pompano Beach, and our discussions with Rob Wyre led to the idea of utilizing red mangroves in the design, resonating our ideas towards a 'green-gray' approach. Wahoo Bay will be an important test for the SEAHIVE system and will provide invaluable data as we search for the most viable solutions to preserve coastal areas."

Wahoo Bay is a Shipwreck Park initiative that will be run by the City of Pompano Beach's Parks and Recreation Department and supported by community volunteers.

This educational initiative is expected to begin construction this September and will cost more than $1 million to complete. Additional funding is required, donations can be made at https://wahoobay.org/donations-page/.

This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com.

SOURCE Wahoo Bay
MOSCOW, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sheremetyevo International Airport, Russian Railways and TransTeleCom have carried out a test run of a quantum line and demonstrated the work of quantum communications technology at Sheremetyevo International Airport.

The 5.5 km long quantum line connected Terminal F and the Data Center building located outside the airport premises. The stable operation of the quantum communication channel was demonstrated in real time on the existing fiber-optic communication line. The testing of the technology was carried out on the equipment made by the domestic companies Qrate and Security Code, which specialize in information security.

The test run of the quantum line and the experience of the first tests of quantum equipment on the infrastructure of Russian Railways JSC showed the prospects for this advanced technology in the transport industry. Sheremetyevo Airport was the first company in the aviation industry to test this promising technology, and it was highly praised by the airport's information security and network infrastructure specialists. In particular, Sheremetyevo specialists noted the convenience and speed of setting up a secure communication channel, the reliability and stability of the signal, and the speed of detecting unauthorized attempts to connect to a secure channel.

"New technologies for ensuring confidentiality of transmitted data are of great importance for key infrastructure facilities like Sheremetyevo Airport," said Dmitry Ilyin, Deputy Director General for Information Technologies of SVO. "The use of the technology of guaranteed security of communication channels will help to ensure security of channels outside Sheremetyevo's controlled premises."

A quantum communication channel is a modern infrastructure using quantum key distribution for secure data transmission. Today, all information is protected by encryption methods that require special keys. Until recently they were distributed between communication points either by a trusted courier or asymmetric cryptography.

The uniqueness of quantum key distribution is that due to the properties of elementary particles it is possible to guarantee the detection of tampering attempts and eliminate the possibility of unnoticed key interception.

"Quantum data transmission and quantum encryption services allow for absolute confidentiality, which is especially important for operators of various information systems, for companies that work with large arrays of data, including personal data," said Alexey Zorin, Advisor to the Deputy Director General of TransTeleCom. "Today's test demonstration showed the capabilities of the technology, which, I hope, will be positively evaluated by our partners."

Sheremetyevo Airport is among the TOP-5 airport hubs in Europe, the largest Russian airport in terms of passenger and cargo traffic. In 2020, the airport served 19 million 784 thousand passengers.

Sheremetyevo is the best airport in terms of quality of services in Europe, the absolute world leader in punctuality of flights, the recipient of the highest 5-star Skytrax rating.

You can find additional information at http://www.svo.aero.

TTK company is one of the five leading Russian broadband operators. The main shareholder of TTK is Russian Railways JSC, which owns 99,99% of the Company's shares. The Company is one of the main providers of backbone communications services for operators and major Russian corporations, as well as one of the leaders among providers of broadband Internet access, television and telephony services for end users in the regions.

Within the framework of the national Digital Economy Program, the Government of the Russian Federation appointed Russian Railways responsible for the development of the high-tech quantum communications. The task of Russian Railways as a leading company is to translate the current scientific foundation and technical solutions into specific projects, in training highly qualified personnel and developing the commercial market of quantum communications.

The roadmap for the development of high-tech quantum communications includes more than 120 projects. It involves the development of 9 priority technologies, 75 products and services, and more than 35 performance targets. As part of the roadmap implementation, a set of measures for promotion of quantum communications for potential users is elaborated, opportunities for development of sales markets and commercialization of services and products of quantum communications are being identified.

SOURCE Sheremetyevo International Airport
PHOENIX, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SinglePoint Inc. (OTCQB: SING) ("SinglePoint" or the "Company"), a company focused on providing renewable energy solutions and energy-efficient applications to drive better health and living, today announced that its application for a listing to the OTCQB Venture Market ("OTCQB") has been approved and it will begin trading at the open of the market on August 13, 2021.

The Company's shares will trade in the United States on the OTCQB under the symbol "SING". Existing U.S. shareholders of SinglePoint shares, previously quoted on the OTC Pink Open Market, will now be quoted on the OTCQB without any further action needed.

Among multiple core improvements across the business this has been a key driver for the company. Considering the ever-changing landscape in the markets and the recent amendments to rule 15c2-11 the company found it paramount to continue improve the profile of the Company. While many of these structural changes have not been recognized in the market, they are designed to ensure the long-term viability of the company and provide a platform for long-term growth.

Over the past 9 months the company has restructured debt, cancelled convertible preferred shares, reduced potential dilutive securities, cancelled outstanding warrants, reduced derivative liability and spun off non care assets to its shareholders. The debt restructure has reduced current liabilities which has been an inhibitor to growth and listing. These improvements will provide SinglePoint the ability to continue growth with accretive partners and raise capital at the best possible terms for the company as the investment profile continues to improve.

"We have continued to work diligently to execute on significant growth opportunities and increase value for shareholders. Our listing on the OTCQB is yet another accomplishment in that pursuit. Listing on the OTCQB provides us with greater visibility within the investment community and valuable capital markets exposure. As we've stated previously, the SinglePoint team and the partners with whom we are working are committed to driving a bright future consisting of execution with solid performance with the goal of delivering results in building out valuable, profitable business segments. We look forward to driving the business forward and unlocking significant shareholder value in the near and long-term," stated Wil Ralston, Chief Executive Officer of SinglePoint.

The OTCQB Venture Market provides value and convenience to U.S. investors, brokers and institutions seeking to trade SING. The OTCQB Venture Market is OTC Markets Group's premier market for early stage, investor-focused U.S. and international companies. To be eligible, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, demonstrate compliance with U.S. securities laws, be current in their disclosure, and have a professional third-party sponsor introduction.

About OTC Markets Group Inc.

OTC Markets Group Inc. operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market and the Pink Open Market for 11,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN, PTC Market Group Inc. connects a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. The company enables investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empower companies to improve the quality of information available for investors. To learn more about how OTC Markets Group Inc. creates better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com.

About SinglePoint Inc.

SinglePoint Inc. is a renewable energy and sustainable lifestyle company focused on providing environmentally friendly energy efficiencies and healthy living solutions. SinglePoint is initially focused on building the largest network of renewable energy solutions and modernizing the traditional solar and energy storage model. The Company is also actively exploring future growth opportunities in air purification, electric vehicle charging, solar as a subscription service, and additional energy efficiencies and appliances that enhance sustainability and a healthier life. For more information, visit the Company's website (www.singlepoint.com) and connect on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential plans and objectives of the Company, the use of proceed, anticipated growth and future expansion, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.

There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Technical complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. The Company undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

Investor Contact:



JTC Team, LLC

Jenene Thomas

833-475-8247

[email protected]

SOURCE SinglePoint Inc.

Related Links

singlepoint.com


ESG issues were first mentioned in the 2006 United Nation's Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) report consisting of the Freshfield Report and "Who Cares Wins." ESG criteria was, for the first time, required to be incorporated in the financial evaluations of companies. This effort was focused on further developing sustainable investments.

"Smart diversified investments are a question of our mindset for true returns and added value," said M. Soriano.

Through every step of establishing their brand, Soriano Motori has considered ESG standards to ensure the impact is bigger than just selling EV motorcycles. Entrepreneur and founder, Marco Soriano, travels to Europe frequently to maintain strong relationships with his engineers and suppliers.

"Smart diversified investments are a question of our mindset," said M. Soriano. "That's because our decisions have a far-reaching impact on the environment, the economy, and society. We invest in pioneering key sectors and certified companies with a proven commitment to a better world. That is the way we can look forward to sustainable returns."

SM is challenging the pressing issue of global warming by creating an electric motorcycle. But it doesn't stop there, it also plans to recycle & recondition batteries instead of creating new ones. This company is always looking for new and innovative ways to limit their carbon footprint to help contribute to a cleaner future.

Over the past decade, the conversation about the importance of climate change has grown. Marco Soriano has contributed to the conversation by attending forums as keynote speaker, and most recently attended the Climate Change Forum in Monaco as a guest of honor to discuss global investments in sustainable development.

"I am one of almost eight billion people in the world, and I am contributing my little grain of salt," M. Soriano stated. "I can't take full responsibility for what is happening in the world with pollution of our air, but I can add my share of social responsibility."

Not only is Soriano giving us unique products and experiences but inciting us to a greater change. SM cares about its customers, its employees, and our environment. Join our legacy at www.sorianomotori.com

SOURCE Soriano Motori Corp.

Related Links

https://www.sorianomotori.com


KIRKWALL, Scotland, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ampaire, a leader in electric aviation and division of Surf Air Mobility, celebrates the first hybrid electric flights in Scotland yesterday, crossing the Pentland Firth from Kirkwall Airport (KOI) on the Orkney Isles to regional airport Wick John O'Groats Airport (WIC) in the north of mainland Scotland. This milestone marks the first set of demonstration flights in the UK.

Ampaire's EEL arrives in Kirkwall for the first hybrid electric flight in Scotland. Credit: Colin Keldrie, SATE

The trials, the first to operate on a viable regional airline route, are part of the Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE) project, which is being led by Highlands and Islands Airports (HIAL).

Funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, SATE is based at Kirkwall Airport in Orkney, which is also home to the UK's first operationally based low-carbon aviation test center. SATE forms part of the UKRI's Future Flight Challenge, created to test low-carbon aviation technologies, as well as investigate the airport infrastructure necessary to support sustainable aviation.

Ampaire's Electric EEL technology aircraft, a modified six-seat Cessna 337, runs on battery power and a conventional combustion engine. The company is developing hybrid electric powertrain upgrades that will reduce emissions and operating costs by as much as 25 percent initially, allowing regional airlines to better serve lifeline routes in Scotland and around the world.

"These historic demonstration flights in Scotland bring us one step closer to making electric air travel a reality," said Sudhin Shahani, Surf Air Mobility's co-founder, CEO, and Executive Chairman. "By focusing first on immediately available hybrid solutions, Surf Air Mobility and Ampaire will be able to bring electric flight to market faster to regions like the Orkney Islands."

Ampaire test pilot Justin Gillen commented, "Today's flight to Wick went without a hitch, flying at 3500 feet and 120 miles per hour. The Electric EEL is easy to fly, flying a total of 5 hours here. This EEL model, Ampaire's second aircraft, has been flying for over a year, demonstrating the reliability and economy, as well as the potential to transform regional aviation. Its flight characteristics are quite conventional, except for new power management indications in the cockpit."

"This is an important first step to decarbonizing Scottish regional aviation, while lowering the cost of air service," said Ampaire founder and CEO Kevin Noertker. "It's a model for what Ampaire will be able to offer regional carriers everywhere." The company sees its hybrid electric upgrades as a catalyst to zero-emission, all-electric aircraft, as battery technology advances and airport charging infrastructure matures.

"With CO 2 emissions rising 70 percent faster than predicted," said Noertker, "transition to zero emission technology is critical. We're pleased to be taking a big step in that direction here in Scotland."

Welcoming the initiative, Graeme Dey, Scottish Government Minister for Transport commented: "The Kirkwall test center and companies such as Ampaire put Scotland at the forefront of the transition to low-carbon aviation. These demo flights are an important step towards delivering our commitment to decarbonize scheduled passenger flights within Scotland by 2040."

Susan Ying, Ampaire SVP for Global Operations commented: "We are delighted to have made history in Scotland this week with these pioneering hybrid electric flights on viable lifeline routes, an important segue to scheduled, sustainable air service."

"Hybrid electric aircraft achieve two objectives: reducing harmful emissions and reducing cost of operations to the point that routes such as Wick-Kirkwall become commercially viable for regional carriers. They can also make current routes more profitable while lowering fares and strengthening connectivity."

Lorna Jack, chair of HIAL, said: "The SATE project is a very important collaboration for HIAL. Our involvement means we can support innovative projects from our partners to achieve a shared goal, decarbonise our operations and deliver environmentally sustainable aviation."

"Ampaire is leading the way in delivering electric-powered aircraft that could provide a viable alternative power source for the aviation sector. It is very exciting to see this technology being tested for the first time in Scotland and we are proud that Kirkwall airport is the hub for this and future SATE projects."

"Our aim is for HIAL to be at the forefront of Scotland's efforts to transition to a low carbon future."

With the completion of flight trials through the SATE project, the Ampaire aircraft will travel on to South West England where it will perform further demonstration flights between Exeter and Cornwall as part of the Ampaire-led 2ZERO (Towards Zero Emissions in Regional Aircraft Operations) project.

Simon Masters, Deputy Challenge Director and UKRI Future Flight Challenge said:

"The Future Flight Challenge is leading the development of ambitious new aviation technologies, funding projects that will make air travel greener and improving connections to rural and remote communities. We are proud to be working with Ampaire and their partners on these cutting-edge projects that will showcase how innovation can deliver tangible benefits to local communities. I'm looking forward to working with this world-class consortium as they move forward with their aircraft trials."

In February 2021, Surf Air Mobility announced its intention to acquire Ampaire.

About Surf Air Mobility

Surf Air Mobility is a Los Angeles-based electric aviation and air travel company reinventing flying through the power of electrification. They are building the regional air infrastructure to sustainably connect the world's communities. The company has flown the world's largest hybrid electric aircraft, and intends to bring electrified aircraft to market at scale in order to substantially reduce the cost and environmental impact of flying. With a management team of experts with deep experience across aviation, electrification, and consumer technology, Surf Air Mobility is the parent company of Surf Air, Blackbird, and has entered into a definitive agreement to buy Ampaire. For more information, visit: https://surfairmobility.com.

About Ampaire

Ampaire is leading the charge in aircraft electrification. Ampaire Ltd. is based in UK, a subsidiary of the Los Angeles-based company Ampaire Inc. Ampaire's mission is to be the world's most trusted developer of practical and compelling electric aircraft. To start, the company is upgrading existing passenger aircraft to electric powerthe quickest and most capital efficient approach to making commercial electric air travel a reality.

Extending the availability of electric technology furthers Ampaire's mission to move the world forward, faster, and accelerate the industry's path to zero emission travel. Electrification has the potential to unleash a new mobility market of previously uncaptured opportunity. The Union Bank of Switzerland estimates the global opportunity for hybrid-electric aircraft at $178 billion by 2040.

Ampaire is focused on developing hybrid electric powertrains for existing popular commuter aircraft in the 9 to 19-seat category, such as the Cessna Grand Caravan and Twin Otter. There are tens of thousands of such aircraft eligible for powertrain upgrades worldwide.

Ampaire has scored a series of industry firsts since the Electric EEL's maiden flight in 2019. That first aircraft currently flies as a technology demonstrator at the company's headquarters in Los Angeles and is serving as a test platform for new technologies under contract to the Department of Energy's ARPA-e advanced programs unit.

The second EEL, now flying in the UK, made a landmark 341-statute-mile Los Angeles to San Francisco flight in 2020 before being shipped to Hawaii for flight trials with Mokulele Airlines, the first such demonstration program with an airline.

For more information, visit www.ampaire.com.

About Highlands and Islands Airports Limited:

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited runs a network of 11 airports across Scotland, providing a vital transport link for remote communities such as Tiree, Shetland, Islay, the Outer Hebrides and Caithness. HIAL airports are regional hubs in their area, supporting everything from oil and gas helicopter operations to mail delivery and lighthouse maintenance, as well as passenger transit. In 2017, the HIAL group handled more than 1.7 million passengers and now connects Scotland to more than 30 UK and international destinations including Amsterdam, Geneva, Bergen, London, Dublin, Edinburgh and Glasgow, with many passengers transferring on to numerous countries worldwide. HIAL is headquartered in Inverness and employs approximately 600 people across its 11 airports: Campbeltown, Islay, Tiree, Barra, Benbecula, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Kirkwall, Wick-John O'Groats, Inverness and Dundee airports. Kirkwall Airport is particularly suited as a test environment location due to the variety of routes it offers which include: short hops to the inter- islands airfields, e.g. Westray - best known for being one of the two airports joined by the shortest scheduled flight in the world and operated by Orkney Island Council. In addition, there are regular air services to Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, with a summer service to Norway.

About SATE:

SATE is the UK's first operationally based aviation test centre based at Kirkwall Airport in Orkney. Launched as part of UKRI's Future Flight Challenge which supports the development of greener ways to fly, the project will test different types of low-carbon aircraft to identify the next generation of air services as well as the operational airport infrastructure necessary to support sustainable aviation.

SATE will also address the challenge to improve UK regional air connectivity and helping to decarbonise the Highlands and Islands region, the innovative project will stimulate job creation and use local renewable energy, supporting Orkney's net zero ambitions.

Led by HIAL, the SATE project brings together an international consortium of 13 partners including aviation industry specialists, local Orkney and Caithness businesses, public sector bodies and academia.

About UK Research and Innovation: UK Research and Innovation is a new body which works in partnership with universities, research organisations, businesses, charities, and government to create the best possible environment for research and innovation to flourish. It aims to maximise the contribution of each of the component parts, working individually and collectively. UKRI works with many partners to benefit everyone through knowledge, talent and ideas. For more information visit www.ukri.org

About Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund: The Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund aims to bring together the UK's world leading research with business to meet the major industrial and societal challenges of our time. The fund was created to provide funding and support to UK businesses and researchers, part of the government's 4.7 billion increase in research and development over the next four years. It was designed to ensure that research and innovation takes centre stage in the Government's modern Industrial Strategy. It is run by UK Research and Innovation.

SOURCE Surf Air Mobility

Related Links

https://www.surfairmobility.com/


MUMBAI, India, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hexaware Technologies, a leading global IT consulting and digital solutions company, today announced that it has effectively carried out Guidewire Digital portal upgrades for Admiral. This program was primarily driven by -

Reduce technical debt and dependency on legacy by moving away from AngularJS-based front-end portal technology.

Build a highly configurable customer portal platform for faster product launches, a strong quote and buy experience, and faster claims processing.

Drive better decision-making and cost control.

Deliver an upgraded solution with minimal disruption to or support from the Admiral IT team

Stay compliant with Guidewire's coding standard.

Admiral, a UK-based insurer that adopted Guidewire Digital, was looking for Hexaware's help to understand the technical complexities early during the inception planning and during the development phase. Hexaware and Admiral worked as one team to build the Customer Portal user experience and back-end capabilities in record time.

Hexaware has been working on multiple types of digital engagements, including a collaboration with Guidewire product engineering. Hence, Hexaware's team was equipped to help the Admiral team identify all technical challenges early in the lifecycle as they were preparing the upgrade plan.

Kevin Foley, Head of Technology  Digital, Admiral Group, said, "The main driver for the upgrade was due to end-of-life support and we required a solution to complete the upgrade of our Guidewire application from V8 to V11 with minimal disruption to our busy change agenda."

He added, "Following a competitive tender process, Hexaware was chosen to partner with us on this journey given their previous experience in supporting Guidewire in the move from Angular to React. During this time, the teams from both Admiral and Hexaware worked as one to help achieve a smooth transition onto the new platform."

Milan Bhatt, EVP & Global Head, Healthcare & Insurance, said, "Admiral is a key regional customer for Hexaware in the UK as well as a very important customer for our insurance business in Europe and across the globe. Guidewire continues to be a strategic vendor for Hexaware, and we are collaborating with number of global insurance customers on their digital transformation. We bring deep understanding of the UK & European General Insurance market and with it bring an appreciation of the need for automation-led, cloud-first, digital transformation in the European insurance market."

About Hexaware

Learn more http://www.hexaware.com .

SOURCE Hexaware Technologies Ltd.
The Complaint alleges human rights violations that include systemic gender bias, discrimination on the basis of sex, and facilitation of physical, sexual, financial, legal and emotional abuse of women and children. Through personal letters submitted with the Complaint, these brave women provided firsthand accounts of their experience suffering injustices and human rights violations in family court.

The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women considers such communications as part of its annual program of work in order to identify emerging trends and patterns of injustice and discriminatory practices against women for purposes of policy formulation and development of strategies for the promotion of gender equality.

Devin McRae, Lisa Boswell and Rebecca Claudat of Early Sullivan Wright Gizer & McRae LLP , who are representing Renee Izambard in a groundbreaking civil domestic violence lawsuit which includes allegations of coercive control under California's newly amended Family code  6320 , assisted the group of women with their submission to the UN.

The Claim submitted to the UN documents disturbing trends throughout family courts in the U.S. including a failure to recognize coercive control tactics as domestic violence warranting court intervention, the tendency of judges to discredit mothers' child abuse allegations particularly when the father alleges parental alienation as a counterclaim, the weaponization of the family court system itself by an abuser as a means to harass and control a domestic violence victim, punishment of women who raise child safety and abuse concerns by stripping them of custody rights, and judges' bias towards and unfavorable treatment of women who resist shared parenting with an ex-intimate partner who abused them and/or their child, often leading to a dismissal of these women as simply angry, emotional or crazy.

In their Claim, the women highlight the need for court reforms including that coercive control be recognized in all family courts as domestic violence warranting court intervention, that domestic abuse and coercive control be considered in all divorce and custody cases, for priority and early evidentiary hearings on determinations of abuse as a threshold matter, prohibition of admissibility of parental alienation claims in custody or visitation proceedings, and mandated education of judges, attorneys and all court-related/appointed professionals on domestic violence, child abuse and common mental health issues plaguing the family court system.

The complainants' accounts to the UN included the following pleas (*the names of the complainants are omitted here for their protection):

"When I entered into the family law court system, l thought that once the judge and officials saw the patterns of abuse, they would do everything they could to protect my children and l. Instead, the courts have supported the on-going abuse of us post-separation. The lack of understanding and training about coercive control has been shocking. It's been frightening, terrorizing, and traumatizing."

"I have been threatened -- maybe a better word to choose is strongly warned -- by multiple attorneys that if I speak my truth, it will not go over well in family law court."

"If I had known my ex would get any significant form of custody, I would never have left him. I would have stayed in that miserable, abusive situation so that I could be there for my kids 24/7 and do my best to keep them safe."

"My ex was allowed to file as much as he wanted against me. It did not seem to matter that his claims were frivolous; if I did not show up and defend, then I would lose. The domestic violence advocate told me this was court system abuse."

"If I 'react' further then I risk being labeled an alienator. I risk being held in contempt of court. I risk losing custodial rights to my child. Yet if something ever happened to us, people would ask why I didn't do more."

Full length letters are available upon media request.

The lifelong impact of such trauma has been proven through scientific studies and is corroborated by numerous noteworthy scholars. In the late 1990s, Kaiser Permanente, with the CDC, conducted the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study . For the first time, ACEs were correlated to addiction, disease, mental health issues and other adverse life-experiences. Kevin Chroman, Esq, Adjunct Professor at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, attorney and author of Making The Case for ACEs (How the Legal System Can Further Help Children and Take Meaningful Steps to Address ACEs) said: "The Family Court system is often the family's first entry point in its call for help, and the time has come for us to have a comprehensive, evidence-based, response to our children's needs. We should consider implementing ACE-based policies and programs as if our children's lives depend on it because, as we now know, they do."

Professor Joan S. Meier, Esq, Professor of Clinical Law and Director, National Family Violence Law Center at George Washington University Law School said, "Our research confirms that overall the courts reject mothers' abuse claims the majority of the time. Widespread complaints from protective parents (mostly mothers) have been that their reports of family abuse, especially child sexual abuse, are not only ignored and rejected, but often trigger punitive responses, including custody reversals, granting custody to the alleged abusive fathers. Our data confirms this, and also show that when there are cross-claims of parental alienation, approximately one in two mothers loses custody of their children to the alleged abuser."

A groundbreaking research study into high-conflict personalities in divorce proceedings led by Santa Clara University School of Law (Confronting the Challenge of High-Conflict Personality in Family Court) Professor Michelle Oberman with Bay Area attorney Esther Rosenfeld revealed interesting findings. According to Ms. Rosenfeld, "Our study indicates there is a measurable problem within family courts wherein some high-conflict personalities are able to 'work the system' to the detriment of children. Quality education into the nature and effects of these personalities for the judiciary and attorneys alike should be mandated, so that courts are better equipped to spot issues and make appropriate rulings to protect children's best interest."

The manipulation of the family court system by abusers to continue to harm and punish their familial victims is a textbook example of coercive control. Professor Evan Stark, the world-renowned expert on coercive control says, "My focus is on what perpetrators do to their partners. But the political significance of coercive control derives from what men prevent women from doing for themselves. The coercive control model defines abuse as a liberty crime and sets the use of violence in the context of the arrogation of women's rights, the realization of which is critical to overall social and economic development, as well as her ability to fulfill her purposes in the world."

Dr. Karen Williams, a Consultant Psychiatrist specializing in trauma, who recently presented to the NSW Select Committee into Coercive Control in Australia, states, "Clinically, what we see in survivors of coercive control are symptoms identical to that of first responders or defense personnel with PTSD, except these women never get to leave the war zone."

Williams continues, "It is a myth that an abuser can be a good or even average father whilst abusing the mother of the children. Abusive partners/husbands are abusive fathers. It is really that simple. Children rely on their parents for a sense of safety, when that safety is compromised - when a father attacks the person who is protecting them, whether it's physically, emotionally or financially, then inevitably the child will lose that sense of security. Just like being in a boat, which has a hole in it, the child realizes that they are no longer safe if the mother is not safe. This is not just intuitive, this has been backed up by the evidence over and over again. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) lists family violence, witnessing family violence as traumatic experiences. Children who have witnessed abuse experience higher levels of learning disorders, mental illness, obesity, substance abuse, as well as higher levels of criminal behavior themselves and lifelong history of disadvantage. The fact that this is overlooked by the family law court, time and time again in family courtrooms throughout the globe is one of the greatest examples of government-sanctioned abuse that we are witnessing in our time."

Tina Swithin of One Mom's Battle explains that the UN submission is simply the first step. "This is the first step in our advocacy efforts. Over two thousand mothers and allies of all genders have joined our Global Family Court Advocacy Community in just the last two weeks alone. We urge that child safety is made top priority in all custody cases in the U.S. and internationally and hope to raise awareness of coercive control and post-separation abuse," says Swithin.

For media inquiries , please contact [email protected] or visit www.custody-peace.org.

Learn more, donate to the movement or to join the Global Family Court Advocacy Community at www.custody-peace.org

About One Mom's Battle: The mission at One Mom's Battle is to raise awareness and educate family court professionals on post-separation abuse as it relates to co-parenting and the family court system (divorce, paternity and child custody battles). Education on high-conflict individuals and post-separation abuse will allow family court professionals (judges, commissioners, magistrates, CPS workers, guardians ad litem (GAL), parenting coordinators (PC), custody evaluators, therapists and attorneys) to recognize the abusive dynamics that play out in the family court system so they can make decisions that are in the best interest of children. Learn more at www.onemomsbattle.com

About Custody Peace: Through the cultivation of community, awareness building & advocacy Custody Peace is on a mission to ensure child-safety is the top priority in all custody cases and that everyone is free from coercive control and post-separation abuse. Learn more at www.custody-peace.org

RESOURCES:

Post-Separation Abuse www.postseparationabuse.com

Coercive Control: https://youtu.be/YbZYSBeHuLU & https://youtu.be/UOlO8eTViec

Adverse Childhood Experiences Study: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/about.html

Saunders study: https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/238891.pdf

Meier Study: bit.ly/ChildCustodyOutcomes

Confronting the Challenge of High-Conflict Personality in Family Court (Santa Clara Law Study): https://www.npdandlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Confronting-the-Challenge-of-the-High-Conflict-Personality-in-Family-Court.pdf

SOURCE Custody Peace; One Moms Battle

Related Links

http://www.onemomsbattle.com

http://www.custody-peace.org


TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) ("Trulieve" or "the Company"), a leading and top-performing cannabis company based in the United States, today announced the opening of its 88th Florida dispensary in Leesburg, Florida, the Company's 97th location nationwide.

The new 4,620 sq. ft. dispensary expands patient access throughout Central Florida, joining nearby locations in Eustis and The Villages. The opening of its 88th store underscores Trulieve's commitment to ensuring all of Florida's medical cannabis patients have safe, reliable access to the high-quality products they rely on.

To celebrate the opening of the Leesburg location, all patients  from those new to Trulieve to the dedicated Truliever community  will be eligible for a 25% in-store discount at the new dispensary on opening day.

ANNOUNCING: Trulieve Leesburg Grand Opening

WHERE: 106 W North Blvd Suite 105, Leesburg, FL 34748

WHEN: Saturday, August 14, 2021, at 9:00 a.m.

In stores and online, patients will find Florida's largest selection of THC and CBD products in a variety of delivery methods, including edibles, smokable flower, concentrates, tinctures, topical creams, vaporizers, and more. Trulieve also offers home delivery statewide for patients and convenient in-store pickup at each of its 88 dispensaries in Florida.

To assist patients with ordering, Trulieve's entire catalog of products is available for online orders, with in-store pickup or statewide home delivery options available depending on patient preference. Additionally, Trulieve offers complimentary 30-minute virtual consultations with a Trulieve consultant to help navigate questions on products, devices, or review their doctor's recommendation. Appointments can be made on Trulieve's website and are open to all patients, whether starting their journey with medical cannabis or those with experience looking for alternative treatment options.

Trulieve continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation and remains committed to slowing the spread in our communities. The Company has reinstated "Designated Care Time" for immunocompromised patients in which the first half hour after dispensaries open is reserved for this higher-risk patient population to shop safely. The company also offers delivery to all patients across the state of Florida. Delivery is free for patients age 65+ and currently offered at a reduced rate to all other patients.

In addition to rigorous cleaning and safety protocols, Trulieve requires all employees to wear masks regardless of vaccination status. We strongly encourage all patients and caretakers to wear face coverings while shopping with us and have made them available in all locations.

For more information, please visit www.Trulieve.com.

About Trulieve

Trulieve is primarily a vertically integrated "seed-to-sale" company in the U.S. and is the first and largest fully licensed medical cannabis company in the State of Florida. Trulieve cultivates and produces all of its products in-house and distributes those products to Trulieve-branded stores (dispensaries) throughout the State of Florida, as well as directly to patients via home delivery. Trulieve also holds licenses to operate in California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and West Virginia. Trulieve is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol TRUL and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol TCNNF.

To learn more about Trulieve, visit www.Trulieve.com.

SOURCE Trulieve Cannabis Corp.

Related Links

https://www.trulieve.com/


MOSCOW, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sheremetyevo International Airport and the VK Rabota service (part of the Mail.ru Group holding) have launched a special project called Enjoy your flight! designed to draw the attention of qualified candidates to the airport's key airport professions. The service is dedicated to the 62nd anniversary of the airport's opening.

Sheremetyevo has a number of job vacancies due to the growth of passenger traffic at the airport and the resumption of operations at international Terminal C.

The colorful interactive airport map lists current vacancies at Sheremetyevo for popular professions, including information dispatcher, passenger screening inspector, special transport driver, aircraft service agent, aircraft screening inspector, medical attendant, rescue worker and others. Each position description is accompanied by the story of a current airport employee in that role and a photo essay from the workplace. The user can also submit a job application directly online for any position.

This program has been launched partly in celebration of Sheremetyevo's 62nd anniversary, and it includes a celebratory vacancy called "Voice of Sheremetyevo International Airport." Applicants for this position must have a good voice, skills of a professional announcer and knowledge of English. The successful candidate will make celebratory and official announcements in Sheremetyevo's terminals until the end of August in honor of the airport's birthday. In addition, the chosen candidate will receive an extensive sightseeing tour of Sheremetyevo, during which he or she will learn the basic features of the largest airport in the country.

Interested candidates can apply for any of the vacancies offered on the VK Rabota pages or through the project page https://vkrabota.ru/sheremetyevo/.

On August 11, 2021 Sheremetyevo International Airport celebrates its 62nd anniversary. On this day in 1959, the first flight of a passenger airliner TU-104 was made from Leningrad to Moscow and landed at Sheremetyevo Airport (formerly the main airfield of the USSR Air Force).

Sheremetyevo Airport is among the TOP-5 airport hubs in Europe, the largest Russian airport in terms of passenger and cargo traffic. In 2020, the airport served 19 million 784 thousand passengers. Sheremetyevo is the best airport in terms of quality of services in Europe, the absolute world leader in punctuality of flights, the recipient of the highest 5-star Skytrax rating. You can find additional information at http://www.svo.aero.

VK Rabota is a service for quick job and employee search based on geolocation. Founded in 2017 it focuses on blue-collar jobs. In May 2019, the service became part of Mail.ru Group. In August 2020, together with Vkontakte it launched a job search service with the same name on the social media network, and in November 2020, together with Odnoklassniki - the "OK Rabota" service. It is also integrated into the Yula ads and Mail.ru.

SOURCE Sheremetyevo International Airport
DUBLIN, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Offshore Support Vessels Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2021-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global offshore support vessels market reached a value of US$ 39.57 Billion in 2020. Looking forward, the publisher expects the global market to reach a value of US$ 50.21 Billion by 2026. Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, we are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic on different end use sectors. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor.



Offshore support vessels refer to various marine vessels that are used for transporting goods, supplies and equipment during subsea exploration and construction activities. Some of the common types of offshore support vessels include diving support, crane, and pipe laying vessels, seismic survey ships, and platform supply vessels (PSVs). These vessels are primarily used for locating and inspecting oil and gas-bearing areas, towing and positioning rigs/platforms and offering maintenance facilities. They are equipped with powerful small-sized boats that respond to emergencies at offshore installations and also provide various other services, such as transportation, anchor management and platform support.



Offshore Support Vessels Market Report



Global Offshore Support Vessels Market Trends and Drivers:



Increasing oil and gas exploratory activities is one of the key factors driving the growth of the market. Furthermore, the rising demand for PSVs across the globe is also providing a boost to the market growth. PSVs are used in the production stage of offshore drilling and for the transportation of cement, casting and drilling pipes and completion fluids. Additionally, various technological advancements in the manufacturing processes of offshore support vessels and the integration of Dynamic Positioning (DP) systems in marine vessels, is acting as another growth-inducing factor. Manufacturers are emphasizing on producing computer-controlled vessels that can automatically control their propellers and thrusters to maintain a specific position.



Other factors, including rapid industrialization and extensive research and development (R&D) activities, along with growing investments in the oil and gas sector across the globe, especially in the emerging economies, are projected to drive the global offshore support vessels market further.

Competitive Landscape:



The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined with some of the key players being Bourbon, Grupo CBO, Gulfmark, Havila, Maersk, Seacor Marine, SIEM Offshore, Solstad, Swire, Tayrona Offshore, Tidewater, and Vroon Group.



Key Questions Answered in This Report:

How has the global offshore support vessels market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?

What are the key regional markets?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global offshore support vessels market?

What is the breakup of the market based on the type?

What is the breakup of the market based on water depth?

What is the breakup of the market based on the fuel?

What is the breakup of the market based on the service type?

What is the breakup of the market based on application?

What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry?

What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry?

What is the structure of the global offshore support vessels market and who are the key players?

What is the degree of competition in the industry?

Key Topics Covered:



1 Preface



2 Scope and Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Introduction

4.1 Overview

4.2 Key Industry Trends



5 Global Offshore Support Vessels Market

5.1 Market Overview

5.2 Market Performance

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Market Forecast



6 Market Breakup by Type

6.1 Anchor Handling Towing Supply Vessel

6.1.1 Market Trends

6.1.2 Market Forecast

6.2 Platform Supply Vessel

6.2.1 Market Trends

6.2.2 Market Forecast

6.3 Fast Supply Intervention Vessel

6.3.1 Market Trends

6.3.2 Market Forecast

6.4 Multi-Purpose Service Vessel

6.4.1 Market Trends

6.4.2 Market Forecast

6.5 Others

6.5.1 Market Trends

6.5.2 Market Forecast



7 Market Breakup by Water Depth

7.1 Shallow Water

7.1.1 Market Trends

7.1.2 Market Forecast

7.2 Deepwater

7.2.1 Market Trends

7.2.2 Market Forecast



8 Market Breakup by Fuel

8.1 Fuel Oil

8.1.1 Market Trends

8.1.2 Market Forecast

8.2 LNG

8.2.1 Market Trends

8.2.2 Market Forecast



9 Market Breakup by Service Type

9.1 Technical Services

9.1.1 Market Trends

9.1.2 Market Forecast

9.2 Inspection & Survey

9.2.1 Market Trends

9.2.2 Market Forecast

9.3 Crew Management

9.3.1 Market Trends

9.3.2 Market Forecast

9.4 Logistics & Cargo Management

9.4.1 Market Trends

9.4.2 Market Forecast

9.5 Anchor Handling & Seismic Support

9.5.1 Market Trends

9.5.2 Market Forecast

9.6 Others

9.6.1 Market Trends

9.6.2 Market Forecast



10 Market Breakup by Applications

10.1 Oil and Gas Applications

10.1.1 Market Trends

10.1.2 Market Forecast

10.2 Offshore Applications

10.2.1 Market Trends

10.2.2 Market Forecast



11 Market Breakup by Region



12 SWOT Analysis

13 Value Chain Analysis



14 Porters Five Forces Analysis



15 Competitive Landscape

15.1 Market Structure

15.2 Key Players

15.3 Profiles of Key Players

15.3.1 Bourbon

15.3.1.1 Company Overview

15.3.1.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.2 Grupo CBO

15.3.2.1 Company Overview

15.3.2.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.3 Gulfmark

15.3.3.1 Company Overview

15.3.3.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.4 Havila

15.3.4.1 Company Overview

15.3.4.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.5 Maersk

15.3.5.1 Company Overview

15.3.5.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.5.3 Financials

15.3.5.4 SWOT Analysis

15.3.6 Seacor Marine

15.3.6.1 Company Overview

15.3.6.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.6.3 Financials

15.3.7 SIEM Offshore

15.3.7.1 Company Overview

15.3.7.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.8 Solstad

15.3.8.1 Company Overview

15.3.8.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.8.3 Financials

15.3.9 Swire

15.3.9.1 Company Overview

15.3.9.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.10 Tayrona Offshore

15.3.10.1 Company Overview

15.3.10.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.11 Tidewater

15.3.11.1 Company Overview

15.3.11.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.11.3 Financials

15.3.12 Vroon Group

15.3.12.1 Company Overview

15.3.12.2 Product Portfolio

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/l1ecq8

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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SOURCE Research and Markets

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The AMC for the Silver Sand Project was signed with AJAM in 2020, registered and notarized before Bolivia's National Mining Registry on June 17, 2021, and published in AJAM's Mining Gazette on July 15, 2021

( , ) Corp. has announced that Bolivia's Jurisdictional Mining Administrative Authority (AJAM) has granted an Administrative Mining Contract (AMC) for the company's Silver Sand Project.

The company said all required registration, notarization and publication steps to perfect the title of the AMC in favour of Empresa Minera Alcira S.A., the company's wholly-owned Bolivian subsidiary, are complete.

The AMC establishes a clear title to the Silver Sand Project mineral rights. In accordance with Bolivia's Mining Laws. New Pacific submitted all required documents for the consolidation and conversion of the original seventeen ATEs (Temporary Special Authorizations) that comprised the Silver Sand Project to cuadriculas and an AMC to AJAM.

The AMC for the Silver Sand Project was signed with AJAM in 2020, registered and notarized before Bolivia's National Mining Registry on June 17, 2021, and published in AJAM's Mining Gazette on July 15, 2021.

The AMC for the Silver Sand Project, which hosts the Silver Sand deposit, covers an area of 3.17 square kilometres (km2). The total area under full control of the company will be 5.42 km2 after completing the consolidation and conversion procedures for the North Block, which is comprised of three ATEs - Jisas, Jardan and El Bronce.

In a statement, Dr Mark Cruise, CEO of New Pacific said: "We are very pleased by the receipt of the AMC and mineral rights for the Silver Sand Project. In addition to our 2021 drill program and the advancement of the PEA work, the AMC unequivocally establishes title for the Project."

Exploration and mining rights in Bolivia are granted by the Ministry of Mines and Metallurgy through AJAM. A new and complete Mining and Metallurgy Law No. 535 was introduced in May 2014, which was modified by Law No. 845 in October 2016.

Under the Mining Law, tenure is granted as either an exploration license for early-stage projects or an AMC for a development-stage project. Tenure held under the previous 'historic' legislation was converted to ATEs, formerly known as 'mining concessions', under the Mining Law.

These ATEs are required to be consolidated to new 25-hectare sized cuadriculas and then converted to AMCs. AMCs created by conversion recognize existing rights of exploration and exploitation and development, including treatment, foundry refining/smelting, and trading.

AMCs have a fixed term of 30 years and can be extended for a further 30 years if certain conditions are met. Each AMC requires ongoing work and the submission of technical work plans to AJAM.

New Pacific is a Canadian exploration and development company with precious metal projects, including the flagship Silver Sand Project, the Silverstrike Project and the Carangas Project, all of which are located in Bolivia.

The company is focused on progressing the development of the Silver Sand Project, while growing its Mineral Resources through the exploration and acquisition of properties in the Americas.

Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com
Harare, Aug 13 : The Covid-19 pandemic has affected Zimbabwe's primary source of funding for the conservation of elephants and other wildlife, resulting in a surge in incidents of human-wildlife conflict.

Incidents involving elephants killing people or destroying their crops have accounted for the bulk of cases of human-wildlife conflict reported in Zimbabwe so far this year, as the country continues to grapple with an overpopulation of the jumbos, according to the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZIMPARKS), the Xinhua news agency reported.

Every year on August 12, the World Elephant Day is observed across the world. The day aims to spread awareness about the plight of elephants and identify their importance in the ecosystem.

ZIMPARKS spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said in an interview on Wednesday that his organisation relies heavily on income from tourism to conserve and manage elephants but tourism had been badly affected by the pandemic.

The organisation had received over 1,000 distress calls from affected members of the community since the start of the year, and over the last five years, nearly 400 people have been killed in incidents of human-wildlife conflict. Of the 400 deaths, about 50 percent are due to conflict with elephants, Farawo said.

"We have had to revise our budget in some cases by up to 80 percent. We rely on tourism for funding and tourism is as good as dead. We do require funding to fight poaching, for law enforcement and research," Farawo said.

He said that Zimbabwe's success story in wildlife conservation is inadvertently posing serious challenges, as cases of human-wildlife conflict increase.

Currently, Zimbabwe has a population of over 100,000 elephants against an ecological carrying capacity of 45,000.

The jumbos are located in four main ecological zones, and two of the zones suffer from overpopulation.

The four zones are northwest Matabeleland where the country's biggest game park Hwange is located, southeast Lowveld where the second biggest park Gonarezhou is based, the Sebungwe region and mid-Zambezi in the northern part of the country.

Of the four, northwest Matabeleland and southeast Lowveld have an overpopulation of elephants.

Hwange National Park, which is 14,650 square kilometers in geographical size, is a habitat to around 51,000 elephants against a carrying capacity of 15,000 elephants. Gonarezhou has an ecological carrying capacity of 5,000 elephants but is currently accommodating around 13,000 jumbos, Farawo said.

He said that faced with an ever-growing population against the background of restrictions in culling, depopulation by moving animals to where they are less concentrated is the only medium to a long-term solution to managing the elephant population in the country.

In 2018, ZIMPARKS moved 100 elephants from the southeast Lowveld to mid-Zambezi and plans to relocate 600 more last year were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, Farawo said.

"Our area of focus is to make sure that we depopulate where we have more concentration of animals to areas where there is less concentration. But that process is expensive. We don't have money. We survive on tourism-related receipts but for the past two years there is no travel because of the Covid-19 pandemic," said Farawo, who argued that the elephants must pay for their upkeep through commercial exploitation, including lawful hunting.

This, however, had not been effective in reducing the elephant numbers, he said, noting that since 1990, Zimbabwe had not managed to exhaust its yearly quota of 500 elephants.

"We have never hunted 500 elephants in one season even at our best. The highest we did was 250 elephants in one hunting season," Farawo said.

Zimbabwe had also not done any culling of the elephants since 1988, after having culled nearly 50,000 between 1965 and 1988.

He said for wildlife to thrive, there must be good habitat, good security, continuous research and abundant water and these required huge funding.

Farawo decried the loss of habitat in some of the elephant holding areas caused by the elephants themselves, leading to increased human-wildlife conflict as people and animals compete for food and water.

"In Hwange the destruction (of vegetation) is unbelievable. These animals are slowly becoming a danger unto themselves because they are destroying their own habitat and that of other animals." In 2019, Zimbabwe lost about 100 elephants due to starvation as a result of drought.

Farawo said that it was regrettable that some Western-funded non-governmental organizations make unnecessary noise when Zimbabwe tries to commercially exploit its abundant elephant population, even though they do not contribute to the conservation of the animals.

Zimbabwe has the second-largest elephant population after Botswana and the fourth largest rhino population in Africa.

"We are the best to teach people on how to manage wildlife and how to manage elephants. We have done something good that people can emulate and what we deserve is a pat on the back. We don't deserve some of the noises that come from London, New York and Copenhagen," Farawo said.

For continued success in wildlife conservation, Farawo emphasised the need for continued collaboration with local people adjacent to game parks.

"We try to work with the communities for them to understand the value of the animals and for them to appreciate the value, they must benefit from the wildlife," Farawo said. "We also use chili guns and beehives in some areas to scare away the elephants to try and reduce human-wildlife conflict."

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Stockholm, Aug 13 : The Swedish government is set to extend legislation allowing it to introduce restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven announced on Thursday.

"Sweden must be well-prepared in the event of a deteriorating situation or new outbreaks," Lofven said in a joint press conference with the Public Health Agency, adding that the spread of infection "is no longer at low levels." The so-called "pandemic law" was introduced on January 10 and was supposed to end on September 30. It is now expected to be extended to January 31, 2022, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Under the pandemic law, the government can limit opening times of bars and restaurants, as well as the number of people allowed at public events, in shops, and on long-distance bus and train journeys.

The prime minister's announcement was welcomed by the Public Health Agency. "We have seen that the situation can change quickly, which leads to more aggressive variants taking over," said the agency's Director-General Johan Carlson.

The government has also tasked the agency with analysing the risk of Covid-19 outbreaks during autumn and winter.

However, although the situation has worsened since restrictions were lifted at the start of the summer holidays, no new restrictions were announced at the press conference.

From July 26 to August 1, 3,451 new infections were confirmed in Sweden, according to the statistics from the Public Health Agency. This is an increase of 30 per cent from the previous week.

The agency's statistics also show that by Thursday, 80.7 per cent of the adult population aged 18 or older had received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose, while 57.6 per cent had been fully vaccinated.
New York, Aug 13 : Under the looming threat of a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, India has joined 11 countries to oppose any military solution to the conflict in that country and declare it will not recognise any government imposed by force, according to US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price.

He told reporters on Thursday that India participated in a meeting hosted by the US and Qatar at which the participating countries "agreed, first and foremost, that the peace process needs to be accelerated. And they also agreed, importantly, that they will not recognise any government that is imposed through military force." Significantly, Pakistan, which has patronised the Taliban, was also at the meeting and Price gave the impression that it was also in agreement with the declaration.

China and Turkey, as well as the United Nations and the European Union were among the participants, at the Doha meeting and they met also with the representatives of the Afghan government and the Taliban.

Ignoring the peace deal with President Joe Biden's administration, the Taliban has been sweeping though Afghanistan effectively taking Kandhar and Herat by Thursday night and imperilling the capital Kabul ahead of the US deadline to pull its troops out of the country by the end of the month.

Reversing the drawdown of troops, the US announced on Thursday that it was sending about 3,000 Army and Marine troops to help with the evacuation of its embassy personnel in Kabul.

"We expect to draw down to a core diplomatic presence in Afghanistan in the coming weeks. In order to facilitate this reduction, the Department of Defense will temporarily deploy additional personnel to Hamid Karzai International Airport," Price told reporters.

But he insisted that the US will continue to have a diplomatic presence in Kabul.

"Let me be very clear about this: The embassy remains open and we plan to continue our diplomatic work in Afghanistan," he said, adding, "Additionally, we will continue our focus on counterterrorism." Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed the security situation in Afghanistan with President Ashraf Ghani and assured him that the US "remains committed to maintaining a strong diplomatic and security relationship" with his government, according to the Defence Department.

Austin reaffirmed that "a unified Afghanistan and cohesive" Afghan defence force are "the linchpin of peace and security in the face of a heavy fighting season," it added.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed @arulouis)
New Delhi, Aug 13 : India on Friday registered a marginal decline in daily Covid caseload and recorded 40,120 fresh cases in the last 24 hours.

The country had logged 41,195 new infections over the last 24 hours on Thursday, which was the first time in the past seven days that the daily cases again crossed the 40,000-mark.

A total of 585 deaths were also reported in 24 hours, pushing the death toll to 19 to 4,30,254, said the Covid bulletin released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday.

India has achieved the highest recovery rate ever and currently stands at 97.46 per cent.

The active caseload has seen a dip of 2,760 and currently stands at 3,85,227. The active caseloads constitute 1.20 per cent of total cases that is the lowest since March 2020, as per the bulletin released by the health ministry.

As per the data, total 42,295 patients were discharged from the hospitals and health centres in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cured to 3,13,02,345 to the date in India.

The weekly positivity rate remains below 5 per cent and is currently at 2.13 per cent. The daily positivity rate continues to remain below 3 per cent for 19 continuous days and currently stands at 2.04 per cent.

Meanwhile, India's Cumulative Covid vaccination coverage has exceeded 52.89 crore (52,89,27,844), as per the 7 p.m. provisional report on Thursday. A total of 57,31,574 doses of vaccines were administered in the last 24 hours, pushing the total vaccination so far at 52,95,82,956, said the bulletin released by the ministry.

27,83,649 vaccine doses were administered as first dose and 4,85,193 vaccine doses given as second dose in the age group 18-44 years. Cumulatively, 18,76,63,555 persons in the age group 18-44 years across 37 states/UTs have received their first dose and a total 1,39,23,085 have received their second dose since the start of Phase-3 of the vaccination drive.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Chennai, Aug 13 : The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee Chief K.S. Alagiri has blamed the Narendra Modi government at the Centre for using political power to get the social media giant Twitter to block the handles of senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi.

He said that even the official Congress handle was blocked by Twitter and said that the "autocratic" Narendra Modi government was behind this action from Twitter.

The senior Congress leader said that the Modi government was taking away even the freedom of expression given by the Constitution to every citizen of this country. The senior leader also said that the Narendra Modi government was acting against anyone who is criticizing the government on its misdeeds.

K.S. Alagiri said that the Congress party cannot be cowed down by such actions of the Narendra Modi government and said that the party would fight for the democratic rights of the citizens of this great nation.

K.S. Alagiri told IANS, "The Narendra Modi government is insecure and this feeling is taking it to such lows as making Twitter block the handles of Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi as well as blocking the official handle of the party. This is not democracy and Modi will have to pay a heavy price for muzzling the voice of the opposition." He also said that the party would conduct a series of programmes across Tamil Nadu against the lynching of democracy by the Central government.

The senior leader said that the centre has failed to provide solace to the common man and to cover this up it was resorting to such tactics as blocking the voices of the Congress leaders.
New Delhi, Aug 13 : Rahul Gandhi on Friday released a video statement slamming Twitter for blocking his account and alleged that Twitter was taking sides in the politics of the country.

Rahul in the video statement said, "By shutting down my Twitter they are interfering in our political process "A company is making its business to define our politics. And as a politician I don't like that. This is an attack on the democratic structure of the country. This is not an attack on Rahul Gandhi." He said that he has 19-20 million followers and they have been denied the right to an opinion.

"So, this is not only patently unfair, this is their breaching the idea that Twitter is a neutral platform. And for the investors this is a very dangerous thing because taking sides in the political contest has repercussions for Twitter," he added.

Rahul Gandhi alleged that the democracy is under attack, opposition was not being allowed to speak in Parliament. The media is controlled.

"And I thought there was a ray of light where we could put what we thought on Twitter. But obviously, that's not the case. It's obvious now that Twitter is actually not a neutral, objective platform. It is a biased platform. It's something that listens to what the government of the day says," he added, "As Indians, we have to ask the question: Are we going to allow companies just because they are beholden to the Government of India to define our politics for us? Is that what this is going to come to? Or are we going to define our politics on our own? That's the real question here." Rahul Gandhi said.

Twitter has blocked accounts of Rahul Gandhi and many Congress leaders for violating their policy. The Congress has alleged that it was being done on the behest of the government.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Shimla, Aug 13 : Seeing the dairy potential in strengthening the rural economy, the Himachal Pradesh government is launching a three-year project of Rs 4.64 crore with the central government assistance for the conservation and propagation of genes of Pahari cow, state Animal Husbandry Minister Virender Kanwar said on Friday.

The hill cattle, recognized as Himachali Pahari cattle, constitutes about 7.59 lakh, or 41.52 per cent, of the total cattle population in the state and contributes about 7.46 per cent to the total milk production.

However, due to changes in the socio-economic environment, the short-statured Pahari cattle, highly adaptable to the hilly terrain and disease-resistant that can thrive on even poor pastures, this unique indigenous cattle breed is under threat of extinction.

Kanwar told IANS the Pahari cow that has been recognized as an indigenous breed by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), reflects the biodiversity of livestock in the hilly state.

The central project will be launched in Sirmaur district in 10.9 hectares to develop a nuclear herd of this breed, improve it and conserve it in its original tract with the original characteristics of its cows and bulls.

The state will set up three ultra-modern shed at the initial cost of around 75 lakh to rear 50-disease tested Pahari cattle (30 adult and 20 heifers).

The procurement of animals will be done from farmers whose animals have record of lactation yield.

In order to reduce the operational cost of dairy farm, own forage and silage preparation from green fodder crops will be practiced. The dung is to be used as organic fertilizer manure for green fodder cultivation.

The farm will act as centre for development of the indigenous breed as well as to conserve the germ plasm and will act as a dependable source for supply of high genetic breeding stock to the farmers by way of bulls or semen.

It will be equipped with scientific waste management and rainwater harvesting facilities as well as a fodder farm, said Kanwar.

"Compared to other breeds, this species provides much less milk but its quality is very rich. Its milk production per lactation cycle is around 540 kg. They mostly find their own feed by grazing and are resistant to common diseases, making them suitable for low-budget, besides traits like adaptability to the harsh climate, tough mountainous terrain and ability to fight disease," the minister said.

The bullocks of this breed are most suitable for farming in hilly terrains. Also, because of its smaller size, its feed requirement is less, making it more economical for the hill farmers who have small farm holdings, he said.

The cattle are the most abundant livestock species of Himachal Pradesh, having population of 18.28 lakh as per 2017 census and comprise 41.42 per cent of the total livestock population of 44.13 lakh.

Among different type of cattle resources, the native hill cattle popularly known as Desi, Pahari or Hilly cattle and indigenous breeds, now recognized as Himachali Pahari Cattle, are the primary population of the cattle.

Studies by the Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology Department of the Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University in Palampur say the milk of the Pahari cow contains A2 Beta-casein protein in good quantity and it is good for health.

The A2 Beta-casein plays a protective role against heart diseases, autism and diabetes.

However, the milk of the exotic Holstein and Jersey breeds do not contain this component and instead have an alternative A1 allele that has been associated with these diseases.

"A1 allele is not at all present or negligible in the milk of the local cows," says the study.

Studies said the hill cattle are highly adaptogenic and have better innate and adaptive immune responses to fight infectious diseases like tuberculosis, foot-and-mouth and brucellosis. Even the native cow urine has anti-microbial properties.
Tel Aviv, Aug 13 : Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has instructed health maintenance organisations (HMOs) to prepare to offer a third coronavirus vaccine booster for some age groups under 60 next week, according to a statement from his office.

Bennett and Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz were briefed on Thurday by CEOs of Israel's four HMOs on their vaccination efforts, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Prime Minister told the HMOs' directors that they need to "prepare to expand the range of ages for the third inoculation next week".

He reiterated the government's effort to halt the resurging coronavirus outbreak without imposing more economically and socially destructive lockdowns.

"Our goal has been and remains fighting the Delta strain without destructive harm to the economy to the extent possible," he said, adding that "in order to meet this task, the vaccination effort is the supreme tool".

Nachman Ash, Director-General of the Health Ministry, told Ynet news site that the Ministry is looking into lowering the age for the booster shot to people over 40.

On August 1, Israel launched a campaign to administrate a third booster dose of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine to people aged over 60.

The shot is being offered to 60-year-old people who have received the second shot at least five months ago.

The roll out began although health regulatory authorities in the US and the European Union have not yet approved the third booster dose.

About 58 per cent of the country's 9 million population has been doubled-vaccinated, most of it with the Pfizer vaccine.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Ramallah, Aug 13 : Palestine said it rejects and condemns the Israeli government's recent plan to build 2,200 new settlement units in the West Bank.

"The move is in violation of all international legitimacy resolutions, mainly the UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which clearly affirms the illegality of building settlements in all the Palestinian territories," said a statement issued here on Thursday by President Mahmoud Abbas' office.

The statement said the Israeli plan contradicts the Oslo peace accords signed between Israel and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1993, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Any Israeli settlement construction in the occupied Palestinian territory will not be allowed or be legalised," it added.

The statement also called on the US and the international community "to work seriously and immediately to stop the Israeli persistence, which, if it continues, will increase tension and instability".

On Wednesday, it was reported that the Israeli civil administration's higher planning and building council will convene next week for the first time in seven months to approve the new plan to build 2,200 settlement units in the West Bank.

Israel captured territories in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which are claimed by the Palestinians, in the 1967 Middle East war and has controlled them ever since.

The Jewish settlements are considered a violation of international law by most of the international community.

Official Palestinian figures said that more than 600,000 Jews live in about 140 settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
New Delhi, Aug 13 : The Taliban on Friday captured Kandahar, Afghanistan's second largest city, delivering a crushing blow for the government in Kabul and a major win for the militants.

The city was once the Taliban's stronghold, and is strategically important as a leading trade hub, the BBC reported. Kandahar is the latest provincial capital to fall, after Herat and Ghazni on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the US said it is sending nearly 3,000 troops back into Afghanistan to help evacuate staff from the American embassy.

The US said it was sending troops to the airport in Kabul to help evacuate a "significant" number of embassy staff on special flights.

The UK said it was also deploying about 600 troops on a short-term basis to provide support to British nationals leaving the country.

The insurgents have moved quickly, seizing new territories as the US and other foreign troops withdraw after 20 years of military operations.

Within hours of each other on Thursday some of Afghanistan's most important cities were captured - Herat, Ghazni and Qala-I-Naw came under Taliban control.

A Taliban spokesman also announced that "Kandahar is completely conquered".

Sources have told the BBC that the southern city of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province, has also been taken by the militants, although this has also not been confirmed.

The Taliban now control most of northern Afghanistan and about a third of the country's regional capitals.

There are increasing concerns that the militants will continue their lightning speed offensive toward the capital, Kabul, where tens of thousands of civilians have fled violent street fighting.

Kandahar is the Taliban's birthplace and former stronghold, taking control of the city would be a significant prize for the militants.

They had occupied the city's outskirts for a number of weeks before launching their attack on the centre.

The report said that on Wednesday, the Taliban breached Kandahar's central prison, and on Thursday, images on social media reportedly showed insurgents in the city centre.

Kandahar is considered strategically important because of its international airport, its agricultural and industrial output and its position as one of the country's main trading hubs.

Ghazni, captured on Thursday, is a significant gain for the Taliban as it is on the Kabul-Kandahar motorway, linking militant strongholds in the south to the national capital.

Meanwhile Herat, an ancient silk road city, had been under siege for weeks before security forces retreated to army barracks.

Video on social media shows the insurgents running through a central street firing their weapons, and the Taliban flag was seen flying over the police headquarters.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Kakinada : , Aug 13 (IANS) Bollywood star Aamir Khan has arrived in Andhra Pradesh town in East Godavari district for shooting of his upcoming movie 'Laal Singh Chaddha'.

The actor along with other unit members will visit various locations on Friday and Saturday for the shoot.

The shooting is scheduled at Amalapuram, about 60 km from Kakinada, on Friday while the unit will shoot some more scenes at Kakinada beach on Saturday.

Khan checked into a hotel in Kakinada, where tight security arrangements were made. The private security personnel did not allow anyone to meet the actor in view of Covid-19 pandemic.

'Laal Singh Chaddha' stars Kareena Kapoor in the female lead. Telugu actor Naga Chaitanya is also playing the role of an army officer. This is the first Bollywood film for Naga Chaitanya, son of leading Tollywood actor Nagarjuna.

Being produced by Aamir Khan Productions, Viacom18 Studios and Paramount Pictures, 'Laal Singh Chaddha' has already completed most of the shooting in Srinagar, Ladakh, Kargil, Chandigarh and other locations.

Directed by Adavit Chandan, the film is adaptation of the 1994 American film 'Forrest Gump' which was based on Winston Groom's 1986 novel of the same name.

It was in 2018 that Aamir Khan bought the rights of the film and officially launched production in 2019. It was originally scheduled for a release on Christmas 2020 but the shooting was delayed due to Covid-19 pandemic. It is now likely to hit the screens by the end of 2021.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Kabul, Aug 13 : Police in Afghanistan's Wardak have arrested Daoud Laghmani, the Governor of Ghazni for handing over the key province to the Taliban.

The Ministry of Interior Affairs said that the Governor along with his deputy and chief of staff have been arrested and disarmed in Wardak province, according to media reports.

Laghmani was let go and escorted by the Taliban from Ghazni to Wardak.

Mirwais Stanikzai, spokesperson of the Ministry, said that parts of Ghazni have fallen to the Taliban, while Afghan forces are still active in other parts of the provincial capital and will launch operations against the fighters.

Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid confirmed Ghazni province had fallen to the fighters on Thursday but Ghazni city had been in the Taliban's siege for months and sources in the province said that the Afghan government was controlling only the provincial office and few governmental facilities in the central city.

Meanwhile, the governor of Farah province along with the mayor of Farah city and other local officials have surrendered to the Taliban and then fled to neighbouring Iran, the media reports said.

Earlier, the head of the provincial council of Jawzjan province had also joined the Taliban along with his 12 gunmen.

The Taliban have toppled more than 10 provinces in a seven-day span as the head of HCNR Abdullah Abdullah is busy talking with the representatives of the US, Russia, China, and Pakistan in Doha to seek a political settlement to the conflicts.

He is said to be asking the countries to press the Taliban to stop attacking major cities and expedite intra-Afghan talks.
Visiting Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has inaugurated the country's Liaison Office in the Moroccan capital of Rabat (pic credit: twitter.com/yairlapid) Image Source: IANS News

Visiting Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has inaugurated the country's Liaison Office in the Moroccan capital of Rabat (pic credit: twitter.com/yairlapid) Image Source: IANS News

Rabat, Aug 13 : Visiting Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has inaugurated the country's Liaison Office in the Moroccan capital of Rabat, in a first after the two nations normalised bilateral ties late last year.

The inauguration of the office on Thursday was also attended by Moroccan Deputy Foreign Minister Mohcine Jazouli, and other top officials, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to a report in The Times of Israel, diplomats of the Jewish state were stationed in Rabat and worked out of a hotel.

On Wednesday, Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita and Lapid signed a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of mechanisms for political consultations,.

They also signed another agreement to foster cooperation in culture, youth and sports, as well as an agreement on air services between the two countries.

Lapid's visit is the first to Morocco by a top Israeli diplomat since the US-brokered deal, which was announced in December 2020 renewed official ties between the two countries.

In 1995, following the Oslo Accords, peace agreements between Israel and the Palestinians, Morocco agreed to establish full diplomatic ties with Israel.

However, Morocco severed the ties in 2000 after the Second Intifada, a Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, broke out.

Even after the ties were severed, the two countries maintained a friendly relationship, with many Israeli tourists travelling each year to Morocco.
Lucknow, Aug 13 : New companies set up in the past four years in Uttar Pradesh, would be prioritised in listing on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

According to additional chief secretary (ACS) MSME, Navneet Sehgal this was decided in a meeting with NSE senior manager Rakesh Kumar on Thursday.

Sehgal said that virtual meetings would be organised between the two exchanges and industry bodies like FICCI and Laghu Udyog Bharti so that they could encourage their members to get listed on the stock exchange.

During their discussion, Sehgal and Kumar spoke about the possibilities of getting new companies in the state listed on the two stock exchanges.

Sehgal informed Kumar that there are about 55 lakh DEMAT accounts in Uttar Pradesh, making it the third highest in the country.

Currently, there are eight companies from Uttar Pradesh listed on NSE and nine on BSE.

"This is despite the fact that UP has a high number of electronics, IT, logistics, manufacturing, plastic, leather, agro, food products and garments companies, among others," Sehgal said, adding that by getting listed on the stock exchange, the market capital of these companies would go up.

This would improve businesses and increase employment opportunities.
San Francisco, Aug 13 : Electric vehicle company Tesla has now pushed new Model 3 Standard Range Plus orders to 6 months out, all the way to January 2022.

According to Electrek, Tesla has updated its online configurator to push the delivery timeline for new Model 3 Standard Range Plus orders to January 2022, which was previously November 2021.

However, Tesla's online configurator shows that the Model 3 Long Range still has a November 2021 delivery timeline, while the Model 3 Performance can be delivered as fast as four to seven weeks.

The company has had strong demand in the US, which could explain the extraordinarily long delivery timeline, the report said.

But, Tesla also has had significant supply chain issues, especially related to the chip shortage, it added.

According to the report, it makes sense for the automaker to prioritise more expensive versions of the Model 3 when it comes to new orders. Tesla could be sending more chips and microchips to those vehicles.

As for the Model Y, the Long Range version also has a significant delivery timeline of December 2021 for new orders, while Model Y Performance can be delivered on the same timeline as the Model 3 Performance, the report said.

As for the Model S and Model X, both also saw their delivery timelines increased significantly recently, it added.

However, according to a previous report, in the case of Model S and Model X, it's not only for new orders. Buyers who placed orders months ago recently saw their delivery timelines pushed to November-February.
Ankara, Aug 13 : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that 17 people were killed due to heavy floods in the country's Black Sea region.

Erdogan said in a written message on Thursday that rescue operations continued in the region with the participation of a total of 4,644 personnel, 19 helicopters, and 24 boats, reports Xinhua news agency.

"We are working intensively with all our institutions in the areas hit by floods," the President said.

The heavy rainfall starting on Wednesday in Bartin, Kastamonu, and Sinop provinces triggered flash floods and landslides, demolishing some homes and bridges, and sweeping away some cars.

The country's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said so far, more than 1,400 people have been evacuated to safe areas.
Mumbai, Aug 13 : Mitakshara Kumar has made her directorial debut with 'The Empire', which she cannot wait for the audience to see. She says she never treated the historical web-series like a show as it was like cinema for her.

Talking about the show Mitakshara said: "When I got 'The Empire', because the scale was so large, I never treated it like a show. For me it was cinema and that's how we shot it. We have given attention to every minute detail - I hope that 'The Empire' is an experience people won't forget!" 'The Empire' is a fictional tale of a warrior-turned-king based on books by Alex Rutherford, a pen name of two authors, Diana Preston and her husband Michael Preston. It stars Kunal Kapoor, Shabana Azmi, Dino Morea, Drashti Dhami and others.

The eight-episode series has been shot across multiple locations in India and Uzbekistan.

Speaking about the shoot experience, she added "A lot of our referencing had to be done in Uzbekistan, so we went there three times. The colours they used; the architecture, are so different. That predominantly became my colour for one part of the show. Our show tells stories over many years, hence there is a colour palette for every phase in the show." Directed by Mitakshara Kumar and produced by Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani, 'The Empire' will release on August 27 only on Disney+ Hotstar.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Baghdad, Aug 13 : Three Katyusha rockets landed near a Turkish military base in Iraq's northern province of Nineveh, a security source said.

The attack took place on Thursday evening and the rockets landed about 3 km away from the Turkish base near the town of Bashiqa, the source from the Iraqi army told Xinhua news agency.

He said that the rockets did not explode and caused no damage to the base, while the Iraqi forces launched a search campaign for the attackers.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack on the base, where hundreds of Turkish soldiers have been deployed since 2015.

The presence of the Turkish troops in the Bashiqa base led to a dispute with Ankara, as Baghdad repeatedly said the forces violated the country's sovereignty by entering without permission.

However, Ankara said that Turkish soldiers were sent to Bashiqa at the request of former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and that their presence was aimed at training both Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and local tribal volunteers to fight the Islamic State (IS) terror group in Mosul, which was liberated in July 2017.

After the defeat of IS, the Turkish troops continued their presence on Iraqi soil to combat the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants, especially in the Qandil mountain range.
Islamabad, Aug 13 : Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the Afghan government was getting extremely critical about Islamabad, thinking that it had "some magic powers" to persuade the Taliban.

He said in fact, persuading the Taliban has become more difficult, Dawn news reported.

"Now, our leverage on the Taliban is miniscule as they think that they have won against the Americans," he said.

About the controversy over US President Joe Biden's phone call, the Prime Minister said: "I keep hearing that President Biden hasn't called me. It's his business. It's not like I am waiting for any phone call." Khan's comments come days after National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf said that Pakistan had other options if Biden continued to ignore its leadership.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan would influence the Taliban for holding direct talks with Turkey to secure the Kabul International Airport after US troops completely exit the conflict-hit country by August 31.

"We will be trying the best thing for Turkey and Taliban to have a face-to-face dialogue, so that both could talk about the reasons to secure the Kabul airport," he said while talking to foreign media persons at the Prime Minister's House.

He was responding to a question by a reporter about the government's position after Turkey proposed a new joint mission involving itself, Pakistan and Hungary to protect the Kabul airport.

Khan mentioned his meeting with Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar on Wednesday, during which they also discussed security situation in the region, including Afghanistan.

"We will also talk to the Taliban and use our influence (for a meeting with Turkish government)," he added.
Mumbai, Aug 13 : Mumbai Indians, the reigning champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL), have left for Abu Dhabi, the capital of UAE ahead of the resumption of IPL 2021.

The franchise shared a picture through its Instagram handle on Friday, showing talent scout R Vinay Kumar in the flight with the caption as 'Abu Dhabi bound'.

They also posted a video of off-spinner Jayant Yadav in full travel gear with caption as "Off we go! The countdown has begun." Earlier, the BCCI had announced that the remainder of IPL 2021, halted in May due to the second wave of COVID-19 in India, will be held in UAE from September 19.

The Indian members of the team are amongst the first ones to leave for UAE on Friday. Post quarantine, the team will begin their pre-season camp in Abu Dhabi.

The franchise for the last two weeks had organised a preparatory camp for the domestic players at the Jio Stadium inside Reliance Corporate Park in Ghansoli.

After undergoing a mandatory quarantine period, the players started their training with special facilities and setup available keeping in mind the monsoon season in Mumbai.

Mumbai is all set to resume their campaign in a blockbuster clash against Chennai Super Kings on September 19 in Dubai.

The five-time IPL winners are seated fourth in the points table with Delhi Capitals on top.

Overall, 13 matches will be held in Dubai. Sharjah will host 10 matches while Abu Dhabi will host eight matches.

Latest updates on IPL 2021

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Doha, Aug 13 : Representatives of countries taking part in the Doha meeting on Afghanistan have called on the Afghan warring parties to expedite the peace process, reach a political settlement and comprehensive ceasefire as quickly as possible, stressing their rejection of any government imposed by force.

Issued on Thursday evening at the final session of the meeting, a joint statement made it clear that the participants have agreed on the need to accelerate the peace process as a very urgent and key issue for negotiating concrete proposals between the Afghan government and the Taliban, reports Xinhua news agency.

The participants said that they would not recognise any government in Afghanistan that is forcibly imposed and are much concerned about the ongoing violence, large numbers of civilian casualties, allegations of human rights violations, and destruction of infrastructure, which prolongs conflict and makes reconciliation efforts more difficult.

They pledged to provide assistance to reconstruction process once a viable political settlement is reached between the two sides.

The statement stressed the guidelines of the political settlement, which include all-out governance, respect for human rights including the rights of women and minorities, mechanism for forming a representative government, the commitment not to make Afghan territory a threat to other countries, and respect for the international law, including international humanitarian one.

The participants called upon all Afghan parties to act in accordance with these guidelines and build upon them in the future political settlement, according to the statement.

At the invitation of Qatar, special envoys and representatives from China, Russia, Pakistan, the US and the UN, as well as other regional countries and international organisations, have gathered in Doha since Tuesday to hold talks over the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan.

Through exchanging views with the representatives of the Afghan government and Taliban, the participants have been discussing contributions that the international community can make to helping the peace process.

Since the withdrawal of the US-led forces on May 1, the Taliban has continued to gain ground in Afghanistan.

On Friday, the Taliban took control over the key southern Afghan cities of Lashkar Gah and Kandahar, after weeks of heavy clashes.

The insurgent group captured Ghazni city, the capital of eastern Ghazni province on Thursday, bringing the number of provincial capitals captured so far to more than 10 in less than a week.
Mangaluru : , Aug 13 (IANS) Basavaraj Bommai on Friday cancelled a visit to the check posts near the Kerala borders in Dakshina Kannada district after intelligence inputs that the Karnataka Chief Minister might face protests from the people of the adjoining state.

According to the official itinerary Bommai was scheduled to inspect these check posts on Friday morning. However, the programme was cancelled and Bommai would return to Bengaluru after wrapping up his tour in Udupi.

Sources in the department explained that after the Karnataka government imposed strict restrictions on movement of people from Kasaragod district in Kerala border to Karnataka sentiments have been running strong.

Kasaragod district people have been demanding merger of the district with Karnataka state. People of Kasaragod district share the same culture of Dakshina Kannada and depend on the district headquarter, coastal town of Mangaluru for education, health, business and other purposes.

They are upset with the Karnataka government's decision to impose harsher measures at Kerala-Karnataka border areas due to higher cases of Covid infection in the neighbouring state.

Bommai was earlier scheduled to stay in Mangaluru on Thursday night, however, he decided to stay back in Udupi.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Auckland, Aug 13 : The city of Auckland has witnessed a surge in violent actitives in the past one and a half years, recording at least 232 assaults in May 2021, according to figures released by New Zealand Police on Friday.

More than 1,000 people have been assaulted in Auckland's central business district (CBD) so far this year, many of whom have been randomly punched by strangers, Xinhua news agency reported.

The New Zealand Police also said that violent assaults, firearms-linked crimes occurred throughout almost all Auckland suburbs from the north shore to Manukau in the south.

It was recently reported that a series of shootings in southern Auckland has left houses riddled with bullets and many people seriously injured.

More seriously, the violence was not only restricted to the public, police officers were also more commonly attacked by criminals.

Gary Davey, the Auckland Central Area Commander Inspector, told local media that at the moment around eight police officers were still with serious concussion-related injuries.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff believed that the violence upsurge in the city related to hundreds of deportees from Australia.

Hundreds of New Zealanders were deported from Australia since international borders closed during the last year.

Many people being deported have no family ties or connections in New Zealand. Some of them are gang-related or committed crime.

Davey believed that the increased violence also related to demographic change in Auckland's central area due to the Covid-19 lockdowns.

He explained that when all international students and tourists disappeared from downtown Auckland, more gang-related people could live in CBD apartments with relatively affordable rental fee.

Increased violence scared the average people, although the property price in Auckland region hit record high recently.
Islamabad, Aug 13 : A parliamentary committee in Pakistan has expressed concerns over reports that the names of a number of public figures have appeared on a "kill list" referred to by a former spokesperson of the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and The Guardian last week.

The committee called upon the Imran Khan government to carry out an investigation.

Shazia Marri, the committee's chairperson, directed the interior secretary to have an early meeting with former Senators Farhatullah Babar and Afrasiab Khattak to take the matter forward.

The names of both the senators figure on the hit list, Dawn news reported.

Five UN bodies, in a joint letter to the government on May 29, 2019, had mentioned the 'kill list'.

"This is what makes it far too serious to be taken lightly," Senator Babar said.

The Guardian newspaper carried a report a few days ago about threats of elimination made by some Pakistani dissidents living abroad.

The Pakistan Foreign Office promptly denied the existence of any such list, but mere denial cannot allay suspicions, Babar added.

Khattak said the situation was so alarming that anybody could be on the hit list.

Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari said the case needs to be thoroughly investigated.

Dawn reported that the committee had been forwarded a Facebook post of Ehsanullah Ehsan, the former TTP spokesperson, in which he claimed last month that he had been asked to lead a "death squad" to eliminate "some individuals".

The "kill list", according to Ehsan's post, includes the names of former Senators Babar, Khattak, Syed Alam Mehsud and Mufti Kifayatullah.

Babar said: "Ehsanullah Ehsan is no ordinary person. He is a former spokesperson for Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) who later formed a splinter group, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, both designated as terror outfits. He has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly attacks in Pakistan." The human rights committee was informed that in April 2017 Ehsan had reportedly turned himself in to the security agencies and transformed himself from a "terrorist into a confidant of the agencies". He had the freedom to give media interviews and made some startling disclosures.

In an interview to Al Jazeera after his escape, he claimed that his release was the result of an agreement that granted him full legal immunity, a personal monetary stipend and a guarantee that he would be allowed to live as a "peaceful citizen".

Al Jazeera provided a list of his allegations to the military and civilian authorities in Pakistan, but they did not respond, Ehsan said.

After the mysterious death of former senator Usman Kakar in Quetta, Ehsan said his name was included in the hit list maintained by his former handlers.

A few days later through another tweet he gave names of other individuals in the list.
Bengaluru, Aug 13 : Soumendu Mukherjee, a senior IPS officer, who was investigating the Karnataka Sex CD scandal, has informed the high court that re-investigation into the case was not required.

The matter was taken up by the Division Bench headed by Chief Justice A.S.Oka looking into the petition seeking transfer of the Sex CD case to the CBI and monitoring of investigation by the High Court was told about this on Thursday.

The court had objected to the submission of an investigation report in the absence of an investigation officer. The bench again noted that senior officers are appointed for investigation by considering their seniority and experience. "If a senior goes on leave, how is it possible to conduct proper investigation," the court observed.

However, Advocate General (AG) Prabhulinga Navadagi appearing for the government informed the court that the investigation carried out in the absence of an investigation officer of Special Investigation Team (SIT) will not be improper.

The high court considering the argument stated that, though the AG stated there will not be any shortcomings in the investigation carried out even in the absence of the investigation officer, the petition questioned the formation of SIT and it has to be ascertained whether proper investigation had taken place. There is a need to look into all these matters, the bench noted.

The investigations took place in the absence of SIT chief looking into Sex CD case for three months. Soumendu Mukherjee did not hand over the investigation, he only transferred the task of submission of report to the court. Mukkherjee must have verified the investigation report before submission, the bench observed.

The court had also asked Mukherjee to get back to the court on submission of an affidavit after verifying the final report of the case. However, Mukherjee informed the court through his counsel that re-investigation of the case was not required. The court adjourned the matter to September 3 and directed the SIT not to submit the final report just yet.
New Delhi, Aug 13: As Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba completes a month in office, his actions would now be scrutinised with a fine toothcomb. Deubas Nepali Congress along with its five coalition partners has rolled out a common minimum programme (CMP) just a few days ago.

According to the Himalayan Times, the CMP has underlined the need to resolve issues relating to the Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipulek region through diplomatic means with India. The region was included in the national map of Nepal following its endorsement by the federal Parliament last year. The CMP underlined the need for Nepal to adopt a 'Neigbour's First' policy while striking cordial relations with the other countries as well.

"Nepal, under this government will be interested in maintaining good relations with all its neighbours. Nepal needs Beijing and China has been a good neighbour to us but India will remain special, China cannot replace India," Udaya Shumsher Rana, former minister of state for finance and a member of Nepali Congress told India Narrative.

Deuba will have to delicately resolve issues as he leads a rather fragile coalition government. He will have to do a fine balancing job. While Deuba will have to take the other coalition partners along he will also have to keep his own citizens happy while maintaining steady relations with India as well as China.

"For India, Nepal is of strategic importance. India is committed to strengthening bilateral relations with Kathmandu," Gopal Krishna Agarwal, BJP's spokesperson said, adding that Nepal was one of the first countries Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited after assuming office.

While around 6 lakh Indians are living in Nepal about 8 lakh Nepalese have made India their home.

Nepal will also look for Indian support to boost its Covid 19 pandemic ravaged economy.

In an article, the Beijing headquartered Global Times, noted that "the Nepali Congress will likely lead the country's foreign policy towards a "favorable direction for India." However, it also maintained that despite this Nepal's relations with China will remain solid.

The news organisation noted that if Nepal wants to participate in world economic and trade activities, it must first go through Indian soil. "It can be said the key to Nepal's access to the world lies in India's hands. Moreover, Hinduism is the main and largest religion of Nepal. Therefore, no matter which party is in power, India's influence cannot be avoided," said, adding that Deuba's rise to power may tilt the country "a bit" toward India.

However, it added that Nepal-China relations would continue to remain strong.

"The future is bright for Indo-Nepal relations and there is so much untapped potential," Bhaskar Koirala Director of the Nepal Institute of International and Strategic Studies said.

According to the Indian Embassy in Nepal, New Delhi's development assistance to the South Asian nation is a broad-based programme focusing on creation of infrastructure at the grass-roots level, under which various projects have been implemented in the areas of infrastructure, health, water resources, education and rural & community development.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
Chennai, Aug 13 : The Tamil Nadu Information Technology department would soon launch the BharatNet programme in 12,534 villages panchayats of the state to improve connectivity in the rural areas.

In a statement on Friday, state IT minister Mano Thangaraj said the state would soon be transformed into a technology hub. The minister said that the major aim of the government was to improve the infrastructure that would lead to an increase in investments. He said that an increase in investments would create more jobs.

The Tamil Nadu government, according to the IT minister is planning to capitalise on the skilled manpower, infrastructure, competence and policies of the state to convert it into the Artificial Intelligence capital of the country.

The IT department in a study found that India is ranked eighth in the top ten countries of the world with over 4,000 AI patents being filed in the past five years.

ArRm Arun, President of Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI), told IANS, "India is doing extremely well as far as Artificial Intelligence is concerned and the country has recorded the highest increase in the use of AI at 45 per cent during the pandemic. Major economies like the US recorded 35 per cent, the UK 23 per cent and Japan 28 per cent." He said Tamil Nadu has the potential to become the IT capital of India with proper streamlining of available data, human intelligence and affordable computing power.
New Delhi, Aug 13 : Dating app Tinder on Friday announced that it has launched a comprehensive in-app Safety Centre in India that will give members easy access to tools relevant to their well-being while using the platform.

The company said that the Safety Centre centralises dating safety tips within the app and it will offer resources in partnership with local NGOs relevant to the well-being of members.

"Every day, millions of our members trust us to introduce them to new people, and we're committed to building safety features that meet the needs of today's online dating communities," Bernadette Morgan, Director, Trust & Safety Product at Tinder, said in a statement.

"I am proud to announce the availability of this feature in India. For us, it represents an important step in driving our safety work forward at an unmatched scale in the market," Morgan added.

As an evolving section of the app, content in the Safety Centre will continually be reviewed and updated as needed.

Topics will include the latest guidance for dating safely and offer educational resources, as well as list local NGOs and hotlines offering support, such as National Commission for Women, Pink Legal, Umang LBT Support Group, One Future Collective and The Humsafar Trust.

The goal of each local Safety Centre is to centralise safety-related resources and provide avenues of support that connect members in need with relevant experts, the company said.

The Safety Centre will be available at members' fingertips via the app's main menu and any time members chat with potential matches, it added.
New Delhi, Aug 13: In a major reshuffle at the top level of the Afghan National Army, two young and dare devil officers have taken charge of the regular armed forces and special units.

Amid continued Taliban advances in the war-ravaged country, Gen. Hibatullah Alizai was appointed as chief of the armed forces. Simultaneously Gen. Sami Sadat apexed the army's Special Forces. According to Afghan sources, these two young generals of the Afghan army have been creating havoc in the ranks of the Taliban.

The great bonhomie and camaraderie between the two generals are reflected in this tweet posted by Gen. Sami Sadat.

"Great to get a surprise visit by my brother General Haibat Alizai CG of ANASOC, Alizai is humble, fearless and a committed military leader. Thank you, brother, for your continued support to southern Afghanistan'.

In a sudden move Afghan president and Commander in chief Ashraf Ghani "relieved" acting Defence minister Bismillah Khan Mohammadi and sacked army chief General Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai on Wednesday. Instead, he appointed General Haibatullah Alizai as the new Chief of staff.

It is said that in a war, tactics keep changing according to the ground realities. Strategic appreciation also needs regular review. As per reports, part of Afghanistan's military is undergoing a reshuffle to tackle the growing influence of the Taliban in the region.

Afghan army is perhaps the "youngest" army of any republic. According to the Afghan sources, Ghani has realised that he had two big challenges: first reorganise his 3 lakhs plus the army under his control and recapture the fallen areas from the Taliban. With this realisation, the Afghan President made some bold changes. First, was to get rid of some "old" beliefs that no longer worked. As a result, he engaged with the warlords who hate the Taliban. Second, he started leading in a completely new way by giving more power to young generals.

In passing the baton of military leadership to the next generation, Ghani appointed 35-year-old, Alizai as the army chief. Gen. Alizai has pursued his military education in the UK and the US, where he trained as a marine commando.

In a tweet Gen. Alizai said: "I assure you. First I will die, then whatever happens, it will happen".

Gen. Sadat, the 36-year-old commander of Afghan special forces, has been holding up against the Taliban assault in Lashkar Gah, the capital of the southern province of Helmand. On Wednesday, the day when Ghani and Dostum headed for Mazar-e-Sharif to defend the northern Afghan city, Sadat was promoted to head the Afghan National Army commandos. Earlier he was heading the 215 Maiwand Afghan Army Corps at Lashkar Gah. According to AFP, Sadat, a graduate of London's prestigious King's College, was trained by the US and NATO forces in the US, Germany, UK as a marine commando.

"I know this is our country, that the Taliban are failing, that they will fail sooner or later," he told AFP. "Any Taliban who comes to Lashkar Gah will die or leave disabled for life," he said.

The flamboyant, social media savvy commando, with over 12 thousand followers means 'business" and has participated in many operations against the Taliban. According to AFP, he has asked every resident to leave Lashkar Gah as his men have been going house-to-house to secure neighbourhoods captured by the Taliban in the city. "We still find civilians -- especially the elderly and trapped women -- who we take to safer places," he told AFP.

Meanwhile, the interior minister of Afghanistan, General Abdul Satar Mirzakwal told Al Jazeera that Afghan army is working on a three phased plan after reorganising its forces. The immediate focus is to secure life line highways, border crossings ang big cities.

"The first is to stop the defeats [of the government forces], the second is to re-gather our forces to create security rings around the cities and we're bringing those soldiers back to their posts who had abandoned their posts. The third is to begin offensive operations," Mirzakwal told Al Jazeera.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Tokyo, Aug 13 : Heavy rain lased western and southwestern Japan on Friday, leaving one person dead and at least two others missing, while the country's weather agency issued warnings for more downpours.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued its highest level rain alert in the western prefecture of Hiroshima, warning of possible flooding, swollen rivers and mudslides, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to local authorities, a woman died and two others remained missing after a mudslide destroyed two homes in Unzen, Nagasaki prefecture, in the southwestern Kyushu region.

A man in his 60s was saved from the site.

According to the weather agency, amounts of rainfall in Unzen and Shimabara reached record high.

In Amakusa, Kumamoto prefecture, record downpour was also recorded in the same period.

In Tokyo, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga held an emergency meeting with members of his cabinet, calling on people affected to evacuate immediately if necessary.
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 13 : The Kerala High Court on Friday granted anticipatory bail to former Gujarat Director General of Police R.B. Sreekumar and three others in the ISRO spy case which has been reopened following the new proceedings initiated by the CBI.

Sreekumar's role in the case was as deputy director of the Intelligence Bureau. His then colleague P.S.Jayaprakash and two former Kerala Police officials S. Vijayan and Thampi S. Durgadutt who had all secured interim bail before, got anticipatory bail on Friday.

Vijayan and Durgadutt are the first and second accused in a new FIR registered with the Thiruvananthapuram Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court by the CBI in June.

In this FIR 18 people, including former top Kerala police and IB officials, have been charged with conspiracy and fabrication of documents.

This case first surfaced in the mid nineties, but things changed for the victim S. Nambi Narayanan, a former ISRO scientist, after numerous long-drawn court battles when the Supreme Court in 2020 appointed a three-member committee headed by retired judge Justice D.K. Jain to probe if there was a conspiracy among the then police officials to falsely implicate Narayanan.

On June 28, a new team of the CBI (Delhi Special Unit) arrived in the state capital to try to unravel the ISRO spy case and will look from a different angle if there was any conspiracy on the part of the probe teams of the Kerala Police and the IB.

When the then police and IB officials sensed that the new CBI team has already started their probe and might even arrest some of them, they approached the court seeking bail.

The ISRO spy case surfaced in 1994 when Nambi Narayanan was arrested on charges of espionage along with another senior ISRO official, two Maldivian women and a businessman.

The CBI freed Narayanan in 1995 and since then he has been fighting a legal battle against all the officials who probed the case and falsely implicated him.

Narayanan has now received a compensation of Rs 1.9 crore from various agencies, including the Kerala government which in 2020 paid him Rs 1.3 crore and later awarded Rs 50 lakh as directed by the Supreme Court in 2018 and another Rs 10 lakh as directed by the National Human Rights Commission.

The compensation was because the former ISRO scientist had to suffer wrongful imprisonment, malicious prosecution and humiliation.
San Francisco, Aug 13 : Microsoft has announced that it is rolling out the first set of updates for several apps included as part of Windows 11.

The apps, including, Mail, Calendar and Calculator app updates are rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel at first.

The Calculator app now has a beautiful new look for Windows 11. It also includes a new app theme setting so that you can set the app in a theme different from Windows, Dave Grochocki, Senior Program Manager Lead - Windows Inbox Apps, said in a blogpost on Thursday.

Besides these, the Calculator app is packed with useful features. It's the perfect tool to help you complete your math homework, manage your finances, plot, and analyse equations on a graph and evaluate algebra, trigonometry, and complex math expressions, Grochocki added.

In Windows 11, both the classic Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch apps have been replaced by a new Snipping Tool app that represents the best experiences of both apps in the next evolution of screen capture for Windows.

The Snipping Tool for Windows 11 includes new visuals that build off the classic app with added functionality like the WIN + SHIFT + S keyboard shortcut from Snip & Sketch and richer editing.

The company said it is also introducing a new settings page for Snipping Tool.

Taking a screenshot is super easy using the WIN + SHIFT + S keyboard shortcut. This will bring up the snipping menu with options to choose from including Rectangular Snip, Freeform Snip, Windows Snip, and Fullscreen Snip.

Mail and Calendar are updated with a new visual style.

"We have added rounded corners and other adjustments to make them look and feel part of Windows 11. As before, Mail and Calendar can reflect your Windows theme so you can send emails and check your schedule using the theme you prefer," Grochocki said.

"We look forward to releasing even more updates to the apps that come in Windows 11 for you to enjoy," Grochocki added.
Saharanpur : , Aug 13 (IANS) A young man has been arrested for allegedly hacking into the website of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and making thousands of fake voter ID cards in his computer shop in the Nakud area.

The arrested man, Vipul Saini, would log into the ECI website using the same password that the ECI officials were using, police said.

ECI had noticed discrepancies and had reported the matter to multiple investigative agencies which traced Saini's location and informed the Saharanpur police.

A joint team of cyber cell sleuths and the Saharanpur crime branch arrested Saini from the Macharhedi village on Thursday.

Saini holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Applications (BCA).

The police have also raided his shop and seized hard drives and computers.

According to police officers, Saini's bank account had a substantial amount of money running into lakhs of rupees.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Saharanpur S. Chanappa said, "As of now, we cannot say why he was making these cards or for what purpose they were being used. There is a lot to be investigated." During interrogation, Saini also named a resident of Harda district in Madhya Pradesh, Arman Malik, as his accomplice.

Investigation agencies in Delhi will now secure Saini's remand through the court.
Ankara, Aug 13 : Flash floods that hit three provinces in Turkey's Black Sea region have killed at least 27 people, the country's disaster management authority said on Friday.

Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency said that 25 people died in Kastamonu province and two others in Sinop, while one person was reported missing in Bartin, reports Xinhua news agency.

Rescue workers evacuated more than 1,700 people by boat and helicopter, it said.

Nearly 1,000 people took shelter in student dormitories.

However, some media reported the number of missing at 100.

"This is the heaviest flood disaster I have ever seen," Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told reporters on the scene.

Soylu said the damage in infrastructure was significant, and efforts to bring life back to normal continued non-stop.

Videos aired by broadcasters showed extensive damage in the area, including collapsed buildings, damaged bridges, heavy debris along the roads, and cars piled up.
New Delhi, Aug 13 : In a move that would bring respite to importers struggling with multiple agencies for assessment of customs duties chargeable on the imports of goods, the Karnataka High Court has held that any order on assessment customs duties passed by any agency other than resolute department could be set aside at any stage of implementation.

What this would mean is that, even if an Order-In-Original (OIO),which was a culmination of the proceedings initiated with the issuance of a show cause notice (SCN) by an incompetent authority (i.e., Additional Director General, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Bengaluru in this case) is liable to be set aside.

So, the move is expected to limit the unlimited jurisdiction of intelligence units in matters of tax assessment. Taxpayers must assess the impact of this decision and the Madras High Court's decision to evaluate the possibility of challenging any pending proceedings initiated by DRI officers.

As per instructions issued by the CBIC earlier, adjudication of all SCNs issued by DRI will be kept pending while fresh SCNs under Section 28 of the Customs Act, 1962 will only be issued by jurisdictional commissionerates having authority for taking such action.

The Board issued new orders following an earlier Supreme Court judgment in the Canon India Pvt Ltd case, vide order dated March 9 where the apex court held that officers of the DRI are not empowered to issue show cause notices when the custom officer (of the appraisal group) allows exemption from custom duties at the time of clearance.

The court observed that only an officer that undertakes assessment can re-assess the issue and the term "the proper officer" under section 28(4) of the Customs Act has to be understood as the same officer (designation) that had assessed the goods at the time of clearance.

It also held that the entrustment of the functions of customs officers to the DRI vide notification issued under section 2(34) of the Customs Act is not proper.

The Karnataka High Court has gone with the Supreme Court order on the matter clarifying that Odets by incompetent authorities could be set aside at any stage.

"Limiting the jurisdiction of intelligence units would bring respite to importers who have to deal with multiple authorities for assessment of duty chargeable on imports.," said Rajat Mohan, senior partner AMRG & Associates.

In the Canon case, the appellants had claimed exemption on the import of cameras. Based on this request for 'first check', the Deputy Commissioner, Appraisal Group, Delhi Air Cargo (customs officer) checked the goods and cleared them as exempt. Subsequently, the Additional Director General, DRI (DRI officer) issued an SCN under section 28(4) of the Customs Act, seeking to deny the exemption.

An order was issued alleging that the customs officer had been induced to clear the cameras by wilful misstatement and suppression of facts about the features of the cameras, leading to confiscation of goods, demand of interest and imposition of penalty.

The Customs Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) upheld this order and the taxpayer appealed to the Supreme Court against the CESTAT's order. The apex order cleared that DRI officials had no jurisdiction to issue SCNs on matters related to clearance of imports and exports.

As per the summary of the findings of the High Court, Jurisdiction can be challenged at any stage, Writ petition can be entertained where order is passed without jurisdiction, No suppression by the petitioner in the present case meaning that a false declaration by the petitioner in another case against a different SCN cannot act as a deterrent to the petitioner in the present case.
Srinagar, Aug 13 : A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper and a civilian were injured on Friday in a militant grenade attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore town.

Police sources said militants hurled a grenade at the security forces near the SBI branch in the main chowk in Sopore town.

"The grenade exploded injuring a CRPF head constable and a civilian, both of whom have been shifted to hospital. The area has been cordoned off for searches", sources said.
Kabul, Aug 13 : The speed of the Taliban advance in Afghanistan appears to have taken many by surprise, regional capitals seem to be falling like dominoes, the BBC reported.

The momentum is clearly with the insurgents, while the Afghan government struggles to keep its grip on power.

This week, one leaked US intelligence report estimated that Kabul could come under attack within weeks, and the government could collapse within 90 days.

The US and its Nato allies, including the UK, have spent the best part of the last 20 years training and equipping the Afghan security forces.

Countless American and British generals have claimed to have created a more powerful and capable Afghan army. Promises that today appear pretty empty, the report said.

The Afghan government should, in theory, still hold the upper hand with a larger force at its disposal.

The Afghan security forces number more than 300,000, on paper at least. That includes the Afghan army, Air Force and police.

But in reality the country has always struggled to meet its recruitment targets.

The report said the Afghan army and police has a troubled history of high casualties, desertions and corruption, with some unscrupulous commanders claiming the salaries of troops who simply didn't exist, so called "ghost soldiers".

In its latest report to the US Congress, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan (SIGAR) expressed "serious concerns about the corrosive effects of corruption... and the questionable accuracy of data on the actual strength of the force".

Jack Watling, of the Royal United Services Institute, says even the Afghan army has never been sure of how many troops it actually has.

Added to that, he says there have been problems with maintaining equipment and morale. Soldiers are often sent to areas where they have no tribal or family connections. One reason why some may have been so quick to abandon their posts without putting up a fight, the report added.

The Taliban's strength is even harder to measure.

The US Combating Terrorism Center at West Point estimates suggest a core strength of 60,000 fighters.

With the addition of other militia groups and supporters, that number could exceed 200,000.

But Mike Martin, a Pashto-speaking former British army officer who tracked the history of the conflict in Helmand in his book "An Intimate War", warns of the dangers of defining the Taliban as a single monolithic group.

Instead he says "the Taliban is closer to a coalition of independent franchise holders loosely - and most probably temporarily - affiliated with one another".

He notes the Afghan government, too, is as driven by local factional motivations. Afghanistan's shape changing history illustrates how families, tribes and even government officials have switched sides - often to ensure their own survival, the report adds.

Again, the Afghan government should have the advantage in terms of both funding and weapons.

It has received billions of dollars to pay for soldiers' salaries and equipment - mostly by the US. In its July 2021 report, SIGAR said more than $88 billion had been spent on Afghanistan's security.

But it ominously added: "The question of whether that money was well spent will ultimately be answered by the outcome of the fighting on the ground." Afghanistan's Air Force should provide it with a critical edge on the battlefield.

But it has consistently struggled to maintain and crew its 211 aircraft (a problem that's becoming more acute with the Taliban deliberately targeting pilots). Nor is it able to meet the demands from commanders on the ground.

Hence the involvement recently of the US Air Force over cities like Lashkar Gah, which have come under Taliban attack. It's still not clear for how much longer the US is willing to provide that support.

The Taliban have often relied on revenue from the drugs trade, but they have also had support from outside - most notably Pakistan.

More recently the Taliban have seized weapons and equipment from the Afghan security forces - some of it provided by the US - including Humvees, night sights, machine guns, mortars and artillery.

Afghanistan was already awash with weapons after the Soviet invasion, and the Taliban have shown that even the crudest can defeat a much more sophisticated force, the report said.

Think of the deadly effect of the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on US and British forces. That and local knowledge and an understanding of the terrain have been their advantage.
Islamabad, Aug 13 : Once brimming with combat boots, flak jackets and other war paraphernalia, the 'smugglers markets' in Pakistan are being forced to rethink their business model as foreign troops exit Afghanistan and contraband dries up.

The US is set to wrap up its military presence in Afghanistan by the end of this month, the end of a campaign that saw hundreds of billions spent, often with little accounting.

Along the Afghan border after 2001, the markets mushroomed in Pakistan, offering military gadgets, clothing and luxury goods meant for American bases and compounds.

A massive market called "Karkhano", located in Peshawar, has been known to sell smuggled and looted goods of Americans and NATO forces. However, with the border closed and foreign forces withdrawal from Afghanistan, the market shop owners are worried about inflow of goods, which they say has badly affected businesses.

The Karkhano market, for decades has been famous for having NATO supply goods on sale with them. From night vision goggles, to watches, shoes and other things, the market has anything and everything that has been part of the supplies for the American and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Pakistan's fencing and sealing of hundreds of kilometres of the border in recent years, and the rapid departure of foreign troops have led to dwindling supplies.

Instead of night-vision goggles and high-quality ammo vests, the markets are now stuffed with cheap goods from China and Southeast Asia.

"This market used to be filled with customers as many people had interest buying quality products of NATO. But now its empty. This is because supplies from across the border have dried, due to the border fencing and closure of the main border gates," said Jamal Khan, a shop owner in the Karkhano market.

"Its not only because our supplies from Afghanistan have dried out that the customers are not coming. Its also because this market's identity and reason for being so famous was the availability of many things under use of the NATO forces. Now we keep Chinese products with us. And nobody would come to this market to buy them, when they can buy from any other market," said Abdullah Jan, another shopkeeper.

For at least two decades, this market has been the spotlight of smuggled NATO goods. Businesses of shopkeepers have boomed, as no other such market exists in the country.

However, with the foreign forces withdrawing from Afghanistan, and Pakistan fencing its border; shopkeepers of the market are worried and are forced to rethink and re-arrange their businesses.
Mumbai, Aug 13 : Renowned industrialist Adi Godrej will step down as Chairman of Godrej Industries Ltd (GIL) on October 1, and his younger brother, Nadir Godrej, currently the GIL Managing Director, will succeed him, it was announced on Friday.

Adi Godrej, 79, will also step down from the GIL Board of Directors but will continue to serve as the Chairman of the Godrej Group and also as GIL Chairman Emeritus, while Nadir Godrej, 69, will become the Chairman and Managing Director at the Mumbai-headquartered GIL, as per the company.
Srinagar, Aug 13 : One terrorist who was killed in a gunfight between the terrorists and security forces in South Kashmir's Kulgam district has been identified as a Pakistani, officials said on Friday.

Police said the killed terrorist was a Pakistani national and an associate of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) commander Lamboo, who was recently killed in an encounter with the police and security forces.

Two security forces' personnel and two civilians were injured in the encounter in Kulgam that started on Thursday.

"Killed terrorist (Usman) is Pakistani and identified as an associate of JeM top commander Lamboo alias Adnan who was recently killed in an encounter. It confirms Pakistan's involvement in attack on BSF convoy," a tweet by the Kashmir Police quoting IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said.

Earlier the police said on Thursday at about 3 p.m. terrorists fired upon a convoy of the BSF on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway near Malpora Mir Bazar area of Kulgam.

However, the fire was retaliated by Road Opening Party (ROP) of the police and security forces. Reinforcement of the police and Army reached immediately and cordoned off the area. Besides, the joint party ensured not to give any chance to terrorists to escape from the spot and the terrorists managed to took shelter in a nearby building, said police.

The holed up terrorists fired indiscriminately upon the joint party of the police and security forces which retaliated leading to the encounter.
New Delhi, Aug 13 : Amid revival in the economy, post the severe impact of Covid-19' second wave, 74 per cent mid-market business leaders in India are optimistic about the Indian economy, as against 69 per cent globally, according to a survey by Grant Thornton.

For the first time since the start of the pandemic, Grant Thornton's global index of mid-market health is back on an upward trajectory.

As per the Global Business Pulse, the outlook remains more or less the same, compared with H2 2020 survey results, but one can see a tremendous achievement by the mid-market businesses outlook pointing towards a wider economic recovery.

"Indian economy is on a steady path of recovery. India's long-term fundamentals remain strong and supported by various policy reforms, the investment and business activity are likely to gain full steam ahead as things open further in India and overseas," Grant Thornton Bharat National Managing Partner, Tax, Vikas Vasal, said.

"Living with the pandemic is inevitable, however, businesses are now better equipped than before in ensuring that the recovery remains stable," he said.

At the heart of this recovery is a much stronger outlook by the mid-market business. Around 69 per cent are expecting to grow their turnover in the next 12 months, while 68 per cent are expecting an increase in profitability.

The improved outlook chimes with the World Bank's forecast of a 5.6 per cent growth in the world economy in 2021 and what it terms as "its strongest post-recession pace in 80 years". Also, investment sentiments by these businesses are tilting towards technology (70 per cent), R&D (68 per cent), staff skills (66 per cent), and physical plants and machinery (65 per cent).

Vasal noted that initiatives such as 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan', and Production-Linked Incentive Schemes, have opened several avenues for business in the country to expand their horizons and compete globally.

"The survey has tracked shifts in attitudes towards internationalisation during this pandemic. With 57 per cent of companies looking to expand their geographic sales footprint this year, international sales and a larger global footprint appear to be a real priority for businesses," he said.
Chennai, Aug 13 : The Tamil Nadu government will link all its available data sources to understand the true economic status of all citizens and households to improve subsidy delivery, Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan said on Friday.

Presenting his first budget, he said: "The lack of adequate beneficiary data is the fundamental limitation in our government's ability to efficiently implement welfare schemes in order to improve social and economic justice." "A cross-departmental initiative to link all available government data sources to better understand the true economic status of all citizens and households will be undertaken. This foundational effort which will help improve the delivery of many tens of thousands of crores worth of subsidies," he added.

Pointing out what cannot be measured cannot be improved, Rajan said the government will implement smart metering for all public utilities in the State.

As a part of data-centric governance, he said E-procurement will be mandatorily adopted across all procuring entities. A separate E-procurement portal will be created for the state government to enhance transparency in procurement.

The entire workflow process of all engineering departments including updated standard data book and schedule of rates, planning and design, estimate preparation, tendering, measurement of works, payment of bills and recording completion will be fully electronically enabled to increase efficiency and transparency.

With over 2.05 lakh hectares of state government land encroached, an advanced Government Land Management System, which will contain full details of all government lands, will be created in order to improve management of the public land. This will prevent the state's assets from being used inefficiently, misused, or even diverted, Rajan said.

According to him, a Litigation Risk Management System will be established which will monitor all high-risk litigations relating to taxation, land matters, personnel matters and procurement issues to ensure that the public interest is effectively protected, and resources accrue to the government without delay.

"The Litigation Management System will be overseen by an experienced team of retired judges and senior legal experts," he said.

Rajan also said multiple data points indicate that government funds are often shifted to accounts outside the view of the treasury system.

"Upon assuming office, this government initiated a dual-track survey to identify such funds - through government departments and agencies and by banks holding such accounts. The initial assessment reveals substantial unutilised funds," he said.

The government will establish a special task group under a senior officer of the Finance Department to fully reconcile the accounts and identify funds which have lapsed and which can still be utilised, Rajan said.

He said all Audit Departments functioning in the government will be brought under the Finance Department and be integrated seamlessly to ensure that internal audit functions are effectively carried out across all Government departments and agencies.
Chennai, Aug 13 : South Indian movies superstar and President of Makkal Needhi Maiam, Kamal Haasan has called upon the DMK government in Tamil Nadu to hold gram sabha meetings on Independence Day. He slammed the government announcement of not holding gram sabhas on August 15 citing Covid-19.

In a statement on Friday Haasan, who had lost in the 2021 assembly elections to BJP leader Vanathi Srinivasan from Coimbatore, said that the DMK government is no different in not holding gram sabhas.

Haasan said that there was no difference between the DMK and the AIADMK in not holding gram sabha meetings which are the real voices of the local people.

He said that during the pandemic elections were conducted, swearing-in ceremony was held, Assembly functions and preparations for local body elections are being made, but gram sabhas are not being held citing Covid-19 as the reason.

He came down heavily on the DMK and said that the colours of the party have faded by not holding the gram sabha meetings.

He said that major political parties including the DMK and the AIADMK are not heeding the people's voices and that this was not good in a democracy.

In Tamil Nadu gram sabhas are held which senior government officials and elderly people from the villages regularly attend.

Director of Rural Development K..S Palaniswamy told IANS, "We have decided to postpone gram sabhas across the state due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It will not be possible to follow physical distancing norms if the meetings are held." He said, "We have decided to postpone the gram sabhas, they will be held once the situation is conducive to conduct such meetings." Gram Sabha meetings were not held in the state on May 1 also due to the Covid-19 lockdown since March.

According to the rules framed by the Tamil Nadu government, it is mandatory that gram sabhas meet at least four times a year -- on January 26 (Republic Day), May 1 (May Day), August 15 (Independence Day) and October 2 (Mahatma Gandhi birth anniversary). Other than these dates, gram sabhas can be convened as and when required.

Generally the schedule and agenda for the gram sabhas are communicated by the state government to all district collectors before these four days. Every year the state government decides on certain themes like poverty alleviation or priority to primary education and they are communicated to the local authorities for passing resolutions at the meetings.

The district collectors in circulars to Block Development Officers (BDO) inform the gram sabhas about these resolutions.

There were 12,525 village panchayats in 36 rural districts across Tamil Nadu as of March 2020 and all registered voters of a village panchayat constitute the gram sabha.

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New Delhi, Aug 13 : ) People from across the country with disabilities will undertake an expedition to Siachen Glacier to create a new world record for the largest group of specially abled people to reach the world's highest battlefield.

As per the ministry of social justice and empowerment, recently the government has permitted a team of people with disabilities to scale Siachen Glacier.

"The team of people with disabilities was trained by 'Team CLAW' a team of Armed Forces veterans," the ministry said.

The selected people will undertake an expedition till Kumar Post (Siachen Glacier) to create a new world record.

On the occasion of Independence Day, union minister for social justice and empowerment Virendra Kumar will flag off the vehicles carrying the Divyangjan Siachen Glacier expedition team from Ambedkar International Centre, which is a premier autonomous research body mandated to research and provide policy feed to empower marginalised communities and to bring in Socio Economic transformation in the society.

"The successful execution of this pioneering expedition, 'Operation Blue Freedom', shall firmly place India on the global stage as a leader in empowering Divyangjan and set a benchmark for other nations to emulate," the ministry said.

The ministry claimed that this will drive Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for Divyangjan and MSJE's pursuit to harness the immense productive potential of people with disabilities.

"Simultaneously, it will powerfully portray the skill and heart of India's Armed Forces not only on the battlefield but off it as well," it added.
Mumbai, Aug 13 : Actor Adhvik Mahajan, who is playing the role of Jogi in the show 'Teri Meri Ikk Jindri', shares some interesting behind-the-scenes moments while shooting for a scene with his co-star Aalisha Panwar in which both of them gorge on candies.

Adhvik Mahajan says: "I am someone who is extremely fond of sweets, be it our Indian 'mithai' or even the small toffees and candies. So, the day we were shooting this particular sequence for 'Teri Meri Ikk Jindri', I had already made up my mind to take back half of the sweets that the crew had got for the scene. In fact, I even had the chance to eat quite a few of them while shooting and undoubtedly, a lot of nostalgic memories came rushing to my mind. I enjoy having my favourite candies." This show revolves around a love story of two starkly different personalities - Mahi (Amandeep Sidhu) and Jogi (Adhvik Mahajan). Jogi's childhood friend, Avneet (Aalisha Panwar) is the most recent addition to this list. She has already begun to make Mahi feel slightly envious due to the close bond that she shares with Jogi.

He adds: "While I do tend to eat some of these sweets on and off, I kept recalling the moment when my parents would get me the small cup of jellies and how we used to share a box of those Phantom sugar cigarettes with our friends. I also enjoyed eating the pink candy floss because it constantly reminded me of the time when we used to call it 'Buddhi ke Baal' (laughs) and I am sure most of us still do. It was a great experience because this was unlike any scene that we have shot for the show till now. So, undeniably I had the most amazing time shooting for this, especially with Aalisha since we are such close friends and share a fun rapport off-screen." While Avneet and Jogi are all set to take the viewers on a trip down memory lane, Mahi is getting furious seeing them get closer to each other. Will Avneet steal Jogi from Mahi, or will the latter find a way to tackle this new intruder? 'Teri Meri Ikk Jindri' airs on Zee TV.
Chandigarh, Aug 13 : For a father, it was a tough call to save the lives of four persons by donating the organs of his 35-year-old son, but he felt it was the right call.

Ram Bachan, the grief-stricken father of Ajayesh Kumar, said on Friday that he consented for organ donation when his son was declared brain dead by the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMR) here.

"It was a very tough call, but still we felt that it was the right call," said Bachan, after consenting for organ donation when his son was declared brain dead.

Incidentally, the World Organ Donation Day is observed across the globe on August 13 (Friday).

"In fact, the organ donation affirmed for us that saying 'no' would mean denying other people the chance to live, making their families undergo the same unbearable pain which we are confronted with after losing our son in his prime.

"Who would know more than us what it means and how it hurts. So we had to say 'yes' to organ donation," Bachan said with moist eyes.

Ajayesh Kumar, 35, a resident of Ropar in Punjab, was admitted to the PGIMER following a fatal road accident on July 23.

Since then, it has been a battle between life and death for Kumar though neither the family nor the attending medical team left any stone unturned to save him.

But as was destined, Kumar's condition became irretrievable on August 9. Assessing this, PGIMER's internal committee, after meeting twice, found the parameters matching with brain death and eventually he was declared brain dead on the evening of August 9.

In the meantime, transplant coordinators at the PGIMER apprised the deceased's relatives of the prospects of utilising his organs through donation for transplants to terminally ill organ failure patients.

With the deceased's wife Sushma and his father Ram Bachan consenting to the proposal of organ donation, the departments concerned started reaching out to the matching recipients.

Finally, the cross-match of several potential recipients led to the identification of matching recipients for kidneys and pancreas in the PGIMER.

Sushma, the courageous wife of the donor, said, "My husband was very caring and sacrifice was virtually his second nature. Compassion and helping others was the core of his being. So organ donation has been the extension of his generous spirit only. With this final act, the good has come full circle." Detailing about the latest cadaver organ donation, Vipin Koushal, Additional Medical Superintendent and Nodal Officer of Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO), said, "The kidneys and pancreas harvested from the deceased enabled second lease of life to two patients battling for survival here." "The retrieved corneas restored the sight of two corneal blind patients, impacting the lives of four patients in all. I earnestly hope that the donor family's selfless gesture inspires more people to say 'yes' to organ donation and help save those dying waiting for a transplant," Koushal added.

"The basic premise of observing World Organ Donation Day (on August 13) every year is to motivate people to join the cause and pledge for organ donation. Nothing can be more motivational on this day than actually saving lives through organ donation," said PGIMER Director Jagat Ram.
Kabul, Aug 13 : Pakistani forces clashed with hundreds of Afghans stranded on the Pakistan side of a commercially vital crossing point with Afghanistan after its closure by the Taliban, a global news wire quoted Pakistani security officials as saying.

The disturbances broke out after a 56-year-old Afghan traveller died of a heart attack as he waited in the dusty heat to enter Afghanistan via the Chaman-Spin Boldak crossing.

According to the report, the protesters carried his body to a local Pakistani government office demanding the border be reopened.

Some began throwing stones at security forces, who responded by firing tear gas shells and charging the protesters with batons to disperse them. No injuries were reported.

The Chaman-Spin Boldak crossing is landlocked between Afghanistan's second busiest entry point and the main commercial artery to the Pakistani seacoast.

The Taliban had captured the Spin Boldak district last month. They announced the closure of the Chaman-Spin Boldak crossing on August 6 in protest against a Pakistani decision to end visa-free travel for Afghans.

The group is demanding that Pakistan should allow Afghans to cross the frontier with either an Afghan ID card or a refugee registration card issued by Pakistan.

According to the report, some 900 trucks used to pass through the Chaman-Spin Boldak crossing daily before the the Taliban seized it.
New Delhi, Aug 13: The US has cut another deal with the Taliban. The group, keen to see the back of American forces form the Hindukush mountains, has complied with Washingtons request of not attacking the US embassy as its staff exits from Kabul. Similarities do exist, but Washingtons "Saigon moment", when it had to quit under North Vietnamese fire in the seventies, may not be duplicated as dramatically as it did when South Vietnams capital fell to the communists.

The US special envoy on Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad is in Doha attending conferences for the peaceful settlement in Afghanistan with the Taliban. According to various media reports, the American envoy has cut a deal with the Taliban that if the extremist group takes over the country's government and ever wants to receive foreign aid, they will not attack the US Embassy in Kabul.

Khalilzad has been trying to convince Taliban leaders that the embassy must remain open, and secure, if the group hopes to receive American aid as part of a future Afghan government. The Taliban leadership told Khalilzad that they want to be seen as a legitimate government of Afghanistan.

They conveyed the same to representatives of Russia, China and other countries in Doha. However, few can take the Taliban at its face value.

According to the US media, China is ready to recognize the Taliban if Kabul falls.

The fall of Ghazni, capital of its eponymous province means that Taliban is just 150 kilometres from the capital of the country - Kabul. It now controls the most important highway connecting Kabul to the south of the country.

And this has apparently pushed put the US and its NATO allies into panic mode. According to AP, the Biden administration is rushing 3,000 troops to Kabul airport to support the US embassy evacuation.

"This is not abandonment. As we do for every diplomatic post in a challenging security environment, we will evaluate threats daily and make decisions that are in the interests of individuals serving at our Embassy about how to keep them safe," State Department spokesman Ned Price said unconvincingly on Thursday, adding that the embassy "has been on ordered departure status since April 27." But he made sure that these troops were there to help process the departure of embassy personnel - not to get involved in the Afghan government's war with the Taliban.

Britain's ministry of defence said Thursday that it will send around 600 troops to Afghanistan on a short-term basis to help UK nationals leave the country. And Canadian special forces will deploy to Afghanistan to help Canadian staff leave Kabul.

"All I can say is right now, yes, the security situation is deteriorating. We do have contingency plans in place to make sure that our personnel are safe," said Canadian defence minister Harjit Sajjan.

Meanwhile, a new US military assessment says, Kabul could fall to the Taliban within 90 days, and even as early as within a month.

China is seeing a great opportunity as after the US withdrawal, Afghanistan can further consolidate Beijing's influence on the gates of South and Central Asia. The country is the target for expansion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship infrastructure project of China's Belt and Road project.

In a clear attempt to pre-emptively restrain the Taliban, who are increasingly likely to seize power in Afghanistan, Beijing's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent out a series of tweets calling for the Taliban to support peace and reconciliation in the country and to sever all ties with the East Turkistan Independence Movement (ETIM), a group that has historically fought for a separate state in the Uyghur region of Xinjiang.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
New Delhi, Aug 13: After several rounds of accusations, threats and sabre rattling, the United States and China are seeking common ground ahead of likely summit between US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. The two leaders are not unfamiliar with each other. They had spoken to each other on the eve of the Chinese Lunar year.

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met the new Chinese ambassador to the US, Qin Gang, in an all-important meeting in Washington on Thursday, which is likely to steer the US further away from the implacable acrimony of the Donald Trump years.

The two officials took forward the discussion from Sherman's July visit to China with key issues being Taiwan, the coronavirus origins, trade disputes, human rights and also American sanctions on Chinese officials.

The run-up to the meeting has been anything but harmonious with both sides accusing each other of various violations and embittering relations.

A statement by Ned Price, State Department spokesman welcoming Qin to Washington said: "The deputy secretary reviewed issues from her meetings with PRC officials in Tianjin last month and expressed the United States' commitment to continuing discussions".

The Chinese embassy in Washington too released a statement, saying that the relationship between the two nations is at a crossroads.

The South China Morning Post reports: "According to the embassy, Qin said he would follow the spirit of a telephone conversation between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden on the eve of the Lunar New Year, enhance communication and dialogue and work to "promote a rational, stable, manageable and constructive China-US relationship"." The Chinese ambassador added that the two officials had detailed and frank exchange of views. Reporting on the developments, Chinese news agency Xinhua said: "The two sides agreed that Sino-US bilateral relations are very important, and it is necessary to resolve issues through dialogue and communication, manage differences and contradictions, and improve bilateral relations".

The Chinese side has expressed clearly that it is Taiwan which will be the crux of the bilateral relations between the two nations. Qin has reportedly told Sherman that Taiwan is a sensitive issue with China as the latter looks upon American official visits, military deals and support to Taiwan unfavourably.

Experts say that it will be a long road for both nations to resolve their differences and take a path to peace. If Beijing is vexed about Taiwan, Washington too holds a long list of grievances against China. Progress in ties, if any, is likly to happen only at a glacial pace.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
Mumbai, Aug 13 : For the third time in nine months, a Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) team was attacked by armed drug peddlers, including some foreigners, during a raid late on Thursday, officials said here on Friday.

The shocking incident happened at Mankhurd in the northeast suburbs of Mumbai when the NCB team was following a tip-off on a gang of foreigner drug peddlers operating from the forests near the railway lines, NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede said.

"The gang of drug-peddlers suddenly pounced on the NCB team with weapons, machetes, and stones. One of the officials suffered a head injury while 4 others suffered superficial wounds," he said.

This is the second attack on the NCB sleuths in a week and the third in 9 months, since the November 2020 incident in Goregaon by aggressive drug peddlers fighting the anti-narcotics actions against them.

However, the NCB managed to nab one Nigerian and seized a huge haul of drugs comprising 7.5 gms cocaine, 254 gms heroin and 52 gms Mephedrone, totally valued over Rs 1 Crore in the illicit markets, he said.

Following secret tips that a gang of 4-5 foreigners was conducting the illicit drug peddling business, the NCP laid a trap and intercepted Obiorah Ekwelar of Nigeria's Onisha.

The gang, carrying weapons had become a nuisance for the entire area as they operated from the swampy area near the Mankhurd railway lines with the Thane Creek on one side, and many locals had complained of the menace.

While Ekwelar was arrested, the others managed to escape taking advantage of the difficult terrain and the darkness, said the NCB.
London, Aug 13 : Al Qaeda "will probably come back" as the situation in Afghanistan deteriorates, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said.

Wallace is highly critical of Washington's decision to withdraw troops from the country, describing a deal signed by the US and the Taliban as a "mistake" and "rotten", Sky News reported.

Asked about the situation in Afghanistan, Wallace said: "I'm absolutely worried that failed states are breeding grounds for those types of people.

"Of course I am worried, it is why I said I felt this was not the right time or decision to make because, of course, Al Qaeda will probably come back, certainly would like that type of breeding ground.

"That is what we see, failed states around the world lead to instability, lead to a security threat to us and our interests." The Defence Secretary said it was his view that the deal signed by the US and the Taliban in Qatar in 2020 under then-Republican President Donald Trump to withdraw from Afghanistan was a "mistake" and a "rotten deal".

Trump's successor, Democrat Joe Biden, has continued with the withdrawal timetable since taking office in January.

Wallace said of the deal: "I felt that that was a mistake to have done it that way, that we will all as an international community pay the consequences of that, but when the United States as the framework nation took that decision, the way we were all configured, the way we had gone in meant that we had to leave as well." Speaking to Sky News, former International Development Secretary Rory Stewart described the situation in Afghanistan as "terrifying" and added: "It's a total betrayal by the United States and by the United Kingdom." He said it was not a given that other countries had to pull out once the US had decided to do so, expressing his view that NATO countries could have "taken up that slack".

And Stewart said "we are going to end up with terrorists" as a result of what is going on.

"This is a horrifying group associated with terrorists, they have been backing suicide bombing in the areas they control, women are not going to school and it is a total betrayal by the United States and the United Kingdom," he said.
Gandhinagar, Aug 13 : Launching the national vehicle scrappage policy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the BJP government was committed to provide the people with global standards of safety and quality. The PM was virtually participating in the Investors Summit where seven pacts were inked between the government and industrial stakeholders regarding scrapping of vehicles.

The Prime Minister requested youths and start-ups to join the programme.

The PM said, "India is committed to provide global standards to its citizens as far as safety and quality is concerned. The direct transition from BS-4 to BS-6 is a part of the very same thought process. The government is working extensively at every level from research to infrastructural facilities for providing Green and Clean mobility in the country." "Currently the present scrapping procedure in the country is not productive. The energy recovery is next to nil. High strength steel alloy cannot be recovered to its full value. Precious metals also cannot be recovered. Last year, we had to import scrap steel worth Rs 23,000 crore," Modi said.

"It is the government's sincere and full fledged efforts to reduce our reliance on imports. Constant efforts are made to boost Atma Nirbhar Bharat and make the auto industry's value chain sustainable and productive. The National Vehicle Scrappage Policy is one such big step. Now with the scientifically based scrapping procedures, we will be able to recover not only required metals and reduce the imports, but also recover rare earth metals," said the PM.

The PM said, "The policy will play a big role in the modernisation of the vehicular population in the country, removing unfit vehicles from the roads in a scientific manner. Not only will it bring in investments of around Rs 10,000 crore, but also provide vast employment opportunities for small traders and workers associated with the scrap industry." "Not only the automotive industry but the scrap related sector will also get a new energy, a new security. The small traders and workers related to the scrapping industry will experience a big change in their lives and a secure atmosphere. They will also avail the benefits available in the organized sector. The small traders could also become collecting agents for Authorized Scrapping Centres," the PM said.

The summit is aimed at getting investments for setting up vehicle scrapping infrastructure.

According to the policy, a certificate will be issued on the scrappage of old vehicles. It will ensure that people scrapping their vehicles will get a discount on buying new vehicles and benefit in taxes.

Personal vehicles older than 20 years and commercial vehicles older than 15 years will have to undergo a fitness test at government registered 'automated fitness centres'.

Vehicles that fail to pass the test will be declared as 'End-Of-Life vehicles' (EOL), which would mean that the vehicle would have to be recycled. This will pave the way for older vehicles to be scrapped. In case the vehicle passes the test, the owner will have to pay a hefty fee for re-registration.

According to the new policy, the re-registration fee would be hiked to around eight times for personal vehicles, and around 20 times for commercial vehicles.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani were also present on the occasion.

The event, which saw participation of potential investors and industry players, was organized to attract investment for setting up vehicle scrapping infrastructure under the Voluntary Vehicle-Fleet Modernization Programme, an official release said.
New Delhi, Aug 13 : Remembering Captain Vikram Batra, who made the supreme sacrifice during the Kargil war, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday that the bravery and deep-rooted passion of the gallant heroes will always be an inspiration for generations to come.

Speaking during the launch of a series of events on Friday to mark the 75th anniversary of India's Independence, Singh paid homage to all the bravehearts who laid down their lives defending the sovereignty and integrity of the country.

He congratulated the ministry and the armed forces for organising various events across the country, which will instill a sense of national pride among the people.

He said that such events represent the Indian ethos of 'Unity in Diversity'.

Singh also threw light on the five pillars -- Freedom Struggle, Ideas at 75, Achievements at 75, Actions at 75 and Resolves at 75 -- envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he kicked off the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebrations in March 2021.

Singh stated that the five pillars will act as guiding force for the country to move forward in the path of development.

Echoing the government's resolve, Singh said, "We aim to develop a powerful and self-reliant 'Bharat' which is peace-loving, but fully capable of giving a befitting reply whenever challenged." He also assured the nation that the armed forces are fully equipped to deal with any challenge that endangers the safety, security, unity and integrity of the nation.

He said the decisions aimed to promote jointness among the armed forces will play a pivotal role in bolstering the security infrastructure of the country.

Reiterating the government's action plan to make India 'Aatmanirbhar' (self-relaint), Singh said no stone is being left unturned to make the country self-reliant in defence manufacturing.

Singh said the country's dependency on imports has decreased considerably due to the measures taken by the government, including notifying two positive indigenisation lists to promote self-reliance and defence exports.

He also made special mention of the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant, the first aircraft carrier to be built in India, saying that it was a moment of immense pride for the entire nation when the aircraft carrier undertook its maiden sea voyage recently.

Singh also lauded the armed forces and different organisations of the Defence Ministry for providing continuous support to the civil administration in the fight against Covid-19.

He highlighted the crucial role played by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in setting up Covid care hospitals across the country and developing the anti-Covid drug '2-DG'.

He also commended the armed forces for providing logistic support to civil authorities to meet the oxygen requirement.

The Defence Minister also congratulated the Indian contingent for its excellent performance in the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics, especially Subedar Neeraj Chopra who bagged India's only gold in Tokyo in javelin throw.
Washington, Aug 13 : US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has warned that Americas retreat from Afghanistan risks a replay of the nations humiliating withdrawal from Saigon at the end of the Vietnam conflict in 1975.

As thousands of American soldiers were ordered back to Kabul to evacuate the Embassy staff amid a rapid advance by the Taliban, McConnell said the US is "careening toward a massive, predictable, and preventable disaster", The Guardian reported.

The remark came as officials confirmed on Friday that the Taliban had captured Afghanistan's second biggest city, Kandahar, as well as Lashkar Gah in the south.

The Taliban also claimed that they have captured the western city of Herat, the country's third-largest city, and Qala-e-Naw in the north-west.

The report said a photo that immortalised America's defeat in Vietnam, showing evacuees boarding a helicopter on the roof of a building, spread fast on social networks after the US announced troop evacuation from Afghanistan.

Although US President Joe Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, had signalled the withdrawal, McConnell gave a searing assessment of the White House plan.

"The latest news of a further drawdown at our embassy and a hasty deployment of military forces seem like preparations for the fall of Kabul," McConnell said.

"President [Joe] Biden's decisions have us hurtling toward an even worse sequel to the humiliating fall of Saigon in 1975. President Biden is finding that the quickest way to end a war is to lose it," McConnell said, urging the President instead to commit to providing more support to Afghan forces.

"Without it, al-Qaida and the Taliban may celebrate the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks by burning down our embassy in Kabul," he said.

A former US state department spokesperson, Morgan Ortagus, added her weight to the chorus of criticism, saying that it was "a huge foreign policy failure with generational ramifications just shy of seven months into this administration. Everything points to a complete collapse".
Kabul, Aug 13 : Former mujahedeen leader Mohammad Ismail Khan has surrendered to the Taliban as Herat, the third-largest city in Afghanistan, fell to the Taliban on Friday.

All key government institutions were captured by the group. All government officials, including Herat Governor, police chief, head of the NDS office in Herat, former mujahedeen leader Mohammad Ismail Khan, the Deputy Minister of Interior for Security, and the 207 Zafar Corps commander surrendered to the Taliban after the province fell to the group, media reports said.

Clashes on the outskirts of Herat city were underway for almost three weeks as the Taliban faced resistance by the security and defense forces who were accompanied by public uprising forces led by Ismail Khan.

This comes as Nimroz, Farah, Ghor and Badghis provinces, all located in the west zone, have also fallen to the Taliban in the last one week.

The Taliban so far have captured at least 17 provincial capitals.

Heavy clashes are underway in the centre of Logar province, 70 km south of Kabul city.
New Delhi/Kohima, Aug 13 : The Assam Rifles personnel have thwarted a banned National Socialist Council of Nagaland NSCN (KYA) attack on local people in Nagaland's Chenloiso area.

The security force stated that on August 10, the Chairman of Chenloiso approached Assam Rifles at the contingency operating base at Chenloiso for help in clearing a landslide from the track of the Chenloiso-Hydro project. "The Assam Rifles company commander immediately gave confirmation for support to the village chairman," said a senior officer.

On August 11, a team of security personnel carried out the assessment of the landslide areas along with the village Chairman. A JCB was also arranged by Assam Rifles to expedite the clearance work.

Subsequently on Thursday, the team swung into action and commenced the clearance of the landslide with the help of local villagers from Kangynu, Wangto and Chenloiso. In the evening, when the villagers and the Assam Rifles personnel were returning to their locations, three hand grenades were lobbed at them from a height above the dense foliage. The grenades landed in front of civilians, out of which two didn't explode. However one grenade exploded causing shrapnel injuries to 75-year-old Keipa of Kangynu village.

The security forces immediately swung into action and fired a couple of rounds towards the location from where the grenades were lobbed. The injured local was rushed by security forces to the company base of Assam Rifles, where he was given first aid and stabilised, and was then moved to Mon for further treatment.

"This cowardly action against locals and security forces while involved in assistance to locals displays that the NSCN (KYA) is desperate since the villagers have refused any support with respect to money or ration to these cadres," the officer said.
New Delhi, Aug 13 : A Class 12 student from Delhi has moved the Supreme Court, seeking directions to the Centre and state governments to take a time-bound decision in connection with the physical re-opening of schools and conduct of offline teaching.

Petitioner Amar Prem Prakash said he is echoing the sentiments and feelings of a large body of the student community and fraternity of the country, particularly underprivileged and voiceless children.

The petitioner said he is aggrieved by the "indecision and vacillation" on the part of the Centre and states/Union Territories (UTs), in the matter of re-opening of schools and resumption of physical classes with adequate safeguards.

"Raising this very vital issue regarding the deprivation and ill-effects, both psychological and actual, of school children being kept away from attending their schools physically," said the plea filed through advocate Prem Prakash Mehrotra.

The plea emphasised the deprivation of regular school and teaching in the congenial and academic environment of a student's education institution, is leaving an indelible mark on the psyche of student community. "A holistic and considered decision in regard to re-opening of schools will not only end the uncertainty and speculation in this regard, but also assuage the sentiment of the student community in the country," the plea said.

The plea said having virtual classes and the non-reopening of the schools in the country is proving to be not only detrimental to the interests of students, but also tantamount to discrimination and unfair treatment.
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 13 : Covid continues to rage in Kerala as on Friday, the state saw another day of over 20,000 new cases.

A statement issued here by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said 20,452 new cases was registered after 1,42,501 samples were send for testing in the past 24 hours, and the daily Covid Test Positivity Rate (TPR) was 14.35 per cent, the third successive day which saw the it above 14 per cent.

The day also saw 16,856 people getting cured, taking the total active cases to 1,80,000.

There were another 114 Covid deaths, taking the death toll to 18,394.

Malappuram district again recorded over 3,000 cases, followed by Kozhikode with 2,426.
New Delhi, Aug 13 : While the country witnessed several key industries bearing the brunt of the Covid onslaught, the Indian tech startup ecosystem grew by leaps and bounds owing to a strong smartphone-based app economy and an ever-evolving digital landscape in the 75th year of Independence.

While the pandemic-hit 2020 saw the emergence of 11 new unicorns (Unacademy, Pine Labs, FirstCry, Zenoti, Nykaa, Postman, Zerodha, Razorpay, Cars24, Dailyhunt and Glance), the year 2021 has already witnessed a whopping 21 startups which are now valued at more than $1 billion.

The 21 startups have raised over $20 billion to date. This month, BharatPe, Mindtickle, upGrad and CoinDCX entered the unicorn club, scripting a never-seen-before rally in the country.

Taking the success story further, India is going through a tech IPO (initial public offering) boom as it commemorates the 75 years of Independence.

From Zomato and Paytm to online insurance marketplace Policybazaar, from logistics services company Delhivery to fashion platform Nykaa and Car Trade Tech, it is raining IPOs from the startup and unicorn club in the country.

According to a Nasscom-Zinnov report, India is on track to have a 50-plus strong unicorn club this year, after adding over 1,600 tech startups in 2020.

"Covid-19 has accelerated digital adoption and the shift to online in the country. This has created new opportunities for tech start-ups that are capitalising on this opportunity with rapid digital acceleration and a shift to software-as-a-service (SaaS)-based solutions," according to the report.

According to Prabhu Ram, Head, Industry Intelligence Group (IIG), at Gurgaon-based CyberMedia Research (CMR), the golden age of Indian startups is here -- from consumer apps to spacetech, from edtech to mobility -- originating not just in the traditional startup hotspots, but in the small towns of 'Aspirational India' as well.

"What is remarkable is the success that women entrepreneurs have scripted, against all odds, and their contribution to job creation and economic growth," Ram told IANS.

Another glory lies in the fact that the Indian tech startups have begun to shun Chinese investments as desi corporates and wealthy individuals, along with investors from other countries, have come onboard to fund the homegrown firms.

The US-based investment firm Tiger Global is currently leading when it comes to investing top dollars, overtaking another US-based venture capital firm, Sequoia Capital, as the top investor in the burgeoning Indian startup/unicorn ecosystem.

According to Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal, who saw a bumper IPO that took the market value of the food delivery platform to nearly $13 billion, "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." The new-age consumer tech-driven startups, which touched the daily lives of millions during the pandemic, have joined the investment bandwagon and are raking in the moolah.

"Backed by policy initiatives at the Centre and in the States, stronger digital infrastructure, and better innovation and incubation frameworks, India's startup ecosystem will continue to soar," said Ram.
Hyderabad, Aug 13 : Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL), a subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board and a leading vaccine manufacturer, on Friday handed over the first batch of Covaxin drug substance to Bharat Biotech.

The IIL said it has produced the drug substance in record time.

IIL Managing Director, Dr K. Anand Kumar, handed over the first lot of Covaxin drug substance to BBIL Chairman and Managing Director, Dr Krishna Ella.

"It is a proud moment for IIL to have played a vital role in supporting our nation's interest during this unprecedented time. This would have not been possible without the constant support provided by Niti-Aayog, BIRAC, DBT, Mission Covid Suraksha Team, Central and State drug control authorities," Anand Kumar said.

"The government has worked relentlessly to provide all possible support for ramping up Covaxin production in the country and speed up the Covaxin inoculation drive. The loan license agreement by the CDSCO for Indian Immunologicals Ltd to produce Covaxin drug substance is a major milestone, achieved in a very short span of time. The DBT-BIRAC support under Mission Covid Suraksha aims to meet the Covid-19 vaccine requirement of our country. I congratulate the team for the efforts put in for this achievement," Secretary, Biotechnology, and BIRAC Chairperson, Dr Renu Swarup, said.

In order to augment the Covid-19 vaccine production capacity in the country, the Central government in April requested that the IIL and Bharat Biotech International Ltd (BBIL) join hands.

The IIL, in a short period of time, has performed several activities including signing of 4 agreements with BBIL, repurposing its manufacturing facility in Hyderabad, procurement of key raw materials and consumables, procurement of key equipment for the process, technology transfer, trials at R&D scale, training etc. These activities were all done at breakneck speed and production at commenced in 2021.

The batches so produced at IIL's manufacturing facility have been tested both at the BBIL and the IIL and meets the quality specifications for the drug substance. The yields are more than expected, the IIL said in a statement.

Dr Anand Kumar also said that IIL is also working on another Covid-19 vaccine and the animal trials are underway currently. It is expected to come out by next year for human vaccination.

Under Atmanirbhar Bharat 3.0 Mission Covid Suraksha was announced by the Centre to accelerate the development and production of indigenous Covid vaccines. This is being implemented by the Department of Biotechnology.

The IIL, Hyderabad, has been sanctioned a grant of Rs 60 crore towards enhancing production capabilities

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Duration: 108minutes Film: Beckett (Streaming on Netflix)

Duration: 108minutes

Director: Ferdinando Cito Filomarino

Cast: Alicia Vikander, Boyd Holbrook, John David Washington, Vicky Krieps and Daphne Alexander.

Rating: ***1/2'Beckett' is an action-packed thriller set against a political backdrop in Greece. It is about an ordinary man in the wrong place at the wrong time.

John David Washington in the titular role is the unlucky protagonist caught up in an extraordinary scenario. While vacationing in a remote hilly region in Greece with his girlfriend April (Alicia Vikander), his car skids off the road and lands through the roof of a house. The crash kills his girlfriend immediately and just before he could pass out, in his distressed state, he sees a young boy being whisked away from the site by a woman.

He later wakes up in a hospital and while narrating details of the accident to the police, to his surprise, he learns that the house in which he and April had crashed into was an abandoned one. He later revisits the crash site only to be shot at by people with guns and they include the police officer who was supposedly helping him.

Caught off-guard, he runs for his life. In the process he breaks his arm and is injured by a gun shot. In his desperate attempt, he decides to contact the American Embassy to seek protection, only to be told that help could reach him only a day later.

To expedite the process, Beckett decides to travel from the mountain top to the embassy in Athens. Along the way, he realises that the boy whom he had seen at the accident site was kidnapped for a political agenda. Hence his and the lives of those several people who help him during the course of his journey are also in danger.

It is during the second act of the film, which is the cat-and-mouse chase between the police officer and Beckett, we realise that the film is set in the backdrop of the anti-austerity movement in Greece which involved a series of demonstrations and general strikes.

The plot of the film may appear to be simple without any gimmicks, spectacular visual effects or over-the-top stunts, the narrative is fluid and striking. It does not give you time to think how Beckett was transformed from a victim of a horrible accident to a fugitive on the run, to an unwitting hero. You are drawn with him into his journey.

Watching the wounded Beckett navigate his way through the streets and people's hearts despite lacking language skills is what makes you root for him. The action scenes in which he fights his pursuers in rustic survival-knock-down attempts is what makes him the underdog one cheers.

Alicia Vikander, in a cute romantic role as April, leaves her impression that lasts till the very end. Yes, you recall her presence in the final act when the camera focuses on Beckett's palm where you see the heart she had drawn.

Vicky Krieps, playing a random political activist, is charming but wasted in this film. Her interactions with Washington, despite being humane, lacks the heft of a great artiste.

Director Ferdinando Cito Filomarino and his cinematographer, Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, have creatively mounted the film. Each frame brilliantly captures the minute yet intrinsic elements of the narrative.

Overall, Beckett is a simple yet great thriller.

(Troy Ribeiro can be contacted on troy.r@ians.in)
New Delhi, Aug 13 : The Supreme Court on Friday asked a Secunderabad-based hospital to consider reducing the treatment cost of a man whose wife has sought Rs 1 crore aid from the PM-CARES Fund for transplant of his lungs, which were impacted due to Covid infection.

A bench of Justices L. Nageswara Rao and Aniruddha Bose clarified that the court is not giving any direction, but asking the hospital to consider if something could be done in this matter. "We are not giving any direction to the government, except that the representation is considered, which may not be useful as the government has their constraints," it said.

The bench told the hospital's counsel to examine the estimated the cost for the lungs transplant and tell them if the hospital can be kind to the patient and reduce the charges.

Counsel for the hospital informed the bench that the patient's condition is improving, and if it continues, he might not need a transplant. The bench replied, "That's good. You tell us next week, if condition has improved. Please get instructions if they can waive anything, we'll see." The bench posted the matter for further hearing on Monday.

The top court was hearing a plea by Sheela Mehra who sought financial assistance for the medical procedure under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Mehra, in the plea filed through advocate Krishna Kumar Singh, said: "Petitioner has spent more than Rs 1 crore on medication of her husband and only turned for help after exhausting all money available to her. The petitioner has also tried crowd funding, personal appeal on social websites, loan from friends and acquaintances before approaching the official respondents for financial help." She emphasised that no life should meet its end for reason of financial constraints and state is duty bound to extend help in appropriate case. She insisted that PM Cares Fund is a national endeavour to provide relief to persons in distress situation.
New Delhi, Aug 13 : The Delhi government has set up district level committees to assist the authorities to implement schemes to provide facilities to persons with disabilities.

According to sources in the Delhi government, 11 committees have been set up, one for each district in Delhi, which will be headed by the district magistrate (DM).

Each committee will have the chief district medical officer and the public prosecutor of the same district as its members. The district social welfare officer will be the member secretary in the committee.

Apart from these, each committee will also have one representative each from the Department of Women and Child Development and the Public Works Department.

According to an order issued by the East Delhi administration, the district committees will advise the district authorities on matters relating to rehabilitation and empowerment of persons with disabilities.

"The panel will look into the complaints relating to non-implementation of provisions of the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and the Delhi Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2018 and recommend suitable remedial measures to the authority concerned," the order read.

It added that each committee will monitor the implementation of the Acts and the Rules and look into appeals made by employees of government establishments aggrieved with action taken by the district-level authorities.
Bhubaneswar, Aug 13 : Odisha's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Friday announced that it is going to field at least 27 per cent OBC candidates in the upcoming panchayat polls and other subsequent elections in the state.

Senior BJD leaders and state ministers Arun Sahoo and Ranendra Pratap Swain announced the Naveen Patnaik-led party's decision at a press conference here.

"Our President and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has taken the decision to field at least 27 per cent candidates belonging to the other backward classes (OBC) in the upcoming three-tier panchayat polls and other elections in the state," said Sahoo.

The BJD has taken this political decision due to the 50 per cent cap directive by the Supreme Court and as there hasn't been any central law to determine reservations, he added.

Swain said the the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act, 2008 has provision for reservation of posts and services for OBCs, but the quota has not been implemented as courts have given directives to provide reservation as per their population ratio, he said.

As the Census is not on the basis of caste yet, it makes it difficult for the government to arrive at an accurate percentage of OBC population in the state, the minister added.

Sahoo also took a dig at the Opposition BJP and Congress parties and asked those to follow suit, if they really care for this neglected population.

Reacting to the BJD's move, senior BJP leader Prithviraj Harichandan said: "If the BJD really wants to respect OBC reservation, the state government should first announce reservation for them in education and employment. Roping in OBC candidates for election is an internal affair of the BJD." Two days ago, a delegation of BJD MPs had recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and demanded a Central law that removes the 50 per cent cap on reservations as fixed by the Supreme Court.

At present, only 11.25 per cent reservation is being given to the OBC category people in the education and employment sectors in the state.
Kabul, Aug 13 : Mohammad Omar Sherzad, the Governor of Uruzgan province in Afghanistan, which has fallen to the Taliban, has released a video saying that people had asked him not to resist the Taliban fighters so that people are not killed and the city is not damaged, media reports said.

In the video, Sherzad said that tribal elders and political leaders have asked him not to put up any resistance to the Taliban to avoid bloodshed, so he handed over the control to the militant fighters.

The Taliban have toppled six provincial capitals in the past 24 hours, which brings the total number of provinces fallen to the fighters to 18.

Kandahar, Helmand, Herat, Badghis, Ghor, Logar, Zabul and Oruzgan provinces fell to the Taliban in the past 24 hours.

Apart from the aforementioned provinces, there are also other provinces like Paktia and Wardak where the Afghan government forces only control the provincial capitals while the Taliban control the rest of the geography.

The Taliban confirmed on Friday that they have arrested Herat's former Governor, warlord Ismail Khan, along with several of his top aides.

In Herat province, former Jihadi leader Ismail Khan, Deputy Interior Minister Abdurahman Rahman, Governor Abdulsabor Qani, Commander of Afghan National Army Zafar, and the head of the National Directorate of Security's local office have surrendered to the Taliban.

The Logar province, only two hours from the Afghan Presidential Palace, also witnessed heavy conflict between the Taliban and the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) in the capital Pol-e-Alam.

Videos captured by the local people in the province show that the central prison has been broken and scores of prisoners fleeing the jail, though the Afghan government is yet to comment about the prison or the collapse of the province.

The rise in the gains of the Taliban comes at a time when the head of the High Council for National Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah, arrived in Kabul from Doha and is due to hold a meetings with the politicians.
Patna: Polling officers receive EVM machines and other polling material as they leave for their respective polling stations for election duty, on the eve of the Bihar Assembly elections, at Pali in Patna on Oct 27, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Panaji, Aug 13 : In view of the Covid pandemic, the Election Commission has set a cap of only 1,000 voters at a polling booth for the forthcoming Assembly polls, representatives of political parties were told at a meeting with the Goa Chief Electoral Officer on Friday.

CEO Kunal (who does not use his surname) also announced that voters who are 80 years old and above as well as those with disability of 40 percent and above, will be allowed to vote by postal ballot.

"Due to Covid, they have decided to cap the number of voters at polling stations to 1,000, which means additional polling stations will be created," Goa Forward party spokesperson, Durgadas Kamat, who was present at the meeting, told reporters.

There are currently more than 1,600 polling booths in the state.

Addressing reporters after the meeting, Kunal said: "In the coming election, persons with 40 per cent disability and also for senior citizens who are 80 years of age or more... there will be provision for postal ballots." Special camps would be held in the both districts to certify the disability percentage of voters, he added.

"All these provisions were explained to political parties and we requested them to appoint booth level agents for all the booths, so that for summary revision exercise, there should be complete participation and there should be meaningful dialogue at the ground," Kunal said.
Hyderabad, Aug 13 : A total of 692 students graduated from the Indian School of Business (ISB) on Friday.

Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran was the chief guest at the 20th graduation ceremony held virtually. While 481 students graduated from the Hyderabad campus, 211 students passed out from the Mohali campus.

Students of PGP (class of 2021), FPM (Fellow Programme in Management) and founding class of EFPM (Executive Fellow Programme in Management) took part in the e-graduation ceremony.

Congratulating the graduates, Chandrasekaran told them that they are graduating at a pivotal moment in time.

"We have experienced advancements that we could not have imagined-from scientific breakthroughs to new ways of learning, living, and working. This is a tremendous opportunity for India to change and better itself. And this opportunity is your opportunity. For the world is being rethought, and soon it will be rebuilt. Never before has there been such an opening for bold new ideas," he said.

"I believe that the new India that emerges in the coming decade can be the global leader in R&D, science and technology, AI, advanced manufacturing and next generation products and services. We have the right human capital. We have the scale. We just need to make the right investments. And for that, we need to start with the fundamentals," he underlined.

Earlier, addressing his first graduation ceremony as the Dean of the ISB, Professor Madan Pillutla said that after completing two decades of meaningful and eventful years of national contribution, the ISB is in for more promising and exciting times ahead.

"With the varied intellectual and physical resources at the ISB's disposal today, I believe we have the responsibility to contribute a lot more to India. The third decade of the ISB should be about impact and transformation," he said.

ISB Executive Board Chairperson Harish Manwani, Mohali Campus Advisory Board Chairperson, Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Pillutla, and members of the ISB Board, joined virtually in the celebrations along with students, families, faculty, staff, alumni, and other dignitaries.

"For a successful business, values and purpose are more important than ever, as are people in these trying times. Organisations should become more agile and resilient to encounter any unprecedented challenge," Manwani said.

The ISB will continue to equip its students to become future-ready and enable them to usher in futuristic and innovative growth models worth emulating by others, he added.

The graduation ceremony also celebrated the accomplishments of its students by announcing awards to students who excelled in academics and extra-curricular activities and those who had demonstrated exemplary leadership skills throughout the year.

Siddhant Gupta from the Mohali campus and Tanya Sri Yerra from the Hyderabad campus received the gold medals for topping the class. ISB Parmeshwar Godrej Award, which is given to honour the memory of Parmeshwar Godrej to an Exemplary Woman Student who has a strong commitment to social causes, was presented to Ridhi Vohra from Co2021.
Gurugram, Aug 13 : The 'Dial 112' helpline service launched by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on July 12 for emergency services like police, fire and ambulance across the state received 66,560 calls in the one month since its inception.

The calls were received from all over the state during the last one month period at the Mirror Control Room set up in Gurugram.

With these services, immediate help is made available to the person seeking assistance as soon as the call is received.

The Deputy Commissioner of Gurugram, Yash Garg, said that this helpline started with the aim of quick assistance is proving to be very effective in the district.

"Instead of dialling different numbers for emergency services, now all the three emergency services can be availed by dialling 112. The state government has merged the emergency services of police (100), firefighting (102) and ambulance (108) and connected them with 112," Garg said.

Garg said that through this entire process, all possible help is being provided to the caller within 15 minutes in the urban areas and 20 minutes in the rural areas.

Three policemen have been deployed on each vehicle connected to the Dial 112 service. Also, modern portable field tablets (PFT) have been installed on the dashboards of the vehicles which are directly connected to the control room.

Along with this, GPS has been installed in all the vehicles, due to which their movement can be traced from the headquarters.

In-charge of the control room in Gurugram, Ranbir Deshwal, said that the services of four telecom service providers are being taken to ensure that there is no interruption in the Dial 112 service.
Chennai, Aug 13 : In order to combat and mitigate the impact of climate change in the coastal state of Tamil Nadu, the government said that it will launch a climate change mission under Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.

Presenting the budget for 2021-22 in the Assembly, Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan said: "This government will launch the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission under the Honourable Chief Minister to focus on climate change adaptation and mitigation activities with a total outlay of Rs 500 crore." He also said the state government will launch the Green Tamil Nadu Mission to increase the total area under the forest and tree cover to 33 per cent of the land area of the state.

A massive tree plantation programme of indigenous and diverse species, in co-ordination with multiple departments, public and private institutions will be taken up with people's participation over 10 years.

According to Rajan, to protect the coast line and to reduce pollution in coastal stretches action plans will be prepared and implemented.

Over the next five years, 10 beaches will be upgraded with the active support of local bodies to achieve the prestigious Blue Flag Certification which mandates higher standards of quality, safety, environmental education and information, and safety services.

The government will launch the 'Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission' with the objective of ecological restoration of wetlands in the state.

The mission will identify and map 100 wetlands in 5 years and restore the ecological balance with focus on livelihood options at a cost of Rs 150 crore.

These apart, a Green Fund will be created based on the levy of the green seignorage cess to ensure that abandoned quarry sites are appropriately secured and restored.

A Fossil Geological Park will be developed in Ariyalur and Perambalur districts at a cost of Rs 10 crore where indigenous fossils which are six crore years old are found, Rajan said.
Amaravati, Aug 13 : A NITI Aayog team met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday and presented the SDG India Index 2020-21 report.

The Chief Minister explained to the team the reforms being undertaken by the state government for the integrated development of Andhra Pradesh, prioritising the development of various sectors.

The NITI Aayog team comprising advisor Sanyukta Samaddar, SDG officer Alen John and data analytics officer Saurav Das appreciated the efforts of the state government in achieving sustainable and integrated development.

Under the guidance of NITI Aayog, a two-day workshop is to be organised in the state secretariat on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) India Index 2020-21 and Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), during which the officials will discuss and chart out plans to keep the state ahead in the SDG rankings.
Duration: 114 minutes Film: Bhuj The Pride of India (Playing in theatres and Disney+Hotstar)

Duration: 114 minutes

Director: Abhishek Dudhaiya

Cast: Ajay Devgn, Sonakshi Sinha, Sharad Kelkar, Sanjay Dutt, Ammy Virk, Pawan Shankar and Nora Fatehi

Rating: **1/2By Troy Ribeiro

With Independence Day round the corner, naturally, every Indian looks forward to the customary patriotic film releasing each year.

Set in the backdrop of the 1971 War, with India backing freedom fighters in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) against Pakistan's oppression, and Pakistan attempting to forcefully bring India to the negotiating table by advancing across our western borders, this film is expected to stir the spirit of patriotism. But it does not.

The story revolves around the commanding officer of the Bhuj IAF Base, Vijay Karnik (Ajay Devgn), who tries to save the area from falling into the hands of the enemy, and the efforts of the women of Madhapur village, who pitch in to rebuild the air strip destroyed in bombing by the Pakistan Air Force.

Painfully tedious, with the narration from the Ajay Devgn character's point of view, this film, albeit atmospheric in parts, appears disjointed. The 'tell-and-show' plot is linear, but the narrative tends to get confusing.

There is a strong feeling of dAjA vu and in spite of a forced attempt to include all the elements of a patriotic film, and the pathos-filled back stories of Air Force officers, the film fails to move the viewer.

On the performance front, the capable actors do not succeed in leaving a mark. Ajay Devgn delivers a lacklustre performance, merely mouthing heavy-duty dialogues sans emotions and conviction. The only scene he stands out is when he eulogises a 'sipahi' with the words, "Main jeeta hoon marne ke liye, main hoon sipahi." Sharad Kelkar delivers what is expected of him, Ammy Virk as Baljeet touches one's heart with his sincere portrayal of a single father and a brave soldier. Nora Fatehi, playing a RAW operative, tries hard but does not succeed. Her accent pulls her down.

Sanjay Dutt as Ranchod Bhai Baghi, a RAW agent from Kutch, is competent, but does not bring in anything new by way of histrionics. Pawan Shankar, as the shrewd Mohammed Hussain Osmani from Pakistan, is impressive and looks the part. Sonakshi Sinha, as Sunderben a wonder-woman from Kutch, too is wasted.

The film is astutely shot by cinematographer Aseem Bajaj, but the computer-generated images of the fighter planes look amateurish and are not seamlessly meshed with the actual action scenes, which lack drama and appear staged.

The music, too, isn't out-of-the-ordinary; it's just passable. The background song 'O des mere', although mellifluous, does not leave a strong impact. The dialogues are hard-hitting in some scenes and ably capture the essence of the film.

Overall, 'Bhuj: The Pride of India' is a feeble attempt at fulfilling the Independence Day patriotism quotient and does not leave you with either a puffed-up chest, or misty eyes.

(Troy Ribeiro can be contacte at troy.r@ians.in)
New Delhi, Aug 13 : The Supreme Court was informed on Friday that nearly 9,600 home buyers, in various Amrapali housing projects, have not come forward to claim their flats.

A bench comprising Justices U.U. Lalit and Ajay Rastogi allowed the plea of the court-appointed receiver to treat these flats as unsold inventory, and if nobody comes forward to claim them, then the next step should be the cancellation of their allotment and auctioning them to raise money for construction of the remaining unfinished projects.

The top court was informed that senior advocate R. Venkataramani, the court-appointed receiver, and the NBCC have made several joint efforts to reach out to all home buyers, to whom units are said to have been sold in various housing projects. According to a note, submitted by the receiver, in the top court, "it has emerged that about 9,583 home buyers have neither registered so far in the customer data maintained by the office of the receiver, nor have made any payments, subsequent to the judgment of the court in July 2019".

The bench added that a final notice should be given to these home buyers and if they don't come forward to claim these flats within 15 days, then the receiver can proceed to cancel the allotment. According to the court-appointed forensic audit report, these flats could be benami or bogus bookings.

Venkataramani also informed the top court that 6,210 home buyers, though registered in the customer data, are not making any payment. "Necessary direction is solicited from the court in order that the allotments to such defaulting home buyers shall be treated as cancelled, after giving one final opportunity for expressing their interest in the allotment and making due payment," added the note.

The receiver further added that substantial amount could be raised by selling those unclaimed flats and it would be helpful in raising funds for the construction of unfinished projects.

The court-appointed receiver is managing the affairs of Amrapali group and exploring all options to raise the funds to complete the unfinished construction of housing project.
New Delhi, Aug 13 : India, Brazil, and South Africa recognised the importance of strengthening cooperation in tourism to overcome the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the sector as their Ministers met virtually on Friday to discuss the issue.

Tourism Minister G. Kishan Reddy met his counterparts, Gilson Machado Neto of Brazil, and Fish Amos Mahlalela of South Africa, through videoconferencing, as India organised the India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) Tourism Ministers' Meeting to promote tourism cooperation among the member states and reviewed the intra-tourism cooperation.

During the virtual meeting, Reddy emphasised the importance of domestic tourism in reigniting the tourism economy as it can prepare the domestic tourism industry for the arrival of international visitors.

The IBSA Tourism Ministers' meeting recognised the importance of strengthening cooperation in tourism to overcome the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the tourism sector, and resolved to work together to realise the full potential of IBSA countries through cooperation in the tourism sector.

The IBSA Tourism Ministers joint statement, an outcome document on cooperation and promotion for speedy recovery of travel and tourism, was adopted and the ministers also agreed to implement various tourism activities to be taken by respective member countries.

The aim of the IBSA Tripartite Agreement is for strengthening relations between the member countries for economic development and for promoting cooperation in the field of tourism and expansion of tourism relations with a view to understand and appreciate each other's history, culture and way of life.

The IBSA is a trilateral, developmental initiative between India, Brazil and South Africa to promote South-South cooperation and exchange.
Kabul, Aug 13 : Taliban militants set fire to the house of a former female police officer, Najiba Dalawi, in Sheberghan on Friday.

The former officer had gone to visit a shrine when Taliban fighters set fire to her rented house.

Meanwhile, piling on more human rights breaches, the Taliban killed the district police chief of Asmar in Kunar province.

In Kandahar province, the Taliban have captured the central prison and hundreds of inmates have been released. The Taliban confirmed that they have released 1,900 inmates after taking over the prison.

As the Taliban have seized around 17 provinces, quoting locals, Wall Street Journal reported that women in many Taliban-held areas are not allowed to leave the houses without male relatives or without wearing burqas.

In this regard, Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said, "Hampering a woman's ability to leave home without a male escort also inevitably leads to a cascade of other violations of the woman." Several reports of Taliban forcing young girls to marry their fighters in the provinces of Herat, Kandahar, Nimroz and Helmand keep emerging.

The Taliban have killed several civilians and members of public uprising forces after capturing Herat, besides detaining local warlord Ismail Khan.
Kabul, Aug 13 : Afghans pouring into Kabul and those still in the Taliban-held areas say that they have witnessed unprovoked attacks on civilians and executions of captured soldiers.

In addition, they say, Taliban commanders have demanded that communities must hand over unmarried women to become "wives" for their fighters -- a form of sexual violence, human-rights groups say, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The US Embassy in Kabul had said on Thursday that it had received reports of the Taliban executing members of the Afghan military who had surrendered.

"Deeply disturbing and could constitute war crimes," the Embassy said.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, denied that the group had killed any prisoners, saying that would violate their principles.

He also said that allegations that the Taliban were forcing women into marriage were false, and that such actions would be contrary to the rules of Islam and violate cultural tradition.

On Wednesday, Mawlawi Abdul Qadir, a senior Taliban religious official, had said in a speech in the newly captured capital of Badakhshan province that government soldiers who surrender and "confess their crimes" would be able "to live like a Muslim under the flag of the Islamic Emirate".

Taliban leaders have publicly pledged to be magnanimous in victory, assuring government officials, troops and the people of Afghanistan that they have nothing to fear as ever larger swaths of the country fall under their control.
New Delhi, Aug 13 : India's merchandise exports in July 2021 rose to $35.43 billion, higher by 49.85 per cent on a year-on-year basis, official data showed on Friday.

Exports during July 2020 stood at $23.64 billion.

The data by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry also showed that in comparison to July 2019, last month's exports rose by 35.05 per cent.

"Exports in July 2021 were $35.43 billion, as compared to $23.64 billion in July 2020, exhibiting a positive growth of 49.85 per cent. As compared to July 2019, exports in July 2021 exhibited a positive growth of 35.05 per cent in dollar terms." "Non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery exports in July 2021 were $26.12 billion, as compared to $20.37 billion in July 2020, registering a positive growth of 28.18 per cent. As compared to July 2019, Non-petroleum and Non-Gems and Jewellery exports in July 2021 registered a positive growth of 32.26 per cent." Similarly, India's merchandise imports in July 2021 increased, up by 62.99 per cent, on a year-on-year basis, to $46.40 billion.

"The higher value of petroleum products accounted for more than one-third of the YoY rise in merchandise exports in July 2021," ICRA's Chief Economist Aditi Nayar said.

"Aside from that, engineering goods, gems & jewellery, textiles and apparels, chemicals and electronic goods were the dominant drivers of the enthusing expansion in merchandise exports to a record high in July 2021." EEPC India Chairman Mahesh Desai said: "With pandemic situations on the ebb and strong recovery seen in European and American markets, the (engineering goods) sector is very much on the sustained recovery path." "We hope the momentum would continue and the sector closing the year on a very positive note." FIEO President A. Sakthivel said that the sustained growth in exports of about 50 per cent with $35.43 billion over FY2020-21 and by 35 percent over FY2019-20 yet again demonstrated the strength and resilience of the exports sector.

Noting this is the highest-ever exports recorded at least in the previous 9 years as per the data readily available with FIEO, he said that the global demand during this period has also remained buoyant as the order booking positions of the exporters have still been impressive.
New Delhi, Aug 13 : In wake of the Commission on Air Quality Management (CAQM) being made a permanent body, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Friday held a "familiarisation meeting" with representatives of states and others concerned.

Representatives from stakeholder states, members of the CAQM, officials from Agriculture, Railway, and Environment, Forests and Climate Change Ministries attended the meeting.

"It was just a familiarisation meeting," Yadav said, adding that no decisions were taken.

Every year, the transition time between kharif and rabi crops becomes important in view of the stubble burning by farmers in Punjab and Haryana contributing, among the many reasons, towards increasing air pollution in Delhi-NCR area.

The CAQM will be looking into "airshed" approach (like watershed, airshed is a geographical area beyond political boundaries wherein winds blowing from one area have an impact on other areas) and the authorities are looking at improved management of the air quality this season.

The meeting was given a brief overview of the air pollution situation. The daily active fire events (AFE) from Punjab during Kharif season increased from 43,686 in 2016 to 51,766 in 2018 to 76,590 in 2020. However, the daily AFE for kharif season for Haryana went down from 12,564 in 2017 to 10,354 in 2018 to 5000 in 2020, the meeting was told.

As per SAFAR model by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the average estimated and maximum contribution of external biomass burning to PM2.5 levels in Delhi has been 13 per cent and 42 per cent, respectively, in 2020, up from 12 per cent and 58 per cent in 2018.

"This was just one of the first meetings. This issue will be taken up regularly and we are hoping, with the involvement of everyone, air quality condition would be better," said an Environment Ministry official.
New Delhi, Aug 13 : The Delhi government will install five high-mast national flags ahead of the 75th Independence Day which falls on Sunday, an official of the Delhi government said on Friday.

The official informed that the high-mast flags have already been erected at three locations -- East Kidwai Nagar, East Vinod Nagar and Rani Bagh. The remaining two in Kalkaji and Dwarka will also be erected by August 15.

The move is part of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's scheme to install as many as 500 high-mast tricolours across the national capital.

During the annual budget for 2021-22 announced in March this year, the Delhi government had allocated Rs 45 crore for this purpose.

The Public Works Department (PWD), which is monitoring the project, said that it has invited fresh bids to execute the project, adding that all the flags will be installed by the end of this year.

"We will erect these high-mast flags across the city by December-end. Our aim is to gift 500 high-mast tricolours to the citizens of Delhi before the next Republic Day," a PWD official told IANS.

The official said that a survey to earmark the locations in each municipal ward has already been started.

"We are identifying suitable public spaces such as market complexes, parks, grounds, big school buildings and residential complexes for installing the national flags," the official added.

These high-mast flags will be similar to the 200-ft high tricolour installed at Connaught Place.
Jaipur, Aug 13 : Ruma Devi, a fashion designer from Rajasthans Barmer district who has made around 22,000 women self-dependent by giving them decent jobs despite studying till just the eighth standard, feels that the Indians have abundant knowledge which needs to be put in practice to get a glimpse of Golden India.

"Our Indian roots had abundant knowledge and technologies which are forgotten in the present era. There is a need to put the ancient technologies into practice in order to give the world a glimpse of Golden India," she said.

Ruma's client list includes eminent designers from across the world who have been visiting Barmer to work with her.

Her exquisite hand embroidery has attracted many clients, including fashion designers Anita Dongre, Bibi Russell, Abrahim Thakore, Rohit Kamra, Manish Saksena and many others, both from India and overseas.

Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan had hosted her in the popular show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati', following which her story has become widely popular.

Ruma had won the 'Designer of the year' title at the Textiles Fair India 2019 besides receiving the Nari Shakti National Award in 2018 from President Ram Nath Kovind for transforming the lives of thousands of women in and around Barmer district.

"There are plenty of things that, if revived by the youth, can impact the whole world. The Golden India which we represented in the past is still there. The need of the hour is to put the ancient technologies in practice to give the world a glimpse of Golden India," she said.

This fashionista who emerged from the rustic rural lanes of Rajasthan has scripted a success story of her own by carving a path, which has all the ingredients of a Bollywood script.

She was born in a financially weak family and had lost her mother when she was just five. Her father then re-married after which her real struggle begun.

Her family members got her name dropped from school when she reached class VIII and engaged her in household chores.

Each day, she travelled for around 10 km to fetch water. At 17, she was married but poverty continued to chase her.

Fed up, she formed a group of around 10 women and collected Rs 100 from each of them to purchase raw materials to make bags with hand embroidery on them.

The bags were sold in the villages and soon their demand grew.

The Grameen Vikaas and Chetna Sansthan in Barmer came to know of her work and in 2018, she became a member of the organisation.

In 2010, she became the president of the organisation and since then, there has been no looking back for Ruma.
New Delhi, Aug 13 : The Centre on Friday released the second instalment of 35 per cent of the Emergency Covid Response Plan II funds of Rs 14,744.99 crore to all states to effectively combat the pandemic.

Earlier, Rs 1,827.80 crore was released to all states and UTs as 15 per cent advance to undertake preparatory activities to speed up the implementation of the ECRP-II.

With the latest disbursement, 50 per cent of the funds have been released so as to ensure implementation of critical activities at the state and district levels to prepare the public healthcare systems in response to the covid pandemic.

In view of the second wave and its spread into rural, peri-urban, and tribal areas and the evolving pandemic situation, the Union Cabinet had, on July 8, approved the India Covid-19 Emergency Response & Health System Preparedness Package: Phase-II (ECRP-II package), amounting to Rs 23,123 crore.

To be implemented from July 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, the scheme aims to accelerate health system preparedness for immediate responsiveness for early prevention, detection and management, with a focus on health infrastructure development, including for paediatric care, and with measurable outcomes.

Under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) components of the ECRP-II, states/UTs have been supported by way of approvals for Emergency Covid Response Plans (ECRP) to the tune of Rs 14,744.99 crore.

The ECRP-I for Rs 15,000 crore was released to all states/UTs in April 2021 to prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by Covid-19.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Bihar: Due to increase in the water level of old Gandak in Muzaffarpur, a lake became a police station. Image Source: IANS News

Patna, Aug 13 : The flood situation has worsened in Patna district after water from the Ganga entered into some more localities on Friday.

The water level has increased in the last 24 hours, entering the Didarganj region located on the eastern side of the state capital. The most affected places are Sonama panchayat, Khaspur, Jethuli and Punadih panchayat, among others.

The residents of these villages are using boats to buy essential daily needs.

"We are struggling to buy food and other essential domestic items. Our cattle and pet animals are at the stage of starvation. The water has entered into our ground floors now," said Saroj Kumar, a resident of Khaspur village.

Another villager, Rahul Sharma, said: "Patna Sahib MP Ravi Shankar Prasad visited our village on Thursday but he did not provide any assurance to facilitate the delivery of food and other domestic items. But besides him, no other public representatives have visited the flood-hit areas of region." "The electricity supply in this region has snapped for the last few days and the residents of these villages are facing huge shortage of drinking water. Even the state government is not distributing chlorine tablets to purify the water for consumption," said Radhe Shyam Sharma, a resident of Sonama panchayat.

"We immediately need government assistance for survival. More than 35,000 people have been affected by the floods," Sharma said.

According to an official from the state disaster management unit, 28 districts have been affected by floods in north and central Bihar this season, including Patna. The other affected districts are East and West Champaran, Supaul, Araria, Madhepura, Sheohar, Saharsa, Kishanganj, Katihar, Purnea, Vaishali, Gopalganj, Siwan and Saran.
Guwahati, Aug 13 : The BJP-led Assam government on Friday passed the much-debated 'Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021' to regulate slaughter, consumption and transportation of cattle amid protests by the opposition, with the Congress staging a walkout after its request to forward the legislation to a select committee was turned down.

The BJP members raised slogans of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Jai Shree Ram' and thumped the desks when Speaker Biswajit Daimary declared the Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021 as passed.

The Congress and its electoral allies, the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and the CPI-M, urged the government to send the bill to a select committee for scrutiny. They then staged a walkout after their proposal was not accepted.

The lone Independent legislator, Akhil Gogoi, who is also the President of the Raijor Dal, had walked out of the House when the bill was taken up for consideration.

Claiming that the bill was brought with no bad intention and it would strengthen communal harmony, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma rejected the opposition members' demand.

About a clause in the bill that prohibits cow slaughter within a 5 km radius of temples or satras (religious place), the Chief Minister told the House that there are hundreds of kilometres of area in Assam with no temples, while 70,000-80,000 habitations in the state have no Hindus at all.

While introducing the bill on the opening day of the Budget Session of the Assam Assembly on July 12, Sarma, who also holds the home and political affairs porfolios, had said that the proposed legislation would also prevent smuggling and illegal trade of cattle.

The bill said that in the light of the experience over the years and in view of the shortcomings which have been observed, it is considered that there is an imperative need to enact a legislation to include sufficient legal provisions to regulate the slaughter, consumption and transportation of cattle by repealing the 'Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 1950'.

Violation of the provisions of the new law entails imprisonment of up to eight years and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh.

According to the new legislation, the veterinary officer would issue a certificate only if he is of the opinion that the bovine, not being a cow, is over 14 years of age.

A cow, heifer or calf may be slaughtered only if it is permanently incapacitated, the bill said, adding that duly licensed or recognised slaughter houses would be allowed to butcher cattle.

While most of the northeastern states have not reacted yet to Assam's cow protection law, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma had said that the state government would take up the matter with the Centre if Assam's new law affects the supply of beef to the state.

Smuggling of cows and other cattle to Bangladesh is rampant along five Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam, which share 4,096 km borders with the neighbouring country.
New Delhi, Aug 13 : Even after the end of the Monsoon session, the Congress has kept up its attack on the government and on Friday, its Chief Whip Jairam Ramesh accused it of trying to make the parliament irrelevant.

"Why's the Opposition agitated? "One of the reasons: ONLY 12 per cent of Bills in Modi-II have gone through any Parliamentary Committee scrutiny. This was 27 per cent in Modi-I, 71 per cent in UPA-II & 60 per cent in UPA-I.

"Parliament is being made irrelevant by Modi Govt & the Presiding Officers are complicit," he said in a tweet.

The opposition took out a march on Thursday and a joint opposition delegation met the Rajya Sabha Chairman.

A joint statement issued by 14 opposition leaders said: "It is the government, which is squarely responsible for the stalemate, has refused to accept the opposition's demand for an informed debate in both the houses. The government used its brute majority to push through its legislative agenda in violation of established procedures, conventions, and spirit of Parliamentary democracy." However, Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Pralhad Joshi and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had blamed the opposition for the incident which happened on Wednesday.
Guwahati, Aug 14 : Amid border disputes with Mizoram, Meghalaya and Nagaland, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told the Assembly on Friday that the state's boundary disputes with Arunachal Pradesh are at 1,200 places.

The Chief Minister said that the Assam government has been holding informal talks on the border issue with the Arunachal Pradesh government.

"Assam has 12 areas of border disputes with Meghalaya, but the disagreement with Arunachal is at 1,200 places," he said.

"There was clear demarcation of boundary when the states of Uttarakhand and Jharkhand were created. However, when Mizoram, Arunachal and Nagaland were curved out, the matter was left to certain conditions and the uncertainty remained, causing the disputes," he added.

Sarma said that Assam's boundary dispute cases with Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh are lying in the Supreme Court and any forward movement on these issues without the direction of the apex court would be unwise.

Referring to the historical perspective of the Mizoram boundary with Assam, the Chief Minister said that in 1870, the British administration had given the forest (now a reserve forest) to the Lushai Hills (present day Mizoram).

"The forest areas were bifurcated in 1932 with one portion going to Assam and the other to Mizoram. When Mizoram was given a Union Territory status in 1972, it was decided that the 1932 boundary will be the inter-state border.

"During the signing of the Mizo peace accord in 1986, that very boundary was agreed to be maintained as Mizoram's boundary. Based on this boundary, Mizoram created a state in 1987," he stated.

The worst-ever violence along the Assam-Mizoram border on July 26 left six Assam Police personnel dead and around 100 civilians and security personnel of the two neighbouring states injured.

The fierce border troubles between Assam and Mizoram subsided only on August 8 after the withdrawal of the 'economic blockade' on National Highway 306, ensuring supply of essential goods, transport fuel and vital medicines to the mountainous border state.

The Assam Chief Minister had also discussed with his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Pema Khandu about an out of the court settlement of the boundary disputes.
Bengaluru, Aug 14 : The Karnataka Police recently organised an interaction programme with students of African nations in Bengaluru for studies and other purposes in an attempt to reach out to them and know their grievances after the violent confrontation on August 3, officials said on Friday.

"The meeting was held couple of days ago and it was fruitful. The African youths expressed happiness with the functioning of Karnataka Police and some of them even condemned the recent behaviour of their fraternity after the death of a Congolese national near J.C.Nagar police station," DCP East Dr K. Sharanappa told IANS.

More than 60 people from various countries attended the interaction programme and shared their grievances, he said.

"Many students were found to be facing genuine problems and we have assured them that they will all be solved. There are bona fide students. Some are stuck due to Covid restrictions, non-availability of flight services, and other genuine reasons," he said.

A stern message was also given not to take law into their hands. It was also assured that law-abiding students will be protected. It was the third meeting with African students, said the DCP.

Some Congolese nationals and students resorted to violence while protesting against the death of a young Congolese national in police custody after his arrest on charges of possessing and selling drugs. The police carried out a baton charge to disperse the mob and the incident became a national headline. The matter is under investigation.
New Delhi, Aug 14 : With an aim to develop a scientific attitude and encourage students to take science as a career, a 'Science Museum' was inaugurated at a government school at Chandel in Manipur.

The Autonomous Institute of Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) established the 'Science Museum' at Maha Union Government Higher Secondary School, Japhou, Chandel.

Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Biotechnology, Dr. Renu Swarup inaugurated the museum on August 11 to commemorate the 75 years of Independence as a part of the occasion of Jan-Bhagidari, a release from the Department of Science and Technology (DST) said.

Director, IBSD, Prof. Pulok K. Mukherjee highlighted that the Science Museum will display scientific instruments, biodiversity posters, sustainable use of bioresources of NER, scientific lectures, seminars, scientific camps and outreach activities.

This museum will reach out to students to inspire them for a career in science and technology while celebrating the history and future of research and innovation in the country. The posters and graphical representation of different research findings, global research scenario, bioresources management including sustainable use of medicinal plants have also been highlighted in the museum.

The main objective of museum is to develop a scientific attitude and to inculcate general awareness among the students and common people and also to promote scientific intervention through bioresources for the benefits of students and common man of the region by demonstrating about instruments, organising lectures, seminars, scientific camps and outreach programme.

Minister of State for Education and External Affairs Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh was among those who attended the event.

The Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Imphal is an autonomous institute under Department of Biotechnology, Govt of India with the main mandate of Bioresources development and their sustainable use through biotechnological interventions for the socio-economic growth of the region.
Kohima, Aug 14 : Around 250 villagers belonging to four villages of Nagaland's border Mon district on Friday organised a protest against the grenade attack by the NSCN-KYA militants on Thursday, officials said.

Police officials in Kohima said that around men, women and youths of Kangnyu, Wangto, Lankhao, and Chenloisho villages, carrying placards, staged a protest rally against the grenade attack by the cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang-Yung Aung faction on Thursday.

The local people also observed a black day and blocked the Wangti-Chenloisio-Chenmoho road as a mark of protest.

Responding to the villagers and village chief's request on Thursday, a team of security personnel carried out the clearance of landslides with the help of villagers from Kangnyu, Wangto, and Chenloisho. In the evening, when the villagers and the Assam Rifles troopers were returning, three hand grenades were lobbed at them from a height.

The grenades landed in front of civilians, and though two didn't explode, one did, causing shrapnel injuries to 75-year-old Keipa of Kangnyu village.

The security forces immediately retaliated and fired a couple of rounds towards the location from where the grenades were lobbed. The injured local was rushed to the company base of Assam Rifles, where he was given first aid and stabilised, and was then moved to Mon for further treatment.
Patna, Aug 14 : A prostitution racket was busted in Bihar's Kaimur, and five women and a male customer arrested, police said on Friday.

The arrests came after police raided a house in ward number 6 under Bhabhua police station after a number of tip-offs. Two of the arrested women are sisters and allegedly the kingpins.

Contraceptives pills, condoms and sexual power enhancement tablets were also seized from their possession.

The house was located in a residential area and residents are pleased with the police action, claiming immoral activities were going there for the past few months round the clock.

"We have been receiving tip-offs about immoral activities for the past few days. Subsequently, we constituted a dedicated team comprising female constables and raided the house," Kaimur's Superintendent of Police Rakesh Kumar said.

"There were two male customers at the time of the raid. One of them, seeing police approaching, jumped off the rooftop and escaped. The other one was nabbed red-handed," he said.

"The accused were booked under relevant IPC sections related to prostitution, besides under the PITA (Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act)," he said.
Bengaluru, Aug 14 : Congress leader Siddaramaiah is all set to launch the 'Ahinda' (minorities, backwards and Dalits) movement across Karnataka ahead of local rural body elections, party sources said on Friday.

Congress sources said that Siddaramaiah will launch the movement to emerge as the leader of oppressed classes ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections.

Siddaramaiah, who met former ministers H.C. Mahadevappa and C.M. Ibrahim, who were in the forefront of the Ahinda movement earlier, on Friday demanded that the caste census of the state must be made public.

The socio-economic and education survey, known as the caste census, and begun in 2015, had run into controversy after some of the purported findings, suggesting Muslims were at second position in terms of population in Karnataka after lower classes, got leaked. Later, the Census Committee denied this.

In spite of the state government spending Rs 168 crore on the exercise, the report has never been made public or presented in the Assembly till date.

"The report was incomplete when I was in power. My successor H.D. Kumarasamy could have released it. B.S. Yediyurappa also did not bother to release it. I am for the release of the census report. If I have not released the census report, what is preventing the present government from presenting the census report in the Assembly," Siddaramaiah asked.

"The census includes information of all categories of people. The communities need to know where they stand. The office bearers of the Most Backward Castes Awareness Forum have met me. I have advised them to move the court," he added.

Party insiders claim that the caste census will put Scheduled Castes/Tribes and Other Backward Classes' population to be higher than dominant Lingayat and Vokkaliga castes in Karnataka.

Siddaramaiah, already established as a leader of backward classes, wants to garner the support of these communities by launching the 'Ahinda' movement.

This is the plan for the 2023 Assembly elections of Siddaramaiah who is now being challenged by state party President D.K. Shivakumar. Siddaramaiah wants to emerge as the leader of masses to prove a point to the Congress high command to make him the Chief Ministerial candidate in 2023.
As a part of the HUBZone program, we look forward to the new opportunities to work with many more clients as a result of this certification.

Advize Health LLC, a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) that consults with various firms to work on federal contracts is pleased to announce it has been certified to participate in the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Each year, the Federal Government has an annual goal of awarding 3% of all federal prime contracts to HUBZone-certified small business concerns. As a HUBZone-certified business, Advize Health will have the opportunity to receive competitive and sole source contracts with the Federal Government, as well as to help with federal procurement and contracting offers to achieve their set-aside targets.

Advize Health went through a rigorous review process in order to confirm that all requirements set forth by the program were met. To achieve HUBZone certification, Advize Health had to meet a range of criteria that included having its principal office located in a federally mapped HUBZone area and having more than 35% of its employees residing in HUBZone-designated areas.

I am excited to announce that Advize Health is being recognized for achieving the HUBZone certification, says CEO Jeanmarie Loria. As a part of the HUBZone program, we look forward to the new opportunities to work with many more clients as a result of this certification.

About Advize Health

Advize Health provides a full suite of services to healthcare organizations of all sizes, from government entities to commercial payers, group practices, hospitals, and clinics. Focused on reducing the cost of healthcare and improving the quality of delivery, our client approach is uniquely straightforward and effective. We hire and manage the subject matter experts (SMEs) to provide the best for our clients without having the marked-up price of our competitors. We have strong legal experience and are called upon to provide guidance on cases as well and transitional work such as Mergers and Acquisitions. Visit us at http://www.advizehealth.com or follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/advize-health.
In Regi, ACCFB - and our community - gains an enthusiastic visionary and community champion.

Alameda County Community Food Bank today announced that the Board of Directors has named Regi Young as the Food Banks new Executive Director, beginning on September 7, 2021. Young joins ACCFB from Houston Food Bank  the countrys largest Feeding America-affiliated food bank where he has served for 11 years, most recently as Chief Strategy Officer.

Young succeeds Suzan Bateson who has served as Alameda County Community Food Banks executive director since 2001. Bateson announced her intent to step down in February 2021.

In taking the helm of Alameda County Community Food Bank, Young assumes leadership of an organization which has increased its food distribution by more than 70 percent since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, to 58 million pounds in FY21.

Were thrilled to have found a leader in Regi whose personal and professional experience, and commitment to food security, are the ideal match to guide Alameda County Community Food Bank into its next chapter, says Beth Strachan, chair of ACCFBs Board of Directors. In Regi, ACCFB  and our community  gains an enthusiastic visionary and community champion. Regi has a deep commitment to innovative programming, equity and inclusion, and addressing the root causes of food insecurity. On behalf of the Food Bank and board of directors, were grateful he has chosen to bring his passion for this work to Alameda County.

Young joined Houston Food Bank full-time in 2012 and has served in multiple capacities prior to being named Chief Strategy Officer. In his current role, Young leads five functional food bank areas, including many programs and the Food Banks 128,000 sq. ft. North Branch operations. He directs strategic community partnerships with a network of 1,500 organizations to provide the equivalent of 207 million meals across 18 counties, annually. He also supervises much of Houston Food Banks disaster preparedness and response efforts, for which the organization is recognized as a national leader.

Young oversees Houston Food Banks diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. He has also spent much of his tenure leading the organizations critical Food for Change strategy to study the outcomes of hunger-relief efforts on health and economic opportunity. Under Youngs strategic leadership, Houston Food Bank has increasingly leveraged data to investigate gaps and ensure the equitable access of food and other resources  a key strategic focus for ACCFB, as well.

This is a pivotal moment in food banking, notes Young. For too long, food banks approached the issue of food insecurity in isolation of other community stakeholders. Today, those lines are being blurred by forward thinking organizations like ACCFB that understand that food alone will never resolve the issue of food insecurity. We must focus on addressing the root causes of food insecurity  including racism and poverty  and strengthen relationships with community members, our partner network, and organizations from various sectors to leverage our collective resources, expertise, and influence to support the goals of the people we work with and for.

The past 18 months have been a consistent reminder of the endemic inequities that exist within our society, and how they negatively impact the most vulnerable populations, adds Young. For me the current challenge is to ensure that these inequities remain in plain sight so that they can no longer be ignored or dismissed.

Young is a founding member of the Houston Food Systems Collaborative, a group of individuals and organizations which facilitates the growth and accessibility of a sustainable local food system. Prior to joining Houston Food Bank as a full-time employee, Young was a member of Feeding Americas Child Hunger Corp, where he worked with HFB to develop childhood nutrition programs.

It is with great pride that we share the news that Regi Young, our chief strategy officer, will be taking a new role as the Executive Director of Alameda County Community Food Bank in Oakland, California, says Brian Greene, president/CEO of Houston Food Bank. Regi began his food bank journey 11 years ago as a Feeding America Child Hunger Corps member at the Houston Food Bank and since has advanced through different positions and responsibilities to become a well-rounded, valuable team member and leader within our organization. His journey is a dream of mine to witness, and all of us here at the Houston Food Bank are honored to be both a part of Regis success story and a beneficiary of it. We know that he is going to continue to do more amazing things in his new role.

Suzan Bateson, who has been ACCFBs executive director since 2001, will remain with the organization through September to ensure a smooth handoff of the position.

During Batesons tenure, the Food Bank grew its annual budget from $14M to more than $113M (inclusive of donated food); established a permanent headquarters site in Oakland; quadrupled its roster of employees; and quintupled its annual food distribution.

Bateson was honored in 2020 with Feeding Americas prestigious John van Hengel Fellowship, which recognizes excellence in leadership, local impact and national influence, and entrepreneurial spirit in hunger relief. Among her countless accomplishments, she leaves a legacy as the first Food Bank leader in the nation to stop distribution of sugar-sweetened beverages, and for implementing one of the nations first food bank-based CalFresh (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) outreach and application assistance programs. The organizations success, bold approach and innovation in areas like food as medicine and diabetes research earned it Feeding Americas national food bank of the year in 2016, and numerous other recognitions during Batesons tenure.

About Alameda County Community Food Bank

Alameda County Community Food Bank  Feeding Americas 2016-2017 Food Bank of the Year  has been at the forefront of hunger relief efforts in the Bay Area since 1985. While in COVID-19 emergency response, the Food Bank serves 1 in 4 Alameda County residents by distributing food through a network of 420 food pantries, soup kitchens, and other community organizations, as well as direct distribution and COVID-relief programs including school programs, home delivery and contactless drive-through distributions. This year, the Food Bank will distribute the equivalent of 48 million meals. For 14 consecutive years, Alameda County Community Food Bank has received Charity Navigators top rating  Four Stars  ranking the organization among the top 1 percent of charities nationwide. Learn more at http://www.accfb.org.
Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the lawsuit against Griffin Healthcare Services, LLC, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

The San Francisco employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a lawsuit against Griffin Healthcare Services, LLC alleging the company violated Labor Code  2699, et seq. seeking penalties for DEFENDANTs alleged violation of California Labor Code  201, 202, 203, 204, 210, 221, 226(a), 226.7, 233, 246, 351, 510, 512, 558(a)(1)(2), 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 1198, and 2802. The lawsuit against Griffin Healthcare Services, LLC, is currently pending in the Humboldt County Superior Court, Case No. 37-2021-00029068-CU-OE-CTL. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here.

According to the lawsuit filed, Griffin Healthcare Services, LLC allegedly failed to reimburse employees for required business expenses. California Labor Code  2802 expressly states that "an employer shall indemnify his or her employee for all necessary expenditures or losses incurred by the employee in direct consequence of the discharge of his or her duties..." During employment, Plaintiff and other Aggrieved Employees were allegedly required to use their personal cellular phones in order to complete their job duties.

PAGA is a mechanism by which the State of California itself can enforce state labor laws through the employee suing under the PAGA who do so as the proxy or agent of the state's labor law enforcement agencies. An action to recover civil penalties under PAGA is fundamentally a law enforcement action designed to protect the public and not to benefit private parties. The purpose of PAGA is not to recover damages or restitution, but to create a means of "deputizing" citizens as private attorneys general to enforce the Labor Code.

For more information about the lawsuit against Griffin Healthcare Services, LLC, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is a labor law firm with law offices located in San Diego County, Riverside County, Los Angeles County, Sacramento County, Santa Clara County, Orange County and San Francisco County. The firm has a statewide practice of representing employees on a contingency basis for violations involving unpaid wages, overtime pay, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and other types of illegal workplace conduct.

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Santa Rosa's New Lounge This is a space that places you at the forefront of our printing, proofing, and wine label manufacturing process, Lloyd explained.

A leader in the wine label manufacturing industry in California for over 20 years, Vintage 99 is proud to announce the opening of a new location in Sonoma County. This is part of the company's continuous efforts to stay connected to local wineries and to have a local presence.

We know how important it is to have an in-person experience when it comes to creating the perfect wine label; therefore, we have taken no shortcuts to ensure our clients experiences are optimized and hassle-free, says Brian Lloyd, Chief Operating Officer of Vintage 99.

NEW LOUNGE IN SANTA ROSA

As devoted wine label printers in California, Vintage 99 is committed to providing an integral service that clients can oversee as often as theyd like. Thats why they established a location in Santa Rosa with a client lounge to provide the full hands-on experience clients crave.

This is a space that places you at the forefront of our printing, proofing, and wine label manufacturing process, Lloyd explained.

NEWS ABOUT 2021

2021 has proven to be an ever-changing landscape; therefore, we know its important that we provide an interpersonal experience in our locations in Livermore and Santa Rosa, Lloyd continues. ''This enables our wine community to feel connected to the professionals that are taking charge of the wine label printing and manufacturing process. We have heard many clients being frustrated with other wine label companies because they are not available on site or must talk to a rep on the phone out of their local area. Thats what drove us to ensure an in-person experience in our Santa Rosa location that focuses on safety and includes an enhanced quality assurance process at our client lounge. We wanted to address the wine label manufacturing demand, to have a local presence, and to ensure we felt connected to our clients.

Technology

As a professional wine label manufacturer, Vintage 99 provides only the best and the latest technologies in the industry. These include Flexography, Digital, or Offset printing methods depending on your exact printing needs.

We know its important for clients to have a streamlined ordering and reordering process, explains Lloyd. That is why we have introduced Siteline, an online ordering system that streamlines reordering and makes it easier than ever to place orders and manage your project.

Features that set us apart : Siteline for existing customers

With Siteline, clients can:





See the latest versions of their labels

See what pricing has been and would be in a new order

Place orders with a simple shopping cart process

Review past orders and the status of current orders

Upload artwork and request new changes

Create new labels from existing ones

Expanded Service Offerings

As a part of expanded services that go beyond wine labels, Vintage 99 also owns and operates Label Innovators, a sister company of Vintage 99. This custom label printing company provides services as expansive as beverage labeling, olive oil labeling, health and beauty, label design, and large-volume printing services. They have the ability to tackle commercial-grade, high-volume label printing that includes all major industries.

For over 20 years, Vintage 99 has supported some of the most notable wineries in the industry and continues to strive to innovate. To schedule a design consultation or learn more about joining the Vintage 99 family, visit Vintage99.com. You can also request an in-person tour of their production facilities in Santa Rosa or Livermore to get to know what makes Vintage 99 a leader in the wine label industry.
For over 26 years, A Safe Haven has been a leader in not only providing housing, treatment, job training, employment opportunities to our most vulnerable populations but also in hiring, training, promoting people from the community."

A Safe Haven, (ASH), an internationally acclaimed top Chicago-based 5013 nonprofit dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness, was one of 18 companies, nonprofits and business organizations which received the Daily Herald Business Ledgers Diversity in Business Award. A virtual ceremony presenting the honorees was held on Thursday, Aug. 12.

The publication honored businesses who have shown exceptional commitment to promoting practices that advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace, in business leadership and who bolster equality across all areas of diversity; including age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race and religion.

Located in Chicago, ASH has been a pioneering architect and an anchor organization serving and meeting the needs of Chicagos homeless since 1994. Bartlett residents Neli Vazquez Rowland and Brian Rowland serve as the nonprofits co-founders. ASHs integrated network of behavioral healthcare, education, job training, social enterprises and phased housing programs is headquartered in one of Chicagos most poverty-stricken communities known as the North Lawndale community. ASH houses and feeds three healthy nutritious meals to over 5,000 homeless people including adults, youth, families with children and military veterans, annually.

As a Latina entrepreneur, Vazquez Rowland, who is also ASHs president, is humbled and honored that the publication recognized her nonprofits efforts to stem the tide of homelessness by providing meaningful and permanent solutions to the many minority residents and clients its serves.

For over 26 years, A Safe Haven has been a leader in not only providing housing, treatment, job training, employment opportunities to our most vulnerable populations but also in hiring, training, promoting people from the community, said Vazquez Rowland. As a Latina, who grew up in an at risk community, I understand firsthand the challenges people face in gaining access to the type of services and resources they need especially from people who may have been there too to realize their fullest potential. ASH has also been a pioneer in hiring and investing in people with barriers to employment and reentry populations including former clients to help elevate them into becoming an integral part of our staff and leadership teams.

She added: Today, A Safe Havens world-class team provides top-quality services and it is a true reflection of the communities we serve in almost every sense of the word. This recognition and award are humbling to me as it truly serves as validation to us and the rest of the world that it behooves all of us to see that talent comes from every block in our city, state and country, even if people were once homeless, addicted and incarcerated.

About A Safe Haven:

A Safe Haven Foundation is a 501(c) 3 not for profit, social enterprise that helps people aspire, transform and sustain their lives as they transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency with pride and purpose.

A Safe Haven provides the tools for each individual to overcome the root causes of homelessness through a holistic and scalable model. A Safe Haven's visible social and economic impact unites families, stabilizes neighborhoods, and creates vibrant, viable communities. For information,

visit http://www.asafehaven.org. ###
The Heather VanderMyde Team ... a new year brings along a market frenzy that leaves no property untouched...weve had to draw on every skill and tactic learned in decades of selling real estate to ensure both our buying and selling clients receive the most effective representation possible, says Heather VanderMyde.

Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty is excited to honor The Vandermyde Group once again as the 2021 Mid-Year Top Producing Team. Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty has also sold the most real estate on the Outer Banks for the first half of 2021 and is the #1 firm for units sold in the Outer Banks Association of Realtors MLS*.

Planning for 2021 was difficult because there was so much uncertainty about this pandemic market. No one knew if the record-breaking sales would continue or slow down due to the lack of inventory. Surprisingly, the market exceeded our expectations and we have been fortunate to have helped over 600 clients buy or sell property in the first half of this year. Although we expect the increases in the second half of 2021 to be modest, or down, compared to 2020, we are still on target to once again have our best year ever. Leading our mid-year sales is The Vandermyde Group who consistently rank among the top producers in the Outer Banks* says Pamela Smith, Vice President of Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty.

Led by Heather VanderMyde, this dynamic sales team includes Kiirsten Farr, Will Greg, Kasey Rabar, and Trish Berruet. Saska Zivkovic is the teams assistant and John VanderMyde provides professional HDR photography, drone video, and images for their listings.

Heather VanderMyde is ranked #4 in sales volume out of 572 agents in the Outer Banks Association of Realtors*. The VanderMyde Group has closed over 80 transactions in the first half of the year and is looking forward to helping even more clients achieve the best possible outcome for their real estate needs in the latter half of 2021.

Just when you think normal is a possibility, a new year brings along a market frenzy that leaves no property untouched. With bidding wars and large nonrefundable deposits becoming common, weve had to draw on every skill and tactic learned in decades of selling real estate to ensure both our buying and selling clients receive the most effective representation possible, says Heather VanderMyde, Team Leader of The VanderMyde Group.

With buyers bidding on homes virtually, our professional photography, 3D Walk-throughs, and video have become even more essential, and with multiple offers common, the experience, reputation, honesty, and knowledge of our team have become paramount in making sure every aspect of the terms are considered and the right offer is chosen, says VanderMyde.

About Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty:

Family owned and operated for over 30 years Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty offers top-tier real estate services to buyers and sellers across the entire Outer Banks and all of northeastern North Carolina. Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty has earned a reputation as a premier real estate firm best known for its knowledgeable team, area expertise and commitment to the latest technology. With the resources and support of a worldwide brand like Coldwell Banker, one of the most influential real estate franchises in the world, it is not surprising that Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty is a consistent top performing Outer Banks real estate firm.

*As reported by the Outer Banks Association of REALTORS and Albemarle Area Association of REALTORS 1/01/2021  6/30/2021


Imperfect Partners is a potent review of how the fifty-year business plan of Corporate America has dramatically diminished the landscape of America to the extent that Dean Hitchman emphasizes, It is a primary duty of our top political leaders to protect the interests of we the people equally to the powerful and privileged.

Hitchman continues, After much research governing laws instituted, trade policies formulated and institutions created for the express benefit of the multi-national corporations; The author has come to the final conclusion that while America slept, Americas political arena dominated by corporate sector influence successfully implemented a strategy to make global trade easier, ensuring power and profits of mega proportions leaving behind what could be described as a waste land of hollowed out factories with weeds taking over worker parking lots. The author has defined this cataclysmic event akin to terrorism caused by inept political attendance and corporate malfeasance of global proportions.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Dean Hitchmans new book is a thought-provoking look into the plight of the American worker as corporate America exercised operating freedoms to constrain emerging global economies struggling to advance humanitarian issues, worker rights, and a poverty to prosperity environment.

The author shares, Borrowing from the words of Paul Harvey, the world renown news commentator, Imperfect Partners tells the rest of the story, in a way that expresses the experience and view point of a fellow American industrial worker.

View a synopsis of Imperfect Partners on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Imperfect Partners at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Imperfect Partners, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
From the Pigpen to the Pulpit: My Life Story: Featuring My Out-of-Body Experience: an inspirational work rooted from the deep love and faith of Dr. Morrison towards the Savior. Here, he narrates the ups and downs he faced in life, proving how his strong faith helped him get through the bad times. From the Pigpen to the Pulpit: My Life Story: Featuring My Out-of-Body Experience is the creation of published author Dr. Joseph Morrison, a husband, father and a strong soldier of God that resides in York, South Carolina. On the 30th of March, 2004, he founded a 501c3 non-profit ministry named Blessed to Be a Blessing Outreach Ministries, Inc.

Dr. Morrison shares, We all experience different things in our life journey. This book is written to share some of my journey. My hope is, as you read through the pages of this book, you will understand that God can take your pain, abuse, and rejection and turn it around into a glorious life in Him. Gods word is clear and concise regarding the plan and purpose that He has for each one of us. Jeremiah 29:11 says, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

This book is designed to encourage you to never give up and to never stop trusting in God no matter how you started out in life because thats not the end of your story. God has promised that our latter will be better than our former.

My earnest desire is to encourage you and let you know that no matter what hand you were dealt in life, by renewing your mind using the word of God and applying His word to your life, you can reshuffle your deck and live in victory all the days of your life.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Dr. Joseph Morrisons new book is a great manuscript an individual can possess. It doesnt just inspire one to keep walking the right path, but also heals their soul when in doubt and pain.

View a synopsis of From the Pigpen to the Pulpit: My Life Story: Featuring My Out-of-Body Experience on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase From the Pigpen to the Pulpit: My Life Story: Featuring My Out-of-Body Experience at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about From the Pigpen to the Pulpit: My Life Story: Featuring My Out-of-Body Experience, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Going Past the Darkness and Into the Light: a poignant testament to the power of faith during times of turmoil. Going Past the Darkness and Into the Light is the creation of published author Evelyn Scull.

Scull shares, She was born in the central part of Illinois. She grew up in a time that was much different than it is now. Computers didnt exist, there was no such thing as cell phones, cities were smaller, families sat down and ate together, and the world didnt seem to be moving as fast as it does now. But like everything else, as she grew, things changed over time. She had two children of her own and tried to raise them in a stable family, unlike the one she was born into.

She graduated from high school but went to college not until later in life. As with anyone else, she had times of happiness and sadness. She never gave up hope and thought that her life had a purpose. She always felt that things would get better if only she believed they would. She was happy when her hope and faith guided her to have the one thing she wanted the mosta real family.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Evelyn Sculls new book is a uniquely crafted work of nonfiction with important faith-based messages.

The author presents a heartfelt tale of a life lived by the power of Gods grace through the peaks and valleys of navigating a world that is not always friendly.

View a synopsis of Going Past the Darkness and Into the Light on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Going Past the Darkness and Into the Light at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Going Past the Darkness and Into the Light, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Im excited about whats ahead, for myself and Hippo, as we work to bring the focus back to the customer and further our vision of protecting the joy of homeownership through innovation within the home.

Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced that Assaf Wand, co-founder & CEO of Hippo, the home insurance group that created a new standard of care and protection for homeowners, was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year 2021 Northern California Award winner. The Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards program is one of the preeminent competitive awards for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies. The award recognizes those who are unstoppable entrepreneurial leaders, excelling in talent management; degree of difficulty; financial performance; societal impact and building a values-based company; and originality, innovation and future plans. Wand was selected by an independent panel of judges, and the award was announced during the programs virtual awards gala on August 4.

One of the most relevant things you can do as an entrepreneur is to solve interesting problems within massive industries, said Assaf Wand, co-founder & CEO of Hippo. I learned early in my career that building the right team and culture to attack these big problems is the best way to grow, personally and professionally. Im excited about whats ahead, for myself and Hippo, as we work to bring the focus back to the customer and further our vision of protecting the joy of homeownership through innovation within the home.

Founded in 2015, Hippos goal is to make homes safer and better protected by taking a proactive approach designed to prevent losses. Harnessing real-time data, smart home technology, and a growing suite of home services, the company is creating the first vertically integrated, end-to-end home protection and insurance platform.

Hippos licensed property casualty agency, Hippo Insurance Services, is a leader in the transformation of the $105 billion U.S. home insurance industry, digitizing the entire home insurance process in order to create lasting advantages and efficiencies across the customer lifecycle. The company built an insurance experience that is simple, modern, and proactive. Its proprietary underwriting engine leverages augmented intelligence and machine learning to prefill customer applications and accurately assess and price a propertys risk at the point of purchase, enabling accurate quotes in under a minute and completed purchases in just five minutes on average.

Hippos omni-channel distribution allows customers to buy policies however and wherever they want: online, through an agent, or with one of the companys growing number of partners. Hippos coverage is designed for todays homeowners, replacing coverage for items such as fur coats and china sets with more protection of crucial items such as home office equipment and water back-up. This modern coverage lowers the chance of its customers encountering unexpected gaps in coverage in the event of a loss.

In addition, Hippos industry-leading Smart Home program is designed to help prevent events such as water damage, fires, and break-ins. The company also uses live data to anticipate and track major weather events, enabling its claims team to reach out in advance to help protect homeowners. For example, ahead of winter storm Uri in Texas that impacted millions, Hippo reached out to customers to help them prepare for frozen pipes or water damage, offering Hippo Home Care support for live video calls to prevent and resolve any immediate DIY issues. Hippos intuitive and proactive protection platform is designed to reduce the likelihood of loss, while deepening its customer relationships and improving loyalty and retention. Home insurance products offered through Hippo Insurance Services are currently available in 37 states, covering more than 80% of the U.S. population, and the company expects its products to be available to 90% of the U.S. population by the end of 2021.

For 35 years, EY US has honored entrepreneurs whose ambition, courage and ingenuity have driven their companies success, transformed their industries and made a positive impact on their communities. Wand will go on to become a lifetime member of the esteemed multi-industry community of award winners, with exclusive, ongoing access to the experience, insight and wisdom of fellow alumni and other ecosystem members in over 60 countries  all supported by vast EY resources.

As a Northern California award winner, Wand is now eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2021 National Awards. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced in November at the Strategic Growth Forum, one of the nations most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies.

The Entrepreneur Of The Year program has honored the inspirational leadership of entrepreneurs such as:



Brian Niccol of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.

Saeju Jeong of Noom

Joe DeSimone of Carbon, Inc.

Howard Schultz of Starbucks Corporation

Jodi Berg of Vitamix

Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn

Hamdi Ulukaya of Chobani

Kendra Scott of Kendra Scott LLC

Andreas Bechtolsheim and Jayshree Ullal of Arista Networks

James Park of Fitbit

Daymond John of Fubu

Sponsors

Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored by SAP America and the Kauffman Foundation. In Northern California, sponsors also include SolomonEdwards and Woodruff Sawyer.

About Entrepreneur Of The Year

Entrepreneur Of The Year is the worlds most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. National overall winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year title. ey.com/us/eoy

About EY Private

As Advisors to the ambitious, EY Private professionals possess the experience and passion to support private businesses and their owners in unlocking the full potential of their ambitions. EY Private teams offer distinct insights born from the long EY history of working with business owners and entrepreneurs. These teams support the full spectrum of private enterprises including private capital managers and investors and the portfolio businesses they fund, business owners, family businesses, family offices and entrepreneurs. Visit ey.com/us/private

About EY

EY exists to build a better working world, helping create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets.

Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate.

Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

About Hippo

Hippo offers a different kind of home insurance, built from the ground up to provide a new standard of care and protection for homeowners. Our goal is to make homes safer and better protected so customers spend less time worrying about the burdens of homeownership and more time enjoying their homes and the life within. Harnessing real-time data, smart home technology, and a growing suite of home services, we are creating the first integrated home protection platform. Hippo is headquartered in Palo Alto, California with offices in Austin and Dallas, Texas, and insurance products available to more than 80 percent of U.S. homeowners in 37 states. Hippo Insurance Services is a licensed property casualty insurance agent with products underwritten by various insurance companies. For more information, including licensing information, visit http://www.hippo.com.
Sincerely, Brother Griff: A Book of Inspiration & Hope: an inspiring example of service. Sincerely, Brother Griff: A Book of Inspiration & Hope is the creation of published author Gil Burnett Griffin, a loving husband and father who recently retired. He is a member of the New Paradise Baptist Church Prison Outreach Ministry and a graduate of San Diego City College and The University Of California San Diego.

Griffin shares, We live in extraordinary times. The events that we see unfolding around us and all over the world are new and completely unprecedented. For those who know the Lord, what we are witnessing worldwide is basically prophecy being fulfilled. Both the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible speak of these events in great detail. Currently, if you hold a Bible in your hands and watch a news broadcast, one source of information will validate the other. Sincerely, Brother Griff is an attempt to reach out to our brothers and sisters who are incarcerated and provoke them to examine their lives. The goal of this book is to communicate and help individuals learn that there is indeed life after prison and that Papa Jesus loves them. No crime is too great to thwart the love of God from someone who truly wants to change their lives for the better. I hope and pray that this book will lead those who feel lost, forgotten, unimportant and unreachable to pick up a Bible and develop a relationship with God. My sincerest desire is that someone who is looking for spiritual guidance and assistance will read this collection of letters and seriously accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior!

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Gil Burnett Griffins new book details the work completed through the prison outreach ministry.

The author offers a selection of letters written to encourage prisoners to accept Jesus and find solace in Gods love.

View a synopsis of Sincerely, Brother Griff: A Book of Inspiration & Hope on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Sincerely, Brother Griff: A Book of Inspiration & Hope at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Sincerely, Brother Griff: A Book of Inspiration & Hope, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Attorneys from the Latin America Practice of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP were recognized in the Latin America Corporate Counsel Association (LACCA) list of recommended lawyers in the 2022 edition of LACCA Approved for Mexico and the USA.

LACCA Approved recognizes Latin Americas leading private legal practitioners, as selected by the regions leading corporate counsel, according to the LACCA website. LACCA is a recognized association, and apart of Latin Lawyer, that aims to bring together important private company lawyers to exchange and share ideas as well as best practices.

Below is the full list of Greenberg Traurig attorneys recognized in LACCA Approved 2022:

Mexico City Office:

Juan Manuel Gonzalez Bernal



Banking and Finance

Hugo Lopez Coll



Anticorruption Investigations and Compliance

Corporate M&A

Jose Raz Guzman



Capital Markets

Corporate M&A

Miami Office:

Antonio Pena

Corporate M&A

About Greenberg Traurig Mexico: Greenberg Traurigs Mexico City office offers clients innovative, strategic advice and legal services that span both traditional fields and contemporary regulatory sectors. The office has more than 60 bilingual attorneys who have been contributors to major national projects in Mexico and leverages the resources and reach of the firms global platform to provide clients with tailored legal services reflective of the specific industry and market conditions in which they operate. The Mexico City office is an integral part of the firms award-winning Latin America Practice, and has been recognized with leading banking, corporate, M&A, infrastructure, real estate, privacy, energy, administrative litigation, and competition practices in Mexico.

About Greenberg Traurigs Latin America Practice: Greenberg Traurigs award-winning Latin America Practice draws on resources from our offices around the world, bringing together a multidisciplinary team of lawyers to help clients identify business opportunities in Latin America. The team, which includes lawyers who have been chief legal officers at major multinational companies, has wide-ranging experience representing U.S. and international clients who do business in Latin America, as well as advising Latin American clients on their business ventures in the United States. The firms experience throughout the region enables the team to offer clients local knowledge and resources in the legal aspects of market opportunities, investments, financing, access to capital markets, governmental strategies, or international dispute resolution.

About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2200 attorneys in 40 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. The firm is net carbon neutral with respect to its office energy usage and Mansfield Rule 3.0 Certified. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com
The research insights and findings will be published in a major HR Research Institute report and will be further distilled into a two-page infographic.

Jacksons Point, Ontario, Canada - HR.com, the largest network of human resources (HR) professionals, has announced their 'State of Legal, Compliance & Employment Law Advisory Board' for 2021. The board will provide HR leaders valuable, timely insights on today's legal, compliance, and employment law situation through annual research and education of HR professionals.

Working closely with HR.com's HR Research Institute (HRRI), the newly-appointed board of industry experts and thought leaders will counsel on the most impactful topics and key areas within legal, compliance, and employment law areas of HR to positively and effectively guide primary research. The upcoming research study will provide a detailed snapshot of how organizations are handling these various responsibilities and decisions today, trending best practices, and how HR leaders and their teams can prepare for future challenges, as well as what to expect in the coming year.

The research insights and findings will be published in a major HR Research Institute report and will be further distilled into a two-page infographic. The results will also be featured at the complimentary virtual event, The State of Legal, Compliance and Employment Law 2021, taking place October 27, 2021. Free for interested HR professionals, this full-day event will include webcast sessions with experts who will examine trends and strategies associated with critical legal and compliance issues.

The advisory board's guidance will be invaluable in ensuring both the research and the virtual event are best-in-class for HR professionals in attendance, as well as that they address today's top concerns.

The state of the industry research will look at all relevant factors to provide a comprehensive snapshot, including:



Which issues are creating the most stress and uncertainty

How organizations are addressing those issues

What legal challenges arose during the coronavirus pandemic, and what is on the horizon in light of recent changes such as the new administration in the US

How the move to more remote work environments changed employer obligations

What organizations that are good at handling these issues tend to do differently from those that do not

The newly appointed 'The State of Legal, Compliance & Employment Law' for 2021 is comprised of the following industry thought leaders:

Jennifer Barry-Smith, Regional Marketing and Business Development Manager, Fisher & Phillips LLP

Susan Chenoweth Beermann, EVP, Chief Marketing Officer, Navex Global

Michael Cardman, Legal Editor, XpertHR

Conor J. Dale, Attorney at Law, Principal, Jackson Lewis P.C

Denise Elliott, Member and Employment Practice Group, McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC

Josh M. Goldberg, Attorney, Barran Liebman LLP

Alex Gonzalez, Vice President, OutSolve, LLC

Glenn S. Grindlinger, Partner, Labor & Employment Law, Fox Rothschild LLP

Noelle Harling, Vice President Operations & Compliance, Frasco Profiles

Peter Lewenson, President, ComplianceBug, LLC

Elizabeth McLean, Sr. VP and General Counsel, GoodHire/Inflection

Scott Mirsky, Principal, Employment Law and Litigation, Paley Rothman

Jennifer Mora, Sr. Counsel, Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Barb Newton, Compliance Product Manager, Accurate Background

Liliana Salazar, Chief Compliance Officer, Pacific Region, Employee Benefits, HUB International

Mark Tabakman, Labor and Employment Partner, Fox Rothschild LLP

Mary Topliff, Esq, Law Offices of Mary L. Topliff

The HR Research Institute releases annual "State of the Industry" reports in a variety of HR topic areas, including the previous The State of Pay Equity 2020: Advance your talent objectives by analyzing and addressing pay equity issues research, which published February 2020 and addressed legal and regulatory compliance for HR professionals. Additional HR.com research reports and infographics, always free, can be downloaded anytime at hr.com/researchinstitute

About HR.com

At HR.com, we are committed to educating HR professionals and helping them build meaningful careers. When it comes to HR, we connect them with everything they need and over 1.92 million HR pros agree! They rely on the HR.com community as the foremost, trusted resource for education, career development, networking, and compliance. Offerings include the largest network of HR executives, leading-edge industry research from the HR Research Institute, 13 monthly HR-themed ePublications, innovative HR education including 250+ annual webcasts, the most comprehensive HR certification exam preparation that guarantees passing SHRM and HRCI certification, as well as valuable HR tools, and legal compliance updates. HR.com has the largest knowledge base of HR practices globally and offers unparalleled training and networking for HR professionals all over the world... 24/7... 365. Visit http://www.HR.com to maximize your potential.

For more company news, check out HR.com News.
In Defense of Christians (IDC), the nations leading advocacy organization for Christians and religious minorities in the Middle East and North Africa, will be hosting a webinar and press event in solidarity with Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rai, Patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church, in light of recent attacks and threats by the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah.

The Zoom webinar and press event will take place on Thursday, August 12, 2021 at 3:00 PM (ET), and will include remarks from Members of Congress, members of the clergy, and Lebanon policy experts.

On August 6, Hezbollah fired 19 rockets into Israel from a civilian-populated village in southern Lebanon. In a display of valiance, Lebanese civilians actively challenged and thwarted Hezbollahs practice of using human shields.

On August 8, Maronite Patriarch al-Rai strongly condemned Hezbollahs provocation, and called on the LAF and UNIFIL to enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The Patriarch further stated [the Lebanese people] are tiredas they should beof war, killing, displacement and destruction.

Hezbollah and its supporters responded with threats to the Patriarchs life, including public effigies of the Patriarch with a noose around his neck, and innuendos of imminent violence.

In Defense of Christians stands in solidarity with His Beatitude Patriarch al-Rai, the Lebanese Armed forces, and courageous Lebanese civilians willing to take a stand for peace in Lebanon, said IDC President Toufic Baaklini. Offensive provocation which leaves Lebanese civilians vulnerable, many of whom are Christians, should not be tolerated, he added.
"We believe in maintaining a people-centric company culture. We believe in serving the needs of others, first. We believe in challenging the status quo. We believe in empowering the "individual" professional to be the best versions of themselves." - JW Webb, Chief Vision Officer

INC. Magazine ranked Professional Realty Services International as one of the Fastest Growing Private Companies In America for the 6th time on its 40th annual INC. 500 (and subsequently the INC. 5000), the most prestigious ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies.

"For Professional Realty Services to be recognized as part of INC. Magazine's Fastest-Growing Companies in America for so many years is an incredible honor and proves that our way is just as good, or better, than 100 year old ways of most traditional brokers." said JW Webb, Professional Realty Services International's Founder and Chief Vision Officer. "In a world where business values profit over people, we chose to go a different way with our company. We believe the voice of the individual matters. We believe that each individual person in our organization should a place where their talents can shine -- where they can be the best version of themselves."

"I work for some of the most amazing professionals in the world. Serving them is one of the great honors of my life!"

This honor from INC. Magazine shows that Professional Realty Services is emerging as a leader in the real estate industry.

About Professional Realty Services International:

Founded in Spokane Valley, Washington in 2005, Professional Realty Services has a very people-centric company culture. With a core belief in serving the needs of others, first, and challenging the status quo. The company now manages offices and brokers in over 150 markets throughout North America.

To learn more about Professional Realty Services International, visit ProfessionalRealtyServices.com.
The Shepherd Theory: Manage like a Shepherd: a faith-based approach to business. The Shepherd Theory: Manage like a Shepherd is the creation of published author Mark E. Peters, a talented electrical engineer who has helped shape and grow several companies over a twenty-seven-year corporate career. Peters later went on to create thriving businesses along with an Italian partner. Now retired doing consulting, he enjoys spending time playing guitar, cooking, reading, and finding inspiration for photography.

Peters shares, The Shepherd Theory is a five-thousand-year-old principle that is biblically based, but it works for any business. The shepherd theory is based on the principles of building a solid company with employees that are willing to work toward the common goal of strengthening and growing the company. This principle is a strategy that will create loyal employees, customer, clients, and vendors that will want to do business with you. In todays aggressive world, companies need to evolve and change as new technology shapes the world.

Here are some simple but very true facts: if you dont take care of your clients, there are other companies that will. If you dont take care of your employees, they will leave, seeking new employment. If you dont treat your suppliers with dignity and meet the payment-time requirements, you will not get serviced very well, if at all. This book gives you the tools to strengthen your work environment, build a quality system, and teach you how to work with different personalities, building solid policies and principles that will grow the business and maintain great and loyal employees. This book, The Shepherd Theory, should be used as a workbook. It has the tools that you need to secure your company into the future! Read it if you dare!

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Mark E. Peterss new book is a thought-provoking exercise in strengthening ones approach to management.

The authors extensive experience in building and maintaining strong businesses is apparent in this thoughtful approach to business.

View a synopsis of The Shepherd Theory: Manage like a Shepherd on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase The Shepherd Theory: Manage like a Shepherd at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about The Shepherd Theory: Manage like a Shepherd, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
You don't see a fully functional tank every day.

For the first time, visitors will be able to see a live demonstration of a world-class military tank at the Dodge County Fair. A Leopard 1A5 (L1A5) Main Battle Tank will participate in the Badger State Tractor Pull, which will include some of the most high-performing diesel tractors and trucks in the country.

The L1A5 is an improved variant of the Leopard 1, which was designed and produced by Porsche in West Germany in the 1960s. The tank was built in 1982 and upgraded to an L1A5 in 1997. The 45-ton tank is armed with a 105 mm cannon and two 7.62 MG3 machine guns. It has laser sighting, night vision, and gun stabilization. Its 38 liter twin supercharged V10 multi-fuel diesel engine allows it to reach speeds of just over 40 mph. This style tank was used in the gulf wars in the 1990s and is still in use by many nations.

Frank Oetlinger of Grafton, Wisconsin owns the tank, which hes named Amelia after his first-born granddaughter. He uses the tank to demonstrate the strength of the aluminum framing system he produces at his company, Controlled Dynamics. Outside of work, Oetlinger holds fundraisers with Amelia to raise money for St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, which hes been doing since his youngest daughter was diagnosed with cancer several years ago. When asked if he wanted to partner with Badger State Tractor Pullers (BSTP) at the fair to help support the American Family Childrens Hospital out of Madison he quickly said, Yes! Proceeds from their yearly benefit pull and raffle will be donated to the hospital.

The invitation came from Chris Feller, who is a puller himself and helps manage the BSTP event at the fair. Feller owns the Sussek Machine Company, an international precision machining business headquartered in Waterloo, Wisconsin. He and Oetlinger are business associates, and like Oetlinger, Feller has a long history of supporting childrens hospitals.

The Badger State Tractor Pullers support the American Family Childrens Hospital out of Madison, Wisconsin, he said. "We perform at about 25 to 30 events during most summers. At one large event we put on every year all the proceeds go to the cause."

The non-profit organization holds the special event each year strictly to benefit the hospital. According to the BSTP website, the group has donated nearly $550K to the hospital over the past 17 years. Feller says teaming with Oetlinger made perfect sense because, he likes doing things to benefit childrens hospitals and so do we.

Feller also thought fairgoers would be interested in seeing Amelia. People will get a kick out of it because you dont see a fully functional tank every day, he said. The men plan to broadcast the national anthem during Amelias debut and the tank will display the American flag. At the very end of the event they will have a special demonstration of the tanks abilities.

Nineteen-year-old Justin Komp of Waukesha, Wisconsin, will drive the tank. Komp, whose father works with Oetlinger as a consultant, is a former Milwaukee Childrens Hospital patient. He was born with a genetic defect that caused an enlarged heart and he spent several months in the hospital. He received a heart transplant there in 2018. Komp was a junior in high school at the time, and despite his extended absence from school the determined teen graduated on time with his classmates. He will begin his second year of college at UWM Waukesha this month.

Komp admits that hes never driven a tank but says that doesnt deter him from taking the controls. Im very excited, he said. Im a war history junkie, so Im interested in anything about wars.

The Dodge County Fair runs from August 18th through August 21st in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. For more information visit: https://dodgecountyfairgrounds.com/
Because health and wellness are largely contingent upon what we put in and on our bodies, Moderes mission has always been to deliver clean lifestyle essentials that are as safe as they are effective, said Modere CEO Asma Ishaq. We are extremely proud of this recognition from CertClean."

Modere, a worldwide, live-clean lifestyle essentials brand of supplements, household, beauty and personal care products, today announced that CertClean, a leading certification for safer beauty and personal care products, has awarded Modere CellProof Eye Cream first place in the Eye Care category of its 2021 Clean Beauty Awards.

Now in its sixth year, CertCleans global Clean Beauty Awards recognizes the best performing beauty and personal care products, manufactured without the use of known harmful chemicals by trailblazers in the clean beauty market. CertClean selected this years winners from more than 450 products by a panel of 146 international green beauty experts with one winner chosen across 24 categories.

Because health and wellness are largely contingent upon what we put in and on our bodies, Moderes mission has always been to deliver clean lifestyle essentials that are as safe as they are effective, said Modere CEO Asma Ishaq. We are extremely proud of this recognition from CertClean and applaud its valuable work in safe skincare certification.

Modere CellProof Eye Cream rounds out the companys leading-edge CellProof clean beauty regimen. Featuring award-winning and patented BioCell Collagen CGthe cosmetic grade, naturally co-existing matrix of hyaluronic acid (HA) and collagen peptides that inspired the Modere CellProof skin care lineCellProof Eye Cream delivers clinically proven Collagen/HA Matrix Technology directly to the area most affected by environmental stressors and aging: the sensitive and fragile skin around the eyes. The lightweight eye cream, which also contains aloe, pomegranate, caffeine (coffee), ginger, and lemon balm, hydrates and brightens the skin while reducing the appearance of puffiness and visibly evening skin tone.

About Modere

Modere (http://www.modere.com) is an omnichannel, consumer products company that develops and markets clean health & wellness products through ecommerce and direct-to-consumer channels. The companys branded, award-winning portfolio of science-backed clean lifestyle products includes beauty and personal care, nutrition and household essentials that are clinically validated, US EPA Safer Choice-approved, EWG Verified, NSF Certified, gray-water appropriate, and formulated without the use of thousands of controversial chemicals and compounds. This holistic live clean philosophy drives every aspect of the brand, going beyond its ingredient paradigm to encompass business operations, company culture, community activism and environmental advocacy.

About Clean Beauty Awards

Established in 2015, the Clean Beauty Awards is the leading awards program honoring excellence in free-from beauty and personal care products within the following 24 categories: lipstick, lip care, eye care, mascara, eyeliner, eye color, nail polish, odor care, perfume, beard care, bath soak, body wash, body scrub, body care, sun care, hair wash, hair treatment, face cream, face serum, face oil, toner/mist, face mask, face scrub and face wash. The 6th annual Clean Beauty Awards received more than 450 entries from Canada, the US, Australia and throughout Europe. For more exclusive content on these winners visit cleanbeautyawards.com.

About CertClean

CertClean, a leading certification for safer beauty and personal care products, assesses, approves and certifies clean beauty products free from harmful chemicals  look for 1000+ products proudly bearing the CertClean mark. CertCleans mission is to elevate clean beauty brands to make safer skincare the new norm. For more information visit certclean.com and follow CertClean on Facebook and Instagram @CertClean.


Despite all of the pantry stocking and comfort food eating that took place in 2020, sales for the food and beverage industrys top 100 manufacturers came in at only 1.7% over 2019s sales figures. Thats according to Food Processings Top 100 list of the top food & beverage companies in the U.S. and Canada.

Food Processing, which is the only B2B media brand to cover the entire food and beverage industry, just announced the results of its 2021 Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies research. The 46th annual listing of North America's top food and beverage companies revealed sales figures for the biggest food companies in the U.S. and Canada in 2020.

"When we began collecting the data for the Top 100, we expected collective sales for the 100 companies represented in this report to be up double digits," said Dave Fusaro, Editor in Chief of Food Processing and author of the report. We knew there were companies with manufacturing plants that were shut down by the pandemic or who were too reliant on foodservice. Still, we expected a healthy increase. However, when tallying up the sales column for 2020, sales for the entire 100 increased only 1.7% last year over 2019."

Regardless of the single-digit increase, numerous companies had exceptionally good years. According to the report, the U.S. and Canadian operations of Grupo Bimbo saw sales rise more than $1.2 billion, while Mondelez added a billion dollars, and PepsiCo saw a $2 billion uptick. Other double-digit sales increases included Grupo Lala's U.S. operations (+22%), B&G Foods (nearly 19%) and Unilever's U.S. food business (+18%).

Also worth noting were some of the profit increases. Conagra's net was up 54%, Bimbo SA's rose by a third and Campbell's was up nearly eight-fold. TreeHouse Foods, still in the midst of a portfolio reshaping, went from a $361 million loss in 2019 to a $14 million profit.

The full 2021 report and analysis can be found on the Food Processing website: https://bit.ly/t10021a

An interactive, sortable chart is also available free of charge https://bit.ly/t10021

About Food Processing

Food Processing is an award-winning publication operated by Putman Media. Both our monthly magazine and our website (http://www.foodprocessing.com) offer comprehensive coverage of the entire food and beverage industry. We report on issues that affect the executive level, plant floor operators and frontline workers, R&D teams, marketing, and much more.
Richelle Pace, Advisor with Engel & Volkers Gainesville I joined Engel & Volkers because I recognize the power of a bespoke customer experience...Engel & Volkers provides the tools and branding necessary to provide a consistent concierge level of service to all clientele.

Engel & Volkers Florida today announced Richelle Pace has joined Engel & Volkers Gainesville as a real estate advisor. Pace brings with her more than 20 years of experience in luxury real estate and residential construction in the North Central Florida market.

I joined Engel & Volkers because I recognize the power of a bespoke customer experience, said Pace. Every transaction is unique and customizable, just like building a new home. Engel & Volkers provides the tools and branding necessary to provide a consistent concierge level of service to all clientele. Being a Gainesville native has given me priceless insight into the community. I am ready to leverage this knowledge to take my business to the next level.

Pace comes to Engel & Volkers Gainesville from Focus Real Estate Group. Her real estate experience spans over 20 years, in which time she has facilitated more than 600 transactions totaling more than $81,000,000 in sales. Pace is also a Certified General Contractor and owns two companies: Pace Design & Construction and Complete Home Boutique. Complete Home Boutique is located in Tioga Town Center, where the new Engel & Volkers Gainesville shop is set to open later this year. The first project that Pace plans to market with Engel & Volkers is Parks Edge, a new neighborhood in northwest Gainesville featuring large lots near town, the perfect mix of comfort and convenience.

Richelle has a proven track record that Im quite impressed with, said Carrie Cason, License Partner of Engel & Volkers Gainesville. Because of her background in designing, constructing, and decorating homes, she will bring a unique perspective that will further strengthen our growing shops team. Her experience is an invaluable resource for clients.

Cason has been in the real estate industry for more than twenty years, earning her brokers license in 2004 and designations such as the GRI and CCIM along the way. Since opening Engel & Volkers Gainesville, she has recruited a dozen top-producing local agents to be advisors, including Pace, from companies such as Coldwell Banker M.M. Parrish Realtors,Compass Miami, Keller Williams Gainesville Realty Partners and Swift Creek Realty.

Carrie has been a model license partner for us in Gainesville since day one, said Peter Giese, Chief Growth Officer at Engel & Volkers Florida. She aligns with our brand's core values of competence, exclusivity and passion which translates to each full-time real estate advisor she has recruited to her firm. As she recruits more top agents, more top agents are attracted to join her.

###

Press contact:

Linzee Werkmeister, Junior Vice President, Marketing & Franchise Support

Email: Linzee.Werkmeister(at)evrealestate.com

Tel: (239) 348-9000

About Engel & Volkers:

Engel & Volkers is a global luxury real estate brand. Founded in Hamburg, Germany in 1977, Engel & Volkers draws on its rich European history to deliver a fresh approach to luxury real estate in the Americas with a focus on creating a personalized client experience at every stage of the home buying or selling process for todays savvy homeowner. Engel & Volkers currently operates approximately 240 shop locations with 5,000 real estate advisors in the Americas, contributing to the brands global network of over 14,000 real estate professionals in more than 30 countries, offering both private and institutional clients a professionally tailored range of luxury services, including real estate and yachting. Committed to exceptional service, Engel & Volkers supports its advisors with an array of premium quality business services; marketing programs and platforms; as well as access to its global network of real estate professionals, property listings and market data. Each brokerage is independently owned and operated. For more information, visit http://www.evrealestate.com.

About Engel & Volkers Florida:

Engel & Volkers Florida is the Master License Partner of the global luxury real estate brand Engel & Volkers in the state of Florida. Recognized for uniquely recruiting, training and equipping some of the top professionals in the real estate industry, Engel & Volkers Floridas exclusive franchise model positions its license partners at the top of the premium market to gain market share and support their bottom line. The company represents franchise locations in: 30A Beaches, Amelia Island, Belleair, Boca Raton, Bonita Springs-Estero, Cape Coral, Clermont, Delray Beach, Destin, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers Downtown, Gainesville, Hollywood Beach, Islamorada, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Jupiter, Madeira Beach, Marco Island, Melbourne Beachside, Melbourne Central, Melbourne Downtown, Miami Coconut Grove, Neptune Beach, Olde Naples, Orlando, Orlando Downtown, Orlando-Winter Park, Palm Beach, Palm Coast, Ponte Vedra Beach, Sarasota, South Tampa, St. Augustine, St. Pete, St. Pete Beach, Stuart, Tampa Water Street, Venice Downtown, Wellington, and Windermere.

Engel & Volkers Florida is continuing to strategically strengthen and expand its presence in premium real estate markets across the state of Florida. If you would like to know more about the Engel & Volkers brand or how to join its global networkwhich is known for demonstrating competence, exclusivity and passion, feel free to call our corporate office, located at 633 Tamiami Trl N, Suite 201, Naples, FL 34102 USA. Tel: +1 239-348-9000.

For more information about Engel & Volkers Florida, please visit http://www.florida.evrealestate.com
Swyft Inc., a global leader in robotic and software-powered marketplaces that facilitates secure unattended delivery for brands, merchants and last-mile providers, today announced it will provide contactless shopping and robotic stores at OHare International Airport. The companys unique touchless technology, patented in 2014 and launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, allows travelers to quickly and safely purchase retail products from robotic stores without touching any products or interacting with any salespeople. Travelers simply scan a QR code with the camera on their phone and complete their purchase using contactless payment while a robotic arm fetches and delivers their product

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot introduced the ordinance providing for new concession agreements at the airport. The agreements followed a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) issued in July 2020 to provide passengers with a variety of new low-touch amenities.

With airports experiencing a large surge of pent-up travel demand following COVID restrictions, travelers must be able to quickly and efficiently purchase goods, said Gower Smith, Swyft CEO. Through Swyfts intelligent grab and-go and contactless robotic purchase technologies, food and retail brands are well poised to supply those travelers with essential products that facilitate their travel experience  from electronics to sundries, healthcare items, and food.

Swyfts integrated hardware, management software and managed services allow brands to provide easy access to key products while offering a layer of intelligence that helps analyze and optimize sales at all locations. Under the terms of the ordinance, Swyft provides travelers with products and services from trusted Swyft brand partners such as CVS, Vera Bradley, Benefit cosmetics and Wellness 4 Humanity, along with a selection of well-known premium consumer electronics.

Swyft promotes a positive social impact along with its convenient robotic delivery technology. A key focus of Swyfts social impact program is for small businesses. Specifically, Swyft has formed dozens of partnerships with minority businesses in the US airport sector over the past 15 years. In addition to providing a service to travelers and incremental revenues for airports, Swyfts Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) partnerships assist in generating revenue for existing businesses operating in airports. Because they are badged with security clearance, Swyft trains staff to meet the required service levels of its leading brands. Swyfts concession award at OHare is in the name of TFG Swyft Ventures and is in partnership with The Forrest Group. Ive been working with Swyft and its subsidiary company for four years, said Allen Forrest, CEO of The Forrest Group. Were utilizing Swyft technology in 18 airports. Our partnership is growing and has enabled me to create new jobs and survive through the pandemic.

Swyft will participate in the Airport Experience Conference (Booth #510) Aug. 15-18 in Dallas, Tex.

About Swyft

Swyft, Inc. enables robotic and software-powered marketplaces that facilitate secure unattended delivery for brands, merchants and last-mile providers. Driven by AI, big data, machine learning and advanced robotics, Swyft empowers consumers to see, shop and receive products immediately. Through Swyft's frictionless retail solutions, millions of consumers actively shop and billions have engaged with our brand and retail partners. For additional information visit swyftstore.com/contact/ or email hello@swyftstore.com
For many teen drivers, car insurance is too expensive. Luckily, there are many methods that can help teen drivers find better insurance deals, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

Cheapquotesautoinsurance.com has launched a new blog post that presents several tips that can help teen drivers pay lower car insurance rates.

For more info and free car insurance quotes online, visit https://cheapquotesautoinsurance.com/how-to-get-cheaper-car-insurance-for-teens/

Anyone knows that teen drivers have to pay some of the most expensive car insurance premiums. Car insurance companies justify these high prices by providing statistics that show teen drivers are more likely to cause car accidents

Teen drivers that want to save money on car insurance should follow the next tips:



Acquire a good driving experience. The first six months of driving are very important for teens that want to pay less on their insurance. Insurance companies will lower the insurance rates of teen drivers that manage to keep their driving records clean in the first six months of driving.

Get a good student discount. Insurance companies are rewarding students that have good grades at school with good student discounts. Statistics show that good students are less likely to be involved in a car accident and generally they are more responsible when they are behind the wheel. To qualify for this discount, teen drivers need to have a 3.0-grade point average and show their proof to their insurers.

Buy the right vehicle. To save money on their insurance policy, teen drivers can choose to get the right vehicle. Teen drivers should avoid insuring expensive vehicles like muscle cars, limousines, or exotic cars. Instead, teen drivers should look to insure slightly used sedans that come equipped with several safety features.

Obtain online quotes. Scanning the insurance market can help teen drivers get better insurance rates. Comparing multiple quotes from various providers while sitting in the comfort of their homes, can help teen drivers save time.

For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://cheapquotesautoinsurance.com/

Cheapquotesautoinsurance.com is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.
"The annual CMO Summit 360 is truly unique and the only meeting that is 100 percent focused on topics of interest to CMOs. One of the best parts of the meeting is getting the opportunity to meet, network and learn from other CMOs facing similar issues and challenges." - Dr Julie Krop, CMO, Freeline

The Conference Forums 9th annual Chief Medical Officer Summit 360 announced the first lineup of 2021 keynotes. The CMO Summit 360 will take place October 14-15, 2021 at the Aloft Boston Seaport District in Boston, MA. It is the only conference fully dedicated to supporting the role of the Chief Medical Officer in emerging biotechs responsible for all R&D.

The Biotech CEO Keynote is Ron Cohen, MD, Founder, President & CEO of Acorda Therapeutics, which is best known for the development of therapies to restore function and improve the lives of people with neurological disorders. Dr Cohen will specifically discuss what makes a CEO/CMO collaboration effective.

The R&D Veteran Keynote is Jo Viney, PhD, Co-Founder, President & CSO of Pandion Therapeutics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck & Co. Dr Viney will discuss her story of founding a company, leading it through IPO and acquisition, and her experience as a board member of multiple biotech companies in an R&D Veteran Keynote Fireside Chat.

For the first time at the CMO Summit 360, Ken Getz, MBA, Director of Sponsored Research, Tufts CSDD, and Founder, CISCRP, will address the impact of innovation on drug development operations and how to create cultural and operational alignment to optimize innovation in the industry in his Annual Keynote presentation.

The annual CMO Summit 360 is truly unique and the only meeting that is 100 percent focused on topics of interest to CMOs, Dr Julie Krop, Chief Medical Officer of Puretech Health and Chair of the Summit said, One of the best parts of the meeting is getting the opportunity to meet, network and learn from other CMOs facing similar issues and challenges.

Key topic areas for 2021 covered include: the realities of transitioning from brick-and-mortar trial sites to DCTs, effective outsourcing, building a long-term and global regulatory strategy, creative hiring strategies, CMO preparation for investor interactions, having influence with CEOs and Board members, the first 90 days in a CMO role, next-generation strategies to optimize diverse patient engagement, structuring and managing a team to succeed in a hybrid environment, and more.

The CMO 360 summit is guided by advisors, including co-chairs Drs Zain Kassam, CMO, Finch Therapeutics; Julie Krop, CMO, Puretech Health; and Elizabeth Garner, CMO, ObsEva; as well as Drs Beth Trehu, CMO, Jounce Therapeutics; Liz OBrien Bergin, Besins Healthcare Ireland Ltd; Nerissa Kreher, CMO, Entrada Therapeutics; Michael Geffner, CMO, BlueSphere Bio; Yannis Jemiai, CSO, Cytel; Skip Sands, SVP, Commercial, Consulting and Strategy Senior Medical Officer, Parexel; Steven Zelenkofske, CMO, SwanBio Therapeutics; and Jim Roach, Manager/Principal, J Roach BioPharma Consulting. The two-day Summit features 20+ sessions and over 35 CMO speakers.

To learn more about the event, please visit here.

About the Conference Forum:

The Conference Forum is a life science industry research firm that develops conferences, podcasts, newsletters and webinars primarily around how to get therapeutics to patients faster. They examine and challenge the complex ecosystem of drug development and delivery, bringing ideas together from a variety of sources to help advance clinical research with common goals that are patient-focused. They are committed to creating the best content, exchange of ideas and solutions among peers, as well as providing high-quality networking.

Learn more about the Conference Forum at theconferenceforum.org.
With Kate at the helm of our experienced creative team, The Agency is uniquely positioned to continue to set trends and provide an innovative experience for our agents, clients, and franchisees, said Rainy Hake Austin, President of The Agency.

Global real estate brokerage, The Agency is pleased to announce that Kate Schillace has been promoted to Chief Creative Officer. Schillace has held various positions within The Agencys creative team for the past seven years, and most recently served as the firms Creative Director.

With Kate at the helm of our experienced creative team, The Agency is uniquely positioned to continue to set trends and provide an innovative experience for our agents, clients, and franchisees, said Rainy Hake Austin, President of The Agency. I am looking forward to working together with the team under Kates leadership as we continue to grow our brand with like-minded partners around the world.

As Chief Creative Officer, Schillace will lead the global brand strategy while overseeing the creative team serving agents and their clients. She will continue to collaborate across all departments to bring the multi-layered brands identity to life and ensure it resonates across all marketing platforms.

Ive loved my journey with The Agency family and am honored to accept the position of Chief Creative Officer, Schillace said. Im so lucky to work with such a talented and passionate team within The Agencys marketing department, and look forward to us continuing to propel the brand forward during this exciting time of growth for the company.

During her tenure at The Agency, Shillace has led brand strategy for the firm and also an extensive portfolio of luxury clients, including CIM Group, Kennedy Wilson, Lennar Multifamily Communities, Essex, JMA Ventures, and MSD Capital. She has a vast knowledge and understanding of a broad scope of residential offerings and markets, from Beverly Hills to Los Cabos, Hawaii to Park City.

About The Agency

The Agency is a full-service, luxury real estate brokerage and lifestyle company representing clients in a spectrum of classes, including residential, new development, resort real estate, residential leasing, and luxury vacation rentals. Since its inception in 2011, The Agency has modernized and advanced the real estate industry by fostering a culture of partnership in which all clients and listings are represented in a collaborative environment. Shunning the traditional brokerage model, agents share knowledge, spheres of influence, contacts, and expertise, ensuring clients better representation and a true competitive edge. The Agency has closed more than $25 billion in real estate transactions since its inception and has almost 700 agents in more than 42 offices in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
ACLS Announces the 2021 African Humanities Program Postdoctoral Fellows The Carnegie/ACLS African Humanities Program has now supported nearly 500 fellows  a transformative network that provides concrete support for humanistic inquiry in these five countries and helps circulate scholarly work around the world.

The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) today named 44 African scholars as African Humanities Program (AHP) Fellows for 2021. They join an international network of 11 previous cohorts of awardees in this program supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and administered by ACLS. Since 2008, AHP has worked to reinvigorate the humanities on the continent through fellowship competitions and related activities in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The 2021 AHP Fellows represent a wide range of academic institutions in five sub-Saharan African countries. Their research topics include digital gaming practices and skills appropriation among Ghanaian youth; time and nature in the poetry of Niyi Osundare; the intersection between spirituality, sound, and Blackness in contemporary African art; and the history of female judges in the Nigerian judiciary.

We are excited to see the range of diverse topics and approaches proposed by these impressive scholars, said ACLS President Joy Connolly. The Carnegie/ACLS African Humanities Program has now supported nearly 500 fellows  a transformative network that provides concrete support for humanistic inquiry in these five countries and helps circulate scholarly work around the world.

Meet the 2021 AHP Fellows and learn about their projects here.

AHP sustains early career scholars with $20,000 stipends that support an academic year free from teaching and other duties to focus on revising dissertations for publication or to advance their first major research project after the PhD. Fellows are also eligible for additional benefits such as residential stays at African institutes of advanced study for writing and research, manuscript development workshops, and publication support.

Learn more about the African Humanities Program.

The deadline for applications for the 2021-22 AHP competition is December 3, 2021. Apply now and contact ahp@acls.org for more information.

Formed in 1919, the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is a nonprofit federation of 78 scholarly organizations. As the preeminent representative of American scholarship in the humanities and interpretive social sciences, ACLS holds a core belief that knowledge is a public good. As such, ACLS strives to promote the circulation of humanistic knowledge throughout society. In addition to stewarding and representing its member organizations, ACLS employs its $140 million endowment and $35 million annual operating budget to support scholarship in the humanities and social sciences and to advocate for the centrality of the humanities in the modern world.

Since 2008, the African Humanities Program (AHP) has worked to reinvigorate the humanities in Africa through fellowship competitions and related activities in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. In partnership with Carnegie Corporation of New York, which has generously provided funding, AHP has offered African scholars an integrated set of opportunities to develop individual capacities and to promote formation of scholarly networks. The African Humanities Program has supported the Carnegie Corporations mission to develop and retain African academics at universities in Africa.


Karman Foods is an online Asian market specializing in select Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese and Korean Groceries We would like to express our deepest gratitude for the donation to our church. We thank Karman Foods for providing this much assistance. It will certainly benefit the Asian community in Queens and Brooklyn.

Karman Foods, the U.S.-based Asian grocery store best known for its online reviews and recipes of Asian food, today announced a substantial food products donation to the New Life Chinese Alliance Church of New York located in Flushing, Queens, in New York City. The donated products include sauces, marinades, and ready-to-use noodles and noodle bowls and have a value of $7,000. They were contributed for the church to distribute to needy community members with no restrictions on their use.

"Although we sell and deliver Asian groceries nationwide via our Karman Foods website, our home base will always be the New York City metropolitan area. We want to give back to our community as often as we can," said Karman Cheung, Founder, and CEO, Karman Foods. "The pandemic made last year one of the toughest ones in memory for most people, especially recent immigrants and people trying to work their way up  and the challenging times aren't over yet. We understand it and try to be of help."

The Reverend Jiaji Sun is the Pastor of the New Life Chinese Alliance Church of New York and expressed gratitude for the food products contribution from Karman Foods. "We would like to express our deepest gratitude for the donation to our church. We thank Karman Foods for providing this much assistance. It will certainly benefit the Asian community in Queens and Brooklyn."

About the Asian Food Products Donated

The substantial food product donation included two palettes of groceries and several highly popular noodle, sauce, and marinade items. Korean BBQ sauce, bulgogi marinade, flavored ramen (noodles), flavored stir-fry noodles, and udon (noodle bowls) were on the palettes for the church to distribute to anyone in need in the Queens and Brooklyn areas of New York City. Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, food assistance programs provided by churches and governmental agencies have seen unprecedented demand.

About Karman Food Online Asian Market

Karman Foods is one of the fastest-growing U.S.-based specialty food retailers on the internet today. It's Karman Foods online Asian market is famous for a curated selection of Asian groceries representing the culinary traditions of China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. With home delivery to any U.S. address, the Karman virtual grocery store is an ideal alternative for anyone who prefers the convenience of online shopping or lacks a high-quality Asian supermarket in their local community.

Karman Foods provides online grocery shoppers with money-saving options such as economy sizes and case-packs in addition to everyday competitive prices. It offers free home grocery delivery on all orders of $50 or above and provides a website conveniently arranged for quick shopping. Unlike other retailers offering products at many quality levels, Karman selects only the best and highest quality. The goal is to make it easier for anyone who cooks Asian recipes at home to provide authentic taste and flavor.

The Karman Foods YouTube channel is a popular online destination for Asian food reviews, product demonstrations, and cooking presentations. It introduces shoppers or anyone interested in Asian food to new products and innovative uses for those already well-known and loved. Many videos are connected to pages that make it easy to order the items mentioned in the video presentations, all of which are produced in a fun, easy-to-watch format. They are an extension of the Karman mission to help make Asian flavorings and recipes more widely understand and cooked at home in the United States.

About the Karman Foods Web Asian Grocery Store

The Karman Asian market online is arranged to make it easy for shoppers to browse, compare products, read more information, and sort by country or product type. It anticipates that home cooks can buy the fresh vegetables and meats they need locally but may have difficulty finding authentic Asian seasonings and flavorings. It also features specialty products that are more of interest to Asian food lovers and home cooks, such as premium rice and imported teas  items not easy to find in conventional supermarkets or wholesale clubs.

Pan-Asian cooks can sort sauces, marinades, and seasonings by category and compare products representing multiple culinary traditions. Those interested only in products connected to a single country can sort by nation. The sorting capabilities are unlike other online Asian grocery retailers and provide a convenient shopping experience. The e-store is continually improved and updated to reflect current shopping trends and consumer tastes. The Karman Foods' mission is to innovate and provide the best customer shopping experience.
In a July statement, the Maryland Library Association (MLA) praised state legislators for recently passing a new law that seeks to ensure library patrons can have access to e-books that are available to consumers in the state. But does the law also give Maryland libraries a little leverage to change the existing terms under which e-books are licensed libraries?

When it takes effect in January, 2022, the Maryland law (known as SB432) will require any publisher offering to license "an electronic literary product" to consumers in the state to also offer to license the content to public libraries "on reasonable terms." The bill passed unanimously in March, and became law on June 1. Librarians say most publishers, including all of the Big Five, are technically in compliance, offering their full digital catalogs to libraries.

So it raised eyebrows last month when MLA officials circulated a statement and a press release suggesting that some of the prices and the terms currently offered by some of the major publishers are not reasonableand it raised a question: are Maryland libraries gearing up to use the new law to challenge existing library e-book terms?

The short answer is no, says St. Mary's County (Md.) librarian and library e-book advocate Michael Blackwell, who helped draft the MLA statement.

"There is no plan to use the law to challenge existing models," Blackwell told PW, insisting that the MLA statement was not intended as a warning or a heads up to publishers. "The press release and statement are very much intended as an invitation to publishers to talk with library stakeholders of all kinds," Blackwell said. "'Please consider more library-friendly models,' that's the message. Im sorry if the aim of the statement was interpreted otherwise."

At the same time, Blackwell concedes the matter is not quite so simple. That's because librarians really do believe, as the MLA statement suggests, that some of the current prices and terms offered by some of the Big Five publishers are in fact unreasonable. And, so too, they claim, do Maryland legislators.

"The legislators in Maryland who introduced this legislation believed that the existing pricing models were unreasonable where publishers charged libraries three or five times as much as they were charging consumers for only a two-year license," says Jonathan Band, a longtime legal advisor to the library community who has consulted with Maryland librarians on the law. "They believed that kind of multiple could only be justified for a perpetual license."

A look at the legislative history shows that Maryland lawmakers did call out library e-book prices in supporting Maryland's e-book law. "An electronic book that might cost an individual $9.99 to $14.99 will typically cost libraries $55 to $65 for a two year license," wrote Maryland representative Kathleen Dumais, one of the bill's sponsors, in written testimony, which also included a table comparing consumer and library price points for e-books.

But Dumais also stated clearly that the legislation does not "set prices" but rather anticipated that publishers and libraries would "negotiate mutually beneficial terms."

Negotiation would be progress. Currently, publishers largely dictate digital license terms to libraries, librarians say. And Band suggests that Maryland librarians are looking only for thata negotiation, a discussion, an opportunity to find common groundnot a legal action.

"My sense is that libraries in Maryland hope that this legislation will level the playing field in negotiations where until now the publishers have had all the leverage," Band says. "If the Maryland attorney general concludes that the publishers are not being reasonable, an enforcement action can be brought under the statute. But of course no one hopes that it will come to that."

Blackwell seconded Band's take. "[Maryland legislators] dont want to get involved with directly regulating the marketplace," Blackwell says. "The law itself is a statement. With the law, legislators are stating that some publishers have sometimes set terms that disadvantaged Maryland library readers and they want all Marylanders to have access through libraries to contentcontent that is not unfairly priced. As we have said so often before, it shouldnt take a credit card to be an informed resident. And there is also a question of fiscal responsibilitytax dollars provide most library content, and our legislators are concerned."

'Print Equivalent'

For their part, publishers reacted coolly to the MLA's "invitation" to reconsider their digital license terms to libraries in light of the new law.

Multiple publishers PW reached out to in recent weeks all declined to comment on the record. And one Big Five publisher referred PW to the Association of American Publishers, which, in a statement, reiterated its position that the Maryland law runs afoul of federal copyright law and is unconstitutional. Further, the AAP statement suggested the library e-book market is working just fine.

"We reiterate that the library market for e-books is robust and appropriate and we question the strategy of library lobbyists, who are sophisticated actors in Washington, in pushing unconstitutional legislation and a storyline that is at odds with both the operation of the law and market facts," an AAP spokesperson told PW, in a statement.

It is certainly true that library e-book lending has posted robust growth for more than a decadeand meteoric growth in 2020, as the pandemic limited access to physical library collections.

But the library e-book market has also been a major source of tension between libraries and publishers almost from its inception. It has only been since 2014 that libraries have had basic access to all of the Big Five's full digital catalogs, Blackwell points out, and that access remains tenuous, he adds, as evidenced by Macmillan's now abandoned embargo policy, to which the Maryland law is a direct response.

"Has any library been able to build the depth and breadth of their collections in digital that we have built in print? No. And its not just because digital licenses expire," Blackwell says. "Its because digital is far more costly. To create and maintain collections in digital like we can in print is simply not sustainable for libraries. And we in Maryland libraries would like to meet the growing demand for digital reading rather than keep the boutique digital collections we currently can afford."

So what would Maryland librarians consider reasonable? In its July statement, the MLA suggests that "print-equivalent" licenses would be a fair option.

Specifically, MLA suggests a "reasonable" digital license would see e-book licenses priced around the same as print books for one copy/one user access to a given title, with the number of lends limited to around 25. The number of lends is based on the average circulation of hardcover books (which MLA says research shows can circulate 30-35 times before needing to be replaced) and paperbacks (which MLA suggests can circulate 15-20 times on average). For digital audio, the MLA statement suggests 55 digital circulations would be reasonable.

 In its statement, the MLA suggests that "print-equivalent" licenses would be a fair option. 

The MLA statement also addresses the library communitys long-stated desire for multiple, flexible licensing options at higher price points, including perpetual access, and multi-user access.

"If the balance between all competing rights had been fair for physical materials for decades," Blackwell says, pointing to "the long tradition" of books being sold to and circulated in libraries under copyright, "then why is that not a good template for digital?"

Of the Big Five publishers, only HarperCollins currently offers e-books along these lines, licensing most of its library e-book content on a 26-lend model. Notably, HarperCollins sparked controversy when it first introduced the model back in 2011. But HarperCollins remained engaged with librarians. The model turned out to be ahead of its time, and most librarians now consider the HarperCollins' model to be fair, reasonable, and even preferable in many cases.

"Its not that metered access is bad, in fact the MLA statement specifically recognizes it as a viable option," Blackwell says. "The core of the MLA statement is that libraries should get a roughly 'print equivalent' in digital costs, even though digital is licensed and print is owned. But the cost for digital is often far higher."

Meanwhile, despite strong opposition from the AAP, laws like the one in Maryland are gaining momentum. In June, New York passed a similar law that is now awaiting the governor's signature or veto. And groups in at least half a dozen states have begun exploring similar legislation.

But can such laws, which are designed first and foremost to ensure basic access, also succeed in getting publishers and libraries to rethink the digital library marketplace? It's at least worth a conversation, Blackwell says.

"MLA wants to jumpstart conversations about what is reasonableand it doesnt even have to be with us, though we will certainly talk with anyone who wants to," he says. "Perhaps no entity can speak for all libraries on such a complicated matter as digital content terms. But we think print equivalency is a good start for what we think is reasonable for libraries. Many publishers already agree and have set prices and license terms to match. Other publishers may never agree. But lets at least talk."
Jan Grue, translated from the Norwegian by B.L. Crook. FSG Originals, $17 trade paper (272p) ISBN 978-0-374-60078-5

Norwegian novelist Grue (The Best of All Possible Worlds) elegantly flows between memoir, essay, and intellectual discourse in this magnificent story about living with a disability. Diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at age three, Grue writes that schoolteachers assumed he was not going to live for very long. He juxtaposes doctors notes from the 1980swhich depicted a childhood containing little joywith his inspiring story of how he overcame the obstacles of living with a wheelchair through intellect and will. In 2008, he attended UC Berkeley and, after graduating, returned to Norway where he eventually met his wife Ida, who expressed the outrage I had always felt and forced him to confront why the nondisabled tend to look away. Grue mines how disability has been portrayed in pop culturewith a particularly tragic aura or as a trade-off for a supernatural ability (Professor X from X-Men had to be paralyzed in order to acquire his telepathic abilities)as well as his experience online dating in a wheelchair. In doing so, he brilliantly articulates what its like to be erased and rewritten, and, more poignantly, what its like to obliterate the narrative ones been handed. This stunning work isnt to be missed.
The Biden administration is at it again, frantically trying to erase Trump-era regulatory reforms without regard for their benefit to the American people.

The latest red-tape gambit, a hasty and misguided attempt to delay and ultimately undo a major permitting reform, is not only bad policy, its a violation of the publics trust. The Biden administrations failure to follow proper transparency and public comment laws sets a dangerous precedent  and shows the White Houses priority is partisanship, not the American peoples best interests.

The Trump administrations reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) were a critical step toward reducing draconian regulations on our nations responsible energy producers and infrastructure builders  restoring limited government and removing unneeded delays, complexities, and burdens.

These critical reforms were long overdue. America is a great nation of builders and innovators, yet the permitting process has become too lengthy and unpredictable, making it exceedingly difficult to build anything at all. From roads, to bridges, to housing, to any kind of energy project, excessive bureaucracy is stranding capital, leaving infrastructure in disrepair, and preventing projects that strengthen American communities.

Bloated NEPA regulations impact every major project and have driven much of the problem. Under NEPA, American businesses and communities have had to wait years just to reach a decision on a projectthe average highway takes more than seven years. This is unacceptable.

Americans deserve clear, transparent, and timely permitting decisions so that capital can be allocated to projects that are beneficial and environmentally viable, and away from those that are not.

The Trump administrations comprehensive update of the regulationsthe first in more than 40 yearswas a major step in the right direction. The update centered on common sense reforms like establishing a presumptive time and page limits for review, coordinating interagency cooperation to avoid unneeded duplication of effort, and setting a much more reasonable two-year goal for completion of environmental review. These are reforms that every American should get behind.

However, there are those who believe America should no longer be a nation of builders, and who want to lead the march backward through complex and burdensome regulations. As the Biden administrations own White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council expressed opposition to infrastructure activity as basic as road improvements, it is unsurprising that that the Biden administration is perpetuating a denial by delay bureaucracy, even while it talks with Congress about an infrastructure bill.

This contradictory policy approach will continue to be a serious drag on the nations economy and critically harm the nations ability to produce and transport the energy that powers it. The Biden administration has been much more successful in revoking permits for energy projects  from the Keystone pipeline to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve  than in replacing lost jobs and energy security with promised alternatives. The failures of these policies are abundantly clear to the American people, from the consequences of overreliance on a single pipeline exposed by the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack in May to high gas prices driving President Biden to ask OPEC and Russia to increase production.

The Biden administration would do well to remember that the United States reemergence as a dominant energy producer  thanks in large part to the elimination of the oil export ban in 2015 (under President Obama) and the balanced pro-energy and pro-environment policies enacted by the Trump administration  has had vast benefits for our nation.

Americas energy dominance has saved families $204 billion a year through lower electricity, oil, and natural gas prices  the equivalent of $2,500 a year for a family of four. Thats a significant sum, especially for low-income households. That $2,500 a year is money that can be invested in their families, education, their communities, and charity.

Energy dominance also gives America stronger national security and a leg up in trade negotiations, as we no longer have to rely on hostile and unstable nations for the energy we need, saving families even more on the products they need.

But we can count on all that progress being reversed if President Biden and his legion of bureaucrats keep up their anti-energy crusade by killing NEPA reform or, worse, enacting a carbon border tax.

However, whats just as concerning as unraveling these reforms is that the Biden administration deliberately sidestepped federal transparency laws. The administration failed to provide public notice and solicit public comment  a basic good-government requirement applicable to nearly every federal rule change  and neglected to provide any clear justification beyond extraordinarily vague concerns about meeting the nations needs and priorities. This is not sufficient cause to duck longstanding transparency rules designed to protect the American people from just this kind of bureaucratic overreach.

This blatant attempt to impose a partisan agenda behind closed doors is a violation of the publics trust. These policy discussions should happen out in the open, not snuck through using procedural shortcuts. The Biden administration owes it to the American people to abide by the basic legal requirements and uphold the NEPA reform rule while it remains on the books.

For all the talk of infrastructure and Building Back Better, President Bidens insistence on undoing the previous administrations regulatory reforms will make it harder and more expensive than ever to achieve his own goals  and harder for the American people to make a living.

The Honorable Rick Perry is chairman of the Center for Energy Independence at the America First Policy Institute. Perry previously served as the 14th Secretary of Energy, where he advanced Americas dominance in energy production to help American businesses, workers, families, and farmers, and as the 47th governor of Texas.

The Honorable Jason Isaac is director of Life:Powered, a national initiative of the Texas Public Policy Foundation to raise Americas energy IQ. He previously served four terms in the Texas House of Representatives.
Fighting critical race theory is all the rage this year. Christopher Rufo has done yeomans work investigating its prevalence in schools, private corporations, and government agencies; several states have sought to ban its teaching in public schools; and grassroots movements have caused massive upheavals to existing school boards. When asked, Americans overwhelmingly say they dont want core tenets of this theory taught in schools, and Politico reports that resisting CRT has been a winning issue among voters, including independents and moderate Democrats.

Their apparent political success notwithstanding, foes of CRT warn that the only way to defeat the menace is through political activism, fundraising, and a cascade of litigation. And even then, they fear, the juggernaut that is CRT has become too powerful a force to be overcome in our public schools.

But there is a far simpler solution, and one that promises better success in the long run. It can be achieved through three simple words: I am non-racial.

For the past 20 years, CRT has achieved enormous success in placing race at the center of public discourse and convincing otherwise rational people that their race is the most important facet of their identity. If a substantial mass of Americans refused to identify as any race, the whole project would collapse.

Identifying as non-racial is morally right, politically expedient, socially advantageous, and it has the added benefit of conforming ones identity to the racial reality of America.

The Morality of Being Non-Racial

Most of us, when we were little, were taught to believe that it was immoral to judge people according to their race. We were urged to share Martin Luther Kings famous dream, that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. We understood that the dream was not fully realized in America, but nearly everyone felt committed to working toward that goal.

Critical race theory teaches a contrary vision of morality. It deliberately rejects the goal of a race-blind society. Authors of one textbook on CRT express their deep dissatisfaction with traditional civil rights discourse. They wish to replace it with an explicit embrace of race-consciousness, especially among African-American and other peoples of color.

This particular feature of the theorythe deliberate heightening of race consciousnesshas been the most prominent aspect of CRT in schools today. One school district in Oregon has developed a white identity development strategy, because, after all, what could go wrong when white people are segregated from others and trained to view themselves as a unique interest group?

CRT has been remarkably successful in encouraging greater race-consciousness throughout Americas institutions. Use of the terms racist and racism have skyrocketed in the mainstream media in the last 15 years, especially in leading newspapers such as the Washington Post and the New York Times.

The moral choice is clear: Either we are aiming for a society where race no longer matters, or we are aiming for a society where race consciousness predominates. If the lessons we imbibed when we were young were correct, then refusing to identify as any race is the next logical step toward achieving true racial justice and harmony.

The Political Expedience of Being Non-Racial

American policy and public discourse have been focused on race for so long that it is easy to forget that it doesnt have to be this way. France has long maintained an official stance of color-blindness: a law passed in 1978 explicitly bans most collections and computerized storage of race-based data.

In America, the collection of racial data is still voluntary, though it has become ubiquitous. But the march of CRT would be stopped dead in its tracks if Americans would stop volunteering any answer to the question of racial identity beyond non-racial. Imagine how transformative that option would be.

Schoolchildren could not be taught that they are oppressors on the basis of their whiteness if parents insist that their family opposes categorizing people by race and that their children do not identify as white.

Currently, the Asian American penalty means that Asians are significantly less likely to be accepted into elite universities than any other race, and its getting worse. Californias recent decision to do away with admissions tests for its UC schools is a barely disguised effort to reduce the number of overrepresented Asians admitted there. But the Asian American penalty would instantly evaporate if these students chose to be non-racial instead.

Seattle would not be able to hold training sessions exclusively for city employees who identify as white in order to teach them about their complicity in the system of white supremacy, if city employees, and all employees, would instead identify as non-racial.

Obviously, not everyone would benefit in the short term from the non-racial category. Currently, students, applicants, and workers who officially identify as historically marginalized races reap tangible benefits in admission, hiring, and professional advancement. And it is too much to ask that everyone would be willing to give up those privileges immediately. But in the long run, even those who now stand to benefit from the current brand of racialism will begin to see the benefits of working towards a truly post-racial society.

The Social Advantages of Being Non-Racial

Over the same period that CRT has achieved institutional hegemony in America, race relations have gotten much worse. As Charles Murray has shown, in just seven yearsbetween 2013 and 2020Americans perceptions of race relationships had gone from solidly optimistic to solidly pessimistic.

Correlation is not always causation, but in this case it is. Racial discord is not an unintended consequence of CRT; it is its lifeblood. As reductionist history, CRT teaches that Americas past and its essence are tethered to the unremitting march of white supremacy. As a reductionist political agenda, CRT teaches that underprivileged races must seize and redistribute the property and power hitherto accumulated by whites.

This teaching not only stokes racial competition, enmity, and grievance. It cannot survive without them. Just as Marxism is sustained by class conflict, CRT feeds off of racial conflict. If total racial harmony were ever achieved in this countryif all Americans of every race were ever to clasp hands in brotherly loveCRT would wither away and die.

The more that this hyper-racialized theory takes hold in our country, the more it drives a wedge between us and our in-laws, nephews, nieces, and neighbors.

Renouncing racial identities does not mean renouncing other social, religious and political identities that can actually draw us closer together. Those who choose to be non-racial do not have to give up celebrating Chinese New Year, St. Patricks Day, Cinco de Mayo, or Ethiopian Timkat. It simply means refusing to be subsumed under a contrived category that has always been more divisive than cohesive in America.

The Reality of Being Non-Racial

Although there is much to criticize in CRT, it contains some kernels of truth. In particular, it recognizes that race is socially constructed (the idea of biological race is false); nevertheless, race has always been very real as an instrument of power.

Indeed, whatever scant biological reality might once have been attached to the idea of dividing humanity by races centuries ago, when peoples were divided by continents, race has never been a scientific way of categorizing the people who inhabit the United States. Take, as Exhibit A, the uniquely American and invidious one-drop rule, whereby a single ancestor from Africa could condemn a person to chattel slavery or to a subordinate caste. Racial categories in America have never been anything more than cynical attempts to advance one groups interests over others.

Yet this acknowledgement of the unnaturalness of racial distinctions potentially posed a problem for CRT. Did it not follow that it is theoretical and politically absurd to center race as a category of analysis or as a basis for political action, if that category was nothing more than an artificial construct?

It is on this question that CRT takes a sharp turn against the traditional liberal order. Believing that systems ostensibly founded on the rule of law or meritocracy are actually blinds for consolidating and protecting structures of racial privilege (even if the racial categories benefiting from that privilege are arbitrary and artificial), CRT openly advocates distributing wealth, power, and privileges according to race (even if the newly privileged racial categories are based on no less arbitrary and artificial distinctions).

Hence, according to this logic, it makes perfect sense for Harvard to claim blue-eyed Sen. Elizabeth Warren as a diversity hireeven if her racial identity is based on no more than family lore and DNA evidence showing that her bloodlines can boast between 1/64 and 1/1032 indigenous ancestry. Today, were seeing one-drop redux in America. But now that single drop is being used to confer social, political, and economic advancement instead of stigma and exclusion.

According to this logic, even Rachel Dolezals choice to pass as black makes sense. If something as meaningless as a single drop can determine ones racial status, why insist even on that single drop?

By refusing to identify as any race, we can stop this madness. Choosing to be non-racial conforms to racial reality in this country. Most Americans, looking backwards toward their ancestors, see a melange of nationalities, ethnicities, and races. Looking sideways, our own families are more racially diverse than ever before. And peering into the future, racial categorizations in America will become ever more absurd with every generation. Its high time that our self-identities matched our objective reality.

Of course, we can expect that the same people who agree that race lacks any objective reality will also resist any attempts to banish self-identifications by race. And wont it be ironic if the folks who insist that individuals be given the option to select non-binary when asked to choose between male and female are the same folks who object to the choice of non-racial when asked to choose a mere social construct?

Being Non-Racial in Practice

Our local school districts anti-racism policy is just one example of the sort of policies being adopted across the country. It requires staff to collect, review, and provide an annual report to the School Board on data regarding racial disparities in  student achievement. The report must also include evidence of growth in reducing equity gaps.

Obviously, one way to reduce disparities between racial groups is to improve the academic achievement of historically under-performing races. However, parents beware: This aim can be achieved equally welland at much less cost and effortby diminishing the academic achievement of historically over-performing races. The goal of boosting one or more races standingnot in absolute terms, but only relative to the standing of other racesis wholly unrelated to, and potentially at odds with, the vocation of educating all children.

It may seem unfair to suppose that teachers and administrators might try to meet their equity goals by sacrificing the educational achievement of any portion of their students. Then again, it seems even more unfair that teacherswho have a hard enough job educating our youthare now expected to single-handedly fix entrenched social problems that no one else has been able to solve.

Forcing schoolchildren to confess to white privilege is the poisonous fruit of CRT, and its understandable that such ripe, juicy stories receive the most notice. But the noxious weed invading our schools spreads underground, and parents could cut it off at the roots if they took the simple expedient of refusing to allow their children to be classified by race from the outset. The beginning of the school year is an excellent opportunity to make this change.

Parents, remember, whenever you are asked to identify a race for you or your children, the most ethical and judicious answers are Decline to answer, Other, or Non-racial. Teach your children while they are yet babes: You are non-racial. Inoculate them early against the disease of racialism that has infected the schools, the universities, and the workplace. Dont let anyone else saddle them with a racialized identity that will haunt them throughout their lives.
As someone who was weaned on stories of leftist intellectuals and journalists traipsing off to communist countries to pay obeisance, I can only shake my head as a parade of right-wingers are making their way to Hungary to sing the praises of authoritarian Viktor Orban. Tucker Carlson of Fox News is the highest-profile rightist to make the trek, but the path was already well-trod.

Former National Review editor and Margaret Thatcher speechwriter John O'Sullivan has moved to Budapest to head the Danube Institute, a think tank funded by Orban's government. He likes his nationalism straight up.

A few years ago, at the National Conservatism conference in Washington, D.C., Orban was an honored guest, which was a bit head-snapping for those inattentive to the drift toward authoritarianism on the right. Speakers at the conference (and a follow-up one held in Rome) have featured mainstream figures such as John Bolton, Chris DeMuth, Peter Thiel, Oren Cass and Rich Lowry. In addition to Orban, other questionable invitees included Marion Marechal (she has dropped Le Pen from her surname) and Steve Bannon pal Matteo Salvini.

I'd wager that all of these conservative opinion leaders, along with more recent pilgrims traveling to Budapest (Dennis Prager, Rod Dreher and Patrick Deneen) are deeply versed in the sad and reprehensible pattern of Western intellectuals becoming seduced by leftist authoritarian regimes. From Lincoln "I have seen the future, and it works" Steffens to George Bernard Shaw to Noam Chomsky to Norman Mailer to William Sloane Coffin, intellectuals have fallen into this trap repeatedly since the 1930s. Paul Hollander's 1981 book "Political Pilgrims" was updated numerous times because intellectuals never tired of finding new autocrats to worship. When the Soviet Union was no longer viable as a model (purges, show trials, the Hitler/Stalin pact and all that), the eager acolytes switched to Mao Zedong and then to Fidel Castro and then to Daniel Ortega (Sen. Bernie Sanders, we're looking at you). Los Angeles Times columnist Robert Scheer even wrote glowing praise of North Korea's Kim Il Sung.

As any number of conservative critics observed, you can tell a lot about people's hierarchy of values by the regimes they admire. Leftists were so focused on equality of condition that they were willing to overlook or whitewash the brutal repression of individual rights. Basics of liberal democracy like free and fair elections, freedom for workers to organize, free speech, free association, religious liberty, property rights and more were virtually nonexistent in those nations. Yet that didn't dim the enthusiasm of the Susan Sontags and Ramsey Clarks.

The ironic plot twist was that the communists never delivered the equality and widespread prosperity they claimed. They didn't even do as well for workers as the "running dog capitalists." And at their worst, the communists starved and shot scores of millions of people. As George Orwell put it, the communist world was "a boot stamping on a human face -- forever." It was revealing that so many leftists were willing to sacrifice the precious rights we enjoy -- a free press and trial by jury, for example -- on the altar of equality.

The American Orbanistas are likewise revealing themselves. Though they are familiar with the folly of political tourism, they are lining up now to laud a leader who no longer even pretends to be democratic. The new state Hungary is building, Orban said, "is an illiberal state, a non-liberal state." Freedom House agrees. It no longer lists Hungary among the world's democracies.

Fidesz has used its control of the judiciary to hound competing political parties with fines and investigations. Orban has also taken control of 80% of Hungary's news media, and these crony-controlled outlets now constitute an enormous propaganda machine. Voting, which never had a long history in Hungary, was hamstrung by gerrymandering to give Fidesz a huge advantage. As The Economist noted, "In the general election last year, Fidesz won 67% of the parliamentary seats -- maintaining its supermajority -- while taking just less than half of the popular vote." At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Orban was granted sweeping powers to rule by decree. The newly empowered state immediately made spreading "misinformation" a crime.

Orban's nationalism is appealing to American conservatives. You can sense their excitement when he says things like: "We do not want to be diverse. We do not want our own color, traditions and national culture to be mixed with those of others." The trouble for the American Orbanistas is that Hungary, a central European nation of 10 million, is not diverse. The United States is and -- this cannot be stressed too often -- always has been. The "conservatives" who thrill to talk of a monoculture are not preserving an American tradition; they are seeking to import something else.

The leftist intellectuals who lent their prestige to vicious regimes discredited themselves in the eyes of conservatives. We said they were apologists for anti-democratic ideas and justifiers of repression. We said their infatuation with unchecked power was a worrying sign. Every word of that is true today of the conservative pilgrims, who, one would have thought, had more attachment to the American experiment in ordered liberty than to the lure of blood and tribe.

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The Crown, Outlander and Game of Thrones alum Tobias Menzies said a lot of moving parts have to be in place for Modern Love episodes to be believable and emotionally satisfying for viewers.

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"The story has to move quite quickly," Menzies told UPI in a recent Zoom interview.

"We only had a half-hour to tell the story and there's quite a bit to tell."

Inspired by the New York Times column of the same name, the show is a collection of short films, each telling a different, standalone tale. Season 2 premiered Thursday on Amazon Prime Video.

In one new episode, Menzies and Sophie Okonedo play a divorced, middle-aged London couple who fall in love with each other again.

The episode's success depended on getting audiences to care about the couple and root for them to reconcile shortly after meeting them.

"It was a lot about atmosphere and building up a sense of the previous relationship and what the texture of that relationship had been and then how it had changed," Menzies said.

Playing his off-on partner is Okonedo, who is best known for her roles in Ratched and Dirty Pretty Things.

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"I forgot that it was only 30 minutes," said Okonedo of her Modern Love tale. "There's so much going on. I was just thinking about the story. ... Things happen fast with this couple."

Their relationship is exciting and authentic, but not a fairytale, Menzies emphasized, noting he liked seeing this type of oft-neglected, mature love portrayed on the screen.

"There is an element of acceptance of who each other has become," he added. "There is a realness to their love now, which, I feel, maybe when they were younger, was more romantic, more charged."

"There's lots of hope in it," Okonedo added.

"A second chance and also it's nice to see something on television where getting older is quite an enjoyable and hopeful experience, and it's where things can start anew instead of end," she said.

Minnie Driver goes driving

Good Will Hunting, Grosse Pointe Blank and Speechless alum Minnie Driver said she totally understood the character she plays in her Modern Love episode, an Irish doctor struggling with whether to sell the expensive, impractical car that belonged to her late husband ( Tom Burke ).

"I really do believe that as humans we do that," Driver said in a separate Zoom chat.

"We have totems in our lives and things that carry meaning and that it's actually really important to be able to physically look at something that brings you back to a person or a time."

Driver said she has things that are incredibly meaningful to her that do what the vintage blue convertible Stag does for her character, Stephanie.

As the woman considers getting rid of the vehicle, she reminisces about all the good times she had in it and even speaks to her dead spouse while driving it. Their entire relationship, spanning decades, is glimpsed through flashbacks.

Driver said they shot a lot more than was used.

"I wish that episode had been a movie," Driver said, emphasizing she treated the project as seriously as she would a feature-length film. "It was so beautiful, and Tom Burke is such an incredibly fine actor."

Much of Driver's episode features her behind the wheel, navigating twisty roads in Ireland with the car's top down in freezing November. The actress didn't mind a bit.

"It was fantastic driving," she said. "I love to drive. I loved driving that car. It was magic."

As for her character, driving represented not only a means to connect to a person and past she missed terribly, but also a sort of freedom she didn't enjoy anywhere else in her life.

Driver said this situation broke her heart because even though Stephanie has a really nice husband and sweet children, she only feels free in that car.

"What I hope for her is that by the end of that episode that freedom has become a shared freedom and she really does bring it into her life as opposed to it being a secret behavior, but that is something she can live fully, out loud, with witnesses," she said.

Garrett Hedlund disrupted

Another episode of Modern Love casts Friday Night Lights, Country Strong and Triple Frontier actor Garrett Hedlund as an American war veteran whose wife leaves him for a married neighbor.

Grieving a loss that disrupts his meticulously planned life, he strikes up a friendship with the other jilted spouse (Anna Paquin).

Hedlund could relate to being "the fixer and the one who wants to solve problems, but not the planner."

"I've always been very spontaneous, very last minute, to a fault and, so, I thought this was a very sweet and common theme," he said. "There are a lot of very, very diligent Type As where everything is completely planned and, so, it was fun to play one like that."

While taking on an intense emotional role for a short period of time can be refreshing for an actor, Hedlund said he and the rest of the Modern Love team actually would have liked to continue exploring their characters and their stories.

"You want to know what happens to these characters and if they stay together, if they break up, if they find true happiness or love or if everything is just one traumatic piece of chaos," the actor said about the show. "The greatest thing is when you don't have the answers. It just keeps you wanting more."
People turned out for the 5th annual Back to School backpack giveaway at the Brattleboro, Vt., Auto Mall on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. The event was co-sponsored by TPI Staffing and the Brattleboro Reformer. TPI Staffing provided a touch-a-truck experience, with different types of heavy const
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STAMFORD  The federal judge overseeing the bankruptcy case of OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma began his review this week of the companys settlement plan, with much of the first two days of the hearing focusing on contentious legal protections sought by the company and its owners.

Stamford-based Purdue is aiming to gain Judge Robert Drains approval of a plan that it values at more than $10 billion, but one that is opposed by Connecticut and eight other states. Also known as a plan of reorganization, it would resolve several thousand lawsuits from local and state governments alleging that the firm fueled the opioid crisis with deceptive marketing of OxyContin.

It also calls for making settlement payments to individuals, with more than 134,000 personal-injury claims filed against Purdue through the bankruptcy. At the same time, the proposal calls for the Sackler family members who own Purdue to relinquish control of the company and for the firm to be converted into a public benefit company focused on using its funds to tackle the opioid crisis.

Among other key terms, the settlement plan would release the company and the Sacklers from the pending complaints as well as potential claims related to Purdue. The Sacklers have not personally filed for bankruptcy.

The prospective releases are a condition of the Sacklers offer to contribute about $4.3 billion in cash to the settlement. In 2020, Forbes estimated the Sackler familys net worth at nearly $11 billion.

I think the debtors (Purdue) understood that a prerequisite to getting a settlement  would be a requirement by the Sacklers for, effectively, what Ill refer to as global peace, John Dubel, chairman of the special committee of Purdues board of directors, said Thursday on the first day of the hearing, which is being conducted remotely.

That would include releases by the debtors and third-party releases. How that was going to be implemented was something that would ultimately have to be worked out and has subsequently been worked out through the mediation process and 95 percent-plus support of the creditors for this plan of reorganization, Dubel said.

Dubel was cross-examined by Irve Goldman, an attorney with the law firm Pullman & Comley, who is representing Connecticut in the hearing.

Purdues plan also seeks releases for Sackler family members who have not been directly involved in the company, as well as certain other people and entities associated with Purdue.

The releases currently contemplated in the plan are important because history has shown that plaintiffs will pursue individuals in litigation related to the debtors even if the individual has little or no connection to the debtors, Garrett Lynam, general counsel for Kokino LLC, a family office owned by the family of late Purdue co-owner Jonathan Sackler, and executor of the estate of Jonathan Sackler, said in a declaration submitted to the bankruptcy court. For example, the children of Jonathan Sackler, who never had any role with the debtors (other than summer internships or similar short-term educational experiences when they were in school) were subjected to extensive document discovery in these bankruptcy cases.

During Lynams testimony in the second day of the hearing on Friday, Drain sought further explanation of the need for releases for Purdue-associated parties.

I took it from your answer to my prior question that the people who are putting up the money, either directly or through their companies, dont want to have a risk that a consultant like (the hypothetical) X Co., be subject to (potential) Purdue-related litigation, Drain said. And I took it from your answer that people who are paying dont want to be dragged into the litigation. But Im asking you, how would they be dragged in other than as a witness or someone providing discovery?

Your honor, Im not sure they would be dragged in other than as a witness or providing discovery, Lynam replied.

At the end of Fridays proceedings, Drain said that I think the parties should take away today, though, that I do have some concerns about the breadth of these releases.

In the first two days of the hearing, witnesses also testified about other issues such as the distribution of settlement funds to tackle the opioid crisis, major changes in the companys operations in the past few years and key events in the bankruptcy in recent months.

The hearings first day lasted about five and a half hours, followed by about six hours on Friday. The hearing will continue Monday and could take up to about two weeks.

Connecticut maintains its opposition

Some of the top elected officials in Purdues home state are among the most vociferous critics of the company.

In December 2018, Connecticut filed its lawsuit against Purdue and the Sacklers. It has opposed Purdues settlement plan since the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2019 in federal bankruptcy court in White Plains, N.Y.

California, Delaware, Maryland, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington and the District of Columbia have also rejected the companys proposed settlement terms.

We will not consent to a plan that seeks to strong-arm us into releasing our claims against the Sacklers and allowing them to walk away with their wealth intact while victims of the opioid epidemic and their families suffer and grieve, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said last month. I remain firmly opposed and will continue to fight until all viable options are exhausted.

In a related move, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said last month that he would introduce a Senate version of the Stop Shielding Assets from Corporate Known Liability by Eliminating Non-Debtor Releases Act, or SACKLER Act. Introduced in the House of Representatives in March by U.S. Reps. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., and Mark DeSaulnier, D-Calif., the bill aims to close a perceived loophole by preventing those who have not filed for bankruptcy from obtaining releases from lawsuits brought by government bodies.

While Purdue needs to secure Drains support to enact its settlement plan, it has already secured the backing of about 95 percent of voting creditors, including about 40 states.

If Drain were to approve Purdues plan, Tong has said that Connecticut would consider all of our viable options at that time.

pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott
Contributed photo

As businesses had been reopening and sporting events taking place with fans and live performances coming back to Broadway, Comedy Night in Wilton at the Cannon Grange https://cannongrange.org/ reported a resounding success. The event, which took place on Saturday, July 24, at 8 p.m., sold out. Local merchants Village Market, Pinocchio Pizza, Hunan Cafe and Bonani Indian Kitchen supplied the food for the evening.

The event was organized by Wiltons own CategoryTen company, which is the creator of the pandemic-based covidopoly19 board game. In view of the success and the hunger for live events in Wilton, CategoryTen has committed to putting on other comedy and music events in the future.
Q: From C: What makes your faith in God stronger?

A: Two things strengthen my faith. Nature strengthens my faith in God and babies made in the image of God strengthen my faith in people.

Nature reminds me of the teaching of the psalmist in Psalm 104:24, O LORD, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. (You should read all of Psalm 104 for more sublime poetry about nature). The laws of nature are the same here on Earth as they are on the farthest reaches of the universe. Carbon here is the same as carbon there. Gravity here is the same as gravity there. I believe that such a great natural design must have had a great designer.

The poet Carl Sandburg wrote, A baby is Gods opinion that life should go on. I agree. My faith is strengthened when I see people decide to bring new life into our wounded world. There are so many reasons to decide not to subject a child to the many burdens of life here on this planet, but only one reason to do it  you have hope that the God who made each of us in Gods image wants us and needs us to fix the world and bring joy to its inhabitants.

Grade : A

Q: From K: I have always heard people saying to listen to God, and I want to and I am always looking for what he is telling me, but sometimes I feel like I dont know what I am looking for. How will I know God is speaking to me? Thank you so much for taking the time to read my email. Have a great day!

A: If you are listening to God, God is speaking to you. The content of Gods speech is hard to decipher because this is not an ordinary conversation. Some people wait for some big booming voice from the clouds but that is not how God-talk happens. The key to understanding what God is trying to tell you is training your inner voice. Your inner voice is the voice of your conscience. These are your moral instincts. We read about the inner voice in the Bible, I Kings 19:11-12. God is talking to the prophet Elijah,

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

So, when you are faced with a moral dilemma just get quiet in your mind and listen for the still, small voice. Ask yourself, What is the right thing to do? Your first instincts are almost always your best instincts. What prevents us from doing the right thing is usually fear. This is why the most frequently used phrase in the Bible is Be not afraid (Hebrew: al tirah). The deep truth is that you already know what God wants you to do. Just have the courage to do it.

Grade: A

Q: From K: In recent months, I have felt that I have significantly grown closer to the Lord. I am very proud of my progress, but within my family I, for some reason, have always felt awkward talking about the extent of my faith. My family and I are all Catholic, so we share the same beliefs, but as I mentioned, it always feels weird to me to talk about religion with them. Is this normal and how can I become more comfortable with this?

A: It is a very rare thing for teenagers to be comfortable talking to their parents about deep stuff. Faith, sex, moral conflicts, body image, depression are all topics that require very strong bonds of love and trust to discuss with parents. If you just begin by telling them what role faith plays in your life and then ask them what role it plays in theirs, you have a chance to have the kind of faith talk you desire. If they are uncomfortable talking about it, dont push or be disappointed in them. Not everyone is comfortable at any age revealing their innermost feelings. Then find some friend or some priest or some teacher who can engage your spiritual curiosity. A rabbi means a teacher and even though you are Catholic, dear K, I think you need a rabbi!

Grade: A

Send ALL QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS to The God Squad via email at godsquadquestion@aol.com. Rabbi Gellman is the author of several books, including Religion for Dummies, co-written with Fr. Tom Hartman.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)  A growing number of Arkansas hospitals said Thursday they'll require all staff to get vaccinated against the coronavirus as the state's COVID-19 hospitalizations dropped after hitting new records three days in a row.

CHI St. Vincent and St. Bernards Healthcare System announced they would require employees to be fully vaccinated by Nov. 1. Baptist Memorial Health Care, which operates NEA Baptist in Jonesboro, said it would also require employees at its hospitals in Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi be vaccinated by that date. Conway Regional Health System said its vaccine requirement for staff will take effect Oct. 8.

Vaccinating against COVID-19 is the single-greatest, most-pressing health initiative in recent years, and we all must do our part, St. Bernards President and CEO Chris Barber said in a release. Quite simply, our patients should not wonder whether they receive care from an unvaccinated person.

Arkansas' COVID cases have skyrocketed in recent weeks due to the ultra-contagious delta variant and the state's low vaccination rate. The state ranks fourth in the country for new cases per capita, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University researchers.

Arkansas' COVID-19 hospitalizations on Thursday dropped by 50 to 1,396, the first time they decreased in nearly a week. The state had hit new highs this week, surpassing the record number of hospitalizations during the pandemic it reported in January.

The number of intensive care unit beds available in the state also rose from 14 to 34. There are 516 COVID-19 patients in ICUs around the state and 296 on ventilators.

Conway Regional Medical Center also announced that it will postpone elective surgeries and procedures starting Monday because of the surge in cases.

The state on Thursday reported 30 more COVID-19 deaths and 2,300 new virus cases.

The number of school districts and universities requiring masks continued to grow Thursday, following a judge's decision last week to temporarily block Arkansas' ban on mask mandates.

Arkansas State University announced it would require masks be worn indoors where social distancing isn't practical. The move came after the Arkansas State University system's governing board authorized its campuses to require masks.

We know that indoor face coverings and vaccinations are critical to fighting this pandemic," ASU System President Chuck Welch said.

The University of Arkansas system and the University of Central Arkansas this week also announced they would require masks.

Nearly four dozen school districts and public charter schools have announced they'll require masks since the judge's ruling. They include nearly all of the state's largest school districts. The Little Rock School Board voted Thursday to impose a mandate.

The mask mandate ban was blocked hours after lawmakers rejected Gov. Asa Hutchinson's call to roll back the ban for some schools. Hutchinson, a Republican, has said he regrets signing the ban and agreed with the judge's decision to block it.
Getting out and meeting her fans isnt something Roz Chast often does. But every once in a while, she said, it is nice to meet and greet, as she will do at Carol Corey Fine Art in Kent this Saturday at 4 p.m.

The famed cartoonist also has a fresh exhibit of her work at the gallery that runs through Sept. 19.

In general, I dont like to leave the house, because, why ask for trouble? Chast, a resident of Fairfield County, said of her appearance in Kent. But sometimes its good to get some fresh air.

Chasts whimsical, somewhat surrealistic and subtlety barbed cartoons have delighted readers of numerous publications, including The New Yorker.

Her first New Yorker cartoon, Little Things, was sold to the magazine in April 1978. The cartoon, which Chast described as peculiar and personal, shows a small collection of Little Things. One must search a bit at times to find Chasts humor as it often appears in the background and corners of the cartoon frames.

Chasts New Yorker cartoons began as small, black-and-white panels, but increasingly she used more color and her work often spreads over a few pages. Her first cover for The New Yorker was in 1986, showing a lecturer in a white coat pointing to a family tree of ice cream.

Carol Corey explained how Chasts visit came about.

The enforced time at home during the COVID-19 lockdown revived Rozs passion for craft, which she says keeps my hands moving and helps quiet my anxiety. She created more than 100 pysanky eggs (a Ukrainian wax and dye technique), and a number of textiles (embroideries and hand-hooked rugs). These designs incorporate Chasts inimitable imagery  characters familiar to her many fans. We decided to do a talk along with the opening of the show to have a special local event for the area.

According to Corey, the exhibition also will include Chasts drawings from the past year, many of which reflect the strange, surreal quality of this period, as well as nostalgia for our pre-pandemic lives.

I had been with the Danese/Corey gallery in New York City for several years, Chast said. When that gallery closed, Carol asked me to join her roster of artists at her gallery in Kent, and I was delighted to accept.

According to her website, Chasts work has appeared in numerous magazines through the years, including The Village Voice, National Lampoon, Scientific American, Harvard Business Review, Redbook and Mother Jones, but she most closely is associated with The New Yorker.

Chast attended the Rhode Island School of Design, where she studied painting. After graduating in 1977, she returned to New York City, where she quickly established her cartooning career. In addition to collections of her work in The New Yorker, Chast has written and illustrated a range of books. Her latest, Going Into Town: A Love Letter to New York (2017), is a personalized travel guide to New York City that began as a going-away present to her youngest child, who was moving from the familys home in Connecticut. Her memoir, Cant We Talk About Something More Pleasant? (2014) won a National Book Critics Circle Award and was shortlisted for a National Book Award.

Often, Chasts subjects deal with domestic and family life.

In a 2006 interview, she said she most enjoys drawing interior scenes, often involving lamps and accentuated wallpaper that serve as the backdrop for her comics. Reportedly, her cartoons reflect a conspiracy of inanimate objects, an expression she credits to her mother.

As for the topic of her discussion at the Kent gallery, Chast said, Art, cartoons. Probably not tax law or podiatry, though you never know.

Chast said she has too many favorite cartoonists to name.

But my first and greatest cartoon hero was Charles Addams, she said. I didnt think I could make a living as a cartoonist. But I needed to make cartoons and had no idea how to do anything else. Not liking to leave the house is a problem for a lot of jobs. I dont know why people like or dont like things.

As for her inspirations for her cartoons and the characters within their frames, Chast said she had no clue ... Probably that weird guy in the back, snickering and rolling his eyes.

Concerning her acclaimed books, she said creating them was difficult, frustrating, yet deeply interesting. As for what she finds most pleasant about her work, she said, That I still like to do it, maybe.

And for that, Roz Chasts many fans are grateful.

For more information, visit www.carolcoreyfineart.com.
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  While the majority of Connecticut residents are white, new U.S. Census data released Thursday shows the state is becoming more diverse, with the number of Hispanic residents having grown by approximately 30% over the last decade.

The state's Hispanic population increased by 144,206 people from 2010 to 2020, while the white population declined by 377,282. There were increases in the number of people of mixed race, Asian, Black, native American and Hawaiian and Pacific Islander decent in Connecticut as well.

Cheri Quickmire, executive director of Common Cause of Connecticut, said the numbers show the importance of getting racially diverse input into the state's redistricting process, which will rely on the new Census data when it works to redraw congressional and state legislative district lines.

We need processes that prioritize, I guess, hearing from diverse populations in a way that we havent done before, and so we need to really think about how we can make that happen, she said. This needs to be a priority because if peoples voices aren't heard, then its not going to make the mapmaking process as inclusive as it needs to be.

The eight members of the states Reapportionment Committee, all state legislators, met for the first time in April. They spoke of the challenge of reaching as many people as possible and holding public hearings in each of the state's five congressional districts, given ongoing concerns about COVID-19.

Data released Thursday showed Connecticut's white population dropped from 77.6% in 2010 to 66.4% in 2020, while the Hispanic or Latino population grew from 13.4% to 17.3%. The Black population grew from 10.1% to 10.8% and the Asian population grew from 3.8% to 4.8%. Those figures do not include people of mixed race.

Fairfield County is the most diverse of the state's eight counties, with a white population of 61%. It's followed closely by Hartford County, with a 61% white population, and New Haven County with 62.9%.

Statewide, Connecticut had a slight overall population gain of 31,847 residents, from about 3.57 million people in 2010 to 3.6 million in 2020. Much of the growth came from Fairfield County, which gained 40,490 people. There were also small increases in Hartford and New Haven counties, while the other five counties lost population over the past decade. Connecticut has had a relatively stagnant population for the past several decades.

Democratic Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, who chaired the state's 2020 Complete Count Committee, said in a statement that she was encouraged by the data, noting Connecticut had a 99.9% overall response rate to the Census.

Todays data shows the fruits of our labor, she said. By producing the most complete count possible, the 2020 census results will bring billions of dollars in federal resources to Connecticut for education, healthcare, transportation, and more.
LAS VEGAS (AP)  A coronavirus pandemic mask mandate in Nevada has drawn a federal lawsuit from attorneys seeking class-action status for claims that the constitutional rights of thousands of parents and children at Las Vegas-area schools are being violated.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness have been ripped away from law-abiding citizens and their children, the attorneys declared in the complaint filed Thursday against Gov. Steve Sisolak, state Attorney General Aaron Ford and the Clark County School District.

It seeks an immediate court order to invalidate a directive the governor enacted last week that generally requires K-12 students and school employees in the Las Vegas and Reno areas to wear masks on buses and inside school buildings, regardless of vaccination status.

Plaintiffs Monica Branch-Noto and Tiffany Paulson are identified as the guardians of three students at Henderson schools. The childrens names are not provided in the 27-page complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas.

Its preposterous that these kids have to go to school hindered, said attorney Sigal Chattah, a Republican candidate for Fords job who has also sued Sisolak over vaccination plans and coronavirus-related restrictions he imposed on churches.

Were trying to get the kids unmasked, she said.

A spokesman for Ford declined comment. Representatives for the governor and the school district did not immediately respond to email messages.

Masks in schools have become a flashpoint in areas where students are returning to in-person classroom instruction after more than a year of school closures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Schools opened Monday in and around Las Vegas, where more than 300,000 students and about 18,000 teachers make the Clark County district the fifth-largest in the nation.

The lawsuit in Nevada was filed the same day parents and the Oklahoma State Medical Association filed a lawsuit asking a judge there to overturn a state law banning mask requirements in public schools.

In Kentucky, Republican lawmakers including the attorney general are challenging a school mask mandate that Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear issued Tuesday.

The Nevada complaint calls rules enacted in March 2020 to stem the spread of COVID-19 onerous, burdensome and unconstitutional" after 17 months, and claims they are inflicting massive emotional distress on students and parents.

It declares the governor's order infringes on the fundamental right of parents to make child rearing decisions, including arbitrarily forcing children to wear masks in school.

Children have a one in a million risk of dying from COVID-19, the lawsuit says, pointing to an online article by a Johns Hopkins University surgeon and professor who calls the case for vaccinating children not compelling right now.

In northern Nevada, school officials reported Wednesday that about 80 people were exposed to the coronavirus after a parent knowingly sent a child to middle school two days after learning the student tested positive for the coronavirus.

The Washoe County School District said in a statement the parent also tested positive and refused to communicate with the childs school.

An unspecified number of students were sent home to quarantine. But the district said they would be expected to participate in home-learning and keep up with school work.

Unvaccinated students sent home may return to school after five days if they test negative for the virus and are free of symptoms, the district said. Fully vaccinated students could return to school if they are free of symptoms and show vaccination records to a school nurse.
Actor Kangana Ranaut who has wrapped up the shooting of her next spy thriller Dhaakad in Budapest, Hungary, set the hearts fluttering with her looks in the wrap-up party. Organised by her director Razneesh Ghai, the party was attended by the entire crew and Kanganas sister Rangoli Chandel. Kangana took to her Instagram stories and shared some stunning pictures of her look from the films wrap-up party.

Inside Kangana Ranaut's wrap up party for Dhaakad in Budapest

For the wrap-up party, Kangana looked resplendent in a white-and-gold look, wearing a white corset bralette teamed with matching pants. She finished her chic look with a high bun. While captioning the post, she wrote a couplet by famous poet Mirza Ghalib. Mohabbat mein nahi hai farak jeene aur marne ka, usi ko dekh kar jeete hain jis kafir pe dum nikle -Ghalib. Kangana took this opportunity to thank her team for their support, especially the director of the film, Razneesh Ghai.

In the pictures, the Manikarnika star can be seen posing with her director, producer Sohail, sister Rangoli while thanking them for their support. The videos on her Instagram stories also showed director Razneesh turning DJ for the night as he was playing some peppy tracks for all at the party.

Dhaakad is one of the most anticipated female-led films where Kangana will be seen playing the role of a spy agent Agni. Going by the first look poster of the actor, her character looks fiery and fearless. While Kangana is the main protagonist, Arjun Rampal plays the role of the main antagonist, Rudraveer in the movie. While introducing his character poster, Arjun previously said, Boom Evil has a new name - Rudraveer! An antagonist who is dangerous, deadly and cool at the same time!

Apart from Dhaakad, Kangana is also gearing up for the release of her biographical film, Thalaivi. The high-edge drama depicts the multiple stages of late former Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaas life. Kangana Ranaut will be seen enticing audiences with her retro looks along with an insight into Jayalalithaas struggle while rising as a politician of Tamil Nadu. She also has Tejas, Manikarnika Returns, and Emergency in her kitty.

IMAGE: KANGANARANAUT/Instagram
Every day, a large number of videos featuring elephants go viral on social media as they get a lot of attention from Netizens. Right now, a rescue story of a newborn elephant is making the rounds on the internet. This incident occurred at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya, it was caught on camera and the video being shared on social media by the organisation.

The newborn elephant's relative tried to rescue

The calf had gotten itself inside a water trough by accident and was unable to get out. While the newborn calf was trapped inside, its relatives gathered around the water trough, "visibly distraught," and tried everything they could to save the infant. Soon after, a team of concerned officials raced to the scene and successfully rescued the calf.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust shared the video of the rescued animal with the caption, "This incident unfolded just outside our Ithumba stockades earlier this year. It was nearing midnight when we realized something was amiss: A small herd of elephants was clustered around the water trough, visibly distressed. Focusing our eyes against the darkness, we saw that a newborn calf was stuck inside. While all our troughs are designed to prevent this very situation from happening, she had defied engineering, and despite their best efforts, her family was unable to extricate her."

The post has received over 56 thousand likes since it was published two days ago ahead of World Elephant Day on August 12, which was yesterday. It has also garnered a large number of comments.

One commenter wrote, "This world is a better place because of people like you. It gives me hope," another Instagram user wrote, "Not all heroes wear capes." "Omg, that baby is SO precious! Thank you for helping!!" expressed a third.

Similar instance from India

In a different video, another baby elephant imprisoned in a water tank was rescued by wildlife officials. Parveen Kaswan, an official with the Indian Forest Services, shared the video on Twitter. This video has received over 80 thousand views and over four thousand likes. Some officials can be seen in the video attempting to free the elephant imprisoned in a water tank.

Kiddo fell into reservoir from where water was being supplied to village. Territorial team, wildlife squad II & vet team reached on time. Was rescued & happily united with family. Mother was watching from safe. Our team. pic.twitter.com/NqSnhH94Rs  Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) May 23, 2021

Image- @sheldricktrust/Instagram
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma just passed The Assam Cattle Preservation Bill in the legislative assembly on Friday. The passed bill replaces the existing Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 1950. The CM had earlier proposed that the previous bill lacked clarity and provision to regulate slaughter, consumption and transportation of cattle.

Assam CM proposed a complete ban on the sale and purchase of beef or non-beef products in areas, predominantly inhabited by Hindu, Jain, Sikh and other non-beef-eating communities. It also restricted the sale of these restricted items within 5 km of a temple or Vaishnavite monastery.

Among other provisions, the Bil states that a cow cannot be slaughtered regardless of age, a departure from the 1950 Act which allowed cattle slaughter over 14 years of age or those unfit for work. However, it retains the provision that stipulates obtaining an approval certificate from a veterinarian for the slaughter of all cattle, other than cows.

Deifferent from the anti-slaughter law of other states

When CM introduced the bill, he made sure that it specifically excluded areas where the sale and purchase of beef are barred. Unlike anti-slaughter laws in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh which includes only cow progeny and not buffaloes, the Assam bill does not distinguish between cattle types. As reported by an agency, the bill applied to all cattle, including bulls, bullocks, cows, heifer, calves, male and female buffaloes and buffalo calves.

The Bill additionally barred inter-state transport of cattle too, from, and through the state of Assam without valid documents. The governments intent behind the Bill is also to check cattle smuggling to Bangladesh, with whom Assam shares a 263-kilometre-long border.

What are the punishments if someone is charged?

Under the proposed ACT, a jail term of a minimum of three years which shall be further extendable up to eight years and a fine of Rs. 3 lakh could be imposed on the accused. The offender could be charged with either one or both. The punishment would be doubled for repeated offenders. As an exception, the provision would not apply to "religious occasions" when slaughtering cattle not being a cow or heifer or calf is permitted.

Image: PTI
Hailing India's speed in launching the COVID-19 vaccine, Cyrus Poonawalla, the Chairman-MD of Serum Institute of India (SII) credited the Drug Controller body. The company's Chairman, who gave India the much needed COVID-19 vaccine, also said that the quick response was possible because of 'permission, encouragement to industries & considerably reduced licensing raj'. The COVID-19 vaccine drive in India was launched earlier in January after SII's Covidshield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin were granted permission for restricted use in an emergency situation.

"We've a Drug Controller who responds even after office hrs," said Cyrus Poonawalla.

One of the major reasons we could launch our COVID vaccine so quickly was due to forthcoming grants, permission, encouragement to industries &considerably reduced licensing raj. We've a Drug Controller who responds even after office hrs: Cyrus Poonawalla, SII Chairman-MD, in Pune pic.twitter.com/J3ooW8zYsM  ANI (@ANI) August 13, 2021

India's COVID-19 vaccination drive

The statement from the vaccine manufacture company head came a week after India surpassed the landmark figure of administration of more than 50 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses to the beneficiaries, as per the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that this milestone will give a strong impetus to fights against COVID-19.

"Indias fight against COVID-19 receives a strong impetus. Vaccination numbers cross the 50 crore mark. We hope to build on these numbers and ensure our citizens are vaccinated under #SabkoVaccineMuftVaccine movement," PM Modi tweeted.

In another tweet, Health Minister Mandaviya had informed that India took 85 days to touch the 10 crore mark, 45 days to reach 20 crore, 29 days to reach 30 crore and 24 days to reach 40 crores. To reach 50-crore, the country only took 20 days, he said.

According to the government data, a total of 38,94,75,520 healthcare workers have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 11,08,73,346 have been administered both doses. Currently, Bharat Biotech's COvaxin, Astra-Zeneca's COVID Vaccine Covishield and Sputnik V doses are being administered in India.

Largest vaccination drive

India had surpassed the US, UK in administering vaccines in June with 323.66 million vaccine doses. At that time, United States had inoculated 323.33 million doses and also countries like the UK were at 76.32 doses, Germany with 71. 44, France with 52.46, and Italy with 49.65 jabs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hailed the vaccination drive once again as it started gaining momentum each day.

(Inputs from ANI)
Confirming that the terrorists were from Pakistan, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar on Friday asserted, 'If Pakistan wants to claim the dead body of the terrorist, we are ready to give'. The huge development from the valley came after an encounter started on Thursday evening and ended today morning with the elimination of one terrorist however, another managed to escape. IGP Kashmir also revealed that a major terrorist attack that was planned ahead of Independence Day has been averted.

Fuming over the terror activities from across the border, IGP Kumar said that Pakistan is worried looking at the peaceful environment of Kashmir and so several efforts are being made to disrupt it.

"We were getting inputs from several days that terrorists are going to target security forces. When they started firing from the building, our forces launched a search operation but one terrorist managed to escape and the other was trapped. Former terrorist Usman has been eliminated, we have recovered huge arms and ammunition including AK-47, rocket launcher, magazines and grenades. This is a huge success for the security forces," he said.

Giving further details on the terrorist activities, the IGP added that Pakistani terrorists are trying to escalate fear amongst the people of Kashmir by carrying out a major terror attack ahead of Independence Day. 'We will celebrate August 15 on a huge level and I urge the people of Kashmir to participate in the celebrations,' added IGP Kumar.

"Pakistan virtually instigating terrorists": IGP Kashmir

In a major revelation, the IGP said that Pakistan is conducting several online activities to instigate the terrorists so that they carry out attacks ahead of Independence Day. Speaking on the recent attacks that were launched on BJP leaders and in the valley, the IGP added that they have identified the terrorists and they will neutralize them at the earliest. It is pertinent to note that the arms and ammunition that were recovered by Indian Security Forces today included a Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) gun, two RPG rounds, and PK machine gun which are very rare cache.

Kulgam encounter

The encounter started and reached the second day after terrorists fired upon a Border Security Force (BSF) convoy that was returning from Jammu to Srinagar around 3 PM on August 12. As the BSF retaliated strongly to the attack, the terrorists fled the spot and took shelter in a building. The search operation that was launched fortunately trapped two LeT terrorists. Meanwhile, two security force personnel and two civilians also sustained injuries, informed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar.
On Friday, Jammu and Kashmir Police asked Pakistan to take the dead body of a terrorist who was killed during an anti-terror operation in Kulgam of South Kashmir. If Pakistan claims the dead body of a killed terrorist, JKP is ready to hand over, said Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar while speaking to Republic TV.

IGP Kashmir tells Pakistan to take Terrorist Usman's body

IGP Kumar said that a Pakistani terrorist identified as Usman was killed in the encounter while the second one managed to flee.

"Intermittent firing remained on throughout the night and in the morning, the dead body of Usman was recovered. Usman was planning a big strike on security forces ahead of Independence Day," he said. "Rocket launcher, grenades, AK 47 rifle along with the mobile phone, was recovered from the possession of the slain terrorist. Besides, after a long time, Pakistani terrorists used a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). With the recoveries like this indicates that a major incident was averted by police and security forces," he adds.

Kashmir Police Chief said that terrorists not only were planning attacks ahead of August 15 but also trying hard to instil fear among the people to prevent them from participating in Independence Day functions. The gunfight broke out on Thursday afternoon after two LeT terrorists fired at a BSF moving convoy. It was around 14:30 hours when terrorists fired at a BSF moving convoy near Malpora crossing, however, due to swift and timely retaliatory actions by Police and security forces, the lives of the security personnel and civilians were saved.

However, terrorists took shelter in an inhabited building (5 storeys) and security forces decided to use a Rocket launcher as the target building was a huge & concrete structure. Kashmir Police Chief also said that the drones were used to keep updating situations inside a building and during this anti-terror operation 02 drones were also destroyed by the terrorist. The Terrorist also used the launching of an RPG shell, multiple grenade lobbing and heavy firing.

Conspiracy in Kulgam ahead of I-Day

In order to save the lives of the civilian population, during the anti-terror operation, Police along with Army were able to evacuate, 22 civilians including 12 shopkeepers, six females including an elderly and four non-local labourers from the structure where the encounter broke out.

Meanwhile, Police along with the security forces averted a major tragedy as they recovered and defused an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Dadsara village of Tral in South Kashmirs Pulwama district (during the intervening night of August 12 and13, 2021).

The incidents came close on the heels of several terror attacks ahead of Independence Day. On August 10, terrorists lobbed a grenade at Police and CRPF at Hari Singh High Street in Srinagar injuring 10 civilians.

Pertinently on July 31, a top commander of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) outfit, who was involved in the 2019 Pulwama Fidayeen (suicide) attack, was killed in south Kashmirs Pulwama district. The killed terrorist was identified as Adnan Ismail alias Lamboo. In 2017, Lamboo infiltrated from Tangdhar sector (Kupwara) 2017 and was active here since then. Lamboo was from the family of the JeM chief (Maulana) Masood Azhar and was involved in conspiracy and planning of the February 14, 2019, Lethpora attack.

(Image Credit: Republic World)
Two days ahead of Independence Day, the Punjab police found hand grenades in Amritsar's residential area- Ranjit avenue. According to the on-ground information exclusively accessed by Republic TV, the security officials found the grenade when they were carrying out a regular investigation. The police have launched a search operation to nab the miscreants. It is important to note that this is one of the busiest areas of Amritsar. The bomb disposal team reached on time and diffused the grenade.

The current development comes nearly a few days after a bag containing weapons and RDX was found dropped through a drone in the border area of Bachiwind in Punjab. A major incident waiting to happen was neutralised by the Punjab police by diffusing the tiffin box. Addressing a press conference, DGP Dinkar Gupta had informed that a nefarious conspiracy of Pakistan has been foiled. Drone movements were also observed recently in the Dalke village which was reported to the police by the former Sarpanch of the village.

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh requests CAPF deployment

In a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah, Punjab CM had sought 25 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) and anti-drone system for the Border Security force citing the heavy influx of weapons by Pakistan-backed terror forces ahead of Independence Day and in the run-up to the upcoming Assembly polls. "He pointed to the potential threat to the security of vital infrastructure/installations and public meetings/events being attended by highly threatened individuals," the CMO said in a statement.

With the Punjab Assembly elections scheduled for February-March 2022, many militant and radical operatives are being pressurized by the ISI to carry out terrorist actions. These are very serious and worrisome developments having huge security implications for the border state and its people, the CM warned.

'Pro-Pakistan Elements Hijacking Farmers' Protest' says Punjab CM

Pointing to the prolonged agitation, which had cost the lives of more than 400 farmers and farmworkers, the Punjab CM in his meeting with PM Modi recently had highlighted that the stir had the potential of posing security threats for Punjab and the country, especially now that Independence Day is just around the corner. He reasoned that the Pakistan-backed anti-India forces were allegedly looking to exploit the farmers disgruntlement with the Centre and attempted to hijack the ongoing protests. Having said that, he pointed out that even in the past, a similar demand was made by him.
Rejecting Pakistan's accusations pointed at India in last month's Dasu terror attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) downright rejected the allegation levelled, terminating it an attempt to "malign India" while itself being the safe haven for terrorists.

"This is yet another attempt by Pakistan to malign India in a bid to deflect international attention from its role as the epicentre of regional instability and a safe haven for terrorists," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

The ministry's statement comes in response to Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi's claim of India and Afghanistan's hand in the suicide attack in the Dasu area of Upper Kohistan district.

Addressing a press conference, Qureshi said that vehicle used for the attack was smuggled from Afghanistan. He accused the Indian spy agency RAW (Research & Analysis Wing) and Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security of carrying out the attack. "It was a blind case but Pakistani institutions managed to trace it," he said.

He also alleged that a "common link" has been discovered between the Dasu blast and Lahore blast outside banned Jamat-ud-Dawa outfit chief Hafiz Saeed's house. Last month, Pakistan had alleged the mastermind of an attack near a terrorist's residence in Lahore was an Indian agent associated with R&AW. India, however, thrashed it as "baseless propaganda" and asked Islamabad to take action against terrorism emanating from its soil instead.

"The international community is well aware of Pakistan's credentials when it comes to terrorism. This is acknowledged by none other than its own leadership, which continues to glorify terrorists like Osama Bin Laden as 'martyrs'," he had said.

Dasu terror attack

In a suicide attack on a shuttle bus in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa last month 13 people were killed, including nine Chinese engineers. The bomb attack took place in Upper Kohistan, where a Chinese firm is building a 4,300-megawatt hydropower project. During the time of the incident, the bus was carrying Chinese engineers and labourers to the site of the under-construction Dasu Dam. After the explosion, the bus fell into a deep ravine.
Kerala HC Grants Anticipatory Bail To Ex-Gujarat DGP

In connection with the 1994 ISRO espionage case, the Kerala High Court has granted anticipatory bail to former Gujarat DGP RB Sreekumar, and many others involved in the case. The case was registered by The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against the former Gujarat DGP, two former Kerala Police officers S Vijayan and Thampi S Durga Dutt, and retired IB Officer PS Jayaprakash. The bail was granted on Friday by a single bench chaired by Justice Ashok Menon. Former DGP Sreekumar is the seventh accused in the case, along with former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan, who was acquitted in 2018.

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HC Restrains Netflix, CNA From Streaming 'A Big Little Murder'

The Delhi High Court has halted the broadcast/streaming of the documentary A Big Little Murder which is based on the murder of a Class 2 student of a Gurugram school who was found dead inside the washroom of the school. In an order dated August 10, a single-judge bench of Justice Jayant Nath restrained streaming giant, Netflix and Channel News Asia from broadcasting the said documentary.

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Delhi Police Hold Top-level Meeting For 'peaceful' Celebrations

Ahead of the Independence Day celebrations, a high-level meeting of the top officials of the Delhi Police was held on Friday, August 13, to discuss the law and order situation in the national capital. According to sources, the agenda of the meeting was to discuss the upcoming Independence Day on August 15 and fresh intel was shared by the agencies pertaining to security on the day.

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Three Dead In Porbandar Chimney Tragedy

In a tragic incident, three workers died while three others were injured after they fell into a chimney at Hathi cement factory at Ranavav in Gujarat's Porbandar. The incident took place on Thursday when the scaffolding structure, built to apply colour on the inner walls of the chimney, suddenly collapsed. Speaking to Republic TV, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Porbandar, said, "The rescue operation which began at 5 pm on Thursday lasted till 2 am on Friday, during which three people were rescued while three were found dead. The post mortem has been completed. The injured have been rushed to hospital and are stable. Investigations are underway. Those responsible will be booked."

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Twitter India Head Manish Maheshwari Shunted Out Of India

In a major development, Twitter India Managing Director Manish Maheshwari was shunted out to the United States amid the micro-blogging platform's ongoing controversies with Congress and matters related to the compliance of the new IT rules. In a written response to Republic TV on Maheshwari's new role, Twitter informed that he will now head Revenue Strategy and Operations of global emerging markets and will be based out of the US.

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Bihar: Student Aman Nagesan's Body Reaches Home From China

After over 10 days of his mysterious death in China, Indian student Aman Nagsen's mortal remains finally reached Patna. The mortal remains reached Delhi first, whereafter they were sent to the capital city of Bihar by another aircraft. The mortal remains will be taken to his hometown Gaya from Patna, where the grieving relatives will pay their last respect to the departed and perform the last rites.

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IGP Kashmir Tells Pakistan To Take Dead Body Of Terrorist Usman

On Friday, Jammu and Kashmir Police asked Pakistan to take the dead body of a terrorist who was killed during an anti-terror operation in Kulgam of South Kashmir. If Pakistan claims the dead body of a killed terrorist, JKP is ready to hand over, said Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar while speaking to Republic TV.

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Biden Lambasted By Top Republican In Congress Over Afghan Policy

As Talibans violence in Afghanistan continues to raise concerns across the globe, a top Republican in Congress has lambasted US President Joe Biden on August 12 for his reckless policy on the war-stricken country. In a statement on Thursday, Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell noted that Afghanistan is careening with preventable disaster as the United States moved to evacuate embassy workers in the wake of violence by the insurgents, who have now captured most of the country and proceed towards Kabul. McConnell slammed Biden administration for being naive and absurd.

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Taliban Captures Ex-Herat Governor And Warlord Amir Ismail Khan

Afghanistans prominent leader and ex-Mujahideen commander Amir Ismail Khan has been captured by the Taliban on August 13 for the second time as the insurgents continue to tighten their grip on the war-stricken nation. Meanwhile, TOLO News reported citing sources that all Afghan government officials including the governor, police chief, heads of NDS office, the Afghan deputy minister of interior for security, and the 207 Zafar Corps commander, have surrendered to the Taliban Herat fell to the Taliban.

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China Expels Lithuanias Envoy From Beijing Over Taiwan Office Row

China demanded Lithuania to withdraw its envoy to Beijing after the latter decided to allow self-governing Taiwan to open an office in the country under its own name. This development comes after Taiwan, which China considers to be part of its territory, said that it was setting up a representative office in Vilnius under the name "Taiwan" instead of "Chinese Taipei." This seems to have irked China so much so that the country's foreign ministry went on to say the move "severely undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity." While asking Lithuania to rectify its "wrong decision," China also asked the European country to refrain from moving further down the wrong path."

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Assam assembly just passed The Assam Cattle Preservation Bill in the legislative assembly on Friday. The bill replaces the existing Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 1950. Member of Assam Legislative Assembly, Raijor Dal's Akhil Gogoi while opposing the bill called it a 'black day' for Assam.

Assam CM Himanata Biswa Sarma asserted a complete ban on the sale and purchase of beef or non-beef products in areas, predominantly inhabited by Hindu, Jain, Sikh and other non-beef-eating communities on Friday. While he introduced The Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021, he suggested that this bill gave more clarity to the previous one which was constructed under Congress's rule in the state.

Akhil Gogoi who launched his own political outfit, Raijor Dal, stated that the bill passed at the legislative assembly today was very communal. He added, "This is a communal bill, we opposed the bill, we demanded a select committee to be formed and screening on the bill, we have walked out of the session. This is the most communal bill in Assam History. This bill is anti-Muslim, It will be harm indigenous people, rural people and the economy, we will not accept the bill and will fight against this bill."

Assam iterates on the specifications of the bill

CM Himanta Biswa Sarma while passing the bill on the first day of the assembly, made it very clear that an intervening period of 30 days was open for the bill. He mentioned, "We are ready to accept all the amendments and even took a couple of them. Our cattle bill is nothing but an improvement of the bill by Congress. He even added, "You have to respect the sensitivity of the non-beef eating community. In UP there is a total prohibition. We have regulated consumption. In Assam 36% of people are beef-eating and transport of beef will be allowed with proper government passes."

LIVE from #Assam Legislative Assembly on 'The Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021'. https://t.co/OaGV3xluNf  Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 13, 2021

Bill's suggestions and punishments upon violation

The bill states that a cow cannot be slaughtered regardless of age, a departure from the 1950 Act which allowed cattle slaughter over 14 years of age or those unfit for work. However, it retains the provision that stipulates obtaining an approval certificate from a veterinarian for the slaughter of all cattle, other than cows. The Bill additionally barred inter-state transport of cattle too, from, and through the state of Assam without valid documents. The governments intent behind the Bill is also to check cattle smuggling to Bangladesh, with whom Assam shares a 263-kilometre-long border. On violation of the Bill, a jail term of a minimum of three years which shall be further extendable up to eight years and a fine of Rs. 3 lakh could be imposed on the accused. The offender could be charged with either one or both. The punishment would be doubled for repeated offenders.

Image: ANI
Scientists of the US Space Agency NASA have now confirmed that an asteroid, which is the size of the Empire State Building in New York, stands a chance at hitting Earth. The asteroid named Bennu is classified as a potentially hazardous object. According to scientists, the chances of the asteroid collision with Earth between 2021 and 2300 is one in 1,750.

NASA predicts probable collision by 2135

In a study titled Ephemeris and hazard assessment for near-Earth asteroid (101955) Bennu based on OSIRIS-REx data, NASA said that its researchers used precision-tracking data from the agencys Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft to better understand movements of the potentially hazardous asteroid. According to the space agency, this study on the movement of asteroid Bennu through the year 2300, has significantly reduced uncertainties related to its future orbit, and improved scientists ability to determine the total impact probability.

NASAs Planetary Defence mission is to find and monitor asteroids and comets that can come near Earth and may pose a hazard to our planet, said Kelly Fast, program manager for the Near-Earth Object Observations Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington. We carry out this endeavour through continuing astronomical surveys that collect data to discover previously unknown objects and refine our orbital models for them. The OSIRIS-REx mission has provided an extraordinary opportunity to refine and test these models, helping us better predict where Bennu will be when it makes its close approach to Earth more than a century from now, she added.

According to NASA, asteroid Bennu will make a close approach with Earth in the year 2135. Although the near-Earth object will not pose a danger to our planet at that time, Bennus exact trajectory during that encounter must be further studied in order to predict how Earths gravity will alter the asteroids path around the Sun. NASA also informed that the agency, using its Deep Space Network and state-of-the-art computer models, were able to significantly shrink uncertainties in Bennus orbit. The scientists of the agency confirmed that the impact probability through the year 2300 is about 1 in 1,750 (or 0.057%). Although the chances of collision with the Earth is low, Bennu remains one of the two most hazardous known asteroids in our solar system, along with another asteroid called 1950 DA.

IMAGE: AP/ NASA
Zambian polling places stayed open after dark on Thursday, as voters at some waited in long lines to cast their ballots while in others officials began counting the results.

Large turnouts were seen in the capital, Lusaka, and other parts of the southern African country in tense elections that the president and his main rival have said are a test of the stability of the nation's democracy.

More than 7 million people, or over 83% of Zambia's eligible voters, have registered to vote in the presidential and legislative elections at more than 12,000 polling stations, according to the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

Verification of votes has started at some polling stations in Lusaka, marking the beginning of the counting process.

Verification and ballot counting takes place at the polling stations where the results are posted on the walls according to Zambias political system.

The tallies from each polling station then go to the central results centre, which announces the national count.

The electoral commission earlier this week said although officially voting ends at 6 p.m. (1600GMT), everyone in the line before that time will be allowed to cast their votes.

At one polling station in Lusaka observers were present to witness the voting process.

Chanda Mwenya told The Associated Press, "the process looks very fair" adding, "you are able to see everything."

Analysts say like previous contests between the two men in 2015 and 2016, this vote will be closely fought.

Violence flared between supporters of Lungus PF party and Hichilemas United Party for National Development during a heated campaign period.

Both President Edgar Lungu and his rival Hakainde Hichilema have urged citizens to vote peacefully but it is what happens after the vote that has many people worried.

Results will be announced on Sunday at the latest, the electoral commission said earlier this week.

In total, 16 candidates are vying for the presidency. Zambia will go for a second-round vote if none of the candidates get more than 50% of the votes cast.

More than 800 candidates will battle for the elected 156 seats in the National Assembly.

Mayoral and council seats are also up for election.

IMAGE: AP

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
China demanded Lithuania to withdraw its envoy to Beijing after the latter decided to allow self-governing Taiwan to open an office in the country under its own name. This development comes after Taiwan, which China considers to be part of its territory, said that it was setting up a representative office in Vilnius under the name "Taiwan" instead of "Chinese Taipei." This seems to have irked China so much so that the country's foreign ministry went on to say the move "severely undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity." While asking Lithuania to rectify its "wrong decision," China also asked the European country to refrain from moving further down the wrong path."

Lithuania to develop mutually beneficial relations with Taiwan

Reacting to this, Lithuania released a statement stating that while it respects the principle of one China, it is also committed to developing mutually beneficial relations with Taiwan just like other countries in the world. Meanwhile, European Union also backed Lithuania asserting that opening of a representative office in or from Taiwan does not breach the EU's One-China policy in any way. "This is the first time China has recalled an ambassador in an EU member state for opening or maintaining an office in Taiwan," the EU said. Meanwhile, the United States also echoed the "regret" at China's response stating all countries should be free to determine how to handle relations with Taiwan without Beijing's interference.

United States condemns China's response

Speaking to the reporters, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said, "We firmly stand in solidarity with our NATO ally Lithuania and also condemn China's recent retaliatory actions, including the recall of Beijing's ambassador to Vilnius and demanding Lithuania recall its ambassador to Beijing." As it seeks to strengthen diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Lithuania has also promised to send 20,000 Coronavirus vaccine doses to it. Lithuania earlier had also decided to quit Chinas 17+1 cooperation forum with central and eastern European states. According to some reports, besides, amplifying diplomatic pressure, China has also stepped up threats to bring Taiwan under its control by dispatching fighter jets and warships around the island.

Image Credits: AP
Cyprus voluntary started vaccinations of kids over the age of 12 using the Pfizer/BioNTech and Modernas mRNA vaccines on Monday, Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas announced. The decision was reached after the countrys cabinet gave the green light for the inoculation of minors under 16, Cyprus mail reported. The government has also planned to mandate the SafePass in the establishments and public facilities where more than 10 people assemble. The certificates will also be needed to enter state and private hospitals.

Health Minister Hadjipantela stated that Cyprus was following in the footsteps of the European countries like France, Germany, and Italy that started inoculating children aged 12 and 15. While the youngsters were encouraged to get their shots, it was advisable for them to seek prior permission from their parents and guardians to get the vaccine dose. According to the Associated Press, there has been a surge in infections among the younger population in Cyprus with a median age of 28 in the last 14 days.

'SafePass' required to enter places with more than 10 people

The worlds scientific community is in unison making it loud and clear that those who havent been vaccinated yet are most at risk, Hadjipantela was quoted as saying by AP. He further added that it would be made compulsory for the inoculated people to produce the SafePass  that is the electronic or paper documentation deemed as proof of vaccination. It would also be made mandatory in most facilities for the citizens to produce the negative PCR test in the previous 72 hours.

Apart from all indoor and outdoor restaurant, bar and club areas as well as shopping malls, supermarkets and other retail stores, SafePass must now be displayed at nursing homes and hospitals, reported the Associated Press.

The certification has also caused widespread rage and protests among the people who alleged that the document is a threat and direct assault on their right to assemble and is discriminatory. All non-permanent residents entering the Republic are required to take the PCR or rapid antigen test negative on the seventh day of their arrival. Anyone that has recovered from the COVID-19 infection would be exempt from this rule. The vaccinations drive for the children aged 12 was decided after the recommendation by the Cyprus Paediatric Society and the Scientific Advisory Committee on coronavirus.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Danish government announced on Friday that masks would no longer be needed on Danish public transportation. The government further revealed that they are bringing an end to the Nordic country's mandatory face-covering rules.

In a statement, the transport minister Benny Engelbrecht stated that the country is now in such a situation where a substantial portion of the public has been inoculated. He even said that the nation is now returning to a more regular everyday routine. He went on to remark that Danish people can now say goodbye to masks while commuting in buses, trains, and the metro beginning Saturday.

This modification was supposed to happen on September 1st.

Previously, the health officials in the 5.8 million-strong nation had decided to ease social-distancing restrictions on Wednesday, citing a daily rate of 1,000 new cases. On the other hand, more than 60% of the population has been vaccinated.

In a statement, Helene Bilsted Probst, deputy director of the national health agency, stated that the nation now has strong control over the virus throughout society. She further said that as a result, people might adopt the preventive guidelines so that they can live a routine life while still adhering to the prevention concept. However, masks will continue to be required on aircraft and in airports where international air-transport regulations apply.

Recent Vaccine Campaign for age group 20-29

Recently, Denmark initiated a new vaccination campaign aimed at those individuals aged between 20 and 29, with an initiative to start drop-in immunisation centres at colleges and schools around the country.

The Danish Health Authority noted in a news statement announcing the campaign, that vaccination uptake was low among those aged 20 to 29, despite individuals of the age group getting requests to make appointments a few weeks ago. The government wants to put pop-up inoculation centres set up near schools, universities, and other areas where young people assemble so that they can be vaccinated without having to make an appointment.

Previous restriction relaxation steps

Previously, in February, Denmark was to reopen shops, and the government even decided to open some schools in March.

Denmark, being one amongst the countries in Europe with the lowest infection rates, has witnessed a decrease in overall infection rates since implementing lockdown measures in December to combat a highly-infectious coronavirus strain.

In February, when a new and more infectious coronavirus variant, known as the Delta variant had wreaked havoc across Europe, it began spreading throughout the country, accounting for more than half of the total number of cases.

The current COVID scenario in Demark is that it has a total of 3,29,010 cases, this includes 3,13,785 people who have recovered. The number of deaths reported is 2,558.

(Image Credit: AP)
Sicily's Siracusa registered Italy's highest-ever temperature, possibly making it Europe's hottest day ever on Wednesday. Hundreds of fires raged across the country's southern province on Thursday, fueled by the scorching heat that has blanketed southern Europe. Four people were killed in the blazes. According to the UK Meteorological Department, this creates concerns that greater temperatures, maybe as high as 50.0 degrees Celsius, are expected in the future.

Climate change is intensifying the extreme weather

According to a news agency, Professor Peter Stott, UK Meteorological Office Leader on Climate Attribution, said that climate change is intensifying heat-related extreme weather. He further stated that record-breaking temperatures in June 2019 saw the French temperature record break 45.0 degrees Celsius for the first time, and the analysis revealed that the event was at least five times more likely as a result of climate change.

Since the pre-industrial period (1850-1900), the average global temperature has risen by around 1.1 degrees Celsius, although the average temperature in some locations has climbed even more. According to the UK Met Office, the average temperature in North Africa has risen by almost 2.0 degrees Celsius over the same time period.

Siracusa, in Sicily, has provisionally exceeded the previous European highest temperature with a record of 48.8C yesterday.



If confirmed by @WMO, this temperature will break the previous record of 48.0C in Athens in 1977.



Find out more in our blog https://t.co/JSeezfUyO0 pic.twitter.com/BCubFysvnP  Met Office (@metoffice) August 12, 2021

The country's biggest wildfire damage since 2007, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), has been caused by Greece's most intense heatwave in years, which has fanned blazes that have damaged more than 100,000 hectares of forests and farms. The most recent extreme climatic events follow the publication on Monday of a code pink study by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which warned that the planet is warming far faster than previously thought. Rising temperatures and aridity are lengthening hearth seasons in the Mediterranean, which has been designated as a local weather change hotspot.

The heatwave has covered much of the Mediterranean region

According to the reports, a heatwave brought in by hot air from North Africa has covered much of the Mediterranean region in recent days, causing enormous wildfires and killing dozens of people in Italy, Turkey, and Algeria. For the past week, massive wildfires have scorched Greece's forests, destroying homes and forcing evacuations. The Italian health ministry had already issued red alerts for high heat in and around the towns of Rome, Bari, Rieti, Campobasso, Palermo, Perugia, Frosinone, and Latina on Tuesday, August 10. Nello Musumeci, Sicily's governor, had urged for a state of emergency to be proclaimed in the mountains.

Image- @LisseeJ/Twitter
On Thursday, the Firefighters in Italy said that they had confronted nearly more than 500 flames throughout the night. They further said that there is another confirmed report of fatality which is bringing the total number of people killed by wildfires in Italy to four from the last week.

An anticyclone which is known as Lucifer coming up from Africa is now moving through Italy. This is further directing the temperatures higher and setting a new European temperature record of 48.8 degrees Celsius in Sicily on Wednesday.

In summer 2021, southern Europe witnessed strong heatwaves and wildfires across several places. As a result, deaths were reported in Greece and Turkey. While on the other hand, scientists are warning that climate change could increase the severity and frequency of such extreme weather events.

It is expected that this scorching heat will pursue for many days more in Italy. This will escalate the risk of these frequent blazes, which have already ravaged most of the country's south in previous weeks, particularly in Sicily and Calabria.

Information about deceased in Italy wildfires

According to news reports, on Wednesday, the charred body of a 79-year-old man was discovered in the Reggio Calabria area. Another man, aged 77, perished in the same location after attempting to save his flock from the fire. Yet another incident was reported of a 53-year-old mother and her 35-year-old nephew, both from Reggio Calabria, who died last Friday while attempting to rescue the family olive orchard.

On Thursday morning, the fire department registered 528 operations where Italian firefighters have engaged in the previous 12 hours, with 230 alone in Sicily. Currently, with the efforts of the firefighters, the situation is under control, notably near Palermo in the Madonie mountain range.

As a result of the Italian wildfires, regional authorities in Sicily have issued a state of emergency in which 50 firefighting teams of volunteers from across Italy have flown in to assist in the combat. Calabria's fire department recorded 100 calls for assistance overnight, with particularly severe wildfires in the region of Reggio Calabria, Catanzaro, and Cosenza.

Describing an anticyclone which is a high-pressure system that delivers dry, extreme heat in the summer. In the Mediterranean, flames have also ravaged Algeria. This has prompted the North African country to declare three days of mourning on Thursday as the death toll reached 69.

Previously, talking about the blaze that terrified Turkey, for five days, firefighters battled over 100 fires that have been later extinguished.

(Image Credit: Representative Image)
Italian firefighters were working on Friday to extinguish a number of fires burning in the forests of Mount Etna in Sicily.

Two Canadair water-dropping planes were deployed to support teams on the ground, including the Italian Forest Service and Civil Protection volunteers.

Several hectares on Mount San Leo  part of the Etna Regional Park  have been devoured by flames.

A tourist centre and restaurants were evacuated on Thursday as the fires affected the eastern side of the park.

In a statement, the Italian firefighting service said it carried out more than 500 operations in the last 12 hours, 230 of which were in Sicily.

It said the fires there were now under control, but forecasters predict record temperatures will continue throughout the weekend.

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According to Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, a suicide attack by Islamist terrorists backed by Indian and Afghan security agencies murdered 13 people, including 9 Chinese labourers, on a bus last month. Qureshi claimed that an inquiry revealed a nexus of Indian RAW and Afghan NDS agents were involved in the attack, referring to the intelligence organisations of the two countries.

Qureshi claims to have data, evidence to back up accusation

A bus carrying workers to a dam construction site in northern Pakistan was struck by a bomb on July 14. There were reportedly two Pakistani soldiers among the dead. According to an Indian government official, the charge is unfounded, and Pakistan has made similar accusations in the past. The Afghan foreign ministry was unavailable for comment right away. Qureshi and the leader of the investigative team spoke at a news conference in Islamabad, claiming that Pakistan had data evidence to back up their claim that the spy agencies of the two neighbours were engaged. Qureshi also claims that the attack was carried out, by Pakistani Taliban militants known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella movement of militant factions allied to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

Pakistan's Deputy Inspector General of Counter Terrorism Police, Javed Iqbal, who was in charge of the investigation said that the assailants smashed an explosive-laden car into the bus. About 100/120 kg of high explosives were used in the car bombing. Iqbal added that a forensic investigation of the suicide bomber's leftovers revealed he was not a Pakistani national. Video footage, cell phone data analysis, local handler and facilitator investigations, and forensic examination of the bombing car all proved that the TTP in Afghanistan organised the attack.

China is investigating the situation

Last month, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang urged his Pakistani counterpart to take the perpetrators of what he described as a terrorist incident accountable. According to Qureshi, The investigation has enlisted the help of Chinese detectives. China is investing more than $65 billion in infrastructure projects in Pakistan as part of its Belt and Road strategy, which includes the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The bus blast was the most devastating attack on Chinese nationals in recent years, according to a Chinese newspaper published by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily.

Image- @ZouYueTweets/Twitter
Officials in Pakistan said the key Chaman border crossing with Afghanistan was opened Friday morning for people who had been stranded on either side in recent weeks.

One official in Pakistan's border town of Chaman said the Afghan citizens who came to Pakistan to visit relatives or for medical treatment are returning to Afghanistan.

Chaman's deputy commissioner said the crossing was reopened following talks with the Taliban.

Sana Ullah, a stranded Afghan national, said that among those straded were children, women and the bodies of some who had died, adding that the opening of the border allowed all to go home as well as "move dead bodies".

Meanwhile, the Taliban captured another three provincial capitals in Afghanistan on Friday, completing their sweep of the country's south in a lightning offensive that is gradually encircling Kabul, just weeks before the U.S. is set to officially end its two-decade war.

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On Friday, an Air Force officer went on a shooting rampage in Malaysia, killing three colleagues before shooting himself, officials said. The officer was reportedly under a COVID-19 quarantine. As per the police in eastern Sarawak state on Borneo island, the shootings occurred at a security post on an Air Force Base in the state.

The police have yet to ascertain the motive behind the act. An initial investigation revealed the gunman had snatched firearms from the security post before going on a rampage, said Sarawak Deputy Police Commissioner Mancha Anak Ata. "One of the victims had tried to calm him down but was shot in the stomach. The gunman then entered the post and shot two officers, killing them on the spot, he said, adding that the gunman then put the gun to his chin and killed himself.

Two killed on the spot while one succumbed to injuries in hospital

The deceased persons have been identified as Corporal Ho Swee Boon from Lundu, Cpl Mohamad Ehsan Sehamat from Asajaya; Cpl Sharif Mohd Siddiq Al-Attas Wan Sabli from Kuching and aircraftman Luk Nesly Anak Nabau from Sibu. As per the report, another police official, Sudirman Kram, stated that the gunman asked those at the post "whether they wanted to live or die?" He allegedly killed two men on the spot while the third managed to drive to a health clinic before succumbing to his injuries. The Royal Malaysian Air Force also appealed to all quarters not to speculate until the police concluded their investigations, and said that they would set up an investigation board to ascertain the cause of the incident.

Fatal shootings are unusual due to strict gun ownership laws

It is worth mentioning that Malaysia is a peaceful country of approx 32 million people where fatal shootings are unusual owing to strict gun ownership laws. Meanwhile, the country is currently battling its worst virus surge driven by the highly contagious Delta variant. Malaysia has been under a lockdown since June due to a worsening outbreak, with new daily cases exceeding 20,000. Total confirmed infections have reached over 1.3 million, with close to 12,000 deaths.

Image Credits: AP
Amidst escalating violence, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has called for peaceful resolution of the division which has developed between Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement/Army-In-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO). On Thursday, Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General called on the warring parties to reconcile, overcome their differences and together work towards implementing transitional security agreements.

UNMISS is committed to supporting the full implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement and it is important that this process continues to move forward at pace, said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Nicholas Haysom. Therefore, we join with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Council of Ministers, the Presidency, and civil society groups in calling for the SPLM-IO factions, and indeed, all signatory parties to work together to overcome their differences peacefully," he added.

"We join with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development Council of Ministers, the Presidency & civil society in calling for SPLM-IO factions to overcome differences peacefully - Nicholas Haysom, SRSG/Head of #UNMISS

Read the full press release: https://t.co/R8cpMUprGl pic.twitter.com/A8LlpkZE1E  UNMISS (@unmissmedia) August 12, 2021

Since its foundation in 2011, South Sudan has been battered by a gruesome civil war. The crisis in the East African country commenced after a fallout between Salva Kiir Mayardit, leader of Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement and Riek Machar, who broke out from the political party and in 2013, formed his own- The Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO). Last week, a clash between them resulted in the deaths of 34 soldiers at the Magenis area of Upper Nile state.

Civil war

Deputy President Machar accused Kiir of 'dictatorial' behaviour after he was fired by Kiir in 2013, which pushed the country into Civil War. Rival army units- Kiir's Dinka group and Machar's Nuer group engaged in war at Juba. Both the entities agreed to Peace in 2015. However, Kiir accused Machar of an attempt to murder and sent him to exile in 2016.

Peace Deal and Progress

In 2018, Kiir and Machar met to sign a peace accord after the war killed over 4 lakh people in the country. In March 2020, Machar was reinstated in the South Sudanese government. Since then the country has been focused on the implementation of the peace accord and elimination of armed conflict. South Sudan has just begun to draft its Constitution on May 25.

Image: AP
Uzbekistan President, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who came to power in 2016, is widely expected to run for a second term. The development came after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party plans to nominate the incumbent President as its candidate for the upcoming elections. However, the 64-year-old Uzbek President refused to comment on any of the media reports. He has been holding the post of President following the death of the Central Asian nation's former Soviet leader and first president, Islam Karimov in 2016.

Opposition parties never criticise President Shavkat Mirziyoyev

According to the reports of US News, a total of four candidates have been nominated by the political parties but the experts claimed that there are high chances of the incumbent President to continue for the second term. It is worth mentioning that opposition parties never criticise President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on any of his steps. According to a report by the Associated Press (AP), since becoming president in 2016, he has implemented some key reforms including relaxing the censorship of critical news websites and releasing some political prisoners.

However, human rights groups say thousands of people in the country remain imprisoned on false charges and cite problems with forced labour. "The widescale reforms being pursued by the authorities in Uzbekistan have had a real and direct impact on these elections, but democratic development requires increased competition and respect for basic rights and freedoms," said George Tsereteli, coordinator and leader of the OSCE short-term observer mission in Uzbekistan.

Earlier, Uzbekistan supported India's candidature to obtain permanent member status at UNSC

Recently, India assumed the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council on August 1, following which Uzbekistan Ambassador to India, Dilshod Akhatov voiced his support to Indian candidature to obtain the status of a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Earlier in the month, the President-elect of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Abdulla Shahid during his visit to India affirmed his support to the ongoing campaign for UNSC reform, in a bid to ensure India a permanent seat at the UNSC. "The prospect for stable and sustainable development of Central Asia is directly linked with peace in neighbouring Afghanistan. The situation in our neighbouring country remains one of the serious factors affecting the stability in our region," added Shahid.

(With inputs from AP/ANI)

(Image Credit: @president_uz/Twitter)
Peruvian President Pedro Castillo met with leaders of the opposition Congress on Thursday, days before submitting his cabinet for congressional approval.

It is the first time Castillo has met with representatives of Congress, where the opposition parties won control over key legislative commissions.

Congress president Maria del Carmen Alva said both "shared the concern for the most important issues that worry the population, such as the economic reactivation, health, education and the fight against corruption." after the meeting.

The opposition has control of 16 important commissions.

The ruling party has been left with only seven commissions, primarily linked with social issues.

Congress members have expressed disapproval at the prime ministerial appointment of Guido Bellido, a 42-year-old engineer notorious for using homophobic and sexist statements on his social media.

Opposition members have also objected other ministerial appointments, arguing they lack the necessary experience.

Meinwhile, outside Congress, Peru Libre's parliamentary bench protested what they consider a "parliamentary coup" by the opposition to hinder the new government of President Pedro Castillo.

Representatives from different opposition benches presented a petition on Thursday to interrogate Foreign Minister Hector Bejar to clarify his position on foreign policy, especially on Venezuela and Peru's possible withdrawal from the so-called Lima Group.

The Lima Group is a group of American countries that considers Nicolas Maduro an illegitimate president of Venezuela and supports the opposition leader Juan Guaido as president in charge.

IMAGE: AP

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Migrants flown back to southern Mexico from the United States say they were never told they were being deported.

Leiva, 32, from Yoro, north-central Honduras, arrived at the shelter in El Ceibo, Guatemala, on the border with Mexico on Wednesday.

She and her daughter had started that day 1,000 miles to the north in Brownsville, Texas, where they were put on a plane by the U.S. government with dozens of other mothers and children without knowing where it was going.

The rumor running among the migrants was that they were being sent to California. Eventually, while in the air, they were told the plane would land in Villahermosa, in southern Mexico's Tabasco state.

There, Mexican authorities hustled them onto buses that drove them the three-plus hours to the Guatemalan border.

"We didn't sign any deportation," she said. The bracelets are the only evidence they were ever briefly in the U.S.

Leiva and her daughter were swept up in the latest U.S. government effort to deter migrants and asylum-seekers from arriving at its southern border.

While still delivering some migrants on flights directly to their Central American nations, the U.S. government has started supplementing with flights to southern Mexican cities like Villahermosa and Tapachula, where Mexican authorities carry them the rest of the way to Guatemala's border, even if they're not Guatemalan.

At the Mexico-Guatemala border, they were told to walk into Guatemala and look for the shelter.

Leiva said she was not asked by U.S. or Mexican authorities if she feared returning to her country.

"I would have told them everything I told you," Leiva said recounting her run-in with gang members back home.

"They threatened me saying that if I didn't (give them money) they would enroll my young children in the gangs. And that's why I emigrated from my country."

Responding to reporters' questions on Thursday, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas made his department's first public acknowledgement that it is expelling Central Americans on the flights to southern Mexico.

The Mexican government has been publicly silent.

The move comes after President Joe Biden jettisoned many of his predecessor's hardline immigration policies, describing them as cruel or unwise, including one that made asylum-seekers wait in Mexican border cities for hearings in U.S. immigration court.

Leiva had left Yoro on July 27 with her daughter and three older sons.

Twelve days later, she and her daughter crossed the Rio Grande on a raft into Texas with a smuggler and were quickly apprehended.

Her sons were supposed to have followed but didn't manage to cross.

The orange-painted hilltop shelter here has been filling this week as more migrants are dropped at the border daily.

There's little else in this remote border outpost surrounded by jungle.

Leiva's only choice, she said, was to try making her way north again.

Her two sons and older daughter were waiting in northern Mexico.

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March organizers the Civil Human Rights Front hold a rare street protest outside Beijing's liaison office calling for the release of political prisoners in China.

Civil Human Rights Front members hold a protest outside Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong, calling for the release of political prisoners held in China, Aug. 12, 2021.

Authorities in Hong Kong on Friday kept up their crackdown on the city's civil society, with march organizers the Civil Human Rights Front the latest in the firing line under a draconian national security law imposed by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

According to the city's police chief, the CHRF may be pursued under the national security law despite not having organized any protests or marches since it took effect on July 1, 2020.

"In recent years, [the CHRF] has organized a series of mass rallies, some of them are suspected of violating the national security law," Siu was quoted as saying by the CCP-backed Ta Kung Pao newspaper.

"The force will investigate thoroughly."

CHRF vice chairman Dickson Chau said he would continue to speak out on issues of interest to the group, following a street protest held Aug. 12 outside the CCP's Central Liaison Office in Hong Kong, calling for the release of all political prisoners in mainland China.

The group read out the names of prominent political prisoners including New Citizens' Movement leader Xu Zhiyong and rights attorney Ding Jiaxi.

Asked if he thought the protest was risky, Chau said no.

"I don't think the Central Liaison Office is some kind of sacred and inviolable place," he said. "We came to demonstrate, exercising our rights under the Basic Law, to talk about the appalling treatment of political prisoners in mainland China and Hong Kong."

"Our numbers were also in line with current restrictions on public gatherings due to the pandemic, so I don't see where the risks would lie," Chau said.

Denunciations in CCP-backed Hong Kong media outlets are increasingly a precursor to investigation by the national security police, a department set up under the law to investigate suspected cases of "sedition, secession, subversion and terrorism."

In practice, the law has been used to justify an ever-widening clampdown on peaceful protest, political opposition, and any public criticism of the authorities.

'Malignant tumor'

Earlier this week, Hong Kong's biggest teaching union, the Professional Teachers' Union (PTU), announced it was disbanding after being described as a "malignant tumor" in need of eradication by CCP mouthpiece the People's Daily.

A total of 47 former lawmakers and democracy activists are currently awaiting trial for "subversion" for taking part in a democratic primary to try to boost the number of seats held by pro-democracy candidates in the Legislative Council (LegCo). The primary was deemed an attempt to subvert the government.

According to the Ta Kung Pao, Siu said the CHRF, which organized the once-annual protest marches on July 1, the anniversary of the 1997 handover to Chinese rule, had never registered as an organization.

Police have already requested information from the CHRF, saying it was in breach of the Societies Ordinance.

No plans to disband

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Journalists' Association (HKJA) said it feared it could be next on the government's blacklist of civil groups, along with the pro-democracy Confederation of Trade Unions (CTU).

HKJA chairman Ronson Chan said the HKJA has no plans to disband, and will ignore denunciatory comments in the pro-Beijing press.

"Most of what the Wen Wei Po and Ta Kung Pao report ... isn't true," Chan said. "We aren't in any kind of opposition, we all support the Basic Law, and we have never colluded with a foreign power."

His comments came after Chan reported on his social media account that he was being followed by two unidentified men on Thursday evening, one of whom referred to him as "a prostitute."

"After I parked my car at a shopping mall near my workplace yesterday, someone suddenly interacted with me," Chan told RFA. "I thought he was watching me, but to be honest, this is just my personal feeling."

"When I left the parking lot near the office to go home, I saw two old Japanese RVs of the same model ... these are just fragments of a puzzle that lead me to believe that I'm being followed," he said.

Current affairs commentator Johnny Lau said Beijing is likely testing the waters with its use of pro-CCP media in Hong Kong against civil organizations.

"Is every critical opinion published by the People's Daily or Xinhua news agency the direct result of an official directive?" Lau said. "I think they send out these signals to see how the other side will react."

"I think the authorities will take the next step based on the reaction of that organization."



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Cheng was detained on suspicion of "spying," but few details have been made public of the charges against her.

Australian journalist Cheng Lei, detained in China on spying charges, is shown in a screen-grab photo released on Sept. 1, 2020.

One year after her detention on "spying" charges, concerns are growing over Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who remains in detention with no access to a lawyer, the Australian government said on Friday.

"The Australian Government remains seriously concerned about Ms Cheng's detention and welfare and has regularly raised these issues at senior levels," foreign minister Marise Payne said in a statement.

"We are particularly concerned that one year into her detention, there remains a lack of transparency about the reasons for Ms Chengs detention."

Payne said consular officials have been visiting Cheng regularly, most recently on July 26, and that the government is providing assistance to her and her family.

"We expect basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment to be met, in accordance with international norms," she said.

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Canberra said the case would be handled "in accordance with [Chinese] law."

"We firmly oppose the statement by the Australian foreign minister," the embassy said in a statement on its website.

"China has repeatedly made clear its position on the case concerning Australian citizen Cheng Lei," it said.

"The Australian side should respect Chinas judicial sovereignty and refrain from interfering in any form in Chinese judicial authorities lawful handling of the case," the spokesperson said.

Beijing-based lawyer Zhang Dongshuo said Cheng, who was initially held under "residential surveillance at a designated location (RSDL)," was being denied access to a lawyer because the charges are related to "national security."

"If a lawyer wants to meet with a suspect during the investigation, the agency carrying out the investigation has to approve it," Zhang said.

"Investigations can take a long time, depending on the particular crime [the suspect] is accused of," he said.

Details still unclear

Feng Chongyi of the University of Technology Sydney said Cheng's case is still mired in uncertainty, however.

"Exactly what kind of secrets did she leak, and to whom?" Feng said. "In the absence of specific evidence, there is no good reason to detain someone for such a long time."

"Cheng Lei is the mother of two children, aged 10 and 12, who are now in Melbourne with their grandmother," he said. "Detaining her like this is pretty inhumane."

Feng said Cheng's background as a former anchor for state broadcaster CCTV likely complicates matters.

"TV anchors in CCTV are pretty high-ranking," he said. "She interviewed politicians in many other countries, and knows quite a few of the diplomatic corps in Beijing, as well as interviewing top executives in multinational corporations."

"When the pandemic hit ... she posted on Facebook about what was really happening ... but people are also speculating that she and [former journalist] Yang Hengjun were arrested as a bargaining chip for bilateral ties after they turned cold," Feng said.

Cheng, 46, was born in Hunan and moved to Australia with her parents as a child.

She once worked as an anchor on China Global Television News (CGTN), the international arm of CCTV.

She was detained in August 2020 and formally arrested in February 2021.

Tried for espionage

Yang Hengjun could face a lengthy jail term following his trial behind closed doors for "espionage" in Beijing on May 28.

Yang, 54, an outspoken Australian writer and political commentator who formerly held Chinese nationality, was detained on arrival at Guangzhou Airport on Jan. 19, 2019, then taken to Beijing by officers of the state security police.

Cheng's detention came amid increasingly strained ties between Beijing and Canberra, which is taking steps to limit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s propaganda outreach in the country, and which has barred Chinese telecoms giant Huawei from bidding for 5G mobile contracts.

Reports have also emerged that Canberra is investigating the extent of Chinese influence at Australian universities after the University of Queensland suspended undergraduate student Drew Pavlou for protesting its ties with China and Chinese rights abuses in Hong Kong, Tibet, and Xinjiang.

Billions of dollars flow into the country's higher education institutions via the 150,000 Chinese students who flock there to study every year.



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Private tutoring companies in China are already laying off thousands of staff following a ban on out-of-school tutoring by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP).



VIPKID, an English tutoring agency backed by Tencent, announced last weekend it would end online classes taught by overseas-based teachers, some 70,000 of whom are based in the United States.



Ed tech firms Gaotu, TAL and New Oriental have all said they will make "adjustments" in the wake of the policy change, with Gaotu announcing around 10,000 layoffs this week.



Meanwhile, Italy-based Wall Street English will file for the bankruptcy of its Chinese business next week, Chinese state media reported.



The company had already slashed the number of its schools in the wake of the pandemic from 71 to less than 30, with around 1,000 employees still on the payroll, the Global Times newspaper said.



"Some consumers have been complaining on social media platforms about problems on the companys refund of tuition fees and most of them now are unable to contact customer service or sales representatives," the paper said.



The Beijing News confirmed the report on , citing an employee as saying: "It's true. There has been no official notification yet, and we are expecting one or the day after."



An industry insider surnamed Gu said the company had already been in trouble.



"Wall Street English was already in financial trouble, not just because of [this] policy from the central government," Gu said. "The rectification campaign to reduce the burden [on schoolchildren] has made them give up hope," she said.

"The impact of this [policy] will be the end of the market and bankruptcies. I have never encountered anything like this before, so I have no idea what a listed company is supposed to do," Gu said.



Non-profit organizations

She told RFA that education and tutoring companies in Beijing now have to register as non-government and non-profit organizations by the end of the year.



Estimates in state media suggest that some 10 million people are currently employed in China's once-lucrative tutoring industry.



But the CCP banned after-school and vacation tutoring last month in some major cities, in a bid to reduce the financial burden on households of having a child, hoping to persuade more couples to have up to three children to boost flagging birth rates.



U.S.-based political commentator Guo Baosheng said the "reform" of the tutoring sector was based on ideology, rather than any genuine desire to reform part of the private sector.



"The current policy is aiming for a comprehensive crackdown on the education and tutoring industry, mostly to boost birth rates," Guo said. "But there is another aim, which is to lock out Western culture.



"When you teach English, you also have to come into contact with Western literature, business practices and even politics," he said. "Also, a lot of foreign teachers work as English teachers, and the CCP wants to get rid of them all."



"It's all in the service of political stability for the regime," Guo said.



Tutoring organizations are now banned from offering subject-based tutoring on national statutory holidays, rest days, or winter and summer vacations, in a pilot scheme affecting Beijing, Shanghai and seven other regions that will likely be rolled out nationwide.



No new subject-based off-campus training institutions are being approved for students in compulsory education, while existing subject-based training institutions will be registered as non-profit institutions.



'Chicken baby" syndrome

Subject-based tutoring institutions are banned from listing on stock markets or raising funds.



Instead, schools are to strengthen after-school services, and funding for such operations must be plowed back into meeting costs, the CCP central committee said in a directive.



The move comes amid growing concern in China over a phenomenon dubbed the "chicken baby" syndrome, referring to parents dosing their children up with chicken-based food supplements to boost stamina for all of the extra hours of study they expect of them.



More than 75 percent of students in primary and secondary education attended after-school tutoring in 2016, the most recent industry figures showed, and the need to hothouse children privately to get them into the best schools was criticized by CCP leader Xi Jinping in March as a barrier to boosting birth rates.



China's fertility rate stood at around 1.3 children per woman in 2020, compared with the 2.1 children per woman needed for the population to replace itself.



But raising children in China is a costly business, with parents stretched to find money for even one child's education. While state-run schools don't charge tuition until the 10th year of compulsory education, they increasingly demand additional payments of various kinds, as well as parental contributions for food and extracurricular activities.



On , the Ministry of Education set up a new department to monitor off-campus education and training provision, to implement "reforms to the off-campus education and training sector."



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
PETROPAVL, Kazakhstan -- Authorities in the northern Kazakh city of Petropavl have reportedly started the process of reopening a case into the alleged killing of a 25-year-old man by police in 2017.

Anatoly Reibant's mother, who has been on a hunger strike for 19 days demanding justice, told RFE/RL that officials on August 13 handed her a letter saying that the regional prosecutor's office had requested the Prosecutor-General's Office in Nur-Sultan, the capital, reopen the case.

Reibant, a father of two, died weeks after he sustained multiple facial fractures while in police custody.

His parents say he died after he was severely beaten by several police officers, while a court has ruled it a suicide.

The mother, Irina Reibant, started a hunger strike on July 25, four days after local law enforcement officials rejected a request to reopen the case of his death.

Police brutality in the tightly controlled Central Asian state has been an issue for decades.

The 61-year-old mother told RFE/RL that physicians who accompanied the officials at her home recommended she stop the hunger strike.

"I refused to stop the hunger strike, saying to them that I will continue it until the case is returned to a court and those responsible for my son's death are convicted," Reibant said.

She added that officials promised to grant her husband, who has a cancer condition, disability status and to provide him with an additional annual financial allowance.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Belarus to immediately release journalist Syarhey Hardzievich, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison after being convicted of insulting authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka and two police officers.

The jailing of journalist Syarhey Hardzievich once again demonstrates Belarus authorities abuse of the law to silence independent journalists who cover law enforcement abuses, said CPJ Program Director Carlos Martinez de la Serna in a statement issued on August 12.

Authorities should not contest Hardzievichs appeal and should immediately release him and other journalists unjustly held behind bars.

Hardzievich, a correspondent with the independent regional news website Pershy Region, was sentenced on August 2 in the western region of Brest. Among the accusations was that Hardzievich reposted a social-media post that called Lukashenka "a rat."

He rejected the charges, saying that he will appeal the verdict.

Hardzievich was detained and placed under house arrest in December and later released and ordered not to leave his permanent address before the trial.

Belarusian authorities have targeted independent media and journalists, as well as dozens of nongovernmental organizations, forcibly expelled or jailed opposition leaders, and arrested tens of thousands of people since a crackdown on massive street protests began after Lukashenka claimed to have won a sixth presidential term in August 2020.

His reelection claim has been dismissed by the beleaguered opposition and the West, which has slapped multiple rounds of sanctions to pressure Lukashenka's government to ease the crackdown, talk with the opposition, and ensure a new, fair election.

Lukashenka denies voter fraud and has refused to negotiate with the opposition led by Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who supporters say won the August 2020 vote.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it's keeping "close watch" on the situation in Belarus amid calls for the global lender to deny Alyaksandr Lukashenka's government access to newly allocated funds intended to help countries navigate the coronavirus crisis.

However, IMF spokesman Gerry Rice told Reuters on August 12, the Washington-based organization's actions are guided by the international community, which "continues to deal with the current government in the country" despite efforts to hold Minsk accountable for human rights abuses carried out following its disputed 2020 presidential election.

The U.S. Congress's bipartisan Friends of Belarus Caucus recently expressed "deep regret" over plans by the IMF to earmark nearly $1 billion in funds known as Special Drawing Rights (SDR) to Minsk, saying the money would "undermine the substantial efforts made by the democratic movement in Belarus to fight back against the regime's repression."

To spend their SDRs, countries first have to exchange them for approved hard currencies, requiring them to find a willing exchange partner.

However, in its August 2 letter to the IMF, the caucus warned that "the ability to access hard currency sends a message to authoritarian leaders that they can be rewarded for state-sponsored violence against their own citizens."

The Belarusian allocation is part of $650 billion in emergency SDR funds for IMF members that was approved by the body's board of governors on August 2. Described as the largest allocation in the IMF's history, the funds based on the size of individual countries' economies are to be made available on August 23.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in announcing the allocation that the funds would "benefit all members, address the long-term global need for reserves, build confidence, and foster the resilience and stability of the global economy," but would "particularly help our most vulnerable countries struggling to cope with the impact of the COVID-19 crisis."

The move comes as Western governments have sought to escalate pressure on Lukashenka, who is accused of rigging the presidential election in August 2020 and cracking down on his political opposition.

On August 9, the first anniversary of Lukashenka's contentious claim to winning a sixth-straight term in office, the United States, Britain, and Canada added to existing punitive measures with a new round of trade and financial sanctions targeting specific economic sectors and individuals who support or enable Lukashenka's government.

The United States, the IMF's largest shareholder and financial contributor, has led the charge against Lukashenka, with President Joe Biden reaffirming that "the United States stands with the people of Belarus in their quest for democracy and universal human rights" after meeting with Belarusian opposition leader and claimed presidential victor Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya at the White House last month.

However, experts suggest that as long as the IMF's members continue to recognize the government of Lukashenka, the international lender's hands are tied when it comes to taking more forceful action.

There is precedent for antidemocratic states being cut off from SDR funds, with Venezuela and Myanmar being denied access because their governments do not have broad recognition among the IMF's 190 members.

Crisis In Belarus Read our ongoing coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka ramps up pressure on NGOs and independent media as part of a brutal crackdown against protesters and the opposition following an August 2020 election widely considered fraudulent.

Venezuela, for example, was cut off from existing SDR holdings and new allocations because Washington and more than 50 other countries consider opposition leader Juan Guaido to be the South American country's legitimate president following a flawed election in 2018.

IMF spokesman Rice said at the time that Venezuela would not gain access to SDR funds "until a new government is recognized."

However, despite Western condemnation of the Lukashenka's abuses amid anti-government demonstrations against the results of the August 2020 presidential election, the strongman leader's government continues to hold consensus recognition among IMF members.

And despite a growing rift between Belarus and Washington, highlighted by Minsk's revocation this week of its consent of the appointment of U.S. Ambassador to Belarus Julie Fisher and demands that the U.S. Embassy in Minsk reduce its staffing numbers, the countries continue to maintain diplomatic ties.

This puts Belarus more in the company of states such as China, Russia, and Iran, which continue to receive IMF funds despite criticism from Washington and other IMF members.

According to a source who spoke to Bloomberg on condition of anonymity, there have been no discussions within the IMF about rescinding recognition of Lukashenka's government.

The U.S. Treasury Department has said it would refrain from offering hard currency to countries against which it has imposed punitive sanctions. And Bloomberg, citing another source familiar with Treasury's plans, reported that Washington will focus on denying Minsk access to exchange partners, particularly among U.S. allies.

This means that Belarus could potentially still receive IMF funds, however -- a prospect that Dzmitry Kruk, a senior fellow at the Minsk-based Belarusian Economic Research and Outreach Center, told Bloomberg would be "like manna from heaven for Belarusian authorities."

With reporting by Al-Jazeera, Reuters, and Bloomberg
With a new victim of the coronavirus dying every two minutes, deaths are soaring in Iran, with infections from the new Delta variant skyrocketing and hospitals overfilled.

There are also widespread shortages of oxygen cylinders and other materials as many Iranians are furious with their leaders over a vaccination campaign that lags far behind other countries.

"The situation is catastrophic," says Amir Ali Savadkuhi, the president of Iran's Intensive Care Association. "Hospitals have reached their limit.... Sometimes they just wait for patients to die because there is no treatment [available] for this [number] of admissions."

With the daily official death toll surpassing a record 500 people for the past several days, health experts say the real number of dead and infected is likely to be significantly higher than the reported figures.

Iran has officially recorded over 4 million coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic and more than 96,000 deaths, numbers that analysts say are underreported.

Many hospitals have run out of beds and overflow areas have been converted to deal with the rise in new cases. With some patients being cared for on the floor, there are warnings that the country's health system is on the verge of collapse.

"We have to reject many patients as we really have no place to hospitalize them. They may lose their lives," Savadkuhi said in an interview with the Khabaronline news site.

Another physician, Hadi Yazdani, said many hospitals were unable to properly treat patients. "At the same time we are facing a shortage of some pharmaceutical items and essentials such as IVs," Yazdani said to the news site Emtedad, warning that health-care workers are suffering from burnout due to the tremendous pressure they face.

Additionally, he said, many hospital workers "have become infected and are in a worrying condition even after receiving two doses of a coronavirus vaccine."

Ritual Spreading

Yazdani was also critical of the ceremonies marking the holy Islamic month of Muharram, in which hundreds or even thousands of people congregate to take part in rituals. While the events are being permitted as long as health safeguards are followed, the guidelines are almost impossible to observe due to the "passion and excitement" of the mourning rituals during Muharram.

A video of a religious event that went viral shows a packed hall where mourners are beating their chests and jumping up and down without masks and no social distancing.

Journalist Yashar Soltani warned of a "massacre" as the result of the gathering and accused the authorities of committing a crime for giving the green light to such events amid a surge of the Delta variant.

The dire situation prompted Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to declare on August 11 that the pandemic was the country's most urgent issue.

It was in stark contrast to his statements in the early weeks of the coronavirus outbreak last year, when he accused the country's "enemies" of exaggerating the threat of the virus in an attempt to stop people from voting in parliamentary elections.

Khamenei, who in January banned Western coronavirus vaccines after claiming they were not trustworthy, said vaccines must be made accessible to Iranians "in every way possible" through imports and domestic production.

He said some of the countries who had promised to supply the Islamic republic with vaccines had failed to deliver.

Critics say Khamenei's intervention following the deaths of tens of thousands of Iranians came too late.

"Isn't it time for him to be accountable over his contradictory statements? Endangering the lives of 85 million people and the death of hundred thousand is not worth being responsive? prominent film director Jafar Panahi said on Instagram.

Iranian officials have said in the past that U.S. sanctions have made it difficult for them to transfer money to buy vaccines.

The head of Tehran's coronavirus task force, Alireza Zali, was quoted by the media this week as saying that the authorities had not allowed the purchase of vaccines because they thought they were too expensive.

Officials said about 21 million doses of vaccines have been imported, mostly from China as well as India and Russia. But Moscow has reportedly only delivered over 1 million doses of the 60 million Sputnik V shots that Russian officials had promised. Japan recently donated about 3 million doses of its locally produced AstraZeneca to Tehran.

Iran has also worked on several domestic vaccines, including COVIran Barekat, which was developed by the state Setad conglomerate amid criticism that the funds spent on the homemade vaccines should have been used to buy Western shots that have proven effective against the deadly virus.

"Every single person who gambled with people's lives for the sake of politics and financial interests, who denied and concealed, lied, remained silent, and gave an unprofessional opinion is a partner to this human tragedy," former reformist lawmaker Parvaneh Salahshouri said on Twitter on August 12, comparing the COVID-19 death toll to the number of Iranians killed in the 1980-88 Iraq war.

Only about 3 percent of Iran's 80 million people -- less than 4 million -- have been fully vaccinated while about 14 million have received their first shot, health officials said.

'Tsunami Of Death'

In a move that raised many eyebrows, new hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi nominated ophthalmologist Bahram Eynollahi -- a signatory to a January letter calling for a ban on Western vaccines -- as his health minister.

"The person who wrote a letter saying vaccines should not be imported is set to become health minister??!!" surgeon Hamid Ahmadi tweeted. "You're kidding, right?"

The situation is said to be particularly alarming in Iran's second-largest city, Mashhad, home to the Imam Reza Shrine, where virus cases have filled so many hospitals that ambulances are straining to respond to emergencies and taxis are being used to help transfer coronavirus patients to health facilities.

Grim videos and photos of the crowded cemetery in Mashhad have been circulating on social media amid reports that hospital morgues are filled with dead bodies.

"This is a tsunami of death," says a reporter in a video at Mashhad's Ghaem Hospital morgue, where bodies are seen outside the coolers and on the floor, with more expected to arrive.

A man who lost four family members to the Delta variant in Mashhad told RFE/RL that the family had struggled to find oxygen cylinders and IVs for his grandmother and three other relatives who had been hospitalized. He said his 86-year-old grandma had received two doses of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine. But his aunt and two cousins had not been eligible for vaccination when they became sick.

"None of this would have happened if they had been vaccinated," said the man, who said he could not describe the pain his family has been through. "I felt helpless seeing my family members dying one by one. No one cared."

A deputy health minister has warned that the COVID-19 deaths are expected to rise for the next few weeks, while there is no plan for a lockdown despite a recommendation by the outgoing health minister for a two-week shutdown of businesses and other safety measures.

Iran has failed to impose such tight restrictions on society due to the fragile state of its economy, which has been devastated by U.S. sanctions.
Kyrgyz authorities have questioned former Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov as part of a widening investigation into alleged corruption during the development of the Kumtor gold-mine project.

The State Committee for National Security (UKMK) said on August 13 that Jeenbekov was considered a witness in the case and that his questioning related to the 2016-17 period when he served as the Central Asian nation's prime minister.

Jeenbekov served as president from 2017 until his resignation last year, following street protests triggered by disputed parliamentary elections.

Kumtor has been a target of financial and environmental disagreements for years and is currently the subject of an ongoing battle for control between the Kyrgyz state and the mine's Canadian operator, Centerra Gold.

The Kyrgyz government has temporarily taken over control of the mine in what President Sadyr Japarov has called a necessary move to address environmental and safety violations.

Centerra has called Kyrgyzstan's actions "wrongful and illegal."

In May, the Canadian firm said it had "initiated binding arbitration to enforce its rights under long-standing investment agreements with the government."

Jeenbekov's questioning comes less than two weeks after Kyrgyzstans first president, Askar Akaev, visited Bishkek for the first time since he was ousted by demonstrations in 2005 to be questioned about the Kumtor case.

Akaev left for Moscow last weekend after spending several days in the country.

Several former top officials have been arrested in connection with the case in recent months, including former Prime Minister Temir Sariev, who is still in custody.

Another detained ex-prime minister, Omurbek Babanov, was released last month and allowed to travel abroad to receive medical treatment for an unspecified illness.

Deputy Prime Minister Taiyrbek Sarpashev was remanded in custody in the case.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will hold talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 20, the German and Russian governments announced on August 13.

Merkels office earlier announced she would visit the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on August 22.

It will be Merkels first trip to the Russian capital since January 2020, although she has held telephone consultations with Putin several times since then, including as recently as July 21.

The parties are expected to discuss the current state of relations and the prospects for cooperation in various areas, as well as to consider a number of international and regional matters, the Kremlins announcement read.

The trip comes at a time of strained relations between Russia and Germany, in particular following the August 2020 nerve-agent poisoning of Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny, the 2019 assassination in Berlin of a Georgian citizen of Chechen origin that Berlin has blamed on Moscow, and a 2015 cyberattack against the German Bundestag.

Berlin has been a key supporter of Kyiv since Russia annexed Ukraines Crimea region and began actively supporting separatist formations in parts of eastern Ukraine in 2014. That conflict has claimed more than 13,000 lives.

However, Germany has been criticized for its backing of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project that will soon double Russian natural-gas supplies to Germany. The United States and other countries have warned that the project would increase dependency on Russian energy supplies and deprive Ukraine of badly needed transit fees.

Berlin has raised the possibility of creating a mechanism to compensate Ukraine for lost revenues.

Merkel and Putin will also likely discuss the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan.

Merkel is currently nearing the end of her fourth term as chancellor and will leave office after German elections on September 26.

With reporting by dpa, AP, and Reuters
KHABAROVSK, Russia -- A son of the jailed former governor of Russia's Far Eastern region of Khabarovsk has been denied registration for next month's parliamentary elections.

Khabarovsk's election commission on August 13 announced its decision regarding the application of Anton Furgal, saying that some 5,000 of almost 15,800 signatures of the hopeful's supporters were not valid due to numerous issues, including using "a wrong ink color."

Furgal, 29, said he will appeal the decision.

His father, Sergei Furgal of the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, was elected in 2018 to the post of the region's governor in a runoff that he won handily against the longtime incumbent from the Kremlin-backed ruling United Russia party.

His arrest in July 2020 on charges of involvement in two murders in 2004-05 sparked mass protests in the capital, Khabarovsk, and several other towns and cities in the region by his supporters almost daily for many months.

The protests highlighted growing discontent in the Far East over what demonstrators see as Moscow-dominated policies that often neglect their views and interests.

On September 19, Russia will vote to choose members of the Russian parliament's lower chamber, the State Duma, 39 regional parliaments, and nine regional governors.

In the run-up to the elections, the Kremlin has cracked down on opposition political figures and independent media as the popularity of United Russia and President Vladimir Putin has been declining amid Kremlin efforts to deal with an economy suffering from the coronavirus pandemic and years of ongoing international sanctions.
ABINSK, Russia -- A court in southwestern Russia has handed a three-year prison term to a Jehovah's Witness amid an ongoing crackdown on the religious group that has been banned in Russia since 2017.

The Abinsk district court in the Krasnodar region sentenced Vasily Meleshko on August 12 after finding him guilty of taking part in the activities of an "extremist organization."

Meleshko admitted to being a Jehovah's Witness but rejected the charge.

Yaroslav Sivulsky of the European Association of Jehovah's Witnesses told RFE/RL that Meleshko and his wife had been members of the local parish for 30 years and that the authorities had never caused any problems for them before.

The United States has condemned Russia's ongoing crackdown on Jehovah's Witnesses and other peaceful religious minorities.

For decades, the Jehovah's Witnesses have been viewed with suspicion in Russia, where the dominant Orthodox Church is championed by President Vladimir Putin.

The Christian group is known for door-to-door preaching, close Bible study, rejection of military service, and refusal to mark national and religious holidays or birthdays.

Since the faith was outlawed, many Jehovah's Witnesses have been imprisoned in Russia and Crimea, which was seized by Moscow from Ukraine in 2014.

According to the group, dozens of Jehovah's Witnesses have either been convicted of extremism or have been held in pretrial detention.

The Moscow-based Memorial Human Rights Center has recognized dozens of Jehovah's Witnesses who've been charged with or convicted of extremism as political prisoners.
Russian authorities have effectively banned a Belgian nongovernmental organization after declaring it an undesirable organization amid a Kremlin clampdown on civil society.

The Prosecutor-General's Office said in a statement on August 13 that the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) poses a threat to the foundations of the constitutional order and security of the Russian Federation.

There were no immediate comments from the Brussels-based group, which reports on human rights developments, mainly in countries in the former Soviet Union.

Dozens of foreign nongovernmental organizations have been recognized "undesirable" in Russia in recent months.

The "undesirable" organization law, adopted in May 2015 and since updated, was part of a series of regulations pushed by the Kremlin that squeezed many nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations that received funding from foreign sources -- mainly from Europe and the United States.

In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill that expands the scope of the undesirable law to include criminalizing participation in the activities of foreign nongovernmental organizations recognized as such in Russia.

Also on August 13, Bloomberg cited a Russian Foreign Ministry official as saying that BBC journalist Sarah Rainsford had been ordered by Russian authorities to leave the country by the end of August.

A report by Russia's state-run Rossia-24 television channel described the move as retaliation against what it called Britains discrimination against Russian media.

The report did not give details.

With reporting by Rossia-24 and Bloomberg
MOSCOW -- Prosecutors have asked a Moscow court to sentence Kira Yarmysh, the spokeswoman of jailed opposition politician Aleksei Navalny, to two years of so-called "restricted freedom."

The prosecutor asked the Preobrazhensky District court on August 12 to convict Yarmysh of publicly calling for the violation of anti-pandemic restrictions by urging people to take part in unsanctioned rallies to support Navalny in January.

Yarmysh's lawyer, Veronika Polyakova, posted on Twitter that prosectors want Yarmysh subjected to a curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and banned from leaving Moscow or changing her permanent address.

A verdict in the case is expected on August 16.

Last week, Navalny's brother Oleg was found guilty in the same case on the same charges and handed a one-year suspended sentence and a one-year probation period.

Hours before Oleg Navalnys sentence was pronounced, another Navalny associate, Nikolai Lyaskin was given one year of "restricted freedom" in the case, which has become known as the "sanitary case."

One of Navalny's closest associates, Lyubov Sobol, was found guilty and given an 18-month parole-like sentence on August 3 in the same case. Media reports that she fled Russia after that have not been confirmed either by her or her associates.

On August 2, January rally participant Dani Akel was fined 100,000 rubles (almost $1,400) on similar charges.

Other individuals charged in the case include municipal lawyers Dmitry Baranovsky and Lyusya Shtein; the chief of the Physicians' Alliance NGO, Anastasia Vasilyeva; a leading member of the Pussy Riot protest group, Maria Alyokhina; and a coordinator of Navalny's team in Moscow, Oleg Stepanov.

Most of them are under house arrest or curfew.

Aleksei Navalny was arrested on January 17 after returning to Russia from Germany, where he was treated for poisoning with a Novichok-type nerve agent that he says was ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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The Kremlin has denied any role in the incident.

More than 10,000 people were rounded up during nationwide rallies protesting Navalny's arrest organized in more than 100 Russian towns and cities on January 23 and January 31.

On February 2, Navalny was convicted of violating the terms of his suspended sentence related to an embezzlement case that he has called politically motivated. The remainder of Navalny's suspended sentence, 2 1/2 years, was then replaced by a real prison term.

That ruling sparked new protests that were also forcibly dispersed by police.

More than 1,400 people were detained by police in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other Russian cities during those demonstrations.

The Investigative Committee said on August 12 that a person was detained in the city of Kirov, almost 900 kilometers northeast of Moscow, on suspicion of threatening via the Internet to kill a Moscow prosecutor involved in making the decision to seek a prison term for Navalny.
As September elections approach, COVID-19 takes a mounting toll and wildfires burn across huge swaths of the country, devouring forests, blanketing cities in smoke and diminishing public trust in the authorities. The Kremlin crackdown on dissenters, civil society, and independent media continues.

Here are some of the key developments in Russia over the past week and some of the takeaways going forward.

COVID Crisis

When the coronavirus pandemic took hold over a year ago, it swiftly emerged as an unusual test for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his government: A starkly real problem whose effects would be relatively resistant to propaganda.

At first, Putin appeared to hope that COVID-19 would bypass Russia.

That did not happen, and the coronavirus cast a shadow on what was supposed to have been a glorious spring of 2020 for Putin, with May 9 celebrations of the 75th anniversary of Nazi Germanys defeat following an April vote giving him the right to seek the presidency again -- twice -- after his current term expires in 2024.

Due to COVID, the ceremonies were toned down, and the vote was postponed until a weeklong period ending on July 1, 2020. At that point, Putin may have been confident that the coronavirus crisis -- which he had said in March 2020 was under control -- would recede well before the September 2021 elections to the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, which will set the stage for 2024.

Instead, COVID is raging again a month before the September 17-19 balloting, and Putins government is struggling to vaccinate a population that deeply distrusts the authorities. And even as the official numbers break records on an almost daily basis, they are in question perhaps more than ever before.

After reaching 799 four times in the last month, the official daily number of deaths exceeded 800 for the first time on August 12, hitting 808.

But scientists, statisticians, and others say the real numbers may be much higher.

Data on COVID-19 cases and death figureshave repeatedly been exposed as grossly underreported, political analyst Andras Toth-Czifra wrote in an article published by the Center for European Policy Analysis, a U.S.-based think tank, on August 11.

What The Blazes?

There are also questions about the official information that has been disseminated about another big problem plaguing Russia this summer: wildfires.

Forest fires are an annual phenomenon in the expanses of Siberia and the Russian Far East, as they are in the western United States and in other parts of the world. This year, though, they are said to be the worst in Russia in about a decade -- and bigger than the rest of the worlds wildfires combined.

Experts lay the blame for the extent of the blazes on a combination of factors -- including a warming climate, a disastrous drought, excessive logging, and misguided forest management -- and residents point the finger at local and regional officials they say have failed to properly tackle the problem.

In the vast, hard-hit Yakutia region, villages have been evacuated and smoke has blanketed the capital. As far away as Krasnoyarsk, a city of more than 1 million people some 2,200 kilometers to the southwest, acrid smog has filled the air -- and officials warn that may happen in Moscow before the wildfire season is over.

Putin and his government may be having trouble controlling COVID-19 and the wildfires, but they appear determined to control the political situation to whatever extent they can as the Duma elections approach -- and presumably once they have passed, as well, and the 2024 presidential vote looms larger.

The crackdown on opposition politicians, civil society, and independent media that intensified upon Kremlin foe Aleksei Navalnys return to Russia in January, following treatment for a near-fatal nerve-agent poisoning he blames on Putin and the Federal Security Service (FSB), has shown no signs of flagging.

The latest opposition figure to be barred from seeking a seat in the Duma is Lev Shlosberg, a politician from the liberal party Yabloko and a longtime member of the regional legislature in Pskov Oblast, northwest of Moscow.

Also in Pskov, a court on August 12 convicted a former coordinator of Open Russia, a rights group linked to exiled Kremlin foe Mikhail Khodorkovsky, of drug trafficking, along with her husband, and sentenced them to 10 1/2 and 11 years un prison, respectively.

Liya Milushkina and Artyom Milushkin, who tore a bench apart in the defendants cage in the courtroom after hearing his sentence, contend that narcotics were planted on them and that the charges were fabricated to persecute them for their political activity.

Behind Bars

Navalny himself was prevented from challenging Putin for the presidency in 2018, and his allies in June were prohibited en masse from running in elections, when his organizations were deemed extremist by the state and Putin signed a law barring people with ties to extremist organizations from seeking public office.

Navalny was arrested at the airport upon his return to Russia on January 17 and is now serving a 2 1/2-year prison term imposed as the result of a parole violation finding that he contends is absurd: Namely, that he did not formally report his whereabouts to Russian authorities when he was released from the hospital in Berlin.

Now, Navalny faces the potential prospect of three more years in prison after that.

On August 11, the Investigative Committee -- a top law enforcement body whose chief is a close Putin ally -- announced that he has been charged with creating an organization that infringes on the rights and personal safety of citizens -- another accusation that Navalny and his supporters say is inane.

Khodorkovsky, the former oil tycoon who spent 10 years in Russian prisons on what he contended were fabricated financial crimes before he was pardoned by Putin and immediately flown out of the country in 2013, suggested there was a method to the states madness.

I remember the extremely unpleasant realization of the fact that you are behind bars 'until further special notice,'" Khodorkovsky, who was tried and convicted twice in what he and other Kremlin critics said amounted to double jeopardy, wrote on Twitter on August 11.

Courage to Aleksei, he added.


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Le ministre des Affaires religieuses Malienne choquent les Chretiens

Vif emoi dans les rangs du Collectif des intellectuels chretiens du Mali pour la cohesion sociale, la bonne gouvernance et la paix. Ses membres ont condamne, jeudi 12 aout, les recents propos tenus par le ministre malien des Affaires religieuses et du Culte, Mahamadou Kone. Selon le collectif, lors dune rencontre publique sur la situation socio-politique du Mali, ce dernier a qualifie le pays de  Republique islamique  et laisse entendre que tout projet de loi qui ne serait pas en conformite avec les principes de lislam pourrait etre rejete.

Au cours dune recente sortie publique, le ministre malien des Affaires religieuses et du Culte, Mahamadou Kone, sadresse a son auditoire :  Y compris dautres situations qui simposent dans notre Republique islamique. 





Le caractere laic du Mali remis en cause ?

Cest la phrase qui cree un vif emoi au sein du Collectif des intellectuels chretiens du Mali pour la cohesion sociale, la bonne gouvernance et la paix. Son porte-parole, Yuhan Coulibaly, sinsurge :  Nous condamnons, avec la derniere energie, les propos tenus par le ministre des Affaires religieuses et des Cultes. Une telle declaration met clairement en cause le caractere laic de notre pays inscrit clairement dans sa Constitution .





Le collectif soupconne par ailleurs le ministre des Affaires religieuses de vouloir faire deux poids deux mesures lorsquil sagit des musulmans ou des catholiques. Au Mali, pays laic, plus de 90% de la population est de confession musulmane. Mais chretiens et musulmans ont toujours rejete toute forme dextremisme et vivent en harmonie. Dou lappel des membres du collectif a lendroit du gouvernement.  Nous interpellons le gouvernement afin quil y ait des rappels a lordre de ministre, ou de toute autre personne qui saventurerait sur ce terrain , poursuit Yuhan Coulibaly.





Structure de veille
Workers at a McDonalds in Oakland who said managers gave them doggie diapers and coffee filters instead of masks as coronavirus protective gear last year, leading to an outbreak of disease and a 33-day strike, say their employer has agreed to settle their lawsuit with changes to safety conditions and regular health checkups.

The fast-food outlet at 4514 Telegraph Ave. shut down in May 2020 after 20 workers refused to show up, saying unsafe conditions had already sickened 25 employees and family members. It reopened in July only after Alameda County Superior Court Judge Richard Seabolt ordered McDonalds to provide masks and gloves to the workers and take other safety measures, including wellness checks, regular temperature testing and hand-washing breaks every 30 minutes.

In a settlement Thursday of a suit by four employees and one of their children, the owners agreed to leave those measures in place for the next year unless they are no longer recommended by federal, state or local health agencies, said the workers lawyer, B.J. Chisholm. She said McDonalds also agreed to set up a safety committee, perhaps the first of its kind for a fast-food restaurant, in which managers would meet monthly with employee representatives to discuss health concerns.

According to the lawsuit, after the first wave of COVID-19 cases in March 2020 led state and federal officials to declare states of emergency, workers at the restaurant asked their employer for masks and instead were given dog diapers and coffee filters to cover their faces.

Later, they said, the company provided masks but required workers to use them for several days before replacing them. They said they were also given flimsy gloves that tore easily.

In addition, the suit said, three of the plaintiffs reported coronavirus symptoms but were required to compete their shifts or report for work. All three later tested positive for COVID-19.

The restaurant failed to notify or protect employees who were exposed to ailing co-workers, refused to send workers home on paid sick leave, and made no attempt to keep workers 6 feet apart, the suit said.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

The suit was filed against VES McDonalds, which owns four restaurants in the area. Its lawyers declined to comment on the settlement.

Although the company could have done more to keep workers safe during the pandemic, Chisholm said Thursday, reaching this settlement with the McDonalds franchisee is an important step forward because it secures workplace protections and ensures workers will have a role in responding to the ever-evolving challenges posed by the pandemic.

The five plaintiffs said in a statement that they hope the agreement can serve as a model for other employers.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
During the past decade, the Bay Areas population growth significantly outpaced that of Los Angeles County for the first time since the 1990s, according to the latest data from the census.

Los Angeles County has a population of about 10 million, according to the 2020 census, making it the most populous county in the nation. The Bay Area, on the other hand, has a total population of about 7.8 million people.

But since the last census in 2010, the Bay Areas population has grown 8.7%, while LA countys stayed flat  with a slight decline of 0.25%.

From 1980 to 1990, Los Angeles County was growing faster than the Bay Area  L.A.s population increased by 18.5% that decade, while the Bay Area followed closely behind at 16.3%. But in the 1990s, the Bay Area outpaced L.A. by about 5%.

Between 2000 and 2010, the two California regions both saw population increases of around 5.4%. The latest census is the largest difference in growth between the two in four decades.

The Bay Area is made up of nine counties  Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma  while Los Angeles is just one county. But added together, the Bay Area counties are much closer to the Southern California region in both square mileage and total population.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

In contrast to Los Angeles, each individual Bay Area county saw an increase in residents. Alameda County grew the most, with a rate of about 11.4%, while Sonoma County grew the least with an increase of just 1%.

The Bay Areas population growth also outpaced both California and the U.S.  Californias growth rate was 6.1% over the past decade, and the U.S. rate was 7.4%.

Danielle Echeverria is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: danielle.echeverria@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DanielleEchev
Alameda and Santa Clara counties are now plurality Asian American, according to new population figures from the 2020 decennial census. That means there are more Asians than any other broad race and ethnicity groups in those counties, but theyre not yet the absolute majority.

At this rate of growth, though, its only a matter of time until Asians are the majority in those counties, said James Lai, professor of ethnic studies at Santa Clara University. Whats happening are really rapid shifts.

These shifts, he said, are driven in large part by migration to the U.S. by foreign-born residents, motivated by the established networks and support systems of existing immigrant communities  particularly suburbs, such as Cupertino in Santa Clara and Fremont in Alameda.

The Asian American population in the Bay Areas nine counties grew by about 30%. The data only includes broad race and ethnicity group, so we are comparing Asian Americans to those who identify as Hispanic, non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic Black, and so on. Data on whether those Asian Americans identify as Chinese American, Indian American, or one of many another groups has not yet been released.

Though the growth since the last decennial census was highest in Contra Costa County, data showed Santa Clara County had the largest share of Asian Americans in the Bay Area in 2020, at about 39%.

For the purposes of comparing with historical data across regions, the Chronicle aggregated the 2020 figures for Asian Americans with Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, but with full recognition of historical issues that stem from lumping those groups together.

Often viewed as homogenous, AANHPIs include more than 50 detailed race groups that can differ dramatically across key social and economic indicators, a memo by the Asian Americans Advancing Justice said about the issue.

In this case, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders represent less than 1% of the population in each of the nine Bay Area counties. Santa Clara and Alameda counties have plurality Asian populations even without adding Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

The growth of the AAPI community in Santa Clara County, Lai said, does not have just one reason, nor is it limited to just one ethnic group within that community. Its a very diverse community in Santa Clara, he said, adding that more than 30 different national origins are represented in the county, with the Chinese being the largest group among them. It also happened very quickly  Asian Americans accounted for less than 10% of Santa Claras population in 1980.

The common thread among communities that are experiencing the most explosive growth in Asian American and Pacific Islander populations in the Bay Area, Lai said, is that they tend to have established immigrant communities, such as Fremont and Dublin in Alameda, and Cupertino in Santa Clara. Its a concept that I call gravitational migration.

Fremont, he said, is among the largest Asian-majority cities in the continental U.S. Dublin, according to the 2020 census data, is the fastest growing Bay Area city, and most of that increase was driven by the growth of Asian American population. These places provide a sense of community that pulls people there, Lai said.

What were seeing is direct migration of Asian immigrants not just to big cities but to suburbs, the professor said. You want your family to have access to your community, network, a way for you to find your livelihood, your children to find schools, churches and restaurants.

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Contra Costa County, which had relatively small AAPI populations in the 1980s and 90s, had the highest rate of growth in the AAPI population of Bay Area counties, at about 44% since 2010.

All nine counties in the Bay Area saw some level of growth in Asian American-Native Hawaiian-Pacific Islander populations since 2010 and in turn, losses in white population. Lai of Santa Clara University said its important to note that these demographic changes are not driven specifically by wealthy and highly-educated East Asians, but a vastly diverse group of multi-ethnic communities living and working in a wide range of different conditions.

And in these demographic shifts, theres bound to be growing pains, including white flight, he said. We (Asian Americans) are going from outsider status to insider status, minority status to majority status, he said. When communities identities change, especially so quickly, theres often struggle.

But we are not guests, he said. We are residents.

Yoohyun Jung is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: yoohyun.jung@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @yoohyun_jung
As thousands of students and employees upload their proof of COVID-19 vaccination to comply with campus requirements for in-person learning this fall, universities say they have little choice but to rely on the honor system and hope the cards are real.

The same is true for restaurants, gyms, theaters and other indoor places in San Francisco, which on Aug. 20 will become the first major U.S. city to require proof of vaccination. Owners and patrons alike must depend on the willingness of people to tell the truth.

Not everyone is so willing.

A Napa woman last month became the nations first person to be federally prosecuted on charges of handing out counterfeit cards and could serve years in prison. The FBI and Californias attorney general have been warning all year about the dangers of using or distributing phony vaccination cards. And while it wasnt simple to locate fake IDs online, a look on the less-scrutinized dark web turned up offers for sale, including one for $290 marked down from $375, with the promise of a physical and digital copy with absolute legal certainty within 24 hours.

With a rise in offers of bogus vaccination proof around the world, some California campuses, including San Francisco State University, have hired vendors to eyeball each card for signs of anything amiss. Stanford, unable to know for sure if everyone on campus has had a shot, just imposed weekly COVID testing for all, as has UCLA. No school appears to be matching cards against the states immunization database, which would not only exclude people from out of state, but could be costly.

We dont have the staff resources to verify all vaccine cards, said Tami Cate, spokesperson for health services at UC Berkeley, where more than 80% of employees, and more than 80% of students have uploaded a card ahead of Aug. 23, when classes resume.

Vaccination status is a medical issue, so only health center staff could potentially access the states database.

But even that wouldnt be foolproof, said Dr. David Spiegel, a Stanford professor who cant get the state site to recognize his vaccination from January.

The University of Californias 10 campuses, California State Universitys 23 campuses, Stanford and many other schools  including about two dozen of the states 110 community colleges  require students and employees to be vaccinated to participate in face-to-face instruction, use campus gyms and attend events, among other benefits.

There is scant evidence of widespread abuse. On July 14, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it was prosecuting Juli Mazi, 41, of Napa, on charges of falsifying vaccination record cards and falsely claiming that pills she provided would immunize people against COVID-19, the agencys first such case.

Mazi, a state-licensed naturopathic doctor, is fighting the charges. If convicted, she faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for wire fraud and five years for false statements. Each of the two charges carries an additional $250,000 fine.

Faculty and students say they have enough to worry about without having to second-guess whether people are vaccinated. But they also know that some people are motivated to fake their status for benefits available only to vaccinated people  and to avoid the frequent COVID testing theyd need if they claimed a religious or medical exemption.

Ive heard a lot of people in different stores say, Oh, Ive been able to get a fake vaccination card, said Bailey Vought, 20, a Stanford junior who spent the past year with family in Oklahoma.

A lot of people here (in Oklahoma) are pretty anti-vax, said Vought, who is vaccinated and hears concertgoers also boasting about fake vaccination cards. Theyre very out in the open.

At first, none of this worried Vought. . But as the delta variant took hold and she learned that unvaccinated people were driving the latest surge of infections hitting even some vaccinated people, she grew concerned.

I worry that people who upload fake vaccination cards can cause it to spiral, said Vought, who got COVID-19 a year ago and doesnt want to repeat the experience.

A Stanford spokesman said the university is reviewing all vaccination documents to verify their authenticity, but did not respond when asked how they are doing it.

The school is taking other extraordinary measures to keep case counts low. Besides mandatory masking indoors and at large events, students learned Wednesday that theyll have to be tested weekly for the coronavirus if they study on campus or live in Stanford housing  even if theyve had the shot. Stanford is one of few schools in the country to mandate testing for all.

Vought said she and other students strongly welcome that development.

At San Francisco State, senior James Aguilar uploaded his vaccination card in early July, but its still awaiting review, and his campus status reads not compliant.

If thats frustrating for Aguilar, its infuriating for Gene Chelberg, associate vice president for student affairs, who handles COVID-19 safety for the campus.

I just want to bang my head against the wall, he joked, because students are thoroughly compliant by uploading their vaccine cards. All students who do so by certain deadlines are entered to win prizes, from $100 gift cards to $3,700 tuition reimbursements  even if, like Aguilar, their card has yet to be reviewed.

Point and Click manages the universitys electronic health system and has been hired to confirm that each card looks authentic.

The company says it doesnt match cards to states immunization databases because that would more than double the cost and still miss people. But Chelberg says the approach is not merely the honor system, either.

Its the honor system plus, Chelberg said, and feels worth the $35,000 that San Francisco State is paying for it: $23,000 in set-up costs, and checking about 8,000 cards at $1.50 each.

Aguilar, 20, said that if the school cant cross-check the cards with Californias database, its approach is the next best option.

Personally, I definitely feel the prospect that students will fake cards is terrifying, he said.

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In April, attorneys general from all but seven states asked online executives from Twitter, Shopify and Ebay to remove ads for fake vaccine cards from their platforms, and to monitor and keep records on the frauds.

In its response, Twitter said it immediately checked but found no fake cards, which would violate the companys COVID-19 misinformation policy.

Shopify, a Canadian company that helps retailers sell online, said it already takes the requested anti-fraud steps and cut off three stores for selling fake or blank vaccination cards and vaccine manufacturing stamps. The company said it also keeps records of bad actors and is prepared to help law enforcement.

Ebays response was not immediately available.

A reporters quick online search for examples of online vaccination fraud yielded nothing suspicious. But a look at places operating beneath the scrutiny of big search engines, the so-called dark web, located vaccine documents for printing out and for sale.

On Aug. 12, a buyer named Stacey, eyeing the counterfeit card selling for $290, asked the seller: Just wondering, how many I can purchase? I want to resell this. The seller replied: As many as you need, and explained how to make direct contact.

In all, there were 28 comments and reviews posted about the sellers fraudulent abilities, dating from July 25.

Do you fill in doc info and dates you got jabbed? someone asked on Aug. 12. Yes and yes, the seller replied.

Harrold, claiming to be from Australia, asked how the seller could upload proof of vaccine to that countrys database.

I wont tell you how, but its doable without any problem, came the reply.

On Aug. 7, Indi wrote: Excellent service. Helped my whole family.

The FBI warned in March that it is a federal crime to forge the seal of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is printed on vaccine cards.

People who suspect such forgery can file a complaint with the state, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in May.

Chronicle staff writer Emma Talley contributed to this report.

Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov
Working with firefighters deep in Klamath National Forest, wildlife officials rescued a burned bear cub clinging to a tree on Smokey Bears 77th birthday.

The rescue came on Monday when Sarah Bullock, a resource protection specialist working on the Antelope Fire, spottted a bear cub clinging to the base of a tree near Antelope Creek. The cubs claws and nose were badly burned.

Bullock, a wildlife biologist when shes not working on fires, didnt see the young bears mother nearby. She waited and watched before deciding the cub must have been abandoned. She contacted Forest Service authorities and the process of rescuing the bear began.

The cub is a male, weighs about 20 pounds and is about 10 to 12 weeks old, said Steven La-Sky, a spokesman for the Antelope Fire management team.

As they set the rescue and transfer of the bear to a wildlife rescue center for treatment, La-Sky said, Forest Service officials realized the rescue came on the day the Forest Service was celebrating Smokey Bears birthday.

The famous bear is the animated icon for the U.S. Forest Service and its fire prevention campaign. Hes known for standing on two feet, wearing blue jeans and a rangers hat with his name on the brim and for offering well-known advice since 1947: Remember: only you can prevent forest fires. His original catch phrase in 1944 was the less catchy Smokey says  care will prevent nine out of 10 forest fires. And in 2001, it was altered slightly to Only you can prevent wildfires.

A cub rescued from a charred tree during a New Mexico wildfire in 1950 was enlisted as the real-life version of Smokey. After he was treated for burnt paws and legs, he moved into the National Zoo in Washington, where he lived until his death in 1976. He was buried at the Smokey Bear Historical Park in Capitan, New Mexico.

Californias cub, found in Siskiyou County near the south edge of the fire, was sedated with a dart to its hind quarters then relayed by a number of wildlife personnel from the Forest Service and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife  and volunteers  to Gold Country Wildlife Rescue in Auburn. The rescue center could not be reached for comment Thursday afternoon.

La-Sky said he checked on the bear Wednesday and was told that he was being treated for his burns and was feasting on dog food and drinking fluids on his own. The eventual goal, he said, is to release the bear back into the wild if hes deemed healthy and hasnt become too accustomed to humans.

Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California

Firefighters rescue many animals  injured wild creatures as well as pets, La-Sky said. A bobcat was recently rescued from the nearby Lava Fire, he said.

We may be fighting fires, but we still love animals, La-Sky said.

As far as he knows, the young bear hasnt yet been named, La-Sky said.

Most people are calling him Little Smokey, he said. The coincidence was too great.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan
When Vanessa Pope moved MudLab, her zero-waste grocery store, into a building across from Lake Merritt in June 2020, she tried to make it a space aimed at building community as much as a business devoted to sustainability. She originally started MudLab after noticing how much trash was ending up in the lake, and worked to persuade nearby businesses to reduce or eliminate their plastic waste.

Now, in addition to bulk products and reusable jars, MudLab offers free organic produce and gently used clothes to people in need. The staff set up a cart outside with mugs and free coffee for people who couldnt afford to buy a cup. It organized monthly lake cleanups. A former Oakland teacher, Pope feels strongly that every business has a duty to provide a service to the community.

But last week, she was feeling hopeless about the cafes mission. On Wednesday morning, for the third time in the past year, MudLab employees arrived at the Grand Avenue business to find a pile of broken glass littering the sidewalk; its front door had been smashed in.

Frustrated by repeated break-ins, vandalism and theft thats cost her $10,000, Pope took to Instagram. She posted a picture of the latest break-in with a call to action: We need help from the police and city officials if we want to stay in business, she wrote. Doing business in Oakland will be impossible without a stop to the vandalism and theft we are facing.

MudLab is one of numerous local businesses whose windows have been smashed or items stolen in recent months. San Francisco restaurants, including Cassava, Epic Steak and Waterbar, were affected by a citywide rise in burglaries throughout late 2020 and early 2021. In April, San Franciscos Old Mandarin Islamic Restaurant launched a GoFundMe campaign after five tablet computers and cash were stolen. Taqueria Mi Durango, a family-run restaurant in San Bruno, was robbed last month, according to a Facebook post.

Bay Area cities, including San Francisco and Oakland, however, saw the largest declines in larceny thefts over the past two years among 70 California cities with at least 100,000 people, according to a California Policy Lab study published in June. (The FBI defines larceny theft as the unlawful taking, carrying, leading, or riding away of property from the possession or constructive possession of another.) San Francisco saw the greatest drop in larceny theft rates of any city statewide during the same time period, followed by Oakland and Santa Clara.

But the frequency of break-ins and robberies at MudLab, coming in spite of the business community-minded mission, have left Pope feeling helpless.

We designed our business to be a business that supports community resilience, she said, but unfortunately (there are) those few that are making it impossible for us to do business.

The first time MudLabs windows were smashed was last August, when people marched along the streets of Oakland to protest the murder of George Floyd. The cost to repair 11 windows totaled $18,000. MudLab paid its $1,000 deductible, and the rest was covered by insurance.

The next month, just after the windows had been replaced, someone threw a beer bottle through them, causing more damage. That cost another $5,000, again covered by insurance with MudLabs deductible.

In another incident last year, when she was three months pregnant, Pope said she was threatened and robbed by someone who claimed to be armed. The robber took her laptop, she said. Then a month ago, the stores windows were tagged with graffiti. She said shes filed police reports for each incident. The Oakland Police Department did not return requests for comment from The Chronicle.

Pope said MudLab employees call police as often as two or three times a day to report people rushing in and stealing jewelry or other items. Last week, someone stole the co-owners cell phone, Pope said. The free coffee cart was discontinued after it was repeatedly vandalized, Pope added. Mudlab now offers free cups from behind the counter inside.

MudLab got dropped by its first insurance company after filing several costly theft-related claims, she said. She now pays three times as much for insurance, about $350 per month.

Its not just a one-time cost. This is going to be a cost for the next 10 years, she said.

Despite reporting the wave of crimes, Pope said its been practically impossible to track down the perpetrators.

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I dont think its actually the cops fault, she said. What can they do? They cant babysit every single business.

But the city of Oakland could help, Pope said, by paying to install cameras or security guards at businesses. She realizes its unrealistic to ask the city to cover the cost of property damage, but she wonders if it could help owners negotiate with insurance companies so they dont lose much-needed coverage.

Beyond the financial costs, theres been an emotional toll. She and her staff have been traumatized by the repeated thefts during business hours. Pope has moved out of Oakland, in part due to safety concerns.

Despite the stress, MudLabs community mission quickly translated into an outpouring of support last week. Customers asked how they could help on Popes Instagram post and sent donations in to help pay for the most recent break-in. Thanks to a comment on Instagram from Keep It Oakland, part of the Oakland Indie Alliance, Pope received a $600 grant from the organizations repair fund for small businesses. That, plus about $400 in donations, means she can pay for the $1,100 repairs out of pocket and avoid filing another insurance claim. MudLab remains open for its normal business hours.

These gestures  like that of the neighbor who gave them $500 to help with repairs the first time the business windows were broken last summer  reminded her why she started the business in the first place.

Thats the kind of thing that happens all the time at MudLab, she said.

Elena Kadvany is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: elena.kadvany@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ekadvany
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)  A federal freeze on most evictions that was enacted last year is scheduled to expire Saturday, after the Biden administration extended the original date by a month. The moratorium put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in September has been the only tool keeping millions of tenants in their homes. Many of them lost jobs during the coronavirus pandemic and have fallen months behind on their rent.

Landlords successfully challenged the order in court, arguing that they also had bills to pay. They pointed out that tenants could access nearly $47 billion in federal money set aside to help pay rents and related expenses.

Advocates for tenants said the distribution of the money had been slow and that more time was needed to distribute it and repay landlords. Without an extension, they feared a spike in evictions and lawsuits seeking to oust tenants who were behind on their rents.

Even with the delay, roughly 3.6 million people in the U.S. as of July 5 said they would face eviction within the next two months, according to the U.S. Census Bureaus Household Pulse Survey. The survey measures the social and economic effects of the pandemic every two weeks through online responses from a representative sample of U.S. households.

Heres the situation in North Dakota:

WHATS THE STATUS OF EVICTION MORATORIUMS IN THE STATE?

Gov. Doug Burgum did not enact a moratorium halting evictions, but the state Supreme Court issued an administrative order suspending eviction hearings effective April 1, 2020, though it was lifted a few weeks later. According to state Supreme Court data, the number of eviction judgments statewide increased by 15% every year from 2016 through 2019. But last year, the number of eviction lawsuits dropped by about 15%, to just over 2,500, due in part to the federal moratorium and rent assistance, housing officials say.

WHATS BEING DONE TO HELP PEOPLE FACING EVICTION?

North Dakota received $352 million in federal emergency rental assistance funding this year to help tenants with outstanding rent, utility payments and other expenses. Last year, the state provided $2.9 million in federal funding to rental assistance for more than 1,360 tenants and almost 500 landlords.

The $352 million the state got this year can go toward up to 12 months of rent and other related expenses, including utilities. To qualify, applicants must have a household income of no more than 80% of their areas median income. So far in 2021, the state estimates it has distributed about $4.4 million to about 1,700 tenants.

HOW ARE THE COURTS HANDLING EVICTION HEARINGS?

Not that well, according to Richard LeMay, executive director for Legal Services of North Dakota, which provides assistance to low-income residents.

Courts do not spend a lot of time on eviction hearings, Lemay said. The larger counties usually proceed by cattle call and if the tenant doesnt show up, the complaint is granted without questioning the plaintiff.

I would have to estimate that at least 90% of all filings (in the past year) resulted in eviction and also a money judgment, Lemay said. Some judges are taking it upon themselves to say no to evictions, but they are the minority.

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Lemay said the low-income clients his organization serves typically dont know how to navigate the court system or understand that there is help available to do so.

If they come to us, we can look at it and do a motion to reopen, if the eviction warrants it, or vacate the judgment, he said.

HOW AFFORDABLE IS HOUSING IN THE STATES MAJOR RENTAL MARKETS?

The average rent in 2019 for a two-bedroom apartment in North Dakota was $841. According to state data, renters occupied 30% of the state's housing units that year. A household would have had to earn more than $33,000 per year in 2019 to afford the average rent and utilities for a two-bedroom without paying more than 30% of its income on housing. The median household income that year, which was the most recent for which the information was available, was $63,837, according to the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency.

ARE EVICTIONS EXPECTED TO CREATE A SURGE IN HOMELESSNESS?

Its hard to say how much homelessness will increase in North Dakota once the CDC moratorium ends. Lemay said there are too little resources being put into a much bigger problem and already evictions and eviction lawsuits are tracking at least as high this year as last year. One indication of the scope of the problem is recent census data showing that about 8,000 state residents were concerned they could be evicted within two months.
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  The Taliban completed their sweep of Afghanistan's south on Friday, taking four more provincial capitals in a lightning offensive that brought them closer to Kabul just weeks before the U.S. is set to officially end its two-decade war.

In the last 24 hours, the country's second- and third-largest cities  Herat in the west and Kandahar in the south  have fallen to the insurgents, as has the capital of the southern province of Helmand, where American, British and NATO forces fought some of the bloodiest battles of the conflict.

The blitz through the Taliban's southern heartland means the insurgents now hold half of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals and control more than two-thirds of the country. The Western-backed government in the capital, Kabul, still holds a smattering of provinces in the center and east, as well as the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

While Kabul is not directly under threat yet, the resurgent Taliban were battling government forces in Logar province, some 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the capital. The U.S. military has estimated that Kabul could come under insurgent pressure within 30 days and that the Taliban could overrun the rest of the country within a few months. They have already taken over much of the north and west of the country.

Now Playing: The United States is sending in an additional 3,000 troops to help evacuate some personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, officials said Thursday. (Aug. 12) Video: Associated Press

In the south, insurgents swept through three provincial capitals on Friday.

The Taliban captured Lashkar Gah following weeks of heavy fighting and raised their white flag over governmental buildings, said Attaullah Afghan, the head of the provincial council in Helmand. He said that three army bases outside of the city remain under government control.

Now Playing: The Pentagon says the U.S. is sending an additional 3,000 troops to Afghanistan to assist in the evacuation of some personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. Spokesman John Kirby said the forces will enter Afghanistan within the next two days. (Aug. 12) Video: Associated Press

In Tirin Kot, the capital of the southern Uruzgan province, Taliban fighters paraded through a main square, driving a Humvee and a pickup seized from Afghan forces. Local officials confirmed that the Taliban also captured the capitals of Zabul province in the south and Ghor in the west.

With security rapidly deteriorating, the United States planned to send in 3,000 troops to help evacuate some personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. Britain and Canada are also sending forces to aid their evacuations. Denmark said it will temporarily close its embassy, while Germany is reducing its embassy staff to the absolute minimum.

The United Nations chief urged the Taliban to immediately halt the offensive and negotiate in good faith to avert a prolonged civil war. In his strongest appeal to the Islamic militant group, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was deeply disturbed" by indications that the Taliban were "imposing severe restrictions in the areas under their control, particularly targeting women and journalists.

Hundreds of thousands of Afghans have fled their homes amid fears the Taliban will return the country to the sort of brutal, repressive rule it imposed when it was last in power at the turn of the millennium. At that time, the group all but eliminated womens rights and conducted public executions as it imposed an unsparing version of Islamic law. An early sign of such tactics came in Herat, where insurgents paraded two alleged looters through the streets on Friday with black makeup smeared on their faces.

There are also concerns that the fighting could plunge the country into civil war, which is what happened after the Soviets withdrew in 1989.

We are worried. There is fighting everywhere in Afghanistan. The provinces are falling day by day," said Ahmad Sakhi, a resident of Kabul. "The government should do something. The people are facing lots of problems.

The U.N. refugee agency said nearly 250,000 Afghans have been forced to flee their homes since the end of May, and 80% of those displaced are women and children. In all, the agency said, some 400,000 civilians have been displaced since the beginning of the year, joining millions who have fled previous rounds of fighting in recent decades.

Peace talks in Qatar between the Taliban and the government remain stalled, though diplomats are still meeting, as the U.S., European and Asian nations warned that battlefield gains would not lead to political recognition.

We demand an immediate end to attacks against cities, urge a political settlement, and warn that a government imposed by force will be a pariah state, said Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. envoy to the talks.

But the Taliban advance continued.

Fighting was still underway inside Puli-e Alim, with government forces holding the police headquarters and other security facilities, said Hasibullah Stanikzai, the head of the Logar provincial council. He spoke by phone from his office, and gunfire could be heard in the background. The Taliban, however, said they had captured the police headquarters and a nearby prison.

The onslaught represents a stunning collapse of Afghan forces after the United States spent nearly two decades and $830 billion trying to establish a functioning state. U.S. forces toppled the Taliban in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, which al-Qaida planned and executed while being sheltered by the Taliban government.

With only weeks remaining before the U.S. plans to withdraw its last troops, the fighters now advancing across the country ride on American-made Humvees and carry M-16s pilfered from Afghan forces.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the Afghan army has rotted from within due to corruption and mismanagement, leaving troops in the field poorly equipped and with little motivation to fight. The Taliban, meanwhile, have spent a decade taking control of large swaths of the countryside.

That allowed them to rapidly seize key infrastructure and urban areas once President Joe Biden announced the timeline for the U.S. withdrawal, saying he was determined to end America's longest war.

Whatever forces are left or remaining that are in the Kabul area and the provinces around them, theyre going to be used for the defense of Kabul, Roggio said. Unless something dramatically changes, and I dont see how thats possible, these provinces (that have fallen) will remain under Taliban control."

A day earlier, in Herat, Taliban fighters rushed past the Great Mosque in the historic city  a structure that dates to 500 BC and was once a spoil of Alexander the Great  and seized government buildings. Herat had been under militant attack for two weeks.

In Kandahar, insurgents seized the governors office and other buildings, and officials fled, witnesses said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the defeat has yet to be acknowledged by the government, which has not commented on the latest advances.

Civilians were likely wounded and killed in airstrikes, Nasima Niazi, a lawmaker from Helmand, said Thursday. U.S. Central Command has acknowledged carrying out several strikes in recent days, without providing details.

Meanwhile in neighboring Pakistan, the country's national security adviser urged Afghan leaders to seek a negotiated settlement with the Taliban to avoid further violence. Moeed Yusuf made the appeal Friday while speaking to reporters in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.

___

Faiez reported from Istanbul and Krauss reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Frank Jordans in Berlin, Jan Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Edith Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.
The novel coronavirus has gotten old, and the vaccines, having been around for nearly half the pandemic, are approaching middle age. Perhaps thats why we hear so much about the relatively new delta variant, as if everything going on right now comes down to a trendy viral sensation.

But the fact is that familiar truths are driving the latest surge of infections and hospitalizations in California and across the country. Since Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Californias grand reopening on June 15, unvaccinated people have been gathering in bars, restaurants, gyms, churches and offices, often without masks, and getting sick as a result  just as they would have from boring old coronavirus 1.0.

Granted, the emergence of a viral variant that is believed to be more transmissible doesnt help. Nor do the vaccines  or any vaccine  prevent every infection and illness.

But against delta and other variants alike, the vaccines are extraordinarily effective in preventing the spread of the virus and particularly its worst effects, hence the declining correlation between infections and hospitalizations in highly vaccinated places like San Francisco.

Provided we dont plan on returning to another old pattern, hunkering down indefinitely in our homes, widespread vaccination still provides the surest escape from further needless suffering.

It therefore comes as a relief that state and local officials have finally come around to requiring vaccination as a precondition of high-risk gathering indoors.

San Francisco, which has repeatedly led the way on appropriate pandemic precautions, did so again Thursday by requiring full vaccination to enter bars, restaurants, gyms and other demonstrably risky indoor settings. It was the first major U.S. city to do so, though New York plans to require at least partial vaccination and smaller cities such as Palm Springs have adopted similar policies.

The day before, shortly after San Francisco school officials rightly followed the city and state in requiring vaccination or regular testing of public employees, Newsom wisely imposed the requirement statewide.

Lest anyone make the mistake of assuming that such measures are now universally recognized as simply common sense, as San Francisco Health Director Grant Colfax put it, most of the top candidates to replace Newsom if he is recalled quickly registered their irresponsible opposition to his order.

This, outrageously, is from politicians who claim to want to keep schools and the rest of society as open as possible.

As Mayor London Breed noted Thursday, Vaccines are our way out of this pandemic. Theyre how we can live our lives together, safely. With no shortage of opportunists pandering to selfishness, ignorance and apathy, we need more leaders with the courage to put a stop to the needless endangerment of our health and lives.

This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters.
James Hormel, a San Franciscan who became the nations first gay ambassador and later a prolific philanthropist, died Friday.

Hormel, who was 88, was nominated to become the U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg in 1997 by then-President Bill Clinton. He was the first openly gay person to be nominated to an ambassadorship, and faced down a two-year nationwide conservative campaign to block his confirmation.

But Hormel persevered, Clinton appointed him via a recess appointment and he served as ambassador to Luxembourg from 1999 through 2001.

The ultimate reason that I decided to go through what I went through is that it required Senate confirmation to send me out as a personal representative of the president, Hormel told The Chronicle in April.

There had never been a Senate confirmation process (for a gay person) at that level before. When (former presidential candidate, now Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg) said that as a 17-year-old boy he was influenced (watching the hearing), that was the confirmation. What more could one ask? That was the ultimate result of what I did.

Hormel, an heir to Hormel Foods, later became a philanthropist, helping fund the James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center at the San Francisco Public Library, the AIDS Memorial Grove and the Human Rights Campaign.

For more than three decades, Hormel helped fund organizations serving people affected by HIV and AIDS, substance abuse and breast cancer. He served on the governing boards of the American Foundation for AIDS Research and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and was a founding director of the City Club of San Francisco, a club created to bring together community leaders of diverse backgrounds.

Hormel was also a longtime financial supporter and audience member at American Conservatory Theater, said executive director Jennifer Bielstein, noting that his husband Michael was a board member. Hormel provided financial support for the companys 2011 musical production of Tales of the City and recently supported an initiative to ensure more diversity among the trustees.

He was very generous with the arts, ACT benefited a lot from that generosity, said Bielstein. He led by example with his giving.

Born in 1933 in Austin, Minn., the grandson of Hormel Foods founder George A. Hormel, he attended Swarthmore College, where he earned a bachelors degree in history and met Alice McElroy Parker, his college sweetheart, whom he later married. The couple had five children before divorcing in 1965. He also graduated from the University of Chicago law school and became its dean of admissions and dean of students.

Hormel moved to San Francisco in 1977.

Hormel died early Friday at California Pacific Medical Center on Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco with his husband at his side, and listening to his favorite Beethoven concerto. He is survived by his husband, Michael P.N. Araque Hormel; children Alison, Anne, Elizabeth, Jimmy, and Sarah, 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Elected officials including Clinton, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Mayor London Breed and LGBT community leaders including former state Sen. Mark Leno, praised Hormel in statements Friday.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Ambassador Jim Hormel, Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.

Jim devoted his life to advancing the rights and dignity of all people, and in his trailblazing service in the diplomatic corps, he represented the United States with honor and brought us closer to living out the meaning of a more perfect union.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Feinstein called Hormel a great friend and a civil rights leader.

San Francisco lost a great friend today, she said. A philanthropist, civil rights pioneer and loving spouse and father, James Hormel lived an extraordinary life and will be deeply missed by many.

Pelosi said Hormel played a major role in rallying San Francisco when the AIDS crisis struck the city.

When the AIDS epidemic descended upon San Francisco, he called on our conscience and rallied the city to help our neighbors suffering from the ferocious disease, she said. His work served as a model for national policy to defeat HIV/AIDS and improve the lives of all affected.

Equality California, the nations largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization, said Hormel was a true titan in the LGBT community.

It is true that we stand on the shoulders of the giants who came before us, said Rick Chavez Zbur, the groups executive director.

Chronicle staff writer Tony Bravo contributed to this report.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan
MIAMI  The buzz started last December with a tweet. Founders Fund venture capitalist Delian Asparouhov typed, ok guys hear me out, what if we move silicon valley to miami.

The response was mixed, with both snarky skeptics and enthusiastic boosters. The beachy tourist destination near the southern tip of Florida had been overshadowed by bigger tech markets such as Seattle and Austin, Texas. But, a few hours later, Asparouhov heard directly from Miamis mayor.

How can I help? Francis Suarez tweeted.

Millions read the mayors tweet, and the idea began to take hold, making Miami the noisiest tech upstart during the pandemic.

Soon Asparouhov and his Founders Fund colleague Keith Rabois, a veteran of PayPal and LinkedIn, made the move to Miami. So did Jack Abraham of venture capital firm Atomic.

The two companies both leased space in a boutique, glassy office building in Wynwood, Miamis arts district, which was filled with neglected warehouses just a few years ago. Their neighbors are Uchi, a sushi restaurant with $100 tasting menus, and Panther Coffee, Miamis answer to Blue Bottle. Startup incubators have replaced artist studios.

Then the giant Japanese tech investor SoftBank committed $100 million to fund Miami area companies. The Magic City was on a hot streak.

But economic reality still lags digital hype in Miamis tech quest.

Photos by Alfonso Duran / Special to The Chronicle

Along the sunny coast, dozens of towers are perpetually under construction, but theyre almost all for hotel guests or wealthy condo buyers, not legions of tech workers. Cruise ships and tourists have returned to downtown and revelers have crammed bars throughout most of the pandemic, but the citys economic recovery has been sluggish.

Miamis office vacancy rate is 16.9%, the highest rate since 2013, according to real estate brokerage Avison Young. Miami-Dade Countys unemployment rate was 7.1%, in June, worse than the national and state average.

Despite prominent Bay Area transplants, in 2020 the Miami metro area had a net loss of 42,100 people who filed change of address notices with the U.S. Postal Service, according to an analysis by real estate brokerage CBRE. It was an 11% steeper loss from the previous year. LinkedIn data shows that over the past 12 months, ex-New Yorkers were by far the biggest group moving to the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area, while the Bay Area was just the sixth biggest source for new arrivals.

Theres also a lack of engineers. CBRE ranked South Florida, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, as the 37th best North American market for tech talent, behind Rust Belt cities Detroit and St. Louis, and even below Floridas Tampa and Orlando.

South Florida had 12,677 tech graduates from 2015 to 2019, but only 10,280 tech jobs added from 2016 to 2020, indicating a brain drain, CBRE said.

South Florida lacks the educational and research infrastructure that anchored the emergence of Silicon Valley, the (North Carolina) Research Triangle or Austin. No Stanford University or the University of Texas here, said Alejandro Portes, a Princeton sociology professor and author of two books on Miami. He said he believes Miami is not a tech city and is not likely to be in the future.

Despite all the hoopla from Mayor Suarez, those likely to come to Miami are financial and real estate investors, as well as commercial and tourist-oriented firms drawing on the established strengths of the area. Miami has a solid labor supply to meet the needs of such firms, but not high-tech and engineering ones, Portes said.

But Ken Russell, a city commissioner who represents downtown Miami, said he believes the citys reputation has changed during the pandemic.

Weve never had a tangible migration. Weve had one-offs. Weve had companies that have come in, but nothing where there was this much energy around an attraction to Miami, he said. Its not from a single tweet. This is a real thing happening.

Its still early. Many of the tech movers are executives and managers, and its unclear whether more rank-and-file workers will follow, Russell said.

The question is, how many of them actually bring over an actual infrastructure of work? If theyre able to do it remote ... then we become a symbolic tech hub, he said. If the companies are based here, but theres not actually much work being done here, it doesnt really pass the test.

Miamis challenges are stark.

The citys income inequality, exacerbated by its appeal as a safe piggy bank protected by U.S. laws for international business moguls, means its one of the least affordable housing markets in the country when income is factored in, Russell said. The gleaming towers of downtown Miami and nearby Brickell, the citys financial center, are a testament to the citys wealth, but the tourist-driven economy is heavily dependent on service workers. A 2019 study found Greater Miami had the second-worst inequality in the country, behind only New York, with 47.8% of the the workforce in low-wage service jobs with an average salary of $26,532 a year.

If you saddle a tech boom on top of that  does that actually even pinch our middle and lower class and our housing crisis even further? Russell said.

Theres also the existential question of sea level rise and who pays for protection. The Army Corps of Engineers has proposed a $6 billion sea wall across 6 miles of downtown and Brickell, a plan that locals are concerned will hurt property values because of its ugliness.

The catastrophic collapse of the Surfside condo tower, just north of the city of Miami Beach, raised concerns about the regions aging buildings and could dampen more in-migration. And Floridas coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are at record highs.

Still, both new and old Miami groups are trying to bolster tech. In February, the Knight Foundation, the Miami powerhouse philanthropic nonprofit, committed $15.3 million in grants to promote tech and science at local universities. Its invested in tech groups for a decade, including the Lab Miami, a co-working space. Miami Connected is an effort to bring internet to 100,000 households in the county. This month, hundreds came to attend the first Miami Hack Week, whose goal is to recruit 5,000 engineers to Miami.

Alfonso Duran/Special to The Chronicle

Mayor Suarez wasnt available after repeated requests for comment, but he has said that a tech boom would lift up all residents, keeping natives working in Miami instead of fleeing to other cities, while bolstering tax revenue for public works.

The mayor, who is a moderate Republican, has far less power than many other big city leaders, with no vote on legislation, no control over the budget and no city staff oversight  the domain of the city manager. The Miami-Dade County mayor, Daniella Levine Cava, oversees a bigger region that has six times the population of the city of Miami. (In 2018, voters rejected a Suarez-backed ballot measure that would have bolstered his power.) Suarez also works as a real estate attorney and private equity investor.

What Suarez does have is a bully pulpit, and hes become one of the biggest cheerleaders for any city during the pandemics economic dispersion.

Case in point: bitcoin.

In February, Suarez asked the City Commission to study paying employees in bitcoin and potentially investing in it, though that would be illegal under state and federal laws.

The city is looking into helping workers exchange their dollars into bitcoin, and the city is now exploring the creation of its own cryptocurrency called MiamiCoin, which could help fund public projects. In June, the city hosted the largest bitcoin conference to date, with 12,000 attendees. A follow-up conference is scheduled for April.

He wanted to send a strong message to the world of tech that this is a place that is open-minded, Russell said. If this is the language you speak in terms of currency and investment, we want you to know that were learning that language as well.

Suarez hails Miami as the new capital of capital, drawing both Wall Street south and the tech industry east. Some ex-Bay Area residents have joined his evangelism.

Sizhao Yang, co-creator of the hit video game Farmville and now a venture capitalist, moved to Miami from San Francisco in the spring. He said his old home felt irrevocably broken.

Ive been in the Bay Area for 10 years, and you just dont see California and the Bay Area improving. Nothing ever changes: no infrastructure, no public transportation, no housing, he said.

He faults elected officials and entrenched policies. Theres a lack of understanding of supply and demand with housing. And then because of that, they basically blamed tech for everything, he said. The Bay Area has now demonized capitalism.

The pandemic has unshackled tech workers from having to be in the Bay Area, and Miami is ready to welcome them, Yang said.

Floridas lack of state income tax means government budgets are highly dependent on property tax revenue going up, which means encouraging more housing construction. Yang calls it far more progressive than the regressive, conservative policies of the Bay Area.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

In five, 10 years, I think its going to be one of the top hubs, Yang said. A lot of professionals are now mobile.

I would say, without an exaggeration, 90% of my entrepreneur and investor network inside San Francisco have left the city to places like Miami, Austin and Los Angeles, he said. Ive been very pleasantly surprised. I felt like I would be leaving my entire network. Instead, the network basically arrived here.

And there was San Francisco crime, what Yang calls a breaking point. Yang said his car was broken into five times, friends had intruders in their apartments and laptops were snatched from cafes.

He feels a lot safer in Miami, although someone unsuccessfully tried to steal his car by masquerading as him at a valet pickup. He said it beats break-ins.

Homicides are up in Miami-Dade County, mirroring a nationwide trend, but burglaries and robberies fell in the first half of 2021 compared with last year, according to police data. Homicides also rose in the Bay Areas biggest cities, while San Francisco has seen a spike in burglaries.

In May, Yang summed up the contrast on Twitter, citing San Franciscos overwhelming crime, pervasive drug use and syringes and feces on the ground.

Two days later, he was tweeting about the Miami areas warm water with beaches, salads with picanha, roasted branzino with kimchi and optimism everywhere. Yang said hes been able to convince roughly one small startup a week to move to Miami.

In Miami, everybodys happy. The government isnt fearing or penalizing success, and thats unusual for people in tech, Rabois, the Founders Fund venture capitalist, said at a recent Miami Herald panel, describing his flight from California as escaping an obsolete Ancien Regime.

Some Californians moved to Miami to escape tech and were unpleasantly surprised.

Melanie Ensign, founder of the cybersecurity startup Discernible, was drawn to Miami for her ocean diving hobby. Last fall, she moved from San Francisco to split her time between Miami and Tulum, Mexico  renting in two cities is about the same as the nearly $3,000 she was paying in San Francisco.

She previously worked at Facebook and Uber, and being in the Bay Area was a definite career boost. But it always felt like a temporary phase for her.

I dont regret the time that I spent there. I think it really made my career, in a way, and Ive met some amazing people, she said. I always knew that I wasnt going to be there forever.

My social group in the Bay Area was so homogeneous. Everybody was in tech. We go out to dinner, and we inevitably end up talking about work, because thats what we all have in common, she said. I need more balance in my life, I need more variety, and diversity of people and topics and activities.

Little did she know, many tech workers would have the same idea.

As somebody thats coming from the Bay Area, Im not thrilled about that. I see what tech did for San Francisco, and I dont know that thats necessarily good for Miami in terms of really catering to that specific industry, she said. I dont want to go back into that cultish culture that I just came from. I didnt move to Miami hoping that that would follow me. I was actively trying to get away from it.

The expansion of venture capital firms is particularly concerning, she said. I think the VCs are the most destructive force in tech, she said. Its the VCs that empower and embolden the smaller startups who grow into Facebook and Google without any accountability or taking responsibility for the impact of what their business does to the community.

She hopes to extend a better lifestyle to the people she hires, is setting limits on how much time her employees work, and is giving benefits, even to part-time contractors.

I dont want to work people into the ground. I come from that culture in the Bay Area, she said. The pandemic really changed my hiring strategy.

Despite all the comparisons, Russell sees a Miami future thats less about rivalry and more about self-determination.

We have no grudge match with the West Coast at all. Weve really lived in our own ecosystem here. Weve been working on this for a long time, Russell said. Weve never considered ourselves a head-to-head competitor. I think were very young in our phase right now of whats possible, but we have the advantage of learning from what theyve been through.

Were still on the front end of the interest in hype, Russell said. I think the wave is yet to come. I think were just teetering on it.

Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) _ Boston Omaha Corp. (BOMN) on Friday reported second-quarter profit of $8.6 million.

The Omaha, Nebraska-based company said it had profit of 29 cents per share.

The provider of real estate and business consulting services posted revenue of $14.2 million in the period.

Boston Omaha shares have climbed 16% since the beginning of the year. The stock has doubled in the last 12 months.

_____

This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on BOMN at https://www.zacks.com/ap/BOMN
Lordstown Motors expects to begin limited production of its electric pickup truck next month, yet the future of the Ohio start-up remains hazy.

In addition to this week's announcement that the company, based just outside of Youngstown, aims to begin production in September, Executive Chairwoman Angela Strand said Lordstown also expects to complete vehicle validation and regulatory approvals in December and January. The first deliveries to a select group of customers should begin in the first quarter, Strand said, with commercial deliveries expected early in the second quarter.

However, the company has fought to secure new funding and on Friday it said again that it was unable to guarantee that it will last through the year.

Lordstown said it had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $365.9 million and an accumulated deficit of $367.9 million at the end of June. It had a net loss of $233.4 million for the six months ended June 30.

The company repeated Friday that its current level of cash is not sufficient to fund commercial scale production.

Current conditions raise substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least one year from the date of issuance of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements," Lordstown said.

Shares, which have fallen more than 70% this year, slid another 5% Friday.

Lordstown has been under increasing scrutiny in recent months after the company acknowledged that it had no firm orders for its vehicles, just after saying it had enough demand to maintain production through 2022. The companys CEO and chief financial officer resigned and this month, Lordstown acknowledged receiving two subpoenas from federal regulators and said that prosecutors in New York have opened an investigation.

The company said its currently evaluating various funding options and may look to raise additional funds.

Last month Lordstown disclosed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it received an investment of up to $400 million. Hedge fund YA II PN Ltd agreed to buy up to $400 million worth of its shares over three years.
Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

In the past few months, California has tried all sorts of incentives to encourage people to get the vaccine, from Six Flags tickets to lottery prizes of up to $1.5 million. But now, one Bay Area county is trying a different approach: switching the incentive to those persuading people to get the shot.

Contra Costa Health Services is offering $100 to people who successfully convince someone to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the Mercury News reported. And it's not just a one-time thing: You can keep collecting $100 payments for each additional person you convince.
NEW YORK (AP)  Oakland filmmaker Peter Nicks had already made two well-regarded documentaries capturing the flawed institutions of his city and their role in shaping local lives: 2012s The Waiting Room, about a public hospital, and 2017s The Force, about the Oakland Police Department during a wave of shootings and protests.

To complete his Oakland trilogy, Nicks turned to Oakland High, a public school with a diverse student body of mostly Asian American, Black and Latino children. Nicks interest wasnt just in rounding out his city-surveying series. It was personal. His teenage daughter, Karina, had been going through a difficult time. In making a movie about the hardships of growing up as a teenager of color in Oakland, he was, in a way, making a movie about her.

A lot of films have explored the inner-city high school experience. I was more interested in something akin to The Breakfast Club but for kids of color, Nicks said in an interview. A lot of that was driven not just to complete the trilogy, but we had really been struggling with our daughter and were a family with resources. Navigating the mental health system was very difficult, and I started thinking: Whats it like for families without resources?

Just as Nicks was beginning filming in September 2019, Karina died suddenly at the age of 16. He decided to keep going with the film, even though that meant immersing himself in the lives of kids a lot like his daughter. The movie, Homeroom, is dedicated to her.

It was hard. The essence of it is holding your grief and holding the beauty that these kids represented and why we were there and what we were trying to capture. Having those two things coexist simultaneously was just something I had to get used to, says Nicks. The one thing I do carry and hold very dearly is that this is a film that honors her spirit. She was really like these kids in the film. In whatever way shes doing it, shes been pushing us along because its a miracle the film ever got finished.

Yet Homeroom" got made, through personal tragedy and pandemic. The movie, which debuted Thursday on Hulu, won an editing prize at the Sundance Film Festival and is executive produced by Black Panther filmmaker Ryan Coogler. It follows a class of students through a school year that, for a while, bears no sign of the cataclysm to come. Figuring he had some time, Nicks was just narrowing down to the kids that would be the film's central characters when the pandemic hit the Bay Area. One student is seen disinfecting a bag of Cheetos. Soon, the students are sent home.

I had the name picked out years ago. The fact that the kids ended up in home at the end was kind of serendipitous, Nicks says of Homeroom. Shortly after that it was like: What are we going to do? How are we going to possibly finish this movie? Are we going to do it over Zoom? That was a shock, but it forced us to look at what we had captured.

Nicks and his crew discovered a rich thread. Since the beginning of the school year, some students had been working to have police removed from the school campus. Their presence, they argued, was an impediment to a good learning environment, and potentially triggering to those who lived with the threat of police brutality.

Nicks dug into the footage that had once seemed a more minor plot line. When many of the students took to the protests that followed the police murder of George Floyd, Homeroom became a portrait of 2020 in microcosm: A year interrupted, then a galvanizing sense of purpose.

Homeroom takes a verite approach -- Wiseman with words, Nicks calls his style, referencing the pioneering nonfiction filmmaker Frederick Wiseman -- predicated on intimacy. He wanted to stick rigorously to the perspective of the kids: No adult voices at all, he says. Zero. Like Peanuts: Wah wah wah wah.

Most of the students as seen in Homeroom arent headed to Ivy League colleges, and their intelligence isnt likely to register chart-topping SAT scores. But by patiently observing them, Homeroom shows the smarts, social-media savvy and strength of a multiracial generation in the midst of finding its voice.

We have a distorted sense of how we judge potential in our society, says Nicks. These young people arent going to Harvard and Yale for the most part and theyre not getting perfect scores on their SATs, and yet theyre in possession of these remarkable skills and resilience that will serve them extremely well in life.

Nicks plans to continue to focus on Bay Area stories  including a just-announced documentary on Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry  with his production company Open'hood and Proximity Media, a company he co-founded with Coogler. In a statement, the fellow Oakland filmmaker calls Nicks a master filmmaker with an uncanny ability to bring us closer to subjects that are important to our social fabric but so often overlooked.

On Hulu, Homeroon will sit alongside both "The Waiting Room" and The Force. But Nicks' wife, Vanna Sivilay, and son, Paolo, haven't seen it yet. It's too difficult.

What the kids did in that movie, those are things my daughter will never have the opportunity to do, says Nicks, remembering Karina marching as a young girl in 2014 after the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. These kids leave you a lot to be hopeful for.

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This article has been updated to correct the spelling of Nicks on a second reference.

___

Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP
Gavin Newsom recall election candidate Caitlyn Jenner has returned from filming "Celebrity Big Brother" in Australia and is back on the campaign trail, kicking off a statewide tour in Venice Beach Thursday (the tour was originally going to be a bus tour, but her campaign said the bus component was scrubbed and she will fly to her destinations).

Jenner was immediately pressed by Politico's Carla Marinucci on if she has pursued any money-making ventures such as a television show or book tied to her campaign. Politico had previously reported that Jenner hired a personal film crew to accompany her to interviews and events, fueling speculation her campaign is merely a launching pad for a new reality television show.

"I've never worked so hard for nothing in my life," Jenner said before defending her Australia trip and not directly answering the question.

When Marinucci asked the question a second time, Jenner ignored her and called on another reporter.

The event was intended to be focused on homelessness, and while Jenner repeatedly decried the number of encampments in Venice Beach and expressed a desire to clear them, she did not provide specifics on where homeless individuals staying in them would be placed. A woman was filmed heckling Jenner and asking, "Where are you going to put them?"

Jenner had previously proposed relocating homeless people to "big open fields" "out in some place."

Another interesting moment came when Jenner did a one-on-one with Fox 11's Elex Michaelson, who asked her, "should kids in schools be wearing masks?"

"That's really up to the science of it," Jenner said.

"That's what the CDC says they should," Michaelson replied.

"I think we should go with that, what the CDC says," Jenner said. "But to be honest with you, I don't know if that is the answer."

Other Republican candidates in the race have opposed the state's mask mandate for all schools.

Speaking of other Republican candidates, Jenner discussed current polling frontrunner Larry Elder, and described him as "very hard right" before adding, "I think for California, what they're looking for is a person who's more center right, and that is me."

At another point during her appearance, she implied Elder has "secrets" but did not elaborate further.

"Unlike Elder I have no secrets," she said. "I did a book titled 'Secrets of My Life,' a few years ago, I told every secret and I don't have a single secret left in my life."

Jenner's campaign has not responded to multiple SFGATE requests for information on where her tour will go next.
Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag

Two travelers from the mainland U.S. were arrested in Hawaii for allegedly falsifying vaccination cards, the Department of the Attorney General said.

Norbert Chung, 57, and Trevor Chung, 19, were arrested at Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye Airport for violating Hawaii's "Safe Travels" program, which requires travelers to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test to enter the state, a spokesperson for the Attorney General said.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Biden administration officials have reportedly discussed a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for interstate travel but are hesitant to follow through given potential political backlash.

More for you News 9 masks that don't go behind your ears

The Associated Press reported Thursday that while the administration is considering some immediate measures including mandating vaccines for foreign visitors and empowering school districts in states where Republican governors have blocked local COVID-19 restrictions, there are some measures the White House is hesitant to implement  for now at least.
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio (AP)  Two teenage boys have been charged with murder in connection with a shooting that killed a Wisconsin teen who was staying at a home in a Cleveland suburb, and authorities now say the shooting was a targeted attack.

The suspects, ages 14 and 16, are also charged with felonious assault and improper discharge into a home. Their names have not been released, and both remained at large on Friday.
Missouri hospitals are filling to the brim with COVID-19 patients, and so are their intensive care units, where a record number of patients are now being treated.

Information posted Friday on the state health department's coronavirus dashboard shows 2,318 people hospitalized with the virus, 50 more than a day earlier and the highest number in seven months.

Also concerning is the seriousness of their illnesses: 689 COVID-19 patients are in Missouri intensive care units, the most since the pandemic began, topping 685 ICU patients on Dec. 23. The state information shows 384 people on ventilators.

ICU capacity is down to 15% statewide, and inpatient bed capacity is at 16%.

Dave Dillon of the Missouri Hospital Association said staffing is the biggest issue facing many hospitals after several weeks of a surge that began in June.

The situation is becoming more difficult every day, Dillon said in an email.

Emergency Room Medical Director Dr. Chase Ungs at SSM Health St. Marys Hospital agreed. Ungs told KRCG-TV that the volume of patients has been through the roof since the Fourth of July holiday. Just as in other places, most of those who are desperately ill are unvaccinated.

Its really tough," Ungs said. I mean, we hear the stories of the patients who are severely ill and begging us for the vaccine, and its a hard conversation to have with those patients to tell them, its too late, were sorry.

The state reported 2,213 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday, with a seven-day average of 1,991 patients. The state also reported five additional deaths. All told, Missouri has reported 597,903 confirmed cases and 10,007 deaths since the pandemic began.

The mayor of Missouri's largest city wants to extend a mask mandate well into September.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas on Thursday introduced an ordinance that would require masks through Sept. 23, even for those who are fully vaccinated. The measure requires approval from the City Council. A council committee will take up the matter next week.

Kansas City's mask mandate began Aug. 2 and was originally scheduled to expire Aug. 28.
AUG. 6-12, 2021:

This has been a stunning week, with wildfires in Russia, Greece and Turkey, while smoke billows from the Mount Etna volcano in Italy. A doctor dons protective gear to help a coronavirus-positive pregnant woman in Senegal; people celebrate as Lionel Messi joins PSG; and people queue outside a polling station in Zambia.

This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published in the past week by The Associated Press from Europe and Africa.

This selection has been curated by Associated Press Chief Photographer Jerome Delay.

Follow AP visual journalism:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews

AP Images on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Images

AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com
PHOENIX (AP)  A coalition of educators, parents and advocates for children is asking a judge to overturn several new Arizona laws that restrict the power of local governments and school districts to impose COVID-19 requirements, arguing the statutes violate constitutional rules and pointing out the state is seeing a growing number of virus cases among children.

A new lawsuit filed Thursday against the state by the Arizona School Boards Association, a teachers union and others challenges a law that prohibits cities, counties and public school districts from imposing mask requirements on students and teachers. At least 11 districts accounting for 140,000 students and more than 200 schools have defied the law by imposing their own mask rules.

The coalition also is seeking to overturn a law prohibiting colleges and universities from requiring vaccinations for students and making them reveal their vaccination status, as well as another statute that forbids communities from establishing vaccine passports for people to show they were vaccinated.

The lawsuit argues elements of the legislative proposals with limits on local government had violated constitutional rules requiring laws to focus on only one subject and have their contents reflected in the title of the bills.

Based on this legal contention, the coalition was asking the judge to undo two laws unrelated to COVID-19 prevention efforts.

One law prohibits the use of state money for teachings at schools that infer that one race is inherently racist, should be discriminated against or feel guilty because of their race. Another law establishes a legislative committee to review the findings of the state Senate review of the November 2020 election results in Maricopa County.

The office of Gov. Doug Ducey, who signed the measures into law, says the mask rules imposed by school districts will fail in court.

We are confident the legislation we signed is completely constitutional, said Ducey spokesman C.J. Karamargin.

The legal challenge marks the second lawsuit filed over the law that bars public school districts from requiring students and employees to wear masks indoors.

On Friday, a Maricopa County judge heard arguments in a lawsuit challenging the mask requirements enacted by the Phoenix Union High School District, the first in Arizona to defy the law.

The districts lawyer said Phoenix Union officials have a responsibility to protect people at schools from the virus and argued that the new law barring the districts mask mandate doesnt take effect until Sept. 29.

An attorney for the biology teacher who filed the lawsuit said the districts policy is unlawful and argued the law took effect after the Legislature approved it in late June.

Three state public universities and Arizonas largest community college district announced this week they were again requiring masks to be worn indoors.

Arizona State University had a public dispute with Ducey in June prompted by the universitys decision to require unvaccinated students to be regularly tested for the virus and wear masks. The governor blocked the policy by an executive order applying to public colleges and universities that was later added into law in the state budget.

But unlike a budget provision banning K-12 schools from requiring masks to be worn, the budget does not ban universities from imposing universal mask mandates.

On Friday, Arizona report more than 3,000 additional virus cases for the first time in six months.

Officials reported 3,225 additional cases and 23 more deaths, increasing the states pandemic totals to 958,992 cases and 18,435 deaths.

The state last reported at least that many additional cases on Feb. 9, when it reported 4,381 cases. ___ Associated Press writer Paul Davenport in Phoenix contributed to this report.
BOSTON (AP)  The Massachusetts attorney general has sued the Boston Police Department over its refusal to comply with public records requests regarding fired police Commissioner Dennis White.

The complaint filed Thursday asks the state Superior Court to confirm that the documents are public records and that police are obligated to release them.

Our states public records law is in place to ensure an open, accessible, and accountable government, Jillian Fennimore, a spokesperson for Attorney General Maura Healey, said in a statement. Thats especially important when it comes to promoting public confidence in law enforcement. Following repeated failures by the Boston Police Department to produce these records, we are seeking an order from the court that they must be turned over.

Boston police said they could not comment on pending litigation.

White was appointed commissioner in February, but placed on leave just days later when decades-old domestic violence allegations surfaced. He was fired in June despite denying the allegations and mounting a legal fight to keep his job.

The attorney general's complaint stems from a media request made in March for White's internal affairs records from the 1990s.

When WBTS-TV, also known as NBC10 Boston, did not get a response for two weeks, the station went to the supervisor of Public Records, who twice ordered the department to respond to the request, according to the attorney generals complaint.

When the department did not respond to either order, the supervisor referred the matter to the attorney general. Police turned over some records, but not all of them.

White was appointed by former Mayor Marty Walsh  now U.S. labor secretary  and fired by acting Mayor Kim Janey.

Janey in a statement thanked Healey, saying the public's right to know must be balanced with the right to privacy of survivors of domestic violence.

I respect the judgment of the Office of the Attorney General, and Ive instructed the citys Law Department and our Director of Public Records to determine what can be released in this circumstance, she said.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  Caitlyn Jenner kicked off a monthlong campaign tour Thursday in her bid to become Californias next governor and raised fresh questions about her motive for entering the contest.

The former Olympian and reality TV personality sidestepped questions about whether she had lined up any lucrative book or TV deals connected to the September recall election that could remove Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom from office.

Ive never worked so hard for nothing in my life, Jenner told reporters in Los Angeles Venice Beach neighborhood, after being asked about inking any money-making side ventures. She then steered around a second question about possible deals.

But later in the afternoon, her campaign issued a statement saying she has not pursued any money-making ventures in connection with the campaign."

Asked why she didn't respond when asked about possible side deals in the works, the campaign said, It's not a question she was expecting.

In her first run for office, Jenner has been shadowed by doubts about her intentions and whether she might be running a vanity campaign linked to advancing her entertainment career. She has no background in managing a vast government like California, by itself the worlds fifth-largest economy.

Those questions were fanned by the disclosure that she ducked out of the country after announcing her campaign to film a reality TV program in Australia, which Jenner has said was a previously arranged commitment.

Jenner, who came out as a transgender woman in 2015 and has millions of social media followers, also skipped what so far has been the only candidate debate on Aug. 4. She scratched a planned statewide bus tour, instead opting to fly to events, her campaign said.

Meanwhile Thursday, Newsom got a lift from President Joe Biden, who issued a statement urging Californians to oppose the Sept. 14 recall. Newsom knows how to get the job done because hes been doing it, Biden said of his fellow Democrat. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the former California senator, are expected to take active roles in the campaign.

Jenner's candidacy has been unconventional from the start.

Her initial website was largely devoted to seeking donations and selling campaign swag, like hats, T-shirts and wine glasses carrying her name. It took her 77 days to hold her first news conference after announcing she would enter the contest.

Despite her name recognition, she continues to be little more than an asterisk in the polls, and recent fundraising reports revealed her campaign was effectively in debt.

Asked about Jenner, former congressman Doug Ose, one of her Republican rivals, said, I am not yet clear whether this is a serious campaign or some sort of docudrama for the purpose of monetizing it after the fact.

Another Republican in the race, real estate investor John Cox, said that California has had its share of media candidates, and its about time they got a businessman.

Tax filings released in July showed Jenners earnings dropped precipitously in the last several years from a high of $2.5 million in 2016, when she had her own reality TV show, to about $550,000 in 2018 and 2019.

Until the start of her tour, the 71-year-old Jenner anchored her campaign to televised media interviews, which have included embarrassing stumbles that highlighted her inexperience, including acknowledging she wasnt deeply versed in Newsoms latest budget.

Jenner was in Venice to bring attention to the states homelessness crisis  residential streets in the seaside neighborhood in Los Angeles are crowded with soiled tents and makeshift shelters, and residents are in an uproar over filthy conditions, drug use, crime and the citys inability to restore order.

The neighborhood once famous for its artistic community and boardwalk has fallen into total anarchy, said 21-year Venice resident Robin Nelson, a Republican who was sitting outside a gymnasium where tents for unhoused people were just steps away.

She supports Newsoms recall  I dont want the state to continue going the way its going, she said  and is leaning toward supporting conservative talk radio host Larry Elder or former San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer.

Shes turned off by Jenners past ties to former President Donald Trump.

I dont want anyone in office who thinks that kind divisiveness is acceptable, she said, adding that Jenner is not even on my radar.

Nichole Cruz, a Democrat and voice-over artist who lives in nearby Marina del Rey, said she is not paying much attention to news about the election and has no qualms with Newsom. And to her, Jenner is little more than a name.

I can't say that there is much I know about her, Cruz said.

Jenner blames the homeless crisis on the high cost of living, unemployment and a lack of affordable housing, combined with mental health and drug problems for many of those on the streets. She faults Newsom for creating an industry around homelessness, in which state funds go to nonprofits, which turn around and fund his campaigns.

Through much of her street tour, she was trailed by about 20 reporters, photographers and TV camera operators, underscoring the value of her celebrity appeal. She was hounded by a lone heckler, who urged her to visit a nearby homeless shelter. Its all image, the heckler shouted at her.

Newsom, aided by a record budget surplus, has proposed spending $12 billion to get more people off the streets and into housing.
TORONTO (AP)  The Canadian government will soon require all air travelers and passengers on interprovincial trains to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said Friday that includes all commercial air travelers, passengers on trains between provinces and cruise ship passengers.

As soon as possible in the Fall and no later than the end of October, the Government of Canada will require employees in the federally regulated air, rail, and marine transportation sectors to be vaccinated. The vaccination requirement will also extend to certain travelers. This includes all commercial air travelers, his office said in a statement.

France announced this week that it will require people have a special virus pass before they can travel by plane, train or bus across the country.

The Canadian government is also requiring vaccinations for all federal public servants in the country.

The Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic Leblanc noted the federal government is the largest employer in the country.

Leblanc said it is the governments duty to guarantee the safety of their employees and those who they serve.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to call an election on Sunday for Sept. 20.

Canada has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world.

Alghabra said additional measures are need to encourage more people to get vaccinated and to protect the hard won gains the country has made to flatten the epidemic curve. Cases are starting to creep up again in what Canada's top health official dubbed a fourth wave this week.

The federal government is working on a vaccine passport that can be also used in Canada.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)  As Florida prepares to add a 28th congressional seat and the major parties get ready to fight for control of the U.S. House, new census data shows the country's fastest-growing metropolitan area is a popular retirement area that is overwhelmingly Republican  just like the state Legislature.

How The Villages influences the shaping of Florida's new congressional maps will start to become clearer when lawmakers meet to begin poring over the data next month  most likely with an eye to making the new seat a Republican one.

Florida voters passed a constitutional amendment in 2010 that requires new political maps to be drawn so they don't benefit a specific party. The Legislature drew maps a year later that lawmakers said complied with the constitution. The courts disagreed and four years of legal battles ensued before the final maps were approved.

This year, Republican leaders have pledged to be open about the map-drawing process and to follow the constitution. It's a pledge that's being heard with skeptical ears.

We saw lots of smoke and mirrors from the Republican leadership in the 2010 redistricting cycle. I don't expect to seeing anything different this round except better smoke and mirrors, said Daniel Smith, a University of Florida political science professor who was called as an expert witness when redistricting maps were challenged a decade ago.

Republicans don't have to use the new data to simply carve out a firmly GOP district. They can also push more Democrats into districts safely held by Democrats so that competitive neighboring districts become Republican-leaning.

In the case of The Villages, it may mean moving some lines in that area to bring conservative voters into a district that they can flip. That could mean tinkering with the central Florida district held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy.

The Villages, the nations largest retirement community, firmly supports Republican candidates by wide margins. The community is largely based in Sumter County, where President Donald Trump won 68% of the vote last year, while Gov. Ron DeSantis captured 69% two years earlier.

The community in central Florida grew 39%, from about 93,000 people to about 130,000, since the last census. Republicans don't need to make the area more Republican, and can use some of those voters to build their strength in other districts by shifting lines around.

The Villages is a very conservative growth area. They're not going to pack all of their conservative Republicans who have moved down (to The Villages) into a single conservative district," Smith said. Those individuals are fungible and can be moved into districts that will make slightly Democratic leaning districts less Democratic."

Overall, Florida's population increased by 2.7 million over the decade, including 1.4 million Hispanics. Growth in the non-Hispanic white population was comparatively anemic: only 215,000 people, or about 8% of the growth in the state.

Florida's size and influence is critical in national politics. The additional congressional seat will give the state one more electoral college vote in presidential elections, which are often unpredictable in Florida. And the state will play a role in the GOP attempt to regain control of the U.S. House.

Republicans now hold 16 of the state's 27 congressional seats and the party will seek to build on that through the redistricting process, even if House Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson have directed their chambers not to be political and to follow the constitution.

The House continues to strongly recommend that planned or unplanned conversations about redistricting not take place outside of the committee process with individuals who have a vested interest in the outcomes of the redistricting process, Sprowls said in a letter to representatives.

The letter also added that "situations where you comment on your personal preferences or ambitions for a given district, give your opinion regarding an incumbent, or even making satirical remarks should be avoided.

But while Democrats appreciate the spirit of the message, they're also not naive.

I fully expect the party in power to take advantage of their power and try to solidify it even further, said Democratic state Rep. Kelly Skidmore. It is up to the minority to fight back and fight it publicly and engage with the residents of Florida to demand that the districts are in fact fair and legal.

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Associated Press writer Mike Schneider in Orlando contributed to this report.
CRANDON, Wis. (AP)  Several tribes in Wisconsin are urging people to get a coronavirus test if they attended an American Indian event last weekend in Forest County.

The Potawatomi says at least two people who contracted COVID-19 attended the annual Meno Keno Ma Ge Wen Powwow in Carter Aug. 6-8.

Forest County Potawatomi Chairman Ned Daniels Jr. says the community is seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases, so all large gatherings and events on the reservation will be postponed until Aug. 30 and all tribal employees will be working remotely until then, Wisconsin Public Radio reported.

The Tribe is taking this news seriously and have notified area health departments, as well as other tribes who participated in the event, to ensure that anyone who attended is aware of the possible exposure to COVID-19, Daniels said in a statement. This news is unfortunate, but not entirely unexpected, as many regions across Wisconsin continue to see increases in the amount of positive COVID-19 cases. But we will continue to do our part to help minimize the spread of this virus.

Forest County has seen nine positive cases in the last week, according to the county health department.

The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and Menominee Indian Tribe are also urging people to get tested if they attended the event.

Lac du Flambeau President John Johnson, Sr. said he expects the tribe will hold a meeting next week to revisit its mask mandate, which was lifted for many areas of the reservation in June.
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  The state Supreme Court on Friday ordered the acquittal of a Norwalk man who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a gun, saying there was not enough evidence to have convicted him.

The court issued a 5-1 decision, with Chief Justice Richard Robinson dissenting, that overturned the gun possession conviction of Andre Dawson, 43, who has been detained in a state prison since he was found guilty by a jury in February 2017.
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP)  The disappearance of rural communities in combination with climate change could make wildfires  like those seen in many Mediterranean countries this summer  more frequent in the future, Cyprus' environment minister said on Friday.

Costas Kadis told The Associated Press that as more people abandon villages, former cultivated areas are taken over by wild growth and cease to be a natural impediment to the spread of wildfires.

On the contrary, they constitute one of the best areas for the outbreak and expansion of fires since a large quantity of combustible material accumulates there, Kadis told the AP in response to a written questionnaire.

The minister said this problem is compounded by climate change which is now unquestionable on a global scale. He said the east Mediterranean is now considered a global climate change hot spot where biodiversity and forest ecosystems are intensely negatively impacted."

Because of the increased frequency and duration of heat waves and droughts, the danger of fires breaking out that are more intense, destructive and frequently occurring increases," he said. "As a result, forest ecosystems cannot recover through the mechanisms to which they were adapted.

Scientists voice little doubt that climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is driving extreme events such as heat waves, droughts and wildfires. Such hardships are likely to happen more frequently as Earth continues to warm, they say.

Cyprus last month suffered what authorities called its most destructive wildfire in many decades. It cost four lives, scorched more than 50 square kilometers (20 square miles) of forest and orchards and destroyed dozens of homes.

Although there has been no scientific study linking climate change to the increase in the frequency of large wildfires in Cyprus, Kadis said empirical evidence shows this to be the case.

Kadis said Cyprus is coordinating efforts among eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries to counter climate change. He said more than 200 scientists from the region and elsewhere are preparing recommendations that will form the basis of an action plan to counter regional climate change. This plan is expected to be endorsed by regional leaders in Cyprus next summer.

The minister said the Forestry Department is in the process of preparing a study to create fire safe zones around rural communities by reducing the amount of combustible material around them.

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Follow all AP stories about climate change issues at https://apnews.com/hub/climate
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP)  Lekulutu Nsima considers himself a lucky man" after receiving his first Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine shot against COVID-19 in Cyprus.

The 33-year-old asylum seeker said that in his native Congo, the government has only procured a handful of vaccine doses for one of Africa's most populous nations, and those are often reserved for the country's elites  the wealthy and politically connected.

Nsima was one of hundreds of foreign nationals who stood in line on Friday under Cyprus' searing midsummer sun at the capital's only walk-in vaccination center geared toward vaccinating free of charge those who aren't covered under the country's General Healthcare System, or GHS.

Cypriot authorities have been surprised by the huge turnout at the center. The idea was to enable those without GHS coverage to walk in for a shot without having to go through the hassle of online appointments that could be weeks away.

On the center's first day a week ago, 2,555 people without GHS coverage received a vaccine shot.

The tremendous response of the people shows this is something that's very positive," Cypriot Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantela told reporters after touring the center. As you can imagine, we couldn't have foreseen such a response."

A powerful incentive for many to opt for vaccination is the fact that the Cypriot government has required the mandatory display of a SafePass' certificate for entry into places where people gather in numbers, including restaurants, bars, shopping malls and supermarkets. The certificate proves that the holder has received at least one shot, has been tested for the virus in the previous 72 hours or has recently recovered from the disease.

But there are some drawbacks. There's only one such center catering to those without GHS coverage and it is only open once a week. Hadjipantela said there are simply not enough health care workers to open another such center.

Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Christina Yiannaki said more than 1,000 people will receive their first vaccine shot on Friday.

The fact that today more than 1,000 foreign nationals  because most are foreign nationals  will be vaccinated is very significant because they're part of our society as well," said Yiannaki.

Official figures indicate that nearly 70% of the country's adult population have been fully vaccinated, while 76.3% have received at least their first shot. Health officials attribute a surge of COVID-19 infections in recent weeks to the delta variant which has swept through the east Mediterranean island nation.

Nsima, who had worked for a decade in the Congolese prime minister's office and had once aspired to become a priest, said he fled his homeland to avoid persecution by the country's new government which had clashed with the opposition political party to which he belonged.

He said his blood is very strong," but he is aware that after getting his second shot in a month's time, he'll be protected from the worst of the coronavirus if he contracts it.

The scarcity of vaccines is a continent-wide phenomenon in Africa, he said.

The world needs to send more Pfizer and Moderna vaccines there to Africa, Nsima said.
More progress has been made toward containing California's largest active wildfire that has burned more than half a million acres and destroyed over 1,000 structures.

The fire's southern end has been mostly corralled by fire lines.



As of Thursday, the fire had burned 515,756 acres and was 31% contained, according to Cal Fire.



The Dixie Fire is now the second-largest fire in California history. It has charred an area larger than the city of Los Angeles and destroyed at least 1,109 structures.

The massive fire tore through the small community of Greenville last week, destroying businesses and homes. A gas station, hotel and bar were among many fixtures gutted in the town, which dates back to California's Gold Rush era and has some structures more than a century old.

Lassen Volcanic National Park was closed last week because of the fire, Cal Fire said. On Saturday, officials said the fire had destroyed the Mount Harkness Lookout.

Roughly 14,400 structures remain threatened by the blaze, Cal Fire said. More than 6,000 personnel are helping battle the fire.

| RELATED | Wildfire Map: Here's where California fires are burning

Dixie Fire battle

The west end of the fire

Fire activity remained moderate Thursday, but warm and dry conditions will linger through the end of the week, Cal Fire said. There were isolated thunderstorms occurring randomly within the fire area but no new spot fires ignited.

The east end of the fire

Thunder cells developed over the area and some parts of the Dixie Fire, Cal Fire said. Fire managers will find out later Thursday evening how much moisture was received from the cells.

Fire behavior varies in different parts of the fire because of erratic winds from the thunder cells, Cal Fire said.

Fire timeline

The blaze sparked July 13 north of the Cresta Dam, which is not far from where the 2018 Camp Fire northeast of Paradise claimed the lives of more than 80 people.

The blaze had already leveled more than a dozen houses and other structures when it combined with the Fly Fire and tore through the tiny community of Indian Falls in late July. The Plumas County Sheriff said over 100 homes in the Indian Falls and surrounding areas were reported destroyed.

The fire nearly obliterated the town of Greenville last week.

The fire "burnt down our entire downtown. Our historical buildings, families' homes, small businesses, and our children's schools are completely lost," Plumas County Supervisor Kevin Goss wrote on Facebook.

The Plumas County Sheriff was one of the residents who lost his home in Greenville. He was a lifelong resident in the town.

| VIDEO BELOW | Dixie Fire rages in Greenville

California has secured a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help battle the wildfire, Gov. Gavin Newsom's office announced.

| RELATED | These are California's top 10 largest fires in state history

PG&E equipment may be involved in Dixie Fire start

Pacific Gas & Electric reported to California utility regulators that its equipment may have been involved in the start of the Dixie Fire.

The utility said in a filing in July that a repair person responding to a circuit outage on July 13 spotted blown fuses in a conductor atop a pole, a tree leaning into the conductor and fire at the base of the tree.

PG&E equipment has repeatedly been linked to major wildfires, including the 2018 fire that ravaged the town of Paradise.

| RELATED | PG&E equipment investigated as cause of Fly Fire in Plumas County

 The Associated Press contributed to this report.
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP)  The driver of a landscaping truck was wounded in an apparent road-road shooting early Friday, the state Department of Public Safety said.

The victim had shrapnel injuries that weren't life-threatening after being shot while driving eastbound on Interstate 10 near the Kolb Road interchange in southeastern Tucson at about 5:30 a.m., DPS spokesman Bart Graves said.
EL-ARISH, Egypt (AP)  A roadside bomb exploded late Thursday in the restive northern part of the Sinai Peninsula, killing seven members of Egypt's security forces, security and medical officials said. The dead included an officer, and six others were wounded.

The troops were riding an armored vehicle when the bomb went off in New Rafah, a town on the border with the Gaza Strip, added the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

The wounded, who suffered serious injuries, were transferred to a military hospital in the nearby Mediterranean city of el-Arish, added the officials.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on an IS-affiliated website.

In a similar attack last month, IS militants ambushed a checkpoint in the town of Sheikh Zuweid, killing at least five troops and wounding at least six others.

Egypt has been battling militants in northern Sinai for years. Violence and instability there intensified after the 2013 military ouster of Mohammed Morsi, an elected but divisive Islamist president, amid nationwide protests against his brief rule. The militants have carried out numerous attacks, mainly targeting Egyptian security forces, minority Christians and those who they accuse of collaborating with the military and police.

Also on Thursday, the the spokesman of Egypts armed forces, Lt. Col. Gharib Abdel Hafez Gharib issued a statement saying that a total of nine troops were killed and wounded in clashes with militants in Sinai. However, he did provide the breakdown of the casualties. It also remained unclear which attack he was referring to.

Gharib added that the armed forces had killed 13 militants and confiscated 15 automatic rifles and ammunition in Northern and Central Sinai. He did not specify when exactly these killings happened.

The fight against militants in Sinai has largely taken place hidden from the public eye, with journalists, non-residents and outside observers barred from the area. The conflict has also been kept at a distance from tourist resorts at the southern end of the peninsula.
CONCORD, N.H. (AP)  Troy Price, who resigned as chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party after a disastrous leadoff caucus in 2020, is taking a new job in the fellow first-in-the-nation state New Hampshire.

Price will become executive director of the New Hampshire Democratic Party on Monday as it gears up for the 2022 elections and 2024 primary, officials said Friday.

Price resigned in February 2020 after a meltdown in tabulating results from the lead-off presidential caucuses led to a dayslong delay in reporting the results, inconsistences in the numbers and no clear winner.

The embarrassing episode also threatened Iowas cherished status as the first caucus of the presidential nomination season. But there was no mention of that in the press release announcing his hiring in New Hampshire, which typically holds the first primary. There, he received unanimous support from both a selection committee and the party's executive committee, officials said.

New Hampshire Democrats are building an all-star team of experienced leaders to ensure that we organize and mobilize voters in every corner of the state, said New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley.

Buckley told WMUR-TV, which was first to report Prices hiring, that Iowas problems were confined to the caucus process and have no relevance to the New Hampshire primary.

Price became the national face of the 2020 Iowa caucuses colossal meltdown after a digital app designed to streamline reporting results from individual caucus sites failed. The technical failure on caucus night prompted hundreds of precinct-level caucus leaders to attempt to telephone in their results, resulting in a backlog of calls that kept the state party from announcing final results for more than a week.

Final results were announced six days after the Feb. 3 Democratic caucuses  long after the immediate impact mattered given the caucuses typical value as a show of momentum.

Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders fought to a near tie, though The Associated Press opted not to call a winner because of lingering concerns about whether the results as reported by the party were fully accurate. An audit later blamed the national Democratic Partys involvement in the Iowa caucuses for the problems, but said the state party should have bolstered its backup phone system.

Price had been a veteran of Iowa Democratic politics, working on Barack Obamas 2012 and Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaigns, in the administration of former Democratic Gov. Chet Culver and was executive director of One Iowa, an LGBTQ advocacy group.

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Associated Press Writer Tom Beaumont in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON (AP)  U.S. regulators on Thursday said transplant recipients and others with severely weakened immune systems can get an extra dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to better protect them as the delta variant continues to surge.

The late-night announcement by the Food and Drug Administration applies to several million Americans who are especially vulnerable because of organ transplants, certain cancers or other disorders. Several other countries, including France and Israel, have similar recommendations.

Its harder for vaccines to rev up an immune system suppressed by certain medications and diseases, so those patients dont always get the same protection as otherwise healthy people  and small studies suggest for at least some, an extra dose may be the solution.

Todays action allows doctors to boost immunity in certain immunocompromised individuals who need extra protection from COVID-19, Dr. Janet Woodcock, the FDA's acting commissioner, said in a statement.

The FDA determined that transplant recipients and others with a similar level of compromised immunity can receive a third dose of the vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna at least 28 days after getting their second shot. The FDA made no mention of immune-compromised patients who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The announcement comes as the extra-contagious delta version of the coronavirus surges through much of the country, pushing new cases, hospitalizations and deaths to heights not seen since last winter.

Importantly, the FDAs decision only applies to this high-risk group, estimated to be no more than 3% of U.S. adults. Its not an opening for booster doses for the general population.

Instead, health authorities consider the extra dose part of the initial prescription for the immune-compromised. For example, France since April has encouraged that such patients get a third dose four weeks after their regular second shot. Israel and Germany also recently began recommending a third dose of two-dose vaccines.

Separately, U.S. health officials are continuing to closely monitor if and when average peoples immunity wanes enough to require boosters for everyone  but for now, the vaccines continue to offer robust protection for the general population.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to formally recommend the extra shots for certain immune-compromised groups after a meeting Friday of its outside advisers.

Transplant recipients and others with suppressed immune systems know theyre at more risk than the average American and some have been seeking out extra doses on their own, even if it means lying about their vaccination status. The change means now the high-risk groups can more easily get another shot  but experts caution its not yet clear exactly who should.

This is all going to be very personalized, cautioned Dr. Dorry Segev, a transplant surgeon at Johns Hopkins University who is running a major National Institutes of Health study of extra shots for organ recipients. For some people, a third dose increases their immune response. Yet for some people it does not seem to. We dont quite know whos who yet.

One recent study of more than 650 transplant recipients found just over half harbored virus-fighting antibodies after two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines  although generally less than in otherwise healthy vaccinated people. Another study of people with rheumatoid arthritis and similar autoimmune diseases found only those who use particular medications have very poor vaccine responses.

Theres little data on how well a third dose works, and if it causes any safety problems such as an increased risk of organ rejection. Wednesday, Canadian researchers reported that transplant recipients were more likely to have high levels of antibodies if they got a third dose than those given a dummy shot for comparison. Other small studies have similarly found that some transplant recipients respond to a third dose while others still lack enough protection.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
WASHINGTON - A federal judge in Washington has denied a request to knock down a national eviction moratorium that has become a flash point of controversy for the Biden administration but again wondered whether the policy keeping millions of Americans in their homes would withstand further legal challenges.

On Friday, U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich in the District of Columbia issued a 13-page opinion blocking the request by a group of Alabama landlords to put the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eviction moratorium on hold for now.

The landlords had challenged the legality of the policy and asked the court to lift a judge-ordered stay of an earlier ruling against the eviction moratorium after the Biden administration's decision to renew a modified version of the order on Aug. 3.

The decision points out what the judge said is the shaky legal ground on which the national moratorium stands, arguing that the policy represents government overreach.

But because of various legal challenges to the policy, as well as a 5-to-4 Supreme Court ruling leaving the previous moratorium in place, Friedrich said, "the Court's hands are tied" because the latest policy is similar to the earlier version.

Friday's decision adds another layer of confusion to the ongoing political and legal debate over the policy. After Friedrich issued her order, the White House signaled that the administration was preparing to defend the moratorium.

"The Administration believes that CDC's new moratorium is a proper use of its lawful authority to protect the public health," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement. "We are pleased that the district court left the moratorium in place, though we are aware that further proceedings in this case are likely."

Lawyers and housing experts said the ongoing legal battles over the national moratorium and state- or citywide eviction bans around the country have led to widespread confusion among renters, landlords and even judges.

Friday's ruling came one day after the Supreme Court overturned part of an eviction ban in New York state that prevented landlords from contesting renters' claims of financial hardship related to the ongoing pandemic.

"The idea that tenants are supposed to understand where things stand with all of this ... we're struggling to keep up, and we're the lawyers," said John Pollock, the coordinator for the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel, which pushes for tenants to have legal representation in housing court.

Pollock said he and other advocates are preparing for more legal challenges, noting that Friedrich's ruling is only the latest court decision in what many expect to be an ongoing saga.

The CDC's national eviction moratorium is to expire in October, but Pollock said that "it's pretty hard to imagine it will be allowed to last until then."

The policy was initially enacted by the Trump administration as a public health tool for keeping Americans housed during the first waves of the coronavirus pandemic. It allowed a renter to stay housed despite falling behind on rent because of coronavirus-related economic loss. However, the wording of the order was open to wide interpretation by local courts, and evictions continued throughout the country because of loopholes.

Legal challenges further confused the picture. Landlords - facing their own mortgage payments, upkeep costs and taxes - became increasingly vocal about the burden placed on their businesses by the moratorium. A number of lawsuits challenging the legal structures of the order resulted in a patchwork of decisions, many offering different interpretations.

In May, Friedrich had ruled that the CDC had overstepped its legal authority with the order barring evictions, delivering one of the hardest checks to the policy and vacating the moratorium.

"The question for the Court is a narrow one: Does the Public Health Service Act grant the CDC the legal authority to impose a nationwide eviction moratorium? It does not," Friedrich wrote in May.

The moratorium was allowed to stay in place, however, while the government appealed the ruling. And a month later, the U.S. Supreme Court also ruled, 5 to 4, to keep the moratorium in effect while the appeals process moved along. At the time, Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote that evictions should not restart because the moratorium would expire on July 31.

When that day arrived, the moratorium did expire - but the administration quickly changed course from saying it had no authority to preserve the moratorium and installed a modified version of the prohibition, halting evictions for 60 days in counties with "high levels of community transmission" of the coronavirus's delta variant. The administration explained the decision as necessary for allowing more time for local governments to distribute funds from the $46 billion of federal rent relief money to struggling tenants and their landlords.

Tenants advocates warned that even though Friedrich's ruling allowed the CDC moratorium to continue, her comments about the ban being on unstable ground and the likelihood that this case will progress to the Supreme Court may, in some cases, be enough to scare tenants into self-evictions - making them leave their homes at the first sign of an eviction notice or threats from their landlords.

Legal Aid Society staff attorney Ellen Davidson wondered how tenants can feel confident that their own legal challenge to an eviction order will pass muster if the national moratorium may not stand up in court.

"We don't want people with other sources of protection to self-evict because they are afraid of being thrown out by a marshal," Davidson said. "We're very concerned that people who are eligible for rent relief or protected under the moratoria will be frightened by what's been going on in the courts."

In the motion on which Friedrich ruled on Friday, the Alabama real estate group asked the judge again to lift the earlier stay and vacate the moratorium per her May ruling. However, Friedrich noted that the modified version of the moratorium and the original version do not differ substantially, and that original stay should therefore remain in place.

"Because the current moratorium is an extension, it is subject to the stay and can be challenged in this action," Friedrich wrote in Friday's opinion.
HAVANA (AP)  Tropical depression Fred was moving along Cuba's northern coast and could regain tropical storm status as it moves towards the Florida Keys on Saturday and southwest Florida on Sunday, forecasters said.

Meanwhile, still east of the Caribbean Sea, forecasters were watching a tropical depression that they said would likely become Grace, the seventh named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. A tropical storm warning was in effect for several islands including Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy. A tropical storm watch was in effect for the British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Center said Fred had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 kph) and was dropping heavy rain over parts of Cuba, where the main threats were rain and flooding. A tropical storm warning was discontinued Friday night for a portion of the Florida Keys, including Florida Bay. The warning remained for the Florida Keys west of the Seven Mile Bridge to the Dry Tortugas.

Forecasters said little change in strength was expected in coming hours, though Fred could regain tropical storm status again on Saturday.

The hurricane center said 3 to 6 inches (7.5 to 15 centimeters) of rain were expected across the Florida Keys and southern peninsula by Monday, with isolated maximums of 8 inches (20 centimeters).

No evacuations are planned for tourists or residents in Monroe County, Keys officials said Friday. The countys emergency management officials are advising people in campgrounds, recreational vehicles, travel trailers, live-aboard vessels and mobile homes to seek shelter in a safe structure during the storm.

Once a tropical storm, Fred weakened back to a depression by its spin over Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where it knocked out power to some 400,000 customers and caused flooding that forced officials to shut down part of the country's aqueduct system, interrupting water service for hundreds of thousands of people. Local officials reported hundreds of people were evacuated and some buildings were damaged.

Fred's center was about 150 miles (245 kilometers) south-southeast of Key West, Florida, and about 45 miles (75 kilometers) southeast of Varadero, Cuba. It was headed west at 12 mph (19 kph).

The system was expected to produce 2 to 5 inches (5 to 12.5 centimeters) of rain across portions of Cuba, as well as 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.5 centimeters) across the Bahamas.

Fred became the sixth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season late Tuesday as it moved past the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP)  A California man, wearing a bear suit of his own creation, has captured the attention of Navajo Nation residents as his cross-country walk to heighten awareness and raise money for five causes traverses tribal land.

Meet Bearsun, a Japanese anime-style teddy bear created by Jessy Larios, who is using the character to spotlight various charities that center on mental health, autism, cancer, disabled community and the environment.

Bearsun is tan with a cream-colored belly, red cheeks and rounded tail, ears and arms. Larios, 33, has worn the suit throughout his walk.

So far, his walk from Los Angeles to New York City has generated donations but his presence in communities on the Navajo Nation has delighted tribal members and residents. They've taken to social media to follow his official accounts and to share their photos, videos and encounters.

I decided to create his persona in the real world, as to what other animators do when they create a story. They usually write it on paper first, Larios said in an interview last week with the Farmington Daily Times at Veterans Memorial Park in Window Rock, Arizona.

This is my paper  the world. Its a giant piece of canvas. This is how Im writing this story for Bearsun, he added.

After his initial plan to follow the path of historic Route 66 was hampered because it is unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along interstate highways, he retooled his path and followed an eastward course that has taken him through several communities on the Arizona portion of the Navajo Nation.

Larios was less than two miles away from entering New Mexico when he wrote on the Bearsun Instagram account that the character decided to spit me out for a personal day on Aug. 7, keeping him in the tribal capital.

When he resumed walking Aug. 8, he entered New Mexico at about 8 a.m.

He said the walk across the Navajo Nation has been amazing and a learning experience.

Tribal members have lined up for hours to meet him at stops along the way and have presented him with items like a pair of moccasins and a T-shirt that displayed the Navajo language.

He sported the moccasins from the western side of the reservation to Window Rock and he wore a hole in the left sole.

As Larios completed the miles, he heard personal stories about adversity, resilience and hope from tribal members.

A lot of emotions, he said adding several stories center on post-traumatic stress disorder, especially from older men.

Sometimes I think its hard for them to talk about it because they have to be the strong ones, but its nice to hear them, talk with them, Larios said. Even if someone looks tough, they still have something inside, so dont judge them. Dont make them feel like they have to be tough. Its OK to talk about it.

That point of view was one reason Steven Thompson, from Fort Defiance, Arizona, wanted to meet Larios during a small gathering at the Window Rock formation.

Its good because people dont talk enough about mental health, Thompson said. Its extremely important and a lot of people are not able to speak out loud about it and this puts it out there.

He added that Bearsun has brought together the Navajo Nation, especially after a difficult year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

It brought us all together, weirdly enough. A guy in a bear suit, walking across the country brought Natives together, Navajos together. Its pretty amazing, Thompson said.

Phoenix resident Janice Taliman is part of an impromptu group of walkers who joined Larios in Greasewood, Arizona.

They have helped him stay safe as he moves along roads that have narrow shoulders and coordinated meals and places for him to stay  otherwise he uses the tent he carries with him.

Taliman, who is originally from Cornfields, Arizona, has a son who is about the same age as Larios and if her son embarked on a journey like Larios, she would want people to respond in the same manner.

As a mother, thats what you want for your child. I told him in Navajo, youre my yazhi, so I want to make sure that youre OK, she said.

Yazhi is a term of endearment in the Navajo language and means little one, according to the website, Navajo Word of the Day.

Hes inspired me, Taliman said.
McCALLA, Ala. (AP)  A high school student was stabbed at his school outside Birmingham, authorities said.

The stabbing happened late Thursday morning at McAdory High School in McCalla, Al.com reported.

The suspect  a 14-year-old girl  was taken into custody and was being held at the county's juvenile detention center, officials said. The boy was driven in a private vehicle to Childrens Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.

The girl allegedly stabbed the 14-year-old boy after a disagreement, Jefferson County sheriffs Sgt. Joni Money said.

McAdory High School Principal Gary Bowen said he cant share further details since the stabbing is under investigation by the sheriffs office. Counselors were being made available to students or staff impacted by the violence, he said.
Earth sizzled in July and became the hottest month in 142 years of recordkeeping, U.S. weather officials announced.

As extreme heat waves struck parts of the United States and Europe, the globe averaged 62.07 degrees (16.73 degrees Celsius) last month, beating out the previous record set in July 2016 and tied again in 2019 and 2020. the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Friday. The margin was just .02 degrees (.01 Celsius),

The last seven Julys, from 2015 to 2021, have been the hottest seven Julys on record, said NOAA climatologist Ahira Sanchez-Lugo. Last month was 1.67 degrees (0.93 degrees Celsius) warmer than the 20th century average for the month.

In this case first place is the worst place to be, NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said in a press release. This new record adds to the disturbing and disruptive path that climate change has set for the globe."

This is climate change," said Pennsylvania State University climate scientist Michael Mann. It is an exclamation mark on a summer of unprecedented heat, drought, wildfires and flooding.

Earlier this week, a prestigious United Nations science panel warned of worsening climate change caused by the burning of coal, oil and natural gas and other human activity.

Warming on land in western North America and in parts of Europe and Asia really drove the record-setting heat, Sanchez-Lugo said. While the worldwide temperature was barely higher than the record, what shattered it was land temperature over the Northern Hemisphere, she said.

Northern Hemisphere temperatures were a third of a degree (.19 degrees Celsius) higher than the previous record set in July 2012, which for temperature records is a wide margin, Sanchez-Lugo said.

July is the hottest month of the year for the globe, so this is also the hottest month on record.

One factor helping the world bake this summer is a natural weather cycle called the Arctic Oscillation, sort of a cousin to El Nino, which in its positive phase is associated with more warming, the NOAA climatologist said.

Even with a scorching July and a nasty June, this year so far is only the sixth warmest on record. That's mostly because 2021 started cooler than recent years due to a La Nina cooling of the central Pacific that often reduces the global temperature average, Sanchez-Lugo said.

One month by itself does not say much, but that this was a La Nina year and we still had the warmest temperatures on record ... fits with the pattern of what we have been seeing for most of the last decade now, said University of Illinois meteorology professor Donald Wuebbles.

While the world set a record in July, the United States only tied for its 13th hottest July on record. Even though California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington had their hottest Julys, slightly cooler than normal months in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, Alabama, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire kept the nation from approaching record heat levels.

The last time the globe had a July cooler than the 20th century average was in 1976, which was also the last year the globe was cooler than that normal.

So if youre younger than 45 you havent seen a year (or July) where the mean temperature of the planet was cooler than the 20th century average, said Princeton University climate scientist Gabriel Vecchi.

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Read more of APs climate coverage at http://www.apnews.com/Climate

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Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter at @borenbears.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  A Republican political operative has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Minnesota on child sex trafficking charges.

The U.S. Attorneys Office alleges Anton Lazzaro conspired with others to recruit and solicit six people under the age of 18 to engage in commercial sex between May and December of 2020.

Lazzaro is charged with five counts of sex trafficking of minors, one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor, one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors and three counts of obstruction.

The 30-year-old Lazzaro is being held in the Sherburne County Jail.

Lazzaro's attorney Zachary Newland said Lazzaro is being falsely accused and did not commit the crimes hes charged with.

Lazzaro has connections to prominent Minnesota Republicans and managed the campaign of Republican Lacy Johnson, who made an unsuccessful bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar last year, Minnesota Public Radio News reported.

Pictures on Lazzaros Facebook and Twitter accounts show him with prominent Republican politicians, including former President Donald Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP)  South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem on Friday announced the retirement of a Cabinet secretary who she suspended amid an investigation into complaints of low employee morale and sexual harassment at the State Penitentiary.

Noem last month suspended Secretary of Corrections Mike Leidholt within hours of being briefed on a human resources review of an anonymous complaint that alleged supervising corrections officers at the State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls regularly sexually harassed their fellow employees. The governor has fired the warden, deputy warden and the director of a prison work program. She also hired a third party to review the prison system and indicated she intends to push for widespread changes.
WEBSTER GROVES, Mo. (AP)  Police in the St. Louis suburb of Webster Groves say a homeowner fatally shot someone who allegedly broke into their home.

The shooting happened just before 3 a.m. Friday. Police say the homeowner confronted a man who came in through a rear door of the home. KMOV-TV reports that the homeowner was armed with a shotgun and shot the intruder when he refused to leave.
PORTLAND, Maine (AP)  A federal court has ruled that Maine cannot bar out-of-state companies from operating medical marijuana dispensaries.

U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Torresen ruled Wednesday in favor of Wellness Connection of Maine, and its parent company, High Street Capital Partners, of Delaware, in a lawsuit to overturn a state requirement that all dispensaries be owned by Mainers, the Portland Press Herald reported.

The plaintiffs argued that the requirement has limited potential investors in the company, devaluing it, and similarly, has stifled dispensaries statewide by limiting investment opportunities.

The decision means that out-of-state investors will be able to open medical dispensaries and adult-use stores in Maine. The state recently reached an agreement to eliminate the residency requirement in its adult-use cannabis program.

The in-state licensing preference had been at the core of Maines marijuana laws since the dispensary system was created in 2011.
NEWKIRK, Okla. (AP)  An Oklahoma police lieutenant charged with first-degree manslaughter after he opened fire on a pickup truck, killing the driver, was justified in the shooting, a judge has ruled.

Kay County District Judge Lee Turner dismissed the case Thursday against Lt. John Mitchell, 41, who had been facing trial in the 2019 fatal shooting of Micheal Ann Godsey in Blackwell, The Oklahoman reported.

The magnitude of this ruling potentially is just huge, attorney Gary James told the newspaper.

Mitchell has remained on the force while the case was pending.

Mitchell joined a pursuit of Godsey early May 20, 2019, after shots were fired across the city, including at Godsey's mother, another driver and a police officer. Mitchell fired an AR-15 rifle during the pursuit and after Godsey stopped. He then fired further with a handgun.

Hey, I put 60 rounds in that dude, man. Hopefully, shes down, he told other officers, according to dashcam videos entered into evidence at the preliminary hearing. Prosecuting the case was Jason Hicks, the district attorney of Caddo, Grady, Jefferson and Stephens counties. He said Thursday he will appeal.

The opinion is wrong, Hicks said.

The prosecutor argued that the lieutenant never gave Godsey a chance when she turned a corner and appeared to be surrendering.

He argued three other officers didnt engage in gunfire at that time, only Mitchell.

In a 44-page opinion, the judge Thursday rejected those arguments.

The judge called Godsey, 34, a violent fleeing felon who was a threat to officers as long as she was in possession of a handgun and not in custody. He also wrote it was highly unlikely that she was surrendering to officers.

There was no indication made by her on 13th Street that she intended to surrender, such as by putting her pickup in park or throwing her handgun outside of her pickup. Those actions would have been the actions of a person in control of their faculties, which Ms. Godsey wasnt at any time that night, the judge wrote.

Mitchell could still face trial if the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals rules against him.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Democrats filed a lawsuit Friday asking a federal court to throw out Wisconsins current congressional and legislative district boundaries, arguing the 10-year-old maps are unconstitutional and shouldnt be used as the starting point for new districts set to be drawn in the coming months.

The lawsuit came less than 24 hours after the U.S. Census Bureau released the data to used in the redistricting process. Marc Elias, a prominent Democratic lawyer who also is leading the partys legal fight against new voting restrictions, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Madison on behalf of six Wisconsin voters.

The current maps were drawn by Republicans and enacted by then-Gov. Scott Walker in 2011. The lawsuit asks the court to prevent the Wisconsin Elections Commission from using the current maps for any future elections and to draw new maps if Gov. Tony Evers and legislators don't reach a deal.

There is no reasonable prospect that Wisconsin's political branches will reach consensus to enact lawful legislative and congressional district plans in time to be used in the upcoming 2022 election, the lawsuit said.

Evers and Republican legislative leaders did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

Elias, the attorney whose group Democracy Docket brought the lawsuit, did not immediately return a message. Democracy Docket, along with National Democratic Redistricting Committee led by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, filed similar lawsuits in April in both state and federal courts in Louisiana, Minnesota and Pennsylvania.

While there is time for Evers and the Legislature to act, the lawsuit argues that the federal court should intervene now to set a schedule and be prepared to enacted its own maps in the near-certain event that the political branches fail timely to do so.

While the lawsuit is the first to be filed in Wisconsin since the numbers were released, it's not expected to be the last. However, it does speak to the Democratic strategy of trying to block the drawing of new maps based on the current ones, which liberals tried unsuccessfully in court to get tossed after the previous round of redistricting.

At the end of the day, we all expect the courts to be drawing maps, said Democratic U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, a former state Assembly member, before the lawsuit was filed.

Wisconsin's population increased by less than 4% over the past decade, and its number of congressional districts did not change, so Republicans are arguing that means relatively minor changes to the current maps are needed.

Armchair map drawers were already putting out possible new lines within hours of the census datas release on Thursday.

The growth in and around Madison will force those deeply Democratic districts to get smaller, said Joe Handrick, a former Republican lawmaker who worked with Republicans on redistricting in 2011. Population losses in Milwaukee, another Democratic stronghold, will require those districts to grow and push out from the city, he said.

There are 12 districts in between Madison and Milwaukee, the turbulence zone, that will see the most dramatic changes, Handrick said. Changes in the rest of the state will be relatively minor by comparison, he said. In those 12 districts, 10 are held by Republicans and just two are Democrats.

Just as those population shifts will affect legislative redistricting, they will also power changes to the congressional districts.

The 2nd Congressional District, home to Madison, gained more than any other, with about 78,000 additional people. The 4th Congressional District, covering Milwaukee, lost about 15,000 people, the only one to decline in Wisconsin. Both are represented by Democrats  Pocan in the Madison area and Gwen Moore in Milwaukee.

Moores district will need to gain about 41,000 people due to population losses.

The 8th Congressional District, covering Brown and Outagamie counties, saw the second-highest growth, adding more than 41,000 people. That district is held by Republican Mike Gallagher.

The growth in Pocans district likely means he will lose some people to neighboring congressional districts, one held by retiring Democratic Rep. Ron Kind and the other by Republican Rep. Bryan Steil. President Joe Biden won Pocans district by 40 points last year.

Pocan said he suspects Republicans will try to counter the addition of Democratic areas to both of those districts by shifting the lines elsewhere to include more GOP-friendly territory, but the options are limited. Former President Donald Trump carried both the 1st and 3rd congressional districts by single digits.

Changes in the other congressional districts where the population largely held steady will be more minor, Pocan said.
RENO, Nev. (AP)  Conservationists are accusing federal land managers of illegally withholding information about environmental assessments used to justify plans to create fuel breaks to slow wildfires by clearing forests and shrubs across six western states with little if any public oversight.

The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act in federal court in Reno this week against the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

A lawyer for the group says he's disappointed the Biden administration is continuing the obstructionist tactics of the Trump administration, which first announced the plans last year.

The center is seeking more details about potential projects on federal rangeland across 348,000 square miles (901,300 square kilometers)  an area twice as big as the states of New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio combined.

The government announced plans in November 2020 to begin mapping out the fuel breaks in Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho and Utah.

Fuel breaks involve clearing extended stretches of vegetation to slow the progress of fires. The bureau has said that assessments of more than 1,200 fuel breaks dating to 2002 found that 78% helped control wildfire and 84% helped change fire behavior.

The new lawsuit filed Monday says the blueprint adopted in environmental impact statements approved in January allow the activity to occur in an area that is home to at least 25 threatened or endangered species with minimal public notice and no formal opportunities for public comment."

The Center for Biological Diversity first filed a FOIA request for the plans supporting data in March with the bureau, which is overseen by the U.S. Interior Department.

Unless enjoined and made subject to a declaration of the Centers legal rights by this court, BLM will continue to violate the Centers right to timely determination under FOIA, the lawsuit states.

Scott Lake, a staff attorney for the center, says the agency is months late in responding to the FOIA requests so it appears theyve quite determined to keep this information secret.

Its dismaying to see the government continue to prioritize secrecy over transparency, especially in the management of public lands, where transparency should be a no-brainer, Lake said in an email to The Associated Press.

And its unfortunate to see this administration continue the obstructionist tactics of the last one," he said.

Tyler Cherry, the Interior Departments press secretary, said in an email to AP on Thursday the department had no immediate comment. Neither did the bureau, an agency spokesperson said.

The Bureau of Land Management's fuel break plan doesnt authorize any specific projects. Instead, its analysis can be used to OK treatments for projects involving prescribed fires, fuel breaks and other measures to prevent or limit massive blazes that have worsened in recent decades.

As wide as 500 feet (152 meters), the breaks would be established along roads and federal rights-of-way. If all 11,000 miles (17,700 km) envisioned are finished, the breaks cumulatively would stretch the equivalent distance between Seattle and South Africa.

Extreme drought conditions have left trees, grass and brush bone-dry throughout many Western states, making them ripe for ignition. Climate change has made the region warmer and drier in the past 30 years and will continue to make the weather more extreme and wildfires more destructive, according to scientists.

The center filed a notice of intent to sue over the fuel break plans in January along with the Sierra Club, Western Watersheds Project and Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.

They said the bureau had failed to consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service regarding impacts to threatened and endangered aquatic species as required by the Endangered Species Act.
THIBODAUX, La. (AP)  A 20-year-old man was shot in the head and died while he and a 15-year-old boy were playing with a gun that they thought was unloaded, a Louisiana sheriff's office said Friday.

Courtney Poche Jr. of Thibodaux died shortly after 11 p.m. Thursday at a house in Thibodaux, and the boy was arrested on a charge of negligent homicide, the Lafourche Parish Sheriffs Office said in a news release.
Mohmad Nahari B Naha/AP

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP)  A Malaysian air force officer went on a shooting rampage Friday, killing three colleagues before turning the gun on himself, officials said.

Police in eastern Sarawak state on Borneo island said the shootings occurred at a security post on an air force base in the state, and that they were still investigating the motive.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP)  A Topeka man has been convicted of seven felonies, four years after he fled to Mexico while awaiting trial for rape.

Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said a jury on Thursday found Daniel Arreola guilty of a 2015 sexual assault in Topeka.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  Walking for hours through the gritty streets in the center of Mexico City, you can hear the daily urban soundtrack: Car engines, the call of the man who buys scrap metal and the handbells that announce the passing of a garbage truck.

It's hard to imagine that some of these streets trace the outline of what was, five centuries ago, Tenochtitlan, a sophisticated city on an island in a bridge-studded lake where a great civilization flourished.

The Aztec emperors who ruled much of the land that became Mexico were defeated by a Spanish-led force that seized the city on August 13, 1521.

Despite all that was lost in the epic event 500 years ago  an empire and countless Indigenous lives  much remains of that civilization long after its collapse. Vestiges lie beneath the streets, in the minds of the people, and on their plates.

Then, as now, the citys center was dedicated to commerce, with vendors laying out wares on blankets or in improvised stalls, much as they would have done in 1521.

Artists, intellectuals and the government are trying to show what it was all like and what remains, in novel forms: they plan to paint a line on the streets of the city of 9 million to show where the boundaries of the ancient city of Tenochtitlan ended. The drying up of lakes that once surrounded the city long ago erased that line.

Officials have also built a near life-size replica of the Aztecs' twin temples in the capital's vast main plaza.

It is part of a project to rescue the memory of the world-changing event, which for too long has been mired in the old and largely inaccurate vision of Indigenous groups conquered by the victorious Spaniards.

What really was the Conquest? What have we been told about it? Who were the victors, and who were the defeated? asks Margarita Cossich, a Guatemalan archaeologist who is working with a team from the National Autonomous University. "It is much more complex than simply talking of the good versus the bad, the Spaniards against the Indigenous groups.

For example, expedition leader Hernan Cortes and his 900 Spaniards made up only about one percent of the army of thousands of allies from Indigenous groups oppressed by the Aztecs.

But the official projects pale in comparison to the real-life surviving elements of Aztec life. The line delimiting the old city boundaries will run near where women sell corn tortillas, whose ingredients have varied not at all since the Aztecs.

Other stands sell amaranth sweets mixed with honey or nuts; in Aztec times, the amaranth seeds were mixed with blood of sacrificed warriors and molded into the shapes of gods. And then eaten, as historian Hugo Garcia Capistran, explains, but with a sense of ritual.

Not everything ended on Aug. 13, 1521, when the last leader of the Aztec resistance, the Emperor Cuauhtemoc, was taken prisoner by the Spaniards.

There is only a simple plaque marking the spot, in the tough neighborhood of Tepito.

"Tequipeuhcan: The place where slavery began. Here the Emperor Cuauhtemotzin was taken prisoner on the afternoon of Aug. 13, 1521, reads the plaque on a church wall.

A few blocks away, Oswaldo Gonzalez sells figurines made of obsidian, the dark, glass-like stone prized by the Aztecs.

Everything the Spaniards couldn't see and couldn't destroy, remains alive, Gonzalez says.

There also remain traces of Cortes, though they're neither very public or prominent; Mexicans have learned at school for generations to view him as the enemy. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has promoted telling the Indigenous side of the story, and has asked Spain to apologize for the murder, disease and exploitation of the Conquest. Spain hasn't, and the Spanish ambassador was not invited to the 500th anniversary ceremonies scheduled for Friday.

Archaeologist Esteban Miron notes that there isn't a single statue to Moctezuma  the emperor who welcomed Cortes  in the city.

Nor are there any statues of Cortes. As Miron traces the route that the Spaniard took into the city in 1519  welcomed at first, the Conquistadores were later expelled  there is a stone plaque commemorating the first meeting between Cortes and the Aztec emperor.

Inside a nearby church, another plaque marks the niche where Cortes' bones are believed to lie.

It was said he wanted to be buried here, near the site of his greatest victory, made possible by feats like constructing a fleet of wooden warships to assault the lake-ringed island city.

Tenochtitlan was completely surrounded by a shallow lake crossed by narrow causeways, so the Spaniards built attack ships known as bergantines  something akin to floating battle platforms  to fight the Aztecs in their canoes.

A street nearby marks the place where Cortes docked those ships, but again, there is no monument.

Tenochtitlan also marked some terrible defeats for the Spaniards. They had entered the city in 1519, but had been chased out with great losses a few months later, leaving most of their plundered gold behind.

On June 30, 1520, the so-called Sad Night, now re-dubbed The Victorious Night, Cortes was forced to flee, leaving many dead Spaniards behind. The historical record says that they left walking through the lake, which was not very deep, on top of the bodies of their own comrades, Miron notes.

In 1981, a public works project in the area unearthed a bar of melted Aztec gold  a small part of the loot that the Spanish soldiers dropped in their retreat.

But it's not just artifacts; the spirit of ancient Mexico remains very much alive.

Mary Gloria, 41, works making embroidery in a squatter's settlement near the edge of the old city.

Gloria just finished embroidering a figure of Mictlantecuhtli," the Aztec god of death, to mark the city's huge toll in the coronavirus pandemic.

Similar plagues  smallpox, measles and later cholera  nearly wiped out the city's Indigenous population after the conquest. Survival, above all, was the main Indigenous victory from 1521.

Now, Gloria wants to redeem Malinche, the indigenous woman who helped the Spaniards as a translator. Long considered a traitor, Malinche ensured the survival of her line.

It is up to us rewrite the script," Gloria says.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP)  A Michigan man has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State group.

Mohamud Muse, 25, was sentenced Thursday to 98 months in prison by a federal judge in Grand Rapids who also ordered the Lansing man to serve 10 years of supervised release after he's released.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Minneapolis police will no longer stop motorists for minor traffic violations, such as expired tabs or an air freshener hanging from their rearview mirror, according to a new policy change.

Police Chief Medaria Arrandondo, in an internal memo Thursday, said the move comes after examining how officers can better use time and resources.

MPD will no longer be conducting traffic stops solely for these offenses: expired tabs, an item dangling from a mirror, or not having a working license plate light, Arradondo wrote in the memo obtained by the Star Tribune.

Critics have long argued that low-level traffic stops in which officers use a minor traffic or equipment violation as a justification for pulling over someone they want to investigate contribute to racial disparities in the criminal justice system.

The memo also said the city attorney will stop prosecuting tickets for driving after suspension if there was no accident "or other egregious driving behavior that would impact public safety.

Mayor Jacob Frey said Friday that police will continue to stop motorists for offenses that are a threat to public safety, such as reckless driving or speeding.

The mayor on Friday also proposed a $1.6 billion city budget for 2022 that includes nearly $192 million for the police department. He said in an interview that it includes money for five more recruiting classes, with a goal of adding up to 150 officers to a force that has fallen more than 200 officers, or about 25%, below its authorized strength, due mostly to a wave of retirements and disability leaves following George Floyds death last summer.

Calls for change have gotten louder after the deaths of Philando Castile and Daunte Wright, who were fatally shot by suburban police during traffic stops.

The chief has promised sweeping changes within the department following the death of George Floyd last year at the hands of police. Traffic stops have declined sharply following Floyd's May 2020 death, which some have attributed in part to understaffing.

The have been similar policy changes in other large U.S. cities, including Portland, Oregon. That city announced earlier this summer that its officers would no longer pursue expired plates, broken headlights and low-level traffic infractions, unless there was a threat to public safety.
COLUMBIA, Mo (AP)  The exodus from St. Louis city to the suburbs could mean changes for the areas congressional seats when it comes time for redistricting.

An Associated Press analysis shows Missouris 1st Congressional District was among the top 10 nationally in declining population based on U.S. Census Bureau data tracking changes between 2010 and 2020. The reported population declined from 748,616 in 2010 to 714,746.

Missouri's 3rd District, which includes some of St. Louis' outer suburbs, saw the biggest growth in the state, from 748,615 people in 2010 to 804,485 in 2020.

The population changes confirm a steady departure of residents from the city of St. Louis, which is heavily Democratic, to its outer suburbs.

Missouri State University sociology and demography expert Kyler Sherman-Wilkins said millennials who finally have the money to buy homes are leaving urban areas and driving suburban growth.

University of Missouri-St. Louis political scientist David Kimball said population changes in the St. Louis area could mean U.S. Rep. Cori Bushs St. Louis seat is redrawn to include more people.

And he said Republicans could redraw Rep. Ann Wagner's 2nd District seat, which also saw a population bump, to make it more difficult for Democratic challengers to pull off an upset.

That coincides with the Republican aims to make the 2nd District a safer Republican district, Kimball said.

Missouri's 2nd District covers mostly middle class and affluent parts of the St. Louis suburbs. The 2nd District hasnt sent a Democrat to Congress since 1990, but Wagner faced strong challenges in 2018 and 2020.

Every 10 years, the 435 seats in the U.S. House are redistributed among the states based on population. While Missouris population growth of 2.8% over the last decade was less than the national figure of 7.4%, it was good enough for the state not to lose a congressional seat.

In Missouri, the GOP-led Legislature is responsible for drawing congressional districts.

The rules the state will use to redraw the state legislative districts were revamped just last year when voters repealed parts of a first-of-its-kind 2018 initiative for drawing fair and competitive legislative districts. Voters opted instead to return to a method that will let commissions composed of Democratic and Republican loyalists redraw state legislative districts.

The Republican-backed measure also deleted a requirement to base state legislative districts on the total population tallied by the census. It instead references a Supreme Court standard of one person, one vote, opening up the possibility that redistricting commissioners could use only the citizen population.

Kimball said redistricting could also mean changes to state legislative seats in northern and southeastern Missouri, which saw the biggest drops in reported population over the past decade.

Missouri's 8th District, which includes the Bootheel region, was the only other congressional district that saw a population decline other than the 1st District.

Politically Missouri is still a red state, so I dont know that this is going to change that much, Kimball said. But I think in redistricting, at least in the state Legislature, there will be a couple fewer strictly rural districts and a couple additional districts drawn within metro areas of state.

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Associated Press writer David A. Lieb contributed to this report from Jefferson City, Missouri.
DENVER (AP)  A suburban Denver police officer was fired Thursday for failing to intervene when a fellow officer pistol-whipped and choked a man during an arrest.

An internal affairs investigation found that Francine Martinez violated several directives within the Aurora Police Department, including her duty to intervene, KMGH-TV reported. The police department wrote in a blog post it would not release any other information about the firing while the district attorney's office investigates the July 23 arrest.
Jim Bennett/Getty Images

GEORGE, Wash. (AP)  More than 160 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed so far among people who attended the Watershed Music Festival at the Gorge Amphitheatre in central Washington.

More than 20,000 fans packed the Gorge, in George, for the three-day outdoor country music festival in late July, The Seattle Times reported.
PHOENIX (AP)  Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams was given a one-day suspension after lawyers hired by the city issued a report that heavily criticized her agencys role in a now-discredited gang case against demonstrators last fall at a protest against police brutality.

The report released Thursday said the decision to charge 15 protesters with assisting a street gang was made without seeking input from Phoenix polices gang enforcement unit. It also said the agency didnt have credible evidence to support the claim that the protesters were members of an anti-police gang called ACAB, meaning All Cops Are Bastards.

Concluding that ACAB is a slogan rather than a group, the outside lawyers said they found no credible evidence to support the assertion that ACAB is a criminal street gang, that it organized the protest of October 17, or was prone to violence.

The gang charges were later dismissed at the request of prosecutors. The city is asking the Arizona Attorney Generals Office to investigate any criminal matters arising from the report.

Three assistant chiefs were removed from those roles, and a sergeant at the center of the report was put on administrative leave.

The report came a week after the U.S. Department of Justice announced a widespread investigation of the Phoenix Police Department to examine whether officers have been using excessive force and abusing people experiencing homelessness.

The probe also will examine whether police have engaged in discriminatory policing practices and will work to determine if officers have retaliated against people engaged in protected First Amendment activities. The police force has come under fire in recent years for its handling of protests and the high number of shootings.

In another new report on police actions after a protest, the law firm hired by the city also examined a challenge coin circulating among Phoenix officers that depicted a gas mask-wearing demonstrator getting shot in the groin with a pepper ball and contains a vulgar comment about his injury.

The image on the police souvenir closely resembled a protester who was shot with a pepper ball during a 2017 protest outside a rally held by then-President Donald Trump in downtown Phoenix. Video of the encounter, which also showed the protester kicking a smoke canister back at police officers, became viral on social media.

The lawyers said they couldnt determine who created the coin, but noted it was circulated among officers in late 2017, while they were on city property and on the clock. A second slogan on the coin was supportive of Trump. Internal investigations are being conducted into the circulation of the coin.

In an interview, City Manager Ed Zuercher, who disciplined Williams, acknowledged that the reports portray Phoenix police as having a problem with protesters who are exercising their free-speech rights. He said Williams will reemphasize that the agency is committed to protecting those rights.

Zuercher defended his decision to suspend Williams for only one day, noting the reports found the police chief wasnt aware of the gang charges until after they were filed and didnt learn of the challenge coins existence until she was asked about it in a deposition in August 2019. The deposition was part of a lawsuit that alleged Phoenix police violated the free-speech rights of the protesters outside the 2017 Trump rally.

Zuercher said the chief is now holding employees accountable for their actions. She is from the community, Zuercher said. And she is the right chief to continue reforming this department.

The citys outside lawyers concluded the decision to charge protesters was made by Phoenix police and prosecutors at the Maricopa County Attorneys Office.

We further found that police and prosecutors ignored expert-established criteria for identifying true criminal street gangs, and similarly ignored established protocol for processing the gang classification, the report said. Instead, police began considering anti-police protestors generally as criminal street gangs based upon statements by a source of highly questionable credibility.

The police department didn't respond to a request for comment on the reports.

In these cases, we made mistakes, County Attorney Allister Adel said of the gang cases. As an agency charged with doing justice, we must be willing to admit this. And, moreover, we must be willing to correct them.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  A concealed weapons permit would become optional and the requirement that individuals promptly notify police officers that they're carrying a concealed weapon would be eliminated, under legislation proposed in the Ohio Senate.

The bill is similar to a measure pending in the Ohio House, and is one of several GOP-backed proposals in recent years seeking to expand gun rights in Ohio. The new concealed weapons bill, dubbed Constitutional Carry by its backers, was introduced Aug. 5 by state Sen. Terry Johnson, a Republican from southern Ohio's Scioto County.

Keeping the permit optional  as opposed to eliminating it altogether  would allow gunowners who obtain it to carry a concealed weapon in states with reciprocity agreements recognizing such permits.

Johnson didn't return messages seeking comment on the bill. Earlier this year, Rep. Tom Brinkman, a Cincinnati Republican, noted it's already legal to openly carry a firearm in Ohio without a license or training.

In order to avoid unnecessary hassle from the public or law enforcement, one may decide to put a coat or jacket over their firearm," Brinkman, sponsor of the House legislation, told the House Government Oversight Committee in April. "Sadly, that individual instantly turns into a felon if they have not gone through some ... government-mandated rigmarole first.

The concept has the backing of the Buckeye Firearms Association, which says 21 other states allow people to carry a concealed weapon without a license.

Ohioans have proven themselves to be overwhelmingly law-abiding over the past 17 years since concealed carry became law, said Dean Rieck, the association's executive director.

The statewide chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police opposes it, with government affairs director Mike Weinman saying background checks and training and the notification are absolutely necessary.

In January, GOP Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill into law eliminating an individuals duty to retreat before using force. The measure expands the so-called stand your ground right from an individuals house and car to any place, if that person is in a place in which the person lawfully has a right to be.

DeWine had previously signaled he might veto the bill, and had expressed dissatisfaction lawmakers were ignoring his own legislation proposed after the 2019 mass shooting in Dayton that killed nine.

Instead, he signed the stand your ground bill in the spirit of cooperation with the General Assembly.

DeWine's proposals include mandatory data entry on warrants for serious crimes into state and federal background check databases, increased penalties for people found in illegal possession of a gun, and increased penalties for so-called straw purchases, when a third party buys a weapon for someone prohibited from such purchases.

Though the governor inserted the measures into the state budget, Republican lawmakers took them out before passing the $75 billion spending plan in June.

In April, Democrats in the Ohio House unveiled several gun control proposals including universal background checks for gun purchases and so-called red flag laws allowing for the temporary removal of weapons from individuals deemed a risk to themselves or others.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP)  Sri Lankas Catholic Church said Friday that 25 people charged this week in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks that killed 269 people could be smaller fish, and accused the government of still not taking steps to identify the true conspirators.

The head of the archdiocese of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, said the presidents office has not answered questions he raised in a letter last month over allegations that officials in state intelligence agencies knew and met with the attackers.

He asked Catholics to raise black flags at their homes and on their vehicles as a mark of protest.

On Tuesday, the attorney general filed 23,270 charges against 25 people under the countrys anti-terrorism law. The charges include conspiring to murder, aiding and abetting, collecting arms and ammunition and attempted murder.

The attorney general also asked the chief justice to appoint a special three-member high court bench to hear the cases speedily.

We dont want to say the 25 persons are innocent, but we have a question whether this is an attempt to net the smaller fish and let the sharks go, Ranjith said.

Two local Muslim groups that had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group were blamed for six near-simultaneous suicide bomb attacks on April, 21, 2019. It is not known if the groups had actual links to the Islamic State.

The blasts targeted three churches and three hotels. Another attacker who entered a fourth hotel left without setting off his bomb and later committed suicide by detonating his explosives at a different location.

Church goers and many foreign tourists having breakfast in their hotels were among those killed. About 500 people were wounded.

Ranjith said he had raised questions over allegations that a state intelligence officer met with the man who did not carry out his planned attack, based on statements made at a special presidential inquiry commission.

The commission was also told that another intelligence officer had asked an intermediary to convince the IS to claim responsibility for the attacks.

Ranjith said it raised questions whether it was a diversionary tactic to protect the real culprits.

The IS subsequently claimed responsibility after a video was released showing the attackers taking their oaths in the Arabic language.

In his letter last month, Ranjith also cited speeches in Parliament saying that military intelligence had a suspect released by police.

Friction and a communication breakdown between then-President Maithripala Sirisena and then-Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe were blamed for the government's failure to act on near-specific foreign intelligence warnings before the attacks.

It led to the election of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa later in 2019 on a platform of national security.

Ranjith in his letter also expressed displeasure that Sirisena and several police officers had not been charged with negligence and Wickremesinghe had not been investigated for an alleged soft approach toward Islamic militancy.
ST. LOUIS (AP)  Tens of thousands of households and businesses remained without power in St. Louis and surrounding communities Friday morning after powerful storms swept the region, knocking down trees, sheering off roofs and bringing down power lines.

Power utility Ameren Missouri reported by late Thursday night some 60,000 customers in eastern Missouri were without power. By around 7:30 a.m. Friday, that number had been cut to about 35,000 customers without power. About 14,000 customers were without power Thursday night on the Illinois side of the Missouri River, Ameren said.
Few would criticize Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw for not being conservative enough.

The second-term Texas congressman opposes abortion, trumpets his pro-gun stances and defended former president Donald Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. In May, he launched a website inviting service members to blow the whistle on the military's diversity and inclusion programs.

"Enough is enough," he wrote in a May 28 Twitter post. "We won't let our military fall to woke ideology."

But at a GOP fundraiser in Illinois on Wednesday night, the Texan clashed with a fellow Republican after Crenshaw told the crowd the 2020 election was not stolen and the results would not be overturned. Trump falsely claimed he won the race long after the electoral college backed the winner, President Joe Biden, and dozens of judges rejected claims of election fraud.

"Don't kid yourself into believing that's why we lost. It's not," Crenshaw told the crowd.

Bobby Piton, a Republican U.S. Senate candidate in Illinois, disagreed. In a 54-second clip posted to his campaign's YouTube account, Piton can be seen interrupting Crenshaw, saying he has "plenty of proof" the presidential election was stolen and the outcome would be reversed.

"You're wrong," Piton said repeatedly, talking over Crenshaw. "You watch . . . you're going to see firsthand."

"I'm not wrong," the congressman responded. "Five different states? Hundreds of thousands of votes? You're kidding yourself."

Crenshaw's office did not respond to a request for comment Thursday night about the exchange.

The heart of Piton's campaign are the baseless claims that the presidency was stolen from Trump in a rigged election. After losing, the former president spent weeks attacking the results, leading to the Jan. 6 "Stop the Steal" rally and riot at the Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters.

More than seven months later, the false claims - often packaged as "election integrity" - continue to affect the Republican political landscape. As things gear up for the 2022 midterms, Piton is one of dozens of candidates echoing those claims.

In Piton's video description section on YouTube, his campaign called Crenshaw as a RINO, meaning a Republican in name only, a political slur used against GOP officials not considered conservative enough. The campaign lumped in Crenshaw with others Piton considers RINOs: Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, two Republican members of Congress who voted to impeach Trump because of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol.

"Crenshaw . . . represents one of many intellectually dishonest Congressmen in our party who don't care about FREEDOM LOVING PATRIOTS," Piton's campaign wrote in the video's description.

The campaign, which did not respond to a Thursday night email from The Washington Post, also encouraged conservatives in Texas to defeat Crenshaw in the Republican primary when he is up for reelection next year.

On Twitter, Piton went further, saying Crenshaw - who served as a Navy SEAL and lost an eye in a bomb explosion in Afghanistan - seemed to be "crossing over to traitor status."

"I'm grateful I could expose yet another corrupt politician." Piton said on Twitter.

Piton is a managing partner at a financial planning and investment firm. After the 2020 election, he emerged as a key figure in the audit of ballots in Arizona, part of a campaign to amplify baseless claims of election fraud.

His campaign website claims his "stunning testimony" exposed "the fraudulent election results in Arizona." Piton also prides himself on participating in the production of "The Deep Rig," a movie about the supposed fraud.

Piton has also been linked to QAnon, the baseless theory that claims Trump is fighting Satan-worshipping pedophiles - including celebrities and prominent Democrats, though the candidate told the Daily Beast "he didn't know much" about the movement.

He is one of five Republicans running for the Senate seat held by Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat.
BANGKOK (AP)  Police in Thailand's capital fired rubber bullets and tear gas on Friday to stop hundreds of protesters who were attempting to march to the prime minister's residence to demand he resign over his handling of the country's coronavirus crisis.

It was the third anti-government protest in Bangkok this week blocked by police with tear gas and rubber bullets.

Hundreds of protesters gathered at Bangkok's Victory Monument, where they burned a large pile of spoiled fruit to symbolize the economic costs of what they called the government's failure to properly control the outbreak.

Thailand reported a record 23,418 new COVID-19 cases on Friday. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's government has been heavily criticized for failing to procure timely and adequate vaccines.

The protesters from the youth-led Thalu Fah group then started walking toward Prayuths residence in an army camp but were blocked after less than a kilometer (about half a mile) by barrier made of shipping containers. Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas when the protesters attempted to remove the containers.

Tanat Nat Thanakitamnuay, a leader of a group that organized protests in 2013-2014 that led to a military coup that brought Prayuth to power, has recently withdrawn his support for the former general and joined the anti-government demonstrations.

I have had enough with this government. They dont help people at all, he said Friday. Unless we have a democratic government, these problems will never be solved.

Although the demonstrations have focused on the COVID-19 crisis, they are part of a wider push for sweeping political change that includes Prayuths resignation, a new constitution and -- most contentious of all -- fundamental reform of the powerful but opaque monarchy.

The rallies earlier fell away due to legal action by the authorities, infighting among protest groups and the coronavirus resurgence, but resumed recently as organizers capitalized on growing public discontent over the state of the country.
HONOLULU (AP)  Two visitors from U.S. mainland were arrested for allegedly using fake vaccine cards to travel into Hawaii.

Officials with the Hawaii Attorney Generals office arrested the visitors at Honolulu's international airport, a spokesman for the agency said in a statement.

Investigators said the two were in violation of the states travel rules which require travelers to produce either a negative coronavirus test or proof of vaccination to avoid quarantine when entering the state.

Violating the state's COVID-19 mandates, including falsifying a vaccination card, is a misdemeanor that can result in a fine of up to $5,000, up to a year in prison or both.

The visitors were arraigned Wednesday after being arrested over the weekend.

Authorities responded to a tip from a community member.

Attorney General investigators are committed to ensuring all such leads are investigated and thank the community for their assistance and support, the AGs office said.

The agency said that while there may be other cases pending with other Hawaii law enforcement divisions, this was the first arrest by the Department of the Attorney General for allegedly falsifying vaccination cards.

As reports of falsified card usage increases, as does enforcement, the AG's office said in an email to the Associated Press. (F)alsified CDC cards are a federal offense and depending on local laws, a state offense.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP)  Lawyers for a senior executive for Chinese communications giant Huawei Technologies attacked the case against her as fatally flawed and full of shifting theories during an extradition hearing Friday.

Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of Huaweis founder and the companys chief financial officer, at Vancouvers airport in late 2018. The U.S. wants her extradited to face fraud charges. Her arrest infuriated Beijing, which sees her case as a political move designed to prevent Chinas rise.

The U.S. accuses Huawei of using a Hong Kong shell company called Skycom to sell equipment to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. It says Meng, 49, committed fraud by misleading the HSBC bank about the companys business dealings in Iran.

The lengthy extradition proceeding is entering the committal phase which involves arguments over the U.S. governments request to extradite Meng.

Defense lawyer Eric Gottardi said fraud cases are normally straightforward, with a lie being told that results in someone losing money.

This case is different, he said. The alleged deception is ambiguous at best. The risk of economic loss to the alleged victim HSBC is wholly illusionary.

The shifting theories put forward by the U.S. underscores the weakness of their case, he said.

There is no actual loss in this case. None of the requesting states theories of risk of loss pass muster. They all are either non-existent or entirely speculative.

The threshold for granting an extradition might not be high but it is a meaningful threshold, said Gottardi.

A requesting state requires a plausible case. Here we say the case falls far short.

Gottardi disputed claims by Canadian government lawyers that during a meeting with an HSBC official Meng was dishonest in not disclosing Huaweis relationship with Skycom and that put the bank at risk of violating U.S. sanctions against Iran.

There is no evidence Ms. Mengs representation caused HSBC to violate any US sanctions law, he said. In any event HSBC was not exposed to any real risk to criminal or civil liability.

It was HSBCs choice to take money deposited by Skycom and clear it through the U.S.

The fact HSBC chose to clear US dollar transactions through its U.S. subsidiary . . . cannot be blamed on Ms. Meng, Gottardi said.

Frank Addario, another member of the defense team, said during the meeting Meng never denied Huawei and Skycom work closely together in Iran.

She also denied allegations made in a news story that Huawei was involved in selling embargoed equipment.

There is no zero evidence that either Skycom or Huawei violated U.S. sanctions laws respecting Iran, he said.

Meng, who attended court wearing an electronic monitoring device on her ankle, followed the proceedings through a translator.

Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes isnt expected to rule on Mengs extradition until later in the year. Whatever her decision, it will likely be appealed.

Earlier this week a Chinese court sentenced Canadian entrepreneur Michael Spavor to 11 years in prison for spying.

Spavor and fellow Canadian Michael Kovrig were arrested in December of 2018 in apparent retaliation to Mengs arrest.

The Chinese government has released few details other than to accuse Spavor of passing along sensitive information to Kovrig, beginning in 2017. Both have been held in isolation and have little contact with Canadian diplomats.

In another case, the Higher Peoples Court of Liaoning province in the northeast rejected an appeal by Canadian Robert Schellenberg, whose 15-year prison term on drug smuggling charges was increased to death in January 2019 following Mengs arrest.

Meng remains free on bail in Vancouver and is living in a mansion.
By Sue Gilmore

Bay City News Foundation

Although they are far from mortal enemies, there is a bit of a cat-and-mouse game going on between a reporter and an ex-president in Oakland author Carolina De Robertis' fifth novel, "The President and the Frog" (Knopf, $24.95, 224 pages). Their exchange revolves around a backward look at the life of the aged, unnamed protagonist, a former revolutionary in a South American nation who underwent long years of torture and imprisonment before emerging to ascend to high office, becoming both beloved by his countrymen and revered around the globe for his humility, compassion and lifelong thirst for justice.

But as the interviewee faces his interlocutor, an admiring woman journalist from Norway, he is harboring a secret. What he wants to keep to himself is how, while deep in isolation and suffering unimaginable deprivation, he managed to hold on to his will to live. The key to his survival -- if not, perhaps, his hold on sanity -- turns out to have been his recurrent and frequently fractious conversations with a thoroughly obnoxious frog, an apparition (or was it?) that comes and goes at its own whim.

De Robertis, an American of Uruguayan heritage who immigrated to the United States from England at the age of 10, has dipped her pen into magical realism before, in novels such as "Perla" and "The Invisible Mountain." But what she has accomplished with this compelling narrative, which is purposely set immediately after the 2016 U.S. election, is to produce a tale that is equal parts fable, political manifesto and utterly engaging testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

We, of course, had questions about how this unusual novel came about, and De Robertis most graciously provided answers.

There is a very early reference in your novel to "the disastrous recent election in North America." Is this book a warning of sorts?

Carolina De Robertis: One of the things I love about novels is their capaciousness: Novels are vast; they can hold many threads and be many things at once. So certainly, this book can be read as an alarm bell for the times in which we're living and the challenges we face as a society. But it could also be read as an exploration of what's possible in terms of transformation, both personal and collective.

There is a whole tradition within Latin American literature known as the "dictator novels," which began with Guatemalan Nobel laureate Miguel Angel Asturias' "The President" and continued through fiction by Garcia Marquez, Vargas Llosa and more. Although those are powerful works in their investigation of authoritarian minds and social resistance, I see "The President and the Frog" as not just a tribute to that tradition, but also a subversion of it. We're used to seeing the Latin American despot as the cautionary tale, but in this book, the Latin American leader is a progressive beacon of hope, and meanwhile, it's 2016, and look at what's just happened in North America. Authoritarianism doesn't belong to just one hemisphere. Nor do corruption, social inequities, grief, love, loss, courage, hope or any of the other themes at hand.

You chose not to give your protagonist a name or a particular country. Why is that?

De Robertis: I've been writing novels set in Uruguay and neighboring Argentina for 20 years now, so I'm no stranger to creating detailed settings specific to a time and place. For example, my last novel before this one, "Cantoras," chronicles the lives of five queer women during the Uruguayan dictatorship and its aftermath, and it felt important to bring that world to life with a wealth of historically accurate detail. For this book, however, I wanted to explore the possibilities of a different approach, in which an unnamed country allows for a greater freedom to explore the intimate truth. The country in this novel is based primarily on Uruguay, and the protagonist is inspired by former president Jose Mujica, but this is also a parallel fictional world with its own mysteries and wildness.

In choosing this aesthetic path, I'm grateful to draw on a long rich tradition of novels where an unnamed country is the setting for exploring big, bold themes -- such as Mohsin Hamid's "Exit West," Jose Saramago's "Blindness," Daniel Alarcon's "At Night We Walk in Circles," Hanan al-Shaykh's "Women of Sand and Myrrh" and Saleem Haddad's "Guapa."

So why a frog, in particular, instead of, say, a turtle or an owl? And why was it important to make it a profane, rude frog?

De Robertis: It's funny you ask this, because there is a turtle in my second novel, "Perla"! It doesn't talk, though. The creature in this novel is a frog because the first spark of inspiration came from an actual interview with Jose Mujica, while he was president of Uruguay, in which he said that one way he survived brutal solitary confinement as a political prisoner, in the dictatorship years, was by talking to frogs. This image stayed with me and filled me with questions. What were those conversations, what could they have been like, and what might they convey about those secret crucibles in which we face ourselves and come through fire? So the character of the frog was originally born from a seed of fact, planted in the soil of imagination.

Also, frogs are amphibious creatures, belonging to two worlds at once, which means they inhabit a unique symbolic realm.

Can you tell us a little bit about the juxtaposition of the absurd and the horrific that we encounter so often in the novel? Are they meant to balance?

De Robertis: What an intriguing question! I think one of the things that's difficult for us, as human beings, to absorb about horror is how it takes place alongside the ordinary. Trauma and beauty, humor and sorrow often exist within shared space. I've spent a lot of my adult life thinking about trauma, of both the personal and collective kind; in my 20s, I worked at a rape crisis center in the East Bay and listened to the stories of over a thousand sexual assault survivors. This experience shaped me, not only as a person and as an activist, but also as a writer. The question of how we survive trauma is inextricably linked with questions of how we heal, yes, but also questions about how we resist, how we live in the mundane world, how we create and re-create ourselves, how we laugh, how we flourish and how we break the walls that cage us. So the juxtaposition of these different moods and elements feels essential to an exploration of the whole.

You chose "Once upon a time" both as your opening sentence and as the entry point for several subsequent chapters. Why was such a conventional trope useful to the book's purpose?

De Robertis: Aesthetic choices are at their most powerful when they're made, not just for the heck of it, but in service of the work at hand. For this book, I wanted to tip this very political story with serious underpinnings into the realm of parable, of unfettered imagination and, yes, of fairy tale. It seemed essential to the spirit of the book, so why not signal that invitation to readers in the very first line? Come, take a flight, take a dive. To me, the title of the book sets the stage for that fairy-tale feel as well, playing on "The Princess and the Frog" -- though with a gender-bending streak to it, because we're not used to stories about women and girls being invoked when talking about male presidents, are we? What makes a story weighty and important? Who decides?

Your protagonist, as enlightened as he seems to be, struggles with the concept of homosexuality. Why was that important to include?

De Robertis: It was important to include this because it's true to life and reflects one of the deepest challenges facing all our social movements, namely, the ability to connect one issue area to others. The movement the protagonist arose from focused on economic equity, but how can you have that without fully addressing homophobia? Or sexism? All of these movements are connected, because they connect in real people's lives. It was true then, and it's true today: For example, we'll never overcome the climate crisis without dismantling white supremacy -- just look at how, here in the U.S., the same right-wing politicians refusing to address the climate crisis are also leveraging racism to enact voter suppression and stay in power. Without intersectionality, there is no social justice and no future for the planet.

For me, as a queer Latina immigrant writer, I was interested in really exploring what that inner journey looks like for someone who's committed to the idea of liberation, but who is straight and male and finds himself challenged to stretch his thinking about what liberation for everyone actually looks like. I wanted to delve into that experience with compassion, but also with an honest eye.

The first impression we come away with after meeting your ex-president in these pages is his deeply rooted humility. How much was our own ex-president in mind as you were crafting your fictional one?

De Robertis: I wrote this book during the Trump Era, and I was aware of writing with a double consciousness of both the place and time in which it's set and the realities I was living. But the portrayal in this book isn't ultimately about Trump. It's about power, more broadly -- how people hold it, how we wield it, how it shapes us and how we shape it in turn. We have lofty ideals about politicians as public servants; what does it mean when those ideals are corrupted? And what does it mean when somebody actually, sincerely attempts to carry them out? What do such attempts mean about the limits and possibilities of power, not only for presidents, but for the rest of us as well?

Can we assume that many of your ex-president's thoughts are also the thoughts of Carolina De Robertis? (For instance: "It doesn't take a military takeover for a government to menace its own people.")

De Robertis: Certainly, there are places where the ex-president's philosophy overlaps with mine, though there are also places where that's not the case, such as his struggle to understand queerness. But I think the more important question is how readers experience the protagonist's philosophy and ideas. As with any novel of ideas, the reader does not need to agree with the protagonist, but can take the text as an invitation to exchange; how do these ideas land with you, what do they stir in you, what do they spark? Even the ex-president himself is not always sure about his ideas. Even as he talks, inside, he's often searching, questing, wondering; we get to see both the roots of his convictions and the inner vulnerability of grappling with big, thorny questions.

As for that particular quote, in light of the current circumstances in various regions of the U.S., I do believe it speaks for itself.

One thing you surely did NOT make up is the model of a just revolution begun in earnest commitment to the good of the people that unravels because of the strength of the opposition and the fragility of its would-be followers. Did you have a particular historic event in mind?

De Robertis: I had many historic events in mind. I modeled the revolutionary movement in this book on Uruguayan history, which I'd been researching for 18 years for other novels. I also drew on movements in other Latin American countries. However, I really aimed for this narrative to explore deeper, broader questions about social change and how we enact it that have everything to do with who we are today in the U.S. and beyond and the future many of us would like to see for our communities. I've been an activist for at least 25 years, and I know that, in caring about the gap between the world as it is and the world as we'd wish it to be, I am far from alone. How do we create meaningful social change in the face of deeply entrenched injustice? How do we address the internal as well as external barriers to that change? What's the best use of our energies as people who care deeply about human life and our planet? What would it look like -- really look like -- to create a world where everyone can be safe and free?

These questions are perennial. They don't just belong to a single setting. In this book, I drew on one particular context -- Latin American revolutionary movements -- to shape a narrative that I hope will offer resonance beyond its place and time.

Sometimes your frog sounds like a Buddhist ("There is One. In the One is All.") But he seems to be a multipurpose critter: provocateur, crutch, guru, therapist -- am I misconstruing or leaving anything out? Did he seem real to you?

De Robertis: Yes, the frog is absolutely real to me, as a discrete character whose personality and inner life are unlike anyone else's. Like many fictional characters, he is a blend of many ingredients, from the real to the imagined. I knew the journey he and the president took would be psychologically and spiritually profound -- that there would be a strong dramatic arc between them -- so, to develop him, I in part drew on sacred sources, such as the "Bhagavad Gita," a Sanskrit holy text driven by a conversation between the human Arjuna and the divine Krishna, about how to live and which I've been reading in various translations for years. I did look to Buddhism, including the "Dhammapada," and, also, to wisdom stories about trickster deities whose needling catalyzes awakening -- particularly those of Eleggua, of the Orisha tradition rooted in Yoruba culture and present in many Afro-Latinx and Latin American communities. I did not copy from these sources, but they have been wells of deep listening and learning for me. With these and many other tools, I shaped the character of the frog.

Might your frog and your Norwegian journalist have anything in common besides both prodding the protagonist to plumb his past?

De Robertis: Another interesting question. What strikes me here is that the Norwegian journalist and the frog are two characters who never actually meet in the course of the book, as they exist in separate narrative strands. And yet, they interact inside the protagonist's consciousness. That's something that's so compelling to me about fiction: the way it can lay bare the secret connections between people, between moments, in ways that mirror the delicate webbing of our own lives.

Are we as readers free to regard the frog as a figment of the prisoner's fevered imagination? Do you care one way or the other?

De Robertis: I think readers have the right to experience books in their own unique ways, and some of the novels I've loved most have yielded a multiplicity of interpretations. So I embrace the notion that there's room for readers to make meaning from this narrative in different ways. Is the frog real? What is reality? Where is the line between our inner world and other realms? Fiction doesn't have to be about finding tidy answers to our questions; instead, it can be a dive into the questions themselves.

Last question, also about a creature as a character: Your protagonist has a beloved and devoted little dog named Angelita who, because of his carelessness, only has three legs. Do I detect a hobbling metaphor at work here?

De Robertis: I'm delighted that you brought up Angelita, because she happens to be a character based on real life: Jose Mujica, while president of Uruguay, had a dog with a similar story and temperament. Sometimes, as writers, in blending a real fact into our fiction, we come to see it in new ways. As I wrote, the story of Angelita's wounding, and of her tenderness as an animal friend, lent new resonance to the themes of healing, pain, love and renewal that were already in the novel and that run through the hidden heart of the novel, at least to me. There is infinite pain in our world -- there's no question -- but one of the things I wanted to lift up in this book is the infinite possibilities that also exist for renewal, healing and love. How do we best harness those qualities in our lives? That may be the question that most deeply fuels this book.

An author appearance

Sept. 14: A panel to kick off Latinx Heritage Month featuring Naima Coster, Carolina De Robertis, Patricia Engel, Daisy Hernandez and Quiara Alegria Hudes, moderated by Angie Cruz, hosted virtually by the New York Public Library and Mil Mundos Books.

For a registration link and more details, visit carolinaderobertis.com.

Copyright  2021 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

Copyright  2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)  Kentucky's plan to use its final $611 million batch of funds from the American Rescue Plan to support full-time, in-person learning during the pandemic has won federal approval.

The state also plans to use the money to support social-emotional learning and mental health programs, professional development in literacy instruction for educators and staff, technical assistance to implement accelerated-learning summer programs, and a new summer enrichment program with AmeriCorps focused on outdoor environmental education.
In the middle of February, a 30-pound dog named Canela ran into the forest that edges a neighborhood in Lake Tahoe  and disappeared.

Pet owners often think of Tahoe as a dogs paradise. There are mountain trails to run. Forests to smell. Lakes to swim. In Tahoe, dogs are as much a part of the lifestyle as a ski pass and an A-frame. But pets dont always stay close to home or their owners.

For all sorts of reasons  a dog escapes in a hole in a fence, it gets startled by another animal and runs away, wind might blow a gate open, a kid opens a door and the dogs run out, it sniffs its way into the forest and gets disoriented, it gets scared from loud noises like lightning and fireworks, or there are always those irresponsible pet owners  dogs in Tahoe get lost on a near daily basis in the spring, summer and fall. The missing pet signs follow.

Canela was the bright spot in the pandemic for Jonathan Burk, her human, a registered nurse in the Bay Area who works in a hospital. That day in February when Canela went missing, Burk and his boyfriend canceled their ski plans and spent hours walking in the woods, looking for paw prints, shouting her name, on the verge of tears. The more time that passed, the more desperate Burk felt.

The next morning, Burk went online and found a volunteer who specializes in dog search and rescues in Lake Tahoe and beyond. Her name is Wendy Jones. He called her right away.

Wendy got, like, incredibly involved immediately, he told me. When I spoke to Burk on the phone in August, he told me that Jones is the sweetest person. He called her an angel. But the first time he spoke with Jones, he got a lecture: She was so intense. She was like, Youre doing everything wrong.

---

Its early on a Saturday morning in the middle of a heat wave in July, and I am sitting in the backseat of a van thats covered in dog hair, with leashes and empty water bowls at my feet. Jones is in the front passenger seat, talking very fast into her iPhone. Heidi Nelson, the co-founder of an animal rescue service, is driving. We are heading down an arrow-straight highway that cuts across the sagebrush desert in Nevada, just on the other side of the mountains from Lake Tahoe. Our destination is a boondocked campsite, where a small fluffy white dog named Baby was last seen before it ran away a week ago.

Jones, 52, is a lifelong Tahoe resident. She has two dogs, a big one named Molli and a little one named Buddy. She describes herself as a personal caregiver. She works at the homes of elderly or disabled people and her career has been in the medical and criminal justice industries. Occasionally, she also makes money by working backstage security for concerts.

But her true passion is animals. Every single hour shes not working she spends volunteering for her animal search and rescue service, TLC 4 Furry Friends, which she runs under her nonprofit, Tahoe Paws.

I first heard of Jones when my friends dog, Goldie, went missing in June. Goldie is a shaggy blonde-haired mutt with pointy ears and clear blue eyes. She was 9 months old when she ran into the woods behind my friends house on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe and got lost.

The nights were the worst, Jill Kadota, one of Goldies humans, told me this week. Taylor Tomlinson, Kadotas fiance, is Goldies other human. Just to go to bed and think about her being lost, sleeping somewhere, not knowing where she was.

Late that first night after Goldie went missing, Kadota and Tomlinson called Jones.

After that, we were in contact with her constantly, Kadota said.

Courtesy of Jill Kadota

At any given time, Jones is working on a dozen missing animal cases, she told me. Summer is the busiest time of year; it's the peak season for tourism. But Jones also told me about a cat who went missing in Emerald Bay over Christmas, and Burks dog ran off in the snow in February. It happens all year long.

Jones has been working animal search and rescue and emergency response for 25 or 30 years. She responds to car accidents and wildfires  most recently, the Tamarack Fire  to help victims recover their animals. She guides and supports animal search and rescues across the globe. But most of the time, shes working with out-of-towners who come to the Sierra Nevada region and lose their pets on their visit. (Its mostly tourists, but not always. She told me about some longtime Tahoe residents who have lost their pets, too.)

Jones grew up in Zephyr Cove. She raised her son here (hes now 31). She told me that when she gets overwhelmed from her volunteer work rescuing animals, shell go down to the lake and paddle out on the water to calm down. Tahoe is the center of her life. Its where she goes to rejuvenate herself. But living in Tahoe is getting harder and harder.

Jones is among the growing number of Tahoe residents and longtime locals who no longer can afford the cost of housing here.

She has floated from one unstable housing situation to the next for years, unable to find a secure, reliable and permanent place to live that she can afford. Along the way, shes run into many old and run down houses that charge overpriced rents and terrible landlords that are not responsive. Most recently, she had to move out of a place in April and she has not been able to find a permanent home to live in since.

Its hard. Its hard on me. Im exhausted. Im stressed, Jones said. And I have no place to go. Im commuting and living in stholes, couch-surfing, my dogs are completely stressed out and anxious. And Im still trying to hold myself together to be professional and compassionate, to support all these people through hell. Im not just a dog search and rescue specialist and community response team. Im a therapist for these people. I support them for 24 hours a day.

Occasionally, donations come in to her nonprofit. But donations arent enough to cover the expenses of the equipment and supplies for the animal rescues. Because the nonprofit doesnt have money coming in, Jones pays for rescue expenses out of her pocket  including the motion-sensored cameras, batteries, website costs, the humane traps, food for the animals, gas to commute all over the Tahoe Basin, training and more. Shes on the verge of shutting down her nonprofit. Jones knows what shes good at. Thats finding lost animals. She also knows what shes not good at and doesnt have time for. Thats business and marketing on social media.

She rarely sleeps. Most nights, shes monitoring at least six cameras that shes set up wherever animals are missing, and people call her at all hours of the night. When her phone is not ringing, thoughts of the animals shes searching for run at a constant pace through her mind. Shes not just financially invested. Its emotional, too.

I just care more about animals than anything, Jones said. Anything besides my child.

---

In the van, Jones is speaking on her phone with a ranger at Sugar Pine Point State Park on Tahoes West Shore. The ranger had just seen a dog that had been missing for two weeks. During a family camping trip, the dog was on a walk when it got attacked by another dog in the campground, and it escaped its collar and ran away. Its owners dont live in Tahoe and they left after their camping trip to go back home, so Jones put her phone number on the missing pet flyers  something shell do only as a last resort.

Im on another dog search in the middle of Nevada, Jones tells the state parks ranger. If you can keep an eye out for her  just do not call her. Do not call her. Do not call her.

This is one of the cardinal rules of Jones method to finding lost dogs: Never call their name.

Survival mode is fear, fight or flight, Jones tells me in the van. When a dog bolts, adrenaline takes over and its like a switch flips on in their brains. When dogs are in survival mode, their sole focus is on staying alive, safe and running from anything they perceive as a threat. Everything is a predator to them, Jones said. Often, when a dog is in this state of mind, they wont recognize their owner. They wont recognize their name. They just run.

The only time they stop is to take a little rest if its a safe place to hunker down, or if there is water or a food source, Jones said. It takes several days or even a week for them to get tired and settle down, she noted. But even then, if a person approaches them, a dog in survival mode will most likely run away.

Courtesy of Wendy Jones

At first, her directions can seem counterintuitive  dont call the pets name and dont run after it. But if a pet owner doesnt follow her instructions, she says shell wish them luck and part ways. She wont waste her time working with people who dont follow the plan. She knows her method works to bring pets home, and she has little tolerance for wasted time. But mostly, the people she works with understand that, in order to get their pet back, they need to do what she says. On first impression, Jones comes off as tough and abrasive, but underneath, she has an overwhelming passion and deep love for dogs, cats and all animals. (Shes also a volunteer with local rescue teams to save bears, coyotes, raccoons and other wildlife.) She told me several times that she works this hard for the animals, more than the people.

When Goldie was missing, Kadota and Tomlinson said they spent the entire first night combing through the woods and shouting her name, which is what every pet owner I spoke with did at first. Its our human instinct to go searching for lost pets, but Jones also says this is the worst thing you can do. She instructs her clients to stay put. She doesnt want them spreading their scent or chasing their dog because that will only push the animal away further.

At one point, Kadota and Tomlinson saw Goldie while they were driving through their neighborhood. Kadota slammed on the brakes and got out of the car slowly. But when Goldie saw her and Tomlinson, she paused for a split second before she bolted back into the forest and down a hill covered in manzanita bushes.

We witnessed firsthand that Goldie was in survival mode, Tomlinson said. Like, she didnt recognize us. She didnt see who we were. So that was the pivotal moment for us.

From then on, Kadota and Tomlinson followed every instruction Jones gave them.

I have so many stories of little dogs that have lasted 13 days, or 14 or 16 or 18 days, Jones said. I have so many amazing stories. Unfortunately, not all of them are united. Some things happen. But I am very successful. Its a passion. I know what Im doing.

Key to Jones success is her method, which involves a very precise set of directions and also a process that adapts as the search unfolds. When Goldie was missing, Jones spent hours on the phone with Kadota and Tomlinson, guiding them every step of the way and shaping a plan to rescue their dog.

Every step, yeah, was a little hard to take in because it did all feel counterintuitive and because she was so intense about it, Burk said, when he was working with Jones to find Canela. But then everything made so much sense as we went on.

As a nurse, Burk said he can relate to Jones when shes in a position where she has to tell people feeling big emotions, in the middle of a crisis, things they dont want to hear or listen to.

Thats always where her underlying emotion was coming from, Burk said. Shes so invested. She puts so much work into every single rescue, and shes had people not follow her directions and then have things go wrong. Shes an animal lover herself. She gets so much from it. But she also takes on so much.

Courtesy of Jonathan Burk

Jones makes flyers for pet owners with a photo of the missing dog and their phone number, but not the pets name. She drives all over the Tahoe Basin to set up humane traps that are designed to shut the door when an animal walks in them. She sets up cameras to keep watch.

But she does not charge for her services. She is a volunteer. Kadota and Tomlinson said she never mentioned a cost, even though she was driving long miles to get to them and handing them supplies to use in their rescue.

Its not about the human, its about the animal, Jones said.

She is adamant that she helps missing animals as a volunteer-based service, through her nonprofit, so that money would never interfere or stop her from doing the work. All she asked in return, Kadota said, was that they follow her instructions.

I am very independent, Jones said. I dont like to charge, and I dont like to ask. I dont like to promote. I dont even like to tell people they can donate. I dont ever, ever, ever do that. But Im at the point where I am, basically, homeless.

In the van, Nelson pulls off the highway and drives up a dirt road surrounded by sagebrush, parking next to a muddy watering hole where Jones suspected the missing white fluffy dog was getting water. The van belongs to Heidi Nelson, who co-founded a nonprofit called Animal Rescue Relay that rescues dogs, cats, even a goat or two from kill shelters and adopts them into homes. Nelson often volunteers to help Jones on dog searches.

[Jones] thinks like a dog, Nelson told me. She meant this in the best way possible.

She understands fight or flight mode, Nelson said. I honestly dont know if its because shes in that mode a lot, herself, with her housing situation. She gets it. Shes on edge. She gets that.

---

Goldie was missing for more than a week when a neighbor spotted her in their backyard. Thats when Jones set up another one of the humane traps with a door thats designed to automatically shut when an animal walks in. She set up a camera to keep watch. Then they waited.

Several days later, Jones called Tomlinson just before 5 a.m. In the middle of the night, her camera sent her a photo with a figure in the trap. She thought it was Goldie. Tomlinson woke up Kadota and her mom, and the three of them walked down to the trap, holding out hope that theyd find their dog.

Its hard to describe the feeling, Tomlinson said. But Ill never forget showing up there and walking toward the trap.

It was Goldie. At first, she didnt recognize her humans. But then, Kadotas mom put her hands close to the kennels edge, and the scent immediately triggered something in Goldie that helped her recognize the humans standing near her were not a threat. They were her family.

It was like a flip switched in her mind, Tomlinson said. Like she snapped out of it, like a different animal.

Kadota says she was in shock when they finally found Goldie. Their dog had survived in the forest for 12 days. Goldie lost 10 pounds while she was out in the wilderness and when she came home, she slept for nearly two days. But after that, she was back to her normal self.

We were really hanging our last hope on [Jones], Kadota said. She was right. All the things that Wendy had been telling us the whole time, she was right about all of it.

Three days after Canela had gone missing, Burk reunited with his pet, too. He followed Jones instructions: posted flyers, stayed close to where she was last seen. Just as a storm was blowing in, someone called Burk, reporting that theyd seen Canela. Soon after, Burk was sitting in the middle of the street, waiting for her to recognize him. Eventually she came within arms reach and Burk scooped her up in his arms.

I cannot deal with how much this dog means to me, Burk said. Im just so grateful to Wendy because shes right. We would have been doing everything wrong and we would have been totally clueless.

A couple weeks after I spent a morning with Jones in the sagebrush desert, I called her again. Unfortunately, the fluffy white dog, Baby, was still missing, and as of this week, she still hasnt been found. But the dog at the campground at Sugar Pine Point had been found and reunited with its family. And Jones told me about yet another successful rescue, this time it was a 13-pound Chihuahua that had been missing for 32 days.

It was a happy reunion, Jones told me.

The joy she expressed was short-lived. She immediately dove right into the next case, telling me about a rescue shes currently working on. Her work never stops.
It was the early 2010s, and Tae Yoons parents business was struggling. So the young chef left his job cooking at Fig at the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica to return to Vallejo, where his parents ran Louisiana Fish & Chips in a strip mall on Tennessee Street.

Immigrants from Korea, Yuh Il Yoon and Jong Ran Park purchased the restaurant in the early 2000s. It had succeeded for a time, but with the 2009 financial crisis and recession, the restaurant, which sold fish and chips and burritos, was floundering.

The family came together and brainstormed, and thats when they decided to make a major shift: I told my parents, Why not do our food our style? Yoon said.

The question led to a whole new concept.

We were selling something that were not experts in, said Scott Lee, the son-in-law of Park and Yuh Il Yoon and business manager for Frymazing. The whole thought process was, Vallejo doesnt have a Korean restaurant, were Korean, we know how to make good Korean food, so lets bring that to Vallejo. We brought our home recipes, we brought just good quality ingredients.

Chris Preovolos/SFGATE

The menu was completely overhauled. Gone were the burritos and in its place they added sticky, savory-sweet Korean fried chicken, traditional dishes like bibimbap and thick-cut fries loaded with gochujang, aioli, pickled vegetables and barbecue meats, a melding of American and Korean flavors. Only the fish and chips remained, and when it opened in 2015, the restaurant was given a new name to reflect its new menu: Frymazing.

We have fries, it tastes amazing, it just kind of clicked, said Lee, who came up with the name.

The transformation helped save the business, said Tae Yoon and Lee.

I think the citizens of Vallejo really appreciate the quality food were producing, and they motivate us to continue to try to make even better food, Lee said.

Chris Preovolos/SFGATE

That motivation has led to a lot of experimentation in Frymazings kitchen. Yoons parents create the fried chicken, which comes in flavors like Korean barbecue, Korean soy garlic, honey butter and chillin chili. And Yoon has turned the kitchen into his own laboratory for new experiments.

Chris Preovolos/SFGATE

Yoon, who studied at Le Cordon Bleu in San Francisco, said he wants to use Frymazing to create fresh flavors that no one has ever tasted, in Korea or the U.S.

I want to do it [the way] that nobody does it, Yoon said. I want to make our own Frymazing style.

He points to the restaurants gochujang chili aioli as an example of this, a blend of classic Korean staples and Yoons culinary training, and the result of lots of experimentation.

I started putting gochujang with everything together and then it just happened.

Chris Preovolos/SFGATE

Yoons sauces are a highlight of dishes like the fire fries, his favorite item on the menu, which are made of beef bulgogi, kimchi, shredded cheese and fresh green onions on top of the restaurants thick-cut fries, then drizzled in the gochujang chili aioli and garlic aioli.

The best thing is all the combinations, the kimchi, bulgogi, the both aiolis. Its, how can I describe it? Yoon said.

Its frymazing, Lee interjected.

Its frymazing, Yoon repeated, the only word to encompass the restaurants decadent food. Even in Korea I never had a taste like that before.

Chris Preovolos/SFGATE

Experimentation also helped create Frymazings signature drink, a strawberry lemonade. When crafting the new menu, they were searching for a beverage that would work well with the food. They visited other restaurants that serve fried food and realized that lemonade is a popular pairing, Lee said.

For Frymazings lemonade, they decided to combine lemons with a strawberry compote, but it took hundreds of tries to hit on the right formula.

The lemonade was lots and lots of tastes, Lee said. ... We must have tasted it 300 times before we finally arrived on our final recipe.

Chris Preovolos/SFGATE

A newer experiment on the menu is the MSG chicken bites, which a chalkboard refers to as Must Try Seriously Good. The name was meant to be provocative, Lee said, a reference to monosodium glutamate, a seasoning popular in Chinese food that has been the target of racist health scares for decades.

Frymazings MSG chicken is a sort of chefed-up ramen combined with fried chicken, and its Lees favorite item on the menu.

Its basically Koreas most popular ramen, Shin Ramyun, and then we modify the flavors a bit and then we have our chicken that we fry up nice and crunchy, Lee said. I think its a great example of that smash of Korean comfort meets familiar flavors for people here.

Chris Preovolos/SFGATE

The restaurants unique blend of Korean and American food has helped it be successful, but it hasnt been without trials. Fried fish, a staple since before Frymazing was Frymazing, came off the menu during the pandemic because of supply issues. The quality of available fish was so bad, serving it would damage the restaurants image, Lee said.

We want to sell it to customers because they like it so much but, yeah, we cant risk selling bad quality ingredients just because they want it. Theyre not going to be satisfied when they eat it, Lee said.

Chris Preovolos/SFGATE

Similarly, Frymazing has had to change to-go boxes frequently based on whatever vendors have available, Lee said, and the restaurant has had trouble hiring and retaining additional employees. The U.S. workforce shrank for the first time in the nations history last year, contributing to labor shortages across the restaurant industry and the economy in general.

Right now, the restaurant is a total family operation, with Yoon and his parents cooking up the food and Lee managing business operations. Hyun Lee, Scott Lees wife and the daughter of the owners, does the lettering on all the restaurants menu boards, and Jun Park, Tae Yoons wife, is a graphic designer who created the restaurants new logo and made several illustrations around the restaurant.

Chris Preovolos/SFGATE

Still, Lee says the pandemic has also had an unexpected upside: Because Frymazing was primarily a takeout restaurant, its found a new customer base as people searched for safe places to get food during shelter-in-place orders.

It forced people to kind of look for what options were there through like DoorDash or just searching online to see what was there, instead of just going to what theyre comfortable with, Lee said.

Chris Preovolos/SFGATE

The restaurant is still only serving takeout, with the handful of indoor tables that were there pre-pandemic removed, and signs at the door requiring all customers to wear masks, despite Solano County being the only Bay Area county not to issue a new mask mandate.

And even as the restaurant has faced new and unexpected challenges, its remained a support for the whole family, the parents, their two children, their childrens spouses and the five daughters under age 7 between them. Lee emphasized that Frymazings success is a story of American possibility.

With our restaurant, we personally experienced that the American dream is still alive, he said. We put in the time, we put in the hustle, this restaurant is literally feeding three families right now.

Chris Preovolos/SFGATE

And, Lee said, he wanted Frymazings story to serve as inspiration to others to try something new, to take the risks theyve been pondering.

I just want to encourage everybody that if you have a passion, if youre good at something, just really try it, Lee said. ... Its very hard, but at the same time, its very rewarding when someone tells you that your food tastes great.

Frymazing is at 601 Tennessee St., Vallejo. Their hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; closed Sunday.
Kriti Sanon is having a golden run in the Hindi film industry with several films lined up. The actress feels no pressure and instead is motivated and would not want it any other way.

Kriti's latest release is 'Mimi'. She has her diaries full as her line-up includes 'Hum Do Humare Do', 'Bachchan Pandey', 'Bhediya' and 'Adipurush'.

With so much riding on Kriti, does it get pressuring?

Pat came the reply: "No, there is no pressure."

"I feel excited, motivated and thrilled because this is what I wanted to do. This is where I wanted to be and when I have reached where I have these kinds of opportunities in front of me," added the actress, who appeared in Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list of 2019.

The 31-year-old is happy with the kind of work coming her way.

"I am doing films which are not similar in any genre or flavour at all. I am getting to play so many different kinds of characters, getting to work with such amazing directors and stories that I would want to be a part of. I don't think there is anything more that you can ask as an actor and in a stage where you are getting your due and appreciation you crave for as an actor," she said.

Images: Kriti Sanon on Instagram

Text: IANS
There is no doubt that the British gave India many gifts for being part of their Empire. The most notable of course being the English language. However, there is equally no doubt that British policies directly or indirectly led to the death of crores of Indians, mostly from starvation. Flawed agricultural policies, forced conversion of land from food cultivation to cash crop cultivation, excessive taxation, plain old incompetence and a level of disinterest which chills the blood all led to this holocaust.

There were three major famines during Queen Victoria's reign over this country as Empress of India from 1876 to 1901. Yes, only 25 years of time. And the first of these was the great Madras Famine of 1876-78. The result of crop failure, this famine starved to death some 55 lakh Indians. And this is the British estimate. It began in what is today Tamil Nadu, before spreading to Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharastra and parts of Uttar Pradesh.

During this famine, the British continued to export record tons of food from India, tried to spend as little as possible (which was official policy) and perhaps most disturbingly, Lord Lytton, the Viceroy, held a grand banquet for 60,000 people, in honour of Queen Victoria's coronation.

They did try to provide relief, and millions were saved through some action. However millions died, and would do so in waves over and over again until finally the British, after one last famine in 1943, finally left this country.

There has never been any answer from the British for the actions of Lord Lytton, and many like him. And we will never know the pain of an India where 55 lakh human beings starved to death. But these pictures, taken by the English Colonel Willoughby Wallace Hooper, give a glimpse into that savage time.

Photograph by Willoughby Wallace Hooper (1876-1879)

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Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size When photographer Anton Corbijn first met Depeche Mode in 1981 while working an assignment for British music magazine NME, he wasnt convinced. For the intense Corbijn, the son of a preacher who had moved from Holland to England a year prior to follow moody post-punkers Joy Division, the poppy four-piece were light stuff. Thats just the way I was wired, that if you do something it should feel like you do it with all your might. Your focus, your energy, always 100 per cent on the one thing, cause I guess thats what I did in my photography at the time, Corbijn, 66, says from a hotel room in London. When I felt people fell short of that, I wasnt so interested. The bands sound took on a colder, industrial edge with 1983s Construction Time Again and 1984s Some Great Reward, when guitarist Martin L. Gore took control of their songwriting. And although music critics struggled to comprehend how the band whod recorded Just Cant Get Enough was now singing about sex and death and religion, Corbijns interest was piqued. Anton holding onto Dave during the filming of video Barrel of a Gun, Marrakech, 1996. Credit:Anton Corbijn, courtesy of TASCHEN. Yes, they dismissed them, he recalls of the music presss response to the bands sudden transition. But between the first time I met them to when I really started to work with them about five years later, they really developed and they became a different band, really. They had a lot more seriousness going on, so that I could see how my images and their sounds really started to match up. Forty years on, the photographer and band have carved out one of pop musics most intriguing creative partnerships to the point that Corbijn, the bands de facto creative director, who has taken their publicity shots, shot their videos and designed their album covers, logos and stage shows, has often been called the bands fifth member. Images from across their collaboration are collated in the sumptuous new 512-page book, Depeche Mode by Anton Corbijn. By the time hed meshed with Depeche, Corbijns early rock photography had already cultivated a distinct artistic style characterised by high-contrast black and white, heavy grain, movement, and a unique interpretive streak (his iconic NME cover photo of Joy Division in a London tube station had the band completely turned away from camera, save an over-the-shoulder glance from Ian Curtis). The aesthetic was tonally a fit for Depeche Mode, lending a solemn, romantic image to their new sound.

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Asked in the book how hed envisage Depeche Mode if Corbijn had not been such a part of the bands identity, frontman Dave Gahan quips: In focus and in colour. While influenced by documentary photographers such as Dorothea Lange and Diane Arbus, Corbijn says his aesthetic, defined by working at a fast pace, was borne by necessity. Dave Gahan in Randers, Denmark, 1987. Credit:Anton Corbijn, courtesy of Taschen When I was coming up in Holland if you wanted to photograph somebody in the music world who came through, you usually had a few minutes, that was it. So you became very inventive in how you used those few minutes, and it helped you focus, he says. That was a good schooling, I think, because I know I can take a good picture anywhere, that it will somehow work. Asked how hed envisage Depeche Mode if Corbijn had not been a part of the bands identity, Dave Gahan quips: In focus and in colour. During those early years shooting for the NME , hed arrive at jobs with a simple set-up: his Nikkormat FT camera (and a spare in case it went on the fritz), plus 50mm, 35mm and 80mm lenses. Im not a studio photographer so location is a very big thing, and you dont always have the luxury of taking people to places that would be ideal, so I always improvised and made something work, he recalls. His first shoot with Depeche Mode in August 1981 saw him taking the band out in a row boat on a small lake in their hometown of Basildon, Essex.

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Its advantageous sometimes to be forced into that kind of focus, he says. Because if you have all this time and all these cameras and lenses, you lose what could be the strength of the simple approach. I mean, its just one idea and you shoot it. How many different ways can you shoot it? Corbijns first shoot with Depeche Mode (with former member Vince Clarke) in London, 1981. Credit:Anton Corbijn, courtesy of Taschen Corbijn was a fixture with the band through the release of their most significant records, 1990s Violator, for which he designed the rose-adorned album cover and shot the evocative video for single Enjoy The Silence (It was on high-rotation on MTV, people wrote it was the David Lynch of videos; it was interesting the impact it had, he recalls), and the follow-on 1993s Songs of Faith and Devotion. He remembers it as the start of a dark period, where Gahan succumbed to drug abuse and emotional torture, eventually overdosing on a speedball in May 1996 that left him clinically dead for two minutes. A stark photo in the book from August 1993, taken in a Frankfurt hotel after a gig, shows Gahan gaunt and lifeless, his torso and arms covered in nicks and scars. Why did Corbijn take the photo, so severe in its intimacy? Was he trying to show Gahan to himself? I dont know if there was an ulterior motive, I dont know if its just a photographer being with someone in a room and thinking, This makes a good picture, Corbijn says.

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Loading The injuries were partly self-inflicted and partly because he was diving into the audience every night. But theres also a very Jesus-like vibe to the photo, the way hes lying there with his eyes closed but all this damage to him. It had something. A combination of heaven and hell, I guess. In his 2015 film Life, about Life magazine photographer Dennis Stock and actor James Dean, Corbijn explored the unique relationship between photographer and subject. Whats it like being with a rock band during those periods of heady excess, well within the romantic facade that everyone else sees? Its always different when you look back. When youre in there, although there was darkness and all that, there was also, of course, the elation, says Corbijn. The concerts were successful and each day was an incredible rush of energy, so that confuses things in a way. Dave Gahan in Madrid, 1992. Credit:Anton Corbijn, courtesy of Taschen But, of course, when I look back I shouldve maybe talked to Dave more seriously, he adds. Because Im not a connoisseur of drug use, I maybe didnt understand just how damaging or how far it went. Im happy that period is behind us, because it was not a healthy time. Since 2007s Control, a biopic about the late Ian Curtis of Joy Division, Corbijn has worked primarily in film. His next project, he says, will be a documentary on Hipgnosis, the English design group who created album cover art for artists including Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and Paul McCartney (Its a documentary about the dying art of album sleeves and the resurgence of people buying vinyl, he says). But he remains enamoured with the possibilities of still photography.

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I love the simplicity of just going out with my camera. Especially after making movies, I realised the freedom you have as a photographer, he says. To get a movie to work there are so many elements that have to gel, it takes years of your life and it can still fail. In photography, if it goes wrong youve only lost a few hours. Depeche Mode in San Francisco, 2008. Credit:Anton Corbijn, courtesy of Taschen Corbijns list of portrait subjects could rival Forrest Gumps encounters. Theres Nick Cave (One of my favourite subjects, he always looks believable), Miles Davis (We shot in 5-10 minutes, he had such a strength), Tom Waits (He does his own thing, never PR or anything, just Tom and me), and Nelson Mandela (Such an aura, a beautiful energy. Thats an experience that remains with you). Hes also had a similar long-term collaboration with U2, famously shooting their Joshua Tree album cover and acting as creative director across various albums and tours (Theyre always open with trying things, but its a bigger machine, he says). But his relationship with Depeche Mode remains personally rewarding. Dave Gahan in Frankfurt, 1993. Credit:ANTON CORBIJN, COURTESY OF TASCHEN Loading Theres an advantage with staying with one subject for a long time; you become part of the furniture so theres an ease in the relationship and what you can do, says Corbijn. I hope people can appreciate the variety of things weve done. I think weve made some great things together.

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Bendigo winemakers Paul Greblo, 73, and Karen Sorenson, 71, had a courtship that spanned a quarter of a century and the entire globe. Then Paul and the American-born Karen decided to actually meet in person.

Karen Sorenson and Paul Greblo: I kept Pauls letters but my mother tossed them out in 1987. I wish I still had them. Credit:Josh Robenstone

Paul: Growing up in Bendigo, we always had people from other countries staying with us: my father was an Italian immigrant who wanted to help others get started in Australia. In 1964, when I was in year 11, I decided I wanted an overseas pen pal, so I signed up for one in Parker Pen magazine. I asked for a girl because I didnt think a guy would write often enough.

Karen, who lived in Brooklyn, started writing to me later that year. Her letters were friendly and chatty, detailing all her activities and schoolwork tasks. The post was excellent in those days: her letters took five days to arrive from New York. We wrote to each other every week.

She married at 22 and wrote about her new life with her husband. I confided that I was scared of being drafted [to Vietnam]; I didnt want to sacrifice years of my life. There were times when she didnt say as much, though, like when her marriage broke down seven years later, in 1979.
I carried a little yellow booklet nestled next to my passport. It listed the immunisations I had been delivered from childhood, plus numerous vaccines and boosters given by medical travel specialists. Crossing borders, I automatically and proudly handed over my immunisation record with my passport. There were many countries intent on protecting their hospitals and citizens from outbreaks of preventable diseases like yellow fever, typhoid, hepatitis A and B, tuberculosis, cholera, tetanus, rabies and, yes, measles. They sensibly refused entry to those who hadnt taken the trouble to get themselves vaccinated. My little yellow booklet - call it a vaccine passport - was not particularly exotic in a world that knew immunisation worked. Australian travellers who have visited South America, the Caribbean or Africa - all areas where yellow fever is a risk - must still present such a certificate to the Border Force on return to Australia to prove they have been vaccinated.

And yet, in 2021, amid a pandemic, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has publicly declared his government will not make it mandatory for Australians to be given a vaccine against COVID-19. He is, pretty obviously, playing to parts of his constituency which are opposed to vaccination or are otherwise committed to freedom from government edicts. He also appears to have an eye on the potential for lawsuits from workers feeling they are the victims of discrimination if they lose their jobs rather than submit to vaccination. Loading Whether Morrison will stick to this position remains unknown. He has reversed himself so many times during the current pandemic his head must spin.

Perhaps, as usual, he is waiting for others - such as private businesses and the states - to take the first step, enabling him to declare it was his idea. Nevertheless, it appears likely that later this year, Australians who are fully vaccinated will get the benefit of what we might call a vaccine passport, allowing them to travel or eat out or gather for events like concerts or the footy. Morrison himself all but said it when outlining the national cabinets four-phase plan out of the current era of low vaccination rates and frequent lockdowns. If you get vaccinated, there will be special rules thatll apply to you, he said, referring to the period when 70 per cent of Australians are vaccinated, presumably late this year. Loading

We might hope for it, for only the vaccinated are less likely to catch the virus, less likely to transmit it or to require hospitalisation. The fact that this would mean the stubbornly unvaccinated would miss out on social freedoms should not unduly trouble the rational. It will, of course, cause buffoons to squall about being stripped of liberty and their so-called sovereign rights. Just this week the Queensland MP George Christensen - a member of Morrisons government, for pitys sake, who claims he has gathered 60,000 names on a petition opposing vaccine passports - was singing the song of the crackpots, his right to free speech having been defended by Morrison and National Party colleagues. When will the madness end? How many more freedoms will we lose due to fear of a virus, which has a survivability rate of 997 out of 1000? Christensen demanded to know, declaring wearing masks and lockdowns didnt work and ignoring that health systems are easily swamped during an outbreak by those seeking the freedom of survival. At that very hour my baby granddaughter, having taken a tumble and cracked her head against a large rock, was being rushed to our local hospital.
Western Australia will place its harshest measures yet on travellers from COVID-infected states, including having to prove they have received at least one vaccine dose and have recorded a negative PCR test in the three days before their departure.

The changes come under an overhaul of WAs COVID-19 state classifications, which include stricter testing and vaccine rules under its high risk category and the introduction of an extreme risk category that will see travellers having to complete two weeks hotel quarantine.

WA Premier Mark McGowan at a press conference August 13, 2021, where he announced harder border measures with NSW. Credit:Peter de Kruijff

The changes are the most significant boosts to border controls since the hard border was introduced at the beginning of the pandemic and come as New South Wales announced a record 390 new cases and two more deaths.

The new high-risk category will be triggered when a state records a daily average of 50 new community cases, while the extreme risk category will be declared when an average of 500 new community cases is recorded.
A teacher at Sydney private boys school Trinity Grammar called himself a horny old man and sent a photograph of his penis to police posing online as a 13-year-old girl, as he repeatedly asked her for images of her breasts in text conversations spanning several days.

Alexander Simpson, 40, has been working as a labourer since police arrested him at the schools Summer Hill campus in August last year. Following the arrest he made a full admission to the conduct alleged  although he told police he didnt believe the girl he was talking to was actually 13.

Former Trinity Grammar School teacher Alexander Simpson is now working as a labourer.

Simpson pleaded guilty in the NSW District Court to using a carriage service to send indecent material to a person under 16 and using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material. On Friday, Judge Leonie Flannery SC handed him a 24-month sentence but allowed him to be released immediately under a recognisance order.

Judge Flannery said it was of some relevance that there was no impact from the offending on an actual child, but that she was sentencing Simpson on the basis that he believed he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl.
YouTube personality Jordan Shanks has lost a preliminary fight in the defamation case brought against him by NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro, after a judge found the defences of truth and honest opinion could not be relied on in part of the case because it would breach parliamentary privilege.

Mr Barilaro sued Mr Shanks in the Federal Court in May, alleging he was defamed by videos titled bruz and Secret Dictatorship which were published on the Friendlyjordies channel in September and October last year. Google, which owns YouTube, is also being sued in the case.

Being sued for defamation: Jordan Shanks-Markovina, also known as Friendlyjordies. Credit:Facebook

The politician argues the videos incorrectly portray him as a corrupt conman who committed perjury nine times and should be jailed, among other imputations. Mr Shanks has sought to rely on the defences of truth, contextual truth and honest opinion.

In a preliminary hearing last month, Mr Shanks lawyers argued it was an abuse of process for Mr Barilaro to bring the perjury part of the case, because Mr Shanks would be unable to mount a defence without referring to what Mr Barilaro said in parliament, which would breach parliamentary privilege.
Multicultural broadcaster SBS will start providing live interpretations of the NSW governments COVID-19 updates in Arabic and Vietnamese on its television channels in an effort to clearly communicate lockdown restrictions and vaccination messages to badly affected communities.

Fairfield and Canterbury-Bankstown are among the worst affected areas in NSWs latest COVID-19 outbreak, and a high number of households in those areas speak a language other than English at home. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said health authorities were also concerned with Sydneys Bayside, Burwood and Inner West council areas.

SBS director of audio and language content David Hua says the frequent changes and updates to lockdown restrictions can cause confusion for communities. Credit:James Brickwood

David Hua, SBS director of audio and language content, said the frequent changes and updates to restrictions could cause confusion for communities and that communicating the requests of government was complex.

A lot that has been changing with the virus over the last little while ... particularly the last few weeks, and that has added to confusion right across for [our] community, Mr Hua said.
Aboriginal children make up a large number of COVID-19 cases in western New South Wales with local health authorities warning its a scary time for the region.

Dubbo has recorded 17 new cases and a further two in Walgett, bringing the cluster to a total of 25.

Cars queue for COVID-19 testing at the Dubbo showground on Friday. Credit:Luke HIbbard.

Scott McLachlan, the chief executive of the Western NSW Local Health District, said it is a scary time for people in Dubbo and north-western parts of the state.

We expect this number will continue to grow, the vast majority of new cases were infectious in the community, he said.
Who was the late Dr Dianne Houghton? Not much is known about the reclusive general practitioner other than she lived frugally, loved dogs, and worked with those in need in developing countries and in Sydney during the AIDS epidemic.

Following a multimillion bequest, income from Dr Houghtons estate will support a unique general practice near Sydneys Central Station specialising in the health needs of the homeless, regardless of where they live or immigration and Medicare status.

Nobody will be turned away, said Peter Valpiani, the chief executive of the non-profit Haymarket Foundation that will operate the general practice in the St Laurence Centre near Railway Square.

Tyler, a pseudonym, was homeless and living on the streets for more than 20 years. She avoided doctors because they would treat her with disdain, and think she was pill shopping. Credit:Nicholas Moir

Around 35 per cent of NSWs homeless - ranging from those living on the streets or in short-term accommodation - live in Sydney or the eastern suburbs. Yet, many homeless didnt feel welcome at most GP practices, he said.
Police are investigating social media threats to contaminate SPC food products after the manufacturer behind brands including Ardmona and Goulburn Valley announced it would require its staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

SPC chairman Hussein Rifai said he was completely confident in the safety of the companys products, citing its state-of-the-art screening, hygiene and quality assurance systems.

Workers at SPCs factory in Shepparton will be required to be fully vaccinated by the end of November in a plan that has created a firestorm from anti-vaxxers. Credit:Justin McManus

So we have no concerns at all [about safety], but we are the sort of people that act proactively not reactively, Mr Rifai said.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said police in Shepparton, where SPC has a major facility, had received a report on Thursday of an online account making comments about potential product contamination.
The Victorian government is confronting an exodus from its most influential policy-making body with more than a dozen senior advisers leaving Premier Daniel Andrews private office over the past six months.

The steady departure of policy, media and legal advisers and administrative staff from the Premiers private office means there are now only a handful of surviving members from the team which took over the running of government after the 2014 election.

Premier Daniel Andrews is confronting an exodus of senior advisers from his private office. Credit:Wayne Taylor

Current and former staff speaking anonymously to The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald attributed the attrition to the additional pressure that working through the pandemic has placed on already high-pressure jobs.

Senior staff have also timed their departures to allow the government to find replacements before it heads into an election year. Some have made the calculation that with the 2022 election likely to be Mr Andrews last as premier, now is a good time to seek private-sector employment.
A young driver who narrowly missed hitting pedestrians, cyclists and a police officer as he sped through central Melbourne will be released after nine months in jail.

Bryce ODonnell caused people to run to safety and a police officer to jump out of the way when he drove through the Bourke Street Mall on January 28, hitting a road barrier and bollard after police had tried to intercept the stolen car in a no-vehicle zone in Swanston Street.

Bryce ODonnell pleaded guilty to reckless conduct and other charges. Credit:Victoria Police

ODonnells erratic and dangerous driving continued as he turned out of Bourke Street and continued through the CBD, where he also narrowly missed hitting cyclists and pedestrians in Swanston Street.

His driving came just over four years after the Bourke Street tragedy of 2017 when six people were killed and many more injured when a driver deliberately ran down people.
The state government is running a recruitment campaign calling for more healthcare workers to sign up to COVID-related roles including hotel quarantine, vaccination and testing. Associate Professor Riddell said the situation was already relatively fragile before coronavirus, particularly in mental health and emergency and intensive care, which have higher training requirements but can demand a lot of staff. So all of it draws nursing out of the business-as-usual services and when you are thin on the ground anyway, you cant afford that attrition, she said. On top of that, our nurses have been working absolutely flat out for 18 months. They are tired. Associate Professor Riddell said work was underway with the Victorian health department to try to ensure that nurses werent doing jobs that could be done by other workers. Health and Community Services Union secretary Paul Healey said before the coronavirus hit, Victoria was roughly 450 mental health nurses short.

He said many nurses working in major hospitals during the second wave last year were burnt out, opting to leave stressful and difficult hospital jobs in mental health for temporary work at hotel quarantine, vaccine centres, COVID-19 respiratory and testing clinics. Its a workforce in crisis everywhere. Its a crisis in mental health, disability, aged care and drug and alcohol services, he said. There is a shortage of staff in every sector. A former mental health nurse, he said staffing shortages meant it would be impossible to open new mental health beds because there werent enough staff to care for an influx of patients. He said some mental health nurses were working more than 70 hours a week. Last week, one mental health nurse working at a busy Melbourne hospital worked several 15-hour shifts in a row. She hadnt seen her four-year-old child awake in five days as she would leave so early in the morning and get home so late, he said.

A health source with close knowledge of a psychiatric triage service run by Monash Health, which assesses people and determines whether they need to be hospitalised, said it was four full-time staff short, meaning that crisis calls were often going through to voicemail. Often there will be two people on the team working when there should be six, and they are dealing with up to 50 calls a day from people, the source said. Staff are so exhausted. There just isnt enough staff to cope with the demand. Last decade, it was estimated there would be a shortfall of nurses of more than 80,000 in 2025, and more than 120,000 in 2030. But Australian College of Nursing chief executive Kylie Ward said not enough had been done to address this expected shortage. We know through the [aged care] royal commission, theres been some disastrous stories and thats because one [registered nurse] has been left to look over 100 or 200 residents, Adjunct Professor Ward said. Theyre brilliant nurses, but if youve got [another] option, you take it. Professor McGorry said there was a large number of unfilled positions before the pandemic hit, but there was now higher demand for mental health services.

Patrick McGorry said demand for mental health services had increased markedly since the pandemic began. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui Specialist youth mental health services Orygen was only able to accept one in four seriously unwell people who needed help, he said. Obviously we will over the next six to 12 months have the ability to reduce that, but we need to do something now. He said people may need to be re-assigned from other areas of the health system because the unmet mental health dwarfs any other area. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Victorian branch secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said nurses and midwives were working an unprecedented amount of double shifts.

Were concerned thats dangerous. Its far from ideal. Loading A spokesman for Monash Health said the healthcare service was experiencing staffing shortages, including in mental health. We are continuing to recruit in all areas of our health service as we ensure that our patients, clients, and the community receive appropriate, high-quality care, he said. We strongly encourage people to continue seeking care and support when needed throughout the pandemic.
Police cordoned off a popular dog beach in Perths northern suburbs on Friday afternoon after a walker found what is believed to be a human bone.

Officers were called to Brighton Beach, near Scarborough, just before 1pm where the forensic conducted a search of the area for other remains.

The bone has been bagged and taken in for testing. Credit:Nine News

Di Hepburns dog uncovered the bone while on a walk, and she told ABC Perth she had never seen anything like it at the beach.

Ive done a bit of anatomy at college, I basically felt that it was [human], she said.
My curiosity led me first to history, where I discovered that the word risk first appeared in English as a noun for mass experience in 1661, when it was defined as peril, jeopardy, danger, hazard, chance. Four of those words inspire fear. That was baked into our idea of risk from the beginning, and especially for parents, the anxiety has been building ever since. For many, modernity shifted the burden of responsibility for lifes uncertainties from God and religious institutions  where people used to go when peril hit  to the family unit and ultimately, the individual consumer. Risk these days is tied up with identity, politics and class: each of us is expected to decide whats best and defend our position with zeal. Or at least thats what Id been taught as an American. Freedom. Choice. Dont tread on me. These were the ideals Id learnt to romanticise growing up in Massachusetts, where the American Revolution began. The trouble is, as individuals, were all remarkably bad at assessing risk. If were not careful about who and what we surround ourselves with, we can drift into extremes  arguing for selfish recklessness or the fiction of zero risk, claiming reason while relying on feelings. Paul Slovic helped me understand that. A soft-spoken psychology professor at the University of Oregon, he was one of the first researchers to examine how humans perceive the risks around them. He started to identify our risk-assessing flaws with a study in the 1970s that presented test subjects with different causes of death, asking them to compare the dangers in pairs and choose which one was more deadly, and by how much. Again and again, people got it wrong. They said tornadoes were more likely killers than asthma, even though asthma causes 20 times more deaths. They said lung cancers were a more potent killer than stomach cancers (theyre not). Overall, most respondents rated diseases and accidental death as roughly equal. In fact, death by disease is 18 times more likely. With additional studies, Slovic concluded that were not as rational as we think. Were driven by emotion and the information that fires us up. Were more afraid of new risks we dont understand and we obsess over what we hear more about from the media and friends.

Attention is akin to a spotlight, Slovic told me on one of our many calls and video chats while I was working on my new book, Into the Rip (Simon & Schuster, out September 29). It shines on some piece of information and everything out of the spotlight might not be seen. So in the current pandemic moment, many of us know that lockdowns and closed borders have limited Australias COVID-19-related deaths to nearly 950. But do we know how many deaths last year were from influenza and pneumonia? (2122.) In other words, theres a groupthink momentum to risk perception that can be hard to see. None of us are an island of individualism; were more like schools of fish. And if were not careful about who and what we surround ourselves with, we can drift into extremes  arguing for selfish recklessness or the fiction of zero risk, claiming reason while relying on feelings. Now heres the good news: especially in Australia. The building blocks of a more risk-savvy society  one that manages risk with moderation and calm  are all around us. Even before the pandemic, the more time I spent watching my kids in Nippers, the more I started to see it as a form of risk training that should be a model for Australia and the world. Every week, I saw children who could barely memorise their times tables pushed further into a turbulent ocean. They were being exposed to moderate dangers that required the suppression of emotion  tears were ignored like a passing squall  while learning about the limits of human certainty and the power of practice and communal effort.

Everyone on that beach, parents and children in the water, together, worked towards the goal of making hundreds of kids proficient enough to stay relatively safe and help other people in need. What a word, proficient: Skilled in doing. Not perfect. Not heroic. Just skilled and active. Thats what risk researchers say more of us need to do. Build toward mastery. Resist knee-jerk risk aversion. After all, even pain can be positive. One study from Norway, for example, found that children who hurt themselves falling from trees and tall obstacles as children are less likely to be afraid of heights when theyre adults. As parents, some of us forget that long-term logic, instead reining our children in because we fear injury. Many of us also fail to model bravery in our own lives, unless were pushed. During the Black Summer fires, many of the volunteer firefighters I met told me they had only signed up after a relative or friend pressed them to commit. They saw that as a good thing. Baz was my recruiter. After he challenged me to get my Bronze Medallion and join him in the water, I flopped and flailed my way into lifesaver-dom. I failed my first Bronze swim assessment (400 metres nearly broke me) and then I had to take lessons with the same instructor who taught Baz and his younger sister, Amelia. It was humiliating. It hurt. It was frightening. And it was worth doing  I eventually passed, and the benefits stretched beyond practical skills. My willingness to endure discomfort led to deeper connections with my children and my community. On my first day with rescue boards, I understood  for the first time  what we were all getting into when I found myself far out to sea with a group of fellow trainees, paddling and sweating where Id seen whales breach. The view of the coast called out for exclamation. When our guide, Dave, showed us how to spin and eskimo-roll, we all looked like fools, slipping, sliding and giggling like awkward tweens.

But there was a point to all that play. We needed to have command of the board because wed be expected to paddle out, save a drowning swimmer and return to shore. A few years earlier, a surfer died after crashing into the craggy outcrop we were just then paddling past. Part of the reason we need to embrace risks and new challenges when theyre lacking in our lives is because it helps keep our own self-regard in perspective. Dave stopped us a few metres past there, a short paddle from where the rolling swell was breaking. The ocean heaved, with sets coming in every few seconds. We each took two turns racing towards the beach, with the surge of the surf thrusting us forward. On my first try, I slid back on my board and rode forward without a problem. On my second, a giant wave toppled me off the side. Compared to Bazs crash, I was even more of a sloppy mess, tumbling in the churn of sea and sand. Then my feet hit the sand. I stood, shook my head and walked away unhurt  feeling completely alive. And smiling. Loading Getting smashed, I realised, is only a small moment of learning how to deal with risk. Theres also the sublime, humbling experience of bobbing in a majestic sea; and the childlike laughter of being a novice with so much room to improve. I walked away that day thinking of a line Ive always loved from Blaise Pascal, one of historys first risk researchers and most angst-ridden philosophers: We are something but we are not all.
One option is for the CSL facilities to work with Moderna, which is in parallel talks with Industry Minister Christian Porter over whether to build its own facility in Australia or use a contract manufacturer instead. While CSL is producing 50 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine under a partnership agreed last year, its new proposal aims to build a long-term sovereign capacity, with the option of a technology transfer with Moderna. This isnt just about responding in the coming years, its about setting Australia up for the coming decades, Mr Marlow said. The first stage of the proposal is an mRNA research and production hub in the Elizabeth North precinct between the University of Melbourne and the city, close to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.

The Seqirus division is already developing a next-generation mRNA flu vaccine and has committed $800 million to the Tullamarine project in Melbournes north. If the federaAustral government backs the formal proposal, the company would aim to complete the industrial-scale mRNA facility at Tullamarine in 2024, with production subject to regulatory approval of the facility. The Elizabeth North facility would produce vaccines from 2023 and would require a technology transfer agreement with an mRNA developer such as Pfizer or Moderna. A key objective is to have a sovereign capacity to respond quickly to a new variant of the coronavirus and produce two doses for the entire population, while also being able to export vaccines to the region in the longer term. When the industrial-scale facility is complete, Australia would have the capacity to manufacture more than two doses of an mRNA vaccine for every Australian in 16 weeks, CSL says in part of its plan.

Loading The company has not put a public cost on its investment because it is in commercial talks with the federal government. It would have to revisit the manufacturing plans if it did not gain government backing. It is also talking to the Victorian government, which has a $50 million fund to support mRNA manufacturing. The mRNA approach can be adapted more quickly to new strains of the virus compared to viral vector vaccines such as AstraZeneca, claim developers such as BioNTech, the German company that works with Pfizer. Labor leader Anthony Albanese has accused Prime Minister Scott Morrison of failing to order enough vaccines one year ago and being too slow to sign a deal to make mRNA in Australia, saying this leaves the country exposed. But the mRNA manufacturing is yet to be replicated in any location outside the United States and Europe, where it was pioneered by Pfizer and BioNTech and separately by Moderna.

Singapore announced an agreement with BioNTech in May to manufacture several hundred million doses of mRNA vaccine from early 2023, while Chinese company Fosun Pharma signed with the same company the same month. Those deals raise questions about whether Australia can pursue deals with Pfizer and BioNTech or is more likely to attract Moderna to the region. The South Korean government struck an agreement with Moderna in May to explore local manufacturing while Canada announced a deal with the company this week, although it did not say where the facility would be located or when it would start production. Moderna said the Canadian facility would be activated on an urgent basis to respond to the pandemic and said it could be matched in other countries.

The company is in discussion with other governments about potential collaborations built on a similar model, it said. Asked about Modernas plans for Australia, a company spokesperson declined to comment. The companys quarterly report on August 5 said it was considering Australia as the location for a trial of its vaccine among children, but the spokesman said on Friday this was not going ahead. Loading Mr Porters parallel negotiations, with CSL and others involved in the approach to market on one hand and Moderna on the other, are likely to lead to significant spending by the federal government if it wants to lure vaccine companies. The next stage of the approach to market is likely to be a shortlist that removes some contenders from the next round of talks.
Employers with unvaccinated staff could be protected from lawsuits brought by colleagues who get the coronavirus under a proposal Prime Minister Scott Morrison took to national cabinet on Friday.

Responding to business leaders concerns, Mr Morrison suggested state safe work authorities issue statements making clear that employers that left vaccination decisions up to their staff were not breaching health and safety rules.

Craig Laundy, who operates about 50 pubs and employs 1300 people, said with the advice continually changing, he saw mandatory vaccination as the only clear way of complying with health and safety rules. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Business owners, including former Liberal workplace minister turned pub baron Craig Laundy, had said they felt pressure to make vaccinations compulsory for their workers after the Prime Minister last week suggested some firms already had the power to require jabs.

But Mr Laundy, who operates about 50 pubs and employs 1300 people, said with the advice continually changing, he saw mandatory vaccination as the only clear way of complying with health and safety rules.
Displaced Victorians unable to return home from NSW have started gathering at the Albury Showgrounds in caravans and tents in scenes reminiscent of the Spanish flu pandemic a century ago.

Dozens of travellers have stopped at the site just north of the border in recent weeks to complete 14 days quarantine inside the border bubble, prompting the Showgrounds Trust to cancel the usual five-day limit for campers.

Albury Showgrounds has become a pop-up quarantine hub for displaced Victorians, next door to a COVID-19 testing centre. Credit:Jason Robins

As NSW recorded an all-time daily high of 390 new cases on Friday, Premier Daniel Andrews reiterated his commitment to the toughest border rules since the start of the pandemic where only those with rare exemptions can enter the state.

Data released to The Age by the Victorian health department on Friday shows that just 770 of 12,606 applications for an exemption  or about 6 per cent  have been approved since July 20. Reasons such as moving from NSW for work or non-urgent medical purposes are unlikely to be granted, a spokesman said.
But Zhaos Afghanistan broadside was something else entirely. The tweet eclipsed the war-crimes report to become the biggest news in Australia and the turning point of a second national reckoning  this time on the subject of China. There had never been a moment before then where the entire national conversation, from the prime ministers courtyard to the suburban barbecue, was about Chinas offensive, coercive diplomacy, the former senior government official said.

Zhao had already made headlines once before, for a tweet in the early days of the pandemic in which he floated a conspiracy theory that the virus originated in the United States. When did patient zero begin in US? Zhao wrote. How many people are infected? What are the names of the hospitals? It might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent! Make public your data! US owe us an explanation! That time, the US State Department summoned the Chinese ambassador to protest the accusation.

Earlier that month, the inspector-general of the Australian Defence Force had released the results of a four-year investigation into alleged war crimes committed by elite Australian troops in Afghanistan. The investigation, which described a systemic culture of brutality and lawlessness, implicated 25 soldiers in the unlawful killing of 39 civilians and prisoners, with most of the incidents taking place in 2012. The report dominated news headlines for weeks and sparked a torturous national reckoning. To then see the countrys most grievous sins  already documented by its own government  weaponised in a sarcastic tweet from a foreign official was an almost incomprehensible insult. I dont think you could imagine a communication that couldve been more perfectly shaped to be inflammatory in Australia, and so perfectly insensitive, a former senior Australian government official said.

But the tweet, posted by a diplomat named Zhao Lijian , represented a different kind of aggression. Shocked by murder of Afghan civilians & prisoners by Australian soldiers, he wrote. We strongly condemn such acts, & call for holding them accountable. Attached was a digital illustration of an Australian soldier restraining an Afghan child with a large Australian flag while preparing to slit the boys throat. Dont be afraid, the caption read, we are coming to bring you peace! When the tweet appeared online that morning, there were audible gasps in Parliament House.

On the morning of Monday, November 30, 2020, Prime Minister Scott Morrison was working from his official residence when an aide alerted him to a tweet by a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman. Morrison was about to finish a two-week quarantine after returning from a brief diplomatic visit to Japan, and had spent most of the morning on the phone with Australian wine exporters, discussing Chinese tariffs that had just taken effect (some as high as 212 per cent) the latest in an escalating string of punitive economic measures imposed on Australia by Beijing.

Rory Medcalf, head of the National Security College at the Australian National University and author of Indo-Pacific Empire, said Australia was something of a diplomatic proving ground for China: a liberal democracy and American ally that, despite its middle-power status, is stymieing Chinas efforts to dominate the region. China has been making an example of the country thats setting an example for pushing back, he said.

The tariffs on Australian goods had apparently been imposed in retaliation for Canberras recent efforts to counter Chinas influence, like barring Huawei from building 5G infrastructure in the country, passing laws against foreign interference in Australian elections and civil society and calling for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus.

At the time of the tweet, Australia was under a series of actual and threatened Chinese trade sanctions targeting roughly a dozen goods, including wine, beef, barley, timber, lobster and coal. The government had limited room to manoeuvre: the Chinese market accounts for 36 per cent of Australias total exports and, according to one estimate, one in 13 Australian jobs.

I dont think you could imagine a communication that couldve been more perfectly shaped to be inflammatory in Australia, and so perfectly insensitive.

But Morrison also took care to convey that Australia was prepared to talk whenever China was ready. I would hope that this rather awful event hopefully may lead to the type of reset where this dialogue can be restarted without condition, Morrison said. The triangulation was an implicit acknowledgment of Australias vexed position  and of how closely Chinas bellicose rhetoric was paired with bruising economic and political pressure.

Less than two hours after Zhaos post, Morrison was on TV delivering a live address from his residence. He denounced the truly repugnant tweet and asked for an apology from the Chinese government. The Chinese government should be totally ashamed of this post, Morrison said. It diminishes them in the worlds eyes.

In his early career , Zhao  who did not respond to interview requests for this article  gave few hints at his future emergence as Chinas wolf warrior diplomat. Daniel Markey, the former South Asia head of the US State Departments policy-planning staff, first met him in 2011. In that initial interaction, Zhao was tagging along with a more senior Chinese embassy official. While Markey and the senior official discussed Pakistan and India, Zhao spoke very little, if at all.

Zhaos recent ascent through the ranks mirrors Chinas broader awakening to its own power, a development that has been decades in the making but was rapidly accelerated by the pandemic. Today, with the pandemic continuing and the battle to control what comes next beginning in earnest, a newly wary world is watching as China discovers its voice  one that sounds a lot like Zhao Lijian.

Zhaos timing has proved exquisite. As Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, forged a more muscular and confident foreign policy, Zhao was there to introduce a new, chaotic tone into Chinese diplomacy, one that proved perfectly complementary to the presidents vision. Online and in the media, Zhao was called the wolf warrior diplomat, a moniker taken from a pair of ultra-nationalistic Chinese action films of the same name.

At first, Zhao was seemingly on his own, wielding Twitter as his personal cudgel while only a small number of other Chinese diplomats were even on the platform. As his bosses and colleagues in Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs churned out bland statements about win-win co-operation and building a community of shared future for mankind, Zhao attacked detractors with an almost savage glee: criticisms of China were dirty lies and a foreign official whom Zhao disagreed with was a person without soul and nationality.

It would be tempting to dismiss Zhaos tweet as a one-off provocation and Zhao himself as a bit player in this geopolitical drama. But, in fact, his influence has been immense. Despite being almost entirely unknown, even in China, until two years ago, Zhao has managed to rapidly and completely transform how China communicates with its allies and adversaries. His unbridled style of online rhetoric has spread throughout the Chinese diplomatic corps, replacing the turgid mix of evasive diplomatese and abstruse Communist jargon that characterised the nations public statements for decades.

But by the time Zhao returned to Beijing after four years in the US, the shift in the mood and tenor of the bilateral relationship was unmistakable: The Obama administration had announced its pivot to Asia; Xi Jinping was president and Communist Party leader; and a downward spiral was taking hold between the two countries. If Zhao drew any conclusion from his time in Washington, it was very likely the same one dawning on so many others in both capitals: China had arrived and the era of diplomatic quiet and biding their time was over.

When the executive fell short of Zhaos expectations during one such collaboration, the executive was made to endure a criticism session, during which Zhao enumerated all the ways he had been disappointed. Hes just simply not a very nice person, period, the executive said. Even some of Zhaos colleagues were said to regard him as prickly, pretentious and unusually nationalistic.

American foreign policy hands who interacted with Zhao during this period recall a young diplomat tasked with internal affairs, like preparing reports and briefing superiors. When he did work directly with outsiders, though, Zhao could prove memorable. A business executive who collaborated with Zhao on a number of projects recalled him as extremely critical, arrogant, unfriendly and just mean.

In Washington, Chinese diplomats had a reputation for being professional, well-prepared and insular. Most lived in the same apartment buildings or in embassy-provided housing, and spent their free time in the Bethesda area north of the city. They kept to themselves and to the local Chinese ethnic community, eating mostly at Chinese restaurants.

Zhao joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1996 and rose quickly through the ranks, serving at first in the Department of Asian Affairs in Beijing. In 2009, just after then US president Barack Obama began his first term in office, Zhao became first secretary in the political section at the Chinese embassy in Washington  a plum assignment for a diplomat on the rise.

I didnt think much of him, said Markey, who is now a senior research professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He was just kind of there.

At the same time, the US, disillusioned and disenchanted after a decade and a half of pouring money, resources and attention into Pakistan with little to show for it, was pulling back its presence. US embassy staff members, once very active in the Pakistani media and on social media, started disengaging. Into that void stepped Zhao, who became the sole voice on all things CPEC, both on Twitter and in more staid official communications. He was the face of Chinese diplomacy in Pakistan and Afghanistan, said Imtiaz Gul, the executive director of the Centre for Research and Security Studies in Islamabad. He was in the media far more than the ambassador.

The Pakistani government seemed to be announcing a new batch of Chinese investment every week, but there was no spokesperson responsible for handling CPEC issues, and the messages were sometimes unclear or incomplete; the Chinese embassy, meanwhile, stayed mostly silent.

Zhao had arrived at a moment of deep uncertainty in Pakistan. The first projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) were just getting underway. Through CPEC, which began in 2013, China had committed an initial total of about $US46 billion in energy and infrastructure investment, which amounted to roughly 20 per cent of Pakistans gross domestic product. The partnership was a cornerstone of Xi Jinpings signature foreign policy project, the Belt and Road Initiative, an enormous effort to build infrastructure throughout Asia and beyond in order to strengthen Chinas position as the hub of global commerce.

Pakistan was one of the first non-communist countries to switch diplomatic recognition from the exiled government in Taiwan to the Peoples Republic of China, in 1950, and it placed a bet on Chinas rise well before other regional players. Chinese diplomats refer to Pakistan as their iron brother and all-weather friend; Pakistani politicians often describe the two countries friendship as higher than the Himalayas, deeper than the deepest sea in the world and sweeter than honey.

Zhao arrived in Pakistan five years later, in the northern autumn of 2015, and almost immediately began tweeting in earnest. He had reason to believe that an outspoken Chinese diplomat would be well received in the country. Zhao had served in Pakistan before, in his first foreign assignment with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; it was a posting uniquely favourable to aggressive Chinese diplomacy.

At every step, Zhao benefited from the American failure in Pakistan and the lessons it left behind for the next would-be superpower. Zhao won praise for repeatedly highlighting Pakistans sacrifices in the war on terror, a point that many Pakistanis felt the US had failed to recognise properly. We started noticing Beijing pushing that line around 2011, 2012, when things deteriorated with the US, Wajahat S. Khan, a Pakistani journalist who covered CPEC extensively, said. And this guy just took it to the next level.

A Twitter presence was part of Zhaos diplomatic persona from the beginning of his posting to Pakistan. But as Zhao became more comfortable, his pace, and especially his tone, began to change. In early July 2016, he posted a flurry of provocative tweets. First was a cartoon caricature of President Obama as World War II poster girl Rosie the Riveter, superimposed over a grainy photo of the Capitol Building. From I have a dream to I have drone, Zhao captioned it. The next day, he posted a cartoon showing an American missile striking a grave labelled Afghan Peace Talks, saying, Pakistan Minister of Interior Nisar: US droned Afghan peace talks to death.

Zhao also gained fans back home on Chinese social media, where a richer and more nationalistic population was hungry for champions who could translate their countrys growing power into a forceful global presence. The call to be more assertive and to respond to criticism was coming from Chinas top leaders, said Alessandra Cappelletti, who teaches at Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University and has researched Zhaos social media activity. But, she added, the real impetus was bottom-up, a consequence of an increasingly nationalistic society which was starting to feel that Chinas voice needed to be heard in a more convincing way in the international arena.

The international environment had also changed. When Zhao arrived in Pakistan, Donald Trump was still months away from winning the New Hampshire primary. Trumps rise through the northern spring of 2016 and his election as US president that November signalled that the old rules were gone. Its not a coincidence that Zhaos era traces the Trump era pretty closely, Small said. It made things seem possible and acceptable, thanks to the mirroring of the US that goes on in the Chinese side. No one in the Chinese system would have been doing this on social media before Trump.

Its not a coincidence that Zhaos era traces the Trump era pretty closely. It made things seem possible and acceptable, thanks to the mirroring of the US that goes on in the Chinese side.

With his rhetoric towards China in particular, Trump created an opening for an equally forceful response. If the US president says China rapes our country, they have a lot of discursive space, said Julian Gewirtz, a former senior fellow for China studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, an American nonprofit thinktank specialising in US foreign policy.

More broadly, the Chinese leadership may simply be taking a cue from the power that its aiming to replace. Part of it is watching us and learning and modelling themselves on how we behave, a former US Department of Defence official said. Were pretty aggressive. Are we wolf warriors? Or is that just the way great powers handle themselves?

The first real test of Chinas road to rejuvenation  and of the wolf warriors ability to help the country get there  came from Hong Kong and the pro-democracy protests that swept across the city in early 2019. That year, as the protests gained momentum, a new wave of Chinese diplomats joined Zhao on Twitter.

Right before things kicked off in Hong Kong, there was basically no diplomatic presence for China on Twitter, other than Zhao, said Bret Schafer, the media and digital-disinformation fellow at the Alliance for Securing Democracy, a US national security advocacy group. Now weve seen an explosion of accounts come online. Beijing also began experimenting with covert information operations on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, including creating fake profiles and pages. The response to the Hong Kong protests marked Chinas first major foray into so-called information warfare on Western social media.

In July 2019, as the protests in Hong Kong raged, Zhao engaged in his most contentious and high-profile dispute yet. After 22 United Nations ambassadors signed an open letter denouncing Chinas crackdown on the Uighurs and other Muslim and minority communities, Zhao took to Twitter to criticise American hypocrisy. If youre in Washington, DC, you know the white never go to the SW area, because its an area for the black & Latin, he wrote. Theres a saying black in & white out, which means that as long as a black family enters, white people will quit, & price of the apartment will fall sharply.

Susan Rice, the former US national security adviser and United Nations ambassador, replied: You are a racist disgrace. And shockingly ignorant too. In normal times, you would be PNGed for this, she tweeted, using slang for persona non grata  expulsion from a host country. She called on Cui Tiankai, then serving as Chinas ambassador to the US, to do the right thing and send him home  a public communique made possible by the fact that Cui had joined Twitter the previous week, part of the crop of new Chinese diplomatic accounts inspired, perhaps, by Zhaos runaway success.

The next day, Zhaos tweet had been deleted. Still, he wasnt backing down: He soon replaced it with a map highlighting Washingtons racial segregation, and he replied to Rice on Twitter. You are such a disgrace, too, he wrote.

And shockingly ignorant, too. I am based in Islamabad. Truth hurts. I am simply telling the truth. I stayed in Washington DC 10 years ago. To label someone who speak the truth that you dont want to hear a racist, is disgraceful & disgusting.

Two weeks later, Zhao announced on Twitter that he was leaving Pakistan. He did not mention a new posting. It seemed that Zhao had finally gone too far, even by the new standard he helped set.

In fact, Zhao had been given a promotion, to deputy director-general of the information department at the Foreign Ministry  a posting that often serves as a stepping stone to an even larger role within the diplomatic corps.

According to reporting by Reuters, when Zhao came back to Beijing, he found a group of young staff members gathered outside his office to cheer his return.

Zhao took to his new role with the same gusto he had displayed in Pakistan. On Thanksgiving weekend in 2019, he tweeted about what he was thankful for: the United States, for squandering trillions of dollars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria ... He also suggested that, given its history of racial discrimination, the US should look at itself in the mirror before criticising China over human rights. But I suggest youd better not to do it, in particular before going to bed, he said. It will cause you nightmire [sic].

Credit:

As the pandemic accelerated beyond Chinas borders, Xinhua, the official state news agency, called the outbreak in the US the Trump pandemic and suggested that China could easily withhold exports of medical equipment, without which the US would be engulfed in the mighty sea of coronavirus. When the Netherlands changed the name of its representative office in Taiwan to include the word Taipei, China warned that it could withhold medical aid in response.

No offender was too small: The Wall Street Journal reported that when a Sri Lankan activist named Chirantha Amerasinghe criticised the Chinese government as low class on Twitter, the Chinese embassy in Colombo replied, Total death in #China #pandemic is 3344 till today, much smaller than your western high class governments.

The campaign was not all punitive, though; it also included incentives for good behaviour. One facet of the response was mask diplomacy: wielding Chinas near-monopoly over essential personal protective equipment manufacturing as a tool for rewarding friends and punishing perceived enemies. Huawei, the embattled Chinese telecom giant, donated 800,000 face masks to the Netherlands, a few months before the country was set to hold its 5G telecom auction. More donations went to Canada and France, neither of which had decided on their 5G infrastructure.

According to data from a 14-country survey released by the Pew Research Centre in October, just weeks before Zhaos Australia tweet, negative views of China have soared in the past year, hitting historic highs in nine of the 14 countries. The change was especially stark in countries such as Australia, Sweden and the Netherlands, which have been on the receiving end of Chinas most bellicose diplomacy.

In Australia, unfavourable views have risen 24 percentage points since 2019, the largest single-year change in the country since Pew began conducting the survey in 2008. Sixty-one per cent of respondents said that China had done a bad job handling the pandemic; the most negative views came from Chinas regional neighbours, Australia, Japan and South Korea. (Only the US received a worse grade for its pandemic response.)

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Even within China, the new tone has sparked unease, with prominent scholars and former-diplomats pushing back against the hardliners. Zhang Feng, a prominent foreign-policy scholar, published a blog post on Chinas self-defeating discourse. Once too abstract and difficult to understand, Zhang wrote, Chinas diplomatic discourse had now swung in the other direction.

Why dont we take the high road and compete against the US at the diplomatic level using honest information? he wrote. To flaunt like this, and get into a spitting war with America while dressing it up as an eye for an eye, is really just playing into Americas tactics and in the end hurts Chinese foreign relations and weakens Chinas morals internationally.

Similarly, a Peoples Liberation Army general named Dai Xu pointed out that the wolf warriors had failed to win China any friends or goodwill. China has provided assistance to so many countries, benefiting them in so many ways, but at this critical moment, none of them has taken any unified action with China, he wrote. The only thing the wolf warriors had achieved was to knock on the door of the American Empire with great fanfare and declare, Im going to surpass you, Im going to replace you and I will become the best in the world. 

Even if [Chinas] reputation is damaged, the view of China being powerful and having a louder voice and greater strength is still there.

But Chinas leadership may not care about the countrys favourability  at least with certain audiences. The 14 countries measured in the Pew survey are all advanced democracies, many of them in Europe. There are other audiences, particularly in parts of the world that dont feel a strong sense of allegiance to the US-led order, where people love this stuff, Julian Gewirtz said. Trolls are popular, too. In the post-Trump era, where trust in long-term US support for developing countries is uncertain, sticking it to Europe and the US may be a winning play, especially as Chinese aid and investment surge and China occupies more of the global leadership role that the West once carved out for itself.

One of the provocative tweets from Zhao Lijian; the response of Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs was to give him a promotion.

Zhaos tweets offer a window into the global audience that China seeks to cultivate. Just before his confrontation with Susan Rice, Zhao promoted a United Nations resolution echoing Chinas position on Xinjiang. Among the signatories he highlighted were Russia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, Algeria, the Philippines and Belarus  a broad coalition of developing countries, many of which will power future global economic growth and some of which have found themselves on the receiving end of scolding from the US over human rights.

During Mays 11-day conflict in Gaza, Zhao tweeted a cartoon image of a bald eagle dropping a missile on the territory. See what #HumanRights defender has brought to #Gaza people, he wrote. With wolf-warrior diplomacy, China is positioning itself as a leader of the non-Western world, and betting that other members of the bloc are just as eager to see a world free of Americas overbearing influence.

In the US and the other rich Western countries included in the Pew survey, meanwhile, the intended message may actually be landing exactly as hoped. Even if [Chinas] reputation is damaged, Gewirtz said, the view of China being powerful and having a louder voice and greater strength is still there.

Scott Morrison was shocked by this Zhao Lijian tweet, which depicted an Australian soldier about to slit an Afghan boys throat. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen; Zhao Lijian/Twitter

Australia may be a harbinger. It remains on the receiving end of a withering campaign of both hard and soft power, ranging from propaganda and threats to broad trade sanctions. The Chinese have engaged in economic coercion before against single industries, like Norwegian salmon or Philippine bananas, James Curran, a professor of history at the University of Sydney, said. Australia is taking it across a broad range of fronts simultaneously.

The country has taken steps, since the passage of the anti-foreign interference laws in 2018, to diversify its economy and reduce dependence on China, but four decades of nearly unquestioned enthusiasm for the fruits of Chinas growth have left it in a precarious position. Last year, exports of goods and services to China accounted for 8 per cent of Australias total gross domestic product. Other resource-rich exporters in South America and Africa are similarly exposed, as are Asian economies and emerging markets dependent on China for supply chains, investment and infrastructure. (Australia has been spared the worst of the possible fallout because of record high prices in iron ore, the one commodity for which China is heavily dependent on Australia.)

In Australias case, at least, the point of wolf-warrior diplomacy is, in fact, to be disliked  or, more precisely, feared. Its possible China will have some soft-power setbacks for what theyre doing, Rush Doshi, a former Brookings Institution fellow and the author of The Long Game, a book on Chinese grand strategy, said. But is soft power going to rule international relations or is hard power?

In the uproar surrounding Zhaos tweet and the Australian reaction, the source of the offending image garnered little attention. It was created by a young graphic artist who goes by the name Wuheqilin. His first illustration, titled A Pretender God, depicted a group of Hong Kong protesters worshipping a grotesque Statue of Liberty, which holds a petrol bomb and a keyboard. His cartoons earned him a glowing profile in Global Times  a daily tabloid newspaper under the auspices of the Chinese Communist Partys flagship Peoples Daily newspaper  as well as the nickname Wolf Warrior artist.

Soon after A Pretender God came another piece, Cannon Fodder, which showed a child in a Guy Fawkes mask standing in the middle of a railway track, a slingshot raised at an oncoming train. Beside the tracks stands a group of smiling adults holding umbrellas to shield themselves from the splatter of blood that is sure to result. A woman to the childs right appears to depict Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen, while a trio of dogs with wagging tongues wear collars resembling the American flag. But perhaps the most interesting symbol is unintentional: the train itself, which appears to stand for China as it hurtles down the tracks  implacable, unyielding and seemingly unable to change course.

Edited version of a story first published in the New York Times Magazine.  2021 The New York Times Company.

To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times.

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The Japanese government has long maintained it is just providing consular assistance to its citizens. The aim of these seminars is primarily to raise awareness of Japanese nationals living outside Japan about the seriousness of international parental child abduction and thereby prevent future removal of children across borders, it said in a statement. But the issue of child abduction in Japan has now morphed into a full-blown diplomatic stand-off for Tokyo, not just with France, but Australia and the United States. French authorities estimate more than 100 children have been caught up in similar circumstances to the 68 Australian children. The United States has 475 children in such situations. Many of these family disputes are bogged down in claims and counterclaims. There are tales of abuse and violence but also of estrangement and amicable divorces devolving into prolonged court battles. All the dozen Japanese and foreign parents that The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age spoke to denied the allegations of violence or abuse. What makes the Japanese situation particularly challenging is its legal system does not recognise dual custody and favours continuity for the child over change, even if foreign courts rule against the Japanese parent. The problem with Japan is it is a zero-sum game, there can only be a winner and a loser, said Australian mother-of-two Catherine Henderson who has spent more than two years attempting to see her kids in Tokyo after her Japanese husband packed up and left with them in April 2019.

There is nothing about the best interests of the child. The situation has left foreign and Japanese partners who dispute the claims against them without any guaranteed access to their children and dozens of parents driven to desperation. Japan, a vital diplomatic ally of most western nations, is now coming under sustained international pressure over its position. During the Olympic Games, French father Vincent Fichot went on an almost three-week hunger strike outside Tokyos Olympic Stadium. He had not seen his kids in three years after his wife abruptly disappeared with them. French resident of Japan Vincent Fichot, left, meets EU ambassadors in front of Sendagaya station while on a hunger strike during the Tokyo Olympics. Credit:Viola Kam French President Emmanuel Macron was in Tokyo to celebrate the Olympics but raised the issue directly with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga when he visited in July. Australias Foreign Minister Marise Payne did the same in her May meetings with her Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi and Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi.

This is an issue where certainly Australian ways and Japanese ways do not align, an Australian embassy official in Tokyo told parents in June. The Department of Foreign Affairs updated its travel advice last year to warn that Japans custody laws were very different from Australias. Courts in Japan generally consider that it is in a childs best interests for them to remain in their usual place of residence, it states. Courts therefore usually give sole custody to the parent that has taken care of the child most recently. Vincent Fichot, centre with back to camera, attracted the attention of Western media during his hunger strike in Tokyo. Credit:Viola Kam But Fichots protest at the Olympics, years of lobbying by parents and strong words from its allies are starting to put the heat on Japans leaders.

Kishi, the defence minister and younger brother of former prime minister Shinzo Abe, told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age in an interview in Tokyo that if reform is needed, reform must be discussed and debated. And I would say that the government has to discuss and debate what is warranted, he said. Japanese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi. Credit:Viola Kam Japanese opposition leader Yukio Edano said the pressure was rising. That a couple of advanced economies including Australia and other countries are pointing this problem out, I take that seriously, he said. On the other hand, overwhelmingly, most of these cases involving the Japanese families is that it is the mother or the woman who escapes the domestic violence. So if we try to barge through or push it through to recognise joint parenthood, for example, then we could end up with increasing domestic violence, victims and more problems, Edano added.

Internally, Japan is littered with its own cases of parents obtaining custody of their kids and the other parent being banned from speaking to their children. Izumi Dobashi last saw her 13-year-old daughter, 12-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter 4 years ago. Dobashi, who asked to only be known by her maiden name, had confronted her Japanese husband about his multiple affairs, but after 13 years of marriage, he would not stop. No matter how much he talked about ending the affairs, he refused, she said. Izumi Dobashi with a photo of her three children. Credit:Viola Kam Eventually, she made the decision to leave him and to take the kids with her. Her husband realised what was happening and confronted her at school.

The police decided two of her children should stay with the fathers mother down the road while the dispute was resolved. Her youngest daughter missed her siblings and figured out that they were staying at their grandmothers house. Once she visited, she never left. That was the last time I saw her, said Dobashi. Because of the way Japanese laws are structured visitation rights are negotiated by the parent who was with the children when the parents separated. Like many other parents both Japanese and foreign, Dobashi got 12 postcards a year to send to her kids. No meetings, no phone calls. She hand-made every one of her cards and filled them with pandas and bears. They would pop up when her kids opened them. In May 2018, she received a photo from her husband. The kids were ripping them up, she said. One of them held up a card saying die you old hag.

Her cards have since been cut to six a year, but the 39-year-old has not stopped trying to reach her kids. I wanted them to know that as a mother, I have always loved them, I always wanted to meet them and didnt blame them, she said. Its not your fault. We know its not your fault. Australian father-of-two Scott McIntyre, a former SBS journalist, has not seen his kids since May 2019. He wont leave Japan, fearful this will give his Japanese former wife the power to divorce him and cut off any chance of seeing his kids at all. I cant remember what my kids look like, I cant remember the sound of their voice, I cant remember their smell, he said. To not remember the sight of your own children, the pain and the grief it causes you is indescribable.

Australian woman Catherine Henderson was living in Tokyo when she says she came home from work to find that her husband had abducted their daughter and son. Henderson, like many of the parents, is continuing to pursue her case through the Japanese courts and is part of several class actions. The 50-year-old English teacher holds little hope of winning but does it to make sure her kids know she did everything she could. She pays their school fees but is not allowed to see a report card. Loading You forget how old your kids are because you have not spent their birthdays with them, she said. All the parents are working to a time limit. Once the children reach 16, there are no more custody rights to be gained under the Hague Convention. With no access to them, they are worried they are being turned against them, or may not know that they exist.

Often they are told the other parent doesnt want you, or you were conceived in a Petri dish, or they are dead, said Jeffery Morehouse, who runs the US advocacy group Bring Abducted Children Home. Morehouse has won two custody cases in the US against his Japanese wife but has not seen his son Mochi in more than a decade. They erase the other parent, he said. When a child is kidnapped their whole life is built on a foundation of lies. It has now been so long that the only option Morehouse has left is to dot the internet with clues in Japanese and English, hoping his son finds him when he wants to, but he knows there are some cases where the child has been so poisoned that they may not reach out at all. There are still moments when I wake up, and I think I hear his voice. Its time to get ready for school, to take him down the street and catch the bus, he said.

We all have to go shopping, but most people dont have the experience of going around a grocery store and hearing a voice that reminds them of their child. It drops you to your knees. In Shinto Village, an hour outside Tokyo by bullet train, Australian father Kav, who asked only to be referred to by his nickname, has not seen his daughter in three years. She lives just 3.6 kilometres down the road. At the moment it is as if she has passed, and I havent been able to grieve at all, he said. Kav sits next to one of his eucalyptus trees in Shinto Village. Credit:Viola Kam The former Australian taekwondo fighter is building a reconciliation hub filled with eucalyptus trees, banksias and acacias. He has rented out a 1000-square-metre warehouse and is now filling it with the colours, shapes and scents of the Outback that many of these Australian-Japanese children may never get to see again.

It is a place that he hopes will bring Japanese and Australian parents together, to talk and try to find a way through disputes that he says are ruining the lives of both parents and their children. I want to give myself every chance possible to see my daughter, he said. Even if it was only two or three hours a month it would be great. Its not just me, the village, Japan Agriculture and locals are helping out, he said. They want to see this happen too. Morehouse says he is still holding on to a final shred of optimism. As part of the last custody court case that he won in 2017, he saw a video from his son. Mochi was asked if he ever thought of his father. He responded that he sometimes dreamed of me, said Morehouse. Then he started crying. I thought here is this boy who was kidnapped as a six-year-old, and he is still holding on to a memory of me. That is such a great sign of hope.
London: A young man who killed five people, including his mother, and then took his own life in Britains first mass shooting in over a decade had complained online about difficulties meeting women and being beaten down by life.

Police said on Friday that the motive for the shootings was unclear but there were no immediate signs that the crime was an act of terrorism or the 22-year-old gunman had connections to extremist groups.

They identified the shooter as Jake Davison, 22, and said he had a gun licence, but revealed few other details. Witnesses reported that he used a pump-action shotgun, police said, though they wouldnt confirm what type of weapon it was and whether it was the one Davison was licensed to use.

Gun crimes are rare in Britain, which has strict firearm control rules.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Over the past 15 months, the government has implemented public health protocols for public safety as we reopened after the first wave. Given the drastic rise to 308 active cases of COVID-19 on St. Maarten, attributed to the Delta variant, the Council of Ministers has decided to implement additional measures to safeguard the health of the general public. These measures have also been taken after much deliberation upon receiving the recommendations of our health professionals.

Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, VSA Omar Ottley stated, Your safety is my number one priority. Although at times actions taken by the Government may not be the popular decision, all measures taken is done in the best interest of the country. Vaccinations are not mandatory on Dutch, St. Maarten; however, I encourage those who are not vaccinated to frequently test for your safety. Knowing your status can reduce the spread of the virus. The Government is aware of the planned protest for tomorrow August 13, but please do not lose focus that this will be considered a mass gathering and I hereby urge all to be mindful of the public health measures of wearing your mask and hand hygiene. If you do not want to be vaccinated, it is your freedom of choice, nonetheless, preach protocols, preach wearing your masks, preach going for self-checks and preach social distancing.

Government will continue to promote increased compliance with the existing COVID-19 hygiene protocols such as mask usage, social distancing, handwashing, and increased cleaning of touchpoints. The Council of Ministers has also decided to ban all mass-gatherings until further notice. During this period, arrangements are being made to put health management systems in place via an app or QR code. Moreover, Minister Ottley has also signed a Memorandum of Intent with nightclubs and beach bars business owners on Dutch Sint Maarten. The current business closures of 11:00 p.m. implemented on August 8, will be evaluated within two weeks with the possibility to be extended if conditions do not improve. The Ministry of VSA continues to work to finalize legislation and policies aimed at safeguarding the health of the general public.

Governments Education Continuity Plan will be maintained as is and periodically assessed to ensure safety in our schools. Government will also be increasing promotion of the vaccine and the implemented public health protocols. As such, a vaccination pop-up will take place with the vaccination team at a date to be announced. Regular testing is also encouraged as means of knowing your status and protecting those around you.

In the interim, government has approved an alternate isolation facility for low care COVID-19 patients to lower the occupancy at SMMC. The Council of Ministers has requested and received approval for extra medical personnel to assist the overburdened health professionals and medical staff.

Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs wishes to encourage all residents to be extremely vigilant, step up hygiene and mask wearing protocols as we all know this protects our loved ones and family. Look for the lessons learned over the past year. Keeping St. Maarten safe will depend on each of us working together. COVID-19 is real; 39 families have been dealt a severe blow as theyve lost a loved one in the midst of this pandemic. Each life lost is a wound that will cause pain for years to come. My deepest condolences go out to the families left to mourn.

Thousands more still feel the after effects of having endured this serious virus. I caution you to move smart when out in the community, and to follow the latest developments via Governments official platforms. Lets work together to minimize the spread. It will take all of us, Prime Minister Jacobs concluded.
And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (The Book of Acts, chapter 2)

The conditions under which we have been living over the last few years have been challenging, to say the least. We hear many voices speaking loudly about what constitutes a good society. These voices are not, however, like the ones to which Peter refers to in the Book of Acts in the New Testament. Might there be a Pentecost-like moment for us today  a pouring out of a new spirit?

We feel vulnerable and the COVID-19 pandemic acutely reminds us of our mortality. Amid this we see expressions of hatred based upon such things as ethnic, gender or sexual identity. We have also heard and felt the spirits of our mutual interdependence, advocacy for social justice and love as human compassion raise its voice. There are people who act to counter the various forms of violence and oppression that cause the suffering of many. The spirit and voice of hate and the spirit and voice of love mutually exist.

It feels as though, as a society, we are standing at a decisive dividing line. On one side is death and on the other side is life. Although many sacred texts tell us to choose life, we live with an awareness of so much destruction of human life. We are increasingly challenged to become awakened to how hatred and injustice functions on individual, institutional, structural and systemic levels. This awareness can make us feel overwhelmed by the enormity of injustice and hatred. We rationalize our annihilation of one another by defining our differences as reasons to hate one another. All of this can cause us to live in fear and without hope.

For some religious people these negative conditions are seen as signs that we are living in the last days. Some Christians believe that the last days are a period that foretells the second coming of Christ. As human beings we cannot assign a particular date when this will happen. It can occur right now or a thousand years from now, as we understand time. It is God who oversees us and our world and not any human entity.

Those who believe in the end time or last days live their lives preparing for such a time. They hope that they are living in a way that God will judge them as worthy of the blessing of eternal life with God. In a sense, this is the hope of most of those who believe in God and eternal life after death.

One can live with the perspective that we are living in the last days. They can pray and hope that Christ will eminently return, judge and redeem the world. How believing this would impact the way they live every day is for them to decide. It is understandable why some who believe in God and are gripped by the amount of pain and suffering they see and maybe are experiencing would want Jesus to return, and to do so quickly.

Perhaps, like some of you, the extent of strife, pain, suffering and death I have witnessed recently has caused me to pause and wonder: has humankind aligned itself so much with evil that we are heading for our destruction? Am I helpless to do anything about it except to seek my own cover and protection of those I love? I live with an end in view, not the end of Gods created order, but my own end. How God chooses to intervene in human history is Gods prerogative. I try to live in hope, to imagine the future, and try not to live in the present by infusing it with the past. Challenging evil and not trivializing loving our fellow human beings helps us to remain in touch with our humanity as well as our divinity.

I believe that there are more good people doing good things in the world than there are evil people doing evil and harmful things in the world. However, I hope that good people do not become weary and less vigilant in doing good.

I hope that people will continue to rise up and not allow extremist people with a racial superiority complex diminish our capacity to further become a democratic nation. It is time for the old dream that all people are created equal to be given a new opportunity to be realized.

I hope that our greater awareness of our mutual interdependence will increase our compassion toward one another, and that we strive to become a more humane society and world.

The prophesy of Joel referred to in the Book of Acts is understood by some as a prediction of Gods judgment and the end of the world as we know it. Other sources indicate that the Joel reference is to the initial coming of Christ as the hope of the world.

Perhaps the Spirit of God  a Pentecost  a descending of Gods spirit upon people like it is described in the New Testament Book of Acts, can be heard and felt in the voices of those who today share a sense of empathy and justice.

Maybe the Spirit of God  a Pentecost  a descending of Gods spirit upon people can be heard and felt in the voices of those who share a sense of truth and decency that leads to our having a national political leadership of honesty, compassion and integrity.

Perhaps the Spirit of God  a Pentecost  a descending of Gods spirit upon people can be heard and felt in the voices of those insisting on the end of wars occurring around our world.

Imaginably the Spirit of God  a Pentecost  a descending of Gods spirit upon people can be heard and felt in the voices of those demanding an end to all forms of domestic violence and other abuses that people suffer because of their age, culture, gender and identity.

Wisdom suggests to me that whatever is Gods will, it will be done. We live, not out of fear of these being the last days but by knowing assuredly that there will be a last day for each of us. Faith, in God through Jesus Christ, encourages me to live each day with gratitude, humility and making the effort to serve the needs of others; to live lovingly and not out of fear.

Living faithfully in an uncertain time is to be possessed  gripped by this faith and hope. Faith in God is the substance of the dreams and visions hoped for and the evidence of such dreams and visions not yet seen in their full reality. Until they are and during uncertain times, we hold on and trust in the goodness of God.

Frederick (Jerry) Streets, former Chaplain of Yale University, is senior pastor of Dixwell Congregational Church in New Haven and member of the faculty at Yale Divinity School.
STAMFORD  After a decade marked by new construction across almost all its neighborhoods, newly released Census data Thursday proved what everybody already knew: Stamford has grown in the last 10 years. By a lot.

The citys population increased from 122,643 residents to 135,470, according to data released from the 2020 Census. Stamford vastly outpaced the states overall growth and became the second biggest city in Connecticut, behind Bridgeport.

Stamfords population jumped by 10.5 percent over the last decade, making it the fastest-growing city in Connecticut. In stark contrast, figures released previously by the Census Bureau showed that the entire state grew by 1 percent. Connecticut had the fourth-smallest population growth nationwide from 2010 to 2020 and gained the fewest residents of any state in the Northeast.

City officials and business leaders partially attributed the growth to gains in growing neighborhoods like Downtown and the South End. But Mayor David Martin pointed to the citys amenities  like its investments downtown and diverse housing stock  as attractive qualities for the people moving to Stamford.

My goal isnt to grow the city, Martin said when asked about its population gains. My goal is to make it the best. And if you make it the best city, thats where people want to come live, and thats whats happening.

After years of nearly deadlocked population counts, Stamford inched past New Haven as Connecticuts second-biggest city. New Haven reported 134,023 residents in the 2020 Census, just 1,447 less than Stamford, though it also saw an increase in population greater than the rest of the state.

This is the first time more people have lived in Stamford than in New Haven since the United States first started recording census results in 1790.

Stamfords upward trajectory is in line with what officials expected from the Census. However, Downtown Special Services District President David Kooris admitted that its nice to see the citys gains codified. Kooriss organization  tasked with maintaining and growing the neighborhoods profile  has existed since 1992 and , like Stamford as a whole, has developed markedly in the last decade.

Kooris frames Stamfords emergence as the states second biggest municipality, not as a victory over New Haven but as a strategic opportunity for the state.

I like to think of it more as a positive signal for Connecticut, that one of our communities is growing significantly, he said.

Instead of taking a victory lap, hes more inclined to pose a question: What can we replicate elsewhere in the state that is driving success in Stamford?

For Kooris, the drivers are clear. He argues that the city gives its residents a high quality of life, along with urban amenities, great parks, and ... relatively stable and consistent taxes. Now that Stamford has consistently given the state a model for progress, he also thinks that Hartford will continue to take notice.

Both Martin and Kooris know that not everyone is enthusiastic about the population increases in Stamford.

All changes are threatening to somebody, Martin said. If the population is going up, some people feel threatened. If the population is going down, other people feel threatened.

And all these changes, Martin added, create additional challenges for the city. Martin claimed it is why hes focused his efforts on improving Stamfords traffic and transportation infrastructure as a way to make the city more efficient and more effective.

Given Stamfords population boom between 2010 and 2020, Kooris sees 2020 as an inflection point.

Very high growth rates are always difficult to sustain as development opportunities become fewer and farther between, he said. Whatever comes next, he thinks, will be moderately less than the explosion that Stamford has experienced.

But no matter what the future holds, Stamford is only the tip of the spear for what Connecticut can achieve.

In many ways, Kooris said, Stamford is a model for the state to show what works in the 21st century.

veronica.delvalle@hearstmediact.com
Kris Hyun, of Brookfield, said his wife had taken their two daughters, ages nine and six, to the Danbury Fair mall Wednesday evening for a special treat  pretzels from Auntie Annes  after dropping off their son at soccer practice.

It was nearing dinnertime and Hyuns wife was about to pay for their pretzels on the second floor of the mall when they heard a big thump noise, Hyun said.

All of a sudden, they heard people screaming and yelling and running out of Macys a few stores down.

Hyun said his wife quickly pulled the girls into Icing, a jewelry store next to Auntie Annes. Inside, an employee ushered the group of roughly 13 people back through an inventory or storage area, locking a door behind them. From there, they all piled into a small bathroom.

The employee locked that door too, Hyun said.

There were 13 people in there standing and waiting, Hyun said.

A similar situation played out in different sections of the mall Wednesday night after a 15-year-old girl was shot. Listed in stable condition at Connecticut Childrens Medical Center in Hartford, the girl was part of a group of people who got into an altercation with another group, according to Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour. During the skirmish, one person pulled out a gun and fired one bullet, striking her in the chest.

Police were able to determine what happened using mall surveillance footage, Ridenhour said, between when they arrived shortly after 7 p.m. and sometime after 8 p.m.

But within that hour, many feared the worst as those unable to immediately leave the mall sought refuge in back storage rooms, locked in with employees. Many said hours later they heard a similar bang or boom noise and saw people running, unsure of what exactly happened.

Hyun had arrived home from work when his wife called from inside the bathroom  a quick, quiet call. A just in case call.

She was telling me she loved me and all this stuff, and I was like whats going on, he said. She wanted to make it short because she didnt want to be a burden on other people by making noises or talking too long.

Hyun began researching online trying to figure out what was going on at the mall. When his wife said she wasnt hearing any more gunshots, Hyun said he felt better because it didnt sound like a mass shooting.

An old friend who worked for the Brookfield Police Department kept the worried father updated.

The suspect was not targeting random people. Thats when I felt a little relieved, Hyun said.

While the call was brief, Hyuns wife continued to send him text messages while locked in the store bathroom, and Hyun said he made sure she put her phone on silent while they corresponded.

The others who were squeezed into the bathroom with his wife and daughters were kind and helpful, Hyun said. For that, he was grateful.

They were talking to my daughters, they were comforting them, he said.

Just down the hall from Macys, at FYE, Manny Maldonado clearly heard the gunshot.

I never heard what a gunshot sounded like before and there were screams, Maldonado, 24, of Danbury, said standing in the mall parking lot a couple hours after he heard the noise. Maldonado said its not unusual for people to make loud noises in the mall, or act out. This was a little more concerning than what the sounds are that we usually hear at the Danbury Fair mall. People were a lot more frantic.

Maldonado and a co-worker went to the back of the store and into a storage area along with a small group of shoppers. The news of the shooting quickly spread on social media as people hid. Lexi Walsh, who works at American Eagle, said those in her store heard a really loud bang and they quickly headed toward a storage area, as well.

After searching the mall and not finding a suspect, police began letting people out in small groups, escorting them to the entrance. Ridenhour said police officials are working to identify a suspect and describe him as being in his early teens.

Thank you to the patrons and workers at the Danbury Fair mall last night, Ridenhour said in a video statement Thursday. The overwhelming majority of you remained calm and patient during what I am sure was one of the most stressful times of your lives. Your cooperation was greatly appreciated and allowed us to get the situation under control as quickly as possible.

When his wife and girls got home late that night, Hyun said they had a talk with the girls. One of his daughters is easily scared, and he said this was likely going to be a traumatic experience for her.

He reassured and praised his girls for being brave, telling them: It could happen to anybody, but you were unfortunately there at the wrong time. But you did a great job being calm and being quiet.

Hyun said his wife is doing better.

Shes shaken up, but shes OK, he said.

In reflecting on the event, Hyun called for more restrictions on guns.

Of course it makes me upset and angry that this keeps happening in the United States, he said. Something has to be set up so that not just anybody can buy a gun if youre angry.

Staff writer Peter Yankowski contributed to this report.
DANBURY  The 15-year-old girl wounded in a shooting at the Danbury Fair mall this week may soon be released from the hospital, the citys police chief said.

Police have not identified the girl, who was shot during an altercation between two groups Wednesday evening inside the mall near the entrance to Macys.

Danbury Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour said the girl could be released from Connecticut Childrens Medical Center in Hartford as soon as Friday.

Ridenhour said police have made significant progress in the investigation and should be able to release more information in the very near future.

Police have described the shooter as a male possibly in his early teens with a thin build and shoulder-length dreadlocks.

Police said at least eight people were involved in an altercation with another group around 7 p.m. During the incident, one person drew a handgun and fired a single shot, striking the girl in her upper chest, police said.

The girl was with one of the groups involved in the dispute, according to police, but its not clear whether she was the intended target of the shooting. Police initially said Wednesday evening they believed the intended target may have been a white male who may have brandished a hammer during the confrontation.

Witnesses inside the mall described hearing a loud boom or bang that sent shoppers running for cover. Several described hiding in back areas and fitting rooms while employees locked the doors.

Danbury police, state police and law enforcement agencies from the surrounding area converged on the mall Wednesday night.

The mall was immediately locked down following the shooting. Police reviewed security video footage, which showed those involved in the altercation left the mall soon afterward. As police cleared each of the stores, customers and employees were able to exit the mall.

Mall officials have not responded to repeated requests for comment since the shooting.
ATLANTA (AP)  The aftermath of the 2020 election put an intense spotlight on voting machines as supporters of former President Donald Trump claimed victory was stolen from him. While the theories were unproven  and many outlandish and blatantly false  election security experts say there are real concerns that need to be addressed.

In Georgia, for example, election security expert J. Alex Halderman says hes identified multiple severe security flaws in the state's touchscreen voting machines, according to a sworn declaration in a court case.

Halderman told The Associated Press in a phone interview that while he's seen no evidence the vulnerabilities were exploited to change the outcome of the 2020 election, there remain serious risks that policymakers and the public need to be aware of that should be addressed immediately to protect future elections.

Trump loyalists  pushing the slogan Stop the Steal  held rallies, posted on social media and filed lawsuits in key states, often with false claims about Dominion Voting Systems voting machines. Almost all of the legal challenges casting doubt on the outcome of the election have been dismissed or withdrawn and many claims of fraud debunked. State and federal election officials have said there's no evidence of widespread fraud. And Dominion has fought back forcefully, filing defamation lawsuits against high-profile Trump allies.

As an election security researcher, it's been frustrating to watch the proliferation of misinformation, said Matt Blaze, a professor of computer science and law at Georgetown University. For years, he said, concerns raised by election security experts were dismissed as unimportant.

All of a sudden, people are going the other way, saying the existence of a flaw not only is something that should be fixed, it means the election was actually stolen, he said. Thats not true either.

David Cross is an attorney for plaintiffs in a long-running lawsuit filed by proponents of hand-marked paper ballots. His clients' concerns about Georgias electronic voting machines long preceded the 2020 election, but he says they're now grappling with how to expose vulnerabilities and advocate for changes without fueling conspiracy theories.

It's also frustrating, he said, to watch the state "try to dismiss actual scientific, rigorous examination of the voting equipment by just saying were no different from the Stop the Steal people when were relying on the most respected election integrity experts in the country.

Halderman, a voting technology specialist and director of the University of Michigans Center for Computer Security and Society, serves as an expert witness in the lawsuit, which was filed by individual voters and the Coalition for Good Governance.

In declarations submitted as part of the case in federal court in Atlanta, Halderman wrote that he had identified vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit to install malicious software, either with temporary physical access (such as that of voters in the polling place) or remotely from election management systems." Once installed, he wrote, such malware could alter voters votes while subverting all the procedural protections practiced by the State.

He detailed his findings in a report filed under seal last month as part of the lawsuit, which challenges the election system Georgia bought in 2019.

State officials have consistently argued that the Dominion machines have been thoroughly vetted and that security measures are in place to prevent problems.

In an ever-changing threat environment, there are always new evolving threats to any kind of election system, Ari Schaffer, a spokesman for Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, said in an email. That is why we are vigilant to the challenges that arise to the integrity of our elections. We are constantly in touch with federal and state security partners to protect our elections and keep them secure and reliable.

The state paid more than $100 million for the new Dominion system, replacing the outdated equipment it had been using since 2002. First used statewide during last years primary election, it includes touchscreen voting machines that produce paper ballots with barcodes tallied by scanners.

Halderman said his 25,000-word report was the result of 12 weeks of intensive testing of Dominion equipment from Fulton County. All voters in Georgia use those machines, and at least some voters in 11 other states also use the same voting machines, according to data compiled by Verified Voting.

Because it was filed under seal, The Associated Press hasnt seen Halderman's report or any specifics of the alleged vulnerabilities. It was also designated attorneys eyes only, meaning even the actual parties to the lawsuit cannot see it.

For that reason, no one in the secretary of states office has seen the report, but Deputy Secretary of State Jordan Fuchs said, We are familiar with these contentions. They are not new and Haldermans report is only possible because the judge gave him unrestricted access to equipment that he could not otherwise get.

Halderman, who has long argued that the touchscreen machines are vulnerable, said the access allowed him to identify for the first time specific vulnerabilities and the ways they could be exploited. He believes the information should force the state and Dominion to address the issues.

Thats just standard security practice," he said.

Halderman was tasked with evaluating the machines, not with looking for evidence that potential vulnerabilities had been exploited in a past election.

During a conference call with the parties last month, U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg, whos presiding over the case, said she wasnt ready to unseal his report. But she did say shes concerned enough about the information contained in it, according to a transcript.

I have seen how this can blow up, she added. Totenberg's past opinions in the case, which were critical of Georgias election system, have been cited by people pushing conspiracy theories.

Because of its confidential designation, the report hasn't been shared with Dominion. Halderman wrote that hes been trying since January, through the plaintiffs lawyers, to arrange a meeting with Dominion but the company has not agreed to meet.

Despite continued defamatory attacks against our company and its systems, Dominion has emerged from the 2020 election cycle with arguably the most-tested, most-scrutinized, and most-proven voting technology in recent history. Our company welcomes feedback that is provided in good faith by researchers, Dominion said in a statement.

In response to Haldermans report, the state filed a rebuttal declaration from one of its own expert witnesses, Juan Gilbert.

Gilbert, chair of the computer and information science and engineering department at the University of Florida, wrote that any computer can be hacked with enough access and knowledge of a determined malicious actor. He added that while he believes electronic ballot-marking devices can be improved upon, that does not mean I believe they are so insufficiently secure as to be unconstitutional or otherwise impermissibly vulnerable.

While Halderman says he has tested various methods of hacking that he says are generally undetectable, Gilbert wrote, I am not aware that Dr. Halderman has provided equipment marred by un-detectable hacks to any other independent researcher to test his theory that it is, in fact, un-detectable and not correctable.

Halderman countered in a declaration filed with the court that the declaration from Gilbert doesn't dispute the existence of the vulnerabilities he detailed or the steps that could be taken to alter individual votes and election outcomes. Nothing in Gilbert's declaration indicates that state officials understand how serious the problems are or have taken any steps to address them, Halderman wrote.

He argued that state election officials urgently need to engage with the findings in my report and address the vulnerabilities it describes before attackers exploit them.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  Louisiana's hospitals are struggling with an avalanche of coronavirus cases that threatens to crater the state's health care delivery system if the latest surge of COVID-19 patients doesn't lessen soon, Gov. John Bel Edwards warned Friday.

The Democratic governor's increasingly sounded the alarm about the risks of overloaded facilities with too few staff to handle the crush of people with the coronavirus illness on top of the car crash victims, heart attack patients and others. But the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 continues to climb, setting daily records for the last two weeks and reaching 2,907 patients Friday.

While Louisiana has received some federal disaster emergency medical teams, Edwards cautioned the staff shortages can't all be filled and hospitals can only reshuffle nonemergency surgeries for so long without doing real damage to health care.

"Everybody should be clear-eyed about this. Our opportunities to increase our capacity are on the margins. They're not big numbers, and we are rapidly getting to the point where we could have a major failure of our health care delivery system," the governor said. And there are some people out there whose care is being delayed to the point where, for them, it's already failed.

Trying to boost the state's low vaccination rates, Edwards announced the state will give $100 cash cards to the first 75,000 college students who newly get the shots. The governor said he's targeting a demographic that is seeing some of the worst infection rates in Louisiana's latest surge.

Students want an in-person college experience. They want as much normalcy as possible. To safely accomplish that we need more shots in arms, he said.

Ninety-one percent of hospitalized COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated, according to state health department data.

Dr. Amanda Logue, chief medical officer at Ochsner Lafayette General, which has five hospitals in the Acadiana region, described the situation as close to a breaking point."

COVID-19 patients are taking up one-third of their hospital beds, and that number keeps rising. Logue said it's not uncommon for people to wait seven to nine hours for an emergency room bed. The health system has delayed more than 100 nonemergency surgeries each week, she said, affecting people who don't have the virus by crowding out their ability to get care.

Those include procedures for people with slow-growing tumors. These are aneurysms. These are bypass surgeries, heart bypass, and hysterectomies, Logue said. Theyre certainly not minor to the person that's waiting on them.

If the surge of coronavirus patients grows larger, she said next steps would involve shutting down clinic visits to anything but the most urgent needs so the doctors, nurses and other health care staff can go to hospital bedsides.

Still, Edwards said he isn't inclined to add new restrictions on businesses and gatherings, saying if people follow his statewide mask mandate and get vaccinated, that should lower the rate of infections.

Amid the virus surge, organizers of the French Quarter Festival in New Orleans and the Festivals Acadiens et Creoles in Lafayette announced they are canceling the fall events and pushing them to the spring, joining the cancellation of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Only 38% of Louisianas population is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus illness, among the bottom five states in the nation, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the numbers of people seeking their first shot has increased dramatically over the last month.

In addition to the new vaccine incentive for college students, Louisiana already handed out $2.3 million in cash prizes and college scholarships through a vaccine lottery aimed at encouraging people to get the shots. The winner of the $1 million grand prize was announced Friday: Janet Mann, 63, a retired teacher from Bossier City.

Demand for the vaccine has strengthened enough that hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and other health providers administering the vaccines across Louisiana have started sharply increasing the doses theyre ordering.

There was a 440% increase in the number of vaccine doses ordered the first full week of August compared to the first full week in July, said Department of Health spokesperson Aly Neel.

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AP reporter Rebecca Santana contributed to this report from New Orleans.

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Follow APs coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Jill Biden is wearing a medical boot following a recent foot injury on a Hawaiian beach.

The boot was on the first lady's left foot Friday as she and President Joe Biden boarded a helicopter in Delaware to fly to the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland. She also held onto crutches.

President Biden helped her navigate a short flight of stairs onto the chopper.

The first lady punctured her foot in late July during a beach walk in Hawaii, where she flew for official events after participating in the opening of the Tokyo Olympics, the White House said.

She returned to Washington on July 26 and received outpatient treatment at Walter Reed Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, on July 29. President Biden joined his wife at the hospital.

Her spokesperson, Michael LaRosa, said it wasn't known what caused the puncture, but the wound was cleaned, was not infected and was expected to heal nicely.

The first lady had not been seen in public since she returned from Hawaii.
The contract with the tourist remains in force, in case of some countries' entry on the red or yellow lists, as long as the borders are open, Romania's National Association of Travel Agencies (ANAT) announced on Friday.

"Travel agencies are not responsible for the change in the destination classification between the date of purchase of tourist services and the date of return. In case of some countries' entry on the red or yellow lists, as long as the borders are open, the contract with the tourist remains in force," reads the release.

According to the cited source, in the last weeks, several countries that are tourist destinations for Romanians, such as Greece or Turkey, have entered the red list. In this case, unvaccinated tourists over the age of 16 must be quarantined when returning to the country.

At the same time, the ANAT representatives emphasize that the travel agencies bear no responsibility for the change of the destination classification between the date of the purchase of the tourist services and the return date, but for the good organization and development of the tourist package.

"The decision for the entry of certain countries on the red and yellow list, respectively, in terms of epidemiological risk belongs to the National Committee for Emergency Situations (CNSU) and the colors are strictly related to Romania's epidemiological situation. For example, Turkey is red for Romania but can green or yellow for another country. Of late, travel agencies have faced dissatisfied tourists who have reservations especially in red-listed countries and who have requested a refund or rescheduling. We would like to mention that the agencies do not bear any responsibility for a country's entry on the red list, as long as that destination is open. In addition, there is the possibility of vaccination, at hand, for most tourists, along with proof of going through the disease, so immunization," said Cristian Vlad, president of the ANAT Central Regional Council.

ANAT states that in case of some countries' entry on the red or yellow lists, as long as the borders are open, the contract with the tourist remains in force. The travel agency has only the obligation to promptly provide tourist services, be they accommodation, meals or, as the case may be, transport, optional tours, guide, transfer, etc. according to the initial offer.

Moreover, ANAT recommends to tourists to take out cancellation insurance and travel insurance, respectively. These insurances are very affordable and can cover many unpredictable situations that can be proven, such as illness or accident. At the same time, ANAT mentions that the cancellation insurance does not cover situations such as the a country's entry on the red list.
The National Union of Romania's County Councils (UNCJR) has voiced firm support for the Anghel Saligny local investment governmental programme.

"The UNCJR strongly supports the initiative of the National Liberal Party national leader Ludovic Orban, Prime Minister Florin Citu and Minister of Development, Public Works and Administration Cseke Attila-Zoltan regarding investment in local infrastructure beyond political divergences. Thuis, UNCJR is endorsing governmental ordinance approving the Anghel Saligny National Investment Programme, a programme that the incumbent government proposes in support of developing investment in local communities. By participating in the meeting of the Social Dialogue Commission, which took place today, August 13, 2021, at the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration (MDLPA), UNCJR has brought its contribution to the completion of this programme," reads a UNCJR press statement.

According to UNCJR Chairman Adrian-Ioan Vestea, the Anghel Saligny programme is the real deal in aiding community development pending the approval of Romania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), and because proposals for funding infrastructure investment are not subject to PNRR, agerpres.ro confirms.

"Given that the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) is not yet approved, and our proposals on funding investment in local infrastructure, especially gas supply and county roads, are not subject to PNRR, the Anghel Saligny programme released today is of real help to the development of those communities that otherwise would not have access to any other source of funding. What is the use of having motorways when there are no county roads to provide access to the promised great highways, and what is the use of having economic growth and better living conditions when that is true for only a few large urban area and more than half of the Romanian population does not have running water and other minimum conditions for personal hygiene?" Vestea is quoted in the UNCJR statement as saying.
Minister of Development, Public Works and Administration Cseke Attila said on Friday in Targu Jiu that in about two to three weeks's time construction on about 100 new nurseries will be approved nationwide under a national pre-school infrastructure development programme.

"We are able, in 2-3 weeks' time, to approve the construction of the first new nurseries, as standardised in 2021 with heat pumps, with everything that is needed today. We will start with the funds from the Ministry of Development and we will also get funds for building nurseries under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNNR). In the first stage, they will be in urban areas and we want to ensure local coverage so that we may fund the construction of nurseries in Gorj County as well. Unfortunately, Romania is not exactly happy, to put it mildly, in terms of the number of available nursery places, and we have to invest heavily in the construction of pre-school infrastructure in order to bridge the gap quickly. We expect the approval of the construction of approximately 100 new nurseries, at least in the first stage, and we will extend the programme to include the countryside, as in more developed small towns and suburbs nursery construction is really needed," said Cseke.

In the morning, Cseke had a meeting with mayors of Gorj County, whom he assured that funding under the National Local Development Programme (PNDL) was not halted. He pointed out that the government will counter increases in the prices for construction materials, and under PNDL 2 there will be the possibility of adding money to contracts, thus securing the premises for local investment continuing and even completing, where appropriate.
Minister of Environment, Waters and Forests Tanczos Barna announced on Friday on his Facebook page that Romania has deficiencies in providing basic utilities, and the European Commission has initiated an infringement procedure against our country because the water and sewerage networks are not yet fully developed.

"The level of economic development of a society is demonstrated by access to basic utilities, especially access to drinking water and sewerage. Romania has deficiencies in this area, and the European Commission has initiated an infringement procedure against our country because the networks the water and sewerage networks are not yet fully developed. Although the Commission has launched proceedings against 18 other EU Member States in addition to Romania, we need to complete this process as soon as possible. Currently, in Romania there are physically 2,057 sewerage networks, of which 1,260 are functional, while works are being carried out in the remaining 797, in different stages of execution, and in terms of the situation of equipment with wastewater treatment plants, 831 treatment plants were inventoried in total, of which 714 are functional treatment plants and 117 are non-functional treatment plants (which operate with deficiencies or to which the population is not connected)," Minister Tanczos said.

The minister said that he will be talking on Friday with the mayors in the Odorhei area about the government program, and also about the fact that the necessary resources must be found to develop the local communities and to ensure access to the basic utilities, agerpres.ro confirms.

"Precisely for this reason, the Ministry of Environment will allocate the amount of 1 billion euros from PNRR [the National Recovery and Resilience Plan] for the construction of water and sewerage networks, and under POIM [the Large Infrastructure Operational Program] we have allocated another 318 million euros for the same purpose. This approach is completed by the 'Anghel Saligny' programme, recently launched by Mr Cseke Attila, Minister of Development. The UDMR [Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania] set out, when it came to power, to allocate all the necessary resources to support communities and thus to develop localities, modernize infrastructure and increase living standards," stressed the Minister of Environment.
Minister of Environment, Waters and Forests Tanczos Barna declared, on Friday, in Odroheiu Secuiesc, that the Wood Tracking National Integrated System - SUMAL 2.0 operational in Romania is among the best traceability systems in Europe, being appreciated at the level of the European Commission.

"The question is whether SUMAL fulfills that role it has, to ensure traceability, to ensure the possibility of verification, control, both in the forest and on the transport routes and in the processing units. Does SUMAL 2.0 have breaches? Any computer system and any control system will have loopholes. SUMAL 2.0 is a huge step forward and will be further developed. Breaches are found sometimes once a day, sometimes once - twice a month. Solutions are being sought to the problems caused by these dysfunctions or shortcomings, developments are still being discussed with STS [Special Telecommunications Service]. I am convinced that this SUMAL is among the best traceability systems in Europe, I do not think there are many similar systems. This was also appreciated by Mr. Commissioner of the European Commission, because it is a step forward in the fight against illegal logging in Romania," said Tanczos Barna.

The Minister of Environment, Waters and Forests thus replied to some environmental organizations that support the need to adopt SUMAL 3.0, on the grounds that the existing system, SUMAL 2.0, would have breaches and allow certain interventions, and consequently, illegal deforestation cannot be stopped, agerpres.ro informs.
A recording with George Enescu's Ballade for Violin and Orchestra, performed by violinist David Garrett, will be presented on August 19, at 12:00 hrs, on the 140th anniversary of the Romanian composer's birth, on the website of the George Enescu Festival.

"On August 19, at 12:15 hrs, the Festival will release on its website, the recording of the Ballade for Violin and Orchestra by George Enescu, in the unique interpretation of the famous violinist David Garrett, together with the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic and under the baton of the late Gianluigi Gelmetti, as was presented in its 2015 edition. The recording can be downloaded from the site by those who want to take part in the experience or can be made available free of charge to organizations wishing to enter the project, for simultaneous broadcast on August 19, at 12:15 hrs. The recording is about 5 minutes long," inform the organizers of the festival in a press release sent to AGERPRES.

The project prepared by the 'George Enescu' Festival is called "Sunetul Iubirii" (The Sound of Love).

The organizers invite private individuals and media institutions - televisions, radios, online publications to join this initiative by distributing on social platforms or broadcasting on their own channels (radio, TV, online) the mentioned recording, to which they will have free access, agerpres.ro informs.

Any event organized by an institution/company/organization can be distributed on social platforms with #SunetulIubirii and # Enescu140ani and tag for the Enescu Festival, in order to be taken over on the Festival's channels.
The alert level for Afghanistan has been reassessed and raised and Romanian citizens are urged to urgently leave this state's territory and to avoid any travel to Afghanistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) informs on Friday in a press release sent to AGERPRES.

MAE also warns "that these security developments are associated with a major risk of terrorist attacks and armed confrontations".

The Romanian Ministry brings to mind that the activity of the Romanian Embassy in Kabul was suspended in 2019, following an attack that severely damaged the building of the mission. Given the lack of an operational mission in Kabul and the fact that the Romanian Embassy in Islamabad has taken over our country's representation in relation to Afghanistan, the capacity of this mission to intervene in Afghanistan is limited, especially in the context of the deteriorating security situation in this country.

The MAE strongly recommends that Romanian citizens traveling to Afghanistan or who are already on the territory of this state to address the Romanian Embassy in Islamabad and announce their presence in the region, communicating their own contact details so that they can be contacted in emergency situations, agerpres.ro informs.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds that Romanian citizens can request consular assistance at the telephone number of the Romanian Embassy in Islamabad +92 51 8441476, the calls being redirected to the Contact and Support Center for Romanian Citizens Abroad (CCSCRS) and taken by call center operators on an around the clock basis. Also, the Romanian citizens who are facing a difficult, special situation, of an urgent nature, also have at their disposal the emergency telephone number of the diplomatic mission +92 311 4469900.

At the same time, Romanian citizens can request support from the diplomatic missions of the Member States of the European Union that are still operational in Kabul (Afghanistan).

* The health and safety of people living in Afghanistan are becoming increasingly pressing issues, as the Taliban continue their offensive across the country, several UN agencies warned on Friday, according to the DPA.

"We are close to a humanitarian disaster," said Shabia Mantoo, a spokeswoman for the UN Refugee Agency in Geneva.

She said special attention should be paid to women and children who are forced to leave their homes for fear of the Taliban.

For his part, Tomson Phiri, spokesman for the World Food Programme, said that about a third of the Afghan population can no longer afford food.

Two million children need immediate help. "I'm afraid the evil will only come from now on," he said.

In eight days, Taliban insurgents have captured nearly half of Afghanistan's provincial capitals. They control most of the north, west and south of the country.

The capital Kabul, Mazar-i-Sharif, the main city in the north, and Jalalabad (east) are the only three major cities still under government control.

The Taliban launched its offensive in May, with the start of the final withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan, an operation that would end on August 31. They first occupied vast rural areas without encountering much resistance. Subsequently, their advancement has accelerated dramatically in recent days, with several major cities falling into their hands, according to the cited source.
The chairman of the National Liberal Party (PNL), Ludovic Orban, stated on Thursday that the revelation appearing in the public space about the episode regarding Prime Minister Florin Citu's conviction in the USA in 2000 for a DUI affects the image of the party.

"It's normal that it affects us. We should have fly masks to pretend it doesn't affect us. I am profoundly hurt. I am the chairman of the PNL, everything I did, all my work, all my efforts, all the efforts of the PNL team were to grow the PNL, to win elections, to bring the party to government. This is what I desire now as well. As a candidate for the chairmanship of the PNL I want to lead a strong PNL, which enjoys the confidence of people and such episodes affect the trust of citizens in the PNL, because it's not a simple member, but it's about the Prime Minister who is supported by the PNL," stated Ludovic Orban at private broadcaster B1TV.

He mentioned that he did not have information regarding said episode in Florin Citu's past.

"I was not told in interpersonal discussions this episode of his life, although, normally, we have had discussions. I supported Florin Citu as economic deputy chair of the party, group leader in the Senate, I supported him as Minister of Finance, I supported him as Prime Minister. In no discussion did he tell me about this episode in his life," said the PNL chair.

In his opinion, Florin Citu should have made the information public before it appeared in the public space, as the probability it becomes known was very high.

The PNL leader also mentioned he has no involvement in the revelation regarding the PM's past, in this context saying he was miffed by the attitude of some party colleagues.
Several services will be offered on Saturday and Sunday at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest to celebrate the Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, one of the most important Christian holidays.

On Saturday from 16:00hrs at the outer altar of the Patriarchal Cathedral, a vigil service will be provided followed by the burial of Our Most Holy Lady, serving Vicar Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, Timotei Prahoveanul, the Basilica Patriarchal News Agency reports.

On Sunday from 09:00hrs, Timotei will hold the Holy Mass, also at the outer altar of the Patriarchal Cathedral.

Christians celebrate the Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, when, according to Tradition, she was taken up to Heaven by her Son, Jesus Christ, the Saviour.

The Mother of God, or Theotokos, lived for many years after Christ's ascension to Heaven. Three days before her death, she was informed by the Holy Archangel Gabriel that she would pass from this world to eternal life.

Her dormition and ascension to Heaven in her physical body is the last mystery in the work of saving the mankind. After the Resurrection of Christ, His Ascension, and the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Dormition of the Ever-Virgin Mary concludes the work of salvation by Jesus Christ.
The Social Democrats asked Friday President Klaus Iohannis to confirm or deny whether he knew of Florin Citu's criminal record when he signed him in for the position of Prime Minister of Romania.

"The Social Democratic Party (PSD) is asking President Klaus Iohannis to confirm or deny whether he was aware of Florin Vasile Citu's criminal conviction when he appointed him for the position of Prime Minister of Romania. This clarification to the public opinion is absolutely necessary, given that President Klaus Iohannis has personally endorsed Florin Citu for Prime Minister although the party that proposed him had lost last year's elections," PSD wrote in a press release.

The Social Democrats argue that if the President was in the know about Florin Citu's this criminal conviction, he is obliged to explain to the public "why he has violated the personally assumed principle of not appointing a criminally convicted person as Prime Minister, regardless of where the nomination came from."

"If, on the contrary, at the time of Citu's appointment, Iohannis was not aware of his criminal conviction, it is mandatory for the President to publicly announce who he will hold accountable for this major national security breach which allowed a person with such a major vulnerability to accede to the helm of the Romanian Government. As for the propaganda of Citu's supporters who are doing their utmost to suggest that it was a mere traffic fine, PSD underlines that the deeds for which Florin Citu was imprisoned are criminal offenses including the Romanian legislation. The criminal character of the sanction derives exactly from the prison sentence received by the current Prime Minister of Romania," the release states.
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U.S. military leaders are urging the current laws be modified so that the OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) is recognized as a valid, often crucial part of what is really going on in foreign countries. Currently it is information collected by espionage and technical means (satellite and aerial surveillance and other forms of electronic eavesdropping) that is given the most weight when it comes to analyzing what the enemy is up to and what they plan to do.

One major example of the effectiveness of OSINT is how effective it is as used by commercial firms that provide BI (Business Intelligence) to customers. BI has been around since the mid-19th century when the mass media became available as a result of new technology (steam powered printing presses) that made mass market newspapers possible. In Western countries, especially the United States, where most of the population was literate and able to regularly purchase and read newspapers, it was quickly discovered that newspapers from enemy territory were an excellent source of military information in war or peace. This was particularly the case during the American Civil War where espionage efforts on both sides depended on getting newspapers from enemy territory to accurately assess what the enemy military was up to and what the state of civilian morale and economy was.

News from foreign lands was actually an ancient practice where commercial letters often became a business as skilled observers in foreign countries regularly sent letters to customers or partners that detailed the latest state of markets and local conditions. When the printing press became widely available in the 1600s, the first newspapers appeared. These were expensive but affordable to major businesses and the wealthy in general. Astute diplomatic and intelligence advisors learned that a regular supply of foreign newspapers or free material, often in the form of one-page documents distributed to the public, provided insights on political, military and economic trends.

The term Business Intelligence or BI first appeared in 1989 and was widely adopted by the latest incarnation of firms that provided collected, analyzed and reported on OSINT to their customers. While some BI firms used illegal means to steal information, this criminal activity, not true BI and avoided. In many countries new laws often criminalized some existing data collection practices. In some countries passing on local newspapers, especially translations of them, was often considered a crime. There are always gray areas in BI that rarely exist in government approved espionage.

Analyzing the massive amounts of OSINT available from newspapers, radio, television and the Internet, BI firms were often providing superior information to what the government intelligence agencies obtained using traditional espionage methods. In the 1970s, as the rapidly growing Japanese economy began shipping competitive products to Western markets it was discovered that the larger and more successful Japanese firms relied on BI and OSINT from foreign countries to detect customer preferences and market trends in the West faster than Western firms could. At first dismissed as another odd Japanese custom, the more adept Western firms realized this use of BI gave Japanese firms a crucial advantage in foreign markets where Japan was able to sell their products at premium prices, not competing on price as they had initially done. Other East Asian firms, and governments, adopted these techniques. China was a particularly avid practitioner.

The more effective Western intel agencies quietly adopted BI techniques, finding newspapers from the Middle East a particularly useful source of valuable political and military developments as well as a better sense of what foreign government and populations were thinking. This kind of OSINT required skilled translators and experts in foreign cultures to get the most out of this OSINT and by the 1980s it was a growing, if largely unrecognized, source of superior intel on friends and enemies overseas.

Another development was that since the 1990s ancient espionage techniques have become obsolete and 21st century spies have had to adapt to keep up. The old ways have largely been replaced with new methods that take advantage of new tech like the Internet, cellphones and more powerful and numerous computers along with new software that can do pattern analysis and automatic analysis of photos or video. This made it possible to regularly monitor the street or what the public was really thinking.

For spies, the most immediate impact of improved OSINT and BI was that it suddenly became much more difficult for them to hide their identities and activities. These new tools were most disruptive in police states where it had long been easy to control mass media, communications and free movement. It has taken several decades but some police states developed and implemented ways to deal with the new tech. China is the best example of this and that was no accident. China had the money, the tech and the trained (and loyal) personnel to tame these new technologies and bend them to serve the state rather than enable people to live more freely. Cellphones and the Internet along with the widespread use of security cameras proved capable of creating a surveillance and monitoring system that made it much more difficult to use traditional spies.

On the plus side, the World Wide Web has made OSINT more valuable and difficult to manipulate or suppress. OSINT has always meant using information available to the public. Even during the Cold War, everyone found OSINT useful, if at times tedious to use. With the Internet available, much better OSINT could be collected much more quickly and eventually analyzed quickly using software. Again, it was civilian BI and marketing firms that led the way in turning all this OSINT into commercially useful products.

China led the way by spending billions of dollars to wall off most of its citizens from those many aspects of the World Wide Web that enabled Chinese to find out what was actually happening elsewhere, including in their own country. China now sells this technology to other nations or provides it at a big discount for allies who want some modern police state tech to control their own populations. Dictators have found that they cannot just cut their country off from the Internet, as Cuba and North Korea did for a while, because of commercial and government need for Internet access. Moreover, the Internet has more ways to leak into a police state than can be blocked.

Perhaps the most notable loss to conventional espionage efforts has been the ability to use "Illegals." These are spies who do not have diplomatic immunity, like the "legals" or spies posing as embassy personnel, and can be imprisoned, or even executed, if caught. For over a century, the worldwide acceptance of diplomatic immunity for embassy personnel was a bonanza for espionage. With this diplomatic immunity, you could have some spies in the most restrictive police states. But all that new tech has rendered the legals much less effective because they are easier to detect and monitor. It was much easier and efficient to steal secrets via the Internet or by tapping into enemy communications wirelessly. Illegals are costly and more vulnerable because of the surveillance state and better search tools that make life difficult for "legals" and "illegals".

The United States military was able to use OSINT more aggressively after 2001 when there was a wartime atmosphere and new techniques were welcome if they worked. SOCOM (Special Operations Command) was particularly active in developing and using new OSINT techniques. These were still disdained by the professionals in the intel agencies. Out in the battle zone SOCOM and the American military in general used what worked and now that generation of young officers with first-hand knowledge of these techniques is asking that these techniques be recognized and used more by the traditional intel agencies.
Items About Areas That Could Break Out Into War

August 13, 2021: In south Asia, Indias eastern neighbor Myanmar (Burma) is having serious problems adapting to democracy, unity and independence. There was another military coup in early 2021, a decade after the military government (since 1962) finally gave in to demands for freedom and democracy. By 2010 the army had failed at running the economy or dealing with the rebellious northern tribes. The military negotiated a deal with the democrats that left the military with some of their political power as well as immunity from prosecution or retribution for a long list of past crimes. Once elections were held, the generals realized they had underestimated the degree of popular anger at the decades of military misrule. After 2011, with Burma governed by a government answerable to the people, not a military caste, there were calls for cancelling the political privileges the military had retained as part of their agreement to allow peaceful transfer of power. The late 2020 nationwide elections put into power a government that finally had the votes, and determination, to cut the military down to size and make them much less capable of another coup. The generals moved faster than the new government and once more took control of the country on February 1st.

The generals found that it was not as easy as the early 1960s. This time there was much less compliance and a lot more defiance. In fact, most Burmese acted the way they voted, despite the greater firepower and, so far, resolve of the generals. The army has trashed the economy and put more and more Burmese out of work and without access to food, the Internet or the banking system. So far, the resistance continues. The generals have become more dependent on their business partners. China, who were also partners-in-crime with the generals, The Chinese connection may be the vital key to victory, or fatal flaw in the coup plan. It all depends on how much Burmese are willing to resist China. This is important in so many ways and the result of regional changes that have taken place over the last few centuries.

Six months later, on August 1st the military declared themselves the provisional government. There were vague assurances of new elections but few voters believed the voting would be free and fair. China promptly recognized the provisional government and just called it the government. Meanwhile the supporters of the ousted government organized themselves as the NUG (National Unity Government) and sought to gain foreign support, avoid capture (or death) by the military. Many Burmese diplomats outside the country at the time of the coup continued to support the elected government. Some Western countries reported that the Burmese military was seeking to kidnap or kill these rogue diplomats. Not to be outdone, in the north one of the tribal militias offered $3,000 to any Burmese soldiers who defected, with his weapon. In addition to the case the rebels promised safe passage out of the country. The military has refused to negotiate and refused UN offers to mediate negotiations. Unlike 2010, this time the military sees their situation as do or die. Too many Burmese now want the military leaders dead or in prison. The Burmese avoided civil war for decades after the 1962 coup and everyone seems to believe this was not the correct way to go about it. Now the Burmese have to see what, if any, military assistance they can obtain from foreign supporters.

Burma was, until 1948, part of the British colonial holdings in South Asia and one of the last additions. In 1885 Britain took control of what is now Burma after nearly a century of commercial and territorial conflicts between the expanding Burmese monarchy and the British East India Company, the economic engine that powered the effort to form what would, for about a century, become the largest component of the British colonial empire. Burma was a unique addition to the empire as it was the largest possession whose population was East Asian (Han) while the rest of India was Indo-European. The majority of Burmese were descendants of Han tribes that had migrated, at least three thousand years ago, from what is now southern China. About the same time the Central Asian nomads who became dominant in western Eurasia, poured into India and kept going for centuries until they dominated their less aggressive but culturally and economically advanced predecessors. Same thing happened in south-east Asia but for several reasons the expansions halted in Burma, northeast India, Tibet and into Central Asia. The Indo-European Indians were far more culturally and technologically advanced than their European cousins. Indians were very active traders, mainly by sea across the Indian Ocean. When the Europeans began their Age of Exploration in the 1400s, once they reached East Africa and the Persian Gulf, they encountered Indian traders who had already been there for over a thousand years. The British did not come to South Asia to build an empire but to trade. The empire-building was a side effect of trade disputes. The South Asian British colonial rule only lasted for about two centuries and it ended when the British realized they were losing a lot of money maintaining it.

Burma, like India, had been a collection of feuding kingdoms when the British arrived. Modern Burma long consisted of southern Burma, where the ethnic Burmese (Burans) dominated. In the north, as in northeast India, there was an even larger and more diverse collection of tribes that had long maintained their independence. The British persuaded the tribes to become part of the new democratic Burma. A similar collection of tribes in northeast India made a similar deal. Many of the tribal peoples were not happy with the new central government and that produced over sixty years of rebellion and unrest. Democratic India eventually negotiated new peace deals with the separatists among the tribes. The 1948 democratic Burma tried to do the same but continued resistance of the tribes contributed to the longest-lasting military government in South Asia. There was another element to this. Most Burmese noted that India never had a coup and Moslem Pakistan, at least West Pakistan, suffered a lot of coups and had their first one before Burma did. Also noted was that the coups in Pakistan led to Pakistan falling apart. In 1970 an uprising in East Pakistan (modern Bangladesh) demanded a separate state and West Pakistan (modern Pakistan) was unable to prevent it. Since then, Bangladesh, emulating India, adopted a coup resistant government that worked. Pakistan continues to be threatened by its own military, which now exercises its political power without taking over the government. The generals in Pakistan and Burma have one thing in common, they established government and personal economic ties with China. It is these business relationships with China that give the generals independent (of their own government) economic power and the ability to coerce an elected government into obeying the military, and not the other way around.

Applying this in Burma is proving more difficult than in Pakistan, where the Chinese investments came after the Pakistan military had already carried out several successful coups but were always forced to eventually back off and allow elections to return. But now, thanks in part to Chinese assistance, the Pakistani military can control the government without being the government.

The success of the Chinese economic conquest approach is not assured in Pakistan and is even less of a sure thing in Burma. As long as the generals can find enough money to pay their troops, they can maintain their power. But as the Pakistani generals have discovered there are limitations to this approach. You must be able to intimidate your population, not go to war with them because that would risk foreign intervention. Thats what happened in Pakistan during the 1971 civil war. When troops from West Pakistan started killing rebellious civilians in a big way, neighboring India was outraged and soon intervened. This forced the Pakistani forces in East Pakistan to surrender and allowed the formation of Bangladesh.

So far, the Burmese Army is keeping the death toll down. Six months after the coup only about a thousand civilians have died and very few soldiers killed. The generals are under pressure to pay close attention to troop morale and realize that another boost in soldier pay will not be enough to maintain loyalty in a force where most troops belong to extended families with many members who are not in the military and more of them are being shot at by the military. The Chinese realize that if the Burmese can avoid open warfare with an increasingly angry population, the generals could prevail. More Burmese are obtaining weapons and using them and the generals have a hard time portraying dead or wounded soldiers as Myanmar Martyrs. None of Burmas neighbors are eager and ready to invade, as India did in 1971 Bangladesh. Bangladesh consists of a Moslem Bengali population. Most Bengalese were Moslem, which is why you had East Pakistan from 1948 to 1970. But a third of Bengalis were Hindu, including a few Christians. In 1970, not all Moslem Bengalis lived in East, or West Pakistan. The massacre of Bengalis in East Pakistan generated a lot of Indian support for intervention. There are often times when ethnicity trumps religions.

Such is not the case in Burma, where the Buran group, while possessing ancient ethnic connections with the Han in China, now consider themselves, like the Han-related majorities in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam as very distinct and want as little to do with China as possible. This is a common pattern on all the current borders of China, where Han who wanted no part of a Chinese empire are still struggling to escape Han domination.

In Burma the six-month old coup is another expression of Han hostility. The continued resistance developed an armed component after about three months. The CDM (Civil Disobedience Movement) is mainly about organizing peaceful protests but as more civilians were shot, some CDM factions began shooting back. Worse, there were organized attacks as well. This began in April when someone fired five rockets at the Shante Air Force base outside the city of Mandalay. The rockets caused no damage or injuries and were believed aimed at the Chinese CH-3A UAVs that were delivered in 2015 and used mainly to keep an eye on tribal rebels in the north. After the coup the army asked China for assistance in using all the manned and unmanned aircraft and helicopters China and Russia has sold to Burma in the last decade. The military imported $2.5 billion worth of military gear since 2010, China 58 percent of it and Russia 33 percent. Now these weapons were being used against the nationwide uprising. China is something of an expert on this as is installing a Big Brother level surveillance in China and is willing to export that tech. An elected Burmese government would never divert the huge sums required to purchase and install Chinese Big Brother levels of surveillance. The Burmese military is another matter, especially when it has taken over the government again. At the moment the military is in charge and China sees another major export sale looming. Better surveillance capabilities will provide immediate help to suppress the rebels.

China faces huge economic losses if the current coup fails. China is a major foreign investor in Burma and those projects often displace Burmese illegally and without compensation. Most of this misbehavior occurred in the northern border areas where hostile tribes live. These tribes tend to have armed militias that have been fighting the military for over sixty years. Chinese investments gave the tribal rebels more targets for unarmed protests and armed attacks. China will do whatever it can to protect those investments, which include oil and natural gas pipelines from southern China to the northeast Burma coast. The pipelines have come under increasing attacks.

The first thing the new military government did in February was assuring China that Chinese assets would be protected. China promptly used their veto powers in the UN to block UN actions against the new military rulers of Burma. Within two weeks Russia also proclaimed support for the military government. The response of the military was not unexpected, because the civilian government knew that the Burmese generals maintained their connections in China.

The Burmese Army has long been at the center of most illegal economic activity. Some estimates indicate that at least $20 billion has been illegally moved out of Burma during the fifty years of military rule and much more stayed in the country. Almost all of that was military personnel or their gangster and commercial allies. Military families still control a lot of the economy and most of the wealthy families in Burma have a military connection. The illegal cash leaving amounted (on average) to about six percent of GDP. The military may have surrendered much of their political power in 2010, but they held on to their considerable personal wealth.

The Burmese military is comfortable with a cozy relationship with China and Russia but most Burmese are not. This has led to Chinese businesses being attacked since the coup and a few have been set on fire. The military was forced to assign more troops and hire some armed guards to protect the Chinese businesses.

The alliance of separatist northern tribes, which reached a peace agreement with the elected government in 2016, refused to recognize or cooperate with the military government. Burmese military leaders were surprised at the extent and duration of mass protests during the last six months. Despite most of the economy being crippled, the military still has income because during their decades of rule they came to control many businesses and some of those were joint ventures with China. A lot of Chinese firms pay the Burmese military directly for joint ventures. This provides the military with over a billion dollars a year, assuming the Chinese operations can keep functioning. Burmese army officers made a lot of money allowing China to do business in the tribal north, often at the expense of local civilians, most of them tribal people. After the return of democracy in 2011, China no longer had as much freedom in the north. Russia is of little help economically but is one of the few nations supporting the military government.

China is in uncharted territory here but is mainly risking money, not a lot of Chinese lives. The Chinese see this as an opportunity to see how far this new version of conquest by aggression can go. This is an important experiment because it is a new version of the tactics the Europeans, especially the British, used centuries ago to replace Chinese dominance of East Asia.

One thing the current Burmese conflict is unlikely to change is the dominance of the government by ethnic Burmese (Burman) people at the expense of the third of the population consisting of minorities. The army always played on this during the decades after the 1962 coup. Even after elections were resumed the army still had allies in the form of militant Buddhist nationalists. Another thing that unites and divides the country is religion. Some 80 percent of Burmese are Buddhists, including many of the rebellious tribes in the north. A third of the non-Buddhists are Christians, mainly in the tribal north and about 30 percent are Hindu. The ethnic Burmese are most hostile towards Moslems, who make up only about four percent of the population and less than ten percent of the minorities. Until 2012 about half the Moslems were ethnic Bengalis (Rohingya) who until the 1980s were considered Burmese citizens. That changed after an elected government took power in 2011 and since 2012 nearly a quarter of the million Rohingya are believed to have fled Burma to escape the growing violence of radical Buddhist Burmese nationalists. China assures the Burmese generals that they have proven solutions for all these problems.
By Laura Sanicola

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Oil prices dipped on Friday and ended the week little changed after weathering concerns from banks and the International Energy Agency that the spread of coronavirus variants is slowing oil demand.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude settled down 72 cents, or 1%, at $70.59 a barrel for the session. U.S. West Intermediate crude settled down 65 cents at $68.44.

For the week, Brent fell less than 1%, after dropping 6% last week, its largest week of losses in four months. Last week WTI slumped nearly 7% in its biggest weekly decline in nine months.

On Thursday, the IEA said demand for crude oil ground to a halt in July and was set to rise at a slower pace over the rest of the year because of surging infections from the Delta variant of the coronavirus.

Still, oil has remained supported by improved demand in the world's top consumer, the United States and other nations where the COVID-19 vaccination rate is higher.

"While the IEA's report was pretty dour on demand, in the near term, it's pretty clear that there's a supply deficit and that's likely to continue as we're seeing airline travel restrictions get lifted in the U.S.," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC in New York.

Major banks Goldman Sachs and JPM Commodities Research are less bullish on oil due to the rising infection rate.

Goldman cut its estimate for the global oil deficit to 1 million barrels per day from 2.3 million bpd in the short term, citing an expected decline in demand in August and September.

However, Goldman expects the demand recovery to continue alongside rising vaccination rates.

"A recent flow of favorable U.S. macroeconomic guidance also suggests further improvement in petroleum demand once the Delta Variant subsides," said Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates LLP in Galena, Illinois.

JPM, meanwhile, said it now sees the "global demand recovery stalling this month" with demand remaining roughly in line with the 98 million bpd average for global consumption in July.

By contrast, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on Thursday stuck to its forecast for a rebound in global oil demand this year and further growth in 2022, notwithstanding the rising concern over surges in COVID-19.

U.S. energy firms added the most oil rigs in a week since April as the total rig count more than doubled from a record low a year ago, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co BKR.N said.

U.S. oil rigs rose 10 to 397 this week, their highest since April 2020, and up from 172 a year ago, which was their lowest since 2005 before the shale boom boosted activity.

The combined oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, rose by nine to 500 in the week to Aug. 13, which puts it up 105% from a record low of 244 this time last year, according to Baker Hughes data going back to 1940.

(Additional reporting by Shadia Nasralla, Aaron Sheldrick and Florence TanEditing by Marguerita Choy, Jane Merriman and David Gregorio)
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Central Bank of Savings Banks Finland Plc's and Savings Banks Group's Half year financial report for January-June 2021 and Pillar III Disclosure Report 30 June 2021 has been published.

The materials are available at www.saastopankki.fi .

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Source: Streetwise Reports (8/13/21)

Between 1978 and 1995 estimates suggest as much as 30 million ounces of gold left the Tapajos region of Brazil in the pockets and rucksacks belonging to artisanal miners known as garimpeiros. Today, junior gold exploration company, Cabral Gold, is doing all it can to find the source of much of that gold. If successful, Cabral just might become the most successful gold junior operating in northern Brazil.



When one ruminates on a gold rush, it brings to mind images of bearded prospectors in denim overalls and scarred leather ankle boots panning for gold in northeastern California or along a frothy river in the icy Yukon. Few people, if any in North America, think of Brazil straightaway.

Yet, about 40 years ago, as MTV was airing Video Killed the Radio Star, the worlds biggest gold rush was well underway in Brazil on what ultimately became the third-largest placer gold belt in the world.

The frenzy was mostly due to the discovery of a chunky gold nugget near a farm in Para state.

Word spread, and hundreds of thousands of garimpeiros poured into the region within a few years to dig, sluice and pan for near-surface gold, the largest specimen of which was a 16.8 kg (540 oz) nugget, worth about US$110,000 at the time.

Between 1978 and 1995, estimates suggest that anywhere from 20 to 30 million ounces of gold (30Moz) was taken from the Tapajos region. Some 2Moz of the gold was found in streams on claims now belonging to Cabral Gold Inc. (CBR:TSX.V; CBGZF:OTCMKTS). But where was the gold coming from?

The junior gold explorer is being aggressive in tracking down the golds origin on its 360-sq.-km claim block.

We've been looking for the source of all that gold. We've so far discovered two hard rock gold depositswhich comprise the Cuiu Cuiu projectwithin our claim block that obviously have been eroding over millions of years, explains Alan Carter, President, CEO and founder of Cabral Gold.

He adds: We think those two deposits probably explain somewhere between five and ten percent of the alluvial (placer) gold in streams that was mined during the gold rush. That means, Carter says, that at least 90% of the gold was eroded from gold deposits Cabral hasnt yet found.

Cabrals 100%-owned Cuiu Cuiu project, consisting of the Central and MG deposits, has a National Instrument 43-101 compliant indicated resource of 5.9 million tonnes (5.9Mt) grading 0.9 gram per tonne (g/t) gold and an inferred resource 19.5Mt grading 1.24 g/t gold for a resource just shy of 1Moz. Both deposits are open along strike and at depth.

Drilling on 10 peripheral targets elsewhere on the claims returned some noteworthy intercepts, including Machichie, 500 meters north of MG, with 34 meters grading 5.3 g/t gold; Central SE with 27 meters of 6.9 g/t gold; Jerimum Cima, 2 km north of MG, with 39 meters running 5.1 g/t gold; and Machichie SW with 3.4 meters running a stout 36.9 g/t gold.

Perhaps most promising is the Pau de Merenda target, 2.5 km northwest of Central, where reverse-circulation reconnaissance drilling returned numerous mineralized drill intercepts in near-surface weathered material and oxidized saprolite. Hole RC-112 recently hit 40 meters averaging 2.2 g/t gold from surface, including a 7-meter sweet spot that averaged 9.4 g/t gold. The hole ended in high-grade gold mineralization.

An earlier drill intercept at Pau de Merenda returned 48 meters grading 1.8 g/t gold, including a 9-meter section at a healthy 5.1 g/t.

Cabral, a nod to Portuguese explorer Pedro Alvares Cabral, who is credited with discovering Brazil after a stopover on his way to India in 1500, has yet to drill test 12 other targets with high-grade veins outcropping at surface.

Farther south on the claim block, Cabral has tested a number of surface targets as part of its ongoing exploration program.

At Alsonso, 4 km southeast of MG, the 1.5-km target area yielded 24 surface boulders averaging 91 g/t gold, while 8 km south of MG, the Medusa target hosts a 1.4-km gold-in-soil anomaly with 19 rock samples averaging 26 g/t gold.

Three drill rigs are currently testing Cuiu Cuiu to further outline and define previously identified high-grade zones in both the MG and Central deposits as part of a 25,000-meter drill program. Carter hopes to get two more drills turning on the property in the next month.

Carter says, There's a lot of high-grade mineralization that's not been separately modeled. In order to include that high-grade gold in the resource, we need to do two things: We need more infill drilling and we need to model a higher-grade zone separately. So instead of the high-grade results being statistical outliers, all the high-grade results will be treated as a separate population with a much higher top cut grade, Carter told Streetwise.

The drill programs secondary objective is to further test the depth and grade of an oxide blanket of overburden (mostly soil, mud and sand) that sits above the MG gold deposit. The engineering firm that calculated Cabrals initial resource estimate assumed that the material was sterile, but in fact its mineralized.

Carter says Cabral recently drilled 60 metres into the blanket in an intercept that averaged 3.5 g/t gold. However, he expects the average grade to be somewhere between 0.5 g/t and 1 g/t.

Recent reconnaissance drilling indicates the presence of a second near surface, gold-in-oxide blanket near the Pau de Merenda target.

This is unconsolidated material, which is essentially sitting at surface. So the mining and processing costs of this material, as you might imagine, will be very low. There'll be no drilling costs, no blasting, because it's not hard material. It's soft unconsolidated soil, mud and sand, Carter affirms.

Some other companies have made tidy work of Brazils low-grade gold deposits. Kinross Golds (K:TSX; KGC:NYSE) Paracatu gold-silver mine in Minas Gerais state produced 542,435 gold-equivalent oz in 2020 from 54.25Mt grading 0.42 g/t, down from the 620Kt gold-equivalent oz produced in 2019. Paracatu remains one of Kinrosss most profitable operations.

Southeast and adjacent to Cabrals Cuiu Cuiu project is Eldorado Golds (ELD:TSX; EGO:NYSE) fully permitted Tocantinzinho gold project, which hosts National Instrument 43-101-compliant proven and probable reserves of 39Mt grading 1.42g/t gold for 1.78Moz. The measured and indicated resource, included in the reserves, measures 46Mt grading 1.37g/t gold for 2.03Moz gold. Another 0.6Mt grading 0.90g/t gold for 17Koz gold is in the inferred category.

Eldorado recently inked a deal to sell Tocantinzinho to Quebec-based G Mining Ventures (GMIN:TSX.V) for cash and 19.9% of GMIN amounting to a total US$110 million. The deal has yet to close.

Osisko Gold Royalties (OR:TSX) recently purchased a 2.75% net smelter return royalty on Tocantinzinho for US$10 million.

Carter and his exploration team have played a role in the discovery of five gold deposits in the region, including Cuiu Cuiu, Tocantinzinho, and Serabi Golds (SBI:TSX) Palito and Coringa deposits, also in the Tapajos region.

Gold exploration in the Tapajos region has received a boost from an unexpected ally: the Brazilian soy bean industry. Getting the immense soy crop to market has meant more roads, and paved highways. Hydro-electric projects are also in the worksall of which would make building another mine in the Tapajos region less expensive.

Cabral was the second-ranked mining stock on TSX Venture Exchange in 2020, after its share price jumped almost 500%. Fully diluted, the company has roughly 130 million shares outstanding.

Some of the juniors institutional shareholders include Phoenix Gold Fund, Crescat Capital, Dundee Goodman, RBC Precious Metals Fund and US Global. Carter himself has put $1.7M into Cabral.

I'm the founder of the company. (Cabral) is almost four years old. So far, I've invested $1.7 million of my own money, which for me is an enormous piece of my net worth, Carter says.

Perhaps he doesnt have the beard or denim overalls, but Carter, who is also a PhD geologist, is every bit the prospector as those who discovered gold in the Tapajos region before him.

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Disclosures:

1) Brian Sylvester compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor. He or members of his household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. He and members of his household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. His company has a financial relationship with the following companies referred to in this article: None.

2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: Cabral Gold Inc. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees.

3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.

5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the decision to publish an article until three business days after the publication of the article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Cabral Gold, a company mentioned in this article.
Source: McAlinden Research for Streetwise Reports (8/13/21)

McAlinden Research Partners discusses how a rise in US demand and pressures on top copper producers may spell a rebound for the red metal.



Copper prices bounced back through July, following a rise in U.S. demand and diminishing influence of Chinese strategic reserve releases on the overall market. A global copper supply deficit is expected to widen through next year and could be exacerbated by the passage of a U.S. infrastructure bill, as well as the threat of mining industry strikes and a new political regime in Chile, the world's top copper-producing nation.

Related ETF/ETN & Stocks: iPath Series B Bloomberg Copper Subindex Total Return ETN (JJC), Global X Funds  Global X Copper Miners ETF (COPX), Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX)

Over the last few weeks, copper futures have rebounded strongly from the $4.20/lb level to as much as $4.59/lb. As of yesterday's close, the red metal had eased to $4.43/lb, well below its 2021 high of $4.76/lb, but still more than 52% higher than this time last year.

Copper's strong July was capped off by investment bank Goldman Sachs reiterating its bullish call for a copper price of $11,000 a tonne (just below $5/lb) by the end of the year and $11,500 by this time next year. As Mining.com notes, Goldman expects tight supply and a bottleneck for primary metal production in China, reinforcing its projection for a significant 430,000-tonne refined deficit in the second half of the year.

To receive all of MRP's insights in your inbox MondayFriday, follow this link for a free 30-day trial. This content was delivered to McAlinden Research Partners clients on August 3.

Goldman also projects a 200,000-tonne deficit next year, and also halved its projected surplus for 2023 to 129,000 tonnes "after which open-ended deficits start," driven by rising electric vehicle adoption and increasingly insufficient Chinese strategic reserves.

Deficit Expands, Chinese Reserve Releases Cause Muted Reaction

According to the International Copper Study Group, the global market for refined copper showed a 75,000-tonne deficit in April, expanding significantly from a 13,000-tonne deficit in March. Though the copper market remains in a thinning surplus of about 69,000 tonnes through the first 4 months of 2021, that's largely due to demand still being in a recovery phase from the COVID-19 pandemic.

As Argus Media reported in May, Chilean copper agency Cochilco expects the refined copper market to register a deficit of 145,000 tonnes by the end of the year. The firm also sees strength in the copper market persisting even longer than previously expected, significantly raising their projection for 2022's average price to $3.95/lb, up from previous estimations of $3.00/lb.

The Chinese government spooked investors earlier this summer when it announced it would be releasing industrial metals from its national reserves to curb commodity prices, but as that strategy has unfolded fears have faded significantly.

China injected a total of 50,000 tonnes of copper into the market via two auctions last month, the second of which actually ended up boosting prices since it was much less than expected. While much was made about the Chinese government's tough talk, Goldman Sachs notes that 50,000 tonnes of copper is equivalent to approximately 36 hours of Chinese copper consumption.

Demand Growth Shifts to US, Gearing up for Infrastructure Drive

Though Chinese import volumes have slid 10% from the first half of last year's record import tally of 4.67 million tonnes, US demand has just started picking up.

That comes as Chicago Mercantile Exchange stocks have sunk to 45,885 tons, down by 31,700 since the start of January. Meanwhile, Reuters reports that funds have slashed their bear bets from 44,978 contracts in June to just 22,210 contracts, according to the latest Commitments of Traders Report. That has lifted the collective net long to 46,137 contracts.

"The realities of the current logistical bottlenecks have meant that U.S. copper imports have so far not been enough to meet demand, and it does not look like it will get materially better until after September," according to Citi analysts who estimate that apparent U.S. copper consumption jumped by 22% year-on-year in the January-May period.

That rise in demand is especially pronounced in expanding U.S. premiums for copper. Per Bloomberg, New York traders were paying as much as $250 a metric tonne more for Comex copper than metal traded on the London Metal Exchange at the end of July, the widest spread since 2011.

That may only be the beginning of a new wave of demand set to sweep the U.S. when a $1 trillion infrastructure bill finally gets passed. Though it has taken some time to hammer out, and may take another week to finally finish up amendments before the U.S. Senate leaves for summer recess, it appears increasingly likely that the bill will eventually pass both houses of Congress, driving $73 billion of funding toward modernizing the copper-rich electric grid, including $7.5 billion to develop electric vehicle charging stations across the countrya move likely to hasten the adoption of electric vehicles.

As MRP has noted, electric vehicles take around 83 kilograms of copper on average, while charging points need 10 kilograms of copper per unit. A team of Jeffries analysts, led by Christopher LaFemina, expects copper demand for electric vehicles will rise to 1.7 megatons in 2030 from 170 kilotons in 2020.

Strike Could Shut World's Largest Copper Mine

One final catalyst that could play a significant role in a copper comeback is the threat of a prolonged strike at Chile's La Escondida, the world's largest copper mine, solely responsible for almost 5% of the world's supply of the metal. Union workers have already rejected owner BHP Group's final wage offer in voting last week by overwhelming majority of 99.5%.

The Wall Street Journal notes that miners by law must continue to work during a period of obligatory mediation by the government for a period of up to 10 days, so a strike isn't a done deal, according to some analysts. If no deal is struck, however, a walkout of miners could last some time. When Escondida workers walked off the job in 2017, they didn't return for 44 days.

As Bloomberg notes, two other smaller minesCodelco's Andina and JX Nippon Mining & Metals' Caseronesare in the same situation. Chile, the world's top copper-producing nation has already seen output fall by 2% through the first four months of the year.

As MRP has previously noted, this rising labor movement coincides with the rise of Chile's Communist party and other left-wing independents, who overcame Chile's ruling coalition in nationwide elections last May to choose 155 delegates who will write a new constitution for the nation. October's general elections in the country could mark a further political shift to the left for Chile. Copper-rich Peru has experienced similar political intrigue as Pedro Castillo of the socialist Free Peru party was elected president earlier this year.

For Freeport-McMoRan Inc. Chief Executive Officer Richard Adkerson, the outcome of South America's political machinations is still up in the air. But he did note that the shift appears to be supportive of higher prices with plans for expansion becoming more uncertain in both Chile and Peru, accounting for a combined share of 40% of global copper production.

The unimpeded expansion has become much more critical in recent years. Wall Street Journal cites CRU Group, a commodities consulting firm, which estimates production from existing copper mines will peak in 2023, with a shortfall emerging in the middle of the decade and deepening unless new projects advance.

For Investors

MRP will continue to monitor developments in copper and other metals markets. Less than two months ago, MRP suspended our long themes on copper and copper miners.

Over the lifetime of those themes (each being active from July 16, 2020  June 20, 2021), the iPath Series B Bloomberg Copper Subindex Total Return ETN (JJC) and the Global X Copper Miners ETF (COPX), have returned +41% and +77%, respectively, over the life of the theme. Each of those has outperformed the S&P 500's return of +31% over the same period.

Originally published August 2, 2021.

McAlinden Research Partners (MRP) provides independent investment strategy research to investors worldwide. The firm's mission is to identify alpha-generating investment themes early in their unfolding and bring them to its clients' attention. MRP's research process reflects founder Joe McAlinden's 50 years of experience on Wall Street. The methodologies he developed as chief investment officer of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, where he oversaw more than $400 billion in assets, provide the foundation for the strategy research MRP now brings to hedge funds, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and other asset managers around the globe.

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Disclosure:

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2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

3) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Streetwise Reports for this article. Streetwise Reports was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this article. Streetwise Reports requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Streetwise Reports relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Streetwise Reports has no means of verifying its accuracy.

4) This article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.

5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the decision to publish an article until three business days after the publication of the article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases.

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First Lt. Jim Schooley, from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, low crawls under barbed wire while participating in the obstacle course circuit during the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Warrior competition in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Aug. 9, 2021. Schooley won the best officer competition. (Kevin Sterling Payne/U.S. Army)

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany  Soldiers from 15 Army units endured obstacle courses, land navigation and marksmanship drills in hopes of being crowned the best warriors in Europe.

After several grueling days in the annual Best Warrior competition, three of them emerged triumphant Friday: Spc. Shaun Lewis, the best soldier; Sgt. Brent Grafmuller, the best noncommissioned officer; and 1st Lt. Jim Schooley, the best officer.

The competition pushes soldiers to their limits with tests of their knowledge and their mental and physical endurance.

I am here to show my unit that mechanics can do the same thing as all these infantry guys and combat arms guys, said Pfc. Jarrett Fastert, a wheeled-vehicle mechanic and Rock Rapids, Iowa, native from the 66th Military Intelligence Brigade, Information Security Command. I wanted to push myself (and) see what I was capable of.

Another competitor from Iowa was excited to compete for the first time and make it past the battalion and brigade level.

I think this is a great opportunity to get a bunch of training events I wouldnt necessarily get with my company due to the different cross-training we do out here, said 2nd Lt. David Pinter, a company construction officer with the 18th Military Police Brigade, 21st Theater Support Command.

Spc. Shaun Lewis, of the 41st Field Artillery Brigade, jumps over a wall while participating in the obstacle course circuit during the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Warrior Competition in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Aug. 9, 2021. Lewis took the title of best soldier in the competition. (Kevin Sterling Payne/U.S. Army)

The competition lasted nine to 12 hours a day for five days, and the award ceremony was Friday.

After a combat fitness test and weigh-in the first day, soldiers embarked on the slate of events. They took a written test and vied for supremacy in tasks including grenade throwing, weapons assembly and aiding a helicopter medical evacuation.

Lewis and Grafmuller will go to Fort Lee, Va., where they will represent U.S. Army Europe and Africa, and compete against other winners in the Armywide Best Warrior contest for soldiers and NCOs.

Sgt. Brent Grafmuller, from the 18th Military Police Brigade, fires an M17 pistol as part of the weapons qualification portion of the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Warrior competition in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Aug. 9, 2021. Grafmuller won the noncommissioned officer competition. (Kevin Sterling Payne/U.S. Army)
CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  A 2nd Infantry Division soldier has died following an accident in a privately owned vehicle, the command said Friday evening.

Staff Sgt. Jonathan Taylor, a human resource specialist with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Division Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade at Camp Humphreys, was pronounced dead at Augusta University Medical Center in Georgia on Aug. 5, according to a 2nd ID statement.

Taylor was on leave in Georgia and was scheduled to start his next duty assignment, 2nd ID public affairs director Maj. Mayra Nanez told Stars and Stripes on Friday. She was unable to provide details about the accident, Taylors age or hometown.

Taylor enlisted in the Army in July 2008 and received training at Fort Jackson, S.C. He started his third assignment with 2nd ID in April 2020.

Taylor was an excellent non-commissioned officer who always set the example for professionalism, according to a statement from battalion commander Lt. Col. Jeffrey May.

The soldiers and family members of the Division Special Troops Battalion are deeply saddened and shocked by the loss of a member of our team who played a critical role in our success throughout his tour in Korea, he said. "He left a legacy of leadership that will never be forgotten."

Taylor was posthumously awarded the militarys Meritorious Service Medal. He is survived by his wife, Shameka Taylor, two brothers, and parents.

Roughly 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea, the majority of them at Camp Humphreys, roughly 40 miles from Seoul. The base serves as the home to the 2nd Infantry Division, Eighth Army and U.S. Forces Korea.

Buy Photo A 2nd Infantry Division soldier died in a vehicle accident on Aug. 5, 2021, while on leave in Georgia. (Stars and Stripes)
The Coast Guard Cutter Winslow Griesser rescues 48 Haitian migrants stranded on Monito Cay, Puerto Rico, in the Mona Passage Aug. 12, 2021. (U.S. Coast Guard)

(Tribune News Service)  A group of 48 Haitian migrants spent a day stranded on Monito Cay, Puerto Rico, in the Mona Passage after they were abandoned by smugglers. It would take two crews to rescue them and transport them to U.S. customs officials.

The call went out on Wednesday when Coast Guard and Puerto Rico police crews learned of the Haitians plight.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Juan were first called by an aircrew from a Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft. That crew spotted the stranded people flashing a light and waving their hands to capture attention.

How the rescue worked

The Coast Guard sent out its Cutter Winslow Griesser as well as an MH-6OT Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen to investigate and begin the rescue process. A Puerto Rico Police marine unit also responded.

This was a very complex rescue and the migrants were in pretty bad shape after being abandoned by smugglers in this austere and highly dangerous environment, Lt. Benjamin Williamsz, commanding officer of the Cutter Winslow Griesser, said in a media release. The Winslow Griesser crew performed superbly, while working with our Puerto Rico police and border patrol partners, in rescuing and saving the migrants from the cliffs edge and jagged rocks and bringing them to the safety of the cutter.

The Winslow Griesser crew saw the Haitians  26 men and 22 women  clinging to the side of the cliff and taking shelter inside nearby caves. The Winslow Griesser launched their Over the Horizon IV small boat to recover the stranded men and women on Thursday.

Where are they now?

According to the Coast Guard, the migrants were transported to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. They were then transferred to U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents.

2021 Miami Herald.

Visit miamiherald.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC .
Reconnaissance and explosive ordnance disposal Marines take cover from a blast while training at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, in 2008. (Kentavist Brackin/U.S. Marine Corps)

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa  Nature stepped in and helped firefighters sent to put out a forest fire Thursday at Camp Hansen.

The blaze broke out around 1:30 p.m. following training at EOD1, an explosive ordnance disposal training site, a spokesman from Okinawa prefectures Military Base Affairs Division told Stars and Stripes by phone Friday.

Firefighters rushed to the scene, but when they arrived rain began to fall and helped them extinguish the blaze, the spokesman said.

Base firefighters kept watch at the site until about 7 a.m. Friday, the prefectural spokesman said.

Information on the extent of the fire was unavailable that day.

A Marine spokesperson did not respond to an email seeking more information Friday. The Okinawa Defense Bureau, which represents Japans Ministry of Defense on the island, also did not respond.

Forest fires at ranges and disposal sites aboard military installations are fairly commonplace, the spokesman said. Thursdays fire was the eighth so far this year on all Marine bases in Okinawa. Six of those have occurred at Hansen.

There were 16 similar incidents on all Marine bases in Okinawa last year, he said.

The spokesman expressed concern over soil erosion that occurs when trees are destroyed by fire.

We understand such training must be implemented, he said. We hope they consider the environment and not impact the daily lives of the Okinawan people.

Some government spokespeople in Japan customarily speak to the media on condition of anonymity.

higa.mari@stripes.com

Twitter: @MariHiga21
Army spouse Alexa Sheeder, shown here with her husband Drew Sheeder in this photo from social media, died 13 days after giving birth to her son from complications of COVID-19. (Facebook)

DAVENPORT, Ill. (Tribune News Service)  A small, stifled cry escaped Kaitlin Schepers lips Thursday after she closed her eyes and thought about her friend Alexa Sheeder.

Sheeder, an Army spouse, died Tuesday from complications of COVID-19  just 13 days after hearing the cries of her newborn boy Barrett.

Alexa was always so much fun to be around. She included everyone, Schepers said. No one was ever left out. You laughed. And she laughed. It was one of her gifts, I think. Alexa had joy and she shared it.

I think her joy came from her life. Alexa loved being a wife and mom. Thats the best way I can tell you about her life.

Sheeder married her husband Drew, who is stationed at Fort Rucker in Alabama, six years ago. The couples daughter, Landi, was born almost three years ago.

At the time of her death, Sheeder was living at home in Davenport, but had recently relocated to Alabama to give birth.

She was visiting down there to have the baby, Schepers said. Then she got sick.

Kaitlin recalled the Sheeders unique love story.

Alexa had no idea who Drew was  only that he was serving in the military, Schepers said, adding that Drew's mother was a coworker of Sheeder.

One day, just to be nice, Alexa asked if she could send Drew a care package, Schepers said. Well, that grew into this kind of pen-pal thing. And it grew from there. Basically Drew came home and a few weeks later, they were married. It was love at first letter, maybe.

Sheeder tested positive for COVID-19 on July 25. She was admitted to a hospital and gave birth to Barrett on July 28. Barrett went home the same day, but Sheeder stayed in the hospital with more severe symptoms until Aug. 2, when she was sent home.

After spending a day at home with her newborn son  who also tested positive for COVID-19  Sheeder was readmitted to the hospital Aug. 3 and had to be intubated Aug. 7.

Alexa had no underlying conditions  other than, I guess, pregnancy, Schepers said. Alexa was a deeply religious person. She believed God held her.

Schepers explained the Sheeders family wanted people to know Alexas story for another reason.

Alexa was not vaccinated, Schepers said. She was pregnant and she wasnt sure what she wanted to do. But she did plan to get vaccinated after the birth of the baby.

Alexas family doesnt care about politics. They want people to know how important the vaccines are to help protect us. If you have worries  and many of us do  you should go to your doctor or find good sources and make informed decisions.

The hardest part is knowing Alexa made the exact kind of life she wanted, Schepers said. She always wanted a family. To be a wife. To be a mother. And she was damn good at those things. I think that her legacy.

Kaitlin has started a GoFundMe account that will help pay the cost of college for Landri and Barrett.

Im not so sad for me. I can always remember that laughter. Im just so sorry for Landri and Barrett. They should always know how much their incredible mother loved them.

___

(c)2021 Moline Dispatch and Rock Island Argus, Ill.

Visit Moline Dispatch and Rock Island Argus, Ill. at www.trib.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Medical workers attend to a COVID-19 patient in an intensive care unit at a hospital in Sanaa, Yemen, on June 14, 2020. (Hani Mohammed/AP)

CAIRO  For three days last month, Nasser joined hundreds of others jammed into emergency rooms in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, searching for a hospital bed for his mother, who was struggling to breathe. By the time one became available, his mother was dead.

But her death certainly won't figure in the country's coronavirus numbers. Officially, there have been only four virus cases and one death in Yemen's north, according to the Houthi rebel authorities who control the capital and surrounding provinces.

It's not just a struggling health care system that's to blame for the unaccounted for deaths. In interviews with The Associated Press, more than a dozen doctors, aid workers, Sanaa residents and relatives of those believed to have died from the virus said the Houthi authorities are approaching the pandemic with such outright denial that it threatens to further endanger the already vulnerable population.

They say doctors are forced to falsify the cause of death on official papers, vaccines are seen with fear, and there are no limits or guidelines on public gatherings, much less funerals.

Nasser's mother, like many others, was buried without any precautions against the virus and the funeral was attended by hundreds. A few days later, an aunt, in her 40s, died, and two other relatives got sick and were hospitalized for over a week.

"Certainly, my aunt died from corona," said Nasser, who asked to be identified only by his first name for fear of reprisal by the Houthi authorities. "But no one tells us the truth."

The deaths came as Sanaa and other areas of northern Yemen have been experiencing a third deadly coronavirus surge, according to doctors and residents. But it's difficult to know how many have been sickened or died, beyond anecdotes from residents. The Houthi rebels have imposed an information blackout on confirmed cases and deaths from COVID-19. Testing remains sparse, or hushed.

Yemen, the Arab world's poorest country, has already been devastated by six years of civil war. The fighting pits the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels against the internationally recognized government, which is aided by a Saudi-led coalition.

The war has killed more than 130,000 people, displaced millions and created the world's worst humanitarian disaster. Aerial bombings and intense ground fighting have destroyed the country's infrastructure, leaving half the country's health facilities dysfunctional. About 18% of Yemen's 333 districts have no doctors at all. Water and sanitation systems have collapsed. Many families can barely afford one meal a day.

Amid the fighting came the COVID-19 pandemic, adding to the war's deadly toll.

"There was a big wave of COVID-19 and they (the Houthis) knew that very well," said a U.N. health official in Yemen, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of undermining negotiations with the rebels on vaccinations and other issues. "Isolation centers were full; the numbers were doubled three or four times."

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Houthis have not treated it with seriousness and action, said Afrah Nasser, Yemen researcher at Human Rights Watch. They even have hindered international efforts to help fight it in their areas, she said.

"Each party in Yemen has its own strategy, but the Houthi one is destructive," she said. "It's a recipe for disaster."

Dr. Adham Ismail, the World Health Organization representative in Yemen, said it was "a big achievement" to get any coronavirus vaccine at all into Houthi-controlled territories. Initially, authorities banned the shots, and then agreed to allow in only 1,000 doses. They have not held any campaigns encouraging people to get vaccinated.

The Houthis' opposition to vaccines forced doctors and other residents to seek their shots in Yemeni government-held areas. Many, including aid workers working in Houthi-held areas, registered online and traveled secretly to cities like Aden, Lahj and Taiz for vaccination.

Yemen received its first 360,000-dose shipment of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the United Nations-backed COVAX initiative in March. The shipment was the first batch of 1.9 million doses that Yemen is to receive through the end of the year. A vaccination campaign was launched in government-held areas in April.

Yemen's internationally recognized government has reported around 7,200 confirmed cases, including 1,391 deaths in areas under its control. The actual numbers, however, are believed much higher mainly because of limited testing.

A spokesman for the rebels did not answer calls seeking comment. But last year, Youssef al-Hadhari, a spokesman for the Houthi health ministry, told the AP: "We don't publish the numbers to the society because such publicity has a heavy and terrifying toll on people's psychological health."

Meanwhile, the Houthis continue holding public events, including recruitment gatherings and funerals attended by thousands for senior military officials killed in battle, as virus cases spike. All are held with no precautionary measures against the virus.

Over a dozen doctors, aid workers and residents said cases in the north are rising rapidly, with more frequent funerals, apparently of virus victims, though doctors said they've been warned not to confirm the causes of the deaths. All spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation from the rebels.

Doctors and other health care workers said the 24 isolation centers in the north have been full since mid-July. One health care worker in the Palestine hospital said dozens of patients have come every day with coronavirus-like symptoms, most in their 30s and 40s. He said many are being told to isolate at home for lack of other options.

In Sanaa cemeteries, grave diggers have found it difficult to find space for new burial plots. At one cemetery in Jarraf, one digger estimated that over 30 people were buried every day in the past two months, many of them women and elderly.

In the northern province of Ibb, two health care workers at the Jibla hospital said the facility receives nearly 50 people with Covid-19-like symptoms every day. The hospital lacks testing capacities, so doctors usually depend on other means to diagnose.

When patients die at the Jibla hospital, doctors don't tell relatives they are suspected to have been infected by the virus, for fear of being targeted afterwards. The Houthis have appointed security supervisors at hospitals to control the flow of information between medical staff and patients' families, according to health care workers.

Earlier this year, two senior Houthi officials died, apparently among the country's most high-profile virus victims. Yahia al-Shami, spent over a month in an isolation center in Sanaa before he succumbed to the virus in April and Zakaria al-Shami, transportation minister in the Houthi-run government, also caught the coronavirus and died in March, according to doctors who treated them.

The Houthi rebel authorities announced both of their deaths  but there was no mention of the cause.
The Martyrdom of Cuauhtemoc as depicted in an 1892 painting by Leandro Izaguirre. (WikiMedia Commons)

MEXICO CITY  Walking for hours through the gritty streets in the center of Mexico City, you can hear the daily urban soundtrack: Car engines, the call of the man who buys scrap metal and the handbells that announce the passing of a garbage truck.

It's hard to imagine that some of these streets trace the outline of what was, five centuries ago, Tenochtitlan, a sophisticated city on an island in a bridge-studded lake where a great civilization flourished.

The Aztec emperors who ruled much of the land that became Mexico were defeated by a Spanish-led force that seized the city on August 13, 1521.

Despite all that was lost in the epic event 500 years ago  an empire and countless Indigenous lives  much remains of that civilization long after its collapse. Vestiges lie beneath the streets, in the minds of the people, and on their plates.

Then, as now, the city's center was dedicated to commerce, with vendors laying out wares on blankets or in improvised stalls, much as they would have done in 1521.

Artists, intellectuals and the government are trying to show what it was all like and what remains, in novel forms: they plan to paint a line on the streets of the city of 9 million to show where the boundaries of the ancient city of Tenochtitlan ended. The drying up of lakes that once surrounded the city long ago erased that line.

Officials have also built a near life-size replica of the Aztecs' twin temples in the capital's vast main plaza.

Mexican dancers burn incense during a ceremony to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the fall of the Aztec empire capital of Tenochtitlan, known today as Mexico City, at Mexico City's main square the Zocalo, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) (Eduardo Verdugo)

It is part of a project to rescue the memory of the world-changing event, which for too long has been mired in the old and largely inaccurate vision of Indigenous groups conquered by the victorious Spaniards.

"What really was the Conquest? What have we been told about it? Who were the victors, and who were the defeated?" asks Margarita Cossich, a Guatemalan archaeologist who is working with a team from the National Autonomous University. "It is much more complex than simply talking of the good versus the bad, the Spaniards against the Indigenous groups."

For example, expedition leader Hernan Cortes and his 900 Spaniards made up only about one percent of the army of thousands of allies from Indigenous groups oppressed by the Aztecs.

But the official projects pale in comparison to the real-life surviving elements of Aztec life. The line delimiting the old city boundaries will run near where women sell corn tortillas, whose ingredients have varied not at all since the Aztecs.

Other stands sell amaranth sweets mixed with honey or nuts; in Aztec times, the amaranth seeds were mixed with blood of sacrificed warriors and molded into the shapes of gods. And then eaten, as historian Hugo Garcia Capistran, explains, but with a sense of ritual.

Not everything ended on Aug. 13, 1521, when the last leader of the Aztec resistance, the Emperor Cuauhtemoc, was taken prisoner by the Spaniards.

There is only a simple plaque marking the spot, in the tough neighborhood of Tepito.

"Tequipeuhcan: 'The place where slavery began.' Here the Emperor Cuauhtemotzin was taken prisoner on the afternoon of Aug. 13, 1521," reads the plaque on a church wall.

A few blocks away, Oswaldo Gonzalez sells figurines made of obsidian, the dark, glass-like stone prized by the Aztecs.

"Everything the Spaniards couldn't see and couldn't destroy, remains alive," Gonzalez says.

There also remain traces of Cortes, though they're neither very public or prominent; Mexicans have learned at school for generations to view him as the enemy. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has promoted telling the Indigenous side of the story, and has asked Spain to apologize for the murder, disease and exploitation of the Conquest. Spain hasn't, and the Spanish ambassador was not invited to the 500th anniversary ceremonies scheduled for Friday.

Archaeologist Esteban Miron notes that there isn't a single statue to Moctezuma  the emperor who welcomed Cortes  in the city.

Nor are there any statues of Cortes. As Miron traces the route that the Spaniard took into the city in 1519  welcomed at first, the Conquistadores were later expelled  there is a stone plaque commemorating the first meeting between Cortes and the Aztec emperor.

Inside a nearby church, another plaque marks the niche where Cortes' bones are believed to lie.

It was said he wanted to be buried here, near the site of his greatest victory, made possible by feats like constructing a fleet of wooden warships to assault the lake-ringed island city.

Tenochtitlan was completely surrounded by a shallow lake crossed by narrow causeways, so the Spaniards built attack ships known as bergantines  something akin to floating battle platforms  to fight the Aztecs in their canoes.

A street nearby marks the place where Cortes docked those ships, but again, there is no monument.

Tenochtitlan also marked some terrible defeats for the Spaniards. They had entered the city in 1519, but had been chased out with great losses a few months later, leaving most of their plundered gold behind.

On June 30, 1520, the so-called "Sad Night," now re-dubbed "The Victorious Night," Cortes was forced to flee, leaving many dead Spaniards behind. "The historical record says that they left walking through the lake, which was not very deep, on top of the bodies of their own comrades," Miron notes.

In 1981, a public works project in the area unearthed a bar of melted Aztec gold  a small part of the loot that the Spanish soldiers dropped in their retreat.

But it's not just artifacts; the spirit of ancient Mexico remains very much alive.

Mary Gloria, 41, works making embroidery in a squatter's settlement near the edge of the old city.

Gloria just finished embroidering a figure of "Mictlantecuhtli," the Aztec god of death, to mark the city's huge toll in the coronavirus pandemic.

Similar plagues  smallpox, measles and later cholera  nearly wiped out the city's Indigenous population after the conquest. Survival, above all, was the main Indigenous victory from 1521.

Now, Gloria wants to redeem Malinche, the indigenous woman who helped the Spaniards as a translator. Long considered a traitor, Malinche ensured the survival of her line.

"It is up to us rewrite the script," Gloria says.
A French water-dumping aircraft dumps water on a fire near the village of Toudja, in the Kabyle region, East of Algiers, Friday, Aug.13, 2021. (Toufik Doudou/AP)

ALGIERS, Algeria  Algerias president says five firefighting planes from European countries are expected by Saturday to help battle wildfires that killed at least 69 people through the mountainous Berber region, amid a heat wave like the ones fueling fires in Southern Europe.

Two French water-dropping airplanes on Thursday joined the effort to tame the fires in the Kabyle region, one day after Algeria appealed to the European Union Civil Protection framework for help.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said Thursday in a televised address to the nation that two other planes from Spain are expected on Friday and another from Switzerland on Saturday.

In response to criticism over the slow response from the state, he said that Algeria mobilized all the means of the military, the Civil Protection, forests services, but all these means happened to be insufficient given the multitude of fires.

The victims of the blazes include at least 28 soldiers who were deployed to fight the fires, according to authorities.

Tebboune said a solidarity fund will provide some financial aid to families affected by the fires, which have destroyed homes, olive groves and animals that provide a livelihood for the region.

He said authorities believe that the blazes started from illegal activity, especially in the Kabyle region.

The heat wave is part of it, but we have formal evidence that criminals have set devastating fires and 22 people have been arrested by security forces.

Tebboune declared a three-day mourning period for the fire victims starting Thursday.

Prime Minister Aimene Benabderrahmane, who visited on Thursday Tizi-Ouzou, the regional capital of Kabyle, said for the moment, the most important is to extinguish (the fires) and above all, to take care of the population.

Like southern Europe, North Africa has been sweltering under searing heat. Temperatures hit 50 C (122 F) in Tunisia, a record high for the country. The last previous high was 48.2 C (nearly 119 F) in 1968.

Algerias National Meteorology Office said extremely hot weather was forecast through Thursday in nearly a dozen regions, including around Tizi-Ouzou. In some places, the temperature was expected to hit 47 degrees Celsius (116.6 F.)

Climate scientists say theres little doubt climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is driving extreme events such as heat waves, droughts and wildfires, which they say are likely to happen more frequently as Earth warms.
Karim Ahmed Khan, International Criminal Court chief prosecutor, speaks during a news conference at the Ministry of Justice in the Khartoum Sudan Thursday Aug. 12, 2021. Karim urged Sudan to hand over suspects wanted by the ICC for crimes committed in Darfur. (Marwan Ali/AP)

CAIRO  Sudan signed an agreement with the International Criminal Court on Thursday to move forward in the cases against those accused of atrocities in the Darfur region, including the country's former President Omar al-Bashir, a top ICC prosecutor said.

Prosecutor Karim Khan said at a press conference that he would also be deploying a full-time team from his office to Sudan. The developments come as Sudan's government continues to hold al-Bashir in prison. The ICC issued a warrant for al-Bashir on war crimes charges more than a decade ago, while he was in office.

The agreement further raises the possibility of al-Bashir being tried in The Hague, where the ICC is based, an issue that remains controversial in Sudan.

Khan landed in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum earlier this week and held meetings with the president of Sudan's transitional council, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok, judiciary officials and civil society representatives.

"This agreement provides a basis for cooperation and exchange of information in relation to all cases where there are warrants," he said, adding that such cooperation will help the ICC build strong cases.

Al-Bashir has been in jail in Khartoum since his ouster in April 2019 amid a public uprising against his nearly three-decade autocratic rule. The ICC has charged him with crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Darfur conflict.

Though he did not discuss dates for a handover of al-Bashir, Khan said he welcomed the Sudanese Cabinet's recent approval of a draft bill allowing the East African country to join the court's founding treaty, known as the Rome Statute. The decision was a step forward in the long-waited trial of those wanted by the ICC. Khan said that the ratification of that bill is expected to be discussed next week at a joint meeting of Sudan's ruling Sovereign Council and Cabinet, which together serve as an interim parliament.

When asked whether Bashir could be tried outside the Hague, Khan said the Rome Statue says that the ICC may convene away from the seat  a matter the court's presidency and judges can decide on.

The conflict in Sudan's Darfur region broke out when rebels from the territory's ethnic central and sub-Saharan African community launched an insurgency in 2003, complaining of oppression by the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum. Al-Bashir's government responded with a campaign of aerial bombings and raids by militias known as janjaweed. The militias stand accused of mass killings and rapes. Up to 300,000 people were killed and 2.7 million were driven from their homes.

"We cannot march from the darkness into the light without dealing with some of the crimes and injustices of the past," Khan said.

He also said Sudanese authorities welcomed his decision to deploy a full-time team of ICC lawyers to Khartoum for better first-hand knowledge of "the undercurrents and the complexities" of the dynamics in Sudan.

Also indicted by the court are two other senior figures from al-Bashir's rule: Abdel-Rahim Muhammad Hussein, interior and defense minister during much of the conflict, and Ahmed Haroun, a senior security chief at the time and later the leader of al-Bashir's ruling party. Both have been under arrest in Khartoum since the Sudanese military, under pressure from protesters, ousted al-Bashir.

The court has also indicted rebel leader Abdulla Banda, whose whereabouts are unknown, and janjaweed leader Ali Kushayb, who was charged in May with crimes against humanity and war crimes.

"I have high hopes of Sudan and her people and the place that you want to hold in the world, which means closing this dark chapter," said Khan. "Whether we like it or not, the ICC is part of that story and the dark chapter will not and cannot close until we have finished our work."
A car drives through a charred forest after a fire near the village of Toudja, in the Kabyle region, east of Algiers, Friday, Aug.13, 2021. Dozens of fires began devouring forested mountainsides in the Berber region of Kabyle Monday. The President declared a three-day mourning period to honor the lives lost. (Toufik Doudou/AP)

ALGIERS, Algeria  An Algerian prosecutor has ordered an investigation into the death of a man killed by a mob after being accused of setting fires that devastated the Kabyle region, Algeria's official APS news agency said.

Wildfires in Algeria have killed at least 69 people through the mountainous Berber region.

The killing took place in Larbaa Nath Irathen, in the Tizi Ouzou district, one of the worst hit by the fires. The victim was identified as 38-year-old painter Djamel Ben Ismail. He had tweeted earlier that he was going to travel 200 miles to the area afflicted by blazes to help firefighting efforts.

The local prosecutor issued a statement carried by APS on Thursday "following videos on Wednesday on social media showing the killing of a citizen (burned to death and beaten)."

He ordered an investigation into the case with the aim of identifying the assailants and sending them to trial "so that the odious crime does not go unpunished."

The statement said a crowd violently attacked the police station, where the victim was under protection from officers, and managed to remove him. They "dragged him outside, beating and burning him, which led to his death."

"Police officers who intervened to protect and help the victim have also been injured," the statement said.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Thursday evening called on justice to "shed light" on the killing.

On Wednesday, Ben Ismail had tweeted that he would head to the Kabyle region, 320 kilometers (200 miles) from his home, to "give a hand to our friends" fighting the fires.

Upon his arrival near the town of Larbaa Nath Irathen, some local residents accused him of being an arsonist, his father said. "My son left to help his brothers from Kabyle, a region he loves, they burned him alive... I'm devastated," Noureddine Ben Ismail said.

Amnesty International called on Algerian authorities to immediately investigate the death and "send a clear message that this violence won't go unpunished."

Ben Ismail was buried late Thursday evening in his hometown of Khemis Miliana, 71 miles west of Algiers.

"Do you realize, even dead they tortured him?" Mohamed Khalfi, Ben Ismail's maternal uncle, told The Associated Press. "And what hurts me is that the people filmed. ... I am his uncle and I ask that justice do its job and that even those who watched without doing anything be judged."

One of Ben Ismail's friends, Rafik, who did not provide his last name, said he was "an artist, a young man who loves the guitar and loves life... not a violent man."
Elena, 7, center, lines up with other displaced Tigrayans to receive food donated by local residents at a reception center for the internally displaced in Mekele, in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia on May 9, 2021. The United States said Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021 it is sending a special envoy to Ethiopia as the fast-moving conflict in the Tigray region has spread into neighboring regions. (Ben Curtis/AP)

NAIROBI, Kenya  The United States says it is sending a special envoy to Ethiopia as the fast-moving conflict in the Tigray region has spread into neighboring regions and Ethiopia's government this week called on all able citizens to stop the resurgent Tigray forces "once and for all."

The widening war in Africa's second-most populous country, with 110 million people, is also a growing humanitarian crisis. Millions of people in Tigray remain beyond the reach of food and other aid as the United Nations and U.S. say Ethiopian authorities allow just a small fraction of what's needed. And hundreds of thousands of people in the Amhara and Afar regions are displaced as Tigray forces move in, vowing to go to the capital, Addis Ababa, if needed to stop the fighting and remove the blockade on their region of 6 million people.

"It's one of these cases where we've run out of words to describe the horror of what civilians are being inflicted," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters this week. "More conflict can only lead, sadly, to more civilian pain."

Here's a look at the latest in the nine-month war and what pressure the U.S. special envoy might apply.

WHAT IS THE U.S. SEEKING IN ETHIOPIA?

The U.S. announced overnight that special envoy Jeffrey Feltman would travel to Ethiopia, neighboring Djibouti and the United Arab Emirates, a key Ethiopia ally, starting on Sunday. This is a "critical moment," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan tweeted. "Months of war have brought immense suffering and division to a great nation, that won't be healed through more fighting. We call on all parties to urgently come to the negotiating table."

That seems highly unlikely. Ethiopia's government this year declared the Tigray People's Liberation Front, which dominated the government for nearly three decades before Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018, a terrorist group. The Tigray forces have set several preconditions for talks and say Abiy no longer has the legitimacy to govern. They retook much of the Tigray region in June in a dramatic turn in the war as Ethiopia's military retreated.

What began as a political dispute has now killed thousands of people.

Discussing what pressure the U.S. could apply to encourage negotiations, a congressional aide told The Associated Press that "I understand all options are on the table, from Global Magnitsky (sanctions over human rights violations) to an executive order on sanctions, to removal from (the African Growth and Opportunity Act), to more restrictive measures on assistance," as well as ways to block Ethiopia's efforts to get cash from international financial institutions. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on policy discussions.

Officials and lawmakers in Washington have signaled impatience as Ethiopian officials deny widespread human rights abuses such as gang-rapes and forced expulsions of ethnic Tigrayans or blame the Tigray forces.

The Ethiopian government's prickly dismissal of a new Amnesty International report on shocking sexual violence against Tigrayan women during the war "reflects the tone-deafness with which the government is handling the multiple conflicts and humanitarian crises across the country," Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Sen. Jim Risch tweeted on Thursday.

WHAT DOES ETHIOPIA'S GOVERNMENT SAY?

Ethiopia's government has repeatedly expressed frustration, alleging without evidence that the U.S., U.N. and others are taking the side of the Tigray forces or supporting the fighters with aid. It has asserted that disproportionate attention is paid to the Tigray people and not enough is done to address alleged abuses by Tigray forces in the Amhara and Afar regions.

The most urgent allegation was raised by the U.N. children's agency, which cited "credible information from partners" about deadly attacks last week on a camp for newly displaced people in Afar. A U.N. team plans to assess the scene as soon as security allows, the agency said Thursday. Ethiopia's government has blamed the Tigray forces, whose spokesman Getachew Reda denied it but said they're willing to cooperate in an independent investigation.

In the Amhara region, humanitarian groups are having trouble reaching their colleagues in Woldiya, one center of the fighting, amid a communications blackout. Now the Tigray forces have formed a military alliance with the Oromo Liberation Army, also designated by Ethiopia as a terrorist group.

On Thursday the prime minister's spokeswoman, Billene Seyoum, told reporters that the government's call to arms this week, signaling an end to a unilateral cease-fire, meant that Ethiopians are urged to stop the Tigray forces by "all means necessary." She said this is not a result of the military's inability to take on the Tigray forces, and asserted that "in the millions, people are taking this call."

WHAT ABOUT THE FATE OF EVERYDAY PEOPLE?

Caught in the middle are civilians, and efforts to reach them with aid are increasingly challenging because of the Ethiopian government's concern that it will end up helping the Tigray forces.

Just 10% of the aid needed for Tigray reached the region in recent weeks, the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Samantha Power, told reporters after a brief Ethiopia visit last week in which the prime minister did not meet her. USAID has estimated that up to 900,000 people in Tigray face "man-made" famine conditions while phone, internet and banking services remain cut off.

The U.N. World Food Program on Friday said at least 30 trucks a day must enter the region to address the need and what has arrived so far is a "drop in the ocean."

Meanwhile, Ethiopia's government has suspended the operations of two major international aid groups, the Dutch section of Doctors Without Borders and the Norwegian Refugee Council, accusing them of spreading "misinformation." This has further deterred many humanitarian workers from speaking openly, worried about retaliation. It also means efforts to respond to the crises in the Amhara and Afar regions could be affected.

"Some humanitarian organizations may now alter their public messaging campaigns or self-censor to avoid facing suspension. This would further contribute to Ethiopia's closing civic space," the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies wrote on Thursday.

That means even less knowledge about conditions on the ground as many journalists face government-imposed restrictions, it said, adding that "civilians will suffer."
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reported a new daily record of 2,223 coronavirus cases Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. (Candace McDaniel/StockSnap)

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  South Korean health officials reported 2,223 coronavirus cases Wednesday, a new daily record reached despite aggressive measures to contain the spread.

Thats up from 1,540 infections on the previous day, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Seoul continued to report a higher number of cases than any other city in the country with 661 new infections on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, U.S. Forces Korea  responsible for roughly 28,500 American troops in the peninsula  announced that 22 service members tested positive for COVID-19 between July 13 and Aug. 8. About half of those troops were recently flown into the country.

The August surge of new infections prompted South Koreas government to expedite the vaccine rollout, which has lagged for months due to limited supplies. The KDCA reported 42% of the countrys 51 million people have received a first dose, and nearly 16% have been fully inoculated.

A total of 216,206 cases and 2,135 COVID-19 related deaths have been recorded by the KDCA since the pandemic began.

South Korean Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol described the recent wave of cases as a new crisis and urged residents to refrain from traveling ahead of the countrys Liberation Day holiday on Sunday. The government, Kwon said in a media briefing Wednesday, will launch a nationwide Stay at Home campaign over the holiday.

During the holidays, we earnestly urge people to stay home and take a rest instead of moving and traveling, Kwon said during a meeting at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters.

South Korea enacted its strictest social distancing measures in recent weeks, including shortening public transportation schedules and business hours for bars and restaurants.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in at a meeting with senior aides Monday described the effect on businesses as most regrettable and asked residents to recognize this as a heavy burden to be shared by our society as a whole.

It is very regrettable that COVID-19 continues to spread with hardly any noticeable drop, and the heightened social distancing levels must be kept in place, Moon said. Our people must also feel the same way.

Despite reporting its highest daily uptick, South Koreas infection rate is still considered low compared to the rate in the United States.

In Florida alone, where the population is less than half of South Koreas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 15,322 new cases Monday. The states death toll also rose to 39,695, according to the state health departments weekly update published Friday.
Japans Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi visits Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Kishi visited the Tokyo shrine Friday viewed by China and both Koreas as a symbol of Japanese wartime aggression, to pray for the war dead just days before the nation marks the 76th anniversary of its World War II defeat. (Naoya Osato/Kyodo News via AP)

TOKYO  Japan's defense minister on Friday visited a Tokyo shrine viewed by China and both Koreas as a symbol of Japanese wartime aggression to pray for the war dead just days before the nation marks the 76th anniversary of its World War II defeat.

Victims of Japanese actions during the first half of the 20th century, especially the Koreas and China, see the shrine as a symbol of Japanese militarism because it honors convicted war criminals among about 2.5 million war dead.

"It is only natural in every country to pay respects to the spirits of the war dead," said Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, the younger brother of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, known for his denials of wartime atrocities.

"I expressed my reverence and paid tribute to those who fought for the country and lost their lives in the last war," Kishi said after offering prayers. "I also renewed my war-renouncing pledge and resolve to protect the lives and peaceful livelihood of the people."

He is the first serving defense minister to visit Yasukuni since Tomomi Inada, an Abe protege, visited in December 2016.

Abe stayed away from the shrine for seven years after a 2013 visit triggered outrage from China and the Koreas, but has regularly visited since he resigned as prime minister last year.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga donated a religious ornament during Yasukuni's spring festival in April but avoided visiting the shrine.

Japans Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, center, visits Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Economy and fiscal policy minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, in charge of pandemic measures, visited the shrine separately on Friday. (Kyodo News via AP)

Economy and fiscal policy minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, in charge of pandemic measures, visited the shrine separately on Friday.

Kishi and Nishimura said they chose to visit the shrine to avoid crowds and pray quietly ahead of the Aug. 15 anniversary.

South Korea and China criticize offerings or visits by Japanese leaders to the shrine, urging them to face up to and reflect on Japan's wartime aggression.

Many South Koreans hold strong resentment toward Japan for its 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. Relations between Seoul and Tokyo have sunk to their lowest levels in recent years due to disputes over compensation for Korean wartime forced labor and sexual abuse of so-called "comfort women" by the Japanese military.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry said it summoned the deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul to protest Kishi's visit to Yasukuni, a site it described as beautifying "Japan's past colonial rule and war of aggression and honors war criminals." Seoul's Defense Ministry released a statement saying Kishi's visit was "deplorable" and expressed its "serious concern and regret."

___

Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, contributed to this report.
A medical staff load an unidentified body of the person who was killed by a gunman at a military base in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. (Mohmad Nahari B Naha/AP)

Malaysian air force officer kills three colleagues, self

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia  A Malaysian air force officer went on a shooting rampage Friday, killing three colleagues before turning the gun on himself, officials said.

Police in eastern Sarawak state on Borneo island said the shootings occurred at a security post on an air force base in the state, and that they were still investigating the motive.

Sarawak deputy police commissioner Mancha Anak Ata said an initial investigation showed the gunman had snatched firearms from the security post before going on a rampage.

He said one of the victims had tried to calm him down but was shot in the stomach. The gunman then entered the post and shot two officers, killing them on the spot, he said. Mancha said the gunman then put the gun to his chin and killed himself.

The officer who was shot in the stomach died of his injuries in a hospital, he said.

The national Bernama news agency quoted a district police official, Sudirman Kram, as saying that the gunman asked those at the post "whether they wanted to live or die." Local media reported that he was under a coronavirus quarantine.

Malaysia has been under a lockdown since June 1 due to a worsening outbreak, with new daily cases exceeding 20,000. Total confirmed infections have risen above 1.3 million, with close to 12,000 deaths.
U.K. Carrier Strike Group 21, led by the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, arrived in Guam on Aug. 6, 2021. (Kegan Ka/U.S. Navy)

A Royal Navy sailor charged with misdemeanor sexual assault during a Guam port call was freed Thursday on bond over prosecutors objections that the man is a flight risk.

Royal Navy representative Lt. Cmdr. Oliver Clark appeared in Guam Superior Court seeking the release of Ashley James Mansell, 31, assigned to U.K. Carrier Strike Group 21, the Guam Daily Post reported Friday. Mansell has an essential role in the strike group's mission, the representative told the court.

The group, led by the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, arrived in Guam on Aug. 6. It was scheduled to leave Friday morning, Clark said in court.

Mansell, 31, was arrested Wednesday and charged in a criminal complaint with misdemeanor criminal sexual conduct, public drunkenness and felony aggravated assault. A friend, Fraser Malek, 28, was charged with two counts of misdemeanor assault.

The complaint alleges Mansell, dancing with a woman Wednesday night at Club Icon in Tumon, bent over in front of the victim, reached under the victims dress, and grabbed her between the legs.

Afterward, Mansell and Malek fought with the womans friends outside the club, the complaint states. It alleges Mansell suddenly punched one man in the jaw, causing two fractures that required surgery.

Malek punched another man in the head, causing him to lose consciousness for a couple of minutes, and shoved a woman into the roadway, causing numerous bruises and abrasions, the complaint alleges.

Guam Superior Court Judge Jonathan Quan released the pair on bond Thursday despite objections by prosecutors, who described Mansell as a potential flight risk, according to a statement from Guam Attorney General Leevin Camachos office.

Quan released Mansell on $10,000 bond and Malek on $2,500 and ordered them not to leave their ship, the Post said. They are required to check in with the probation department three times a week, even at sea. A virtual arraignment for both sailors is scheduled Oct. 7, according to the Post.

The court may issue arrest warrants if the two fail to appear for scheduled hearings, Camacho spokeswoman Carlina Charfauros wrote Friday in an email to Stars and Stripes. Quan said in court the men could face extradition should they fail to appear, according to the Post.

The Royal Navy may seek to have the case transferred to a court in the U.K., the Post said.
Sri Lankan police officers inspect the site of an explosion at the Shangri-la hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on April 21, 2019. (Chamila Karunarathne/AP)

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka  Sri Lanka's Catholic Church said Friday that 25 people charged this week in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks that killed 269 people could be "smaller fish," and accused the government of still not taking steps to identify the true conspirators.

The head of the archdiocese of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, said the president's office has not answered questions he raised in a letter last month over allegations that officials in state intelligence agencies knew and met with the attackers.

He asked Catholics to raise black flags at their homes and on their vehicles as a mark of protest.

On Tuesday, the attorney general filed 23,270 charges against 25 people under the country's anti-terrorism law. The charges include conspiring to murder, aiding and abetting, collecting arms and ammunition and attempted murder.

The attorney general also asked the chief justice to appoint a special three-member high court bench to hear the cases speedily.

"We don't want to say the 25 persons are innocent, but we have a question whether this is an attempt to net the smaller fish and let the sharks go," Ranjith said.

Two local Muslim groups that had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group were blamed for six near-simultaneous suicide bomb attacks on April, 21, 2019. It is not known if the groups had actual links to the Islamic State.

The blasts targeted three churches and three hotels. Another attacker who entered a fourth hotel left without setting off his bomb and later committed suicide by detonating his explosives at a different location.

Church goers and many foreign tourists having breakfast in their hotels were among those killed. About 500 people were wounded.

Ranjith said he had raised questions over allegations that a state intelligence officer met with the man who did not carry out his planned attack, based on statements made at a special presidential inquiry commission.

The commission was also told that another intelligence officer had asked an intermediary to convince the IS to claim responsibility for the attacks.

Ranjith said it raised questions whether it was a diversionary tactic to protect the real culprits.

The IS subsequently claimed responsibility after a video was released showing the attackers taking their oaths in the Arabic language.

In his letter last month, Ranjith also cited speeches in Parliament saying that military intelligence had a suspect released by police.

Friction and a communication breakdown between then-President Maithripala Sirisena and then-Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe were blamed for the government's failure to act on near-specific foreign intelligence warnings before the attacks.

It led to the election of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa later in 2019 on a platform of national security.

Ranjith in his letter also expressed displeasure that Sirisena and several police officers had not been charged with negligence and Wickremesinghe had not been investigated for an alleged soft approach toward Islamic militancy.
Buy Photo The Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported 5,773 people had tested positive on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)

TOKYO  The summer coronavirus surge in Japans capital city broke 5,000 again Friday, setting another one-day record for newly infected people.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported 5,773 people had tested positive Friday, the second time new cases exceeded 5,000 on one day, according to public broadcaster NHK. The city reached 5,042 new coronavirus cases on Aug. 5. New infections have surpassed 4,000 on eight of the past 10 days in Tokyo, according to metro government data.

More than 264,000 people have contracted the virus in the city during the pandemic, and more than 2,325 have died, according to the metro government. The number of severely ill people in Tokyo, at record highs for four days, reached 227 on Friday, according to NHK.

U.S. military bases in Japan ended the working week with 55 new cases of COVID-19, the coronavirus respiratory disease.

Japan has reported 1.09 million cases since March 2020 and 15,371 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. Just over 36% of the nations population, or 46 million people, are fully vaccinated.

Tokyo and the surrounding prefectures of Chiba, Saitama and Kanagawa, along with Okinawa and Osaka, are in a state of emergency through the end of August. Bars and restaurants are encouraged to refrain from alcohol sales and close between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. Residents are urged to avoid unnecessary travel.

Meanwhile, Yokosuka Naval Base, homeport of the U.S. 7th Fleet south of Tokyo, in a news release Friday said 20 people had tested positive for COVID-19 since Tuesday.

The base has 47 people under observation. As of Tuesday, 50% of COVID-19 cases on the base were occurring among immunized people, base spokesman Randall Baucom told Stars and Stripes on Friday.

Kanagawa prefecture, where the naval base is located, is now considered an area of higher risk, he said. Increased restrictions for the base population include no indoor dining, along with a ban on bars, nightclubs, festivals, indoor sporting events and similar activities, according to an order signed Thursday by base commander Capt. Rich Jarrett.

Among new cases the base reported Friday, six unvaccinated and 10 vaccinated individuals fell ill with COVID-19 symptoms. One vaccinated person tested positive during a medical screening; another vaccinated person was discovered during contact tracing.

Two unvaccinated base employees displayed symptoms of COVID-19 and tested positive, the base said.

Baucom said that active cases among immunized personnel are a concern, but the primary concern is the overall infection rate. The threshold for designating an area of higher risk is 100 cases per 100,000 people, he said.

We cannot distinguish and protect the community if we only look at the number of cases on base; it gives a false perspective of the danger, he said. Thirty-five cases among 26,000 personnel on base is nowhere near 100 cases per 100,000 people, but thats not an accurate way to assess the risk.

Yokota Air Base, the headquarters in western Tokyo of U.S. Forces Japan, reported four people tested positive between Aug. 7 and Friday.

Two were in restricted movement after arriving in Japan from the United States. The others were identified and quarantined by base public health authorities, the base said in a weekly roundup posted on its homepage. Yokota is monitoring eight cases.

On Okinawa, Kadena Air Base reported another 31 individuals tested positive between Aug. 7 and Friday, for a total 111 under observation, according to a weekly update on the base homepage. The base provided no further information.

Active COVID-19 cases in Okinawa prefecture are at an all-time high, Marine Corps Installations Pacific said in a Facebook post Friday.

Prior to the ongoing spike in cases, 2,756 was the all-time high reached in early June. Now there are more than 5,000, according to the post.

The prefecture reported 721 new coronavirus cases Friday, a day after reaching a record high of 732, according to the prefectural Department of Public Health and Medical Care.

The department said 22 of 36 hospital beds reserved for severely ill COVID-19 patients are filled. Another 657 of 810 beds for less severe patients are also filled.

On Thursday, Gov. Denny Tamaki at a news conference said the prefecture is in a crisis that has yet to reach its peak.

He announced a goal of vaccinating 50% of the island population with the first dose of a two-shot vaccine by Aug. 31 and 70% by the end of October.

Stars and Stripes reporters Mira Higa and Alex Wilson contributed to this report.
Destroyed buildings are seen in Bozkurt town of Kastamonu province, Turkey, on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, after floods and mudslides killed about two dozens of people. (Ismail Coskun/IHA via AP)

ANKARA, Turkey  The death toll from floods and mudslides in northern Turkey rose to at least 38 on Friday, officials said, as emergency crews searched collapsed buildings, swamped homes, and submerged basements for more victims and survivors. An opposition politician said more than 300 people may be unaccounted for.

Torrential rains that pounded the Black Sea coastal provinces of Bartin, Kastamonu, Sinop and Samsun on Wednesday caused the flooding that demolished homes and bridges and swept away cars. More than 1,700 people were evacuated across the region, some lifted from rooftops by helicopters, and many were being temporarily housed in student dormitories.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced on Twitter late Friday that 32 people died in Kastamonu and six in Sinop.

In Kastamonu, a stream burst its banks and inundated the town of Bozkurt. Raging floodwaters demolished one waterfront building and severely damaged two neighboring buildings. A number of bodies washed up on the Black Sea shore, Halk TV reported, airing footage of people carrying a body bag on a beach in an unidentified province.

The floods struck on the heels of wildfires in southern Turkey that devastated forest lands in the seaside provinces of Mugla and Antalya that are popular with tourists. At least eight people died and thousands of residents were forced to flee.

Scientists say there is little doubt that climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is driving more extreme events, such as heat waves, droughts, wildfires, floods and storms. Such calamities are expected to happen more frequently as the planet warms.

Hasan Baltaci, an opposition party lawmaker who represents Kastamonu, told Halk TV television that residents had contacted Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, or AFAD, seeking information about 329 people feared missing. He cautioned that some of the names could be duplicates and that others could be of people who were unable to contact loved ones.

The missing include 12-year-old twin sisters and their grandparents who were trapped inside the eight-story building that collapsed in the town of Bozkurt. Emergency crews were seen sifting through the rubble searching for survivors.

The girls' mother, Arzu Yucel, told the DHA news agency that she had left the apartment building after authorities advised residents to move their vehicles to higher ground. When she returned, water surrounded the building and prevented her from entering. From another building, she watched her daughters wave at her.

"We spoke by phone. They waved from the balcony. They said, 'Don't worry, mommy, we are fine,'" Yucel said. "They told us 'Move your cars higher.' They didn't say 'Save your lives, save your children.' I could have gotten them out of there."

Speaking in Bozkurt late Thursday, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu described the scenes as "the most severe flood disaster I have seen." On Wednesday, he said, flood waters reached three or four meters (10-13 feet) high in some areas.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who canceled celebrations marking his ruling party's 20th anniversary, visited the area on Friday and promised to reconstruct demolished homes, roads and bridges.

"With God's permission, we will overcome this disaster as well. We will do whatever it takes as a state...and hopefully, we will rise from our ashes," Erdogan said.

The Turkish leader referred to the recent wildfires and floods that happened elsewhere.

"Like many parts of the world, our country has been struggling with natural disasters for a while. It's the same in America, Canada, Germany and other parts of Europe," Erdogan said. "Our hope is to escape these disasters with the least damage possible."

Bozkurt resident Yilmaz Ersevenli told NTV that he left his house to move his car to a safe area as the floodwaters began to rise but soon got swept away. He said he managed to save himself by holding on to a tree that had also washed away.

"I nearly lost my life trying to save my car," he said.

In Bartin province, at least 13 people were injured when a section of a bridge caved in. AFAD said 10 people are currently hospitalized.

In total, five bridges collapsed in the floods while two others were damaged, AFAD said. Dozens of villages are still without power and several roads remain blocked. Helicopters were still evacuating villagers Friday from areas where there was no access by road.

Erdogan said Thursday that at least 4,500 personnel, 19 helicopters and 24 boats were involved in the search and rescue operation.

Turkey's Black Sea region is frequently struck by severe rains and flash flooding. At least six people were killed in floods that hit the eastern Black Sea coastal province of Rize last month.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby speaks during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Aug. 12, 2021. The first of three battalions has arrived in Kabul to help some American diplomats and Afghan refugees evacuate Afghanistan, Kirby said Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

WASHINGTON  The first of three battalions has arrived in Kabul, a day after 3,000 U.S. troops were ordered to the city to help some American diplomats and Afghan refugees evacuate Afghanistan as Taliban fighters make rapid gains throughout the country, chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Friday.

"Troop movements that we mentioned yesterday, are happening as we speak," Kirby told reporters at the Pentagon.

A Marine battalion was the first unit to arrive Friday in the Afghanistan capital.

[The unit] was already pre-staged in the region and has lift, sustainment and support capabilities, Kirby said.

An additional Marine infantry battalion from a Marine expeditionary support unit and an Army infantry battalion are expected to arrive in the next couple of days, he said.

A 3,500-person brigade combat team from the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., is preparing to deploy to Kuwait within the next week to help process Afghan refugees seeking special immigrant visas who helped American personnel during their nearly 20 years in Afghanistan.

The deployments come as the Taliban sweeps through Afghanistan, taking control of half the countrys 34 provincial capitals in the final weeks of the U.S. military drawdown from the country, which began May 1 and is scheduled to end by Aug. 31.

"We are certainly concerned by the speed with which the Taliban has been moving  its deeply concerning," Kirby said. The deteriorating conditions are a big factor in why [President Joe Biden] has approved this mission."

Once all the troops have arrived in Kabul, the Americans will have the capacity to airlift thousands of people out of Afghanistan, though daily evacuation numbers could fluctuate, Kirby said. The troops will also help secure the Hamid Karzai International Airport, where many evacuating personnel and refugees will take commercial flights out of the country.

There also remains a contingent of U.S. Forces Afghanistan Forward troops who were already in the country helping with security at the airport and the U.S. embassy about four miles away, Kirby said.

These are the existing security elements that were already in Kabul and are comprised of the [Tactical Air Command] and lift aviation assets, infantry security personnel and some intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets that are already there at the airport, he said.

Kirby said he does not know whether the troops deploying to Kabul this weekend will receive imminent danger pay after reiterating Friday that it is not a combat mission, but that troops will be armed and have the right of self-defense if attacked.

Within the past 24 hours, the Taliban has taken Afghanistans second- and third-largest cities, Herat and Kandahar, The Associated Press reported Friday.

Kabul is not right now in an imminent threat environment, but if you just look at what the Taliban has been doing, you can see that they are trying to isolate Kabul, Kirby said. Now, what they want to do if they achieve that isolation, I think, only they can speak to.

The Talibans isolation strategy mirrors what theyve done elsewhere in the country, isolating provincial capitals, and sometimes being able to force a surrender, not necessarily with much bloodshed, he said.

Kirby also reiterated despite the Talibans gains, the Afghan Security Forces have advantages with greater numbersa capable Air Forcemodern equipment and the benefit of the training that we have provided them over 20 years.

They have the material, the physical, the tangible advantages, he said. It's time now to use those advantages.
Buy Photo A young girl forced to flee her home following a Taliban advance sits at a park in Afghanistan on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

KABUL, Afghanistan  The exodus from the capital has begun for those who can afford it.

Demand for visas and plane tickets out of Afghanistan has been up ever since President Joe Biden announced the withdrawal of U.S. forces in April. But the Talibans takeover of Kandahar and Herat, Afghanistans second and third largest cities, along with many provincial capitals, has sent demand skyrocketing.

Almost all flights are full these days, and the prices for tickets have gone up, said Mujeeb Rezqi, a Kabul travel agent. Its because everyone is afraid. They dont want to live under a regime that will only bring destruction to Afghanistan.

But for most, leaving the country isnt an option.

Some of the scenes at Shar-e-now Park in central Kabul, a couple of miles from the U.S. Embassy, resembled those of better times: small children climbed all over the jungle gym, while older boys raced across the dusty ground to a water fountain.

Some of those children are also sleeping in the park after fleeing hundreds of miles with their families from cities taken by the Taliban.

Amina, a widow who like many of her compatriots goes by one name, left the northern city of Kunduz with her four children after the city fell earlier in the week. The family huddled alongside pitched tents and blankets spread on the ground.

To leave, you need a lot of money, and we simply cannot afford it, Amina said. I dont even have my own tent. Im sharing it with others.

Buy Photo A family waits at a Kabul park on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Thousands of Afghans have fled to the Afghan capital after the Taliban began overtaking cities across the county during the past week. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

Anjamudin, an ex-local police officer in northern Baghlan province, fled with his family of five after the fall of the provincial capital Pul-e-Khumi, believing his former job put his life in danger.

Look around. Everyone here is desperate, and this is the governments fault, said Anjamudin, who also has been living in the park.

Its the governments job to defend the country, but whenever an area is surrounded by the enemy, it just collapses. Its as if no one is defending the country, Anjamudin said.

Anjamudin said he doesnt want to leave Afghanistan. He held out hope Friday that the government would be able to provide shelter for its displaced citizens.

Those who have found ways to leave have generally sought out the most affluent countries that would take them. Abdul Hamid Hamdan, a business owner in Jalalabad, said he will leave for India. From there, he will try to get to Europe or North America.

Like many Afghans, Hamdan partly blamed the withdrawal of U.S. forces for the chaos gripping the country.

When the first province was captured by the Taliban, I decided to leave, Hamdan said by phone. Anything can happen any minute here. I dont feel safe anymore.

Zubair Babakarkhail contributed to this report.
British soldier Lance Cpl. Justin Reeve, of Dorset, England, of the Royal Corps of Signals, rests after a day spent establishing coms, at Combat Outpost Ouellette, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan on Aug. 22, 2011. Confirmation Friday, Aug. 13, 2021 that the Taliban had captured Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand, has particular resonance in Britain, as the vast majority of Britains 457 fatalities occurred in the province. (Brennan Linsley/AP)

LONDON  For a large chunk of the past 20 years, British troops fought hard to ensure that the southern Afghanistan province of Helmand did not fall into the hands of the Taliban.

Confirmation Friday that the Taliban had captured Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand, had particular resonance in Britain. The vast majority of the U.K.'s 457 casualties occurred in the province as British troops fought with American and allied NATO forces. The Camp Bastion complex in Helmand was the headquarters for British military operations from 2006 until 2014.

With the Taliban advancing rapidly and now in control of around two-thirds of Afghanistan, questions are being raised about why the U.K. could not have remained even after the planned departure of U.S. troops by Sept. 11.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned there was no "military solution" to prevent the resurgence of the Taliban.

Following an emergency meeting over the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, Johnson said the "vast bulk" of the remaining U.K. embassy staff in Kabul would return in the next few days. Meanwhile, the British government was also stepping up efforts to relocate Afghans who had assisted British forces during their time in the country and who now face reprisals if they fall into hands of the militants.

"I think we've got to be realistic about the abilities of the U.K. or any power to impose a military solution, a combat solution in Afghanistan," he said. "What we certainly can do is work with all our partners in the region and around the world who share an interest with us in preventing Afghanistan from once again becoming a breeding ground for terror."

U.S. President Joe Biden announced the timeline for the U.S. withdrawal in April, saying he was determined to end America's longest war. His decision led the other nations in the NATO coalition, including the U.K., to announce their own departures, two decades after they first arrived in Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks.

Johnny Mercer, a former defense minister in Britain's Conservative government and an Afghanistan veteran, said Biden made a "huge mistake" but that the U.K. did not have to follow suit and could have mustered support among other NATO allies in the International Security Assistance Force.

"This idea we cannot act unilaterally and support the Afghan security forces is simply not true," Mercer told the BBC. "The political will to see through enduring support to Afghanistan has not been there, and a lot of people are going to die because of that, and for me that is extremely humiliating."

Britain's defense secretary, Ben Wallace, expressed his concerns about the unfolding situation in Afghanistan, not least the potential for al-Qaeda to return, but said the government had no choice but to follow the U.S. lead.

"When the United States, as the framework nation, took that decision, the way we were all configured, the way we had gone in, meant that we had to leave as well," he said on Sky News.

Wallace denied the decision Thursday to send around 600 British troops to Afghanistan to help the 4,000 or so remaining U.K. nationals in the country to leave was a panic measure, saying plans had been put in place months ago. The U.S. said Thursday that it was sending an additional 3,000 troops to Afghanistan to assist in the evacuation of some personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.

U.K. troops were sent to Helmand in 2006, as part of a reorganization of coalition troops, initially with the intention of providing stability and security for reconstruction projects. However, they were soon drawn into combat operations; Camp Bastion in Helmand became the base of British Operation Herrick, with 9,500 troops stationed there.

Soldiers patrolled the province and faced the constant threat of ambush from insurgents, whose local knowledge often gave them an advantage.

More than 100,000 British troops served in Afghanistan in the past two decades, though their numbers fell dramatically after December 2014, when NATO's combat mission ended. The soldiers there since ostensibly trained Afghan army troops and supported a wide range of projects to improve education, particularly for girls, health care, economic growth and local governance in Helmand and across the country.

Yale University Senior Fellow Rory Stewart, a former international development secretary in the British government and a respected writer on Afghanistan, criticized the withdrawal as a "completely unnecessary, dangerous decision." He warned that millions of Afghans would become refugees.

"We've essentially created another Syria overnight," he said.
This story has been corrected

Stranded people cross the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, in Chaman, Pakistan, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. (Jafar Khan/AP)

KABUL, Afghanistan  The Taliban completed their sweep of Afghanistan's south on Friday, taking four more provincial capitals in a lightning offensive that brought them closer to Kabul just weeks before the U.S. is set to officially end its two-decade war.

In the last 24 hours, the country's second- and third-largest cities  Herat in the west and Kandahar in the south  have fallen to the insurgents, as has the capital of the southern province of Helmand, where American, British and NATO forces fought some of the bloodiest battles of the conflict.

The blitz through the Taliban's southern heartland means the insurgents now hold half of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals and control more than two-thirds of the country. The Western-backed government in the capital, Kabul, still holds a smattering of provinces in the center and east, as well as the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

While Kabul is not directly under threat yet, the resurgent Taliban were battling government forces in Logar province, some 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the capital. The U.S. military has estimated that Kabul could come under insurgent pressure within 30 days and that the Taliban could overrun the rest of the country within a few months. They have already taken over much of the north and west of the country.

In the south, insurgents swept through three provincial capitals on Friday.

Attaullah Afghan, the head of the provincial council in Helmand, said the Taliban captured Lashkar Gah following weeks of heavy fighting and raised their white flag over governmental buildings. He said that three army bases outside of the city remain under government control.

In Tirin Kot, the capital of the southern Uruzgan province, Taliban fighters paraded through a main square, driving a Humvee and a pickup seized from Afghan forces. Local officials confirmed that the Taliban also captured the capitals of Zabul province in the south and Ghor in the west.

With security rapidly deteriorating, the United States planned to send in 3,000 troops to help evacuate some personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. Britain and Canada are also sending forces to aid their evacuations. Denmark said it will temporarily close its embassy, while Germany is reducing its embassy staff to the "absolute minimum."

Hundreds of thousands of Afghans have fled their homes amid fears the Taliban will return the country to the sort of brutal, repressive rule it imposed when it was last in power at the turn of the millennium. At that time, the group all but eliminated women's rights and conducted public executions as it imposed an unsparing version of Islamic law. An early sign of such tactics came in Herat, where insurgents paraded two alleged looters through the streets on Friday with black makeup smeared on their faces.

There are also concerns that the fighting could plunge the country into civil war, which is what happened after the Soviets withdrew in 1989.

"We are worried. There is fighting everywhere in Afghanistan. The provinces are falling day by day," said Ahmad Sakhi, a resident of Kabul. "The government should do something. The people are facing lots of problems."

Smoke rises after fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security personnel, in Kandahar, southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021. (Sidiqullah Khan/AP)

The U.N. refugee agency said nearly 250,000 Afghans have been forced to flee their homes since the end of May, and 80% of those displaced are women and children. In all, the agency said, some 400,000 civilians have been displaced since the beginning of the year, joining millions who have fled previous rounds of fighting in recent decades.

Peace talks in Qatar between the Taliban and the government remain stalled, though diplomats are still meeting, as the U.S., European and Asian nations warned that battlefield gains would not lead to political recognition.

"We demand an immediate end to attacks against cities, urge a political settlement, and warn that a government imposed by force will be a pariah state," said Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. envoy to the talks.

But the Taliban advance continued.

Hasibullah Stanikzai, the head of the Logar provincial council, said fighting was still underway inside Puli-e Alim, with government forces holding the police headquarters and other security facilities. He spoke by phone from his office, and gunfire could be heard in the background. The Taliban, however, said they had captured the police headquarters and a nearby prison.

The onslaught represents a stunning collapse of Afghan forces after the United States spent nearly two decades and $830 billion trying to establish a functioning state. U.S. forces toppled the Taliban in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, which al-Qaida planned and executed while being sheltered by the Taliban government.

With only weeks remaining before the U.S. plans to withdraw its last troops, the fighters now advancing across the country ride on American-made Humvees and carry M-16s pilfered from Afghan forces.

Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the Afghan army has rotted from within due to corruption and mismanagement, leaving troops in the field poorly equipped and with little motivation to fight. The Taliban, meanwhile, have spent a decade taking control of large swaths of the countryside.

That allowed them to rapidly seize key infrastructure and urban areas once President Joe Biden announced the timeline for the U.S. withdrawal, saying he was determined to end America's longest war.

"Whatever forces are left or remaining that are in the Kabul area and the provinces around them, they're going to be used for the defense of Kabul," Roggio said. "Unless something dramatically changes, and I don't see how that's possible, these provinces (that have fallen) will remain under Taliban control."

A day earlier, in Herat, Taliban fighters rushed past the Great Mosque in the historic city  a structure that dates to 500 BC and was once a spoil of Alexander the Great  and seized government buildings.

Herat had been under militant attack for two weeks, with one wave blunted by the arrival of warlord Ismail Khan and his forces. But on Thursday afternoon, Taliban fighters broke through the city's defensive lines.

The insurgents circulated photos and a video showing Khan in their captivity as well as video footage that appeared to show captured military helicopters.

At least 18 civilians were killed and more than 250 wounded in the two-week battle for Herat, according to Mohammad Arif Jalali, head of the city's public hospital. He said more than 50 women and children were among the wounded. It's unclear how many people were killed and wounded in battles elsewhere across the country.

In Kandahar, insurgents seized the governor's office and other buildings, witnesses said, adding that the governor and other officials fled. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the defeat has yet to be acknowledged by the government, which has not commented on the latest advances.

The Taliban had earlier attacked a prison in Kandahar and freed inmates inside, officials said.

On Thursday, Nasima Niazi, a lawmaker from Helmand, said civilians likely had been wounded and killed in airstrikes. U.S. Central Command has acknowledged carrying out several strikes in recent days, without providing details or commenting on the concerns over civilian casualties.

Pakistan, meanwhile, opened its Chaman border crossing for people who had been stranded in recent weeks. Juma Khan, the Pakistan border town's deputy commissioner, said the crossing was reopened following talks with the Taliban.

___

Faiez reported from Istanbul and Krauss reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Frank Jordans in Berlin and Jan Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this report.

Correction This story has been corrected to show that the Taliban have taken 17 provincial capitals, not 18, and to remove a reference to captured helicopters being Black Hawks supplied by the U.S. Their make and origin was unclear.
Undocumented immigrants walk toward a Customs and Border Patrol station after being apprehended at the U.S. border near Mission, Texas, on Feb. 10, 2021. (Sergio Flores/For The Washington Post)

The number of migrants detained along the Mexico border crossed a new threshold last month, exceeding 200,000 for the first time in 21 years, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection enforcement data released Thursday.

Among the 212,672 migrants taken into U.S. custody in July were 82,966 family members and 18,962 unaccompanied teenagers and children, an all-time high, and whose custody requirements have once more overwhelmed the Biden administration as it struggles to care for them safely in the middle of the pandemic.

Biden officials predicted earlier this year that the volume of people crossing the border would decline with the summer heat. Instead, Central American adults and children are crossing again in large groups of 300 or more, and U.S. border facilities are jammed with migrants shoulder-to-shoulder in detention facilities.

More than 15,000 minors who arrived without parents are in government custody, many sleeping in grim military barracks. A South Texas park along the Rio Grande has been converted into a sprawling quarantine camp for more than 1,000 parents and children who have tested positive for the virus or been exposed to infection.

"The situation at the border is one of the toughest challenges we face," Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Thursday, speaking in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, where the strain has been most acute. "It is complicated, changing and involves vulnerable people at a time of a global pandemic."

The July arrest total marked a 13 percent increase from June, and was the second-highest number of arrests along the Mexico border on record, according to CBP statistics. Biden officials are projecting a record-setting year along the Mexico border, where authorities have stopped more than 1.3 million migrants since October.

The Biden administration continues to reply on a U.S. public health code known as Title 42 to bypass normal immigration proceedings and rapidly "expel" most single adult migrants to Mexico, but many attempt to cross again and again until they successfully evade capture.

The monthly data compiled by CBP is a gauge of enforcement activity along the border, rather than a count of distinct individuals. Of the more than 212,000 taken into U.S. custody last month, about 154,288 were unique individuals, Mayorkas said. CBP figures show 27 percent of border-crossers who were taken into custody in July had been previously arrested.

In recent months, border officials have also reported more than 1,000 daily "gotaway" incidents, in which authorities are able to detect an illegal entry - often using cameras and sensors - but do not make an arrest.

With the number of migrants arriving to the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas exceeding more than 20,000 per week last month, the Biden administration has introduced new enforcement measures in an attempt to deter illegal crossings. They have restarted fast-track deportation flights for some families who do not claim a fear of persecution if returned, while transporting others to border areas further west where Mexican authorities will accept the returns.

Most notably, Biden officials for the first time have launched "expulsion flights" that use Title 42 authority to fly Central American families deep into southern Mexico, hoping they will opt to return home rather than re-enter the United States. Hundreds of those migrants, including small children, have been dropped off in remote towns with little shelter capacity, rights advocates say, a pattern the United Nations refugee agency called "troubling."

"At a time of significantly increased movement of asylum-seekers and migrants in the region, the Title 42 expulsion flights will also further strain the overburdened humanitarian response capacity in southern Mexico, heighten the risk of COVID-19 transmission across national borders and run counter to steps being taken to share responsibility among countries of the region in addressing the root causes of forced displacement and migration," said Matthew Reynolds, the agency's U.S. representative, in a statement.

Mayorkas addressed the flights to Mexico's interior in his remarks, the first time U.S. officials have spoken publicly about the controversial practice.

"We are expelling them further into the interior of Mexico, where it's far more difficult to try again," he said. "We are working with Mexico to ensure for individuals subject to the expulsion flights, their needs are addressed."

Mayorkas said the U.S.'s primary responsibility, however, is to "protect the American public" from the pandemic. The positivity rate for migrants tested along the Mexico border is on par or lower than U.S. community rates, he added.

About 45 percent of border-crossers who arrived last month were turned back to Mexico, data show, the lowest percentage since Biden took office.

Along the U.S. southern border, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has sent 350 officers and staff to help CBP cope with the influx, senior ICE official Corey Price told agency employees Wednesday in an email obtained by The Washington Post.

Price also told staff that ICE's Port Isabel facility in south Texas is being used as a large "staging site" where ICE personnel will process migrants CBP is too overwhelmed to handle.

Price also said ICE medical personnel have begun providing coronavirus vaccinations to some migrants in CBP custody. The Department of Homeland Security and White House spokesperson Jen Psaki have denied that migrants in U.S. custody along the border were receiving vaccines.

Price's email also told staffers that ICE was seeking more emergency bed space and staging facilities for the growing number of families arriving along the border.

Over the past several months, the arrival of soaring numbers of migrants from Ecuador, Brazil, Haiti, Venezuela and nations in Africa has complicated the Biden administration's attempt to ease pressure on the border through a strategy based on addressing the "root causes" of emigration from Central America.

Officials in Panama this week held talks with Colombia and other nations in the region to urge tighter visa restrictions, as jungle camps holding U.S.-bound migrants have swelled with thousands of stranded migrants. About 10,000 people, mainly from Haiti and Cuba, are currently stuck in the small port town of Necocli, Colombia, awaiting sea passage to Panama.
Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., introduced a resolution on Friday that would give an honorable discharge to troops who choose not to get the coronavirus vaccine and face administrative and disciplinary action against them. (Facebook)

WASHINGTON  A member of the House Armed Services Committee is urging the Defense Department to act with impunity to service members who refuse to get the coronavirus vaccine.

Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., introduced a resolution on Friday that would give an honorable discharge to troops who choose not to get the coronavirus vaccine and face administrative and disciplinary action against them.

Greens resolution comes days after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced he will require all troops get the shots. Austin said Monday that regardless of whether the shots obtain full federal approval  expected to happen in the fall  he plans to seek President Joe Bidens permission by mid-September to require all troops to receive the coronavirus vaccine.

Having gone into battle myself, I strongly believe punishing those who refuse this vaccine, which has only been available for less than a year, is antithetical to the values of our military, said Green, a 24-year Army veteran who deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Troops can apply for an exemption to the coronavirus vaccine mandate for certain health conditions or religious reasons, chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said this week.

A commander has the authority to decide what punishment troops will get if they decline to get the shot. Kirby said Austin expects commanders to treat the administration of that vaccine with  professionalism, skill and compassion.

Commanders have a range of tools short of using the [courts] available to them to try to help individuals make the right decisions" without issuing punishments, Kirby said.

Rebecca Galfano, a spokeswoman for Green, said the lawmaker had received his coronavirus vaccine.

The resolution has nine Republican cosponsors including Reps. Chip Roy and Dan Crenshaw of Texas, Andy Harris of Maryland, Kat Cammack of Florida, Greg Murphy of North Carolina, Mike Garcia of California, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Tim Burchett of Tennessee and Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin.

Ahead of the Defense Department announcement of the pending vaccine mandate, Green, along with other lawmakers, wrote a letter to Austin arguing mandatory vaccination for military personnel prior to full approval from the Food and Drug Administration is illegal. He wrote the Defense Department does not have the authority to mandate the vaccine for troops as long as the shots are authorized under emergency use.

To be clear, we believe [the coronavirus] vaccines are not only a testament to American ingenuity but are also safe and effective.  Despite that, it is clear that the mandate that you are considering is an unprecedented violation of federal law, Green wrote in the letter, signed by 15 other GOP lawmakers.

In June, Massie introduced a bill that would prohibit the requirement that all members of the armed forces must receive a vaccination against the coronavirus. Similar to Greens resolution, it would also ensure that service members do not face retaliation or punishment for refusing to receive a vaccination.

Massie wrote on Twitter in July that he had been contacted by members of our voluntary military who say they will quit if the [coronavirus] vaccine is mandated.

However, a large number of service members have already received a vaccine. About 1,044,924 service members are fully vaccinated, and another 237,082 have had at least one vaccine dose, according to Pentagon data issued Aug. 4.

As a physician, Ive weighed the pros and cons and have taken the vaccine. But that is a decision for each American to make  with their doctor  not under coercion from the government, Green wrote.

Sarah Cammarata
Sean Gustafson, center, dons local attire as he meets Afghan partners in Herat, Afghanistan, during his deployment from 2006-2007. Gustafson, a U.S. Army major at the time, believed then the war in Afghanistan was on track to being won. (Sean Gustafson)

KABUL, Afghanistan  U.S. troops who deployed to Afghanistan over the past two decades say the Talibans rapid conquest of much of the country in the past week has left them stunned and dismayed.

This one will hurt for a long time, man, said Sean Gustafson, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who deployed to the city of Herat in western Afghanistan from 2006 to 2007.

The capture of Herat by the Taliban on Thursday shocked Gustafson. On Friday, he forwarded to Stars and Stripes photos from 2007 of him and other troops building schools and handing out books to children.

Now, like other veterans of Americas longest war, he can only watch from afar as the projects he worked on and the people he tried to help come under threats from the Taliban.

The Taliban controlled an estimated two-thirds of the country as of Friday, after gaining several provincial capitals and large cities throughout the country.

The collapse of much of the Afghan military has come weeks before the scheduled Aug. 31 final withdrawal of U.S. troops ordered by President Joe Biden. The withdrawal stems from a peace deal signed last year by the Taliban and the Trump administration.

Students thank U.S. troops for the school built for them in Shadi Jam, a town in the Afghan province of Herat, in a photo taken during Sean Gustafson's deployment there from 2006-2007. Gustafson, a U.S. Army major at the time, said the Taliban capture of Herat on Aug. 12, 2021 surprised him. (Sean Gustafson)

The final days of the U.S. war in Afghanistan should have been handled better, several veterans told Stars and Stripes.

A complete pullout is not only unnecessary, it is sabotage, said Army Staff Sgt. Seamus Fennessy, who fought in Ghazni province in 2010.

The withdrawal was a betrayal of American and international forces who have expended so much in life and limb to prevent the resurgence of the Taliban, Fennessy said in a Facebook message.

Some U.S. troops should have stayed in the country to preserve the gains of the last 20 years, he said.

I am disgusted, he said.

Other troops spoke about the way the withdrawal imperils their Afghan friends and co-workers.

Maybe we stayed longer than we should have, but the manner in which we pulled out, its just unfortunate, and my heart breaks, said Christy Barry, who deployed to Afghanistan multiple times as both an Air Force officer and a civilian adviser.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Christy Barry speaks Dari with Afghan national army officers in 2009 at the Counter Insurgency Training Academy on Camp Julien, Afghanistan, while with the Afghanistan-Pakistan Hands program. Barry said she feels anxiety as she reads the news about Afghanistan and worries about her Afghan friends and coworkers. (Matthew Chlosta/U.S. Army)

Like other veterans, Barry said shes been deluged with messages from people seeking her help to get visas to escape the country.

Barry learned about Afghanistans culture and received language training as part of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Hands, which aimed to build a cadre of military officers who could advise local leaders in their own languages.

In a phone call Thursday, she recalled the days when she thought she was making a difference in the country. In 2010, Barry helped start a womens bazaar in partnership with two Afghan Americans. The project gave jobs to women in need by allowing them to sell goods at U.S. bases.

Then Barry learned in 2015, when she came to Afghanistan as a civilian adviser, that the bazaar had stopped coming to the bases. Commanders who came after her discontinued it, which is when she said she first felt disheartened about her earlier achievements.

You pour your heart into it, and at the time, it feels like youre doing something great and youre making a difference, she said. And looking back on it now, I still feel that way, but its with a sadness.

U.S. Marine Maj. Gen. Richard Mills walks off the flight line at Bastion airfield, Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, in April 2010. Now a retired lieutenant general, Mills said that many U.S., British, Afghan and allied troops sacrificed greatly in pursuit of a modernized Afghanistan. (Ezekiel R. Kitandwe/U.S. Marine Corps)

Many U.S., British, Afghan and allied troops sacrificed much in pursuit of a modernized Afghanistan, said Richard Mills, a retired Marine lieutenant general who commanded in the southern province of Helmand from 2009 to 2011.

Mills recalled efforts to build the enormous Kajaki Dam, with hopes of bringing electrical power and prosperity to the area.

The U.S. invested more than $775 million into the dam since 2004, betting that it would bolster support for the government and turn people against the Taliban.

U.S. Marines and British troops launched the Battle of Sangin in part to secure supply lines to the dam. It was the bloodiest campaign of the war, with more than 100 coalition troops killed in action.

With U.S. help, the Afghan government installed a third turbine generator in the dam in 2017, greatly increasing the electricity supply to the region, a 2019 report by the United States Agency for International Development said.

Buy Photo With U.S. help, the Afghan government was able to install a third turbine generator for the Kajaki Dam in 2017, providing large amounts of electricity in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province. Helmand province fell to the Taliban Aug. 13, 2021. (Stars and Stripes)

But the dams success did nothing to stem the Talibans power in Helmand, which fell to the militant group Friday.

The U.S. came close to turning the tide in Helmand province, Mills said in a phone call Thursday. He said Americans had constructed several pillars of stability in Helmand by shoring up the economy, establishing schools and providing security.

Its sad to see that those pillars are being destroyed one at a time by the Taliban, Mills said. To see it snatched away, of course its hard.

Zubair Babakarkhail contributed to this report.
A property leadership group have suggested central Tauranga could soon be considered the commercial and cultural heart of the region.

The Urban Task Force, whose board includes property developers, lawyers, construction specialists and consultants, claim the city is poised to overtake Rotorua as the civic heart of the Bay of Plenty.

Members of the group believe now is the time to dream big, as the citys new Elizabeth Towers project on the corner of Devonport Road continues to take shape and buildings on The Strand and Dive Crescent are demolished and cleared.

Via a statement released this week, the collective are seeking inspiration from the likes of Hamilton, with one local architect claiming Tauranga is approximately two years behind New Zealands fourth-biggest city in terms of development.

Chairman Scott Adams, who is also the managing director of land development firm Carrus, says it is time to shift the narrative and put the bad news stories behind us when it comes to some of the citys well-publicised issues, which include large numbers of empty retail spaces in certain areas.

The Long Term Plan is now in place and a significant shift in momentum is underway at Tauranga City Council, says Scott. Its time for the private sector to step up and join the conversation about how we shape the future of the city.

We want this to be the place where people from all around the region come to spend time and money.

The group say almost a $1 billion worth of development is either underway or in the pipeline in central Tauranga, and are encouraging collaborative discussions between the public and private sector about ways to revitalise the CBD.

Both the commissioners and council CEO Marty Grenfell have signalled their intention to work proactively with the business community to forge lasting improvements for the city, adds Scott. For the first time, we feel like our voice is being heard."

A budget of $500,000 has been earmarked by council to begin consultation work.

Urban Task Force member and iwi leader Buddy Mikaere claims the changing governance landscape has offered an enormous boost to the citys Maori population, the group have also praised the impact of the council commissioners that were installed by Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta earlier this year.

Iwi business interests have a unique opportunity to be heard in this new environment, says Buddy. We need to use our position as the region with the largest Maori population to our advantage, and create meaningful pathways for our rangatahi through partnerships in areas such as tourism with private businesses.

The people of Tauranga have become frustrated and disengaged, adds Scott. Its important that we bring them along on this journey and that they feel a part of the changes.

The commissioners are prepared to make the tough decisions. Unlike elected councillors, their reputation as professionals relies upon their performance in the role. They are more driven to leave a lasting, positive legacy and were keen to support them in that work.

Maungatapu-based architect Mark Wassung, whose projects include Auckland International Airport, suggests taking a leaf out of Hamiltons book when it comes to the CBDs future direction.

Tauranga is about two years behind Hamilton in terms of development, says Mark. We can learn some real lessons from their set-up, in particular the Urban Design Panel that they established to oversee development.

A similar structure here would enable us to design our inner city in a collaborative and cohesive way. We could also look to the many past designs proposed for the city over its history. The decades of rejected plans held on file for the Tauranga CBD should be revisited to gather common ideas that may have been previously dismissed as not right at the time.
With more Kiwis holidaying at home now, preparation for bumper crowds on the beach this summer has never been more important.

To help Surf Life Saving Clubs be rescue ready, TSB is again supporting regions with $100,000 in annual grants.

Three Bay of Plenty clubs will be receiving grants this summer.

Maketu are receiving $12,752 for boards for their junior members, Wainui will receive $8000 to develop their junior surf programme and keep it accessible across their wider community.

Omanu will receive $6000 to purchase two new rescue boards.

In addition to TSBs national partnership with Surf Life Saving New Zealand, this brings TSBs five-year investment in supporting local clubs to keep Kiwis safe on our beaches, to over half a million dollars.

TSB CEO Donna Cooper says the TSB team is very proud to have provided $500,000 since 2016 to support regional surf life saving clubs around Aotearoa.

Were so lucky in Aotearoa that 90% of us live within 40 minutes of our local beach, but thats a lot of New Zealanders counting on our volunteer surf lifeguards to keep us safe.

Yet our volunteer based clubs are largely reliant on the generosity of the community to literally save lives.

So as a New Zealand owned bank thats part of your community, were proud to put our profit to purpose to support this important work.

This year $100,000 in TSB grants will fund several new surf rescue innovations. In New Brighton Christchurch, beach surveillance technology digitally counts the number of beachgoers, helping track crowd numbers and monitor changing beach conditions.

For Whanganui Surf Life Saving Club and Kotuku Surf Life Saving Club on the West Coast, the grants will fund new VHF radio tracking technology to provide additional safety and communications to lifeguards on the water.

Other TSB grants will support clubs to purchase rescue boards and tubes, All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), patrol towers, storage solutions and sunshades, so their volunteer teams are prepped for keeping our communities safe this summer.

Surf Life Saving NZs CEO, Paul Dalton advised the TSB grants provide vital support to clubs.

We are incredibly grateful to our major partner TSB for providing their annual grants schemes for our surf lifesaving clubs. With the constant need to replace frontline equipment, funding is not readily available or accessible to support the more innovative surf lifesaving projects or obtain rescue equipment for training our junior surf members.

The TSB grants are helping us future proof surf lifesaving by providing the gear for our next generation of lifeguards and giving our clubs the ability to explore new approaches in keeping Kiwis safer on Aotearoas beaches.

Full list of grants:

Whanganui  Tracking VHF Radios and additional technology - $12,672

The grant will support Whanganui SLSC to upgrade its tracking VHF radios and associated technology so its call-out squad and management staff can more easily connect with lifeguards on the front line using their smartphones. This is especially important as incidents around water can escalate very quickly and need quick responses.

New Brighton (Christchurch)  Beach Surveillance Technology - $5,000

The TSB grant will fund new beach surveillance technology which digitally counts the number of beachgoers. This technology will operate 24 hours a day and will be used to provide data to evaluate when the best time to patrol is. It can track crowd numbers and also monitor changing beach conditions.

Brighton (Dunedin)  ATV - $10,000

Due to the nature of the Brighton beach, a side-by-side ATV is needed to tow the IRB to and from the water. The TSB grant will be used to fund this vital asset for the club.

Maketu (Bay of Plenty)  Junior Surf Training  $12,752

The TSB grant will fund 15 soft-top cadet boards for the junior surf members at Maketu to train their next generation of lifeguards.

Kotuku (West Coast)  Tracking VHF Radios - $4258

The TSB grant will fund new VHF radio tracking technology to provide additional safety and comms to lifeguards on the water.

Mairangi Bay (Auckland)  New gear storage containers - $15,000

The Mairangi Bay SLSC needs to relocate from the existing boatshed and containers to allow Watercare to start a major upgrade of the Wastewater Pump Station. This grant will enable them to purchase new containers and bollards to operate from during this time.

Bethells Beach (Auckland)  Junior Surf Boards - $8000

The Bethells SLSC will use the TSB grant to purchase new boards for their Junior Surf programme which will allow their older boards to be used in future lifeguard development and competitions for Junior Surf members.

Wainui (Gisborne)  Junior Surf Training Boards - $8000

To support the development of the local Junior Surf programme, the TSB grant will be used to purchase training boards for all the keen new members which will help keep the programme accessible to the wider community.

North Beach (Christchurch)  Junior Surf - $8000

At North Beach the grant will fund a sun shelter and new rescue boards needed to train new and existing junior members becoming lifeguards over the next few years.

Omanu (Tauranga)  Rescue Boards - $6000

Omanu club will bolster their transportable rescue equipment with the addition of two new rescue boards funded by the TSB grant.

Titahi Bay (Wellington)  Portable Patrol Tower - $5000

The TSB grant will fund a portable patrol tower to extend patrolling to a dangerous rip at the far end of beach and give the lifeguards some protection from the elements.

Onemana (Coromandel)  Rescue Board and Tubes - $5000

The TSB grant will be used to update the rescue boards and tubes, allowing the old equipment to be used for training purposes.

Orewa (Auckland)  Patrol Sunshade - $2460

The TSB grant will fund a pop-up gazebo to protect lifeguards from the sun. This will enable the Orewa club to utilise their viewing platform during patrols, giving them visibility of the entire beach.
Liquidation proceedings filed by Creswell New Zealand, a subsidy of Chinese water bottling giant Nongfu, against volunteer organisation Sustainable Otakiri have been called off.

Sustainable Otakiri chairwoman Maureen OKane says thanks to last minute donations, the organisation had been able to pay both the legal costs awarded to Creswell by the High Court, as well as a further $2799 Creswell incurred in filing the application for Sustainable Otakiri to be placed into liquidation.

Our next step is raising the $45,000 for the Court of Appeal case, Ms OKane says.

The payments were made just days before the liquidation hearings that were due to be heard on August 14.

Sustainable Otakiri is one of four entities granted leave by the Court of Appeal to appeal Creswells resource consent to extract 1.1 billion cubic metres of water annually from the Otakiri aquifer.

The other three entities are Te Runanga o Ngati Awa, Ngati Pikaou Environmental Society and Te Runanga o Ngai Te Rangi Iwi Trust.

The three iwi-based organisations are arguing points of law against both Creswell New Zealand and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, with the emphasis on the amount of water taken from the aquifer. Sustainable Otakiri is the only entity arguing against Whakatane District Council.

During a High Court hearing in which the four groups tried unsuccessfully to overturn an earlier Environment Court ruling, the court awarded legal costs to Creswell.

A Creswell spokesman confirms the three iwi organisations have paid these costs.

However, due to a supporter being unable to provide the funding they had pledged last week, Sustainable Otakiri found itself more than $8000 short and was not able to pay on time.

Creswell New Zealand filed an application for the organisation to be placed into liquidation.

Ms OKane describes Creswells actions as corporate bullying.

Despite knowing they would have struggled to liquidate us during live court proceedings, they have tried time and again to get rid of us. It was always a David and Goliath battle against a corporation whose owner is worth close to $90 billion versus a bunch of everyday Kiwi volunteers but we're not scared of a bunch of corporate bullies.

Ms O'Kane says the crux of Sustainable Otakiris case was whether Creswells activity on the site could be classified as a rural processing operation or an industrial operation.

In classing it as the former, they had been able to use a variation of consent from the small-scale existing water bottling facility to upscale it to a large-scale operation with limited public notification.

She says the description of the operation as a rural processing operation is misleading.

This is a large-scale industrial operation they want to build. We havent been fighting for five years just for us. If it was just for us, we would have taken what they have offered and gone away. If we let this go ahead it will open up the pathway for other companies to do the same. Its not just water bottling either. It is transferable to other types of operation. Backyard butchers could turn themselves into a plant the size of Affco without any public notification if variation of consents of this nature are allowed.

I just dont see any benefit to New Zealand to what they are doing. The few jobs they will provide arent worth it. We would have been better off, job-wise to have several smaller operations than one big automated plant.

Meanwhile, Sustainable Otakiri has had a roadside sign created to aid with its publicity campaign. The sign is situated on Hallett and Millitary roads.

Sustainable Otakiri is contactable via its Facebook page Save Our Wai.
Medsafes approval of a new drug for type two diabetes could dramatically change the lives of thousands of people, according to Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa.

Pharmac approved funding for Empagliflozin and Dulaglutide for 53,000 patients with the disease who met certain criteria in December. But the funding for Dulaglutide was dependent on Medsafe approving the use of the drug.

Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa chairman Dr John Baker says Medsafe's decision is good news for diabetics in New Zealand.

Its long overdue - but its finally here. Its registered and it will be available from September 1, Baker says.

Figures released in 2019 showed there were 45,266 people registered in the Counties Manukau area alone, living with diabetes.

The main benefits of Dulaglutide for patients include improved cardiovascular health, weight loss and better control of their diabetes - sometimes dramatically, Baker says.

This is a new drug that was only approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2020.

Baker says patients receiving the drug will only require one injection a week, unlike other older treatments which require daily injections.

And unlike existing medicines for people with type 2 diabetes, which focus on lowering a patients blood sugar levels, the drug can also help delay a person developing other related complications like kidney and heart disease.

People who suffer from the disease have trouble controlling their blood sugar levels - either because their body does not make enough insulin, or because their cells have become resistant to insulin, a chemical produced by the pancreas that helps the body process sugars.

If someone with diabetes does not keep their blood sugar levels under control it can be life-threatening and can also lead to other medical conditions, including kidney failure, heart disease, strokes and blindness.

According to the Ministry of Health, there are more than 250,000 people in New Zealand who have been diagnosed with diabetes (mostly type 2) which is more common among Maori, Pacific and South Asian people. And the number of people with the condition is growing.

Patient Voice Aotearoa spokesman Malcolm Mulholland says it's significant that Medsafe has approved Dulaglutide.

Its a game changer drug for people with diabetes, he says. Why wouldnt the Government do everything it could to fund the drug when weve got huge numbers of people suffering from the disease?

But he said the fact Pharmac has only approved funding for the drug for 53,000 people remains a problem.

Sure 53,000 people can be prescribed the drug, but 140,000 could miss out, Mullholland says. So the Government has to dramatically increase Pharmacs budget.

This week Pharmac launched its You Are a Priority campaign to raise awareness amongst Maori and Pacific people about their ability to access Empagliflozin and Dulaglutide.

The funding criteria for the two drugs makes it easier for Maori and Pacific Island people to access the medicines and is the first time the drug funding agency has explicitly included ethnicity within a special authority access criteria.
Police hope the sentencing of a couple convicted of numerous child sexual offences will bring "a small measure of comfort" to the victims and their families.

Laken Rose and Andrew Williams have both now been jailed after being convicted of numerous serious child sexual offences at Hamilton High Court in December 2020.

Williams has been sentenced to 23 years and five months imprisonment and Rose has today been sentenced to 19 years and five months imprisonment.

Detective Sergeant Darryl Brazier, from the Western Bay of Plenty Child Protection Team, says the offending by Rose and Williams has had a horrendous impact on the victims and their families.

"While nothing can reverse the terrible ordeal the victims and their families have suffered, I hope that the sentencing today helps provide a small measure of comfort to them.

"This outcome is a great result for the team of hard-working investigators who worked tirelessly to hold these offenders to account."

During this complex and difficult investigation, Darryl says the investigators were exposed to a huge volume of distressing material, but remained focused and professional throughout.

"This is also a great result for the community who can be assured that these offenders are being held to account through their conviction and sentencing.

"Most importantly, this is a great result for the brave young victims and their families, who had the courage to talk to Police and help bring these dangerous offenders to justice.

"I would like to thank them for the cooperation and the incredible strength they have shown throughout the prosecution, and my thoughts and support remain with them as they get through this horrific time.

"I have no doubt that had the families not come forward when they did, and Police took the action required, these two would still be in the community offending against vulnerable young children."
This Sunday, August 15, the global helicopter industry celebrates one of the most amazing machines ever invented.

Its World Helicopter Day  a day to commemorate your community helicopter.

It is also a day to consider the phenomenal contribution that community helicopters make to society.

Helicopters impact every industry; rescues and disaster relief, conservation, agriculture, and forestry, through to the tourism and filmmaking industries.

Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter pilot Dan has been flying helicopters in New Zealand and abroad for 25 years.

The combination of its unique ability to land and take off so gently with zero speed, often with several people or a significant load on board, and yet then also fly at very high speed to its destination makes it the perfect tool for my job.

I still find them fascinating and incredible machines and I love it every time I go flying, says Dan.

Over 30,000 people owe their lives to the fleet of community helicopters serving the central North Island.

The fleet, operating out of the regions comprising Waikato, King Country, Coromandel, Central Plateau and Lakes region, coastal Bay of Plenty, and the Manawatu and Whanganui regions, ensure that any point on the map in the central North Island is accessible to one or more of them at any time.

With a greatly experienced and highly-skilled operational team, including a fulltime flight Intensive Care Paramedic work force, the service is an integral part of a wider emergency response chain, providing a vital link between rural communities and main DHB hospitals.

Faced with daily victory and tragedy, rescue helicopter crews work under extremely intense and challenging conditions and as an important component of the helicopter industry, its fitting and appropriate that a day is marked on the international calendar to celebrate the immense contribution helicopters make to your community.

According to statistics, there are over 56,000 helicopters worldwide with many makes and models of these machines in New Zealand.

The Sikorsky, Bolkow-Kawasaki, Leonardo, Agusta, Bell and Eurocopter helicopters are all models that have been utilised as rescue helicopters for use in New Zealands diverse topography and complex terrain.

The Bolkow-Kawasaki BK-117, jointly developed and manufactured by Germany and Japan, is currently utilised by the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter, TECT Rescue Helicopter, Greenlea Rescue Helicopter and Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter because of its exceptionality as an air medical and search and rescue utility.

Possessing high stability and manoeuvrability, the BK-117s speed and agility is enhanced by twin, 750 horsepower engines, precision aerodynamic blades weighing approx. 36kg, and a powerful flying speed of 220 km per hour.

The added benefit of a high-mounted tail boom and tail rotor enhances safety for crew and ease of access for patients through the rear of the aircraft.
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In brief: Amazon is offering $10 in credit to everyone that scans and saves their palm prints into their Amazon accounts for authentication purposes within their stores, and that's something that has raised eyebrows among US senators. Yesterday, a group of senators sent a letter to Amazon explaining their concerns and listing some questions they would like to be answered.

With Amazon One, the company is hoping to make payment for your groceries simpler and faster by scanning your palm. For now, you can use it in a few Amazon Go, Amazon Books, and Amazon 4-star stores, but if it becomes more mainstream, it will expand to more locations.

To promote the new technology, Amazon is giving away $10 in credit for anyone that links their palm to their Amazon account. This can be done in participating physical Amazon stores. Once the process is complete, users will receive an email with the $10 credit.

Following these events, US Senators Amy Klobuchar, Bill Cassidy and Jon Ossoff wrote a letter to Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon, explaining their concerns over the system's security, Amazon's $10 credit promotion, and how the company will use this data. The letter is also accompanied by some questions that the US senators would like to see answered by August 26, 2021.

"Our concerns about user privacy are heightened by evidence that Amazon shared voice data with third-party contractors and allegations that Amazon has violated biometric privacy laws," wrote the Senators in the letter. "We are also concerned that Amazon may use data from Amazon One, including data from third-party customers that may purchase and use Amazon One devices, to further cement its competitive power and suppress competition across various markets."

Unlike companies such as Apple and Samsung, Amazon wouldn't be storing the biometrics data in the user's device. Instead, the data is uploaded to Amazon's cloud so buyers can use it in different stores. By storing it on the cloud, there's the risk that this information may be leaked or stolen through cyber attacks or exploiting a vulnerability in Amazon's systems.

This isn't the first time Amazon is questioned by the US Senate to hand out details about their biometrics systems. In 2018, ACLU tested Amazon's 'Rekognition' facial recognition tech, identifying 28 lawmakers as criminals. Following these results, both the Senate and the House of the Representatives sent a letter to Amazon asking for details about the technology.
Asteroid Bennu might just be one of, if not the most studied space rocks in the history of mankind. And NASA has released a slew of brand-new, interesting information about it recently.

A study recently published by the agency revealed that the asteroid has a 1 in 1,750 chance of hitting the Earth by the year 2300 and a 1 in 2,700 chance at the exact date of September 24, 2182, reports NewsWeek.

These calculations were made using the NASA OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer) spacecraft, which managed to complete a landmark mission on Bennu in 2018. It was the first-ever human-made object to touch down on an asteroid, which basically made Bennu perhaps the most studied one of its kind ever in human history.

In fact, the NASA OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is on its way back to Earth as of this writing, carrying the samples it took from the asteroid. Its scheduled arrival to within 6,000 miles of Earth is in September 2023, according to NASA. This arrival date was precisely calculated based on asteroid Bennu's alignment with our planet.

With the data collected in the nearly five-year-long observation of Bennu, NASA has improved the Earth's chances of surviving an asteroid impact in the near future. But of course, that's not everything that the agency has learned about the giant space rock so far.

Read also: NASA Simulation Reveals How to Stop Texas-Sized Asteroid-What Protects Earth From Space Collisions?

Asteroid Bennu 101

According to National Geographic, Bennu has orbited the sun for hundreds of millions of years, give or take. This means that the space rock has been around even way before Chicxulub, the asteroid that killed off the dinosaurs, hit Earth 66 million years ago. But its actual age is far older: 4.5 billion years, according to NASA's analysis.

Bennu is, however, far smaller than the dinosaur-killing asteroid. It only has a diameter of 262.5 meters, which is roughly a third of a mile. While its size isn't enough to actually destroy Earth and cause a mass extinction, it can still do a lot of damage to the immediate area of impact, according to Space.com.

Asteroid Bennu hitting the Earth will produce 5,000 kilotons of energy, as powerful as the Castle Bravo nuke: the U.S.' most powerful nuclear bomb ever detonated. That's about 1,000 times more powerful than either the Hiroshima or Nagasaki atomic bombs.

Bennu itself is also not a singular rock. According to NASA, the asteroid is actually just a gigantic pile of space rubble, who got stuck together due to gravity. This classifies it as a Rubble Pile asteroid, which is a real classification.

It's also worth noting that the mission to the asteroid Bennu is not a one-off thing. After the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft returns close to Earth, scientists actually plan to send it back out for a mission to another asteroid. Maybe Psyche 16, the asteroid rumored to be worth quadrillions? Only time will tell.

Related: 7-Year-Old Brazilian Girl Discovered 7 Asteroids for NASA | World's Youngest Astronomer

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Written by RJ Pierce

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Windows 11 beta users are receiving updates for certain Windows apps, according to an announcement by Microsoft.

The apps that are included in the Microsoft update rollout come as part of Windows 11.

The Windows 11 apps that are getting updates in the rollout are Snipping Tool, Calculator, and Mail and Calendar.

According to Microsoft, the company is looking forward to rolling out even more Windows 11 apps.

Windows 11 Beta: Snipping Tool Update

Windows 11 beta users are getting updates for a couple of Windows apps, per the announcement of Microsoft on its website. According to a report by Ars Technica, the updates for these Windows apps "appear to be largely cosmetic."

Among the apps included in the rollout, the Snipping Tool seems to be the app getting the most updates.

According to the announcement, a new Snipping Tool will replace both the Snip & Sketch and the old Snipping Tool. The new version will include new visuals, a new settings page, and editing tools for improved cropping, annotations, and more.

The Snipping Tool's theme will also match your Windows 11 theme. You do not want them to match, the theme of the app can be set independently.

A new keyboard shortcut for the Snipping Tool will also make the Windows app more convenient to use. Pressing WIN + SHIFT + S will bring up a menu containing the snip options you can choose from.

Related Article: How to Screenshot On Windows? Here Are the Different Techniques to Get You Started

Windows 11 Beta: Calculator Update

Microsoft has also rolled out new updates for its Calculator app.

The Calculator app will also get a new look thanks to the Microsoft update as well as a new app theme setting. According to the Microsoft announcement, the Calculator app is "the perfect tool to help you complete your math homework, manage your finances, plot, and analyze equations on a graph, and evaluate algebra, trigonometry, and complex math expressions!"

Key features of the Windows 11 Calculator app include a Programmer Mode that can help those who will use the app for engineering or programming, an easy-to-use standard calculator, and the capability to convert more than 100 currencies as well as units.

If you need to use the Calculator app to graph equations, it will allow you to plot one or more in its graphing mode.

Windows 11 Beta: Mail and Calendar Update

Last and certainly not the least, the Mail and Calendar Windows app is also getting a new update.

Mail and Calendar will likewise get a new look, which include "rounded corners and other adjustments to make them look and feel part of Windows 11."

Mail and Calendar will also reflect your current Windows 11 theme.

If you want to set Mail and Calendar or even other Windows apps as part of your default apps, it is possible to do so in Windows 11.

Also Read: Microsoft Windows 11: Black Screen of Death Replaces the Color Blue for BSOD, Testing Other Features

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Written by Isabella James

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Samsung's Galaxy Watch 4 has debuted a new feature, and it would bring an easier way for people to check their body fat content and muscle mass. These new features add up to what the Galaxy Watch has offered people for years now, and it is one popular smartwatch, known to pair well with South Korean smartphones.

The Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event has ended, and it brought a lot of new devices from the popular tech giant from Suwon-si. The company's event was rumored to be dated August 11 and has certainly brought more tech for people to ponder on.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4's Body Fat Measurement

Samsung says that the Galaxy Watch 4 is "a watch that knows you best," and it brings a lot of new features that would surely support what the company claims for its device. It still retains the iconic round watch face, something which Samsung has focused on, apart from the growing popularity of square faces.

However, the latest addition to this release is the body fat content measuring feature, which aims to bring one for the fitness and wellness-conscious people. This can be achieved through its bioelectrical impedance analysis, which the company has focused on and studied over the past.

Their findings were published in Nature Communication's journal, entitled "Wrist-wearable bioelectrical impedance analyzer with miniature electrodes for daily obesity management."

Its main goal is to monitor obesity and help people see bodily changes easily, but it also is widely applicable to that health-monitoring people.

Read Also: Yes, You Can Connect Your Samsung Galaxy Watch to an iPhone and Here's How

Galaxy Watch 4's Other Features

What the Galaxy Watch 4 brings is more than the body fat measurement system, but also the ability to monitor skeletal muscle and body water content. The watch was also said to have the ability to look at one's body mass.

With the variables mentioned by Samsung, the Galaxy Watch 4 can potentially be an effective tool to monitor one's BMI or body mass index, as well as body fat content. It can help in bringing first-hand knowledge to people, so that they may know what to do and improve on when on their way to getting fit.

Wear OS and Galaxy Watch 4

While Body Fat Measurement is a sick new feature of the smartwatch, it is worth noting that the Galaxy Watch 4 also has the Wear OS installed on it. This may be one of the first devices which have received the latest version of the Wear OS from Google and Samsung's collaboration.

This brings a new adaptive feature that integrates the smartwatch to all Android devices that are compatible with it. The feature makes it a seamless connection between the smartwatch and one's smart device. Truly, the Galaxy Watch 4 is one powerful tool, aiming to take the throne from the Apple Watch.

Related Article: Android Smartwatches 2021: Samsung Galaxy Watch, Fossil, Fitbit-These or the Apple Watch?

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Written by Isaiah Richard

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
COVID-19 mask mandates are still being debated on in schools despite the fact that more and more children are getting infected with the coronavirus.

Mask wearing is seen by many as a move that can keep children safe from the virus, especially those who are under the age of 12 and cannot receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

The United States is currently facing a COVID-19 surge that is driven by the highly contagious Delta variant.

COVID-19 Mask Debates Continue in Schools

COVID-19 mask mandates for children while in school are still being argued on by the adults tasked to make a decision that will protect the welfare of children.

According to a report by Ars Technica, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci said during a White House press briefing that "there's no doubt that there are more children getting infected."

Fauci pointed out that the Delta variant, which is driving the current surge in COVID-19 cases, is more than twice as contagious as the other variants of the virus.

Despite the threat that the Delta variant of COVID-19 poses, schools and governments in different states have been implementing differing mask mandates.

Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics have recommended asking children to wear masks while in school. However, government officials like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Texas Governor Greg Abbott have outright decided to ban mask mandates, according to the Ars Technica report.

School districts have defied the bans placed by the governors. In response, Governor DeSantis "threatened to withhold salaries of school administrators if they enact mask mandates.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky has said that the way to keep children safe and ensure that schools remain open is to "vaccinate all eligible adults and adolescents around children and use mitigation strategies-like masks-in schools."

Related Article: CDC Believes Precautions Taken in Campuses and Community Can Make Schools Safe

Pediatric COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 cases among children have been increasing in number as the Delta variant continues to infect more and more people across the country.

According to the Ars Technica report, Florida "has the country's highest daily average of children (under age 17) admitted to the hospital with COVID-19: 54 children per day." The report also cited a Miami Herald analysis that shows the sharpest increase in cases has been seen among children below 12 years of age.

Elsewhere, nearly 1,000 children tested positive for COVID-19 in Mississippi between August 2 and 6 while 5,000 more children are under quarantine.

While students across the country have gone back to attending classes in schools, a school distinct in Indiana's Scott County went back to virtual learning. The move was made due to the high rate of positive cases in the district, as well as the high number of students who are in quarantine.

COVID-19 Vaccination for Children

Children 12 years old and below are still not allowed to receive COVID-19 vaccines.

That may change eventually as vaccine manufacturers have been conducting clinical trials to ensure that vaccines are safe for young children to use. Back in May, Moderna announced that it has begun COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials on young children and babies.

Also Read: COVID-19 Vaccine Can't Be Given to Children Yet, Here's Why

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Written by Isabella James

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Image from Pexels) US Public Schools are Setting Up 'Virtual Academies' Amidst Pandemic

US public schools are now setting up "virtual academies" amidst the pandemic in order to continue education. Despite challenges when it comes to distance learning throughout the pandemic, public school systems across the United States are setting up these virtual academies in massively growing numbers in order to accommodate families who reportedly feel remote instruction would work best for their children.

Parent Demands Driven by Ongoing Concerns

According to the story by Phys.org, a majority of the total 38 state educational departments that have reportedly responded to an Associated Press survey just this summer actually indicated additional permanent virtual schools as well as programs will be in place in the upcoming school year. Parent demand is now driven in some measure due to concerns of the ongoing virus but also because of a preference for more flexibility and independence that also comes with remote instruction.

School districts are also eager to maintain enrollment directly after seeing students leave for home schooling, virtual charters, private schools, and other options as well. These declines could even lead to less funding. There have been unconventional schools in the past like Elon Musk's school while he noted that regular schools are just "torture."

Virtual Academies Students

The executive director of the American Association of School Administrators Dan Domenech noted that it is the future. It was stated that some of these states could be denying it as of the moment. Soon, however, they will have to get in line due to seeing other states already doing it and witnessing the advantages of it.

The school districts' plans for full-time, long-term virtual programs, which have been gradually rising, spiked during the whole COVID-19 pandemic. Students in virtual academies are generally educated separately from a district's other students. Over 100 Schools in the US are already requiring their students to get vaccinated.

In Favor of Virtual Classes

In New Mexico, like most states, is also requiring schools to offer the direct in-person learning this year, Rio Rancho Public Schools actually used federal relief funding in order to add to the fully remote K-5 SpaRRk Academy. A recent survey even found just 600 out of 7,500 student families that were reportedly interested to continue virtually.

The families also included many who wanted to become more and more involved with their children's own education, according to the elementary improvement officer Janna Chenault. Chenault noted that they had to tweet back and forth in order to decide which grade they should start in.

Read Also: Nancy Mello The Animal Communicator Who Works Hand in Hand with Veterinarians

NEPC Pre-Pandemic Research

Chenault then noted that they did have interest from some of the kindergarten parents and that they wanted to keep them in their district in order for it to be K-5. Before the pandemic, research raised certain questions regarding the performance of these fully vaccinated schools, as seen on NEPC.Colorado.edu.

A previous 2019 report coming from the National Education Policy Center noted that the data was actually limited by disparate reporting as well as accountability requirements but still showed that out of 320 virtual schools that had available performance ratings, there was only 48.5% that were rated acceptable.

Related Article: COVID-19 Mask Debates Continue in Schools Despite More and More Children Getting Infected

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Written by Urian B.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Google Nest Hub will be introducing a new feature that shows the latest air quality index or AQI on the user's location. It will also warn if it ever reaches unsafe levels, just in the nick of time as wildfires continue to ravage different parts of the world.

Smart Display, like the Google Nest Hub, is a handy device that provides the necessary information to its users, including the time, date, and even the weather predictions at a single look.

Not to mention that the smart home gadget of Google further provides a sleep sensing feature as one of its health-tracking functions.

Google Nest Hub to Display Air Quality Index

Now, Google decided to go beyond the previous vital information displayed on the smart display.

As per 9to5Google, the Nest Hub and Hub Max in the United States will also be displaying the Air Quality Index, which could be glanced at easily as it is found on the "Photo Frame" or the Ambient screen.

The AQI info appears at the bottom-left corner of the widget that displays the time for those who use the Google Photos or the Art gallery clock face. It sits below the weather and temperature widget.

Google further made sure that the displayed air data is at least validated and could provide accurate info depending on the user's location.

As such, the search engine giant sources its data from the AQI of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Read Also: Google Nest Doorbell Users Fear for Their Safety as a Stranger's Cam Suddenly Appeared in the Device

Unsafe Levels Indication in Time of Wildfires

Coincidentally, wildfires season is back and it is wreaking havoc, not just in the U.S., but in other places as well, like Siberia, Greece, Turkey, among others.

It is worth noting that wildfires are about to get worse due to climate change.

Notably, the wrath of wildfires spreads even in locations miles away from the fire incident as it deteriorates the air quality of neighboring residents--which sometimes reaches toxic levels.

That said, the AQI indicator via the Google Nest Hub will issue a warning if the air outside has already reached dangerous levels with an "Unhealthy" notice paired with a red badge.

The alert sits on the upper right corner of the display.

According to Engadget, aside from the unsafe warning, the air quality gauge will be displayed in a numeric ranking, ranging from 0 to 500.

It is to note that the higher it gets, the more polluted the air is.

However, if other users find the numbers to complicated to understand, Google simplified it by assigning color coding, which starts from green, indicating that it is safe, to maroon, meaning it has reached hazardous levels.

If ever the user is too busy to even look at the Google Nest Hub, an alternative option is to ask "what's the air quality near me," and the device will say the information displayed out loud.

Related Article: Google Nest Hub Will Launch Ten New Games, Making It More Than Just YouTube Screen- Games Lobby Coming!

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Written by Teejay Boris

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Image from Google Meet Website) Google Meet New Features | Here's a List of the Workspace Editions Included

Google Meet is now extending its co-host limit to up to 25 co-hosts per meeting! Now collaborations can be done on a much wider scale with 25 co-hosts at a time. This can also help with full presentations on Google Meet! The feature will only be available to a number of workspace editions. Check out below which editions are included.

Google Meet New Features

According to the story by Android Central, Google Meet is now adding a number of different features that are meant to help expand controls in a single meeting while keeping it free from unwanted interruptions. The headline addition is the actual ability to delegate up to 25 co-hosts in a single meeting!

The brand new co-hosting feature will make everything much easier to moderate. This means that every meeting will be easier to moderate with additional controls which Google has just unveiled.

Google Meet Host Management

These even included the ability to help enable or disable screen sharing, mute all participants with just a click, limit who can chat with each other, and end the meeting for everyone involved. In order to assign co-hosts, users will simply need to turn on the option called "Host management" located under the "Host controls" section located in the Google Meet settings.

Up until now, adding co-hosts was available limitedly only to Google Workspace for Education customers. There are certain limitations to the feature's main ability as it stands. The features are only rolling out for a few Workspace editions.

Workspace Editions Included:

Google Meet Business Standard

Google Meet Business Plus

Google Meet Essentials

Google Meet Enterprise Essentials

Google Meet Enterprise Standard

Google Meet Enterprise Plus

In addition to this, Quick Access settings are also coming directly to one of the best video conference software. This particular control would allow hosts to be able to choose who can automatically join a specific meeting and who would still need to request the host's permission first.

Google Meet Default Features

The feature is now turned on by default. This means that meeting participants from the host's domain can automatically join a meeting through mobile or desktop or even by simply dialing in. Google Meet also announced a free 'unlimited' group calling back on July 14, 2021.

If the feature is disabled, the meeting will not start unless the host themselves jumps in first. Participants can also choose to block anonymous users as well as only those who are invited can join without needing to ask permission. The new Google Meet features like co-hosting and screen sharing are an exciting addition to the app.

Read Also: WhatsApp Users Can Now Transfer Chat History Between iOS and Android with Samsung Galaxy Foldable Phones

Google Meet Co-Hosting Access

Its availability as of the moment, however, is still limited only to those Workspace customers and G Suite Basic and Business customers. This means that the controls are still not yet available to the Workspace Individual users or those that are using their personal Google accounts.

There is also reportedly a new option to be able to quickly search for specific participants through the newly updated People panel. This will allow users to mute participants, kick them, or even delegate co-hosting access. The new controls is expected to roll out on desktop as well as mobile devices starting August 16, 2021

Related Article: Android 12 Beta 4 is Now Available | Focus on 'Polish, Performance, and Stability'

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Written by Urian B.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Huawei has been sued in the California federal court for allegedly spying on Pakistan citizens via a "backdoor," and stealing tech from a California-based IT consultant company.

As per Reuters, Business Efficiency Solutions, or also known as BES, filed a complaint against the China-based tech giant on Wednesday, Aug. 11.

Huawei is a Chinese firm that has been banned in the United States after being accused of being a security risk in the United States. Thus, Google forcibly removed its services from the devices of the Chinese phone maker.

However, Huawei recently decided to live without Google by debuting its own operating system across all of its devices.

Huawei Faces Lawsuit After Allegedly Spying on Pakistan

This time around, the Chinese titan is in hot water again. But the latest accusation said that Huawei stole the trade secrets of a California IT firm to spy on Pakistans, The Register reported.

BES further disclosed via its lawsuit that the Chinese behemoth created a "backdoor" tech to infiltrate the national security of Pakistan, hoarding the sensitive data of its citizens.

It allegedly allowed Huawei to get personal info from Pakistan to China.

Huawei has yet to respond to the lawsuit filed by BES through its legal team. The accuser also did not share any more information beyond the case that it filed in the federal court.

Read Also: Huawei Founder Ren Zhengfei Says That the Company Must Learn From the US In Terms of Tech

Huawei and Stolen Tech

The relationship between the Chinese giant and the Califonia-based IT consultant firm started in 2016 after Huawei employed BES for a whopping $150 million.

It is worth noting that the lawsuit mentioned that Pakistan allowed multiple tech giants to present their proposal to the government, which includes Huawei, Motorola, and Nokia. And it turned out that the Chinese tech company won against them.

The collaboration with Huawei and BES was supposed to create software for a program that the Pakistan government seeks to use for its police and other authorities.

The provincial body of the country, known as the Punjab Safe Cities Authority or PSCA, initiated the endeavor with the vision to provide local officials with the said technology.

The IT consulting firm also accused Huawei of stealing the "trade secrets, and other intellectual properties in its possessions after officials of the China tech company demanded it for testing."

Up until now, the lawsuit alleged that Huawei has not returned the software design tools to BES.

Moreover, BES said that it only allowed Huawei to use the software with full access as the latter threatened that they will not be paid, which the Chinese giant has yet to do for some of the software in the project.

Related Article: Huawei P50 Pro 5G Likely to Come Late 2021, P50 Pro+ Also Possible, Leaker Says

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Written by Teejay Boris

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Apple employees are reportedly also voicing out their concerns over the plan of the iPhone maker to detect any CSAM, or child sexual abuse material, on the photo library of its users, which flooded the Slack channel of the company.

On Aug. 5, a security expert issued a warning that Apple is planning to start scanning the photo library of iPhones to detect any media that exhibits child abusive content.

The cryptographer and associate professor at John Hopkins Information Security Institute, Matthew Green, noted that the Cupertino giant will be using a sophisticated algorithm, known as homomorphic encryption, which could scan the context of the images without peeking at it.

Apple did confirm that it is planning to roll out such a feature on the same day that Green hinted about it. After which, the Cupertino giant has been receiving staunch backlash due to the possible abuse of the upcoming detection tool.

Apple Employees Voice Out Concerns Over CSAM Detection Tool

As per MacRumors, even some Apple employees joined the critics of the CSAM detection, echoing their security concerns via the internal Slack channel of the Cupertino giant.

The majority of the worry that the employees raised were the likelihood of an authoritative regime forcing Apple to hand out information from the tool to carry out their own agendas.

According to Reuters, the worker who tipped about the internal clamor said that it is the first time that employees raised their concerns at this extent, at least in terms of the volume and duration.

However, it is worth noting that Apple employees working under user security are not part of the group that vehemently protested the new photo scanning function.

Apple CSAM Detection Tool

The CSAM detection feature is supposed to roll out on both iOS 15 and iPadOS later this fall. However, even before the release, many have expressed their concerns about it.

Green, who previously shared how law enforcement found a way to break into the iPhones of suspected criminals, also issued a warning about the possible exploitation of the CSAM detection.

The security expert further raised the possibility of using the CSAM scanning tool to initiate surveillance over iPhone data, adding that law enforcers could use the system to override end-to-end encrypted information.

Read Also: Apple XProject Antivirus Now Breached by New AdLoad Malware-Your MacBook Could Be At Risk

Apple's Response on Government Forcing Them to Use Detection Tool

Nevertheless, the Cupertino giant is also against the use of its upcoming detection tool for the interest of any repressive government. As such, Apple addressed the concern on the FAQ document of the feature.

Apple said that if ever a government attempts to force the company to include images that are beyond CSAM to the tool, the Cupertino giant "will refuse any demands," noting that it was designed to solely detect child abuse content.

Related Article: Apple Faces Patent Infringement Lawsuit by Bell Northern Research for Basic Mobile Wireless Technology

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Written by Teejay Boris

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
In the past, we saw many VPN brands claiming that they offer a zero-log policy to their users. While promoting these policies, they explained that a zero-log policy means that the company doesn't store any kind of user logs on its systems.

There wasn't one VPN brand that didn't claim to have a zero-log policy. However, the privacy policy pages of these VPN companies stated otherwise. On most privacy policy pages, it was clearly mentioned that the VPN brand does keep some user logs on its system. Some made excuses that these logs were kept for maintenance purposes. Others were more honest with these statements and claimed that they were required to keep these logs because of certain laws implemented by their governments.

In short, most of the companies used to lie when they claimed to keep zero user logs on their system. Things changed when the European Union introduced laws that penalized companies if they added any lies to their privacy policy pages. These were the times when VPN users started caring for their online privacy. Many users, especially those in Portugal, now started to check the privacy policy pages of VPN brands before subscribing to any company.

PureVPN stands true to its claims

This was also the time when PureVPN came forward to prove that it was indeed a privacy-conscious brand. The company's privacy policy was among the most transparent ones in the industry. It openly stated, in plain words, that it does not store any kind of user logs on its system.

But as mentioned above, it's one thing to make a claim and another to prove it. PureVPN did prove its claim after getting audited by not one but two reputable auditing firms. PureVPN has now been audited thrice, and each time, its no-log claims were verified by the auditing firm. Moreover, PureVPN is the only VPN brand on the market that boasts an always-on auditing status.

Things started almost three years back, when PureVPN was first audited by Altius IT. Altius IT was and still is among the most reputable auditing firms in the world. Altius IT confirmed PureVPN's claim of keeping zero user logs on its system and ensuring their privacy from their end.

PureVPN didn't stop here. Soon afterwards, PureVPN got audited again, this time by KMPG. KPMG officially stands as one of the Big Four IT auditing firms that hold the Certified in Risk and Information Systems Controls (CRISC), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certifications. KPMG also currently stands as a world-leading name in the field of forensic inspection of any network infrastructure architecture.

In the first audit, KMPG confirmed PureVPN's no-log claims. In the detailed report, the big four auditing brands confirmed that PureVPN doesn't store any user logs that would harm user privacy. It validated the claims mentioned on PureVPN's privacy policy page.

A year later, PureVPN got audited by KPMG yet again. Once again, the auditing firm confirmed that PureVPN still stands true to its no-log claim. It reiterated that PureVPN stores no kind of user logs that would harm the user's privacy.

It should be noted that these audits were done with an element of surprise. Both auditing firms gave no kind of warnings or prior notices to PureVPN before performing the audit. This ensures that the VPN brand has no time to cover up any loopholes in its system or to perform anything notorious in order to get the results in its favour.

The most important part of these audits is that they make PureVPN the only VPN brand in the world that has got an always-on audit status.

Why is an always-on auditing status so important?

As mentioned, VPN brands can backtrack on their claims at any time of their choosing. They might behave differently when being audited, and this behaviour can change once the audit is concluded. This is where the always-on audit status comes in. This status gives the auditing firm the authority to perform an audit at any time of its choosing.

This means that the VPN provider has to stay on its toes at all times and make sure that any claims it makes can be validated at any time by reputable IT auditing firms.

This also means that PureVPN is the first brand you should trust with your privacy. It is among the pioneers of the VPN industry. Its 4.7/5 rating on Trustpilot proves that it is one of the most reputable VPN brands. And the recent no-log certification proves that PureVPN is also the most reliable VPN provider in the industry.

What's more, PureVPN is also among the most affordable VPN brands on the market. You can get a PureVPN subscription for as low as $2.88 per month! And with that, you get access to over 6,500 servers in 140 countries!

So what are you waiting for? It's high time to ensure your safety and privacy on the internet by choosing a VPN service that is certified as a private no-log VPN provider.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Mann with a front-row seat: LSU professor chronicles his life in Louisiana politics in new memoir
A team of federal healthcare workers has come to Tangipahoa Parish to help North Oaks Medical Centers depleted staff battle COVID-19  the latest overwhelmed Louisiana hospital to get support from Washington, D.C. as an unprecedented new wave of infections and deaths engulfs the state.

The 15-member health and medical task force from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps arrived at the hospitals Hammond campus Tuesday. Composed of three doctors, a physician assistant, a nurse practitioner, seven nurses, a safety officer, a force protection officer and a commander, the task force will care for patients beginning Friday and will remain at the hospital through Sept. 7.

My team is glad we are here to provide some much needed relief from the immense pressures hospital staff are facing during this most recent wave, said Lt. Commander Anthony Valloric, who leads the task force.

+10 As new COVID strain rages, a look inside a packed Louisiana hospital: We havent had many wins HAMMOND  Kim Schehr didnt believe she was at much risk of getting sick with COVID-19 when she left for a family vacation to Florida in July.

The federal healthcare workers will fill a desperate need for staff plaguing not just North Oaks, but hospitals across Louisiana as the crushing surge continues. While medical equipment and knowledge of the virus has expanded since earlier waves, hospitals staff ranks are thinned due to burnout and the virus, among other factors.

Hospitals across the state were down 978 ICU, medical and emergency nurses in late July, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.

LDH forwarded requests for nearly 1,700 medical staff to the federal government two weeks ago, and on Aug. 2, Washington responded by dispatching a 33-member disaster support team to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge.

Tangipahoa Parish has been among the hardest-hit counties in the United States during the surge in cases driven by the viruss more-transmissible delta variant, which has run rampant in sparsely vaccinated areas. Just over 30% of Tangipahoa Parish residents are fully inoculated, below Louisianas statewide rate of 38%.

About 100 healthcare staff at North Oaks were off work last week due to COVID-19 and other factors, according to hospital spokeswoman Melanie Zaffuto. The 330-bed hospital had an additional 400 staff vacancies it was trying to fill.

Quantifying Louisiana's dire hospital staff shortages as COVID hospitalizations break records When University Medical Center in New Orleans was inundated with COVID patients during the first three surges, a unoccupied unit typically use

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The staffing struggles accompany a surge in patients. North Oaks was caring for 109 COVID-19 patients as of last week  the most ever of the pandemic, and double the hospitals earlier peak from last winter.

The number of patients was down to 81 on Friday, said Shantel Johnson, the hospitals marketing director. But staff remain exhausted, and are grateful for the extra help.

(The federal healthcare workers) will help us extend our ability to care for the overload of COVID-19 patients we have at this time and relieve some of the pressure on our staff, who have worked tirelessly for nearly 18 months, said Michele Sutton, North Oaks CEO.

Vaccinations in Louisiana have ticked up recently. At a vaccine event earlier in the month, people flocked to North Oaks to get the shot, citing worries that the delta variant would infect them like it did their friends and family as the thing that changed their minds.

The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps is a branch of the federal public health agency that dispatches nurses and doctors to places with a lack of medical care. Led by the Assistant Secretary for Health and the U.S. Surgeon General, the corps has 6,000 public health officers drawn from branches of the countrys military.

The federal workers on the ground in Hammond come from a different agency than those helping Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge. Theyre one of the federal governments Disaster Medical Assistance Teams.

While grateful for the help, state officials are under no illusion that the feds will be able to fill all the gaps in Louisiana as hospitalization numbers continue to rise.

We have made rather unprecedented requests to our federal partners, Dr. Joe Kanter, the state health officer, said at an Aug. 2 press briefing. We will make additional such requests but that is a very limited resource and we do not expect the feds to provide us all the staff that we need.

Blake Paterson contributed to this report.
A Baton Rouge man accused in the July 2019 slaying of local civil rights activist Sadie Roberts-Joseph has been given a March 14 trial date.

Ronn Jermaine Bell, 40, is charged with second-degree murder in the killing of Roberts-Joseph, 75. He's also charged in the case with failing to register as a sex offender.

+2 Sadie Roberts-Joseph's accused killer pleads not guilty in civil rights activist's slaying The man accused of killing civil rights icon Sadie Roberts-Joseph pleaded not guilty Thursday in the July slaying of the woman who had founded

Roberts-Joseph was found July 12, 2019, in the trunk of her car behind an abandoned house in the 2300 block of North 20th Street. Police said she had been suffocated. Bell's DNA was found on her body, an arrest report states.

Bell was a tenant in one of Roberts-Joseph's properties and had fallen about $1,200 behind on his rent, police have said. Bell acknowledged that during an interview with detectives, but said Roberts-Joseph agreed he could remain in the house as long as he paid her something, police said.

Video evidence shows Bell near where Roberts-Joseph's car was found  about three miles from her Scotlandville home, police stated. That home is down the street from the house Bell was renting.

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Bell later admitted to detectives that he had been in the location where the car was dumped, but said he was not inside the vehicle and had not seen Roberts-Joseph for several days before her death, police said.

A search warrant indicated bleach was poured over her body in an apparent attempt to destroy evidence. Detectives later found two empty bleach bottles inside Bell's home.

Roberts-Joseph was best known for founding the Odell S. Williams African-American Museum in downtown Baton Rouge in 2001 and organizing an annual Juneteenth festival celebrating the end of slavery in this country.

Bell faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison if found guilty of second-degree murder. State District Judge Kelly Balfour, who is presiding over the case, set the trial date on Thursday, court records show.
LAKE CHARLES  U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins says his recent bout with COVID-19 almost killed him, but he has now fully recovered and still opposes mandates for vaccines and mask-wearing.

Speaking at a public meeting in this storm-battered city on Thursday night and later in comments to The Times-Picayune | The Advocate, the Lafayette Republican faced questions on the lack of federal disaster relief for the region, still struggling mightily a year after Hurricane Laura. He said he had made repeated efforts to obtain supplemental federal funding to no avail, and that the onus is now on President Joe Biden and the Democratic leadership in Congress to take action.

Higgins, a fervent supporter of former President Donald Trump and one who has repeated unsubstantiated assertions of widespread fraud in the November presidential election that Trump lost, spoke of a lack of access to the Biden White House. If I want to go to Mar-a-Lago next week, I can call the former president, he said, mentioning Trump's Palm Beach, Florida, resort, but its up to the states top Democrats to do so with Biden.

Regarding COVID-19, Higgins told the audience of several dozen residents at the event organized by the African-American Chamber of Commerce that the disease almost killed me.

There was a day there when I wasnt sure yall were going to have to tolerate me much longer, he said. My wife, my son and I got COVID about a month ago, the delta variant, and Ive never been knocked down that hard in my life. Im fully recovered now. My suits fit better.

This time, he did not call the coronavirus "the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] biological attack weaponized virus," as he had when announcing his illness in July, repeating unproven statements that the disease was both created by China and released on purpose.

Higgins also says he had the virus in January 2020, when the first case was confirmed in the United States. Louisiana did not have a confirmed case until March 2020.

Asked whether he has been or plans to be vaccinated, he would not say specifically.

Man, if I dont have immunity now, he said, mentioning his two bouts with the virus. My private medical business is my private medical business, but let me just say that Im probably the most inoculated and immunized person in this room.

He was not wearing a mask at the event, but said he was neither anti-mask nor anti-vaccine. He said he had no problem with encouraging people to take such precautions but that he strongly opposed government mandates for either masks or vaccines and supported freedom of decision. He referred to a recent bill he proposed to make it illegal for employers to mandate medical procedures, including a vaccine.

Louisiana hospitals see hundreds more COVID patients over the weekend as delta surges continues Hospitalizations from COVID-19 in Louisiana reached startling new heights over the weekend, as the number of new infections caused by the viru

Responding to an audience members question about mask requirements in schools, he said children's attire and their attendance at school should be subjects determined and discussed by moms and dads and families and school administrators and teachers, not by career politicians in Baton Rouge or D.C. or anywhere else.

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Doctors say the evidence is clear that masks are effective in slowing the transmission of the virus and have called for schools to implement mandates. Gov. John Bel Edwards recent mask mandate includes a mask requirement for students beginning at kindergarten, with exceptions for medical conditions and other categories.

Southwest Louisiana continues to have the lowest vaccination rate in the state, and doctors have pleaded with residents to get the shot to save lives while warning that hospitals were being overrun with patients. Thursday nights meeting included a tribute to Lake Charles City Council member Mary Morris, who died earlier this week from complications related to the coronavirus.

Disaster relief

On supplemental disaster relief for the Lake Charles region - which last August was hit by Laura, one of the most powerful storms in state history, followed by Hurricane Delta six weeks later, a harsh winter storm in February and flooding in May - Higgins argued that he had made repeated efforts to get money but that it was now on the Biden administration and Democratic leadership to act. He also said he had helped expedite individual assistance for many residents who met roadblocks.

Leaders in Southwest Louisiana are asking for supplemental disaster relief, a common form of assistance after catastrophes. Historically, federal legislation is needed to unlock such money, which would likely amount to hundreds of millions of dollars. More than $1 billion has been provided in immediate assistance through FEMA and Small Business Administration loans, but local officials say it isnt nearly enough, particularly when it comes to dire housing needs.

Higgins said Biden could reappropriate money to disaster relief through executive order. He also called on the Biden administration to issue a specific request for the funding and for Democratic leadership in Congress to move ahead on such legislation, predicting it would pass easily.

+3 11 months after Hurricane Laura, Lake Charles' plea for disaster relief grows louder LAKE CHARLES  Next to a screen with a ticking clock showing the amount of time since Hurricane Lauras devastating sweep through southwest Lo

Asked whether he should sit down with White House officials and Democratic leaders to negotiate a solution, Higgins said he had already done his best. Weve never stopped sitting down with Democrats, he said.

Higgins raised eyebrows in the Lake Charles area by not attending Bidens visit to the city in May, when local officials had a chance to make their case in person and the president pledged help. The congressman said Edwards and White House adviser Cedric Richmond, a former congressman from New Orleans, would have a better chance of meeting with the president and getting something done.

Im not your Democrat governor, and Im not your Democrat that resigned from Congress and went to work as a senior adviser to the president of the United States, he said. Im me. I have the access that I have.

Things would be different if Trump were still in power, he said.

To get into the White House to see President Biden, youve already got John Bel Edwards and Cedric Richmond. Thats your top Democrats from the state of Louisiana.
The Commonwealth Bank is planning a fresh assault on the crucial mortgage market to counter the growing threat from fintechs, offering fully digital home loans that can be approved in as few as 10 minutes.

As CBA looks to use its technology clout to cement its dominant position, retail banking services group executive Angus Sullivan on Friday said the next front in the battle with fintechs would be in mortgages.

CBAs Angus Sullivan

Mr Sullivan also said the housing markets growth would continue despite the lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne, predicting low-fixed rates would buoy confidence in the upcoming spring auction season.

CBA, which already holds more than one in four home loans, said at this weeks results it would launch a digital-only home loan, which will crunch customer data to enable rapid approvals.
Samsung leader Lee Jae-yong walked out of prison on Friday a year early in a parole decision demonstrating the conglomerates outsized influence in South Korea as well as continuing leniency for bosses who commit corporate corruption.

Wearing a gray suit and a mask, Lee stepped out of the gates at the prison near Seoul and bowed in apology over the anger he had caused over his case, which was related to the explosive corruption scandal that toppled South Koreas previous president in 2017. Hundreds of demonstrators standing behind police lines simultaneously shouted slogans denouncing or welcoming his release.

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong early this year. He was released from prison on parole on Friday. Credit:AP

(I) caused too much concern to our people. I am very sorry, said Lee, who had spent the past months in prison relaying his business decisions through visiting employees. He said he was keeping close attention to the concerns, criticism and huge expectations about him and then walked into a black sedan without answering reporters questions.

Lee, 53, is the third-generation heir of an immense business empire that runs everything from technology, construction, and financial services companies to hospitals, an amusement park and baseball and soccer clubs. His corporate crown jewel, Samsung Electronics, single-handedly represents about 20 per cent of South Koreas entire stock market value and one-fourth of its total exports.
Australias coal mining industry is considering setting up a self-insurance scheme as major financial institutions abandon the sector because of concerns about global warming.

Producers of coal, the nations second-largest export, have been under growing pressure in the face of spiralling costs and insurance premiums as banks, insurers and investors dump coal assets or pledge not to make new investments in the industry. The withdrawal is expected to accelerate after the United Nations warned the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes latest update must sound a death knell for coal and fossil fuels before they destroy our planet.

The coal industry weighing a self insurance scheme as miners struggle to access insurance and finance. Credit:Robert Rough

Coal industry insiders, who requested anonymity to talk about confidential discussions, said the financial communitys flight from the coal sector and its supply chain had spurred Australian companies to come together to investigate an insurance mutual fund instead.

This is a real issue, its a problem, and it has accelerated, one source told The Age and the Herald. It has forced a hard look at alternative approaches.
Were reminded that Europes nobility experienced the Great War more as a family squabble than a global apocalypse, given that the sovereigns of most of the combatants all called each other cousin. Even today, with modern aristocrats less inclined to inbreeding, the royal (and former royal) families of Britain, Denmark, Greece and Serbia remain genetically linked.

Could kings and queens  figures that Altman had previously dismissed as quaint survivors of a vanished era  be more politically interesting, even important, than hed imagined? Altmans ensuing exploration of royaltys persistence certainly uncovers a trove of fascinating snippets.

Dennis Altman began writing God Save the Queen after he and his editor spotted a peculiar phenomenon. A list compiled by The Economist of the worlds 10 most democratic nations featured eight countries with maintained constitutional monarchies, despite the seeming contradiction between hereditary power and popular rule.

Monarchies that dont share DNA often share experiences. The King of Malaysia, Sultan Abdullah, and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, for instance, both attended the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, an institution that lists among its alumni royals from 23 nations.

On the 60th anniversary of Franz Josephs reign, his loyal subjects could buy all sorts of souvenirs. Credit:

As that example suggests, royalty and privilege still go together like a horse and gilded carriage. Altman tells us that the Crown Estate of the British Royal Family includes 263,000 farmed acres, a significant portion of the buildings in central London and about half of the UK shoreline, including 12 miles of seabed extending out beyond those coasts  not a bad little haul!

Once upon a time, sovereigns justified themselves by exuberant claims about the doings of their ancestors. The Japanese royal family traditionally asserted a relationship with the gods; the Hapsburg emperors identified themselves as the descendants of Noah (a boast that becomes much less impressive once youve thought about it for a second: other than Aquaman, everyones presumably descended from Noah).

Yet even the most aloof king must now sell himself to the masses. Historians consider the royals the first modern celebrities. When Franz Joseph marked 60 years ruling the Austro-Hungarian empire, his subjects could celebrate by buying daguerreotypes, ashtrays and aprons featuring the imperial visage, a foretaste of the gargantuan industry that would emerge around the Windsors.
While we all have rights and can choose whether to get vaccinated against COVID-19, these rights could be reasonably curtailed if our decisions endanger the freedoms and economic stability of the vast majority of Australians. We need to empower workplaces to strongly encourage workers to get vaccinated and prevent the unvaccinated from entering enclosed premises.

Dr Marie Pirotta, Carlton Saying no to any more anti-lockdown ads I write to add my support to Adam Bandt and other federal crossbench MPs and request that The Age stops accepting ads from Clive Palmer (Letters, 13/8). While the ads are not anti-vaccination (as your Editors Note points out), they undermine public health messages about lockdown rules, all the while claiming to have concerns about peoples jobs and mental health. It is harmful and opportunistic advertising and there is no place for it in a reputable publication.

Maryanne Barclay, Frankston South Clive Palmers right to not trust the big parties I applaud the entry of independents into Parliament  the more we have the better. But they are somewhat off-beam in criticising The Age for putting Clive Palmers diatribes on the front page. I regularly hear the major parties stating in Parliament that you cant trust Labor or you cant trust the Liberals. I dont see why Palmer cannot say it too. I regularly hear complaints about lockdowns, and I have made them myself. Scott Morrison was against them last year. Why not Palmer too? As a shareholder in The Age, I thank him for his contribution to my retirement, but his comments are wasted on me.

John Pinniger, Fairfield

Come on, Mr Palmer, have you had the jab? It never ceases to amaze me when public figures lampoon COVID-19 vaccinations yet refuse to disclose if they have been vaccinated themselves, citing privacy. Clive Palmer is the latest one to do this (The Age, 13/8). Talk about not being seen to practise what you preach.

Russell Brims, Bentleigh East THE FORUM Getting around the rules Can I suggest Dan Andrews creates a ring of steel between metropolitan Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula? I am aware of a half dozen families who have travelled to and from holiday houses in Rye, Blairgowrie and Sorrento during lockdowns.

How do they get away with it? Firstly, the lack of police presence checking. Secondly, by misusing their status as essential workers  eg. doctor, magistrate (and their families), creating false reasons for roaming around. Not because they have work commitments but because they think they are too special for the rules to apply to them.

Mary Hahn-Thomsen, Camberwell Students before players Instead of devoting effort and money to how Victoria can host the footy finals, maybe the Premier could focus on a plan to get the poor VCE students back to school to complete their studies and have the best chance of success.

Lenore Neath, Richmond Surviving the lockdowns Recently, while reading an article about my late father, I was surprised to learn that In 1936 Bill (age 12) was home schooled as many schools were closed due to a polio epidemic.

He would have been supervised by his mother, who only completed primary school. He went on to successfully manage both a tuberculosis hospital during the 1950s, and the chest X-ray program to test for TB. Hang in there, everyone, we will get through it, especially if we follow the rules.

Linda OBrien, Heatherton The culture must change As a recent graduate of St Kevins (2018) I am appalled at the moral panic displayed by some parents and boys at a legitimate and, importantly, anonymous student survey (The Age, 12/8). It is incredibly encouraging to see the leadership team showing a real commitment to tackle the serious problems the school faces, but this will amount to nothing if out of touch parents fight positive change. Yes, the survey tackles uncomfortable topics, but not a single question covers an issue that was not talked about by myself or other students during my time at St Kevins. If parents are more concerned about an anonymous survey asking boys about their experiences with sex, drugs, and misogyny, than they are about their sons participating in sex, drugs, and misogyny (which they are) then they need to have a good, hard look at themselves.

Simon Cosgrave, Murrumbeena

Religion and teachers Your editorial  Laws must curb the right to discriminate (The Age, 12/8  is an attack on the right of religious organisations to employ staff of the same religion. Perhaps its based on a view that religious schools do no more than supply a commodity. Some might conduct themselves in that way. However all of them were created for the purpose of forming practising believers. In Victorian government schools as well as religious ones, teachers are expected to be positive role models in education settings and in the community. While often a teachers private beliefs or activities outside of work will not compromise a religious schools mission, and many religious schools employ non-believers, there will be instances where student awareness of statements or actions by staff has the potential to detract from the schools goal. In such cases it is the school, rather than the courts or legislature, that is best equipped to determine what the doctrines of its religion are, and whether hiring a person who rejects those doctrines could compromise their mission.

Patrick Kelly, Coburg

Ludicrous lack of plan Waleed Aly  Coalition making a meal of climate policy (Opinion, 13/8)  is right to label Barnaby Joyces refusal to indulge any meaningful talk of net-zero emissions targets as absurd. If another country declared war on, and attacked, Australia, would Mr Joyce insist on a comprehensive, fully costed plan being developed before taking any action?

Peter Neuhold, Elsternwick Need to act immediately I completely understand where Miki Perkins is coming from  Coming to grips with climate distress (The Age, 12/8). About three years ago I heard on the radio that an Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change report said the world had only 10years to avert the worst of the climate crisis. I fell into a deep depressive state that I still tackle to this day. It is infuriating that the world leaders have not done enough in the past 40 years to tackle the crisis. Did they think that the next generation would solve their problems? While there is no outright cure to despair, the best therapy is to take action and find like-minded people to talk to.

Sarah Brennan, Hawthorn East Quick action, sometimes

It is amazing that the Coalition government could make a plan for car park rorts in a matter of days before the last election, but after more than 10 years has still not been able to make a plan for dealing with climate change.

Anne Wood, Birregurra Self-interest comes first The Nationals insist on a separate party room meeting to consider the cost of government commitment to the Liberals endorsement of greater carbon reduction targets. It seems to be OK to act like a third chamber of the house when it suits their self-interest.

Denis Fielding, Geelong Why the punishment? I attempt to live on my age pension, but still I chose to install solar panels despite the pitiful feed-in tariff (it was a fair price two decades ago when I first went solar), because I wanted to contribute to clean energy in Australia. Now I learn the Australian Energy Market Commission has ruled that I can be charged for contributing my clean energy to the grid  and a grid that occasionally needs all the extra contributions it can get. How can this be justified? It is not remotely fair. The only sensible action is to encourage and incentivise people who take the trouble to install solar, not penalise them.

Janet Blagg, Warrnambool

Show us the evidence I would like to have seen the energy networks submission to the Australian Energy Market Commission justifying their need to charge for surplus household solar panel feed-in to the network. Is there not enough profit on the price differential they pay for the feed-in and then charge for supplying to the customer? Is this another example of gold plating?

Ross Crawford, Korumburra An unChristian Christian Niki Savvas article  A cranky man in need of a plan (Opinion, 12/8)  refers to the Prime Ministers belligerent behaviour, use of expletives and an aggressive streak, described by others as bullying. These examples again highlight one of the strange anomalies about him. How can someone who has so publicly committed himself to the Christian faith, and professes to have done so since the age of 12, seemingly not exhibit those Christian values in practice? A man whose behaviour is instead characterised by aggression, misrepresentation, blame shifting, a lack of compassion, and a modus operandi often based on the opportunistic promotion and exploitation of division.

David Gregory, Toorak Are you kidding me?

I think there was a typo in the article about cleaning  How to ease grit of a pandemic (Living, 12/8). It says vacuuming can be done once every three days or so, but I am sure you meant it to read vacuuming can be done once every three weeks.

Elizabeth Long, Collingwood Please explain, Aunty Re ABC journalist agrees to pay Liberal MP $79,000 over tweets (The Age, 12/8). The ABC has indicated that it will cover Louise Milligans costs, citing particular and exceptional circumstances. It owes all taxpayers an explanation as to what the particular and exceptional circumstances are.

Bill Holmes, Kew AND ANOTHER THING Credit:Illustration: Matt Golding

COVID-19 Its time to send Michael OBrien to NSW to help Gladys.

Peter Smullen, Ardmona Im horrified that Clive Palmers divisive opinions continue to appear on the front page of The Age.

Tracey Lamb, Montmorency Victoria to Gladys: You call that a lockdown? This is a lockdown.

Kate Wilkinson, Elsternwick A tale of two cities, at a time when Australia is screaming out for national unity.

Gary Bryfman, Brighton

Sydneys gold standard has turned to kryptonite for the rest of the country.

Ken Foxall, Mount Eliza Environment For heavens sake, Gina, tell Barnaby what the plan is.

Steve Dixon, North Melbourne The PM points to the dust mote in Chinas eye while ignoring the log in his own. Know thy Bible, Scott.

Marie-Louise Drew, Fairfield Who will rid us of this fossilised government?

Rod Cripps, Parkdale

The Royal Melbourne Show has been cancelled but showbags are on sale, online. I hope theyre paper, not plastic.

Pauline Mackenzie, Marshall How many times a day will I have to boil the kettle to avoid being charged for sending surplus energy to the grid from my 18 solar panels?

Elizabeth Pearce, Hawthorn Furthermore The Sikh volunteers (13/8) are heroes. Heart-warming stuff among the gloom.

Nola Cormick, Albert Park Bravo, Peter Baume (12/8). We cannot heal our societies without integration and respect for country. A treaty now.

Johee Not, Heathcote
Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge is backing a voluntary code that would benchmark the salaries of university vice-chancellors against top public servants in a bid to make their pay packets more transparent.

The code, unveiled by the University Chancellors Council on Friday, requires universities to clearly disclose the base salaries and bonuses paid to vice-chancellors and senior staff in annual reports and says remuneration should align with societys contemporary expectations and norms.

Education Minister Alan Tudge has urged universities to adopt a voluntary code that would provide greater transparency over vice-chancellors salaries. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Tudge said the code would promote public confidence that the salaries were appropriate amid ongoing controversy over the $1 million-plus salaries earned by many vice-chancellors.

Its always surprised me that some vice-chancellors were getting paid far more than the most senior public servants in the country, Mr Tudge
London: Prince Andrew will not take part in next years Platinum Jubilee Trooping the Colour, as royal sources admitted on Thursday there were difficult discussions to be had about his military titles.

There is increasing concern behind palace walls about the crisis engulfing the Duke, with senior members of the Royal family kept in the dark about his legal position.

Prince Andrew speaks outside a memorial service for Prince Philip earlier this year, in a rare public appearance. Credit:PA

The civil lawsuit lodged this week in New York alleging sexual abuse against Prince Andrew has ensured he is highly unlikely to return to public duties.

Members of the Royal family, including the Prince Charles, fear the damage his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein has caused to the monarchy is already too great. As such, his military titles, including Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, will eventually have to be removed, senior royal sources said.
London: A British security guard accused of spying for Moscow is an ex-Royal Air Force airman who kept a giant Russian flag, books and communist memorabilia on display at his home.

Ministers were under pressure on Thursday night to explain how David Smith, 57, was given a job at the British embassy in Berlin despite keeping a collection of Soviet memorabilia in plain sight along with objects linked to Moscow-backed rebels in Ukraine.

The Russian national flag waves on top of the Russian embassy in Berlin, Germany. A Briton working at the nearby British embassy was arrested on Tuesday accused of passing on secrets to Russia. Credit:AP

Smith was arrested at his apartment in Potsdam on Tuesday after a months-long investigation led by MI5 and German security services. A Defence source confirmed to the London Telegraph that Smith was a former junior RAF airman.

According to Whitehall officials, Smith is believed to have offered the Russians a list of persons entering and exiting the embassy. The information is thought to have been low risk because British agents use aliases when signing in to embassies.
London: A gunman has shot and killed five people, including a little girl, in a rampage in the city of Plymouth in south-west England, in an incident described by Britains Home Secretary as shocking.

Police, called to a house in the Keyham area of Plymouth just after 6pm on Thursday (Friday AEST), found two females and two males dead at the scene. A police spokesman said a man believed to be the gunman was also dead  although he did not say if the man killed himself or had been shot by police. All are believed to have died from gunshot wounds.

Another female treated at the scene for gunshot wounds died a short time later in hospital, the spokesman said. He echoed comments by local MP Johnny Mercer that the incident was not terrorism-related.

Witnesses said the gunman kicked in the door of the house before shooting the residents. Credit:Getty

One of the people killed was a child under 10 years old, Luke Pollard, a local MP from the opposition Labour Party, said in a tweet.
14-Year-Old Boy Charged With Murder After Man Stabbed to Death in London

A teenage boy was charged with murder following a fatal knife attack in East London on Monday.

He was also charged with possession of a knife in a public place and breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order.

The Metropolitan police said the unnamed 14-year-old was charged on Friday morning and is due to appear at Stratford Youth Court later on Friday.

Two other teenagersa 14-year-old boy who was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder and a 16-year-old girl who was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offenderhave been released under investigation.

Police at the scene where 45-year-old James Markham was stabbed to death after confronting a group of youths on Aug. 9, 2021, in Churchill Terrace, Chingford, east London, on Aug. 12, 2021. (Laura Parnaby/PA)

The teens were involved in a stabbing on Monday, in which 45-year-old James Markham was stabbed to death.

The Met has previously said they believe Markham was attacked on Monday evening after he confronted a group of youths causing a disturbance.

Emergency services found Markham seriously injured when they arrived and he was soon pronounced dead at the scene despite the best efforts of the emergency services and members of the public.

A post-mortem examination found he died of a stab wound to the lung.

Detective Inspector John Marriott of the Mets specialist crime command has previously said that the brutality of the teenagers response was beyond shocking.

Police continued to appeal to witnesses to come forward.

PA contributed to this report.
The Carnival Panorama cruise ship sits docked, empty of passengers, as the global outbreak of COVID-19 continues, in Long Beach, Calif., on April 16, 2020. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

27 Fully-Vaccinated People Aboard Carnival Cruise Test Positive for CCP Virus

More than two dozen fully vaccinated people aboard a Carnival cruise tested positive for the CCP virus, according to the Belize Tourism Board.

The Carnival Vista, which was carrying over 1,400 crew and nearly 2,900 passengers, arrived in Belize City on Wednesday with 26 crew members and one guest infected with COVID-19, the disease that is caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, the board said in a statement.

Officials noted that 99.98 percent of the crew has been vaccinated, along with more than 96 percent of the passengers.

Everyone who tested positive was vaccinated and most of them are asymptomatic or are experiencing very mild symptoms.

The ships infected crew members are now in isolation and additional protocols have been implemented, including mask-wearing and the use of N95 masks for the crew, along with closures of employee social areas.

The team at Carnival noted that all positive cases have been isolated and contact tracing has ended with no additional positive cases found, and that the infected crew and passenger do not pose a threat to guests, crew or frontline workers in Belize, the statement read.

All the guests aboard the cruise are required to undergo rapid testing and it has to show negative prior to leaving the ship at the next port, even if they are vaccinated, officials said.

Carnival is requiring passengers to be vaccinated, though there are exceptions for children and people with medical issues. The cruise line said in a statement Aug. 4 that passengers must wear a mask in certain indoor areas, and provide a negative COVID test within three days of embarkment for cruises beginning Aug. 14.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on its website that it had investigated the Carnival Vista and the ship remains under observation.

With the stringent protocols, it is inevitable that COVID cases will be detected, but it is imperative that these situations are handled correctly to avoid further spread or unnecessary cancelations, the cruise line said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

From NTD News
A pharmacy advertises the COVID-19 vaccines in New York City on July 22, 2021. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

50,000 New Yorkers Have Taken $100 Incentive to Receive a COVID-19 Vaccine

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, said in a statement that 50,000 residents have accepted a $100 incentive to take the vaccine.

The statement notes that the bulk of the $100 cards were granted to New Yorkers of color, and that the distribution was carried through at city-run vaccine sites.

Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is easy, safe, and even comes with a bonus [of] $100 at city-run sites, de Blasio said.

Im thrilled 50,000 New Yorkers have taken advantage of this incentive so far. This is clearly a smart, effective way to drive up vaccination rates. Its proof that more cities and states across the country should follow President Bidens urging to adopt New York Citys $100 incentive.

The initiative for New York, made public during the last days of July, also included the option to get free tickets, gifts, or memberships instead of the $100 pre-paid debit card.

President Joe Biden called on states to offer the $100 incentive during a speech on July 29.

Im calling on all states and local governments to use funding they have received, including from the American Rescue Plan, to give $100 to anyone who gets fully vaccinated, Biden said.

The American Rescue Plan is a legislative package that aims to provide relief to families and communities that were economically affected by COVID-19.

Several other states are also offering incentives to have people take the shot.

I know that paying people to get vaccinated might sound unfair to folks whove gotten vaccinated already, but heres the deal: If incentives help us beat this virus, I believe we should use them. We all benefit if we can get more people vaccinated.

According to New York City data, of the residents who took the monetary incentive, 43 percent were Hispanic, 21 percent were black, 13 percent Asian, and 9 percent white.

Furthermore, 23 percent were under 18 years of age, 36 percent were between 19 and 34, and 38 percent were between 35 and 64.

Mayor de Blasio recently announced a vaccine pass mandate for restaurants, gyms, and performances in the city, which will be enforced on Sept. 13. It is not clear how the businesses would verify the authenticity of the passes.

Some peoples hesitation to take the shots has given rise to forged vaccine passes.

The mandate sparked some resistance from NYC officials and small businesses. Rallies are being organized to protest.

On Aug. 5, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), the only Republican representing a significant part of New York City in Congress, and other NYC officials sent a letter to de Blasio demanding a reversal of this unfair directive immediately.

The new Excelsior Pass app, a digital pass that people can download to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test on March 27, 2021. (Provided by NY Governors Press Office via AP)

This vaccine passport directive not only forces small businesses to deny service to their customers, but it prohibits large swaths of our communities from participating in regular society, the letter reads.

It is clear to us and our constituentsmost of whom have received the COVID-19 vaccinethat this directive represents an extraordinary level of government overreach.
This illustration photo taken in Los Angeles on April 6, 2021 shows a person looking at the app for the New York State Excelsior Pass, which provides digital proof of a COVID-19 vaccination, in front of a screen showing the New York skyline. (Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images)

67 Percent of Young Black NYC Residents Could Be Denied Service Under New Vaccine Mandate: Data

With just weeks before New York City is slated to roll out its citywide vaccine passport mandate for restaurants, gyms, and other venues, just 28 percent of black residents between the ages of 18 and 44 are fully vaccinated, according to data provided by the citys Department of Health website.

The citys data, as of Aug. 13, also shows that 33 percent of black New Yorkers in that age group have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose.

According to the provisions of the Key to NYC health passport mandate, customers who have received at least one dose of the vaccine are allowed to enter gyms, restaurants, bars, and theaters. It means that 67 percent of black New Yorkers in that age group could be denied service when it goes into effect in mid-September.

And only 19 percent of black residents between the ages of 13 and 17 are fully vaccinated, the data shows, while 28 percent of that age group have received at least one dose.

Overall, 37 percent of black New Yorkers in all age groups have received at least one shot, while 32 percent are fully vaccinated, according to the latest data.

Under the new program, meanwhile, unvaccinated people wont be able to work at restaurants, gyms, theaters, or bars, either under the new mandate, which was unveiled earlier this month by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat.

The New York City Department of Healths most recent data on who is has received both vaccine doses. (New York City Department of Health)

One black woman, 33-year-old Diamond Wright of Queens Far Rockaway neighborhood, told Politico that despite the mandate, Personally, Im not gonna get it. She added: They came up with it kinda fast.

And Wright said that she isnt swayed by the citys $100 vaccination incentive, adding that a lot of people are scared.

Another black woman, 31-year-old Jazmine Shavuo-Goodwin, explained to a local news outlet why she doesnt want the COVID-19 shot. When the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) briefly paused using the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine earlier this year, it reaffirmed her hesitance, she said.

It reaffirmed my hesitance, it reaffirmed everything, Shavuo-Goodwin, a clinic manager from Brooklyns Red Hood neighborhood, explained. It just shows black lives dont matter. You can test that on us just like you tested syphilis on us.

The New York City Department of Healths most recent data on who has received one dose. (New York City Department of Health)

Added Knya White of Brookylns Canarsie: Theyre experimenting on us.

Earlier this week, de Blasios office announced that a few dozen more businesses would adopt the program.

Early adopters of the Key to NYC program are public health heroes. Their leadership and fast action sends a powerful message: New Yorkers will do everything in our power to keep each other safe and defeat COVID-19, the mayor said in a statement. Mass vaccination is the only way to stop the spreadand these businesses are giving New Yorkers more reasons than ever to protect themselves and their communities. Im proud to stand with them.

Last week, the city announced it would be rolling back the mandate, a number of restaurants and small business owners criticized the move. Some argued that it would be impossible to enforce.

Its stupid, because its not our job to police people, said a manager of Manhattan Italian restaurant who only gave his last name, Liu. Whether youre not vaccinated or youre vaccinated, youre still my customer, he said.

Businesses, he said, will probably ignore the rule en masse and said the government is to blame for why people arent getting the vaccine.

Instead, theyre forcing these ridiculous laws on us, he said.

COVID-19 is the illness caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.
Yang Chunhua holds a wreath commemorating her sister, Yang Chunling, who passed away in 2014 as a result of Beijing's persecution of Falun Gong, during an event in Washington on July 18, 2019. (The Epoch Times)

A Family Tragedy: Woman Loses Mother, Sister to Persecution

NEW YORKPersecuted by the Chinese regime for their faith, Yang Chunhuas family of four was torn apart, tormented, and brutalized.

Both her sister and her mother died from injuries and illnesses caused by the torture they were subjected to while imprisoned in China.

Yangs older sister Chunling, a translator, was part of an eight-person teamthat included her sister-in-law, a middle-school teacherwho hijacked a Chinese television broadcast in September 2005 to air a film about the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) violent rule over the country.

Within weeks, Chinese police arrested and handed heavy sentences to all of them.

In April 2014, more than a year after being released from prison, Yangs sister was found dead in a rented apartment. She had died alone on her 40th birthday.

Yang recalled her aged father, Yang Zonghui, breaking the news to her over the phone.

Your sisters gone, he said.

Her body was stiff by the time a friend managed to enter the room. She lived alone as her husband was still in prison at the time.

Yangs sister left nothing but a handwritten personal account of the torture and abuse she went through in prison, drafted two months before her death.

I Wish I Could fly to His Side

At the time of her sisters passing, Yang was thousands of miles away from her family home in Dalian, a city in northeastern China. She had left the country three years earlier and was at the time in Indonesia as a United Nations refugee. Yang now lives in the United States.

Like her sister and sister-in-law, and the other people behind the television interception, Yang is an adherent of Falun Gong, a spiritual practice that has been persecuted by the Chinese regime since 1999.

Falun Gong is a spiritual meditative discipline rooted in ancient Chinese traditions. It surged in popularity in the 1990s, drawing an estimated 70 million to 100 million adherents. The regime later deemed the practice a threat to its centralized control and launched an eradication campaign in 1999.

Even though she wanted to, Yang could not go home to help her aged father cope with the loss. If she did, Yang would be immediately captured and imprisoned, just like she had been multiple times prior to her escape, she said.

Ive been seeing you and your sister around me all the time, Yangs father told her over the call.

He had just held his older daughters funeral.

What do you mean? Yang asked.

I see the two of you playing by the river.

Yang and her sister loved to play by the river when they were little. Their father watched them from nearby. That was about four decades ago.

You two look so happy, he said.

Yangs father, who was in his seventies, fell ill shortly after the funeral and was diagnosed with liver cancer.

Years of harassment from the Chinese regime targeting his family traumatized him mentally and physically, Yang said.

For years, father carried heart medicine on him everywhere he went. Whenever he heard banging noises, hed panic, thinking it was the police knocking on the door, Yang wrote in a 2017 memoir published on Minghui.org, a U.S.-based website documenting the CCPs persecution of Falun Gong.

I wished I could grow a pair of wings and fly to his side. I wanted to take care of him as he did for me when I got sick as a child.

Memories of Persecution

Ten years before her sisters death, Yang lost her mother the same way.

Yangs mother Dong Baoxin also practiced Falun Gong. The three of them would go to local parks in Dalian to meditate together.

Dong, a retiree, was put into a conversion center that was part of a labor camp in 2001. Guards beat her and forbade her from going to sleep. A guard would stab her with a toothpick whenever she shut her eyelids, she later recounted to her family.

The torture went on for a month, and she refused to renounce her faith.

Were upgrading your meal, the prison guards told Dong one day, according to Yang. Then, they gave her poisoned meat.

When she swallowed, she struggled to breathe, dropped to the floor while foaming at her mouth, and fainted, Yang said.

Dong ended up in the emergency room and stayed in a critical condition even after cycles of stomach cleansing. Fearing legal repercussions, the guards let Yangs father bring her home after he paid money for a medical release, Yang said.

Yangs mother never fully recovered. She died at home in October 2004.

Neither of her daughters could be there to see her last momentthey were both detained at the time.

Hang in There

Two years before her mothers death, police broke into Yang and her sisters Dalian apartment where they printed flyers exposing the persecution against Falun Gong. Because Yang refused to comply with the arrest, one police officer shoved her down a flight of stairs, breaking her hips.

Yang was put into a detention center, where she was chained to a bed for 30 days and force-fed through a rubber tube plugged in through her nostril and extended into her stomach.

Every time the guards couldnt reach all the way in, they would pull the tube and stick it back in repeatedly, Yang wrote in her memoir. Blood spilled out of my nose, soaking my face and body.

One guard sent boiling porridge straight through the tube. Her stomach lining burned, and Yang threw up uncontrollably.

Yang was then transferred to a labor camp. For two years, she went through other forms of physical torture, solitary confinement in a bathroom that would last for days, and up to 15 hours per day of slave labor.

Yangs sister was also held at the same camp but in a separate cell.

I briefly saw her from afar a few times, Yang recalled. We werent allowed to talk or get close. We would silently raise our fists towards each other. It meant hang in there.

In the personal account Yangs sister left behind, she revealed some of the torture she had endured for not giving up her faith.

A guard once grabbed her hair and smashed her onto a wall. Half of her face swelled up. So you want to hang on to your truth? he yelled, the account said.

Guards also tied her legs with ropes and cuffed her to a heating pipe. She would stay in this position for days on end, half-unconscious as guards kicked and beat her. She left the labor camp after two years but was jailed again for taking part in the 2005 television interception.

Yangs sister developed multiple tumors in her breast from the beatings, Yang said. Despite the prison doctor advising that Yangs sister be promptly treated, the guards refused and kept her for the full 7-year sentence, she said.

Im the Only One Left

After Yang was released from the labor camp in 2004, she lost contact with her sister.

Because she refused to give up practicing Falun Gong, police would follow her around from time to time, Yang said. But immediately after the 2005 television interception, the surveillance spiked.

At least two tall plainclothes police tailed me wherever I went, Yang said.

She didnt want to lead them to her home, so she stayed at multiple hotels, crashed in friends rooms, and slept at train stations.

Yang eventually ran out of money but the police were still on her tail.

She reluctantly sought the help of her elderly father, who took her on a train to travel across China. They stayed in multiple provinces, relying on the help of distant relatives.

He dropped her off at a remote village in central China where the stalking finally stopped. He then went home by himself.

If it wasnt for my father protecting me, I wouldve been captured again, Yang said.

Yangs father passed away in 2015, succumbing to liver cancer.

Your father never closed his eyes in his final moments, a friend told Yang over the phone, she recalled. He said he wanted to see you.

My family, the four of us, we were happy together. Im the only one left now, wrote Yang in her memoir.

In 2016, Yang was resettled in the United States; she currently resides in New York state.

It feels good to be free, Yang said. Over the past years, she attended many human rights conferences, telling her story of persecution.

When I left China, I had one wish, Yang said. I wanted to become a voice for my fellow Falun Gong practitioners still persecuted. I want to lessen their pain.

I dont want to let my familys tragedy happen again.
Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott speaks to the media during a press conference at the conclusion of the G-20 summit in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)

Abbott Backs Calls for Royal Commission into Pandemic Response

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has joined calls for a royal commission into Australias response to the COVID-19 pandemic, warning that the country should not rest on its laurels and needs to be prepared for future pandemics.

I do hope that at the end of this process, rather than just saying, Thank God thats over, and just wanting to forget about it. There will be a serious inquiry, a royal commission, if you like, at the national level to look long and hard at what we did right, the former prime minister told the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) Australias Heartland with Tony Abbott podcast.

Because there will be another pandemic. It might be in a year. It might be in a decade; it might be in a century. But there will be another pandemic and its important that our successes have the benefit of our considered reflections on whats gone right and whats gone wrong, he said.

The comments from Abbott come after Labor Party members and Independent Senator Rex Patrick have also called for a royal commission.

We want a bipartisan, fully fledged, fair dinkum royal commission so that all the people who have suffered during these crises can see everything out there on the table, Labor National President and former Treasurer Wayne Swan told the Nine Network.

Abbott, meanwhile, also acknowledged the challenge Australian leaders faced in dealing with the pandemic, particularly with health advice evolving from day to day.

Theres a sense in which theyre damned if they do and theyre damned if they dont, he said. And while as a former health minister I tended to put our medical experts on a bit of a pedestal, theyre not infallible.

Certainly, over the course of this whole pandemic, the science has shifted from day to day, and its been different from state to state, he added.

Thats why it would have been better for all of us, if there had been more transparency and if it had been published at the time. Now all of this is in a sense dirty water under the bridge, it is what it is, we are where we are.

Senator Rex Patrick has recently won an appeal for Australias national cabinet to release documents underpinning its decision-making around the pandemic.

The national cabinet was formed in March 2020 and comprises the prime minister as well as the state and territory leaders. Its main aim was to coordinate the nations response to COVID-19.

Abbott conceded that segments of the Australian population were suffering under prolonged and on-and-off againlockdowns.

It does grate sometimes when people whose own jobs are entirely secure tell people in insecure jobs that for their own good that their jobs have got to become even less secure, he said.

We run risks all the time. Every time we get in the car, were running a risk. Every time we get on our bike, were running a risk. Every time we go out for a surf, were running a risk, he said.

There have been many times over the last 18 months when Ive wondered whether we have in fact got that balance right, safety first is sometimes a pretty dispiriting dictum.
Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett stands during a group photo of the Justices at the Supreme Court in Washington on April 23, 2021. (Erin Schaff/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Amy Coney Barrett Refuses to Block Indiana Universitys Vaccine Mandate

Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett on Thursday declined to block Indiana Universitys (IU) COVID-19 vaccine requirement which takes full effect this fall, offering no explanation for her decision.

Barrett, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, made the decision alone in response to an emergency request from eight IU students who sued the school in June. The students argued that the inoculation requirement would violate their constitutional rights by forcing them to receive unwanted medical treatment.

The eight students filed a motion for emergency relief following a lower courts decision last week that sided with the universitys decision to require all students returning to campus on Aug. 23 to get vaccinated or else have a religious exemption or a medical condition.

The university on May 21 informed all students that failure to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by the fall semester will result in students class registrations being canceled and their university-issued IDs terminated, and they will be prohibited from any on-campus activity.

Those who are exempted from the vaccine are required to get tested for COVID-19 twice a week and wear masks, IU said.

The students in court filings argued that they have a constitutional right to bodily integrity, autonomy, and of medical treatment choice in the context of a vaccination mandate.

Indiana University did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine at the OSU Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, U.S. March 2, 2021. (Reuters/Gaelen Morse/File Photo)

More than 80 percent of IU students have reported receiving at least one dose of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus vaccine, IU spokesman Chuck Carney told The Associated Press last week.

The decision comes as a growing number of schools and employers are mandating vaccinations, responding to a surge in cases of the more contagious Delta variant of the CCP virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in an Aug. 6 update that new data on the Delta variant shows that no vaccine is 100 percent effective as fully vaccinated people are still capable of spreading the virus to others, although vaccinated people appear to be infectious for a shorter period.

The agency added that breakthrough infections of the Delta variant seems to produce the same high amount of virus in both unvaccinated and fully vaccinated people, bringing into question whether vaccine mandates are justifiable given the implications for government infringement on individual liberties.

The CDC didnt respond to a request for comment on the matter.

James Bopp, a lawyer for the students, told several news outlets that they are disappointed that Justice Barrett refused to intervene. He added that the students will continue to challenge the vaccine requirement at lower courts.

IU students are adults entitled to make medical treatment decisions for themselves, unless IU can prove in court that their COVID vaccine mandate is justified, which they have not done and that the courts have not required them to do, the attorney said.
Max Zito, age 13, is inoculated at Hartford Healthcares mass vaccination center at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Connecticut on May 13, 2021. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)

As Vaccine Mandates Become a Reality, a North Carolina Senator Attempts to Limit Overreach

As local school boards across the country vote on mask mandates for students, a bill that would require children to get parental consent before getting the vaccine has been brought before North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper.

Republican state Sen. Joyce Krawiec, who sponsored House Bill 96, told The Epoch Times that she will also be revisiting another bill that could put a 30-day expiration date on school mask mandates.

The parental consent bill passed unanimously in the North Carolina Senate before landing on Coopers desk on Aug. 10, according to Krawiec.

Cooper has 10 days to sign or veto the bill.

Regarding the incentive of the bill, Krawiec told The Epoch Times that she was surprised to discover that children 12 to 17 could get the COVID-19 vaccinewhich has not yet been granted full approval by the Food and Drug Administrationwithout the consent of a parent or legal guardian.

One of my constituents called to make me aware that his child was offered the vaccine without his consent, and I was shocked, Krawiec said. I thought, this cant be. At first, I told my constituent, I dont think thats accurate, but Ill get back with you.

As it turned out, she said, the constituent was correct.

According to the bill, health care providers must obtain written consent from a parent or legal guardian prior to administering any vaccine that has been granted emergency use authorization and is not yet fully approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration to an individual under 18 years of age.

This language was initially placed in the Free the Smiles Act, or Senate Bill 173, which gives local school boards the authority to mandate masks or leave them optional.

In July, Cooper gave a press conference stating that the authority of mask mandates would be left up to the local school boards, which Krawiec said made the bill unnecessary, so she moved the parental consent language over to another general bill that prevents pharmacists from administering injectable drugs.

I was just glad to make sure we had that parental consent piece in there, Krawiec said. That was very important to me.

Copper has had several programs offering scholarships to youth who took the vaccine.

One of the programs involved North Carolinians aged 1217 to be eligible for a $125,000 college scholarship at a school of their choice if they received at least one shot.

Thats a real enticement for children to volunteer without their parents even having to know about it, Krawiec said.

As of Aug. 12, among the 115 school districts in North Carolina, 55 are requiring masks, while 54 have left it optional, according to the North Carolina School Board Association.

Krawiecs update to Senate Bill 173 would require school boards to review the mask mandate after 30 days.

This requirement was triggered by the Wake County School Boards recent vote to mandate masks throughout winter and the first half of next year.

Im looking at revisiting the bill to make sure that they cant run the mandate on into perpetuity without having to answer to somebody, Krawiec said.
A cave lion cub named Sparta, which was found preserved in Siberia's permafrost, is seen in this photo taken in Yakutsk, Russia, in 2020. (Valery Plotnikov/Reuters)

Cave Lion Cub Found in Siberian Permafrost Is 28,000 Years Old

YAKUTSK, RussiaScientists have said that an astonishingly well-preserved cave lion cub found in Siberias permafrost lived 28,000 years ago and may even still have traces of its mothers milk in it.

The female cub, named Sparta, was found at the Semyuelyakh River in Russias Yakutia region in 2018 and a second lion cub called Boris was found the year before, according to a study published in the Quaternary journal.

The cubs were found 15 meters (49 feet) apart, but were born thousands of years apart. Boris, a male cub, lived around 43,448 years ago, the study said.

A cave lion cub named Boris, which was found preserved in Siberias permafrost, is seen in this photo taken in Yakutsk, Russia, in 2020. (Innokenty Pavlov/Reuters)

The two cubs aged 12 months were found by mammoth tusk collectors. Two other lion cubs named Uyan and Dina have also been found in the region in recent years.

Cave lions have been extinct for thousands of years.

Valery Plotnikov, one of the studys authors, told Reuters in the regional capital Yakutsk that Sparta was so well preserved that it still had its fur, internal organs, and skeleton.

The find itself is unique; there was no any other such find in Yakutia, he said.

Maybe, we hope, some disintegrated parts of the mothers milk (remain intact). Because if we have that, we can understand what its mothers diet was, he said.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom attends press conference for the official reopening of the state of California at Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, Calif., on June 15, 2021. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Biden Backs California Gov. Newsom as Recall Election Looms

President Joe Biden on Thursday publicly backed California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is in danger of being recalled next month.

Newsom is leading California through unprecedented criseshes a key partner in fighting the pandemic and helping build our economy back better, Biden said of his fellow Democrat in a statement.

To keep him on the job, registered voters should vote no on the recall election by 9/14 and keep California moving forward, Biden added.

Newsom shared the statement on social media, telling Biden he was grateful for the support.

Theres simply too much at stakevote NO on September 14th to reject this Republican led recall, the first-term governor said.

The endorsement came after White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters in Washington that Biden isnt following the recall particularly close.

But we certainly support Gov. Newsom and have worked with him on a range of key issues, whether its the pandemic, addressing wildfires, growing the economy, and look forward to continuing to do so, she said.

Some Republicans panned Bidens endorsement.

Gavin Newsom keeps turning to Washington, D.C. politics whenever hes in trouble, but they cant save him from this recall, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer said.

Newsom has made our state unaffordable for middle class families, unsafe for average people to safely walk the streets, and unrecognizable from the Golden State we all know and love, he added.

Faulconer is one of the Republican candidates who voters could choose to replace Newsom if he is removed from office next month.

Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, a Republican, speaks during a news conference in the San Pedro section of Los Angeles on Feb. 2, 2021. (Jae C. Hong, File/AP Photo)

Voters will head to the polls after a recall campaign gathered enough signatures to trigger a recall election.

Critics say Newsoms policies have contributed to rising crime and an increase in homelessness in the state.

They also say the harsh measures he imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as forcing the shutdown of some businesses, was an overreach.

High unemployment, surging crime, increasing unaffordability. In Gavin Newsoms California, the California Dream doesnt exist, Jessica Millan Patterson, the California Republican Partys chairwoman, said on Thursday.

Voters will be faced with two questions on the ballot. First, they answer whether Newsom should be recalled. Then, they pick who would replace him if he is booted from his post.

The list of candidates does not include any prominent Democrats. A slew of notable Republicans, including former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and political commentator Larry Elder, an EpochTV host, are on the list.

Elder leads in recent polls, but the California GOP declined to endorse a candidate in a recent meeting.

Newsom, a former mayor of San Francisco, trounced Republican John Cox in 2018, bringing in nearly 62 percent of the vote.

But even some Democrats have grown weary of his missteps, such as dining in an enclosed tent while urging Californians to refrain from going out during one of the most challenging periods of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Six percent of Democrat likely voters told pollsters with the University of California, Berkeleys Institute of Governmental Studies last month that they plan to vote yes on the recall question. Ninety-five percent of Republicans and about 57 percent of others said they plan to recall Newsom.

California hasnt had a Republican governor since 2011, when Arnold Schwarzenegger left office due to term limits.

Schwarzenegger first became governor after voters chose him to replace Gray Davis, a Democrat they recalled.
Bodycam Shows Tennessee Police Officer Run Into Explosive House Fire to Rescue Disabled Woman

A house fire that caused an explosion in a home in Columbia, Tennessee, July 9 led to the heroic rescue of a disabled woman who was still inside.

Bodycam footage from a Columbia Police Department officer who was the first to respond shows an area in Riverside engulfed in smoke as he pulled up to the scene.

Corporal Allan Ervin stepped out of his vehicle just as a massive explosion in the garage rocked the house, sending debris flying through the air and across the front lawn.

(Courtesy of Columbia Police Department)

As I approached the scene, I am trying to think two or three steps ahead, Erwin told The Daily Herald.

He had been driving along Nashville Highway when he got the call and immediately called for support when he saw a plume of smoke over the neighborhood.

The officer is seen sprinting toward the house without hesitation, approaching its occupants who are standing outside in front. A man is seen pointing in the direction of the front door.

A woman, who is disabled, was still inside as the flames continued to spread.

Officer Ervin reportedly ran inside the burning house, grabbed the woman, and brought her out of the inferno to safety. Soon, flames engulfed the house. Firefighters reported multiple explosions from medical oxygen tanks, according to The Daily Herald.

Thankfully, all survived the blaze.

Timing was very much on my side that day, Ervin said.

He added, We know the risks going in. In that moment, it is all about controlled chaos. That day the goal was to get everybody out, and we did it. I would depend on all the officers to do the same. This is a great police department here in Columbia.

Due to the graphic nature of the womans condition during the rescue, that part of the video was omitted when it was released by the Columbia Police Department on their Facebook page.

She was airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, where she was in critical condition, suffering from smoke inhalation and burns.

The fire investigators reportedly have not ruled out improperly discarded smoking materials, but the fire was deemed accidental.

Officer Ervin, who has served in the police force for the past 12 years, after leaving the U.S. Army, credits teamwork for the successful response.

Because of everybodys reaction and treatment of the situation, all were able to come out alive, he said.

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter
Emily Nelson picks her son Ezra up from the Hewes Middle School principal's office in Santa Ana, Calif., on Aug. 2, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

California Student Kicked Out of School for Not Wearing Mask

A middle school in Santa Ana, California was accused of forcing a special needs student to stay outside for hours in 90-degree weather after being kicked out for not wearing a mask.

Ezra Nelsons first day of school at Hewes Middle School in the Tustin Unified School District on Aug. 12 was off to a smooth start until he arrived maskless to choir class. After being asked to put one on, Ezra politely declined, telling his teacher he preferred not to.

His mother Emily Nelson said Ezra should have been exempt from wearing a mask since he had a doctors note and a 504 plan, which is a blueprint developed by the school to support students with disabilities.

Ezra was escorted to the front office where he reportedly waited outside for instructions. This would be the first of nearly six hours that he waited outside to be let back in.

Ezra Nelson stands in front of Hewes Middle School in Santa Ana, Calif., on Aug. 2, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

It was around 8:40 a.m. when Nelson received a call from the vice principal recommending Ezra be taken home.

We had a long conversation because I was trying to fight for his rights and remind them that he has a 504, he has a note from the doctor, and he needs to be in class, Nelson told The Epoch Times.

He has a right to be at school, free and fair education. Hes going to stay here.

Nelson said she told the school they couldnt discriminate against her son for his medical condition, but school officials told her that all students must abide by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidelines.

Rather than take her son home, Nelson instructed him to go back to class. However, the schools office doors were locked, and when Nelson called back to request the whereabouts of her son, she was told that he was out front. The doors were locked, but they could see him through the front window.

Children walk toward Orange County Sheriffs Department vehicles as they depart Hewes Middle School in Santa Ana, Calif., on Aug. 2, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

It wasnt long until the word got out about the incident, and dozens of individuals arrived at the school in support of the middle schooler and his mom at around 11 a.m.

Protestors arrived from all over Orange County and Los Angeles. Along the sidewalks, voices chanted Ezra and Let them breathe.

A coronavirus protestor stands in front of Hewes Middle School in Santa Ana, Calif., on Aug. 2, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

In the mid-afternoon, around 200 protesters filled the pavement outside, Nelson said.

Meanwhile, Ezra wept and waited in the heat until the final school bell rang.

While Ezra was met with an abundance of support, opposers of the protest were disappointed in the demonstration occurring outside the middle school.

The Epoch Times overheard a parent saying she was upset her child had to witness and pass by demonstrators.

Under CDPH mask guidelines for K12 schools, masks must be worn indoors, and exemptions cover individuals with medical conditions, mental health conditions, or disabilities.

The Epoch Times reached out to Hewes Middle School for comment but didnt hear back by press deadline.
The Pennsylvania State Capitol is seen in Harrisburg, Pa., on Dec. 14, 2020. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Census: Pennsylvania Loses Congressional Seat, Becomes More Diverse

Pennsylvania lawmakers will have some demographic changes to consider as they redraw the legislative and congressional district lines this year.

The population is moving, and Pennsylvania is more racially diverse than it was a decade ago, data released Thursday from the U.S. Census Bureau show.

Of Pennsylvanias 13 million people, 75 percent are white, compared to 2010 when 81.9 percent of Pennsylvanias population was counted as white.

The black or African American population is currently 10.9 percent, virtually unchanged from 2010s count of 10.8 percent.

The Asian population is 3.9 percent, showing growth compared to 2010 when 2.7 percent of Pennsylvanias population was Asian.

Those classified as some other race alone make up 3.9 percent of the population compared to 2.4 percent in 2010.

Those identifying as two races of more are now 6 percent of Pennsylvanias population according to the new numbers, a major growth compared to 1.9 percent in 2010.

In total, those with Hispanic origins make up 8.1 percent of the current population.

While population decreased in western and northern Pennsylvania, southeast Pennsylvania saw population growth, with Cumberland County showing 10.2 percent growth over the decade, the largest percentage in the state. Susquehanna County showed the greatest population decline, losing 11.4 percent of its population.

Pennsylvanias population is growing more slowly (up 2.4 percent) compared to other states, so it loses one congressional district and will have just 17 U.S. representatives. In 1910, Pennsylvania had 36 congressional seats but has lost representation every decade since then. Pennsylvania is one of seven states losing one seat.

Texas, (population up 18.9 percent) gains two seats and will have 38 House representatives; California, (up 6.1 percent) lost one seat but still has 52 representatives, the most of any state.

The Census Bureau is required to provide states with detailed small area geography data which they use to conduct legislative redistricting. This informs the redistricting that happens every 10 years.

Pennsylvanias State Government Committee will redraw the federal congressional lines; the Legislative Reapportionment Commission draws the lines for state senators and representatives. This commission is hosting public hearings to get input from voters about where the lines should be drawn.

The districts lines can be controversial when mapmakers use demographics to predict which voters are likely to support one party over another, and slice municipalities into unnatural shapes to get a majority of desired voters.

In February 2018, under order of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and as part of a lawsuit brought by the League of Women Voters and individual voters, the lines were unexpectedly redrawn. The lawsuit complained Pennsylvanias 2011-drawn congressional map was unfairly gerrymandered, fracturing counties and municipalities into many pieces to create districts with a minority of Democratic voters and favoring Republicans.

Leadership in the legislatures majority party draws proposed congressional maps that become a bill to be passed by the state House and Senate and signed by the governor. In 2011, the map was passed in about a week by the then Republican-led legislature and governor.

Pennsylvanias current Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf would likely veto any map he deems unfair.
Military vehicles carrying DF-5B intercontinental ballistic missiles participate in a military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Oct. 1, 2019. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinas Breathtaking Pace in Military Modernization Poses Serious Threat to US, Admiral Says

The commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, which oversees the countrys nuclear arsenal, has given a dire warning about Chinas rapidly increasing military capability.

We are witnessing a strategic breakout by China. The explosive growth and modernization of its nuclear and conventional forces can only be what I describe as breathtaking, Adm. Charles Richard said on Aug. 12. Business as usual will not work.

Make no mistake; Chinas strategic breakout is cause for action.

Richard made the remark during a speech at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium in Alabama on Aug. 12. He emphasized that he didnt use the term strategic breakout lightly.

He cautioned against simply judging Beijings capability based on the difference in nuclear stockpile size between China and the United States. It also doesnt matter why the Chinese regime is modernizing its forces, he added.

What matters is they are building the capability to execute any plausible nuclear employment strategy, the last brick in the wall of a military capable of coercion, Richard said.

Some of Chinas growing nuclear and missile capacity includes intermediate-range ballistic missiles, road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), and submarine-launched nuclear ballistic missiles, according to Richard. Additionally, he also warned about Chinas hypersonic missiles, and how the current U.S. defense system may not be sufficient to detect and track them.

In 2019, the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] test-launched more ballistic missiles than the rest of the world combined, he said.

Beijings military build-up also includes the construction of over 200 new ICBM silos, Richard said, pointing to discoveries made by the Federation of American Scientists and the California-based James Martin Center through commercial satellite images in recent months. The new silos are being built at two separate fields in Chinas far-western region of Xinjiang and the neighboring Gansu Province.

China has an active nuclear weapons testing program, Richard said, pointing to a new tunnel being built at Chinas nuclear testing site known as Lop Nur, which is in southern Xinjiang.

Construction of the new tunnel was reported by NPR on July 30, based on satellite-image analysis done by the Colorado-based geospatial research firm AllSource Analysis.

You add all this up and what you get is something that is inconsistent with a minimum deterrence posture, Richard said, referring to Chinas decades-old public stance on keeping its nuclear stockpile to the minimum level necessary to deter nuclear threats.

Fu Cong, director-general of the Department of Arms Control at Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, repeated the regimes claims about its commitment to minimum deterrence during the annual EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Conference last November.

However, the CCPs actions have long belied a posture more aggressive than their official policy, Richard said.

Youve got to look at what they do, not what they say, he said. The breathtaking growth in strategic nuclear capability enables China to change their posture and their strategy.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken offered a similar conclusion early this month, when he said the Chinese regime has deviated from its own policy, given the rapid growth of its nuclear arsenal.

On Aug. 7, a day after Blinken expressed his concerns, Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of Chinas hawkish state-run media Global Times, wrote that Beijings minimum deterrence was now different from the past because of what he perceived strategic threat from the United States.

The stronger Chinas nuclear forces are, the more it is guaranteed that the U.S. will not do something silly, Hu wrote.

Now, the United States faces an unprecedented challenge posed by Russia and China, Richard said.

For the first time in our nations history, we are facing two peer nuclear-capable potential adversaries at the same time, who have to be deterred differently, he said, adding that the two nations wish to change the world order.

To deter the threats posed by Russia and China, Richard said the United States must continue to modernize its nuclear force, bolster its missile defense system, and put effort into developing advanced weapons such as high-energy lasers.

Our current and planned terrestrial-based radar architecture limits our capability to fully achieve early warning, he said.

We need a 21st-century warning or were going to have to go put our forces in a different posture to account for our lack of warning.
A worker receives a COVID-19 test at the dining hall of a car parts factory in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province on Aug. 4, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinas Widespread COVID-19 Testing Leads to New Infections

The Chinese regimes widespread infection testing has led to two confirmed instances of people further spreading the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus, also known as novel coronavirus, which can cause COVID-19.

State media cited a government staff member who worked at a test site in Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province, as a vector for at least 24 infections. Reports suggest he contracted the CCP virus from a resident who visited the test site and was later diagnosed with COVID-19.

A similar scenario happened in Nanjing, where a 2-year-old boy was infected at a test site close to his home. In Zhangjiajie city in Hunan Province, five people visited the same test site on Aug. 5 and were diagnosed on Aug. 8.

To curb the outbreak, the Chinese regime ordered all the residents in the city to be tested at specific sites at a given time. This forced hundreds of residents to crowd together for the test.

The Chinese regime ordered on Feb. 7 that any city with a population over five million should finish testing in three to five days. Cities with less than five million residents have to finish the test within two days.

Yangzhou has a population of 4.56 million. It operated 414 test sites from Aug. 7 to 9. The regime ordered a one-meter (3.28 feet) social distance at the test site, but residents couldnt maintain the distance due to limited space.

People queue to get tested for COVID-19 at a test site in Beijing, China on Aug. 5, 2021. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images)

One Spreads Virus to 24

A man named Wang Qiang, 58, worked at the test site at Union Village in Wantou Town of Yangzhou City as a staff member from July 29 to July 31.

Chinese state-run Health Times reported that Wang spread the virus to 23 other people on Aug. 8. On the following day, the number was increased to 24, according to state-run media The Paper.

Wang was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Aug. 1 and then was treated at Yangzhou No. 3 Hospital.

Two staff who worked at the test site and 22 residents who were tested at the test site were diagnosed with COVID-19. The regime said all the individuals contracted the virus from Wang.

The two staff were diagnosed with the COVID-19 on July 31. They worked at the test site at the same period as Wang.

The 22 residents were diagnosed from Aug. 3 to Aug. 7, their ages range from 5 to 80-years-old.

Reports did not include information on how Wang contracted the virus.
Shari DiBrito, the New Jersey regional director for the nonprofit Lasagna Love, holds a lasagna on May 1, 2021, at her niece's house in Wayne, N.J. The grassroots nonprofit organization offering Americans free lasagnas recently surpassed its 100,000 lasagna delivery mark. (Jason Adam Photography via AP)

Comfort Food: Nonprofit Gives Americans 100K Free Lasagnas

On a recent summer morning, Lynn Hirsch was determined as she packed the back of her gray SUV with 20 aluminum pans of lasagna. The retiree was on a mission: Drive nearly 70 miles from her suburb of Atlanta to two rural Georgia towns and get the hearty dishes into the hands of people who needed them.

Its an increasingly typical mission for volunteers of Lasagna Lovea grassroots nonprofit organization of 33,000 people across the country who are sharing free lasagnas with Americans struggling with financial and other challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The group is one of many charitable initiatives launched during the pandemic to help families counter hunger, and pay for housing costs and other expenses.

In an average week, 69-year-old Hirsch makes and delivers four lasagnas near her Alpharetta, Georgia home. But this time, she wanted to do something differenthelp feed those in the Georgia cities of Chatsworth and Dalton who had been requesting meals but couldnt get them because of a lack of volunteer chefs in their areas. Frustrated by the need, Hirsch and other chefs volunteered to make the meals, which, in part, helped the nonprofit recently surpass its 100,000 lasagna delivery mark.

Meredith Niles, a professor at the University of Vermont whos been researching the pandemics impact on food insecurity, says the nonprofit is an amazing example of the generosity and ingenuity that many people have shown to help others during the pandemic. Many of the lasagna meals have provided comfort to Americans facing health challenges, or loneliness during the pandemic. Others were given to parents stressed about managing their childrens schooling from home, or Americans grieving the death of a loved one from the coronavirus.

If a family feels like they have a need, then we supply a meal, said Hirsch, who also serves as Lasagna Loves outreach leader for Georgia and Mississippi. Theres no questions asked, no judgements made.

Although more Americans are getting vaccinated and heading back to work, the nonprofit isnt letting up on its mission of offering a comforting plate of lasagna. Its transitioning from being COVID-minded to kindness-minded, the organizations leaders say, and aiming to get additional volunteers so more families can get home-cooked meals.

Weve got a lot of people who are going back to work, so they may not need financial assistance, said Shari DiBrito, Lasagna Loves New Jersey regional director. But, now theyre overloaded because theyre back to work. Those people just need kindness. They just need a helping hand.

Let us help you, she added. Let us bring you a lasagna.

Grassroots Kindness

Lasagna Loves roots trace back to April 2020 in San Diego, California. Rhiannon Menn, a 38-year-old mother of three who owns a design and build company, was looking for ways to help her community when the pandemic brought her familys business to a standstill. There werent many in-person volunteering options, so she made seven trays of lasagna and asked on a local Facebook moms group if anybody wanted a meal.

Seven families accepted her offer, and others reached out to ask how they could help. That month, 1- people signed up to become volunteers, and then 50 more followed as word spread on social media. By October, Lasagna Love had amassed 500 volunteersoriginally called Lasagna Mamas and Papasin nearly a dozen states.

Menn, who now lives in Kihei, Hawaii, says the organization went viral completely by accident.

Once a volunteer signs up, they get matched with someone in their area requesting lasagna, including vegan or dairy-free versions of the dish. Menn had settled on the Italian dish because several pans could be made at once in an assembly-line style and the ingredients were easily available. Each volunteer has their own recipe, though, some have begun to offer other meals, like Southern creole dishes, as well as chicken, rice, and beans.

It just goes to show there were so many people in the beginning who really, really wanted to help their neighbors, and didnt know how to do it, and didnt know how to do it safely, Menn said. And they saw this, and latched on to Lasagna Love as an opportunity to really impact their communities in a meaningful way.

Lasagna Love registered as a nonprofit in September. Today, the group has volunteers in every state in the country, and its getting ready to launch in Canada and Australia, said Andria Larson, the nonprofits chief of staff.

Since September, it has received about $2 million in in-kind contributions, including from companies like Pastene and Raos Homemade, who each donated about 1,000 boxes of lasagna noodles, canned tomatoes, or jars of tomato sauce to volunteers at various events in late July. As a celebration of the 100,000th delivery milestone, Raos will give each chef across the country a free jar of tomato sauce, Menn said.

The group has also raked in over $200,000 in direct donations, allowing them to reimburse some volunteer chefs for cooking expenses and hire staff, said Menn. Many volunteers are supported by donations from family and friends, or pay for the meals themselves.

The lasagnas have also gone to Americans struggling with challenges unrelated to the pandemic. In Reston, Virginia, Jan Delucien, who has suffered from traumatic brain injury since accidentally slamming her head on her car door four years ago, requested her first lasagna in July after hearing about it in her brain support group meetings. Unable to work, Delucien, 64, has relied on food deliveries from her local Meals on Wheels. The income she receives from social security disability doesnt allow her to buy much else, Delucien says, so seeing a smiling volunteer with a warm pan of lasagna that tasted good meant much more to her than just a meal.

It really was a gift of love, Delucien said, speaking through tears. It reminded me regardless of fate or anything else, that God is looking out for me. And I believe he uses people to be angels for us. I felt remembered.

One meal isnt going to help a budget, she added. But one special meal can make you feel like youre not on a budget.

Spreading the Love

Despite its successes, Lasagna Love is also facing some challenges. Some rural areas and concentrated metro areas have more food requests than chefs, making it difficult for some families to access the meals. This includes areas like northwest Georgia and the Bronx in New York City.

By contrast, chefs outnumber food requests in more affluent suburban areas, which leaves some volunteers with nothing to do. Having chefs sitting idle is not an accomplishment because we know there are families out there, DiBrito said, We beg people to help us spread the word.

As word has continued to spread, some requests have also come from Americans who arent struggling, but simply just want lasagna. For DiBrito, those are some of her favorite requests.

Thats my kind of person, she said. [They] get it about the program. Its for anyone.

By Haleluya Hadero
Jaime and Ryan Rose with their older daughter Armani and baby Ariana whose routine bruising from a breech birth prompted Child Protection Services to take their children. Photo taken August 2021. (Photo courtesy of Jaimie and Ryan Rose)

CPS Took Their Newborn Following Normal Bruising After a Breech Birth, Now the Parents Are Speaking Out

When Jaimie Rose and her husband Ryan found out they were expecting their second child in January of 2020, they decided to move from Georgia to Florida. Then, before the first trimester was over, COVID hit.

I started to panic, Jaimie, 33, remembers. How are we going to have a birth in the hospital?

The Roses had no family in Florida and a two-year-old with developmental delays. Pandemic-imposed hospital restrictions combined with a bad birthing experience in the hospital with her second born (Jaimie also has an older daughter from a previous relationship) led the Roses to explore the option of out-of-hospital birth. Through their spiritual community they found a midwife they liked and trusted and a doula to assist them. They decided to have the baby at a freestanding birth center, Palms Birth House, in Delray Beach, in a home-like setting.

The birth house was about a 5-hour drive from the RV park where the Roses lived in Lake City. So the family usually stayed in a nearby hotel when they went for monthly prenatal visits. About a week before the babys due date, they rented a room at the Ramada Inn in West Palm Beach so they wouldnt have to make the drive when Jaimie went into labor.

A Drained Battery With No Charger In Sight

Jaimie says she was excited to have an out of hospital birth. But she was also nervous. The whole proposition felt a little scary, she explains. Things happened quickly: Jaimies water broke at 2:00 a.m. at the hotel and she was already five or six centimeters dilated when she, Ryan, and Armani got to the Palms Birth House.

The midwife they had hired, Mirlande Mimi Casseus, rented space from the Palms. Casseus, two assistants, and a doula met the Roses there. At a 36-week ultrasound the baby was head down. But when Casseus examined Jaimie, who was in active labor, she realized the baby was presenting buttocks first.

Florida regulations require midwives to consult with a doctor who has hospital privileges or transfer care if a baby is breech at term. Jaimie remembers that her midwife asked her and Ryan if they still felt comfortable delivering the baby with her. Ryan nodded and Jaime said yes.

But the labor wasnt easy. Jaimie had planned to labor in the birthing pool but the minute she got in the water she felt so uncomfortable she asked her birth team to help her out. She was encouraged to try sitting on the toilet or the birthing stool during contractions, but that felt excruciating too. In fact, Jaimie says, the only position that wasnt unbearable was when she was flat on her back with her legs up, a position favored by hospital obstetricians but one that makes it harder to deliver since gravity is working against you.

It was exhausting. I was like a drained battery with no charger in sight, Jaimie says. When the babys butt down its like trying to push out mush!

Her labor lasted about eight hours. She pushed for almost two. And then, finally, the Roses baby girl, weighing 8 lbs. 9 ounces, was born, butt first.

Doctors Dont Know How to Deliver Breech Babies

A breech baby is a baby whose bottom halfrump, foot, or feetengages in the birth canal and emerges first. Though most babies move to a head-down position before labor begins, and some will even turn head down during labor, about 3 to 4 percent of babies will be breech at term.

Since 2001, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has recommended that breech babies be born via Cesarean. ACOG is a professional association for doctors who specialize in obstetrics and gynecology in the United States. In the Frequently Asked Questions section of their website, ACOG asserts that vaginal breech birth carries a higher risk of complications than planned Cesarean birth.

However, ACOGs most recent position statement, updated in 2018, states that planned vaginal birth of a breech baby may be reasonable under hospital-specific protocol guidelines

In the same committee opinion, ACOG points out that the number of practitioners with the skills and experience to perform vaginal breech delivery has decreased.

In other words, parents whose babies are presenting breech and want to deliver vaginally may have a hard time finding a doctor with the requisite experience.

That, says Stuart Fischbein, M.D., a member of ACOG and an obstetrician with 35 years of experience, is the real problem. Fischbein, who is based in Southern California, has delivered over two hundred breech babies vaginally.

The chance of not having a stillbirth with a term vaginal breech baby is 99.8 percentin skilled hands, Fischbein insists. But skilled hands are hard to find. Its easier, more lucrative, and more expedient for the hospitals to perform C-sections. Thats a fact. So most of these women are sectioned.

Kristine Lauria, a midwife based in Michigan, agrees. Lauria works for Doctors Without Borders, going to some of the worlds most remote places to provide care for women of childbearing age. She specializes in non-medicated, out-of-hospital breech birth: She has 32 years of experience and has delivered nearly 5,500 babies, 473 of which were born breech.

Everybody has the right to choose where they want to have their baby, but the hospitals dont see it that way, Lauria says. Then, when pregnant women go outside the hospital systembecause the hospital didnt give them a choicetheyre penalized and discriminated against.

Lauria wasnt present at the birth. Her involvement came later when the Roses faced the nightmare to come.

Exhilarated, But Not For Long

I did it! Jaimie cried triumphantly the moment her daughter was born. But her exhilaration was short-lived. Ariana Stella was gray-blue, limp, and silent. The midwife took the newborn to resuscitate her. She pinked up and was breathing on her own soon after. But Jaimie felt like Ariana was too quiet, especially compared to her two other newborns. And she noticed that her babys upper lip and forehead looked discolored.

On reviewing all of the midwifery and hospital records, Lauria concluded that Ariana had a condition called newborn transient peripheral cyanosis, which is a bluish discoloration on parts of the skin. Doctors say its usually benign and short-lived and Casseus, the Roses midwife, assured them the baby was fine. But Jaimie felt frightened. She wanted to go to the hospital, just to make sure nothing was wrong. Because breech birth is out of the scope of practice for Florida midwives, Casseus asked the Roses to say they had the baby in their hotel room. Then, approximately five hours after the birth, they drove to St. Marys Medical Center in West Palm Beach, stopping on the way to get something to eat and to fill up the car with gas.

It was a decision, Jaimie says, she will regret for the rest of her life.

Jaimie wasnt planning to nurse and the baby hadnt yet taken a bottle. Jaimie begged the nurses to let her hold her baby or at least stay by her side. But not long after they got to the hospital, Jaimie and Ariana were separated. The nurses told Jaimie that Ariana needed to stay under the warming lights and would be transferred to the NICU when a space opened up. Jaimie was taken upstairs in a wheelchair. She would not see her baby in person or hold her again for over five months.

Jaimie remembers the nurses talking to each other in a corner of the room and turning to look at her. And then the hospital called the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Court documents reveal that the hospital staff believed Ariana had been abused. They noticed bruising on one of Arianas buttocks and on one labia, a normal occurrence during breech birth.

A detective and two case workers from DCF crowded into Jaimies hospital room. Jaimie says that Kara Faso, senior child protective investigator, informed herseveral timesthat someone had hurt the baby.

Documents reveal that DCF believed the couple may have burned their newborn on a hotplate and sexually assaulted her.

From the moment she talked to me she was hostile, Jaimie remembers. She had her arms crossed. She kept leaving the room and storming back in. Miss Rose, somebody hurt your baby and I need you to tell me who!

Medical Discrimination?

Even though she was in a lot of pain and couldnt go to the bathroom without assistance, Jaimie was told she looked too good to have just had a baby.

At the same time, another investigator, identified as CPI Gedeon in the records, went to the hotel where Ryan was taking care of Armani. The investigator found no signs of physical abuse on Armani. He asked Ryan to submit to a drug test. Ryan readily agreed. The test came back negative. But DCF called the police, told Ryan to pack some things for Armani, and took her into state custody.

Two weeks later DCF would court-order both parents to undergo DNA testing in order to prove the newborn was theirs.

Medical Records: No Indication of Abuse

As Lauria pointed out in a deposition for the attorneys for DCF, the hospitals own medical records show no indication of abuse. After examining Ariana, the hospitals plastic surgeon, Dr. Avraham Schlager, M.D., wrote, Labial edema (swelling) and bruising, no lacerations seen  buttocks without lacerations or bleeding, appears as if these are pressure induced Plan: No lacerations seen, apply bacitracin to the buttocks exposed skin. This is likely due to trauma from the birth canal.

Nowhere in the medical records does it state that the bruising was caused by anything other than the birth. There are several mentions of birth induced trauma, but no mention of cuts, sores, burns, or other trauma. And Ariana was not treated with anything other than bacitracin, an over-the-counter salve.

Both Girls Taken Into Custody

Born on October 7, Ariana was kept in the hospital for eleven days. On October 8 Armani was taken into custody and placed in foster care. The two girls were allowed video visits with their parents but no in-person visits.

In the time they were separated from their parents the girls went to three different foster homes. Armanis beloved stuffed animal, Frog Man, was lost. When she finally got Frog Man back he was covered in urine. Jaimie has no idea why.

Basically, this family was punished for giving birth, says Lauria, who personally reviewed over a thousand pages of medical and court records, including photos of the newborn. Most of the child welfare report is fictitious and ridiculous. Ive never seen anything like it.

Ryan is a truck driver. Jaimie was a stay-at-home mom. Desperate to get their daughters back and making no headway with their state-appointed lawyer, in early March of 2021 the Roses hired a private attorney and found two health professionals, Lauria and David Hayes, M.D., co-founder of Breech Without Borders. Both were so appalled by the facts of the case that they volunteered to testify for no compensation.

Then, on March 10, 2021, after Lauria submitted a draft deposition, DCF filed a voluntary dismissal of the charges against the Roses, canceled the trial, and submitted an order to the judge to immediately release Armani and Ariana back into their parents care.

With that DCF decision, the Roses were cleared of all wrongdoing. But they have never received an apology or any kind of explanation from either Floridas Department of Children and Families or St. Marys Medical Center.

DCF ignored repeated telephone and email requests for an interview. Information regarding child protective investigations is confidential per Section 39.202, Florida Statutes, Paige Patterson-Hughes, Southeast Region Communications Director for DCF Southeast Region, wrote in an email.

St. Marys Medical Center also refused to be interviewed. We are committed to providing high quality care in an environment that safeguards and advocates for the tiniest of patients, Public Relations Manager Ryan Lieber wrote in a written statement.

Due to patient privacy requirements, we cant comment on any specific case. It is important to note that healthcare providers are mandatory reporters. We are required by Florida state law to report to the Department of Children and Family Services any instance where we have a good faith suspicion that a child may have been abused or neglected. We take our legal and ethical obligations seriously and fulfill them thoughtfully.

But Lauria believes the hospital staff acted unethically. This was a travesty and a massive overreach by hospital authorities and DCF in my opinion, she argues, adding that it was the hospital staff and the child welfare workers general ignorance about breech birth and deep bias against parents who choose out of hospital birth that led to the traumatic way the Roses and their daughters were treated.

Marlene Waechter, a homebirth midwife based in Jackson, Ohio who was not involved in the case, points out that bruising is expected when a baby is born breech, but it doesnt last long and its easily treated.

Putting arnica gel on whatever soft part comes first prevents most of the bruising, and reduces swelling quickly, Waechter says. It works even on hematoma (broken blood vessels under the skin from the pressure of birth) and caput (the swelling on the head when it takes a long time to crown), as well as butts, balls, and feet. With proper care the bruising, Waechter says, will clear up in less than a week.

Armani Stella, 3 years old now, is just starting to say some words. She loves watching Family Feud, splashing water in the bathroom sink, and riding in her fathers semi.

Ariana Nova, 9 months old, is teaching herself to crawl. She gets on all fours, butt in the air, and rocks back and forth. She babbles non-stop and has two teeth.

The family has only been reunited for four months. Theyre working hard to get to know each other again. Every day is a struggle. Armani has nightmares so terrifying that she wakes up screaming. Ariana cries hysterically if her mom is out of sight, even for just a minute. Armani does too.
Dave Rubin in an interview with EpochTV's "CrossRoads" premiered on August 11, 2021. (Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

Dave Rubin: We Got a Country to Save

The American Experiment has possibly come to an end, and we got a country to save, said Dave Rubin, a media personality and host of The Rubin Report.

Right now, we have a country to save. It sounds cliche, right? Rubin told EpochTVs CrossRoads in a recent interview. I mean, it sounds like a political candidate we got a country to save, but it really is the truth that were possibly at the end of the American Experiment right now.

Rubin said thats because for the past 250 years, though different political parties had different visions for America, basically, they all believed America was good.

But right now, we have half of the political dialect that basically doesnt think America is good  that basically wants to erase Americas history. That is a huge problem, Rubin said, referring to the woke ideology that has been spreading across America.

Woke is sometimes used interchangeably with Critical Race Theory (CRT), which is one of the more prominent ideologies that operate within this framework.

Last month, Rubin told The Epoch Times that not too long ago he believed in the lefts idea that there was systemic racism in the United States. However, he later woke up to the lefts narrow-mindedness and left the woke left.

At this point, I want to defend the constitution, the rule of law, individual rights, the notion that the founding of America was good. These are all good things, Rubin said.

Rubin pointed out that what the progressives have wrought on America is basically Marxist.

And I really mean they are Marxists, by their economics, right? They want the government to run everything, Rubin said. Theyre Marxist or communist, or theyre socialists, depending on how theyre going to fully take over. Theyre socialists today. Theyll be communists tomorrow.

And then on top, you throw in the Cultural Marxism, which is that there will be an endless obsession with race. And they will then put racism into the system, which is exactly what theyre doing right now, Rubin continued.

The woke ideology, or CRT, is a set of quasi-Marxist theories that divide society into oppressors and the oppressed, based on characteristics such as race, sex, class, or sexual proclivities.

Freedom is the right way for America, Rubin stated.

Do you believe that for some reason, humans who are imperfect beings can create this perfect system that will live above us, know whats good for us, when its good for us, it will dole out the right amount to the right people, so it says these people should get these things? Or do you think that freedom and the opportunity that it brings to live your life as you see fit, understanding that you will make mistakes, understanding that it will be a little bit messy, understanding that your neighbor is going to be a little bit different than you, and all of those things, but that the net of that will be a much better human experience?

Its very crystal clear to me that that is the right way for America. That is Americas future, Rubin said.

Petr Svab contributed to this report.

Li Hai Li Hai is a New York-based reporter for The Epoch Times.
Florida Education Board to Tailor Financial Penalties and Withhold State Funding of School Officials Who Mandate Masks

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis administration said the Board of Education will tailor financial penalties to hold accountable the few officials who made a decision to break the law by approving school mask mandates, and the state will withhold funding in the exact amount of those officials salaries.

In letters written by Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran obtained by the Epoch Times, the commissioner had warned the superintendents and board chairs that he planned to withhold funds in the amount equal to their salaries.

With respect to enforcing any financial consequences for noncompliance of state law regarding these rules and ultimately the rights of parents to make decisions about their childrens education and health care decisions, it would be the goal of the State Board of Education to narrowly tailor any financial consequences to the offense committed, the governors office said in a statement at the time.

The entire school district community shouldnt suffer just because a few activist, anti-science school board members want to impose overreaching mandates on every student,DeSantis spokesperson Christina Pushaw told Politico in a statement.

The school board members in question are not on the state payroll, so this form of penalty is the most narrowly tailored approach that the state can take, she added. Those officials should own their decisionand that means owning the consequences of their decisions rather than demanding students, teachers, and school staff to foot the bill for their potential grandstanding.

Federal health officials and DeSantis have been at odds over COVID-19 mandates, including masking and vaccine passports, for months. Late in July, he issued an executive order blocking schools from following the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) recent recommendation that all students regardless of vaccination status wear masks while in class.

At the time, the governor said the order was designed to provide parents with the right to decide whether they want their kids to be masked for hours on end in class. In response, several districts, including Broward County, said that they would enforce mask requirements for students regardless of the consequences.

The White House previously said that it was considering reimbursing school board members if DeSantis followed through on his threat of withholding state funding.

Responding to the governors initial warning on Monday, Miami-Dade Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said the district set out its plan after consulting with health experts.

At no point shall I allow my decision to be influenced by a threat to my paycheck; a small price to pay considering the gravity of this issue and the potential impact to the health and well-being of our students and dedicated employees, Carvalho said on Monday afternoon.

An emergency state Board of Education meeting will be held on August 17 where Corcoran will report his findings related to Alachua and Broward counties. Sanctions are expected to follow if districts are found to be in violation of the mask mandate ban.

Jack Phillips contributed to this report.

Correction: The previous version of this article incorrectly said Gov. DeSantis had reversed his policy. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
Disgraced DEA Agent Sentenced to 13 Years in Corruption Case

NEW ORLEANSA prolific narcotics agent was sentenced on Thursday to more than 13 years behind bars for stealing money from suspects, falsifying government records, and committing perjury during a federal trial.

U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo said the longtime U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent, Chad A. Scott, caused far reaching damage to the administration of justice.

The sentencing capped a five-year case that shook the DEA and resulted in convictions of three other members of a New Orleans-based federal drug task force.

Prosecutors portrayed Scott as more dangerous than the most hardened heroin dealers he locked up, saying the Louisiana lawman broke every rule in the book to enforce his own approximation of justice. They had asked Milazzo to sentence Scott to nearly two decades in prison.

He undercut law enforcement and he disgraced the entire judicial process, federal prosecutor Timothy Duree told the first jury that convicted Scott. He was sworn to uphold the law but instead, he broke it for his own selfish purposes.

Scott, 53, was found guilty at successive trials of a long list of corruption counts. The charges stemmed from an expansive federal investigation into misconduct claims that had surrounded Scott for much of his 17-year career, even as he racked up headline-grabbing drug busts between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Scott told Milazzo he was ashamed of being here, adding he had long since been convicted in the press and public opinion. But he sought to underline his contributions to law enforcement and the DEAs mission, in which he said he had truly believed. He was twice the target of murder-for-hire plots, he told the judgean example of the length people will go to to remove me from drug trafficking investigations.

Scotts remarkshis first since his 2017 arrestcame during an unusual sentencing hearing this week that revealed details of crimes Scott was alleged to have committed but for which he was not charged. The alleged victims included a Louisiana man who accused Scott of planting an ounce of marijuana in his truck in 2005 and a Houston man who said Scott twice lashed his mouth with the medallion on a necklace he was wearing during a 1999 arrest that brought no charges, then confiscated the chain and took nearly a year to return it.

This goes against everything that the Drug Enforcement Administration stands for, Anne Milgram, the newly sworn-in DEA administrator, said in a statement. Scott betrayed the very people he was entrusted to protect and today he is being held accountable for his crimes.

Scott was convicted in 2019 of orchestrating false testimony against a Houston-based heroin and cocaine traffickerperjury that tainted the dealers conviction and allowed him to walk free. The same federal jury found Scott falsified paperwork for a Ford F-150 pickupa vehicle he directed another drug trafficker to buy so the DEA could seize it and give it to Scott.

Earlier this year, a separate federal jury convicted Scott and Rodney Gemar, a former member of his task force, in what prosecutors described as a long-running scheme to steal money and property from suspects they arrested.

Two other former members of the task force, Johnny Domingue and Karl E. Newman, were accused of stealing cash and drugs and testified against Scott. Both were Tangipahoa Parish Sheriffs Office deputiesdetailed to the DEAand served federal sentences after agreeing to cooperate with the government. Domingue since has been charged with new federal drug trafficking charges in Texas.

Scott is among a growing list of DEA agents who have been accused of abusing their authority in recent years. Another veteran agent, Jose Irizzary, pleaded guilty last year to conspiring with a Colombian cartel money launderer, filing false reports, and ordering DEA staff to wire money slated for undercover stings to international accounts he controlled.

At least a dozen DEA agents across the country have been criminally charged since 2015 on counts ranging from wire fraud and bribery, to selling firearms to drug traffickers, according to court records. That includes a longtime special agent in Chicago who pleaded guilty to infiltrating the DEA on behalf of drug traffickers, and another accused of accepting $250,000 in bribes to protect the Mafia.
El Monte Mayor Pro Tem Stripped of Title, Duties Amid Allegations She Accepted Lobbyist Funds for Breast Augmentation

The El Monte City Council revoked Mayor Pro Tem Victoria Martinez Muelas title during an ongoing censure process and investigation into her alleged acceptance of funds from a lobbyist to help pay for breast augmentation surgery.

During a special city council meeting on Aug. 11, the council voted 3-2 to redesignate Martinez Muelas title and adjust her current assignments. The council also unanimously voted to appoint Councilmember Alma Puente as mayor pro tem in Martinez Muelas place.

Lobbyist Sigrid Lopez and Martinez Muela were close friends, the Los Angeles Times reported, until Martinez Muela voted against retail cannabis sales in the citya proposal Lopez advocated for. Martinez Muela also called those who supported retail cannabis outsiders, a term Lopez took as an insult.

Lopez later signed a declaration claiming Martinez Muela accepted about $1000 in financial assistance from Lopez for breast augmentation surgery and did not disclose the money as required by law. Local public officials were not allowed to accept gifts over $460 from a single source at that time, according to state law. The limit is now $520.

Councilmembers Martin Herrera and Maria Morales submitted an official letter to the city manager calling for an independent investigation to determine if there is sufficient evidence to conduct a formal hearing. Depending on the results, the city council may consider a formal resolution of censure against Martinez Muela.

A reserved parking space for mayor pro tem at El Monte City Hall in El Monte, Calif., on Aug. 13, 2021. (Sarah Le/The Epoch Times)

Ultimately, the majority of the city council felt it was not appropriate. Public trust is the vital lifeblood of government authority and elected officials have a duty to undertake actions to protect it, Herrera told The Epoch Times via email.

By removing Martinez Muela from her commission assignments and the designation as mayor pro tem, we are sending a clear message to our community that we value their trust in us and we will take the appropriate actions that are available to us to safeguard it.

Martinez Muela did not deny the allegations, according to the L.A. Times, but also said she did nothing wrong and voted by principle instead of siding with her friend. Lopez told the L.A. Times she believed that Martinez Muela placed politics over friendship, while Martinez Muela said she told Lopez, I am your friend but I have to vote this way because my community demands it of me.

Several El Monte residents called into the meeting to comment on the motions. Resident Mike Gomez urged the city council to do something, saying that the city has gathered attention nationally for the news. Not only is our community looking at the decisions we make tonight, but the whole world. Transparency is really importanttransparency about what has happened in the past, what is happening in the present, and what will happen in the future.

Resident Veronica Thomas, on the other hand, said she thought the process was a witch hunt.

That to me as a woman is so offensive. Its an elective procedure, and its something private for women, Thomas said.

The redesignation does not remove Martinez Muelas authority as an elected official, according to Councilmember Herrera during the meeting.

This person still retains the right to be in this [council] body, to deliberate with us, to cast a vote and to represent the community. The censure process cannot take that away for someone. We are not removing someone, Herrera said at the meeting.

Its merely an acknowledgement that these allegations are serious and because you trust us, we are going to investigate it.

El Monte Civic Center in El Monte, Calif., on Aug. 13, 2021. (Sarah Le/The Epoch Times)

At the meeting, several city councilmembers urged their fellow members to redesignate Martinez Muelas title and duties, saying that the city council must remain respected by the community.

During the meeting, Puente compared the situation to the criminal justice system.

When an officer is accused of some sort of wrongdoing, that officer is typically placed on administrative leave and temporarily relieved of duty. Thats the purview in which I see the situation, Puente said.

If the censure process is to [go through], it just doesnt make sense for this body to have a mayor pro tem where aspersions are being cast upon their character.

Puente said that if the investigation comes back clear, she would support a re-redesignation of Martinez Muelas title and duties.

Mayor Jessica Ancona expressed her opposition to the actions at the meeting, pointing out another incident from a few months ago where things were handled differently.

This council unfortunately isnt being equitable across the board in their actions, Ancona said.

I think whats going on today is taking punitive action on one of our colleagues that hasnt been charged with anything. These are all allegations, this is selective enforcement.

Ancona questioned what should be done about the other party involved.

What about the other party, should they be allowed to do business in our city? Will she be stripped of her cannabis license? Will all you guys stop taking contributions from her? Ancona asked.

Actions are being taken without the full consensus of the body. It feels like everybody here is moving their own agenda. Im disappointed that we are taken punitive actionswhat happened to innocent until proven guilty? Youre already saying that shes guilty without allowing due process to take place.

Herrera, for his part, said he was disappointed that the decision to act was not a unanimous one.

I am troubled that Ancona is unable or unwilling to acknowledge the severity of the allegations that have been made, Herrera said.

As the citys mayor, I was hoping she would exhibit ethical leadership on behalf of the community rather than this display of defiance.

At the end of the meeting, Martinez Muela made some final comments, saying, No matter the outcome, Ive won. The outpouring of love and support from family and friends and fans has been incredible, she said.

If love is the ultimate blessing, and I believe that it is, then Im truly blessed beyond measure.

After the meeting, Martinez Muela said on Twitter that she was quoting an Aug. 5 tweet by actor LeVar Burton.

Thanks LeVar for giving me the right words to share love for my community, she wrote on the social media site.

Councilmember Alma Puente, Councilmember Maria Morales, and Councilmember Victoria Martinez-Muela, along with Mayor Jessica Ancona, did not respond to a request for comment by press deadline.
The Facebook logo is displayed on a mobile phone in this picture illustration taken on Dec. 2, 2019. (Johanna Geron/Illustration/Reuters)

Facebook to Build $800 Million Data Center in Arizona

Facebook has announced plans to build an $800 million data center in Arizona, which is expected to support 100 operational jobs once complete and around 1,500 construction jobs at peak.

We are breaking ground on our newest data center in Mesa, Facebook announced in a social media post. This facility will be an important part of the global infrastructure that brings Facebook apps and services to billions of people around the world.

The Facebook Mesa Data Center, the companys 14th data center development in the United States and 18th globally, will encompass nearly 1 million square feet, according to DPR Construction, which is currently building three other similar facilities for the social media giant.

Arizona has become one of the leading destinations for data centers anywhere in the world, and with the addition of @Facebook, we demonstrate once again our premier attractiveness for technology, said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, in a tweet.

As part of the project, Facebook said it plans to restore over 200 million gallons of water per year in the Colorado River and Salt River basins as part of its intention for the data center to restore more water than its operations will consume.

Together with the Salt River Project, well bring three new solar projects, totaling 450 megawatts, to the local grid, making this data center supported by 100 [percent] renewable energy. We commit to restoring more water than we use and to investing in the long-term vitality of Mesa! Facebook said in a post.

Mesas City Council approved Facebooks data project in May on a 61 vote, with Vice Mayor Jenn Duff voting against, citing concerns about water use during a drought, according to AZ Central.

According to the Arizona Commerce Authority, Facebooks Mesa data center will use 60 percent less water than the average data center.

While Facebook isnt a significant employer in Arizona, the companys total headcount was 63,404 as of June 30 of this year, according to the companys second-quarter results.

Facebooks total revenue for the second quarter of 2021 came in at just over $29 billion, with a profit of around $10 billion, nearly double what it was in the comparable quarter in 2020.

The company spent $4.74 billion on capital expenditures in the second quarter, including payments on finance leases.
Facts Matter (Aug. 12): Mom Fights Elementary School for Segregating Kids Based on Race

In Atlanta, an elementary school principal made an interesting choice: she segregated the kids based on race. She had different classes and teachers for black kids versus white kids.

In Oregon, in order to help communities of color, the governor just signed a new bill into law, which will allow high school students to graduate without proving they can read, write, or do math.

The Texas Supreme Court just ruled that the Speaker of the House has the authority to arrest and detain Democrat lawmakers who fled the state in order to block an election bill.

Stay tuned for our newsletter so you wont miss out on our exclusive videos and private events.

Facts Matter is an Epoch Times show available on YouTube.

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A health worker looks on as people sit in an observation area after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine at a pop-up vaccine clinic in Lakemba, in Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 8, 2021. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Fairwork Ombudsman Updates Advice for Workplace Mandatory Vaccinations

The Fairwork Ombudsman (FWO) has updated its guidelines to say that employers can direct their workers to get vaccinated for the CCP virus under lawful and reasonable circumstances, giving businesses that operate in high-risk areas a green-light to require vaccinations for all staff.

Whether a direction is lawful and reasonable will be fact dependent and needs to be assessed on a case-by-case basis, the Fairwork website states.

The FWO has set out a four-tier system that outlines when a mandatory vaccination directive would be considered lawful and reasonable.

Vaccine directives for workers in tiers 1 and 2 are more likely to be reasonable, while directions for workers in tier 4 is unlikely to be reasonable.

Tier 1 workers are employees who are required as part of their duties to interact with people at high risk of infection, such as quarantine workers and border patrol.

Tier 2 workers are those in close contact with people who are vulnerable to the health impacts of the COVID-19, such as workers in health care and aged care.

The coronavirus pandemic doesnt automatically make it reasonable for employers to direct employees to be vaccinated against the virus, the website says.

The Fearless Girl Statue in Federation square is seen with a face mask on June 5, 2021, in Melbourne, Australia. (Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

Australia Industry Group (Ai Group) said these new guidelines provided certainty for businesses looking for clarity around what they can do.

So there are four tiers to this, four levels, and businesses now have some clear line of sight around what they can and cant do, Ai Group CEO Innes Willox told Sunrise. The government has made it very clear it doesnt want to mandate for everyone in any circumstance, but where weve got to now is the situation where it can be mandated in quite a few different areas.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has previously refused to provide indemnity for employers who want to mandate vaccines for workers.

Well, if we were to take that step,  that would be thereby endorsing some sort of mandatory process, Morrison told reporters on Aug. 9.

However, many construction workers living in Greater Sydney local government areas of concern have expressed their disagreement with state orders for vaccinations.

On Aug. 10, G&B Lawyers partner Nathan Buckley set up a Facebook group to challenge the New South Wales government in a class action against mandatory vaccinations for construction workers.

A tram construction site is closed in the central business district of Parramatta in Sydney, Australia, on July 31, 2021. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Liverpool solicitor Peter Maatouk said he received many calls from local tradies asking for help.

The major issue Im hearing has been, why is it mandatory? Why am I being forced to get vaccinated? If I dont want to, it should be my choice. I dont want it; why should I have it, Maatouk told NewsCorp.

The Business Council of Australia supported the government vaccination measures for construction workers.

By getting vaccinated, construction workers from the eight affected local government areas have a choice to get on with their lives and livelihoods sooner, BCA CEO Jennifer Westacott said.

Last week, SPC was the first Australian company to require workers to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton said the government would not force people to take a vaccine. Still, employers such as restaurant owners would be able to deny entry to unvaccinated staff and patrons.

Thats a decision for that owner to take, and that is a perfectly reasonable one, Dutton told Nine.
High School Teens Invent Baby Adaptation for Dads Wheelchair After He Lost Ability to Walk

Thanks to a few innovative high school students, a father who lost his ability to walk can now get around, unassisted, with his newborn son in his stroller.

It started when 10 of Matt Ziglers students at Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, were tasked with coming up with an invention for one of his colleagues. Fellow teacher Chelsie King needed a solution for her husband Jeremy, after brain surgery compromised his balance.

Matt Zigler (L) with his students. (Courtesy of Bullis School)

When Chelsie became pregnant with their first child, the couple had worries.

I was very concerned with the safety of myself and our child, especially with Chelsie having to potentially support both of us, Jeremy, 37, told The Epoch Times. It played on my mind constantly, which is why it was important for us to find things to help.

Chelsie had reached out to Zigler, whose students consulted the Kings about their needs and began designing prototypes in November 2020. One group of four worked to incorporate a wheelchair and car seat to allow Jeremy to stroll his baby independently; another group of six worked on a stroller adaptation for when the baby grew.

Chelsie, 32, a middle school theater teacher, said they learned he had a brain tumor in fall 2017. He had an 8-hour surgery to remove the cancer on Oct. 6 the same year, just three months after they got engaged.

They thought it was an amazing idea when Zigler, Bullis Schools BITLab coordinator, tasked his students with designing the wheelchair adaptation. The consultation with his students raised concerns the couple hadnt even considered, and several additional safety features and adjustments were included as development progressed.

The young inventors used their MakerSpace design labs 3D printer to manufacture some parts, purchased some from Home Depot, and borrowed a wheelchair from the school nurse as a model. They used cinder blocks to simulate the weight of the baby to test their designs.

A video produced by Bullis School chronicles the projectwhich Zigler described as an empathy-driven process in an interview with Fox Newsthe goal of which is to encourage the students to grasp their clients needs, and then design something with wider application in the world at large.

Ive always found a big interest in engineering, student Jacob Zlotnitsky, 18, explained in the video. But I didnt realize engineering could also be used to solve simple problems and help people in their everyday lives.

Baby Phoenix Royce King was born on March 4. Both the car seat and stroller adaptationdubbed WheeStrollwere gifted to the Kings a week later. The build instructions were posted online for others facing similar mobility challenges.

Chelsie and Jeremy King. (Courtesy of Chelsie King)

For the Kings, who live in Germantown, receiving the finished WheeStroll was stirring.

I was emotional and elated, because something like this really increases independence with my child, Jeremy said. We often walk in our neighborhood, and we are also taking it out to places such as parks this summer  I want to personally thank the students for taking my situation into account and developing this amazing device.

In May, Ziglers students learned theyd even won two international awardsboth in PrintLabs 2021 Make:able Design Challenge: one for Best Inspirational Story, the other for Best Showcase of Iterative Design.

(Courtesy of Chelsie King)

Jeremy, a certified registered nurse anesthetist before his surgery, used to go on medical missions to Africa. Now, he works in administration, supporting other anesthetists.

When he and Chelsie began researching avenues for disabled parents amidst his ordeal, both were disheartened by the lack of options. He hopes WheeStroll encourages others to turn to innovationor reproduce theirsas a low-cost solution.

[Jeremys] surgery changed our lives drastically, Chelsie reflected, and we have worked very hard to accept, learn, and overcome those challenges  Anything that can help Jeremy feel confident as a parent is priceless to me.

(Courtesy of Chelsie King)

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A group of more than 350 illegal immigrants wait for Border Patrol after crossing the Rio Grande from Mexico into Del Rio, Texas, on July 25, 2021. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Homeland Security Ignoring Congressional Requests for Info on Where Illegal Immigrants Are Being Sent

Illegal immigrants are crossing into the United States from Mexico in record-shattering numbers, but the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is ignoring a congressional request for information regarding where the government is relocating them, lawmakers say.

On April 15, 2021, 34 Members of the House of Representatives sent a letter requesting important information regarding the destinations within the interior of our nation of the heavy illegal migration over our nations border, Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) told DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in an Aug. 5 letter.

The letter was also addressed to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra. The two departments are responsible for implementing President Joe Bidens open border policies on immigration.

As of the date of this letter, the response from [HHS] deferred to [DHS], and regrettably, DHS has not responded to the Congress letter, Braun and Gohmert told Mayorkas and Becerra.

The lawmakers said the repeated requests for relocation information were made because border crossings remain unsustainably high. In July, it was reported that attempted crossings at the U.S.Mexico border remain at a historically high level not experienced in at least 21 years.

In June, more than 188,829 individuals were taken into custody by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), including 15,018 unaccompanied children. This former figure represents an alarming 141 percent increase from January 2021. Like so many in our nation, we remain deeply concerned about this unlawful, manmade humanitarian and national crisis that is being facilitated on our southern border.

In addition to Braun and Gohmert, the April and August letters were signed by Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.).

Members of the House of Representatives who signed the letters include Reps. Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.), Matthew Rosendale (R-Mont.), Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.), Greg Steube (R-Fla.), Randy Weber (R-Texas), Ben Cline (R-Va.), Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), Bob Good (R-Va.), Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Chip Roy (R-Texas), Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), Michael Cloud (R-Texas), Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.), Scott Perry (R-Pa.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Bill Posey (R-Fla.), Vicki Hartzler (R-Mo.), and Pete Sessions (R-Texas).

Representatives from DHS didnt respond to a request for comment by press time.

The information sought by the lawmakers includes the following:

The locations where illegal immigrants have been sent, transported, or provided ability or funding to travel to, or allowed to travel to by other funding including their own or private funding for all individuals who entered the U.S. without visas.

For each named location, the total number of immigrants who have been sent, transported, or provided ability or funding to travel to, or allowed to travel to by other funding, including their own or private funding to such city.

The number of immigrants tested for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the number of immigrants that tested positive for COVID-19, and [DHSs] course of action to respond to immigrants that test positive for COVID-19.

The signers noted that this requested information is critical to understanding how the unabetted flow of illegal aliens over the Southern border affects all Americans in each of the 50 states.

It must be reiterated that members of the executive branch have a duty, and many have sworn an oath that would include the requirement to carry out the lawfully enacted legislation under the Constitution, the letter reads.

With an open border facilitating illegal entry into our nation and the manifold resulting criminalities, the executive branch is failing miserably in its duty.

Your failure to provide this requested information over the past three months, an eminently reasonable amount of time, raises further concerns about the lack of transparency and your unwillingness to provide this important information to elected representatives of the people of this nation.
A road is damaged by the swollen Suzuhari river caused by a heavy rain in Hiroshima, western Japan, on Aug. 13, 2021. (Kyodo/via Reuters)

Hundreds of Thousands of Residents Asked to Evacuate Amid Torrential Rains in Japan

Mudslides hit 4 people: 1 presumed dead, 2 still missing

Japan on Friday issued high risk alerts in its southwestern regions, urging residents to prepare and evacuate. Highest risk alerts were issued in the western prefecture of Hiroshima, accompanied by warnings of imminent risk of floods and other disasters amid unprecedented rains.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued the warning, urging residents to prepare and act early. The agency added in a statement that the rain front could stay over the country for about a week.

Television footage on NHK public broadcaster showed rivers swollen with muddy water gushing down, almost overflowing, in Hiroshima.

A landslide in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan after heavy rains, on Aug. 13, 2021. (Twitter @kappachan1115 /via Reuters)

On Thursday, hundreds of thousands of residents of Nagasaki and other parts of Kyushu island in southwest Japan were asked to evacuate to avoid floods and the risk of landslides caused by torrential rain.

In the city of Unzen in Nagasaki prefecture, rain triggered a mudslide on Friday that hit two houses with four residents. One was presumed dead when found, while another was conscious and able to talk as rescue workers were digging to free them, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Two of the residents are still missing.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said nearly 500 millimeters (20 inches) of rain fell in parts of Nagasaki in the past 48 hours, exceeding the average for the month of August. More downpours were forecast.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga called a disaster management meeting and pledged to do the utmost for the rescue and relief operation and support for the affected residents.

People holding umbrella make their way through heavy rain in Fukuoka, western Japan, on Aug. 12, 2021. (Kyodo News via AP)

His office set up a disaster control centre on Friday to handle potential disasters. Torrential rains could continue in regions around western Japan, Suga said.

It is too late to evacuate after the special warning is announced, said Ryuta Kurora, director of forecast division at the Japan Meteorological Agency. To protect your own life and the life of your loved ones, without waiting for a special alert announcement, please follow the evacuation information already issued by your local municipality and ensure your safety.

Reuters
Ice Age Cave Lion Cub Unearthed in Siberian Permafrost Believed to Be 28,000 Years Old: Study

A lion cub with sharp claws, whiskers, and fur was unearthed in the permafrost of Siberia. But this cubseemingly in slumberis 28,000 years old and is thought to be the best-preserved ice age animal ever found.

The cub, dubbed Sparta, is a female cave lion, an extinct large cat, slightly larger than African lions, that once roamed the northern hemisphere during the last ice age.

She was first found in 2018 by licensed mammoth tusk hunter Boris Berezhnev on the banks of Semyuelyakh River in Siberia.

A recent study has revealed just how ancient Spartas remains really are.

Sparta the cave lion cub. (Courtesy of Love Dalen)

Sparta is probably the best preserved ice age animal ever found, and is more or less undamaged, apart from the fur being a bit ruffled, said Love Dalen, a professor of evolutionary genetics at the Centre for Palaeogenetics in Stockholm, who co-authored the study. She even had the whiskers preserved.

Just 15 meters from where Sparta was unearthed, another cub was found by Berezhnev in 2017. The two were initially speculated to be siblings; however, radiocarbon dating revealed that this second cub lived some 43,448 years ago, predating Sparta by some 15,000 years.

The older specimen, a male cave lion dubbed Boris, was a bit more damaged, but still pretty good, said Dalen.

Sparta was unearthed on the banks of Semyuelyakh River in Siberia. (Courtesy of Love Dalen)

Dr. Victoria Herridge examines Spartas well-preserved remains. (Courtesy of Love Dalen)

The studys authors believe the specimens were likely buried in the earth quickly, possibly by a mudslide, which accounts for the state of their preservation.

Judging by the cubs tooth development, Sparta was deemed to be less than two months old when she died; while Boris was believed to be between one and two months of age.

Teeth of the same size have been found on modern-day lion cubs, whose bodies are slightly larger, leading researchers to believe that cave lions teeth developed more quickly than those of African lions today.

This may be due to the short periods of warm weather, harsher winters in the northern latitudes, meaning cubs had to develop faster and be able to eat meat at a younger age, the authors wrote.

The remains of Sparta the cave lion cub were judged to be some 28,000 years old. (Courtesy of Love Dalen)

Sparta the cave lion cub. (Courtesy of Love Dalen)

An adult cave lion would have measured 3 feet 9 inches high, and 6 feet 9 inches long without the tail.

The younger of the two specimens was remarkably well preserved, with claws that were still sharp enough to pierce the skin, soft tissue, intact whiskers, and furwith its color preserved: a grayish to light brown. Boriss fur was a lighter, grayish-yellow in comparison.

The studys authors suggest that the cubs light-colored fur was adapted for their snow-covered habitat. They also possessed a thick undercoat that African lions of today lack, possibly protection against a colder climate.

These cave lion cubs would have shared their habitat alongside mammoths, woolly rhinoceros, tundra wolves, bison, and saiga antelopes.

(Courtesy of Love Dalen)

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Smoke rises after fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security personnel in the city of Kandahar province south of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 12, 2021. (Sidiqullah Khan/AP Photo)

International Community Warns No Recognition for an Afghan Government Imposed by Force

As the Taliban quickly seized more cities in Afghanistanincluding its second- and third-largest cities on Thursdaythe International Meeting on Afghanistan called for an immediate ceasefire and warned not to recognize any government imposed by the use of military force.

The meeting was called by Qatar and held in its capital, Doha, from August 1012. Participants include the special envoys and representatives from the United States, China, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Qatar, United Nations, the European Union, Germany, India, Norway, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Turkmenistan.

Participants urged both sides to take steps to build trust and accelerate efforts to reach a political settlement and comprehensive ceasefire as quickly as possible, reads a chairmans statement issued on Thursday. Qatar is the chair of the meeting.

Participants reaffirmed that they will not recognize any government in Afghanistan that is imposed through the use of military force, the statement continued.

If other countries do not recognize a government, it wont get economic support from those countries. The non-recognition status will also pose other economic impacts for businesses, such as difficulties in travel, exchange of goods and services. However, humanitarian support is not limited by this status.

The statement also noted the guiding principles of a political settlement: inclusive governance; respect for human rights, including the rights of women and minorities; a mechanism to deliver a representative government; a commitment not to allow anyone in Afghanistan to threaten the security of other countries; and lastly, respect for international law, including international humanitarian law.

We demand an immediate end to attacks against cities, urge a political settlement, and warn that a government imposed by force will be a pariah state, said Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. envoy to the talks.

Maps show areas controlled by the Taliban at selected dates each month. (AP)

Last month, it was reported that the United Kingdom would work with the Taliban should they enter the government in Afghanistan.

Whatever the government of the day is, provided it adheres to certain international norms, the UK government will engage with it, British Defence Minister Ben Wallace told the Daily Telegraph.

China is also reported to prepare to recognize a Taliban government, despite its public remarks.

The Talibans quick advances were largely achieved by little resistance from Afghan government forces. The Afghan army has rotted from within due to corruption and mismanagement, leaving troops poorly equipped and with little motivation to fight, said Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

The Biden administration announced Thursday that bout 3,000 American troops would be deployed to aid the drawdown of some U.S. Embassy personnel.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Blank Social Security checks are run through a printer at the U.S. Treasury printing facility in Philadelphia on Feb. 11, 2005. (William Thomas Cain/Getty Images)

IRS Sends Out $15 Billion in Child Tax Credit Payments to Families

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of Treasury on Aug. 13 confirmed that about $15 billion in child tax credit payments has been sent to families, according to the White House.

The agency said that nearly 61 million children would be affected by the move. Some recipients may face delays, although many are receiving the funds via direct deposit.

Today 61 million children across America are benefiting from the advance Child Tax Credit, helping families put food on the table and meet the needs of the next generation, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said in a statement on Aug. 13. We want every eligible family to have access to the advance Child Tax Credit, which is why we will continue our outreach efforts to drive enrollment as our children return to school.

The child tax credit payments were authorized as a provision under the Biden administration-backed American Rescue Plan approved by both houses of Congress earlier this year. Eligible families could receive as much as $300 per month for each child under the age of 6 and $250 for each child aged 6 and older.

In the meantime, about 15 percent of families who got a direct deposit in July will get a paper check sent to them in the mail for their August payment because of a technical issue, according to the announcement. The problem should be resolved, according to the Treasury Department, by the next payments on Sept. 15.

Some experts have said that certain families may want to opt out of the child tax credit payments. If the government pays too much, it will come out of their taxes next year.

Unlike the economic impact payments that were distributed last year, the child tax credit payments have to be paid back if too much was given, Dennis Linden, a certified public accountant, told Yahoo in June. It can be a very unpleasant wakening in April of 2022 when the 2021 tax return is filed.

Families who saw their income increase significantly in 2021, recently filed for divorce, or who owe money to the IRS may want to unenroll from the payments, Linden and other experts have said.

The child tax creditup to nowtypically is used to reduce a taxpayers tax liability at the end of the year, David Flamer, CPA and president of David R. Flamer, An Accountancy Corporation, told Yahoo. They may forget how the credit usually pays in part the tax related from their work, and they may owe tax next year.

Taxpayers can use the Child Tax Credit Update Portal website to opt out of the monthly payments and will receive the full credit after they file their tax returns for 2021.
The entrance to the Labor Department is seen near the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on May 7, 2020. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

Labor Department Allots $240 Million to Fight Terrifying Level of Unemployment Insurance Fraud

The Labor Department is giving $240 million to states for measures like beefing up cybersecurity defense and identity verification in a bid to fight an explosion of unemployment insurance fraud.

The move, announced in an Aug. 12 press release, is part of a broader thrust to modernize the unemployment insurance system, the shortcomings of which have been exposed amid a surge of fraudulent activity after federal lawmakers expanded jobless compensation programs last year in response to the outbreak.

The pandemic underscored the need for modernization of the 53 different systems that administer unemployment insurance benefits in the United States, and it exposed significant vulnerabilities in state technology to criminals looking for an opportunity, Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh said in a statement.

The department is making $140 million in grants to states for a range of fraud prevention measures, including implementation of cybersecurity defense strategies, expansion of data analytics systems and overpayment recovery efforts, as well as enhancement of identification verification measures, according to a Labor Department memo (pdf). The money will come from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act, which allocated $2 billion to the Labor Department for a range of measures, including to prevent and detect fraud.

Another $100 million will be allocated to help states combat fraud in the temporary Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation programs, which were established by Congress to provide additional aid to the jobless amid the pandemic. Funding for these grants will come from unused portions of the CARES Act.

Michele Evermore, an expert in unemployment insurance at the Labor Department, told CNBC that fraudulent activity by criminals seeking to exploit the systems vulnerabilities has gotten so big.

What were seeing now is really terrifying, she told the outlet.

The Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG) in June estimated that at least $87 billion in improper unemployment insurance payments will have been made by the time pandemic-linked jobless aid programs expire in September, with a significant portion attributable to fraud.

Following the passage of the CARES Act, fraud against the UI program exploded, the DOL-OIG stated in a note on its website. Working with our federal and state partners, we have been able to identify billions in potential UI fraud nationwide.

The DOL-OIG has opened over 17,000 complaints and investigations relating to potential malfeasance with regard to unemployment insurance benefits paid under federal pandemic aid programs.

As a result of the surge in complaints, UI investigations now account for 87 percent of the OIGs investigative case inventory, compared with 12 percent prior to the pandemic, the DOL-OIG stated, noting that the office has taken a range of actions in response, including hiring additional criminal investigators.
A nurse is handed a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine before administering it to a college student during a City of Long Beach Public Health Covid-19 mobile vaccination clinic at the California State University Long Beach (CSULB) campus in Long Beach, Calif., on Aug. 11, 2021 (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

Lambda COVID-19 Variant Shows Vaccine Resistance, New Study Suggests

Researchers in Japan have found the Lambda COVID-19 variant exhibits higher infectivity and immune resistance to vaccines than the version of the virus that first emerged in Wuhan, China.

A recently published preprint of a Japanese study, which has yet to be peer-reviewed, suggests said the Lambda variant, first detected in Peru, is able to resist vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies that can fight off the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

In laboratory experiments, the researchers found that three mutations in the variants spike protein help it bypass the antibodies, while two further mutations help make it more infectious.

The Lambda variant, also known as C.37, is believed to have first emerged in Peru in August last year, but has only been recognized as a potential global threat in recent months, with the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring it a variant of interest on June 17 after it appeared in several countries simultaneously.

The WHO previously said the variants neutralizing antibodies could increase its transmissibility or potentially increase its resistance. It was associated with substantive rates of community transmission in multiple countries, it said.

In Peru, the Lambda strain accounts for roughly 82 percent of new infections. Meanwhile, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Mexico, have all confirmed widespread cases of the variant.

Notably, the vaccination rate in Chile is relatively high; the percentage of the people who received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine was [about] 60 percent, the researchers write.

Nevertheless, a big COVID-19 surge has occurred in Chile in Spring 2021, suggesting that the Lambda variant is proficient in escaping from the antiviral immunity elicited by vaccination, they warn.

In the United States, the Lambda variant has so far infected just under 1,000 people, and some experts believe it poses less of a threat than the Delta variant, which currently makes up at least 80 percent of all new sequenced cases in the country.

The Japanese researchers warn that with Lambda being labeled a variant of interest by the WHO, rather than a variant of concern, people might not realize it is an ongoing threat compared to other strains.

WHO virologist Jairo Mendez-Rico told DW late last month said that although the strain may exhibit higher infection rates, there is no indication that it is more aggressive.

Mendez-Rico told the outlet that more data is needed to compare the newly labeled strain to other existing strains such as Gamma (P.1) and Delta (B.1.617.2), which have already been categorized by the WHO as variants of concern.

Meanwhile, senior researcher Kei Sato of the University of Tokyo told Reuters that he believes Lambda can be a potential threat to the human society.
Largest Teachers Union Endorses COVID-19 Vaccine, Testing Mandates

The National Education Association (NEA), the largest teachers union in the United States, on Thursday said it supports mandatory vaccination or regular COVID-19 testing for educators as students return to classrooms for the new school year.

NEA President Becky Pringle said her organization, which represents 3 million public school employees, needs to follow the science since the beginning of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic and believes that vaccines are most effective in preventing infection of the virus.

As we enter a new school year amidst a rapidly spreading Delta variant and lagging public vaccination rates, it is clear that the vaccination of those eligible is one of the most effective ways to keep schools safe, and they must be coupled with other proven mitigation strategies, Pringle said in a statement.

We also support regular COVID-19 testing in lieu of vaccination for those not yet vaccinated or those for whom vaccination is not medically appropriate or effective, she added. We believe that such vaccine requirements and accommodations are an appropriate, responsible, and necessary step to ensure the safety of our school communities and to protect our students.

Pringle also noted that 90 percent of NEA members report they are fully vaccinated. By contrast, 71 percent of American adults have now received at least one vaccine dose, while just a little more than half of the total U.S. population has been fully vaccinated, according to the latest statistics by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The NEA endorsement of vaccine and testing mandates comes after California became the first state in the nation to require all school employees to either get vaccinated or submit to regular testings.

Under the new order issued by the California Department of Public Health, public and private schools serving students in transitional K12 must verify and trace all their workers vaccination status. Workers who are not fully vaccinated will be considered unvaccinated.

Asymptomatic unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated workers, according to the order, must be tested at least once weekly with either PCR/molecular testing or antigen testing. Those who have recovered from COVID-19 more than 90 days earlier, or those with a previous positive antibody test, will not be exempted from the testing requirement.

The 310,000-member California Teachers Association, an NEA affiliate, applauded the new policy, calling it an appropriate next step to ensure the safety of our school communities and to protect our youngest learners against the Delta variant.
Lawsuit Filed to Remove Newsoms Emergency Powers Fails

The California Supreme Court declined to review a petition to remove Gov. Gavin Newsons emergency powers as many counties remain under a state of emergency.

Assemblymembers James Gallagher and Kevin Kiley filed the petition seeking to remove the governors executive power that allows him to bypass the legislative branch. The petition was denied by the court without explanation.

Judges have consistently failed to hold Gavin Newsom accountable, perhaps because he bashes them by name if they do, Kiley wrote in an Aug. 11 tweet. Its a good thing Californians have taken matters into their own hands.

Before the assembly members received confirmation of their case status, news outlets were informed first of the outcome.

Apparently the CA Supreme Court has rejected our appeal. No official notice to me or Kevin Kiley but the SF Chronicle already knows about it, Gallagher wrote in an Aug. 11 tweet. If it is true that the CA Supreme Court has denied hearing our appeal it means that the highest court in CA has taken a pass on providing any legal review of perhaps the greatest example of executive overreach in modern history.

Erin Mellon, a spokeswoman for Newsom, told The Epoch Times she affirms the Supreme Court for not entertaining fringe legal theories.

This was a misguided attack on Californias Emergency Services Acta law signed by Governor Reagan that Governors have relied on for over 50 years to ensure that the state can quickly mobilize resources to respond to emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic, Oroville spillway emergency, or the devastating Camp Fire, she said.

Its a law that carefully balances the Legislatures and Governors roles, and were glad the state Supreme Court recognized there was no need to entertain fringe legal theories that sought to upset that balance.

The legal challenges come nearly a month before Newsom faces a recall election on Sept. 14. Kiley along with 45 other candidates will be on the ballot to replace the governor next month should Californians vote to recall.
AR-15 style rifles are displayed for sale at Firearms Unknown, a gun store in Oceanside, Calif., on April 12, 2021. (Bing Guan/Reuters)

Los Angeles Councilmembers Introduce Motion to Ban Ghost Guns

Los Angeles City councilmembers Aug. 3 introduced a motion to ban the purchase and possession of ghost guns in the city.

Ghost guns, also known as kit guns, are sold as partially assembled guns that can be completed using purchased parts. The unfinished parts are not legally required to have serial numbers or a background check to purchase and are often sold at gun shows or online.

Councilmembers Paul Koretz and Paul Krekorian requested an ordinance banning the possession, purchase, sale, receipt and transportation of all frames, receivers and firearms that are unfinished and non-serialized in the city.

Koretz said in a statement that shootings and homicides have increased 30 percent since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shootings are up 43 percent, he said, with over 40 percent of guns confiscated by the ATF and a third of crime guns recovered by the LAPD in Los Angeles were ghost guns last year.

With such staggering numbers and the sharp increase in hate crimes, we cannot turn a blind eye on a backdoor that allows criminals to gain access to firearms when they would otherwise be denied through the front door, Koretz said.

Krekorian said in the statement that ghost guns are deliberately designed to avoid tracing.

When sold without background checks, end up in the possession of felons, Krekorian said. In Los Angeles, ghost guns were a factor in the sharp rise in homicides in 2020. This motion enables the city to move aggressively to significantly reduce the number of non-serialized firearms in our communities.

This comes as two Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies this week filed a lawsuit against manufacturer Polymer80, who allegedly built and sold parts of a ghost gun used to ambush and injure the two deputies in September 2020.

Deputies Claudia Apolinar and Emmanuel Perez claim in their lawsuit they were both shot in the head and in the arms near Compton by an unserialized Polymer80 firearm purchased as a kit from either Polymer80 or one of Polymer80s third-party distributors, who they claim acted illegally and negligently by selling it without performing a background check.

Neither Apolinar nor Perez have been able to return to work, according to the lawsuit.

Suspect Deonte Lee Murray was arrested three days later and charged with two counts each of attempted murder of a peace officer, and possession of a firearm by a felon in connection. According to the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office, he pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Murray was also charged on Sept. 17 with one felony count each of carjacking, second-degree robbery and assault with a semiautomatic firearm-personal use of a firearm. According to authorities, Murray could not legally buy or possess a gun because of his previous convictions.

Ghost guns were used in several mass shootings in the past decade, including the 2013 Santa Monica College shooting, the 2017 Tehama County shooting, and the 2019 Saugus High School shooting.

Councilmember Paul Krekorian and manufacturer Polymer80 did not respond to a request for comment by press deadline. Councilmember Paul Koretzs office referred the Epoch Times to his statement.
Navy Mom and Daughter Get Rare Chance to Serve on the Same Ship: Its Awesome

'She has huge shoes to fill ... I want her to set her goals higher than mine were. I know she can do it.'

A Norfolk, Virginia-based mom and daughter, both in the Navy, have been given the rare opportunity to serve on the same ship.

For the married mom of two daughters, who has dedicated nearly 30 years to the U.S. Naval service, its the first time she gets to take a piece of her family with her during at-sea training.

Master Chief Logistics Specialist (LSCM) Tanya McCray was posted aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), as the chief petty officer of the supply department, to attend the second iteration of the newly built vessels Full Ship Shock Trials. Using live explosives, the trial commenced on July 16, the U.S. Navy said in a statement.

Tanyas 25-year-old daughter, Logistics Specialist Seaman (LSSN) Racquel McCray, was reassigned to a temporary post on the very same vessel when her ship, USS George W. Bush (CVN 77), entered Norfolk Naval shipyard for maintenance.

Master Chief Logistics Specialist Tanya McCray (L) with her daughter, Logistics Specialist Seaman Racquel McCray. (Courtesy of Gary Prill via DVIDSHUB)

Beyond observing the many daily operations onboard an operational warship, Racquel was able to see her mother in action and witness the respect she commands as a master chief.

Its pretty cool walking with her, Racquel said in the statement. Everyone says, Good morning Master Chief, and she greets them, and Im just smiling the whole way. I feel like a proud daughter.

Tanya said that while she and her daughter love each other, she holds her eldest to certain expectations.

I expect her to follow those, but thats only because I love her and want the best for her. I want her to succeed in her personal life and her career, the proud mom said.

She has huge shoes to fill, and I remind her of that. I want her to be better than me; I want her to set her goals higher than mine were. I know she can do it.

LSCM Tanya McCray (L) has dedicated nearly 30 years to the U.S. Naval service. Her husband is a fellow master chief. (Courtesy of Gary Prill via DVIDSHUB)

Undesignated when she first joined the Navy, Tanya became a deck seaman and was stationed in Guam until the ship was decommissioned, according to the statement. She opted to attend college to train as a logistics specialist (formerly store keeper, or SK) and settled in Virginia where she met her husband, now a fellow master chief. Together, they started a family.

Tanya claims she thrives off challenges. Being a dual military family was one of them.

I was juggling a career with family life and it was hard missing holidays, birthdays, and all those celebrations, she said.

Yet Tanya earned a nicknameSea Mamafor taking care of sailors while sea-bound. I took those opportunities, since I was away from my kids, to be able to provide that mentorship tutoring to other sailors as well, she said.

Watching and learning from her parents, Racquel knew from the age of 18 that she wanted to join the Navy. She originally wanted to study information technology like her father but was offered logistics instead.

I knew I wanted to do something my parents had [done], Racquel said. I enjoy the LS job, I look forward to the customer service in my job. I worked customer service before while I was in school, so I already feel like Im good with customers.

LSSN Racquel McCray (R) says she knew from the age of 18 that she wanted to join the Navy. (Courtesy of Gary Prill via DVIDSHUB)

After seeing photos from the first iteration of the shock trials, Racquel knew joining her mother on USS Gerald R. Ford was an opportunity for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, according to the statement.

She actually asked me to come on the ship, said Tanya. She joined the Navy to get those experiences  she talked to her DLCPO [Department Leading Chief Petty Officer] and they made it happen.

Racquel knows she has huge shoes to fill, and she hopes to make a decades-long career, just like her mother.

Its great, this could be her last underway and its my first, Racquel said. For us to be able to spend it together, its awesome. Shes kind of bringing me in, and I appreciate that a lot. I hope I can fill her shoes.

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Students walk through The Quadrangle at the University of Sydney in Sydney, Australia, on May 8, 2013, (AAP Image/Paul Miller)

New University Executive Salary Code to Provide Greater Transparency

A voluntary code has been introduced by the University Chancellors Council (UCC) with the purpose of increasing the transparency of remuneration received by university senior executives.

The Australian Universities Vice-Chancellor and Senior Staff Remuneration Code (pdf) will require senior university staff to report all remuneration to the UCC, including incentives and bonuses.

Our Remuneration Code seeks to ensure that the senior executive remuneration at Australian universities is competitive, appropriate and transparent, so that it is understood and supported by the sectors stakeholders, and the community more broadly, UCC convenor Stephen Gerlach said in a statement.

Gerlach, who is also chancellor of Flinders University in South Australia, said it was necessary to implement the code to give the community greater transparency and explain why university salaries are where they are.

Part of this whole code is for UCC to have produced comparative information that can help universities where their own practices are in relation to the broader range of universities offer any number of reasons behind it, Gerlach told The Epoch Times.

While the code was voluntary, Gerlach said he saw no reason to think that universities would not adopt or take it on board.

A meeting was held last week, and [the code] was endorsed by the council members and have been referred to each of the universities now for the recommendation that they should have adopted, he said.

The UCC will collect the reported figures and distribute an annual report from next year with comparative data to all universities. They will also use an annual benchmarking review to compare university senior salaries with other public servants.

The code began being developed after growing media coverage on the $1 million (U.S.$734,000) plus salaries of Australian university vice-chancellors, which are much higher than what other universities heads are paid around the world.

The former University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor Michael Spence had an annual salary of over $1.6 million. However, when he left for a prestigious university in London in 2020, he reportedly took a pay cut of over 50 percent.

University of Sunshine Coast Chancellor Angus Houston chaired the UCC group who developed the code and said remuneration transparency would enable society to have better confidence in their university leaders.

Angus also noted that since the pandemic began, the median salaries of vice-chancellors have declined.

The median has gone down to less than $1 million, Angus told The Australian. I think the very big salaries that were out there a couple of years ago are not there anymore.
A construction crew works to set up tents that hospital officials plan to use with an overflow of COVID-19 patients outside of Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital in Houston, Texas, on Aug. 9, 2021, in Houston. (Godofredo A. Vasquez/Houston Chronicle via AP)

News Outlet Corrects False Claim That Thousands of Kids Hospitalized With COVID-19 in 1 Week

A Texas news outlet on Thursday issued a correction after falsely reporting that thousands of children were hospitalized in the state in a single week with COVID-19.

The Texas Tribune claimed that over 5,800 children were hospitalized during one week in August. The outlet cited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in making the claim.

However, the outlet later acknowledged it interpreted the information wrongly.

That number correctly referred to children hospitalized with COVID-19 since the pandemic began. In actuality, 783 children were admitted to Texas hospitals with COVID-19 between July 1 and Aug. 9 of this year, the Tribune said.

Its correction said that an earlier version of the story overstated the number of children who have been hospitalized in Texas recently with COVID-19.

Before it was corrected, the false claim was spread by Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin.

Steve Krakauer, a media critic, noted that Rubin and some others who spread the claim had not alerted followers to the update.

How does a mistake this massive, this incomprehensible, happen? Keep in mind, The Texas Tribune has a COVID database thats actually very useful. It shows there are approximately 10,000 Texans hospitalized with COVID right now in the entire state. And yet a reporter, an editor, multiple national journalists, didnt stop to consider the 5,800 figure? Krakauer wrote in his newsletter on Friday.

Theres only one way this happensits when the truth isnt the goal of the reporting. No, fear-based reporting, meant to convey panic and with the goal of compliance, is how we end up with such massive data and journalistic errors, he alleged.

Reese Oxner, the author of the corrected piece, and a Texas Tribune editor did not respond to requests for comment.

The Tribune shared Oxners story on social media multiple times but did not alert readers to the correction. Many media ethics experts recommend outlets update readers when corrections are issued, especially major ones.

Oxner did not share his story or news of the correction.

Children are at much lower risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 than adults, especially when contrasted with the most vulnerable groups such as the elderly.

Just 59 deaths from COVID-19 have been recorded in Texas since the start of the pandemic among those 19 years old or younger, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

There has been an increase in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in the state recently, along with a jump in cases.

Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, earlier this week asked hospitals to delay elective procedures and announced the state was asking out-of-state healthcare workers to come in to help deal with the increase.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks at her weekly news conference at the Capitol building in Washington on Aug. 6, 2021. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Nine House Democrats Demand Pelosi Allow Passage of Infrastructure Bill Ahead of Budget Resolution

Nine Democrats in the House of Representatives on Thursday urged House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to quickly allow a vote on the Senate-passed infrastructure bill before the lower chamber considers the larger, $3.5 trillion budget resolution.

The House should immediately pass the infrastructure legislation, they wrote to Pelosi.

We urge our House colleagues to follow the same path as the Senate: vote first on the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and then consider the budget resolution, they said.

Senate Democrats got Republican support for the infrastructure legislation, but none for the budget framework, which they rammed through on Wednesday using a process called budget reconciliation.

Pelosi told reporters earlier this week that she will not allow a vote on the infrastructure bill until the reconciliation process is complete. The Senate advanced the resolution, but details of the budget have yet to be hammered out. The Senate would enter in details after the House passed the resolution.

Im not taking up that, Pelosi said, referring to the infrastructure bill.

I mean, people want me to take it up. Oh, take it up. No. I think we were able to get support for the bigger packagethe $3.5 trillionbecause there was the other bipartisan package, I think we were able to get the bipartisan package, because [President Joe Biden] has the $3.5 trillion [piece]. So, they are, shall we say, compatible in my view, she added. So, we willwe are notthey passed it, but until we see the budgetit goes to the Senate first, then it comes to the House. And then, we send it back as a reconciliation.

The nine Democrats, though, may scuttle the planned timeline. Theyre threatening not to vote on the budget until infrastructure is signed by Biden.

We will not consider voting for a budget resolution until the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passes the House and is signed into law, they wrote.

Democrats have a 220212 majority, meaning they cant lose a block of nine votes and expect the budget resolution to pass without GOP support. Many House Republican members have signaled opposition to the proposal.

Pelosis office didnt respond to a request for comment.

Reps. Carolyn Bourdeaux (D-Ga.), Ed Case (D-Hawaii), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), Jared Golden (D-Maine), Vincente Gonzalez (D-Texas), Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.), and Filemon Vela (D-Texas) signed the letter. They are considered moderates.

Pelosi is facing pressure from both sides of her caucus.

A majority of respondents to an internal Congressional Progressive Caucus survey said they would commit to not voting on the infrastructure deal until the Senate passes the budget legislation, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) told Pelosi and Senate Majority Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) this week.

We therefore encourage you to continue coordinating closely between the two chambers, collaborating with the White House, and engaging with our caucus so that the reconciliation framework reflects our shared and longstanding investment priorities, and that the Senate first adopts this reconciliation package before House consideration of any bipartisan infrastructure legislation, Jayapal, the chairwoman of the caucus, wrote in a letter.

The caucus has 96 members, including Reps. Katie Porter (D-Calif.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), and Mark Pocan (D-Wis.).
Texas Department of Safety officers stand watch over the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas, on Aug. 11, 2021. (Eric Gay/AP Photo)

Officers Deputized to Start Rounding Up Missing Texas House Democrats

Law enforcement officers in Texas were deputized on Thursday to go find House Democrats who are refusing to go to Austin, preventing the states lower chamber from reaching a quorum.

The House Sergeant-at-Arms deputized members of Texas law enforcement to assist in the Houses efforts to compel a quorum, Enrique Marquez, a spokesman for Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, told news outlets in a statement.

That process will begin in earnest immediately, he added.

Phelan, a Republican, on Tuesday signed arrest warrants for the 52 lawmakers who are refusing to appear, but that action has not led to a quorum so far.

Texas law allows for the arrest of lawmakers who arent doing their duty. It wasnt clear whether the deputized officers will arrest the missing legislators. The Texas Department of Public Safety told The Epoch Times in an email that it does not comment on operational specifics and referred requests for comment to Phelans office, which did not return a query.

The Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled Democrats who didnt show up at the state Capitol in Austin could be arrested, overturning a lower court decision. On Thursday, the states top court blocked orders from judges that would have prevented the Democrats from being apprehended.

A judge in Harris County had granted writ Habeas Corpus, or orders that appeared to protect at least some of the Democrats.

The Dems have filed some of the most embarrassing lawsuits ever seen. Time for them to get to the Capitol and do the job they were elected to do, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, said in a statement.

State Rep. Gene Wu, a Democrat, told news outlets after the ruling that Texas House Democrats remain committed to fighting back with everything we have to protect Texans from Republicans repeated attacks on our freedom to vote.

Democrats last month flew to Washington, preventing the Texas House from taking up election reform legislation. Some remain in the nations capital.

The Texas Senate early Thursday passed one of the bills, but cannot deliver it to the House because of the lack of a quorum.

Two-thirds of lawmakers must be present to constitute a quorum in the lower chamber. Republicans hold 82 seats in the 150-seat lower chamber.
A building is destroyed after heavy rainfall in Pepinster, Belgium, on Aug. 9, 2021. (Johanna Geron/Reuters)

One Month After Floods, Belgians Try to Rebuild

BRUSSELSA month after devastating floods in Belgium, residents said efforts to rebuild battered towns were picking up pace, but some still saw months of disruption ahead.

Flooding swept through parts of southern and eastern Belgium in mid-July, killing around 40 people and leaving a trail of destruction that cut power and swept away whole houses.

Things are moving in the direction of improvement, as the army and the Red Cross are beginning to take over, said Charlotte Depierreux, a restaurant owner in Liege, who launched a soup kitchen for flood victims.

Depierreux said the government had been slow to react, but her volunteer-run kitchen will close this week when the army takes over food distribution.

We have to admit that unfortunately there was a delay in the response, said Alex Baiverlin, head of social services in Pepinster near Liege where more than 1,000 homes were evacuated and a dozen buildings collapsed during the floods.

Helena, a resident of la Broeck, shows her home after heavy rainfall, in Belgium, on Aug. 9, 2021. (Johanna Geron/Reuters)

Gas supplies to Pepinster are not expected to resume until the end of the yearleaving many residents heading into winter without heating.

Baiverlin said the priority is to secure accommodation for homeless victims and provide electrical appliances for cooking and heating to those without gas.

We will need a large number of heating engineers, electricians, who are going to be short. There will be waiting lists for all the jobs that need to be done, he told Reuters.

The floods, which also devastated towns in Germany, came as a series of extreme weather events hit Europeincluding deadly heatwaves in Italy and catastrophic wildfires in Greece.

People check for victims in flooded cars on a road in Erftstadt, Germany, on July 17, 2021. (Michael Probst/AP Photo)

Christina Haas, a 20-year-old student who lives in Pepinster, said the disaster had taken a mental toll.

Rebuilding is one thing, but rebuilding yourself is another, she said. We cannot speak of a normal life at the moment. I dont know when we can, but it will take time.

By Clement Rossignol
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he meets police officers near Kincardine, Scotland on Aug. 4, 2021. (James Glossop / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Prime Minister Calls UK Emergency Cobra Meeting On Afghanistan

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the situation unfolding in Afghanistan, Downing street has announced.

The top-level Cobra meeting on the afternoon of Aug. 13 comes less than a day after the announcement that 600 UK troops will be sent to Afghanistan to oversee what is effectively an evacuation of British nationals.

In recent weeks, Taliban forces have overrun government forces in many cities in Afghanistan, following the withdrawal of allied troops, last night taking control of the nations second-largest city, Kandahar.

Cobra meetingsderived from the location in Cabinet Office Briefing Room Aare the mechanism for the government to shape its response to major events and emergencies.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said he feared multinational terror network al Qaida, the group behind atrocities such as the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Centre in New York, would probably come back as Afghanistan de-stabilises once again.

Wallace announced last night that some 600 British troops are being sent to help secure the evacuation of British nationals, and Afghans who have helped the British in their operations and are now at risk of Taliban reprisals.

The security of British nationals, British military personnel, and former Afghan staff is our first priority, said Defence Minister Ben Wallace in a statement on Aug. 13.

He said they are set to arrive in the coming days and that they will also support the remaining diplomatic presence in the capital city of Kabul.

The UK diplomatic presence in the capital is being whittled down to a skeleton staff who will handle only administration relating to what is essentially an evacuation.

The announcement came as Afghanistans second-biggest city Kandahar, a key economic hub, fell to the Taliban.

A spokesman for the Taliban said on Friday they had captured three other cities, including the capital of Helmand province.

They now control most of northern Afghanistan and about a third of the countrys regional capitals.

The United States has announced it will send 3,000 troops to assist with the evacuation of Americans.

According to a U.S. intelligence assessment this week, the Taliban could isolate Kabul within 30 days and take it over in 90.

General Sir Nick Carter, the head of the British armed forces, warned that a dangerous security vacuum risks opening up and that the country could once again become a breeding ground for international terrorism.

Official advice last week told all British nationals to leave as soon as possible while there are still commercial travel options available.

PA and Reuters contributed to this report
The New York Times' masthead is displayed in front of the midtown headquarters in New York City on Dec. 7, 2009. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Project Veritas Prepares to Depose New York Times After New York Supreme Court Ruling

The journalism nonprofit Project Veritas can depose New York Times employees in what could become a landmark case for defamation, a New York Supreme Court judge ruled on Aug. 12.

State Supreme Court Justice Charles Wood had sided on March 20 against the newspapers request to dismiss a lawsuit from Project Veritas over stories that the watchdog organization says defamed it.

The New York Times later moved to halt all discovery in the action, claiming that moving forward would needlessly burden the paper and the court system and that their appeal raises novel and important legal questions that would benefit from review.

But state Supreme Court Justice Joan Lefkowitz sided against the paper, concluding that Project Veritas would be substantially prejudiced by a delay in discoverya delay that could have lasted up to three years if the stay had been granted.

Here, having first failed to convince the Court that plaintiffs case should be dismissed, defendants also failed to demonstrate the extraordinary justification required for the imposition of the drastic remedy of a stay pending appeal, Lefkowitz wrote in a 12-page opinion.

Fresh off the press: The New York Supreme Court has sided with Project Veritas: Project Veritas will be permitted to depose The New York Times, James OKeefe, founder of Project Veritas, said in a statement on Telegram.

A spokesperson for the nonprofit told The Epoch Times that the timeline for the depositions isnt yet clear.

The group plans to depose Maggie Astor and Tiffany Hsu, among other New York Times employees. Theyll have to answer questions regarding articles that Wood described as meeting the dictionary definitions of disinformation and deceptive.

A New York Times spokesperson and a lawyer representing the paper didnt respond to requests for comment by press time.
Australia's energy security is at risk without a complete revamp to the electrical grid. (Brody O/Shutterstock)

Rapid Renewables Rollout Poses Critical Dangers to the Grid

Why a "cowboy" gung-ho approach to wind and solar power could leave the nation riddled with blackouts and price shocks.

As environmental groups and activists demand Australia do more to address climate concerns, energy experts have issued their own warning around Australias energy security amid an accelerated proliferation of renewable power.

The Australian governments Energy Security Board urged the prime minister and state premiers that Australias grid infrastructure was in need of a complete overhaul to cope with a rapid shift towards more solar and wind energy.

In particular, the board listed two must-haves amid a transition to more renewables: ensuring reliable energy supply and stabilising grid frequency.

An Extinction Rebellion protestor beside a burning pram outside Parliament House that was vandalised following an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report which suggested more needed to be done to address climate concerns on Aug. 10, 2021, Canberra, Australia (AAP Image/Supplied by Extinction Rebellion)

Expert in electrical grid systems and University of Melbourne Engineering Professor Iven Mareels agreed with the point, saying that although he believed Australia had to pivot away from fossil fuel energy, several key logistical challenges had to be addressed first.

We cant transition like a cowboy, Mareels told The Epoch Times. We have to transition carefully.

Mareels clarified that the switch was not an overnight endeavour, with careful design and planning with the best brains behind it essential in reinforcing a robust, well-functioning electrical grid.

Saying we can do this overnight, take all the coal-fired power plants, and shell be alright mateits not going to work, he said.

Mareels point has been illustrated several times over the last three months, beginning with coal plant outages in New South Wales (NSW) that forced Australias largest aluminium smelter to halt operations and power down five times in two weeks.

Then, a fire at the Callide coal plant cut power to 400,000 Queenslanders and plunged parts of the state into a blackout.

Combined, these coal power outages subsequently propelled average household energy prices across most of Australia to three times that of last year.

Mareels emphasised that if Australia did not ensure sufficient renewable energy supply, and maintain its grid frequency and inertia; the country could quickly face an energy shortfall crisis.

Ensuring Sufficient Renewable Energy Supply

Mareels explained that the intermittency of wind and solar meant more wind turbines and solar panelsalso known as photovoltaics (PV)had to be built if they were to compete with similar output from fossil fuels.

A gigawatt of PV is not a gigawatt of coal-fired power, Mareels said.

This is because wind and solar generation depend heavily on weather conditions and the time of daywith windless nights or cloudy days severely hampering renewable energy generation.

Owing to these factors, Mareels said that, even with generous estimates, the expected output for solar and wind would on average be one quarter, or 25 percent, of its maximum capacity.

This meant four times as many solar and wind farms would be required to deliver the same amount of energy in the long run.

An aerial view of the Darling Downs solar farm near Dalby, Queensland, Australia in this undated photo. (AAP Image/APA)

People have to realise the grid now is about 40 gigawatts of power. In order to do this with renewables, we probably have to build something that is four times biggerwe probably have to build something like 160 [gigawatts].

But Mareels said that the 25 percent figure was still optimistic, with current values only at around 16 percent.

As a result, Mareels highlighted that, even with solar and wind producing energy at no cost, the construction of a renewables grid of the future with additional interconnecting infrastructure would carry a far larger price tag to go along with it.

Furthermore, Mareels pointed to pumped hydropowerinstead of lithium-based batteriesas the optimal choice for large-scale grid energy storage.

While pumped hydro projectswhich use water reservoirs to store energycan be more expensive than big grid batteries, the energy storage capacity offered is substantially greater.

For example, Snowy 2.0a pumped hydro project headed by the Australian governmentis 25 times more expensive than South Australias new big battery, but its storage capacity will be 1,400 times greater.

And despite support from renewable advocates, Mareels noted that batteries were, in fact, not renewable given the presence of lithiuma finite mineral that is notoriously difficult to recycle.

Why Grid Frequency and Inertia Matters

In addition to supply, Mareels explained that maintaining grid frequency was one of the most important technical aspects required in a functioning grid.

In Australia, every home, business, and power station has alternating current (AC) at a frequency of 50 Hz (hertz) coursing through its electrical cables.

Typical coal, gas, and hydropower systems are backed by turbines that make generators spin at 50 revolutions per secondor 50 Hz. And as a result, every part of the grid is inextricably linked to this frequency.

However, when Australians return from work on a cold winter evening and crank up the heating or on a hot day the airconditioning, the frequency drops, and the turbine-based power stations are fired up to try to bring the grid back to 50 Hz.

Mareels explained that the big thermal generators carried with them a huge amount of inertiaor the tendency to keep spinning and resist change, even as power demand grows.

Industrial turbine used in thermal generators. (Photosoup/Adobe Stock)

Theyre big, and they are rotating, just like a train. You cant stop a train when its running, right? Mareels said.

Because the generators can keep spinning and help keep the grid at around 50 Hzat least for some timeeven as energy demand grows.

The rotating machine contains an awful lot of kinetic energy, Mareels said. And if the grid slows down, then the machines say Hey, I dont like this, and it takes some of its own kinetic energy away and pumps it back into the grid.

Crucially, then, Mareels explained that the inertia bought the grid time to react until new energy generation was fired up to meet the demand.

However, with a lack of large spinning generators, solar and wind lacked inertia altogether.

South Australia had previously experienced the brunt of a blackout in 2016 after extreme weather forced several wind farms offline, with a series of events inevitably leading to a power supply shortfall, leaving 850,000 of the states residents without power.

Prior to this, South Australia ceased its last coal-fired power station earlier in 2016, which saw the exit of 520 MW of inertia-delivering generation. The Australian Energy Market Operator later declared an inertia shortfall in South Australia in 2018.

To ensure baseline inertia and power security levels, AEMO was also forced to manually intervene 321 times in 2020 to ensure spinning thermal generators continued to stay online after wind and solar power peaked. This was in contrast to 2016, when AEMO had to manually intervene just 6 times.

Mareels said one solution was keeping the generators connected to the grid without being hooked up to the coal or gas turbines, acting as synchronous condensers that spin freely whilst providing the system with inertia.

Another solution was grid-forming batteries, an emerging technology that allows batteries to provide virtual inertia by using software to pump energy into the grid as soon as it detects a drop in frequency.

The Path to an All-Renewables Grid

Environmental groups have pressed for Australia to halt developing fossil fuel power, but Mareels said that gas might be key in facilitating the transition over to an all-renewables electrical grid.

The Yallourn coal-fired power station in Latrobe Valley, Victoria, on Oct. 9, 2002. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)

I wouldnt keep coal-fired power plants alive at all. I think we can do without them, Mareels said. But we have to plan the transition from having coal-fired power plants 70 percent of our power, to zero, carefully.

However, a roadmap by the International Energy Agency suggested that oil and gas were no longer needed to reach lowered emissions.

But gas has been lauded by the Australian government as a way to support a transition to renewables by supplying dispatchable energy generation, part of its Gas-Fired Recovery plan.

Mareels elaborated that gas power plants produced fewer emissions than coal, brought a source of inertia into play, could be converted to hydrogen easily, and can deliver power extremely fastsupporting renewables during periods of low output.

Its a transition measure, Mareels said. The environmentalists are right; a carbon gas-fired power station is still a fossil fuel.

On the other hand, in the meantime, because we dont have enough inertia in the renewables system, we need inertia from somewhere. And the cheapest way is to use gas power plants because they have a lower carbon footprint than coal.

A report by CSIRO (pdf) found that domestic gas use for power generation reduced emissions by an estimated 31 or 50 percent when compared with coal, depending on the type of gas turbine used.

Most gas-fired power plants probably can run on hydrogen as well, so you can switch them over to something more renewable afterwards, Mareels said.

And they can act quickly, and that act quickly is important. The coal-fired power plant cannot compensate for the vagaries of PV and wind, but the gas-fired power plant can. If wind drops, gas can drop in almost immediately and pick it up where the wind left off. And the battery can do that, but only for a very short period of time.
Rare 13-Foot Hammerhead Shark Caught, Safely Released Off the Coast of Florida Panhandle

A charter fishing company and its clients were awestruck after they caught a rare, 13-foot hammerhead shark during a trip off the coast of the Florida Panhandle. The company claimed the monster was the biggest shark it had reeled in.

The incredible catch was caught on camera before the shark was safely released back into the water.

Jack Moran, co-owner of Navarre Beach Shark Fishing (NBSF), told The Epoch Times that Kerry Gulliksen and Tanner Piehl were running the charter that caught the rare beast. The group was out fishing from the shoreline between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m. on July 31.

Moran was incredulous the first time he saw the hammerhead. [I] didnt want to get ahead of myself when I first saw it by making any claims about size or species, he said. Tanner was just shocked, because neither of us had seen one that big.

Clients didnt expect to catch something of that size and thus were super excited, said Moran, adding that hammerheads ranging between 8 and 9 feet in length are more common off the Florida Panhandle; but a hammerhead over 12 feet long is rare.

GoPro footage shared on YouTube shows the hammerhead struggling against the fishing line, which encouraged the crew to reel it in quickly and keep it in the water to ensure an easy release. They also cut the hook from its mouth.

We got it released within a minute, said Moran.

Taking to the YouTube comments section to clarify Gulliksen and Piehls decision, Moran explained, with hammerheads, they will literally fight to the death, thats why we cut the hook for the quickest release possible.

Posting a still from the crews footage on Facebook to celebrate their catch, Moran captioned, We landed the biggest shark in NBSF thus far  Kerry Gulliksen and Tanner Piehl did a great job dehooking and releasing this monster.

Given the inexhaustible fighting power of the hammerhead shark, Moran told The Epoch Times that he advises all fishing crews to follow the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissions (FWC) rules and regulations for dealing with this species.

It is key to use heavy tackle with a lot of drag to get the shark in as quickly as possibleunder 15 minutescut the hook out, and release, he said. No time for pictures. Thats why we record our trips with GoPros to take stills from the video.

Watch the nail-biting footage below:

(Courtesy of Navarre Beach Shark Fishing

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A man is seen praying outside St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 23, 2020. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Rationalists Are Making a Deal With the Devil to Push Out Religion in Australia

Commentary

Every five years, Australians complete the Census survey to give governments the information needed to make essential decisions about services.

Plans for providing for schools, transport, infrastructure, healthcare, and local community services all depend upon obtaining the most accurate possible snapshot of the nation.

Since it was first conducted in 1911, the Australian Census has largely been an uncontroversial exercise in gathering population data.

Householders record answers to questions, return the completed form and dont think much more about it until the results are released the following year. However, in recent times, this data gathering has been weaponised by secular activists such as Meredith Doig, president of the Rationalist Society Australia.

The rationalist movement has been so hell-bent on driving religion out of Australia that they even turned to Satanists to bolster their case for banishing so-called superstition and deception from our fair land.

But in doing so, they merely reveal the incoherence of their argumentbecause Satanists categorise themselves as a religious organisation under Australian law.

Rebellion against tyranny is listed as one of Satanisms key objectives on the website of the Australian Temple of Satan, along with the exercise of compassion and critical thought.

All this has been described as fantastic by the president of the Rationalist Society, who failed to reconcile her anti-religion enthusiasm with the religious status claimed by Satanism.

Convinced that the principles of Satanism are entirely compatible with the promotion of secular, liberal, and progressive ideals in Australia, Doig had called on the Satanists to tick No Religion when they, along with the rest of us, completed the Census last week.

Over the years, the Australian Census has shown an increase in those not identifying with any religion.

In 1966, the figure was 0.8 percent of the population. In 1991, it rose to 12.9 percent, and then to 30.1 percent at the most recent survey in 2016.

By then, secular activists had succeeded in moving the No Religion box from the last available option to the top.

And now, in 2021not content with the abovethey want also to tell us how to respond.

The Census 21 campaign was in full swing leading up to the 2021 Census, encouraging as many people as possible to tick No Religion.

Brought up as a Catholic but now dont go to church? Tick the No Religion box. Went to a Christian school but have had no contact with the church since then? Tick it. See yourself as only culturally religious but with no further affiliation? Again, tick that box. And get others to tick it, too.

The goal is to drive the percentage of Australians claiming no religious affiliation to the highest percentage possible.

The aggressive, secular left will then use that figure to argue that religion is fast disappearing from our society and that notions such as religious liberty are no longer worth defending, nor funding for religious activities or religious voices.

In the run up to the same-sex marriage postal vote in 2017, secular proponents argued that faith-based opposition should be given no weight when it came to considering the merits of making a change to the law.

Then they argued that Christian schools have no right to order their affairs according to the tenets of their faith.

And now they are arguing that when it comes to illegalising euthanasia in a secular democracy such as Australias, any faith-based opposing views are irrelevant and must be ignored.

Yet, in any liberal, secular democracy that comprises citizens with varied religious beliefs and traditions, a citizen with religious beliefs is as entitled as any other non-religious citizen to contribute to discussions about policy or law changes that will impact wider society.

In the 2016 Census, 52 percent of Australians were affiliated with Christianity.

But Australia also comprises people affiliated with many other religions, such as Islam (3 percent), Buddhism (2 percent), and Judaism (0.4 percent).

Yet religions secular activist opponents do not dare attack the beliefs of Muslims, Buddhists, or Jewseven though they often conflict directly with progressive opinion.

Even so, the higher Census 21 can drive the No Religion figure, the more insistent progressive voices will become.

Of course, the main object of their ire is the Roman Catholic Church which retains a powerful voice in our society through the provision of health care, aged care, pastoral, and education services. No other church in Australia is as well-organized and coherent in its voice.

The church stood against same-sex marriage just as it stands, now, against legalisings the killing of people by doctors. But, sadly, its faltering institutional response to the appalling scandal of child sexual abuse has only fueled the hostility of critics who doubled down in attacks on the Catholic Church.

All this is grist to the mill for activist groups, such as Census 21, who are urging people to repudiate their religious affiliation and leave the shadowlands of superstition to ascend to the sunlit uplands of secular progressivism. Rather coincidentally, the Chinese Communist Party also characterises religious beliefs as superstition.

Census 21 is explicit in its aims: to reduce public funding for religious organisations, to diminish their voice in public policy debates, and to show that religion is an irrelevant anachronism in our supposedly enlightened society.

Australians for whom religion remains an important part of their identity must remain on high alert to the bullying rational activism of the noisy secular minority in our midst.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks during an on-line New Year press conference with local and foreign journalists at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, on Jan. 18, 2021. (Jeon Heon-kyun/Pool Photo via AP)

Samsung: A Temporary Reprieve, but Still in Moons Crosshairs

Commentary

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will let Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong out of prison on Aug. 13. Lees case is the highest-profile element of what seems to be a grab for the commanding heights of the South Korean economy by the countrys leftist government.

The power struggle has implications far beyond the Korean Peninsula and could compromise the United States position in the region and Washingtons plans for a global clean tech alliance to counter Huawei.

Lee is effectively Samsungs boss and his family has a controlling interest in the company. He has been in and outand in and outof prison since he was first sentenced to five years in August 2017 in part for allegedly bribing former President Park Geun-hye. In February 2018, that sentence was suspended and then shortened. In January, he was reimprisoned. Now he is due to be released again.

Samsung is more than just another Korean company. While best known for its smartphones, Samsung also makes semiconductors and has units engaging in shipbuilding, construction, bio-pharmaceutical production, and insurance.

The Samsung group is responsible for about 17 percent of South Koreas GDP, one-fifth of the countrys exports, and, depending on how you calculate, its the 16th largest company by market value in the world. Samsung is literally an engine of the South Korean economy, a major employer, and a source of national pride and prestige.

Whats the American equivalent? Maybe if you combine Apple, Intel Corp. (the major semiconductor company), and General Motors, you might be in the ballpark.

People walk past the logo of Samsung Electronics at the companys Seocho building in Seoul, South Korea, on July 30, 2020. (Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images)

The Case

Study the charges and the evidence and one thinks Lee probably shouldnt have been in jail in the first place. Since President Moon took office in 2017, hes been muscling in on Samsungand trying to take control of the company.

Moon used rather thin charges of corporate wrongdoing and corruption to go after Samsung with the full weight of South Koreas prosecutors, and even the government-controlled or subservient media. Its been a relentless, multidirectional assault on the company, as well described by Dr. Tara O of the East Asia Research Center.

The Moon administration launched dozens of investigations; Moons front men arrested and imprisoned top executives, including Lee.

Lee Jae-yong, Samsung Group heir, arrives at Seoul Central District Court to hear the bribery scandal verdict in Seoul, South Korea, on Aug. 25, 2017. (Chung Sung-jun/Getty Images)

Lee isnt being released as an act of mercy, but because Moon needs to have Samsung firing on all cylinders to give the South Korean economy a boost before next Marchs presidential electionand thus improve Moons ruling Democratic Partys prospects.

Additionally, Koreas main business lobby, the Federation of Korean Industries, and a large majority of the public also want Lee released.

This saga says more about the Moon regime and Korean leftists than it does about Korean efforts to rein in corruption. And the U.S. government ought to take notice.

Samsung Story Is Ultimately About Political Power

Moon and his jusapa associates are former, but unrepentant, student radicals with both pro-North Korea and pro-China affinities. And many of them have no great love for the United States. Read what they have written and listen to what they said, and what they still sayespecially when they think the Americans arent listening. Their approach to power and control is definitely a certain sort of leftist.

Moon has forced Samsung to accept the appointment of something called the Samsung law surveillance commission. These are outsiders (except for one Samsung representative) and are what some would call progressives. But these arent the sort who are interested in better food in the employee cafeteria or time-and-a-half for overtime. Rather, theyre the type who would prefer to string management up from a lamppost.

Samsung is also being forced to bring in labor unions. South Koreas labor unionsrepresented by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU)are extremists. Theyre often violent, with pro-North Korea elements.

The idea is to ensure that pro-Moon labor unions have a major role in running the company. Its sort of like Chinese leaders ordering that Communist Party branches be put into every company in recent years. Its all about control and intimidation.

Samsung executives were made to conduct something akin to self-criticism sessions of the Chinese Cultural Revolution sortperhaps not wearing dunce caps, placards, and facing a howling mob, but not far off. Moon even extracted an apology from Lee for violations of compliance obligations.

Some official Samsung statements made over the past few yearsincluding by Leesound like forced confessions from prisoners in the Chinese or Soviet gulags.

Moon is also changing laws to allow South Koreas National Pension Service (NPS)in other words, the governmentto take the controlling interest in Samsung away from the Lee family. Hes used the NPS like an activist investorcontrolling or influencing who moves into management positions.

So whats the big deal? Isnt this just sharp-elbowed domestic politics?

Not quite.

It raises fundamental questions about rule of law, commitment to free markets, and the safety of investment in South Korea. If the government doesnt like you, or if youre too successful, it comes after youjust like the Chinese regime.

But even more, there is the adage: financial power equals political power.

One understands the Moon administration for going after Samsung.

Get control, and Samsung becomes a piggy bank to fund Moons Democratic Party and its political activities. Moon can reward cronies with jobs and sinecures, effectively pay off labor unions, and ensure their votesand their muscle against regime opponents.

Theres even money to buy off enough of the opposition to keep it weak.

All this brings to mind Venezuelas leftist dictator Hugo Chavez taking over PDVSA (Petroleos de Venezuela)the state oil companythat was comparable to Samsung in terms of economic and political clout. Chavez and his successor ran PDVSA into the ground, where it remains.

Some critics claim Moon and his leftist associates want to establish perpetual one-party rule in South Korea. And Moons efforts to control the major levers of power in South Koreathe judiciary, the prosecutors, the National Election Commission, the intelligence service, and even the militaryadd credence to these charges.

Follow through with the Marxist dictate of getting hold of the commanding heights of the economy, in this case, Samsung, and the one-party rule objective becomes more of a possibility.

Whats the Problem for the United States?

A South Korea dominated by these sorts of leftists doesnt, over the long term, bode well for the U.S.-South Korea alliance and the U.S.-led security architecture in Northeast Asia.

In the more immediate term, the U.S. government is counting on Samsung to be a reliable supplier of semiconductorshaving belatedly realized it doesnt produce nearly enough chips in the United States.

But theres another worry for Washington  or at least there ought to be.

The U.S. government is trying to keep Chinese hardware (and Chinese surveillance) out of the free worlds 5G (and future 6G) networks. The United States is counting on vetted, reliable companies to produce hardware for this so-called clean networkand thus provide a worldwide alternative to Chinese-dominated networks.

Washington expects Samsung to play a major role in this effort.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in (R) hugs North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) before their meeting in Panmunjom, North Korea, on May 26, 2018. (South Korean Presidential Blue House via Getty Images)

South Korean leftists leanings toward Beijing (not to mention Pyongyang) alone ought to raise concerns about those plans. But should Samsung come under leftist control, especially given their pro-Beijing predilections, confidence in the company as a trusted source of hardware for the clean network plummets. Or at least it should. China would like nothing better than a new clean skin for its tech.

Others in South Korea have raised concern that Samsungs technologywhich is really the only thing of value a high-tech company haswill also be at risk of leaking to China.

Whats the Good News?

Despite having had almost four years to reel in Samsung, Moon hasnt quite succeeded. One can thank COVID-19 and the disruption it caused for that. But also, Moons popularity has waned as his economic policies have caused more harm than benefit to the population. And a stream of breathtaking corruption scandals involving Moons party hasnt helped.

Releasing the vice chairman early is something of a last-ditch effort to have Samsung boost the economy before South Korean voters select a new president in March 2022.

The outcome of the election just might determine Samsungs future. As South Korea goes, so goes Samsung. Should the leftist Democratic Party retain control, Samsung might be on its way to becoming a quasi state-owned enterpriseand the state itself increasingly aligned with Pyongyang and Beijing. In which case, expect a lot more self-criticism sessions, imprisonments, and politicization of the economyall to better serve the larger goals of one-party rule, uniting with North Korea, and ultimately getting the Americans off the Korean Peninsula.

And that ought to worry both South Koreans and Americans.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, responds to questions after a social housing funding announcement in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on July 28, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)

Saskatchewan Signs on to Federal Governments $10 a Day Child Care Plan

REGINASaskatchewan is signing on to the federal governments plan to implement $10-a-day child care for families.

A child-care centre is as important to our economy, it is as much a piece of critical infrastructure, as a bridge, a road and a grain elevator, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said in Regina on Friday.

Freeland said the Liberal government is committing nearly $1.1 billion to Saskatchewan over the next five years.

The $10-a-day child care is to be implemented by the end of 2026, and a 50 per cent reduction in fees is expected by the end of next year. The funds will also help create 28,000 new regulated early learning and child-care spaces.

Freeland said the closing of schools and childcare centres due to the COVID-19 pandemic drove womens participation in the labour force down to its lowest level in two decades.

She said affordable child care will support women returning to work and help the economy recover.

Federal officials have been travelling the country in recent weeks, announcing agreements with some provinces and territories to create a national child-care system.

With Saskatchewan signing on, Freeland said it means nearly half of Canadian children will be affected by the deal. Saskatchewans government is the eighth to join and third conservative-led province in the group.

Canada has already signed child-care deals with Manitoba, Quebec, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Yukon, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Federal officials have said increased wages for educators is a sticking point for some of the jurisdictions that are still in negotiations.

Saskatchewan has committed to creating a wage grid that officials said will ensure early childhood educators are well paid. Saskatchewan Education Minister Dustin Duncan said wages need to reflect the hard work educators do.
As floating weeds, salvinia form dense mats on the surface of water bodies, disrupting aquatic flora and fauna underneath and thus hindering water flow, fishing, swimming, boating, water sports, and navigation. (AMMCO)

Saving a Cameroonian Lake From an Invasive Plant

LAKE OSSA, CameroonA Cameroonian lake choked with invasive weeds may be a science project for biologists, but for Charles Elingua, it means starvation.

I have been fishing in this lake for more than 30 years, said Elinga, the 56-year-old leader of fishermen in Lake Ossa and father of eight.

The salvinia weed has disrupted fishing considerably. I once was able to save up to FCFA$10,000 (US$17.99) from fishing daily. But today, it is pretty difficult to even fetch FCFA$1,000 (US$1.80) from the activity, which can hardly afford three square meals for my family.

Since appearing in the lake in 2016, Lake Ossa, one of the largest natural lakes in Cameroon, has been invaded by a fast-spreading waterweed known as salvinia molesta.

Nearly 70 percent of the lakes 4,000-hectare surface is now engulfed by this floating aquatic fern, which thrives in slow-moving, nutrient-rich, warm freshwater.

Fishermen have noticed a dramatic decrease in fish stocks. This has a direct bearing on the business of fish sellers. (Nalova Akua/Epoch Times)

But the government of Cameroon has initiated a nature-based solution to control the obnoxious weed.

More than 6,000 individual black, subaquatic insects measuring 2 to 3.5 millimeters (.07 to .13 inches) long, known as the Salvinia weevil, have been mass-reared for eventual release into the lake.

On July 27, a small quantity of the weevils was released in a portion of the lake , marking an experimental phase.

They were brought in from the Louisiana State University in the United States with the authorization of the Cameroon government, said Dr. Aristide Takoukam Kamla, founder of the African Marine Mammal Conservation Organization (AMMCO) in Cameroon.

The insects feed on the bud of the salvinia weed, which, in turn, is likely to lead to the death of the plant.

The weevils are effective because when the bud is damaged, it will most likely cause the remainder of the plant to die and sink, said Matthew Purcell, director of the Australian Biological Control Laboratory, a facility run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.

The weed itself is native to south-eastern Brazil and northern Argentina, but has been widely spread throughout the world during the past 50 years . Water currents, floods, animals, and humans have been identified as the main vectors spreading it.

Removing the invasive salvinia manually has proven to be tedious and unrealistic because it regenerates very quickly. (AMMCO)

Human factors are partly to blame for its spread in Cameroon.

Being the economic capital, the Littoral Region and especially Douala is the most industrialized municipality in Cameroon with about 60 percent of the countrys industries discharges often released in the open spaces, Kenfack Voukeng Sonia Nadege, a Cameroonian weed scientist working with Green Connection, a local environmental conservation non-governmental organization, told The Epoch Times.

Houses built without proper flushing systems contribute to the increase of the nutrients in the environment.

Lake Ossa and the Sanaga Riverthe largest River in Cameroonare connected by a less than two-mile-long channel, and this has also facilitated its spread, according to Kamla.

Two main nutrients needed for invasive weeds to grow are nitrogen and phosphorous coming from upstream. Once this river gets polluted, the lake also gets polluted, he said.

More than 80 percent of the locals used to depend on fishing for their livelihoods, according to the environmental group Global Water Partnership. But today, doing so is no longer possible.

The African Marine Mammal Organisation (AMMCO) and partners have been at the forefront of mass-rearing the weevils to be released into Lake Ossa.

Biological Control

The water-dwelling salvinia weevil feeds exclusively on the salvinia plant and will die without their host, according to scientists.

This methodknown as biological controlhas been outstandingly successful in suppressing populations of the invasive plant and restoring water bodies back to ecological balance.

The weevils were first collected by Australian researchers from the native range of salvinia molesta in southern Brazil in 1980.

The water-dwelling salvinia weevil feeds exclusively on the salvinia plant and will die without their host. (AMMCO)

Since its first release at Lake Moondarra, Mount Isa, Australia, in 1980, the salvinia weevil has successfully been used to control salvinia molesta in many Asian, Pacific, and African countries.

Lake Moondarra is mostly clear of salvinia today, Purcell said.

The larvae initially feed on roots then move to the buds, finally tunneling into the Rhizome which can kill the plant; adults feed on all plant parts externally.

Arnold Pieterse, a senior staff member of the Royal Tropical Institute who has coordinated tropical ecology and weed control projects in various parts of the world, agrees.

The insect cyrtobagous salviniae [the scientific name of the weed-eating insects] has been very effective at the time against salvinia molesta in the Senegal River. It is host-specific for salvinia and does not form any risk to the environment, Pieterse said.

Because salvinia plants reproduce asexually, a single tiny plant can eventually multiply and recover a whole water system, according to Purcell.

In summer and at high temperatures, the plant will often grow faster than mechanical harvesters can remove the plant.

The weevil population follows the growth of the weed closely. In spring and summer, salvinia increases and, in turn, the weevil then begins to breed and build up populations that reduces [kills] the salvinia, Purcell said.

Herbicidesanother option of weeding out the invasive alien weedhavent yet been tried in Lake Ossa, as they could have adverse effects on living organisms and the environment.

Herbicides and mechanical controls must be reapplied indefinitely as the plant regrows each season, Purcell said.

The mass-rearing of salvinia weevilthe natural enemy of the invasive aquatic fern salvinia molesta. The insects are said to have the ability to self-perpetuate and feed specifically on the weed. (AMMCO)

Though considered the most effective method compared to manual removal or chemical control (use of herbicides), scientists insist biological control will likely work in Cameroon, even as drawbacks have been registered in some countries.

The effectiveness varies from site to site depending on environmental parameters, temperature, nutrient availability and water flow, shade, and so on, Purcell said.

Fifty-thousand tons of salvinia on Lake Moondarra were killed by weevils over a 400-hectare infestation. Excellent control was achieved on Lake Moondarra, where within 14 months 200 hectares of salvinia were replaced by open water. This is a best-case scenario. Control in other areas may not be as effective if shaded.

One drawback with biological control is that the invasive plant never disappears.

Some salvinia must be tolerated, as this sustains a population of the weevil and complete eradication never occurs, Purcell said.

On the other hand, Purcell sees brighter days ahead for Lake Ossa, as does Julie Coetzee, deputy director and manager of the Aquatic Weed Biocontrol Program at Rhodes University, South Africa.

Because Cameroon is tropical, the prospects for successful biological control are high, she said.

I would predict that there will be a significant reduction in cover within 18 months, if not less. While the process is not perceived as quick, in comparison to herbicide, it is sustainable in the long term. Patience is key.

Purcell is also hopeful, but cautions that one of the enemies of control of salvinia and other aquatic weeds is eutrophication, inflows of chemical fertilizers into aquatic system from agriculture and sewerage, which can stimulate the growth of aquatic weeds, sometimes faster than the weevils can control the plants.

Those inflows into aquatic systems should also be regulated to improve the chances of control, he said.

This report was supported by the GLF-Climate Tracker Drylands Fellowship.
Scottish Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville speaks to the media during a visit to Lochgelly High School in Lochgelly, Fife, on Aug. 10, 2021. (Jane Barlow/PA)

Scottish Teachers Told to Use Childrens Chosen Gender and Names

Children as young as four can be referred to by their preferred gender pronouns and names in schools without their parents knowledge, according to a new guideline for teachers in Scotland.

The 70-page guidance, published on Thursday for Scottish schools, said children of any age can come out as transgender people.

Teachers are told not to say its just a phase when approached by kids who want to discuss their gender identity. They are also told to ask the kids what names and pronouns should be used to address them, and to check if thats all the time or in certain circumstances.

The guidance also said teachers should ask the kids if and with whom they can share the information.

Schools are told if children want to change their names, they can simply choose to tell others informally, and schools can update the school records using a Known As box.

However, children under 16 who wish to formally change their name and/or sex on their records will need to have their parents or carers write to theirs schools.

Schools are also told to try to accommodate their requests to use a preferred toilet or changing room while considering the privacy of other children and staff.

Biological sexes were referred to as people assigned male at birth and people assigned female in the guidance.

Teachers are expected to deal with transphobic bullying, which is defined as behavior or language which makes a young person feel unwelcome or marginalized because of perceived or actual transgender identity or transgender expression.

Apart from physical attacks, name calling, and gossiping, the guidance said that transphobic bullying can also include excluding someone from conversations, activities, and games, or gestures, looks, and other non-verbal communication.

Teachers are told to help young people who demonstrate bullying behavior by setting out clear expectations about behavior as well as supporting them to make amends where appropriate.

Marion Calder, co-director of the For Women Scotland campaign group told The Telegraph that this guidance is really, really worrying and that the Scottish government is pushing a dangerous ideology.

It used to be commonly understood that children should be able to play and experiment with gender roles, with clothing, their likes, and dislikes, Calder said.

Those children are now being encouraged on to a medical pathway, potentially for the rest of their lives.

Calder said children, especially primary school children, shouldnt be told that its possible to change their sex.

Scottish Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: We know transgender young people can face many issues in schools and that teachers and staff must have the confidence and skills to support their mental, physical, and emotional health.

This guidance outlines how schools can support transgender young people while ensuring that the rights of all pupils are fully respected. It provides schools with practical suggestions.
U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman testifies during a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Oct. 14, 2011. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

State Department Official Meets With Chinas New US Envoy

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met with Chinas newly appointed ambassador, Qin Gang, on Aug. 12, discussing issues that Beijing was bombarded with last month.

The Deputy reviewed issues raised from the last meeting in Chinas coastal city Tianjin and expressed the United States commitment to continuing discussions, said State Departments spokesman Ned Price. The brief statement didnt offer further details of the talk.

Sherman raised several concerns with the regimes top diplomats during her first in-person visit to China on July 26, including Beijings suppression of Hong Kongs pro-democracy movement, the ongoing genocide in Chinas far eastern Xinjiang region, abuses in Tibet, the Taiwan Strait, and boundaries of the South China Sea.

However, the regimes Foreign Minister Xie Feng told Sherman that the United States should change its highly misguided mindset and accused Washington of treating Beijing as an imaginary enemy.

Two days later, when Qin arrived in Washington, the veteran diplomat adopted a conciliatory tone, calling for continued engagement between the two countries.

The 55-year-old Qin has gained a reputation for his sharp rhetoric employed in retorts to Western criticism of the regime. The belligerent style, which Chinese diplomats have adopted, is dubbed wolf warrior.

According to Chinas state media Xinhua news, Qin stressed the utmost importance of Taiwan in the Sino-U.S. relationship during Thursdays meeting.

Beijing has regarded self-ruled Taiwan as its province. The United States has recently increased its support for Taiwan, including arms sales and COVID-19 vaccine donations. This has incensed the Chinese regime, which believes Washington is colluding with forces in Taiwan seeking the islands formal independencea red line for Beijing.

The United States, like most countries, does not maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. But Washington is Taipeis strongest international backer and main supplier of arms.

Meeting the newly arrived de facto U.S. Ambassador to Taipei, Sandra Oudkirk, on Friday, Taiwan Vice President William Lai expressed thanks for U.S. support and its stressing of the importance of stability in the Taiwan Strait in the face of threats from China.

This is extremely helpful for Taiwans society, cross-Taiwan Strait developments, and peace in the Indo-Pacific, the presidential office cited Lai as saying.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade marking the 22nd year of the persecution of Falun Gong in China, in Brooklyn, N.Y., on July 18, 2021. (Chung I Ho/The Epoch Times)

Survivor of Communist Poland Wins Human Rights Award for Supporting Falun Gong

A former survivor of the communist takeover of Poland has been awarded for his efforts promoting freedom of belief for Falun Gong practitioners worldwide.

Australia-based Professor Sev Ozdowski AM, chair of the Australian Multicultural Council and vice-chancellors fellow at Western Sydney University, has worked closely with Falun Gong practitioners to hold events and raise awareness around the persecution taking place in China.

Ozdowski was unable to attend the ceremony, which was held in Washington D.C., but sent a video acceptance speech, saying he was delighted to receive the Friends of Falun Gong Human Rights Award.

Professor Sev Ozdowski accepting the Friends of Falun Gong Human Rights Award (Supplied)

My interest in human rights and my work to advance and promote rights and freedoms dates to my youth in communist Poland. Human rights are the basic freedoms and protections that belong to every single one of us, and that should be delivered by a state, he said.

However, my experience of communism in Poland taught me that a totalitarian state could be, in fact, the worst violator of human rights, he added.

Ozdowski explained that many of his family members were killed during the Nazi invasion of Poland in 1939. After the war, Poland came under communist rule, where his family suffered persecution because they were leaders and property owners.

I understand the communist system. I remember the uprising in Poznan in 1956 when tanks were rolling and plenty of people were killed, he said. I was a boy of 7-years-old, but I remember very vividly all the shootings done by Polish and Soviet soldiers against the workers who simply rebelled because there was not enough bread; they just couldnt buy enough food to support to themselves.

Ozdowski learned about Falun Gong after receiving a flyer in Sydneys Chinatown.

Falun Gong is a meditation practice encompassing both Buddhist and Daoist principles. It spread widely in China during the 1990s, growing to over 100 million adherents.

However, in July 1999, former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin launched a nationwide persecution on the practice and its followers. He declared that the CCP would ruin their reputations, bankrupt them financially, and destroy them physically.

As a result, millions of Falun Gong adherents became victims of the persecution, with many imprisoned, tortured, and compelled to renounce their faith.

In 2006, reports of systematic organ harvesting targeting adherents also began to emerge, and it was finally recognised by the United Nations in June 2020.

Falun Dafa practitioners commemorate lives lost and 20 years of persecution by the Chinese communist regime in Sydney, Australia, on July 19, 2019. (The Epoch Times)

Ozdowski said one of the key issues with raising awareness around organ harvesting was that people were in disbelief when they learned of it.

It reminds me of Jan Karski, a Polish resistance fighter who was smuggled by the Polish underground to Auschwitz to document what was happening in the concentration camp, he said. He was then sent to the United States where he met the U.S. Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter in Washington D.C., who was of Jewish background.

When Karski talked about gassing people, mass executions, starvation and inhuman conditions in Auschwitz, Frankfurter simply said, I must say I do not believe you, he said.

Ozdowski noted that another issue was that some business and political leaders chose to turn a blind eye to the practice due to having vested interests in the Chinese market.

He called on Falun Gong practitioners to stay strong and remember the victims of communist oppression in China.

They need to be cherished and remembered. It is part of Falun Gongs mission not to allow a re-writing of Chinese history, he added. Prepare yourselves for a role in a reborn China, because it may happen sooner than you think.
Afghan National Army commando forces walk along a road amid ongoing fighting between Taliban and Afghan security forces in the Enjil district of Herat province, on Aug. 1, 2021. (Hoshang Hashimi/AFP via Getty Images)

Taliban Takes More Cities, Top Official Warns of Afghanistan Civil War

Amid significant Taliban gains over the past week or so, which includes the capture of the second- and third-largest Afghan cities on Thursday, a top UK official has warned that the conflict could morph into a civil war.

Britain found that out in the 1830s, that it is a country led by warlords and led by different provinces and tribes, and you end up, if youre not very careful in a civil war, and I think we are heading towards a civil war, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told the BBC on Friday, referring to the British Empires incursion in Afghanistan about 170 years ago that ultimately resulted in an Afghan victory.

The Taliban, he added, is not entirely a single entity and break down underneath the title into all sorts of different interests.

Fighters with the Taliban, a designated terrorist group, captured Kandaharthe second-largest city in Afghanistanand Heratthe third-largeston Thursday after taking numerous other cities and provincial capitals.

The city looks like a front line, a ghost town, provincial council member Ghulam Habib Hashimi told Reuters, referring to Herat, which is located near the Iran-Afghanistan border. Families have either left or are hiding in their homes.

Afghan Member of Parliament Gul Ahmad Kamin confirmed to CNN and other outlets that Kandahar fell to the terror group. The Taliban also confirmed the capture in a statement on Friday.

As in other areas, the Afghan army fled or surrendered to the Taliban, said Kamin.

Under the Talibans 1996-2001 rule, women could not work, girls were not allowed to attend school and women had to cover their face and be accompanied by a male relative if they wanted to venture out of their homes. In early July, Taliban fighters ordered nine women to stop working in a bank.

A Taliban fighter (C) is seen surrounded by locals at Pul-e-Khumri on Aug. 11, 2021, after the Taliban captured Pul-e-Khumri (-/AFP via Getty Images)

Of Afghanistans major cities, the government still holds Mazar-i-Sharif in the north and Jalalabad, near the Pakistani border in the east, in addition to Kabul.

In response to the Talibans victories, the Department of Defense and State Department said about 3,000 U.S. military forces would be sent to help evacuate U.S. Embassy staff in Kabul. Those troops, which includes Marine and Army battalions, will also be sent to the Kabul airport.

The UK, meanwhile, confirmed that it would send 600 troops to help its citizens leave Afghanistan.

The Taliban also issued a lengthy statement on Friday morning, calling on Afghans under their rule to return to their homes, adding that the group will protect them and their private property.

Our message to the businessmen, industrialists and capitalists is that they should carry out their business normally, serve their people, and the [Taliban] will provide a safe and conducive environment for their business, the statement said, according to a Pashto-to-English translation.

Meanwhile, Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told The Associated Press that the Afghan army was rotting due to corruption and rampant mismanagement, leaving troops with a lack of equipment and no motivation to fight against the Taliban.

The Taliban, Roggio added, have seized key infrastructure in urban areas by capitalizing on the Afghan armys poor morale.

Whatever forces are left or remaining that are in the Kabul area and the provinces around them, theyre going to be used for the defense of Kabul, Roggio said. Unless something dramatically changes, and I dont see how thats possible, these provinces (that have fallen) will remain under Taliban control.

Reuters contributed to this report.
The Arsenal of Democracy No More

Commentary

President Joe Bidens handlers and supporters portray him as a new Franklin Delano Roosevelt. If he were, he would continue former President Donald Trumps hardline stance against China and work to return our military supply chain to our nations shores.

The federal government needs to do what Roosevelt did during World War II and ramp up investment in critical infrastructure aspects, including mining, defense plants, and shipyards. If the storm clouds of war with China and Russia materialize, the United States lacks the capacity to churn out adequate transport ships, frigates, destroyers, and other warships to replace those that would inevitably be destroyed in the event of hostilities.

This administrations infrastructure rhetoric could be more wisely spent on investing these trillions in reconstituting the nations industrial base.

Government investment in industry in the run-up to World War II provided the leverage that made it possible for the nations economy to crush Germany and Japan. One estimate notes that the U.S. output of manufactured goods increased 300 percent and the extraction of raw materials by 60 percent.

Roosevelt called America the arsenal of democracy and warned against individuals who abetted the nations enemies. Americas industrial might was the key to Allied victories in both World Wars and in the Cold War.

At the start of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, observers noted that American industrial might would eventually allow the United States to defeat the Soviets. Today, China is on the upswing and America is in decline. FDR denounced American businessmen, bankers, and politicians who helped the Axis powers, not unlike those who help China today.

There are also American citizens, many of them in high places, who, unwittingly in most cases, are aiding and abetting the work of these agents. I do not charge these American citizens with being foreign agents. But I do charge them with doing exactly the kind of work that the dictators want done in the United States, Roosevelt said.

These people not only believe that we can save our own skins by shutting our eyes to the fate of other nations. Some of them go much further than that. They say that we can and should become the friends and even the partners of the Axis powers. Some of them even suggest that we should imitate the methods of the dictatorships. Americans never can and never will do that.

Congress established (pdf) a National Defense Stockpile on the eve of World War II that remained in place until the end of the Cold War. It required the stockpiling of materials needed to hedge against global supply shortages and cartel-like behavior by foreign exporters. It evaporated following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. It accounted for $10 billion at the end of the Cold War, and Congress decided to divest (pdf) its holdings in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 1993.

The U.S. defense establishment has sacrificed its ability to be self-reliant ever since, and for this reason, the Chinese already have won the next war without firing a shot.

China successfully seduced U.S. corporations into trading away the nations industrial base in exchange for fatter bottom lines. Theyve transferred trillions in wealth to China, whose gross domestic product (GDP) stood at $383 billion in 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed. Today, Chinas GDP stands at $14.7 trillion, which has enabled its massive military buildup.

As a result, the U.S. military relies almost exclusively on Chinese imports for its supply chain. The Washington-based Alliance for American Manufacturing first warned about the danger in 2013 during the ObamaBiden administration.

The pace of decline in U.S. manufacturing abruptly accelerated since 2000. Between 2000 and 2009, the United States lost 31.2 percent of its manufacturing jobs, and in 2009, the manufacturing sector fell from 13.1 percent of total employment to 9.1 percent, their report stated (pdf).

The U.S. abandonment of mining rare earths is of critical concern because theyre used in anything that has a screen or touchscreen in the U.S. military. Both the Trump and Biden administrations stated their desire to reclaim control over the nations supply of rare-earth metals. Trump signed an executive order in September 2020 that called for the restoration of domestic production of rare earths.

Roosevelt, like Trump, was a staunch nationalist who understood that American military power stemmed from its industrial might.

Americas corporate leaders have done exactly what Roosevelt warned against with Chinas Communist Party, which Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said on Aug. 4 was a severe national security threat.

U.S. corporations are so desperate to have access to the Chinese market that theyll lead costly boycotts in an American state that passes a law that they dont like, Rubio said. American companies have actually fired Americans who live in America for saying or writing something that China doesnt like.

What has happened is akin to having had the United States cede its supply chain to Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan during the 1930s amid the inevitable threat of war with the two countries.

The House Armed Services Committee released a report by its Defense Critical Supply Chain Task Force in July that reaffirmed the danger posed by reliance on China.

The COVID-19 pandemic likewise taught the United States and our allies that adversaries, particularly China, are capable of weaponizing supply chain vulnerabilities to threaten our national security should they choose to, the report stated (pdf). The Task Force recommends a statutory requirement to identify supplies and materials for major end items that come from adversarial nations and implement a plan to reduce reliance on those nations.

The U.S. government needs to return to Cold War priorities of training U.S.-born students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Domestic students are needed, instead of importing large numbers of students from hostile nations such as China, Pakistan, and Turkey to squelch brain drain and keep American technical advances at home and in service of U.S. national security.

U.S. universities shouldnt help our enemies. More incentives are needed to encourage Americans to get into the trades.

Congress should also reconstitute the National Defense Stockpile, create a program to fund and manage the reconstitution of domestic suppliers of microelectronics and circuitry, and recycle rare earths to eliminate hostile sources of critical components.

If Biden wants to be a new FDR, he needs to ignore the environmentalists who control his party and make the reindustrialization and rebuilding of the arsenal of democracy a national security priority.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
In this file image, British paratroopers from 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment arrive at Camp Eagle in the Zabul Province, Afghanistan, on June 17, 2008. (Marco Di Lauro/Getty Images)

UK Sends 600 Troops To Afghanistan to Help Evacuate Britons

Some 600 British troops are being sent to Afghanistan to help Britons to leave the country, as Taliban forces continue to sweep into the major cities, the Defence Minister has announced.

The security of British nationals, British military personnel, and former Afghan staff is our first priority, said Defence Minister Ben Wallace in a statement on Aug. 13.

He said they are set to arrive in the coming days and that they will also support the remaining diplomatic presence in the capital city of Kabul.

The UK diplomatic presence in the capital is being whittled down to a skeleton staff who will handle only administration relating to what is essentially an evacuation.

UK troops will provide force protection and logistical support for the relocation of British nationals where required and assist with the acceleration of the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP), said the Ministry of Defence, in a statement.

This will help to make sure interpreters and other Afghan staff who risked their lives working alongside UK forces in Afghanistan can relocate to the UK as soon as possible.

The announcement came as Afghanistans second-biggest city Kandahar, a key economic hub, fell to the Taliban.

A spokesman for the Taliban said on Friday they had captured three other cities, including the capital of Helmand province.

They now control most of northern Afghanistan and about a third of the countrys regional capitals.

The United States has announced it will send 3,000 troops to assist with the evacuation of Americans.

According to a U.S. intelligence assessment this week, the Taliban could isolate Kabul within 30 days and take it over in 90.

General Sir Nick Carter, the head of the British armed forces, warned that a dangerous security vacuum risks opening up and that the country could once again become a breeding ground for international terrorism.

Official advice last week told all British nationals to leave as soon as possible while there are still commercial travel options available.

They have also been urged to contact the Embassy in Kabul as soon as possible for assistance.

In April the UK government announced a scheme offering visas to Afghans who had worked for the British during their operations in Iraq, and who are now a target for Taliban retribution.

According to the government, over 3,100 such staff and their families have successfully applied, with more than 1,800 of them arriving over the last few weeks alone.

The Ministry of Defence said that the scheme would be accelerated in the coming days.

The rapid collapse of Afghanistans government forces under Taliban advance has reignited criticism of the withdrawal of American and British military presence.

The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, Conservative Tom Tugendhat MP, wrote on Twitter, A hasty exit is not a sign of success. Needing reinforcements to keep the door open as you leave is a sure sign of failure.

Lord Richards, a former chief of defence staff, told BBCs Newsnight: I think they will be doing what we call a non-combatant evacuation operation. They will hold the ring for as long as they can and then get out along with the people they have helped.

He added: It is a tacitexplicit reallyadmission of failure. Of a gross, a dismal failure of geostrategy and of statecraft.

I had hoped that we would hear from the Government an explanation for why we are in this position, and then an explanation for how they are going to avert this disaster.

PA and Reuters contributed to this report.
Activists from the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion take part in a protest march on the first day of the three-day G7 summit in St Ives, Cornwall, England, on June 11, 2021. (Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images)

UN Climate Report Reveals the Crisis Is About Truth, Not Climate

Commentary

The United Nations latest climate change report sparked predictable hyperventilating. Youve seen the headlines crying, Code Red for Humanity and clamoring about extreme and unprecedented warming likely to be irreversibleaccompanied by fear-mongering images of raging wildfires and flooded towns.

Fortunately, the true state of our climate is far from disastrous. In fact, both climate science and thousands of years of human history show that this is the best time yet to be alive. The U.N. is continually moving the goalposts when its apocalyptic predictions fail to come true.

The problem with climate science today isnt so much the science as shoddy reporting that oversimplifies and overdramatizesand a toxic political climate (pun intended) that forbids deviation from the politically correct narrative.

The computer models used by the U.N. and every other climate-focused entity around the world are statistical projections, not precise calculations. The specific models cited in the latest U.N. report are designed to offer a broad range of possible outcomes and formulated using highly suspect and outdated criteria. Yet, the report focuses heavily on the model scenarios known to be extremely unlikelygarnering more than 40 percent of mentions and almost 100 percent of media coverage.

These same models show that even totally eliminating fossil fuel consumption would have a microscopic influence on global temperaturesless than two-tenths of a degree Celsius even if the full Green New Deal was enacted immediately.

In reality, we know remarkably little about the effect of human activity on the climate. What the vast majority of us know about climate change we get from the news, and it sure seems that natural disasters such as floods, wildfires, and the recent heat waves in the Pacific Northwest are getting more common. But perception doesnt equal reality.

Global weather data show hurricane activity and frequency havent increased over the long term. News articles fueling climate anxiety usually cite spurious graphs that start the timeline in the 1980s. But the world didnt begin in the 1980s, and there have been several periods in history that saw the same, or worse, hurricane activity as were experiencing now.

Similarly, although you wouldnt know it from the news, wildfires and floods are on the decline, and recent heatwaves in the Pacific Northwest are small potatoes compared to the 180- and 240-year megadroughts the planet experienced between 800 and 1400 A.D.

The even better news? You and I are 99 percent less likely to die in a severe weather event than our great grandparents. In 1920, global climate-related disasters killed almost 500,000 people every year. Today, even though the worlds population has quadrupled, fewer than 20,000 die from climate-related disasters.

In fact, cold-related deaths are more than 40 times more common than heat-related deaths in the United States and Canada.

If were becoming more resilient to disasters that are happening less often, whats the crisis? Its not a climate crisis, but a crisis of truth.

The climate activists who demand that we follow the science appear remarkably uninterested in the nuances and uncertainties of the research they believe supports their ideology.

Science has never been about marching in lockstep with the mainstream. Its purpose has always been curiosity, testing new ideas, and striving to understand more about how the world workseven, and especially, if it proves a previous theory wrong. Even schoolchildren know to shake their heads in disdain at the politicians who persecuted Galileo for having the audacity to publish his theory about the solar system. Yet, the same abuse of science is occurring every day as the left exploits misunderstandings of climate research (deliberately or not) to push a political agenda.

While activists march against fossil fuels and let their children believe their future has no hope amid rising seas and dying rainforests, theyve turned a blind eye to the fact that humanity is better off now than it ever has been. Extreme poverty is at its lowest rate in recorded history, and people are living longer, healthier, freer, and more comfortable lives than ever before. Climate change or no climate change, the future is bright if we only look past the hysteria and seek to truly understand the world around us.

As former Obama-era undersecretary for science Steve Koonin explains in his book Unsettled, climate reporting is like a game of telephone. The U.N.s Sixth Assessment Report is a 3,949-page PDF. Its easy to understand why reporters on deadline fail to meticulously comb through the entire document or the catalog of research it cites. They simply dont have time to dig past the simplistic talking points, so they select the most shocking and click-inducing claims without delving into the methodology or scientific uncertainties. Its understandable, but its also a disservice to the public. Something needs to change.

Instead of fixating on our climate, which is likely to remain mild and manageable as our resilience continues to improve, we should focus on sharing the affordable, reliable energy resources our nation is blessed with to fight poverty, improve environmental quality, and spread prosperity around the world.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
A view of the twin spans of the Blue Water Bridge connecting the U.S. (right) and Canada (left) at the American border city of Port Huron, Michigan, on August 11, 2021 (Steven Kovac/Epoch Times)

US Border Restrictions on Canadians Take Heavy Economic Toll on Michigan Border Community

PORT HURON, Mich.The economy of Port Huron, Michigan, a riverside border town of 29,000, has been devastated by what many here call the unreasonable 17-month long ban on Canadian shoppers.

Retail shoppers were deemed non-essential travelers when the border between the United States and Canada was shut down in March of 2020 due to the CCP Virus (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

Non-essential to whom? is the question being asked by many Port Huron area retailers.

One such merchant is Demiree Fultz, the owner-operator of a ladies clothing boutique in downtown Port Huron.

We started freaking out when the pandemic struck, Fultz told the Epoch Times. When they shut down the border, we lost all of our Canadian customers. This really hurt us. We had to scramble just to survive. At peak season, 50 percent of our clients are Canadian.

Demiree Fultz stands in front of her ladies fashion boutique in downtown Port Huron, Michigan, oo August 11, 2021. (Steven Kovac/Epoch Times)

Emily Lask, the manager of a downtown family shoe and accessory shop, recalls how things were booming before the pandemic. It was busy here with lots of Canadians, especially during the holidays, said Lask.

Lask then recounted her experience working in a shoe store in a nearby mall in early 2019. It was unreal. Over 70 percent of that stores sales were to Canadian customers. They can buy shoes so much cheaper in the United States. At the mall store, parents would buy shoes for themselves and each of their children. Sometimes multiple pairs, said Lask.

Downtown sweet shop and gift store operator Karen Palka said that during the summer 30 percent of her revenue comes from Canadian customers, and since the border closed that portion of her business has disappeared.

Lois Potts, who for 23 years has managed the Birchwood Mall in nearby Fort Gratiot, Michigan, said that before the pandemic 60 percent of its stores sales came from Canadian shoppers.

Birchwood mall near Port Huron, Michigan, on August 11, 2021. (Steven Kovac/Epoch Times)

With our big anchor department stores, the figure was as high as 80 percent back in the day, said Potts. Our Canadian customers love to shop. They used to come over here and make a weekend of it. Theyd stay in area hotels and eat in local restaurants. I recall many times when they would arrive on tour buses. I miss our Canadian traffic.

Dan Casey, CEO of the Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County, in which Port Huron and Fort Gratiot are located, stated that retailers throughout the county have been harmed significantly by the prolonged border closing.

The real harm is coming from the significant reduction in consumer spending from people across the border, said Casey. Its affecting everything from gas stations, to sub shops, to big box retailers. Around this St. Clair County, the big boxes rely on Canadian shoppers for 40 percent of their sales.

Even with the complex rules and various charges imposed by Canadian Customs, and a disadvantageous exchange rate for Canadian currency, Canadian shoppers save substantial money by crossing the border to purchase American groceries, gasoline, clothing, shoes, housewares, windows, doors, electronics, restaurant food, and more.

Before the lockdown, more than one million Canadians visited Michigan annually, with 15,000 cars and trucks crossing the Blue Water Bridge at Port Huron daily. After the lockdown, the half-empty parking lots and vacant storefronts of the Port Huron area tell the story.

A U.S. government office at the international border crossing between the U.S. and Canada at Port Huron, Michigan, on August 11, 2021. (Steven Kovac/Epoch Times)

State Representative Andrew Beeler (R-Fort Gratiot), who represents the Port Huron area, told the Epoch Times, It makes no logical sense that law-abiding Canadians face restrictions entering our country when thousands of people illegally crossing our southern border face no restrictions, are permitted to remain in our country without documentation, and, as is often the case, are not screened for COVID-19, or (they) test positive.

Republican congresswoman Lisa McClain, who represents the Port Huron area in Washington D.C., issued a statement calling on President Joe Biden to open border crossings to non-essential travel.

Democrat congressman Brian Higgins, who represents western New York state, with its busy border crossing at Buffalo-Niagra Falls, said in a statement that the continued lockdown of the U.S.-Canada border is hurting families and hurting economic recovery. There is no excuse for the failure of the U.S. to lift restrictions on non-essential Canadian visitors, said Higgins.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the border crossing at Port Huron is the fourth busiest crossing along Americas northern border. The top three are Detroit; Buffalo-Niagra Falls, New York; and Blaine, Washington.

As of Aug. 8, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol announced that the temporary restriction on non-essential travel at U.S. land border ports of entry remains in effect.

The Canadian government has recently loosened some of its border lockdown restrictions. Since June, U.S. residents have been allowed to visit family members in Canada. They must commit to stay in Canada for 15 days, and must self-quarantine for 14 days as they enter the country. This requirement was recently further loosened by exempting from quarantine those visitors who can show proof that they had been fully vaccinated 14 days prior to entering Canada.

A recent statement in the Federal Register declared that the U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada will remain closed through Aug. 21 for land and ferry crossings.

This at a time when U.S. Customs and Border Patrol announced that more than one million migrants crossed Americas southern border illegally thus far in fiscal year 2021, with nearly 190,000 in June alone.
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks during an event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, on Aug. 5, 2021. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

White House Announces New Round of Sanctions Against Cuba

The White House on Friday announced a new round of sanctions against top Cuban officials and forces after the communist regime violently cracked down mass protests in July.

The move, confirmed by the Department of Treasury, is the second time in recent days the administration has moved to penalize the Cuban Communist Party.

Romarico Vidal Sotomayor Garcia and Pedro Orlando Martinez Fernandez and the Tropas de Prevencion of the Cuban Ministry of Revolutionary Armed Forces will now face sanctions, said the Treasury Department.

Todays action shines a spotlight on additional perpetrators responsible for suppressing the Cuban peoples calls for freedom and respect for human rights, said Andrea Gacki, director of the Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control, in a statement.

In July, President Joe Biden and the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on the Cuban police force and two leaders, among others. Such sanctions freeze any assets under U.S. jurisdiction and prevent U.S. travel for the officials, although it seems unlikely the sanctions would greatly impact any officials in Cuba, which has long been subject to an embargo.

The Treasury Department will continue to designate those who enable the Cuban government to perpetuate human rights abuses against peaceful demonstrators, added the Treasury Department.

Cuban special forces, called the Black Berets, pose alongside their Chinese trainers from the paramilitary in a government-run training school in Cuba in an undated photo. (Courtesy of ADN Cuba)

Previously, the administration slapped Magnitsky Act sanctions against Alvaro Lopez Miera, minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, as well as a special forces group and Cubas National Revolutionary Police and its two top officials, Oscar Callejas Valcarce and Eddy Sierra Arias.

I want the Cuban Americans to know that weall around this table and myself includedsee your pain, we hear your voices, and we hear the cries of freedom coming from the island, Biden said in July after meeting with several Cuban-American leaders. Were going to continue to add sanctions on individuals that carry out the regimes abuses.

The issue could prove to be pivotal during the 2022 and 2024 elections as many Cuban-Americans live in Florida and have a longstanding disdain for the Cuban regime and communism. During the 2020 campaign, Republicans portrayed Democrats as soft on communist regimes around the world while accusing some left-wing members of the party of embracing Marxism.

Florida has a very heterogenous Latino population but one of the things that hold them in common  is a lot of them are fleeing left-wing governments, Dario Moreno, a political science professor at Florida International University, told CNN last month. Republicans, he said, cultivated that concern [about Cuba] in South Florida, not only with Cubans but with Colombians and Venezuelans and Nicaraguans. Nicaragua and Venezuela are both controlled by socialist governments.
WHO Urges China to Share Raw Data on Early COVID-19 Cases, Says Its Vitally Important to Prevent Future Pandemics

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Aug. 12 urged China to share raw data from the earliest COVID-19 cases, saying it is vitally important to know how the COVID-19 pandemic began and to set an example for establishing the origins of all future animal-human spillover events.

In a statement on Thursday, the WHO repeatedly stressed the importance of uncovering the origins of the virus, first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, and called for the provision of all data and access required so that the next series of studies can be commenced as soon as possible.

A WHO-led team spent four weeks in and around the central city of Wuhan with Chinese researchers in January 2021 to investigate the origins of the pandemic.

In March, researchers said that the virus had probably been transmitted from bats to humans through another animal and that introduction through a laboratory incident was considered to be an extremely unlikely pathway.

However, a number of countries, including the United States, and some scientists questioned the findings, with critics noting that the Chinese communist regime had a significant role in their investigation and accused them of again engaging in a cover-up.

In July, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters that investigations into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic in China were being hampered by the lack of raw data on the first days of spread there and urged it to be more transparent.

Meanwhile, Danish scientist Peter Ben Embarek, who led the international mission to Wuhan, said a lab employee infected while taking samples in the field falls under one of the likely hypotheses as to how the virus passed from bats to humans.

The agency called for a follow-up probe into the origins of the virus, including further studies in China along with lab audits, which Chinese officials have recently rejected.

Following the publication of the WHO-China joint report of the phase one studies on the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in March 2021, WHO has outlined the next series of studies that need to be undertaken and continues to be in discussions with Member States and experts on next steps, the WHO wrote in its statement on Thursday.

To move forward, WHO calls for all governments to depoliticize the situation and cooperate to accelerate the origins studies, and importantly to work together to develop a common framework for future emerging pathogens of pandemic potential.

The organization reiterated that the search for the origins of the virus should not be an exercise in attributing blame, finger-pointing or political point-scoring adding that access to data is critically important for evolving our understanding of science and should not be politicised in any way.

The WHO said it is working with a number of countries that have reported detection of SARS-CoV-2 in samples from stored biological specimens from 2019, including in Italy, where it facilitated an independent evaluation by international laboratories of the findings of one such study, which included the blind retesting of pre-pandemic blood samples.

Sharing raw data and giving permission for the retesting of samples in labs outside of Italy reflects scientific solidarity at its best and is no different from what we encourage all countries, including China, to support so that we can advance the studies of the origins quickly and effectively, the WHO said.

The organization also noted that China and other member states have suggested that the origins study has been politicised, or that WHO has acted due to political pressure.

In response to this, the WHO said it has reviewed the phase one study report and determined that there was insufficient scientific evidence to rule any of the hypotheses out, specifically in relation to the lab-leak theory.

It is important to have access to all data and consider scientific best practice and look at the mechanisms WHO already has in place, the agency wrote. WHO is only focused on science, providing solutions and building solidarity.

Analysing and improving lab safety and protocols in all laboratories around the world, including in China, is important for our collective biosafety and security.

Chinese officials have rejected the notion that the virus came from a lab and have insisted it made a natural jump from animals to humans.

On Friday, China also rejected the World Health Organizations renewed calls for raw data into the virus origins, saying it supported scientific over political efforts to find out how the virus started.

We oppose political tracing  and abandoning the joint report issued from the WHO teams Wuhan visit in January, vice foreign minister Ma Zhaoxu told reporters. We support scientific tracing.

Ma also rejected suggestions of new lines of investigation.

The conclusions and recommendations of WHO and China joint report were recognized by the international community and the scientific community, he said.

Future global traceability work should and can only be further carried out on the basis of this report, rather than starting a new one.
NORWALK  Of the states 169 municipalities, Norwalk saw the seventh largest increase in population between 2010 and 2020, according to newly released census data.

In the last decade, Norwalks population grew by 6.5 percent, while the states overall population increased by just 0.89 percent, or about 32,000 people, according to the data.

Norwalks rise in population ranks seventh, behind Salisbury, Stamford, Cornwall, Bethel, Danbury and Brookfield. Salisbury had the largest population increase at 12.11 percent, while Stamfords population rose by 10.46 percent.

Among large municipalities or cities in Connecticut, Norwalk had the third highest population increase, behind Stamford and Danbury.

City spokesperson Josh Morgan said the increase in population throughout Fairfield County is encouraging.

This is not a surprise, as we know people want to live in Norwalk, Morgan said. Over the last decade, weve made significant improvements to our schools, enhancements to our amenities and created a business-friendly environment.

With strategic development, Morgan said the city was able to welcome new residents without overburdening the existing infrastructure.

The 2020 census data, however, does not reflect any population changes that may have been caused by the coronavirus pandemic, such as New York City residents leaving the metropolis for the suburbs of Fairfield County.

Between 2000 and 2020, Norwalks population rose from 82,951 residents in 2000 to 91,184 residents in 2020, according to the data.

The fact is, Norwalk has housing options for people of all ages, activities for people of all interests and is welcoming to people of all backgrounds and beliefs, Morgan said. There is no better city than Norwalk.

While the number of residents increased significantly, particularly compared to other municipalities in the state, the number of people identifying as solely white or Black decreased by 4 percent.

Across the state, the number of people identifying as two or more races increased by at least 90 percent.

The white population in Connecticut declined precipitously over the last 10 years, the data shows, as the mix of people living in the state grew more diverse, in line with national trends.

Though white residents still make up nearly three-quarters of the state, their numbers dropped by 14 percent in the last decade. At the same time, the Hispanic population surged by 30 percent and the Asian population climbed by 27 percent, while the Black population rose by 7 percent.

Overall, however, the states total population barely nudged upward in the last decade growing by less than 1 percent, the smallest gain of any state in the Northeast and the fourth smallest nationwide.

abigail.brone@hearstmediact.com
With the recent rise of COVID-19 cases, 39 Connecticut municipalities are now back in the red zone. As of Aug. 12, there were 361,294 coronavirus cases in Connecticut, according to the state's COVID-19 data portal. The weekly positivity rate is over 3 percent in the state with Fairfield and New Haven counties presenting the most cases in the state.

The system, which has been active since last year, divides the tiers as red, orange and yellow and provides different recommendations to individuals, communities and local governments.

Here are some questions and things to know to help understand the system:

Which are the red-zone towns as of now?

As of Aug. 13, the towns of Ansonia, Ashford, Beacon, Falls, Bloomfield, Bristol, Brooklyn, Cheshire, Columbia, Durham, East Hampton, East Hartford, East Haven, Easton, Franklin, Hampton, Hartford, Ledyard, Meriden, Middlebury, Middletown, New Britain, New Haven, New London, North Branford, North Haven, North Stonington, Norwich, Plymouth, Rocky Hill, Stamford, Stonington, Thomaston, Waterbury, Waterford, Wethersfield, Willington, Windham, Windsor and Wolcott are in the red-zone.

View the daily-updated map of the Connecticut towns' infection rates.

What does it mean to be in a "red zone"?

Towns in the red tier are those with a daily average of at least 15 new COVID-19 infections for every 100,000 people in two weeks, ending on Aug. 7. Orange zone are those that present 10 to 14 cases per 100,000 residents. Read the daily data report for Connecticut here.

What should I avoid doing while in the red zone?

The state points to the following recommendations online: Individuals should avoid trips outside the home and gatherings with non-family members. The state is also encouraging the postponement or cancelation of indoor community events as well as outdoor events that cannot sustain mask-wearing and social distancing.

What are the mask mandates if I'm in a red-zone town?

Each Connecticut municipality decides its own mask mandates within its borders. For example, Stamford residents, regardless of vaccination status, must wear masks indoors or at any outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people on city property. However, West Haven is strongly recommending masks, but is not requiring them.

Find out which towns have issued mask mandates.

What happens with schools in red-zone towns?

Local school districts are recommended to work with the local health department in determining whether schools should consider distance learning, the DPH advises. Gov. Ned Lamont has said it is up to each school district to make a decision on distance learning. The state no longer requires each school district to offer distance learning.
Darien Police

DARIEN  A local man was arrested for having unwanted sexual contact with another person several times over the past few months, police said.

Alan Hagander, 51, was charged with fourth-degree sexual assault on Aug. 6, according to police Sgt. James Palmieri, adding that the victim reported the incident on July 28.
ATLANTA (AP)  Fights over masks in schools continued to tear at Georgia communities on Thursday even as hospital leaders renewed warnings of shrinking capacity to handle a surge of COVID-19 cases.

More than 100 protesters gathered Thursday at the Cobb County school board headquarters in Marietta. Most of them were trying to push Georgia's second-largest school district, with 110,000 students. to mandate masks.

The district, which has a sharp division on its school board, has stuck to its mask-optional policy, like the majority of other Georgia school districts, even as infections led the district to send the fifth grade home at one of its elementary schools recently.

Djenaba Pershay, who lives in Mableton, said her daughter, now in fifth grade, had attended remotely all last year. When she chose in the spring to send her back to school in person this year, Pershay said the 107,000-student Cobb County district was still requiring masks. It dropped that requirement shortly afterward.

I'm here not just fighting for her, Pershay said. I'm fighting for all the kids.

Beth Baird, who lives in Marietta, said her younger son has a terminal illness and his immune system is suppressed. She said she feels ignored by her school board member.

The ones who are against the mask mandate are against listening, Baird said.

But there were counterprotesters in Cobb on Thursday, holding signs saying My body, my choice. In Monroe County, between Atlanta and Macon, school board members voted 6-0 on Wednesday to roll back a mask mandate that had been in place for only 24 hours.

Its my child, its my choice, Monroe County parent Samantha Knipper told WMAZ-TV. I dont want other people to make health decisions for my kid, so the board of education surely is not gonna make a decision for my child and his or her health.

Parents in Gwinnett County who oppose that district's mandate are threatening to sue, and The Savannah Morning News reported that U.S. Rep Buddy Carter sent out a fundraising email saying masks in schools are a Big Government power grab that are suffocating our children.

Meanwhile, the Fulton County district, which currently mandates masks for all its students, announced it would open a school for up to 500 students who wouldn't have to wear masks. That's a concession to parents and students angered over the masking order. The district also said it would open remote learning program for up to 300 students in grades K-2.

Statewide, mask mandates continue to grow in schools. At least 40 districts covering 770,000 students are requiring face coverings. That's almost 45% of Georgia's 1.7 million students. At least five districts have sent all students home, including Ben Hill County, which starts virtual instruction Friday. Others have stopped in-person teaching at individual schools. Crisp County High School in Cordele shifted to virtual instruction Thursday, while Clayton County sent students home from a second elementary school.

Georgias case count continues to rise, with the seven-day rolling average climbing above 5,800 on Thursday, the worst since Feb. 1. The number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals is also rising rapidly, exceeding 3,900 on Thursday even as many hospital executives warn they dont have enough beds and staff. At least 30 hospitals statewide reported that they were turning patients away from emergency rooms and intensive care units on Thursday.

Leaders of Macon and Warner Robins hospitals held a joint news conference Thursday to implore people to change their behavior, one of a series statewide.

We are not here today to debate the pros and cons and all the rhetoric that is out there, The Telegraph of Macon reported that Houston Healthcare President Charles Briscoe said. Today is about what we see in our local community. And what we see consistently is those individuals that are unvaccinated are at great risk of severe hospitalization and at great risk of death.

University Hospital in Augusta put out a call for nurses to staff a COVID-19 unit it wants to reopen.

The seven-day average for the share of positive molecular tests kept climbing to 16.4% on Wednesday, far above the 5% average that experts say means there is enough testing to detect most virus cases. The pace of deaths is also rising, getting close to 22,000 statewide since the pandemic began.

The state has recorded almost 1.25 million infections.

Music Midtown, the annual music festival held in Atlanta, said Wednesday that it will require concertgoers to either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or have test results showing they are negative for the virus.

The festival is set for Sept. 18-19 in Piedmont Park.

In Augusta, the city-county proposed paying residents $100 to get vaccinated. DeKalb County offers a similar incentive.

Were in this pandemic and youve got so many people dying and so many people walking around who havent been vaccinated, Mayor Pro Tem Bobby Williams told The Augusta Chronicle.

The city-county hopes to entice another 10,000 people using federal coronavirus aid. The full city-county commission must approve the plan.



Associated Press photographer Mike Stewart contributed from Marietta, Georgia.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  The Tennessee governor's office is pushing back on COVID-19 vaccine misinformation that goes as far as claiming cows are being vaccinated to inoculate unwitting people who eat meat.

The confusion over an assortment of outlandish claims illustrates the hurdles that face a state in the bottom 10 for vaccination rates amid a virus resurgence stretching hospitals thin.

In an email Thursday to lawmakers, a top deputy of Republican Gov. Bill Lee debunked several conspiracy theories about a recent executive order. The email says some components that are being most frequently misinterpreted were included in previous executive orders during the pandemic. Lees office said lawmakers seeking information for constituents and constituents themselves have reached out about the claims.

The push to debunk shows how prevalently misinformation is swirling among unvaccinated circles, even as hospitals of all sizes have begun running out of staffed beds. Vanderbilt University Medical Center said its adult hospital and emergency department are completely full, as it is limiting elective procedures and declining transfer requests from many hospitals. More than 90% of COVID-19 hospitalizations there are unvaccinated people, while vaccinated patients are also severely immunocompromised, the hospital said.

The rumors deemed FALSE in the governor's office email are that his executive order creates quarantine camps"; that the National Guard will round up unvaccinated people and take them to locations to be quarantined or vaccinated, or forcibly vaccinate them in their homes; that the executive order lays the groundwork for permanent lockdowns; and that COVID-19 vaccines are being given to livestock to vaccinate people through meat consumption.

Lee's administration has a program that incentivizes farmers to vaccinate cattle against respiratory diseases and other illnesses, but not COVID-19.

All of these examples, and related rumors, are demonstrably false. Additionally, Tennesseans who serve in our National Guard have faithfully served their communities in many capacities this year and we are grateful that they remain committed to serving their neighbors, wrote Brent Easley, Lee's legislative director.

Easley wrote that he hopes lawmakers will join us in sharing the facts.

Claims about Lee's handling of the pandemic continue to swirl, particularly among far-right groups, as he approaches his 2022 reelection bid. Democrats and some health advocates, meanwhile, have criticized the governor's approach as insufficient to protect people from the pandemic. Lee has opposed a statewide mask mandate throughout the pandemic, has touted Tennessee for being one of the last to close early in the pandemic and among the first to reopen, and pairs his praise for the vaccine with reassurance that it's a personal choice.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Tennessee has risen from 1,724 on July 28 to 3,775 on Aug. 11, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers. The number of people currently hospitalized with the virus in the state has risen to almost 2,100, state numbers show, with 10% of hospital floor beds and 7% of intensive care unit beds available. Fifty children are among those hospitalized, according to the state.

State health officials have noted recent upticks in COVID-19 vaccinations. But Tennessee still has the 9th-lowest fully vaccinated rate among its total population at 39.8%, below the national rate of 50.4%, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracker.

The COVID-19 resurgence through the delta variant left a top leader of a hospital outside Nashville exasperated Thursday  and unable to find open staffed hospital beds in the area.

Geoff Lifferth, chief medical officer at Sumner Regional Medical Center in Gallatin, said on Facebook that someday when the sun is shining again, we can sit down and have some interesting conversations about personal freedoms, and mandates, and government overreach, and such. But he said can't right now.

As an ER doc and a healthcare administrator, this past week has been one of the most exhausting and disheartening of my career, Lifferth wrote. The delta variant has burned through us with a ferocity thats hard to describe."

Vanderbilt University Medical Center, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) away, said transfers are being placed in hospitals around Nashville to try to balance the load, despite capacity and staffing challenges.

This is a significant stressor to our health care staff and providers," Vanderbilt said in a statement. "Patients we are treating for COVID are all ages, with some in their early to mid-20s being very sick.
Phuket mass screening tests 1,300 over two days

PHUKET: Health officers today are continuing their mass screening of people for COVID-19 in the Phuket Town Fresh market 1 area after the huge push to identify those infected still living among the community saw 1,300 people tested over the past two days, with 55 local residents and Myanmar migrant workers confirmed infected.

COVID-19Coronavirushealthtourism

By The Phuket News

Friday 13 August 2021, 12:06PM

More than 1,300 people in Phuket Town and those working at the main markets were tested for COVID-19 over just two days. The amss-testing campaign continues today (Aug 13). Photo: Phuket City Municipality

More than 1,300 people in Phuket Town and those working at the main markets were tested for COVID-19 over just two days. The amss-testing campaign continues today (Aug 13). Photo: Phuket City Municipality

More than 1,300 people in Phuket Town and those working at the main markets were tested for COVID-19 over just two days. The amss-testing campaign continues today (Aug 13). Photo: Phuket City Municipality

More than 1,300 people in Phuket Town and those working at the main markets were tested for COVID-19 over just two days. The amss-testing campaign continues today (Aug 13). Photo: Phuket City Municipality

More than 1,300 people in Phuket Town and those working at the main markets were tested for COVID-19 over just two days. The amss-testing campaign continues today (Aug 13). Photo: Phuket City Municipality

More than 1,300 people in Phuket Town and those working at the main markets were tested for COVID-19 over just two days. The amss-testing campaign continues today (Aug 13). Photo: Phuket City Municipality

More than 1,300 people in Phuket Town and those working at the main markets were tested for COVID-19 over just two days. The amss-testing campaign continues today (Aug 13). Photo: Phuket City Municipality

More than 1,300 people in Phuket Town and those working at the main markets were tested for COVID-19 over just two days. The amss-testing campaign continues today (Aug 13). Photo: Phuket City Municipality

Of the 55 confirmed infected, 44 have yet to be included in the tally of 33 confirmed infections reported for yesterday (Aug 12).

Of note, the initiall testing is being conducted with rapid antigen test kits (ATKs) only. RT-PCR tests are used only in follow-up tests.

On Aug 11 [Wednesday], we tested 870 people in our proactive screening at the market and found 11 people infected, those were four Thais and seven migrant workers, a Phuket City Municipality health officer who asked not to be named told The Phuket News this morning (Aug 13).

And yesterday, we changed the location for the testing to the petanque venue at Saphan Hin. We tested 543 people, those were 429 Thais and 114 migrant workers. Forty-four people, 21 Thais and 23 migrant workers, tested positive, she said.

The 44 people have not been added into the case daily report by Phuket Public Health Office [PPHO] because we finished the testing after they concluded the number, she added.

Of note, the daily COVID situation report for yesterday was marked as accurate as of 11pm last night.

The entire area around the market was sealed off under lockdown on Wednesday, and will remain under lockdown until at least next Tuesday (Aug 17).

No people are allowed to enter or leave the areas, except for the delivery of food, cooking gas, medical equipment, as well as emergency ambulance and medical staff, said a provincial order issued by Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew on Tuesday night (Aug 10).

Municipality workers have undertaken mass cleaning and sterilsation throughout the area, including the fresh market itself on Ranong Rd and the Downtown Plaza market across the road, as well as small sidestreets through the zone.

Health officers have also conducted spot checks in high-risk areas elsewhere in Phuket Town, with officers working into the night. Mass testing of 132 people in the Phoophon Night Plaza area, located outside the lockdown zone, found one new person infected, confirmed the PPHO.

In total more than 100 infections have been linked to the fresh market cluster, Governor Narong pointed out during his visit to the mass testing site on Wednesday.

Phuket Municipality is helping to take care of those living in the lockdown zone, including delivering food to make sure they get three meals a day, to alleviate the suffering and to inspect inside each building so that information can be brought be used to track the rate of infections in the area, and help to reduce the current rise in confirmed infections, he said.

PPHO Chief Dr Kusak Kukiattikoon has confirmed that Phuket health officials will continue with their Bubble and Seal policy, independently isolating individual areas where clusters are identified.

So far three migrant worker camps  one each in Patong, Karon and Thalang  have been placed under lockdown, he confirmed.

The policy will also apply to neighbourhoods and local residential areas, he noted, Baan Nanai in Tambon Thepkrasattri, Thalang, was placed under lockdown earlier this month after a cluster was identified there.

Individual areas will be placed under Bubble and Seal isolation if the number of infections is more than 10-20% in an area, Dr Kusak said.

Governor Narong on Tuesday said it was too early to tell whether the heavy restrictions currently imposed to help prevent the spread of infections across the island will continue after next Monday (Aug 16), when the current order enforcing the restrictions is due to expire.

The Phuket Provincial Communicable Disease Committee will decide what further action to take closer to Monday, Governor Narong said.

I would like to explain that we are considering the infection situation on the island, and throughout the country, every day, he said.

In introducing the strong restrictions, Governor Narong on July 30 explained that the restrictions were necessary to prevent more infections being brought onto the island from the mainland, saying it was the only way to save the Phuket Sandbox scheme, and save Phukets hopes of economic recovery.

Under the current restrictions only essential deliveries, emergency workers and people conducting essential business on Phuket, including travelling to Phuket to leave via the airport, are allowed onto the island.

On the day that the tighter measures to enter Phuket were introduced on Aug 3, 190 drivers were refused entry to the island for failing to satisfy the requirements.

Even by Aug 5, 25% of those arriving at the checkpoint were being turned away, Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Col Aganit Danpitaksat later confirmed.

However, Col Aganit also explained that the volume of traffic arriving at the checkpoint at Tha Chatchai had fallen by some 75% since the new measures were introduced.

People are still being turned away at the Phuket Check Point at Tha Chatchai for failing to meet the requirements to enter Phuket, Phuket Vice Governor Piyapong Choowong reported to Gen Nattapol Nakpanit, a key figure at the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) in Bangkok, by video conference on Wednesday.

On Tuesday (Aug 10), 349 people arriving in 200 vehicles were refused entry, Vice Governor Piyapong said.

However, 2,478 people arriving in 2,058 vehicles were granted entry, he noted.

A further 2,870 people left Phuket in 2,252 vehicles, he added. Among them were 81 Phuket Sandbox tourists.
Baltimore, MD (21210 )

Today

Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds light and variable.
EDWARDSVILLE  A $20,000 grant for an eviction mediation program was approved Thursday by the Madison County Boards Finance and Government Operations Committee.

On Sept. 1 the states executive and Illinois Supreme Court orders are set to expire. Federal orders now being considered by the courts could extend that to Oct. 3.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority has estimated that Illinois renters could owe between $857 million to $1.2 million in overdue rent. Zillow, the online real estate marketplace, estimated there are more than 85,000 renter households at risk of eviction in Illinois.

A major concern among rental property owners is while they have been helpless to act when someone doesnt pay, their costs continue.

The Third Judicial Circuit is working to set up the program in anticipation of a large amount of activity within a month or two as the moratorium evictions start to expire.

Chief Circuit Judge William Mudge last week talked about the program at the Judiciary Committee. He said they were putting together the program and had been encouraged by support from the Illinois Supreme Court.

The court had provided the $20,000 grant approved Thursday.

Mudge said the program would be based on the countys current foreclosure mediation program.

He said the eviction filings are allowed but cannot actually evict anybody because of the moratoriums. When those end, he said, there will be a large number of cases.

The idea behind the mediation plan is to bring both sides in, he said.

Part of the question will be what both sides want. He said, in some cases, it may be eviction but in others it might simply be that property owners want to be paid.

Mediation provides an opportunity for parties to talk through disputes that may lead to an eviction and come to a resolution that leaves both parties better off, Mudge said. It may also save parties time and expense and afford them an opportunity to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome.

The program will also be able to help determine whether a renter or property owner is eligible for assistance.

The countys program will be coordinated by Jennifer Dunham and Associate Judge Clarence Harrison. It will work in conjunction with the Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, local housing and financial housing agencies, the Madison County Self-Help Center/Law Library, and the Madison County Clerks Office.

The pandemic has only exasperated the need for assistance required by self-represented litigants, Harrison said.

Secure housing has never been a greater challenge, Harrison said. Navigating the court system can be a challenge for anyone, but particularly for those in crisis. Our goal is to bring a variety of assistance within the grasp of self-represented litigants.

For information, contact Dunham at 618-296-4760.

On Friday the Illinois Housing Development Authority and Department of Human Services announced that more than $209 million in rental assistance has been paid, about 40 percent of the $500 million in available funds.

Funding is still available, but deadlines to apply are approaching very quickly.
Heres a revelation that will make Democrats from around the nation want to send me sympathy cards: Im represented by two  count em, two  Republican congressmen.

My Alton book shop lies in the Twelfth Congressional District, which is represented by Republican Mike Bost. Godfrey, where I reside, lies in the Thirteenth District, which is represented by Republican Rodney Davis. Perhaps its simply a twist of fate or, if karma and reincarnation are true, maybe I committed some horrible offense in a past life.

My Godfrey residence means that I vote in the Thirteenth District, so Davis is my official congressman. An interesting query from Congressman Davis popped up on my Facebook feed last week. Do you support teaching Critical Race Theory in public schools? the query asked. Take the poll now. I clicked on take the survey and answered yes.

The supposed menace of Critical Race Theory is the latest Republican scare tactic. Mark McCluskey, the St. Louis attorney who stood in his front yard and brandished an AR-15 when some protesters passed by his property and is now running for the GOP U.S. Senate nomination, didnt mince words. Im sick and tired of watching our schools teach LIES and Marxist Critical Race Theory propaganda, McCluskey recently posted on Facebook. Its time to teach children the TRUTH about our great country.

Well, I agree that children indeed should be taught the truth about our great country  and that includes those historical facts that dont put our nation in the best light. For example, I believe that students should be taught that Thomas Jefferson, the author of our nations Declaration of Independence and third president, owned slaves and fathered at least six children by one of them. A conscientious teacher should point out the hypocrisy of Jefferson or any other slave-holder proclaiming that all men are created equal and endowed with certain unalienable Rights such as Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Students have a right to know that 41 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence owned slaves.

Students should also be taught that George Washington, the commander of the Continental Army and first president of the United States, was a slave-owner. Students should know that at least 12 of our presidents owned slaves at some point in their lives. James Polk, while serving as president, secretly purchased child slaves, thus separating them from their families. Long before becoming president, Polk benefited from the forced removal of Native Americans from their ancestral lands. Historian Lina Mann noted, After Congress passed the Indian Removal Act and President Andrew Jackson forced the Choctaw Nation off their land in northern Mississippi in 1830.Polk joined the rush of speculators to purchase the vacant land.

James Madison, fourth president of the United States and for whom our county is named, owned 100 slaves. In her article on Madison, Paris Amanda Spies-Gans noted that at the 1787 Constitutional Convention, he stated that the slave trade was dishonorable to the National character. In his old age, however, Madison was no longer even convinced that emancipation was superior to slavery. She quotes his 1836 letter to the editor of the Farmers Register, in which Madison wrote that slaves are infinitely worsted by the exchange from slavery to liberty  if, indeed, their condition deserves that name.

I believe that students should be taught that Francis Scott Key, who wrote our national anthem, was a slave-holder. While serving as district attorney for the city of Washington in the 1830s, he prosecuted a New Yorker who was living in Georgetown for possessing abolitionist pamphlets.

I also believe that students should learn that slaves built the White House. A task force appointed by Congress in 2005 concluded that slaves were compelled to work as carpenters, masons, plasterers as well as in many other roles. Slaves also toiled in marble and sandstone quarries to provide building material.

Students should be taught these ugly, politically inconvenient facts. They deserve to know the truth.

John J. Dunphy is an author, the Godfrey 15th Precinct Democratic Committeeperson and recording secretary for the Godfrey Democrats.
ALTON  Each week award-winning photographer John Badman of The Telegraph captures images of the Riverbend area.

Here is a sampling of his photographs from this week. They also appear in the weekend issue of The Telegraph.
ALGIERS, Algeria (AP)  An Algerian prosecutor has ordered an investigation into the death of a man killed by a mob after being accused of setting fires that devastated the Kabyle region, Algeria's official APS news agency said.

Wildfires in Algeria have killed at least 69 people through the mountainous Berber region.

The killing took place in Larbaa Nath Irathen, in the Tizi Ouzou district, one of the worst hit by the fires. The victim was identified as 38-year-old painter Djamel Ben Ismail. He had tweeted earlier that he was going to travel 200 miles to the area afflicted by blazes to help firefighting efforts.

The local prosecutor issued a statement carried by APS on Thursday following videos on Wednesday on social media showing the killing of a citizen (burned to death and beaten).

He ordered an investigation into the case with the aim of identifying the assailants and sending them to trial so that the odious crime does not go unpunished.

The statement said a crowd violently attacked the police station, where the victim was under protection from officers, and managed to remove him. They dragged him outside, beating and burning him, which led to his death.

Police officers who intervened to protect and help the victim have also been injured, the statement said.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Thursday evening called on justice to shed light on the killing.

On Wednesday, Ben Ismail had tweeted that he would head to the Kabyle region, 320 kilometers (200 miles) from his home, to give a hand to our friends" fighting the fires.

Upon his arrival near the town of Larbaa Nath Irathen, some local residents accused him of being an arsonist, his father said. My son left to help his brothers from Kabyle, a region he loves, they burned him alive... Im devastated, Noureddine Ben Ismail said.

Amnesty International called on Algerian authorities to immediately investigate the death and send a clear message that this violence wont go unpunished.

Ben Ismail was buried late Thursday evening in his hometown of Khemis Miliana, 115 kilometers (71 miles) west of Algiers.

Do you realize, even dead they tortured him? Mohamed Khalfi, Ben Ismails maternal uncle, told The Associated Press. "And what hurts me is that the people filmed. ... I am his uncle and I ask that justice do its job and that even those who watched without doing anything be judged.

One of Ben Ismail's friends, Rafik, who did not provide his last name, said he was an artist, a young man who loves the guitar and loves life... not a violent man.
CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  Australia is working urgently with the United States to evacuate the last Afghans who helped Australian troops and diplomats as Taliban insurgents make rapid territorial gains across Afghanistan, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Friday.

Australia shut its Kabul embassy in May and withdrew the last of its troops in June as U.S. and NATO forces pulled out of the Afghanistan conflict after 20 years.

Morrison said Australia since April has resettled 400 Afghans and their families who would be in danger from the Taliban because they worked for Australia.

Morrison did not say how many more Afghans will be resettled in Australia under a program that has been shrouded in secrecy.

We have made a lot of ground on this issue in the last few months. Well continue to do that. Were liaising very closely with particularly the United States and others who are engaged in that area, Morrison said.

Well continue to implement that program with a great sense of urgency in partnership with those who also are engaged in similar activities in that region, he added.

The Taliban captured two major cities, the countrys second- and third-largest after Kabul, and a strategic provincial capital on Thursday, further squeezing the embattled government just weeks before the end of the American military mission.

The seizure of Kandahar and Herat are the biggest prizes yet for the Taliban, who have taken 12 of Afghanistans 34 provincial capitals as part of a weeklong blitz.

U.S. President Joe Bidens administration is rushing 3,000 new troops to the Kabul airport to help with a partial evacuation of the U.S. Embassy.

The State Department said the embassy will continue functioning, but Thursdays dramatic decision to bring in thousands of additional U.S. troops is a sign of waning confidence in the Afghan governments ability to hold off the Taliban surge.

Morrison described the Taliban gains as not surprising.

But it is concerning and it is very upsetting, Morrison said.

More than 39,000 Australian military personnel have served in Afghanistan since 2001, and 41 have been killed there.

Asked what his message was to Australians who question whether the 20-year campaign was worth the sacrifice, Morrison replied: Fighting for what you believe in is always worth it.
ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  The death toll from floods and mudslides in northern Turkey rose to at least 38 on Friday, officials said, as emergency crews searched collapsed buildings, swamped homes, and submerged basements for more victims and survivors. An opposition politician said more than 300 people may be unaccounted for.

Torrential rains that pounded the Black Sea coastal provinces of Bartin, Kastamonu, Sinop and Samsun on Wednesday caused the flooding that demolished homes and bridges and swept away cars. More than 1,700 people were evacuated across the region, some lifted from rooftops by helicopters, and many were being temporarily housed in student dormitories.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced on Twitter late Friday that 32 people died in Kastamonu and six in Sinop.

In Kastamonu, a stream burst its banks and inundated the town of Bozkurt. Raging floodwaters demolished one waterfront building and severely damaged two neighboring buildings. A number of bodies washed up on the Black Sea shore, Halk TV reported, airing footage of people carrying a body bag on a beach in an unidentified province.

The floods struck on the heels of wildfires in southern Turkey that devastated forest lands in the seaside provinces of Mugla and Antalya that are popular with tourists. At least eight people died and thousands of residents were forced to flee.

Scientists say there is little doubt that climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is driving more extreme events, such as heat waves, droughts, wildfires, floods and storms. Such calamities are expected to happen more frequently as the planet warms.

Hasan Baltaci, an opposition party lawmaker who represents Kastamonu, told Halk TV television that residents had contacted Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, or AFAD, seeking information about 329 people feared missing. He cautioned that some of the names could be duplicates and that others could be of people who were unable to contact loved ones.

The missing include 12-year-old twin sisters and their grandparents who were trapped inside the eight-story building that collapsed in the town of Bozkurt. Emergency crews were seen sifting through the rubble searching for survivors.

The girls' mother, Arzu Yucel, told the DHA news agency that she had left the apartment building after authorities advised residents to move their vehicles to higher ground. When she returned, water surrounded the building and prevented her from entering. From another building, she watched her daughters wave at her.

We spoke by phone. They waved from the balcony. They said, Dont worry, mommy, we are fine,' Yucel said. They told us Move your cars higher. They didn't say Save your lives, save your children.' I could have gotten them out of there."

Speaking in Bozkurt late Thursday, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu described the scenes as the most severe flood disaster I have seen. On Wednesday, he said, flood waters reached three or four meters (10-13 feet) high in some areas.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who canceled celebrations marking his ruling partys 20th anniversary, visited the area on Friday and promised to reconstruct demolished homes, roads and bridges.

With God's permission, we will overcome this disaster as well. We will do whatever it takes as a state...and hopefully, we will rise from our ashes, Erdogan said.

The Turkish leader referred to the recent wildfires and floods that happened elsewhere.

"Like many parts of the world, our country has been struggling with natural disasters for a while. Its the same in America, Canada, Germany and other parts of Europe," Erdogan said. Our hope is to escape these disasters with the least damage possible.

Bozkurt resident Yilmaz Ersevenli told NTV that he left his house to move his car to a safe area as the floodwaters began to rise but soon got swept away. He said he managed to save himself by holding on to a tree that had also washed away.

I nearly lost my life trying to save my car, he said.

In Bartin province, at least 13 people were injured when a section of a bridge caved in. AFAD said 10 people are currently hospitalized.

In total, five bridges collapsed in the floods while two others were damaged, AFAD said. Dozens of villages are still without power and several roads remain blocked. Helicopters were still evacuating villagers Friday from areas where there was no access by road.

Erdogan said Thursday that at least 4,500 personnel, 19 helicopters and 24 boats were involved in the search and rescue operation.

Turkeys Black Sea region is frequently struck by severe rains and flash flooding. At least six people were killed in floods that hit the eastern Black Sea coastal province of Rize last month.

___

Follow APs coverage of climate issues at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-change
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  A Discovery Inc. executive said Friday that the U.S.-owned company will fight hard to keep control of a television network it owns in Poland, a $3 billion investment that is threatened by a new media bill that passed in parliament this week.

If the bill passes into law, no entity from outside Europe would be allowed to own more than 49% of any media company. The right-wing government says it's a way to defend national sovereignty and security. But critics see an authoritarian attempt to silence the most important source of independent TV news in the European Union member.

The bill in practice would only affect the ownership of TVN, a network first bought by another U.S. company, Scripps Networks Interactive, for $2 billion and later sold to Discovery  in the largest ever American investment in Poland.

Jean-Briac Perrette, president and CEO of Discovery International, told The Associated Press on Friday that TVN is now valued at around $3 billion and that the company has a fiduciary responsibility to its shareholders to defend its interests.

We have no intent to sell or leave, Perrette, who is based in London, said in an interview.

He urged the United States, the EU and European nations to intervene, saying media independence and the survival of democracy are at a tipping point in a strategic region of central Europe.

Were seeing great support from the U.S. government and great support from the EU, he said. The problem is, I fear, this (Polish) government is so ideologically dead set."

So far, all the great support and the words clearly have not been sufficient to fend this off, he said.

Before the passing of the media bill on Wednesday, Polands broadcasting regulator had also refused to renew a license for the networks all-news station, TVN24, which expires next month.

On Thursday, the company announced it was initiating legal action at an international arbitration court over arbitrary and discriminatory treatment that it sees as part of a broader crackdown on free media. Discovery accused Poland of violating a U.S.-Polish investment treaty, and Perrette said he believes the company will have a strong case if the matter ends up in court.

Perrette said Discovery also has alternative plans to save its investment in Poland, but couldn't divulge those details at this time.

There has been so far no Polish government response to the lawsuit.

To become law, the bill goes next to the opposition-controlled Senate, which has a month to examine it and can suggest changes but is too weak to block it. It then would return to the lower house for final passage, and then to the president for signing.

This is turning in a very bad direction," Perrette said. And now in the next 30 to 45 days, it gets decided.
ATHENS, Greece (AP)  A new fire broke out Friday on Greeces second largest island of Evia, south of the area where a massive wildfire has decimated forests and torched homes, and was still smoldering 10 days after it started.

Greeces fire department said four water-dropping aircraft and six helicopters were sent to control the fire that erupted in the morning in central Evia, along with 40 firefighters and 10 vehicles. By late afternoon, the fire had not been brought under control, the fire department said. The larger fire that broke out on Aug. 3 destroyed most of the islands north and is one of the country's worst known forest fires.
ST. LOUIS  The July SLU/YouGov Poll found that voters increasingly approve of Gov. Mike Parson and U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley while they disapprove of U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt.

The poll interviewed 950 likely Missouri voters about issues important to them, finding that a fourth report they will not get a COVID-19 vaccine or are not sure if they will get a vaccine. Half (51%) do not think schools should be allowed to teach Critical Race Theory.

The latest SLU/YouGov Poll shows that 53% of likely Missouri voters approve of Parsons performance as Missouri governor, a 5.8% increase from findings from the June 2020 SLU/YouGov Poll. More than 80% of Republicans and 58% of Independents approve of how he is doing his job, but only 16% of Democrats approve.

Parsons support comes from rural Missouri, where 62% of voters approve of his performance, compared to approximately 51% in suburban and urban areas.

Voters also increasingly approve of Parsons handling of the pandemic. In June 2020, 48% of voters approved, and 47% disapproved of Parsons handling of the pandemic, but in July 2021, 53% approve and 44% disapprove. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.8%.

These are impressive numbers for the governor, said Steven Rogers, Ph.D., director of the Saint Louis University/ YouGov poll. More voters approve of Parsons performance despite recent rises in the number of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths in Missouri.

Fifty-four percent of Missouri voters disapprove of President Joe Bidens performance and only 45% approve. Forty-nine percent of voters approve of how Biden has handled the COVID-19 pandemic, but only 30% of voters agreed that The United States is on the right track and headed in a good direction.

Similarly, only 24% of voters thought the U.S. economy was Excellent or Good while 73% thought it was Fair or Poor.

Democrats are much happier with Biden and the direction of the country. The SLU Poll found 66% of Democrats, 17% of Independents, and 6% of Republicans think that the United States is on the right track.

These findings are likely unsurprising given the strength of partisanship and SLU/YouGov polls previous findings, Rogers said. In October 2020, 53% of Missourians approved of Trumps performance. Now in 2021, 54% disapprove of Bidens performance.

Kenneth Warren, Ph.D., associate director of the SLU/YouGov poll, said it also shows political polarization on how Missouri voters feel about elected politicians and issues.

Missouris Republicans and Democrats are miles apart on how they view gun control, abortion rights, and the state of the economy, Warren said.

In June 2020, the SLU/YouGov Poll found that 48% of Missouri voters approved of Hawleys performance as senator. In July 2021, 52% approved and 39% disapproved. More than 90% of Republican and 13% of Democratic voters currently approve of Hawleys performance.

More Missouri voters disapprove than approve of Blunts performance as a senator, but more voters approve of Blunt than did last year. In June 2020, 38% of voters approved of Blunts performance; in July 2021, 40% of voters approved and 47% disapproved.

Both Hawley and Blunt are individually much more popular with voters than the U.S. Congress as a whole. Only 20% of Missouri voters approve of the U.S. Congress, while 69% disapprove.

Other key findings on Missouri issues included:

 62% believe the state should fund Medicaid expansion

 54% support the new student scholarship program and prohibiting Missouri state and local officials from enforcing federal gun laws

 24% do not plan to get a COVID-19 vaccine; an additional 10% are not sure about getting vaccinated

In 2022, Missouri voters will vote to replace retiring Blunt. Republicans recent success in statewide elections suggests the 2022 Republican U.S. Senate primary winner will likely win the general election.

Missourians overall have relatively unfavorable views of some of the main Republican candidates, but Republican voters are more favorable, Rogers said.

Despite a sex scandal that forced Eric Greitens to resign as Missouris governor in 2018, his popularity among Missouri Republicans is quite high and more voters are familiar with Greitens than his competition in the upcoming U.S. Senate race, said Warren.

A national discussion about infrastructure hits home with Missourians. Voters are growing more concerned and unhappy about the states roads and infrastructure.

Fifteen percent of Missourians indicated infrastructure should be the top priority of the Missouri state government, about a 5% increase from the October 2020 SLU/YouGov Poll.

In July 2021, only 19% of Missouri voters rated roads and infrastructure in the State of Missouri as Excellent or Good, and 77% rated roads and infrastructure as Fair or Poor.

YouGov interviewed 950 likely Missouri voters between July 19 and July 29. The YouGov panel, a proprietary opt-in survey panel, is comprised of 1.2 million U.S. residents who have agreed to participate in YouGov Web surveys.

The SLU/YouGov Poll is funded by PRiME Center in SLUs School of Education and the Saint Louis University Research Institute Big Ideas competition, which provides funding to research initiatives that demonstrate broad faculty engagement, strong leadership and compelling research plans.
SOUTH ROXANA  Felony charges have been filed against a Pontoon Beach man in connection to a 2020 accident that took his daughters life.

Frank Williford, 29, of Pontoon Beach, has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence of methamphetamine resulting in death, a Class 2 enhanced felony; reckless homicide, a Class 3 felony; and three counts of aggravated driving under the influence of methamphetamine resulting in great bodily harm, a Class 4 enhanced felony.

According to South Roxana Police Chief Bob Coles, at 6:06 p.m. on Feb. 23, 2020, village police were called to a traffic crash at the intersection of Illinois 111 and Broadway Avenue where a 6-year-old girl died.

Wells said Williford had methamphetamine in his system when he was driving a 2004 Nissan Altima involved in a crash that killed his daughter, Layla A. Williford Mason. The accident also caused injuries to Lillith M. Williford, Alex X. Turner and Pavel Chemyavskiy.

Following the accident, the Madison County Coroners office reported Williford was traveling north on Illinois 111 and collided with a full size 2002 Chevrolet pickup driven by Chernyavskiy, 29, that was going south on Illinois 111 and turning left onto eastbound Broadway.

Layla A. Williford Mason was in a booster-seat in the right-rear passenger in the Altima, wearing a shoulder and lap belt, according to the coroners office. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Both Frank Williford and Chemyavskiy were transported to St. Louis area hospitals for treatment. The girls juvenile sibling also was transported from the scene to a St. Louis area hospital, as was Alex Turner, a passenger in the pickup.

Bond for Frank Williford has been set at $250,000.

My heart goes out to everyone involved in this tragic circumstance and apologize for time it took to bring this case to conclusion, Coles said. Unfortunately, the coronavirus played a major factor in prolonging the investigation into this incident with obtaining records from Missouri.

Coles also thanked the Madison County States Attorneys Office and the Illinois State Police for their assistance in the investigation.
BERLIN (AP)  Austrian media report that a town in the west of the country is planning to remove a memorial to three soldiers who were members of the Waffen SS during World War II.

Public broadcaster ORF reported Friday that the mayor of Imst, Stefan Weirather, confirmed that the municipal workers will dismantle the site.
MOSCOW (AP)  Russia has refused to renew a visa for a BBC journalist in Moscow  an effective expulsion amid simmering tensions with Britain  a move that the British government and the BBC condemned Friday as an assault on media freedom.

Rossiya 24 said late Thursday that BBC correspondent Sarah Rainsford will have to leave Russia before the end of the month when her visa expires. It said the Foreign Ministry's decision not to extend her visa came in retaliation to British refusal to grant or extend visas to Russian journalists.

The expulsion of Sarah Rainsford is a direct assault on media freedom which we condemn unreservedly," BBC Director-General Tim Davie said in a statement. Sarah is an exceptional and fearless journalist. She is a fluent Russian speaker who provides independent and in-depth reporting of Russia and the former Soviet Union. Her journalism informs the BBCs audiences of hundreds of millions of people around the world."

The U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office condemned the move as another unjustified step by the Russian authorities and urged Moscow "to reconsider this retrograde step against an award-winning BBC journalist which can only do further damage to media freedom in Russia.

Rainsford, who first came to the former Soviet Union nearly thirty years ago, reported from Russia for five years from 2000 and has been on her current deployment in Moscow since 2014. She also reported from Havana, Madrid and Istanbul.

The BBC called on Moscow to revise its move.

We urge the Russian authorities to reconsider their decision, Davie said. In the meantime, we will continue to report events in the region independently and impartially.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on her channel on a messaging app that the ministry had given detailed information to BBC representatives a few days ago. She wouldn't identify Rainsford by name.

Zakharova charged that London has ignored repeated Foreign Ministry warnings that it will take corresponding measures in response to its treatment of Russian journalists. We have made regular statements, urging the British to end persecution of Russian journalists, she said.

The U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office rejected Moscows claim of discriminatory action against Russian journalists based in the U.K. and insisted that Russian journalists continue to work freely in the U.K., provided they act within the law and the regulatory framework.

Russias relations with the West have sunk to the lowest levels since the Cold War, following Moscows 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula, accusations of Russian interference with elections, hacking attacks and other tensions.

Relations between Russia and Britain have remained particularly strained after the 2018 poisoning in England of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in an attack with a Soviet-designed nerve agent that British authorities said had almost certainly been approved at a senior level of the Russian state  an allegation that Moscow has vehemently denied.

In a June incident that further aggravated ties, Russia said one of its warships fired warning shots and a warplane dropped bombs in the path of the British destroyer HMS Defender to chase it away from an area near Crimea that Moscow claims as its territorial waters. Britain, which like most other nations didnt recognize Russias annexation of Crimea, insisted the Defender wasnt fired upon and said it was sailing in Ukrainian waters.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the incident as a provocation, and Moscow warned that next time the Russian military could fire to hit intruding warships if they don't heed warnings.
ALTON  The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) celebrated the start of the fall 2021 semester during its annual Welcome Fair on Thursday in the newly opened Advanced Care Clinic building, which also features a student lounge, workout facility and student lockers.

SIU SDM students were treated to boxed lunches, games and t-shirts. They also had the opportunity to learn about available student support resources while visiting with Edwardsville campus representatives from Campus Recreation, Health Service, Counseling Services, Student Affairs and the Police Department.

Im excited to start this journey, shared first year student Skylar Freeman of Flora. I was nervous coming in, but everyone has welcomed me with open arms, and Ive already started to learn the basics of dentistry.

As first years, were excited to be in this beautiful space, she said. The student lounge gives us a great place to get to know each other, hang out and do homework.

Angela Pritchett, SIU SDM Director of admissions and student services, said students attend classes Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and spend a lot of time in simulation lab and clinic.

Our newly reopened student lounge has computers, a ping pong table, and a pool table for students to unwind and relax during their breaks, she said. We also gave our first and second-year students a new locker space, allowing them more room for storing and organizing their equipment.

During Thursdays Welcome Event, SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook and Alton Mayor David Goins handed out free Oreo and Cookie Dough Blizzards from Dairy Queen.

This campus is a jewel for our community, said Goins, an Alton native. It was once one of our best kept secrets, but is no longer a secret due to its popularity and status as one of the best dental schools in the state and country. Were proud to have this school in Alton, and Im proud to be a part of this event while meeting the students.

Students enjoying the free refreshments expressed excitement for the year ahead.

It feels good to be a fourth-year student, said Chino Erokwu, of Cleveland. This new space is beautiful. Its important to have a space like this, as we missed out on it last year due to COVID. We can finally gather and get to know each other better once more.

Im excited to get started with the new year in a space like this, added third-year Mohammad Doulea, of Oak Lawn. COVID had an impact on us all, and we werent able to gather in a space like this. Im looking forward to being back here fulltime.

As first years, we utilize this facility more than anyone else, added Shara Harkless, of St. Louis. We all get together in the student lounge for our online courses and spend lunchtime down here. Im loving my time at SIU SDM so far.

SIU School of Dental Medicine students manage about 35,000 patient visits each year at patient clinics in Alton and East St. Louis. In addition, students offer oral health treatment, screenings and education to more than 10,000 people annually through a wide variety of off-campus community outreach events. These opportunities provide students the training they need to graduate and become highly skilled dentists. The School of Dental Medicine is a vital oral health care provider for residents of southern and central Illinois, and the St. Louis metropolitan region.
ROXANA  State Sen. Rachelle Aud Crowe, D-Glen Carbon, joined Metro East mayors and state agency heads Thursday to discuss the states new $250 million Back to Business grant program.

With this critical investment in the B2B grant opportunity, our state is working to ensure businesses can operate safely, support opportunities for employees and boost our economy as we rebuild, Crowe said. I strongly urge members of the Metro East business community to connect with our government partners to stay informed on available grants and resources.

The meeting at the Roxana Town Hall included law enforcement officials, community leaders and stakeholders to discuss upcoming capital projects and additional resources for economic development.

The Greater Egypt Regional Planning and Development Commission  serving Jersey, Madison and St. Clair counties  and the National Main Street Inc., serving the Alton area, are available to facilitate technical assistance to small businesses wanting to apply.

Through programs like our new Back to Business grants, ARPA allocation for non-entitlement units, and other upcoming recovery initiatives, the Pritzker administration is committed to mobilizing our share of federal recovery dollars quickly to help businesses and communities rebuild stronger in the wake of the pandemic, said DCEO Acting Director Sylvia Garcia. Our regional collaboration will be key as we aim to help people and businesses from every corner of the state to take advantage of these critical recovery dollars and rebuild stronger.

Applications will be available starting Aug. 18. More information on B2B, how to apply and where to access small business assistance is available at www.dceo.illinois.gov.

Illinois officials said the B2B grant program is aimed at helping small businesses in the recovery from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic shutdowns.

The program is funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act signed by President Joe Biden, and it includes specific set-aside amounts for certain uses. Those include $100 million for businesses in areas disproportionately impacted by the pandemic; $30 million for arts and entertainment businesses that havent received previous aid; $25 million for restaurants and taverns that didnt receive money from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund; $25 million for hotels; and another $25 million for businesses that didnt receive Business Interruption Grant funding.

The Business Interruption Grant program was funded through previous rounds of federal aid, distributing $580 million to businesses and day cares. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said those grants helped more than 9,000 small businesses in 600 communities.

A statement from the governors office said the Back to Business, or B2B, program, is the first in a series of economic recovery programs set to launch by the administration. The program aims to allow companies to offset losses due to COVID-19 and bring back workers through grant funding that does not have to be repaid.

Pritzker also noted the state approved another $9 million investment in the Community Navigator program, helping to connect underserved businesses with the resources available.

This localized personalized assistance will make this program more accessible for entrepreneurs who are eligible, yet may not know just where to get started or how to get started, whether its due to language or to staffing or any number of other reasons that shouldnt be a barrier to receiving this kind of support, Pritzker said.

The B2B funding will be administered through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which has a map of disproportionately impacted areas and a list of other requirements on its website, Illinois.gov/dceo.

The application period opens Aug. 18. The grants are available to businesses with revenues of $20 million or less in 2019 that saw a reduction in revenue in 2020 due to COVID-19. Hotels with $35 million or less in revenue are eligible.

Grants ranging from $5,000 to $150,000 will be distributed on a rolling basis, based on the losses sustained, by DCEO through its grant administrator, Allies for Community Business.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Overcast. Slight chance of a rain shower. High around 80F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds light and variable.
Whoever knew that Stock Spirits, the vodka distiller beloved by boozers across Eastern Europe, is quoted in London?

It is among a bunch of firms from the newly-capitalist economies which saw the City as an attractive place to float.

They reckoned without the London discount, which has made the UK a honey-pot for private equity barons.

Feeding frenzy: London-listed vodka distiller Stock Spirits has become the latest target for the private equity barons

Hard on the heels of a bid for Czech-based cyber-security Group Avast by America's Norton Life Lock, comes a 1billion offer by CVC for Stock with a decent 41 per cent-plus premium.

CVC is on a roll. It is involved in a messy battle in Spain for control of La Liga, but encountering resistance from its two most garlanded members, Real Madrid and Barcelona. It controls Formula One and did a strategic deal with Six Nations Rugby during the pandemic.

The words around CVC's deal with Stock are familiar. CVC is going to be investing in its 'strong track record of product innovation' and tap into the popularity of its brands among millennials. In other words, getting a lot of young people drunk.

As wonderful as that may be for the directors and shareholders, they should consider downsides. Loading up companies with debt is never a good idea, especially in a turbulent pandemic age. And, as colleagues at Avast and Norton are learning, the easiest way to jump-start margins is to sack people.

In a report on the summer madness, broker Peel Hunt points out that 12 UK public companies have come under offer since July. The most high-profile is the botched bidding war for supermarket Morrisons.

The most vexing is the undermining of the UK's aerospace capacity with the deals for Meggitt and Ultra Electronics.

And the least desirable is the offer for inhaler developer Vectura from Philip Morris. It has the medical establishment up in arms, including the Royal College of Physicians.

What also is clear from the Peel Hunt note is that private equity need have no fear of rejection as almost every deal is 'recommended'.

The idea that 'nodding dog' independent directors should ever get in the way of grasping executives becoming instant multi-millionaires through share incentive plans is alien.

As strong results from investment banks Barclays and Goldman Sachs  along with professional services such as PwC  demonstrate, everyone in finance has an abiding interest in getting deals over the line.

The broader interest of stakeholders, employees, suppliers and consumers or the nation, doesn't stand a chance against financial muscle.

Cashing out

No one could accuse Aviva boss Amanda Blanc of dragging her heels. In her 12 months in charge of the insurer, she has executed 7.5billion of disposals and is now dishing out the largesse with plans to give 4billion back to investors.

The first 750m is going on a share buyback. That will tidy up a sprawling equity base. But unless the company can find a winning formula to grow and to keep earnings and shares rising, then investors may feel cheated.

They will hope that as the rest of the cash is released over the next year, most of it will come as a special dividend. Aviva's balance sheet clean-up, including paying down 2billion of debt, and 300million in cost reductions should go some way to keeping Swedish activist investor Cevian at bay.

Blanc's next task will be making sure Aviva can keep growing in an increasingly digital sector. Disrupters such as newcomers Marshmallow pride themselves on undercutting incumbents.

The legacy of a strong advisers network also means Aviva is able to attract inflows into investment products. But the disruption of traditional channels by fintech upstarts could make that harder.

If the longer-term goal is a more progressive dividend, it might have been worth keeping some of the cash back for transformative, long-term investment in tech and marketing channels. That's not on the activist agenda.

Social justice

The Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) says it has no role in policing Britain's food security at Morrisons. But it can't resist poking the social media giants.

A preliminary ruling that Facebook's acquisition of online image creator Giphy raises serious concerns is gutsy, since the target company has no direct presence in the UK.

Facebook control could potentially deprive other platforms of the right to access animated images known as GIFs.

A fascinating intervention, but couldn't the CMA unleash its anti-trust enforcers closer to home?
Meggitt would be better off being sold to Parker-Hannifin than accepting a higher bid from a private-equity-like suitor, a leading defence analyst has warned.

The FTSE 250-listed defence group this month became a takeover target for two US firms.

Aerospace giant Parker-Hannifin put forward a 6.3billion, 800p-per-share bid earlier this month.

FTSE 250-listed defence group Meggitt this month became a takeover target for two US firms

But on Wednesday it was trumped by rival aerospace engineer Transdigm, which barged in on the pre-agreed deal by putting forward an informal offer of 900p per share, worth 7billion.

Transdigm boasts of having a private-equity-style model, which has raised alarm bells in the City about the long-term future for technology and staff.

Independent aerospace and defence analyst Howard Wheeldon said what was important with a buyout is how much a new owner is willing to invest in a firm.

He said: Meggitt is certainly a great company and one that has many long-term strengths.

It deserves far better than being ultimately taken over by a company such as Transdigm that is happy to boast it has a private-equity-like structure and culture.

Parker-Hannifin has a culture and forward-looking investment approach very similar to that of Meggitt.
Vectura's board faced criticism after it backed a takeover offer from the maker of Marlboro cigarettes.

The decision sparked outrage among the UK's medical chiefs and physicians who were shocked that the inhaler maker, which helps people with respiratory problems, could succumb to US tobacco giant, Philip Morris International (PMI).

City grandee Lord Myners last night also condemned the deal, branding it a 'garage sale' and saying the bid saga 'stank'.

Appalled: City grandee Lord Myners, a former chairman at Marks & Spencer, branded the Vectura deal a 'garage sale', saying the bid saga 'stank'

Vectura's board accepted the offer on financial grounds as it values the firm at 1.02billion. This is more than a bid of 958million from US private equity firm Carlyle.

Myners is a former chairman at Marks & Spencer who saved the company from falling into the hands of Philip Green.

He said the chairman and directors of Vectura should never have engaged with either of the takeover offers.

'The board should have rejected the first offers, instead they put their head in the noose. Boards in this country lack stomach to produce better long term value.

It is a fact of life now, any UK cash offer [at a premium] above 30 per cent and the investment banks tell the board to accept. Game over.'

He added: 'It doesn't happen in other countries. It's like a garage sale. We are selling off our scientific leadership. It's a tragedy and the Government just watches as all our scientific knowledge is bought up.'

Founded in 1997 by students from the University of Bath, Vectura is one of the UK's leading science companies.

Philip Morris wants to get its hands on the firm to transform itself into a 'health and wellness' firm. Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation, said they were 'extremely shocked and concerned'.

She added: 'PMI makes billions from making addictive products that can cause and exacerbate lung diseases. It's totally absurd that they could make more money from providing treatments to the very people they have made ill in the first place.'

Vectura shareholders will vote on the deal on August 24.
The FTSE 100 recorded its longest weekly winning streak since November, closing 0.4 per cent higher at 7,218, while the FTSE 250 ended the day up 0.2 per cent to 23,788.

Babcock shares rose today after it agreed to sell its consultancy unit Frazer-Nash to KBR for 293million.

Last night, the board of asthma inhaler maker Vectura backed a 1.1billion takeover by tobacco giant Philip Morris, despite calls from health charities to reject it.

Walt Disney topped Wall Street forecasts for the most recent quarter as its streaming services picked up more customers than expected and its theme parks returned to profitability.

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ALBANY  A Westchester-based housing advocacy group has filed a complaint with the state Division of Human Rights alleging that an Albany property management company discriminates against potential renters who want to use housing vouchers.

The complaint focuses on seven complexes or apartments in Albany, Dutchess, Rensselaer and Schenectady counties managed by Dawn Homes Management. Representatives from Westchester Residential Opportunities posed as potential renters who were looking to rent apartments using vouchers and then recorded calls with employees.

The recorded calls in the complaint stretch from April 2019 to May 2021.

(Dawn Homes Managements) policies and practices exclude virtually all prospective applicants with rental subsidies or vouchers based on source of income in violation of the New York State Human Rights Law, the complaint reads.

Anthony Paganucci, director of marketing for Dawn Homes Management, said the company could not comment on the allegations because it had not yet been notified of any investigation by the state Division of Human Rights.

"We have not received any formal complaint regarding this matter from the Division of Human Rights and we remain committed to staying up to date and following all federal, state and local fair housing guidelines at all of our communities, he said in a statement.

The housing advocacy group began their investigation into Dawn Homes after hearing concerns about their rental practices in Dutchess County, according to the complaint. In April 2019, the states Human Rights Law was amended to include income as a protected characteristic.

The complaint alleges that rental agents typically told callers they did not accept vouchers, werent set up to accept the vouchers, only leased apartments to renters who directly paid their rent and didnt accept payments from governments.

Agents instead told prospective renters that their required minimum income had to be at least 3 to 3.5 times the monthly rent of the apartment they were looking to lease.

Diane Houk, the attorney representing Westchester Residential Opportunities, said that under the voucher programs, such as Section 8, government agencies and nonprofits typically measure 30 percent of an individuals income. When that person goes to rent an apartment, that is the amount they are expected to be able to pay, with the government making up the remainder.

Houk said apartment complexes are supposed to use that 30 percent figure when calculating a prospective tenants required minimum income. Otherwise, people with low incomes would never be able to afford those apartment complexes, she said.

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For example, if a potential monthly rent is $1,000 and a renter has a voucher that covers $700, the renter is responsible for the remaining $300. If that $300 is 30 percent of their monthly income, their annual income is $12,000. The complaint alleges that under that scenario, Dawn Homes employees would put the minimum income required to rent an apartment at $36,000.

Dawn Homes Management's policies amounted to housing discrimination and essentially locked lower-income people out of their complexes, including some suburban areas that lack large amounts of affordable housing, Houk said.

"They can't refuse vouchers and have a neutral criteria that has the effect of refusing vouchers," she said. "It makes it very difficult for people in entry-level jobs ... or single parents with children; it makes it difficult for them to find an affordable place to live in their chosen school district."
NEW ORLEANS (AP)  A prolific narcotics agent known as the white devil among drug traffickers was sentenced Thursday to more than 13 years behind bars for stealing money from suspects, falsifying government records and committing perjury during a federal trial.

U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo said the longtime U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent, Chad A. Scott, caused far reaching damage to the administration of justice.

The sentencing capped a five-year case that shook the DEA and resulted in convictions of three other members of a New Orleans-based federal drug task force.

Prosecutors portrayed Scott as more dangerous than the most hardened heroin dealers he locked up, saying the Louisiana lawman broke every rule in the book to enforce his own approximation of justice. They had asked Milazzo to sentence Scott to nearly two decades in prison.

He undercut law enforcement and he disgraced the entire judicial process, federal prosecutor Timothy Duree told the first jury that convicted Scott. He was sworn to uphold the law but instead, he broke it for his own selfish purposes.

Scott, 53, was found guilty at successive trials of a long list of corruption counts. The charges stemmed from an expansive federal investigation into misconduct claims that had surrounded Scott for much of his 17-year career, even as he racked up headline-grabbing drug busts between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Scott told Milazzo he was ashamed of being here, adding he had long since been convicted in the press and public opinion. But he sought to underline his contributions to law enforcement and the DEA's mission, in which he said he had truly believed. He was twice the target of murder-for-hire plots, he told the judge  an example of the length people will go to to remove me from drug trafficking investigations.

Scott's remarks  his first since his 2017 arrest  came during an unusual sentencing hearing this week that revealed details of crimes Scott was alleged to have committed but for which he was not charged. The alleged victims included a Louisiana man who accused Scott of planting an ounce of marijuana in his truck in 2005 and a Houston man who said Scott twice lashed his mouth with the medallion on a necklace he was wearing during a 1999 arrest that brought no charges, then confiscated the chain and took nearly a year to return it.

This goes against everything that the Drug Enforcement Administration stands for," Anne Milgram, the newly sworn-in DEA administrator, said in a statement. "Scott betrayed the very people he was entrusted to protect and today he is being held accountable for his crimes.

Scott was convicted in 2019 of orchestrating false testimony against a Houston-based heroin and cocaine trafficker  perjury that tainted the dealer's conviction and allowed him to walk free. The same federal jury found Scott falsified paperwork for a Ford F-150 pickup  a vehicle he directed another drug trafficker to buy so the DEA could seize it and give it to Scott.

Earlier this year, a separate federal jury convicted Scott and Rodney Gemar, a former member of his task force, in what prosecutors described as a long-running scheme to steal money and property from suspects they arrested.

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Two other former members of the task force, Johnny Domingue and Karl E. Newman, were accused of stealing cash and drugs and testified against Scott. Both were Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office deputies  detailed to the DEA  and served federal sentences after agreeing to cooperate with the government. Domingue since has been charged with new federal drug trafficking charges in Texas.

Scott is among a growing list of DEA agents who have been accused of abusing their authority in recent years. Another veteran agent, Jose Irizzary, pleaded guilty last year to conspiring with a Colombian cartel money launderer, filing false reports and ordering DEA staff to wire money slated for undercover stings to international accounts he controlled.

At least a dozen DEA agents across the country have been criminally charged since 2015 on counts ranging from wire fraud and bribery to selling firearms to drug traffickers, according to court records. That includes a longtime special agent in Chicago who pleaded guilty to infiltrating the DEA on behalf of drug traffickers and another accused of accepting $250,000 in bribes to protect the Mafia.

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Mustian reported from New York. Associated Press writer Kevin McGill contributed to this report.
NEW YORK (AP)  Larry Heinzerling, a 41-year Associated Press news executive and bureau chief who played a key role in winning freedom for hostage Terry Anderson from his Hezbollah abductors in Lebanon, has died after a short illness. He was 75.

Heinzerling, who passed away at home in New York on Wednesday night, served as AP bureau chief in South Africa during a time of popular revolt against apartheid and in West Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall. He was deputized by then-AP President and Chief Executive Officer Lou Boccardi to seek contacts with governments and international intermediaries to obtain the release of Anderson, the AP bureau chief in Beirut who had been kidnapped by the extremist group in 1985.

He worked behind the scenes for nearly seven years to win Andersons release in 1991.

At AP headquarters in New York, Heinzerling was director of AP World Services and later deputy international editor. He was the son of the late Lynn Heinzerling, a Pulitzer Prize-winning foreign correspondent for the AP in Europe and Africa.

Larry followed in the footsteps of his illustrious AP correspondent father but he walked his own widely admired path  reporter, editor, bureau chief, headquarters executive and, in one painful period in AP history, my personal envoy as we searched across the world for the key to freedom for Terry Anderson," Boccardi said in an email Thursday.

Larry epitomized the enduring values of honor, trust, grace under pressure and talent. He was a joy to have in the AP family."

Brian Carovillano, AP vice president and co-managing editor, said: Larry was a rock of the AP, someone who believed completely in our mission and the power and importance of eyewitness journalism. He also did as much as anyone to help transform this company into the global organization it is today. His impact on AP and its journalism will endure."

Heinzerling grew up partly in Elyria, Ohio, and partly overseas in Johannesburg, Geneva and London among other cities where his father was posted. His father was a World War II correspondent for AP and won his Pulitzer in 1961 for coverage of the 1960 Congo crisis as the country emerged from Belgian colonial rule.

Heinzerling graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University before joining the AP in Columbus in 1967, simultaneously acquiring a master's degree in international journalism at Ohio State.

After a stint at AP's New York international desk, Heinzerling was posted to sub-Saharan Africa, first in 1971 to Lagos, Nigeria, recently torn by civil war as West Africa correspondent, and then to Johannesburg as South African bureau chief in 1974. There he covered the 1976 Soweto uprising and ongoing cycles of violence and repression as the white minority government sought to maintain its racist system of apartheid.

In 1978, Heinzerling was named bureau chief in Frankfurt, West Germany, overseeing AP's newsgathering from central Europe and directing the large AP German service, then the second-largest news agency in Germany. Berlin was a divided city and East-West tensions seethed in Europe and in the country struggling to overcome the legacy of World War II.

His acumen at running a complex news and business operation resulted in his being called back to New York in 1983 to become deputy director and then director of World Services, the department that managed all of AP's non-U.S. businesses and the distribution of news and photos outside of the United States.

When Anderson was kidnapped in March 1985, one of a string of hostage-takings by Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants, Heinzerling became the AP's point man in secret, backdoor diplomacy to find a way to persuade the kidnappers to let Anderson go. In later years, he declined to talk about his efforts, honoring the promises of secrecy he made at that time.

Larry Heinzerling was an extraordinary man in a great many ways. He was a special person for me both for his efforts on my behalf during my captivity, and the friendship we enjoyed after my return, Anderson said. He also happened to be an excellent journalist, and a kind and gentle man. I will miss him, as will we all.

Ian Phillips, APs director of international news, agreed.

Larry was the type of boss you loved to work for, Phillips said. He had a contagious laugh that would resonate around the newsroom and elicit smiles even on the toughest of days. He had high standards, but also knew how to bring a sense of fun to the workplace and was held in such high regard by all. He had a global perspective and delighted in sharing stories from when he worked in the field in Africa and Europe.

Within the AP, Heinzerling was known for fostering dozens of careers over the decades, and tributes to him poured in from around the world at news of his passing. Longtime AP writer Maureen Johnson in London recalled when he hired her in 1977 in South Africa.

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Larry was clever, a born journalist, a skilled linguist  and much else. He was kind, amusing, courageous and to me, who counted for nothing in the scope of his career, totally supportive. He gave me a crack at the many world class stories which Southern Africa served up at the time: the ending of Rhodesias bloody civil war and with it the collapse of white minority rule; the last years of apartheid strung with famous names: the Mandelas, Steve Biko, P.W. de Klerk."

He remained for me a guiding light," she said.

Sally Buzbee, AP's former executive editor, said Heinzerling was known to AP journalists around the globe for his commitment to front-line journalism and wide knowledge of the world.

He never lost his optimism, despite covering many terrible things, and his smile, friendliness and that optimism were appreciated by everyone he worked with, said Buzbee, who is now executive editor of the Washington Post.

Retiring from the news cooperative as deputy international editor for world services in 2009, Heinzerling spoke of his career.

I have had a wonderful career at AP and in no small way it has been my life, he wrote. I am thankful for a magical childhood in Europe and Africa as the son of an AP foreign correspondent, and I am even more grateful for the many exciting professional opportunities and adventures AP has offered me over the past 40 years. Where else can you travel the world, report historical events, work with great people every day in a common cause and be proud of what you do?

Heinzerling is survived by his wife of 20 years, Ann Cooper, the former director of the Committee to Protect Journalists and a retired Columbia Graduate School of Journalism professor.

After retirement, he and Cooper volunteered around the world to build homes for Habitat for Humanity and he taught journalism and mentored students as an adjunct assistant professor at Columbia's journalism school and its school of public and international affairs.

More recently Heinzerling was completing a history of the AP in Germany during and after Hitler's rule: Newshawks in Berlin: Nazi Germany, The Associated Press, And the Pursuit of News," with an AP colleague, investigative researcher Randy Herschaft. Set mostly in wartime Berlin, the book examines how the AP covered Nazi Germany with news and photos from inside the Third Reich throughout World War II.

Heinzerling's illness emerged suddenly in late June, after the couple finished a cross-country car trip to visit her son and his stepson Artyom (Tom) Keller in California. Heinzerling was diagnosed with cancer shortly after, complicated by an attack of pneumonia last week.

Cooper, Keller, and Heinzerling's two children, Kristen Heinzerling and Benjamin Heinzerling, were with him at his death. Other survivors include their spouses, Thomas Minty and Gabriela Lopez Heinzerling; two more stepchildren, Andreas Klohnen and Eva Klohnen; and five grandchildren. A son, Jesse Heinzerling, passed away earlier.
MECHANICVILLE  The city's mayor hand-picked the members of the new Police Civilian Internal Affairs Review Commission, which the City Council approved Wednesday without any resumes or other information provided about appointees.

Of the seven proposed members, two live across the street from each other and are neighbors of Mayor Dennis Baker. One is his secretarys sister. And the other two live near each other in another neighborhood.

Mechanicvilles only rule for members of the seven-member commission is that they must be city residents, with the goal of choosing people from a variety of neighborhoods. One person proposed by the mayor had to be rejected because he lives in Colonie.

The City Council restarted the commission on the recommendation of the city's Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative Committee.

Council member Barbara McGuire objected to the mayors choices.

These are friends of the mayor. There was nothing advertised for residents to know this commission was forming so if they had an interest in being on it they could, she said in a written statement.

Baker defended his choices at Wednesdays meeting.

I picked people I thought would be good for that committee, he said, but offered no specifics on each individual.

When McGuire asked about one member, whom she did not know, Baker offered the man's address.

He lives on the same street as your in-laws, next door in fact, he said.

McGuire said some of the choices, particularly the mayors secretarys sister, were a conflict of interest. And the choices did not reflect the diversity of neighborhoods in the city, she said.

Two people who live across the street from each other. Two people an intersection away from each other, she said. Theres no one from North or South Main Street, North or South Second, South Third, South Street, Ellsworth Avenue, JS Moore Homes and Davenport Estates. You have people who live across the street from each other, but no one to represent these other areas? Was that on purpose?

Baker said it didnt matter that some members live near each other. They arent even friends, he said.

McGuire asked him how he could know that, saying, They live across the street from each other. The mayor responded, Well, thats my pick."

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She also questioned the training requirements. Every member must go on a ride-along with a police officer.

Is this going to be on a Friday or Saturday night, or a Sunday afternoon? she asked. If they do a ride-along and nothing happens, will they have to do another one?

Baker said he would be satisfied by one ride-along.

They could go weeks with nothing happening, he said.

McGuire doubted that, noting that the police made 43 arrests in the last month.

We have three guys on at night, she said, explaining that she wants members to see police handling domestic violence situations and other sensitive calls.

In the end, the council agreed to remove one person from the mayors proposal: the police officer who lives in Colonie. An officer who lives in the city will be proposed at the councils next meeting, Baker said.

The approved members are: Kevin Smith, Amy Pickett, Josh Sanchez, Michelle Duell, Greg Mansfield and Abby Maiello. The Times Union couldn't immediately reach them for comment about their appointments.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  Volunteers scrambled to hand out water, portable fans, popsicles and information about cooling shelters Thursday to homeless people living in isolated encampments on the outskirts of Portland, Oregon, as the Pacific Northwest sweated through a heat wave gripping the normally temperate region.

Authorities trying to provide relief to the vulnerable, including low-income older people and those living outdoors, are mindful of a record-shattering heat wave in late June that killed hundreds in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia when the thermometer went as high as 116 degrees Fahrenheit (47 C).

In Portland, temperatures reached 102 F (39 C) by late afternoon, and more heat was expected Friday. It was hotter than Phoenix, where the high in the desert city was a below-normal 100 F (38 C). In Seattle, highs were in the 90s in a region where many don't have air conditioning. In Bellingham, Washington, on Thursday the high hit 100 F (38 C) for the first time on record.

Scorching weather also hit other parts of the U.S. this week. The National Weather Service said heat advisories and warnings are in effect from the Midwest to the Northeast and mid-Atlantic through at least Friday. And in Michigan, heavy rains brought flooding, leaving nearly 1 million homes and businesses without power at one point Thursday in the hot weather.

In Portland, a nonprofit group that serves the homeless and those with mental illness used three large vans to transport water and other cooling items to homeless encampments along the Columbia River on the eastern outskirts of the city.

The effort was important because people experiencing homelessness are often reluctant to go to cooling centers, said Kim James, director of homeless and housing support for Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare.

Scott Zalitis, who was shirtless in the heat, gorged himself on lime-green popsicles handed out by the group and told volunteers that the temperature at his campsite reached 105 F (41 C) the day before. A huge cooler full of food spoiled when all the ice melted and he couldn't find any more to buy.

Its miserable. I cant handle the heat no matter what. So, I mean, its hard to stand. Even in the shade its too hot," said Zalitis, who became homeless last year when the apartment where he subleased a room burned down in an electrical fire. You want to stay somewhere thats cool, as cool as possible.

The encampment, where rusted-out cars and broken-down RVs mixed with tents and piles of garbage, was in sharp contrast to downtown Portland, where sweaty pedestrians cooled off by running through a large public fountain in a riverfront park.

Luna Abadia, 17, was out training with her cross country team from Lincoln High School in the morning when the group stopped for a few minutes at the fountain. The runners normally train at 4 p.m., but in recent weeks, they have have had to shift it to 8 a.m.  and it's still oppressively hot, she said.

It was very hot, lots of sweat. Thats something weve noticed in the past week or so, Abadia said.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has declared a state of emergency and activated an emergency operations center, citing the potential for disruptions to the power grid and transportation. City and county governments have opened cooling centers, extended public library hours and waived bus fare for those headed to cooling centers. A 24-hour statewide help line will direct callers to the nearest cooling shelter and offer safety tips.

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The back-to-back heat waves, coupled with a summer that's been exceptionally warm and dry overall, are pummeling a region where summer highs usually drift into the 70s or 80s. Intense heat waves and a historic drought in the American West reflect climate change that is making weather more extreme.

For the heat wave, at this level, it is new territory, said Dan Douthit, spokesman for the Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications. Were known for the potential for earthquakes, we have fires, floods  but it seems like heat waves are becoming a very serious emergency."

Abadia said changes brought on by climate change that she has noticed in her life prompted her to start a youth-run organization to get more young people involved in the issue.

Climate change is everything Ive been thinking about for the past weeks, she said. This heat wave and the wildfires we faced here a year ago  and even now around the world  have really been a new reminder to what were facing and, kind of, the immediate action that needs to be taken."

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  A tidal wave of COVID-19 cases is putting severe stress on Alabama hospitals, medical officials said Thursday, adding the state will likely soon surpass the previous record for hospitalizations.

We need Alabamians to understand we are in a difficult position right now. We are seeing case numbers again as high as we have ever seen, State Health Officer Scott Harris said in a weekly briefing with reporters.

That has put a severe stress on our hospital situation. We have only 5% of our ICU beds available statewide. many facilities, particularly in the southern part of the state do not have available ICU beds at this time.

Medical officials have said a surge in cases is being driven by low vaccination rates and the highly contagious delta variant, and implored people to get vaccinated and wear masks to combat the spread and prevent severe illness.

Dr. Sarah Nafziger, vice president of University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital Clinical Services, said the hospital has had to limit the number of procedures they are doing and decline transfers to the hospital.

We are seeing an absolute tidal wave, Nafziger said. She said the hospital is providing care and emergency services, but she said the trends and projections are alarming.

I hate to even talk about these things happening, but thats what happening. Thats the reality of what's happening. When you think about running out of hospital beds, and running out of health care resources, that is the path that we are on."

There were 2,441 COVID-19 patients in state hospitals on Thursday, according to numbers provided by the Alabama Department of Public Health. If the trajectory continues, Harris said the state will surpass the previous high of 3,087 within a few days.

The overwhelming majority of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 are unvaccinated, Harris said. Numbers provided by state hospitals indicate that 89% of COVID-19 patients in state hospitals have not been fully vaccinated. Harris said 11% of hospitalized virus patients have been fully vaccinated and 3% have been fully vaccinated, according to numbers provided to the state by hospitals.

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At UAB, Nafziger said 91% of hospitalized patients are unvaccinated.

Alabama ranks fifth in the country for new cases per capita, behind Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Alabama is seeing an average of 3,400 new cases per day.

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A federal judge has issued a permanent injunction on behalf of religious health care providers who feared the Biden administration would interpret the Affordable Care Act as requiring them to perform abortions or gender-transition treatment against their conscience.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had argued that it doesn't require religious providers to offer such procedures and has never brought or threatened any enforcement activity against a religious entity in such a case.

But U.S. District Court Judge Reed OConnor interpreted HHS regulations as forcing the plaintiffs  a Catholic hospital system in the Midwest and a Christian medical association  to choose between their beliefs and their livelihood, resulting in irreparable injury.

The decision underscores a continued dispute between conservative religious health care providers and HHS over an issue that has generated a patchwork of rulings that will likely have to be sorted out by appellate courts.

O'Connor, whose court is in the Northern District of Texas, issued the injunction based on his earlier ruling that found HHS in violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which requires deference to religion barring a "compelling government interest."

The injunction benefits only the plaintiffs  Franciscan Alliance, a Catholic hospital network in Indiana and Illinois, and the Christian Medical & Dental Associations and their 19,000 members nationwide  though O'Connor voided the disputed portions of the law in the earlier ruling.

Another federal judge issued a similar decision in favor of a Catholic health system in North Dakota in January. The Biden administration is appealing it.

The plaintiffs in the Texas court sued in 2016 over Affordable Care Act-related rules issued by HHS that year under the Obama administration. Those rules  applying to most medical providers by virtue of their participating in federally funded programs  barred discrimination based on factors including sex, interpreted as including gender identity, and pregnancy status, such as termination of pregnancy.

An HHS analysis at the time said health care institutions that, for example, perform hysterectomies for medical purposes would need to provide them to transgender men, though the rules said separately that federal protections for religious freedom and conscience would supersede any requirements. The analysis also noted that the ACA and other federal laws protected medical providers from having to provide abortions.

O'Connor in 2019 voided the parts of the rules barring discrimination based on gender identity and termination of pregnancy.

The Trump administration strengthened religious exemptions in 2020 and eliminated protections for gender identity  although other federal courts temporarily blocked that change. It was also soon followed by a Supreme Court ruling that interpreted the federal ban on sex discrimination as also prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity.

This May, HHS said it would interpret its rules according to that Supreme Court ruling but would also abide by previous court rulings such as that of O'Connor. The judge, in ordering the permanent injunction this week, said that was a contradiction.

Attorney Luke Goodrich, who represented the plaintiffs on behalf of Becket, a legal organization focused on religious liberty, applauded the decision.

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Everyone is better off when these doctors and hospitals can continue to provide top-notch medical care without violating their consciences, he said.

But Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, senior attorney and health care strategist at Lambda Legal, which focuses on LGBTQ rights, said the court and the plaintiffs were fabricating a controversy when there has been no threat of enforcement against the plaintiffs.

He noted there are conflicting federal court decisions on defining sex discrimination in the ACA rules, and at some point and time there will be a consensus among the courts or the Supreme Court may have to intervene.

Lindsey Kaley, staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union's Center for Liberty, said the ruling limits federal enforcement but does not change the fact that transgender people who have been turned away from health care can continue to pursue litigation." The ACLU's Texas branch intervened on behalf of HHS.

Gender-affirming care is life-saving care, and doctors agree that it is medically necessary for many transgender people, Kaley said.

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Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through The Conversation U.S. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
SARATOGA SPRINGS  Saratoga Hospital and all of its ancillary offices are banning visitors again due to the surge in COVID-19 cases.

Patients will only be allowed visitors in the Mother-Baby Unit, Mental Health Unit and Mollie Wilmot Radiation Oncology Center.

The hospital will also allow compassionate exceptions, when other patients will be allowed visitors, generally when the patient is dying.

Only one month ago, on July 13, the hospital began allowing all patients to have two visitors at a time. That was when the countys positive test rate was below 1 percent.

But now its above 4 percent again.

The delta variant is here, and were seeing the impact on our community, especially on those who are not vaccinated, said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Richard Falivena in a statement. As we have since the beginning of the pandemic, we must continue to track the spread of COVID-19 and make the necessary adjustments to protect our patients, staff and the community as a whole.

The hospital is also requiring all employees to get vaccinated by Sept. 7 or get tested weekly. So far, 85 percent of the employees are vaccinated, said spokesman Peter Hopper.

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The hospital has seen an increase in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 and had 18 such patients as of Friday. There are no pediatric cases at the hospital, Hopper said.

Glens Falls Hospital is requiring all employees to be vaccinated by Oct. 1. So far, that hospital has 86 percent of its employees vaccinated. Glens Falls Hospital is also still allowing visitors.

The Saratoga Hospital visitor ban extends to the emergency center, Malta Med Emergent Care, Urgent Care  Wilton, Urgent Care  Adirondack, Saratoga Surgery Center and all Saratoga Hospital Medical Group primary care and specialty practice locations.
SCHENECTADY  Over the years, business owner Dave Kahn said he's had both good and bad experiences with the police department.

Some of the latter resulted in Kahn, owner and chef of Daves Gourmet Burgers and More on Edison Avenue, to file complaints with the police department and the civilian police review board, including one in a dispute with his landlord that led to dozens of calls last year to police when his restaurant was at a previous location.

They were never on the same page - one police officer says this is a criminal act, the second one would respond an hour later, that this is a civil complaint, and they would just leave and not even listen to me, he said, adding in some cases  they gave me attitude and said I must stop calling the police and refused to allow him to speak to a police supervisor. I want to make sure the calls are properly addressed because almost 50 percent of the population is either Guyanese, Blacks or Latinos ... but the police are almost 99 percent white; when they show up they dont really listen.

The incident, most of which was confirmed by Police Chief Eric Clifford, highlights some of the daily challenges the police grapple with and the critical role the depleted Schenectady Civilian Police Review Board plays in ensuring police follow the proper procedures in dealing with the public.

The efforts to empower the review board that arose out of broader efforts to reform the police department mandated by outgoing Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo have mostly languished because of issues ranging from the the group's chairman, Dick Shave, stepping down and impending departure of successor Carl Williams for a board that is already not at full strength.

Williams emerged victorious in Junes Democratic City Council primary and is primed for a potential win in Novembers general election that would elevate him onto the governing body, meaning he'll likely step down from his review board post.

Clifford said so far the department and review board have come up with a draft of possible changes for a more user-friendly packet that a person filing a complaint is required to complete. Police leaders have requested the review board have its own dedicated link off the police departments website as part of the city's new website, which is under construction.

But he and Williams admit there's still a lot of heavy lifting left to do to see to it that reforms around training for review board members, community engagement and outreach, and tracking data happen. One contentious topic is whether to view redacted or unredacted versions of body-worn camera videos. Williams said.

Clifford said we definitely need to ramp this up in early September as far as the outreach.

Kahn, 50, who previously ran businesses in Albany, contends he was forced to shutter the former location in Schenectady in April 2020 after four years there, and that he lost hundreds of thousands of dollars because of the problems with his landlord. Asked about Kahn's case, Williams said the names of the complainant and police officers are redacted from documents the review board looks at.

Clifford said a person filing a complaint receives a letter if the review board agrees with the departments decision.

If it was a civilian-generated complaint, which I believe it was, we send all of our civilian-generated complaints to the CPRB for review, said the chief, adding they are able to do that for the time being because the department gets so few complaints.

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Kahn provided such a letter dated May 26, 2021 and signed by Clifford that states that an incident from October 2020 has been reviewed by the department's Office of Professional Standards.

"Findings indicate the officer was not only discourteous, but also failed to complete a satisfactory preliminary investigation of your complaint," wrote the chief. "His behavior during your interaction does not meet my department's high standards and mission."

Clifford goes on to say, "I understand if officers unknowingly contradict each other, or fail to follow through with their duties, it can only add to your frustration," but that the department " is working diligently towards positive changes, improved communications, and better police service."

Earlier this week he elaborated on the case, saying the officer initially refused to call the police supervisor and told Kahn that the landlord-tenant dispute related to having the heat shut off during the winter was civil in nature when it wasnt.

Hes correct in that he made a complaint, it got investigated, it came to me, I believe it was sustained, we took corrective action with the officer, he said. I wasnt happy with the answer the officer gave to Mr. Kahn, and its one of those things the officer has corrected.

Justin Chaires, a review board member who also serves on the police reform steering committee, said "I feel like we can do a better job of making sure that the people know what occurred and how things were handled."
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  A Texas Democratic senator who spoke for more than 15 hours against GOP voting restrictions knew she was just delaying the inevitable. Still, Carol Alvarado saw the filibuster as one more tactic she could use to spotlight her party's marathon clash with Republicans over voting rights.

And much like her Democratic colleagues who have derailed both chambers of the Texas Legislature by skipping out on work, she did it with dramatic flair.

Alvarado, chair of the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus, took questions from some other senators  mostly Democrats  while standing on the Senate floor from Wednesday evening to Thursday morning. She said the Republican legislation that would increase liberties for poll watchers and prohibitions on 24-hour and drive-thru voting would disproportionately disadvantage disabled voters and minorities. Most of her words were spoken into an empty room, after senators left as the maneuver dragged on.

Texas Democrats in both chambers draw the line in the sand and say unapologetically and in one accord for the world to hear that voter suppression anywhere is a threat to democracy everywhere, Alvarado said as she closed out her speech, with Democratic allies forming a line behind her.

Minutes later, the bill passed the Senate in an 18-11 party-line vote. It now goes to the House for a vote, but the legislation can't move forward as minority Democrats there continue their walkout that has stretched into 32 days.

A filibuster can last indefinitely, and the current special session is only on day six of 30. That timeline was not lost on Senate Republicans.

If she can speak on the bill until Sept 1, it dies, tweeted Sen. Kel Seliger.

But buying time has been a theme of the Democrats summer revolt, including when House members decamped to Washington, D.C., in hopes of pressing President Joe Biden and Congress to pass federal legislation that would protect voting rights. In Americas largest red state, they have little choice besides a filibuster or a walkout because they are outnumbered. Republicans wont budge on their partys national priority, as seen by the way tightened voting restrictions have been approved in states such as Georgia and Florida.

The standoff in the Texas House even led to Republican leaders calling on law enforcement Thursday to round up the wayward Democrats and bring them back to the Capitol.

In the Texas Senate, where Republicans hold a majority, making quorum would be possible even if the Democrats walked out. But filibusters have remained an option for minority parties in Texas and at the federal level because senators typically have fewer rules governing how long members can speak.

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Alvarado's filibuster  during which she was not allowed to sit or take bathroom breaks  was reminiscent of then-Texas Sen. Wendy Davis' use of the delay tactic in 2013 to stop legislation that would have restricted woman's access to abortion. Davis filibustered for nearly 13 hours and became a Democratic star. But that hasn't translated to more success for her or the party; she ran for governor but lost badly to Republican Greg Abbott in 2014 and she lost to the GOP's Chip Roy in November when she ran for Congress.

Alvarado's ambitions are unknown. But for her colleagues, that's not necessarily the point.

At the end of the day, what this bill is trying to do is shave points in close elections, isnt that right? Democratic state Sen. Ronald Gutierrez asked Alvarado in his late-night questioning.

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Acacia Coronado is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
The Latest developments on Afghanistan, where a weeklong Taliban blitz has taken large swaths of territory just weeks ahead of the final pullout of all American and NATO troops from the war-torn country:

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UNITED NATIONS -- Security Council members are considering a proposed statement that would urge an immediate end to the Taliban offensive and warn that the U.N.s most powerful body will not support any government in Afghanistan imposed by military force or restoration of the Talibans Islamic Emirate that ruled the country from 1996 to 2001.

The proposed presidential statement, a step below a resolution, would also condemn the Talibans attacks on cities and towns across Afghanistan in the strongest terms and reaffirm that there is no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan.

The draft statement, obtained Friday by The Associated Press, urges the Afghan government and the Taliban to engage without delay, with equal participation of women, and make immediate and sustained progress toward achieving an inclusive, just durable and realistic political settlement to their long conflict.

Council diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because consultations have been private, said some of the 15 council members have not yet commented on the proposed statement, drafted by Norway and Estonia, so any action is unlikely until next week.

The draft would express the councils deep concern at the Talibans military offensive, defying its own stated commitments to reduce violence and cease hostilities and would urge an immediate halt to the offensive and an end to violence.

It would also express the councils alarm at the terrorist threat to Afghanistan and the region from the continuing presence of al-Qaida, the Islamic State extremist group and other international terrorist organizations and their affiliates.

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MORE ON THE CRISIS IN AFGHANISTAN:

 Taliban sweep across Afghanistans south; take 4 more cities

 Afghan women fear return to dark days amid Taliban sweep

 Bitter blow: UKs former hub in Afghanistan taken by Taliban

 US rushes in troops to speed up evacuations in Afghanistan

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HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

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UNITED NATIONS -- The United Nations says it wants to continue delivering aid to Afghans at this critical moment and is doing so in Kabul, where thousands have fled, but is also evaluating the security situation on an hour-by-hour basis.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Friday there is no evacuation of U.N. staff going on, but the U.N. has reduced staff, including in Afghanistans second-largest city Kandahar and third-largest city Herat, which fell to the Taliban. He said the U.N. remains with a very light footprint in both cities.

Dujarric said the U.N. is maintaining contact with all the parties to the conflict, including the Taliban who are obviously critical to the situation on the ground.

The U.N. has about 300 international staff and almost 3,400 national staff working in Afghanistan, and Dujarric said it is relocating some staff from different places into Kabul.

He added that the humanitarian community has verified that 10,350 Afghans arrived in Kabul between July 1 and Aug. 12 and most are renting living quarters or staying with friends and family, but a growing number are now staying in the open. He says as of Thursday, the U.N. and its partners provided food, water, medicine and other items to some 6,900 people in Kabul.

Dujarric said in response to a question that urban warfare in Kabul would be catastrophic.

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ROME  Italys defense minister says his government is moving ahead swiftly on efforts to get Afghan interpreters who have worked for Italy out of Afghanistan as the situation there deteriorates amid the Taliban offensive.

Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini said on Friday evening that efforts are going forward to transfer the interpreters and their families to Italy safely.

Since June, when Italy formally withdrew its troops from Afghanistan, 228 Afghan interpreters have already been included in Italys humanitarian program.

Guerini said in a statement that his government is following with great attention and apprehension the situation in Afghanistan.

He added that in a phone call with Italian Premier Mario Draghi on Friday both the transfer program and the security of the Italian embassy in Kabul were reviewed. Italian officials were working rapidly with the Afghan government to carry out the necessary security checks on the interpreters.

The ministry said that interpreters who arrive in Italy will quarantine during the pandemic and than undergo insertion in a network of welcome and integration. It noted that the inability to use the airport in western Herat province  now under Taliban control  made the operation more complicated. Italys base when its soldiers were in the country was in western Afghanistan.

Still, it said that Italy aims, with the utmost commitment to proceed as swiftly as possible to accomplish the transfer.

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UNITED NATIONS  The United Nations chief is urging the Taliban to immediately halt their offensive in Afghanistan and negotiate in good faith to avert a prolonged civil war.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in his first appeal directly to the Islamic militant group, which now controls two-thirds of the country, that he is deeply disturbed by early indications that the Taliban are imposing severe restrictions in the areas under their control, particularly targeting women and journalists.

Afghanistan is spinning out of control, he said. It is particularly horrifying and heartbreaking to see reports of the hard-won rights of Afghan girls and women being ripped away from them.

This is the moment to halt the offensive, Guterres said. This is the moment to start serious negotiation. This is the moment to avoid a prolonged civil war or the isolation of Afghanistan.

He expressed hopes that discussions in Doha, Qatar between the Afghan government and the Taliban, supported by the region and international community, will restore the pathway to a negotiated settlement to the conflict.

Just weeks before the U.S. military completes its withdrawal from Afghanistan after two decades, the Taliban now hold half of Afghanistans 34 provincial capitals.

Guterres cited the tremendous harm from fighting between the insurgents and Afghan security forces in urban environments.

At least 241,000 people have been forced to flee their homes, he said. Humanitarian needs are growing by the hour. Hospitals are overflowing. Food and medical supplies are dwindling. Roads, bridges, schools, clinics and other critical infrastructure are being destroyed.

Guterres called on all parties to do more to protect civilians, warning that continued urban conflict will mean continued carnage -- with civilians paying the highest price.

The message from the international community to those on the warpath must be clear: seizing power through military force is a losing proposition, he said.

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MADRID  Spains foreign ministry has announced that the country will evacuate Spanish nationals and the Afghan staffers who have worked side-by-side with its diplomatic and military presence in Afghanistan.

An emailed statement on Friday said because of the advance of Taliban forces in their march towards Kabul, Spain would begin the repatriation of the embassy staff, the Spaniards remaining in the country, and those Afghans and their families who have worked side by side with us.

Spanish media cited figures ranging from 50 to 100 Afghan staff and translators who could be given safe passage to Spain with their families.

The Taliban have swept over much of Afghanistan in the past few days, and have captured half of the countrys 34 provincial capitals. They control more than two-thirds of the country and are closing in on the Afghan capital, Kabul. The Western-backed government in Kabul still holds a smattering of provinces in the center and east, as well as the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

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ISLAMABAD  Pakistans interior minister has announced that authorities are relaxing visa requirements for journalists working for foreign outlets in neighboring Afghanistan amid the deteriorating security situation there in the wake of the Taliban offensive.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed made the announcement on Twitter on Friday.

He says all journalists and media staffers who are working for international outlets and other foreign media in Afghanistan and who want to leave through Pakistan can apply for Pakistani visas.

Ahmed said his ministry will issue visas on a priority basis, without offering details. He said the decision was made by Pakistans government, primarily keeping in mind the safety of the journalists.

Ahmed did not elaborate but under the previous policy, a visa to enter Pakistan required a lengthy intelligence check of a reporters background.

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PARIS  The French presidency said France will continue providing visas in Kabul and is now making an exceptional effort to facilitate access to French territory to Afghan civilians who are being threatened by the Taliban offensive.

Fridays statement mentioned artists, journalists, human right activists who risk their lives because of their commitment to freedom of expression, freedom of opinion and human rights.

The French presidency also stressed that France this year set up a special procedure to welcome on its ground some of the Afghan employees who worked for French facilities in Afghanistan and were possibly under threat. Between May and July this year, 625 people and their families used that procedure involving housing and health care, it said.

The lightning Taliban push has seized half of Afghanistans 34 provincial capitals over the past days. The Taliban now control more than two-thirds of the country and are closing in on the capital, Kabul, and the surrounding provinces where the Western-backed government is still in control.

The offensive is underway just weeks before the U.S. is set to officially end its two-decade war and all American and NATO troops are to have left the country by the end of the month.

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ISLAMABAD  Pakistans national security adviser is urging Afghan leaders to try to quickly reach a politically negotiated settlement with the Taliban to avoid further violence in Afghanistan.

The adviser, Moeed Yusuf, made the appeal while speaking to reporters in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on Friday. He stressed that the fall of city after city in neighboring Afghanistan underscores the need to expedite the peace process.

Pakistan has held considerable influence over the Taliban and has in the past succeeded in pressuring them to the negotiating table. Kabul has criticized Islamabad for offering shelter to Taliban leaders and has claimed the neighboring country also provides a haven for Taliban fighters.

Trust me, if they sit down, they will be able to come out with some sort of settlement and we will respect whatever Afghans decide, Yusuf said.

He added: History will judge us very badly and poorly if we dont put all efforts behind (this) for a political settlement on the Afghan crisis.

Yusuf also defended Pakistan, saying it has done its best to facilitate the Afghan peace process in the past.

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At the stage, we can give only one message: Pakistan cannot be a guarantor for peace, we can only facilitate. We will facilitate whatever we can, he said.

Everybody needs to respect what Afghans decide politically, Yusuf said.

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BRUSSELS  The NATO chief says the military alliance is troubled by the Taliban offensive in Afghanistan and is warning the insurgents that they wont be considered legitimate by the West if they seize the country by force.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters after chairing talks on Friday with NATO ambassadors that the allies are deeply concerned about the high levels of violence caused by the Talibans offensive, including attacks on civilians, targeted killings, and reports of other serious human rights abuses.

He says the Taliban need to understand that they will not be recognized by the international community if they take the country by force, and that NATO is committed to supporting a political solution to the conflict.

The Taliban have been emboldened by the Biden administrations decision earlier this year to withdraw U.S. troops and to wind up the NATO training mission in Afghanistan. Most NATO troops have already left, with the remainder due to pull out by Aug. 31.

Stoltenberg says NATOs aim remains to support the Afghan government and security forces as much as possible. This will almost exclusively happen from outside the country.

Several nations, including the United States, are starting to reduce and evacuate embassy staff from the Afghan capital. Stoltenberg says the 30-nation alliance intends to maintain our diplomatic presence in Kabul, and continue to adjust as necessary.

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MADRID  Spains defense ministry said Friday it would evacuate Afghan translators who have worked with Spanish forces in Afghanistan as soon as possible.

The ministry said in an emailed statement that it had identified translators who felt threatened by remaining in the country and was working with the Interior and Foreign Ministries to bring them to Spain in the coming days.

Spanish media reported that around 50 translators were expected to leave Afghanistan along with their families.

Also Friday, Italys foreign ministry said it was keeping in close contact with the U.S. State Department in the light of the advance by the Taliban.

It said that the ministrys secretary general, Ettore Sequi, spoke on Thursday with Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, with whom he agreed on further reinforcement of the coordination between the embassies of both countries as well as on a bilateral level.

Sequi, who is a former ambassador to Afghanistan, also discussed initiatives, both present and which can be undertaken in consideration of the deterioration of the security context on the terrain, the ministry said.

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark  Denmarks foreign minister on Friday urged Danes in Afghanistan to leave the country, calling the fast-evolving crisis a very serious situation as Taliban take even more territory across the war-torn country.

Jeppe Kofod confirmed that the Danish Embassy in Kabul was closing but that for security reasons, we cannot say exactly when the embassy will close.

On Wednesday, Danish lawmakers agreed to evacuate 45 Afghan citizens who worked for Denmarks government in Afghanistan and to offer them residency in the European country for two years. Denmark opened its embassy in Kabul in 2006.

In Oslo, Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soereide said the Norwegian Embassy in Kabul also was closing. She said it was temporary and that the safety of our employees is our highest priority.

The Norwegian government has said it will not bring home former employees out of the war-torn country. Soereide said the evacuation includes embassy employees  both Norwegians and locals with immediate family.

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BERLIN  Germanys foreign minister says that his country is reducing its embassy staff in Kabul to the operationally necessary, absolute minimum due to the tense security situation in Afghanistan.

Heiko Maas told reporters on Friday that a crisis support team is immediately being sent to the Afghan capital to increase security at the embassy. He called on all German citizens to leave Afghanistan immediately, adding that planned charter flights would be brought forward to fly diplomats and local staff working for the embassy out of the country.

Maas said visas for Afghan will also be issued in Germany in future to speed up the process of getting people out of the country.

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BRUSSELS  NATO envoys were meeting Friday in Brussels to discuss developments in Afghanistan amid a rapidly deteriorating security situation in the wake of the relentless Taliban offensive there.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and 30 national ambassadors were taking part in the meeting in Brussels, according to a NATO official who spoke on condition of anonymity, in line with regulations.

Allies are constantly consulting on the situation on Afghanistan, the official said, adding that Stoltenberg was in regular contact with allies and the Afghan authorities.

NATO is monitoring the security situation very closely. We continue to coordinate with the Afghan authorities and the rest of the international community, the official said.

NATO took charge of international security operations in Afghanistan in 2003  its first major mission outside Europe and North America  aiming to help stabilize the government, build up local security forces and remove a potential rear-base for militant groups.

The U.S.-led military alliance wound down combat operations in 2014 to focus on training Afghan security forces. The Afghan armed forces, with some 300,000 personnel, outnumber the Taliban by roughly four to one but have been unable to halt the insurgent offensive.

The Taliban have been emboldened by the Biden administrations decision earlier this year to withdraw U.S. troops and to wind up the NATO training mission in Afghanistan. Most NATO troops have already left, with the remainder due to pull out by Aug. 31.

The NATO official said that the organization continues to have a diplomatic presence in Kabul. As the security of our personnel is paramount, we will not go into any operational details.

Lorne Cook in Brussels
TROY  The city will pay $1.55 million to settle the federal civil rights lawsuit filed by the family of Edson Thevenin, who was fatally shot by a city police sergeant after allegedly fleeing a driving while intoxicated stop in 2016.

We are satisfied to reach a mutually-agreed-upon settlement in this tragic case and hope it will help bring closure to the families, the city, and all involved parties, Mayor Patrick Madden said Friday in a statement.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Albany by Cinthia Thevenin on behalf of her 37-year-old husband, who was killed by Sgt. Randall French in April 2016. The couple's young sons are also plaintiffs in the case.

In the unique circumstances of this case, settlement for the agreed amount  with the certainty and finality it provides  is prudent and reasonable, City Corporation Counsel Richard T. Morrissey said.

Steven J. Harfenist, an attorney representing the Thevenin family, could not be reached Friday for comment.

The City Council was recently briefed on the proposed settlement during executive session. On Thursday, the settlement will go to the City Council Finance Committee for approval. If accepted, the City Council would vote to accept or reject it at its Sept. 9 meeting.

"No amount of money can undo the damage done to so many lives. We all, as a community, must continue to strive to do better, Council President Carmella Mantello said.

The agenda for Thursday's Finance Committee meeting details the Madden administration's reasoning for settling the case and avoiding a trial that would take place after Thanksgiving if the City Council rejects the settlement.

The settlement was reached on Aug. 4 after seven hours of negotiations overseen by U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart.

French died in April 2020 from complications of COVID-19. The inability to have French testify helped drive the city's decision.

"Although his deposition had been taken by plaintiffs attorneys and could be admitted into evidence, a jury would never be able to hear Sergeant French completely explain in his own voice his perceptions, actions, and motivations on April 17, 2016. However, they would hear Mrs. Thevenin credibly testify as to hers and her childrens losses due to the untimely death of her husband. That dynamic drove a great amount of uncertainty," the Madden administration memo filed with the City Council states.

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The administration said the settlement is a business decision that will curtail additional costs if the case went to trial resulting in mounting attorney's fees and possibility a more expensive judgment if the city lost the case. The settlement also means for the city there will be "no admission of liability or fault on the part of the defendants."

The city's insurance company will pay $1.3 million of the settlement with the city paying $250,000. The city also has spent nearly $250,000 on the case in legal fees and expenses. That means the case has cost the city nearly $500,000.

The confrontation between Thevenin and French was subject to a state attorney general offices investigation, an internal affairs probe by Troy police that concluded French had violated department protocols and made false statements about the circumstances of the killing, and then an outside expert's memo commissioned by the city to counter the critical internal affairs report and absolve French from disciplinary action.

Former Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel Abelove was indicted for perjury and official misconduct in connection with the case by a county grand jury convened for the attorney general's office that investigated his handling of the Thevenin case. Abelove was acquitted after a non-jury, bench trial in 2020

While the internal affairs report was made public as part of the lawsuit, the expert's memo has been withheld from public view as attorney-client work product. Madden said in 2019 that the memo would be released once the lawsuit was resolved.

Madden could not be reached Friday about the release of the memo written by consultant Michael Ranalli. If the City Council approves the settlement offer at its Sept. 9 meeting and Madden signs the legislation that would end the case, resolving the lawsuit.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Just weeks before the U.S. is scheduled to end its war in Afghanistan, the Biden administration is rushing 3,000 fresh troops to the Kabul airport to help with a partial evacuation of the U.S. Embassy. The move highlights the stunning speed of a Taliban takeover of much of the country, including their capture on Thursday of Kandahar, the second-largest city and the birthplace of the Taliban movement.

The State Department said the embassy will continue functioning, but Thursday's dramatic decision to bring in thousands of additional U.S. troops is a sign of waning confidence in the Afghan government's ability to hold off the Taliban surge. The announcement came just hours after the Taliban captured the western city of Herat as well as Ghazni, a strategic provincial capital south of Kabul. The advance, and the partial U.S. Embassy evacuation, increasingly isolate the nation's capital, home to millions of Afghans.

This is not abandonment. This is not an evacuation. This is not a wholesale withdrawal," State Department spokesman Ned Price said. "What this is is a reduction in the size of our civilian footprint.

Price rejected the idea that Thursday's moves sent encouraging signals to an already emboldened Taliban, or demoralizing ones to frightened Afghan civilians. The message we are sending to the people of Afghanistan is one of enduring partnership, Price insisted.

President Joe Biden, who has remained adamant about ending the 19-year U.S. mission in Afghanistan at the end of this month despite the Taliban sweep, conferred with senior national security officials overnight, then gave the order for the additional temporary troops Thursday morning.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday. The U.S. also warned Taliban officials directly that the U.S. would respond if the Taliban attacked Americans during the temporary U.S. military deployments.

Britains ministry of defense said Thursday that it will send around 600 troops to Afghanistan on a short-term basis to help U.K. nationals leave the country. And Canadian special forces will deploy to Afghanistan to help Canadian staff leave Kabul, a source familiar with the plan told The Associated Press. That official, who was not authorized to talk publicly about the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity, did not say how many special forces would be sent.

The Pentagon's chief spokesman, John Kirby, said that in addition to sending three infantry battalions  two from the Marine Corps and one from the Army  to the airport, the Pentagon will dispatch 3,500 to 4,000 troops from a combat brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division to Kuwait to act as a reserve force. He said they will be on standby in case we need even more than the 3,000 going to Kabul.

Also, about 1,000 Army and Air Force troops, including military police and medical personnel, will be sent to Qatar in coming days to support a State Department effort to accelerate its processing of Special Immigrant Visa applications from Afghans who once worked for the U.S. government and feel threated by the Taliban, Kirby said.

The 3,000 troops who are to arrive at the Kabul airport in the next day or two, Kirby said, are to assist with security at the airport and to help process the departure of embassy personnel  not to get involved in the Afghan government's war with the Taliban. Biden decided in April to end U.S. military involvement in the war, and the withdrawal is scheduled to be complete by Aug. 31.

The U.S. had already withdrawn most of its troops, but had kept about 650 troops in Afghanistan to support U.S. diplomatic security, including at the airport.

Kirby said the influx of fresh troops does not mean the U.S. is reentering combat with the Taliban.

This is a temporary mission with a narrow focus, he told reporters at the Pentagon.

The viability of the U.S.-trained Afghan army, however, is looking increasingly dim. A new military assessment says Kabul could come under Taliban pressure as soon as September and, if current trends hold, the country could fall to the Taliban within a few months.

Price, the State Department spokesman, said diplomatic work will continue at the Kabul embassy.

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Our first responsibility has always been protecting the safety and the security of our citizens serving in Afghanistan, and around the world, Price said at a briefing, calling the the speed of the Taliban advance and resulting instability of grave concern.

Shortly before Price's announcement, the embassy in Kabul urged U.S. citizens to leave immediately  reiterating a warning it first issued Saturday.

The latest drawdown will further limit the ability of the embassy to conduct business, although Price maintained it would still be able to function. Nonessential personal had already been withdrawn from the embassy in April after Bidens withdrawal announcement and it was not immediately clear how many staffers would remain on the heavily fortified compound. As of Thursday, there were roughly 4,200 staffers at the embassy, but most of those are Afghan nationals, according to the State Department.

Apart from a complete evacuation and shuttering of the embassy, Price said other contingency plans were being weighed, including possibly relocating its operations to the airport.

As the staff reductions take place over the course of the next several weeks, Price said the U.S., led by the special envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, would continue to push for a peace agreement between the Taliban and the Afghan government at talks currently taking place in Doha, Qatar.

The Taliban, who ruled the country from 1996 until U.S. forces invaded after the 9/11 attacks, have taken 12 of Afghanistans 34 provincial capitals as part of a weeklong sweep that has given them effective control of about two-thirds of the country.

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Associated Press writer Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report.
The following is from a St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial:

The first duty of any state governor is to protect the health and safety of the citizenry. In that sense, the incredibly cynical and dangerous performative politics against pandemic safety being undertaken by some (though not all) Republican governors is nothing less than the abdication of their duty.

The poster child for gubernatorial irresponsibility is Floridas Ron DeSantis, who is showily blocking local governments and private businesses from addressing raging caseloads with an eye on building his standing among the Trumpian base for a potential presidential run. DeSantis ambition, like that of too many of his fellow GOP governors, is literally killing people.

Florida has become the national epicenter of the new viral surge, accounting for almost 1 of every 5 new cases in the U.S. and breaking its own daily record repeatedly in recent weeks  most recently on Tuesday, when the state logged 24,753 new cases.

And how has DeSantis responded? When school districts sought mask requirements for students, citing the higher rates of child infections involving the delta variant, DeSantis threatened the funding of those districts. When private businesses required that their employees and patrons be vaccinated, he signed a law prohibiting such requirements.

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When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sought to require that people show proof of vaccination before boarding cruise ships, DeSantis sued to stop the requirement.

Like most Republicans, DeSantis says he supports private-sector autonomy. Except, it seems, when the private sector wants to do something socially responsible, complicating the task of those who seek to inherit former President Donald Trumps base by appealing to its anti-science irrationality.

Hes not alone. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also seeks the mantle of most irresponsible chief executive, imposing bans on mask and vaccine mandates  then, without apparent irony or regret, appealing for help with Texas overflowing hospitals. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem welcomed the massive annual Sturgis motorcycle rally, despite its superspreader status last year and despite the current coronavirus surge in her state.

We cant know, of course, if the DeSantises of the world honestly ponder the fact that in their zeal to win over the Trumpers by pursuing reckless policies, they are costing lives. All we can do is hope they fail.
SARATOGA SPRINGS  If Got Stormy wants to take a trip to San Diego in early November  and the weather is fabulous that time of year out there  she has to run big, real big, at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday.

The 6-year-old mare, who has had some wonderful moments in the Spa city, has to come up with another one in the Grade I, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap. If she does, her Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse will give her the green light to compete in the always tough Breeders' Cup Mile on the grass at Del Mar.

"The Fourstardave will tell us whether we go to Del Mar," Casse said outside his barn on the Saratoga backstretch. "If she proves she can run with the big guys still, we will probably go to Del Mar for the Breeders' Cup."

The big word here is "if."

Once upon a time, Casse would have no doubts that his classy lass could run against anyone on the grass. Now in her fourth year of competition, maybe she has slowed down a bit. All athletes lose a step as they age. Casse is willing to see what Got Stormy can give him in the mile run on the inner turf course.

"If you look at her form, this is normally the time of year that she gets better," Casse said.

Last August, Got Stormy came to Saratoga for the Fourstardave and ran a credible second behind Halladay at odds of 10-1. That followed a fourth-place finish in the Grade III Poker at Belmont Park.

In two starts this year, Got Stormy has been blah, at best. She finished fifth in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes on Kentucky Derby day. She followed that up with another fifth, in the Grade I Jaipur at Belmont on Belmont Stakes day.

Got Stormy has had three works at Saratoga in advance of the Fourstardave, the latest being a four-furlong move in 47.20 seconds on the Oklahoma turf last Sunday. Before that, she went five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.55 on Aug. 1.

Her regular rider, Tyler Gaffalione, was on board for the bullet work.

"Her last works have been extremely good," Casse said. "When Tyler came back, he said, 'She's back! She's back!' When she is back, when you ask her to go, she kind of snaps. He thought, in her last two races, she did not have the snap."

Getting back to Saratoga, where she has two wins and a second in three career tries on the turf, may have also woken her up.

"It's a big factor," Casse said. "I think she likes the sharper turns here. When she is good, when you hit the gas pedal, she just takes off."

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In 2019, Got Stormy began writing her Saratoga narrative when she won the ungraded De La Rose against fillies and mares by four lengths. Following that race, owner Gary Barber got in Casse's ear and said it would be a great idea to run Got Stormy against the males in the Fourstardave. It was a gap of just seven days.

At first, Casse was not keen on coming back against the boys with such a short turnaround.

"Gary said, 'I'll make you a deal," Casse said. "He said 'You enter her and if you tell me at any point in time you don't think I should run, I won't run.' I can remember this like it was yesterday. Martin (exercise rider) Rivera said, 'I think we've got to run.' "

The rest is history. Got Stormy ran the boys off their feet in the Fourstardave, winning by 2 1/4 lengths at odds of 5-1. Among the horses she beat that day was Raging Bull, who was second. Got Stormy will face him again on Saturday.

Casse heads into the Fourstardave with hope and some confidence. He knows what Got Stormy has done in the past. She owns 11 wins in 28 tries on the grass. He said this mare is probably in the top 10 of his all-time favorites he has trained. A win on Saturday might put her in the top five.

"We are still trying to get her back to her top form," Casse said. "I don't know if we are there yet."
ALBANY  The state Assembly will suspend its impeachment investigation of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo "upon the governors resignation taking effect on Aug. 25," Speaker Carl E. Heastie announced Friday afternoon.

Heastie said the decision, made in consultation with Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Lavine and other Democratic leaders, had been made because the investigation was being conducted to determine whether Cuomo should remain in office and "the governor's resignation answers that directive."

"Second, we have been advised by Chair Lavine  with the assistance of counsel  of the belief that the Constitution does not authorize the Legislature to impeach and remove an elected official who is no longer in office," Heastie's announcement stated.

The Times Union, citing constitutional experts, reported Wednesday that the state constitution would likely bar the Legislature from impeaching a governor who has resigned.

Heastie said the incomplete investigation "did uncover credible evidence in relation to allegations that have been made in reference to the governor. Underscoring the depth of this investigation, this evidence concerned not only sexual harassment and misconduct but also the misuse of state resources in relation to the publication of the governors memoir as well as improper and misleading disclosure of nursing home data during the COVID-19 pandemic."

Heastie said the evidence "could likely have resulted in articles of impeachment had he not resigned."

Cuomo still faces an ongoing investigation by the state attorney general's office, which is examining his use of state resources to publish "American Crisis," a book that brought a multimillion dollar contract. The U.S. attorney's office in Brooklyn and the FBI also have an active criminal investigation into the administration's reporting of deaths in nursing homes during the pandemic.

In addition, district attorneys in Manhattan, Albany, Westchester, Nassau and Oswego counties are investigating the potential criminality of the sexual harassment allegations leveled against Cuomo by the attorney general's office.

Heastie called the matter "a tragic chapter in our states history."

"The people of this great state expect and deserve a government they can count on to always have their best interests in mind," he said. "Our government should always operate in a transparent, safe and honest manner. These principles have and always will be the Assembly Majoritys commitment to all New Yorkers."

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State Sen. Sean Ryan, a Democrat from Erie County, urged the Assembly to publicly disclose their findings.

"While I understand the legal argument about the inability to impeach a governor who has resigned, I do hope that the Assembly, at the very least, releases to the public all the evidence uncovered during their impeachment inquiry," Ryan said. "They paid an outside firm, just like the Attorney General did, to conduct an investigation and prepare a report. I think the taxpayers deserve to see what the Assembly has found."

Sen. Jeremy Cooney, a Democrat from Monroe County, also said the public deserves "to see what the Assembly has found."

"I am disappointed to learn that the Assembly is not moving forward with the impeachment," Cooney said. " ... His resignation was necessary, but survivors deserve accountability for his sexual harassment and our citizens need answers for thousands of nursing home deaths during the pandemic."
In her 1965 song Four Women, the late pianist, singer and composer Nina Simone explored the varied attitudes, priorities and struggles of a quartet of Black women. Those personas come to life in Christina Hams Nina Simone: Four Women, a play with music that explicates the life and times of Simone, who is remembered for being a fierce activist as well as a brilliant musician. The new production by the Berkshire Theatre Group opens at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge, Mass., where it runs through Sept. 5.

The play begins in the wake of the September 1963 church bombing in Birmingham, Ala., that killed four young Black girls. Its a few days after the tragedy when Simone (played by Felicia Curry) visits the site hoping to translate the communitys devastating grief into a fitting musical statement. While there she makes the acquaintance of three other Black women. Though they have divergent life experiences, as well as different skin tones, they manage to eventually find some common ground.

In the titular song, each woman speaks in first person for one verse. This becomes the basis for the characters that appear onstage. The song starts with Aunt Sarah (Darlesia Cearcy), whose skin is black and is strong enough to take the pain, inflicted again and again. Sephronia (Sasha Hutchings) has a father who was rich and white, which explains her saying, My skin is yellow, my hair is long. Then theres Sweet Thing (Najah Hetsberger), a sex worker with tan skin, who declares, My hair is fine, my mouth like wine. The fourth verse is about Nina who is brown-skinned and called Peaches. She sings, My life has been rough. I'm awfully bitter these days.

Simone effectively channeled that anger into a compelling body of civil rights songs, starting with the iconic yet controversial Mississippi Goddam. Other original compositions in that vein are My Skin Is Black, Old Jim Crow and To Be Young, Gifted and Black, all of which are included in the show.

According to director Gerry McIntyre, the production is a long way from being a jukebox musical. Nor does it attempt to be a survey of Simones best works but instead focuses on what McIntyre describes as the more militant ones. Nevertheless, it does include her first hit, Gershwins I Loves You Porgy, and also the standard Sinnerman, which as recorded by Simone has been heard in at least a dozen film and TV soundtracks.

McIntyre describes the 90-minute show as jam-packed with themes, history, and discussion as well as all the music plus a hint of dancing. Though hes also credited as choreographer, he says, Its not a big stage, so its not dance but movement.

One year ago, McIntyre and the Berkshire Theatre Group made history with their production of Godspell, the first theater piece in the country to be mounted for an in-person audience since the COVID-19 shutdown. Asked if he felt any pressure in dramatizing the rich legacy of Nina Simone, he replied, With Godspell, the whole country was looking at us and at me. This is not as bad as that. All we need to do is tell the story. I tell the cast, dont think about the audience, it will be mostly white. Its about us not them.

Nina Simone: Four Women received its world premiere in 2016 at the Park Square Theatre in St. Paul, Minn., and continues to have legs on the regional theater scene. Its one among many tributes to Simone in various genres and media since her death in 2003 at age 70. Record labels put out a constant stream of reissues along with new anthologies, such as last years Work from Home with Nina Simone. In 2015 two different documentaries debuted including What Happened, Miss Simone? which is available on Netflix. The following year, a scripted biopic Nina was released starring Zoe Saldana.

Recently some long-forgotten footage of Simone performing at the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival was released as part of the marvelous concert documentary Summer of Soul (Hulu). In a voice-over commentary, Al Sharpton observes: Ninas tone was somewhere between hope and mourning. Nobody could capture both sides like Nina. It defined a whole generation. You could hear in Ninas voice our pain and our defiance.

Joseph Dalton is a freelance writer based in Troy.
[August 13, 2021] CI Global Asset Management Announces Risk Rating Change for CI Global Alpha Innovation ETF

CI Global Asset Management ("CI GAM") today announced a risk rating change for CI Global Alpha Innovation ETF. This ETF is expected to begin trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 under the tickers CINV and CINV.U. CI Global Alpha Innovation ETF's risk rating is changing to "Medium" from "Medium-to-High." The risk rating change is effective immediately and is based on the risk classification methodology mandated by the Canadian Securities Administrators to determine the risk level of mutual funds. This change is as a result of a determination that the reference index of CI Global Alpha Innovation ETF should be changed to better approximate the standard deviation of this ETF. About CI Global Asset Management CI Global Asset Management is one of Canada's largest investment management companies. It offers a wide range of investment products and services and is on the Web at www.ci.com. CI GAM is a subsidiary of CI Financial Corp. (TSX: CIX, NYSE: CIXX), an independent company offering global asset management and wealth management advisory services with approximately $304 billion in total assets as at June 30, 2021.



Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with an investment in mutual funds, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Please read the prospectus before investing. Important information about the mutual fund is contained in its prospectus. Mutual funds are not guaranteed; their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. You will usually pay brokerage fees to your dealer if you purchase or sell units of an ETF on recognized Canadian exchanges. If the units are purchased or sold on these Canadian exchanges, investors may pay more than the current net asset value when buying units of the ETF and may receive less than the current net asset value when selling them. This communication is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase exchange-traded funds (ETFs) managed by CI Global Asset Management and is not, and should not be construed as, investment, tax, legal or accounting advice, and should not be relied upon in that regard. Individuals should seek the advice of professionals, as appropriate, regarding any particular investment. Investors should consult their professional advisors prior to implementing any changes to their investment strategies. These investments may not be suitable to the circumstances of an investor. Some conditions apply.

CI Global Asset Management is a registered business name of CI Investments Inc. CI Investments Inc. 2021. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210813005018/en/

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[August 13, 2021] Group-IB Recognized as a Global Cyber Threat Intelligence Leader by Frost & Sullivan

SINGAPORE, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Group-IB, one of the leading providers of solutions dedicated to detecting and preventing cyberattacks, identifying online fraud, investigation of high-tech crimes and intellectual property protection, has been named one of the leaders in the global cyber threat intelligence market by Frost & Sullivan. According to "Frost Radar: Global Cyber Threat Intelligence Market, 2021," Group-IB with its proprietary Threat Intelligence & Attribution (TI&A) platform is one of the most innovative threat intelligence vendors and the third-largest one, enjoying an over 15-percent share of the global market. Frost & Sullivan analysts particularly highlighted the growth rate of the company, having noted its average revenue growth of 72% in the course of the past three years. Group-IB TI&A system, offering customer-tailored data on threats and attackers, is trusted by leading banks and financial organizations, state agencies, telecom and FMCG companies in over 60 countries of the world. The system's broad collection capabilities covering various subsets of battleground intelligence including APTs, malware, and criminal activity gathered as part of incident response operations and international investigations enable our customers to have a tailored region-specific threat andscape that switches accordingly to the changes in the strategies of adversaries.



"Group-IB is rapidly gaining mindshare in the cybersecurity industry and threat intelligence community," the report read. "Group-IB recognizes the importance of tackling cybercrime for public security and forms partnerships with law enforcement agencies and non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations worldwide. Such initiatives contribute to Group-IB's recognition as a trusted intelligence provider." The urgency of the Threat Intelligence solutions use was reflected in the updates to the information security standard of the International Organization for Standardization, ISO 2700. The latest amendments including Threat Intelligence controls highlight the TI solutions growing importance for supporting corporate security teams in proactive hunting for upcoming threats.

Organizations around the world use Group-IB TI&A to prevent, deter and defeat cybersecurity incidents by analyzing and attributing cyberattacks, hunting for threats, and fortifying network infrastructure. Group-IB has gathered data from extensive cyberintelligence infrastructure from a unique range of sources including exclusive data from investigations conducted with our law enforcement partners. Group-IB traces threats and maps each data point to attribute attacks and discover who is behind them, the techniques they use, and how they identify targets. This data enables further effective investigation of cybersecurity incidents by police forces as it was the case with INTERPOL's recent operation Lyrebird that originated from the data gathered by Group-IB's TI&A. Organizations can use Group-IB's award-winning Graph network analysis to correlate and analyze threat actors and events. Alternatively, they can consume intelligence by integrating Group-IB TI&A directly into their security ecosystem thanks to numerous integration options. Organizations can augment their internal capabilities with Group-IB's in-house Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR), Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-GIB), and Investigations teams. "Developing its solutions, Group-IB has been trying to ensure a proactive protection for its customers by equipping them with tools that can foresee attackers' behavior," comments Group-IB CTO and co-founder Dmitry Volkov. "This is achieved thanks to Group-IB Threat Intelligence & Attribution's huge database containing over a billion domains, SSL-certificates, hundreds of millions IP-addresses, as well as the history of all the changes in the global network for the past 10 years. This database makes it possible to extract the digital fingerprint of a specific cybercriminal or cybercrime gang targeting our customers and determine his presumed identity. The data gathered can serve as a starting point for a further thorough investigation by law enforcement." Media contact:

Group-IB PR team

316480@email4pr.com

+65 3159-3798 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/group-ib-recognized-as-a-global-cyber-threat-intelligence-leader-by-frost--sullivan-301354482.html SOURCE Group-IB

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[August 13, 2021] HCL Technologies Selected by Rogers to Support Operational Stability

HCL Technologies (News - Alert) (HCL), a leading global technology company, announced Rogers Communications, a leading Canadian telecom service provider and media company, has selected HCL to expand support of operational stability excellence in business and operational support systems and corporate IT systems. This new multi-year agreement strengthens HCL's managed services partnership with Rogers that began in 2016. HCL will help scale Rogers' IT infrastructure and workloads migrating to the current private and public cloud infrastructure, support the enterprise's operations, and serve as the ongoing managed services provider. The expanded contract will allow HCL to invest in the next generation of AI and machine learning to enable best practices, accelerate efficiencies, and provide Rogers Communications (News - Alert) with the needed flexibility to harness the new era of 5G and digital technologies. "HCL has played an important role in supporting the reliability of our operations since 2016 and has provided tremendous value by enabling us to scale IT operational efficiency and stability," said Vikram Virk, Vice President, IT Operations at Rogers Communications. "We are pleased to renew and expand our strategic partnership with HCL to help support our customers." "In line with HCL's vision, this new chapter in our relationship with Rogers is an affirmation of our strategy in responding to customers' digital transformation journeys," said Anil Ganjoo, Corporate Vice President, HCL Technologies. "By focusing on cloud, automation, AI, fast networks and more, Rogers can ensure it meets its customers' current and future needs." "We are excited to work with Rogers as it embarks on the next phase of its technology evolution to deliver leading performance and reliability, as well as best-in-class customer experience," said Joelien Jose, Executive Vice President and Country Head, Canada, HCL Technologies. "The Rogers partnership with HCL further validates its substantial investment in Canada, the most recent being the 350-seat digital acceleration center in Mississauga." About HCL Technologies HCL Technologies (HCL) empowers global enterprises with technology for the next decade, today. HCL's Mode 1-2-3 strategy, based on its deep-domain industry expertise, client-centricty and entrepreneurial culture of Ideapreneurship, enables businesses to transform into next-gen enterprises.



HCL offers its services and products through three business units: IT and Business Services (ITBS), Engineering and R&D Services (ERS) and Products & Platforms (P&P). ITBS enables global enterprises to transform their businesses through offerings in the areas of applications, infrastructure, digital process operations and next-generation digital transformation solutions. ERS offers engineering services and solutions in all aspects of product development and platform engineering. P&P provides modernized software products to global clients for their technology and industry-specific requirements. Through its cutting-edge co-innovation labs, global delivery capabilities and broad global network, HCL delivers holistic services in various industry verticals, including Financial Services, Manufacturing, Technology and Services, Telecom and Media, Retail and CPG, Life Sciences and Healthcare, and Public Services. As a leading global technology company, HCL takes pride in its diversity, social responsibility, sustainability, and education initiatives. For the 12 months ended June 30, 2021, HCL had consolidated revenue of $10.54 billion. Its more than 175,000 Ideapreneurs operate out of 50 countries.

For more information, visit www.hcltech.com Forward-looking Statements Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the statements containing the words 'planned', 'expects', 'believes',' strategy', 'opportunity', 'anticipates', 'hopes' or other similar words. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding impact of pending regulatory proceedings, fluctuations in earnings, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services, business process outsourcing and consulting services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, customer acceptances of our services, products and fee structures, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, our ability to integrate acquired assets in a cost-effective and timely manner, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-timeframe contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, the success of our brand development efforts, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies /entities in which we have made strategic investments, withdrawal of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, and unauthorized use of our intellectual property, other risks, uncertainties and general economic conditions affecting our industry. There can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements made herein will prove to be accurate, and issuance of such forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by the Company, or any other person, that the objective and plans of the Company will be achieved. All forward-looking statements made herein are based on information presently available to the Management of the Company and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210813005174/en/

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[August 13, 2021] Huawei Vows to Enable Railway Digitalization in APAC

SINGAPORE, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On 12 August, Huawei held its Asia-Pacific (APAC) Railway Forum 2021 online, the second iteration of this annual event, exploring the theme "Smart Rail, Better Future Mobility." Although COVID-19 has brought massive disruption to the rail industry, innovative Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is bringing intelligence to railways, in turn helping them cope in troubled times. This is achieved through improved efficiency and reduced operating costs, all while delivering better overall services for passengers and helping to implement measures that aim to slow and mitigate the pandemic's spread. The event attracted more than 1300 railway industry customers, partners, experts, and media drawn from across the APAC region. Core Huawei railway industry customers and partners - including the Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTR), Singapore Mass Rapid Transit Limited (SMRT), and the professional services firm Arup Group Limited - participated in a panel discussion, sharing their experiences on the importance of achieving operational efficiency for urban mass transit systems, particularly through driverless operations and workflow management. At the panel session of the event, Kwek Hyen Chee, Head Digital Transformation and Business Innovation, SMRT Corporation Ltd shared his observation that most people in Singapore has adapted their community lifestyle to adopt Greener transport modes and contribute their social responsibilities to sustainability by taking public transport in a city environment. He added, "I feel the technology is ready, a challenge is how do we transform the workplace, the workforce and work processes accordingly." Opening the forum, Aaron Wang, the Senior Vice President of Huawei's APAC Enterprise Business Group, addressed the challenges that have been brought by the pandemic, noting that such challenges have also been converted into opportunities - for all industries. "As a global ICT solution provider, Huawei helps customers such as Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA), Hong Kong MTR, Turkey TCDD and Germany's Deutsche Bahn (DB) to accelerate their digitalization by integrating new technologies with traditional infrastructure. We believe railway digitalization will lead to better mobility in the future," Mr. Wang stated. TC Chew, Director of Global Rail Business, Arup, shared three key trends in digitalization: data, analytics, and communications. These enable us to make better decisions and support the decarbonization process that we want to achieve. "To actualy maximize the technology value to the railway is down to the people who are actually applying some of these technologies and capitalizing on the data that is available to some of these technologies, if not all of them, and how we then apply a certain degree of intelligence to help us make better decisions about our day-to-day railway operations and the maintenance of our assets and the service delivery to our customers," said TC Chew.



Changquan Luo, the Director of the Metro Station Digital Innovation Studio at Shenzhen Metro, explained the background of its digitalization strategy. It lies in the goal of meeting wider national requirements for strengthening transportation and ensuring high-quality development, focusing on digital intelligent enablement, operational excellence, and serving cities. "The Huawei ROMA platform has been used to implement data sharing services and build a converged data warehouse," Mr. Luo said, regarding the role Huawei's technology has played in this particular digital transformation journey. "The smart station digital platform converges and integrates services, achieving multi-network convergence from devices to the cloud. This technology helped to complete part of our Smart Station 1.0." In a virtual visit to its exhibition hall, Huawei also demonstrated how the latest innovations in ICT are deployed in the railway industry, enabling digital transformation, from the Huawei SmartLi Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) to OptiX Solutions and Huawei AirEngine Wi-Fi 6. For example, the high bandwidth offered by Huawei OptiX supports an increased number of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) and cloud applications, with simplified Operations and Maintenance (O&M), real-time performance monitoring, and intelligent fault detection all assisting the management of a packet-switched network. Meanwhile, Huawei SmartLi UPS delivers a battery life at least double that of traditional lead-acid battery solutions, with a highly reliable design and wider coverage for input voltage. It can also be deployed in harsh operating environments, where the mains power supply is either unstable or entirely lacking, providing a unified platform that supports access to multiple energy sources. This effectively saves customer investment. Finally, AirEngine Wi-Fi 6 provides operators with real-time backhaul for train-to-ground services, with extremely low latency and higher throughput solving a key issue in the digital transformation of rail systems: information islands between each system.

Robust railway infrastructure is a critical transportation asset. As a global ICT solutions provider, Huawei is committed to innovating simplified, secure, open, and intelligent products and solutions for the railway industry in APAC and the wider world, facilitating digital transformation and making every traffic and transportation system highly reliable, more efficient, safer, and greener. For more information about the Huawei APAC Railway Forum 2021, please visit: https://bit.ly/3AD5J4t About Huawei Founded in 1987, Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. We have more than 197,000 employees, and we operate in more than 170 countries and regions, serving more than three billion people around the world. Our vision and mission is to bring digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world. To this end, we will drive ubiquitous connectivity and promote equal access to networks; bring cloud and artificial intelligence to all four corners of the earth to provide superior computing power where you need it, when you need it; build digital platforms to help all industries and organizations become more agile, efficient, and dynamic; redefine user experience with AI, making it more personalized for people in all aspects of their life, whether they're at home, in the office, or on the go. For more information, please visit Huawei online at www.huawei.com or follow us on: http://www.linkedin.com/company/Huawei https://twitter.com/HuaweiEntAPAC https://www.facebook.com/HuaweiEnterpriseAPAC http://www.youtube.com/Huawei SOURCE Huawei

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[August 13, 2021] Tuya Smart and MTS Group Collaborate to Build a New Smart Life

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tuya Smart (NYSE: TUYA), a global IoT development platform, and MTS Group, an internationally active brand owner, today announced a new partnership to deepen cooperation in the field of smart home and to jointly create a healthy and comfortable living environment for consumers. With the coming of the smart technology revolution, MTS Group expands its business scope into the field of smart home with its own smart brand UNITEC. Supported by Tuya technology, UNITEC has introduced a variety of smart home products to the market, including smart switches, lighting, security, and heating control products. All the smart products developed based on Tuya technology have the label 'Powered by Tuya' on their sales package. Powered by Tuya (PBT) is a mark of interconnectivity across different brands and categories. Users can easily control any product featuring the PBT label with just one App. Under the cooperation, Tuya will continue to provide MTS Group with technical suport and help it to expand its smart product lines to meet the ever-changing needs of consumers. MTS Group will also fully leverage various online and offline channel resources for brand promotion and let more people know about the advantages of UNITEC products.



Moreover, by virtue of Tuya's strong market advantage, the smart home products of MTS Group will go into more homes and more consumers will greatly enjoy the good life brought by "one app, all smart". Raphael Wetzel, Category Manager of Electrical Installation Material at MTS Group, said, "the partnership with Tuya strengthens our capability in smart home, enabling our products to quickly enter the IoT market, and get interconnected with smart products from other manufacturers and of different categories. That effectively sharpens our edge in the market."

"The deep cooperation with MTS Group helps strengthen both companies, bringing innovative smart home products to consumers looking for a healthier and more convenient lifestyle. In the future, the two sides will jointly explore commercial applications and market opportunities of smart products," said Tina Yu, General Manager of Eurasia Region from Tuya Smart. About MTS Group MTS Group, headquartered in Germany, is an international manufacturer of branded products. UNITEC, one of its brands, is a leading electrical item supplier which offers a product range of more than 2,000 products, including car accessories, car care, bicycles and bicycle accessories, electrical installation materials, and work wears. MTS Group hold a leading market position in the DACH region. MTS Group has established a broad factory network and has accumulated rich experience in the distribution of, among other things, electrical installation material including items such as time switches, socket strips, lamps, switch series, and sockets. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tuya-smart-and-mts-group-collaborate-to-build-a-new-smart-life-301354951.html SOURCE Tuya Smart

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[August 12, 2021] Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP, a Leading Securities Fraud Law Firm, Announces Investigation of Hoegh LNG Partners LP (HMLP) on Behalf of Investors

Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM"), a leading national shareholder rights law firm, today announced that it has commenced an investigation on behalf of Hoegh LNG Partners LP ("Hoegh" or the "Company") (NYSE: HMLP) investors concerning the Company's possible violations of the federal securities laws. If you suffered a loss on your Hoegh investments or would like to inquire about potentially pursuing claims to recover your loss under the federal securities laws, you can submit your contact information at https://www.glancylaw.com/cases/hoegh-lng-partners-lp/. You can also contact Charles H. Linehan, of GPM at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, or via email at shareholders@glancylaw.com to learn more about your rights. Hoegh is an international company that owns a fleet of ships that offers services to the liquefied natural gas ('LNG') industry world-wide. Specifically, Hoegh, which claims to be one of the most experienced operators of LNG carriers, owns and operates floating LNG import terminals and floating storage and regasification units ('FSRU'). On July 27, 2021, after the market closed, the Company announced that it had cut its quarterly common unit distrbution by 98% in order to conserve cash to address near-term refinancing issues. Specifically, Hoegh disclosed the collapse of the Company's refinancing plans for its FSRU Lampung facility, after the charterer of the vessel challenged the Company's new credit facility and the charter agreement with Hoegh and announced its intent to commence arbitration to terminate the charter and/or seek damages from the Company. Hoegh also announced that its parent company, Hoegh LNG Holdings, will no longer provide financial support to the Company.



On this news, Hoegh's stock price fell $11.57 per share, or approximately 64%, to close at $6.30 per share on July 28, 2021, thereby injuring investors. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.

Whistleblower Notice: Persons with non-public information regarding Hoegh should consider their options to aid the investigation or take advantage of the SEC (News - Alert) Whistleblower Program. Under the program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Charles H. Linehan at 310-201-9150 or 888-773-9224 or email shareholders@glancylaw.com. About GPM Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP is a premier law firm representing investors and consumers in securities litigation and other complex class action litigation. ISS Securities Class Action Services has consistently ranked GPM in its annual SCAS Top 50 Report. In 2018, GPM was ranked a top five law firm in number of securities class action settlements, and a top six law firm for total dollar size of settlements. With four offices across the country, GPM's nearly 40 attorneys have won groundbreaking rulings and recovered billions of dollars for investors and consumers in securities, antitrust, consumer, and employment class actions. GPM's lawyers have handled cases covering a wide spectrum of corporate misconduct including cases involving financial restatements, internal control weaknesses, earnings management, fraudulent earnings guidance and forward looking statements, auditor misconduct, insider trading, violations of FDA regulations, actions resulting in FDA and DOJ investigations, and many other forms of corporate misconduct. GPM's attorneys have worked on securities cases relating to nearly all industries and sectors in the financial markets, including, energy, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, real estate and REITs, financial, insurance, information technology, health care, biotech, cryptocurrency, medical devices, and many more. GPM's past successes have been widely covered by leading news and industry publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, Reuters (News - Alert), the Associated Press, Barron's, Investor's Business Daily, Forbes, and Money. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210812005916/en/

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[August 12, 2021] PowerSchool Announces Full Exercise and Closing of Underwriters' Option to Purchase Additional Shares

PowerSchool (NYSE: PWSC) today announced that the underwriters of its initial public offering have exercised in full their option to purchase from PowerSchool an additional 5,921,052 shares of its Class A common stock at the initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The sale of these additional shares of Class A common stock closed on August 10th, following the closing on July 30th of the sale of 39,473,685 shares of PowerSchool's Class A common stock. As a result, PowerSchool has received total gross proceeds, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, of approximately $817.1 million. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Barclays, Credit Suisse and UBS Investment Bank are acting as lead bookrunning managers for the offering. BofA Securities, Jefferies, Macquarie Capital and RBC Capital Markets are acting as joint bookrunning managers. Baird, Piper Sandler, Raymond James, William Blair, AmeriVet Securities, Loop Capital Markets, Stern, Ramirez & Co., Inc. and Guzman & Company are acting as co-managers. The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus relating to the offering, when aailable, may be obtained from: Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, telephone: 1-866-471-2526, facsimile: 212-902-9316 or by emailing Prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com; or Barclays Capital Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, telephone: 888-603-5847 or by emailing Barclaysprospectus@broadridge.com.



A registration statement relating to the offering has been filed with, and declared effective by, the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About PowerSchool

PowerSchool is the leading provider of cloud-based software for K-12 education in North America. Its mission is to power the education ecosystem with unified technology that helps educators and students realize their full potential, in their way. PowerSchool connects students, teachers, administrators, and parents, with the shared goal of improving student outcomes. From the office to the classroom to the home, it helps schools and districts efficiently manage state reporting and related compliance, special education, finance, human resources, talent, registration, attendance, funding, learning, instruction, grading, assessments and analytics in one unified platform. PowerSchool supports over 45 million students globally and more than 12,000 customers, including 93 of the top 100 districts by student enrollment in the United States, and sells solutions in over 90 countries. Category: PWSC-F View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210812005920/en/

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[August 12, 2021] Dable, a leading native ad platform, Sponsors the MDA Digital Wednesday

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dable , a leading global native ad platform, today announced its sponsorship of Digital Wednesday, one of the signature events of the Malaysian Digital Association (MDA). The MDA, established in 2009, represents companies composed of digital publishers, advertising agencies, and digital service providers that curates several successful projects and activities including 'Digital Wednesday'. This event aims to share insights and trends of the digital industry with professional speakers from relevant fields and offers networking opportunities for local publishers, media agencies and advertisers to engage with and form solidarity. The next Digital Wednesday event will be held on 18th August. At this half-day event, Suresh Thiru (former CEO of SEEK Asia) along with featured panelists will discus how Malaysia can become a producer of digital products and solutions by 2030 in line with the nation's Digital Economy Blueprint. The panel session will explore what Malaysia needs to do to increase competitiveness in producing digital products.



Dable, the sponsor of the event, will provide a presentation titled "AI-Powered Contextual Targeting - Dable's Solution to the Cookieless Future". In this session, Dable shares how advertisers can use its AI-powered contextual targeting to reach the right target audience and how this benefits the publishers. "We're pleased to participate as a sponsor of the Digital Wednesday event organized by the Malaysian Digital Association, which contributes to the growth of Malaysia's digital industry," said Chaehyun Lee, Dable's CEO. "Based on Dable's fine technology in machine learning and artificial intelligence, we provide personalized content recommendation solutions to Malaysian media including Utusan Malaysia and Chinapress, that not only increases users' content consumption but also generates ad revenue. Additionally, Dable gives Malaysian brands a chance to achieve their marketing goals with high efficiency through 'Dable Native Ad', which displays ads in a design that match the publisher's organic content, and helps deliver a good brand image to their clients. We will continue to help the Malaysian digital industry flourish through close cooperation with Malaysian companies."

Nicholas Sagau, the president of the MDA, said, "On behalf of the MDA, I am delighted and grateful to have Dable Inc as our partner for this first half-day event of Digital Wednesday. With our partners support, we are able to reach more audiences as we connect, collaborate and create new business opportunities together." About Dable

Dable is the No.1 content discovery platform. Dable analyzes the interests of website visitors by utilizing world-class big data processing and personalization technologies and recommends high-quality content visitors may find interesting. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Seoul, Dable has partnered with over 3,000 premium media in global markets including Malaysia, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. For more detailed information on Dable, visit http://dable.io/en/ . Eunjin Kang, PR manager / press@dable.io SOURCE Dable

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[August 12, 2021] Farmers Edge to Acquire Indiana-based CommoditAg to Expand Agriculture e-Commerce Presence

Farmers Edge Inc. ("Farmers Edge" or the "Company") (TSX: FDGE), a pure-play digital agriculture company, today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire CommoditAg, the industry's premier trusted online marketplace for high-quality agriculture products. This will allow Farmers Edge to significantly expand its roster of services by empowering farmers to purchase a wide range of agricultural products from trusted suppliers, while also advancing the company's connected digital ecosystem strategy. Under the terms of the deal, CommoditAg will function as a wholly owned subsidiary of Farmers Edge led by the existing CommoditAg leadership team. The deal is expected to close over the next several business days. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210812005925/en/ Farmers Edge to Acquire Indiana-based CommoditAg to Expand Agriculture e-Commerce Presence (Photo: Business Wire) Founded in 2017, CommoditAg combines the efficiency and convenience of digital technology and e-commerce capabilities with deep-rooted agriculture knowledge. Providing farmers and ranchers with a top-notch customer experience and outstanding value, the company currently has 14 retail distribution partners with over 500 locations servicing 170,000 customers represnting a 70-million-acre footprint. Offering a broad portfolio of more than 200 brands and products from more than 25 suppliers, its category selection includes crop protection, seed, fertilizer, micronutrients/biologicals, agricultural lubricants, animal nutrition, and more. CommoditAg currently has over 40 local fulfillment centers covering 13 states and plans to expand its footprint to over 75% coverage of the US business by the end of 2021.



The acquisition builds on continued investment by Farmers Edge in establishing strong digital connectivity between farmers and their trusted advisors while meeting the rising demand for complete integration, transparency, and personalized experience. By combining the deep industry expertise and local knowledge of the most progressive retail companies in the US with Farmers Edge field-centric data powered by AI and machine learning technology growers will experience a new level of insights and decision support. "We are thrilled to join a company that shares our vision and mission," said John Demerly, CommoditAg Chief Executive Officer. "Farmers Edge brings together all parties in the supply chain to the digital ecosystem, so farmers get seamless, transparent, and secure connections to their vendors and trusted advisors. We look forward to growing together, bringing new digital capabilities to the market, and driving innovation that supports our customers' success."

"As a farmer myself, I know how important relationships with vendors are in the agriculture business," said Wade Barnes, Farmers Edge Chief Executive Officer and Founder. "CommoditAg is a trusted marketplace that thousands of farmers rely on every day, and we are incredibly excited to welcome them to the Farmers Edge family. By combining its robust e-commerce solution with the FarmCommand platform, we can deliver a best-in-class omnichannel experience, bring more value to our customers, reach a wider footprint, and accelerate Farmers Edge growth." The marketplace will create new value for growers and partners by offering innovative risk management, grain marketing, and sustainability products, such as carbon offsets, customized for their operations. Connect with a Farmers Edge expert today to see how the company's digital ecosystem can benefit your business. Visit FarmersEdge.ca/CommoditAg or call 515-505-0413 to learn more and book a meeting. About Farmers Edge Farmers Edge is leading the next agricultural revolution with the industry's broadest portfolio of proprietary technological innovations, spanning hardware, software, and services. Powered by a unique combination of connected field sensors, artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and agronomic expertise, the company's digital platform turns data into actions and intelligent insights, delivering value to all stakeholders of the agricultural ecosystem. Farmers Edge disruptive technologies accelerate digital transformation on the farm and beyond, protecting our global resources and ensuring sustainable food production for a rapidly growing population. For more information, please visit www.farmersedge.ca and SEDAR (www.sedar.com). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210812005925/en/

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[August 12, 2021] Razer Launches Cortex Instant Games - A Tournament Platform With Hundreds of Casual Games for Mobile Devices and PC

Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers (Hong Kong Stock Code: 1337), today announced the launch of Cortex Instant Games Tournaments, a brand-new tournament platform focused on instantly playable casual games - available now for Android (News - Alert) devices and coming soon to Razer Cortex on PC. Instant Games are playable directly from the Razer Cortex app with no need for additional downloads. Each of the hosted tournaments offers tiered levels of Razer Silver prizes, which are redeemable for a variety of Razer hardware, accessories and digital rewards. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210812005012/en/ More than 100 games will be available at launch, including an exclusive Instant Game featuring Sneki Snek, Razer's fan-favorite sustainability mascot. (Graphic: Business Wire) Releasing simultaneously with Cortex Instant Games Tournaments, Razer is launching the first ever Sneki Snek game featuring Razer's iconic, environmentally conscious mascot. Sneki Snek Adventure is playable today and will be running charity tournaments, exclusively on Razer Cortex. The Instant Game challenges users to steer Sneki Snek away from poison obstacles and grab seeds to plant trees to score bonuses. The tournament leaderboard is updated real-time so players can see their standings for a chance to win Razer Silver prizes. All proceeds generated from Sneki Snek Adventure will be donated directly to Conservation International as part of Raze's continued commitment towards more sustainable business practices and reducing its global carbon footprint.



At launch, Cortex Instant Games will host 4 to 6 concurrent tournaments at any time, with over 100 more games available for free-play across a variety of genres. Additional games and tournaments will constantly be added and rotated onto the platform in order to spur consistent and varied competition for all players. "Through interacting with our millions of users in the Razer Cortex app, we know that gamers love a challenge - wherever they are and regardless of what platform they're playing on. This offered us a great opportunity to introduce competitive casual gaming directly to a ready and eager player base," said Quyen Quach, Senior Director of Software at Razer. "Razer Cortex creates experiences and offers rewards in a way that only Razer can, harnessing the full potential of our interconnected ecosystem of hardware, software, and services."

For Cortex Instant Games Tournaments, Razer has partnered with Goama to tap into its vast library of hypercasual games and tournament hosting capabilities. Goama delivers an advanced gamified environment turning any app into a gamified powerhouse unleashing more opportunities to engage users, increase new user acquisition and retain existing ones. "We are proud to be working with Razer to create more ways for players to improve their gaming skills and be rewarded for their performance," said Taro Araya, CEO of Goama. Razer Cortex enhances and customizes your gaming experience on both mobile and PC devices. The app taps directly into your existing gaming library and optimizes the performance of your mobile or PC for a faster, smoother gaming experience. Through must-have features like this as well as rewarding players for playing various games across mobile and PC with Razer Silver, Razer Cortex is the essential companion app for any gamer at home or on the go. For more information on Razer Cortex, please see here. For more information on Razer Cortex Instant Games Tournaments, please see here. ABOUT RAZER CORTEX INSTANT GAMES TOURNAMENTS: More than 100 games available at Launch

4-6 tournaments concurrently running at all times

Tournaments run from 1-day to weeks (varies)

10K to over 60K in Razer Silver awarded in each tournament

Exclusive instant game featuring Sneki Snek All proceeds generated from Sneki Snek Adventure will be donated to Conservation International

Play instantly in the app. No additional downloads needed to play.

Playable through Razer Cortex Games Available for Android Phones on Google Play Coming soon to Razer Cortex on PC

PRODUCT ASSETS Please find the press kit here. ABOUT RAZER Razer is the world's leading lifestyle brand for gamers. The triple-headed snake trademark of Razer is one of the most recognized logos in the global gaming and esports communities. With a fan base that spans every continent, the company has designed and built the world's largest gamer-focused ecosystem of hardware, software and services. Razer's award-winning hardware includes high-performance gaming peripherals and Blade gaming laptops. Razer's software platform, with over 125 million users, includes Razer Synapse (an Internet of Things platform), Razer Chroma RGB (a proprietary RGB lighting technology system supporting thousands of devices and hundreds of games/apps), and Razer Cortex (a game optimizer and launcher). Razer also offers payment services for gamers, youth, millennials and Gen Z. Razer Gold is one of the world's largest game payment services, and Razer Fintech provides fintech services in emerging markets. Founded in 2005 and dual-headquartered in Irvine (California) and Singapore, Razer has 17 offices worldwide and is recognized as the leading brand for gamers in the USA, Europe and China. Razer is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (Stock Code: 1337). Razer - For Gamers. By Gamers. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210812005012/en/

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[August 13, 2021] EQT Private Equity sells Utimaco, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions

- EQT Private Equity to sell Utimaco, one of the global leading providers of mission-critical professional cybersecurity and data intelligence solutions for regulated critical infrastructures - Together with EQT, Utimaco has executed an impressive innovation, growth and M&A strategy, including five add-ons in the US, UK, Spain, and Germany and transformed into one of the leading integrated European cybersecurity champions with global reach - Under EQT's ownership, Utimaco has close to tripled its revenues and is expected to generate more than EUR 100 million for the fiscal year of 2022 STOCKHOLM, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- EQT is pleased to announce that the EQT Mid Market Europe fund ("EQT Private Equity") has agreed to sell Utimaco Verwaltungs GmbH ("Utimaco" or the "Company") to SGT Capital LLC ("SGT"), a global alternative asset manager with offices in Germany and Singapore. Headquartered in Aachen, Germany, and Campbell, CA, US, Utimaco is the leading platform provider of trusted cybersecurity and compliance solutions and services. The Company provides on-premises and cloud-based hardware security modules, as well as key management solutions and data intelligence solutions for regulated critical infrastructures. Utimaco has more than 470 employees around the globe and with its focus on protecting data, identities and critical infrastructures against cyber-crime, the Company is a crucial force in contributing to making the world and societies a safer place. Together with EQT Private Equity, Utimaco has executed an impressive innovation, growth and M&A strategy. In addition to strong organic growth, the Company has completed five strategic add-ons in the US, UK, Spain, and Germany and transformed into one of the global leading integrated European cybersecurity champions with strong capabilities in high-growth areas. Under EQT's ownership, Utimaco has close to tripled its revenues, while maintaining its unique focus on R&D, innovation, and customer satisfaction. Florian Funk, Partner within EQT Private Equity's Advisory Team, said: "Utimaco plays a crucial role in fighting cyber-crime making the world a safer place and we are extremely proud of having supported Utimaco on its mission to create trust in the digital society, as cyber terrorism and data abuse is growing in complexity, sophistication and frequency. We would like to thank all employees for this exciting journey - We are convinced that Utimaco will continue its successful path with its new majority owner and are happy to stay invested as a minority owner." Stefan Auerbach, CEO of Utimaco, said: "In the last years, we have built a global platform leader for trusted cybersecurity solutions, providing the highest level of security and compliance to the world's largest corporates and governments. With EQT's support, we have been able to transform the business and accelerate growth by making substantial investments. The collaboration with the EQT team and the board has been fantastic, and we would like to thank you all for the great partnership and look forward to the next phase of growth together with SGT." Joseph Pacini, Co-Managing Partner of SGT Capital, said: "Utimaco is the clear market leader in global cybersecurity as well as data intelligence solutions and has executed an impressive innovation, growth and M&A strategy. We look forward to working with Stefan Auerbach and the entire Utimaco team as well as EQT Private Equity going forwards." The transaction is subject to regulatory conditions and approvals and is expected to close in Q4 2021. The parties have agreed not to disclose the transaction value. EQT Private Equity was advised by Moelis & Company (financial advisor), Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (legal), PWC (financial, tax) and Strategy& (commercial). Contact EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com, +46 8 506 55 334 About EQTEQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization with more than EUR 67 billion in assets under management across 26 active funds. EQT funds have portfolio companies in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas with total sales of approximately EUR 29 billion and more than 175,000 employees. EQT works with portfolio companies to achieve sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership. More info: www.eqtgroup.com Follow EQT on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram About Utimaco Utimaco is a global platform provider of trusted Cybersecurity and Compliance solutions and services with headquarters in Aachen (Germany) and Campbell, CA (USA). UTIMACO develops on-premises and cloud-based hardware security modules and key management solutions as well as data intelligence solutions for regulated critical infrastructures. Utimaco is one of the world's leading manufacturers in both of these market segments. 470+ employees around the globe create innovative solutions and services to protect data, identities and communication networks with responsibility for global customers and citizens. Customers and partners in many different industries value the reliability and long-term investment security of Utimaco's high-security products and solutions. More info: https://www.utimaco.com/ This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/eqt/r/eqt-private-equity-sells-utimaco--a-global-leader-in-cybersecurity-solutions,c3395034 The following files are available for download:







https://mb.cision.com/Main/87/3395034/1453656.pdf EQT Private Equity sells Utimaco, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions https://news.cision.com/eqt/i/eqt-ultimaco,c2942642 EQT-Ultimaco



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[August 13, 2021] Toptoon Global to begin services for English-speaking countries in full swing as the members surpass 200,000 in number

SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Toptoon Plus, a website run by TOPCO, is creating a sensation in English-speaking countries, including the US just in one month after its launch. It is a global website launched by Korean premium webtoon platform Toptoon in 1 July. It is providing an official webtoon service in English for readers in English-speaking countries. Gaining popularity in English-speaking countries such as the UK, Australia and Singapore, as well as the US, it has acquired over 200,000 members in just one month after the official launch, which is an absolutely unprecedented growth in the global webtoon industry. Toptoon released its own platform earlier in Taiwan and is conducting the secondary distribution of webtoon content in the Asia countries uch as Japan and Southeast Asia. The advance into the US has a significance in that it has expanded its territory to the western market around North America beyond the Asian countries.



It also sees a high number of views and membership subscription rates in other English-speaking countries such as the UK, Australia, Singapore, Canada and Philippines, not to mention the US, the primary target of the service. It demonstrates that the webtoons of Toptoon, which has already proven its content power in Korea with native K-webtoons, also work in the international market. Mr. Shin, the manager of TOPCO(The company that runs Toptoon) said, "We had a good expectation about the US, but didn't expect such a high popularity in the UK or Singapore. We're very surprised and happy about it" and added, "Now that we know our webtoons are receiving a good response in many different countries, we're going to keep this momentum and open services in Spanish.

As an aside, Toptoon Plus is an English platform of Toptoon that has 50 million members in Korea and abroad after the launch in 2014. It opened on July 1 with the English version of about 200 new webtoons and popular webtoons on Toptoon in Korea. Acquiring over 100,000 members in a week, it is gaining attention in the global webtoon industry. In particular, it is constantly updating its line-up with webtoons loved by Korean readers such as "She's Too Much for Me" and "Drawing Romance" and other webtoons for adults. CONTACT: Topco, Marketing Team, James Kim, +82-10-2471-1999, 18k@toptoon.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/toptoon-global-to-begin-services-for-english-speaking-countries-in-full-swing-as-the-members-surpass-200-000-in-number-301354903.html SOURCE TOPCO

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[August 13, 2021] DBS Bank India partners with ODeX to provide hassle-free credit solutions to freight forwarders

- ODeX Pay Later Solutions powered by DBS aims to empower over 8,500 SMEs in the shipping industry - Industry-first platform-based postpaid lending program; offering an unsecured credit line up to INR 50 lakh - Enables ODeX customers to streamline credit workflows and avail financing through a transparent and paperless application process within the platform - Provides a seamless API-enabled real-time transaction flow between ODeX and DBS, enabling a single-click postpaid checkout solution for invoice payments MUMBAI, India, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DBS Bank India announced that it has partnered with ODeX, one of India's leading platforms to exchange shipping documents and facilitate payments, to introduce ODeX Pay Later Solutions powered by DBS. ODeX customers can access comprehensive payment and financing solutions through the partnership for all their ocean shipping transaction needs. This partnership is expected to benefit over 8,500 freight forwarders, aligning with DBS's commitment to financing local businesses and supporting livelihoods. Freight forwarders usually receive payments from their customers, comprising importers and exporters, after completing service. However, they must pay shipping lines, port terminals, container freight stations and other stakeholders upfront to clear the cargo on time, which impacts their working capital. DBS recognised this gap and designed a financing solution that is digital, contextual, seamless and removes friction from the overall payment process. By broadening access to finance and streamlining current credit workflows of ODeX customers, the ODeX Pay Later Solutions allow freight forwarders to make direct payments to ship liners. Businesses with a turnover of INR 3 Cr to INR 200 Cr that have completed over five years in the same industry can avail of an unsecured loan of up to INR 50 lacs from DBS Bank. Further, they can opt for a secured credit limit of up to INR 5 Cr. DBS was recognised among the 'Outstanding Financial Innovators in Asia Pacific' for this trade finance solution at the annual Innovators Awards 2021 by Global Finance. Divyesh Dalal, Head - Global Transaction Services, DBS Bank India, said, "At DBS, we are pre-emptive in recognising customer needs, and we leverage our best-in-class technology to deliver innovative financing solutions. The integration with ODeX will help simplify the payment journey for freight forwarders, thereby increasing efficiencies. Our analytics-based platform reduces friction and improves the turn-around time for disbursing credit. It allows for a seamless transaction flow wherein customers can raise requests from ODeX through API enabling real-time flow of information between the platforms." Sudarshan Chari, Head - Business Banking, DBS Bank India, said, "DBS has been at the forefront of supporting local businesses and broadening credit access to this segment. Our partnership with ODeX allows us to leverage our strong digital capabilities and offer innovative financing solutions to SMEs in the shipping industry. ODeX Pay Later Solutions will help unlock cash flow that will, in turn, allow these enterprises to scale and tap into emerging opportunities." Commenting on the partnership, Liji Nowal, Managing Director, ODeX, said, "This partnership is a clear and concentrated focus on serving a market that is currently underserved. The technology support from DBS will help us multiply our rach in the logistics industry, allowing us to present a complete solution suite to the customers."



Customers can log in via ODeX and make payments to ship liners by getting access to finance within the platform. A Pay Later purchase invoice discounting option will be available at the checkout point on the platform, thereby helping them unlock extra funds for releasing goods on time without detention charges. The end-to-end process for onboarding is digital, and the approval time for the credit line is ~3 days. Once approved, the customer can dip into their credit line as per their requirement. They can even avail an option to increase their credit by opting for a secured loan. The platform integration offers added convenience. The customer does not have to provide invoices for financing separately. The bank receives data from ODeX directly to make the process quick and seamless. The ODeX Pay Later Solutions powered by DBS is available to customers that have been associated with ODeX for a minimum of one year and are located near a DBS Bank India SME asset branch in Mumbai, Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata or Delhi-NCR. DBS Bank India leverages its analytics-based lending platform to digitally onboard ODeX customers.

Such customers can also avail themselves of all the DBS SME Banking solutions with the DBS Edge-preferred current account. They will also get access to key solutions, including DBS Digital Business Loans- the segment-flagship online credit solutions platform by DBS offering collateral-backed credit up to INR 20 Cr for the entire spectrum of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, paperless A2 online trade transactions, an online forex booking platform, easy remittance with DBS Priority Pay, Swift GPI tracking, and much more. Customers can enjoy the bank's customised offerings, complemented by the online banking platform - DBS IDEAL, for regular banking transactions and trade requirements. About DBS DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 18 markets. Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named "World's Best Bank " by Euromoney, " Global Bank of the Year " by The Banker and " Best Bank in the World " by Global Finance. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named "World's Best Digital Bank" by Euromoney and the world's "Most Innovative in Digital Banking" by The Banker. DBS was also ranked No. 1 on Forbes' list of the World's Best Banks in India for two consecutive years. DBS Bank has been present in India for 27 years, opening its first office in Mumbai in 1994. DBS Bank India Limited is the first among the large foreign banks in India to start operating as a wholly-owned, locally incorporated subsidiary of a leading global bank. DBS provides an entire range of banking services for large, medium and small enterprises and individual consumers in India. In 2016, DBS launched India's first mobile-only bank - digibank, which now has ~1 million savings accounts. In November 2020, Lakshmi Vilas Bank was amalgamated with DBS Bank India Limited. The bank now has a network of nearly 600 branches across 19 states in India. DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region's most dynamic markets. DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers and positively impacting communities through supporting social enterprises as it banks the Asian way. It has also established an SGD 50 million foundation to strengthen its corporate social responsibility efforts in Singapore and across Asia. In 2020, DBS introduced the "Towards Zero Food Waste" initiative as part of a global sustainability practice to encourage a shift in behaviours and mindsets to reduce food waste. With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasising engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. The bank acknowledges the passion, commitment and can-do spirit in all our 30,000+ staff representing over 40 nationalities. For more information, please visit www.dbs.com . About ODeX ODeX is India's Leading Digital Platform for Ocean Shipping Documents Exchange & Payments Facilitation. Founded in 2016, it seamlessly connects & acts as a Digital Gateway for Shipping lines, Freight forwarders, Importer, Exporters, Port Terminals, CFS's, Weighbridges, Custom Agents, and Banks, enabling ease of transactions. The services offered by ODeX to EXIM Trade are Electronic Invoices, Payments, Delivery Order, VGM, Form 13, HBL, Shipping Bill, Security Deposit, etc. ODeX has more than 20k organisations registered with 30k + users with a daily transaction of 15k+.

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[August 13, 2021] Innovusion Raises $66 Million in Series B Plus Financing to Accelerate the Global Adoption of Autonomous Transportation

Innovusion, a global leader in the design and development of image-grade LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology, has successfully raised $66 million USD in Series B Plus financing. The round was led by Guotai Junan International Private Equity Fund (GTJAI) with participation from Shunwei Capital. Existing investors Nio Capital, F-Prime Capital, Eight Roads Ventures, and Temasek also participated in the round. Having been recognized for efficient, safe, and cost-effective LiDAR solutions, Innovusion will use the new infusion of capital to increase the production capabilities of its automotive-grade LiDARs, expand their global footprint, and further broaden its research and development efforts to promote the widespread adoption of LiDAR technology across autonomous vehicles, smart infrastructure, and high-speed rail transit systems. "LiDAR is an essential technology enabling the development and global adoption of new autonomous vehicles. As more LiDAR companies enter the market and the technology develops, we will start to see a loop forming: mass-production leading to exponential market development, better design and new vehicle sales," said Yuen Chiu, head of Private Equity at Guotai Junan International. "Mr. Junwei Bao's extensive LiDAR expertise has garnered the cooperation of many OEM industry giants, such as NIO, where Innovusion is providing LiDARs for their flagship autonomous sedan, the ET7. Guotai Junan International has extensive knowledge of the new energy vehicle industry, upstream and downstream supply chain, and we will utilise our resources, advantages and capital market knowledge in support of Innovusion. At the same time, we hope that our efforts can jointly bring China's smart cars and autonomous driving technology to the global forefront." Research conducted by Fortune Business Insights anticipates the global LiDAR market to reach $6.71 billion USD by 2026. The report shows the global market was worth $1.32 billion USD in 2018. "At present, automakers like NIO (NYSE:NIO), Xpeng, and Volvo are embracing LiDARs for their autonomous vehicles. The continuous development of high-level technology and reduction of costs will ramp up 'on-the-car' penetration rate within the autonomous vehicle industry and enhance the driving experience," said Tuck Lye Koh, Founding Partner and CEO of Shunwei Capital. "The Shunwei team has long been concerned about the automotive industry supply chain opportunities. We recognize that Innovusion will help the industry develop and create long-term value with excellent technology and stable product performance."



"With the recognition of the industry, the continued support from our existing investors, the trust from our new investors, the passion and strong technical strengths of our team, we are very confident that we can successfully build the world's leading high-performance LiDAR supply chain system, contributing to the future growth of autonomous vehicles," said Junwei Bao, CEO of Innovusion. "At the same time, we will continue to heavily invest in R&D to provide products and solutions suitable for different scenarios for future mobility. It is a great honor to have such great partners around the world who believe in us and share our vision. After several months of accelerated product progression, the B Plus round of financing will further turbocharge our growth plan." Since 2018, Innovusion has released four products with unique use cases. Its recent $64 millions Series B raise alongside Series B Plus financing will catapult product development and the growth of autonomous transportation.

About Innovusion Innovusion was founded in 2016 and has core development teams in Sunnyvale, California and Suzhou, China. It is the world's leader in image-quality, long-range LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor systems for autonomous driving markets. It successfully concluded its $64 million Series B round in April 2021 funded by Temasek, BAI (News - Alert) Capital, and Joy Capital with participation from existing investors NIO Capital, Eight Roads Ventures, and F-Prime Capital. Please visit us on the web at www.innovusion.com. About Guotai Junan International Private Equity Fund ??Guotai Junan International ("GTJAI", Stock Code: 1788.HK) is the market leader and first mover for internationalization of Chinese Securities Company as well as the first Chinese securities broker listed on the Main Board of The Hong Kong Stock Exchange through initial public offering. It has also been included in the FTSE4Good Index by the London Stock Exchange of the UK. Based in Hong Kong, GTJAI provides diversified integrated financial services. Core business includes seven categories of brokerage, corporate finance, asset management, loans and financing, financial products, market making and investments, which cover three dimensions including individual finance (wealth management), institutional finance (institutional investor services and corporate finance service) and investment management. GTJAI has been assigned "Baa2 '' and "BBB+" long term issuer rating from Moody and Standard & Poor respectively. The controlling shareholder, Guotai Junan Securities Company Limited (Stock Code: 601211.SS; 2611.HK), is the comprehensive financial provider with a long-term, sustainable and overall leading position in the Chinese securities industry. In 2020, GTJAI launched its private equity division known as Guotai Junan International Private Equity Fund, which is responsible for screening, researching and leading private equity investment in the field of innovative technology and participating in strategic mergers & acquisitions. For more information about GTJAI, please visit http://www.gtjai.com About Shunwei Capital Shunwei Capital is a premier venture capital firm specializing in early to growth stage investments in disruptive business models. We invest in mobile Internet, Internet+, consumer IoT, smart manufacturing, deep technology and rural Internet. Shunwei's investment portfolio comprises Xiaomi, 17zuoye, Meicai, iQiyi, NIO, Ninebot, Huolala, ShareChat, and other premium companies in China and internationally. We strive to work with founders to fulfill their dreams and build great companies. Shunwei Capital was founded in 2011 by Jun Lei and Tuck Lye Koh. Today, Shunwei Capital manages over US$3 billion in funds under management. Our investors include globally renowned sovereign wealth funds, fund of funds, university endowment funds and family offices. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210813005017/en/

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[August 13, 2021] Offerpad to Report Second Quarter 2021 Results on August 16th

Offerpad, Inc. ("Offerpad"), a leading tech-enabled platform for buying and selling residential real estate, announced today the company will report second quarter financial results on August 16, 2021, after the market close. The company also will host a conference call and accompanying webcast beginning at 2 p.m. PDT / 5 p.m. EDT. Investors are encouraged to register for the conference call and can register here to receive a personalized dial in number and PIN. The webcast is available to the public and can be accessed on Offerpad's Investor Relations website at https://investor.offerpad.com/events-and-presentations. A webcast replay of the event will be available from the same website address after the live webcast concludes. About Offerpad Offerpad's mission is to provide the best way to buy and sell a home. Period. We use technology-enabled solutions to remake the home selling and buying experience by offering customers the convenience, control and certainty to solve their housing needs. We combine our fundamental real estate expertise with our data-driven digital "Solutions Center" platform to give users a holistic, customer-centric experience, enabling them to efficiently sell nd buy their homes online with streamlined access to other services including mortgage, listing, and buyer representation services.



Additional Information and Where to Find It Supernova (NYSE: SPNV) has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC (News - Alert) , which includes a proxy statement/prospectus, that is both the proxy statement that was distributed to holders of Supernova's common stock in connection with its solicitation of proxies for the vote by Supernova's stockholders with respect to the proposed business combination and other matters as described in the registration statement, as well as the prospectus relating to the offer and sale of the securities to be issued in the business combination. Supernova will be mailing the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents to its stockholders. This press release does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed business combination and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the business combination. Supernova's stockholders and other interested persons are advised to read the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed in connection with the proposed business combination, as these materials will contain important information about Offerpad, Supernova and the business combination. Stockholders are also able to obtain copies of the definitive proxy statement and other documents filed with the SEC, without charge, at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to Supernova's secretary at 4301 50th Street NW, Suite 300 PMB 1044, Washington, D.C. 20016, (202) 918-7050.

Participants in Solicitation Supernova, Offerpad, and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Supernova's stockholders with respect to the proposed business combination. A list of the names of those directors and executive officers and a description of their interests is contained in Supernova's registration statement on Form S-4, which is available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. To the extent such holdings of Supernova's securities by Supernova's directors and executive officers may have changed since that time, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. No Offer or Solicitation This press release does not constitute (i) a solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed business combination or (ii) an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation to purchase any security of Supernova, Offerpad, or any of their respective affiliates. #OPAD_Earnings View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210813005023/en/

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[August 13, 2021] Softchoice Announces Second Quarter 2021 Results

Softchoice Corporation ("Softchoice" or the "Company") (TSX: SFTC) today announced strong financial results and cash generation for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 ("Q2 2021"). The Company also reiterated its 2022 Outlook provided during its IPO. Unless otherwise noted, all dollar ($) amounts are in U.S. dollars. "We're extremely pleased with our continued double-digit growth in the second quarter and the ongoing execution of our organic growth strategy to solidify our position as a leading software- and cloud-focused IT solution provider in North America. Gross profit, our top line measurement, increased more than 15% in Q2 2021 with growth across all of our IT solution types and sales channels, and led by strong double-digit growth in our Software & Cloud and Services offerings, which comprised almost 75% of our gross profit," said Vince De Palma, Softchoice's CEO. "Our Adjusted EBITDA grew 17%, as natural operating leverage offset significant investments we are making this year in our technical and sales enablement resources, and cloud strategies."1 "Our business continues to experience an acceleration across various cloud productivity and collaboration solutions in line with global business trends, including accelerating growth and adoption of the cloud, increasing demand for remote work capabilities accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and increasing demand for seamlessly integrated software applications and security solutions. In the second half of 2021, we continue to expect strong growth in gross profit driven by improving productivity of our salesforce, the continued ramp up of realization of benefits from Project Monarch, and increasing wallet share with our customers as we broaden the IT solutions we are providing them. With our IPO complete, we plan to increase the size of our salesforce and continue to make investments in our solutions and technical support-capabilities. These investments along with the full realization of benefits from Project Monarch are anticipated to drive continued double digit gross profit growth and Adjusted EBITDA margin expansion in 2022."1 "We're tremendously excited to have completed our IPO on June 1. We are going public at a great time, when the heavy lifting transforming our company has been completed, we are in a strong financial position, we believe secular trends are in our favour, and our growth and margins are expected to accelerate in the future." Financial Summary1







US$ M except per share amounts and percentages Q2 2021 Q2 2020 Growth

% H1 2021 H1 2020 Growth

% Gross Sales 504.1 462.8 8.9% 938.9 861.0 9.1% Net sales 212.7 218.8 (2.8%) 445.9 435.8 2.3% Gross profit 73.0 63.2 15.5% 136.0 120.2 13.1% Adjusted EBITDA 20.9 17.8 17.2% 31.3 26.4 18.9% Adjusted EBITDA as a % of Gross Profit 28.6% 28.2% 23.0% 21.9% Net income (loss) (13.1) 8.0 (264.3%) (15.1) (16.4) (7.6%) Net income (loss) per Diluted Share (attributable to the Owners of the Company) ($0.30) $0.07 (528.6%) ($0.35) ($0.24) 45.8% Adjusted Net Income 12.2 10.0 22.3% 15.4 11.6 32.0% Adjusted EPS (Diluted) $0.23 $0.18 27.8% $0.30 $0.21 42.9%

Q2 2021 Financial Results 1 Gross Sales - The overall 8.9% growth in Gross Sales in Q2 2021 compared to the same quarter ended June 30, 2020 ("Q2 2020") was primarily driven by a 17.4% increase in Software & Cloud Gross Sales, largely as a result of increasing customer consumption of cloud solutions, and Services, which increased 9.9% due to growth in professional services. Gross Sales reflects the gross amount billed to customers, adjusted for amounts deferred or accrued, which the Company believes is a useful alternative financial metric to the IFRS measure net sales, as it better reflects volume fluctuations.

- The overall 8.9% growth in Gross Sales in Q2 2021 compared to the same quarter ended June 30, 2020 ("Q2 2020") was primarily driven by a 17.4% increase in Software & Cloud Gross Sales, largely as a result of increasing customer consumption of cloud solutions, and Services, which increased 9.9% due to growth in professional services. Gross Sales reflects the gross amount billed to customers, adjusted for amounts deferred or accrued, which the Company believes is a useful alternative financial metric to the IFRS measure net sales, as it better reflects volume fluctuations. Net sales - Despite increases in Gross Sales and gross profit, net sales declined 2.8% compared to Q2 2020 primarily due to an increase in the mix of Software & Cloud solutions recorded on a netted down basis for accounting purposes (including subscription licenses and cloud solutions). Given the Company's growing mix of Software & Cloud solutions, which are most impacted by netting down, it has resulted in overall net sales growth trailing Gross Sales and gross profit growth in recent years. The calculation of net sales via net or gross basis has no impact on resulting gross profit.

- Despite increases in Gross Sales and gross profit, net sales declined 2.8% compared to Q2 2020 primarily due to an increase in the mix of Software & Cloud solutions recorded on a netted down basis for accounting purposes (including subscription licenses and cloud solutions). Given the Company's growing mix of Software & Cloud solutions, which are most impacted by netting down, it has resulted in overall net sales growth trailing Gross Sales and gross profit growth in recent years. The calculation of net sales via net or gross basis has no impact on resulting gross profit. Gross profit - Gross profit, Softchoice's key metric for measuring top-line business performance, increased 15.5% over Q2 2020 driven by growth across all IT solution types (Software & Cloud, Services, Hardware) and sales channels (SMB, Commercial, Enterprise). By IT solution type, the growth in gross profit was primarily driven by Software & Cloud, reflecting the increase in related Gross Sales volumes. By sales channel, the largest contributor to the increase in overall gross profit was Commercial. Currency fluctuations, related to a strengthened Canadian dollar, also had a positive impact on reported Gross profit growth.

- Gross profit, Softchoice's key metric for measuring top-line business performance, increased 15.5% over Q2 2020 driven by growth across all IT solution types (Software & Cloud, Services, Hardware) and sales channels (SMB, Commercial, Enterprise). By IT solution type, the growth in gross profit was primarily driven by Software & Cloud, reflecting the increase in related Gross Sales volumes. By sales channel, the largest contributor to the increase in overall gross profit was Commercial. Currency fluctuations, related to a strengthened Canadian dollar, also had a positive impact on reported Gross profit growth. Adjusted EBITDA - The 17.2% increase in Adjusted EBITDA over Q2 2020 was due to the 15.5% increase in gross profit partially offset by a 14.8% increase in Adjusted Cash Operating Expenses primarily related to higher personnel costs and currency fluctuations related to a strengthened Canadian dollar which had a negative impact on operating expenses.

- The 17.2% increase in Adjusted EBITDA over Q2 2020 was due to the 15.5% increase in gross profit partially offset by a 14.8% increase in Adjusted Cash Operating Expenses primarily related to higher personnel costs and currency fluctuations related to a strengthened Canadian dollar which had a negative impact on operating expenses. Net income (loss) - The $21.1 million decline in net income was driven primarily by over $28 million in pre-tax costs related to the IPO transaction and the related capital restructuring which took place concurrently, partially offset by the increase in Adjusted EBITDA.

- The $21.1 million decline in net income was driven primarily by over $28 million in pre-tax costs related to the IPO transaction and the related capital restructuring which took place concurrently, partially offset by the increase in Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted Net Income - Adjusted Net Income, excluding exceptional items impacting Net Income as well as foreign exchange and certain other items, increased 22.3% largely driven by the growth in Adjusted EBITDA. Financial Position The Company is in strong financial condition, with a $275 million revolving credit facility, with approximately $80.4 million in loans and borrowings outstanding at June 30, 2021. Including internally generated cash flows, the Company anticipates having significant resources with which to pursue growth opportunities. Net debt, equating to loans and borrowings plus lease liabilities less cash-on-hand, was $92.6 million at June 30, 2021 compared to $190.6 million at December 31, 2020, with the decline driven by proceeds from the IPO as well as $44.4 million in net cash flows from operating activities in the six months ended June 30, 2021. The ratio of net debt to Adjusted EBITDA over the last twelve months was 1.3x at June 30, 2021 compared to 2.9x at December 31, 2020. Dividend As disclosed in the Prospectus, Softchoice anticipates paying quarterly cash dividends estimated to be approximately C$0.07 per Common Share. The Company's first cash dividend, which will be for the period from and including the initial public offering closing date to September 30, 2021, is expected to be paid on or about October 15, 2021 to shareholders of record on September 30, 2021 and is estimated to be C$0.093 per Common Share. Our Outlook 1 Softchoice reiterated its 2022 financial outlook that was included in its Prospectus (as defined below). For full-year 2022, the Company is expecting: Gross Profit of over $300 million, representing a 12% CAGR from 2020 to 2022

Adjusted EBITDA of $90 million to $100 million, inclusive of ~$25 million of Project Monarch Uplift

Adjusted Free Cash Flow Conversion of approximately 90% Our outlook is based on certain assumptions and factors (including those relating to our view of the drivers of, and expectations related to, our anticipated growth), including the key assumptions and factors set out in the Prospectus under 'Our Outlook'. For important information on risk factors, refer to "Forward Looking Information Disclaimer" later in this news release. Quarterly Conference Call Softchoice's management team will hold a conference call to discuss our second-quarter results today, August 13, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. ET. DATE: Friday, August 13, 2021

TIME: 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time

DIAL-IN: (416) 764-8659 or 1-888-664-6392 (NA Toll Free)

WEBCAST: https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1483627&tp_key=9e2c515631

TAPED REPLAY: (416) 764-8677 or 1-888-390-0541, Replay Code 251584 # (Available until August 20, 2021) A link to the webcast will also be available on the Events page of the Investors section of Softchoice's website at http://investors.softchoice.com. Please connect at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be required to join the webcast. An archived replay of the webcast will be available for 90 days. Capitalized Terms Capitalized terms used in this release, including Project Monarch, and terms we use to describe our IT solution types including Software & Cloud, Services, and Hardware and sales channels including SMB, Commercial, and Enterprise are described in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the three and six-months ended June 30, 2021 (the "Q2 2021 MD&A"), and/or defined in our Prospectus filed on SEDAR (as defined below) and available on the Company's investor relations website http://investors.softchoice.com. 1 Non-IFRS Measures This news release makes reference to certain non-IFRS measures and other measures. These measures are not recognized measures under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, these measures are provided as additional information to complement those IFRS measures by providing further understanding of our results of operations from management's perspective. Accordingly, these measures should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of our financial information reported under IFRS. We use non-IFRS measures, including "Adjusted EBITDA", "Adjusted EBITDA as a Percentage of Gross Profit", "Adjusted Cash Operating Expenses", "Adjusted Net Income (Loss)", "Adjusted EPS", "Adjusted Free Cash Flow Conversion", and "Gross Sales". These non-IFRS measures and other measures are used to provide investors with supplemental measures of our operating performance and thus highlight trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS measures. Our management uses these non-IFRS measures and other measures in order to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period, to prepare annual operating budgets and forecasts and to determine components of management compensation. We also believe that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use certain of these non-IFRS measures and other measures in the evaluation of issuers. As required by Canadian securities laws, we reconcile the non-IFRS measures to the most comparable IFRS measures. For more information on non-IFRS measures and other measures, see the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the three and six-months ended June 30, 2021, filed on SEDAR and available on the Company's investor relations website http://investors.softchoice.com Reconciliations of Non-IFRS Financial Measures (Information in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated) Three Months Ended

June 30, Six Months Ended

June 30, Reconciliation of Net Sales to Gross Sales 2021 2020 2021 2020 Net sales 212,653 218,817 445,883 435,837 Net adjustment for sales transacted as agent 291,410 243,994 493,058 425,124 Gross Sales 504,063 462,811 938,941 860,961 Reconciliation of Operating Expenses to Adjusted Cash Operating Expenses Operating expenses 86,576 55,439 148,064 121,179 Depreciation and amortization (5,393) (5,323) (10,716) (10,702) Equity-settled share-based compensation and other costs (1) (25,872) (630) (28,682) (8,253) Non-recurring compensation and other costs(2) (237) (393) (519) (790) Business transformation non-recurring costs(3) (467) (3,711) (740) (7,594) IPO related costs(4) (2,504) - (2,757) - Adjusted Cash Operating Expenses 52,103 45,382 104,650 93,840 Reconciliation of Income from operations to Adjusted EBITDA Income (loss) from operations (13,593) 7,765 (12,068) (984) Depreciation and amortization 5,393 5,323 10,716 10,702 Equity-settled share-based compensation and other costs(1) 25,872 630 28,682 8,253 Non-recurring compensation and other costs(2) 237 393 519 790 Business transformation non-recurring costs(3) 467 3,711 740 7,594 IPO related costs(4) 2,504 - 2,757 - Adjusted EBITDA 20,880 17,822 31,346 26,355 Adjusted EBITDA as a Percentage of Gross Profit(5) 28.6% 28.2% 23.0% 21.9% Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Net income (loss) (13,113) 7,981 (15,110) (16,350) Amortization of intangible assets 3,279 3,148 6,498 6,327 Equity-settled share-based compensation and other costs(1) 25,872 630 28,682 8,253 Non-recurring compensation and other costs(2) 237 393 519 790 Business transformation non-recurring costs(3) 467 3,711 740 7,594 IPO related costs(4) 2,504 - 2,757 - Related party debt interest(6) 721 935 1,736 1,902 Subordinated debt interest(6) 183 242 446 492 Interest expense (recovery) on accretion of non-interest bearing notes(7) - 89 120 66 Extinguishment of deferred financing fees(8) 1,621 - 1,621 - Unrecoverable withholding taxes(9) 1,035 - 1,035 - Foreign exchange (gain) loss(10) (3,844) (5,697) (5,726) 8,183 Tax recovery on deferred tax liability(11) (2,863) - (2,863) - Related tax effects(12) (3,928) (1,480) (5,085) (5,617) Adjusted Net Income 12,171 9,952 15,370 11,640 Weighted Average Number of Shares (Basic) 49,588,217 45,028,642 47,450,345 45,170,224 Weighted Average Number of Shares (Diluted) 53,879,978 56,543,004 51,742,105 56,684,586 Adjusted EPS (Basic)(13) 0.25 0.22 0.32 0.26 Adjusted EPS (Diluted)(13) 0.23 0.18 0.30 0.21 Notes (Refer to the Q2 2021 MD&A for description of the bolded items and sections with parentheses within these Notes) (1) These expenses represent costs recognized in connection with the Legacy Option Plan and the new Omnibus Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan (see Note 10 in the Interim Financial Statements for additional details), pursuant to which options granted are fair valued at the time of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and adjusted for any plan modifications. Included in Q2 2021, there was $16.9 million relating to certain payments made in connection with extinguishment of certain equity-based entitlements (the "Cash-Out Agreements") in conjunction with the IPO. Other costs relate to: the employee investment plan and the long-term profit-sharing plan, which were dissolved upon the completion of the IPO, and fair value adjustments in relation to existing equity-based arrangements. As a result of the IPO, a $6.1 million fair value adjustment was triggered on an existing equity-based arrangement which was dissolved thereafter. (2) These expenses include compensation costs relating to severance and a one-time accrual recorded in Fiscal 2020 associated with the set-up of a new corporate vacation policy. Other costs are comprised of professional, legal, consulting, accounting and management fees that are non-recurring and are sporadic in nature as they primarily relate to costs incurred in connection with shareholder distributions. (3) These costs relate to the implementation of Project Monarch which were largely comprised of one-time third-party consulting expenses, personnel costs for dedicated internal resources and software related costs. All costs relating to Project Monarch were segregated for tracking purposes and are monitored on a regular basis. As at June 30, 2021, $48.3 million has been invested in operating and capital expenditures for Project Monarch. See "Summary of Factors Affecting Performance - Business Transformation (Project Monarch)". (4) In connection with the IPO, the Company incurred expenses related to professional fees, legal, consulting, accounting and compensation that would otherwise not have been incurred and therefore are non-recurring. These costs have been separately identified and adjusted for clarity. There were $253 of IPO related costs which were incurred in Q1 2021 that were previously classified under non-recurring compensation and other costs; these costs have now been reclassed into IPO related costs for the six months period ended June 30, 2021. (5) Adjusted EBITDA as a Percentage of Gross Profit is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA divided by gross profit. See "Non-IFRS Measures - Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a Percentage of Gross Profit". (6) Related party and subordinated debt interest was settled at the time of Offering. For additional details see "Related Party Transactions", "Subordinated Debt Information" and "Share Information Prior to the Completion of the Offering". (7) This represents the expense relating to the accretion of the present value of the non-interest bearing notes recognized over the term of the notes. These notes were settled at the time of Offering. See also "Related Party Transactions", "Subordinated Debt Information" and "Share Information Prior to the Completion of the Offering". (8) As a result of the refinancing, the unamortized balance of the deferred financing fees on the former revolving credit facility and term credit facility of $1,621 were extinguished. (9) Non-controlling interest portion of unrecoverable withholding taxes on royalties. Non-controlling interest was eliminated upon the IPO of the Company. (10) Foreign exchange (gain) loss includes both realized and unrealized amounts. (11) Tax recovery on deferred tax liability as a result of tax rate change due to change from Canadian Controlled Private Company to public company. (12) This relates to the tax effects of the adjusting items, which was calculated by applying the statutory tax rate of 26.5% and adjusting for any permanent differences and capital losses. (13) Basic Adjusted EPS is calculated using the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted Adjusted EPS includes the dilutive impact of the stock options in addition to the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. See "Non-IFRS Measures and Other Measures - Non-IFRS Measures - Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted EPS". 1 Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws in Canada. Forward-looking information may relate to our future business, financial outlook and anticipated events or results and may include information regarding our financial position, business strategy, growth strategies, addressable markets, budgets, operations, financial results, taxes, dividend policy, plans and objectives. Particularly, information regarding our expectations of future results, performance, achievements, prospects or opportunities or the markets in which we operate is forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "an opportunity exists", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "outlook", "financial outlook", "forecasts", "projection", "prospects", "strategy", "intends", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, intentions, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent management's expectations, estimates and projections regarding possible future events or circumstances. Forward-looking information may include, among other things: (i) the Company's expectations regarding its financial performance, including among others, net sales, gross profit, expenses, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Free Cash Flow Conversion and operations; (ii) the Company's expectations regarding industry trends, growth of our addressable market, overall market growth rates and our growth rates and growth strategies; (iii) our ability to maintain a highly predictable and visible net sales outlook; (iv) our business plans and strategies; (v) the continued success of our commercial model; (vi) our expectations regarding growth in our customer base, our ability to retain customers and increase margin per customer; (vii) acceleration in growth of and adoption of new technologies; (viii) our relationship with our technology partners; (ix) our ability to continue to attract and retain talent; (x) our competitive position in our industry; (xi) our intention to declare dividends; (xii) and the long-term impact of COVID-19 on our business, financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of opinions, estimates and assumptions that we considered appropriate and reasonable as at the date such statements are made, and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to the risk factors described in our Q2 2021 MD&A and under "Risk Factors" within the Company's final initial public offering prospectus dated May 26, 2021 (the "Prospectus"). A copy of the Prospectus can be accessed under our profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval ("SEDAR") at www.sedar.com and on our website at investors.softchoice.com. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as at the date made. About Softchoice Softchoice (TSX: SFTC) is a technology services and solutions provider that equips organizations to be agile and innovative, and for their people to be engaged, connected and creative at work. That means moving them to the cloud, helping them build the workplace of tomorrow, and enabling them to make smarter decisions about their technology portfolio. For more information, please visit www.softchoice.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210813005051/en/

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[August 13, 2021] Tokens.com Announces Q2 2021 Financial Results

Tokens.com Corp. (NEO Stock Exchange Canada: COIN) (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: 76M) ("Tokens.com" or "the Company") is a publicly traded company that uses shareholder capital to purchase digital assets used for crypto staking and Decentralized Finance (DeFi). The company is one of the largest Proof-of-Stake technology companies as measured by operating assets and market capitalization. The Company today announces its financial results for the second quarter ending June 30, 2021 ("Q2 2021"). All amounts in this news release are unaudited and, unless otherwise indicated, are in US dollars. An investor call has been scheduled to discuss the Company's Q2 2021 financial results, hosted by CEO Andrew Kiguel starting at 10:00 am ET on August 13, 2021. Date: August 13, 2021

Time: 10:00 a.m. ET

Dial-In: 1 (888) 465-5079

Passcode: 7539 632# Q2 2021 Highlights: Closed $19.8 (CAD$25) million subscription receipt offerings and received the proceeds on April 28th.

Closed a reverse-takeover transaction with COIN Hodl Inc. Began trading on the NEO Stock Exchange on April 30 th at CAD$0.75 per share.

at CAD$0.75 per share. Dual listing on Frankfurt Stock Exchange on May 6th.

Announced New Board Member, Emma Todd on May 12th.

Successful deployment of funds from the capital raise to purchase additional digital assets and fully deploy them into staking by June. This added to the existing inventory of assets acquired in Q1 and in 2020.

Establishment of a $2 million loan facility with Genesis Global Trading on June 29th.

Non-cash loss to reflect revaluation of assets at the end of June, the bottom of the crypto correction. Tokens successfully achieved many goals in Q2, including going public. However, the quarter was impacted by some non-recurring events that aren't reflective of Tokens.com's normal operations. First, proceeds from our $19.8 million fund raise were only received and deployed well into the quarter. Thus, Q2 revenue shows only partial deployment and does not reflect what a full quarter of staking would look like. Second, there were several one-time, non-recurring expenses related to the listing process and the financing. With those events behind us, we would expect our expenses to drop significantly in Q3. Last, there was a deep correction in cryptocurrencies whose bottom coincided with the end of the quarter when we mark-to-market our digital assets. That resulted in a non-cash loss attributed to the cyclical nature of cryptocurrencies and the timing of our quarter end. Tokens.com uses its digital assets to generate revenue. However, the value of those assets are impacted positively and negatively, depending on the performance of the cryptocurrencies we own. "Q2 is not reflective of normal operations for Tokens.com and was impacted by the timing of our financing, costs associated with our Canadian listing and the crypto correction which saw most crypto assets drop by 60%. Those factors should not detract from Tokens.com establishing a major staking platform that is positioned for growth. Thus far in Q3, the crypto market has rebounded since June 30th, reversing almost the entire non-cash loss from Q2. We continue to grow our digital assets, grow our revenue and position ourselves for the coming bull market in crypto," commented CEO Andrew Kiguel. "In addition, our platform is not only generating strong staking revenues but also compounding them daily providing additional growth that will be reflected in Q3," added Kiguel. Q2 2021 Overview The management team at Tokens.com achieved several milestones in Q2. Our financing and public listing at CAD$0.75 per share closed on April 28, 2021 and April 30, 2021, respectively. Tokens.com also achieved a dual listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and added Emma Todd to the board of directors. The company was successful in deploying proceeds from its Q2 financing to purchase digital assets (that were added to its existing inventory from purchases made in Q1 and in 2020) and had those fully staked by June. This was not an overnight task and it took several weeks to complete the deployment. As such, our financial figures in Q2 are not representative of what a full quarter would look like. June was the only month in the quarter with full staking deployment. In addition, there were several one-time costs related to the listing process that were incurred in Q2 that won't impact future quarters. Management expects Q3 to be more reflective of Tokens.com's operations without one-time expenses and a full quarter of operations. We also spent significant efforts in systematizing and streamlining our staking operations - which will enable us to acquire and stake additional digital assets at scale without additional operational overhead. Tokens.com's average cost of staking was 5.6%. We believe this is efficient and far below the industry average cost of up to 25%. This also reinforces our strategy of outsourcing our staking activities in the near term as the company grows. The company also successfully navigated through a volatile My and June. Q2 of 2021 was marked by all-time highs for cryptocurrencies in May followed by a dramatic correction in crypto markets that bottomed at the end of June. This definitely had an impact on our share price as we are closely linked to what happens in the crypto markets. The correction was partially driven by concerns around the energy used by traditional crypto mining operations. This had a real effect around the public's sentiment around cryptocurrencies being environmentally harmful. However, an important development from this was increased awareness around staking and that it is far more environmentally friendly and energy efficient, which was highlighted in a J.P. Morgan report. ESG conscious investors are now positively turning their attention to PoS and staking. Specifically, to ETH - our largest digital asset by value - which is transitioning its entire network to PoS. J.P. Morgan also estimated that the size of the staking rewards in 2021 are $9 billion and growing to $40 billion by 2025, this being supercharged with the growth of ETH as a driver for DeFi applications. DeFi users have deposited as much as $100 billion into various financial services performed on the blockchain. Management believes that the uses and users for DeFi will continue to boom and consequently require stakers like Tokens.com to support and secure their platforms.



For accounting purposes, Tokens.com marks-to-market its digital asset inventory at the end of every quarter. In the case of Q2, that mark-to-market coincided with the bottom of the crypto market correction. The revaluation of the inventory resulted in a non-cash loss of $9.5 million to be recorded in Q2. While the number is steep, it is a non-cash value of our inventory at the lowest part of the crypto correction. We hold these assets in our inventory for the purpose of generating staking revenue over the short and long-term. Crypto assets can be marked by volatility quarter to quarter. We believe the assets we are staking have important use cases in the world of DeFi, and thus hold excellent mid and long-term potential to generate staking returns and appreciate. However, as a company that owns cryptocurrency for the purpose of generating revenue, Tokens.com's asset value and share price will be correlated to what's occurring in the overall cryptocurrency markets. During Q2, bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency, dropped by 53.1% from its highs. Eth, our largest digital asset holding, hit an all-time high of $4,356.99 on May 12th and lost roughly 59% of its value by the end of June. It has since recovered and as has the majority of the crypto market. In addition, during Q2 and into Q3, Tokens.com has continued to acquire more digital assets for the purpose of staking and to build its digital asset inventory. Tokens.com sees the volatility as an opportunity to 'buy the dip' and strengthen the quality of its digital asset inventory at lower prices.

Tokens.com continues to compound its revenue by re-staking the tokens it receives as revenue to create higher returns on capital. We believe this strategy will allow us to grow our digital asset inventory and position it for positive and compounding appreciation as the market recovers from the lows of Q2. Management sees the crypto staking market opportunity continuing to grow. Most of the non-cash loss from Q2 has already reversed itself thus far in Q3. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company recorded a net loss of $8,537,342 and $8,674,514 and a comprehensive loss of $11,296,482 and $8,583,968 representing a loss per share for the three and six month ended June 30, 2021 of $(0.13) and $(0.16). Contributing to the loss and comprehensive loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, is an unrealized (non-cash) revaluation loss on the digital assets at June 30, 2021 of $9,484,529 and $6,634,844 respectively, and a one-time listing expense of $1,108,883 (that included a $551,843 non-cash expense representing the fair value of the common shares retained by the former shareholders of COIN, less the working capital acquired). Despite this, management believes the balance sheet is strong and that the company is well funded from a corporate overhead standpoint. A complete financial reporting package, including the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes and MD&A, is available on our corporate website (www.tokens.com), and at SEDAR website (www.sedar.com) About Tokens.com Tokens.com Corp. is powering the future of digital assets as one of the largest Proof-of-Stake technology companies by operating assets and market capitalization. The Company provides essential services to the Proof-of-Stake blockchains, a substantial and increasingly important area of the tech that utilizes an environmentally friendly process. Tokens.com is compensated for its work through the payment of additional tokens in the underlying blockchains it is Staking. Tokens.com Corp is a Proof-of-Stake technology company that provides investors with a simple and secure way to gain exposure to Staking rewards and digital assets that power Decentralized Finance and Non-Fungible Tokens, without the burden of buying, managing and securing digital assets themselves. The Company creates value for its investors through earning Staking yields and the appreciation of its digital asset inventory, all achieved through environmentally friendly technology. The Company's common shares are listed under the symbol "COIN" on the NEO Exchange and as "76M" on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The OTC US listing is pending. Further information can be found on the Company's website: Tokens.com. Keep up-to-date on Tokens.com developments and join our online communities at Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Neither NEO Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the NEO Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT DISCLAIMER Certain statements in this news release have been derived from third party sources and have not been independently verified by the Company. In addition, this news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "plans", "expects', "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding: the Company's expected use of its bitcoin; expected annual returns and yields; the potential size of the crypto asset market; the impact of digital assets on the economy; expected adoption of blockchain technology and market opportunities related to same; and the Company's beliefs regarding the use of Staking technology by new digital asset platforms. Forward looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including that: the Company's yields from Staking may not continue at the levels expected; competition or other factors may diminish expected returns; market adoption of blockchain may be slower than expected; the Company may need to deploy its Bitcoin in ways other than currently anticipated; the Company may be unable to raise financing needed to continue its business on terms expected or at all; the Company's business is subject to cybersecurity risks; and regulatory changes may impact the Company's ability to conduct its business as currently conducted, as well as other factors beyond the Company's control, and those risk factors included under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's filing statement dated April 22, 2021, which is available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing these forward-looking statements are reasonable based upon the information currently available to management as of the date of this release, actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Readers are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this release. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made only as of the date of this release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210813005036/en/

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[August 13, 2021] Ether Capital Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Ether Capital Corporation ("Ether Capital" or the "Company") (NEO:ETHC) announces the reporting of its financial results as at and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021. As at June 30, 2021: The total value of the Ether held by the Company was $121.1 million

The total assets of the Company were $132.9 million

The total shareholders' equity of the Company was $132.6 million

The Company recorded revenue during the quarter of $304,312 and a net loss of $149,508

The Company recorded a gain on other comprehensive income (OCI) of $19.3 million during the quarter, which was the result of the net change in unrealized gain on fair value revaluation of the Company's digital intangible assets As at August 12, 2021, the total value of the Ether held by the Company was $166.1 million. Brian Mosoff, Ether Capital's CEO said: "We had a very positive second quarter, which included a strong contribution from consulting fees from our agreement with Purpose Investments. Last week, we were thrilled to see a major Ethereum network upgrade around transaction fee economics, known as EIP1559, go live on mainnet. With the upcoming 'merge' of proof of stake into the network, most likely in early 2022, there is a huge amount of excitement around Ethereum as a network and Ether as an asset." For condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, please refer to the Company's website at http://ethcap.co/. The Company also provides regularly updated disclosure of its investments in the investors section of its website. The Company's condensed consolidated interim financial statements, along with the accompanying management's discussion and analysis have been filed on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval ("SEDAR") and may be viewed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. About Ether Capital Corporation Ether Capital is a Toronto-based technology company whose long-term objective is to become the central business and investment hub for the Ethereum an Web 3 ecosystem. Ether Capital has invested in Ethereum's native utility token "Ether" as a strategic asset, and selectively invests in projects, protocols and businesses that leverage the Ethereum ecosystem and Web 3 technologies. Founded by a highly experienced Board of Directors and management team, Ether Capital has the experience and relationships to support businesses and invest in industry-shifting disruptive technologies. For more information, visit http://ethcap.co/.



The content of this document is for informational purposes only, and is not being provided in the context of an offering of any securities described herein, nor is it a recommendation or solicitation to buy, hold or sell any security. The information is not investment advice, nor is it tailored to the needs or circumstances of any investor. Information contained on this document is not, and under no circumstances is it to be construed as, an offering memorandum, prospectus, advertisement or public offering of securities. No securities commission or similar regulatory authority has reviewed this document and any representation to the contrary is an offence. Information contained in this document is believed to be accurate and reliable, however, we cannot guarantee that it is complete or current at all times. The information provided is subject to change without notice and neither Ether Capital Corporation, nor any of its affiliates, will be held liable for inaccuracies in the information presented. Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements in regard to the Etherum Protocol upgrades. The Company cautions the reader not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "on pace", "anticipates", or "does not anticipate", "believes", and similar expressions or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might", or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available to management at the time they are made, management's current plans, estimates, assumptions, judgments and expectations. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical, technological and social uncertainties; uncertainties in regard to the development and acceptance of blockchain technology (including proof of stake and Ethereum 2.0), and the Ethereum platform and anticipated timing and impact of the Ethereum network upgrade, the impact of the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus on the Company, and the other risk factors discussed in the Company's Annual Information Form dated March 25, 2021, the Risk Factors section in its most recently filed management's discussion and analysis, the Risk Factors section in its Supplement and Base Shelf Prospectus and its other filings available on-line at www.sedar.com. Although the forward-looking information contained in this press release is based on assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable at the date such statements are made, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. In addition, the Company cautions the reader that information provided in this press release is provided in order to give context to the nature of some of the Company's future plans and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210813005014/en/

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[August 13, 2021] Air Force Adopts Novetta Developed PICARD for Base Defense

MCLEAN, Va., Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Novetta, an advanced analytics company, announced today that the U.S. Air Force has accepted Novetta's PICARD, Platform for Integrated C3 and Responsive Defense, at Seymour Johnson AFB as part of a Pathfinder program. This paves the way for planned deployment to 11 bases in 2022 and across the Air Force as a whole over the next 5 years. "PICARD begins to deliver on the promise of Integrated Base Defense and all-domain data sharing." Novetta developed PICARD in response to the USAF's need for a platform that would integrate forces with intelligent systems to enable rapid decision-making across the full spectrum of defense operations.Taking an IoT approach to sensor fusion, Novetta created an open-architecture edge and cloud system that brings DevSecOps principles tonon-traditional operational technologies such as electronic security, control, and weapons systems. In this way, PICARD unlocks data otherwise trapped by disconnected, proprietary, and legacy environments and it delivers on the promise to provide actionable information to operators no matter where they are.



"It has been a pleasure seeing the partnership between our team and the Air Force yield truly transformative results," said Kevin Heald, Novetta Senior Vice President, Information Exploitation. "PICARD is a key part of a grander vision to contribute to the Air Force Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) and the DoD Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) initiatives." "We are proud to partner with the Air Force and the hard-working, innovative people at AF/A4S, LCMC/HBU, and SAF/CDM modernizing Security Forces capabilities and operations," said Steven Adelman, Novetta Senior Director, Sensor Fusion & IoT portfolio. "PICARD begins to deliver on the promise of Integrated Base Defense and all-domain data sharing. We look forward to continuing to evolve the platform and deliver for the career field and the Air Force."

About Novetta Novetta delivers scalable advanced analytic and technical solutions to address challenges of national and global significance. Focused on mission success, Novetta pioneers disruptive technologies in machine learning, data analytics, full-spectrum cyber, cloud engineering, open source analytics, and multi-INT fusion for Defense, Intelligence Community, and Federal Law Enforcement customers. Novetta is headquartered in McLean, VA with over 1300 employees across the U.S. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/air-force-adopts-novetta-developed-picard-for-base-defense-301354900.html SOURCE Novetta

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[August 13, 2021] Huawei supports Green School Bali with leading solar energy inverter

BALI, Indonesia, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Huawei has donated its award winning solar inverter to Green School Bali , the 'Greenest School on Earth,' and is helping the school to close the gaps in becoming a carbon positive campus and environmentally conscious community. Green School students helped to set up and install the inverter and solar panels at Green School, learning about renewable energy in the process. It's an example of how the school teaches subjects through hands-on projects applied to real-world circumstances, what they call R.E.A.L. Learning . Solar power is anticipated to become the No. 1 source of electricity by 2050[1]. As the major player in the industry, Huawei's contribution to Green School Bali will benefit hundreds of young learners aged 3-18, their parents, teachers and the entire community. "At Huawei, environmental protection is one of the four key strategies that drives our sustainable development, which echoes Green School Bali's vision. As part of our on-going effort to support local communities to be progressively dependent on renewable solar energy, we are pleased to support Green School Bali's carbon positive initiative by offering our smart solar solution", said Bruce Li, Managing Director of the Huawei Asia-Pacific (APAC) Enterprise Digital Power Business. As the global energy demand keeps rising, the Asia-Pacific region is one of the most potential markets for solar inverter business, Indonesia is looking into harnessing this green energy to meet its booming energy consumption, curb urban pollution and positively contribute to climate change. The Green School, opened in Bali, Indonesia, in 2008, is committed to educating for a sustainable world and nurturing future green leaders. "It's been a goal from the very beginning to have Green School run on, or as close to 100% renewable energy as possible. The inverter donation has helped us close in on that goal, reducing our C02 emissions by about 3.5 tonnes per month." John Hardy, the founder of Green School Bali explained, "We are very grateful for all our partners and generous sponsors to make this possible. The contribution from Huawei will surely inspire our children in their journey of living sustainably." Currently, the school's solar PV system is composed of 118 solar PV panels, a 72 kWh capacity lead acid battery bank and inverters. Anthony Vovers, Renewable Energy Advisor for Green School Bali also shared, "The inverter, which was kindly donated from Huawei, is really light-weight and compact. The installation process was a breeze and all the connections were easy to establish to the network. Moreover, the simple LED light indicates the operating status of the inverter at a glance." With the addition of Huawei's latest inverter SUN2000-10KTL-M0 which offers a maximum of 98.6% energy efficiency rate and lower cost of maintenance, the Green School Bali pushes new heights for sustainable and innovative organizations around the world. "As an organization, we are inspired and impressed by the progress which Green School Bali has achieved for the past years as a pioneer in establishing a sustainable institution." Bruce Li from Huawei added, "At Huawei, we strive to use clean and renewable energy to build green campuses that boast low carbon emissions. Our PV plants at Huawei's campuses have a combined capacity of 19.35 MW, and generated over 12 million kWh of electricity in 2020. This is equivalent to a reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of more than 5985 tons". Huawei's industry leading digital power serves one third of the world's population across more than 170 countries and regions. As one of the great examples, Green School Bali will yield a brighter and sustainable future, and light the way for future generations of environmentally responsible innovators.







[1] International Energy Agency (2014). "Technology Roadmap: Solar Photovoltaic Energy" (PDF). iea.org. IEA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 October 2014.

About Huawei Founded in 1987, Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. We have more than 197,000 employees, and we operate in more than 170 countries and regions, serving more than three billion people around the world. Our vision and mission is to bring digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world. To this end, we will drive ubiquitous connectivity and promote equal access to networks; bring cloud and artificial intelligence to all four corners of the earth to provide superior computing power where you need it, when you need it; build digital platforms to help all industries and organizations become more agile, efficient, and dynamic; redefine user experience with AI, making it more personalized for people in all aspects of their life, whether they're at home, in the office, or on the go. For more information, please visit Huawei online at www.huawei.com or follow us on: http://www.linkedin.com/company/Huawei

http://www.twitter.com/Huawei

http://www.facebook.com/Huawei

http://www.youtube.com/Huawei

SOURCE Huawei

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[August 13, 2021] Dot Inc. Named Winner of the XTC Global Final, a Social Innovation Startup Competition

SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dot Inc. , a social startup and certified B-corporation, was recently named the winner of TechCrunch's Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) , "the world's largest startup competition for entrepreneurs addressing the globe's most serious challenges"as per Forbes. Dot Inc., has been a member of the Born2Global Centre since 2020, and is a technology-based social venture that develops innovative solutions for people with disabilities, especially those who are visually impaired and mobility handicapped. XTC is an annually-held global competition between startups aimed at solving problems outlined in the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year, over 3,700 startups from 92 countries participated in the fierce competition for good. Dot Inc. took first in the preliminaries in "Enabling Technology", one of the seven categories of the competition, before advancing to the finals. The company eventually was named "Overall Winners" of the entire competition, along with Hillridge Technology from Australia. As consensus winners of XTC, Dot Inc. will receive direct guidance for global expansion from the internationally-acclaimed XTC judge panel. The XTC cohort includes: Jerr Yang, co-founder of Yahoo; Young Sohn, ex-CSO of Samsung Electronics and currently Chairman of the Board at Harman International; and Bill Tai of Charles River Ventures, an early investor of Zoom and other fast-growing startups.



Eric Ju Yoon Kim and Ki Kwang Sung, Dot Inc.'s founders, commented on the company's win, saying, "As a startup built on people-driven innovation, it is an honor and a blessing to be highlighted through this competition where startups from around the world are all working together to achieve causeworthy goals. We hope to use this win as inspiration and as a springboard to help Dot's accessible technology help people around the world live more fulfilled and independent lives." Dot Inc. first shocked the world with their "Dot Watch," the world's first Braille smartwatch, that found acclaim with global influencers like Stevie Wonder and Andrea Bocelli. Now, their impressive portfolio includes the "Dot Pad," a tactile pad aimed to help the visually impaired experience images through touch, and the "Dot Kiosk", barrier-free tech that includes a smart kiosk and an indoor navigation system for inclusive access to infrastructure for all people. All heights included, as the Kiosk boasts an auto-height adjustment function that uses camera sensors to raise and lower to the eye level of the user. They have stated that the Dot Kiosk system was designed so that Hellen Keller could access any part of the airport, museum, or building without any additional guidance.

It seems that the company's vision has struck the right chord at the right time, especially in a post-pandemic world that begs for more accessibility innovation and contactless services. So far, the company has attracted over 13M USD in external investments and boasts over 120 technology patents through innovative research and development. In June of 2021, the company was selected in a government project, led by the U.S. Dept. of Education, to be the exclusive supplier of tactile educational pads for the entire nation. As a key partner of the project, Dot Inc. received and signed a contract worth 30M USD for the exclusive supply of Dot's devices. Most recently, the company received international attention during a recent Korean presidential visit to Spain when President Moon Jae-in and First Lady Kim Jung-sook personally presented a Dot Watch to the ONCE Foundation, a national organization for the blind and visually-impaired in Spain. Dot Inc.'s top priority and mission is to close the information gap for the visually impaired, and to help them live more fulfilling and independent lives. Through the advancement of enabling tech, they wish to bring in a paradigm of inclusivity in all corners of the world. For more information about Dot Inc., visit https://www.dotincorp.com/ . Media Contact

Dot Inc.: ahrum@dotincorp.com (Korean), daniel@dotincorp.com (English)

Born2Global Centre: jlee@born2global.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dot-inc-named-winner-of-the-xtc-global-final-a-social-innovation-startup-competition-301354976.html SOURCE Born2Global Centre

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[August 13, 2021] YourMechanic Launches App to Bring Auto Repair Directly to Car Owners' Homes Nationwide

YourMechanic, the leading mobile auto repair provider, announces its consumer iOS and Android (News - Alert) app, enabling car owners to seamlessly order hundreds of warranty-backed auto repair and maintenance services right to their home driveways or office parking lots. The launch comes at a time when the car care provider seeks to simplify its user journey and efficiently meet surging demand from millions of customers who have come to rely on YourMechanic's mobile car repair in more than 3,000 cities nationwide during and after the pandemic. This year, strong consumer demand led to YourMechanic's highest quarterly consumer revenue to date in the company's ten year history. With repeat customers driving 40 percent of the business, the app was built in response to the needs of frequent users who seek to have full visibility and control over their cars' health and maintenance. The app's mindful, intuitive design aims to provide customers' with a complete 360 degree view of their car's health, history, and service requirements. The new app incorporates YourMechanic.com's most popular features, including transparent price quotes, instant repair scheduling, and deailed vehicle service reports. Through the app, users can see their technicians' eta; chat with mechanics prior to appointments; quickly act on time-sensitive car maintenance requirements; and track multiple vehicle's health. These features simultaneously serve to create a more frictionless user experience for mechanics who prefer to focus on auto repair rather than administrative tasks such as texting their estimated arrival time when they're en route to a customer appointment.



"We built the app for our regulars who use YourMechanic three to four times per year and want a faster way to manage their car care with one simple solution," said YourMechanic CEO Anthony Rodio. "With this launch, we're ten steps closer to making auto repair as easy as ordering pizza to your door." The app is available for free for Apple (News - Alert) and Android users today. The company will also continue providing service through its site YourMechanic.com for both desktop and mobile users.

About YourMechanic: YourMechanic is the leading nationwide automotive mobile maintenance and repair provider, operating in more than 3,000 cities and 7,000 zip codes across the U.S. The technology platform provides over 500 services directly at consumers' and fleets' locations. All services are backed by a 12-month/12,000-mile warranty guarantee, and a $1 million liability policy. Since 2011, YourMechanic has proudly served over 1.6 million vehicles and has earned a Net Promoter Score of 91. The company has raised over $41M in funding from Andreessen Horowitz, Verizon (News - Alert) Ventures, and former General Motors Co. chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner. Download the app on Android or Apple here. Access YourMechanic's app screen grabs and jpeg images here. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210813005040/en/

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[August 13, 2021] The Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology Study Examines Thin Film Surface Symmetries

GWANGJU, South Korea, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The renowned theoretical physicist Wolfgang Pauli once said: "God made the bulk; the surface was invented by the devil." What he probably meant by this statement is that the properties of materials at their surface or interface with other materials are challenging to understand and manipulate, especially in comparison with the properties of the bulk. Now, with the advent of nanotechnology and recent progress in thin film manufacturing, surface and interface properties offer a vast playground to engineer unprecedented functionalities and conduct physics research. Therefore, to take full advantage of thin films, it's important that we find innovate ways to characterize the crystallographic structures at the surface and interface of relevant materials. In a recent study published in Applied Surface Science, a team of scientists led by Associate Professor Jong Seok Lee from the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) in Korea reported a promising all-optical approach to analyze crystal structures in the bulk, interface, and surface of materials. The researchers employed their strategy to investigate thin films of SrRuO 3 , an interesting metal oxide widely used as an electrode and in oxide engineering. This study was carried out in collaboration with Seoul National University and the Institute for Basic Science, which are both in Korea. The study was made available online on March 19, 2021, and was published in Volume 553 of the journal on July 1,2021.



The technique employed is called optical second-harmonic generation (SHG). It is a non-contact and nondestructive optical method that involves shining a pulsed laser onto a material and measuring the generated second harmonic light, which have twice the frequency. The trick is that by carefully aligning the incident laser beam perpendicular to the material plane on a rotating platform, the generated second harmonic light will reveal information about the crystalline symmetries. By changing the thickness of the SrRuO 3 samples and their temperature, the scientists could suggest the structural phase diagram of the bulk, surface, and interface of the films. "Our findings may attract much attention in the condensed matter physics community not only for fully unveiling the structural symmetries of one of the most important transition metal oxides but also for providing a useful platform for the structural characterization of the surface and interface of thin films using purely optical techniques," remarks Prof. Lee. An important result is that it appears the crystallographic symmetries of the surface and interface, at least in SrRuO 3 , are closely related to the magnetic state and may even reorient the material's magnetic ordering. This opens up a possible avenue for realizing multifunctional devices. As Prof. Lee explains, "It may be possible to leverage the magnetic properties and symmetries at the interface and surface to design ultrathin nanodevices with many degrees of freedom or control parameters, which will be useful for applications such as healthcare patches, ultrathin quantum devices, sensors, and more."

Let us hope this work makes the surface of materials less difficult to investigate and easier to exploit! Reference

Title of original paper: Structural symmetry evolution in surface and interface of SrRuO 3 thin films

Journal: Applied Surface Science

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2021.149574

Corresponding author: Jong Seok Lee

Corresponding author's email: jsl@gist.ac.kr About the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) Website: http://www.gist.ac.kr/ Contact:

Seulhye Kim

82 62 715 6253

316479@email4pr.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-gwangju-institute-of-science-and-technology-study-examines-thin-film-surface-symmetries-301354324.html SOURCE Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology

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[August 13, 2021] Night Vision Devices Market to grow by USD 3.02 billion | Technavio

NEW YORK, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Technavio has been monitoring the night vision devices market and it is poised to grow by USD 3.02 billion during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of about 7% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Download Free Sample Report to Know More The market is concentrated, and the degree of concentration will accelerate during the forecast period. American Technologies Network Corp., ASELSAN AS, BAE Systems Plc, Elbit Systems Ltd., FLIR Systems Inc., L3Harris Technologies Inc., Raytheon Co., Thales Group, United Technologies Corp., and Vista Outdoor Inc. are some of the major market participants. Although the increased applications in military operations will offer immense growth opportunities, low adoption rates due to the high cost will challenge the growth of the market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Night Vision Devices Market 2020-2024: Segmentation Night Vision Devices Market is segmented as below: Type

Goggles



Cameras



Scopes



Others.

Geography

North America



APAC



Europe



South America



MEA. To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR41485 Related Reports on Information Technology Include:

Global Night Vision Scope Market - Global night vision scope market is segmented by End-user (Military and Civil) and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, MEA, and South America).

Download Exclusive Free Sample Report Global Radar Sensors Market - Global radar sensors market is segmented by application (automotive, aerospace and defense, industrial, and others) andproduct (non-imaging sensors and imaging sensors).





Download Exclusive Free Sample Report Night Vision Devices Market 2020-2024: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our night vision devices market report covers the following areas: Night Vision Devices Market size

Night Vision Devices Market trends

Night Vision Devices Market industry analysis This study identifies the increase in military expenditure as one of the prime reasons driving the night vision devices market growth during the next few years. Night Vision Devices Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the Night Vision Devices Market. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the Night Vision Devices Market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile, and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports.

Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Night Vision Devices Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist night vision devices market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the night vision devices market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the night vision devices market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of night vision devices market vendors Table Of Contents : Executive Summary Market Landscape Market ecosystem

Market characteristics Market Sizing Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2019

Market outlook: Forecast for 2019 - 2024 Five Forces Analysis Five forces summary

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition Market Segmentation by Application Market segments

Comparison by Application

Military - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Civil - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by Application Market Segmentation by Type Market segments

Comparison by Type

Goggles - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Cameras - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Scopes - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Others - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by Type Customer landscape Overview Geographic Landscape Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

North America - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

- Market size and forecast 2019-2024 APAC - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Europe - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

- Market size and forecast 2019-2024 South America - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

- Market size and forecast 2019-2024 MEA - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Key leading countries

Market opportunity by geography

Volume driver - Demand led growth

Volume driver - External factors

Market challenges

Market trends Vendor Landscape Overview

Landscape disruption Vendor Analysis Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

American Technologies Network Corp.

ASELSAN AS

BAE Systems Plc

Elbit Systems Ltd.

FLIR Systems Inc.

L3Harris Technologies Inc.

Raytheon Co.

Thales Group

United Technologies Corp.

Vista Outdoor Inc. Appendix Scope of the report

Currency conversion rates for US$

Research methodology

List of abbreviations About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

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Email: media@technavio.com

Website: www.technavio.com/

Report: www.technavio.com/report/night-vision-devices-market-industry-analysis View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/night-vision-devices-market-to-grow-by-usd-3-02-billion--technavio-301354888.html SOURCE Technavio

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[August 13, 2021] Masterminds of Hip Hop, the First NFT Collection Celebrating the Original Pioneers of Hip Hop Music

Masterminds of Hip Hop, the first NFT (non-fungible tokens) collection celebrating the original pioneers of hip hop music, sets exclusive global launch on TOKAU, a leading platform which allows celebrities and influencers to engage with their fans using blockchain NFT technology. Curated by Russell Simmons, founder of Def Jam Records and music icon Snoop Dogg, the collection will feature never-before-heard or seen recordings and artwork from rap pioneers including Chuck D of Public Enemy, Big Daddy Kane, MC Lyte, Nikki D, Doug E. Fresh, DJ Hollywood, Grandmaster Caz, Busy Bee, Eddie Cheeba and more, music artists who helped create and shape the multi-billion dollar industry it is today. "I often think of the early days of pre-recorded hip hop when it was only a performance art. There were rappers and DJs who pioneered the space and made it so popular that the recording of rap artists was eminent. None of them has received the accolades that I believe they deserve and this is my chance to use a new vehicle to revisit and repay these amazing artists while they are still living," says Russell Simmons. "Masterminds of Hip Hop aims to give credit back to the founding fathers of the cultural movement." "We are super excited to partner withRussell to create this one-of-a-kind NFT collection and recognize the founding fathers of Hip Hop," says Miranda Tan, TOKAU, spokesperson and COO. "Our goal is to give credit back to the original artists and help them capture the value of their art and accomplishments."



Russell Simmons and Snoop Dogg will work alongside the TOKAU team on signing music artists who helped create Hip Hop culture and defined Hip Hop music over the years. Masterminds of Hip Hop will be a collector's series broken into two phases: Pre-Recorded and Early Recording, releasing a total of forty exclusive NFTs. Each NFT will be a special collectible that is co-designed and co-curated by Russell Simmons and Snoop Dogg, the artist and the TOKUA team, capturing a piece of Hip Hop history that offers captivating storytelling as told by the artist themselves. Together, the entire Masterminds of Hip Hop collection will present a powerful and emotional experience, one which showcases the origins of Hip Hop music since its humble beginnings to eventually becoming the most powerful influence in the global musical culture today.

In addition, TOKAU's exclusive partnership with Paybby, the leading digital bank for the underserved community, will allow fans to purchase their NFTs using a credit card while payments using crypto-currency will be made available via www.tokau.io. The Masterminds of Hip Hop NFT Collection will be available for preview starting August 14th and on sale August 31, 2021. About Tokau Tokau is the first global platform focused on Celebrity and Influencer interactions with their fans using blockchain NFT technology. Tokau has offices in Tokyo, Beijing and US. To learn more about Tokau, please visit Tokau.io. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210813005269/en/

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[August 13, 2021] AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of China BOCOM Insurance Company Limited

AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "a-" (Excellent) of China BOCOM Insurance Company Limited (CBIC) (Hong Kong). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect CBIC's balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. The ratings also reflect the wide range of support that the company receives as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. (BOCOM), a large state-owned banking group in China. CBIC's risk-adjusted capitalisation remained at the strongest level in 2020, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Positive investment results remained the key driver of overall earnings in 2020, although its performance was dragged partially by some bond impairment losses. The company plans to diversify its investment portfolio into equity funds. CBIC's loss ratio remains lower than the market average, despite a rise in 2020 due to less favourable claims experience in some inward reinsurance business. The company expected that the situation will improve following the elimination of some Employees' Compensation inward reinsurance business in 2020. CBIC maintains a small underwriting portfolio in Hong Kong's non-life market, and receives support from BOCOM in terms of distribution, brand recognition, investment, risk management, operations and capital. Offsetting rating factors include the continued above-average exposure and concentration risk in higher-risk assets including private equity, which generally entail less transparency and higher liquidity nd credit risks. The company also has a relatively high reinsurance dependence.



While positive rating actions are unlikely to occur over the near term, negative rating actions could occur if there is a substantial decline in CBIC's risk-adjusted capitalisation; a material deterioration in its operating performance; notably weaker support from BOCOM; or if the parent bank's credit fundamentals deteriorate materially. Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's 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 Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best's Credit Ratings, Best's Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best's 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/20210813005285/en/

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[August 13, 2021] Galileo School for Gifted Learning Partners With Building Hope to Open Second Campus in Sanford, Fla.

Building Hope, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing unparalleled facilities, financing and services to charter schools, so more students have access to quality K-12 education nationwide, announced that its school partner - Galileo School for Gifted Learning Skyway Campus - opened for students' first day of school this week. The Skyway Campus is serving students in grades pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. This is the second Galileo School campus in the Sanford area. The first, Riverbend Campus, was also developed by Building Hope and opened its doors to students in 2011. Today, it is a K-8 Florida Department of Education-certified High-Performing Charter School. The Riverbend Campus serves nearly 600 students in grades kindergarten through 8th grade. Building Hope completed the project on time, from inception to execution, despite challenges presented by the pandemic. This brand-new Skyway campus is serving more than 750 students and includes a small farm to support its pre-veterinarian program - a unique example of the Galileo School's commitment to innovative curriculum. "The farm at our Skyway Campus is a wonderful example of our 'passionate interests' guiding principle," said Skyway Principal and CEO Michelle Nunez. "e are dedicated to helping students find and nurture their interests at an early age because research proves that is one of the best ways to develop a lasting interest and hunger for knowledge and learning. We appreciate Building Hope's incredible efforts to pull the project through and help us occupy this beautiful building. We love it!"



Building Hope Services President Richard Moreno underscores the key impact of the new facility, "Galileo's Skyway Campus will build on Riverbend's success and provide even more students in central Florida with access to an innovative, top-quality education." In addition to the support provided during building and development, Building Hope also helped both Galileo School campuses acquire and install air purifiers throughout their facilities. Through Building Hope's purchasing program, Galileo School was able to purchase affordable technology that safely destroys 99 percent of common surface and airborne contaminates, including the virus that causes Covid-19.

"We're so excited to help create a safer space for students and staff members in this beautiful new facility for the 2021-2022 academic year," said Building Hope's Program Coordinator Macarria Stovall. To learn more about Building Hope, its partner schools, and its services, including the air purifier purchasing program, visit http://buildinghope.org. About Building Hope Building Hope is a non-profit foundation created to support education and public charter schools. Since 2003, Building Hope's purpose has been to identify and finance viable facilities so that all students have access to a quality K-12 education. Building Hope has grown the capacity of charter schools nationwide by providing facilities, financial, and operational services so that schools can focus on and devote more resources to educating students in underserved communities. Building Hope has supported 300 charter school projects and 150,000 students in 20 states and the District of Columbia, by providing more than $363 million in direct loans, credit enhancements, and equity investments to support $1.9 billion in school construction. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210813005310/en/

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[August 13, 2021] ALYI CEO Completes EV Pilot Waypoint In Nairobi And Addis Ababa

Dallas, TX, Aug. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alternet Systems, Inc. (OTC Pink: ALYI) (ALYI) CEO Dr. Randell Torno is back in Dallas after waypoint meetings in Nairobi managing the companys ongoing Electric Vehicle Pilot Program. Dr. Torno also visited Addis Ababa in conjunction with an anticipated expansion of the pilot into Ethiopia. The EV pilot is being conducted in conjunction with the 2,000 electric motorcycle order, the fulfillment of which is being finalized with results from the pilot. ALYI has seeded a comprehensive EV ecosystem solution with the development of its own EV motorcycle business. ALYI has recently initiated an Electric Motorcycle pilot program in Kenya which is already generating results expected to set ALYIs EV business apart from the competition. Instead of introducing a single EV product, ALYIs business focus is on the introduction of an EV ecosystem that addresses the entire EV adoption environment from the perpetual design of best in class vehicles to the perpetual design of the myriad of mechanical and digital systems that go into a best in class vehicle; from the charging and maintenance infrastructure that goes into supporting consumer and commercial vehicles, to the EV value proposition itself that drives consumers and businesses to transition from combustion engines to electric powered vehicles. Ultimately, ALYI does not intend to go it alone on the overall development and rollout of its EV Ecosystem. ALYI is building a core element into its ecosystem that attracts, if not compels the participation of all would be brand name EV industry leaders in an annual EV symposium and conference. The EV symposium and conference will be anchored by an EV race event in Kenya that comes with a substantial brand name. The EV race market was valued in 2019 at over $80 billion dollars and is anticipated to grow to over $200 billion by 2025 .



ALYIs EV ecosystem is founded on building participation in an EV race event as a central component in advancing EV technology and EV branding. ALYI has been developing a partnership with a major EV racing brand for more than two years now. Over a year ago, ALYI entered into a formal partnership agreement that includes that EV racing brand. The first milestone objectives contemplated under the agreement have been achieved and the next steps are imminent. ALYI expects the next steps to include naming the EV racing brand at which time, ALYI management anticipates ALYIs overall visibility within the global EV market to be substantially elevated.

The objective of the EV symposium and conference anchored by an EV race is to advance EV technology by building EV solutions for the African market  a power constrained, rugged environment with one of the lowest per capita transportation deployments in the world. EV solutions for the African market will be applicable the world around. EV solutions designed and built in Africa also contribute to building an autonomous African economy. ALYI has designed its EV ecosystem solution to include democratized participation. ALYI has partnered with RevoltTOKEN to finance ALYIs growth by offering participation in the EV ecosystem through the sale of Revolt Tokens. To learn more about RevoltTOKEN and how to participate in ALYIs electric vehicle ecosystem through the purchase of Revolt Tokens, visit https://rvlttoken.com/ . ALYI plans to make a major announcement later this month regarding the EV race that management expects will garner substantial attention to ALYIs overall EV Ecosystem strategy. After completing and publishing the Companys upcoming Q2 financial report, Dr. Torno plans to report further details on his recent EV pilot waypoint meetings in Nairobi. For more information and to stay up to date on ALYI's overall latest developments, please visit www.alternetsystemsinc.com .



Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that any of the companies mentioned herein will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the companies' contracts, the companies' liquidity position, the companies' ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur.



For more information, please visit: http://www.alternetsystemsinc.com

Alternet Systems, Inc. Contact:

Randell Torno

info@lithiumip.com

+1-800-713-0297 Attachment $ALYI - Alternet Systems, Inc.



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[August 13, 2021] The Inaugural OPPOHack Global Innovation Competition to Announce Outstanding Winners

The final round of the inaugural OPPOHack Global Innovation Competition will finally be broadcasting on the 14th and 15th of August. After two months of collecting and screening tech innovation projects, 11 teams of innovators will enter the final round and compete for cash prizes in a roadshow based on the theme of "Sensation and Perception". Invited to select the winners are ten renowned software and hardware industry experts, university professors, and specialists from OPPO and Silicon Valley. OPPO has also invited global venture capital firm Red Thread Ventures, Canada Research Chair in Autonomous Systems Director of Autonomous Systems Lab Associate Professor Stephen L. Smith, and Vivian Chan, Global Head of Digital Sales at rising North American startup, NextTech AR Solutions, to share cutting-edge ideas with the young entrepreneurs. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210813005138/en/ OPPOHack Event Schedule (Graphic: Businss Wire)



OPPO is committed to encouraging the pursuit of beauty, imagination, and humanity through technology. The OPPOHack Global Innovation Competition is an initiative organized by OPPO to stimulate entrepreneurs, technology enthusiasts, and scientific experts to come together, share different ideas, and innovate new solutions to better meet people's needs.

Hosted by OPPO alongside partner HackHub, the OPPOHack Global Innovation Competition is focused on the three sub-themes of Connected Car System, Immersive Experience (AR/VR & Gaming), and Robotics. The new theme of "Software and Hardware Applications" was also added in July to build an international platform for entrepreneurship and next-generation innovation. In total, the competition received over 60 fantastic entries covering various technology fields such as Artificial Intelligence, AR/VR, IoT, Brain-Computer Interface, Games from over 500 innovators across more than 20 countries and regions, including China, the USA, Canada, UK, Singapore, Brazil, Nepal, Zimbabwe, India, and Congo. As a global technology company promoting continuous technological innovation, OPPO has an R&D team of over 10,000 people across 6 Research Institutes and 5 R&D Centers worldwide. OPPO operates according to a two-part strategy: pool world-class talent and building local innovation platforms. OPPO hopes to fulfill its social responsibility as a technology company through OPPOHack Global Innovation Competition and continue to work with international investment firms, university research institutes, entrepreneurs, and industry experts to promote the exchange and integration of innovative technology research and development by providing a platform for global start-ups to learn and grow. In the future, this platform will also be responsible for inviting more entrepreneurs to work with OPPO to enrich the development of the technology ecosystem. OPPO will continue to run the OPPOHack Global Innovation Competition and similar networking events to expand the company's resources for innovation projects, co-investment opportunities, and talent recruitment channels. These efforts act to demonstrate the company's technological impact in a host of diverse ways and formats. A limited number of free tickets are now available. To learn more, please visit the official event page at oppohack.com, register, and use the official benefit code OPPOHack21 to access the live stream of the finals. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210813005138/en/

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[August 13, 2021] Miami-area High School Seniors Receive More Than $100,000 Total in University Scholarships From MONAT Gratitude

MONAT Gratitude, Inc., the philanthropic movement behind MONAT Global Corp (MONAT), is providing four South Florida seniors from William H. Turner Technical Arts High School with more than $25,000 per student towards four-year scholarships to help cover tuition costs at universities across Florida. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210813005335/en/ MONAT Gratitude, Inc. is providing four South Florida seniors from William H. Turner Technical Arts High School with more than $25,000 per student towards four-year scholarships to help cover tuition costs at universities across Florida. (Photo: Business Wire) The scholarship recipients all participated in the School to Work mentoring program at MONAT Global in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami (BBBSM). The program pairs at-risk youth (Littles) with adult mentors (Bigs) at corporate partner sites to help expose the youth to actual workforce culture and a variety of different career paths. The School to Work program is one of many efforts BBBSM implements to help develop students into future leaders, strengthen families and build a supportive community in South Florida. At the conclusion of this year's program, MONAT Gratitude launched the annual scholarship application to support our high school seniors in their pursuit of higher education. The recipients include:



Anaissa Pierre: Florida International University to study Psychology

Nashley Campfort: Florida Atlantic University to pursue Pharmacy studies

Gaetjensson Fancilien: Miami-Dade College to pursue a degree in Business

Jimaya Wright: Florida State University to study Architecture "It has been such an amazing experience to serve as mentors for these students and watch them develop into amazing young adults who want to advance their education beyond high school," said Lu Urdaneta, MONAT Gratitude CEO. "I'm honored that MONAT has been able to provide scholarships for these students to pursue their aspirations for higher education." "I'm going to be the first person from my family to go to university straight out of high school," said future FIU student and scholarship recipient Anaissa Pierre. "I want to study psychology with the hopes of building a future where I can become a foster mom, help take kids out of abusive homes, and MONAT has given me the opportunity to pursue this passion."

Big Brothers Big Sisters Miami President and CEO, Gale Nelson, was on site when the students were surprised with the scholarships. "It is refreshing to partner with an organization rooted and grounded in gratitude," said Nelson. "MONAT's investment to Miami's youth will have a big impact on their lives." MONAT Global began partnering with BBBSM in 2018 as part of MONAT Gratitude's commitment to supporting children, education and families. In 2020, MONAT Gratitude donated $3.8 million to nonprofit organizations serving these focus areas. About MONAT Gratitude, Inc. MONAT Gratitude, Inc. has been an integral piece of the MONAT company culture since its inception in 2014. MONAT Gratitude, Inc. partners with innovative nonprofit organizations in its local communities that support efforts under its three pillars: families, children and education. As a movement, MONAT Gratitude, Inc. believes in the power of creating conversations and inspiring a greater network to take action. Due to the passion of our MONAT Market Partners and commitment to making gratitude a part of our business, what started as a series of grassroots volunteering efforts in Miami has spread across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Poland and Ireland. About MONAT Global MONAT Global is an international healthy aging haircare, skincare and wellness brand founded to help people everywhere enjoy beautiful, healthy, fulfilling lives through exceptional, naturally based products; a fun and rewarding business opportunity; and a culture of family, service, and gratitude. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Miami, Florida, MONAT provides groundbreaking opportunities through a novel Social Marketing approach to Direct Sales. MONAT's product development is led by Chief Science Officer Alan J. Meyers and supported by a Scientific Advisory Board comprised of eminent professionals in medicine, cosmetics, haircare, science and health. MONAT offers a unique and exciting business model and one of the most generous compensation plans in the U.S., Canadian, U.K., Irish and Polish markets. About Big Brothers Big Sisters Miami Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami has served the Miami community since 1958. This premier nonprofit mentoring organization champions hope, transformation and social good to defend the potential of children who need it the most. Big Brothers Big Sisters' goal is to match at-risk youth (Littles) with professionally supported adult mentors (Bigs) to develop future leaders, strengthen families and create a supportive community in Miami. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210813005335/en/

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[August 13, 2021] Investor Alert: Cryptlogger

Be an informed investor - don't be fooled by fraudsters misrepresenting themselves TORONTO, Aug. 13, 2021 /CNW/ - The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) is warning Canadian investors that Cryptlogger is not regulated by IIROC. Through their website https://cryptlogger.com, the company falsely claims to be an IIROC-regulated crypto-asset management and investment company. IIROC-regulated investment firms and individuals must meet our high standards and deal fairly, honestly and in good faith with Canadian investors. We urge Canadian investors to exercise caution when dealing with non-IIROC-regulated firms. Certain crypto assets have generated a lot of hype. All investors must be informed and ask themselves important questions before purchasing higher-risk investment products that do not trade on stock exchanges. Investors should know that crypto-asset trading platforms, even if they call themselves an exchange, are not the same as regulated marketplaces and may be missing key investor protections. IIROC is working with the Canadian Securiies Administrators to ensure that the regulation of crypto-asset trading platforms is flexible and facilitates innovation but also upholds our mandate for investor protection and market integrity.



Investors can confirm investment firms are IIROC-regulated. Investors can also check the background, qualifications and any disciplinary history of investment advisors registered with IIROC by checking the free IIROC AdvisorReport.

The Canadian Securities Administrators provide investor alerts. *** About IIROC: IIROC is the pan-Canadian self-regulatory organization that oversees all investment dealers and their trading activity in Canada's debt and equity markets. IIROC sets high quality regulatory and investment industry standards, protects investors and strengthens market integrity while supporting healthy Canadian capital markets. IIROC carries out its regulatory responsibilities through setting and enforcing rules regarding the proficiency, business and financial conduct of 175 Canadian investment dealer firms of varying sizes and business models, and their more than 30,000 registered employees. IIROC also sets and enforces market integrity rules regarding trading activity on Canadian debt and equity marketplaces. SOURCE Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) - General News

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[August 13, 2021] Building Hope Opens Brand New School in August: Compass Rose Journey Windcrest, Texas

Building Hope, a non-profit organization dedicated to identifying and financing viable charter school facilities, so all students have access to a quality K-12 education, today announced the opening of its partner school - Compass (News - Alert) Rose Journey - in Windcrest, Texas. The campus will serve nearly 600 students when the 2021-2022 academic year begins on Aug. 16. "This brand new, highly customized facility would not be possible without the welcoming community support in Windcrest, the schools' dedicated leadership, and their collaboration with Building Hope's committed team," said Building Hope's Vice President of Real Estate Development Jerry Zayets. "This is the second San Antonio-area school Building Hope has partnered with, and we are thrilled for the opportunities these campuses will offer local students and communities." Compass Rose Journey will serve students in kindergarten through 6th grade. The school's curriculum is focused on public health, introducing students at an early age to a high-demand field. Students and their families, school leaders and community partners will benefit from the building's completion just nine months after breaking ground and will gather on Sept. 23, to celebrate the achievement. With Building Hope's guidance through the due diligence, permitting, esign, and building processes, the project is coming in nearly half a million dollars under budget. This has allowed the school to add a 5,000-square-foot outdoor learning environment that models the geographical regions in Texas.



"This outdoor learning environment will be a game-changer for Compass Rose Journey's students," said Brady Hutchins, who is a regional construction manager for Building Hope. "The space will encourage kids to talk, move, and learn together in a setting they love - the outdoors." Compass Rose Journey Founding Principal Brittany Thompson said the school's teachers and staff members are excitedly preparing their new classrooms to welcome students. "Our goal is to give students opportunities to engage in nature-based, place-based, and hands-on learning in both indoor and outdoor classrooms. We want them to be prepared to play important roles in contributing to better and healthier self, community, and world."

For more information about how Building Hope helps charter schools nationwide with facilities, financing, and operational services, visit www.buildinghope.org. About Building Hope Building Hope is a non-profit foundation created to support education and public charter schools. Since 2003, Building Hope's purpose has been to identify and finance viable facilities so that all students have access to a quality K-12 education. Building Hope has grown the capacity of charter schools nationwide by providing facilities, financial, and operational services so that schools can focus on and devote more resources to educating students in underserved communities. Building Hope has supported 300 charter school projects and 150,000 students in 20 states and the District of Columbia, by providing more than $363 million in direct loans, credit enhancements, and equity investments to support $1.9 billion in school construction. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210813005305/en/

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[August 13, 2021] Melanie Joly announces $593,880 in Government of Canada support for the Centre d'innovation en microelectronique du Quebec

The Sainte-Therese organization will be better able to meet the needs of the businesses it serves and improve their capacity for innovation. SAINTE-THERESE, QC, Aug. 13, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) The Greater Montreal region counts several dynamic businesses and organizations with innovative ideas helping to create a strong local economic fabric. Some organizations have succeeded in adapting to the pandemic and are prospering, while others have had to reduce their operations. Today, as we plan for the economic recovery, they need support now more than ever to ensure their communities remain robust. The Government of Canada has committed to assisting them as they pursue their activities and to fostering their growth and success. With this in mind, the Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for CED, today announced $593,880 in financial support for the Centre d'innovation en microelectronique du Quebec (CIMEQ). This college centre for technology transfer affiliated with the College Lionel-Groulx mentors businesses through their applied research and innovation projects in microelectronics (printed electronic circuits). The non-repayable contribution will enable it to acquire cutting-edge technological equipment and will lead to the creation of three jobs. The Government of Canada recognizes and supports innovative businesses and organizations that are a source of pride in their communities. Quebec's economic recovery relies, among other things, on organizations tat are well grounded in the regional economy. Innovation is a major contributor to growth, as well as a key asset in rebuilding a stronger, more resilient, and more just economy for all.



Quote "Helping businesses grow and innovate so they can enhance their competitiveness and create good-quality jobs is at the core of our priorities. That is why we are providing our support to CIMEQ, an organization whose success is raising the profile not just of the Greater Montreal region but of the entire Canadian economy. We are here to assist workers and Quebec and Canadian SMEs in these difficult times; we are helping them equip themselves with what they need so that, together, we can rebuild a stronger, more resilient, and more sustainable economy."

The Honourable Melanie Joly, Member of Parliament for Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for CED Quick facts Funds have been granted under CED's Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program. This program targets entrepreneurs leveraging innovation to grow their businesses and enhance their competitiveness, as well as regional economic stakeholders helping to create an entrepreneurial environment conducive to innovation and growth for all, across all regions. A successful economic recovery will depend, among other things, on the vaccination of as many Canadians as possible. To learn more: Vaccines for COVID-19. CED is a key federal partner in Quebec's regional economic development. With its 12 regional business offices, CED accompanies businesses, supporting organizations and all regions across Quebec into tomorrow's economy. Associated links Budget 2021: A Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience

Canada's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan

COVID-19 Economic Response Plan Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Stay connected Follow CED on social media

Consult CED's news SOURCE Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

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[August 13, 2021] Anexinet Continues Their Strategic Expansion Plans By Acquiring Light Networks

Anexinet Corporation, a leading provider of digital business solutions, and a Mill Point Capital LLC portfolio company, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Light Networks. The acquisition will allow Anexinet to leverage its Artificial Intelligence (AI), process automation, and strong digital solutions alongside Light Networks' Unified Communications (News - Alert) as a Service (UCaaS), Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS), and network/telecom solutions to elevate digital interactions for their customers, employees, and partners. "The acquisition of Light Networks, following our acquisition of SereneIT in Atlanta, demonstrates Anexinet's rapid growth trajectory and commitment to best-of-breed, innovative solutions for our clients," said Brian Glahn, CEO, Anexinet. "The company's engineering-led approach will expand Anexinet's portfolio with unique voice, video, and collaboration capabilities, while also significantly adding depth to our networking abilities with Cisco (News - Alert) engineering expertise." "Cisco is very excited about Anexinet's acquisition of our Atlanta-based Premier Partner, Light Networks. We believe this growth strategy with Light Networks will generate substantial synergies as a Cisco market influencer adding fast-track value creation for our joint customers," said John Moses, VP Sales, Cisco. Light Networks' specific customer experience and workplace modernization solutions are complemntary to Anexinet's core solutions. Founded in 2006 by Robby Paul and Bill Gregory, privately-held Light Networks is currently headquartered in Atlanta, GA, and will expand Anexinet's footprint in the U.S. Southeast.



"Anexinet's methodology and client-first culture is perfectly aligned with our culture, making them an ideal partner," said Robby Paul, co-Founder, Light Networks. "We are excited to combine our contact center and collaboration expertise with Anexinet's digital transformation and automation/AI capabilities. We believe the combined practices, will continue to improve how our clients can effectively engage with their customers, to ultimately drive growth and optimize costs." "Light Networks builds contact centers; Anexinet provides broader digital transformation solutions," said Michael Perdue, Anexinet Chairman of the Board and Mill Point Capital Executive Partner. "This makes an ideal union, strengthened by the fact that both companies have teams of client-focused technology leaders with a history of surpassing client expectations and loyalty."

Follow Anexinet on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, or via the Anexinet Insights Blog. About Light Networks Light Networks enables clients to seamlessly communicate with their customers. Pulling from a wide range of cloud and premises-based platforms, providers, and technologies, the company's team of skilled consultants and engineers match the ideal telecommunications solution to each business. In addition, the company designs and manages complex telecommunications networks including omnichannel communications, cloud-based voice, and contact center applications. About Mill Point Capital Mill Point Capital LLC is a private equity firm focused on control investments in lower-middle market companies in North America across the industrials, business services and IT services sectors. Mill Point's experienced team of investors and Executive Partners seek portfolio company value enhancement through rigorous implementation of transformative strategic initiatives and operational improvements. Mill Point is based in New York, NY. For more information, please visit www.millpoint.com. About Anexinet From intelligent, full-stack engagement strategies and solutions to modern, secure infrastructure products and services, Anexinet focuses on technology-enabled business transformation that drives value. For over two decades, Anexinet has helped companies worldwide solve their most complex challenges-from engaging front-end interactions to dependable back-end solutions. Anexinet's record of client success springs from a culture rooted in thought leadership and delivery excellence. For more information, please visit www.anexinet.com or follow Anexinet on Twitter (News - Alert) or LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210813005364/en/

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[August 13, 2021] ALYI CEO Prepares Report On EV Pilot Waypoint In Nairobi And Addis Ababa

DALLAS, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Alternet Systems, Inc. (USOTC: ALYI) ("ALYI") CEO Dr. Randell Torno is back in Dallas after waypoint meetings in Nairobi managing the company's ongoing Electric Vehicle Pilot Program. Dr. Torno also visited Addis Ababa in conjunction with an anticipated expansion of the pilot into Ethiopia. The EV pilot is being conducted in conjunction with the 2,000 electric motorcycle order, the fulfillment of which is being finalized with results from the pilot. ALYI has seeded a comprehensive EV ecosystem solution with the development of its own EV motorcycle business. ALYI has recently initiated an Electric Motorcycle pilot program in Kenya which is already generating results expected to set ALYI's EV business apart from the competition. Instead of introducing a single EV product, ALYI's business focus is on the introduction of an EV ecosystem that addresses the entire EV adoption environment from the perpetual design of best in class vehicles to the perpetual design of the myriad of mechanical and digital systems that go into a best in class vehicle; from the charging and maintenance infrastructure that goes into supporting consumer and commercial vehicles, to the EV value proposition itself that drives consumers and businesses to transition from combustion engines to electric powered vehicles. Ultimately, ALYI does not intend to go it alone on the overall development and rollout of its EV Ecosystem. ALYI is building a core element into its ecosystem that attracts, if not compels the participation of all would be brand name EV industry leaders in an annual EV symposium and conference. The EV symposium and conference will be anchored by an EV race event in Kenya that comes with a substantial brand name. The EV race market was valued in 2019 at over $80 billion dollars and is anticipated to grow to over $200 billion by 2025.



ALYI's EV ecosystem is founded on building participation in an EV race event as a central component in advancing EV technology and EV branding. ALYI has been developing a partnership with a major EV racing brand for more than two years now. Over a year ago, ALYI entered into a formal partnership agreement that includes that EV racing brand. The first milestone objectives contemplated under the agreement have been achieved and the next steps are imminent. ALYI expects the next steps to include naming the EV racing brand at which time, ALYI management anticipates ALYI's overall visibility within the global EV market to be substantially elevated.

The objective of the EV symposium and conference anchored by an EV race is to advance EV technology by building EV solutions for the African market  a power constrained, rugged environment with one of the lowest per capita transportation deployments in the world. EV solutions for the African market will be applicable the world around. EV solutions designed and built in Africa also contribute to building an autonomous African economy. ALYI has designed its EV ecosystem solution to include democratized participation. ALYI has partnered with ReovltTOKEN to finance ALYI's growth by offering participation in the EV ecosystem through the sale of Revolt Tokens. To learn more about RevoltTOKEN and how to participate in ALYI's electric vehicle ecosystem through the purchase of Revolt Tokens, visit https://rvlttoken.com/. ALYI plans to make a major announcement later this month regarding the EV race that management expects will garner substantial attention to ALYI's overall EV Ecosystem strategy. After completing and publishing the Company's upcoming Q2 financial report, Dr. Torno plans to report further details on his recent EV pilot waypoint meetings in Nairobi. For more information and to stay up to date on ALYI's overall latest developments, please visit www.alternetsystemsinc.com .



Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that any of the companies mentioned herein will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the companies' contracts, the companies' liquidity position, the companies' ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur.



For more information, please visit: http://www.alternetsystemsinc.com Alternet Systems, Inc. Contact:

Randell Torno

info@lithiumip.com

+1-800-713-0297 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alyi-ceo-prepares-report-on-ev-pilot-waypoint-in-nairobi-and-addis-ababa-301355196.html SOURCE Alternet Systems, Inc.

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[August 13, 2021] AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and Most of Its Subsidiaries

AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A++ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of "aa+" (Superior) of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm Mutual) and its affiliates, State Farm Fire and Casualty Company and State Farm County Mutual Insurance Company of Texas ( Richardson (News - Alert) , TX). In addition, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR of "a-" (Excellent) of State Farm Florida Insurance Company (State Farm Florida) (Winter Haven, FL). AM Best also has affirmed the FSR of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR of "a" (Excellent) of State Farm General Insurance Company (State Farm General). Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A++ (Superior) and the Long-Term ICRs of "aa+" (Superior) of State Farm Life Insurance Company and State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company (together referred to as State Farm Life). At the same time, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR of "a" (Excellent) of State Farm Lloyds (Richardson, TX). AM Best also has affirmed the FSR of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR of "a-" (Excellent) of MGA Insurance Company, Inc. (MGA) (Dallas, TX). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. Additionally, AM Best has revised the outlooks to negative from stable and affirmed the FSR of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR of "a" (Excellent) of Dover Bay Specialty Insurance Company (Dover Bay). AM Best also has upgraded the FSR to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR to "a" (Excellent) from "a-" (Excellent) of HiRoad Assurance Company (HiRoad). The outlook of these ratings is stable. Lastly, AM Best has upgraded the FSR to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR to "a" (Excellent) from "a-" (Excellent) of State Farm Indemnity Company (State Farm Indemnity). The outlook of these ratings has been revised to stable from positive. All companies are headquartered in Bloomington, IL, except where specified. The ratings of State Farm Mutual reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, very favorable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). Additionally, the ratings reflect State Farm's sustained net income and internal capital generation despite challenging market conditions in recent years, and AM Best's expectation that the company will continue to generate solid earnings and maintain excellent risk-adjusted capitalization in the face of the current high state of economic uncertainty in the United States. State Farm Mutual, together with its subsidiary and affiliated property/casualty and life insurance companies, comprise the largest personal lines insurance organization in the United States based on direct premiums written and the second largest in terms of policyholders' surplus. The State Farm group remains the leading provider of private passenger automobile and homeowners insurance in the United States. The organization's personal lines products are complemented by other lines of business such as commercial multiperil, commercial auto liability, workers' compensation and several other lines. The ratings of the subsidiaries and affiliates of State Farm Mutual benefit from shared services, common management, cross selling of products and services, common distribution and brand name recognition. These positive rating aspects are offset in part by the State Farm group's underwriting variability, above-average exposure to equity market volatility and susceptibility to weather-related catastrophes.



The ratings of State Farm Florida reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as adequate, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings also reflect lift, as defined within Best's Credit Rating Methodology (BCRM), from its parent, State Farm Mutual. The ratings of State Farm General reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings also reflect lift, as defined within BCRM, from its parent, State Farm Mutual.

The ratings of State Farm Life reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, favorable business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings also reflect lift, as defined within BCRM, from its parent, State Farm Mutual. Additionally, the ratings of State Farm Life benefit from strong brand-name recognition, sustained competitive advantages derived from an exclusive contractor agency field force, and a diverse product portfolio of individual ordinary life and fixed annuity products. Furthermore, State Farm Life finances its statutorily required excess reserves (Regulation XXX) related to term life insurance through capital rather than externally through either domestic captives or offshore reinsurers. The amount of these excess reserves is sizeable and viewed favorably by AM Best, as it qualitatively enhances the group's strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Partially offsetting rating factors are ongoing spread compression within its annuity block and exposure to life business with significant minimum guarantee rates. The ratings of State Farm Lloyds reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings of MGA reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings of Dover Bay reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings also reflect lift, as defined within BCRM, from its parent, State Farm Mutual. The negative outlooks reflect concerns around underwriting and operating profitability as the company writes mainly in a catastrophe-exposed area that saw elevated losses in 2020. The ratings of HiRoad reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings also reflect lift, as defined within BCRM, from its parent, State Farm Mutual. The rating actions follow implementation of a 100% quota share automobile reinsurance contract with State Farm Mutual, beginning in 2021. The ratings of State Farm Indemnity reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM. The rating upgrades reflect improved underwriting and operating performance trends in recent years. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's 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 Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best's Credit Ratings, Best's Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best's Ratings & Assessments. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing 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/20210813005387/en/

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[August 13, 2021] Apollo Healthcare Corp. Reports Second Quarter of 2021 Results

Apollo Healthcare Corp. (TSX: AHC, OTC QX: AHCCF) ("Apollo" or the "Company") today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021. The Company's unaudited interim financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, as well as its accompanying management discussion and analysis (MD&A) have been filed on SEDAR. Copies of the filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com. All values in this news release and the Company's financial disclosures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. Highlights Revenues were $33.9 million and $97.8 million and EBITDA was $10 million and $26.8 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively. Demand for product is normalizing to historically elevated levels and is expected to accelerate into fiscal 2022.

Adjusted EBITDA of $10.4 million and $27.8 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2021. Adjusted EBITDA removes the effects of foreign exchange and changes in fair value of financial instruments.

The Company is focused on global expansion through its best in class operational efficiencies, its innovative product pipeline, and its reliable and sustainable supply chain leadership which are foundational to its client support and service excellence.

The Company is debt free, had cash of $39.5 million at June 30, 2021 quarter-end and has access to a $50 million revolver from its commercial bank which may be utilized for any corporate development or operational initiatives.

The Company is actively pursuing strategic acquisitions that are accretive to shareholder value and that are complementary to its organic growth strategies. Apollo has retained a global leading advisory firm to progress this objective.

The Board has approved the Company applying to the TSX to renew its normal course issuer bid to purchase and cancel up to 3.6 million shares which represents 5% of the current issued and outstanding shares. The Company has already acquired 326,212 shares at an average price of $3.49 under its previous normal course issuer bid which expired in July 2021. Please refer to Apollo's MD&A for additional detail and discussion on the Company's results from operations. Advisories: Cautionary Note Concerning Forward Looking Statements This news release includes forward looking statements. All such statements constitute forward looking information within the meaning of applicable securities law and are made pursuan to the "safe harbour" provisions of applicable securities laws. Forward looking statements include, but are not limited to statements about other anticipated future events or results, including comments with respect to Company's future financial performance and condition. Forward looking statements are statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions and are identified by words such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates" or similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Such statements are based on current expectations of the Company's management and inherently involve numerous risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, including economic factors. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is presented for the purpose of assisting readers in understanding the Company's business and strategic priorities and objectives. A number of risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause actual outcomes or financial results to differ materially from the forward looking statements contained in this news release, including, among other factors, those referenced in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2020, a copy of which is available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com under the Company's profile. Forward looking statements contained in this news release are not guarantees of future outcomes performance and, while forward looking statements are based on certain assumptions that the Company considers reasonable, actual events could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward looking statements made by the Company. Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully when making decisions with respect to the Company and to not place undue reliance on forward looking statements. Circumstances affecting the Company may change rapidly. Except as may be expressly required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any such forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These cautionary statements expressly qualify all forward looking statements in this new release. In addition, past results are in part, reflective of the unique environment that existed during the past fiscal year and is no guarantee of future financial performance.



Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures (Unaudited) Adjusted net income (loss), EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are not recognized measures under IFRS and this data may not be comparable to data presented by other companies.

Adjusted net income (loss) is calculated by adjusting net income (loss) as recorded in the unaudited condensed consolidated interim statements of income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) for the exclusion of certain other income and expense items determined in accordance with IFRS. The Company believes that this generally accepted measure allows the evaluation of the results of continuing operations and is useful in making comparisons between periods. Adjusted net income (loss) is intended to provide investors with information about the Company's continuing income generating capabilities. Management uses this measure to monitor and plan for the operating performance of the Company in conjunction with other data prepared in accordance with IFRS. EBITDA is calculated by adjusting net income (loss) as recorded in the unaudited condensed consolidated interim statements of income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) for finance costs, current and deferred income tax, depreciation and amortization expenses. The Company believes that this measure allows the evaluation of the results of continuing operations and is useful in making comparisons between periods. EBITDA is intended to provide investors with information about the Company's continuing income generating capabilities. Management uses this measure to monitor and plan for the operating performance of the Company in conjunction with other data prepared in accordance with IFRS. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by adjusting net income (loss) as recorded in the unaudited condensed consolidated interim statements of income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) for the exclusion of certain other income and expense items determined in accordance with IFRS, being the calculation for adjusted net income (loss) and then further adjusting for finance costs, current and deferred income tax, depreciation and amortization expenses. The Company believes that this generally accepted measure allows the evaluation of the results of continuing operations and is useful in making comparisons between periods. Adjusted EBITDA is intended to provide investors with information about the Company's continuing income generating capabilities. Management uses this measure to monitor and plan for the operating performance of the Company in conjunction with other data prepared in accordance with IFRS. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210813005411/en/

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[August 13, 2021] Global Life Science Tools Markets, 2017-2020 & 2021-2028 - Rise in the Number of Strategic Deals & Developments

DUBLIN, Aug. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Life Science Tools Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Technology (Cell Biology, Genomics), by Product (Flow Cytometry, Mass Spectrometry), by End-use, by Region and Segment Forecasts, 2021-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global life science tools market size is expected to reach USD 227.3 billion by 2028, expanding at a CAGR of 11.9% over the forecast period. Technological advancements in different life science tools are expected to enhance their adoption among prominent end users of the market, thereby leading to the market growth. For instance, improvements in quantitative accuracy, MS resolution and information sciences have enhanced the accuracy and utility of mass spectrometry-based methods in the field of proteomics.



Products such as Cell Culture Systems and 3D Cell Culture, Flow Cytometry, PCR and qPCR, Nucleic Acid Preparation, Nucleic Acid Microarray and Transfection Devices and Gene Delivery Technologies have witnessed substantial growth after the COVID-19 pandemic. Novel research has suggested the use of a flow cytometry-based method for COVID-19 testing. Researchers have also used the technique to explore types of T cells involved in COVID-19 immune responses.



RT-PCR assay is the most commonly used method for the detection of viral RNA in patient samples. Researchers have also developed specific assays to detect SARS-CoV-2. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has developed a different test protocol by validation and comparison of several kits used in the extraction of nucleic acids. They also used alternative prime and probe sets to detect SARS-CoV-2 in clinical samples.



Life Science Tools Market Report Highlights Cell biology accounted for the largest revenue share in 2020 and is projected to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period

The proteomics technology segment is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR throughout the forecast period owing to a rise in demand for precision medicine

Researchers suggest that combined geomics and proteomics data can potentially be used for neurodegenerative, neuromuscular and other chronic disorders, thereby enhancing market growth

The cell culture systems and 3D cell culture segment was the largest revenue-generating product segment in 2020 as cell biology is gaining importance across multiple aspects of the life science industry

The cloning and genome engineering segment is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR throughout the forecast period

Gene cloning has gained significant traction in recent years, becoming a commonly opted approach to make copies of a gene, a science that otherwise remains unexplored

The health care segment accounted for the largest revenue share in the end-use segment owing to the utility of life science tools in hospitals, clinics, diagnostic laboratories, community centers and physician offices

Lucrative opportunities offered by emerging nations has attracted investments from global firms in the Asia Pacific region, thus driving the region at the fastest growth rate throughout the forecast period



Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1 Methodology and Scope





Chapter 2 Executive Summary



Chapter 3 Life Science Tools Market variables, Trends, & Scope

3.1 Market Dynamics

3.1.1 Market driver analysis

3.1.1.1 Increased government funding for life science technologies

3.1.1.2 Growth of cell and gene therapies

3.1.1.3 Rise in demand for biopharmaceuticals (biologics and biosimilars)

3.1.1.4 Technological advancements in life science tools

3.1.1.5 Applications of genomic and proteomic technologies for precision medicine

3.1.2 Market restraint analysis

3.1.2.1 High cost for some technologies

3.1.2.2 Dearth of skilled professionals

3.1.3 Market opportunity analysis

3.1.3.1 Utility in viral analysis

3.1.3.2 Rise in the number of strategic deals & developments

3.2 Penetration and Growth Prospect Mapping for Technology, 2020 (USD Million)

3.3 Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Global Life Science Tools Market

3.4 Business Environment Analysis



Chapter 4 Technology Business Analysis

4.1 Life Science Tools Market: Technology Movement Analysis

4.2 Genomic Technology

4.3 Proteomics Technology

4.4 Cell Biology Technology

4.5 Analytical & Sample Preparation Technology

4.6 Lab Supplies & Technologies



Chapter 5 Product Business Analysis

5.1 Life Science Tools Market: Product Movement Analysis

5.2 Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)

5.2.1 Life science tools market estimates and forecast for NGS, 2017 - 2028 (USD Million)

5.2.2 Instruments

5.2.3 Consumables

5.2.4 Services

5.3 PCR & qPCR

5.4 Flow Cytometry

5.5 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR)

5.6 Microscopy & Electron Microscopy

5.7 Liquid Chromatography (LC)

5.8 Mass Spectrometry (MS)

5.9 Nucleic Acid Preparation (NAP)

5.10 Transfection Devices & Gene Delivery Technologies

5.11 Cell Culture Systems & 3D Cell Culture

5.12 Cloning & Genome Engineering

5.13 Nucleic Acid Microarray

5.14 Sanger Sequencing



Chapter 6 End-Use Business Analysis

6.1 Life Science Tools Market: End-use Movement Analysis

6.2 Government & Academic

6.3 Biopharmaceutical Company

6.4 Healthcare

6.5 Industrial Applications



Chapter 7 Regional Business Analysis

7.1 Life Science Tools Market: Regional Movement Analysis



Chapter 8 Company Profiles Agilent Technologies

Becton, Dickinson And Company (Bd)

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

Danaher Corporation

Illumina, Inc.

Thermofisher Scientific Inc.

Qiagen

Merck Kgaa

Shimadzu Corporation

Hitachi, Ltd.

Bruker

Oxford Instruments Plc

Zeiss International For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3ozvuj Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-life-science-tools-markets-2017-2020--2021-2028---rise-in-the-number-of-strategic-deals--developments-301355042.html SOURCE Research and Markets

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[August 13, 2021] California Health and Wellness Assisting Members Across Tehama County during State of Emergency

In response to Gov. Gavin Newsom's declared state of emergency in Tehama County, California Health and Wellness is providing special assistance to members in the county. The company is taking steps to ensure members affected by the fire can access essential prescription medications and have important information about their benefits if their services are interrupted. Prescription Information During the duration of the state of emergency, members in counties affected by the fires can obtain an emergency supply from the drug store where they originally filled their prescription.

If their drug store is closed, members can call California Health and Wellness at 1-877-658-0305, option 2 for assistance. Help with Coping California Health and Wellness members can also call MHN for coping support. MHN can offer referrals to mental health counselors, local services, or phone consultations. These services can help members cope with grief, stress, or trauma related to the fires. MHN operates their hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can be reached at 1-800-227-1060. Telehealth Option Members can also download the Babylon app and make a video appointment to speak face-to-face with a health care provider for non-emergency issues.



Information for Healthcare Providers Doctors and nurse practitioners can call the California Health and Wellness Provider Service Center at 1-877-658-0305 for help with:

Emergency prescription refill guidelines

Escalating approvals to reduce approval turnaround times

Approval for out-of-network treatments when in-network resources are unavailable Other Important Information All of California Health & Wellness' are Medi-Cal enrollees: low-income adults, seniors, pregnant women and children, foster children, persons with disabilities and others - they're our foundation and core focus. Depending on how long the members need additional assistance, California Health and Wellness may take additional steps to ensure its members have access to necessary healthcare services as necessary. About California Health & Wellness At California Health & Wellness, we believe every person deserves a safety net for their health. That is why we have been offering access to quality health coverage to Californians in 19 rural counties since 2013. In fact, we operate as part of the state's Medi-Cal Managed Care Rural Expansion program. This expansion brings health coverage to people eligible for Medi-Cal, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and other programs. Headquartered in Northern California, our work is based on the core belief that access to quality healthcare is best delivered locally. We are dedicated to helping transform the communities we serve, one person at a time. That is why we partner with local, regional and community-based organizations to deliver access to healthcare, pharmacy, vision and transportation services for our members. California Health & Wellness is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), a Fortune 25 company that provides affordable and high-quality products to nearly 1 in 15 individuals across the nation. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210813005422/en/

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Project is creating 200 new jobs in Alcoa

Company is a leading provider of aluminum sheet, plate and extruded products

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe and Arconic officials announced today that the aluminum manufacturer is expanding its operations in Blount County.

Arconic is investing more than $100 million to support recently announced expanded capacity for manufacturing industrial and can sheet. The project brings 200 new jobs to its Alcoa facility, where it has operated for more than 100 years.

Arconic is a leading provider of aluminum sheet, plate and extruded products for the ground transportation, aerospace, packaging and industrial markets. The company is also a key supplier to the building and construction market, providing architects and builders with innovative products and systems to create high-performing buildings.

Originally founded as Alcoa, the company has origins going back more than 120 years. Alcoa supplied aluminum for many notable moments in American history, including providing aluminum parts for the Wright Brothers airplane in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, paving the way for modern aerospace.

Over the last five years, TNECD has supported nearly 10 economic development projects in Blount County, accounting for more than 2,800 job commitments and roughly $1.3 billion in capital investment.

QUOTES

Arconic is a leading employer in Blount County with a storied history in the American aluminum manufacturing sector. Im grateful to Arconic for creating 200 new jobs and being a valued member of the business community in Blount County for over 100 years.  Gov. Bill Lee

Arconics investment of more than $100 million is excellent news for Alcoa and Blount County. Our job at TNECD is to support high-quality job growth across the state, and we thank Arconic for its ongoing commitment and investment in East Tennessee.  TNECD Commissioner Bob Rolfe

This expansion enables Arconic to help meet the strong customer demand for industrial products and can sheet. As consumers are moving away from plastics for more sustainable products, infinitely recyclable aluminum is the perfect solution. We appreciate the states continued support which enables us to create more jobs and advance economic growth in Tennessee, where weve been proudly operating for more than 100 years.  Nandu Srinivasan, president of Arconic Global Rolled Products, North America

TVA congratulates Arconic on its decision to expand operations and create job opportunities and investment in Blount County. Helping to support companies, like Arconic, create quality jobs and investment in the Valley is fundamental to TVAs mission of service and we are proud to partner with the Blount Partnership and Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to help further that mission and celebrate this announcement together.  John Bradley, TVA senior vice president of Economic Development

This is great news. Arconics decision to expand in Blount County is a testament to our strong school systems, incredible quality of life and the commitment to developing a skilled workforce. I congratulate them and all of our state and local officials who have worked tirelessly to bring these new job opportunities to our communities. It is an honor to partner with them in this effort.  Sen. Art Swann (R-Maryville)

"Arconic's decision to expand their operations in Alcoa is great news. I am confident they will continue the legacy of being a world-class, high-quality producer of aluminum products. I appreciate the work of our state and local partners for securing this expansion and am grateful to Arconic for their continued support of our local workforce and community."  Rep. Jerome Moon (R-Maryville)

About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Developments mission is to develop strategies that help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. To grow and strengthen Tennessee, the department seeks to attract new corporate investment to the state and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Find us on the web: tnecd.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @tnecd. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tnecd.

TNECD Media Contact

Jennifer McEachern

Director of Communications and Marketing

(615) 336-2689

jennifer.mceachern@tn.gov

###
Gunfire is the overriding theme for this Kansas City news compilation as this cowtown prepares for another Summer weekend.



Check the www.TonysKansasCity.com news compilation . . .

Deadly Kansas City Police Shooting Court Fight Cont'd

by: Juan Cisneros Posted: / Updated: KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The bench trial for a Kansas City Police Department officer charged with involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the shooting death of Cameron Lamb has been pushed back to November 8, 2021. The original court date for Detective Erik DeValkenaere was set for September 7, 2021.

Ricky Kidd, wrongfully convicted, now suing KCPD and Kansas City, Missouri A wrongfully convicted man who spent 23 years in prison is suing Kansas City, the Kansas City Police Board of Commissioners, and the Kansas City police officers he alleges ignored and failed to investigate evidence in a 1996 double homicide.Ricky Kidd, through his attorneys, filed a federal lawsuit Thursday afternoon

Crime Confronts JoCo

Lenexa Police seek assistance identifying van in connection with robbery KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Lenexa Police Department has requested help from the public in identifying a van that was used in connection with a vehicle theft on Wednesday. The department said via Twitter that the van was taken from a business near College Boulevard and Renner Road.

Gunfire Kills Local Performer



Victim in recent Kansas City deadly shooting identified as Marching Cobras drill captain KANSAS CITY, Mo - The Marching Cobras Drill Team is an institution in Kansas City. It was started to give children something to do so they would not be victims of the street. But their members are not immune to the violence plaguing Kansas City.

Shooting In The Stix

2 in custody following drive-by shooting in Pleasant Hill PLEASANT HILL, KS (KCTV) -- Two people are in custody following a drive-by shooting in Pleasant Hill. It happened about 3 a.m. Thursday in the Village of Baldwin Park. Cass County deputies were called to the area of Circle Drive and found one vehicle that appeared to have been shot numerous times.

Not So Perfect Murder Charge

Suspect told witness he would visit victim ahead of deadly Prairie Village shooting: court documents An Iowa man charged with killing a 70-year-old Prairie Village man had temporarily been living at the victim's apartment. Witnesses recalled seeing Michael Balance living with John Hoffman temporarily for about two years before Hoffman was shot and killed at his apartment on May 1, 2021.

Debating Deadly Suburban Drive

Lee's Summit man pleads not guilty to felony DWI charges in fatal crash KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Lee's Summit man was arraigned on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to felony DWI charges in a fatal crash. Joseph A. Cook, 34, faces charges of DWI - death of another not a passenger and, if found guilty, could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.

Police Request Cold Case Help

Kansas City police ask for help in solving man's slaying in February SOURCE: KMBC Kansas City police and the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline are asking for help in solving a man's fatal shooting in February.Authorities said that on Feb. 17, police officers were called shortly after midnight to the 11300 block of Sycamore Terrace on a reported shooting.

Developing . . .
As plague numbers worsen, here's a peek at Mayor Q enforcing this town's pandemic dress code.



Round-up . . .

"Mayor Lucas said the mandate would be in place until at least 12:01 a.m. Saturday, August 28, depending on the number of COVID-19 cases in the city.



"According to the new ordinance he introduced at Thursday's city council meeting, COVID-19 hospitalizations are the highest in almost six months, and area hospitals are near capacity."



The Mayor's new benchmark . . .



"Pursuant to upcoming state law changes, Kansas Citys mask rules and guidance will be subject to approval by ordinance. Upon passage, the legislation I introduced today will extend the mask order until 9/23."

Because the mayor has been SPANKED in public recently over his lack of transparency . . . Mayor Q notes that the mask mandate extension debate will be part of public discussion wherein an army of trolls will publicly humiliate your aunt Karen.

"The item will be held in committee/public hearing next Wednesday at 3:00, during a special sitting of the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Operations Committee to be held in the City Council Chambers."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . .


Highway 12 is spectacular in either direction.

Rent what is comfortable for you and fits your luggage. You will not be driving any unimproved roads.

I suggested Cedar City because it's a place to find lodging. Depending on your September dates, the Shakespearean festival may still be going on if that interests you.

Another thing, you should plan on picking up a cooler than you keep stocked with snacks and picnic items. There is no food sold in Arches, Canyonlands or Capitol Reef. There is just one option in the park at Bryce.

I assume since you do strenuous hiking that you already have hydration back packs.

For hiking information, start with the official website for each national park. They each have hike descriptions. Ask questions here if you want input on specific hikes
The National Police have detained the head of the State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine who attempted to flee the country in the wake of an ongoing investigation into major embezzlement in the company.

Thats according to the National Police press service, Ukrinform reports.

Law enforcement officers detained the official at Zhuliany Airport on the morning of August 13

"In this way, he tried to avoid responsibility. His accomplice was also detained," the statement reads.

Detectives with the Main Investigation Department of the National Police have already pressed charges against the head of the corporation and the owner of several businesses under Part 5 Article 191 (appropriation, misappropriation of property, including by abuse of office) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The investigation is underway.

Petitions are being prepared for the court to choose precautionary measures for both suspects.

As reported by Ukrinform, the investigators believe officials with the State Food and Grain Corporation squandered state property and committed other abuses, inflicting on the company losses of more than $57 million.

During the inquiry, the police exposed details of the criminal scheme. With loans obtained under government guarantees, officials of the state corporation would purchase grain through fictitious enterprises and export goods at a price much lower than market prices.

Currently, law enforcers are aware that during January-May 2021, foreign economic contracts for grain exports with foreign companies worth more than $231 million were concluded.

"As of the end of July 2021, the receivables of such businesses to the state-owned company amount to more than $57 million," police said.

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Over the past day, August 12, five ceasefire violations by the armed formations of the Russian Federation were recorded in the Joint Forces Operation area in eastern Ukraine.

The enemy fired tripod-mounted man-portable antitank guns near Pisky (11km north-west of Donetsk); 82mm mortars, anti-tank missile systems, and tripod-mounted man-portable antitank guns  towards Pivdenne (40km north-east of Donetsk); three attacks were launched using tripod-mounted man-portable antitank guns, grenade machine guns, heavy machine guns, and small arms outside Novomykhailivka (28km south-west of Donetsk), the press center of Joint Forces Operation posted on Facebook.

A Ukrainian serviceman received a gunshot wound and was taken to a hospital.

Ukrainian troops fired back in response to the enemy shelling.

The Ukrainian side of the Joint Control and Coordination Center (JCCC) informed the OSCE SMM about all violations by the Russian-occupation troops.

As of 07:00 on August 13, no ceasefire violations were recorded.

Ukrainian troops control the situation in the Joint Forces Operation area, repelling and deterring the armed aggression of the Russian Federation.

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Counterintelligence operatives with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) have apprehended two former members of illegal armed groups who had taken an active part in hostilities against the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Donbas.

The arrests came during the raids carried out in Odesa and Kharkiv regions, the SBU press center reported, according to Ukrinform.

The inquiry established that the perpetrators had been part of militant groups in 2014-2016. During the said period, the culprits were fighting against the Ukrainian military in the areas of Donetsk, Debaltseve, Shyrokine, and Dokuchaivsk.

The suspects were charged under Part 1 Article 258-3 (participation in a terrorist group or terrorist organization) of the Criminal Code.

Further investigation is underway to reveal all circumstances of their illegal activity and bring to justice other individuals complicit in crimes against Ukraines national security.

The raid was supervised by the Odesa and Kharkiv regional prosecutor's offices.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the SBU detained a Russian military intelligence asset who had been gathering intelligence on Ukrainian forces in the Joint Forces Operation zone.

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On August 13, humanitarian cargo weighing 56.6 tonnes was delivered to certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (CADLR) currently occupied by Russia.

As the press service of the Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine informs, three trucks transported humanitarian cargo from the parties to the Geneva Conventions, which contribute to the global budget of the International Committee of the Red Cross, through the entry-exit checkpoint Novotroitske.

We are grateful for the long-term cooperation between the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine. In accordance with Paragraph 1 of the Order of the Ministry No. 51 of July 17, 2020, the ICRC informs about the intentions to transfer humanitarian goods to the areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which are currently beyond the control of the Ukrainian authorities," reads the ICRCs letter to the Ministry of Reintegration.

Phot credit: minre.gov.ua

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During a working visit to the United States, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for the Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories, Oleksiy Reznikov, held talks with National Security Council Director for Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, Chris Smith.

Thats according to the press service of the Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories, Ukrinform reports.

The parties discussed preparations for the forthcoming visit of President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine to the United States, the situation in the region, and the peace process regarding the temporarily occupied areas in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as the possibility of involving the United States in settlement talks.

Read also: Reintegration ministry drafts sanctions against those persecuting Ukraine Church in occupied Crimea

During the meeting, Reznikov put forward ideas on possible ways to engage the United States in peace negotiations and revive the relevant diplomatic processes.

The American side stressed its readiness to meet with Zelensky in Washington, expressed strong support for Ukraines Crimea Platform initiative and the process of resolving the international armed conflict in the temporarily occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and stressed the importance of cooperation between Kyiv and Washington on joint priorities of the Ukraine-U.S. Strategic Partnership.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on July 28, Reznikov stated he would be representing Ukraine at the meetings of the Trilateral Contact Group if the current head of the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG, Leonid Kravchuk, was unable to do so due to health issues.

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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has told the National Security and Defense Council to prepare a meeting on forest preservation and reforestation.

This was announced by NSDC Secretary Oleksiy Danilov who spoke at a meeting of the interdepartmental working group on forest conservation and reforestation, Ukrinform reports referring to the NSDC press service.

The participants in the meeting discussed progress in forestry reform and the implementation of the Large-scale afforestation of Ukraine environmental initiative.

The participants also discussed the implementation of tasks set by Presidential Decree No. 111 of March 23, 2021, which put into effect the NSDC decision of March 23, 2021, "On challenges and threats to national security in Ukraine" and Presidential Decree No. 228 of June 7, 2021, "On certain measures for the preservation of forests and reforestation."

Among other things, the parties discussed ways to address the problems of forest management, primarily in terms of accounting, protection, and use of forests, as well as reforestation, along with the issues of reorganization of forestry enterprises and improving the forestrys financial system.

In this context, Danilov stressed the importance of pacing up the national forest inventory. "We have more than 10 million hectares of forest, so this asset must bring economic, environmental, and aesthetic benefits," he said.

Read also: NSDC warns it could introduce interim administrations in regional energy companies

The secretary of the National Security and Defense Council stressed the importance of taking measures to ensure that each united territorial community is interested in participating in the implementation of the Large-scale afforestation of Ukraine environmental initiative.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Oleksiy Soloviov, Chairman of the State Agency of Forest Resources of Ukraine, Yuriy Bolokhovets, representatives of other relevant ministries and agencies, NGOs, as well as the NSDC researchers and specialists.

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The government of Canada over the next five years will provide $25 million to Ukraine to support inclusive governance in the country.

The statement came following a virtual visit to Ukraine by Karina Gould, Canadas Minister of International Development, according to her ministrys press service, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

During the meeting, the Minister announced $30 million over 5 years to support inclusive governance in Ukraine. This call for proposals has been launched to solicit projects that will enhance democratic, inclusive and gender-equal governance in Ukraine, thereby responding to the needs of all Ukrainians, including the most vulnerable and marginalized groups of people, reads the statement.

Also, the minister announced $1.9 million in funding to improve the Ukrainian governments capacity to support the socio-economic well-being of women military veterans.

These investments reaffirm Canadas unwavering commitment to secure Ukraines future as a democratic, rules-based state and support its goal of greater Euro-Atlantic integration, says the statement.

It is also noted that Canada is supporting Ukraines efforts to deliver more resilient primary health care and essential health services amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has started working out ways to evacuate Ukrainians from Afghanistan, with between 50 and 100 Ukrainian citizens staying in the country.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said this at an online briefing on Friday, August 13, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"We have already started working out possible ways of evacuation from Afghanistan if such appeals are received. So far, Ukrainian citizens have not appealed to the Foreign Ministry to evacuate them from Afghanistan, but I emphasize once again that we work 24/7 and are ready to help our citizens in Afghanistan with the means available to us," Kuleba said.

He stressed that for him personally the evacuation of Ukrainians abroad is an absolute priority, and therefore the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has already launched appropriate mechanisms, including by advising citizens to refrain from traveling to Afghanistan, and those who are already in this country were recommended to leave its territory immediately.

According to the ministry, there are between 50 and 100 Ukrainians in Afghanistan.

Kuleba also called on compatriots in Afghanistan to contact the Ukrainian Embassy in Tajikistan and inform it about their whereabouts.

According to Kuleba, Afghanistan is a unique country in which it is very difficult to predict the development of the security situation.

He also mentioned friendly relations between Ukraine and Afghanistan and their common tragedy - the downing of Flight PS752 over Tehran on January 8, 2020.

"Therefore, we undoubtedly wish the Afghan people, first of all, peace, and then stability, which is impossible without the cessation of hostilities," Kuleba said.

Read also: Ukrainians advised to leave Afghanistan immediately due to Taliban offensive

Earlier reports said that the Pentagon had decided to send about 3,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan to ensure the evacuation of diplomats and other U.S. citizens.

After the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan, Taliban militants are rapidly expanding their sphere of influence in the country. In the past few days, Taliban fighters have overrun ten provincial capitals in Afghanistan.

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is due to arrive in Kyiv on August 22, will visit Moscow on August 20, according to German government spokesperson Steffen Seibert.

He said this at a press conference on Friday, August 13, Germany's international broadcaster Deutsche Welle reported.

According to Seibert, Merkel is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

At the same time, Seibert added that the details of both visits would be disclosed next week.

The Kremlin has already confirmed Putin's meeting with Merkel, noting that it will focus on relations between the two countries and current international issues.

The German chancellor last visited Russia in January 2020.

Ukrainian presidential press secretary Serhiy Nykyforov said earlier that Merkel would visit Ukraine on August 22 and meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to Nykyforov, the talks will focus on "security, bilateral relations, and other topical issues." In particular, it is planned to discuss the implementation of commitments made by Germany if Russia tries to abuse its monopoly position after the launch of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.

Zelensky and Merkel last met on July 12 during the Ukrainian president's official visit to Germany.

On August 23, Kyiv will host the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform initiative. In total, 40 countries have confirmed their desire to participate in the summit. Zelensky invited Merkel to take part in the event.

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Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says he is satisfied with what he calls is a nervous reaction by Russian top diplomat Sergei Lavrov to the Crimea Platform initiative.

The comment came during Kulebas video conference briefing on Friday, August 13, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Yesterday, Sergei Lavrov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, unlawfully visited the Ukrainian Crimea. There he made a number of angry statements about the Crimea Platform  labeling it a "sabbath" and "concursion." I wont hide, Im satisfied with this nervous reaction. As Mahatma Gandhi said, "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win," Kuleba said.

According to the chief of Ukraines diplomacy, Russia has already successfully overcome the first two stages and is currently at the third one  actively fighting Ukraine.

"And the fourth stage will definitely come, and it will be the stage of the Ukrainian victory and the return of the Ukrainian Crimea," the foreign minister is convinced.

As reported earlier, the total number of participants in the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform has increased to 40.

On August 23, Ukraines Jamala will open the Crimea Platform summit in Kyiv, performing her song "1944," which was Ukraines Eurovision entry in 2016, winning the contest that year. The song is inspired by the tragic events of the mass deportation of Crimean Tatars, the indigenous people of Crimea, from the peninsula to distant areas of the Soviet Union in 1944.

On August 6, an inaugural forum of the Crimea Platform international expert network was held in Kyiv.

The Crimea Platform is a new consultative and coordination format initiated by Ukraine to step up the efficiency of international response to the occupation of Crimea, respond to growing security challenges, increase international pressure on Russia, prevent further human rights violations, protect victims of the occupation regime, and achieve the main goal: to de-occupy Crimea and restore Ukraines sovereignty over the peninsula.

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A virtual tour "Ukrainian pearls of UNESCO World Heritage in Lviv region" was created in the region as part of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the country's independence.

"Creating 360 tours allows showing sites worth visiting as we have something to show and something to be proud of. We worked on view both outside and inside the sites. You can visit these attractions from your computer. You can watch in detail all the paintings, each beam, feel the stained glass lighting. The technology is rather simple and can cover other attractions, so this is just the beginning," said one of the project managers, Yuri Prepodobny, the press service of the Lviv Regional State Administration informs.

The tour includes several monuments: the St. George Church in Drohobych, the Holy Trinity Church in Zhovkva, the Blessed Virgin Church in the village of Matkiv, the Holy Spirit Church in the village of Potelych.

"One of the ideas was to create a 360 tour that can be viewed from anywhere on the planet. The history of the Ukrainian people is centuries-old, and the preservation of our monuments deserves the attention of contemporaries. Honoring the memory of our pearls should unite all those interested so that our young people can see and enjoy them," Olha Kotovska, Administrations Education and Science Department Deputy Director, said during the presentation.

The virtual tour is available here.

As reported, Ukraine works closely with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre under the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, ratified by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in 1988.

The UNESCO World Heritage List includes seven Ukrainian cultural and natural sites: Ancient City of Tauric Chersonese and its Chora; Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra; Ensemble of the Historic Centre of Lviv; Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans (currently  the building of the Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University); Struve Geodetic Arc; Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region in Poland and Ukraine; Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe.

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Deputy Prime Minister  Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov met with Principal Advisor to USAIDs Administrator Mark Feierstein during his working visit to the United States.

The parties discussed the current situation in Ukraine and USAIDs assistance in development in such key areas as the rule of law, economic growth, and health care, Ukrinform reports citing the Ministrys website.

"It is difficult to overestimate the support provided by USAID and the U.S. Government. Over the past few years, the agency has allocated more than $650 million in various assistance programs to our country. USAID implements 49 long-term and medium-term programs in Ukraine, including long-term programs to assist Ukrainian citizens affected by Russia's armed aggression. I am also grateful for the consistent support lent by the United States to the Government of Ukraine," Reznikov said.

Reznikov and Feierstein also focused on USAID support for Ukrainian citizens affected by Russia's continued military aggression in eastern Ukraine.

Principal Advisor Feierstein and Deputy Prime Minister Reznikov discussed further USAID assistance to communities affected by Russia's armed aggression in eastern Ukraine, as well as opportunities to further promote the U.S.-Ukraine strategic partnership, including President Zelensky's upcoming visit to Washington.

Feierstein stressed the importance of Ukraine's further achievements in implementing key reforms and reiterated the United States' unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Reznikov praised the U.S. Government's decision to bolster a number of Ukrainian Government projects.

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Azerbaijan expects Ukrainian Education and Science Minister Serhiy Shkarlet to visit the country in October to renew the agreement on the mutual recognition of educational documents, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Ukraine Elmira Akhundova has told Ukrinform.

"A joint expert group is now working. There are a number of problems between us in the field of mutual recognition of diplomas, mutual recognition of master's degrees and so on. There is a memorandum on this, there is an agreement between our countries, and it needs to be updated," Akhundova said.

She said the Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan had informed her that in the first half of October, it is planned to hold a meeting of the joint expert group of the concerned ministries of Ukraine and Azerbaijan to renew the agreement and discuss a number of other issues.

Shkarlet was sent an invitation to visit Azerbaijan in the second half of October to sign an updated agreement.

The diplomat added that according to the embassy, about 5,000 Azerbaijani students study in Ukrainian universities and more than 1,000 Ukrainian students study in Azerbaijani educational institutions.

On August 12, the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University and Dnipro University of Technology agreed on cooperation.

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During his working visit to the United States, Deputy Prime Minister  Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov met with representatives of the U.S. Department of State and raised the issue of increasing assistance for humanitarian projects in Ukraine.

As the Ministrys press service informs, Reznikov met with Uzra Zeya, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, and Nancy Izzo Jackson, Acting Deputy Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration.

Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov also raised the issue of increasing assistance for humanitarian projects, especially on internally displaced persons and the Ukrainian population living in territorial communities located near or separated with a line of contact, as well as the issues related to mine action, reads the statement.

It is also noted that the American side stressed the U.S. commitment to the independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of Ukraine, as well as expressed support for the Crimea Platform initiative. The parties stressed their desire to further strengthen cooperation within the framework of U.S. programs to help the war-affected population.

"During the meetings with senior officials of the U.S. Department of State, the parties also discussed the peace process, the situation in the region, the promotion of Ukrainian reforms, as well as the need to help Ukraine transform the country, the Ministry of Reintegration informed.

In addition, the parties discussed Ukraines strategy for the reintegration of the temporarily occupied territories after their liberation and the preparation by the Government of relevant comprehensive legislation to be soon adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

Reznikov also briefed the American side on the areas in which the Government of Ukraine works. In particular, on the draft law On State Principles of Transition Period, which is based on the principles of non-discrimination, gender equality, inclusiveness, and removal of procedural, institutional, and social barriers, including the principles of transitional justice, judicial reform, strategy for the economic development of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the implementation of which is planned from 2022.

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| By Mary Therese Phelan

From an early age, Sarah Dababnah, PhD, MPH, MSW, an associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW), noticed that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are often treated differently than others. She had no idea she would later go on to earn a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award and travel to Egypt to study such disparities.

Fulbright Scholarship award recipient Sarah Dababnah.

As a Jordanian-American young girl, Dababnah noticed such was the experience of a fellow Jordanian-American family friends son, born with an intellectual difference.

We were very close, she said of her childhood friend. I was a little bit attuned to differences in how services looked for people who really have any kind of disability, intellectual disability, autism, or whatever. I kind of always had that in the back of my mind that not that all the services in the U.S. are perfect or great or anything. I was aware from an earlier age that there was a really wide disparity in services, in access to services, in the way that people viewed disabilities, and in the ways that families receive support.

Dababnah has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to Cairo, Egypt, where for nine months she will further her research on methods of supporting children with autism and other developmental disabilities. She departs at the end of August.

The trip has been a long time coming. She first applied for the scholarship in September 2019. And then, of course, in March last year, everything was canceled, the world collapsed, she said.

No Fulbright Scholarships were awarded. When September 2020 rolled around, she applied again, despite not knowing whether the COVID-19 pandemic would still be wreaking havoc, just in case the program returned.

Earlier this summer, she received the email shed been waiting for: her scholarship proposal, Interdisciplinary, Family-Centered Approaches to Support Young Children with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, was accepted. She will partner with faculty at the American University in Cairo, Department of Psychology.

I was so excited, and also a little overwhelmed due to having to navigate traveling during a pandemic, said Dababnah, who has been teaching at UMSSW for seven years.

I am so proud of Dr. Dababnah, said UMSSW Dean Judy L. Postmus, PhD, ACSW. Her hard work researching and teaching around children with disabilities have had a tremendous impact on our students, the social work profession, and families. The knowledge she will bring back from this Fulbright Scholar experience will only make that impact even stronger.

Paul Sacco, PhD, MSW, associate dean for research and associate professor, echoed that sentiment.

I am delighted that Dr. Dababnah is a Fulbright Scholar going to Egypt, Sacco said. Her work on contextually adapted family interventions for autism epitomizes the best of our universitys commitment to knowledge building that is local as well as global. Her family-centered approach, whether in Baltimore or Cairo, means that she is working with families and stakeholders so that interventions reflect the priorities, resources, and cultural values of those receiving services.

Dababnahs research overall focuses on developing interventions and supports for families of young children with autism and other developmental differences, particularly those living in underserved communities in the United States or low-resourced settings globally, given the substantial racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic disparities to access evidence-based autism services, she said.

For example, Dababnah explained, Black children with autism in the U.S. are diagnosed significantly later than their white peers, which means they often cannot access early intervention services, potentially yielding great benefits over their lifetime. Dababnah currently co-leads research with Charina C. Reyes, MD, clinical assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), in close collaboration with Wendy Shaia, EdD, MSW, clinical associate professor and executive director of the Social Work Community Outreach Service at UMSSW, and Deborah G. Badawi, MD, assistant professor, UMSOM, to evaluate a program in Baltimore for parents of Black children awaiting an autism evaluation. The research is funded by UMBs Institute for Clinical & Translational Research.

The peer-to-peer program is delivered by parents of older Black children with autism in the local community.

Ive been doing a lot of work in Baltimore to close that gap, but also to develop interventions and services that are more culturally relevant and can talk to being contextually relevant, Dababnah said. What I proposed for the Fulbright award in Egypt was really to extend that work globally. In Egypt, it was a really good opportunity with some partners that I have there through the World Health Organization and other partners to really reach many families who have almost zero access to autism services and other services for kids that have developmental disabilities.

In Egypt, she will evaluate a program called the Caregivers Skills Training (CST) Program for Families of Children with Developmental Disorders or Delays. In conjunction with disability experts and stakeholders, the World Health Organization (WHO) developed CST as a cost-effective method to address provider shortages and other barriers to developmental disability services globally.

Along with Canadian and U.S. colleagues, Dababnah supported remote CST training of Egyptian providers in fall 2020. While the WHO designed CST specifically for culturally and linguistically diverse or underserved communities, it has not been formally evaluated in Arabic, nor in the Middle East and North Africa region, Dababnah said. Egypt is an ideal setting to adapt and field-test CST in Arabic, given it shares many cultural and sociopolitical characteristics with other countries in the region, thereby extending the potential reach of findings from this research.

Ive been able to do a lot of work [in Cairo] remotely, but being able to be there in person, its going be a lot easier to get things done, she said. A lot of folks dont have access to Zoom or to remote ways to connect.

In partnership with American University in Cairo faculty and other collaborators, Dababnah will provide in-person consultation on the CST program in Egypt, including monitoring and evaluating plans to analyze, interpret, and disseminate data and related findings. She also will teach a course and conduct professional training for students and providers interested in developing skills for working with individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

According to Dababnahs scholarship application, research she conducted in the Palestine region found that families raising children with autism reported feeling isolated, ashamed, and stressed. The children were diagnosed far too late for them to access early interventions for communication and challenging behavior. In addition, her interviews with local providers revealed they felt unprepared to address the needs of children with autism. Providers and parents were desperate for access to more knowledge on autism and relevant interventions.

A small body of autism research and media suggest Egypt faces similar challenges, Dababnah wrote in her application.

As a Fulbright Scholar, Dababnah will share knowledge and foster meaningful connections across communities in the U.S. and Egypt. Fulbright Scholars engage in cutting-edge research and expand their professional networks, often continuing research collaborations started abroad and laying the groundwork for forging future partnerships between institutions. Upon returning to their institutions, labs, and classrooms in the U.S., they share their stories and often become active supporters of international exchange, inviting foreign scholars to campus and encouraging colleagues and students to go abroad. As Fulbright Scholar alumni, they join a network of thousands of esteemed scholars, many of whom are leaders in their fields. Fulbright alumni include 60 Nobel Prize laureates, 88 Pulitzer Prize recipients, and 39 who have served as a head of state or government.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. governments flagship international educational exchange program and is supported by the people of the U.S. and partner countries around the world. Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 participants from over 160 countries the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright program is an annual appropriation by Congress to the U.S. Department of States Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support.

Ive learned a lot from families here in Baltimore and ways that we can improve services, Dababnah said. Hopefully, Ill be able to take that information to Egypt and help to better support their providers there. And Im sure Ill learn a lot from the way that theyre delivering services in Egypt and bring it back here, so Im hoping its going to be great, mutually.
Some 400,000 Afghans have been forced from their homes since the beginning of the year.  UNHCR/Edris Lutfi

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is alarmed by the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan today. As widespread fighting intensifies, the United Nations in Afghanistan continues to call for a permanent ceasefire and a negotiated settlement in the interests of the Afghan people.

The human toll of spiraling hostilities is immense. The United Nations Assistance Mission has warned that without a significant de-escalation in violence, Afghanistan is on course to witness the highest ever number of documented civilian casualties in a single year since the UNs records began.

We are particularly worried about the impact of the conflict on women and girls. Some 80 per cent of nearly a quarter of a million Afghans forced to flee since the end of May are women and children.

Nearly 400,000 were forced from their homes since the beginning of the year, joining 2.9 million Afghans already internally displaced across the country at the end of 2020.

Ongoing fighting has been reported in 33 of Afghanistans 34 provinces.

The overwhelming majority of Afghans forced to flee remain within the country, as close to their homes as fighting will allow. Since the beginning of this year, nearly 120,000 Afghans have fled from rural areas and provincial towns to Kabul province.

UNHCR is urging the international community to urgently step up its support to respond to this latest Afghanistan displacement crisis.

Our teams, as part of the broader UN effort, has assessed the needs of almost 400,000 internally displaced civilians this year. Responding initially to the most critical priorities, we are providing food, shelter, hygiene and sanitary kits and other lifesaving assistance, together with partners.

UNHCR is calling on countries neighbouring Afghanistan to keep their borders open in light of the intensifying crisis in Afghanistan.

An inability to seek safety may risk innumerable civilian lives. UNHCR stands ready to help national authorities scale up humanitarian responses as needed.

In the context of generalized insecurity in many parts of Afghanistan, it is increasingly clear that Afghans outside of the country may have international protection needs. UNHCR calls for all states to ensure they are able to seek safety, regardless of their current legal status.

Given the dramatic escalation in conflict, UNHCR welcomes the actions now taken by several states to temporarily halt deportations of failed asylum-seekers and ensure access to asylum procedures.

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Forcibly displaced women and girls suffer disproportionately from sexual and gender-based violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  UNHCR/Olivia Acland

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is gravely concerned about incidents of widespread and systematic sexual violence against Congolese women and girls, perpetrated by armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congos Tanganyika Province, where thousands have been internally displaced this year.

More than 23,000 people have been displaced since May in northern Tanganyikas Kongolo Territory alone, according to local authorities. Most have fled insecurity multiple times in the past three months.

In just the past two weeks, humanitarian partners in the Kongolo and Mbulula health zones, have recorded 243 incidents of rape, 48 of which involved minors, in 12 different villages. This is an average of 17 reported attacks each day. The actual figures are thought to be even higher as reporting of gender-based violence (GBV) remains taboo in most communities. In addition to the huge physical and psychological trauma from being raped, survivors of sexual violence can face stigma and possible exclusion from their families.

The attacks are reportedly being carried out by rival armed groups competing to maintain control over mining areas  especially gold mines  and as retaliation against government-led military operations. Civilians find themselves trapped in the middle of intense confrontations between different groups.

Our staff have heard horrific testimonies of extreme violence. Forcibly displaced persons have accused armed groups of carrying out mass rape as women attempt to flee their homes. Some women and girls have been abducted and used as sex slaves by armed group members. Ransoms have been demanded from families in exchange for their freedom.

UNHCR and its partners continue to work with local authorities and humanitarian actors to ensure that psychosocial and medical support is provided to survivors, but the ongoing conflict and long distances to reach health centres are making it extremely difficult for them to access assistance.

UNHCR is calling on the authorities to urgently scale up security in the so-called triangle of death  an area bordering several localities between Tanganyika, Maniema, and South Kivu Provinces - to protect civilians, especially women and girls; allow humanitarian access; and for investigations to be launched and the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

As of July 2021, nearly 310,000 people have been uprooted by insecurity and violence and are currently displaced in Tanganyika Province, according to UN estimates.

Humanitarian and protection needs are growing and UNHCR is seeking further financial support. We have received just 36 per cent of the US$205 million required for our DRC operation.

For more information on this topic, please contact:
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MOSCOW, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 13th Aug, 2021) Russia recorded 815 coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours, the highest daily number since the beginning of the pandemic, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Friday.

The total death toll has reached 168,864, crisis center said.

Russia confirmed 22,277 COVID-19 cases over the past day, bringing the total caseload to 6,557,068, according to the center.
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Algiers, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Aug, 2021 ) :Firefighters battled wildfires still raging across northern Algeria Friday assisted by volunteers, but the deadly blazes in the worst-hit province of Tizi Ouzou were largely extinguished, the emergency services said.

The North African country was observing a second day of national mourning for the 71 people confirmed killed in by far the deadliest wildfires to hit the Mediterranean this summer.

Mosques across the country were expected to hold prayers for the departed after the main weekly Muslim prayers at midday.

Even in Tizi Ouzou province, fire crews remained on high alert for any resurgence of the flames that have reduced its mountain forests to charred wood and ash.

After first reporting that "all the forest fires that broke out in Tizi Ouzou were extinguished this morning", the emergency services reported "five new fires" in the province.

Fire crews continued to battle blazes in Bejaia and Boumerdes, the other two provinces of the mainly Berber Kabylie region that extends along the Mediterranean coast east of the capital Algiers, as well as in Jijel, further east.

Some 35 fires raged across 11 northern provinces, the emergency services said.

A total of 76 of the more than 100 fires that had broken out since Monday were now under control.

Two French firefighting aircraft have been supporting the emergency services in Kabylie since Thursday.

They were expected to be joined later Friday by three tanker aircraft from Spain and Switzerland, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said.

High winds fuelled the rapid spread of the flames in tinder-dry conditions created by a heatwave across North Africa and the wider Mediterranean.

Meteorologists expect the regional heatwave to continue until the end of the week, after temperatures in Algeria reached 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit).

Across the border in Tunisia, where almost 30 fires have been recorded since Monday, the mercury hit an all-time record of 50.3 Celsius in the central region of Kairouan.

On the northern shores of the Mediterranean, deadly wildfires have been raging in Turkey and Greece for the past two weeks.

In Italy, where firefighters were battling more than 500 blazes, Sicily recorded a temperature of 48.8 degrees Celsius (119.8 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday that is believed to be a new European record.
Nice, France, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Aug, 2021 ) :Princess Charlene of Monaco will undergo an operation in her home country of South Africa, officials said on Friday, as speculation grows over her absence from the principality and the state of her marriage.

"Princess Charlene will undergo Friday a four-hour operation under general anaesthesia," said a statement from the office of her husband Prince Albert II, without giving further details of the procedure.

Albert and their children will join her there during her recovery, the statement added.

In recent weeks, lifestyle magazines across Europe have speculated feverishly that the royal couple could be headed for divorce.

Charlene has been in South Africa for months, with media reports suggesting she is looking for a house there.

The former South African Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock married Albert in 2011. Their son Jacques is now next in line to head the 700-year-old House of Grimaldi.

Albert is the son of Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly, an American film star who died in a car accident in 1982.
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Istanbul, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Aug, 2021 ) :Turkish soldier was killed by shellfire in northern Iraq on Thursday, Ankara said, blaming the attack on fighters from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

"One of our heroic soldiers was seriously injured in a mortar attack by PKK terrorists on one of our bases. He was taken to hospital where he could not be saved," the Turkish Defence Ministry said in a statement.

"We immediately retaliated and according to first information received, three terrorists were neutralised," the statement added, stating that the attack had occurred in an area close to the Turkish border.

Turkish forces frequently conduct operations against PKK rear bases in northern Iraq.

Turkey launched an offensive in April -- by air and sometimes land -- targeting Iraq rear-bases of the PKK, which it considers a "terrorist" organisation.

The PKK's pan-Kurdish agenda -- for a homeland straddling Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Iran -- has often put it at odds with Iraq's autonomous Kurdish government, which has sought to maintain good relations with Ankara.

Turkish troops have maintained a network of bases in neighbouring northern Iraq since the mid-1990s on the basis of security agreements struck with Saddam Hussein's regime.
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Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has said that Koh-e-Suleman's headquarter will be made functional this year whereas the cadet college project at hill station Fort Munro will be completed at the earliest to provide the best educational facility to the students

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Aug, 2021 ) :Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has said that Koh-e-Suleman's headquarter will be made functional this year whereas the cadet college project at hill station Fort Munro will be completed at the earliest to provide the best educational facility to the students.

He said this while talking to tribal elders in Barthi area of DG Khan during a meeting. The tribal elders apprised the CM about their problems.

While issuing directions for the solution of public problems, the CM said that he knew the public problems as he was custodian of people's rights particularly living in remote and far-flung areas of the province.

The development journey had been kick-started which will be moved forward at an accelerated pace, he added and announced to connect Choki Wala with Balochistan through a road link to reduce the distance up to 120 KM.

Meanwhile, the cement factory and industrial estate will provide new job opportunities to the locals and Fazilka Kach and other areas of Koh-e-Suleman will be provided electricity through a solar grid station to be set up at Barthi, the CM said.

He said the Sorra dam will revolutionize the agrarian economy while health and education centres' upgradation will ease the access of locals to such vital facilities. The development schemes will be strictly monitored to ensure transparency and quality, the CM concluded.
The organized crime department of the Interior Ministry of Belarus was in charge of the security of opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya during the 2020 presidential election, deputy minister for internal affairs, Nikolai Karpenkov, told RT on Friday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th August, 2021) The organized crime department of the Interior Ministry of Belarus was in charge of the security of opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya during the 2020 presidential election, deputy minister for internal affairs, Nikolai Karpenkov, told RT on Friday.

"We were preparing for various provocations. I led the main department for combating organized crime and corruption. I was tasked with ensuring the safety of Tikhanovskaya. And a lot of our employees worked on ensuring her safety. When she departed for her rallies and meetings, we accompanied her and controlled ... to prevent terrorists, extremists, provocateurs who, theoretically, could commit all these crimes and then discredit the incumbent authorities," Karpenkov said in an interview.

Up to 80 people were involved in the security operations for Tikhanovskaya. Even snipers from the special department of the interior ministry were engaged in protecting certain people, the official noted.

Tikhanovskaya was proclaimed by the opposition as the real winner of the August 2020 election, which saw incumbent Alexander Lukashenko secure his sixth term. The country was gripped by protests afterward, and Tikhanovskaya fled for Lithuania. Western countries imposed a number of sanctions on Minsk for alleged electoral fraud and human rights violations.
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Masks will no longer be required on Danish public transport, the government said on Friday, as the Nordic country lifted the last of its compulsory face-covering regulations

Copenhagen, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Aug, 2021 ) :Masks will no longer be required on Danish public transport, the government said on Friday, as the Nordic country lifted the last of its compulsory face-covering regulations.

"We are now in a situation... where a large part of the population has been vaccinated and we are returning to a more normal everyday life," transport minister Benny Engelbrecht said in a statement.

From Saturday, "We can say goodbye to masks on buses, trains and the metro," he added.

The change was originally scheduled for September 1.

On Wednesday, health authorities loosened social-distancing regulations in the Scandinavian kingdom of 5.

8 million people, which has seen about 1,000 new infections a day.

Over 60 percent of the population has received a full course of the vaccine.

"We now have good control of the infection across society," Helene Bilsted Probst, deputy director of the national health agency said in a statement.

"Therefore, we can adapt the prevention recommendations in such a way that people can maintain a normal daily life while respecting the principle of prevention."Masks will remain obligatory on planes and in the country's airports, where international air-transport rules apply.
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Five children were killed when a disused grenade they were playing with exploded outside the northeast Nigerian town of Ngala, near the border with Cameroon, militiamen told AFP Friday

Kano, Nigeria, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Aug, 2021 ) :Five children were killed when a disused grenade they were playing with exploded outside the northeast Nigerian town of Ngala, near the border with Cameroon, militiamen told AFP Friday.

"The five children picked up the explosive while herding in a field outside the town and it exploded in their hands as they were playing with it," anti-jihadist militiaman Umar Kachalla said.

"Two of them died on the spot while the other three died in hospital in Mada, inside Cameroon," he said.

Another militiaman, Umar Ari, gave a similar account of the incident, which happened on Thursday.

In August 2014, the Boko Haram jihadist group seized Ngala along with the nearby trading hub of Gamboru.

The two towns were recaptured in September 2015 by Nigerian troops with the help of Chadian forces following a months-long offensive.

Ari said unexploded mines and grenades from the conflict still litter the surrounding countryside and many children had been killed or injured.

In December 2019, nine people were killed and 26 injured when an explosive device went off on a crowded bridge linking Gamboru and Fotokol.

Residents blamed the explosion on a grenade disguised as toy that, they said, had been given to some childrenas a gift by a Boko Haram insurgent.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th August, 2021) Namibia has sold only a third of all the wild elephants that it put up for auction due to excessive population growth and a growth in conflict with humans, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism said on Wednesday.

"The Ministry has successfully sold 57 out of the 170 elephants which were put on tender in December 2020. The sale of these elephants will raise a total 5.9 million Namibian Dollars [$396,228] and attracted five bidders of which only three were successful," the ministry said in a statement.

Of those sold, 15 elephants were sold to private owners in the African nation, while 42 others will be exported out of Namibia, the statement read, adding that the animals will be corralled later this month.

According to the ministry, the auction, which ran from on December 3, 2020 to January 29, 2021, was aimed at reducing the number of elephants in certain areas to minimize conflict between the animals and humans, which have become persistent and result in extensive damages to properties, deaths and the disruption of people's livelihoods.

The auction has been widely criticized by conservationists, who cast doubt on the population data and claims of human-elephant conflict  the two main factors the Namibian authorities cite to justify the sale. Conservationists have even launched a petition denouncing the auction that has gathered over 1,000 signatures, in an attempt to prevent the sale.
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NATO allies are deeply concerned by violence caused by the Taliban's (recognized as terrorist organization and outlawed in Russia) offensive in Afghanistan, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th August, 2021) NATO allies are deeply concerned by violence caused by the Taliban's (recognized as terrorist organization and outlawed in Russia) offensive in Afghanistan, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday.

Envoys of NATO member states held a meeting on Friday to discuss latest developments in Afghanistan.

"NATO Allies are deeply concerned about the high levels of violence caused by the Taliban's offensive, including attacks on civilians, targeted killings, and reports of other serious human rights abuses," Stoltenberg said in a statement.
LONDON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th August, 2021) The United Kingdom will send about 600 troops to Afghanistan to assist in the evacuation of its citizens and former Afghan employees, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said on Thursday.

"I have authorised the deployment of additional military personnel to support the diplomatic presence in Kabul, assist British nationals to leave the country and support the relocation of former Afghan staff who risked their lives serving alongside us," he said.

"The additional deployment of approximately 600 troops is in light of the increasing violence and rapidly deteriorating security environment in the country. In parallel, the number of staff working at the British Embassy in Kabul has been reduced to a core team focused on providing consular and visa services for those needing to rapidly leave the country," the ministry added.
MADRID (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th August, 2021) Switzerland has reduced the number of employees in Afghanistan by half to just three amid the escalation of violence in the country, and intends to evacuate them soon, Elisa Raggi, a spokeswoman for the Swiss Federal Department for Foreign Affairs (DFAE), told Sputnik on Friday.

"Due to the development of the situation in Afghanistan, the Foreign Ministry has halved the number of Swiss employees in the country. As a result, three people remain in Kabul at the moment. The foreign ministry will transfer these people to another country as soon as possible," Raggi said.

Spain, for its part, announced the evacuation of its personnel and citizens remaining in Afghanistan, as well as Afghans who cooperated with the Spanish forces during the war in Afghanistan.

"Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation Jose Manuel Albares has expressed today his great concern over the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan in light of the advance of the Taliban [a terrorist organization, banned in Russia] forces in their march toward Kabul and announced the start of repatriation of the embassy's personnel, of Spaniards who are left in the country, and those Afghans and their families who worked with us side by side," the country's foreign ministry said in a statement.

Afghanistan has recently suffered a spike in violence as the Taliban have begun an offensive across the country since the foreign forces began withdrawing after more than two decades of the war.

So far, militants have managed to take over major parts of the country's north and west, including 18 provincial capitals, and continue to target major cities.
1921: Veterans Bureau is born - precursor to Department of Veteran Affairs

Convalescing soldiers performing needlework as occupational therapy at Walter Reed Army Hospital, Washington, D.C., c.1918.



President Harding's mission

When he accepted the Republican nomination for president in 1920, Warren G. Harding issued a solemn promise to the more than four million Americans who had served in the U.S. armed forces during what was then simply called the World War: It is not only a duty, it is a privilege to see that the sacrifices made shall be requitted, and that those still suffering from casualties and disabilities shall be abundantly aided and restored to the highest capabilities of citizenship and enjoyment. (1)

At the time of the election, dissatisfaction with the benefits programs for World War I Veterans ran rampant throughout the country. Discharged soldiers, influential Veterans groups such as the 800,000- strong American Legion, politicians, and the press alike agreed that the current system was, if not broken, in dire need of reform. The over 200,000 service members who returned from the war with physical or mental ailments were eligible for several different types of benefits, but they had to navigate the bureaucracies of three different federal agencies to receive them: the Bureau of War Risk Insurance (BWRI) for insurance and compensation, the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) for medical and hospital care, and the Federal Board for Vocational Education for rehabilitation, education, and job training.

In the eyes of its critics, this system was not only confusing and inefficient, but it also failed to deliver to disabled Veterans the benefits and services that were their due. All insurance and disability claims had to be processed by the BWRI central office in Washington, DC, and the staff struggled to keep up with the 20,000 or more requests that flooded the mail room on average each month. The PHS also came under fire for the quality of the hospital services it provided. The agency relied on a patchwork network of government-owned or leased hospitals supplemented with beds contracted at civilian hospitals, but conditions in these facilities varied widely. Furthermore, the demand for care exceeded the supply. A 1920 report estimated that another 10,000 beds would be needed in the upcoming fiscal year, primarily for Veterans suffering from tuberculosis and psychological illnesses. Finally, the vocational training made available to disabled Veterans at commercial schools, factories, businesses, and other private facilities produced few positive results. Only a small fraction of the over 200,000 beneficiaries eligible for rehabilitation actually completed their assigned program.

Harding won the 1920 election in a landslide and after his inauguration in March 1921, his administration took on the task of fixing the defects in the benefits system.The presidential committee he appointed in April 1921 required just a few days of hearings to identify the root of the problem: The principal deplorable failure on the part of the government to properly care for the disabled veterans is due in large part to an imperfect organization of government effort. (2) The solution? The committee recommended consolidating the programs for disabled Veterans of the World War into an independent federal agency led by an executive who reported directly to the president.

Congress took up the committees proposal and by summer passed Public Law 67-47, popularly known as the Sweet Act after the name of the legislator who introduced it, establishing the Veterans Bureau. Harding signed the bill into law one hundred years ago this week, on August 8, 1921. The next day, he named Charles R. Forbes, a personal friend and decorated war Veteran who was currently running the BWRI, as the bureaus first director.

Charles R. Forbes, the first director of the Veterans Bureau, 1922. A signal officer in World War I, he saw action on the front and received a Distinguished Service Medal.



In its first annual report submitted to Congress in 1922, the new agency hailed its creation as one of the epochs of veteran relief. (3) While that was perhaps overstating the case, the founding of the Veterans Bureau did mark an important stage in the evolution of the benefits system. With the stroke of a pen, Harding brought into existence a vast new organization with broad powers, expansive responsibilities, and a budget that was one the largest in the federal government.



The bureaus central office staff of 5,000 occupied the 10-story building on Vermont Avenue in Washington, DC, that had been built in 1918 to serve as the headquarters for the now defunct BWRI. Another 25,000 men and women worked in field offices, hospitals, and schools spread across the country. As part of its plan to decentralize operations, the bureau delegated considerable authority to the 14 district offices it established. These offices could assign disability ratings and adjudicate claims and make decisions regarding medical care and vocational training. Their activities were supported by more than a hundred sub-district offices (see accompanying story on the Winston-Salem Regional Office and its predecessors) that offered a more limited range of services, including physical exams. Another important function was to serve as a first point of contact for former service members and assist them in the filing of claims and obtaining other benefits.





The Veterans Bureau did not absorb all government services for Veterans. The Pension Bureau, the agency in the Department of Interior that administered pensions for soldiers and sailors from earlier conflicts, remained separate. The same held true for the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, the network of residential facilities established after the Civil War to provide long-term care for infirm or indigent Union Veterans. These entities would eventually be combined with the Veterans Bureau by executive order in 1930 to form the Veterans Administration.

Forbes and his staff at the Veterans Bureau set out to do more than streamline operations and improve the efficiency of the organization. They also strove to provide better care and services. The bureau devoted considerable attention and resources to remedying one of weakest elements in the benefits system: vocational rehabilitation. It subjected schools and other establishments that worked with disabled Veterans to close oversight and adopted new standards and policies for how these training programs were to be conducted. The Veterans Bureau also operated its own residential and non-residential vocational schools, but this experiment was short-lived and most closed their doors after just a few years.

Typists in Veterans Bureau headquarters in Washington, DC, 1924.



The Veterans Bureaus most enduring impact came through its efforts to expand Veteran access to medical care. The agency in early 1922 inherited a number of medical clinics from the Public Health Service. At Forbes doing, it added many more. Forbes wanted to establish a clinic at every district and subdistrict office. By the middle of 1922, the bureau was well along its way towards meeting this goal, with close to 100 clinics up and running. These clinics varied in size and services, but even the smaller facilities offered medical and dental treatment, x-rays, and a clinical laboratory.

Forbes also championed an ambitious program of new hospital construction. His insistence that the Veteran Bureau control the $17 million appropriated by Congress in 1922 for this purpose brought him into conflict with powerful officials within the administration. The program was controversial for other reasons as well, but in the space of three years it produced 13 additional hospitals and over 4,000 more beds, three-fourths of which were in facilities specifically designed to treat patients with neuropsychiatric problems. Hospital capacity had increased to such an extent that Congress in 1924 agreed to permit Veterans of any conflict since 1897 to seek care in one of the bureaus hospitals, even for conditions that were not service related.

Forbes himself lasted less than two years on the job. He resigned in 1923, worn down by his responsibilities and hounded by accusations of waste and misconduct. In 1926, he was convicted of conspiring to defraud the federal government, largely on basis of the testimony of a shady businessman and bootlegger who had been frustrated in his own attempts to profit from his relationship with Forbes. The scandal, however, failed to slow the growth of the Veteran Bureaus health system. Under the leadership of Forbes successor, Frank T. Hines, the agency added new medical facilities and services. By the time the Veterans Administration replaced the Veterans Bureau in 1930, the vast majority of sick and disabled Veterans were able to receive treatment in government clinics and hospitals that were operated expressly for their care.

Forbes successor as director, Frank T. Hines, 1924. He held the top post at the Veterans Bureau and then the Veterans Administration until 1945.

By Jeffrey Seiken, Ph.D., Historian, Veterans Benefits Administration



Note: All photographs courtesy of the Library of Congress.

1. Quoted in Annual Report of the Director, United States Veterans Bureau for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1922 (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1922), p. 6-7.

2. Quoted in Rosemary Stevens, A Time of Scandal: Charles R. Forbes, Warren G. Harding and the Making of the Veterans Bureau (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2016), p. 49.

3. Annual Report, FY 1922, p. 6.
The Winston-Salem Regional Office: Celebrating 100 years of service to North Carolinas Veterans

The Charlotte Mint and Assay Building, as seen in a 1907 postcard. In 1921, it became the site of one of the first two field offices established in North Carolina by the Veterans Bureau.

The same law that established the Veterans Bureau in 1921 authorized the new agency to open up to 140 offices at the sub-district level. The purpose of these field offices was, in the words of the bureaus founding director Charles R. Forbes, to bring all of the activities of the Veterans' Bureau closer to the men they serve. (1)

To meet the needs of the estimated 100,000 Veterans of the recently concluded World War who resided in North Carolina, the bureau decided to establish two sub-district offices in the state. These offices reported to the district office in Atlanta, which also managed field offices in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee.

The Veterans Bureau installed one office in the Charlotte Mint and Assay Building, which had been built in 1837 to process gold and mint coins from the North Carolina gold rush of the 1830s. Since the government already owned the 5,700 square-foot structure, the agency could use it free of charge.(2) The second office was located in a commercial bank office in downtown Raleigh, which the bureau leased at a cost of $1,740 a year. Elsewhere in the state, the Veterans Bureau operated a hospital that had formerly belonged to the U.S. Army outside of Asheville. The 1,100-bed facility was among the largest in the bureaus inventory and the only hospital in the southeastern part of the country equipped to treat tuberculosis patients. (3)

The Charlotte office employed 92 people while only 31 worked in the smaller Raleigh office. Employees at the time earned an annual salary of $1,525. Initially, the responsibilities of the sub-district offices were limited. The duties of the staffs in the two North Carolina offices included advising Veterans about the bureaus benefits programs, assisting them with the application process, arranging physicals, and supervising their vocational training. The administrative reforms implemented by the bureaus second director, Frank T. Hines, in the mid-1920s resulted in the closing of the Raleigh office and many of the other sub-district offices around the country. In addition, the district offices were phased out and their functions delegated to the field offices, which now were designated regional offices.

Jacklyn Jack Lucas, age 17, in 1945. A Private First Class with the Marines in the Pacific, he became the youngest service member to receive the Medal of Honor since the Civil War. He joined the Winston-Salem Regional Office as a contact representative in 1946. Two Medal of Honor recipients from the Vietnam War also worked at the RO in this capacity: Lawrence Joel and Fred Zabitosky. A third Vietnam War recipient, Robert Bob Patterson, joined the RO as a Rating Veterans Service Representative.

In 1927, a Veterans Bureau study found that combining Veterans hospitals with the Regional Offices would save 10% on operating costs. More than 10 years would pass before the agency, now called the Veterans Administration, decided to act on this finding in North Carolina. On October 17, 1940, the Charlotte Regional Office relocated approximately 130 miles eastward to Fayetteville, where it took up residence in the new Fayetteville VA Medical Center.

In October 1945, Fayetteville Regional Office leaders received permission to find a larger space for its workforce. The Veterans Administration approved a move back to Charlotte. The Veterans Administration wanted to find a single, 50,000-square-foot facility to house 400 employees, but a building that met those specifications could not be found in Charlotte. However, the Regional Office did identify a suitable location in the north-central part of the state, in the city of Winston-Salem.

The move happened quickly. By March 1946, the Regional Office employees were working in an unairconditioned tobacco warehouse in Winston-Salem, while lease negotiations with a more suitable location played out. Two months later, negotiations reached a point where a move back to Charlotte seemed possible. But in June 1946, the Veterans Administration signed a five-year lease with the Nissen Building in Winston-Salem.

The Regional Office moved two more times after 1946, on both occasions to new buildings in downtown Winston-Salem. Since 1974, the Regional Office has called the Hiram H. Ward Federal Building its headquarters. The office also operates off-site locations at Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune.

The year 2021 celebrates the 100th year of the North Carolina Regional Offices service to Veterans and the 75th anniversary of its move to Winston-Salem.

Gen. Norman Gaddis, U.S. Air Force, Retired, with Winston-Salem Regional Office employees at an event on July 21, 1980 celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Veterans Administration. A fighter pilot during the Vietnam War, he spent almost six years as a POW after his plane was shot down. Photo courtesy of the Winston-Salem Regional Office.





By James Reed and the Winston-Salem Regional Office, Veterans Benefits Administration

Note: Photographs courtesy of the Winston-Salem Regional Office, Veterans Benefits Administration.

1. Quoted in Annual Report of the Director, United States Veterans Bureau for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1922 (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1922), p. 7.

2. The building was subsequently dismantled in 1933, moved to a new location, and reconstructed in 1936 to house an art museum that is still open today.

3. The hospitals original wooden buildings were replaced later in the 1920s and early 1930s by new construction. It remains part of the VA medical system under the name Charles George Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Amid growing calls for a stop to instances of intercommunal violence in South Sudans Tambura region, Bishop Edward Hiiboro Kussala of Tombura-Yambio diocese reflects on an initiative of the country's religious leaders in the service of peace.

By Vatican News staff writer

The greater Tambura region in Western Equatoria, South Sudan, has been beleaguered in recent times by intercommunal conflict, displacement, and reports of human rights violations, prompting calls for an end to the violence from several quarters, including the church.

The UN reports that numerous people have been killed or have disappeared in the conflict, amid an immense loss of capital, destroyed crops, and a situation that can lead to a food crisis. More than 30,000 people in and around the area have been displaced, and hundreds of households have been forced to camp in a church compound.

As part of efforts to broker peace in the country that is still trying to implement a peace agreement signed in September 2018, religious leaders, under the aegis of the Interfaith Council of Peace and the Interreligious Council, set out to meet with the population and political leaders in Tambura to try to bring an end to the violence.

Bishop Edward Hiiboro Kussala of Tombura-Yambio, who is a member of the peace delegation of religious leaders to Tambura spoke with Federico Piana from Vatican News. Bishop Kussala explained that the initiative brought a message of love and reconciliation that touched the hearts of the people.

A mission of God

Bishop Kussala noted that the initiative, which came to an end on Tuesday, was a success, as it was an opportunity to express closeness and compassion to the people who have suffered as a result of the violence.

It was a mission of God, he said, adding that the message of love and reconciliation has done a lot of good to those who listened to it.

South Sudans challenges

In the face of the challenges faced by the country, the bishop highlights the need for leadership  a strong and organized government  without which, conditions for confusion are created.

He went on to point out some of the difficulties in the Northeast African nation, including the high rate of poverty, and a lack of access to food, healthcare, and basic necessities. In addition, political groups in the country often find it hard to agree among themselves for the common good of the country, and the law enforcement and justice system leave a lot to be desired.

In this context, Bishop Kussala notes the difficulties the Church faces in trying to respond to people's needs. He highlights, in particular, the lack of resources to help the people affected in situations of conflict. In this regard, his attempts to ask for support from international organizations have not been very successful, as many are directing resources toward fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, as regards the initiative, he said that the message of peace was well received by the people. However, as often happens, not everyone has the will to receive it, as there are some who do not want peace because they gain from conflict situations.

Peacekeeping efforts

In the meantime, a team of United Nations peacekeepers has stepped up patrols in the area, protecting and assessing the human rights situation and advocating for the protection of people and their properties.

The UN is also supporting government efforts, as it takes up the task of stabilizing the situation and engaging the conflicting parties in dialogue to bring an end to the violence in Tambura.
California Department of Food and Agriculture declares a quarantine in parts of North San Diego County due to a citrus disease. Village news/Courtesy photo

Gig Conaughton

County of San Diego Communications Office

The California Department of Food and Agriculture declared a quarantine in parts of North San Diego County Aug. 5, after detecting a potentially devastating citrus disease in the county for the first time.

The bacterial disease, known as Huanglongbing or "citrus greening," was detected in two citrus trees on a residential property in Oceanside. The disease is not harmful to people but is deadly to citrus and could be devastating to the county's citrus industry. Huanglongbing is spread by tiny insects, the Asian citrus psyllid, if they are carrying the bacterium when they feed on citrus plants and trees.

California Department of Food and Agriculture officials said the 60-square-mile quarantine area will prohibit people and businesses from moving citrus nursery stock, plant parts and fruit outside the quarantine boundaries, with the exception of commercially cleaned and packed fruit that adhere to specific requirements. The quarantine also prohibits people from moving residential citrus plants and plant parts off the properties on which they are grown.

The quarantine area is bordered on the north by Vandegrift Boulevard; on the south by Carlsbad Village Drive; on the west by the Pacific Ocean; and on the east by Melrose Drive. UPDATE: Since the detection, the quarantine boundaries have been revised. The detection has established a mandatory 68-square-mile quarantine area around the find site to restrict the movement of citrus fruit, trees and related plant material. The updated quarantine area is bordered on the north by Stagecoach Road at Camp Pendleton; on the south by Tamarack Avenue in Carlsbad; on the west by the Pacific Ocean; and on the east by North Santa Fe Ave in Vista. See map.

"Unfortunately, Huanglongbing is fatal to citrus," said San Diego Agricultural Commissioner Ha Dang, "so our goal is to stop this from spreading any farther. By working together, we can all protect San Diego County's $150 million citrus industry from this deadly disease."

The California Department of Food and Agriculture, the United States Department of Agriculture and San Diego County's Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures are working together on the quarantine. Work includes treating the residential location where the disease was found, establishing the quarantine boundaries and notifying businesses and residents within the quarantine area.

CDFA and AWM will coordinate informational meetings for commercial growers, nurseries and residents in the quarantine area. AWM will have information available on its website with links to Google translator that can translate the information into multiple languages, https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/awm/CQP.html.

Dang said this was a critical time for homeowners to protect their backyard citrus trees by searching for evidence of the Asian citrus psyllid and the disease.

Huanglongbing affects the vascular system of citrus trees and plants. Once a tree is infected, it cannot be saved and will die within a few years.

Huanglongbing symptoms include blotchy yellowing of leaves, yellow shoots, lopsided, small and rancid-tasting fruit, and premature, excessive fruit drop. If people are not sure if their plants are infected, they can contact the CDFA "Report-a-Pest" hotline at 1-800-491-1899.

Inside the quarantine area, CDFA urged residents to take the following steps:

 Do not move citrus plants, leaves or foliage into or out of the quarantine area.

 Cooperate with agricultural officials who are placing traps, inspecting trees and treating for the pest.

 If you no longer wish to care for your citrus tree, consider removing it so it does not become a host to the pest and disease.

Inspectors first found the Asian citrus psyllid in San Diego County in 2008. But this is the first time they have found Huanglongbing disease. There are existing Huanglongbing quarantine areas in parts of Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, where more than 2,400 trees have tested positive for the disease and been removed.

Courtesy of the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program

Commercial growers in the quarantine area can contact Sandra Zwaal at [email protected] for more information. Zwaal is the Asian Citrus Psyillid Huanglongbing Grower liaison for the California Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program, which is primarily funded by California growers and CDFA. Zwaal will also be working with the San Diego County Farm Bureau and San Diego County Pest Control District.

Nurseries and retail businesses that sell citrus should contact CDFA Environmental Scientist Jemellee Urbino at [email protected] for more information.

Maps of the quarantine area and updated information can be found on CDFA's website, https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/citrus/pests_diseases/hlb/regulation.html, check this link for future quarantine expansions, should they occur.
After over two-and-a-half years following the arrest of Meng Wanzhou at a Canadian airport in the province of British Columbia for alleged violations of U.S. sanctions on Iran, lawyers for the Government of Canada have entered the second day of court proceedings to determine whether or not the Huawei executive is to be extradited to the United States to face her accusers.

On August 12, Canadian courts convened for a second day to determine the fate of Meng Wanzhou who has been under house arrest in one of her homes in the British Columbian interior since her arrest on December 1, 2018.

Meng is the Chief Financial Officer for Chinese telecom giant Huawei and the daughter of the companys founder.

She was detained in 2018 by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) at the request of the United States while transferring planes at the Vancouver International Airport en route to Mexico from Hong Kong.

Meng is accused of lying to HSBC about Huaweis control of another company during a 2013 presentation, putting the bank at risk of violating U.S. sanctions in Iran. The Epoch Times reported. Mengs legal team has consistently denied any wrongdoing by their client.

On January 28, 2019, the U.S. Department of Justice formally levied financial fraud charges against Meng. Approximately a year later, on January 20, 2020 extradition hearings began ending months later on May 27, 2020 when the British Columbia court ordered her extradition to proceed. Appeals and allegations of unlawful search and seizure and unlawful detention have dragged out the court proceedings.

Today, lawyers for Canadas attorney general, who are representing the United States in the case, are attempting to convince the Canadian judiciary that American prosecutors have enough evidence to support a case against her.

Canadian lawyers are expected to argue that an international bank risked losses due to alleged lies told by the embattled CFO.

Hostage diplomacy

Her arrest is being blamed for souring China-Canada relations to the point where Chinese authorities arbitrarily detained Canadian expats in China on trumped up espionage charges that have been widely panned as baseless, particularly the arrests of Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovirg.

Spavor was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Wednesday August 11 by a court in Dandong China for illegally providing state secrets to other countries. In addition he had his personal property confiscated and was fined 50,000 yuan (US$7,715).

Spavors arrest by Chinese authorities in 2018 came just days after Mengs arrest in Canada leading many to conclude that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was engaging in hostage diplomacy tactics.

The court also ordered that Spavor be deported, however it was not clear when this would occur. There is a possibility that Spavor could be deported back to Canada prior to his sentence being completely served.

Many speculate that the outcome of Mengs trial will determine whether or not Spavor is deported prior to his sentence ending.

On August 11, the Global Times, a state-run media organization in China, published an article praising the Chinese courts decision calling it a clear show of Chinas resolve and determination to safeguard its independent judicial system and national interests despite baseless attacks and mounting pressure from the West.

Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, blasted the verdict as absolutely unacceptable and unjust adding that, The verdict for Mr Spavor comes after more than two-and-a-half years of arbitrary detention, a lack of transparency in the legal process, and a trial that did not satisfy even the minimum standards required by international law.
Construction of a third nuclear missile silo array  purportedly being built to house more than 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles  has been identified in China by Pentagon officials using satellite imagery, the Washington Times has learned.

This most recently discovered field is the third field of its size identified this year by U.S. intelligence agencies and appears to be equal in size to the two other fields.

Adm. Charles Richard, commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, said Thursday, Aug. 12, that the first two missile fields being built are part of Chinas explosive expansion of nuclear forces, as reported by the Washington Times.

Admiral Richards told an audience at a missile defence conference that we are witnessing a strategic breakout by China. The explosive growth in their nuclear and conventional forces can only be what I described as breathtaking.He added that frankly, that word breathtaking may not be enough.

The missile silos are in addition to existing ICBMs that the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) has deployed in silos as well as scores of road-mobile, submarine launched and long-range missiles.

The Chinese militarys new DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missiles, which can reportedly reach the United States, are seen at a parade to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949, at Tiananmen Square on October 1, 2019 in Beijing, China. (Image: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Pentagon officials are speculating that China will use the missile field to house the newest addition to their arsenal, the DF-41 missile, which is believed to be able to accommodate upwards of 10 warheads carried on multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles or MIRVs.

MIRVs are an exoatmospheric ballistic missile that can contain several warheads, each capable of being aimed to hit different targets.

Satellite imagery indicates that this third site is located near Hanggin Banner, Ordos city, in the Inner Mongolia region. Two additional sites consisting of more than 100 silos each were discovered this June and July in the desert outside the northwestern city of Yumen.

The sites are all situated in the Chinese interior, far from the eastern coast.

A growing arsenal

The three new missile bases have the potential to house between 350 and 400 long-range missiles, U.S. officials said. This would indicate that Chinas arsenal could increase to more than 4,000 warheads when accounting for their DF-41 inventory alone.

The United States currently has an estimated inventory of 3,800 warheads with 1,357 deployed for use and the others in storage.

Adm. Richard said that while the United States has a larger warhead stockpile than China, two-thirds of them are operationally unavailable due to treaty constraints, such as provisions under the New Start treaty with Russia. China does not have to contend with such constraints.

Last year, the Pentagon estimated that the Chinese military had a number of nuclear warheads numbered in the low 200s and are expected to increase their stockpile by an additional 200 in the coming years. Adm. Richard believes that intelligence estimates of Chinas nuclear buildup needs to be updated weekly due to the pace of Beijings arms development.

China is steadily expanding its nuclear deterrent, including missile-carrying submarines in addition to land-based silos and mobile launchers. (Image: wikimedia / CC0 1.0)

The actual number of new missiles intended for these silos is unknown but could be much smaller. China has been known to deploy decoy silos in the past.

Its a tactic used by the U.S. and presumably other nuclear powers. During the Cold War American strategic forces would move missiles from silo to silo in a sort of shell game with the hopes of confusing their Soviet rivals.

Questions still remain whether or not China has the ability to produce adequate quantities of fissile material to fully arm their arsenal.

Rapid nuclear development

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated last week that the United States is watching Chinas rapid nuclear development with alarm.

Blinken stated in a virtual meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum that there was deep concern with the rapid growth of the PRCs nuclear arsenal, which highlights how Beijing has sharply deviated from its decades-old nuclear strategy based on minimum deterrence.

Adm. Richard believes that Chinas rapid expansion of their nuclear arsenal will be used to coerce the United States.

It really doesnt matter why China continues to modernize. What matters is they are building the capability to execute any plausible nuclear employment strategy  the last brick in the wall of a military capable of coercion, he said.

While the Chinese have denied that they are shifting their strategic forces, Adm. Richard said, you have to look at what they do, not what they say.
A Swiss biologist, Wilson Edwards, has been widely quoted by Chinas state-run media as criticizing the United States for politicizing the World Health Organizations (WHO) investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic; the problem is, he doesnt exist.

China Daily, a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) mouthpiece quoted the biologist as saying, As a biologist, Ive witnessed in consternation over the past months how the origin-tracing of Covid-19 was politicized.

Shanghai Dailys digital platform, SHINE, quoted him as saying, The US is so obsessed with attacking China on the origin-tracing issue that it is reluctant to open its eyes to the data and findings.

The quotes have been traced back to a single Facebook post on an account that was created on July 24, 2021 that had posted only once and had a total of three friends.

Switzerlands embassy in Beijing was quick to correct the record in a tweet on August 10 stating, In the last several days, a large number of press articles and social media posts citing an alleged Swiss biologist have been published in China. While we appreciate the attention on our country, the Embassy of Switzerland must unfortunately inform the Chinese public that this is false.

Looking for Wilson Edwards, alleged  biologist, cited in press and social media in China over the last several days. If you exist, we would like to meet you! But it is more likely that this is a fake news, and we call on the Chinese press and netizens to take down the posts. pic.twitter.com/U6ku5EGibm  Embassy of Switzerland in Beijing (@SwissEmbChina) August 10, 2021

The embassy noted in their tweet that there was no registry of any Swiss citizen with the name Wilson Edwards adding that a search had revealed no academic articles in the fictitious mans name while drawing attention to the highly questionable Facebook account.

Taking a diplomatic stance the embassy said, While we assume that the spreading of this story was done in good faith by the media and netizens, we kindly ask that anyone having published this story take it down and publish a corrigendum.

A corrigendum is a correction of an error, especially in print.

Within hours of the tweet, Chinese state-run news outlets had removed all references to the fake biologists name.

Chinese propaganda mill

China is being accused of waging a massive propaganda campaign in an attempt to deflect blame over the origins of the coronavirus pandemic which has claimed over 4.3 million lives and infected over 205 million people to date.

Beijing did welcome an international team of scientists, sent by the World Health Organization (WHO), to Wuhan  ground zero of the pandemic  earlier this year however the experts were met with limited access to conduct their investigation.

Following their departure, Beijing then called on the WHO to investigate other countries, including the United States.

China has been countering allegations that the virus may have leaked from the now infamous Wuhan Institute of Virology in late 2019 with increasingly bizarre accusations including suggesting the virus escaped from a U.S. military lab.

On Monday, a team of Chinese researchers held a widely publicized event to launch a report titled, America Ranked First?! The Truth about Americas fight against COVID-19.

In the report the researchers accused the U.S. of covering up the pandemic while floating baseless conspiracy theories claiming the virus originated in a lab at Fort Detrick while accusing the U.S. of attempting to stall the WHOs investigative efforts.

This is a typical strategy employed by the CCP; project, lie and project again.

Originally labelled a conspiracy theory by western media, the idea that the virus did indeed escape from a lab in Wuhan has garnered significant attention.

While the Biden administration has instructed the U.S. intelligence apparatus to once-and-for-all determine the origins of the pandemic, the widely accepted theory is that the virus jumped from a host animal into the human population.
Hor Seyha remembers shadowing Srey Bandaul from school to school in Siem Reap, painting colorful pictures on the buildings walls. Hor Seyha was inspired and, in 2005, Srey Bandaul started training him to draw and paint  skills that not only helped him earn a living but also molded him as an artist. He explained to me the benefits of painting. He said that in the world, the field of painting is widely recognized, Hor Seyha said. Everything we see, such as houses, models, cars, or anything, is developed from the scratch of paintings. Since then, I have embraced this as a meaningful career. Srey Bandaul is the co-founder of Phare Ponleu Selapak, an arts organization based in Battambang province. The 49-year-old artist was hospitalized with COVID-19 last week and died on August 4 at a treatment facility in Battambang city. Srey Bandaul is survived by his wife and two daughters.

The influential artists legacy, his friends and family said, was his ability to nurture and mentor talented individuals  many of whom came from at-risk or vulnerable communities  by giving them a safe haven at the art school. Hor Seyha is a good example of Srey Bandauls influence on the Cambodian art landscape. Hor Seyha, 30, is now a professional painter at the Romchiek 5 Artspace in Battambang, but only after Bandaul offered him a part-time job painting murals at schools in 2007. When I made a mistake, I was afraid he would blame me. It turns out when we met, he tapped on my shoulder and talked with me, and encouraged me, Hor Seyha said. A press release from Phare Ponleu Selapak points to Srey Bandauls impressive career. He had his work exhibited in many countries, including Turkey, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar and Australia, and authored two books as well.

Khuon Deth, a co-founder of Phare Ponleu Selapak, had a front row seat to Srey Bandaul accomplishments. We had been together since we were little. There were so many precious memories, Khuon Deth said. "As we grew up, we nurtured and took care of each other," he added. In our personal life, we gave each other advice. We always shared our thoughts and visions on how to grow Phares future. Srey Bandaul has always pointed to his drawing teacher, Veronique Decrop, as a guiding force in his early development as an artist. They first met at a refugee camp in Thailand, where thousands had fled to escape the Khmer Rouges murderous regime. This death takes me back to other deaths within our founding team and I feel crushed, she said on Wednesday. Bandol was not old enough to die and he still had so much to do and give, to his family, to his little girls and also to us, to Phare.

After returning to Cambodia in 1994, Srey Bandaul and a few friends decided to start Phare Ponleu Selapak to restore the countrys art culture but also create a Cambodian identity through its art. But Srey Bandaul wasnt blinkered by a focus on the arts, but also on how it could reduce trauma faced by Cambodians. We wanted to help others who experienced trauma the same way by using arts to heal them. Bandaul always said that Phare means the light to give hope to other peoples lives', Khuon Deth said. Sao Sreymao is a Cambodian independent artist who met Srey Bandaul as a teenager. He showed her the beauty of art, Sreymao said, and how it can help solve lifes struggles. This helped the teen who had lost family members, dropped out of school and had run away from her home. And, to change my [negative] thoughts, he urged me to go to the library and read books. For someone who had lost themselves at such a young age, his presence was just so important for our growth, Sao Sreymao said.
Zambia election officials say they will announce the outcome of Thursdays elections within 72 hours after the last citizen voted late in the night.

Electoral commission spokesperson Patricia Luhanga says the commission is pleased with the large turnout.

"The numbers we've seen are quite unprecedented. And for us as a commission, this gives us a sense of pride. Because we look at the total number of registered voters that is slightly above seven million and we look at the queues that we have experienced on poll day, we have nothing but a sense of pride," said Luhanga.

Some voters began standing in line at the polling stations around 1am Thursday  five hours before voting began.





Choolwe Hampondela was among those who were in line hours early at the Kabulonga Boys Secondary School polling station in Lusaka. Election officials said some people had slept at the school to ensure their place in line.

Actually I didn't sleep. I've been waiting for this day for the past five years and I'm glad it's here today," said Hampondela. "I just want to exercise my rights as a youth. I'm very excited about this one.

Lucky Kawaya was not put off by the long queue at Vera Chiluba Primary School polling center in Lusaka.



Its exhausting standing in the queue but it is not bad. If you registered to vote, there is no reason why you shouldnt vote. Just join the queue and make your leaders, choose your leaders. There is nobody else will choose your leaders for you," said Kawaya.

Analysts had expressed concern about potential violence during the elections. Clashes between supporters of the governing Patriotic Front (PF) and partisans of the main opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) alliance left two people dead in one constituency in Lusaka earlier this month.

The violence, officials say, led to the deployment of the military to that constituency to help maintain law and order. The electoral commission also imposed campaign bans in the constituency. It, however, lifted the restriction after the military was sent to other parts of the city to keep the peace.

Thursday's general election was mostly peaceful despite reports of violence in parts of the country. The electoral commissions Luhanga says at least one person died during voting.

"It's quite interesting that despite the country being mostly peaceful, we have received reports of violence specifically in the southern province of Zambia as well as the northwestern province," Luhanga said. "And unfortunately, for northwestern province we have recorded a death. This, we are working with the Zambian police to establish what happened and because it's a criminal nature we'll have to have the police deal with it holistically."

Officials of the African Union Poll Observer Mission said the process was peaceful. Representatives of political parties at the polling stations they visited, they say, had no problems and were pleased with how the elections were administered.

Former Sierra Leonean president Ernest Bai Koroma, who led the AU observers, told VOA he was pleased with how Zambians behaved during voting.

Koroma commended the patience and decorum of the large crowds at the polling stations he visited. He also praised the professionalism of the electoral commission staff at the polling stations as well as the police there to maintain the peace.

Before election day, Koroma met with many stakeholders, including incumbent President Edgar Lungu, his main rival, Hakainde Hichilema, other presidential candidates, civil society and religious groups. He called on the candidates to accept the outcome of Thursday's vote.

"We have cautioned them, even those that have concerns that yet concerns are there, we will address the concerns. It is all part of building the democratic process, [and] we will continue to engage. But the concerns should not cause anybody to reject the outcome," said Koroma, assuring that, "there are constitutional methods to adopt if you are in disagreement with the outcome.

The electoral commission says results from urban areas have begun trickling in. Officials say they will give regular updates to keep the country informed about the vote-counting process. Election analysts say they expect the results of the presidential election to be declared this weekend.

However, if none of the 16 candidates capture more than 50 percent of the vote, there will be a runoff.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized a third shot of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for some people with weakened immune systems.

The agencys acting commissioner, Dr. Janet Woodcock, said in a statement late Thursday, The FDA is especially cognizant that immunocompromised people are particularly at risk for severe disease.

Other individuals who are fully vaccinated are adequately protected, Woodcock said, and do not need an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine at this time.

Scientists have been debating whether to offer extra doses of COVID-19 vaccines to certain immunocompromised people, such as organ transplant recipients or cancer patients. A recent study by Johns Hopkins University found that many transplant patients had little to no antibody protections after receiving the full two doses of a vaccine, but a third shot boosted their protection.

Anywhere between 3 million and 9 million Americans have weakened immune systems, either due to disease or because of medications they take.

Also Thursday, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett rejected a request from a group of Indiana University students who sought to block a school mandate requiring students to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. The school may continue to move forward with its vaccine mandate.

In her decision, Justice Barrett did not report that she consulted with the courts other justices about the case. Barrett handles emergency petitions from the area of the country where Indiana University is located.

People celebrate after the Salt Lake County Council voted Aug. 12, 2021, in Salt Lake City, to overturn a school mask order for kids younger than 12 issued early this week by the countys top health official.

Officials in northern Germany are afraid that a nurse has injected more than 8,000 people with a saline solution instead of a COVID vaccination and are urging the people to get another COVID shot.

Many of the people are in the high-risk over-70 age group. Originally, the nurse in Friesland was thought to have injected only six people with the saline solution, as part of a cover-up for dropping a Pfizer coronavirus vaccine vial. The number of affected people increased drastically as police continued to investigate the case and now 8,557 people have been asked to return to vaccination centers for another shot.

Police say the nurse shared skeptical opinions about vaccines on social media.

California became the first U.S. state Wednesday to require teachers and support staff members to either be inoculated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing.

Governor Gavin Newsom said the new order applies to both public and private schools across the nations most populous state, and includes teachers aides, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and volunteers.

Newsomes order was supported by the head of the California Teachers Association, E. Toby Boyd. Educators want to be in classrooms with their students, Boyd said, and the best way to make sure that happens is for everyone who is medically eligible to be vaccinated. Teachers unions, both on the national and local levels, have increasingly softened their opposition to vaccine mandates amid the current surge of new COVID-19 cases due to the more contagious delta variant.

Randi Weingarten, the head of the American Federation of Teachers, said last week during a television interview that as a matter of personal conscience, I think that we need to be working with our employers, not opposing them, on vaccine mandates.

The Canadian government announced Wednesday that it was developing a digital COVID-19 vaccine passport for its citizens to use for international travel.

Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said the federal government in Ottawa is working with provinces and territories, which are responsible for vaccinating residents, on a common approach in creating the passport, which should be available in the next few months.

Mendocino said the vaccine passport is a key step forward in ensuring Canadians will have the documents they need once it is safe to travel again.

Some information for this report came from the Associated Press and Reuters.
User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale

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Torrox, Malaga, Andalusia (46.9 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Felt a very weak shaking. Layed completely still on my couch, and suddenly it felt like a mini shake. | 6 users found this interesting.

Nerja City (47.5 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 2-5 s : Weak shaking | 5 users found this interesting.

Granada (16.9 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : On a entendu les batiments grincer, les rideaux bouges, la television egalement. Drole de ressenti par rapport aux vibrations | 3 users found this interesting.

Mezquitilla de Algarrobo (Malaga) / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : La mesa y el ordenador con el que estaba trabajando, se movieron. No note que lo hiciese la silla; pero mi mujer noto movimiento en el sofa. | 3 users found this interesting.

Torrox Costa (50.2 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : The whole holiday Appartment (very stable too) shook sideways for about 2-4 seconds. Scary for my first quake. | 2 users found this interesting.

Torrox (46.9 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : felt like a washing machine on spin. Glasses rattled felt on the 3rs story of terrace house | 3 users found this interesting.

Nerja / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging : I was lying in the bath. In an apartment on the 3Rd floor of calaceita near Nerja The bath suddenly shook and the wall as well. | 2 users found this interesting.

Torrox / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : The wardrobe doors were rattling, bed shacking, worst I have experienced since being in Spain. Even heard some neighbours screeching. | 2 users found this interesting.

Torrox Park / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Estaba acostada en mi cama y la misma vibro, moviendose lateralmente como sacudiendose en dos momentos separados por una pausa. | 2 users found this interesting.

Torrox, Malaga / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Se noto un pequeno movimiento antes muy flojo, y unos cinco segundos despues el terremoto. Duracion 3 segundos. Lamparas y diversos adornos se movieron. | 2 users found this interesting.

Torre del Mar, Malaga, Andalusia (54.9 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : Mi cama se sacudio de un lado al otro ligeramente pero lo suficientemente fuerte para reconocer que era un sismo. | One user found this interesting.

Chauchina (3.1 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Woke up because of the shaking, it only lasted a few seconds, things were moving from side to side this was a powerful one | One user found this interesting.

Granada, Andalusia (17.3 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s : Entire apartment complex was shaking. 5th floor. Walls/couch was squeaking | 2 users found this interesting.

Competa / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Dogs and horses upset 5 minutes before. Then rumbling that grew till walls looked as though they were swaying in the wind. Expected roof to cave in but it all just stopped and went silent. | One user found this interesting.

Almunecar, Granada, Spain 18690 / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s : I was sitting in bed reading. There was a noise and the bed jerked back-and-forth quickly. Then it stopped. Our house is built on a hill of rock in Los Pinos. | One user found this interesting.

Granada / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Se movia la cama conmigo, dos armarios de madera se movian, me ha dado tiempo a encender la luz y ver como aun se movian los armarios | One user found this interesting.

Torrox Costa / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Sofas where we sat on were shaking, bookshelf which is not attached to wall visibly shaking, almost toppled. | One user found this interesting.

Arroyo de la Miel-Benalmadena Costa (91.3 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : I felt my bed moving side to side about 3 separate times in just a few minutes. Only lasted a few seconds each time. I thought I was going crazy. Nothing else moved. Just the bed. I could feel it quite strong.

Illora (19.9 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s : In bed, reading. A loud noise, like a bang then immediate shaking. Realized it was a strong earth tremor.

Illora (19.9 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s : In bed, reading. A loud noise, like a bang then immediate shaking. Realized it was a strong earth tremor.

Torrox, Malaga, Andalusia (50.6 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 1-2 s : I was in bed in the 9. floor of a bilding, in me habitacion in Torrox-Costa.I was in bed. The bed moved a lot por aproximadamente 2 o 3 sek.

Valle niza , (59.1 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : At the very beginning My roof started making a very strange sound like a groaning the sound went from right side then left side back and forth. Then my bed starting shaking up and down very very quickly to quickly to jump out then as well as shaking the bed started to roll only few times . During this I could hear my carport metal beams making noise . Then very suddenly it all stopped.

Vinuela (46.3 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : I was sitting in my chair. The floor beneath my feet vibrated. The glasses in the heavy wooden cupboard rattled together.

Malaga capital (74.7 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : I was in my appartment on the 6th floor of a 13-floor building, laying on bed. It felt as if the bed swayed gently horizontally. My partner, sitting on a sofa in an adjacent room, felt the same. No objects fell off shelves.

Granada (15.1 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : It was terrible. I was sitting at the table and everything round me started shaking! It lasted few seconds. What an unpleasant experience!

Alcaucin, Malaga, Andalusia (43.9 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : For about 5 seconds , sounds like large things being dragged . Then like a huge short explosion very far away .

Malaga (74.4 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : We were on the couch. It was like someone was moving it sideways but very smoothly. It felt so weird because this lasted at least 10 sec.

Malaga (74.4 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : We were on the couch. It was like someone was moving it sideways but very smoothly. It felt so weird because this lasted at least 10 sec.

Frigiliana (42.7 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s : Woke me up, bed shaking very much for about 1.5 seconds. Heard rumbling noise and what sounded like something falling. Got up and checked everything - some pictures were not straight on walls.

Malaga, Andalusia (75.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s : Si, senti el temblor durante dos o tres segundos. Vivo en un tercer piso. La intensidad fue leve pero el sofa se balanceba ligeraamente.

Fuengirola (101.5 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Estaba tumbado en la cama y note como de repente crujio la madera de la cama como si hubiera alguien ejerciendo fuerza sobre ella hacia los lados (es una litera) y comenzo a moverse durante aproximadamente unos 5-6 segundos. Somos 4 personas en casa, unicamente lo note yo ya que estaba tumbado sin moverme.

Moraleda de Zafayona, Granada, Andalusia (15.7 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Heard noice first. Thought it was a truck approaching but ground began to shake under our feet and definite. Our dogs were disturbed and ran to us. It lasted about 5secs then movement stopped and noice quickly stopped.

Caleta de Velez (52 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Estabamos tumbados en la cama leyendo se movieron las puertas correderas de los armarios y las ventanas y el suelo. Mi esposo y yo dijimos lo mismo: eso ha sido un terremoto.

Torrox (44.4 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Mon lit a bouge. Je men suis tout de suite rendu compte. Et le canape dans le salon aussi a bouge

Mijas Costa (101.8 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / vertical swinging (up and down) / very short : Sat on my bed and I started rocking back and forth, my husband also felt it sat on the sofa in the lounge

MALAGA (75.9 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / vibration and rolling / 5-10 s : I felt my sofa shake and my plants shake too for about 6 seconds at 11.28pm here in Malaga next to the docks

Los Vados (47.4 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Thought it was the washing machine spinning full of towels; then wife confirmed that the washing machine wasnt on!

Velez-Malaga (50.8 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Me ha llegado a despertar. | One user found this interesting.

Granada city centre (16.7 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s : Shaking building very scary | One user found this interesting.

Albox, Almeria, Andalusia (147.7 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt Nothing felt in Albox | One user found this interesting. (reported through (reported through our app / not felt

Malaga (72.8 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : Strong and repetitive swinging. The television nearly collapsed off the unit. | One user found this interesting.

malaga (75 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 30-60 s : It was very soft.. but hard enough to move all the furniture. no panic here | One user found this interesting.

Malaga, Andalusia (78.6 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single vertical bump / 2-5 s : Soy de Malaga y lo he sentido | One user found this interesting. I felt it from Torrox costa. 6 seconds and afraid i was / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single vertical bump / 2-5 s

Malaga, Andalusia (78 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Shook the sofa | One user found this interesting.

Sayalonga, Spain / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : The shaking was strong and sudden, a rattling and not a rolling quake; furniture shifted slightly; a painting I had leaning against a wall, behind a small dresser, rattled back and forth strongly between the wall and the small dresser loudly for 5+ seconds. I was awake, sitting up in bed in a lower level bedroom, and the bed shook; the whole house shook. A friend upstairs also felt the quake strongly. I used to live in Los Angeles and it was comparable to a 4.5 quake I was in years ago.

Torre del mar / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s : The Couch I was laying on started shaking for a very short time. 2 Roommates felt the same in their beds.

Alhaurin el Grande / Weak shaking (MMI III) : I felt it coming. So did the local wild life. I've been awake most of the night. The cockerels were all crowing at 4am this morning and the local goats were rattleing their bells. I heard a horrible high pitched noise for most of the morning and thought it was a migraine but it stopped after the shaking, so maybe it was tectonic plates rubbing together. My house has cracks in it and my floor has moved around more. I don't think I'm even insured for it. The last one we had here which burst a pipe

moraleda de zafayona / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single vertical bump / 2-5 s : we were in bed just felt a bump and rattle of loose items at 23.25 hrs not sure what it was, thought it may be an earthquake

Nerja / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : I was lying watching tv in bed and the bed started shaking then the tv stand started shaking but it didnt last too long.

Chauchina / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / complex motion difficult to describe / 5-10 s : Le sol trembler un bruit intense venait du sol.. a la fois grave et fort.. tout trembler a l horizontal

Malaga / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : 12 Aug 2021 11:30pm appx. I am staying in Malaga and my bed is shaking a bit but i ignored it and next morning when news came out then i come to know bed is shaking because of quake.

Nerja Spain / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : The door rattled on its hinges as though someone was knocking it fast. My wifes bed moved slightly and my daughters bed shook/vibrated. I myself feel a moving sensation as I walked to the door.

Velez Malaga / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s : Das Bett, auf dem ich lag, wurde deutlich spurbar seitlich wie geschuttelt. Das Haus schien zu beben. Es fuhlte sich unwirklich an

Frigiliana / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : A good shake on the edge of natural park in Frigilianaenough that all the neighbours came out of their houses

Durcal / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : It started like thunder getting louder and louder then the floor in house rumbled violently. Pictures swung on walls, drawers in furniture rattled and opened. Lasted about 7 seconds - we were worried it wouldn't stop as it kept increasing. Worst we've experienced here in 2 years.

Velez-Malaga / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 15-20 s : Estando acostada la cama empezo a moverse y las puertas de los armarios a traquetear. Mi marido se desperto.

Salobrena / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Sitting outside and the the glasses on the table rattled and I could feel movement through the chair.

Granada Capital / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 10-15 s : Very noticeable. The door was rattling in its hinges, the sofa I was sitting on was moving. You could hear creaks in the walls.

e / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s : apoyado con los codos en la encimera de mi cocina mirando el movil senti un sacudo lateral 5 segundos aproximado y me sacudio el cuerpo

Cenes de la Vega / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Normally if there is a lighter earthquake we can only feel it on the third floor. This time we could feel the shaking also on the second floor. Probably the strongest earthquake I felt in Granada. definitely above 4.00.

Malaga, Malaga / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 20-30 s : My dog started barking and sy sofa started moving a little bit, for 30 seconds more or less. | One user found this interesting.

Marriot Marbella Beach Resort (115.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Marriot Marbella Beach Resort (115.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Velez-Malaga, Andalusia (52.3 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Malaga, Andalusia (78.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s : Nos quedamos sorprendidos

Marriot Marbella Beach Resort (115.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Malaga, Andalusia (78.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s : Nos quedamos sorprendidos

Torrox, Malaga, Andalusia (48.9 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Ja, die Stuhlruckenlehne hat gewackelt. Im Ort Torrox.

Marriot Marbella Beach Resort (115.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Malaga (78 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Malaga (75.8 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 30-60 s

ANTEQUERA de ex (71.3 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s

Pinos del valle (35.2 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Torrox, Malaga, Andalusia (48 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Nerja (46.3 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Marriot Marbella Beach Resort (115.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Alcaucin (42.4 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt

Balcon de Europa hotel, in bed on the 9th floor (47.4 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s The bed moved along the floor from the shaking. (reported through (reported through our app / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s

Nerja, Malaga, Andalusia (47.6 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s

fuengirola (102.9 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Malaga (93.9 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s

Almogia, Malaga (83.3 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Madrid (356.5 km N of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt

Madrid (361.2 km N of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt : In madrid no sensatione

Vinuela (45.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Was in bed and felt the floor and mattress vibrating for 5 seconds!

Nerja, Malaga, Andalusia (48.4 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s

Torrox costa (1.1 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) : Ein wenig kurz gespuhrt

Casa (78.2 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s Si un balanceo (reported through (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Granada (17.4 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt

Albox, Almeria, Andalusia (146.9 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt Didn't feel it in albox (reported through (reported through our app / not felt

Malaga (76 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Almunecar (49.1 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Sitting on a balcony and felt considerable movement coming from the ground

Torrox, Malaga, Andalusia (46.8 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s : We heard a rumble then I felt the house move slightly

Torrox costa (50.5 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 30-60 s (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 30-60 s

Malaga, Andalusia (73.5 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Cenes de la Vega, Granada, Andalusia (23.5 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s

Malaga, Andalusia (76.2 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vibration and rolling / 15-20 s : Bed shook, door rattled, TV vibrated and moved back and forth, water in jug seen to move.

Nerja, Malaga, Andalusia (46.1 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s

Salobrena (48.6 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vibration and rolling / 2-5 s

Nerja (45.9 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s

Valdes, Malaga, Andalusia (61.8 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) Moverse la cama (reported through (reported through our app / Very weak shaking (MMI II)

Rincon de la Victoria (65.8 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Windows rattled and felt like the sofa was moving and the building shook.

Periana (43.6 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s

Baza, Granada, Andalusia (95.3 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt

Torrox Costa (50.9 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Granada (16.6 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : 5 seconds or so of shaking - the whole building rattling.

Cijuela (4.1 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s (reported through our app / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s

Guillena, Andalusia (205.4 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / very short

Torromolinos (89.8 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s

Cordoba, Andalusia (116.4 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s

Huelva (278 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt Nada de nada (reported through (reported through our app / not felt

Huelma, Jaen, Andalusia (64.1 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

El Morche (50.7 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Maro (45.2 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 2-5 s

Malaga (75.5 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging

Granada, Andalusia (17 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s

Arroyo de la Miel, Benalmadena (Malaga) (91.2 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s

Torre del Mar, Malaga, Andalusia (55 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Malaga (77.8 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Velez-Malaga, Andalusia (51.2 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s

El Varadero (55.7 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Almunecar, Granada, Andalusia (44.8 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / very short

Granada (17.3 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Malaga, Andalusia (78.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s : Nos quedamos sorprendidos

Algarrobo Costa (52.1 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s

Competa (40.5 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Felt stronger than a 4.6.

Calaceite, Torrox Costa (49.3 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 20-30 s : Bed shook quite strongly for about 20secs.

Torre del mar (54.4 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Torre del Mar, Malaga, Andalusia (53.9 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s

Cordoba (118.6 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s

Malaga, Espana (73.6 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Granada (3.2 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Como algo se exploto, y fuerte movimiento y ruido

Velez-Malaga, Andalusia (51.2 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Ventorros de San, Loja (33.8 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Calle Elvira 81, Granada (17 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Torrox Costa (50.5 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : V shaky

Malaga, Andalusia (74.2 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s

Rincon de la Victoria, Malaga, Andalusia (66.4 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Granada (17.9 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Cordoba (119.8 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / very short : Sentado en el sofa se noto el temblor un par de veces y vivo en una primera planta

Velez malaha (51.6 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : Fuerte sacudida de cristales y movimiento del suelo

Maracena, Andalusia (14.7 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging

Malaga (73.5 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s

Coin (2.5 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt

Torremolinos, Malaga, Andalusia (81.4 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

San Fernando, Cadiz, Andalusia (228 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt

Nerja, Malaga, Andalusia (47.4 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Castell de ferro (62.3 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Ground shaking. Live on the top floor

Nerja (46.6 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s

Torre del Mar, Malaga (54.3 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Almunecar (49.1 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s

Rincon de la Victoria, Malaga, Andalusia (67.7 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Nerja (46.2 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Torrox Costa (49.9 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 1-2 s

Torre del mar (55.5 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / vibration and rolling

Sedella (41.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Torre del Mar, Malaga, Andalusia (54.1 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Almunecar, Granada, Andalusia (48.3 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / very short (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / very short

Rincon de la Victoria, Malaga, Andalusia (64.7 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Nerja Malaga (637.7 km N of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Nerja, Malaga, Andalusia (47.1 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Malaga, Andalusia (74.2 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 10-15 s

Nerja, Malaga, Andalusia (47.4 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : La cama vibraba

Malaga, Andalusia (76.9 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s

Malaga (75.8 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 30-60 s

Rincon de la victoria (66.5 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / very short

Motril (54.2 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Torremolinos, Malaga, Andalusia (87.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s : Temblor!!

Malaga (77.3 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : He notado la cama moverse

Cullar-Vega, Granada, Andalusia (11.7 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 30-60 s : Loud noise, shaking rattling. Lasted nearly 1 minitr

Nerja (47.1 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s : Vibrate bed

Malaga (75.4 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Motril, Granada, Andalusia (52.1 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s

Torre del Mar, Malaga, Andalusia (56.7 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / very short

Torrox (50.9 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s

Los monteros (117.7 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Torrox, Malaga, Andalusia (50.6 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Slight shaking of the bed and windows rattled lightly

Rincon de la Victoria, Malaga, Andalusia (68.8 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s

Salar (1.8 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Torrox park (90.8 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s : Estaba sentada en el sofa de pronto se ha oido un ruido y el sofa se ha movido de un lado al otro

Jaen (68.4 km N of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Las puertas han comenzado a moverse y la gata se ha puesto muy nerviosa.

La Herradura, Granada, Andalusia (47.5 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Torrox (46.8 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / complex motion difficult to describe / 2-5 s

Malaga, Andalusia (75.5 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Nerja (46.1 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s

La herradura Almunecar (47.7 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Malaga (78 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Lanjaron (38.5 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s

Fuengirola, Malaga, Andalusia (100.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Murchas (31.8 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 15-20 s

Torrenueva Costa, Motril (57.4 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / very short

Torrox Costa (47.1 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Padul, Granada, Andalusia (21.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 15-20 s

Nerja, Malaga, Andalusia (47.7 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single vertical bump / 2-5 s

Malaga (73.8 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 10-15 s (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 10-15 s

Velez-Malaga, Andalusia (52.1 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s

Agron (21.1 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Malaga, Andalusia (80.5 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Granada (15.6 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s

Alhendin, Granada, Andalusia (14.6 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 10-15 s : Alhendin

29011 (74.2 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s : Movimiento de mi cama y crugido de ropero

Torrox, Malaga, Andalusia (50.6 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Rincon de la Victoria (52.5 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / vibration and rolling / 2-5 s : Shaking the bed And windows

Livensa living malaga feria (78.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : I was lying in bed and it felt like the bed was vibrating fore- and backwards, but not very intense.

Malaga (67 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s

Torrox (49.5 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 2-5 s

Calle argentea 22, Malaga (76.4 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s

Herradura (48.3 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s : .

Torre del Mar (50.5 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : As described. Light shaking

Spain (42.7 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s

La Herradura, Almunecar (46.7 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Bed shaking

Benamargosa, Malaga, Andalusia (48.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

MALAGA (78.9 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Sentido vibracion laterales en un piso de una 6 planta, 18 m de altura, nivel suelo.

Malaga (78 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Benalmadena (91.3 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt : Didnt feel it, but my friend 500mts away felt it

Nerja (46.1 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating : Moving beds

Granada, Andalusia (16.6 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 1-2 s

MALAGA (76.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Cullar-Vega, Granada, Andalusia (10.4 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 2-5 s

Torre del Mar, Malaga, Andalusia (54.8 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Torrenueva, Granada, Andalusia (55.7 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / vibration and rolling / 5-10 s

Nerja (46 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Mild shaking as if you were above the metro line.

Torre del Mar, Malaga, Andalusia (54.4 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Torre del mar (33.9 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / very short

Loja, Granada, Andalusia (31.9 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 5-10 s : G

La zubia (1.1 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

nerja (46.5 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : petits tremblents

Canillas de Aceituno, Malaga, Andalusia (45.4 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s : Floor and sofa vibration

Loja, Granada, Andalusia (31.9 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s

Nerja (46.7 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Pradollano (35.4 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s

Alcaucin, Malaga, Andalusia (40.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s

Malaga, Andalusia (79.9 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s

Albolote (13.8 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Torrox Costa (54.3 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Malaga (75.8 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / vibration and rolling / 2-5 s : Temblor y balanceo del sofa y silla del estudio

Malaga (71.7 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 2-5 s

Santa fe (6.9 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Torrox Costa (51 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s

Pinos Genil, Granada, Andalusia (26.6 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s

Malaga (80.6 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s : Nothing more to reporters

Malaga (70.5 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Cullar-Vega, Granada, Andalusia (8.8 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s

Malaga, Andalusia (74.5 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Movement of doors and bed.

Malaga (74.3 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s

Alcaucin, Malaga, Andalusia (40.4 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s

Motril, Granada, Andalusia (53.6 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s

Peligros (16.3 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Malaga (75.4 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s

Torremolinos (87.7 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : My bed was shaking during approximately 5 seconds

Granada (17.7 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : I feel it i remenber in France since 1995

Malaga (75.6 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s

Malaga, Andalusia (75.3 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Loja (31.3 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s

Torremolinos, Malaga, Andalusia (90.8 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Malaga (74.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s : Miedo

Nerja, Malaga, Andalusia (46.1 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s

Nerja (46.5 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Torrox, Malaga, Andalusia (50.6 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s

Cartama, Malaga, Andalusia (92.8 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 5-10 s

Granada, Andalusia (17 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Malaga (98.2 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s

Velez-Malaga, Andalusia (51.3 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s

Granada, Andalusia (17 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 5-10 s

Loja, Granada (7.6 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s

Rincon de la Victoria, Malaga, Andalusia (68.4 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / simple rolling (tilting sideways along one direction) / 1-2 s

Malaga (75.8 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s

Motril (62.9 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Torrox Costa (50.2 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Chauchina, Granada, Andalusia (1.9 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

TORRE DEL MAR (54.1 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Se movieron muebles

Granada, Spain (17.3 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : On a high floor, felt notable vibration for about 3-5 seconds

Loja (30.4 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 5-10 s

Torre del Mar (54.3 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s : Se movieron ligeramente las camas y los sillones.

Malaga (93.9 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s

Pulianas, Granada, Andalusia (18 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 2-5 s : If it was a little more time I went out

Cordoba (117.3 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 5-10 s

Granada, Andalusia (17.1 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Velez-Malaga, Andalusia (52.3 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Maracena, Andalusia (15.5 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Huetor Vega, Granada, Andalusia (19.1 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s

Baena, Cordoba, Andalusia (69 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Malaga, Andalusia (78.9 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Algarrobo, Malaga, Andalusia (48.4 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s

Torremolinos, Malaga, Andalusia (84.4 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s

Frigiliana, Malaga, Andalusia (43.9 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Granada, Andalusia (17.6 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Nerja, Malaga, Andalusia (46.7 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Santafe, Granada, Andalusia (6.9 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Archez, Andalucia, Spain (41.8 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Strong side to side movement for a few seconds

Frigiliana, Malaga, Andalusia (45.8 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Rincon de la Victoria, Malaga, Andalusia (65.6 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s

Torrox, Malaga, Andalusia (48.2 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s

Granada, Andalusia (17.4 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) : I

Chauchina, Granada, Andalusia (1.7 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s : Fear

Rincon de la Victoria, Malaga, Andalusia (65.6 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s

Armilla (14.6 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s

Nerja, Malaga, Andalusia (46.8 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 1-2 s

Malaga (74.9 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s

Velez-Malaga, Andalusia (51.5 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 20-30 s

Malaga, Andalusia (75.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Malaga. 23:30 Bett gewackelt

Padul, Granada, Andalusia (21.6 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Villa de Vallecas, Madrid, Madrid (356.5 km N of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt I dont feel nothings i was walking un the street (reported through (reported through our app / not felt

Granada (9.7 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / complex motion difficult to describe / 10-15 s : House shaking loud deep rumbling

Nerja, Malaga, Andalusia (47.5 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s

Alhendin, Granada, Andalusia (14.5 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Granada (17 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / vibration and rolling / 2-5 s

Malaga, Andalusia (78.6 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s

malaga (76.3 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Competa (42 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Felt like your on a wobble plate

Going to bed (67.4 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Sayalonga (45.4 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s

Motril, Granada, Andalusia (52.7 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s

Torre del Mar, Malaga, Andalusia (59.9 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single vertical bump / very short

Nerja (47.9 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s : Rumbling

Cajar, Granada, Andalusia (21.1 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Whole room shook slightly, felt like two pulses, about 10 seconds total.

Rincon de la victoria (66.2 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Nerja, Malaga, Andalusia (48.2 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s

Torre del Mar, Malaga, Andalusia (55.3 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 30-60 s : temblaban mesas puertas sofas y lamnaras de un tercer piso

Nerja, Malaga, Andalusia (46.1 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s : really

Motril (52.9 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : Lasting shake

la herradura (46.7 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 5-10 s

Almunecar, Granada, Andalusia (48.6 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s

Torrox, Malaga, Andalusia (49.8 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Malaga (74.8 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Nerja, Malaga, Andalusia (47.6 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s

Malaga, Andalusia (80 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 5-10 s : Shaking bed , shaking everything very scared

Almeria (124.8 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Malaga (75.4 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Chauchina, Granada, Andalusia (1.8 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Torrox Pueblo (46.8 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s : Chair shaking whilst sat on it

Peligros Granada spain (58.1 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) : Were in a hotel and the room shook for about 20 seconds

Granada, Spain (17 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / very short : It lasted less than 10 seconds, nothing to get really scared

Granada (16.9 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 15-20 s (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 15-20 s

Cullar-Vega, Granada, Andalusia (10.4 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Nerja, Malaga, Andalusia (46.3 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Granada (17 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / complex motion difficult to describe / 20-30 s (reported through our app / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / complex motion difficult to describe / 20-30 s

Alvor, Portimao Municipality, Faro (425.5 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt

Granada, Andalucia (18.1 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 20-30 s : Strong first kick, then increasingly shallow shaking for 20 seconds or so.

Malaga, Andalusia (77.5 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s (reported through our app / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s

Peligros Granada spain (58.1 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) : Were in a hotel and the room shook for about 20 seconds

Granada Espana (17.4 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Cordoba (116.5 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II)

Calle Gomez salazar malaaga (74.2 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / complex motion difficult to describe / very short : Especie de vertigo y poco aturdidos leve mente obviamente sin danos

Sayalonga (45.4 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s

Fuengirola (100.6 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : On the 5th floor you could feel some shaking/moving, house plants were moving too

Torremolinos, Malaga, Spain (61.6 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 10-15 s

Cenes de la Vega (22 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 15-20 s : Lo senti muy fuerte y se movio todo

Malaga, Espana (80.4 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Rincon de la Victoria (64.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s : Sofa moved laterally for 5 seconds

Malaga, Andalusia (73.5 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Se detecta un leve balanceo horizontal.

Nerja (46.1 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Motril, Granada, Andalusia (52.7 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s

Granada (17.2 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s

Periana, Malaga, Andalusia (43.6 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Castell de Ferro (62.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 15-20 s

Malaga, Andalusia (76.9 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Fuengirola (100.6 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 15-20 s (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 15-20 s

Malaga (73.7 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II)

GRANADA (16.9 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s

Chauchina, Granada, Andalusia (1.8 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s

Velez Malaga (52.3 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : We felt the bed moved a liltle bit

North Greenland Sea (4861.4 km N of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Frigiliana (42.3 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 2-5 s

Granada (17.5 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 10-15 s

Malaga (73.9 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Malaga, Andalusia (74.8 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Malaga (79.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 2-5 s

Fuengirola, Malaga, Andalusia (102.3 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Malaga (75 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Salobrena (50.2 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

malaga (76.9 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Granada, Andalusia (15.4 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 30-60 s (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 30-60 s

Torrox, Malaga, Andalusia (50.8 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s (reported through our app / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s

fuengirola (102.9 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Malaga (72.8 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Sofa moving

malaga (75.7 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Nerja, Malaga, Andalusia (46.3 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s

Nerja (46.3 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Malaga andalucia (73.3 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 1-2 s

Malaga (76.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Nerja (72.9 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single vertical bump / very short

Marbella malaga spain (70.4 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / very short

malaga (74.9 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s : jm

Torremolinos (87.6 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) : My bed was slightly shaking during 5 to 10 seconds. I have no neighbors but last floor.

Granada (16.8 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vibration and rolling / 15-20 s

Malaga (75.8 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s

Motril / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s

Malaga / Weak shaking (MMI III) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 5-10 s

Benalmadena / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s : Bed was shaking

Torrox / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 10-15 s : Felt As if tumble drier was being used in another apartment near my apartment.

Granada / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : It seemed to continue for a while before weakening

Malaga / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s

malaga / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Benajarafe / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 5-10 s : My sofa was shaking but not aware of anything else shaking.

Montefrio / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Nerja / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Torremolinos / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Almunecar / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s

Nerja / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

La Herradura / Weak shaking (MMI III) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 2-5 s

Granada / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s

Benalmadena / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Sitting on balcony both my partner and I felt gentle shaking from side to side.

Sayalonga / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Outside - ground shaking and vibrating

Granada / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s

Alhendin / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s : The house shook, similar to ones in January

Grenada / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Scared

Terrace / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Nerja / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Campo south of Riogordo province of Malaga / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single vertical bump / 1-2 s : Just a split second bump that made me stop reading and think: What was that? An earthquake?

Granada carretera de la sierra / Light shaking (MMI IV)

los Gallegos...malaga. spain / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : the bed was shaking and i knew it was an earthquake. A bit scarey but it soon passed....

Peligros / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 10-15 s : Lying in bed and fitted wardrobe doors were moving. Felt scared.

Beznar, Granada / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / very short : Like a large truck had driven past the house.

Merks / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating

Nerja / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Granada / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s : IT was the first time I experienced earth Quake and IT was quite scary

Benalmadena / not felt

Malaga / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Playamar torremolinos malaga / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : I was lying in bed and felt a gentle sideways movement

Calle Serrano Granada / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Periana / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating : Felt like someone was shaking my bed back and forward

Almunecar / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Granada / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / single vertical bump / 1-2 s

Jete / Weak shaking (MMI III) / complex motion difficult to describe / very short : Weird! As if trees outside moving towards me

Motril / not felt

Las Gabias / Light shaking (MMI IV) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 5-10 s

Malaga / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Torre del mar / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 15-20 s : Television and other furniture shook. Nowhere near any traffic

Los Guajares / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s : I FELT IT

Malaga / not felt

Motril / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s

Durcal / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Algarrobo Costa / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s

Nerja / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s

Grenade / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Padul / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 5-10 s

Las gabias / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / very short : It was frightening

Torrox costa / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s : felt it at 11:25 p.m. felt 2 sideways tremors.

Nerja / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s

Almunecar / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Nerja / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

beas de granada / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s

Alcala la real / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s : Balancement du lit

Sevilla / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s

Malaga / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Illora / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s : ground shook and felt it as I was sitting. Nothing though fell or was displaced

Torrox Campo / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s : I was in my bed and felt it vibrating

Guy . Durcal reading a book / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s : Everything began to shake

Vents Bala / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Monachil / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 15-20 s : Bed shaking

Granada / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s

Moraleda de zafayona / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / simple rolling (tilting sideways along one direction) / 2-5 s : Felt it sat outside, slight shaking but the ground seemed to roll underneath us. Over very quickly

Nerja 29780 / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vibration and rolling / 10-15 s : Doors rattling loud noise as if something rolling down roof.no damage on inspection this morning

Grenade 7eme etages hotel saray / Light shaking (MMI IV) / very short : Surprenant.

Granada / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Nerja / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Granada / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s

Nerja / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Like the aftershock of an explosion

TORROX / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : I was in bed. Bed shaking. About 3 seconds

Alcala La Real / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging

La Zubia / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 15-20 s

Torrox, El Morche / Light shaking (MMI IV) / simple rolling (tilting sideways along one direction) / very short : We were scared because my son have never felt the earthquake before

Albuenas / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 1-2 s : Birds get out and i feel movement of the ground under my chair. It was like a wave.

NERJA / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 10-15 s

Huetor Vega / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : The bed shook, we heard a rumble

Nerja / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Slight shaking

Motril / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Salobrena / Weak shaking (MMI III) / complex motion difficult to describe / 1-2 s

Albolote / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Malaga / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

La herradura, Almunecar / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Granada / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 2-5 s : Les secousses m'ont reveillees. Gros balancements et objets deplaces sur des etageres.

Periana / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating : Felt like someone was shaking my bed back and forward

Motril / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Estaba vibrando todo un poco

Granada / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s

Las Gabias / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Marbella / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / very short : All dogs in the neighborhood were barking a few seconds before.

Granada / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s

El Granado Hostel, Granada, Spain / Light shaking (MMI IV) / complex motion difficult to describe / 2-5 s

Granada / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 5-10 s

Marina Del Este / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Shaking.

Las Gabias / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vibration and rolling / 5-10 s

Velez Malaga / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 5-10 s

Vinuela / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake : House shook side to side Vibration

Nerja, Boden in Wohnung / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / complex motion difficult to describe / 2-5 s : Boden hat vibriert

Granada / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Le lit et les portes de l'hotel ont bouges. Les clients sont sortis dans le hall.

Nerja / not felt

Malaga / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating : I felt the ground shaking. I was lying on my bed, then it started to tremble

Granada / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Shuddering underneath me, as if there was a subway right below..: but there wasnt!

Granada / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating

Barrio de la vega / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s : .

Monachil Espagne / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Los Ventorros / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : I was sitting on a bench in our garden and it felt like some peas walking across a wooden floor !

Ewalotta Berg Nerja / not felt : Nothing

Competa / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vibration and rolling / 5-10 s

Frigiliana / Weak shaking (MMI III) / vibration and rolling / 2-5 s

Torrox Costa / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s

Linares / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s

Torre del Mar / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vibration and rolling / 5-10 s
Chemda Khalili and Keith Malley. Photo: Phil Provencio

Are you new to comedy podcasts, overwhelmed by the array of options, and wondering where to begin? Then welcome to Start Here, a recurring guide to the best comedy podcasts available  and our recommendations for which episodes are the best entry points to your next auditory obsession.

Since March 2005, barely a year after the term podcast was even introduced to describe downloadable audio, Keith Malley and Chemda Khalili have hosted Keith and the Girl, the show where, quite simply, Keith and his ex-girlfriend talk shit.

Like The Howard Stern Show, from which KATG draws both its tone and structure (or rather, its lack thereof), the podcast is legendary among comedy nerds for being about nothing but bullshit. In most episodes, Malley and Khalili bring in guests and proceed to ask them intrusive (How much sex have you been having?) or banal questions about the weeks news. Sometimes, they just sit around and whine about the miseries of party clowning, getting heckled, or cheating at board games.

Keith, whose restrictive religious upbringing resulted in an aggressively foul mouth, typically holds court as the resident bon vivant. Chemda (who is known mononymously to fans) acts as his Robin Quiverslike foil and conscience, though she, too, can be roguish when it makes for good listening. Even their hyperactive theme song  Hey all you assholes, come and listen to us!  is comically obscene. But for the cult of fans that sustains KATG and its 25-plus spinoff series through VIP fan-club subscriptions, book sales, and a mountain of merch, neither the formlessness nor the inevitable vulgarity are problems. In fact, audiences have come to count on the hosts complete uninhibitedness and independence from mainstream broadcasting standards.

While KATG never reached the blockbuster popularity of other shows, Malley and Khalili are revered among fellow podcasters as the forms Nichols and May, pioneers capable of taking audiences through divorces, open-heart surgeries, and career changes with unequaled levels of bleeding-heart intimacy and bawdy cleverness. After 15-plus years, they have become the ultimate long-distance runners, world champions with a stream of exhausted former rivals, and podcastings (un)disputed GOATs.

But with so few laurels, theres little to rest on. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, new episodes were still recorded and released almost every day from their shared Astoria studio. With more than 3,430 episodes produced so far, KATG claims to have the most episodes ever released of any comedy podcast, an ever-expanding  and increasingly intimidating  sea of content.

The trouble with such longevity is that its easy to think of the podcast like Parisians think of the Eiffel Tower: It has always been there, it will always be there, and I can therefore visit anytime I want to. But if KATG really is the Paris of podcasts, then episode 3138, Man on the Moon - Part 1, is its Eiffel Tower, a masterwork of comic engineering that any interested visitor should see. It is also, at three hours and 38 minutes long, an epic too gargantuan to describe succinctly.

Edited and released first as an exclusive for VIP members in 2019 and presented to the public for the first time here, Man on the Moon - Part 1 is the first in a five-part series compiled from dozens of chronological KATG interviews about what are known as the Dad Emails. Over the course of a year, Malley masqueraded as his ex-wife, Cathryn, in order to catfish his own father, a married former priest living in rural Pennsylvania. As he tells comedians Rojo Perez and Tone Bell, the first two of 36 guests in the series, Keith got the idea when Father Malley betrayed him by writing to Cat behind his back two years after Keiths divorce:

Hi, I hope that all is going well with you. Dont mean to be exceedingly nosy, but what happened between you and Keith? Your former father-in-law.

When Keith introduces this news, Chemda yells, Your fathers a fucking creep! and Everything he does is sexual, but he calls it God! Perez and Bell share in her shock, but immediately see the comedic possibilities. Man, this explains a lot about you, Perez jokes to Malley. Bell responds: That means hes been up late tossin and turnin about this. I gotta uncork this bottle!

Both incensed and amused by his dads flagrant disregard for his sons privacy, Malley asks his guests for suggestions on how he should respond: Should he shame his dad? Ignore him? Just let it go? Ultimately, its Perez who convinces Malley to ask his ex-wife if he can impersonate her and suss out his fathers true intentions. Keith then reveals to the next guest, Paul Hooper, that Cat has shockingly authorized him to pretend to be her, as a gift for his 45th birthday.

Under the email address cathryn.l.86@gmail.com, Keith uses his newfound identity to pump his dad for information about Cat, Chemda, his current girlfriend Kyle Ocasio, and his gay brother Mark. Father Malley naively plays along, revealing a slew of disturbing revelations to his dumbfounded son, including that he attended a state college, had a secret six-year crisis of faith, and considered leaving Keiths mother for a millionaire he met on a cruise ship.

He also, particularly to Chemdas disgust, transitions from innocent questioning into what sounds like flirting with Fake Cat. You are extremely pretty, he says in one email. In another, he insists that the 86 part of Fake Cats email address is a poorly veiled sexual reference. Perhaps most egregiously, he suggests that she break up Ocasio and Malley, because Ocasio has children from a previous marriage, and its therefore not a done deal.

In brief clips, Mike Cannon, Matt Bachus, Shuli Egar, Mike Coscarelli, Graham Elwood, Ron Placone, and Christian Finnegan all commend Keith for his sheer ballsiness while daring him to take things further. Finnegan encourages him not to give up on a solid bit, Stern Show regular Egar suggests that Fake Cat respond that shes into piss and getting punched in the stomach, and Coscarelli advocates for slipping the words clit and cock  forbidden terms in Keiths religious childhood  into seemingly innocent emails. And with more than a hint of mischievousness, Chemda begs Keith to call his dad yummy daddy and to flirt back, hard.

But as the emails threaten to spill over into some weird form of sexting, the guests become more equivocal. Shelton Lindsay and Robin Virginie are rendered speechless when the older Malley starts serenading Fake Cat with (misremembered) Cat Stevens lyrics. Lindsay even predicts that as someone who has received a lot of them, Keith needs to prepare to receive dick pics from his own dad. Both excited and grossed out by that possibility, Malley turns the thread over to Chemda, who embraces the Fake Cat role with aplomb in the final segment:

Father Malley - I have a confession: Ever since weve been talking, Ive started to attend Sunday Mass. I wanted to connect with the spirituality that you bring up. Well, I fell in love. Not only reconnected love with God, but with a man  this time with an even older man. A man of God. A man who has been good to me. A man who has been emailing kind thoughts and loving help in my time of need. A man who is  taken. I am overwhelmed by emotion and lust, and not sure what to do with my feelings. Embarrassingly yours, Cathryn.

Periel Aschenbrand, the 14th and final guest, is so shaken by this that she refuses to play along. You guys are fucked up, she says. Your dad is obviously troubled, and you guys are fucking with him. But Malley shrugs Aschenbrand off. Im good with that, he laughs.

Undeterred, Aschenbrand tries to get them to consider leaving the older man alone and to pursue therapy or self-help instead. In the midst of her pleas, another email comes in. At first, it sounds like Father Malley is finally ready to end his secret exchange with his sons ex-wife and let her down easy. Then come his final words to her: You make an old mans libido jingle.

Besides being easily the most upsetting comedy-podcast cliffhanger of all time, that sentence is a keen reminder of how far Khalili and Malley are willing to go push one another toward the big laugh. Its also a fitting end to a groundbreakingly grotesque episode stuffed with 14 on-point comedians and two hosts at the peak of their riffing powers (even after 15-plus years of broadcasting, shockingly). Most importantly, though, the ending raises a key question: Is Keith willing to sext his own dad, for cOmEdY? Alas, only Part 2 holds the answer to that.
A Florida woman died after being shot by her toddler while she was on a Zoom conference call, police say.

Shamaya Lynn, 21, was on a work-related call Wednesday when she was shot, Altamonte Springs Police said in a statement Thursday night on Facebook. A person on the call dialed 911 when Lynn fell backward after a child appeared in the background and participants on the call heard a noise, the statement said.

Officers and paramedics responded, and the statement said they "did their best in rendering aid," but Lynn had a fatal gunshot wound to the head.

An adult had left a loaded handgun in the apartment unsecured, and the toddler found it, the statement said.

Detectives are working with the Seminole County State Attorney's Office to determine if any charges are appropriate for the owner of the gun.

The prosecutor's office cannot comment on an ongoing investigation or possible charges, spokesman Todd Brown said.

The-CNN-Wire

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Boeing revealed Friday that apparent issues with the propulsion system on its Starliner spacecraft  which is designed to carry astronauts and potentially tourists to the International Space Station  are worse than initially anticipated, putting yet another lengthy delay on the horizon.

The Starliner is a gumdrop-shaped capsule meant to house astronauts and ferry them through space after launching atop a rocket. The vehicle is years behind its planned entry to service, and myriad issues and delays during the development process have been a black eye for Boeing. Meanwhile, its rival, SpaceX, has already completed development and testing of its own crewed spacecraft.

Boeing was slated to repeat an uncrewed test flight of Starliner earlier this month after several major software issues plagued its first attempt in December 2019, leaving the spacecraft unable to dock with the ISS and forced to make an early return to Earth.

After more than a year of working to solve those issues, a new slate of problems was discovered when the spacecraft was rolled out to its launch pad earlier this month and began going through pre-flight ground checks. The issues involved 13 valves in the spacecraft's propulsion system, which were not opening on command as they must before liftoff, according to the company. After attempting to fix the issue on site at NASA's launch facilities in Florida, nine of the 13 valves began working again.

But Boeing disclosed Friday that it still hasn't identified the root cause of the issue, though the company said it was likely related to moisture  possibly from the humid Florida air  leaking into the propulsion valves. The company also disclosed additional problems with abnormal temperature readings. The company will need to return the Starliner spacecraft to a Boeing factory, signaling a potentially expensive months-long delay before it can proceed with the crucial test.

"We've exhausted every possible option," John Vollmer, the manager of Boeing's Starliner program, told reporters Friday. He acknowledged that Starliner will not launch this test flight in August. It may not even happen in 2021, though, Vollmer said, it's "too much to speculate" at this point.

The orbital flight test, as the uncrewed mission is called, is the final step in a years-long testing process that Boeing needs to complete before it can launch its first mission with astronauts on board.

This mission's success is critical for Boeing, which has been working since the early 2010s to develop a spacecraft capable of taking astronauts to and from the International Space Station. Until SpaceX's Demo-2 flight in May of 2020, NASA had been forced to rely on Russia for human spaceflights after the retirement of NASA's Space Shuttle program.

Boeing and SpaceX each received contracts to provide transportation to the ISS for NASA astronauts, a unique arrangement in which the private companies, rather than NASA, handle development and testing, and NASA essentially buys their services.

SpaceX's development program was also several years behind schedule, but the company has leapt ahead of Boeing. After completing its first crewed flight last year, the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule has now entered full commercial service. There are even plans to send four tourists on an orbital joyride aboard the vehicle later this year.

Starliner's issues, on the other hand, have been so pervasive that it even set off speculation that NASA may cut ties with the company for this program, though the space agency has staunchly denied those rumors and continued to do so despite revelations of even more issues.

"It's a disappointing day," said Kathy Lueders, NASA's head of human spaceflight, during a press call Friday afternoon. "We are committed to continue working with Boeing on bringing on their crew transportation...and we will go fly when we're ready."

The-CNN-Wire

 &  2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The Alabama State Board of Education has voted to ban so-called critical race theory from being taught in K-12 schools.

Board members voted 6-2 for the resolution that bans concepts that impute fault, blame, a tendency to oppress others, or the need to feel guilt or anguish to persons solely because of their race or sex.

The vote was split along racial and party lines with white Republicans voting to approve it, and the two Black Democrats on the board voting against it.

State Superintendent Eric Mackey said critical race theory isnt currently taught in K-12 public schools.
A man accused of forcing his way into an Albertville home and kidnapping an 11-month-old child is now in custody after a manhunt.

Armando Garcia Morales was caught Friday in Lousiana with the help of the United States Marshals Service's Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Albertville Police Department announced.

Police said it was a lengthy chase.

Morales is accused of taking a child from a home in the 1,100 block of Horton Road about 4:36 a.m. Wednesday, Albertville police said.

Police said Morales later told them where to find the baby, who was located unharmed.

They said he physically assaulted the victim before taking the child, and that he and the victim have a child together but not the child hes accused of kidnapping.

Later Wednesday, police the victim was going to a relative's home in DeKalb County for safety and while en route was located by Morales and he allegedly used his vehicle to ram the victim's vehicle.

The victim was able to make it safely to her destination.
An update on growing and dispensing medical marijuana in the state.

The Alabama Cannabis Commission had its first meeting Thursday. On the agenda, structuring the executive committee.

Dr. Stephen Stokes was appointed as the chairman. He's a Radiation Oncologist in Dothan. Rex Vaughn was elected vice-chairman, he's a farmer in Madison County.

Vaughn said after Thursday's introductory meeting, the next step is to draw up a job description for an executive director. Four members of the commission were put into a sub-committee to create that job description within the coming weeks.

The position needs to be filled within the month and the commission will ultimately make that hire. After hiring an executive director and the director's staff, the commission's focus will turn.

"What we're endeavoring to do has the potential to really be a game-changer for patients who suffer from a number of illnesses," said Vaughn. "None of the less, we think that medical marijuana could provide these individuals with some relief that conventional medicine just hasn't done thus far."

The Alabama Cannabis Commission will have to decide how the commission is going to issue grower licenses and set processing fees. Vaughn said the commission can get the ball rolling on licenses and fees during the next meeting.

The commission will create a description of how people can apply for a license to grow marijuana, process it, or dispense it, whether being a pharmacist or an independent dispensary.

Eventually, the commission will look for nine medical cannabis producers across the state.

The Alabama Cannabis Commission will meet again in two weeks to go over job descriptions and meet with the State Department.
U.S. health regulators have authorized an extra dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines in people with weakened immune systems to better protect them from the virus.

The announcement Thursday by the Food and Drug Administration applies to millions of Americans who take immune-suppressing medicines because of organ transplants, cancer or other disorders. The decision does not apply to otherwise healthy individuals. Health authorities are closely monitoring if and when the general population will need a booster shot but say for now, the vaccines continue to be highly effective in most healthy people.

The boosters still need to be recommended by the CDC before they can be administered. Dr. Pablo Sanchez, a member of the CDC's expert advisory panel that will vote Friday on the details of exactly who should get the third dose and when, said he supported at least allowing immunocompromised Americans to get boosters while the CDC continues to monitor the data.

"We really need to help this population out more," Sanchez said at a CDC meeting in July, when the committee met to discuss the issue.

The CDC panel is expected to vote to recommend the third dose when it meets Friday at 11 a.m. and CDC Director Rochelle Walensky will likely sign off after a Friday afternoon vote.
With temperatures creeping to dangerous levels recently, we want to remind you how to stay out of harm's way.

WAAY-31 spoke with Huntsville Emergency Medical Services on if they're seeing an increase in calls.

The real feel is supposed to 105 degrees and HEMSI says because of that, they are seeing more heat-related calls but, they can all be prevented.

When heat advisories are issue, first responders say the first thing you want to do is stay hydrated throughout the day.

Don Webster is the community relations officer with HEMSI and he told us if you have to be outside, take breaks and try to stay in shaded areas if you can.

If not, you can get overheated and possibly pass out or have a heat stroke.

Webster also told us his team is also doing what they can to stay heathy as well.

"Furnish them with water, gatorade, and snacks so they can try to get something to eat because they are just staying so busy between the heat, covid especially and it's just really taking a tax on our people right now," said Webster.

So be aware and be prepared, and being prepared means caring for your pets as well.

We spoke with Huntsville Animal Services with what you can do to keep dogs safe during times like this.

Inside the kennels, many of the dogs were happy to be inside, but they still get time outside time.

Karen Buchan works with Huntsville Animal Services and she told us around this time, many people want to bring their dogs with them while they're out but, it's actually not safe.

Buchan says you need to avoid letting them walk on hot pavement or sidewalks, and dogs also need cool air and water just as much as we do.

"A dog's normal temperature is 101-102, so if they're panting in hot air, they're not cooling off," she said.

Buchan told us if you notice your dog is panting a lot, you need to hose them down and get them water to drink and get them out of the heat immediately.

With it being so hot all day, she told us if you can walk your pets super early in the morning or later in the evening, the better.
Two Huntsville men have been sentenced to more than a decade in prison on federal drug and gun charges.

Antonio Lavar Burton, a/k/a Fat Tony, 37, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for distributing heroin. He pleaded guilty to the charge in October 2020.

Quincy Cortez McClendon, 37, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for distributing heroin, possession with the intent to distribute heroin, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. McClendon pleaded guilty to the charges in March.

Read more about their crimes HERE

U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley said a federal judge handed down the sentences Wednesday.

Alabamas opioid crisis is eroding the quality of life for many of our residents. Misuse of prescription opioid pain medicine puts people at risk of turning to heroin and eventual overdose, Escalona said in a news release.

These defendants profited from the misery of addiction and will now spend many years in prison. We are grateful to the Huntsville Police Department, DEA, and the U.S. Marshals for their work to combat violent crime and heroin trafficking in Northern Alabama.

The successful prosecution of Burton and McClendon should put others who engage in this type of activity on notice: if you sell drugs you will face federal charges and a lengthy prison sentence, said Byerley.

DEA investigated the case, along with the Huntsville Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Becher Sr. prosecuted the case.
Alabama hospital ICU beds are nearly filled as another Covid spike hits the country and the state extra hard due to low vaccination rates, the lowest in the nation.

The next two or three weeks are pivotal, President of Alabama Hospital Association Dr. Don Williamson told WAAY 31 Friday as available ICU beds, statewide, drop to 5 percent.

Worst-case scenario projections show nearly 8,000 inpatients could soon find themselves in an Alabama hospital, that would swamp the already overwhelmed system.

The dire warning about what health care workers are planning for now. And even if they have bed space for inpatients, the issue could be finding staff to take care of those people.

Our staffs are fatigued, we may end up calling on federal response to come help out, Williamson said.

In a little more than a months time, Alabama has experienced a seven-fold increase in hospitalizations.

This major increase fueled by that Delta variant that spreads much easier than the original virus and is making younger people sicker.

Williamson says this is not the same as we experienced last year when we saw spiking cases. This is much worse.

Hospitals across North Alabama are already putting the brakes on elective surgeries, and re-opening Covid wings.

But health care workers have learned through past spikes new ways to treat patients suffering from Covid. A major tool health care workers are relying on as they try to keep people from ending up on a ventilator: monoclonal antibodies.

They are made inside a laboratory. these proteins mimic the immune system's ability to fight back again Covid.

We are pushing really hard on right now is the use of monoclonal antibodies. They could be a game changer given early they keep people out of the hospital, given in people who have been exposed, given post exposure they can actually keep you from ever even developing covid, Williamson explained.

Health care workers say right now the best thing people can do to keep from becoming sick is to wear a mask and if you are not vaccinated, get the shot now.
A Pisgah man now faces a murder charge after the death of his victim, according to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.

Billy Dwight Carter, 32, shot James Jeremy Owens on Aug. 7, the sheriff's office said.

Owens died about 1:22 p.m. Aug. 12.

Carter surrendered at the Jackson County Jail about 6:30 p.m. Aug. 12. His bond was set at $250,000.

It was the second time this week that Carter turned himself in. He initially surrendered on Aug. 9 on an attempted murder charge related to the shooting of Owens. That bond was set at $75,000.

Deputies responded with Hollywood and Stevenson police officers to a shooting call on County Road 287 in Stevenson about 10:30 p.m. Aug. 7, the sheriffs office said.

Owens identified Carter as the suspect even though he was found to have one or more gunshot wounds, the sheriffs office said.

Carter was airlifted to a hospital in Chattanooga, TN, according to the sheriffs office.
Huntsville City Council members heard from the redistricting team on how they plan to use the new U.S. Census data for district boundaries.

Redistricting only happens every ten years, and populations can change a lot in that time. Case in point, the U.S. Census Bureau released data on Thursday showing Huntsville is now the largest city in all of Alabama.

The Music Officer would help expand the music industry in Huntsville. The Music Officer would help expand the music industry in Huntsville.

"It does show that our population has grown, we are now the largest city in the state, and we're going to have to change our boundaries, because the growth in the city has been uneven," says James Vandiver, a planner with the City of Huntsville.

In Thursday's city council meeting, councilmembers voted on the guidelines the new district boundaries must follow.

"Adoption of the final redistricting plan will fall to the council with input from the mayor, the school board, and members of the public," says Connie Graham, a planner with the City of Huntsville.

Redistricting is only done every ten years, but with the rapid growth that Huntsville has experienced, it's especially important in making sure every person has one equal vote.

"Every district has to be almost exactly the same population," explains Vandiver.

This year, the city is asking for the public's help.

"For the first time ever we're going to have an online redistricting platform," says Vandiver.

Anyone can submit their ideas online.

"This online platform will allow you to go and draw your own districts online, it's very user friendly," says Vandiver.

The website went live Thursday night and will be open for submissions until November 22nd. In addition to submitting a proposal on the website, you also have to attend a public hearing and present your plan in person to the committee. The final plans will be submitted for approval on December 16th.
Italy swelters in days leading to Ferragosto holiday on Sunday.

The Italian health ministry has issued its highest Level 3 heat warning for 15 cities on Friday 13 August as temperatures soar amid an intense heatwave in the days leading up to the Ferragosto national holiday.

The cities included in the 'bollino rosso' warning on Friday are Bari, Bologna, Bolzano, Brescia, Cagliari, Campobasso, Florence, Frosinone, Latina, Palermo, Perugia, Rieti, Rome, Trieste and Viterbo.

The warning remains in place until tomorrow, Saturday 14 August, when the number of cities with the Level 3 warning rises to 17 with the addition of Naples and Ancona.

The heat alert comes as Italy faces the 'Lucifer' anticyclone, a wave of hot air sweeping the country, leading temperatures to reach a European record of 48.8 degrees Celsius in Sicily on Wednesday.

There has also been a spate of wildfires in the southern regions of Calabria and Sicily, resulting in several deaths and devastating thousands of hectares of land.

The health ministry advises people to avoid exposure to the sun and outdoor activity in the middle of the day, to eat lightly and to drink plenty of water. Photo Wanted in Rome, Spanish Steps, 12 August 2021.
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Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Mining billionaire Andrew Forrest can recall the exact moment when his passion for marine conservation began. He traces it back to when he was a young boy, camping with his parents along the Ningaloo coastline in the north-west of WA. As a kid, I was completely amazed by the stars, and one night I asked my father why are there stars out there on the ocean? Forrest says. And he said theyre not stars, theyre boats clearing away everything for the prawn farming industry. They were literally dredging the bottom of the ocean and clear-felling the coral. And I couldnt work out why that was a good thing, why did environmental destruction have to go hand-in-hand with business? Andrew Twiggy Forrests has long had a passion for ocean conservation. Credit:Cameron Myles. Decades later, Forrests perspective hasnt changed. And now, armed with a PhD in marine biology and an estimated $27.2 billion in personal wealth from his interests in iron ore juggernaut Fortescue Metals, hes attempting to back up that passion with action. This week, he launched an unexpected challenge to a $500 million tie-up between controversial Brazilian meat processor JBS and Tasmanian salmon farmer Huon. JBS first lobbed its offer for Huon last Friday, pitching the deal as a growth opportunity for the company which pulls in around $6 billion in annual sales in Australia through its numerous subsidiaries including Primo and Hans. With Huons founders (and 53 per cent majority shareholders) Peter and Frances Bender on side, the JBS proposal appeared a done deal. However, on Wednesday, Forrests investment firm Tattarang more than doubled its existing 7 per cent stake in Huon and its billionaire chairman issued JBS a challenge: do better.

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Loading Forrest wants the international operator to agree to a raft of improvements at the fisher, including adopting no pain, no fear standards when killing livestock, removing the fish content of the fishmeal fed to the salmon, adopting carbon-neutral production and moving its farming operations from Tasmanias Macquarie Harbour into deeper waters. Ive said to JBS this is how we run our operations, this is the objectives we have for Huon, and we challenge you to meet our standards and objectives not only in Tasmania but all around the world, Forrest says. Im delighted Im in a position where I can be an industry player, albeit a small one, and challenge them to meet those standards. However, late on Friday, JBS lobbed an unexpected grenade in the battle for Huon, announcing it would run an off-market takeover bid in parallel to its initial scheme of arrangement, with a goal of acquiring a 51 per cent controlling stake in the business. This would, in effect, negate any chance of Forrest obstructing the scheme, which requires majority shareholder approval, and may force the mining magnate to show his hand and possibly launch his own, competing bid. It is unclear what end-game Forrest has in sight after the extraordinary, and unprompted, provocation.

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Huge matter of angst for Tasmanians Huon Aquaculture began in 1986 in Tasmanias picturesque Hideaway Bay in the town of Dover, a place considered Australias southernmost town of significance - or at least the last one where you can buy petrol and supplies. The Benders, a husband and wife duo, have run Huon since 1994 and listed it on the stock exchange in 2014, valuing the company at around $500 million. Last financial year, the company sold 25,000 tons of fish, predominantly heads-on, gutted (or HOG) salmon and a small quantity of trout. The company claims the title of Tasmanias second-largest salmon farmer, coming in behind fellow listed player Tassal and ahead of private operator Petuna. In total, Tasmanias salmon industry is a $1 billion-year business, larger than both the states dairy and beef industries. Its also a highly controversial one. For years, Tasmanian locals have protested the salmon industrys impact on the states iconic natural environment, along with the perceived treatment of the fish themselves. Recently this has come to a head after renowned author Richard Flanagan published a new book Toxic: the Rotting Underbelly of the Tasmanian Salmon Industry. How about consulting Tasmanians, on the conditions you place? Its not up to him to, at the last minute, suddenly say here are the environmental conditions for somebody else to buy in. Former Greens leader Bob Brown In it, Flanagan labels Tasmanian salmon as the battery hen of the sea and claims fish in farms operated by the big three salmon farmers are fed chicken beaks and offal, carcinogens, and fishmeal containing other jeopardised fish stocks. Its release struck a chord among Tasmanias 500,000-odd populace, turning many locals off salmon and galvanising local green groups into action.

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Former Australian Greens leader Bob Brown is one disgruntled local. He tells The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald there is a rising tide of anger against the salmon industry and Huons sale to JBS was not being viewed favourably in the community. Loading The mood is one of apprehension and disgust that the Tasmanian owners of this company are simply throwing it to international buyers, Brown says. Weve suffered the environmental impacts of industrial fish farming, but now, on top of that, the profits are going to flow out of this state which is just a huge matter of angst for the people of Tasmania. Brown says he supports Forrests broader goal of challenging JBS to improve its environmental standards but criticises the billionaire for not coming down to Tasmania himself to speak to locals on what changes would be best for the community. How about consulting Tasmanians, on the conditions you place? Its not up to him to, at the last minute, suddenly say here are the environmental conditions for somebody else to buy in. We have environmental conditions for [Forrest] to buy in. Forrest says hes been unable to visit as he is currently hammered down working on Fortescue Future Industries, the companys green hydrogen and ammonia offshoot. But he has sent experts down to study the local situation and report on Huons operations. In walks JBS

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Those operations are, according to Forrest, heading down the right path, and while Huon wasnt there yet, it was trying its hardest to address community concerns and solve some environmental issues associated with salmon farming. He says Tattarangs initial 7 per cent stake in Huon, acquired in June, was intended to investigate how he could help turn the company into a standard-bearer for the broader industry. Former Greens leader Bob Brown says there is significant angst in the community over the proposed tie-up. We were building up a stake, and we had a conversation with the Benders saying our priority was the environment and animal husbandry, and they were okay with that, he says. And then in walks JBS. The Brazilian meat processing giant has a chequered past. Four years ago, it was embroiled in a bribery and corruption scandal which resulted in millions of dollars in fines and put its controlling shareholders in jail. It has also faced claims of slave labour, illegal deforestation links, and queries over its animal welfare practices. Its no surprise then that Forrest is seeking commitments from JBS to adopt a no pain, no fear approach and to generally improve its husbandry and sustainable practices. He says his stake in Huon now means he can reach out and talk to the company on a strong footing without appearing as too much of a bleeding heart greenie.

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The concept of resilience has been alluded to since the earliest times of civilisation. It wasnt until the early 1970s, however, that the term resilience made its debut in the scientific literature, in a 1973 article on ecosystems by Canadian ecologist Crawford Holling. Holling used resilience to describe the amount of disturbance that an ecological system can withstand before it shifts into an alternative stable state. This early definition was primarily focused on the maintenance of function, even if that involved some form of underlying adaptation or fundamental change to the system.

In the latter decades of the 20th century, as more authors embraced the concept of resilience, other viewpoints on the definition of the term emerged. Many of these espoused the idea that the measure of a systems resilience was related to the rate of return to the initial equilibrium, as opposed to Hollings emphasis purely on maintaining function. In this respect, Hollings definition of resilience emphasised stability while the subsequent interpretations focused on recovery.

The Resilience Shield by Dr Dan Pronk, Ben Pronk, Tim Curtis. Credit:Pan MacMillan

The concept of psychological resilience as it relates to us humans started to gain momentum through the 1980s and 1990s. Stress, like resilience, has varied definitions in the literature, but it can be concisely defined as a generalised set of physiological and psychological responses observed when an organism is placed under challenging circumstances. The term stress almost exclusively evokes negative connotations. Fair enough, too  it has been linked to pretty much every ailment you could hope not to get, from Alzheimers to asthma and diabetes to depression. But before we go too hard on stress, its important to reaffirm that it is actually a vital part of any organisms existence. Without stress, there can be no opportunity for adaptation and growth, stress is absolutely mandatory for building resilience. The key point is that it is not the stress per se, but the amount and timing of the stress that determines whether our response is going to be positive or negative. Too little stress leads to under-stimulation with no potential for positive adaptation, and too much stress will overwhelm the individual and leave them broken. Like so many things in life, there is a definite Goldilocks effect at play when it comes to stress.

Of course, resilience must also be considered in the context of the stressor(s) being faced. Dr Lies Notebaert, a psychologist at the University of Western Australia specialising in the field, emphasises that an individuals resilience is not an absolute, but rather something that is relative to the adversity they are dealing with. Lies captures this relativity within her preferred definition of resilience, as an outcome better than expected given the adversity being faced.
In these COVID times, our civil liberties are being restricted like never before causing confusion over which of our human rights should be protected and which should be sacrificed to keep us safe from the pandemic.

Understanding our rights when it comes to lockdowns, vaccinations, mask-wearing, the right to return home or indeed leave Australia for international shores is constantly being debated across social media, traditional media and throughout communities across the nation  not least in Bunnings!

Understanding our rights is becoming difficult as new restrictions are introduced due to the pandemic. Credit:Rhett Wyman

Amnesty International supports measures that protect the right to health and recognises rights need to be balanced  public health orders can override other liberties if they are necessary and proportionate. Yet over the past 18 months we have seen countless examples of severe and in many cases unnecessary state overreach around the world in the name of protecting public health.

Some authorities in the Americas, the Middle East and North Africa have issued legislation criminalising commentary related to the pandemic and subsequently prosecuted people for spreading false news or obstructing government decisions. Others in Europe conflated the public health crisis with national security concerns, rushing through legislation or bolstering, or threatening to bolster, surveillance capabilities. Hundreds have been detained arbitrarily and, in some cases, charged and prosecuted.
For our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, learn more here.

Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Gail Holmes has a flight home to California booked for next week. But a quiet rule change by the Australian government this month  forcing citizens and permanent residents who live overseas to obtain official permission to leave  has meant a nervous wait to see if she will be allowed to board. Expats visiting Australia have been scrambling to rearrange flights and file their paperwork ever since. Many of their applications to leave have initially been knocked back  despite promises from the government they would be allowed to go. That includes a 17-year-old returning to Switzerland for her second year at an elite ballet school, and an Australian man trying to get home to his pregnant wife in Singapore. Also caught in the chaos is Holmes who has been back in Sydney helping her elderly mother recover from major surgery. Then there are the tens of thousands of Australians already overseas who are still trying to come home. In March 2020, when Australia closed its border to the world to keep out the virus fast exploding into a pandemic, about a million of its citizens were living overseas. Many have now returned but strict caps on arrivals (and skyrocketing airline fares) mean about 40,000 are still stranded. That number has barely shifted in recent months despite government repatriation flights. A few people have died of COVID-19 while waiting to come back. Australias hard border has raised eyebrows internationally even as it has worked at keeping case numbers (and deaths) remarkably low compared to most of the world. In line with expert modelling, the federal government has now tied Australias phased reopening plan to vaccination targets. That inoculation campaign, having lagged behind most of the developed world, is now speeding up but its not likely to meet the plans thresholds until the end of the year. Some experts despair at what the Fortress Australia mentality is doing to the country in the meantime while others question the legality of travel bans for citizens. Meanwhile, with cases low in many Asian and Pacific nations, a number of epidemiologists say Australia could extend its travel bubble beyond New Zealand sooner than planned. So, what is Australias border policy, how does it compare to the rest of the world, and what does the law say about shutting citizens out (and in)? Gail Holmes is in Australia to help her elderly mother after an operation but needs to return to her home in California. Credit:Rhett Wyman

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What are the rules at the national border? Foreign visitors and temporary residents to Australia can leave whenever they want but they need a special exemption to get in. Australian citizens and permanent residents can come home without one  assuming they can find a flight  but they require an outbound travel exemption in order to leave. And everyone coming in, citizen or not, has to spend two weeks in hotel quarantine (unless they are coming from New Zealand when the travel bubble is running or have another valid reason, like being a foreign diplomat). In 2020, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the new border restrictions were needed because people were still trying to holiday overseas during the pandemic, putting the community at risk of COVID when they returned or risking becoming stranded themselves. In April, during the height of the deadly Delta wave ravaging India, the federal government took the extraordinary step of banning Australians trying to return from India, including children, with the measure threatening jail time or fines to those who tried to return. The ban ran out after three weeks but a small number of Australians trying to get out of India died in that time. While flights have resumed, Australia still has higher restrictions on travel to and from India, despite case numbers having fallen. There are automatic exemptions for certain groups travelling to Australia, such as air and shipping crew, some business and investment visa holders, and the immediate family of Australian citizens who hold particular visas. However, immediate family does not include adult children or their parents. Far fewer of these inbound exemptions have been granted than outbound, with approvals averaging about 3400 a month out of 21,500 requests, usually for critical skills. Who gets approved to leave has also been fairly hit and miss so far, but people heading overseas for more than three months are often approved. Still some have had to apply multiple times and supply extra evidence. In June there were 32,000 applications lodged to leave and just 14,500 approved. But until recently, Australians who lived overseas and were home visiting didnt need a special exemption to leave again. They just had to show their passport at the airport (where electronic travel records could verify if they had been abroad for 12 of the past 24 months). Now, the government has closed this loophole  it says to stop more frequent expat travellers taking up spots in hotel quarantine for others looking to come back or needing to visit. Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews says its not designed to lock expats in; they will still be allowed to leave, but through the exemption system. Like many expats visiting home, Holmes heard of this new requirement on Facebook  the government made the change on August 1 to take effect on August 11 but did not announce it for six days. After The Herald and The Age reported on the chaos, as people scrambled to either change flights or file applications  only to have them rejected by Border Force because the online form hadnt been updated yet  the government announced a grace period until September 7. Those leaving before then are encouraged to get exemptions but can still leave under the old rules.

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Holmes, who needs to fly home to her partner and job in California next week, resubmitted an application on Monday when the forms were updated and sweated on the outcome all week. The exemption came through on Friday morning. Its really disappointing the way that the whole thing has been handled, she says.Its almost like its underhanded, like theyve tried to slip it in for some reason. The government says Australians who usually live overseas will be able to apply for their exemption to leave again before they come to visit, giving them peace of mind. But you can only apply three months before youre due to leave Australia. Many will have to book flights before they can apply or, if coming for a few months, they might not be able to apply until they get here. There were emotional scenes at Auckland airport in April 2021 as the first travel bubble flight from Australia landed. Credit:Nick Moir Why do celebrities and millionaires seem to get in easily? In September, Morrison pledged to bring most stranded Australians, if not all of them, home by Christmas. At the time, there were 24,000 people registered for repatriation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. That number now hovers between 35,000 and 40,000 at any one time, including about 5000 listed as vulnerable. Because of our caps on the number of passengers landing each week (as well as how many are allowed on each individual plane), many airlines have stopped flying to Australia altogether. And prices on board those still coming have soared. When flights fill up, some airlines will bump economy passengers in favour of business class to stay beneath the new density limits. But, rather than getting refunds, many stranded Australians have found themselves rebooked on another flight  many months down the line. (Author and former model Tara Moss ran afoul of this practice in 2020.) All up, airfares and hotel quarantine costs can now cost tens of thousands of dollars for a family.

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But smaller nations with tough COVID borders such as Singapore and New Zealand are now vowing to reopen to the world  and tourism dollars. (This week New Zealand unveiled a three-stage plan to reopen in the first half of 2022.) Canada, a country with a similarly sized population and economy to Australia, has surged ahead of our vaccination rates after its own supply delays and has just reopened to US travellers with plans to welcome international tourists in September (provided they are all vaccinated). Loading But Australia is notable on the world stage for banning its citizens from leaving without permission too, a policy described by Liberal backbencher Dave Sharma as an extraordinary restriction on peoples liberty. Britain had rules governing when and how its citizens could travel internationally, but these relied on a self-declaration, not government approval. About 7.5 million Australians  almost 30 per cent of the population  were born overseas, and many have family abroad. Until late June (when New Zealand paused its side of the quarantine-free travel bubble with Australia over concerns about our latest outbreak), some Australians had been using the neighbouring nation as a backdoor to travel to the rest of the world. Nearly 15,000 foreign millionaires have been granted access to Australia since the start of the pandemic. Credit:Rob Homer But is this legal? Dont we have rights? Australia has form in border restrictions  not only was there the strict naval quarantine during the last great pandemic, the Spanish flu in 1918, but the White Australia policy of around the same time (since struck down as racist) restricted immigration from non-Europeans.Today, asylum seekers who arrive by boat are turned back or locked up at the border. And in 1988, Australia tried to impose a kind of tax or service fee on airlines for both returning citizens and foreign travellers. But that measure was thrown out by the High Court, law professor Kim Rubenstein at the University of Canberra says. Citizens have a right of entry, the court found. That makes it part of common law  an implied right but one not codified explicitly in Australia. (We are still the only Western democracy without a bill of rights.)

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Suicide did not increase in Victoria in the first 47 weeks of the pandemic, but a new study of those who died found one in 10 of the 634 deaths was linked to COVID-19 stress.

State Coroner John Cain said the overall suicide rate between the end of February 2020 and January 31 this year was consistent with past trends but common themes among 60 pandemic-influenced suicides were a disturbance to peoples sense of self, their relationships with others and social connections.

Disruption and loss of contact with familiar daily life was a stressor to some in the pandemic. Credit:Scott McNaughton

Factors also included the individual feeling personally thwarted by the consequences of COVID-19, restrictions on freedom of movement, feeling resigned to privation and increased worry for physical and mental health.

The study, COVID-19 as a context in suicide: Early insights from Victoria, Australia, a collaboration between the Coroners Court of Victoria, Melbourne and Monash universities and St Vincents and Mercy hospitals, found numerous people also worried about pre-existing health problems intensifying.
Now Moule is responsible for leading the entire Victorian Public Service and safeguarding the political neutrality of an institution essential to good government.

The former basketball coach earned the trust of Premier Daniel Andrews key staff members when he helped develop the governments communications strategy during the Andrews governments first term.

Experienced career bureaucrats question how this man  a 46-year-old communications and strategy specialist  was given command of the bridge. He hadnt previously run a government department or agency or overseen a government budget process.

Moule, the Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Victorias top bureaucrat, motions to a couple of empty couches. Dressed in an open-necked shirt and face mask, he is like the captain of a ghost ship.

Its a Monday afternoon and rows of blank computer screens and dark cubicles provide silent witness to where, before the pandemic, public servants worked. Now, the business of government is carried on in thousands of makeshift home offices in suburbs and regional towns.

No.1 Treasury Place is a blockish building on the edge of Melbournes CBD and, in normal times, the nerve centre of public administration in Victoria. Today, in the middle of another long COVID winter, the second floor corner office of Jeremi Moule is one of the few places where the lights are on.

A minister or a premier, regardless of how many people provide them advice, is ultimately making a decision that is a blend of their political skills and the advice that is brought to them by the public service, he said.

Moule agrees his appointment was unorthodox. But in an interview with The Age, he denies there has been any erosion of independence. According to him, there remains a clear line between the apolitical, considered policy advice provided by his public servants and the political advice that staffers provide to assist ministers in making decisions.

You have got people in key public service positions that are meant to be the protectors of Westminster who are strongly politically aligned to current ministers.

It has gotten markedly more political and more blatantly so over the last eight to 10 years, said a career Victorian public servant speaking anonymously because they are not authorised to comment.

Chris Eccles (right), who fell on his sword during the Coate inquiry into hotel quarantine. Credit:

Moules appointment, confirmed in the space of five days last year after long-serving secretary Chris Eccles resigned for inadvertently misleading the Coate inquiry into hotel quarantine, is cited by critics  both academic and from within the public service  as emblematic of a bigger issue: the erosion of one of the key notions of the Westminster system, that the public service is independent of the government and gives frank and fearless policy advice. Instead, there has been a concentration of power in the hands of the Premier, the staffers in his private office and a select group of political operatives-turned-bureaucrats.

Everyone who works for the PPO, along with 287 staff of ministers and MPs, is employed by the Premiers chief of staff, Lissie Ratcliff. This provides Andrews with a small army of nearly 400 people paid to further his political interests and those of his government.

At the centre of this power structure is the Premiers Private Office (PPO). Sitting outside the public service, unaccountable to parliament and not required to respond to freedom of information requests, this group of 87 people  who outnumber Labors MPs  is the most influential and least transparent organ of government in the state.

In nearly every department and within key government agencies, political operatives who have dedicated much of their professional lives to advancing the interests of Labor politicians are employed in executive public service positions.

The current situation in Victoria is something different. Over the past several months The Age has examined how power is wielded in this state. For anyone who values Westminster notions of how government decisions should be made, the findings are confronting.

Charges of politicising the public service are not new. Nor are they confined to Victoria. In Canberra, the Prime Minister appointed his chief of staff to head the public service. And since the Whitlam government there has been a uniquely Australian tradition of career public servants also spending some time working for a minister as part of their private staff.

In June 2014 it employed 393 people. In June 2020 its headcount was 1070. The result is a concentration of administrative power at the expense of specialist departments such as health, transport and education.

The next cog out from the PPO in the bureaucratic machine, the Department of Premier and Cabinet, has nearly tripled in size since the Andrews government was first elected. This is Moules bailiwick and the central agency of what is supposed to be an independent public service.

Bureaucrats speaking off the record because they are not authorised to make public statements, as well as multiple government insiders, say the PPO has subsumed policy development work previously done by the public service. This means that government decisions are increasingly made without the checks and balances provided by independent, specialist advice.

Why are they carved out and made to be special when it is the taxpayer who is paying their salary? she asks.

Dr Colleen Lewis, an honorary professor with the ANU Australian Studies Institute and an associate of the Centre for Public Integrity, says there is a push among government integrity experts to subject ministerial and political advisers to the same accountability as public servants.

There is little accountability for their actions. When the Coate inquiry examined the quarantine failures which seeded the devastating second wave epidemic, no witnesses were called from the PPO, even though text messages tendered as evidence showed its staffers communicating with Department of Premier and Cabinet officials about security arrangements hours before a decision was announced on one of the central mysteries of the inquiry : why private security guards were appointed to patrol hotels.

While the path between ministers offices, the PPO and the public service is well-worn in Victoria, as it is federally and in other states, current and former senior Victorian public servants who raised their concerns with The Age in confidence say that since 2018 and Andrews thumping re-election, there has been a marked shift in the number of political operatives installed in senior bureaucratic jobs.

Tongue had only been in the job for 18 months when he was dismissed. He was replaced by Eccles, who had previously served as top bureaucrat for Liberal NSW premier Barry OFarrell and Labors Mike Rann in South Australia. The ruthlessness with which Tongue was treated shocked senior public servants. He is now back working in Canberra.

It is not unusual for a newly elected premier to choose a new department of premier and cabinet secretary, but normally the states most senior bureaucrat would stay on to assist in the transition.

On Sunday, November 30, 2014, his first morning as Premier, Andrews sent a clear message to the Victorian Public Service when he called the states most senior bureaucrat, Andrew Tongue, into his Treasury Place office and told him he was not required to come to work on Monday.

The public servants have a strategic policy advice role and the advisers are there to weigh political options, says Terry Moran, former head of the Victorian and Australian public services. If you put everyone in the one room the system doesnt work reliably and get the best results.

The Premiers private office and the public service led by the Department of Premier and Cabinet should operate in tandem to advise on policy. In reality, it is increasingly difficult to discern the two. At the height of the pandemic, the Premiers three most senior political operatives regularly attended meetings of departmental secretaries to decide what advice would be provided to the Crisis Committee of Cabinet.

An example cited by multiple sources is the replacement two weeks after the 2018 election of Simon Hollingsworth, an experienced and well-regarded career public servant who has worked for Labor and Coalition governments in Victoria and Canberra, with ALP political operative Jamie Driscoll.

Hollingsworth was told he was being shifted out of Treasury and Finance into the education department about two weeks after the state election. No concerns were raised about his performance.

The discussions I have had, prior to this role, with the Premiers office have always been around a contest of ideas. Jeremi Moule, Victorias top public servant

Driscoll is an economist who previously worked for Deloitte and, according to those who work with him, is qualified, intelligent and capable. He has also spent much of his working life promoting the political interests of Labor leaders: John Brumby in Victoria and ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr.

In his new job as Deputy Secretary of the Budget and Finance Division of the Treasury Department, Driscoll became the most senior bureaucrat with direct line responsibility for how taxpayer money is spent.

The 2018 election saw an exodus of senior public servants. Long-serving departmental secretary Richard Bolt left government, Department of Justice secretary Greg Wilson retired from his executive role and Department of Education and Training boss Gill Callister was told she wouldnt be keeping hers. Education Minister James Merlino held a gathering after the election where he effusively praised the job Callister had done. Colleagues who attended were stunned when she announced, just a few weeks later, that she was leaving.

Richard Bolt, who left the public service after the 2018 election.

Apart from Driscoll, two other experienced political operatives currently occupy senior roles within the Department of Treasury and Finance. In the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, three current deputy secretaries all worked as senior advisers or chiefs of staff to federal or state Labor MPs.

The Department of Premier and Cabinets executive director Sam Trobe helped run Bill Shortens 2019 election campaign and Tim Picton, a Labor staffer for 10 years, was given an executive-level job within the Major Transport Infrastructure Authority before he rejoined the political fray as West Australian ALP state secretary.

Cameron Harrison, one of Andrews senior policy advisers, was in May appointed head of investment and strategy for Breakthrough Victoria, a government-owned company registered two months earlier to manage a $2 billion research and innovation fund announced in last years budget.

These are not career public servants seconded for a period into a ministers office but career political operatives and Labor loyalists inserted into the public service in decision-making jobs.

The Age has identified more than 30 senior public servants who served as advisers in the Andrews government. As one experienced departmental secretary noted: When you see that transition happening backwards and forwards at really senior levels it is clearly politically motivated; it cant be anything else.

Moule himself, now the states most senior public servant, has been accused of being a political appointment. While acknowledging his unusual pathway to this position via the comms stream ... rather than the purist policy or legal streams, he says he is no yes man.

Id suggest the reason I am here is quite the opposite. The discussions I have had, prior to this role, with the Premiers office have always been around a contest of ideas. It is being able to have those conversations with a political office, in a constructive way, that advances the views of the public service.

Of the other former political operatives appointed to senior jobs within the public service, Moule describes each example cited by The Age as a highly talented person appointed on merit.

In response to questions from The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, a Department of Premier and Cabinet spokesperson said: All DPC employees are bound by the code of conduct for Victorian Public Sector Employees, including the requirement to be impartial, and make decisions and provide advice free of prejudice or favouritism, and based on sound judgement.

Trust and understanding

Don Russell, a former adviser to Paul Keating, writes in his book Leadership of the Australian tradition of public servants being seconded to the private staff of government ministers. This tradition is particularly evident in Canberra, where the head of the Australian Public Service, Phil Gaetjens, is a former chief of staff to Prime Minister Scott Morrison. At the time of Russells book, nine of 14 departmental secretaries had worked in a ministers office.

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It is clearly helpful for public servants to have spent time in a ministers office if they are expecting or end up as the head of a department, Russell told The Age. It provides people with a first-hand experience of how ministers think and operate. That is invaluable.

Mike Keating, a former head of the Australian Public Service, agrees. Rotation of public servants through ministers offices as advisers, or in other roles, helps to build good understanding and trust between the APS and ministerial offices, he said in a speech to the National Integrity Forum earlier this year.

The problem arises when public servants start thinking like political operatives.

If you are looking for red flags, its a diminished capacity for the public service to perform its traditional and appropriate role, which is providing considered, full range of options and advice, Russell said. If you are seeing advice which is skewed to a particular outcome or that the public service is waiting around for direction on how to write the advice, that is not a good development.

Were pretty much salespeople for [the Premiers office]. Andrews government MP speaking anonymously

In a state like Victoria, where the Labor Party has been in government for all but four years this century and the Andrews government has a strong social policy agenda on issues such as violence against women, voluntary assisted dying and gender identity, it is unsurprising that people with progressive politics are attracted to a career in the states public service. It also follows that any public servant who has worked as a political adviser in Victoria is more likely to have served a Labor MP than a Liberal one.

There are a handful of prominent former Liberal Party operatives who hold senior positions in the states public service. Anna Cronin, a chief of staff to two Liberal premiers, was appointed Commissioner for Better Regulation in the first year of the Andrews government. Former Liberal Premier Ted Baillieus chief of staff Michael Kapel was recently appointed chief executive of mRNA Victoria, a newly formed government agency created to support the local manufacturing of COVID vaccines.

But former Labor minister Andre Haermeyer believes the balance has shifted. Describing the young, self-assured class of political operatives who work in the Premiers office, he said: It has got to the stage where the staff in the premiers office need to be reminded that we have a Westminster model, not a West Wing model.

They think they are more important than the ministers themselves. It has morphed into a system where every minister has a premiers adviser who shadows them.

The Premiers empire

Former and current ministers and some MPs, all speaking on condition of anonymity to preserve their positions, say decision-making in the Andrews government is largely confined to an inner circle of ministers and political advisers. There are 21 ministers in the Victorian Cabinet but of these, only four are said to have genuine influence over government strategy: Deputy Premier James Merlino, Treasurer Tim Pallas, Andrews preferred successor Jacinta Allan and Lisa Neville, who is currently on extended sick leave.

Kitchen cabinet: Jacinta Allan, James Merlino and Tim Pallas. Credit:Scott McNaughton

This group works closely with the two most senior members of the Premiers personal staff, chief of staff Lissie Ratcliff and her deputy Jessie McCrone. Chris Eccles was also a trusted member of this exclusive club.

The effect is twofold, say the ministers and MPs: the marginalisation of those ministers outside the circle and the broader Labor caucus, and a further blurring of where the political class ends and the public service begins. Less influential ministers make policy decisions on mundane matters but any sensitive or contentious issues are commandeered by the Premiers office and his kitchen cabinet.

Bracks was a stickler for cabinet process, so was Brumby, a former minister says. Daniel does not operate like that, he operates how he wants and gets the decision he wants.

We used to be involved in how this government runs and get briefings on announcements before they happened, says another government MP. Now we get emails after policies are announced in press conferences.

Within Andrews office, there is also a group of relatively junior political advisers known as the caucus liaison unit who are tasked with briefing and listening to the concerns of backbenchers. Under the Bracks government, this was a job that the Premier did personally. These guys are f---ing 20-year-olds. Some of them treat MPs like shit, and theyre dictating to us what we should put on Facebook and how we should run our offices, one MP says. Were pretty much salespeople for [the Premiers office].

In the Andrews government, they complain, power over decision-making is determined less by traditional demarcations and hierarchies than proximity to the Premier. In this system, favoured departmental secretaries such as Jobs Department secretary Simon Phemister, Justice secretary Rebecca Falkingham (a former political staffer in the Bracks-Brumby era) and Moule have more direct access to the Premier than many of his ministers.

It is not about political philosophy, a government adviser said. It is about the Premiers personal fiefdom and making sure that whatever he needs to get done gets done.

Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions secretary Simon Phemister at the Coate inquiry. Credit:

In the governments second term, one of the most important changes to the Spring Street power balance was a cooling in relationship between the Premier and his long-time political ally and sounding board Gavin Jennings, and the emergence of Eccles in this role. When Jennings quit politics last year at the start of the pandemic, it cemented Eccles position in the Premiers inner circle.

What Eccles, Phemister, Falkingham and Moule all have in common is time spent in senior positions in the Department of Premier and Cabinet. One minister described the public services central agency as an extension of the Premiers office.

Missions and a mezzanine

Victorias initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic showed how far things have shifted. At the height of the crisis the public service was reorganised into a series of missions, each responsible for elements of the COVID response. At the top of each mission was the head of the relevant department.

In a normal Westminster regime, the departmental secretary is accountable to their minister. On April 3, Andrews wrote to each of the mission leads making new rules clear. You are accountable to me, he said.

Health department secretary Kym Peake, who had also worked in Premier and Cabinet and was being groomed by Eccles to take over his job, was one of these mission heads. The Coate inquiry exposed a pronounced lack of communication between Peake and the health minister she nominally reported to, Jenny Mikakos, on key decisions taken and not taken in the hotel quarantine program. It also found that Phemister did not brief his minister, Martin Pakula, about contracting private security guards to work in quarantine hotels. As a consequence of their evidence to the inquiry, both Mikakos and Peake lost their jobs. In her findings, Jennifer Coate recommended the Public Service Commissioner examine this apparent breakdown in Westminster accountability. In response, Andrews said the inquiry had demonstrated the need for bureaucrats to brief their ultimate boss.

At the top of the mission system was a newly created peak forum for bureaucrats, the Missions Coordination Committee. Chaired by Eccles, it included the departmental secretaries in charge of the missions and additional senior personnel from Premier and Cabinet, including Moule.

Minutes of committee meetings released to the Opposition under FOI show this committee was also stacked with political operatives: Ratcliff, Pallas former chief of staff Sashi Balaraman and two other political advisers from PPO whose names were redacted. The Age has since established the two advisers were Jessie McCrone and policy adviser Cameron Harrison. All four advisers were permanent members of the committee but their names were blanked out from documents tendered as evidence to the Coate inquiry.

These minutes reveal that Ratcliff, alongside Eccles, played a key role in setting the committees agenda. Sam Trobe, then a newly appointed Department of Premier and Cabinet executive, was put in charge of a Mission Coordination Unit to support the committee.

Victorian Opposition Leader Michael OBrien. Credit:Justin McManus

At its first meeting, Eccles explained that the committee was intended as a forum for the leadership of the public service and political offices of the Premier and Treasurer to streamline and enhance decision-making.

Moule, who chaired some committee meetings in Eccles absence, said the decision to put senior bureaucrats and political advisers in the same room was a pragmatic response to a fast-moving crisis. Once the second wave of infections was brought under control and the road map out of lockdown planned, the committee was disbanded.

But Don Russell says any decision to merge the public service and political streams is fraught.

There is a separation between the ministers office and the public service and a recognition that the role of and responsibilities of the public service is different, Russell said. If what you are talking about is blurring the two, that undermines the whole purpose of having the ministerial office.

So where does this leave the Victorian Public Service?

A public servant explained to The Age he felt torn between his employment security and generous wages offered by the public service and the political partisanship openly displayed within the bureaucracy. A lot of us feel uneasy about it, he said. You also feel ungrateful to complain because this government has doubled our executive ranks. There is money coming out of everyones ears in the public sector at the moment.

Opposition Leader Michael OBrien flagged a clean-out if the Coalition forms government after next years election. We have to see a reinstatement of the traditional role of the public service, which is to provide fearless, frank and independent advice to the government of the day, he says.

When you have got a government that has inserted its political operatives into the public service then obviously it has to be dealt with.

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The problem with OBriens proposed remedy is that a purge of the public service coinciding with a new government will only reinforce the impression that the politicisation of the public service is endemic. This is already a view held inside the public service.

Inside No.1 Treasury Place, the bureaucrats who work for the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the political operatives who work for the Premiers Private Office are physically separated by a layer of concrete and steel. The private office is on the first floor, the department one floor above.

There is a running joke among public servants that under the Andrews government, a mezzanine level has been installed.
Islamabad: A bus blast last month that killed 13 people, including nine Chinese workers, was a suicide bombing by Islamist militants backed by the Indian and Afghan intelligence agencies, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Friday AEST.

The minister said an investigation showed there was a nexus of Indian RAW and Afghan NDS in the attack, referring to the two countries intelligence agencies.

A bus carrying Chinese and Pakistani construction workers in north-west Pakistan fell into a ravine in an incident deemed a terrorist attack. Credit:AP

The July 14 blast hit a bus carrying workers to a dam construction site in northern Pakistan. Two Pakistani soldiers were also among the dead.

An Indian government official said the charge was baseless and said Pakistan has made similar accusations repeatedly in the past.
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP)  Armenia's Defense Ministry said Wednesday that three of its troops were killed and two more were wounded in clashes with Azerbaijani forces on the border between the two ex-Soviet nations, which have been locked in a decades-long tug-of-war over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said two of its servicemen were wounded Wednesday.

Both countries have accused each other of starting the clashes. Azerbaijan said Armenian forces opened fire at its positions on the Kalbajar section of the border. The Armenian military said its personnel were attacked by Azerbaijani forces.

Armenia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that the Azerbaijani side has been deliberately initiating escalation," and the Foreign Ministry in Azerbaijan said in turn that the responsibility for aggravating the situation by committing another provocation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border lies entirely with the military-political leadership of Armenia.

Tensions on the border have been simmering since May, when Armenia protested what it described as an incursion by Azerbaijani troops into its territory. Azerbaijan has insisted that its soldiers were deployed to what it considers its territory in areas where the border has yet to be demarcated.

In the wake of the clashes on Wednesday, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry urged Armenia to stop military provocations and start negotiations on the delimitation of the two state borders.

Armenia's Foreign Ministry vowed to use all its military-political tools in accordance with international law in response to the use of force by Azerbaijan against the territorial integrity of Armenia.

Later Wednesday, the two nations agreed to cease the hostilities on the border in a move proposed by Russia. Moscow brokered a peace deal last November to end six weeks of fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh, a region that lies within Azerbaijan but was under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994.

More than 6,000 people were killed in the conflict. The Russia-brokered truce allowed Azerbaijan to reclaim control over large parts of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas, which Armenia-backed separatists controlled for more than 25 years.

The United Nations urged both sides to exercise restraint, refrain from any action that could escalate tensions, and address related concerns through dialogue," U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said, expressing growing concern" at continued reports of tensions on the Armenian-Azerbaijan border.

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Aida Sultanova in Baku, Azerbaijan, contributed to this report.
NEW YORK (AP)  After months of holding on to power amid sexual harassment allegations and defying calls to resign, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo abruptly did just that Tuesday. With Cuomo on his way out, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul is ascendant. She'll be handed a state roiled by scandal and contending with the delta variant and pandemic-related housing crises.

We take you through the major players, what's happened this week and what's next for Cuomo, Hochul and the state of New York:

REMIND ME  WHAT WAS CUOMO ACCUSED OF?

Cuomo was under investigation for several things, but the prevailing issue leading to his resignation concerned sexual harassment allegations that ranged from inappropriate comments to groping. An investigative report released last week said he sexually harassed 11 women, many of whom had worked for him or the state. Other issues in play: how his administration handled data on COVID-19-related deaths in nursing homes, his $5 million pandemic leadership book deal and whether friends and relatives were given special access to COVID-19 tests early in the pandemic.

CUOMO SAID HE WASN'T GOING ANYWHERE. WHY DID HE RESIGN NOW?

Cuomo has denied the most serious allegations against him and acknowledged Tuesday that his instinct is to fight. But he said the impeachment process would take months and consume resources that should go toward managing COVID, guarding against the delta variant, reopening upstate, fighting gun violence and saving New York City.

SO WHO'S THE GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK NOW?

Still Cuomo. His resignation won't take effect for two weeks. But Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul is on deck to replace Cuomo.

HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE HOCHUL?

Rhymes with local.

QUICK: WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT KATHY HOCHUL?

In sum: Buffalo-area native. Age 62. Democratic ex-congresswoman. Once had a good rating from the National Rifle Association and threatened to jail unauthorized immigrants who tried to legally apply for driver's licenses. Now supports gun control and letting unauthorized immigrants drive. Unknown quantity to much of the state, but popular among party leaders. Oh  and the first female governor of New York (well, in two weeks).

WHAT'S CUOMO AND HOCHUL'S RELATIONSHIP LIKE?

As Hochul told it Wednesday, its very clear that the governor and I have not been close, physically or otherwise. Hochul spent much of her time crisscrossing New York as part of her duties as lieutenant governor. Cuomo chose her as his running mate while pursuing his second term, in 2014, but she was never part of his inner circle  and isn't mentioned in the report.

WHY IS CUOMO WAITING 14 DAYS TO LEAVE?

Cuomo said he wanted to ensure a "seamless transition to the new administration. He declared Hochul could be caught up to speed in a timely fashion.

CAN CUOMO STILL BE IMPEACHED?

That legal question is murky, but the bottom line: He wont be impeached. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said Friday that lawyers advised the Legislatures judiciary committee that it wouldnt be constitutional to impeach Cuomo once hes no longer governor.

BUT WOULD HE HAVE BEEN IMPEACHED?

Whos to say! But a majority of the Assembly would have voted to advance impeachment, according to an AP poll conducted last week. And Heastie did say the credible evidence the committee amassed could likely have resulted in articles of impeachment had he not resigned. But he did resign, so its moot.

SO WHAT HAPPENS TO ALL THAT EVIDENCE?

Heastie says hes asked the committee chair to pass the evidence on to the appropriate authorities still investigating. Its unclear if the public will get to see any of it at this point.

WHAT WOULD THE POINT OF IMPEACHMENT EVEN HAVE BEEN?

Staving off a Cuomo comeback. If Cuomo had been impeached, he could have been barred from ever holding elected office in New York again.

OK, WITH HOCHUL REPLACING CUOMO, WHO'S GOING TO BE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?

Hochul will appoint her replacement. She wouldnt reveal her pick for the job, but nodded to the need for diversity and inclusion and said she would name someone that I believe the state will be familiar with. Until her pick is in place, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins would be next in the line of succession if Hochul had to leave office.

HOW POWERFUL IS A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?

Not very. Think of the role more as second-in-line rather than second-in-command.

IS HOCHUL GOING TO KEEP CUOMO'S STAFF AND ADVISERS OR WILL SHE CLEAN HOUSE?

This is a key question, as the investigative report alleged that Cuomo's office that created a toxic workplace culture. Without naming names, Hochul said that no one the report identified as doing anything unethical will be sticking around. Some major Cuomoworld figures, like top aide Melissa DeRosa, have already tendered resignation. Hochul said Wednesday she'd meet with Cabinet members in the next day before making any decisions on that front.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE NURSING HOMES INVESTIGATION?

The U.S. Department of Justice has been investigating how the state handled data related to nursing home deaths during the coronavirus pandemic. The states official tally left out many people who had died at hospitals. An aide said Cuomo's administration worried the true numbers would be used against us by President Donald Trump's administration. Families of the people who died in nursing homes  more than 15,000  are still calling for accountability.

ONCE CUOMO LEAVES OFFICE, WILL HE BE SAFE FROM CHARGES?

Prosecutors in several counties have already said their investigations into whether Cuomo committed any crimes will continue. Cuomo might be hoping that prosecutors or the women who complained about his behavior might lose interest in pursuing a case now that hes out of office.

WHAT ABOUT CIVIL PENALTIES?

The women who have accused Cuomo could still file lawsuits, and at least one  Lindsey Boylan  has said she will.

WHAT OTHER CONSEQUENCES COULD BE COMING CUOMOS WAY?

New York's attorney general is still scoping out his book deal. And the state's ethics commissioners are eyeing similar issues as state and federal authorities. Those folks could fine Cuomo.

DOES CUOMO HAVE REGRETS?

He deeply, deeply apologized to the 11 women who I truly offended. But he continued to deny the most serious allegations outlined in the report and again blamed the allegations as misunderstandings attributed to generational and cultural differences. Last week, he personally said sorry to two accusers  ex-aide Charlotte Bennett and a wedding guest he was photographed kissing, Anna Ruch. On Tuesday, he added the unnamed New York State Police trooper who said he inappropriately touched her to the list.

CAN CUOMO RUN AGAIN?

Sure. There's nothing precluding him from throwing his hat in the ring for 2022, especially now that he's eluded impeachment. And although his donations dipped in the wake of the initial allegations, he had amassed an $18 million war chest as of mid-July.

2022? IS THERE AN ELECTION NEXT YEAR?

Indeed. Cuomo would have been up for a fourth term next year. Hochul confirmed this week she would indeed run for the top job, but no other high-profile Democrats have declared their candidacy. U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin and Andrew Giuliani  yes, son of Rudy and another New York political scion named Andrew  are among the Republican contenders.

WHAT CAN CUOMO ACTUALLY DO IN HIS LAST TWO WEEKS?

It's unclear how engaged he'll be in public policy in his final days, but the state is dealing with a soaring number of COVID-19 cases and has been struggling to get aid to tenants who fell behind on rent because of the pandemic.

IS CHRIS CUOMO GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS?

We're not expecting an appearance  let alone, a comment  from Chris Cuomo on his primetime CNN show this week, as he's currently on vacation. The younger Cuomo brother's role advising the governor was detailed in last week's report, and he didn't comment on that, either. The sons of the late Gov. Mario Cuomo were known for their on-air fraternal banter during the early days of the pandemic, but CNN eventually put the kibosh on the anchor covering his own brother.

WHERE WILL CUOMO LIVE?

He only moved to the governor's mansion in Albany in 2019. He previously lived with his ex-girlfriend, TV chef Sandra Lee, in the New York City suburbs. Lee owned that house. It remains to be seen where the now-single Cuomo  and his dog, Captain  will crash.

___

Associated Press reporters Marina Villeneuve in Albany, New York, and Bobby Caina Calvan in New York contributed to this report.

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Check back here for more developments as the aftermath unfolds and find more coverage of Cuomo and the fallout from his resignation on our website.
The Green River District Health Department said Friday that it had identified 616 new positive cases of COVID-19 in its seven-county area.

According to GRDHD, that brought the total number of cases identified in its western Kentucky district to 25,985.

The health department also reported one new COVID-19 death, in its area Friday, bringing the total number of deaths in the seven-county district to date to 427.

New COVID-19 Increases Reported by GRDHD Friday:

Daviess County: 266 new cases

Henderson County: 117 new cases, 1 new death

Union County: 87 new cases

Ohio County: 55 new cases

Webster County: 48 new cases

Hancock County: 18 new cases

McLean County: 25 new cases

GRDHD, which is currently reporting new COVID-19 data for the counties in its district twice each week, says this new information was investigated between Aug. 10 and Aug. 12

COVID-19 Summary for the GRDHD Area:

Statewide, Kentucky is currently reporting 508,310 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 7,414 deaths.
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MOSCOW (AP)  Russia has refused to renew a visa for a BBC journalist in Moscow  an effective expulsion amid simmering tensions with Britain  a move that the British government and the BBC condemned Friday as an assault on media freedom.

FILE - In this Thursday, March 28, 2013 file photo, people looks out from inside BBC's New Broadcasting House, in central London. Russia has refused to renew a visa for a BBC journalist in Moscow  an effective expulsion amid simmering tensions between the two countries. Russia's state Rossiya 24 TV station said late Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021 that BBC correspondent Sarah Rainsford will have to leave Russia before the end of the month when her visa expires. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, file)

MOSCOW (AP)  Russia has refused to renew a visa for a BBC journalist in Moscow  an effective expulsion amid simmering tensions with Britain  a move that the British government and the BBC condemned Friday as an assault on media freedom.

Rossiya 24 said late Thursday that BBC correspondent Sarah Rainsford will have to leave Russia before the end of the month when her visa expires. It said the Foreign Ministry's decision not to extend her visa came in retaliation to British refusal to grant or extend visas to Russian journalists.

In this undated photo released by BBC Press Office, BBC correspondent Sarah Rainsford poses for a photo. Russia has refused to renew a visa for a BBC journalist in Moscow, an effective expulsion amid simmering tensions between the two countries. Russia's state Rossiya 24 TV station said late Thursday Aug. 12, 2021, that BBC correspondent Sarah Rainsford will have to leave Russia before the end of the month when her visa expires. (BBC Press Office via AP)

The expulsion of Sarah Rainsford is a direct assault on media freedom which we condemn unreservedly," BBC Director-General Tim Davie said in a statement. Sarah is an exceptional and fearless journalist. She is a fluent Russian speaker who provides independent and in-depth reporting of Russia and the former Soviet Union. Her journalism informs the BBCs audiences of hundreds of millions of people around the world."

The U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office condemned the move as another unjustified step by the Russian authorities and urged Moscow "to reconsider this retrograde step against an award-winning BBC journalist which can only do further damage to media freedom in Russia.

Rainsford, who first came to the former Soviet Union nearly thirty years ago, reported from Russia for five years from 2000 and has been on her current deployment in Moscow since 2014. She also reported from Havana, Madrid and Istanbul.

The BBC called on Moscow to revise its move.

We urge the Russian authorities to reconsider their decision, Davie said. In the meantime, we will continue to report events in the region independently and impartially.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on her channel on a messaging app that the ministry had given detailed information to BBC representatives a few days ago. She wouldn't identify Rainsford by name.

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Zakharova charged that London has ignored repeated Foreign Ministry warnings that it will take corresponding measures in response to its treatment of Russian journalists. We have made regular statements, urging the British to end persecution of Russian journalists, she said.

The U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office rejected Moscows claim of discriminatory action against Russian journalists based in the U.K. and insisted that Russian journalists continue to work freely in the U.K., provided they act within the law and the regulatory framework.

Russias relations with the West have sunk to the lowest levels since the Cold War, following Moscows 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula, accusations of Russian interference with elections, hacking attacks and other tensions.

Relations between Russia and Britain have remained particularly strained after the 2018 poisoning in England of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in an attack with a Soviet-designed nerve agent that British authorities said had almost certainly been approved at a senior level of the Russian state  an allegation that Moscow has vehemently denied.

In a June incident that further aggravated ties, Russia said one of its warships fired warning shots and a warplane dropped bombs in the path of the British destroyer HMS Defender to chase it away from an area near Crimea that Moscow claims as its territorial waters. Britain, which like most other nations didnt recognize Russias annexation of Crimea, insisted the Defender wasnt fired upon and said it was sailing in Ukrainian waters.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the incident as a provocation, and Moscow warned that next time the Russian military could fire to hit intruding warships if they don't heed warnings.
WESTWOOD, Calif. (AP)  The U.S. Forest Service said Friday it's operating in crisis mode, fully deploying firefighters and maxing out its support system as wildfires continue to break out across the U.S. West, threatening thousands of homes and entire towns.

The remains of a burned U.S Postal truck is seen in Greenville, Calif., after the Dixie Wildfires Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021. California's largest single wildfire in recorded history is running through forestlands as fire crews try to protect rural communities from flames that have destroyed hundreds of homes. The Dixie Fire is the largest single fire in California history and the largest currently burning in the U.S. It is about half the size of the August Complex, a series of lightning-caused 2020 fires across seven counties that were fought together and that state officials consider California's largest wildfire overall. (AP Photo/Eugene Garcia)

WESTWOOD, Calif. (AP)  The U.S. Forest Service said Friday it's operating in crisis mode, fully deploying firefighters and maxing out its support system as wildfires continue to break out across the U.S. West, threatening thousands of homes and entire towns.

The roughly 21,000 federal firefighters working on the ground is more than double the number of firefighters sent to contain forest fires at this time a year ago, and the agency is facing "critical resources limitations," said Anthony Scardina, a deputy forester for the agency's Pacific Southwest region.

An estimated 6,170 firefighters alone are battling the Dixie Fire in Northern California, the largest of 100 large fires burning in 14 states, with dozens more burning in western Canada.

The fire began a month ago and has destroyed more than 1,000 homes, businesses and other structures, much of it in the small town of Greenville in the northern Sierra Nevada.

The fire had ravaged more than 800 square miles (well over 2,000 square kilometers)  an area larger than the city of London  and continued to threaten more than a dozen rural and forest communities.

Charred metal and ash are all that remain of "Pete" Reyna's Chicago Park home which burned Wednesday night due to the River Fire, Aug. 7, 2021. (Elias Funez/The Union via AP)

Containment lines for the fire held overnight, but it was just 31% surrounded. Gusty and erratic winds were threatening to spread the fire to Westwood, a lumber town of 1,700. Lightning could spark new blazes even as crews try to surround a number of other forest fires ignited by lightning last month.

"Mother nature just kind of keeps throwing us obstacles our way," said Edwin Zuniga, a spokesman with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, working together with the Forest Service to tamp out the blaze.

Meanwhile, firefighters and residents were scrambling to save hundreds of homes as flames advance across the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in southeastern Montana.

A plume of smoke rises from the Richard Spring wildfire on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, north of Lame Deer, Mont. The fire spread quickly Wednesday as strong winds pushed the flames across rough, forested terrain. (AP photo/Matthew Brown)

The blaze was still burning near the tribal headquarters town of Lame Deer, where a mandatory evacuation remained in place and a second fire was threatening from the opposite direction.

Smoke from the blazes grew so thick Friday morning that the health clinic in Lame Deer was shut down after its air filters could not keep up with the pollution, Northern Cheyenne Tribe spokesperson Angel Becker said.

Smoke drove air pollution levels to unhealthy or very unhealthy levels in portions of Montana, Idaho, Oregon Washington and Northern California, according to Environmental Protection Agency air quality monitoring.

This Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021 photo provided by the U.S. Forest Service shows a wildfire burning from the Patton Meadows fire in southern Oregon. The fire west of Lakeview, Oregon near the California border started with a lightning strike Thursday and rapidly grew to 11 square miles in size amid tinder-dry drought conditions. The fire is near the Bootleg Fire, which until recently was the nation's largest wildfire. (U.S. Forest Service via AP)

An air quality alert covering seven Montana counties warned of extremely high levels of small pollution particles found in smoke, which can cause lung issues and other health problems if inhaled.

The fires near Lame Deer combined have burned 275 square miles (710 square kilometers) this week, so far sparing homes but causing extensive damage to pasture lands that ranchers depend on to feed their cows and horses.

Gusts and low humidity were creating extremely dangerous conditions as flames devoured brush, short grass and timber, fire officials said.

A plume of smoke rises from the Richard Spring wildfire on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, north of Lame Deer, Mont. The fire spread quickly Wednesday as strong winds pushed the flames across rough, forested terrain. (AP photo/Matthew Brown)

Hot, dry weather with strong afternoon winds also propelled several fires in Washington state, and similar weather was expected into the weekend, fire officials said.

In southeastern Oregon, two new wildfires started by lightning Thursday near the California border were spreading through juniper trees, sagebrush and evergreen trees.

Gov. Kate Brown declared an emergency for one of the fires to mobilize crews and other resources to the area of ranches, rural subdivisions and RV parks about 14 miles (23 kilometers) from the small town of Lakeview.

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows a shortwave infrared (SWIR) satellite imagery overview of the Lame Deer and Richard Spring wildfire in Montana on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Maxar SWIR satellite imagery is able to penetrate the wildfire smoke and clearly detects the hot spots and active fires. Burned trees and vegetation appears in shades of orange/rust, healthy (not burned) vegetation appears in shades of blue. (Satellite Image 2021 Maxar Technologies via AP)

The blaze grew from a lightning strike to 11 square miles (28 square kilometers) in less than 24 hours, said Tamara Schmidt, a U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman.

Authorities Thursday evening ordered the evacuation of an RV park that stood in the path of the Oregon's Patton Meadow Fire.

The fires are near the area torched Oregon's Bootleg Fire which started July 6 and burned an area more than half the size of Rhode Island before crews gained the upper hand. The fire is not yet fully contained and was the nations largest until being eclipsed by the Dixie Fire.

Triple-digit temperatures and bone-dry conditions in Oregon, enduring a third day of extreme heat, could increase fire risks through the weekend.

Climate change has made the U.S. West warmer and drier in the past 30 years and will continue to make the weather more extreme and wildfires more destructive, according to scientists.

More than 6,000 square miles (almost 16,000 square kilometers) have been burned in the U.S. so far this year. That's well ahead of the amount burned by this point last year, but below the 10-year average, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

Parts of Europe also are burning, including in Greece, where where a massive wildfire has decimated forests and torched homes, and was still smoldering 10 days after it started.

Nguyen reported from Oakland, Calif. Matthew Brown in Billings, Mont., Olga R. Rodriguez in San Francisco and Gillian Flaccus in Portland contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON (AP)  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi faced a fresh hurdle Friday to passing President Joe Bidens multitrillion-dollar domestic policy aspirations, as nine moderate Democrats threatened to derail a budget blueprint crucial to opening the door to much of that spending.

President Joe Biden answers a question from a reporter following a virtual meeting from the South Court Auditorium at the White House complex in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, to discuss the importance of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

WASHINGTON (AP)  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi faced a fresh hurdle Friday to passing President Joe Bidens multitrillion-dollar domestic policy aspirations, as nine moderate Democrats threatened to derail a budget blueprint crucial to opening the door to much of that spending.

In a letter to Pelosi, D-Calif., the nine said they will not consider voting" for a budget resolution mapping Democrats' ambitious fiscal plans until the House approves a separate, Senate-passed package of road, broadband and other infrastructure projects and sends it to Biden.

We simply cant afford months of unnecessary delays and risk squandering this once-in-a-century, bipartisan infrastructure package, the centrists wrote.

That's the opposite of Pelosi's current strategy as party leaders plot how to steer Biden's agenda through a Congress the divided party runs by paper-thin margins. She's repeatedly said her chamber won't vote on the bipartisan, $1 trillion infrastructure measure that moderates covet until the Senate sends the House a companion, $3.5 trillion bundle of social safety net and environmental initiatives favored by progressives.

Progressives have applied their own pressure, saying many would vote against the infrastructure measure until the Senate approves the $3.5 trillion social and environment bill. That larger measure is unlikely to be ready until autumn.

FILE - In this Aug. 10, 2021, file photo House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks at a press event regarding the Emergency Rental Assistance program in San Francisco. Moderate House Democrats say they'll sink a crucial fiscal blueprint outlining $3.5 trillion in social and environment spending unless a separate infrastructure bill is approved first. Nine of them have written Pelosi saying they will not consider voting for the budget resolution unless the separate, $1 trillion infrastructure measure is first enacted into law. (AP Photo/Nick Otto, File)

Democrats have too much at stake to let internal turmoil sink their domestic ambitions, but it was initially unclear how leaders would untie the knot. With Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., facing a similar moderates-vs.-progressives balancing act in his chamber, Biden may eventually need to play a more forceful role and prod rank-and-file lawmakers into line.

Seeming to take middle ground, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday that officials believe House Democrats will approve both key elements of the President's economic agenda, as the Senate has.

Both are essential, and we are working closely with Speaker Pelosi and the leadership to get both to the Presidents desk, Psaki said in a written statement.

Biden consulted with his legislative affairs team about his economic plans pathway in the House, the White House said.

Together, the infrastructure and social and environment bills make up the heart of Bidens governing goals, and their enactment would likely stand as one of his legacy achievements as president. But neither wing of his party in Congress fully trusts the other to back both packages, so leaders want to sequence votes in a way that gives neither faction an edge.

In a measured statement, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said anyone opposing the $3.5 trillion measure is voting against the Presidents and the Democrats agenda. Jayapal chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which has nearly 100 House members.

FILE - In this Aug. 6, 2021, file photo Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., meets with reporters at the Capitol in Washington. Moderate House Democrats say they'll sink a crucial fiscal blueprint outlining $3.5 trillion in social and environment spending unless a separate infrastructure bill is approved first. Nine of them have written Pelosi saying they will not consider voting for the budget resolution unless the separate, $1 trillion infrastructure measure is first enacted into law. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Democrats control the House by just three votes, giving virtually all 220 of the party's lawmakers tremendous leverage. They run the 50-50 Senate only with Vice President Kamala Harris' tie-breaking vote.

The House returns to Washington from its summer recess on Aug. 23 to vote on the budget resolution and perhaps other legislation, giving Biden, Pelosi and other leaders time to decide their next move.

Pelosi, first elected to Congress in 1987 and her party's House leader since 2003, is a seasoned crisis manager and vote counter who Friday was showing no signs of backing down.

Asked about Pelosis next move, a senior House Democratic aide said the party doesnt have enough votes to pass the infrastructure bill this month. The aide contrasted the nine moderates with the dozens of progressive Democrats who would vote against that measure unless it comes after the House gets the Senates $3.5 trillion social and environmental bill.

The aide was not authorized to publicly discuss the partys internal dynamics and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Congressional passage of the budget resolution ultimately seems certain because it's a necessity for Democrats. Without it, Senate Republicans would be able to use a filibuster, or procedural delays, to kill the follow-up $3.5 trillion bill.

The Senate approved the $1 trillion infrastructure bill Tuesday with a bipartisan, 69-30 vote. Hours later, the chamber approved the budget resolution on a party-line 50-49 roll call, telegraphing the partisan pathway the subsequent $3.5 trillion social and environmental bill faces.

Moderates, including many who represent swing districts and face competitive reelection races next year, are leery of that huge bill because of its massive price tag. Democrats plan to pay for much of it with tax boosts on the wealthy and large corporations and want it to include provisions crafting a pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrants in the U.S. illegally, which also worry centrist Democrats.

Two of the Senate's most moderate Democrats, Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, have already said they consider $3.5 trillion too expensive.

The measure would renew tax credits for children, mandate paid family leave, expand Medicare coverage and provide free pre-Kindergarten and community college. There would be increased spending to encourage a shift from carbon to clean energy fuels and for housing and home care, and the government would negotiate pharmaceutical prices to drive down prescription drug costs.

Republicans are certain to use campaign ads accusing Democrats who back that huge measure of voting for proposals that will fuel inflation, raise taxes and cost jobs.

The moderates' letter was signed by Reps. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey; Carolyn Bourdeaux of Georgia; Filemon Vela, Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez of Texas; Jared Golden of Maine; Ed Case of Hawaii; Jim Costa of California; and Kurt Schrader of Oregon.

Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report.
After acquiring a Calgary-based tech firm, a leading Winnipeg manufacturer will soon see 100 per cent compostable masks  the first of their kind  distributed across Canada.

After acquiring a Calgary-based tech firm, a leading Winnipeg manufacturer will soon see 100 per cent compostable masks  the first of their kind  distributed across Canada.

In a deal announced Thursday which allows them to use sustainably sourced biopolymers for personal protective equipment, Precision Advanced Digital Manufacturing Inc. has bought out assets from Roswell Downhole Technologies Inc.

The PPE will be produced domestically for domestic and global customers.

At least 350 "highly paid net direct jobs" will be created in the Prairies as a result of the acquisition, with an economic export impact of roughly US$2 billion.

A new manufacturing plant will soon be opening up in Winnipeg, with another already operating in Calgary. These high-volume plants will produce a complete suite of compostable surgical masks, gowns, personal hygiene items, air or water filtration products, and other necessary medical PPE.

"Its the kind of thing both our companies had been looking for," Martin Petrak, president and chief executive officer of Precision ADM, told the Free Press.

"We each had something the other needed," Petrak said Thursday. "For us, we needed the raw materials and here was another firm that not only had that, but has also been one of our longtime vendors."

Kyle Fiolka, president of Roswell DHT, agreed. "This synergy will further strengthen and support our shared vision for innovation and pave the way in building a fully integrated, secure, domestic, and  most importantly  green supply chain for PPE," Fiolka said.

Citing the UNs landmark report on climate change this week, Petrak said the most important part of this acquisition is what it will do to help Canada meet its sustainability goals.

He said medical equipment, even irrespective of the amount of it needed amid COVID-19, produces tons of waste every year because of its inherently disposable nature.

Thats why the "completely nonwoven, melt-blown fabrics" used to make Precision and Roswells new masks or respirators, he added, will significantly reduce carbon output and greenhouse gas emissions throughout the products life cycle.

"We have no idea when this pandemic will go away altogether. And the fact is, theres still many questions about what comes next," Petrak said.

"If that means were all still going to be wearing masks and need other PPE, we want Canadians to think of a way in which that doesnt harm our planet."

Following Thursdays deal, Roswell DHT has now become a wholly-owned subsidiary. That means its stock is entirely owned by the parent company, Precision ADM, but it remains a fully functioning stand-alone operation.

"Its incredibly exciting that we can now compete as a vertically integrated manufacturer and leverage our IP exponentially," Fiolka said.

In Canada, there is a dire dearth of such arrangements, whereby the supply chain of a company is integrated and owned by that company  so it can control its suppliers, distributors, or retail locations to reduce cost and improve efficiency.

As a global manufacturing business, Petrak remembers when Canada faced insurmountable problems with the supply for PPE, because of issues related from all sides of the chain. "Lets just say, we never want to be put in that position ever again," he said.

"At the end of the day, this is thrilling news for everyday Canadians and especially those working in hospitals. Its a win-win thats sustainable, how great is that?"

temur.durrani@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @temurdur
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP)  The National Park Service is pushing back after a U.S. government report recommended approval of a launch pad for commercial rockets on the Georgia coast, saying a chance of explosive misfires over a federally protected island popular with tourists and campers poses an unacceptable risk.

FILE - This artist's sketch provided by Spaceport Camden shows the launch pad complex of the proposed Spaceport Camden in Camden County, Ga. The National Park Service is pushing back after a U.S. government report recommended approval of a launch pad for commercial rockets on the Georgia coast, saying a chance of explosive misfires over a federally protected island popular with tourists and campers poses an unacceptable risk. (Spaceport Camden via AP)

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP)  The National Park Service is pushing back after a U.S. government report recommended approval of a launch pad for commercial rockets on the Georgia coast, saying a chance of explosive misfires over a federally protected island popular with tourists and campers poses an unacceptable risk.

Camden County in Georgia's coastal, southeast corner has spent nine years and $10 million seeking permission to build what would be the nation's 13th licensed commercial spaceport. The proposed Spaceport Camden took a big step forward in June, when the Federal Aviation Administration issued a final environmental impact study that concluded building the spaceport would be its preferred alternative.

Now the Park Service and its parent agency, the U.S. Department of the Interior, are disputing the FAA's conclusion that the spaceport poses minimal risks or adverse impacts to Cumberland Island, a federally protected wilderness. The island, known for wild horses and nesting sea turtles, is managed by the Park Service and draws about 60,000 visitors each year.

In a July 22 letter to the FAA, the Interior Department said the final study on the spaceport's impacts noted that a failed launch could result in fires, explosions, or releases of propellants or other hazardous materials.

The letter says the FAA failed to look closely at potential risks to Cumberland Island, which lies along the proposed flight path for rockets 5 miles (8 kilometers) east of the launch site.

FILE - In this Sept. 20, 2008, file photo, a wild horse grazes next to the ruins of the Dungeness mansion in the south end of Cumberland Island in Camden County, Georgia National Seashore. The National Park Service is pushing back after a U.S. government report recommended approval of a launch pad for commercial rockets on the Georgia coast, saying a chance of explosive misfires over a federally protected island popular with tourists and campers poses an unacceptable risk.(AP Photo/Chris Viola, File)

The letter, signed by Laura Fleming of the Interior Department's Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, says a spaceport safety briefing the FAA gave in December provided insufficient information for our needs.

As a Federal land manager charged with the protection of some of the nations most protected resources, (the National Park Service) has a responsibility to plan and prepare for a worst-case scenario, Fleming wrote. She added: We require an in-depth understanding of the extent of what a worst-case scenario might include.

Gary Ingram, the Park Service superintendent overseeing Cumberland Island National Seashore, provided the letter to The Associated Press after a reporter requested a copy.

The Department of the Interior has determined that the preferred alternative for proposed Spaceport Camden operations poses an unacceptable risk to Cumberland Island National Seashore, based on available information, Ingram said in an email Thursday.

It's not clear how the FAA, which is responsible for licensing U.S. commercial rocket launch sites, will respond. In 2014, the agency approved SpaceX's launch site in Texas over objections by the Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

FAA spokesman Steven Kulm said in an emailed statement Friday that the Park Service had served as a cooperating agency in the environmental review process for Spaceport Camden. He did not address the concerns raised in the Department of the Interior's letter.

A top local official pushing the proposed Georgia spaceport said such back-and-forth exchanges between agencies are a common part of the licensing process and shouldn't threaten the project.

The FAA is the subject matter expert on launch vehicle safety," Gary Blount, chairman of the Camden County Board of Commissioners, said in a statement, "and we believe the FAA and the Department of Interior will develop an acceptable path forward just as they have done in other launch site applications.

Similar concerns about flaming debris from a failed launch sparking fires on the ground have been raised by landowners on neighboring Little Cumberland Island, which has about 40 private homes. Both islands have no roads connecting them to the mainland, making it difficult to respond to fires.

The FAA report concluded the Georgia county had submitted an adequate and appropriate plan for dealing with fires and other emergencies that might arise from rocket launches. But the Interior Department letter said there was no documentation to show the Park Service was consulted.

The FAA had planned to issue a final decision on Spaceport Camden's license by the end of July. Now the agency says there will be no decision before September.

The letter said the Park Service is willing to reconsider its position if it receives more information on potential risks.

Local officials say the county of 55,000 people would get a soaring economic boost by joining the commercial space race, with a private launch pad luring both supporting industries and tourists.

Though more than half of licensed U.S. spaceports have never held a licensed launch, officials pushing Spaceport Camden note it would be among the few capable of firing rockets vertically as opposed to those that take off horizontally like airplanes. They cite a recent report commissioned by a Pentagon unit that found  the future space economy will be dependent on vertical launch.

Steve Howard, Camden County's government administrator, has said a risk analysis for Spaceport Camden determined the chance of death or injury from a rocket launched at the site ranges from less than one in 10 million to one in a billion.
NEW ORLEANS (AP)  A major steelmaker is calling off a $120 million expansion of its factory in the Louisiana community of Convent.

NEW ORLEANS (AP)  A major steelmaker is calling off a $120 million expansion of its factory in the Louisiana community of Convent.

The Times-Picayune'The New Orleans Advocate reports that Nucor Corp. informed state environmental officials of the decision when it asked for a revised air emissions permit in July.

The company said the decision to shelve the plans was made before it submitted a plan to regulators to reduce emissions and before environmental groups objected to the company's proposed settlement of charges related to releases of caustic sulfuric acid mist and highly flammable hydrogen sulfide since it began operating in 2013.

This was solely a business decision based purely on market conditions, company spokesperson Katherine Miller said Thursday.

The environmental groups Inclusive Louisiana and the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, represented by the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic, challenged the illegal emissions settlement the company has proposed to the Department of Environmental Quality as too small. But both groups also praised Nucors decision not to proceed with the expansions.

The withdrawal of the proposed pelletizer project is both a positive step for the local residents and an opportunity for both DEQ and the community to take a hard look at Nucors ongoing permit violations, said Lauren Godshall, an attorney with the Tulane law clinic.
MONTGOMERY, Ala.  Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday issued a state of emergency as state hospitals face a surge in COVID-19 cases, an order that came the same day the state tied a record low for available intensive care unit beds.

National Disaster Medical System medical professionals listen as University of Mississippi Medical Center officials speak as to their temporary duties during a news conference and walk-thru of a COVID-19 mobile field hospital erected in a parking garage at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021. NDMS will help staff the field unit which will have a mixture of inpatient and outpatient services and will serve as a resource for the entire state, not just UMMC. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

MONTGOMERY, Ala.  Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday issued a state of emergency as state hospitals face a surge in COVID-19 cases, an order that came the same day the state tied a record low for available intensive care unit beds.

Ivey issued a limited state of emergency aimed at giving medical providers flexibility on staffing and capacity decisions and easier shipment of emergency equipment and supplies. The Republican governor stressed she would not be issuing any closure orders or mask mandates.

I want to be abundantly clear: there will be absolutely no statewide mandates, closures or the like. This state of emergency is strategically targeted at removing bureaucracy and cutting red tape wherever we can to allow our doctors, nurses and hospital staff to treat patients that come through their doors, Ivey said in a statement.

The order came as medical providers described a tidal wave of COVID-19 cases that is putting severe stress on Alabama hospitals. The state on Friday tied the record low for available intensive care unit beds with just 39 vacant beds statewide, said Dr. Don Williamson, the former state health officer who now heads the Alabama Hospital Association.

The system is slowly becoming overwhelmed, Williamson said.

People celebrate after the Salt Lake County Council voted Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, in Salt Lake City, to overturn a school mask order for kids under the age of 12 issued early this week by the countys top health official, (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Of the states 1,567 intensive care unit beds, 689 are filled with COVID-19 patients and just 39 are empty.

MORE ON THE PANDEMIC:

 Moscow reports surge in deaths from coronavirus in July

 FEMA: Paid $1 billion to help cover coronavirus funerals

 Japan races to vaccinate after Olympics as coronavirus surges

 President Biden eyes tougher vaccine rules without provoking backlash

A woman rests after receiving a third Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a coronavirus vaccination center in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021. Israel is grappling with a surge of infections and urging people over age 60 to get a booster shot. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

 Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine

HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

HONOLULU  A new wave of the coronavirus pandemic has Hawaii in crisis mode, with the state recording its highest single bump in cases and hospitals putting together overflow plans, Gov. David Ige said.

Nearly 1,170 new infections were reported Friday, he said at a news conference. That includes a small number of cases from previous days that were delayed because of a technical glitch, but still represents the largest single increase since the start of the pandemic.

Friday the 13th has never been so frightening. It is real and it is terrifying, Ige said. And tragically, its preventable.

The vast majority of new cases are among unvaccinated people, officials said.

Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga answers a reporter's question after a meeting at his official residence in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2021. Suga is pinning his hopes on vaccinations, which started slow but are now making good progress. How this race between shots and disease turns out may determine Suga's political future, not to mention the health of tens of thousands. (Kyodo News via AP)

Our behavior can save us, Ige said in urging people to get vaccinated and avoid gatherings. The actions we take each and every day can make a difference in the battle against COVID.

Hawaii saw an average of 729 new cases over the past three days, Ige said. It has a population of nearly 1.5 million people. The seven-day state positivity rate is now 7.4%.

Ige said hospitals filling up and preparing for things to get worse.

They are treating younger and younger people, the governor said. Yesterday, tragically, we reported a death of a man in his 30s.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Oregons governor says she will deploy up to 1,500 National Guard troops to hospitals around the state to support healthcare workers as the COVID-19 surges amid the rapid spread of the Delta variant.

Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, says starting Aug. 20 she will send an initial 500 Guard members to serve as equipment runners in hospitals and help with COVID-19 testing, among other things.

People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus walk through the Nakamise main path to the Sensoji temple, lined with shops in the Asakusa neighborhood of Tokyo, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

There are 733 people hospitalized with the virus in Oregon, including 185 in intensive care units. Hospitals have warned they are near capacity as the state endures a fourth wave of the outbreak.

SALT LAKE CITY -- Coronavirus patients are filling Utah hospitals beyond capacity.

Officials with the states largest health care system said Friday that intensive care units are at 102% capacity.

Intermountain Healthcare doctors say about 90% of the hospitalized coronavirus patients are not vaccinated.

Infectious disease physicians say the surge driven by the highly contagious delta variant is especially concerning as the new school year begins without a mask mandate for children who cannot yet be vaccinated. Officials worry about school outbreaks that could spread to kids families. The latest surge has also taken a heavy toll on healthcare workers morale.

NASHVILLE  The Tennessee governors office is pushing back on COVID-19 vaccine misinformation that goes as far as claiming cows are being vaccinated to inoculate unwitting people who eat meat.

Hipolita, 96, takes part in a dance class at the Orpea Buenavista nursing home in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021. Once almost all of the elderly have been vaccinated, some residences are resuming some of the activities they organized before COVID, but maintaining a safe distance and wearing masks. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas)

The confusion over an assortment of outlandish claims illustrates the hurdles that face a state in the bottom 10 for vaccination rates amid a virus resurgence stretching hospitals thin.

In an email Thursday to lawmakers, a top deputy of Republican Gov. Bill Lee debunked several conspiracy theories about a recent executive order. The email says some components that are being most frequently misinterpreted were included in previous executive orders during the pandemic. Lees office said lawmakers seeking information for constituents and constituents themselves have reached out about the claims.

The push to debunk shows how prevalently misinformation is swirling among unvaccinated circles, even as hospitals of all sizes have begun running out of staffed beds. Vanderbilt University Medical Center said its adult hospital and emergency department are completely full, as it is limiting elective procedures and declining transfer requests from many hospitals. More than 90% of COVID-19 hospitalizations there are unvaccinated people, while vaccinated patients are also severely immunocompromised, the hospital said.

The rumors deemed FALSE in the governors office email are that his executive order creates quarantine camps; that the National Guard will round up unvaccinated people and take them to locations to be quarantined or vaccinated, or forcibly vaccinate them in their homes; that the executive order lays the groundwork for permanent lockdowns; and that COVID-19 vaccines are being given to livestock to vaccinate people through meat consumption.

HONOLULU  Two visitors from U.S. mainland were arrested for allegedly using fake vaccine cards to travel to Hawaii.

Officials with the Hawaii attorney generals office arrested the visitors at Honolulus international airport, a spokesman for the agency said in a statement.

FILE - In this Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, file photo, fifth-grader Marcques Haley, gets his temperature checked by school nurse Rachel White before entering Stephens Elementary School in Little Rock, Ark. Most Arkansas public school students will be required to wear masks when 2001 classes begin in mid-August 2021, following moves by dozens of districts in response to a judge blocking the state's mask mandate ban. (Tommy Metthe/The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP, File)

Investigators said the two violated state rules requiring travelers to produce either a negative coronavirus test or proof of vaccination to avoid quarantine upon entering the state.

Violating the states COVID-19 mandates, including falsifying a vaccination card, is a misdemeanor that can result in a fine of up to $5,000, up to a year in prison or both.

The agency said this is the first time it has arrested someone for allegedly falsifying a vaccination card.

COLUMBIA, S.C.  A South Carolina health system is rescheduling surgeries and reassigning nurses after two of its hospitals topped 100% capacity as the delta variant spurred a new wave of coronavirus cases in the state.

Tidelands Health says it's also opening two temporary clinics to treat patients with COVID-19-like symptoms as a way to bring down emergency department volumes.

Elsewhere in the state, hospitals are limiting visitors and entire high school football teams are being quarantined as schools newly reopened for the fall semester grapple with outbreaks.

FILE - In this July 9, 2020 file photo, a walking tour guide assembles in front of Pat O'Brien's Bar in the French Quarter of New Orleans. More festivals slated for this fall are cancelling as the fourth surge of the coronavirus continues. French Quarter Festival organizers made the announcement Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

In Pickens County, school board members called an emergency session Friday after 534 students and 28 staff members were quarantined two weeks into the school year. Kershaw County School District, which also began classes last week, quarantined 701 of its 11,033 students by Friday.

Coronavirus cases are soaring toward rates not seen since the height of the pandemic last winter, before vaccines became widely available. On Friday, health officials confirmed 3,585 new cases and 15 deaths, and total daily case counts have risen above 2,000 for the last 12 days.

PULLMAN, Wash.  Washington State University says students will soon no longer be able to cite a personal or philosophical exemption to the schools requirement that all who attend get a COVID-19 vaccine.

The university says those exemptions would be nixed once the Food and Drug Administration grants full approval to vaccines now allowed under an emergency authorization.

It wasnt immediately clear what effect the schools new policy would have on football coach Nick Rolovich, who has opted not to get a vaccine. Discussions also are underway about changes to the faculty and staff vaccination policy, the university said.

The more strict vaccine requirements are being implemented because of the delta variant of the coronavirus, which has caused spikes in cases and hospitalizations throughout Washington state. Classes begin at WSU on Aug. 23.

Emergency room director Mark Kellar works in a hallway inside Our Lady of Angels Hospital in Bogalusa, La, Monday, August 9, 2021. (Chris Granger/The Advocate via AP)

JACKSON, Miss. -- Mississippi broke its single-day record of new coronavirus cases three times this week.

There were more than 3,000 cases reported Tuesday, more than 4,000 Thursday and more than 5,000 Friday.

On Thursday, the state broke its records for patients hospitalized and in ICUs with COVID-19; the previous records were in January, before vaccinations were widely available.

On Friday, Neshoba County had the highest per capita coronavirus caseload in Mississippi and the 55th highest among all counties in the U.S., according to the Johns Hopkins University.

Neshoba General is not alone in the struggle with cases as the delta variant has proliferated in Mississippi since early July. Health officials say few intensive care beds are available anywhere in Mississippi.

On Friday, the state opened an air-conditioned tent as a field hospital in a parking garage at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Its staffed by health care workers sent by the federal government. Patients with COVID-19 can be transferred there from around the state.

FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021 file photo, vials for the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are displayed on a tray at a temporary clinic set up by the New Hampshire National Guard in the parking lot of a high school in Exeter, N.H. The Food and Drug Administration ruled that transplant recipients and other similarly immune-compromised patients can get a third dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. But the decision, late Thursday night, Aug. 12, 2021, offers an extra dose only to those high-risk groups -- not the general public. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Mississippi has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the U.S. at 36% , compared to 50% for the nation.

NEW YORK  U.S. health officials have acknowledged more than 1 million Americans got extra coronavirus vaccine doses before it was authorized for people with weakened immune systems.

About 1.1 million people who received the two-dose Moderna and Pfizer vaccines got at least one additional dose on their own. About 90,000 people who got the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine received at least one more, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

Its not known how many of the people who got extra doses are immune-compromised. The Food and Drug Administration this week authorized an extra dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines in people with weakened immune systems to better protect them from the virus.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Most Arkansas public school students will be required to wear masks when classes begin statewide next week.

At least 60 public school districts and charter schools have approved the requirements in the week since a judge prevented the state from enforcing a law banning school districts and governmental entities from requiring masks.

Pro-mask wearing demonstrators stage a protest at the Cobb County School Board Headquarters Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, in Marietta, Ga. Many school districts nationwide have seen parents protesting for and against masks. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

The requirements will cover at least half of the states 473,000 public school students.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson didnt issue a statewide mask requirement after the judges ruling and instead left the decision to local school boards. The states 10 largest districts have all approved some type of mandate.

The pace at which the mandates are being approved surprises even health experts, who say theyre needed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus as Arkansas cases and hospitalizations skyrocket.

OKLAHOMA CITY  The Oklahoma City school district will require students and staff to wear masks starting next week, with provisions for an opt out of the requirement, the districts superintendent announced Friday.

Also, school employees who provide proof of full vaccination by Nov. 15 will receive a $1,000 stipend, according to Superintendent Sean McDaniel.

McDaniel says he issued the requirement days after the start of school on Monday because the number of virus cases increased from four the first day of classes to 119 on Thursday. McDaniel adds he doesnt believe the requirement violates a state law banning mask mandates in schools because he, not the school board, issued the directive.

McDaniel says he hasnt discussed the matter with Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, who issued a statement supporting the district and Santa Fe South, a public charter school that adopted a similar mask requirement that includes opt-out provisions.

OFALLON, Mo.  Missouri hospitals are filling to capacity with COVID-19 patients, along with the intensive care units with a record number of patients.

The state health departments coronavirus dashboard shows 2,318 people hospitalized with the virus, 50 more than Thursday and the highest number in seven months.

Some 689 COVID-19 patients are in Missouri intensive care units, the most since the pandemic began, topping 685 ICU patients on Dec. 23. The state data indicates 384 people on ventilators.

ICU capacity is down to 15% statewide, and inpatient bed capacity is at 16% remaining.

TORONTO  The Canadian government will require all air travelers and passengers on interprovincial trains to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says that includes all commercial air travelers, passengers on trains between provinces and cruise ship passengers. Its expected to take effect sometime in the fall and no later than the end of October.

The government also will require vaccinations for all federal public servants in the country.

The Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic Leblanc noted the federal government is the largest employer in the country. Leblanc says it is the governments duty to guarantee the safety of their employees and those they serve.

MOSCOW  Russia has reported a daily record of 815 COVID-19 deaths, the highest toll of the pandemic.

The Russian coronavirus task force on Friday also confirmed 22,277 cases.

Meanwhile, Moscows Health Department says deaths of all causes in the capital increased 60% in July compared to the same month a year earlier. They included 6,583 coronavirus-related deaths, which corresponds to a COVID-19 mortality rate of 3.95%.

Health officials blamed the increase on COVID-19 deaths on the more contagious delta variant and unusually hot weather that exacerbated coronavirus-induced complications. Russias vaccination drive has lagged other nations. As of a week ago, 20% of the population was fully vaccinated.

CHICAGO  Chicago Public Schools officials announced theyll require all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by mid-October unless they qualify for a medical or religious exemption.

The mandate  announced two weeks before the full-time in-person learning begins Aug. 30  applies to all Chicago Board of Education workers, a group that includes teachers, staff, workers in the districts central office, and regular vendors and network employees.

Our Chicago Public School communities deserve a safe and healthy environment that will allow our students to reach their greatest potential, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that California would become the first state to require all teachers and school staff to get vaccinated or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing.

CPS says staffers must submit proof that they are fully vaccinated by Oct. 15, unless they have the approved exemptions. In the meantime, employees who have not reported theyre fully vaccinated will be tested at least once a week until Oct 15 or until they provide proof of vaccinations. Those employees who have approved exemptions must be tested throughout the school year.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The last-minute decision to send 3,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan to help partially evacuate the U.S. Embassy is calling into question whether President Joe Biden will meet his Aug. 31 deadline for fully withdrawing combat forces. The vanguard of a Marine contingent arrived in Kabul on Friday and most of the rest of the 3,000 are due by Sunday.

WASHINGTON (AP)  The last-minute decision to send 3,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan to help partially evacuate the U.S. Embassy is calling into question whether President Joe Biden will meet his Aug. 31 deadline for fully withdrawing combat forces. The vanguard of a Marine contingent arrived in Kabul on Friday and most of the rest of the 3,000 are due by Sunday.

Officials have stressed that the newly arriving troops mission is limited to assisting the airlift of embassy personnel and Afghan allies, and they expect to complete it by month's end. But they might have to stay longer if the embassy is threatened by a Taliban takeover of Kabul by then. On Friday the Taliban seemed nearly within reach of contesting the capital.

Map shows areas controlled by Taliban.

Clearly from their actions, it appears as if they are trying to get Kabul isolated, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said, referring to the Taliban's speedy and efficient takedown of major provincial capitals across the country in recent days.

Biden had given the Pentagon until Aug. 31 to complete the withdrawal of the 2,500 to 3,000 troops that were in Afghanistan when he announced in April that he was ending U.S. involvement in the war. That number has dropped to just under 1,000, and all but about 650 are scheduled to be gone by the end of the month; the 650 are to remain to help protect the U.S. diplomatic presence, including with aircraft and defensive weapons at Kabul airport.

But Thursday's decision to dispatch 3,000 fresh troops to the airport adds a new twist to the U.S. withdrawal. There is no discussion of rejoining the war, but the number of troops needed for security will depend on decisions about keeping the embassy open and the extent of a Taliban threat to the capital in coming days.

Having the Aug. 31 deadline pass with thousands of U.S. troops in the country would be awkward for Biden given his insistence on ending the 20-year U.S. war by that date. Republicans have already criticized the withdrawal as a mistake and ill-planned, though theres little political appetite by either party to send fresh troops to fight the Taliban.

Kirby declined to discuss any assessment of whether the Taliban are likely soon to converge on Kabul, but the urgent movement of extra U.S. troops into Afghanistan to assist the embassy drawdown is clear evidence of Washington's worry that after the rapid fall of major cities this week with relatively little Afghan government resistance, Kabul is endangered.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby speaks during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021. With security rapidly deteriorating in Afghanistan, the United States is evacuating some personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, and U.S. troops with be assisting at the Kabul airport. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Kirby reiterated the Biden administration's assertion that Afghan security forces have tangible advantages over the insurgents, including a viable air force and superior numbers. The statement serves to highlight the fact that what the Afghan forces lack is motivation to fight in a circumstance where the Taliban seem to have decisive momentum.

Stephen Biddle, a professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University, said in an interview the announcement that 3,000 U.S. troops are heading to Kabul to help pull out American diplomats and embassy staff likely made Afghan morale even worse.

The message that sent to Afghans is: The city of Kabul is going to fall so fast that we cant organize an orderly withdrawal from the embassy,' Biddle said. This suggests to Afghans that the Americans see little future for the government and that this place could be toast within hours.

Kirby said lead elements of a Marine battalion arrived in Kabul on Friday as the U.S. speeds up evacuation flights for some American diplomats and thousands of Afghans. The rest of that battalion and two others are due in coming days.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby speaks during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021. With security rapidly deteriorating in Afghanistan, the United States is evacuating some personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, and U.S. troops with be assisting at the Kabul airport. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

The Pentagon also was moving an additional 4,500 to 5,000 troops to bases in the Gulf countries of Qatar and Kuwait, including 1,000 to Qatar to speed up visa processing for Afghan translators and others who fear retribution from the Taliban for their past work with Americans, and their family members.

The remainder  3,500 to 4,000 troops from a combat brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina  were preparing Friday to depart for Kuwait in very short order. Kirby said the combat troops would be a reserve force on standby for whatever mission might be required in Kabul.

The temporary buildup of troops for U.S. evacuations highlights the stunning pace of the Taliban takeover of much of the country.

Friday's latest significant blow was the Taliban capture of the capital of Helmand province, where American, British and other allied NATO forces fought some of the bloodiest battles in the past 20 years. Hundreds of Western troops died there during the course of the war, in fighting that often succeeded in knocking back Taliban fighters locally, only to have the Taliban move back in when a Western unit rotated out.

A Taliban fighter stands guard over surrendered Afghan security member forces in the city of Ghazni, southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. The Taliban have completed their sweep of the countrys south on Friday, as they took four more provincial capitals in a lightning offensive that is gradually encircling Kabul, just weeks before the U.S. is set to officially end its two-decade war. (AP Photo/Gulabuddin Amiri)

The State Department said the embassy in Kabul will remain partially staffed and functioning, but Thursday's decision to evacuate a significant number of embassy staff and bring in the thousands of additional U.S. troops is a sign of waning confidence in the Afghan government's ability to hold off the Taliban surge. The Biden administration has not ruled out a full embassy evacuation or possibly relocating embassy operations to the Kabul airport.

There are a little over 4,000 personnel still at the embassy; the State Department has not said how many are being pulled out in the next two weeks.

The Biden administration warned Taliban officials directly that the U.S. would respond if the Taliban attacked Americans during the stepped-up deployments and evacuations.

Americans are preparing a military base abroad to receive and house large numbers of those Afghan translators and others as their visa applications are processed. The Biden administration has not identified the base, but earlier was talking with both Kuwait and Qatar about using U.S. bases there for the temporary relocations. State Department spokesman Ned Price said the U.S. soon will have evacuation planes flying out daily, for those Afghan translators and others who manage to reach the Kabul airport despite the fighting.

__

AP Diplomatic writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report.
Ottawa will require federal employees, workers in federally regulated industries and many travellers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, marking a shift in the federal government's position on vaccine mandates.

Georgia Mates, prepares a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine ahead of a drive-thru clinic at Richardson stadium in Kingston, Ont., Friday, Jul. 2, 2021. Ottawa is requiring that federal employees be vaccinated against COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

Ottawa will require federal employees, workers in federally regulated industries and many travellers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, marking a shift in the federal government's position on vaccine mandates.

The move  which will affect roughly 1.5 million workers and those who opt to travel by air, interprovincial train and cruise  is necessary to protect against more dangerous variants of COVID-19, said Dominic LeBlanc, head of the Privy Council.

"The government of Canada has a large workforce and a large reach to help in the fight against COVID-19. It is both our opportunity but also our duty to lead by example," LeBlanc told a news conference Friday.

There are close to half a million people who work directly for the federal government, a Crown corporation, the military or the RCMP, and nearly a million more who work in federally regulated industries such as banking and air transportation.

There is no set deadline for when the mandate will come into effect.

"We will take the time needed to get this right, but we will also act very quickly," LeBlanc said. "We are targeting implementation early this fall, and we will obviously communicate the details as this work unfolds. But this work unfolds immediately."

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said the government will require workers in federally regulated industries to be vaccinated no later than the end of October.

Travellers on commercial airlines, interprovincial trains and cruise ships will also be required to be vaccinated by that date.

There will be exceptions for those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, or due to other protected grounds.

Some other countries have also introduced limitations on domestic air travel due to the pandemic, though Canada's proposed rules appear stricter.

Earlier in the week, France and Italy both implemented systems that require people to show special virus passes before travelling by air or participating in some other non-essential activities.

Those passes are granted to anyone who is vaccinated against COVID-19, has recently recovered from the virus or has tested negative in recent days.

Alghabra said Canada's mandate will help the country recover from the pandemic more quickly.

"Canadians don't want to go back to lockdowns. Canadians don't want to go back to travel restrictions. Canadians want to go back to normal as quickly as possible," he said.

At last count, nearly 82 per cent of Canadians 12 and older had at least one dose of vaccine, while 70 per cent had been fully vaccinated.

The rate of vaccination has slowed in recent weeks, just as infections driven by the contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 have picked up.

The government months ago balked at the idea of vaccine mandates, but LeBlanc said the new landscape changes things.

"This is an evolution of the government's posture in protecting the health and safety of Canadians since the beginning of the pandemic," he said. "We have scientific data but also real-world evidence on how remarkably effective are the vaccines that have been approved for use by Health Canada."

Unions and industry groups have so far been supportive of the measure.

The Business Council of Canada said the vaccine mandate is "the right thing to do" to stop the spread of COVID-19 and prevent further lockdowns.

"We recognize that some people are uncomfortable with vaccine mandates, but extraordinary times demand extraordinary measures," said Goldy Hyder, president and CEO.

"In addition, todays announcement underscores the immediate need for a nationally recognized proof of vaccination."

The government did not say what proof employees and travellers would have to provide in order to go to work or get on a plane.

The National Airlines Council of Canada, which represents the country's largest air carriers, said it also welcomes a vaccine mandate, though it's seeking more information about what will be required of the companies.

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada was also on board.

"As the union representing the scientists who approved the COVID-19 vaccines, PIPSC welcomes all efforts to increase vaccination coverage in Canada," said union head Debi Daviau.

"That includes a vaccine policy in the federal government that makes vaccines more accessible to our members and accommodates legitimate reasons for which an employee may not be vaccinated."

Chris Aylward, national president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, said his union supports the goals of the governments plan but wants to ensure it respects PSAC members' legal right to privacy.

The government must also provide accommodations for workers who cannot be vaccinated for reasons protected under human rights legislation, Aylward said in a statement.

"We expect the government to continue consulting with unions on the implementation of their vaccination requirements to safeguard our members' right to privacy and ensure that their human rights are respected."

A spokesman for Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole said he encourages everyone who is able to get vaccinated to do so, but Conservatives support Canadians' right to determine their own health choices.

"We are in a crisis and Canadians expect reasonable measures, such as rapid testing for those who are not vaccinated, to protect Canadians, especially the most vulnerable," said Mathew Clancy in a statement.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said his party is in favour of a vaccine requirement, adding that "workers and unions should be involved in any plans for mandatory vaccination."

LeBlanc wouldn't say how, precisely, the government would deal with workers who refuse to be vaccinated.

"Those will be cases that will be dealt with individually by the appropriate public service managers," he said. "But what we're saying to the federal public service is that this is now a mandatory requirement to go to work in a federal workplace or to work for the Government of Canada."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 13, 2021.
The province will soon offer overnight help for families of children with disabilities to prevent kids from entering provincial care just because their families lack support.

The province will soon offer overnight help for families of children with disabilities to prevent kids from entering provincial care just because their families lack support.

The Manitoba government will partner with St. Amant on a two-year pilot project that will create a four-bed overnight respite home in Winnipeg and a similar three-bed home in Brandon.

It's needed to alleviate the need for families to seek Child and Family Services help as a last resort to access assistance; at times, they become overwhelmed by the care their children require, said Families Minister Rochelle Squires.

"In any given year, there might be as many as two dozen or (more) children who would come into CFS care to receive those additional services when there (are) no protection requirements needed One child is too many. We only want children in the CFS system (who) are in need of protection," Squires said during a Friday news conference outside St. Amant in Winnipeg.

Squires noted the new program follows a call from the Manitoba advocate for children and youth to enhance this type of support. She said the province will commit "a minimum of $3 million."

While some respite care is already be provided outside regular business hours, St. Amant's president and chief executive officer said there is a shortage of 24-7 resources to serve children with disabilities who are also mobile, which the new homes will help address.

"On a very regular basis, St. Amant receives calls from families in crisis. Often, the family is supporting a child or a young teenager with an intellectual disability and the family is exhausted and in need of immediate support. The last thing they want is for their child to be raised somewhere else. What they want is help, a chance to re-energize," said John Leggat.

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"We know this project will help many families to stay together."

He said skilled staff will be able to serve children with complex needs during short-term stays at the homes. While access to the new supports will be prioritized based on the urgency of each familys needs, Leggat said the increased capacity will ensure more support is available.

This will help "parents and extended families build confidence to successfully care for their children in their homes," said Squires, which she said will also ensure those children can be raised within their own communities and cultures.

The minister said the province expects the new overnight respite spaces will be operating within about six months.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga
Despite mounting pressure on the University of Winnipeg to become the first post-secondary institute in Western Canada to mandate COVID-19 vaccination, the schools leader says the move is not as simple as it seems.

Despite mounting pressure on the University of Winnipeg to become the first post-secondary institute in Western Canada to mandate COVID-19 vaccination, the schools leader says the move is not as simple as it seems.

A growing number of universities in Ontario  including a handful of U15 members  have announced they will require proof of vaccination to attend campus, ahead of the 2021-22 academic year.

"Were watching all these developments, obviously with a lot of interest, and we are listening to the faculty and the staff and the students, but there is quite a few things (at play)," said James Currie, acting U of W president.

"Theres some legal concerns. Theres privacy. For us, theres logistics, and we do have a strong safety plan, which is fully compliant with the public health orders. We checked that earlier this week with the government just to make sure that were consistent with the approach of other Manitoba post-secondaries."

Currie also noted colleagues in Ontario have received direction from their local public health authorities to implement vaccine mandates on their respective grounds.

The hotly debated question about whether faculty, staff and students should be fully immunized against COVID-19 to attend U of W this fall dominated a senate meeting Wednesday.

The universitys faculty association argued its membership is overwhelmingly in favour of requiring vaccination in order to protect the campus community and population who cannot be immunized, at-large. Senior administration, however, backed the existing reopening plan, which includes both ventilation upgrades and mandatory mask use.

Chemistry Prof. Chris Wiebe said he hopes peer pressure from universities in Ontario will prompt the U of W to change its stance  and sooner rather than later, given classes are slated to start in less than a month.

"If we can have mandatory vaccines for (Winnipeg Blue) Bombers games and mandatory vaccines now for (Winnipeg) Jets games, universities should also have them," said Wiebe, who is both a U of W senator and member-at-large on the faculty association council.

He said concerns around mandatory vaccines, including legal worries as a result of a ruling that found mandating the influenza shot for health-care workers was "assault," were raised during the Wednesday meeting.

(In 2002, an arbitration board in Ontario ruled a public hospital could not require staff to get flu shots in the event of an outbreak among patients.)

Wiebe argued Thursday students already provide their school with their SIN, among other personal information, so vaccination status should not be seen as a controversial item to report. On the subject of logistics, he suggested the school issue key fobs to vaccinated students to use to enter buildings.

"Its a bit disturbing that theyre spending so much time thinking about why they shouldnt have a vaccine mandate when its such a simple thing to do," said Wiebe.

University administration is scheduled to meet with the faculty association to discuss the matter today.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie
IN a recent CBS-TV news interview, an unvaccinated man recovering in a Louisiana hospital after suffering a severe case of pneumonia, a result of contracting COVID-19, declared that he still will not get the vaccine. Asked the reason for his decision, he said, Because there (are) too many issues with these vaccines.

Opinion

IN a recent CBS-TV news interview, an unvaccinated man recovering in a Louisiana hospital after suffering a severe case of pneumonia, a result of contracting COVID-19, declared that he still will not get the vaccine. Asked the reason for his decision, he said, "Because there (are) too many issues with these vaccines."

You can only shake your head in dismay at such distorted thinking. From Winkler to Arkansas, the unvaccinated, who are now petri dishes for the Delta variant and putting themselves and everyone else at risk, explain their untenable decision (apart from the tiny minority with medical reasons) in a variety of ways. This includes everything from fearing needles and concern about insufficient medical data to believing crazy conspiracy theories about the vaccine being a nefarious plot to implant tracking microchips in arms.

Mostly, though, their position is about not trusting government, often combined with fundamentalist religion (as a Winkler resident put it, "I trust in God. I trust hell get us through this"), and anti-intellectualism and anti-science.

In the U.S., it is no surprise that these sentiments are most prevalent in Republican-dominated states such as Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Wyoming, Florida and Tennessee, where rejecting the effectiveness of the vaccine is official policy  as are the absurd denunciations and threats directed at Dr. Anthony Fauci for his work managing the pandemic and promoting the vaccine (in Florida, the Republican slogan is "Choose Freedom over Faucism" and there are T-shirts emblazoned with "Dont Fauci my Florida").

These are the same reasons a majority of residents in these states and their political leaders deny the reality of climate change and vilify the experts who attempt to educate them about it. In the Trumpian and right-wing media world, experts are allegedly dangerous.

In modern history, this reactionary response can be traced back to the mid-19th century and the controversy surrounding the publication of Charles Darwins 1859 book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. The small London publisher did not think the book would sell, but it did. In time, Darwins study would be read and debated in Europe, North America and beyond, would transform its shy author into an icon, both revered and reviled, and help alter human perception about science, religion and the beginning of civilization.

Yet from the start, the natural and seemingly haphazard universal laws that governed "Darwinism," as the theory was quickly labelled, challenged basic Judaeo-Christian premises that nature "was the expression of a divine purpose." God did not determine life, as the Bible had it; instead it was the result of a fierce competition in nature. While many scientists and laymen accepted some aspects of Darwins theory, his work and that of others of his era touched off a contentious debate about the meaning of God and human existence  a debate that in many ways continues to this day.

One of the more famous confrontations between Darwins theories of evolution and the conservative fundamentalists  or creationists, as they are now called  who maintained that "the universe, Earth, life, and humans, originated with supernatural acts of divine creation," took place during the summer of 1925 in a small courtroom in Dayton, Tenn., (southeast of Nashville). By then, the very same states whose governments and citizens currently question or reject the vaccine  Tennessee, Oklahoma, Florida, Mississippi, and Arkansas  had passed legislation banning the teaching of evolution.

The trial, somewhat contrived to promote Dayton, began when an official complaint was launched against John Scopes, a 24-year-old local high school teacher who had assigned his students readings from an approved biology textbook that contained sections about Darwins theories and evolution  a violation of the states anti-evolution act and a misdemeanour crime.

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What propelled the case to be immortalized as the "Monkey Trial" and "the greatest since that held before Pilate"  in the words of the celebrated journalist H.L. Mencken, who covered every fascinating moment of it  was the participation of William Jennings Bryan, a former congressman who had run and lost three times as a presidential candidate, for the prosecution, and Clarence Darrow, the most renowned criminal lawyer in the country, for the defence.

In the end, Darrow successfully championed science, but Scopes was nonetheless found guilty of violating the state law and fined US$100. Bryans spirited defence of the Scriptures had won the crowd and he received the attention he craved from the hordes of newspapermen who covered the proceedings. The Tennessee anti-evolution law was not repealed until 1967.

Today, Tennessee remains mired in a similar conflict about rights and science. In mid-July, state officials fired Dr. Michelle Fiscus, who was the Tennessee department of healths medical director for vaccines, because she had written a memo that correctly indicated it was legal for teens to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine without their parents consent. The department has now foolishly indicated it will not promote the vaccine among 12- to 15-year-olds.

At the same time, there are also signs of positive change. Phil Valentine, a popular conservative Tennessee radio host, who had spoken against getting vaccinated has changed his mind. The reason: he became ill and had to be hospitalized. He is now urging his many listeners to get their shots.

They and others have done so. From July 12 to Aug. 2, total vaccinations in the state increased by 47 per cent  and that includes many teenagers aged 12 to 15.

Now & Then is a column in which historian Allan Levine puts the events of today in a historical context. His most recent book is Details are Unprintable: Wayne Lonergan and the Sensational Cafe Society Murder.
As experts race to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 by encouraging vaccinations and mask wearing, hospital systems in a handful of states are now straining to keep up with the surge.

Eight states, many of which have lagged the national average for vaccinations, have Covid-19 patients that account for at least 15% of their overall hospitalizations: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada and Texas, according to a CNN analysis of data from the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Of all Covid-19 hospitalizations, these eight states' combined totals make up approximately 51% of patients, though the states account for only around 24% of the nation's population, according to Census data.

"In the past week, Florida has had more Covid cases than all 30 states with the lowest case rates combined. And Florida and Texas alone have accounted for nearly 40% of new hospitalizations across the country," White House Covid-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients said Thursday during a White House briefing.

Data published Friday by the Florida health department reported 151,415 new Covid-19 cases over the past week, a record for a seven-day period during the pandemic.

Florida has the second-highest rate of new cases per capita, with slightly more than 100 new cases per 100,000 people each day over the past week. That's behind only Louisiana.

On the heels of that, Florida is the latest state to report 50% of its residents as fully vaccinated, according to CDC data published Thursday.

The percentages of Covid-19 patients in intensive care units are even worse, with Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi approaching half of ICU beds in use for such patients, HHS data from Thursday show.

Mississippi on Friday reported 5,023 new cases, another daily record, the state Department of Health said. Of the new cases, 98% of those are in unvaccinated people, the state's dashboard shows.

A shortage of health care workers

Gov. Tate Reeves said a shortage of health care workers is exacerbating the strain on hospitals, saying the state lost 2,000 health care workers last year.

He said a call has gone out to out-of-state workers -- 73 hospitals have requested 65 physicians, 920 nurses, 41 CRNAs, 59 advanced practice nurses, 34 physician assistants, 239 respiratory technicians and 20 EMT paramedics.

In Florida, Brevard County officials issued an urgent plea this week for residents to try to avoid using ambulance services for nonemergency calls or going to hospitals for Covid-19 tests.

First responders and departments are feeling the effects of the Delta coronavirus variant surge throughout the country.

In Memphis, Tennessee, emergency departments are overworked due to the pandemic, with August having the potential to be the busiest month in the history of the city's fire department, Fire Chief Gina Sweat said.

Due to constraints "on all levels" of bed capacity, Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville is limiting elective cases and declining transfer requests from many other facilities, officials said while announcing the hospital and emergency department are "completely full."

And Chief Medical Officer Dr. Geoff Lifferth at Sumner Regional Medical Center in Gallatin, Tennessee, said the hospital had no more open beds. "As an ER doc and a healthcare administrator, this past week has been one of the most exhausting and disheartening of my career," he said in an emotional Facebook post.

In Texas, the Department of State Health Services said a shortage of pediatric ICU beds in Dallas County is related to a shortage in medical personnel.

"Hospitals are licensed for a specific number of beds and most hospitals regularly staff fewer beds than they are licensed for. They can't use beds that aren't staffed. With the increase in COVID cases, hospitals are experiencing a shortage of people to staff the beds that they are licensed for," health department spokesperson Lara Anton said.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday that more than 2,500 medical personnel will be deployed to hospitals around the state to care for the increasing number of Covid-19 patients.

In Oregon, Gov. Kate Brown said Friday she is ordering the deployment of up to 1,500 Oregon National Guard members to support health care workers due to a surge of hospitalizations in the state due to the rapid spread of the Delta variant.

"I know this is not the summer many of us envisioned, with over 2.5 million Oregonians vaccinated against COVID-19," Brown said. "The harsh, and frustrating reality is that the Delta variant has changed everything. Delta is highly contagious, and we must take action now.

FDA authorizes 3rd dose to immunocompromised

The FDA on Thursday authorized an additional third dose to be administered to people with compromised immune systems. On Friday, vaccine advisers to the CDC voted unanimously on Friday to recommend an extra dose of vaccine for some immunocompromised people. CDC Dr. Rochelle Walensky quickly endorsed the vote, which means people can begin getting third doses right away.

At a meeting of CDC vaccine advisers, Dr. Heather Scobie said a disproportionate number of vaccine breakthroughs are among immunocompromised people. Almost one-third -- 32% -- of vaccinated breakthrough cases are among that group, she said.

While immune compromised people make up about 2.7% of the adult population -- about 7 million people -- they're more vulnerable to infection, said Dr. Amanda Cohn, the executive secretary of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

She said vaccine effectiveness is about 59% to 72% in immunocompromised people, compared to 90% to 94% overall.

"Immunocompromised people are more likely to get severely ill from Covid-19. They are at higher risk for prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection and shedding and viral evolution during the infection and treatment, particularly amongst hospitalized patients," Cohn said.

Mask mandate push and pull continues

With the school year getting underway, the debate over mask mandates among parents, educators and political leadership continues nationwide, as children under age 12 are not yet eligible for Covid-19 vaccines.

Over the past few days, heated scenes have played out in Georgia and Tennessee as local school boards and officials considered mask mandates for staff and students, only to be met with loud opposition from some parents.

In suburban Atlanta, more than 550 cases have been reported this week in the Cobb County School District. Cobb County does not mandate masks but does "strongly encourage" them for students and staff, according to the district's public health guidelines posted on its website.

In Florida, three educators in Broward County died from Covid-19-related complications this week, the teachers union president, Anna Fusco, told CNN. The educators died in a roughly 24-hour span between Monday night and Wednesday morning, she said.

Broward County School Board Chair Rosalind Osgood responded Friday on CNN to a question about reports that three of the educators were unvaccinated.

"I was also told they were unvaccinated," she said.

The district, which opens classrooms to students next week, is using money to encourage staff members to get vaccinated.

Broward County has had 138 employees test positive for Covid-19 since August 1, according to the system's Covid dashboard, which was updated on Thursday.

School system closes due to dozens of cases

The Ware County School System in South Georgia will close until August 27, due to a sharp increase in the number of Covid-19 cases reported among students and staff members, the district announced Friday.

Ware County Schools, which has 5,900 students, on Friday reported 76 cases Covid-19 among students and 67 positive tests among staff. Almost 680 students and 150 employees are quarantined.

"Some staff members are dealing with their own illness or sickness in their families, so they are unable to work right now. Staff members at two schools are grieving significant losses," the district said on Facebook. "For those reasons and others, we felt the best course of action was to hit the pause button and give staff and students time to recover physically and emotionally."

In-season extracurricular practices and competitions will continue as scheduled, the release said.

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Discovery has accused Poland of violating an international treaty by introducing new legislation the US company says amounts to an "assault" on media freedom and a direct attack on its business.

In a statement on Thursday, Discovery said it had notified the Polish government of its intent to take legal action under a 1994 bilateral investment treaty following the Polish parliament's narrow approval of a controversial media bill that both the United States and Europe say threatens media freedom.

"The legislation is the latest assault on independent media and freedom of the press, and takes direct aim at Discovery's TVN, the country's leading independent broadcasting group and news provider, as well as one of the largest US investments in Poland," the company said.

The bill will strengthen an existing ban on media companies operating outside Europe from controlling Polish broadcasters. It passed the lower house of the Polish parliament on Wednesday with 228 votes in favor, 216 against and 10 abstentions, and will now advance to the Senate.

TVN24 would be the main channel affected by the new legislation, as it is owned by Discovery via a subsidiary registered in the Netherlands. (Discovery is seeking to merge with CNN's parent company WarnerMedia.)

The Polish government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the company's legal action. It claims the law will be used to block hostile foreign powers taking control of the country's broadcasters.

Opponents say it is a clear attempt to silence TVN24, one of the few remaining independent TV channels in the country.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States was "deeply troubled" by the draft legislation.

"Large US commercial investments in Poland tie our prosperity together and enhance our collective security," he said in a statement on Wednesday. "This draft legislation threatens media freedom and could undermine Poland's strong investment climate."

The management board of TVN appealed to Polish lawmakers and President Andrzej Duda to prevent the bill from becoming law.

"Poland's future as a democratic country in the international arena and its credibility in the eyes of investors depend on this," it said in a statement.

"The outcome should also be deeply concerning to any enterprise investing in Poland. Through this vote, Poland directly undermines the values that have connected Poland with Europe, uproots the foundation of the Polish-American relationship," they continued.

Discovery said in an earlier statement Thursday that the Polish parliament had "opted to restrict the right of Polish viewers to choose and access reliable and independent information."

-- Hannah Ritchie, Amy Cassidy, Artur Osinski and Vasco Cotovio contributed to this article.

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A growing number of major companies are exploring vaccine mandates for their employees as the Delta variant continues to spread through America and around the world.

The Business Roundtable, a powerful lobbying group chaired by Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, has surveyed member companies on their vaccine requirement plans, a person familiar with the matter told CNN Business.

That survey, which has not been released publicly, found that more companies are considering mandating vaccines compared with a few months ago, the source said. News of the survey was first reported by the New York Times.

The vaccine requirements reflect a desire from business leaders to make employees more comfortable about piling back into offices and an effort to boost vaccination rates -- before even stronger variants emerge.

"Vaccine requirements are going to become the norm, not the exception," said Constance Hunter, chief economist at KPMG. "Without them, there really is no safe way to go back to work. The Delta variant has proved this."

In just the past few weeks, United Airlines, Google, Facebook, Tyson Foods, Equinox, Walmart and Disney announced plans to require at least part of their workforce to get vaccinated. CNN parent WarnerMedia said Thursday that as of September 6 it will require proof of vaccination to enter US office buildings.

After meeting with the White House on vaccines, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby predicted "widespread" vaccine mandates across the nation.

"It's really just a basic safety issue," Kirby told CNN this week.

Although vaccine requirements are controversial, efforts to fight them in court have thus far proved futile. On Thursday, Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett declined a request to block Indiana University's vaccine mandate, providing more evidence that similar policies could pass legal muster.

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W&M alumna wins award to address intellectual property issues in the art world through blockchain

Summer in Seoul: Amy Zhao 19 had the opportunity to explore South Korea and see sites like the Bongeunsa Buddhist temple during her time as a GRI Summer Fellow in Seoul. Courtesy photo

Intersecting fields: During her fellowship, Zhao attended events that highlighted the intersection of art and technology, like the International Symposium of Electronic Art in Gwangju, South Korea. Courtesy photo Photo - of - Hide Caption

Amy Zhao 19 started her blockchain journey during her senior year at William & Mary. Out of personal interest, she took a course through the universitys Global Research Institute that explained applications of blockchain technology in international development.

Today, she maintains that same passion for learning, but now wants to use her knowledge to help others, including artists who face intellectual property threats. Her project idea, The Art Block, recently won first place in the Design & Creator stream of WizForms Build Your Dream competition.

It's not just people on the West Coast like tech folks who are doing blockchain stuff, said Zhao, who majored in business analytics and minored in computer science at W&M. It's also starting up in the government and in places where it will become a more permanent solution for things in the future.

Blockchain is a digital database of transactions in encrypted blocks of data that are merged together in chronological order. This tamper-proof method of record-keeping is becoming more prevalent throughout the world. For example, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin use blockchain to store transaction records.

When Zhao enrolled in GRIs course, she did not expect that her budding interest in blockchain would catch the attention of GRI Director Mike Tierney 87, M.A. 89. He invited her to participate in the institutes Summer Fellows Program , in which student fellows are paired with William & Mary faculty and international organizations to conduct research around the world.

Zhao completed her fellowship at Art Center Nabi in South Korea, where she gained first-hand insights into the impact that blockchain could have on the art world.

Zhao's host was W&M alumna Soh Yeong Roh '84, who is the founder and director of Art Center Nabi and also a member of the Reves International Advisory Board.

The knowledge Zhao attained at Art Center Nabi would later serve as the basis for entry in WizForms Build Your Dream competition. The competition is divided into three streams, with each stream participant vying for a $10,000 prize to bring their dream into fruition.

Zhaos victory means that she can develop an application that links physical art to a digital token on the blockchain  protecting artists from having their work stolen, connecting artists and artwork, and ensuring that traditional artists don't get left behind amid tech advancements.

Being at Art Center Nabi, which was this place that combined art as well as tech, and seeing all those things come together gave me inspiration for this idea, Zhao said. Without having gone to South Korea, I don't think I ever would have put technology and art together.

Upon opening the contest, Zhaos friend and WizForms creator, Katharine Jiang, invited Zhao to participate in the Design & Content stream, knowing Zhaos background in art. Zhao reflected on her two months of seeing real-world applications of blockchain as a GRI Summer Fellow in Seoul to formulate an idea for the contest that could tie together art and this technology to address the pressing intellectual property issues that artists face.

At Art Center Nabi, Zhao used her background in technology to assist the center with technical aspects, such as free-form data visualization. Additionally, Zhao got to work closely with artists and those with a technology-oriented background from around the world, all while exploring South Korea.

One experience in particular that inspired Zhaos submission was a piece at the International Electronics Symposium  which Art Center Nabi hosted when Zhao was there  called I Traded My Face. This piece took a picture of a viewers face upon them pressing a button and returned a QR code showing proof of the blockchain and a computer generated image of a new face.

I got a lot of those parallels out of that silly face trading machine, Zhao said. I want it to be someone who doesn't even know that they are making a blockchain transaction when they're purchasing (art) online.

Like I Traded My Face, The Art Block would link something physical like art to a blockchain, which could protect both the artist and art buyers through acting as a digital proof of ownership. According to Zhao, this could be done by including a seal on the art, which could link someone to information on the art and its transaction history. While Zhao does not believe that blockchain could solve all intellectual property issues, she certainly thinks its a start.

As Zhao was finalizing her idea for the competition, GRI supported her in several ways. In addition to Tierney helping Zhao by sharing her project on social media networks during WizForms two-round voting process, GRI employees, particularly Blockchain Lab Director Troy Wiipongwii, worked with Zhao to help critique her project.

I would certainly say GRI has done a very large share of supporting my personal journey, especially with the idea of blockchain, Zhao said. I don't think anywhere else inside William & Mary offers courses where you can find coursework that is not necessarily falling within a major, but can be new and applicable to multiple facets of learning. So for example, who would have thought international development and blockchain belong together?

Zhao said projects like hers are just the beginning of what can be done with blockchain.

It's like the Wild West, she said. Currently, it's getting a little bit less wild. But it's more like a place for experimentation right now.

For students interested in shaping the technologys future, Zhao encourages them to read as much as they can about blockchain, get involved in courses and labs involving blockchain and have conversations with others interested in it. Recalling a blockchain dinner seminar she attended with professors from different parts of the university, Zhao said that blockchain is not limited to those with a technological background. From law to business to math, students from all disciplines can learn about blockchain and how it can be applied in their discipline as a long-term solution to pressing issues, Zhao said.

Upon receiving her grant money, Zhao plans on bringing her project full circle back to GRI through a partnership with Blockchain Lab. Through this, William & Mary students could have the opportunity to help Zhao execute her idea.

Here's something that I can bring back to William & Mary, Zhao said.
BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua)  More overseas youths are welcome to China for exchanges, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday, expressing his hope that young people at home and abroad will enhance mutual understanding, develop friendship and achieve mutual success, thus contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

Xi made the remarks in his reply letter to 36 representatives of young foreign participants from 28 countries at Global Young Leaders Dialogue, hailing them for their active efforts to visit various parts of China and deepen their understanding of the country.

Xi has been, on various bilateral and multilateral occasions, encouraging youths from different countries to strengthen exchanges, mutual understanding and friendship to bridge cultural gaps.

The following are some highlights of his previous remarks in this regard.

May 17, 2020

Xi extended welcome to excellent youth from all countries in the world to study in China in his reply to a letter from all Pakistani students studying in the University of Science and Technology Beijing.

In his letter, Xi encouraged the students to communicate more with their Chinese peers and join hands with youth from all countries to contribute to promoting people-to-people connectivity and building a community with a shared future for humanity.

"A friend in need is a friend indeed," he said, adding that China will continue providing various help to all foreign students studying in the country.

March 17, 2019

In a response letter to President Paolo M. Reale and eight students of Rome Convitto Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele II, an Italian boarding school, Xi encouraged students to be cultural ambassadors between the two countries.

"I hope you will become modern-day Marco Polos, as cultural ambassadors between Italy and China in this new era," Xi said.

"You are welcome to study and work in China, and I hope China will be the place where your dreams come true," he added.

Aug. 28, 2018

Xi said young people are the future of a nation, and young people from China and Africa represent the future of China-Africa friendship, when replying to a letter from participants of the International Youth Forum on Creativity and Heritage along the Silk Road.

He urged them to engage in more cultural exchanges, continue actively participating the building of the Belt and Road, and carry on traditional friendship between China and African countries.

He also encouraged them to play their own part in jointly building an even stronger community with a shared future for China and Africa and a community with a shared future for mankind.

Oct. 26, 2015

"The future of the world is in the hands of the younger generation. When young people around the world pursue their ideals and fulfill their responsibilities, mankind will have a more promising future, and there will be an inexhaustible source of strength to support the lofty cause of peace and development," Xi said in a congratulatory message to the opening ceremony of the 9th United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Youth Forum.

"I hope that young people of all countries could see the world with appreciation and in a spirit of sharing and mutual learning, promote exchanges and harmony among different cultures, and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind," he added.

June 24, 2014

"Sound relations between states lie in amity between peoples. The key to amity between peoples lies in the bilateral exchanges between the youth," Xi said when he met with a delegation of teachers and students from Nazarbayev University of Kazakhstan.

"I hope that by this visit, you can know a real China and have a good memory of it. I believe that you will become builders of the China-Kazakhstan friendship in the future," he said.

(Source: Xinhua)
BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua)  China has rolled out new measures to strengthen the protection of the country's intangible cultural heritage (ICH).

Efforts should be made to bolster the ICH census and recording system, said a guideline released by the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council.

To this end, the country plans to carry out a nationwide census, accelerate archives digitalization, and apply modern technologies to ICH recording.

China also aims to improve the system of ICH inheritors, according to the guideline. Evaluation and dynamic management are emphasized.

The guideline supports a rational utilization of ICH. It encourages the integration of ICH into tourism on the premise of effective preservation.

Efforts to spread and popularize intangible cultural heritage should be stepped up, according to the guideline.

Efforts to promote ICH exchanges and cooperation with other countries and Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan are encouraged, according to the guideline.

The guideline also has stipulations about financial support to ICH protection. Governments at and above the county level are asked to include funds for ICH preservation in their budgets. Other measures include targeted subsidies, interest discounts for loans, and tax incentives.

(Source: Xinhua)
Having secured Senate passage of a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill on Tuesday, Democratic leaders moved to a Senate vote on a $3.5 trillion budget resolution for fiscal year 2022, which begins on October 1 of this year.

The budget resolution cannot be filibustered and therefore requires only a majority vote for passage. Its adoption sets in motion a protracted process in both houses of Congress, with no assurance that either the so-called human infrastructure package of social and environmental measures outlined in the resolution or the bipartisan bricks and mortar infrastructure bill will gain final passage by Congress and be signed into law by President Joe Biden.

Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., chair of the Senate Budget Committee, at the Capitol on July 28, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The Senate easily passed the infrastructure bill, with 19 Republicans joining all 50 Democrats to exceed the 60-vote super-majority required to defeat a Republican filibuster. Leading Republicans, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham, voted for the package, bucking fascistic attacks by Trump on the infrastructure bill and the RINOS (Republicans in Name Only) who joined with the communist Democrats to push the measure.

This reflects the broad support that exists within the ruling class for the package of pared-back, and completely inadequate, funding measures to begin to address the decades-long decay of roads, bridges, the electrical power grid, water systems, rail and public transit, as well as the lack of broadband internet access in the US. Among the bills official supporters are the US Chamber of Commerce, the Business Roundtable, the National Association of Manufacturers and the AFL-CIO.

Some attention to the countrys collapsing infrastructure is considered critical to reversing the global economic decline of American capitalism and shoring up the home front in preparation for economic warfare and potential military conflict with US imperialisms rivals, chiefly nuclear-armed China and Russia.

At the same time, the Senate bill is being used to promote the notion that the nation can be united on the basis of bipartisanshipeven as the Republican Party continues to back Trumps coup attempt and oppose any investigation of the storming of the US Capitol on January 6. Meanwhile, Biden intensifies the pandemic policy of the ruling class, a policy of social murder directed against the working class, by pushing the reopening of schools in the midst of a deadly eruption of the Delta variant and hospitalizations of children.

Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, a right-winger who headed up the group of Democrats and Republicans who negotiated the infrastructure package, said of the bills passage: This is what it looks like when elected leaders take a step toward healing our countrys divisions rather than feeding those very divisions.

Biden, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with the full support of Senate Budget Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, separated out the limited infrastructure spending proposals from broader social and economic proposals in a so-called two track strategy calculated to win support for the narrower bill from a sufficient number of Senate Republicans to overcome a filibuster.

In the end, Biden and the Democrats capitulated to the demands of 11 Republican colleagues who joined a group of 10 Democrats in negotiating and ushering the bill through the Senate. The bill that was passed on Tuesday is less than half the size of Bidens original $2.3 trillion proposal. It omits $400 billion for in-home care for the elderly and disabled and $213 billion for affordable housing. It slashes a proposed $45 billion to replace lead pipes in water systems to a mere $15 billion. Total new spending, beyond monies previously allocated, is only $550 billion spread out over 10 years.

In line with Republican demands, no revenue to fund the infrastructure spending is to come from tax increases on corporations and the rich or more strict enforcement of existing tax laws.

All of the social and economic measures promised by Biden, including tax increases on corporations and the wealthy, have been channeled into the budget resolution and the budget reconciliation legislation that it is intended to give rise to. The resolution itself is merely an outline of proposed measures and their proposed spending levels, to be concretized in specific bills worked out by dozens of Senate and House committees over the next month. Schumer has called on Senate Democrats, who chair the various committees, to complete their pieces of the ultimate budget bill by September 15, after the end of the Senates August recess and within days of the Houses return from its recess.

Under the budget reconciliation process, each step in the process can proceed in the Senate with a simple majority vote, since the filibuster does not apply. It is expected that no Republicans will support the budget bill in the Senate and few, if any, will do so in the House.

The Democrats and aligned media outlets, such as the New York Times, are hailing the $3.5 trillion budget bill as a massive piece of social reform legislation and huge boon to working people. In a statement introducing the resolution, Sanders said that once adopted, it would allow the Senate to move forward on a reconciliation bill that will be the most consequential piece of legislation for working people, the elderly, the children, the sick and the poor since FDR and the New Deal of the 1930s.

This is a fraud. The limited measures outlined in the budget resolution, even assuming that they survive the closed-door corporate lobbying and political horse-trading that will take place over the coming weeks, barely scratch the surface of the disastrous social crisis in America and the toxic levels of social inequality, which have been exacerbated by the government response to the pandemic and the profit mania of the pandemic profiteers.

Some figures will suffice to illustrate this point. $3.5 trillion over 10 years averages out to $350 billion a year. This is less than the $400 billion the 15 richest Americans added to their collective wealth in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over that period, the richest 1 percent in the US added, according to some studies, $7 trillion to their wealth. $350 billion equals a mere 5 percent of the $7 trillion pandemic bonanza for the super-rich.

The March 2020 bipartisan CARES Act provided some $3 trillion in corporate bailouts and an additional $3 trillion in virtually free loans to banks and big investors, compliments of the US Treasury and the Federal Reserve. The Fed is continuing to spend $120 billion every month to buy up corporate bonds and other financial assets and pump virtually unlimited cash into the financial markets, fueling the record rise in stock prices.

The Feds quantitative easing itself comes to $1.44 trillion a year. In other words, the government is spending four times more to enrich the oligarchy than it proposes to spend to address a historic public health and social catastrophe affecting hundreds of millions of working people.

The social and climate measures outlined in the budget resolution are supposedly to be paid for largely by increases in the corporate income tax rate and individual income tax rate for the top bracket, but no specifics are indicated.

The budget resolution includes spending for education, such as universal pre-kindergarten, tuition-free community college and expanded Pell grants.

On health care, it calls for an expansion of Medicare to cover dental, hearing and vision and the lowering of the eligibility age to 60. It also proposed subsidized in-home care for the elderly, and measures to close the Medicaid coverage gap in states that have refused to expand Medicaid eligibility. It also includes an extension of increased Affordable Care Act subsidies.

It proposes to extend household tax credits, including the enhanced child tax credit implemented in last Marchs American Rescue Bill. It also calls for expanded paid family and medical leave.

On climate change, it proposes tax incentives and grants to encourage green energy, manufacturing and transportation. It would impose polluter fees on methane and carbon and funding to increase the number of electric vehicles in the federal fleet and increase the number of electric charging stations.

It also calls for green cards for an unspecified number of undocumented immigrants, while allocating more money to secure the border against so-called illegals, that is, to further militarize the border.

All of the above, however, amount to little more than a wish listor a deliberate deceptionmuch, if not all, of which is unlikely to see the light of day.

The Senate parliamentarian, who rules on what can be included in a bill under the budget reconciliation procedure, is likely to strike down immigration reforms and other measures.

To secure passage in the Senate, the Democrats must get the votes of all 50 Democratic senators, and Arizonas Sinema has already declared that she will not support a bill with a price tag of $3.5 trillion. In the House, the Democrats can afford to lose only three of their caucus members, and already six moderates have written to Pelosi demanding to see a detailed outline before voting in favor of the budget resolution. They are also opposing Pelosis stance of holding off any consideration by the House of the narrower Senate infrastructure bill until the Senate has also passed the budget reconciliation bill.
The Pentagon announced Thursday that the US is sending 3,000 US soldiers and Marines into Afghanistan with the ostensible mission of securing US diplomatic facilities in Kabul and organizing the evacuation of American civilians. Britain is sending 600 soldiers for the same purpose. The US deployment of one Army and two Marine infantry battalions has been ordered as the lightning offensive of the Talibanand the unmitigated rout of the US-backed Afghan security forceshas steadily tightened a noose around the Afghan capital.

Taliban in Kunduz city, northern Afghanistan on Aug. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Abdullah Sahil)

The collapse of security forces loyal to the US puppet regime in Kabul accelerated exponentially on Thursday with the Associated Press reporting the Talibans conquest of Afghanistans second largest city, Kandahar, in the south. It came on the heels of the fall to the insurgency of Herat in the west.

Both cities have populations of approximately 600,000. Kandahar is the historic birthplace of the Taliban and constituted a major military center for both the US-led occupation and the Afghan regime. Herat, a predominantly Persian-speaking city, is the strategic gateway to Iran.

These defeats leave the government of President Ashraf Ghani in control of little outside of Kabul. He staged an emergency trip to Mazar-i-Sharif, a besieged city of half a million in the north, in an attempt to mobilize forces loyal to Afghan warlords responsible for some of the worst crimes of the countrys bloody civil war of the 1990s.

In southern Helmand province, the capital city of Lashkar Gah has nearly fallen to the insurgency, with the Taliban capturing the police headquarters Thursday. US warplanes have carried out airstrikes in an attempt to halt the Taliban advance, killing and wounding civilians in the city.

The heavily armed US troops being dispatched to Afghanistan will reportedly be deployed to Kabuls international airport. Another Army brigade combat team of between 3,500 and 4,000 US troops is being sent to Kuwait to be on standby for a possible rapid deployment to Afghanistan.

With some 4,200 employees, the US Embassy in Kabul is one of the largest in the world. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Thursday that it would be drawn down to a core diplomatic presence.

US President Joe Biden had initially announced that all US troops would be withdrawn from Afghanistan by September 2021, in fulfillment of an agreement negotiated between the Trump administration and the Taliban in Doha in February 2020. While the overwhelming majority of US troops and military contractors have already left Afghanistan, the official day for the completion of the pull-out was moved up to August 31. Washington stated that it was leaving a force of 650 soldiers and Marines behind to guard the US Embassy and the Kabul airport.

The Pentagon has been providing armed support for the puppet regimes security forces in the form of over the horizon airstrikes, including by B-52 strategic bombers, and drone attacks which have led to an escalation of civilian casualties and destruction in urban areas under siege by the Taliban.

US military and intelligence officials have been cited by the Washington Post as predicting that Kabul could fall to the Islamist insurgency in 30 to 90 days. Previously, these same sources had assumed that no provincial capitals would be taken before the fall. Their latest predictions were made, however, before the stunning defeats suffered by the Kabul regime over the last 48 hours.

There is every reason to believe that the new US deployments are aimed not merely at evacuating US personnel, but at forestalling, at least temporarily, the precipitous overrunning of Kabul by the Taliban and a humiliating spectacle like that in South Vietnam in 1975, with US personnel fleeing from the Saigon embassy rooftop. Whether they are merely the advance guard of another US military intervention in a war that has killed hundreds of thousands of Afghans remains to be seen.

The fall of Kandahar and Herat on Thursday evening followed that of Ghazni, a strategically important provincial capital that straddles the main highway linking the capital of Kabul to the countrys south. Qala-i-Naw, the capital of Badghis Province, in northwest Afghanistan, was also taken by the Taliban Thursday night, leaving it in control of 14 of the countrys 34 provincial capitals.

In one city and district after another, Afghan national security forces have either surrendered without a fight or merely stripped off their uniforms and melted into the general population. Taliban fighters captured the headquarters of the Afghan army corps in Kunduz in charge of the north of the country Wednesday without a struggle, taking control of large stocks of arms, Humvees and a military helicopter.

Washington is desperately trying to broker a deal with the Islamist movement. The perpetual US envoy to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, formerly the representative of Unocal oil companys interests in the country, was dispatched to Doha for talks that have included China, Russia, Pakistan, the European Union, Germany, the United Nations and the former Soviet republics of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Also present was Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of Afghanistans High Council for National Reconciliation and President Ghanis electoral rival in elections that he and his supporters claimed were rigged.

The talks in Doha reportedly produced an offer to the Taliban of a power-sharing agreement in exchange for a cease-fire. Iran declined to take part in the negotiations.

Pakistans Prime Minister Imran Khan told the media that any such deal hinged on the removal of US-backed Afghan President Ghani. Khan has bitterly denounced Washington, charging that the US only wants Pakistan to clean up the mess Washington has created in Afghanistan. He added that his government, faced with US alignment with India, has options in terms of its relations with China.

Washingtons determination to broker a political settlement in Afghanistan is driven not by concerns over terrorism or the rights of women, but rather US imperialisms interests in preventing China, Russia or Iran from expanding their influence in the country.

It is to that end that US troops are once again being deployed in the longest war in American history.
Wednesdays hearing on Julian Assanges extradition marked the ignominious collapse of the political perspective pursued by the official Dont Extradite Assange (DEA) campaign.

Left: Jeremy Corbyn (Garry Knight, Wikimedia Commons), Right: Julian Assange (Cancilleria del Ecuador, Wikimedia Commons)

This perspective was summed up outside the court by former leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn. Speaking to a small group of protesters, Corbyn said of the WikiLeaks founder, We have someone who in a different country, in a different world in a different denomination would be seen as a hero by the West for exposing truths somewhere. Journalists expose truths all over the world and they should all be supported in exposing those truths.

The difference with Assange is that he had exposed truths that embarrassed the United States. My view, Corbyn continued, is that he should be released.

Speaking to journalists, Corbyn also expressed his hopes in the High Court and issued moral appeals to Conservative UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden, saying it was disappointing that Biden was continuing the efforts of the Trump administration to extradite Assange.

What does this say about the DEAs campaign?

Corbyn wants to portray Assange as just another journalist exposing truths that are unfortunately embarrassing to the US. But Assange carried out some of the most significant exposures of war crimes perpetrated by US imperialism and its allies, above all British imperialism, in history. He described WikiLeaks as an intelligence agency of the people dedicated to opposing such crimes, famously commenting, If war can be started by lies, peace can be started by truth.

WikiLeaks revelations sparked a global wave of anti-imperialist sentiment and contributed to the Arab Spring. The ruling class recognised a mortal enemy and responded with a ruthless campaign to destroy Assange, which it has waged consistently for a decade, setting a dictatorial precedent for the persecution of its opponents in preparation for new crimes.

To reduce this to mere embarrassment is to deliberately conceal political realities to reinforce the claim that Biden and Johnson can be persuaded by moral pressure to change course.

But Corbyn made his pathetic appeals outside a hearing to determine on what basis the appeal for Assange to be extradited by Bidens State Department can proceed. And Britains judiciary made clear that they, like the Johnson government, are intent on facilitating Bidens efforts.

All five of the USs grounds for appeal against the ruling prohibiting Assanges extradition were upheldcollectively bringing into question Judge Vanessa Baraitsers conclusion that Assanges mental health would make him a suicide risk should he be sent to the US and kept in its brutal penal system.

It should be noted that the same agenda has been pursued by the DEA for months, first appealing to Donald Trump and the fascistic elements gravitating to him to pardon Assange before moving seamlessly on to moral appeals directed to the incoming Biden administration.

This has been accompanied by efforts to emphasise the tragic element of Assanges separation from his wife, Stella Moris, and their two young children. For Assanges 50th birthday, his tenth in effective or actual detention, the DEA organised a picnic on Parliament Square, complete with birthday cake and string quartet.

This sentimental appeal naturally fell on deaf ears, with the prosecution using the fact that Assange concealed the relationship with Moris to protect his loved ones to accuse the key defence expert medical witness Professor Kopelman of himself misleading the court about Assanges mental health.

The same false orientation holds true of Corbyns efforts to reduce Assange to just another journalist, in line with the DEAs focus on securing the backing of the media.

Most media groups and their journalists do not expose truths but disseminate official propagandawhich is why Assange was subjected to a press slander campaign for years and his appalling treatment either justified or ignored. Even now the clear threat posed to press freedoms by Assanges prosecution under the Espionage Act have evoked only the most muted response in the editorial offices of the major dailies.

Corbyns statements betray a class agenda which is toxic to the fight for Assanges freedom. He avoids any reference to the social struggle between the working class and imperialism with which Assanges case is inextricably bound up and instead seeks to secure his freedom by attempting to make him palatable to layers of the progressive middle class and, through them, to win the ear of the political establishment.

But for the most part the progressive middle class, the social types that occupy the editorial offices of the Guardian and the New York Times, Labour and Democratic Party politicians, trade union leaders, liberal academia, feminists, and above all the various pseudo-left groups, have either kept silent on Assange or remain openly hostile to him.

And it should not need saying that because Assanges lifes work has been dedicated to the exposure of imperialist crimes, there is nothing that will make him a sympathetic figure in the eyes of the ruling class in Britain or America.

There is nothing impermissible in seeking the support of journalists, NGOs, celebrities, and even bourgeois politicians for Assanges freedom, but only as a by-product of a popular campaign to secure support from the one social force that can actually bring an end to his persecutionthe international working class.

The DEA makes no appeal to the working class whatsoever, or to any broader layers of the population. It has produced a near hermetically sealed campaign of more or less prominent individuals, held in high regard by each other, who attend each others events, and repost each others comments. Not one of them conducts any struggle among workers to clarify the issues raised by Assanges persecution, or to mobilise them in his defence.

Yanis Varoufakis, the founder of Diem25 who played an instrumental role as Syrizas finance minister in betraying the struggle by Greek workers against austerity, displayed his own contempt and that of his co-thinkers for the working class at a DEA event last year.

Assanges worst enemy, he said, was people too tired, too exhausted, too disheartened by working zero-hour contracts or whatever to be able to expend the energy to fight for his freedom. The same held true for people who are neither good nor bad working in these offices in Whitehall, the home of Britains civil service. But as regards these government functionaries, he insisted, We have to make them care.

To the extent that there is a belief among Assanges supporters that such high-profile figures offer a route to broader masses of people, this is entirely misplaced.

Corbyn made clear that he only attended Wednesdays protest in a personal capacity, and brought no one else to it. He did not mention Labour, his own party, let alone call on its members to back Assange, studiously avoiding the subject as he does in every public appearance.

Nor did he make even a personal appeal to his 2.4 million followers on Twitter, either before or after the protest outside the court. His tweets from the day were to give Solidarity and best wishes to the family and friends of a British solicitor lost mountaineering, to plug Momentums World Transformed event, and to extend Solidarity with students protesting climate change inaction outside the Department for Education. The one personal event he recorded was a visit to a new cooperative for ethical food delivery he made after leaving the Assange protest.

None of this is oversight. Corbyn has published only eight tweets on Assange in his accounts history. They provide a timeline of his rotten record on the WikiLeaks founders case.

His first tweet was made in December 2010, saying USA and others don't like any scrutiny via wikileaks and they are leaning on everybody to pillory Assange. What happened to free speech? There is then a two-year gap until Corbyn mentions Assange again in 2012. By far the longest silence then begins, after Assange is falsely accused of sexual assault in Sweden, and only broken in 2019. This silence covers the majority of Corbyns period as leader of the largest political party in Europe.

After issuing one tweet on April 11, 2019, on the day Assange was dragged from the Ecuadorian embassy in London by the British police, saying his extradition should be opposed by the British government, Corbyn retreated once again before an onslaught by the Labour right wing, stating two days later that he only opposed extradition to the US and that Assange should answer the sexual assault allegations in Sweden. He did not mention Assanges name again, in any medium, for the entirety of the 2019 general election campaign.

The next tweet opposing extradition comes in February 2020, during the twilight of his Labour leadership, and the next four a year later in January, June and July 2021, promoting token initiatives by the Council of Europe and the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs.

What does a political figure like this offer in the fight for Assanges freedom? Corbyn gave the answer on Wednesdayappeals to the media, the British judiciary, Johnson and Biden.

Joining Corbyn outside the court on Wednesday, pseudo-left group Counterfires John Rees, the leading figure in the DEA campaign, stated that Assanges case has finally reached a serious courtas if a purely legal approach backed by moral pressure can now finally secure his freedom and the lessons of the pseudo-legal vendetta waged against Assange for the past ten years can be dismissed. As his ally Tariq Ali told a DEA meeting in February 2020, Hopefully as the case moves upwards to superior courts, we will find some judges who are prepared just to be decent.

Nothing is left of this perspective. The Biden administration continues to seek Assange, the British courts are supporting its efforts and the WikiLeaks founders situation is increasingly desperate. If extradition to the US is to be prevented, now is the time for working people to intervene on his behalf. The fight for Julian Assanges freedom is a fight against imperialist war and in defence of fundamental democratic rights.

The Socialist Equality Party in Britain, its sister parties, and the World Socialist Web Site call on all our supporters and readers to contact us and take up this struggle in earnest.
Mike Lindell speaking at the 2020 Student Action Summit hosted by Turning Point USA at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. [Source: Wikimedia Commons]

For three days this week, MyPillow CEO and co-conspirator in Donald Trumps January 6 attempted coup, Mike Lindell, hosted Republican lawmakers, at least one former state Supreme Court judge, state election officials, far-right media personalities and legitimate cyber-security experts at Mike Lindells Cyber Symposium.

Among the featured speakers at the event, held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was Trumps former White House adviser Stephen Bannon.

A significant number of Republican Party officials, from at least 17 states, attended the symposium. They include politicians who played an active role in conceiving and perpetrating the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, including:

* Amanda Chase, a member of the Virginia State Senate since 2015.

Describing herself as Trump in heels, Chase, like many Republican lawmakers, maintains close relations with fascist militia groups. She has been photographed marching with Boogaloo boys and posing in front of QAnon banners. She held a Facebook Live event with Oath Keeper founder Stewart Rhodes on January 5, during which she nodded in agreement when Rhodes suggested that Trump call us up right now as a militia and put us to work.

* Wendy Rogers, a retired lieutenant colonel who was elected to the Arizona Senate this past year.

Prior to the attempted coup, which she blamed on Antifa, Rogers claimed that the election was stolen and urged her supporters on social media to buy more ammo. In September of 2020, Rogers solidarized herself with fascist murderer Kyle Rittenhouse, stating that she was used to being attacked by the far, far, far Left... thats what happens when you stand and fight for whats right. She continued, It happened to Kyle Rittenhouse, it happened to Senator Rand Paul, and now the extreme Left is doing it to me.

This past July, Rogers tweeted her agreement with the fascist Great Replacement theory, writing: We Americans who love this country are being replaced by people who do not love this country Communists & our enemies are using mass immigration, education, big tech, big corporations & other strategies to accomplish this. The groups who are doing this undermine our families, our history, our faith, and our rights.

Trumps fascistic adviser Stephen Bannon declared from the stage that what happened on 3 November is a lie and were about to find out that what happened on 1/6 is a lie.

This line was echoed by Lindell, who called the January 6 fascist attack on Congress a set-up.

Joining Bannon on stage was the son of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Eduardo Bolsonaro. During his forty-minute presentation, he repeated the same lies used by Trump, claiming that the only way his father could lose in the upcoming election was if it was stolen by the opposition. Eduardo Bolsonaro was in Washington D.C. on the eve of Trumps attempted coup and reacted with dismay after its failure. If they had been organized, they would have taken the Capitol and made demands that would have been previously established by the invading group, he said. He added, They would have had a minimal war power so that nobody (on their side) would have diedto have killed all the police inside or the congressmen they all hate.

Other notable attendees included Ron Watkins, the site administrator of the image-board website 8chan, which was used to funnel and propagate QAnon conspiracy theories.

Also in attendance were Republican Wisconsin State Representative Timothy Ramthun, state Elections Commissioner Bob Spindell and former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gabelman. The latter, at the cost of $11,000 a month to the Wisconsin taxpayer, was hired in June by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to investigate the 2020 presidential election. At a post-election rally held last November, Gabelman claimed that Trump lost due to massive election fraud.

In the lead-up to the event, Lindell, a serial liar, claimed that he had irrefutable and objective evidence that the 2020 election was stolen. He said he had proof in the form of packet captures or pcapsessentially, intercepted network trafficwhich he had secretly acquired and offered for analysis by network security experts. These pcaps would, according to Lindell, prove that hackers working for the Chinese Communist Party had switched votes from Trump to Joe Biden. This electoral fraud was alleged by Lindell to have been perpetrated in Dominion Voting System machines.

Lindell spent much of the event ranting about the various ways the election was allegedly stolen, and how Antifa was behind the numerous technical issues that marred several presentations. However, he never produced any packet captures from China, or anywhere else, indicating election fraud.

Robert Graham, a technology expert and author who attended and live-tweeted throughout the event, summed up his final verdict, writing: Number of packet captures or cyber caps seen = 0. Amount of Absolute Proof seen = 0. Amount of any evidence seen = 0.

That there was no evidence of cyber manipulation was known from the start, but the fact that nothing was produced to lend so much as a veneer of credibility came as a shock even to some of Lindells cyber team. Josh Merritt, a cyber expert on the red team hired by Lindell to go over his pcaps, told the right-wing Washington Times on Wednesday that the data provided by Lindell for his team to analyze would not prove that China interfered in the election.

So our team said, were not going to say that this is legitimate if we dont have confidence in the information, Merritt said during the second day of the symposium.

We were handed a turd, he concluded. And I had to take that turd and turn it into a diamond. And thats what I think we did.

That same day, a federal judge ruled that a Dominion Voting Systems $1.3 billion defamation case against Trump lawyers Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani, as well as Mike Lindell, could move forward. In his decision denying motions by Giuliani, Powell and Lindell to have the case dismissed, US District Judge Carl Nichols wrote that the multi-millionaire pillow salesman had made his claims knowing that they were false or with reckless disregard for the truth.

Lindell is a former crack addict turned born-again Christian and an early supporter of Trumps presidency. Lindell was a guest at Trumps 2016 inauguration and went on to make several appearances alongside Trump at the White House. He spoke at rallies with Trump in South Dakota in 2017 and Minnesota in 2018, and at the 2019 Conservative Political Action Conference. There, Lindell declared that Trump was chosen by God to be president. Trump has repeatedly urged him to run for Minnesota governor in 2022.

After Trump lost the election, Lindell helped organize fascistic rallies in Washington D.C. in December and January, which served as dry-runs for the attack on the Capitol. At the December 12 Jericho March rally, heavily attended by the Proud Boys, Lindell declared: The fraud is 100 percent and Donald Trump will be our president for four more years.

Lindell also spoke at the January 5, 2021 Save the Republic rally in D.C., where he claimed that if the truth comes out about the Dominion machines, we could avoid a civil war. He also attended a secretive January 5 meeting at the Trump International Hotel in D.C., during which members of the Trump family, Eduardo Bolsonaro and at least three Republican senators, including Tommy Tuberville, finalized their insurrection plans for the following day.

Lindell also spoke at the Women for America Firsts March for Trump event on January 6, where he repeatedly claimed the election had been stolen and said he had been working with General Flynn, along with Sidney Powell and Giuliani, to look into the fraud.

On January 15, 2021, Lindell was photographed outside the White House with notes appearing to urge Trump to declare martial law, invoke the Insurrection Act, fire high-ranking officials in the White House and the intelligence agencies and replace them with Trump loyalists, and refuse to accept the election results.

By February 5, Lindell was screening a two-hour propaganda piece titled ABSOLUTE PROOF, which claimed that former Attorney General William Barr, who stated in December that there was no evidence of significant election fraud, was corrupt and had been compromised. The film was played multiple times during the symposium and has been screened at local Republican Party functions around the country since its release.

This is the party with which Biden and the Democrats seek to unite and establish bipartisan harmony. Seven months after the January 6 attempted coup, not one of the political criminals and coup-plotters who attended Lindells fascist event have been charged, or even forced to testify before Congress. This policy of cover-up is aimed at keeping the working class in the dark for fear of mass opposition from below. It directly benefits the fascistic forces being mobilized behind Trump and the Republicans.
There is no other socialist whose name is so inseparably connected with the struggle against militarism and war than Karl Liebknecht. The courage and decisiveness with which he rebelled against his own party, voted as the only Social Democratic deputy against war credits, and agitated against the First World War in spite of persecution and suppression earned him the respect and support of millions of workers.

Karl Liebknecht

He co-led the November 1918 revolution with Rosa Luxemburg against the betrayal of the SPD (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands, Social Democratic Party of Germany), which did everything it could to seize power from the workers and soldiers councils that had emerged on a mass scale and retain as much of the old regime as possible. On November 9, he proclaimed the Free Socialist Republic of Germany at a mass rally. He was a founder of the German Communist Party in late December and a leader of the Spartacus uprising in early January.

He paid for this with his life. On January 15, 1919, Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg were murdered by a reactionary special forces unit of Freikorps soldiers deployed to the capital by the Social Democratic government of Friedrich Ebert and Philipp Scheidemann to drown the revolution in blood. The killings took place with the approval of the Social Democrat Gustav Noske, the minister of the armed forces (Reichswehr).

Godchild of Marx and Engels

Socialism was to some extent introduced to Karl Liebknecht in the crib. He was born on August 13, 1871, in Leipzig as the second of the five sons of Wilhelm Liebknecht, who alongside August Bebel was the most important leader of the German Social Democracy. He was baptised in the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, where Johann Sebastian Bach once performed as cantor and presented his masterworks. His godparentswho were not present but indicated their agreement in writingwere Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.

August Bebel (front center) and Wilhelm Liebknecht (standing behind him). Members of the SPD parliamentary group in 1889

Karl Liebknecht lived for several years during his childhood under the same roof as Bebel, who was banished from the city due to the anti-socialist laws and shared a house with his father in a suburb of Leipzig. Liebknecht only joined the SPD in 1900 at the age of 29. His father had insisted that he first learn a profession before engaging in politics. He studied law in Leipzig and Berlin, gained his doctorate in Wurzburg in 1897 with magna cum laude and became a lawyer.

His legal and political activities increasingly became entangled with each other. In a country where the socialists always had one foot in prison even after the anti-socialist laws were abolished, the courtroom became a stage from which to agitate. Liebknecht demonstrated here the courage and intrepidity that would characterise his activity during the war and the November revolution.

He gained international notoriety in 1904 in the Konigsberg secret league trial. He defended nine Social Democratic members, who were accused by the state prosecutor of smuggling revolutionary writings to Russia, secretive organisational plotting, and insulting the Russian Tsar. Among the defendants was the later minister president of the state of Prussia, Otto Braun, who was arrested and held in investigative custody for five months.

Liebknecht and Hugo Haase, a Social Democratic parliamentary deputy, assumed responsibility for the legal defence in the courtroom; while Haase and August Bebel questioned Chancellor Bernhard von Bulow in parallel in the Reichstag. The result was that the trial, which concluded with three acquittals and six sentences each lasting several months, became a devastating indictment of Tsarist despotism and the cooperation of the Prussian authorities with the goons of the Tsars secret police, the Okhrana.

Liebknechts closing remarks were not a plea for the defence but an indictment. He said, Mr. state prosecutor says: What could be more shameful than the writings here before us. I know something more shameful, the conditions in Russia upon which these writings are based

If we consider the Russian conditions, the absolute absence of any rights for the people, the corruption and bloody brutality of the bureaucracy, the horrendous legal system freed from all inhibitions, the trial proceedings, the lashings, the slaughtering of peasants, Jews, and workers, we see that two words hang over modern Russian history: Siberia and Schlusselburg, the two emblems of Russian royalty.

(The Schlusselburg fortress served as a prison, while Siberia was the place of exile for political prisoners.PS)

Throughout his life, Karl Liebknecht maintained close ties to the revolutionary wing of Russian Social Democracy, with whom he was much closer than the sedate and increasingly conservative SPD leadership. His second wife, the art historian Sophie Ryss, was born in Russia. She became Rosa Luxemburgs closest friend.

Leon Trotsky addressed this issue in a commemorative speech he gave to a meeting of the Petrograd Soviet three days after Liebknechts assassination, stating, Liebknecht is not for us the German leader, and Rosa Luxemburg is not for us the Polish socialist who placed herself at the head of the German workers, they are both ours, they are our brethren, we are connected to them by unbreakable spiritual bonds

Liebknechts apartment was the best headquarters for any immigrant in Berlin, in Germany; whenever a voice had to be raised in the German parliament, in the German press against those services which the German imperialists provided to the Russian reaction, we turned to Karl Liebknecht, and he banged on every door, on every skull, including the skulls of Scheidemann and Ebert to force them to respond to the crimes of imperialism.

Speaking trip in the United States

His unshakable internationalism, together with his firm anti-militarist stance and conviction that the principal task was to win the youth to socialism, were Karl Liebknechts most important political characteristics. Although he was heavily burdened by two parliamentary mandates, one in the Prussian state parliament from 1908 and the other in the Reichstag from 1912, as well as his responsibilities as a lawyer, he participated in the Second International and the Socialist Youth International, of which he was a founding member and became chair of its correspondence bureau in 1907.

Karl Liebknecht speaks at a rally in Berlins Tiergarten, December 1918

In 1910, Liebknecht accepted an invitation from the Socialist Party of America and undertook a speaking tour in the United States ahead of the congressional elections. In three weeks, he spoke at 25 meetings in the Northeast and Midwestern industrial centres, from New York to Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Chicago and St. Paul.

The New Yorker Volks-Zeitung reported on the enthusiastic welcome he received from 4,000 workers at the meeting launching the tour in a hall at Harlem River Park,  the enthusiasm that accompanied the lively speech of our German comrade, which was saturated with fiery combativeness and revolutionary class consciousness, proved that they were not brought there out of general curiosity, and the hearty, stormy agreement shown by the repeated outbreaks of applause underscored and celebrated the countless points made in the wonderful speech lasting over one hour by Dr. Karl Liebknecht.

Liebknecht pleasantly surprised his audience, because he did not, as expected, give a detailed description of German party relations. Instead, he provided an outstanding analysis of the state of modern society, an incomparable characterisation of the internal essence of international Social Democracy, and at the same time an unquestionably clever comparison between the European and American workers relations and movement.

America is not merely a sanctuary for exiled and persecuted Europeans and seen as the promised land where milk and honey flows, it is at the same time the country of high capitalism, the witchs caldron of high capital, wrote the Volks-Zeitung in summing up Liebknechts central message.

Capitalist development had, Liebknecht continued, created the world economy and thus out of the entire cultural world merely one land for capital. But just as capital had emerged internationally, it also has an international impact, irresistibly producing its counterpart in the international proletariat. The proletariat must be united, must be organised internationally in order to challenge the power of the capitalists, he continued. They stand in the world market as rivals, as ravenous wolves, but when it is a question of combatting the organised workers, the capitalist class of the entire world is a united people of brothers. (Applause)

Socialism today is no longer a utopia or a dream. Its basic concept is the class struggle, the recognition that the struggle of classes is the centre of all movements of the modern day, Liebknecht stated. The worker as an individual is a grain of sand that can be blown hither and thither by the sandstorm, but only as long as it isnt bound by mortar into stone, into cement. The cement of the working class is called solidarity. The 90 percent of workers, if united, can achieve anything against the 10 percent of capitalists.

Militarism and Anti-Militarism

Liebknecht published his most important book in 1907, Militarism and Anti-Militarism. Based on a speech he gave one year earlier at the first general assembly of the Association of Young Workers in Germany in Mannheim, its principal goal was to the socialist education of the youth.

November Revolution 1918: Revolutionary soldiers at the Brandenburg Gate

The book was immediately banned, and Liebknecht was accused of high treason and sentenced to one-and-a-half years in prison. The trial, at which he defended himself, made him extremely popular among workers in Berlin, who gave him a guard of honour as he began his sentence.

Liebknecht conceived of militarism not merely as an instrument of external aggression but also of internal repression: But militarism is not merely a defence and weapon against the external enemy, it retains a second task, which comes ever more into the foreground as the class divisions sharpen and proletarian class consciousness grows, which increasingly determines the external form and internal character of militarism: the task of protecting the ruling social order, of being a bulwark of capitalist reaction against the working class struggle for liberation.

He provides an overview of the historical emergence of militarism, its features in various capitalist countries, and the struggle of each social democratic party against it. He concludes by sharply distinguishing between the anti-militarism of Social Democracy from the petty-bourgeois anti-militarism of the anarchists.

The end goal for the anarchist as for the social democratic anti-militarism  is the same: the overcoming of militarism, both external and internal militarism. However, the Social Democracy, in accordance with its opinion on the essence of militarism, believes the overcoming of militarism alone to be impossible: only with capitalismthe last form of class societywill militarism simultaneously fall.

Anarchism operates with  in the first place ethical enthusiasm, with the incentive of morals, with arguments about humanity, justice, in short with all manner of impulses of the will, which attempt to disguise anti-militarisms class struggle character and label it as the abstract excrescence of a generally applicable categorical imperative. It therefore turns, entirely justifiably, not only to the ranks but to the officers 

By contrast, social democratic anti-militarist propaganda is class struggle propaganda and therefore orients itself fundamentally and exclusively to those classes which are of necessity enemies of militarism in the class struggle.  It clarifies in order to win, but it does not clarify categorical imperatives, humanitarian standpoints, ethical postulates about freedom and justice, but rather about the class struggle, the interests of the proletariat in the class struggle, the role of militarism in the class struggle, and the role that the proletariat plays and will have to play in the class struggle 

Gradual organic decomposition and fragmentation of the militarist spirit, this is the Social Democrats weapon of struggle against militarism.

Liebknecht placed great emphasis on anti-militarist agitation among the youth. The German Empire at the time had compulsory military service, and the soldiers drawn from the working class and peasantry were bullied in the most despicable ways by the officers, who overwhelmingly came from aristocratic backgrounds. The books last passage stated, The proletarian youth belong to the Social Democracy, to Social Democratic anti-militarism. It will and must be won, if everyone fulfills their obligations. Whoever has the youth has the army.

Militarism and Anti-Militarism did not only result in Liebknecht being persecuted by the Prussian state, but also alienated him from the SPD leadership, which viewed his open challenge to militarism as madness. Grigory Zinoviev described this in his commemorative speech for Liebknecht, which he delivered at the same sitting of the Petrograd Soviet addressed by Trotsky, Liebknecht belongs to the few bold men in the ranks of the German Social Democracy who ten years ago demanded, as one said in those days, anti-militarist propaganda, i.e., revolutionary propaganda, among the soldiers.

Comrades, one must imagine oneself in the atmosphere of those days in the smug and orderly Social Democracy at the Second International, which thought Liebknechts demands were mad. Even Bebel, who had known Liebknecht since childhood and loved him like a son, assailed him with sharp expressions for what he took to be his adventurist proposal. Why not just go to the soldiers and preach socialism! The German Social Democracy thought that only an adventurer could make such a proposal! They feared that the Social Democracy would lose its legality, that the German bourgeoisie and ruling classes may come to think that the Social Democracy was no longer a party of government!

An opponent of the war

Liebknecht was thus familiar with the conservative and opportunist character of the SPD leadership when the First World War broke out on July 28, 1914. Nonetheless, it was a bitter shock to him when the majority of the SPD backed German imperialism and voted for war credits on August 4. Over the preceding years, the SPD and Second International voted for numerous resolutions in which they ceremonially spoke out against war. They now sent their members into the trenches to slaughter each other.

Karl Liebknecht at a rally of the Spartacus League in 1918

Liebknecht bowed to party discipline and voted for the war credits on August 4, which party leader Hugo Haase (Bebel had died in 1913) justified with the infamous words, In the hour of danger, we will not leave the fatherland in the lurch. But there was no doubt about Liebknechts vehement opposition to the war. When on December 2 the war credits were voted on once again, he was the only deputy to vote against.

A close collaboration began with Rosa Luxemburg, who had already on August 5 founded the Gruppe Internationale (International Group), out of which the Spartacus League and Communist Party would later emerge. They both traveled across the country during the summer and autumn to convince other SPD deputies to oppose the war. Liebknecht also visited Belgium, where German troops had conducted vicious reprisals against the civilian population and destroyed invaluable cultural artifacts, to denounce the war together with the Belgian socialists. This not only provoked the accusation of betraying the fatherland from the government and the army but also from members of his own party.

Luxemburg, who as a woman could neither vote nor stand for election to the Reichstag, was the theoretical and political leader of the socialist opposition to the war, with the most important articles and pamphlets being authored by her. Liebknecht, who as a parliamentary deputy enjoyed a certain albeit extremely restricted immunity, was its public face and driving force.

Leon Trotsky, who knew Liebknecht personally, wrote of him in his autobiography, My Life, Although he was an educated Marxist, Liebknecht was no theoretician. He was a man of action. An impulsive, passionate and self-sacrificing nature, he possessed political intuition and an instinct for the masses and the conditions and was pervaded by an incomparable courage to seize the initiative. He was a revolutionary. That was why he always remained a semi-foreigner in the house of German Social Democracy with its bureaucratic gradualness and constant readiness to retreat. How many philistines ironically looked down their noses at Liebknecht from above!

Among the working class, Liebknecht enjoyed tremendous respect. Although many workers hesitated for a time, not least due to the vicious repression, to join the Spartacus League, they closely followed his actions and statements. Karl Retzlaw, a young metalworker in a large factory in Berlin who joined the Spartacus League and later the Trotskyist movement, described this in his recollections:

During the first months, when one German victory followed another on the fronts, hardly anyone wanted to hear a word of criticism. The press was full of war reports, they reported nothing of Liebknechts activities. At my workplace, colleagues would privately discuss what Liebknecht would do. As if it was self-evident, they expected from him activity against the war without solidarising themselves with him.

The government and his political opponents did everything they could to silence Liebknecht. He was rarely allowed to speak in the Reichstag, and when he did, his remarks did not appear in the protocol. In February 1915, he was called for military service. He was thus subject to military law, which forbade any political activity outside the Reichstag.

Nonetheless, Liebknecht used every opportunity to agitate against the war. On May 1, 1916, the Spartacus Group in Berlin called an anti-war demonstration at Potsdamer Platz. The appeal, authored by Liebknecht, showed all his powers as an agitator: he savaged those responsible for the war in combative language and concluded with the declaration: Let thousands of voices shout Down with the shameless extermination of nations! Down with those responsible for these crimes! Our enemy is not the English, French nor Russian people but the great German landed proprietors, the German capitalists and their executive committee.

Forward, let us fight the government; let us fight these mortal enemies of all freedom. Let us fight for everything which means the future triumph of the working classes, the future of humanity and civilization.

Liebknechts passionate desire to take up the struggle led him at times to neglect taking the appropriate precautions for longer term work. He appeared at a demonstration in person as a speaker, and after declaring, Down with the war! Down with the government! he was surrounded by the police, arrested and charged with high treason.

The demonstration had a huge impact. On the first day of the trial against Liebknecht, 50,000 workers, organised by the Revolutionary Stewards, went on strike. It was the first mass strike against the war. But the working class was not yet strong enough to impose its will on the Kaisers regime, let alone overthrow it. Liebknecht spent the rest of the war behind bars and lost both his parliamentary mandates. Both leaders of the Spartacus LeagueLuxemburg also spent almost the entire war in prisonwere thereby extremely restricted in their influence.

The November Revolution

The war continued on for two-and-a-half years after Liebknechts arrest. Young men were sent to a senseless death at the front while the population starved at home. Disillusionment and dissatisfaction grew. In April 1917, mass strikes erupted in Berlin due to food shortages, and there was a second strike wave during the war following the Liebknecht strikes.

November Revolution in Berlin: Soldiers hand over barracks to members of the Workers and Soldiers Council

A growing number of SPD deputies responded to the mounting dissatisfaction by refusing to support war credits. Expelled from the party by the majority, they founded, under duress more than at their own initiative, the Independent Social Democrats (USPD). The USPD, in whose ranks the Spartacus League operated as its own faction, was a centrist party that lacked any revolutionary impulse.

In October 1917, Liebknechts friends and comrades in Russia, the Bolsheviks, led the working class to power and ended the war. The October Revolution had an electrifying impact on the working class and oppressed throughout the world.

In January 1918, a third strike wave involving over a million workers took place. The strikes were aimed directly against the war and were connected with mass demonstrations and the formation of workers councils. The Spartacus League, USPD and Revolutionary Stewards, a conspiratorial network in the factories, played the leading role. The government ended the January strikes with the brutal deployment of the military and police.

When defeat in the war could no longer be averted, the Kaiser appointed a new government on October 3, 1918, headed by Prince Maximilian von Baden, which included two SPD members for the first time. Its aim was to halt the impending revolution and negotiate a truce.

Liebknecht was released early from prison on October 23 as part of an amnesty. He immediately traveled to Berlin to reorganise the Spartacus League and, together with the Revolutionary Stewards and USPD members, prepare an uprising. The timetable was repeatedly delayed until the Kiel sailors beat them to it.

The sailors rose up on October 29 to prevent the departure of the German fleet for one last suicidal battle. In the days that followed, the revolution spread like wildfire across the entire country. Workers and soldiers councils emerged everywhere and effectively held power, which they formally seized in Bremen and Munich. The Kaiser was forced to abdicate on November 9. To avert a socialist revolution, the right-wing Social Democrat Philipp Scheidemann proclaimed a republic. He did so against the wishes of SPD leader Friedrich Ebert, who had replaced Prince von Baden as head of government and was working towards a constitutional monarchy. The new government called itself the Council of Peoples Commissioners. Alongside three SPD members, there were three USPD members, whose task consisted of protecting them from the pressure of the masses. In practice, they were powerless and had no influence.

Ebert and Scheidemann focused on suppressing the revolutionary uprising and saving the old ruling elites. The large landowners, aristocratic privileges and capitalist property remained untouched. State officials and officers, including those at the highest levels of the government, administration and army remained in power. Ebert aligned himself with the army high command and organised the Freikorps based on right-wing extremist soldiers to drown the revolutionary struggles that repeatedly flared up in blood.

The German revolution of 1918 was, as Leon Trotsky would later summarise, no democratic completion of the bourgeois revolution, it was a proletarian revolution decapitated by the Social Democrats; more correctly, it was a bourgeois counter-revolution, which was compelled to preserve pseudo-democratic forms after its victory over the proletariat.

Liebknecht was the soul of the revolutionary movement of the working class. He was ever-present and enjoyed enormous respect. He fought, like the Bolsheviks a year earlier in Russia, for the taking of power by the working class. Immediately after Scheidemann proclaimed the bourgeois republic, he proclaimed before a jubilant mass audience the republic of workers councils. A separate article would be required to detail the revolutionary struggles of those weeks and Liebknechts role within them.

The Spartacus League now began to grow rapidly and broke decisively with the USPD. Together with Rosa Luxemburg, Liebknecht published the daily newspaper Rote Fahne (Red Flag). At the end of the year, they founded the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) in Berlin.

The great disadvantage of the German workers compared to the Russian was the absence of a revolutionary party like the Bolsheviks, which was steeled in years-long struggle against opportunism and deeply rooted in the working class. The complete break by the German revolutionaries from the SPD and USPD took place only when the war and revolution were in full swing.

Only one week after the founding of the KPD, the Spartacist uprising erupted in Berlin. The Revolutionary Stewards responded to the replacement of the head of the Berlin police presidium, Emil Eichhorn from the USPD, by the SPD Ebert government with the launching of a general strike and occupations, including of the editorial offices of the SPDs newspaper Vorwarts. Liebknecht joined the strike leadership and calledagainst the advice of Rosa Luxemburgfor the arming of the people. But the rebels were too weak to defeat the forces of reaction. They suppressed the uprising and carried out a bloodbath.

Placards were then hung in Berlins streets, Strike the leaders dead. On January 15, Luxemburg and Liebknecht, who had concealed themselves in the city, were denounced, arrested and taken to the Hotel Eden, the headquarters of the counter-revolutionary Garde-Kavallerie-Schutzendivision, where they were interrogated, tortured and killed.

The KPD was robbed of its two leading figures, a blow from which it never recovered. In October 1923, it missed an extremely favourable revolutionary opportunity before falling in the years that followed under the influence of Stalin, whose disastrous social fascism policy politically disarmed the working class and facilitated Hitlers rise to power.

A century after Liebknechts death, the central questions confronted by the Marxists of his generation are posed once again with renewed force. The coronavirus pandemic has dramatically intensified the social, economic and political crisis of the world capitalist system. The ruling elites are rearming for a third world war, trampling over the bodies of the pandemics victims to protect corporate profits, and driving millions into poverty and unemployment. Opposition to this is growing in the working class. The revolutionary principles of the class struggle, the international unity of the workers and the struggle against war, for which Liebknecht fought throughout his life, are assuming decisive significance.

Liebknechts life is both exemplary and inspirational. Everything now depends on building a party that combines his boldness and revolutionary enthusiasm with an historically and scientifically grounded socialist perspective. On the day of his death, the Rote Fahne published his article In spite of everything on the defeat of the Spartacus uprising. The words he contrived to pass to the editors are extremely contemporary:

The proletarian revolution, which the counter-revolutionaries hoped to drown in blood, will rise above them, with great numbers. Its first word will be: Down with the butchers of the workers, Ebert-Scheidemann-Noske! The defeated of today, they will have learned. They will be cured of the delusion of being able to find their salvation in the help of masses of confused soldiers; cured of the delusion of being able to trust in leaders who prove themselves to be feeble and impotent; cured of the belief in independent social democracy, which disdainfully abandoned them. Left only to their own devices, they will fight their coming battles, gain their coming victories. And the watchword, that the liberation of the working class must be the work of the working class itself, will have gained for themthrough the bitter lessons of this weeka new, deeper meaning.
Young unaccompanied migrants, from ages 3 to 9, watch television inside a playpen at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility, the main detention center for unaccompanied children in the Rio Grande Valley, in Donna, Texas. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills, Pool, File)

On Monday, lawyers representing migrant youth in US immigration custody argued in federal court for their release from two emergency detention camps in Texas, where they were reported to be suffering from mental distress, substandard housing and prolonged stays.

The attorneys asked the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles for the Biden administration to follow the 1997 Flores Settlement Agreement and its rules concerning the treatment of migrant children. The 31-page complaint accuses the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of substandard care at two makeshift camps established this spring at the Fort Bliss U.S. Army base and a camp for oil workers in Pecos, a rural town in west Texas.

The lawsuit is the first time the Biden administration has been taken to court for its failure to comply with the Flores Settlement Agreement. More than a dozen children testified on the makeshift camps, which lack child welfare licenses, as opposed to regular HHS camps.

A 16-year-old Salvadorean girl declared, My anxiety attacks have been abnormal herethey have gotten worse since I arrived at Pecos, adding, I have had about three or four anxiety attacks since I have been here.

Another girl from Honduras, 17, had been jailed at the Pecos camp with her 15-year-old brother for 60 days and said she was depressed because they were not released to a relative.

In her court declaration she said, I am very concerned that there are so many kids who have been here for over 60 days.  Some of these youth are waiting to live with their parentsthey should not still be here.

Two brothers from Honduras said they were held at the Pecos camp for 65 days despite having an uncle in Houston willing to take them. The older brother, 15, testified to the court, Every day, I wake up and feel very sad. I am frustrated because I see other kids leave before me.

According to CBS News, the Fort Bliss and Pecos camps held 1,800 and 800 unaccompanied children, respectively. A government contract from July stated that the Biden administration is planning to house tender age children under 12 years old at the Pecos camp.

Children at the Pecos camp also reported being served undercooked food and being offered limited education and recreation, in addition to the prolonged stays and limited case management.

Teens held at the Fort Bliss camp were reportedly being monitored for self-harm, escape attempts and panic attacks. Federal officials also described substandard mental health services and a jail-like atmosphere.

A 16-year-old Honduran boy, who was transferred to a more restrictive camp in New York after trying to escape Fort Bliss, described the camp as hell and being served bloody chicken. In the court declaration filed Monday he said, I feel anguished and hopeless. ... I was held hostage, and I couldnt do anything about it.

In another declaration, Ryan Matlow, a child psychologist and Stanford University professor, interviewed children held at Fort Bliss and said that if they remain in the camp for longer than a few days they could suffer clinically significant psychological harm.

He stated, In these circumstances, many children experience extreme boredom, lethargy, low motivation, hopelessness, and helplessness, all of which are symptoms and contributors to depression and psychological stress.

U.S. Judge Dolly Gee, who is overseeing litigation over the Flores agreement, was asked in court Monday to direct the administration to expedite the release of children at the Pecos and Fort Bliss camps. The attorneys also want the HHS to improve the camps and limit the placement of vulnerable minors in them.

The Biden administration has argued that the creation of emergency camps was necessary to house the influx of immigrants during the spring which overloaded Border Patrol facilities. Most of the 14 sites set up at military bases, convention centers and work camps to hold unaccompanied youths have been shut down by HHS, including a Houston warehouse, which was closed after reports revealed poor conditions.

The administration has so far refused to say when it will close the remaining four emergency camps, which were supposed to be temporary.

Despite vowing to reverse Donald Trumps anti-immigrant policies, the Biden administration has only offered lip service and cosmetic reforms. Biden campaigned in 2020 only to end prolonged detention and the use of private prisons in immigrant detention. Even by these limited measures, the administration has failed to deliver any significant reforms.

The number of migrants being detained has more than doubled from February to nearly 27,000 as of late July, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Although this figure is dwarfed by Trumps August 2019 record of more than 55,000 detainees, it still is more than the roughly 22,000 held in July 2020.

While Biden ended the contracts for two ICE centers in Georgia and Massachusetts, he has refused to close any other private immigrant jails, and moreover, has proposed to keep funding 32,500 immigrant detention beds in his recent budget, as opposed to the 34,000 beds funded by Trump.

The number of asylum seekers in prolonged detention also rose from 1,700 in April to 3,400 in late July, accounting for 13 percent of all detainees, according to ICE data. These are detainees, it should be noted, that by ICEs own policies should not be held in detention any longer.

In the past six months, the Biden administration has also supported ending certain visas, adding stricter requirements for those seeking green cards, and has backed the denial of permanent residency to thousands of legal immigrants in the US.

Even worse, Biden and his administration have gone from campaigning against Trumps immigration policies last year to defending them in court today.

When he was campaigning for president, Biden opposed a wage-based allocation for temporary foreign workers, but now he is defending a Trump-era policy in court which prioritizes the highest wage earners for a high-skilled worker visa program, a move that hurts foreign students and others.

Biden also continues to defend the notorious Title 42, a public health order issued by Trump to ostensibly stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, but in reality it is a way to expel most immigrants by denying them the right to asylum.
Over the course of the global COVID-19 pandemic, children and teachers in schools have continually had their health put at risk by the reckless, unscientific policies of the government, as well as local offices and school districts. This summer, the Delta variant has come to be understood as profoundly dangerous and highly contagious, even among vaccinated people.

Parents protesting outside the Grosse Pointe school board meeting (WSWS Media)

Children under 12, as of now, are unable to be vaccinated and are one of the most at-risk groups facing the Delta variant. In the first week of August, it was reported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control, and the National Institutes of Health that more children were being hospitalized now than at any other point during the pandemic. Unvaccinated children, even if asymptomatic, could become highly effective carriers of the virus, and spread the disease to their teachers, caretakers and family members.

But the worst case scenarios are becoming increasingly common as the United States prepares to send more than 50 million mostly unvaccinated children back into schools this fall. In a warning of what is to come, the American Academy of Pediatrics reported that from July 29th to August 5th, COVID-19 cases among children increased by 93,824 cases, with children representing 15 percent of all reported cases in the United States that week.

The World Socialist Website spoke with educators from across the United States about the impact of the unscientific pandemic policies of officials, and what reopening means for them and their students.

After finishing a whole year of online learning, Steve, a teacher in Northern California, explained, The whole campaign to reopen the schools, in-person and with no masks, is a cruel joke against teachers, students, cafeteria workers, bus drivers and families. There are enough resources to continue with online instruction. We just completed a whole year when teachers were able to develop this kind of work. And every school district, especially LAUSD, is awash with money from COVID funds from the government.

My main thing is why is elementary coming back? There hasnt even been a vaccine developed for these young children under 12. The middle and high school kids have it. Come on! The kids in K-5 cannot get vaccinated. If they get it, its going to be an absolute disaster, not only for the kids but also for the teachers and families. Look, its science. This is a highly infectious disease that is hitting the population. Its a huge tragedy. And to hear that Randi Weingarten [president of the American Federation of Teachers] is pushing it, all Id say to her is, Why dont you come into our classrooms and do some substitute time? Why not? See what were going through.

A special education teacher in Detroit, Michigan expressed fear about returning to school, for herself, her family and her students. Im confused how we can space 30 students in a class with 3 feet spacing. Ive never had a space in a general education class. I usually go in and sit in an empty student desk. After the teacher gives the instructions I would go around and help other students. At this time, I dont feel comfortable, nor would I be doing that. Im at the point to where I may have to go out on medical, because Im scared.

[Biden says,] Were not going to lock down our economy or our schools because our country is in a much stronger place than when we took office? Screw the economy, my life is on the line. Why should teachers and students be used as bait? They are saying they dont care about our lives. If I wanted to risk my life I would have joined the military not become a teacher.

Kuhea, a public school teacher in Hawaii, described the reopening in her area, The rise in coronavirus cases, 472 new cases today in Hawaii, is not surprising given the premature reopening of the islands to tourism and schools. The rush to open the economy soon after vaccinations was foolish and irresponsible. Tourists are being baited to come to Hawaii with ridiculously low air fares. Its a stampede on the islands. The tourist industry is shamelessly rebounding at the expense of peoples well-being and safety. And so many of our students whose parents work in the tourist industry are now vulnerable.

Public schools are advising three feet (not six feet) distancing, when possible, which is ludicrous. Schools are in session with full classrooms. Governor David Ige has reinstated limitations on public gatherings, but there are no restrictions on the number of people traveling to the islands. Maui Mayor Victorino requested of Governor Ige and the Department of Education that in-person classroom learning be postponed but public school began as scheduled anyways. Restrictions limiting indoor and outdoor gatherings will not apply to schools. Since K-12 schools reopened August 3, there have been at least 105 confirmed cases among staff and students in schools across the islands.

Sandra, a middle school teacher from New York state, discussed her frustration with the lack of resources and imagination being put into online education and safe learning. Why are we not reimagining new ways for students to learn that do not put so many people at risk of illness or death? There can be a way that students can receive childcare without putting so many teachers and other students at risk. It is essential that learning continues but there are many ways students can learn without sitting in a traditional classroom all day long, breathing in the same stagnant air. Educators should be put on a pedestal for how hard they work, how crucial they are to families and how essential they are to providing students with life-long skills, yet educators are treated like their lives do not matter.

DJK, a teacher from Tennessee, said ,  Students in my district are returning to classrooms without any COVID mitigation protocols, including a mask mandate. At our districts opening day breakfast, the school superintendent crowed that school would reopen to traditional learning: no masks, no hybrid instruction, no social distancing. The superintendent led the packed room of mask-less educators in cheers and applause.

What kind of world are we living in that we cheer the ending of safety measures that prevented countless deaths last year and would no doubt prevent more deaths as the Delta variant leads the latest surge of the pandemic and is targeting our children?

I can imagine no greater indication that capitalism is in crisis than when a society chooses to sacrifice the lives of its children for the sake of the economy and profits. Parents and teachers must demand that schools close to in-person instruction until COVID-19 and its increasingly virulent variants are eradicated.

These statements illustrate the determination of teachers to fight back against the reckless subordination of human life to capitalist private profit. Educators, parents and students across the United States must oppose the deadly return to school, and demand the immediate closure of in-person schools, and the devotion of proper resources to safe, online education and support for students and their families.

We urge all educators, parents and students seeking to fight for lives over profits to sign up today to join and build a rank-and-file committee in your workplace, in unity with similar committees across the US and internationally.
Sri Lankan President Gotabhaya Rajapakse once again rejected striking teachers wage demands at Mondays meeting of cabinet ministers while establishing a cabinet sub-committee to further study the issue. The subcommittee of four ministers will present its report to next Mondays cabinet meeting.

Joint teachers demonstration outside Colombo Secretariat July 23 [WSWS Media]

The teacher unions had previously called on the government to provide a solution to educators demands for higher wages by last Monday. Union officials had assured the government, however, that they understood the economic crisis facing the government and politely called for a policy decision on teachers claims.

The so-called policy decision is a desperate manoeuvre by the unions which will be used to wind-up the ongoing online learning strike by nearly 250,000 public school educators and principals.

Cabinet spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told the media on Tuesday that it would cost 70 billion rupees ($US350 million) annually to settle teachers wage claims. The sham cabinet sub-committees role, he asserted, would be to investigate when the government could begin to address the salaries demand, how many years it would take, and other matters.

Instead of rejecting the governments blatant delaying tactic, union leaders readily embraced the proposal. Addressing a media briefing, Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) secretary Joseph Stalin said: We do not know if this committee is similar to previous ones [but] we are not coming to any pre-conclusions.

National Association of Principals president Parakrama Weerasinghe said the unions do not want to shout in the streets or take any action. The unions were willing to negotiate, Weerasinghe said, as he appealed for an agreement with the government.

Likewise, Mahinda Jayasinghe, leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-controlled Ceylon Teachers Service Union (CTSU) claimed that, Some ministers have spoken with understanding about the teachers struggle. This is a relief for us and we are happy about that, he added.

Yesterday, the teachers union leadership, along with their counterparts from other unions and the Frontline Socialist Party-affiliated United Teacher Services Union, held a sit-down protest near the Independent Square in Colombo. Union leaders said their protest was to apply some pressure on the cabinet sub-committee and the government.

The sub-committee, which includes Wimal Weerawansa, Mahinda Amaraweera and Prasanna Ranatunge, met yesterday and will begin discussions with the teachers union leadership today.

Teachers should have no illusion that these discussions will resolve their decades-long demand for higher wages. The process is a cynical charade that will be used as a pretext to derail and shut down the teachers struggle.

Successive governments, including the current Rajapakse regime, aided and abetted by the unions, have rejected teachers wage demands over the past 24 years. As a result, Sri Lankan teachers are now among the lowest-paid public sector workers in the country.

Following Mondays cabinet meeting, Education Minister G.L. Peiris said there was a chance that teachers salaries claims could be addressed in the next budget. At the same time, he accused the striking teachers of sabotaging online education, delaying examinations and their results.

In fact, the governments online education scheme during the pandemic is a farce. The scheme is not available to most students because they have not been provided with computers, let alone internet access. Many teachers, moreover, are forced to use their own money to establish online classes in the areas where they can be conducted.

The teachers online learning strike, which began on July 12, entered its second month yesterday. Over the past month strikers have held numerous protests, including the August 4 motorcade and demonstration outside the presidential secretariat. Demonstrations involving thousands of educators have been held in every district in Sri Lanka.

Protesting teachers hold motorbike rally in Jaffna (Source: Facebook)

On August 4, hundreds of teachers also began a 100-kilometre march from Kandy to Colombo. When teachers had walked 70 kilometres to Pasyala, the unions called off the march on August 7 in response to a vicious government and media campaign accusing the protesters of spreading COVID-19. It is not teachers, however, but the government and the ruling class as a whole that are responsible for the pandemic, which has now grown to catastrophic levels.

On Monday, hundreds of teachers in the war-ravaged North held two separate demonstrationsone in Jaffna and another in Point Pedro. Police tried to block protesters, citing quarantine laws, but the teachers defied them. In Jaffna, protesters held a meeting at Weerasingham Hall.

The government has responded to teachers growing determination to win their demands with brutal police repression. Police arrested 40 teachers and four drivers following a motorcade protest on August 4, detaining them at the Colombo Port Police Station until they were granted bail the following day.

On Wednesday, a group of 26 teachers, parents and students were summoned to appear before a Kandy magistrate court for organising a demonstration in July and the August 4 march to Colombo. They have been accused of breaking coronavirus rules and inciting people, and ordered to appear before the court on November 26.

On August 9, three teachers, including one female educator, were detained by Matara police who held them until they were brought before a magistrate the following day. They were bailed but have to appear in court on August 16. A van driver who transported Jaffna teachers to another protest was also summoned by police on Tuesday.

Police have stepped-up their repression against anyone opposing the governments social attacks. On August 3, police arrested two FSP members, an Inter-University Student Federation convener and three other leading activists. They have been remanded by the courts for organising a demonstration against the Kotelawala National Defence University Act. This Act will step up the privatisation of public education and further expand militarisation of the country.

Falsely threatening to escalate the struggle, the teachers unions on Wednesday convened a joint press conference with the leaders of several other unions notorious for betraying their members.

This included Saman Rathnapriya, leader of the Government Nursing Officers Association, who, along with other health sector union officials, played a key role in shutting down health workers actions in July. Ceylon Mercantile Industrial & General Workers Union secretary Sylvester Jayakody and Inter-Company Employees Union leader Wasantha Samarasinghe also participated. Jayakody and Samarasinghe supported Rajapakses reopening of the economy, after limited and inadequate COVID-19 lockdowns, and assisted companies to cut wages and jobs in response to the pandemic.

This alliance has nothing to do with uniting workers in a struggle against the escalating government and employer attacks. Instead, these union officials have decided to hold a series of sit-in protests and joint discussions with leaders of opposition parliamentary parties. This includes parties and leaders of previous governments that opposed granting teachers legitimate demands.

CTSU leader Jayasinghe told the joint press, We are now ready to turn this into a broad mass struggle. We ask the government to solve our problems and end this before it happens.

Jayasinghes so-called broad mass struggle, however, does not include any unified mobilisation of the industrial strength of the working class to support the teachers struggle and challenge the government and the capitalist class.
The state of New South Wales (NSW) registered its highest tally of cases since an outbreak of the highly-infectious Delta strain of COVID-19 began in Sydney mid-last month, with 390 new infections announced this morning, along with two more tragic fatalities.

People queuing for coronavirus tests at Royal Melbourne Hospital last year (Photot: WSWS)

The number of infections is now reaching record levels multiple times a week. On Wednesday, for the first time, the seven-day rolling average of new cases surpassed 300. With the majority of infections announced each day being of people who were potentially-contagious while in the community, the case numbers are predicted to continue to soar. As many as 291 of the infections today fall into that category.

The deepening crisis, which is spreading to regional and rural areas, as well as to other states and territories, is an indictment of the NSW Liberal-National Coalition government and the entire political establishment. In line with a drumbeat from the corporate elite for an end to lockdowns and a turn towards the full reopening of the economy, the Coalition, with the full support of the state Labor opposition, has resisted the safety measures, including workplace closures, required to stem transmission.

The class character of the official response is becoming ever starker, as growing numbers of workers, the poor and the vulnerable are imperiled with the deadly-disease.

An outbreak at the Giant Steps special education school in Gladesville on the Lower North Shore has resulted in three staff members, seven students and eight of their family members contracting COVID. The school, which caters to children with severe autism, has been closed, while hundreds of pupils, teachers and their relatives have been forced into isolation.

Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Autism Awareness Australia chief executive Nicole Rogerson condemned the federal governments shambolic vaccine rollout, noting that while the disabled and those who work with them were supposed to have been on the priority 1b list for inoculation, so many remain unvaccinated.

Rogerson said that advocates in the sector had been yelling from the rooftops for months about the need for full inoculations, but this had not been carried out, even though An outbreak like this is devastating but its probably not surprising. It remains unclear how many of the affected staff and students had been vaccinated.

The outbreak has underscored the recklessness of plans for a reopening of public schools, initially with students in Year 12. The state government is bussing some 24,000 pupils from the western and south-western suburbs to mass vaccine hubs, so that it can press ahead with this program amid widespread student and teacher opposition. Last night it was revealed that an infected person had been at the Qudos Bank Arena in Homebush, which is among the vaccine hubs being used for this purpose, the previous Tuesday, forcing thousands into isolation.

Yesterday alone, some 44 children aged under nine were among the positive cases. Close to 15 percent of infections during the past fortnight have been among this vulnerable demographic, while cases are soaring among teenagers and young adults. The infections, which can have catastrophic, life-long consequences, including tragic fatalities, are again refuting the lying claims that children were somehow less likely to contract and spread the virus, used to justify school reopenings.

Health workers are facing harrowing situations. Amid an outbreak in the mental health ward of Nepean Hospital, in Sydneys west, which has now resulted in at least ten cases, staff have reported being compelled to continue working, even if they have been identified as potential close contacts of infected patients.

Speaking anonymously, one doctor told the Sydney Morning Herald: The centre is not safe for COVID-19 patients, mental health wards are not designed for infection control. We were only able to access PPE [personal protective equipment] a week after the first patient tested positive. According to state Health Minister Brad Hazzard, around a third of the staff are not vaccinated. In other words, they have been forced to work without any protection at all.

Amid some of the Nepean workers going into isolation, the nearby Katoomba mental health unit was closed on Tuesday, with staff given only hours to transfer mentally-ill patients. The Katoomba staff are being directed to cover staffing shortages at Nepean, with some speaking to the press about their fears of being infected.

Across the state, around 900 health workers are in some form of isolation, the vast majority in Sydney. This has prompted warnings that the NSW hospital system, which was already in crisis prior to the outbreak due to decades of underfunding, is in significant strain. Rates of COVID hospitalisations are at record levels, with 391 patients, 63 of them in intensive care, 30 of whom require ventilation to breathe. As the case numbers and consequent illness continue to rise, the emerging staff shortages could have catastrophic consequences.

Other sections of the working class are also on the frontlines. More than 560 transport workers in Sydney are isolating, the majority of them bus drivers, after two staff at the bus depot in the inner-west suburb of Leichhardt tested positive early this week. Despite interacting with the public on a daily basis, bus drivers are not on any priority vaccination list, meaning many are still not inoculated.

The official rejection of needed safety measures has included a refusal to ensure any containment of the virus in Sydney. This has led to a rapid spread over the past fortnight, to the Hunter and Newcastle regions several hours north of Sydney, to the north of NSW including Byron Bay, and to the Orana region of the states central and north-west.

Twenty-five new cases were reported in the Orana towns of Dubbo and Walgett today. The spread of the virus to the latter in particular, raises major dangers for the substantial indigenous population in the region, which comprises almost 30 percent of Walgett residents. As the most oppressed section of the working class, it is afflicted with far greater than average health issues.

Only around 14 percent of indigenous adults, however, have been vaccinated. Experts have warned that a major outbreak in central Australia, where there is also a large indigenous population, could result in fatality rates of five percent among unvaccinated indigenous people. In Walgett, local officials have stated that the towns meagre medical facilities would rapidly be overwhelmed if there were COVID hospitalisations.

Meanwhile, the virus is continuing to spread nationally, with Delta infections being recorded everyday in the Victorian state capital, Melbourne, which is Australias second-largest city. Yesterday, the Australian Capital Territory was sent into a snap lockdown, after infections were detected in Canberra, the seat of the national parliament, with the cluster now standing at seven cases.

Amid the worsening crisis, the focus of all of the governments is on pressing ahead with the reopening of the economy, in line with the homicidal policies being pursued by the ruling elites internationally.

An editorial in the Australian Financial Review (AFR) on Wednesday spelt out the agenda, hailing the NSW government for its plans to begin easing the already inadequate restrictions once the arbitrary figure of six million vaccine doses are administered in the state.

In a challenge to the prevailing pandemic psychology, the delta variant is forcing the state to guide the nation away from its fixation with zero cases, the AFR proclaimed. The NSW government was moving toward using vaccinations, rather than lockdowns, to live with what would become a progressively less deadly virus, much like the flu, as Ms Berejiklian says.

People, however, do not live with the virus. They become grievously-ill, face the risk of death and the potential of other life-changing consequences, including dramatic losses in cognitive function and long-COVID. The position of the capitalist class, in Australia, no less than their counterparts around the world, is that the health, safety and lives of working people must be sacrificed to ensure unimpeded corporate profit-making activities.

In opposition to this line, the Socialist Equality Party has called on workers to establish rank-and-file committees, in workplaces, schools, hospitals and in the community, to fight for the closure of non-essential production, to enforce safety measures elsewhere, and to coordinate resistance to the deadly policies of the governments.
SULLIVAN COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI)  The Indiana State Police has confirmed an ongoing investigation involving Sullivan County Coronor Tracy Tackett.

A video was published on YouTube Thursday morning that shows a clip of a man in a Sullivan County Coroner logo shirt, who identifies himself as Tracy. Before the confrontation, the online video shows messages that the publisher, Expose Your Local Pedophile (EYLP,) says were exchanged between the man and EYLP, who was posing as a 14-year-old girl. EYLP says the exchange of messages ended with the recorded confrontation in Henderson, Kentucky.

The Indiana State Police told News 10 investigators are aware of the video. On Thursday, the Indiana State Police said the agency was aware of an incident in Henderson, Kentucky.

EYLP's YouTube channel includes other videos similar in nature. The person running the YouTube channel told News 10 in a phone conversation that the people featured in the videos make initial contact through dating apps. As the messaging continues, the publisher claims to be a young teenager. The publisher said he has cooperated with investigators in past situations.

The Putnamville Post Public Information Officer said it is agency policy not to discuss ongoing investigations.

News 10 has left voicemails for numbers listed for the coroner on the Sullivan County government website, in addition to sending an email to the address listed for Tackett. As of Friday afternoon, those messages were not returned.

News 10s Heather Good spoke with the leadership of the Republican Party in Sullivan County. They say theyre aware of the video and arent taking action until the investigation is complete.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW YOUTUBE VIDEO

The Sullivan County Clerk, Tonya Bedwell, tells Heather Good that elected officials cannot be removed from office, but they can be disqualified. The disqualifications are death, moving out of the county, and being convicted of a felony. Bedwell says a political party also cannot remove a person from office in Indiana.

Response from the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office

Sullivan County Sheriff Clark Cottom sent a media release Friday morning that said his office first learned about the video around 6:30 Thursday morning.

In the statement, Cottom said, "The video contained allegations of a potential criminal act committed by Sullivan County Coroner Tracy Tackett."

Sheriff Cottom said he reviewed the information and sent it to Sullivan County Prosecutor Ann Smith-Mischler.

Response from the Sullivan County Prosecutor's Office

Sullivan County Prosecutor Ann Smith-Mischler released a separate statement.

Smith-Mischler also mentioned the Thursday call to the police about the video. She says Indiana State Police were notified and started their investigation right away.

Smith-Mischler goes on to say the Indiana Crimes Against Children unit was notified.

In a written statement, Smith-Mischler said, "This case is complicated by the fact that it was not initiated by law enforcement and may involve other state jurisdiction. We need to let the investigation run its course, and my office will proceed accordingly once it is completed."

Death investigations in Sullivan County moving forward

In that same release, Sheriff Cottom discussed the county's process with handling death investigations moving forward.

Cottom said the sheriff's office would continue to follow its policy, where law enforcement will conduct the preliminary investigation at death scenes.

Sullivan County Coroner's Office Chief Deputy Randy Beller will handle calls to the coroner's office until further notice.

Cottom said he confirmed with the Indiana State Coroner's Board his office could contact coroners from surrounding counties to help with an investigation.

Vigo County Coroner Dr. Janie Myers said her office would help Sullivan County when needed.

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A previous version of this story misidentified Sullivan County Coroner's Office Chief Deputy Randy Beller as a member of the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office.
Rain and thunderstorms will be hanging around our area for several more days. Some of the rainfall will be on the heavy side and some of the thunderstorms will be on the hefty side. The main culprit for some of the stronger storms will be strong and gusty winds. Otherwise, we will stay on the very hot side in some areas. We could see some more heat index values well in excess of 100 degrees at times.

Radar Temperatures Severe Weather
Filming on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 2 was underway when castmate Jen Shah was arrested by federal agents back in March, and the aftermath is revealed in the just-released trailer, which you can watch below.

Do you know how fing scared I am? she asks her husband at the prospect of jail time.

Shah and her assistant Stuart Smith, who was also featured on the Bravo reality series, allegedly carried out a wide-ranging telemarketing scheme that defrauded hundreds of victims throughout the United States, prosecutors said.

According to prosecutors, the pair marketed fraudulent business services to elderly people over the phone and then sold their information to other participants in the scheme with the knowledge that the individuals they had identified as leads would be defrauded by the other Participants.

Shah pleaded not guilty to the charges in April and released on $1 million bond and allowed to continue filming. Earlier this week, Shah had a hearing in New York City to set a trial date for March 2022.

In addition to Shahs woes, a new housewife is introduced: Jennie Nguyen. Shah describes her as a little firecracker.

Shah and the other original housewives  Lisa Barlow, Mary Cosby, Heather Gay, Meredith Marks and Whitney Rose  will all be returning. Watch the trailer below.

Season 2 of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City premieres Sept. 12 on Bravo.

Read original story Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 2 Trailer: Jen Shah Is Fing Scared About Jail Prospects (Video) At TheWrap
ned price

Alex Brandon/AP/Shutterstock

Months after President Joe Biden announced the end of a decades-long U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, his administration is planning to send 3,000 additional troops to the country.

The Associated Press reports that the Biden administration is "rushing" troops into Afghanistan to assist in a partial evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul as the Taliban continues to gain control across the country, seizing cities like Kandahar, Firoz Koh and Herat.

Despite the partial evacuation, the embassy will continue to function in Kabul, the State Department said.

"This is not abandonment. This is not an evacuation. This is not a wholesale withdrawal," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters Thursday. "What this is is a reduction in the size of our civilian footprint."

The decision to send in thousands of troops comes after the Taliban seized over a dozen provincial capitals in just the past week, outlets including The New York Times report. The group, which ruled Afghanistan in 1996 until the invasion of U.S. forces post-9/11, is now in control of more than two-thirds of the country.

RELATED: U.S. Signs Deal with Taliban to Withdraw Troops from Afghanistan and End America's Longest War

According to the AP, the partial embassy evacuation coupled with the rapid Taliban gains has "increasingly isolated" Kabul, where millions of citizens live.

In response to a reporter's question about the message the U.S. is sending to Afghan civilians by withdrawing both embassy employees and military personnel, Price inisted the country is trying to communicate an "enduring partnership" with the people of Afghanistan.

"We have said from the beginning that the United States will be a committed partner to the people of Afghanistan, and you can measure that in any number of ways," he said.

RELATED: George W. Bush Says Afghanistan Withdrawal Is a Mistake: 'Breaks My Heart'

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After speaking with senior national security officials Wednesday night, President Biden, 78, made the call to send additional troops Thursday morning. Along with three infantry battalions headed to the Kabul airport, the Pentagon is also sending between 3,500 and 4,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to Kuwait as "a reserve force" who will be on standby if the U.S. needs a larger presence in Kabul, according to Pentagon chief spokesman John Kirby.

The 3,000 troops being sent to the Kabul airport will not be directly involved in Afghanistan's war against the Taliban. Instead, they are being deployed to assist with security and aid in the evacuation of embassy employees, Kirby said.

Community celebrity encounters

Chip Somodevilla/Getty

President Biden has been insistent that the U.S. will withdraw its troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, marking 20 years since the Twin Towers fell and sparked the country's longest war.

"It is time for American troops to come home," Biden said during a speech from the White House in April. "We cannot continue the cycle of extending or expanding our military presence in Afghanistan hoping to create the ideal conditions for our withdrawal, expecting a different result."

U.S. troops were first sent to Afghanistan in 2001 by then President George W. Bush. In the years since, over 2,000 U.S. troops and more than 100,000 civilians have died or been injured in the years-long conflict.
Florida's latest COVID-19 wave is making Bob Gortney, an intensive care nurse in Fort Myers, think twice about his two decades in medicine.

Gortney, who works at Gulf Coast Medical Center, recently came back from vacation and found the hospital full of COVID patients. "I never left the COVID battle from last year," Gortney told ABC News Fort Myers affiliate WZVN-TV. "We went from having three or four COVID patients that weren't really sick to now probably 20 to 30 patients [who are] actually on a ventilator that are very, very sick and unvaccinated."

COVID-19 is surging throughout the United States, with daily case averages reaching more than 110,000, up 25.5% from last week. Hospitalizations, which tend to follow rising cases, particularly in areas with low vaccination rates, are now at their highest point in six months, with more more than 75,000 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized, according to updated data from the Department of Health and Human Services.

"It's disheartening," Gortney said. "I know some nurses have walked away from it. Some have just picked up and said, 'I can't do this no more.'"

PHOTO: Sherri Parmar, a registered nurse at Gulf Coast Medical Center in Fort Myers, comforts John Henry Kaufman who had symptoms but tested negative for Covid-19 in Fort Myers, Fla., April 29, 2020. (The News-Press via USA Today Network, FILE)

"It is a challenge to find experienced talent due to the national health care worker labor shortage," said Mary Briggs, a spokesperson for Lee Health, the not-for-profit hospital system that owns Gulf Coast. Despite that challenge, Lee Health has made an effort to staff, Briggs explained, hiring 160 registered nurses in June and July and bringing in travel and contract nurses.

As hospitals across the country, including in Arkansas, Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida and Mississippi, scramble to meet the rising need, Jean Ross, co-president of National Nurses United, the nation's largest nursing union, pointed to a systemic health care issue that predates COVID-19. Similar to public health funding, hospitals follow a pattern of panic and neglect. They pour money into acute problems, like a COVID surge, then disband those efforts when the situation becomes anything less than a crisis. Preparation and prevention are afterthoughts.

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"There was a failure to plan before the pandemic," Ross said. "There was a failure to listen to us during it. And now that we're experiencing another surge, once again, there is a failure to plan."

MORE: COVID-19 live updates: Pediatrician warns parents, governors: Don't 'underestimate' the virus

In Ross' estimation, hospitals were too frugal about staffing even before the pandemic, in order to maximize profits. COVID exacerbated that. Earlier in the year, when it looked like the virus was receding in the United States, and as hospitals were struggling financially after a year of canceled elective procedures and low patient volume, some hospitals cut costs by furloughing or laying of health workers, or reducing their pay, according to Becker's Hospital Review. Many other hospitals closed altogether.

"Unfortunately, the national nurse staffing shortage is a difficult challenge for hospitals throughout the U.S. and is at critical levels for certain parts of the country," said Jennifer McDonnell, director of public relations and communications at MountainView. "We are doing everything in our power to retain and recruit new nurses to our community, from shift bonuses to new grad programs."

"I don't necessarily feel like there is a nursing shortage in terms of actual people who are registered nurses," said Nicole Taylor, a labor and delivery nurse at MountainView Hospital in Las Vegas and chief nurse representative for her hospital at National Nurses United. "There's a shortage of people who are willing to work in unsafe conditions."

PHOTO: Maddie Dalby, a transporter at Gulf Coast Medical Center, returns a patient to his designated room after visiting with his doctors in Fort Myers, Fla., April 29, 2020. (The News-Press via USA Today, FILE)

Taylor is currently on maternity leave, but she said she speaks with nurses at the hospital every couple of days. When COVID surged in the area and the hospital had to start putting two patients in a room instead of one, nurses were expected to pick up the slack. "They can't possibly hire people in a fast enough manner to accommodate that. That's really unsafe."

"I feel pretty confident," she added, "that a majority of the units are running on bare minimum and just trying to survive."

MORE: States with surging COVID-19 rates also tend to have higher rates of uninsured

During the first wave of the pandemic, traveling nurses descended on New York City and other hotspots, then moved on as the virus did. This time around, much of the country is a hotspot. And adding traveling nurses can be costly.

"Travelers are expensive," Ross said. "We have our nurses begging for them to get extra help. Some states I'm told that are hardest hit right now are finally looking to other states and asking for help, and asking for travelers."

But even if hospitals have the budget, Ross added, securing travelers only gets harder as demand skyrockets "country-wide, even worldwide."

ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos contributed to this report.

Short-staffed hospitals battling COVID surge after opting not to staff up originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The FDA has allowed booster shots for certain people with weakened immune systems amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo: Fly View Productions via Getty Images)

The Food and Drug Administration announced late on Thursday that it is authorizing a third COVID-19 vaccine dose for certain people with weakened immune systems. Specifically, solid organ transplant recipients or those who are diagnosed with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromise, according to the agency.

The additional shot will offer extra protection as the highly contagious delta variant continues to spread throughout the United States, where cases and hospitalizations have increased in recent weeks. The decision reflects mounting evidence that people who are immunocompromised do not have as robust of an antibody response, and some have no antibody response at all.

The country has entered yet another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the FDA is especially cognizant that immunocompromised people are particularly at risk for severe disease, Janet Woodcock, the acting FDA commissioner, said in a statement. After a thorough review of the available data, the FDA determined that this small, vulnerable group may benefit from a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines.

Heres what the FDAs decision to expand the emergency use of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines means for you  whether you are immunocompromised or not.

Right now, boosters are only available for certain people who are immunocompromised.

The move to expand the emergency use of both vaccines is rooted in growing evidence that certain people have poor immune responses over time to the first two doses. Studies have found, for example, that only 17% of organ transplant recipients produce a sufficient immune response after one dose of either vaccine, while roughly 50% did after a subsequent dose.

David Cohn, the chief medical officer at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, told HuffPost that the FDAs decision to approve a third booster dose is not evidence of vaccine failure as much as its a failure of the innate immune system that happens because of medical conditions.

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Its not that the immune system responded really favorably and then its gone away really quickly and thats a vaccine issue, Cohn said. Rather, these are folks who at a baseline were not able to mount an immune response and, as is the case with other vaccines, an additional dose is required to keep them above the threshold.

Estimates suggest that around 7 million Americans are considered immunocompromised. That includes (but is not limited to) people who have had organ transplants, those who are undergoing certain cancer treatments and those living with HIV/AIDs.

However, not all immunocompromised people will necessarily benefit from boosters, though its unclear right now which individuals might not get a response or how well theyd respond to a third dose.

This is all going to be very personalized, Dorry Segev, a transplant surgeon at Johns Hopkins University who is running a major National Institutes of Health study of extra shots for organ recipients, told the Associated Press. For some people, a third dose increases their immune responses, while for others it doesnt.

We dont quite know whos who yet, Segev said.

Moderna and Pfizer are the only vaccines currently authorized for an additional dose.

The messenger RNA vaccines are the only vaccines being given as a third dose at the moment. Immunocompromised people may receive the dose at least 28 days or later after their second shot. (So, for example, if you were fully vaccinated in April, its OK to get it. If you just got your second dose, you need to wait at least 28 days for the third.)

The FDA did not mention anything about immunocompromised individuals who originally received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson shot. In June, experts told HuffPost they didnt feel those in the general public who got that shot needed a booster at the time. If you fall in the eligible category and got the J&J shot, ask your doctor for their recommendation.

Its still not clear if boosters will be necessary for everybody else  or when.

Many experts believe vaccine boosters are likely to be necessary for everyone else at some point, but that is by no means a given. The Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines have continued to hold up against the original strain of the coronavirus and the new variants  although two recent reports suggested that the Pfizer vaccine may not be as effective against the delta variant.

But in general, the vaccines are continuing to do their primary job: keep otherwise healthy people who get breakthrough infections from getting really sick or dying.

So for now, rolling boosters out to the rest of the general public is not a priority. The World Health Organization recently called for a three-month moratorium on boosters, urging health officials to focus instead on vaccinating people around the world. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also indicated that boosters are not necessary at this point in time, although it is working with other public health organizations to determine if and when they might be needed down the road.

This approval is eagerly anticipated by the immunocompromised community, even as studies are ongoing for this group.Samir Parekh, a professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York

Experts are NOT worried that rolling out booster shots will deplete supply in the U.S.

Vaccine supply is a major issue globally. Wealthier countries, including the United States, have a disproportionate share of the doses and are now working to donate hundreds of millions of vaccines to middle- and low-income countries.

But here in the U.S., there is a surplus of vaccines, and experts are generally not concerned that making boosters available to the 3% of the population that is immunocompromised will mean there arent doses available to others, including children under 12 later this fall or winter, or whenever they are eligible for immunization.

We are thankful were in an area of the world where we have enough vaccines and are able to do this without sacrificing any particular group. At the moment, the third dose for the immune-compromised is not going to affect availability for others, said Samir Parekh, a professor of medicine and oncological sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York who has been doing research on the variable immune responses to vaccines among some cancer patients.

Parekh believes it is likely that if and when boosters become necessary for the broader public, theyll be rolled out to older adults who may be less likely to maintain a robust antibody response, and then to younger adults.

But again, that rollout to everyone may not be necessary, and health officials are watching very closely to see if and when peoples antibodies wane, or if the vaccines stop holding up well against emerging variants.

Weve had to very openly say from the get-go that we do not know what the durability of the mRNA vaccines or the J&J vaccines are, Cameron Wolfe, an associate professor of medicine specializing in infectious diseases at Duke Universitys School of Medicine, previously told HuffPost. We knew great safety data. We knew great efficacy data. We did not know great durability data because they havent been around for that long.

For people with weakened immune systems, boosters offer a long-overdue chance at getting back to some kind of normal.

Weve been getting calls from both patients and their doctors for over a month begging for extra doses, Parekh said. This approval is eagerly anticipated by the immunocompromised community, even as studies are ongoing for this group.

This third dose could help many immunocompromised patients regain some semblance of normalcy after a long and difficult 18 months, Parekh said, adding that some of his patients have been afraid to go out into their communities and interact with others, while others are still afraid to come into the hospital.

There are very few groups, I think, that are more motivated to be vaccinated than folks with a compromised immune system, because those have been the folks doing everything they can to keep themselves safe  washing their hands, being obsessive about that, minimizing interactions with others, Cohn said. Weve had cancer patients who literally were not out of their house for a year before the vaccines became available. I have talked to patients today about it, and theyre saying When can I sign up?

Experts are still learning about COVID-19. The information in this story is what was known or available as of publication, but guidance can change as scientists discover more about the virus. Please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most updated recommendations.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

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After being selected by the New Orleans Pelicans in second round of the 2021 NBA draft, former Longhorn Greg Brown III was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for cash considerations.

It was not a certainty that he would make Portlands NBA roster, but Brown had to take advantage of the opportunity that the Trail Blazers were giving him.

On Thursday, after a few solid days in Las Vegas for the NBA summer league, the Trail Blazers announced that they had signed the 19-year-old rookie to an NBA contract.

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The athletic youngster came to Texas ranked as a five-star and showed a lot of promise, but did not have the college career he was projected to. That didnt stop Brown from seizing his summer league opportunity, and making the most out of his bench role.

In about 18 minutes per game, Brown has averaged 10 points on 54% shooting, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal per game. He has been all over the floor making plays on both sides of the ball, and the Blazers took notice. Here is one of his best plays of the summer that saw him block former teammate Kai Jones three point attempt, and then take the ball in transition and throw down a monster dunk.

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Brown will be a very nice depth piece on a Portland team that is looking to contend in the west, unless they trade Damian Lillard.
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A heat alert will be in effect in Hungary from early Saturday until Monday midnight, as mean temperatures are expected to exceed 25C on all three days, the national health and disaster management authorities have said.

The heat alert comes with advice to drink plenty, avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm and to use skin protection. Young children, the elderly and those with cardiovascular diseases especially must take particular precautions, they said.



The measure was taken by Cecilia Muller, the chief medical officer, and this is the sixth occasion she has announced a heat alert.



All social institutions are obliged to accommodate the homeless and anyone else suffering because of the heat, an official of the Ministry of Human Resources (EMMI) told a press briefing earlier.



Members of the public are also asked to help by notifying the authorities if they spot a homeless person in distress on the street.



According to the recommendation, people should stay indoors from 11 am to 3 pm, should avoid strenuous activity and direct sunlight; wear loose, lightweight clothing; drink plenty of fluids, watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke and never leave people or pets in a closed vehicle.



The alert has been issued based on data available from national weather service OMSZ and the recommendations of the National Public Health Centre (NNK).



MTI Photo: Lajos Soos
Foreign ministry state secretary Levente Magyar said the Hungarian government is looking into ways it could help those who had worked for Hungarian troops as interpreters or in other capacities in Afghanistan over the last 20 years.
The fresh newsletter for the International Community in Hungary - described by readers as a "Great read each week" - is now available for your interest and use via the link below.

You can see the new edition of the Xpat E-Magazine here:

xpatloop.com/newsletters/2021/12-august.html



You're in good company here, together with thousands of expats and high-level locals
New Delhi: Expressing anguish over the lack of any uniform policy in Maharashtra over designated parking spaces for vehicles, the Bombay High Court has said that authorities must not allow citizens to own multiple personal vehicles if they didn't have adequate parking space.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni said on Thursday that authorities "should not allow families owning only one flat to have four or five cars if they do not have sufficient parking space" available in their respective housing societies.

The bench was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a Navi Mumbai resident and activist Sandeep Thakur, challenging a government notification that amended the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations Rules, permitting developers to reduce car parking space.

Thakur said in his plea that developers do not provide sufficient parking spaces in new highrises, thereby forcing residents to park outside the premises of the housing society.

"Reduction in the purchase of new cars is needed. You can't permit one family to have four to five vehicles just because they can afford it. You should cross-check if they have parking spaces or not," the high court said.

The HC questioned the rules challenged in the PIL and said there will be "chaos if a proper policy on vehicle parking is not formulated".

"All roads are flooded with vehicles and everywhere, 30 per cent space of roads is taken away by parking on both sides. It is a common phenomenon," it said.

"These are genuine public concerns which have to be taken into consideration to come up with long-term measures so that we do not have a chaotic society. There has to be a policy in place." Also Read: Gold jumps Rs 222 to reach Rs 45,586; silver rallies Rs 100

The high court directed state's counsel Manish Pable to file a reply to the PIL within two weeks. Also Read: National Automobile Scrappage Policy: Heres how Indias automobile industry will be reshaped
New Delhi: Veteran industrialist Adi Godrej will step down as Chairman from the board of directors at diversified conglomerate Godrej Industries. He will continue to serve as Chairman of the Godrej Group and Chairman Emeritus of Godrej Industries, the company said on Friday.

Nadir Godrej, who is currently Managing Director of Godrej Industries, will take over as the new Chairman and Managing Director. "It has been a privilege to serve Godrej Industries for over four decades, during which we have delivered strong results and transformed our company," said Adi Godrej.

"I am very confident that our best years are ahead of us, and I look forward to Nadir and our team achieving our exciting aspirations."

Nadir Godrej said: "On behalf of our team at Godrej Industries and our board, I want to thank our Chairman for his vision, values and exceptional leadership that has guided and shaped our company.

"The leadership team is committed to building forward on these foundations, continuing to serve people and communities, and creating long-term value for all stakeholders, he added. Also Read: National Automobile Scrappage Policy: Heres how Indias automobile industry will be reshaped

Adi Godrej has served at the helm of several trade and industrial bodies. He has also been President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Godrej Industries is one of the Godrej Group`s holding companies with interests in consumer goods, real estate, agriculture and gourmet retail through subsidiary and associate companies across 18 countries. Also Read: How many cars a family owning one flat should have? Check what Bombay High Court has to say

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New Delhi: The country's exports surged 49.85 per cent to USD 35.43 billion in July on account of healthy growth in petroleum, engineering, and gems and jewellery segments, even as the trade deficit widened to USD 10.97 billion during the month, official data showed on Friday.

Imports during the month also rose by about 63 per cent to USD 46.40 billion, as per the data released by the commerce ministry.

"The trade balance for July 2021 was estimated at USD (-) 10.97 billion as against USD(-) 4.83 billion in July 2020, which is a decline of 127.37 per cent," the ministry said in a statement.

Oil imports soared by 97.45 per cent to USD 12.89 billion.

Exports during April-July 2021-22 rose by 74.5 per cent year-on-year to USD 130.82 billion, as against USD 75 billion in the same period last year.

Imports during the first four months of the fiscal increased by 94 per cent to USD 172.5 billion. Also Read: 7th Pay Commission: Assam increases dearness allowance of govt employees, check other states that have announced DA hike

Commenting on the data, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President A Sakthivel said the global demand during this period has also remained buoyant as the order booking positions of exporters have been impressive. Also Read: Marlboro, Red & White cigarette maker Godfrey Phillips India's profit jumps 2x in June quarter

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Mumbai: When India celebrates its 75th Independence Day; we are still not FREE from the clutches of COVID-19. We may have the freedom from the British era but dont have the freedom to move around freely due to the present pandemic.

Last year it was the front liners who put their lives in danger to save us and our family from the ill effects of Corona. EsselWorld, Water Kingdom and EsselWorld Bird Park with the launch of the campaign #IamCoronaFreedomFighter put the baton of India FREE from Corona in the hands of every citizen of India.

With the launch of this campaign EsselWorld, Water Kingdom and EsselWorld Bird Park take the efforts to inculcate the basics and simple ways to make our nation Corona Mukht Bharat. Our freedom fighters have sacrificed their lives for the freedom of our nation and now its our turn to be the fighter against Corona and become #IamCoronaFreedomFighter.

With the launch of series of social media communication the campaign smartly educates every Indian to be responsible and be a fighter against Corona by following simple steps in their life.

"The campaign encourages people to share their fighting spirit to sail through these tough times and to embrace this new normal with enthusiasm. We believe every Indian is a pandemic warrior and should take the responsibility of sweeping the nation FREE from Corona," Mr. Paresh Mishra, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, EsselWorld, Water Kingdom and EsselWorld Bird Park.

So tune in to our social media handles and join us in celebrating Independence Day in a special way.
New Delhi: Another massive landslide in Himachal Pradeshs Lahaul and Spiti district on Friday (August 13, 2021) blocked the flow of the Chenab River. The incident took place near Nalda village and no loss of life or property has been reported in the incident so far, as per ANI reports.

The Director of Disaster Management, Sudesh Kumar Mokta said, "River is blocked and only 10-15 percent water is discharging currently. Villages have been evacuated and a helicopter has been deployed for aerial survey."

Kumar also added that the deployment of the NDRF team is underway, and the local administration is taking stock of everything in the area.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Manav Verma said, "We have requested all the Panchayat Pradhans to evacuate the people from the lower line area of nearby villages."

Some travellers have also posted videos of the incident on Twitter.

Flow of Chenab river blocked due to massive landslide near Nalda in Lahaul Spiti.Population in 11 villages being shifted to safer place fearing river in water level due to landslide ,debris pic.twitter.com/lnvlMrQthQ  Dr. Ashwani Sharma (@ashwanis1208) August 13, 2021

Meanwhile, the death toll continues to mount at Kinnaur where a tragic landslide on August 11 led to death and devastation. 15 people are now confirmed dead, with a rescue operation resuming early on Friday (August 13, 2021). While 10 bodies were recovered on Wednesday, four were found on Thursday from the landslide site. Besides, 13 people were rescued on Wednesday itself.

(With ANI inputs)

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New Delhi: The Kerala police chief Anil Kant on Thursday (August 12, 2021) directed senior police officers and district police chiefs to keep all kinds of celebrations during Onam at a minimum. The Kerala police chief also evaluated the security arrangements to be made in view of festival celebrations via video conference.

"In the context of COVID-19, all kinds of celebrations during Onam should be kept to a minimum," said Police chief Anil Kant in the meeting.

"Onam feast and other celebrations should be done inside the houses. Those who visit beaches and tourist points must ensure that they comply with all COVID-19 regulations," he added.

Kant also directed the state police to tighten the night patrol during the festival.

"Police should be vigilant against thieves. Special patrols will be set up in the areas where the guest workers are staying. Pink police patrolling on bicycles and bikes in public places will be further expanded," he added.

The Kerala police chief had also ordered to further diversify the activities of Janamaithri beat and womens police cells.

The festival of Onam is celebrated by Malayalees to commemorate the harvest season. The day is celebrated on the 22nd Nakshatra Thiruvonam in the month Chingam of Malayalam calendar and is based on Panchangam.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 situation in Kerala remains grim as the state recorded 21,445 fresh COVID cases pushing the total infection caseload to 36,31,638, with the number of people succumbing to the virus rising to 18,280 with 160 more deaths on Thursday. Over 20,723 people have been cured of the infection, taking the total recoveries to 34,36,318 and the number of active cases in the state to 1,76,518, a state government release said.

(With Agency inputs)

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New Delhi: Few days after Congress leader Kapil Sibals gala dinner for opposition leaders, now Congress president Sonia Gandhi is likely to host a dinner for the like-minded opposition leaders. According to the reports, TMC's Mamata Banerjee, DMK's MK Stalin, Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray will also be invited along with the Chief ministers of UPA.

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar is also expected to attend the event. Additionally, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav are also likely to attend. However, no particular date has been set and the dinner meeting is subject to the availability of the leaders in Delhi.

These reports surfaced on the same day when the monsoon session of the Parliament ended on a rough note on Wednesday. Ruckus was a constant scene in the Parliament monsoon session with opposition parties raising questions and the government's unwillingness to allow dialogue on Pegasus reports and farm laws.

A few days back, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal's residence witnessed another show of G-23 leaders, where for the first time opposition party leaders got together at a dinner table.

Although dinner was hosted by Kapil Sibal, Other G-23 members like veteran Congress leader Gulam Nabi Azad, party MP Shashi Tharoor, Bhupendra Singh Hooda, Anand Sharma, Manish Tewari, P Chidambaram were also there.

The agenda of Sibbals dinner meeting was to formulate a strategy to ensure Opposition unity for the 2024 Lok Sabha election against the BJP-led NDA.

(With Agency inputs)

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New Delhi: Delhi Police has told a court here that no evidence could be collected so far to confirm whether the nine-year-old girl was raped before allegedly being killed near Delhi Cantonment in south-west Delhi earlier this month.

The investigating officer (IO) of the case told the court that the disclosure statements of the four accused have revealed that two of them -- Radhey Shyam, the 55-year-old priest of the crematorium, and its employee Kuldeep Singh -- had raped and killed the minor victim.

The remaining accused persons -- Salim Ahmad and Laxmi Narayan, both employees at the crematorium -- had helped them in trying to cremate the deceased minor, the IO told the court.

"The IO has further admitted that neither any statement of any eye witness nor any other evidence, including medical or scientific could be collected so far to confirm as to whether the victim child was raped or not. He has further submitted that at this stage, he cannot conclusively say as to whether the victim child was raped or not," the court noted in the order passed on August 12.

Disclosure statements of the accused persons before police, unless supported by other evidence, is not admissible under law.

Special Judge Ashutosh Kumar, meanwhile, awarded Rs 2.5 (rpt) 2.5 lakh as "interim relief" to the mother of the child for the loss of her daughter's life.

The court, however, did not grant further interim relief on the additional ground of the alleged rape of the victim, in view of the submissions of the IO and "in view of the fact that the investigating agency itself is not sure as to whether the victim was raped or not, the interim compensation qua the same is not allowed at this stage."

The judge granted the liberty to the parties concerned to move a fresh application regarding compensation for rape, in case the investigating agency collects further material or comes to the conclusion that the victim child was raped.

A per the government scheme, the maximum compensation awardable in case of loss of life is Rs 10 lakh. The court granted 25 per cent of the compensation amount as interim relief.

The court, meanwhile, sent the four accused, who were all known to the girl's mother, to 14-day judicial custody.

According to the FIR, the minor girl was raped, murdered and then cremated without her parents' consent.

The case was recently transferred to the crime branch of Delhi Police.

Delhi Police registered a case against the four accused on the basis of the statement of the minor's mother, who alleged that her daughter was raped, murdered and cremated without family's consent on August 1.

The accused have been booked under Sections 302 (murder), 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, along with the relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the SC/ST Act.

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New Delhi: A high-level meeting of top officials of Delhi Police is underway to discuss a new intelligence alert about miscreants who could try to infiltrate the security at the Red Fort on August 15. According to an ANI report, the agenda of the meeting is Independence Day security and the officials will also discuss the fresh intel alerts shared by the agencies.

A high-level meeting of the top officials of the Delhi Police is underway at the moment. The agenda of the meeting is Independence Day security and fresh intel alert shared by the agencies, tweeted ANI.

Sources also revealed that as per fresh alert, some anti-social elements, including those with ideological leaning towards Khalistani movement, can portray themselves as Delhi Police personnel with the motive to infiltrate Red Fort security.

A high-level meeting of the top officials of the Delhi Police is underway at the moment. The agenda of the meeting is Independence Day security and fresh intel alert shared by the agencies: Sources (1/2)  ANI (@ANI) August 13, 2021

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police had also issued a traffic advisory on Wednesday to ensure safe and smooth vehicular movement across the national capital ahead of the Independence Day function and the full-dress rehearsal ceremony on August 13.

As per the advisory, the traffic around Red Fort, from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on Independence Day, will remain closed for general traffic from 4 am to 10 am for normal public and only authorised vehicles will be allowed to pass.

Traffic restrictions for the full-dress rehearsal on August 13 and for the Independence Day function will remain the same, the police said.

Eight roads, Netaji Subhash Marg, Lothian Road, SP Mukherjee Marg, Chandni Chowk Road, Nishad Raj Marg, Esplanade Road and its Link Road to Netaji Subhash Marg, Ring Road from Rajghat to ISBT, and Outer Ring Road from ISBT to IP flyover, will be closed for general public from 4 am to 10 am on both the days, according to the advisory.

(With Agency inputs)

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Enforcement Directorate on Friday (August 8) arrested Pranav Kumar Ghosh in the case of Srijan Mahila Vikas Sahyog Samiti Limited (SMVSSL). He is alleged to be involved in the big scam known as the Srijan Scam, wherein Government funds have been diverted to various bank accounts of SMVSSL. The amount involved in the scam is more than Rs 500 Crore.

Pranav Kumar Ghosh was a close associate of Late Manorama Devi, Founder of SMVSSL. He along with various govt officials, Bank officials, Private persons, and other members conspired to divert the government funds into the accounts of Srijan and the said account was used for the benefit of all the conspirators. SMVSSL opened various bank accounts in Bank of Baroda, Indian Bank, and Bhagalpur Co-operative Bank with the help of Bank officials. Further, in conspiracy with the Govt officials, the funds lying in the District Land Acquisition Office, Indira Aawas Yojana, District Welfare Scheme, etc were transferred to Srijans account. In furtherance of the conspiracy, the funds from Srijan were misutilised for the purchase of flats and other immovable properties in Ghaziabad, Pune, Patna, Bhagalpur etc.

ED initiated a money-laundering investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by CBI Delhi. During the course of the investigation, it was revealed that the said accused has acquired movable and immovable properties out of the proceeds of crime. As a result of the initial investigation, two Provisional Attachment Orders were issued attaching assets worth Rs. 18.45 Crore including 32 Flats, 18 Shops, 38 Plots/house, 47 bank accounts, One Car, and One Scorpio Vehicle.

During the entire investigation, Pranav Kumar Ghosh has been non-cooperative and didnt comply with the summons issued by the investigation agency. Therefore by invoking section 19 of PMLA, 2002, he has been arrested on 06.08.2021. The Honble Special PMLA Court has granted five days custody to ED.
Mumbai: Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh is facing a lookout notice issued against him in an alleged extortion case, said Mumbai Police on Friday. The case of alleged extortion was registered against the former Mumbai Police Commissioner at Kopari Police Station in Thane city Police Commissionerate.

"A lookout circular has been issued against Prambir Singh," Thane Police Commissioner, Jai Jeet Singh told ANI. Notably, this was the second case of extortion in which Parambir Singh has been named, along with others.

Extortion case | Look Out Circular issued against former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh (in file photo): Thane Police Commissioner Jai Jeet Singh to ANI pic.twitter.com/BUT4GimcXA  ANI (@ANI) August 13, 2021

On July 28, Mumbai Police formed a seven-member Special Investigation Team headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police-level officer to probe the corruption charges against the former Mumbai Police Commissioner and five others named in the case.

The lookout notice is issued to prevent a person from leaving the country.

According to PTI report, the extortion FIR names several other police officers, including the then Deputy CP Dipak Deoraj, Assistant Commissioner of Police Nivrurti Kadam, the then Anti Extortion Cell (AEC) senior Inspector Pradeep Sharma and Inspector Rajkumar Kothmire.

Earlier, two FIRs were reportedly filed against the police officials on charges of extortion in Thane. The notice was issued on July 30 on a complaint of businessman Ketan Tanna.

Tanna had reportedly alleged that when Param Bir Singh was the Thane Police Commissioner, between January 2018 and February 2019, the accused extorted Rs 1.25 crore from him by summoning him to the AEC office, besides threatening him to frame him up in serious criminal cases.

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New Delhi: Heavy spells of rain are likely to continue over Northeast India and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim and Bihar till August 15, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday (August 13).

The MeT department has predicted scattered to fairly widespread rainfall over Western Himalayan region during the next 3-4 days. The release said, Isolated heavy rainfall expected over Uttarakhand till August 15.

There will be a gradual increase in rainfall activity over the Northeast, peninsular and adjoining east central India from August 15 while there will be subdued rainfall very likely over the rest of the country during the next five days, IANS quoted the IMD release.

The release added that widespread rainfall activity with isolated heavy to very heavy falls are expected to continue over Northeast India and sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim till August 14, following which it will reduce.

Furthermore, East Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are likely to witness scattered to fairly widespread showers with isolated heavy falls till August 14 and reduction thereafter.

Due to a likely formation of cyclonic circulation over west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal around August 15 and subsequent formation of a Low Pressure Area during the next 48 hours, fairly widespread rainfall activity is likely over Odisha, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Vidarbha, and Chhattisgarh, the weather department said.

Odisha is likely to experience isolated heavy to very heavy falls during August 15 to 17 and isolated heavy falls over coastal Andhra Pradesh till August 17.

(With IANS inputs)

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Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday (August 13) asked the Union government what was the need to introduce the recently notified Information Technology Rules, 2021 without superseding the existing IT Rules that came into effect in 2009.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice GS Kulkarni reserved its order on two petitions pleas seeking an interim stay on the implementation of the new Rules.

The pleas, filed by digital legal news portal Leaflet and journalist Nikhil Wagle, raised objections to several provisions in the new Rules and said these were likely to have a "chilling effect" on a citizen's right to free speech as guaranteed by the Constitution.

The petitioners also claimed the Rules went beyond the scope of the parent IT Act as well as the reasonable restrictions imposed on speech and expression by Article 19 (2) of the Constitution.

On Friday, the bench said orally that it was inclined to grant limited relief to both petitioners over serial number nine of the new Rules that related to adherence to a code of ethics.

Earlier during the day's hearing, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the Centre, defended the prescription of such ethics saying that even the Press Council of India (PCI) prescribed a code of ethics to be followed by journalists.

The bench, however, pointed out that PCI guidelines were advisory norms on behaviour and did not carry any drastic punishment for their breach.

"How can you put such an exalted status on the PCI guidelines? That not following those guidelines will lead to penalty? Unless you have the liberty of thought, how can you express anything? How can you restrict one's liberty of thought?" the bench said.

Singh, however, said the petitioners' fear of adverse action on breach of the new Rules were premature.

He said a specially designated committee that will be empowered to take action against those in breach of the new Rules, particularly regulation numbers 14 and 16, that the petitioners were objecting to besides number nine, was yet to be designated.

Serial numbers 14 and 16 of the new Rules pertain to powers of an inter-departmental committee and to blocking of information in case of emergency respectively

The HC, however, said the above argument could not be accepted. "There is a catch here.You may say there is no urgency, or no committee. But the sword is hanging on their heads," the HC said.

Advocate Khambata, who appeared for Leaflet, and advocate Abhay Nevagi, who appeared for Wagle, further argued that the Union government had brought in the new Rules, with more drastic checks on publishing content online, by way of a delegated legislation. However, the Rules, in effect, would act like a substantive law.

Nevagi also told HC the new Rules sought to take away the protection granted against penal action to intermediaries under section 79 of the IT Act.

He showed the bench a portion of the Centre's affidavit, filed in the case on Thursday, which stated that the protection to an intermediary under Section 79 can be taken away if there is non-compliance with the new Rules.

The HC said this was "very serious" and asked how could the rules take away protection granted by a law. "Under 69A (1) (ii) of the IT Act, the 2009 Rules have been framed. What was the necessity for the Union government to bring in subsequent rules without superseding the prior rules and create a substantive law through the Rules?" the HC further asked.

ASG Singh, however, reminded the court it was presently dealing only with interim relief and not on the merits of the new Rules. He further said the Central government had felt the need to bring in the new Rules in order to check the spread of fake news, illegal content etc.

The HC said will pronounce its order on the interim relief sought via the pleas on Saturday.

(With inputs from PTI)
Washington: Thousands of Indian-Americans have begun early celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of India's Independence and the milestone in the country's history. From iconic Times Square in New York, where the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) would unfurl the largest ever flag in the Big Apple on Sunday to the US Capitol here and mansions of several governors across the country, India's 75th Independence Day is being celebrated in a big way.

"This is a historic moment for all of 1.4 billion people in India and 4.5 million Indian-Americans. To celebrate the occasion, we are unfurling the largest flag on Times Square,? Ankur Vaidya, FIA president told PTI. It's a 60 square feet flag over a 25 feet high pole, he added.

Several buildings in the US, including the Empire Estate, are being lightened with Indian tri-colour over the weekend, while another group of Indian-Americans are celebrating the 75th Independence Day over a ferry on the Hudson River.

"India in these 75 years has emerged as a mature democracy and a pillar of global peace. This year is special for all of us. The United States has a Vice President who is of Indian origin," said Alok Kumar, an IT entrepreneur from New Jersey.

In a Virginia suburb of Washington DC, hundreds of Indian-Americans are likely to gather to celebrate Independence Day with film star Anupam Kher and live performance by Sukhbir Singh on Sunday. Top politicians from Maryland and Virginia are likely to attend.

"India's Independence Day is three days away, but Queens is getting the celebration started early with our Independence Day ceremony tonight at 6 pm. Join us as we honour the contributions of the thousands of Indian-Americans call Queens home," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richard.

"Queens would not be the place it is without our thriving Indian-American community," he added.

In Boston, Niren Chaudhary, CEO of Panera Bread will be the Chief Guest at India Day Festival organised by India Association of Greater Boston. Berklee Indian Ensemble from Berklee College of Music will stage a live concert here, organisers said.

In fact, several hundred independence day celebrations are being organised across the county, with scores of them being attended by Congressmen and State Governors.

The Connecticut Chapter of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO-CT) celebrated India's democracy and the unity and diversity of India and Indian Americans, in Stamford on August 8.

Connecticut General Assembly has issued a citation honouring the Indian Day Celebration.

In his proclamation Samford Mayor David Martin said that the Indian Independence was marked largely by non-violent resistance and civil disobedience and the Independence Day is celebrated by the Indian Diaspora worldwide.

The proclamation further noted that Stamford city will honour Indian community which is an integral part of city's diversity, success and great future.

Aligarh Alumni Association of Metro Washington, in association with GOPIO organised its annual Independence Day Mushaira / Kavi Sammelan program on August 8, 2021.

Last week, Indian Americans living in Long Island part of New York organised India Day parade as well.

The City of Cupertino and Cupertino-Bhubaneswar Sister City Initiative have announced plans to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of India Independence Day on August 17.
New Delhi: Indias nasal vaccine candidate against COVID-19, developed by Bharat Biotech, has received the approval for conducting phase 2 and 3 clinical trials, the Department of Biotechnology said on Friday.

First Nasal Vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech supported by Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and its PSU, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) gets a nod of regulator for Phase 2/3 Trial, Ministry of Science and Technology said in a statement.

The DBT apprised that Phase 1 clinical trial of the nasal vaccine candidate, BBV154, has been completed in age groups ranging from 18 to 60 years, adding that the doses were found to be well tolerated, Reuters reported.

BBV154 is an intranasal replication-deficient chimpanzee adenovirus SARS-CoV-2 vectored vaccine.

Renu Swarup, chairperson of the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council said, "Bharat Biotech`s BBV154 Covid Vaccine is the first intranasal vaccine being developed in the country entering into late-stage clinical trials.

Touted as a game-changer, the drug regulator CDSCO had recommended granting permission for conducting phase 1 clinical trials of an intranasal COVID-19 vaccine in January. The vaccine can be administered by putting only one drop in each of the nostrils, for which one does not require trained healthcare workers. It eliminates needle-associated risks, and is suitable for children and adults.

The Hyderabad-based pharma Bharat Biotechs Covaxin, a two-dose vaccine administered through injections, is already being used in Indias fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, India has approved three anti-COVID vaccines- Covaxin, Covishield and Russia's Sputnik V.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Chennai: In a relay race, all runners contribute equally, but the last runner has to be the best and the most reliable. Rocketry is also quite similar. A rocket consists of multiple stages(sets of engines) that are stacked vertically. Each engine has a different level of performance and contributes in getting the payload to space. Once the respective engine completes its task, it detaches itself from the rocket and lets the next one continue the journey. Towards the end, the final engine takes the satellite to its determined orbit and accomplishes the mission. The latest failure of Indias GSLV rockets Cryogenic engine (third and final stage) brings the crucial Cryogenic engine reliability issue to light.

The development of a cryogenic engine has unique design challenges, as it is fueled by liquid Hydrogen stored at -253 deg C and liquid Oxygen stored at -195 deg C in its tanks. To store these cryogenic fluids, special multi-layer insulation is provided for the tanks and other structures.

Looking at the history of the GSLV rocket (without considering the 4-ton lifter GSLV Mk3), this is a launch vehicle that has had a considerable failure rate, when compared to ISROs excellent track record. This variant (GSLV or GSLV Mk2) has had 4 failures in 14 flights. While this number might seem minuscule when compared to International standards and the track record of foreign agencies, it slightly upsets ISROs own stellar success rate.

In comparison, ISRO's most reliable workhorse rocket, the PSLV(which doesnt have a Cryogenic engine) has had only 2 failures in its history of 53 flights. Of course, Cryogenics have always been a tough technology to master and the GSLV is the first Indian rocket with a Cryogenic Engine. It was in 2001 that the GSLV had its first flight. For context, Indias heaviest rocket GSLV Mk3(capability to lift 4 tons) has delivered total success in all of its four flights to date. While the credit for the PSLV and GSLV Mk3 missions belong entirely to the Indian Space Agency, it is important to introspect on the GSLV vehicle that has been posing a technological challenge.

According to Former ISRO Chairman Dr. G. Madhavan Nair, the GSLV that faced a Cryogenic engine ignition issue had a long developmental history. This GSLV variant was conceived in the 1970s, when we didnt have large rocket boosters. While some of the technology in this rocket is similar to that of the highly reliable PSLV, the Cryogenic engine is based on a highly complex Russian design. The five initial flights of this rocket used an off-the-shelf purchase Russian Cryogenic engine. But later, we ourselves developed a Cryogenic engine based on the complex Russian design he told Zee Media.

He elaborated by recalling that the disintegration of the erstwhile USSR had impacted Indias engine deal with the Soviets. Instead of providing the engines and related technology transfer(as agreed upon), Russia had provided only the five engines. This meant that Indian scientists had to learn, experiment, and develop modern control systems for the complex Russian Engine, that was developed in the late 1960s. Notably, this Russian engine was also more technologically complicated than its American and European counterparts. Dr. Nair also added that having five liquid-fuel boosters and one solid-fuel motor in the first stage on the GSLV increased the complexity of that rocket as a whole.

While the Cryogenic engine modeled after the Russian technology was very complex, India also eventually developed its own Cryogenic engine called C25. It is the C25 that has flown as the third and final stage of the GSLV Mk3. To ISROs credit, the Mk3 rocket has delivered successes in all four flights. Some of the technology on the Mk3 rocket are scaled-up versions of the highly reliable PSLV rocket. When Zee Media asked if the reliable Indian Cryogenic engine on GSLV Mk3 could be scaled down for GSLV Mk2, Dr. Nair replied in the affirmative. However, he stated that it would be a cost-intensive and time-consuming process that could take at least six years for the process of development, qualification, and testing.

Given Indias limited choice of launch vehicles - PSLV, GSLV, and GSLV Mk3 and the upcoming SSLV, it is imperative that ISRO rectify the troubles on the GSLV rocket and its Cryogenic engine. This is necessary given that an important NASA-ISRO mission called NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) launch is planned on this very vehicle. Chairman ISRO, Dr. K. Sivan had earlier told Zee Media that this NISAR mission would fly by late 2022 or early 2023 on a GSLV Mk2 rocket from Sriharikota. Given that the GSLV fills the gap between the PSLV and the GSLV Mk3, it is a significant vehicle in Indias stable, with prospects for commercial use. So far, ISRO only flies the PSLV to carry commercial satellites that weigh less than 1.5 tons. Perfecting the GSLV Cryogenic engine would only increase Indias gains from commercial launches, by carrying foreign satellites weighing up to 2.5 tons to a higher orbit.

According to a launch vehicle expert who spoke to Zee Media, the Cryogenic engine(topmost stage) must have one notch higher reliability than the second stage, just like the second stage must have higher reliability than the first. The expert, who wished to be unnamed, adds that failures could also happen due to minor errors like a loose bolt or a missing pin, or even non-conformances at the manufacturing level. Thus, it was emphasized that ISRO work on establishing stricter quality controls, review protocols, and double-checks to avoid such errors. It was added that the rectification needed to be done at respective levels, depending on what exactly led to the Cryogenic failure on Thursday (August 12th).

Like a successful relay team gets the combination of four runners right, ISRO must master the technology of each of its rocket engines, in order to have a stable of highly-reliable rockets that have varied payload carrying capacities - SSLV(500kg), GSLV MK2 (2.5ton) and GSLV Mk3(4ton and beyond).
Kashmir: Police have claimed that a foreign terrorist was killed in a night long anti-terror operation at Mir Bazar in Kulgam district. A Pakistani terrorist identified as Usman was neutralised in the encounter with security forces.

Giving more details on the killing of a foreign militant in the Kulgam encounter, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said, We were alerted by a BSF convoy who came under fire from terrorists holed out in a building. The terrorists fired indiscriminately, though, no one was injured. The security forces cordoned off the area and an encounter broke out.

The terrorists had taken shelter in a nearby under construction building after attacking the BSF convoy at Meerpora, Kulgam. IGP said a major tragedy was averted as they might have plans to strike on the national highway it seems after we recovered the kind of ammunition from dead body," Kumar said

The top cop said, Usman was active since the last 6 months. With his dead body a huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered as well. AK 47 magazine, grenade, RPG rocket shell, indicates that something big was being planned. A major tragedy has been averted.

IGP said they had inputs since the last week that terrorists may strike on national highway and so they were fully prepared.

Since last one week we had received inputs that terrorists may strike on national highway security forces were fully prepared this shows how we tackled the Kulgam operation, Kumar said. The terrorists wanted to disturb the atmosphere to prevent people from participating in the I-Day functions. But he assured the public that every part of Kashmir there will be incident free function.

We have placed full security arrangements surprise frisking is being conducted surveillance with drone is being done in every district we make sure incident free function. People are requested not to worry and participate in function as there are people who are trying to instigate the things, he said.

The Kulgam operation started on Thursday afternoon and two youths and two security personals have sustained bullet injuries. There were inputs that one terrorist managed to flee from spot.

This is the fourth terror incident in last one week in Kashmir.

Earlier, militants fired at a police party in Kulgam killing one police man. Later, a BJP leader along with his wife was targeted and killed in Anantnag followed by a grenade attack in Srinagar's Lal Chowk injuring 10 civilians.

Police and other security forces had put Kashmir valley on high alert from Line of Control to towns. Security vigilance and surveillance has been enhanced.

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Kavaratti: The Lakshadweep administration has imposed curbs on the movement of people travelling to the mainland from the islands in view of the COVID-19 situation prevailing in neighbouring states, especially Kerala.

"Considering the circumstances, local residents of Lakshadweep islands are hereby advised to avoid all unnecessary travel to the mainland," said the order issued by Lakshadweep district Collector S Asker Ali on Thursday.

The administration also directed the authorities concerned to give permission only for essential travel to the mainland.

The islands have three entry points from the mainland: Kochi and Kozhikode in Kerala and Mangaluru in Karnataka.

According to the administration, the COVID-19 situation has been stabilised and there are only 40 active cases in the islands as on August 12.

The administration said all those who come to the islands from mainland and other islands must undergo seven days mandatory quarantine at the institutional quarantine facilities provided by the administration or in their respective houses provided that there is a separate room with washroom.

They must be tested for COVID-19 by the local health department after ending their quarantine period, the order said.

However, there will be only three days mandatory quarantine for those who have taken both doses of COVID-19 vaccination 14 days prior to the movement from mainland to islands or from one island to another on production of valid vaccination certificate, or for those persons who have become COVID-19 positive in the months on production of valid discharge certificate, the administration said.

They will be tested after three days of quarantine.

Until mid-January this year, the islands were a COVID-19-free territory in the country.

The administration had come under attack from the residents and politicians in the islands for its decision to relax the stringent quarantine measures in December 2020, causing a sudden spike in virus infection cases.

The administration's old standard operating procedure (SOP) had stipulated a seven day quarantine for people in Kochi before taking an RT-PCR test for the trip.

After arriving in Agatti also, they had to undergo another 14-day quarantine.

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New Delhi: A Special Cell of Delhi Police on Friday (August 13) busted a huge haul of arms and ammunition ahead of Independence Day after they recovered 55 state-of-the-art weapons and 55 pistols from four accused. According to reports, Special Cell officials also recovered about 50 rounds of live cartridges from their possessions.

The 4 accused, who have been arrested by Delhi police officials, are residents of Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.

The consignment of weapons was sent from Madhya Pradesh and Mewat to the national capital.

The three accused have been identified as, Rajveer Dheeraj from Hathras, Vinod from Firozabad and Dharmendra Bharatal from Delhi.

The seized weapons were being transported to Delhi to be supplied to gangsters of Delhi-NCR.

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Investor Summit in Gujarat via video conferencing today (August 13, 2021). The aim of the Summit was to invite investment for setting up vehicle scrapping infrastructure under the Voluntary Vehicle-Fleet Modernization Program or the Vehicle Scrapping Policy.

The Prime Minister believes that the Investor Summit in Gujarat for setting up vehicle scrapping infrastructure opens a new range of possibilities. He also requested the youth and start-ups to join this programme.

The scrappage policy will provide a new identity to the country's auto sector. It will play a huge role in removing unfit vehicles from roads, and bring a positive change in all sectors and not just the auto sector, said the Prime Minister at the event in Gujarat.

We're about to enter the 75th year of Independence. The next 25 years are very important for the country, from this point onward. In these 25 years, changes are going to take place in our way of working, in our daily lives, in our businesses, said PM Modi.

The Prime Minister in his address also drew parallels between the lifestyle of the citizens of India and the economy of the country. He believes that this policy will deeply benefit the middle class pf the country.

The manner in which technology is changing, be it our lifestyle or our economy - there will be a lot of changes in both of them. Amid these changes, it is also important to protect our environment, our land, our resources, our raw material, PM Narendra Modi added.

While emphasising the need for sustainable development, PM Modi stated that technology and innovation are the future. We can work on technology and innovation in the future but the natural resources we get from mother earth are not in our hands. So, on one hand, India is looking for new possibilities through the Deep Ocean Mission & on the other hand, it is also encouraging the Circular Economy, said PM Modi.

The effort is to make development a sustainable one, an environment-friendly one. We are experiencing the challenges of climate change. So, in the interest of its citizens, India has to take major steps, PM Modi added.

The Vehicle Scrapping Policy is aimed at creating an eco-system for phasing out unfit and polluting vehicles in an environmentally friendly and safe manner. The policy intends to create scrapping infrastructure in the form of Automated Testing Stations and Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities across the country.

The Investors Summit is being organized to invite investment for setting up vehicle scrapping infrastructure under the Voluntary Vehicle-Fleet Modernization Program or the Vehicle Scrapping Policy, said Prime Minister`s Office (PMO) in a statement. The Summit is being organized by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the government of Gujarat.

(With ANI inputs)

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New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday (August 13) virtually launched multiple major events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of India's independence. "Due to these programs, not only there is a rise in national consciousness, but there is also an increase in the self-esteem the country has," he said during a speech. One of the events launched was of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) whose 75 teams would be leaving Friday for 75 remote places in the border areas of the country to unfurl the national flag on August 15.

The Indian Coast Guard will be unfurling the national flag at 100 islands pan-India as a part of the 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav'. Singh said that in order to maintain unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country, it is important that the feeling of national self-esteem is present in the citizens, and that is the purpose of the programs being launched Friday.

If this feeling of national self-esteem was not present in Chandrashekhar Azad, Sardar Bhagat Singh, Khudiram Bose, Asfaqullah Khan, would the country have been able to celebrate this 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav', he asked. India is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Independence Day as 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav'. Singh on Friday also flagged off 75 Army teams that will scale 75 mountain passes to mark the momentous occasion.

The passes include the Saserla Pass in Ladakh region, the Stakpochan Pass in Kargil region, Satopanth, Harshil, Uttarakhand, Phim Karnla, Sikkim and Point 4493, Tawang region of Arunachal Pradesh. Singh also launched an event of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) wherein its cadets will carry out cleaning and maintenance of 825 statues of freedom fighters and bravehearts that have been adopted by 825 NCC battalions.

To commemorate India's victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, a book 'Deeds of Gallantry' was launched by the Defence Minister. The book details 20 selected battles and highlights the gallantry of Indian soldiers.

Singh launched a 'Jan Sampark Abhiyan' wherein a representative each of the respective Zila Sainik Board along with a representative of Indian Ex-Servicemen League -- a recognised ex-servicemen (ESM) association -- will interact simultaneously with the ESM fraternity in 75 districts across the country.

The objective of the Abhiyan is to address the issues of the veterans in a time-bound manner.

Underlining the importance of conservation of water, Singh flagged off activities for rejuvenation of 75 water bodies across 62 cantonments by inaugurating the work on the Patel Park Lake in Ambala Cantt. Singh also launched a portfolio of export-ready defence products such as fast interceptor boat made by the Goa Shipyard Limited.

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New Delhi: Recalling the hardship the vaccine industry used to face once in securing permissions and 'harassment from bureaucrats' 50 years ago, Serum Institute of India (SII) chairman Dr Cyrus Poonawalla, on Friday (August 13) hailed the Modi government saying that red-tapism and licence raj have come down under its rule. Cyrus Poonawalla, who was speaking at an event in Pune on Friday, said that in the past, he had to 'fall at the feet' of bureaucrats and drug controllers in order to get permissions, and added that the situation has changed now, which resulted in quick launch of SII's COVID-19 vaccine - Covishield.

"Serum Institute was founded in 1966 the morning after my marriage with Villoo, my dear late wife, to whom I dedicate this award. Fifty years ago, the industry had to face hardships in getting basic facilities like power, water, in getting permissions from bureaucrats. It had to face harassment from bureaucrats...I was not supposed to say this," he said.

"Transport and communication were also great problems and challenges that were faced by my staff and fellow directors...It was a long journey and a very painful one, which has now become very rewarding. I had to fall at the feet of bureaucrats and drug controllers, etc, to get permissions. But I must stress that difficulties, red tape are much reduced now under the Modi government," he said.

Licence raj has also come down, which has resulted in quick launch of the coronavirus vaccine, Poonawalla said.

"Certainly, one of the major reasons why we could launch our vaccine so quickly was forthcoming grant or permission, encouragement to industries as the licence raj has come down considerably. We have got a drug controller, which responds in the evening even after the office hours. There is no need for 'maska polish' now," he said.

Taking about the award, he said that he values it a lot although he had been honoured in America, UK and various other countries in the past.

Speaking on the occasion, Deepak Tilak, president of the Lokmanya Tilak Trust, said, "In unstable and challenging conditions, SII took immense efforts to develop an indigenous vaccine, which mitigated panic associated with COVID-19. This is the result of the effort and solid support of Dr Cyrus Poonawalla to his team."

Former Union minister and senior Congress leader Sushil Kumar Shinde also lauded Poonawalla for his work and said that with the SII vaccine was saving lakhs of lives.

(With ANI inputs)

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New Delhi: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (August 13) demanding a caste-based census.

Further, Yadav, who is also Leader of Opposition, said that PM Modi has insulted Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar by not granting him time to meet. CM Nitish Kumar had assured Opposition parties to seek a meeting with PM Modi over caste census. The CM wrote to the PM on August 4 but has yet not been given time. If he hasn't been granted time for a week now, somehow it's an insult of the CM, Tejashwi Yadav was quoted as saying by ANI.

Bihar: Leader of Opposition & RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav writes to PM Narendra Modi, demanding a caste census pic.twitter.com/VKvPt6fJ6p  ANI (@ANI) August 13, 2021

Earlier on Friday, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav voiced demand for a caste-based census and said it is required for qualitative upliftment in the lives of people of backward and most backward castes.

The RJD chief took to Twitter and wrote, Census can count various animals, birds and other species, but not the people of different backward and most backward castes. If the purpose of the census is the upliftment of the people, then how is it wrong to count thousands of castes and talk about the qualitative upliftment in the lives of the people of those castes?"

On August 7, RJD had staged a protest outside the party office in Patna demanding the implementation of a caste-based census. "RJD is supporting a democratic process. Through District Collectors, RJD is going to submit a memorandum to PM on introducing caste census," RJD General Secretary Alok Mehta was quoted by the news agency.

The debate around caste-based census was triggered during a discussion on the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2021 that was passed in the recently-concluded Monsoon session of Parliament. Several Opposition parties, as well as BJP allies, have demanded a caste-based census.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had said in March that government has no proposal to release the caste data.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a search operation at various premises of Villayutham, the alleged kingpin of sea cucumber smuggling in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu on August 9.

Enforcement Directorate has conducted search operation at various premises of Villayutham, alleged kingpin of sea cucumber smuggling in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu on 9th August, 2021. The sea cucumber is known to have aphrodisiac qualities and the pharmacological properties.

According to the ED, it initiated investigation on the basis of 13 FIRs/Wild life cases filed against Villayutham. The residential premises of Villayutham, Hotel Raamajeyam owned by him at Rameshwaram were searched on 9th August by the Enforcement Directorate.

The operations resulted in seizure of large number of sale deeds, cash receipts, cheque books and other incriminating documents. Sale deeds papers and other documents seized during the search operation revealed the value of the assets of Villayutham to be around Rs 5 crore, it said.

The case involves serious environmental crime i.e. smuggling sea cucumber, endangered species along Sri Lankan border.

Known as the cleaners of the sea, sea cucumbers play a vital role in maintaining health of marine ecosystem. Sea cucumbers, also called as Holothurians, are marine endangered species. They are important constituent of the coral ecosystem in the Gulf of Mannar.

The product Beche-de-mer derived from processed sea cucumbers is commercially important and considered as a delicacy in China, Japan and Korea. The sea cucumber is known to have aphrodisiac qualities and the pharmacological properties.

In the year 2001, Government of India included all species of sea cucumbers under Schedule-I category of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and totally banned their collection. These animals have also been protected under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Notably, further investigation is in progress.

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New Delhi: As the crisis in Afghanistan deepens with Taliban capturing Kandahar and making it way towards capital Kabul, India issued an advisory asking its citizens to leave for India immediately. There are nearly 1,500 Indians in Afghanistan.

The advisory on Thursday - fourth in two months - asked all Indian nationals and professionals operating in Afghanistan to strictly adhere to the steps announced earlier. While in its last order, the Indian embassy in Afghanistan had asked all citizens to immediately leave for India.

Security Advisory for Indian Nationals in Afghanistan@MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/SMKc7uAfl8  India in Afghanistan (@IndianEmbKabul) August 12, 2021

The Embassy stated that precautions and security measures outlines in the earlier advisories remain valid and that Indian nationals must follow the guidelines in toto.

While Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a press briefing said India is in touch with all the stakeholders in Afghanistan and closely monitoring the ground situation in the war-ravaged country.

"The situation in Afghanistan is of concern. It is a rapidly evolving situation. We continue to hope that there will be a comprehensive ceasefire in Afghanistan," he said.

Bagchi said, "...Our Consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif has withdrawn all India-based personnel earlier this week, this is a temporary measure. Our Consulate there continues to be operational with locally recruited staff."

Apart from India, the US, UK and Germany has issued similar advisories, asking their nationals to immediately return home.

Meanwhile, Taliban on Thursday claimed to have captured Herat, Afghanistan`s third-largest city amid US troop withdrawal from the country. Tens and thousands of people have reportedly been killed and millions displaced due to the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan. The US intelligence warned that Afghanistans capital, Kabul could fall to the militants within the next 90 days.

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New Delhi: The Doha meetings on Afghanistan in a final outcome document have sent a message to the Taliban that it won't get legitimacy if it comes by force and called on both the Afghan government and Taliban to accelerate the peace process.

The 9-point Chairman statement issued after the series of meetings said, "Participants reaffirmed that they will not recognize any government in Afghanistan that is imposed through the use of military force."

Doha witnessed two key meetings, one on Tuesday that saw the participation of China, Uzbekistan, United States, Pakistan, United Kingdom, Qatar, United Nations, and the European Union, and another on Thursday that saw the participation of Germany, India, Norway, Qatar, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United States, and the United Nations to discuss the ongoing situation in Afghanistan.

On Wednesday, the Troika Plus meeting happened which saw the participation of the US, Russia, and China plus Pakistan. The outcome document stated that participants agreed that "peace process" needs to be "accelerated as a matter of great urgency" on the basis of the negotiations of "concrete proposals" from both sides--the Afghan republic side and the Taliban side.

The key document called for a "political settlement and comprehensive ceasefire as quickly as possible". The political settlement should not undo the gains of the past, including women's and minorities' rights and "a commitment to not allow any individuals or groups to use the soil of Afghanistan to threaten the security of other countries".

The inputs from the Security establishment suggest that terror camps from Pakistan have moved into Afghanistan, in areas under Taliban occupation. Afghan govt has been saying that 10,000 foreign terrorists fighters representing 20 groups including Al-Qaeda, Lashkar e taiba, TTP, IMU, ETIM, and ISIL have entered into the country and fighting along with the Taliban.

During the meetings, Participants raised "grave concerns" about reports of "continued violence, large numbers of civilian casualties and extra-judicial killings, widespread and credible allegations of human rights violations, all attacks (ground and air) against provincial capitals and cities, and the destruction of physical infrastructure" from Afghanistan.

Even as the Taliban make massive territorial gains, provincial capital after provincial capital has fallen with humanitarian crisis erupting. In some parts, heartbreaking visuals of women and children being killed have emerged.

The document in an optimistic note highlighted that "participants committed to assist in the reconstruction of Afghanistan once a viable political settlement is reached following good faith negotiations between the two sides."

Global diplomatic engagements are on as the situation deteriorates in Afghanistan. Earlier this month, India as the President of the United Nations Security Council hosted a meeting on Afghanistan on the issue. Number of countries reiterated that the Taliban won't get legitimacy if it comes by force.

The US-Europe communique, a C5+1 statement  Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, embassies represented in Kabul which included embassies of Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the EU delegation, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, NATO, Spain, Sweden, the UK have been issuing similar statements expressing concerns on the situation in the country.

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New Delhi: Twitter on Friday (August 13) said its India MD Manish Maheshwari has moved to a bigger role at the company's headquarters in the US, as the micro-blogging platform faces a political storm over blocking Congress and its leaders' accounts. Maheshwari, a former CEO of Network18 Digital who joined Twitter in April 2019 as Managing Director for the country operations, is moving into a new role based in San Francisco as Senior Director, Revenue Strategy and Operations focused on 'New Market Entry'.

"Thank you to @manishm for your leadership of our Indian business over the past 2+ years. Congrats on your new US-based role in charge of revenue strategy and operations for new markets worldwide. Excited to see you lead this important growth opportunity for Twitter," Yu Sasamoto, who is the VP of Twitter in the JAPAC region, said in a tweet on Friday. Twitter was yet to announce a new India head.

The departure of Maheshwari comes as Twitter has blocked accounts of Rahul Gandhi and many Congress leaders for violating their policy. The Congress has alleged that it was being done on the behest of the government. "By shutting down my Twitter they are interfering in our political process," said Gandhi.

"A company is making its business to define our politics. And as a politician I don`t like that. This is an attack on the democratic structure of the country. This is not an attack on Rahul Gandhi."

Twitter clarified its action, saying that the rules are enforced judiciously and impartially for everyone on its service. "We have taken proactive action on several hundred Tweets that posted an image that violated our Rules, and may continue to do so in line with our range of enforcement options," according to the company.

Amid the political ruckus, the Centre this week informed the Delhi High Court that Twitter has appointed permanent officers as required under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

On August 6, Twitter had informed the Delhi High Court that it has appointed employees at the positions of Chief Compliance Officer and Resident Grievance Officer, and Nodal Contact Person, in compliance with provisions of new IT rules.

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New Delhi: Days after his official Twitter account was blocked, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday (August 13) lashed out at the microblogging site and accused it of being biased. In a strong critique, Gandhi said Twitter is interfering in the country's political process, PTI reported.

The former Congress chief termed the blocking of his Twitter handle an attack on the democratic structure of the country.

Releasing a video message on YouTube, Gandhi said, "It's obvious now that Twitter is actually not a neutral, objective platform. It is a biased platform. It's something that listens to what the government of the day says.

"By shutting down my Twitter they are interfering in our political process. A company is making its business to define our politics. And as a politician I don't like that," he added.

Further, he accused Twitter of denying his millions of followers the right to an opinion. "This is an attack on the democratic structure of the country. This is not an attack on Rahul Gandhi. This is not you know simply shutting Rahul Gandhi down. I have 19-20 million followers. You are denying them the right to an opinion. That's what you are doing," the Congress leader said in the video message.

He added, "We have to ask the question: are we going to allow companies just because they are beholden to the Government of India to define our politics for us. Is that what this is going to come to? Or are we going to define our politics on our own? That's the real question here.

Hitting out at the company and questioning its neutrality, Gandhi said, "Our democracy is under attack. We are not allowed to speak in Parliament. The media is controlled. And I thought there was a ray of light where we could put what we thought on Twitter. But obviously, that's not the case.

Congress said on Sunday that Twitter has temporarily suspended Gandhi's account and they were trying to get it restored. His handle was suspended after Gandhi posted pictures of the family of a nine-year-old victim of alleged rape and murder in Delhi. After Rahul Gandhi, the Twitter account of the Congress and several leaders including party's media head Randeep Surjewala was suspended, the party alleged.

Meanwhile, Twitter said it has followed due process as Gandhi's tweet on the kin of the victim was against its rules and the law. "We have taken proactive action on several hundred tweets that posted an image that violated our rules and may continue to do so in line with our range of enforcement options. Certain types of private information carry higher risks than others and our aim is always to protect individual privacy and safety," the company spokesperson had said.

(With PTI inputs)

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New Delhi: A day after extending lockdown like COVID-19 restrictions in the state till August 30, the West Bengal government on Friday (August 13) allowed all restaurants and bars to operate till 10:30 pm.

As per the latest notification by the ruling government in Bnegal, theatres and auditoriums can open with 50 per cent capacity while stadiums and swimming pools can also function with 50 per cent strength.

Meanwhile, the Metro Railway has decided to extend services along its north-south corridor in the city by an hour in the evening from Monday, with the last train leaving terminal stations at 9 pm, an official said. Kolkata Metro authorities have also increased the number of daily trains to 228 from 220 with a peak hour interval of five minutes between services in view of the rise in passenger count. "From Monday, along the north-south corridor, the last metro will leave the terminal stations at 9 pm instead of 8 pm as the state government has relaxed the restriction period," a Metro spokesperson said on Friday.

According to the Mamata Banerjee-led government's order, the movement of people in West Bengal has been restricted from 11 pm to 5 am. Earlier, the night curfew was enforced from 9 pm to 5 am. Only emergency services will be allowed to function during night curfew.

On Thursday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said local trains will only be allowed to function when more people will be vaccinated in the rural areas. "A lot of people are asking me why we are not allowing local trains. But, until we are able to vaccinate more people in rural areas, we cannot run local trains," West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said.

On Wednesday, six people died due to Covid-19 in West Bengal, pushing the death toll in the state to 18,258, according to the data released by the health department. The state also recorded 700 fresh cases on Wednesday, pushing the total tally to 15,35,699.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that the number of coronavirus cases is not increasing in the state and any report to the contrary is wrong. "The positivity rate is not more than 1.5 per cent while it was 33 per cent during the eight-phase assembly polls (held earlier this year). The number of cases is hovering between 600 to 800. This is the situation even when we could not vaccinate people the way we want," she said.

She said that the state is not getting the required doses of vaccines. "If we get vaccines, we can at least ensure one dose of vaccine for the rural population and then we can allow local trains," she said. Those trains can start operating if at least 50 per cent of people in neighbouring districts of Kolkata can be inoculated, the chief minister said.

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New Delhi: Amid scare of the third COVID-19 wave, Karnataka is likely to implement stricter measures in order to curb the transmission of the coronavirus. A meeting that will be chaired by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has been called on Saturday to discuss the COVID-19 situation in the state, State Revenue Minister, R Ashok said on Friday (August 13).

Karnataka Chief Minister to hold a meeting with experts on Saturday in Bengaluru regarding third wave #COVID19. Likely to impose more strict rules after August 15: State Revenue Minister, R Ashok (file pic) pic.twitter.com/5kXhnaele5  ANI (@ANI) August 13, 2021

Although Karnataka has announced reopening of schools for Standard 9 to 12 from August 23, the CM will convene an emergency meeting with experts to deliberate on the third wave, ANI reported. Citing experts, Bommai warned kids will be hit during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, as they belong to the non-vaccinated group.

"We have already started the Vathsalya scheme in Udupi and Haveri districts for complete monitoring the children. We will organise pediatric health camps to check their nutritious strength, and will do all necessary treatment for lack of nutrition and undergrowth," he said.

The CM added, "We have provided training to all concerned officers working on the scheme, and will try to protect the children from this virus. All district hospitals have been instructed to arrange pediatric ICU.

As per ANI report, from August 1 to August 11, 543 children of age group 0-19 were reportedly infected from COVID-19 in Karnataka. Of the total COVID-19 positive children, 210 children belonged to the age group of 0-9, and 333 people were from the age group of 10-19. The infected children were mostly asymptomatic or showed mild symptoms of coronavirus.

Meanwhile, in an order released on Thursday, the Karnataka government banned all Muharram and Ganesh Chaturthi processions till August 20 in view of the third wave.

Karnataka logged 1,857 fresh infections and 30 deaths, pushing the coronavirus tally to 29.24 lakh and the death toll to 36,911, the health department said on Thursday.

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New Delhi: As the Uttar Pradesh government decided to relax weekend lockdown, the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) announced on Friday (August 13) that services of its Aqua Line between Noida and Greater Noida will resume on Saturdays, PTI reported.

NMRC Managing Director Ritu Maheshwari said, The weekend curfew has been lifted by Uttar Pradesh government on Saturdays. Accordingly, the NMRC has decided to resume the metro rail service on Saturdays.

The Aqua line metro will become operational on Saturdays from August 14. "This change will be effective from August 14 onwards. The train operation will not be there on Sundays because the state government has not lifted the curfew on Sunday," Maheshwari was quoted as saying by PTI.

Currently, the metro trains ply at an interval of 10 minutes during peak hours (8 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 8 pm) and 15 minutes during non-peak hours from Monday to Friday, the NMRC said. Further, the NMRC added that metro services on Saturdays will be available at an interval of 15 minutes throughout the day. The metro trains will now run from 6 am till 10 pm from Monday to Saturday.

On August 11, the UP government lifted weekend lockdown from Saturdays in view of improving coronavirus situation in the state. However, COVID-19 curbs will continue on Sundays.

An order issued by Awanish K Awasthi, Additional Chief Secretary, Home read, "Movement of people allowed from 6 am-10 pm from Mondays to Saturdays, with effect from 14th August. People will mandatorily need to wear masks, observe social distancing & use sanitizer. Sunday lockdown/Corona Curfew will continue."

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh reported 33 new cases and two more people died of COVID-19 infection, as per state health bulletin on Friday. In the past 24 hours, no fresh case was reported in 54 districts, the bulletin added.

(With PTI inputs)

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New Delhi: On Bollywood comedian Johny Lever's 64th birthday (August 14), we take a look at inspiring and interesting facts about his life. He began his acting career with 1982 'Dard Ka Rishta' and has acted in more than 300 movies. He has won hearts as the comedy king and never fails to make the audience laugh with his quirky ways.

Although he enjoys a huge amount of fame now, reaching this position wasn't an easy journey for him. He started from humble beginnings as his family wasn't financially secured for the most part. Despite the hurdles, he rose as one of the pioneers of live comedy performances.

As we honour his long-spanning career and illustrious performances in Bollywood, let's take a look at some lesser-known facts about his life:

1. Johny completed his schooling from Andhra education society English high school but only till the 7th grade as he had to drop out due to financial issues. To support his family, he would work odd jobs in Mumbai, one of them was mimicking Bollywood actors.

2. Johny Lever is his stage name, his real name is John Prakasa Rao Janumala. He was given his new name at a Hindustan Lever (HLL) company function.

3. After quitting HLL, he went on to perform comedy in stage shows through which he gained a lot of prominence. Interestingly, late actor Sunil Dutt was present at one of his shows and decided to offer him his first film 'Dard Ka Rishta'.

4. Since he got his big break in the film industry, he has featured in more than 300 films. His love for the stage remained unchanged as he continued doing live shows along while he was acting in movies.

5. He got married to Sujatha Lever in 1984. The couple has two children, a daughter Jamie and a son Jessy.

The comic was last seen in 2020 Amazon Prime's 'Coolie No 1', which starred Varun Dhawan and Sara Ali Khan. The 'Dulhe Raja' actor joined Instagram in 2019 and keeps sharing funny posts.

Happy Birthday, Johny Lever!
New Delhi: Model-actress Urvashi Rautela is all set to make her debut in the Tamil industry with a Rs 200 crore big-budget sci-fi film. She will be seen alongside South legend Saravanan in the venture. The first schedule was in Manali and the second one in Chennai.

The actress also visited the famous Kalikambal Temple in Chennai to seek the blessings of the Goddess.

Urvashi Rautela recently took it to her Instagram to announce that they have wrapped up the second schedule of the big-budget film. The actress posted a breathtaking photo of herself in a beautiful dusty colored golden ethnic outfit, accessorized with beautiful oxidized jhumkas and a nose ring. She finished the look by putting her hair back into a middle-parted bun.

Urvashi Rautela congratulated the whole team and also conveyed her gratitude stating in the caption, "THAT'S A 2ND SCHEDULE WRAP CONGRATULATIONS & THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE CAST & CREW OF MY BIG DEBUT TAMIL FILM (MULTILINGUAL IN ALL 5 LANGUAGES) #THELEGEND".

Her Tamil debut is being helmed by Joseph D Sami and Jerald Arockiam. This movie is going to be released in all the major languages like Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, and Telugu.

On the work front, Urvashi Rautela will be soon seen in the web series 'Inspector Avinash' opposite Randeep Hooda in a lead role. The actress is going to play the lead role in a bilingual thriller Black Rose along with the Hindi remake of Thiruttu Payale 2.

The actress recently got a blockbuster response for her song "Doob Gaye" opposite Guru Randhawa and "Versace Baby" opposite Mohamed Ramadan.
New Delhi: Aadhar card has become one of the most crucial documents for all the official work in India. The identity proof document is often required for receiving several benefits offered under state-sponsored schemes. However, if you have lost the physical copy of your Aadhaar card then you may need not worry, as you can easily order the PVC or plastic Aadhaar card from the official website of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

All you need to do is follow simple steps to order a PVC copy of your Aadhaar card which can be used for all the official purposes. Heres how you can apply for

1. Go to the official website of UIDAI, which is https://residentpvc.uidai.gov.in/order-pvcreprint.php

2. On the page, you new enter your Aadhaar card details.

3. You need to verify your Aadhaar card details with the security code on the screen.

4. Now you need to select if your mobile number is registered with the Aadhaar card or not. If your number is already registered then you need to leave the box unticked.

5. Click on the Send OTP button.

6. Verify your phone number with the OTP.

7. Now, you need to pay Rs 50 as charges of plastic Aadhaar card.

8. After successful payment, your order will be processed by UIDAI.

After ordering your plastic Aadhaar card from the UIDAI, you will have to wait for about two weeks to receive the document at your doorstep. Also Read: Mahindra XUV700 launch tomorrow: Check specs, expected price and booking details

Notably, UIDAI has partnered with the India Post Office for delivering the Aadhaar card to the doorsteps of customers all across India. Also Read: RBI cancels licence of Karnala Nagari Sahakari Bank, check what will happen with investors

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New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday (August 13) announced that it has cancelled the licence of Karnala Nagari Sahakari Bank Ltd., Panvel (District - Raigad), Maharashtra.

RBI had issued an order dated August 09, 2021, to bring license cancellation into effect. In a press statement, RBI said that the ceases to carry on banking business with effect from the close of business on August 13, 2021.

The Commissioner for Cooperation and Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Maharashtra has also been requested to issue an order for winding up the bank and appoint a liquidator for the bank, the RBI said.

Citing the reasons behind the cancellation of the license of Karnala Nagari Sahakari Bank, the RBI said that the bank does not have adequate capital and earning prospects. As such, it does not comply with the provisions of section 11(1) and section 22 (3) (d) read with section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the central bank noted.

The RBI also highlighted that Karnala Nagari Sahakari Bank has also failed to comply with the requirements of section 22(3) (a), 22 (3) (b), 22(3)(c), 22(3) (d) and 22(3)(e) read with section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949;

The continuance of the bank is prejudicial to the interests of its depositors. The bank with its present financial position would be unable to pay its present depositors in the full and public interest would be adversely affected if the bank is allowed to carry on its banking business any further.

What will happen to the depositors of Karnala Nagari Sahakari Bank?

About 95% of the depositors of the Nagari Sahakari Bank are expected to receive full amounts of their deposits under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC). Also Read: Indias exports up 49.85% in July to record high of $35.43 billion

However, 5% of the depositors will receive only up to Rs 5,00,000 irrespective of how much money they had deposited in the bank, subject to the provisions of the DICGC Act, 1961. Also Read: Mahindra XUV700 launch tomorrow: Check specs, expected price and booking details

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A slice of cake from Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding cake has been sold for 1,850 pounds (USD 2,565) or approximately Rs 1.89 lakh at an auction - more than 40 years after the fairy-tale marriage took place. The generous slice is from one of the 23 official wedding cakes the British royal couple served at their wedding.

The piece of cake icing and marzipan base features a detailed, sugared design of the royal coat of arms in gold, red, blue and silver. It was given to Moya Smith, a member of the Queen Mother's staff, who preserved it with cling film and dated it July, 29, 1981. Smith kept the slice in an old floral cake tin and taped a handmade label to the lid, reading: "Handle with Care - Prince Charles & Princess Diane's [sic] Wedding Cake", the BBC reported on Wednesday.

Her family sold the cake to a collector in 2008.

After a flurry of bidding from across the world, the cake piece was sold on Wednesday to Gerry Layton. It was expected to raise just 500 pounds but auctioneers said they were "amazed" at the interest. Layton, a luxury boat charterer, said he has put in his will that the cake along with his estate to go to charity after his death.

"I thought I would like to add it to my estate, which will be going to charity after my death," he said.

"I also thought that I could put it up as a raffle prize with some of the money going to Centrepoint, which Princess Di was the patron of."

"I will have to think of a way to stop myself from trying to eat it though."

Layton said he planned to make the trip from Yorkshire to Gloucestershire to collect the cake next week, as he wanted to ensure it remained in good condition.

Chris Albury, a royal memorabilia specialist at Dominic Winter Auctioneers in Cirencester, said he was amazed at the number of interested bidders. Most of the inquiries came from the UK, the US and the Middle East, he said.

"This was an irresistible piece of royal memorabilia history for many." Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer in St Paul's Cathedral on 29 July 1981. Charles and Diana split 11 years later in 1992 and divorced in 1996. Diana died in a horrific car crash in Paris in 1997.

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LONDON: Five people, including a three-year-old girl, two other females and two males, were shot dead with the suspected gunman also found dead at the scene in Plymouth, southwest England, police said on Friday, in the country's worst shooting incident in over a decade.

Devon and Cornwall Police said Jake Davison, 22, first shot dead a 51-year-old woman on Biddick Drive in Keyham area of the city on Thursday evening. He then killed the girl and a 43-year-old male relative in the same road, before shooting a 59-year-old man, and a 66-year-old woman who later died in Derriford Hospital, the police said.

Davison was reported dead just minutes after police were alerted to the incident and two other people, a 53-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man who were known to each other, were injured in the attack and are being treated in hospital with non-serious injuries.

"Following attendance at the scene, two females and two males were deceased at the scene. A further male, believed to be the offender, was also deceased at the scene. All are believed to have died from gunshot wounds. Another female treated at the scene for gunshot wounds, died a short time later in hospital," the police statement said.

"Devon & Cornwall Police would stress this is not a terrorism-related incident. The area has been cordoned off and police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident," it said.

Police described the attack as the country's worst shooting incident in over a decade. Police are asking any members of the public with mobile phone footage of the immediate aftermath of the incident not to post anything on social media platforms out of respect for the deceased. Devon and Cornwall Police Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer told reporters at a press conference that the suspect lived locally and 'knew people on that street'.

"We believe we have an incident that is domestic-related and has spilled out into the street and seen several people within Plymouth losing their lives in an extraordinarily tragic circumstance," he said.

Sawyer said that the victims' identities would be made public at a later time. Police confirmed all of those involved died from gunshot wounds. Davison had a firearms licence in 2020 and the police said there was "no motive" at present, and the weapon ? which witnesses described as a pump-action shotgun," was recovered from the scene.

Davison turned the gun on himself before officers were able to engage with him, the police said. In videos shared online just weeks before the massacre, the suspect spoke of being "beaten down" and "defeated by life".

"My thoughts are with the friends and family of those who lost their lives and with all those affected by the tragic incident in Plymouth last night. I thank the emergency services for their response," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Twitter.

"The incident in Plymouth is shocking and my thoughts are with those affected. I have spoken to the chief constable and offered my full support. I urge everyone to remain calm, follow police advice and allow our emergency services to get on with their jobs," tweeted UK Home Secretary Priti Patel.

The local MP for Plymouth Sutton & Devonport, Luke Pollard, described the incident as "unspeakably awful".

"I'm utterly devastated that one of the people killed in the Keyham shooting was a child under 10 years old," he said.

South Western Ambulance Service said Hazardous Area Response Teams, multiple ambulances, air ambulances, multiple doctors and senior paramedics were also sent to the scene.

One witness, who lives near the scene and gave her name as Sharron, told the BBC: "Firstly, there was shouting, followed by gunshots ? three, possibly four to begin with. This was when the shooter kicked in the door of a house and randomly started shooting... He ran from the house shooting as he ran and proceeded to shoot at a few people in the Linear Park up from the drive."

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Six people were killed in a mass shooting in the city of Plymouth in southwest England on Thursday evening, in an incident described by the British Home Secretary as "shocking".

Two females and three males, including the suspect, died from gunshot wounds at the scene of the incident, the Devon and Cornwall Police said in a statement. Another female died a short time later in hospital, the police added.

Police had earlier described the shooting as a "serious firearms incident" and said the situation was contained. The police added that the incident was not related to terrorism.

The United Kingdom has one of the lowest gun homicide rates in the world, and mass shootings are rare.

Sharron Turner, 57, who lives behind the scene of the shooting, told The Times newspaper that a gunman had "kicked in" the front door of a semi-detached house before shooting a young mother and her daughter, who was aged about five. Turner said she had been told that the man, who was dressed in black and grey, was armed with a semi-automatic weapon.

After the attack, the gunman escaped through a park behind the house and shot two dog walkers, The Times reported.

"The incident in Plymouth is shocking and my thoughts are with those affected," Home Secretary Priti Patel said on Twitter.

Devon and Cornwall Police said they were called to the Keyham area of the city at 6.10 p.m. on Thursday.

"Investigations are continuing into the incident and disruption to the road network in the Keyham area will remain throughout the night," the police said.

The South Western Ambulance Service earlier said it had responded to the incident with a significant number of resources, including Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART), multiple ambulances, air ambulances, multiple doctors and senior paramedics.
Reacting against Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi's statement on Islamabad being made a "scapegoat" for the mistakes of those in Afghanistan, its Foreign Ministry said that Islamabad should act against the secure hideouts of terrorists on its soil and cut land access to the Taliban and other terror groups.

Afghan foreign ministry in its statement said that the terrorists are benefiting from safe havens which are being used to insecure Afghanistan, reported The Khaama Press News Agency.

As per the statement, the Taliban with their recent escalation in violence defied their international commitments and are yet to break relations with global terror groups.

"The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is committed to a negotiated settlement to the crisis in Afghanistan and pleads political solution to the misery," read the statement.

Pakistani FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi has named some unnamed forces to be working against peace in Afghanistan and urged the group to be monitored.

Qureshi said that efforts are going on to hold Pakistan responsible for the situation in Afghanistan which he believes is a faction outside Afghanistan spoiling the peace process, reported The Khaama Press News Agency.

The call on Pakistan to target terrorists' safe haven on its soil comes a day after the US Defense Secretary asked the head of Pakistan's military to eliminate safe hideouts in its border along with Afghanistan. According to Afghanistan top officials, Pakistan and its Army continue to provide a safe haven to the insurgent groups and their affiliates.As the Taliban intensified attacks, Afghanistan started urging global organisations and to address the deteriorating situation in the country.

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Geneva: U.N. agencies on Friday (August 13) warned of a humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan as Taliban advances drive tens of thousands of people from their homes amid spreading hunger. Insurgents have taken control of the second- and third-biggest cities as Western embassies prepared to send in troops to help evacuate staff, although the United Nations said its 320 staff members would remain. "We fear the worst is yet to come and the larger tide of hunger is fast approaching... The situation has all the hallmarks of a humanitarian catastrophe," the World Food Programme`s Thomson Phiri told a U.N. briefing.

More than 250,000 people have been forced from their homes since May, 80% of them women and children, the U.N. refugee agency`s Shabia Mantoo said. Many reported extortion by armed groups on the way and having to dodge improvised explosive devices along major roads. Thousands of people are rushing from rural areas to the capital Kabul and other urban centres in search of shelter, another U.N. official said.

"They are sleeping in the open, in parks and public spaces," Jens Laerke, spokesman of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. "A major concern right now is simply finding shelter for them."

Also read: After Kandahar, Taliban heads towards Kabul, Indian citizens in Afghanistan asked to return

A World Health Organization official reported a doubling of trauma cases in the last two to three months in the health facilities it supports. She also expressed concerns about shortages of medical supplies and said it was training medical staff on mass casualty management.

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Maria Thattil, who is Miss Universe Australia, was recently added to a WhatsApp group of 19-year-old males, by accident. And it turned out to be one harrowing experience. Maria, who has often spoken up on women empowerment of women and rights of girls, was shocked and disgusted on hearing what the young men had to say about the other gender. Maria shared that the men in the group spoke about women "like we are pieces of meat" and they kept on sexualising and degrading women. And when she decided to call them out for their sexist behaviour and when she did, only one boy responded.

Maria in the instagram video said that while sexism affects all genders, "women are five times more prone to suffer from clinical depression because of sexism," cearly revealing the fact that women suffer far more than men because of gender stereotypes and gender-based harrasments.

She also said that while not all men indulge in similar behaviour, very few actually protest against such attitudes. "I once read a beautiful quote about how silence and complacency is siding with oppressors, so before any of you comment not all men, know that the problem is not all men speak up, fight for us, and challenge toxic ideals of masculinity. It starts in the group chat, and bleeds into society. Make the link, call it out, do better," she wrote on Instagram.

Also read: Caught on camera: Men harass US reporter, say Youre sexy as f**k

Talking about her experiences in high school, the 28-year-old shared that she was harassed, assaulted, lied to and lied about. But she never got an apology, not so much of an acknowledgement (from the men that this was wrong.) This was because this kind of behaviour has been normalised, Maria said, adding that the boys therefore didn't feel they have done anything wrong.

Hitting out at the trend of dismissing harassment against women with statements like 'boys will be boys', Maria said that because of these attitudes, misogyny, hatered and disrespect for women thrive. And what's more dangerous is the fact that these very men will grow up to be politicians making our policies, they go on to become the men in the board rooms. So such sexist behaviour has far-reaching impact.

Maria said that she received several messages from women who have faced oppression and were harassed. Her social media post was also full of messages from women, and men, who lauded Maria's efforts of speaking out against sexism.

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KABUL: Taliban insurgents have seized most of Herat, Afghanistan's third largest city, and also captured Ismail Khan, the veteran local commander leading militia resistance there, local officials said on Friday (August 13). The fall of Herat, the latest in a series of major provincial cities to be taken by the Taliban in the past few days, has dealt a shocking blow to the government of President Ashraf Ghani only weeks after the withdrawal of U.S. forces.

One official said Afghan government forces had agreed to withdraw from Herat airport, 15 km (nine miles) from the city, and the Army Corps commander's headquarters, the last centres under their control. However other sources said Afghan forces were still at the airport as of 1 p.m. local time (0830 GMT).

"The Taliban agreed that they will not pose any threat or harm to the government officials who surrendered," said provincial council member Ghulam Habib Hashimi.

As fighting subsided, the streets fell silent in Herat, a major economic hub of about 600,000 people close to the border with Iran and over centuries one of the historic centres of Persian culture.

"Families have either left or are hiding in their houses," said Hashimi, who described Herat as a "ghost town".

Herat has seen increasingly heavy fighting with popular militia groups serving alongside regular army units as Taliban pressure on the city mounted following the U.S. pullout.

Khan, the most prominent militia commander and believed to be in his 70s, together with the provincial governor and security officials, were handed over to the Taliban under an agreement, Hashimi told Reuters. He had no details of the deal.

Khan`s capture, confirmed by Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid, provided one of the most potent symbols of the crumbling of resistance in the city.

Photos and videos showing the eminent commander apparently in the hands of the insurgents were widely shared on social media although they could not immediately be verified.

Ismail Khan is widely known as the Lion of Herat. His involvement in Afghanistan`s wars goes back to the anti-government uprising that helped trigger the 1979 Soviet intervention, and his return to the front lines a month ago was a clear sign of the growing threat to Herat.

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The Taliban claimed control over two of Afghanistan's biggest cities on Thursday, according to media reports, as the United States and Britain said they would send thousands of troops to help evacuate their embassy staff. The capture of Kandahar and Herat - the country's second and third largest cities - would represent the Taliban`s two biggest military victories since they began a broad offensive in May.

The fall of major cities was a sign that Afghans welcome the Taliban, a spokesperson for the group said, according to Al Jazeera TV.

The U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday and told him the United States "remains invested in the security and stability of Afghanistan". They also said the United States was committed to supporting a political solution to the conflict.

In response to the Taliban's swift and violent advances, the Pentagon said it would send about 3,000 extra troops within 48 hours to help evacuate embassy staff.

"We expect to draw down to a core diplomatic presence in Afghanistan in the coming weeks," said State Department spokesperson Ned Price, adding the embassy was not closed. A person familiar with the matter said there were no guarantees the embassy would remain open.

The State Department said it would also increase the tempo of Special Immigration Visa flights for Afghans who helped the U.S. effort in the country.

Britain said it would deploy around 600 troops to help its nationals and local translators get out. As the United Nations warned that a Taliban offensive reaching the capital would have a "catastrophic impact on civilians," the United States and Germany urged all their citizens to leave Afghanistan immediately.

In Qatar, international envoys to Afghan negotiations called for an accelerated peace process as a "matter of great urgency," and for an immediate halt to attacks on cities. The fall of both Kandahar and Herat was reported by media including the Associated Press. Combined, the cities represent the two biggest prizes yet for the Taliban in their offensive over the past week.

"As you can see, we are inside the Herat police headquarters right now," a Taliban fighter said in a video shared by a group spokesperson, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi.

Earlier on Thursday, the Taliban captured Ghazni, situated on the Kandahar-to-Kabul road some 150 km (90 miles) southwest of the capital.

On Wednesday, a U.S. defense official cited U.S. intelligence as saying the Taliban could isolate Kabul in 30 days and possibly take it over within 90. With phone lines down across much of the country, Reuters was unable to immediately contact government officials to confirm which of the cities under attack remained in government hands.

SAIGON COMPARISONS

The speed and violence of the Taliban offensive have sparked recriminations among many Afghans over President Joe Biden`s decision to withdraw U.S. troops, 20 years after they ousted in the Taliban in the wake of the Sept. 11 U.S. attacks. Biden said on Tuesday he does not regret his decision, noting Washington has spent more than $1 trillion in America`s longest war and lost thousands of troops. He added the United States continues to provide significant air support, food, equipment and salaries to Afghan forces.

U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said the exit strategy was sending the United States "hurtling toward an even worse sequel to the humiliating fall of Saigon in 1975."

"President Biden is finding that the quickest way to end a war is to lose it," McConnell said, urging him instead to commit to providing more support to Afghan forces.

"Without it, al Qaeda and the Taliban may celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks by burning down our Embassy in Kabul."

Former State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said it was "a huge foreign policy failure with generational ramifications just shy of seven months into this administration. Everything points to a complete collapse."

VIOLENCE VS DIPLOMACY

In a deal struck with former U.S. President Donald Trump`s administration last year, the insurgents agreed not to attack U.S.-led foreign forces as they withdrew. The Taliban also made a commitment to discuss peace.

Given the speed of the Taliban`s advance, prospects for diplomatic pressure to affect the situation on the ground seemed limited, although the Taliban spokesman told Al Jazeera: "We will not close the door to the political track."

Al Jazeera reported a government source saying it had offered the Taliban a share in power if the violence stopped. It was not clear to what extent the reported offer differed from terms already discussed in Qatar.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said he was unaware of any such offer but ruled out sharing power. "We won`t accept any offer like this because we don`t want to be partner with the Kabul administration. We neither stay nor work for a single day with it," he said.

The international envoys in Doha, who met with Afghan government negotiators and Taliban representatives, reaffirmed that foreign capitals would not recognise any government in Afghanistan "imposed through the use of military force."

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Altamonte Springs: A toddler found an unsecured, loaded handgun inside an apartment and fatally shot a woman while she was on a work-related video call, police in central Florida said. According to news outlets, the woman was the mother of the toddler who shot her in the head Wednesday (August 11).

Someone on the video call dialed 911 after seeing the toddler in the background and hearing a noise, Altamonte Springs police said in a news release Thursday (August 12). The woman, identified as 21-year-old Shamaya Lynn, fell backward and never returned to the video call, the person reported.

Officers and paramedics did their best in rendering aid to Mrs. Lynn, but she was found with a fatal gunshot wound to the head, police stated.

An adult in the apartment left the firearm unsecured, police said. Investigators were working with the Seminole County State Attorney's Office to determine whether charges will be filed.

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